Work It Wednesday: Watercolor Nails

I don't paint my nails as often as I'd like... Oh who am I kidding, I hardly paint them at all anymore. So when i do get to polish them up, I want more than a solid color. So I decided to give watercolor nails a try.

Please ignore my awful paint job with the white polish. I mentioned I didn't get to paint them that often (so I'm kind of not very good at it...at all).

OK, so mine look more like watercolor meets graffiti, but I kind of like them. They were super easy to do even though I was pressed for time & grabbed the wrong paint brush. Next time I'll add some more colors, grab the right brush & have a couple more minutes.

And just in case you wanted to know how to watercolor your own nails, you have to check out The Polished Mommy.

Tasty Tuesday: Hearty Crock-Pot Beef Stew

Ohio is thawing out from everything the Polar Vortex dumped on us, but it's still winter. Which means that this Hearty Crock-Pot Beef Stew is still acceptable for dinner any night of the week. 

*Remember to use desired amounts.*

•beef stew meat 

•flour

•garlic salt

•seasoned salt

•black pepper

•olive oil

•beef gravy mix

•water

•dried minced onion

•parsley

•garlic powder

•beef bouillon

•vegetable bouillon

•red potatoes, scrubbed & diced

•carrots, peeled & sliced

•celery, chopped

•onion, chopped

•salt & pepper

•cornstarch

•splash of milk

- In a medium sized bowl, toss beef stew meat with flour until thoroughly coated. Season with garlic salt, seasoned salt & black pepper. Allow to sit for 10 min. 

- In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, thoroughly brown beef stew meat in olive oil. 

- In crock-pot, whisk together brown gravy mix, dried minced onion, parsley, garlic powder & water. Add beef & vegetable bouillon along with browned meat.

- Cook on HIGH heat 3-4 hrs. 

- After 3-4 hrs, add red potatoes, carrots, celery & onion. Season with additional salt & pepper. 

- Cook on HIGH heat another 3-4 hrs. 

- Just before serving, mix a couple spoonfuls of cornstarch with a splash of milk. Carefully stir into beef stew. Turn heat OFF & allow to sit 2-5 min., stirring occasionally, until desired consistency is reached. 

Enjoy!

 

Just Do Yoga by Julie Schoen

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 

 As a beginner yogi, it can be challenging to learn poses. Sure I mean proper technique, but I also mean for the proper benefits as well. For instance, my beloved crow pose will aid in a flat tummy, but it won't help me sleep at night (much to my dismay). 

View this photo on Instagram!

Just Do Yoga: The Complete Yoga Guide To The Best Yoga Poses For Total Mind And Body Bliss, is written by Julie Schoen (a contributor of Yoginiology). This book breaks down poses along with some variations, categorizes flow sequences & even touches on the base of healthy living. With over 120 poses & 25+ expertly tailored yoga sequences, this book has something for every yogi.

•Good Night Yoga (Morning yoga for energized days.)

•Good Night Yoga (Evening yoga for a good night's sleep.)

•Flat Tummy Yoga (Sequences for burning calories, toning your tummy & strengthening your back.)

•Happy Back Yoga (Sequences to relieve back pain.)

•Stress Less Yoga (Sequences to relieve tension, get balanced & ground and soothe.)

•Super Immunity Yoga (Sequences to help improve health and wellness by boosting immunity.)

•At Office Yoga (Sequences to reduce the stiffness from sitting at your desk all day.)

•Get Fit Yoga (A Sequence that just screams summer!)

I can say that I've tried every flow sequence in this book. Some of the poses were a bit too difficult for me, but I just modified them a bit to my level. So while I do prefer some more than others (Flat Tummy Yoga sequence for burning calories is my BFF), I definitely saw the benefits of the sequences. 

Before this book, a yoga pose was just a yoga pose. of course it has benefits, but I didn't use them to aid me in my day. So now, even if I don't have time for a whole sequence, I can at least do a pose that is beneficial for what I need.For example, if it's a super stressful day, you can guarantee I'm going to bust out with a Parivrtta Utkatasana (revolved chair pose) at some point. 

Julie Schoen, crow pose

Aside from the obvious reasons to love this book, I am beyond grateful for the index of poses in both Sanskrit & English. As someone who wants to go far in developing a yoga practice, having the index to match to a photo of the pose is key for a visual learner like myself. 

So whether you're a beginner or even just thinking about how yoga could be beneficial for you, I highly recommend that you...Just Do Yoga.

Want it now? Just Do Yoga: The Complete Yoga Guide To The Best Yoga Poses For Total Mind And Body Bliss is available on Amazon (kindle & paperback with Prime shipping).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Messy Monday: Homemade "Comet" Style Cleanser

We all know I'm a fan of homemade cleaners, but did you know I'm also a fan of using Comet to clean my kitchen sink? The two obviously don't go together, but I love the clean I get from the slight abrasiveness of it. Then it dawned on me, I could probably make something pretty close to it. 

•1/2C. Borax
•1/2C. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
•1/2C. baking soda
•1.2C. salt

- Place all ingredients in a bowl & stir to combine. 
- Store in an airtight container.

To use:

- Sprinkle on damp surface & allow to sit for 1 min. 
- Scrub in a circular motion.
- For deep stains you can spritz a bit of vinegar & allow it to sit for an additional 30 sec. before scrubbing it again.
- Thoroughly rinse with hot water. 
 

Simple Sunday: Playing in the Snow

 

"I'm camouflaged!"

 

Um, that's not a pumpkin!

 

"Kick the snow, kick the snow, kick the snow..."

 

After a busy day of cleaning, I promised the kids we'd go outside & play in the snow for a bit. It's wasn't good packing snow for snowballs or a snowman, but it was still fun!

Snacktastic Saturday: Baked Sweet Potato Fries

French fries are always better for you when they're baked instead of fried. But for a new twist, you have got to try baked sweet potato fries. 

I'll admit that the fried counterpart gives it more of that crispy french fry taste, but these aren't too shabby. Oh who am I kidding, they're downright delicious!

*Remember to use desired amounts.

•sweet potatoes

•nonstick cooking spray

•olive oil

•seasoned salt

- Start by peeling & rinsing the sweet potatoes.

- Slice into stick shapes, thin for more of a crispy fry & thick for a heartier fry.

-Spray a baking dish or pan with nonstick cooking spray.

- Place sweet potato fries in dish & drizzle with olive oil.

- Sprinkle with seasoned salt & bake in a preheated 475º oven.

- Bake until done (time will depend on thickness of fries), adding more olive oil & seasoned salt as needed. 

- Serve plain, with cinnamon butter or ranch dressing. 

Enjoy!

Fun Friday: Framed Photo Makeover

I had a framed Anne Geddes print that I bought for myself when I was a teenager. I remember spending close to $100 for the print & a 10x36 frame (I think that's what size it is & it was a bulk of the price). So obviously I didn't want to throw it out even though I had no use for it. 

A few months ago I got some adorable Pastel Owl Prints by Paul Brent for Hayden's bedroom. But for some reason, I couldn't find 4 good quality 8x8 frames in the color I needed. Then one day, I saw the framed Anne Geddes print peeking out from behind a cupboard. (Yes, I kept it behind a cupboard.) That's when I got the idea to use the frame for the Paul Brent prints. 

All I did was take the Anne Geddes print out & paint the cardboard a color that would go with the Paul Brent prints. Then all I needed was some tape, a ruler & help from the hubs since I can mess up a straight line with a ruler. 

View this photo on Instagram!

 I've gotta say, I really love the way it turned out. And Hayden gave it the seal of approval, "I like my purdy pitcher mom." 

 Do you have any framed photos that could use a makeover?