Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa
Recently, Jeff and I took a weekend trip to Hutchinson Island. We decided to deem the 4th of July weekend as our opportunity to take a safe little retreat just a few hours south of Orlando and had such a relaxing and enjoyable experience! Our stay took place at the secluded Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa.
Immediately upon driving up to the hotel, we were met with friendly (masked) faces and plenty of refreshments amongst a lush, pristine landscape. Entering the resort’s main lobby, we were greeted with more ocean-influenced decor with more smiling eyes to help us begin our stay on the right foot. Despite the current state of things going on in the world, the hotel staff remained calm, kind, and most importantly: safe.
We took full advantage of the accommodations including two pools with poolside bars and service. The staff was so friendly and attentive and the food and drinks were great!
The oceanside resort theme is carried on throughout, including the bar and restaurant which offers amazing fresh seafood options and beautiful dining views!
The secluded beach harbors a safe nesting place for wildlife including sea turtles, and offers plenty of space for everyone to enjoy their own little slice of paradise. The resort also offers a set of lounge chairs at the shoreline with an optional cabana, which is optimal if you want to spend time in the sand and still have the ability to snooze in the shade.
Jeff and I both highly recommend this hidden gem nestled in the Treasure Coast. We had such a relaxing experience and returned home feeling re-energized and rejuvenated – thank you so much Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa for a wonderful stay and some happy memories!
What I’m Wearing Wednesday
Finally breaking out of my loungewear to jump on the tie dye trend, incorporating it into pieces I’m a little more comfortable with: swimwear (…and loungewear too, I won’t lie..)! Living in Florida, I spend a lot of my weekends over the summer in a bathing suit and a cover up, so I try to keep them cute and trendy. For the pieces I find myself wearing year-after-year, I tend to splurge a little bit more and stick with more neutral colors and looks. I have had a few pairs of sandals that have lasted and looked brand new for years! They are comfortable and go with virtually everything. If you’re not looking to spend the money, there are some awesome dupes out there that I’ve linked as well!
A great pair of sunglasses and a few bright accessories like these turquoise bracelets can be worn to style up your poolside look or with your casual outfit of the day.
Find more ideas and favorites by following me on LikeToKNOW.it and Instagram!
@stinamarina
Follow me on LikeToKNOW.it • Follow me on Instagram
DIY Farmhouse Shutters
DIY projects can seem a bit intimidating, but these DIY farmhouse shutters were easy and affordable at under $100! Special thanks the The Home Depot for helping us get the precise wood cuts and selecting the proper materials and finishes to achieve our desired look.
A little backstory to these shutters: as Jeff and I have been slowly renovating our property, we began to realize that one of the walls really just needs some more detail and something to achieve some visual balance. Naturally, the first place I turned to was Pinterest to gain some inspiration and found that a set of decorative farmhouse shutters would do the trick! I did a quick search of pre-made shutters, some of them showing results for $800+ per pair — yikes. Finally circling back around to Pinterest I realized, “this is probably something we can do ourselves!” so I did a little more research, hyped up my husband and off we went to begin our DIY adventure.
You will need:
6” x 1” pressure treated boards — amount of boards and length of boards depend on your specific measurements
Cement screws — 2.5” x 1/4”
Masonry drill bit to drill through block
Medium grit sand paper
Wood stain of your desired color
Polyurethane top coat
Spray paint to match the wood stain
Small piece of cardboard
Soft towel for stain application
Small paint brush for stain and polyurethane application
2 people are required for assembly and and mounting
Here is the stain and the polyurethane finish we used: STAIN — POLYURETHANE
LET’S GET STARTED!
Take measurements of your window and decide what shutter dimensions would look best. It is easiest to pre-determine the amount of wood needed and ask to have the pressure treated boards cut on-site — this is easy, efficient, safe and provides you with quick accuracy.
Reminder: when working with pressure treated wood, give it a few days to dry out prior to working with it since it can shrink and crack around screws you immediately drill. Once the wood is ready to work with, make sure to pre-drill all of your holes prior to screwing the boards together!
First, take the screws and secure them into the small piece of cardboard by puncturing through it so each screw is standing upright. Spray paint each screw with a rich coat of paint and let dry as you work on your assembly plan for each shutter.
Next, grab your pre-cut boards and lay everything out. Get a visual for how you want the shutters to look: pay attention to the knots and grain pattern of each board and arrange them in the fashion you like. Take photos for reference!
Begin to sand down each piece of wood with the medium grit sand paper. Then, you can either begin to apply the wood stain and then assemble the shutter or assemble the shutter and apply the stain. Either way, determine where you will need to screw things together and pre-drill some holes first! Use the spray painted screws to harness the boards and blend into the stain. We actually assembled and then stained, which in hindsight made it a bit more difficult to get into the cracks and crevices between each plank, so you may find it easier to stain the boards individually prior to building.
Apply the stain with a small soft towel and use a small paint brush to help cover the nooks and crannies. Wait 12-24 hours between each coat of stain, it may take anywhere between 2 and 4 coats depending on how rich you would like the stain to appear. Finish with a polyurethane coat to protect the boards and let dry.
Now that your shutters are built, stained and dried, it’s time to hang them! This part definitely takes two people. Using a level, measuring tape, and a good eye, mark where you need to drill into the wall to hang and secure each shutter. We used a 2.5” x 1/4” cement screw with a masonry bit to drill through the concrete. One person should help to hold the shutter steady while the other drills and secures it to the wall.
Once secured, take a step back. Recheck your measurements and plans to place the second shutter and then get to work. All that’s left to do after this is to enjoy your new DIY farmhouse shutters!
Outdoor Living Space
Lately we have made tremendous progress with the house! Up next on our list of larger projects is to get some landscaping done, with a heavy focus on our backyard. Jeff and I are really aiming to turn it into an outdoor living space – one that we truly want to utilize on a regular basis and be spacious and comfortable enough for our friends and family to enjoy as well!
After doing some searching around online, I have come to realize that patio furniture is incredibly over-priced, that outdoor themes can be just as overwhelming as indoor themes, and that I literally want to buy ALL THE THINGS.
Keeping a level head, I’ve found some pretty great pieces with awesome reviews (tell me y’all read reviews as much as I do on EVERYTHING..) and at very fair price points! I want to share some backyard inspiration for the summer — all items are linked on the “Shop My Instagram” tab here on the blog, or you can find/follow me on LikeToKNOW.it @stinamarina.
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Mother’s Day is already right around the corner… doesn’t it seem like time is flying by? I put together a gift guide – all items under $70 – for mommas of any age! There are plenty of options under $25, and many of the gifts can be combined for a little gift basket if you’re not wanting to spend it all on just one item.
Be sure to check out the sales going on right now! You will always see free shipping and free returns with stores like Nordstrom, but many times folks overlook stores like this because they perceive them as being too expensive… this is not always the case! I have learned to shop sales at any store and many times will find quality pieces even cheaper than what is selling at stores like Walmart and Target.
My personal favorites are the slippers, the candle and hand cream. I have used all of these and can say they are QUALITY products at a great price! What are some of your favorites?
Happy shopping!
Our First Home Renovation & Transformation
Back in the Fall of 2019 we made a rather large purchase, and with it came a ton of potential! I am so excited to finally share a bit of what we have been up to with our first ever renovation and real estate endeavor, and what we hope to be one of many!
We bought our property with a small in-law suite, which was solid and had great bones — just a little lacking in the “pretty” department. Queue a woman’s perspective, some talented contractors, one attentive husband and what feels like a few million bucks invested into The Home Depot and you have the final product:
Here are some BEFORE photos — the bathroom vanity had already been removed for some plumbing that needed work, but I think you can still appreciate the difference!
This whole process has been a great learning experience for both of us. Jeff and I learned that we make a pretty great team and share a similar vision. He trusts my design ideas and I trust him to make those thoughts a reality! We are still working on our own home a little bit at a time and are amazed at how different it looks from the day we bought it. Patience has been integral throughout this development, and time and money management have also helped us to really keep on a timeline and within a certain budget. What looked a little scary and made us feel like just maybe we were in over our heads has helped us grow and become a stronger team to tackle our next project!
I hope you enjoyed seeing this transformation and look forward to sharing more in the future!
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stinamarina/
Target $1000 Gift Card Giveaway!
Now that Spring is settling into view, Target has their latest and greatest items out to celebrate the change of seasons! Some other fabulous gals and I are gifting one of you lucky followers with a $1000 Target Gift Card!
How to enter:
Find & follow me on Instagram: @StinaMarina
https://www.instagram.com/stinamarina
Click on the post with this photo and follow the directions listed! Every comment you leave is an entry to win, and if you follow me and the others on the LIKEtoKNOW.it app, you will get bonus entries!
Follow me on LIKEtoKNOW.it here
Good Luck!
11 Practices to Help You Glow from the Inside Out
Many people view Monday as a new start and a fresh slate leading into the week. Many people also let their Monday define the way the rest of their week will go. To start on the right foot this and every week, I have listed 11 Practices to Help You Glow from the Inside Out.
Sleep
Set a bedtime and stick to it. We all hated bedtime as little kids but our parents were on to something.. no morning grouchies or groggy feelings to last the day when your body and mind are getting adequate rest!
Get some fresh air
Enjoy nature. The world is full of such beautiful things and it becomes so easy in our day-to-day to become blissfully unaware of the beauty that surrounds us. We weren’t created to stay locked indoors, breathing the same stale air and live under fluorescent lighting our entire lives – get outside, breathe in some fresh air, take in the views around you and get some much needed Vitamin D.
Keep a schedule
Easier said than done for many of us. Even if you aren’t a “planner person”, write out your daily schedule and stick to it. This will keep you focused and motivated throughout your day and your week, and will take the guess work and a lot of schedule-related stress off of your plate. Make sure to schedule fun and enjoyable things to do each week and to set aside time in your schedule with those you love!
Set goals
Jot down some goals: big and small — some you can work toward and achieve on a daily basis and some that will keep you working over the weeks to come. Not only will this keep you focused, but also give you a sense of achievement as you reach each goal and will keep you motivated to reach the next!
Move!
Go for a run, lift some weights, participate in a yoga class — get your heart rate up and give yourself an hour to just focus on working hard. On top of that, your body releases endorphins when you exercise- these endorphins make you feel good, even if you just spent the last 20 minutes in the gym parking lot thinking of reasons to not work out! Over time, the results you see from consistent physical activity will be even more motivating!
Drink enough water
Seriously, drink enough water. Your body needs to know it doesn’t need to hang on to every drop of water it consumes in fear that you are becoming dehydrated and have no water supply. Drink up! You may notice a clearer mind, clearer skin, and a decreased urge to snack all the time.
Clean up your diet
Aim for fresh, wholesome foods to consist of 80% or more of your diet. Give your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs. You’ll find that your cravings may be cut and you don’t suffer from the sugar highs and lows associated with a heavy sugar and carbohydrate-based diet.
Communicate
Have a deep and meaningful conversation with someone. Sometimes your mind just needs a mental reset. Maybe you have a lot on your plate or some things you need to sort out in a place other than the messy floor of your mind. Get together with a friend and just talk. Be the talker or the listener. Sometimes just engaging deeply with another person helps you to sort out your own feelings, to feel needed, and understood by having your thoughts listened to and acknowledged.
Spend time with your pet
Love on your pet. Taking just ten minutes to stop, put down everything else and engage with your pet can make a world of difference in your day and theirs.
Self-Care
Whether it’s lighting a smell-good candle, getting your nails done, taking a nap, working out, reading, etc. – do something for YOU. Prioritizing your own happiness and well-being will only benefit those around you.
Gratitude
Start each day with gratitude. List five things you are truly thankful for each day and focus on your blessings, keeping you in a positive and abundant mindset.
Maybe you’re aware of all or most of these. If that is the case, I hope they can serve as a gentle reminder as to the ways making small changes can make a big impact in your day-to-day. Do you practice any of these? How have they helped you? Do you have any other helpful practices to share?
Amazon Designer Dupes: The Look for Less!
Want the look without the price tag? We all have different ideas of how much is too much to pay to look on trend, so I’ve rounded up a few similar pieces to get you the look for less!
These Amazon pieces are inspired by brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch Jack Rogers, David Yurman and BaubleBar but come at a fraction of the price.
Follow me on Instagram to see more lifestyle inspiration:
You can find the links below or on the LikeToKNOW.it shopping app where can can follow me to shop all my latest looks: @StinaMarina
You can find each Amazon dupe item by clicking the links below:
Hope y’all enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed making it! Want to see more posts like this? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Shopping!