There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder,
"Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here are my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

These leopard Steve Madden shoes captured my heart as soon as I saw them. I love wearing neutral graphic t-shirts. You know the ones...gray background with black wording. These shoes are the perfect "pop" of fun to outfits that include leggings, jeans, graphic t-shirts, and a comfy cardigan. I love these and have them in black, gray, and now LEOPARD! 

I am obsessed with thick, natural, long lashes.  I've always had long lashes, but this NEW mascara makes them even better. If you've never tried YOUNIQUE'S 4D mascara, you must...like right now. It's CRAZY how good it makes your lashes look. This is my secret sauce! 

​There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder, "Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here are a couple of my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

I've been on the hunt for a bench or wall lockers for the backpacks, purses, coats, and such.  I love the looks of this bench AND it's super affordable. I am not sure if it's what I am looking for, but I am thinking about where I can put it. Where do you store all of your bags and coats?

I have been buying little succulents to put throughout the house because, honestly, they are easy to keep alive...even for me! Check out these cute pots to put your succulents in! I love the black and white ones! 

There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder, "Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here are a couple of my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

I tell everyone I know how much I adore my kitchen table. As the mama of two little boys, the concrete top is somewhat indestructible. Paint, markers, crayons...this table handles it all and almost looks BETTER with a little love on it! 

I am working HARD on water consumption! Never in my life has it been easy for me to drink water. Seriously, a day could past without me drinking water, and I wouldn't even notice! Who is with me on this?  This water bottle makes it easier....you still have to drink....but this serves as a great reminder! 

There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder, "Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here are a couple of my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

I am obsessed with my new high top sneakers. I love the look, AND they are super comfortable. What more could you ask for?  I loved this pair so much, I ended up getting them in gray, black, and olive too! 

Every time I post a picture of my kitchen, I always get asked about my rug. The bright colors are so fun, and a great way to bring some "happy" to your decor. I loved this rug so much, I got it for my shop too! 

There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder, "Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here are a couple of my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

It I am in LOVE with my new rug I ordered from Amazon.  This black and white buffalo check rug looks ADORABLE under my door mat. For those of you who have done "porch pick up", you may have seen it! Black and white is practically a neutral, so you can throw any mat over the top and it'll look adorable! It will be really cute with a fall mat over the top! 

I use my chalkboard ALL the TIME! Seriously, all the time. Whether it is a birthday party, Easter, Christmas...well, just trust me, I use it all the time! I gather ideas off of Pinterest and then I just draw! It looks so cute on my front porch for each season.  I love this one I found on Amazon! With Prime, you can get it tomorrow with NO shipping costs! Love that! 

There are so many products I use on a regular basis, and I often wonder, "Does anyone else love this as much as I do?" 
Here is a list of my Friday Favorites!
​These are the things I am currently obsessed with! 
Be sure to comment and let me know if you use these items too! 
(**affiliate links**)

I recently got an Echo Dot as a "freebie" with another purchase. It actually sat in the box for a while because I didn't think I would like it.  Girls! I am now obsessed with my Alexa.  I hooked her up to my Spotify account, and I love her! I even find myself asking her questions all the time. She has quickly become part of the family! Do you have an Echo Dot?  If so, how do you use yours? Click on the picture to learn more!

We got our air fryer as a "freebie with purchase" when we were shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart.  We almost passed on getting it because we didn't know what we'd do with an air fryer. Let me tell you....we use this puppy every day. I am not kidding...EVERY day.  We put pizza in it! If you love 2nd day pizza in the oven, trust me, you'll like it in your air fryer even more! We use it for chicken nuggets, hash browns, french fries, and the list goes on. We actually like things in the air fryer better than the oven. It gives a nice, crispy outer crust without the grease. LOVE IT! What do you use YOUR air fryer for?

**Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I could make a small commission.**

We are a year into January...wait, no..I mean a month into 2019. Does anyone else feel like January was longer than 31 days? Well...as we are heading into the middle of February, I wanted to check in with you on your goals for this year.
Listen, friend, I totally understand that New Year’s resolutions are easily made and easily broken without a game plan for when things get tough. Let’s be honest, it gets tough. It always does because #life! According to Inc Magazine, research shows that 60% of us make new goals for the new year but only 8% of us actually follow through with​ those goals. Odds are kind of stacked against us, huh?! What are we even making our New Year's resolutions about? Well, of the 60% of us that decide to make a New Year’s resolution, the list below summarizes the most popular:

1. Diet or eat healthier
2. Exercise more
3. Lose weight
4. Save more and spend less
5. Learn a new skill or hobby

These are all incredible things to work on, and with a list full of reasons why you CAN'T do it...scratch that....let's make a list of reasons why you CAN! Let's get inspired and make sure that we are a part of the 8% that reach those goals. And...girl...I know what you are thinking. "It's already February! I am too late to redo my resolution."  No! No, you aren't too late to show up for yourself. START TODAY.  Come on. I am starting for the 16th time already this year. However, I haven't given up and I won't! 

Have a Support System
From personal experience, it is much harder to achieve something on your own. I totally don’t think this is revolutionary advice at all. However, I think it is important that we are reminded that it is okay that we can’t do it all. I am the kind of girl who thinks she can carry in all the groceries in one trip despite the fact that my fingers are going numb with the 30+ bags on them....and I usually have to go to the bathroom the moment the garage door slowly creeps up.  There I am doing the potty dance while carrying all the bags at once.  Let's be totally transparent here....being an "achiever" is accurate for MOST areas of my life. I am strong and ambitious, and I want to get it right the first time....but I can’t do it without a village of people behind me cheering me on. I need my support system! 

Find a support group for your goal in addition to all of your wonderful people you have in your life that support you daily. Facebook is full of amazing groups that are at your fingertips anytime you feel like things aren’t going well. Even if you’re a part of our Inspired by YOU Facebook group, you’ll find an amazing community of ladies there to support you through your goals! I used to be a cheerleader, and I love cheering on my Inspired girls! 

​Gather your Tools
If you don’t have the right tools to achieve success, well, you’re likely already at a disadvantage. Think of your goal.  What tools do you need to get there? Trying to eat healthier? Make sure you’ve got some pre-made or prepped meals for when you’re tired or short on time so you keep on track. I know that if I don't have a plan for what goes in my mouth....popcorn and chips are just too easy to grab quickly. At our house, we love these containers for prepping ahead of time.  
​**Click the photo to see container product page. 

If you have any healthy recipes you love, let us know in the comment section! The recipe i'm loving right now is Spaghetti Squash with bacon, spinach, and goat cheese. Spaghetti squash is low in calories and delicious! I even found amazing frozen spaghetti squash at Costco! My boys were even fooled into thinking it was actual spaghetti! 

Trying to lose weight?  
​Keep track of what you are eating with apps like Lose it! No matter what “program” I am following, I am a firm believer in looking at what I am eating. Tracking what I'm eating (even if it is for a short amount of time) helps me to be more self aware of what I reach for on the fly. I really don't want to write down "ice-cream", so I use my tracker to encourage me to make better choices! I feel a lot better when I write "broccoli" instead of "caramel sundae". 

​If you need motivation....keep motivated by offering yourself some incentives. Write out what you’ll “win” when you lose! Here are some examples:

Lose 5lb   - New pair of Inspired by YOU Earrings
Lose 10lb - Get pampered with a pedicure or manicure
Lose 15lb - Go shopping for a new shirt
Lose 20lb - Treat yourself with a massage

There are plenty of ways you can reward yourself for your hard work.  Just make sure you’re giving yourself a pat on the back for all of your accomplishments because you deserve it! 

Trying to save more money this year?
​Sit down and write out the reasons why you’re wanting to save more. Then create a REALISTIC plan of how much you are able to save. Take a look at some of the extras you’re budgeting for and see if they are still worth it to you when you’re looking at your list of reasons. If they aren’t...then put that extra money into your savings instead of into your coffee cup...although, I swear "coffee" is an essential food group. 

Girl, most importantly, don’t forget to celebrate your milestones! When you reach certain points, make sure you’re treating yourself. If you’re too strict you could end up bouncing back to where you were before. Make sure to allow a night out or a special coffee once and a while. There are plenty of FREE events that would be great ways to celebrate your success. You can find some of these events on Facebook or a site called meetup.com where there are tons of groups that get together to do fun things!

Wanting to learn a new skill or hobby?
Gather supplies for your new hobby and find a local group to help you learn! Pinspire in Lee's Summit teaches LOTS of skills/hobbies/crafts that attract people with many different interests. Want to make a wreath? Paint a canvas? Henna on your hand? Chances are, Pinspire offers a class for you. 

It's always fun to find an event to work toward. Wanting to take up running? Sign up for a race. Hiking? Find a trail and plan a trip to work up to. Crafting? Find a craft show or art contest to submit for. Whatever the hobby is, make sure you've got something to look forward to and work towards.

​Set your mind
Whatever your goal is, it is important to ready your mind. I encourage you to make a vision board of what you’d like your life to be like when you reach that goal. You can do this with scissors and glue but if you’re like me and love Pinterest, then create a board Titled 2019 Vision board. Pin things that represent what reaching your goal will look like. You can add quotes or visuals that show what you’re wanting to achieve. Make sure to look back on this often... even daily...to remind yourself of your motivation. For ideas, take a look at Kelsey's here: https://pin.it/sve6zijzuxepvq With pins like these, I can tell this girl is GOING places! 

Feel free to send us a picture or the link to your vision boards! We'd love to see what your 2019 is going to look like! We wish you all the best, friend, as you venture into a year of goal-setting, conquering, and achieving your dreams! We are SO Inspired by YOU! 

So, tell us...how are you doing with your goals this year? Let's support each other in the comments!

Recently, my sweet cousin came over for a mid-day visit.  About halfway through our conversation, she said, "Do you realize you have SEVEN lamps in your living room?"  Well, yes.  Yes, I realize...is that strange?!  Let's be honest, I am obsessed with light. In fact, if I had room to add a lamp or two more, I probably would. 

When we bought our home several years back, one of the first things I said to my hubby was, "We have to add light to this kitchen!"  Within the first month of living in our house, we had replaced the kitchen light fixtures, and I may have even added a lamp or two on the counter tops to brighten it up.  However, it still didn't feel bright enough to me.  Here are pics of the kitchen prior to us doing much.  

As you can see from these "before" pics, the cabinets felt heavy.  The stain definitely pulled orange, and along with the floor color....I felt like I was living inside a pumpkin! (without enough lamps to light the way!!)  

After several years of putting off the "remodel"...okay, six years to be exact....the first thing we did was paint all of the walls gray. My favorite gray is Dovetail by Sherwin Williams. It doesn't have blue or purple undertones, and is truly just gray. I love it during the day with natural sunlight coming in, and I love it just as much at night when our light comes from the chandeliers and table lamps (7 table lamps to be exact!).

Next, we had the cabinets painted. Trust me. I worried about this a lot, and I maybe even lost some sleep. What if I didn't like it? What if I missed the....orange?! Nah....I was ready for the change! Anything would be an improvement from the current color.  With the gorgeous gray on the walls, the orange-ish cabinets looked even more dated. I knew I didn't want to go with white cabinets because I have 2 boys who are five and under.  I feared ketchup finger-paint on stark white cabinets. I decided on a light gray...almost as light as a white, but without the stark feeling of a white.  To me, the light gray feels much warmer than a white or cream.  We went with Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.  The swatch looks a lot darker than what it actually is.  I adore it even more than I thought I would. 

Next, I chose light fixtures that would add more light because, well...you know me! In fact, I went with TWO chandeliers over the kitchen table. Why? Mostly because two chandeliers are brighter than one, and the two lights have served as a conversation piece when company is over.  It is an added bonus that I love the way two chandeliers look too.  Here are the links for very similar lights to what we chose. Just click the pics to shop.

Last, the old 12 x 12 tan tiles didn't blend with the new gray paint and off-white granite. I knew I wanted something, but I wasn't sure what.  I shopped around for MONTHS! When I found these glass tiles, I immediately knew they were EXACTLY what I had been looking for.  The mirror tiles put off lots of light, sparkle a ton, and feel glamorous.  Click the picture below to find similar tiles. 

Next, we added under the counter lights, and later decided to put them above the cabinets as well.  This saved my hubby some time because I was considering 4-6 more can lights in the ceiling!  These easy installation lights did the trick, though! Click the pic below to find similar lighting from Amazon.

Last, I spray painted my wicker chairs a light gray and painted the legs navy.  I also found this AWESOME pink, turquoise, and blue rug on Amazon, and it truly completes the look I was wanting to achieve. The white and gray polka dot curtains are also fun and brighten up the space as well. We also just recently got our concrete table. It is a mama's dream come true! Paint, marker, sticky who knows what.....all comes right off, or just gives it more character! Click the pics below to learn more about my three favorite kitchen decor items: the rug, curtains, and kitchen table.  The rug is even on sale right now!! 

So....remember the "before" photos that I shared above?!  It felt similar to "James and the Giant Peach", only it was "Anna and the Kitchen Orange".  Time for the before and after pics!

​I can't wait to hear what you think! 

A special thank you to my husband and his company Comodo Heating, Cooling, and Contracting for assisting with my kitchen vision. Let us know if you are in the Kansas City area and would like for us to help with YOUR next remodel.  

So, what do you think of our remodel?  What is your favorite part? If you have any questions about products used or decor I chose, let me know! 

***All pics are linked to the product pages on Amazon. These are affiliate links, and I may receive a small commission should you choose to purchase any items. This does not change the price for the items you are selecting. Amazon simply rewards me for referring the products I love. 

Being a small creative business comes with having other small creative business buddies! I love cookies, but I am not a baker.......so.....meet my friend, April! April is a master cookier who will mesmerize you with her creative touch to cookies.  She teaches you how to make cookies that are so pretty, you'll save on the calories because you'll never want to eat one! Seriously, they are THAT cute!  Do you consider yourself or a loved one a baker?  If so, give the gift of education! 

Check out April's E-Book here:

Signature Sugar Cookie EBook  

April's e-book is a perfect LAST MINUTE gift for the aspiring baker on your list. Whether you're giving to a seasoned baker or someone who's just learning, they will both find value in this gift. Your loved one will learn the ultimate sugar cookie recipe...and you'll likely find yourself enjoying their creations! Win/Win, right?! In April's e-book, she spills her secrets about creating the perfect cookie. In her book, you'll find:
​

• Beautiful photos with step-by-step instructions

• A BONUS recipe for April's famous Royal Icing

• PLUS Exclusive access to April's private Facebook group for Cookie Makers where you can ask questions, get tips, and share your cookie photos with other cookiers!​​ SO FUN! 

For the Home* 

Know someone who is sign obsessed? Felt letter boards are a fun gift to give those who love to decorate their space. Personalize the board to say something quirky or to leave little love notes. On a desk or in a home...your loved one will love this gift! It's like the gift that keeps on giving! 

This cake stand is beautiful and can hold lots of pretty treats. Nobody would want to hide this away, but rather, put it on display! You can even get creative with what you place in it for various occasions. Ornaments, candy hearts with cupcakes on too, leaves....the list goes on! 

​**Bonus Tip bake them a delicious Christmas treat and wrap it in this! 
​

Target has you covered with their GiftNow online option. You can choose a gift to send directly to the recipient's email where they will get to "unwrap" it from you. They get to choose the extra options like color or size, and then it ships right to them! They even get to pick their size or the color they like best! WHAT?! Is this real life? ...and that's not all....Do you want to know the best part?! If the recipient of your gift wants to exchange it for something else they've been eyeing....they can! Target has COMPLETELY taken the guesswork and pressure off of you and you are CERTAIN your gift will be something everyone will truly love!  

Check out how it works below. While you're at it, check out some of my faves from Target....booties, makeup, and that messenger bag!! SO stinking cute!