aroma therapy

Boy do we love filling our houses with beautiful, calming aromas!  After a long day of work, the front door opens, shoes + bras come off, and candles get lit! This is a quick recipe using all natural ingredients that will fill your home sweet home with a glorious simmering scent.  All you need is a lemon, a few sprigs of rosemary, and a dash of vanilla extract {the scent from the vanilla extract will help relieve stress + anxiety}. Simmer all of the ingredients in a pot and enjoy. . .

morning energy snacks

Pinterest is the new black. . .  everyone is pinning, repinning, liking, searching, and getting inspired by this never ending magical site. Here is a quick little recipe for the healthiest, vegan, no flour, no sugar, morning snack ball of energy that we have ever made. . . check out some of our other favorite pinterest recipes here and here!

 1.5 cups of oats

 2-3 super ripened bananas

1 cup of unsweetened applesauce

a handful of craisins

a sprinkle of cinnamon

a handful of raw sunflower seeds

 Mix everything together and throw it on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes!!

DIY :: plush acoustic guitar

When my neighbors brought home their little bundle of joy, I instantly put on my thinking cap to come up with the perfect gift for them! Inspired by his name, Buckley (ummmmmmm, Jeff Buckley is one of my all time faves!!!) I knew this tiny tot HAD to have his own soft acoustic guitar! So I took a picture of my husband's guitar and ran off to the local craft store to find the perfect supplies. . .

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

tan, brown, and natural colored felt

black foam sheet

felted balls for the tuners

leather lacing for the strings

gold embroidery thread

batting to stuff it with

There it is. . . . Buckley's first acoustic guitar!

p.s. our little pug Bowie always seems to creep into my pictures (also named after a lovely musician)

Enjoy this oldie but goodie by the one and only Jeff Buckley

food rule friday

number two ::

shop seasonal and outside of the supermarket as often as you can

You won't find any processed or boxed food at the farmer's market! You can be sure that no frozen or microwavable "veggies" deprived of their nutrients will end up in your fridge after a peaceful stroll through an outdoor market. Only fresh, whole foods packed with earthly goodness! Be sure to add going to your local farmer's market to your weekend to-do list. Oh, and how beautiful is this vintage truck filled with flowers and yumminess? It is definitely a dream of ours to set up a pop up whole foods stand! Maybe one day. . . .

credit: elizabeth ann designs , food rules

happy things

I had a very inspiring talk with a co-worker today who told me about a personal challenge that she created for herself. It involved writing a list of all of the things that brought her happiness and a list of the things that conjured negative energy. When the noise of daily life grows louder and louder, she refers back to her  list and tries to focus on her "happy things". Here are a few of ours. . .

image credit: ffffound tumblr , bourbon and pearls ,  my life coach sparkles ,  wishflowers , note to sarah , paris 2 london

sleep potion

Sleep Potion

3-4 lettuce leaves

1 stalk celery

Blend lettuce and celery with one cup of water and ice. 

. . . Drink into a deep sleep . . .

graphics by Lynn Woods Turner, illustrations by me

image credit: i don't wear dresses ,  studded hearts

weekend project :: air plant bookends

Mighty Houseplants clean indoor air and extract pollutants. Plants are amazing, especially the kind that don't need soil or much water, only air!! The idea that you don't have to pot these suckers leaves the list of opportunities endless!! You can hang them, stick them in glass jars, create beautiful tablescapes. and even use them inside of furniture. I love the unique character of these tiny green sprouts, each one has it's own quirky personality. Low maintenance and beautiful, air plants are the perfect houseplant to add into any room. 

. . . and here is my weekend project 

{AIR PLANT BOOK ENDS }

image credit: wall street journal , poppytalk , style me pretty

cheers

Raw Vegan Creamy “Pistachio Ice Cream” Kale Shake

• 1 cup curly green kale leaves (about 3 large leaves)
• 2 ripe bananas - fresh or frozen
• 2 cups ice (a little less ice if using frozen bananas)
• 1/2 cup filtered water 
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 3 Tbsp raw agave nectar
• 1 tsp pure alcohol-free vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp finely minced ginger
• pinch of Celtic sea salt

Throw all of the ingredients into your blender and puree until smooth and creamy!! Cheers!! 

credit: healthy blender recipes , ego tripping

food rule friday

Introducing our new series "food rule fridays" . . . these are just fun tips designed to make you happier and healthier!! Adapted from the book "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan., the theory behind this series is that eating should be simple and pleasurable. Our culture has been blessed with the knowledge and awareness of overly processed, overly commercialized "food".  

Let these rules be the answer to "what should I be" eating?

 number one ::

Most of the items that you find in the supermarket don't deserve to be called "food". We like to call them "edible posers". They are highly processed and contain chemical additives that the human body was not designed to eat. The best question to ask yourself when looking at the ingredients list is "would a normal person keep this in their pantry?" We have always dreamt about living in a time where the normal way of life was growing your own fruits and veggies and having milk delivered in those beautiful bottles!! 

Well, what goes around comes around. We are super excited about Kiki's Juice!!  The first cold pressed green juice delivery business in West Los Angeles. They recommend 16 oz of this nutrient rich, enzyme and chlorophyll packed, alkaline goodness everyday. Kiki's juice delivers 4 bottles twice a week to your home or office and pick up the empties when they come for their next delivery, friendly for the environment and incredible for your health. Their vision is huge and their motto is "Shut up and drink your vegetables!!" We love the concept and wish we lived closer to the city, ugh.  

iDiaries : CHAPTER 1

snowballs . art room . flower crown . pug love . 

chalk drawings . mama bear moments . paint therapy . memories . 

laying in the grass watching clouds.

DIY :: Stationary

Since a young age I have had a unique fascination with office supplies and stationary! Every year, I patiently waited for my coveted "school supply list". I know, so geeky right?? But there was something so exciting about picking through all of those binders, pens, markers, and glue!! Hey, I went to a private school where uniforms were required, so I had to show off my personal style any way that I could. One of my favorite places to go these days is the Paper Source. . . it is a grown-ups stationary dream depot. My most recent project was my daughter's birthday invites which had to of course have matching thank you notes!

My supply list included: 

envelope liner template

patterned accent paper

cardstock cards

envelopes

paper hang tags

watercolor pencils

thank you stamp

you are invited stamp

ink pad

white gel pen

rolling tape dispenser

party pic provided by dominique @ whildheartwhispers

hair how to :: turban outfitting

We all love easy hair do's for those mornings when you hit the snooze three too many times!! All you need is a scarf and your two hands. . . sorry but you are going to have to put down your coffee mug for two minutes. Tie it around your head and get shuffling. Let your turban be the rock to your roll and the chic to your easy. Check out our turb-inspiration and how to. . . 

Start with a great scarf, vintage ones are our faves! Fold the scarf in half creating a triangle. Begin folding the straight edge, keeping the width about 3 inches wide. Now you have your band to start your turban!

1. Place the center of the band at the back of your head where that little dent from your neck is. Bring the edges forward toward the center.

2. Tie the scarf in a double knot, as tight as your prefer.

3. Bring each loose end back around your head to the back.

4. Depending on the length of your scarf, either tie then tuck the ends or just tuck the ends into the band of the scarf.

:: Finish off with a WINK and a SMILE ::

inspiration credit:  blogmilkshop , happenstance ,  thehighestheel ,  fifilapin , houseofbliss

{gluten free} donut recipe

Donut batter:

2 cups gluten free all purpose baking flour, sifted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In large mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, vanilla seeds and butter and beat until just combined. Spray doughnut cavities with cooking spray or brush with butter.  Fill each donut cup approximately 1/2 full. We poured the batter into a zip-loc bag and cut a hole in the corner to fill the cute little cups more easily. . . it is really fun too!!

Bake 5-8 minutes or until the top of the donuts spring back when touched. Let cool in pan for 4–5 minutes before removing. Finish donuts with vanilla glaze.

Vanilla glaze:

1 cup confectioner’ s sugar

1 tbsp. almond milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

2 drops of liquid blue food coloring

2 drops of liquid green food coloring
White nonpareils

In small bowl, stir together sugar, milk and vanilla extract until sugar is completely dissolved. Add food coloring and stir until color is uniform.  Use immediately to glaze doughnuts.  Sprinkle on nonpareils.

I boxed up these tiny bits of donut happiness to celebrate a co-worker's special day!!

 { recipe adapted from sprinkle bakes }

CREATE :: baby shower gift

Baby showers are always about, well the new baby of course!! But what about the mamas? They deserve a little love too, right?? This gift idea is perfect for new mothers as well as the mighty mamas who have gone through this more than once. Our dear friend Ava is about to pop out her second baby, so we decided to give her our homemade HOSPITAL SURVIVAL KIT. . . here is a peek at what's inside!!

1. snazzy knee high socks to roam the hospital halls

2. ball o' hair ties in beautiful jewel tones

3. RISE vitamin water. every new mom needs a little healthy pick me up

4. milk chocolate bar. just because

5. burt's bees tinted lip moisturizer in TIGER LILY for that post baby glow

6. Sally Hansen's MELLOW YELLOW nail polish

7. burt's bees moisturizing facial towelettes

8. germ blaster to keep her bundle of joy protected

{ pack it }

 { label it }

{ share it }