DISCLAIMER: I’m not going anywhere deep with that title.

I recently started a new skin care “regime”, that makes it sound so serious- as if I am really careful and regimented with how I treat my face- I’m not.  My motto with skin care has always been whatever is cheap at the drug store followed by religious use of moisturizer (again, whatever was cheapest at the drugstore).  Here is what I have been doing nightly…..

From somewhere I received a free sample of Ponds wet cleansing cloths.  They sat unused under my bathroom sink for months.  I had tried those wipe off cloths before and hated the sticky feeling that was left on my skin.  When I finally pulled these out I feel in love!  The cleaned ALL of my makeup off, they work really well on liquid eyeliner.  The best part was NO sticky residue.  My face is damp after using them, but once it dries it feels clean- no over drying either.  Added bonus, less than $5 for a months supply at Target!

I found a pin on pinterest for how to make your own astringent (something I haven’t used since high school), but the pinner promised it would shrink pore size and clean out icky black heads (now, who is above that? Not me!).  So I gave it a try.  I use 2 parts water to 1 part cider, I keep it in a mason jar and use a cotton ball in my face.  It stinks, it stinks a lot.  It stinks a little less after it dries, I try to be considerate of my bedfellow and make sure it’s dry before I climb into bed.

After a few days of doing this I noticed my skin would be really dry in the morning and my regular drugstore moisturizer wasn’t cutting it anymore.  I remembered when my mother was extolling the virtues of coconut oil to me a few years ago she suggested using it as a moisturizer, so I pulled some out and tried it.  It WORKS, I use a very very small amount (akin to 1/8tsp).  I let it absorb into the skin before I put on any makeup, and oh how my makeup looks even better on my skin now!  The only downside to using coconut oil as a moisturizer is that it does not have SPF in it…which is vital here in the land of the infernal sun.  My foundation has a SPF, but with as good as my skin looks these days I’ve been skipping it!  I need to find a good lightweight SPF soon…any suggestions?

The best part of all these skin shenanigans is that my face loves me, every day is a good skin day!  I have always had oily skin, but NO MORE!  My skin is clear, my pores smaller and no more oil slicks across my face!!   Hence my burning desire to share the love with all of you!

Ponds Cleansing Cloths + Apple Cider Vinegar Astringent + Coconut Oil = Beautiful Skin

Do you have any beauty secrets to share?  My hair is a mess, would love some hair tips!

When I saw Camille’s “Swoon” quilt pattern, that is exactly what I did, I swooned.  It makes me think of pretty snowflakes.  I pinned it to my quilts board and decided I was going to make it, in baby form, for a friend.  The very next morning I received an email from Camille with the quilt pattern attached!  I sent a text to the mommy to be, found out her nursery colors and went to work.

The colors aren’t ones I would pick, but I still love this quilt!  It is backed in the same brown fabric from the front.  I quilted around the smaller brown 8 point star, then around the outer star, and finally I quilted in large squares around the sashing (it looks really cool on the back!).   I *wish* I had the patience to make (and quilt!!!) a queen sized version.  I made a few mistakes while constucting it.  Which you can see in the full version.

You may notice that some of the purple points aren’t actually points, but rather blunt edges….that’s because I have problems with math.  I know where 3.5″ is on my ruler, but 3 7/8th?  Where is the mark for that?  I know, its totally embarrassing to be 33 and um, still not be good at math.  Besides that one “little” thing, the quilt went together really well, Camille’s instructions were great and the pattern is really simple.  I’m not a quilter by nature, I come from a long line of garment sewers and I was amazed how many pieces I had to cut out to make one quilt block.  Holy heck,  how do people have the patience to do large quilts?!!

Here’s hoping the momma to be likes the quilt, I’m delivering it tonight.

Just for fun, I thought I’d show you some of the artists (living and dead) whose work inspires me:

Mary Blair, a Disney legend!  Do a google image search and you’ll find a great example of her work!

Japanese artist Shinzi Katoh is a little bit vintage and a lot of cute!

Betsey Bates, an illustrator from the 1950′s. Her work is hard to find, and there is practically nothing about her online.

Katie Daisy, oh it reminds me of my college days in Kansas.  Her designs are so happy and bright.  She just launched a line of photo frames, gift cards & gift wrap at Target.  You can also shop her designs at The Wheatfield, which is where you will find the below artwork.

That’s the short list of a very long list of inspiring artists.  What about you, who do you like?  I’m always looking for more inspiration!

I was at J.Crew yesterday and saw these:

They are even lovelier in person….but I have never spent more than $70 on shoes in my life.  Please cross your fingers for me that they will go on sale sometime before August.

Did you know the Library of Congress has a flickr stream?!  Some amazing photos, like this one:

from the 1930-40′s color set

They also have some of the 250,000 FSA photos that were taken during the great depression.  Some of these images are just so haunting, so telling of a hard life.

If you have a few hours and nothing to do (ha ha!), I recommend checking out all the different sets.  Some great old images, what a treasure to have them online for so many to enjoy!

A Pink Christmas!

Can you almost feel the fluff?

Credit for the wreath idea goes to the ever talented Jennifer Casa!  I think I’m going to leave this pink beauty up all year in the girls bedroom!

This is what I will be sporting to church every Sunday for the rest of the month.  Isn’t it just wonderful?!  Local artist Laura Ingalls Gunn makes them, I met her at Crafeteria and went home and ordered one that night!  If you are quick you can get one before Christmas too!

Last but not least, I have a gift for you!  Download-able sequin embellishments!  you can use them for party invites, blog design, personal or COMMERCIAL designs- just don’t repackage and sell them.  And, I’d love to see what you make with them, so please send me a link.

You can download the .png file here, it is a high resolution, transparent background file.  The above illustration is just to show you an example of how to use it.

Remember last Monday when Sarah and I headed out to PHX for some food & shopping?  Well, what I didn’t tell you was that while we were in frances we saw this adorable vintage lamp.

I spied it up on a very high shelf and Sarah brought it down.  We both ooh’d and ahh’d over it, commenting about how the colors were absolutely perfect for the nursery/girls room. Sadly it was more than my budget would allow for a lamp, so we put it back and I vowed to start watching ebay for another one (which I looked for and could not find).

Well, my sneaky sister in law and sweet mother in law secretly had the lamp put aside and purchased it for me!!!!  Last night while we gathered for dinner at Sarah’s place she set the lamp up on her piano and waited to see how long it would take me to notice it!

Isn’t it just the cutest lamp ever?!  There is a small night light in the “house” that shines out the window when turned on-perfect for middle of the night feedings!

I’m dying to get the nursery set up, but I still have to move all the sewing stuff out of it first…my sewing room will be moving into our odd L-shaped hallway, but first we need to get lighting put in and an outlet.  I’m also searching for a twin sized quilt in white, aqau, pink and red for my daughters bed…send links if you see cute ones!  I think I’ve decided I just do not have the time to make one before january!

The last few weeks I feel as if I have been juggling a lot of plates, no matter what gets accomplished there is still more to do.  Yesterday was no exception, however I did take a break and join my husband for a lunch date, and then I went and bought a new phone.

I had a Sprint Pocket PC before, which, I don’t care how much my mother says its a great phone, I hated it!  I’m tickled pink with my new phone so far, it’s the second generation Rumor.  I was very very VERY tempted by the new blackberry…which I could have bought for a mere $50!  I would have bought it, but I would have had to change plans and my monthly bill would have gone up an additional $30.

I’m told my phone also plays music…but I’m sure I’d have to read the manual to figure that out…and I probably won’t have time to do that for a while.  Actually I’m not much of a manual person anyway.  What happens is eventually I want to learn how to do something, so I’ll pull the manual out and read up.  Then while reading I will discover all sorts of other great things and kick myself for not reading the manual sooner.

Hope your lives are a bit calmer, or that you are a superb juggler!

I admit, at this point (6months along) I have not purchased anything for the, still-unnamed, baby.  It’s a strange complicated hormonal thing I am sure that has prevented me from buying anything.  I think I have to get the nursery ready (Jaylee, can Clint come rewire soon???), then I’ll feel more like shopping….i think….

BUT, I have some wonderful people in my life who have already brought sweet little things for the baby.

My friend Jaylee found these barely worn Saltwater Sandals when she was at Last Chance and snagged them for me.  She knows I love them!  I can’t wait until Baby is big enough to wear them (probably around age 2 I think??), they’ll be perfect with something like this.

Last week, I met Georganne for breakfast and she surprised me with this sweet little thing:

Red gingham, vintage embroidery, great colors, and practical.  I couldn’t love it more! If you too love the bib, the company is Matti and Me, I can’t seem to get their website up??

Thank you both for the sweet little things- I love them!!

while clicking around last night I discovered Green Gate.  OMGoodness I am swooning! Be sure to browse the Spring/Summer 09 catalog.

They also sell fabric.  I found some HERE but it seems very difficult to purchase in the US.  But a girl can dream…. *swoon* *swoon*