Feeling Bookish? Make These DIY Fabric Pyramid Bookends

Mar 03, 2014

Straight up, these might be the most awesome bookends we’ve ever seen. And best of all, you can make them yourself!

Made by Mandy Pellegrin for Design*Sponge, these Fabric Pyramid Bookends are both plush and weighty, giving them both sculptural and functional points in our book ;) The plushness comes from stuffing, typical of any pillow. The weight is thanks to rice! How brilliant is that? You can use any fabric you like, and can probably even get creative with geometric shapes. Get the whole how-to here.

How do you keep your books in a row? Talk to us in the comments below.

5 Easy Journal Prompts To Turn Your Day Around

Last night I realized I was pregnant during the height of the pandemic and the 2020 election cycle, but I didn't have any self-care practices in sight. I was chronically stressed and spent way too much time on social media when I should've been finding ways to ground myself. After a tough four years of navigating everything from motherhood to starting my career, I've finally started utilizing gratitude journaling as a tool to get through tough days.

I don't know how you may be feeling today, but I've created journal prompts you can refer to when you're scared, anxious, unsure of the future, and more. They're not meant to replace meditation or seeking therapy, but they are here for moments you need to check in with yourself.

A Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You're Worried About The Future

Arina Krasnikova

Write Down 5 Things You're Grateful You Can See, Touch, Hear, And Smell

This is actually a practice I picked up in therapy to help redirect my anxious thoughts. It's something I often refer to when I'm fixated on the future and things that might happen. Any time you feel yourself not being present because you're worried about what's next, focus on things that are immediately in front of you or around you.

For example, here's what's reminding me to be present:

I can hear one of my favorite gospel songs playing and the subtle humming I'm doing.
I can see two lime green books on my desk.
I can smell the clean laundry my fiancé took out of the dryer.
I'm touching the keys on my keyboard as I type this.

Although they seem small, I'm grateful they're helping to keep me rooted in the present moment. So, what are you grateful you can see, touch, hear, and smell today?

Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You're Experiencing Sadness

Darina Belonogova

Write Down 3 Things You're Grateful For Today

Practicing gratitude when you're sad isn't so you can pretend the sadness doesn't exist. It's a very real emotion that calls for us to be curious about why we're feeling that way. However, if you feel like you're 'stuck' in your sadness, you can try writing down 3 things you're grateful for right now. Again, they don't have to be grandiose. They just have to make sense to you.

You could be grateful for:

Eating a delicious meal
Having a good night's sleep
Hearing your favorite song at the right moment
Morning snuggles with your pet or toddler
Having access to binge watch your favorite TV show when you need to escape reality for a bit

Antoni Shkraba

Write Down The People You're Grateful You Can Rely On

My hope is that everyone has at least one person they can rely on during difficult moments in life. I know everyone doesn't have huge villages for different reasons, but I'd rather focus on who is there.

This gratitude journaling idea doesn't require you to go in depth about why you're grateful for the people in your corner unless you want to. You can simply write their names down if that's all you have the bandwidth for.

Pavel Danilyuk

Recount A Memory That Always Makes You Smile

When in doubt, think about a moment that was hilarious or filled you with joy. It can be from your childhood, first year in college, or even your wedding day! The one memory that always makes me smile is from an interesting moment I told one of my uncles he looked like Santa Claus. I was around 5 or 6 years old, so it was a super innocent comment, but still it was hilarious nonetheless. No one in my family has let my uncle or me forget that moment. It's small, but it's one of the memories I'm grateful I can remember when I'm feeling sad.

A Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You Feel You're Not Doing Enough

Antoni Shkraba

Write Down 1 Thing You've Grateful You've Accomplished

I know some journal prompts ask you to list multiple things you've recently accomplished, but I've found that makes me a little more anxious that necessary. If this sounds like you, I see you and think it's just as impactful to be grateful for one thing you've done that you're proud of. It could be as simple as:

"I had the strength to get out of bed today after wanting to do nothing more than hide under the covers."
"I did laundry and put everything away."
"I made myself a meal instead of ordering lunch like I usually do."
"I stuck to my budget this week."
"My presentation at work or school went really well."
"I made that scary phone call I've been putting off."
"I went for a walk around my neighborhood or local park."

Follow us on Instagram for more seasonal and daily inspo!

How To Make Easy Pecan Pie Bars For The Most Epic Christmas Dessert

In all honestly, all I look forward to during the holidays (other than my fam) is the pie. There's pumpkin pie. Apple pie. Chocolate pie. Sweet potato pie. But more than any other dessert, pecan piejust gets me. I'm salivating as I'm thinking about it!

Anywho... making an entire pecan pie can become a whole ordeal very quickly. That's where these delicious pecan pie bars from Chahinez with Lifestyle of a Foodiestep in. They're simple to make, plus provide the ideal eating experience – pecan pie bars easily qualify under finger foods, and they are downright addictive.

Let's get into the recipe!

Ingredients For Easy Pecan Pie Bars

Lifestyle of a Foodie

For the shortbread crust:

½ cup butter
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon cornstarch

For the pecan pie filling:

2 eggs
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 & ½ cup pecans chopped

How To Make Easy Pecan Pie Bars

Lifestyle of a Foodie

Preheat the oven to 325 F, then line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large bowl, add in the flour, salt, cornstarch, and mix. Add in the cold butter and work it into the dough with your hand or a pastry cutter until cookie dough forms. Press it onto the prepared baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.
In a separate large bowl, mix the eggs, brown sugar, light corn syrup, heavy cream, salt, vanilla extract, and cornstarch until combined. Stir in the pecan pieces.
Once the crust is done baking, pour the pecan pie filling on top of the crust and bake for 30-35 minutes. The edges will brown a little, and the center will be barely jiggly.
Remove from the oven, and let cool completely before transferring to chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Slice the bars and serve.

Sign up for our newsletter for more easy seasonal recipes to try!

Recipe + photography by Lifestyle of a Foodie.

This post has been updated.

recipes easy recipes thanksgiving recipes thanksgiving dessert dessert recipe pecan pie pie bars food

33 Early Black Friday Deals You Can Start Shopping Now

Black Friday will be here before you know it, with thousands of retailers flaunting their best deals of the year. We're shoppers at heart, so you know we're already scoping out 2024's offerings! Given that the list of stores and brands hosting Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales this year is essentially endless, we're weeding out only the best deals from the places you love to spend (and save). From beauty faves like Dieux and Kiehl's to home goods from Amazon and Walmart, these are the Black Friday deals you simply can't miss.

What is Black Friday?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving that typically signifies the start of holiday shopping season, though many retailers have started to launch their Black Friday deals earlier year over year. A lot of the deals that stores and brands offer during Black Friday outpace their other sales events (such as Memorial Day and Labor Day) in terms of savings.

When is Black Friday 2024?

Gustavo Fring / PEXELS

Black Friday will land on November 29, 2024.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving that highlights savings and deals online as opposed to in-store offers. It's one of the busiest times of year for online shopping.

When is Cyber Monday 2024?

Anna Shvets / PEXELS

Cyber Monday will land on December 2, 2024.

When's the best time to shop for holiday gifts?

Vlada Karpovich / PEXELS

We're big believers that it's never too early to start shopping for holiday gifts. The sooner you shop, the better, so you can check everyone off your list ahead of the busy holiday season and have some peace of mind once the real festivities start! Plus, if you're shopping online, starting early gives you ample time to wait for items to be shipped and delivered to your door. If deals and savings are what you're looking for, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer some really great opportunities.

What's the best thing to shop for during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best thing to shop for during Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday promotions really depends on what your needs are as well as the items you're scoping out to treat yourself (or the people you're gifting for the holidays). Typically, big-ticket items like home appliances, tech products like earbuds, laptops, TVs, and tablets, and luxury self-care tools are heavily discounted during this time.

Beauty Sales

Amazon

Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Brightening Serum

Bliss

When: November 20-December 17

What: 20-30% off select products

Ulta

Perricone MD High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Hydrating Serum

Ulta

When: Now-November 23

What: Weekly deals on skincare, makeup, hair care, and fragrance.

IT Cosmetics

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+

IT Cosmetics

When: November 23-December 3

What: 30% off sitewide (loyalty members get 35% off)

Amazon

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

Kiehl's

When: November 21-December 2

What: 30% off site-wide and 50% off select items on November 26 only

Amazon

Lanolips Baby Baby Balms Set

Lanolips

When: November 29-December 2

What: 30% off at Ulta and 20% off on Amazon

Moroccanoil

Moroccanoil Original Treatment

Moroccanoil

When: November 25-December 3 (rewards members will have early access to the sale on December 2)

What: 25% off sitewide

NOYZ

NOYZ Love Club Eau De Parfum

NOYZ

When: November 28-30 and December 1-2

What: 25% off sitewide and a free baseball cap on purchases over $55 on November 28-30, 25% off sitewide and a free candle on purchases over $55 on December 1-2

dpHUE

dpHUE Gloss+

dpHUE

When: November 3-15

What: 25% off sitewide

Dieux

Dieux Baptism Gel Cleanser

Dieux

When: November 29-December 2

What: 30% off original price items, 20% off single items, and a free Mini Slugging Kit on orders over $30

ILIA

ILIA Skin Rewind Complexion Stick

ILIA

When: November 25-December 2, VIP members get early access November 24

What: 20% off sitewide, 25% off orders over $125, and 25% off plus a free full-size product for orders over $150

Ogee

Ogee Tinted Lip Set

Ogee

When: November 1-December 3

What: 20% off sitewide with code 'GIFTGLOW20' and receive free deluxe samples with purchases over $200 (November 28-December 3 only)

Amazon

Youth To The People Superfood Facial Cleanser

Youth To The People

When: November 23-December 3 on YTTP.com, November 21-December 2 on Amazon, and December 2 at Sephora

What:

YTTP: 30% off sitewide plus a free 3-piece gift with purchases over $85
Amazon: 20% off select products through November 27, 30% off select products starting November 28
Sephora: 30% off all products in-store and online

Fashion Sales

Amazon

Dream Pairs Genuine Suede Classic Platform Boots

Dream Pairs

When: November 21-December 2

What: 20-40% off select styles on the Dream Pairs site and Amazon

Madewell

Madewell The Essential Bucket Tote

Madewell

When: November 21-27

What: 30% off your purchase, including new arrivals

H&M

H&M Brushed-Finish Jacket

H&M

When: November 28-December 1

What: 30% off online only (November 28), 30% off online and in-store (November 29-30), and up to 50% off (November 30-December 1)

Old Navy

Old Navy '94 Half Zip

Old Navy

When: November 1-December 2

What: 50% off select products online and in-store (November 1-6), 50% off everything online and in-store (November 7-10), and 50% off everything online only and 50% off select products in-store (November 27-December 2)

Land's End

Land's End Medium Canvas Tote Bag

Land's End

When: November 29-December 3

What: 50% off, including customizable canvas totes, sheets, towels, accessories and more.

Showpo

Showpo Jondra Blouse

Showpo

When: November 22-December 3

What:

Black Friday early access (November 22-24): 25% off sitewide
Black Friday (November 27-29): 25% off sitewide
Cyber Weekend (November 30-December 1): 25% off almost everything and 40% off bestsellers
Cyber Monday (December 2-3): 25% off almost everything and 40% off bestsellers

Franco Sarto

Franco Sarto Jaxon Mid Calf Boot

Franco Sarto

When: November 23-December 3

What: Up to 70% off + free shipping

Oomiay

Oomiay Havasu Earrings

Oomiay

When: November 28-December 2

What: Free exclusive jewelry pieces (up to 5) with every item purchased on November 28-December 1 and up to 50% off your entire order on December 2 only

Barefoot Dreams

Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Solid Robe

Barefoot Dreams

When: November 27-December 1 (Black Friday VIP access starts November 25) and December 2-3 (for Cyber Monday)

What: 20% off 2 items, 25% off 3 items, and 30% off 4 or more items for Black Friday. The CozyChic Checks & Stripes Sock Set will be just $9.98 (was $45) on Cyber Monday only.

Local Eclectic

Local Eclectic Whimsical Charm Necklace

Local Eclectic

When: November 25-December 2

What: 20% off sitewide

Quince

Quince Italian Wool Classic Single-Breasted Coat

Quince

When: November 27-December 2

What: 40% off select products

Home Sales

Revival Rugs

Revival Rugs Gambit Rug

Revival Rugs

When: November 14-December 2

What: Scaled discounts automatically applied at checkout:

15% off $250-500
20% off $500-999
25% off $1,000-1,999
30% off $2000+

Walmart

Samsung 55” Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV

Walmart

When: November 11-December 1

What: Walmart is breaking up their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals into two events.

Event 1 deals begin online on November 11 at 12 p.m. ET exclusively for paid Walmart+ members and 5 p.m. ET for all customers.
Event 1 deals begin in stores on November 15 at 6 a.m. local time.
Event 2 deals begin online on November 25 at 12 p.m. ET exclusively for paid Walmart+ members and 5 p.m. ET for all customers.
Event 2 deals begin in stores November 29 at 6 a.m. local time.
Cyber Monday deals start online on December 1 at 5 p.m. ET exclusively for paid Walmart+ members and 8 p.m. ET for all customers.

Amazon

TheraGun Sense Percussion Massage Gun