JoaS

Just popping in to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year, from my family to yours! I hope you enjoy the sights, the sounds, the food, the laughter, and the memories. It's such a sweet time of loving those who are dear to us and remembering what was done in love for us, beginning with a tiny babe in a manger. Joy to the world! Best, Emily

There was some expressed interest in this recipe after I posted a photo of our lunch on Instagram last week, so I thought I'd just quickly jot out the details of how we make this super easy and satisfying meal for two. This dish could not be easier, and I use a lot of short cuts. You could always go all out and make everything from scratch, use higher quality ingredients, yadda, yadda...but the point of this for us is to be able to whip something together quickly when we're pressed for time or energy. I use these prepared, thin and crispy pizza crusts from Walmart. They are less than $3.50 for two, and I keep them in the refrigerator, ready for dressing. I coat the entire top side of the crust in a very thin layer of coconut oil once it's on my baking sheet, just to keep from drying out too much. Then I simply spoon and spread about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce into the center. Recently we've been using the Noble Made Classic BBQ Sauce from ...

I know it's been a minute, and I promise I am posting a ton of recipe ideas next week as promised. But I thought I'd pop in and write up a little something on my absolute favorite products I've been using these last few months. I find I need to use a product regularly and in conjunction with a few other products and in different climate conditions before I'm absolutely convinced it's worthy of the "tried and true" label. So you can trust that the following have been thoroughly vetted. 1. First up is this Hello Activated Charcoal Toothpaste . I posted a photo on Instagram earlier this week, but it deserves a good mention here on the blog. I seriously shuddered at the thought of putting charcoal in my mouth, but I am so happy to report that it tastes better than most toothpastes I've used over the years, with a subtle mint flavor--it's not even as aggressive as many of the popular drugstore brands. Also, it is not gritty. It is dark in color, ...

At the outset of this clean swap journey, I mentioned several of the Avalon products I was loving and using on Instagram and in previous blog posts. Today, I want to update you all on the products I have been using most recently. I have since found products that really work perfectly for my hair type (fine, medium thick, greasy roots, dry ends, but healthy-very lightly processed) and my budget (wooo!). Let's jump in. ACURE Vivacious Volume Peppermint Shampoo and Conditioner : I love this stuff. Love it. I get it through Thrive Market  for under $7 each! I've also purchased through Amazon or at Whole Foods, and they now carry it at Target (though it is a limited selection). So it is quite accessible, and even the full retail price is only about ten bucks. I love that this particular brand is very clean, so I've purchased many of their skincare products, too. Publix even carries a handful of their facial products.  I like to add some sort of oil,...

First of all, I'd like to open by saying that I have never enjoyed wearing makeup so much. These new, clean products have made such a difference in the health and look of my skin. Even though I'm wearing less makeup than I have in years past, I feel more confident and think my skin looks better than ever. I'm so excited to share these products I've absolutely fallen in love with! Juice Beauty's Stem Cellular CC Cream : This has become a favorite foundation product. I love the consistency for my dry, sensitive skin, and I feel moisturized without feeling sticky or greasy. That could just be me. I would definitely consult an Ulta employee--or salesperson wherever you are shopping--but for dry or mature skin I think this is a winner. It's a very sheer coverage, buildable, but sheer. I am searching for a fuller coverage foundation for Winter and special occasions, so I will update when I find a great one. NYX Dark Circle Concealer : I was so surprised to lea...

I love shoes. It seems like there are so many great options and uses for every element and season, there's always another good reason to buy a pair. These are some of my favorite shoes I've found in the past year and intend to wear a ton this Fall. OTBT Womens Lunar Sneaker Tennis shoes are both practical and (for now) trendy. Thank goodness. Because I am not an uncomfortable shoe wearer. I have many pairs of slip on sneakers, New Balance and Adidas classics, and a pair of Asics for walking or running. These OTBT Lunar Sneakers were a huge splurge for me. I love this great floral pattern in subtle tones that's interesting but not juvenile. There is a line. I think these shoes are appropriately adorable for my age. And supportive. Which is equally important at my age, if not more so. Asymmetrical D'Orsay Open Toe Flats I. love. these. shoes. They are easily the coolest shoes I've ever owned. Like, I may not be cool enough to wear them. But I...

First and foremost, I feel the distinct need to cover Fall decor, since that is on the brain at present. I just need those cooler temps to roll on in so can stop feeling like a fool with my cozy candles lit when it's 100 degrees outside. Anyway, here's a lovely picture of our fireplace to inspire cool thoughts: The truck in the first photo and the pumpkins in the lower left hand corner of the above photo are both new from Hobby Lobby this year. Pretty much everything else you see pictured above or below came from my mom, Michael's, or Marshall's over the last decade or so. I usually root through and get rid of old cheap decor and buy only one or two new things a year--one always being a seasonally scented candle (on which Michael and I both have to agree). The pumpkin banner is actually from Amazon, and it was under $10! This year's seasonally scented candle is this Rose and Currant candle in the most beautiful ruby jewel tone and smells divine. ...

My absolute favorite season is Fall. I love Summer, but Fall has football, crisp breezes, pumpkins, squash, caramel apples, and my birthday. Hard to compete. I also absolutely love to wear sweatshirts and boots. I've done a teeny bit of Fall shopping this year (not that I needed a single thing) and I thought I'd share some of my favorite, and somewhat unexpected, finds. This sweater was at Walmart. Walmart . For under $15! They have several colors, and it's so. soft. Women's Tier Sleeve Sweater I also found these great staples that I've somehow been missing the past several years--a simple grey cardigan and festive plaid shirt. I couldn't find the exact shirt, but there were many from which to choose. Both under $15! Women's Open Front Cardigan   Long Sleeve Plaid Woven Shirt I also did a bit of shopping at Shein , kind of for the first time. I've ordered the odd item from them here and there over the Summer, but found my...

I've always had pretty sensitive skin--in more recent years, very sensitive skin--and have been intentional in purchasing products geared for that and devoid of previously known irritants. Since becoming more knowledgeable and switching to predominantly EWG verified products, I have noticed such a difference in the look, feel, and health of my skin. I have had exactly one, light outbreak of hives that lasted only a couple days and was not nearly as aggressive as I would usually experience during our hot, humid Charleston summers. My skin is healing more quickly, but with less need to do so. It's been great. I will never go back. My main concerns when vetting new products are cancer and developmental toxicity. On top of that, though, products need to be easily accessible and budget friendly. I'm trying to set myself up for success. If I plan to stick with a new routine it needs to be super simple to implement and stick with. If products are too pricey, or too difficult to...

So, it's been a minute. With school starting back, wedding season winding down, and football starting up, we have been mighty busy over here. I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day weekend and I pray everyone will stay safe and no homes will be harmed in the path of Hurricane Florence. I thought I'd play a little bit of catch up and just share some of the things I've been trying, enjoying, or working on over here since my last post. A little mash up, but hopefully entertaining and/or informative for someone out there. First of all, I have been trying out and very much enjoying these new items from Amazon to make iced tea, herbal tea, and iced "coffee." (My husband is the coffee drinker--I stick pretty strictly to my Teeccino Dark Roast grounds from this post , but it works the same way for both.) I bought this Large Teapot with Extra-Fine Infuser and this deliciously fragrant Orange Lemonade Loose Leaf Tea Blend , both Tealyra brand, on Amazo...