Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Ulta Spring Haul...

Hey All! I have to admit that I am a product junkie! I love hair, beauty, and bath and body products. I am a marketers dream. Over the weekend my daughter went to Ulta to buy makeup for her prom. I decided to tag along so I could pick up a few treats for myself. Take a look at some of my current favorites and some newbies that I can't wait to try.


Ulta Spring Haul

  • Shea Moisture Dry Oil Mist (Tahitian Noni & Monoi) - I love Shea Moisture's Dry Oil Spray. This will be my first time trying the Tahitian Noni & Monoi. I've tried the Argan Oil & Raw Shea and it was amazing. It's not a heavy oil so it's perfect for the Spring and Summer. 
  • Shea Moisture Lemongrass & Ginger Shea Butter Soap - As you can see I'm a big fan of Shea Moisture. This soap lasts a long time and the smell is wonderful. 
  • C.Booth Honey Almond Body Lotion -  I have tried C. Booth's dry oil spray and it was great. This is my first time trying their lotion. It's a little runny but it keeps dry skin away. 
  • Earth Therapeutics Loofah Scrub Oatmeal & Honey -  This smells so yummy! This brand is a newbie for me. It was part of a special deal. I love scrubs and body products scented with honey. 
  • NYX  lipstick Chloe - I love NYX. A fantastic brand with fantastic prices! Chloe is new for me. It's an iridescent fuchsia color that will be fab for Spring and Summer. I tend to lean towards bronzey colors for Summer. This will be a switch.
  • NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil Lavender - Another newbie. Their jumbo eye pencils were recommended to me by another blogger. 
  • NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray - This is for my daughter. She wants it for prom. I prefer a dewy finish she likes matte. 

  • Cover Your Gray Touch-Up Stick - pretty self explanatory. Chalk it up to genetics I have some gray hair. This touch-up stick is the best for in between dye jobs. I see my stylist every 8 weeks, but by week 3 my gray starts peeking through. I wipe out this stick and walla gray be gone! 

What are some of your favorite beauty products? Try anything new? I like a natural look with a hint of color, thus the reason I love bronzey colors. This season I'm stepping outside of my box and trying something new. Bolder colors. 


Monday, March 30, 2015

Coachella Necklace DIY...

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is all about embracing your inner Bohemian spirit. Fringe, feathers and fedoras are all the rage in the desert during Coachella. Long layering necklaces are also staple accessories at the indie music festivals. Below is a simple and super easy diy necklace for you to wear to the next music festival. It's a great layering piece. Add 2 more necklaces to get the perfect look.



Supplies:

Scissors
Hemp Cord or leather cord
Wood Beads
Shell pendant
Calligrapher paint pen (optional)



Assorted wood beads can be found at your local craft store. I found my seashell at the beach. I always look for shells that have holes in them to use for jewelry design.


Step 1:

Using your calligrapher, paint your seashell. This step is optional. Leave it plain if you like. I added gold lines to give my shell a tribal look.

Step 2:

Cut cord long enough so that it slips over your head. I cut mine 34 inches. Fold cord in half and loop through hole in shell.


Step 3:

Pull ends of cord through the loop and pull, securing the shell.



Step 4:

Take your selected beads and slip through the cord as shown above. Pull beads down to meet the shell.


Diy necklace

  Step 5:

Tie a tight knot at end of cord. Slip over head. Your new necklace is complete. Diy necklace

 Put some flowers in your hair.


Diy necklace

Add 2 more layering necklaces to complete your look! Get long deer antler necklace here

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Trader Joe's Top 10...

Hey All! Today I'm sharing my top 10 items from one of my favorite grocery stores, Trader Joe's. It is always a pleasant shopping experience when I'm at Traders. It's small and cozy. The shelves are neat and clean and the staff is awesome! The prices are also fairly reasonable, especially when comparing Traders to Whole Foods, or as my sister-n-law calls them, Whole Paycheck.




Starting from left:

1. Shaved Parmesan & Romano Cheese: Traders has an awesome selection of cheese. I have tried their feta, Gorgonzola and bleu cheese crumbles. Both are fab. I love the shaved Parmesan sprinkled on kale salad with olive oil & fresh lemon juice dressing.

2. Crunchy Almond Butter: I add almond butter to my oatmeal and smoothies. This almond butter tastes good on a spoon! Gah!

3. Wild Arugula: My favorite salad. I love it more than kale. Some people don't like the sharp, spicy taste. Try it with Gorgonzola cheese, apples, walnuts and balsamic dressing.

4. Fresh Flowers: Traders is my go-to place for fresh flowers. The bunches are gorgeous and super inexpensive. These white mums cost me $3.99.

5. Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner: My fave cheapie conditioner. Great slip! I use this when I co-wash my hair. A generous bottle for $3.99.

6. Vanilla Almond Granola: Pretty sure this isn't the healthiest granola, but it sure is good. I eat it on top of plain yogurt or straight out of the box.

7. Bananas: I eat a lot of bananas. I freeze them for smoothies. A big bunch costs me under $1.

8. Coconut Oil: I do not have to tell you the amazing benefits of coconut oil. This is my go-to brand. I use coconut oil to finger detangle my hair, as a body moisturizer and as a makeup remover. I love this stuff!!

9. Avocados: I go through 2 avocados a week. I could eat more, but I limit myself to only 2. Traders avocados are a great size for the price. Sure other stores have them cheaper, but they are small in size compared to Traders.

10. Green Tea Mints: Love these mints. One of my purse staples.


What are your Trader Joe faves?

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Vision Board...

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law - Proverbs 29:18

I started working on my vision board last Autumn. I finally finished it a week ago when the facilitator of my bible study group asked us to do a vision board. It was a joy to put together. What is a vision board? 

A vision board, is a visual representation of all the things you want to do, be, and attain in your life. It is something you can look at every single day to remind you of your goals and deepest desires. Yeah, but does it work?

It is powerful. This board is where you focus your attention. Where your attention goes, your energy flows. The main idea is that you surround yourself with images of who you want to be, where you want to go, or what you wish to have placed in your life. Your life changes to match the images, desires, and wants. How do I start?

First, think about your goals. Your goals may be travel, career, finances, health, relationships, or personal growth. Second, gather magazines and cut out images that reflect your goals and desires. Third, get a board, this can be a poster board or a cork board, glue stick, and push pins. Paste your pictures on your board. Lastly, place your board in a space where you will see it often.

Bring everything on your board to life. Relax, and have fun putting it together. This is part of your journey!  Below is my vision board that I'm sharing with you.


Supplies: Glue stick, scissors, and magazines.



Arrange your images in an aesthetically pleasing flow.



After some tweaking, here is my vision board.



Placed where I will see it often throughout the day.


Oh, don't forget the push pins. These on the Clearance aisle at Target for under $1!

Do you have a vision board?

(Reference used: The Power of a Vision by Kris Vallotton)

Monday, March 23, 2015

Greeting Card Bookmark DIY

Happy Monday! Did you have a fantastic weekend? Here's a quick and easy DIY project.



What do you do with all of the greeting cards you receive each year? Save? Toss? Keep them up on your mantle until the next wave of greeting cards arrive in your mailbox? I have to admit it's hard for me to throw away the pretty ones. However, they pile up and create clutter. A great way for you to keep some of the best cards is to make bookmarks.


Supplies:
- old greeting cards (preferable with heavy card stock)
- ribbons
- scissors
- hole puncher



Step 1: Cut your bookmark design out of the cards.

It is best to work with the cards that have the heaviest stock. That way they are less likely to bend or tear.


Step 2: Punch a hole at the top of your bookmark.




Step 3: Cut ribbon and loop through hole.


Three easy steps! Happy crafting and reading!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Breakfast Smoothie...

Did I tell you that I love peanut butter? With chocolate, without chocolate, on a spoon, in a smoothie!
 
Smoothie

 I love breakfast. I love it even more when it's quick, healthy and delicious. I made a breakfast smoothie this morning. Boy was it filling. This definitely held me over until lunch. Super simple to make. Check out the recipe below. Smoothie

  Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

2 frozen bananas (if you want your smoothies thick, use frozen fruit, not ice)

8oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 teaspoon of raw honey

1 tablespoon of peanut butter (protein will keep you satisfied longer)

Mix all ingredients in a blender. Pour into your favorite mason jar and add a pink paper straw. I got my mason jar from Dollar Tree and the paper straws from etsy.


Smoothie

Slurp!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Ten Ideas For Adult Snow Days...

Winter


 Hey All! I woke up to 6 inches of snow here in North Carolina. No school again for my kids. This is like the 6th day in 2 weeks that they have been out due to inclement weather. Oh joy!!  I took the above picture this morning of our oak tree. Winter photos are simply gorgeous!

There are lots of posts out there about what to do when the kids are out of school for snow. What about adult snow days? We get bored too.  Below are some ideas us grown-ups can do to fight cabin fever on a snow day.

1. Host a Wine Tasting - I'm sure you have some munchies that you picked up while buying toilet paper for the storm. Call your neighbors and tell them to come over with a bottle of wine. Lay out your munchies and some glasses. Sample each other's wine. Talk about what will pair well with a particular wine, hand out a cheesy prize for the best wine. Perhaps you will discover a new favorite.

2. Plan Your Next Vacation - I've been getting lots of  emails lately from various vacation rental properties. What a better way to get rid of the winter blues than to plan your next getaway.

3. Spring Cleaning - I know I know. Who wants to clean on a snow day?? Get organized now. Don't wait until Spring to do your "Spring" cleaning. Every week I'm getting a flyer or a call from some charity who wants to come and pick up my used clothing or small household item. My response "come and get it!"

4. Go For a Winter Walk - The snow covered trees are so beautiful. The cold crisp air is wonderful. Go for a walk. Lace up your Sportos and go. Great exercise. Don't forget your Fitbit and camera.

5. Read - Wrap up in your favorite throw, get your hot beverage and sink your teeth into a good book. I just received Oprah's latest book club pick, Ruby by Cynthia Bond, in the mail. I can't wait to start reading.

6. Online Shopping - Now if you've given up excessive spending for Lent, then skip over this. Go to number 7. There are some awesome deals on the net. Everyone is having a sale. A good one that is going on now is Kate Spade Saturday. Everything is 40% off. Thank goodness the cute sweatshirt with the side zippers is SOLD OUT in my size. Ha! My wallet thanks me. Also, don't forget about the small business owners. I'm all about supporting small biz. Lots of etsy sellers are having sales.

7. Call Your BFF over - Everyone has one girlfriend that either owns an SUV or is from the North and swears she can drive through any amount of snow (raises hand high). Call her and tell her to come over with her favorite adult beverage and the two of you catch up on all the episodes of Scandal and How Get Away With Murder that is on your DVR.

8. Line Dancing - You know it's coming. All of the wedding and graduation party invites. Don't be the only one at your table not getting up because you have not idea how to wobble. Go to YouTube and learn.

9. DIY projects - Finish those Darby Smart projects that you received in the mail. Or do your own DIY project. My fave is distressed jeans DIY. Super fun and easy. Have no clue how to ruin a pair of jeans, go to Pinterest.

10. Good Deed - Have an elderly neighbor? Go shovel her pavement and driveway. It's great cardio and your arms will thank you this summer.

How do you combat boredom on a snow day?

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Lupita's Shoes...

Hey All!  Did you all watch the Oscars? Did you just watch the red carpet fashion? Or were you like me and just flipped through photos on Instagram to see what your fave celebrity wore?

My personal fave is Lupita Nyong'o.  What a breath of fresh fashion air she is every since she came on the scene a year or so ago. Her fearless fashion sense and an amazing stylist, always gives me that Wow factor. She is definitely one of my girl crushes.

I loved her gown for this year's Academy Awards. The incredibly stunning Calvin Klein gown she wore had over 6,000 pearls that were hand-applied. It wasn't until she posted an Instagram pic of her accessories that I almost cried. The Nicholas Kirkwood shoes she wore were unreal! Simply gorgeous. Like I need these in my life. I immediately tagged my shoe twin niece on the Instagram pic. She immediately replied with the "heart eyed" emoji. In other words she loves them too.

Flawless! This gown... wow!

These shoes! Get in my closet!

Above photos courtesy of Getty Images and Lupita's Instagram

Monday, February 16, 2015

Passion Planner...

Hello All!

This year I decided to get a planner. It has become too much to keep all of my stuff organized with my phone, scraps of paper, and a million sticky notes. I looked at a lot of planners such as Whitney English, Moleskin, Erin Condren, Kate Spade, etc. None of these fit the bill. I wanted a planner that gave me room to take notes, write out my to do list, has weekly and monthly calendar views, inspirational quotes, pockets, and perhaps a budget keeping section. The one that came close was Whitney English, but I could not come to grips with paying the price. I talked to my "agenda, organizer, planner pro" friend, Frances, of Just Piddlin  and she suggested Passion Planner.

Passion Planner was created by Angela Trinidad, a college student who funded Passion Planner through Kickstarter. Passion Planner is the one place for all of your thoughts. It contains motivational quotes, goal setting guide, gratitude log, appointment calendar, journal, sketchbook, weekly and daily focuses, and personal to do lists. Basically, it's everything I was looking for and more, plus it's super affordable What sold me was the goal setting guide.  However, there is an upside and downside. Downside: they received an overwhelming positive response to Passion Planner that they simply can not keep up with the demand. At this time, they are just now fulfilling December's orders. I didn't want to receive my 2015 planner in March. This leads me to the upside. You can download Passion Planner for free on their website. I downloaded my planner and went to Kinko's for binding. Total cost was $25. I love it. Take a look below. To download your Passion Planner, go here.

How do you stay organized? Do you have a planner? If so, what kind?


This is what sold me. Passion Roadmap. A step-by-step guide to mapping out your goals.

Essentials: Plenty of space for jotting down stuff. I write big so I need lots of room.

Every crafter/DIYer loves washi tape. It adds personality to your agenda. 

Monday, February 2, 2015

Joy...

"JOY is a net of love by which you can catch souls." - Mother Teresa

In 2015 I'm choosing JOY.

I made myself a pair of earrings consisting of Citrine (my birthstone), turquoise (my favorite gemstone), and a metal piece that I hand stamped with the word Joy. Take a look at my new earrings.

Have a Joy filled week!




Monday, January 26, 2015

New Hip Jewels...

Hello All! New and exciting designs are being launched in 2015! I love working with brass. Below are 2 designs that were designed from a sheet of brass. Hand cut, hand drilled, and hammered. Don't you just love gold shiny things!  If interested in purchasing, click here


Super lightweight. Fabulous for everyday.

Hand cut and hammered Cresent earrings.

Ying Yang. One of a Kind. This is my only pair.

These are long. Great conversation piece. Attention grabber!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Lately...

Aloe


 Hello All! What a beautiful day it is in North Carolina today! 63 degrees and sunny in January. Can you believe it? It's days like these that make me love living in the South. Here is what I have been up to Lately...

Loving: My aloe vera plant pictured above. I got it the end of 2014, re-potted it, and it's still living. You have no idea how many plants I have killed. I love houseplants, but I totally do not have a green thumb. Seriously!

Listening To: Our dog, Bella, snoring. She has the best naps!

Reading: The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace: A Brilliant Young Man Who Left Newark for the Ivy League by Jeff Hobbs.  I'm reading it for my bookclub. Spoiler Alert: From the title you pretty much know what happens to this young man. I just started so I can't form an opinion on it. I just finished reading The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  This book was selected by my Sorority Sister, Quinetta, for her summer reading. So glad I "copied" her. It is a gem!

Thinking About: The to-do list that I made this morning. Why do I bother making lists, because 95% of it, won't get done. I'm easily distracted, I can't stop checking Instagram, or looking at Facebook or looking at Twitter because that's where I get my news, and lastly looking at Pinterest at all of the creative people asking myself "Why didn't I think of that?" Then I answer myself thinking it's because you are so busy wondering what everyone else is doing! ha!

Thankful For: The acceptance letters that our daughter, Blake, has been getting from colleges. She has heard from 4, we are still waiting for the last 3. Her hard work is paying off.

Looking Forward To: Completing unfinished projects from 2014. Gulp! See Thinking About and you can guess why they aren't done. First project is to complete my Vision Board.


So... what have you been up to Lately?

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Valentine's Day Wedding...

Happy 2015 All! This is my first post of the year. What an exciting post it is! I just completed and delivered my first custom order for bridesmaids and matrons of honor jewelry! My friend, Wynetta, is getting married on Valentine's Day. Working with her was a breeze. I wish all the best for Wynetta and Will. Cheers! Take a look below at the custom made earrings I designed for Wynetta's bridesmaids and matrons of honor.

Side Note:  I have also been commissioned to design jewelry for a June wedding. Yay!


Custom made bridal party earrings
Bridesmaid's Earrings. Elongated red crystal sterling silver hoops.
Custom made bridal party earrings
Matrons of Honor Earrings. Elongated raw cut Citrine quartz sterling silver hoops.
Custom made bridal party earrings
6 Bridesmaids and 2 Matrons of Honor
Custom made bridal party earrings
Best Wishes Wynetta and Will!