Living on Cloud Nine: 2019

FRIDAY FAVORITES....HELLO SPRING

It’s Spring, It’s Spring, we’re gonna get some sunshine this weekend, yay and it will feel so good even if the high is 50 degrees and it’s back to winter next week but I will take what I can get!!! I hope your weekend is fabulous and kickin’ off the Spring season right!

1. Our Sweet Niece Goes Green
Spring Break for our kids meant tropical destinations and boy did they have a ball but for our sweet niece, Myka, it was giving back and it meant caring about our environment and we are so proud of her. It was called an alternative spring break where she and some other college students headed down to Austin, Texas to learn what it means to be food secure and how local farms grow sustainable foods. They helped the farm prepare for the spring season by planting vegetables and helped harvest their produce that was to be taken out into the local community. And they too had a ball!!

2. Mammo

In keeping my health on track this Spring, I had my mammogram this week and next week is my yearly! So important girls! And the results were fine, whew!

My favorite Mammographer in the whole world....Dawn..the BEST.
What will I do when she retires in a few years?

3. Week's Attire
I tried to be as Spring Cheery as Possible!

Top HERE // Shoes HERE // Necklace HERE // Sunnies HERE

Coral Sweater HERE // Sandals HERE // Earrings HERE // Jeans HERE

Top HERE// Earrings // Jeans HERE

4. Red Mini

We got a hint of spring with some sunshine and warmer weather this week but unfortunately after this weekend it’s back to winter again but I was not afraid to show a little leg but this cute red mini skirt ensemble.

Mini HERE // Jacket HERE //Shoes HERE // Headband HERE // Earrings HERE

More Inspo

5. MISC.

Posts of the week:

In case you missed these posts:
Monday~ The Master Bedroom

Tuesday~ Mini Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes

Wednesday~ Lady Luck..Green Dress

Chrissy & Her Sweet Heart

Speaking of Austin earlier in this post, I am excited to most likely see this girl down there in several months. My sweet friend Chrissy of Granola and Grace has the most precious and carefree heart you can imagine. She sent me the sweetest card and most darling pair of socks that completely lifted my day! If you don’t already know and love Chrissy, make sure you head over to her Blog and Instagram!!

PS..Don't we look Springy in our Florals?

Website Feature
And it was my dear Chrissy who informed me that I am featured on the Meadowlark Website regarding the leggings I styled a couple weeks ago. They truly are the BEST leggings ever!!

Meadowlark Leggings HERE

Statement Earrings

Spring means color and lots of statement earrings! I have been buying up the statement earrings like crazy! I want some in every color, lol! I showed you These and These from Target’s Sugar Fix Line, but I also really want these Blush Ones from Bauble Bar!

BUY EARRINGS HERE

May your weekend be lovely..just like you!!

Linking up with Amanda // Friday Favorites // High 5 For Friday // Fashion Friday

xoxo

LADY LUCK

Happy Wednesday! And a VERY Happy first day of spring! Now, let’s hope mother nature got the memo and stays on track! Today’s fashion theme is Lady Luck but this wouldn’t have just been a DRESS to wear for last weekend’s festivities, I’m calling this my Spring Sensational dress! The reason being is that the green reminds me of all the green that is going to start sprouting up with lovely spring weather coming our way. The grass is still brown right now but before you know it it will be a lush green and the birds will really be singing!

I love lots of things about this outfit but especially that the dress has pockets, is under $17 and comes in oodles of colors and the Earrings! Well, I love them so much, I now have them in 4 colors! The Kendra Scott Necklace was a Christmas gift from Mr. Nine and it is quickly becoming a favorite! You can bet I'll be adding some wedge sandals with this dress soon too!

Head over to Vanessa's Blog and The Blended Blog to see what Lady Luck cuteness she has going on and link up yours!

DRESS HERE // Similar DUSTER HERE // BOOTS HERE & HERE// EARRINGS HERE // NECKLACE HERE

HAPPY SPRING MY LOVELIES!!

Linking Up With Oh Hey Girl // Visible Monday // Style Me Wednesday // THT //Fashion Moda// Thoughts for Thursday // Fashion Friday // Lizzie in Lace // Shoe and Tell // Trend Spin // Fab Favorites //A Labour of Life // Confident Twosday //I will wear what I like // Jersey Girl Texan Heart// Fancy Friday // Fashion Frenzy // Straight A Style // Metamorphosis Monday

xoxo

MINI CADBURY CREME EGG CUPCAKES

Aren’t they pretty? I know many of you are not Cadbury Creme Egg fans but these mini cupcakes are scrumptious! The mini egg hidden inside holds its shape but the middle takes on a more Carmel like taste and texture. While I don’t often use a boxed cake mix, I decided to doctor this up by adding pudding to the mix and altering the ingredients a bit. It makes for the moistest cake and tastes so much more like homemade. This makes a lot of batter so not only did I make cupcakes, I made a single layer 8x8 as well. I was so happy to find sweet pastel gel food colorings that make the prettiest color. I was tickled pink with how these cuties turned out. The perfect little mini Easter treat! So sweet!

What you'll need

Mini Cadbury Creme Egg Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

Cake

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

4 eggs

1 cup canola oil

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup Milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of Salt

Frosting

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

3-4 cups Powdered Sugar

1 Tablespoon Milk

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/4 teaspoon Almond extract

1/8 teaspoon Salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven per directions for cupcakes on the back of the cake mix box. Mix all the cake ingredients in a large mixing bowl with a mixing spoon and stir just until dry and wet ingredients are combined. Unwrap the mini chocolate creme eggs. Line mini muffin tin. With a small spoon, spoon about half bath into each liner. Then place a mini egg in each, narrow part of egg up. Spoon enough batter onto just to cover. Since they are mini, I did reduce baking time by 8-10 minutes per the box. Test with toothpick when finished and adjust time as needed. For the frosting: With a mixer in a medium bowl, mix the butter, milk, vanilla & almond extract until creamy. Mix in the salt. Then, slow mix in the powered sugar in increments. Add more to less for desired frosting consistency. Divide into smaller bowls, depending in how many colors you want and add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each bowl of frosting. When cupcakes are cool, frost as desired.

If you want more detail, go to my Instagram and check out my Food Highlights for video of making the cupcakes.

HAPPY TASTY TUESDAY
SWEET PEEPS!!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend// Handmade Hangout // Grace At Home // The SITS Girls // Create, Make, Take // Dishing It & Digging It // Feathered Nest Friday // Pretty Pintastic Party // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Best Friday Features // Meal Plan Monday // Delicious Dishes Recipe Party // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J // Sweet Inspiration Link-Party // Happy Now Blog Link-Up // WUW Recipes // Let's Talk with Ashley & Erika

xoxo

THE MASTER BEDROOM

While we have lived in our new home over a year now, there are still some rooms in the house that are just not exactly the way I want them yet. Taking my sweet time to get it decorated just right. One of those is the master bedroom. Getting new master bedroom furniture just wasn’t high on our list at the time with all the other things we wanted for the house. It’s still on our list but we have not found exactly what we want. I want very light-colored furniture and as you can see, ours is dark. Our bedroom is very calming and very sweet but I can’t wait to show you the after picture when we finally find the right bedroom furniture.
And as you know, I have a very glam, girly space upstairs with an office, craft and chill space, so I wanted to make sure this wasn't as feminine for my macho Mr. Nine. But if I could put pink and bling in here, I would, lol.

Bedding is one of the most difficult things to find for me. I absolutely adored our last master bedding set but we did decide to get something new in that area and I am extremely picky and to be honest, there are not that many drop-dead gorgeous bedroom sets out there. One collection I do love is the Hotel Collection from Macys. Everything is very nicely made and stands the test of time as our last master bedding set lasted eight years. Throwing on a Chunky Blanket is always a good idea and they come in so many colors!

I knew I wanted our bedroom to consist of grays, soft blues and champagne and this sweet plaid comforter and matching pieces fit the bill. It's called Modern Plaid from the Hotel Collection and all the items are available and on sale...details below. And I especially love the pillows that came with it. This collection can be pricey but is often on sale and the investment is soooo worth it because the pieces stand the test of time and are so luxurious!

You may remember when I found this sweet Accent Chair from Wayfair a few months back. The metallic shimmer crinkle curtains are from our old house and were in my office there, they match the color of the accent wall so they are working for now.

One thing we added after the fact was the sliding barn type door. It separates the bedroom from the closets and master bath, and I love how it turned out, a little bit more modern to match our doors and I love the chunky handle.

The LIGHT is probably my favorite thing in the entire room and it came from, of all places, Amazon! Our sweet electrician had to physically attach every single one of those little dangly balls. It casts such a cool shimmer on the wall and ceiling and I love it. What I also love is that we have darkening blinds and that our bedroom is very peaceful, we also keep it a cool 67° for sleeping.

BEDDING As FOLLOWS: Comforter Queen HERE // King Duvet HERE // Oblong Champagne Pillow HERE // Smaller Oblong Pillow HERE // Middle Grey Square Pillow HERE // Plaid Shams HERE // Large Euro Shams HERE // CHAIR HERE // CHUNKY BLANKET HERE //CEILING LIGHT (MY FAV) HERE // TABLE LAMPS Similar HERE & HERE// LOVE WALL ART HERE

Hope you got a good night's sleep and may your Monday be Fantastic!!!

LINKING-UP with Biana // Hello Monday // Inspire Me Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Creative Monday's // Creative Muster Party // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J // Friday Favorites Link Party // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Let's Talk with Ashley & Erika

xoxo

FRIDAY FAVORITES...THE FINER THINGS

Some Friday’s just call for the finer things in life. From Fine Jewelry to Fine Wine, luxurious slippers and perfume, it doesn’t always have to mean expensive, but sometimes, and especially on a Friday, you just may want to treat yourself!

1. FINE JEWELRY

Other than my wedding ring and a pair of diamond studs, I don’t have a lot of fine jewelry, but I have stumbled upon the cutest jewelry that I am thinking needs to make it's way to my jewelry box! I was excited to find this Fine Jewelry Site and their extraordinary fine jewelry pieces and amazing prices! The pieces are so very delicate and I have fallen in love with all their designs. My Birthday is early next month, so I am thinking of putting some of their designs on My Birthday List from Mr. Nine!! I especially want this Gold Infinity Heart Ring and this Circle Necklace.

BUY INFINITY HEART RING HERE

BUY CIRCLE NECKLACE HERE

BUY MIINI MEDALLION RING HERE

And I love this Chunky Infinity Band too!

2. PRETTY SLIPPERS
To me, fuzzy slippers are about as luxurious as it gets, especially when they’re so comfortable they don’t ever want to leave your feet! I recently received the prettiest blush pair from Pretty You London and they don’t leave my feet except when I leave the house! I love them so much and the bling on them is so precious! Definitely a finer thing in life that does not need to be crazy expensive!

I was crazy over how my flat lay turned out for these!

BUY SLIPPERS HERE

3. LIVING LIFE

To me, part of the finer things in life, is getting to spend extra special time with those we care about. With life being so busy these days and times so precious, it is an extra special treat to get to spend the day with someone. I was blessed to spend one day this week, with a friend I met on Instagram. I mentioned it on Monday and the fact that I realized she was from my area when I saw a box of famous area donuts sitting on her lap.
It was so great having her and her sweet kiddos over. All just as precious in person as I had imagined.

Aren't they adorable!

I was also blessed to spend last Saturday enjoying Mr. Nine all to myself on a Saturday day date. We went to see the new Captain Marvel movie and had the sweetest little lunch at one of our favorite breweries. From 11 AM to 2 PM they offer what’s called a lightning lunch and have little small plates of all their famous dishes and it definitely did not disappoint.

4. LACE KIMONO

My craziness over beautiful kimonos has returned after I received this amazing white lace one. Not only can I wear it like this, as an outfit, but I can wear as a cover-up. This baby was under $15 but looks and feels 10 times that.

BUY KIMONO HERE // HEELS HERE //Earrings HERE // Similar Heart Necklace HERE

More Inspo

5. FINE MISC.
Posts of the week:

In case you missed the posts for the week, they were some of my favorite!
Monday~ 3 Things for March

Tuesday~ Sheet Pan Mongolian Beef YUM!

Wednesday~ 16, Going On...

Wine
I do not drink a lot but when I do the taste has to be extraordinary. You may know that we love Eataly in Chicago and they have the best sweet white wine there called Brandini, it’s a Moscato D’Asti DOCG. It comes highly recommended and it does not disappoint, winning several awards. It is definitely what I drink when I want a yummy glass of sweet wine or I want to impress my guests and it is still under $20.

Perfume
Chanel No5 was always my mom’s favorite perfume, still is and is definitely one of mine as well. I tend to save it for special occasions but now that I’m older, if I want to wear an ordinary Tuesday, I do! It is one of the more expensive perfumes but the sweet smell is totally worth it!