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So, Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all about L-O-V-E; it is the perfect excuse to "treat yo self"! Take a peek below at my Valentine's Day wish list and scoop up something great for yourself or share this with your loved ones as an easy-peasy "hint-hint"! I hope these items have inspired you to love yourself no matter what and to surround yourself with things you love and enjoy! Cheers to Y-O-U and the day of L-O-V-E! Thanks for reading!! XX-Molly
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Happy 1 year anniversary to us!!! And to Y-O-U; after all you all are the reason I am able to continue to do what I love! So today I figured we would take a little walk down memory lane and revisit some of my favorite posts from this past year...            A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of my loyal followers, new followers, family & friends who support my little creative corner of the World Wide Web! Get your party pants on because this week will be a celebration!! Cheers to you & to us & to many more years! Thank you for reading - XX - Molly Working from home has become much more of the "norm" for many people these days. It can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be really challanging. Take it from someone who has worked from home for her last 2 jobs, it can be tricky navigating work life and home life--the lines between the two can become easily blurred. Take a peek below at some of my tips & tricks that work to help keep me on track both professionally and personally.        Tips & Tricks - How to work from home successfully -Make a schedule or routine for yourself and stick to it (This is not always easy for me, but I feel much better and I am more productive when I follow a schedule). -Always get up & get dressed. Even if you pull your hair up and put on a cute workout outfit; get ready for your day. It puts you in the right mindset -Make a weekly list for Monday through Friday and write down your daily tasks and accomplishments. Once you finish each; cross it off. There is something very rewarding in being able to remove things from your "to-do list." -Take a break. Get outside--breathe some fresh air; take a brisk walk around the block. Getting your blood flowing helps your cognitive skills. This is a great tip for office dwellers as well! -Be sure to take your lunch break. It can be really easy to get wrapped up in everything when you're at home and skip lunch or eat at your desk. Get up; go make a lunch; sit somewhere different. When you return to your work, you will be refreshed. -Schedule meetings, calls, lunch dates, afternoon cocktails. These are all great ways to help get you out of the house and socializing with others. Working from home can be mundane and isolating, so you will have to make the extra effort to plan things with colleagues and friends. -Have a designated work area. A specific room or desk is awesome, but you don't have to have that to be successful. Even if it is one spot or end of your dining table, make that your space and do your very best to only do your work from that space. This helps keep the home-life and work-life separated -Keep office hours for yourself. Working from home is convenient and can be flexible, but it can also easily become "work from anywhere all the time." Setting specific work hours helps keep you on track and focused. -It's ok to throw in a load of laundry or unload the dishwasher. Go easy on yourself; working from home has many convenient perks; don't abuse them but certainly use them. It's ok to take a few minutes to get things going or in order. Shop my favorite desk accessories below! I'm convinced when your desk is cute your work is better :) -Lucite Tape Dispenser -Lucite Stapler -Favorite Desk Calendars - here, here, & here -Lucite Paper Organizer -Scissors -Pens -Note Pad - here Thanks for reading, y'all!! Hope these little bits of advice help! Comment & let me know if you have any others to add! Cheers to a productive new year! XX-Molly #1 - We rang in 2016 in NYC Style  #2 - We experienced our first-ever official blizzard while living in NYC! This is one of my favoirte memories of the whole year & my favoirte memory from from our time in NYC. The city was beautiful and quiet. There were no cars out, and we just walked up and down the middle of 5th Avenue and Park Avenue taking in the winter wonderland!  #3 - Launching the blog I started this has a hobby and a creative outlet with the encouragment and help from my friends and family and I lOVE IT!! My dream for 2017 is to continue its growth and reach and to inspire others to live a beautiful life through a Southern state of mind.  #4 - Conner & I took an early anniversary trip to Savannah This is where we became engaged and got married--it's my favorite place on Earth! Check out my blog post here for everything "Savannah."  #5 - On April 11th we celebrated our 1st anniversary And what a year it has been!!  #6 - I accepted a new job as Creative Director at a manufacturing compnay  #7 - Three of my besties got married this year! a spring wedding in West Georgia a summer wedding in Pittsburgh, PA a fall wedding in Charlotte, NC
#8 - My little sister (in-law) graduated high school & started college at UGA
#9 - We moved back to Charlotte We are MUCH closer to our families now, and our apartment grew in size X2!  #10 - We celebrated the 4th of July while on a relaxing beach vacation at our favorite coastal resort near Charleston, SC-- Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms. Check out that post here!  #11 - My Grandma Jean celebrated 89 years of life, so of course we threw a big family bash in her honor! Click here to read all about the party & decor.  #12 - My Paw-Paw turned the big 8-0 this year, and we celebrated him with a surprise party at the beach  #13 - We attended our anual "Roo-Union" weekend with all of our college friends in the mountains of Lexington, VA  #14 - We celebrated Thanksgiving in Georgia with Conner's family  #15 - We celebrated Christmas in Charlotte with my family  What a wonderful year 2016 has been. We can't wait to see what 2017 has in store!! Thanks for reading!! XX-Molly We are now 2 days post Christmas, but I am totally still in the spirit!! Who's with me? You can't just turn it off when December 26th rolls around. Today I am sharing a recap of all of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions! I cherish these so much and love the time that we get to spend with our familes.  Being married and sharing holidays can be tricky. Since my hubby's family lives in Atlanta, we switch Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays every other year. It's a system that works for us! This year we were with my family in Charlotte for Christmas, but I will be sharing our traditions from both sides! Christmas Eve Day We start the day off with a yummy breakfast and a relaxing morning at home. Many years ago my older cousin, Paul, and I started the tradition of having lunch together, and somehow it always turned into my helping him shop for Christmas gifts. We always go to Qdoba Mexican Grill; it's our favorite! The afternoon consists of any last minute wrapping of gifts and getting everything ready for that evening (including myself). We always attend the candle light service at church; singing "Silent Night" with all of the candles lit is just so special. After church, we head over to my Aunt Rita and Uncle Terry's house for supper, gift exchanges, and just some good ol' family time. My Aunt Rita is an amazing cook, and she always has her famous seafood gumbo and Rosetta cookies, which is basically just fried batter with powdered sugar. Then we head home for the night where we watch "A Christmas Story" and have a celebratory cocktail! My in-law's always have a family dinner on Christmas Eve, and their neighbors always throw a party, so we usually drop in at that, too. It's always a packed house and a good time! That night we always watch "Home Alone" in our new sets of matching pajamas. I love this tradition, and this year we got onesies--priceless!!
Christmas Day It is always a packed day, and we get an early start (on both sides). It's a good thing because I have never been good at waiting for Christmas morning. My parents' saying is "if you believe then you receive," so we always exchange gifts and see if Santa came to visit at their house. Next, we head off to my Gammy and Paw Paw's house for a breakfast feast. We have it ALL: eggs, grits, biscuits, two different kinds of gravy for the biscuits (I prefer one kind, & my Aunt Dana prefers another), Lil' Smokey sausages, pork sausage patties, bacon, and country ham. This is the one morning we get to enjoy Poinsettias with breakfast--basically a Christmas mimosa. Yummy! Then we all exchange gifts, and my Gammy even does stockings for us. We always get the same things: Andies mints, a new tooth brush, tooth paste, a small specialty gift, gum, and a $50 bill in the toe! Now, when my great-grandparents were still with us (my Gammy's mom and dad) we would head to their house for lunch time. There we got to do one of my favorite traditions of Christmas that is very unique to my family--dig in "the money bowl." My Papa had a special crystal punch bowl that he filled with quarters, dimes, and nickels; and each person got to dig in the bowl. Whatever you go out, you got to keep. There were strict rules when it came to the money bowl: You could dig with 2 hands until you were 6 years old or you went to school, after which you dug with one hand. You could not rake or throw the money out of the bowl. Your hand had to come straight up and out of the bowl. Your non-digging hand could be on the side of the bowl for leverage, but you could not use it to touch, scrape, or alter the money. If somebody was not able to be there, the relative closest in age would dig for that person. The digging order was always youngest to oldest. My Papa would always man the bowl and the rules, adding more coins to the bowl after each person, and my Mama Flo would record how much you got each year in her spiral notebook. Even though they are no longer with us, my Gammy and Paw Paw carry on the tradition with us. Last but not least, we always have Christmas dinner with my mom's side of the family. There are 6 grandkids and 7 great-grandkids(so far), so we have a large, loud, Italian crowd. I love every second of it! On my husband's side, we always do Santa with my neice and then exchange gifts with each other. Last year it was so relaxing, and my sisters-in-law and I stayed in our jammies well into the afternoon. We usually try to squeeze in some form of exercise like a walk around the neighborhood before having a big family feast!
I would love to hear about your family's Christmas traditions! Comment and let me know what your favorite things are!! Thank you for reading, and I hope you all had a VERY Merry Christmas!! Cheers - Molly Hey y'all! I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from our Christmas card photo shoot. We actually did these this fall, and a good friend of mine captured these precious moments for us. If you're in the Charlotte area and are looking for someone to capture sweet memories of your own, be sure to check out Meredith Lanier Fields Photography! When choosing a location, I wanted something sentimental and meaningful; so we decided to use my grandparents' property for a back drop! I grew up climbing the fence, running around in the fields, and playing in the barn; and now my husband spends much of his time here on the weekends hunting and doing outdoorsy activities. Take a peak & enjoy!  
 
  Thanks for reading! Cheers to getting your hubby not to fake smile while taking pictures :) Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! XX - Molly The Holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but they can also be stressful. Knowing what to buy for your best gal or your best fella can be tricky. So, today I am sharing my top 5 holiday gift picks for him & her! For Her:  For Him:  Cheers to happy holiday shopping! Thanks for reading XX- Molly  It's no secret that I love a good beauty product! What I like even more is a good priced beauty product that does the trick just as well as those swanky ones that take all of my money. So, today I am sharing my favorite bargain beauty buys! #1 - Hawaiian Tropic's Silk Hydration This is typically used for sun burn or after sun exposure, but it's also excellent to use after shaving your legs! The aloe is cool and calming while the lotion hydrates--it's the best of both worlds in one bottle! Try it, I swear by it. You'll love it!!  #2 - Batiste Dry Shampoo Dry shampoo is a staple around my house! It provides the perfect amount of texture and product to my hair for curling. I have tried my fair share of brands, and I have found this one to be the best! They have tons of options as far as scent goes, and they also offer different colors to coordinate with your hair color. (I use the blonde when my roots get really bad; it provides a light dusting of color to help hide the damage.)  #3 - The Conair Infinity X-Pro 1.5" Curling Iron I am often asked about what kind of hair styling tools I use. While I splurged on my DryBar Buttercup hair dryer, I decided to be a little more frugal with the curling iron to start out with while I tested out the style. The style stuck and so did the curling iron (not literally though)! I do love it!! It does the trick just as well as any professional tool. It gets very hot very quickly, but doesn't dry out my hair in the process.  #4 - Loreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara This product is simply F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S! It gives just the right amount of volume and length, and I love that it's waterproof. It comes off very easily with a little face soap and warm water. #5 - Pixi Make-Up Fixing Mist This rose-water- based make-up fixing mist really works! Living in a humid place, I thought it was a little silly to add more moisture; but after I tried it, I was sold! It really does help my make-up stay put all day! And, it's also the perfect refreshing pick-me-up throughout the day.  #6 - Sally Henson, Dries Instantly Top Coat I swear this top coat really does dry instantly... I promise!! This is the BEST top coat I have found. Besides drying at record speed, it's shiny and durable. If you're like me and always try to do a last minute manicure before going somewhere, or if you just don't have time to wait around (like all of us) this is the perfect find!  Comment and let me know what your favorite bargain beauty buys are, too. I would love to try them out! Thanks for reading, y'all!! Cheers - Molly Nothing says "FALL-Y'ALL" like an afternoon at the pumpkin patch! I grew up coming to this particular pumpkin patch, Lineberger Farm, and I was so happy that I got to share this special place with my hubby this year! Not only was he my pumpkin pickin' buddy; but he was also my photographer - & he was such a good sport! Check out our adventure and all of my outfit details below!          I think this is probably my favorite fall outfit...ever!! I have worn it approximately three times already. Shop all of the details here!  Happy Fall Y'all!! Thanks for reading!! Cheers to fall adventures! XX-Molly I am a huge fan of holistic remedies, both at-home treatments and doctors that practice Eastern medicine. So, today I thought I would share a few of my favorite basic holistic options. "Holistic," in medical terms, is defined as "characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease." I think this form of treatment is often mistaken for being "hanky," but in reality it has been in existence a lot longer than Western medicine; so why not try it out?  Today I'll go over some basics: -Sleeping aids -Stress relievers -Allergy treatments -The benefits of hot lemon water -Plant-based vitamins -Uses for tea tree oil  Sleep. We all could use more of it! Getting sleep is important to the overall health of your body. It helps keep you from getting sick and keeps ya looking young and fresh. The sleep itself isn't always the problem - falling asleep and staying asleep can be. Sleep Sound by Gaia, is my absolute favorite, but Melatonin is also a great alternative. These are all natural products that help your brain sort of "turn off" and your body relax. I promise it works wonders and you'll wake up more relaxed and well rested!  Drinking a glass of hot lemon water in the mornings (or really any time) has many health benefits! -For starters, it helps hydrate you. -It helps to flush the toxins out of your body after sleeping all night. -It helps activate and regulate your digestive system. -It helps reduce pain and inflammation in joints, especially knees. -It helps maintain eye health. -And if nothing else, it helps prevent wrinkles and acne. For a full list of benefits see: http://www.foodmatters.com/article/cheers-to-drin king-warm-lemon-water for more!  Managing stress is a tough task! These are two of my favorite remedies to help take the edge off. - Holy Basil Leaf : A pill form created from the holy basil plant. It originated in India and is used to help reduce anxiety and stress. Natures Way & Gaia are two good brands. -Rescue Remedy is a liquid with no taste. Drop a few drops into your water, or any drink, a few times a day. It helps you with calmness, focus, and relaxation. Bach is the only brand I use.  Essential oils have been used for centuries to treat different ailments. Lavender, peppermint, and lemon are used in combination for the treatment of seasonal allergies. 3 drops of each one into a vegetable capsule does the trick. The lavender oil can also be used to help with sleep, too. Dab a little behind each ear and under your nose, and you'll snooze away. Peppermint is great for treating headaches; dab a few drops on your temples to feel some relief. Young Living is a great brand because they truly are 100% essential oils. You do have to order these through a dealer; so if you're interested, send me a message on the "About Me" page, and I can get you connected with someone!   My mother-in-law introduced me to these vitamins a few years ago. They are plant based and help keep your immune system strong! I usually take one of each twice a day, two vegetable and two fruit, with a meal and a glass of water.  Tea tree oil can be used for pretty much any type of skin treatment--rashes, sun burns, acne spots, scrapes & sores (it's a natural antiseptic), You name it; it treats it. It's great to use alone or mixed in with lotions. The one down side is the less-than pleasant scent that can be quite potent. Well that's all for today! With fall and winter right around the corner, I hope these remedies are helpful in keeping everybody happy and healthy! Cheers to alternative health options Thanks for reading! XX- Molly |
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