This past weekend was a tough one for me. I caught grief over the last 48 hours from my husband for cutting my hair last Thursday evening. (Actually I cut all my hair off about about four months ago and he's just NOW noticing...ugh, men!).
Anyway, my life was filled was non-stop aggravation for those two long, dreadful days: "Don't EVER cut your hair again!", "Why do you have to wear your hair SO short?", "I like your hair LONG!". Blah, Blah, Blah! The comments seemed never-ending and were exhausting.
Before you judge me with thoughts like, "Why doesn't that woman listen to her poor husband's wishes, long hair IS sexy, she should remember her wedding vows and "Obey" (ha! I had the minister leave that little word out of our vows because, if any of you truly KNOW me, I'm not much for "obeying"!) let me explain....my hair IS still fairly long; it hits me just past my shoulders which I think for a woman of 47 years old is perfect and age-appropriate. My head now boasts a full, healthy, bouncy, shiny and vibrant golden blonde mane.
I think my hubby was upset because when we got married nine months ago my hair was halfway down my back, but it just got old and tired looking, hard to maintain, it weighed me down, made me feel older than I needed to feel. Men just don't get how hard it is to be a woman. I wish they could walk a mile in our high-heels from time to time but let's face it....they'd be complaining how their corns hurt!
Bottom line....I LOVE MY HAIR!!!!! I think it looks sexy and, well, what else really matters? It's how "I" feel, right? It'll grow on hubs....I know it will, but I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when I turn 60 and start sporting the dreaded "old lady do"???!!! I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it....in 13 years!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Miniature Gnome Garden
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| Bought some moss and little pebbles |
My latest passion is (yes, I know two weeks ago it was vintage trailers, but a girl can change her mind, right?) gnome and fairy gardens. I've been seeing a lot of terrariums on Pintrest lately and then started researching fairy gardens from there....such darling ideas, but boy, can it get costly buying all the cute little accessories to make a nice sized one. I decided to go to Michael's craft store on my lunch break yesterday to see if I could find anything suitable on clearance plus I didn't want to make anything too elaborate right out of the gate in case I didn't like it. So here is what I came up with....
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| This little guy is so cute and he hangs right on the edge of the container! |
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| An extra large ceramic tea cup and saucer will be my container. |
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| All my little decorations...a bird's nest, bird eggs, baby birds and butterflies. |
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| A plant for the "forest". |
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| Add the plant to my tea cup with some potting soil. |
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| And then began adding all my little decorations.... |
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| The final product! |
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| Doesn't he look happy checking on the babies? |
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| Mr. gnome relaxing in the forest. This was such a fun project and turned out very cute, but didn't cost a whole lot in money or time. I think I'll make these next year for Mother's Day gifts! |
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Vintage Style Camping
This weekend officially marks the beginning of summer - Memorial Day! Each year when this marker rolls around I begin making plans for my summer: visits to the beach, backyard barbecues, vacations, camping. Ahhhh, yes....camping!
My grandparents taught me to appreciate camping while I was in my early 20's. They had a travel trailer that they hauled up to Mammoth Lakes, California behind their old yellow Ford pick-up every June 15th and would return around August 15th.
For TWO MONTHS they would stay in the remote area known as Upper Dead Man. I know, sounds like a scary place, but actually it was one of the most breathtaking and serene spots I've ever camped in my life (if you don't mind a brown bear or two (or three) tromp-sing through your camp site every other night or so looking for snacks!).
My grandparents would set up their camp consisting of their trailer which was their personal accommodations plus a couple of tents for "guests". During the two month retreat they would be visited by friends and family members that would take turns making the six hour trek from where most of us lived to spend a week or even just a few days relaxing at the camp, hiking the pine tree-lined trails, fishing for trout in the cool streams, sipping gin and tonics or "wine in a box", cooking (Grandpa made the BEST turkey baked in a hole in the ground!), eating, telling stories and enjoying evenings in their tent cabin that was set up for them perfectly by a roaring campfire. I learned to appreciate the good times camping offers, the closeness of friends and family and the appreciation for nature through these mini trips with them.
Twenty-five years later I bought my own trailer. It's a used pop-up tent trailer which isn't the Taj-Mahal but certainly offers more comforts than laying on the ground in a sleeping bag with a sharp rock sticking precariously into your hip all night. I've had my trailer for five years now and use it once or twice a year but it's looking old and shabby; basically, it's falling apart.
I started researching on the internet ways I could give it a little face lift; add a little lipstick to the pig, as they say. Well, after looking around my mind is racing....new floors (they make a vinyl plank that looks like hardwood but is cheap and very durable that would look great), a coat of white paint on the faux wood cabinets would brighten up and enlarge the space and finally new curtains and seat cushions would look amazing especially in a cute vintage print all seem to be in order.
After researching what I could do to my old pop up I started looking at vintage trailers. Oh myyyy...I have fallen in L-O-V-E! These cute little tin can cottages are so adorable that I NEED to have one. All it takes in money and time I suppose. One day.....one day! Until then, I will keep planning, wishing and dreaming.
My grandparents taught me to appreciate camping while I was in my early 20's. They had a travel trailer that they hauled up to Mammoth Lakes, California behind their old yellow Ford pick-up every June 15th and would return around August 15th.
For TWO MONTHS they would stay in the remote area known as Upper Dead Man. I know, sounds like a scary place, but actually it was one of the most breathtaking and serene spots I've ever camped in my life (if you don't mind a brown bear or two (or three) tromp-sing through your camp site every other night or so looking for snacks!).
My grandparents would set up their camp consisting of their trailer which was their personal accommodations plus a couple of tents for "guests". During the two month retreat they would be visited by friends and family members that would take turns making the six hour trek from where most of us lived to spend a week or even just a few days relaxing at the camp, hiking the pine tree-lined trails, fishing for trout in the cool streams, sipping gin and tonics or "wine in a box", cooking (Grandpa made the BEST turkey baked in a hole in the ground!), eating, telling stories and enjoying evenings in their tent cabin that was set up for them perfectly by a roaring campfire. I learned to appreciate the good times camping offers, the closeness of friends and family and the appreciation for nature through these mini trips with them.
Twenty-five years later I bought my own trailer. It's a used pop-up tent trailer which isn't the Taj-Mahal but certainly offers more comforts than laying on the ground in a sleeping bag with a sharp rock sticking precariously into your hip all night. I've had my trailer for five years now and use it once or twice a year but it's looking old and shabby; basically, it's falling apart.
I started researching on the internet ways I could give it a little face lift; add a little lipstick to the pig, as they say. Well, after looking around my mind is racing....new floors (they make a vinyl plank that looks like hardwood but is cheap and very durable that would look great), a coat of white paint on the faux wood cabinets would brighten up and enlarge the space and finally new curtains and seat cushions would look amazing especially in a cute vintage print all seem to be in order.
After researching what I could do to my old pop up I started looking at vintage trailers. Oh myyyy...I have fallen in L-O-V-E! These cute little tin can cottages are so adorable that I NEED to have one. All it takes in money and time I suppose. One day.....one day! Until then, I will keep planning, wishing and dreaming.
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| 1950's Westerner |
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| 1941 Mainland |
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| 1949 vintage trailer |
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| 1950 King Canned Ham |
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| 1956 Shasta |
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| 1959 Voyager |
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| 1961 vintage trailer |
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| 1964 Shasta |
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| 1964 Terry |
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| 1965 Sportsmaster |
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| 1966 Northwestern Little Dipper |
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| 1969 Cardinal |
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| Vintage Airstream |
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| Revamped into a cute lil log cabin! |
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| Another! So Adorable. |
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| Pink Pearl |
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| Cute vintage |
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| Red! |
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| Love these colors |
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| Pink and mint |
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| Very vintage |
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| Probably my favorite - love the strawberries |
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| Mint |
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| Teal and red |
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| Teal |
Monday, May 14, 2012
Mother's Day Jam Making
So, this year I took to my kitchen, decided to put some freshly grown and picked blackberries from my mother in law's garden to good use and made homemade jam. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing like piping hot biscuits right out of the oven served with sweet cream butter and a heafty dollop of sweet blackberry jam (wiping drool from keyboard now). I don't care how terrible of a mood you woke up in, those little gems would smack you right out of it and leave you with a smile on your lips (along with traces of purply goodness)!
After the success of the blackberry jam, I opted to try strawberry since strawberry season is in full swing right now. Unfortunately my mother-in-law doesn't have a strawberry patch, so I had to go to the local fruit stand and buy them. A little pricey, but, hey I won't complain....I got the blackberries for free so the cost evened itself out, right?!
I am slightly saddened to report, however, I didn't have as great success as I did with the blackberry jam as the strawberry jam turned out more like strawberry sauce! I do KNOW where I went wrong.....I ran out of sugar and decided it would be o.k. to just get by with what I had but in researching what went wrong after the fact, I found out that all measurements have to be EXACT! The final product turned out a little runny, but delicious nonetheless. I'll bake some mini loaves of homemade vanilla or lemon pound cake and give them away with the strawberry "sauce" and no one will ever be the wiser. I'm sneaky that way!
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| Frozen fresh blackberries |
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| Measuring fruit |
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| Blackberry jam cooking |
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| Fresh strawberries |
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| Cute decorated jar ready for gifting |
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| Finished strawberry "sauce" |
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| Finished blackberry jam |
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Day On The Duffy
Yesterday the company I work for had a staff outing. We do that occasionally because it's good camaraderie and it helps to relieve the daily stress we deal with (property management is no picnic, folks!).
We closed the office at 2:00 p.m., headed down to the Newport Coast of Southern California and boarded the S.S. Minnow; oh wait, wrong boat! Actually, my boss doesn't have a name yet for his vessel, but as we putted through the bay in his little electric Duffy Cruiser, sipping red wine and munching on freshly shaved Parmesan and little rosemary-raisin crackers, everyone seemed to have an idea of what he could name it. As you could imagine, the more wine that was consumed, the more questionable the names got! It was fun to throw around ideas.
We cruised for about 45 minutes and ultimately docked at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant. The establishment had a dock right there in front of their doors that you can tie your boat to, walk up the gangway, and enter easily...how convenient is that?! We found a little section in the corner with large comfy couches, wicker chairs and a fireplace (although it was a little too warm for the fire) and got cozy. Soon thereafter Ruby Red Martinis started flowing! Oh my....these little jewels were AMAZING! Vodka, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and Contreau shaken with ice until it's frosty and served with a sugared rim. They tasted like candy and I could have drank them all night if I knew I could have just rolled off the couch I was sitting in into my comfy bed for the evening. Cocktails were accompanied by appetizers consisting of the most SCRUMPTIOUS garlic-cheese bread that has EVER passed through my lips, sauteed shrimp scampi, fried tempura battered calamari, fresh fish skewers and chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce.....all delicious!
We boarded the boat again and made our way around the bay passing multi-million dollar mansions and yachts, all of us dreaming about what it would be like to own one of these beauties. It amazes me just how much money is in this one little section of our state. But, you know what? I wouldn't be any happier owning one of those homes or yachts, than I am now. I'm blessed just to have the opportunity to sail around them, gawk, dream, enjoy my martinis and let THOSE other people make the mortgages!
We closed the office at 2:00 p.m., headed down to the Newport Coast of Southern California and boarded the S.S. Minnow; oh wait, wrong boat! Actually, my boss doesn't have a name yet for his vessel, but as we putted through the bay in his little electric Duffy Cruiser, sipping red wine and munching on freshly shaved Parmesan and little rosemary-raisin crackers, everyone seemed to have an idea of what he could name it. As you could imagine, the more wine that was consumed, the more questionable the names got! It was fun to throw around ideas.
We cruised for about 45 minutes and ultimately docked at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant. The establishment had a dock right there in front of their doors that you can tie your boat to, walk up the gangway, and enter easily...how convenient is that?! We found a little section in the corner with large comfy couches, wicker chairs and a fireplace (although it was a little too warm for the fire) and got cozy. Soon thereafter Ruby Red Martinis started flowing! Oh my....these little jewels were AMAZING! Vodka, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice, and Contreau shaken with ice until it's frosty and served with a sugared rim. They tasted like candy and I could have drank them all night if I knew I could have just rolled off the couch I was sitting in into my comfy bed for the evening. Cocktails were accompanied by appetizers consisting of the most SCRUMPTIOUS garlic-cheese bread that has EVER passed through my lips, sauteed shrimp scampi, fried tempura battered calamari, fresh fish skewers and chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce.....all delicious!
We boarded the boat again and made our way around the bay passing multi-million dollar mansions and yachts, all of us dreaming about what it would be like to own one of these beauties. It amazes me just how much money is in this one little section of our state. But, you know what? I wouldn't be any happier owning one of those homes or yachts, than I am now. I'm blessed just to have the opportunity to sail around them, gawk, dream, enjoy my martinis and let THOSE other people make the mortgages!
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| The Duffy (it's an electric boat) |
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| Girls just wanna have fun! |
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| Aye, Aye, Cap'n! |
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| Say cheeeeeeeeeeese! |
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| Can we please serve the wine already? |
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| The bay as your front yard? Sure! |
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| Vino! |
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| The bridge. |
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| Lamp posts on the bridge. Love how they are decorated. |
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| Mansion with yacht parked out front. Automobile parking is underground at this particular abode. |
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| A group casually sailing along. |
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| Time for a pit stop and some refueling! |
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| Cute fisherman being tormented by a pelican for their bucket of fish. |
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| Ruby Red Martini.....delicioso! |
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| Suzanne enjoying her libation. It even matches her outfit! How lucky is that? |
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| Cheers to good times! |
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| Scrumptious garlic-cheese bread and fried calamari. |
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| Gorgeous yacht. |
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| Another beauty! |
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| All lined up in a row. |
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