Category Archives: Ramblings and Overviews

Something Blue Vox Box: Urgent Rx Fast Powders

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The last time Influenster sent me a box of products to review I did it all in one take, but this time around I’m going to spread it out a bit. I got the “Something Blue” vox box in the mail, perfectly timed with my wedding only a month away, so some of these products I can use now and some I’ll save for the wedding.

so many goodies!!

so many goodies!!

Yesterday I started in a brand new position where I work- woo hoo!- but I woke up feeling a bit nervous. And I had a bit of a stress headache, so I dived into the box and got the Urgent Rx fast powders.

Instead of a pill, it’s just a packet of powder. So I opened the packet and poured all the powder onto my tongue… holy crap you guys it was a lot more powder then I expected. And it was supposed to have a lime taste, but um, I thought it tasted kind of awful. HOWEVER, within 10 minutes my headache was gone completely and never came back. So as far as easy to use, easy to transport, and fast acting- it totally holds up.

I also read all the fine print so you guys don’t have to- point of note: it contains a solid amount of caffeine. So either don’t have your usual cup in the morning, or just have half of it. This will give you the jolt you need!

Photo on 2013-06-17 at 06.49

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Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

High 5 for Friday: Short & Sweet Edition

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photo H54Fbutton-1_zpsa7aaa665.pngPopping in today with some quick highlights from the week.

1. This was Matt’s first full week without having to work a 2nd job- it was so nice for him to be able to come home from work and be home for the rest of the night. There was no sense of impending doom that he would have leave and work 5 more hours.

2. I got a new job this week! While I do really like my current job, this new position will be a good step for my career and will give me a chance to do a lot more for our students. Woo hoo!

3. I’ve got wildflower sprouts popping up like crazy. I was super skeptical that they’d grow at all, especially since I got the box of seeds from the Dollar Tree, and hopefully the rain we’re getting for the next 3 days won’t kill them.

sprouts

4. Tomorrow night Matt & I are taking my dad to my favorite Boston spot, the Improv Asylum. He’s going to love it.

improv

5. And when we get back from the Improv, Jack-a-roooo will be there. I miss my little nephew!

jack

 

What rocked for you this week?

Pre Wedding Photoshoot

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I apologize guys, I totally have an awesome basement room reveal for you and I’ve completely slacked at taking pictures of it. So instead, today’s post is wedding related.

Matt’s and my wedding is just one month away (whaaaat?!) so we got together with our photographer to take a few pictures- it gave him a chance to get used to the space (it’s the middle of a college campus so there’s a lot to shoot around) and us a chance to get used to having our picture taken (so we’re not all awkward-face on the day of). I’m not really into the whole engagement shoot fad, I don’t really understand the point of it, but this worked for us and helped our new-to-the-scene photographer build his portfolio.

Here’s some of the proofs I’ve gotten so far…

See what I mean about awkward? Matt's all stiff smiled and I look petrified. I prefer the life of a hermit over a life filled with paparazzi.

See what I mean about awkward? Matt’s all stiff smiled and I look petrified. I prefer the life of a hermit over a life filled with paparazzi. ::that’s why I blog::

What kind of photoshoot would it be without our dog sidekick Dutch?

What kind of photoshoot would it be without our dog sidekick Dutch? He’s rocking a sweet bow tie here, we’ll have some pictures of that soon.

Reenacting our engagement... I said yes this time too.

Reenacting our engagement… I said yes this time too. (PS- my necklace is from Caroline G, get 15% off with code stephanief)

finally used to the camera! only took about 250 pictures to get there...

finally used to the camera! only took about 250 pictures to get there…

Marco doesn’t haven’t a business page up yet, but if you would like his contact info just let me know and I’ll send it along. He and his partner were great, and particularly great at catching moments when we were genuinely smiling and laughing versus posed and  weird…. which was no easy task. I’m mostly weird.

Also, our wedding has been “about 6 months away” for like a year! When the heck did next month creep up!

Succluents in Upcycled Jars

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If you’re a regular around here, you know I’m a jar hoarder. I can’t help myself. But I’m happy to part with them if it’s for a good cause, like an awesome mother’s day present. Behold:

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Super cute, no? I was hoping to get my nephew’s hand print on these bad boys, but getting an 8 month old to NOT put a paint covered hand in his mouth was impossible. Footprints were easier… not easy, but easier. However, you can make this craft whether or not you’ve got a cute baby to hang with.

You will need:

  • Glass jars (I used a salsa jar, a peanut butter jar, and a pasta sauce jar)
  • Spray primer and paint (I love Kilz spray primer and Rustoleum spray paint)
  • Cactus, Palm, & Citrus soil (like this)
  • Small rocks (either from outside or the craft section of a dollar store)
  • Succulents

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How to:

  1. To get the labels off the jars I just soaked them in soapy hot water, then once they were dry I sprayed one coat of primer and 2 coats of paint on them (I used Aqua by Rustoleum, leftover from my DIY sunburst mirror).
  2. I bought 7 or 8 different succulent plants at Walmart then took them apart very gently to separate each branch
  3. Cover the bottom of your jar with rocks, then add some cactus soil
  4. Arrange your succulents in the jar then fill in your empty spaces with more soil
  5. Lightly water
Enjoy!

Enjoy!

The cute baby foot is optional.

And actually, the spray paint is too. I made one for myself and took the label off the jar but left it clear glass- I really like the look of the rocks and soil.

The best part? Succulents are very easy to keep alive- they love sunlight and only need to be watered 2-3 times a month in the summer and every other month in the winter.

 

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Wedding Invitations

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Our wedding invitations arrived yesterday and I am super excited about them, which is an incredibly strange feeling for me because I have hated just about every other aspect of wedding planning. Finding the right dress was dreadful, discussing the guest list is uncomfortable, writing the script to the ceremony was challenging, and I haven’t even started my vows yet. So far I’ve just enjoyed the eating and the invites.

Originally I was all about DIY-ing the invites, I even made up an invitation and an RSVP and took it to Staples to get it printed. I was really proud of myself. But you know what? It looked like I took it to Staples and got it printed. It just didn’t feel special, especially to someone who really likes art and design. So I decided since I only need 16 invitations for our tiny wedding I was going to just bite the bullet and order ready made ones.

I used the site Wedding Paper Divas, mostly because that’s what came up in Google when I searched for wedding invitations. The site was awesome- they let me order 5 sample  invite/rsvp card combos for free and then with the samples came a 20% off coupon.

Of the 5 samples, the one we went with is called “Ocean of Love” (oh god, the cheesiness):

this is the sample card from the site

We ordered invitations, RSVP cards, enclosure cards, and envelopes (invite ones and rsvp ones). Additionally, the site gave us the option to order 5 extra envelopes (in case of screw ups) for just a few dollars more and they printed the host address on both sets.

The enclosure card was a blank slate, you can write whatever you want on it. We included our wedding website and lodging info, and the graphic designer did two drafts of it with us to get it just right.

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this is the sample card from the site

All the cards and envelopes arrived within a week of my ordering it, and they look awesome. I may have already framed one and put it in the gallery wall.

So here’s the deal, I’m not being compensated for this review but the site was a breeze to work with (especially when I wanted edits after I already submitted my text) and the invites arrived FAST. So if you’re in the market for invitations of any kind, I recommend you check them out.  They’ve got invites, RSVP cards, enclosure cards, save the dates, and thank you cards for each design… it’s an OCD person’s dream.

Have you ever used Wedding Paper Divas? Or Tiny Prints? They’re the same company, and they’re both parts of Shutterfly.

High 5 for Friday: Personal Improvement Edition

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Sometimes in the midst of working a million jobs, and doing a million house projects, and writing a million blog posts I forget to take good care of myself. That needs to stop. Sometimes you gotta treat yo’ self.

 

Instead of my usual high 5 for Friday post about great things from this week, here’s 5 super easy ways I’m taking control of feeling better about me:

1. SKIN CARE.

Back in high school I had a glorious paycheck from my part time jobs that I could spend on whatever the heck I wanted because I had no bills or responsibility. Then I grew up and had to make cuts to pay bills and now I don’t even buy shaving cream… I just lather up with Dollar Store soap and hope I don’t get razor burn.

I have always used  Neutrogena face cream in the morning before I put on my makeup, but I’ve added a before bed toner and anti-wrinkle eye cream to the mix now too.  After loving the Dickinson’s towelettes I got in my VoxBox, I decided to buy a toner by that brand as well. Then I chose an anti-wrinkle eye gel by Olay to package it with. I am LOVING both of these products. I shower at night, so the toner and eye cream go on right before bed.

The toner will probably last me 3-4 months, and the face cream and eye cream each about 6 months.

The toner will  last about 3-4 months, and the face cream and eye cream each about 6 months.

2. TEETH CARE.

I am obsessed with brushing my teeth, that is never ever an issue. However, when I buy my Dollar Store soap I usually also buy my dollar store toothpaste. Then I got Colgate Optic White toothpaste in my VoxBox and you know what… there really is an actual, noticeable difference between $1.00 toothpaste and $3.00 toothpaste. My teeth are freaking sparkling right now. So I’m going to keep that up. And also, I am flossing every single night before bed. Next time my dentist asks if I floss regularly my answer will not be a lie!

All 3 of these came in my VoxBox, the toothpaste is what I have decided to stick with (and Matt's still using the brush).

All 3 of these came in my VoxBox, the toothpaste is what I have decided to stick with (Matt’s still using the brush too).

3. GETTING OFF MY BUTT CARE.

I do not like to exercise. I choose watching Netflix under the covers with my dog 112% of the time. Unfortunately, I sit at a desk all day at work. Then I sit at a desk all night at work. Then I go home and go to bed.  My body is displeased at my lack of movement. I don’t blame it. My new goal is to walk at least 2 miles 2-3 times a week and to do solid yard work 1-2 times a week (building walls and walkways is exercise!). Baby steps here, folks. I’m not about to start training for the Olympics.

4. EATING SOME DARN VEGETABLES CARE.

Yeah, in addition to the not exercising I also eat like a 5 year old. Like I go daysssss without eating fruits or vegetables. Sometimes weeks. Obviously that needs to stop because I’m a freaking grown up and I need to eat more then bread and pizza and peanut butter. I downloaded and app for my phone and I’m tracking what I eat, which will hopefully help me make some better choices.

Screen shot 2013-05-01 at 6.02.48 PM

5. THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN.

What do you do to “pamper” yourself that you could never give up? And I say that in quotations because seriously, my idea of pampering is buying name brand toothpaste. Let a sistah know!

Dolla Dolla Bills, Yo.

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About a week ago I posted about all about how we spent our tax return - well, I got some really helpful comments from you all about how to spend your tax return wisely and I thought I’d gather a few  in a list so we can bask in each other’s awesome and  savvy ideas.

Here’s the whole shebang on how we spent ours:

1. We bought things for the house we really wanted but didn’t really need .  We got a set of skillets, a tool chest, and a leaf blower… which came to a whopping $300 total. The little things add up FAST!

tax collage

2. We also put aside the total cost of our home owner’s insurance so we can pay it off in one lump sum when it’s due and not add another monthly payment to our list (we did this last year as well).

  • Also, I have my car insurance and home owner’s insurance both with one company and once we’re married Matt’s car insurance will be added to it as well. It saves you money to bundle everything with one place and you can still pay things separately (ie, the home owner’s all at once and the car stuff monthly). AND I get 10% off because I’m an alumni of a certain school- so check with your insurance company to see if they have alumni deals too!

3. We set a little aside for an emergency fund, not much- but more then the $0 we had before!

And here’s some reader suggestions:

  • Carly at {IN}Design took a similar approach, she’s getting a dining room table
  • Asia at Cape Cod Dreams used it to make an extra mortgage payment (PS- this is a super awesome idea and everyone should try to do this. just one extra payment a year can take 10 years off your total mortgage!)
  • Ann at Such a Mama refinanced her home with her family’s tax return (and she’s hoping to get a vacuum and deck furniture too!)
  • Emma at Broke Ass Home suggests maybe getting a new mattress or having overdue work done on your car (tired are expensive  ya’all!)

 

So now I urge the rest of you to come out of of the shadows and pipe in- what other savvy ways can a tax return be spent?!

Blog friends!

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I know, I know, another filler post… but bare with me, because next week I will have several new things to share with you.

For today I’m going to take a post to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my blog friend Emma, who writes over at Broke Ass Home. Stop by and say hi to her, she’s lovely and has an awesome house for you to creep.

Emma, I hope your birthday is full of surprises. Particularly Batman surprises, because those would probably be awesome.

Emma, I hope your birthday is full of surprises. Particularly Batman surprises, because those would probably be awesome.

It was also Tracie’s birthday this week, and Tracie writes over at Middle Class Modern. She’s been on a bit of a hiatus lately because life, so go say hi to her too. Let her know she’s not forgotten our here in blog land! Happy birthday Tracie :)

Tracie I planted a dog tree for you. So you can have a million more Emily's! haha

Tracie I planted a dog tree for you. So you can have a million more Emily’s! haha

Blog friends are the bestest friends. Michelle over at Decor & the Dog is hosting a “get to know some blog friends” link party this week so if you’re looking to discover some new blogs (or some new friends) check out the post here.

And since I don’t have anything new or fun or exciting to share today, I’m going to direct you to my personal Tumblr page, which is full of weird gifs, funny pictures, and sappy quotes. Enjoy!

Mish Mosh

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I missed you guys yesterday, but here’s the thing- life has gotten hectic lately. I’m working my regular day job 5 days a week, a night job 4 nights a week, and developing a summer course to teach that starts in May. WHEW! That leaves very little time for projects… but I promise I am working on something. And it’s going to be FABULOUS.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share some other cool things happening around the internets that  will soon be moving from inspiration to reality:

1. The weather is finally warming up, which means I need to get my butt outside to nice things up a bit. Starting with the path of doom that I partially dug out and then got tired and abandoned for months and months. My goal is for it to look like this by June:

I have an awful cement patio in my yard I'd like to dig up and replace with grass, and then use those blocks to create a path from the driveway to the yard.

I have an awful cement patio in my yard I’d like to dig up and replace with grass, and then use those blocks to create a path from the driveway to the yard. via

2. Wedding planning is full steam ahead (102 days!) so I’m starting the dreadfully awful task of addressing the little details (but I have a dress! and a color theme!) I’m thinking these might pop up somewhere.

But what will be in them? It's a surprise!

But what will be in them? It’s a surprise!

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3. My yard has a sandbox that I was planning on getting rid of, but now I have a nephew so I’m thinking I may just clean it up so he can use it when he comes over. This tip is fantastic:

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Put cinnamon in the sandbox to keep the bugs out!

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What are you gearing up to get done?

 

 

How We Spent Our Tax Return

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Man, your idea of awesome purchases really changes when you buy a house. You get excited about all sorts of nonsense.

This year when we got our tax return back Matt & I each got something for the house that we really wanted, then together picked out something we really needed. Then we also had to pay for cat dental surgery, :le sigh:

As you can probably tell from my Pinterest Food Challenge I love to cook and bake. I’m slowly building up my inventory in that area, and so my choice was to replace our warped, chipped, awful frying pans with balls to the walls awesome skillets. I got a 12 inch skillet and also a set of 6″, 8″ and 10″ skillets. If you follow me on instagram you’ve already seen the excitement. Try and contain yourself.

this is what true love looks like.

This is what true love looks like.

 

Matt decided he wanted a big roll-y tool storage thing (that’s the technical name for it, if you didn’t know). He picked out this Task Force 5-Drawer Steel Tool Cabinet and plans to put it together this weekend, hang up some shelving we have lying around, and basically reorganize the whole unfinished side of the basement. We party hard on the weekends.

What's up, good lookin?

What’s up, good lookin?

Together we decided we also desperately need a leaf blower. And we need one that can handle wet leaves because frankly we’re lazy and generally don’t get rid of all the leaves until spring, when 800 feet of snow has melted on top of them. At first we wanted a battery powered one because Matt thought a plug-in one might be a hassle, but the more he read the more it seems like batteries are a real hassle (for this particular type of equipment) as well. So we decided to go with this gas powered Hitachi leaf blower and maybe one day it’ll actually warm up outside so we can give it a go.

::insert joke about blowing stuff here::

::insert joke about blowing stuff here::

 

There you go, our crazy house stuff spending spree. I thought I’d share on here in case you’re in the market for similar things, we did lots of research to see what would work best for us. How are you spending your tax return?