{Christmas Gifts} A New Approach.

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Over the past several years, I have developed a great love for the Haitian people. I have wanted many times to share this love with the blog world yet each time I sit down to crank out a post, words simply fail me. 
And honestly, I still don't know what I want to say... I don't know how to explain my love for these people.
But what I do know is that during this holiday season, I am acutely aware of all that I have and all that the Haitian people do not have... I am aware of every set of eyes I have looked into, every giggle I've heard from a Haitian child, every time a child has played with my hair because they have never felt "white people" hair before and every single time my sunglasses have been "stolen" for a picture. These images cannot be undone and that's why my husband and I have asked Santa to help us continue to love on the Haitian community in lieu of gifts this year...






You see, Haitians do not have the luxury of  expressing love through generous gift giving. All they have to offer is a relationship built on love. And because of their love for me, I am a better person.
I guess that's why I cannot stop thinking about these little faces and considering how I can help them during this holiday season. Since J and I do not have unlimited resources and we cannot promise a village fresh water, we chose to encourage our friends and family to help us love on these people.

I'm sharing this post with you today to remind you not to lose focus on the true meaning of the season  and encourage you to connect with some sort of charitable organization in 2013 by pouring into the lives of others. No matter what that looks like for you, I can assure you, the love that you will receive will far outweigh the love you know how to give.


P.S. If you think you might like to give abroad and help the people of Haiti, let me know in the comments section and I would be more than happy to give you some advice based on my experiences.

{Closet Copy Cat} Skirts.

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Natalia & Christie from Ma Nouvelle Mode and Kelley from the Grant Life are so creative. Each week Natalia sends a style inspiration directly to your inbox and challenges you to get creative with your closet. I LOVE IT! You should sign up for the challenge and link up with them on Thursdays! 
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This week I jumped back on the Closet Copy Cat bandwagon! The challenge featured a cute sequins outfit from the co-host Sandy a la Mode. But I don't own an article of sequins (it is pretty though!) so I received my style inspiration from the cute little skirts she featured. 

Isn't she adorable?!? 
Since I was feeling especially festive, I pulled out some winter skirts from the back of my closet and paired  them with tights and boots. 
Sweater: The Limited, Skirt: LL Bean (Gift), Boots: Tommy Hilfiger.

What do you think? 

Holiday VoxBox

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I received the coolest lil' box of goodies from Influenster. 
The first item I pulled out of the box was the Goody QuikStyle Paddle Brush. This brush has super absorbent microfiber brushes that removes up to 30% of water as you style. After using for several days, I have the following opinions:
Pros: As marketed, the brush did help my hair dry quicker. The microfiber bristles did not tangle in my hair as I hand anticipated. 
Cons: The brush is heavier than my current hair brush. Also, the bristles are a bit coarse at first. 

Then I channeled my inner diva with  Kiss Nail Dress.  These nail "stickers" just require you to peel, apply and share for a manicure that lasts up to a week.
Pros: I am no master in the manicure department and was kind of freaked out when I received these little dudes. However, they were so easy to apply! Following, the finger nail application, I polished by toe nails and got a little bit of remover on them and they stayed perfect. SCORE!
Cons: The pattern is a bit bold for me so took some adjusting. 




              The following morning, I had a healthy breakfast with some Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal.  The cups allow you to enjoy breakfast on the go! 
Pros: Easy to prepare and travel. Healthy breakfast choice.
Cons: No negative remarks about this little medley of goodness.






After my breakfast, I needed a pick me up due to all of the holiday buzz and was able to sample EBoost. These packets improve focus, mood and immunity with natural ingredients. 
Pros: The price point is lower than say Zija or another natural energy drink mix. The flavor is also tastier. 
Cons: No Cons. 





After breakfast, I got dolled up and ready for some holiday festivities and by adding some shine to my holiday make-up routine with NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine. I've heard a lot about this brand from my cousin as she raves about the quality of product you receive for a low price so I was thrilled to try it out. 
Pros: The nude New York hue gave me a hint of color and a lot of shine. The gloss smells absolutely amazing and does not stick! 
Cons: No cons.


As you can see, I had an awesome time testing all of these amazing products and brands. You should pick your favorite product above and rush to the store for your own sampling. :) 

Although I received the box for review, all opinions are my own. 

Stability Ball Desk Chair

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Call me a hipster or tell my my desk chair looks like playground equipment, I don't care (by the way, my boss actually said that! I love her)... but it doesn't keep me from loving my new stability ball desk chair. 

( Check out the Erin Condren Planner cameo appearance. More on this gem later! )
I purchased this style of chair after rave reviews from my little sister (she has one at work too!) , research and feeling totally annoyed by the nagging pain in my lower back.  I like 80% of Americans  suffer from lower back pain. Fortunately, I choose to combat this annoyance with some good ole' core strengthening instead of the traditional medication therapy alternative (ahem, I work in a medical office. They are good people!). 
During my research, I found loads of information on the benefits of using a balance ball and integrating it into your work day. Here are a few: 
1. Forces Spinal Alignment. Since the ball rolls around quite a bit, it forces you into proper posture as a result encouraging spinal health and decreasing back pain.
2. Causes you to change positions regularly. Every time you move, you adjust your balance. This reduces spinal damage from prolonged sitting. 
3. Stronger Core. Sitting up tall helps you strengthen your mid-section and helps reduce lower back pain. 
Once I realized the health benefits associated with purchasing a stability ball desk chair, I had to decide on the type... You would be surprised by all of the options, I am not EVEN kidding! Anyway, I made a list of criterion and set out to find the most perfect chair for me... My demands included:
- 30 inches above the ground to sit comfortably at my desk.- extra support for the back to make the transition smoother.- wheels so I can scoot around my office. :)- under $100.
After several weeks of searching, I found the perfect chair. I mulled over the purchase for several more weeks just to make sure I wasn't making a decision based on "trendiness" and then ended up snagging it. 
I am so glad I took the leap of faith and purchased the chair. After the first use, my back felt better after a long day of work. I know this alternative may not be for everyone but for me it's been awesome!  

Raspberry Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

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Over the holidays, I wanted to bring some yummy goodness into the office. While searching online, I found an amazing recipe on Your Cup of Cake for some delicious Raspberry Hot Chocolate Cupcakes! 

By following the recipe as so beautifully outlined on Miss Lizzie's blog, I was able to create perhaps the most delicious cupcake EVER! 



IngredientsCake:1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix3 eggs1/2 C. oil3/4 C. milk or buttermilk1/2 C. plain yogurt or sour cream1 tsp. vanilla extractFilling:1 Can SOLO Raspberry Pastry FillingChocolate Raspberry Buttercream:1 C. butter, softened1/2 C. unsweetened cocoa powder1 tsp. vanilla extract2 tsp. raspberry flavored gelatin1 Tbsp. milk3-4 C. powdered sugarMini Marshmallows to decorate
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.3. In a large bowl. combine eggs, oil, milk, sour cream and vanilla extract.4. Stir in cake mix until smooth.5. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 17-22 minute or until an inserted knife comes out clean.6. Buttercream: Beat butter for 2 minutes. Add cocoa powder, vanilla extract, gelatin and milk and mix until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.7. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a knife to cut out a deep hole into each cupcake. Fill with a spoon full of SOLO raspberry filling.8. Pipe buttercream over filling and top with mini marshmallows.

Needless to say everyone at work LOVED the cupcakes! I think most of the girls enjoyed them for breakfast even! 
P.S. For more information and better visuals on how to master these yummy cupcakes or for more awesome ideas check out  Your Cup of Cake blog. 
Enjoy! 

Tool Time Tuesday...Organize Your Christmas

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Hi everyone. Today's Tool Time isn't so much a project, but more of tip for Christmas organization.

Each year I share a tour of our home decorated for Christmas and one the question that is asked over and over is..where do you keep all your decorations?

For 20 years, I kept everything in the attic. Big PAIN!! We have a pull down ladder and...well, you can picture the frustration. My goal last Christmas was to clear a spot in the basement for easy access. Our basement is unfinished, so it doesn't have to be pretty down there!!

I used 2 old tables for top storage and great storage underneath too.




Here's the first tip...

Use color coded boxes for every holiday. If all your holiday decorations are in the same place, colored boxes help to identify them easily. Red for Christmas, brown for autumn, orange for Halloween, blue for Easter etc...



Second tip...save any sturdy box for small storage. Shoe boxes, gift boxes etc.

These boxes hold things like...

• window candles and the bulbs that go with them
• small decorative evergreen trees
• Christmas cookie cutters
• florals

Third tip...invest in ornament boxes. Any type is great, but make sure they have individualized compartment for ornament protection.

These just have layers of cardboard with cardboard dividers. These really keep your ornaments safe and sound.


Final tip...LABEL every box.

There's nothing more frustrating than going through a ton of boxes searching for that one Santa decoration.



I've been collecting Christmas decoration for over 25 years. Most everything is purchased at the after Christmas sales...50% - 90% off. Boxes help keep new things organize, so I know where they are the next year.

I know plastic storage containers can be expensive in some stores. Look for sales and try to buy one or two boxes a year and before you know it, you have enough to make your holidays a little less stressful at decorating time!!

If I had to pick one tip for you to use it would be the Labels...very, very helpful. Saves time and money, because you know where things are and you won't purchase duplicate items.

Happy decorating,
~Karen~

Wonderful PDF Purse Patterns...

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Hello everyone. I want to share with you a new sponsor on my blog...and you will be so excited!!

ChrisWDesigns


You will be blown away with not only Christine's purse patterns, but her blog, tips page and tutorials. Her attention to detail with all her patterns is amazing...pages of instructions and colored step by step photos all sent to you via email in PDF form. Quick and easy!!!

Here are just a few of her wonderful purse patterns...click the title to see the pattern.

Bella Purse...


Amy Backpack...


The Eve Clutch...


Abigail...


Click HERE for a link to Christine's Info Page...great explanation of her patterns.

This is her rating system for ease of sewing her patterns...to cute.


You can also visit Christine on her website, blog, twitter etc...

ChrisWDesigns...http://www.chriswdesigns.com

Blog...http://blog.chriswdesigns.com

Etsy...http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChrisWDesigns

Facebook...https://www.facebook.com/ChrisWDesigns

Twitter...http://twitter.com/myChrisWDesigns

I hope you enjoy looking through all of Christine's purse patterns, tips and tutorials. Stop by and tell her Karen sent you!!

Thanks for visiting,
~Karen~

Embroidery Hoop Tinsel Wreath...

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I've been busy decorating for Christmas, but wanted to share a very fast wreath project with you!!

I needed 2 small wreaths in the girls' bathroom. They are away at school until next week, so these wreaths are just up for a Christmas party I'm having tomorrow.


The project is so simple. It uses a package of tinsel garland and any hoop or wreath form.

I have lots of embroidery hoops that I'm not using any more for cross stitching and I always buy them in yard sales or thrift stores when I see them just for this reason...perfect shape.


Open the hoop a little and pinch the end of the garland to secure.

You can also open it up and use the 2 parts for 2 different wreaths!!


Then all you do is wrap the garland around the hoop.


This is a 10 inch hoop...


This package is 15 feet of garland. If your hoop or wreath form is small the garland will be thicker. If your hoop is larger, you might need 2 packages of garland.


Here is the wreath hanging in the girls' bathroom.






I hang little ornaments each year on their shower curtain.


This year I found these flat ornaments at Walmart.


The tinsel tree was an after Christmas sale a few years ago, but to make it a little more substantial I added a candle stick for the base.


Just an old candle stick that doesn't have a mate any more.



Try the wreath...it is so fast and easy.

Happy Decorating,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...Painting Mirrors

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Happy Tuesday everyone! Today's Tool Time is about painting...paint primer to be exact. The picture below is the "after" of an area in our home that has been on the "to do" list for 19 years. 
Ok, saying 19 years out loud seems crazy, but we all know how things can get pushed aside for other projects. When you move into a new place, you have so many projects to do to make someone else's house your home. Painting rooms, new flooring, drapery and we even had new additions so my parents could move in with us.
This whole wall is a wall of mirrors and would be a daunting task of removing it and re-sheet rocking.
Well, I finally addressed this problem without much effort or money at all. 


Here's the miracle primer...Stix!

This is the BEFORE...this whole wall surrounding the opening into the den area (where the Christmas tree is), is all mirror...floor to ceiling. The white wall to the right is where I already started to prime.


Here is the after with tan paint...it actually feels like a room now.

This wall in the left foreground with the evergreen wreath on it is a wall that bumps out from the kitchen. The bump out is mirror on the other side too.


This is the other side...

Here is the whole wall primed with Stix.

Rolled on easily and washed easily too.


I did leave one wall mirror and I do have plans for that. I am going to frame it out with wide molding to make it look like those big framed mirrors you see in Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware.


Similar to this look from Pottery Barn...

or this from Pinterest...

Here's the "after" painting with the one section left alone as mirror. No trim yet. You really don't see this mirror when you walk into the house from the front door, so my girls will be happy that I left one mirror.
We all do that one last check of the outfit and hair on the way out the door!!

The wreath on the left is kind of dark in this picture, but I did hang it from a small nail in the wood molding at the very  top.

I'm sure I could use the 3M hooks, but really want the primer and paint set or cure before I add anything to it.





This is a before picture with half of the mirror painted with the primer...

 This is the after. Feels so much warmer in this room now.


 This is one selection of molding that I might use for the mirror trim.


It's 3 inches wide and uses rosettes in the corners so you don't have to cut mitered corners.


This is a test look at it.

I will be using Liquid Nails to attach it to the mirror.


When the trim is cut and glued,  I will definitely do a post on it for you!!

Stay tuned!!!

Hope this tip helps any one out there who has mirror that's been bothering them too.

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~