It’s mah burth-day!

Ok so big deal.  It’s my birthday.  We all have em.  But being that even though I’m not as present on The OP Life because I’m spending my time and energy growing Honestly Margo, I’m ON PURPOSE on living On Purpose everyday.  Those things I believe and love and am passionate about, I do live it.  With that, I was thinking as I was going to bed and I’m yet to be another year older, I wanted to share some thoughts about living a life of intention, and frankly, aging gracefully, beautifully and full of joy.  Yes, age is but a number.  I most certainly don’t feel “my age”, whatever that’s supposed to me.  I feel way younger than I am, and I believe it has to do with these things.  This list I’m sharing below I believe has helped me look younger, feel better, and have a positive happy outlook on life.

There are a few things I know for sure, and it’s true.  The older we get, the wiser we are.  We have life experience under our belt.  While there are some seriously smart young ens out there, those of us who have lived life longer have more wisdom to share with those who haven’t made it to our age yet.

So with that, I will keep this short and sweet, and share with you these thoughts I had for all of you.  It’s brief and to the point.  I won’t elaborate on them.  Momma don’t have time for that!  They’re straight forward enough that you should get them for what they are.  If you don’t, hit me up!  And if you love this post, please share this on your social media or with your friends.

Aging gracefully, what I know for sure.  This.  These are things that once you GET them, they’re game changers.  Every single one of them.

1. Take care of your skin, early on.
2. Eat healthy as much as possible and make smart choices.
3. Try not to drink too much.
4. Don’t smoke.
5. Listen to your body.
6. Dress up and put your makeup on.
7. Don’t save the expensive stuff for special occasions.  Enjoy them often.
8. Expensive isn’t always the best.  Be smart.
9. Certain things are worth the investment.
10. Material things are just that: things.  They truly are meaningless.
11. Listen to music that makes your heart sing.
12. Dance.
13. Tune out the negative noise.
14. Know that there are circumstances you can’t control.  And you can’t control others.
15. Accept it.
16. Let shit go.
17. Silence is golden.
18. Know that it’s ok to say NO.
19. Do things that bring you joy.
20. Let others know how much they mean to you.
21. Tell them you love them.
22. Know that YOU have it all inside you.
23. Kindness counts.
24. Take selfies.
25. Smile.

While some things seem to contradict, they go together.  Believe me, and trust me.  I know there are more things I could add to this list.  It’s not complete.  But these were some big ones I felt compelled to share.

It’s not rocket science.  It’s not a formula.  It’s 4 decades of life experiences, and me feeling SO fulfilled in my life, so much joy, from the inside out, feeling the most beautiful I’ve ever felt, and being ready for what’s to come.

I want the same for you.

The post Aging Gracefully: What I Know For Sure appeared first on The OP Life.

Who doesn’t love Candy?  Just the word “Candy” paired with the word “Cocktail” is one to put a smile on anyone’s face.  I couldn’t resist sharing this with you today!  The Candy Cocktail!

Every year, a couple of really cool gals I know throw a holiday party for their gal pals to benefit Toys for Tots.  Cocktails and Candy is this event I look forward.  It kicks off the holiday season, and the festive feels are all around, with it’s theme of giving, candy, and of course cocktails!  The huge spread of candy for all of the guests to enjoy and to take home to their littles is literally, “eye candy”, no pun intended.  The beautifully adorned table it fulled with candy that’s ranges from classic favorites to holiday specialty items.  It’s unreal!  It’s definitely not the place to be if you’re watching your sugar, and it’s a candy-lover’s dream come true!  Part of that is also those delightful drinks, and this was the drink this year.  It was so yummy, I went to the bartender to ask her about it because it was too good NOT to share!

Christie, the bar tender, was so kind and delightful to share this yummy, candy tasting cocktail she created.  So bear with me, because she, like me, does a lot of her cooking and food prep without measuerments.  That’s how this one goes.  It’s made in a large container for a crowd.  So if you’re having a party, this is your cocktail.

Candy Cocktail

• Vodka
• Pama Pomegranate Liquor
• Creme de Cassis
• Pineapple juice
• Apple juice
• Ginger ale
• Sprite
• Club Soda

Christie literally said she was making it, with no measurements and was like, “hmmm, it needs a little of this… let’s try apple juice!  Ok now it needs something else… let’s try Sprite!.”  So this recipe came about as throwing a bunch of stuff together, and turning out divine!  It’s sweet like candy, not sour to make you pucker, but not syrupy either.  It’s literally pefection.  So much so that I didn’t have just one!

That’s it!  And of course she rimmed it with pink sugar!

So next time you need a fun candy-ish kinda concoction, throw all of this together, and voila!  It’s a candy cocktail!  Thank you to Elyse and Amy for hosting this party and including me.  And thank you Christie, the bartender for your yummy drink!

The post Fuzzy Friday: Candy Cocktail appeared first on The OP Life.

Hello loves!  It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me over here, as I’ve been busy hustling over at Honestly Margo, and it’s a wonderful thing, but I’ve missed you!  I woke up in the middle of the night saying to myself, this is one of the simplest fashion tips I can share with all of you in a jiffy.  So I whipped out my laptop at 4 am, and here I am!  I’m excited to show you how to wear animal print.

Why am I saying this is so easy to share?  Well for one, it’s what I’ve been practicing for a while, as I’ll show you below, and two, a picture is worth a thousand words.  So, let’s get started with this whole “animal-mania” going on!

First, yes, you can buy it all!  Buy the shoes, buy the coat, buy the bag.  You can get all the pieces you love.  BUT….  Don’t wear them all together!  That’s the key!  Sprinkle them into your look.  Pair the shoes with jeans and a top, or a monochrome outfit, like an all black look.  DON’T wear your coat AND your shoes AND your bag.  A huge no no!

Second, shop styles that aren’t TOO trendy.  As animal prints have made their resurrgence, they’re not new.  One of my favorite and most commented on coat, my leopard print coat, I think I got maybe 5 years ago at Zara!  I wear that bad boy to Walmart, to soccer games, to nice dinners out!  It’s comfy, cozy, warm, and goes with EVERYTHING!  And because it’s a simple style, I haven’t purged it from my closet.  So now that animal is making it’s comeback, I’m already stocked with what’s hot and I’m not getting rid of any of it any time soon.  That’s how you work on building your wardrobe.

Third, feel free to mix it with other patterns… but proceed with caution!  Let them compliment each other, not fight one another.  You’ll see I wear that Gucci velvet bag with the dragons because those colors compliment the animal print.

Fourth, you don’t have to spend a fortune.  You can find some great finds of animal print at a bargain.  Remember, these are accent pieces.  There’s not need to break the bank to wear one of the seasons hot trend.

Fifth, I love this trend because ANYONE can wear it, no matter your age, shape, or size.  Sprinkle it on with your bag or scarf or shoes, or go full on with a dress!  You can be hot to your desired comfort level with a little or a lot!  What will it do for you?  I suspect it will give you a little pep in your step and perhaps give you a bit of sass.  Why not?  It’s cheetah!  It’s leopard!  It says MEOW!  Go ahead and get a little confidence boost by wearing something that makes you come alive, like animal print!

So without further adieu, I’m showing you real life pics of how I do animal-mania in my day to day life.  My advanced apologies for some of the non professional images.

A close up to show that accessiories are kept to a minimal, not over done.  My bag had print on it as well, and wanting more of an understated vibe with the jewelry for the clothes and bag to draw more of the attention than my jewelry.

A solid black dress with my animal clutch, first seen HERE over a year ago! Also seen HERE.  Again, paired with solids.   And remember when I said nude shoes go with everything?  Back in THIS post?  Here you go!

The coat I get stopped for EVERY time I wear it, and it’s seriously like 5 years old…

also seen HERE.

Some tried and true shares of how I do the animal thing.  If you’ve been afraid to try it, don’t be!  Ease into it with a bag, a pair of shoes.  I think the best part of it, it will bring out a little bit of sass in you.  And who doesn’t love that!

Here are some pieces for you to shop!

DRESSES

BOOTIES

BAGS

COATS

I hope this gives you a bit of a guide on how to wear animal print.  Be fearless in bringing out the animal in you!

The post How To Wear Animal Print appeared first on The OP Life.

Nude baby.  Be nude.

Ok not really nude.  But nude.  There’s this simplicity, flawlessness, effortlessness that comes with a nude shoe.  It’s not busy or loud, it just blends and is minimal.  It takes the focus off of that particular thing and onto the “big picture” of the beauty of the look.  And it’s one of my wardrobe essentials. This shoe goes with everything.  This is the only shoe you’ll need.

Is the nude shoe THE hottest trend of the season?  No.  But it’s practical, it’s classic, it’s timeless, it spans all age groups, and it WORKS!  It’s not a trend or a fad.  It’s like a LBD but in a shoe.

After doing this post, I can’t deny.  It does make me reexamine my closet and all the shoes I have that I never wear but I have “just in case”.  Perhaps I need to rethink that and purge some?  Do I need that many pairs in ALL those colors?

As I was pulling this post together I thought to myself of how often I’ve worn nude-type shoes that carried me through everything.  So here are some examples, albeit not all professional pictures, but real life examples of how nude completed the look and made it look polished.  Some are these are from my phone, some from Instagram, but they’re all real and no-nonsense.

And while the seasons may be in transition, I think a nude shoe is seasonless.  These sandals can still be worn with dresses, skirts, slacks, even jeans.  If you prefer a closed foot shoe, a nude pump does the job as well.  My feet are more comfortable open.  But they’re timeless and seasonless.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjlKzylH4aC/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjyI22fHw-P/?taken-by=irenegianos

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj3UKrdHjFk/?taken-by=irenegianos

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkJXPy5Hnmm/?taken-by=irenegianos

The first 2 pair are mine.  But I also pulled a few others for you.

The 2nd pair I bought them to wear at market, for when I’m standing for 8 hours plus on concrete floors.  Believe it or not, they’re DREAMY comfy!  And at a super great price!

Here are some that are not as much of a sandal.

For those who prefer flats, here you go.

You can’t go wrong with nude heels.  They go with everything and put the focus on you.

The post The Only Shoe You’ll Need For All Seasons appeared first on The OP Life.

For those of you who have followed my Instagram, and in particular, my Insta-Stories, you know that this summer, much like many previous summers, we ventured back to one of our favorite places, a place we love to call home away from home, Grand Cayman.

I’ve done posts about where we stay and why love it so (you can see one HERE) but this post will be different.  I found myself sharing at least once a day my love for this booming island all of my favorite spots.  You see, when you lose track of how many times you’ve been there, and the folks at the airport see you coming off the plane and say OH MY GOODNESS, GIANOS FAMILY!!!, you know it’s definitely a place to call “home”.  Yes, that actually happened!

So for those of you who are planning an adventure to this gem of an island, take note.  Grab your pen and paper, or better yet, bookmark this post for future reference.

I am publishing this post on the verge of a huge BOOM that the country is experiencing.   It’s growing like crazy, and what was once this not-so-crowded gem of an island in the Carribean is now on it’s way to becoming the Riviera of the Carribean. Highways are being built left and right, large hotel chains are coming in, and it’s definitely not the Grand Cayman we once knew.  It’s private, more quaint charm is slowly going away, however, we’ll never stop loving this place.  We love it because it’s clean, it’s safe, we love everything we’ve experienced, and HELLO, did you see the sand and clean water? Enough said!

1. Hotel We always have stayed at The Ritz Carlton.  Nestled in the heart of Seven Mile Beach, it’s known for its personalized service, and hands down, it never disappoints.  The staff is the most personable you can imagine, always addressing us by name, and welcoming us as if we’re part of their family.  While the island is covered in condos, I personally prefer staying here because, well, I’m on vacation!  And that means, no I don’t want to make my bed.  I don’t want to cook.  I don’t want to worry about my towels.  I want the ability to order room service if I’m too pooped to go out to dinner from the heat and the sun.  I want to be PAMPERED.  Why?  Because I feel like I work hard all year long and this is my time to be taken care of by others.  Simple.  

A few other things that make The Ritz Carlton my top choice in where to stay.

The Silver Rain Spa is one of the little divulges I enjoyed daily with Margo.  After enjoying a full day at the ocean, instead of showering in our room, we enjoyed the wet sauna, dry sauna, jacuzzi tub, and full amenities the spa had to offer.  And that meant showering too.  We were able to detox and unwind before getting ready for dinner.  Absolute perfection.

For the kids, and actually, for the adults too, come to find out, The Jean-Michele Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Program is an ABSOLUTE MUST do.   So truth be told, this program is the reason why we begin coming here all along.  My children were young, and I was looking for a resort that had a kids program, but not simply a “daycare” to dump them off at.  I wanted a place that they would have a wonderful, memorable experience, a place that they would actually learn something, be educated, and not be cared for by high school kids.  Nothing wrong with high school kids to care for my children, but the staff of The Ambassadors of the Environment has college degrees with studies in nature, the sea, the earth, marine life, and all the eco-stuff (don’t you like my fancy words!) that are needed to lead this world-renowned program.  They have various programs throughout the day for you to enroll your kids in, and EVEN yourself!  We went on a night snorkel and it was absolutely amazing!  Margo went on an excursion teaching underwater photography!  It was SO cool!  The coolest part of it?  It just so happened to be that Jean-Michele Cousteau was there when we were and we got to hang out with him.  Bucket list moment right there.  We even got to see the moon with him!

2.  Car Rental  We DO choose to rent a car.   If you do, PLEASE PLEASE drive with caution.  They drive British style, all in the opposite side of the road, and there are lots of roundabouts throughout the towns. Proceed with caution.  If you DO choose to rent a car, we love to use Andy’s.  It’s locally owned and much easier to deal with than the major companies we know here.  Instead of waiting in lines after our planes land and everyone is getting their cars, we walk across the street from the airport to the cute little grey and blue house known as Andy’s.

3. Restaurants Where do I even begin?  I’ll say this.  We’re creatures of habit. So my recommendations will be based upon the fact that we go to the same places over and over again because we love them so much.  It’s that simple.  It’s not that we don’t like trying new places, but it’s that we don’t want to miss out on what we love so much already.  Does that make sense? So, here I go listing them with a brief detail about what they offer.

Ragazzi Italian with a European flair.  Incredible pasta and pizza.  I actually started getting the tuna and it’s incredible! INSANE good!  One of our faves hands down we go to AT LEAST once each trip.  A hot spot for locals.  It’s packed every night, so be sure to call for reservations.  You shouldn’t have a hard time getting in, but know that it’s a popular place.

Taikun  Incredible sushi.  SO good.  So fresh.  They even served us a chocolate bonsai tree that was undescribable.  It was rich, and almost fudge like with a hint of caramel sea salt in it, unreal!

Canton Great chinese.  It’s nothing out of the ordinary other than good chinese food if you’re in the mood for that and it’s a very casual atmosphere.

Luca Contemporary Italian food, one of the best on the island as well.  Same owners as Ragazzi.  This is has a beach view as it’s on the first floor of the Carribean Club.  You’re not actually on the beach, but if you choose to sit outside, you do get to see the ocean.

Eduardos Rich authentic Italian food.  Very good, also very heavy, but SO delicious!

Cassanova Oceanfront, literally be seated on the water and have authentic Italian food, a favorite that has been there for decades.  The owner (from Italy)  is there to greet you when you come in and you can see pictures and polaroids on the walls as you come in of guests on the wall throughout the years.  Many of his waiters are from Italy as well.  One of my favorites for lobster ravioli or whatever lobster and pasta with champagne sauce.  To die for!

Calypso Grill  Contemporary seafood, right on the water as well.

Seven Wonderful steaks, incredible sides, the bread with mango butter is to die for.  They do a fresh catch fish that’s baked in sea salt and banana leaves that’s incredible as well.

Andiamo  If you’re staying at The Ritz Carlton, this place has incredible pizza.  Also, when the sun sets, they have a big screen outdoor movie off to the side that’s connected to it that plays every evening, so the kids can go there to watch the movie while the adults hang out at the restaurant.

Bar Jack They serve the BEST sauces with plantain chips every day as you are waiting for your food to be served.  I ate the fish burger minus the bun OR the fish tacos every day for lunch.  SO yummy!

Chicken! Chicken! Ok YOU GUYS!!!!  Can we PLEASE PLEASE bring Chicken! Chicken!  to the US?  PLEASE?  Again, another SUPER FAVORITE!  Tucked away in a strip shopping center, it’s nothing but rotisserie chicken and you go through a line to select your sides.  I can’t say enough about this place.  BEST CHICKEN EVER!  Incredible sides!  Cornbread like nobody’s business!  Not a fancy place at all, but think of it like a “subway” style type of place where you pick your sides, and it’s served on a plate and you go sit down.   We went after we grabbed our car before checking in, and we went before leaving to come home on our way to the airport.  It’s THAT good.

SILVER PALM LOUNGE  This elegant lounge in our hotel was our go-to hangout every evening.  We were able to meet and hang out with other guests and make the trip even more memorable with new friendships made.  But one of the BEST things about this lounge?  This…

These truffle oil chips were TO DIE for!  I want the recipe!

ROOM SERVICE!  Seriously you guys!  If you are staying at The Ritz, it’s so good!  Not all room service menus are created equal.  Just sayin. You can’t beat it!  THE BEST Truffle Mac and Cheese!  and Key Lime Pie to DIE FOR!  I’m just sayin…

3. Grocery Store FostersFoodFair.  It’s close to our hotel and if you need anything, it’s there.  And it’s SO cute.  Just sayin.

4. Excursions/Private Boat There are lots of boats to take you snorkeling, to Starfish Point, and the famous sandbar where you can hold the stingrays.  We have a guy that can do a private trip, or divide it up with some families.  He’s been doing this for decades and we love him!  Meet Captain Mario and his Co-Captain Antonio!  He will take you out, take you wherever you’d like, and even take underwater pictures for you, price included.  He can be found at Acquarius.ky.

Jewelry Ok.  You guys.  You KNOW I love my bags, I love my lipglosses, and I LOVE my baubles.  The older I get, the more I’m investing in good quality pieces of jewelry.  Bringing home a bauble is a little souvenir for me (and I tell The Mister these are things that will last a lifetime, that will get passed down to my kids).  Through the years, I’ve collected a few choice pieces.  If you’re a bling girl like me, you’ve GOT to got to GOT to see my man, Jay.  He and his family have Magnum Jewelers.  They design their own pieces and have amazing designs that I haven’t seen anywhere else.  Their quality is the best and they have some of the finest pieces I’ve set my eyes on…

Like this….

No, that didn’t come home with me!  I called that a Beyonce ring because it’s THAT fabulous!  It’s on my bucket list…  when I win the $35mil lottery!

You’ve seen lots of things I’ve purchased from Jay.  My diamond hoop earrings I wear daily are from him, and I know you remember this ring.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgXnIGdHtCd/?taken-by=irenegianos

https://www.instagram.com/p/BffQdS7HmEu/?taken-by=irenegianos

My latest purchase?  This bracelet.

Tell him I sent you!  He’ll give you a great deal!

As far as other shopping, honestly, I don’t go there to shop for clothing, bags, shoes.  So as far as recommendations for those things, I can’t say that there aren’t places to shop for those things, but I just don’t shop when I’m there.  For the most part, my time is spent as much as possible on the sand and in the ocean.

Other Things To See  

Rum Point is at the top of the island, and is a public beach type of setting, with places to eat and drink.  Red Sail Sports is there for you to rent sailboats and other types of water sports activities to rent.  The beaches there are different than the beach on Seven Mile Beach.  There are more trees and it feels more tropical.  It’s a fun place to go with friends and say you’ve experienced Rum Point.

Kaibo is one of our FAVORITE spots to go to and it’s up just past Rum Point.  It’s a marina, beach bar, restaurant all nestled on the beautiful white sand.  We love the setting, the food is outstanding, and they have the world famous Mudslides I shared with you.  You can see it here.  We take the car up the island and venture for lunch at Kaibo every time.

Starfish Point  So this is my little bit of heaven on earth.  You can go with an excursion group, like most do, however, I’ve found a secret little tucked away place to get to it by foot.  Literally, it’s a nature “park” where starfish live right there in the water.  I was VERY disappointed to see this time that a little mobile “water park” has been built and was there.   It’s taken away the tranquilness and beauty of what nature exists there.  Starfish Point wasn’t meant to have a jungle gym for kids to play on and jump off of into the water where the starfish reside.  I was very sad to see this.  But I still encourage you to visit Starfish Point.  It’s amazing to just be one with nature, and that’s exactly what I get from going there.

Extra help with travel When spending serious bucks traveling to a foreign country, you may want some help in travel arrangements.  Someone who plans trips for families, for destination weddings, for huge group events, someone who has been doing travel planning for years, my go-to person is Time 4 My Vacation.  Terri has planned trips for me and my parents and she’s my go-to gal for all things travel.  Call her!

So there you have it.

My favorites from one of my favorite places.  Feel free to leave me any questions or comments below.  This is not a paid post, this is totally a share-the-love kind of post. Obviously, I pulled photos from everywhere!  My hope is that if you choose to go to Grand Cayman ever, that it gives you the joy it’s given our family.

The post Grand Cayman Favorites appeared first on The OP Life.

I’m on a little getaway with the fam the next few weeks before heading off to our next market for Honestly Margo and thought I’d share a quick and easy drink from vacation I just had today from the BarJack.  This may not be their exact recipe, but it certainly is refreshing and simple enough for you to make this summer for you and your friends.

Mixed Berry Mojito

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries)
• 1 cup simple syrup
• 1 cup white rum
• 1 bunch mint leaves, stems removed
• 2 limes, sliced into wedges
• 3 cups club soda

Put mint and limes into a large pitcher. Using a muddler, crush it all together until all juices have been released and mixed. Stir in syrup and a few of the berries and muddle a bit more.  Pour in club soda, rum, and remaining berries. Mix until combined.  If you want, you can muddle the berries a bit more to break them down if you want fewer whole berries.  Serve over ice in tall glasses.

Ok so my drink is SUPER yummy and obviously pretty, but, observe the straw.  Do you see?  The cute little turtles on it?  So far everywhere we’ve eaten, the plastic straws have been eliminated and have been replaced with paper straws.  Why? It’s better for the environment.  Isn’t that so interesting and cool to see this change being made?  Apparently, the plastic straws kill the turtles. That’s what I’ve been told.  So this island is making small changes like this to make a difference in our world, a difference in our environment.  I love that!

Cheers to the weekend and summertime fun!

The post Fuzzy Friday: Mixed Berry Mojito appeared first on The OP Life.

I’m so excited about today’s cocktail because it’s so awesome for so many reasons!

First, #FuzzyFriday represents toasting and celebrating our wins and joys and happiness.  Well, I’m toasting today to the NEW launch of Honestly Margo’s NEW site AND NEW products that we’re launching as well!  Where have I been?  I’ve been working on these huge projects.  So many things must be done to make this work a reality and come to fruition, and finally, it’s HERE!  Go check out Honestly Margo!  We’ve grown up, have been in business now 5 years, our products have grown, the lines have grown, and so has Margo.  And we’re a TEAM.  Nothing great can be done alone.  So as she’s approaching adulthood, we have embraced our teamwork and love being business partners as well as mother-daughter and hope to inspire others to have relationships like ours.

Second, one of our lines is the Roller Girl Roll- On LipGloss that we’re launching, and this cocktail has been named for that line.  They’re crazy good yummy, a whole lot of fun, and those of you that are about my age know that they may take you back in time to those wonderful lipglosses we grew up on!

Third, we’re hosting some launch parties to celebrate these fabulous lip glosses, and this is the signature cocktail we’ll be serving.

FINALLY, Roller Girls or not, you need to make this for the summer.  Period.  It’s super easy and WAY refreshing and perfect for a huge crowd.  I have it broken down for you for a large crowd or a smaller gathering.

So, let’s get started!

Rum Punch

For a large crowd:

• 8 c orange juice    
• 8 c pineapple juice 
• 6 c light rum
• 1 c grenadine
• 4 c Sprite

For a smaller gathering:

• 1 c orange juice
• 1 c pineapple juice
• 3/4 c light rum
• 1/8 c grenadine
• 1/2 c Sprite

Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl.  If you’re making the smaller batch, put ice in a pitcher, pour in there and stir with a wooden spoon.  Serve in any kinds of fun glasses or tumblers.  Use fun straws and garnish with cherries or orange slices.

Those fun parties I talked about, you can not only find the details below (if you’re a retailer going to be at market!), but you’ll also get to listen to our playlist we made with fun 70s and 80s Roller Rink music!!!!  Who doesn’t love THAT!

Honestly Margo Roller Girls Playlist HERE

or by clicking the image below.

You can also get my simple retro terrycloth shorts romper HERE. (On sale for $20!)

I’ll be on 4 trips within the next 6 weeks.  It’s going to be a WHIRLWIND of a ride!  Follow me on Instagram, and especially on my Insta-stories to see what’s happening!

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Go big, but don’t break in the process.

And if you’re broken, chances are you’re not going to get big.  If you’re broken, sh*t’s gonna fall apart.

I’m keeping it real by keeping it real because I’ve always believed in being authentic with you.  Isn’t that what The OP Life is all about?  Living On Purpose, on YOUR terms, designing YOUR best life?  Well, that’s what I’m talking about today.

I’m here to tell you that you are the bomb dot com for keeping your sh*t together.  Because I KNOW you wear many hats.  And I know, just like me, you’re CRAZY busy, too.  And I’ll tell you this.  I don’t say “busy” like it’s a medal of honor.  And I don’t think you do either.  But it is what it is and that’s how our lives go.  So when I say I’m keeping it real, I’m telling you that I relate to you and I think you relate to me in many ways.  We need to figure out how to keep our sh*t together amidst the chaos we call LIFE.  Because LIFE HAPPENS.  We need to know how to get through it.  We need to find balance.

There is no manual when you turn 18 that you receive that says HERE’S HOW TO GET THROUGH LIFE, nor is there one that says HERE’S HOW TO BE A PERFECT PARENT.  We figure it out as we go along.  And I’m sharing what I’ve learned in my journey in hopes that it helps you in yours.

I am sharing a detailed list of 5 things to do to keep your life in balance when it feels chaotic when sh*t seems like it’s hitting the fan when you feel like you’re about to shatter into tiny pieces.  You truly CAN keep it together.  Grab a notepad, grab your favorite drink, watch my video, and BREATHE!

https://youtu.be/wqXZjZXl9xw

And there you go.

I hope something in my video resonated with you.

….  and you will get a full reveal of the new office and new floors when they’re done, too!

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The post 5 Ways To Find Balance When You Have Chaos appeared first on The OP Life.

Happy Fuzzy Friday!

I hate to disappoint that I don’t have a cocktail fresh new recipe for you for this upcoming mother’s day holiday weekend, but you can look in my archives as I have lots of good ones from years past, and those are available HERE.

I’ve been doing all things mother daughter, which most of you know why I’ve been posting infrequently.  And I’m loving what I’m doing!

Today I’m inviting all of you in the Dallas area to come join me for some bubbly, some shopping, some treats while I co-host with my girl as Honestly Margo will be having a Pop Up Shop in Swoozies at their Dallas location.   I would love to meet you if we’ve never met in person, and if we have, I want to see you again.  I can help you shop for mom, or make it mother-daughter time and enjoy some shopping time together.  Either way, I hope you can come!

Ok first.  YOU GUYS.  If you haven’t ever heard of Swoozies, look them up!  They are one of the most amazing gift stores I’ve come across.  Not only is it a gift store, but it’s the perfect store for party planning.  Any themed party you can think of, they have all the extras and fluff to make any ordinary event, extra ordinary.  And they have all the gifts you need for everyone on your list, especially MOM!  And that includes Honestly Margo.

Check out Swoozies on Instagram and you’ll get their vibes…. and I think you’ll love em!

You can see our event page on Facebook HERE.  RSVP to get a 20% off coupon by emailing dallasevents@swoozies.com.

I hope to see you there!

The post Bubbly, Treats and a Mother Daughter Pop Up Shop at Swoozies Dallas appeared first on The OP Life.

These pockets of goodness, morsels of warm delight, oh my goodness is all I can say!  Sometimes the best recipes and creations come by happenstance.  Such is the case with these.

So I did what I normally do on taco nights.  I buy my ground meat and make a big batch of taco meat to have for everyone to eat as they please.  I get crunchy shells, corn tortillas, flour tortillas, provolone cheese to make THESE No Carb Taco Shells, and of course all the fixings that go along with the tacos.  There’s lettuce for those of us who want a taco salad, pico de gallo, avocados, guacamole, black olives, and of course, lots of shredded cheese.

So I got all this together and like I normally do, spread it all out and everyone makes what they make for themselves.  Turns out my son didn’t want one of those “basic” options I threw out there.  Oh no, he wanted his favorite Taquitos.  So I gracefully obliged, as I had all the ingredients and they’re super easy to whip up.  So I did.

The one other thing I had done that day was bought refrigerated biscuits at the store, something I never do.   I saw a recipe on one of those Tasty videos scroll through on my Facebook feed so I decided to buy them.  Side note, I never buy any of the refrigerated dough things.  Not that there’s anything wrong with them, but I just generally try to avoid buying anything doughy.  HA!

So as I got that wild momma creative chef hair, I pulled them out and decided to use them.  And they were INSANE GOOD!

Taquito Pockets

• taquito filling (recipe found HERE)
• Grands flaky biscuits

Lightly flour your counter space/work surface.  Flatten out each biscuit.  Take a knife and slice in half down the middle so you have 2 halves.  Each half will make one pocket.

Take a little less than a teaspoon of the meat filling mixture and put on one-half of the halves.  Fold the other half over and press to seal with your finger or the edges of the fork.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.   Continue with the rest of the biscuits.  Roll/press out to flatten.  Slice in half.  Spoon the meat filling onto the dough.  Foldover and seal.

Bake 350 until golden, about 15 minutes.

That’s it!  Not rocket science whatsoever.  Call them empanadas?  I like to call mine Taquito Pockets because they seem like little pockets of Taquito goodness.

Tell me if you make them and what reaction you get out of your gang.  Mine obsess over them!

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