10/03/13

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Product Review: Map My State typography art print

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Hey friends! It was another sunny day on the NJ Shore. We had a morning full of packing and shipping orders, and our afternoon was spent prepping wood, organizing, and matting more prints. And speaking of prints...we really wanted to share our fave new piece of art for the home. Just recently we were contacted by Ashley from mapmystate.com about possibly reviewing one of their state typography prints...and I gotta say...I don't think you could possibly find a better fit for a product review.

Well first off, I don't think I need to remind you guys about our love for New Jersey, and just how much this highly recognizable silhouette means to us. In fact, you can probably recall a recent post about my love for my home state, and the fab NJ necklace I wear in honor of this place. We're coming up on the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, and as we redecorate our house and bring it that much closer to being our home, we always keep in mind our specific geography. This is our home and home is on the Jersey Shore. Through and through we feel deeply connected to this place. So yeah...Ashley hit the nail on the head when she thought that me and Aaron might love a New Jersey typography print.

And here's something else that we love about our print from mapmystate.com...this is the handy work of a husband & wife artist duo! Ashley and Ben. Me and Aar are a bit biased in this department of course. We love boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife artist teams. And we love how they started the company. The whole thing came together back in 2011, out of their own need for cool home decor. Unlike me and Aar, who are longtime devotees to this one place, Ashley and Ben moved around a whole lot and wanted to pay tribute to all of the wonderful places they had lived. So they did it with with some self made fab artwork. This artwork would soon evolve into the awesome typographic pieces that fill their amazing shop.

They've got prints available in 8" x 10" or 11" x 14"...and they're all $15! They've got states, cities, countries, and Canadian provinces. And there are a bunch of cool color ways to choose from. What we really loved is that we were able to customize it. The New Jersey print that we saw originally did not feature Asbury Park...but Ashley said they could add Asbury no problem...and also you can have them highlight the name of your town in a contrasting color if you want.

We went with the 11" x 14" in classic black. It's printed on on premium, bright white, acid-free, 110# coverstock. It came unmatted and unframed, which we prefer...we had already had a shopping trip planned...so a new frame was in our very near future!

We found this simple, rustic black distressed frame at Michael's. And being that it was Michael's...of course it was on sale! We think it really worked out perfectly.
Being that we are still recovering from hurricane Sandy, and pretty much none of the house is in a finished state...we're thinking that this print may move around a few times, room to room, before it finds it's final perfect spot. But for now, it is hanging in our livingroom, and we really really love it!

And yes...not only do they have all of these fab prints...they also offer mugs! Which we love! We are mug peeps for sure. Also, I think mugs are just the perfect gift!

We really love our print and we can think of so many people that would love the work of Ashley and Ben. Whether it's folks like us, who love their one and only home state...or chronic travelers who would need an entire wall for their collection of map inspired artwork. Such a unique gift...great decor that is customizable and affordable. We hope that if you guys are looking for something special this holiday you'll pay a visit to Ashley & Ben at mapmystate.com

And get this...Ashley & Ben are offering Everyday is a Holiday readers 20% off their order! How great is that?!

Use code "everyday"

And...if you spend a small portion of your on facebook then be sure to like Map My State on facebook! Spread the word about this fabulous artist duo! :)

Thanks to you guys for stopping by...and a big thanks to Ashley & Ben!

Love from the Jersey Shore,

xo Jenny & Aaron

Simply White

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White is a favourite colour for many interior designers. It always looks clean, fresh and uplifting. It is very popular for beach house decor because it maximises the light and creates bright, breezy spaces that feel calm and tranquil. Decorating with white allows endless possibilities to play with scale, interesting furniture pieces, texture and different styles without making too many mistakes! White comes in many tints and tones – creamy, milky, chalky and greyed – all of which look beautiful layered on top of one another. To prevent a room from being too cool and stark – layer various shades of white and use a mix of textures to create added interest. A white on white palette helps highlight and showcase the architectural features of a room or a house.

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2 collage, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 all editing by Coastal Style

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Tip of the week: Keep Cheap Protein Staples on Hand!

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Too many people end up eating poorly due to lack of planning and not having healthy food staples on hand. When it comes to simple meals, you need to have quick-to-prepare and healthy protein staples in your fridge or pantry so that you can create a meal when you get back late, are tired, and do not feel like cooking. You can create a healthy meal in less time and for less money than if you were to stop and get take-out. In order to make a well-balanced meal, you need to have a protein source, LOADS of vegetables, and a whole grain at bare minimum. I always advocate keeping frozen vegetables on hand, as well as some form of whole grain you can go to such as whole grain bread products (I keep Wegman's whole wheat pita's in my freezer all the time), quinoa, or low-sodium whole grain crackers (e.g: Ak Mak whole wheat sesame or Hint of Salt Triscuits). Below are my go-to cheap and nutritious protein staples I recommend you keep around your kitchen:

Eggs: Use 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites- make veggie omelets with a side of whole grain toast (~13 g protein per 1 egg:2 whites omelet)

Low-fat cottage cheese: My favorite brand is Breakstone’s 2% (30% reduced-sodium)- use in salads, smoothies, add to omelets, put in pitas w/ cut strawberries & cinnamon, eat with fruit or tomatoes (12-16 g protein/half cup)

Canned no-salt added beans: You can add beans to just about anything from burritos to salads, add to a vegetable dish, or eat plain (7-10 g protein/half cup)

Frozen veggie burgers: These cook up in <2 minutes- my favorite kind is Amy’s Texas Burger- always look for a veggie burger with some form of high quality protein (like soy) and >10 g protein per burger. The only downfall of these products is the high sodium content associated (10-20 g protein depending on burger)

Frozen shelled edamame: Most supermarkets now even have their own generic brand of shelled edamame in the freezer aisle. Edamame are soybeans that are a complete protein source and extremely healthy and versatile. Add to stir fries, salads, or eat as a snack! (13 g protein/ half cup)

Tofu: Stick with extra firm tofu if you aren’t used to working with it. Add to stir fries, salads, or add to any dish you are making. Tofu has very little flavor and is very versatile. (1/2 pack= ~14 g protein)

Reduced-fat Swiss cheese: Swiss is amongst the lowest in sodium content of all cheeses. When all else fails and you have no meat for your sandwich- make a grilled cheese or add cheese to the omelet to get more dairy and protein. Choose reduced-fat varieties to keep your saturated fat intake to a minimum (~7 g protein/slice)

Canned (low-sodium) tuna or salmon: You should definitely keep these on hand! You can make fish fritters made with vegetables and oatmeal, add canned fish to salads, pastas, or make into a sandwich. Delicious, nutritious and cheap! Just be sure to get the skinless & boneless canned salmon, the other varieties may be cheaper, but definitely not worth the extra work & appearance… (12-14 g protein per 2 oz or ~¼ c)

If you keep all of these on hand you will have the ability to create a quick and easy meal at a moment's notice. Be sure to add whatever spices and herbs you want to add flavor and antioxidants to your meal.