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Spring is in the air! How can I tell? Our azaleas are blooming, bees are swarming, and the time is about to change. I don’t get to dress casually throughout the week due to work, so I take advantage of the weekend. This week I have rounded up some of my favorite finds for weekend getaways, crawfish boils, and just about any fun event, you can get into.
Eyelet dresses will always be a spring/summer staple piece paired with the perfect sandal.
You definitely can’t go wrong with a tiered maxi look!
One thing I regret is not paying attention to my granny in the kitchen; she was the epitome of a woman. She could cook, clean, sew, and anything else you name it. I remember when she would be in the kitchen cooking I would be too consumed with watching television or doing school work and I would always tell her I’m going to have a maid I don’t need to learn how to cook. Well fast forward 25 years later, I think she would be super proud of me. I don’t have a maid and it took me a couple of years after I got married, but I have learned my way around the kitchen. I even have my mom and aunts calling me for my recipes. They go a little something like this…a pinch of this, oh a little of that or this, etc. (You not getting all of my secrets?)
I truly believe cooking comes from the heart and I can’t lie there are days when I hate cooking (especially when I’ve been traveling for work), but those days when I’m in my element–watch out.
As a traveling RN, I typically travel 3 to 4 days/week with 1 to 2 overnights /week. I love to prepare meals I can cook in the oven or my InstaPot it makes life so much easier and these meals make great leftovers. Here is one of my favorite go-to meals to start a busy work week.
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The name comes from the Three Wise Men in the Bible, who came bearing blessings for Baby Jesus on the Twelfth Night. King cake is typically served on King’s Day (January 6) and keeps going through the eve of Mardi Gras to celebrate the coming of the three Kings, as well as to honor them with a sweet tribute to their jeweled crowns.
What is this we call King Cake?
Ordinarily, King cake is made of a rich, doughy batter and a wide cluster of fillings, such as cinnamon, chocolate, and cream cheese. But the rainbow enchantment is found within the coat and sprinkles, which are as a rule gold, green, and purple. Indeed the colors of the icing have a more profound meaning. Gold speaks to power, green is related to faith, and purple outlines justice. King cake is made without a center, like your normal Bundt cake, but buried inside could be a modest, plastic baby figurine (or in my case a minecraft).
Why the baby inside the cake?
Well, there are two speculations. A few accept the plastic child as imagery of Baby Jesus since of the devout association to King’s Day. Others, in any case, accept the well-known New Orleans legend, which proposes that a King cake was served with a bean or ring set interior amid the commemoration of the king’s ball in colonial Louisiana. Rather than a bean or costly ring, the plastic baby is typically utilized nowadays as an insignia of great good fortune. In spite of the fact that as history would have it, the fortunate person who scores the piece of King cake with the infant interior is said to pick up favor, and they’re too entrusted with facilitating obligations and bringing the next King cake for the next gathering.
All about the Balls…
Some of the most glittering spectacles of Mardi Gras happen behind closed doors at grand balls thrown by krewes for their members and lucky guests. More than a hundred Carnival balls take place every year in New Orleans, beginning with the Twelfth Night Ball, held on Jan. 6, by the Twelfth Night Revelers. While most balls are invitation-only, a select few are open to the public. Check with your local paper for a listing of Mardi Gras balls held in your local town in Louisiana. (https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/traditions/balls)
So now that I gave you the quick run down on Mardi Gras and King Cake I would be remiss if I didn’t share the top voted vendor right? Randazzo’s
I however opted for my homemade keto version here and you can find the recipe or get one locally Get Fit.
If you know me then you know I love hosting….so when I was asked to take part in a Galentine’s Day Challenge I was ready without hesitation. I opted for brunch…brunch for me is all about “sweet & savory”. I was able to pull this off under $100. I also think if you’re hosting this event it should be super easy. I opted for convenience and got as many pre-made/oven ready items as I could. I used all 3 ovens and was able to complete the meal in under an hour. I tried to use serving dishes I already had, since this was my first Galentines/Valentine event I did have to purchase a few additional items. I definitely recommend reusing props each year and once you have a collection you can just add on. I hope this serves as an inspiration for your upcoming Valentines or Galentines Day. It definitely can be modified to fit your needs.I’ve also round up my favorite outfits from staying at home, a simple dinner out, or fancy night on the town. Can you believe we are already planning for Valentines? I’ll be going to see Johnny Gill Lovers and & Friends, if he sings my favorite song “Perfect” I am sure to pass out. Happy planning and hosting-Omniley?
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I share with you today some of the best ways to find great deals on clothes, furniture, and all your home decor needs. Growing up I didn’t have much and I was taught to cherish everything I had/earned…well when I got married I was told by mother in law if you buy good quality it might cost more but it will last a lifetime. So let’s just say I put these two life lessons together and learned how to find super bargains. Now I totally understand some people aren’t patient enough to bargain shop; like my husband…he believes in convenience and that time is too valuable to be searching for deals, but if you are you’ve landed in the right spot. The list you’ve been waiting for…
Fashion
#1- Shopual.com hands down
#2- Dillard’s Clearance Center
#3-Outnet.com
#4-Purple Cow
#5-Goodwill
Furniture and Home Decor
#1-Chairish.com
#2-Heirloom Furnishing in NOLA
#3-Blackflash Antiques #4-Estate Sales
#5-EBTH.com
#6-1stdibs.com
#7-Habitat Restores #8-Wayfair (Open Box) #9-Amazon (Used) A few of my favorite finds so far…
EBTH.com
1stdibs.com
Chairish.com
Now don’t forgot to price shop the product online using google.com before purchasing. Simply search for like items to see if you have scored a deal. You will know a deal trust me! Most of the price setting is done using google anyway. Remember these prices are also negotiable, so it never hurts to do your research.
Fashion shopping tips! Always buy the blazer! I have to remember this myself. Look for silks and wools—pricey these days and hard to come by as well. Most clothing store have a high end rack…I shop those when I first entered the store(did you think you were the only one shopping lol), anyways hold on to maybes, and make at least 2 trips around the rack.
When it comes to furniture try to find the brand name and search using that information. Let me tell you older furniture is solid, don’t be concerned with a few scratches—how long do you think it will take you to scratch your shiny new particle board furniture? When it comes to drawers (in dressers or chest etc) dovetail joints for the win—displays great craftsmanship and longevity. Just a few gems I don’t want to bore you. Feel free to leave your questions or comments.
If there is one thing I love it’s hosting on the holidays. I still can’t figure out which one is my favorite Thanksgiving or Christmas. A few of my non-negotiables are baking a cake from scratch and making my famous cornbread dressing (stuffing). I typically start cooking the day before especially the dressing and sweet potato casserole; they definitely need to set overnight. This year I was blessed to have my son in the kitchen with me making his famous “Philly Cheesesteak Sliders”. I share with you our menu and all the good food we devoured. Happy Thanksgiving. Omniley
I am blessed to work in an industry where we focus on skin, so I would be remised if I didn’t share with you some gems I’ve learned along the way. I sometimes feel as if I have found the “fountain of youth”. I love getting carded when I’m at the restaurant and when I’m shopping with my son getting mistaken for his sister…heck sometimes even his girlfriend. Trust me this hasn’t come easy all through high school and most of my adult years I’ve struggled with acne and hyperpigmentation. I still have occasional breakouts here and there, but they definitely aren’t what they use to be. So I am sharing with you my go-to’s for all my beauty needs…it’s simple as 1-2-3.
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My number #1 Secret: I keep my circle small…smaller circle less drama. I tend to have breakouts when I’m stressed or detoxing so if you have toxic friends cut them loose.
#2: Watch what you eat! While I love carbs…my skin and waistline don’t. They cause bloating and inflammation for me so I try to consume in moderation. Oh, and water is a must—I try to drink half my body weight in ounces. For example, if you weight 130#…that’s 65 ounces of water daily. Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure there are no contraindications.
Now let’s get to the easy stuff! Now let’s get to the easy stuff!
#3: If you have acne-prone skin it is a must to have a non-comedogenic cleanser—they help avoid clogging your pores. My favorite go-to’s are Equate Hydrating Cleanser and Cetaphil! They keep my skin clean and hydrated all at the same time. I only use in the morning.
#4: I don’t leave home without it sunscreen…I apply it immediately after washing my face and up to 3 times a day.
One of the biggest, most unfortunate myths black people have passed down through generations is that we don’t need to wear sunscreen. No seriously, somewhere along the line, we convinced ourselves that thanks to all this wonderful melanin, we can’t get sunburned and therefore sunscreen is a non-issue. But the thing is, this is only partly true. While melanin does serve as the skin’s means of protection against damaging UV rays (basically the more melanin, the more protection), having an abundance of melanin doesn’t make our skin sun damage-proof. It is still essential to wear sunscreen, no matter how dark your skin is. When UV rays penetrate your skin, it causes cell damage and in response, your body produces more melanin in the form of a tan. Tans don’t mean that suddenly your skin has a suit of armor against the sun, in fact it is indicative that you probably need to layer on the sunscreen to prevent further damage. Experts suggest that you should wear SPF 30 or higher when spending time in the sun and reapply every couple of hours. Not only will wearing sunscreen lower your risk of skin cancer,it will also help keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful. People of color are less prone to wrinkles as a result of skin damage, but we are prone to hyperpigmentation, textured skin, uneven tone, and dark patches. If you are someone who notices any of these skin challenges, try incorporating sunscreen into your routine. Even if your skin is perfect, layer on the sunscreen just to be safe (remember, prevention is always better than cure). UV rays are unavoidable, which means that wearing sunscreen simply isn’t negotiable. Give your skin the TLC it deserves, simply by adding a little sunscreen into the mix, your skin will thank you. I definitely have some favorites…but my all-time go-to is Oil of Olay Total Effects and when I can find it on sale Perricone MD Photo Plasma. I swear by these…I’ve been wearing sunscreen religiously since 2012 and my skin has been glowing ever since. I have recently added Eva Natural Skin Clearing Serum and it has my skin feeling and looking so amazing. I attribute that to the Vitamin C boost.
#5: I don’t use lotion…I use apricot oil! Can you believe it—it’s Crisco just with a better smell. I use it all over my body excluding my face right after I get out of the shower. At night after I wash my face with water only I apply Vitamin E oil(another game changer)!
#6: Finally because I don’t wear make-up…maybe cause I don’t know how to apply it or just because it’s too messy I have my two favorite products that I think make my face really pop…Red Lippie and Eyebrow Pomade.
While this regimen may not be appropriate for all skin types this has definitely help me keep my skin glowing. I recommend doing a small patch test on the skin when trying any new products. Click here to find a local Dermatologist. I hope this has been insightful and please leave me your comments below. Omniley
*All thoughts and recommendations are from my own experiences and this is not a sponsored post.
It all began with picking the perfect tree from our local Cleggs Nursery. We were very hesitant to go with a live tree in all of our 18 years together we had never had one in our home. The main fear was would it die before Christmas and would the family room be taken over by the shedding needles. Mr. Scott from the nursery was very helpful and knowledgable and advised us that the tree needed the most watering the first week…and boy did it suck up some water the first week. Let’s just say we were super pleased with the live tree not by only the uniqueness in shape, but also the fragrant smell. We will definitely do at least one live tree every Christmas moving forward. I hope you had a blessed Christmas 2019. I share with you our traditional Christmas style decor. Here’s to a Happy New Year in 2020.
What do you get for the perfect lady? No worries I got you covered. It’s alway the thought that counts-Omniley? Disclaimer: Clicks on this site may result in commission for site owner.
I’ve rounded you up some cute and most importantly comfortable Thanksgiving outfit ideas. Whether you are hostessing or on standby assist these fits are picture perfect and easy to maneuver in. And if you decide to go back for seconds you don’t have to worry about adjusting your pants/belt. Omniley ?
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