Sunday Southern Days

As a new(er) mom, I sought out the advice of moms before me when my little one had her first cold. Of course, so many advice gets thrown at you, but when they're too little for medicine, here is the best combination of remedies to help baby colds and congestion: Of course, do not use this as a substitution for professional medical advice. This is just what's helped at our house, and I hope it can help at yours too. Stay fabulous,

This year, I decided to make a chicken Halloween costume for Toula.  So easy: 2 white feather boas 1 white onesie  Yellow tights Safety pins I started at the top of the onesie loosely wrapping the boa around the onesie in a spiral formation, pinning it on the inside every 6" or so. About half way down, I needed to start the second boa. Be sure to avoid the arm holes so you can get your little one in and out of it through the bottom snaps.  I had her wear an additional undershirt so the pins weren't against her body. She didn't put up a fuss at all! Such an easy, inexpensive costume that no one else had at the party (sorry Spider-Man and Elsa). Stay fabulous,

I know I am not alone in receiving an onslaught of "artwork" sent home from school. Aside from a Rubbermaid bin, I'm running out of display ideas. Today, 6 Halloween pieces arrived in my daughter's backpack, too cute to toss. So I got to work with a 5 minute craft: School Art Banner 1.0 I popped two holes in each piece to thread through a ribbon, creating a little display garland for my kitchen.  Here is the final product: Stay fabulous,

As my journey on the 21 Day Fix continues, I'm all about tools to make my life a little easier. So I've created this printable PDF for menu planning. I just keep a stack of 20 or so on a clip board and pop one off when I need to plan the next day. Click here for a downloadable PDF If you are interested in trying the 21 Day Fix or have questions about the program, contact me anytime at  kyrapoulos@gmail.com  or visit:  https://www.facebook.com/beachbodykyra . I'm always posting progress, inspiration, Shakeology receipes, and more.

Do you ever have one of those evenings where you're staring into the fridge with NO clue what to make for dinner, hoping something will magically appear? That was tonight at my house. I had a few essentials on hand and threw together this Summery Shrimp Primavera, which was a huge hit with the family, even my one year old. Ingredients: 1 lb shrimp (any size, I used large shrimp) 2 T olive oil 1 red pepper, rough dice 1 yellow pepper, rough dice 6 asparagus stalks, cut into 1" pieces 10 black olives, pitted 1/2 onion, diced 1/2 c tomato sauce (mine was garlic flavored) 1 t dried dill 1/2 t salt 1/4 t black pepper 1 lb. farfalle/bowtie pasta How to make it: Set the water to boil for the pasta. Once boiling, drop in your pasta and stir every couple of minutes to prevent sticking. While that's working, set a saute pan over med-high heat and add your olive oil. Heat for 2 minutes and add your onion.  Saute for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and ...

So often I receive questions about how to address envelopes to guests with various professions and relationships. Here is a little quick reference guide I've put together for future use. To a Married Couple Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hampton A married couple with the same last name should be traditionally listed as Mr. and Mrs. followed by the male's first and last name. It is not incorrect to also list a married couple as "Mr. Albert and Mrs. Samantha Hampton". To a Married Couple That Use Different Last Names Mr. Ryan Paxton and Mrs. Marion Parker When space permits, list both members of the couple on the same line. Each should be recognized with their own salutation and last name. To an Unmarried Couple Living Together Mr. Hunter Allen and Ms. Anna Peterson List the male's name first and both names should be listed on the same line. To a Same-Sex Couple Ms. Salina Redding and Ms. Georgia Browning You can include either member of the couple'...

If you're like me, at some point you've pined for a lovely piece like this Pottery Barn green writing desk ... until you see the price tag. The pop of color is so pretty and would make a nice addition to our home office. So I decided it was time for a hack. We had an old desk at home from my husband's childhood room. Years of wear were showing on the laminate finish, but it had strong bones, made of solid wood inside. After a couple of trips to Home Depot for paint swatches, I settled on Behr Happy Camper. I purchased it in a High Gloss finish and used a 4" high denisty foam roller to avoid any air bubbles or roller marks, like something with a nap might do. To prepare the piece, I sanded it all over with 220 grit sandpaper for a smooth surface and wiped well with a damp cloth. Allowed it to dry well, then I used a spray on primer first to give a nice base.