Outfit to Room

Have you ever wondered what kind of room your outfit might look like? No? Well, you may after seeing this.

Take a look at The City Sage's genius outfit to room comparisons.









See many more here.

Images: 1, 2, 3, 4

Unlikely Relief

Over the long weekend, we spent lots of time on the water with family and friends. And for me, that usually means coming home with a ridiculous amount of bug bites. Last weekend was no exception.

I couldn’t sleep for two nights because of the awful itching, so last night at 2 a.m. I was Googling home remedies for treating bug bites. From the way Kevin was pawing my face, I assume he was mad about the cell phone light and just wanted to go back to sleep. His opinion didn’t count right then, so I kept searching.

People suggested all kinds of crazy things – anything from mediocre-working OTC products to insane things like soaking yourself in bleach or ammonia (seriously?). A remedy that consistently was mentioned as a good itch reliever was mouthwash… that or Preparation H, but I had mouthwash on hand.

So Kevin and I made our way to the bathroom. While he explored the inside of the cupboard, I was wiping Listerine-soaked cotton balls all over my feet, legs and arms. That’s normal, right?

It didn’t seem to help right away, so I got a drink of water and headed back to bed. Kevin had already claimed my pillow as his own. When I moved him off, he expressed his dissatisfaction by kneading my stomach and making it his new bed. Awesome.

By the time I moved Kevin again, the mouthwash miracle had begun. The itch was gone! I was so happy to finally get some rest, and so was Kevin. He and I went happily back to bed… sharing my pillow.  

Spring Cleaning Roundup

This week I have the urge to do some spring cleaning, and since the invention of Pinterest, I know there are lots of people with great cleaning ideas that I may not have thought of.

Here are some helpful tips from other blogs for cleaning around the house.

• Scum proof your shower doors.
• Clean your dishwasher.
• Get your windows (and their sills) extra clean.
• Clean your top-loading washing machine.
• Clean out your dryer ducts.
• Money-saving cleaning products (and ways to use them).

Here a few of my own tricks:

• Use sticky lint rollers to clean lampshades.
• Wash windows with newspaper.
• Use SOS on sliding door tracks.
• Wash small rugs in the washing machine on gentle cycle, then let them air dry -- they come out looking like new.

If you're in the mood for some spring cleaning too, here's a thorough checklist that can help keep you on track.

Happy cleaning!

May's Birchbox

This month’s Birchbox was a total delight. I love everything that came. Here’s a rundown of what was inside.

Miracle Skin Transformer™ Body SPF 20 It’s a tinted lotion that evens out imperfections all over your body. It works as a light moisturizer, SPF 20, and a skin-perfecting tint—curing roughness, hiding blemishes, and even masking scars. I was amazed when I put it on my freckly arms – they looked smooth, even, and glowing. I went a little crazy and used the whole sample-sized bottle in one day. It looked so nice though! I really need a full-size bottle – the stuff is amazing.

Birchbox Notecards
Everyone loves getting a handwritten note in the mail, especially on cute stationary. I’m excited to get to use the fun-colored notecard!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo
I love trying new hair products so this was exciting. From Birchbox: “We’re hesitant to call this luxurious cleansing oil a shampoo—its powers go far beyond cleansing. Perfect for all hair types and textures, the oil-to-foam formula binds with the grease and product buildup on your scalp before gently whisking them away. At the same time, it respects your hair’s natural oils, so your strands never feel dry or stripped. Finally, it adds bounce and body to your locks while leaving behind a calming yuzu citrus scent. All in all, it’s a true superhero product.”

I’ll tell you, it lathered nice, smelled good, and left my hair clean and light. However, I’m a thrifty gal, and at $55 for a full-size bottle, it’s a little out of my budget.

Dior Diorshow Extase
I rarely buy high-end makeup, so getting Dior mascara was a treat. I felt fancy just putting it on. It looked nice on, but I really can’t say it looked better than what I use every day. Since Dior is three times the price, I’ll stick with L’Oreal.

Dior Miss Dior
One of my favorite things about Birchbox is getting to try new fragrances. At first sniff, I thought Miss Dior was going to be too “old” for me, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put it on. It’s a sweet, chic and not-too-overpowering scent. I really love it and am sad my sample is almost gone already.

Want to get Birchbox, too? Click here.

Bits of My Weekend

Green tea and honeydew smoothie (recipe below).

Jeff enjoying the lake (complete with a lifejacket diaper).

Catching some rays.

We spent Saturday running errands and getting the car ready for summer (OK, so Jeff did all the car work, but I was ready to help, if needed).

Sunday had perfect weather for getting out on the lake.

Jeff and I coved out for a few hours, then we picked up some friends on the boat and headed out for cocktails. It was a successful Sunday Funday. I'm paying for it today though -- my allergies are running wild. I literally had to peel my eyes open this morning. Ick. And, I can't stop coughing. It's super sexy. I'm going to calm my throat with another smoothie. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it, too.

Green Tea Smoothie

2 bags green tea

12 oz can ginger ale

1 small honeydew (about 3C)

2T sugar

About 10 fresh mint leaves

¼ C lemon juice

Brew two bags of green tea in three cups hot water. Meanwhile, boil 3T water with 2T sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Mix the green tea and simple syrup together. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze.

Cut the honeydew in cubes and freeze.  

When the tea cubes and honeydew are frozen, put half each of the tea cubes, honeydew, ginger ale, lemon juice and mint leaves in the blender. Mix until blended. Makes two servings.

Have a Fun Weekend!

Happy Friday! I received May’s Birchbox in the mail yesterday so I’m feeling extra fancy wearing Dior mascara and perfume (like the commercial where the lady goes to the expensive car and talks about endive and Cornish game hens… that’s me today). I also put on bright red lipstick to top off the fanciness. Then at work I was awarded the traveling trophy for extra effort on a huge project, and a co-worker told me I look pretty. Between the Birchbox and the weekend coming, today is turning out to be pretty great (and a self-confidence booster)!

I hope the weekend has more nice things in store, like boating, sunbathing, mojito drinking and a call to mom. (Mom, if you're reading, happy Mother's Day. Love you.)

Here are some posts from around the Web.

DIY copper candleholder.

Canning jars into travel cups.

Better than goodbye.

Pretty summer sandals.

Have you tried a dragonfruit?

Super fun kids plates (but probably fun for adults, too).

Cooler than a tree house.

Recipe with nettles (yep, itchy, stinging nettles).

Relaxing outdoor spaces.

Mermaid tail braid.

I'm not a mom (nor am I planning to be for a while), but images like these make me excited for that chance someday.

Life is a beautiful ride.

My Biggest Pet Peeves

It’s not very often that I complain, but today I’m in the mood. So let’s talk about pet peeves. What are the little things that drive you crazy? I have a few.

I hate:

When people write statements that end with a question mark.

I never thought of it like that before? (Clearly that’s not a question and should end with a period.)

When drivers can’t pick a lane or forget that cruise control is a thing.

Being cut off by an indecisive driver or playing an annoying game of I pass you, you pass me, really grinds my gears.

When people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom.

Seriously, it’s gross. I don’t care if you think you don’t need to – just remember that every person who came out of that stall also touched the door lock that you just touched, too. And you want to have THAT on your hands all day? Eww.

What are some of your pet peeves?

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Pretty Wine Totes

These pretty little wine totes really dress up a bottle. Wouldn't they be perfect for a housewarming, hostess or Mother's Day gift? And, they only $6.99 at Target.

See more Mother's Day gift ideas from Country Living.

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Have a Festive Weekend!

Hola! Happy Friday! Have any fun plans for the weekend? I'm hoping to tear the tags off my new swimsuit, and, in honor of Cinco De Mayo, enjoy a few Lime-A-Ritas on the dock. We'll probably eat tacos, too. Unfortunately, we're fresh out of sombreros, so I'll leave that to the cute little guy above.

I hope your weekend is wonderful. Here are some posts from around the Web.

Sea Salt and Honey Caramel Sauce.

Fun illustrations.

Kids table makeovers.

DIY table runners.

Vacation style.

DIY fruit balloons (so cute).

Cookie canister.

Corona cupcakes.

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Thirsty Thursday - Apothic Red

I grew up in a family who loves wine. Now, I like everything from a crisp, sweet white, to a dry, full-bodied red. I especially like if I can buy them for less than $10.

One of my recent favorites is Apothic Red. It's a great blend of Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot with lots of fruit flavor. The cherry and other berry notes are complimented by mocha, spice, vanilla and maple.

The label says:

"Inspired by the 'Apotheca,' a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in 13th century Europe, Apothic Red offers a truly unique wine experience.

A masterful blend of rich Zinfandel, flavorful Syrah and smooth Merlot, creating layers of dark red fruit complemented by hints of vanilla and mocha."

Apothic is sweet for a red, but not too sweet. I've found that it's good paired with red sauce and barbeque.

The price is nice, too. I normally see it for around $11, but I've caught it on sale as low as $7.50 (that's when I stock up).

Learn more about Apothic Red and find out where it's sold near you here.

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Kitty Tank

I need one. Bad.

You, too? Get it here.

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