Pity Party

Why is it that when you're having a tough week, everything seems to go wrong? This particular week, I awoke on a Sunday with a horrible head cold, the kind that fills your head with pain and pressure accompanied by the added bonus of aches and pains all over. As most of you know, when you're a Mom, your ailments aren't all that important to the people {or tires or toilets} around you. Life goes on.

This happened to be a week that my husband was traveling so I was on my own {plus  two teenage daughters}. The previous evening, my 16 year old informed me that her replacement phone which arrived by mail on Friday came with a crack in the screen {of course it did}. This was something that needed to be taken care of immediately in order to avoid being charged for the damage. So my day wouldn't be completely centered around consuming as many fluids as possible and hunkering down in bed trying to fight off this cold. 

I headed upstairs to make myself presentable so I could pop in and take care of the phone situation. Just before exiting the bathroom, a small puddle behind the toilet caught my eye. I gave it a quick flush and water started spraying from underneath the tank lid! This too would have to be taken care of immediately. 

Having replaced the mechanism inside the tank before, I knew what needed to be done. I turned off the water supply, sopped up the puddle, hopped in the car and headed to the hardware store to purchase a new pump. I quickly found what I needed and headed downtown to take care of the phone. 

This is when I noticed that my tire air pressure light was on. Just what I needed, right?? New priorities, new plan. I pulled into a Jiffy Lube and inquired as to how long the wait would be to have my tires checked. I am constantly driving over nails and random pieces of metal that somehow find their way imbedded in my tires so I assumed I'd need a tire plugged. Apologetically, the young man informed me it would be 40 minutes or more. Thanks, but no thanks! I cruised in to the closest gas station and for one dollar, I filled all four of my tires to the recommended specification. {I happen to know it's 32 psi} Voile! The air pressure light went off.

I got in and out of the phone store and headed home to take care of the toilet. Replacing the "guts" of a toilet tank is quite simple. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet, flush a couple of times so the tank empties and remove the pump by unscrewing it from underneath the tank {there's complete instructions inside the package}. Simply, insert the new pump and do everything in reverse. I finished up the job and gave it a celebratory flush. Perhaps too soon to celebrate. The small pipe that connects the tank to the water pipe in the floor was leaking! This most likely was due to the fact that the pipe is 17 years old and all the wiggling and yanking I did to get the pump nut loose. No problem, I knew what to do. I hopped back in the car and headed to the hardware store. I grabbed a new pipe and raced home. This fix should take about 2 minutes, then I’d be off to bed to sleep off this cold. And it would have if I had gotten the right length pipe. This one was too short!

At this point, I may or may not have sat down on the floor and had a little pity party. Here's the thing about being able to do things for yourself, sometimes it's easier than you think it will be and sometimes it's harder. But either way, it's always okay to have a little cry {especially when you're sick}. It gives you a little clarity which is just what I needed at that point. One last trip to the hardware store and I was home again, with the correct pipe, a functioning toilet and a self-prescribed nap!

The moral of the story is that fixing something yourself is often easier than you think. If you’re not sure, google it, ask an expert or just try it and see what happens. You just might surprise yourself. You’re probably made of more than you think.

You Can Do It!

Tori Spelling and Her Coupon Made Me Do It

I've been wanting to sign up for one of these fun subscription boxes and I've had my eye on the FabFitFun box. My daughter was approaching her sweet 16 and I thought it would be a fun gift. There are so many different companies offering these trendy little boxes but this one keeps popping up in my FB feed, taunting me with mysterious little adornments, trinkets and potions.  I almost never click on celebrity endorsement videos {unless of course, Adam Levine is promoting well, just about anything} but sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me. This day it was Tori Spelling.  Was it her expertise at home-video that got me? My obsession with The Love Boat? Let's be honest, it was the heading advertising $10 off my first order that intrigued me. Tori just closed the deal.   

I watched from the edge of my seat as Tori opened her Fall Box and described each item found inside. Can we just take a moment and appreciate this cool box? First of all, it's reversible and second, it looks like a coloring book. Both the inside and the out are covered in adorable pics by graphic designer, April Ho from FabFitFun. {APRILHO.COM} Once you get the box unsealed, you find two leaflets on top. The first is a sort of catalog that tells about each product, who makes it and how it can be used. 

This season's box is all about #womenwithambition and highlights that six of the brands have female founders {which is pretty fantastic}. 

The second is a reference card listing some of the products and includes a promo code for future discounted purchases!

Underneath this, you'll find the products wrapped pristinely in tissue paper and packed neatly inside.

And then the big reveal... I think my 16 year old squealed when she saw all her loot!

Here's the breakdown: A giant blanket scarf, toeless socks, travel coffee mug, coloring book and colored pencils, night serum, lavender body oil, eyebrow gel, eyeshadow palette, cleansing cloths, body wash infused buffer and deoderant.

A FabFitFun subscription is $49.99 per season but product values will always be much greater. This Fall Box is valued at more than $239! As I said earlier, Tori gave me a promo code that saved me $10 on my first box.  After you sign up, you'll receive emails periodically offering add-ons at an additional price. These you can select in addition to the mystery items selected for you. I didn't choose any add-ons.

You can cancel at anytime before your latest box has shipped or you'll be charged automatically. You can also opt to sign up for a year. The next box ships in December. Order early, they sell out quickly!

  

These are my girl's faves. The Created Co.'s To-Go Coffee Mug and the ModCloth Loch and Key Blanket Scarf. 

Remember I said the box looks like a coloring book? One of the items included is a box of colored pencils from their charity, Pencils of Promise. "Pencils of Promise is a global community that's focused on increasing access of quality eduction for children in developing countries. Their solution isn't just to plant buildings where it's needed. PoP is also about creating programs that will encourage progress and growth amongst children on a global scale." 

I'm crushing on this eyeshadow palette by Pure Cosmetics. I think I'll snag the promo code and order one for myself! 

Tori Spelling and her coupon made me do it.

Do you treat yourself to any subscription boxes? I'd love to hear about it! 

Send me a message,

You Can Do It!

fabfitfun.com

When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best

As I sit in my girlfriend, Jennifer's salon, donning a plastic cape, hair slathered with tingly chemicals, I'm overhearing her conversation with a client. She's admiring the single flower in a bud vase  at Jennifer's station. She's asking if it's from her garden. {Jennifer has an amazingly brilliant green thumb} Jennifer laughs and whispers, "It's artificial! It was a gift." The lady was taken aback and said it was beautiful anyway. I chuckled to myself because I brought that flower to Jennifer earlier this year. I'd heard of some sad news she got and wanted to make her smile. Not every situation requires a big pricey bouquet of filler flowers that are just going to be thrown out in a week. Usually, you just want to let someone know that you care about them and what they're going through.

There are so many alternatives to the traditional congratulatory bouquet of flowers or bereavement house plant it'll make your head spin! How many stuffed animals wearing a graduation cap does your 18 year old niece need?

Of course, every situation calls for a different type of expression of your friendship, sympathy or love. Why not make a more personal gesture? Here are some suggestions...

{New Baby}

LL Bean offers Boat and Tote bags that can be personalized. Any seasoned parent knows that new Moms carry lots of stuff everywhere they go. As soon as the baby has been named, I place my order and include the child's name embroidered beautifully on the front. {using my LL Bean card to receive free monogramming and shipping, of course!} The bags come in tons of colors. Depending on how much I want to spend on this gift, I'll pick up a bathingsuit and towel that match the color scheme and place them inside the bag and wrap it up prettily {or handsomely}. Who doesn't love baby bathing suits? They are quite possibly the cutest thing next to the new born baby itself!

http://www.llbean.com

{Graduation}

Money is always a big hit with recent graduates. But why not make it more interesting? If they're going away to college or moving, go on line and check out the area where they'll be spending the next few years. Chances are, it's a new place they aren't familiar with. Print up a list of local {cheap} coffee shops, eateries and markets. Put cash, gift cards or checks inside a wallet or decorative envelope and place them in a gift bag. 

{Sympathy}

We can all agree on one thing, funeral flowers are incredibly pricey. Once the funeral is over, the family usually doesn't see your gift again. While this isn't the purpose of the gesture, here's an idea I use every time in place of bereavement flowers. 

There's a fantastic company called The Trees Remember. They plant a tree in designated U.S. National Forests in honor of your loved one. "The trees are planted where they are needed most to once again create a verdant and balanced environment."

The family is sent a beautiful certificate and a tree pendant as a keepsake.

http://thetreesremember.com

{Wedding}

Each and every wedding is different as is every couple. Some are young and just starting out and they need everything. Maybe they registered for all the items they would like to have in their new home, maybe they could use cash for their honeymoon, or maybe they have been together for what seems like forever and already have a home filled with all of their favorite things. You know your friends and family better than anyone and can decide how best to honer the bride and groom. If you're stumped, here's idea I have yet to use but I think it's so fun!

This company, Artificer Woodworks, creates a beautiful engraved wooden box that holds three bottles of wine. Each of the three compartments are labeled with "Open on Your 1st, 5th and 10th Anniversary".  The inside of each lid can be personalized and filled with wines you provide. This allows you to chose wines that mean something to the happy couple. Maybe you will select wines that you know they enjoy, those from a region that is special to them or local varieties. I love this idea because it is completely personalized. The couple will know how much care you put into this special gift.

https://artificerwoodworks.com/wineforawedding/classic-trio

No matter what the occasion is, there are tons of alternatives out there. All that really matters is that you are thinking about the recipient.And that realistic looking single flower in the bud vase, I got that at Marshall's!

You Can Do It!

"DO NOT EAT"

You know those mysterious little packets you find in the pockets of new jeans or at the bottom of shoe boxes, clearly printed with the instructions: THROW AWAY "DO NOT EAT"?

Ignore these instructions {at least the first one}.  Never throw them out! These little treasures are actually quite useful. They're filled with silica gel beads and their purpose is to keep goods dry during shipping and storage. Instead of tossing them out, I store them in a sealed ziplock bag and use as needed.

Currently, my 13 year-old is attending soccer camp. This week happens to be a balmy 98 degrees on average and super humid. On day 2 she opened her soccer bag to reveal a ripe smell. We tossed in a couple of packets and one packet in each of her cleats. On day 3, no more smell!

Here are a few more handy dandy uses...

• Toss a packet or two in your tool box to prevent rusty tools.
• Place in a jewelry box to prevent silver tarnish.
• Store photos in a box with one packet to absorb harmful moisture.
• Place around the inside of your damp basement or cellar.
• Keep luggage moisture free by placing packets inside.
• Add to the pockets of stored clothing such as suits, jackets and dresses.
• Tape a packet to the inside lid of stored flour, sugar or rice.
• Keep Christmas Ornaments from getting musty by placing a packet in each storage container.
• Scrap booking supplies will stay dry when stored with silica gel beads.
• Makeup kits can become damp from steamy bathrooms. Add a packet to keep makeup fresh.
• Swim or sports bags take on foul smells. Toss in a couple of packets to freshen them up.

If your feeling crafty, create a sachet from lightweight fabric.  Cut open as many packets as you desire, pour inside and sew closed. This will help prevent someone from throwing them away. They're reusable! If your packets seem to have lost their magic powers, place on a cookie sheet and put in a 200 degree oven for two hours. This will bring them back to life. And did I mention they're free?

You Can Do It!

You Gotta Leave So You Can Come Back...

Ahhh...Summer. There's nothing like it. Thoughts of summer conjure up images of sleeping late, cute sundresses, trips to the beach, catching up with good friends and of course, food. 

Recently, we spent a week at the beach in a little cottage by the shore.  A friend of ours grew up spending summers there with his parents and six siblings. Now that they're all grown, they each have their own places where they spend a lot of time with their own children but still come together as one. We feel very blessed to be invited each summer to spend a week as honorary members of this amazing family.

As you can imagine, there's lots of traditions but one of my favorites is the nightly dinner ritual. The cottages are situated as such that they create a circle around a common yard where a makeshift table of saw horses, plywood and table cloths is assembled each evening. There always seems to be the right number of chairs for everyone and just the right amount of food {with leftovers for the beach the next day of course}. The older kids keep an eye on the younger ones, blowing bubbles, playing Hide and Seek, or sharing their sea shell collections. The grownup kids light the grill. Everyone contributes appetizers, salads and entrees-usually whatever their specialties are and everyone raves and reminisces about the recipe or how they came about making that special dish. 

My favorite dish from the week is called Chili Lime Shrimp with Avocado and Coriander. Debbie, one of the sisters-in-law, made this fantastic recipe. {I was told in confidence that Debbie is the best cook in the family, she is, it was divine.} I'm already a big fan of shrimp but this was the most delicious thing I ate all week, including ice cream 6 out of 7 nights {on night #4, Debbie made a Blueberry Crisp that was to die for!}. Come to find out, Deb found the recipe on Epicurious.com so I've added the link below. BTW, coriander is cilantro!

At the end of the meal, the dining table is dismantled and everything is put in it's place. It's the last night of our vacation and the mood is light. The kids are milking every last minute together and the grown ups are making plans for next summer.

My Beach BFF, Karen and I are making coffee and one of my girls says, "I don't want to go home tomorrow." My heart is full because that tells me she had a great vacation. Karen puts her arm around her and says, "You gotta leave so you can come back".  And that makes me smile. Part of the fun of vacation is the year-long anticipation.

Just 365 days until we're back...

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chili-lime-shrimp-with-avocado-and-coriander-14582

You Can Do It!

Pop Secret!

                                         

 

I love to create treats that look like something they're not, especially sweets that look like savory snacks. So when I saw this idea on Pinterest, naturally I had to try it. This is my rendition of  Popcorn Cupcakes, or as I like to call them, Pop Secret!

It's quite simple, actually. These are confetti cake cupcakes baked in red polka-dot cups and frosted white. The popcorn topping is mini marshmallows and yellow food color spray. {I used Wilton's color mist}

Using a pair of kitchen scissors, snip part way through the marshmallows one or two times which creates the kernel shape. {try to make each one a little different so they look random} Cover the tops of the cupcakes with prepared marshmallows and lightly spray with the color mist. That's IT!

I knew these would be a huge hit with my daughter's 5th grade class. Her teacher has a great sense of humor. On April Fool's Day, she brought in what she told them was grilled cheese sandwiches for them to share. Turns out, they were made with pound cake and orange frosting. So clever!

So, if you try your hand at these Pop Secrets, let me know how they turn out and share any ideas or tweaks to the recipe. If you want to make them just like mine, here's what you'll need:

The Bare Necessities:

Your choice of prepared cupcakes 

Red and White Paper Cupcake Wrappers

White Frosting

1 pkg. Mini Marshmallows

1 can Food Color Spray, Yellow

Kitchen Scissors

               You Can Do It!

                                             

Quick Tip Tuesday!

I'm excited to share my latest find! While packing for a week at the beach, I came across these clear, plastic, zippered bags that a set of sheets had come in. I knew I'd find a great use for them.

I loaded up this one with my iPad, phone, ear buds and a good book. It slides nicely into the pouch on the back of my beach chair and holds all my goodies within reach. It isn't water proof but certainly will protect your items from splashes and sand. And I love that they are transparent so you don't have to open them to see what's inside. 

                       

I have a few of these handy little bags. Another holds three different sunscreens and my Chapstick, while a large one I filled with toiletries.

                       

Don't toss out these great bags. The possibilities are endless! 

You Can Do It!