Once I received my first Julep Maven box, though, I did start to change my mind. The products are wrapped so nicely, but best of all, the colors were FUN! I actually now have started to paint my nails more often and take better pride in what resides at the end of my phalanges.

It’s also fun because each of their nail polishes has a name. So, if you are Amy, Michelle, or even Ingrid, they have a color named for you! Also, Julep is “4 Free”, which means they are free of harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde and such.

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*photo by Stone Blue Productions*

I do have to say that there are several things that I enjoy about being a Julep Maven:

• You have a “style profile”. Basically, you take a quiz about your preferences, and from there they derive what colors would best suit you.
• Mavens receive a preview email showing you exactly what will be in your box for the month… how wonderful!
• If at ANY point you want to switch out your box for another box (they have several different style profiles to choose from!), you can! I love that about it. Often my suggested box will have a color I don’t care for or one that is similar to another I already own, so it is fun to be able to request that a different box be sent out that month.
• You can put your subscription on hold for a month, or you can even designate that the box be shipped to someone else (say, for your sister’s birthday!).
• Emails are sent with special offers for discounts on polish (sometimes 50% off or even a free polish!), and they have a store where you can purchase additional colors and hand/nail care items.
• Each box comes with a little surprise… candy, lip gloss or something else fun!

I was fairly determined that I would cancel my Julep subscription, but now I wouldn’t dare. It is one of my favorite ones! So, if you are ready to give Julep a try, just click here to see what it is all about. I think you will have a lot of fun testing out this box. I would highly recommend it!

I also would like to show you what came in the May Julep Maven “It Girl” box (I chose the “It Girl” style profile because the colors appealed to me more this month). It’s a lot of fun, and I love the little freebie that was included. I took the photos the day the box came to the house (and yes, the box does fit in the mailbox!).

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Here is what was inside:

• Clara polish – light peach color
• Coco polish – dark brown with a tinge of burgundy
• Paris polish – glitter polish
• 4 floral bobbies – so cute!

I am really happy with the contents of my box, and I can’t wait to try it out. Ok, now for a surprise… you can use the code FREEBOX to receive your first box for free!! Now, I know you want to try it. Go here to head to Julep. Enjoy!

~Jennifer

A quiche is an ideal dish for entertaining; it is typically served at room temperature, so you don’t have to worry about it coming hot from the oven. This gives you the opportunity to put the final touches on other dishes and mingle with your guests.

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When planning a brunch menu, think about what would pair well with your main dish- a side salad, fruit, muffins, or even a cheese plate. The key is to keep your sides fresh and healthy – not too heavy. Dishes that can be prepared in advance or take very little time to assemble are ideal, and help you avoid having lots of dishes to prepare the morning of the event. Remember, your goal is to provide a refreshing meal in a relaxed environment! This invites your guests to linger and enjoy the beautiful culinary experience you have created.

This recipe is a base, a starting point- you can customize it with practically any vegetable, meat, and cheese you love. The possibilities are endless!

Vegetable Quiche

Ingredients

1 unbaked 9-inch pastry shell

½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms

½ cup green bell pepper

½ cup asparagus, cut on an angle

¼ cup of chopped green onions

2 tablespoons butter

4 eggs

1 ¼ cups half-and-half cream

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese

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Directions

Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Remove from the oven; reduce heat to 375°.

Meanwhile, in a small skillet, sauté vegetables and onions in butter until tender. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, cream and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms and onions to egg mixture. Stir in cheese.

Pour into crust. Cover edges loosely with foil. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.

Craving more recipes? Be sure to click here to see more yumminess in our culinary section. I hope you enjoy this quiche, and look for more of my recipes in the future.

~Stephanie

These cute pot tags are made from oven bake clay. Head to A Nest for All Seasons to see the tutorial.

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How cute are these? They are made from soda cans! Click here to see this fun project.

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A trip to the hardware store is all that is needed for these fun, easy tags. Just head here to see!

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Dabbles and Babbles has this project that even children can make for their part of the garden.

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I hope you enjoyed our little collection of DIY projects! For more DIY ideas, just click here.

• Have some discipline. – Craig
• Stop eating Arby’s. – Jason
• Watch less TV. – Dennis
• Eat real food. – Ike
• Walk to work. – Ellis
• Journal your calories. – Ryan
• Dance, dance, dance! – Wendell

Some of them just made us laugh, and we wanted to share! Have a wonderful day.

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*photo by havankevin*

We are lucky enough to have my in-laws living in town, and they were more than thrilled to take the kids. They even took them up to Ohio to spend some time with cousins! However, all that traveling apart from each other meant making sure all of our ducks were in a row. Thankfully I have a sister-in-law who was able to share a lot of suggestions with me, but just in case you aren’t as lucky, I thought I would pass on what I learned from her.

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I suggest you leave two envelopes with your care giver, and here is what I think should be in each one:

First Envelope

• Contact information (if possible) include cell phones, hotels, conference centers… etc
• Itinerary highlighting any days you will be unable to be contacted
• List of any medical problems, allergies and medications
• Any prescription or over the counter medication the child is on, plus detailed instructions on dispensing, plus how and where to obtain more if need be
• Contact information for your child’s physician

Second envelope in case of extreme emergency (seal this one!)

• Child’s birth certificate
• Health insurance cards for the kids
• Letter or form giving the caregiver permission to make health care decisions while you are gone (We used one we found online, but a lot of people simply write a letter. State the name and birth dates of children, whose care you are leaving them in, and what dates as well as what procedures you are willing to let the guardian agree to.)
• List of any medical problems, allergies and medications (a duplicate of what you created for envelope number one) 

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Thankfully nothing was needed while we were gone except some cold medication, but we definitely traveled with more peace of mind knowing that, should the worst happen, our children would be able to receive the care they needed if we couldn’t be contacted.

Also, I want to stress that don’t be afraid to get away and leave your children for a few days for a getaway! Our kids had a wonderful time with their adventures, and we had a great, relaxing time on ours. Sometimes being away from our children seems a little scary, but I encourage you that it is worth it (see how happy we are in our photos?). Have fun, and get planning!

~ Joy

For tips on packing for a trip, just click here.

1. Be present. During the heightened emotion and excitement of transitional periods it’s so easy for it all to become a blur. This is one of my own greatest challenges during a period of transitions–being still and taking it all in. It’s so easy to jump ahead to the wedding day, the moment when you’re holding a baby in your arms, or even to worrying about what life will be like after college. Be intentional about engaging in the present.

2. Take stock. Transitional periods are a great time to evaluate your life. Are you pursuing your goals or are you just kind of going along with the life that seems to happen for you? Are you on the path to the career, relationship, calling that you desire and are meant to pursue? Now is a good time to look around and make necessary bold choices to get to the place you want to be.

3. Talk with supportive friends. Transitions are times of increased stress. Nothing is more therapeutic than letting it out and talking with trusted friends and family. Let your inner circle be there for you.

4. Prioritize. Plan your time based on what is most important. Be intentional. Make time for the people who matter most. What are the most important ways for you to spend your time during this period? What will matter to you looking back? A grade? Quality time with a loved one? How wise you were with your finances?

5. Don’t make decisions out of fear. When forging through times of change it is easy to freeze up and not make decisions at all or worse– make decisions based on fear. Look fear in the face and articulate the “worst case scenario.” When you say it, you can extinguish its power. Move forward with courage.

What has helped you through times of transitions?

~Hilary

Hilary Sutton is a freelance writer and actor based out of Lynchburg, Virginia. She is passionate about telling stories that are begging to be told.

So, I’m not claiming to be Einstein as far as creating traditions go, but I also do believe that some of the simplest traditions are the best ones. Maybe that’s because in their simplicity, they are easy to do and maintain from year to year rather than doing something that takes an enormous amount of effort.

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Today my little (ok, not so little!) boy turns 12, and in honor of his birthday I thought I would share our tradition with you. Basically, I get up and make a pancake breakfast, and the person of honor receives birthday pancakes in the shape of the age they just turned. Voila! See? Super simple!

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One thing that we do is have a special designated plate that we use each year. I happened to stumble upon this one at Hallmark eons ago, BUT the fun thing is that through yard sales, I have been able to pick up more, so each of my children will have one to use with their families someday (to carry on the tradition, how fun!).

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Also, when you make the pancakes, be sure to make the numbers backwards so that when you flip them over the best side is the right side. Does that make sense? The side that hits the griddle first on the pancake tends to be the more aesthetic side, so I make the number backwards (4 is the hardest!) so that it’s pretty when it’s turned right side up.

If you mess up some of the pancake numbers, your family will be more than happy to eat the not-so-perfect ones. Trust me on this. They all taste the same!

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Use whatever you can, but my favorite for getting up early in the morning is buying Krusteaz pancake mix from Sam’s. All you have to do is add water (so easy!), and it comes in bulk, so you will always have some on hand (literally I pretty much only make pancakes on birthdays as we normally eat healthier). We also use pure maple syrup.

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Also, finally, after YEARS of just pouring the batter on the griddle, this pancake pen by William’s Sonoma makes actually forming the numbers SO much easier. For $9.95 it’s a time saver for sure!

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I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our family’s traditions. I would also love to hear about yours if you have any for birthdays. Families are so fun!

~ Jennifer 

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Roanoke: Roanoke is hosting one of the largest festivals in Central Virginia at the end of May. For an entire weekend, Festival 2013 will entertain droves of Virginians with concerts, food vendors, numerous arts and crafts vendors, and kid friendly fun! Festival 2013 begins on May 24^th and continues through May 27^th. The festivities are free until 5:00pm, and American Electric Power will be hosting 5k and 10k races Saturday morning at 8am. Evening concert tickets are $13-$15, and children under 8 get in free! Reserve this weekend on your calendar, and purchase your tickets in advance here.

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Lynchburg: Looking for something to do in order to avoid the masses of graduating students and their families on May 11^th or simply searching for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day? Get out to the James River Wine and Music Festival on May 11^th from 11:00am. to 6:00pm. Take your mom, your wife, or all of your adult friends and family members to Riverfront Park on the beautiful James River in downtown Lynchburg. The festival features twelve Virginia wineries (including Peaks of Otter Winery and Horton Vineyards), multiple local crafts and food vendors, and live music throughout the entire day. If you miss this one (or even if you go!), be sure to save the date on your calendars for the Lynchburg Beer & Wine Festival on September 21st, also on the Riverfront.

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Charlottesville: On Saturday, May 11, 2012, Charlottesville hosts the Festival of Cultures. This festival invites individuals of all cultures to come together and communicate with one another in spite of language or lifestyle differences. This is a fantastic learning opportunity, which features historical exhibits, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and live performances that celebrate the diversity of Charlottesville, VA. The festival is organized and presented by Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center.If you’re looking for a culturally enriching experience, this festival is a perfect addition to your spring schedule.

No matter what you choose, I hope that you have some fun exploring events in our area this May!

~ Whitney

I personally find it easier to run on a treadmill in a gym, but many women enjoy running outside, to experience a change of scenery. Here are some cons and pros from running outside vs. on the treadmill.

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Pros of a treadmill:

• The surface of a treadmill is often smoother and has a cushiony feel for the joints.
• Many treadmills have media extensions attached like a TV.
• The weather and terrain will not prohibit your workout.
• You can control the pace and incline much easier.
• There are no worries of others getting in your way or passing cars.

Pros of outdoor running:

• You can run anywhere and change up the paths you run on.
• An opportunity to experience daily life, scenery, weather, sunshine, fresh air… etc.
• It generally burns more calories.
• Many people feel a sense of accomplishment from outdoor running.

Whichever method you decide works best for you; always make sure to stretch before running. I never used to stretch beforehand, and now I have shin splints! Important muscles to stretch out are (of course) your shins but also hamstrings, calves, arms, shoulders and hips. Otherwise, your knees, legs and back could be pretty angry with you later on.

No matter where you choose to run or at what intensity, I hope you have fun and enjoy it.

~Rachael

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I am SO excited about our next “clutch connect” event, and it centers all around flowers. Imagine heading out to a flower farm in Nelson County with friends, learning about flowers and going into the fields to clip your own blooms and arrange them. Sound divine? It is! Not only will all of that be possible, but a light, homemade lunch is also included in the workshop as are tips on how to arrange your flowers.

The workshop details are as follows:

• May 21st from 10am-1pm
• Cost – $49.50 (these workshops at Pharsalia are normally $65!)
• Meet us at Pharsalia (carpool with friends!).
• Lunch is included.
• Bring clippers, a vase and a box to keep the vase from falling over.
• Dress comfortably!
• Register by clicking HERE.

I love the look and feel of these workshops, and here are a few photos from Pharsalia’s Facebook page that they have from previous classes.

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Again, we are SO excited, and click here to register or to find out more information.