Quick Tip! Tea Bag Drawer Sachet!

There are other ways tea bags are useful besides simply making a nice warm drink.  One idea is to subtly scent your drawer of delicates by tossing in your favorite flavored dry tea bag. The best flavors to use are mint, vanilla, or lavender.  The scent lasts for a couple of weeks! This is sure to keep your drawer smelling fresh at a very low cost!

Shout Out! Simply Inviting Invitations

Being a young bride- to- be, it is great to work with a vendor to whom I can relate!  Rebecca Amaral is the owner and creator of Simply Inviting, an invitation company based out of Southern New Hampshire.  She specializes in everything from Save- the Dates to holiday cards.  I met her at a Bridal Expo I went to in the fall and was immediately drawn to her display of creative, unique invitations.  They were not the standard black and white formals, but had a younger, trendier style.  What ultimately sold me was her reasons for starting her business: to not only be able to create invitations for her own wedding, representative of her personal style, but to customize her stationary according to her clients’ wants and needs.  Her welcoming, energetic personality gave me complete comfort while working with her. I was not afraid to ask for what I wanted and she was quick with creative suggestions.  She fashioned a unique wedding invitation that was specific to my wedding theme, and that represents who I am! I could not be happier with the finished products! I recommend her to all women who are planning their own wedding.  She is fun and easy to work with, her products are fun and affordable, and she helps you create the perfect wedding invitation that suits your own unique style!

Check out her website to see what she is all about! http://simply-inviting.com/index.html

Quick Tip! Press Your Valentine's Day Flowers!

Don't wait 'til the last petal of your Valentine's Day flowers falls to the ground.  After a few days of gazing at the beautiful blooms, cut the heads of the flowers off to save them forever! Place the flower head between two pieces of wax paper, then put that in between the pages of a heavy book.  Set the book aside and place a few more heavy books on top for extra weight.  After a few days, remove the pressed flower and you have a beautiful piece to keep for memory's sake or to make crafts, such as laminated magnets and scrapbooks.  Do this to keep a visual memory of your romantic holiday!

Quick tip! Photo display!

Hang your photos up with a little bit of string and some clothespins! To give the display congruity, pick one thing that you have many pictures of. For instance, your house in different seasons, or flowers.

Quick tip! DIY magnets!

We all know that the fridge is a place to store all your goodies but why not make the outside of it look as good as the inside? Revamp your fridge door by taking old pins, buttons and brooches and fastening on a black heavy duty magnet. Simply use a strong adhesive (my favorite is gorilla glue) and stick the magnet to the back! It's super easy, and let's you look at those fun trinkets every day, instead of just when you open your dress-up box!

Quick tip! At home sugar lip scrub!

Make your lips kissable for valentines day with this homemade scrub of sugar and petroleum jelly! Mix together and apply with a toothbrush. After, wipe off all the flakes with a washcloth and your lips will be perfectly smooch-able!!

Quick Tip! At- Home Facial!

The night before your big holiday date, try an at- home facial that won't leave your face red and raw.  Mix one teaspoon raw oatmeal and one teaspoon honey, let it sit on the skin for 5 minutes, then rinse.  The minerals in oatmeal are soothing, and honey hydrates and kills bacteria.  Search your pantry for these items and treat yourself to a natural, feel- good facial before your glamorous night out! :)

Quote of the Week

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart.. I'll always be with you."         
                                                                       --Winnie the Pooh

This quote is so simple, yet it gives a lot of meaning to the concept of love.  A person's independence is essential to life, but what makes us stronger is knowing that we have someone who will always be there in mind and heart.

V-day Cards!!

Ok, I just found the best place to buy Valentine's Day cards! Dollar stores, but especially Family Dollar, has the best valentines cards. They are cheap, most of them only a dollar, and they are really cute and nice.

Family dollar card: $1.00 Regular price: $3.25

Dear "All the Single Ladies"

For those of you spending Valentine's Day with the loves of your life, otherwise known as your best girl friends, invite a yummy, inexpensive cocktail to keep you company.  This holiday drink is perfect for sipping during your gossip and chick flicks!

Valentine’s Day on the Rocks
1 ½ oz. Three-O Cherry Vodka
4 oz. ginger ale
Splash of grenadine
Mix in a glass filled with ice and garnish with a cherry.

Valentine's Idea!

Over the next week, there will be a lot of tips and tricks on how to save on the whole consumerism holiday that has become Valentine's Day! We girls appreciate the holiday, but are tired of all the spending!! Here's a tip to making your day rich in love, not in cash.

Make your own Chocolate covered strawberries!
This recipe is SUPER easy.

What you'll need:
Baker's Semi-Sweet Dipping Chocolate
Box of Strawberries
Baking Sheet
Waxed Paper
chopped or crushed nuts (optional)
Total Cost: no more than $8!!

1. To begin, simply follow the directions on the Baker's Chocolate container to safely melt the chocolate in your microwave.
2. Dip your strawberry into the chocolate and either dip into a small container of chopped nuts, or place on your waxed paper covered baking sheet.
3. Let sit in refridgerator! So easy!!

This recipe is wonderful and an awful lot cheaper than buying premade chocolate covered strawberries. Also, whoever you are giving them to will appreciate the time and effort you put into these delicious treats!

Quick tip! Drink water!

Drinking water is vital to your health and well- being.  It has amazing natural benefits, such as weight loss, remedy for headaches, healthy- looking skin, and relief of fatigue.  Since your body is feeling healthy, you'll be in a better mood, in general! Instead of buying a new water bottle every day to keep hydrated, purchase a nalgene bottle to refill each day.  Because it is difficult to drink the necessary amount of water (about 8 8-ounce glasses, daily), make sure to carry the water bottle with you to sip periodically throughout the day.  Add lemons, limes, or other citrus fruits to the bottle to give your drink a natural flavor! :)

Quick tip! Drawer organizers

If you're tight for space and feel like you have one drawer holding every beauty item you own, try this simple step. Use your check boxes, or any other small box, to act as drawer organizers, holding one item in every section. And, you can easily take out the whole section if needed and replace later! No more morning stress trying to find a bobby pin!

Quick tip! Guacamole Super Bowl Dip!

Guacamole is a great dip for the Super Bowl.  Pair it with salsa and tortilla chips and you have a yummy, healthy snack! Here is one simple recipe for the famous dip:

Ingredients:
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno (seeded for less heat, if desired), finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
kosher salt and black pepper
2 ripe avocados, diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the onion, jalapeño, cilantro, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using the back of a fork, mash the vegetables until they begin to release their juices.
2. Add the avocados and lime juice and stir to combine.
    This recipe makes 2 cups.

This quick recipe serves four and only takes about 15 minutes to make! Add this delicious snack to your Super Bowl party and you're sure to score big with your family and friends! :)

Quote of the Week

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."                         
                                                                 --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quick tip! Green Tea as a Refresher

Have a cup of green tea in the morning! Not only will green tea give you a pep in your step like a coffee, but it also is a natural breath freshener!

Quick tip! Energize with peppermint!

If you're like me, you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.  For a quick burst of energy, pop a peppermint candy.  Smelling peppermint stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal and can make you more alert! A great way to prepare for the day and satisfy your sweet tooth :)

Quick tip! "blank wall" solution!

Hang a bold piece of fabric or a graphic quilt on empty wall space! This is a simple way to cover up white walls without painting.  You can also hang your favorite photos using safety pins to further decorate this space! An easy way to brighten up your walls and display your fun memories :)

Dream Wedding, Low Budget

I’m getting married in July and, being young, I’m making practicality a priority when it comes to wedding planning.  It’s almost a game, a vendor limbo stick: how-low-can-you-go.  My official “wedding planner” consists of my reliable friends and family and, of course, my two wedding books and endless piles of magazines.  The wedding is a mish mash of my style and sense of simplicity.  My fiancé and I have been engaged for about a year and a half, which has given us the time to shop around when it comes to putting our wedding together.  The following are just a few ways that have helped me save money, but also allowed me to have my dream wedding!

Quick tip! Cook with your loved one!

In this weather, there is nothing better than tackling a new recipe with the ones you love! Take the time and energy to find a challenging (but not ingredient overwhelming) new recipe, whether it's online, or from an old recipe book, and tackle it! While you are stuck at home, you can take the extra time to start your cooking earlier and work slow! Here's the recipe I'm starting tonight:

Peppered Salmon with Roasted Root Vegetables:
Time: 30 minutes
$ per person: $3.87

Ingredients:
4 medium carrots, chopped
2 small beets, peeled and chopped
3 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 tsp. Sea salt or salt
4 4-5 oz. Skinless salmon fillet
1 tsp. Pepper
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed


1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Combine carrots, beets and half the oil and salt. Roast uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring, transfer to plate and keep warm.
3. Put the rest of the salt and pepper on the salmon. Heat the rest of the oil in a 12" skillet. Add salmon, cook 3 mins. Turn and cook again. Transfer fish to platter with veggies. Add juice concentrate and 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet. Simmer, uncovered, about 1 minute or until thickened and then spoon over salmon!
Wish me luck!


A tip to making this a successful challenge is to look through what you have in your pantry already before looking up a recipe, eliminating the need to go out in the snow!

Quick tip! read a good book!

Blizzard conditions are stomping over more than 30 states, forcing many of us to stay inside.  On these snow days, pick up a good book to read.  This time to yourself will allow you to escape all that is going on around you, ultimately leaving you feeling happier and stress- free! Enjoy :)

What I'm reading: Little Bee by: Chris Cleave

Quick tip! Cooking Spray Manicure!

Spray a coat of cooking spray over your freshly coated nails after your home manicure! If you're in a rush, or just prone to smudges, this tip will set the paint and leave your nails looking nail salon perfect!