The Anti-Stink!

I’m no hippy, but I will admit an effort to go more organic in the last year or more. I can go on (and on and on!) about my new favorite multi-use natural products, but not now (maybe later?!), I’m going to talk to you about one. Deodorant.

Yup.

Deodorant.

I had a thing a few years ago where I was swapping brands of deodorant every 5 – 12 days because it would

 suddenly.stop.working.and.never.again.work.on.me.

 Most memorable was a particularly hot August day when an even hotter Brit asked if I was free for dinner that evening. I was trying to act cool and like, ‘um… I don’t think I have anything going on tonight’ ….

Meanwhile CHAOS was running rampant on the inside; racing heart, flushed face, an inner dialog of ‘Omigsosh omigosh, omigosh’, weak knees, and my deodorant failing. Not only was I saying, yes, but my underarms were shouting it from the rooftops! I had to find a way to eliminate the unpleasant odor. STAT. I also had to figure out a way to change my top without making it look like I was trying to impress him. (I mean I was, but more importantly, I didn’t want to smell)


Don't mind the hair (I just got back from running)


But I digress. You read about Aluminum and how bad it is for your body and I recently started trying the aluminum free types of deodorant in which after a few different trials, I realized I might as well not be wearing anything. Still wanting to avoid the aluminum (and unpleasantness), I endured a multi-step process that ended with a dash of baking soda to each under arm.  I don’t think my housewife room mate ppreciated the fine layer of baking soda dust on the bathroom floor… so I browsed the innerewebs and embarked on another alternative.

I MADE MY OWN DEODORANT!

(yup, I'm a hip(py) like that!)

5 Tbsp of melted coconut oil
1/3 cup corn starch
1/3 cup baking soda


Mix until goodness evolves and viola


I tried it for a week. My body wasn’t so sure and every day a different side would rebel and become less than pleasant. I went back to the kitchen; remelted my concoction and added MORE baking soda, a teensy bit more cornstarch and then a few sprays of my perfume.  And now... a month later in the heat of California August... I can say it works!! 

Best.THING.in.the.world

(other than, of course, a sharing a warm August evening with a handsome foreigner)

 

Repurposed Bookshelf

I have a kajillion books at my bedside to read. I had them stacked on the window sill above the bed, on the floor next to the bed and even sharing a corner of the bed with me.

I was on the hunt for a night stand or small bookshelf to tidy things up a bit, and then I remembered this ruddy piece of furniture.

 I took this hand me down shelf from my dad's home office when I moved into my first apartment after college. Its small.. maybe 2’ x 3’… Two shelves. I’m pretty sure it’s had a place in every apartment since and when I bought my house I retired it to the garage for Craigslist or a garage sale

 Not so fast my pretties!


I pulled it out of retirement, lightly sanded it and then painted it a pretty glossy blue (The Blues by Dunn Edward if you want to get specific) which coincidentally will soon (one day, eventually) be the same color as my front door (actually the purpose for which I purchased the paint!) To add a bit more pizzazz to this piece, I took off the back panel and covered it in a pretty yellow print.  

And now it resides next to my bed, holding all the words in which I love to read! 
(and a pretty flower vase too!)

No Sticks Required

Ever get the urge to do something just a little out of the ordinary?

(me: All the time!)

Need to/Wanna send someone special a package in the mail?

(me: most of the time!)

Ever at a loss for what kind of box to use?

Here’s how you do it.

1 - Determine intended recipient
2 - Determine object to send  (whatever you want, though if it is perishable or explosives, or radioactive, the USPS, might have a thing or two to say about it)
3 - Buy a piñata (yes. I said it, Pin-a-ta!)
3a - Buy two if you have latent aggression issues
4 - Stuff said object into piñata
5 - Seal up stuffing-hole
6 - Slap an address on the front
7 - Dance the Macarena all the way to the Post Office! (this is a necessary step)

The postal ladies all giggled and said my piñata was oh so pretty!

I think that was my favorite part of it all!

Sprinklers

As I may have lamented before, my yard has been an eyesore since before I moved in. I keep making noises about it to my neighbors and make sure I have BIG piles of yard waste as often as I can so they know it’s on my mind and am working on it despite the apparent lack of activity.

For my birthday (have I mentioned its my birth month?), I asked my family for help in landscaping and irrigation.

Scott,

(my brother) and Phil

 (my wannabe brother)

showed up last Saturday morning to tackle my sprinkler system. The comical part about my sprinklers is the previous system was designed a man who had his own way of making things work and this was certainly evident while trying to unravel his logic. Not sure what the problem was, but wires were crossed, illogical loops of pvc pipes were made underground.

Basically it was a hot mess of sprinklers spraying where they weren’t supposed to, including from a pipe 6 feet above the ground.

The boys tackled my yard with fury.

While I was tasked with keeping them fed and hydrated

(With Otter Pops) in between my continual loops to and from the hardware store (ask me, I’m an expert on slip vs thread!).

I give full and complete credit and GRATITUDE to the boys!

Next up is doing it allll over again in my back yard

 

AND putting down some roots in both yards!

 

My neighbors (and I) are sooooo excited!!

Return from Summer Vacation

Sincere apologies to my faithful reader(s if you include my mom) for my recent absence on this thing. Its not that I had no content, but it was more that I had no time. I know, I know, sad excuse.. But summer’s a time for vacation, right? Let’s just say I was on vacation; which is kinda true… I went camping for a couple days.

Anyway… I promise an August full of exciting (to me) posts and colorful anecdotes.

And lets not all forget someone (me) is celebrating a birthday this month!

Blinded by the light!

Think way back when I was painting my hallway last winter.  You may recall a photo with a dangling skeleton of a light fixture which has been a hallway eyesore for close to a year.  I tried fixing it once, but I was obviously proven unsuccessful.   

I kinda got tired of hearing through the grapevine that certain people (cough cough - you know who you are) were eager to see me finish my hallway (read: replace the light fixture).  That, I decided, was my #1 house goal for this past weekend. 

About a year ago, I read about a DIY bubble chandelier.  I procured the materials and got busy one night and subsequently, never installed it.  It just so happens that this weekend a Navy sailor was on hand (cuz that's how I roll).  He kindly offered to the the electrical dirty work (and it wasn't because I already got electricuted. twice.) and suddenly after a year of dark hallways and a few words spoken like a true sailor, I was shown the light! 

Cue the heavens parting and the angels singing. 

Navyman Tim deploys at the end of the month.  Obviously my gratitude extends beyond my hallway and his friendship to our family, but also for his service and devotion to our country (THANKS TIM!).  His mom also makes the best darn chocolate chip cookies on the planet - that's not necessarily related to this post, but if you had her cookies, you'd agree its worth noting.   

Outdoor Cinema

Poor landscaping aside, at a recent shin-dig hosted by yours truly, some friends came up with the fabulous idea to show movies against my garage wall as we all sit with blankets and lawn chairs with popcorn and soda and red licorice. 

 Great summer activity, don't you think?! 
(yes, my friends are brilliant)

My plan this summer is to get this place into shape (landscaping wise).  I am clueless when it comes to watering or even planting, so in lieu of birthday gifts, I've requested my family's help in terms of irrigation and plants and something other than dirt!  Hopefully by early fall or maybe even next year I can host an outdoor 'Cin-ANNE-ema!

Well... While the funiture was outdoors for Operation Floor, and I was hobnobbing with Doris Day's employees, my sister hosted her own version (we'll call it a Cin-Jen-ema'). 

I came home to discover Cannon Ball Run II on the back porch. 
Complete with Pizza and Beer!  

Yes, she's brilliant too!!

Dog Gone to Carmel!

Not too long ago, a friend invited Riley and me to check out Terry's, a dog-friendly restaurant in the first floor of the dog-friendly Cypress Inn.  

Cypress Inn is located in Carmel and owned by the great film star, Doris Day.  There were pictures and mementos from her films everwhere. 

With Jazz playing softly in the background, Riley and his Weimaramer friend Gage sat with us in the restaurant next to other guests and their dogs; all of whom were spoiled with water and puppy treats by passer-bys and the wait staff.  When it came time to order our dinner, the pups got their choice of chicken or beef.  Riley chose beef and he thought it was well done!

So, if you're ever in Carmel with your canine, check out the Cypress Inn.  Great Music, great staff and great food - the dogs would agree! 

PS - there's a dog beach nearby too!  What are you waiting for?!  Go. NOW!

(images via the Cypress Inn and me)

Floored

Ah... so you know how one moderately sized project can snowball out of control and you've either 

  a) accomplished way more than you ever envisioned or 

  b) uncovered about eight more projects that you currently don't have the time/money for

As was the case this weekend.  

Meet my two helpers. 

 (Hi Helpers!)

So Steve (above) and his girlfriend (not pictured above) bought a house about a year ago.  It is a beautiful 1930s Spanish style home that needs way more work than my house, so we often get together to discuss our latest project and we recently made a deal. I'd make them curtains and he'd come and help me retile my entryway.  

So first, the good news!  

1.  we no longer have to look at the ugly tile OR worry about pieces flying out from beneath painters tape whenever the dog, cat, or stilettos (cough Cough) walks by (see exhibit a).  

Exhibit A.

2. Under the tile was hardwood floor.  

work in progress

3. We decided to keep the hardwood floor.  Which in my mind meant it was less squarefootage to (re)tile.  (Don't get your party hats on just yet, we still have some bad news to come)

4.  We also decided to check under the living room carpet for more wooded goodness.  We moved the furniture to the back patio and said 'Adios' to el Carpet-o!

So, now I have to share the love with the bad news and a Spanish Lesson. 

UNO: it appears I was taking blurry pictures on Saturday.  (Mental note: don't forget to clean the lens after you get a slimey dog nose to it)

DOS: TERMITES. Yup.  There is termite damage in the first 9 feet of the entryway which would explain the tiles flying off when animals or high heels walk by (NO BUENO)

TRES: While hardwood floors are coveted amongst most home-owners, the fact I already have them is GOOD... but I didn't necessarily have a repair and refinish in the budget (bad)

TRES-A: We brought back in the living room carpet and (for now) are covering the post-tile-and-termite / pre-repair-and-refinish entryway floors.  I don't know which is uglier... the tile, the carpet or the termite injested floorboards.  

QUATRO: Also not budgeted is the new sink/vanity I decided would go great with the freshly tiled floors in my I-wasn't-ready-to-strip-wallpaper-(again)-and-paint front bathroom... But the Floor is pretty and it looks like this is my next room to tackle! 

Thanks a TON to Steve and my sister for your help and hardwork!