• Life & Family

    3 Things I’m Lovin’ – No. 3

    Welcome to the 3rd edition of 3 Things I’m Lovin’, where once a month I share a few of things I can’t get enough of! (Oops, I missed last month!) If you are anything like me, you enjoy seeing what other people like; the things that they’ve tried/tested out and are in love with. So, I will tell you about the 3 things I’m lovin’ this month and I hope you will share with me what you are diggin’ too! Some items are related to DIY, Home Decor, etc. and others will be totally random, like beauty products or tv shows. (Check out the last list by clicking here.)

    This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy.

    No. 1 – Chicken Poop Lip Junk
    Things I'm Lovin' Chicken Poop

    I thought I would lead with this disgustingly interestingly named lip moisturizer that I picked up at our local farm supply store. That name Chicken Poop is pretty creepy, considering that most people would never consider actually putting real chicken poop on their lips, but the good news it that it does not really contain poop in any form. The ingredients are all natural and it is not waxy or greasy; just super smooth and moisturizing on your lips. Perfect for puckering up!

    No. 2 – Aveda Shampure Candle
    Aveda Shampure Candle

    This candle is one of my faves! I absolutely love candles (like this one and these) and enjoy rotating them out when my mood desires a new scent. Lucky for me, my sweet cousin gifts me this soy wax candle for my birthday every year! The scent is fresh, peaceful, and calming, reminding me of a relaxing day at the spa.

    No. 3 – Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
    Edgecomb Gray Paint

    We recently repainted our bedroom and chose Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray in eggshell. (View all of the city house’s paint colors by clicking here.) It is the perfect light and earthy greige paint color and is so soothing. It was not the color we were originally thinking of using in the master bedroom and wish we would have painted it sooner. However, I’m so happy that we ended up adding this calming color in our space. I love how it changes with different lighting. Stay tuned for a reveal later this week of our master bedroom.

    So, those are the things I’m lovin’ this month? Anything you want to recommend? I would love for you to share, so I can try it out too!

  • Life & Family

    3 Things I’m Lovin’ – No. 2

    Welcome to the 2nd edition of 3 Things I’m Lovin’, where once a month I share a few of things I can’t get enough of! I enjoy seeing what other people like; the things that they’ve tried/tested out and are in love with. It is so fun to get ideas and learn about new products, experiences, and even perspectives. So, I will tell you about the 3 things I’m lovin’ this month and I hope you will share with me what you are diggin’ too! (Check out last month’s list by clicking here.)

    No. 1 – Spring Blooms/Blossoms

    Things I'm Lovin' - White Hydrangeas

    I love fresh flowers and with spring finally here, I’m taking advantage of them the best that I can. As you may know from Instagram, our cat Rowan enjoys demolishing real flowers, so they don’t stay around long, but I’ve found that if I’m leaving the house, I can just pop the bouquet (vase and all) in the fridge they stay fresh and protected from feline shenanigans while I’m away. My favorites are white hydrangeas and I’m hoping to start growing my own at some point. What kind of flowers do you love to have around?

    No. 2 – Save the Empties

    Save The Empties Wine Bottle Candle

    Last month, my stepbrother, Christopher, opened his own Etsy shop called Save the Empties, where he sells scented 100% premium soy wax candles made in used beer and wine bottles. You guys, they are amazing!!! The scent combinations are perfect and the prices are super affordable. Plus, you are helping keep bottles out of the landfill! I have several of these candles in my home and the scents are not at all overwhelming, but smooth and inviting. If you are looking for a new kind of candle, then definitely check it out. Contact SavetheEmpties {dot} Etsy {at} gmail {dot} com for more details on custom orders.

    No. 3 – Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish (in Birthday Suit)

    Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish

    I’m one of those people who are super picky about nail polish. I love to wear it, but I can not stand when it starts to chip, so I either have to remove it completely and/or redo it. And it seems that I have less time to do anything right now, so I really appreciate a polish with staying power! Sally Hansen’s Miracle Gel Nail Polish is great. It looks and wears like a gel manicure, but there is no extra light needed. I’ve been digging light colors for my hands lately and I think that the color Birthday Suit is just perfect. Usually, I can get about 4-5 days of chip free manicure, which makes this busy girl happy!

    So, those are the things I’m lovin’ this month? Anything you want to recommend? I would love for you to share, so I can try it out too!

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    Psst… Did you see our spring home tour last week? Click the photo below to see how we gussied up our house!

    Pink Roses White Numbered Chairs

  • Life & Family

    Afternoon Chit Chat – No. 1

    Hi Friends! How are you doing? I hope you all are well. Sometimes I feel like I get tunnel vision with this blog and will just pump out project type posts with tutorials. And honestly, I’m sure that can sometimes seem a little boring and impersonal. Since the beginning of 2016, I’ve really wanted to try to incorporate some more personal posts, but I have not really done much of that. So, this post is going to be a general update about life stuff, with a little touch of home sprinkled in. So, grab a cup of tea, coffee, or whatever you like to drink in the late afternoon (margaritas?) and let’s get chatting.

    Afternoon Chit Chat No. 1

    1. Seasonal Depression & Sickness

    I don’t know about you, but I think that I’m slowly turning into one of those people that suffer from seasonal depression. (Clearly, this is self diagnosed.) I’ve been really down and think it is because of the shorter days and colder weather that ends up keeping me more home bound. It’s been hard to be motivated at times, especially on those days that I would rather just stay cozy in my warm bed. However, last week, the weather took to turn for the better and I feel like a new person. Well, except for some crappy post nasal drip that started shortly after it got warmer. Stupid allergies. Anyway, here’s hoping that spring is just what I need to get my motivation back!

    Sickness, Medicine and Seasonal Depression

    2. St. Patrick’s Day Home Tour

    Did you see my St. Patrick’s Day decor earlier this week? I joined in with a fun group of ladies and we all shared how we decorate our homes for the leprechauns holiday. Since I usually do not go over the top with holiday specific decor, I stuck with bringing in some greenery (real and faux) and adding a few lucky touches, like an Irish blessing on my chalkboard, an old horse shoe in the foyer, and a pretty green shamrock plant that my puppy decided to attack (see below.) Do you decorate for St. Patrick’s Day or just stick to gussying things up for bigger holidays?

    Neutral Living Room Chalkboard

    3. The Curse of the Black Thumb

    I may have mentioned this before, but I’m not very good at keeping plants alive. There are 2 in our home that have been around for more than a couple of months (The Fiddle Leaf Fig and a Pothos Plant) and I’ve figured out that their survival has nothing to do with me and everything to do with them not needing any sort of fickle care. In addition to my own struggles with plant life, I now have a couple of plant assailants living with me! Harper, our Golden Retriever pup, and Rowan, the sly white kitty, both enjoy attacking real plant life, as you can see in the photos below. The scariest part is that plants can be really dangerous for animals, but luckily we haven’t had any major issues with them ingesting the plants. They mostly liked to bat at them or just pull them apart and spit them out. Any suggestions for keeping them away from our greenery will be greatly appreciated!

    Shamrock Plant Pets Eat

    4. Update on 366 Project

    The 366 Project (where I attempt to take one photo everyday for a year) is going alright. I haven’t been able to keep it up 100% though. There was one day that I took a bunch of photos, but my camera did not record any of them onto the SD card, two days I didn’t post because I felt like poo, and one day where I completely forgot. Oops! But I’m trying to let go of my perfectionist tendencies and just allow myself to be OK with that. Which is soooo hard! My goal was to be able to record the journey of our family/lives this year, so I’m just going to keep on plugging away with it. Here are a few of my favorites from the past couple of months.

    Parka Fur Hood Model

    Reflection Looking Out the Window

    Velociraptor Computer Skills

    5. The Inside Scoop on Room Makeovers

    We have a few big changes going on in a couple rooms of our house and I’m so excited to share them. Recently, we’ve completely made over our powder room and the kitchen also got some major updates that you won’t want to miss. Stayed tuned next week to see what we’ve done!

    Bathroom Update in Progress

    So, that’s what has been going on around here the past several weeks. What have you been up to? Any fun home/decor makeovers? Are you looking forward to spring too? Join the conversation in the comments below!

  • Life & Family

    3 Things I’m Lovin’ – No. 1

    I don’t know about you, but I enjoy seeing what other people like. The things that they’ve tried/tested out and are in love with. It is so fun to get ideas and learn about new products, experiences, and even perspectives, so I thought I would start a little series on the blog where I share 3 Things I’m Lovin’. I will tell you what I can’t get enough of, especially since I’m always enjoying something new, and I would love to hear what you’re diggin’ too!

    No. 1 – Smoked Butterscotch Latte

    Smoked Butter Scotch Latte

    In that past, I would have considered myself a Starbucks Junkie, but over the past year, I’ve limited my consumption of frou-frou coffee drinks to about 2 times a month. However, the specialty coffee shop won my heart this month with their new Smoked Butterscotch Latte. It is AH-MAZE-ING. Especially, if it is mixed just right. (I’ve had it a few times where all of the sweetness went to the bottom of the cup and although it was still good, it was like a sugar explosion in those last few sips. No complaints here though. I can use a good burst of energy most of the time.)

    No. 2 – Mini Vacations

    Chicago Skyway Things I'm Lovin' - No. 1

    This past weekend, our family took a mini vacay to Chicago for a baptism (with a side trip to Grand Rapids for business). You know, sometimes you just need a break. A little time to not think about all of the things you usually have to worry about. It really is a great way to recharge and get focused again. Plus, making memories with the fam is always at the top of my list!

    No. 3 – Fuzzy Glam Moccasins

    Fuzzy Glam Moccasins

    Here is Ohio, the weather has been unpredictable. Some days it is warm, some days are rainy, and others are just… winter. To keep my tootsies cozy during the bitter cold days, I’ve been enjoying these fuzzy glam moccasins I picked up from Payless. When I put my feet inside, it is like they are being wrapped in a soft, luxurious, fur blanket. Plus, they were super cheap. You know how I like a good deal!

    So, those are 3 of the things that I’m lovin’ at the moment (subject to change at the drop of a hat.) What are you in love with right now? Do you have a favorite show you are watching? Or lip gloss you can’t get enough of? Maybe you are just enjoying some alone time! I would love for you to share anything you are lovin’ in the comments below!