Friday, September 30, 2016

A DIY Mandala Meditation Table Sponsored By Wayfair


Sometimes I just love a good project, even if I don't have the time or even need to create anything. When Wayfair was like hey you guys, do you want to take the Maginnis End Table and do whatever you want to it? I was like heck, yes, send it on over and I am going to DECOPAUGE it! I've always loved decopauge, which simply put, is like gluing all of your favorite paper cutouts to something you love and making it all awesome by laquering that bad larry like it was going out of style. I taught myself the art of decopauge myself and it's really very easy. Some great tutorials are around the nets (like here and here) but what I really think should be your deco-P inspiration is an amazing piece of art or clippings that you adore. What inspired me was art created by my long time internet friend, Kristen Fagan. We "met" in our early days of blogging back when and have been following eachother's creative adventures ever since. She has been creating some amazing mandala and meditation art as of late and one of her pieces "Be Brave, Love Deeply, Shine Brightly" really spoke to me. I purchased the digital image and I've been sitting on it for over 6 months. *Light Bulb Turns On*- DECOPAUGE!



What You'll Need to Decopauge:


  • Glue- I use Modge Podge because if a glue was my soul mate, MP would be it.
  • Medium Sized Paint Brush
  • Paint Scraper or "Smoother"
  • Clear Varnish (optional, you can also use your Modge Podge)
  • Art- Be sure you have enough to cover your surface area. I printed mine at Staples on 8x11 multipurpose paper so the quality would be crisp!
  • Scissors



The process is really quite simple. You are covering the surface area with your papercut outs, gluing them, then sealing them for a smooth finish. It can take some getting used to and get ready to have "gluey" fingers for the duration but once you get into a groove, you really start creating something amazing. I did all the pieces of the side table unassembled to ensure that I wouldn't be missing any nooks or corners. Starting with bigger pieces to cover the wider surfaces of the table was easy and during a break, I cut different shapes from the art work (flowers, quotes, mandalas circles) to create the vision I wanted for the visible surfaces. When decopauging, it's important not just to glue but to smooth as you go, hence the need for the paint scraper. If you don't smooth your paper while the glue is drying, you may end up with air pockets and bubbles which can be hard to smooth out once dry. The beauty of using a print like this is that is was very forgiving in this area and lended to a more worry-free creative process. I said to my husband as I was decopauging, watching The West Wing on Netflix, that this table was going to be friggin' awesome!



Sure, the process can be tedious and time consuming when you're working on a piece of furniture but when the outcome is awesome, it's totally worth the committment! I am EXTREMELY pleased with the outcome. I think this is the perfect addition to a room where I often take some time to just "be quiet", though those moments are few and far between, it's important that I take them.  The table itself is super affordable so the project was  "low risk" but boy was it high reward. I absolutely friggin' love the outcome!



Monday, September 26, 2016

Sundown Yoga presented by YogaWorks + The Street




Join the folks at The Street Chestnut Hill at sundown for a yoga practice under the stars as they celebrate and welcome YogaWorks, coming soon to The Street! This class will be taught by Catie Macken and will include live music by DJ Oh!, complimentary infused water from Juice Press + special perks from shops and eateries at The Street. Please be sure to bring a mat or large towel and dress accordinaly (they reccomend layers!). 

Be one of the 1st 100 to RSVP to recieve a Swag Bag upon arrival! I'll be there, baby bump, mat and layers to stretch (as much as I can) and enjoy a little live music. Won't you join me?!

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Treat Yourself to a Little Self Care

* This post is in collaboration with Cost Plus World Market for the Grand Opening of their store in Hyannis, MA

I'm lucky enough to have a working relationship with Cost Plus World Market and therein get to explore their stores on a regular basis! When I found out that their store was opening on the Cape, Hyannis to be exact, I jumped/leapt/just about fell over at the chance to help them spread the word. I joined a handful of local bloggers at an in-store event last  week, and even did a refresh on the DIY terrarium tutorial for Halloween! It was a fun night of tasty bites, Halloween decor, tablescapes, a photo booth and most importantly, SHOPPING! It wasn't my first time at the rodeo so I knew exactly what I was going to go for since I didn't need any new furniture or kitchenwares... self care products! It was fun shopping this spacious new store and the layout was just perfect for my quest! Being that this Mama of one is soon to be a Mama of two, there's no messing around when I'm making time for myself these days... since I know those days are numbered!

I knew what I wanted, since I'd been eye-balling some goods online before headed in store (a prepared shopper is a successful shopper!). A super soft  Damask Mirabella Chemise and the Coral Knit Shearling Slippers were on my must have list as well as some bath + body necessaties (Sistal and Cotton Soap PouchLavender Mint Bath and Body Oil +La Lavende Lavender Bar Soap). I also snagged some gifts for the holidays and some knick knacks that I just couldn't leave behind. It was a successful day at the Cost Plus World Market in Hyannis. I inspired Gabi to take on the terrarium, I ate delicious brie bites created by Annemarie and I saw a fantastic tablescape created by Lauren.  I shopped one of my favorite stores without a kid with me- It was one winner of an evening that I've loved sharing with you. If you're lucky enough to have a Cost Plus World Market in your area, you should most definitley take the time to explore and you'll be sure to find fun and affordable ways to spruce up your home!


What is your favorite way to treat yourself?

Shop My Cost Plus World Market's Self Care Picks!






Wednesday, September 21, 2016

The Propah Family Takes on the Big E!

I don't generally write a weekend recap or give  you all the deets on what would seem like a regular ol' day but I was SO proud of our last Saturday.... seriously! As a Mom, it's always about planning. Sometimes you make plans and nothing goes right. Sometimes, an not as often, you make plans and those plans work out wonderfully... and that was this past weekend. On Saturday, we popped the kid in the car and make the hour and a half ride to the Big E in Western MA. I hadn't been since I was in college and the man and child hadn't been ever. We didn't really know what we were in for but we did end up having was THE BEST TIME. We spent the majority of our day in the area where the childrens' rides and food trucks were and that was fine by us. We spent a lot of money on those little pink tickets but every single penny was worth the excitement on this cute little kid's face. Here are some snaps from our really memorable day. The Propah Toddlah is STILL talking about the (creepy) singing bears!


Monday, September 19, 2016

Safe and Natural Baby Wipes? Sign Me Up!

*This post was sponsored by WaterWipes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Seriously, do you want to know what my new favorite "kid" product is? It's WaterWipes. This may be a sponsored post but I would have never tried them had I not been introduced to them. You know that I'm trying to be more conscious of what  my family is using, bath and body products, cleaning, hand soaps... you name it. I've been doing a pretty good job of it too but one thing I hadn't really been mindul of was the wet wipes I'd been using on the #PropahToddlah. WaterWipes is a chemical free baby (and kid and adult) wipe that contains only two ingredients, both of which you can recognize: 99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.  This is most definitely a safe and more natural option for my family.


Grabbed my WaterWipes at Walgreens!

Not only is it safe, it works and is comparable in price. I don't have to worry about sensitive skin or irritating a rash that's already there. It's at least one thing I DON'T have to worry about. I can also keep a package at the kitchen table (I know, I'm so classy) because table manners is still a work in progress over here. I often give one (or two) to the toddler and am like, clean yourself up, Kid. I don't have to worry if he gets it in his mouth and it's nice to have some peace of mind for sure. I can't say the same about some of the other well known brands. I'm always looking for better ways to take care of my familly and this is just one of the new ones that I've discovered. With another baby on the way, I know what I'll be using moving forward. No, really, I love these WaterWipes... and so does this jelly faced kiddo!


Our WaterWipes at the breakfast table!

Want to snag some WaterWipes for yourself at your local Walgreens? The folks at I-C and Walgreens have teamed up to offer five lucky folks the opportunity to win a $100 Walgreens gift card through the WaterWipes Walgreens Giveaway! It runs from September 16th through October 7th so there's plenty of time to enter. I-C will randomly select five winners from all the entries and send out the prizes. While you're waiting to see who won, you can visit WaterWipes on Facebook and Twitter or grab a package to try for yourself at your local Walgreens.

WaterWipes Walgreens Giveaway



What's your best "natural" find for your family? I love discovering new things to bring home to keep my peeps happier and healthier!

      Tuesday, September 13, 2016

      An Afternoon Tea Time Chat with The W.E.L.L. Summit, Gabby Bernstein and Sara DiVello

      You know when you're going to have FOMO before you even have the FOMO because you know that people are going to be able to experience something so cool and you're not going to be able to go? That's how I feel about the Tea Time chat being hosted by The W.E.L.L. Summit in early October. I'm traveling for work (BOO!) but if you're in the Boston area on October 2nd, please do yourself a solid and snag a ticket for the Tea Time Chat with authors Gabby Bernstein and Sara DiVello, two thought leaders (in my opinion) who will no doubt leave you feeling refreshed, inspired and just damn good! You'll sip on organic teas and snacks. You'll have soulful conversations with other likeminded people. You'll be like this close to Gabby Bernstein *me holding my fingers close together*. I'd like to think this is one of those events that you walk away feeling like a new person... that's how I'm viewing it anyhow. That's what is so great about the events that The W.E.L.L. Summit puts together (including the Summit itself). They are intimate and thought provoking. You're not one of 200 people sitting in a room. You are a person contributing to the conversation and leave feeling heard/validated/accepted/loved... This is yet another event that will leave you feeling inspired, I promise. You can snag tickets here or click the picture below to take you to the event page!

      WELL Summit Tea Time Chat



      What you will get with your ticket:

      • All attendees will leave with a gift bag of carefully curated wellness products and a copy of Gabby's new book, "The Universe Has Your Back" so that they can continue to be nourished and pampered at home.($150)
      • VIP Attendees will receive copies of Sara and Gabby's books, premier seating, front of the line privileges for Gabby's post-talk book signing, gift bag of carefully curated wellness products (value $150) and a as a BONUS: access to Gabby Bernstein's True Power Digital Workshop ($297 Value). In this five-hour program, Gabby teaches her favorite techniques to combat our most common problems -- from anxiety and addiction to burnout and resentment. Please note: In order to receive this Workshop, the WELL Summit will need to share your email address with Gabby Bernstein.
      So have I piqued your interest yet? I'd love to hear ALL about the event from those who attend so that I can live vicariously through you, so please do let me know EVERYTHING! Oh and can someone grab me a signed copy of GB's new book? Please and thank you!


      Find out more about Sara DiVello, author, Where in the OM Am I? Best Memoir Winner, NIEA, and a Shape Magazine  Book Selection on saradivello.com or find her on social media @saradivello and Facebook.com/saradivelloOM

      Find out more about Gabby Bernstein, author, The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith, and more on gabbybernstein.com or find her on social media @GabbyBernstein and Facebook.com/gabriellebernstein


      Friday, September 9, 2016

      Brunch Havarti, Ham and Egg Melt with Prosciutto and Spinach

      Do you ever feel like you need to make some hella good breakfast sandwhiches at home? Yeah, me too. I wanted to make something fairly easy but super filling that we might head out to brunch for, but that I could make in my PJs without having to put a face on. I was stoke to collaborate with Bruegger's on my Blueberry+Lemon Cream Cheese Crumb Cake and add another post showing you how I would dress up a classic bagel too. I grabbed some "essentials" at the grocery store and whipped up a fantastic sandwhich for me and husband on a sunny Sunday morning!

      Ingredients Needed for one sandwich:

      -Egg Bagel (or you can use the Summer Pretzel Bagel or Classic Plain, I grabbed mine at Bruegger's)
      -Havarti Cheese Sliced Thin, 1 slice
      -Dijonaise (2 tsp of mayonnaise, 1 tsp dijon mustard, a dash or two of sriracha)
      -Egg Prepared Over Easy
      -Deli Ham Sliced Thin, 2 slices
      -Prosciutto, 2 slices
      -Baby Spinach
      -2 Tablespoons Butter
      -Salt
      -Ground Pepper



      This recipe is a great way to dress up a classic bagel with some super tasty ingredients. While the bagel itself a breakfast fave, this versatile bagel also serves as a fantastic base for a tasty (and filling!) brunch sandwich. With just a few great ingredients, a Sunday morning (or afternoon) can be elevated to restaurant quality from the comfort of your home.
      Butter both side of the pretzel bagel. On a hot pan, place the bagel face down until those sides of the bagel are lightly toasted, golden. Place on a plate when you’ll build your sandwich.

      Place two slices of deli ham on the bottom of your bagel, followed by your thinly sliced prosciutto (you can also substitute bacon here if you’d like). Set aside.




      Prepare your egg over easy. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it's hot and foamy. Break egg and gently put in a pan, one at a time if preparing multiple. Reduce heat. Cook slowly until whites are completely firm and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard. Place egg on sandwich, careful not to break the yoke. *Your Ideal egg will leak yoke once you’ve completed your sandwich, coating your ingredients in eggy goodness when ready to eat!

      While your egg is still hot, place a slice (or two if you’re a cheese lover) of Havarti on top of your egg, so it will begin to melt. If you need to melt the cheese further, bake in the oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes. Be sure to keep a close watch.

      In the same pan you used for eggs, melt additional butter and add your baby spinach with a dash of salt and pepper. Saute for a few minutes until the spinach is lightly wilted but still bright green. You’ll want to avoid the spinach becoming soggy. Add a layer of spinach atop your melted cheese.

      Apply dijonaise to the top of your bagel to top off your sandwich and voila, you’ve got a delicious and hearty brunch melt that not only pleases the taste buds but is super easy to whip up in a snap!





      This recipe is everything you want in a Sunday morning meal. Delicious? CHECK. Easy? CHECK. Filling? CHECK. Did I say delicious? Well, it is. You can pick up your bagels on Saturday and be ready to whip up breakfast or brunch the next morning, no problemo dude! We devoured ours in no time flat and would most certainly make this again!


      *This recipe was created in collaboration with Bruegger's Bagels. Ingredients were provided by BB. All opinions are 100% my own and this recipe was created in my home. Thank you, as always, for support those that help keep Prim and Propah up and running!

      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

      Spending Time as a Mother of One

      You may have seen on my social media that this is happening... yep, we're expanding our family! Some have said that I've been sitting on this news for awhile but to be honest, the Summer has flown by and up until recently, I was feeling a little tired but pretty OK. Well, the bump is present and boy am I tired, achey, whiney, tired and tired... did I mention that I'm tired? I am living with a whirling dirvish of a toddler who is as sweet as they come but does require quite a bit of my attention. I've barely had time to pay attention to this pregnancy and to be honest, it's really flying by, which is kind of scaring me.


      It was Labor Day that I really took stock of where I'm at. Currently, I'm a mother of one but that's going to change around the Holidays... and you know what? That made me sad to think of not being able to devote all my love and affection to my sweet first born. I had one of those days, where if you were to put it on paper, it would seem unremarkable. I took Wesley to Dollar Tree, to Target, Walgreens and out to eat at the 99 (because Family restaurant!). I mean, that doesn't seem like the BEST day... but it was. My son and I enjoyed eachother's comany, the way that a 2 1/2 year old can at least. He was agreeable. He was joyful. He was talkative. He behaved. He picked out new Minions sunglasses. There was no whining. He lasted well past his naptime and didn't make me regret dragging him all around. When we got home, he was just too happy and excited to take a nap, so instead, we laid on the daybed in his room for "quiet time". He snuggled me, gave me smooches, chatted happily about his Mama and Daddy and Doggy and it was just the most special. I'm telling you that the "simplest" day is going in my memory banks as one of my favorite as a mother of one.


      It's hard to express this feeling of sadness, sadness that I don't have that much time left to just be me and my little buddy. I should be super happy that we are welcoming another little boy into the family, and yes, I am but that doesn't take away from the fact that I haven't really stopped to appreciate the time that I've had as a mother of one and now I feel like that time is wasting away. Of course, pregnancy hormones don't help matters but the overflowing love of a mother will soon need to be shared with another and I'm just not 100% sure how that's going to work... but then, I guess, I wasn't quite sure how it was going to work with just the one, and that love shook out in all the right ways.

      We can hashtag this post, #CrazyMomThoughts

      Tuesday, September 6, 2016

      Welcoming Cost Plus World Market to the Cape- Hyannis Grand Opening!


      You may remember my over the top excitement when the Cost Plus World Market store opened up in Framingham last Fall so it should come as no surprise that I am super psyched for my peeps close to the Cape to be able to experience the same shopping elation at their very own location opening in Hyannis MA on September 8th (this week!). There are some amazing Grand Opening events that, if you're within driving distance,  you should really make it a point to check out. You want the deets? Well, I've got the deets.

      Grand Opening Weekend (Hooray!) September 8 - 11
      Doors open at 9am on Thursday, 9/8

      621 Iyannough Road
      Hyannis, MA 02061

      Store Hours: M-F: 10am – 9pm, Sat: 9am – 9pm, Sun: 10am – 7pm


      There will be plenty of opportunities to take part in all the neat things that Cost Plus World Market has in store for their Hyannis opening. I think that meeting Rehab Addict Host, Nicole Curtis (Saturday Sept. 17th, 1-3pm, Be the first 200 customers to bring 5 non-perishable, non-glass items to donate to charity and get a signed autograph with Nicole.) is a pretty exciting happening! If your weekend is already booked up, never fear, they have some pretty great stuff happening each and every day. Thursday September 8th, be one of the first 100 customers in the door and grab a $10 gift card. The 8th- 11th free totes for customers each day, daily raffle drawings, live entertainment, tastings and more. Spend over $40 on the weekend and you can eve snag some free movie tickets... it's sure to be worth a stop in, not just for the shopping but to see what they've got lined up to celebrate!


      I am leaving work early next week and heading down there for an evening of shopping (which I will surely update you on and am super psyched about). I honestly don't know if I'll shop the furniture or start grabbing gifts for loved ones since I'll be really, really pregnant by Christmas time. There have been some items that I have been oogling for quite some time now. I should probably get a wreath to replace the one that's been on my front door since April (whoops!). Who knows, I may have to pull the trigger on the metallic embroidered leather pouf that I definitely don't need but I definitely do want... all I do know is that I love to shop at Cost Plus World Market, the Fall Collection looks AMAZING ( I mean c'mon look at these lanterns) and this Grand Opening weekend should be no exception!




      Snag your 20% coupon (yay savings!) for the Hyannis Grand Opening Weekend and get your shopping list ready!

      Friday, September 2, 2016

      Sweet Intro to 222 Fifth + A Giveaway

      You may remember me talking about doing a baking demo, whipping up batches upon batches of berry scones. I took part in a bake off of sorts with the team at 222 Fifth in Boston earlier this Summer. It was a super fun day (also a little nerve wracking since I was being filmed) and the video is now up on the 222 Fifth blog, and I couldn't be happier about it! I mean, can't you just see me now with my own baking show?! haha well maybe I'm not there yet but I have definitely been brushing up on my cooking, baking and everything in between. It's exciting to be partnering with 222 Fifth again to introduce you to their brand and actually offer you the chance to win a set of their beautiful mugs for afternoon tea or coffee!



      I have a new 222 Fifth Dinnerware set, the Takara print, that's like my new swoonworthy breakfast set up. I personally love anything that's blue and this is seriously my dream print is something that won't go out of style but also looks more modern than your Grandma's inherited dinnerware (not that there's anything wrong with that!). I've been enjoying this print and want to mix and match with some other pieces in the future for sure! I've got my eye on the French Garden and Lyanna next.

      So do you want to win the Adelaide Mugs in Blue? You'll snag 4 great porcelin mugs, designed in New York City, plus they're microwave and dishwasher safe, which is a must in my house! I think these are great transitional pieces from Summer into Fall, well for any season... your tea would be perfect in 222 Fifth! Enter in the Rafflecopter below and we will choose a winner next week! (US and Canada Residents)



      *This giveaway is sponsored by 222 Fifth. As Always, opinions are 100% mine and I appreciate your support of brands that help to make Prim and Propah a success!