Decorating for Spring

I've given up shopping for Lent. Yes, that's right I am not allowed to shop for anything other than things we truly NEED until Easter (six days after Easter if you want to get technical ~ I decided what I was giving up a little late). I realized that I had been spending way too much money these past few months, buying things just because I wanted them, so I decided to take a break from spending. Just because I'm not shopping right now, doesn't mean I can't help you shop, right?

After I took our Christmas decorations down, the house was just depressing. Now don't get me wrong, I was ready to take the decorations down (I even did it before New Years Day this year), but when you go from having decorations everywhere to having nothing it's still kind of sad. That was about the time when my spending spree started. Now I'm not suggesting you go crazy like I did, I'm just giving a few suggestions on things you can add that will bring life to your house!

Greenery

 I started by bringing in greenery. I'll admit, most , okay all, of the greenery is fake (I don't think I'd be able to keep anything alive!), but they're all good fakes. ;-) I picked up a few topiaries and added moss to my hurricanes and lanterns. I have had the most luck in finding realistic looking greenery at Home Goods. Hobby Lobby has several options as well, but they were pricier than the ones I've found at Home Goods and, in my opinion, didn't look as realistic.

I need something for the center of my dresser for underneath the tv and I think this distressed wood box and moss balls from Simply French Market will be perfect! I'm also thinking of adding a wreath to the vintage window in our room. I think that this boxwood wreath will be perfect!

Once my spending freeze ends I think I'll be ordering them both!

Flowers

Again, these can be fresh or fake. I have found some really good fakes at Home Goods! I've also found a few arrangements and individual stems at Hobby Lobby. They have sales on floral and greenery all the time, and they always have a 40% off one item coupon online, so it's a good place to look. I have fake hydrangeas in my dining room right now that I got from Hobby Lobby on sale.

Pier 1 has some good options for floral as well.  They have some beautiful floral stems (I'm loving the peony sprays - I may be replacing our hydrangeas with pink peonies for the spring and summer) as well as arrangements, though many of their arrangements are pricey.

Faux Peony Buds Spray

Faux Hydrangea Stem

Pier 1 also has some unique options like this floral wall arrangement. It's kind of romantic and glamorous! In the right spot in your house, it could be beautiful! And if you wanted to create a whole wall a la Kim and Kanye's wedding you totally could! ;-)

Spring Blooms Faux Flower Wall Arrangement

A few weeks ago I started buying fresh hydrangeas at Central Market. I loved having fresh flowers in my house! And then I gave up shopping so I had to give up my flowers. You can bet that on April 1st I'll be buying some fresh flowers!

Accessories

You can see some stems I purchased at World Market in the background along with  my floral Vera Bradley throw (I guess it qualifies as "fake" flowers ~ ha!). Changing out your pillows, throws, table linens, and other decor items is another easy way to redecorate for the season. Choose light and bright colors, think whites, pinks, yellows, and neutrals.

If you have a tiered tray you can change up what you display depending on the season (and bonus: it works great as a serving piece!). Here are a few of my favorites from Pinterest. I actually have one tiered tray that I purchased from World Market a few months ago and another from Pottery Barn that is still sitting in a box. I ordered it before I gave up shopping, but it arrived after and I've been going back and forth between suffering from buyer's remorse and the overwhelming desire to decorate my new tiered tray! I got it on sale and there was free shipping, so the price was great, but do I really need it?!  I'm hoping to figure out the answer to that question before the return policy is up!

The Hamby Home

She Leaves a Little Sparkle

Painted Fox Home

Whimsy Girl Design

She Leaves a Little Sparkle

How do you change up your decor for Spring?

XOXO,

Blue Apron Meals

Last Thanksgiving I received a coupon in the mail for $20 off my first Blue Apron box. Michael and I had been trying to cook more, and eat healthier, so we decided to give it a try. We love it!

They offer two different plans: a two-person plan and a family plan. The 2-person plan includes three meals per week at a price of $59.94. It works out to about $10 a meal per person. The family plan (serves 4) offers two different options, either two meals per week for $69.92 or four meals per week for $139.84. That works out to about $9 a meal per person.

When you first sign up you fill out a questionnaire about the types of meals you want to receive. You select whether you're a vegetarian (with the 2-person plan they have six recipes per week to choose from, though not all combinations are available, and three of those are always vegetarian options), and then you can uncheck the meats you don't eat. I'm trying to be more open to trying new things so I haven't unchecked anything on mine. However, as I said, you do have the ability to change your menu and receive a combination of vegetarian and regular meals so I've done that on occasion.

When you sign up, you get to select your delivery day. We chose Tuesday. The contents of the box are in an insulated liner with ice packs, so if you're not home when the box is delivered it's okay. We had a box delivered in the morning that I didn't bring inside until late afternoon, and everything was still ice cold when I unboxed it. It's nice because you have about nine days from your delivery day to actually make all the meals, so there isn't necessarily a concern about picking just the right day....if Michael is out of town I usually wait until the weekend to cook our meals.

Included in every box are recipe cards that give you step by step instructions. If you're still a little unsure of what you're doing, they have videos on their website!

If you are considering getting the meals, you have to be willing to do all of the prep work. The vegetables aren't precut (they wouldn't last as long if they were), so there is a lot of  peeling, chopping, and dicing involved. I've gotten really good use out of the glass mixing bowls I got for my wedding (I linked similar ones below with a few other must haves). Prep time for each meal is usually 20 minutes or less, so it's not like you're spending hours in the kitchen, but these aren't meals that you can just throw in the oven as soon as you get home from work.

We have a pretty stocked pantry, but to cook Blue Apron meals the only things you need to have on hand are olive oil, salt and pepper. Everything else comes preportioned, either in a sealed bag or in small containers. Each delivery comes with separate bags of "knick knacks." This can include butter, ginger, spices & seasonings, sauces, etc.

Here are the knick knacks for the Alsatian Chicken that came with this week's box.

When we first started receiving boxes we got a box every week. For the first two months we did this and only ever threw away one meal, and it wasn't because we didn't like it, we just ended up eating out and didn't get a chance to cook it. After that Michael started traveling more frequently and it just didn't make sense to get a box every week. It's nice because while it is a subscription service, you can skip meals for weeks at a time and you only ever pay for the boxes you receive, so you aren't wasting money.

I love it because it's gotten me to be more adventurous with the foods I eat. I never thought I liked lamb, but one week we got lamb burgers and they were really good! I've tried celeriac, Brussels Sprouts, kale, rainbow chard, collard greens, beets, freekah, farro, and the list goes on. I've liked everything (some things more than others). 

Here are a few of the meals we've tried and enjoyed:

Roast Chicken & Potato Latkes

Three Cheese Calzones with Kale & Tomato Sauce

If you'd like to try it let me know. Every once in awhile they give me free meals to share with friends, and I'll be happy to share with you! 

XOXO,

Most Used February

I like trying new products, but sometimes it's hard to go out on a limb and buy something new without someone recommending it. I am by no means an expert, but I know what I like and what works for me so I figured I'd share. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a new favorite product based on what I share! :)

I was using the Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser, and I liked it, but I wasn't blown away by the results so when it was time to repurchase I decided to try a drugstore cleanser. I purchased the Olay Total Effects 7 Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser and so far I've been really happy with it. 

I've also been using the Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover to remove my eye makeup. I've got sensitive eyes, so it was important that I find something that didn't irritate my eyes and easily removed my eye makeup. This fits the bill. Warning: don't leave your purple nail polish remover sitting on the counter near the makeup remover. You might accidentally grab the wrong bottle and instantly regret it. Oh, the burn! Luckily I had my eyes closed and I realized after the first swipe across my eyelid and was able to rinse quickly so it didn't do any damage.

Even though this winter hasn't been that cold, my hands have still been dry and cracked. They just hurt, so I decided I needed to use something besides just lotion. I had been looking at L'Occitane products since our Paris trip last October, so I decided to try their One Minute Hand Scrub. When it arrived I was a little concerned because it looked very liquidy. That's why you should read the directions! Turns out you have to use the included spatula to mix before using it.  Once it's mixed I scoop some out and rub my hands together for about a minute before rinsing with warm water. After I rinse and dry my hands, I immediately follow up with Soap & Glory Hand Food. Best. Lotion. Ever. I even have my father-in-law using it! I used to buy it from Sephora, but they stopped carrying it so now I buy it at Ulta. You will love it!

I have never had long, healthy nails. My nails tend to peel and break very easily. I used to get my nails done, but that got expensive so I stopped. Since then my nails have been just awful, so when I got the Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat as a sample with a Sephora order, I decided to try it. It's supposed to strengthen and harden your nails. Good and good. When used on a regular basis my nails are much healthier and they actually grow! It makes the whites of my nails look whiter and the pinks pinker. It almost looks like I have a french manicure when I use it ~ love it!

I have been trying out different shampoos and conditioners this month because I was participating in a hair trial (I hope to share more about the products I tried soon!), but Matrix So Silver has stayed in my weekly rotation because I love what it does for my hair! When I have my hair highlighted (so always) it tends to pull reds and golds. Because of this it can start to look a little brassy. I use the Matrix So Silver once or twice a week to neutralize the brassiness. The directions on the bottle say to wear gloves (the shampoo is purple), but I don't ever do that and I haven't turned purple yet! ;-)

I added the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product to my hair care routine this month. After showering I spray it on towel dried hair and comb through. I've noticed that my hair is softer and looks healthier since I started using it.

As far as makeup, I've pretty much stuck to most of what I mentioned in my January post (all linked below), but have added a few things back into the rotation. The Too Faced Chocolate Bar Eye Palette (the original one) is still one of my favorite eye shadow palettes. The colors are beautiful, have great payoff, and it smells like chocolate! What more could a girl want from her eyeshadow? I have also started using my YSL Gloss Volupte again (I have shade 20 Nude Carat). It's not at all sticky, just very glossy and wet feeling. I know, the description I just gave has you running out to buy it. I do have a gift with words, don't I? ;-) I've also started using my Urban Decay Perversion mascara again. It lengthens and adds volume to my lashes. Love it!

Those are my most used products for this month. Let me know if you decide to try any of them! What are your favorite hair and beauty products?

XOXO,

Friday Pinspiration {Couches and Sectionals}

Right now we have a leather couch that we got about five years ago from Rooms to Go. It's sad because right after we got it I kind of regretted the purchase. Our old couch was so comfortable, and it was perfect for naps. It isn't that our "new" couch isn't comfortable, it just isn't really one of those couches that you can really cozy into, if that makes sense.

I have been swooning over cozy living rooms on Pinterest and Instagram for the past several months, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites here. For now that's all I can do: swoon, but sometime in the near future I plan on bringing one of these home! 

Makeup by Tiffany D

Lindevegen

I'm in love with the tufting on this couch, and it just looks cozy! In her blog Jennifer shared that this sofa is made by Bernhardt. After visiting the Bernhardt website I discovered that they do make a London Club Sectional, but it's MASSIVE, so I think if I did end up going with this I'd stick with the "smaller" (92 1/2") sofas as pictured here.

The Grace House

Decor Pad

I have seen the Ikea Ektorp Sectional all over Instagram and Pinterest. You definitely can't beat the price ($999), so if and when we decide to go couch shopping we'll definitely make a trip up to Frisco to visit Ikea.

The Glam Farmhouse

I saw this sectional at Haverty's when I was furniture shopping with a client and it was really comfy. 

Havertys

This is another sectional I pinned for a client. It looks like it would be perfect to curl up on, but the seat looks kind of deep so I'm not sure how good it would be for just sitting. I never really thought about couch depth until I was shopping with my mom last month. We found a beautiful couch that was super soft, but when you sat down you basically had to recline to be able to touch the back of the sofa (or sit with your feet hanging above the floor, which is awkward). My mother-in-law said it best when she said that they don't design a lot of furniture for short people, and I'm more of an average sized person! ;-)

Rooms to Go

It's fun to browse online, but I wouldn't ever buy a couch without actually sitting on it. It's one of the most used pieces of furniture in your house, so you want to make sure you think it's comfortable before buying it. 

Hopefully sometime soon I'll be sharing our new living room furniture, but for now I'll just be happy with what I have! 

Similar

XOXO,

Lemon Garlic Pasta with Spinach

Have you ever tried Barilla Veggie Pasta? I usually buy whole grain pasta, but yesterday when I was at the store I saw the veggie pasta and decided to try it. There is one full serving of vegetables in each serving of pasta - sounded good to me! I was cooking for one since Michael was out of town so I decided to make one of my favorite easy meals: Lemon Garlic Pasta with Spinach. Normally I'd make a full box of pasta and set some aside for Sophia and Carter to have with butter, but since I wasn't even sure if I would like the veggie pasta I made them macaroni & cheese. Now that I know how good it is I won't have to cook two different meals, and I'll be able to sneak them a serving of vegetables in their pasta - score!

Ingredients:

6 T EVOO

8 cloves garlic (minced)

Spinach

Barilla Veggie Thin Spaghetti

Lemon - zest and juice

Parmesan Cheese

Kosher Salt & Cracked Black Pepper

Boil water for pasta. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté about 30 seconds or until fragrant.

Add spinach and season with salt and pepper to taste. I added a large pinch of salt and about six turns of the pepper mill.

When pasta water boils, add a large pinch of salt. Don't add salt before the water boils because salt water takes longer to boil than fresh water.

Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Once pasta is finished, drain and reserve pasta water. Add pasta to spinach and season with salt and pepper. Add the zest and juice of one lemon. If needed, add reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time.

Toss and serve. Top with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

XOXO,

Our Home {Entry}

Welcome to our home!

In hindsight it probably would have made more sense to do this as my first post since it's the entrance into our house, but I didn't and I can't go back now, so I'll share it as the second home tour post.

When we decided to build this house, one of the things I loved about it was the entry. The door opens up to a beautiful "twisty" staircase (Carter's description) and you can see straight to the back of the house. Here is a shot of the entry in progress.

I can't resist posting a picture of these two cuties in the little alcove by the stairs. I can't believe how young they look!

Once we moved in I realized that while there are two windows above the front door and you can see straight to the back of the house, it was still pretty dark in there. It doesn't help that our door is solid wood. I absolutely love it, and kind of prefer that when people ring the doorbell they can't see in to know if I'm there or not (I don't know about you, but if Michael isn't home and I'm not expecting anyone, oftentimes I don't answer the door), but I'm kind of wishing that we'd chosen door with glass so it would let a little more light in. Eventually we may change it out, though we had to fight the builders for the rounded door so we'll see.

Back to entry decor....I had this bench from Home Goods sitting in the entry with a chalkboard hanging above it, and for the longest time the alcove by the stairs sat empty.

The above picture is actually from our old house, and seeing it reminds me I still have that family frame in a closet somewhere! 

Anyhow, the entry was already dark, so having a black bench with a black chalkboard above it didn't do much for the space. Enter white chalk paint and a new rug!

Looking at this photo now I realize that I never actually painted the inside of the bench under the baskets and you can totally see it. Oops! Guess I have a project to tackle next week! 

Once I had that part of the entry finished I decided it was time to tackle the alcove by the stairs. I enlisted my mom's help and we headed to the upscale furniture resale shops in the area. We saw a round table at the first store we went to, but it was listed at $199 and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend that much money on a table that would just sit in a corner. I don't know, maybe it was a good price, I just haven't bought enough furniture recently to have a good idea of the cost. We decided to keep looking, so we went to a few other resale shops, Home Goods, and Pier 1, but didn't find anything. This was late October and I planned on putting my Christmas tree in the alcove, so there wasn't a big rush. The table at the first store we went to was set to drop in price to $159 on December 8th, so I decided to hold off on making any purchases and hope the table was still there in December. If it was I knew it was meant to be, and if it wasn't I would just be incredibly disappointed (my first clue that it was the perfect table).

The day after Thanksgiving we decorated for Christmas. I realized quickly that I didn't actually want to put our Christmas tree in the alcove - the only time we'd see it was when we were in the front of the house. I wanted to be able to sit by the tree and enjoy the twinkling lights. :) Because the tree didn't go there I was very anxious to get that table! I am not a patient person when it comes to making purchases (if I decide I want something I need it now), but somehow I was able to wait until December 8th to go to the store. When I arrived there were two ladies there who were buying a couch that was next to the table and we also apparently considering the table (this from the lady at the checkout). After purchasing the table I went to Home Goods and Hobby Lobby and picked up a few things to put on the table. When I got home I immediately set it up and sent my mom this picture.

It fit pretty well, but still seemed to be missing something. We hung a mirror that I'd gotten at Hobby Lobby, but it still didn't look quite right, so I moved the chair out of our bedroom into the space. Perfect!

The finishing touch was this Joshua 24:15 sign from Petunia Fitzgerald Collections. 

I still want a little more light in the entry (the last pictures were taken with our front door open), so I'll eventually get a new chandelier for the foyer, but for now I'm happy. It's warm and welcoming, which is exactly the look I was going for!

I'll be back soon with another room reveal!

XOXO,