Last Weekend of May?!!!!

Hello Lovies!!!

Wow!! I can't believe this is the last weekend of May already!! Where has the time gone?

Home

Front Foyer Part 2

Here is the Hemnes shoe cabinet, and it has cleared all the shoe clutter quite nicely!!

Fashion

Although I like the idea of this look, I am not happy with how short this sweater is.

Verdict: Kept the skirt and blouse, but donated the sweater.

Food/Drink

New Recipe Part 2

The Asparagus and Pea Pancakes were DELICIOUS!!! These pancakes have more of a savoury flavour which I felt would be better for either a late brunch or dinner, rather than breakfast, which is what they are listed as in the cookbook. The sauce called for fat-free greek yogurt but I used low-fat sour cream instead which would probably add 1 Smart Point™ to the recipe for a total of 8 Smart
Points™rather than 7.

I served them with turkey sausages for a great savoury side! 

Favourite Things

My new obsession: Kate Spade.

Hubby got me this Kate Spade tote bag as a gift...Thanks Honey!!

Inspiration

Is it selfish to help yourself before helping others? 

Many people were raised to believe that helping yourself before others is selfish. However, according to the Oxygen Mask Theory, if you are in a plane and the oxygen masks come down due to loss of pressure, you are directed to put your oxygen mask on first before helping even your children. The premise behind this is that if you give your children oxygen first and you die of asphyxiation, your children will be without a parent. What good does that do? 

Before you can help others, you need the energy to be able to be of assistance...you need to care for yourself in order to be of help to others...NOT the other way around. 

Have a great week and see you in June!!

Remember, I am always your friend,

NJ 😘

Pampering, a recipe and a shoe cabinet, oh my!!

Hello Lovelies!!

A recipe to try, a messy foyer and leopard print are just a few of the things covered this week!

Home

Front Foyer Part 1

Right now we have two shoe racks in the foyer as well as on in the coat closet: Clutter anyone?

To remedy this, we will be buying a Hemnes shoe cabinet (come back to see it in part 2).

Fashion

Classic Print.

I love me some leopard print...it is classic, sassy and sophisticated all at once!! However, you can have too much leopard on at once...as in this scarf. I love me a scarf (actually I am addicted to them), but this one is itchy as it has weird threads to create texture.

The top I kept but I donated the scarf. 

Food/Drink

New Recipe Part 1

Recipe from Weight Watchers™ Year Round Fresh cookbook.

I can't wait to try these savoury pancakes!! Come back next week for my review of the recipe

Favourite Things

I just got this personalized bracelet from Stella & Dot.

You can personalize it yourself many different ways.

Inspiration

Self-care is not always encouraged while growing up, but it is becoming an important way to advocate for your own mental health. It can come in many ways such as a day at the spa or from doing yoga to relax your mind and pamper yourself!!

See you next week and remember...

I am always your friend.

NJ 😘

(Almost) All About Books!

Hello Lovelies!!

How was your week? I have been getting over this cold, finally!!

Home

I am currently reading this design book:

It is a little more "Shabby Chic" than I like, but its message of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is right up my alley! I am trying to keep my consumption to a minimum, and this book has some great ideas for reusing pieces from around the house.

Fashion

Culottes, although comfortable, are too short for my short-waisted-pear body type. They make my legs look even shorter than they actually are...

However, they are great to workout in, so they have been relegated to my workout wardrobe.

Food and Drink

This week I wanted to showcase a recipe book from Weight Watchers that focuses on recipes that incorporate what foods are in season!!

I will show which recipe we start with next week.

Favourite Things

This week, my favourite thing is "The Power of Now" by Ekharte Tolle.

This book changed my life!!

I used to be so worried about the future, on top of fretting about the past. This book changed the way I thought about living. I learned that the only time I can control is NOW, and the only thing I can control is how I react to events and people in my life...but not the events or people themselves!

Inspiration

Panache Desai is one of my favourite inspirational speakers. I follow him on Facebook, and I hope to someday attend one of his talks live.

This quote is about those things we work so hard to fight or keep secret about ourselves. I have learned that the more I fight my demons, the harder they try to show themselves, and in the worst possible way and time. Do not fight or resist your thoughts or feelings...let them out into the light (in a safe place) and let them flow...you will find that they aren't as bad as you originally thought. By fighting them, they seem a lot worse than they actually are.


Thank you for visiting, and remember I am...

Always your friend,

NJ 😘

New Month, new beginnings!!

Hello Lovelies!!!

Okay we are fully into the beginning of May and a new blogging strategy!!

So lets get started!!!

Home

So I am currently working on organizing and decluttering my home. I started with an area that is constatntly an issue...my bedside dresser.

It is a pitstop for reading, relaxing, etc. However, it is often far from relaxing as it is also a pitstop for clutter.

Ideally, I want an area for reading and winding down before bed, whilst telling a story of who I am, as well as what I dream about for the future.

(Image courtesy of Pinterest)

I just need to add some framed photos and pictures and maybe some floral accents...

Fashion

The Great Closet Purge (Image #2)

So...the top, although nice, is not very comfortable and does not hit at a good spot on my hips. I do not like the top enough to hem it a half-inch.

Verdict: Donate

The skirt flows nicely from my hips and I love the de-contructed style of the exposed-seam texture. It gives the skirt visual interest that it wouldn't have otherwise.

Verdict: Keep

Food & Drink

Making a side dish the main event!!

I took a package of Knorr Sidekicks® Garlic Alfredo Spaghetti and added sautéed minced garlic, red and yellow peppers and yellow onions.

A dash of Parmesan cheese and Voilà!! A simple and easy way to take a literal Sidekick® to a main
entrée.

Favourite Thing

As you have already seen, I am thoroughly addicted to wooden watches!! I order them online from TreeHut.co (I do not do affiliate marketing).

My latest acqusition is this week's favourite thing!!

Inspiration

(Image courtesy of Google Images)

Happiness is often thought of an elusive goal, that never seems to be reached no matter how many goals we set and meet: "If I lose 50 pounds I will be happy." I once thought that losing weight was my journey towards being happy...but as it turned out, I looked great, and was miserable!! All I could think about was how many calories food I ate was..all the time!!

Ironically I am above the weight I was when I first set out on my weight loss goals, and yet I am a much happier person. Why you ask? I have learned that Happiness isn't a thing to be attained, but a choice to be made!! It is a A CHOICE YOU  CAN MAKE EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!!


Okay lovelies...let me know how you like the new weekly blog post (and daily teaser posts 😉)

Always your friend,

NJ 😘

Hello May!!

Hello Lovelies!!

I have been a bad blogger!!  I don't know about you, but April has kicked my ass!!!

Between the winter-like weather here in Alberta, to stressful days at work to getting not just one flu, but two!! Lucky Me!!

Add to that, my mom fell and broke her leg...and so we went to the hospital to visit her, and that is where I got flu #1. Hubby got sick as well and that is where I got flu #2!! I am still sick as a dog, but life goes on!!

So, needless to say, I am sooooooo ready to say hello to May!!

(Image courtesy of 10,000+ Wallpapers App)

And with the new month, comes a new blogging strategy...I am going to do a weekly blog showcasing topics such as: Home, Fashion, Food and Drink, Inspirational things, and finally, my Favourite Things, both new and old.

Right now I am working on two projects in respect to decluttering: my closet which falls into the Fashion category (The Great Closet Purge), and the rest of my home which falls into home care and decorating.

Food and Drink will cover anything from food and drink recipes to great places to eat and hang out with my besties!!

Favourite Things will encompass anything and everything that I love!!

To end each week and start a new one, will be inspirational images and messages.

Through the week I will do quick posts of what will be coming up in the next week.

Okay Lovelies, there you have it...I hope you will come along with me on this new journey!!

Always your friend,

NJ 😘

The Great Closet Purge Post #1

Hello Lovelies!!

So did you check out the Adore Your Wardrobe Website? We are on lesson #8: Create a Closet You Adore. Well, with all the clothes I have in my closet this will be a looooooong process!! I thought to myself..."Hey why don't you turn that into a blog series?"

So "The Great Closet Purge" series is born and starting with this post!

The skirt is from Old Navy. The stripes add width to my hips which I do NOT need. What was I thinking??? I like the colours, but horizontal stripes on my bottom half...not a good idea!

Verdict: Donate

The shirt is from Fairweather. It is cream and perfect for me because I am warm. It is light and comfortable. It is totally casual and great as a light layer in summer.

Verdict: Keep

What do you think?

Always your friend,

NJ 😘

Saturday Musings

Hello Lovelies!!

Wow! Here it is Easter and we are already halfway through April!!

Do you celebrate this holiday?

Now that I am an adult, I really don't celebrate beyond going for dinner. I am not a religious person and besides Christmas, I do not observe other religious holidays. When it comes to Good Friday and Easter, I have conflicting feelings. I will leave it at that as I was not intending to do a post about neither Easter nor Religion.

Decluttering:

I have picked up a book about decluttering and organizing that has a lot of great ideas and has given my project of letting go a renewed purpose.

I am still going to let go of things everyday for the most part, but not posting it everyday.

Adore Your wardrobe:

I left off just before Lesson #6: Rule of Four.

Kelly Snyder gives an introduction to the Rule of Four on her website Adore Your Wardrobe.

Please check it out, it is quite enlightening even if you don't purchase her course (although totally worth the price, I thought anyway).

Inspiration:

(Image courtesy of Real Simple and Google Images)

"The way to learn whether a person is trustworthy is to trust him." -Earnest Hemingway

The Law of Attraction states that whatever you focus your attention to will be magnified. In other words, if you find it hard to trust others, the Universe will put untrustworthy people in your path.

Trust first, then you can decide later if it was warranted. However, if you go through life with an untrusting heart and mind, you will receive situations in your life that will fulfill that prophecy. If you trust first, the Universe will place trustworthy people in your life more than untrustworthy ones.


Have a great weekend and remember, I am always your friend!!

NJ 😘