Hair Tutorial: A Braided Headband

Hairstyle Tutorial: How to do a Braided Headband - ExtraordinaryMommy.comI’m nearly halfway through this 40th year of mine.  It is hard to believe it is flying by so quickly and yet, it could be because I have, quite simply, forgotten that this milestone birthday hit this year.  I don’t FEEL any older.  I know I’m starting to look a little bit more so, but really, who cares?  I don’t need to be dressing like I’m 22 anymore anyway.  And many of the current fashions are ones that I wore when I was 8.  So, been there, done that.

Now my hair…. that’s a completely different story. I do feel compelled to stay up with the times when it comes to this category.  Or maybe it is just that I am JUST NOW making the ‘current’ efforts to style and be stylish.  But I AM having a lot of fun.

For this week’s Keeping Style in Your Life, I’m once again tackling a hairstyle – and this one is pretty easy…. though it does seem to be intended for longer hair – at least based on my efforts.  I even thought as I was doing it, that I would like my hair to be even longer.  But, believe it or not, that is a common complaint from me – just ask my hair stylist.  (I always harass her to trim as little as possible) Fortunately, she knows me well (and still loves me, I think).

This is a perfect style for Summer as it has a relaxed and casual feel and can be worn either to an afternoon event or first thing in the morning when you are in a hurry.

How to do a Braided Headband:

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Favorite Summer Salad Recipe: Strawberry Walnut Feta Salad

Summer Salad Recipe - Strawberry Walnut Feta Salad: Keeping Style in Your Life... ExtraordinaryMommy.comNow that Summer is actually here – and by actually, I mean the days are mainly warmer, I’ve been able to open the windows a few days and I’ve worn flip flops almost every day, I’m pulling out all of my favorite warm-weather recipes for BBQ’s and fun-get-togethers. You know…. the ones everyone always requests when you come to a party?  I have friends who I beg to bring that amazing gooey butter cake or that to-die-for spinach artichoke dip (I best be careful or you might think I only go to parties for the food!).  When I go to events, I’m often asked to bring this certain Strawberry Salad – so I figured I might share the recipe with you.

Since ‘Keeping Style in My Life’ involves whipping things up in the kitchen, entertaining AND enjoying myself during these Summer months, here we go….

My no-longer-top-secret Strawberry Walnut Feta Salad Recipe:

Enjoy!

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How To Plant A Vegetable Garden (for Beginners): Keeping Style In Your Life

I’m just going to go right ahead and call this my Summer of Firsts.  I’m trying new vegetables and recipes, I’ve been on a massive organizational binge since my washing machine flooded my laundry room and kitchen and I have learned to catch (what? I didn’t know how to catch? No… I didn’t, but now I do!).

And now? I’m knocking a little something off my life-list: I’m planting an honest-to-goodness GARDEN.  A real one with vegetables my family can eat, with fruit we can enjoy and herbs I can use to season as I cook.  It is like I am finally an adult.  Let me be clear, I have never been someone you might accuse of having a green thumb.  In fact, I’ve always been quite the opposite.  However, two weeks in (this video production business takes TIME, people) and my garden is actually growing.

Planting a Vegetable Garden (for Beginners)In this video, you’ll learn how the true beginner can get started – from the moment you walk into your local gardening store –  I went to Lowe’s in O’Fallon, Missouri and worked with a delightful girl by the name of Sherri – all the way through the planting process.

I chose red and green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, raspberries and then the herbs: sweet basil, oregano, rosemary and lavender. And instead of digging up my yard, I opted for pots. SUCCESS!

And now, for this week’s Keeping Style in Your Life video…the visual tour….

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Travel Tips: Make Packing Easy – Keeping Style In Your Life

Travel Tips: Packing Made Easy - Keeping Style In Your Life - ExtraordinaryMommyHere’s the thing – I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately and during these jaunts, I’ve learned the right way to pack and the wrong way. Trust me when I tell you I have come by this information honestly.

Many a night I have been up at 2am packing for a 6am flight, fully aware that I must leave my house in only 2 hours… and those are 2 hours during which I would MUCH prefer to be sleeping.  Now that I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t, I no longer leave for trips on only a mere hour and 45 minutes worth of sleep because I couldn’t find the travel sized shampoo, I couldn’t remember if I had already packed the outfit I needed for my speech or I was worried my bag would be over the 50 pound limit because I just had-to-have-one-more-pair-of-shoes.

In this week’s Keeping Style in Your Life, I’m tackling:

Travel Tips: Packing Made Easy

Is there anything you do that makes packing and travel easier for you? Naturally traveling with kids is a whole different story.  Later this Summer, I will tackle that as a topic as I know there are tricks to that as well.

This video is part of my weekly ‘Keeping Style in Your Life’ Series… a new one comes out every Monday.  For past videos, see below.

Hair Tutorial: Create Quick, Easy Beach Waves

10 Ways to Tie a Scarf

Organize that Kid’s Room

Healthy Smoothie Recipe

5 Must Have Fashion Items for Your Winter Wardrobe

Hair Tutorial: Quick & Easy Double Braid and Fishtail Braid

Wine Tasting: 6 Amazing Red & White Wines for $15 or Under

How to Organize Your Home Office in 10 Steps

5 New Spring Fashion Trends for 2013

Make Guests Feel Comfortable In Your Home – 5 Tips

How to Make a Braided Bun

How to Make Perfect French Toast

How to do a Sock Bun

Make it a ‘Yes Day’ With Your Kids!

5 Cheap and Easy Ways to Redecorate a Room in Your Home

How to Do a Fancy Ponytail Twist

How to Make To-Die-For Nutella Rice Krispie Treats

This video was shot and edited by my good friends at Pounds Media. 

Pounds Media

How to Make To-Die-For Nutella Rice Krispie Treats: Keeping Style In Your Life

Nutella Rice KrispieTreats - ExtraordinaryMommy.comOur Summer Vacation officially starts this Friday.  I can hardly believe it.  My small people are going to be home with me for an entire Summer.  I know they are counting down the days.  If I’m honest, I am too.  That doesn’t mean I don’t fear the refrain, “Mooooommm…… I’m BORED!” because within a few weeks (days) I’ll certainly be hearing it.  While I want it to be up to THEM to use their imaginations, to head outside and to play with each other, I am well aware they will rely on me to guide them at times as well.

My small people do LOVE to get their hands dirty and make delicious treats in the kitchen – especially if I let them sample along the way.  One of our favorites (it has actually been a HUGE favorite of mine since childhood) is the classic Rice Krispie treat.  Now…. the truth is, no one has ever been able to make them as well as my grandmother did and it has been a long time since she was able to make them for me…. so, I thought it would be fun to find a recipe with an alternative spin that my family and I would LOVE.

And I did: Nutella Rice Krispie Treats. They are extraordinary. Just watch:

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Hair Tutorial: How to do a Fancy Ponytail Twist: Keeping Style In Your Life

Fancy Ponytail Twist - Keeping Style in Your Life - ExtraordinaryMommy.comI’ve decided I’m actually getting a *little* better at doing my hair.  I think by now you know I’ve always been a bit lazy about styling it.  In pictures you often see me with my hair all down.  That is mainly because I’ve never truly known what else to do with it. But, I’ve been practicing and learning.  Keeping up with new styles has turned out to be a ton of fun and I love the opportunity to pass on my new found loves and passions to you.

In the past few months, I’ve shared a few of my favorites – beach waves, a fishtail braid, a high sock bun and a braided bun.

Now for one that is SUPER easy and will literally only take you minutes to do and you can wear it to work or just out and about: a fancy ponytail twist.

So, what do you think?  Easy, right?  Any styles you love to do?  I would love to know.

This video is part of my weekly ‘Keeping Style in Your Life’ Series… a new one comes out every Monday.  For past videos, see below.

Hair Tutorial: Create Quick, Easy Beach Waves

10 Ways to Tie a Scarf

Organize that Kid’s Room

Healthy Smoothie Recipe

5 Must Have Fashion Items for Your Winter Wardrobe

Hair Tutorial: Quick & Easy Double Braid and Fishtail Braid

Wine Tasting: 6 Amazing Red & White Wines for $15 or Under

How to Organize Your Home Office in 10 Steps

5 New Spring Fashion Trends for 2013

Make Guests Feel Comfortable In Your Home – 5 Tips

How to Make a Braided Bun

How to Make Perfect French Toast

How to do a Sock Bun

Make it a ‘Yes Day’ With Your Kids!

5 Cheap and Easy Ways to Redecorate a Room in Your Home

This video was shot and edited by my good friends at Pounds Media. 

Pounds Media

DIY Flower Arrangements for Mother’s Day – Keeping Style in Your Life

DIYFlowersforMothersDayMother’s Day is supposed to be this glorious celebration of the women who love us, guide us and nurture us in the most beautiful ways.  It is a day to say, ‘I love you’, ‘I’m thinking about you’ and ‘You matter to me’. Naturally, like many days of this kind, Mother’s Day has become very commercialized and quite expensive.  Your mom isn’t looking for you to spend a fortune on her.

She just wants to know she matters to you.

And what better way to show her you care than by creating something for her.

I love to give flowers, but know they can be a pricey endeavor. Instead of heading to the florist and spending a lot… why not create your own, adding your own special touch?

For this weeks, Keeping Style in Your Life Video, here are two ways to inexpensively create DIY Flower Arrangements for Mother’s Day (or any special occasion for that matter!)

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