by Mandi | weekly specials
Hi! Happy Labor Day to everyone! This is the weekend everyone heads out of town for one more weekend away… one more family vacation… and we usually head to the beach… oh yes… the beach! So, we felt it only fitting that we choose THE BEACH as our theme for the week.
What a wonderful word. Just the other day I told a friend of mine how great it would be to live at the beach. I truly believe that my life would have much less stress if I could spend 10 minutes on the beach, watching and listening to the waves – total peace.
I feel fortunate that I live close to the beach and have been able to spend a few weekends a year walking the shores of the Carolinas. Beside that I have been able to also visit amazing places allowing me to look out over the ocean. Below are a few of my favorite photos from those trips.
What are some of your favorite beach memories? Did you take a trip to the beach for the weekend?
Below are some photos from past trips with quotes I love. I hope you enjoy!
by Mandi | quotes and toasts
I believe the best memories happen in the most unexpected times. Don’t get me wrong, I love the traditions with family at the holidays, but isn’t there something special about a special moment that comes along unexpectedly? Steph talked about this earlier this week in her blog post!
The trick comes when you try to capture these moments. One way I do this is by taking FULL advantage of the space in my home. Everything I bring in as decor has a meaning and with that generates a memory. See below for an example in my home – this is a built-in shelf in my living room that I use to display my memories.
Below are a few other ideas have not tried yet, but believe me… they are on “the list”.
PHOTO WALLS
What a great way to display the people in your life. You can include photos of people in your life, photos from a vacation you went on, or anything really that helps tell your story. Below are a few of my favorites!
HOUSE OF SMITHS. She took a wall and used it as their family wall. There are great pictures of all of the kids as well as her and her husband. My favorite here is that all of the colors in the photos coordinate with her color scheme in her house! I am sure every day she walks by and remembers that special day when they took all of the photos! Click here to see more images on their wall.
YOUNG HOUSE LOVE – Just look at what this couple has done! They use photos as well, but have added in all kinds of different thing they find or things that stick out to them. If you follow their blog, you will see that this wall is constantly changing and new things are being added or switched out. What a great way to keep a fresh memory wall in your house! Click here for more on their wall.
KASEY BUICK – You can’t mention gallery walls without showing the one by Kasey Buick. I love her mix-match style that she uses up her stairway! Click here to read her explanation on a gallery wall.
Now for a few more ideas that you can do in your home!
RECIPE ARTWORK
Memories are often times formed around the dinner table. What better way to display those memories than with a recipe.
HOUSE OF TURQUOISE. The picture below is one that I saw on House of Turquoise. In this particular house, they have taken a recipe and used it as a piece of art in their kitchen. What a great idea! One day I will do this for my kitchen – maybe I will use a family recipe of Mac and Cheese or a favorite desert. Either way – each time I walk by I it will remind me of all of the special family gatherings where we shared that dish. How sweet! You can see the rest of the house below in this post.
TATTERED STYLE – Tattered Style took another approach to using a recipe and framed the original copies. I just love seeing the handwriting on these. I would love to have a few old handwritten recipes to look at each day! Click here for a DIY tutorial on how to create your own framed recipes.
OLD FAMILY LETTERS
I think it would also be great to have some old letters to frame. Maybe it is a journal entry or maybe it is a love letter between your Grandparents. Either way – there is something so special about the written word. Easy personalized artwork… just for you! Below is an idea featured in Southern Living – this was simply an old letter that a couple found of a letter addressed to his grandfather from his grandmother.
I hope this gives you some ideas to do around your house. Surround yourself with things you love…things that bring back memories… special moments in time.
** The quote I used today is one that I borrowed from Story People. I just love this artwork and have a few of them up in my house! Click here to see their take on the quote above.
by Mandi | creative tips
I am realizing something as I get older… those extra pounds do not come off quite as easily.
A few years ago I would eat healthy for a week or so and maybe throw in an extra work out then, like magic… 5 pounds were gone. Well, not anymore. I am also realizing that it is no longer about looking good in my clothes for that day at the beach or night out with friends, it is about being healthy – taking the best care of my body that I can.
I am making conscious efforts to get outside and get healthy! Eating healthy and working out are part of my life, not just something I have to do from time to time.
I am starting to read my Health magazine a little more closely and wanted to share with you a few pointers that I felt were great take aways from the September issue.
Keep moving…you do not have to run, but you do have to move! Here is an info graphic on Walking, Jogging and Running it off. Just one hour a day to get off those pounds!
And if you want to take your workout to the next level, sign up for a 5K in your neighborhood. These are for all fitness levels and typically support a great cause! My favorite website to look for a 5K or 10K near you is active.com. You can search by your city and surrounding areas.
This month Health Magazine also suggest that you take a few physical tests.
Did you know that the two-mile run is one of the tests the US Military uses to evaluate a potential serviceperson’s fitness level? It is just long enough to test endurance, but also short enough for you to push yourself. If you are between the age of 37 to 51, you should be able to finish in 17:30 or between an 8 and 9 minute mile. For those of you that run on a treadmill, you speed would be set between 6.5 and 7.5. Here is a chart on treadmill speed vs. road time.
They had a few ideas to help you get motivated…help you stay on track when you are getting healthy or good reminders to keep you going!
I am serious about this, below are a few pictures from this past weekend! We took a trip to Charleston, SC and decided to walk the Cooper River Bridge. This is NOT a walk in the park… let me tell you! I have done the 10K Bridge Run for the past 6 years, but never taken the time to walk and enjoy the views – it is worth it and if you ever make it down there, be sure to check it out!
Time to get moving!!
