We have all recycled before. Most cities have programs that make it easy to help the planet when it comes to disposing of our trash. But like a lot of things in life we need to be reminded sometimes of the rules and that’s what I wanted to do today.

Over the years some things have changed when it comes to recycling and some rules get confused and start to become facts when they aren’t corrected. Here is a little refresher of what and how we can recycle in our own homes:

The three general guidelines are:

1. Recycle all bottles, cans, paper

2. Keep items relatively clean

3. Don’t mix plastic bags in with the rest of your recycling

DO Recycle: any plastic bottles or containers, cereal or snack cardboard boxes, phonebooks magazines, mail, office paper, newspaper, tin/steel/aluminum cans, glass jars, glass containers, beer bottles, wine and liquor bottles.

DON”T Recycle: loose plastic bags, shopping bags, plastic wrap, egg cartons, take out containers, drinking cups, soiled food containers, soiled paper products, broken glass, fast food packing.

Good Luck!

Wedding season is upon us. Ring the bells and break out the dresses. No matter your age, it’s impossible not to get excited at the idea of a wedding. True love, beautiful floral agreements and lots of yummy food are a few good reasons.

Around this time of the year I get a lot of questions about wedding jewelry. What to wear as a guest and also what to gift bridesmaids. I have done a blog about my favorite pieces for bridesmaids so this time around I’m going to talk about wedding guest jewelry.

It’s important to feel our best while not going too over-the-top. I have the perfect combinations for classic yet statement making style. Check out the below pieces that will make sure to give you that understated glamorous feel.

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Till next Week,

Yes, yes I know this time of year we are hit with tons of “gift guides” and lots of ideas of how to buy the perfect gift. It feels as if everywhere we look we’re being told to buy buy buy.

I love giving gifts but I hate the stress and pushy marketing. I want to share with you a gift guide of sorts that also doubles as the greatest hits from every collection. This way you can see what pieces in the collections (year after year) have always been the perfect gifts. No pressure, just suggestions based on what has always worked in the past. 

I think the holidays are a great time to give people timeless pieces, the tried and true. The pieces that build collections and fill holes in any style genre. When I talk about classics I just don’t mean classic as a style but the classic pieces that are at the base of every style.

Check out the guide below, it’s broken up by category and includes only the best pieces that have always been top sellers and never go out of style.

Till Next Week,

 Yes, it’s that time of the year, the time where we get caught up in family celebrations, friends, good food, drinks, and lots of cheer. But it’s also that time of year where it’s very easy to get wrapped up (no pun intended) in the stress and busy-ness of it all.

I love that Thanksgiving is right before Christmas and Hanukkah because it’s the perfect mental prep for the more stressful holidays. Unfortunately, the holidays tend to focus a lot on gift giving and spreading ourselves too thin, so Thanksgiving is a time to just be together enjoying each others company and appreciating everything we have.

I also love that it’s centered around a meal made of delicious food. I try really hard to make this meal full of yummy food that nourishes our bodies. Food has brought people together for years and there is something about making food and sharing it with the people you love that feels good deep down in your soul.

I also make the day about honoring the people in my life. Telling family and friends how much they truly mean to me and appreciating them is my intention during the day and it feels fantastic. I find that the more love I give the more love I feel.

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is full of love and gratitude, I’m sending you some as well.

Till Next Week,

Summer is a beautiful thing isn’t it?! Everyone is in a great mood, tan and gathering anywhere there is a grill and a cooler. The energy feels exciting and possibility is everywhere.

 

As the biggest summer holiday is right around the corner, the 4TH of JULY! My favorite trip for this time of year involves lakes and long days up north. I really feel like the midwest does a great job at summer because the rest of the year the weather is usually terrible. Summer is a time to shine and I love to plan my holiday with a few extras to make the holiday feel special and effortless. 

  

Summers are perfect for reading. I love to edit my summer reading lists and share them with my friends. There is something so fundamental about sharing stories with friends. I love reading books and talking about the plots, characters and emotions. So I decided to share my summer reading list with you in hopes that you can share with your friends and family.

My picks for Summer 2018:

You think it, I’ll say it by Curtis Sittenfeld

A collection of stories with fun and witty women doing things we can only dream about. 

The High Season by Judy Blundell 

Every summer has to include a book that takes place at the beach. This is the one.

Love and Ruin by Paula McClain 

Based on real events in the 1930s this novel has love, war and everything in between.

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza 

This book has been getting a lot of press because it’s editor is a little lady known as Sarah Jessica Parker but this novel centered around an Indian family reunited at a wedding is sorry-telling at its greatest. 

Now if you read one of these books let me know in the comments below and share it with your friends so you can talk about your favorite parts with your favorite people. 

Till next week,

Memorial day was this past weekend and you know what that means…summer is here!

May is like the Friday of months...stay with me here. You know summer is close and you can’t help but get excited. This is the month that I start planning all my fun vacations and trips.

Some of you might even feel like it’s too late, but I promise you it’s not. Some of the best trips I’ve taken came together in May. It’s almost like a fun game, if you’re up to the challenge. The trick at this point to is nail down a few key points.

You need to know what type of trip you want to take but be open to the way the trips happens. An example of this is if you’re wanting a beach vacation. Pinpoint what general area, like let’s say the Caribbean, but let exact locations be open to chance. This way when you are searching you can find amazing deals and locations that you might not of thought of before. 

We get too attached to the exact type of vacations we think we have to take, and I get it. We only get so much vacation a year so we want it to be good but this type of planning has really always lead me to some of the best trips.

Most travel websites are built for this type of planning. The best deals happen when you aren’t tied to the exact dates and location. Again, I know this might not be for everyone, but if this idea gave you a little pep in your step go for it.

Here’s too lots of fun this summer, planned or not.

Till next week,

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and if you know anything about me and my story you know I love Mexican culture. My husband and I spent an amazing summer in a small Mexican village and it’s there that I created the first Stephanie Kantis jewelry collection.

I loved so much about that time, but the culture and the people where a huge part of what inspired me to be my most authentic self and create the artwork that has become this amazingly successful business, I never could’ve imagined. 

So, it’s safe to say that Cinco de Mayo has become one of my favorite times of year to celebrate. I love to host a cocktail party with this theme, and have found over the years it’s pretty easy if you stick to the basics. And that includes a good margarita recipe and homemade guacamole. You can’t go wrong. I say simple and fresh are always the way to go over store bought options. 

 

For the decor I’ve included some of my favorite ideas here, in a little design mood board. This theme is what I love about Mexico and it’s all about culture and color.

Let me know if you if you have any ideas and tips of your own.

Till next week,

There has been a lot of talk around self-care routines. In the past they have gotten a bad rap because taking care of ourselves seems to be last on the priority list. Which seems a little backward doesn’t it?

Why is putting ourselves first a crime? I want to be apart of the conversation that puts our health and well being first. As the saying goes, you can’t give from a dry well. 

This week I decided to take you through some of my favorite self-care practices. They aren’t radical but I think just talking about how we take care of ourselves opens up a new way of thinking. It takes the shame out of it. Here are a few of my favorites:

Morning Mindfulness

I take anywhere from 5-20 minutes every morning to be present. The days get away from us so quickly that if I don’t make this a priority first thing in the am I will never get to it. Sometimes this looks like yoga, other times it could be a quick meditation, but it can also be just sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine, listening to the birds and drinking some coffee. 

Afternoon Break

If I don’t schedule an afternoon break than my entire day feels like one huge work meeting. I make a point to spend an hour truly enjoying something other than work. This might mean a beautifully prepared meal, or flipping through some magazines or Pinterest for inspiration. Whatever it is the only rule is that I truly love it and want to do it. This is one of my favorite times of the day.

Nighttime Relaxing

I love baths. In my opinion it’s the best way to end the day and transition from work mode to home mode. I love my work and It’s hard to stop thinking about it but my bath time ritual dissolves the stress and helps me prepare for a night of rest and rejuvenation. 

Till week,