A Special Saturday Night

July 17, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

Tonight I tucked the kiddos in and within minutes my oldest son, Ben, was asking if he could read a book downstairs on the couch while I was doing my thing {which tonight involved organizing recipes and making some strawberry infused vodka – yum}. I immediately said, “No, it’s time for bed” but I quickly retracted that statement for two reasons. A) He wanted to read — why would I shut that down? and B) He wanted to be close to me. OK, insert mommy tears here!! So he curled up on the couch, read a little out loud to me and giggled while reading. Priceless! Then once he read a bit he asked if he could just hang out and talk to me. Wow. Flattery gets you far! He ended up helping me organize clipped recipes and we just chatted away. I usually relish the time I get to myself after the kids are in bed but this rare night of my 8 year old wanting to hang out with me was one I will remember for a very long time. It feels like his attitude had gotten bigger as of late and I have definitely noticed that the moments when it is just him and I, are the smoothest between us. It’s a fine line between being a parent and being a friend. I do want my children to always be able to talk to me and I think fostering this in any way you can is HUGE. Every time he has a crush on a girl, he tells me. I don’t tease or make a big deal of it. I just listen. I try and teach lessons whenever I can without seeming preachy. I wanted to share my night with you — to remind you to take moments, the unplanned ones are often the most special.

Dear Ben,

As much as you may make me crazy, I adore you and who you are!! Thanks for letting me hang out with you tonight.

Love,
Mommy

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, The Hive Tagged With: The Hive

Get Happy ~ Or At Least Try!

July 12, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

I came across this quote yesterday on Etsy. “I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health”. I just put up my new chalk board and that is the 1st quote that went on it. Sometimes seeing it in print, makes me think about it more! Happiness is a great feeling. Of course to feel the highs, we have to experience the lows but how do you deal with the lows? I personally try and pull myself up to feel the highs. Sometimes I think, “This too shall pass”. Or another favorite saying as of late is this, I know ya’all have seen it cause it is everywhere. But I like the simplicity of the it.

Often I sift through magazines and read a lot of blogs. When I come across articles I like, I go ahead and set them aside. I have quite the folder! In my flipping through old articles today, I came across one on how to get happy. It’s from an issue of SHAPE from June 2000. No, I am not a hoarder

So a few tips from said article:

How you can get happy

Take control of your time. Set long-range goals and break then down into smaller tasks.
Savor the moment. It’s little pleasures that keep us happy.
Nurture your close relationships.
Exercise. It relieves mild anxiety and stress. {remember my previous post on yoga?}
Challenge yourself. Sharpen your skills at work and at play.
Explore your faith. Studios suggest that religiously active people are happier.
Smile. Research shows that it automatically improves mood.
Rest. Make sure you get enough sleep and time alone.
Act as if you are happy. The motion can generate the emotion.

So what do you think? Are you a happy person?

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, The Hive Tagged With: a little bit of honey, The Hive

Awesome Blogs — That I love to follow

June 15, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

Source

Are you wondering where I get my inspiration from? Well I tell ya, I am constantly blog surfing and always finding someone new that inspires me. I do however have some all time faves. Ready for the list?

Design — I do love changing up my decor. My style changes every day. It all depends on what I love at the moment and then I center around that. I used to be very matchy/matchy and then I started to feel that not matching was more fun. A few things I have learned along the way: Go neutral in paint and use pops of color for accents. Then you can change a room easily and effortlessly with a few new accessories. I have painted some rooms in bold colors and I burn out so quickly and I am right back to a neutral. I am not one that likes plain ol’ white paint though. Must.Have.Color.

Funky Junk Interiors http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Etsy http://www.etsy.com/ — I can find so many things on Etsy but I truly do love finding art, etc. for my home on this fabulous and original site.

The Nester http://www.thenester.com/

Holly Mathis Interiors http://www.hollymathisinteriors.com/

Jones Design Company http://jonesdesigncompany.com/

Under the Table and Dreaming http://www.bystephanielynn.com/

The Lettered Cottage http://theletteredcottage.net/

Censational Girl http://www.centsationalgirl.com/

Tatortots and Jello http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/

House of Smiths http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/

The Stories of A2Z http://www.thestoriesofa2z.com/

The House of Smiths http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/

Deals, etc. - Who doesn’t love a good deal? While I may not be The Krazy Coupon Lady, I do like to find great deals.

Nowadays the deal sites are popping up like crazy cakes. I admit, I am not a very structured coupon girl but I love that some of you are.

Pick your Plum http://www.pickyourplum.com/ — daily deals on crafty stuff

Groupon http://www.groupon.com/sacramento/?utm_campaign=Search&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=Google&utm_term=groupon — Go ahead and plug in your location, Groupon seems to be everywhere these days

My Frugal Adventures http://myfrugaladventures.com/

Living Social http://livingsocial.com/

The Krazy Coupon Lady http://thekrazycouponlady.com/ — I saw her on The Nate Berkus Show. WOW! She knows how to save a buck.

Domestic Frugalista http://domesticfrugalista.blogspot.com/

Joss & Main http://www.jossandmain.com/ — Fun deals on house stuff

The Foundary http://shop.thefoundary.com/ — A little bit of everything

Craftiness – I am all about crafting and creating. If only I had more time to tend to this inner craftiness

Tip Junkie http://www.tipjunkie.com/ — So much goodness in one place

Tater Tots and Jello http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/

Whipperberry http://www.whipperberry.com/

Lil Luna http://www.lilluna.com/

Jones Design Company http://jonesdesigncompany.com/ — So many great tutorials on this one.

Modge Podge Rocks http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/

Skip to my Lou http://www.skiptomylou.org/

I also found a sweet lil’ list of Babble’s Top 50 Crafting Blogs. Click here for that list.

Foodie Blogs that I Adore {cause food makes me happy}

Picky Palate http://picky-palate.com/ — Some of my most favorite cookie recipes have come from this site.

Kevin & Amanda http://www.kevinandamanda.com/ — Oodles of fun stuff.

Brown Eyed Baker http://www.browneyedbaker.com/

Poor Girl Eats Well http://www.poorgirleatswell.com/ — A local girl showing us how to eat good on a teeny tiny budget.

The Gracious Pantry http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/ — My latest foodie find.

Our Best Bites http://www.ourbestbites.com/

Food Network http://www.foodnetwork.com/

Sunset Magazine http://www.sunset.com/magazine/

Cooking Light http://www.cookinglight.com/

I could seriously go on and on with my blog loves but then I wouldn’t get anything else done! I hope you enjoy some of my faves. I’d love to hear some of yours. Do tell

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, In the Kitchen, The Hive Tagged With: Fun finds, recipes, The Hive

Ways to Show LOVE to Your Children

May 9, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

I saw this posted on Facebook via Melanie Mauer Photography this morning. She credits a blog called Mother Huddle but it seems to be coming up as non-existent. Still — that is the origin of credit I loved the list so much that I had to share. Enjoy and remember, enjoy the little moments because if there is one thing I have learned as a mama, it is how fast time flies! I am sure any of you out there would agree.

This photo was taken last Fall by my wonderfully talented friend, Monica over at KYK Photography. I love that the boys are laughing and having fun!

simple ways to show your child love:

Take a long nature walk together, at their pace. Let them lead the conversation.
Find qualities about them that you genuinely love, and compliment them in front of others.
Frame a photo of the two of you, and display it in their room.
Put a few Hershey’s Hugs in one of their coat pockets, and Kisses in the other.
Play a game with them.
Send them a handmade card in the mail with a coupon to go get ice cream with you.
Using blankets and chairs, or a card table, build a clubhouse together and have a picnic inside.
Tuck an encouraging note inside their lunchbox.
Give them your full attention.
Tell them some of the ways they make you happy.
Make them laugh.
Make their favorite treat to welcome them home from school.
Show them your joy when they arrive.
Listen, and let them make their own decisions whenever possible.
Make them a coupon book filled with things they’d enjoy doing, or things they’d like to get out of doing.
Take a day off from everything: work, household duties, technology, etc. and focus entirely on them.
Write them a poem using the initials of their name.
Decorate their room for no reason.
Make home a fun place to be.
Go to the store and let them pick out all the ingredients to make banana splits. Make and eat them together.
Wrap up in a warm blanket together and take turns making up stories to tell each other.
Make a list of things you love about them and put it on their pillow before bedtime.

What would you add to this list?

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Bee Local, Fun finds, The Hive Tagged With: a little bit of honey, Fun finds, Places, The Hive

Spring Cleaning

April 26, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

This seems to be my motto as of late. Once the weather starts turning a little warmer and the skies shine a little brighter, I get the bug to clean. This means a lot of deep cleaning, purging {donate!!} and maybe even a little redecorating. We are coming out of the chilly Winter months and gearing up for the hot Summer months. The in-between time is perfect for opening up the house and airing it out so to speak. Do you feel the need to Spring Clean?

Funny cartoon eh?

Some tips of where to begin:

Start up and work your way down. You can do this by wiping down cupboards, cleaning bathroom mirrors or even wiping off counter-tops. If you start the other way, you just ‘remake’ your mess. My biggest example of this is when I am cleaning my kitchen. It only makes sense to wipe everything off of the counters and clean out the fridge before I clean the floors. Then I can get any bit of mess that might have fallen along the way.

Pick an area or project and follow through till the end. I typically do things in a order.

Dust
Change bedding
Vacuum

I also tackle all the bathrooms in order.

Clean toilets and sinks
Clean mirrors
Wipe down exteriors (cabinets, counter-tops and lastly, the outside of toilet)
Floors

For the main parts of the home — you know, the well loved kitchen and family room {which usually needs it the most}:

Dust
Wipe down inside of fridge & inside of microwave
Wipe down all appliances
Wipe down cabinets
Remove items from counter-tops and clean well
Sweep & mop floors
Vacuum carpet

I know, some of this might seem obvious — or not These are my ‘basics’. Of course there are some more heavy duty things that can be done less often. Ready for those? You are probably thinking, “Isn’t what you listed enough already? Jeez lady!”. But I am not done. Not yet!

Oven — one of my least favorite of all but so worth it when done. We have self cleaning ovens but that whole process just freaks me out and smells so toxic. Here is a natural cleaner that I have yet to try but plan to soon! Click here for the recipe.

Cleaning windows — inside and out. I will say that calling on a professional is actually VERY worth the money. We have done it several times. They do a great job for less then $200 {2 story home over here}. You can of course do it yourself if you are that motivated or want to save the money.

Carpet Cleaning — I am about to call on Phelan Carpet Cleaning at 916.747.7243. This is a local business here in EDH.

Pantry — purge people! I just found some salad dressing that was um, a couple of years past it’s expiration. At least it did not walk off of the shelf itself eh? It is also helpful to organize things by catagories and also utilize baskets to keep like items together. Examples?

Canned items
Dressings, marinades, etc.
Baking items
Breakfast items
Quick grab n’ go snacks

Linen Closets — can you let it go? Old bedding, towels, etc? I just let go of my almost 6 year old’s baby blankets. Well most of them. That was a tough one but really, I don’t ‘need’ them anymore. Sigh.

Playrooms — a lot of us tackled these right before or after Christmas but if not, go for it. I promise that you will come out with at least a bag or two of unneeded items. Word of advice: Do this when the kids are NOT home or they will stop you mid-toss!

This is more like me — smile and all

Outside — yep, Winter pretty much wrecked our yards. Time to pull up those weeds, clean off the patio furniture, power wash the decks, clean out the BBQ and maybe plant a few flowers? Make it livable cause I promise, BBQ weather is right around the corner.

My best advice, find an area that needs some special TLC and tackle it. Make that your project until it is done and then move on. Cabinets are so often a breeding ground for crap {if you have a better word, feel free to insert it where I typed crap } Open them up and reorganize — getting rid of what you can and should in the process. Go ahead, pick a room and GO!

A few other tips for freshening things up a bit:

Use natural cleaners as much as you can. The less toxins, the better for your environment. Here are a couple of sites that share recipes for natural cleaners:

Brands you can buy that are eco friendly:

Another idea is to open the windows and let the fresh air in as much as you can. Out with the stuffiness of Winter and heaters and in with fresh breeze, flowers and chirping birds. Before you know it, we will be sitting in our air conditioned homes praying for a breeze! Enjoy it now.

One of my favorite things about Spring cleaning is how fresh everything feels after. I feel so accomplished and ready to go into the busy Summer months.

Filed Under: Bee Green, Bee Inspired, Bee Organized, The Hive Tagged With: Bee Organized, The Hive

Repurpose an Old Frame: Starfish Wall Art

March 23, 2011 By TheLocalHoney 1 Comment

A great DIY for an old frame: Looking for an easy new piece of art for a certain room in your house? I used a frame that no longer had glass {oops, accidents happen}, added some burlap and hot glued this starfish to the burlap. A super simple way to display something in your house. Different then anything else cause it’s homemade I have a beach theme going on so the starfish added to my decor in a fun lil’ way. Do you have a creative way to display art in your home?

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Fun finds, The Hive Tagged With: Fun finds, The Hive

Bathroom Makeover

March 21, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

My Guest Bathroom Re-do for under $20.00

I am a bit of a quick change artist when it comes to my guest bathroom. It is a quick and easy transformation and because it is the only bathroom downstairs, it gets well – visited often My closest friends have come to know that this bathroom will be made over a couple of times a year. It is the most painted room in our house. I think we are on paint color #4 in just under 7 years of living here? Actually, the color I painted it most recently (think Fall of last year) is close to the original color. I seem to gravitate towards neutrals but there was the green apple color. It was bright and happy but I also got sick of that one pretty fast. I love color but more so in my accessories then with paint. I love the ability to change a room in a low maintenance kind of way. So over the holiday season I had it decorated in creams, oranges and cranberries with some chocolate brown added in. I loved it but I also felt very burnt out on all of the “red” that was happening throughout the Christmas Season. Awhile back I came across a cute striped shower curtain on clearance for $7.48 at Target {I heart Target}. It is a classic pattern in neutral colors. No frills but one of the colors matches the paint in the room. That along with some solid color hand towels and voila, new bathroom complete. I was able to use accessories that I already had on hand. It’s cute, fresh, fun and brighter. The best part was the cost though. For less then $20, I have a ‘brand new bathroom’. Can’t wait to see what hubby says when he gets home from work tomorrow. Hee hee hee! Good thing he knows and loves me sooooo much.

If you are looking to redo a bathroom on a budget, here are some tips:

Paint – Takes more effort but worth it for a high impact change.
Change out the mirror. You can find these at Lowes, Home Depot, HomeGoods, Marshall’s and Ross for great prices. I bought mine a couple of years ago for under $30 at HomeGoods. It really made a difference in my bathroom.
Change your shower curtain (shop clearance sections at stores like Target, Wal-Mart, etc. I have also found curtains for less then $10 at HomeGoods, Ross and Marshalls).
Accessories – First shop around your house for things that can use a new place and if you are still looking for things, check out the stores I listed above. You never know where you will find that perfect item.

Do you have any budget redecorating idea tips? I’d love to hear them.

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, The Hive Tagged With: The Hive

Rainy Day Fun

March 19, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

As I type this my kids are engrossed in a movie. OK — I will take the time to get some blogging done Besides, the rain has just begun and we will have a long stretch of it IF weather.com is accurate for once Always a chance that they are. I know, I know — no one is perfect! I have done a little searching and have found some great places to check out on a rainy day. So put on your rain jackets and boots. A little water never hurt anyone {except the Wicked Witch which is a whole other idea of what to do on a rainy day!}

A few ideas:

Hit the theater — I heard Gnomeo and Juliet is pretty cute, Rango not so much. Or you could be an adult and see a grown up movie
Grab a bite to eat and enjoy some family bonding time. A few of our favorites are BJ’s Brewhouse, Pete’s, Q Bole and Islands.
John’s Incredible Pizza is a madhouse of fun for kids and grown ups. They have a pretty tasty buffet, loads of video games and even a few rides.
Dave & Buster’s is located in the Roseville Fountains. This is more of a grown up arcade with a large menu selection and plenty of fun beverages.
Monster Golf is a fun way to spend an afternoon {but be prepared for a wait on a rainy day}. Play video games while you wait. Oh, and wear white so that you glow. The kids love this!
Wacky Tacky in Roseville is a giant indoor playground with climbing walls, slides and so much more.
Art Beast Studios in Sacramento offer a wide range of art projects and fun geared towards children 6 and under.
Creative Arts and Music Studio in Granite Bay has a catalog of classes available but seem to be open only on weekdays.
There are also several museums in the greater Sacramento area. Please click here for a list of museums.
Craving something sweet? Head to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. Tours of the factory as well as plenty of sweet treats. They also have an on-site cafe offering hamburgers, hotdogs and more.
The Star Eco Station in Rocklin is the home of several exotic wildlife and is also an environmental science museum. This place is definitely on my list of places to go!
Hit the gym. Most offer childcare and several have fun things for the kids to do including rock walls (California Fit being a popular local spot).

These are just a handful of places to go when the rain is giving you cabin fever.

Are you more of a homebody? Here are some great ideas for staying in and entertained.

NERF war — welcome to my world as of late. NERF Guns invaded our home at Christmas time and fights ensue often.
Movie night in. Make some popcorn and serve up some movie style candy. Target is a great place to find the boxed candy just like they sell at the theater.
Bake some yummy treats. Then enjoy said treats
Play games. Board games are always fun but you can even have a great family game of Wii.
Bring our your inner child and color. It is actually one of my favorite activities but I rarely make time to do it.
Create a fun art project for the family. The ideas are endless with sites like Family Fun and great stores such as Michael’s and Jo-Ann’s.
Work on a puzzle together — set it up on a table that is not always used so that you can come back to it after a break or two.
Indoor hide and seek. Be creative in your hiding spots

These are just some of the ideas I have come up with. How about you? Do you have ideas for fun rainy day things to do? Please do share. I’ love to hear them.

Enjoy the rain, perhaps dance in it for a bit and know that it is bringing us snow for the remainder of the ski season, flowers in the spring and full lakes for the summer.

I wish you sanity, dry feet and a lovely weekend.

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Fun finds, The Hive Tagged With: Fun finds, The Hive

Toasted Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches

March 15, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

Whats for dinner tonight? Something easy and yummy. I found this in a recent issue of Sunset Magazine. So many good recipes — so little time

Toasted Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches

Ingredients

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 small onion, grated
6 kaiser rolls, split
1 pound thinly sliced ham
1/2 pound sliced Swiss cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Mix together butter, mustard, Worcestershire, poppy seeds, and onion until smooth. Evenly spread cut sides of rolls with butter.

2. Stack ham, then cheese, inside rolls.

3. Set sandwiches on a baking sheet and cover with foil. Bake until warmed through and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

For an quick and easy meal, serve with some Alexia Oven Baked Fries and fresh strawberries or a green salad.

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, The Hive Tagged With: recipes, The Hive

Coffee — Energy Boost + Health Benefits

March 11, 2011 By TheLocalHoney Leave a Comment

I love finding info that says things that I indulge in are actually good for me A friend shared this little linky earlier on Facebook and I had to read it and share my findings with you!

Obviously we know that coffee has a major benefit for so many of us. CAFFEINE! A lot of us need it to start our hectic days. I personally am a sweetened iced coffee with milk kinda girl. None of the hot stuff for me. Thus I am known by name and drink at my local Starbucks. Should I be flattered or embarrassed? You decide I personally love the Cheers vibe. “Where everybody knows your name” — plus it feeds my ego and makes me smile.

So yes, I have heard ramblings about the benefits of caffeine but this article seemed share worthy. Here are the reasons why you should have that cup o’ joe. {remember: everything in moderation people!}

It helps protect your heart
It diverts Diabetes
Your liver is happier because of it.
It boosts brain power
And drum-roll please cause this one means the most to me!! It can help alleviate headaches. Even migraines which is a part of my world. Not the happy part mind you!

For more detailed info, please head on over to Shine for the full article.

I hope I helped you feel guilt free in your coffee consumption. Happy Friday friends!

Filed Under: Bee Inspired, Fun finds, The Hive Tagged With: Fun finds, The Hive

A Special Saturday Night

Get Happy ~ Or At Least Try!

How you can get happy

Awesome Blogs — That I love to follow

Ways to Show LOVE to Your Children

Spring Cleaning

Repurpose an Old Frame: Starfish Wall Art

Bathroom Makeover

Rainy Day Fun

Toasted Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches

Toasted Ham and Poppy Seed Sandwiches

Ingredients

Preparation

Coffee — Energy Boost + Health Benefits

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How you can get happy

Ingredients

Preparation

Welcome! Come Follow Along …

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More Honey

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