Spruce Up Your Monday

Hi there! Happy Monday!

Hope y'all had a lovely weekend. I certainly enjoyed the back-to-back snow days.

Today's tip for sprucing up your Monday is:

Pick up some red nail polish & start painting!

Seriously, y'all, I painted mine bright, fire engine red last night and I'm loving it!

 

1940s glamour, anyone?

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo,

Lorin

[Images via: we heart it]

Make Over My Living Room

Hey, y'all!

If you were to walk into my living room right now, you'd see ... well, not much! My roommates and I have been in the process of decorating for the past few months.  We have the basics - couch, chairs, ottomans, some pillows, entertainment center, but it's still lacking that special decorative flair.

We're aiming for "jungle chic" - a little zebra here, some blue accents there. I've found some really great examples of rooms with similar style.

Let the inspiration begin.

[Images via: we heart it, decor pad, flickr, Travel for Design]

It's all the humidity, clearly

"The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types - fainting on our sofas ... nobody where I grew up acted like that. We were about as frail as coal trucks."

Lee Smith, fantastic Applachian author*
who knows a thing or two about life in the South

*She wrote one of my all-time favorite  books, The Last Girls, about a group of college friends who took a Huck Finn-inspired journey twice down the Mississippi - once on a raft they made themselves [as pictured above] and again years later.

[Image via: Lee Smith's website]

6 Reasons Spring Should Hurry Up & Get Here

 

On a grey, slushy day like today, it helps to think forward to all the wonderful things that happen after all this snow melts and we can put our huge puffy coats away- like flowers blooming, wearing shorts, and lots more. Here are 8 more reasons I'm counting down:

1. Picnics

 

2. Cherry Blossoms in the city

3. Wearing sandals. I vaguely remember the last time my toes weren't in boots ...

 

4. Bike riding

5. Farmer's market. Can't wait to go exploring at Eastern Market. Best weekend shopping ever.

 

 

6. Just plain being outside!

[Images via: we heart it]
xoxo,

Lorin

Warm Up with Turkey Chili

Hey, y'all! When it's  this c-h-i-l-l-y outside, I've found that there's simply no better way to warm up than with a simple, hearty bowl of turkey chili.



So I'm passing on this easy-peasey recipe [read: mucho healthy but extremely delish] my mama gave to me.

 

Mama D's Turkey Chili

What you'll need:

 1 jar of salsa [whatever  brand + hotness tickles your fancy]

1 can of tomato chunks

1 can of red kidney beans

1 can of black beans 

1/2 lb ground turkey

1 green bell pepper, chopped

desired seasonings

What to do:

Heat up some olive oil in a large skillet and bring to medium heat. 

Add the chopped bell pepper and sauté for a few minutes [until tender].  

Dump in the ground turkey and brown the meat. Add any additional seasonings - chili powder, paprika, etc. Then stir repeatedly until cooked all the way through, turn off the heat, and set aside.

 Grab a large cooking pot and bring it to medium heat.

 Dump in the salsa, tomato chunks, and red beans. Bring to a boil, adding the cooked ground turkey, and stir occasionally.

Put a lid on it, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 30 to 45 minutes.

Sprinkle on a little bit of cheese, a few scallions, a dollup of fat-free sour cream if you want to dress it up a little. Serve immediately and enjoy.

 

How much it makes:

 Serves 3 to 4. Feel free to double and triple the ingredients as needed.

Have a lovely afternoon,

Lorin

[Images via: we heart it, Weight Watchers]

Spruce Up Your Monday

Hi, y'all! Hope you're keeping warm. It's a whopping 25° here in Virginia. Too much cold for this Florida girl to handle.

Today I'm writing about an inexpensive and really fun way to spruce up your M-O-N-D-A-Y.

Are you ready?

Write a letter!

Really. I know, it's so much easier just to send a quick text message but consider how lovely it is to actually get a pretty card in the mail.

You will completely make someone's day by sending them a little note, postcard, or quick scrawled message letting them know you were thinking of them.

And you just never know who might drop something in the mail for you.

Grab some stationary and a pen and SUYM.

xoxo,

Lorin

[Images via: tumblr, Daily Letter, graciebellabutterfly, sarah mckevitt, See Mel Go]

New year, new books. Any recommendations?

I'd like to start off by sending out a quick shout out:

Hello there, weekend.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting here.

Please stay longer than last time.

Sincerely,

Girl who can't wait to turn off her alarm clock

 

Are you overjoyed like I am that 3 really great days are upon us - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday? What are your weekend plans? I just recently picked up a copy of Wuthering Heights and I know I'm years behind everyone who has already read it, but it's really great! Excited to take in another classic novel. Do you have any good books you're currently reading? This is one former English major who is on the hunt for really great novels/memoirs/ non-fiction. 

What's currently on your Kindle/ in your purse/ on your nightstand?

[Images via: we heart it]

Commute-Friendly, Forget-About-The-Traffic Music

Hello, lovely readers!

Here's a playlist of some fun songs I've been playing on repeat the past couple of days. Proceed to listen while waiting for the Metro, walking home from work, during commercial breaks, in your PJs, as you cook dinner, any time at all.

Crowd surfing is optional, but highly recommended.

[Image via: we heart it]

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hello! Hope y'all are having a fantastic Wednesday afternoon. I'm linking up with Jamie to blog about the great things I'm l-o-v-i-n-g today.

Here's my list:

I'm loving that it's a much shorter work week!

I'm loving that my amica Kipsie is getting MARRIED & has asked me to be a bridesmaid. SO excited for her & her future hubby Nick!!

I'm loving all the wonderful little things that make life extraordinary.

What are you  loving today? 

Have a  fantastic evening,

Lorin

 [Images via: we heart it, little things]

This Georgia Lady Must Have Known a Lot

"I write to discover what I know." 

Flannery O'Conner

 

[Image via: we heart it] 

Spruce Up Your Monday

Hey, y'all! Happy Monday!

How are you spending MLK day? Working? Do you have the day off? Working at a school does have it advantages ... that would mean a day off for me. Love it!

For today's post, I thought I would mention a really easy-peasy way to make a bad case of the Mondays go away.

Are you ready?

The tip of the day is 

... insert drum roll here ...

Light some candles!

On your counter, vanity, window sill, anywhere your heart desires.

Pretty glass jar candles = instant mood lifter.

Spruce up your bathroom with a few tea lights.

Float 'em in water.

Even bday candles will do the trick. Heck, use them as an excuse to have a cupcake.

Fancy up a good meal with friends.

Mix & match your faves. My apartment is currently full of lovely 

black cherry + gingerbread smells.

Save a little electricity. Kiss under candlelight.

Hang a few from a rafter/high beam. Cheapest sprucing up ever.

Celebrate something. Making it to work on time! Date night! It's Monday a new, beautiful day!

Here's to a wonderfully scented, twinkly lit day,

Lorin

[Images via: we heart it]