Category Archives: etc.

Backpacking – Tropical Travel Essentials

June 3, 2014

I feel like I’m somewhat of an expert in this area. I grew up in the tropics (Papua New Guinea) and I’ve spent a lot of my life traveling internationally, living out of a backpack. Yesterday Lonnie (my hubby), Dylan (my almost 11 year old), and Lonnie’s dad left for a 6 week trip to Indonesia.

Ever since Dyl was a toddler, Lon has promised him this trip. He used to tell him that when he was fast enough to outrun a Komodo Dragon, he would take him. Lon’s dad just retired this Summer, so it seemed like the perfect time for this manly adventure.

So, as a helped them pack, I thought it might be helpful to share some of our go-to, must-have, essentials for traveling in the tropics. When I say backpacking, I’m referring to staying in accommodations such as tents, hostels and guesthouses of the 3rd world variety, not clean or neat hotels. These items make my life a little easier when I’m overseas in a hot, humid climate.

I’m all for a real backpacking backpack, but this North Face Duffel is a great alternative if you aren’t needing to hike with all your gear long distances. This bag is water proof and perfect for rainy climates. It even has straps for carrying it on your back.

I love a sheet sleeping bag liner. They are great for questionable hostel beds. You can sleep comfortably in the sheet and not worry about touching anything else. This Cocoon is 100% cotton, but I love 100% ones as well.

If you are traveling for a long period of time, you are going to need to do laundry. Laundry mats are not easy to find overseas, so I do a lot of sink washing. A solid laundry detergent won’t spill in your bag and you’ll have not trouble getting it on a plain.

And speaking of laundry, there is no better underwear to travel with then Ex Officio underwear (there are of course ones for woman as well). You can wash them at night and they will be dry by the morning.

I’m a redhead, so sunscreen is a MUST. I love solid version like this Neutrogena one. Again, the less liquids you pack the better, and this one is great for sensitive skin types.

A dry bag is awesome if you are going to be on boats or the rainforest at all. I carry a small one like this one from REI to put my camera and valuables in.

When you are living out of a backpack, organization is key. I love ditty bags and sorters like this mesh set from Ikea. It’s nice to not have to dig through your whole bag to find one specific thing.

Lush is a great source for all toiletries that are solid. We love their solid lotion bars and this shampoo and conditioner.

If you are heading to the tropics, I hope that involves tropical reefs. We love snorkeling and diving, this waterproof digital camera is a fun travel camera. Not only can you take pictures underwater, but you don’t have to worry about dirt, sweat and dust.

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Book Giveaway – The Plant Recipe Book

May 30, 2014

Last year, The Flower Recipe Book became wildly popular for its clearly illustrated, functional approach to arranging cut flowers. Now, San Fransisco garden design expert Baylor Chapman has come out with The Plant Recipe Book: 100 Living Arrangements for Any Home in Any Season. I can’t get enough of this book. I find myself flipping through the gorgeous pages of this book quite often.

I love the simplicity of each recipe. The book gives you a list of all the plants and supplies you’ll need for the arrangement and then easy to follow step by step instructions. I’m feeling more and more confident with potted house plants lately. I’ve managed to keep quite a few alive, this book is inspiring me to experiment with more plants and create interesting living displays for my home.

So, don’t you want to get your hands on this book? Well, you can, I’m giving away a copy of this book to one lucky winner. Just enter using the rafflecopter below. You can enter 3 ways to increase your chances.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thrifting Thursday – Kern County Map

I have a new favorite place for junky treasures, I’m loving Farm Girls Vintage Finds here in Bakersfield. This is the second week in a row that I’ve headed out there to check out their stuff. I took my brother Joash out there with me and we found lots of great pieces to make unique light fixtures out of. It’s fun to hunt with someone who has a creative eye and sees the possibilities in things. This week I found an huge map of Kern County (that’s where we live). It’s pretty fun, great colors, in really great shape, and a fun graphic feel.

I can even find my street on the map and I’m happy to see that I live in the downtown circle, within the one mile radius of the city center. I love where I live. I’m close to everything and live around such amazing houses and buildings.

I don’t have a place for this map yet, but I’m saving it for something GREAT. Maybe on a living room wall or over a bed. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I’ll get another awesome opportunity to do a room makeover.

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Land of Nod Photo Shoot in the Desert

May 27, 2014

When I found out that The Land of Nod was coming to do the girl’s room, I offered for them to use Riley, our vintage trailer, to shoot some of their fun camping themed products. I was so thrilled to see Riley is May’s Nod catalogue. He’s famous now!!! I knew he was destined to be a star.

So, I wanted to share a little of the behind the scenes of this shoot. We spent the day out at Red Rock Canyon State Park, watching the creative genius of Nod at work. It was such a fun experience for me. I loved watching all this creativeness at work, from the stylists to the photographers to the creative directer. I was just enjoying soaking up all their knowledge and expertise. It’s really truly amazing how much work goes into getting these gorgeous shots. So much thought and attention to detail.

Be sure to head over to Honest to Nod today. I’m sharing my Homemade Chocolate Graham Cracker recipe there. If you look closely in the shot below, you can see my homemade vanilla bean marshmallows and graham crackers sitting on the bench.

Here’s some of the teepee shots. They brought a whole trailer full of stuff to style these shots, including that cute windmill in the background.

photo credit The Land of Nod

And here’s some of the shots of Riley and our family have a little party with Land of Nod party supplies.

photo credit The Land of Nod

The Nod team working their styling magic.

Capturing all these amazing scenes.

I can’t say it enough, thank you Land of Nod for these amazing experiences.

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Friday’s Fabulous Five – The Swiss Cross and Plus Sign

May 23, 2014

This is 5, plus and couple more, because I just couldn’t narrow it down. For at least a year, I’ve been itching to make something with a swiss cross or plus sign. I think it will be a quilt (maybe one like this). But, I’ve been gathering ideas, and there are just too many great ones.

So feast your eyes on these cross beauties.

Sliding Closet Door

DIY Art // Chalkboard Wall

Garland

Vase

Electrical Tape Wall

Washi Tape (must have)

Medicine Cabinet

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Thrifting Thursday – Bunches of Brass

May 22, 2014

So, the last couple of weeks I’ve been picking up lots of little brass pieces. I don’t have a specific place for them in my own home, but this is kind of how I thrift. I usually just buy stuff I love (these are low cost investments), store it, and sooner or later find a use for it. When I accessorized the kelly green and coral home office, I ended up being able to pull from my stash. When you are working on a specific project or room, the thrift stores are not necessarily going to have what you are looking for. So, if something catches your eye, jump on it and decide later what you’ll do with it. I actually think I just described hoarding to you. Well, maybe I have a problem, tee hee.

Actually, I also find that I’m dropping loads off at the thrift store every month or so as well. I think thrifting just allows you to change and evolve your style more often. If you are paying $2 for a vase, versus $20, you can make changes often.

Back to the brass, the new stuff is expensive. And to be honest, I really like the tarnish and imperfections of these pieces. They look loved and aged. I don’t like everything in my home to look brand new. New is nice, but age brings a story and a lived-in, relaxed feeling.

I think you like this part, it’s definitely my favorite, the prices:

Swans – $5 for the pair

Small Vase – $5.34

Large Vase – $5.34

Swan Scoops – $3.84 for the pair

Lamp – $6.99

& – $1

What have you found thrifting lately? Do you only buy things that you have an immediate purpose for or do you buy and stash like me?

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DIY Painted Pineapple Print

May 20, 2014

Last Summer, I got on a bit of a pineapple kick and this year there B A C K! Pineapples are everywhere, have you noticed?

I’ve got a great little DIY pineapple art piece that is guaranteed to bring Summer into your home instantly. You can use any color combination to go with your home decor. I chose to make one in the kelly green and coral combo (like the home office I designed) and a classic black and white framed in a colored mat.

Supplies:
12×12 white and colored card stock scrapbook paper
8×10 heavy weight art paper
Acrylic craft paints in a variety of colors
Paint brush
12×12 inch frame
Cricut machine or this pineapple template

Start by painting your 8×10 art paper. I like to use heavy duty watercolor paper because it doesn’t curl up as I paint. This is the fun part, I just played with colors and brush strokes. Make sure the cover most of the page.

Then I cut a fun pineapple shape out with my trusty Cricut Explore. I used the same pineapple as the one on my pineapple tote bag. On the 12×12 piece of card stock, I centered the pineapple image. This simple shape becomes the mat board for the colorful background. And then you just slip it into a 12×12 inch frame. Done! Easy art to add color, pattern and a touch of Summer to your space.

For more pineapple ideas, you might want to check out my geometric pineapple print, my yummy Pineapple Chicken Rice Salad, and some great Pineapple finds.

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Girls Trip to Washington DC

May 19, 2014

Well, the last month has been a whirl wind of traveling. I’m so blessed and it’s really my favorite thing to do. It wasn’t really planned that we’d have all these trips all at once. The first was Spring Break, we didn’t go far, just to Napa Valley. But, it was a great week of camping in Riley. Then, my mom planned a, spur of the moment, girls trip to Washington DC. I’ve kind of shared before, without being too specific, that life has been a little overwhelming and just generally crappy. We needed a good distraction from all the life junk, and DC was a great cure.

Five of us went, my mom, my mother in law and two of my sister in laws. It was the perfect group, we had a blast together. We walked our legs off and hopefully most of the treats we enjoyed as well. We ate amazing food and did it exactly the way I love. We’d all order different things and then share everything so we could try all of it. It really was such a great city for a girls trip. So much to do, see and eat.

These are mostly my iphone instagrams from the trip. But, I had a lot of fun taking pictures in DC, gorgeous architecture and gorgeous blue skies. Here’s some of my favorite shots.

The Washington DC Metro – Clean and Convenient

My cute mom and I riding the escalators in the Metro.

Old Town Alexandria

My Favorite Site – The Lincoln Memorial. What a great man with so much wisdom.

Details at the Lincoln Memorial

The Washington Monument – We could see it from all parts of the city.

The Reflecting Pool – Met a fox on the path on evening.

Pitango Gelato – Cardamon Gelato and Espresso, best combo ever!

The Capitol Building – view from the tunnels under the Capitol.

Rose’s Luxury – Best meal of the trip! And another MUST EAT is Founding Farmers.

Just missed the cherry blossoms, but lots of other gorgeous trees blooming

The Monuments at night – a must see and do.

MLK Memorial – so inspired by the words and actions of this man.

Sprinkles and Georgetown Cupcakes. We did both twice each and we vote Georgetown. Their icing was light and fluffy and not too sweet. Oh and Pie Sisters, is a must (we might have had that twice as well). Yes, we were there only 4 days, don’t judge.

The Capitol

Tulips and the Capitol in the distance.

The National Gallery – Spent all my time with the Impressionists.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial – a super long walk for extra tired feet on the last day.

And my sis-in-law, Jessica, did a way better job of sharing the all the details of the trip. Check out her blog for more about day one, day two, and days three and four.

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Thrifting Thursday – Sea Painting

May 9, 2014

Last week, on a random Thursday morning, I stumbled upon a garage/estate sale in my neighborhood. I picked up a couple little treasures there, but this was my best find. I got this gorgeous painting of waves crashing on rocks for just $5. Seriously, I would have paid a lot more for this.

I inquired about it’s history and I was told that the owner had a few paintings by the same artist and the others were all dated in the 1920’s. It’s fun to know a little about the piece, but even if it’s worth nothing at all, I LOVE it! The colors are beautiful, it has lovely movement, and it takes me away from my hectic life every time I look it.

I have it leaning on my new/old dresser in my bedroom. This is the dresser that used to be in my entryway, but got replaced by my amazing thrift store credenza.

Oh, and yes, I do know it’s Friday. I’m just running a little behind this week. Thanks goodness it’s Friday!!!! How about you, have you found anything great this week while thrifting? I often get asked how I find all of these great things. The honest truth is, I thrift OFTEN. It doesn’t take me long to whip around a store and decide whether there’s anything worth looking at or not. But, the more often you go, the more likely you’ll happen upon something amazing.

DIY / etc.

DIY Yarn Art

May 6, 2014

A lot of what I make and do, is really simple, easy peasy stuff. This is definitely one of those crafts. But, man did I have fun making this one. From getting to pick out colors, to cutting and stringing the yarn, it was all enjoyment. It was relatively quick to make and adds big color and impact to a wall with very little cost.

I’m so in love with all the great macrame projects and fiber weaving out there lately. I’m sure you’ve seen Mandi’s (of Vintage Revivals) macrame head board and all of Rachel’s (of Smile and Wave) weaving projects on her instagram and pinterest. And when we were at the Fig House for Oh Joy for The Land of Nod launch party, I was so inspired by the gorgeous art in that place. I was especially in love with the String Sculptures by Nike Schroeder. So this is my dummies version. Yarn Art is kind of a fancy name, but I’m not sure what else to call it.

This is so simple to do. Start with a twig, branch or just a piece of dowel. Hang it from a wall so that you are working with gravity. Cut lengths of yarn twice as long as you’d like your piece to be. Then fold the piece of yarn in half and place the folded end over the twig towards the front. Pass the ends of the yarn through the loop and then pull tight (see images below). Slide each length of yarn right up against the last one, leaving no gaps.

When you have all the yarn on your branch, then you can play with trimming the bottom. I decided, an asymmetrical angle would be fun. But, a V or W or curve would all look great as well. I cut a paper template, then held it up the the bottom on the yarn piece while I was cutting. It was nice to have a guide. The bottom of mine is far from perfectly straight. Some of the yarn wanted to spring back up, or had stretched out. I’m totally ok with this though, I’ll probably give it another trim in a couple days, after it’s hung for a little while longer.

I used a mixture of different yarns. The dark green was a 100% cotton yarn and hung the nicest, because of it’s weight. The others were chosen for their color and are mostly polyester blends. This piece is not staying on this wall, but when I do install it, I want to hang it without a string. I’m going to try to drill through each end of the branch and attach it to the wall with plugs. The branch has a natural curve in it, so the yarn will hang away from the wall.