Life & Style J.

Secrets to decorating your Christmas tree like a pro!

LifeStyleJill — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 22:21:24 +0000

I really appreciate you being here. Although @lifeandstylej is a fashion/lifestyle page, I have a diploma in Interior Design and it is something I love to do. It is my pleasure to share some tips with you that really help when trimming your holiday trees at home.

Okay friends, the first suggestion may not be earth shaking but I think it is one of the most important. Choose your favourite Christmas music and play it loud. This sets the mood and just makes it more fun.

If you are not doing a real tree, look for a high quality tree. You want your tree to look full and lush.
Choose a theme that makes you happy. If you love Disney, why not do a Disney tree. I love mixed metals and fun textures. As an interior designer, believe me, these things all make me very happy.
The first step which is often missed, however, so important is to fluff& shape your tree. The best way to do this is to shape each section as you add it rather than just putting it all together at once. By doing one section at a time, it is much easier to get all of it fluffed just right.
If your tree is not pre lit, add your lights first. My tree is pre-lit but I add 4 strands of twinkle lights for a bit of extra sparkle. You can pick these up at any dollar store.
Ornaments are next. I choose 3 different sizes. Start by evenly distributing the largest ornaments around the tree, these should be toward the interior of the tree. Then move to your middle sized ornament and on to the smallest. These will be more toward the outside of the tree. When buying ornaments, think 70% shiny and 30% matte. This is a great mix.
Now choose a floral or something like it. I like cream and gold poinsettias. Evenly distribute these around the tree as well. Do not add too many of these as it can be overwhelming. (My tree is 9′ and I use 15 of these)
Next stop, choose the ribbon of your choice. Ribbon is not only a perfect filler for your tree but it can add a bit of a dreamy element to your tree. I buy wired ribbon and cut it into 3′ pieces and form them in a spiral pattern evenly around the tree. Work from the top down.
My absolute favourite part is to adding sprays to the tree. I like to add mine to the top of my tree only. This makes the tree appear taller and more grand. If you choose to space them evenly around the tree, just start at the top and work your way down.
It’s time to add your topper. These are very much a personal preference but try to leave at least 6 inches between the top of the topper and the ceiling.
Now add your beautiful tree skirt of your choice and call SANTA, you are ready!

Easy Herbed Tenderloins

LifeStyleJill — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 02:31:19 +0000

Decadent, devine and EASY. My favourite combination of words in the kitchen. Whenever I serve herbed tenderloins to my family, it’s a hit. And not a one-day-fly type of hit. It is here to stay! And that is why I want to share it with you to spread some food-joy. Let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

2 pork tenderloins
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
About 11 or 12 slices of prosciutto

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels.
3. Combine the chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
4. Rub the tenderloins with the olive oil.
5. Sprinkle the all sides with the herb mixture. Make sure the tenderloin is the same thickness throughout.
6. Wrap the tenderloins with the prosciutto and tie with kitchen string.
7. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the thermometer inserted in the middle of reads 140 degrees Fahrenheit (medium rare) and 145 degrees Fahrenheit (medium).
8. Tightly cover the tenderloins with aluminium foil and allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes.
9. Slice in thick slices and enjoy!
10. Pro tip: serve with any kind of chutney. Delish!

Simple Caprese Salad

LifeStyleJill — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 02:01:23 +0000

I love simplicity when it comes to cooking. Especially when you’re busy running around the kitchen trying to cook a big meal for guests. But fret not, you don’t need a lot of ingredients or steps to be able to whip up a luxurious meal! I do believe that quality ingredients are important in these minimalist dishes. And nowadays, they’re so much easier to find! Just look at how President’s Choice has been branching out their product lines (no ad, I promise)! I am here for it! Let’s not chat any longer and let’s start making this delicious and simple caprese salad.

Ingredients:

2 cups balsamic vinegar
3 tomatoes (pick your favourite kind!)
12 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced in about 1/4 inch
Fresh basil leaves
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, bring balsamic vinegar to a gentle boil over a low heat. Boil it until the balsamic vinegar has reduced to a thick glaze (about 15 minutes). Allow the reduction to cool before you serve it. Side note: gotta love the vinegary smell!
2. Right before you assemble the salad, cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Arrange them on a platter, alternating them with the slices of mozzarella. Tuck the whole basil leaves in between the tomato and cheese slices or sprinkle them on top.
3. Drizzle the balsamic reduction on top. Then finish it off by drizzling olive oil on top as well. Finally, add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Enjoy!

My FAVOURITE Chocolate Cake

LifeStyleJill — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 01:29:23 +0000

Fall is in the air and that always makes me want to bake my favourite sweet treats. There is one standard I always gravitate to. My kids ADORE it! Need a big family hit? Roll up your sleeves and start making this amazing, beautiful and decadent cake. ENJOY!

Ingredients

For the cake:
• butter & flour for dusting and coating the cake pan
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1.5 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 4 lg eggs
• 1.5 cups buttermilk
• 1.5 cups lukewarm water
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting:
• 1.5 cups softened butter
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1.5 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 7 or 8 cups powdered sugar
• about 1/4 cup of milk (if needed)

Cake instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter three nine-inch cake rounds. Lightly dust with flour.
2. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until combined.
3. Add eggs, buttermilk, lukewarm water, vegetable oil, and pure vanilla extract. Beat until smooth.
4. Divide batter evenly between the three cake pans. Gently tap the cake pans on the counter to carefully get rid of any bubbles.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool on wire racks for 15 minutes. Then remove the cakes from their pans and place them on a wire rack to fully cool before frosting.

Frosting instructions:
1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer (or a stand mixer) to beat together butter and cream cheese (about 3 minutes).
2. Add cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined (about 30 seconds).
3. Bit by bit, beat in powdered sugar. Add milk if necessary for a spreadable consistency.
4. Assemble cake and frost away! The cake should be refrigerated once frosted, but can remain at room temperature for up to four hours.

Hi there! Let me introduce myself!

LifeStyleJill — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 23:14:45 +0000

I am Jill. I am so happy that you have found me. This website is for ladies interested in positive aging and who simply want to look and feel their best. Midlife is an interesting season and I love going through it and sharing it with you. To be completely honest, I am anything but ready for the things that happen in this season, you know, like wrinkles, hot flashes, etc. I want to experience it as positively as I can. I believe this consists of so many different elements which I want to address here on this website; the first being looking and feeling our best.

@lifeandstylej began at the beginning of Covid, in a time of way too many joggers and way too much Netflix. I quickly knew that there were many more of you feeling the exact same as this community grew so fast. This community is an incredible group of like minded women and I am extremely grateful for it. We all feel better when we “dress up and show up” Don’t you think?

I love sharing everyday chic styles with you as well as anything I learn along the way to aid in this “ageing gracefully” thing.

Welcome, I look forward to sharing lots of new fun things with you here on my website. @lifeandstylej is predominantly a fashion page as social media requires you to stay with one niche in order to grow. This website will be so much more than just fashion. I will be sharing all of the things that I love and that I am passionate about. There will be lots of information on here including secrets from professionals in the business of staying young. I will be sharing lots of new things here such as delicious recipes, lifestyle, travel, fashion of course, as well as Interior Design elements and Inspiration. I am an Interior Designer, did you know that? How did @lifeandstylej become a fashion community, well that’s for another blog post.

Have a blessed day friends and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support. You make midlife fun!! I can’t wait to chat again soon.