Me and J-Lo

Jennifer Lopez.... She really gets me! Or at least her line of clothing at Kohl's does. I got a Kohl's gift card in my Christmas stocking. It was really hard narrowing down what I wanted but when I saw this Jennifer Lopez leopard dress I knew I had to have it.

The animal print is subtle but the effect is definitely not. The faux-wrap effect, along with the ruching, helps accentuate the good curves while camouflaging the places I'm self-conscious about. I also love that the attached belt hits just below the waist and has a gold accent.

I don't love this necklace with the outfit though. I feel like it blends in too much. I'd rather have something that pops. Any ideas?

Dress: via Kohl's - exact // Shoes: old, via Marshalls - similar (love these Lauren Conrad ones!!) // Necklace: old, via Banana Republic Outlet // Bracelet: gift

 

2014 - the Year of Me

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a happy New Year!! I spent Christmas home with my family and it was great. I've never been a big celebrater of NYE or New Year so I'll be laying low.

Even though I don't have big celebration plans for ringing in the new year I do I have plans for 2014!! It will be the year of Cheryl. Now, I know that sounds a little conceited but I don't mind. This year I plan to work on me, celebrate me, and love me. Still sounding conceited.... Hmmm.

Here's a secret. I hate NYE and the whole New Year hoopla. Why? Because usually it means one more year has passed without me doing what I truly want, getting healthy, finding joy. So I decided this year would be about me changing that.

Getting healthy:

January 1 starts the Paleo journey! Yay! and Eek!!! I have friends who have done Whole 30 and eaten Paleo so I know I will survive... I  won't lie, a huge part of me just wants to be thinner. To be able to throw on an outfit instead of strategically planning one that will camouflage my belly and not emphasize my bottom. But I also have a need to be as healthy possible that I have have never had before.

I will be posting a bit about this whole experience. Partly to be held accountable [NO, I will not be posting my weight :-) ] and partly to hopefully encourage and inspire others to take control like I am.

Finding joy:

Something else I have learned about myself this year - I play it safe. In all aspects of life I play it extremely safe. I don't take risks, I never attempt anything I could possibly fail at, I don't let many people into my safe little world I have created, I stay home a lot because it's the safe world I have created for myself.

Well, guess what's not in my safe little world - adventure, happiness, joy, fun... I finally had to ask myself if would I rather live a safe life or a joyful one. I'm choosing joyful. And boy is that scary for me!! I'm going to have to take risks. I won't be able to control the outcome of everything I do. I won't be able to hide anymore. I will get hurt. I will feel disappointment. But I also have a feeling I will feel happiness. And feel young! I'm only 38 for pete's sake! Most of the time I act like I'm 70.

So I have big plans for ME for 2014. But I'm hoping that I will be able to bless and bring joy to others along the way. If I'm happy then I want to spread that happiness to others.

The Best Intentions... and Merry Christmas from Snaps of Ginger

I had such plans for the Christmas season on this blog!! Several fun crafts, an outfit or two, some gorgeous jewelry... Then I had to go and get sick and now I am so, so behind in everything.

The good side of this is that it forced me to slow down and focus on the important things and remember why Christmas is so special.


First I want to share some fun Christmas crafts, ideas, last-minute-I'm-freaking-out-rescues, etc:



Christmas Tag Printables via Uncommon Designs




Have bored kiddos? Stormy weather? Snowed in?
 Here is a round up of Christmas coloring pages from Nest of Posies




Need a last-minute gift? Forget someone? JC Penney has $10 express shipping and great sales going on.



 Need a last-minute decoration or craft? How about these snowman paper luminaries from spoonful.com?




And finally, I am so very thankful for the true meaning of Christmas. I hope you all have a very wonderful and special holiday!!!

via

A little under the weather

 

I caught a cold this weekend so I wasn't able to get my outfit post or my DIY's done. They will be coming soon!!

Jingle Bells, Candy Canes, and Inspectors

I am finally feeling somewhat back to normal so I wanted to share the little gifts I made for some of my coworkers.

I love jingle bells... Especially glittery pastel colored jingle bells!! I found these great colored jingle bells at Michael's.

I didn't have a plan for them but had to have them. Then I found the large snowflake jingle bells at the Dollar Tree. I had seen these jingle bell ornaments on Pinterest so I decided to create my own version. I simply threaded different combinations on the silver string that came with the large snowflake bells. I like the mix of the matte finish, shiny silver, glittery, and colored together.

Before I decided to make the jingle bell ornaments I bought these adorable snowman candy cane socks.

 I'm also a big snowman fanatic... I found the socks at Oriental Trading Company, one of my favorite sites to order Christmas crafts from. These ornaments couldn't have been easier. All I had to do was gently slide the sock onto the candy cane. I love how the hook of the cane made the floppy hat.

I had an inspector to make sure I was doing everything right :-) Sorry the photo is blurry but I had to snap it quick when he hopped up there. Meet Bentley!!

Cranberry Walnut Bread

The holidays always make me want to bake. I was really craving some cranberry bread like my great aunt makes so I decided to give it a try. It was much more simple than I thought it would be and turned out great. It's my family's newest request for when I go home for a visit.

Yummy!!!!

(the salt and butter are missing from this photo. Sigh...)

Add all the dry ingredients and mix together.


 

I roughly chopped the fresh cranberries in the blender, leaving some whole.


 

I mixed in the rest of the ingredients. I love all the bits of cranberry, orange zest, and walnuts!


 

 Put batter in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for 55 minutes.

 

 

Recipe via Ocean Spray:

 

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 tablespoons shortening (I use 3 tablespoons of extra soft butter instead)
1 egg, well beaten
1 1/2 cups Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped nuts

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in orange juice, orange peel, shortening and egg. Mix until well blended. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in loaf pan.

Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely. Wrap and store overnight. Makes 1 loaf (16 slices). 

 

 

 

I got a little abstracted...

I am just now getting around to showing you my Black Friday purchases. I didn't really buy much for myself - just this abstract floral print dress from Target and a few necklaces from GroopDealz.

I ordered the dress using my new Target Red Card debit card. Do you have one yet? It works just like a debit card but you save 5% on every in-store and online purchase and shipping is always free. That's a win-win in my book!!

This outfit is perfect for the holidays. I can dress it up with some different shoes and a great clutch for a party or wear it as-is for our Christmas luncheon at work.

Dress: via Target - exact // Necklace: via GroopDealz // Bracelets: Local Boutique // Shoes: via Shoe Carnival

Isn't this necklace gorgeous??! Have you tried GroopDealz yet? They have fantastic accessories and clothing at amazing prices. I ordered 4 necklaces from there and I love every one of them. I can't wait to find ways to wear them all.

Liniking up with Mix & Match fashion for:



and

The Tiny Heart/Penniless Socialite for: