Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Save the Date! Let's plan a wedding with Basic Invite!!

Save the Date! Let's plan a wedding with Basic Invite!!


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Basic Invite. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you follow me on social media, then you know that my daughter is newly engaged. The proposal was so well-planned by her fiance that it went off without a hitch. He was so sweet to not only involve all of the parents in the planning, but also to have us all there for the big day.

Now they've moved into the next stage: choosing a venue and date. We've toured a few places and have a couple more on the calendar. Can I just say that wedding planning is exciting and so much fun? And stressful! It's difficult when you need to rely on others to give you what you want when you want it. When you find companies with great products who deliver in a timely manner it definitely goes a long way towards relieving some of that stress.

Four different personalized save-the-date cards lying on a wooden table
Modern Painting, Brush Frame, Blushing Gold, and Heart Beat Save-the-Date cards from Basic Invite

While they haven't agreed on a venue or date yet, they do agree that they want Save-the-Date cards. They have a large group of friends in the 28-32 age group with very busy lives who will be invited to the wedding. Many live in different towns or states, so it's especially important that they get a "heads up" on the wedding date for planning purposes. Of course, family will attend the wedding no matter what, but they're going to enjoy having a photo as well as a reminder of the date.

Laptop computer sitting on a table (with flowers in the background) with the browser open to the Basic Invite save-the-date page

We ordered samples of my daughter's favorite cards from Basic Invite. There are so many ways to personalize your cards! Since we didn't have official engagement photos or a wedding date, we created our samples using a random date and photos we had on hand. Most of the personalization options are free, but there are a few modifications that have a fee. It's so easy - you just click to edit!

  • font style and color (free)
  • background color, if applicable (free) 
  • wording (free)
  • photo, if applicable (free)
  • choice of paper: signature matte or coated are free (others have an additional charge)
  • square (free) or rounded edges (add'l charge)
  • add text or design to back of card (add'l charge)
  • adding guest and return address to envelope, choosing font and font color (free)
  • add return address only to envelope (add'l charge)

Three different Save-the-Date cards lying on an open laptop computer
Blushing Gold, Brushed Frame, and Heart Beat Save-the-Date cards

We ordered the samples on September 5, and were given an estimated arrival date of September 18. The customized samples arrived in just four days - very impressive! I can't even begin to tell you how exciting (and emotional) it was to pull these cards out of the envelope! It's really happening, folks!

Heart Beat Save-the-Date card from Basic Invite
Heart Beat Save-the-Date card: we customized the color and placement of the heart 

The quality of the paper is amazing, the printing is crystal clear, and they look just like they did when we created them online! Samples are priced at $2.99 each (including an envelope), which is a great price for a fully customized sample that you can either mail or keep as a memento. Every bride wants each detail of her wedding to be perfect, so being able to see your unique Save-the-Date card before ordering a whole batch is a stress-reliever!

Blushing Gold Save-the-Date card from Basic Invite
Blushing Gold Save-the-Date card: we customized the background colors

Next up: Gus and I will be checking out another venue this week. This might be "the one" and it's so unique! Then we will be taking a family beach vacation in October, and we have a photographer lined up to not only take the official engagement photos but to also take photos for our 30th wedding anniversary. Life is good.

Pinnable image of three Basic Invite Save-the-Date cards lying on an open laptop computer

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Kim
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Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast


I don't usually get too personal here on the blog, but today I'm going to make an exception. I usually blog about beauty, and in a way, I'm still doing that, because I'm going to talk about one of the most beautiful women I know - my mother-in-law. She's beautiful both inside and out, but she is battling an ugly, wretched beast.

My mother-in-law has vascular dementia.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms can vary depending upon what part of the brain is affected by the multiple mini-strokes (in her case) or whatever other condition affects the blood vessels. Early symptoms might be impaired planning and judgment, uncontrolled laughing and crying, decreased attention span, impaired ability to function in social situations, or difficulty finding the right words.

Alzheimer's Disease is an epidemic - join the Walk to End Alzheimer's to raise awareness or make a donation to help find a cure!
(courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association)

I could probably make this the longest post ever talking about everything we've experienced since her diagnosis. She's 84 now, but was several years younger when she started experiencing symptoms. The thing with vascular dementia is that it can progress slowly, staying at the same level for many years, or it can progress almost overnight. It often worsens after a traumatic or emotional event. My mother-in-law became significantly worse after she fell and broke her shoulder in February. Before the fall, she could prepare simple microwave meals, do activities of daily living, and only needed minimal daily assistance. Within two months after the fall, she didn't remember that she had fallen. She no longer knew what to do with a microwave meal, had to be cued to wash her face, brush her teeth, and get dressed. She became increasingly angry and confused, more restless, and she started to wander out of their condo. She and my 93-year-old father-in-law (who was falling on an almost daily basis) went from living fairly independently to having 24 hour care in their home.

Three months after her fall, we reluctantly made the decision to move both of them to a Memory Unit in a nursing facility. They now live together in a suite of rooms where they are closely monitored, but still feel like they have some privacy. It was an adjustment, and there were tears from everyone. But they're settling in now, and they seem to have made a few friends. My mother-in-law even gets her hair done in the salon every week.

Unfortunately, my mother-in-law is not our family's first experience with dementia. Her father also had dementia later in life. My father-in-law's mother and sister both had Alzheimer's. I've witnessed far too many times how devastating this disease can be - both to the person who is afflicted, and to their family, who is left to grieve over someone who is still alive. Someone who is the same person, yet not. Then there is the anger, guilt, physical and mental exhaustion, and the drain on finances. I don't want this for my children. I don't want this for your children.

I'm sharing this with you now because on Saturday, October 1, my family and I will be walking for my mother-in-law, Mary, in our local Walk to End Alzheimer's. We'll also be walking in memory of my husband's Grandpa Joe, Grandma Annie, and Aunt Jo-Jo. You can watch my video here.


If you live in the Cincinnati Tri-State area, I encourage you to get involved. Walking is free, but you do need to register.* I would love for you to join our team at Sawyer Point, to walk with us and the many others gathered there to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research, care, and support.

If you can't join us but would like to make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in honor of la nostra famiglia (our family) you can make an secure credit card donation online by clicking on the yellow "donate" button on my #Walk2EndAlz page, or you can send a check with a printed donation page (click on mail-in donation on my page). All donations are tax deductible and will help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and hopefully one day a cure. This page shows how the donations are spent.

Alzheimer's Disease is an epidemic - join the Walk to End Alzheimer's to raise awareness or make a donation to help find a cure!
 (courtesy of the Alzheimer's Association

I encourage you to get involved. Chances are, you know someone affected by some form of dementia. Here are a few facts about the disease:
  • More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. 
  • It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US, and kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined. 
  • In 2015, more than 15 million caregivers (are you seeing these numbers?) provided more than 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care valued at over $221.3 billion. 
  • In 2026, Alzheimer's will cost the US $236 billion - by 2050, that cost could be more than $1 trillion.


If you don't live in the Cincinnati Tri-State area, you can go to this page to see if there is a walk scheduled in your area. Don't worry if you missed it this year - there's always next year!

Thank you for joining us in your support through walking, prayer, or donation! The end of Alzheimer’s starts with US!! 

(*The walk begins at Sawyer Point, and is about 3 miles of fairly flat terrain. Buses will be circling the route for those who can't finish or would just like a ride back to Sawyer Point. For those who are unable to walk but would like to be a part of the action, there will be lots of activities at Sawyer Point: 30 vendor booths, music, free food, beverages, a KidZone, and even a Barking Lot for dogs on leashes. Those who walk will receive a free hot dog or cheese coney and a goody bag at the end of the walk! Go to this page to join our team, this page to create your own team, or this page to read more about the event.)

Polyvore - enjoytheviewblog.com

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Kim
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Last Week on Instagram...Wk #13

Last Week on Instagram...Wk #13


I'm really late with Last Week on Instagram this week, but I was so excited about the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water , I had to post about that ASAP! You can read about that here - and trust me, you need this makeup remover!!!

Here's what was happening last week on Instagram...

Last Week on Instagram #13 - weekly recap of the photos posted on {enjoy the view}'s Instagram feed! Get the inside scoop on every photo!
This is not a sponsored post, but it may contain affiliate links.

I got these adorable stickers from Lexie Kylee Designs - they're perfect for spring! If you haven't checked out her shop yet, definitely give it a look, because she has some fabulous stuff!

These gorgeous planner stickers from Lexie Kylee Designs are just about the only signs of spring around here now that the weather has turned cold again! Brrrr! How pretty are these colors?

I was kind of annoyed when I posted this picture. We had a few days of nice warm weather, and then, boom! It was cold again and I had to drag out my boots, sweaters, and coats. I do like this sweater though. I picked it up on sale at Forever 21 for around $11. It runs large (I'm wearing a small), and it's not the softest sweater - but honestly, with a cami under it, I didn't think it was bad, and my skin is very sensitive. It looks like they still have it, and it's $16.99, but they're sold out of smalls. The vest is from Old Navy (not on the site now, sorry!), and the necklace is c/o onecklace.com. I am in love with the necklace because it matches my forearm tattoo - there will be a blog post about it next week, along with a discount code for the website! Oh - and my glasses are from 39dollarglasses - the style is Bedford - love them!

Thanks, Winter, for intruding on Spring and making me get my sweaters and boots back out.

The next day, it was still chilly enough for a sweater, but at least I could wear some cute shoes! Pink is my favorite color, but for some reason, I have very little of it in my closet. I fell in love with this pink sweater from Loft and had to have it (and it's on sale again right now for just $20 - no code needed!). I originally ordered a medium (my regular size there), but it was a little too tight - so I exchanged it for a large, which fit perfectly. So I would say this sweater runs a little on the small side, especially if you don't want it to be super fitted. The jeans are 1969 Gap destructed - I picked them up on clearance for around $25. The shoes are my new loves - the Anne Klein Ottila lace-up flats from DSW. I used a $20 off coupon on mine, but the regular price is $49.95 - they also come in black and cobalt blue. The handbag is older, but it's one of my favorites. It's a butter-soft brown leather satchel from Michael Kors. (similar) The watch is the Sidney maple and rose gold with Swarovski crystals c/o JORD®, and the necklace and earrings are by a fabulous artist on Etsy. I have several of Andrea's pieces, and they're all so pretty! I don't see these particular items in her shop any longer, but she has some other lovely pieces. Her shop is called Cheydrea, so be sure to check it out.

Love my new pink sweater from Loft!

I live in Kentucky, and Kentucky is all about bourbon. When we first moved here, I didn't really like bourbon. Gasp! I know, right? The problem was that I hadn't tried the right bourbon. Now I love bourbon, so they've decided to let me stay in Kentucky. This is just part of our bourbon collection, with one of my absolute favorites front and center. Which just goes to show you that it doesn't have to cost a fortune to be good. Maker's 46 is soooo good! And it's only about $35 for 750ml. That awesome bourbon glass you see came from a place called Kentucky for Kentucky. It's one of the glasses we bought Buddy for his birthday this year.  It says "If it ain't Kentucky, it ain't Bourbon". Yasss. (Side note: I admit that I have a soft spot for Maker's Mark bourbon. Not only is their distillery tours one of the most beautiful and fun, but they stubbornly use the Scottish spelling of whisky, without the "e". (Get it? Stubborn? Scottish? I can say that because I am both stubborn and Scottish.) I love the taste of Maker's, but those little details are endearing!) Lesson of the day (and you need to know this if you ever do a Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour) - all bourbon is whisky, but not all whisky is bourbon!

"If it ain't Kentucky, it ain't Bourbon" ...so many things to love in one small photo.

March Sephora Play! time! It's amazing how excited I get over a $10 package! This month included Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, Maison Martin Margiela 'Replica' Beach Walk, Murad Invisible Perfecting Shield, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, Sephora Airbrush Sponge, and my favorite - an empty container to take to the Sephora store to be filled with a foundation after you've been colormatched!

My March Sephora Play! Box! Full of awesomeness, as usual!!

You know lippies are my third favorite obsession (behind shoes and handbags), so I had to have the Sephora Give Me Some Nude Lip! It's a great deal, because you get two full-size and three deluxe mini sizes of great nude lippies for just $28 ($86 value). It includes:
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini Outliner Longwear Lip Pencil in Prim(Rose)
  • NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick in Dolce Vita
  • Laura Mercier Milky Way Crème Smooth Lipstick in Miky Way
  • NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Crayon in Whisper
  • Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Namaste Nude
My favorites are the Marc Jacobs lip pencil and the NARS Dolce Vita lipstick - so pretty!!

Next to shoes and handbags, lipstick is my 3rd obsession!  Love these from Sephora's Give Me Some Nude Lip!

I'm sensing a theme here. Yes, it's more bourbon. If you've never had a Bourbon Slush, you need to rectify that issue right now. They're delicious. Well - they are if they're made correctly. I have had some bad ones. Don't get one at BJ's Brewhouse - theirs suck. But if you're ever in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, I highly recommend The Greyhound Tavern. Not only is the food good, but they have the best bourbon slushes I've ever tasted. From the menu, I highly recommend the fried chicken (Oh. My.) and the Pasta Gabriel (you can add chicken or shrimp, seasoned or blackened). I normally don't eat either of those things, but I will make an exception when we go to TGT, because it's that good there.

Best Bourbon Slush in NKY at Greyhound Tavern!

And that wraps up another week on Instagram! I'm hoping for warmer temperatures next week - I've been picking up some new tops at some of the sales (thanks, Loft!) and it would be nice to be able to wear them without covering them up with a heavy sweater!

Have a safe and happy weekend!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'd love to connect with you! You can find me on
Facebook - enjoytheviewblog.com Pinterest - enjoytheviewblog.com Twitter - enjoytheviewblog.com Google - enjoytheviewblog.com Instagram - enjoytheviewblog.com Bloglovin - enjoytheviewblog.com LinkedIn - enjoytheviewblog.com
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Kim
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Super duper Erin Condren Life Planner sale - 50% off!

Super duper Erin Condren Life Planner sale - 50% off!


UPDATE!! Have you seen the latest? The Erin Condren Life Planners are now 50% off!! Best time ever to give them a try!! Don't forget  - if you're a first time customer, you can use my referral link to get an extra $10 off - that gets you a $50 planner for just $15!!!

If you're looking to pick up an Erin Condren Life Planner, now is the time to do it! They're 50% off right now!! That's right - 50% off!!

Erin Condren planner

(This is not a sponsored post but it may contain affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). You are free to use the links or not - if you do, I thank you!)

Even the metallic ones are on sale! The prices are now $22.50-$30, and if you're a new Erin Condren customer, you can use my referral link and get another $10 off! You could give one (or more!) as a gift, keep it for yourself - or if you already have one, it's a great time to pick up a second one! No code needed for this offer, the prices are already marked down!

Also, the new TakeNote™ notebooks and journals are available and they're 25% off! You need code for this offer: WRITE25, and it expires at midnight PST on 4/3/16. This offer can't be stacked with any other promotion.

This is one of the new notebooks:
Erin Condren notebook
 photo courtesy of erincondren.com)

and this is one of the new journals:

Erin Condren journal
(photo courtesty of erincondren.com)

If you like to decorate your planner (who doesn't??), there is a limited edition Crafter's Bundle available for just $25 (value $52). It contains: sticky dots, Nature and Gemtone designer sticker sheets, Braided Hues and Metallic Asterisk designer washi tape, and the Prism designer vinyl clutch.

Erin Condren crafters bundle
(photo courtesty of erincondren.com)

It's no secret that I love my Erin Condren Life Planner - and now I have Lulu hooked on them as well. They're just so well made, and mine keeps me organized like nothing else. Plus, I admit it - I love decorating it with all of the cute stickers I buy on Etsy!

I bought my first Erin Condren planner during a 40% off sale - it's a great time to give it a try! Don't forget - if you're a first time customer, you can use my referral link to get an additional $10 off!

Which Erin Condren Life Planner is your favorite?



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Kim
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Last Week on Instagram...Wk #12

Last Week on Instagram...Wk #12


I'm a little late with Last Week on Instagram this week - it's been a crazy few days! I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend. Just when we were starting to get used to the warmer weather here, we were rudely thrust back into almost-winter temps. Brrrr! I had just moved all of my boots and heaviest sweaters into one of the spare bedrooms! Hmmm...perhaps that was my mistake...

Let's catch up on last week's Instagram!

Last Week on Instagram #12 - weekly recap of the photos posted on {enjoy the view}'s Instagram feed! Get the inside scoop on every photo!
This is not a sponsored post, but it may contain affiliate links.

I attempted another top-down selfie, which wasn't any more successful than the one two weeks ago. Sigh. Even though it was a bit chilly, I wore the drape front anorak I picked up a couple of months ago at the Nordstrom sale. (This is the closest thing I could find, but it's heavier than mine. Mine is really lightweight and really drapey, if that makes sense, LOL!) It's a little long for someone as vertically-challenged as myself, but I think it still works. I paired it with a plain white t-shirt from Nordstrom, jean leggings from Gap (similar), and leopard d'Orsay flats (similar) from DSW. The jeans and shoes were purchased last year, but they're still trendy, and easy to find at any price point. The bag is Kate Spade, and my nail color is Tango Passion by CND. A word about that white tee - it's the one that a lot of fashion bloggers have raved about, saying it's so awesome, only $18 at Nordie's, etc. I don't really like it. I've purchased nicer tees at Target for less. In my opinion, the fabric is cheap, it doesn't lay/wash well, and it doesn't look that great on. I'm not sure why I didn't just return it - and I don't know why everyone raves over it. Just my two cents. (Last I checked, they only had it in red in a small, but it was on sale for $10.80.) Oh - and that's one of my favorite necklaces! It's from House of Harlow 1960, and it's called the Kinetic pendant. Mine is in silver , but it also come in gold .

Yesterday's #ootd - I love the lightweight layered, flowy jacket; perfect for spring!

How gorgeous is my new wood watch from Jord®? Next week, I'll have a blog post all about it, and I'll also be giving away a $129 e-gift certificate to the Jord® website that can be used toward any watch of your choice! This particular style is the Sidney in maple and rose gold, and sells for $199. Their watches are priced $129-395.

Sneak peek of my fabulous maple and rose gold watch, courtesy of Jord!

I shared a flat lay of an outfit I wore later in the week to a doctor appointment (with a cardigan so I wouldn't freeze my @$$ off, thanks winter!). The top is a new purchase from Loft - I love the bandanna print (30% off right now, no code needed) and the slightly longer short sleeves. I paired it with roll-up white jeans from the Gap outlet (similar), Topshop lace-up ghillies from Nordstrom, fringe handbag from Nordstrom (similar), and Kendra Scott earrings (Sunglasses also from Loft - similar) I actually got three compliments on my outfit while I was at the hospital - it's always nice when that happens!

Hello sunshine! So glad t-shirt weather is peeking it's head out every now and then! Love this bandanna print tee that I just picked up from Loft!

These are the Nine West pumps that I picked up at DSW last week on clearance. Actually Lulu saw them and urged me to try them on. At first I laughed, but when I put them on, I fell in love! They're awesome! They're sort of a linen-type fabric with a dull metallic gold sheen that keeps them very neutral and wearable. I love Nine West shoes and these are no exception. I ended up getting them for just $17.98 - such a steal! (similar - similar

Found these fabulous Nine West pumps on clearance at DSW for just $17.98! ❤️ Love the hint of gold metallic - so fun!

 While we were at DSW, I had to snap a picture of this awesome wall decal in the restroom. I love it! And it's so true!

Yes. This is on the wall in the restroom at my DSW.

I was sitting on the floor in front of the doors to the deck taking pictures for the blog, and Psycho Jungle Cat decided to hang from a perch and observe. He was hilarious - twisting all around, hanging his head upside down - so I had to take a picture of him, too. Of course, the thwacking paw was always at-the-ready!

Relaxation is relative. One must always be alert to danger and have the thwacking paw at the ready.

Gus and I went out for our usual Saturday night date, and we shared a dessert at TGIFriday's - the half-sized Brownie Obsession. It's delicious - and usually, even the half-size is about 3"x4" and comes with just one scoop of ice cream. I'm not sure what happened, but when ours arrived, there was only a small sliver of brownie - about 1" wide - and it was accompanied by two scoops of ice cream and enough pecans to make a pie. We laughed because obviously they were trying to disguise the fact that there was almost no brownie!

Umm, this is the HALF-sized Brownie Obsession from @officialtgifridays! The brownie is small (and oh-so-delicious), but we got the mother lode of pecans & ice cream!

And that does it for Last Week on Instagram! I hope we're already connected, but if not, you can find me here. Have a safe and happy week!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I'd love to connect with you! You can find me on
Facebook - enjoytheviewblog.com Pinterest - enjoytheviewblog.com Twitter - enjoytheviewblog.com Google - enjoytheviewblog.com Instagram - enjoytheviewblog.com Bloglovin - enjoytheviewblog.com LinkedIn - enjoytheviewblog.com
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Kim
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