The 2015 Fall Must Have List..

Fall Must Haves - My Favorites for Transitioning to Fall - www.stage-presents.com

It is still warm here in Georgia, but the evenings and mornings are starting to get a little cooler.  That means, its time to start pulling out all my fall favorites and creating my Must Have Fall List.  I know.. yes, another list.. lol.

Scarves are a staple for transitioning temperatures.  They can dress up any shirt, blouse or t-shirt.  My favorites for the autumn weather are the Blanket/Oversized Scarf, the Infinity Scarf and the Knit Circle Scarves.

Fall Must Haves - Scarves - A Staple for Transitioning Seasons

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Not only do these scarves bring diversity to your wardrobe.  But, you can play with it for different looks.  Check out these fun ways to Style your Over-sized Scarf here and your Infinity Scarf here.

Boots and Boot Socks – Am I the only one who thinks they are equally important?  There is nothing more annoying than your trouser socks creeping down inside your boots.  Eeek….  I totally don’t discriminate, I like all kinds of boots, thigh high, ankles, wedges you name it.  And, I try to get as much use out of them as I can.  I am especially obsessed with all the Fall Colored Hues… I have been searching for the perfect cognac colored boots for years.  And, the hunt still continues… These are some of the boots and boot socks on my wish list for 2015.

Fall Must Haves - Boots: A Staple for Transitioning Seasons

Photo Source: Macys.com

Fall Must Haves -Boot Socks - A Staple for Transitioning Seasons

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Dark Polish –  Even though I know that most people consider the French Manicure to be the Superior Standard.  I prefer a dark nail.  I try to wear some brighter colors in the summer months, just to mix it up, but I would perfectly ok with wearing dark colors on my nails all year long.

Fall Must Haves - Dark Polish - A Staple for Transitioning Seasons

Photo Source: Polish Love Pinterest Board

Trench Coats: It’s not cold enough for a winter coat, maybe still a little too warm for Cable Knits, and Turtlenecks.  But, just cool enough to pull out the Classic or not so Classic Trench Coat.    You can smarten up any outfit, with a well tailored trench coat.  Whether you are wearing it over yoga pants or a dressier pant, it can be the difference between soccer mom and Fly Girl….   Did I just say that?  Dated myself on that one.. but you get the idea, right?

Fall Must Haves - The Classic or Not So Classic Trench Coat - A Staple for Transitioning Seasons

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What is your favorite Fall Accessory?  Consider sharing it with us in the comments below.

Three… Two… One… A Friday Series No.4

321 Friday Fun

Three Blogs:

Dimples and Tangles

Sarah’s Heart

Inspired by Charm

Three911

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Two Faves:

VTech Kidizoom Smartwartch

Wolfgang Puck Pressure Cooker

Two91115

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One Freebie:

This week’s freebie is in Honor of Grandparent’s Day.  Celebrate with these  #betterthanyours Grandparent’s Day Printables and let “The Grands” know just how special they are.  Click the Link below to Download and Print.

Download Your Free #betterthanyours Grandparent's Day Printable

My Grandma

My Grandpa

My Grandparents

Read any Great Blogs or Fell in Love with any Must Have Products?  Share them with us in the comment section below. Have an Amazing Weekend!!

Three… Two… One… A Friday Series No.3

Three Blogs Two Faves One Freebie - A Friday Series Volume 3

Three Blogs:

Stone Gable Blog

She Wears Many Hats

Hoosier HomeMade

Three Blogs Two Faves One Freebie - A Friday Series Volume 3 - www.stage-presents.com

Photo Source: 1 2 3(Middle & Right) *In Number Order

Two Faves:

Polaroid Snap: A New 10MP Instant Digital Camera

Bialetti 7265 Trends Collection 5 Quart Pasta Pot

Three Blogs Two Faves One Freebie - A Friday Series Volume 3 - www.stage-presents.comPhoto Source: 1 2

One Freebie:

This week’s Freebie Friday is geared towards shutterbugs and photographers courtesy of Anwar Thomas Photography (aka my hubby). Here are his notes on Today’s Freebie.  As a photographer, have you ever taken what you believed to be the perfect photo and later realized there were no clouds in the sky? It happens to inexperienced and seasoned photographers alike. So with that in mind, today’s Friday Freebie is a set of 9 cloud overlays. This set of overlays are high resolution (300 dpi) jpeg files that you are free to use to enhance the sky and background of your digital photos. The files are compatible with all photo editing software that supports jpeg files.

FreebieFriday9415 - 9 Free Cloud Overlays found originally on stage-presents.com

 

Cloud One

Cloud Two

Cloud Three

Cloud Four

Cloud Five

Cloud Six

Cloud Seven

Cloud Eight

Cloud Nine

Have an Awesome Weekend!!

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On the first of each month we offer Exclusive Content to Our Valued Subscribers.  The greatest thing about this is that when you sign up you get access to previous months as well.  We hope you will join today and become an official part of the Stage Presents Family!!

All That Glitters – Don’t Call It A Comeback

There was a time when Decorating with Gold symbolized wealth and power, especially during the Roaring 20’s and the Old Hollywood era (as pictured below).  But, as time went on people began to shy away from such grandeur and even considered it to be pompous and showy.  But, in recent years, and the reintroduction of “Bling”, Gold has made quite the comeback  in the Interior Design/Home Decor Scene. Homes aren’t draped in Gold as they once were.  But, incorporating this precious metal still demands attention and provides a regal and timeless feel to any given space.

Decorating With Gold - great gatsby movie set design - jay gatsby mansion ballroom

Pictured Here in the Great Gatsby Movie Set Design

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As is the case with adding pops of color, adding Gold Accessories to your room can transform an otherwise calm, or muted space into a rich conversation piece.  I have always been a fan of dark walls,  but add a large ornate gold mirror to this room and it goes from masculine and a little cold, to stately and stylish.

Decorating with Gold On Black

Decorating with a Gold Mirror On Black Walls

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Aside from the fact that curtains provide us with privacy and shield us from the sun, they are also the final piece to any room.   The piece that ties in all the furniture, all the accents, and gives it a completed look.  One of the benefits of choosing curtains with Gold in them is that they can be paired with so many different color palettes, giving you a broad spectrum from which to choose. Color Scheme References Shown Below.

Decorating with Gold - Crate and Barrel Bold Ivory & Gold Aston Curtains

Crate and Barrel Bold Ivory & Gold Aston Curtains

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Decorating with Gold -

Gold Color Schemes

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Accent Pieces are those pieces of furniture that you don’t necessarily need, but you just have to have it.  It adds definition and personality to your room.  It could be a throw pillow, a picture, a vase, a dough bowl, and the list could go on and on…

Decorating with Gold Accessories from Our Etsy Store

Gold Accessories from Our Etsy Store

The items above are all available for purchase in Our Etsy Store.

Many people choose to update their space as the seasons change.  And, with the end of summer almost here and fall quickly approaching, gold is the perfect accent color to add into the mix.   Have you jumped on the gold band wagon yet?

It’s #freebiefriday!!

I have spent all week getting everything in order for the First Day of School on Monday.  So, I am officially pooped.  But, I still manged to squeeze in (2) Printables for Freebie Friday.

Had You At Hello - Dorm Room Printable - www.stage-presents.com

Hello PrintableCapture the Moments - Dorm Room Printable - www.stage-presents.com

Capture the Moments Printable

For Personal Use Only.  Do not Alter or Redistribute on Any Other Sites.

To Download > Follow the Link – Right Click  – Save As – Print. They can be used ANYWHERE.  But, with the start of the Fall Semester Approaching for most colleges, I thought these would be cute,  framed somewhere in a Dorm Room, or a Teen/Tween Bedroom.  If you choose to print and display these, consider showing us where these landed by tagging us on Instagram  @stagepresents.

5 Steps to Combat Winter Dryness by Nandi of Nandi’s Naturals

Guest Blog: 5 Steps to Combat Winter Dryness - Written by Nandi of Nandi's Naturals

 

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Colder months bring with them a new set of skin-care challenges. Unless we live in subtropical climates, the air is usually more frigid and drying, and less humid. With winter well underway, I’m going to share 5 tips for helping your skin survive this year’s cold front.

 

  1. Stay hydrated. Just because the weather has gotten colder and you may be perspiring less, doesn’t mean your body requires less hydration. Drink up. As a matter of fact, don’t drink any less than you would during hotter months. Your skin requires the moisture that comes from being properly hydrated as much now as it did in warmer months. Colder weather has a tendency to be drier, meaning less available moisture for your skin.
  2. Use thicker, slower-absorbing moisturizers. A few of my favorite products during colder months are Nandi’s Skin Relief Butter and any of their body butter bars or lotion bars. Why? Because these are heavier in consistency and slower to absorb than normal body butters and lotions, therefore being longer lasting on the skin. They’re wonderful for locking in moisture right after a shower or bath. At the same time that these create a protective barrier against moisture loss, they also condition the skin.
  3. More baths, less showers. You’ve probably heard this before, but it bears repeating. Even during summer months, showers can cause buildup on the skin, resulting in scaly and severely dry skin. Bathing opens the pores, provides more absorbent topical moisturizing and helps shed dead skin, especially on legs and feet. Not only that, it’s the perfect way to unwind and release stress. Be sure your baths or showers aren’t too hot, because too much heat can be drying to the skin.
  4. Moisturize heels. Don socks. Sleep. All summer you’ve walked around showing off your toes. Winter is the time to revitalize and pamper them. My nighttime ritual year ’round, but most especially during winter months, is to moisturize my feet, paying special attention to my heels, and slip into a pair of socks at bedtime. Performing this ritual leads to a lot of repairing and conditioning while you snooze. Come summer, you don’t have to get your feet ready, because they’re already ready.
  5. Open your curtains and blinds and let the sun shine in. Okay, okay, this one isn’t exactly a skin-care tip, but in a way it is. Our absorption of vitamin D is decreased during winter months. This could possibly contribute to more illnesses, including depression. Sunlight can help lift your spirits during winter months, which may motivate you to do more to care for your whole body. Your skin being one of your largest organs can’t help but benefit!

 

About Nandi – 

Here’s an excerpt that I swiped from her website about her Vision. – Born and bred in small-town Louisiana, most of what Nandi’s Naturals founder Yolanda “Nandi” Jacobs consumed came straight from the earth, no additives, no preservatives, no fillers. While life choices might have taken this kreyól girl away from her small-town upbringing, one thing always remained: a desire to recreate her childhood, where figs and pears were picked fresh off the trees in her grandmother’s backyard, where chickens clucked, roosters crowed, cows mooed and birds chirped. Of course, she didn’t want to place all those ingredients in her products, but you get the drift—good products don’t require tons of unpronounceable ingredients, when simple, safe ingredients will do. So, it’s with the vision of summer days eating blackberries until her mouth turned blue and fingertips black, that Nandi set out to create body care products that didn’t require a chemist to translate the ingredient list or cause panic attacks after seeing the price tag. In other words, she wanted her cluck to be a cluck and her moo to be a moo.

 

You Can Find Nandi from Nandi’s Naturals on:

Connect with Nandi's Naturals All Across Social Media

Facebook:

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The Nandi’s Natural Company Website:

How to Beat the B-O-R-E-D bug over the Holiday Break?

How to beat the B-O-R-E-D bug?

Holiday Breaks take on a different meaning when you are a Stay at Home Mom. When I was working full time, I treasured the days of being at home with the kids.  I would get 2-3 days off at the most and those days were so jam packed with activity, it seemed like they were over before they even started.

Fast Forward to this year, when the Board of Education saw fit to make Thanksgiving Break a week long, sending this Mommy into Panic Mode.  A Week off in the Cold, with little to no chance of Outdoor Activities means I have to find a way to keep these girl’s entertained to combat the B-O-R-E-D bug.

The B-O-R-E-D Printable Beat the B-O-R-E-D bug

For the Free Printable Click BORED.

So my mind switches into List Mode….

What can we do?

  • Board Games
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Bowling
  • Learning Disguised as Fun
  • Read-a- Thon & Library Trips
  • $3 Movie Theater Trip
  • Holiday Decorations
  • Scrapbooking
  • Making Christmas Lists
  • Mini-Golf
  • Baking

I am feeling pretty proud of myself, until I realize that my entire list could probably fit into a 4-5 hour time Span, which sends me into an even bigger panic.

So it’s back to the drawing board, also known as Pinterest.

Here are some of the links that I found….

The Chirping Moms on

10 Things To Do When It’s Too Cold To Go Anywhere!

Pint Size Treasures on

9 Fun Inside Activities to Do With Kids — Perfect for Cold and Snowy Days!

The Madhouse on

The Ultimate No Spend or Low Spend Bored Jar list

**My favorites from these links – Spa Day, Puzzles and Any Other Activity that Includes Helping Mommy with her Chores, lol.

SO…WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LITTLE ONE’S OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAKS??

Only 9 Days Left Until Halloween…

9-days-until-halloween-wickedmanors

 

Are you Ready?  It’s true, there are really only 9 days left!!

Let’s Run Through Our Quick Check List.

  • If your kids are going Trick or Treating, I hope that you already have their costumes, in hand.  You couldn’t pay me, to be in Party City(or any other costume store), this time of year. Honestly, it’s like Black Friday for the Goblins.  EEK!!  Have you thought the whole Costume through?  I can’t tell you how many years, Halloween morning came and I realized I still needed coordinating shoes, stockings, undershirts, blah blah, blah.  I mean, let’s face it, no princess was ever fierce in NIKE’s.  Also, make sure to factor in the cold, the rain, and potential runny noses(cold/flu season). NO matter how warm the day starts out, it always seem to be brisk on Halloween night, even in Georgia.
  • You’ve Completed your Outdoor Fall Decor and Decided whether or not you want it to be Inviting or Scare the Little Ones Away.
  • You’ve got Candy, or if you are “that Mom”, raisins and fruit cups. With Food Allergies becoming more and more rampant, consider that when purchasing your treats.  Trust me, No Mommy wants to end their Halloween on the other end of an Epi-Pen.
  • Which brings me to my next point, it may seem EXTRA, but check your child’s candy. Unfortunately, we live in times, where we have no choice but to be VIGILANT!!
  • Finally, plan ahead.  Go over Safety Rules and Have Fun!!  Take lots of pictures, make lots of memories and Enjoy your Little Ones, believe it a lot these moments can be fleeting.

If you are still considering planning a Halloween Party of Fall Festival Check Out our Custom Invitations over on our Etsy Page!

halloweenmockup

Halloween Round Up 2014

Ready for some Ghoulish Awesomeness!! 18 Days Until Halloween!!

halloween_pumpkin_and_candles-other

There are so many amazing Free Printables and Party Favors this time of year. Here are some of the ones that I have found (that are actually free).  I hate those not really FREE LINKS.  These Links will take you directly to the source.

Countdown Calendar with Candy Corn Pieces courtesy of Yellow Bliss RoadHalloween Countdown free printable title

Halloween Lollipop Holders/Gift Tags and Gift Wrap courtesy of Living Locurto

Free-Halloween-Printables

3-D Halloween Bat Banner courtesy of the celebration shoppe

Free-Halloween-Black-Orange-Bat-Banner-Kim-Byers

 

Trick or Treat Party Boxes courtesy of Bird’s Party Blog

hal boxes blog hop 026

 

I saved the best for LAST!! I admit that this is the first year that I have heard of the Boo’d Phenomenon.  But, I thought it was truly adorable.  Here’s how it works.  You and your kids pack up a bucket, or bag with lots of Great Halloween Treats, and Leave it on your Neighbor’s Door Step, unbeknownst to them. Now, originally I think you were supposed to ring the door bell and run, but that’s not such a popular thing to do these days.  So, I say, use your discretion, lol.  Along with the treats, you provide them with some quick directions and an explanation and it’s up to them to keep the FUN going!!

Boo’d Banner and Boo’d Game courtesy of Classy Clutter

Youve-Been-Bood-1024x816

 

My oldest (18), was a really big fan of Halloween, probably a lot longer than he should have been, lol.  The little ones, not soo much, they still find it scary, but I thought this is something cute, I could do with them.  At least, it would make Halloween a little less grueling.  But, I am not sure how hubby is going to feel about that.  The bottom line is that all these Holidays are just about making fun memories and spending time with your family.  So get out there and enjoy them, while they still let you!! (smile)