Magazine Subscriptions: My Faves

I've recently taken the plunge and subscribed to several magazines that have a sneaky way of jumping in my grocery cart...thus tacking on anywhere from $5-$15 in one visit. Really, it is so silly for me to be spending that much money on magazines, when I could subscribe and get a whole years worth for a substantially less amount of money.

BHG $5.99 for 12 months // $0.50 an issue // One of my absolute favorites!

Garden and Gun $19.99 for 12 months // $3.33 an issue // For you and the husband

Coastal Living $10 for 10 months // $1 an issue // I especially enjoy reading in the winter months

Southern Living $19.95 for 13 issues // $1.53 an issue // You cannot beat Southern Living. It's a must!

HGTV Magazine $19.99 for 12 months // $2.00 an issue // One of my new favorites

Southern Lady $22.98 for 12 months // $3.28 an issue // A little less known but FULL of great content

What are your favorites? And do you subscribe?

Five On Friday: What I'm Loving

Hey y'all! I'm excited to be linking up for the first time in 2015. It's already been a busy year but I always feel inspired and energized when I'm busy and productive. Hoping that there are lots of good things in store for us here on the blog! 

1: The Sweater Wrap & 2: The Most Comfortable Shoes

My pink wrap arrived so quick {Nordstrom has great shipping!} and I wasted no time in wearing it. I guess I forgot to mention that it is only 39.90 on sale, which makes it all the more amazing. It's like wearing a short little robe all day...my fave. See my post on it here. Did I mention I got my hair cut too? I am loving the shorter length and it feels so much healthier.

A few weeks ago I mentioned this flat from J.Crew. Well, they are my new favorite shoe. SO comfortable, I can't think of another ballet flat that comes even close to the level of comfort. I got the tawny sand color and they are going to carry me into Spring beautifully. 

3: Workout Jams

It's hard to have a good workout with out good music. Since we are all trying to be fit this time of year, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite tunes that made my workout go just a little quicker/better. April and I are doing a challenge today with our fitbits too, anyone else want to join in? Send me your email so I can find you!

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I'm also loving Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars! 

What are your current workout favorites?

4: Weekend Plans

I think the sun might actually come out for a few days, which is a welcome change here. Has anyone else had the dreariest weather? I can handle the cold, but I do like to see the sun. If it's nice enough, I'm sure we will go on a good walk. I'm also hoping to make it to a barre class tomorrow morning. Other than that, we are hoping to make some headway on our guest bath. I'm sure I'll be posting pics {@missdixie30 } as we go along. The hubs mentioned he wants to try out a new burger recipe..sounds good to me! 

5: Easy Crescent Roll Danish

If you are looking to try a new breakfast recipe, you have got to try this! I made this Christmas morning, and then again on New Years Day. Melts in your mouth, I swear! 

CRESCENT ROLL DANISH via the Mommy Guide

Ingredients:

2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls {Pillsbury is the best}

1 8-ounce packages cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg white

Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13X9-inch baking pan.

Lay a pack of crescent rolls in the pan and pinch the openings together.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and egg together until smooth.

Spread the mixture over the crescent rolls evenly and then lay the second pack of crescent rolls on top of the cheese mixture and brush with egg white.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Top with glaze after cooling for 20 minutes. 

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!

Let's Start...Paint the Exterior

I'm thrilled that I got some great responses to yesterday's post on the to do list for 2015. Obviously, this is a very over zealous list to think I can accomplish, but this is absolutely what is on the agenda, whether it happens to get accomplished in 2015 or even a little later. A home is always full of moving parts and it's constantly getting updated anyway. Why not make it fun!

I figure I will post the details/goals of each project in order of how they appeared on the list, no matter what order the projects might fall. Then, once the projects get worked on, we can revisit the inspiration post. Make sense? We really are so sporadic and I don't want to be tied down to one space unless I am trying to really get it finished for one reason or another. 

First on the list... PAINT THE EXTERIOR! 

I cannot tell you how excited I am about crossing this off the list. The dream has always been to have a white painted brick house with black shutters. It is so me. It is me to a capital T. As soon as I laid eyes on our house {via a listing} I messaged Stephen saying it would be an amazing house painted in white. The wheels were immediately set in motion after we surveyed the house.

We were thinking we would go ahead and paint the house now, with some money we have set aside, but the painting can only be done unless the weather is in the upper 50's for several days straight ...it's looking like we will wait until March to do that. In the mean time, we will work on some indoor projects, of course! 

I won't be sharing full photos of the house for privacy purposes, but I will definitely show you some after shots. Until then, here is what has been inspiring me. 

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Really, there's nothing like a classic white house. 

This is a pretty straightforward project {thank goodness for at least one} and we just have to choose the paint. Does anyone have any experience in paint types, and do you have any paint color recommendations? They would be greatly appreciated!! 

House To Do List for 2015

I just got back from a buying trip to market and that usually means when I get home I am ready to tackle lots of projects, getting back into the swing of things. I've been forming a list in my head over the last several weeks of things we want/need to do at our fixer upper house. I have to be careful because sometimes I get this crazy urge and try to do too many things at once. I've included one inspiration photo per project, to show you the direction I have in mind. Basically, I'm creating a virtual dream house! 

PAINT THE EXTERIOR 

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PAINT THE SHED

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PATIO AND YARD UPDATES

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GUEST BATH UPDATE

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MASTER BATH REMODEL

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FINISH LAUNDRY ROOM

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TIDY GUEST BEDROOM

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UPDATE WEEKS' ROOM

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MASTER BEDROOM

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FINISH KITCHEN PROJECTS

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FINISH DINING ROOM PROJECTS

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TIDY UPSTAIRS BONUS ROOM

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FINISH ODDS AND ENDS

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Think that's enough to start?! Ha!! Is anyone interested in separate posts on each of these? I definitely could go into detail on each of them, and I think that might make me inspired and focused to really get working on them! Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The Best Wrap!!

It is very possible that you have heard about the infamous wrap from Nordstrom. I'm not sure why I was hesitant at first, I think it was the wooden button that made me a little squeemish. However, I overcame that silly fear and fell in love with the bright coral color wrap, perfect for this cloudy time of year. But also, perfect for a day of travel, which is exactly what I had in mind. If I am planning a trip, I am subconciously planning the perfect outfit that will make me feel good/look good but also be really comfortable. Well I've found the PERFECT layer, this wrap. And if you are like me..you want to be warm and cozy yet have light layering, look put together, and also have the ability to cover your face if a fellow traveller is coughing or sneezing {no, I am not kidding! I am a trained germaphobe and can't stand strangers coughing, sneezing, etc all over the place. and I have to use paper towels on every surface in public bathrooms!} Anyway, this wrap should cover all of your needs ;)

So far, I own the Bright Coral and I just ordered the Pink Cherie Pink, as seen above. But, it comes in 27 colors! And is the most comfortable thing ever!

 

 

Do you own it...and how many colors do you have?

 

 

 

Organization Pretties + Organizing Christmas

To get us off to a fresh start, here is what is inspiring me right now:

BHG

BHG

BHG

BHG

BHG

I don't know about you, but this is one of my favorite times of the year to get organized. As soon as Christmas is over, I am pretty much ready to clean up the house, banish clutter and soak up that fresh feeling of a tidy home. I know many people leave their decorations up a week or so past Christmas which I totally understand. I knew ours were coming down the Sunday after Christmas because I wanted the house cleaned for the New Year! I totally got into the groove of organizing that day and splurged on buying an entire cart full of new Christmas storage containers. I only wish I had done this sooner because it made taking the tree down a breeze!

This container had the rounded holder for ball ornaments, I ended up getting several of those. Especially nice to see my stash of gold and silver balls, I have a ton but they don't all necessarily go on the tree.

This container had adjustable plastic dividers. I fit a ton of ornaments in these containers, mixing the more delicate ornaments with some softer ones, but still keeping them secure. 

When I was done, I had fit almost all of my ornaments into the new containers. I think I had one more tub full of some that wouldn't fit. I am so thrilled, it's funny!

And I went ahead and got a wreath storage container for the ornament ball wreath I made this year. So excited about this one! I usually end up putting those kinds of things in a trash bag and then the following year I am scared to open it ;)

I guess I didn't snap a photo, but I use washi tape each year to relabel my Christmas storage boxes. Inevitably, the contents in the boxes change, so it is an easy way to peel off the old label and add a new one. 

I bought all of my containers from Wal-Mart so if you happen to be in the market- I would definitely check them out! I think most of my containers were about $7 and so worth it! 

The Holidays: What We Ate

To say that we ate well over the holidays would be an understatement...I swear everything that I put in my mouth was tasty. Some years the food is especially good and think this year was one of them. We spent the majority of our time at our family's homes instead of ours, so I wanted to make sure I could contribute in some way. Usually for me that means an appetizer or snack. I also needed a couple "neighbor gifts" that I wrapped up in cookie tins. I cannot believe it but I was pleased with every single recipe I tried out. A little nervewracking, but also fun to try new things that can be added to your recipe box! Enjoy what we tried, and please let me know if you do!!

I apologize for the lame pictures that were taken by me...but things were hectic and in many circumstances I barely had a chance for a photo before the food was eaten. Just a welcome circumstance of lots of wonderful people around me :)

Hearts of Palm Dip

Oh my word, I can't say enough good things about this dip. I've been wanting to make it forever and Christmas Eve was the perfect excuse! Please make sure to check out The Reedy Review for a full recipe recap and much prettier photos. I am a huge fan of dip and it often gets me in trouble...I just can't stop. This one actually seems lighter in a way. I will definitely try it again soon made with the greek yogurt version as Laura recently suggested!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Raise your hand if you love Peanut Butter Blossoms. Ok, go ahead and put them down now. They are the sweetest little cookies, turned out perfect, and they stayed so well just in a regular cookie tin for me over the course of a week during the holidays. Usually I am a stickler on locking/zipping all food up extremely tight at all times. Is that strange?

Sticky Pecan Mini Buns {photo credit Pioneer Woman}

These little sticky buns were a last minute decision to make and I'm so glad I did. I happened to see a Pioneer Woman episode on tv and of course she made these and it took her like 2 minutes total so I wanted to replicate that! Note: her recipe online actually lists instructions for making the dough, but I substituted crescent rolls from the grocery store and that turned out just perfect. They also stayed perfectly tasty for several days and everyone really enjoyed them. The perfect bitesize snack! I can see these being such an easy yet fun dish to bring to a brunch/bridal/baby shower.

We had a rainy weekend and decided to start some big house projects. Stephen was busy upstairs painting and hanging shelves, and I started working on the guest bath. Can't wait to show you what is happening in there! Let's make it a great week.
xo.