Personal/About Me Archives - Home In High Heels

An Open Letter to Myself as a New Military Spouse + Throwback Photos!

May 15, 2017 By Stephanie Louise

Hey Stephanie- things are pretty weird right now, right? It is 2008 & you are seriously crazy in love. You never thought you’d be married at 19, right? Yeah, me neither. I bet you never thought you’d embark in a life surrounded by the military either. That all your choices would soon revolve around this life. But they will….

My New Me-Time in the Morning + Prep for the Day

September 21, 2015 By Stephanie Louise

Sponsored
I’ve learned a lot about myself from this recent military move. For one thing- there is no prepping for a military move. You don’t know when you’re getting your money, your time, or your items. Or if a ton of them will be broken along the way…which yes, they were. I also couldn’t keep going at the same pace. I was burned out from the preparations I did make & the stress of it all. The house is still covered in boxes but taking a break has been so important. Today I’m sharing what I’ve been doing to start my days off on the right foot since getting here! & sharing a coupon!…

Our Love Story Started With HELLO + Sweepstakes!

September 29, 2014 By Stephanie Louise

Thanks to Lindt HELLO for sponsoring today’s post! All opinions are my own. #ItStartedwithHELLO Our love story definitely started with hello…over the internet! Completely unexpected when I wasn’t even looking I found the love of my life chatting with me over Facebook. Minutes turned to hours & hours into day then we met & definitely were both head over heels. At 19 (& him 23) we eloped…& have been married ever since! Sometimes I can’t help but wonder though…what if he hadn’t said hello? What if I hadn’t responded? What a sad story that would be indeed! Lindt’s “It Started with Hello” campaign introduces tasty premium chocolates sure to get a conversation going! Lindt has an amazing new collection called Lindt HELLO– a variety of premium chocolate options inspired by classic American Treats! Say “Hello” to someone you’ve been wanting to talk to…a new possible friend at work? A seriously handsome cutie on the bus? Share your favorite Lindt HELLO stick, bar, or mini stick to get the conversation rolling! Lindt HELLO is available in stores nationwide, Lindt Chocolate Shops and Lindt.com. You’ll see flavors like Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies & Cream, Crunchy Nougat, Caramel Brownie, & more! Ryan & I are so enthralled with the Strawberry Cheesecake flavor that I’ve already ordered more to pickup from Target!

From September 12th through October 9th, you can visit the “It Started with HELLO” Youtube page to view new episodes of “It Started with HELLO” weekly and share your opinions on who you’d like to see paired up next. They partnered with Ashley Tisdale for the series who I personally find charming! The first teaser video will introduce the cast & each week a new episode will premiere, showcasing the romantic stories between different couples. You can actually choose the ending to each episode as well! Plus Lindt is holding a SWEEPSTAKES to make new connections of your own! To enter, visit the Lindt HELLO Sweet Connections Sweepstakes Landing Page and enter your email address. Entries can be made daily for additional chances to win prizes that are awesome!

*No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 years or older (19 in AL or NE and 21 in MS). Void where prohibited. See Rules at for weekly sweepstakes entry periods, prize descriptions, odds and other details. Ends Noon on 10/14/14. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc., One Fine Chocolate Place, Stratham, NH 03885.

So what is your HELLO story? If you’ve tried some of the new Lindt HELLO options– which was your favorite?

On the Run Essentials for Getting Tasks Done- SPF to Chewing Gum!

July 24, 2014 By Stephanie Louise

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. & its advertiser. All opinions are my own. #JuicyFruitFunSide #CollectiveBias

On the Run Essentials for Getting Tasks Done!

PR Sample. Affiliate links.

Working from home can sometimes be draining. The lack of fresh air & sunshine can weigh on me. & no- the back yard doesn’t count. Neither does getting the mail. When I am cooped up inside the house when the outdoors are sparkling I like to remind myself of the long (too long) winter & that sunshine is a gift. Then 2-3 days a week are the golden days- the me time. The time where I bust out of the house to do fun things mixed with chores. Glory. Today I wanted to talk a bit about my routine outside of the home & the items I grab for first when I get to head out the door- from chewing gum to perfume to my preference for hoop earrings.

Usually when I’m out I am accompanied by my husband. We tend to do a lot of the house stuff together like groceries then grab lunch or have a dinner date. It has always been like this because I usually use my alone time to get things done for work inside. Often I’ll wake up Saturday stir-crazy & SO ready to be NOT inside that I don’t even bother to throw on makeup.

If you follow my beauty blog (filled with everything from basics to the very elaborate cosmetic adventures) then you might be giving me a little gasp right now. True story. I know. My own mother does when she hears I go out in public without a stitch of face makeup on. But I do have some essentials that I work in!

One of my favorite kinds of places to go to get out of my dulldrums is a museum. Probably half of you aren’t remotely interested but the act of walking around & viewing random bits & bobs is fun for me. My husband…not so much so this tends to be more of a mom & me trip. This is the Getty Villa in California & this is a shot of the garden from above. Isn’t it lovely? The perfect place to stroll.

No matter where I go I always bring SPF, sanitizer, & something to apply to my lips. Right now I’m loving Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery for the SPF of 50 & how healthy it makes my skin look. I go crazy without something on my lips so when I want something colorless that feels & looks nice I grab the Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Lip Silk since it seems to fill in all my lines. I’m a constant hand sanitizer person & this one from bath & Body Works in Market Peach is one I stock up on yearly. The scent is so fresh!

Another spot to hit when the weather is hot is our local zoo. The zoo here in Omaha is absolutely fantastic- this photo is over by the butterfly exhibit where you actually walk through & they land on you! My parents came our for a visit last summer & the 4 of us went nearly every day. It can get really hot but you’re always around the corner from something with air-conditioning so it is definitely not bad. I throw on big shades, comfy shoes, & usually a huge hat which my mom ended up using for the day.

I usually keep a pair of hoops in the car in case I forget to put on earring in either silver or gold. I also make time for a dab of perfume, this one is L’Occitane Roses et Reines which smells terribly romantic. I absolutely love it alone & layered with other scents. Earrings & a quick spritz instantly make me feel more put together without having to glance in a mirror or even stop walking.

I do a lot of shopping this time of year as well…okay I shop a lot in general. But really- even more so in the summer because it is so nice to be outside without being miserably cold. I’m always hunting down some new makeup collection- remember this Oz the Great & Powerful one from Urban Decay awhile back? I loved this one so much that I snapped a picture & I’ve kept it all this time. I still love those palettes which I reviewed here & here! We hit store after store just to burn some energy, grab some frozen treats, & chatter.

Because someone (my husband usually) always tempts me with lots of treats all summer or I’m trying to burn off some energy I tend to be chewing gum. I picked up one Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum pack for my purse & the Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews for my car from Walmart. Did you know Walmart is having fun Juicy Fruit demos across the country? You can check out these demos July 25th-27th from 11am-4pm & August 1st-3rd 11am-4pm & 1pm-6pm on Sunday. Besides the original flavor seen here Juicy Fruit also has a Juicy Fruit Strawberry flavor that I’d love to get my hands on! One of these cool flip top bottles called Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews are available nationwide & cost only $3.49. The bottle contains Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews sugarfree gum which is what I reach for most but the Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum is great when I want to blow some bubbles for only $0.79 a pack.

So what are you doing to get things done this summer while still trying to work in the fun? What are your must-haves? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

My Big 2014 New Year’s Resolutions Post! + 2013 Update!

January 1, 2014 By Stephanie Louise

photo NewYearsResolutions2014Main_edited-1_zps2c1e79a0.jpg

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?

Making Thanksgiving Our Own #MyKindofHoliday with Target

November 21, 2013 By Stephanie Louise

Sponsored Post. Affiliate links. Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

When it comes to holidays Thanksgiving has always been a wacky one. Growing up we didn’t really have a traditional meal…in fact some years we traveled through Thanksgiving on mini vacations. My husband always had very traditional holidays. When we came together we kind of had a whole new situation! Keep reading to find out what we try to do every year!

Together we first started having Thanksgiving in a weird way. The first Thanksgiving we spent with his family, the next he was deployed (mys husband is in the Air Force currently), & then the third we spent with my family. This was a pretty decent rhythm! Then we got stationed in the middle of Nebraska far from family. What to do? Then it dawned on us: We can do whatever we want!

photo OurTurkey2012Thanksgiving_zpse4a5c26e.jpg

I made my first turkey (ew ew ew so gross to get used to honestly!) which was actually quite beautiful! We had traditional foods that I made myself & we try to open our house to other enlisted military (usually Airmen) who are away from family & can’t get home for the holidays. I love being able to give them a home cooked meal, I know how hard being far from home can be during the winter!

photo Winter2012OurFrontYard_zps5592308b.jpg

While being on the road or with family for the holidays was fun, we’ve really learned to love our own little Thanksgiving. I make the cranberry sauce the night before (Ryan then eats at least half of it) & plan out my recipes all month. I try to serve on nice platters which I collect all year to make me feel more grown up 😉 We sit around drinking hot chocolate (he drinks eggnog, yuck!) & have a really calm evening. Often on Thanksgiving we already have snow on the ground so it is nice to be cozy & warm inside! Plus we miss all of that traffic!

When it comes to being in public for the holidays, I like to look nice. I love to shop for trendy metallics, winter weather prep accessories (like those adorable leather gloves from Target!), & things I can sprinkle throughout my wardrobe. Honestly, I just love to shop & have new things constantly! Black Friday is my favorite time to seek out items usually out of my price range or things I don’t need but really want! So what does this have to do with Thanksgiving? Well Black Friday is the day after! I count it as being part of the holiday 😉

photo Christmas2012StephanieLouise_zps5d982194.jpg

By the next day, I’m already in the Christmas spirit. I love how sparkly & stunning all the displays are & digging for treasure. Ryan is amused by this so he allows me to buy just about anything my heart desires when I’m in a festive mood. Our house would be so incredibly gawdy if he wasn’t around to reign me in some. I love Thanksgiving because it has become OUR holiday, something we do together as our own little family. It is really special to me.

What are some of your holiday traditions? Don’t forget to tag #MyKindofHoliday & check out Target for some great holiday finds this season!

How to Clean with OCD- How I’m Coping + My Tips

August 22, 2013 By Stephanie Louise

photo HowICleanwithOCDampTips01_zps5885eda5.jpg

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.

Wordless Wednesday July 10th: Cobo Tongue, Dozing Poodle, & Photo Board

July 10, 2013 By Stephanie Louise

photo MyPhotoBoardAboveMyDesk_zpsebdf02a3.jpg

photo ZeusSunnyChairPoodleWhite_edited-1_zps069a82b0.jpg

photo CoboTongueOutBoxer_edited-1_zps9a7ca7c5.jpg

Personal: Trying to Combat Depression During Winter

March 3, 2013 By Stephanie Louise

So lately I’ve felt like I was in a life rut. Everything feels a bit blah & dull & that is how I know depression is beginning to creep in. If you’ve ever suffered from depression, the beginning is the worst for me. You can feel it coming but, unlike what most people think, you can’t just “be happy” & skip past it. I think mine currently has a lot to do with the winter. I get more depressed in the winter even with spring right around the corner.

Something about the lack of sunlight really does some damage & with the snow…I can never think of anything to do. We don’t have kids so most of the activities around Omaha, Nebraska (where my husband & I are stationed because he is in the Air Force) are placed around family events. I feel like we fall into ruts with what we do here & that’s rough. We basically go grocery shopping, eat out, & go regular shopping. That’s a big change for me. In California, there is so much to do even if you’re just hanging by the beach or outside in the sunshine. Keep reading to see a few ways I’ve found to make myself feel a bit better & you can add your tips as well!

I thought I’d make a short list of things that tend to make me happier when I’m feeling down, even in the winter snow. I’d love to know what gets your spirits up! I’m sure you have some great ideas.

1. Get out of the house. Even for a few hours, just leave. Being stuck inside can make me feel worse, more suffocated & lonely.

2. Go to the zoo or volunteer with animals. Being with animals (even though I have my own) can lift my spirits a bit. They make me happy, they’re fun to look at, & I always learn something new.

3. Find your local art scene. Not so much here because Ryan doesn’t like to go, but visit local art stores, museums, or art districts. If you’re artistic like me, this makes you happy because you love inspiration. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a piece of jewelry I wanted to learn how to make or a painting technique I would’ve never thought of.

4. People watch! I absolutely love people watching but I have some serious issues with feeling overcrowded. Unfortunately here there aren’t many outdoor malls. Imagine that! Maybe it is the snow? But if you live in a warmer area, this is always a go to for me. My favorite place to people watch is Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California if you’re ever in the area.

5. Watch a movie…somewhere other than your house. Like I said earlier, getting out can be the change you need. Even if you have loads of movies the act of getting ready & going out can make all of the difference. Look for a cheap movie theater, sometimes they have really fun random movies!

6. Go bowling, play lazer tag, or paint balling. Do something active that doesn’t feel like working out & that you can’t do at home. It is so much fun & if you have a spouse its something they’ll likely enjoy too. It is competitive without being too physically strenuous. Sometimes when I’m depressed I feel really lethargic so that’s something important to me. I wish running worked for me…but it just hasn’t.

7. If you don’t want to leave the house (or can’t) for lengthy periods of time…start something new. Start scrapbooking, learn to bake, work on training your dog, learn yoga. Do…something new. It can be frustrating at first so it might not work for everyone but the focus can really help me & I always feel good about completing something new on my own successfully.

8. Get organized. Start organizing an area that has been bugging you. I have OCD so that can really help me to focus without getting overwhelmed. Often times it is something that doesn’t NEED to be done in any length of time so I can take however long I need to make things exactly how I want them.

I’ll try to add more things as I come up with them but I’d LOVE your input. Feel free to leave your tips & blog links below & I’ll add them to the list! I feel like it is really important to remember you’re not alone if you feel like I do & that there are ways to helps!

Obviously I’m not a doctor & you should consult one if you have any feelings to do harm to yourself, others, or if you are concerned with your well being. The photo above was taken at the beach in Laguna Beach, California while shopping along the coast. It is my photo.

My 2013 Resolutions in Life, Love, & Work

January 3, 2013 By Stephanie Louise

A lot of posts have gone up about resolutions this year…& here are mine! My resolutions are a bit different because right now I am 100% focused on getting ready for IMATS 2013 & my trip home to my family & friends. I plan to put these into effect February 1st!

My 2013 Resolutions in Life, Love, & Work

1. Get Home in High Heels into my Schedule.
For those of you not familiar, I blog multiple times a day on Stephanie Louise- All Things Beautiful & I’m also a blogger/social media consultant for a hair website. I’ve been on a constant blogging schedule for some time now & while I’ve seen amazing success (I still consider myself a newbie!) I’m finding it hard to launch this blog. I have so much to share from DIY to cooking to pets but I am just having a hard time expressing myself. Time to make this blog a priority too!

2. Budgeting
I have GOT to learn to budget properly. I make excuses all the time & so does the hubby. When I return from IMATS 2013 (I’ll be in CA Jan 14th-30th) I’m going to start a big plan & overhaul our spending. We have already started some money saving tips but there is so much more to plan out! I’m going to have a makeup budget (my idea I swear) for the first time ever. It will be tough but it will be so worth it!

3. Make a Healthy Me a Priority
I actually like to eat healthy & exercising makes me feel good, so why don’t I make them a priority in my schedule? Because I just don’t. I need to learn to make time instead of working or playing. A healthy me is a happier me.

4. Switch Off
Sometimes I feel like a whole week goes by & I don’t even see my hubby. One night a week I want to have a “Switch Off” night where we turn off the tvs, put our phones away, & reconnect. I think this is so important & both of us are totally guilty.

5. Plan A Date
Ryan & I have an issue: neither of us care what we do. Dinner? Games? Restaurant? Whatever. I need to figure out a way to start planning out some fun for us so we don’t just sit around arguing about what we’re going to do. I have an idea for this but I’ll wait till Valentine’s Day! I’ll share it with you guys in February 🙂

6. Try to be More Positive
I’m a pretty negative person. I call it being a realist but honestly, I’m a worrier. I worry things will go wrong, am pretty pessimistic, & just prepared for the worst. I really want to work on changing the way I react to certain situations & having a more open mind. I think it will be freeing & hopefully lead me to a happier self overall.

There you have it! I hope you guys enjoyed them! I hope everyone has a positively stunning 2013 & cheers to new goals! I’d LOVE to hear what your plans for the new year are so please feel free to link them below!