skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Heath and I went to the Japanese Garden last week. One day a year, they have free admission to the gardens! I normally costs $9.50 per person, so we jumped at the chance to go. Though crowded, rainy, and cold, we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!
The Japanese Garden is located next to the International Rose Test Garden that I have mentioned before. I've been told it's a great place to go for the whole day, to meditate and appreciate natural beauty. Going on a free day, we experienced the beauty... not so much the peace and quiet though. :)
Enjoy my colorful leaf pictures! I'm pretty sure this might be my last post of them... they are dropping fast. Hope Tennessee still has some left for us!
Just so you know, it's supposed to rain the whole time we are in Nashville. We cannot the escape rainy, gloomy days! It hasn't been too bad, though I would appreciate one occasional sunny day! I've had a hard time taking pictures for my etsy shop because I've had no natural light. Oh well.
Texans, we'll be saying hello in less than one month. Tennesseans, we'll be there Monday! Have a lovely weekend, dear friend.
Anyone else out there use Shutterfly? I've been on their email list for a while now, and they send out pretty incredible deals. Well, it's about to be Christmas time and they have really cute Christmas card designs! And, if you blog about this promotion, you get 50 free cards. Woohoo! Shipping usually runs around $3.00. (Unfortunately, you can only get this deal if you blog about it.) The offer is good until December 31. I was going to make my own Christmas cards, but who can beat free?!? Shutterfly is a wonderful place to purchase photos and use it for photo storage as well! Shutterfly has so many cute and classic christmas card designs! They will look perfect on my fridge. :)
My favorite Christmas cards are: Gift Tag Story, Gorgeous Gift Tag, All of Us, and Retro Christmas. You can also search for your favorites by clicking this link.
If you have never used Shutterfly, simply sign up and receive 50 free 4x6 prints! Great deal huh?
http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/
Click the link above and get started fellow bloggers! I'm anxiously awaiting your lovely Christmas cards. :)
A dear friend recently encouraged me to blog more, so I will. But I warn you, this post is random and has no theme at all. Enjoy :)
1. Two weeks ago, Heath and I attended a marriage seminar in Seaside, OR. Overall, it was a great getaway and really encouraged us to keep growing and learning more about each other. We stayed for the whole six hour seminar (which was a bit lengthy if you ask me), and were then awarded with a free hotel stay by the beach. Not too shabby, eh? Anyway, there was a swing set on the beach...
2. Two weeks before that trip, we visited Seaside with Jared and Michaela. We played lots of games and enjoyed exploring the city. I really just wanted to share what Heath's hair looks like in 60mph winds...
Made him five inches taller I tell you! (He just got his haircut yesterday and looks very handsome. smile)
3. The birds were on attack at the beach. At first, they followed us and we thought it was funny... it wasn't funny after 10 minutes. Katie Buckel, I'm pretty sure you would have passed out.
4. I love Trader Joe's! We have one about 5 minutes from our house and I visit it often. It's not a place for staple grocery items, but I buy my meat and specialty things there for sure. They also have the most beautiful, afforable flowers! I purchased this lovely bouquet for $4.99 a few weeks ago.
5. I've had a good week in Etsy sales. One of my magazine inserts was featured on the Etsy email last Friday, and by Saturday, I sold all of the files I had! Wonderful, but I wish I had more in stock now. (If you have been hanging on to any magazine inserts, I'd love to take them off your hands!) Anyway, I am now the proud owner of lots of these beautiful rose buds... they are small and adorn the ear beautifully. These would be lovely stocking stuffers. :)
6. I like to go for walks around our apartment complex. After long days of job searching online and crafting in the living room, it's nice to enjoy a little sunshine when I can. This is what our road looked like two weeks ago. The cold front brought wind and ran, so the leaves now blanket the ground.
7. And this was the tree next to our door. I loved looking up and seeing this vibrant red. I'm already looking forward to seeing the colors change next year.
8. I am proud to say that I have completed all of our christmas shopping. (We are celebrating Christmas with my family during Thanksgiving this year and I am so excited to be in Franklin again!) I suggest that you start your Christmas shopping as well. Shoppers tend to be more anxious and crabby during the holiday season, so finish it before you're stressed like the rest of them!
9. I love Heath. He's my best friend, and I'm glad I can share this journey with him. It's been fun.
Okay, that's all I have. Hope to see you soon.
Favorite guy, you say?!? Some of you might think it's my husband... or maybe my dad. Well, they are pretty great, but you would be wrong.
It's my granddad Daniels, who turns 82 years young today! Happy Birthday!
If you've ever met my granddad, you know that he is a wise and faithful man. He has always welcomed company and warm hugs, and loves to laugh often. He's gone through quite a few changes the past 3 years or so, but I've watched him transform into a more patient, kind hearted individual, and I love him dearly for that.
Take a moment to pray for him, and these 82 years he's graced this earth. I never knew how much I could love this man, but I do. A lot. And I miss him, so much. Can't wait to see you in two weeks, granddad. Looking forward to my hug!
You might remember this post I did several months ago.... Since August 31, I have been washing my hair with baking soda and an apple cider vinegar mixture and have been pleased with the results. I have been even more pleased with my other recipe, though.... Homemade Deodorant.
I know, I know. This sounds even more crazy and over the top, but I am so glad I tried it! After researching the harmful effects of some store-bought deodorants containing aluminum, I wanted to find a healthier and cheaper alternative. It has always been difficult for me to find one that actually works, so this was another experiment that seemed worth trying.
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil*
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
A few drops essential oil (optional, I used about 8 drops of tangerine oil)
Whisk the baking soda and cornstarch together. Slowly add the coconut oil and work it in with a spoon until it maintains a deodorant-like consistancy. (This takes a few minutes, just be patient.) I decided to add a few drops of essential oil, but the coconut scent is also pleasant. You can either scoop it into your old (clean) dispenser or place it in a small container with a lid (which I did) and apply with fingers with each use. I had a bit left over, so I did both. If you choose to use your old dispenser, you will need to keep your deodorant in the fridge. Just think of it as a nice conversation piece for your guests. :)
I am so pleased with this recipe! It keeps me smelling fresh all day long and has not left any residue on my clothes. Here's a few recommendations if you choose to try this for yourself:
1. Coconut oil can be found at Whole Foods, CVS or Walgreens, or online. It can be fairly expensive, but it can be used for many things, and will last you through 4-5 deodorant recipes. (I bought mine at Whole Foods and paid $12.00. I also bought my essential oil at WF for $4.00.)
2. I had irritation on my skin for several days and believe it was caused by putting the deodorant on right after shaving my arms. Now, I try to shave my arms at night time, and have not experienced any more skin irritation.
3. I would not suggest wearing this with silk tops. At least wait until the deodorant has dried, which usually takes about 5 minutes for me.
If you try this, please let me know if they worked as well for you! Hope you have a wonderful week!
