This post was made possible by Perdue Farms but all opinions, ideas, & imagery is my own. Thanks for supporting your online creators so we can continue bringing useful, fulfilling content!
Did you make resolutions this year? I didn’t…not technically. But I did take the time to reflect on some changes that I think would benefit our family! One of those is to stop grabbing so much “to-go food” & cook at home more. Often I’m scrambled by the end of the day after taking care of Ellie, working, running errands, etc. & then I’m ravenous. So I’ve come up with some tips, tricks, & advice that has really been helpful to make things run more smoothly! So here are my 10 ways to cook at home more this year- starting now!…
Unique & Thoughtful Gifts for Her She’ll Love- Shipped!
Gifting is one of my favorite things- but it can be tough! Everyone has different interests & lifestyles, you know? Plus, we live pretty far from most of our friends & family because #militarylife so things I can ship directly to them is a bonus! One less trip to the post office? Yes please! Keep reading for tons of ideas for the women (& men, not discriminating!) in your life!…
Getting ORBY TV at Home- No Contract or High-Speed Internet Needed!
Something you might not know about us as a family? We cut the cable cord LONG ago. We live in an age where you just don’t need the endless contracts & frustration anymore. As soon as we cut the cord- we were happier. In fact, we were so happy we convinced a lot of our friends & family to do the same. But there were things we missed & we couldn’t get for a reasonable price without a contract by other means. That’s where Orby TV really shines! Keep reading to check it out!…
Getting It All Done with H&R Block for Tax Season
This post is sponsored by H&R Block but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
2018 was one of the busiest & most fulfilling years of my life. From buying a house to getting pregnant – things have been changing. & changing quickly. Most people wouldn’t even take the time to think about taxes with this whirlwind but when you work for yourself like I do & your husband works for the government…taxes are pretty darn important. & honestly, no matter your job, income, or status taxes should play a big role in our lives annually. This year I’m chatting a bit with how to get it all done thanks to H&R Block!
My 2019 goals are HUGE. Including giving birth. So I really need something convenient but it is also crucial to get things RIGHT. I am not a tax professional so using a program that checks my work is vital. Quite frankly, I’m in a constant state of concern I’m forgetting something. & I don’t want that to be my life! I want to squeeze in some dates with my husband. Quality family activities! & organizing our nursery. Not spend weeks & weeks prepping & agonizing over taxes.
I needed something that fit right into our lifestyle. & made me feel confident! H&R Block has tons of locations across the country but because I’m such an online gal- the DIY products online really appealed to me! I like that I can do them all at once or little by little. I was even able to upload my forms directly online & use the calculator to have some idea of my refund or what I might owe in April! H&R Block helped me feel like I was getting this whole tax thing RIGHT without the usual pressure & they have very transparent pricing which was also very important to our budget!
So what’s the takeaway? I can do my taxes through H&R Block anywhere, anytime, & there are expert tax pros standing by to help if I need it! BUT if I want to focus in the quiet of my home (& that’s so me!) I have that option as well. With H&R Block’s Tax Pro Go, I can upload my docs & a tax pro did the rest, without me ever having to visit an office! Between pregnancy & newborn prep- this was a huge plus! & it gave me time for the important things- like spending quality time with my loved ones.
Amazon Must-Haves to Get You Through the First Trimester of Pregnancy
Want to give gifts to someone newly pregnant or use Amazon to pick up some things for yourself? Use this handy Amazon guide to pick up the best for your first trimester with a wide variety. & best of all…Amazon will ship it straight to your house so you don’t have to stop binging Netflix! Because if not now…when?…
5 Ideas for Perfect Gifting Duos for Her
Today I bring you a creative twist on gift ideas- DIY duos. I wanted to take something oh-so-popular like face masks & pair with other items I found inside Macy’s to creature unique gift duos moms & friends would love! Perfect for Mother’s Day, birthdays, holidays, & just to show you’re thinking of them! Keep reading to see these pairings! I also collected a vast amount of alternative ideas just in case you want to try something else!…
5 Mother’s Day Ideas in Las Vegas (Spa Day, Gifts, & Treats!)
Want some beautiful Mother’s Day Ideas? I’ve got you covered! I wanted to find items for different types of moms & varying ages… so expect to see items I think any woman would love. Even if you don’t live in Vegas, you’ll still pick up some amazing ideas & most ship as well! Keep reading to see some of my local favorites, small businesses, & a splurge day idea!…
What to Gift Yourself for the New Year
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. Other items in this post have been sent for consideration. Purchasing through affiliate links help keep sites up & running.
After shopping so much & giving to others…are you ready to reward yourself? I’ve been prepared to kick 2017 out the door since about February so…2018 is looking SO good right now! So gather up your gift cards, your wishlists, & your extra holiday cash & check out what I’m recommending you pick up going into 2018!…
My #girlboss Hustle Morning Routine- step by step!
Today I’m sharing tips for how I reach for sanity while still accomplishing some seriously heavy to-do lists! You all have seen me trying different methods & ideas especially on snapchat & instagram lately so I figured it was time to share! I’m going to break down my morning thought process for how I set myself up to have a productive day. Keep reading to check it out!…
Amazon Picks: Hot Summer Outfits for Your Next Bash! (for every body type!)
Isn’t Amazon the best? I find myself shopping there more & more lately. I was browsing for some of my basic summer necessities- more shoes…more clothes…ya know? The regular! & thought maybe you would be interested in seeing some of my favorite things I found that are HOT weather friendly! Because Vegas tends to be on fire! I was on the hunt for a BBQ outfit aka casual but still cute. For this post I decided to put together four outfits- one cropped, one girl-next-door, one fun combo for us plus-size babes with attitude, & a bright option. & absolutely everything is from Amazon! Keep reading to check out all the details!…
Quick Gym Essentials Guide- My Must-Haves!
Lately I have been all about bettering myself. Last year I did a great job distancing myself from negative people & that helped so much! This year I’ve been looking at overall wellness- both body & mind. Workouts helps in both of those areas!! Today I thought I’d go over some of my absolute must-haves when loading up my gym bag….
3 New Things to Switch Up Your Morning Routine + BIG Giveaway!
Are your mornings a bit…boring? Sometimes I get into a deep rut- same thing every day. I’ve found the easiest way to change up my whole day starts with adjusting my morning. Here are three quick ways to do it! Plus a HUGE giveaway! No wait- two of them!…
Food, Home, & Lifestyle Favorites including Gummy Bears, Pajamas, & More!
Today is a seriously gorgeous day but we’ve been inside packing. We’re prepping our move little by little & I can’t believe we’ll be living in Vegas again in a month! We’re so excited but it has definitely been tons of work. While cleaning up I picked up a bunch of items I’ve been keeping on hand throughout the house & thought it was definitely time to share some favorites including my absolute favorite pjs, some recipes here on Home in High Heels, tons of snacks, & even my new business! Keep reading to check it out!…
The Top Spring Fashion Trends for Your Home
When looking at the fashion trends each season, there is often something I like…but am not really interested in adding to my wardrobe. I thought it would be fun to take three popular trends for spring that have been all over the runways & show some fun ways of integrating them into your home & decor! For this post I focused on gingham, stripes, & the new style of animal print- keep reading to check out my picks!
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My Big 2014 New Year’s Resolutions Post! + 2013 Update!
So last year I wrote out my resolutions on Home in High Heels & I thought it would be fun to do that again! I love the whole “Fresh Start Feeling” you get the 1st of January every year. Can you start bettering yourself anytime? Of course! But sometimes I really appreciate the boost! I have tons & TONS of goals this year but many of them are related to blogging. I doubt that would interest you guys? I’m really active on my beauty blog which you can see here but overall I have a very long list! I figured life type resolutions would be a lot more interesting to read & hopefully it will hold me accountable as well! Keep reading to see my very long list & to see how I did on my 2013 resolutions!
So here is my post containing my 2013 New Year’s Resolutions for reference!
#1 clearly didn’t happen & I’m so sorry. Having a second blog sounded a lot easier than it actually was! I have big plans for this blog in the new year though including my love for fashion, accessories, DIY, cooking, reading, & tons of other topics. I really want this to be a lifestyle blog that shows me for me!
#2 was just okay. I’m actually coming back in February from IMATS LA 2014 to do our taxes & then we’re setting up a whole new plan. My job is so different & our money situation is also different so we need to start from square one allllll over again!
#3 was seriously lacking & is something I definitely will be working on this year! #4 is also something I’m working on this year as well! & #5 has been going great! Check out my DIY for our date night jar here! We’ve been going to more new places which has been so much more fun than the same ol same ol!
#6 I felt like was a huge success. It is something I constantly work on but I’ve been much more conscious of being thankful & overall positive for the past year! Yay!
Let’s dive into 2014 shall we?
#1 Get to saving & budgeting with the snowball method! The first step is saving up a $1000 emergency fund, baby steps! Just google the snowball budgeting method, I’m no expert & that’s where I learned all about it!
#2 Buy myself another new, ritzy camera! I’ve been using a video camera that was my husband’s before we even got married- it is like 7 years behind the times! I want a new camera with video capability (yes I do have my eye on a particular model!) to re-spark my passion for vlogging & such.
#3 De-clutter, donate, & purge more. I went through a huge change with my OCD this year & found myself in the healthiest place I’ve been in a long time. Getting rid of things I don’t need, will never use, or that someone else can use is going to be a huge part of this year. I’ve been doing so well that I want to keep the momentum going! I’m even doing the whole turning around the hangers 7 donating what is left thing. & going through all of our seasonal cra…stuff. I meant stuff.
#4 This kind of feeds into #3 but it is a big one- Use what I have! I need to use up soaps before buying more, use up salsa before opening a new jar, & just get my significant hoarding of everything under control. I also need to organize what I have like magazines I’ve been saving for crafting & stuff I have piling up to use someday.
#5 Read more. Goodreads has been excellent for planning this! I also love audio books so I’m getting a list together!
#6 Get back into my art. I love to draw & paint & just haven’t made time for that creative outlet in a long time. Painting my nails is awesome but I probably should break out the paints again.
#7 Scan ALL of my family photos. When my parents visited they brought boxes upon boxes of photos & documents that need to get scanned so they aren’t lost forever. There are SO many that it is quite daunting but I need to make a plan & stick to it- not an option!
#8 Try even more fun foods & recipes- hubby & I both enjoy them & it keeps us from falling into a rut!
#9 For health related matters, I just need to get back on track. Tracking my food, sticking to a regimen, & having goals all help. Some of my main goals are getting pushups done, working with my yoga ball, & running a mile comfortably! I have a heart condition & if I’m not consistent it is pretty much impossible to layoff then jump back in full force. Slow & steady.
#10 Keep loving my life. Be mindful of all the wonderful opportunities I have. Enjoy the people I surround myself with. & just keep being happy.
What are some of your resolutions for 2014? Any life goals to share?
How to Clean with OCD- How I’m Coping + My Tips
When it comes it our house…we have lots of stuff. Our kitchen is overflowing, my makeup rooms is bursting, & the closets…well let’s just not play that game.
We’ve got gadgets & gizmos aplenty. We’ve got decor & seasonal galore. You want craft supplies? I’ve got too many! Ha. Does anyone else relate to the Little Mermaid about hoarding? That scene always gives me a giggle.
Let’s talk about what’s been going on though. For those that don’t know, I am obsessive compulsive & have anxiety. I take a medication to live a much better life but I just recently started taking it again. During the break we acquired a whole lot of stuff. & now that I’m back on track it is time to tackle it. We’ve already started & I thought…just in case anyone else out there felt crazy like me…I’d share some tips that have helped me.
#1 “I never use this & someone else out there will love it.”
This is number one for a reason: I repeat this in my head over & over…& over. When I’m trying to decide on an item this is what I say. If I have to think that hard we probably don’t need it. If it is something truly sentimental (your wedding album, prom dress, your son’s first pair of shoes) then that is something you have to think about. But if you are saving 10 dresses from 15 years ago that you’ll never wear again, let someone else!
#2 Ask lots of questions, of yourself & others.
When was the last time he played with this? Where will this fit in with our lifestyle? Is there someone we know who would really appreciate this that we could gift it to? You really need to find a balance. For example, I had well over 100 pairs of sunglasses. Excessive? Yes. But I’ve had most of them for years. The average amount for most people is probably 1-10. the thought of that was enough to nearly make me cray-cray. I couldn’t go down that much! But I did narrow it down to 50. Little by little! Get rid of the things that don’t make your life better: clothes you kept because someone gifted them to you, cracked items you never bothered to fix, games with a bunch of missing pieces…make room for the new.
#3 Get nonjudgmental help.
The nonjudgmental part is REALLY important. Find someone who can understand at least somewhat about what upsets you. You don’t want to feel like they think you’re being dramatic or even making things worse. You might be surprised so talk to them before you start. Go over your triggers, what upsets you most, & what will help make the experience productive. One of my triggers is getting rid of things without me seeing it first. My husband is really considerate & vocal about it now.
#4 Give to a cause.
This helps me so much. I hate the idea of throwing out perfectly good things someone somewhere might get use out of. I just can’t bare the thought of tossing them in the trash never to be loved again. We don’t personally have a good setup for yard sales so donations really are the way to go. Books to the local library. Art supplies to local schools. Clothing to the Make A Wish Foundation drop offs. I can’t even explain the difference between donating & tossing. Right now people are getting great use out of our mismatched dishes, canned goods we’ll never eat, & clothes I never ended up wearing.
#5 Find your own pace.
Some people will speed through certain rooms while others will drag. The kitchen is really hard for me, I can always see myself using those items. Same with crafting supplies. What if I need a lavender zipper someday? Or a mini colander? Or every box of tea ever made? I’ll take longer on those things. Books were really easy for me ever since I started using audio books & my kindle. I used to save them because I would think “Someday I’ll want this for my kids” or “Someday I’ll read this again” but now the only books I tend to keep are a couple from my childhood & my cookbooks. Try to switch between the difficult & easy so you feel like you’re really accomplishing something.
Welp! That’s all for now! If you guys are interested I could talk about our spring cleaning a bit more. It has definitely been an adventure! For the first time in ages it feels good to purge our house of the unnecessary.
