5 favorite pins

Here's a quick share of some of my favorite recent pins. {Follow me on Pinterest}

Four letters to describe this....G-O-R-G!  {Shop for it here}

A quick reminder to keep it moving.  Just do a little better today than you did yesterday.

It's summertime.  Who doesn't love a great lake house?  This would be perfect.

My hair is sooooo straight.  I recently added some blonde and have been practicing this styling technique. There is a great {tutorial here} with video and product suggestions.  

{A tasty pin}.  I tried these a couple weeks ago but got my portions wrong.  I am going to try again and see if I can perfect this wrap.  My husband worked the grill at our cook-out and I halved my burger to stick in the wrap but it was too much.  It looks tasty though and a nice change-up for this summer staple.

BBL updates - Day 2 thru 7

It's my one-week update after my BBL treatment.  I tried to document my photos around the same time but the lighting was tough to get consistent. It has been one week and my spots have faded a lot since treatment day.  {See my treatment day photo here}

After treatment I noticed more dark spots on my right side.  If  I were to have more on one side, I would have thought it'd be the left side since I drive a lot for work and that is the side closest to the window.  My husband says its because I hold my cell phone on my right side, haha.  Put the phone DOWN! 

I have also changed up skin-care lines.  My esthetician recommended this Retinol-A cream at night and this Vitamin-C serum in the morning.  The retinol has made me peel a touch around my chin so I am going to skip a night until I am used to it a little more.  

If only I could make myself apply sunscreen, I would probably be in great shape for the long run.  I wear a hat to protect my highlights and yet skip the sunscreen, what is the logic?!  Baby steps I guess.  

What are your favorite skincare products?  More updates to come as my skin heals.  Have a great week.     

New my favorite (calorie saving) kitchen accessory

I am a little late to the party but better late than never.  About a month ago I bought an infusion pitcher from Bed, Bath & Beyond. It was $30.00 and had I had a coupon, I could have saved a few bucks.  
I went to a party at a friend's house last summer and sipped some berry infused water and have been interested ever since.  I bought my sister and step-mom pitchers for Christmas and grabbed one for myself last month.
I am from the south so my go-to drink is sweet tea.  I don't drink much soda or alcohol so I hadn't felt guilty for sipping sweet tea but now that I have an infuser, I enjoy saving the calories.
I should stalk Pinterest for some recipes as so far, I have only tried raspberries (didn't care for) and lemons (love these).
I find myself refilling my pitcher almost every day so I am drinking a lot more than I used to and have no second thoughts about caloric intake.  I am due for a facial so I am hoping to sweet-talk the hostess at the spa into newrecipe.  Have you tried the fruit infused pitcher?  If not, I highly recommend.  I'd love to hear a favorite recipe if you have one. :)

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

The day after

I had a really great Christmas!  We hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house and headed to my Dad's and sister's houses on Christmas Day to celebrate with our family.  Christmas is finally over.
The only downside to all this is having to take down all the holiday decor but since everyone had so much fun it is hard to complain.
I am going to do a little after-Christmas shopping and then Dad and I are headed to Daytona to race over the weekend.  I hope you had your best year yet. :)
Here are a few pictures to share from the holiday.    

Christmas tree decorating tips

Have your Christmas tree up yet?  My husband surprised me last week with a beautiful tree, nearly 10' tall. This is our tallest tree yet so I looked online for some decorating tips.  Here are the best that I found online combined with my personal experience.

1. Get the right sized tree stand.  We tried to make our old tree stand work but the tree was unstable.  We went up to Lowe's and got one a better fit for our taller tree.  What we picked {HERE}

2. Once Simon trimmed the trunk and placed it in the stand, I let it settle in for a day or so so the limbs could fall some. (Notice my nieces in bathing suits...in late November.  Florida kiddos)

3.  Lights.  I found a lot of recommendations online about how many lights to use.  Generally, online sites recommend that you use one 100-light strand for every foot of tree height.  At the stores near me, lights are sold in 150 and 200-light packages.  Green coated wires are a must to hide them in the tree.  Lighting techniques vary from winding around the tree like a cone to separating the tree in "triangle sections" to wrapping individual limbs.  I ended up using five 200-light strings.

4. This tip I found online and it was so helpful.  Place your largest ornaments on first to help cover bare spots.  This was great advice.  I also hung my heaviest ornaments which also helped fill in some bare spots.  Here are some close-ups of my ornaments.

5.  When placing the rest of the ornaments, spread out your colors.  I used red, silver and white ornaments so I did my best to use them in combinations of three at a time, using one of each color.

6.  My last piece was my tree topper.  I have a couple glass options to top the tree but ended up going with a medium sized bow that had hanging ribbons.  I could stand to upsize my bow if I come across something I like.  Here is a shot of the nearly finished tree.  I still have a train to add around the base and of course, gifts!

7. Lastly, what to do with those broken ornaments.  Well, I seem to get a few each year that break somehow.  Mostly, the hanging portion breaks off making it impossible to hang.  I gathered up my bunch of broken pieces and swapped out my centerpiece apples arrangement for a seasonal look with the spare/broken ornaments and a few small pine cones. Cute huh?!  Merry Christmas!

Around the house wishlist

Spring fever has finally kicked in.  I am in the mood to complete a couple projects I have had on my list.  I bought a really pretty square mirror for my foyer but haven't found a table to complete the look.  Here are a few modern entry tables I found that would work.

I have a small linen closet sized area that would make a perfect wet bar area.  We'd only have enough room for one cabinet for storage and an upper cabinet for display but I think it'd really spruce up the room.

Last but not least, I have had a tile back splash on my mind for a while but haven't made much progress finding the look I want.  I like the simplistic look of the white subway style tile but our kitchen cabinets are raised-panel so they lean more towards traditional versus contemporary.  I think of the the more decorative designs would be a better fit.

What projects are you dreaming of?

Around the house wishlist by eporter-217 featuring distressed furniture

Preparing for Thanksgiving guests

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away.  I look forward to this holiday as it's the one that the most family members get together on each year.  If you are having guests over, here are a few things you can start working on to keep the holiday calm.

1. If you are having overnight guests, here are some tips for the perfect guest room from Annie at http://homeofmalones.blogspot.com.  You can get linens washed this week and have everything ready ahead of time.  This will definitely save you time the week your guests arrive.

2.  If your guests will have special needs like gate codes or house keys, get those ready this week as well.  If your guests will encounter any tolls on their way to and from your home, be sure to let them know so they can carry cash.  I like to get a local map and mark points of interest like shopping centers, drugstores, restaurants, departments stores and of course the beach.  If your guests have a car, they may get the urge to get out and explore the area you live in.

3.  My mother-in-law has Celiac Disease so I have become more aware of special dietary needs my guests might have. Often times, guests try not to inconvenience their host and will be agreeable with selections you make.  I have found it easier to give a couple options and ask for their input.  This will make the conversation a little easier to approach.  If your guests are sensitive to foods with gluten, Whole Foods has a section on their website where you can learn more about Gluten Free foods and recipes.  

Here are a few of my favorite appetizers, perfect for visiting guests:  {5-minute cherry cheesecake dip}, {Baked brie with toasted pecans} and this {veggie salsa} is good to snack on for several days.

4.  Get festive! Start the holiday spirit with some home decor.  Get some {fall decor ideas here}.

5.  Lastly, plan your cleaning schedule.  I {found this checklist} that made the thought of cleaning my entire house seem a little easier to accomplish.  

One last tip: don't forget to take a deep breath and have fun.  A happy house is better than a clean house. Enjoy the holidays and remember to take a few moments and be thankful of what you have and the times you are able to spend together.  Happy Thanksgiving!

5 tips for great decorating

At work, one of my duties is decorating model homes.  Since I started with Adams Homes, I have decorated lots and lots of models.  These five tips work for any decorating style.

Tip #1: Hanging pictures
This is one of the most impactful decorating decisions.  I would lean towards neutral artwork and not too "themed" specific.  Specific decor is hard to add to down the road.  Once you have our artwork, hang so that the middle of the picture is at about eye level.  Also work with the proportion of the wall.  If it's wide, horizontal artwork will be the most appealing.  Ususally, people tend towards hanging too high.  Drop it down so that it's closer to eye level across the middle.  There are a few exceptions, a two-story space for instance.  You will need much larger scale art and there is the potential you will hang at a higher level.

Tip #2: Always accessorize in an odd number
Whether you are stacking books, arranging candles or a combination of the two, an odd number of accessories is more appealing than an even number.  Sets of three usually work best.

  

Tip #3: Buy window coverings at least 97" tall
This is one of my favorite decorating techniques.  When you make the move to buyer taller window coverings, your room will look like the ceilings are soaring.  It's nearly impossible to find drapers taller than 84" in most stores but IKEA has them really reasonably priced and a variety of sizes.  Most wall heights for the average home are 8' tall.  This is perfect.  Take those drapes and rods all the way to the top and you are at the perfect height.

Tip #4: Neutral is better
When I first moved out, I was so excited I bought many items in bold colors.  That was short lived.  I was bored with them in months and didn't have the budget to redecorate my entire home. Lesson learned. Neutral is best.  You can always be bold using paint, rugs and accent pillows, rather than a blue or red couch, or even worse, counter tops.

Tip #5: Pick one focal point in the family room
Whenever possible, avoid having multiple focal points.  If you have a fireplace, try to hang the TV above it. Generally speaking, one focal point is best for any room.  This picture I found online, demonstrates this perfectly.  

What are some of your favorite decorating tips?

My favorite gift ideas from Mark and Graham

Did you get the new mailer from Mark and Graham?  It's filled with the cutest gift ideas.  Although I could buy nearly everything in the mailer, here are some of my favorites.

I'd love to hear what you have your eye on this holiday season!

Travel laundry bag (I have two from Pottery Barn and get lots of use from them on trips)

Acrylic trays   -   Initial earrings   -   Rustic leather card case   -   Table runner

Love bangle   -   Quilted stockings

Holiday shopping safety tips

Over these next couple months the malls will be packed with shoppers.  I do most of my clothing shopping online these days but Christmas shopping is still a reason to get out and about and hit the shops.  With daylight saving time ending, it will be dark much earlier and female shoppers need to be extra cautious.  I wanted to share a few ideas to keep you safe this holiday season.

The first step is getting ready for a shopping day.  I recommend a crossbody bag.  Not only is it more comfortable, it lowers your risk for being targeted for someone to run up and grab your purse from your shoulder.  {Check out a few of my fave crossbody bags here}   

My next tip is to valet park, whenever possible.  Not only are you safer by valet parking, your gifts stored inside your car are too. Most places average $5-$10 plus a few dollars tip.  You will save time avoiding the dreaded drive up and down every aisle and lower your risk as an easy target for thieves.

After hitting the stores, make a habit of keeping your shopping bags in the trunk, locked up.  Thieves will always go for the easy target and if there are no gifts or valuables in sight, they will likely skip right past your car.

My last tip is one of the best pieces of advice I got from my parents and it has become a habit.  Always, always, always get your keys in your hand before going outside.  This inlcudes grocery shopping, quick stops at the drug store, leaving work and anytime you are walking out to your car.  Take a few seconds at the cash register or at the door before you step outside to locate your car keys and get them ready.  Don't wait until you are outside to fumble through your bag to locate them.  Happy shopping my friends!

Trick-or-Treat - My costume pick

Halloween was so much fun this year.  Many people in my office dressed up and I got home from work just in time to go trick-or-treating with my nieces.
I ended up going with the flower pot idea and got lots of compliments.  It was really easy to make and was lightweight.  I bought the plastic flower pot from a home improvement store and my husband cut the bottom out so I could stand in it.  I bought $10 worth of flowers from the dollar store and duck-taped them inside the pot.  We cut a couple holes in the pot and used rope to make handles so I could walk around easily.  I wrapped those in leaves to disguise the rope.  
I had so many people stop me throughout the day and night and asked to snap a picture. I loved seeing everyone's costumes and had so much fun with the kids.    

My co-workers had some great costumes.  We had Melissa G in an inflatable flamingo, Krista was Wonder Woman, Melissa D was Flo from Progressive and Clay was Duck Dynasty.  Clay and I went out on our jobsites and passed out candy.  Our trade partners loved the treats.

My nieces were Little Mermaid, sweet skeleton and Payton was a cavegirl mixed with a zebra.  

Last minute Halloween costumes

Halloween is just a few days away and somehow the month has slipped past me.  In an effort to come up with a costume I searched Pinterest and found some cute ideas that can (mostly) be made from what you have around the house already.
This scarecrow is my likely pick for last-minute costume.  I am thinking my floppy beach hat will make the perfect choice.  I am thinking of getting some hay and forming bracelets at the end of my sleeves on my flannel top and my jeans to complete the look.

 

 

Christmas gift ideas

OMG! It's the 25th and that means Christmas is just two months away.  I am not usually an early Christmas shopper but the ladies in my office have been chatting about their holiday buys and I saw online that Pottery Barn had a sale last week so I decided to order a few goodies.

The mason jars came in and they are adorable.  I got several of them personalized for different people on my list.  PB blankets are always a good gift.  I have had mine for nearly 10 years and have purchased them as gifts over the years and always get good feedback.  My ornament hasn't come in yet but I can't wait to check it out.

Christmas gift ideas by eporter-217 featuring a cable knit throw

Simple salsa

As you know by now, I am not what you'd call an expert chef.  I love to bake desserts and apps and I rely on Simon to cook everything in between.
This simple salsa recipe is really easy to make and is so tasty.
I shop at my local Publix Supermarket and all of these items are in the produce section.

The recipe I use is from Concord Goods.  It calls for one pound of ripe, juicy tomatoes and diced onions per packet of dry salsa mix.. I have found that plum tomatoes are good because they are easy to dice and are juicy but not too juicy.  I also added green onions to the recipe.  The recipe says that each packet makes a cup of salsa but with extra tomatoes you can stretch it to make a little more.

I love tortilla scoops style chips so I can get a big heap of salsa with each bite.

What is your favorite salsa recipe?