Valentine's Day DIY and Dine Ideas

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast on Friday, February 14. Check out one of my favorite diy craft projects -- heart shaped massage bars for yourself and your significant other.  Even if you aren’t planning to celebrate with massage bars, flowers, chocolates and all things red, perhaps you will want to take advantage of the food discounts happening. Below are restaurants with Valentine’s Day offers that everyone can enjoy. (Make sure you call your local restaurant to confirm that they’re honoring these Valentine’s Day specials!). Thanks to RetailMeNot for providing such a great list!

How To Throw A Great Party With Short Notice

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #ShareBoen #BestLifeWithBoen #CollectiveBias


There's nothing I enjoy more than having family and friends drop in on us for a visit. Impromptu visits are always happening. We live close to the airport so we tend to have people pop in all year around. Our location is also a nice resting point for our road tripping friends as well. I've learned to stay prepared and have been able to quickly throw together quality food and drink with less than 24 hours notice.

Step 1: Plan Your Menu

If food and drink is flavorful and flowing, you cannot go wrong. My go-to meal is tapas style small bites. On nice days, it's the perfect alfresco barbecue too. My favorite dishes to serve are tomatoes with bread, bacon wrapped dates, and a Spanish tortilla.

I like to keep Böen Wines always on hand on my wine rack. Not only is it a nice after meal wind down, it's also delicious and approachable, making it a great wine to share amongst family and friends.

Quick and Simple Passion Fruit Cocktails

The simplest way to make cocktails at home is with juice and your favorite spirit. I'm likely to always have juice on hand as Violet is a connoisseur. We usually keep the bar stocked with spirits too. Together they make the perfect cocktail combination.

Thanks to Welch's for sponsoring today's post and rocking my world with the refrigerated tropical fruit blends juices. I was able to mix up three simple passion fruit cocktail concoctions.

8 Ways To Treat Your Inner French Fille

Paris has long been on my list of cities to visit. I'm a big fan of the cheese, wine, and fashion of the City of Lights that's why I'm excited to partner with Atout France, Lancôme, and Perrier-Jouët to share the "Show You Paris" sweepstakes and ways you can tap into your inner french girl.

New Year, Best You: 5 Tips to Get Fitness Routine Back On Track

I am a work in progress forever and always. My fitness journey has ups and downs. The holidays were particularly hard but I'm getting back on track and sharing tips that are helping me. This post is sponsored by Dannon Oikos -- my snack choice for the new year. I hope you will be inspired.

Last year, I managed to keep up with my exercise routine.  I do at least 60 minutes of sweaty movement per day. I can count on my one hand the number of times I actually missed a workout. I did it even though it's still one of my least favorite activities. I tolerated it for the greater good. I want a healthy, hot body.

Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup

This post and potato leek soup recipe is sponsored by SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® who has completely rocked my vegetable loving heart with FreshWorks Produce Saver storage containers.

As you may already know, I'm not a fall / winter kind of girl. I love the heat of summer and moving about without coats and thick socks. We have to find the positive in life. For me, I take comfort in hearty soups that warm the body and fill the house with delicious smells. Fall is when I break out the slow cooker and make a big ol' pot of something that gets tastier with each reheat.

One of my favorites is potato leek soup. Leeks are my favorite and I can eat them boiled, roasted or pan fried. My family gives me the funny eyes when I do this though so a hearty soup with leeks that can't be seen is my best option for keeping everyone happy.

Our Made In France Family Feast

I don't know about you but by the time Friday rolls around I am done and over cooking. I like to call it "eat whatever you can find in the fridge" day. It's a self serve day even for Violet. I start pulling out of the contents of the refrigerator early and we just nibble throughout the day. She loves it and she has taken to calling it the Feast. 

Feast meals consists of finger foods usually cheese, meats, dips, and crackers. My charcuterie board got an upgrade last with the high quality made in France products I received.

DIY Grape Coconut Oil Lip Balm

Matte lipsticks are my favorite and my go to makeup. They can be pretty drying so I like to add a layer of lip balm first before applying to my lips. Because I like making things and lip balm is super easy to make, I whipped up a quick batch of grape flavor lip balm with coconut oil inspired by the flavors of Welch's Tropical Berry Grape Juice made with Coconut Water. It tastes and smells fruity.

How to Snack Smart When Trying To Keep It Tight And Right

Part of the reason I thrift shop is because I don't want to settle for bland clothes with crap fabric. Even if that was my goal, I could find it in a thrift store and much better prices. I do not want to compromise my style or my taste. Not with my fashion choices and definitely not with my food choices. No bland foods for me. I care about what I put in my body but I will not sacrifice taste. I just snack smarter. Liberté yogurt helps me do that.

DIY Rose All Day Tee

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of zzysh®. The opinions and text are all mine.

I've developed quite a love of sparkling rosé this summer and I'm showing my love with a make it yourself t-shirt.

How I Make Time To Create

This post is sponsored by Wente Vineyards but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Wente Vineyards doesn't make wine because they have to. They make it because they enjoy it which is why they started the Make Time movement. The initiative encourages everyone to explore their passions. My passion is to create and here's how I make the time.

How to Drink Water When You Really Want Cocktails

This post is sponsored by Perrier® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

One of my biggest struggles in this healthier living journey has been increasing water consumption and decreasing the wine and cocktails. With all of the festivals, concerts, and outdoor gatherings it's hard to focus on my water and step away from sugary cocktails. My libations before healthy journey were coffee and wine. I never drank water. Never. Now I'm doing at least eight cups a day.

Dragon Fruit Superfood Sorbet

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid®.

Maintaining after weight loss is very much an ongoing challenge. I still have those same desires for decadent desserts and other fat snacks. It's especially difficult when summer rolls around and there are parties with barbecues, cocktails, and lots of ice cream to consume. I made homemade dragon fruit sorbet to help curb those desires.

One of my weight loss tips is to binge smart. I don't deny myself all the treats. I've learned to balance them and when I feel the need to overindulge, I make sure there's a healthy snack to binge on.

How to Host a Couples' Night Listening Party

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #Chardonnation #SpringWine #CollectiveBias

Now that we are on the cusp of summer, it's time to come out of hibernation. Winter was all about cozying up in front of the fire with a good book or binge watching several tv shows. I'm so ready to invite our friends over for a listening party where we can share some hearty belly laughs. Good food. Good music. Good wine.

5 Ways to Squeeze Exercise Into Busy Lives

I won't beat a dead horse but I'm still not feeling formal exercise routines. It must be done though and I'm proud of the shape my body has been whipped into. If I can't have a proper exercise session, I make sure that I'm moving more and staying active.

Music makes exercise less painful. I started out with earbuds with a cord that constantly caught on things and ripped the buds from my ears. I moved on to wireless headphones that wouldn't stay on my head especially after I cut my locs. They were also bulky and quite heavy. Therefore, I was extremely pleased with JLab Audio's generous gift of Epic2 Bluetooth Wireless Sport Earbuds. Whether long or short, my workouts are much more enjoyable.

DIY Pineapple Print Coasters

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CreminelliFreshSnacking #CollectiveBias

We're a quarter of a way through the new year and I'm still fine tuning what it is I want to accomplish in the new year. I've narrowed it down to a few main goals that are defined by four simple words. To help maintain focus throughout the year, I added them to a diy pineapple print coaster set I made so that I am reminded of them throughout the day.

Savannah Family Travel Guide

Since moving to Atlanta, we've vowed to do more road trips as we are surrounded by great short distance travel destinations. A few weeks ago we took a weekend trip to the coastal town of Savannah, Georgia. It's a three hour drive from Atlanta and makes a great getaway destination.

Savannah is known for picturesque antebellum architecture, cobblestone streets and large oak trees covered with Spanish moss. It's a gorgeous city filled with history which may not be a kid's version of a good time but you can sneak it in between kid-friendly activities that are both fun and educational.

4 Ways to Spruce Store Bought Banana Pudding Dessert

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart.

Roses are red. Violet's are blue. Patti LaBelle Banana Pudding is a delicious dessert for your Galentine, Valentine and you too. We all know Patti LaBelle can throw down in the kitchen. Have you tried her cookbooks? Insanely delicious. It's no surprise Patti's sweet potato pie went viral. The berry cobbler and peach cobbler are pretty tasty too. My heart nearly skipped a beat when I saw Patti LaBelle banana pudding!

25 Weight Loss Tips for Lazy Girls

It's been a year since I added a jogging lady to my vision board. I had no idea where I was going with that as I'm not a runner and I do not like exercise. Every year I make a fitness goals but last year, I actually worked out how to achieve my goals. Now I can say the jogging lady represents me except I walked my way into better health and weight loss.

I had high blood pressure and my doctor wanted to start medication I had been avoiding for two years. I was already struggling to take my iron supplements everyday so I knew a daily medication was not going to work for me.

Homemade Irish Cream

I cannot deal with this cold snap. I'm hanging out indoors mainly in velour muumuu and sweats. There's nothing to see or do with my thrifted wardrobe right now. While keeping cozy inside, I've been taking a few sips of my homemade Irish Cream to keep me warm. It's delicious and creamy. It's the perfect drink to enjoy in front of the fireplace underneath a thick blanket.