TJ Maxx Is My Sanctuary

I allow myself into TJ Maxx about once every three to four months, and I was once again reminded why. I have been feeling sick going on 6 days now, so two days ago I had to give myself a reason to get out of the house. I knew that I needed new hand towels and a new bathmat, and came out with way more than that. Because these items are all from TJ Maxx I unfortunately cannot include links for ya'll but can encourage you to walk...no run...to your nearest Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Homegoods. I just love closeout stores, especially when I cannot deny that I have an undeniable eye for mix and match items. 

I added this tiny succulent and geode jewelry box to my nightstand. 

I bought these two ornate and gorgeous white stiff back chairs. I intend on adding a sheepskin rug when I find one. I also found these gorgeous agate coasters with gold trim and a fake flowers to last with a pop of color #allyearlong. This steel and marble top table were also on the must purchase list as soon as I laid eyes on it. 

So excited about not only my new hand towels and fuzzy bathmat but my little gold bunnies which I am sure were intended for Easter but I will keep out for the year. They look adorable on my kitchen table. 

Oh, how I love home decor installments. 

XOXO, 

The Perfect Party Mix Encyclopedia

Today I am hosting a guest post by Sherry from Personal Creations. They have an entire website filled with delicious goodies, and today we are teaming up to share delicious (and easy!) party mixes. There are countless options at the link in the post below, and you can interchange many ingredients for favorites of your own. Enjoy!

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The month of February seems to get a bad rap. Many think of it as a boring break between the end of the holidays and the start of a new spring. However, the reality is that there's tons to look forward to this month! Opportunities to gather and celebrate with friends abound, whether it be for Valentines Day, Mardis Gras, or even an Oscars viewing party.  


Regardless of what type of shindig you're throwing this month, you know you'll need snacks. That's why Personal Creations created these party mix recipes. With flavors ranging from sweet to salty and everything in between, there's a taste to suit every party-goer's palate. I'll be making the Sweet and Salty M&M mix for my next movie and Netflix night to finish the last two seasons of The Office with Will.  

The following recipe was borrowed from Personal Creations from the party mixes link above. 

Ingredients:

1 cup vanilla rice breakfast cereal

1 cup mini graham crackers

2 cups popcorn

1 cup pretzels

½ cup salted peanuts

½ cup dark chocolate candy melts

½ cup white chocolate candy melts

½ cup candy-coated chocolates

Instructions: Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread cereal, pretzels, popcorn and peanuts on top. Separately melt candy melts and pour into bowls. Use spoon to drizzle over cereal mixture. Top with candies and let chocolate set.

XOXO, 

L'Occitane Treats

I recently stumbled into a L'Occitane boutique while in Pittsburgh and decided to stop in. I have heard so many wonderful things about their skincare items based on organic farming and the elements of nature that benefit and produce a youthful appearance. Will and I ended up purchasing a few items, and we ended up falling in love with quite a few of their products. I just wanted to share some of my recent favorites! You can shop them all by scrolling below.

1. The L'Occitane shea butter based bar soaps are unbelievable. I have used body washes for years, believing that they "lather better." I was surprised to find out after Will convinced me to give bar soap a try again that the bar soap lathers far better and I did not need to reapply to my loofa. My skin felt cleaner, smelled fresher and I felt far more hydrated. I know this bar will last me a while, and the milk scent is delicious. The lavender scent is also so refreshing and I love how the aroma makes me feel more relaxed prior to a night's rest. 

2. The small tin of 100% shea butter is delectable. I wish I had known about this stuff sooner. You can use it on your lips, scaling legs after shaving, super dry patches on your face, to tame eyebrows and for frizzing hair. It is thick and soothing without being greasy. I have read about the benefits of shea butter for years, including how it reduces stretch marks for pregnant women. I think this would be too difficult to apply graciously all over your body, which is why I purchased the 25% shea butter body cream. 

3. The Ultra Riche Body cream is incredible. It is hydrating and has the "greasy at first" feel but quickly absorbs into your skin. I recommend putting this on right after a shower and before enjoying outdoor activities like skiing or sledding that you know will strip your skin of moisture. 

4.  The hand cream bar favorites are a cult classic for any beauty bizarre. As a medical professional, I wash my hands all day every day even on my days off. I am a self proclaimed hypochondriac. I am also a weightlifter, and deadlifts quickly tear apart my hands, rip off calluses, and leave the look of distress and hands that have aged far beyond how old I actually am. I am so excited to start using this on a regular basis especially before bed. I used to have to use A&D ointment with socks over my hands (I am not joking) in order to hold in moisture on my poor cracked hands. I wish I had known about this years ago. 

5. Will is a huge fan of the hand gels and lip gel, which goes to show that that skin care is not just for women. In fact, it melted my heart when he accompanied me into the store and ended up loving some of the products as much as I did. The hand gels have a calming and cooling effect. I think they soak up quickly and have just enough moisture for those who don't have dry, cracked and bleeding hands. The lip gel has the same wonderful effects. 

6. I have not actually tried the L'Occitane Immortelle eye cream or Precious Night cream as of yet because I want to finish out my Neutrogena Night Cream. However, I am so excited to give it a try. After giving both products lots of research, I determined I had read enough good reviews to give them a shot. I love the concept of all natural skin care and have found over time that some products are worth the money. I am still going to stick to my Neutrogena day cream no matter what because I love that it has a mattifying effect under makeup and also includes SPF. I want an eye cream that is going to reduce fine lines, puffiness and dullness which are all victims of a chronically overtired nurse. I have read that the night cream and eye cream work best paired together. The theory is that the Immortelle flower has anti-aging effects with its natural luxurious and longevity producing results. 

I know that the Neutrogena night cream that I currently use has glycerin and multiple vitamins, but I still find my nose scaling and the need for extra exfoliating on my forehead. I hope after a few months of the Immortelle collection I can see a difference in my skin. I will definitely follow up. 

What is your favorite night cream? Have you used and loved L-Occitane products? 

XOXO, 

Hermes Clic-Clac

One item on my lust list is a Hermes clic-clic. Timeless, elegant and striking. I think the sapphire blue against the gold is stunning. (Also in alignment with my love for consignment stores and used goods, this is available on The Real Real, along with many other colors.)

I think in terms of classic pieces of jewelry that will never go out of style, this might be on my list of top 5. Others on the list include a Harry Winston Watch, David Yurman cable bracelet, and a Cartier Ring. 

What is on your list of dream jewelry? 

XOXO, 

3 Easy New Recipes in 1 Week!

I was feeling ambitious in the kitchen this week and decided to try 2 new entree recipes and one new dessert recipe. All three were relatively simple, the most involved being the Italian sausage casserole simply because it involved the most time. The three photos posted below are my own, and I have linked up to the original recipes online. I followed them step by step and inserted what I did differently below each recipe link. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Pesto Salmon & Italian Veggies in Foil 

(I substituted beans for asparagus.)

Cheesy Sausage Casserole

(I used almond milk instead of regular milk, and had to forgo the minced garlic because I did not have any at the time. It still came out delicious. I also used no salt, and substituted spicy Italian sausage in. I also doubled all of the cheese requirements.)

Homemade Cookie Bars from Scratch

(I used half of the M&Ms simply because I ate the rest ha!) 

See all of the recipes that I post before they make it online by following me on Instagram at @theduchess1317. Also, all of my favorite recipes can be seen under the Recipes tab above. 

XOXO, 

Lately: 5 on Friday Edition

Linking up with Smidge of This and a few other blogs for 5 on Friday where i post about 5 things on my mind. 

January was a busy month for me, and February is looking just as fun. I had a rocky start to 2016 so having such a positive start to the New Year is allowing me to have a a fresh outlook and it is impacting my mood, my confidence and overall happiness. 

Corelle Livingware Classic Cafe 74 Piece Set 

1. First of all, if you are not following me on Instagram as of yet you definitely should. I share all things new in my life including what I am up to, shopping finds and food favorites. Follow along at @theduchess1317, and don't forget to like me on Facebook, Polyvore and Bloglovin by clicking in the sidebar to the right. Or, sign up for email updates and never miss a post. 

2. Will recently needed new plates, and I steered him in the classic direction of navy and white. When I had to buy all new dinnerware in the last year, I made the mistake of purchasing ceramic dishware that was just not classic. In fact, my tastes changed so quickly that now I loathe them. I never realized how easy it was to hate dinnerware until you start to hate it even more with each use. It is a "trendy" set, and I have hopes that if we end up living together one day I will get to enjoy the gorgeous 74 piece set that he ordered. 

They are all made in the USA and came with 12 place settings, including fruit bowls, cereal bowls, full plates, salad plates, multiple serving platters and snap on lids for serving bowls. I especially love this feature, because it gets annoying to transfer all leftovers to smaller bowls which really only means wasting more water when either washing the dishes or loading up the dishwasher. One of my favorite touches on this set is the navy rim on the bowls. 

3. I recently took a quick trip to Pittsburgh and I received a few questions on my jacket and earrings. 

I wanted to share the details of the outfit I went sight-seeing and touring the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in. Shop by scrolling below. The Lisi Lerch earrings are probably one of my favorite statement pieces that I own. I could not recommend the turquoise color enough. I think it is a classic pop of color that would look great with any outfit. For instance, they would look great with a fuchsia dress or an emerald blazer, or even a little black dress. From weddings to dinner dates to a day on the town running errands I think these will carry you through the years as a classic accessory sure to get you many compliments.  

4. Though I don't talk about frequently, I love working out. I love all of the health benefits lifting has to offer. I love how I feel afterwards. I love watching progress transform me, and I love seeing the definition in my muscles improve over time. I rotate my targeted workouts through the week, including legs, arms, and back. I also mix in running, ab circuits, and deadlifts. I will try to post more on my fitness routines in the upcoming weeks.

 I love to take BCAAs (branch chain amino acids) and Glutamine before and after each workout to help with lean muscle growth. I feel like they also give me more energy and force me to drink more water when in the powder form. I chose not to take a preworkout because I do not react well to high doses of caffeiene but feel like this gives me just enough of an edge prior to a heavy lifting session. When taking BCAAs, the more important thing to look for is the quantity of leucine which is the amino acid that is mostly responsible for muscle synthesis. This supplement has 3500 mg in a scoop. I also supplement with an additional 2500 of glutamine from a different supplement, which I usually buy based on what the best price is at the time of purchase per serving since glutamine can be pricey. I would highly recommend this supplement combination to anyone who is into working out and wants to see progress and increased muscle definition albeit beware it will not happen overnight. 

XTEND BCAAs

5. I just made it onto season 3 of Gilmore Girls, but also recently watched The Imitation Game (about breaking the Enigma code in WWII), The Eighties (an incredible documentary on everything from Michael Jackson to the Berlin wall during a groundbreaking decade), and 9/11: Stores in Fragments (a documentary on that warm September day we will never forget). I would recommend the last three Netflix finds to any couple watching TV together, especially The Imitation Game. The cinematography and soundtrack were stunning. We really enjoyed it, and I am so glad we watched it as the name rung a bell instantly after seeing it had been added. I remember it being nominated for countless awards last year. I never realized how many controversial issues the move addressed. 

XOXO, 

L'Occitane Favorites

On our recent trip to Pittsburgh, Will and I wandered into a L'Occitane store. I have honestly never tried their products and am so glad we did. I love that the products are based on organic farming, although I admit I was semi disappointed when I found out that the hand gel did have parabens in it, although some studies are suggesting that parabens might not actually affect fertility. Regardless, I always feel better knowing all of the ingredients in a product I am using on my skin.

This winter have a spa day for yourself. I picked both my skincare and See's candies favorites 

for a relaxing night in. 

The shea butter based bar soap is incredible. I have used body wash my entire life and found that I did not need to reapply and relather. I also felt like my skin had a soft protective coating after in the best way from the ultrahydration of shea butter.

The hand gel is another one of my new favorites. albeit I admit I was hesitant to make the purchase due to the price. However, I am very hard on my hands while washing them at the hospital almost around the clock and decided to make the purchase. The cooling sensation of the hand gel is incredible and I feel like the gel base soaks in so much easier without leaving a greasy film.

Shop all of our L'Occitane pics below. I love that Will helped me make this list, because it goes to show that high quality skin products are for everyone. Next time I go back I would love to try some of the Rose scented products, though I find the refreshing hints of citrus in the skincare I purchased very uplifting.

Another tip? Use the shea butter pot not only on your lips but also on your cuticles and feet!

Have you ever tried L'Occitane? I am interested in maybe finding an eye cream from them!

XOXO,