I just came up with an easy kitchen idea. See I’ve lived in this apartment for the past 15 years and since it was built in the 1920’s there’s not much in the way of closet space or kitchen counters. The later I don’t quite get but anyway, when I had my bookshelf put up, I asked the handyman I hired if he had any experience with tile resurfacing kits as I was considering doing it to my kitchen counter. 

Yes, so much goes with pistachio-colored tile, right? And the burgundy trim is just ... priceless!

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I picked up this 15” around wood lazy susan at a yard sale for $4 but the light colored wood that pine normally is, is just not appealing to me. So deciding how to redo this piece was almost as exciting as getting it for $4!

Since this was treated wood (it has a gloss over it), I knew I needed to prime it for the new color to stick to it, so I picked up Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer for All Surfaces (I guess this is made by Rustoleum) ($13.99/quart @ amazon.com) and painted 1 coat on the top and bottom of the wood.

Then after letting it dry for a few hours I was ready to spray on the texture with Krylon Marbelizing Spray. I had contemplated for about 1 month on how exactly to paint this lazy susan. I was just going to do it in metallic gold but decided at the last minute on adding some texture to it. When I was looking online at different spray paint effects, I couldn’t seem to find any in Pinterest (I use it like Google) so I threw caution to the wind and bought it.

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I’ve been fascinated with the whole wood crate trend in the past few months and pinned many-a-pins about unique ways to use them. But it wasn’t until I stumbled upon pics of them made into bookcases did I really start to feel my wheels turning. See, when I moved into my apartment about 15 years ago (I know, I thought I’d be in a house by now), I had to buy the basics, of course, and for some reason, I bought a small bookcase. It worked for a while but then one day while looking at it, I decided it was just too small for the wall as in, not tall enough (my ceilings are about 14 feet high and this bookcase was just over 5 feet). That revelation was about 2 years ago.

Finally when looking at these pictures of bookcases on Pinterest, I decided I wanted to build my own and I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like - it would take up a big part of the wall and not touch the floor; each box would be attached to the wall but still touch each other and look like, well, the finished product below!

So how did I get there? Click after the jump to see more in this picture-heavy post!

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Recently I was cleaning out my shopping bag section in the kitchen and while I only keep the really nice thick-papered shopping bags I get, it was time to purge. But purging is really hard when you really like the bag. Take this Lime Crime bag I actually tweeted about here a few months back. I love it but what do I do with it? It’s paper so it’s not really practical for grocery shopping but I didn’t want to get rid of it either. So I stuff it back where it was with some others I couldn’t seem to purge, between the wall and stove.

Enter Pinterest… 

Ms. Darla loves the new Christmas Tree Cone!

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Each year, when I’m trying to think of new ways to get my house ready for any holiday, I try to keep each of the 5 senses in mind and what appeases each when I think of that holiday.

• What I see
• What I hear
• What I smell
• What I taste
• What I touch

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1. DOLCE & GABBANA ‘Dolce’ EDP ($90/1.6oz, $112/2.5oz @ bluefly.com) – this scent was released to take the wearer, “on a sensual journey through the heart of Dolce&Gabbana’s DNA: the noble and evocative land of Sicily.” The scent opens with Neroli leaves, Papaya flower, White Water Lily, White Daffodil, White Amaryllis on a base of musk and accents of Cashmeran (a musky/powdery note) and floral accents.

2. HAMSA by Celine Leora Perfume ($65/3.4oz @ hamsa-perfume.com) – fascinated by the Hamsa amulet since child growing up in Morocco, the Creator of this fragrance wanted to use the symbol of it to provide the wearer with good fortune and protection, which the centuries-old symbol is known to have. She chose notes that represented the Easter, Western and Middle Eastern cultures by combining notes of White Lotus, Frankincense (not usually a fan of this scent but it works really nicely in this perfume), black currant and coffee. Another great one if you want to be the only one in the room wearing this.

3. MOLTON BROWN Heavenly Gingerlily Candle ($49/30 hours @ saks.com) – this floriental is just so…. Spring, summer, fall, really anytime kind of scent to smell but I’m really feeling it right now. The mix of cardamom, peach, ginger, jasmine, and plum really speak to me.

4. ATKINSONS 1799 Fashion Decree EDT ($175/3.3oz @ atkinsons1799.com and barneys.com) – this may say it’s an eau de toilette but it wears more like an eau de parfum as the notes just dance and dance for quite a bit of time before dying down; more than a traditional EDT. This one combines Pink Peppercorn, Chinese Magnolia, and Patchouli. If you like your scents tré unique, this might be one for you to check out.

5. Love2Love in Freesia + Violet Petals EDT from COTY ($9.98/3.4oz @ Walmart stores and walmart.com) – such a simple scent and so fitting for right now as we transition into a new season. And it won’t break the bank! It has top notes of peach blossom, lily petals and lavender; middle notes of freesia, rose and violet blossom; and bottom notes of sheer musk and heliotrope. So if you like your scents light and airy, this is one to check out. An eau de toilette is the lightest of all the perfume versions and this one for sure won’t enter the room before you do. 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

What are you using these days for a moisturizer? I know it's probably strange for me to ask this question seeing a big picture of a candle above this text, right? Well, is it a lotion or cream or maybe a body oil? Have you ever tried a candle? Or the oil from a massage candle? Not only is it warm when you apply it to the skin but this Flickering Touch Massage Candle from the LELO (lay-low) brand is made with shea butter, apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E, so your skin will simply drink it up.

This is not your typical product you'd find from this brand as they make products of the eh-hem adult nature, so this candle was made with the idea of two people using it as a massage oil, but since I am flying single these days, I find it fine to use just as a skin moisturizer and quite happy with it just like that! I mean, it smells wonderful with the totally unique Black Pepper & Pomegranate scent. There are only a few candle scents I think should be made into a fragrance and I'm really beginning to think this one would fall under that category, like this other one.

Pick this one up for yourself or a gift for someone’s birthday for only $29.90/6oz = 36 hours burn time @ lelo.com. 

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

The country sure is having some crazy weather this year! Freezing cold one day and then warmer temps in the 50’s the next. As we all know, moisture drops in the air when it gets cold (insert how much moisture drops in the winter) so you’ve got to be prepared on all fronts. A good moisturizer is good but it’s not the whole picture. Here are my recommendations (clockwise L to R):

CAUDALIE Gentle Cleansing Milk ($28/6.7oz, $38/13.5oz @ sephora.com and nordstrom.com) – in the colder months, the less foam the better. Switch to a cleansing lotion, milk or oil so the skin’s pH doesn’t change and it’s able to maintain a good moisture level. This one from Caudalie is also great at removing makeup and is free of parabens, sulfates, dyes and Petrochemicals, among others.

HONEYWELL Top Fill Warm Mist ($39.99 @ amazon.com) – a humidifier? Yup, I swear by them and have for years. As soon as I have to pull the heating blanket out, the humidifier is set up too. I turn it on at night and let it run until the next morning. And I find a warm mist is much better at putting moisture in the air then one emitting cool mist. This one from Honeywell is filer-free, so don’t have to worry about mold and mildew developing (ewww!) inside the unit, it’s quiet and can run up to 24-hours on one 1.3 gallon fill-up. And such a great price on this one!

BITE BEAUTY Agave Lip Mask ($26/15g @ sephora.com) – besides my nasal cavity, my lips are the other place that seems to be zapped of moisture when temps drop. And just out is this lip mask that is a super moisturizer for lips. Besides the combo of organic agave nextar and vanilla CO2 that promotes healing, the fact that it is able to stay on lips and not just disappear is also why it’s able to do an excellent job. Thanks BITE!

KOH GEN DO Oriental Plants Deep Moisture Mask ($90/1.34oz @ sephora.com) – skin will need some added moisture so using this face mask once a week will really help. And this one does its work while you sleep as it’s a no-rinse clear formula. Just apply some at the end of your nightly skincare routine and hit the hay.

EMINENCE ORGANIC SKIN CARE Vanilla Mint Hand Cream ($14/2oz @ amazon.com) – hands are out there and in the elements and can show your age if they’re not taken care of. This one from Eminence is super hydrating using Shea Butter and also contains denatured alcohol, which is a natural antibacterial and antiseptic. And it smells great!

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

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Launched in late 2013, THE SITOTA COLLECTION brings exotic places right into your home. The Founder, Yvette Davis Gayle, wanted to highlight places she's been able to travel around the world by creating a line of soy wax candles using glass votives and lead-free wicks.

Each of the four scents represents a place that had a big impact on her emotionally and spiritually and uses notes inspired by that region.

Aigyptos – inspired by Africa’s rich culture – notes of copaiba, balsam, orange and lavadin

Blue Nile – inspired by Ethiopia’s varied landscape – bamboo, wild grass, red grapefruit and jasmine

Coco Noir – inspired by Chaing Mai’s Loi Krathong festival in Thailand – coconut and cassis

Havana – inspired by fond memories of family from childhood – highlights tabacco, leather, amber and musk and contains notes of teakwood, pepper and black tea. This is my favorite one out of all of them (with Aigyptos not far behind). So unique!

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What It Is: AGRARIA AirEssence $110/7.4oz @ bloomingdales.com

Why I Like It: This is one gift that is sure to wow the recipient. Yes, you could bring the typical bottle of wine but who needs that? This is a room diffuser, that you’ve heard of and possibly used before but the unique part of this is that the scent diffuses through the 2 sola flowers . Each flower is hand-crafted using the dried peel of the tapioca plant and is sewn onto a cotton wick. As the oils from the bottle are absorbed by the wick, the flowers will change to the color of the oil as it diffuses into the air. So cool!  And this diffuser comes with a glass tray that it sits in and you can choose from 8 scents, which includes the newly released Golden Cassis. Now this is class. 

AirEssence shown here in Mediterranean Jasmine

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.