Honey We’re Home 2013 Year in Review
Happy weekend everyone! It’s felt like the weekend all week and I’m ready to get some things accomplished today. I’ll be heading to the gym and then starting to clean house, make our food menu (we need to start eating healthy again!) and maybe hit an after Christmas sale or two. I haven’t left the house except to work out since Christmas!
Today, I’ve collected some of my favorite and most popular posts from 2013 to share with you. I was updating my project gallery yesterday and was seeing how far this house has come over the years- not to mention my blog.
View Post10 Resolutions for a Healthy New Year
Hi friends! How were your holidays? Very good here. I did a recap of our Christmas day celebration on Honey We’re Home if you want to take a peek. Healthwise, I’m proud to say that I stuck to a good workout routine that definitely helped me not feel too bad about enjoying all the extra food I ate in the last couple of weeks. I am ready to kick off the new year strong and was thinking about things we can do daily to change our health for the better today.
I’m not talking about general goals like, “lose weight”,
View PostChristmas 2013
Hi guys! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and that Santa was very good to you! 😉 We started the day with a son stirring at 6:30 a.m. and quickly went downstairs to see that Santa had come!  James is really into Star Wars right now, so his big gifts from Santa were a 3-foot tall Darth Vader and a giant Darth Maul light saber.  He was very impressed that Santa left a thank you note for the milk and cookies.  This really is such a fun age!
My family came over and my brother brought his toy (a deep fryer) so we made hot chicken wings as appetizers and had Cajun fried turkey with dinner. Â
View PostChristmas Tree Card Display
Just two days until Christmas and I want to slow it all down so I can savor it longer. Do you feel the same? I have completed my gift shopping and most of the wrapping and really have only the grocery shopping left, which I’ll do today. We’ll be having my family over on Christmas afternoon for an early dinner and everyone will pitch in on the food, which makes it even better. My sister-in-law made the best jalapeño creamed corn for Thanksgiving and I’ve been craving it ever since, so she’ll be making it again. My brother will bring his fryer over and deep-fry a turkey and my Dad is bringing some desserts.
View PostNordstrom Free Shipping Guaranteed Delivery by Christmas Eve!
Hi guys! Just popping in to let you know about Nordstrom’s free shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. I still have a few last minute gifts to buy and I’m taking advantage of this deal this morning as it is pouring rain here and I’m still in my pj’s sipping my morning coffee!
Who doesn’t like cashmere? This V-Neck sweater got good reviews and comes in a rainbow of colors.
Halogen V-Neck Cashmere Sweater ($79)
Initial necklaces are still fun and personalized.
Gold Scroll Initial Pendant Necklace ($38)
Michael Kors tech accessories make a great gift.
View PostWashi Tape Gift Tags
Sharing this Christmas season with my 3 1/2 year-old son has brought out the kid in me. Seeing things through his young, innocent eyes makes me appreciate this time so much more. Â Last weekend, we were at The Container Store checking out and he was watching the video of his school Christmas program on my phone. Â The cashier overheard the singing, and asked him, “Is it somebody’s birthday?” Â He looked at her matter of factly and said, “It’s Jesus’ birthday.” Â I seriously melted and am so humbled.
The kid in me loves crafty things like paper, washi tape, ribbon, bows,
View PostGhirardelli Caramel Brownies
Today wraps up the final day of our Christmas Cheer Holiday link party, where you can share your favorite holiday recipe with Natasha and Heather. I’m featuring these decadent caramel brownies with Ghirardelli dark caramel chocolate squares layered inside.
They couldn’t be easier to make, since you just add the chocolate caramels in between the brownie batter.
Being a huge chocolate lover and Ghirardelli fan (they make the best instant hot cocoa mix), I couldn’t help but scoop up this cookbook a while ago.
The recipe is pretty basic and easy to assemble.
View PostHoney We’re Home Christmas Home Tour
Decorating our home for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do. I look forward to it each year and it’s fun because you can do different things in each room, trying out color combinations and using old things in new or unexpected ways. I’m careful each year to put everything away in a neat, organized way so that when I pull out those giant green and red bins, it’s like Christmas morning just going through all the things we’ve collected over the years. Enough talking, come on in!
In our foyer, two large nutcrackers greet you and a red jingle bell wreath is hanging on a mirror with a command hook.
View PostStella & Dot GIVEAWAY!!
Hi everyone! Did y’all have a good weekend? I was busy taking lots of new photos for a Christmas home tour post coming up tomorrow and finishing up some Christmas shopping. I like being almost done with gift-buying because it makes me feel like I can relax more. How’s it going for you?
Although I’ve been too busy to host Stella & Dot trunk shows lately, I have placed orders for friends and family and personal orders. I am so excited because I got a sneak peek of the Spring 2014 line and it is gorgeous! One of the pieces in the collection is this sunshiny Nora Pendant necklace that I think you’ll LOVE,
View PostNatural Christmas Decor in the Sitting Room
I’m all sappy and emotional right now, just coming home from my son’s Christmas program at school. He is growing up so fast and getting so big. You can see a pic of him all dressed up in his concert outfit on my instagram (@honeywerehome). Back at the house, I decked out the master sitting room with some Christmas decorations in a more neutral tone than our pink and red tree. (Thanks for linking up yesterday! I’m still working my way through the links and will be featuring y’all soon.)
I brought out my favorite velvet Peace,
View PostShow Me Your Christmas Trees // Holiday Cheer Link …
I’ve been waiting for this day to show you our girly Christmas tree and to see yours! You can link up your trees here with me and Courtney (A Thoughtful Place) and we’ll be featuring some of our favorites soon. 🙂
Varying shades of pink and red adorned our tree this year. Applying the ornaments was extra fun because I had a little helper and I pretty much left all his ornaments where he put them, even if they are a little clustered together on the bottom. But, it makes me smile seeing them like that,
View Post‘Tis the Season to Be Green
I’ll admit I’m feeling kinda sheepish about this post. See, I’ve been asked to share how I am helping spread my eco-conscious ways with the next generation. Although I try to be a good example to my son for green-living by recycling, not buying bottled water, not letting the faucet run unnecessarily, using energy efficient light-bulbs, and turning lights off when we’re not using them, I know there is so much more I could be doing!
New Leaf Energy (which offers 100% renewable energy to Texas) is doing something very cool: for every LIKE on their FACEBOOK page, they will PLANT 1 TREE!
View PostChristmas Craft- Jingle Bell Door Hangers & Sticker Magnets
Happy holiday craft day! Today, you can link up your craft projects at Hi Sugarplum and Michaela Noelle. I like doing crafty things, but only if they don’t require a high level of difficulty or lots of time. My jingle bell door hangers are easy and quick- perfect holiday craft for me! I used a bangle bracelet for the ring around the door, then tied the bells with ribbon and hot glued a decorative faux branch on top. I got the bells at Michaels (6 for $2.50 on sale and they have other colors too).
I made the second door hanger the same way,
View PostOrganizing the Toys
I was starting to freak out a little realizing on Friday night just how close we are to Christmas and how much shopping I still have to do.  Do you feel the same way?  My Christmas cards aren’t even mailed yet!  So, I spent some time online this weekend and accomplished so much.  I feel a ton better and am getting so exciting knowing I have gifts for my friends and family on the way!  Macy’s is having a big 25% off sale and free shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmas if you order by December 21.  One girlfriend is getting this and this🙂 And another is getting this. Â
View PostAre You Drinking Enough Water?
One thing I noticed after the Thanksgiving break was that I was drinking less water because I wasn’t working out and I got out of the habit of keeping my water cup full at home. I felt like my skin was looking dull and icky, so this week, I got back on my normal water routine.
It helps so much to have a large bottle or cup that you like to drink from near you so you remember to drink water throughout the day. I like the insulated cups the best so they don’t sweat and create a puddle on your furniture.
View PostGifts for Home
So far, I’ve bought Christmas gifts for my son, nieces, and one for a sassy girlfriend of mine, and that’s it. If you’re looking for a gift for the home decor lover or hostess, here are my picks. Enjoy!
Linen Monogram Napkins (on sale)
Le Creuset 2.75-Quart Dutch Oven, Dijon
Made With Love Wooden Cutting Board
Mercury Glass Vases (on sale)
Agate Bookends – Blue (similar)
Softest Throw Blanket (you can have this monogrammed too)
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On Honey We’re Healthy: I’m sharing my healthy beef burrito and fresh pico de gallo recipe.
View PostHealthy Beef Burritos
I’ve often talked about one of my go-to healthy meals, Tex Mex to go, and sometimes I mix it up and make it into a healthy beef burrito. It’s super easy and delicious!
I like to make a big batch, so I start with 2 packages of Laura’s lean ground round or sirloin (4% fat). Lean beef still has plenty of flavor, try it if you typically go with something fattier. I’d be surprised if your family even notices the difference.
Then, I add two packages of low sodium taco seasoning and mix with 1.5 cups of water and bring it to a simmer until the meat has absorbed all the seasoning.
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