Thrifty Thursday: Nail Polish Key Caps

Posted in Crafts by

Key Collage

If you’re like me, you have a keyring full of look-alike-keys with no clue in telling which one is the house key or the storage key.  Annoying right? Not to mention that at nighttime it’s even more difficult to tell them apart.  I’m sure you’re already hip to the PVC/ leather keycap trend to solve this issue, but what do you do when those caps get worn and torn off?  Lose money buying another pack?  I think not.  That can all be avoided because I discovered something that’s durable, unique, and a lot less costly in the end.

To keep you from constantly spending money on keycaps, opt into painting your keys with nail polish.  This solution made me very happy because I own a lot of it and I’m sure you do too! Lucky us! 😀  So here you are, an easy, thrifty way to customize your keys without the hassle of fussing with thick, rigid keycaps. Yay!

As you can see in the B/A photos above, your keys look sleeker and more stylish than those bulky caps.  Plus, you can design them however you want.  Your imagination sets the stage for your designs, whether you want your keys to be glittery, neon, pastel, glow-in-the-dark, etc.

So UTT friends, thank you for allowing me to save you a little moolah today.  It was my special way of sharing this fun and cost effective solution with you.  Stay thrifty my friends! 😉

Much Love,

Tempest

Do Not Worry

Posted in Faith by

Matthew 634

Whenever I catch myself worrying about things I cannot change or even about all the things I must do the following day, I remember this scripture to remind myself that God is in control of my life.  We all fall prey to worry from time to time, but in the end worrying gets us nowhere.  Instead, worry creates anxiety and stress which is unhealthy for our bodies, minds, and spirits.  As an additional consequence, it robs us of our peace of mind and hinders us from being productive at all.

Though this fast-paced world dictates our lives through deadlines, appointments, and to do lists, we do not have to conform to its rules.  When we allow God to center our day around His plan for our daily lives, worry doesn’t have to weigh us down.  It’s comforting to know that no matter what happens today, tomorrow, or in the future, God is right there making a way for us all to complete our work effectively and efficiently for Him.  Whatever challenges you are facing in your life, job, or relationships, do not give into worry, remember that God is holding your hand through it all.

Much Love,

Tempest

Friday Tracks: James Blake

Posted in Music by

If I could sum up James Blake’s latest track “Retrograde” in one word, it would have to be ASTOUNDING!  Why you might be asking? First off, Blake’s voice oozes out soulful and sultry verses that leave you intrigued for more.  Upon first listen, I was reeled in by the bluesy tone of the song as Blake’s voice hauntingly seals the deal on my eardrums.  Blake is clearly talented in his vocal range which is why this video made it to my Friday Tracks List!

Enjoy the video and give me your feedback and comments below, on the UTT Fan Page, and at the Feedback Hub .

Much Love,

Tempest

Addictions of a Music Junkie

Posted in Music by

If you’re a person who wakes up every morning craving the intoxicating elements of a beat, chorus, lyric, or rhythm to jumpstart your day…then consider yourself a bonafide Music Junkie!  Being a Music Junkie is not just a label to describe musically addicted people, it’s a lifestyle and one that our fellow MJ Medina makes entertaining and delightful throughout her video “Addiction”.

Medina is one of my favorite dance artists and before I even saw the video, I was already addicted to the song.  The video  provides a wonderful visual of the life a Music Junkie experiences which would make anyone want a little taste of it.  Until that happens, savor every moment of this video and rest assured that you’re not the only one who’s a slave to the music!

Much Love,

Tempest

Fab Fitness: Battle of the Bands

Posted in Health & Fitness by

Alright Fitness Fanatics!

The votes are in and based on the feedback you all gave me on the UTT Fan Page, health & fitness was highest requested topic for this week.  So as a promise to you, here are four combo exercises using resistance bands that you can incorporate into your workout routine.

To get started you will need the following equipment:

  • Resistance Bands (can be of various resistance based on color)
  • Yoga mat

Watch the video above to view the correct form of each move and have a great time getting fit and fabulous!  Give me feedback in the Feedback Hub for any suggestions of posts you’d like to see more of or submit your votes at the poll on the UTT Fan Page.

Much Love,

Tempest

Artist Spotlight: Marion Bolognesi

Posted in Crafts by

13_loucopy

To all those who appreciate the beauty and wonder a fabulous piece of artwork can bring, here’s a little beauty I stumbled upon and decided to share with you.  This piece titled “Watercolor Faces” was inspired and created by Marion Bolognesi.  Bolognesi is an artist and designer who pursues her artistic inspirations out of New York City where she currently works and resides.  Based upon what I’ve read about her, Bolognesi’s paintings evoke strong emotion through her use of vibrant and complementing color schemes which favor well to people who admire her work.

I would have to say that her effective use of white space along with the watercolor is what drew me to this piece.  Whatever technique Bolognesi infuses into her paintings, it certainly emits her passion for beauty and appeal to the eyes.  If you would like to view more of Bolognesi’s work click the photo above and check out her website.

It’s been a real treat to share this with you as well as discover a talented artist, so if you have something neat you would like me to feature in my next post, connect with me by giving me feedback in the Feedback Hub.

Much Love,

Tempest

Spring Quencher: Raspberry-Mango Sangria

Posted in Health & Fitness by

Yield: Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 mango, peeled, pitted, flesh thinly sliced lengthwise
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • 3 tablespoons raspberry liqueur
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) rose wine
  • 4 cups (32 ounces) chilled lemon-lime soda
  • Ice

Directions

  1. In a pitcher or large bowl, combine mango, raspberries, raspberry liqueur, and rose wine.
  2. Stir to combine and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to overnight). To serve, add lemon-lime soda and ice.

Enjoy & Much Love,

Tempest

Friday Tracks: Lindsey Stirling

Posted in Music by

Happy Friday my lovelies!

This week’s track is one I happened to stumble upon and fell in love with!  It’s called “Crystalize” performed by the very talented Lindsey Stirling, a classical violinist who adds a nice twist of dubstep and hip-hop.  Not only is the sound beautiful, but so is the video.  Check it out for yourself and leave me comments on what you think about her!

Much Love,

Tempest

Spring Treats: Watermelon Jell-O Petites

Posted in Recipes by

bela_hello-jello2

Yield: Makes 20 fruit slices

Ingredients

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 (3-ounce) pkg. strawberry-flavored gelatin
  • 1 cup chopped fresh OR frozen* strawberries (*thawed )
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 5 limes, halved, pulp scooped out & discarded, AND rind halves reserved
  • 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or basil seeds

Directions

  1. Slice the fruit cleanly in half lengthwise (through the axis).
  2. Carefully remove the pulp while keeping the half rind fully intact.
  3. Ensure that the rinds are dry (you can use paper towels to blot them).
  4. Set each half rind upright in a muffin pan so you can fill it with Jello.
  5. Mix the water with the gelatin (just like you would to make jigglers).
  6. You’ll want the Jell-O a little firmer than the normal recipe as you have to slice it in half again.
  7. Make sure that the gelatin is well dissolved, and then pour into the fruit before it begins to set.
  8. Fill up as high as you can; the Jell-O will shrink a bit when cooling.
  9. Carefully transfer to the fridge and let set for about three hours, per box directions.
  10. When the Jello is set, place the fruit open-side down on a cutting board, hold it’s shape with one hand and carefully slice in half lengthwise again to form quarters.
  11. Be careful not to smash the fruit as you’ll want to keep the Jello intact (you may use a serrated knife).

Much Love,

Tempest

My Little Secret

Posted in Faith by

snoopy quotoe

Much Love,

Tempest