a blog by:
HEATHER ANDERS
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE.
02.5.2015
If you're anything like me, I really don't want a big gift for every occasion. But I do still like to know I'm appreciated by that adorable man sitting on the other end of the couch from me as I type this. If that's more the way you see this holiday, I suggest leaving this page up {nonchalantly of course} for your significant other to see as a hint for a small little something for Valentine's Day next weekend.
Everything on this list is totally affordable without being a cheap piece of garbage, so you can feel appreciated and he can feel like he did something for you without having to make some major budget cuts in other areas to afford it.
Are you a chica without a man? Or do you just know that even if you printscreen this page and text it to your guy that he just won't get it and chance are he won't even acknowledge the day? Well, all these items are super chic but still at a price that you can afford yourself without feeling guilty! So...buy away girlfriend!
1. I don't care who you are, we all need notebooks. This Kate Spade "love it, live it" set just adds that extra bit of feminity and togetherness!
2. Have a little kiss of tea in this mug! This is an absolute favorite of mine; so danty, so perfect (if the Shopbop stock is low, Amazon fills this item too).
3. Classy with a touch of sparkle, this Sugar Paper Desk Calendar is a fantastic addition to any female's work or counter area.
4. A simple ring with an astounding reminder...a Forget Me Knot ring.
5. This bar necklace has been the most complimented piece I've ever owned, engraved with our daughter's name. Engrave it with the name of a child, significant other or your very own!
6. A nuetral palette of eye shadows can be worn by any complexion. Urban Decay's Naked Basics is just a must-have.
7. We all love on life a little more when our phones are fully charged. For iPhone 5 and newer users, this portable charger is the perfect size to fit in a purse for a potential low-battery issue. And really, it's just adorable.
8. Need an excuse for cookies? This charming mini cookie cutter set creates an excuse for a mini-batch of sweets to share with your sweetie.
9. Who doesn't still love colorful nails? Essie's Cashmere Collection is something that's easy to lust over.
10. There are no rules stating a work station can't be glam-tastic. Kate Spade let's every female feel a little more glam with her Whistle While You Work Tackle Box full of gold bow paper clips and magnets, sassy binder clips and more.

FILED UNDER: BEAUTY
Do you ever have those days where you just miss your grandpa? Where you’re just drawn to reminiscing about simpler times and he just always seems to be the center of those memories? That’s how it is with my grandpa, and this weekend was just one of those weekends. My grandpa passed away just under four years ago, but even that short length of time ago it just seemed like life was easier…if only because he was here.
My grandpa was basically the original buffalo plaid wearer. He had so many variations of the black and red print that I think all of the grandkids (and there are A LOT of us), have one of his old shirts. If I remember correctly, one of my aunts also made a blanket out of some of his shirts. Point is, the man owned this trend before it was trendy.
He was a hunter and a fisher and lover of all things outdoors. There are stacks of pictures of us as kids with of all of us fishing in one of his two ponds that he stocked with blue gill just so his grandkids could learn to love the things he was passionate about. And we all did, because he was
I love colored pants. And perfect, handmade scarves.
When I was going through my closet the other day to put together something to wear for our company party, I realized just how many colored pants I have. I don’t really know why other than when paired the right way, the second you put them on you automatically look a little more put together and dressed up, all the while still comfortable.
The dress code for this party was nice-casual. It was for our entire company and our families, so it meant Husby and Adelyn would be with me. That meant I had to be somewhat selective with what I wore because of the activity level a 1 ½-year-old has in a confined area. Really the night could go two ways:
1) she would be really shy and just want to be carried (mom code for omg I’m going to be a sweaty mess if I dress too warm), or
I follow my fair share of blogs, and as much as I wish I could take credit for coming up with this genious trick, I actually tried it based on the suggestion of Pink Pistachio's blog. Typically I wouldn't post something on here that's someone else's tip, but this is such.a.lifesaver (er, skin saver?) that I decided I still owed it to all of you who read my blog to reap the benefits of this trick.
BACKGROUND
I've always had really sensitive skin. When I was a kid we were told something or another about how I don't have enough antibodies to my skin's surface, so when I got things like the chicken pox I had scabs for a month after the virus was out of my system. To this day, if I lay in grass my forearms will get little red bumps on them for an hour or so then go away, and heaven forbid I get a mosquito bite because without even touching the area it will swell to the size of a penny. Weird, I know.
This recipe was developed by a very dear friend of mine; I only made modifications as explained at the bottom of the post.
Hello beautiful people! So today I’m lucky enough to have the day off (and actually tomorrow too, giving me a four day weekend…woohoo!) because I had some extra 2014 vacation days back at my old big girl job that need to be used up before the end of January. This means I’m spending some quality time with my mini and devoting her naptime to sprucing up this blog a bit.
Since last week I challenged all of you to live a healthier lifestyle throughout all of 2015, I realized it might also then be useful to periodically provide tools help you achieve that goal. Especially since it’s my goal to do the same! What I’ll then commit to you is to post healthier versions of recipes throughout the year to give you that extra little nudge.
NOTE: I’m not claiming these recipes to be fat free or sodium free, I’m just offering my alterations to reduce each of these things to make it a healthier meal.