I’ve always d Doris Day and her movies. Watching comedies like Pillow Talk and Please Don’t Eat the Daisies always cheers me up, so I’ve been ing out some of my old DVDs of her movies this week. I highly recommend them when you’re stuck at home and need a good laugh! She died last May […]
The post Inside Doris Day’s Sunny Yellow House in Carmel as Estate Goes to Auction appeared first on Hooked on Houses.
We all have moments of self-doubt and days where burying our head in the sand or at least under a pillow seems appealing. You aren’t solitary in your reluctance to try new things. You aren’t alone in being your harshest critic. We all have that inner voice that second guesses every brilliant idea we have and puts down even our best hair days.
But learning to flip the negative into a positive will get you far. According to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, having an optimistic attitude may help people live longer. Not to mention affirmative thinking can bring you job success and overall high achievements.
What you think, you become.
Here are 8 statements that can ease anxiety and squash negative self-talk in adults as well as children. Train yourself to say this and not that and you’re well on your path to peaceful confidence.
Feature image by Meiying Ng via Unsplash.com.
The post Say This, Not That–8 Statements To Empower You Daily appeared first on How Does She.
Whether you want to help someone in need or are looking for a boredom buster that could potentially help people in the future, this post is for you! Today I have a neighbor, a friend,...
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*This is a sponsored post on behalf of QVC. We adore working with and sharing QVC products.
How to make a bunny cake: A bit excited for this post. We teamed up with QVC to get an assortment of kitchen products to help us make this bunny cake (and a bonus of bunny bum cupcakes).
I promise it isn’t as hard as it looks. And would you believe it took just one 9″ round cake? Watch this darling video for the easy how-to steps!
How to make a bunny cake:
So who’s joining us this year in making a bunny cake?
As promised – a video on those darling bunny bum cupcakes….these were by far the favorite of my kids. Who can resist those cute little bunny bums!
Ingredients
Instructions
Almost too cute to eat! Almost!
So, tell us, which is your favorite? I’m telling you both of these are so much fun to bake and decorate! Especially with cute colored bowls and mixers!
Happy Easter! Now go get those bunnies a cookin’.
The post How to Make a Bunny Cake! Plus Bonus Bunny Bums! appeared first on How Does She.
*We’re so excited to partner with Hotter Shoes on this post! We’ve loved their shoes from the beginning and know you will too!
This spring break has been different than anything I ever anticipated. Instead of hopping a flight to the beach, my four kids and I have been doing a lot of outdoor walks and bike rides in our quiet neighborhood. COVID-19 has altered daily life, but one blessing that’s come from social distancing is that I have been getting my daily 10,000 steps in and loving the spring sunshine.
It’s also shown me how important positivity and friendship is. I look forward to my daily walks where I’m sure to cross paths (at a comfortable 6-foot distance) with neighbors and friends. The medium of our connections right now seems to be via walking and with spring in full swing, it’s time to step into spring in comfort and style with Hotter Shoes.
You’ve probably heard us talk about Hotter shoes before. They are amazing travel shoes and are probably one of the most comfortable shoes you will ever walk in. That’s because they’re made in a Comfort Lab in England that designs every style with expertise and technology and then lovingly packages them, ready to be delivered to your door.
Get your 10,0000 steps in this spring and turn a few heads with Hotter’s fun new styles!
Step out in style in the Hotter Martinique Wedge. It’s got a slight wedge heel with a cushioned footbed that makes being on your feet all day a breeze. Plus, the punched coral leather is playful and perfect for both casual and more dressed up.
The Martinique comes in three great colors and is a must-have shoe for spring! It’s the style of a heel and the comfort of a cushioned sandal combined.
After owning several pairs of Hotter Shoes, I’m constantly impressed by their high quality. And the comfort is amazing! They’re especially great if you have issues with toes, feet, or knees. Here are some new Hotter styles I think you’ll love!
I love this sandal for it’s femininity. The leather bow at the toes and the thin strap around the ankles makes it a fun spring/summer shoe.
These are two of my all-time favorite Hotter styles. The Daisy is a slip-on that is insanely comfortable, plus check out all the different colors! They’re the pair of shoes I keep by the door so that I can throw them on and go anywhere and still look like I’ve got it together.
The Tourist is probably my main summer sandal. I can never, ever go back to flat plastic flip-flops.
If you love slip-ons as much as I do, you’ll love the Tara. They come in three gorgeous colors this season (the above print is no longer available) and are the shoe you’ll keep close.
Check out these other favorites:
Tahiti Wedges (*new)
So this spring and summer, get outside, enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and get your 10,000 steps in while turning a few heads in the process.
Use code: SPRING35 for 35% Off!
Right now, Hotter Shoes are 35% off sitewide with the code SPRING35. Shop now!
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Many of us have taken the opportunity to bring dinner to someone else, wether it’s a friend who had a new baby, someone who is experiencing grief, or an individual you know who could just use dinner brought to them. Sometimes a gesture as simple as that can mean everything in the world.
I remember when I’d just had my first baby and was on maternity leave from my teaching job. One late afternoon, as I was overwhelmed with a crying baby, a knock came to my door. It was a fellow teacher carrying two bags of groceries, full of precooked meals like rotisserie chicken, a salad mix, and fresh cut fruit. His kind gesture saved me that day, and still makes me emotional thinking about it. He could have easily driven straight home from school to relax from a stressful day, but he didn’t.
You may never know what a simple gesture like bringing dinner to someone can mean to them. If you’re like me and would love to help, but could use a few good ideas, here are 23 of them!
Who says you have to “cook” dinner for someone. Grab the makings of chicken salad croissants, cut up a watermelon, and keep it simple.
Saute some steak or chicken with peppers and onions, throw in a few toppings and tortillas and you can easily drop by some delicious fajitas.
Meatballs are so versatile and can stay warm in a crockpot until you deliver them. Y0u can serve these easy slow cooker sweet and spicy meatballs with rice or noodles for a comforting dinner.
Marinate some steak or chicken in a freezer bag and deliver to someone who’s just had a baby or is going through a stressful time. Include some potato salad and sliced watermelon for a thoughtful touch.
Try this simple, delicious marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TB soy sauce
1 tsp. Monterey steak seasoning
Pulled pork is another great thing to make in the slow cooker or instant pressure cooker and it makes a great main dish for pulled pork sandwiches or tacos. This is a nice quick pork carnitas recipe for your pressure cooker.
There’s nothing wrong with a casserole, but sometimes a fresh salad feels so refreshing and healthy. A lot of people forget that salads can make great to-go meals for a friend. As long as you keep the dressing in a mason jar on the side, this meal can be kept in the fridge until dinner time.
Here are 3 better-than-store-bought dressings to try!
Another fresh, yummy dish that travels well are lettuce wraps. We love this Easy Peasy version where you can cook the meat beforehand and have plenty left for your own family.
Nothing beats food from your favorite restaurant when you’re down. It’s a thoughtful gesture that will be appreciated and remembered for a very long time.
As far as comfort foods go, nothing beats a warm bowl of chili with a side of corn bread. It’s the epitome of a healing dish. Check out this award-winning chili that is so simple, a child can make it.
Wash and wrap some whole potatoes in aluminum foil and bake them at 350 degrees for one hour. Put together the fixings for a baked potato bar: shredded cheese, steamed broccoli, sour cream, and bacon bits. Deliver to a friend.
Chicken noodle soup is the ultimate comfort dish. This homestyle recipe is made with homemade noodles and has been passed down for generations. It makes a perfect dinner to take to new parents or a friend in need.
Big, stuffed burritos are one of my family’s favorite meals. Take a large tortilla, pile it with rice, beans, shredded beef or chicken, cheese, etc. Wrap, repeat, and deliver in aluminum foil so that all the recipient has to do is heat them in the oven until warm.
Another great soup to take to a friend is our all-time favorite, homemade tomato soup with roasted tomatoes. This soup is so good, you’ll never, ever go back to the canned version. Deliver with breadsticks or French bread.
French dip sandwiches are an easy item to take to a friend. Put a rump roast in the slow-cooker with some herbs and spices for 6-8 hours. Try this recipe and deliver for a warm meal.
Another great beef recipe to make ahead and deliver are these quick and easy beef gyros with tzatziki sauce.
One of the smartest innovations to come to dinner has been the salad in a jar. Take a few mason jars and get inspired by these 15 Delicious Mason Jar Salads that make life easier.
We’re all busy, and sometimes good intentions are weighed down by a hectic schedule. When that is the case, just drop by with a pizza. Promise, it will be a hit.
Hearty soups always hit the spot. Make a double batch of mom’s hearty chicken and dumpling soup for another family; they can even freeze half of it for later.
After having my third baby, a friend in the neighborhood brought over this amazing chicken dish that everyone (even my picky eaters) gobbled up. I texted her right away, having to know her recipe. Come to find out, it was this Thai coconut milk grilled chicken over coconut rice and I’ve made it many times since.
Stuffed peppers are both easy and portable and most people forget about them when trying to decide what dish to take to a friend.
I like meals I can prepare in 30 minutes or less. Cashew chicken over rice is perfect for a busy day when you want to deliver a meal to someone.
How cool would it be to fill your friend’s fridge with fun and healthy portable dinners. Grab some reusable plastic dinner containers (or bento boxes) and fill each individual section with things like fresh fruit and vegetables, crackers, olives, dips, hummus, sliders, tea sandwiches, etc.
This idea is fun and would brighten a day. Taco cones can be made ahead of time in 30 minutes or less and can easily be transported. It’s a fun twist on taco night.
You might also like:
The post 23 Non-Casserole Dinners You Can Take To Someone in Need appeared first on How Does She.
Hulu just dropped the first three episodes of the new Reese Witherspoon-Kerry Washington series Little Fires Everywhere. After reading the bo it was based on, I was excited to see what the houses would lo like on the show. The brick Tudor-style home they chose wasn’t at all what I had envisioned as a reader, […]
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We’re so excited to partner with Lemonade on this post. Find out more about them below!
Home. It’s the place you wake up to each morning and rest your head each night but home is much more than that. It’s everything that happens in-between sunrise and sunset with families and friends. Home is birthday parties and Saturday morning pancakes. It’s bringing home a new baby or puppy and whether you own or rent, “home” is probably the most important place in the world.
That’s why it’s imperative to protect your home with homeowners insurance or renters insurance. You already know that. But maybe you don’t know about Lemonade, the revolutionary homeowners and renters insurance that is saving families crazy amounts of money and in a cool way.
Insurance is a fact of life. And as if giving away your hard-earned money to an intangible thing that you may not even get to take advantage of wasn’t hard enough, the process of buying insurance is typically an arduous task. You have to deal with commission-hungry brokers and stacks of documents inundated with legalese. And when it comes to claiming? Forget it. Expect layers upon layers of red tape.
Not with Lemonade, though. A tech-forward insurance company with a refreshingly different way of doing things, Lemonade aims to provide home and renters insurance to anyone who needs it, sans the emotional and financial toll that traditional insurers impose. It leverages state-of-the-art technology to deliver impeccable service, making insurance less of a headache, and policies start at just $5 for renters insurance— Here are five reasons you should switch to Lemonade.
With Lemonade, there are no pesky agents to engage with, and no dizzying paperwork to go through. Simply answer a few questions from their charming AI bot, and you can get tailor-made insurance that works for you in as little as 90 seconds. You have the option to customize and adjust your coverage at your will, and you pay right then and there.
Unlike traditional insurers, Lemonade takes a flat fee and all the rest goes towards paying your claims. So there’s never a conflict of interest between you the policyholder, and your insurer. It’s that simple. .
Given the coverage that Lemonade offers to customers (insurance to rented or owned properties, with the option to add extra for high-ticket items), it’s astounding how affordable their rates are. Renters insurance starts from $5 a month, while homeowners insurance starts from $25 a month. Your final rate will still depend on how much coverage you need, but you can’t find a better deal than Lemonade.
Lemonade does away with confusing forms. Should you need to file a claim, you would only have to answer a few questions from their AI bot, Jim. You’ll be asked to speak to a camera where you’ll tell them what items were damaged or stolen. The system will then process the information and get back to you with a result. If instantly approved, you might get your payout in as fast as three seconds. Compared to traditional insurance companies, Lemonade is a breeze to work with.
At its core, Lemonade is all about making a change, and that includes taking care of what truly matters. At the end of every year, if there is leftover, unclaimed money, it will go directly to your charity of choice, allowing you to give back to causes you value the most.
Ready to give Lemonade a squeeze? Get a free quote here.
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Usually, I can blame most childhood hiccups on “a phase.”
Oh, that bout of hyperactivity…that’s just a phase. Markers on the walls…thankfully that’s a phase. So when my oldest daughter started worrying about every little thing, I commenced the wait-it-out process. Be patient…this is just a phase.
She’d worry about being late to school to the point it induced tears. She would stress about being the first one to school or the last one to school. She’d agonize about having bad dreams at night and would lie awake, too scared to go to sleep. Life became a series of what-if questions. What if I’m the only one wearing a hat for hat day? What if I’m late? What if tigers come in our house? No amount of soothing or positive talk seemed to help. And at eight-years-old, I began to feel helpless because she was carrying a weight much too heavy for her little body.
One night I found Mayzie by my bed crying. “Mom, my tummy hurts. I think I’m going to…” Throw up. All over the floor. After I cleaned everything up and got her to bed, she seemed to feel a little better. As I tucked her in she asked again, “Mom, what if tigers come in our house?”
I assured her that we live in Idaho and the only Tigers here are in the zoo. “But mom, what if they get out of the zoo and come in our house.” Something in her eyes told me this was a serious concern.
Something weird happened after that. Mayzie threw up once every single day for eleven days straight. Sure she’d contracted some exotic virus, I took her to the pediatrician only to learn nothing was wrong. In the mean time, basketball season started. I’d signed Mayzie up hoping that she’d learn to love the sport that was so dear to me. But mom, what if I don’t know anybody? 
“You’ll make friends!” I’d tell her, trying to pump her up. Of course she’d make friends because that’s how I’d made many friends. On the first day of practice, she had a breakdown. Crying, shallow breathing, refusal to join the team. It wasn’t pretty, but I told myself, “Hang with it, it’s just a phase. That night Mayzie threw up again. I started to think something was going on beyond a mere stomach bug.
The throwing up stopped and I was thinking, Okay, phew! We got past it. However, the worrying continued, the what-ifs escalated, and then the headaches came. Headaches and nausea and Mayzie was in so much misery that I was utterly helpless to assuage. I’d take on her pain in an instant if I could.
Then one night a moment of clarity struck me. It was the night before one of her basketball games and Mayzie came in again complaining of a stomach ache. It was like finally cracking a tough equation. Worrying + what-ifs +stressful new activity = headaches and vomiting. Oh my gosh, I think she’s got anxiety. Everything suddenly made sense.
Anxiety is a form of stress that affects all people differently. Everyone feels it; anxiety is those butterflies in your stomach before a big interview or presentation. You might feel anxious before getting on a plane or starting a new job. Many people use their anxiety as a springboard into doing hard things. They’re able to push off of their anxiety into happy results. Others, however, get overwhelmed by their anxiety. The worry becomes intense t0 the point they experience dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, or headaches.
Anxiety is real. Sadly, it is largely misunderstood at best and debunked at worst. And yes, even kids can experience severe anxiety. I wish I’d been quicker to recognize it in my own child. The following are some common signs of childhood anxiety (from KidsHealth.org) that might help you with early intervention.
The good news is, once you recognize it, there are plenty of ways to treat childhood anxiety that don’t call for hefty doses of medication.
Once I recognized Mayzie’s anxiety for what it was, I could finally help her. Now we’re working on positive techniques to deal with the worry and since then, there have been no tummy aches, no throwing up, and no headaches. It’s a tough job figuring these kids out. Sometimes it’s in their best interest to “suck-it-up,” and sometimes we just need to back off. It’s a tricky line to toe.
If you suspect childhood anxiety, it’s always worth looking into. The sooner you can recognize it, the sooner you can keep those tigers in the zoo where they belong.
Parenting is one of the toughest jobs out there, right? We get it and want to help where we can. Check out a few more of our tips and tricks that will help you wade through this thing called parenthood:
6 Things Kids Don’t Want To Tell You and One Genius Way To Ask
4 Toddler Tantrum Tricks That Actually Work
One Sweet Way To Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem: Be Their Secret Pal!
The post When Tigers Come in: A Look at Childhood Anxiety appeared first on How Does She.
Over 175 years ago, pioneers migrated west to settle what would now become booming metropolis cities. Today we live in air-conditioned homes, buy our supermarket milk in gallon jugs, and order anything we could possibly dream of with the click of a button and have it magically appear two days later at our doorstep.
We live in blessed times. But do you ever wonder if you could have made it as a pioneer? Actually, those hard-working men and women were doing so many things right. Here are eight pioneer lifestyles that you can adopt to become happier and healthier too.
1. More home cookingPioneers didn’t have a Taco Bell they could pull their horse and wagon up to after a long day’s work. They had to rely on home cooking which added more vitamins and nutrients to their diets and cut out genetically modified and overly-processed foods. No wonder they were so healthy!
One main rule of homesteading is use what’s in your pantry. The “waste not, want not” mentality of pioneers is something we could all improve upon. Learning how to use those pantry staples like oats, flour, beans, and rice to make healthy meals is a good habit to get in. You can read about how to soak beans and their benefits here.
3. Grow a garden.Growing your own produce has abundant benefits. You’ll have fresh fruits and veggies at your fingertips, plus you know exactly where your food comes from and what goes into growing it. Here are 35 tips for planting a garden that will grow this year!
4. Learn to can.Speaking of items in your pantry, canning is a great way to preserve your garden vegetables for those cold winter months when nothing can grow. Canning is a skill that will be vital in case of an emergency. Learn how to can peaches and other produce step-by-step and be a more prepared person for it.
5. Use organic eggs and meat.When a pioneer wanted eggs for breakfast, he would go out and collect them in the back yard. If a pioneer gal wanted a juicy steak, she’d kill the cow and butcher him up. Although those steps might not be feasible, you can buy locally grown organic eggs and meat. If you have a little bit of space for them, consider raising your own chickens for beginners.
Whether it’s knitting, sewing, soap-making, or knowing how to start a fire—develop a skill that will enable you to be more self-sufficient. You never know when it’s going to come in handy.
7. Fewer clothes and toysHave you ever heard the old pioneer saying, Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without?
Pioneers believed in simplicity. The fewer clothes they had to wash, the better. Men had one or maybe two pairs of pants–a few work shirts and one for church. Women were lucky if they had three dresses. Pioneer children ran around in the same outfit for days on end. And you know what…they were happy!
How nice would it be to let go of all the extraneous “stuff” we have cluttering our lives?
8. Be content with what you have.The best pioneer lifestyle you can adopt is to be content with what you have. You will not be happier with five pairs of designer sunglasses then you were with four. The most pure form of well-being comes when you are happy with exactly what you have.
The post 8 Pioneer Lifestyles You Can Adopt To Be Happier and Healthier appeared first on How Does She.
*We’re partnering with JCPenney and ShopStyle on this post. We love their trending fashions and great prices! Look for this great promo in-store & online: Extra 25% off when you spend $100 or more, or extra 20% off when you spend under $100. Ends 3/18. Use code: SPRING20.
Tie dye exploded in the 1960s and was a groovy trademark of hippies and flower children. Like many trends, tie dye is back sixty years later and we are loving the fun vibes! Here’s how to wear tie dye without looking like you came straight from Woodstock.
As opposed to the screaming colors and swirling patterns of yesteryear, today’s tie dye is toning it down a bit. Opt for a subtle tie dye like this oversized tie dye sweatshirt from JCPenney. It’s on trend with designer brands for a fraction of the price. Seriously…go check out these prices!
When it comes to looking chic in tie dye, going subtle is what’s going to set you apart from your dad’s old concert tees.
Check out these other tie dye options from JCPenney:
Crop top (cute for the gym)
Simple tee (great bargain)
Right now oversized tops are so hot and for good reason; you can wear them multiple ways and they cover the spots you want covered while still being flattering.
Knot it or tuck it in and pair your oversized top with skinny bottoms like jeggings or leggings.
I love this pair of Adidas leggings with some flashy gold detail on the side. Super fun to wear with a tie dye top.
And this skinny jean is one of my favorite pair that I own…and they were only around twenty bucks! I’d recommend them in a heartbeat if you like comfy skinny jeans with a little bit of stretch. (They fit true to size.)
Tie dye may be a blast from the past, but modern accessories bring it back to the fashion forefront. Celebs like Kendall Jenner are rocking tie dye and killing it! Accessorize with these modern JCPenney musts to take your tie dye to the next level.
Adidas court sneaks – Super hip and comfy at the same time.
Sporty duffle bag – The color is fun and flirty.
Slim fold wallet with gold star details
Floral cat-eye sunglasses with lots of personality
JCPenney has some great styles right now for your spring revitalization. Fun colors, bright prints, and plenty of tie dye to bring the fun back into your wardrobe, and all for a great value!
So if you’ve been wondering whether or not you can rock tie dye, the answer is YES! Keep it subtle to start out with and then go crazy from there. You make your own rules. Let’s show ’em that the same spirit that brought us tie dye back in the sixties is still making a ruckus today.
The post How To Wear Tie Dye and Look Super Chic appeared first on How Does She.
UTV plowing deep snow How much snow can a UTV push? Let's see if it can plow 8" of heavy wet snow on long runs over a gravel drive...
