Family Ties

When Anthony and I visited my parents for Christmas, Dozer stayed with them for a few days so my parents watched him while Anthony and I traveled for New Years Eve. When my mother brought him back to my house, she also brought a tin of coffee. Folgers breakfast blend. Anthony's drink of choice. You see, I tend to choose a different coffee every time I make a purchase. (Right now I'm loving Great Lakes Coffee's cork street... it's awesome, and local!). Anthony on the other hand has been drinking Folger's breakfast blend since always. He even brings a little over when he stays at my place to make his own brew. 

Clean Start for the New Year

Simple Pumpkin Smoothie

I know Thanksgiving is over, but I'm still holding on to a recipe I made around that holiday. I figured if I'm still hooked, its about time to share with all of you. This recipe is a little different- It's not great. (Ok, but keep reading) I'm not a huge fan of pumpkin, which could contribute to my less than stellar remarks about the flavor... Don't get me wrong, it's good, just not mind blowing. So why do I keep drinking it? It's tastes good enough, but makes you feel absolutely amazing all day! When I drink this orange goop for breakfast, I feel lighter, healthier, happier, and tend to eat healthier throughout the day to keep up the good feeling. 

A Look at Family Life

Good Morning! Hope your Monday is absolutely lovely. If not, you can relish in the fact you didn't have to be a part of this family photo. 

Every year, around Thanksgiving, my wonderful family takes a photo to send in our holiday cards. Every year we fail... miserably. 

To paint you a picture: No one is given any sort of advanced warning that the photo will be taken. This year, my dad was wearing the same cloths he did the day before, and Sarah hadn't brushed her hair yet. After threatening, coercing, and forcing us into one room my poor mother has to figure out how to get everyone to sit still. You would think this would be easy, but it couldn't be further from. Between the dogs, my hyperactive sister, and my adhd, we struggle. If, by some divine intervention, we can all sit still, we later have to flip through the shots and find what is often a single photo in which no one is making a funny face. (Which has almost led us to send a photo of my father, cross eyed and sticking his tongue out to his wonderful coworkers) 

This year was even better, as we bypassed the self timer method and had Anthony snap a few for us. By this I mean, we're all sitting on the couch, and in the first minute or so he's taken fifty frames. No one really noticed, and no one was ready, but we were done. We always get a laugh out of the process. It's more of a joke than a family photograph, but looking back, taking the photo means more to me than whatever the result may have been. Looking back I see the moment just after Sarah decided she would sit on my lap, and before my dad reminding us to look normal as my mom tries to get the puppy, who's decided he must sit on someone's head, to behave. So if and when you take a family photo this year, remember: no one's family is normal, you look absolutely beautiful, and it's the memory, not the print that matters most. 

*My mother emailed it to me, which is why it's so blurry- and it will probably say something different... (but knowing my family, probably not). 

So let me ask you this:

Do you take a family photo for the holidays? 

How does your picture day unfold? 

On the go stress relief

Good morning everyone!

I know I promised holiday updates, and I've been falling just a bit behind with them. I figured to get back on track, what would be more appropriate than a little  the go stress relief help?

Now there are so many products out there for stress relief- some more travel friendly than others. 

Origins Peace of Mind, Bach Rescue Remedy Spray, Lavender Essential Oil

Each of these products aims to ease stress and tension, and comes in a size perfect for travel (though the lavender needs some modification). 

So which to choose?

Each retails for about the same price, but has a different delivery system and effect. Origins is a cream rubbed on pulse points, Bach a spray which is sprayed under the tongue, and lavender can be mixed into a solid perfume and applied to pulse points.

Origins Peace of Mind:

This was my first purchase, as I love origins products and couldn't resist an aromatherapy product! While the bottle is extremely small, it lasts forever. You only need a very small amount to rub on your temples and your neck. The cream is like a very thin lotion, and absorbs quickly without leaving any residue or shine. As soon as you apply the product, you can smell the strong, almost minty smell. It's strong, but it's relaxing. Breathe deeply. The product is also cooling and as you rub it in, you can feel the tension melting away. 

I've always had chronic tension headaches, and this product is great for providing relief when even medication couldn't. It's also an amazing treat for stiff necks after a long plane ride. 

Bach Rescue Remedy Spray

This bottle is a little bigger than origins, and has also lasted me quite a long time already. You spray twice under your tongue and enjoy the ease of it all. The product doesn't have the best taste- it tastes "natural" a little flowery (not in a good way- like chewing on weeds) and grassy. Thankfully, the taste is only present while you spray the product, and quickly disappears. Even though it was unpleasant, it was not nearly enough to turn me off from this product. I actually carry this around in my purse, even after condensing my bag to only the essentials. 

Bach's is so easy to use and really does provide that "calm" feeling. It almost seems to just... slow me down. I'm not sure if it's the act of stopping to help myself, or the product itself that calms me, but either way it works! 

Lavender Essential Oil

Now this is a "tricky" product to review, as I bought it but don't use it in this form. I use lavender in an oil burner (amazing),but that's not exactly travel friendly. For the skies, I whipped up a solid perfume using lavender as the sent. You can find some pretty simple recipes online, and I'll try to post about the one I use if I can find/remember it. I would say this is the most "airport friendly" , as in the solid form it is, well... solid. Which eases the hassle of all the airport liquid restrictions. It also sort of sits where you apply it, so those sitting around you won't be subjected to the smell. (Even though it is quite lovely). 

Besides the fact this is the most travel friendly, I found it the least effective. While the sent is pleasant and the ease of use amazing, It didn't seem strong enough. I'm going to try a different recipe for the perfume and see if I can't get a better result. 

What are your travel stress relief tips?

Meeting the family: What to wear

Hello lovelies!

As you may know, I'm spending the holiday season with my boyfriend's family. 

You can read up here.

Well... yesterday was the first of these holidays. P.s. Happy belated Thanksgiving!

I took the opportunity to review my "what to wear" guidelines. 

All I was told about the feel/dress code for the event was that it was "casual". 

Helpful. Right?

If your significant other is like mine, you may not get any more than this to go by. Still, there are things you can do to ensure you are dressed properly. 

-If you have met any other (preferably female) family members, it is helpful to casually ask their advice on family event dress code. (facebook makes this easy as pumpkin pie)

-When all else fails, dress safe and adaptable. A dark pair of jeans and a cute top can be dressed up or down with accessories and needed. 

This is what I wore. 

Top and Scarf: H&M

Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch

Shoes: Toms

Ring: Handmade

Nails: Essie Hot Cocoa

This outfit ended up being perfect for the event, though the picture's don't do it justice, as this was taken upon arriving back at home, after the six hour drive, and the event. 

I will also be spending Christmas and New Years (2 week trip) with his family, and will be sure to update what to bring on an extended (his) family event. 

What was your most memorable "meeting the family" moment?

Holiday Hostess Gift

Good morning gorgeous! 

With the holiday's coming up faster than I would like at the moment (very underprepared), I thought it would be the perfect time for an update on my holiday madness. 

If you haven't been following my little situation, you can see that here. The short story: I'm spending the holidays (thanksgiving, christmas, and new years!) with my boyfriend of three years, for the first time. The stories are about getting ready, how to's, what to do's, and likewise. 

Near the end of last week, I managed to pull some "hints" out of my reluctant boyfriend. Thanksgiving will be celebrated at his aunt and uncles home in northern Michigan. If you've ever traveled here, you know it has a very distinct flare. Very rustic, outdoors-y, and home-y. This gave me the perfect springboard for my hostess gift. 

I wanted something simple, relatively inexpensive (college student budget), but something cute and useful. 

That's when I found this handmade candleholder at Eastern Market in Detroit. It is made from natural materials and smells lovely. Not to mention, it fits perfectly with the northern Michigan decor. 

The item was bought from the young woman who made it. There were three sizes for sale, ($10, $8, $6) I chose the medium, which is pictured. 

What is your "go-to" hostess gift for the holidays?

stay tuned for my "what to wear" post. 

Meeting the Family

Good morning lovelies! 

Today, as I woke to find that my puppy had snuck into my bed, hogged the comforter, and pushed my head off the pillow in favor of his own, I couldn't help but think it would be a great day. 

Last night was the first snow, here in michigan, which I celebrated by dressing up and adventuring out on a wonderful date with an equally wonderful man. We got to talking about the holidays. This led to him inviting me to spend thanksgiving with his [extended] family. 

For a little backstory, my relationship with Mr. Right has been quite an adventure. We are both a little crazy, and a lot of fun, tending toward the side of adventure when it comes to... well, life. We've dated three years, and in this time he has spends nearly every holiday with my family and me, as we're in town and his family is spread around the country and beyond. I've spent holidays with his parents, but have never attended a "family gathering" with his extended aunts and uncles and all family. 

So my question to you is... what to do?

I'll be attending the event, but seeing as I don't know anyone, or the culture of the family, and it is out of town, how would you go about finding out the what to do's?

Examples: 

-What do you wear? Assuming, as is the case, he has not even hinted at the culture of his family gatherings (formal vs. informal) even under direct questioning. (He did mention "They're not like yours" which I took to be a good thing)

-How do you choose a hostess gift that's not too generic, not to personal, but lovely?

-And lastly, to ad another layer, one family member will be celebrating one of those "monumental" birthdays while at the gathering, gift or no gift?

I've always been great with families, an pretty successful hostess myself, and a generally social butterfly, but he makes me nervous... in the cute, huge smile when you think of him, kinda mushy makes other people disgusted kinda way. 

Just for a little perspective, this is [part of] my family

So now that you know the story, stop by. I'll be updating on my quest to master the holidays with some resemblance of success.