Anniversary Dinner Date at Dakota's Steakhouse

Today, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We decided to go out and explore a new-to-us steakhouse-Dakota's in Dallas. Now, if you haven't used the OpenTable app to make reservations, you are missing out.  I love that we can save our favorite places and make quick  reservations. The app also provides you with the location, directions, reviews and the menu. It will show you the dress code and let you communicate with the restaurant. If you want to simplify your reservation situation, get the Open Table app! After we made our reservation, we happily anticipated our dinner date. Our time slot was reserved for 5:45 p.m. on a Saturday evening and let me tell you, traffic was horrid! It's gotten to be so bad with all the construction everywhere. But, I digress. We arrived fashionably late (15 minutes) while Dakota's graciously held our table. I had contacted them via the app and let them know we were running late.  Everything was perfection! If you've never been to...

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DIML VLOG-Weekend Vibes

Even though I am "retired", I still work. I have started doing some consulting work and let me tell you...they are keeping me busy.  I am working 35-40 hours per week and it's a desk job. I work from home and once the weekend arrives, I am ready to get out and unwind.  I  looked for some upcoming fun things to do and I found a free concert over at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas.  It's about an hour drive from here but I figured we'd get dinner, walk around some and then watch these amazing guys perform! Back in Black AC/DC tribute band. But first we went to Grimaldi's! Yum. I love their mediterranean salad and of course their pizza. I had a delicious peach sangria. Here's a pic right before our entree was served.  Anyway, back to the concert. We walked around and decided to go to the car to drop off my left over box. Then we went back to the plaza to find a good place to sit and enjoy the music. Let me tell you, these guys are awesome. If you love A...

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Organizing a Small Closet

When we moved in to this new place, we gained an extra bedroom and closet, however, the main closet is teeny tiny! This meant that I had to get REAL creative in organizing that main closet. The other two closets, well...let's just say I just threw things in there.  This, of course, presents a dilemma when one is trying to find something, right?  Where the hell is that tripod and the remote?!  I asked myself.  So, fed up with my own disorganization, I decided to tackle the third bedroom's closet this weekend.  I will be moving my home office into this 3rd bedroom in a short time so I might as well organize the closet.  It's a small closet for all the stuff I had.  I planned out what I wanted to do with it.  First, I needed to get a wire shelf to store all my stuff.  I needed some pretty baskets and some totes to store all my home decor, kids' mementoes, office supplies, and more.  I remembered that I really like the wire shelving unit we ...

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The Trials of Starting a New Business

I'm no stranger to starting a new business. If you have read my blog long enough you have seen that I ran a successful photography business for more than 13 years. I also ran a successful vintage furniture painting shop for about 5 years.  Now, I have a successful finance consulting firm and just recently expanded my horizons into an online fashion boutique.  For now, it is only online. But gosh, getting the word out sure has been hard, especially in this new world of social media, influencers and brand ambassadors. I tell you, I have been watching Tik Tok lives to see how other business owners do it.  And I may have to bite the bullet and order lots of samples so I can show on lives.  I mean, people want to see the clothes on! I am also looking for brand ambassadors and may even hold a $200 giveaway.  My shop features affordable fashion.  Not throw away fashion, but classic and trendy, if that's your thing, clothing. I carry women's, plus sizes an some men...

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Black Friday Sales 2024

Fall Photo Sessions Black Friday Sale 2024 I have been a professional photographer since 2011 Here is my Black Friday sale I have a $200 special for the weekend after Thanksgiving. Dm me now to book your beautiful one hour photo session in Highland Park/McKinney Bonnie Wenk Park/Adriatica McKinney includes up to 20 digital images one hour shoot up to five people Times available Friday November 29 10 am 11 am 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm $50 deposit to hold your date. Saturday November 30 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm Sunday December 1st 10 am 11 am 1 pm 2 pm Contact me today! More dates available in December. Reach out to book!

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November 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Guide Let's talk about these awesome products that I am recommending for  the 2024 Holiday Season  These are products that I use and love and have purchased for myself. First up is the Estee Lauder Holiday gift set.  You guys, I am OBSESSED, with this set. For $90 you get all this: Only $90 with any purchase Get it here  Holiday Gift Set Now my favorite products are the Advanced Night Repair Serum, the Eye treatment and the Youth Power Cream I cannot start my day without them Head on over to my Tik Tok and Instagram to see a full video review :) Tik Tok Next, is this $44 gift set from Redken. I bought this at Ulta and it comes with the So soft shmpoo, conditioner and an a leave in conditioner. Head on over to Redken.com or Ulta.com to snag it. Ulta It leaves my hair super soft and manageable. I love it! and last but not least, this awesome Elder B spray from Colorado Aromatics.  I did receive this full size sample to try out and I love it. Obsessed ...

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EZ No Bake Peanut Butter Candies

Happy Fall  It is finally cooling off here in  North Texas! Phew! Anyway, here is one of my favorite holiday recipes that takes only  minutes to make on the stove top. These peanut butter clusters will be the hit of any holiday gathering. Here are the necessities: Wax paper or non-stick surface Glass or non-stick baking pan  Sauce pan, measuring cups, large spoon/ spatula 1 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 1/3 cups creamy peanut butter 4 cups Special K Cereal (original) 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring Directions: Measure out all your ingredients to have them ready (mise en place) and by the stove In a saucepan combine the sugar and light corn syrup on medium-high heat, stirring frequently until mixture starts to bubble Remove from heat Add in the peanut butter and stir until thoroughly mixed Add the vanilla and stir Add the cereal and stir with large spoon until cereal is completely covered with peanut butter mixture. Scoop the cereal mixture onto a waxed paper covere...

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