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For about 3 weeks, there were two identical billboards on the highway.  One was visible on the ramp going towards I-595 and the other was visible while heading West on I-595.  I couldn't find any images online and a photo wouldn't do the billboard justice, so I threw together to give you an idea of what the billboard looked like.  It was a plain white billboard with black Arial font that read "cancer" only.  For three weeks, I wondered who was sponsoring this ad.  Nonetheless, I thought the message was pretty compelling.  I took the ad as a way to symbolize how prevalent and real cancer is in our country.

Then, just last week, the billboard changed.  It no longer said just "cancer"...it looked like this:

When I saw the new ad, I was floored.  The message in the ad is so powerful I had to share it with everyone.  It's pretty incredible how a simple billboard like these can leave such a strong impact.

Hope you enjoyed this little gem it as much as I did!

Love,

Hannah

The Black Swan

Getting me to stay up past 11 PM on any night can be a challenge, and if you were to stick a movie in front of me at that hour, I'd be out before the opening credits.  So when Ben and I finished dinner on Friday night at 10:15 PM, I was a bit hesitant to go to the 10:30 showing of The Black Swan.  I thought, "An hour and fifty minute movie (that means it's past 11 by the time it's done--snooze), a really dark theater (that's like having my eyes closed already), a movie that looked like I would have to think too much (my brain hurts, I'm tired), a golden globe award winning movie (that usually means it's so good only critics like it) and scary scenes (scary movies means I will have my eyes closed and my ears covered  throughout)."  While all these thoughts were holding me back, I decided I could try to stay awake in the movie.  It was a Friday night and getting in bed before 11 PM is too much of an indicator that I lost my "fun" self and am now in the real world (ehk).  It was off to the theater...

I was up the WHOLE time.  The entire movie was incredible.  I'm a bit skeptical when a movie is raved about by critics because I feel like those movies are never that good in the end--you have too high expectations.  But this movie changed that.  Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis could not have done a better job, and Natalie Portman definitely deserved the Golden Globe a few weeks ago.  I'm not going to give the movie away, no worries, but it ended up being more of a psychological thriller than whatever it was I thought the movie would be like (I had no clue what to really expect).

I'd give it a 100% fresh tomato rating on RottenTomatoes. Guys and girls alike enjoyed this movie, and I hope you do too!

Love,
Hannah

Random Thoughts Part 3

Random Thoughts 23-34:


23.    I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the  shower first and THEN turn on the water.


24.   Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.


25.    I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.


26.   Bad decisions make good stories


27.    Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!


28.   If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

Fiesta Friday ~ The Sour Apple Martini

What you need:
~ A shaker
~ Ice
~ 1 part sour apple schnapps
~ 1 part vodka
~ Martini glass

What you need to do:
Pour vodka, schnapps and ice into shaker.  Shake!  Pour into martini glass, and enjoy!

This is an easy drink to whip up, and it has just enough bite but not too much.  I used to be skeptical of Sour Apple Martini's because I had a terrrrribbllleee one at The Melting Pot a few years ago.  But when I made this one for the first time back in December, I changed my mind!  I actually introduced this little gem to Jodi (vegan bday girl!) a few weeks ago.  At first sip, she shuddered, but then she fell in love.  It's all she wanted on her birthday, and she actually got the ingredients and supplies as a gift!

Cheers,
Hannah

Smooth n Melty or Smooth n Melties

If you read the title really fast, the two names sound identical.  But there is a slight difference.  One is called Smooth n Melty and the other Smooth n Melties.  A difference so small in name, and taste! 

When was the last time you bought a package of Smooth n Melty mints?  (Do you even know what they are?)  I feel like the only place you can ever find them is at Marshalls or TJ Max; they’re always at the front of the store or by the cash registers (eesh, they always throw last-minute buys at you there and I can’t help myself).  Well, I usually can never find them when I’m in the mood for candy, especially because I have no idea where the nearest candy store is (love those).  But when I found out Target sold a their own version of Smooth n Melty mints, called Smooth n Melties, I had to try them.  I did.  They’re good!  The difference in taste between the name brand and the Target brand is unnoticeable, and the only real difference (besides the name I guess) is that the Target brand mints are a little bit lighter in color.  But I’m not superficial when it comes to choosing candy.  If it’s sweet, I like it.

Hannah Zier Logo ~ Thank you!

Thank you everyone who emailed me, commented on my blog and commented on my Facebook page.  I really appreciate everyone's feedback, and it really helped me see the logo from a different perspective!  Due to the overwhelming consensus that the plain logo was the best, I will be going with the plain logo.  And, because of great suggestions, there will be some pink flare in it :).

Love,
Hannah

UA vs The Runway

Ever thought Fashion Week would have an affect on the medical scrubs industry?  Bet not, but it did!  Check out the blog post I put up on Uniform Advantage's Blog.  See how Spring 2011 fashion trends from top designers influenced our designs :).

Love,
Hannah

Hannah Zier Logo Idea ~ HELP! I need your thoughts!

Here's the situation.  I have the business name Hannah Zier trademarked.  I pay the government ever year, but so far I have done nothing really monumental with it.  All that is about to change!  I will give you more deets about it later, but for now, I need help on my logo.  I hope Hannah Zier will sell clothing, accessories, jewelry and little trinkets (or little gems really haha), so with that in mind, what are your thought on this logo?  The rose is something that is not permanent.  It can be adjusted, changed or tweeked all depending on the season or line.  But as for the text design, I hope you guys like it! (got a yes from Ben already, yay!).

Love,

Hannah

What’s a Party without A Potluck?

Seriously.  What IS a party without a potluck?  A party that’s not as awesome that’s what.  Just ask my friends, they know I love any excuse to do a potluck. Bringing things to a potluck, going to a potluck, planning one of your best friend’s potlucks—all little gems I thoroughly enjoy and don’t think I can ever get enough of.  Yeesh, planning is my life.  And this past weekend was one of my best friend’s Golden Birthdays, so obviously a potluck was to be arranged!

Ben and I decided to host the party at our new condo because it’s spacious enough for people to hang out, eat and (we now know) sleep!  Because it was Jodi’s Golden Birthday (24 on the 24^th—we celebrated early because parties on weekends are more fun) I decided to do a little theme (I love themes you have no idea).  If her “Golden Birthday” wasn’t a big enough hint, the theme was gold!  So, I bought lots of gold/yellow decorations for the condo.  It was a pretty make-shift job at decorating, but I think it turned out great!  I took some pictures so you guys could get an idea of what it looked like.

As for the potluck—another success!  Because Jodi’s vegan, everyone brought a vegan dish.  Jodi’s mom in particular brought enough to feed us for dinner and when we got back from downtown—delicious.  I unfortunately forgot to take a picture of all the food everyone brought, but I did make sure to take a picture of my nut bowl from Anthropologie (see previous post haha).  Which, I might add, people were eating from.

Just to give you an idea of how much food there was:

-       brussel sprouts

-       vegan egg salad on bread

-       stuffed mushrooms

-       vegan chocolate/cinnamon cake (to die for)

-       pita chips and hummus

-       rice chips

-       chips and guacamole

-       black bean, tomato and corn salad

-       veggies and dip

-       bruschetta on little baguette bites

-       vegetarian chicken nuggets

-       more pita chips and hummus

-       vegan chocolate covered strawberries

-       vegan Caesar salad

-       roasted vegetables

-       sea weed and tofu dish

-       vegan pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, basil and hummus

-       vegan mac n’ cheese

-       vegan pesto pasta

-       vegan black forest cake

-       nuts from my nut bowl

-       probably some other things I just cannot recall right now

Oh and for the birthday girl, we didn’t have time to make a dish, so Ben and I bought a pineapple and stuck a candle in it.  It was yellow and vegan technically, so it went with the gold and vegan theme.  Plus, I think people enjoyed the fact that she had to blow a candle out from a pineapple.  You had to be there I guess!

Now, when can I start planning the next one…

Love,

Hannah

VOICE Deal of the Day - 50 to 90% off Every Day!

Okay, it's Monday morning and the work week just started, not much to look forward to except the weekend.  Until now!  I seriously look forward to my deal of the day emails every morning in hopes of scoring a great deal for a local restaurant or shopping site.  So you have Groupon and Living Social, but what is one more?!

Sign up for VOICE Deal of the Day and get 50 to 90% off every day on deals at local restaurants, movies, spas and more.  It's a relatively new site, which is why they do not have a huge list of cities yet, but Broward/Palm Beach County is there!  I know there's Groupon and Living Social (which I'm a member of both of course), but since this one is seemingly new, they are likely to have more unique deals.  Especially little local gems to try.  Oh, and becuase it's new, I think they're likely to give better deals...to help convince more people to join their site!

I signed up on Thursday and got a deal for a local restaurant near us: Nana's Original Stromboli.  $7 for 2 gourmet strombolis, 2 salads and 2 desserts.  Yoinks, it's a good one and I cannot wait to try it!

Hope there's one in a city near you :)

Love,
Hannah

Random Thoughts Part 2

Random Thoughts 12-22:

12.       I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

13.       The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

14.       A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

15.        Was learning cursive really necessary?

16.       Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

17.        I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

18.        Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

19.       How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

20.       Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

21.   While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and  instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

22.    MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Part 1

Part 3
Part 4

Love,
Hannah

Random Thoughts Part 1 (hilarious...you may pee your pants)

My friend Jess always likes to send me random emails she gets from co-workers or her dad in particular.  Sometimes it's a joke, an inspirational picture or beautiful slideshows, but there is one email she sent me that I have kept in my inbox for over a year now. It's a list of random thoughts someone put together that are--believe me--incredibly relevant to your everyday life.  I’m pretty sure you will be able to relate to every single one in some way or another.  And these little gems will have you laughing each time you read them!

I’ve listed a handful of the random thoughts to give you a couple laughs for today.  I will continue to post more of them throughout the week until I run out (in between my regular posts).  Why not give them all to you in one long post?  Hellooooo, so you can keep coming back to my blog of course.  And for a less selfish reason, so you can think of some random thoughts you’d like to share!  Email me your thoughts so I can put them together in a post next week.

Random Thoughts 1-11:

1.   Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

2.   I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

3.   Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going?  But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

4.    I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

5.   The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

6.   Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

7.   There is a great need for sarcasm font.

8.   Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

9.   I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

10. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

11.   I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Love,

Hannah

Fiesta Friday - Beer. It’s “Better” for your Belly

In the January edition of SHAPE magazine, they have an article titled “8 Habits to Steal From Guys.”  They mention some pretty interesting habits (you can find the full article at Shape.com), but there is one habit in particular that caught my attention (plus it’s perfect for a Fiesta Friday post as you head to Happy Hour this afternoon).

SHAPE’s Habit #3 – Grab a Brewski

First off, I think it’s hilarious when a beer is called a Brewski.  Second, the reasons SHAPE gives to back up why you should order a beer really make you re-think the term “beer belly.”

The article gives several benefits to grabbing a beer instead of wine or liquor, but I chose these two to share, since I think they’re more likely to impact your decision when ordering.

1.       When comparing ounce per ounce, wine and liquor have around twice the amount of calories as beer! 

2.       They site author David Grotto, R.D. (author of 101 Optimal Life Foods) who adds that people have a tendency to drink beer more slowly because carbonated bubbles in beer will fill you up. 

So next time you can’t decide what to get, order a light beer and keep these two things in mind (also from the Shape article):

1.       Order a light beer in a bottle instead of a draft beer so you know you’re getting exactly 12 ounces. 

2.       Don’t get the beer ice-cold because you are more likely to drink/chug the beer faster that way—the slower you drink, the faster you will fill up and the les calories you will consume.

Cheers,

Hannah

Charming Charlie Part 1

A few months ago Ben’s mom introduced me to what is now one of my new favorite stores: Charming Charlie.  It’s like a hairpiece-jewelry-trinket haven.  If you know anything about me, you know how much I love bulky necklaces and snazzy headbands, so going to Charming Charlie was a match made in heaven.   Their store is literally overflowing with little gems, and all of their prices are great.  So of course, when I went to the Charming Charlie in Fredericksburg, Virginia for the first time, I had to find out if they had more locations nationwide (specifically in South Florida).  The cashier informed me that they plan to open plenty more locations in 2011, and I couldn't have been happier when I found out there was one just 40 minutes away from me in Pembroke Pines.  (You can visit the Charming Charlie site to find out if they have a location near you!)

SIDE NOTE: The reason I name this post Part 1 is because I know I will be posting more about the little gems I find at Charming Charlie.  I mean, I already know what my Part 2 and Part 3 will be—N.B.D.

During my first experience at Charming Charlie, I bought the cutest set of hair pins decorated with a hot pink flower and a sparkly stud (see picture below).  I decided to wear it out this past Saturday night to add some color to outfit (which was plain dark denim bottoms with a plain white turtleneck--except for the red cranberry juice I spilled on it as noted in my post earlier this week).   I personally love the hair pin (obviously or else I wouldn’t have purchased it), but when someone I didn’t even know stopped me on Saturday night to tell me how much she loved it, I was ecstatic.  Little did she know, she much gave me the best compliment ever.

I hope there is a Charming Charlie location near you, but if not, I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they start selling online soon.  In the mean time, just keep checking for updates on new little gems I find there!

Love,
Hannah

<3

The Golden Globes - Move over Fashion Police, there's a new Sheriff in town

I love when award season comes around because I get to watch the always hilarious Joan Rivers bad mouth (sometimes compliment) the fashion on the red carpet.  It used to just be a few episodes of the Fashion Police, but now I can see Joan every Friday night on E!.  Granted I don't catch most episodes, but when I'm flipping through channels and it's on, you bet I'll be watching.  Her commentaries are classic, and along with her and her co-hosts, I have my own opinion on the red carpet's fashion dos and don'ts.  Below I've picked out a handful of little gems from the Golden Globes, along with some not so little gems (should they be called boulders?).  You can find more pictures from the red carpet at the Golden Globes on The Daily Beast!

I kind of like this outfit--a lot.  I don't think Anne Hathway has ever looked better.  I started off with this dress because as you scroll down, you'll notice a trend of high necklines.  I love it!

Anne Hathaway in Giorgio Armani Prive

 Hm, not so big a fan of this high neckline.  It looks like a tapered mumu.

Angelina Jolie in Versace

She always takes risks (have you seen the blue dress from last year's Emmys?) and I think it's awesome.  Plus she's really, really hot.

 

January Jones in Versace



No More "Oh-Nos!", Get Tide To Go

I’m sure I’m not the only one out there, but I seem to always—always—miss my mouth when I’m drinking something.  I don’t know what it is.  Either I don’t close my mouth all the way around the opening of a bottle or I’m that clumsy (it’s may as well be both).  For some reason though, I decide to spill on myself most often under two circumstance (they often come in pairs):

1.       When I’m wearing white.

2.       When I’m drinking something red.

It’s a conspiracy.  But with the advent of the Tide To Go stick, my mishaps have a quick fix while I’m away from the bleach and washing machine at home.  It's the perfect little gem for an on-the-go spiller.

I had another post I was actually planning on putting up this morning, but I changed my mind when I had a Tide To Go moment yesterday AND this past weekend.  Coincidence?  You tell me.  But both days I was wearing white and drinking something reddish.  Life.

Spill #1: On Saturday night, I was wearing a white turtleneck and drinking cranberry juice.  Of course, I missed my mouth and had major drippage down the middle of my shirt.  I didn’t have my Tide To Go stick with me at the time (I usually do I just didn’t have my purse/ life bag), so I made sure to get the stain out on Sunday.  I started out by rubbing it with the Tide To Go stick, then putting some stain remover on it and giving it a quick wash.  My turtleneck is now perfectly white thanks to my Tide To Go application.  Unfortunately, I ran out of Tide To Go, so I made a mental note to get a new one next time I was out.

Why Tall Girls Should Wear Heels

Last week I came across an article listing 7 reasons why tall girls shouldn't give up wearing high heels.  I may not be that tall, but I do have tall friends who I think would love to read this little gem :).  Enjoy!

7 Reasons Why Tall Girls Shouldn't Give Up Wearing Heels

Love,
Hannah

Brew Urban Café, just when you thought you couldn’t find the perfect local coffee shop

Coffee shops.  They are everywhere.  They are all different. And they are NOT all good.  There’s the usual Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, but those are monster chains you will find—seriously—on every street corner.  So when you’re looking for a great local coffee shop, it can become quite challenging to find one with a good atmosphere and amazing coffee.  But once you find a local little gem, you are set.  This is the way I see it…the feeling you get when you get the most delicious cup of coffee ever is right up there with the feeling of overwhelming excitement when your order of french fries from Wendy’s or McDonalds comes out piping hot, slightly crunchy (well I like them super crunchy) and lightly salted.  Yeah, it’s awesome. 

It wasn’t until last year that I found a local coffee shop I could honestly say has the best cup of coffee I have ever and probably will ever have (Ben agrees by the way so it’s not just me).  Brew Urban Café is the perfect little gem you could ask for when it comes to coffee shops (and I know you’ve been looking for one because who doesn’t want to say they go to a local indie coffee shop on the regular).  They brew Intelligentsia Coffee that makes the coffee at other shops taste like charcoal—gross I know. 

Fiesta Fridays: A New Love Little Gems Tradition

Every Friday from now on (hopefully this “now on” will be a while…I want to keep blogging…so follow me!) I will be hosting a Fiesta Friday post.  Want to know more?  Read on…

Here’s the type of little gem you can find in this new Love Little Gems tradition:

Q: What is a Fiesta Friday Post?

A: If you like to have a drink or two on the weekend, this one’s for you!  I will suggest/introduce a new drink every Friday to celebrate the end of the week and the start of the weekend.  Each Fiesta Friday post will have a cocktail, wine, beer or any other festive drink for you to try or buy if you so choose.  And I would love to get emails with suggestions for future posts!  The more the merrier…literally and figuratively speaking.

Q: Why the Fiesta Friday tradition?

A: Because who doesn’t love the weekend!

Q: How do I suggest a beverage?

A: Email me at LoveLittleGems@gmail.com with a drink recipe or specific type of drink you’d like to share…PLUS what makes it a little gem worth trying.

Thanks, Mr. Bojangles

Before my freshman year at Wake Forest University, I had never been to a Bojangles.  The only time I ever saw the fast food restaurant was when I went to visit my grandmother in Shelby, NC (a town where Wal-Mart isn’t just a Wal-Mart.  It’s “Wally-World,” according to my uncle).  Every time we went to Shelby and passed the Bojangles (forgot to mention it’s a Bojangles-slash-gas station), my mom would burst out into some “Mr. Bojangles” song.   So, before 2005 all I knew was that there was a song called “Mr. Bojangles” and a fast food restaurant called Bojangles that—although unrelated—I associated with one another.  Then, it happened.  During Wake Forest’s basketball season my freshman year, I was introduced to Bojangles’ Cajun Seasoned Fries, sold at the LJVM in Winston-Salem, NC.  My palate changed from that moment on.  It got to the point where my girlfriends and I would go to basketball games just to get Cajun fries and dip them in ranch dressing (if you haven’t tried them this way, you’re missing out).  Soon after, we discovered there was actually a Bojangles drive-thru down the road—clutch.  Then, sophomore year, Ben’s fraternity house had a container of Cajun seasoning in the cupboard above the stove, which I might add he used generously on pork (and still does) all of the time.  Now that I knew I could eat other foods besides french fries with a Cajun taste, I was hooked. 

To date we use Cajun seasoning on a lot of things we eat and cook.  In particular, we have a container of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning (Creole seasoning is pretty much the same as Cajun by the way…I asked Google).  The container says “It’s Great on Everything,” and that’s no joke.  This past Sunday we made nachos…and, of course, put a dash (or two, or three, or 10) of Creole Seasoning on them.  So next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up this little gem for your kitchen.  And Mr. Bojangles, whoever you are, thanks.  It’s been good.

Love,
Hannah

Britney Spears's New Song ~ Click the Link to Listen!

Click Here to hear Britney Spears's new song "Hold It Against Me."  I know it may be hard to admit it sometimes, but Britney Spears does have some catchy tunes.  Edited or not, they're all fun to dance to!  Her new song was the fastest growing song on the radio and iTunes in history.  Not Britney Spears history--all history.  Looks like I'm going to have to ask Ben to add this little gem to his iTunes library, whether he likes it or not ;).

Love,
Hannah

Shop Anthropologie, because, yes, they actually have sale prices

Initially, the thought of finding low prices at Anthropologie may seem almost as impossible as the thought of enjoying ketchup on a brownie—it just doesn’t happen (soon you will realize how I enjoy ketchup on almost anything--except chocolate).  But don’t disregard the term sale prices with Anthropologie just yet.  Hear me out.  Anthropologie is filled with shabby-chic, vintage clothing, accessories, décor, bedding and more—but at prices you always hesitate at before you hit the cash register.  I'll admit, however, that there is the occasional splurge because they have an item you just can’t help but fall in love with (it happens—I mean they’re store is great).  But for the other 75% of the time, it’s hard to get yourself to spend a lot on something made to look old.  That’s when you make your way over to the sale section of their store or website.  They actually have pretty incredible deals here on all of their items.  While their sale section is usually a mish-mosh of random tops, skirts and trinkets, you can always find little gems worth the price. 

Unfortunately, there are no Anthropologie stores close enough for me to be willing to sit in rush hour traffic, so I opt for their website.  It’s a beautifully-designed site that is easy to shop on and navigate.  The only thing their site is lacking is the opportunity to smell their delicious candles when you log on (it’s almost worth the traffic just to get a little sniff--but I can live without it). 

On Tuesday I was in need of some major retail therapy (no different, really, than any other day of the week).  I went to the sale section of Anthropologie.com and began my search.  That’s when I came across their “Stormy Nut Bowl” (sorry I can’t link it because they sold out today but luckily I saved a picture so you can see it below!).  Now what could I possibly do with this nut bowl?  A lot!  Haven’t you ever been to someone’s house where they have a small bowl filled with nuts for you to munch on?  Well, I have and I’ve always wanted a nut bowl I could call my own.  As soon as I saw this one from Anthropologie I fell in love.  Then, I looked at the price and loved it even more.  For $3.95 I could serve nuts in a decorative bowl or use the bowl as a cute decoration for our home—the best of both worlds.  (The only anomaly in this situation was the fact that it was actually more expensive to ship the bowl than to buy it.  But who's really counting.)  I got an email confirmation today that the nut bowl is on its way to our condo, and I cannot wait to set this little gem out and fill it with nuts.  You may think I'm nuts--pun intended there--but I honestly cannot wait!

I hope, reader, that you can also benefit from the little gems Anthropologie has.  You have to admit that it feels great when you leave Anthropologie with something to take home—feels even better when it’s on sale!

Love,
Hannah

Fat Tuesday, no not how I feel today

Fat Tuesday...a great place to get a great buzz for a great price.  It was last year around this time that Ben and I were at the Fort Lauderdale Beach for the Superbowl festivities.  We stumbled across a little gem at Beach Place--the Fat Tuesday I am talking about in this blog entry.  For only $9 we purchased a sweet cup (New Orleans Saints colors to be exact) filled with a deliciously spiked slurpy.  The 190 OCTANE.  But, it's not the $9 that's the real deal here.  Now that you have the cup, refills only cost $6.  Every. Single. Time!  Of course, we have been several times since last year.  And we always take friends (this picture if from when me and my friend Amy went).  We actually just went this past Saturday, and it is still worth it.  So, next time you're at the Fort Lauderdale Beach (particularly between Las Olas Blvd. and Sunrise) don't forget to stop by Fat Tuesday.

  

40% Off Discount at GAP Stores Tomorrow - Click Link Below!

Good Morning, Everyone!

Gap sent out an email promotion this morning stating that tomorrow--Wednesday, January 12th--you will get 40% off any regular priced item in-stores!  But, to get the discount you have to print out the email promo.  For those of you reading me, it's your lucky day!  CLICK HERE to get the link to the email promo.  Print out this little gem and bring it to your closest Gap store.  Enjoy :)

Love,
Hannah

Bottoms Up, Mrs. Claus!

Wine Stoppers.  Great accessories for wine-ohs who love a glass or two on the regular.  But sometimes wine stoppers can look a little boring (especially the silver ones with black rubber decoration on them…I mean they work if you're only going for the taste of the wine).  That’s why I’m writing this post.  Funky wine stoppers are little gems just waiting to cap your wine bottle so you can enjoy the taste of your wine for more than just one night AND so you can gloat about how cute/fun it looks (not to mention a great conversation starter when people see it).  To date, the best wine stopper I've seen is the one Ben’s mom gave to Ben and me this past December.  It’s Mrs. Claus upside down, and I get a kick out of it every time I look at it.  Even when it’s tossed into our giant margarita glass turned cork storage bin, it’s still cute.  

Mrs. Claus head first into the margarita glass

I figured there must be more fabulous wine stoppers like the Mrs. Claus one we have, so I hopped on the computer and asked my friend Google.  I was directed to this great site called the Wine Diva Shop.  Not only did they have the Mrs. Claus Wiggle Legs Wine Stopper but they also had a great Upside Down Witch Wine Stopper, perfect for Halloween.  Yep, looks like I’m going to need to get that one too.  They have plenty of other wine stoppers you should check out…you won’t be disappointed and neither will your fresh wine.

Upside Down Witch Wine Stopper

Mrs. Claus Wiggle Legs Wine Stopper

Love,
Hannah

Cinnamon and Coffee: ItTakesTwoToMakeThingsGoRiiiiiiiGHHHHHHT

One of my favorite go-to movies is The Proposal staring Ryan Reynolds (Andrew Paxton) and Sandra Bullock (Margaret Tate). Who are dating in real life apparently? According to E!, I guess (click the E! for a story on it...). I’ll probably have to catch up today. (I mean “It’s Sunday. You know you’re watching E!”).   My favorite part of the movie is when Margaret and Andrew are at Andrew’s home in Alaska singing “Ittakestwotomakethingsgoriiiiiight. Ittakestwotomakeitoutofsightttt”.  Don’t know why but I laugh every time. How does this tie into my cinnamon and coffee title? Well, these two things go right together. Cinnamon is a little gem for your morning cup of coffee. Or, like Ryan Reynolds puts it in The Proposal, “It’s like Christmas in a cup.” It really is though! I got Ben addicted to putting a little bit of cinnamon in his coffee (when he drinks it). Try it next time, and tell me what you think!

Love,
Hannah

The Bonzai Brownie

Google definition of Bonzai: A Japanese cheer of enthusiasm or triumph.

This name for a dessert couldn't be more fitting.  While I didn't yell "BONZAIIII" when I knew we (Ben and I) would be going to Flanigans tonight for The Bonzai Brownie (TM), I was pretty excited.  What exactly is this dessert?  It is a monster size brownie (with no nuts, thank goodness…nuts take away from its delicious chocolaty-ness), topped with two scoops of Edy's Vanilla ice cream, plus a helping of whipped cream on top.  Then, it's doused with chocolate syrup and big Oreo chunks.  And then, surrounded by a fort made of Kit-Kat bars.  I bet you’re freaking out just reading about this. Good thing Ben and I took a picture.  Looks good and tastes even better.  This is a little gem (although this description may seem contradictory since the calorie count is like 10 time the amount any human should consume in one day--or maybe two) worth trying. Countless times we have gone to Flanigans just for The Bonzai Brownie(TM), and tonight was no exception.  (Note: they have delicious food too.  Their cole slaw..mmmm).  They have plenty of locations in South Florida, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy!

Love,

Hannah

Oh, how I love coupon codes

Today was a great day.  I happened to stumble across a site that had a banner ad on it that caught my attention.  This ad was advertising a 70% off deal for purchases on Restaurant.com (a really awesome site for those of us who like getting great deals when we go out to eat).  All I had to do was enter the Coupon Code "PLATE" at checkout.  Well, that was easy enough for me!  I purchased two $25 gift certificates to restaurants near me for only $6.  So, I get $50 worth of food for $6.  NICE.  I can't wait to go out to dinner.  If you're wondering (which I'm sure you are) where my boyfriend and I plan on dining, it's Mrs. Murphy's Pub & Grub on Commercial Blvd. and Tequila Sunrise in Oakland Park.  Hopefully these little restaurants will have little gems in them.  I'll let you know.

And how could I forget!  When I was done with my purchase, they gave me more options for deals.  I chose to get email a free $10 e-certificate for Shoebuy.com.  They're really reeling them in on me today.

Love,
Hannah

Hello, non readers

Yep!  I mean it.  Hello, non readers.  This is my first of what I hope will be a long list of blog posts people will find interesting.  So, hello to no one so far!  I'm starting this blog as a sort of outlet for me to tell people about the "little gems" (note catchy blog title uhuuu) I purchase, eat, find, see, hear about, etc in my daily life.  It's these little gems I love telling people about.  They make me happy and it makes me happy when I can tell people about them.  I mean, think about it.  When you are out and find a really great deal on a small trinket, piece of clothing, pair of shoes (I really could go on), how excited are you to run home and tell anyone who will listen?  Hopefully, I'm not the only one that gets super excited about telling someone what great find I got that day.  Or what great dish I ate.  Or what great drink I tried.  Or what great deal I stumbled across.  Sharing it with someone else allows them to get in on the excitement.  Maybe they want to get one too.  Maybe they want to try it too.  Maybe they want to do it too.

I honestly try to go out and find little gems every day.  I would be lying if I said I didn't look forward to a lunch break almost every day at work so I can walk over to the Target across the street and get something in the dollar section.  That section is AWESOME, and you know it.  Just a few days ago I go myself a nice hot pink binder for $1.  Oh, and then I picked up a hot pink storage container for $2.50.  God, I couldn't wait to get home to organize them.  It was great.  It's a sort of Retail Therapy thing I've noticed...stressed from work, from a long day, from life...a little Retail Therapy can go a looooong way.  

To prove to you even more how much I love little finds...My boyfriend (Ben, who I will probs mention lots throughout my posts) got me a Target gift card as part of my birthday present.  He put a note on it that said something to the extent of "for you to use on your Target breaks."  I'm not kidding.  Oh, and the day the Target became a grocery store...it was the best day of my life.  Not only could I buy little trinkets...but I could get little snacks too.  Oh, and there's a mall just a few hundred yards away.  Another great place to stop by. 

Hopefully I've grabbed your attention--enough to get you to follow me.  Here's the deal: Eventually, I'd like this blog to be a place for people to tell me about the "little gems" they've come across and want to share.  The more things we hear about, the more things we are going to inspire others to do.  It's these little gems that make us happy, so the more gems the merrier.

Think of it this way...I love little gems.  You love little gems.  We love sharing little gems.  So let's share it with everyone :).

Love,

Hannah