Top 5 Vacation Essentials

Hi guys!  Who doesn't love to go on vacation?...I mean really!!  We love everything about traveling from excitement of going somewhere to the random adventures we experience along the way!  It doesn't matter if we have been there before or going somewhere new we always have a great adventure!

We will both be going on vacation soon...we are in need of a long overdue break from reality....so we are heading out!  Kate will be heading up to the beautiful north shore of Minnesota and I will be heading to Texas to visit family! 

We wanted to share with you our Top 5 vacation must haves!  No matter where we go, we always have these things with us! 

1. Dry Shampoo ~  

Kate and I are both blondies who color our hair, so it is absolutely essential that we don't wash it every day or it will dry out....nobody wants the dry brittle hair look!  One of our absolute favorites is Detox Dry Shampoo from Dry Bar.  We have both tried a lot of dry shampoos; and we have found that this one absorbs the oils so much better than some other ones that we have tried.  It is light weight, residue free, and bonus...it smells amazing! 

 Sephora || Dry Bar- Detox Dry Shampoo 

2. The Perfect Lip Gloss ~ 

We all have our favorite lip products, don't we? We all know the headaches of taking on liquids and keeping your suitcase or carry on under the weight limits when traveling by airplane!!!  So generally I only bring one or two of my favorites.  When I travel to somewhere warm I love to bring along a lip gloss that is neutral with a little sparkle.  It is perfect for a day out in the sun and yet it has the right amount of glamour for an evening out on the town. One of my favorites is this one from NARS - color supervixen. 

Sephora || NARS 

3.  Sea Salt Spray ~

If you are wanting that salt infused "just got off the beach" look.....this is a must have!  Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray gives your hair that added volume and texture...leaving you with that sexy, beachy, windswept look!   Perfect for an afternoon by the pool followed by some shopping downtown (which will be my plans for more than one day of vacation!).

Sephora || Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

4.  Sunless Tanning Lotion ~

We admit it, we love the sun too and the natural glow of a suntan, but as we get older we realize that it is truly not worth the risk!  Sunless tanners and sunscreens are our new favorite must have items!  If you are using a sunless tanner often but want enhance your already healthy glow for an evening out or if you are not quite ready to commit to a self tanner. Try this 24 hour sunless tanning lotion by St. Tropez, it water resistant, streak free and washes off!  It is amazing stuff!! We highly recommend using an applicator mitt to apply. It goes on so much easier, you don't get it all over your hands, and gives it a streak free finish. 

Sephora || St. Tropez One Night Only

5. A Multifunctional Purse ~

Vacations can be so busy, you are constantly going from one place to the next with out always going back to your hotel.  Sometimes you are not able to carry along your big tote or just don't want to lug it around everywhere you go.  That is why we love this Merikh multibag!  It is the perfect size to have along, because it is big enough to carry all the essentials...money, phone, lip gloss....yet small enough to clip on to your beach tote or belt loop.  It is stylish and chic, and we love it!

Merikh || Multibag Mini

We are always trying new things and we would love to hear what your top vacation essentials are, share in the comments! Happy Vacationing!!   

~ Kate & Kelli

Simply Inspired: Jute Home Company

Meet Amy 

Hey all! It's Amy from Jute Home Company taking over the Simply Beaming blog today! I am an interior decorator and curate a studio space filled with amazing decor goodies! I have been dabbling in decor in different forms for my entire life. Not only was I constantly rearranging my childhood bedroom, but I was also rearranging other people's spaces too. I remember standing on a stool to create a vignette above my grandma's cabinets, and organizing the bedroom of the girls that I babysat. In more recent years, my skills have been focused on my own home, using paint, decor, and the furniture my husband builds to create a home that reflects our family. 

 About Jute Home Co.

Recently I have taken the art of decorating into other people's homes and have enjoyed taking items they already own and arranging them in a way that is new and fresh to them. You don't need a house full of new stuff to create a home you love. 

Sometimes it is just moving things around or re-purposing items in a different way. I've found that it can be hard to look at things you have around your home creatively. A fresh eye helps recognize the new possibilities.

While using what you have works for most,  buying one or two new pieces of decor does wonders for your attitude toward your home. So I have created a collection of affordable decor pieces in my Design Studio, which will be open for shopping this weekend only! Normally I use the studio to store stuff that I order in for client projects. I began to realize that I am able to offer these items at great prices because I don't have all of the typical overhead costs like rent or payroll. And every item that is in the store is something I would LOVE in my own home. 

In addition to the items that I have ordered in, my talented hubby McKane has filled the studio with his custom furniture and shelves. He uses reclaimed wood to make dining tables, industrial consoles, and a bar cart that is my absolute favorite piece! He also makes rustic floating shelves in any size to add a personal touch to your space. If you have a custom design you have been considering let him know!

Design Tips

 

Want to freshen up your space? Here are some simple tricks to get a custom decor look in your home.

Clear the Clutter - Get rid of the stack of magazines on your table, the mail in the kitchen, keep your surfaces clean of clutter and your home will instantly be more refreshing! If you don't love looking at it get rid of it! A well organized home will always look great, whereas a cluttered home will always seem dirty and dated.

Think Big - I think this is the thing that people struggle with the most. Instead of collecting small items (centerpieces, picture frames, trays, lanterns, etc). try decorating with one or two large items. I love lanterns and tall vases for bringing height to a room. An over sized tray on a coffee table is a great place to collect remotes and stack books in the living room. A large centerpiece on a dining table makes the room glam.

Neutrals and Color - When investing in a new piece of furniture like a couch or chair, pick something neutral. This lets you change the look of your home as often as you want using throw blankets and pillows. Maybe you love grey and yellow right now, but next year you might be feeling blues and navy. This way you won't be stuck with a large pattern that doesn't match your home anymore.

Jute Home Co. in Action

Everyone is invited to attend the Jute Home Company Market this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 & 10. Come and shop great decor deals or be inspired for your next decorating project! I will be on hand to help solve your design dilemmas - just bring a picture of a space that you are struggling with and I am happy to help with a decor plan.

If you can't attend this weekend, I have a few in-home consultation appointments available. Call (218) 639-3572 to schedule an appointment with me.

~Amy Wood 

An apple a day...

We absolutely love fall!  One of our favorite things to do in the fall is take a trip out to an apple orchard.  It was such a perfect day we just had to go!

What to do...

Apple orchards are typically filled with fun activities for everyone, and this one was no exception. We had to partake in all of the activities, of course!  Went through the corn maze (they can be just as difficult as you would imagine), ventured through the pumpkin patch, did some raspberry picking (nothing is better than fresh fruit right off the vine), and naturally we picked up some honey crisp apples....apples drizzled in hot caramel, yes please! This orchard also had an adorable gift shop and café.  Which was right up our alley!

What to wear...

From the floppy hats to the flannel shirts, one of our favorite things about this season is the fashion! Flannels and plaid prints seem to be a staple in the north.  It is hard to find a person that doesn't at least have one flannel shirt in their closet. If you haven't noticed already plaid is definitely everywhere this season...clothes, accessories, and even home goods.…we are loving it!  

The classic buffalo plaid is quickly becoming one of our favorites.  If you are not the typical flannel person, but want to venture out into the "plaid" world, try something in a blue.  It it subtle and goes with just about everything.

                                     Hats: Target  | Buffalo plaid shirt: Nordstrom Rack  | Blue plaid shirt: (cute one similar)

And these hats!!!...We wouldn't necessarily call ourselves “hat” girls, but we couldn’t resist buying one.  It has become a new obsession of ours this fall,  so don’t be surprised if you see these floppy hats on us more than a few times. 

Fall has so many wonderful highlights from cozy sweaters and bonfires, to an afternoon of football and apple picking…we simply can’t get enough!

~Kate & Kelli

Two Girls From MN

Well yes, it’s true we are two girls from Minnesota.  I know what you are thinking, and for the record those things about the stereotypical Midwest girl are not ALL true.  Sure we may call it “pop” instead of “soda” and say things like “uff da” and “oh for cute”….and we do eat an occasional hot dish here and there, but we are two down to earth girls who love adventure and truly have MN pride.  There are so many awesome things about living in Minnesota…..the lakes (all 10,000+ of them), the changes of the seasons (not sure if we could have a Christmas if it wasn’t covered in several feet of snow), and who wouldn’t want to live in a place that is known for being "Nice". 

 

 Minnesota tanks: Kindred People

It is truly an experience to walk out into -50 degrees wind chill or to be waist deep in snow on the first day of spring.  We may never know what it is like to be able to see the beach every day or wake up with the mountains in our back yard, but some may never know the beauty behind each season or spending an afternoon on the lake cruising in a pontoon with friends.  It is not about where you come from that makes you the person that you are, it is who God created you to be, that makes you the person that you are.  

“God, in his great plan and purpose, has made you in the way that he desires.” 

–Alistair Begg

Everyone comes from somewhere which makes us all unique and makes our life journey like no other. 

~Kate & Kelli