Conversation Heart Topiary

I made this candy topiary for a little "Galentine's" party I put together and I love the way it turned out!  When it comes to Valentine's Day, I immediately think of conversation hearts.  I hate the taste of these candies, but they are so dang cute...I knew they needed to be incorporated in some way!  

Here's what you need:

1 bag of conversation hearts

1 styrofoam ball (mine was 4")

1 wooden dowel (5/16" wide, 12" long)

1 small pot (mine was 4")

Styrofoam (to go inside the pot)

Ribbon

Hot Glue

Paint (only if you want to paint the pot)

1. Start applying candy hearts to the foam ball, using a hot glue gun. 

2. Try to spread the colors out evenly and try to leave as little space as possible between the hearts.  Note: this can get difficult and there will be some spots where you can still see the foam, but once it's all put together it won't be too noticeable. 

3.  Leave enough space to insert the wooden dowel into the center of the foam ball.  Make sure it goes in straight, or it will be lopsided.  Hot glue around the insertion point to secure.

4.  Cut styrofoam and place into your pot.  Insert the other end of the wooden dowel into the center of the pot's styrofoam.  Again, make sure it goes in straight, unless you want a crooked topiary.  Hot glue to secure.

5.  Hot glue conversation hearts on top of the foam in the pot.  Through trial and error, I found that it's easiest to start from the outside of the circle and work your way in. 

6.  Using the ribbon, tie a bow around the wooden dowel. 

Pretty cute, right?  The best part is that it cost less than $5 to make!  Let me know if you try this, I'd love to see how yours turns out!

Black, with a side of aqua.

Top: Sears (similar), Faux Leather Jacket: c/o SheInside, Coated Jeans: Rock & Republic, Boots: Kohls, Necklace: Target, Watch: Michael Kors, Bag: Kate Spade (similar)

One of my favorite outfits is all black, with a little pop of color.  Unfortunately, my dog sheds a lot, which makes wearing black a little difficult...anyone else have that problem?  There's nothing worse than leaving your house and then realizing your pants are covered in dog hair!  Anyway, I love this look and it was the perfect outfit to enjoy a day of ice skating with my family. 

Yup, we have sweet ice skating moves.

Also, I wanted to tell you all about a great website called StyleUp. After you fill out your profile, StyleUp sends you a daily e-mail with outfit ideas that are specifically tailored to your local weather and personal style.  Not only do I love the outfit ideas, but it's actually become a great way for me to find new blogs to read!  Anyway, it's definitely worth trying out!

Mustard, green and an evil ice hill.

Blouse: Kohls, Cardigan: Target (love this one), Green Skinnies: c/o Liverpool Jeans (similar), Bag: Kate Spade (similar), Boots: Really old (Similar), Watch: Michael Kors

I've had these boots for quite a few years and I bought them back before over-the-knee boots were popular.  I think I wore them once and just wasn't into them.  They don't even hit above my knee (since I'm so tall) and they aren't tight enough around my calves, so they always slouch down.  However, I'm kind of glad I kept them in my closet, because I'd been wanting a pair of grey boots for a while and these will do for now...until I can find some that I love.

Do you have anything in your closet that you've hung onto for years, because you think you might wear it in the future?  I wouldn't consider myself a hoarder, but I do have a hard time getting rid of things that I think might be useful again someday...ok, maybe I have slight hoarding tendencies.  

If your wondering why my face looks pained in some of these pictures, it's because...well...I WAS in pain.  I was walking down a hill, trying to find a good photo location, when I slipped on some ice and fell down. This caused me to smack my hand against the rock-hard ice and cut it open in a few places.  I then proceeded to slide all the way down the evil ice hill, unable to stop myself.  At this point I have a bloody hand, a wet butt and a bad attitude.  But, guess what?  I was NOT going to let that stop me from getting my outfit pictures, dang it!

Sweater: The Children's Place, Jeans: Target (stains not included), Shoes: Nike

And if your wondering what is usually going on in the background, while I'm having pictures taken, the picture above pretty much sums it up.

SkinCeuticals and the NIMA Beauty Bar

Remember that time I went to visit the Spa at NIMA and they gave me some fancy skin products to try out?  Well, I've had the opportunity to test them out for a long period of time and I feel like I can give these SkinCeuticals products a proper review!

As I've mentioned before, I have somewhat bad skin.  I'm constantly getting break-outs and it's the most annoying thing.  I'm in my late 20s and I always thought acne was supposed to go away once people are no longer teenagers...not for me apparently!  Luckily, the NIMA beauty bar has so many different skin care products and they are able to help find the best items for your specific skin type. 

I'll start with my absolute favorite product: Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream.  This stuff is the best exfoliator I've ever used.  I put it on my entire face, every other night, for 30 minutes. Then I rinse it off and put on moisturizer.  On problem areas, such as my chin and forehead, I put it on every night.  This not only reduces my breakouts, it also helps to even out my overall skin tone.  The retinol supposedly stimulates cell regeneration and collagen production, but this girl is no scientist, so I can't really say if that's true or not...I just know that it's making my skin look better!

Retinol can cause sensitivity to light, so it's necessary to wear sunscreen (even when it's cloudy).  The Physical Fusion UV Defense has provided great protection and the best part is that it has a tint to it, which is nice for those mornings when I don't have time to put on actual makeup.  It's super light-weight and you can't even tell you are wearing it!

The other product I love is the SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture.  I use this product every evening after using the Retinol cream.  It's a lightweight moisturizer that doesn't leave skin feeling greasy and it doesn't clog your pores, which is obviously essential if you don't want zits to pop up all over your face!  

The one product I can't say much about is the Clarifying Cleanser.  It is a cleanser and exfoliator in one, which is fine if you aren't already using an exfoliator...but this, combined with the retinol, was too much for my face to handle.  My face got really dry and flaky, so I wasn't able to use both at the same time.  Maybe once I run out of the Retinol I will give the cleanser a try.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the SkinCeuticals line of products.  They are a bit pricey, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make my skin look and feel healthy!  If you are in Utah, make sure to check out the Spa at NIMA and their fantastic Beauty Bar!

Black Bean Salsa and an Easy Superbowl Party!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Rubbermaid and Sharpie but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RubbermaidSharpie http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Did anyone watch the playoff games last night?  I sure did and I'm so excited, because both teams I was rooting for are going to the Superbowl!  I'm hoping the Seahawks will win, since I'm from the Pacific Northwest and all...but my husband is a huge Peyton Manning fan, so he is all for the Broncos winning.  It's going to be a fun game!  But no superbowl game is complete without a party, right?!  Well, I've come up with a couple fun ways to make your game-day party a hit, with the help of Rubbermaid food storage and Sharpie markers.

First, I wanted to put together a little Superbowl guessing game to make things a little more interesting.  I came up with several questions and printed them out on white paper, then decorated them with Sharpie markers.  I think this will be a fun thing for the whole family to do!

I wanted to create something that my guests could take home as a little memento of the party.  These Rubbermaid containers were the perfect size for an individual portion of salsa (which people can use during the game and then fill up before they head home).  I used the Sharpie markers to personalize containers for both the Seahawks and Broncos fans!

Last, but definitely not least...the black bean salsa!  This is my favorite type of salsa and it's pretty simple to make.  Since I think everyone should enjoy this delicious snack, I've decided to share the recipe with you...you can thank me later!

Ingredients:

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can whole kernel sweet corn, drained

4 roma tomatoes, diced

1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

2 avocados, diced

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Directions:

Mix together black beans, corn, tomatoes, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro, salt and lime juice in a large bowl.  Fold in avocado.  Cover and place in fridge until ready to serve.  Note: this salsa tastes the best after sitting in the fridge for a couple hours!

Starting January 25th and running through February 8th, Target will have some great deals on Rubbermaid and Sharpie products.  There will be coupons for $1 off Rubbermaid food storage and $1 off a Sharpie pack of 4 or larger.  Coupons will be sent out via text and you can just show the barcode at the register...so convenient! If you aren't already signed up for Target's mobile coupons you can simply text COUPONS to TARGET at anytime. I use the mobile coupons ALL the time, so it's definitely worth doing!

So, what are YOUR plans for the Superbowl?  Which team will you be rooting for?

Nashville

Being a flight attendant definitely has its ups and downs, but one of the best things about my job is getting to explore cities I've never been to before.  I recently had a long layover in Nashville, aka "Music City".  I happen to enjoy country music, so I loved that there were live bands in almost every bar along Broadway.  There is such a fun vibe in this city.  Oh, and let's not forget the food!  I went to a place called Jack's Bar-B-Que and it was honestly some of the best BBQ I've ever had...I highly recommend the beef brisket!  Here are some pictures from my little Nashville, Tennessee adventure:

Have you been to Nashville before?  Any places I need to check out the next time I'm there?

Aztec, I still love you.

Jacket: c/o Sosie, Jeans: Paige Denim, Shirt: Target, Bag: Kate Spade, Boots: Kohls, Watch: Nixon c/o WatchCo, Necklace: Target

The Aztec/Tribal print trend might have already come and gone...but I'm still loving it!  This jacket from Sosie adds such a great pattern to an otherwise simple outfit.  The cold and snowy days have gotten me feeling a little 'blah', so it's nice to wear something fun to help brighten my mood.  Do you ever wear something special to help make your day a little better?  Maybe I'm just weird, haha. 

Linking to: Style Sessions, WIWW

2014 Spring Fashion Trends (that you can wear now)

When I buy clothing I try to make sure it can last longer than one season...so, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias, I headed to Sears to find some 2014 Fashion Trends that can be worn for the duration of Winter and still be hot in the Spring!  I wouldn't call myself a fashion "expert" by any means, but there were several items I found while shopping that are sure to be a hit for the upcoming season.

1. Florals.  Once the temperatures warm up a bit, the flowers start blooming on the ground...and on blouses, skirts and other clothing!  The best way to wear florals in the Winter is by incorporating them into your accessories.  I chose this gorgeous floral scarf, which could really be worn year-round.  I think it looks great combined with the dark colors in this outfit, but I can't wait to wear it with a pair of jeans and a short-sleeve top.

2. Purple.  It was recently announced that "Radiant Orchid" is the Pantone Color of the Year for 2014.  While that specific shade is more of a light lavender-fuchsia, I think all shades of purple will be trending this Spring.  I picked out this great purple pencil skirt, because it had the perfect fit and I know I can get a lot of use out of it.  I love that I can wear it with darker colors and tights now.  How to wear it later?  I think I'll pair the skirt with a cream colored blouse and strappy heels!

3. Pastels.  These light, pretty colors are almost always a hit in the Spring...and this year will be no exception.  Baby blues, mint greens, and soft purples are sure to make their way onto the clothing racks.  Pastels can be tricky to wear in the Winter, but there are definitely ways to make them work.  For example, you could wear a mint colored blouse (such as this one) with a pair of jeans, brown boots and a brown leather jacket.  Just make sure to keep the rest of your outfit neutral when wearing pastels and it will look great!  Once Spring rolls around, feel free to mix it up with some fun and colorful prints! 

I love that I was able to find some great pieces at really affordable prices.  I was even able to earn points toward my next purchase by using my Shop Your Way rewards card...can't complain about that! Make sure you stay up to date on promotions by liking Sears on Facebook, or following along on Instagram and Twitter @SearsStyle.  You can also see what other great items people have found at Sears by searching the hashtag #ThisisStyle.

I would love to hear some of the trends and styles you are looking forward to wearing this Spring!
   
(This is a sponsored post for Sears and #cbias. However, all opinions are 100% my own.)