Winter Warmer: Homemade Marshmallows

I really love hot chocolate on a cold day and since we have gotten more snow than I know what to do with recently, it's been the perfect opportunity to make it. With Valentine's Day just come and gone, I thought it might be fun to make my own heart (and snowflake to reflect the weather, of course) marshmallows as the perfect compliment to top off my drink. The homemade hot chocolate recipe I typically use is below with simple instructions on how to make your own marshmallows!

Hot Chocolate Recipe

• 4 cups (1 qt.) milk
• 1/3 cup hot water
• dash of sea salt
• 1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1/2 cup sugar

Homemade Marshmallow Recipe

• 8 oz container of Cool Whip Lite
• Baking pan
• Parchment Paper

Marshmallow Instructions
1. Line a baking pan (8'' or smaller) with parchment paper
2. Spread your Cool Whip evenly into the pan and flatten the top as much as possible with a spoon
3. Put it in the freezer for 24 hours so it hardens up
4. When it's hardened, take it out of the freezer and use cookie cutters to form your marshmallows
(note: the Lite Cool Whip didn't harden as much as I was hoping it would and got soft quickly after it was taken out of the freezer so I would try using the regular kind if you can stand the extra calories)
5. Add the marshmallow to your favorite hot drink and enjoy!

 

{DIY} Valentine's Day Candy

I love Valentine's Day but for the most unexpected reasons. My husband and I don't go out to lavish dinners or buy each other expensive gifts (we are planning on Indian and a House of Cards marathon this year) but it's nice to stop the usual bustling in life even just for a day and acknowledge the special person in your life. Since my husband loves chocolate and I have a niece and four nephews who I always send something to, I decided to make my own Valentines candy this year. After scouring Pinterest, I found some great options that I decided to try myself...here is how everything came out!

{DIY} Heart Bites

Following this simple recipe, I made my own heart candies using just white (and milk) chocolate, heart iced cube trays from Michael's and festive toppings! I even took it one step further and made mint candies just by adding some mint extract and green food coloring to the white chocolate...both kinds were delicious!

{DIY} Valentine's Fudge

I was a little weary of making fudge since I had grown up eating the best of the best in Maine but using this recipe that I found on Pinterest, it was actually an easy baking project. Instead of Strawberry, I used pink vanilla icing and although the color might throw you, it's fitting for the holiday in addition to being absolutely delicious (I promise). Lastly, I wrapped the individual pieces up in clear bags tied with festive ribbon to finish it all off!

Military Style

Old Navy sweater/ Madden Girl boots (old but similar here)/ Jcrew Scarf/ Forever21 Jacket/ Jcrew Factory Leggings/ Sekonda watch (last seen here)/ Vintage Coach bag

Sparkly Flats

 

It might be below freezing outside but you wouldn't be able to tell from my feet. I just snagged these amazing gold loafers from Gap for just $10 (down from $39) over the weekend and since I live in flats, getting a flashy new pair at a huge discount always feels like a small victory. Like em'? They are completely sold out online but your local store will likely still have them!

 

Chocolate-dipped Mint and Almond Biscotti

I always see great coffee snacks like these in Starbucks while I patiently wait in line to order but I'd never really given much thought to how easy they would be to make on my own. When I first saw this post on Cupcakes and Cashmere, I was immediately brought back to that Starbucks line and was determinedly decided to take a mini hiatus from the cakes, pies and candy baking phase that had been occupying most of my time. There is nothing better than trying something new so using this chocolate-dipped almond biscotti recipe (I substituted mint extract instead of almond in the directions), I create these tasty biscotti's!

 

Home Decor: White and Gold

I love white and gold separately but I really love both colors even more when they are paired together. There is something so regal about the way they compliment each other and appeal to the eye. Whatever it is, it works! I've recently thought about what white and gold pieces I can incorporate into my own home, which made me stop to wonder if others might be looking for unique and easy ways to do the same thing. This is a taste of what I found and each option allows for a simple integration of flare whether it's for entertaining, to dress up a mantle or just to add a splash of color to a chair. I am a bit biased here because the first picture is a piece from an artwork collection created by my brother-in-law but his plates are amazingly stunning each with a different gold pattern. You better believe that I will be asking for these to complete an entire wall each Christmas for many to come.

1. "From On High" Plate Artwork (prices vary) from Jed Morfit

2. Doha Pillow Cover ($75) from ChaneeVijayTextiles

3. Paper Mache bowl ($13) by Etco

4. Zigzag Serving Tray ($98) from Upintheairsomewhere

5. Scalloped Garland ($12/strand) from Stephlovesben

6. Champagne Flutes (4 for $17) from Indigo

Golden Globes Fashion

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, awards season and what a strong start! I could not believe how beautiful the women at the Golden Globes looked and while there were some missteps, as there always are, I thought the styles worn could be a very exciting indication of what's to come. Each dress was so drastically different that it was hard to identify one major trend but the bold red color choice to match the red carpet certainly stood out in addition to the very simplistic and minimal approach taken with jewelry. Here are a few of my favorites from last night and the oh-so-good looking couples that really stood out.

Unforgettable Looks

Lupita Nyong'o in Ralph Lauren/ Cate Blanchett in Armani/ Margot Robbie in Gucci/
Olivia Wilde in Gucci / Taylor Swift in Carolina Herrera

Unforgettable Couples

 

Leslie Mann & Jud Apatow/ Naomi Watts & Liev Schreiber/ Tina Fey & Amy Poehler/

Camila Alves & Matthew McConaughey/ Emma Roberts & Evan Peters

Cheers to 2013

 

2013 has been a great year and as I look back, I feel incredibly grateful.  I'm lucky to have started this project, to be seeking out great deals every day in life that make me smile and to be sharing them with you. As I put two thousand thirteen behind me, I resolve to be even more adventurous in my future endeavors and to never take the small things for granted. Happy New Year and cheers to what lies ahead in 2014!

New Year's Eve Sparkle: What to Buy

Renting not for you? You still have plenty of time to purchase just the right look before the ball drops. Here are a few great sequined dress options that would work for any kind of celebration that night and any budget too since each is under $100. Happy shopping!

forever21 glamorous mini/ ella moss tiara dress/ zero degrees dolman dress/ lulu's beige mini/ forever21 bombshell mini

New Year's Eve Sparkle: What to Rent

Looking for the perfect New Year's Eve outfit? JOIN THE CLUB! We all want to look fabulous on NYE but you also want to buy an outfit you can afford since you won't wear it every day. The perfect solution is to rent....the outfit arrives at your door with another size, just in case and without the hassle of having to try on 100 options. If renting is right for you, try these RTR looks, all for under $50, with the perfect amount of sparkle for the occasion. Happy renting!

badgley mischka dacruz mini/ robert rodriguez dance off mini/ halston heritage roll call mini/ trina turk vega mini

happy holidays

"Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight."
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Holiday Notes

Tis' the season! I love to get crafty with wrapping gifts but nothing dresses up a present more than a great tag. I enjoy using printable templates because they are fool-proof and ensure the note will always look great. Below are a few of my favorites but if you don't see any you like, feel free to use these other great printable sites...just click here or here!

these might be my most favorite tags to use around the holidays. they are classic and look great with any gift since they are all different sizes. just click here to get started (tags pictured are printed on white cardstock)

using craft paper, I printed these tags (4 on each page) and they are great for larger gifts or wine

looking for something a bit more traditional? use this template and print on red paper to help make your gifts stand out

Curb Appeal

The words "curb appeal" didn't hold much meaning to me until my husband and I owned our first home. While there are many benefits about living in an urban setting, I've found that being in the city poses serious challenges when it comes to creating home-front appeal. To start, there is only a tiny amount of real estate to work with and you don't want your house to look like every other one on the block but you certainly want it to stand out. Taking that into consideration, I decided that three crucial elements would set us apart from our neighbors. Here they are:

                          1. finishing with a great front door and frame color that are classic but still stylish

                          2. having a door knocker that no one else within a 2 block radius already has (not an easy task)

                          3. a great wreath and surrounding greenery that can withstand any weather conditions

      HERE IS WHAT WE DID

This was our door when we moved in. Understanding that it would take some time to find and install a new one, we started by picking out plants to sit on either side of our front steps. It wasn't a new door but it helped to dress up the house for the time being. I did a lot of research but we finally settled on the Holly Steed. This type of tree stands upright, are great in any weather, prefer sun and only needs a little shade to survive making them the natural choice and they look amazing framing our entryway.

We knew that we wanted to keep the integrity of the house intact by replacing our current glass door with a wooden craftsman style version. After scouring every salvage yard in Baltimore each weekend for months without finding anything, we made the decision to purchase a brand new one. After looking online and visiting our local Lowe's, we decided on a 4-lite wood door from Home Depot. This specific door was not sold in the store or online but after a quick chat with the door manager, they said it could easily be created for us using one of  their many partners. ALWAYS ASK!

Picking colors proved to be one of the most challenging parts of this project. After weeks of back-and-forth, we finally settled on using Sherman-Williams's oil-based wood primer in Clary Sage for the front door and Accessible Beige for the framing.

                                     

We wanted the door accents to help modernize the craftsman style so with that in mind, we picked newer hardware from Overstock. We originally bought a crab knocker to fit the Baltimore theme but it just didn't look right so we went with this cast iron anchor knocker from eBay instead and the wreath is a DIY project that can be found here.

 and finally, the finished product!
(minus a new outside light, which is next on our list once the weather breaks)

DIY {upside down & liquidless} Snow Globe

There is nothing better than coming home to a house that feels festive during the holiday season. Although I love breaking out my decorations from the basement, I try to take a minimalist approach when getting my house holiday-ready. I love snow globes and they are a simple way to mix holiday decor into your own home but I wanted to take an unconventional approach to creating them. Since I had about 50 antique mason jars going unused from my own wedding, I got the idea to make these great looking globes. I bought fake snow flakes, miniature tree and animal figurines and used my own various mason jars (get them here) to create these great upside down and liquidless globes that are the perfect way to decorate any coffee table or create a chic centerpiece. They look great and only take 5 minutes to make!

{step 1} fill your jar (does not have to be mason) with the fake snow (less than half way to make room for the figurines)

{step 2} drop in and press down your miniature trees

{step 3} repeat the process with any additional holiday figurines you want to include (I've included deer in my own)

and lastly, place your globes wherever you need a mixing of holiday decor in your own home!

Snow Day Attire

I love snow days. Having grown up in Maine, it brings me back to my childhood excitement at getting to stay home from school to build snowmen and take part in neighborhood snowball fights all leading up to warm hot chocolate with my sisters in our kitchen. My version of what a snow day means has changed but I still feel like a kid when those white flakes cover the city streets. I can't help but stay in bed as I anxiously hold my breath waiting for the oh-so-important "we won't be open today" text message that so rarely seems to come. These days, a snow day looks more like taking calls from home as opposed to the office with the perk of having my favorite mug of coffee hot in my hand followed by baking with any ingredients I have laying around. Most importantly, the winter freeze means wearing fabulously comfortable and cozy attire all day (I'm talking an L.L. Bean matching plaid pajama set....until I leave the house, of course).

Here is what I chose as my "snow day friendly" budget attire

hat / gap jacket (old but similar here) / sweater / chambray shirt / black jeans / hunter wellies

Nautical Pillows

It’s easy to get simple seaside style wherever you live with the right decor. Growing up in Maine and now living by the water, naturally it made sense for me to fall in love with these popcorn sea pillows the instant I saw them in a local Baltimore furniture store. They make any bench, chair or couch look amazingly chic and give a room that perfect amount of nautical touch. They are also a quick and easy way to add or change the style of your room so whether it’s your kitchen, family room, beach house, patio or deck — the addition of a few pillows can make a dramatic difference.

I found my own nautical pillows at Beach Decor but One Kings Lane is having a fantastic deal on equally as fabulous pillows right now with prices ranging from $29-$60. When I originally saw these great pillows, they were selling for $120, I bought my own for around $45 and One Kings Lane is selling them for $39!

pillow images courtesy of One Kings Lane

Curious to know how you can style your own pillows? Here is some inspiration (images thanks to pinterest)