Thursday, January 30, 2014

Valentine's Day Treats

Valentine's Day is just a couple weeks away.  I am not sure of our plans yet.  Hopefully Simon is home, otherwise I will be spending the day of love with one of my sisters.  I have been seeing Valentine's Day pins showing up in my feed so I looked around and found some creative ways to prepare some treats inspired by the cupid.
a: cheesecake topped with strawberries or raspberries
b: shrimp, cherry tomatoes and veggies
c: meatballs and smoked sausages
d: fresh fruit shaped by cookie cutter
e: cupcakes arranged in a heart shape
f: Strawberry and whipped topping parfaits
g: Jell-O parfaits with whipped topping and strawberries

Monday, January 20, 2014

Find comfort in uncomfortable shoes

The keys are preparation and prevention.  Look good, feel good with these tootsie tips.

1. One of my favorite finds is the Band-Aid brand Friction Stick.  This blister preventor fits in the palm of your hands, goes on smooth without making feet slippery, smells great and does an amazing job preventing pain and blisters.  I have been using this for years and have a stick stashed in my home, purse and office.
I have friends that are runners and they use this regularly.
The key is to apply this just before you put on your shoes.  Once you have pain, it's too late.


2.  My next tip is to purchase some of these foot covers/shoe liners.  They not only help keep your feet from getting slippery when wearing flats or heels but they provide comfort in the ball of your foot with the small cushion sewn into the cute lacey piece.  These are available in a few colors and styles, depending on the shoes you wear.  Check out all their products {HERE}


3.  My last tip to ease a long day of uncomfortable shoes are these foldable flats.  I have several pairs, one in each purse and an emergency set in my car.  These are really thin so they weren't designed to wear for extended periods of time but they are perfect to wear at a wedding reception or the walk out to the car after a long night of dancing.  They really do fold flat and slide in perfectly that small zippered pocket in your purse.  I bought mine at the supermarket but they are also easily available online.  
  


Monday, January 13, 2014

10 things I did for the first time 2013

I am a little late to the new year.  I finally did some organizing over the weekend and have that "new year" feeling.  I have some goals set for 2014 but wanted to reflect back on last year.  I had several first-time experiences....some I hope to repeat and some I will leave in the past.

One - I started my blog.

Two - I started wearing a very special ring, my great, great aunt's wedding band I inherited five years ago.

Three - I went to Pensacola, Florida for their traditional weekend-long Mardi Gras celebration.
The company I work at has a big float that we ride on.  I also had my first moon pies.

Four - We painted our home.  This was a first because as a couple, we have never lived in a house more than two or three years before moving, so we never had to do homeowner maintenance.

Five - I took my niece Payton to her first concert, Taylor Swift.

Six - Over the summer I traded in my BMW for a Tahoe.  Less than two months later, I totaled it in an accident towing our racing trailer.  (No injuries)

Seven - I joined an indoor soccer league, for the first time in several years.

Eight - I went to Texas for a NASCAR race.

Nine - Speaking of racing, I raced go karts full-time in 2013 and won two track championships.

Ten - I went fishing for the first time.

This year I plan to add many more "firsts" and lots of new memories.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Mixing prints: plaid + stripes + sparkle

We finally got some cool weather this week.  I am pulling out my favorite long sleeves and sweaters.  I have a few plaid tops and was looking to freshen them up by trying mixing prints.  Here are some looks I found on Pinterest.  Which is your favorite?






Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Home Office Decor Ideas for the New Year

I am pushing myself to get into the organizing feeling the new year typically brings.  I decided to start in the smallest room of my home, my office.  I don't use the room too often and I noticed that it has somewhat become a spot for storage.  I am headed to IKEA to freshen up this space in hopes that the feeling becomes contagious and I continue throughout the house.
I am going to start my decorating by moving items around that I already have and then add new pieces as I come across them.  Here's a look at a few things I found to give me a starting point for shopping.  I actually have an antique desk that I inherited that is in my office now so I will be keeping that and doing a little updating to the accessories around it.
Have you starting any new projects?

Home Office Decor Ideas


Monday, January 6, 2014

2013 - My favorite memories

My Dad's birthday is later this month and for the last few years, I have made him a photo book to document all the adventures we had throughout the year.  A friend of mine introduced me to them and although they take a long time to prepare, they are definitely worth the effort.  Here is our 2013 year of memories.

Shutterfly often has sales as much as 50% off so get started on your photo book now and when the sale pops up, you are ready to order.


Shutterfly baby photo books are the perfect way to preserve your baby's precious moments.