photo SUPER THIN LINE 4_zps4xjugusw.png  photo ENTER 188X24_zpsan0no3qw.png  photo HOLIDAY 134X24_zpsivdh8utq.png  photo PROJECTS 118X24_zpsmt1mfnap.png  photo RECIPES 112X24_zps5kyaynje.png  photo SHOP 100X24_zpsgecoqzk4.png  photo CONTACT 134X24 SECOND_zps0icpk3so.png  photo PRESS 100X24_zpszfhijryx.png  photo SUPER20THIN20LINE204_zpsq5i2ucyd.png

April 30, 2014

wednesday wants

 photo TB_12149610_109_zps7e8afbf5.jpg





Several new items added to my "SHOP" tab and one of my favorites is that dreamy striped Tory Burch tote.  With Mother's Day right around the corner it seems like the PERFECT gift ;) 


Have a fabulous day!


XO




April 28, 2014

cinco de mayo prep

 photo Collages31_zpsdafbe58a.jpg

Good morning!  I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  Can you believe that this week we jump into May?  Yep!  Where in the world did April go???

I love, love, love Mexican food and of course the yummy Margaritas and Coronas that go with it ;)  And I love any excuse to throw a party, so last May, we hosted a Cinco de Mayo party.  Since it is fast approaching again, I thought I would share a bit from that party in case you're looking for a reason to scarf down some fajitas and margaritas and decide to host a party :)


 photo sevenlayer_zpsdb3e4ad2.jpgindividual seven layer dip recipe


 photo IMG_6896_zps5cc7dd84.jpg
diy fiesta centerpiece


 photo IMG_9939-002_zps820d5251.jpg
diy papel picado


If you're interested, you can click the link below each picture for a full post or tutorial.

Have a great day!




April 24, 2014

lyla's room // gilded arrow

 photo IMG_3792-001_zps68d0e475.jpg

 photo lylasroomarrow_zps60f8e85c.jpg

Happy Thursday! That means Friday is only hours away and I can't wait!  Do you remember the DIY gilded arrow I made for Valentine's Day? Well, after V-day was over, I stuck it in the closet, until yesterday when it fell out and I decided it would be a perfect addition to Lyla's room!  Not sure why I didn't think about it sooner, but I think it goes perfectly with her big gold heart!

 photo IMG_3779-001_zpsece31833.jpg
  If you want to see the super easy tutorial on how I made it, you can go here.  And if you're interested in the even easier pom-pom tutorial, you can find  it here.

Have a great day!

April 22, 2014

diy round-up

 photo 92c72754-f66d-45d2-8910-179ed7c05e1d_zpsfcc2e95c.jpg


Good Morning! Today I'm guest posting at Kristal's blog sharing my top five diy projects around our home. She is a really sweet friend and has the most precious family.  You can check out my full post and her fun blog here.


Have a fantastic day!


P.S.  The winner of the $150 Target giftcard is entry #4095 Maggie W.  Congratulations!  Aniko will email you soon.




April 21, 2014

checking in

I hope you all had a joyous Easter weekend! We made ours a four day weekend and spent 2 days at the coast and 2 days in the country. The kids played non-stop all four days and had a great time by the water and with their cousins. Here are a couple of phone pictures (forgot my camera) from the weekend!


 photo d3039d3b-4731-495d-8f26-e7b522cabecf_zpse6fbc6d3.jpg
 photo b83f0c82-0865-4b0b-ab3f-33359ec391d0_zps2de1254c.jpg

Have a fantastic day!



April 16, 2014

weekend wear // basics

I've rounded up some of my favorite Spring fashion pieces to create this casual weekend look.  I'm usually drawn to purchasing basic wardrobe pieces, so I can wear them multiple ways and get the most bang for my buck.  I love a simple, classic look. 


weekend



tory burch tote // pink j.crew tee // sperry top-sider anchor infinity scarf // tortoise shell aviators // naked lipgloss // j.crew white denim shorts //dolce vita damalis ankle wrap sandals //tory burch lace earrings


Enjoy your day!


April 14, 2014

mini brownie egg nest

 photo IMG_3770_zps19ea3ee8.jpg


Are you looking for a quick treat to make for your Easter celebration? Well, these mini brownie egg nests are not only quick and easy, but super cute!  I made these over the weekend and plan to whip up a batch for this weekend as we visit family to celebrate Easter.


 photo IMG_3750-001_zps02d09f45.jpg


Mini Brownie Egg Nest

Ingredients
1 box of brownie mix (and ingredients on box to make brownies)
1 container of whipped buttercream frosting
1 bag of mini Cadbury eggs or mini Robin eggs

Method
Make brownies as directed using the "cake-like" instructions.  Bake in mini muffin pan for about 16 minutes or until done.  Allow to cool.  Pipe on frosting creating a "nest" and then top with your choice of mini eggs.
{recipe adapted from here}

 photo IMG_3755_zps9c51c03e.jpg  photo 640_zpsa6095ef9.jpg


They were so easy and such a hit in my house!
Hope you enjoy!



April 10, 2014

Spring Tablescape and $150 Target Giveaway

 photo IMG_3581_zps9f4711d7.jpg Good Morning! Spring is hands down my most favorite season of all and the month of April is my most favorite Spring month.  I love being outdoors enjoying the weather and I love sprucing up our outdoor spaces and landscape.  All the flowering plants around our home are great for clippings to enjoy inside too.

 photo IMG_3570-001_zps6d8e5207.jpg
I put together this Spring tablescape, keeping it simple with some fresh flowers that are in bloom this Spring. The white ones are from our flower beds and the sunny, yellow daffodils I picked up on one of my grocery trips.

 photo IMG_3554_zps3ab3b05f.jpg

 photo IMG_3586-002_zps4ff45413.jpg
The whole table started with these blue and white square ikat placements I found at Marshalls.  Generally, I like to use two colors when I put a table together.  I love the blue and white combo paired with a punch of yellow.  So, I kept most of the table blue and white and then added the yellow polka dot tags and the yellow daffodils on the buffet for a jolt of color.

 photo IMG_3591_zpsa3a6dd4a.jpg
Just as I do with decorating my home, I like to keep my entertaining simple and focus more on enjoying the guests.  I still like things to be pretty, but not perfect or for me to spend hours putting together.  And I've learned the more simple you keep things, the more fun it is to welcome others over.  At the end of the day, it's all about enjoying each others company. 


*Linking these FIVE pictures of my spring tablescape with the Five on Friday group...Darci, Natasha, Christina, & April.  Make sure to hop over and see what they are up to.


Now, are you ready for some more Spring decorating inspiration?  I'm excited to be teaming up with some super talented ladies who always inspire me.   Below you can get a peek at 14 amazing Spring decorating projects and you can get all the details and a full post by following the link below each photo at the bottom of this post.  Then use the Rafflecopter below to enter our $150 Target gift card giveaway.  Enjoy and Good Luck!


 photo 14SPRINGDECORIDEAS_zps85c36e8e.jpg
 

Target Gift Card Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Collage 2
Collage 3
Collage 5
Collage1
Collage4


Have a great day!



April 9, 2014

sneak peek // spring decorating

 photo 14SPRINGDECORIDEAS_zps85c36e8e.jpg


Good Morning Friends!  I quickly wanted to give you a sneak peek at this amazing round up of Spring decorating ideas by a super talented group of bloggers that will go live tomorrow.  Stop by for all the links and details to these inspiring projects.

And we are also doing a giveaway to my one of my favorites stores...a $150 Target giveway!  All this fun starts tomorrow April 10th.  Hope you'll stop back by!!



Target Gift Card Giveaway


And the winner of my Rodan + Fields Giveaway is Jessica Norden.  Congratulations!  You will love these products!!  I will be emailing you soon.


Have a wonderful day!



April 8, 2014

simple spring mantel

 photo IMG_3615_zpse0271205.jpg

After a cool, rainy Sunday, our Monday turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous day...blue skies and 70!  It was a perfect Spring day.  And becuase I'm so motivated by the sunshine, yesterday was just what I needed to get my mantel looking a little more like Spring!


 photo IMG_3605_zps2e5c3384.jpg

 photo IMG_3640-001_zps45070d59.jpg

 photo IMG_3608_zps3fdfdc7d.jpg

Keeping with my moto of "style simplified" a sweet banner and fresh flowers is all I needed to bring a little Spring to our home.

Do you decorate for Spring or Easter?

Hope you have a great day!

P.S.  Today is the last day to enter my Rodan + Fields Giveaway.  You can go here to enter :)







April 4, 2014

friday favorites

Yay for Friday!  Rounding up some of my current Friday favorites...

 photo IMG_3572_zpsfdffdb6a.jpg
One - A little sneak peek of a project I'm working on to share with you next week.  I am teaming up with a group of amazing bloggers to share some great Spring projects and topping it off with a fun giveaway!  Stop by next week to check it out!

 photo stripedshorts_zpsfae02780.jpg
 Two - Thank you all so much for all your sweet comments on IG about these super cute shorts I found at Gap Outlet.  I love them!!  Similar ones here.

Three - I've been drooling over this kitchen.  Love every single detail!

 photo IMG_3532_zps6d0d7d5c.jpg
Four - There's still time to enter my Rodan + Fields Giveaway.  You can go here to enter.

 photo IMG_3640_zps6acb09bc.jpg
Five - These pretty white flowers are blooming in my front landscape and I couldn't resist clipping some to enjoy inside too.

And that's a wrap!  Do you have big plans this weekend?  I thought we were going to finally have a free weekend, but things have changed and it's not so free anymore :)

Have a wonderful weekend!


*also linking up with the five on Friday group...Darci, Natasha, Christina, & April.






April 2, 2014

Rodan + Fields Giveaway

 photo 7d8307d1-efbd-478d-95b4-879e70ddfd8d_zps1d8763f5.jpg



 photo ess_tanner_zps4956cbf5.jpg

As you know, I became a Rodan + Fields consultant in January of this year and I'm so happy with my decision to join this amazing business team.  I love everything about these products!  My skin looks the best it's looked in decades and being a consultant has brought our family some always welcomed extra income!

Here are a couple of helpful tips about this wonderful, reputable skincare company.  They have many skincare products that you can customize to fit your needs.  You can use their solution tool to help figure out what products are best for you.  And to get you started they have many great incentives, like their Preferred Customer - $80 or more with a one time $19.95 fee and receive 10% off retail pricing, free shipping once a month, and a very flexible auto replenishment of product every 60 days (or more if you choose so.)  They also have a fantastic return policy:  60 day empty bottle money back guarantee if you don't like the product.

And now on to the fun stuff...the giveaway.  One lucky winner will receive:  2 mini facials (including 2 microdermabrasion paste, 2 night renewing serums, and 2 lip renewing serums) and 1 bottle of foaming sunless tanning solution.

To enter this giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below
The winner will be announced Wednesday April 9, 2014
Good Luck!


And P.S.  If anyone is interested in joining as a consultant, I am offering incentives towards the purchase of kits.  You can email me for more information at beckykubecka@yahoo.com  This is a great business model for almost anyone as it is VERY part time hours, it's not a party plan business so no inventory to keep on hand, no shipping or dealing with returns.  As a consultant you also receive the 60 day money back guarantee so NO RISK to try.


Have a great day!



April 1, 2014

lemon bars

 photo 650lemonbars_zps22f67426.jpg
With the warmth and sunshine sticking around lately, lemon bars seemed like a perfect treat to make this past weekend!  When it comes to sweets, I’m a huge chocolate lover, but I also enjoy a gooey lemon bar.  I love this recipe…it produces a wonderfully tart lemon bar with just the right amount of zing...