Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Fall To-Do List Evaluation
Before I get ready to set my resolutions for the New Year, I need evaluate how I did on my "to-do" list for the Fall...let's see:
1. Take a weekend trip to Phoenix! DONE! I had so much fun visiting Veronica in AZ...a trip put off way too long!
2. Finish our bedroom! Semi-Done! We still have one blank wall and the trim is in need of some paint...but we are getting there. We have started an "H" wall over our bed and we are having so much fun looking for decorative letters...if you come across any, let me know!
3. Finish our dining room! Semi-Done! We added new furniture, some decorative items and reupholstered the chairs...but the trim is still in need of some paint and I could see a new light fixture really rockin'. We shall see!
4. Start working on the hall bathroom updates! Semi-Done! We hired a professional for this job that will start in January...can't wait! In addition to the bathroom, they are tackling a project in the kitchen...turning a closet into a pantry...will keep you updated!
5. Take a weekend trip to Chicago! Done! We had so much fun...but for some reason we barely took any photos...ugh!
6. Survive football season with a smile! Done!
7. Work on the curb appeal and back yard of the house! Semi-Done! We added some flash to the front yard but haven't touched the back yet...both areas have some work left but all in time!
8. Kick some tail with my upcoming weddings! Semi-Done! I had three weddings booked for this Fall and so-far two have gone well...the last one is this Friday. As of now, I have five weddings booked for the upcoming Spring/Summer and I am so excited and can't wait to see them come to be!
9. Have a few dinner parties! NOPE! The Fall was a little busier than expected so this never got done...
10. Get happy with my physical-ness! NOPE! Chris and I decided to start a family instead! So my physical-ness improvements will have to wait until post-Baby Henry's arrival!
1. Take a weekend trip to Phoenix! DONE! I had so much fun visiting Veronica in AZ...a trip put off way too long!
3. Finish our dining room! Semi-Done! We added new furniture, some decorative items and reupholstered the chairs...but the trim is still in need of some paint and I could see a new light fixture really rockin'. We shall see!
4. Start working on the hall bathroom updates! Semi-Done! We hired a professional for this job that will start in January...can't wait! In addition to the bathroom, they are tackling a project in the kitchen...turning a closet into a pantry...will keep you updated!
5. Take a weekend trip to Chicago! Done! We had so much fun...but for some reason we barely took any photos...ugh!
6. Survive football season with a smile! Done!
7. Work on the curb appeal and back yard of the house! Semi-Done! We added some flash to the front yard but haven't touched the back yet...both areas have some work left but all in time!
8. Kick some tail with my upcoming weddings! Semi-Done! I had three weddings booked for this Fall and so-far two have gone well...the last one is this Friday. As of now, I have five weddings booked for the upcoming Spring/Summer and I am so excited and can't wait to see them come to be!
9. Have a few dinner parties! NOPE! The Fall was a little busier than expected so this never got done...
10. Get happy with my physical-ness! NOPE! Chris and I decided to start a family instead! So my physical-ness improvements will have to wait until post-Baby Henry's arrival!
All in all...not bad! Now I have to start thinking of a new list for the Spring...stay tuned!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
{Made with Love} Wine Bottle Tops
I love the blog Skip to my Lou! They share the cutest homemade gift ideas...including this next "made with love" Christmas gift! These bottle tops are a little time-consuming but I think they will be a hit! (The ones on Skip to my Lou are way cuter than mine...but I'm ok with it!)
1 1/2" wood ball knobs
acrylic paint of your choice
primmer
clear varnish
bottle corks
gorilla glue
To allow your paint to coat easier, first prime your wooden ball knobs. Once completely dry, give your knobs a base coat. I went with Christmas Red and Green colors for my bases. Depending on your paint, you may need additional coats for the background color.
Once the background is completely dry, go to town with your design! Since I was doing so many at once, I decided to keep it simple with polka dots. I wish I would have read the Skip to my Lou post a little closer, because the tip to use a wooden dowel is genius...that would have made everything easier!
And, once your design is completely dry, varnish away. I used two coats of varnish because I wanted these knobs extra shiny!
Lastly, once the varnish is completely dry, get out your gorilla glue and your corks. I found it easier to put a thin layer of the glue on the cork and then stick it to your knob. Keep in mind that this glue expands around 3-4 times. So, as the glue expanded, I lightly pressed the cork to the knob to ensure that the cork was right against the knob when it was finally dry. This glue is major so be careful!
acrylic paint of your choice
primmer
clear varnish
bottle corks
gorilla glue
To allow your paint to coat easier, first prime your wooden ball knobs. Once completely dry, give your knobs a base coat. I went with Christmas Red and Green colors for my bases. Depending on your paint, you may need additional coats for the background color.
Once the background is completely dry, go to town with your design! Since I was doing so many at once, I decided to keep it simple with polka dots. I wish I would have read the Skip to my Lou post a little closer, because the tip to use a wooden dowel is genius...that would have made everything easier!
Lastly, once the varnish is completely dry, get out your gorilla glue and your corks. I found it easier to put a thin layer of the glue on the cork and then stick it to your knob. Keep in mind that this glue expands around 3-4 times. So, as the glue expanded, I lightly pressed the cork to the knob to ensure that the cork was right against the knob when it was finally dry. This glue is major so be careful!
Once the glue is done drying...gift to friends!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
{Made with Love} Candied Orange Peels
One day, while randomly watching Food Network, Chris and I saw a piece highlighting candied citrus peels and we thought "we could do that". Well, Chris could do that, while I take pictures! As part of our "made with love" Christmas gifts, we've added a little Homemade Candy...enjoy!
6 thick-skinned Valencia or navel oranges
4 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 1/2 cups water
Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe. (or eat it while you cook, like we did!)
Cut the peel into strips about 1/4-inch wide.
Put the orange peel in a large saucepan with cold water to cover, bring to a boil over high heat. Then pour off the water. Repeat 1 or 2 more times depending on how assertive you want the orange peels to be. Remove the orange peels from the pan.
Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer.
Cook until the peels get translucent, about 45 minutes. Resist the urge to stir the peels or you may introduce sugar crystals into the syrup. If necessary, swirl the pan to move the peels around.
Drain the peels then roll in sugar and dry on a rack, for 4 to 5 hours. Chris also sprinkled with extra sugar while drying.
To really take it to the next level of "candy", we dipped each in a little melted chocolate. Talk about yummy!
6 thick-skinned Valencia or navel oranges
4 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra for rolling
1 1/2 cups water
Cut tops and bottoms off of the orange and score the orange into quarters, cutting down only into the peel and not into the fruit. Peel the skin and pith of the orange in large pieces, use the orange for another recipe. (or eat it while you cook, like we did!)
Whisk the sugar with 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 9 minutes Add the peels and simmer gently, reducing heat to retain a simmer.
To really take it to the next level of "candy", we dipped each in a little melted chocolate. Talk about yummy!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Holiday Card Display
Chris and I are blessed with really creative friends and family...so there was no surprise when we started receiving some of the most adorable Holiday cards around. I've been putting my creative juices to the test trying to come up with an impressive yet simple way to display these little pieces of art work with no luck. Until, I was flipping through an All You magazine and stumble across the solution!
You do not have to be crafty for this project! All you need is a tension rod to fit your window of choice, paint, decorative ribbons and clothespins. Now, before you fuss me, I know spray paint is not the most eco-chic way to tackle this project...but it is the fastest so I apologize for my lapse in judgement!
First, paint your tension rod and clothespins the color of your choice. Once dry, place in your window and drape with your ribbons, securing with the clothespins. Lastly, hang your cards with the clothespins. VOILA...easy and fun Holiday Card display!
Holiday Card Display
You do not have to be crafty for this project! All you need is a tension rod to fit your window of choice, paint, decorative ribbons and clothespins. Now, before you fuss me, I know spray paint is not the most eco-chic way to tackle this project...but it is the fastest so I apologize for my lapse in judgement!
How are you displaying your cards from loved ones?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
{Made with Love} Pepper Jelly Gifts
Looking for a budget-friendly, "made with love" Christmas gift for your family and friends? Look no further! This Pepper Jelly recipe from Paula Deen was simple, impressive and delicious!
3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh hot green pepper, such as jalapeno or serrano
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
6 cups sugar
4 ounces pectin (recommended: Certo)
4 drops green food coloring
Special Equipment: 6 (1/2-pint) canning jars with lids
First and foremost, sterilize your jars. This isn't as difficult as it sounds. First preheat your oven to 175 degrees. Then, simply wash with hot and soapy water, rinse well, and then arrange jars AND lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Lastly, leave in oven for 25 minutes. Remember, these are now hot and sterilized so move them with tongs (but make sure those are sterilized too-dip ends in boiling water for a few minutes). All items touching the jars need to be clean...especially your hands...so soap up!
Now to the jelly...
In your food processor, work your bell pepper and hot pepper until finely minced.
Combine your pepper mixture, vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. (This takes a little longer than I expected...so be patient!)
Now, remove from heat and add your pectin and food coloring. (This scared me because it didn't look like the pepper jelly I was expecting...but trust the process!)
Lastly, pour into sterilized jars and seal. This is where the fun begins. To seal the jars, check out the instructions on your canning jars. To properly seal the jars I purchased, each needed to undergo a "hot bath" in a canner. Since I didn't have a canner, I filled our largest stock pot about half-way, making sure that when the cans were placed inside the water would cover with an inch or so of water. After bringing to a boil and letting sit for a few minutes, I turned off the heat, let the water cool and then removed the cans. I let that cans sit for 12-24 hours and then prepared for gifting! (My favorite part!)
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
6 cups sugar
4 ounces pectin (recommended: Certo)
4 drops green food coloring
Special Equipment: 6 (1/2-pint) canning jars with lids
First and foremost, sterilize your jars. This isn't as difficult as it sounds. First preheat your oven to 175 degrees. Then, simply wash with hot and soapy water, rinse well, and then arrange jars AND lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Lastly, leave in oven for 25 minutes. Remember, these are now hot and sterilized so move them with tongs (but make sure those are sterilized too-dip ends in boiling water for a few minutes). All items touching the jars need to be clean...especially your hands...so soap up!
Now to the jelly...
In your food processor, work your bell pepper and hot pepper until finely minced.
Combine your pepper mixture, vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a rolling boil. (This takes a little longer than I expected...so be patient!)
Now, remove from heat and add your pectin and food coloring. (This scared me because it didn't look like the pepper jelly I was expecting...but trust the process!)
Lastly, pour into sterilized jars and seal. This is where the fun begins. To seal the jars, check out the instructions on your canning jars. To properly seal the jars I purchased, each needed to undergo a "hot bath" in a canner. Since I didn't have a canner, I filled our largest stock pot about half-way, making sure that when the cans were placed inside the water would cover with an inch or so of water. After bringing to a boil and letting sit for a few minutes, I turned off the heat, let the water cool and then removed the cans. I let that cans sit for 12-24 hours and then prepared for gifting! (My favorite part!)
I test drove this creation with some cream cheese and crackers...yum, yum, yum!
This jelly is very, very green in color. So feel free to spice it up!
This jelly is very, very green in color. So feel free to spice it up!
Monday, December 6, 2010
{Stocking Stuffer} Josie Maran Cosmetics
Looking for some stocking stuffer ideas for an eco-chic lady? Check this out...
Recently, I was in the market for new make up so I purchased some Josie Maran products and color me impressed! Although they are a bit pricey, I've been using them for a few weeks now and I have to say...worth every penny. Their marketing slogan is "Josie Maran Cosmetics...Luxury with a Conscience" and after looking at their ingredient list for their products, I know they mean it. Here are the pieces I have purchased and fallen in love with...
Argan Primer Mist
Argan Oil is the Moroccan cure-all. I've used it on my hair before and was shocked by the results! I was hesitate to use on my face since I typically have oily skin, but my face has loved it, especially in these cooler months. According to their website, this primer is infused with stem cells harvested from sea fennel and stimulates new cell growth, repairs and reverses damage caused by the sun, fights signs of aging and improves skin tone for a radiant, renewed complexion. All I know, is that I've had no break-outs, my make up lasts longer and my skin stays hydrated and, in my opinion, looks and feels better! The only issue I had was with the application. Apparently, my aim is off so instead of just misting my face, I spray two shots in my hand and apply to my face.
Argan Mascara
For some reason, I am very particular about mascara. So for this product to pass my personal tests...winner. This mascara has yet to clump or go on to heavy. I feel like I'm barely putting any one before my lashes grow before my eyes. The formula is paraben and fragrance free and has organic ingredients like Jojoba oil, Argan oil and Beeswax to help condition and strengthen lashes. I got the black and have no intention of going back to any other product!
Argan Blush
I'm only semi-in love with this blush. I do feel like I have to put a little more on than other brands to get the proper coloring. However, the color I do achieve lasts longer and looks more natural. After looking at the website a little harder, I notice that they encourage you to start with a subtle veil of color and then layer until desired intensity is achieved. Apparently, the sheer consistency allows for complete control. I do like the Blossom color because I feel like I can use it almost every day.
Argan Concealer
For those imperfections that tend to pop up, especially when pregnant, concealer is a must. I've always had issues with under my eyes, but lately I've had a few discolorations pop up as well. Anyway...I really like this concealer! It is super easy to blend and it disappears to make my skin look normal.
The packaging of these products is very sleek and fancy, not to mention responsible! The products are packaged in glass, aluminum, plastic or paper that can be recycled. To take it a step further, they are also compostable! Polylactic acid (PLA) is formed into the containers and packaging. So, when you are done with the product, simply remove the mirror and toss in the compost! How cool is that?!?
These are the only products I've tried so far but I plan to try more soon. What about you, have you tired Josie Maran Cosmetics? Let me know your thoughts!
Recently, I was in the market for new make up so I purchased some Josie Maran products and color me impressed! Although they are a bit pricey, I've been using them for a few weeks now and I have to say...worth every penny. Their marketing slogan is "Josie Maran Cosmetics...Luxury with a Conscience" and after looking at their ingredient list for their products, I know they mean it. Here are the pieces I have purchased and fallen in love with...
Argan Primer Mist
Argan Mascara
For some reason, I am very particular about mascara. So for this product to pass my personal tests...winner. This mascara has yet to clump or go on to heavy. I feel like I'm barely putting any one before my lashes grow before my eyes. The formula is paraben and fragrance free and has organic ingredients like Jojoba oil, Argan oil and Beeswax to help condition and strengthen lashes. I got the black and have no intention of going back to any other product!Argan Blush
I'm only semi-in love with this blush. I do feel like I have to put a little more on than other brands to get the proper coloring. However, the color I do achieve lasts longer and looks more natural. After looking at the website a little harder, I notice that they encourage you to start with a subtle veil of color and then layer until desired intensity is achieved. Apparently, the sheer consistency allows for complete control. I do like the Blossom color because I feel like I can use it almost every day.
Argan Concealer
The packaging of these products is very sleek and fancy, not to mention responsible! The products are packaged in glass, aluminum, plastic or paper that can be recycled. To take it a step further, they are also compostable! Polylactic acid (PLA) is formed into the containers and packaging. So, when you are done with the product, simply remove the mirror and toss in the compost! How cool is that?!?
These are the only products I've tried so far but I plan to try more soon. What about you, have you tired Josie Maran Cosmetics? Let me know your thoughts!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Easy-to-Make Wreath
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Chris and I have been busy getting our home decorated for the holidays. I just had to share this easy-to-make wreath. It took me no time and I love the way it looks on our front door!
Next, add your decorative ribbon, in the same fashion.
Lastly, add your decorative extras. I used the wiring of the wreath to keep everything in place. It was so easy!
We finally finished our front door and I love it with all the lights on. This picture isn't very good but I just had to share! We have garland, grapevine and more decorative mesh around the door frame. Just love it!
How is your holiday decorating coming?
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