Tuesday, December 29, 2015

What I am Wearing - White Plum

I love getting good deals on cute clothing, which is why I usually head straight for the clearance racks and frequent my local Goodwill.  When my IG friend, Heather from @thisboxrocks, posted about a $9.99 grab bag of clothes from White Plum, I had to check it out!

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Can you believe it is almost 2016?!  This has been an exciting year for me as I have started this blog, which is something I have been thinking about doing for a while now.  I have been overwhelmed by the amount of support I have received from fellow bloggers and friends.  I seriously do a happy dance every time you leave a comment on my posts!  I hope you have enjoyed my blog so far and hope you will continue to follow me on my blogging journey in the upcoming year.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

My Favorite Things - 2015 + A Giveaway! {CLOSED}

I always enjoy reading posts like this and seeing what products my blogger friends are using.  I wanted to share with you some of my favorite products from this year. I have joined forces with my friend Ashley from the Mixed Bag for a 2015 Favorites giveaway, where we are giving one lucky reader some of our favorite things!

Lovely Looks Set

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Brand Love - Crave Naturals Glide Thru Detangling Brush

I have fine hair that tangles and breaks easily, so I was excited to receive the Glide Through Detangling Brush by Crave Naturals to try.  I had previously seen this product on social media and was intrigued by the brush's unique design. Crave Naturals is a beauty-loving community that offers a high quality, yet affordable, product line in fun, retro packaging.


What I am Wearing - Styling Red Jeggings

I love fashion and I love styling pieces multiple ways, so I can save money and closet space.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I have a ton of fun participating in various style challenges and sharing my outfit of the day (#ootd).  Colored jeans seem to be making a big comeback this year and the red especially has caught my eye on Instagram and Pintrest.  I was fortunate to win a store credit to Boutique Amore from an Instagram contest, so one of the pieces I chose were red jeggings.  I was a little worried about how they would look on me, but I was pleasantly surprised at how cute and comfortable they are!  They are stretchy like leggings but have stitching, belt loops, and pockets so they look like jeans.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

My Adoption Story

Since Christmas is coming up and we tend to be more focused on family this time of the year, I want to share with you the story of my family.  When I mentioned that I was adopted in my first Thankful Thursday Post, several of you expressed an interest in my story, so I thought now would be a good time to share it with you.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

What I am Reading - I'm Happy For You (Sort of...Not Really)

I love to read, so when my friend, Ashley (Mixed Bag Ashley), told me about this website called Blogging for Books, I was hooked!  I selected this book based on the title, since this is something I struggle with.  It is so easy to get caught up in the comparison trap, especially in this day and time of social media's constant presence.  I know I suffer from OCD (Obsessive Comparison Disorder) when scrolling through my Facebook and Instagram feed.  This book called I'm Happy For You (Sort of...Not Really) by Kay Wills Wyma, addresses how to find contentment in a culture of comparison.  To find out more about this book and the author, click HERE.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

What I am wearing - Wicked Good Vibes Apparel Co

I was recently introduced to Wicked Good Vibes Apparel Co, when I won a $15 credit to their online shop from a giveaway on Much Most Darling.  After receiving my shirt, I loved it so much that I applied to be a Brand Enthusiast and they selected me for the month of December!



Thursday, November 26, 2015

My Thankful Thursday - Part 3

This will be the last post in the #MyThankfulThursday series I have been participating in this month, along with my friend, Amanda, over at The iLOVE Project.  I have really been enjoying writing about the things I am thankful for this month, as it is so easy to take for granted the good things in your life.  This week is going to be a little different and fun, because I am going to talk about totally random and some frivolous things I am thankful for.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

How to Create a Simple Coat Rack for your Entryway

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience

I am always jealous of the houses with large foyers that can be styled with console tables and/or benches, since my house has a nonexistent foyer that only offers a jam packed coat closet.  I wanted to dress up our front entrance, which opens into our hallway and has no room for a  piece of furniture and little room for styling.  I looked through home magazines and scoured Pinterest for inspiration.  I decided on adding a wall-mounted coat rack for guests and a family photo, similar to the looks I found HERE and HERE.

Front door/hallway

Monday, November 23, 2015

Brand Love - E.L.F. Cosmetics and #playbeautifully Challenge

I have recently become obsessed with a makeup line called e.l.f. (Eyes, Lips, Face) cosmetics.  It has been around for a while and I probably used it in my younger years, but I have recently become re-acquainted with it through Instagram.  The line is so affordable, and it can be found at your local drugstore, Target, and even the Dollar Tree! The products are all good quality and come in a wide variety of shades and styles.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

My Thankful Thursday - Part 2

I am going to continue with my Thankful Thursday series this week because I feel it helps me keep things in perspective.  Check out the other posts in the #MyThankfulThursday Series  over at The iLOVE Project.  Last week I talked about the big things in my life that I am thankful for; family, financial security, and my church.  This week, I am going to focus my gratitude on a few specific things that have affected me personally over the last week.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Birchbox Review November 2015

It is month two of my BirchBox subscription and I am pretty happy with the products I received for $10. The theme for this month was pampering and polishing, so the items related to personal indulgence.  The box itself was very pretty; it was turquoise with a rich brown flower pattern.   Although these are all sample sizes, the full size versions of these products come to about $100.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

My Thankful Thursday

The month of November seems to be a time when we focus on being thankful, more so than the rest of the year.  This week I am joining my dear friend Amanda over at The iLOVE Project for #MyThankfulThursday Series.

Friday, November 6, 2015

What I am Wearing (On my Nails) - Jamberry Wraps

I am not a Jamberry rep, but my dear friend Jill is and she has gotten me hooked so I wanted to share my experience.  It is no secret that I love pretty nails; just look at my Instagram feed!!  I love bright colors and funky designs, and love trying to do my own nail art.
I love trying new products like nail stickers and wraps and I have tried many options from the drugstore.  I like the fact that there was no dry time with the nail wraps, which is great when you are a busy mom. So, when I got the chance to try the Jamberry wraps, I went for it!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Rehabbing Thrifted Adirondack Chairs

I purchased two Adirondack chairs and a foot rest from a thrift store for less than $50 several years ago.  They had never been painted or stained and were very weather worn and  not very sturdy, but I saw potential. When I first got them home, I made them a little more sturdy by adding some more screws and replacing the back brace that was broken on one of the chairs. I also primed and painted them a cheery Sun Yellow from Rustoleum.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

NEXXUS Hair Products Review

I received this product to test and review from Influenster.  This is a fun community that allows you to share news and reviews on products and in turn have opportunities to try products for free!

I was very excited to be selected for this campaign! I am hard on my hair with daily use of styling products, flat ironing, and blow drying.  I am always searching for new hair products that will give my hair volume, while repairing my split ends.  In my VoxBox I received the following: NEXXUS Diametress Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave in Conditioner.


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

How We Modernized our Traditional Porch Column

From the moment we moved into our house, the front column bugged us. It just did not fit with the ranch style of our house, especially since our carport had square columns.  We were not sure how to change it easily until we stumbled across this post on Young House Love:  They had the exact same issue we had and their house looked very similar to ours!!!

Monday, October 19, 2015

BirchBox Review October 2015

This is my first month of BirchBox and I decided to try it since they were offering it for $5. It is a monthly subscription that starts at $10 per month.  I was happy with the products in my box this month.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Follow my Blog with BlogLovin

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Monday, August 17, 2015

Rebuilding the Deck

Since we moved into our house in the month of September, we did not really get to spend very much time outside, other than cleaning the pool just to close it down.  Our first renovation project in the spring was a big one...the dilapidated deck.  It is a big deck, which we liked, but the wood was very weathered and some of the floor boards needed to be replaced.  Oh, and the railing looked like it would give way if anyone even thought about leaning against it.

Friday, June 26, 2015

An Introduction to Real Girl's Realm...a DIY Journey

Hello everyone, my name is Mary and this blog is my journal of our renovation adventures while fixing up our 1960's Rancher.  My husband and I are just the average DIYers on a budget and if we can do it, anyone can.  My hope is that this blog can offer inspiration to others, as so many blogs have done for me and provide a tangible reminder or our renovation accomplishments!