Juliet's Girls Bedroom Design

Juliet had been begging for a bigger bed for months (she’s had twins since she was 18 months old)...but she had a habit of sneaking out of her room a few nights a week! So this girl killed a challenge chart by going to bed without a fight and staying in it for two months to earn this upgrade! Daddy took her to City Furniture on one of their daddy/daughter dates and she picked this one out! She was so excited and grateful for her “new room” and hasn’t missed a day of staying in and even making her bed since. She’s had each of us over for a “sleepover” in her room too.

Queen Bed // Dresser // Duvet Cover // Duvet Insert // Pink Blanket // Fur Pillows // Floral Pillow // Desk // Desk Chair // Rug // Mirror

Perfect Poolside Cocktail Hour: Partnership with Home Centric/Bealls Outlet

You guys KNOW that Bealls Outlet is one of my fave places to find reasonable home decor. So when they reached out to collab on a spring project I jumped at the chance! They are actually sister brands with Home Centric if you hear me call it that in this post!

I decided to put together a perfect poolside cocktail hour, complete with my fave snack - a charcuterie board, and a yummy low-carb mojito cocktail. I found almost all of these boho and gold goodies at Home Centric which just goes to show you, you don’t have to spend a fortune to pull together a super cute and unique look!

The garden section is pretty stocked right now at the store! I love this funky head planter. Doesn’t the fern go pretty perfectly in there as his crazy hair?

I wanted to serve a tropical type of drink but not a margarita, so I opted for a mojito. The problem with so many delicious mixed cocktails is how much sugar they contain! I decided to go for a low carb option and it was refreshing and delish! Here’s the mix for one serving!

Low Carb Mojito
+Muddled Mint
+1 .5 oz rum
+2 oz club soda
+2 oz Diet 7 Up
+1/2 oz lime juice

The charcuterie board I found at Home Centric is actually a piece of decorative wall art! I thought it had a boho vibe and would look cute as a snack board. Throwing together a charcuterie board is easier than you think. This is my go-to shopping list for a super easy charcuterie.

Easy Charcuterie
+Three blocks of cheese
+One type of salami or sopressata
+Two types of crackers or toast
+Fig preserves or seeded mustard
+Little bowl of olives or nuts
+Fresh fruit

Amazon Finds

I don’t know about you, but I am alllllll about the Amazon finds. I’m not sure if it’s because the shipping is super fast or that there is just a variety of products to choose from, but I always check Amazon first before I look anywhere else.

So I’ll share my purchases from time-to-time in case you are in need of any random must-have products! Here’s a look at what I’ve picked up in the last month or so.

Leopard Swimsuit - I love picking up reasonably priced swimsuits to wear on the boat or at home! This one is cute, I sized up one and it’s pretty cute!

Bulletin Board & Pins - I recently got this for our hallway from the garage to the kitchen. I use the super cute pins to pin up school artwork, pics and important papers.

Brass Hooks - I hung these under the bulletin board so backpacks and purses had a cute place to rest.

Pillow Covers - I have never seen more reasonably priced pillow covers! I got the 24x24 for some oversized pillows on our sectional.

Acrylic Frames - I love the square shape and the cleanness of the acrylic frames. I picked up a few of these to give as gifts around the holidays too.

Drying Rack - I’m obsessed with this drying rack! It rolls or folds up so you can customize it based on how many dishes you have at the moment.

Leopard Joggers - Imagine leggings on top, joggers on the bottom. SO comfy I ordered more colors!

Fireplace Tools - We’ve never had fireplace tools, we just use random sticks or whatever we can find to poke in our fireplace. I wanted something cute but didn’t want to break the bank. These won out!

Coffee Table Book - I got a new coffee table that warranted a fresh coffee table book. The cover of this one is just so pretty sitting out. The images inside are amazing too!

Acrylic Lazy Susan - I picked these up for my fridge actually! I got two and they are loaded with jars of pickles, condiments and salad dressing.

Hair Towel Wraps - This set of three towel wraps was perfect for our house… one for each of the girls!

What things have you picked up on Amazon lately that you love?

Hallway Update

We have a small hallway that goes from our garage to our kitchen with doors to a utility closet and the laundry room. It ends up being a place where purses and backpacks line the floor. I had a small shelf with hooks but it was always overloaded and junked up. I decided this space needed some updating!

To be honest… I had can of black paint in the garage from when I painted my laundry room with Dalmatian spots and figured, hey, one less trip to Home Depot, I’ll just use this up!

I used to have a mirror in this hallway but decided to use it in Amelia’s room and turns out, I really missed having that mirror there. It’s nice for a quick check when heading out the door to make sure you brushed your hair, etc. I had this one in the corner of the garage so it was meant to be.

I’ve been wanting to a place to pin up the girls’ artwork and important papers so I grabbed this bulletin board and push pins! I like that it’s covered in burlap with the nailheads to add a cute touch instead of a plain old bulletin board.

I also found these brass hooks on amazon to hang purses and backpacks on! I love how they contrast the wall.

This was a simple project, but I feel like the paint a little details make it a much cuter space!

Home Edit Inspired Pantry Organization

Happy New Year! Who’s ready to get organized?!

I recently came across The Home Edit on Instagram and I know, have I been living under a rock? Let’s just say HELLO INSPIRATION. I instantly felt the need to organize something. The worst area of our house was definitely our pantry. I couldn’t even walk in the little room. When I look at the before pic I’m more overwhelmed than I was when I was doing it. So much stufffffff.

I knew I wanted to get some organizational products like bins and baskets. I hit up Target and ordered a variety of options to see what would work! I ended up with the following and i think they worked out perfectly! Click the images to be linked to the items on Target!

Back-to-School Weekly Meal Planner

Can you believe it? After five and a half months, the kids are back to school! Fingers crossed all stay healthy and the schools stay open.

One of the things on my to-do list last week was updating the kids’ lunchbox situations. I’ve had reusable containers for awhile but I kept seeing these bento boxes and kinda had to have them. At first I ordered the smaller size box but the compartments weren’t big enough, so I swapped them out for the “Tapas” size. The clear divider section comes out for easy cleaning as well. Naturally, I headed over to Pinterest to do some bento box lunch planning. I got a little inspired by seeing so many options! To keep things simple, in the past I typically stuck to these lunch packing guidelines and I’ll continue to do so for this year too.

• Protein / Cheese

• Fruit

• Veggie

• Something crunchy

• Something sweet

I pick two options of each for the week and make up different combinations to mix it up. Because of Amelia’s Type 1 Diabetes I also have to count carbs, so I try to stick between 30-40 grams of carbs at lunch. For example, here’s a week of lunches:

• Monday: Turkey, provolone, mayo & lettuce pinwheels (no wrap, just those ingredients), berries, carrot slices, pretzels, yogurt raisins.

• Tuesday: Ham & cheese square skewers, watermelon, pickles, cheez-its, M&M’s.

• Wednesday: 1/2 turkey sandwich, berries, pickles, pretzels, oreo thins.

• Thursday: Ham & cheese pinwheels, watermelon, carrots, cheez-its, yogurt raisins.

• Friday: 1/2 ham sandwich, berries, pickles, cheez-its, M&M’s.

I find that if I try to have TOO much variety per week, I don’t use everything up and stuff goes bad. This system seems to work and I never get complaints!

I also grabbed new lunchboxes for the girls at Target. They are perfect size for the bento boxes. They are also like a giant gel ice pack, so you put the entire lunchbox in the freezer and it helps keep the contents cool all day long! I got them the same design because #1, it’s all they had and #2, it’s just easier that way haha.

In the midst of all this planning I whipped up a Weekly Meal Planner graphic to try to stay organized! I tried looking for one online but I didn’t need the extra note sections or snack sections and I just like things that are clean and simple! If you’d like to download it, click below! What other types of printables would you guys be interested in?

And just because back-to-school pics make me smile so much, I’ll share some of ours with you! :)

Playroom Design Update - Big Kids Playroom

Ahh the playroom. It was one of the things I was most excited about when we renovated this house over five years ago. A room, for all the toys to live, where you could just shut the door and forget about the mess haha.

During COVID quarantine this room got a little out of control, mostly because there wasn’t enough room to put stuff away… or was it the fact that we had too much STUFF? We decided to go through the closet and really try to get everything INTO the closet. We got rid of some stuff they no longer played with organized what they wanted to keep. We got almost everything into the closet except the American Girl Doll house, woohoo! We decided to relocate the bookshelf into the playroom (from Amelia’s room) and put ALL of their books in one place.

The truth is… the kids don’t play with toys like they used to and I wanted to make this room be a place they’d want to hang out with their friends. We decided to add a sofa! They can hang in here to watch movies, play Wii or Switch or use the open space on the floor to play with their American Girl dolls or Legos.

At night the room was pretty dark with only one lamp so we added a couple hanging seagrass pendant lights that I think look so beachy and cute. We repurposed a few storage cubes and baskets to stash blankets and stuff animals in (my girls are semi-hoarders with the stuffed animals).

I think we accomplished the task at hand, to make a sweet, big kids playroom that they actually like to hang out and play in!

Sofa | Rug | Green Pillow | Rainbow Pillow (similar) | Dalmatian Pillow | Palm Tree Pillow | Bookshelf | Pendants | Storage Cubes

Master Bedroom Refresh

There’s nothing like a quarantine to make you look around and want to redo every single space in your house, am I right?

I have been wanting to get a new rug in our bedroom room for awhile. I never intended to use the dark grey shag rug in there but it worked for the time being when we got a new living room rug that went better with our sectional. Shag rugs kind of give me the creeps. It feels impossible to keep them clean, stuff like earrings and coins get lost in them and the amount of dust the rugs must harbor is probably incredible. Not that I need an excuse for getting a new rug, but these are definitely some reasons for the change.

So what started with a new rug quickly began the search for a new duvet, quilt and pillows. I usually start my search on Pinterest… I find a “look” I want to emulate and go from there. I kept being drawn to a particular rug and I thought it was interesting because it wasn’t really my usual “style.” I’m such a neutral gal and this was pretty colorful, for me. I decided to just do it.

Now onto the bedding… since the rug definitely makes more of a statement I knew the bedding should be pretty neutral. I’m a huge fan of white bedding but it’s just, scary, especially with a new puppy. I fell in love with this quilt from Pottery Barn but it was pricey, so I sat on it for awhile. When I found a super reasonable duvet cover from Target, I justified the quilt splurge.

There was another change I wanted to make when redoing the bedding, the way I made the bed. I wanted a more modern look with just two Euro shams instead of three against the headboard. I wanted a touch of color on the bed too but it was so hard finding the exact blue blanket I wanted. I ended up going for a quilt and since it came with shams, I threw them on too. I like the hint of blue that peeks out behind the Euros.

Quilt & Euro Shams | Duvet Cover | Bedskirt | Blue Quilt | Leopard Pillow | Lumbar Pillow | Headboard | Rug

<div class="shopthepost-widget" data-widget-id="4097738"><script type="text/javascript">!function(w,i,d,g,e,t){d.getElementById(i)||(element=d.createElement(t),element.id=i,element.src="https://widgets.rewardstyle.com"+e,d.body.appendChild(element)),w.hasOwnProperty(g)===!0&&"complete"===d.readyState&&w[g].init()}(window,"shopthepost-script",document,"__stp","/js/shopthepost.js","script")</script><div class="rs-adblock"><img src="https://assets.rewardstyle.com/production/2e66b92e3cb723e05750acd4484ef856c5c0c7f3/images/search/350.gif" onerror='this.parentNode.innerHTML="Disable your ad blocking software to view this content."' style="width: 15px; height: 15px"><noscript>JavaScript is currently disabled in this browser. Reactivate it to view this content.</noscript></div></div>

Holiday Decor: Partnership with Bealls Outlet

It’s not a secret that I LOVE me some Bealls Outlet. I may be biased but the Sebastian store is by far the best one I’ve ever been in. It’s huge, organized and restocked frequently. It’s actually the 3rd location for this store since it came to town, and I’ve shopped at all of them since I was a kid! I would estimate that 85% of my home accessories and more are from this store. I love that everything is super cute but reasonably priced!

Needless to say, I was pretty excited when Bealls Outlet reached out and wanted to collaborate on a holiday decor project! Most everything you’re going to see was purchased at Bealls Outlet… it’s honestly the first place I go to look for holiday decor so this partnership was perfection.

Onto the decor! I like to switch up my mantel every year. Something about it being a focal point wants me to use some creativity with the decorations. I found these beautiful gold metal Christmas trees at Bealls Outlet and knew they’d be perfect for the mantel. Nothing like a little real greenery to bring the Christmas spirit. I added my vintage brass candlesticks and this is what it looks like!

When it comes to Christmas decorations, some people love angels, or snowmen (I like those too) or Santa Clause, but I find myself being drawn to Christmas trees. I’ve collected them over the years and decided to add couple to the collection from Bealls Outlet this year. I put them different places every year, they’ve been on my kitchen island, the dining table, mantel and this year I decided to put them on the coffee table. I love that they look like a collection and not a “set,” know what I mean?

Next up, the kitchen. I picked up two garlands so with the 2nd one I split it up and used it a few places in the house, one of which being above the kitchen window. I found these wreaths on stands at Bealls Outlet and thought they’d be perfect for this window sill. They don’t block much light and are just wintery and perfect.

Our guest bathroom needed a little holiday flare so I used my fave Bealls Outlet holiday accessories on the vanity! I’m obsessed with that holiday potpourri and little gingerbread house too, isn’t it cute? The girls think the garland makes them feel like you’re in the forrest and said, “It’s so cool!”

Decorating for the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money either! I love the variety of pieces available at Bealls Outlet and the fact that it’s all so reasonable and cute! Where do you shop for holiday decor?

Christmas Gift Guide: Nicki's Fave Things

So my husband’s love language is NOT gifts. The holidays stress him out because he says, “I want to get what you like, just tell me what you want and I’ll get it!” I mean that KIND OF defeats the purpose of gift giving, but hey, I also like the idea of getting what I’d pick out for myself haha. Around this time of year I start collecting ideas of things I’d like, then he can pick out anything on the list! I thought I’d put together a gift guide to share with you because if I like these things, you probably will too! I already have some of these but they would all make excellent gifts. They’d be great for yourself or anyone you’re shopping for!

No. 1 - Holmegaard® Bouquet Wine Glasses

I’m in the market for a new set of wine glasses. The truth is, they break every now and then and eventually you end up with a cabinet full of mismatched, different size wine glasses. I like a bigger wine glass and love these!

No. 2 - Rosewood Lip Trio

I love this lip product set! This color looks good on everyone, seriously. It comes with a gloss, a sheer lipstick and a more intense color lipstick, plus it comes in a pretty little gift box. Done and done.

No. 3 - Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Speaker

We already have this speaker and use it EVERYDAY! I keep it plugged in near the door to the porch and carry it outside whenever we spend any time out there. It’s unusual if I’m NOT playing music, so having a portable speaker is a must. I decided on this instead of wired outdoor speakers since I can move it wherever we are sitting and the sound quality is great!

No. 4 - Stud Bow Flip Flops

Need an easy, inexpensive gift? Pick up these super cute flip flops. They’re designer inspired, go with everything and are a crowd pleaser.

No. 5 - Revlon Blow Dry Brush

I bought this thing a few months ago and love it. It’s like an all-in-one blow dryer, brush, styler, everything. It gives my hair volume and helps to style it so I don’t have to use a straightener or curling iron after the blow dry. It gives me that fresh blow-out look so quickly and easily! GET IT.

No. 6 - Barefoot Dreams Blanket

I see everyone talking about this blanket all over the internet and I have to admit, I feel like I need it. It’s def an extravagant gift, but hey, you or someone you know might deserve it!

No. 7 - The Jellies

This little gift set of lip glosses is just adorable. You can keep them all for yourself or use them as stocking stuffers! Plus, the fact that these are safe is so reassuring when you want to give one to your kids!

No. 8 - Make-Up Travel Bag

I def want this baby. You can customize the inside to different size compartments. It has a place for your brushes, for everything. The hardest decision is picking which color! I like the mini black & white stripe, the plain black and the marble!

No. 9 - Eyeshadow Palette

I’m just gonna quote the product description because it’s so good… The perfect beauty companion, this versatile palette features nine long-wearing shades that transition effortlessly from day to night. Velvety, richly pigmented neutrals surround our brilliant game-changer: a sparkling jeweled shade that instantly elevates any look.

No. 10 - Keurig

Guys, I may have set a world record because I have my ORIGINAL Keurig! I’m probably poisoning myself with mold exposure because it’s so old, but it has kept working so I’ve kept it. I’m thinking this could be the year I make a switch to a new one! I love the colors it comes in, especially that brushed gold!

No. 11 - Faux Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

I’ve had a few real trees in my dining room but I always end up moving them outside because I either neglect them or they just don’t like it inside. I think it’s time to get a faux tree for that spot and I love this one! You also need to buy the basket because yeah, it’s cute.

No. 12 - Bose Headphones

My friend has a pair of these and when we have traveled together I’ve been so jealous. I want to use these with my Peloton so the cord isn’t dangling around as well as for traveling. They’re not inexpensive so I haven’t purchased them for myself yet. They’d make a really nice, quality gift!

No. 13 - Wrap Bracelet

I have a few of these wrap bracelets and love them. They come in so many color combinations and lengths and are so pretty. I usually wear one on the same wrist as my apple watch and I always get compliments!

No. 14 - Agate Coasters

I really don’t need any new coasters since I have more than a few sets… why do I always buy coasters at Homegoods, TJ Maxx or Bealls Outlet?! However, these are just so so pretty. I think I need them.

Make the Switch to Safer Products

Cancer. Disease. Auto-Immune Disorders.

I often wonder why it seems that these issues seem to be running rampant through our friend circles, through our own families. It’s real, and it’s scary. No wonder my anxiety gets the best of me sometimes. It seems we all know someone going through something health-related that is terrible. Why?!

Cancers caused by genes, known as familial cancers, account for only two to five percent of all cancers. That means the majority of cancers are environmental… fed by your habits, what you’re surrounded by and what you put in and on your body.

Am I a 100% crunchy, organic, gluten free, dairy free, non-alcohol drinking vegan? No, and I’m not claiming to be. But the fact of the matter is, I try to make the healthy choice when proposed with options.

The products I use on my skin and body, and my kids’ skin and bodies? You better believe I’ve made the switch to safer. When I cross one giant thing off the list that’s going to cause disease, I call that a step in the right direction. We shouldn’t have to wonder if the products we use are going contribute to major health issues and that’s why Beautycounter is so diligent about advocating for change in our country. But until then, please know you can trust the skincare, makeup, sunscreen, shampoo and body products that #Beautycounter produces for you and your family, having banned over 1500 ingredients that we KNOW are bad. Just for comparison’s sake, the US has only banned 30. 😕

So what’s the easiest way to #switchtosafer? With ONE product you’re running low on. Start small. Just start. 🙌🏻

DIY Hanging Daybed

I went back and forth on what I wanted on our covered porch area once the pool was completed. I thought about a bar and barstools, I thought about just a dining table and finally decided on a place to relax in the shade. After some Pinteresting I found an easy-to-follow plan to build a hanging daybed. We were going to do it at home, but my Dad (a general contractor) suggested we bring the materials over to his house since he has all the tools. We’re so glad we did! We assembled most of it in one afternoon and then I added the finish the next day. Here are some behind-the-scenes pics of us working on it!

And here is the final product! I found a barely used mattress on Facebook Marketplace for $50, bought the cover from World Market and accessorized it with handmade pillows from Etsy. The girls love to read books laying on it and I like to take Sunday naps on it! It’s so cute, I’m obsessed.

Daybed Plans | Mattress Cover | Artwork by Jason Hines | Console | Lanterns (similar) | Grey Euro Pillows | Pillow Inserts | Palm Pillows | Grey Palm Pillow | B&W Striped Pillow | G&W Striped Pillows | Geometric Pillow | Wicker Furniture | Accent Tables | Bistro Table Set

Happy 2nd Diaversary

Today is a day we celebrate. We recognize what Amelia has gone through and how she has handled it like an absolute CHAMPION. 🏆 Can we just give Amelia some props for dealing with diabetes for 730 days?! She has taken her 5,110 insulin injections like it’s no big deal and has not dwelled on how crappy it is that she’s had to do it. She is our hero! 🙌🏻 Two years down. Happy #DIAVERSARY babe! ✌🏻

Beautycounter Faves

Two weeks in and these are my fave Beautycounter products so far. 🥰 Dew skin tinted moisturizer 👌🏻 concealer pen 👌🏻 Lotus cleansing balm 👌🏻 charcoal mask 👌🏻 ahhh so many good ones guys! I’m so excited to have found this company and love helping others make the switch to safer. Your health is worth it!

Skincare Faves

Overnight Resurfacing Peel - Goodnight, dullness. Good morning, radiance. Featuring a proprietary multi-acid complex, this leave-on AHA/BHA peel improves skin texture and boosts clarity without irritation or over-drying. With glycolic, malic, and botanically derived lactic acid, the formula clears away dull surface cells, while arginine and essential fatty acids help soothe and nourish to reveal a brighter complexion.

Charcoal Mask - Ten minutes to a purified complexion: this nutrient-rich kaolin clay mask with activated charcoal purifies and balances, absorbing excess oil and drawing out impurities. Salicylic and lactic acids aid in a gentle exfoliation, giving skin a smooth, polished look with a minimized appearance of pores. Perfect for those concerned with congestion and oily skin.

Lotus Cleansing Balm - This multi-tasking cleansing balm, perfect for day and night use, hydrates while it cleanses, removing makeup and impurities with nourishing ingredients that won’t strip away your skin’s natural moisture. (Bonus: it can also be used as a mask for a hydrating overnight facial.) With a blend of lotus extract, jojoba seed oil, and avocado seed oil, Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm soothes and destresses skin while increasing luminosity.

Matte Effect Gel Cream - Control oil for up to eight hours* with this innovative cream-to-gel formula for oily and blemish prone skin. Featuring our signature SkinBalance Complex of wintergreen and rosebay willow, this non-greasy hydrator improves skin’s texture without silicone and other ingredients that can clog pores. Oil-free.

Makeup Faves

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer with SPF - Sheer coverage, super-charged with SPF protection. This benefit-packed tinted moisturizer delivers lightweight hydration, a hint of sheer coverage, SPF 20 protection, and a luminous dewy glow. It also includes black currant, peony flower root extract, and vitamin C to enhance skin brightness and sodium hyaluronate to promote firmer, smoother-looking skin.

Touchup Skin Concealer Pen - Click, cover, correct. Dark circles, redness, and other imperfections are no match for this buildable, medium-coverage concealer. In addition to providing flawless coverage, it’s formulated with knotgrass extract to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and photoaging—so skin looks firmer, brighter, and instantly more even. The click-pen design and brush applicator make it easy to apply just the right amount exactly where you need it.

Tint Skin Foundation - A lightweight, creamy foundation that actually cares for your skin, this formula goes on seamlessly and blends effortlessly to cover imperfections and visually even out skin tone. Buildable and natural-looking, it leaves you in control of the coverage: For light coverage, apply with the Retractable Foundation Brush; for medium coverage, apply with the Flat Complexion Brush. It comes in 10 flexible shades, each of which is formulated to suit a range of skin tones. (So you don't necessarily have to change shades as the seasons change.) It also includes sodium hyaluronate, a natural moisture magnet, to promote smoother-looking skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Volumizing Mascara - Made with natural fibers, this advanced formula increases volume by 385%* to create fuller, more dramatic-looking lashes. The hourglass brush curls, separates, and plumps for high-drama glam–without clumping, flaking or smudging. Cleaner, plant-derived ingredients, like carnauba wax and rice bran wax, replace harmful emollients, while bataua oil helps soften lashes.

Classic Eyeshadow Palette - Sundrenched nudes and neutrals come together in a palette that’s anything but ordinary. Flattering to all skin tones, it features nine safer shades in matte and satin finishes, including a sparkling topper shade to take your look from day to night.

Introducing Beautycounter

The fact of the matter is, I’ve been missing something. Sharing a product line I loved was a part of my life for four years. I loved being creative in the ways I shared it through photography, special events and connecting with others. Having that business wasn’t just about making money… that was honestly icing on the cake, it was about much more. I can’t tell you how many people came to me who needed help, they wanted to feel better about their skin using products that were good for them, and it was fulfilling to be a part of that journey.  It was also rewarding to see people join our community and experience the same things I was enjoying so much.

I left my previous beauty company due to some non-product issues. Being away from a product line I loved for nearly a year made me realize that the skincare world became part of who I was.  Friends are STILL reaching out to me weekly asking for skincare advice or product suggestions. I decided to do a little research and started feeling like I was being called back.  My research led me to this company over and over and I must say I’m super proud to now be a part of it!  Let me tell share some of my favorite things about the company… 

The Mission

One by one, we are leading a movement to a future where all beauty is clean beauty. We are powered by people, and our collective mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Formulate, advocate, & educate—that’s our motto for creating products that truly perform while holding ourselves to unparalleled standards of safety. Why? It’s really this simple: beauty should be good for you.

Our Clean Promise

Since our first product launched in 2013, we’ve created our own high standards in pursuit of clean beauty. Over 1,500 questionable ingredients are never used in our formulations—we call this The Never List™ —and our Ingredient Selection Process is unparalleled.

Giving Back

We’re proud to be a Certified B Corporation, and part of a global movement of brands using business as a force for positive change. We support nonprofits we feel aligned with, and invest in new forms of giving by partnering with leading scientists to find safer ingredients that will create the better products of tomorrow.

Advocacy

Ever think your lipstick color could make you an agent of change? We advocate for stricter guidelines and regulations to shift the personal-care industry away from using harmful and questionable ingredients. Since we launched in 2013, we have collectively sent over 135,000 emails, made over 10,000 calls, and held over 1,250 meetings with lawmakers— all in the name of better beauty.

I’m excited to give you this brief introduction to the one and only BEAUTYCOUNTER. I feel genuine excitement about this decision and for what’s to come. I look forward to making an impact on the world as a better beauty advocate and I look forward to addressing beauty concerns for those of you who are interested!  From my own experience so far, I absolutely love every product I’ve touched (full make up line, multiple skincare regimens, body products, sunscreen, kid/baby products, it’s endless)… I love the branding, packaging, beautiful subtle scents, the business support, well thought out training, earning potential, bonuses, it’s alllllll good people.

New Pool and Outdoor Living Project

I am so excited! Our pool is finished! We have been dreaming of this since we moved into this house four years ago. We are on a large piece of property so the project felt a little overwhelming… it was basically like we had a blank slate! About six months ago Steve finally said, “Let’s just do it, the kids are at a great age to enjoy it, there’s no better time.” So we got a couple quotes and selected our contractor, Matt Miller from Indian River Pools.

I knew I wanted a rectangular pool with a shallow sun shelf. I went back and forth on the exact size and the orientation in relationship to the house, but we ultimately decided to keep the pool in line with the house and designed it to be the length of our existing paver patio area. I also played with different ideas for the spa, but I really liked the idea of having it closer to the porch, that way people could be soaking in the hot tub, sitting on the porch or lounging on the long bench in the pool yet all be able to socialize together. I liked it being separate from the pool as well, I thought it felt more resort like. The water color was also important to me. Of course I was drawn to a water color we couldn’t get from the standard plaster finishes, so we decided to upgrade to a pebble finish by Wet Edge Technologies. The color is called Caribbean and it’s perfect.

As far as the furniture, I knew I wanted plenty of places to relax. I added a conversation area at the end of the pool. We find ourselves sitting there in the afternoon when the sun is behind the trees and the kids are still playing in the pool. I found the furniture at City Furniture. It was exactly what I was looking for and was so reasonably priced! I also loved that there were ALL the pieces I was looking for… sofas, chairs, chaises, and more. I wanted to keep our existing dining table and benches from World Market and mix in whitewashed wood as well, hence the finish I decided on for the daybed we built from plans courtesy of Plank & Pillow. Thanks Dad (aka Randy Hines Construction) for the assistance and use of your tools!

I decided to purchase all the outdoor pillow covers from Etsy… it was just easier to go custom than search around at Homegoods, Target or Pier 1 hoping to find something I was looking for. I love the black and white with a pop of palm! I did however pick up most of my outdoor accessories from my one and only, Bealls Outlet! The canvas of the wave is a photo taken at the Sebastian Inlet by my brother Jason Hines who is a surfer / photographer / videographer.

We are very happy with how the outdoor living and pool area has turned out. The kids have used it every single day since it’s been finished. Our only thought has been, “Why did we wait so long?!”

Wicker Furniture // Console // Bistro Set // Set of 3 Tables // Daybed Plans // Daybed Cover // Grey & White Stripe Pillows // Black & White Palm Pillows // Grey & White Palm Pillows // Black & White Stripe Pillows // Geometric Pillows // Green Palm Pillows // Herringbone Pillows // Other Outdoor Stuff

---

And in case you’re curious, here’s what the backyard looked like just a few months ago!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Family Recipe Dinner

I’m so excited! 😍 My Grandma Judy is an amazing cook, look at all the recipes in that box, and she wanted me to have them! I started scouring that box right away and picked out a few recipes to make and invited my family over for a Grandma Judy dinner!

The Menu

Olive Cheese Ball
Chicken & Crab Elegante
Vidalia Casserole
Mimi’s Salad

Olive Cheese Ball
8 oz crumbled blue cheese
16 oz cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 can black olives, chopped
fresh chives
chopped walnuts on outside

If you don’t like blue cheese, this probably won’t be your favorite appetizer, but I loved it! Since it was mixed with cream cheese it took the “bite” out of it and well, olives are my favorite so I thought it was just delish. I also served carrots and celery with it which was a match made in heaven, blue cheese and celery anyone?

Chicken & Crab Elegante
3-4 Cooked Chicken Breasts
Drain 1 can crab meat, set aside
Saute: 1/2 c. sliced mushrooms, 1/4 c. chopped onion in 3T butter
Blend in: 3T flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp white pepper
Gradually add 1.5 c. chicken broth & 1/2 c. white wine, cook until thick.
Add 2 beaten egg yolks to broth and cook for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat, add bag of cooked frozen peas and crab meat
Pour over chicken in casserole dish, top with parmesan cheese.
Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.

I love making casseroles when I have guests because I can do a lot of the prep work before they arrive and just cook the thing when it’s almost time for dinner. This one however, is a little more work I guess hence the word, “elegante” in the title. It was creamy and delicious, I loved the peas in it! The crab added a flavor but wasn’t overpowering, it just made it taste a little more fancy!

Vidalia Casserole
4-5 Vidalia or sweet onions sliced 1/4” thick
Saute onions in 1/4 c. butter until tender.
Mix in sour cream, approx 1 cup and pour in casserole dish.
Top with parmesan cheese and crushed butter crackers.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

My Mom and Aunt have made this dish that I can remember, so it wasn’t completely new to me, but it’s a goodie. It’s a nice alternative to potatoes. The sweet onions are tasty and the butter crackers with parmesan add a yummy crunchy topping. Again, dishes that can be made a little ahead are my favorite. this is a crowd fave too.

Do you have any family recipes that you love? I’m excited to have my Grandma Judy’s collection and pass it down to my daughters one day too!

Diabetes is Hard

Had a rough diabetes night last night. Blood sugar wasn’t terrible, but her emotions were all over the place. 😭 Amelia was crying over little things all day and when I laid down next to her in bed and asked what was really wrong the floodgates opened. “Why isn’t there a cure?! I hate diabetes, it’s not fair, I want to die.” I don’t think there’s anything that hurts a parent worse than hearing that. 💔 “No one understands, kids at school say I’m LUCKY because I get snacks when I’m low, I hate doing shots, I hate testing, I hate the dexcom!” 😭😭😭 It’s honestly hard to know what to say because I can’t imagine having to do what she does at her age, well at any age. I tell her, “This happened because you CAN handle this, you ARE handling this 💪🏻 you are the most responsible conscientious 9-year-old. We share all about Type 1 so people don’t say things like, ‘You’re lucky,’ to someone with a health issue they don’t know much about.”

I know it’s good to just let her get the feelings out so that’s what I do. It’s a lot for a kid, it’s a lot for the parents, it’s just a lot. Social media helps paint a picture of having it all together, but we definitely don’t. Emotions are sometimes a roller coaster in this house, my anxiety is through the roof to the point of wake-you-up, middle-of-the-night panic attacks and we have to take it day-by-day. Diabetes is a full-time, literally 24/7 job, for the kid AND the parents and to put it bluntly, it sucks. 😡

I don’t say these things to be pitied or to get a pat on the back. I just want to share what’s real and what life with an autoimmune disease is really like to in turn spread awareness and acceptance to those around us. As always, thank you for being our friends and for supporting us always!