One And Only

This is the very first book that I have ever pre-ordered. Waiting for it to come in was pure agony. I have already gone bananas over several recipes. I found the author on Instagram, and love all her photos and food posts. I know that in just a few years I will be cooking primarily for myself, and I was excited at the prospect of someone creating recipes in smaller portions so I don't have to give up the fun and adventure of trying new things, even if I am the only one who gets to enjoy them. I hate wasting food, so I am not against leftovers whatsoever. Growing up we ate them every Saturday afternoon typically covered in muenster cheese. I was happy with that. However, having someone break it down to only a couple portions allows me to eat like a queen and have the figure of a princess. Not hating that one bit. 

What I've Been Crushing On

{Packages of love}

{Fresh powder}

{Best candles ever}

{Art in glass}

{Homemade baked anything}

{Free gifts}

{My baby bun}

Room Worth A View

{After I flipped the couch and TV from parallel to the window to perpendicular}

Moving and rearranging my life has become fairly normal for me. I have had to do it so many times that I look forward to the experience of unpacking and fitting all the pieces into place to make any space my home. In fact, if I have a particularly gruesome week, I will move the furniture because I find it cathartic and fresh and an opportunity to utilize my more creative intellect. The places I have lived have always been on the smaller side, except for one, so I feel that I have mastered the art of transforming a small room on an even smaller budget in order to make a large impact. I try and buy neutral pieces that would work in any space (white furniture) and focus more time on the accessories that really amp up a room and give it that touch of who the person is living in it. This spring I decided to go from a very soothing but somewhat basic grey and black palate, to a more warm and interesting infusion of some of the things I am really into now.

The overall room is very narrow. I didn't want the person on the couch watching TV to be interrupted by others crossing in front. I left a two foot space between the couch and the wall allowing just enough room to walk through. I also collected all the "quote boards" I had throughout the space and decided to create a wall of inspiration instead. Pardon the broom still standing by the door. I am also pretty much a clean freak with kids so if that doesn't seem to be a futile endeavor than I don't know what is.

From the door you can see that the dining room and living room space are connected in one open room. Originally I used the couch to cordon off the two so that they appeared separate, but I think this new arrangement does a better job of creating more space overall. I was even able to add another chair. Pops of color everywhere were the most challenging for me as balance and color matching are my downfall. I purchased clearance pillows from Target and mix and matched them. Once I was challenged to the task of adding some unexpected elements and colors, I was determined to make it work. I love the result.

Lots of personal touches always displayed. Photographs are my most prized possession, as they are moments and memories captured in time. Candles are everywhere from the windowsill to the space behind the couch, and so long as I never date a fireman, I think I am bound to this addiction. Growing up my step-mom always had a jar of M-n-M's in our formal living room, and to this day anywhere I live feels empty without them. Preferably dark chocolate peanut.

Here is the rug I purchased from Overstock. It is faux cow skin and was the most expensive piece I had purchased for this room makeover. I cannot express enough how this took the room from ordinary to extraordinary for me. Now less formal and more warm and inviting, it is a better representation of my own personality. One of my best friends got me hooked on fresh flowers in my place, and I make an effort to pick a color and bloom that is bright and cheerful. It makes such a difference, and a single variety always looks better than a mixed bunch. The basket under the window has a lucite tray from Target holding more family and friend photos and it is easy to remove them to access the array of Nerf weaponry that my son as accumulated. (Sigh) My apple picking basket from Lindz Fruit Farm holds my vast array of fashion and food magazines. You can find similar baskets at The Little Market.

A tray is a great place to organize all the coffee table needs and makes it so easy to remove them for parties and game nights, etc. On particularly stressful days, a favorite pastime of mine is walking through Target on a weekday morning and only shopping the end caps where the clearance items are located. That's where I find cute trays, bowls, candles, pillows and frames for next to nothing. Shopping that way forces you not to get all "matchy-matchy".

From this angle you can see how without moving the print I have hanging in the living room, I moved the TV to the adjacent wall. Baskets below hold video games as well as movies and other extras, while the faux wood bull skull adds that rustic touch I think the room needed. I have a weird attraction to skulls so this was my favorite find of all. The lamps are old Ikea that I have had for longer than I have been single, but I like my lighting soft and dimmer than most people. I have an aversion to bright lights and it makes me squint more than I need to. Let's keep the crows feet at bay shall we?

Here is what it looked like before. Very simple and cozy and clean with the window and TV to the left behind the two chairs. The larger basket behind the couch between it and the dining room table.

What do you think??

Freedom of Expression

A couple of summers ago I was really embarrassed to find out rather late that Columbus has its own College of Art and Design. The reason I ran across its campus was because I was taking a trip to the Art Museum downtown on a Sunday afternoon with my family. Everyone seems to be fairly gifted in that department here except me, but my appreciation of it is substantial. I love going even on my own just to be close to all that beauty and expression. It often times takes me out of my own life for a moment to imagine what the artist must have been feeling or thinking when they created their masterpiece. Everything from modern to classic, painting to sculpture, photography to interactive is here for the entire family. The best part is on Sunday's it's FREE.

Chain Game

I spend almost every evening at the gym. Working hard to maintain and even improve the way I look and feel, the more I want to experiment with a sexier more confident style. The more I want to stand apart and the more I want to transform my look to one that fits where I am today and I where I want to be in the future. As I have gotten older it has become so much harder with every passing year to stay in great shape but I know that it is now, more than ever, that it is of the utmost importance. I always want to lead by my own example and instill in my family the importance of fitness. That being said, I have accumulated a lot of jewelry over the years, but never have I ever owned a body chain. Simple and delicate, it draws attention to the parts of me I am working so hard to improve. I think that deserves a bit of sparkle.

Bag is old JCrew. Tank is F21. Body chain, long cardigan, and denim all found at the Oxford Trunk. Fedora is Lack of Color or similar versions can be found at American Eagle. Boots were clearance from Free People.

What I've Been Crushing On

{Non-traditional Valentine blooms}

{Give a little love}

{Morning treats from a friend}

{My kind of Monday}

{Homemade latte made with love}

What's At Steak

For as long as I can remember my father had the best way of seasoning steaks. They were the best I had ever tasted.  I still have no clue what he put into whatever it was he seasoned them with besides some beer and a myriad of other powdered substances. Typically it was something he would fire up on the grill during the summer months, but I am that person that likes steak year round. I like it made at home too. I like it best when it's made for me. Basically I like it when someone makes me dinner instead of the other way around. Until that happens I have found my own way of giving my steaks a little something extra without overwhelming the meat with too much seasoning.

I prep the steaks the night before by rubbing them down with a mix of capers, paprika, olive or cooking oil, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate.

Cook on medium-high heat until medium well in a cast iron skillet.

The smell is intoxicating.

I saute onions and more capers in a separate skillet and then combine the two to finish the cooking process.

By cutting some red skin potatoes in thirds and tossing them with olive oil and season salt, I bake them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Add some steamed peas and I am in heaven. Gateway to my heart. So if you want in. This is the key.

Staying Grounded

{Brown Sugar Honey Coffee Scrub}

There are a bevy of beauty regimes that a girl (or a guy) can take part in in order to feel refreshed and renewed. I fantasize about spending a day at the spa like the ones I see online, and what it would feel like to be whisked away for a weekend of nothing other than relaxing and soothing treatments. Unfortunately, it has been my experience, that they are so costly and somewhat time intensive that neither of those are something that I could immerse myself in on a regular basis. Lately I have fallen completely in love with the whole idea of pampering yourself at home. You can enjoy everything and not have get dressed and drive anywhere, You can slip into your robe, grab a glass of wine and just chill. My kind of evening.

3 tbsp ground coffee

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp honey

Mix the dry ingredients first and then add the liquids.

Makes your skin feel refreshed and soft. With the antioxidant and ant-inflammatory properties coffee contains, it is a great way to wake up your skin, and a great way to use those left over coffee grounds. Remember to use hot water so they don't clog your tub, and I would recommend rinsing in the shower for best results.

Grounds can be stored in an air tight container for up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

All Black Everything

When everything seems to be going super wrong in my life, and I feel like I need to reclaim what little control I may have over what is happening, I gravitate toward simplifying things at every level. Even in dressing for my job or an evening out I will go back to what always works well. A simple black ensemble can take you anywhere day or night and you will always look polished and sophisticated. I just never want it to be boring. There has to be some unexpected element in every outfit so that I feel like I am being true to myself. These boots and this summer romper give me those things. Comfortable, cool, and classy with a bit of sex appeal just to keep everyone guessing. Natural makeup, and minimal accessories, bring the all the attention back to the woman who wears it. Simple just got complicated. 

Boots are Windsor. Romper is Swell. Blazer is Lauren Conrad for Kohls.