lifestyle

Holiday Hacks – Make A Statement

| The Bee Life

One of my favorite things about the holidays is presents! But no… probably not what your thinking – I love WRAPPING presents… seriously, it’s all about the presentation.  Although my wrapping game isn’t quite up to par with what I’d like it to be… I’m getting there. So if your like me, and like to make a statement with your presents, and include them as part of your decorations under the tree – here are some easy hacks to do just that!
Bee Holiday Hacks - Statement - the bee life
Pick a Theme or Color Palette. This can tie into the decor of your home if your planning to use these are decor under the tree. Often times I’m inspired by a specific ornament or even spotting some gift wrap in the store and working around that to pick my theme for the year!

Get Wrapping Paper for Each Person/Categories. I know; this is getting a little crazy but I like to wrap all of B’s presents in his very own wrapping paper – this leaves out the need for 20-different name tags.  This could be done by family (yours vs. his) or by person if you have enough variety in your paper selection.

Stock-up on Tags/Ribbon when you See a Good Deal.  And it doesn’t have to be Christmas! I stocked up on a bunch of tags after Valentines day, they were gold, and bright pinks – they’ve come in clutch throughout the year and I’m sure I’ll throw a few gold ones on gifts this year too.  Always be on the look out and stock-up especially if you see one of a kind options at Marshalls or TJ Maxx. Or better yet, print your own with these free printable Christmas tags! Don’t be afraid to keep it simple too and make a statement with ribbons, tags, or greenery.

Invest in some Good Tape. This is a fault of mine; because I scrapbook and go through a lot of tape, therefore I just stock-up at the Dollar Store – however I’ve come to find that this tape and some of the fancy, thicker wrapping paper I’ve picked up don’t go well together.

This is a fun way to spread some extra cheer and make a statement with family and friends.

Photo Source: Cosmopolitan

Fitness Friday 11.17

| The Bee Life

It’s that time of the month to check in and reflect on our fitness goals, our journey to a healthy 2017. Have you been sticking in there? Have you been reaching your goals?

I’m writing today, a bit stunned, yet so proud of all I’ve been able to accomplish. The last few years have been such a constant roller coaster to try and get on track with a healthy routine and consistent exercise. And finally, finally after nearly over a year I am seeing amazing results and I’m actually meeting my goals – goals I wanted so bad but wasn’t confident in achieving. Why? Because for 7-months I got stronger and made progress, but small progress and never saw the number move at all.
Fitness Friday 11.17 - the bee lifeThis past week I had another health assessment with my trainer, and from where I started to where I am now… and what I even accomplished in the last 2-months, I finally made it over the hump! So much so that I was even named the October Client of the Month, a secret goal of wanting to see my name on the board these last 9-months.

So moral of the story. Don’t give up. Keep pushing strong. Work to see progress and track it. Relish in your new strengths. Challenge yourself. Kick ass.

 

Cabi – Fall/Winter Fashion Preview

| The Bee Life

This past weekend, I was lucky to have a preview of Cabi’s Fall/Winter 2017 fashion line.  If you haven’t been introduced to the world of Cabi, let me introduce you. It’s a modern way to shop for clothes in the comfort of your own home, with your friends and a personal stylist – not to mention a limited wardrobe so not everyone will have the same clothes!

Cabi offers two clothing lines each year; Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter – the pieces and color themes translate from line to line allowing for you to expand outfit options and your wardrobe to a cohesive closet full of style and comfort.
Cabi - Fall_Winter 2017
My Favorite Pieces this Season:  Lineup Legging; should be a staple in every women’s closet.  The Flashdance Dress; feels like you’re wrapped up in a fleece blanket, not to mention it’s super cute! Pair this with the Frosty Vest, some tights and booties and you’ve got the perfect date night outfit!  If you’re looking for a piece to feel like a boss in the boardroom, consider the Tailor Coat. The Regiment Pullover is the perfect transition for summer nights into fall, plus the color blocking on the sides is SO FLATTERING.  Another much needed staple for your closet is the Chill Tee, you’ll never be the same after trying this one on!

Full disclosure; I am guilty every season of looking at the pieces online and thinking, ehh there isn’t too many pieces I like or would want to try. But then, I see the pieces in person and feel how soft they are and I crumble and instantly have a list of almost everything! So don’t check these off as easy, as you might!

So how do you Cabi?  There are stylists all over the U.S. and you can schedule shows with them and you invite your girlfriends, and they come over show all the pieces of the collection with different styling options.  Not to mention this is a pretty rad company made by women, for women and run by women.

Enjoy the full collection; here!

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats – The Recipe

| The Bee Life

Happy Friday! Today I am sharing with you my first pass at Overnight Oats. Yes, I finally bit the bullet and tried this craze.  I was hoping to share two recipes with you, but I didn’t love the one – and why share stuff with you all that I don’t love?! The best part about this recipe is, it tastes delicious, it’s a little sweet, it’s dairy free, and easy for on the go! Overnight Oats - the bee lifeWhat You’ll Need:
– 1/2 cup of rolled oats
– 3/4 cup of almond milk
– 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
– 3 tbsp. of grated carrot
– 1 tbsp. of maple syrup
– 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
– Shredded coconut for topping

Step-by-Step:
1. Place all dry ingredients into a small, air tight container (mason jars seem to be the most popular!) then stir the dry ingredients together.
2. Next, add the almond milk and stir so that it’s mixed well.
3. Seal with lid, and place in fridge overnight (or at least 2-3 hours)
4. Top oats with coconut topping, as much or as little as you’d like!
5. Enjoy!

I’m still curious about these overnight oats, so I’m sure I’ll be trying a few other recipes! Not to mention I am a horrible planner in the mornings for breakfast, so this is good for morning workout days.  What are your favorite overnight oat recipes? Please leave a comment below!

End of Summer – Bucket List

| The Bee Life

I know, I know, I hate to say it, but being the second day of August, Fall is quickly around the corner. And although we were fortunate to take 2-great vacations, there are still a lot of things I want to do! So to keep summer going, I’m sharing my end of summer bucket list to stay motivated and to soak up as much sun as possible!
Summer Bucket List - the bee life

  1. Patio date night:  This one is a two-part deal. I want B and I to have a night out on our new patio with our fire pit, a bottle of champagne, and just talk the night away. The second part would be going out and enjoying another intimate patio at a favorite restaurant with some cocktails and small plates.
  2. Enjoy downtown: Since we both work downtown, we don’t always make it back out, so planning a weekend night or Sunday afternoon perusing the city is a must.
  3. Watch the sunset at the beach: Easy enough and something we don’t nearly take advantage of being so close to the beaches.
  4. Take Moz on more walks: I don’t want our busy schedules to get in the way of getting Moz out for a walk!
  5. Go to a baseball game: Surprisingly we haven’t gotten to a ball game yet this summer, and it just isn’t summer without a stadium hot dog and the seventh inning stretch!  We’ve already made plans with friends to get to one.
  6. Lay out in the sun: My early summer tan is fading! And a good afternoon in the sunshine is always the perfect fix to any summer blues… or fading tans.
  7. Go golfing: With B of course! I’m not an avid golfer, but I always enjoy it, so a round of 9 holes would be fun.
  8. Kayaking: We went kayaking last summer and it was the perfect activity to jump start a weekend morning and enjoy the water.
  9. Weekend at the cabin: We’ve been so busy that this might end up being a fall activity, but it’s been a yearly tradition so we have to get back and turn off for a weekend.
  10. Finish some books: I’ve started a few books, that I need to finish! Even though I enjoy reading, unless I have dedicated travel time, reading is a forced thought. I need to finish, Big Little Lies, 16th Seduction and Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.

It’s already going to be a busy end to the summer, so I hope sprinkling in a few of these bucket list items will be fun and welcomed! What’s on your end of summer bucket list?

Weddings: Creating Your Sweetheart Table

| The Bee Life

One trend that seems to be increasingly popular is the idea of a sweetheart table for the bride and groom. I’ve read a few articles about the pros and cons of having a sweetheart table, and I am sure each bride and groom have their own reasons. For us, it’s simple. We have a small bridal party, and I think it would silly to make them sit without their sig-o’s at a table! Plus I love the idea of B and I having our own intimate spot to sit together and watch the magic of our wedding unfold.

And since we’re doing a sweetheart table, I wanted to do it right, which means pulling in the key elements to really make a statement with our table. Those key pieces to help make your sweetheart table standout are; the chair(s), floral accents, pop of personalization, and placement. Creating Sweetheart Table - the bee lifeThe Chair: Consider a furniture rental vendor that has awesome vintage chairs or a bold settee, these will stand out from the rest of your chairs in the venue signifying these are for the bride and groom.

Floral Accents: My personal favorite for a sweetheart table is a garland floral arrangement. This adds texture and depth to your table, while also calling it to be different from the rest of the tables.  Also consider bold arrangements that could be placed along side the tables or back flanking the space.

Pop of Personalization: The go-to seems to be adding Mr. & Mrs. on top of the table or a sign hanging from the back of the chairs. But consider other meaning full words that might be used or even using the initial of your new last name to make a bold pop.

Placement: When considering all of these elements for your sweetheart table, think about where this will be – if you’re going to have signs on the back of your chairs, will your chairs be in a place that others will be able to view and admire? Is a floral arch behind your table going to flow with the space or look out of place?  You can also work to make your sweetheart table to be the focal point of the venue if it’s lack luster our outdoors.

Pulling these key elements together will create a special place for you and your groom to dine to enjoy your first meal as husband and wife! Happy planning!

Image Source Inspiration: Top Left | Top Right | Bottom Left | Bottom Right

Latest Obsessions 05.17

| The Bee Life

Here’s what I’ve been completely obsessing over lately, spoiler alert, the theme of everything may or may not be summer. Yes, I am jonesing for warm weather and the perfect entertaining pieces from kitchen to patio.
Latest Obessions 05.17 - the bee life
Sources: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 

Lemon Patterned Everything.  From kitchen towels, to serving trays, to wrapping paper, a lemon pattern is bright and cheery, timeless and refreshing.  Kate Spade is currently feeding this obsession and has a lot of perfect lemon patterned pieces for entertaining, and the better part is you can go all out lemons or just buy a few key pieces to play off neutrals.

Patio Furniture. Spoiler, our latest home project is a back patio at our house.  Since we will have true, dedicated space for a patio and dining area, we now need to find the perfect mix that’ll be able to entertain a decent number of friends for impromptu family occasions or neighbor hangs.  I keep going back between more of a outdoor sectional vs. the traditional conversation set with a love seat and chairs.

Outdoor Entertaining. Staying on theme, I’ve been a bit obsessed with finding cute plasticware for outdoor parties and entertaining. In addition to that, upgrading and finding some cute plastic plates and finding a nice outdoor tray has been on my to-do list as well. Home Good’s is definitely going to be my go-to for this, I’m just waiting to pull the trigger.

What have you been obsessing about lately? Are you completely ready for summer mode too?

10-Miler Recap

| The Bee Life

Yesterday was the 10-Miler race I attempted to start training for back in February, but if you’ve been reading along on my fitness journey it’s been an up and down struggle for the last year… or two… so getting into a consistent workout routine has been the primary goal, and struggle. Long story short – it was ambitious, I didn’t do well with training, but I have gotten into a consistent workout routine with boot camp and am starting to incorporate other workouts, like running! So how did the 10-Miler go… well I hadn’t trained last year and impressed myself, and I did it again this year.

Race Recap
Approaching Mile 8

I beat my time from last year by 2-minutes, didn’t stop, and finished strong! It was a chilly morning, especially starting right next to the lake, but luckily as we got deeper into the course was able to hide from the wind a bit.  Of course B left me in the dust before we even hit mile one! But he was waiting at the finish line for me, and jumped out and finish  with me! He ended up beating his time from last year and kicked butt, too.

Finishing any race is always an awesome accomplishment but when it’s an significant mileage it always feels that much more awesome. We are looking to sign up for a half marathon before the year is over to keep pushing ourselves and getting back into our old running habits. We were done with our race by 10AM and had the rest of the day to brunch, soak up the sun, and socialize with family and friends!

Balancing Life

| The Bee Life

Work: “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.”

Life(style): “the way in which a person or group lives.”

Balance: “an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.”

Work - Life
With no major vacation this year, I am having some serious struggles with my work-life balance, not to mention my workout routine has been nonexistent, and I hate it.

Being able to workout and maintain a healthy lifestyle is something that is important to me, although it mostly annoys me that cost and work get in the way of a large portion of things that make me happy and used to be a huge aspect of my day-to-day routine. Knowing that I am essentially gym-less and on my own to get some motivation (and have to work) I decided to put together a list of items to be more cognizant of starting ASAP at home and at work (because complaining gets you nowhere).

Life

  • Morning workouts & weekend runs: Waking up an hour earlier to do a set of exercises for 30-40 minutes in the morning is more than I am currently doing – taking advantage of free time on the weekends will balance out anything missed during the week
  • Breakfast & Coffee at home: Waking up earlier will allow time to prep a breakfast and make coffee, so that I won’t be tempted by Starbucks which is in the lobby of my office building
  • Walks with Moz: A quick walk at the end of the day allows for the extra motivation and fresh air – maybe even a quick walk in the morning
  • Yoga before bed: I have a 10-minute yoga routine I do occasionally before bed, it needs to happen more often
  • Weekly scrap-booking: It’s something I love to do and don’t do enough up, I have a lot of catching up to do!  Even if it’s 30-minutes a week

Work

  • Afternoon fresh air: A quick walk around the block to break up the afternoon and recharge will take 5-10minutes out of the day but have a lasting effect
  • Packing a lunch & snacks: Will allow for me to save money and not be tempted by a quick sub or the leftovers in the cafe
  • Stay above the crap: It’s so easy to get sucked in or be the hitting board for someone’s bad day – remembering to stay above that and not sweating the small stuff
  • Drinking more water: No explanation needed

I want to start with little items that can be accomplished in order to stay focused and not get overwhelmed, creating good habits is half the battle – so starting small makes sense.  How do you maintain a good balance between life and work?