TheTrap

Painting! Yay....NOT! LOL!

2017-08-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of moving, YAY says no one during the actual process. It is definitely a chore!! Thankfully there aren't too many things that need to be done on this house. We decided to get the painting out of the way before we start moving everything in. Boy do the walls/trim seem to grow once you actually get started. But, I must say everything is turning out nicely.

Above are pictures of the walls in my new office - decided to go with a blue tone to brighten up the space. LOVING it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's light and calming which is a necessity when you're pounding away on your computer all day.

On a side note from the painting...isn't that an amazing builtin??? So much storage space. >squeel<

Working on this gorgeous handcrafted cabinet that is in the dining room - really didn't need painting but felt we could brighten up the room by going a little bit lighter on the color and boy did that make a difference!! Really liking how things turned out. Have more to do but taking it one project/room at a time. Loving the charm of our new country home. Will post some more pictures once it's complete.

Restaurant: Rosie's Mexican Cantina-Huntsville, AL

2017-08-12T06:55:00.001-07:00

Had the opportunity to check out this amazing spot!! We visited the location in Huntsville, AL. Staff was extremely friendly and the food was delish!!! I recommend checking out this location if you are ever in the area. More to come on their other location in Florence, AL.

#Jewelry#freebies!!! Check out my new boutique!

2017-04-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hi my fellow readers!!!

Long time no chat!!! It's been a crazy few months...in the middle of a move..events...work and yes, just life!! WHEW!!! I have recently become a merchandiser with this fabz jewelry lifestyle brand called Chloe and Isabel! (eek!) I absolutely LOVE jewelry and accessories!!! You could say it's a bit of an obsession, along with beauty products, and I want to share these fabz pieces with everyone!!! The pieces are designed in-house in NYC!!! Every piece has a story and there is a lifetime guarantee on each piece.

You can now shop my online boutique from the comfort of your home. My boutique If you want to earn free jewelry, who doesn't!?, contact me for info on how to be a hostess. You can email me direct in my boutique!

There is a fabz promo for #Spring going on right now! Who doesn't love to get something #FREE!!

This piece is called the Bead + Ribbon Multi Wrap Bracelet. It is a convertible piece! You can wear as a wrap bracelet, a single or double strand necklace and even as a hair accessory!!! Who doesn't love getting multiple looks out of their accessories!! Makes packing for your vacay a breeze!! I love this piece and have already worn on it many times!!

With Spring you know there will be #weddingbells!!! We have a fabz bridal collection. There is something for the bride and the bridesmaids!!! Get your shopping on: My Boutique

Stay tuned...definitely more to come!!!

End of Winter trip: Lucille's Mountain Top Inn & Spa

2016-04-01T03:59:00.001-07:00

We were getting the itch to get away for a few days and decided on this B&B. Honestly neither of us had ever heard of this place and it's definitely in a city that I've never heard of, Sautee Nacoochee. Yes, say that three times fast...it's actually near Helen, GA (I was able to picture the area better with that as my reference). The area is absolutely gorgeous!! We visited at the end of February/first part of March so the weather was AMAZING!!! It was getting warm but there was still the breeze of the fresh mountain air.

This is the view when you drive in.....can we say >sigh<! You can see the mountains in the back on the photo on the right. When you look at the photo of the right as well-our room was located on the second floor. You can see the room's side window above the deck. So you actually get a couple of views from this room.

If you visit I would definitely recommend the mountain view room!!

This was waiting for us when we got into our room. Nice little touch...can't go wrong with chocolates, right?

This spot is secluded (oh darn) but still close enough that you can drive to neighboring towns for dinner, site seeing, hiking, etc... We did some hiking while there and really enjoyed the walks/views. You can't beat fresh mountain air. It was very peaceful and relaxing. A couple of our hikes were at Dukes Creek and Anna Ruby Falls. If you like hiking you should definitely check these out. Earned some more tags for my walking stick - SCORE!!!

Some images below from our hikes - breath taking! The waterfalls were amazing! Saw a really cool thing going on with some tree roots and stone, WOW!

Some images of the mountain view room...the bathroom...OMG!

Can we say chill time!

Fireplace above the tub!!!

They have an amazing breakfast-OMG!!!!!!!!!! It was definitely not what we were expecting at all...it's actually gourmet and you are served two courses. WHEW!!! Check out some images below...hats of to the Chef! Everything was DELISH!!!!!!!

They also serve desert in the evening - this was a nice way to end a long day.

Overall we had a wonderful/relaxing trip and would definitely visit this B&B again. I will be posting some restaurant reviews from our stay @TripAdvisor so check them out!!!

Fall Trip: Château Élan Winery & Resort

2016-02-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

Enjoyed a relaxing stop at Château Élan after our camping trip. When you enter the grounds the view is simply beautiful! Decided to stay at the Château Élan Inn. Can we say fell in love with the bathroom!!! (after camping this was like heaven)

Of course my "deal" to go camping including me getting to spend some time at the spa - YES!!! When you enter the spa, the staff is very friendly and helpful and the atmosphere just screams RELAX!!! I selected the Château Elite Deep Tissue Massage. My therapist was very attentive and made sure I was comfortable throughout the massage. I would definitely suggest arriving at least 30 minutes or more before your appointment so that you can take advantage of the amenities. I spent a few minutes in the hot stone sauna....OMG did I need that!! It was not only relaxing, especially after hiking for a few miles the previous couple of days, but it helped loosen up my muscles for the massage. The spa is simply gorgeous and definitely a spot I would recommend!! Would love to go back again.

Let the pampering begin!

Sauna area

Waiting Area

Seating area

And you know the visit would not have been "fair" if my sweetie didn't get in a round of golf (LOL). He played the Château Élan course which was really pretty. Of course, I observed from the cart.

We decided to go check out Paddy's Irish Pub for dinner. Excellent choice! Service and food was absolutely delish!! Look at all this food!!

For breakfast we dined in the Versailles which is located inside the Inn.It's a breakfast buffet with great selections; just check out the size of the omelet! Let's just say that would be a dish to share! Whew!!

As if we weren't already enjoying our stay-we did the wine tasting/tour the next day. BONUS!!!! You are taken through the winery and given the history while being shown the actual area where they make the wine. Really sad we didn't get a chance to actually go on the floor where the process happens (there was some work going on) but it was still pretty cool to see. Once the tour is over you are then taken to a tasting area where you can have 6-8 flights, depends on the ticket purchase, during the tasting. Our tour guide was very fun and knowledgeable and I would definitely recommend adding this to your to-do list!

The Winery

Vineyard

Where the action happens!

This was truly a wonderful experience and I definitely look forward to going back again! Keep an eye on on Trip Advisor as I'm adding new reviews there!! Definitely check back-visiting a B&B soon!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Fall Trip - Fort Yargo State Park

2015-12-29T12:11:00.003-08:00

View from the dock

OMG this year has flown by!!! I wanted to share our Fall visit to a Georgia park called Fort Yargo State Park in Winder. I had never heard of this park but I'm glad we checked it out. Scenery was gorgeous!!! Now of course everyone knows how much I adore the outside life (LOL) but once again I stepped out of my comfort zone, seems to be happening a lot these days, thanks sweetie!!! Okay, okay....so I have to confess...part of going on this camping trip did come with a tiny bribe-a trip to Chateau Elan complete with a day at the spa and the wine tasting. (and of course that had to come with a round of golf for my sweetie-all about compromise...LOL)
Will definitely have to share that experience on my next travel post!

We camped two nights this time around and boy was that plenty! An air mattress is only so comfortable. It was actually a bit crowded surprisingly enough but our camp site was in a corner away from the other neighbors so it worked out well. Camp grounds are very well maintained and I instantly fell in love with the bathroom/bath house!! There was HEAT and the showers had really hot water! YES!!!!! Since it was October and the temps were already starting to drop this was definitely a bonus! Views were gorgeous during our hike around the lake and even just taking a stroll near the camp site. We ended up doing about 6 miles on the hike-WHEW!!! Talk about ready for some steak over the camp fire!! I did earn another tag for my walking stick-WOOHOO!! I actually have quite a few on there now and looking to add more in the future. It's a bit of a motivational/bragging rights thing...hey, whatever works, right? Keeps us active! If you are into camping/hiking/relaxing I would definitely recommend adding this spot to your list of places to visit. There were some yurts right off the lake so great spots to fish if you are into that as well. We actually tent camped but there was plenty of space for RVs and there were some small cabins. We even spotted a little beach on one side of the park with a nice sized pavilion if you wanted to have a family reunion or other type of event.

Man made fire!

Our "fabz" accommodations for the stay.

Now if you caught the "fort" portion of the parks name then you guessed it...this lovely park surrounds an old fort. It was pretty neat to see some of the the still standing structures...check out the pics below...amazing how well preserved everything is. Even had a really cool "cooking oven" outside with a full size grilling/roasting pit. The craftsmanship is simply amazing!!!

Ormond Beach-Tomoka State Park

2015-09-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

Hello~

Glad you stopped back by!!! We visited a local state park while in #Ormond Beach this Summer. Tomoka State Park is nestled away on 1800 square feet of really "swampy looking" land. You get the full affect with the heavy moss in the thick tree growth, really creepy!! We checked out one of the hiking trails and along the way saw some boat docks, pavilion's, and a neat little "store" where you can buy some odd little trinkets, grab a bite, pick up some bait, and even found another tag for my walking stick!! Started out our small hike and before we even ventured in that far...side note: I seem to attract wild animals when we go into the woods/hike - ex: went camping for the first time in my life and saw not one but two bears!! Really??!!! My sweetie has been camping his entire life and had never seen one during the camping trips, just my luck I guess, LOL!!! Had to share so the next part makes sense....so while getting ready to hit the trail my sweetie says "watch your step", I'm thinking there's a dip in the road or something....no...not that....there was a SNAKE right next to my foot!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just about lost it!!!

The lovely snake-still makes me cringe!

Taking a break from hiking! Awesome view!!

I was able to get my composure back and venture on through the "woods", boy was the area thick with trees and vegetation!! It was so thick it became hard to breathe the deeper you walked in...we ended up turning around after going for a bit because it was just to much with the heat. WHEW!!! It was definitely time to hydrate with some adult beverages, LOL!! Kidding...we chugged water!! While at the park we did come across an area that had a statue called Legend of Tomokie - it was sculpted by a local artist named Fred Dana Marsh between 1954 and 1955. It was dedicated in 1957 and depicts the legend of Tomokie - an Indian chief. It is also there to remind visitors of the Timucua people that lived along the Tomoka river before colonization. Had no idea this was even out there-nice piece of history.

After walking and enjoying the beautiful scenery at this portion of the park we went to the little "store" that was at the head of the trail to grab my tag for my walking stick and while in there the clerk told us that we absolutely had to take a short drive up the road to see the 2000+ year old live oak! Well, who could pass that up? We drove about a mile from the park and off a side road to our next destination. Let's just say we were not prepared to see the actual size of this tree!!! I'm not even sure pictures do it justice....this thing was huge!!! The fact that it has survived for so long is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly an amazing site to see and I'm so glad we were able to check it out. Who knows when an opportunity like this might happen again.

Look to the right-that is actually one of the branches on the ground! WOW!!!

Seeing the live oak was the end of our park day/hiking outing....definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Me in front of the tree-I look like an ant, LOL!!!

Beauty Box - Target

2015-09-09T05:14:00.001-07:00

Hello~

So, I ordered my first Target box just to test it out to see how I liked it. There is no monthly subscription like Birchbox, Ipsy, etc...but you have to be quick to order these as they sell out super fast!! I was able to snag the back to school edition called "honor ROLL" and I must say I was pretty impressed. The box was only $5 (check out what all was included below)!!! Just do a web search for Target beauty box or for your convenience here is a link: Target Beauty Box and that will bring you to the order page. The current one is already sold out! I definitely want to try another one so I'm going to be vigilant about staying on top of things so I can snag the next one!! Definitely an amazing value and I utilized everything in the box! Gotta love that!!!

This box was valued at over $20 and included the following product as noted on the website:

1. Bathery Delicate Pouf

Gentle netting creates a rich lather for cleansing even the most sensitive skin. (colors may vary)

2. John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7-Day Treatment

Semi-permanent treatment transforms fine hair, leaving it full even after multiple washes.

3. Olay White Strawberry Body Wash

Hydrating body wash refreshes your skin with a cooling white strawberry and mint scent.

4. NYX Butter Gloss Strawberry Parfait

Buttery soft and silky smooth gloss tastes sweet and makes lips shine without being sticky.

5. Goody Ouchless Elastics

Hair ties made without metal for reduced snags and pulls. (colors may vary)

6. CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Primer

Preps skin for smooth application & extends the wear of foundation.

7. Burt’s Bees White Tea Facial Wipes

Hypoallergenic facial towelettes made with natural soothing ingredients like white tea & aloe vera to cleanse & remove makeup

DIY project-fixed the fence!

2015-09-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another DIY teamwork project. A section of the fence needed repair so we grabbed some lumber, nails, saw, hammer and went to work!!! I was feeling way out of my element on this one but as always my sweetie showed me the ropes and we got it done!! Who needs to pay someone to fix things around the house when you can take care of it your self. He installed a new post the day before-that required him making sure the post was tall enough to go into the ground a bit, pouring cement in the hole and setting the post so when the cement dried it was level.Once that was ready to go we repaired the section that was damaged, secured the pickets and then put the refurbished piece of fence back in place.

Looks great!!!!

Day 4 of 4: Vacation Restaurant Review - Dinner

2015-08-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Well...this was our last night in lovely @OrmondBeach...definitely wasn't ready for our vacation to end but so glad we had such a wonderful/relaxing time. Glad we picked this area to visit for our vacation!!! For our last dinner destination we decided to go check out this ocean front spot that we saw a banner flying behind a plane advertising while on the beach. This spot is called Riptides and it sits right off the beach on a corner - easily accessible and you can get valet parking. Each time we drove by this restaurant while out-n-about it was packed so figured we couldn't go wrong on this selection.

The RIPPERITA! (whew) Deck view.....

Of course had to start out with some appetizers - went with the oysters on the half shell - delicious!!!!!!!!!!! They were fairly decent in size and tasted wonderful!! Great option if you like oysters!!! Also ordered the shrimp and avocado spring rolls - OMG were these things good!!!!! Very filling so be careful because their portions are awesome!!!!

Enjoyed some grilled Mahi-Mahi, fish tacos, fries and coleslaw for our main course. Dinner was very good...everything was fresh. I would definitely recommend dining here if you are in the area. :)

As always...thanks for stopping by!! Definitely more post to come soon...

Day 3 of 4: Vacation-Restaurant Review - Dinner

2015-08-17T08:04:00.002-07:00

Hi there...welcome back!

Okay...day three of our trip down in #OrmondBeach-what a lovely place!! After lots of time on the beach, checking out a local park,and site seeing it was time to grab some dinner. We decided to go back to a spot in St. Augustine, which is not too far away, that we absolutely fell in LOVE with during previous trips!!!! The place is called Salt Water Cowboys. This little restaurant is definitely off the beaten path and is really kinda "swampy looking"-for lack of a better description...LOL! Check out the photos below....

We have visited this restaurant a few times and each time has been a wonderful experience. Had to, of course, grab some cold beverages while waiting on our table and my brother since we were meeting up with him for dinner while we were in the area...you must have the Cracker Cool-Aid OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YUMZ!!! I think I had two...three...IDK - a few and they were delish as always!!!!

For dinner we started off with our appetizers: fried clam strips, the Florida Cracker Combo (fried frog legs, alligator tail and catfish-OMG!) and fried pickle's. Wanted our favorite, oysters, but they didn't have any on the menu for the evening due to the weather. (??) Guessing since it was so hot? We were kind of bummed about that but the other dishes were delish!!

For our main courses: I had the stuffed shrimp with collards and fries...AMAZING! The collards are so yummy you'll want to drink the juice from the bowl! Shrimp was stuffed with Florida Blue Crab meat and topped with Cowboy's Cream Red Pepper Shrimp Sauce-YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!! My sweetie had the catch of the day which was Wahoo (had never heard of this fish) blackened with coleslaw...tried a bite and boy was that another great selection!! My brother order the 3 way shrimp which consisted of: stuffed, fried and barbecued shrimp (he was stingy and didn't share...lol) but said it was delicious!! Portions were amazing which meant leftovers and price is fairly decent so overall another great experience at one of our favorite spots!!! Glad we were able to get back there and share the experience....this is definitely a spot that we will continue to dine at when we are in the area. Great staff and food!!!

Day 2 of 4: Vacation-Restaurant Review - Dinner

2015-08-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

"Summer Kiwi Smash"

Well...time to chat about another restaurant that we checked out during our recent stay in #OrmondBeach. Decided to check out Bonefish Grill after checking out some reviews. Nice spot with decent parking. We were seated fairly quickly and decided to go with the oysters for our appetizer. They were a bit smaller than what we were expecting, especially since we were so close to the coast, but we did have another location tell us that it was a bit hot so oysters weren't doing all that well...I'm not sure how all that works but we were a bit disappointed in the size but they tasted great so that was as plus. There was an awesome sounding drink on the menu (see photo) called the Summer Kiwi Smash - consisted of: Olmeca Altos silver tequila, freshly muddled kiwi, mint, lemon juice and finished with edible summer orchid-OMG!!!! This drink was delish!!! I would highly recommend trying this. Now on to our main courses - my sweetie ordered the Chilean Sea Bass - simply awesome!! The fish just melted in your mouth! I had the Sea Scallops and Shrimp-another wonderful selection!! (photos below) Overall the place had a great atmosphere, was clean, food was delicious and wait staff was great. We would definitely eat here again if in the area and I recommend stopping in and grabbing a bite if you visit.
Thanks for stopping by!! Stay tuned....still more to come from our trip!!!

Day 2 of 4: Vacation-Restaurant Review-Breakfast

2015-08-02T12:32:00.001-07:00

Well...time to chat about another eatery we checked out during our recent stay

in #OrmondBeach. Still adjusting to being back in "reality" after having such a relaxing/fun time and enjoying some amazing food. Oh well, called being an adult, right?

We decided to grab some breakfast on our second day, so looked up some reviews, of course had to check out @TripAdvisor (I do reviews there as well-check 'em out), to see what might be good in the area. Decided on a spot called the Peach Valley Cafe'. My sweetie went with the biscuits and gravy (can't go wrong with these, right) and I went with an item on the menu called the Peach Valley Picker's Skillet. OMG!!! There were potatoes, ham, cheddar cheese, red and green peppers, onions and mushroom and if that's not enough they top with two fresh eggs (any style) and also has homemade sausage gravy!!! Also came with toast. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's just say there was a to-go box taken to enjoy this awesomeness later! So glad our hotel room had a fridge. Even the coffee was delish!!! Would definitely recommend stopping in and grabbing a bite!! There were some amazing looking dishes coming out to the other tables so I'm sure there were tons of other great selections on their menu. Just not enough room in our belly's nor time in the day sometimes...lol. :)

Stop back by...will post our dinner spot for day 2 soon!!

Located in a shopping strip

YUM!!!

Day 1 of 4: Vacation-Restaurant Review-Dinner

2015-07-27T06:00:00.001-07:00

Wanted to share my experience at some local spots that we ate at during our visit to Ormond Beach. The first night we decided to check out this spot that was a seafood market and restaurant. It was called Hull's Seafood Kitchen. A restaurant that is being supplied fresh seafood from their own market has to be great, right? OMG!!! What a fantastic find!!!! You walk in to their counter where the menu boards are chalk boards and there are menus scattered on the counter. You place your order and are given a number and told to find a seat wherever you want, that was a bit different for us. Of course, had to order some adult beverages for our wait so we decided on the bucket of beer- which, surprise, actually was served in a bucket full of ice with open beers! Awesome!!! For our dinner we ordered the catch of the day fish 'n chips - which was actually shark (YUM) and a fish taco with a side of hush puppies. OMG!!! Everything was delish!!! The hush puppies had bits of corn and just melted in your mouth. The fish 'n chips and the fish taco were wonderfully sized portions...not one complaint other than I won't get a chance to eat here again anytime soon. Definitely recommend eating here!!!

Bucket 'O Beer!

Fish 'n Chips & Fish Taco w/sides!

Menu boards-love the colors!

YUM!!!

2015 Summer Vacation-Hotel Stay

2015-07-25T12:54:00.001-07:00

Hotel Entrance

Hello~

Summer time is definitely here!!!

Just got back from our summer vacation! WOW was that a much needed trip. Visited the lovely Ormond Beach area for the first time. We had visited the nearby St. Augustine and Flagler Beach areas a few times so decided to try an equally beautiful/relaxing spot this trip. Great decision as the area was gorgeous! We booked our hotel back in March and upon looking at reviews closer to our vacation time we decided to change our hotel. We like to plan well in advance so it was a huge deal to change our hotel plans so close (within a month) to our trip. Really into checking out reviews since I do them myself...have had some great experiences and saved time and money by looking at these beforehand. Of course we checked out #TripAdvisor, see my reviews on there as well, to double check everything and the hotel we ended up staying in was the Ocean Front Inn & Suites - wonderful reviews so why not? Well, as we were getting into the Ormond Beach area near our hotel we noticed the initial hotel that we booked and it looked nothing like the photo! WHAT!!!????!!! The photo on the site made it seem a bit larger/more secluded than it actually was. Initially booked at the Best Western Castillo Del Sol but the reviews were just horrible from recent visitors. Maybe things changed, etc...but decided not to take that chance and what a wonderful decision that turned out to be!!! We were promptly greeted by Neil, I believe he was the manager, and another member of the staff. They were very courteous, asked how our travel to the area was, etc...got checked in and arrived in our room where we were pleasantly surprised at how amazing everything looked. You could tell the hotel had undergone some upgrades and WOW were they great. The floors were tile, not the nasty carpet that holds all the wetness from the ocean (great call there!!), nice size room with a great view, fridge/microwave, bathroom was super cute and everything was nice and clean/fresh. Definitely pleased with our choice of place to stay for this trip. Rooms were freshened up daily and everyone on the staff was amazing. Upon heading out on our last day we were headed down the road when our phone rang, it was Neil, we had left our pillows in the room and they wanted to try and catch us ASAP so we could get them. Now that is customer service!!! We probably would not have noticed until we arrived home. That definitely earned more points in my book! Should we visit the area again we will definitely be sure to book a room here.

Thanks for stopping by...please visit my little blog again as I will be filling you in on my reviews of the many restaurants that we visited during our stay. :P

Cute bathroom!

Bedroom

Right on the beach!!!

View from driveway

Getting to use our home grown veggies!!

2015-07-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

Hello!!!

Beer Can Chicken Y'all!

Well, after much waiting and anticipation....if you have ever planted a garden you know the feeling!!! We have some goodies that we are starting to be able to eat!!! My sweetie did his famously delish grilled beer can chicken! OMG!!! The seasoning and the process makes the chicken so tender and yummy!!! A definite must try!!!

To compliment our grilled beer can chicken we grabbed a few Marconi peppers from our garden, they have gotten huge, along with some chives and basil! Can we say FRAGRANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow the basil smells amazing. Have some in a glass in the kitchen just because! LOL!!!

Marconi Peppers

We made some stuffed peppers to place on the grill...really simple to make: Marconi peppers (rinse, cut the tops off and clean the insides)
For stuffing, mix: cream cheese (left soften at room temp for a bit), chives, sausage (if you like), salt/pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese. Fill as much of the mixture inside as you can then place aluminum foil on the ends...we placed in a little broiler and popped them on the grill for a few so they weren't on direct heat. The outside of peppers will start to char a bit, that's okay, turn them...then pull off after just a few minutes/check. You will definitely want to keep an eye on them!!! Just want to make sure all the cheese is good and gooey! Also made some corn on the cob-great/easy homemade meal!!!

We were definitely ready for dinner after smelling all the wonderful aromas!!!

National Relaxation Day coming soon!!

2015-07-11T17:10:00.001-07:00

Hi All!!!

Hopefully everyone's Summer is going well and you are enjoying some outdoor time with family and friends!!! I will be doing some traveling here soon so definitely check out my twitter and TripAdvisor reviews!!! Love sharing about my experiences! And, of course, you know there will be postings/photos up on my blog. Also, for those of you who are as into beauty/pampering yourself as I am...August 15th is National Relaxation Day. OMG!!!! What better time to pamper yourself or someone you love, or BOTH!!!! A nice relaxing day filled with things you can actually do at home and save time and $$!!! We all love that!!! I am in love with Mary Kay products, have been for years, and love sharing them!! Even with my extremely sensitive skin there are tons of products that I absolutely adore and have used for years!!! I would love to share them with you as well...please check them out at: LoveMaryKay! They have an amazing set to get your lips smooth and summer ready, a wonderful cooling eye gel, and a simply wonderful energizing lotion for your feet & legs!!! What better way to pamper yourself and re-energize yourself before or after a long hot/sticky summer day!!! I encourage you to check out the link!!! You won't be disappointed! You can shop from the comforts of your home! Gotta love that!!! ( I do!)

Enjoy the wonderful days of Summer and remember to use sunscreen!!! Enjoying the great outdoors is great but skin protection is vital!!!

XXX's!!!

The Ocenaire Seafood Room-Atlanta...great dining spot!!

2015-07-05T12:57:00.004-07:00

Hello~

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful/safe 4th of July Holiday!!!! Happy Birthday America!!! So thankful for all those that sacrificed and served/continue to serve to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today!!!! Thank You!!!!

Had to share my dining/travel experience from last week. Did quite a bit of celebrating the past few days - LOL - that's always a good thing, right? Especially nice when you get to dine at some great restaurants/hang out with loved ones....that's always a bonus!!! Had the opportunity to dine at The Oceanaire Seafood Room in Atlanta for the second time this past week. A nice evening out with my sweetie. (check out review on TripAdvisor as well) My sweetie booked us a (surprise to me -Thank You!) ride with Marina Limo Atlanta. Getting a car service is the absolute way to travel when you want to hang out/dine in Atlanta, or anywhere for that matter, and not have to worry with the hassle of parking/driving. Our driver, Tony, was amazing! He arrived early and was super friendly throughout our travel---when we were ready to head home he was right there waiting. Getting a car service is definitely a plus when you can!! Saves time, parking $$$, frustration of traffic and you can enjoy some cocktails while staying safe (always be safe and have a designated driver or utilize a car service!). Our overall dining experience with The Oceanaire Seafood Room Atlanta was AMAZING!!! As I stated this was our second time dining at The Oceanaire and I must say the food and service was as good as the first. Our server, Brandon, was very energetic, knew the menu and just made out evening an overall pleasant experience. The food-YUM-everything from the appetizers, the wine and our entrées was delish!!! We will definitely dine here again. Below are some photos of our delicious meal...I definitely recommend this spot!!! We will be traveling this summer and will try out some other restaurants that are in the Landry's group-check out my reviews that will definitely be blogged and on TripAdvisor. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Appetizer

Seafood Mixed Grill-OMG!

Lobster Thermidor!

New eating spot-Jalapeno Joe's...gotta try it!

2015-06-30T10:43:00.002-07:00

Hello!!

Hopefully your day/week has been going well so far. So....I tried out a new Mexican (love love love Mexican food!!!) spot the other day for brunch. Place is called Jalapeno Joe's and I've been by this place probably a million times over the years and never noticed it. I'm all into trying new spots to dine. It was a nice sunny day so decided to try it out.

The spot is really cool-very inviting from the outside. I walked in and was greeted promptly upon entering - always earns bonus points in my book!! I was sat quickly...all of the staff was very friendly and my waitress was a doll!! Her name was Alex and she was very attentive...but not overly - can't stand that, let me at least swallow before you ask me a question...LOL. I ordered a combo that included: chicken enchilada, re-fried beans, and a taco...YUMZ!!! Of course I ended up with leftovers - DARN (LOL)!

Overall, great little spot, convenient, reasonable prices and great menu selections. Will definitely go back so I can try the Chile rellenos and stuffed poblano which are my fav!!!! Will have to let you know how those taste on another post.

New facial scrub found!! (even for my sensitive skin)

2015-06-24T12:23:00.004-07:00

I am absolutely loving the Origins GinZing refreshing scrub cleanser!!! Needed a gentle cleanser for my extremely sensitive skin but needed something with a bit of a scrub to get all the grime/sweat/makeup from these hot/humid summer days. Just didn't feel like my foam cleanser was doing the trick. This stuff is AMAZING!!!! Smells wonderful and my face looks brighter and feels extremely smooth! Even my extremely sensitive skin is clean and happy!!! Will definitely purchase this product again!! Might order the matching moisturizer next!!! Need to wrack up some more points with @Birchbox...LOL!!!! Check 'em out on my referral link: V'sBirchbox link!

May Birchbox Review

2015-06-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!!

I know by now everyone has heard of Birchbox...so won't bore you with the entire spill. It's a beauty subscription service that allows you to receive samples of tons of different products: makeup, hair, nail, and even lifestyle accessory pieces - you fill out your profile, pay $10/month and receive five samples each month. Really cool way to try-it-before-you-by-it! Love it!!! Plus you can shop for full-size products on their site. I'm actually at the ACE status with Birchbox - since I am a beautyholic -which means I wrack up tons of points throughout the year, but have just recently decided to give the whole blogging/tweeting a try. I received the May box from Birchbox-cute theme for the month with "Cupcakes and Cashmere" as the contributor for the items selected as samples. Really enjoy getting these cute boxes in the mail each month...it's like getting a present every month. Who doesn't love getting presents? Here is a breakdown of what I received:

Harvey Prince - Seal Salt Texturizing Mist - I've used a different brand and loved it so wanted to give this a try since I like some of their fragrances. Smelled amazing and my hair felt great!! Love shampooing and letting my hair air-dry so will probably order full-size of this one! It's $22 for the full-size.
WEI - Kakadu Plum Brightening Sugar Mask - love mask!!!! This made my skin instantly soft!! The price is a bit out of my budget at a set of 8 for $60 but it was great to be able to try it out.
Méreadesso - Tinted all-in-one moisturizer - I don't really use tinted foundations so this wasn't really for me but I did try it and it went only really smooth. Not something I would purchase though-full-size $48
TokyoMilk by Margot Elena-Bon Bon Shea butter rich lotion-I've been using this as a hand lotion. Goes on great and is not tacky...didn't seem to last very long so probably won't purchase this one...full-size $20
Peripera - Peri's Tint Water - this is a lip/cheek stain...goes on well but I'm currently using a different brand so this will get more use later. Full-size $12

If you love beauty products like I do you should give it a try!!! You never know what you might stumble upon while enjoying your samples. Feel free to use my referral link: Birchbox referral link.

#DIY new flowerbeds!!

2015-06-10T06:09:00.002-07:00

Hello! Isn't this time of the year wonderful! We've definitely been spending a bit more time outdoors lately...decided to add two more flower beds - tons of work but soooo worth it!! Check out the pictures of the beds...of course I'll post some more pictures once everything starts to bloom some more. We decided to place these next to our garden since basically the grass just wasn't cooperating there, BTW our veggies are starting to come in!! WOOHOO!!! Nothing like fresh veggies/herbs from the garden. Plus it saves tons of money!!! OMG produce is so expensive!!! We have zucchini, squash, cucumbers, heirloom and cherry tomatoes, peppers, basil, cilantro, thyme and rosemary. Everything is looking so good!! My friends and family don't believe me when I tell them I'm working out in the yard, so I have to have lots of pic's!!! I am not an outdoors person and have never really been interested in digging in the dirt (messes up my nails) nor did I like getting all hot and grungy! My parents were outside/in the dirt all the time and our yard was always beautiful...I'd rather be doing my nails/shopping or just give me a cold beverage on the deck with some good music and I'm good!! LOL!! But, since my sweetie and I have been together I've definitely been branching out and giving the good ole' outdoors a shot...so far I have to say I'm loving it!! I've even been camping!! WOW what an experience...will have to share that since we are grabbing the packs/tent again this year. It's very therapeutic when you're working in your flower beds/garden...you basically get to see just a spot of land transformed into something really beautiful...truly awesome!!! I have to give the credit for all the prepping of the soil/edging/stones that you'll see to my sweetie...no way I could do any of that!!! I'm basically the bed layout (design)/planter person! Is that a title? LOL! Loading those stones is hard work but it definitely ties everything in and makes it look amazing!!! Thanks babe!! Total team effort on these!!!

Starting new flower beds!

Mulch added along w/more flowers!

Everything is in....just need mother nature to bring us some rain!

Restaurant review - great little place!

2015-06-05T04:32:00.001-07:00

Had a yummy dinner at Gumbeaux's Cajun Café last night with my sweetie! I heard the place was awesome but never had the chance to visit but being the amazing man that he is my sweetie surprised me with date night last night and that's where we went. YUMZ!!!!!!!!!! OMG everything was amazing!!! We had oysters on the half shell and Cajun popcorn for our appetizer's...delish!!! For our entrées: I had the Fried Cajun Crab Cakes - order came with three...yes three crab cakes...with a homemade Hollandaise sauce-OMG YUMZ!! And...as if that wasn't enough it came with two sides so I went with coleslaw and black eyed peas...delish!!! My sweetie ordered the Seafood Rotini (looked and tasted amazing!) and of course that came with two sides...he went with red beans and rice and Cajun turnip greens - YUMZ again!!! There was so much delish food!!!! Definitely ended up with a doggie bag...will be digging into that this afternoon. :) Staff was really friendly and even though they were packed we were seated fairly quickly. Atmosphere was amazing and very upbeat!! We will definitely be going back...so glad that I finally had the chance to visit this wonderful little spot! Check out review on Trip Advisor!

Appetizers!!

Entrées!!!

What was left...OMG!!!

Stay healthy...get your checkups!!

2015-06-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

So...this is not really related to anything fun but figured someone out there might be able to relate...I'm a bit of a foodie, love trying new things and all things spicy!!!! Tummy wasn't feeling all that great for a few weeks, noticing some other symptoms when going to the bathroom...decided it was time to get things checked out. Informed my doctor about what was going on and was immediately referred to a gastroenterologist! YIKES!!!! GI immediately scheduled me for a...yep you guessed it - COLONOSCOPY!!! Can we say NOT PREPARED!! I am no where near old enough, or so I thought, and was definitely not prepared for the prep portion of this event!! OMG!!! I had heard, as I'm sure we all have, but hearing and actually dealing with this is two different things!! WHEW!!! Had the procedure done, which the procedure itself was a breeze...I remember absolutely nothing since they twilight you for the event...THANK YOU!!!! I must say I totally understand why MJ enjoyed the Propofol!! WOW! It was like I had been asleep for days.

Some biopsies were taken, etc...good news they figured out what was going on but bad news is there isn't anything specific you can do to prevent this...I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Really? See link for info if you're interested: What is ulcerative colitis? I really didn't know much about it so of course I'm all over the web looking up in and everything!!! My boyfriend finally had to tell me to stop going on line. Basically I have to limit dairy, high fiber foods and just watch in general what I eat that triggers my symptoms. I was placed on some meds - an anti inflammatory and a corticosteroid (yuck) but my doctor is really confident that my case isn't severe enough that I will have to be on these long term. I'm already noticing significant improvement. :) Still trying to figure out exactly what causes the flare ups...it's pretty much trial and error. Seems I probably had a flare up a few years ago but it wasn't serious and symptoms subsided fairly quickly which didn't prompt me to see a doctor...so I'm thinking it's something that will work it's course and then calm back down. I'm sure I'm definitely not alone with this...would love to chat/see what works for others with this condition.

If nothing else when you experience these types of things it definitely makes you cherish health and the health of those around you...try not to sweat the small stuff and just enjoy life and those your love!! >clink<

DIY Flowerbeds-looking amazing!!

2015-06-03T10:20:00.004-07:00

So my sweetie and I decided to put in some flower beds to spruce the yard up a bit...now I'm really not the super outdoorsy type but I have to admit this was actually pretty fun!! We've put in a total of five beds so far and getting ready to put in one more. It's exercise for sure but it gives us extra QT together which is always a bonus!!! Here are some photos of the beds and some early shots of some plants that are still needing to grow (hurry!!! - I'm so impatient...LOL) and I'll be sending others as things progress...check 'em out!!