shabby blogs

Updated my blog recently and stumbled upon Shabbyblogs.com. This is a really neat website where they have tons of backgrounds to choose from along with codes for pictures, headers, post dividers, buttons, and more. I found it really easy to use and it made updating my blog layout really fun and easy! I love my new background and figured it was perfect for the Holiday of "love" comin up~ :)  So if you have a blog, check this site out !

Maranda

B2B

Hey y'all! 

Hope everyone had a good weekend! 

Just wanted to say I'm back blonde and loving it. For those of you who don't know, I was my blonde color back in October and decided to change it(like always) and went black until recently decided to go back light. Wondering how I did it? Well I did it in 5 days the safe way. If you want to know my tips and tricks for going blonde and still maintaining healthy hair (normal to dry hair) then stay tuned for my first video blog on my products I used and much more on what I did to achieve my blonde hair :)

Xoxo

Maranda O

 (*currently using purple shampoo so working on getting it even brighter. Will explain it all in my video😃 )

* wearing extensions  in left picture 

Never give up *lifelessons*

I'd like to give myself a pat on the back since I never play handy woman in anything I do! Lol 

Most people who personally know me know me and  vacuum cleaners are no where near best friends. Over the last two years we have gone through 4 vacuum cleaners and it's very likely that the same issue keeps happening and after doing research it was said that most of the vacuums in landfills actually still have a lot of life in them and can be fixed. All this Time I was thinking " ok the last three have been Bissels, this time I'm trying the eureka." And I love the eureka it's suction power is so good and I like the fact you can turn off and on the suction hose. Well besides the point, my belt stopped working as they did on all the rest. So I took a screw gun and took off all the screw and opened her up for surgery. I wanted to figure out why. 

Well here's the answer. 

Yes the belt broke. Makes me wonder if all my poor vacuums that I just dumped out like garbage could have been salvaged. Probably. Oh well too late. 

So I then looked at the model number and looked for the belt type that matched and ordered 2 belts type U for the eureka off amazon(ah Amazon love it!) 

My belts came in and I followed a video I had watched on YouTube about installing a new belt. HARDER than they make it look. The rubber is so thick you gotta have superman (or woman) strength to get it on properly. But after 5 minutes of pulling and putting some muscle into it I finally got it snapped into place. Turned her on and viola ! She works!!! 

Picture of her turned on and the belt is perfect ! 

I couldn't be happier. Not only did I save money from not tossing her out to spend another $40 on a vacuum but I used my resources to find a resolution to my problem. I feel like I can relate that to real life as well. When we get tired of something or its breaks we tend to just reject it or toss it away rather than to figure out a resolution too making it work. 

Sometimes it takes effort and persistence to work things out so remember that and never give up! 💙

Love you guys! 

Maranda 

Holiday after next💌

And the O goes back up again! Seems like just yesterday we were putting up our Christmas decorations for the first time in our first home. Who agrees the holiday season went by way too fast? We closed on our house in August 2014 and were so excited to be able to make some of our first memories here with Halloween, thanksgiving, and Christmas coming up. Decorating and doing fun projects with the kiddos, halloween costumes and events, down to wrapping presents and making hot cocoa by the fire. (Which we still do!)  Now it has come and gone and a new year has begun!  My favorite thing since being here is decorating for different occasions so I'm wondering if I should do valentines decor or wait out for Mardi Gras. Hmmmmm. 

My favorite place to go is the dollar tree they always have the cutest decor. I'll be making a trip tomorrow to see about maybe taking the big O back down and feeding my holiday decorating habit! We shall see! 

Xoxo, 

Maranda 💋

Loose curls and boots

Today the kiddos and I are getting out and about for some shopping and having lunch with Darren. 

Today I just used my DIY hair wand (let me know if you want a tutorial by commenting below) and made loose curls with my DIY halo crown extensions (tutorial in DIY projects tab) 

Excuse the weird lighting in my bathroom makes my hair look lighter than it is lol. 

Apple pie face mask diy

This is a new face mask recipe I came across on Pinterest and I must say I love it! I've done it a few times already and it really makes my skin feel tight and refreshed! 

I sort of do my own twist to it than what the original recipe says with good results.

Benefits from this mask: 

- reduces redness and uneven skin tones 

-reduces pore size 

- reduces acne scars if you have any. 

-aids in glowing skin

- reduces appearance of wrinkles

I use half of a banana and mix it with 1/3 cup of grinded up oatmeal, 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of apple cider vinager. Make a paste and apply it all over a clean face for 10-15 minutes then rinse! 

You can also add sugar for a quick face scrub !! 

Comment below if you've tried this and let me know what you thought!! 

Maranda O. 💋💋

"Mote" Hog

He thinks he owns the remote LOL. 

Coffee time.

Coffee time. #Mr.Coffee#newCM#strongbrew#newhouse

Breakfast

And the day has come where I can enjoy a cup of coffee with the lake view ❤️ #coveredinlillies#still pretty#newhouse#saturdaymorninh#breakfast 

Sneak peek #newhouse

Today has been a day for finishing up master bedroom and bath. My head board diy project turned out pretty awesome thanks to Pinterest!  

This is a piece of decor in our master bath. Our theme is Love/romance. I wanted an intimate bedroom and bathroom setting for my hubby and I and I thought red black and white color would  fit the setting:) 

Hopefully Friday if can sit down and get my House Tour Blog started! I'll keep y'all updated! 

Peace and love, 

Maranda O. 

Sneak peek ;) #newhouse

Countertops turned out nicely! I absolutely love them! :)) before and afters to come later this week 

#newhouse#upgrades#transformationinprogress

getting there! #newhouse#painting

Headed home after a 12 hour day. Got a lot done. Painting is about done and countertops about halfway. A few more diy projects and then hanging decor and moving everything in before final touches. Can't wait to share our house transformation. All the hard to work to make it our own is paying off. Thank you Jesus for giving me the energy to make it through the day !!#tired

It's official!!!

Were Homeowners! 3.8 interest rate fixed, they paid us $700 to close and our first payment isn't due til October. Heck yes #itsofficial

New house update

My sweet Husband just called me with exciting news, we are closing on our beautiful home next Friday!! The long wait has finally come to an end:)) God is good❤️🙏 #homeowners#Ortegoresidence#homesweethome