Simple Holiday Decor + Presents ▷

Hello, hello! Hope your week is amazing, and you are getting ready for the Holidays. Are you done shopping yet, decorating? I actually started decorating before Thanksgiving... I know, I know. It was the only day when I could take my time and place things exactly where they belong, while being able to create new displays. I don't know about any of you, but decorating is my favorite, and I find myself changing displays throughout the year. Holiday decorating is very fun for me! 

As I was decorating, I decided to snap a few pics and show you guys a few little displays I have made. It's so easy to create these, and you can change colors or styles to accommodate your home. 

I started with my favorite room... the pink office (as you can see the pink walls, he he). This is an area where I love to relax, work, and think. Since it is a smaller space, I wanted only a few little mini trees to still create some festivity. I added some red flannel on the bottom and some little balls that stick to the tree (I know, weird, but it works). The second tree was very simple, just add pink balls, and I placed it on a tiny cute white plate. 

This is my other little display... in the kitchen. We have a wooden cabinet with some various things in it, and I thought it would be cute to add something to the top of it. It's basically a water container I purchased at Target last Summer and was intended for ice water, but you know.  As I was searching through the holiday decorations, I discovered a few snow covered crystalized branches from Michaels...all on a white pretty plate. How perfect and white christmas-y looking. Then, a nice little mini tree was added (oh, how I love my little trees everywhere, as you know).

This display is very easy and fun. Take a holiday plate and add a candle and a few sprigs of pine. It smells amazing and is very clean and simple. 

Now let's get talking about present wrapping! I am always inspired by packages that are wrapped with such simplicity. Don't get me wrong, I also love all the glitzy presents that are so fun as well, but for my packages, I just keep them simple.

I love to wrap with various colors of tissue paper. It's so easy to work with and gives a soft touch to your holiday giving. This is just white tissue paper (so inexpensive) four different ways. The first pic is created with hot glue on a few peppermint candies. We usually have our typical and popular candy canes, but I thought this might be cute with round candies on the package. The other pics are created with thicker twine with just a few cute embellishments on them... candy cane ornament, small blueberry cane, and a cinnamon stick. The cinnamon stick makes the package smell amazing! But of course, you can add anything you have around the house that is festive! 

The second part is using red tissue paper... oh, the possibilities are endless! I had some cute ribbon with red polka dots and thought I would wrap it around twice to give it some extra fun. Then, I took some cute holiday scrapbook paper and drew a little tree (it does not have to be perfect, in fact, make it unique) and taped it on there. The second pictures shows the same ribbon, but with some fresh pine that I have in the house. So cute and easy!

I hope this gives you some great holiday ideas. Sometimes, we are so busy with life this time of year, and it's hard to think of new ways to decorate and wrap gifts.

See you next time! Take care and be creative! What ideas do you have to share?

Jenn

A TRIP TO SPOONER ▷

Hello there! Hope you all are doing amazing this month! It's a new month, and I can hardly believe that the Holidays are very near! I am SO excited! There is just something special about this time of giving and spending time with friends and family. 

I promised myself that this holiday I would not be stressed out. I am taking each day and staying positive and grateful for everything around me. It is much easier to enjoy this time of year and others if your attitude and heart is the same. ❤︎

So... this past week, we were able to escape to Spooner, Wisconsin and shop at the cute little downtown area and have coffee at this incredible coffee house called The Dock. 

Anyone else adore small little trees?

It is in the heart of the downtown and is the cutest place ever! They have THE best caramel mochas and baked goods, especially their homemade fudge! They serve some food as well, and it smelled amazing! Next time, we will be eating lunch there as well. :) They are open Monday-Saturday 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. 

I really enjoy all the decor as we travel through these small towns. It always feels so cozy and warm and gets you ready for the holiday season. In fact, my favorite thing to do is to travel to a few local cities and admire all of their amazing decor. We have NO snow and Spooner didn't have much either. I believe it's on its ways soon enough though! 

This is one of the shops that featured many local artists, love the star!  

As we are sitting and enjoying our caramel mochas, we love to sit and relax and enjoy all the wonderful things that life has to offer us.  It's a time to reflect on family, friends, and all that we are grateful for. As I am feeling grateful, I also carry my little journals, as there is always fresh, new business ideas to jot down. The mind tends to be more creative when it is relaxed. 

Is this not amazing!

As you can see above, The Dock coffee house is pretty amazing, and their decor is so delicate and pretty! I really enjoyed looking out their gigantic front windows to see shoppers and locals treading their way through the cooler streets of Spooner, Wisconsin. 

Downtown Spooner

We also decided to peek in the cute little shops after we got our caffeine kicks for the day. There are so many cozy shops that have the nicest gifts for that special person on your list. The best part is most of the shops have local artists featured, with their names and business cards. So helpful! 

If you are interested in venturing downtown Spooner, they also have an amazing art galley and cute book store (you can never have too many good book stores)! I'm the old-fashioned on that subject, and I love reading physical books. You won't be sorry visiting this little town, that's why we keep going back for more!

Hope you are enjoying the day! Make it a positive one!

Take care,

Jennifer 

  Tips on taking care of yourself ▷▷

Hi there!! I hope you all are doing wonderful and enjoying the pretty Fall weather and scenery. I sure am... the leaves are beautiful, and the weather is very crisp in the morning.   To be honest, I do like the cooler weather, as you can always dress warmer and cover up with a nice cup of organic tea and blanket. Comfy! 

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted anything for about a month or longer! I have been busy and frankly, not in the right mood. I think I may be back though? I hope so. As I type this post, I am sipping on a bit of pink wine with a Cocoa + Clay mask (if you want details about the mask, check my archives). It's wonderful and great for the skin! 

This post is all about taking care of ourselves! I mean, sometimes, life does get busy, and your face and skin does suffer. With the holidays coming up... parties, buying gifts, being extra nice to everyone... it suffers. 

I wanted to give a few tips that I love that seems to work for me, and they are all fairly attainable. 

1). DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. The first thing in the morning... I kid you NOT, I drink 16 ounces of pure (nothing in it) filtered water. The trick... drink on an empty stomach. This will work only on an empty stomach. The water will replenish your major organs and skin without fighting any other food in the system. I can't explain what this does for my skin and my energy. I have definitely noticed a HUGE difference in energy. Also, throughout the day, make sure to sip on an additional 64 ounces or so. Instead of getting sleepy around 8:30, I can keep my eyes open until 11 or 12 now. Unreal! Try it! 

2). FOOT SOAKS! This little overlooked wonder detoxifies the body and makes your feet so thankful. Actually, did you know that the feet have the largest pores on your entire body?! This means that doing foot soaks helps to release toxins easier through your feet. If you think about it, we drink and eat some good things and not so good things that may have a few chemicals or preservatives in them. Or, if you take any medications, they need to be detoxified as well. Foot soaks with epsom salt detoxifies some of the nasty stuff. Epsom salt also contains magnesium, and doing a foot soak enables the body to soak it up. Win-win! 

Short story: I had to have a cavity filled today, and I don't like the dentist at all as is! Since I received a lot of novocaine, I made sure that I did a foot soak today to rinse away any dental blah! 

3). RELAX! I know... your have heard this a million and one times that you need to get rest and enough sleep! It's very correct though. Just think of how much stress and running your body does in 14-16 hours... it gets tired! It need to rejuvenate itself and the cells that keep you healthy. Sleep is also very good for the skin. Studies suggest 6-8 hours per night, and I know that it is tough sometimes. If you can't sleep that much, try taking a few naps during the day. It won't be the same as getting your full recommend rest, but it will help, for sure! 

Try doing a foot soak an hour before bedtime... it will work wonders! If you want a foot soak already prepared, head on over to my Etsy shop... ▶︎▶︎▶︎ I have a few yummy soaks such as Vanilla Bean and Lavender + Milk that your feet will adore! 

4). VITAMINS! I have been taking supplements ever since I was 17 years old. My morning supplement routine consists of a multivitamin + vitamin C + vitamin D.  This gets me through all of the ick seasons (flu + colds). It's so important to nourish your body with the right minerals and vitamins, as our food does not contain all of the correct ones we need to stay healthy. They may contain a few here and there, but many are missing. If you are in the market for some amazing vitamins go to the side link (Shaklee) ▶︎ ▶︎▶︎ My boyfriend and I are Shaklee distributors, and it's been in my family for 30 years! I will never use anything else. I SWEAR by all products! 

5). DO SOMETHING FOR YOU EVERYDAY! I know that many of you are going to think, "Jenn, isn't this a bit selfish when everyone else needs my time!" But, it's actually not selfish at all... you see, when we can't function or are unhappy ourselves, we can't do ANYTHING for anyone! Have you ever had a day that was terrible and all went wrong? Then, family and friends were asking you to do something for them too on top of your crazy, stressful day. It's a feeling of misery... you start feeling that you have no YOU time and start to feel resentful. YES! This is when you take ten minutes or more to sit and meditate, sing your favorite song, buy yourself flowers, watch a funny Utube video, take a walk, or just sit and be still. These few minutes to yourself will be GOLDEN! You will feel more focused and revitalized that you are being taking care of too. In this moment, you will be able to help others, and feel more happy doing it. 

6). POSITIVE THINKING. This is something that I am currently working on with myself as well. There are days when it's hard to think happy and want to think positive. Actually, some days I have felt where I don't want to be positive one bit! Well, to change a few things so that I don't think like this; I purchased a pretty, little desk calendar that has some pretty amazing quotes that lift my day when I sit here with my tea in the mornings.  I also have a phone app called Daily Teachings (this app was mentioned in a past post under Favorite Inspirations) that will teach you that life is attained through positive and healthy thinking. I mean, what are our brains for? Each day when I read my Daily Teachings App, it totally revamps my thinking and will happ-ify my day for me! How nice! Set your day up the right way! It makes life so much easier. 

I hope that this helps some people to create healthier lifestyles.  Little things really do make a difference in your life. Let's see... I just did a Lavender + Milk Foot Soak and a Cocoa + Clay Face mask. That is my time for the day! 

Take care, 

Jennifer 

FALL FAVORITES ▷▷

Hello there! Hope you are all doing fabulous! It's looking more like Fall up in Northern Wisconsin -- as the leaves are changing, and the weather is getting crisper. It's my favorite time of the year, and I have so many favorite parts of this season. Since the first day of Fall was just a few days ago, I wanted to share a few DIY and ideas with you. 

First of all.. who doesn't love organic apple cider? We recently received ours from one of our local organic farms, and it is delicious (as you can see, we only have half left)! ▽

+ drink it cold or warm... I love warming up the cider on a cool autumn evening and throwing in a cinnamon stick to spice it up a bit

+ if you have company and are drinking it cold .. slice up apples and oranges and throw them in for a delicious and aesthetically appealing drink

+ apple cider is amazing in smoothies... just add 1/4 cup 

+ mulling spice- pick up a packet of this and place in pan with apple cider (it adds some spice to your beverage)

Speaking of apples... a must have for Fall is for the house to smell amazing. You can do this with just a few items that you probably have on hand (Mine is very simple: 2 ingredients). 

+ cut up a few apples and place them in a small pan full of water

+ add cinnamon sticks (option: you could add oranges or cloves or anything else that reminds you of Autumn

+ simmer on stove until your house has the aroma of Fall (I like to call it... if you don't have a candle on hand type scent) 

Another beverage that I insist on having in the cooler months is TEA! I can not live without it nor would I want to.  I start each day with an organic green tea and end the evening with an organic peppermint tea. One gives you plenty of natural energy while the other calms and soothes the body for bedtime. Lovely. What are your favorite teas? 

Organic Eucalyptus Oil is a MUST for this time of year! This oil is decongestant, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.  This means that when it comes to cold season... it wins! With its amazing properties, people suffering from asthma and any respiratory issues can benefit.

+ I love to add a few drops to a cotton ball and slowly inhale its soothing scent for fatigue, plus I like its earthy aroma 

+ add a few drops to a sachet and place by the bedside for a resting sleep 

+ in the winter months, I combine epsom salts with a few drops of this oil for a soothing bath or foot soak

What kind of ideas do you have for Fall? I would love to hear them all!

Hope you enjoyed this post. Please leave me your email if you would like more ideas and DIYS like this... 

** (Please further research and use precaution when using any essential oil, as some may not be able to use this particular oil). 

Take care--

Jennifer 

(This post is not intended to cure or treat any diseases, and not been approved by the FDA). 
















 

   How to have a stress-free evening ▷▷

Hello there! Hope you all are having a marvelous week! Sorry for not posting last week-- it was a hectic time. This week is better, and I'm feeling good and creative. 

This week, I will give you a few tips on how to have a stress-free evening... if your having one of the weeks like I had.  Whether you work 40+ hours per week or are a stay at home person, you still need that "relax" time for yourself.  This time is to reflect on what makes you happy and a time to pamper yourself. It's really not an "option" to take care of yourself, I mean, if you don't take care of YOU-- how can you possibly take care of anyone else? This is how I see it, anyways. :) 

These are some of my favorite tips that I feel will help some people to unwind, and hopefully it can be a weekly event or bi-weekly? I really hope that you can take at least a half hour per week to escape reality and create YOU time. 

Let's get started... 

✣ Take some time to read a good book or magazine. If you're like me, I have about ten books laying next to the bed waiting to be read. I also have dozens on my iPad. Reading enables your mind to escape to another place and can also strengthen the mind. I have heard that reading makes your smarter... I mean, why would it not? Your learning new words perhaps, and sentence structure is important. (I can't help it, I loved English class). 

✣ Watch one of your favorite movies. I have several movies that will wind me down, and make me laugh at the same time. I'm a huge fan of the 50-60's era movies... and my favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn. I love how everyone dressed up to go everywhere, and the biggest problem they had was which fancy drink to make. I just sit and watch and dream. I'm clearly in the wrong generation. Anyways, watching your favorite films will help you to relax, and also if it's a comedy-- make you laugh! Laughter is the best medicine! 

✣ Listen to music. This is my favorite thing to do all the time! Actually, I am chair dancing as I am typing. I kid you NOT! Anyone else do this?! I am such a music fan of ALL music from classical and jazz to tech and pop. Music ALWAYS puts me in a great mood! Each song has its own message and beat... plus, it can bring back good memories. I can't even tell you all my favorites... we would be here for three days! 

✣ Meditate. I really am trying hard to save at least 5-10 minutes a day for this.  Meditation is a great way to savor the moment and focus on the important things in life. Take this time to sit somewhere quiet (away from the dogs, kids and outdoor noises), close your eyes, and take super big deep breaths. You can also listen to some soft music to help you quiet your mind. If you have a fascination with water sounds like I do, here is a fantastic list for you: 

Sacred Healing Waters by Sayama 
http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Healing-Waters-Sayama/dp/B0009HLCF6?tag=duckduckgo-osx-20
(also available on iTunes) 

✣ Be creative! What kind of artist are you? Bust out the canvas and watercolor, or grab some clay and create a fabulous sculpture. Okay, if you don't like these ideas, there are plenty of other ways to be creative... even decorating your home or cooking uses a skill. Everyone has some creativity in their bones! 

✣ Write someone a letter-- handwritten please! As in old-fashioned sitting down and taking a pen or pencil and letting the words create themselves on paper. This is so relaxing to me when I'm having a stressful day... and the person receiving the letter will be thrilled that you took time to write to them. Snail-mail it is! By the way, I purchase these little note cards and pens from Target... they always have great stuff! 

✣ Spa night! Yes, please!!!! Create your own little spa right in your home. You can make yourself a mask and foot soak (I have a mask recipe in my blog archive) or you can purchase them from my shop, if you don't feel like grabbing supplies. I like to throw my hair up, crank up or down the tunes, grab some wine, and slather some chocolatey goodness on my face! I also love to throw a few drops of organic lavender oil on a cotton ball and deeply inhale. Instant relaxation. This whole spa-ish process calms the nerves and puts you in a better mood. 

✣ Take a hot bath. This is a very calming experience. Light a few candles, listen to some light music, and let the hot water take you away. You could even throw some epsom salt in the bath to soothe, and detoxify the body. Winning!

✣ Clean and organize. This may sound odd and boring, but some people like myself love to clean and organize. If I am having a bad day, I will organize like a crazy! Somehow, in the process of organizing, my mind is slowly slipping away from the bad day. Try it. 

✣ Go for a walk, preferably a nature walk. There is something amazing about nature... the scent, sound, and inspiration. Anytime I need some fresh ideas, nature is where I turn. She somehow has all the answers to everyday problems. We live by Lake Superior, and the waves and smell of the water is truly breathtaking. I love to sit by the lake, collect unusual rocks, and bring a picnic. 

✣ Buy a fresh bouquet of flowers. Fresh flowers in the house... there is nothing like it. I prefer white flowers, as they are so fresh, crisp, and clean looking. Plus, they make the house smell amazing. What are your favorites? 

✣ Sip on a favorite wine or tea.  This can be anything that you love! I love a nice cabernet... just because the health benefits are so worth it. Peppermint tea is also known to soothe and calm the nerves. 

These are just a few tips that can transform a stressful day into a stress-free evening. Even a half hour can do wonders for your mind and body. Take that time for YOU. 

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Jennifer 

   Cocoa Clay Mask ▷▷

Hi there lovelies! How are you all doing this week? 

Hope you are enjoying your days. It's been so hot and humid here the last few weeks. This humid and wicked hot weather just makes me want to detoxify my skin everyday. 

I wanted to share an amazing mask that I have been using for a few years now. I use it all year long, and the recipe can be modified to your liking as well. It contains some yummy and detoxifying ingredients that heals and soothes the skin. I actually can't wait until the evening when I can whip up this recipe and slather it all over my face. Plus, it contains only a few ingredients that should be fairly easy to attain locally. All skin types can benefit from its delicious, gorgeous, and wholesome ingredients. 

Let's talk about these spa-ish ingredients and why they are beneficial: 

Bentonite Clay ~ It is composed of ash made from volcanoes, and originated in France. Sounds luxurious and spa-ish already huh? Don't worry, it is. It has a strong negative electromagnetic (negative is good, positive is bad in this aspect) that pulls toxins from the skin. In other words, the clay is like a sponge and will absorb all the nasty toxins out of the skin. Bentonite clay also has some anti-aging benefits, as it encourages cell turnover, creating healthier, beautiful skin. We all want this.

Organic Honey or Local, raw honey ~ Honey is antibacterial and antimicrobial, meaning it kills bacteria that can cause acne and any other breakouts. It also is anti-aging in that it contains some wonderful antioxidants (vitamins). Plus, it smells amazing! 

Organic Cacao Powder (cocoa) ~ This delicious powder is also loaded with antioxidants, which creates a glowing, beautiful complexion. This also smells yummy. 

What you need:

▶︎ Bentonite Clay --  get it here ▷ https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/bentonite-clay/profile

▶︎ Honey - organic is best, but any local honey will be just fine. Make sure it is local. I will be using raw, local honey.

▶︎ Organic Cacao powder - it smells amazing! I already said that. 

▶︎ Wooden spoon and bowl, NO METALS... if using Bentonite clay, it states that the clay should not come in contact with anything metal... as it can be pulled into the clay. Yuck! 

▶︎ Little brush to apply mask to face (you can also use your fingers)

▶︎ H2O

Yummy Cocoa Clay Face Mask

Here we go! Grab a glass of wine, put your feet up and read a book. We are pretending your home is a spa, right? And you can look and feel cool like me with the mask on. Oh, my beverage of choice was some white wine with a frozen strawberry.  The best part... eating the soaked strawberry. ❤︎

Here we go!

✣  Make sure your face is CLEAN! You don't want to deep clean and detox with makeup on.  It defeats the purpose. 

✣  Mix 2 teaspoons of clay, 1/2 teaspoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa together in your wooden bowl with your wooden spoon. (You can modify this to your liking).

✣  Add a tad of water to the bowl and stir until you form a paste. (Don't worry if you add  too much water, just add more ingredients). The paste should look like chocolate cake batter... yum! Don't eat it though. 

✣  Take your brush and apply mask to face and neck, if you wish. It shouldn't be a thin or thick layer, just in between. 

✣  Leave the mixture on for a good 20 minutes. The mask will tighten your skin very quickly, and you will feel like you can't smile... the things we do for beauty! You will then rinse with a warm washcloth, and then cool water to close the delicate pores. 

Wonderful ... your skin should feel good and detoxified! You may get a bit red after the mask, it's very common, as the bentonite clay brings the blood to the surface of the skin, detoxifying it-- that's a great thing! Don't worry, the redness won't last long. I would recommend using this mask at least once a week... in the evening. 

After this spa-like experience, I usually wash my skin, and moisturize- locking that moisture in place for the night. This is very important. ❤︎


Hope this was helpful and you try it very soon! What other recipes have you tried or would like to try?

Take care,

Jennifer ❤︎

Road Trip (part 2) ▷▷

Hey guys! I hope you all are having an amazing and productive week! I promised a part 2 to my trip to Cleveland. If you have not read part 1, I hope that you will do so, as it will give you a little preview to why I was there. This part of the blog is dedicated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and our little jaunt to A Christmas Story house. 

So let's begin, shall we? ❤︎

As in part 1, you were able to see the B&B that we stayed in, which was quite relaxing and very nice. We actually found out from a local person that we were only less than a mile away from A Christmas Story house (where they filmed it). Ya know, "you'll shoot your eye out kid," and the infamous leg lamp. Actually, my favorite part of the movie is where Ralphie says the F bomb (not fudge) haha!  It's all funny to me, and one of my favorite Christmas movies. 

We thought since we UBERED everywhere, why not again. I know... it's less than a mile, but we had no idea how to get there exactly, so why not meet another UBER driver. 

When we arrived at the house, it was so weird to see it in person. It was so perfect and well manicured... and no SNOW! They also have a little gift shop and museum across the street with all of the filming photos, garments worn, etc... so cool! 

A Christmas Story House

As you look closer, you can see the "leg lamp," or his "major award!" As we entered the house, we had a tour guide that showed us the various rooms and then let everyone wander on their own. It was fun trying to imagine each scene as we were looking through each room. 

The living room where they sat and opened presents... it was difficult to get a lot of pictures, as there were people all over trying to do the same. Just look at that TREE!! I can't wait to decorate for Christmas now. 

A fun fact: we were told that Ralphie's little brother Randy was given the part in the movie based on his contagious laugh! I can still hear it. (Remember when he would not eat his mashed potatoes... that laugh tho). 

You were not getting out of this blog without viewing the "leg lamp!" Very funny and creepy indeed. 

Moving right along... a different day, we decided that since we were downtown Cleveland-- why not go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! I was so excited... perhaps, I ran all the way there. Geeeeeeee!!! 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 

As we entered this amazing building that was about 5 floors tall... this is what I immediately was drawn to... isn't it beaut-iful? ▽▽

It literally took 3-4 hours to go through this exciting place... the music that was blaring throughout was sooo amazing as well. I miss it already. As we were wandering through each floor, I stumbled upon the Beatles... my Dad is a huge fan! My favorite display of theirs was seeing the drum set and organ. Elvis had a huge display as well... he actually dominated them all (of course)!  Please excuse the reflections in the cases and other people in the pictures... hah! It was extremely busy there, and hard to snap a pic. 

Then-- a little bit of MJ. :) I was literally inches away from touching the sequin glove and what he wore at the Grammys when he received a ton in 1984. By the way, as we were carefully strolling and spotted the "glove," we noticed the guard sitting behind us. We had to behave...

And finally-- the whole reason for visiting this amazing city with wonderful people... SHAKLEE (#1 Wellness company in the United States, and the reason for myself being healthy and happy all the time). It's a pretty amazing company. Here we are... (a tad on the blurry side).  Hehe. 

I really hope you enjoyed these past few posts on the road trip to Cleveland. I learned so much in this quaint little city, and also learned a lot about others.  If you ever get a chance to travel here... do it! It has improved so much in the past 5-10 years. The people are wonderful, and the the history is like no other. 

Take care, 

Jennifer 💕