Which one?

So, I’m renovating my kitchen, and I’m just curious do you prefer the top or the bottom cooktop? SERIOUSLY would love your comments!  🙂  

Cinco de Mayo! Ole!

I’m ready for dinner already!!!   SUPER easy Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken!  Yum!

Sometimes I don’t get it all together in time and today I prepared ahead!   Ingredients are super simple…. Dinner will be ready on time and perfectly themed for Cinco de Mayo!  I may have to have a margarita or ice cold Corona to go with it!

Enjoy! Click on link below to access the recipe!

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro Lime Chicken

 Ole’ 🙂

Spring Trends!

Fashion Trends for Spring!

FASHION TRENDS FOR SPRING

Some trends are worth trying toupdate your wardrobe withoutchanging your wardrobe!
Personally… I love updating with accessories!  They are easy,  they always fit, and they give your existing wardrobe a lift!   Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping for clothes too but I tend to be more “safe” in my fashion choices… while updating with accessories!
Here’s a few for Spring according to Glamour Magazine!
1.  Round Glasses – Now personally… not sure they will look good on my face… so I may pass on this trend unless I happen to try some on I like….
2.  Open back flat Mules – Doable!   Fairly comforable… not particularly easy to walk in but cute!  I’ll try this one!
3.  Tassels!   I love this trend! You’ll find it on hand bags, belts and jewelry!  (probably more too)   I’ve been wearing some tassels for the past year.  The jewelry designer I work with, Sara Blaine, from  esbe Designs Jewelry introduced tassels last year and we have added more!   She is truly a visionary when it comes to accessories!
Here are a few of my favorites!   Add them to your wardrobe at ANY price point!  If you’d like to check them out… go to my Virtual Catalog and then shop my website or message me!  I’d love to help you shop trends for less!

Surprise Party!

SWEET 16!

My daughter turned 16 last week… and we had already agreed not to have a “Sweet 16” party in the modern sense…. inviting 50 or more kids or something like that.   My daughter wanted something more intimate with some close friends…. but I definitely wanted it to feel special for her.
I find it funny how different boys and girls are too!  My son was totally peplexed by even THIS amount of work to make her 16th birthday special…. as he doesn’t want a party at all…. but then again… he’s almost 18!  🙂
Anyway… I was excited to pull of some fun surprises to make her 16th special.
First… a Surprise Sleepover with close friends….. The girls totally loved being part of the surprise!
Second… Disco lights, fun music with  a club-like theme in the basement complete with CANDY BAR and snacks!
Third… A “photo booth” type set up where the girls could take fun photos of themselves all night!

 

I was told that the HIT of the party was the Candy Bar!   In this sugar averse culture we live in… and trust me… we don’t eat much sugar around here…. THIS was definitely a treat! And of course… it is called SWEET 16 for some reason, right?   Sweedish Fish seemed to be the big hit… just saying.

 

I pulled this surpise off in just a week….. so I went to Oriental Trading Comlpany and ordered the Photo Booth essentials….. mustashes and lips on sticks… “frames” and the little white board bubbles to write captions on…. the girls had fun!  I pulled out some accessories from my costume box such as boas and fun sunglasses and hats and they just took selfies all night!    One friend had a selfie stick…. I think that would have been a good gift for the Birthday Girl too but I didn’t think of that one! 😉    I did take a few of the photos the “old fashioned” way with me taking the photo!
Anyway…. It was a fun filled evening…. Pretty simple to pull off and tons of fun!   I do believe it will be a birtday to remember and THAT is the best thing a Mom can do!
Good luck with your party planning!   Post other fun ideas you’ve tried or wanted to!  I’d love to hear
what you have done!
Theda

MOM Rocks!

It’s almost Mother’s day!   Have you thought about what to get her this year?  Think about a special piece of Jewelry you own…. whether a wedding band or a necklace from your grandmother…. a special piece of jewelry elicits thoughts  of the person who gave it to you every time you put it on!

Sure, gift cards are easy… but investing  just a few minutes to select something special you know she’ll love will be treasured for a lifetime!  Check out this 2 minute video for some ideas!

 

 

 

Salads taste better when someone else makes them!

SALADS!

I’m not sure why salads taste better when someone else makes them… but they do.    In my never ending quest to eat healthy with variety….. I think this will be my NEW staple side dish!  So simple and delicious!  Wait for it….. Tomato Cucumber salad!
Yep… pretty simple and easy to keep these ingredients in the fridge all summer long!  Whether you get them from the store, farmstand or your own garden… this is simply delicious! If you are a salsa connoisseur you’ll also love this fresh salad!  Add some cilantro and you pretty much have salsa or pico de gallo!
2 chopped Tomatoes
1 cucumber peeled and diced
Red onion to taste
1 TBS lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
I was looking for a non-mayo based salad that was healthy and yummy and stumbled upon this simple treasure!    It’s only 31 calories a serving.  A serving is 1/4 of the recipe!    There’s no carbs… no fat…. it’s a winner!
The ONLY downside is if you don’t like tomatos or cucumbers… but it’s going to be my summer staple for sure!   Enjoy!

The Jewelry Box

The Jewelry Box

This will be my 2nd Mother’s day without my mom…. and I miss her terribly.   As a mom myself, there’s such a joy in getting a thoughtful card, a thoughtful gift and simply being treated special on Mother’s Day!
After all…. Mom’s sacrifice quite a lot to have these babies… bodies that don’t quite go back the way they were…. sleepless nights… doing things for their kids instead of themselves… It’s truly a selfless job!
If you have a few minutes, you may appreciate this video link below!
Anyway… when my mother passed away, and we were sorting thru her things, ONE of the things that I really loved keeping was her jewelry.   I could not and didn’t want to wear her clothes or her shoes….sometimes keeping large bulky things like furniture is a problem.. but wearing something like a ring or necklace that my mom wore is special.   It’s something that fits just about everyone.
Keeping “the good stuff” was also in consideration… minus a few costume things that were memorable.    I have to say that these nicer pieces became valuable to me…. and they don’t take up a lot of storage.
Don’t discount the quality jewelry gift to your mom…. or how it will come back to you one day.    There are many memories to be passed down that while will be in a jewelry box and worn occasionally or everyday… WONT be in a box in the attic to only be looked at every 5 years or less.
I know you know I sell designer jewelry… but I had to tell you about my own personal experience… that I loved going thru my mom’s jewelry box and keeping special treasures that she wore or I had given her or made her over the years.   What a gift!
www.esbedesigns.com/theda

Yes! I’m a “Dance Mom”

YES!  I’M A “DANCE MOM”

This kid inspires me!   So yes…. I’m a dance mom!   But if “Dance Mom” means I love watching my dancer dance, compete, work hard for a goal, and hopefully succeed while consoling the failures… then Yes…. I’m guilty!  Whether we are a dance mom or a soccer mom or anything in between, if we as parents support our kid’s passion… then we are doing a fabulous thing!

So lucky I can take my work on the road with me as we travel for her passion….. and it prompted me to share some crazy travel tips for any parent living out of a hotel room on the weekend!

So here’s my “office on the go” and here’s the Kitchen!   I always bring little oatmeals with me…. fill up a cup of hot water from the in room coffee pot (Don’t forget the plastic spoon- I have and it’s a pain)
Something simple like this is GREAT when you don’t want to spend the time getting food in the early AM when you have to get out and about early.   Not only does it save about $20 on room service, but it is very convenient!   Just had to share my tip!  Enjoy this when you travel with your kids or for a weekend… or as you plan summer travel!
Enjoy your day!

Spring Toes!

Spring toes!

I’ve never posted a picture of my foot before… Kind of strange but okay…. here goes…

Here’s  the color I chose for my toes!    Several of you were asking. 😉  It’s a blue/green/aqua from Essie.   I forgot to look at the color name when the girl was waiting for me to get in the pedicure chair 🙂 I did not however put this on my fingernails… I wanted something more neutral to go with my clothes.   I am excited about my toes… They make me happy! It’s been such a long winter and sometimes a little color can really perk you up!

Hope you’ll treat yourself to some colorful toes this week and hope it makes you smile 😉

S

Pearl Girl

Pearl Girl!

You know what?  Pearls NEVER go out of style….. but if you want something a little different than “your mother’s pearls”  Something that is more of a fashion statement… then you will LOVE
esbe Designs Baroque Pearls!
What I love is that they are a silver color… in fact, they almost look silver.. AND they have TWO gorgeous sterling toggles…. so you can make them slightly longer or shorter depending on your neckline!
AND… they are rich and cold to the touch!  They are from nature… they are shell pearls!   They look like a $25,000 strand of pearls.. but they are ONLY $199!   I love quality and value and these are WORTH the buy!
If you want them for Mother’s Day, I do suggest you get them sooner rather than later!
Check out my virtual catalog at www.esbejewelry.com and feel free to order at www.esbedesigns.com/theda once you’ve made your selections!   Message me for more personal service!   Gotta LOVE Style and Quality and Jewelry always fits…. except rings that occasionally shrink over time (wink)
Happy Tuesday!