Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip

At Home Date Night Ideas: Date night ideas at home that are easy, romantic, and budget-friendly. It’s the perfect list of ideas for when a date night is needed but you don’t want to leave the house.

My husband and I try to have a date night at least once a week.

But sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t squeeze a date night in. BUT… for the times that we can, and when we prefer to stay at home… creating a “theme,” to the night, can add a little spark to the evening. Plus, keeping things at home, can REALLY help with making date nights budget-friendly. (A major perk, if you ask me!)

(If we don’t, the default method of our date night at home is: “Take-Out, movie on Netflix, and I’m asleep on the couch in 30 minutes.)

So what themes do we have up our sleeve? Well let me share those with you, in case you’re looking for a few thought starters for a date night at home too.

But first, if you haven’t read Tips for a Romantic Weekend with your Husband,” you may want to. Although “date night,” may not be a “weekend,” you may find some helpful and “ahem,” personal tips in there that may help.

Make your Own Hotel Suite

One of my FAVORITE date night’s away from home involves staying at a hotel. There’s something about the fresh crisp linens, snacks/beverages nearby, and a relaxing atmosphere of lounging and tv binge watching.

When the budget is tight, or you don’t feel like going out, creating your own hotel suite may be something that you two would love.

Fluff up the pillows and blankets, place a tray of snacks and drinks nearby, and settle in for the night. Still hungry? Have a pizza delivered. One of our favorite things to do is to have a pizza delivered from a new pizza restaurant nearby.

Want to take it another step further? Know how the hotel rooms are pitch black and you wake up in the morning, not even sure what time it is? Throw thick blankets over your bedroom windows to block out any light in the morning. Sleep in and really get the feel of a hotel room!

Massage/Spa Night at Home

I really can’t think of anyone that wouldn’t love this date night idea at home. A massage/spa night? Count me in, and you can count my husband in. Even if “physical touch,” isn’t your love language, a nice romantic massage given to you by your other half, may just be what you need after a long week.

Now you can play it low-key and just say that you’re going to give each other massages on date night, or you can go all out…

Create a “massage station,” per say, and fill a tray/table with massage oils & lotions, eye mask, and warm towels. You can even play a little relaxing music to really set the scene.

Now this doesn’t have to be a one-sided affair. You can both switch, and give each other a massage. Ladies, there are two ways you can look at this type of date night at home. 1. You can offer to massage him first, so you can relax after your massage, instead of having to get up after yours and get to work, giving him one. OR 2. You get your massage first, and he’ll probably get so wrapped up in massaging you, that it may lead to something else, and he may forget all about how you’re supposed to give him a massage. 😉

Date Morning

Sometimes switching things up from the norm, can add excitement to an occasion in itself. Instead of the standard “date night,” try reversing date night, and have a date in the morning.

Perhaps a babysitter would be easier to find in the morning, than a Saturday night? Or maybe the kids stayed at a friends house so you could go to an event with friends the night before, and you don’t have to pick them up until the afternoon?

A relaxed morning together, making breakfast, drinking coffee, or good heavens… just staying in bed all morning, cuddled up watching movies or your favorite tv series on the DVR that you need to catch up on. Date “nights,” can easily be filled with the high-maintenance expectations, but a relaxed-easy going morning may be just what the “date” doctor ordered.

Pallet Party

It sounds like something you’d hear on a “kids activities,” blog post, but you read that right. It’s a date night at home theme, that’s sure to please! It won’t take much.

Place a blanket (fuzzy is my favorite) on the floor, and line it with a row of pillows (a LOT). Make it look cozy from the start. Turn the lights down low, light a few candles, and turn that tv OFF. You can start out by having a picnic on your pallet with dinner, or just have it cozy and ready for when you finish dinner.

Turning the tv off will force that conversation, and more than likely… will lead to a little something else. Because let’s face it, if you’ve been together a while, you may not have much to talk about, unless it involves the kids or work. So silence + no distractions + nothing to say = every man’s next move.

Make a Date Jar

This is such a fun, and exciting way to keep the “spark” in date night! See how to make your own Date Night Jar and what that means!

Q&A

I’m a sucker for listening/watching Q&A’s when it comes to people that I admire. So when trying to think of new date night ideas, I thought, “Well why wouldn’t a Q&A session between the two of us be interesting, informative, and fun?!”

Even though we’ve been together 18 years, would you believe there are still things that I don’t know about him? (Or, have forgotten perhaps?) This could very well be the case with you two, as well.

My favorite thing to do is to compile at least 10 questions that I want to ask him, a couple of days before the scheduled “date night.” He will do the same, and then on date night, we take turns asking each other those questions. It’s incredibly fun, hilarious, and you may just learn something new about one another.

Need question inspiration?

• What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?

• If you only had one more day to live, what would you do, and be specific!

• If you could hang out with someone for a day, (dead/alive/famous/etc.) who would it be, and what would you want to do?

Backyard Romantic Dinner for Two

I’m not sure what it is, about dining outside. Whether we are at a restaurant, or on the beach in Mexico, there’s something about that outdoor atmosphere that gets me going. So when we’re looking for a date night at home, an easy, out of the ordinary backyard dinner, is JUST what we need.

Feel free to make it super easy, grab some takeout, and mosey outside on the back porch or patio. Or, if you’re really wanting to “snazz,” it up a bit… grab a table, candles, glassware, and prepare an oven baked steak dinner for two, and enjoy it outside together. The sounds of nature/city life is sure to spark romance and dinner conversation, a lot more than eating pizza on the couch would.

Unplugged Wine & Cheese Tasting

Although you don’t have to make sure it’s a cheese board, with a side of wine to have an “unplugged,” date night, I thought it would be a nice (fancy-schmancy) snack to chat over. But feel free to have any snack/meal/appetizer you wish. Being in the line of work that my husband is in, he’s “on-call,” 24 hours a day.

He owns his own business, and although he’s intentional about work time/home time, his phone can still be a distraction. MY phone can even be a distraction with all sorts of beeps and notifications too. So having an “unplugged,” date night, can really help us be intentional with conversation, and experience fewer distractions. Turn those phones off, or stick them in the back room.

Cooking for Two

Talking with my friend the other day, she mentioned how she and her husband LOVE to cook together on date nights. They send the kids to Grandma’s for the night, and they get creative in the kitchen. But what I love so much about this, is that they don’t make just plain ole spaghetti. They experiment with a whole new recipe. This way, the romance carries on into the “dining,” portion of their date night, and creates more conversation. The good, the bad, what they’d change about the dish next time, and so on.

My favorite part? If they create a dish that they love, when they make it again in the future, it will bring back all of those date night memories. And who knows… it may be referred to as “The Date Night,” dish. 🙂

What is YOUR Favorite Date Night Activity at Home?

Of course there is nothing wrong with lounging on the couch, watching another episode of your favorite show on Netflix with your main squeeze. But in case you’re looking for a little something “extra,” those are our favorite “out of the box,” date night ideas. I hope they inspire you!

What to do when your husband doesn’t come home: Ways to wrap your mind around what’s going on, and the action steps that can help during a tough situation!

What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home

After writing How to Make Your Husband Want to Come Home, I’ve found so many readers stumbling upon it, looking for ways to encourage their husbands to come back home when they’ve left… after an argument.

Now, since that post is really geared towards ways to show your husband “love,” to make them excited to come back home at the end of the day, I’ve wanted to create this post for those looking for help that may be going through a tough situation with their husband at this very moment.

You May Also Love This Marriage Talk:

• 29 Tips on How to Be a Good Wife
• How to Respect Your Husband

DISCLAIMER: Although I’m no expert, and not a therapist or marriage counselor, I do love to share what I’ve learned through experience within my own marriage, and through individual AND marriage counseling. As I always recommend, seeking counsel with a professional can be one of the most beneficial things you can do in your life. Especially when you’re going through a tough time. It can not only help YOU with YOUR feelings and emotions, it can help you gain a new perspective on what may be going on with those around you who you love.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home

Now when I say “What to do when your husband doesn’t come home,” I’m not talking about if he said he was on his way home from work, and it’s been an hour and still hasn’t arrived.

I’m talking about the times that he is temporarily staying somewhere else, expressing that he just needs some time away, and/or you’ve noticed that he’s been avoiding coming/staying at home with you and perhaps your family.

Also read: If Your Husband Cheats and How to Make it Through

Confront the Issue

In times of struggle, or in states of confusion, confronting the actual issue can be a hard task. Letting the emotions and feelings that we are currently experiencing, can quickly overrule any logical thinking that SHOULD be taking place. But I really, really, encourage you to tell your emotions to shut the heck up, so you can think for a minute.

• What could be the actual issue at hand?
• Was there an argument that took place?
• Was there a traumatic circumstance in his life lately?
• Have you noticed he hasn’t been affectionate as much?

Start with confronting the issue, so action steps and discussion can start with the right foundation.

Sometimes we can let our emotions get to us, and we just start spit firing what we think at each other, rather than dealing with the real issue at hand. The real issue then may never come up, or other damage will be done before even getting to the current issue.

Give Him Time. Don’t Force Him.

Could he not want to come home because he just needs some time? Maybe he has no intention of leaving for good. Is it possible that he’s the type of guy that never makes time for himself, rarely hangs out with buddies, and always puts his needs on the back burner?

I know good and well the kind of mental state that I’m in if I don’t make time for myself, or have been ignoring needs that I have.

So it could be possible that he just needs some time, and if that’s the case, forcing him to give up that time can just make the problem snowball for an even bigger disaster. Giving him much needed time may be something that he’s longing for.

Ego Can be a Nasty Thing

Whew. This one has been a tough one on me. Perhaps it’s because I struggled with this one so much. I don’t know about you, but I always had to “Be right.” I had to “be right” in every argument we ever had in our marriage, and I had to do/say what I could to make him realize that I was right.

It even went so deep that I wasn’t even aware of the fact that I always had to be right. It was as if he was automatically wrong with everything he said/did, and it was a challenge to make him apologize for it.

The thought of “Well maybe we’re both in the wrong” never came up. It was always, “He’s wrong. I’m right. And even if he IS right, I won’t admit it, because that would be weak. It would mean losing the argument, and losing my upper hand at any future argument.” (I told you ego could be nasty. I lived it.)

When it comes to your husband being gone, and not wanting to come home, don’t let the ego win. Confront the issue at hand (Step #1), and tell your ego to shut up.

If that ego blocks anything that he has to tell you, it will take THAT much longer to get where you really want to be. (Where your preferred outcome rests.)

Pick up the Phone. Don’t Text

Look, I totally get it. I’m a texter, and it’s how my husband and I communicate by phone 95% of the time. But when we’ve been in the middle of an argument, or have been through a rough patch, and have tried to have conversation… texting has caused more damage than good.

The emotion and tone are completely gone from the text. Words can be turned around in ways that you or he, never intended. (i.e. Making the existing problem an even bigger one.)

Pick up the phone and talk. If he refuses to talk, and you have time-sensitive questions that need answers, keep your text short, clear as can be, and to the point. But the “blame game,” explanation and detailed conversations are best heard instead of seen.

Tip: Before you talk on the phone, make notes of what you’d like to talk about. Usually, when the conversation gets going, the emotion can be so strong that you forget important details you may want to discuss.

Don’t Assume it’s You That Did Something or it’s You That Needs to be the Only Thing to Change

After reading those first few tips, I can hear some of you saying, “Crap. It was my fault. It was all me. I shouldn’t have jumped past the issue at hand. The ego stood in front of my rational thinking. I shouldn’t have texted him.” Please, please don’t take it this way.

Did you know that whatever may be keeping him away from home may be something HE’s going through?

Don’t assume that it is your fault. Don’t assume that you are the only one who should “fix it”.

There may be something going on in him that he doesn’t even know how to communicate or explain to you.

Ready for this, and to think even deeper??? HE may not even be aware of what’s going on with himself, and what’s keeping him away from home. We all know the saying of what “assume” means. So assuming that it’s you can cause unnecessary wear and tear on yourself.

So what can you do if you’re not sure what’s going on?

After moving past assuming that it’s you being the problem, take a look through his eyes.

• Is there something that’s not right at home?
• Has work been stressful for him?
• Is there something that he’s briefly mentioned that could be the cause of him not wanting to come home?

Sit down, and grab a clear picture of what’s not right. Make notes of behaviors and actions that you’ve noticed lately.

• Is he complacent/displaced?
• Is he in a crisis?
• Could these items have been a result of a certain activity that took place?

Look at the big picture and make note of anything that sparks a question, so you can be aware of what’s actually happening.

Question Everything

I don’t mean question him with everything. Question everything that you’ve noticed and made note of.

Look, if you’ve found your way to this article because you Googled “What to do When Your Husband Doesn’t Come Home,” I can almost bet that you love him, dearly. Right? Because if you didn’t… you probably wouldn’t mind that he’s not coming home right now.

Questioning everything can that’s going on can help you have a better understanding of what may be going on.

Questioning everything may even help protect him/you/your marriage early before it gets too carried away. It may help make you aware of what’s really going on, and how to move forward in the right direction.

Should YOU Fix This?

I don’t think there have been truer words spoken to me that have given me a “Woah” moment like this one…

You can’t make anyone do anything, and you can’t keep them from themselves. But you can fix YOU.

Read that a couple of times to really let that sink in. I’ll admit, the first 20 times I heard my husband and therapist say this, I let it roll right off of my shoulder. It just wouldn’t “click,” for me. Then one day, it did. For YEARS, I’ve wanted to “fix” him. I wanted to prove that I was right. So I spent so much energy and emotion thinking, “If he would just ‘X,’ this would be so much better.” If ‘X’ would just happen for us, life would be so much easier.”

But the moment that I realized working on myself would produce WAY better results (and faster results), I started down that path. Why is it better and faster? Because again, you can’t make anyone do anything, and you can’t keep them from themselves.

But you can fix YOU. You can seek counsel. You can train your brain to focus on the reality of a situation, instead of letting the emotions and feelings overrule.

Wrap-Up

Were you looking for a list of physical action items that would miraculously make your husband come home? Things like: Dress sexy, make his favorite cookies or plan a romantic weekend away with him?

Well I’m not saying you shouldn’t do those things. But I did want to touch on an even deeper level that may last a lot longer than cookies and a sexy outfit.

Again, I’m no therapist, but rather someone that’s learning through life as I go. After marrying my high school sweetheart, we’ve had the privilege of “growing up together,” and experiencing life’s ups and downs. With the blessing of someone telling us early on that seeking counsel can make a major impact on our lives, we’ve been able to take tough times by the reins (with guidance) and take one step at a time. We’re still learning, and will continue to learn. But I hope from our experiences, you can find a bit of encouragement in whatever it may be that you’re going through right now.

A list of party supplies stores and their websites that are always a “go-to,” any time for planning a birthday party, holiday party, or any celebration!

I’m a “routine,” lovin’ gal. So when it comes to shopping for party supplies for either my own parties or when styling parties for a brand, I have my “go-to,” online party supplies stores that I frequent. I’m never disappointed and ALWAYS find something at these, that I love.

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

Best Party Supplies Websites

1. Shop Sweet Lulu

Whether it’s balloons, favor bags, or cute food containers, I’m a sucker for Shop Sweet Lulu products. When I styled this nacho bar party, I scored the super cute food trays, for our guests to serve themselves! They worked perfectly.

2. Amazon

Amazon has been a LIFE-SAVER when it comes to party planning. It comes to my rescue when I’m a couple of days away from party-time, and I’ve realized that I’ve forgotten that one important item I needed to decorate or finish the DIY project that I worked on for the party.

With Amazon, I can get anything from party supplies, to home decor, which is a HUGE party of my party styling techniques. I bought a ton of party goods on Amazon for our Crawfish Boil Party.

3. Etsy

Oh Etsy, how I love thee for party printables. I love Etsy for other things as well, but when it comes to party planning, printables are an easy way to add decor. I used printables from Etsy for my son’s Woodland Friends Party below. Can you see just how much printables can decorate for you!?

Don’t forget that Etsy can also be handy for DIY/Pre-Made party favors, cupcake toppers, sugar cookies, and SO MUCH more. Shop Etsy NOW!

4. Oh Happy Day

Oh my, have you visited Oh Happy Day yet? Adorable paper plates (not your average paper plates), confetti, garlands, and the list goes on. I get LOST in their online shop for hours if I’m not careful, staring at all of the beauties. Shop Oh Happy Day HERE!

I may just buy confetti from Oh Happy Day, just so I can do this when I want to celebrate something in life. Not kidding. 🙂

5. Meri Meri

Paper straws, paper treat bags, drink stirrers, and EVERYTHING party… Petite Party Studio has it. You’ll find paper straws at almost every party that I host. They can add a pop of color in a pinch, and if you’re like me… I GOTTA have a straw with my drink. In the Nautical Birthday Party that I styled for my son, I simply added paper straws to milk bottles, & it created style with little effort.

There they are! Those are my favorite websites to buy party supplies for any party that I’m hosting. At times, I’ll even check to see if they have any sale items, and stock up in advance.

Free Party Planning Checklist

Or if you haven’t downloaded your free party planning checklist yet, then you HAVE to snag that! It’s how I survive all of my party-planning days! Get my party planning checklist.

Holiday Party Planner

Are you hosting a holiday gathering? Then you’ll want to snag my Holiday Party Planner that I use to prep and prepare! I’m bound to forget something, and this helps keep me on track! Get my holiday party planner!

Stationery Station Organization: Say that Five Times… A simple way to organize cards, notepads, and writing tools, for easy access.

Stationery Station

I literally had to say that out loud 5 times, really fast, to see if I could do it. 

Hey you! You may be here for the first time as part of the blog hop that’s happening today with some of the BEST bloggers that I know. Not only are they incredibly creative, but they know how to create a workspace that can make you drool! I’m honored to be a part of something so fun and inspiring! So thank you for visiting, and let’s get on to one of my favorite aspects of my home office and craft room!

In my FULL home tour office reveal here, I briefly featured my stationery station. This has literally been one of my unintentional “favorite’s” of my home office. More times than I’d like to admit, I’ll be in a mad rush to create a “thank you,” card or a simple little note to leave for someone or attach to a birthday gift.

So instead of running around digging for a pen, cute card, and envelope, I now know exactly where to go! No more wasting time digging, and using the back of receipts for quick notes to my family.

Stationery Addiction:

This station has also helped me with my rare condition of “Stationery Addiction.” (Yes, I know this isn’t a real thing… but I’m completely addicted to grabbing super cute cards and adorable little notepads in the Target dollar spot, and the check out lane a T.J. Maxx.)

Before my stationery station, I would always THINK I needed note cards and notepads. Why? Because I was unsure of all that I already had on hand, so I figured I would go ahead and buy more “just in case.” (You SOOO know what I mean right? Please tell me I’m not alone here.)

Anyhoo, now that I have it all stored in one place, I can see exactly when I’m running low of a certain type of card, envelope, pen/marker, or notepad. My husband is very thankful that my spending has greatly reduced in the stationery department.

Rolling Cart:

I found this adorable (and office matching) rolling cart, at the ever so popular IKEA. It was super easy to put together, and it comes in adorable colors.

Want to Tour the Whole Office?

My Home Office Tour

This post brought to you by The Clorox Company. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Fantabulosity. 4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom: The areas that can get overlooked in the bathroom that traps that pesky smell, and how to get rid of it!

I have two little boys home. So I, along with many others in this world I’m sure, am VERY familiar with the urine smell in the bathroom. Before kiddos, I never really knew what moms meant when they said, things like, “The bathroom just always smells! Just wait Jessica… just wait.”

I’d smile and secretly roll my eyes to the ignorance of what they were talking about. Two little boys, and 5 years in to parenthood… now I’M the mom saying, “Just wait dear, just wait.” But I’m tickled to death to share how we finally CONQUERED the urine smell in our bathrooms here at home!

How to get rid of the urine smell in the bathroom…

After having a normal recap-of-the-day conversation with my husband one day, I mentioned that I was flabbergasted with the bathroom smell. I had spent HOURS in the boys bathroom that day, trying to clean everything that I could think of, to get rid of the urine smell from my potty trained (But yet not the best with “aim,”) little boys.

He said, “Well have you tried “X,” “X,” and “X?” I must have looked at him like a deer in headlights with a whole new level of excitement. My husband may have helped me finally conquer the urine smell.

I immediately ran in to the bathroom, did what he suggested, and I kid you not… the urine smell was GONE!
Months. MONTHS!! I spent trying to get rid of that “smell,” in the bathroom. My husband is officially  genius. (Don’t tell him I said that.)  So now, I’m sharing with you what finally worked!

4 Sneaky Places Urine Smell Hides in your Bathroom

First and foremost, I have to say I also tackled these sneaky hiding places in the bathroom with the new Scentiva by Clorox.  Guys…have you smelled this!? One of my friends came over the other day after my recent shopping trip to Target, and saw my Scentiva “haul,” of the spray and wipes, and I had to admit that I’m in love, and had to stock up. I had her smell both scents, (Tuscan Lavender and Jasmine & Hawaiian Sunshine) and she went to the store later and bought it too. When I clean with this, the amazing smell lingers for hours. I ADORE using this in the bathroom to help make it smell delightful, PLUS is has the power of Clorox clean, (Kills 99.9% of Viruses & Bacteria, Cleans, Disinfects and Deodorizes) so it’s a win-win.

1. Remove the toilet seat lid:

My husband has been building homes for years, so he will fill me in on tricks of the trade from time to time with household fixtures, and this is one of them. I had NO idea that the toilet seat would pop off so easily, and that this was a HUGE culprit of the bathroom smelling so awful.

Disclaimer: In this post, I show you a video and photos that you may not want to see if you have a weak stomach. But I feel like I MUST share it with you, so you can see what you may be missing in your very own bathroom.

See the hinge that I’m grabbing on to there? If you have a newer toilet, you may be able to just turn and twist this to unlock it. Then, when unlocked, grab the toilet seat and pull the toilet seat up, and off.

EW! Do you see that? It’s the hidden spot that I can’t get to, when I’m performing a normal cleaning operation! The urine will sneak in the crevices and just sit there, collecting.

So I grabbed a Scentiva wipe and went to town, cleaning away! When finished wiping away, simply lay the toilet seat back down, (don’t forget to wipe down the underside of the toilet seat too), and lock back in to place.
If you have an older toilet, you may have to use a screwdriver to remove the lid. 

2. Wipe Down Surrounding Furniture

When little boys are in the bathroom, (at least my little boys) they can get curious and start looking around, not really paying attention to what’s going on. So this means that at times, they can splatter and the urine will end up splashing on the items located around the toilet. The side of the vanity, the side of the bathtub, etc. The moment that I realized that I couldn’t see the urine spatter on the tub or vanity, but that it existed… changed my whole perception of cleaning. Wipe it down, even if you don’t see it!

3. Wipe the Floor

I know how much work it can be to get out the mop, and fill the bucket full of soapy water. So I usually keep the Scentiva spray and wipes, underneath the sink, and when quickly running through the bathroom for quick cleanup, I’ll wipe the floor around the toilet. Like mentioning earlier, urine can go EVERYWHERE,  and the floor around the toilet is no exception. A quick wipe down can help prevent the urine smell. This way, you won’t have to wait until it’s time to mop again.

4. Remove the Rug

 I’ve always wanted a rug in my bathroom, because it makes it feel a bit cozy. But hear me when I say, it will be one of the sneaky spots that the urine smell will hide. If you must have a rug, (like I like to have when my kiddos get out of the bath, but sometimes forget to remove it), I toss it in the washing machine. So my advice is to get rid of the rug, or wash it regularly for sure!

So happy you stopped by! I hope you found these 4 tips helpful for getting rid of the urine smell in your bathroom!

Our Home Tour:

Now that you’ve seen the most disgusting part of our home, come take a gander at the rest on our Home Tour. I promise, no more pictures of urine on the toilet. 😉

Month in Advance, at a glance — Free Printable: An organized way to see what’s in store for you next month, so nothing will sneak up on you!

I’m not sure why, but for some reason, when a new month arrives, I feel like someone slapped me upside the head with a “surprise” of activities, events, and bills that are due. I know they’re coming, but it always seems like it’s so far off, because it’s “next month.”

I’ve found a way to help keep my sanity, and I couldn’t WAIT to share how with you. So if you’ve found yourself with the “slapped upside the head” feeling, then this free printable may be just for you too!

 Month in Advance, at a Glance: Free Printable

What about my planner? Or my phone?

I needed a one-page printable, where I could write down everything that I knew of that was coming up. Birthday parties, date nights, bills, meetings, etc. Sure, I keep a calendar on my phone to help stay organized, and my planner… but when I would want to see a whole month, I would struggle. It was either all condensed on my phone, or too spread out on my monthly planner page. (Which left me feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and the month hadn’t even started yet.) Now, this way, I can see it all clear as day, in advance, at a glance, organized in its own special little categories. Be still my heart. My organized-loving momma should be proud.

When to fill it out:

Fill out the sheet about a week before the next month arrives, (or whenever you find the time for it. Better late than never, right?) and stick it in your planner, put it on your desk, or hang it by the door you go in and out of, at home.

Download your FREE PRINTABLE HERE!

What Size to Print?

If you plan to put this in your planner like I do, you should have an option to print it out, the size that will work best for your planner. For instance: 5×7, or an 8×10 may fit perfect, depending on which planner it is that you have!

Happy monthly planning!

BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid: Without a doubt, this is my favorite Winter outfit this season. I didn’t know what I was missing until a friend recommended these leggings to me!

You know that I NEVER recommend anything to you, that I TRULY don’t recommend, right?

See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

I hope you do know that, but I felt super compelled to tell you that again today because I’m getting ready to use a term that can be taken lightly. What term? “BEST.”

BEST Leggings EVER + Red Buffalo Plaid

Holy.Smokes. After doing Stitch Fix and Trunk Club for some time now, I can STILL even comfortably say that these tights are my favorite fashion find EVER. But the thing is, I didn’t get these leggings in a subscription box. I went shopping with my “personal stylist,” friend last month, and she literally told me,

You HAVE to get these leggings. They’re the best you’ll ever find.

Leggings (No Muffin-Top, No “See-Through,” No Adjusting)

I’ll admit, I took what she said with a grain of salt, and even put them in the bottom of my closet and forgot they were in there for a few weeks. I mean, tights and leggings are all the same, right? Ummm… No. My leggings world has forever been changed.

Muffin-Top

The minute I put these on, I stood in front of my mirror… amazed. Where was my muffin-top? I always have a muffin-top when I wear tights or leggings. But not with these.

See-Through

Even talking to some of my friends, we’ve hesitated wearing leggings out in public because we were afraid you could see-through our leggings because of the thin fabric. Not with these.

Adjusting

Along with a muffin-top, I always assumed all leggings were constantly having to be pulled up over the “pooch,” and felt loose-fitting throughout the thigh. Not with these.

The Best: They stay in place, are fleece-lined (but not thick), and flatter my waistline in a way that I haven’t seen before having my first kiddo.

UPDATE: I have some bad news friends. Victoria Secret sold these, my favorite leggings, and they no longer carry them. WHY VS, WHY!?

So what I’ve done, is found similar leggings online that I HOPE will be just as good. They’re fleece, have the wider band, and even better news… way cheaper than the Victoria Secret leggings. You can buy them HERE!

Leggings // Buy similar HERE since Victoria Secret no longer carries this style.

The vest is a staple in my closet that you’ve seen before in my Trunk Club Review – Try On Video. I kind of like it, a lot. It goes with a ton of outfits and is great to have for those chilly days that I don’t want to throw on a big coat.

Cream Vest // But it HERE, although the pockets have changed a little, but I prefer the updated pocket-look!

This shirt quickly became a favorite of mine too, simply because my eye is drawn to buffalo plaid this time of year. Heck, I styled a whole stinking party in buffalo plaid last year around the holidays. See that “Favorite Things Party” HERE.

This red plaid flannel shirt is SOOO amazing on, but it’s showing sold out on H&M right now. BUT… I’ve found a similar red flannel button-up tops for you in case you’ve been looking for one too! You can see them on Amazon HERE!

Similar Red Buffalo Plaid Shirts // Buy HERE

The BOOTS! I sooo love these Hunter Boots. Even if I never wore them again, I’d still be able to say that I’ve gotten my “money’s worth,” with these. They’re the new Hunter Boot design, with a sleek style and lighter than the original boot.

When I pair them with the Hunter socks, my toes are so comfy cozy that I feel like never taking them off.

Hunter Boots // Buy HERE  |   Hunter Socks // Buy HERE

See my CURRENT favorite fashion finds, and shop my Instagram HERE!

This post was created in partnership with Ninja Coffee Bar^® System. I received complimentary products and compensation to facilitate my review, but all opinions within are my own.

DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen: An easy set-up for a small coffee station in the kitchen, dining room, or any small space in your home. Keeping it simple, and cute!

I’m slightly crushing on DIY coffee bar ideas all over Pinterest. Ok, ok, a LOT crushing on them. Ever since we moved in to our home a couple of years ago (have I mentioned that we are listing this one soon?? I know, we are absolutely CRAZY.) I’ve wanted a small designated space in our kitchen for a built-in coffee bar, for everyday coffee recipe creations and for entertaining.

Not realizing this at the time of building, I didn’t really set aside a space for such a thing. But I did have a little extra space in the breakfast nook area for a small table, that I kept my eye out for at antique shops and flea markets. The day that I found the cutest little dark brown (yes, dark brown) table at a used furniture shop, I knew she had to be mine and that she was going to be my little coffee bar table. My right-hand gal Kate (who LOVES to refinish furniture), took the table under her wing and turned it in to exactly what I imagined.

DIY Coffee Bar Ideas for the Kitchen & Entertaining

Coffee Bar Ideas:

No matter if you have a designated space or just a small space to squeeze in a few coffee bar items, I wanted to give you a few ideas of what you could do, to create a coffee bar in your home.

1. Cute Table

Think outside of the box when needing a place to store your coffee bar items. You don’t have to go big or go home when it comes to finding something cute and practical. Keep your eyes open for used furniture, or even look around your home for something that would serve as a great coffee bar table! You may be surprised at what you can find!

2. Coffee Bar Decor:

Whether it’s a small sign, a vase full of flowers, or something else that would fit the style of your home… adding a bit of decor to a coffee station can make it suddenly feel homey and “dressed up.” For our coffee bar station, I already had the “Eat Cake for Breakfast,” sign, and since I frequent the coffee bar in the morning around breakfast time… it was absolutely fitting.

I found a cute croc to store the drink stirrers in, that also helped add a bit of a decor touch.

The cupcakes?  Yeah, those are real. When entertaining, I LOVE having this coffee bar set up with fun snacks and bite-size foods for my guests.
If you’re looking to add this type of look to your coffee bar too, but don’t always want real food sitting out, you’d be SURPRISED at the artificial food that you can find at craft stores these days! Artificial donuts, bagels, cupcakes, and cookies would look so stinking cute on a coffee bar table.

3. Coffee Cups

It’s always a great idea to have coffee cups ready to go at the coffee bar station. I’m a sucker for all-matching coffee cups like the white mugs that I have here. (But don’t get me wrong, I have a ton of mismatched random cups just like you, hiding away in my cupboard.)  When having guests over, take all of the guesswork out of how to “help themselves,” by making sure everything they would need is already sitting out and ready.

4. Coffee System

Then the most important aspect of the coffee bar… a coffee system. You all, I have fallen in absolute love with the Ninja Coffee Bar® System. I’ve had my eye on this guy for quite some time, and I finally have my hands on one. Its sleek appearance looks STUNNING on my coffee bar, and doesn’t take up a ton of space. It amazes me what all this thing can do, in such a compact space.

When I gave a sneak peek on Facebook the other day of one of my first coffee’s that I made with this, I couldn’t believe the response from you all, about how bad that you’ve wanted one too.

A Few Details on the Ninja Coffee Bar® System:

You all, the set up was so easy, the moment I pulled it out of the box. I was so intimidated at first, thinking that I’d have to put it all together, and I didn’t! It was ready to go, with a quick-start guide! 

No guess-work:

It has a “Ninja Smart™ Scoop,” with it, so I can measure out exactly how much coffee to brew, for the amount that I need to make, day to day.

Big or Small Brew:

I can make a 10-cup glass carafe on the mornings that I know my husband and I will be drinking more than one cup. Or, if it’s just me at home… I can brew one cup and call it a day!

Frother:

The system includes a built-in hot and cold frother, (I LOVE this feature), six brew sizes… and five brew types (including the Ninja-exclusive Cafe Forte brew, which amplifies the flavors of your favorite coffee. I didn’t even know how GOOD coffee could taste at home, until I used this feature. I kid you not.)

Inner Barista:

Then it also came with a recipe book that has customized recipes, of fun beverages to make and experiment with! I’ll admit, my inner barista totally slips out some days.

Mmmm…. I have so much fun experimenting with different recipes. But my favorite so far? This one. A simple brew of coffee, frothed milk, topped with bits of toffee.

Easy clean-up:

It has a permanent filter, that I can just clean out when we’re done with coffee for the day, and easily get it ready for the next. No need for disposable filters.

Eeeek! I couldn’t WAIT to share my new coffee bar with you all! I hope you love it as much as we do!

30th Birthday Ideas for Him: A list of birthday gift ideas from men who were asked what they would like to receive for their 30th birthday!

30th Birthday Ideas for Him

Just a couple of years ago, I was right where you are…

What do I get my husband for his birthday!?

Before marriage it was,

What do I get my boyfriend for his birthday?

I totally get it. They can be SO hard to shop for, no matter what your relationship with them is.

Well, I wanted to put an end to all of the guessing games when it comes to 30th birthday ideas for a husband, good friend or even a brother or family member!

I polled a TON of men around the age of 30, to get to the bottom of it, and find out exactly what men really wanted for their 30th birthday. (Give/Take a few years if need be.)

One of my favorite gift ideas for him is this “I think you’re Red Hot!” Valentine’s gift “basket.” See how I made it for my hubby here for Valentine’s Day, but could be for a birthday or a “just because” gift:

For the Sports & Outdoorsman:

• Golf equipment
• Overnight trip to play at his favorite golf course with buddies. (Plan a trip with Expedia.)
• Sporting event tickets (Baseball, Football, Hockey)
• Fishing gear
• Hunting equipment
• CCW Class
• Grill
• Man-cave - Get him out of town, buy a tv or two and fix up a space just for him. When he comes back, surprise him with his friends already hanging out inside.

For the Handyman:

• Tools (Air tools)
• Large tool chest
• Tool box for truck
• Paint Sprayer
• LED Flashlight

For the Musician:

• Guitar
• Drums
• Tickets to a concert
• Keyboard/Piano

For the Professional:

• Cigars
• Necktie
• Cologne
• New pair of shoes
• Bottle of bourbon with nice glasses (Shop decanters)

For the Adventurer:

• “Escape the Box” – Check your area to see if this is offered. He can take some friends, get locked in a room with a one hour timer, and have to find all the clues to get out before the hour’s up.
• “Drive a Tank” – A place where he can drive a tank, and plow over cars, houses, and operate machines.
• A Mexico vacation – See what I did for my husband’s 30th birthday, with all of the little surprises along the way!

For Any Man:

• Favorite Cake (Cheesecake, Ice Cream Cake, or favorite flavor)
• Money to spend on himself
• Full body massage (Extra special from wife or girlfriend, but spa is nice too!)  If it will be from you, make sure you read up on the post I wrote, Preparing for a Romantic Weekend away with your Husband. You may just find a few tips for yourself in there!

I so hope you found a few gift ideas for the man in your life! It was so nice hearing from men, what they’d actually want for a gift for their birthday. I was completely shocked at how many actually spilled the beans. But that’s good news for us! Woot!

With a vest in almost every color from J.Crew, I always try to find a place for one in my daily outfit selections during the Winter! Plus, the new style of Hunter Boots!

Hunter Boot Train + Boot Socks

I’m going to admit. I didn’t really want to jump on the Hunter Boot train last year. Why? Because every rubber boot that I’ve ever tried on seemed clunky and uncomfortable. But late one night, I found myself on Nordstrom’s website, and I found the NEW Original Refind Hunter Boots. They are a sleek, thinner, more flexible rubber with a slimmer silhouette. I absolutely fell in LOVE, and had to have them.

As I threw the Hunter Boots in to my virtual shopping cart, the pretty little Original Tall Fleece Welly Boot Socks enticed me. I thought the cream fleece color would look gorge with the dark slate boots, and I am NOT disappointed! They’re not only cute, and add an extra look to an outfit, but you talk about COZY-COZY! I’m kind of looking forward to snow this year, just so I can wear the cozy little things and appreciate the warmth.

Buy the Hunter Boots HERE in Dark Slate // Buy the Hunter Tall Fleece Welly Boot Socks HERE in Cream Fleece

The first ever????

That same night, I branched out and bought my first scarf. YES, I said “first,” scarf. I never really had a desire for a scarf, because I thought they were all big and bulky which is something that I DON’T want on my top half. But when I saw that this BP. “Heritage Plaid” Infinity scarf was pretty thin, rather than bulky, and then found myself swooning over the colors, I had to have it. Now I find myself hoping it will go with every outfit, every day.
PLUS, I’m a huge fan of BP. brand at Nordstrom, because it’s more affordable than most Nordstrom items…so it just made sense.

Buy the scarf here!

Vests are Best

My husband and I adore vests. If we are getting dressed to go out somewhere, you can almost bet we will both be wearing a vest. I’m not sure what it is for him, but I feel all warm and cozy in them, and they make layering easy.
Not to mention that I can throw one on, zip it up, and hide any extra fluff around the waist line from too much white Peppermint Mocha Crunch Cake.

I love snagging a new colors of quilted puffer vests each season, and this bleached sand vest from J.Crew Factory was a steal! I’m crushing over it this season because it goes with a ton of outfits.

Buy the vest HERE!

Sweater Weather

Although they no longer have the red sweater that I’m wearing here, they do have a similar one that’s even cashmere!! I know, I know… the word cashmere is scary because that usually means a price tag that’s over $100. But this sweater is under $100, and comes in a ton of different colors! Woot!

Shop the sweaters HERE!

This photo makes me giggle. I remember exactly what I was doing when she snapped this shot. I said, “This is so awkward Megan. Why can’t I just pose like those other fashion girls that are naturals? They just turn and pose and twirl so nice. I’m just a hot mess… look.” (And she snapped it.)

Shop the look here:

(Remember, the red sweater is similar, not the one I have on in the photos.)

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2148640″]

Sympathy Gift Basket Idea: Sending necessities to those who’ve recently lost someone, so they don’t have to worry about having things on hand for guests. Sympathy Gift Basket Idea for bereavement, grieving, funeral,  and condolence.

I’ll never forget when Karen, a sweet, sweet friend of ours, sent over a gift basket FULL of necessities, when we tragically lost my husband’s father. During that time of grief, condolence, and incredibly busy time, the last thing we were thinking about, was heading to the store to stock up on paper goods.

Instead, we were spending time with those that we love, and greeting out of town guests. We were insanely blessed with fabulous comfort food, flowers, and other sympathy and remembrance gifts. But with all of the food, and guests in my in-laws home, we found a major need for paper goods, and everyday necessities. That was… until our friend Karen came over. She had a basket overflowing with everything we needed, to get back the next few days.

It was from that moment on, that I knew, when someone was going through a tragic change in their life, I would create what our friend Karen created that day. A sympathy gift basket.

Sympathy Gift Basket Idea

If you’re looking for a grieving gift basket idea, although it may not have the incredible appearance of beautiful flowers, I assure you, this gift will provide a feeling of relief for those in need.

Sympathy Gift Baskets – Content Ideas:

There are no “right,” or “wrong,” items for this gift basket, but just keep in mind when you’re shopping around, to look for things that will come in handy for those that will be spending a lot of time at home; eating, resting, hosting, etc.
Also keep in mind that the family may not be at home when you drop off the gift. So staying away from perishable items is ideal, in case you need to leave the gift basket on the doorstep.

Consider these suggestions:

• Facial Tissues
• Disposable Silverware
• Paper Plates
• Trash Bags
• Zip-top Bags
• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Aluminum Foil
• Plastic Wrap
• Sweet note/card

How to Send This to Someone Far Away…

I recently had a reader leave a comment about this gift idea, saying they wanted to send a sympathy gift basket to someone who lives far away. What she did, was ordered everything she wanted to include, from Amazon Pantry, and had it shipped to them that way. I thought that was an amazing idea!! Thank you so much for offering this brilliant idea! Shop items like this in Amazon Pantry HERE !

When I created this gift basket for a friend, I loved how the recipient could use the basket for something else later if need be. But you could easily use a gift bag instead.

If you are planning to create a gift basket, keep in mind my favorite suggestions that I told you when I created the “Box of Sunshine Gift Idea,” for making a gift basket look more appealing.

Gift Giving:

Not Home: If they’re not home when you deliver, simply place the basket in a place (out of weather), that you suspect they’ll see it upon arrival. (Keep in mind, that THEY have a lot of things on their mind, so texting/calling them just to tell them you’ve dropped a gift off, may be more bothersome than simply thinking outside of the box, and placing it in a safe location where they don’t have to “work,” to find it. Besides, you want them to find it/use it, as soon as possible because the food and guests start arriving almost immediately.)  Don’t forget a sweet card/note explaining how you hope the contents of the gift helps make their next few days a little easier, without having to worry about everyday items.

Home: If they are home when you arrive, simple explain to them how you hope the gift basket will make the next few days easier with out of town guests, and an abundance of food that will more than likely be arriving. If you have a close relationship, you may even consider putting away the items that you brought, to help ease the load a little more.

Although food and flowers are extremely thoughtful, and SO appreciated during a time of loss, you may consider this type of sympathy gift, instead of what you can almost count on a lot of others bringing to them.

A Small Gift Idea:

If you’re looking to do something a bit smaller, yet BIG with thoughtfulness, this lunch box gift is something you could do as a small gesture, when a friend may not even want to think about eating.

It’s almost as if there’s a feeling of “Now what?” as I reveal my home office makeover. Why? Because I’ve been teasing promising you for so long, that I’d have it done soon, and it seemed as if I kept finding ONE more thing that would just look PERFECT for the office, so I needed to wait one more week before the photo shoot.

I’m happy to say, I finally found that “ahhhh,” moment, and decided it was time to reveal. (You know, the day after my new white Keurig came in the mail. I had to wait for that new beauty.)

I’ve always been fond of the mint and coral color scheme, that I had in my first office reveal, in our initial home tour, when we moved in. So I left that alone, but maaaaaybe added (and improved) a few items. So now I’m super excited to show you my happy place, that people practically have to pull me out of.

Home Office Makeover Reveal

First, a quick spin through the whole office, and then we will get zoomed in on some of the specs…

That’s a brief little 360 degree tour. Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty, and some details.

The Desk: Where the Magic Happens

Ok, I shouldn’t say “magic,” but it is where I spend a lot of my “let’s get down to business,” chats. Whether that’s on Skype, or Facebook “live.” It’s also where I do a lot of concentrated work. Such as, finalizing details over a sponsored post, writing an ebook, creating an online course, or anything that needs some serious attention. Regular ole blog posts are typically created on-the-go, or in my living room on the couch, during nap time.

Desk Legs (Buy HERE) // Desk Top (Buy HERE) But double check size of what you’d need! They have multiple sizes.

Buy the chair here: White Faux Leather Swivel Chair

White Desk Chair (Buy HERE) // Gray Client Chairs (find similar HERE) // Mint Blanket (find similar: (TJ Maxx) // Gold Glitter Coasters (Buy HERE)

Desk Lamp (Target) // Pink Letter Box (Sugar Paper: Target)

Paper Flowers (Buy HERE, and they’ll custom make any color/style you like! Plus, 100% of the funds go to support kiddos in Haiti. So, so cool.)

“Hands On” Area

I’m not quite sure why I call this the “hand on,” area… but it is the area where I do most of my crafting, photo-taking, and coffee making. So “hands on,” just seems appropriate.

For my “But First Coffee,” shirts that I still make occasionally, I have all of my shipping items near my Silhouette Machine, so I can make the shirt.. and ship it out, all in one place!

** See that photo up there? We’ve been together since our freshman year, and that’s our first photo taken together, at the age of 14. I sure don’t even remember what life was like before he fell in to it.

Desk with drawers (Buy HERE) // White Shelves (Similar HERE)

So I can hear some of you now… “Seriously? You have a coffee maker in your office?” You bet. Want to know why? Because if I run out of coffee, and need to run upstairs for a refill, there’s a chance I’ll get so distracted (either by the kids or dirty dishes), and waste up to 30 minutes of my day, for one trip for a quick cup of coffee. So having it right there by me, guarantees I’ll stick to the nitty gritty of gettin’ things done.

White Keurig (Buy HERE)

Shhh… Yes, that’s RumChata in my coffee bar. How else do you think I get through the work day? Totally kidding. I promise there are other creamer options available. But at times, those RumChata creamers DO break out.

White square bin shelf (IKEA) // White Filing Cabinet (Similar HERE)

White Table (Buy HERE) // Bakeware (TJ Maxx)

Showcase It

I absolutely ADORE having all of my stationary in one place. This makes it so easy to write up a thank you note, fill out a birthday card, or replenish my planner with notepads!

I have such a crush on those spice racks from IKEA. If you saw my son’s room reveal, then you saw that I painted them dark brown to match his room, and used them as book shelves too! They’re so perfect for that!

Rolling Cart (Buy HERE) // Book Shelves (Buy HERE) I bought shelves unfinished, and painted myself.

Yes, I have a cake stand addiction. But at least I have a place for them… right!?

“Custom Built” Bookshelf (Buy the 2 outer book cases HERE & the middle book case HERE)

Inspiration & Full Tutorial from Love. Luck. Kisses. & Cake

Bible Binder from The Preppy Christian – from Jessica McLain

Magazine Holder (Sugar Paper at Target) // Cork board (.25 cents at a yard sale) Woot!

Some days I’ll spend 8 hours of uninterrupted time, down in my office. So just like someone that works away from home, I love having photos of my family to stare at, during the day-dreaming minutes. Lining the ledge are pictures from super special moments in my life, from the birth of my babies, to vacations with my hubby.

Champagne Sign (TJ Maxx) // Gumball Machine (Hobby Lobby) // Gumballs (Buy HERE)

So there it is! It’s my ultimate happy place! Now please… PLEASE don’t let me find something in at least, less than a year, that tempts me to re-do my office all over again! I just don’t think the people around me can take it! The curse of a creative mind… always wanting to change something.