Category Archives: etc.

Calendar Cards and a $100 Tiny Prints Giveaway!

December 18, 2015

Well, I waited to long and now it’s too late to send out Christmas cards. So, I’m going with New Years card instead. I like to send a card out the my friends and companies that I have collaborated with throughout the year. And instead of a dorky photo of my face, I decided a little calendar might be a useful card to send out.

Tiny Prints has some great options for New Years Cards and Business Calendar Cards. I chose the Simple Sprigs card. It has an adorable contrasting back and it’s printed on beautiful thick card stock. I added cute striped envelope liners as well. I love that you can add your own logo or business name to the calendar. Folks are sure to remember you if they use the little calendar.

With the cards, I’m including a little tree shaped lavender sachet ornament. It can be hung on the tree, in a car or in a closet or drawer to keep clothes smelling fresh. I made these in just minutes with a couple triangles of fabric, a little piece of leather cord, some dried lavender and my sewing machine.

Ok, and I have a fun giveaway for you. You can enter below to win $100 to spend at Tiny Prints!!! How great is that? Now if you procrastinated on your Christmas cards, there is no excuse not to send out a fun New Years card. Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

etc.

The Week’s End

December 11, 2015

Well, can you believe it’s just two weeks till Christmas? I’m far from being ready. I haven’t even baked a single cookie yet. That’s so wrong. Usually by this time of the year, my freezer is stocked with dozens of holiday treats. I’ll get there. This weekend I’m back in Northern California, at my parent’s place. I’m helping my mom cook for their church’s Christmas banquet. Today I’m working on lot’s of fun fancy desserts.

Also, last week I shared that we are dealing with some health issues with Denali. Early next week, we are heading to Cedars-Sinai Hospital to see a specialist. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. It’s been a couple of back to back tough, real-life crap in the McConnel home. I’m sure you can relate, it happens to us all at times? I’m in one of those “when it rains it pours” spots in life. Just in case you thought my life was perfect, it’s far from. I want to say thanks for all your support for my little blog and what I’m trying to do here. I’m looking for the positives in each day and feeling grateful for all that is good in my life.

Tree Tops

Have a great weekend friends. If you are looking for some weekend inspiration, here’s what caught my eye in the blog world this week:

Could I please be invited to this gorgeous little get together?

I love these creative ideas for gift wrapping.

I want this cute festive holiday manicure.

I can’t get enough of marble, even if it’s faux marble.

And I want all my gift wrapped in this gorgeous floral wrapping paper.

etc.

5 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

December 8, 2015

This might show my age, but sleep doesn’t come as easily as it used to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m tired, really tired most of the time, but sleep just doesn’t come easily. Sleep is so important, when I wake up from a well rested night, I’m ready to take on the world. So, today I’m sharing about our new mattress from Eve and I few other little tricks that are helping me hit those REMs.

5 Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

1. Move – If I have exercised and been active during the day, even if it’s just a 30 minute walk, my body is more apt to relax. I’m one of those folks that can have twitchy, restless legs at night. If I haven’t exercises sometime during the day this seems to be worse at night.

Lately, my life has felt too crazy busy to exercise. I hate that. I really need to make it more of a priority. Taking an hour or even just 30 mins to walk around my neighborhood feels luxurious.

2. Scent – This really works for me. I’m all about a couple drops of lavender essential oil on my pillow or in the diffuser. I am very sensitive to smells, good ones and bad ones. Having one scent that takes me to restful sleep is really helpful. I don’t understand the science behind it, but my mind associates the soft scent of lavender with sleep. I also make sure to wash my sheets often, at least once a week. There is nothing like slipping into fresh crisp sheets – it’s one of my favorite things in life.

3. Mattress and Pillow – It matters, the quality and age of your mattress and pillows. In my 20s, it didn’t matter what I slept on. But, recently we upgraded our very sad, poor quality mattress to an Eve mattress. What a difference! After having 3 kids, my lower back is a mess and I’ve been sleeping like a baby on this comfy yet supportive mattress. I love their 100-night free trial where if you don’t absolutely fall in love with you Eve mattress, you can send it back free of charge with a full refund. Eve’s philosophy is ‘every great day starts the night before‘. I can’t agree more.

Just like your back needs support, so does your neck and head. Pillows can lose their support as well. I’m a huge fan of a thin down pillow, but after a couple of years, they lose their loft.

4. Temperature – There is nothing worse then trying to sleep when you are hot or cold. Temperature can interrupt and disturb your sleep. I love a down duvet, I’ve slept with one since I was a kid. I love the weight of it on me as a sleep. For some reason the down comforter is cool enough in the summer and warm enough in the winter. Although our house has air conditioning, in the summer, I have a little stand up fan beside our bed. And in the winter, I pile a heavy wool blanket on my side of the bed. Paying attention to the temperature of the room before you go to bed, can help you have a restful, uninterrupted night.

5. Peace – The mind has such power over our sleep. I cannot sleep if I have turmoil in my relationships, especially with my husband. I find it so important to make peace with the ones you love before you hit the pillow. I’m not saying that all problems can be resolved by the end of the day. But, letting my family know I love them and hearing that same in return is assuring and brings me peace of mind. I’m guaranteed a very rough night if I’m angry or fighting with the ones I love.

It was fun to unwrap our Eve mattress. I love that it can be delivered right to our front door without a fancy delivery service or awkward moving men. We made a little video of us unwrapping our new mattress. It was fun to watch it grow.

etc.

The Week’s End

December 4, 2015

Well, this week flew by. It’s all kind of blur. I know I worked every second I wasn’t sleeping, but I honestly can’t tell you what I accomplished. I did spend all day yesterday at my church decorating it for Christmas. We used eucalyptus everywhere!!!! It smells so good in there.

Just last month, Denali found out that she can start weening off her back brace. We are so pumped. But, then the last couple of weeks we’ve had another weird health issue with her that we are waiting to hear results from tests. Nothing wrecks a mom like worry. My head isn’t fully in the game this week as a result. We are praying for good news this morning.

I haven’t put up any decorations at all, it’s kind of making me sad. I’m hoping it will happen Sunday. Tomorrow I have someone coming to photograph my whole house (super exciting), so today I will be cleaning ALL DAY! I may make my family sleep at a hotel tonight, just kidding, but kind of not.

Here’s what caught my eye on the internet this week:

This colorful living room reveal.
I’m totally making a set of these for my bathroom, maybe with metallic gold paint.
I love this graphic bold DIY wrapping paper.
This can be my wish list too.
I’m probably going to have to make a pair of these adorable eye slippers.
This colorful Advent Calendar is really fun.
And finally a fun vintage ornament Phone Wallpaper to bring a little cheer.

Have a great weekend friends!

etc. / Style

Gift Guide for the Camper

December 3, 2015

It’s kind of fun putting together gift guides, it’s like pretend shopping for all the things I’d love to buy for my hubby or even myself. Oh boy, does this guide have a lot of fun goodies for the camper in your life. Function really can look this good you guys.

1. Match Safe

2. Backpacking Coffee Press

3. White Swiss Army Knife

4. Pendleton Wool Blanket

5. Enamel Mugs

6. Down Slippers

7. Wool Hiking Socks

8. Packable Backpack

9. Inflatable Light

My brother just gave Lonnie one of those inflatable lights recently, it’s really pretty cool. It packs tiny and is super bright when turned on and inflated. Who really wants to mess with a lantern, those wicks always break.

I have the packable backpack from Polar, it’s the perfect take along bag on a trip. And who doesn’t want a Pendleton Blanket? I know I do. Nothing keeps you warm like wool.

I don’t camp or backpack without coffee, who am I kidding, I don’t live without coffee. I’m very tempted to buy this french press for our next backcountry trip.

Happy gift buying. If you don’t have a camper in your life, be sure to check out my Gift Guide for the Coffee Lover.

etc.

Gift Guide for the Coffee Lover

November 30, 2015

Happy Cyber Monday! I’m kicking off my holiday gift guides with a special Coffee Lover edition. I’ve hunted down some of my favorite coffee related items and a few that are on my wish list. So, if you have that hard to buy for family member, chances are, they probably love coffee.

I can swear by the Vacuum Travel Mug. Lonnie has one, my parents got it for him last Christmas. It is the BEST travel mug ever, drinks stay piping hot in it and it NEVER leaks. And after a year of using it everyday, it’s still good as new. I also love Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee, it’s not only great fair trade coffee, but it’s for a great cause (check out their site). If you really want to be hip and current, you gotta pour over, and copper kettle and a Chemex are a must for that. And finally, this is definitely on my wish list, but how gorgeous are those handmade coffee scoops by The Stella Blue Gallery?

1. Copper Pour Over Kettle

2. Chemex Coffee Pot

3. Fair Trade Coffee

4. Black and White Mugs

5. Milk Frother

6. Handmade Coffee Scoops

7. Stainless Steel Vacuum Travel Mug

8. Brass Hand Coffee Grinder

Stay tuned for my gift guides and happy holiday shopping.

etc.

The Week’s End

November 20, 2015

Well, it’s a good think I don’t have a podcast or make videos, because I have no voice. I’ve been feeling like I’m about to get sick for the last week and a half. And then, mid-Friendsgiving dinner Monday evening, my voice started to go. Tis the season for colds and sore throats I guess. My body is telling me to stop and slow down, even though I don’t feel like I have the time to. Maybe you can relate. MJ of Pars Caeli wrote about taking care of yourself, I’m going to take some of her good advice (next week).

Land of Nod Rug and Pillows

Here’s some posts I’m digging this week. You are going to want to check these out:

Be sure to check out this home office and craft room, the removable wallpaper is amazing!

No boring Thanksgiving table decor to be found here. Bright colors and graphic patterns make for a unique Fall look.

Pretty paper wreaths in soft pastel colors, perfect for modern Fall and Winter decor.

I love this Fall mantel 3 ways. It’s hard to pick a favorite.

And if you are not listening to the podcast, Hear Motherhood, head over there now.

etc.

Homemade Gingerbread Syrup for Lattes and Milkshakes

November 19, 2015

I’m good having ice cream all year round. The weather doesn’t need to be warm in order for me to enjoy it. And now that all my favorite holiday flavors are popping up, I thought a Gingerbread Milkshake would be a fun dessert for my family. If I go to Starbucks this time of year, it’s not the pumpkin spice or peppermint mocha that I really want, it’s an gingerbread latte that I crave.

I decided that instead of buying a syrup that has a whole bunch of weird ingredients and preservatives, I’d make my own gingerbread syrup. I was generous with the spices friends, so a little syrup adds a good punch of flavor.

And to make these an extra special holiday treat, I’m serving them in little glass milk bottles with plaid straws (from the Target dollar section) and plaid scarves around each bottle. You might remember a couple years ago, I served egg nog in bottles with cute little scarves and buttons. I made these little checked scarves with some wide ribbon.

Gingerbread Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
2-3 tbsp. molasses
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cloves

Bring to a boil and cook for 4 mins on high. Cool and store in an sealed jar or bottle. Keeps up to 2 weeks in the fridge. When added it to coffee or a latte, take it out of the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. It can be very thick if it is chilled.

For a Milkshake, combine good vanilla ice cream, with a splash of milk and a little Gingerbread Syrup in a blender.

Design / etc.

Painted Claw Foot Tubs

November 16, 2015

Forest Green

When we first found our house there was two things I immediately loved about it. The first was the built-in cabinets in our dining room and the second was the original 1920’s claw foot tub in the one and only bathroom. It was in bad shape, so we painted it a fresh coat of white paint when we moved in 13 years ago. But, for the last 5 or so years, I’ve been itching to paint the outside of the tub a fun color. This first one, the forest green is probably my favorite.

I also would love to take out the little corner shower unit and add a curtain surround and a shower head to the tub. This would free up a lot of space in the bathroom and we would be able to add a second sink and some much needed storage.

Teal via

The Week’s End

November 13, 2015

I hope you’ve had a great week. We spend last weekend in LA helping out at a mission on skid row. It was a good time for our family and definitely a departure from the usual, but it left me needing a weekend all week long. Can I just say I’m so thankful for Veteran’s Day. What I nice little bonus in the middle of the week. We watched Dylan’s marching band in the parade and I cried when I saw the faces of the little old Grandpa’s who fought in the wars. Then Lonnie helped me start painting Dylan’s bedroom. Of course, we ran out of paint, so I had to finish it yesterday. But, it’s bright white and feels fresh and clean. I’m working on a little makeover for his room, so stay tuned.

Image

I sure appreciate you guys for sticking with me as my posts have been so sporadic. I’m juggling a bunch of life right now, which I’m sure you are as well.

Do you need some weekend inspiration? Be sure to check out these fun ideas:

These poppy colored pillows in the cutest prints are sure to brighten any space.

Learn a little about yourself here.

Refresh your entryway with some fun, unexpected art pieces for the holidays.

Make a fun footed serving bowl.

And I’m always a fan of homemade biscuits, so I’m going to try these Cheddar Scallion Biscuits this weekend.

Oh, and there is still time to save on a framing project with Framebridge. Be sure to grab Oleander + Palm’s special discount code here.