These are a few of my Favorite Things...

Urban Christmas

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:12:39 -0600

Last Christmas, Scott and I joined some friends at the Annual Willow Creek Christmas Show. I fell in LOVE with how they decorated their Christmas trees! Forgive the phone snapshots.
These are simple, lovely and fun. Tonight we are headed to the 2011 Williow Creek Show- maybe I'll find more inspiration for next year!

Ortanic is Amazing

Fri, 7 May 2010 11:32:00 -0500

If you know me- I am totally freaked out about aging skin- yet Love the feel of the hot sun radiating onto my body....
The solution? Ortanic. God Bless Christine Choi, my dear friend who introduced me to my new BFF- Hand Spray Tanning.
I made my first appointment last week. When you arrive, they escort you into a private room where a lovely aesthetician talks you through the whole process and answers any concerns. Then- you strip down to your underwear- and she begins to spray you down with an air brush. Once you are finished you put on your darkest teeshirt and old yoga pants and head home. By the next morning- you are So Dark! After taking a shower the original bronzer rinses off and the final result is a flawless, even, natural-looking tan.
The best part is that she asks you about your color when tanned by the sun- then specially formulates the color for you. The color is not "one size fits all''- which is how most spray tans operate.
So- my plan is to get regularly sprayed- then load on SPF 75 and "bake away" at the beach this summer! YAY!
Try it- you wont regret it!
http://www.ortanic.com/

Great Gift Idea: Snow Measuring Stick

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:54:49 -0600

This is an awesome and simple home-made gift idea, courtesy of my Uncle Steve Jerrell.
Home Depot carries these thin finished "sticks", which simplify the project.
Purchase a 6" long iron nail. Saw off the flat end of the nail using a saw.
Drill a hole into one end of the stick. Insert the nail with wood glue. Let rest until bonded.
Measure off inches onto the stick using a pencil, accounting for the length of the nail at the end. Using a paint marker, finalize measurements and add your own decorative touch!
Push into the ground in an area where drifting is less likely! Enjoy being able to look out your window and measure the snow fall!!
Merry Christmas!

Top Blogs: "Girl, you're not alone"

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:19:46 -0600

From her site:
What It's All About
Welcome to Girl, You’re Not Alone, where we swap and share stories of humiliation and hysteria in every aspect of our lives. From credit card declines to crazy, creepy hook-ups - we've all been there, so why not get over it and laugh?
Every week, I will share tales from my VAULT of mishaps. But, I REALLY want to hear from you as well. So, please post a comment or share your own story if you or a friend has a hilarious moment to divulge. You can choose to be anonymous, don't worry! But, remember - Girl, You're Not Alone!
http://girlyourenotalone.com/

Chillinjoy

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 19:55:55 -0600

ChillinJoy™ is the brainchild of a husband and wife team from Chicago who spend their summers enjoying outdoor concerts, movies in city parks and at the beach. Year-round, they love the pursuit of the next hottest BYO restaurant. An air traffic controller (him) and a public relations specialist (her) by trade, the pair searched for a solution to the inconvenience required to enjoy a chilled bottle of wine outdoors. They were tired of lugging a cooler full of ice or leaving home with a bottle of wine in an a simple insulating sleeve only to discover it was no longer cold when they were ready to drink it. Finding no solution for sale, they experimented with their own ideas.
At the time, the pair was training for the Chicago Triathlon, spending many mornings swimming in chilly Lake Michigan. They considered the remarkable insulating abilities of their wet suits. But, they needed more than a product to keep wine cool. They needed something that would actually chill a warm bottle of wine. Something convenient to carry across town, whether on the train or on foot. Something that would keep a bottle of wine cold for hours.
One night, they took two ice packs (recently acquired after a (his) bike wreck) from the freezer and stuffed them inside a wet suit. Then, they inserted a room-temperature bottle of wine and secured it inside the wet suit with the ice packs over night. The next morning, the bottle of wine was still cold. And that was the birth of ChillinJoy™. Chill and enjoy!

http://chilledportableproducts.com/default.aspx