If you're searching for stylish cold winter weather accessories, check out these cozy and cuddly beanies! They come in a variety colors from neutrals to brights and numerous animal print colors! When the temperatures drop, I always grab a beanie to keep my head and ears warm and I love ones with faux fur poms! I wear these on my morning and evening walks and always pack them in my weekend bag when we head up to Lake Tahoe in the winter!
These are all available on Amazon Prime so take advantage of the free and fast shipping for last minute holiday gifts! Which one is your favorite?
The autumn/harvest season is upon us and I am ready for it! Are you? It's time to pull out the fall decor from the attic and begin decorating our home. In the past, I've used lots of warm autumn color tones to reflect the season around my house. This year, I decided to change up the color theme and go with with white, green, and organic pieces to keep things neutral, natural, and pretty. Some of these items can be used all year round which makes this color palette extremely versatile.
Today's blog post focuses on fall home decor items I recently found that capture the essence of autumn in a neutral white color palette. The first two "rooms" I plan to tackle in my house are the dining room and front porch. I can't wait to get started and will snap some pictures along the way to add to upcoming blog posts.
I hope you find something that inspires you to enjoy the fall season!
I know it's still August and HOT as cracked egg frying on a concrete sidewalk....but....fall is just around the corner and now is the best time to stock up on some cooler weather essentials! Fall is my favorite time of year! I love watching the leaves change into warm bright colors, the smell of pumpkin spice lattes, the warm ambiance of scented candles burning in the house...and of course...warm, cozy, blankets and fleece to snuggle up with.
I was recently previewing the the big sale happening right now! You all know which one I'm talking about. They have a lot of classic fall/winter coats, pullovers, rain gear, etc. However, the price points (even on sale) were a little more than I wanted to spend this year! Also, I wasn't super impressed with the patterns. It got me thinking, I can find cuter options at a much better price. That is when I came across these fluffy fleece half zip pullovers!
Cozy fleece pullovers have been on trend every fall! They are perfect to throw on doing your morning or early evening walks, running errands around town when the weather gets cool and crisp, and they are perfect for cozying up at home enjoying your morning coffee! Everyone loves animal prints and who isn't a big fan of camo? However, the best part? They're only $23.79! SCORE! You can buy three for the price of one on sale at the expensive retailer site!
I just placed my order and will come back and give you a full review and pics on this post when I receive it! I think these will sell out quickly so I got my hands on a few of them now! The brand suggests sizing up. I normally wear a medium but went for the large based on those directions, but please double check the sizing guide to help you find the perfect fit!
Which one is your favorite? If you place an order, let me know which one(s) you picked and how you like them! I can't wait to get mine in the mail!
It's Friday night and we're having a beauty party! I've rounded up some of my all time favorite beauty products...some of these I've used for years and some are new to my beauty routine that I'm currently loving! Either way, I will only bring you the best!
Northern California is known for having some of the most beautiful sunflower fields in the world! I've always wanted to shoot pictures like these - it reminds me of the golden sunflower fields in Italy. I threw on a white cotton dress and straw sun hat and pretended like I was Frances Mayes in "Under the Tuscan Sun" - one of my favorite movies of all time by the way!
The sunflower fields we visited began blooming in early June and the stalks were about 4-5 feet high when we visited in early July. They are located in Dixon, CA, easily accessible and visible off Highway 80 about 20 minutes west of Sacramento. You can't miss them as they are vast, colorful, and do attract a lot of attention for people to pull off the highway and take pictures - namely photographers and bloggers, but also a few tourists and casual mobile phone users looking for a pretty shot! There is plenty of space to park along the road that runs parallel to the highway.
If you are looking to get the most amazing shot, I would suggest going at sunrise (sun in front of you) or sunset (sun behind you). We went around 10 am in the morning and the sun was already casting shadows above but we still were able to get a few good shots. Remember, sunflowers always have their face to the sun, so keep that in mind when determining the best time. I would also suggest going on a weekday vs. weekend if possible. The weekend traffic on highway 80 can be bad and of course there will be more people there.
This is a sunflower farm and the owners have been very generous to allow the public to take pictures. However, please ensure you are respectful of their land and the flowers. Use the sunflowers for a backdrop - walking between them can break the foliage and damage the flowers. Also, it should go without saying but I'll say it anyway... please leave the flowers for others to admire as well - do not pick them. If you want to take pictures with sunflowers in your hand or in a basket - please purchase some and bring to your photo shoot.
There are several sunflower fields spread out between Dixon and it's neighboring city to the east, Davis, CA. Each field is planted at different times and may have different sunflower varieties. If you find this one is not blooming, you may find another one close by that is. In general, sunflowers in California bloom in the summer (between June and August) with mid-summer being the peak time.
Thanks for visiting! I hope you are enjoying summer with your family!
Summer dinners are best spent outside enjoying wine and making homemade personal pizzas for the family! Living in Northern California has lots of great benefits - the weather, outdoor recreation activities, easy access to the beach, desert, mountains, etc. However, one of my personal favorite benefits is access we have to some of the best vineyards/wineries in the world! Many of you know that I love to gather friends and family together to go wine tasting and explore many of the great wine regions we have in Northern California (e.g. Sonoma, Napa, Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, etc.) However, one area that's new to me that I recently discovered is Clarksburg!
If you haven't explored the Clarksburg, CA wine region you should definitely put it on the list! The Clarksburg AVA is an American Viticultural Area that spans three counties in California's Sacramento Valley, located in portions of Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties along the Sacramento River. There are over 12 wineries and tasting rooms to visit, 7,000 acres of wine grapes grown in the region, and over 35 varieties to sample. The most popular in the region being Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Many wineries and tasting rooms remain closed due to COVID-19 and some are just beginning to open up and welcome guests with new social distancing practices. You'll want to check out each winery website for specific operating hours before you visit. Check out this link for a list of the wineries and tasting rooms in the Clarksburg wine country...I'm sure you'll recognize some of these brands! In the mean time, you can still support your favorite local wine brands by purchasing online.
I am so excited and thrilled to team up with Elevation Ten Winery who recently sent me a few bottles of their wine to try! They have graciously offered my readers a discount of 30% off your entire order and $10 flat rate shipping! Please use code: "elevationten2020" on their website when you checkout. You can shop their fabulous wine selection here. If you’re looking for recommendations, I highly suggest the 2017 Clarksburg Reserve Chardonnay and the 2016 Fairplay Malbec! My husband and I recently uncorked these bottles to enjoy while making homemade pizzas for dinner at home!
Have you been to the Clarksburg, CA wine region? What is your favorite winery to visit and why? I would love to hear from you in your comments below!
Did you know that today is Melanoma Monday? It's the official May kick off of skin cancer awareness month! In order to bring mindfulness to this important topic as well as spread a little sunshine to your day, I'm happily teaming up with Cabana Life - a stylish sun protective clothing company that offers the cutest UPF 50 protection resort wear and styles for all the loved ones in your life!
I was recently introduced to Cabana Life and love how dedicated they are to spreading the message of sun protection and raising awareness. When I was younger, I would frequently get sun burned at the beach and rarely thought about wearing sun protection - unheard of right? As I got older, I noticed the negative and lasting effects this had on my skin and starting becoming more smart about sun protection. I rarely now go outside without a hat and spf covering my face, neck, and any skin that is exposed to the sun. Thankfully, I have an extra layer of protection with Cabana Life's UPF sun protection clothing!
How cute is this embroidered swim cover-up? I'll be spending many days at our pool this summer with family and friends. This stylish piece is easy to throw on over my swimsuit while entertaining and keeping everyone happy with summer snacks and drinks! I love the colorful tassels, embroidery detail, and the UPF 50 fabric provides great coverage! It's not thin or see through but is is extremely breathable and comfortable to wear for those hot summer days! I will definitely bring this one to the beach and out on our boat at the lake this summer! It comes in various color and pattern options - some of my favorites are posted below.
If you're looking for a piece that provides the utmost versatility, this gorgeous off the shoulder dress is exactly what you need! It's perfect for a romantic sunset date with your husband, a fun girls night out with friends, or a casual summer barbecue with your neighbors. Throw on a cure pair of sandals and earrings and you'll be ready to go! You'll also be protecting your precious skin with the UPF 50 sun protection fabric! Bottom line...stylish, cute, and essential!
In order to spread some sunshine and celebrate Skin Cancer Awareness Month launching today, Cabana Life will be offering $20 off every purchase of $100+ with code:
HAYLEY.CONSTANTINO
This offer expires May 10th, 2020, so take advantage of this great discount before it's gone! Mother's Day is coming up soon and there's nothing better than receiving the gift of Cabana Life!
Joining me today are two other stylish and sweet friends who are sharing their UPF50+ Cabana Life Style on their blogs today! Click their blog links below to read their posts!
If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably noticed that I love to accessorize my outfits with hats! I recently put away all my fall/winter boots, blanket scarves, and beanies and pulled out my spring/summer sandals, sunglasses, hats, and accessories. I have a relatively small closet, so seasonal rotation is a necessity. Plus, it helps me stay better organized where I can easily find everything when I need it!
For today’s post, I’m sharing some of my favorite spring/summer hats! I generally wear a hat every day, especially when I know I’ll be outside in the sun. Hats not only make a cute accessory, but they also help shade and protect your face from the harmful rays of the sun. They’re also a great way to hide a bad hair day!!
One way I like to relax and decompress before I go to bed is turning on my LED candles and essential oil diffuser. I have several LED candles around our bedroom that are on a timer and go on around 8 pm and turn off by the time we’re asleep.
Essential oil diffusers come in many shapes and sizes and there is an abundance of essential oils you can try out! I like using the peppermint or eucalyptus when I have a migraine, lavender when I need to de-stress and relax, and lemon/orange oils when I need an energy boost in the morning after my shower! The cordless oil diffuser on my nightstand is charged with a USB cable which makes it portable to use in any space in your house without unsightly cords!
There are so many great health benefits using essential oils and it makes your room smell amazing! If you haven’t tried them out, give it a go! It’s a great way to add a little "spa" to your at home environment! What oils do you like to use and why? Comment below and thanks for visiting! xoxoxo, Hayley
This is not a fun topic...but one that’s so important especially in times like this....
We finally put our will together! It was so quick, easy, and inexpensive using Trust & Will. The process took about 15 minutes to complete online with very simple step by step instructions and questions. We were putting it off for years and now have peace of mind that our kids have guardians and our personal assets and wishes will be carried out the way we desire.
If you've been putting off this important task for the same reasons we did...now is the time to get it done! Trust & Will is offering a $10 discount for my friends using promo code: ADULTING. To get started, click the Trust & Will link here. You will be blown away how easy and quick the process takes!
I hope you all are staying safe and healthy.
Let these current times be a reminder how important it is for everyone to be prepared.
One thing is for certain during this time of social distancing...nature never stops working.
My husband and I love to start our day with a cup of coffee on our outside patio listening to the sounds of nature. There's something so calming and peaceful hearing the birds sing, watching the squirrels chase each other in the trees, and listening to the sound of the ducks flying above. It's such a great way to start your day and it makes us appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us even more.
Growing up, my mom and dad always had bird feeders and water baths in our backyard. My mom was the green thumb and always looked for plants and flowers that attracted nature - butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, etc. She said "when you take care of them, they will take care of your garden". She was right. Her her garden was constantly thriving with big flowering blooms, hearty vegetables, and delicious fruits, nuts, and citrus.
If you're looking for ways to bring more nature into your yard or small outdoor patio space, I suggest you start with bird feeders. It's a relatively easy and simple way to attract them to your space and will provide hours of enjoyment as they become acquainted with you and their food supply! Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite hummingbird feeders and accessories. Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures, darting around your yard looking for nectar sources and delighting children as the buzz by in close proximity. Hummingbirds are vital to nature as they are considered great pollinators. They can pollinate flowers that can't be reached by other birds because of their small size and long beak. This helps them spread pollen very easily helping your garden thrive!
Hummingbird feeders come in all shapes, sizes and colors. I've selected some of my favorites below.
You'll also need make or purchase nectar for your humming bird feeder. It's really easy to make with this simple recipe:
There are a few options to choose from when purchasing nectar for your feeder based on quality, value, and convenience. In terms of value, I purchase this 32 oz humming bird concentrate that you just measure and mix with water. It's less expensive and makes up to 192 oz of nectar which will generally last you all spring and summer long! If you prefer convenience, you can purchase ready made nectar. I suggest getting the larger 64 oz size so it lasts a little longer. It comes in clear or red color (here & here) depending on what option you like. If you are looking for quality you may want to choose a humming bird concentrate that is naturally made from the most desirable food sources that hummingbirds actively seek out in nature, chemical free, made with 100% pure cane sugar, and fortified with calcium and electrolytes to help aid healthy eggshell growth and prevention of dehydration. Here are a few good ready to use all-natural options (here & here)
Once you've filled your feeders with sweet nectar, you'll need to find a place outside to hang it. I choose a tree in our backyard that has perfect line of sight from our kitchen table window and patio. We purchased this 12 inch metal tree hook which makes it easier to hang over high branches. If you don't have a tree to hang your feeder in, you can opt for a hook kit that can attach to fencing, railings, or directly to the exterior of your house. You can also purchase shepherd hooks that can be staked directly in ground soil or in a potted plant. Here are some options to consider based on your outdoor living space:
Now that you've hung your hummingbird feeder...sit back, relax, and watch your garden thrive! It's so fun to see all the hummingbirds come visit us every day! We know they are taking care of our garden and bring so much love and joy in the process! I hope this post has provided you some inspiration to make your outdoor living space (big or small) a hummingbird home.
