Martha Stewart & Erica Domesek = Pure Awesome

I have always loved all things Martha (ok, not *ahem* all) and I am smitten with Erica Domesek's site P.S. I Made This.  Check out this awesome tote bag!

Click here to see the instructions on Martha Stewart's site, complete with video.  It's so perfect to bring along to a holiday cookout or a weekend shopping expedition!

Monday Smile

5 Days till the weekend!  Here are a couple seals to make the day a little better.

The Lovin List:Sparkle!

Ok here's the deal-I love Etsy.  I could sit and flip through page after page after page of listings, the good and the "regretsy."  Right now I am really loving things that sparkle.  Well, I always love things that sparkle but here are a few really awesome choices.

PowderBlueBijoux

Happymaxdesigns

AVINETA

GreenRibbonGems

Maru...and the New Box

Maru, the cutest cat in Japan, has found a new box.  His unyielding spirit and overwhelming roundness cannot help but bring a smile to your face.

Green Tea Lemonade

I love iced tea, especially in the summer.  I also love citrus.  One of my favorite summertime drinks at Starbucks is their Zen tea lemonade.  I could seriously drink that stuff all day.  Given how much I enjoy it, I thought I'd give it a go and make my own.  It's super easy and super refreshing.

-6 Cups Water
-9 Tea Bags (I used green, but feel free to use whatever you like)
-Lemonade Concentrate
-Pitcher

1.  Brew your tea according to package directions.
2.  Let tea cool and add to the pitcher.
3.  Add half a can of lemonade concentrate to tea.
4.  Mix.
5.  Fill up your glass with ice, then fill with tea mix.

This is strong.  If I'm using an insulated cup, I usually use it as a concentrate and use 1 part tea mix and 1 part water.  This isn't really a recipe, it's more of a suggestion-feel free to tweak it to your own taste.
A couple notes about green tea-don't use boiling water and don't steep longer than the package states (usually no more than 2 mins).  I usually wait about a minute past the water has stopped boiling, making sure the tea bags are taken out promptly.  These things should keep your tea from getting the bitter taste.

Olay Pro-x Cleansing System Review-Week 2 Update

So, it's been two weeks since I started using the Olay Pro-x Cleansing System.  I've been using my normal cleanser daily and mixed in a bit of baking soda every few days.  I have found baking soda to be useful for exfoliation and have never had any negative issues from it.  Over all, I am really liking the system.  My skin is definitely smoother and make up goes on better.  However, just a bit of warning-it really seems to work when it comes to deep cleaning your skin...In other words, the old "you may get worse before getting better" holds true. While my skin has certainly improved, it is not 100% better.  I'll will keep using on a daily basis and give you an update in another couple weeks.

Smokey-The World's Loudest Cat

It's Monday-Everyone needs a little something extra to smile about.

Google's Les Paul Doodle lives another day!

I love Google and their Doodles are one of my favorite things.  They are such a creative way of brightening people's days as well as educating the public about people and events they may not have known about.  Art, Science, Literature, Comedy, the list goes on and on.  Yesterday Google featured an interactive "guitar" in honor of Les Paul's birthday and due to the overwhelmingly positive reaction, they have decided to keep it up another day.  I believe this is a first as far as the doodles go.  Les Paul is a legend, plain and simple.  If you listen to music, you have heard his influence.  So, in honor of amazing man and his amazing work, stop by Google and take a little time to make some music of your own.  Don't know what to play?  Click here for an article on how to play The Beatles Here Comes The Sun, complete with bass line!

Olay Pro-x Cleansing System Review

   Ok, if you've watched TV or read magazines in the past year, you've probably seen these.  Basically, it's a knock off of the Clarisonic.  However, in spite of its knockoff-ness, I have heard really good things about it and when you compare $30 to $199, it is worth a shot.  I checked the box, and if I don't like it I have 60 days to say so.  Fair enough.  So, over the next couple months I am going to use this happy little gadget and let you know if it is everything it claims to be.
   Just a little about me and my face...I have super fair combination skin that alternates between being cooperative and rebelling for no apparent reason.  For make up, I use BareMinerals foundation and their Warmth bronzer.  Gentle Facial Cleanser from Trader Joe's Spa is my cleanser of choice, moisturizer is Derma E's Tea Tree & E moisturizer.  I also use RoC serum.
   Upon opening the box, my thoughts were mixed, but positive. I liked that they included a sample of their cleanser and 2 batteries.  I will say it was a bit smaller than I had expected, but that's no big deal.  It is fairly quiet and has a nice texture-soft but still sturdy.  After buzzing around on my face for a minute or two I can say it is fairly quiet and left my skin feeling smoother.  I will continue using it on a daily basis and update you next week!
   For the purpose of this test, I am not using the Olay cleanser included.   Rather, I will be using my normal facial cleanser.  I am testing the device itself, not the Olay cleanser, I'll leave that for a later date.
Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

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Tea Towel Curtain Tutorial

I love tea towels.  I also love screen prints, kitchyness and vintage designs.  Often times they are one in the same, which makes things even better!  These curtains are super easy-if you can sew a button, you can make them.  Honestly, if you had washable fabric glue, you could probably avoid sewing altogether.

Clockwise From Top Left-Supplies, Step 2, Step 2, Step 3.

Supplies:
-Tea Towels
-Buttons
-Ribbon
-Needle
-Thread
-Washable Fabric Glue (optional)

Step 1
Measure the width of your window and measure the distance from your curtain rod to the base of the window.  Measure your towels.  Be sure your towels will be wide enough for the window, depending if you liked them smooth or bunched.  Subtract the length of your towels from the rod to window base measurement.  Add an inch to this measurement and double it.  This will be the length of your ribbon tabs.  For example:  Your rod to base measurement is 34 inches.  Your towels are 30 inches.  34-30=4. 4+1=5.  5x2=10 inches.  I recommend 3 tabs for each towel-1 tab on each side, 1 in the middle.  I tried it with 2, but the middle got droopy.

Step 2
Lay out your towel, fold your ribbon tabs in half, making a loop.  Place folded tab behind the top part of the curtain, place a button on top, and stitch.  Once you have stitched on your tabs, add a little dab of glue if you find any of the tabs are hanging slightly off center.

Step 3
Hang curtains.  Admire how fabulous they are.  Cook something and enjoy the newly spunky atmosphere in your kitchen.


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