BEAUTY IS A LIFESTYLE THING

Smoothies! A smoothie is a beverage that can be made by blending raw fruit and/or vegetables with dairy products, water, ice cubes, and sweeteners.  Smoothies can be for breakfast, lunch, and a snack (in between meal times). Smoothies can be protein packed, gluten free, Quick & Easy, fiber rich and filled with vitamins. Most smoothies are approximately between 150-200 calories, depending on the variables, like extra added things i.e. oatmeal, nuts, or sugars, or heavy vegetables. For this post, I love things that are quick and easy. So I concentrate on 5 or less ingredients (or whatever I have on hand and then adjust recipe) this recipe one can use frozen fruit! So here’s a simple recipe for 5 ingredients: 1 whole banana 3/4C blueberries 3/4C blackberries (substitute strawberries) ¾-1C milk (I use 2%, calories go down with skim milk) 6 ounce Greek yogurt (unsweetened or can use vanilla or honey flavored) Put all ingredients in blender and pulse for abou

I have  always loved to make things with grapevine wreaths because they are relatively cheap to purchase, and can be found at most places like craft stores and Walmart for example. I never like anything that stays permanently, so literally, if I am using a grapevine indoors one can just "stick the decor into the woven pieces of grapevine and usually it will stay until you want to change it into something else" Of course, if using outside or on a door like this that is constantly moving or in direct contact with the weather, I will "wire" pieces onto the wreath to ensure that they stay in place.  For this post I'm showing an old wreath that has seen its day, yes it is over 15 years old and falling apart, it is also not substantial to be placed on a front door anymore, adding pieces to make it more substantial and pretty, I have added whatever I had laying around the house! I first backed it by wiring the grapevine on top of the "egg wreath" and t

Spring is in the air and I promise this modge podge of mess will become great and beautiful spring crafts that anyone would love to put in their house!  And in fact you can easy peasy by using things from around your home and refashioning it into something else (some people call it upcycling), I save thing like ribbons, broken frames, candlesticks, and I buy grapevine wreaths by the bulk. I use my dining room to stage most things, it is a bright and uncluttered room that if I don't finish my projects no really has to walk directly through it!   I do use things from nature like leaves and sticks. I use things like old wooden box, covered boxes, candy dishes and even margarita glasses to make nests for bunnies and birdies! I'll post finished pieces soon. Have fun and Happy Spring! *Not                 pictured here are all of my bunnies & Easter stuff. Also things needed are patience & glue gun.

One of My new Favorite Beautiful song-bird voices, please enjoy this song called Issues. I first saw her on Jimmy Fallon and have not stopped listening to the song!  Enjoy!

I enjoyed the Baked by Bree food Blog, that has been chosen as one of the best 100 blogs for 2016 by Better Homes and Gardens! I enjoyed  her fabulous  Cranberry Walnut Blue Cheese Pinwheels!  Today I received the thank you note,  a great sample of California Walnuts and 2 recipe books!    Thank you for the nice little sweepstakes win!  #BakedbyBree #CaliforniaWalnuts #BetterHomesAndGardens

I meant to file this in early February, but I had forgotten about it so here is a quick project.  Gather sticks from fallen winter branches,  arrange like flowers ( here I gather large enough hand fulls that it fit pretty snuggly in the vase.  I like using sticks in the winter,  they add some depth and color.  If you have dogwood in your yard they are fabulous for color. Sometimes leaves are still attached!  I simply arranged,  then wrapped a colorful tasseled rope around and that was it! My lit niche measures 4 feet by 3 feet,  so most everything has to be somewhat large for this area.

I gave this an awesome review of 4**** my nails were hard,  shiny and chip resistant.  This is a 2 step method.  Step 1 is base and coat.  Step 2 Diamond Top Coat.  Awesome products from Revlon I got this free from them as an @influenster badge prize!  How awesome!  I would've given this 5***** except I would have loved a darker base color.  Awesome and you should try this! 

****** Current Update*****  This contest has just ended, more about the winner in an updated post as soon as it is announced!  Thanks for checking it out and I hope one of my followers is a winner!!! ***** Beauty and The Beast Promotional Contest! See the trailer and the awesome Duns Castle!  Enter here: Home Away Presents: Celebrate Disney's Beauty and the Beast!  Enter this sweepstakes and you and 20 guests could win a stay at Duns Castle!  Plus 5 runner's up could win a Home Away Vacation!  Enter here: https://activate.bloglovin.com/s/ijZ8CsAhlc #partner #beourguest   *18 or over

I'm excited because I'm soon to receive my first ever StitchFix! It's exciting because not having enough time to shop, or not finding something I'd like in the stores I shop, I decided to give StitchFix a try.   It's very simple to fill out a profile on yourself with your likes and dislikes in fashion and then your personal size profile!  That's it~  When your StitchFix arrives, you'll get to try each item on at home, keep what you like and then return any of the items back in a postage paid envelope system. Easy! Exciting!  I'll have more on this later! In the meantime, here's a referral: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/10884644?sod=w&som=c

Wellness challenge,  I accept. You may have read my last article about finding my hygge, where I'm trying to get in touch with my "comfort zone" and "stress-free zone", using the concepts of hygge with comfort foods, comfort things, like soft pillows, afghans and leggings. I love natural light as well and my comfort spot is located near my windows. I have dedicated this spot as a place where I can slow down and accept doing less, even if just for a few minutes. I came across a blog post today on bloglovin.com by becauseimaddicted.net , I immediately followed her and also let a message on the spot. I've been "practicing" for about 1 week so far, and I have noticed a sense of calm coming over me and now I cannot wait for my 15-20 minute quiet time in my special spot. I simply surround myself with things I love and spend 15-20 minutes being quiet, eyes closed (lightly meditating) with nice soothing breaths and then I will end off with about 3-

How do you Hygge with tea? Hygge is a Danish lifestyle that is currently on trend this year. This lifestyle emphasizes coziness and all things that make you feel good and comfortable.  The custom revolves around the Danish nationality and its ideas of finding comfort where one resides or works. It is said that the Hygge lifestyle came to be because they experience cold, dark and long wintery climate days. They created and celebrate Hygge to boost their spirits and those around them. Hygge is a practice of finding simple yet beloved domestic choices or daily living rituals into something special and comforting. This idea lowers the stress levels and they claim it changes their dispositions. Hygge, it can be said is a connection to simple moments and a slower -paced lifestyle. Hygge asks one to find these everyday moments and attach more meaning to them or make each moment a very special one. It asks each person to take the goodness in their lives and revel in them. It asks to emb

Valentine’s Day, Seeing Red Valentine’s Day and its history and creation are often disputed and is shrouded in mystery with many versions. What we do know, is that Valentine’s Day has its roots in ancient Roman times at a festival name Lupercalia, which was loosely associated with fertility.  History has Pope Gelasius in 496, changing it from a Pagan Festival to a Christian one, and deemed it take place on February 14 th .  It became St. Valentine’s Day when young married women came to the festival and placed their names in urns. Good things red…… RED LIPS    Red lips can command a room. When asked, most women think they can’t really pull off wearing red lips, and most men will take a longer gaze at a woman with pretty red lips. But men also said, if the lips are overpowering the face, they do not like it.  So how in the world can a girl find the right lipstick for her?  It’s true not everyone can pull off a startling red, think… Gwen Stefani….here’s a key in how to choo

Update!!  Currently this contest is closed! The winner of this contest will be announced on 2/8/17! Until the announcement you can visit:  colmansusa.com   thanks!!! Superbowl Sunday recipe makers join this contest! Colman's Mustard (dry or prepared) Chance for $500.00     Upload your recipe between 1/13/17-2/5/17 https://activate.bloglovin.com/s/lxxai22C6b

As seen on beauty is a beast blog instagram today: awesome gift! Sole Food Therapy Foot Kit.  Awesome comes complete with foot scrub  foot brush, pumice stone, foot balm lotion, and arch exerciser. Feeling of relief and softness. Filled with botanicals great scent and immediate difference.*Pumice can be used on hands too! New year new me!

Aerosol tea in a can? Yes, it’s true! It is aptly named No More Tea Bags. It is the brain-child of Guy Woodall and owner of the business No More Tea Bags. He is always continually looking for a better cuppa. Manufactured by YumCha Drinks, they say their product is “properly brewed better tasting tea”. Even this writer is having a hard time wrapping her brain around it. The company YumCha is based in the UK and calls the new tea in the can “liquid Instant tea” and they feel they are causing a “tea-volution”. Mr. Woodall has been working on the idea of getting not only great tasting tea, but also tea free of chemicals to the tea cup very quickly.  Recently in an interview with Eater.com, Mr. Woodall said he began fiddling around with the development idea, but it was in glass containers. And if he had to use glass containers, he would have to use chemical preservatives, and he did not want to do that because he feels that adding chemicals violates the integrity of the tea. As he