If there is such a thing as love at first site with a company, it happened to me…
Maybe it is my deep rooted love for pattern and color or maybe it is my appreciation for handmade. Whatever it was, the combination of leather and guatemalan fabric had me at hello. Take a moment to take a behind the scenes look at this wonderful company, Nena and Co., and how they create jobs for Mayan Women, upcycle traditional huipils to make new bags, and give back part of procedes to the Mayan community.
This weekender reminded me of Mary Poppins. I could probably fit the world inside with room for myself to hop in as well. It has an option long length strep or short carry handles. It gave me a case of wanderlust and I cannot wait till my next travel adventure:)
BONUS: Nena and Co. is offering 20% off to IHOD readers with code: VDAYLOVE good through Valentine’s Day! Have you seen the camera straps??
I am totally sore from the squat jumps demonstrated above.
I am a little picky when it comes to work out wear. It has to be super comfortable, lightweight, functional, and high performance. It’s a total bonus if its stylish. Meet Albion Fit. A company that specializes in all of the before mentioned. I haven’t really taken off this jacket since it arrived. It has thumbholes in the sleeve to allow for hand warming which I completely appreciate for running. Speaking of…
My work out routine at the moment consists of lifting a 20 pound baby up and down and hauling up the steps every 20 minutes to keep up with my other two little ones. Does this qualify? 😉 I manage to get them out for a walk every day and I squeeze in a run on twice a week. I have plans to join a dance class and hot yoga class this month! (Have any of you tried this?) Exercise has always kept me on the stress-free happy spectrum of life so I do my best to fit it in when I can. Maybe I will run that 10K I have been talking about for a year now…anything is possible when you are wearing cute work out wear. 🙂
Albion Fit is taking part in the IHOD Loves Week and is generously giving away FOUR $50 gift cards today so get in on that action! Enter through rafflecopter below! Bonus! Albion Fit is offering a 15% discount on your purchase through 2/14 with code “Honor15” at checkout!
I thought it would be fun to bring my friend Maddie in to share a February desktop download for you all.
Maddie is a graphic designer (love her work!) from here in Georgia, and blogger over at Maddie Richardson – A Lifestyle Blog.
Download your free desktop design or iphone background HERE.
As I have mentioned before, the amount of pockets a bag contains is what sweeps away my heart. Small ones, large ones, zippered, lined, and even padded ones. Enough compartments and secret compartments to fill an organization nerd’s heart.
Take a close look at the Lo & Son’s O.G. Bag designed for travel, gym, and functional use. When I have a few hours to steal away and work at a coffee shop, this bag fits all the gear as pictured above. And I just had to demonstrate the secret side pouch for the extra pair of walking shoes. It did me in. The nylon lining makes for easy cleaning and the leather handles contribute to comfort and quality. Another favorite feature is that it slides over a roller suitcase handle for convenient travel.
Lo & Sons generously offered to send me one of these to try and, how I would like for it to go with features this year, is that if I try one, you all get a chance to win one too! Soooo…enter away through rafflecopter below to win YOUR CHOICE Lo & Sons bag! (U.S. Residents only) We will draw a winner in 7 days. ALSO, they are offering an exclusive 20% off discount on all orders (with the exception of clearance) with code “INHONOROFDESIGN1”
All the way through Valentine’s Day I will be sharing some of my favorite shops and giving away tons of goodies to you all because you are greatly loved and appreciated! Stay tuned! #IHODLovesWeek
Couldn’t be happier to have my talented friend Meghan (from here in Atlanta!) as a guest today. She comes up with THE coolest ideas in the kitchen…
Confetti Meringue Heart Cookies
Valentine’s Day always seems to sneak up right after we’ve recovered from all our holiday indulging. And I’m always such a sucker for the boxes of chocolates and the crazy sweet conversation hearts. To combat my terrible sweet tooth I’m baking up these Confetti Meringue Heart Cookies. Bonus – they are low in fat, sugar and look darling packaged as a teacher’s gift or classroom Valentine’s Day treat.
There are two tricks for getting wonderfully fluffy meringue – room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar. A little pinch of cream of tartar helps denature the egg white’s protein allowing even more air to be beaten into the meringue. Out of cream of tartar? Just make sure your eggs are at room temperature and your mixing bowl and whisk are clean and dry.
I designed these cookies to taste like a “funfetti cake”; The secret ingredient to their cake-like flavor is the almond extract. Feel free to skip the almond extract if you don’t have some in your pantry – these cookies are just as delicious without it.
Confetti Meringue Heart Cookies
Yield: 6 dozen 1 inch cookies
Ingredients: 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract, optional
¼ cup sprinkles or jimmies, plus extra for topping
How to:
Heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Bring a pot of water to a simmer over medium high heat. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Combine the egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand-mixer (or a heat proof bowl if using a hand mixer). Set the bowl over the pot of simmering water, and whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture is warm, about 3 minutes. Add the salt and cream of tartar.
Whip the egg white mixture with the mixer on medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form and meringue is mostly cooled, about 7 minutes. Add vanilla extract and almond extract, if using and stir to combine. Gently fold in the sprinkles.
Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip with meringue or use a gallon sized zip-top bag and snip a ½ inch off at one corner.
Pipe the meringue into the heart shape: Think of the heart as a letter “V” – pipe a small round as the left side of the heart and pull straight down to create tear drop shape. Repeat for the right side of the “V”/ heart and drag the bottom of the drop down into the left side so they connect. It takes a little bit of practice!
TIP: You can make yourself a template by drawing out a few hearts on a piece of paper. Slide the paper under the parchment paper and pipe the meringue on top of it!
Meringues do not spread as they bake, so place the hearts about a ¼ inch apart so you can fit as many on each baking sheet as possible. Sprinkle with additional sprinkles as desired.
Bake meringues until crisp on the outside but still soft inside, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container in a cool dark place for up to a week.
Meghan Splawn is a professional recipe developer, wife, and mama. Meghan’s blog, Stir and Scribble, is full of clever cooking and useful kitchen tips. She’s a fan of candy, classic cocktails, and fuss-free family dinners.
She’s a close reader.
She will read piles of books after piles of books.
She will pretend she knows how to read and make up words through each page.
She has been working on growing pigtails since she was born.
She has 7 different smiles for several occasions and knows when to deliver each at just the right time. The smile she gives when she knows she is eating something she shouldn’t be is my favorite.
And something I should probably dedicate to another post, but I am not patient enough… VIEW FULL POST
When I was younger I never gave much thought to where clothes were made, how they were made, or the subsequent price points. Over the last few years it has become more important to me to understand the stories behind the company, the makers, and where clothes are produced.
I am happy to introduce you to Everlane who introduces “Radical Transparency,” where they take you inside their factories, reveal true costs, and challenge customers to ask questions. Pretty spectacular right?
Well I was also swept away with their modern designs to the basics they offer. Soft and luxurious at a non-luxurious price.
Take a look at Everlane…you will feel like you just got a tour of their company from start to finish, and it will make you want to be a life long customer:)
Happy Friday friends! Atlanta made it through the Snow Jam and are very anxious to see warm weather this weekend!
x, Anna
