The Stylish Nest

Giveaway: $25 Kroger Gift Card

2012-03-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

Right now you can find some big savings during the Kroger Cart Buster Savings Event! With more than 35 brands, across more than 60 categories, you are sure to find great deals on the things you use most.

To save even more money you can visit CartBuster.com beginning 2/26/12 to find money-savings digital coupons, shopping lists and more.

We can't wait to go shopping this weekend with our giftcard. I've already been making my list of favorites! But it's not just information that we get to share with you dear readers, we also have a $25 Kroger Family of Stores gift card to giveaway! Who wouldn't love a little help paying for groceries this month?

Giveaway Rules:

To enter leave a comment on this post before midnight on March 8th, 2012.
Open to those in the USA only.
The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email after the giveaway ends. Please be sure there is a way to contact you if you are the winner.
You may enter daily until the giveaway ends.

The Kroger Family of Stores gift card, information, and giveaway were all provided by the Kroger Family of Stores and General Mills/Nestle/Proctor & Gamble/Pepsi/Kraft through MyBlogSpark.

Photo Wednesday: Fresh Flowers

2012-02-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

While traveling in Russia there were many things that were new and different, but there was something that really surprised me! The fresh flowers! Not only were they HUGE, and so inexpensive for us to buy, but they were everywhere. In the metro station, at the kiosks, and on the tables of those we lived with.

I was only 18 when I went to Russia for the summer, way back in 1993, but I made a promise to myself that when I was "grown up" and had my own home I would make sure that it always had fresh flowers in it.

In the summer we cut flowers from our garden, but in the winter when the garden is sleeping, we have to purchase our fresh flowers. Luckily beautiful flowers are available all year long.

What about your home? Do you enjoy having fresh flowers on your table?

"The Homies"

2012-02-28T17:58:00.001-08:00

Apartment Therapy is once again hosting The Homies, an award for all things awesome in the world of home blogs. There are so many favorites up for nomination right now, so if you have a moment head on over to The Homies and check it out!

Some of our favorites? DIY Diva, The Art of Doing Stuff, and I Still Love You. Also, if you know of a great blog that should be on the list, there is time to nominate until March 2nd.

Update: HOLY MOLY! I just found out that this blog is nominated in the DIY category! Wow! If you would like to cast a vote that would be awesome. We are so excited just to be there at all! Woohoo!

A super SWEET giveaway!

2012-02-26T08:20:00.003-08:00

There is a really amazing giveaway happening right now thanks to Simply the Sweet Life Magazine. The giveaway is taking place on their Facebook page, and features some great prizes. They are giving away everything from cooking goods, clothing, jewelry, home security systems, and even a trip!

Entry is simple, just give a like and fill out the form. Even if you choose not to enter the giveaway, would you all do me a favor and "like" Simply the Sweet Life's Facebook page anyway? They are a lovely magazine and I think you will really enjoy the fun ideas they share. They are also a great local company that I am proud to spread the word for!

Hurry though, the giveaway ends on the 29th of this month! Enter here.

Simple Pleasures

2012-02-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

February is a favorite month in our house. Not only is it Valentine's day, but we also celebrate our wedding anniversary. Simple pleasures are our favorite pleasures. Here are some of our favorite ways to celebrate LOVE.

Heart shaped pizza dinner.
Heart shaped cinnamon rolls for breakfast (found on Pinch My Salt).
Specialty flavored hot chocolates. So simple, just add your favorite Toranni syrup to your basic hot chocolate recipe.
Themed movie nights (we have been on a Pirates of the Caribbean kick this month).
Snuggling up in front of the fireplace, or in our case, the fireplace DVD.
Bundling up to stargaze on the clear, cold nights.
Playing favorite video games together.
Creating new recipes together.

This year we had fun making Rice Krispie treats with Valentine's Day M&Ms. Such a fun addition to an old favorite, and they were tasty with the chocolate added in too! And for our upcoming anniversary I want to recreate this idea that I found on Pinterest:

Source: pinterest.com via Aimee on Pinterest

Isn't that just darling? What are your favorite simple pleasures?

The DIY Paradox

2012-02-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

There is something that happens every so often to people who enjoy doing it yourself. Now and then there will be a project that needs to be done. The project can be large or small, and of course the project is something that you can totally do yourself!

But instead what happens is that the project gets forgotten about, pushed to the side, or otherwise doesn't get finished. It even could have been done a long time ago if you had just hired someone. But of course, why would you hire someone to do something you are so totally capable of doing yourself?

We have a few of these projects hanging around our house right now. I'm sure I am not the only one. Tell me friends, has this happened to you too?

Closet Dreaming

2012-02-13T11:38:00.001-08:00

Our master bedroom closet has been on the project wish list for years now. We are lucky to have a walk in closet, however it is about as standard as they come. Just a simple shelf and rod, and not using the space to the full potential.

It has been livable though, but every so often an image of a magical closet like this one shows up in my Pinterest feed and gets the old wheels turning again! Of course our closet is not this large, but there is so much to love in the way they designed it!

Source: houzz.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Giveaway: Create a Memory with HP Faux Canvas

2012-02-05T19:59:00.000-08:00

If you love making your own art, and personalizing your home just how you want it to be, then you are going to be excited about this giveaway! With Valentine's day just around the corner, what better time to create something to last for the years?

HP Faux Canvas is an easy way to create a unique and special gift that can be enjoyed all year long. You can choose a favorite photo from your own archives, or choose from the Art Gallery featuring a large portfolio of well-known imagery including paintings from Van Gogh and Monet, iconic National Geographic images and more.

What is even better is that you can create your HP Faux Canvas online or in store at a local Walmart and pick it up the same day – making it the perfect choice for a last-minute gift that looks like you spent weeks planning. Best of all, it’s extremely affordable!.

One lucky reader will get the chance to create your own HP Faux Canvas ($20 value)! Keep it for yourself or make something special for your Valentine! Here are the rules:

Visit the HP Faux Canvas site, then leave a comment on this post letting us know why you would love to win!
Comment before midnight on February 9, 2012. You may comment daily.
Please be sure to include a way to contact you if you win (email, blog link, etc).
The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by email after the giveaway ends. They will then have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen.
This is open to those in the USA.

Thank you to HP for providing the prize and information for this giveaway! Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed, congrats to #16, Karen.

Food Friday: Valentine's Day Fun

2012-02-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite ideas for making the day special. In our house we always bake a heart shaped pizza, and other fun heart shaped treats. So of course these heart shaped calzones caught my attention:

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Aimee on Pinterest

Chocolate covered strawberries are another favorite of ours, so when I saw this idea for strawberry brownie cupcakes I had to remember it! Don't they look amazing?

Source: iheart2stamp.com via Aimee on Pinterest

Heart shaped whoopie pies, to put you in the mood for making whoopie! ;) These are red velvet, but I bet they would be pretty amazing in vanilla too if you added a little red food coloring.

Source: polliblog.com via Aimee on Pinterest

What do you do for Valentine's day in your house? Do you have something that you always make? A tradition that you keep?

The "C" Word

2012-01-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve we learned that our 11 year old niece has cancer. The prognosis is wonderful for a full recovery, but she will be undergoing chemo for the next 10 months. We are doing what we can to help cheer her up.

To say it's been a stressful time over the past year for our family is a bit of an understatement. Between my dear SIL having a brain tumor removed, and suffering serious side effects from it, to my husband having some unknown problems that we are still trying to get resolved, and now for our sweet niece to have cancer, it's a bit much.

Posting may be a bit light around here for a bit while we regain our bearings, but of course life goes on. There is joy in our hearts that while things might be tough, they could be so much worse.

Meanwhile if any of you have ideas for care package items (we have some seriously fun hats that I will share once they have been given) for a young girl, please let me know! We want to make this as easy as we can for her.

IKEA inspiration!

2012-01-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

Have you visited the IKEA website lately? It had been some time from my last visit, but since we are in the market for a new headboard and bedding I wanted to see what they had. What I found was awesome! Not only did they have tons of fun items, but they have rooms that you can get inspired by too. Here is a screencap of my favorite:

Since our room is pretty small, I love the idea of adding storage on the side of the bed. Currently we have nightstands, but I really love the way the tall closets on the side look. It also has me thinking of alternatives to the idea of a traditional headboard.

The bedding and the rug are favorites as well. The overall color scheme is really relaxing and pretty, without being too gender specific too (perfect for a married couple's room).

I have to say, exploring sites and getting ideas put together for our little mini-makeover sure is fun! What do you think about the room in the picture?

Tide Coldwater Review

2012-01-25T20:04:00.000-08:00

One of the great things about having a house is having your own laundry room. Sure doing laundry isn't one of the most fun things to do, but as household chores go it certainly isn't the worst either! And there always seems to be new and improved products for making laundry easier.

I recently got the change to try out Tide Coldwater thanks to SheSpeaks. I was thrilled to be able to try out a new formula for the brand that I already use for my laundry. Since I already use Tide, I knew that my colors would turn out clean and fresh in coldwater without any problem. The main thing that I wondered about was our whites, since most of them are "underthings" I always feel like they should be washed in hot water to get them really clean. So the challenge was on!

The Tide Coldwater did not disappoint! It got the whites clean and fresh, and I didn't have to use the hot water setting. To spare you, I didn't take before and afters of our unmentionables, but I will tell you that some otherwise very smelly socks came out smelling fresh!

You might be wondering why you would want to switch to cold water washing. For one it saves hot water, which if you have a lot of people in your home can be hard to come by in the shower sometimes! And of course, it conserves energy (since you don't have to heat the water) which will help save money on energy bills. Pretty great, right?

If you want to see how the Tide Coldwater worked for other SheSpeaks members, check out the Tide Coldwater Gallery! SheSpeaks provided the product and compensation for my review, but as always my opinions are my own.

ALT Summit! Or in otherwords, design heaven!

2012-01-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Last year I was lucky enough to attend ALT, which is an amazing design and social media conference. If you are on Twitter, you could be seeing a lot of chatter about it recently as people are preparing to go again next week. I was thrilled when I found out that I would get to go again this year (won a ticket thanks to the people at Minted), so even though I am a little late to the party, I thought I might give you all a sneak peek at what it might be like!

First of all you need to know that it is winter here in Utah. While we haven't had much snow this year, it has been very cold. The upside is that it has also been quiet sunny! And besides, when you are at a conference most of your time will be spent in the hotel where it's nice and toasty. However, I do encourage you to get outside into the hotel courtyard! It's gorgeous.

The sponsors last year spoiled us in the lounge. So many tasty treats, hot chocolate and coffee, and the food at the lunches is downright amazing! Also, don't forget to try the cookies in the hotel lobby, and make a visit to the sweet shop too. There are French macaroons and gelato there!

The parties are a blast too! And also full of amazing food. Would it be strange to tell you that we had the best macaroni and cheese ever? And the chocolate fountains in the HGTV party were so good! You could smell the chocolate before you even reached the room!

The Grand America hotel is a treat in and of itself. There are tons of interesting chandeliers, and yes, the bathrooms are everything you have heard that they are!

Other advice I would give anyone coming to the conference:

There will be free WiFi, so you won't be out of touch.
Name tags are provided, which is really nice when you will be meeting a lot of people.
Everyone likely feels as awkward as you do! Don't be afraid to say hello first!
Have a card that you can give people, and ask for cards in return. Write something memorable about the person on their card so you can easily remember them after the conference ends.
Make some time to enjoy what the city has to offer outside of the conference. Anyone up for shopping at Anthropologie?
Take a lot of photos, especially of the friends you meet.
Follow people attending on Twitter. The hash tag is #altsummit. Even if you aren't attending you might learn some fun new things from those who are.
Above all, have fun! These moments only come once, so you might as well enjoy them.

New bed, new opportunities!

2012-01-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

Word of advice to all those who plan to get married, when you do take the plunge, get a king sized bed! Trust me, it will be so worth it! We finally got one after nearly 10 years of marriage, and nearly 10 years of very little sleep. I can't even begin to tell you how lovely it is to have space to sleep without running into each other, and waking each other up because of it. But this isn't a post about that really, it's a post about the excitement that is a NEW BED!

Since we went from a queen to a king, right now our bed is plain. No frame, no headboard. This means there is a whole new world of design opportunities to be had! A bed can really set the tone for an entire bedroom, and it is certainly an investment piece. Here are a few ideas that I have loved recently (all from Pinterest of course, a one stop shop for design inspiration):

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Cari on Pinterest

Source: thediversionproject.blogspot.com via Becca on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Julie on Pinterest

Source: decorpad.com via Elle on Pinterest

Source: horchow.com via Lisa on Pinterest

All of them are quiet different in style from one another, but there are things that I love about each of them. I'm not sure what we will do in our room yet. It sure is fun to look around and dream about what we can do though!

German Pancakes

2012-01-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

We had never made German pancakes before, but I had been seeing them pop up on blogs and now and then on Pinterest. New Years Eve, I decided that we would have to try to make them for a new tradition on New Years morning. We didn't have a new year's morning tradition yet, so why not try something new?

Luckily through the power of Facebook, I was able to quickly get a great recipe for the pancake from a friend who always posts wonderful recipes. It turned out to be so tasty! We are going to use this as our new year morning breakfast from now on! A new tradition has been born.

6 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cube butter
lemon juice
powdered sugar
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine eggs, flour, milk and salt & blend well in blender. Melt 1 cube butter in 13X9 dish. Pour batter directly into hot dish, bake 18 minutes (adjust for your oven). Sprinkle with lemon & powdered sugar.

We didn't have lemon on hand so we used maple syrup and powdered sugar. It was heaven!

Have you ever eaten German pancakes? I learned that they are called a lot of different names from hoot nannys to Popeye pancakes! Whatever you call them, they are really yummy! Do you have a tradition for new years day?

Welcome 2012!

2011-12-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

Recently I learned about a tradition in Japan, one that I would love to start doing in our home. On New Year's Eve, they prepare for the new year by cleaning the home and car, and by stocking their kitchens. The day is called Omisoka, and "oh-souji" or "big cleaning" is done so they enter the new year with everything fresh and new. Isn't that a wonderful tradition?

Our tradition is to get take out from a favorite restaurant, then watch lots of movies until midnight when we run outside to light off fireworks. After the fireworks we come back inside for sparkling cider to toast the new year.

As you can see, we light our fireworks regardless of weather! What is your new years tradition?

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

2011-12-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Home projects are on hold as we take time to enjoy and spend time with family and friends for the holidays. Too often I feel rushed during this time of year, and I don't want to miss out on the moments.

Have a wonderful holiday season, no matter how you celebrate! See you in 2012 for more DIY fun.

Dearest Santa, I would love to find this car on Christmas morning:

Source: habituallychic.blogspot.com via Heidi on Pinterest

Magic Christmas Tree Time Lapse

2011-12-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

We have another Christmas tree in our house. It's little, it's cute, and it is magic! We had a lot of fun capturing it as it "grew" using our time lapse camera. Our Magic Christmas Tree came from Amazon.com, but I have seen them on other sites as well. In real life the tree took a little over 6 hours to film, but you get to see the magic happen in less than 15 seconds!

Magic Christmas Tree Time Lapse from Aimee on Vimeo.

I hope you enjoy watching the tree grow! We sure had fun making the video.

Our Christmas Tree 2011

2011-12-10T14:56:00.001-08:00

My favorite color theme for Christmas is sliver, white and blue. As you can see our tree is decorated in that theme, with snowflakes and icicles to add to the snowy scene. And yes, if you look closely you will indeed see Santa riding a pink flamingo.

A tree can't be all serious, right?

Hair Twisters for a fun new 'do!

2011-12-08T20:02:00.001-08:00

Once winter arrives, with it's cold dry air, the only thing I really want to do is pull my hair into a ponytail to avoid the fly aways and static cling. Recently I got the chance to try a very stylish item that makes a ponytail super fun and interesting.

They are called Hair Twisters, and as you can see, they wrap your ponytail into a metal coil that looks so incredible!

I was sent the 6 inch twister, which is just perfect for creating a sleek side ponytail. I can't even tell you all the compliments that I get when I wear it! Not only is it really unique (I haven't seen anyone else ever wear one in my city), but it is so perfect for keeping my hair out of my way. I've even found that they work well when I am out in the wind, or to keep my hair tamed while biking. All while looking awesome in the process!

The company, Medieval Metal is based in California. You can order them online in a variety of styles, and you can even add charms to the end of the twist for an even more personal style statement! Check out their site for all the options and to order your own. They would make a fun gift for the person who has everything too! http://www.hairtwisters.com/

While Medieval Metal provided the sample for this review, as always, my opinion is my own.

The room of shame.

2011-12-03T09:02:00.001-08:00

Please tell me you have a "room of shame" in your home too. A junk room, a catch-all room, a clutter magnet, whatever you would like to call it, we have one. No matter what I try to do, our laundry room seems to collect all the things that don't have a permanent home, or are on the way to other spaces. As you will see, right now it is at it's all time WORST, and doing laundry is nearly impossible.

In the middle of the room, taking up the bulk of the space, are shelves and items that actually belong in my husband's office, but have yet to make their way into it. Then there is the headboard, a project in progress. Oh yes, and of course there is the washer and dryer, a rack to hang clothes on (that is, as you can see, falling apart a bit), and a whole bunch of other things filling the room to the brim.

What you can't see is that there are actually shelves that are nicely organized on that back wall. This room is so completely opposite of the other spaces in our home that I can hardly believe it's in our house!

Do you have a "room of shame" too?

Doggie Devotion

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Pets and design don't seem to go together often, but when they do it's always fabulous! We recently got some of the wonderful Fetch! Product Design limited edition “Doggie Devotion” throw pillows for our home to feature on our animal blog. However, they are just too fun not to share here as well!

I think they look really fun on our couch, and they are a great conversation piece as well.

Each pillow pillow is hand-made when the customer orders it! The pillows are also durable, very well made, and even hypoallergenic. The collection features sixteen designs, each with an artist-created, one-of-a-kind image of the world’s most beloved dog breeds. The two coordinating pillows with the words “sit” and “stay” are sold separately. And while they didn't have our dog's breed in the design choices, we still love the image of a dog being part of our home in this way.

Pet owners take note, the durable cotton-twill cover is pre-shrunk and washable. You can even choose from red, black or white for the pillow backing, ensuring that no matter what the décor. A “Doggie Devotion” pillow is the perfect addition to any dog-lover’s couch, bed or chair. We simply love our pillows, and think that any dog lover will feel the same way! To order, visit www.fetchedonline.com.

About Fetch! Product Designs Fetch Product Designs was founded in Spring 2011 to create unique, quality, high-end pillows and home décor featuring “man’s best friend”. Each pillow is a distinctive work of art is and is available exclusively through Fetch! Product Designs. Fetch! Product Design pillows will soon be available through product catalogues, scheduled exhibition shows and specialty retail boutiques. Founded by interior designer Angela Carfino-Hines and artist Maria Faith Garcia, Fetch! Product Designs is based in Hacienda Heights, California. Every Fetch! pillow is proudly manufactured in the United States.

Top Ten Stocking Stuffers!

2011-11-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

For me the Christmas stocking is always the most fun to open. As they say, good things come in small packages! But if you are stumped for ideas on what to put in your loved one's stocking this year, I offer you my top ten picks for awesome stocking stuffers.

Does your loved one have an iPhone? The DIY iPhone case is sure to be a hit! Not only will they have a case that is totally unique, but they also get to have a lot of fun making it.
One of my favorite things, the Nintendo 3DS, would be a welcome addition to any stocking. It is pure awesome! You might want to put one in your own stocking too.
For the truly daring people on your gift list, stick some ghost pepper flakes in their stocking. Just be sure you get to witness the fun as they try to eat the world's hottest pepper. You might want to include some bottles of water in that stocking too.
We can't leave out the dog's Christmas stocking! Put a little McSteven's Dog Nog Doggy Drink Mix in with all the dog bones and other treats.
For the vegetarians on the list, they can still enjoy the holidays with a hilarious Inflatable Turkey! It even comes in it's own special tin.
For the camera lover in your life, put a Fujifilm INSTAX MINI Film Camera and be prepared to win the gift of the year award! These cameras are seriously fun to play with, and make photos that can fit in your wallet with ease.
Heart U Back friendship bracelets are the perfect stocking stuffer for the animal lover. I get more compliments on this bracelet than I do on any other accessory I own. I'm always excited to tell people about it too because it benefits the ASPCA! They offer other great items as well.
One of my favorite animated films, Howl's Moving Castle, would be a lovely stocking stuffer for the anime lover in your life. I also recommend Castle in the Sky, and The Cat Returns.
If your loved one likes lotion, why not stock up with a few favorites from Bath and Body Works? They have such cute holiday themed items. My favorite standby scent? Warm Vanilla Sugar.
Last, but in no way least, a little something for the gardener in your life. Soil Mates is one of the cutest, and most helpful, books you can own. Learn about companion planting with a healthy dose of humor, and some of the most fun illustrations around.

Pins of the Week: Christmas

2011-11-28T18:37:00.001-08:00

Christmas is right around the corner. Have you decorated your home yet? We always wait until the 1st of December to decorate, but that doesn't mean I haven't been oohing and ahhing over the lovely Christmas decorations on Pinterest.

Source: myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com via Cathy on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Aimee on Pinterest

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Valentina on Pinterest

Happy holidays!

2011-11-26T13:30:00.001-08:00

The holiday season is here! Did you have a good Thanksgiving?

Holiday season is always very busy around our home. We celebrate 3 different times, once with my family, one with my husband's mom and step-dad, and once with my husband's dad and step-mom. That is three turkey dinners, for three nights! It's a lot of food, family, and fun. It's also exhausting!

As you can see in the photo, someone was eager to eat!

Also keeping me very busy this month was NaNoWriMo! This means that I wrote an entire novel in just one month! Actually, I was able to finish 9 days early, and it was so much fun. Of course, our house was completely ignored during this time, but now that things should be calming down for a bit I will have a lot of fun things to share with you.

Are you ready for the holidays?