Sunburn Essentials

This is the thing nobody every talks about... and I know that I am not the only one who dreams of having that luscious tan looking skin when they are sitting out in the sun, but the reality is I am pale, have freckles and burn easily. So, in the spirit of celebrating the lack of tan I am getting while setting on the beach, I thought I would share some sunburn tips and tricks I have come across in my day.

Even though you have these awesome tips and tricks, don't forget use SPF and reapply at least every 2 hours!

Some basic tips for when you are red:

• Use a cold compress- this can be a cool washcloth that is wet with either water or witch hazel. 
• Avoid soap- this can dry out and irritate your already irritated skin. 
• Moisturize! I like to keep coco butter lotion in the fridge, but the BEST relief is refrigerated ALOE WITH LIDOCAINE. 
• Moisturize! From the inside out this time, drink lots of water. 
• Use oatmeal- Aveeno sells oatmeal bath packets that are wonderfully soothing to your sore skin. Soak in a cool tub. You can also make a cool oatmeal paste and slather that on and remove it after a bit. 
• Use vinegar- use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar on a washcloth and cool in the fridge then lay on your burn. 
• Use cucumber- slice that sucker up and set it on your burn. 
• Use tea- I have heard some people swear that only Earl Gray works for this and others say mint tea. Either way, brew some tea up and cool it down, then either wipe on with a cotton ball or use a washcloth as a cold compress. 

DIY Remedies from the web:

• DIY After Sun Spray- this recipe uses three essential oils that are soothing to the skin. 
• DIY Essential Oil Lotion- this recipe uses a vinegar bath or wipe down first, followed by mixing coconut oil with essential oils and rubbing yourself down.
• DIY Crispy Critter Spray- this recipe uses water, aloe, and essential oils.  

What are some of your tips/tricks for sunburn?

From Ms. to Mrs. {{Getting Ready & Photos}}

The day of the wedding, I got up and worked out, loaded my car (cough, Jen's car I didn't have a car, cough) full of food in coolers, and off we went to the venue to help set up and decorate. Mostly, I just did what my Mom told me to do. It's safer that way. I was so incredibly lucky that many of my parent's good friends, my family and my two good friends came to help with all this. At 2pm, Jen, Kala, and I went to the hotel to get ready.

This is the only photo from the hotel time. We didn't have a photographer during this time and I got ready with Jen and Kala.  Leslie from Classically Chic Designs did our hair and makeup. My mom also came and got her hair done after a bit. The girls and I ordered pizza, listened to guilty pleasure music and had fun! My goal was to have big, bouncy hair with lots of volume, so I totally used clip in extensions. I also wanted to make sure my eyes popped and my makeup stayed on all day, so I had air brushed makeup done and lashes applied. You guys, if you ever are on the fence about extensions, air brush makeup, or false lashes JUST DO IT! They are all totally worth it and make a huge difference. 

At 5pm, Gabriel showed up so that we could go take photos with Barbara Danielle. 

My bouquet is something I will keep forever. I made it. Blood, sweat, and a whole lot of hot glue later I had a bouquet that I love. 

Our bling. This is also one of my favorite photos. Gabriel did such a good job picking out my rings. For his, he chose a brushed platinum band. 

I really loved the time that Gabriel and I had taking photos, we just walked around Westport and it was really easy going. We didn't have any specific shots that we wanted, so much as we wanted pictures of each other having fun. 

(Kissing is fun, right?!)

This was a candid shot as I was doing touchups. It is such a great picture because that's my dad standing in the reflection of the mirror. How cool is that?! 

What's your favorite wedding photo?

Friday Favorites {{12.12.14}}

It's Friday again! Does anyone else get up every day and just wish it was Friday afternoon already? No? I'm the only one who loves that joyous feeling of leaving work, taking off your id badge, and going yeessss two blissful days of freedom. That's one of my favorite moments every week. Here are some of my other favorites for your enjoyment. 

Favorite Quick Workout

If you are looking for something calm and gentle to do, because you are feeling sorta bloated from the holiday feasting this is the video for you. It is from one of my all time fave sites, POPSUGAR. 

Favorite DIY 

This super cute initial is the perfect alternative to the expected wreath. I have been dying to make my own in winter colors, but haven't made it to the store to buy my letter yet. It's on the to-do list. Super easy and I already have most of the supplies. Meaning the twine and hot glue. 

Twine Initial 

Favorite Recipe

I made my version of this recipe this month, with homemade noodles I might add, and G and I both loved it. It was the perfect comfort food when we were feeling down and it was dreary outside. 

Iowa Girl Eats 

Favorite Funnies 

I'm linking up with Amanda for Friday Favorites 

DIY Floral Ball Decor

Ok you guys, it is wedding central up in this piece. So, I wanted to share with you some really easy, inexpensive ways to add color and texture to your decor. You can use these in bowls around your house, make them for specific seasons, and use different types of materials. So easy to personalize them and the possibilities are endless! I've seen them done with faux flowers, where you push in the stem then glue a jewel/sparkle into the center of the flower. 

I didn't want to give away too much of the decor for the wedding, so you'll have to check back to see how these are incorporated into the tablescapes after July 19th :) 

What you need:

Styrofoam balls (mine are 3inch)

Corsage pins (or other pins that suit your specific style)

Paper flowers (I used confetti flowers)











1. Layer flowers

2. Pin flowers to styrofoam ball

3. Push in the pin, making sure to secure firmly

4. Cover the entire ball. Enjoy your handiwork!












Have you guys made any of these before? Or something similar? I would love to have more ideas!

Monday is Here Already? Kitchen Update and a Great Deal

 

We are still trying to get our kitchen fixed.  If you don't remember what I'm talking about you can catch up here and here. After having a hole in our wall for months, we decided that if we were going to try and make the best of the situation we were going to remodel. Yup, you heard right. Since we had a hole in the wall and are supposed to be getting new flooring we were going to make the kitchen how we wanted it! Sooo... we decided to take out the ugly 80's style apartment sliding door and put in a nice backdoor with blinds in the glass (because boxers love to terrorize mini blinds) and move the window down. The fridge was covering part of the window, but it no longer does! The fridge is getting moved down and we are going to add a pantry cabinet where the fridge used to be. So, what was accomplished in just ONE day you ask? Well, here are the photos.

 

It started raining about 30 minutes into the project, so the boys moved inside to tear everything out.

 

The holes where the window and sliding door USED to be. And my boo thang being a man getting all dirty and shit.

 

 

 

 

oh, did I mention they also took the siding off the back of the house? Well, we are going to get new siding for the entire house! Woot!

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, and I also forgot to mention that my Uncle is a contractor, so between he and Big T (who was an electrician in the Army) they got shit done with a quickness.

 

 

Covering up the hole where the old window used to be. And if you look at the left hand side, that's the frame for the new window.

 

 

 

Mr. hanging out the window, mad because I was making him smile.

 

  And... this is the finished product. For now at least. We are havign a company re-side the entire house, so the boys didn't put any new siding up. Yup, we are those cooties with house wrap on the back of the house.

 

 

Next up, we are having the insurance company pay for the new floor and putting up the wall on the inside, so they are going to send a company out ASAP to do that. While they do that we are going to continue to get estimates on siding, a new roof, and windows for the entire house. After the new floor is put in, we are going to add the pantry cabinet, paint all the cabinets with Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations and the Rust-Oleum Counter Transformations.

 

These are the two cabinet colors I am debating between. Which do you like better? Let me know, becuase we are having the hardest time deciding!

 

Castle

Tudor

 

 

 

And you know I hearts me a good deal, so I wanted to let you all in on this coupon! Between Gabriel's extra large extended family and me having worked for schools, I know how expensive graduation stuff can be! If you order from Tiny Prints now, you should be able to get it just in time!

Click here to go to the website and look around 

Offer expires 4/29/14 at 11:59 pm (PT). Save $20 off all graduation stationery orders of $49 or more using code GRAD49 at checkout. Merchandise must total $49 or more before taxes, rush processing, proofs, shipping and other charges for the promotion to apply. This promotion code cannot be combined with other offers. Offer applies exclusively to graduation announcements and graduation party invitations and is not applicable to previously placed orders, shipping, taxes, rush processing charges or greeting cards. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent fraud or abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer or cancel any order.

The Living Room Project

 

Since buying this house we have done tons and tons of work on it! We chose to buy a house that we could make our own. The only problem is that we are both such instant gratification people. We want it to look perfect now!

The only downside to that is… neither one of us truly has home improvement skills J We have been using my dad, Big T, for everything! Luckily, he loves coming over and helping. Or at least he pretends like he does for his baby girl. Yes, I realize I am spoiled. No, I do not intend to stop asking my daddy to do things for me.

This go round, we wanted to update the living room. We want people to walk in the front door and say, “Wow this looks beautiful!” To do this, we couldn’t have the old grungy fireplace and bare walls. So, I whitewashed the brick and took out the doors of the fire place and spray painted them black with Rustoleum high heat paint. I have to admit, that can of paint is the best $3.97 ever spent!

The boys built a new mantle, added cabinets, made book shelves, and put up crown molding. They did all of these things in only three days! They worked super, insanely quickly to get this job done before it got too cold to work outside and in the garage. I have to admit, The Mr. loves learning how to use table saws and create things.

After they did all of that, we painted everything white and I am loving it!  

 

I really feel like the living room looks so much cleaner, brighter, and suprisingly bigger. I have more pictures of the actual process itself, but thought the before and after pictures were the most important!

 

Now, it's on to decorating.

Hippy Dippy Style Soap

Disclaimer: I received this soap free as part of the Purx Insiders group.
I was not compensated in any way and all opinions are my own.

I don't know about you, but I have the most sensitive skin in the world. Just as my doctor, I have seen that biotch twice in the past month because I've had a rash/the itchy scratchies. Gross, right?! One of the things that I noticed is that if I use store bought soaps that have dyes and scents in them I itch or feel scratchy from those. So, my solution was to figure out how to make my own soap. Sounds awesome, right? Well, it actually is pretty awesome sauce because not only do I know exactly what I am putting in my washer, but it is also dirt f-ing cheap. I spent some time over my long 5 day weekend purchasing and making the recipe below. I highly recommend!

To make my soap all I need is:

1 Fels-Naptha bar (grated)
1 cup Borax (I use 20 Mule Team Borax)
1 cup washing soda (I use Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)

Just mix that shiz up and you are ready to go! I use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load, I use the top of a purex crystals cap as my measuring spoon and it works well for me.

What household cleaning tips do you have? I also love using vinegar as a household cleaner! I try to avoid harsh chemicals if possible.

I Totally Had a 5 Day Weekend...

... and have nothing to show for it. Not true! I did tons of shit and just didn't photograph it for evidence.

On Wednesday, I braved the grocery store in order to make the most amazeballs green beans for turkey day. I will def post the recipe for them soon! I also filled in holes on our new cabinets and bookshelves in the living room that The Mr. and Big T made over the past 2 weekends. Then, I sanded the shit outta the entire thing and taped it to be painted. The Mr. didn't trust me to paint by myself, which I don't understand since I am the greatest at home improvement projects, so I put up our silver Christmas tree with purple ornaments. I will post pics on instagram, as that f-er looks amazing in our room with a purple wall. Just saying. Then, my handsome man came home and got the wild hair to paint all that shit and I totally womped his ass with my painting skills. I am legit when it comes to painting without a roller.

This was our pinsperation:

 

Thursday, I ate. Need I say more?

Friday, I played Batman Arkham Origins and spray painted the fire place grate. At least I think it was Friday... the days all rolled together.

Saturday, The Mr. and I ran all over the Kansas City metro area. We went to the Legends to look at area rugs, we went to the opposite end of the world to go to a few home good stores to look at area rugs... all the while knowing in the abck of our minds we would end up buying the super affordable one we had seen at Home Depot down the street.

Sunday, we saw Catching Fire with our friends. I have to admit I have never read the Hunger Games books. I just hate reading books and seeing the movies. I become all judgy judgersone and hyper analyze which was better. Which totally takes the fun out of seeing the movies. Instead, I don't read and sit on my lazy butt and watch what happens. We also half assed watch the Chiefs lose to the Broncos... Man, I heart me some Chiefs, but come on-- 3 loses in a row?!

Friday Fuzzies

I needed something happy to talk about since this has been an up and down shit week. So, I decided to talk about the things that are making me happy lately. Life has a lot fo twists and turns and sometimes I get a little motion sick from. Life, this is why I don't ride roller coasters you crazy bitch! But on to the greatness :)

• We are working on our living room this weekend. On Thursday night, I white washed the brick around our fire place and I am going to paint the fireplace doors black this weekend. Then, the Mr. and Big T are going to put in cabinets and bookshelves. The pinsperation for this project:

 

• My clinical training plan got approved, which I am super, massively excited about. As a social worker, this is the next level of licensure that I can get. For the next few years I will learning to be a better social worker! Woot!
  
  

 

• We are celebrating my fabulous boo thangs birthday tonight with his parents. Every year we go to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and have a delicious meal. This year is no different. I am going to get off work, stop to buy his present (it was too big to hide), and go tart myself up for a fun night out!