Lilly Pulitzer Tech & Google

I recently made an amazing discovery for all of us Google Chrome users.  You can apply a Lilly Pulitzer theme to your Google search engine!  Gasp!  Now my researching/stalking can all start with a heavy dose of pink and green!  Here's how you can make your Googling a bit more fun:

1.  Go to google.com
2.  Click on the three red lines in the upper right hand corner (see arrow below)

3. From the drop down, click on settings
4. Under appearance, click on "get themes"
5. A new web page will open up giving you a search option to look through the Chrome Web Store
6. In the Chrome Web Store search bar, type "lilly"
7. Select the first Lilly Pulitzer theme and click on "free"
8. You should see the tabs across the top change to green background, but you will need to close and open the tab and go to the Google homepage again for the changes to apply.
9. Prepare yourself for this level of super fun awesome Googling!

Briana and I have both been able to use these instructions to install on Windows and Apple Products.  Having a fun (and FREE!) background is awesome!  I suggest you add it before you leave work today, so you have something bright and cheerful to look at Monday morning!  This isn't a download, so you shouldn't have to worry about pesky security firewalls at work.  Have a great weekend anyone!

Say No to Holiday Fluff!

Ah...the holidays.  Beautiful trees, spending time with loved ones, and going to Christmas church service...and hoping that those extra scoops of holiday food goodness somehow magically disappeared with Santa on his sleigh instead of taking up residence on your backside for the long winter.  Since the season of eating begins tomorrow, I think it's best I revisit last year's article on maintaining your weight through the holiday season.  My least favorite diet tip that aaaaall the magazines like to put out there is still the one about eating your dinner before you go to a party so you don't eat while you're at the party.  Um, news flash...I don't have to be hungry to eat a cookie or drink a pint of egg nog.  It's like jello...there's always room.  Plus, who wants to be the person who deprives themselves of all Christmas treats?  Um, not this Posh Purpose girl.  So!  Here we go!  Most of these tips are about planning and making minor changes to make up for a few extra calories here and there:

Posh Purpose's Kindly Suggestions on How to Still Fit in Your Pants Come January

1. Religious calorie counting on days you don't have parties/events - 1600 calories* and no more (I use an Android app called Fat Secret...horrible name, but decent app).  Weigh in daily to keep yourself honest.

2. Eat something healthy before a party - soup and salad if you have time or yogurt and nuts are both good options.  Although I don't believe in eating before you go to a party in order to not eat at the party is a good idea, I also don't think I want to have my blood sugar drop and find myself face first in a cheese platter either.  Been there, done that.  Also, your tummy and waistline will thank you if you go to a corporate with nothing but dried out chicken and greasy (but tasteless) sides.  Those items just aren't worth the calories, but you would probably devour them if you went on an empty stomach.

3. Eat 3-4 small servings of things you truly want to eat at the party - things that are special for Christmas time or you know are a specialty of the hosts....then don't eat them again at any other parties.  For example, I love egg nog, rum balls, and peppermint bark.  I could have a small cup of egg nog, 2-3 rum balls, and a piece of peppermint bark at a party.  At the next party, I would bypass these items and perhaps choose a scoop of hot crab dip, a small cup of apple cider, and a slice of pie.  Then bypass all of those items at any other parties.  Fill up on veggies and lean protein for the rest of your food selection.  Cold shrimp is a very good choice that you will often find this time of year.  My theory on this tip is that I will get to have all my favorite things without overloading my plate at each and every party.

4. Cut back on your everyday treats -  ex. if you are putting half and half in your coffee, switch to 2% for the next month.

5. Eat seafood at corporate events - My nutritionist once said that if you have to go into an event blind or without any ability to customize your food, go for fish.  Even if the fish is deep fried or sauteed in butter, the calorie count for fish starting out is lower than any of the other proteins.

6. Stick to wine or hard cider - Lots of taste, less calories than a mixed drink, classier than a shot, and no fat.

7. Plan out where you can eat when you are running errands or Christmas shopping now - For me, I know the meal combinations I can have at Chick-Fil-A (grilled chicken nuggets and small fry or spicy chicken sandwich - no bun - and small fry) and Panera Bread (bacon turkey bravo half sandwich and half salad or bowl of soup) which are readily accessible.  Other options for a sit down meal, are Olive Garden (soup, salad, and bread sticks) and Seasons 52 (no item on the menu is over 475 calories).  I would suggest looking at your local area where you plan on doing the most shopping and coming up with a game plan.  My nutritionist told me successful dieters have plans and people tend to gain weight the most when they are rushed for time and don't have a plan set in place.  That's how you wind up pulling through the Taco Bell line and ordering a burrito and two tacos with extra nacho sauce.  This goes the same for traveling!  Have a plan of where you can stop on the road or in the airport.  Bring snacks with you so you aren't tempted!

8. Add on 15 mins to your work out time or another workout a week.  This one can be super hard!  If you can't add it to your work out or you have no extra days for a workout, try to go for a walk at lunch during your work days.  Also, try and have a nice walk (so relaxing!) or jog (if you feel so inclined, I rarely do) on the major holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.  It will help you digest post-meal and it's a nice way to either spend time with family or get away from them (depending on your situation).  I'm going to try to hit up zumba tomorrow morning right after the turkey goes in the oven!  I'd also like to add in a post-church zumba class or a spin class on Sundays.

9. Take none and leave all - If you are having a party or hosting Christmas dinner, stock up on to-go containers.  If it's not healthy, it must go.  If you are attending a party, refuse to take anything.  You can "accidentally" leave it behind.  Whoopsies.

10. Plan a non-meal event for your girlfriend get togethers -  I suggest coffee.  You can get a small drink (latte with cinnamon on top - caffeine & protein!) and if you can't stay away from the bakery case, split something with your friends. You'll save money and calories.  More active options would be to go bowling or ice skating. 

11. Eat what you want on the main days - Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.  Chances are you probably won't be eating more than one big meal each of those days.  Even if you are eating 2,500 calories, you are doing it all at once and not three times that day.  You should also be able to rebound from 1-3 days of poor eating spread out over several weeks....it's the week long time frame of Thanksgiving and in between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day that I've noticed really make an impact.  I also don't see the point in eating low-cal versions of traditional foods - pumpkin pie with splenda is just not the same and cranberries flavored with agave sounds nasty.  If you must exercise some sort of self control or you are attending multiple meals in one day - fill up on whatever main protein there is (ham, turkey, etc.) and the healthiest side (usually green beans).  You can have one small scoop each of all your favorite things and only eat the best offerings at each meal if you are going to multiple places (i.e. if your Aunt Gertrude's sweet potatoes are better than your granny's...don't tell, but don't eat either).

12. Get back to your regular groove as soon as possible and don't beat yourself up - You may still gain 1-3 lbs between now and the New Year...but that's much less to beat myself up about and far fewer pounds to work off compared to the 20 billion people who join the gym and take all the parking spots/machines post-holiday 15 lb. binge.  I'll just go back to my regular schedule - I hope without having to buy new pants.

If you've got any other tips, let me know!  I'm always open to suggestions.

* I'm not a licensed professional, so you should consult your doctor before starting any nutrition plan or exercise program.

Posh Purpose Tip: Sephora Mascara Samples

Yesterday, I placed an order at Sephora for a couple of new items and a couple of things that I had run out of a few weeks ago.  One of those staple items was my Benefit mascara - They're Real!.  One of the reasons I don't participate as much in the Mascara Diaries series as Briana does is that I'm pretty much devoted to this mascara brand.

I'd already loaded the Benefit mascara into the cart when I remembered to check out the Sephora weekly specials.  If you don't know about the weekly specials, Sephora has a page that has 4-6 promotional codes for deluxe sized samples of high end cosmetics and perfumes.  This week they are offering a free mini-lash primer and mascara from Dior with any $25 purchase.

Image Source: Sephora Weekly Specials

I had also accumulated some Sephora Beauty Insider points and I was able to trade them in for three deluxe samples of mascara from BareMinerals, Givenchy, and Marc Jacobs.  In my past experience, I've made each sample last 3-4 weeks, which means I'm set for the next 3-4 months for mascara without spending a dime.  So, I decided to remove the Benefit mascara and give these new brands a try.  I really still think that the Benefit mascara is the best, but in the name of saving $23 plus tax I'm sure I'll be just as happy.

Next time you are shopping online at Sephora, make sure to check out these two areas to see if any of your purchases can be replaced by free sample items.  You'll still get high quality cosmetics, but at no cost.  As always, make sure to check out Ebates or Top Cash Back for Sephora deals.  The day I shopped Ebates offered 8% cash back!

***This post was not sponsored by Sephora, Ebates, Top Cash Back, or any of the brands mentioned in this post.  There are two referral links to Ebates and Top Cash Back to help you sign up if you are interested in earning cash back for which I will receive compensation for each referral through their Tell-A-Friend programs.***

Posh Purpose: Styling a Baby Bouquet

My friend Tara delivered the sweetest little baby boy a few weeks ago.  Mr. 3 is craaaazy for babies and we immediately went over to visit the newborn at only three days old.  I wanted to bring my good friend a flower arrangement and I decided to try my hand at styling a bouquet for a baby.

I bought all of my flowers from Safeway and used a clear vase I already owned. 

Supplies

Bouquet vase

4 types of flowers - one large fluffy bloom, a medium fluffy bloom, and two smaller blooms

1 small baby balloon from the floral department

Ribbon

I picked up a pack of large hydrangeas with three stems, medium sized green hydrangeas with 5 stems, and two packs of mini carnations. I decided to do the main blooms in more "boy" colors with green and blue, but since I was sending these to a new mama, I added in some pink accents.  I put my arrangement together on Friday when I heard that the baby had been born in order to give the flowers time to open up before we visited on Sunday.

I started by trimming all the stems at an angle and prepping the vase with room temp water and plant food.  I put the largest blooms and the medium blooms with all of the leaves that were above the water line still intact (leaves below the water line = yucky, murky water).  

I moved the blooms around until they were evenly spaced and then began filling in with clusters of mini-carnations.

Once I had everything packed in, I added in my baby balloon.  I also eyeballed the arrangement and removed the hydrangea leaves that I thought looked a little wonky.  I liked the color and extra fullness that they added to the arrangement, but I didn't want my arrangement to look like a crazy overgrown wildabeast, so I removed the ones that looked "off."

Finally, I found some scrap white ribbon and tied a bow around the neck of the vase for a bit of extra festive fun (also, it's a gift...don't all gifts need bows?).

 Because I had the scrap ribbon and vase, this flower arrangement only cost about $23 (I had an e-coupon through Safeway for the carnations!).  If you had to add those costs in, you would probably be looking at about $35 if you had to buy the vase at the grocery store (but check Dollar Tree and the thrift stores...you can always find cheap vases!).  I also had enough leftover carnations to make two small arrangements for myself!  I tend to spend more money on flowers that take up a lot of room, but may only come with a few stems (like hydrangeas, lilies, peonies) and then using cheaper blooms that usually come in large quantities for fill in (like carnations and mums).

This is a great project to try your first attempt at flower arranging because you can make it really low cost and you don't need anything special like floral foam.  If you live close enough to take visit your friend or family member, making your own bouquet is also waaaaaaay cheaper and more personal than ordering flowers online.  You could easily use these same Posh Purpose styling tips to make bouquets for birthdays and other celebrations, or to cheer someone up as a get well present  (Safeway had several choices for balloons for every occasion).  Anyone else made any pretty bouquets lately?  We would love to see them, so feel free to email them to us at poshpurpose@gmail.com!

Posh Purpose Tip: Get the Most Out of Your Aeroccino

Briana and I are both huge fans of our Nespresso machines and I loooooove my Aeroccino milk frother that Mr. 3 bought me for Christmas.  The Aeroccino is capable of making both hot and cold milk froth which is awesome for lattes!  BUT I also like heating up milk in the Aeroccino for hot chocolate because it makes the perfect amount at the perfect temperature.

Nespresso Aeroccino
Image Source: Nespresso

This past weekend, I really wanted some hot tea.  I typically use a tea kettle which takes a bit of time and usually makes the water too hot to drink my tea right away.  I got the bright idea to heat the water up in the Aeroccino instead since I knew it had made the milk the exact temperature to immediately enjoy hot cocoa.  I know this isn't exactly rocket science, but, honestly, I had never thought to try it before!  It worked perfectly to make my little cup of tea and I certainly like getting the most out of my kitchen gadgets!  Anyone else have any uses for the Aeroccino or suggestions for other double duty kitchen gadgets?

Posh Purpose Tip: Frozen Organic Mushrooms

I'm a huge mushroom lover and I eat them any way I can get them including straight from a can (Briana is gagging right now, she can't stand mushrooms), but I find that the fresh ones, especially the shiitakes, are super expensive and organic mushrooms just cost too much for me to include in my weekly grocery budget (mushrooms should not cost as much as meat - they haven't had to be birthed, housed, or fed for many months). Luckily, I've found a great solution!  Frozen organic mushrooms!

Image Source: Woodstock Foods

I found these last winter at Wegmans for $3.29 per bag and Whole Foods also carries them for a little bit more.  $3.29 for 10 oz of mushrooms is a really great deal (fresh white button mushrooms are typically sold in smaller portions for about the same price), but when you consider you can get organic and shiitake thrown into the mix, it's awesome!  

I use these mushrooms all the time when the mushroom isn't meant to be the "star" of the dish, but just an ingredient or extra veggie boost.   Frozen mushrooms are great for throwing in pasta sauces, topping off a chicken dish, or adding a little bulk to your chili.  However, I would not use them for something like cream of mushroom soup or salads (ick!).  Anyone else tried this easy fix?

Sur la Table Tips & Tricks for Cooking Scallops

I hope you checked out this morning's article on my recent cooking class adventure with Mr. 3 at Sur la Table.  We had the best time and really enjoyed the class!  As I mentioned earlier, Mr. 3 and I have never gotten the hang of properly cooking scallops.  We get the temperature and consistency right, BUT we can't seem to get the sear on them like they do at the fancy pants restaurants.  However, post-cooking class I feel like we will perform much better in the future!  Here's the tips and tricks we picked up cooking at Sur la Table:

1. Let your scallops come to room temperature before even thinking about cooking them in a pan.  I've heard this tip before for butter and eggs when baking and also cooking steaks, but never seafood!

2. Rinse your scallops and blot them with a paper towel to get them as dried off as possible.  This will rinse away that extra seafood-y taste and smell.

3. If you are making a crust for your scallops, dip each one into a plate of seasoning...but only on one side!  Dipping it will make sure you get a nice coat, but dredging each scallop will give you too much seasoning.

4. Make sure your pan is hot enough before you put the scallops into the pan.  The oil should shimmer a bit which will let you know the pan has reached the right temperature.  Just make sure you know the difference between shimmering oil and smoking oil.

5. Don't crowd the pan.  If you get your meat too close together it will steam the meat rather than searing it.

6. Cook the scallops for 2-3 minutes on each side.

7.  Use your fingers to test each scallop.  You want them to be firm but also spring back a bit when pushed.

8.  If you try to flip your scallops and the scallop sticks to the pan...it's not done searing!  Leave it be!  Evidently this is true for all proteins, not just scallops!  A properly seared piece of meat will release quite easily when it's ready.  This was probably the biggest tip I learned.  I usually panic that the meat is burning and proceed to (1) rip the meat up or (2) douse the pan in oil because it's sticking.

I have to say that tip #'s 1 and 8 were the biggest revelations for me!  I hope you can use these tips for your next recipe!

***This post was not sponsored by Sur la Table.  We just like to share information that makes that Posh Purpose lifestyle a bit more achievable!***

Posh Purpose: Styling a Bud Vase

In yesterday's post on How to Host: Holiday Potluck, I told y'all I made five small flower arrangements using two thrift store bud vases, two promotional glasses that came with some lemoncello I purchased at Christmas, and an old candle jar.  Here's a tutorial on how I made my bud vase arrangements:

Supplies

- 4 bud vases and one smaller, short container for flowers that don't have very long stems or ones that are broken off.  An old jelly jar or candle jar would be perfect, just scrub off any non-attractive labeling (i.e. nutritional information).

- Scissors for cutting and trimming flowers (I just used some regular office scissors)

- 3 types of flowers - all small to medium sized blooms (one fluffy medium sized, one fluffy small sized, and one non-fluffy bloom)

For the flowers, I went over to Safeway and picked up one bunch of lavender pom poms (fluffy medium sized), pink and white mini-carnations (fluffy small sized), and yellow tulips (non-fluffy bloom).  The pom poms were the base for the flowers and the carnations and tulips were used as accents and fillers.  Although I love big flowers, you are going to have more trouble arranging large bloom flowers in a bud vase because (1) if it's a hydrangea for instance, it's going to take up the entire vase and (2) the weight of the flower might cause the vase to actually tip over.  

You can pick flowers that work with your color scheme in your dining or living room, the theme (i.e. pastels for spring), have lots of contrast (like my arrangements), and you can never go wrong with all white.  Also, look for flowers that will give you the most bang for your buck.  I believe the huge bunch of pom poms was $4.99.  Although I could have bought a ton of mini carnations at about $2 each, they don't have as much volume as the pom poms.  The tulips were the most expensive at 10 stems for $5.99, but they are my favorite flower and I love the contrast with the other two colors. 

Since our event wasn't until Sunday, I bought my flowers on a Friday and made sure to look for carnations and tulips that were still mostly closed.  I wanted to arrange them ahead of time because I found out that Safeway's last shipment of flowers for the week comes on Fridays and since it was Easter, I worried about them selling out of the best looking flowers if I waited until Saturday night.  Ask your florist when their shipments come in so you can always get the best selection, but try not to buy them more than 48 hours in advance of the event.  Also, make sure to arrange them immediately so that the flowers have time to open up and don't get dehydrated.

Beautiful blooms and my two lemoncello glasses to the right

I followed similar steps that I described in my post on styling low flower arrangements.  Start by putting some powdered plant food in each container (flowers usually have a packet attached to each bunch, but you can also ask the floral department for a packet or two if you don't see any attached), but hold off adding water until the end.  Water is much easier to put in than trying to sprinkle the food packet into a vase once the flowers are in it.

I cut the flowers down to fit the depth of the vases and stripped them of all their leaves (leaves below the water line make for short lived flowers and really yucky cloudy water).  For bud vases, it's nice for the flowers to have different heights, so don't cut everything the same length.  Start with your fluffiest flowers first, in my case - pom poms, and divvy them among your four bud vases so that they all appear to have the same amount of flowers.  Obviously some flowers will have bigger blooms, so just counting them out evenly won't work in this situation.  Next, layer in your smaller fluffy flower, I used mini carnations, to start filling in gaps.  Finally, use your non-fluffy flower to add pops of color or extra interest to your arrangement and fill in any final gaps, I used tulips.  Arrange the flowers so the center of the arrangement is the tallest point and it gradually gets shorter on the sides.  For example, you wouldn't want a really tall flower positioned on the wall of the bud vase because the arrangement will look lopsided.  Save tall blooms for the center.  You will probably wind up with flowers too short to fit in your bud vases, so arrange them in your small jelly jar or candle container for a really low arrangement.  This is a really easy way to get one more arrangement and since it is so small, it doesn't take any real skill to arrange it.  For our holiday potluck, I put mine in the bathroom.

Not only do I arrange flowers, I also fold laundry...and then leave it in the background of my styling posts as evidence.

Candle jar flower arrangement using leftover blooms

Bud vases are super easy to arrange, but there are a few things to keep in mind.  For the most part, bud vases look really bad with only a few scrawny flowers in them, so they still need lots of flowers to fill them in.  Second, make sure you have very little stem showing at the top of your bud vase.  It will look more like a professionally done flower arrangement when you place blooms to strategically cover up the stems at both the top of the bud vase and throughout the arrangement to cover up the taller stems in the center.  Also, don't make them too tall, you'll risk toppling them over and if you use them as a table centerpiece it may be hard to see around once everyone is seated.

View from the top...looks like loads of flowers!

After I finished arranging the flowers, I went back and added lukewarm water to the vases (just take your index finger and hold the stems to one side while the faucet is running.  You'll get water all over the vase, but it's much easier to dry it off than to try to find a spot to pour water into each vase.).  You don't want to shock the flowers with cold water, it would be like throwing yourself under a cold shower.   Post-party, keep an eye on your water levels to lengthen the life of your arrangements.  I refilled my vases twice over the past 11 days that I've had them and they are still going strong!

Bud vases are an extremely affordable way to put flowers on your table that still have a big impact.  I only spent $13.74 on these arrangements and I put them all over the apartment to really brighten up the space for our potluck.  I really think it's these small touches that really elevate your party...even if it is a potluck in a young married couples apartment.  It shows that you put time and thought into making a beautiful event for you and your guests to enjoy.  Creating your own arrangements using the containers you already have and using grocery store flowers makes this a super affordable upgrade for any party.  Anyone else tried a bud vase arrangement?  Let us in on any secret tips you have!

Posh Purpose: Styling a Low Flower Arrangement

I hope y'all got a chance to check out our How to Host: Tea Party post last week.  I had a lot of fun hosting and planning for the party.  One of the "must do's" I mentioned in the article was putting out pretty fresh flowers.  As promised, here is a tutorial on how I pulled my arrangements together.

Supplies

Low, wide bowl

Tape

Scissors for cutting tape and trimming flowers

3 types of flowers - one with large blooms, one with small blooms, and one filler

You should make your arrangements the day before your event and then keep them cool (they don't need to go in the fridge, but don't set them near a heating vent or sunny window either), this will allow your flowers to open up the day of your event.  If you make the arrangement too far in advance, the flowers may start to die or wilt and if you wait to make it the day of, your flowers won't be fully blooming.  If you make your arrangement the night before, this will give the flowers time to open up and your arrangement will look super fluffy like the flowers you see in wedding magazines.  

I started out with a wide, low bowl.  Mine is from Tiffany and measures about 9.5 inches in diameter.

I then marked off the bowl with some painter's tape (shhhhh...don't tell Mr. 3, he hoards his paint tape) because I didn't like the idea of picking bits of scotch tape off the side of the bowl.  If I had to do it over again, I would probably use the scotch tape, but I would buy the cheaper frosted kind because I figure it will hold  up better than the painter's tape, but will be less likely to stick to my crystal.  I should also mention that I cut the painters tape strips in half to make them narrower.  The idea behind the tape is to prop up the flowers so you can shape your arrangement without having the stems flop all over the place.

After a quick trip to Safeway, I bought one bunch of hydrangeas (three stems - big blooms), one bunch of peach carnations (12 stems - small blooms), and one bunch of snap dragons (three stems - filler).  After you've trimmed all the stems down to fit the depth of the bowl, strip all the leaves from all the stems because if they get into the water, your arrangement gets yucky quick.  Then begin arranging by starting with your biggest blooms first.  This will help you better place your small blooms and filler.

After I had those arranged, I added in the small blooms peach carnations at various places around the bowl.  I didn't want them spread out individually all over, but I tried to group them in clusters.

Finally, I put the white snapdragons in the arrangement to fill in some of the holes and add interest to the arrangement.

Which was all fine and dandy until I realized that I hadn't purchased enough flowers and there was one hole in the arrangement.  So, I went back to the store and bought another batch of the same mix of flowers flowers.  I was just going to buy another hydrangea bunch, but then I realized I would have two extra stems just hanging out and I had one other smaller bowl that I could put flowers in for the coffee table.  After I filled in the hole with another hydrangea and a few more carnations, I poured lukewarm water into the bowl with a teapot so the petals didn't get wet or fall in the bowl (Despite what most people think, I read somewhere that lukewarm water is better for flowers.  Evidently, putting cold water on them is like pushing someone into a cold shower and it can shock them a bit.).  After I watered the arrangement, I noticed that the painter's tape had started to sag and it was hanging in the water in a few places, so I carefully snuck my hand around to pull all the tape off without disturbing the flowers.  If I had used scotch tape, I probably could have left it on the bowl and it probably wouldn't have drooped as much.

For the second arrangement (see the one on the right), I  had to use the leaves from the hydrangeas to add more filler because the second batch of carnations were much smaller and also hadn't opened up much.  Since this was a much smaller bowl, I was able to forgo taping off the grid.

I spent about $35 on making the two arrangements, but there were a lot of fun and really easy to make.  Each of the type of flowers I bought were close to the same price.  I went with hydrangeas since they gave the most bang for the buck (hydrangeas take up a lot of room in a vase or bowl!).  Carnations often get a bad rap...and they do look a little sad if you just have a few by themselves...but big bunches of carnations grouped together and packed in are a beautiful, fluffy, and cost effective alternative to roses or peonies.  Finally, the filler flower - snapdragons - were so pretty and the easiest to arrange.

I've had to remove some of the stems that died, but they are still going strong over a week later!  The flowers really made the party and I received many compliments, plus I got to enjoy them all week long.  I found it very relaxing to make the flowers and I love the results!  I wish I were one of those women who treats themselves to fresh flowers once a week, but that's a bit out of my budget.  However, we have a Easter potluck coming up and I think I will make another arrangement for that lunch.  I'm thinking I might try several small arrangements next time around.  Even though I can't have them every week, I can look forward to the times I can have fresh flowers for a special occasion.  Anyone else have any luck making flower arrangements?  Consider making your own for your next party, shower, or lunch!

D.C. Valentine's Date Ideas

Going out for Valentine's Day can be horridly expensive and completely unnecessary.  D.C. Valentine's dinner prices are similar to New Year's Eve...it would be really difficult to get away from spending less than $200 on dinner out because so many restaurants do pre-fixe meals ranging from $75-$150 per person.  I'm all for not cooking dinner on Valentine's Day, but I think there are other options out there that won't break the bank.

If you happen to live in the D.C. area, pick up prepared foods from a fancy grocery store such as Whole Foods, Mom's Organic Market, or Balducci's and go out for dessert and a glass of wine at a fancy pants place.  I'd recommend Serendipity 3 if you can get in (I've been to the original NYC location) and there is nothing better than a giant sundae or one of their famous frozen hot chocolates!  Another idea would be to get takeout from your favorite restaurant and then make a special dessert at home that doesn't require too much effort...like chocolate covered strawberries (hint: heat the chocolate over low in a mini-crockpot...it won't burn or get too cold).  You can head to one of the outdoor ice skating rinks at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Pentagon Row, or the Reston Town Center and then treat yourself to a huge hot chocolate at Oyamel or Pitango.  If you must cook, why not head to a cooking class at Sur la Table?  I've been wanting to go to one of their gourmet cooking classes which range from $39-$79 per person.  At least with a cooking class, you aren't responsible for the dirty dishes!

If you happen to be lucky enough to spend Valentine's Day with all your single girlfriends, make it fun!  Go bowling, do one of those painting and wine parties, host a sleepover, or have a potluck (feel free to make it desserts only!).

I'll be sharing my Valentine's plans later in the week, but have I missed any super fun D.C. dates? Obviously, these tips work in almost any city, but let us know what's going on in your towns!

Posh Purpose Tips: Decorating for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is around the corner and Briana and I are working on gift guides to give y'all some ideas for your loved ones.  I'm not into decorating for every single occasion, but Valentine's Day is probably one of the easiest holidays to decorate for if you feel so inclined.  If you are behind on packing up your Christmas decorations, see what you can reuse for Valentine's Day before packing it away.  I bet a lot of your decorations are color appropriate (hello. red!), but this also means you can procrastinate even further on putting your Christmas decor away (just make sure the tree is down and any Santas, Elfs on a Shelf, and nativity scenes are put away)!  You can switch out your white candles or put out pink and red candles or out one bigger candle or pretty set of votives on your coffee table. 

Large Coral Grapefruit Relish Candle
$21.95
Image Source: Paper Source

Pink Tea Lights
$12.95 for a set of 3
Image Source: Paper Source

If you have children, no need to go overboard with extra decorations for them.  A few small touches are sure to make them feel special.  I love these treat containers from Pottery Barn Kids!  What sweet little baskets to put a small gift (we'll have suggestions for kids gifts soon!), a treat, and a note from mom and dad.

Treat Container Set

$14 for set of 2 + Free Shipping

Image Source: Pottery Barn Kids

These mail bags and envelopes are super cute and fun!  You can make a small investment in one of these options and reuse it each year (at least until they are teenagers and are too cool for everything).

Mailbox Chair Backers
$19 + $7 for Personalization + Free Shipping
Image Source: Pottery Barn Kids

Envelope Chair Backer
$19 + $7 for Personalization + Free Shipping
Image Source: Pottery Barn Kids

You can also decorate their chairs on Valentine's Day with a heart shaped balloon (also great for classroom decorating), make them heart-shaped pancakes, or tape up heart-shaped doilies to their windows in their rooms and use them as place mats or drink coasters at the dinner table.

Red Heart Shaped Foil Balloons
$1.00 each
Image Source: Dollar Tree

Heart Shaped Paper Doilies
$2.94 - $3.56 for 100
Image Source: Paper Mart

Hope these ideas help you realize you can be a bit festive without breaking the bank or adding a lot of additional stress!  I'm keeping out my red candy dish that I bought at Christmas and I have some fun red and white striped cloth napkins that I will probably use for our Valentine's Day dinner.  Anyone else have easy decorating plans for Valentine's Day?  Share in the comments section below!