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Just Married Cookbook + Le Creuset giveaway

October 23, 2018October 22, 2018By JoannaPosted in book report

While we’re not exactly newlyweds yet, Sean and I have been having so much fun talking about our future married life… especially when the kitchen renovation is finished. I cannot wait to get back to cooking and doing all the fun ‘nesting’ type activities that I feel compelled to do. Is it weird that all I want to do is roast chicken and daydream about further building our life together? When Chronicle Books reached out to share Caroline Chambers‘ first book Just Married, I was really excited to give it a try and change up our meals. I love how the cookbook is all about creating traditions within your relationship and finding meaning around the table. With 125 recipes spanning breakfast, brunch, soups, party drinks, and more, this book is a modern and practical resources for couples. Keep reading to learn even more about the Just Married cookbook + enter to win your own copy and a cast iron skillet from Le Creuset!

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DIY Shampoo Bar Recipe With Rose Essential Oil

October 22, 2018October 22, 2018By HannahPosted in DIY, wellness

Making Shampoo Bars Is Easier Than You Think!

I’ll admit, when Joanna asked me to try my hand at making some shampoo bars, I was intimidated. Soap making always seemed like a big undertaking done by the likes of Laura Ingalls Wilder and other sturdy prairie women who had to make do with what they had. But once I started researching the process, I realized how incredibly easy (and satisfying!) it is. After a little bit of math and some crazy scientist-style mixing, you’re left with wonderful-smelling shampoo bars that are way better than store-bought liquid shampoo. Today we’re sharing our customizable shampoo bar recipe made with rose essential oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and other good stuff!
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Weekend Wellness: My Sleep Routine to Help My Insomnia

October 19, 2018October 18, 2018By JoannaPosted in wellness

For this Weekend Wellness, I want to discuss something we all need and do: sleep. I’ve struggled with insomnia for years, maybe even since I started high school. I honestly can’t remember when or how it started; it’s just always been a fact for me. I struggle with both falling asleep and staying asleep. Most nights, in fact, I am awake between the hours of 3 and 5 am just because. It’s not exactly fun… The single biggest thing that’s had an impact on my sleepless nights has been to form a sleep routine. It’s almost as though I have trained my brain to know that these specific actions mean it’s time to turn off and go to sleep! That’s not to say there hasn’t been a lot of experimentation and trial and error… It feels like I’ve tried everything from prescription sleeping pills to acupuncture, so I wanted to share some tips for you on how I’ve learned to cope with my sleeplessness. I hope these suggestions help you, but I would also love to know what has worked (and not worked!) for you.

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3 Ways to Style a Grown Up Halloween Party

October 18, 2018October 17, 2018By JoannaPosted in holidays, entertaining

I wanted to do something a little bit different for this entertaining post. Instead of sharing just one tablescape inspired by fall and Halloween, I thought it would be way more fun (and helpful for you guys), if I shared 3 different options. I’m definitely way more excited about chic, modern styling for Halloween, instead of a traditional spooky vibe, so if you’re looking for grown up Halloween party inspiration, think of this post as your style guide! I tried to cover a few different styles including traditional, rustic, and, of course, dark and moody. Each option also complements the centerpiece DIY that we shared yesterday.

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A Dark & Moody Halloween Centerpiece DIY

October 17, 2018October 16, 2018By SarahPosted in holidays, DIY, flowers

The more I work with all sorts of flora, the more I love the entire life span of the ingredients I work with, including their death phase. In autumn, plants begin to die, producing seed pods and dried crunchy leaves. The texture alone is dreamy. I also love how the colors of the foliage shift and change as it begins to dry. In this low, dramatic Halloween centerpiece arrangement, I combine these dried floral elements with freshly bloomed dahlias to create an effect that reminds us all of the circle of life and how these seed pods will result in new flowers next year… plus, it is the perfect way to bring a floral element into your next Halloween-themed gathering!

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Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Tart Recipe

October 16, 2018By Taylor HarbinPosted in recipes, holidays

I’m not sure how we’ve already arrived at mid-October, but here we are! I wanted to share a recipe that felt decidedly autumnal and that can only mean one thing: pumpkin. Wanna know a secret? I don’t actually like pumpkin pie… I know, what?! I’m not sure why because I love creamy textures and I love the flavor of pumpkin in other things, but I’ve just never been a fan of the classic pumpkin pie. But once you add a little Nutella to the situation… that’s a different story! Such is the case with this latest recipe I’m sharing here: A Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Tart. Oh ya, now we’re talkin’.

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