favorite things

Latest Obsessions 01.20

| The Bee Life

This past weekend was a cold and snowy one, which meant it was perfect to plan a few upcoming house projects, work on some Valentine crafts and get extra snuggles in with the pups while binging the latest hot documentaries on Netflix! Which brings me to my latest obsessions, aka, all of the above.
LatestObsessions01.20-beelifeblogObsession: Getting Organized. I went to town last winter on a few projects including my kitchen pantry transformation, which I’m proud to report has maintained just as pretty  and organized as it was when I finished it up! I also worked on glamming up and organizing our linen closet on the second floor – not only have then both been more functional, they both look pretty while doing it!

Next up is my office closet; this just needs more shelves and is one of the most utilized storages spaces in the house, and houses my crafting, scrapbooking and some other office goodies. So it really needs to be functional and accessible – currently I have to unload everything to access certain containers. I think I figured out my game plan this weekend, so stay tuned for a fun before and after!

Obsession: Valentine’s Decor. I have so many fun DIYs to share to help celebrate this upcoming Valentine’s Day! I know a lot of other bloggers have been Valentine ready for the last two weeks, but I try to live a little more in the present and was still enjoying Christmas around our household until last weekend! So, from Galentine’s Day planning, to some fun fashion, to simple decor around the house.

If you’re planning and getting your house all Valentined-up, check out these fun and affordable banners at Target: Fun Heart Tassels Banner for $6 or Beaded Tassels Banner from Opalhouse for $9.99! The Opalhouse banner is a great subtle addition if you’re not overly X’s and O’s and hearts everywhere.

Are you decorating for Valentine’s Day or keeping it simple?

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P.S. If you’re looking for some good Netflix documentaries we’ve loved: Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez and Don’t F**k With Cats Hunting An Internet Killer. We also just started The Outsider on HBO and just binged Seasons 1 and 2 of Good Girls thanks to Netflix (on NBC) — and can’t wait for season 3 to air this February!

 

Image Sources: Office Closet Inspiration | Valentine Decor Inspiration | Lolly Jane Blog

Latest Obsessions 12.19

| The Bee Life

Christmas is just 5 short days away! It’s that last minute crunch to get everything perfect and ready for the big day and all the stops along the way. With last minute gifts popping up, a few more gatherings being hosted and attended, the time gets away from us quickly — so my latest obsessions are all about helping navigate threw the last minute pushes, while still enjoying the holidays and keeping yourself a priority.
LatestObsessions12.19(1)-beelifeblogEasy Brunches. We’re hosting a brunch with some friends this weekend, and then also prepping to have some easy food around for our holiday mornings — so I am pulling out the recipe for that super easy french toast casserole that I made for Easter brunch! You prep the dish and refrigerate overnight and all you have to do is stick it in the oven coming the next morning! It’s SO easy and SO yummy.

Last Minute Gifts. From stocking stuffers, to a few trinkets or two, shopping local is how I’m going to wrap up those last minute gifts that always seem to creep in. And if I can’t find just what I’m looking for at the local shops, I will break out the craft supplies and make an ornament – as that has been my go to gift the last few years and it’s so easy to make it personalized and special for whoever you’re giving it too!

Holiday Outfits. Usually I am on top of having a few of these figured out — but not this year! Everything has really creeped up on me. Luckily I have a nice variety of options to pull from and build upon.  My last minute holiday fashion guide has a mix of casual ideas paired with more party inspiration, especially if it’s a bit more dresser for work!
LatestObsessions12.19(2)-beelifeblog  Me Time. With having a bit extra time off around the holidays, I’m going to make sure to take a bit of time for me — and I hope you all try and do the same for you! I’m not going to slack off with my workout routine, in fact, my fitness studio is offering a Christmas Eve class and I am 100% pumped I’ll be able to get in a workout in time for the holidays.  On top of not compromising my workout routine, I’ll be making time to volunteer with a local dog shelter I’ve been volunteering at the last few months — the pups need a good Christmas too!

On top of prepping for brunch, getting all my last minute gifts purchased and made, I still have a lot of Christmas-ing left to do! I will be making a bunch of Christmas cookies this weekend (cut outs, gingerbread and peanut butter blossoms) and getting in a few more of those Christmas classic movies like Elf, Home Alone (for the millionth time) and even It’s A Wonderful Life (on Christmas Eve of course!).

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Latest Obsessions 11.19

| The Bee Life

November has finally been a month that B and I have been able to breathe.  Looking back at the last three months, we were literally booked everything single weekend from August through October — yikes! So needless to say, November has been a breath of fresh air with a little extra time to do more things we love, sleeping in and distressing from October.
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By finally being able to take a minute, I’ve been able to check off a few things on my to-do list (finally), make special memories and prepping for the fast approaching holiday season! These have been my latest obsessions this month.

Bathroom Organization. I’ve been trying to get my bathroom drawer stocked and organized since the beginning of October — and that’s just about how things have been going over here lately. BUT! It’s finally finished, and it’s perfect and beautiful and has a high-end feel for a small price of only $12. I wanted to make sure this bathroom was stocked for us and guests since our other main bathroom is two floors up!

Celebrating Two Years. Our anniversary was this past Monday, so B and I did a bit of celebrating and created new memories this year since we were actually home and not in sunny, Palm Springs. We went out Saturday to one of our favorite spots for dinner and drinks, then popped a bottle of bubbly when we got home. Monday we exchanged gifts – B really knocked it out of the park by creating roses out of cotton rounds (picture above), something he thought of all on his own.  He also had the vows he wrote me, but never shared since we had a Catholic ceremony, on cotton paper! These were the first time I read them and they were funny, sweet and brought me back to two years ago. We also went out to brunch and had a nice dinner at home that night!

Holiday Ready. …Well almost! I am trying to get there.  I’ve gotten a little jump start on some shopping and just started buying stuff, as I’m normally a December shopper. These next few weeks will be busy with Thanksgiving and then immediately jumping into December and hosting our annual holiday party.  So I’m getting my lists ready with ALL the things — from making a dairy free pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving to picking a day to get our Christmas tree! I’m excited for the holidays, but want them to go slow.

What’ve you been obsessing over lately? Are you stressing over the holidays or easing into them like me?

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Latest Obsessions 10.19

| The Bee Life

If you just saw my October Weekend Roundup — you know that this month has been nonstop for us.  That post didn’t include the late nights working, family drama, bouts of stress/anxiety and early morning workouts — but don’t worry I’ll be opening up on some of the not so fabulous things soon, because I’m all about sharing the trials and tribulations of this bee life.  So all in all, October has been a mixed bag when it comes to obsessions, but a lot of them have been a bit more on the personal side this month.
LatestObsessions1019-beelifeblogSo with all the things happening, some amazing and some stressful, I’ve tried to focus on the positive, with a side of pumpkins and a bit of love.

My Fitness Routine. I have been feeling it, I’ve jumped in hot this October and am feeling great. In turn, I’ve also started to focus and streamline my food more.  I’ve been packing lunches consistently, having a light breakfast and not over indulging too much.  It has felt good to be back into a routine, and getting my butt out of bed, getting up on the weekends and even putting in extra work to make sure I’m getting those workouts in each week.

Basic Bee in the Fall. Yup, guilty! I’ve been loving up on all things fall, from all of our October fun, to rocking the booties, ponchos, and buying all the pumpkins and mums for our front porch. The leaves have also changed instantly overnight, so the runs and drives have been serving.  Even loving on the fall eats and drinks with pumpkin latte’s from our favorite local spot.

Two Years. With October coming to an end, I can’t help but look forward to November and all the love that this month brings. B and I will be celebrating our second wedding anniversary and I can’t help but feel all the feels — while also trying to plan a few surprises for B in the meantime to celebrate!

What things have you been focusing on this month?

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Latest Obsessions 09.19 – Leopard Everything

| The Bee Life

My love for leopard print has increasingly grown over the last few years. I started my obsession small with a muted-grey long leopard print sweater off Amazon and then more recently a more traditional printed cardigan from Marshall’s that was a steal for $12. So this fall, Leopard Print is fricken hot and EVERYWHERE I turn. I want it all. So, to help serve all of our Leopard Print obsessions this fall fashion season, here are some quick links to shop with high-to-low price points for all those leopard print must haves!
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OK, Let’s Splurge! You know, those pieces that you’d buy instantly if you had $300 just laying around? There are two ways of splurging; (1) just do it or (2) wait until it goes on sale! I am usually the ladder but do believe in treating yourself every now and again.  So if you want to splurge on leopard – Anthropologie and Kate Spade have endless options for all your leopard print fixes. I love this Anthro Georgia Turtleneck Sweather with the fatter print, but they also have smaller prints with pops of color, pants and even a cashmere leopard print sweater tee… *jaw drops* …like anything you could ever want is there, which pretty much goes for Kate Spade too.
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Let’s Be Real. Since we just can’t buy $150 leopard print sweaters every other day, let’s look at a few pieces that are a bit more on the everyday level. So Target, Old Navy and Nordstrom Rack are more real speed. I first spotted this Who What Wear Crewneck Sweater at Target a month back, and haven’t stopped thinking about it ever since and at $32.99 it’s a fair price point. These slip on sandals from Nordstrom Rack are a good transition from summer into fall, and they’re leopard print!  Finally, I love this muted oversized jacket from Old Navy, it can be casual, but also screams power suit.
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Bring on the deals! These pants from Old Navy, were also spotted mid-summer when I just wasn’t ready to fully transition into fall – well guess what they’re on sale now!  So go and add them to your shopping cart and maybe order another pattern too.  Amazon Fashion has started booming and pricing has started to get more competitive, but there are still a few steals that are hard to pass up, especially when there are free returns. I sort of love this simple tee with a fun pop of leopard with the pocket square for a little more understated way to bring that pop of sass. The last deal to shop is this fun long sleeve leopard dress for $20 – it looks so comfy and will transition nicely into colder months with leggings and booties.
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Literally everywhere I turn, I was in Kohl’s and leopard print everything – then Anthropology popped up in my Insta feed with those beautiful leopard sweaters.  So that is what I have been obsessing over lately and what I’ll continue obsessing over this fall fashion season and getting a few fabulous leopard pieces to add to my growing collection.  What is your next leopard fashion purchase?

Happy Shopping!

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Summer to Fall Essentials

| The Bee Life

There’s no doubt that as the seasons change, we have to adapt a few of our essentials – from staying extra hydrated during the heat to doubling up on hand lotion as the days grow colder.  We also switch up accessories, like our everyday handbag or stick with our classic pieces that work all year round. So here is a break down of a few of my latest daily fall essentials!
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Can you say hello fashion backpacks? I recently transitioned my everyday handbag into a convenient, cute and styling backpack that is not only functional but easy to wear.  I snagged mine at BJ’s Wholesale for $29.99 and it’s the perfect tan leather for fall, while also staying classic for other seasons. Here is a similar tan styled backpack from Target.

Glam Monogram & Mascara. These are two of my staples, no matter what the season. I love my oversized monogram letter ‘W’ (and sometimes I sport the ‘B’) for a classic statement piece while still being a bit understated.  And once I have my mascara on, I’m ready to conquer the day! With these two finishing touches, I am ready for anything – even with the added stress.

Workout Gear & a Ball Cap.  Since I’ve been back into my workout routine (slowly but surely!) I’ve come to get back into workout clothes as my essentials to help conquer my workouts.  My go-to outfit is a strappy sports bra, flowy tank and capri workout tights.  I’ve also been loving baseball caps, they’re perfect for after workout errands to cover up sweaty gross hair (or even after the spa!), keep the sun out on those afternoon or early morning runs and also are just super cute to dress down a casual look on the weekends.

Anti-Stress Fighters & Immune Health.  I mentioned I’ve been a bit stressed out lately, which has caused a few unwanted breakouts – I’ve been using my cleanproof, deep-cleaning charcoal mask by Mary Kay for a little extra fight against those nasty pimples.  Valerian Root is also my go-to at bedtime to help turnoff all those swirling thoughts that always seem to linger especially at night.  And, I’ve shared my love for Echinacea before and I am definitely not a Doc, but I swear by it and take it daily.
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So there you have it, these are my essentials as the transition from fall to summer starts, to keep that workout routine consistent, to help stay beautiful and feeling confident while also keeping up my immune and mental health! What are some of your essentials?

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Latest Obsessions 08.19 – Faux Plants

| The Bee Life

I’m coming clean – I may or may not have a slight addiction with faux plants, as they’ve been my latest obsession.  Ever since our bathroom remodel and adding those finishing touches faux plants have been the answer to help spruce of the space since it’s in our basement!  So, I’ve been on the hunt, looking for great deals while also finding stuff to compliment the space. The ones that didn’t find a home for in the bathroom, have found homes in our basement living room helping give it a bit more life to this darker space.
Latest Obsessions - faux - beelifeblog(1) I haven’t really been a big fan of faux plants or flowers, just greenery around the holidays, until now and that’s because I think the faux plant industry as seriously picked up their game. There are so many more options available, that are beautiful, life like and are now available in an endless number of stores, from Marshall’s, to Target and even craft stores like Michael’s.  From succulents, to cactus or fig trees you can really create a statement in spaces were these real life creatures might not survive or if you want a low maintenance option for you living space – and all sort of styles and sizes.
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Guess what! There are end of season deals on some of these more summery faux plants – so I’ve shopped a few steals for you to keep an eye on when you’re out and about that I’ve taken advantage of our am about too!

Michael’s Craft Store: 6ft Dieffenbachia Tree originally $200 now $40 – style this in a fun basket and you’ve got an awesome statement.  Mini mixed cactus plant pot originally $20 now $4 or this mini succulent plant pot originally $15 now $3 (check stores for availability) I stocked up on these when I saw them severely price cut in stores and bunched them in our basement bathroom on the window sill, even one within the shower stall window! It really gives it a spa-like feel.

Target Opalhouse: 19×14″ Artificial Orbit Peacock Plant in Pot Green/White originally $24.99 now $12.48 in select stores (and other plants too!). I couldn’t pass up this 50% discount, plus it was a decent size to add a little more umph than a table top succulent.  I knew this guy would have a spot in our basement living room (pictured above).

TJMaxx: 36″ UV Proof Rubber Plant in Ceramic Pot originally $49 now $39 OR this 39″ potted cactus originally $99 now $75.  Before I settled on the stems and mini succulents for the bathroom, I REALLY wanted to get a massive cactus for that corner, but the numbers and the size I wanted to make an impact were a bit out of my budget (like this 5ft one from Target, still a hefty $129.99) – so I figured my alternate solution and maybe if I see one I like on sale I’ll go for it!
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I’ve also started to have a little fun with stems and styling those with various vases or even baskets – there are so many fun ways besides the traditional planter that faux plants (and real for that matter) can be dressed up to fit into your home – plus you can find them pretty affordable, without the worry of killing off a cool looking plant. SO! I have to know, have you been on the faux plant train for awhile? Or you a new found convert like me?

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Latest Obsessions 07.19

| The Bee Life

It’s HOT in the SUMMER and oh how I love it, so much! So let my latest obsessions, summer edition continue into the month of July – because I am just eating it all up. One thing about summer is it always makes me want to travel, and coming fresh off a trip the travel bug is still lingering, hot! On the opposite side of that, because the weather has been so great we’ve been loving our outdoor living space and soaking up as much sun and summer nights as possible in our own backyard oasis.
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Summer 2020 Travel Plans:  With a bigger trip falling through that we had on our radar for next summer, my wheels have already started turning for another big trip or multiple little ones to fill in the gap.  2020 is going to be a big year – so as much as I hate thinking about it and rushing away 2019, it is definitely going to be one that calls for some planning! Speaking of 2019 – we still have a few more trips queued up and are still swooning from the west coast, lush Portland was definitely an awesome trip!

Our Backyard Oasis: We’ve been a bit obsessed with our back patio and using it as much as possible, from eating dinner, snacks, to late nights sitting with music playing and drinks flowing until it’s time for bed! On the weekends, it’s honestly been weird to sit around inside for too long unless it’s first thing in the morning.  Moz loves it too, she gets all the sun spots!

Running Routine: I’m slowly getting back into my running and fitness routine! It’s been a slow start to 2019 and even slower start this summer – my June Fitness Friday post shares the latest updates from pulling my back, to physical therapy and now getting back to it.  Although this might be one thing I don’t love about summer, is running in the heat – so I’m pushing through and making myself still run!

What’re your favorite things about summer?

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Latest Obsessions 06.19

| The Bee Life

The first day of summer was this past Friday and the weekend weather that followed was absolutely perfect with the perfect amount of sunshine – 100%. So with summer comes a lot of my most favorite things, like bubbles (the alcoholic type), cookouts and grilled dinners, late nights catching up with friends, s’mores, walks with the pup and vacations!
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Not your ordinary s’mores: Oh my gosh, I will never eat a traditional s’more ever again! I created the ultimate s’mores board a few weeks ago – which is basically a charcuterie board of s’mores, fancy dark chocolate, reese cups, sprinkles and caramel sauce. YUM! To get the full break down and your inspiration check out my post: Ultimate S’mores Board

Vacay Ready Wardrobe: With a few trips coming up I can’t help but want a few new outfits to show off in my vacation destinations.  My latest Amazon Fashion review is a sneak peak at a few of my vacay wardrobes, but I also broke down my tips for getting the perfect Vacation Ready Wardrobe before your next trip!

Cookouts without the Carbs: We’ve been grilling out a lot and eating burgers has been a big part of that! But we have been ditching the fries and the buns and opting for healthier options like fresh berries, and romain leaves as our burger buns – after my week of low-to-no carbs we’ve both been super conscious about what we’re eating and drinking.  So instead of beers, we’ve been drinking hard seizures, lots of regular water, and of course my champagne.

What’re your favorite things about summer? Comment below!

Happy Summer!

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