Spring Break Must Readsauthro
Spring break is coming up and if you are lucky enough to get some what of a vacation, here are 4 books that you have to be sure to check out!
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. Miller reflects on his life as he worked on creating his first best seller “Blue Like Jazz” into a screen play. The book focuses on the idea of living a better story, but in order to do so, you have to act purposefully. Any book by Donald Miller is a winner.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. If you haven’t read this yet, you are missing out. It’s an extremely easy read as it is directed at a young adult audience, but it is completely captivating. The first book is being made in a movie this month and it surely won’t disappoint. Check out the book before seeing the movie! It is about a post-apocalyptic world called Panem where North America used to exist. The Capitol holds an event every year called the Hunger Games where one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts are chosen to compete in a televised battle where only one can survive. Can’t wait for this movie!
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This book is another easy read, but absolutely hilarious. It’s a partly autobiographical story about a young boy growing up on a reservation in the NorthWest who ends up transferring to a “white” school. He documents the woes of growing up and also pokes fun at stereotypes and raises a lot of great questions for the reader to discover.
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman. A recently promoted novel by Good Morning America and other parenting experts, this novel is supposed to be a hit! It is the story of an American mother, who lived in Paris while she was raising her daughter and decided to study the parenting styles of French mothers who she says creates “a fully functioning society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters and reasonably relaxed parents.”
Reading is such a great way to decompress, so make sure to get some “you” time in during the Spring break. What better time to sit back with a refreshing mixer and a good book?
February DIY Round Up!authro
Here are a few DIY’s to get you ready for March! Some simple, some daring, all POSH.
Three Birds Nestauthro
This week at POSH, we are featuring a small business owner that we absolutely LOVE!! Alicia Shaffer, the Director of Merchandising at Prim Affordable Couture, is the designer of the amazing handmade accessories from Three Birds Nest.
She has everything from scarves, to headbands, leg warmers and jewelry. These headbands are perfect for any season and any style. All of her products are super versatile, comfortable and can add a little flare to any of your outfits!
Visit her etsy shop here and stock up on some headbands and other accessories! We are a huge fan.
You can also visit her on Facebook.
Finding the Perfect Romantic Outfitauthro
Whether you’re going out for a fancy date, or staying at home for something low key, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to get dressed up and looking sexy for your man. Here are 5 great finds that would be great for any date, and can be used for so many other occasions from flirty and innocent to sexy and sultry.
1. Victoria’s Secret (Comes in various colors and is super flattery and sexy with the one sleeve look!)
2. Nordstrom (Innocent and flirty, very flowy and cute!)
3. Victoria’s Secret (Multi-way dress! You can personalize it for your body type, preference or date!)
4. Target (Inexpensive and fun!)
5. Anthropologie (A little more casual, but still very sexy and re-wearable!)
Of course, don’t forget to look for a little sexy something to wear for after hours!
Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Dayauthro
The most romantic Holiday of the year is quickly approaching, and as many of you might be thinking…”do I really have to plan Valentine’s already? What happened to January??”
Valentine’s Day is loved (and hated) by many, but the truth remains the same that it is a great excuse and opportunity to celebrate love whether you are married, dating or single.
Let’s face it, it seems as though there is always another Holiday to buy a gift for someone; birthdays, Christmas, showers, anniversaries…what if we celebrated Valentine’s Day with a gift that will truly show someone that they are thought about and loved?? As life gets busy and going out on dates may not be as practical with the kids, here are some ideas for gifts and celebrations that will be romantic and meaningful for you, your man and your wallet.
1. Make your gifts.
Establish that this year (and maybe even from now on) that you will make your Valentine’s Day gifts. This idea is so fun because it encourages both of you to get creative and express your love in new (and sometimes funny) ways. The sky is the limit and there is no better way to celebrate love than homemade, meaningful expressions that will include memories and laughter.
2. Romantic Dinner for Two
Think of your man’s favorite dishes and get them cooking! Sure, they may not be the healthiest items, but he will be so excited to come home to his favorite foods prepared for you two to share together. Of course, sexy and romantic dessert items are always a must have; chocolate covered strawberries…body chocolate….and prepare a menu of cocktails that he enjoys.
Click on the picture for a customizable template for the menu you decide to create!
Rachel Ray has put together a delicious list of romantic dinner menu items to help you out too!
3. Games
Sometimes good quality time together, means having fun! Ditch your typical dinner and a movie and opt for something a little more competitive that can bring a youthful fun into your evening. This is also a great alternative if Valentine’s Day is going to be spent with the kids too. Not to mention, games can always be twisted as a playful addition to bringing it into the bedroom!
Get creative this Valentine’s Day with options that won’t break the budget and will show your love and appreciation for the man in your life.
DIY Roundup!authro
For the last Monday of the month, a DIY dedicated blog entry is in order. It’s the end of another month and it’s a great time to get prepared for the next month’s potential activities! Get inspired with these fabulous DIY projects!
And a couple Valentine’s ideas to get the ideas flowing for the romantic Holiday coming up!
Fun Idea for a Valentine’s Gift for a special someone.
Super Bowl Madnessauthro
That famous American Sunday is quickly approaching and although some of us may be disappointed that our favorite team isn’t competing (or maybe you just don’t care) there is no reason to not throw a fabulous get together for the big football game.
(Images from Hostess Blog)
The Hostess blog offers some fun printables for all game day purposes to get creative with any disposable materials you might want to use to save some clean up time, or to set up some tables that make all the snacks look even more enticing.
Treat your man to the game day classics that he loves to snack on, and create an environment that can be enjoyable for the football lovers and “others” alike.
Martha Stewart has some great recipes instead of ordering take-out!
Buffalo Chicken Strips with Bleu Cheese Salad (You can at least ATTEMPT to slip in a healthy salad right?!)
We hope you enjoy this quasi-holiday and maximize your opportunity for quality time with family and friends! Share your favorite football recipes or party ideas with us!
Tips to Get Your Skin Looking POSHauthro
From the dryness of winter, to the sun exposure in the summer, our skin gets it rough sometimes, and often takes a back seat on our priority list. It’s time to change that! It’s so important that we take care of our skin to keep it as healthy as possible. We can’t avoid the aging process, so let’s embrace it and help our skin look it’s best for years to come.
I will trust anything from Sephora, and these are some of my favorite brands that Sephora carries for all price ranges..paraben free, extremely natural, smell delicious and great for your skin!
Skin Care Essentials
1. Moisturizer with SPF- Keep your skin moist every day and keep it personal to your skin type. Make sure you pay attention to if your skin is on the oily or dry side so you can purchase a moisturizer that will complement that. Don’t forget the SPF either! In a society that is obsessed with tans, it’s easy for women to skip out on the protection to help soak in some color, but don’t do it! Unhealthy sun exposure can age your skin more quickly and eventually cause even more complications like melanoma. If you are really concerned about color, buy a bronzer that blends with the rest of your skin!
2. Gentle daily wash- You should be washing your face twice a day, and that should be a gentle wash just to remove any dirt, germs, make up etc…
3. Exfoliant- Exfoliants are amazing but shouldn’t be used too often on your face because it’s so delicate. It will help get rid of any dead skin cells and keep your face smooth and even.
4. Night Cream- Night creams are rejuvenating. They will repair skin and moisturize it through the night.
5. Facial- Facials should only happen about once month. They can however get pricy, so here is a recipe for a DIY home facial from Karly Goins who is a regular recipe contributor to Lauren Conrad’s blog.
Other Tips for taking care of your skin!
1. Wash face twice a day
2. Sunscreen- here are some great options from Sephora that are good for your skin.
3. Don’t smoke! Your skin needs circulation and smoking impairs that which is why smokers’ skin tends to look dull and gray. Instead of oxy-generated blood being delivered to the skin surface, it’s getting poisons and oxidants. Don’t — I repeat – don’t smoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs a lot of circulation. Smoking impairs that dramatically.
4. Healthy diet- changes in your diet can drastically improve how your skin looks from glow to acne. Pay attention to what you are eating and eliminate greasy and unhealthy items.
5. Manage stress- stress can do a number on more than just our skin, but reducing it can help reduce any acne, aging lines or tension that will appear. If you a really needing some extra relaxation, try a milk bath! Seriously! You hear about it in stories of royalty, and there really are some great relaxation benefits, including benefits for your skin. Try this recipe here.
Enjoy your rejuvenated skin and feel like a new, younger woman!
New Year, New You: Not Just Another Sayingauthro
We are all accustomed to the phrase “New Year New You”, but what if this was the year we took it seriously? As we get off the Holiday high, don’t just get back into your routine, start a new one!
With some help from some great articles on Babble, here are some tips for getting into a realistic workout and health routine.
This focuses on using items that we are surrounded by or using our daily routine to sneak in quick work outs.
Work outs include chair dips (dipping your arms to strengthen triceps), lunges (you can do them anywhere!), jumping jacks (full body workout!), counter push up (using raised surfaces to do push ups on), wall sits and standing crunches.
A little bit of alone time is good for any woman, and especially mothers. This suggests practical ways to find a bit of alone time to get a good work out in (allowing time to release endorphins, clear your head and get rid of some stress).
Some ideas include finding a gym with great childcare, babysitting swaps or finding a mom work out group. For those who aren’t quite comfortable with the drop-off yet suggestions include getting a jogging stroller, a bike seat for the kids, Mommy and Me classes, playground fitness,
Unexpected Benefits of Exercise
Finally, if you need a little extra motivation to fit in time for exercise, here are some benefits we might not regularly think about! Remembering where you parked your car (just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help you regain focus), your exercise will help gets your kids into a good habit of healthy and active lifestyles too, boost feel-good hormones and reduce stress, better sleep, better sex and flexibility that will help you reach the sippy cup on the top shelf!
Make it your goal this year to create a new habit of living actively and healthy and in a way that is realistic and sustainable for you, keeping in mind how many benefits you (and your family) will enjoy! Happy New Year!!
Happy New Year!authro
It’s a new year and maybe you are looking to make some changes to make your home look new. Here are some some design inspirations with easy and inexpensive ways to give your home a fresh look for the new year. (With help from Pinterest and Better Homes and Garden)
Think White: white goes with everything, it looks clean and reflects light making rooms look spacious and welcoming. White is also less expensive for accessories, furniture and paint because retailers make more of that color.
Salvaged Style: consignment furniture stores are your best friend this year. So many trends being seen in places like Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware and other popular home design display that “used” look for a lot of money. Visit thrift stores and second hand furniture places to find your household gems. Use your imagination to envision the way it can be sanded, painted or switched around to match your home and you will save loads of money. Use old doors or windows as bed headboards, Mix match the chairs or find old picnic benches to refurbish and use for your kitchen table (benches can also be space saving because you can push them all the way under the table).
Vintage Charm: Old knick knacks you find at thrift stores, flea markets or estate sales can make great and inexpensive additions to a home. The “worn down” cottage looking kitchen with vintage accents is irresistible.
Efficiency: Turn an old vanity into a bathroom sink, add pullout shelves to your cabinets making everything easily accessible and more organized or purge your home of anything you don’t need to reduce clutter!
Enjoy making your “old” home seem new!
