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WALL MOULDING KITS
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October is National Women's Small Business Month, a time to recognize the incredible contributions of female entrepreneurs who are reshaping industries, creating innovative solutions, and building the businesses of tomorrow. With over 14 million women-owned businesses now operating in the United States, generating $2.7 trillion in annual revenue, it's clear that women are not just participating in the economy – they're driving it.
If you’re getting ready to give the doors in your house a makeover, there are some awesome hardware options out there! I've put together resources and inspiration to help you get started.
Yay, summer, I’m so ready! How about you? Whenever I’m able, I try to share my favorite go-to's for each new season. It ranges from home décor to skincare to clothes and recipes. Here are a few of my personal must-haves + a yummy sorbet/blended cocktail recipe! I hope you find something here that will become your new favorite too!
At the start of a new season, I love refreshing our front porch with potted seasonal flowers and a new doormat. This little ritual welcomes the next season and is a warm welcome home to family and friends. On a recent Target run, I discovered the perfect summer doormat; it’s bright, cheerful, and only $13! At the start of a new season, I love refreshing our front porch by replanting pots with seasonal flowers and putting down a new doormat that reflects the season. This little ritual is a warm welcome home to family and friends. My doormat pick for this summer is a cheerful find from Target, plus it’s only $13!
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If you’re in the market for Adirondack chairs for your front porch, outdoor entertaining area, or around your fire pit, you might want to check out hOmeHua. We bought these ones last summer, and I love them. They are super comfortable, durable, and look terrific! The armrests are wide and comfy, too. The color option says “black,” but they are actually dark charcoal grey. Available at Amazon.com for $139.95 |
 Up until a few years ago, I hadn’t thought much about the ingredients in my skincare, but then I learned that the chemicals used in sunscreen could be detected in the bloodstream after just one use and can linger for days, not to mention these chemicals can disrupt hormone levels; that’s when I started rethinking my sunscreen. I like SuperGoop not only because it doesn’t have toxic ingredients, but it contains vitamin C to boot! I never seem to remember to put it on before I leave the house, so I keep it in the car, that way it's handy whenever I need it. $15-$21
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I’ve been a fan of the French brand Petit Bateau for years. All their clothes are 100% Cotton and of terrific quality. Their t-shirts are part of my “work uniform”; they’re easy to wear, comfortable, and look polished. But for summer, I love their strappy black dress. It can be dressed up with espadrilles or dressed down with white tennis shoes. It looks great with a jean jacket or a sweater tied over your shoulders. The best part is it’s great for travel; it folds so small that it takes up practically no space; this dress is a travel must! $61.99 (for U.S. purchases, Petit Bateau is only available on Amazon.com) |
 Speaking of work uniforms…I love my Spanx jeans! So much so that I have a few pairs. I must admit, I didn’t thoroughly read the description before I purchased my first pair; if I had realized they were pull-on, I honestly wouldn’t have bought them. When they arrived, my husband insisted I at least try them on before I returned them; begrudgingly, I did… and I was in love. The four-way stretch is awesome; they’re super comfortable, keep their shape and look great on! I have a busy schedule, so the last thing I want to do is go to a dressing room at a department store and try on jeans in unflattering lighting, and now I don’t have to! I recommend trying the white jeans because, at least for me, white jeans are the hardest to get right, plus these are double-lined. $128
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Last but not least…a yummy cherry sorbet recipe! I came up with this during the pandemic and wanted to share it because I love this recipe and hope you will too! There’s no dairy, no sugar added, and super simple to make. It almost tastes like it has chocolate in it, but it doesn’t! I put all the ingredients in the Vitamix on the ice cream setting, put the liquid in first, then the frozen cherries. (We bought a Vitamix 6 years ago, and it was a great investment, we use it every day if not twice a day!) It can be eaten right away as a soft serve or frozen overnight in a loaf pan.
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1/3 C Trader Joe’s Coconut Cream ½ TSP Pink Himalayan Sea Salt 1 ½ TSP Cook’s Cookie Vanilla Extract, this is the most amazing vanilla ever! {It is a bit of a splurge but it really makes a difference in recipes.} Or try Trader Joe’s Bourbon Vanilla Extract. ¼ C Trader Joe’s Coconut Milk Optional: To make this a blended cocktail or if you’ll be storing it in the freezer, add 4-5 TBS Vodka, this will keep the ice cream a bit soft and easier to scoop, for blended drinks add more to taste 😉. {Trader Joe’s now sells vodka made from grapes, perfect for those with a corn or grain intolerance.} No, this isn’t an ad for Trader Joe’s, they just happen to have all the ingredients, and so far, I like their frozen cherries the best! |
It’s the unofficial start to summer, and if you’re anything like me, this has been quite a busy year so far! I’m really looking forward to chilling out this long weekend, and I thought you might be too, so I wanted to share a few of my favorite recipes and products, perfect for a backyard BBQ with friends or just hanging out at home! Plus, just in time for planning summer DIY projects, we've added new items to our *Sale* page! :)
First up, my favorite salsa and guacamole recipe of all time. Both recipes come from chef Marcela Valladolid; you might remember her from Food Network’s Mexican Made Easy. If you haven’t heard of her, you’re in for a treat; she has the best recipes! Check out her Instagram for videos, live demos, and more www.instagram.com/chefmarcela
Most of the time, I end up buying fresh salsa from Trader Joe’s, but when I’m in the mood to make it from scratch, this is my go-to Pico de Gallo recipe. To keep the salsa from being watery, I remove all the seeds, dice the tomatoes, then salt and gently toss them, and let them sit in a strainer over a bowl for about 15-20 minutes. The salt draws the water from the tomatoes, so the salsa isn’t watery! This tastes terrific freshly made, but if your gang can wait, make it a few hours ahead to allow the flavors to meld and taste even more amazing!
I don’t usually like a lot of ingredients in my guacamole, but this recipe with onion and cilantro + fresh tortilla chips is pretty terrific! When avocados are in season, I also like to keep it simple and mash them up, leaving them a little bit chunky, and sprinkle with pink Himalayan sea salt and a squeeze of lime if we have it.
If you want to skip the freshly baked tortilla chips from the previous recipe, I love the organic blue corn chips from Trader Joe’s, but for a special treat, these Pipcorn Sea Salt Corn Dippers are sooo yummy! Once the bag is open, they don’t last long in our house! They’re made from Heirloom white corn, non-GMO, and 100% whole grain. If you haven't had these before, you must try them at least once!
Tequila anyone? I usually enjoy it straight, it’s healthier, LOL, than adding sugary mixers, but I recently heard Sara Blakely say that she mixes a shot of tequila with freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice, so I had to try it! It was delicious! Sometimes I add sparkling water to it for a bit of fizz and to cut the sweetness. I also heard some say they muddle or slice a little jalapeno in it for a spicy kick!
What a fun summer hostess gift this would be! Who wouldn’t want to receive this Casamigos Cocktail Gift Set? For the ultimate craft cocktails, this gift set includes Casamigos' Blackberry Basil Smash Cocktail Mixer, Signature Margarita Cocktail Mixer, Salty Sweet Orange Cocktail Rimmer, and Pink Himalayan Salt Rimmer. Yum!
Once a year, Apolis rolls out their Limited-Edition Wine Tote; it’s available now through May 29th. This special tote has two inner compartments that perfectly fit two bottles of wine. Wine aside, these totes are the perfect summer tote for hitting the beach, concerts, farmers markets, etc! They’re customizable and available in several colors.
And last but not least, long weekends are perfect for planning the next DIY project! Check out new markdowns on DIY/Primed moulding kits on our *Sale Page*. These moulding kits have a slightly different finish from our new DIY/Primed mouldings, but the profile is the same, so take advantage of the savings and feel free to mix and match!
I hope everyone has a lovely, relaxing long weekend!
Esther
Big Discounts at Pottery Barn, West Elm and Crate & Barrel!
While searching for furniture and accessories for our new studio, I made an exciting discovery! Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Crate & Barrel have a spot on their websites with deeply discounted home décor, furniture, kitchenware, and even small appliances like coffee makers!
Under the “Sale” tab on the Pottery Barn website, there’s a Clearance Section and an Outlet section. Under the “Clearance” tab, tons of items are marked down 25% - 50%. But then there's the “Outlet Deals” section, these are returned items, “Open Box”, that have been marked down up to 60% or sometimes even more. The only catch is that these items are not returnable, and there could be slight damage. I’ve personally ordered items from here and only had one item with a small stain, but I was able to spot-clean it, and it came right out. For 60% off, I don’t mind chancing it!
In addition to having a Sale, up to 50% off Clearance tab, and an Outlet/Open Box tab West Elm also has Contract-Grade furniture. This is furniture for commercial projects designed to hold up to high-traffic use. I love contract-grade furniture because it’s great for families with children and pets. Now you can have stylish furniture that holds up to family life, and that’s pet friendly too!
Their Trade Program is part of the Pottery Barn family which includes Williams-Sonoma…so yes, if you’re a design professional, you can receive a discount at Williams Sonoma on dishes, glasses, and more! (Some items, such as appliances, are excluded from the trade discount.)
Crate & Barrel has a “Clearance and Outlet” tab as well; up to 60% off not only home décor items, but high-end kitchenware such as Staub®, Greenpans™, Wusthof® knives, coffee makers and other small appliances like KitchenAid® and so much more! Plus, up to 20% off with their Trade Program. As a side note, if you're looking for the perfect red wine glass, the Vineyard Pinot Noir Wine Glass from Crate & Barrel is my go-to!
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Happy shopping! I hope you find some terrific deals! :)
Esther
P.s. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got Memorial Day weekend on my mind already! If you’re thinking about a long weekend DIY project and not quite sure if adding moulding to your home with our moulding kits is as easy as everyone says, check out a few of our latest reviews! 😊
Our stain grade and finished/primed wall moulding kits are now available on Lowes.com!!! This is monumental for us! I first had the idea for high-quality, professional- grade mouldings that were not only self-adhesive, removable, reusable, and easy to install but also made in the USA back in 2010.
We’re in the home stretch! Daylight savings and spring are right around the corner! In the meantime, cozying up with a yummy drink in a pretty glass, and spending a little time in the kitchen during these last weeks of winter is sounding pretty good to me right now!
To get this party started, look no further than Patron Extra Anejo Tequila! It has been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years, and it tastes a lot like whiskey, which was a surprise to us! It can be used as a substitute for whisky in cocktail recipes or drink it straight with or without ice. While you’re on the Patron website, check out their Cocktail Lab for specialty recipes tailored just for you! Available at Total Wine for about $40.
I‘ve been loving these little perfectly portion-controlled crystal Dorset Shot Glasses from Williams-Sonoma for sipping my newfound Patron Extra Anejo! Or if you like it on ice, my hubby loves the matching extra-large Dorset Triple Old-Fashioned Glasses $29.95 each and $19.95 per shot glass.
For a little extra something special, we’ve been cooling our drinks down with these Ice Sphere Molds. Bartenders like using spheres because there is less surface area than cubes, which means you still get the chilling effects, but your drink will be less diluted. Sounds good to me! Williams-Sonoma $21.95
I admit, I’m a little late to the game on this one, but I just bought my first cast iron skilled a few months ago…and boy, was it a game-changer, especially when it comes to cooking steaks! They come out perfect every time! 12 Lodge Skillet $29.95 They also sell a Silicone Handle Holder which is really handy and easier than using a kitchen towel!
Or if you want to go with more of the rugged cowboy vibe, they even have a Nokona Leather Handle Holder made from premium stitched ball glove leather! $29.95
I’ve been eyeing the high-end, fancy cast iron Le Creuset and Staub Enameled Dutch Ovens for quite some time, but since I love our cast iron skillet so much, I’m going to give the Lodge Dutch Oven a try first. 5 quart $54.95
The first recipe I’ll be trying in my new Dutch Oven will be none other than the classic Beef Bourguignon! I have a recipe I’ve used for years, but I happened upon this Ina Garten recipe that has over 1,000 reviews with an overall 4.7-stars. This recipe calls for diced onions, but if I can find them, I like using peeled pearl onions from the freezer section at Trader Joe’s.
I’m definitely looking forward to spring, but in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the last few weeks of winter 😊
I’m all about comfort and coziness right now, but who isn’t these days? My favorite go-to’s right now are a combination of old favorites and new finds. For me, it’s become all about morning and evening rituals that give comfort and structure to the beginning and end of my day + comfortable clothes to help me navigate what the day throws my way!
Coffee is my morning ritual, and I love a great coffee sale! I’ve been a fan of Peet’s Coffee for a while, and now they have an organic option! When I find a new favorite, I get pretty excited, and when it’s at Costco AND on sale, well, it’s a good day! Peet’s Organic French Roast 2 - 2 LB bags are on sale at Costco for $30.99 through January 23rd.
A few years ago, I started adding coconut oil and a little MCT oil to my coffee and whipping it in the blender into a frothy “latte,” I recently discovered this whole kernel coconut oil. It’s fair trade, organic, grown with regenerative practices, and so healthy! The healthy fats from coconut oil are great for the brain, and I really need that! 😉 The healthy fats also keep me from getting the jitters and crashing afterward. Dr. Bonner’s Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil $11.99 for 14 oz
If you have dry hands, I’ve got the hand cream for you! I discovered this years ago when I was starting the business; in the winter, my hands would get so very dry from hand finishing the frames. (yes, I actually made the moulding kits myself in the early days!) Now, every year, I buy it for everyone in the company, and I keep a tube on my desk throughout the winter months. It’s a lifesaver! Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve 5 oz $24.00
I had been on the lookout for long-length sweaters to wear over leggings with room for added layers underneath, and the Coaster Luxe Sweatshirt by Athleta fits the bill + it’s soft and cozy too! I’m not the only one who loves this sweater; it has over 5,000 five-star reviews! It’s available in 17 colors, and although I’m petite, I opted for the XS Tall for a little more length. It’s my new go-to sweater! $79.99.
If you’re looking for a soft and cozy cashmere sweater without the big-ticket price, I found this by Halogen online at Nordstrom a couple of years ago, and it’s now available on NordstromRack.com in 9 colors for $59.97. It says dry clean only, but I wash it in cold water on the handwash cycle, low spin, with gentle detergent, and lay flat to dry…so far, so good!
I know, you either love them or you hate them. I resisted for a long while, but I gave in and got my first pair in pink years ago, and now I’m on my second pair. They are just so warm, cozy, and comfortable! This time I opted for the Classic UGGs® in grey. Be sure to spray them with a waterproofing protector such as this UGG Protector Shoe Spray; it really helps to keep them looking new. UGGs® $170 Protecting Spray $9.95.
I like to sip on Matcha green tea throughout the day not only for the warmth but also for the health benefits and a natural energy boost. I’ve tried a lot of brands, and this is my favorite. It’s made with pure Japanese matcha mixed with Japanese konacha. The teabag sachets are made from organic, plant-based materials specifically designed to release the fullest flavor and aromatics. I like to get a couple of uses out of each bag, so I steep for about 2 minutes for a soft, smooth flavor and save the bag. Rishi Matcha Super Green Tea is available at Whole Foods for $9.69 and is on sale through January 18th for $6.29 with Prime Membership.
To help me unwind before bed, I turn to a warm mug of hot chocolate, and this may sound crazy to some of you, but the organic cacao mix also contains Reishi mushrooms. This type of mushroom is supposed to help support sleep quality, stress management, and calmness. It really helps me! Four Sigmatic Mushroom Cacao with Reishi 10 packets for $7.38 on Amazon.
I hope you found at least one new product here that will become a go-to favorite for you too!
Stay well and take good care of yourselves,
Esther :)
P.S Shout-out to Steph over at @happy_baes on Instagram for this awesome before and after using our Brooklyn Wall Moulding Kit!
I'm excited to announce that we now have stain grade hardwood Poplar mouldings available!
For all of us, the pandemic has been challenging in one way or another, to say the least. When the lumber industry hit bumps in the road this year, we pivoted! And I'm super excited about the new addition to our moulding family…
Our premium clear (no knots) Poplar hardwood moulding is domestically grown and custom milled for us in Southern California. Since it's custom-milled to our specifications, the profile matches the profile of our other finish options, so if you're placing a re-order; no problem!
Poplar stains beautifully! I've been so excited to experiment with various stains in light grey, medium grey, espresso, and black. Staining allows a light natural graining to show through, adding beautiful dimension and texture to a room. Not to mention how easy it is to stain; no paintbrush required! Simply wipe it on with a sponge or rag! (more tips and recommendations in future blog posts). I've loved experimenting with General Finishes water-based low odor, low VOC wood stain, and Old Masters wipe on stain gel.
Poplar paints beautifully! Prime the mouldings with a good quality primer. I like Kilz Brand, which is available in low VOC in both an oil-base and water-base. After the primer has completely dried, lightly sand with fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block such as the 3M Pro Grade Sanding Block Sponge. Use painters tack cloth to remove any sanding dust. Your mouldings are now ready for paint! (Side Note: I've received feedback from customers that they have used a good quality 2-in-1 paint + primer and only had to do one coat of paint and then minor touch-up sanding and touch-up paint.)
Since it's unfinished hardwood, it has less off-gassing than finger-joint products, which is important if you have environmental sensitivities.
Like any other fast-growing species, Poplar can purify the air, taking 70 to 140 liters of carbonic anhydrase from the atmosphere every hour and giving back the same quantity of oxygen to the atmosphere. The storage function of carbon (Carbon sink) is also performed after the transformation of the wood into a finished product.
As I mentioned at the outset, I am excited about our new Poplar mouldings, and I hope you are too! Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have about our new moulding option! 😊
My whole family is in LOVE with these yummy Sea Salt Corn Dippers by Pipcorn. There are only three ingredients: 100% whole grain heirloom corn (sustainably grown), sunflower oil and sea salt. It’s a “treat” you don’t need to feel guilty about! They taste amazingly buttery (but there’s no butter), light and crispy! Available online at and at Whole Foods for about $3
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1 – 16 oz bag of Trader Joe’s Frozen Pitted Dark Sweet Cherries
