Feelin’ It 🍎

I just recently started listening to podcasts while I work out and really love these two in particular. Good Company – with Grace Bonney founder of Design Sponge, best-selling author and founder of the Good Company magazine.

The Dave Chang Show – hosted by famous chef/restaurant founder/owner Dave Chang of the Ugly Delicious Netflix series. Both podcasts explore creativity in business while talking about the struggles and success of it all. It’s a lot of behind the scenes stuff which I love.

Jamie Cooks Italy 🇮🇹 – YouTube

 

I’ve watched many cooking shows in my life but I’ve never watched a cooking show that made me salivate the whole entire time! Jaime Oliver and his friend Gennaro explore Italy’s heritage through the richness of its people and their food.

The 90’s are back and I’m excited to revisit some styles from my youth! Bring on the caboodles, scrunchies and big clips! Let’s pretend the butterfly clip phase never happened. I nabbed this caboodle online from ban.do. They have a variety of cute caboodles in a varying sizes and styles. Big clips and scrunchies my recommendations are from Amazon.

 

 

Feelin’ It

It’s that time a month again where I reveal what I’m feelin’. Check it out I’m sure you’ll find something to your liking!

 

 

Hershey’s Birthday Cake Kisses

I love white chocolate and anything birthday cake flavor!!!I’m currently obsessed with Hershey’s Birthday cake kisses. They’re the best of both worlds. Get your fix on @ Target, Wal-Mart or Amazon!

Blog

Notre Vie A Paris (Our Life in Paris)

https://notrevieaparis.squarespace.com/

I’ve been reading this new blog about two Americans in Paris. It’s about their experiences, feelings and obstacles of living in a foreign land. Everyday experiences are shared like going to the grocery store and dealing with language barriers to strolling the history rich laden streets of Paris. Not only is the writing great but the pictures and the music are fabulous! They even share their favorite hot spots to visit. If you want to experience a bit of Paris I suggest reading this!

 

Whackadoodles & Wanderlust

http://whackadoodles.com/

I went to a Pinsperation market this past weekend and had a great time. I got lots of inspiration and found lots of new vendors that I love! One in particular was Whackadoodles & Wanderlust. They are a stylish Washington state based company that makes beautiful pieces by upcycling antique silver plated or sterling silver flatware. I bought this cool bracelet that was made out of recycled belt material! I think their products are amazing and I appreciate that they are made out upcycled materials. You have to check out their website they have everything from earrings to key chains to wine tags and oh, did I mention they do custom orders!

 

Jamie Oliver’s Drink Tube Channel – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/JamiesDrinksTube

I love this YouTube channel! On this channel you’ll find many quick, thirst quenching recipes for basically every drink genre and then some. Jamie Oliver (a.k.a. the naked chef) and friends concoct cocktails, smoothies, juices, infused water, coffee and tea to name a few. In addition, there are many different tips and techniques that can be explained in a minute or less. For example, I recently learned how to make coffee using a Moka pot! If you’re looking to expand your beverage making repertoire you’ll definitely want to watch this channel!

 

Ten Meter Tower

Video

http://twistedsifter.com/videos/ten-meter-tower-by-maximilien-van-aertryck-axel-danielson/

I came across this video the other day and strangely I can relate to it. When I was about seven I had to jump off the high dive in order to pass my swimming lessons. I was so afraid but was motivated to jump because I didn’t want to fail! Sometimes in life it’s better just to go for it and dive in otherwise you might just miss out because of fear.

 

Live with Passion – February’s Mantra

January was the start of a lot of new things for me so by the time February rolled around I was in need of a real boost.  Instead of finding it elsewhere I found exactly the self encouragement I needed in a book. The past couple weeks I’ve been reading a great book called In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney. It’s a book that features over 100 women who are makers, artists and entrepreneurs graciously giving inspiration and advice. As I read each story I began to draw from the strength of each woman. It became as if  the women in the book were collectively whispering words of encouragement directly to me. Every page turn brought me closer to hearing their voices say don’t give up and all your hard work will pay off! I have been so moved by these women that they’ve become the inspiration behind  my February mantra “live with passion.” I associate the month of February with love so, I’m sharing my passions whether they be big or small. I hope you’ll join me in this! If you’re looking for an aha moment you’ll definitely find it in this book.

 

Necklaces That Tie Us Together

A couple of months ago I found some really cool modern, geometric, wooden bead necklaces online and I really wanted one but, I didn’t want to pay for something I knew I could make! Fast forward – A little online research, online shopping and a trip to the craft store later here’s what I made. I think these necklaces look fabulous and I was able to make multiple necklaces way cheaper than what retailers are selling approximately one for. I loved them so much that I gave them as Christmas gifts to women in my life that I’m close to. As I was making them for each woman I was thinking of how neat it is that we’ll all have the same necklace now and how that kind of ties us together. Every time I put on my necklace I’m reminded of the other ladies who also wear them. How’s their day going? I might even say a little prayer for each of them. These necklaces were such a big hit with the ladies I gave them to that I’m making another round of them for  Valentine’s Day!

If you’re interested in making these super easy chic modern necklaces all you need is:

A styrofoam block

Wooden shish kebab skewers

Round leather cording – 2mm x 2.4m

Acrylic paints – whatever colors you desire

Acrylic paint sealer/finisher (optional)

Sponge brushes

Wooden beads (2 types)

Bead, dark brown, 20×20 hand-cut faceted cube. Sold per pkg. of 25

http://www.firemountaingems.com/itemdetails/h207293nb

Bead, wood (bleached), white, 20x20mm hand-cut faceted cube. Sold per pkg. of 25.

http://www.firemountaingems.com/itemdetails/h207302nb

The wooden beads in these pictures are beads I ordered off of Amazon then stained or painted myself. The Fire Mountain Gem beads I suggested above are the same style/cut as the ones I used for this project with the exception that the dark brown ones will be much darker than ones in these pictures which I personally stained. I don’t suggest staining them yourself it’s much easier just to buy them.

This project is super easy and quick to make. The dark brown beads are ready to go as is once you receive them but the bleached beads are the ones you’ll paint in color/s unless you desire that bleached look. First, set up a drying station for the beads that you’re going to paint with a styrofoam block from the Dollar store and some shish kebab skewers.Cut off one end of each of the skewers then stick them in the styrofoam block pointed side facing upward. As you paint your beads stick them on the skewers to dry. Depending on the quality and color of the paint I suggest doing multiple coats of paint. Once your beads are fully dry you can seal them with acrylic sealer/finisher if you desire. If you seal them follow the drying time accordingly. Now its time to assemble your necklace! I personally like no more than five beads per necklace because they are so chunky. I suggest messing around with the length of the cording once the beads are on it.  Lastly, cut the cording to your desired length and just finish it off by double knotting the leather cord at the ends to secure.