Archive for May 2012

Versona Recap + Getting Back on Track

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Hi Loves! Remember my shopping day last week where I visited the lovely Versona for the first time?


Yep. Addicted. This store is cheap enough that it could totally be dangerous for me. Now ladies.... let me share with you my purchases...

The Romper
I just LOVE rompers. I think I have 3 or 4, but this is my first strapless addition to my wardrobe. You can keep it casual, or dress it up. $19.99


The Hi-Lo Dress
I don't usually consider my style to be uber trendy... but a hi-lo dress was on my list for the summer. This one has a cute ruffle detail & is super comfortable. $39.99



The Nude Peep Toe Heels
I've been lusting for a pair of nude heels. I didn't necessarily want peep toes... but hey - they were on clearance! $9.99!! & they go well with both the dress & the romper. Can't beat that!
The Belt
Love this belt. Especially because it was FREE! That's right, it came with the dress.

The Flower Wristlet
Okay, okay. I must confess... I saw this on my first trip & passed it up. Then I went back and got it. I was in dire need of some kind of wristlet... this one is neutral enough that it will go with everything, plus it was only $9.99
Another great thing about Versona is that they only keep a few of each dress/top/etc. in the store, so you can rest assured that you won't see 34573957 different people out with your same outfit. They also have tons of accessories like statement necklaces, hats, purses, you name it.

Moral of the story - Find. One. Now.

In other news, I have fallen off the wagon.
I had been doing soo good, doing my workouts 5 days per week & eating healthy.
The past two weeks I haven't been as consistent. I find myself "too busy" to fit in my workout for the day... Then at night I've been craving sweets.
What can I say? Pinterest just makes it too easy to make a brownie/coffee cake/etc. in a mug. Oh, and Nutella is the devil.
I don't weigh myself, don't even own a scale. I'm totally not one of those who obsesses about going up or down a pound. I just go by whether my clothes fit right & how I feel.
I generally eat healthy, but like I said, at night I crave sweets!

Effective immediately, I'm back on the wagon. I feel like a lot of times, people say... oh, I'll start tomorrow, or, next week I'll do better...
I think it's much better to start NOW.
So here are the changes I plan to implement to get myself back on track.

Food
1.) No more sweets at night during the week. That means you, Nutella!
Instead I will have a cup of tea or fruit.
2.) I will not buy any crap. If you don't have it, you won't eat it. That means you, Nutella!
3.) I will snack on fruits,veggies, and almonds throughout the day to keep myself satisfied.
4.) We will continue to make healthy grilled meals for dinner - lots of fish & veggies!
5.) I will allow myself to splurge sometimes once I'm back into my routine. You can't deprive yourself of everything or you're asking for trouble :)

Exercise
1.) Back to the Bodyrocking. 12 minutes. 5 days per week. My fave :)
2.) I will hike or jog with Kobe 2 or 3 days per week. His fave :)
3.) Keep attending my weekly group exercise class.

Ahh... I already feel better.

xo
Sam




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Spruce Up! DIY Projects for the Home

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

I thought I'd share some of my Pinterest finds for DIY projects you can do to spruce up your home! Why not make your home a place you love to spend time? See what you think...

Add Character
Tons of ideas for adding character to your home, taking it from generic to custom! Click the picture to see more ideas :)

Curb Appeal!
Hand painted flower pots, freshly painted front doors, cute welcome mats.
Source: goo.gl via Samantha on Pinterest

Pretty Decor
You can take assorted frames & paint them the same color for a cohesive look. They look great with or without pictures.

A Personal Touch
Cute bulletin boards for hanging over your desk or in your office can double as artwork!


Get Organized!
Your closets, your kitchen cabinets, inside your drawers.... you will feel so much more relaxed!



Maximize Your Space
Everyone is always looking for more space... maximize your closets! Turn a closet into a desk area or a recessed entertainment center...

Add Pops of Color
Bright throw pillows, blankets, and accessories can brighten up your space for pocket change... change things out with the seasons or with your moods.

Source: bhg.com via Samantha on Pinterest


Source: westelm.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3... Go get to work :) .... This coming from the girl who has been re-doing her bedroom for like the last 3 months... I promise I'm making progress! What other ways do you make your home your happy place?

xo
Sam

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Surprise! + Giveaway...

Hi Lovers - back to the real world today after a great 3 day weekend! We had a fun filled weekend between the Nickelback concert & hanging out on the river with friends. What's better than fun in the sun and a few cocktails? Not much in my book.

Saturday night after the river, we were sitting home reading fifty shades relaxing and we hear this noise... and it turned out to be...
SURPRISE FIREWORKS!
These were some serious fireworks... not your normal 'neighbor setting of fireworks in his backyard' fireworks, that's for sure...
So we headed out on the front porch to watch the show... Kobe came along :)
He sprawled out on the sidewalk to watch.
I think he enjoyed the show just as much as we did!
Nice little surprise for a lazy Saturday night!

In other news.... check out Halle over at Classic & Glam Blog today for a sweet giveaway featuring an item from my Etsy Shop! You guys will love Halle's blog!

Have a great 4 day work week!

xo
Sam

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Monday Confessions...

Sunday, May 27, 2012

It's Monday & that means it's time for some confessions...


I confess... that I kind of half assed my confessions artwork. Oops. Promise to work on it.

I confess... that we totally let loose at the Nickelback concert. We decided for once to go all out & got a 1985(ish) pink limo for the ride to the concert. Hilarious. The driver lived right by us and gave us a heck of a deal.

I confess... that we spent today on the river with friends. We may or may not have attempted to play flip cup on the swim platform on the back of a boat.

I confess... that we are getting ready to eat pizza & cinnamon sticks tonight! Gotta indulge sometimes.

I confess... that I'm almost finished with the 2nd 50 Shades book & I'm looking forward to starting the 3rd! Yes it's getting a little repetitive with all of the constant sex scenes, but I still can't put it down!

I confess... I'm still a little sad on Sunday nights with no Desperate Housewives. I keep finding myself thinking it's coming on! Oh well, I still have The Client List & now Drop Dead Diva!!

I confess... that I'm counting down the days until the Pretty Little Liars summer premiere! One should not get so excited about a tv show... oh well!

Now more for the Nickelback concert...

Bush & Seether opened up. They were both fantastic, especially Bush!


Nickelback performed on a suspended stage for a few songs...



Ran into my cousin Toni!
On the ride back home, don't know what got on  my shirt!

We had sooo much fun! I would highly recommend Nickelback, Seether or Bush in concert... worth it for sure!! Hope you lovelies enjoy your Memorial Day weekend, don't forget to remember the true purpose of the holiday!

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High Five for Friday

Friday, May 25, 2012

It's Friday, ladies! & today we try something new...
I'm linking up with Lauren of From My Grey Desk Blog for
High Five for Friday!

Photobucket

1.  I found out that Jason & I get to go see these boys in concert tomorrow night. This was an unexpected little surprise!

2. Taking Kobe for his daily runs this week. I get my run in for the day & he gets to stop by the creek. Then he spends the next few hours like this...

3. My go-to breakfast of the week - whole wheat bagel, whipped cream cheese & strawberries... can't beat that :) Well, Nutella would totally beat it, but I refuse to buy it right now or I would eat the WHOLE JAR!

4.) Versona Accessories. Do you have one of these where you live? We got one a few months ago, and Trish took me there on our shopping day this week. In. Love. Let's just say hi-lo dress... romper... nude heels. More to come on my purchases :)

5.) I made these open face chicken caprese sandwiches from Iowa Girl Eats this week, and they were the bomb!
Get the recipe HERE. So easy, but sooo good!

What was your favorite moment of the week?

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Home Selling Tips (for EVERY home)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

So ladies...Since we are in the prime time for real estate right now, I thought I would share some of my tips for selling a home in any market out there. These are mostly affordable tips & tricks to make your home appeal to buyers out there and to maximize your dollar :)

De-clutter ALL of your surfaces...
Do not leave your bathroom vanities like this...
Instead, aim for something like this...

Do not leave your kitchen like this...
Instead, go for this...

Paint your trim... casings, baseboards, etc.
It is amazing what a difference this makes. It will brighten up your space and just look new & fresh. At the very least, clean your trimwork thoroughly.


Lose the mini blinds...
These do not cut it. Either replace them with custom blinds, or just lose them all together & hang a sheer, lightweight curtain.


Update your hardware & fixtures..
Cabinet door hardware, door knobs & hinges, light fixtures.... these make a big difference. They can age your home....

Or totally help your case...
Don't want to shell out the dough to replace everything? Check craigslist or amazon for deals. You can also even paint your existing fixtures - Rustoleum sells an oil rubbed bronze spray paint.
Remove oversized/extra furniture & stuff..
Too much furniture in a room can make it appear much smaller. Potential buyers want to visualize how thier own furniture will fit the space, they can't do this if the room is overflowing. Buyers also want to imagine growing into a home, if your closets & cabinets are overflowing, this will not help your situation. You want to showcase all of your storage areas by keeping them only half full.
Don't...

Do...

Spruce up your outdoor spaces...
If you have patio furniture, put it out! Go the extra mile with cushions & throw pillows. Front porch? Hang a seasonal wreath on the door, get a solid color door mat & a few potted plants. Freshen up the paint or stain on your front door.



The little things really do make a difference. You think people can look past some of these minor issues, but they make a big difference in how buyers perceive your home.

More to consider...
- clean off your refrigerator. No calendars, pictures, etc.
- when in doubt, go neutral with paint colors
- keep bushes, lawn trimmed & neat
- address any smells... smoke, pets, etc.


Anyone out there looking for a house? What turns you off?

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