Lifestyle

My #1 Moving Tip – Declutter

June 13, 2018June 23, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

When I talk to my real estate clients about selling or buying a home, one of the first things I tell them is to start decluttering and start packing. I’m taking my own advice and starting to declutter some plastic bins we have in the garage. 20 years of stuff is a lot to go through but thankfully we have some time to prepare.

Yes, those are Power Ranger costume patterns behind me.

I kept name badges from when I worked at Sears.

I have an old high school phone directory.

I also have a vintage 110 Kodak camera.

For this next one, in my defense, I am a mom and I think most moms feel obligated to keep certain things. One of those things is report cards. I kept this particular one for over 20 years.

That’s right, it’s empty. I kept the report card sleeve for 20 years and it’s empty. When I asked my girlies if they wanted their other report cards, Kat said, “Mom. My diploma is proof enough of my academic success.”

Point taken…haha!

What kinds of things and memories are you holding onto that you should let go?

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Lifestyle

Celebrating National Donut Day

June 12, 2018June 23, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

One day I want someone to look at me and say, “That’s her. She’s the one.” And not follow it with “who ate all the donuts”.

But seriously y’all, I can’t help myself!

Did you know that June 1st was the 80th anniversary of National Donut Day? It was created to honor Salvation Army members who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War 1. It is celebrated on the first Friday of June, although I think you could celebrate how yummy donuts are any day.

If I had to choose a favorite donut of all time, it would have to be the classic glazed donut. Which one is your favorite?

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Lifestyle

We have exciting news!!

June 11, 2018June 10, 2018 Our Gray House3 Comments

WE ARE BUILDING A HOUSE!! 🏡

And I keep wanting to talk about our house plans, and the layout, and the colors we want to use, and….and…and….you get the idea! It’s just going to be such a fun and exciting and yes, somewhat stressful journey but I can’t wait to share all of that with y’all!

As some of you already know, this is why I rebranded and changed my IG, YouTube and blog name to Our Gray House. Because we are building a house and it’s gray and a lot of my content going forward is going to center around that.

I hope y’all stay around for the journey! If you have any house building tips or advice, please share it with me!

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Lifestyle

Celebrating my birthday with Kendra Scott

June 10, 2018June 23, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

I believe in celebrating my birthday all month long. And I mean all.month.long.

Thanks to @KendraScott for helping me celebrate by giving me 50% off one item during my birthday month. Do y’all know about this deal? I’ve been taking advantage of this for several years now.

This year I purchased a necklace and two pairs of earrings. Only one item received the 50% off but I had gift cards for the others! Happy Birthday to me!

And I love how they make the process so simple for their customers. You just show your ID and that’s it! Thank you KS!! I can’t wait to wear my new accessories!

What cool bday deals do you know about?

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Lifestyle

Gifting A Unique Wooden Watch this Father’s Day

May 24, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

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Hey y’all! Today I am super excited to share my collaboration with JORD Watches. They asked me to partner with them and since it’s my birthday month, and with Father’s Day coming up, I thought it would be a perfect time to do a giveaway. And the best part is everyone is a winner! Let me tell you about the watches and how you can enter to win.

I received my Cassia Series watch in Olive and Aegean Blue. They are all hand-crafted wooden watches which makes them a one-of-a-kind accessory.

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My first impression was that the watch was fancy! It arrives in a cedar watch box which you can use to store and protect your watch. You can also use it to store the oil and cleaning towel that comes with it.

Another neat thing is they can engrave the watch and the cedar watch box. JORD watches use only 100% natural wood and they refrain from the use of toxic chemicals to either treat or protect the wood. They also have Apple watch bands and ship free of charge all over the world.

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JORD has an amazing selection of wooden watches for both women AND men. They are versatile and go with just about any outfit! Classy enough for business attire but transition perfectly to a casual dinner with friends

With affordable pricing as low as $139, you can definitely find one within your price range.

The giveaway takes only seconds to enter https://www.woodwatches.com/g/ourgrayhouse and the winner receives $100 shop credit to JORD’s website, FREE sizing and FREE shipping and each person who enters gets a 10% off code so really, everyone is a winner!

The giveaway will close 6/3 at 11:59pm so hurry and enter today!

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Good luck!

hugs ~lisa

Fashion/Beauty

My new favorite! Tarte Maracuja Oil

February 25, 2018June 23, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

Y’all – I have been saying the name of this product wrong for FOREVER! I’ve been calling it marajuca oil and it’s not called that. It’s maracuja oil. Maracuja. Maracuja. Maracuja. Okay, I think I’ve got it now.

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I first discovered the tarte Maracuja Oil in one of my monthly beauty subscription boxes. It also is one of the few products that I’ve liked enough to actually re-purchase from those subscription boxes.

Which skin type is it good for?
Maracuja oil is good for all skin types. My skin tends to be oily and after talking to one of the lovely ladies at Sephora, they let me know that my oily skin actually needs more oil. They said that oily skin will produce more oil if it is not hydrated enough. As it turns out, in my case they were right. I’ve noticed that my skin seems less oily now that I’ve been adding maracuja oil into my daily routine.

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What it is:
A vegan face oil for a healthy-looking skin without feeling greasy. It’s made with Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Tocopherol and formulated without parabens or phthalates. It’s great for dryness and dullness.

How to use it:
Apply two to three drops onto clean, dry face. The great thing about this product is you can also mix it with your moisturizer or your favorite liquid foundation to give a dewy finish. I prefer matte so I apply it and allow it some time to soak up into my skin.

I’ve also been using it on my elbows (they are really dry) as well as the ends of my hair. You can use it basically all over as it is hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested.

Considering this is a re-purchase of a product I’ve previously tried, I’ve found that this go around it’s still a great product. It is a bit pricey for an oil, around $48, but I feel it is well worth it.

Have you tried tarte Maracuja Oil or another oil? What are your thoughts?

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Fashion/Beauty

Beauty Primer Dupe: NIVEA MEN Post Shave Sensitive Balm

February 19, 2018June 24, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

I jumped on the bandwagon (late) and tried the NIVEA MEN Sensitive Post Shave Balm as a primer and I think for the price, it’s a good deal.

Some have tried it as an alternative to silicone based primers. Others have tried it because of they hype and still others have tried it, like me, because of the price. I wanted to see if it would work for me because it is a product that is easy on the budget.

The product was originally developed for men with sensitive skin. It’s gentle and enriched with Vitamin E, Chamomile and Witch Hazel extracts. It’s lightly fragranced and is formulated with no drying alcohol.

The packaging is a simple blue and white box and the container is a slightly heavy white glass bottle. If traveling, I’d recommending putting some in a lighter, more travel friendly container. The NIVEA MEN Post Shave Balm is a bit runny but it spreads and absorbs easily onto the skin. It feels tacky at first but dries quickly and is light light on the skin, not greasy or heavy.

I think that the balm does help my foundation blend easily and smoothly. It minimizes the look of your pores and is moisturizing. I’d say there is really only one con and that is the packaging. It’s bulky and somewhat heavy but unless you are traveling this won’t be a big issue. There is a slight scent to the product but it is not unpleasant and certainly not overpowering although I’ve heard some say that it smells “manly”.

Overall I do recommend this product as I think it works well and is super affordable. Let me know if you’ve tried it and what you think!

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Fashion/Beauty

3 Second Brow | First Impression and Review

February 18, 2018February 25, 2018 Our Gray House2 Comments

I saw another YouTuber try the 3 Second Brow product and it turned out great so when I was in Walgreens I thought…I’ve got to try it for myself!

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I purchased mine for $14.99 from Walgreens but here’s another link for you to purchase it for yourself. I found it on Amazon for $9.99: 3 Second Brow

From what I could tell the product only came in one color that says it “will blend with most hair color and skin tones”.

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The applicator is a sponge/foam type thing and it comes in two shapes. One is an arched brow shape and the other is a curved brow shape.

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When you put the product on it does take a little to get the product evenly on the applicator. As you can see from the above pic, I didn’t quite get it even. It also comes with a spoolie/angled brush tool so I used that to add some more product to the applicator.

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I followed the directions as closely as I could. This product does work but the application part is very tricky.

I was not successful on my first attempt but you can watch the full video here: 3 Second Brow Demo and First Impressions.

I will definitely try this again. The product does stamp well but you have to really be careful in how you place it. I will have to practice some more to perfect my technique.

Let me know what you think and if you’ve tried the product!

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Food · Travel

Superior Bathhouse Brewery in Hot Springs, AR | Places To Visit

February 10, 2018June 24, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

We took a spontaneous side trip to Hot Springs on our way home to Dallas and were delighted to pop in to Superior Bathhouse Brewery.

They are actually the first brewery in a U.S. National Park and the world’s first to utilize thermal spring water as their main ingredient. It’s definitely a cool place to visit when you are in Hot Springs.

I’m not a beer drinker so we opted for their homemade root beer floats which really hit the spot. They do offer a great selection of beers and typical pub style food. They also have a friendly atmosphere and sell artisan products such as soap that is locally made.

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I definitely want to come back when we have more time to experience the food and maybe even sample a beer!

(((hugs))) ~lisa

Food · Travel

At The Corner in Little Rock, AR | Where To Eat

February 8, 2018June 24, 2018 Our Gray HouseLeave a comment

Oh how my tummy misses the wonderful Christmas is Coming brunch we had at @ the Corner in Little Rock. This wonderful little spot prides itself on being locally grown, made from scratch and seasonally fresh.

We checked them out as we were leaving Little Rock to head back home to Dallas. We love trying out local spots especially where the person helping you is the business owner.

It was a bit odd when we first walked in as they don’t want you to sit until after you order. I was worried we wouldn’t find a spot but one opened up quickly just as we finished ordering.

I ordered The Sampler which came with scrambled fresh farm eggs, Arkansas apple-wood smoked bacon, cheese grits, #browns, seasonal fruit and a freshly baked biscuit served with housemade Arkansas honey butter and jam.

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It all was so delicious and I especially liked the fluffy biscuits and the jam….oh my goodness that was good!

If you are in town you should definitely check them out! You can find them at the corner of Markham & Scott in Downtown Little Rock.

(((hugs))) ~lisa