Thrifty Thursdays: DIY Valentines

It's the day before Valentine's Day which means CVS and every other drug-store in the nation is preparing themselves for a "Black Friday" type of atmosphere tomorrow. But I have created the most adorable homemade Valentine's for you to make. And I bet you already have the supplies at your house to make them...

Will you O"fishally" be my valentine?

DIY Swedish Valentine by Colin, age 3

(with a little help from his aunt Kelly)

In my opinion, there is no better way to show your love then with a homemade gift. I also think that Goldfish and Swedish fish make great allergy-safe snacks for classrooms.

Colin was so excited to give the gift to his mom. Despite his fondness for swedish fish, he waited for "Mama" to open the bag. Now that's true love...

Create a Thrifty Thursday, 

And now for your dose of inspiration inspired by love...

Quote by: Karen Kostyla
Photo Courtesy of: Squidoo

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Wordless Wednesdays: Spread the Love

"Spread your love everywhere you go"
Port Au Prince, Haiti February 2014
Quote: Mother Theresa Photo: Jaclyn Tillinghast

"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder"
Photo Courtesy of: Kristin Joyce
Chatham Barrs Inn, Summer 2013

Today's Wordless Wednesday photo features a moment from Jaclyn Tillinghast's recent trip to Haiti. The kids were learning to braid and Jaclyn sweetly agreed to be their test model. Jaclyn traveled to Haiti with her church, Church of Emanuel Christian & Missonary Alliance located in Foxborough, MA last week. She, along with a team of 7 other church members, were on a mission trip to rebuild houses. 

Create a beautiful Wednesday!

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On-Trend Tuesday: 5 Inspired Looks from NYC Fashion Week

I have found myself checking my Instagram account a little more often these past few days as I have been "oohing and aahing" over all of the pictures from NYC Fashion Week. 

Each day, I have really enjoyed the mini runway shows happening on my Instagram feed as fashion designers, editors, and style bloggers share their favorite moments.

Instagram: Style Cusp

Instagram: The Courtney Kerr

Instagram: Dallas Shaw

Instagram: Emily Jackson

Instagram: Something Navy

Therefore, it felt only fitting that February's "On Trend" Tuesday feature trends fresh off of the runway.

 Here's a look at the 3 fashion trends that I am digging the most, along with a little inspiration for how to wear the look day to day...

Rolled Oversized Updos

Runway

Christian Sariano Fall 2014
Photo Courtesy of InStyle

At Home

Sweep hair into a headband for the "overside-undo" effect
Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

That's a Wrap

Runway

With the 40th anniversary of Diane von Furstenberg,
 the wrap dress just keeps getting better with age.

At Home

Tied Wrap Dress in Plum
NastyGal.com, $58

Chain, Chain, Chain

On the Runway

Victoria Beckham Fall 2014
Photo Courtesy of Snob Essentials

At Home

From left to right: 1. threaded-chain sleeve on sweater 2. chain necklace 

3. chain-belt 4. chain-lined jacket

Inspired Chains Looks found on Pinterest

Hopefully, these fashionable trends looks have inspired you to get a little more creative with your own closet. Create a fashionable Tuesday everyone!

Below is your daily dose of inspiration...

"And then I realized Adventure was the Best Way to Learn"
Photo Courtesy of: Ashley Sofia

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Make It Mondays: Sweet Potato, Turkey Bacon, and Avocado Hash

This dish is my kind of breakfast. It reminds me of waking up late on the weekends in college and headed to the local diner for some eggs & homefries. Yet, this dish is very different in that, it doesn't leave me feeling sluggish and ready to curl back in bed for the remainder of the day. 

By roasting the sweet potatoes prior to throwing them in the skillet with everything else, it gives them that hard outer crispiness (while still remaining soft and moist on the inside) of a home fry that’s difficult to imitate. And adding the avocado on top at the end, well that’s just a straight-up game-changer.

Here is what I used: 

• 4 slices of turkey bacon 
• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 tsp. of olive oil
• 1 avocado
• 1/2 yellow onion 
• sprinkle of cayenne pepper
• sprinkle of sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder 

Dice the sweet potato & throw it in a ziplock bag with olive oil & seasalt. Shake out the sweet potato mixture onto an lined baking sheet & roast for 20 minutes at 425 (flipping halfway).

In a skillet, cook up the turkey bacon until slightly browned. Remove bacon from skillet & pat dry. (Do not toss your bacon drippings though!)

Cook the onion in the bacon drippings for roughly 3 minutes on low heat. Turn up the stove to medium-high and toss in the roasted sweet potatoes. Add in all of your seasonings.

Pour the sweet potato mixture into the bowl and top with your turkey bacon (crumbled) and fresh avocado. Season to taste and enjoy!

As Heather mentioned in her post for last week’s Make it Mondays featuring the Clothes Make the Girl's Chocolate Chili, we have embarked on the Whole 30 Journey. This is my second time following the program and Heather’s first and I have to say it’s been nice this time around having someone to talk to about it each day. In addition, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have two people on the lookout for delicious Whole-30 recipes to make our palettes a little more excited.

After I cooked up this sweet potato hash scramble, I ran to my phone to text Heather. I snapped picture after picture and described the richness of the avocado mixed with the crunch of the onion & spicy-sweetness combo of the sweet potato.

This is definitely the type of recipe that you can easily store for the week (if you can make it last that long). Just store the potato mixture in a tupperware container and cook it up with eggs in the morning, enjoy it as your side with a turkey burger, or even throw it in a chicken dish. 

I know that even after my Whole 30 program is complete, I will still continue to add this to my weekly meals. 

Create a delicious Monday everyone!

Below is your daily dose of inspiration...

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Friday Favorites-Fashion Edition: I've Got a Crush

Today's Friday Favorites comes at just the perfect time because it's almost Valentine's day and I have a major CRUSH on the amazing Boston fashion boutique Crush. Let me explain how I came to be matched with my fashion crush..

A few week's ago, I received an email from the fashion startup company, Boutikey. Boutikey is a new mobile app that launched yesterday!  (Lookout for a Friday Favorite Feature on them soon!) that connects fashion boutiques with their customers. It's sort of like an Instagram for boutiques, where there is a fashion trend page, sales and promo announcements, and you can acquire store credit points for shopping.

 Boutikey asked to feature my favorite looks from a Boston boutique on their mobile app and it was a no brainer that I chose my long-time favorite, Crush.

Crush Boutique is located on Newbury Street and in Boston's Beacon Hill. They specialize in providing customers with a well-edited collection of the best in women's contemporary fashion. From celebrity loved lines like Alex + Olivia, J Brand, and House of Harlow to a variety of up-and-comping designers like Yumi Kim and Rory Beca, Crush offers an unmatched, fashion forward experience. In addition to the two stores, they also offer an expansive online store.

As a result, it is no surprise that Crush has received quite a lot of awards in Boston these past few years. From Best of the New for 2008 by Boston Globe Magazine, Boston's Best for Women's Moderate Clothing in 2011 by The Improper Bostonian, Boston's Best for Party Dresses in 2012 by The Improper Bostonian, Boston's Best for Women's Moderate Clothing in 2013 by The Improper Bostonian, and was nominated for Boston Magazine's Best of Boston 2013 Reader's Choice in the Best Clothing - Women's Casual category, I guess you could say that I'm not the only one with a major fashion crush on Crush.

This past week I got to fulfill my fashion dream. I partnered with Boutikey to do a photo-shoot at Crush wearing my favorite outfits from the store. To top it all off, I got to bring along my best friend, Jackie. Talk about two kids in a candy store!

So without further ado, here are my 5 favorite looks from Crush...

Look #1: the Animal Skirt that Makes me Want to Twirl

 Amanda Uprichard Forever Shirt Skirt in Black Skirt and Purple Leopard skirt

Look #2: The Lace Open Back Stunner

Alice & Olivia Open-Back Stunner

Look #3: Comfy,Warm Sweater & Red Infinity Scarf

Dolta Vita Dorid Sweater with 7 for all Mankind leather-like Skinnies
and Paula Bianco Chunky Knit Infinity Scarf

Look #4: Open Back Sweater & Leather Skinnies

Twelth Street Leather Strap Tank, BB Dakota Sweater, & Joes Jeans, The Skinny in Dorothy

Look #5: The Black Leather Maxi Dress & Chunky Cardigan

Alice & Olivia Black leather Maxi and Olive & Oak NYC Sweater with A Mano Trading Pendant Necklace

*For more on Crush, check out their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram pages.
*Download the Boutikey app here!

Below is your daily dose of inspiration inspired by Crush & Boutikey...

Create a Fashionable Friday!

I also just want to give another big ol' shoutout to my bestie, hairdresser, stylist, and makeup artist Jackie Angelos who did my hair and makeup for the shoot. Below is a closer look at the subtle blonde ombre hair she did.

*If you live in the South-Boston area, I encourage you to visit Jackie at LA Express in Stoughton, MA where she is an incredible hair dresser. You can contact her through Style Seat or via email: jckangelos@yahoo.com.

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Thrifty Thursday: Cleaning Craze

It seems as though the busier I get, the more I feel the need to begin side projects & any other little organizational tasks around the house. Whenever I have a lot of writing to get done, it all of a sudden sudden matters that my laundry is neatly folded into my dresser drawers prior to getting my work completed. And unfortunately for me, there are no magical woodland creatures to assist with my cleaning mayhem...

Courtesy of: Pinterest

 But lucky for you, I have actually tried out many DIY, cleaning tricks & tips and have found ones  that actually work! Below is a list of my 3 favorite, Thrifty Cleaning Tips:

Directions: Cut shoe boxes in half, along the length or width, and fill the resulting compartments with folded briefs, socks, or stacked bras.

About once a month, I end up dumping all of the clothes out of my dresser drawer and refolding all of them. Each month, I set out with the best intention to keep the drawers clean and the clothes folded and put away in their correct drawers. Yet, as the month unfolds so does my clothes. But, I have finally found a solution by cutting up shoe boxes into dresser dividers!

As I begin cleaning, I tend to find a TON of hair elastics lying around my house & car. One major solution that I have found is to carry a keychain around in my pocket. As I find the elastics, I quickly snap them onto the bungee clip  and I'm good to go. For me, I have found no other solution that has worked better. If I just pick up the elastics and put them in my pocket as I go, I tend to find those little suckers in the washer machine later. 

And speaking of washers, I have finally found an easy way to clean the washer machine that really works, thanks to  Dawn Monroe of the blog, Frugal Mom.

I hope that some of my cleaning tips have inspired you to create a clean space for you. Working from home, it's important to me that I set up in a clean work space. 

I can certainly say that things have been very busy for me lately and I find that cleaning is the way in which I prepare my space "to get to work". One reason for which I have been very busy is that I am in the midst of moving Creatively Lu over to the self-hosted site: CreativelyLu.com and look forward to launching that shortly! In addition to writing for Creatively Lu, I have also started a job with Kym Douglas. Kym is a Hollywood Beauty expert, best-selling author, and regular on the Ellen Degeneres show, The Doctors, Home & Family... and a past "Friday Favorite"  feature.  

I am now working with Kym as a Show-Segment Creator, Product Promotion Account Specialist, and am the official Blogger for the beauty blog "A Kiss of Bliss" at KymDouglas.com. (On the Bliss Blog,we are currently running a Bliss Beauty Basket Giveaway filled with $300 worth of beauty products if you want to check it out).


When I interviewed Kym regarding her book "Bliss Happens", we really hit it off. Right away she felt like a really cool aunt I've always been close with. She is all about spreading bliss & celebrating beauty and I just feel so lucky to get to work with her. Talk about a creative outlet!

On the very first day that I spoke with Kym she said; "Lu. be careful what you wish for because it will happen!" and I have to say it really has! So today, I dedicate this post to all of you. If you believe in yourself and create the life you want to live, you will make beautiful things happen! Maybe that first step simply involves, cutting up some shoe-boxes to create a clean-space...it did for me.

Create a Thrifty Thursday Everyone!

Below is your daily dose of inspiration...

Photo Courtesy of: Ashley Sofia

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Wordless Wednesdays: All You Need is Love

Photo Courtesy of Photographer: Dan Phakos

February 14, 2012

And now for Wednesday's dose of inspiration...

"Every test in our life makes us better or bitter, 

every problem comes to break us or make us.

The choice is ours whether we 

become VICTIM or VICTOR".

-Author: Anonymous

Photo Courtesy of: Tory Stone

Create a beautiful & WARM Wednesday everyone!

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