Friday’s Fabulous Finds!

 Friday’s Fabulous Finds!

Hello, sweet friends!

When I first started this blog WAYYYYY back when it was simply to have a way to document the changes we were making on our fixer-upper (did I mention we just sold it!) I also threw in a repurposed piece of furniture here and there and I even had a series on Sundays that showcased other blogs that I was finding and loving in my new adventure. Later, I began sharing a few recipes that our family enjoyed and even a garden tip now and again.

Do you see where I’m going here?

Change.

As my life changed, so too did this blog. So much so that when life got a bit overwhelming with work, remodeling our home, and more, I made the VERY difficult decision to shut down the blog for almost two years.

It wasn’t easy starting over. Life had moved on. Social media had become HUGE and I was WAYYYY behind the curve.

But I didn’t care about that then, and I still don’t.

My plan is to continue to share all the things I love and hopefully inspire you all with Delicious and Easy recipes, Simple-budget-friendly DIY and crafts, and tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way!

With that said, I’m going to be starting a few new series here on Pallet and Pantry!

My hope is they not only inspire you but also help improve and simplify your life too!

FRIDAY’s FABULOUS FInds

Before I get into what my new series is about, let me first say what it isn’t about.

Bombarding you with affiliate links to SELL, SELL, SELL!

Yes, I will be providing SOME affiliate links within this new series. Affiliate links are how we are able to keep this blog going. BUT..and this is a BIG BUT…I’m NOT here to sell you anything.

But not ALL of the links will be affiliate links!

And not all I share will be products!

Tips, DIY’s, Decor, Movies, sites and SO Much more will also be included in this weekly post!

As I said, I want this new series to be helpful. Clicking through a mass of product links is NOT. Trust me, I get that.

So instead of filling a post with a bunch of links, I’ll be sharing details, pics, and more about everything I share!

And if I DO share a product you can bet I’ll share the MOST budget-friendly place to find it! Cause friends, it’s all about the savings, am I right?

So let’s get started with this week’s FABULOUS finds!

(Affiliate links may be provided for some products-but all opinions are my own. You can find our full disclosure policy here. Thank you for supporting our blog and family.)

BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT

I don’t talk much about skincare here on the blog, but at 54 let’s just say it’s VERY important to me! This past May I visited my daughter and couldn’t help but notice how her face was absolutely glowing. She’s always trying new make-up so I thought for sure that was what it was, but shockingly she said she wasn’t wearing any! So how did she get that fresh, dewy look without makeup? She started using a skincare product called Caudalie.

After listening to her go on and on about how wonderful this skincare duo made her skin feel and seeing the results for myself, I HAD to order them!

why I love this product

This skincare line has quite a few different serums and cremes available based on skin type and needs. I chose are the Vinoperfect Radiance Dark Spot Serum and the Vinosouce Moisturizing Cream.

The Serum: If you have dark spots, dullness, and loss of firmness and elasticity this is the product for you!  I started putting the serum on my face every morning before applying make-up at the beginning of June.  You can see how much is gone in the bottle in the above photo.  So a  little definitely goes a long way!

I’ve absolutely noticed a HUGE difference in the feel and look of my skin. My face actually feels quenched. It’s definitely softer to the touch and there’s a bit more ‘give’ instead of that awful tight feeling I used to have. I don’t have any dark spots on my face, but I did have a couple on my chest area from too much sun exposure. They aren’t completely gone but they ARE less noticeable for sure.

The Moisturizing Cream: Like the serum, I started using the cream every morning(a few minutes after the serum) before I apply make-up. I also use it at night once I remove my makeup. This cream is also VERY hydrating but not greasy. It’s SO light and yet I could see a change in how my skin looked in less than a week of using it.

COST

I’m not going to lie. Both the serum and the cream are a bit pricey for my usual budget conscience self! But as I mentioned a little goes a LONG way and I couldn’t be happier with the results of using these products for just a bit over a month!

best place to purchase

Initially, I purchased both from Amazon but recently found the serum much cheaper here! (Not an affiliate)

As for the cream? I haven’t found the largest size of cream (1.7 fl oz) anywhere cheaper than here.

BONUS: You can get the travel size of the moisturizing cream if you just wanted to try it, here.

WHAT’S COOKING

Looking for an AMAZINGLY delicious, yet SUPER easy dinner idea? Well, this Panda Express Orange Chicken Copycat recipe from Dinner and Dessert is definitely IT!!!

why I love it

Michael LOVES Panda Express’ Orange Chicken. It’s truly one of his favorite treats whenever we are in the city.  I had also tried making it myself over the years using different recipes but they all seemed to be missing something. Then I tried Sabrina’s and I have to say friends, you will be WOWED when you take the first bite!

This recipe, in my opinion (and Michael’s), tastes WAY better than the franchises.

TIP: Sometimes if I’m pressed for time I substitute frozen bread chicken bites. I just throw them in the air fryer (or oven) and heat them through and then put them in the sauce. Speaking of the sauce…DON’T skimp or substitute on the sauce! Trust me…it’s perfection and just the right amount too! I love to serve this over a pile of jasmine rice. And it’s SUPER filling so you won’t need any sides!

cost

The ingredients list is pretty simple and most of you will have everything (I did) in your refrigerator or pantry, except maybe the fresh ginger. Ginger can be pricey to buy (my cost was $5.99/lb) but you only need a small amount for most recipes (this included) and it keeps for a LONG time in the freezer!

THE COLOR BLUE

Blue has always been a classic color in design. Whether its the deep and mysterious darker tones like navy, or the light-airy  and oh so relaxing lighter tones like sky blue, the color blue is and will always be trendy.

WHY I LOVE IT

Blue has always been one of my favorite colors, but lately Navy blue is at the TOP of my list of MOST WANTED colors in my home. There is just something so moody, yet OH SO classy about the dark blues.

You can use it sparingly throughout your home, such as painting a feature wall, bathroom vanity or island, and adding pillows here and there. Or you can go big and bold and paint an entire room or even the exterior of your home!

 

COST

A Gallon of Paint costs on average between $30-$45.  With that said, you can often find deep discounts at some of the big box stores or even your local hardware store at certain times of the year.

TIP: The best time to buy paint starts Memorial Day weekend! Other holiday’s you’ll find paint on sale is July 4th and Labor Day!

BEST PLACE TO PURCHASE

My favorite places to buy paint are Menards and Home Depot.  But I’ve also picked up a gallon or two at my local True Value or Ace Hardware.

And if you’re really looking to save some money you can usually find SUPER cheap paint at your local Habitat For Humunity stores. Just be aware that their color selection and quantity will be minimal.

BUGS BE GONE

Remember last year when I shared my FAVORITE all natural bug repellant? Well this year I’ve got another SUPER easy way to keep those nasty bugs away too! This time it’s with plants!

The trick  is planting a combination of  Scented Leaf Geranium and Cuban Oregano.

why I love it

First and foremost…THE SMELL! Oh my goodness, friends! I cannot even describe to you how AMAZING this combo is! Secondly, you can eat both plants!!( So good with pork and chicken!) And lastly, it REALLY does work to keep bugs away!.

Early this spring I made a stop at our local nursery to grab just a few herbs for my kitchen. As I was looking through the herb section to see which ones I wanted to grab, I came upon the Cuban Oregano. It was so unusual looking compared to the regular oregano I get. (As you can see it has ‘furry’ leaves) When I asked the owner what the difference in flavor was she told me all about the plant, including that she uses it outdoors as a bug repellent, along with a lemon scented geranium which most people know as citronella. Now I’ve never had much luck with citronella but I thought what the heck!

Lo and behold two weeks later the bugs made their appearance on the front porch, so I put the pot near our chairs and crossed my fingers. Guess what? NO bugs! In fact it worked so well I didn’t even make any of the natural bug repellent jars this year!

If you want to learn more about scented geraniums here is a great article! And here is one on Cuban Oregano you might enjoy.

TIP: Both plants grow FAST and BIG so make sure you plant them in a BIG pot!

cost

I paid around $6 for  each of the plants at my local nursery. You can definitely buy larger plants for more. Mine were both quite small when I first planted them, and now I have to transplant them because they have already outgrown their pot!

best place to buy

Your local nursery is probably the best place but I have seen well-cared for plants at Home Depot. Walmart also carries both plants but be VERY cautious when buying any plants or herbs at Walmart.

Well that’s it for this week’s Fabulous Finds! I hope you enjoy the new series! And please don’t hesitate to email us at palletandpantry@gmail.com or leave a comment if you have any additional questions about our finds!

You can also check out our new page SHOP MY FAVORITES!

 

I’ll be updating this page weekly with some of my FAVORITE finds!

 

Thanks you so much for stopping by!