Raines Realm

Its so easy to get caught up in the social norm of wearing yoga pants or tattered clothes everywhere you go. And, who cares? Your friends should accept you just the way that you are and no one else matters, right? Wrong. Here's a basic explanation of why. When you dress well, you should first and foremost be doing it for yourself. If you regularly wear workout clothes everywhere, have you noticed the profound change that you feel when you dress for an occasion? You will normally feel better, have more confidence, and be mindful of what you're doing. When you take pride in your appearance, you are practicing self-love. And when you practice self-love, you tend to take pride in your appearance. It shows that we respect ourselves and are worth the effort. It also shows others that we respect them. We are treated better by others because we make the effort to treat ourselves well. We are setting the standard for how the world interacts with us. Now, I'm not suggesti...

That moment when you're having an amazing date night with your husband. The anticipation. The joy of making yourself extra pretty. You have your Starbucks gift card and you are ready to go! This is a tale of planning ahead and knowing thy limits. When we arrived at Starbucks, we were so excited that it was actually slow. There were maybe four or five people inside, a few others enjoying the seating on the patio. Did I mention that it was seven at night. We were both optimistic that we would be able to enjoy our highly caffeinated delights with no late-night repercussions. My husband got a chocolatey frappacinno and I ordered the smoked caramel. We got them almost immediately and they were amazing. We sipped them slowly in the peace and quiet, enjoying our view of the moon from the window. It was peaceful, romantic, delicious. We finished our drinks and decided to get refills. This one time, frugality was not on our side. I ordered an iced coffee and my husband got swe...

We all have those fond memories if our grandmothers or great-grandmothers going about their housework and cooking in their aprons. Somehow, aprons started becoming less important and it stopped being normal for women to make them a priority. This is a big mistake and I'll explain why. Now, you might be thinking that there's really no point in wearing aprons because you're just wearing your "house clothes" anyway. Well, this is the point where you stop selling yourself short. I'm a big advocate of dressing well at all times. It doesn't matter if I have a million errands that day or I'm staying home. This has several beneficial effects. By dressing well, I feel better about myself. I'm more motivated to accomplish things throughout the day. I don't have to worry about unexpected guests. I don't have to worry about the fact that we just ran out if milk and now I have to get dressed and do makeup and hair to leave the house. I'm read...

When you're hosting a dinner party and you're the cook, jewelry can become a challenge. You want to look your best, but rings and bracelets can get caked in ingredients. And, necklaces can take unintentional dives in that perfect casserole as you're checking it in the oven. What is a woman to do? I was recently reading an amazing book on entertaining. The Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits is a treasure trove of amazing insights to entertaining. One gem from the book that I want to share is the secret jewelry tip that is a must for hostesses. Earrings! Yes, earrings. Big, statement earrings. When you're cooking for a special event, this is the one jewelry item that is safe from all things cooking. They add to your glamour and will dress up your outfit without getting caked in sauces and flour. They are your safe choice to be a dazzling chef while serving up that traditional secret family recipe to all of your guests. Pick the earrings that you don'...

We all know that when we go out to eat, we are given ridiculous portion sizes. Quanity has topped quality and our health and waist lines are suffering. The good news is that we don't have to let our out of control portion sizes dictate our lives as long as we exercise some proper planning. The key to correct portions is developing those habits at home. When you plate your food, don't pile it high, covering every inch of your plate. In fact, no food should ever go around the rim of your plate. You should be able to see your plate through your food. It should be delicately placed, preferably in a way that's aesthetically pleasing. We have all heard the ratio that half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter starch, and one quarter protein. But, what about the fact that there are a multitude of plate sizes on the market. The ratio is not to be taken literally. It means that out of the proper portion sizes, you should aim for twice as much vegetables as starch and...

It was an overcast, cold day as I pulled into the dirt parking lot of Sweatman's Barbecue. The solid white, pig-shaped sign is simple and tells you everything you need to know. As I walked up to the front door, across the historic front porch, I was transported back to a simpler time. The smell of barbecue creating a spark of excitement in the anticipation of the meal to come. The restaurant is comprised of additions to an old house. You can still admire the rugged construction and smaller doorways in certain dining rooms. As you enter through the front door, there is a guest book filled with signatures from all over the world. The menu consists of an all-you-can-eat option, a one-time-though option, as well as to-go plates, and meats, hashes, and other delights sold in various quantities. The buffet consists of baked macaroni and cheese, baked beans, green beans, skins, rice, hash, chicken, white and dark meat pork, ribs, coleslaw, dill and bread and butter pickles, brea...

We are constantly bombarded on tv, in magazines, and in stores by ads for various cleaners. The cheaper ones are chemical-laden and the natural ones can get really pricey. Some work and some don't. How can we navigate all of these choices? Easy, ditch the store bought cleaners and make your own! Using vinegar as a cleaner has so many benefits. It's effective and it's a fraction of the cost. I've heard some protest to the use of vinegar because they are not a big fan of the smell. Well, not to worry, the smell of vinegar dissipates as it dries. I like to use tea tree essential oil in my vinegar cleaner, but you can use so many others. I've known others who use lavender, lemon, cedar, the possibilities are limitless. So, feel free to find the essential oil that is best suited for your individual needs. I, personally prefer tea tree oil because it is a natural disinfectant and mold killer. It gives that extra boost to the vinegar so I can clean with confidence. ...