by ThallenBLiving on December 6, 2011
‘Tis the season for parties! However, it can be awkward to eat, drink and be merry at someone else’s house… especially if you tend to be a bit clumsy. In the event that you (or someone you invited) spill, break, or otherwise destroy something in another person’s home, this is how you handle it:
- Acknowledge. There’s nothing worse than trying to hide what you’ve done. The hostess will eventually find the ruined item, and she may accuse the wrong person. Besides, you never know who’s watching!
- Apologize. Once your accident has been discovered, show remorse for what has happened. Being arrogant only makes matters worse. Even though you may not have served red wine or set out the good china, this doesn’t mean you should make your hostess feel bad for her choices.
- Offer to Fix/Pay. You break… You buy! Plain and simple.
by ThallenBLiving on December 5, 2011
Photo credit: Oprah.com
2012 is fast approaching, which means its time to give thought to what you’d like to accomplish in the new year. I’m somewhat hesitant to call them “resolutions” because it seems so cliche… Besides, aren’t New Year’s resolutions made to be broken?!
I’m all for setting high-reaching, yet achievable goals… Goals that will inspire us to do better, act better and feel better. I’ve also found that goals are better when you can monitor your progress. For example, “I will lose 5 lbs” is better than “I will become thin.” I am also a fan of writing out goals, collecting photos and constructing vision boards. The process of finding pictures that represent what you want your life to look like is spirit-lifting in itself. It’s like getting a sneak peak of what it will be like to have accomplished your goals!
Here’s how to construct a vision board:
- Pick several themes that you would like to include (i.e., love, wealth, health, friendship)
- Look through magazines or browse the internet for pictures and words that represent what you want. For example, in the love category you may find a picture of a couple walking hand-in-hand or the words “In Love!”
- Arrange your photos so that they are visually appealing and paste them on your paper. I’ve used poster board, construction paper, and typing paper before… It’s up to you!
- Put the year you’d like to achieve these goals in the center of the board or somewhere it is easy to see.
- Place your board in a place that you look everyday… like in your closet or bathroom. That way it can inspire you each day to follow your dreams!
Do you have any New Year’s resolutions yet? Have you ever made a vision board?
by ThallenBLiving on December 4, 2011
Velvet hangers tripled my closet space! I know I sound like an infomercial, but it really is true. I picked up a pack of 25 for $12.99 at Home Goods the other day. I wasn’t sure if they would be sturdy enough to hold up my winter clothes. I also wondered if they would actually give me noticeably more space in my closet. Needless to say, these velvet hangers did both– they are strong and streamline. After trading out my wooden hangers for velvet ones, I was so impressed that I doubt I will ever go back to bulky, cumbersome hangers again. If you’re interested in purchasing some, Home Goods had several different brands and they were all reasonably priced. They come in many different colors, but I opted for black so that I could mix brands and they would still look uniform. I will definitely purchase some more to finish switching out my clothes.
What type of hangers do you use?
by ThallenBLiving on December 1, 2011
On Tuesday I gave up on Shellac… I just couldn’t take it any more! For some reason I felt like nail polish shouldn’t last that long, so I decided to peel it off 
It all came off in one sheet, with little fuss or effort. I would still recommend using nail polish remover so that your nails don’t peel afterward. All in all, taking off Shellac is no different than taking off a thick coat of regular nail polish.
I don’t have any plans to Shellac again any time soon… a little overrated in my opinion! Hopefully these posts will help you decide whether you want to try. Comment below if you do!!!
by ThallenBLiving on November 30, 2011
I’ve found the perfect do-it-yourself gift idea: Cookies in a Jar! I came across this while browsing the internet the other day (the photo above is from www.Make-It-Do.com). The idea is simple… Fill mason jars with the ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe. All the gift recipients will have to do is pour out the ingredients and add egg, butter and vanilla. These are so simple to make and so unique because each giver’s recipe is different!
Here’s what you need:
- Quart size mason jars (these can be found at local craft stores)
- Festive fabric and ribbon
- Cookie ingredients
- Labels (or double-side tape and paper)
What to do:
- Clean and dry mason jars and lids. Measure and add ingredients to the jar. On a computer, print out what you want your label to say. It may be a good idea to include the ingredients in case someone is allergic. Cut and tape labels to jar. Cut fabric in squares large enough to cover the lid of the jar. Cut ribbon long enough to wrap around the fabric at the neck of the jars to hold the fabric in place. Tie the ribbon into a secure knot, then make a bow
by ThallenBLiving on November 29, 2011
Last week, Hubby offered to help out in the kitchen with dinner. Of course that meant we pulled out his favorite kitchen appliance – the George Forman Grill! We made Chicken & Spinach Quesdillas and boy were they delicious (and pretty healthy too!). Here’s what we used:
- Organic Chicken Breast
- Taco Seasoning
- Whole Wheat Tortillas
- Fresh Spinach
- Mozzerella Cheese
- Light Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Jalapeno Peppers
- George Foreman Grill
Here’s what to do:
- Season the chicken breast with taco seasoning and bake in the oven until done.
- Slice the chicken and place on a tortilla.
- Add spinach and mozzerella cheese.
- Cover with second tortilla, then place on George Forman Grill.
- All done when cheese appears melted and tortilla is brown!
- Cut into triangles, garnish with sour cream, salsa and jalapeno peppers.
by ThallenBLiving on November 28, 2011
I promised I’d update you on how well the Shellac is holding up. So here’s the scoop…
On Day 2 or 3, my thumb nail chipped and the Shellac has now peeled away from the edge. Other than that I haven’t had any major peeling or chipping. 
I have noticed that the polish is now beginning to lose some of its shine, but compared to regular nail polish it still looks good. I’m trying to hang in there until Friday, which will be Day 14. However, my nails are growing pretty fast and I don’t like to see the white space between the polish and my cuticles.
My co-worker told me that Shellac can be removed easily at home with acetone nail polish remover, meaning no need to have it professionally removed… We’ll see!
Have you tried Shellac yet? Do you think you will?
by ThallenBLiving on November 27, 2011
‘Tis the season… Surely by now you realize how happy the holidays make me! I’m so excited to plan the gifts my husband and I will give to others this year. It’s important to get organized about gift-giving so that you don’t overlook anyone. Plus, by starting early you have a whole month to add someone who slipped your mind!
I like to start with a list of all the family and friends I’d like to get something for. Then, I group them into categories based on the type of gift I plan to purchase for them. This helps because you can often purchase similar gifts at the same time which saves time and money. Plus it’s a much more gratifying accomplishment to cross off a whole section than just one person at a time.
I also like to buy staple gifts like candles and candies to stuff stockings and give as favors for holiday parties. A good hostess always has a spare gift on hand!
What’s the best gift you ever received during the holidays?
by ThallenBLiving on November 24, 2011
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~Cynthia Ozick
For the past few weeks I have been thinking about writing an etiquette post on the polite way to receive a gift that you don’t really like (especially considering that the holidays are getting close). But today, I began to think about this in a grander scheme. How easy is it to go through life being unappreciative for all the blessings we have been given? Even worse than feeling ungrateful, is to show ungratefulness… Consider how frequently we complain about work, school and family obligations (among numerous other things), when actually having a job, being in school, and having loving family members is not an opportunity that everyone has been blessed with. I challenge each of us (myself included) to be a little more thankful this holiday season… even for the things that annoy us!
What are you thankful for?
by ThallenBLiving on November 23, 2011
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m pooped! Last week, Hubby and I moved apartments and I’ve spent the past few days getting things in order. Not to mention working full-time and otherwise coordinating life! Even with the best of intentions, when Thanksgiving rolled around I had nothing left to give… no stuffing, no homemade cranberry sauce, no endless sea of desserts. But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention! So in the absence of our traditional Thanksgiving feast, I had this bright idea– a Thanksgiving Salad! Perhaps you can create one with the leftovers from your meal…
Thallen B.’s Thanksgiving Salad Ingredients:
- Romaine Lettuce
- Sliced Turkey Breast (to represent the Turkey)
- Croutons (to represent dressing/stuffing)
- Dried Cranberries (to represent cranberry sauce)
- Green Beans (to represent green bean casserole)
- Mozzerella Cheese (to represent macaroni & cheese)
- Pecan pieces (to represent pecan pie!)
- Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Bon Appétit and Happy Thanksgiving!
‘Tis the season for parties! However, it can be awkward to eat, drink and be merry at someone else’s house… especially if you tend to be a bit clumsy. In the event that you (or someone you invited) spill, break, or otherwise destroy something in another person’s home, this is how you handle it:
