The Must Have Booties For Fall - the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto

Finding that perfect pair of shoes that goes with literally every outfit is such a challenge. When you do have that pair of shoes in your closet, it makes life easier and makes your outfits so polished. Shoes can definitely make or break an outfit, and these Orena Booties by Franco Sarto multi task. 

I’m sharing #DSW in my life as part of a Designer Shoe Warehouse sponsored series for Socialstars™. All opinions and content are my own. #MyDSW.

Super excited to bring you another post for DSW! It's been so fun styling these suede booties for Fall. I love refreshing my wardrobe with versatile items that last forever, and these booties not only look adorable, but are definitely way more comfortable than other similar styles I have tried. They're absolutely gorgeous! Last week, I shared a post where I styled the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto with a cute printed dress with 3/4 sleeves. This time around, I wanted to pair dark, distressed denim with them. 

I also wanted to bring a bit of that New Western flair into the outfit, so I chose a Southwest-inspired bracelet and necklace that has turquoise and red details. The fringe cardigan is also amazing, and was so super soft.

The booties featured in this post are the Orena Bootie by Franco Sarto, available at DSW. Check out all of the amazing shoes in the Western Edge section of their site. Keep an eye out next week as I share another way to incorporate these gorgeous shoes into another fun outfit. 

Celebrate New Starbucks® Caffé Latte K-Cups®! Love These Flavors!

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review. #StarbucksCaffeLatte #MyStarbucksatHome #CollectiveBias

Cooler temperatures mean it's time to test out some new Caffe Latte coffee flavors! Starbucks® now offers a two-step Caffè Latte that you can create with your Keurig machine at home, and they were delicious. Read on to learn more about this new style of coffee prep. Read on to learn more about incorporating new Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods into your routine!

I also have a clever way to put those K-Cup® pods to use a second time around. Read on to learn about my idea. 

Learn more about the Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods and find lots of drink inspirations on the Starbucks® website.

When I received this Starbucks® Influencer Gift Box in the mail, I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful everything looked. It included: A Glass Starbucks® Mug (which is amazing!!), A Gold Spoon, Confetti popper, three samples of Starbucks® Caffe Latte K-Cup® pods, one (1) 6-Ct box of Caramel Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods. SO excited to have been so lucky to have received something SO nice to sample and ahre with you on my blog. 

I could not wait to open the flavors up and test each one. This two-step method involves adding a packet of whichever flavor sweetened dairy blend (which had the consistency of a packet of hot cocoa), pouring it into a coffee mug, then add the Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods to your Keurig and set it to the 8 oz. setting (the middle of my 3 settings). Then, after it has cooled a tiny bit, stir everything together for a creamy because the product is made from milk. 

Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods are delicious because they are made from milk, with no artificial flavors, and they come in 3 great Starbucks® signature flavors (Caramel, Mocha, and Vanilla) and 2 beloved Starbucks® seasonal flavors (Pumpkin Spice and Peppermint Mocha, available for a limited time).

MY FAVORITE FLAVOR

I tried all 3 flavors while working on this project, and found that my favorite flavor was Caramel! So lucky that I have another box of 6 that came with this gift set. I also received an awesome coupon for 6 more K-Cup® pods at any retailer! The caramel was my favorite because I always feel like caramel coffee drinks can taste a bit fake. Not this one! Every single sip tasted like real caramel, my favorite Fall flavor of all time. Other flavors available include: Caramel flavor, Vanilla flavor, Real Cocoa (Mocha), Real Pumpkin. 

Luckily, these awesome products are available nationally at your local grocery store. And, with this many flavors you will probably want to stock up on every flavor. 

A GOOD REUSE

While these particular Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pods came with filters because they are coffee, you can either tear out the filter, or use a K-Cup® from hot cocoa, and then use the cups for individual servings of pre-heated caramel. I heated my caramel in a double boiler, but was surprised at how much caramel each cup actually held! 

The Mocha Flavor was chocolatey without being overly sweet. I really loved also styling this photo with organic chocolate chips AND chocolate-covered espresso beans. How perfect! Read on to check out how to use this two-step process. 

How To Prepare The New Starbucks® Caffè Latte  K-Cup® pods:

Step 1 - Choose your flavor and pour the packet into your coffee mug. 

Step 2 - Insert a Starbucks® Caffè Latte K-Cup® pod into your Keurig machine, and place your mug with chosen flavor packet in Keurig®. Set to 8 oz setting, and be ready to indulge!

***

BE VERY CAREFUL! These machines make very hot coffee! Stir the drink, wait until it cools to your liking, and enjoy!

2016 Starbucks Corporation. All rights reserved. Keurig, Keurig HOT, K-Cup and the K logo are trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., used with permission.

DIY Cheese Markers, Styling A Cheese Plate & Yummy Fruit Bars by Outshine - Live Life Brighter

Sponsored Post: This post is sponsored by Outshine but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #SnackBrighter.

I had so much fun creating a video for Outshine Bars! I thought that a fun way to create this one was to make a Cheese Plate, create some adorable and customizable Cheese Markers, then show how fun and easy it is to also serve these Outshine Bars to guests (or keep them all for yourselves, it's totally up to you!).

Here, I featured the Lime, Mango, and Grape flavors of Outshine Fruit Bars. I love that they're all made from REAL fruit, and taste super good. I love the lime best of all these flavors, and mango is a close second. Your guests will be pleasantly surprised at their dessert option, too! 

And, remember to check out the Outshine Instagram account, it's adorable :)

Build A Better Breakfast And Help Families In Need (Plus A Laminated Placemat DIY Tutorial)

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BetterBreakfast #CollectiveBias

Anyone who knows me will agree that I need a good breakfast to start the day right. Are you one of those sorts of people? My breakfast usually includes milk in some way, whether it's in cereal, or as a glass of milk to accompany my meal. I was super excited about the chance to work with The Great American Milk Drive, Lender's Bagels, and Walmart to help with this meaningful cause.  

Now, you can help feed a childhood when you shop at Walmart – by purchasing 1 or more of these products, you are helping Feeding America provide nutrient- rich milk to kids and families in need.

This campaign is supporting The Great American Milk Drive.

There are lots of families who do not get the opportunity to provide a good breakfast for their kids or themselves each morning. I learned recently that you can actually donate milk to families - I had no idea this was even possible! I love spreading the word about good causes, so read on to learn more. I thought that a DIY Laminated Placemat and a fun twist on the usual bagel toppings would be so fun to share here with you today. 

"Childhood should be filled with playing, learning and growing. But for many children who face hunger, even basic staples like milk – and the nutrients that help power childhood activities – are missing".  - MilkLife.com

FUN BAGEL TOPPINGS FOR KIDS + ADULTS:

Strawberry Cream Cheese + Sprinkles

Strawberry Cream Cheese + Fresh Strawberries

Plain Cream Cheese + Sunflower Seeds

- 3 colors of fabric (1/8 yard of the red, 3/8 yard of the deer fabric, and 3/8 of a yard of the black and white plaid for the backing).

- Iron-On Vinyl (Heat & Bond works well)

- Scissors

- Sewing Machine and Thread

- Iron

1.) Cut pieces of fabric as follows:

      - Backing Piece (12" x 18")

      - Red Piece (12" long)

      - Deer Fabric Piece ( 12" x 15")

      - 2 pieces of iron-on vinyl (12" x 18")

2.) Cut and Iron fabrics, and sew the 12" ends of the red fabric and deer fabrics together. Iron and top stitch the seam you just created. 

3.) Peel a bit of the paper backing off of the first piece of vinyl. It's super sticky, so I recommend cutting a 2" wide strip off of the paper backing. Stick this to the exterior of your patchwork piece of fabric, and line the shorter sides up. Press to secure, thankfully it's very easy to reposition. Just make sure no pet hairs make their way under the vinyl :)

4.) Peel the rest of the paper backing off of the vinyl, pressing out any wrinkles as you go. Once vinyl is fully stuck onto the fabric, then take that paper again, grid side up, and iron the vinyl onto the fabric. This works like magic! Slow and steady pressure works best, moving the iron with medium pressure, so it doesn't melt. VINYL IS SUPER HOT, so please be careful!!! 

5.) Iron the vinyl onto the backing material, and line up the fabrics, vinyl sides together, and sew around the edges, leaving a hole about 5" across to turn the placemat right side out.

6.) Turn placemat right side out, then iron with the paper press cloth again. Now, top stitch around the edges, and you are done!! I just LOVE how this project turned out. Perfect for eating breakfast on, and these make for extremely easy cleanup! 

7.) Build A Better Breakfast - Hopefully this awesome new placemat will encourage kids and adults to sit down for a quick breakfast, rather than eating as you rush out the door. Of course, if you are in a hurry, it's a good idea to keep the milk, Lender's Bagels, and Fruit Fusions next to each other in the fridge! 

MORE ABOUT LENDER'S BAGELS:

They're filling – sustaining kids all morning. They have a great range of flavors, like Plain, Blueberry and Cinnamon-Raisin flavors which are kid-friendly & great for the whole family. Lender’s has a bagel for Everyone! Lender's Bagels can help you save time in the mornings, and are easy, tasty, and nutritious! I found these bagels in the refrigerated dairy section. Lender’s bagel products are great as part of a Better Breakfast. Also, great for an after school snack! Crunchy-on-the-outside, everything’s better on a Bagel!

Keep a metal or wicker tray on the counter for easy breakfast prep (see photo above). Add items like Lender's Bagels, Del Monte Fruit + Veggie Fusions, utensils, and cloth napkins. SO easy, because everything is right at hand! 

Now, you can help feed a childhood – by purchasing 1 or more of these products, you are helping Feeding America provide nutrient- rich milk to kids and families in need. Visit milklife.com/give to learn more.

#BuildABetterBreakfast Sweepstakes Learn More On: Facebook: here
Twitter: here
Instagram: here
Pinterest: here
Youtube: here
Lender's Bagels: here , here , and here
  • The combination of milk/bagels/fruit cups give kids protein, carbohydrates, vitamin C and other things that they won’t get with other choices. These 3 products are BETTER TOGETHER.
  • Ease and simplicity should also be part of what makes this a better breakfast. All it takes is to pour a glass of milk, get out a bagel, and open a fruit cup. Everything can be stored in the fridge together.
  • The Lenders’ and Del Monte products also have the benefit of offering so many flavors that every kid can get a “customized” breakfast with all his or her favorites. Lenders can give you cinnamon/raisin, blueberry, etc. Del Monte can give you a dozen varieties of fruits and combinations of fruits. The flavor combinations are huge. 

Fall Favorites with Sahale Snacks - Great For A Fall Adventure

I am so excited that the leaves are changing colors a little bit, and our yard is sprinkled with fallen leaves. Around this time of year, I yearn for Fall adventures here in southern Illinois, and always make sure to bring a bag packed with snacks, bottled water, and a cozy blanket. I love bringing travel sized Sahale Snacks® on my adventures, they're great for grab and go snacking.

Where are your favorite go-to, local places to visit during Fall? Mine would have to be some of our local orchards (Rendleman Orchards and Flamm Orchards are my top picks) here in southern Illinois, Rendleman even has a very nostalgic pumpkin patch - where you can use a red wagon to transport all of your hand-picked pumpkins to the checkout station. J

I’m sharing #SahaleSnackers in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™.

Another place I love visiting would be one of our wineries, that also serves hand crafted apple cider (life-changing!!). And, when the weather cools down a bit, we love hiking through the Shawnee National Forest (Pomona Natural Bridge is a short hike, but incredibly majestic). I have learned to never leave the house without a snack, so the Raspberry Crumble Sahale Snacks®, and the Pomegranate Vanilla Flavored Cashews would make a great snack, while adventuring to fun places this Fall. 

I like keeping a couple of these grab and go sized packages of Sahale Snacks® in my car, just for spur of the moment adventures, or of course, days when I run a million errands. Just a couple bites of a snack like this will keep me going. 

I also love bringing along a notebook, so I have somewhere to collect my thoughts, project ideas, but have to admit, love snacking while I journal :)

Where will you take your Sahale Snacks® this Fall? 

Live Life Brighter with Outshine Snacks

Sponsored Post: This post is sponsored by Outshine but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #SnackBrighter.

Do you ever eat a food that literally transports you to another place? Perhaps you tried the best dessert in your whole life, that time you visited Hawaii, and any time you eat something made with lime, it takes you back to that very dessert? Well, these Outshine Fruit Bars in Lime do that to me. These bars bring a rush of taste and chill to my senses, making me think of the awesome food we ate while visiting Waikiki Beach, other places on Oahu, and all around Kauai! This is why Outshine Fruit Bars help me Live Life Brighter! 

Where is your favorite place to escape?

Learn more about Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Bars here! They are made with real fruit juices and are non-GMO, which I find extremely important to the food I eat. 

Find out Where To Buy these bars here - I found mine at Kroger, and I believe they are also available at Walmart and Kroger Banner Stores, like Fry's and others. 

I also LOVE the Outshine Snacks Instagram Account, here. It's full of bright, inspiring images and you can also learn more about the brand's efforts to donate tons and tons of food. 

These Outshine Fruit Bars in Lime taste super good. They are not overly sweet, they are tarty and tangy, just like something made with real lime juice should taste like. I also really enjoyed the consistency and texture of these fruit bars. If you are someone who likes frozen treats that taste like real fruit instead of those fake flavors, these are a great option for you.

Refreshing, lime after lime.

Made with lime juice

Excellent source of Vitamin C

No high fructose corn syrup

Fat-free, Gluten-free

No artificial colors or flavors

70 calories

No GMO Ingredients

Some of my favorite things about these Outshine Fruit Bars are:

Only 70 Calories per bar, 0g Total Fat per bar, and 25% of your daily Vitamin C. 

The Ceramide Difference

Have you ever used a wet-skin lotion before? If not, your'e missing out. Whether you live in a dry climate or a humid one, this Curel® Advanced Ceramide Complex will be a great addition to your skincare routine. I'm also excited to explain Ceramides a bit better to you, so keep reading to learn more. 

I’m sharing #Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER in my life as part of a Curél sponsored series for Socialstars™. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep my blog a beautiful place to showcase my work! 

Curel® Advanced Ceramide Complex makes it easy to incorporate a bit of extra moisture to your skin, and since you use this on wet skin after a shower, it's easy to remember to do it every day. The bottle is attractive, and the pump works really well. The bottle is actually designed with ridges on the sides, so it won't slip out of your hands while your skin is wet!! So thoughtful :) 

This product is unscented, which is amazing. I love the fact that a fragrance isn't an addition ingredient. I am not a fan of anything that is heavily scented (unless it's a baked good, haha!).

I am not sure if you have ever experienced this, but sometimes, I will use lotion, and minutes later, it doesn't seem to have even moisturized my skin. Curel® offers an alternative to that problem. Their Hydratherapy Lotion that you use on wet skin, so it is able to penetrate better, and since warm water opens capillaries in your skin, it makes sense that this product would be able to absorb easier. My skin feels soft and smooth, and is moisturized without feeling greasy. 

I was also lucky enough to receive a FREE sample of this Curel® Hydratherapy lotion from Crowdtap, and I am so excited I've got a travel size now!!

Clinical studies have shown that dry and damaged skin is often linked to depleted ceramide levels. Ceramides are naturally found in skin’s vulnerable outer layer and help skin retain moisture. When skin’s ceramide levels are low, skin has difficulty retaining moisture. While traditional lotions only hydrate skin’s surface, Curél® moisturizers work at the source of dryness to strengthen skin's moisture retaining capacity, not just relieving symptoms, but actually, over time, preventing symptoms from recurring.

I have spent time in both dry climates (like Arizona, Colorado, and Utah), and I feel like the arid climate, intense sunshine, and even water in those places dries my skin out. Well, the idea of applying this lotion to wet skin, if you are in those sorts of locations, seems like an absolute win! 

What are ceramides?

Ceramides are natural lipids and are a major component in surface skin structure. They serve as part of the "glue" that holds surface skin cells together.

Why are ceramides important?

Dry, irritated, and sensitive skin often lacks ceramides. As a result, skin's protective barrier is compromised and becomes more susceptible to environmental factors, changes of season, and other irritants.

Curél® Skincare - The Ceramide Difference

When natural ceramide levels are depleted, our formula works to improve moisture retention of the skin. Locking in moisture for all-day hydration, Curél® lotions and creams not only relieve irritated and dry skin instantly, but also replenish and repair skin by forming a protective barrier and keeping future irritants out.

Thanks so much for checking out my latest post for Curel®, and be sure to check them out on Facebook and on their website! 

How To Create A Halloween BOO Kit (A Dog Gift Basket for Halloween) PLUS 2 DIY Dog Toys

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Mars, Incorporated. All opinions are mine alone. #BOOItForward #PawfectBOO #CollectiveBias

So excited to present you with an adorable Halloween Gift Basket, that can be made with a few simple materials, and then given to someone as a surprise. This is all about gifting a fun, dog-related gift basket and then secretly giving it to someone who deserves it. The person I chose to gift mine to is our long-time family veterinarian, Dr. Tally at Central Hospital for Animals here in Carbondale, IL. 

Get tons of inspirations, and to see more of the BOO Kits on the here
And, visit BooItForward page on Walmart.comhere BOO Kit
BOO Kit

ADD THESE ITEMS TO YOUR BOO KIT BASKET

American Greetings® has a great selection of Halloween Items like treat/candy bags, stickers, tissue paper, gift bags, and Halloween Cards. These would make for adorable and thoughtful additions to fill any BOO Kit Gift Basket!

MY LITTLE HELPER, PORTER

Of course, my little chocolate Labradoodle and Chocolate Lab wanted to help with absolutely every step of this Halloween Boo Basket. They helped me make the toys, and Porter sat still for about 1 minute to help me shoot s few adorable puppy pics :) She just turned 10 weeks and she follows me everywhere. 

DIY MUMMY GIFT BASKET

MUMMY BASKET HOW TO:

1.) Cut cheesecloth (also called creepy cloth) into 2" strips lengthwise. 

2.) Wrap 2-3 strips around the basket and secure with glue in back.

3.) Cut out eyes from the sparkle foam. You will see that I simply cut two ovals out of the white one, then black pupils from the black foam. Glue the eyes to the front of the basket.

4.) Wrap and glue 2-3 more strips of cheesecloth around the basket, making sure to overlap the eyes just a little bit.

5.) Now, you are ready to fill your basket with all sorts of good things! Read on to learn about 2 Dog Toy DIY's, that are so easy!

DIY HALLOWEEN DOG TOY #1

These toys are simple, but my pups really love them. The fleece also cleans their teeth, and this toy gives dogs a really safe toy to play tug with since it's so soft. Here's how to make them:

1.) Cut 3 strips of fleece (any combo of 1-3 colors will do), and stretch the pieces as long as they will stretch. 

2.) Tie the 3 pieces of fleece together at the top, and use a clip board to hold the pieces, or ask a friend to hold the pieces while you braid them.

3.) Braid the pieces together, and tie the end up so the braid doesn't come loose. That's it!

DIY HALLOWEEN DOG TOY #2

This simple dog toy requires only two materials - 2 tennis balls, and 2 Halloween Socks. Dogs LOVE these toys so much! Make sure to use supervision when allowing a dog to play with any toy. 

SHOPPING FOR BOO KIT SUPPLIES 

I found the majority of the materials in this BOO Kit at Walmart. The MARS Pet supplies are all located in the Pet Care aisle at Walmart. I found these items, below, that I added to my BOO Kit. 

  • PEDIGREE® DENTASTIX™ Fresh Treats Small/ Medium (Doggie Dental Area)
  • PEDIGREE® MARROBONE™ Real Beef Flavor Treats Mini (Dog Treats Area)
  • CESAR® SAVORY DELIGHTS® ROTISSERIE CHICKEN FLAVOR WITH BACON & CHEESE (In the soft dog food area).

GIFTING THE BOO KIT

I decided to surprise my vet with this fun BOO Kit! I am sure she is going to LOVE it! Who will you surprise with the BOO Kit you create? Please tell me in the links below, and if you make your own BOO Kit, then also share that link too :)

Caprese Salad Recipe

This is one of my absolute all-time favorite dishes! I love any excuse to eat fresh tomatoes, and when the organic and local ones are heirloom, it's even better! I thought that using a mix of yellow and red tomatoes really gave this plate a more vibrant and special look. I actually created this recipe for the Burnt movie, to help promote their movie. Check out my Burnt project, on Pinterest HERE, entitled Food, Romance, Love.

INGREDIENTS (MAKES 2 SERVINGS)

* 10-15 organic yellow and red cherry tomatoes (or other small tomatoes)

* Fresh Organic Basil (I found mine as a plant at the grocery store. Bonus points for ORGANIC!!!

* Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

* Olive Oil

* Balsamic Vinaigrette

* Salt to taste

Cut tomatoes into quarters. Slice mozzarella cheese with a knife, or create small pieces of cheese with your hands, and set aside. On a plate, drizzle a small amount of balsamic, like I did in the above images. Place tomatoes and cheese onto plate. Also top the plate with basil leaves, as many as you can handle! Drizzle some olive oil and salt over the top of the plate, and you are all done! I also like to serve this with an extra plate of small French bread slices and salami. 

This would make an incredible snack, appetizer, or even a light meal! It tastes SO incredibly good, I hope you enjoy it! If you are also a Caprese Salad-lover, comment below to let us know. 

Grilled Flank Steak Fajita Nachos Recipe ~ Outdoor Grilling Inspiration

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AuthenticSalsaStyle#CollectiveBias

A delicious summer grilling recipe, filled with authentic flavor and fresh ingredients! These BBQ Flank Steak Fajita Nachos are the perfect meal to serve at a party, during outdoor grilling season! Read on to learn more about this wonderful recipe and some cute ideas of how to decorate for your next outdoor grilling party. 

 I just love the colors of this outdoor party table setup. I used mainly blues and whites in my design (dishes, napkins, utensils, table covering fabric, etc). I just let the bright, beautiful food shine with a more subtle color scheme.

Also, I love the idea of using large glass jars with lids to hold chips (found in the kitchen section at Walmart). It's eye-catching, and keeps chips fresh while your serving guests. Use small scoops or tongs for guests to serve themselves

By offering self-serve topping, guests can use as many or as few ingredients as they like. If someone is vegetarian or even vegan, they can opt out of the steak, and just use lots of veggies!

Even More Recipe Inspirations, Here: AuthenticSalsaStyle.com.

And, if you are looking for more beef-based recipes, look no further: BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

MARINADE:

Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Taco Seasoning (use half here), Chopped Fresh Onions & Garlic, Pinch of Salt.

FOR THE MEAL:

- HERDEZ® Salsa Casera

- 1 lb. Flank Steak (per 2 people)

- 1 bell pepper each in green, red, orange, and yellow

- 1 purple onion

- Tortilla Chips

- Shredded Cheddar Cheese (We shredded a block of extra sharp cheddar)

- Jalapeños

- Taco Seasoning (use the other half of the package here)

- Limes and/or Lime Juice

- Sour Cream

- Cilantro 

- Grill and Skillet

1.) Prepare the marinade in a 9x9 baking pan (I used my brownie pan) by chopping 1/4 of the onion + 1-2 heads of garlic, and mix it with all of the other marinade ingredients. Stir well.

2.) Add steak, cover with plastic wrap or foil, and place in the fridge to and marinade for at least 1-2 hours.

3.) Preheat grill to high heat after steak is done marinading.

4.) Cut up all 4 bell peppers, and most of the onion, and set aside. Get out a large skillet, and heat a small amount of olive oil. Wait until the oil starts to thin a bit, and add your onions and rest of the taco seasoning. Cook until slightly browned, and then add your peppers. Let these simmer on medium low heat, and let's grill some steak! 

5.) While your peppers are cooking, bring steak out to the grill on a tray of some sort, with tongs and a spatula. Place the marinated steam right onto the grill. After about 4-5 minutes, if you want those pretty grill marks, rotate the steak 90 degrees, and grill for another 1-2 minutes. Flip the steak over and grill for another 2-3 minutes. This timing left a bit of pink but not much - it was perfect! Take it off the grill and let's make some nachos!

6.) Turn heat off of the peppers and onions when they're cooked, and slice steak into bite-sizes slices or pieces. 

7.) To make your nachos - on a plate, add: chips, cheese, corn, sour cream, grilled steak, cilantro, and top with HERDEZ® Salsa Casera. This has been my go-to nachos recipe, and everyone always loves it! 

I went to Walmart to pick up some of my ingredients and party supplies - you can find the HERDEZ® Salsa Casera and the Beef at Walmart, as well as the jars that I used for holding those tortilla chips. Get recipe inspiration and beef nutrition information at “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner".

HERDEZ® provides #AuthenticSalsaStyle and it's oh, so good! Thank you so much for checking out my latest recipe, I hope you are inspired by it!! What is your favorite meal to make on the grill? What do you usually grill when you have a crowd? Let me now in the comments, below. 

How To Keep Your Skin Hydrated in Late Summer ~ Early Fall {Plus: Tips on Making Guests Feel At Home}

I'm so happy to bring you another amazing post today, incorporating the Curel® Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer. As the seasons change, humidity levels do too. This can mean going from 90% humidity, down to 50% in a matter of days here in southern Illinois, so it's best to get ahead of the game, and stay moisturized!

I also wanted to share a few tips on making your visitors and house guests feel right at home when visiting you! It's as simple as leaving fresh, new towels rolled up in a decorative basket. Also, provide guests with spa-like bath products, like the Curel® Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer. This is perfect for guests, because it smells amazing, and contains a water-activated moisturizer - perfect for any weather conditions. Another important tip is to help your guests stay hydrated (first with the Moisturizer, then with a welcoming array of fresh, chilled water, ready for them after their long travels. These are some ways you can add a touch of welcoming into your guests' experience while staying at your home.  

 

 

I’m sharing #Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER in my life as part of a Curél sponsored series for Socialstars™. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep my blog a beautiful place to showcase my work! 

I also created this beautiful candle holder with a terrarrium I found at a craft store, white decorative sand, and a scented candle in a tin. I love how this turned out!! (see below)

Below, I used some flip-top bottle I found at a craft store, and this amazing, vintage glass bottle that a family member gave me. It's so pretty, and little touches like this will make your guests not have to even ask where they can find a glass - they will have everything they need some place in their room. 

Learn More About The Moisturizer

Curél is debuting their new Hydra Therapy product which helps combat dry skin and helps you look your best during warmer weather and beyond! Be sure to check out Curél® on Facebook to get updates and to learn more. 

  • Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER is activated by water on freshly-showered skin and penetrates deeply into the surface to heal dryness

  • After showering, your skin cells expand, which provides an easy pathway for Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER to penetrate into just showered skin, healing the moisture barrier where it counts and helping replenish skin’s ceramide levels

  • Curel® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER is not greasy or sticky and has powerful healing ingredients that restore the moisture barrier

  • Apply daily & experience the end of dry skin

I also love the colors I got to incorporate into this thoughtful set of images. The bright, white towels, rustic metal basket, white, decorative box with gold spots, the terrarium that features gold accents, and the pretty glass vases - the hints of metallics really shine nicely here. Love this color combo for a bathroom or guest room. 

Have you gotten a chance to check out the Curel® Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer yet? Let me know in the comments below! 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Clinique Lip Pop

A Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Recipe + Stunning Bracelets from Gideon John

I want to share a couple of things with you today - fudge + jewelry - two of my favorite things! I wanted to share a Peanut Butter Fridge Fudge recipe with you (below), and also share some pretty amazing jewelry with you. 

First, the jewelry. Bracelets have always been my go-to jewelry faves. I recently received three absolutely stunning bracelets from Gideon John London, and I could hardly believe my eyes! These bracelets are so well-made, and you can tell that great attention to detail was given, beginning at jewelry design, then into their packaging and presentation. Each bracelet arrives in a personalized black box and a cotton bag, so nothing get scratched during delivery. Even though these traveled all the way from gorgeous London, they looked like someone had hand-delivered them locally! 

I received three bracelets from Gideon John, and featured them all in this post. Find them here:

Rose Gold Cuff Bracelet / Green Sea Jasper Tasseled Opulence / Rose Gold Lux Beads

And, although they already had lovely product photography on their website, I was so fortunate to be able to bring these bracelets to life in this styled photoshoot. 

Now, the Fudge!

This yummy treat turned out so well! This recipe has been adapted from the one I found here - the post that inspired my photos!

1 Bag Peanut Butter Baking Chips

1 Bag Chocolate Chips 

Coconut Oil

Creamy Peanut Butter 

A Pinch of Salt

Glass Container For Fudge

Parchment Paper

1.) You can do each of the two layers in the microwave, or use the double boiler method, like I did. To do the double boiler, fill a sauce pan with about 1 inch of water. Set the glass measuring cup in the saucepan, atop the water, and get turn your burner on medium, to get ready to melt your ingredients.

2.) Prepare water for double boiler method in two different sauce pans. In two heat-safe glass measuring cups (I used my two 2 cup ones), melt 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil, 1 bag of peanut butter ships, a pinch of salt (or a bit more), and 1/2-1 C. Peanut Butter. Feel free to add more Peanut Butter if you want, just until you get a consistency and taste you like. You can also add some powdered sugar to this peanut butter layer if you want. Melt until smooth - make sure you stir frequently!

3.) In the other measuring cup, melt 1/4 C. Coconut Oil, 1and  Bag of Chocolate Chips. Melt and continue to stir until smooth. 

4.) Optionally spray a bit of non-stick spray into your Pyrex container, and then fit a piece of parchment paper into the Pyrex, allowing two sides a few extra inches to hang over. This makes removing the fudge from the container much easier!

5.) Once chocolate has melted, pour it into the Pyrex. Freeze for about 15 minutes, so it hardens all the way through.

6.) Once that layer has hardened, pour the peanut butter mixture over the chocolate layer, make sure it's smooth, and put it back into the freezer. If you're not in a hurry, you can just let the final layer cool in the fridge.

7.) Once both layers are fully firm, grab a cutting board, pull out the fudge block utilizing the parchment paper, and use a ruler to make straight lines on the top of the fudge if presentation matters. Cut fudge into 1" squares, using a large, sharp knife, and enjoy!! 

***Note: This fudge melts pretty fast, so make sure you keep it in the fridge!!! It tastes like peanut butter cups, I just love how this turned out!! You can also use crunchy peanut butter, but I recommend creamy, just because the peanuts could be too hard to eat after being in the freezer or fridge!

What a great no-bake dessert recipe! 

Blueberry Granola Parfait - A Great Snack On The Go!

Well, it's back to busy schedules for so many people, with school starting back up for the year, and seasons changing. If your days seem to be going by a mile a minute, here is a great recipe for you that will definitely satisfy that sweet tooth, help keep you full for hours, and because there are so many flavors and textures in this recipe, it makes eating better enjoyable. These parfaits contain layers of granola, covered with blueberry yogurt, then topped with fresh blueberries and Sahale Snacks in Berry Macaron Almond Mix. This awesome mix is Non-GMO, gluten free, and contains Blueberries, Cashews, Lemon-Infused Apples, Whole Roasted Almonds, and Toasted Coconut. No artificial flavors of any sort, making this a wonderful option for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. 

Elevate your everyday snacks or light meals by adding the very best ingredients possible, while not overthinking it. Simple can definitely be better, so why not work smarter and not harder. 

My parfait recipe was inspired by breakfast on-the-go or afternoon snacks, and the flavor of these snacks was inspired by a walk into a neighborhood bakery. Just one bite of a delicious, freshly made macaron inspired the creation of lightly toasted coconut, crunchy almonds, and creamy cashew. 

About The Brand: "It all started with a climb up Mount Rainier in Washington State in August 2003. We had some beautiful views but nothing delicious to eat. The trail mix and stale nuts we brought on our trip helped to replenish lost energy, but did nothing to satisfy our desire for something great tasting, nutritious and as adventurous as our travels. That experience inspired us to create Sahale Snacks". This is why Sahale Snacks make such a great Grab & Go Snack!

Find Sahale Around The Web: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

I’m sharing #SahaleSnackers in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™ - Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! #BeyondOrdinary

Passion Defined - Rémy Refined (Event Recap)

Last week, I was invited to a concert in St. Louis by Rémy Martin! The event was held at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (formerly called Riverport Amphitheatre). There was a HUGE crowd, and everyone was having a great time. I was put on a list to do a Meet & Greet with Jhene Aiko, who opened for Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa on The High Road Tour, as well as helped Rémy Martin promote their mentorship sweepstakes. 

I waited in line to meet the woman of the hour, and she was super sweet and very personable. She's so beautiful!!! I even scored an awesome photo with her! What a unique experience this was. A special thanks to SoFabRocks for connecting me with this awesome brand, talented artist, and fun experience. 

Also, if you didn't get a chance to check out my Rémy Martin Watermelon Cocktail Cooler Recipe, you can find that blog post, here. Until next time, cheers, friends!

Don't Quit Your Daydream

For some reason, I am always in love with inspiration quote t-shirts. I love this one, by Doc Shorty, because it really gets me thinking about my daydreams and how I work so hard to make them a reality. I swoon over them on Pinterest, and when Doc Shorty offered to send me one, I jumped at the opportunity to help them promote their cause. Part of the proceeds from their site go towards multiple sclerosis research. Learn more about my journey to never quite my daydream below, and find this adorable tee, here. 

I have been on this journey, literally since I was 14-15 years old, to work for myself. I always held hourly jobs while in school, but was sewing goods and selling them at shows and online in addition. I went through college, trying to make some sort of connection in almost every class and job I had, in order to work towards that dream of mine - thinking of how I could apply the lessons I learned to either making things that would make me money, or using the skills in my own business, even when the class was not specifically a production or business class.

I am so incredibly happy I had that mindset all through school, because, in addition to always holding at least two jobs while going to college full-time, I have always had my own company, where I have created goods or work for a client. 

Little did I know, I was on the path to being an Influencer and a Content Creator! These terms didn't even really exist on the same level that they do today. I work just about every day to develop this wonderful blog, that I am so proud of, and I just love creating content for brands and for myself. 

In addition to business dreams, the biggest daydream I am "obsessing over" is the dream to move to somewhere in the Olympic Peninsula, and live somewhere that inspires me beyond my wildest dreams. To just be a bit closer to nature as far as pine forests, mountain views, the ocean, and a damp cool climate, that is my next dream I am working towards! I am sure it's going to take a bit more time, to make enough money to be comfortable for us to make such a big move will be a huge task, but it can be done! 

So, what daydream are you currently working towards? Maybe you have a similar story to mine, or maybe something completely different. I cant wait to learn more about your dreams and aspirations, and at what point you are in your own journey. 

Bride To Be Gift Box by UnboundBox

I recently had the chance to get to know some of the products that UnboundBox has to offer.

If you are looking for a unique gift idea for a Bride To Be, then here is an idea for you! I have to admit, my favorite item in the gift box is the Hanky Panky Peek-A-Boo Bralette and Bottoms set. 

This Bride To Be Box from UnboundBox is surely going to be something the bride remembers forever! This gift would be so great to give a bride at her bachelorette party!

From the moment the bride opens this gift box, she will instantly see what great quality each and every item is that's provided! Her new spouse will also have fun playing along and helping explore these items a bit better after the wedding, on the honeymoon, and beyond! 

ORDER THE GIFT BOX HERE

 

When this UnboundBox arrived at my doorstep, this adorably wrapped gift box was inside of a larger box, wrapped very safely. Everything arrived in amazing condition, and I was so excited to see what all was inside. You can choose either black lace or white lace for the bralette + bottoms, so I chose to feature the black lace items. See, you don't even have to gift wrap this present, it's already done for you! The smaller box contains the lace undergarments, and the larger box contains the rest of the gift items in the set. 

UnboundBox pays so much attention to details - everything looks amazing, from the second you begin to open the package! Most brides are going to love this present!

You could get this for the bride by yourself, or have a couple of friends gift this to her together. 

Hanky Panky Steamy Peek-A-Boo Bralette

This peek-a-boo bralette is made of Hanky Panky's signature comfortable stretch lace. The sensuous silky ribbon will make you feel like a present fit to unwrap. 

Believe me, the lace on this bralette is extremely high quality. This bralette is made from the finest materials, closures, ribbons, and finishes. 

Hanky Panky Steamy Side Tie Bottoms

The perfect cheeky bottoms to pair with the Peek-A-Boo Bralette in Black Lace. These comfortable, bikini-cut panties are made of Hanky Panky's signature stretch lace - which is super soft!

Desir Metallique Handcuffs

This beautiful set of mesh handcuffs look like a set of 3 bracelets, but could also be used for fun! 

Feather Tickler

This is also a cute item that would make just about anyone smile. The feathers are super-soft, so just use your imagination!

 

A little bit about one of the items in the gift box, the vibe.

Bijoiux Indiscrets Twenty One Diamond Vibrator
Twenty One offers the ultimate in female pleasure. With the perfect size and shape, it is designed to provide precise stimulation, through it's 7 patterns and 3 vibration intensities, Twenty One unveils a new dimension where pleasure is the real luxury. Includes satin pouch, user manual, and USB charger.

Share Your Passions + A Watermelon Keg Drink Recipe With Rémy Martin Cognac

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

#passiondefinedremyrefined #CollectiveBias #StLouisSweepstakes

I listen to music every single day. I much prefer music to television, and because I work from home I include music in my daily life. I am always looking for new music to love, or I will play something from one of my many favorite musicians. I love listening as I am crafting, which is one of my many talents. Recently, I have been creating beautiful dreamcatchers as party items for entertaining. Listening to music and combining my talents of crafting make for a relaxing and productive day. I created a fun and inspiring Girly Boho Summer Festival Themed Party décor item, which is a dreamcatcher. I created this while listening to my favorite tunes. You can see later in this post how to create these for yourself.

In honor of music festival season, and tons of great concerts happening in the St. Louis area, I also created a delightfully refreshing Watermelon Cognac Summer Sip Recipe - and then served it out of a watermelon keg! Everything turned out so well, so I hope you get a chance to try this drink recipe with friends while listening to good music.

Also going on this summer, you can enter to win a mentor for a YEAR (!!!), or meet Jhené Aiko! Read along to find out more. And, check out updates on Twitter.
Learn more about this amazing opportunity on Twitter

Or visit their website!

First, I wanted to start off by telling you a bit more about the mentorship that Rémy Martin Cognac is offering up.

To enter the sweepstakes, the Entrant must log on to his/her Twitter account and (i) follow @RemyRefined (if he/she does not already), and (ii) Tweet an image of Entrant showing their life passion and including the hashtags #RemyRefined and either #ChicagoSweepstakes, #DetroitSweepstakes, or #StLouisSweepstakes, depending on Entrant’s state of residence.

○      Grand Prize (1): The grand prize winner will receive a mentor for one (1) year to help winner live out his/her passion and a check for $5,000 (“Grand Prize”).

○      First Prize (15 [five (5) per location]): Each first prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners, a meet and greet with Jhené Aiko, and a Rémy Martin gift bag (“First Prize”).

○      Second Prize (30 [ten (10) per location]): Each second prize winner will receive two (2) tickets to a Jhené Aiko concert on either August 12, 2016 for Michigan winners, August 16, 2016 for Illinois winners, or August 17, 2016 for Missouri winners (“Second Prize’).

No Purch. Nec. Ends 8/31/16. 21+, IL, MI, MO only, Rules: RemyRefined.com

DREAMCATCHER INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

Lace Fabric

Wooden Embroidery Hoop (I used a smaller one)

Ribbon, Beads, Feathers, and Embroidery Floss

Hot Glue & Hot Glue Gun

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Heat up your glue gun and let’s get started!

Cut a long strip of lace, which will be wrapped around the outer circle part of the embroidery hoop.

Glue one short side of the strip to the inside of the circle, then wrap the lace around the entire circle, glueing whenever you see fit.

2.) Now, cut a circle of lace a little bit bigger than the interior circle, and stretch the lace around the inner circle, glueing on one side, then glue straight across, then evenly stretch out the rest of the lace on the circle. (See Figure 2)

3.) Now, we will add the pretty decorations. Cut lengths of ribbon, and glue them inside the outer circle. Then, double over your embroidery floss, and tie it to the circle. Glue everything in place.

4.) I used a big needle on the embroidery floss to get the beads onto the string. I also glued marabou feathers to the ends of the string, then wrapped and glued more ribbon around it.

5.) I also tied embroidery floss around the glasses (tapered glasses would have been way easier), then added elephant charms and more beads. I love how everything turned out!

Read on to see how I made the watermelon keg and to get the drink recipe!!!

DRINK RECIPE / WATERMELON KEG INSTRUCTIONS:

MATERIALS:

2 Watermelons

Rémy Martin 1738 or Rémy Martin VSOP

Blender or food processor for watermelon

Large spoon to scoop out watermelon

knife to cut watermelon

Mint (optional)

Large Mason Jars (to mix drink)

Watermelon Keg Tapper

For The Keg Stand:

Cake Stand

Bowl To Hold Watermelo

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Cut a couple of inches off the top of your watermelon. I used painters tape to try and get a straighter cut.

2.) Scoop out insides of watermelon and blend the insides until it’s juice. Transfer to several mason jars (or other large container with a lid).

3.) For every quart of watermelon juice, add 2-3 shots of Rémy Martin.

4.) You can also add some mint and lime, if that’s your style! And to add even more summer flavor, this would be so tasty!

5.) MAKE THE KEG - Open your watermelon keg tapping kit, and follow instructions to create the keg.

6.) Set your new watermelon creation into the bowl, and set it all onto the cake stand.

7.) Fill the watermelon with your drink recipe, turn on some good tunes, and sample your new drink! Enjoy!

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Rémy Martin 1738

Rémy Martin 1738® Accord Royal is the signature blend from the luxury House of Rémy Martin. Made from the most sought after grapes of Fine Champagne Cognac, 1738® is a tribute to almost 300 years of passionate commitment to time, tradition and respect of the land.

1738 Accord Royal is aged up to 20 years in French toasted oak casks to reveal a rich range of aromas and exceptionally round texture.

Rémy Martin VSOP

The world’s first and favorite Fine Champagne cognac

#1 V.S.O.P in the US

The art of blending hundreds of eaux-de-vie to renew the same taste every year and reveal the same signature style since it’s creation in 1927

Dominant notes of vanilla thanks to aging in large grain oak barrels. Fruity notes of ripe apricots, baked apple and elegant floral notes.

DIY Summer Fun - Washi Tape Everything!

Washi Tape is here to stay, and I absolutely love it! This tape sticks to SO many surfaces, and creates an instant pop of color and a bit of whimsy to anything you adhere it to. 

Below, you will find a few items that I covered, to show you how easy it is to update just about anything on your desk and around your home!

I created these photos for a fun campaign that I helped share for Wendy's Blackberry Lemonade. I loved creating this DIY project for such a well-known brand! 

I covered an assortment of items, including: A clip board, wooden utensils, blank journals, and paper gift bags! Seriously, this project was SO fun!!!

{PB + Banana Toast} Summer Snacking with Sahale Snacks

I found a new, favorite snack mix! Actually, I found quite a few new favorites in this amazing package that I received from Sahale Snacks! I wanted to share a fun "recipe" of sorts that will hopefully inspire you to take the time to get some healthy foods together, and have a breakfast picnic!! 

This fun "recipe" basically consists of only four ingredients! Toast, Creamy Peanut Butter, Bananas, and Sahale Snacks Honey Almond Glazed Mix, which also features sea salt and cranberries for a bit of tart and sweet.

I just spread the PB onto the toast, then sliced up my bananas to about 1/4" thick. I placed 6 banana slices on the toast, then added the tasty almonds. They are coated in the most delicious honey crunchy awesome-ness, so I wound up eating a few as I was creating these photos - how could I resist?! 

If you are just looking for something to grab on the way out of the door, or if you're looking for snacks for your next road trip, then these Grab & Go Snacks  from Sahale Snacks are perfect!! 

I also fell in love with this S'Well bottle from their Satin Collection - in Moncao Blue. SO many colors to choose from!!! 

I'm sharing #SahaleSnackers in my life as part of a Sahale Snacks® sponsored series for Socialstars™. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep my blog a beautiful space to showcase my work!