DTLA Day Trip

May 18, 2018

Yay, the weekend is just about here and we are actually headed to LA for another day trip. We only live 2 hours from Los Angeles, so we try to take advantage of all the fun and awesome opportunities this city offers. By far, our favorite part of LA is downtown. We love a little grit to our city experience.

The last few years, we have spent quite a bit of time on skid row for mission trips. But, this weekend, we are headed to DTLA with Lonnie’s Environmental Science students for a tour of the heart of LA to observe regentrification, experience the LA subway system, and discuss the impact on the environment all along the way.

I put this little video together a couple months ago, mostly to just record our little family and save a few memories. But, I don’t see any harm in sharing it with you as well, I do have pretty cute kids.

Here’s a few of our favorite spots that we hit on this trip:

My video is very amateur, but it’s a great creative stretch for me and I enjoy trying something new and trying to improve a skill. Practice makes perfect, right? And I’ve got a lot more practice to do. I hope you have a great weekend. I’m sure I’ll share lots from this weekend’s adventures on IG stories, if you want to follow along.

Music Credit

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DIY

Royal Wedding Inspired Floral Centerpiece

May 17, 2018

The royal wedding is just around the corner and if you didn’t know it, I’m Canadian. My commonwealth roots guarantee that I will be watching the ceremony. To celebrate the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, I created this DIY centerpiece using some of the flowers will be using in their ceremony.

Now let’s put the kettle on and enjoy a little tea party in their honor. And you Head over to Hunker for the full how-to. I have step by step instructions and a list of all the flowers adn supplies you will need.

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DIY

DIY Folding Chair Cushion

May 11, 2018

Folding chairs are very handy to have, especially cute vintage peachy/pink ones. We always need an extra seat at the table. But, no one wants to get the uncomfortable seat at the table. So, I made a little felt seat cushion.

You can find the full how-to over on Hunker.

Now what plans do you have for the weekend? Any crafting or diying? We are headed to Santa Cruz this weekend to meet my family for Mother’s Day and to celebrate a couple birthdays as well. So, no making here, but I do hope to hit a flea market or two in the area. We are taking our little vintage trailer, Riley. It’s been a while since we’ve taken him out and I’m excited to get some chill time with my family.

I hope you have a great weekend. And HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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Last Minute Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

May 8, 2018

Yep it’s almost here, MOTHER’S DAY! And you gotta have a gift. This last Christmas I put together a couple of last minute round ups of stocking stuffers that could all be ordered on Amazon Prime. A lot of you found that post super helpful, so I put one together a list of last minute gift ideas for Mother’s Day as well. So, there is no need the wander the halls of the mall in panic to search for a great gift for the moms in your life. All the items I have sourced here can be on your door step in just 2 days!

This is a little bit of a random list of gifts, but it’s things I would actually like to receive or things that I really would give to my mom or mother in law.

1 // 2 // 3

4 // 5 // 6

7 // 8 // 9

10 // 11 // 12

So, have you bought your mom something or is there something here that you would love to receive Sunday morning?

**This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.

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Design

Stylish Alarm Clocks

April 24, 2018

Parenting is tough, and it feels particularly tough with all the ways our kids can be connected with social media and and just the internet these days. I worry that my kids are too dependent on technology and having access to information ALL THE TIME. We definitely don’t have it all figured out, and we are always attempting to do a little better at this parenting gig. So, we are trying something new. In an effort to try to find a little disconnect from our phones, we have been storing all our phones, devices, and tablets in a cabinet in our living room at night. Our kids need sometime to disconnect, and frankly so do we.

We of course used to use our phones as our alarm clocks in the morning. So, we’ve had to go old school. But, I was pleasantly surprised when I went shopping for alarm clocks. There are some really stylish ones out there that can really act as decor and a great bedside table accessory.

If you are looking to go old school or just want a great looking clock to sit on your dresser, I’ve rounded up some of my favorites.

1. // 2. // 3.

4. // 5. // 6.

7. // 8. // 9.

10. // 11. // 12.

13. // 14. // 15.

Ideally, I should go to bed at a reasonable hour and then just wake up with the sun. But, that is not reality. I need a very load buzzing noise near my head and a giant cup of coffee to follow. Now, let’s hit snooze one more time, before we start this day.

And because I know folks will ask. Here’s some of the sources for the pieces found on my side of the bed.

Nightstand – vintage (sorry, I know that’s not helpful at all)
Wall Sconce
Vase – West Elm (no longer in stock)
Le Baume (gosh I love this stuff, you can put it on your lips, face and hands and it smells heavenly)
Brass Bed
Glasses
Brass Tray – Vintage

*This post contains some affiliate links.

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Food & Drink

Mango Jalapeno Mock-Margarita and aN Outdoor Seating Area

April 17, 2018

I’m really excited for the warmer weather that is headed our way. I’m ready to spend long evenings outside and have friends over for BBQs. We have a really gorgeous backyard, it’s huge, so we really needed some areas with seating and just a place to hang out. We have some seating on our porch, but the rest of the half acre has nothing. Right out our back door is a large old mandarin tree, it provides a nice shady spot. Last year, in an effort to reduce our water use, my husband took out some of our grass and added this gravel spot. I actually really love this pea gravel, it’s clean and really easy to care for.

I decided it was time to find some outdoor furniture. You know I’m a fan of the hunt, and Tuesday Morning is a great place to go hunting. I love that every time I step through the doors, there is so many new things. Tuesday Morning really has a little of everything. They carry quality brands and designer names from all over the world. And the best part is, they are always at a great price. I found so many great outdoor pieces. This pair of white adirondack chairs jumped out at me. I’ve always been a fan of this classic shape and in this bright white finish, they felt modern and clean. And to make them even more comfortable, I also bought a couple outdoor fabric pillows.

If you are going to have a couple of chairs, you definitely need a side table to set a drink on. I LOVE this little geometric table I found. It looks adorable outside with my new chairs, but I like so much, it might make its way inside as well.

Tuesday Morning doesn’t only carry furniture, I also picked up a pretty citronella candle, a couple of pretty square terra-cotta planters, and these fun oversized mug glasses and a pitcher.

To create this little backyard living room, I brought in some new pieces and also gave some old pieces a little new life. Last year, we had a tree die, so I had my husband keep some stumps for me. I knew they could be some great additional seating. So, finally this last weekend, I took a few hours to chisel away the bark and then I sanded and sanded and sanded. Then I painted the tops of the stumps white to give a nice clean seat.

This weekend we are having friends over for dinner. I think a lot of the get together will be outside. We will light the little fire pit and enjoy this little outdoor “room”.

And if you are going to have company over, a yummy drink is a good idea, and you know I love a Mocktail! So, with warmer weather headed our way, I decided I needed a fun, refreshing drink to serve at my next get together. This Mango Jalapeno Mock-Margarita is surprisingly spicey

Mango Jalapeno Mock-Margarita

1 liter of mango juice (about 5 cups)
Jalapeno Lime Simple Syrup (see recipe below)
ice
club soda
lime slices
thin slices of jalapeno
one mango diced
Tajin

In a large pitcher, mix the mango juice, mango pieces, lime and jalapeno slices and simple syrup. Rim the glasses with Tajin. Garnish with limes and jalapeno slices.

Jalapeno Lime Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar
juice of 5 limes plus enough water to make 1 cup
zest of 5 limes
2 jalapenoes sliced

Bring the ingredients to a boil and boil one minute. Pour into an airtight container and chill.

Right now, our citrus trees are blooming, and there really is no better smell on earth. All week, I’ve spent my evening out in this spot.

Be sure to check out your local Tuesday Morning. I’m sure there are some treasures waiting there for you.

This post is sponsored by Tuesday Morning, thank you for supporting the companies that help make this blog possible.

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Design

Color Inspiration – Terra Cotta + Green

April 12, 2018

Hey friends, there is so much going on lately. Before we talk about this gorgeous color combination of Terra Cotta + Green, let me give you a little life update.

I want so badly to share with you all the details of the model homes , but I just can’t yet. Currently it’s a FULL-TIME job. There has been some delays, but the builders have broken ground and everything is going to be moving really fast from now on. I’m pinning, sourcing, buying, hauling, and sorting these days. Stick with me, there will be a lot of share soon.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share some color inspiration that keeps catching my eye. If you’ve been around these O+P parts for a while, you know that I’m a HUGE fan of the color green. So, no surprise at all, today’s color inspiration combo is one part green.

kitchen

I just can’t get enough of this forest, mint, and rust combination. As a redhead, green is my go-to. But this new found love of rusty, deep oranges surprises me. It feels way too close to my hair color. But, if you think about it as beautiful terra cotta pottery, rich cognac leather, or even beautiful mahogany, then it’s so much better then just a shade of orange. While I will never where an orange top or jacket, you definitely will see me with a purse and shoes this earthy color.

It’s funny how your personal style, as in the clothing you wear, comes out in your interiors as well. When you make choices on style based on your personal taste, and not just on trends, it all tends to work together in the end.

Is there any color combinations you are loving these days?

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Working Towards Clean Beauty Products

March 27, 2018

Don’t worry, I am fully aware that I am by far the furthest thing from a beauty blogger. But, in the last year I have been trying to move towards “cleaner” beauty products, especially the things I put on my face. I know that I love getting recommendations from my friends, sister-in-laws and other bloggers for products that work well and are not full of a tone of unknown chemicals. So, I thought I’d share what I’m using everyday on my face with you. And in true O+P fashion, all of these products are at a very affordable price point, it’s just how I roll.

Now, I know that these products aren’t all 100% perfectly clean or organic, but they are very close. I’m working towards finding the best things for my skin.

These are all the none-make-up things I use on my face. If you like this post, I’ll put together another post with my make-up favorites.

Here’s what I’m using daily:

ALMAY Eye Makeup Remover Pads – I have used these pads for at least 8 years, nothing takes off mascara like these little ALMAY pads. I love that they save your facecloths from makeup stains. These pads are also oily, which I see as a benefit for my eye area. Any extra moisture I can give my eye wrinkles feels like a good thing.
Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Fennel + Charcoal Soap – First things first, a clean face it #1. I love so many of Rocky Mountain’s products, but this soap is simple, inexpensive and makes my skin feel squeaky clean.
Thayers Witch Havel Toner – I use this toner morning and night! The Lavender is my favorite. This toner is alcohol-free and never dries out my face. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and revitalized.
Trader Joe’s 100% Organic Argan Oil – This product is a new discovery and I love it! And yes, it’s a Trader Joe’s product! I use it on my face and hands almost every night.
Botanics Facial Oil -This might be my number one favorite product in the bunch. I use it every morning before any makeup. I’m huge face oil fan! When I first heard about it, I was sure it would leave my face oily and prone to breakouts. But, now I can’t see how my face would survive without it now. Good face oils are clean and absorb into your skin unlike any lotion or cream.
Botanics All Bright Night Cream – This is a new addition to my routine. When I turned 40 last year, there was definitely some panic and lots of night creams were tested out. This one is winning right now. It smells great and the price point is totally affordable.
Fresh Sugar Sport Sunscreen SPF 30 – This is a wonder stick! I use it on my lips everyday, but it also can be used all over your face and eye area as a sport-proof sunscreen. And in Fresh product style is spells fantastic!
Bare Minerals Prime Time – This is the most make-up-like product on my list. But, I do wear this daily. I’m always looking for ways to add one more layer of sun protection to my face. So, this primer goes on whether I am wearing make-up or not that day.

Do you have any clean beauty products that you would recommend? I’d love to hear your suggestions.

I know this is a departure from my regular content, but is this interesting or helpful to any of you? I love having your input and feedback.

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etc.

The Week’s End

March 11, 2018

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a little “The Week’s End” post. If you are new around here, this is just a little update post, where I share a little bit about my life lately and sometimes some fun things I’ve found on the internet that I think you should check out.

The last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. I’m sharing pictures of snow in Sequoias here, but I’m actually enjoying the tropics here in Costa Rica as I write this.

So, here’s what we’ve been up to:

Two weeks ago we drove up to Sequoia National Park for just the day. California has not had any rain or snow and we finally got a dump. It was gorgeous. Beautiful fluffy new snow, redwood trees, and sunshine – you couldn’t ask for a nicer day. We really live in such a great location. We have very mild winters, but if we want to visit the snow, it’s less then 2 hours away.

And then the very next weekend, we woke up early Saturday morning and decided to head to LA, (which is also less the 2 hours away). I decided I wanted to check our Emily Henderson’s Rummage Sale, just for kicks. Olivia and Dylan went with me. We arrived a few hours after the sale had started, so a lot of the REALLY good stuff was gone. But, I did score a pair of West Elm chrome wall sconces (brand new, in their boxes) for $15 each. And….. a got an awesome midcentury style globe lamp for $15 as well, but the best part is that it came from Kim and Kanye’s house. I think that’s hilarious. I’m totally NOT a fan, but it’s pretty fun to say that a lamp in my house came from theirs. And since we had driven all the way to LA, we decided to head over to LACMA for a couple hours and then grab a bite to eat at the LA Farmer’s Market.

Last week we hosted a Brandwell Meet Up and it was a success! So many local folks came out and chatted business and branding. Brandwell is still keeping me very busy. It’s exciting to see this new venture of ours grow. We have so many big plans and dreams for Brandwell, in addition to the workshops, we are planning some online courses so that we can help businesses beyond just Bakersfield.

The flu finally hit our house last week. My poor husband and son were sooooo sick. I was panicked that Olivia or myself would get it before or even during our trip to Costa Rica. I credit my recent healthy eating (I’ve been on a 28 Day Reset with Reformed Metabolics), overloading myself with Vitamin C and zinc, and sleeping in a different room from my husband for the last 3 days to staying flu free.

Speaking of the 28 Day Reset, it’s been hard to keep up the healthy eating here in Costa Rica. We really don’t get a choice of food, we kind of just need to eat what is put in front of us. I’m doing my best, eating lots of fresh papaya and trying to limit how much rice I eat (even though it’s served with almost every meal). Don’t get me wrong, the food is really good, it’s just not very low carb or as high in fiber as I’d like it to be. It’s just a week, I’ll get myself back on track as soon as I am home.

If you are interested in our Mission trip to Costa Rica, I’m sharing details from our days here on my Instagram Stories. Saturday was spent mixing a lot of cement, today we went to church, played with kids and then got to visit a little market. Tomorrow – we are back to mixing cement. It’s not glamorous, but I feel like we are helping this little community. They are building a dining hall to help feed local kids. Many of the children in this area are from Honduras and they are being raised by single mothers that struggle to find child care and put meals on the table while working to try to earn a little income. I’m so impressed with this local church and their vision to help their community. They don’t have much themselves, but God is really using them in a big way.

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Food & Drink

Homemade Golden Turmeric Milk

March 8, 2018

As some of you might know, I’m trying my very very best to eat healthy. Actually, I really do eat very healthy most of the time, I just have some treats now and then. But, this month I’ve been doing a reset diet with Reformed Metabolics. I really just want to be healthy and fit. I’ve kind of given up on the hope of a skinny body, and I think that’s ok. I’ve earned this 40 year old mom body, and I’m pretty proud of what it is capable of. I work this body hard. But, I’m trying to eat things that help me feel my best. And there is only good things in this Golden Turmeric Milk recipe.

I love this warm, spicy, creamy drink. Not only does it taste great, turmeric is also has anti-inflammatory properties. This is great for my, always sore, hips and lower back. But, let’s but 100% honest, I really drink it because it tastes great. And really, it’s the perfect drink before bed, because there’s no caffeine.

If you’ve shopped around, a turmeric latte or golden milk in a coffee shop is just as expensive as a fancy coffee. And there are mixes out there you can buy, but I kind of love the idea of knowing what you are putting into your body. So, I came up with my own recipe. Mine is a little spicy, but that’s the way I like it.

Homemade Golden Turmeric Milk

3 tbsp. ginger
3 tbsp. turmeric
2 tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. cardamom

In a bowl, combine all the spices above. Whisk together the distribute the spices evenly. Store in an airtight container.

Add 1-2 tsp. of the turmeric mix to a cup of steamed milk of your choice. Whisking it in works well, but for best results, I pour it all into my blender and just pulse a couple of times. I have tried it with both regular milk and almond milk. And if you want it a little sweet, a teaspoon of honey is really nice.

It ‘s really such a pretty drink. Now cheers, and let’s drink to our health!

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