Fleur Luxe

Fleur Luxe is BACK!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:43:00 +0000

It's been 3 whole years since the last update and prior to that it was even longer!! To say the least, I'm back with a mission and whole lot of things to say. I welcome you all back!

First thing is first, fleurluxe.com (previous web address) was lost because I failed to renew my info and I lost the domain. It isn't owned by anyone but costs 2k- so we are fleurluxe.net now. I think if I get this blog back up and going and it's monetizing... the first order of business will be to have the .com back in my possession.

Second. Life has truly changed. I can't wait to share that all with you. Those changes have brought about a different desire in me. I no longer yearn to talk about fashion and make up (though I most definitely still will) but I do yearn to speak on things like home life, Real Estate (how to run your business & navigating the market) and the adventures in the city I love- New Orleans.

Social media links are coming but for now following me on:

Instagram: @kimschexnayderrealtor
TikTok: @kim.schex

Are You a Negative Nancy?!?

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 23:06:00 +0000

Negative Nancy glaring at your happiness

We all have that one friend or associate who finds every little thing wrong with a situation and then writes themselves off as a "realist" and these are the same people that have constant drama.

These Negative Nancies come in all forms. Which one are you?

1. The friend that calls you about their drama and when you find a solution- they think of 10,000 reasons why that solution won't work.
2. Family member who asks you how you are doing and when they hear one thing that may not be 100% in line with their opinion- they offer a negative anecdote instead of encouragement for everything else.
3. Co-worker that complains all day about being at work and calls those people who are busting their butt "brown nosers".
4. Church folk that talk smack behind other members back.
5. The sideline reporter. Oh, these people, they watch everyone and talk about what "they should've done"
6. Gossip Queen: They thrive on chaos and love to talk about how things are going wrong. Never bring up exciting things on the horizon.

Whatever number you are, y'all have something in common: You are a HAPPINESS SUCKER!

I have fallen in to these categories at some point in my life and I tell you when you snap out of it... you are left disgusted with yourself.

1. Start your day on a good note: 3 things you are grateful for, prayer, positive affirmations or exercise!
2. Listen to your friends rather than judge. If you are always on the alert for how things are awful or can turn awful - ew. Listen to your friends, they may need some empathy, hapiness, or just an ear.
3. Smiling can change your demeanor. When you smile you find others will smile with you and in turn the less likely negativity is to be shared.
4. Self care. You may be unhappy. It happens. When you aren't happy with yourself, you are more likely to not find joy in much. Take time for yourself
5. Are your friends negative? Surround yourself with people that believe in you and want you to succeed. They have your best interest and don't want to see you unhappy.
6. Success is addictive. It's true. When you accomplish things and your mindset is in tune with your goals, watch out!!!

How to be Prepared for your DIY Home Renovation

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:53:00 +0000

We made our first real estate purchase back in September and were hoping we would be all moved in by Christmas well- Valentine's Day is approaching and we aren't very close to moving in at all. The reason? We did what everyone has been wanting to do since Chip and Joanna Gaines, Property Brothers, etc have come on TV- WE BOUGHT A FIXER UPPER.

Now, I know what you are thinking...that's a big task. Well, you don't even know the half of it!! I have been doing Instagram updates >Follow Here < along the way and that in itself still hasn't captured the full experience.

Learning from my mistake, here are the things you need to do to prepare for your home renovations:

Set Priorities: What are your must haves and what are things that you don't think are that important? Is it important to have entertaining space, private space, play area, fancy bathrooms, etc. After that, go room by room and get specific (ex: heated towel rack in bathroom, apron sink) then take it back to your spouse or living partner and revisit priorities. You will want to keep this handy as it may change as your projects progress.
Budget!!: Some of things are harder to budget than others especially if it your first time doing a renovation. My rule of thumb? Always tack on 15-20% of your quoted costs. You also want to revisit that priority list and get real with yourself. Is it worth to have that $500.00 apron sink or will a $200.00 sink be just fine? Remember, be very strict with your budget because nothing is worse than having a beautiful kitchen if your den looks like it came straight out of the 70's.
Stay Organized: Keep it together by communicating constantly and keeping a check list. Yes, some of you hate the idea of a check list but, they are my secret weapon. If I don't have a check list, I'm lost. Remember step 1? Well, that is taken in to account when making a checklist. If a top priority is getting a gorgeous kitchen- well guess what is on top of my checklist along with a nice % of my budget- KITCHEN.
Stay Organized Physically: Paint brushes, dust, tools, nails, screws- oh, they get everywhere. So much so, that sometimes you walk in and think "How are we going to get out of this mess?" Positive attitudes strive in organized environments. Keep your space clean and you will feel that you can accomplish anything.
Communication: I can not stress how this is beyond the most important factor when DIYing. Your vision becomes a reality when you have a plan in place. Tips 1-4 will not be achievable if you do not have a plan that has been thoroughly discussed. Seriously. I, for instance, felt that our lay out needed to change dramatically- my husband did not. We talked it through keeping our priorities and budget in mind and came to a solution that accomplishes everything we wanted. Was it what I had in mind? No. Am I happy? Yes

I hope this was helpful and if you have more specific questions regarding planning a DIY project, I will be happy to help you figure it out.

I Took Action

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:08:00 +0000

It feels silly to come back on to my neglected blog after so long but, I am out of hiatus and hopefully this blogging bug won't be short lived.

So, I am just going to say it. The past 3-4 years of my life, I have been in a less than stellar state. I hate to sound dramatic. I took a step back and admitted it to myself as I found my life was starting to look more and more like a mess. I really felt like an idiot. I have so much to be grateful for that why on earth should I be so unhappy and why had I not been creating better opportunities?

The truth is your environment has so much to do with your mood. I was in a work environment that sucked out all the good traits from me and left me with nothing after I clocked out. I went home tired, irritated, and with no desire to go enjoy myself. I thought about my lost friendships and what happened- why did we lose touch? The answer again was WORK.

I took action. I told myself that although there were things about my job that I loved that it did not surpass the joy I was missing outside of work. I missed so much and my daughter is a non-negotiable.

I did the logical thing and started thinking about options that may work for me and what I wanted out of a career. I made a list of things that I enjoyed about my long time job- it's fast paced, competitive, interacting with new faces, and selling. I then thought about things I hated about my job- managing people who didn't have strong work ethics, being responsible for things that I don't have 100% control over, holidays were blacked out, having to cover other people's shifts, and lack of self accomplishments.

I also knew that I had to change something more drastic than my job- I changed my mind set. I needed to say yes more than no. I wanted to experience more and smile more. I knew that listening to nagging and complaining all day was getting to me and that I had become a not so positive person. I used to be a go getter!! I realized that I became the kind of person that I despise- an excuse maker!

So long story short- I changed my life. I got a new job (Realtor), spend way more time with my family and friends, joined some organizations that are doing great things in my community, started attending church and have been in the process of structuring my life. It has been a BIG change but a positive one. It has been 5 months and I feel like a different person.

To all of you who feel trapped- you CAN escape. Yes, not all things are easily done and it is scary but do not let the important things in life pass you by for something that makes you feel miserable.

Baby Food 101

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Tue, 10 May 2016 17:00:00 +0000

Food everywhere and upside down spoon

I'm sure some of you roll your eyes when you hear someone say "I make my own baby food." Well before I give you a quick tutorial on how to prepare baby food let me give you my reasons.

1. It actually taste like real food. Have you tried baby food? Some of them taste just like they should but most DO NOT. Would you want to eat a chicken that didn't taste like chicken? Didn't think so.

2. No preservatives and totally fresh. The shelf life on some of that food makes me wonder if my baby is eating a 4 month old banana.

3. Super quick and easy. When I tell you it takes me less than 30 minutes to make 2 weeks worth of food- I'm not kidding.

4. When my pediatrician asked me if I was making my own food she was very pleased! She mentioned that she preferred home made vs store bought when it came to introducing meats.

Step 1: Wash and Peel your fruit or veggie! In some cases, as in apples, you will also have to core or remove seeds.

Step 2: Boil or Steam. I try to steam most however sweet potatoes or anything really dense definitely get boiled!

Step 3: Add in your fruit/veggie to food processor/blender. Slowly add in water. I usually add in 1/3 of the amount of water at a time I'd like to add just so I don't accidentally make it too runny.

Step 4: Freeze or Store. If you plan on freezing I suggest using ice cube trays. I currently have the baby blender system and it comes with a 6 slot freezing tray with a cover. I love the cover part. I have seen other retailers selling similar trays so don't worry you aren't forced to get the baby bullet one. After your food is frozen, move cubes to labeled freezer bag and keep for a max of 3 months. If you decide to refrigerate remember that most food is only good for 2-3 days so don't refrigerate too much.

On Electing Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Wed, 04 May 2016 16:47:00 +0000

When you think of a leader, what do you think of? I can not express to you how important it is to be "in charge". Whether you are in charge of a baking club, PTA, sports team, business, city, state, nation- the job should NEVER be taken lightly. A leader should know how to wear many hats. They should know that their behavior reflects many other people. They should know that what they choose to tolerate sets up a culture. They should also know that the people they surround themselves with will also set a tone and these people should be trustworthy. When you choose someone to lead you- you must have the utmost faith, trust, and confidence that this person is willing to perform, represent you, and make SMART decisions.

I constantly say "it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks of you, as long as you are happy and you know you are doing the RIGHT thing"- in the world of leadership that saying isn't 100% true. In order to be an effective leader, you have to make sure that you are always leading by example. If someone doesn't agree with a policy you have in place you must look within and see if you have ineffectively communicated and express the importance of said policy. You may find that you have made a mistake. As far as mistakes go, it is okay to make them- SOMETIMES. As a leader, you have to be on top of it. Remember, you are on a stage and failing in front of your peers is ungraceful and hard to shake. This is why it is extremely important to have a solid support group surrounding you. These people should be strong where the leader is weak, not afraid to take action and advise you against ill footing. I'm not saying it isn't okay to take risks because taking risks are part of the job but don't take a risk without being prepared for repercussions.

At this point, I am sure you are wondering where this is all coming from. Well, the presidential election has me on my soap box. We are America. We hold a very high place on this planet. We deserve a leader who is professional, smart, has a great team, and is capable of representing America in a good light. Unfortunately, I can not say with confidence that we have a good leader among any of our presidential candidates.

America, we need a miracle.

Last Week's Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 17:05:00 +0000

I'm sure most of you have noticed that all it takes is a sweet baby and food to make me consider something a treasure!

Charbroiled Oysters. My best friend's birthday was Monday and we celebrated with an outdoor concert, shrimp quesadillas, oysters, Louisiana fare, and brownies. It was a great evening and a lovely reminder that we are getting older!

Every now and then I sneak away to have a treat on my lunch breaks. I usually treat myself when I'm having a hectic day or am just feeling a bit down. Godiva is never disappointing. Have you tried their soft serve? I almost died.

There is a Latin restaurant named Mizado Cocina in New Orleans and I've heard so much about it for a long, long time. It's very reasonably priced, great atmosphere, yummy margaritas and food! I wish I would've tried this place sooner. I was obsessed with their yummy table side guac and chorizo mac and cheese!

Sometimes you have to stop and look out your window. My neighborhood is surrounding with residential buildings so there isn't much nature. As I sit in my computer chair, I always like to look out the window to the tree. It's such a beautiful sight to me and a reminder that I need to enjoy the outdoors more.

What is not to love about this picture? Camila loves her pups. She always smiles and giggles at them. She reaches out for them when they pass her by and the dogs love her back. They try to steal licks if she is on the couch, they want to be on the couch too. So... I took the liberty of putting Camila on Luna's back and boy did Camila love it. Luna, not so much.

Awesome Drugstore Beauty Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 16:30:00 +0000

Yes, the drugstore has some great beauty products! I will admit that at times it is like finding a needle in a haystack for that great, stand out product but, trust me these products are great to always have around.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil While I was pregnant I knew that stretch marks were inevitable. So I read up on some products that should help reduce their appearance and help my skin out and this product kept popping up. I was going to go the Bio-Oil route but I figured for $10 I had nothing to lose. Well, I never did make it to trying out Bio-Oil. I love the way this product smells and it leaves my skin feeling so soft yet firm. I prefer to use it after my shower and I have even started using all over and not just on my belly. As far as results go, I noticed that with time and daily use that my stretch marks seemed lighter and my skin seemed more firm than I anticipated after giving birth.

Freeman's Bare Foot Lotion in Plum Peppermint. Okay, so I'm obsessed with moisturized skin but who likes to walk around looking like they have dust on them? Not I. This is something I can not live with out. I work in the shoe business so people are constantly looking at my feet. I don't have the prettiest feet so making sure they are moisturized is key.

Suave Almond Hand Lotion. I have an odd obsession with hands. Your hands say a lot about you so I always aim to have clean, pretty hands. I actually have this in my purse. I love the scent and it keeps my hands lovely.

Essie Nail Polish in Find me an Oasis This. Love the light shade of robin's blue. It is fun with sophistication which is something I aim to always be yet always fail. lol Most of you already know how obsessed I am with Essie nail polish but this color is a must have for the Spring!!

Last Week's Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 22:35:00 +0000

This past week was rather dull. I was terribly sick on Wednesday and really didn't do much besides work. Meh. That is a semi normal life I suppose- either way there were things that delighted me none the less and here are some!

The day with my niece (not pictured) and nephew! I love hanging out with these two. While my niece was in gymnastics I took my little fella to the Veteran's Memorial Park in Kenner. He really enjoyed seeing the planes and it was such a beautiful day out. We spent the rest of the day pigging out and watching movies.

Are you not obsessed with this little number? Seersucker. check. Big bow. check. Camila is ready for the Louisiana summer.

Back to the kitchen I went!! I have something awful to admit. I have not been cooking at all. Its been terrible. I'll cook breakfast and maybe fix a sandwich here or there. That's been it. I just haven't felt like planning meals nor fixing them. So I encouraged myself the other night and made some pan fried tilapia- next time I will ease up on the paprika. It was good with some lemon! I will definitely fix it again.

I made 10 years with my job and what do you know I got a gift card to Tiffany's! I already purchased something and I'm so thrilled to get it in the mail. Anyway, the thought of being at the same company for 10 years has my wheels turning. I'm so grateful!!

Last Week's Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:30:00 +0000

Camila in full on Spring wear! Nothing has excited me more for baby clothes than the warm weather! I went out a purchased 3 cute rompers that I'm sure I'll be sharing via Instagram.

The reason why we can't have nice things= Luna. She tore up one of Camila's toys. I wasn't too amused until I noticed that the stuffing was stuck on her chin and Luna looked hilarious.

It's always nice to walk in to work to a funny note. It's a silly note but it definitely made me smile. It also reminded me of how crazy I am. BTW, I call everyone a hamster so of course I get called on back.

Last Week's Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:00:00 +0000

The title is a bit misleading- let's just say these are the past month's delights. I always leave this blog and realize that I miss it and decide that THIS time will be the last time I go on hiatus... let's see how long my stint on her lasts.

A messy feast that I will never forget. My sisters, mother and I had a girl's night. It was a blast. We ate at Fogo de Chao and had the honor of seeing Il Volo in concert. The restaurant is a Brazilian steakhouse so I ate so much delicious meat. What is most exciting was that I have never tried caipirihna and I jumped at the opportunity to give it a whirl. I loved this place and will definitely give it another go with my husband.

Camila's Easter dress details. Camila was gifted a beautiful dress by my aunt Gloria. The dress itself wasn't completely made by hand but the details were and I thought they were so beautiful.

China Lights at City Park. I thought this was spectacular. It was much prettier and detailed than I thought it would be. It was nice to take a stroll through the botanical gardens at night and see City Park like never before.

She's getting soooo big! I have started her on solids and let's just say she takes after me and eats messily. Her favorites so far are sweet potatoes and bananas.

Details at the Saenger Theatre. It had been years since I've visited the Saenger and I forgot how beautiful the inside is. This picture does it no justice but its the only one I could take while the lights were still on.

Influenter's Jingle VoxBox

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 18:47:00 +0000

Hello there! I wanted to share with you guys my Influenster Jingle Voxbox. If you aren't familiar with Influenster- get familiar! I love participating in these voxbox campaigns and best of all, it is free. All you have to do is give your opinion! If you'd like to join click here or click here to learn more about Influenster and what it's all about.

Excuse the blurriness and enjoy the view

So this time I got some awesome beauty goodies

Pure Ice Nail Polish in Shore Bet
Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer
NYC Color 24hr City Proof Eyeliner
Kiss Strip Lash Adhesive
Kiss True Volume Lashes in Chic

Other goodies that I loved just as much were:

Hallmark Ittybittys Olaf
Biscoff Cookies
Not picture: Ore Ida Tator Tot Coupon for a free bag

Product Highlights

Some of you already know that I love Cetaphil so there was no testing this out. I already knew I loved it. It is the only moisturizer I use so this will serve as a good travel companion.

This was the first product I tested out. I was already familiar with Biscoff because my mother is a fan but it reintroduced me and my coffee loving husband is obsessed now. It looks like this will now be a staple in our pantry.

NYC Color 24hr City Proof Liner... I am impressed!! I really truly didn't think it would last very long. Especially because I'm a die hard liquid and gel liner kind of girl. My eyeliner didn't move all day long and I was having a busy day at work so you can only imagine how relieved I felt when I saw that my eye make up was still intact.

Camila was very pleased with her IttyBitty Olaf. These are cute for kiddies to collect. You guys should see the Star Wars IttyBittys- so cute!

Joie De Vivre

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 18:00:00 +0000

First piece of King Cake. It was absolutely delicious. There is a certain bakery that is on the top of my list for King Cake but Antoine's in Metairie really proved themselves with this cream cheese filled cake! I loved it.

Camila's eye lashes. I simply love looking at her and I've grown quite fond of her long, wispy lashes.

Baby hands. I love everything about Camila but I love when she is napping her little hands always find mine. Its the cutest thing ever. She has been loving holding hands since birth.

Our New Years Eve drink of choice was delicious. We mixed champagne, Simply Mixed Berry juice, and dropped in a few blueberries. It was a a nice, refreshing drink! Whip it up at your next mixer.

Product Review: Jamberry

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 18:25:00 +0000

I'm sure most of you have already heard about Jamberry. It's been all over my Facebook feed and quite frankly I wasn't on the top of my list of beauty products to try but it is great how opinions change. My friend Stephanie is an Independent Consultant for Jamberry and she offered to send me some samples to try it out and I'm so happy she did.

Stephanie recommended that I do the 7 day challenge and of course I was up for it because I wanted to see if it would be like the Sally Hansen Salon Effects which ended up being a bit disappointing. Well, wrong I was. Jamberry lasted 7 days and they didn't even start to chip off! The trick to Jamberry is the heat application which ensures that those wraps aren't going anywhere!

What I really love is how easy it is to apply and take off. You don't have to worry about waiting around for your polish to dry or pray that you don't get something caught on your freshly painted nails. I also love how they offer a variety of wraps in prints, solids, and basic design so everyone will find something they like.

Basic Info:

A sheet comes with 18 wraps and cost $15.
Product is advertised to last up to 2 weeks on fingers and 4 weeks on toes.
Does not require top coat
Available to order online

Application & Removal

My Birthing Story

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 17:25:00 +0000

Our super blurry 1st family photo

Before you scoff and say "Why would I ever want to read about what happened when you delivered your baby?", let me explain. When I was pregnant I was super nervous about the actual labor. Typical thought process of mine was: What is it going to feel like? Was I going to bleed to death? Death... is my child going to be okay??? OMG... my water breaking!!! Everyone told me about those awful contractions... TEARING!!!!

Yeah, so you can imagine how relieving it was for me to read other people's birthing stories. I got a sense of "I can do it" and "Everything will be fine" and for me that was priceless. So I'm sharing my birthing experience for those nervous mothers-to-be and for my sweet Camila to read one day.

WARNING: Super Long

September 23, 2015: I had an exam 2 days prior and I was 2cm dilated and baby is at -1 station. I was warned of minor bleeding after exam but it should go away. Nothing major... except that two days later the bleeding got heavier. I called my OB's office and they suggested I go to labor and delivery to get checked out. I went... another exam was done. I was put on monitors and apparently I was contracting a good bit and was told that the process has begun and I should have a baby any day now. Went home. I felt like Superwoman because I literally was not feeling any of these contractions people were scaring me about. The only thing that I began feeling was tailbone pain!

September 25, 2015: Still not feeling contractions and aside from the major discomfort I felt in my tailbone I was doing okay. I went to work and worked a short shift. I left early on account of the tail bone and swelling. I felt super, super drained. I laid in bed all evening through Sunday. The contractions started to be felt with noticeable pain but again nothing I thought was terrible.

September 28, 2015: This was my first scheduled day of maternity leave and I was so ready to have her. I wanted to meet her so badly and my tailbone needed relief. Alas, starting feeling more consistent contractions but not enough for me to think labor was beginning. We literally went to Chuck E Cheese that night with my sister's family and enjoyed the evening. As we went to bed that night, I thought to myself "I think I'm having this baby soon." I just felt different.

September 29th
3am: I wake up because contractions are starting to get consistent and sleep is impossible. I stayed up on my phone timing contractions. At about 4:30am a definite pattern begins to occur. I get up out of bed and use the restroom. I had a terrible bowel movement. It begins to hit me that I'm in labor. Again contractions are hitting me but the pain isn't crazy. I can walk, I'm not out of breath, no yelling and they are comparable to long menstrual cramps.

5am: Shane wakes up and I let him know that we will be meeting our baby girl today and he won't be going to work. He gets up and gets his things ready. I lay in bed continuing to time contractions with my phone because I'm crazy.

6am: At this point, the contractions are 5 minutes apart and it had been at least an hour. I called labor and delivery, get transferred and no answer. :( I wasn't in excruciating pain and I had some things to do like shower and make sure I was really all set for the hospital so I did that.

7am: I got through with all of my chores and tried the hospital again. I got through and they advised I go in. We pack the car up and do a once over to make sure we are all set. My contractions feel like menstrual cramps still. I'm in great spirits and so anxious. We ran into some traffic so we made it there in about 40 minutes.

8:15: I'm once again in an examination room and being monitored for 20 minutes. I'm 3cm dilated and baby is at -2 station. I am officially in labor. Still not in any major pain. I get wheeled off and begin the waiting game.

9a-1pm: I literally just waited around. Walked around for about 5 minutes and contracted away. My OB decided to manually break my water. It just feels like a gush of warm pee. lol At this point, my doctor alerted me that meconium was in my water so NICU staff would be on hand for delivery just in case she swallowed anything. I was dilated to about 6 cm at this point. Mind you I was also told that she could see baby's hairy head. I was super excited about this. Yet nervous because I was also constantly being told that the baby was going to be very big.

4pm: Well I dilated to about a 7.5 at this point but I wasn't progressing much. I was told that Pitocin would probably be administered if I wasn't dilating much more. The contractions were happening but it wasn't anything I couldn't bear. As soon as I was told that Pitocin would be administered I got nervous and decided to go for an epidural. It was super easy and NOT painful to get this done. My reaction wasn't too bad... just got the chills a good bit. My teeth were chattering at one point. Also, you have to watch positioning cause I did feel contractions with Pitocin on the right side of my body and they were coming hard and fast... but oddly enough not enough to make me yell in pain. In fact, I am kind of disappointed I took the epidural. I think I could've handled it.

5-730pm: Well guess who isn't dilating still? ME! I was at a hard 8 for 3 hours. The kept upping the Pitocin. I thought for sure that by the way my labor started I would've had the baby by 6pm but I was wrong.

about 8pm: Its close to show time. My doctor feels that even though I'm not at a 10 that we were close enough at 9cm to do this. She felt there was enough space and with baby possibly swallowing meconium we didn't want to wait much longer. So... of course pushing regularly didn't work for me. I had to push while playing tug of war with poor Richard, the med student. Finally, that wasn't enough. I pushed for about 35 minutes before they got the bar out. I played tug of war with that awesome bar and pushed her out!

8:31: Camila Ann was born. It was the happiest and most frightening moment of my life. I see her immediately being passed to the NICU nurse and I don't hear a cry. I don't hear a cry for MINUTES! A team of 4 nurses are all around her trying to get her lungs cleared because she had in fact swallowed meconium. Shane goes over to see what's going on... he is asked to move back. I am crying my eyes out cause the worry wart in me is already thinking the worst and she looked a tinge blue from what I could see. Finally all is well and they roll her over to see me for about 1 minute and take her down to the NICU. Takes me a moment to settle down. My heart was broken cause I wasn't able to carry her or really get a good look at her. Meanwhile that is all happening, I was being sewn up cause I had a 2 degree tear and I also managed to remember to ask to see the placenta. I'm a weirdo. My doctor was very kind and reassured me that Camila was okay and that it was all procedural for her to go to NICU and that she was fine. It was really what I needed to hear. I was a mess. Oh and let me mention another nurse walked by while she was being worked on and called her a big potato. Lol She was a nice sized girl at 20 inches and 8.2lbs.

11pm: The nurses are hoping that the epidural has worn off. I go to the restroom and take a few steps. Not feeling 100% ready to roll. I'm feeling tired and I'm anxious to go down to the NICU. They get me out of delivery and into my new room. I go in to mommy and baby room. I'm being examined and they set me up with a breast pump. I ask to get in touch with NICU. They were supposed to call my room but the genius who was in my room before turned the ringer off. So we waited like 45 minutes before we all realized what was happening. My nurse told me to rest for a while to see the baby but I'm a stubborn Latina and request to go down to see Camila as soon as I was done pumping and eating my snack.

1am: I finally see Camila. It was hard to see her hooked up to monitors and an IV but I fell so in love so hard. I couldn't hold her fast enough.

She was in the NICU for about 3 days getting antibiotics and just observation. She was fine. The hospital was being very thorough and I was so grateful with how wonderful everything was handled with her. Looking back I wish I would've told family and friends to back off a little bit so that I could spend more time with her. I wasted precious breast feeding time with her which led to us now using mostly formula.

Angry Gnome

Joie de Vivre

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 20:02:00 +0000

2015 is coming to an end and I will be concluding it by returning back to work and plumper than I expected.

Haydel's Kringle Cake. When I start seeing these boxes at my father-in-law's, I know Christmas is around the corner. It also serves as a reminder that skinny jeans aren't an option.

My sister and I hang out on Wednesday's and usually sushi is on the menu. Our lunch dates are our way of bonding and coming up with new ideas.

On most Sunday mornings Shane and I make it a point to walk around the park. Its a nice way to get some fresh air, get the dogs out, and enjoy nature. I personally enjoy seeing the nutria rats gliding in the water more so than the swans.

Okay, so I do enjoy crude humor and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is definitely crude and humorous. I decided to watch all 9 seasons on Netflix and finally get caught up. Considering I hate TV, I do not regret my decision!

Recipe: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 18:30:00 +0000

The name is a mouthful but trust me you will have a mouthful of these cookies once you try them out. What I especially like about these cookies is that they taste healthy and therefore I don't feel like such a gluten after I've had 12 of them in one sitting (do not try that at home).

Yields: 24 cookies

Ingredients

2 cups of oatmeal

2 cups of flour

1 cup of raisins

1/2 cup of ground flax seeds

1/2 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of honey

1/4 cup of canola oil

1 stick of butter

3 dollops of peanut butter

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour, slat, flax seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Melt butter, mix with sugar, and add to mixture of dry ingredients.
Whisk in honey, eggs, canola oil and vanilla.
Mix in raisins.
For the next step I definitely recommend using a stand or electric hand mixer... if not you may have better luck using your hands. Slowly add the oatmeal and peanut butter to the mix. Do half a cup of oatmeal followed by a dollop of peanut butter, mix, and repeat til you are out of ingredients. Trust me... it gets super thick!
Use cooking spray to grease baking sheet and add spoonfuls of mix 1/2 an inch apart. These cookies hardly rise.
Bake for 17-20 minutes.

Gifts $100 & Up

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Trouve Leather Moto Jacket- $298 Some people think leather jacket and shutter with fear. Well, this jacket has a great balance between edgy and femme that is so hard to come by. I think most women will find a use for it in their wardrobe.
Mini Chevron Diamond Necklace- $365 Who wouldn't like diamonds for Christmas? This 14k rose gold necklace has just the right size diamond chevron. This is a great layering necklace and is also dainty enough to be worn every day.
Kate Spade Scallop Watch- $195 The time of big bulky metal watches is coming to an end. Update her with this cute watch.
22 Vial Block Spice Set- $180 If she likes to keep organized counter space but her spices in reach- this is a cute quirky answer to her problems. Its easy on the eyes but extremely practical.
Vince "Addie" Sandal- $395 This shoe is every girls answer! You can wear these all year long, they will match everything, and you can wear them with shorts, jeans, and dresses!! Its worth every penny.
Tory Burch Canvas & Leather "Ella" Tote- $295 Does someone you know love to carry around 5 million things or maybe a student who loves fashion? This tote is elegant, spacious, and practical.

Gifts Under $100

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 04:34:00 +0000

Madewell Border Cape Scarf- $79 How fabulous is this idea? I love it. This is a great gift for those of us who like to be chic at a moments notice.
Kate Spade Decanter- $70 If she likes red wine and to entertain... a decanter is a must. This modern looking decanter will be sure to make someone's day.
Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette- $58 This Urban Decay and Gwen Stefani marriage is wonderful. I love this palette because its extremely versatile. I especially love the neutral shades.
Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet eau de parfum- $77 Give her something sweet this Christmas. The scent is nice and romantic.
Geode Bookends- $79 Calling all bookworms or book shelf décor masters! This is a must to have in your library. It's a great accent piece that brings a little bit of outdoors in.
Wine Rack- $88 Most people don't own wine cellars so the next best thing is a wine rack. I especially love this one because its arch gives it a simple elegance which lends itself to more rack space!

Gifts Under $35 for Her

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Gifts Under $35 for her by fleurluxe featuring Cost Plus World Market

The next two days I will be featuring gift guides for under $100 and splurges!

Gold Steamless Wine Glasses, Set of 4- $24 For the woman in your life that loves to entertain or sip vino. Stylish glasses will definitely please.
Chenille Throw- $29.99 Know someone who loves nothing more than to snuggle up on the couch or maybe someone who is always cold? This is the perfect gift to keep them comfy.
White Wash Frame- $13 Something I always find special is when someone gifts me a picture in a frame. Find a photo that will evoke a great memory and put in a stylish frame. White wash is huge right now but be sure to think of their home decor before picking a frame out.
The gift of music- approximately $14 Nowadays people are buying music exclusively online so I think there is something nostalgic about having the album artwork in your hands. If you have a big music lover in your life build their collection. You may also want to look into concert DVDs.
Draper James Coaster Set- $35 Calling all Southern girls! This coaster set is so adorable. They are gingham with cute phrases like "Cheers, y'all"

Crustless Broccoli & Gouda Quiche

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 18:30:00 +0000

I love a good quiche so I thought I would share with you one of my favorite, hassle free recipes. What I love about a crustless quiche is that it feels more airy and its a tiny bit healthier. Feel free to serve this up at your next brunch!

Serves 6
Prep time: 7 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
4 medium eggs
1/4 cup of chopped onions
1/4 cup of chopped green pepper
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of shredded gouda
1/2 cup of parmesan
2 cups of broccoli
2 tblspoon of butter
salt & pepper to taste

1. Saute onions and green pepper in 1 tblspoon of butter until fragrant. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Use remaining butter to coat the bottom of pie pan. Add broccoli and sauteed vegetables.
3. In a separate bowl whisk eggs, add both cheeses (leave enough parmesan to top quiche), season with salt and pepper.
4. Pour egg mixture into pie pan, add parmesan on top and put in oven for 40-45 minutes.

Joie De Vivre

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 17:30:00 +0000

I feel like I have so much to be grateful for this holiday season and as cliche as this sounds... time with my loved ones seem to be on the top of my list. It is so great to have my sister back in town, Camila, and loyal friends.

We make it a Sunday custom to watch football at Shane's family's home. We always bring our pups so that they can play with their dogs. Ember approves.

Coffee on the Tchefuncte River. I wish I would've taken a better picture of this site. Madisonville, LA is super cute. The weather was just right and my marshmallow latte at Abita Roasting Company was delicious.

My 10 year old niece is a huge fan of DC Cupcakes and has become an aspiring baker. On Thanksgiving, she decorated cupcakes and I was so proud of her awesome work. I can't even get a good swirl like that! I'm definitely encouraging her to keep the dream alive.

My sister showed me what my nephew wrote at school. It brought a little tear to my eye that he is so thankful that Camila is okay. It's so sweet. I can't wait to show her this when she is old enough to comprehend the sentiment.

Baby smiles! Camila loves to smile and is very expressive with her eyes. I apologize for the blurry picture but I just love how playful she looks. You can almost say she looks mischievous. She's my child so mischief is in her blood.

Hardee's tacos. I know that sounds disgusting but they have the best fast food tacos and they are only 59 cents! They are my new obsession and I'm sure I will get over it once I give myself an intervention but for now in sweet taco bliss I remain. If your local Hardee's is a Hardee's/Red Burrito give them a try.

Louisiana has such fickle weather but as soon as it was below 60 degrees we pulled out this cute little number. Isn't it adorable? She makes the cutest bear.

Make Up Free

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 17:30:00 +0000

I've been on maternity leave for the past two months and let's just say I've been extremely relaxed. I thought I was going to just jump into heels as soon as I had Camila but I've hardly gotten dressed up. It literally took one month after her birth for Shane and I to go on a date and even then I didn't wear heels. It's freeing. Day in and day out I go make up free. My skin seems to be more vibrant and I'm somehow starting to be okay with my under eye circles.

My beauty routine consists of face wash and moisturizer. I know part of it is adjusting to being a mother and I'm loving this unexpected perk. Do not get me wrong, I will be back with a full face of make up once I return to work but for now I am happy to share with you that make up doesn't need to be a daily routine. Take your make up off sometime and love your looks. Look past a blemish here and there and go out fresh faced. Sure, you may die a little when you look in the mirror but the more and more you get used to it the better you will feel about yourself overall.

Joie De Vivre

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:28:00 +0000

There is absolutely so much for me to be beyond grateful for and the arrival of our baby girl has been amazing.

1. Camila's hairy little shoulders. This picture was taken during her first week, it has since fallen out but I found myself smiling so much when I would see her hairy little back.

2. Those baby hands! That photo was taken about a week ago but she absolutely loves holding hands and cuddling. Many know that I am not one to be a cuddle bug but with her I just can't stop. How cute are those tiny little digits?

3. Suuuushiii!! So pregnancy definitely limits what type of sushi you can "safely" eat so imagine the moment I took a bite into my take out. It was awesome. It was almost a freeing moment to know that I can basically eat whatever I like now.

4. When Shane and I went on our first date night as parents... I knew I wanted a margarita. No regrets! We orderd a pitcher and had many laughs.Also, yes I downloaded my pic from Snapchat.

5. Camila's first Halloween. At first I wasn't going to get her dressed up at all because I figured it would be uncomfortable for her and I didn't plan on taking her anywhere but obviously that changed. My sister's job was having an in office trick o treat and she wanted Camila to meet her coworkers so I ran to Target and found this cute and inexpensive onesie/hat combo. I'm so happy that we ended up doing something!

6. Wine & cheese night. We have a tradition that has gotten a bit fancier over the years (Our first one was ironically done with Arbor Mist and Kraft cubed cheese). Anyway, it was great to get a girl's night that included a run through a tropical like storm, funny music videos, classic anthems, and yumminess.

7. Home cooking. One of the benefits of being on maternity leave is the ability to cook atleast 4-5 nights a week and to have as much time as Camila allows. It's great. I get to plan out meals and I feel like it's my moment to try Pinterest recipes and get creative. Having said that, casseroles are beyond easy to make and have been a great go to with a newborn.

Cold Weather Must Haves

noreply@blogger.com (Kim S) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 17:21:00 +0000

As we approach the end of October it is time to think about what essentials we will be reaching for the next few months. These items are not only great go to items but they aren't so basic that you just look plain.

1. OTKs (Over the Knee Boots)- I love the look of a flat OTK paired with a skirt. Don't worry shorties... to pull this off all you need to do is pair it with a short dress. Another great thing about these long boots is that you get more coverage from the cold weather with out compromising style.

2. Suede Dress- These are popping up everywhere and I just love it. Get a suede dress in a nice chestnut, olive or khaki color so that you can mix and match it with fun booties. Not to mention this is a great day to night dress.

3. Tweed Structured Pieces- It's all about structured silhouettes. What I love about it is that you not only are warm but, you look so put together because you are wearing something that hugs you in the right places. Definitely think Chanel if you try this trend. You may want to reach for a tweed short, tights, and cozy sweater.

4. Mixed Medium Accessories- Again, I revisit being less basic. Sure, sure, I will never EVER be tired of plain old gold but throw in some leather, suede, or beads and you have now given your look some more depth.

5. Brown Lipstick- This lovely trend of the 90's has come back to visit us. This time it is not frosted at all and looks lovely. If you are darker skin toned think copper, olive skin tones look for pink undertones, and if you are fair the cooler browns will compliment you nicely.

6. Colorful Tights- I usually always list this as a must during the winter but, it is simply because of how it can dramatically change you. If you are starting out with adding color via tights grab a pair of burgundy, olive, and navy. If you are weary about color just look for black patterned tights.

7. Casual Trench- I adore the way a trench pulls everything together. Alas, you do not have to get a Superman khaki, floor length one. You can now find a trench in an array of colors and even pair it with a t-shirt and jeans.

8. Color Block Tote- It will not be hard to locate one of these this season. They are literally everywhere. Take the blah out of your usual go to bag by adding some color. Also, look for patchwork accessories these are sure to put some personality into another wise drab look.