I really only decorate our home for Halloween and Christmas, but every year I am tempted to decorate for Valentine’s Day. I think if we were going to be home on Valentine’s Day, I would cave in this year. I just love all the hearts, reds, and pinks. Below are my favorite Valentine’s Day decor for this year.
Candle Sticks I love switching out household items I already have in my home for holiday themed versions, like these candle sticks. If you feel like your home gets cluttered with holiday decor this is a great way to incorporate it without the cluttered feeling.
Wreath I love this wreath because it doesn’t scream Valentine’s Day. It’s something you can use throughout the spring.
Bow Garland When I was looking for Valentine’s Day decor, I noticed an influx of bows these year and I love it!
Heart Mugs I cannot get over how precious these mugs are. I love a holiday themed mug.
Diptyque Candle Like I mentioned with the candle sticks, switching out an everyday item for a holiday themed item is a great strategy for decorating. I love this candle because it’s an extremely subtle way to incorporate some pink into your home.
Table Runner This table runner is adorable. I love that it’s mostly a neutral color so it will be easy to incorporate into most homes.
Earlier this week I shared a Valentine’s Day Guide For Women so here is a gift guide for men as well. Like the women’s gift guide, the items below range in price so there is something for every budget.
Chocolate Cigars Something sweet is always a great low key Valentine’s Day Gift. I think something homemade would be particularly nice, but if you are not much of a baker or don’t have time, these chocolate cigars are a great option.
Watch A nice watch is always a great gift idea for men. I love the green face of this one. This is the perfect gift if you are looking to give a more premium gift.
Soap Set Like I mentioned in my women’s gift guide, a more luxurious version of something they already have or use on a daily basis is always a thoughtful gift.
Blanket It feels like no matter how many blankets we have in our house, there’s always space for more. I love giving a cozy and comforting gift, especially in the Winter.
Card Case Card cases have become increasingly popular amongst men. I got one for my husband last year and it’s one of his most used and favorite gifts.
Lounge Pants My husband has had Ralph Lauren pajama pants for years and they have held up impeccably well.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so if you exchange gifts, now is the time to start thinking about what you are gifting. Below is a gift guide for all the women in your life. These gifts could be great for a romantic partner, a Galentine, a daughter, or even yourself.
Silk Travel Set I’m all for doing whatever you need to do to make a long flight more comfortable. I have a silk travel set from this brand that I love. This makes for a great gift because it’s an upgraded, more high end version, of something they might already have and likely wouldn’t buy for themselves.
Butterfly Chocolate Set This is the cutest set of chocolates I have ever seen. A Set of chocolates is a bit of a predictable Valentine’s Day gift, but the butterfly shape makes it a little special.
Pink Ring This is one of my most worn pieces of jewelry. This isn’t fine jewelry but still a great quality and beautiful piece.
Body Oil I am a body care junky so I love to give and receive stuff like this. Any self care pampering gifts are always a good idea.
Pajama Top and Bottom Premium pajamas are always a thoughtful gift. I love the pink stripes on this set.
Sheet Mask Set I love to use sheet masks in the Winter. A high end sheet mask set is such a generous gift to give.
Sheet Mask Set This sheet mask sett is a more affordable option and it has a variety of sheet masks in it.
I’m very fortunate to be able to afford to invest more in clothes that I really love, that will last decades to come, but I also understand that is not always realistic. When I was a college student and in my early 20s I was on a pretty tight budget and that was what inspired this series of outfits under $100. I’ve been sharing outfit ideas under $100 for years now, but it has become increasingly difficult to do so. I’m still a believer that you can look great on any budget, but in the future I will be changing it to outfit under $150. It’s sadly the end of an era.
Ever since getting diagnosed with LADA Type 1 Diabetes, I have been on the hunt for a tote I could use as a personal item that would optimize the allowance for a personal item when flying. I bought the Beis East to West tote and I have used it on two trips so far, and I love it.
When it comes to luggage I want certain features but I don’t want it to have more features than I want. When luggage has too many compartments that I personally would not utilize, it can actually make it more difficult to pack and stay organized.
The bag is made of a durable material that is easy to clean. It measures at 17.13″ W x 14.17″ H x 9.06″ D. TSA doesn’t have restrictions for personal items as it has more to do with the specific airline. Generally as long as your personal item can fit under the seat in front of you, it’s not going to cause a problem. Both of the trips I used this bag for I flew in basic economy on United Airlines and did not have a problem fitting it under the seat in front of me.
Photo from beistravel.com
There is a pocket in the front exterior of the bag that is the perfect size for a small wallet, passport, and phone. It’s nice to have easy access to those items when I’m in the airport and going through TSA.
Photo from beistravel.com
On the inside of the bag there is a zip closure pocket that is perfect to stick some snacks into. The bag has two water bottle pockets. As someone that always travels with my Larq water bottle I love to have a pocket for it so it’s not rolling around in the bottom of my bag and it’s easy to get out. There is also a padded pocket inside the bag that would be perfect for any size laptop or tablet. I personally don’t travel with a laptop or tablet but I have been using that pocket for in flight entertainment stuff, like a book, my airpods, and charging cables.
Photo from beistravel.com
Once I have packed everything I mentioned above, I still have plenty of space in the bag to pack other items. The bag has three different straps so you can carry it however you want and it does contain a slot in the back so you can slide it over a roller bag handle.
As I’m in my post-holiday reset, I thought I’d share some of my favorite activewear. I feel my best and therefore perform better when working out if I have activewear that is comfortable and supportive. Below are some of my favorite activewear clothes.
Red Top and Red Leggings This set is my favorite affordable set. The price is fantastic and the material is so soft. I don’t recommend the sports bra if you are heavy chested and/or need a lot of support.
Black Leggings I typically workout in the afternoon but sometimes put on my workout clothes first thing in the morning. These are my go-to leggings when I do that because they don’t feel like your typical activewear leggings. They are my softest and most comfortable leggings.
Colorblock Sports Bra and Leggings This is my most sportive workout set. It’s great for intense workouts. This sports bra is really great for anyone that needs a lot of support.
I know a lot of people have set a goal to cook at home more often this year and I love that! I’m the biggest advocate for cooking from home. When you cook at home you are more likely getting more nutritional dense food, appropriate portion sizes, and overall healthier food. Restaurants are in the business of making food taste good, your kitchen is in the business of not only making food taste good but to meet your nutritional needs. Below are my favorite kitchen tools and equipment that might help you cook better and/or enjoy cooking more.
Braiser When I use a pan for cooking 9 times out of 10, I’m reaching for a braiser. I love an enamel cast iron braiser because you get all the benefits of using a cast iron pan (like capability of using high heat) but the ease of cleaning and maintenance with the enamel. I actually have a braiser from Costco but when it’s time to replace it I’ll be getting one from Le Creuset because of the lifetime warranty and quality.
Mandoline I hate slicing things…especially when it should be thinly sliced. This mandoline makes it so much faster, and uniform.
Salt & Pepper Mill I bought a salt and pepper mill set from Peugot years ago and the brand is supposed to make the best salt and pepper mills…mine never worked that well and frequently got jammed. I replaced those with salt and pepper mills from Le Creuset and they work perfectly. I like to use freshly milled salt and pepper when I’m cooking so it’s important that they can withstand a lot of use. I also love the acryllic ones because I can be proactive about refilling them.
All-Clad 1.5 qt Saucepan When it comes to pots, I prefer using the All-Clad D5 line. I feel like I have a lot of control over the heat with this line. If you take proper care of the products they will easily last a lifetime. Since I mostly just cook for my husband and myself, I use the 1.5qt sauce pan most frequently.
Flat Whisk Most of the time I need to whisk something it’s either a sauce, dressing, or egg wash that really doesn’t require a standard French or Balloon whisk. This small whisk emulsifies everything so quickly.
Silicone Baking Mats I use these silicone mats almost every time I use a baking tray. They prevent the baking tray from getting damaged, prevent food from sticking, and I’m convinced I can get roasted vegetables crispier when I use these mats. They’re also great to use as a work surface with just a pinch of flour on it, when you are working with dough.
KitchenAid Stand Mixer KitchenAid Mixers are more versatile than you might think- I not only use mine for baking but I’ve used it to shred meats, make mashed potatoes, and to make sauces. From my experience, the 5qt is plenty…I’ve even made enough bread dough to make two loaves of bread.
I’m a huge fan of decorating with coffee table books. It’s a great way to fill space, include a subject matter I love, and there is something so chic about a stack of books. In recent years I have fallen in love with Assouline books, and I’ve enjoyed collecting them. Assouline is a publisher specializing in coffee table books that are luxurious both in the nature of the book itself and subject of the book. Most of their books are quite large making it easier to fill a space. The publisher makes books about any topic of luxury that you might like including fashion, travel, and luxury lifestyle. Below are my favorite books from Assouline.
These books are more premium quality, and with that comes a more premium price tag. In my opinion they are worth it because most of the books they publish are limited edition so once they are not being published you can usually sell them for more than what you paid for them since they are somewhat collector’s items.
Happy New Year! When it comes to my eating habits, I always need a reset this time of year. Holidays are meant to be indulgent and enjoyed, but by the time January rolls around I am desperate for some healthy food. If you feel the same way I do, and you’re craving a healthy reset, below are some healthy recipes to jump-start your year. Keep in mind “healthy” means something different to everyone. As a type 1 diabetic, I am well aware every body is different and therefore dietary needs can differ.
Jericha Good 