Category Archives: Coupons. Lifestyle. Shopping

Spring Cleaning…To Do or Not?

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Hello Yall! Happy New Month. I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. We’re already ziplining through 2022; can you believe we are in the fourth month already? My heart and prayers go out to the Starr readers in Ukraine and Russia. I pray the madness ends and the citizens are allowed to thrive freely and in peace. I’m writing this post with my TV on in the background and wondering why on a hot Texas Sunday they are showing Krampus on TV but who knows these things.

It’s time to spring clean and I have to admit that I’m a little behind this year, but I have a plan on how to get started which I’m going to share with you so stay with me. The beauty of doing this every year or multiple times a year is to make sure that whatever items we have or own at home are things that we need, are put to use or will be put to use at some point. The goal is to have stuff but not let stuff have us…but often times, this is easier said than done. So, grab a drink, smoothie or a snack and get comfy. This post is for me and everyone else who believes they can at least do better.

Kitchen & Pantry

Culled from the internet.

If you’re like some of us, chipped dishes, broken mugs, cracked glasses and a mis match of utensils mixed with to-go plastic containers line our cabinets and counters. It’s time to get organized on a budget or better still, invest in decent cookware and utensils. Trust me, this is not about anything over the top expensive but knowing you are worth it and deserve to eat or cook with decent cookware for yourself and your family. Isn’t it ironic how we spend top dollar on expensive dinners at fancy restaurants, yet we don’t even have matching cutlery, good silver ware or presentable dishes at home?

When it comes to the pantry, some pantries can hide a whole human being in there due to the clutter, disorganization and lack of routine cleaning. I know, I know…..we may still have that promised apocalypse at some point, but you should at least be able to know what you do have and what you need to stock up on. And for the love of plastic bags, buying clear containers that you can store food items in instead of grocery store plastic bags helps a lot. You can get affordable storage containers if you have some time and the patience to look and find brands that work for you.

Living Area (s)

Culled from the internet.

We can opt for a real bookshelf, a second bookshelf or an area to stockpile our books instead of the coffee table that hasn’t seen itself bare in the last couple of years or your dining table. Eating in front of the TV because your ‘dining table’ has been converted to a holding place for abandoned items is definitely a no no. I like the term ‘A place for everything and everything for a designated space’…or something along those lines.

Taking off the covers from sofas and washing them or getting professional cleaners to clean your furniture is great…because we sit, lay down, sleep, eat all year round on it. There’s ALL kinds of shed skin, dust mites and only God knows what are on there. Cleaning and sunning rugs or just any hard to reach or barely cleaned areas is a great idea.

The Closet

Culled from the internet.

I opt for open shelving in a closet, no drawers. Out of sight is out of mind and if I can’t see it, then I’m probably not going to wear it. You don’t necessarily have to have a built-out closet to be organized especially when looking at it from a temporary versus permanent standpoint. But having clothes separated by seasons, work, casual, special occasions, sleep wear, undergarments etc. will get you started. Having a shoe rack, shelving or shoe storage is great. No one likes stabbing their toes on some spiky heels when they’re in a hurry. But overall, you’ll know what you have and what you need more of when you are more organized. Now, this post may make some people chuckle because they already do this but there are people whose homes I have been in and there’s clothes in laundry baskets and about a foot high all over; I couldn’t even see the floor. If you were raised better than most, be kind. People are a work in progress especially when they make an effort to do and be better.

Folks I’m out of time but I hope you had a good read and this helps someone out there. Until I come your way again, do like, comment and share. And always remember that we’re all in this together!

Periwinkle Starr

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The Baking Frenzy – Cherry Cake and Tea Breaks!

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Hello Y’all!! I hope you’re doing amazingly well in your corner of the globe. The heat wave is on and there’s no getting away from the mugginess and hell-ish atmosphere we are going to be stuck with for the next couple of months.  Trust me when I say we have it ‘nicer’ in North Texas – I had to be in McAllen, Texas (a small town near the Gulf of Mexico)and when I stepped off the plane, I was welcomed with a wave of heat, a tight vacuum of hot air and beautiful palm trees. 🙂 The sunlight over there is pretty intense. Its almost too bright that at certain angles, it can be blinding. But I survived it….and that’s all that matters.  The weekend was all things ’90 Day Fiancé – Happily Ever After Reunion Part 1. And yes, I said PART ONE… hehe. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon, please do so. I promise you it will be worth your while…ahem (fake cough), that is if you love reality TV and all the craziness that comes with it!

On a brighter note, Summer is here and there’s fresh fruit every where!! I have been so occupied that I marvel at the time I find in my schedule to bake. I liken it to therapy – but with rewards LOL!  There’s fresh produce everywhere and I cannot do without trying at least one cake recipe that has fruit in it. The only ‘Disclaimer’ I’ll add is that you increase your workout sessions as you enjoy these recipes because the scale don’t lie; and after a while all those ‘placing on carpet versus tile or shaking it immensely coupled with undressing down and even removing your plastic teeth aligners will not save you…LOL!

Recently, I went grocery shopping over the weekend and came upon a deal that was too good to pass on. I got a big bag of lush organic cherries for 1/3 of the price.  I only realized a couple of days later that I had to figure out what I was going to do with them before they started going bad. Something easy and quick is my go to motto for recipes unless I REALLY want to go all out. So I finally decided on a Cherry Cake Recipe in the end, so Cherry cake it was! I wasn’t planning on blogging about it until I was halfway through and it occurred to me that it would be something y’all might like to try so I hope you enjoy the photos however few they might be.

Ingredients:  2 cups fresh cherries (pitted), 1 1/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 lemon zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup regular yoghurt, 1/4 cup milk.

Toppings: Whipped cream, melted chocolate.

Instructions: Pre-heat oven to 350F, grease  and flour 8 inch cake pan. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda. Ina separate bowl, beat egg and sugar until fluffy (2-3 mins), add zest and vanilla and beat for one minute. Slowly add oil. Add yoghurt and milk and keep mixing. Slowly add flour a little at a time. Fold half the cherries into the batter and pour into the pan. Top with remaining cherries and lightly press down using a spatula. Sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar on top (if you wish). Bake for 40-45 minutes.

The Results Are In!!

This is such a scrumptious cake that you would probably need a fork to eat. Its very moist with bursts of juice from the cherries in literally E-V-E-R-Y bite.

After folding the cherries, its best to mix ever so gently, we dont want to squish the cherries.
You’re almost done, sprinkle the remaining pitted cherries and its ready to go in the oven!
Let the timer begin!
Let it cool down…5-10 minutes tops
Voila!!

So until I come your way again, be safe, stay healthy and have fun!!

 

Periwinkle Starr

Winter Weather…At Last!

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Hello Y’all! Its been a while since my last post. I would like to say that I have been away for work and rest and boy I’m I glad to be back! I missed you guys and I hope everything is going amazingly well in your part of the world. Fall is finally here…Do I hear a sigh or relief or am I just about the only one ready to start layering already 😀 😀 The last quarter is here guys and I-JUST-CANNOT-WAIT for Christmas!! I caught myself contemplating setting up my decor a little earlier this year; the reason being it’s  already cold in North Texas and the two kind of just go together.

For most of us, the change of seasons come with a reorganization of our closets. We exchange the light and Summery for the heavier and sometimes gloomy Wintry garb. I find that the more items our layers can blend with, the more options we have which sometimes translates into boring and or frumpy.

My Light Bulb Moment!!

The weather is already going to be gloomy outside. You don’t have to mimic it.

There are certain items you can use to spruce up your closet this winter and I’m sharing a few of my favorites with you below:

•   Boots – Instead of sticking with black, grey or brown just because these colors go with almost anything; try getting something cheery and bright that you really love that comes in multiple lengths as well!

•  Scarves – A scarf can brighten up or put a damper on an ensemble. If I am wearing dark clothing, I love to layer on a scarf that pops and brightens my whole outfit and vice versa.

•   The basic 3’s – A minimum of three coats is required – one to run errands and groceries in, one for work and one for really nice outings. You can have more but these work well for starters.

•   Layer nicely – I tend to layer with jumpers and tees that (in all honesty) have lived past their expiry dates…ha ha! Just because it won’t be seen, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be nice. 😀

•   Hats – Get in touch with your inner child by investing in nice head socks and winter caps instead of the proverbial black, brown or grey that you’ve always worn forever.

•   Goodwill – It might be time to take a look at your winter clothing and get rid of those items that you and I know, you will never wear…including those old ugly sweaters you were gifted 10,000 years ago but still keep at the bottom of your ‘what in the hell were they thinking’ pile.

•   Invest in a good Snuggie! – And please, no cow print patterns. I find that they look horrendous which defeats the amazing purpose that they fulfil…if you own one, you know what I mean. 😀

Its been predicted that 2018 is going to be a cold winter so be safe, stay warm and feel free to share what your winter must haves are! Until I come your way again, I remain

 

Periwinkle Starr

 

 

 

Trick Yourself into Loosing a Few…

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Hello y’all! Hope your week has been nothing short of amazing in your part of the world? I guess I spoke too soon, the burn is back in North Texas, and no… this is not another whining session. It’s almost like we can’t ever be happy. Its too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too muggy… on and on like some of the creepy toys with recorded voices sold back in the day when I was growing up – that should have been illegal by the way. Anyway,s this weeks post is about something I have thought about a lot and I have had several chats with friends for a while now.

The Dilemma!

It’s a no brainier that the older we get, the harder it is for our bodies to bounce back from all the sugar, drinks and our predominantly high carb diet. I started believing that the scale was not my friend anymore; when in actual fact, your metabolism is slowing down and you need to be twice as active just to keep up. It’s like waking up one morning and walking past a mirror before doubling back and screaming ‘What is happening to me’? – a little dramatic you might say but the struggle is beyond real. Not taking yourself serious enough is what is happening. Rome wasn’t built in a day just like those pounds didn’t pop up overnight. The usual progression is about 10 pounds per year and viola!…I look like I ate a wildebeest for breakfast with a wardrobe full of clothes that do not fit.

Allow me to paint a picture in your mind – a picture of the solar system, with the planets spinning around the sun. Now imagine you are the sun, the center of ‘your’ universe and the planets represent other aspects of your life – family, work, relationships, dreams and goals. If you’re happy with yourself and that includes being satisfied with who you are in the core of your being, then everything else benefits and your world is so much better.

So Lets Start Small !!

•          Start taking walks

•          Opt for tea instead of hot chocolate or all those lattes.

•          Reduce your portions and increase your meals.

•          Make up for your excesses with more time spent being active.

•        Never use the word ‘diet’. Your brain will go into panic mode and start                storing aka hoarding excess glucose and some people end up gaining weight when dieting instead of loosing weight. The key is to eat more small portioned and healthy meals; this will trick your brain into thinking there’s always going to be food coming in thereby prompting it to release the excess glucose and you’ll start to shed.

•          Drink more water and less soda or fizzy drinks and less alcohol.

•          Your body deserves rest. All nighter’s are inevitable but sleep is a key ingredient to weight loss and maintenance.

•          Do a gut cleanse. The cravings for sugar, sweet treats and carbs may be due to an imbalance in your digestive tract. First do your research and proceed with a mild cleanse before going hardcore. Its best to check with your healthcare provider before embarking into the unknown.

These are simple tips that gradually ease you into the process and I’m positive you will be shedding a few in no time…only if you stick to the plan. Thanks for reading! Follow me and share your experiences on how to trick your body into shedding a few! Until I come your way next time, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

The French and Their Sense of Fashion.

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Hello Starr Readers! I hope your week has been nothing short of amazing in your part of the world. I can gladly say that the burn is over…at least for now. There is something amazing yet unpretentious about the french people. An elegance and class that isn’t perceived by the showiness of outward apparel but by a simplistic appeal that is rare to find. Growing up, I had private french lessons for a while. At some point, I could understand conversations and speak it but I never followed through on being fluent. As the years went by, I literally forgot most – if not all of it; but i never forgot the style, the grace and poise of my tutor which brings fond memories that i think are worth emulating today.

When it comes to style, the rest of the western world take their cue from the french people. To be à la Parisienne, there is a standard of beauty and elegance coupled with an under toned rebel beneath the surface – a defiance to popular trends of following the status quo that one must posses. The way you move, how you open your bag, how you cross your legs – just little things. It is said that, ‘you see a french woman first before you see her clothes’ and they do not overdress. A couple of style icons that are a source of inspiration to me lately are Bridgett Bardot, Audrey Tauton, Carla Bruni and Constance Jablonski; their sense of fashion is classic!

How To Be A Style Icon – With French Elegance!!

♦     Less is more – is much more! Designer pieces and accessories are great but the      problem comes when you have the name brand of every designer who has walked the earth on every part of your ensemble. When there’s too much going on in your appearance, you become a blob of ‘designer everything’ – which is too much stimulus to take in all at once talk less of being fully appreciated for all your effort.

♦     Alluring pieces that give what I like to call ‘The Push – Pull Effect’. A leather jacket which is considered hard over a soft floral dress. A beige pair of pants over an an insanely bright blouse. Minimal makeup when wearing bold colors or jewelry.

♦     Disheveled is not always a bad thing. The clothes look put together but not in a stiff or stoic way. A look that seems effortless, soft and graceful but also well thought out.

♦     Minimal accessories. Investing in good pieces every now and then is a great way to accessorize any outfit – a really nice bag, a nice hair piece or sunshades; these add to your look without being too overpowering.

♦     A lot of neutrals. The ability to mix and match when you have neutral items of clothing in your closet open up endless possibilities especially when you have a time crunch.

Are you French? Have you  ever been to France or lived in France at some point in time? Your comments are welcome! Feel free to share your thoughts about the things you love about the fashion sense and lifestyle of the french people. I’m attaching a few pictures of the Winter/Fall French Fashion Week for 2017 that I find really cool. The countdown is on for French Fashion Week come September 25 through October 3, 2018. Until I come your way again, I remain

 

 

Periwinkle Starr

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Couponing…Savvy Or A Little Extreme?

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Hello Starr readers! It almost feels like we’re ziplining through 2017…I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not :/ For the high achievers, that depends on how far you are on your to-do list for the year or the rest of us who are really just happy to be here 😀 Today was one of those days I wished I owned a segway – you just stand and do nothing while on your way to where you need to go instead of 3 inch heels – that would be pure heaven! So if you’re in the Dallas Metroplex and want to try your hands on a segway, check out Dallas Segway Nation in the link below:

http://nationtours.com/texas/dallas-segway-tours/

This week I want to share my thoughts with you on something we all love; for some, a bit more than others and that’s couponing. I absolutely love saving money and getting deals on items when I shop but I don’t necessarily beat myself up when i miss out on a sale or forget my coupons at home and only realize as I’m checking out that I could have saved a few bucks if only I remembered. 🙂 I’ve always been puzzled by a few instances I refer to as every checkout clerks nightmare – an overflowing cart and a ‘binder of coupons’. And yes…I said ‘BINDER’ coupled with the tired, frustrated and sometimes angry looks of the rest of the people on the line. I’ve often wondered that unless you have 19+ children or you’re shopping for a school or saving for that cataclysmic event that’s not going to happen, you really don’t need that much stuff.

My suspicions of this being something on a deeper level was confirmed when I happen to come across a show while channel surfing titled ‘Extreme Couponing’ where a lady said the beep sound made whenever a coupon was scanned was like joy and happiness to her ears 😐 Now in my mind, I feel it sounds a little cray to reduce your threshold of joy or happiness to a beeping noise when buying stuff you really don’t need, stuff you might not use and probably running out of space to keep. There has to be a point – in life as a whole -where we draw the line on excesses because at different times in our life, we may find ourselves going over or lower than where we need to be. As long as we have a clear boundary or a point of return, we can always get back to having a stable core and a balanced existence. Its been a busy week y’all, TGIF!

Until I come your way again. Have a wonderful weekend and be safe!

Periwinkle Starr

PS: A lot of readers send their comments directly to my email. Please feel free to share your thoughts with everyone by posting in the comment section as well. Thanks!