Personalized Plate

Found this great idea like many from none other than Pinterest. Love that program, link, what is it technically? Anyways, like I promised I'm going to start giving step by step instructions but this one wasn't too hard at all.

What you'll need is...
a plain plate- I happened to have one lying around by they're plentiful and cheap from DI
an acrylic permanent pen- the only place I found one after a great deal of searching was Hobby Lobby. The brand is called painters.
masking tape or painters tape, just something that is easy to see and stick and restick
and lastly what you want to inscribe printed off from easy reference- I wrote our song on the plate which is 'Lucky' by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz

1. Make sure you're plate is CLEAN or else the marker won't stick.

2. rip a piece of tape long enough that is could go across the entire length of the plate and still have some hanging on the edges. You'll move the tape down every couple of lines. Its purpose is to help keep the writing straight.
3. start writing! The more scribbely, the cuter

4. if you make a mistake no worries, I just wiped any mistakes off quickly with my finger. Make sure to do it quickly though because it dried rather fast.
5. Let it sit in the sun or even the oven for a while (heat on of course) to help it cure.
6. display for all to see.

Happy Weekend!

Say What?: Air Fresheners

For our second health Say What? I wanted to do something that was widespread, and that I had NO clue about personally until I did some real research. 


"A test of air freshener products recently conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that 12 out of 14 popular air freshener products contained a chemical known to be harmful to the health of humans, called Phthalates." 

 (source)

Of course, many things can cause 'harmful effects'. Driving can cause harmful effects for goodness sakes, but unfortunately this commonly used device marketed by multiple companies and stores is 1) not tested for health problems or effects by the USDA and 2) effects not only humans, but pets as well. Therefore, it really is a problem that needs to be spread by word of mouth and will not be controlled by the govt. 

Specifically air fresheners (any brand) from plug-in's to air-soles, when burned or sprayed puts out dangerous chemicals called Phthalates which not only cause multiple problems from epilepsy to incontinence in animals, but can cause serious effects such as reproductive problems and hormone disruption in humans. 

Of course your chances of cancer or reproductive issues from a small exposure is small, but people who use these such as myself by a $8 starter kit and then buy the refills by default consequently have them burning almost 24/7. 

When I brought this up with my physician and asked if it could be a partial cause to my constant headaches/migraines he said it very well could be contributing. That really got me going into checking into the details of Phthalates. 

If you are looking for any more reasons to not use store bought air fresheners, they also can cause neurological issues from prenatal exposure, and also increase carcinogenesis (cancer) by damage to your liver.

Just google it if you have any remaining doubts. 

But wait, don't go and throw away that expensive plug-in you have. There is an easy, affordable and HEALTHY alternative. 

 

Most plug-in's look like this, and the refills obviously come in the little things you stick up into the plug-in. The 'scent' in the bottom is what is bad for you. 

An easy solution is to dump out the 'scent' or liquid and then refill with an essential oil. I went to Target and found an essential oil that I really liked and was pure and undiluted. Mix 1 part water to 1 part oil, remove the wick from the refill and pour the essential oil solution you made into the refill. Replace the wick and you're good to go. 

This continues to keep your home smelling wonderful, while not being a health hazard.  

 

-M

fall fashion for date night

About a week or so ago I decided to treat myself after an awful ten days of hubby gone hunting while I was stuck at home doing five midterms that week. These are the items I found online from Target, and might I say I love them, how they make me feel (sassy in case you were wondering), and how many compliments I got on them. Plus they were first worn in a holy place.

(Both The Oatmeal Wrap dress and Cheetah print stilettos were found at Target)

Love me a date night to the temple with the hubs! They don't happen often enough!

p.s. don't mind how the focal point is off in the bottom two pics. We're still working on that when Jer takes the photos.

deals and steals: Maxi Skirt

Remember how I said we stopped off at Nordstroms? Well, that wasn't completely an unplanned shopping trip.

I found this beauty online, and truthfully have been searching for an affordable cute maxi skirt that fits well for quite some time. So of course I was overjoyed after I got the hubs to agree to take me.

Lily White Maxi Skirt $26

Imagine this in a heather gray and you'll fall in love. Perfect fall color to pair with bright, rich sweaters and chunky brown belts. Plus when the only other maxi skirts (the few) that I've been able to find are around $50, it made me feel like this was a COMPLETE steal at merely half of that.

Would you ever wear something like this? I do have to admit it exudes a slight hippie aura, but truthfully its so comfy and goes so well with multiple looks that I just can't make myself not wear it almost every other day.

addicted

In the car, at home, doing dishes, in the shower. You name it, I listen and LOVE every note dripping with old time band feel this woman sings! Take a gander why don't you-

Caro Emerald "That Man"

I also suggest this video.

Fashionista Feelings

Remember when I blogged about this great find?

Kohls: Lauren Conrad Blouse

Well I finally found those photos of when I first wore it...

plus my newly (now old) dyed hair.

I feel quite confident in it+my dyed hair. It's lightened up quite a bit since then.

Maybe its time to dye it again!

p.s. I can't help but feeling like I'm this girl when I take fashion photos.

Missing him

Sometimes hubby goes hunting.
But never for this long.

This has made me a complete emotional wreck you'd be glad to not run into.
And he forgot to call me each night like he said he would.
Which made me even more depressed/sad/upset/lonely/worried/anxious.

Sometimes, more frequently than I'd like to admit, I burst into tears when, I saw couples holding hands, was asked when hubby would be back, was asked how I was doing, or was doing laundry.
And all this during the midterms week that I had five tests+an english paper due.

Most nights I'd try to comfort myself by having Adi sleep in his place. Except for last night when she peed on the bed and then puked by my head. At 3 AM. But I still love her.

Finally hubby called, and after I bawled, sobbed, cried, and hysterically tried to talk through tears hubby got the point that he shouldn't leave me alone for this long.
Especially when my car almost broke down twice, and I got yelled at a lot this week.
Maybe he'll remember that for next year's hunting season......


But probably not.

Sometimes after six long days of being away from my hubby, I get so excited about him coming home the next day that I can't fall asleep.

But always, I hate+loathe+despise hunting.

To infinity. And beyond.


The only cure for a mood like this is Steel Magnolias. I've watched it about four times this week.
Thank goodness hubby gets home tomorrow.