HWH Loves Bloggers | Claire Brody Designs

<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I hope one of the things you think about when you read Honey We're Home or of the person behind the blog is that you know, above all, I like to share the love.  I try to be kind and supportive to everyone and I always truly appreciate the thoughtfulness shown toward me.  I remember starting my blog almost 5 years ago and feeling so excited to see that people were reading my blog and taking time to leave a sweet comment.  I still feel that way!  I know people are busy, have lots of choices for how they choose to spend their time, and that anyone makes a point of stopping here is not taken for granted.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I also know that bloggers benefit from being featured and promoted on other blogs (myself included!) and I like being part of that sharing community.  I'd love to feature other home bloggers who have great content, beautiful photos and a genuine voice. <b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-style: italic;">If you fit that description and </span><span style="font-style: italic;">want to be featured on Honey We're Home, <b>tag an instagram picture #HWHlovesbloggers and I'll be checking in and choosing some to feature each THURSDAY on my blog and instagram (</b><a href="https://instagram.com/honeywerehome/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">@honeywerehome</a><b>). </b></span><b>For next week, since I just finished <a href="http://bit.ly/nuetralmasterbedroomrefresh" target="_blank">our neutral master bedroom refresh</a>, I'm looking for your BEDROOM photos!  </b>It doesn't matter to me if you've been blogging for 6 months or 6 years, I'd be happy to showcase your talent here. <br><br /><br><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYBAmX9GTV5g0awZ02b_KWTCrJc_Mu7v27GgQlR4wJZO51varTzcR_1kIFFXqMC2xX3mq_H9-QL6BXMUDYz_EQQVZ7lmTuGzO3hzDfbq_eTCEutRUuBlfpFpyl07ToHwOWooMJ926ByqQ/s1600/HWHLOVESBLOGGERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYBAmX9GTV5g0awZ02b_KWTCrJc_Mu7v27GgQlR4wJZO51varTzcR_1kIFFXqMC2xX3mq_H9-QL6BXMUDYz_EQQVZ7lmTuGzO3hzDfbq_eTCEutRUuBlfpFpyl07ToHwOWooMJ926ByqQ/s1600/HWHLOVESBLOGGERS.jpg"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><a href="http://www.honeywerehome.com/2015/04/hwh-loves-bloggers-claire-brody-designs.html#more">Read more »</a>

HWH Loves Bloggers | Claire Brody Designs

I hope one of the things you think about when you read Honey We're Home or of the person behind the blog is that you know, above all, I ...

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Wardrobe Wednesday | White Jeans Day & Night

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Happy happy day friends!  My Grandma is visiting from California and we are beyond thrilled to have her here.  We are super close and she is one special lady.  At 88, she's still running circles around most people and uses the internet (love that she reads my blog everyday!) and even Facebook.  She's the kind of person who never stops learning, challenges herself, has friends all over the world she helps, and has taught me most that we have to accept situations we cannot change.  So thankful for this woman in my life.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />And speaking of thankful, I so appreciate your supportive comments on my <a href="http://bit.ly/bikinicontestprep2015" target="_blank">bikini contest prep post</a>.  Some of you like Caroline and Ann didn't realize I had a <a href="http://www.honeywerehealthy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">second blog</a> (my fault for not promoting it more), and other people like Nicole, House Bound In Marin, Lisa B, and Katie said they loved following that blog and my posts about my first bikini contest.  But overall, everyone commented that they'd like me to combine the <a href="http://www.honeywerehealthy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Honey We're Healthy</a> & Honey We're Home blogs into one place here and/or get health/fitness/recipe content here on Honey We're Home. </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />That's really good for me to know because the main reason I started a second blog was so that people who weren't interested in that content wouldn't be turned off by me posting it here.  But what I realize now by reading your comments, is that that most of us want to be healthy and to look and feel good so reading about that here would be a welcome change.  <b>I'm looking into adding a 'Fitness' tab at the top of Honey We're Home so you can easily access those posts when you visit here and I will be doing weekly bikini contest prep updates also. </b> Hope you enjoy them and they are helpful to you, even if you're not training for a contest! (But if you are, please let me know in the comments so we can encourage each other!) </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;">white jeans day & night</span></div><br /><br><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Ever since I bought my <a href="http://bit.ly/1yNJxDD" target="_blank">new favorite white jeans</a>, I've been wearing them non-stop and they've become a go-to piece in my wardrobe.  I'm dubbing them a <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>"HWH Everyday Favorite"</b></span> item and will share more of those with you throughout the post.  They are originally pricey ($164), but were just on sale for $114. The only drawback (which is also the plus) is that they're white, so I try to be careful not to spill on them while I'm eating or drinking since I do a lot of eating and drinking in the car and am always making a mess.  </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />What makes <a href="http://bit.ly/1yNJxDD" target="_blank">this pair</a> so special is the thicker fabric and cut.  I tried on so many pair of white jeans and most of them were too thin and too much like jeggings/leggings and made my legs look bumpy and terrible.  The material on these <a href="http://bit.ly/1yNJxDD" target="_blank">AG Prima Cigarette Jeans</a> is thicker and more like a jean (still with some stretch- 98% cotton, 2% elastane).  Also, they are a mid-rise, so your waistband isn't in your crotch!  At 5'1 and 107 pounds, I got the size 25 and then had the length taken up and nipped in the waist just a tad.  </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I'll share some less expensive white jean options at the bottom of the post, but I wanted to show you today how I wear white jeans day and night, just by dressing them up with a heel and some fancier jewelry (for night) or pair them with wedges or flats and more casual tops (for day).  </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5Suo1C_6Ses7FL_mU6dEni67pryKYBJG-o7fDXa_Rh15HLfBcXgIJsllv6uYiU0HuXEv12UnHttGVDr9RyADDwr2m1gcjmiAyKCoExecK56ozAlJVf0qhhgVWpvhPWDvVBii4FRL7VB-/s1600/White+Jeans+Day+and+Night+Honey+We're%2BHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5Suo1C_6Ses7FL_mU6dEni67pryKYBJG-o7fDXa_Rh15HLfBcXgIJsllv6uYiU0HuXEv12UnHttGVDr9RyADDwr2m1gcjmiAyKCoExecK56ozAlJVf0qhhgVWpvhPWDvVBii4FRL7VB-/s1600/White+Jeans+Day+and+Night+Honey+We're%2BHome.jpg"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.honeywerehome.com/2015/04/wardrobe-wednesday-white-jeans-day-night.html#more">Read more »</a>

Wardrobe Wednesday | White Jeans Day & Night

Happy happy day friends!  My Grandma is visiting from California and we are beyond thrilled to have her here.  We are super close and she is...

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Bikini Contest Prep | Here We Go Again!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Happy Monday friends!  I may not be operating at full speed today, having spent the last 4 days in Dallas with my blogging girlfriends (<a href="http://www.honeywerehome.com/2015/04/girls-weekend-packing-edition.html" target="_blank">see what I packed to wear here</a>), staying up too late, and indulging in all things girly and fun. I felt like I was a kid again having an all-girls sleepover for 3 nights, complete with getting ready together and pillow talk. But, you know how it is when you go away for even a few days, it seems like when you get back there's so much to do from unpacking to laundry to grocery shopping, etc.  </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />My boys survived and enjoyed their guy weekend, and I'm sure it was good for them both. Sometimes my son just needs alone-time with Dad.  I can't say the same thing about our poor plants.   Do men really just <i>not notice</i> that the previously healthy and perky plants are <i>wilting away and near death</i>?!?!  Or is it just mine?? I tended to them when I got home, so hopefully, they'll come back to life.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />And speaking of coming back to life, if you follow <a href="http://www.honeywerehealthy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Honey We're Healthy</a>, you know that I trained for and competed in my first fitness bikini contest last July.  It was a long-time bucket list item for me and I finally built up the courage to go for it last year.  Exercise has always been a way for me to blow off steam, release stress and feel good about myself.  While I was going through my Dad's illness, I would work off all the anger, frustration and stress at the gym and it also helped me feel better about myself.  Of course, I want to be healthy <i>and</i> look good too.  I don't feel embarrassed or ashamed about that, even when people don't understand my motives. <br><br /><br><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-large;">FITNESS CONTEST 2014</span></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />For my first contest, I started working out seriously and eating healthy in January 2014.  Then, to help get me ready for the contest, I hired a trainer in March, and after 14 weeks of training together, I competed on July 3, 2014.  I was in the best shape of my life and felt really good, even weeks before the contest date.  </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />It was a lot of work to get to that point, but in retrospect, it was just a matter of doing what I knew needed to be done day in and day out.  I actually didn't have too much trouble sticking to the diet because I liked my food (and there was plenty of it) but the training!!  Oh, the training was always physically demanding, even as I got in better shape and we pushed harder.  Plus, I was doing 45 minutes of cardio about 4 days a week on top of the 3-4 days of weight training.  So, the time commitment was significant too.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />At the show, I placed 4th in my age group (over 35) and was humbly proud of my accomplishment.  When I look at the picture below, it's actually hard to imagine that's me. I'm definitely not looking like that now. </div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9777p5mGIS1aQxqbjj2-IwgXia_MQAXh4aCAb1gJECDZYJ5Y8PjVCKhZUDdFCW4ERGBMp8rBrQF73LA0IYrZ3njJr03iGL38jXSRTMKMqc8Afph3261-7UglUwRu8YoQPY6fX9Fz2zfP/s1600/Npc+bikini+contest+training+Honey+We're%2BHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="bikin contest prep NPC" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9777p5mGIS1aQxqbjj2-IwgXia_MQAXh4aCAb1gJECDZYJ5Y8PjVCKhZUDdFCW4ERGBMp8rBrQF73LA0IYrZ3njJr03iGL38jXSRTMKMqc8Afph3261-7UglUwRu8YoQPY6fX9Fz2zfP/s1600/Npc+bikini+contest+training+Honey+We're%2BHome.jpg" title=""></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.honeywerehome.com/2015/04/bikini-contest-prep-here-we-go-again.html#more">Read more »</a>

Bikini Contest Prep | Here We Go Again!

Happy Monday friends!  I may not be operating at full speed today, having spent the last 4 days in Dallas with my blogging girlfriends ( see...

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