Cup Of Whoa

Pretty much most of the women I know are sort of obsessed with the kind of treat that comes in the perfect combination of salty and sweet. The chocolate covered pretzel or the peanut M n M are two favorites that immediately come to mind. Can anyone resist a warm mug full of hot chocolate on a cold winter day? Our winter is lasting forever it seems. So in the spirit of living in the moment, and actually having the best of both worlds, I bring you the most decadent and delicious beverage there is full of all that is what I am and makes winter seem not that bad after all.

1 1/2 c sugar

3/4 c water

6 tbsp light corn syrup 

place in a large saucepan over medium/high heat

cook and stir until a soft amber color

add 1 c heavy cream

1 tsp salt

reduce heat to medium and stir until smooth

remove and set aside

melt 4 tbsp butter in a sauce pan 

add 1/2 c cocoa powder

and 3 tbsp packed brown sugar

whisk together until paste forms

add 4 c milk slowly whisking constantly

add caramel mixture

bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low

add 1/2 bag of choc chips

stir until completely melted

remove from heat and add 2 tsp vanilla extract

sprinkle with sea salt and serve

Map Quest

This whole outfit just made me so happy. I am not sure why except that each and every piece I fell in love with instantly. When I see something I love, I know it will look great on me. Why? Because when you love how you look it generates the kind of confidence that can carry any style. There is nothing more unfortunate to me than seeing someone either dressing to impress, or making no effort whatsoever to be original with what they wear. There are so many cool genres to take pieces from and experiment with, that why just go to the brand names EVERYONE wears and stop there. I see that so much with the bigger names in fashion blogging. They all wear the same shoes, carry the same handbags, wear the same tshirts and so on. That just doesn't inspire me. When I am feeling and looking my best I want others to see me and think "look at her...I want to try that" because you never know where a new look will take you. Instead of staying off the road, I prefer to buckle up and enjoy the ride.

BOOTS are Windsor c/o. The shirt is Pebby Forevee a single mom here in Columbus, Ohio doing her thing...support her!! My sunnies are CRAP. Sweater is Nastygal. Denim is from Target. 

Clutch is Nene California. The best there is.

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.