Holidays

Effortless Girl on Christmas Eve’s WCCB News Rising

December 26, 2014

Watch Effortless Girl on the Christmas Eve edition of Charlotte’s WCCB News Rising! We joined Terrance Bates for a super fun segment featuring fast and simple Santa treats for adults and kids alike! Thanks to Raeshika and the entire WCCB crew for a great morning! News Rising Preparing for the segment The display Checking my list twice Santa Sleds Melting…

DIY Decor, Holidays

Simply Sparkling Ornaments!

December 11, 2014

As silly as it sounds sparkling Christmas trees make the season bright and more festive. I love, love the different lights during the holidays and anything that sparkles. A twinkling Christmas tree just feels like home and is calming to look at against the dark night. Despite the beautiful finished product, decorating the tree can be a real pain. Fragile…

DIY Decor, Holidays

O Christmas Trees – Make them Fast at Home!

December 10, 2014

Tis the season for Christmas Trees! I am fortunate to live in a place that Christmas Trees are the major export crop. There are so many ways to decorate a tree – you can have ornaments and lights in every shape, color, and size. As a big fan of the holiday season, I like having several trees around my house.…

DIY Decor, Holidays

The Perfect Holiday Centerpiece for Less!

November 30, 2014

Create the perfect centerpiece in minutes for your holiday table for almost no cost! Check out Julie’s appearance on Charlotte’s WCCB News Rising for an easy how-to in no time. You may vary your centerpiece size and material list depending on your table and what outdoor elements are available to you. A beautiful and time saving table is just around the corner!…

DIY Decor, Holidays

Use What You Have: Crafting a Simple Centerpiece

November 26, 2014

I love having people over for dinner, lunch, holidays, movies – I like being in a group with people I love. I think my favorite part is eating and laughing with my friends. It is also fun to plan the menu and set a table that is interesting or pretty. Creating a centerpiece for different occasions without breaking the bank…

Holidays

My No Good, Very Bad Hair Day

October 31, 2014

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days…Have you ever had a bad hair day that you will remember for the rest of your life? A bad hair day that was so bad that if you think about it you start feeling that sense of panic and dread all over again? My worst bad hair day…

Holidays

My Brush with Bullying

October 24, 2014

I was an awkward pre-teen, teen, and maybe sometimes even an awkward adult. I’ve struggled with self-esteem most of my life. It’s better now, but the monster still whispers ugly nothings from time to time. I grew up in a sheltered place away from what young people today face with the Internet and 24 hour media. It is hard to…

Holidays

The Effortless Aunt

October 16, 2014

I finally have permission to tell you….I’m going to be an Aunt (again!!) next year!!! This Effortless Girl is over the moon! My sister B. is going to have a baby. I’ve known and waited patiently and quietly for weeks now. I was busting with excitement, and I hate, hate, hate keeping surprises a secret. She and her husband E.…

Holidays

Farewell to My Friend

October 1, 2014

My sister’s dog passed away today. Obie was a rescue puppy that my sister adopted from a raided puppy mill years ago. He was in horrible health when we got him. Obie couldn’t bark or make sounds for months. His teeth were completely rotten and had to be pulled, he had congestive heart failure, and arthritis to name some of…

Holidays

Peter Pan, Potty Training, and PTSD….

July 9, 2014

It’s the time of year when families all over the country pack their suitcases, stuff the car full of flotation devices, and set off on the yearly vacation. When I was little, my parents decided to do the same thing. I was eleven, my sister Kelli was nine, my sister Bethany was four, and my brother Robby was one when…