Learn to Dance in the Rain

Thursday, March 31, 2011

It's been raining for the past three days here in FL and the radio now tells me that there is a Tornado warning in effect. Isn't life like the weather sometimes? You're going along minding your own business and then out of the blue the unpredictable storms of life begin to roll in!

We can choose to let those storms dictate how our days will play out or we can embrace them. Like the grass, we too need a little of both sunshine and rain in our life to stay balanced and although it's a bit of a disruption to our plans some days, it's usually exactly what we need to grow into all that we are to become.

Sometimes this process can be painful as we fear becoming uprooted, losing ourselves in the process or having to start all over again but every storm builds strength, character, love and a compassion for others that we may never have known otherwise.

What's the weather like where you are?

 

Win a Personalized Thank You Card Set!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011


It's giveaway time! In following with my 'Thank You' theme which we discussed just a few days ago as it pertained to thanking guests as part of good hostess etiquette, Pear Tree Greetings is offering one lucky reader a set of 16 Thank You note cards so you can do just that!

Pear Tree Greetings has been a long time sponsor of Classy and Fabulous and also believes in the importance of thank you notes. They are an essential item and a good set should be at the ready for every classy woman.



Not only does Pear Tree specialize in beautiful personalized stationery and thank you cards but they also offer graduation announcements, invitations and graduation thank you notes which you may be thinking about as well as everything for weddings and baby too.  They sent me some graduation samples a few weeks ago and they were all so professional looking and creative too!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. To enter, let me know you're a public follower and mention who you'd mail some thank you cards to if you won.

2. For extra chances, share this giveaway via Facebook and/or Tweet about it! (each worth an extra entry)

*Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and don't forget to leave your e-mail if you don't have a blog, so I can contact you if you win!

GIVEAWAY CLOSES: April.3, 2010 at 11pm EST

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE: A set of 16 thank you cards from Pear Tree Greetings

RULES: The winner will be selected using random.org and announced on 04/04/11.

OPEN TO: I apologize to my international friends but it's U.S. addresses ONLY for this giveaway.

Shop the Pear Tree website now and get special discounts. Much love to Pear Tree Greetings for providing another great giveaway prize!




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Living Well: In the Kitchen

Monday, March 28, 2011

Today is the first post of yet another new series, called Living Well here here at Classy & Fabulous. I think it's one you're all going to find valuable. I'm such a tip junkie, I get excited about finding new and better ways of doing things in every area of my life which save both time and money. I figured you would enjoy a regular dose of them also!

Kitchen Tips 

1. Opening a Tight Lid- Run a jar lid under hot water for about 15 seconds then wrap and elastic band around it or a bottle lid. This trick is also great for getting tight tops off of nailpolish bottles. Once you've wrapped it around the amount of times that it will fit, twist it open. The elastic allows your hand to grip a lid better without your hand slipping, becoming sore and red.

2. Clean as you Cook- Most people enjoy a home cooked meal but get frustrated with a messy sink and counter. My father raised me to always clean up while I cooked and set the table so that everything would be clean when dinner was done. No messy dishes for everyone to look at before or during dinner and the clean up is a breeze which means you can relax instead of slaving over dishes afterwards.

3. Making Fresh Herbs Last- If you like to buy fresh herbs from the grocery store but are disappointed by how quickly they wilt, try clipping their ends off and putting them in a glass of filtered water. It will keep the herbs fresh and they will last so much longer vs. going limp. This works great for celery stalks too, as they also need to absorb the water which maintains their turgor pressure.

4. Master 3 Dishes- Have three signature go-to dishes so that you can whip up a great meal for guests on a moment's notice. You should have one appetizer or salad, one main course and a dessert that you can make confidently on the fly and that everyone will enjoy time and time again. Here are a few perfect potluck recipes and here is a post that reveals my favorite food blogger. You have to try his recipes, they are so creative and yummy!

5. Sparkling Wine Glasses: Place wine glasses over a glass of hot water with lemon until steamy then take a napkin or paper towel and clean them to spotless perfection. I learned this trick while working at a high end restaurant while in college. It works similarly to steaming up your sunglasses with the breath to clean them.

We will continue to explore the kitchen as well as many other areas in future posts but I want to hear what your best kitchen tips are that have made your life so much easier?


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