Lifestyle Tips Archives - Page 8 of 10 - Style [+] Life [+] Fashion by [@kwest1908]

BJs Wholesale Club / March 25, 2016

Easter Celebration – Simple Lifestyle Tips

Easter can be an exciting holiday for everyone. It’s the ultimate symbol of the Spring season and a time of rebirth. Although celebrating Easter can be a lot of fun, preparation for this joyous holiday can also be overwhelming!

As a new mom (many years ago) I wanted to attack the holiday from all angles. My eagerness stemmed from the excitement of having my very own children. Over the years, I’ve learned to focus on what really matters. The small details will come together once you concentrate on the priority of the day.

FullSizeRender-93 — Easter Brunch 2015 – Flemings Prime Steakhouse

FullSizeRender-94 — Caesar Salad and Omelett

FullSizeRender-95 — National Aquarium with the boys

Easter Celebration Tips:

Create your dinner menu – Decide whether your family will dine in or out. Either option provides a good opportunity for quality fellowship. Traditional Easter meals (if you’re cooking) include a honey glazed ham, roasted leg of lamb, baked salmon, green bean casserole, rice pilaf, scalloped potatoes, macaroni and cheese, or home-style dinner rolls.
Coordinate Easter crafts with the kids – This particular tip can vary depending on your interest but the idea is to teach your family the meaning of Easter. Quick holiday crafts include decorating eggs, planting a Spring garden, or designing Easter bookmarks.
Consider taking Easter photos – Start thinking of the right location, lighting, and even the weather. Also, we can’t forget to coordinate the perfect attire whether a traditional suit or casual spring outfit.
Decorate, Decorate, Decorate – Nothing brings more excitement than putting out spring decorations. Add a wreath to the front door, create a tablescape, or flower arrangement in the hallway.

Some of my favorite Easter traditions include Sunday morning worship, egg hunt, brunch, and spring photos. What are some of your favorite Easter traditions, share them with us here?

Accessories / March 20, 2016

Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner – News and Bloggers

I’m happy to share that Style + Life + Fashion’s featured on the updated Dryel website. Knowing (and sharing) good laundry tips can be essential to every fashion lover’s wardrobe.

Personally, using Dryel products are handy for my delicate clothing items that require extra care. I also use the Dryel system for blazers or sweaters that I’ve purchased at a consignment shop for an awesome price.

Why spend money on dry-cleaning when I can purchase an effective cleaning system from the store? Click on the photo to read more:

Click Here

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta / March 18, 2016

Diono Products – Fox 45 Morning News Segment

I had the opportunity to showcase products from the Diono car seat brand on Fox 45 News WBFF Baltimore. This was a great segment because I’m a mom and having an organized car can be a lifesaver!

Every parent should know about this company because they have amazing products! The three items I discussed where Radian RXT Car Seat, Travel Pal, and Stow n Go. As you can see from the photo, parents are able to store toys, food items, and travel buddies for their little ones.

I had a lot of fun and hope that I helped to make someone’s family travel easier. Visit Diono.com to view more of their products!

Lifestyle Tips / March 17, 2016

Sparkling Ice Cocktails and Cupcakes – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I wanted to share some refreshing cocktails (and a tasty green cupcake recipe) from Sparkling Ice – a great tasting, lightly carbonated, zero-calorie beverage which combines sparkling water, fruit juice, vitamins, antioxidants, and BOLD natural flavors.

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
1 1/2 ounces Sour Apple Pucker
1 1/2 ounces Sparkling Ice Crisp Apple
2 cups of ice
Apple wedges for garnish (optional)
Instructions

1.Fill a martini shaker with ice.

2.Pour in the vodka, sour apple pucker and juice into shaker.

3.Stir ingredients

4.Garnish with an apple wedge

Ingredients

Cake

1 box of white cake mix
12 oz of room temperate Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime
Icing

1 can of vanilla icing
4 drops of green food dye
Instructions

1.Preheat your oven to 350°

2.Line muffin pan with liners.

3.In a medium bowl combine your Sparkling Ice and cake mix, stirring with a whisk until most of the lumps are gone.

4.Fill each liner ½-2/3 full of batter.

5.Bake for 18-20 minutes until cupcakes are springy and toothpicks comes out clean.

6.Let cool completely before frosting.

Event / March 15, 2016

Alabama Gulf Coast Convention Joins Food Sport

Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, known across the country as Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (www.orangebeach.com), has signed as the 2016 title sponsor of the World Food Championships (www.WorldFoodChampionships.com), making Orange Beach, Alabama the Official Host Site of this year’s ultimate food fight.

The arrangement ensures the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area capitalizes on the energy, excitement and economic impact of an anticipated 1,200 chefs, home cooks and competition teams who will compete for World Food Championships’ $350,000 prize purse and its industry-leading $100,000 grand prize.

The event, which last year attracted competitors from 45 states and 17 countries, will take place Nov. 9-15 at The Wharf (www.alwharf.com), a resort destination with a full-service marina, retail, dining and entertainment options anchored by a multi-use event center and a 10,000-seat amphitheater.

“Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism and our Sports Commission are excited to step into the arena of competitive food sport with the World Food Championships coming to our beach destination,” says Vice President of Sales Beth Gendler. “Sports has truly diversified our destination, and this event helps us diversify even further.

“One of the focuses of the sports commission is to build shoulder season business, and the World Food Championships will be a very impactful event in both room nights and number of people visiting our community during the fall shoulder season,” Gendler said. “It is our pleasure to welcome these national and international food competitors to the Alabama Gulf Coast this November.”

All told, World Food Championships is expected to bring an estimated $2 million in direct local spending as it draws thousands of foodies and Food Sport enthusiasts to the Alabama Gulf coast, elevating hotel and vacation rental bookings, restaurant spending and other community revenue metrics that come with such signature events.

The deal also connects Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism with World Food Championships’ universe of marketing assets, including national media exposure which eclipsed 794 million impressions last year, as reported by independent media monitoring service BurrellesLuce.

The World Food Championships has experienced rapid growth since its creation in 2012 as the richest and largest Food Sport competition in the world. From a 30% annualized growth in competitors, to its second TV series scheduled to air summer 2016 on Destination America, the WFC has evolved into a year-long quest for thousands of competitors and foodies, as well as a marketing platform for innovative companies.

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism welcomes more than 5.7 million individuals to the Alabama Gulf Coast each year for family reunions, vacations, meetings and sporting events. Marked by its sugar-white sand beaches, deep-sea fishing and countless family attractions, the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores area is one of the world’s leading beach destinations, annually attracting more than 5 million visitors. Centrally located along the Gulf Coast, and a short drive from airports in Pensacola, Fla. and Mobile, Ala., Orange Beach’s lodging properties are ideal for beach-side access or inland retreats that are both convenient and affordable. A spectrum of local dining, upscale shopping, fishing, golf, nature and adventure-based excursions also contribute to a spectacular vacation, holiday or leisure experience.

The bulk of these Orange Beach-based food fights will occur in Kenmore Kitchen Arena, the largest outdoor kitchen in the world, measuring a full city block at 7,800-square feet. The competition space features $250,000 worth of Kenmore branded stoves, cooktops, countertops and cookware – enough for 50 chefs to cook simultaneously. An additional $100,000 worth of professional grills from Bull Outdoor Products affords open-flame grilling.

To learn more about the WFC and its qualifying events, tournament-style process or consumer experiences, visit www.worldfoodchampionships.com.

To learn more about Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, visit www.orangebeach.com

To learn more about The Wharf, visit www.alwharf.com.

# # #

About the World Food Championships:
The World Food Championships (www.WorldFoodChampionships.com) features hundreds of competitors seeking food fame and fortune. The fifth annual event, scheduled for Nov. 9-15, 2016 at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama, invites the champions from the biggest and best food competitions around the world into a single highstakes culinary showdown for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Follow World Food Championships on Twitter (@WorldFoodChamp), and Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships).

About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism:
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism serves as the official destination marketing organization for the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in addition to the unincorporated area of Fort Morgan. To learn more about the whole different state of discovery on Alabama’s 32 miles of white-sand beaches, visit either www.GulfShores.com or www.OrangeBeach.com. This convention and visitors bureau is an accredited Destination Marketing Organization (2012-2016). Follow Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism on Twitter (@AlabamaBeaches), Instagram (@GulfShoresOrangeBeach) and Facebook (@AlabamaGulfCoast).

Beauty / March 11, 2016

Spring Break Beauty Survival Kit

Spring Break plans right around the corner? Pack up your bags and get ready to head out with the ultimate beauty survival kit! We’ve got you covered from head to toe (and everything in between) with the warm weather essentials you need for skin that’s soft, smooth and glowing all vacation long.

1) KORRES Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30: Have fun in the sun with this ultra-sheer yet nourishing fluid that provides daily broad-spectrum UV coverage while wearing beautifully under makeup. This ultra-lightweight fluid instantly disappears into skin providing broad-spectrum UV protection and deep nourishment. Yogurt, rich in skin-repairing proteins, helps keep skin nourished and protected from the sun’s harmful rays while a blend of rice and camapu extract offers deep hydration and calming properties to soothe skin during sun exposure. Provitamin B5 helps reduce inflammation and supports natural cell regeneration while jojoba oil seals in moisture—leaving skin soft and smooth. ($35; Sephora.com)

2) Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Roller-Ball Fragrance Collection: Travel Friendly. Purse Friendly. Skin Friendly. This is the perfect for fragrance on the go. Their collection of all-natural fragrances is luxurious and addictive. Each fragrance starts with a warm base of Madagascar vanilla and layers on a unique blend of pure essential oils for an exquisite expression of nature that capture a mood, a memory or a moment in time. Hailed as the World’s First Healthy Fragrance, organic sugar cane alcohol is infused with skin saving antioxidants for a modern twist on the classic art of perfumery. ($19; Lavanila.com)

3) PediSpa by Look Beauty Gentle Exfoliating Foot Mask: Show off sandal ready feet thanks to this non-traditional masque that contains a foot exfoliate plus treatment filled in a pair of wearable socks. Key ingredients like chamomile and natural botanical fruit extracts help control callus build-up for visibly smooth feet within two weeks. ($9.99 for one complete pair; Exclusively at Target Stores in the Foot Care Aisle and Target.com)

4) Bioré Baking Soda Pore Cleanser: Wash you face day and night for a complexion that glows all vacation long with this daily liquid cleanser that gives you a deep exfoliating clean without being rough on dry spots. Ideal for combination skin, this oil-free formula contains cleansing ingredients that excavate grime and oil from pores. At the same time, the formula gently smooths away dead cells. You end up with skin that’s fresh, silky-soft and luminous. ($7.99; Drug and mass merchants)

5) Ban Roll-On Deodorant: Don’t worry about embarrassing sweat while you’re in the sun! Traditional antiperspirant/deodorants merely mask odors and reduce odor-causing sweat in general, while Ban’s breakthrough technology specifically targets and virtually eliminates odor that other antiperspirant/deodorants may leave behind. Ban Roll-On Deodorant glides on easily with a formula that provides an outstanding 24 hours of invisible protection against odor wetness. ($4.99, Drug and Mass Retailers)

6) Curél Itch Defense Instant Soothing Moisturizing Spray: Instantly relieve dry, irritated skin with this non-medicated, moisturizing spray with cooling hydration. Uniquely soothing, this formula delivers a mix of light yet potent hydrators — including a proprietary ceramide complex, allantoin and panthenol — to ease parched, itchy skin right where you need it. The Proprietary Cooling Complex feels soothing like a cold compress, lending you instant relief. ($8.99; Drug and mass merchants)

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta / February 23, 2016

BJs Cherry Berry Smoothie – American Heart Health Month

February is Heart Health Month and BJs Wholesale Club has some delicious produce (and recipes) to help us live a healthy lifestyle. Personally, I am a huge fan of smoothies! They’re easy to make and the perfect breakfast option for families.

Smoothies can be made in a variety of ways depending on your health needs. For example, if you’re having digestive issues, add a teaspoon of Flaxseed into your mixture. Drinking a smoothie provides ease into your morning routine and allows breakfast on the go. It can also serve as a filling afternoon snack instead of drinking a soda or eating potato chips.

Homemade Cherry Berry Recipe

2 containers (5 oz each) Yoplait Greek Cherry or Strawberry Blended Yogurt

1 1/2 cups Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Sweet Cherries

1/2 cup Cascadian Farm Frozen Organic Strawberries

1 cup Milk

Make It:

Place all ingredients in a blender
Cover & blend on high speed, about 1 minute or until smooth
Pour into 3 glasses
Serve immediately

For my smoothie recipe, I like to include a small amount of water and 2 teaspoons of Wellsley Farms Pure Honey. Also, if your schedule will be hectic the next morning, take frozen fruit out of the freezer (the night before.) This will help ingredients blend faster and more consistently. Pour the smoothie into your tumblr and go!

Ingredients are from BJs Wholesale Club

Cute Tumblr from Dollar Store

follow my Snapchat @kwest1908 to see more behind the scenes at BJs Wholesale Club

Sponsored Post

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta / February 9, 2016

Terra’s Kitchen – Baltimore Meal-Kit Delivery Service

I’m excited to announce the launch of Baltimore-based Terra’s Kitchen, an innovative meal-kit delivery service that’s making it easy and quick to cook up tasty dishes at home leaving more time for memory making in the kitchen and beyond!

Terra’s Kitchen, available for the first time ever in the Baltimore area starting March 1st, promises farm-to-front door delivery of fresh, seasonal ingredients that are pre-portioned and prepped for skillet-ready, chef-designed recipes. Each meal can be made in 30 minutes or less, giving families more time for the things that matter.

With the now 1 billion dollar meal-kit marketplace offering many options, I wanted to call out a few things that sets Terra’s Kitchen apart from its competitors:

Eco-Friendly Delivery Vessel: The unique vessel features proprietary, climate-controlling technology to keep high-quality ingredients cool and fresh for delivery. The eco-friendly Vessel is reusable and creates 0% waste, as Terra’s Kitchen will schedule a pickup date and time with its customers to retrieve it and reuse.

Clean & Chef-Designed Recipes: Libbie Summers, Head of Culinary Direction at Terra’s Kitchen and esteemed cookbook author, expertly combines high-quality ingredients for healthy meals, with options for omnivore, gluten-free, paleo and vegetarian preferences. With a rotating seasonal menu, each meal comes with a step-by-step recipe card to ensure that dinner is easy-to-make (think Honey Mustard Chicken Breast with Grilled Vegetable Kabobs, Tomato Scallion Rice With Cheesy Grilled Squash or Grilled NY Strip Steak With Tomatoes, Eggplant & Basil Chimichurri in under 30 minutes!).

Recreating The Family Dinner Experience: In an era where busy American families struggle to find the time for quality meals at-home, Terra’s Kitchen’s offers consumers an easy tool for quick meals, that don’t sacrifice nutrition or taste, and can go from the skillet to the table in under 30 minutes. All ingredients come pre-portioned and prepped – all you do is cook!

Atlanta / January 3, 2016

Enoch Pratt Free Library: Food for Fines 2016

The Enoch Pratt Free Library is partnering with the Maryland Food Bank in the month of January for Food For Fines.

From January 4 to January 31, donate a canned food item at any Pratt Library location and receive a $1 off any library fine.

There is no limit on the amount of cans that can be donated. For example, 5 cans = $5 off of your library card fines. Canned goods must be unopened and unexpired to qualify. To participate, just drop the cans off at the Circulation Desk of your local Pratt Library branch.

“We are encouraging our library patrons to help fight hunger in the Baltimore area. This campaign helps our neighbors and helps you reduce your library fines,” said Carla D. Hayden, Chief Executive Officer of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “The holidays are over but the need is still there. Baltimoreans and Marylanders stand by each other and this campaign is a way to continue the holiday spirit into the new year.”

In January 2015, the library collected more than 10,700 pounds of food for the Maryland Food Bank feeding more than 7,000 meals.

“The Food for Fines campaign is an inspiring example of how communities can come together to prioritize hunger,” said Deborah Flateman, President & CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “It’s a win-win for everyone, and it’s a helpful reminder that hunger is a year-round struggle, one that doesn’t end once the holidays are over.”

Enoch Pratt Free Library

The Enoch Pratt Free Library, the nation’s first free library system, opened its doors in 1886, the result of the generosity and imagination of businessman and philanthropist Enoch Pratt. Mr. Pratt envisioned a public library where “races, ages, and socio-economic classes mingled and people could educate themselves – without cost,” and his passionate belief continues to guide the organization. Today’s Pratt Library – Baltimore’s public library and the Maryland State Library Resource Center – consists of the Central Library, an anchor library, 22 branches, two bookmobiles, Pratt Centers for Technology Training, and the Regional Information Center. The Library’s mission is to provide equal access to information and services that support, empower, and enrich all who pursue knowledge, education, cultural enrichment, and lifelong learning.

Maryland Food Bank
About the Maryland Food Bank: The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization, leading the movement to end hunger throughout Maryland. For more than 35 years, the Maryland Food Bank has partnered with communities across the state to distribute food to individuals and families in need. Through carefully-crafted programs, the food bank aims to meet the immediate needs of Marylanders while simultaneously working to find long term ways to reduce hunger statewide. Currently distributing more than 120,000 meals per day — nearly 44 million meals annually — the Maryland Food Bank will continue to expand its efforts until hunger ends. To learn more about the Maryland Food Bank, visit mdfoodbank.org.

For more information about the Pratt’s Food for Fines campaign, visit our website at www.prattlibrary.org. Also look for the Pratt on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

Remember at the Enoch Pratt Free Library: “Your journey starts here.”

prattlibrary.org 400 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201-4484 p 410-545-3115 f 410-396-8134

Fall 2015 / October 25, 2015

The Downy Ball – Fuzzy Sweater Solution

With dropping temperatures, puffy coats, fuzzy sweaters and warm boots become the everyday norm. But with cold weather comes dry air and much more static electricity. Tired of your hair standing on end, random shocks throughout the day and intimate articles of clothing sticking to the outside of your pants?

The creators of the Downy Ball have come up with some static reducing tips, like tossing an aluminum foil ball into the dryer to help further reduce the static charge that clings to our clothes.

For me, Sunday’s considered to be laundry time and I am planning to pick up a Downy Ball. My sweaters are notorious for having fuzzy balls and I couldn’t understand why until I ran across this little tool.

Downy has other products to help us in this area as well such wrinkle releaser and scent beads. We spend so much money on our wardrobe, let’s make sure we’re caring for it in the proper manner. Do you have any laundry tips, feel free to share them in the comments section below!

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