Author: Mitzi

  • Transforming My Health: A Two-Year Journey

    I feel a lot healthier despite wearing extensions until I can get my hair to grow in thick, again.

    Wow! Has it really been two years since I last wrote a blog post? So much has happened during this time. The most significant event has been starting my health journey. I’ve learned a great deal, and I am especially grateful to my sister for urging me to seek answers before I ended up with autoimmune issues like her and our mom.

    Beginning My Health Journey

    I knew I wanted to address the root causes of my health problems and hoped to get ahead of my symptoms before they developed into full-blown autoimmune disorders. In January 2022, I contracted COVID-19, which left me dealing with chronic fatigue despite maintaining a healthy diet. Soon after, I experienced diagnoses & symptoms of hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, inflammation, MTHFR mutations, high cortisol, and nutrient deficiencies. No matter how much I cut calories or how intense my workout plan, I couldn’t lose weight.

    I realized my body was severely inflamed and out of balance. After several attempts, I finally assembled a team of functional and Western medicine doctors who took my symptoms seriously and are now working to restore my health.

    I was so depressed and miserable in this photo. I was just getting over Covid and my jeans had gone from lose to not being able to button almost overnight and I felt swollen.

    Exploring Treatment Options

    When holistic treatments didn’t work, I turned to semaglutide. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the miracle drug I had hoped for. It made me extremely nauseous, and at the maximum dose, my fasting insulin reached borderline diabetic levels. The weight loss was slow—20 pounds in nine months. Now, I’m exploring the possibility of a holistic dose of tirzepatide. Fingers crossed! My primary goal is to get my fasting insulin to a healthy level and avoid diabetes. After years of struggle, I was finally diagnosed with PCOS, which explained the glucose monitor recommendations from my insurance. I’m thankful this wasn’t an issue while I was having my children.

    Battling Inflammation and Blood Disorders

    Inflammation has been a major challenge. Despite numerous tests, the cause remained elusive until we discovered that my high inflammation levels were blood-related. My platelets were rising above normal levels, leading my practitioner to ask if I had a family history of blood cancers. This was heartbreaking, as my mom passed away from a blood cancer and had an autoimmune disorder called ITP (a platelet disorder).

    Determined to heal and maintain a healthy lifestyle, I want to be around for a long time to spoil my grandbabies and great-grandbabies. Managing my symptoms has been a constant battle, but I’m now able to recognize when my body is off and address symptoms as they arise. My latest challenge is getting my immune system to fight activated Epstein-Barr virus back into remission. Dormant viruses can wreak havoc, and my immune system has been struggling for years. It’s not normal to never get sick or to not sweat, as I’ve learned.

    Adapting My Lifestyle

    To protect my adrenals, I’ve traded intense HIIT workouts and Peloton rides for yoga, leisurely bike rides, and walks. I now understand why women’s health issues are often dismissed, and the misconception that moms are supposed to be tired. It’s not normal to wake up exhausted or rely on caffeine to function. Your symptoms deserve attention and care.

    Advocating for Health

    I’ve been hesitant to share my health struggles because it feels overwhelming. But what I’ve learned is that it’s crucial to find a healthcare provider who listens. Your health matters. I only wish my mom had known what my sister and I know now—she might still be with us. Taking care of yourself is vital, and I’m grateful every day that my husband supports my health journey because he wants me around for a long time too.

  • Pura Diffuser Plug-ins | My Favorite Scent

    Taking a Pura Vida approach when selecting my favorite Pura diffuser scent.

    When it comes to home fragrance, the Pura Diffuser Plug-In system is hands down my favorite (here’s why)! Especially during seasons when our schedules are hectic. I love that I can pick scents that make my home smell like my favorite candles, even when I am not home long enough to light and enjoy said candles!

    From different scent types to brands, Pura has a wide variety of fragrances to pick from. When it comes to picking a favorite, I can never pick just one (and I usually don’t)! However, the ONE scent that I always have on hand year round is Capri Blue Volcano.

    Capri Blue Volcano, my favorite scent for my Pura Diffuser.

    Volcano by Capri Blue is just a fresh and classic scent. With fresh citrus and sugary notes, it is a crisp, clean and fresh scent. While I may occasionally switch out for a seasonal scent (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I always go back to Volcano in my diffusers! And I am constantly getting compliments on how amazing my house smells, and how I get my home to smell amazing without burning candles!

    Want to check out Pura’s Fragrance bestsellers? Click here to check them out! If you are someone who loves fresh and floral scents, my other favorites are Capri Blue Aloha Orchid, Bridgewater Sweet Grace, and Nest Rose Noir & Oud!

    Purchase two or more items and get FREE SHIPPING! How awesome is that! If there is any indication to my scent collection, I love taking advantage of the free shipping!

    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

  • Easy DIY for the Fourth of July!

    I love decorating for the seasons, however, I don’t always have the space to store all of the wreaths that I would love to create! My favorite go-to is a hanging door basket! I grabbed one on Amazon a few years ago and it has been my go-to when I want to create a seasonal door wreath! I’ve stuffed it with bunches of silk wildflowers, mums, and tulips! When I’m done for the season, I store the ribbon and florals in a rubbermaid tote and place new seasonal florals in! I saw these poppy bunches at Michael’s a few weeks back, I knew that I wanted a big basket of red, white, and blue florals for summer!

    My one secret to throwing these stems into the basket? Recycling plastic bags and stuffing them in the bottom of the basket in order to give the stems height and support!

    You can click here for the bow maker and hanging door baskets! Love florals? Check out my realistic Orchid Arrangement tutorial here!

    xo- Mitzi

  • Petit Fours: My favorite Spring Dessert

    There is just something about these little cakes that remind me of spring! They are the perfect serving, moist, and taste just like wedding cake. Most importantly, they remind me of home! In south Louisiana, white wedding cake flavor is a staple. When I moved to the Houston area over 10 years ago, I realized that there were some things that Louisianians do better! One of those is the Petit Four! A little cake that is jam packed full of flavor and is served at bridal showers, baby showers, tea parties, and readily available at pretty much any little bakery in the state! We love popping into at Keller’s or Pouparts bakery in Lafayette and grabbing a treat on our way back to Houston!

    A few years ago, a neighbor showed me how to make these little treats. What better reason to make them than for my best friends 40th birthday and our upcoming Easter celebrations! Here is a pro tip: make these for a large gathering! It makes a TON of little cakes and it also prevents you from over indulging in eating too many!

    The first thing to know is that you need to bake your cake at least 48 hours before your event. I promise you that Petit Fours aren’t hard to make, they just require a little planning since you have to wait so long between steps!

    To bake the cake you will need:

    • 1 box of Duncan Hines White Cake Mix
    • 2 TBSP of Vegtable Oil
    • 1 1/3 cup of Water
    • 1/4 tsp of Almond OR Lemon extract (I love them made both ways!)
    • 3 egg whites
    • 11×15 pan with sharp edges (not rounded)

    Blend all of the ingredients for 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour the batter into an 11×15 pan prepared with baking spray and parchment lined bottom. Beat pan on the counter to get all of the air bubbles out and then bake at 350 for 16 minutes (or until baked through). Take the cake out of the oven and immediately place a sheet of parchment or wax paper on top of the cake. Leave on for about 5 minutes and peel off. This will take off the top layer so that your petit fours will be white. Allow cake to cool completely and turn over onto a cutting board. Remove the parchment from the bottom.

    While the cake is baking, you are going to want to prepare your Buttercream Frosting:

    • 1 cup of white vegetable shortening (Crisco)
    • 1/2 tsp of almond OR lemon extract
    • 3 TBSP of water
    • 1 lb of Confectioners Sugar
    • pinch of salt

    Cream shortening, add extract and water. Add dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed. You will need to divide it in half. 1 cup for the cake and 1 cup for decorating.

    Ice the cake with a thin coat of buttercream icing. Cover with a sheet of parchment over the icing and wrap in Saran Wrap. Freeze for 12-24 hours. It is so important in the next steps for your cake to be frozen!

    After your cake is frozen, peel off the parchment and trim your cakes edges on all 4 squares. Cut the trimmed cake in 1″ squares. DO NOT saw into the cake. You have to cut in a continuous motion so your edges remain smooth. Place your cake back in the freezer while you prepare the fondant.

    Fondant:

    • 1/8 tsp of salt
    • 1 cup of half and half
    • 2 lbs confectioners sugar
    • 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract (clear)
    • 1 tsp of Butter flavoring (clear)
    • 1/2 tsp Almond (or Lemon) extract
    • 2 1/2 TBSP Crisco

    In a double boiler, heat the milk, salt and crisco until melted and combined. Remove from heat and pour in your mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and flavorings and mix until combined. Be careful when turning your mixer on. It can get messy! I like to throw a clean towel over the mixer to contain as much of the mess as I can!

    Now you are going to want to take your cake out of the freezer and use an offset spatula to balance the cake on while you pour the fondant generously over the cake. Place on a wire rack and allow your cakes to set for a few hours! Cakes will be wet and shiny when wet and dull when dry! Take the remainder of your buttercream and your favorite piping tip (I like a #18 star tip). Place your cakes in little muffin cups for easy serving and voila! You have mini desserts that are sure to be the hit of the party!

    I’ve linked all of the supplies you will need over in my Amazon Storefront. I do recieve a small commission when you buy from my links.

  • Spring Arrangment with Dollar Spot Florals

    My mom taught me from a very early age, to never discount a dollar store or a discount section. Over the years, I’ve found some really great things! One of my favorite finds are faux tulips from the Dollar Spot at Target! Last year, I scored some really pretty buds and this year I found some gorgeous large tulips!

    I knew exactly what vase that I wanted to use! Although, when I got home, I realized that the vase was just a tad too tall for my stems. That’s when I remembered this hack! I took a clear ramekin and set it in the inside of the vase, then I filed it with some little moss stones (another dollar spot find)! Not only did it camoflage the ramekin, but it added a nice little detail to the arrangement!

    Using a ramekin as a base to support my florals
    Filling the vase with moss stones to camoflage the ramekin
    Love the added touch of the moss stones!

    Now, I added my bouquet of large tulips and I now have a cute spring arrangement that will last until I am ready to switch over to some summer florals. And my flowers didn’t cost a fortune. Just under $30 for all of my stems (large and small)! You just have to check often, because the good stuff always flies off the shelves! This is just another excuse to visit your favorite Target stores and scope out the Dollar Sections!

    I just love my breakfast nook decor! I added my small tulips to my favorite Mackenzie Childs vase and this cute foil bunny decor that I picked up from Home Goods years ago!

    Want another budget friendly arrangement tutorial? Click here for a step by step luxe Orchid arrangement tutorial!

  • Easy to Assemble Faux Orchid Arrangement

    Easy to Assemble Faux Orchid Arrangement

    When it comes to home decor, I love to deconstruct trends and figure out how to make them myself. It’s something my mom taught me how to do growing up.

    When I spotted this bowl in the kitchen aisle at Home Goods, I knew immediately that I wanted to make an orchid arrangement. A friend had a similar arrangement and I always admired it! Secondly, I wanted to try my hand at using realistic florals made out of latex. How real do they look, well Josh had to ask twice (and he helped me cut the orchid stems).

    With the bowl in hand and an Amazon order (linked here) on the way, I headed to Hobby Lobby for the rest of the supplies! I picked up some styrofoam circles and a bag of moss and then we were ready to go!

    First, you are going to want to cut down your styrofoam circle (if needed). Since the bowl is an organic shape, I cut and filled in the spaces and secured the styrofoam together with low temp hot glue. I was careful not to glue any styrofoam to the bowl as I wanted it to be sturdy, but removable in case I want to use the bowl for something else in the future.

    Next, you are going to want to cut your orchids to size (we trimmed 3″-4″ off the bottoms). Stick in the styrofoam and secure with hot glue. I then took the acrylic dowels and hot glued them to the hot-glue base and secured to the stem with clear clips. Everything about this process is “fake it till ya make it.” Then, you are going to want to place the orchid leaves near the stems. I used 3, depite having 4 flowers, since the base looked over crowded with all of them in there. Now, you are going to want to cover the entire base with the decorative moss. Make sure to glue it down to the styrofoam to keep it anchored to the styrofoam.

    I just love how the arrangement looks in this space! It really gives a luxe feel and it didn’t cost me hundreds to make!

    Loving the fresh update to our living room.

  • Curate an expensive looking gallery wall on the cheap!

    Curate an expensive looking gallery wall on the cheap!

    Many years ago, I purchased an old Audubon print from Etsy. When I took it in to have it framed, the associate made a comment on how expensive these prints were and how they were beautiful investments. Fast forward 10 years and they are digitally available and the most popular prints are available through Pottery Barn.

    When we repainted our home in 2020, I knew that I wanted an on trend and symetrical gallery wall. One that would make a statement on this large wall without investing a ton of money. Another challenge was finding artwork for the frames, I wanted something beautiful and subtle in a variety of colors. Something that would be timeless and coordinate with my ever evolving throw pillow rotation.

    I wanted artwork in this space since our family photo wall is right behind this one.

    I chose these 16×20 frames that are $20 and invested in a massive book of Audubon prints. Best budget artwork/decorating hack! I found mine for under $20 and have it linked below. I selected my favorites from the book and created the gallery wall above. The hardest part of the process was making sure the pictures were hung straight and level.

    I loved this wall so much, that I created another one in our guest room with animal prints from the same book. I still had hundreds of prints left over, so I gave the book to a friend for her to create her gallery wall!

    I love how the framed book prints elevate my home. I am always getting compliments on both spaces and it is literally as simple as taking an old book of prints, placing them in a simple matted frame, and giving your wall decor an elevated makeover that you curated yourself!

  • 4 things I’ve learned from settling my parents estate after loss

    4 things I’ve learned from settling my parents estate after loss

    Life is always throwing curve balls. Summer of 2021 threw the biggest one I have yet to experience. When dad passed away, my siblings and I didn’t have the slightest idea of what we would have to deal with. We thought that we would bring my dad’s will to a lawyer and everything would magically work itself out. Nobody prepares you for the list of legalities that have to get done while you are trying to grieve. I felt like I had to put myself on auto pilot so that we could get everything settled. Only then, could I allow myself to grieve and unpack the trauma associated with his passing.

    The one thing that I did find is that information is not easily available on how to deal on how to handle certain things. Below are 4 things that I wish I would have known from the beginning. I know every situation is different, but it doesn’t hurt to ask or inquire on behalf of your family.

    1. Bring your loved one’s Social Security card to the funeral home when you go to make arrangements. Take it from me, double check all info! We didn’t realize that my dad went back in after mom passed and made changes on his information. He mixed up a number on his SSN and we didn’t catch the mistake until the death certificate was in. We had to send it back to be ammended and it took almost 5 months to get it back. And you need that death certificate in hand for so many things!
    2. Inquire what is needed in your state in regards to opening an “Estate” account. In short, you cannot cash a deceased person’s checks into a regular checking account. Once they pass, every check must be deposited into an estate account. This is one thing that we thought that we did not need to do, but we underestimated how many account cancellations would have some type of reimbursement (home owners insurance, car insurance, credit card credits). You can ask your bank what they require. Either the bank or your lawyer can direct you to the paperwork and documents that are needed to open one.
    3. As the bills roll in, call each provider and ask for the probate department. Let them know that your loved one has passed and that you need to close the account and find out what the estate will be responsible for. Sometimes, the debt can be reduced or written off. Some may tell you to disregard the bill, others may need to audit the account and send you a statement with the findings. This was probably the most valuable information that we recieved. However, plan to be on the phone for a while. I think at one point during this process, I spent 10-15 hours on phonecalls one week.
    4. Just because your parents have a will, doesn’t mean that settling things will be easy. My parents worked for years to make sure that their affairs were in order and that my siblings and I would be able to settle things easily. Let me tell you, it was the furthest thing from easy! AND that was with my siblings and I being amicable and just trying to settle things according to my parents wishes. Be prepared to hurry up and wait.

    Every persons journey is different and this post in no way replaces legal or professional guidance. These are just some basic things that we learned going through settling my parents estate and found helpful. This journey is hard, really dang hard, no matter which way you go about it. A friend of mine said it best, “I feel so bad for how I treated my friends after they lost their parents. I didn’t know how hard this process was, I should have been there for them, more.”

    This “after” is something that isn’t openly talked about. A huge part of this process is just dealing, and for however long that may be. It’s not easy, it’s the side of loss that’s not largely talked about, and it should. It’s hard. Every layer of loss is hard.

  • Hampr – The Uber of Laundry

    Hampr – The Uber of Laundry

    Let me tell you about my new best friend! Hampr is a laundry service that will pick up your laundry from your doorstep, wash according to your requested settings and then deliver it to your doorstep the next day. It arrives folded and ready to be put away!

    Laundry is my most despised chore. Using Hampr makes it so easy to delegate out the majority of our laundry so that it is one less task on my list.

    Signing up is so easy! Just click on the link and download the app. From there, you type in your address to see if it is available in your area! If it is, you sign up for a yearly membership which is typically $39 but if you use code PERKINS50 for 50% off your membership fee! That fee includes your first 4 Hamprs, and they are collapsable, compact and easy to store (and pack)!

    Scheduling and setting your wash preference is super easy and you pay a $10-15 washing fee for your washr to pick up your hampr and work their magic! Plus, I’m obsessed with how my washr folds my clothes (it’s the little things).

    It’s seriously like an Uber for Laundry! It’s women owned and available in several states, and growing as you read this! I love gifting subscriptions to new moms and friends who I know could use a little break. You can use the service as much or as little as you need.

    Some weeks I use it 1-2x, and other weeks I do it myself and am remind why Hampr is a huge blessing in our family. I even road trip with our Hampr! I love that I have the option to schedule a washr while we are at our destination (if available in area) and have fresh laundry mid-trip so that I can spend time with my family. If it’s not available, then our laundry is already sorted and ready for pick up as soon as we pull up in the driveway!

    Need some help lightening your laundry load? Click this link to download the app and use code PERKINS50 and get your first year + 4 Hamprs for under $20!

    P.S. If you happen to love doing laundry and looking to make some extra money, you can apply to be a washr in your area! All of the details are on the website for you to get started!

  • How to Paint Your Cabinets Like a Professional

    How to Paint Your Cabinets Like a Professional

    It all started when a reels challenge ended up with a viral reel. Never in a million years did I expect almost 4 million people to view a silly video that I coerced Josh to film with me. So many people chimed in on whether or not we should paint our cabinets. I took a chance and priced out this project as soon as Josh agreed that the internet had spoken and it was time to lighten up the kitchen!

    Now, when we first moved into this home, I loved the cabinets but hated that they were paired with the dark granite. We both agreed that we would replace the granite when we built our outdoor kitchen. However, we started to realize that the finish on our cabinets was looking worn and it was time to tackle this project.

    I knew I wanted light cabinets, however, I didnt want bright white. Due to the neutral backsplash and warm whites already on our walls (details here), finding a complimentary color for the cabinets was a little bit of a challenge (but not impossible). My first choice was Benjamin Moore Creamy White or Natural White. Those blended in with our BM Navajo White walls and SW Navajo White moulding. I made several trips into our local Benjamin Moore PDS Paint Center to grab paint samples. We ended up going with the color Clay Beige and I am in love with how it turned out!

    The Process:

    1. We took off all of the cabinet and drawer fronts and wiped down every surface with a TSP Substitute and Scotch Brite Pads. You want to remove any dirt/grease along with creating a rough surface. We ended up doing this step twice to make sure that we didn’t have any issues down the road. Sand down any imperfections and drips in between coats.
    2. Next we taped off the cabinets, floors and created a paint booth around our room. This was probably the MOST TEDIOUS part of the entire project. It took us a solid week of evenings to tackle this part and make sure that the insides of the cabinets, floors, granite and ceilings were covered to prevent any over spray.
    3. It’s time to spray primer! We opted to invest in this airless spray system since we have several other big projects that will require one. If this is your only project, renting one may be the most cost effective. You are going to need a paint suit + respirator for painting. Trust me, we had to toss our paint clothes and had over spray in our hair for a week before we made a trip to Lowe’s for paint suits! Lesson learned! As for the primer, we opted for a fast drying alkyd resin primer (Insl-x Prime Lock Plus) for its durability and smooth finish. With the spray gun, we only had to apply one even coat of primer.
    4. Paint! After allowing the primer to dry/cure for 24 hours, it was time to spray our cabinets! We opted for a water-based paint for the fast drying/curing time. Once our interior was sprayed and we were able to access our kitchen again, we opened our kitchen back up for business and created a paint booth in our garage to tackle our cabinet and drawer fronts. This part took the longest! We had to work around our work schedules, weather and humidity.
    5. Install hardware! I wanted this investment to have a timeless and traditional feel. I opted for an aged brass finish and went with a classic ball cabinet knob and a 6″ pull for the drawers and love the traditional feel that this hardware gives to the space.

    Was doing this project worth it? Absolutely! Despite the extra time it took us to complete by tackling the project in our free time, we saved a ton of money! Even after splurging on higher end pulls/hardware, we still came in thousands under budget vs. the estimate we received for a professional to do it for us. Josh and I both love how it turned out and how much happier we feel when we walk into the room!

    “Hallelujah! Holy S*!*, Where’s the Tylenol” So glad this project is finished!