cute water shoes...do you exist?

B and I are going camping up in Wisconson with some dear friends this weekend. Part of the trip will include a rafting excursion. Which, hooray, I'm totally down for! The drawback? We need to wear some sort of water shoes to be safe and practical.

This may sound like a total stretch, but water shoes freak me out! Sure, there are new ones nowadays that are more stylish, but they way they hug your whole foot, yikes!

So, as I was debating on where to get some, and how I can stomach having to look down at my feet, I thought about how CROCS has this new 'mary jane-ish line. They are called "Malindi" and I found them on amazon for $14.99!

SUPER cute and comfy, and the actual color is a bit darker, so not as bright as the picture.

AND. For a limited time, you can sign up for AMAZON PRIME for their 30 day free membership. You can get anything delivered in two days for FREE, OR, pay $3.99 for next day delivery.

I had originally thought I'd get the black pair, but it was closer to $25.00. The "berry" was cheaper and was cute and summery, so I went with it.

As promised, I got it in 2 days and at first, the tag said that they are size 6 W, for wide. I was a little worried, but they fit me fine. They don't have half sizes, and I'm usually a 6.5. It's a little snug, but it should stretch out a bit.

I never thought I'd buy/wear a pair of CROCS, but let me tell you, I'm wearing them around the house right now! I don't want to take them off! I'm going to wear them tonight to Navy Pier to see the fireworks with Tyson and Shannon, their 7 year old boy and 5 year old TRIPLETS. Yes, triplets! We love hanging out with them!

Anyways, gotta get back to sewing, but couldn't resist NOT sharing my new CROCS. I gotta get used to saying that...repeat, my CROCS....my CROCS... teehee!

Thai Mai Photography

I loved my wedding, and there isn't much that I would change about it. However, our biggest regret is not investing more $$ into a photographer. At the time, digital photography was not available to the Joe-Schmoes of the world, and to have a photographer work with digital would have cost a few arms and legs.

So needless to say, I am so envious of all the beautiful wedding photos that I see nowadays.

One of my bridesmaid and good friend Ruth (she also did my makeup and hair for both my engagement AND wedding - SO talented!), back in California, has a friend by the name of Thai Mai who does amazing work! He did her TTD (Trash The Dress) photoshoot, which were fantastic, but I can't find the link right now. However, her is a gorgeous photo of her and her dress!


Sorry to be so unprepared for this blog, but I seriously feel like I'm on a "photo high" right now!

I am thinking about doing a TTD of my own someday. Who knows, I might have to do it when I'm back home in Cali :o) Especially since the dress is there!

Anyways, click on to his blog, it's truly outstanding!

Thai Mai Photography

My top 3 Sephora brand goodies

Honestly, I could easily list my top 10 Sephora goodies, but I won't - so that I can save some for upcoming blogs!

#1 Mini Heated Eyelash Curler - Sephora Brand - $12

I have always been a fan of heated eyelash curlers. First of all, none of my eyelashs ever fell victim to getting unintentionally plucked. And second of all, the heat really speeds up the curling process. Once upon a time, I had bought their other eyelash curler, also at Sephora, but there was a design flaw that made the bottom/black portion of the curler loose, which is where the battery connects. I went through 2 of them before I was convinced by the salesperson to try the one that I'm featuring. What's even better is that the pink one is cheaper by $4 and the way that the cap fits on it, it will automatically turn it off, which eliminates the possibility of running the batteries dead. SCORE! While I do miss more of a handle to hold on to, the pink one is still pretty easy to use. So save a few bucks and just buy the pink one the first time your go around :o)

#2 Mineral Double Compact Foundation with SPF 10 - Sephora Brand - $22.00

I am a BIG fan of mineral powder, and was faithful to Bare Minerals for a good chunk of time. I just got tired of the loose powder and the mess that occurred every morning around the sink. I always wished they had a compact version, but I don't think they ever did. I gave up Mineral powder for awhile until one day, I ran across the best of both worlds! Sephora has their own Mineral Double Compact Foundation with SPF 10. Let me tell you, it has answered all of my prayers and I LOVE IT!

"This silky foundation provides buildable coverage and protects skin with an SPF 10, while the long-wearing formula creates a luminous finish. Tested in order to minimize the risk of allergy, our mineral foundation is talc-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, oil-free and noncomedogenic. Use the dual-sided sponge to achieve your desired look: the fuzzy white side for light coverage, or the black spongy side for full coverage. The "R and the "D" in the shade name reflects Sephora's french background.

The "R" stands for "Rose" (pink) and for those with cool undertones. The "D" stands for Dore (gold) and is for those with warm or yellow undertones. This dual-layer compact also contains a mirror, for touch ups on the go" - Sephora website.



For awhile, I was in between a D35 and D40, but now that it's summer, the D40 works perfect. When I'm in between again, I'll have to double dab and try to get a good mix of the two compacts to customize my own shade.








I have not used this, but I think it will have to be on my "next purchase" list.
Professional Mineral Powder Brush - $26












I've been using their Contour/Bronzer Brush, which I'm not happy with anymore. And Yikes! It was $36! They must not have had it in the store when I was looking to buy a brush for my new foundation. Oh well!

#3. Sephora's Fresh Gloss Lipgloss - $7

"A pocket-sized lip gloss infused with a fresh, minty scent.

What it is formulated to do:
A refreshing burst of minty flavor helps freshen your breath and the hydrating formula imparts a slick shine that makes your lips truly irresistible.

To use: Apply as often as you like, over lipstick or alone."

I LOVE THIS stuff. The minty sensation lingers for a long time and the feeling is not too heavy. And for $7, it last a long time, too.

So there you have it! My top 3 Sephora brand products. I have a ton more, but like I said, I'll save it for a rainy day. What about you? Do you have any favorite Sephora brand products? Give them a chance, you'll be pleasantly surprised, just like me!

Avocados, Mangos, and Apples - oh my!

How many times have you waited, and waited (and waited and waited) for an avocado or a mango to ripen? And how many times have you been giddy to cut into it, only to see that it's either rotten or near close to being un-edible?

Money and time wasted on good food is never a good thing.

Waste no more! Lemme tell you how to ripen fruit to near perfection!

Did you know that apples and bananas give off ethylene gas and this gas naturally ripens fruits?

1. Place fruit (I've done this mostly with avocados and mangos) in a paper bag.

2. Place an apple or a banana in the bag.

3. Close up the bag and write the date on the bag.

Give it 3-5 days and gently squeeze to see if it's ripe. Based on your preference, you can leave it in a for a bit longer, but don't forget about it! Hence, writing the date on the bag.

Another way I grew up ripening avocados, is placing it in dry rice. This only works because the avocado has such a thick skin. BUT, if you forget it about, you can ruin both the avocado AND the rice. So, be careful.

Here are few more tips on how to ripen avocados. I have not tried them all, but would love to hear feedback about it.

I also just recently learned how to cut and peal avocados. Who knew you could use the skin to your advantage? Simply Recipe has great tips.

I've got 5 mangos in a paper bag right now. The ones at Costco are the best!! There WAS 6, but I got anxious and greedy and ate one prematurely. F.A.I.L. A lesson learned, for sure!

Happy ripening!

Easy Vegan Overnight Oats

I had to pass this along from my fellow food loving girly girl, Lauren, who loves our blog! Yippee! We don't get much feedback from anyone (aside from my FC, Lynn - thank you!), so it always makes my heart happy :o)

Anyways, moving on and as a follow up to my Oatmeal blog, Lauren suggested Vegan Oatmeal Oats. I'll be honest, I haven't tried it yet, but Ms. Lauren loves it and said that shes eat it (almost) everyday.

I'm gonna try these soon, especially since they are served cold, perfect for the summer.


And lastly, I'm in love with Nutella! Love, yes, love!

Mango and Sticky Rice? Um, yes please!

Wow, I am on a blogging roll today! I can't help it! Just as I finished my last blog, I jumped on facebook and saw a recipe that I MUST share from my friend Lisa.

A wee little backstory: My friend Lisa and her friend Rachel, are the team behind Jolie Jolie: All things Prettiful. She is actually one of my inspirations to start this blog with MY (best) friend jjenell. You must check out their blog, they have such cute stuff to share - stuff they make AND stuff that they draw inspiration from. We all could use some fellow inspiration, that is for sure!

So, when I go to Thai Restaurants, I'm almost always drawn to one of their infamous desserts: Mango and Sticky Rice. However, unlucky for me since being in Chicago, this dessert is very seasonal. And when do you think I have the most craving for one? Yes, dead middle of winter! Lucky for me, now I know how to make it myself - thanks to Lisa!

Oh, and for the mangos, I suggest getting the flat, yellow mangos. They are also known as the Filipino mango. They are sweeter and don't have any of the stringy stuff.

Here is a mouthwatering picture - oh emm gee!



What you need ::

2 cups of coconut milk [about a full can]
3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups of sticky rice [i used the Kokuho Rose brand]
1 1/2 cup water
3 -4 ripe mangoes
Roasted sesame seeds [optional]
RICE COOKER =)

Ok .. what you need to do ::

• Soak the rice in water for about 20 -30 mins.

While that is soaking ...
• Prepare the coconut milk. In a pot, put the coconut milk in to a medium boil. Then you add the sugar and salt until it all dissolves. Put aside.
• Cut the mangoes and store in the fridge until ready to eat.

When you are done soaking the rice drain it and put the rice and the 1 1/2 cups of water into the rice cooker and let it cook in there like normal rice. BUT.. depending on your rice cooker, half way through open it up and stir in about half of the coconut milk you prepared earlier and then let it finish cooking. I like to stir the rice every 5-10 mins during the whole process ... but im sure that is not needed. VOILA! you got mango and sticky rice. I believe that the longer you let it sit in the rice cooker after it's done cooker will make it stickier.. but don't let it stay in the rice cooker too long or it will burn.

ENJOY!!!

Thanks again, Lisa! And my buds thanks you, too - my tastebuds, that is :o)

Fekkai, i heart you

What can I say, another product introduced to me by my girl J!

Fekkai is an amazing hair product that I have stayed pretty true to. However, I can only speak fora few of their products. While they are on the expensive side, most of their products last a very long time.

The line that I use Brilliant Glossing Collection


Frizz-fighting, soft-seeking shine cream works for nearly every hair type. With encapsulated olive oil spheres to instantly reboot shine all day long. Our superstar formula, ever so brilliant

Brilliant Glossing Cream, use sparingly (as it can give you borderline greasy hair) in damp hair.

$32 for 7.2 oz - but it lasts forever!




" Feather-light mist delivers an even veil of shine with encapsulated olive oil plus all day long protection. This last impression - leaves sheer shine to finish any style.

Fekkai's legendary shine collection infuses new Encapsulated Shine-Release Complex in its winnning olive oil formula to renew shine all day, strand by strand, minute by minute."

- Fekkai Website

Glossing Mist

$23 for 5 oz bottle
$9 for 1.7 oz bottle


The research I've done on this line has really inspired me to try their whole line, meaning the shampoo and conditioner. I have short hair, so it should, in theory, last longer for me. Hm...

BUT, my newest L.O.V.E. is: Fekkai Golden Shimer Gelee Mist

Beware, this is a LIMITED EDITION, so go out and buy it soon. I am already 1/2 way through my bottle and will be stocking up soon. Especially, since it's ONLY $10!

This is not your typical glitter for your hair bottle. The glitter is very subtle, but the smell, oh-the-smell, it takes me to the beach in an instant. Also, be sure to rinse the nozzle under hot running water after each use. It helps it from clogging, which will help YOU avoid spraying it all over your bathroom sink and maybe even into your eye. I personally use this more as a refresher for my hair, rather than for the hold aspect.

Which takes me to my next point. The reviews on this have been mixed. I can see this being used ONLY in the summer. But hey, if you live in Sunny Cali, you can use it (almost) all year long! The scent stays with me all day, which I love because I'm stuck inside almost all day.

Only you can decide when and how much you want to use it.

As for me, I'll be using it all summer. And maybe during the other seasons, when I want to be reminded of summer :o)

Seriously, buy some soon and let me know what you think!

"Square meals are more fun in round cups" - JJ

I admit it, I'm a crave-r and a binge-r. If I like something, I want it all the time and can't get enough of it!

My newest crave is Jamba Juice, but not what you would think. While their smoothies are tasty (I don't have a fave though), I just recently had something different when B was craving some JJ and I was craving for something warm.

I present to you, Jamba Oatmeal:


$2.95 for 7.6 oz.

"Slow cooked, quick served. Hot, healthy Jamba Oatmeal - organic steel cut oats made from scratch and served with fruit and brown sugar crumble. So grab a spoon and find your smile"

As served = 220 calories
With brown sugar crumbles (I highly recommend!) = 260 calories

It can also be ordered with:

* Bananas
* Apple Cinnamon
* Blueberry/Blackberry


My favorite:
* Brown sugar crumbles, top and bottom, with easy blueberry/blackberry.


Today's order got a little messed up. He didn't give me nearly enough crumbles, and way too much blue/blackberry.

But did I eat it all? Like heck I did! Next time, I think I will see if I can order the brown sugar crumbles on the side. I like them still it's it natural sugary form, and not so much when it's melted. But man, those crumbles rock my world!






This is only my 3rd time eating steel cut oats. I had recently seen a friend's FB post that it was quite yummy. The texture is very interesting. It almost has a popping sensation your mouth when you bit into it. The pieces are freshly milled from high protein oats and cut into neat little pieces on a steel buhr mill.

The first time I had it, I bought some at Trader Joe's. Total fail, via microwave. It never seemed quite all the way cooked, and before I knew it, it had overflowed all over the microwave - oops. So, I think I will cook them on the stovetop at home, and then reheat it here at work. Wish me luck! I'm a little nervous about buying the brown sugar crumbles. What if it's not as good?! Ok, I'll stop whining and letcha know :o)

I forget the price, but it was no more than $5 for 24 oz. for 17 servings.

Enjoy!

Summa, Summa, Summa-time drinks

It's FINALLY summer here in Chicago.  And because we don't have a car and use public transportation, we have the luxury of having pre-drinks before heading out to the street festivals that go on every weekend.

Here are few of my favorite new drinks.

Wine Enthusiast gave X-Rated Fusion Liqueur a 96 out of a 100 point rating in the Best Buy category (May 2008 issue).

Here's what they had to say:
"Attractive foggy pink/rose color. The bouquet is highly perfumed with intense fragrances of orange peel, passion fruit, and mango pulp, with a backnote of spice. Entry is lusciously tart and fruit, displaying an ideal balance between the alcohol base, acidity, and fruit. Finishes impeccably balanced, clean and juicy. Bravo!

 

 X-Rated Fusion Liqueur with:

* Sierra Mist

* Lemonade

* Prosecco

Be creative!

Wow, we just tried this at our first Jimmy Buffett concert.  Our friend, Kelsey, mixed this with Coke (Coke Zero, Diet, Pepsi, etc), and I kid you not, it tastes and even SMELLS like Dr. Pepper!

Winner!

And lastly, I've always been a big fan of Asti (sweet and bubbly, perfecto!), but my friend AnnaMaria introduced me to the Rose.  Just as delish.  Drink it straight out of the bottle and enjoy!  The Prosecco is the least sweetest and is great as a mix.  Enjoy!

For the Record:

Hopefully, all of you just finished watching the 201o BET Awards like me! Well, if not, I'm sure you'll be able to YouTube performances tomorrow, but until then, I want to set the record straight. Everyone is voting on the best performance of this year's show, and I must admit there were many outstanding performances with a line-up of celebs such as Chris Brown, Usher, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Ludacris, Diddy, Kanye, and ALICIA KEYS! But, everyone is saying Chris Brown gave the best performance. I disagree! Normally, I would have hands down said that Alicia Keys was the best performance of the night. And, don't get me wrong...she certainly brought the elegance, soul, and sexiness that only Alicia can bring. BUT, right after her performance Patti LaBelle performed a rendition of Prince's "Purple Rain" as a lifetime tribute to him and it was beyond spectacular. This R&B Queen sings from the depths of her soul, and you can feel the vibrations of her voice long after she stops singing (and I was even watching from home...I can't imagine what she sounded like live!). So, my vote goes to Patti tonight! So much class and such a moving performance!

La Créme de la Créme of Summer 2010!

I love nice candles and I also think candles make a home feel warmer. The scent of a candle can change the whole mood of your house, and I much prefer the smell of a candle to aerosol air freshener or the "plug-in" versions. So, needless to say I'm always on a search for the right candle. I've experimented with a lot of candles and enjoy a nice essential oil candle or a simple scent that is not too overbearing. But, recently, at Wholefoods I found the perfect candles! The brand is Wick'd Bean. These candles are made from 100% natural soybeans coupled with botanical oils. I have two very favorites scents: Coconut or Cilantro Pineapple. These candles burn evenly and they exude a very even beautiful scent. They make nice gifts too!

Another great find at Wholefoods (also carried at Bristol Farms) is my new favorite cracker/crisp. Well, I feel like I'm demoting this fine snack by calling it a cracker, but I'm at a loss for another descriptor. At any rate, if you are a person who loves certain foods for texture you will love this snack! The Lesley Stowe Raincoast Crisp is to die for! With several flavors each one is this perfectly thin crisp with a mix of salty and sweet ingredients that is hand made/baked. These crisps come in several flavors: Original, Rosemary Raisin Pecan, Cranberry Hazelnut, Fig and Olive, Salty Date and Almond (MY FAV!), and Cinnamon Raisin. For one box of these delicious crisps I paid $7 at Wholefoods and $8 at Bristol Farms. And, if you open the box and want to ensure the crispy-ness stays in tact, I take the remaining crisps out of the package and store in a ziploc, but the box also says you can heat them up in the oven to re-crisp them!

And, for those of you not inclined to drink regular milk for whatever reason, may I recommend Almond Milk?! Seriously, I don't drink milk because it is too heavy and I don't feel good after consuming dairy products. So, I've spent a lot of time trying out many brands of soy milk and rice milk. I like soy, and when at a coffee shop I always order my coffee with soy milk, but too much soy is not a good thing. This is true especially for women because soy is a natural source of estrogen, and unless your body is in need of more estrogen, too much soy can throw off your natural hormonal balance. And, I don't really care for rice milk because it is too watery. BUT, I have found my new best friend: Almond Milk! I prefer Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla or Original Almond Milk. And, the best part is that this milk is very creamy and it only has 40 calories in 8 ounces! Yep, you must try it! Oh, and did I mention 1 quart at Trader Joe's is just $1.99?!

au naturale nails, magnifique!

It was that time again to color my hair today (saving that for another blog) and I didn't have a bottle to mix it up in. Lucky for me, I only live about 5 blocks away from Sally Beauty Supply and it was a gorgeous day for the walk at 8:30 am.

The "problem" with Sally's is that I go in for one thing, and walk out with at least 5. Today was no exception. But I guess if there's any store for that to happen, I should be thankful that it's Sally's because I can always try something new and it's all very affordable. Plus, they have a great return policy, so hold to your receipts!

If you are a frequent Sally shopper, you should think about buying investing in their membership that costs $5.00. For all their products, on their sticker label, there are typically 2 prices. One in bigger font and one in smaller. The smaller font, is usually a cheaper price for "members only". The card will easily pay for itself, depending on what you buy. This shopping excursion for example, saved me about $3.

My favorite purchase, and of course, spontaneous purchase, was a nail buffer and Bubble White.

Buff and Shine - $2.29
"A glossy block with two buffing sides; use the gray (600 grit) side first and then the white 4000 grit shiny surface. It is perfect for natural nails and artificial nails. Buffs to a high gloss, long lasting shine without oils or topcoat"

OrigiNails Bubble White - $9.99
"5 minute effervescent nail cleaner and whitener for natural and artificial nails makes even the dullest, dingiest nails sparkling bright and white. Can even remove smoker's stains and hair color from nails. Whitens, brightens and cleans nails in minutes. Bubbles away yellowing stains and discolorations from natural nails."

This is not the best of pics (they were taken on my iPhone for easy upload), but I hope you can see the difference! You honestly have to try it for yourself, you will not believe your eyes!

BEFORE (I just finished buffing it with the grey/grainy side)

AFTER (I buffed it w/the white shiny surface)

I used the Bubble White, but used it after the Buff and Shine, so I couldn't notice any major difference. Must try again, maybe next week.

Have fun and enjoy your natural nails like never before!

"I'm singing in the rain"...but, not yet.

Right now, I'm just wet. Really, really, really wet.

A thunderstorm came through Chicago today. The morning started off beautifully at 72 degrees on my way to work. When I went outside to run an errand, the sun was showing off it's beautiful rays and it was 86 degrees. My boss even left early for a Cubs game with her husband.

And then at 4:15 ish pm, all went gray and the wind kicked up. Chicago got hit hard with big ole raindrops and crazy bouts of wind. I was on the 36 bus and we drove past a Starbucks, with their umbrellas upside down and their tables and chairs on top of it. Kind of surreal feeling. When I got to my stop, I didn't want to get off! I had good reason to be afraid (be very afraid). I rounded the corner of State Division and Clark and got doused by the rain, as if someone took a hose to me. You see, I can't find my umbrella. And I didn't want to buy one, mainly because I ordered one online and it is not here yet. So instead, I was drenched within mere seconds. I look around (through my wet glasses, of course) and I see one umbrella after another, completely lose it's shape and turn inside out. I walked across the street and lost one of my flip flops, which I then proceeded to pick it up and walk the rest of the cross light barefoot. Inside the Jewel, people were huddled around, waiting for the storm to pass. Teenage girls were in their bathing suits, completely taken by surprise at the change of weather.

And me? All I wanted was my umbrella, that is in transit! Tomorow is supposed to be clear, but rain and thunderstorms on Sunday and ALL next week. June 21st can't come soon enough!

Here is my little friend that will keep me safe and dry :o)

This review on Amazon made me smile:
"Old ladies stop me in the street to ask where I got this amazing polka dot umbrella. When I walk with it on campus, other peoples' umbrellas blow themselves inside out in a fit of umbrellan jealousy. Somehow, I'm a better singer when I carry this umbrella. Once, this umbrella shielded me from a bullet. Am planning to take a trip with this umbrella, Mary Poppins-style. "

Isotoner Clear Bubble Umbrella


I'll letcha know how she holds up. I just know I'll be the envy of all the peeps... :o)

iBend , uBend, weBend!

Recently, I'm on a mission to find a new case for my iPhone. The one I have right now is extremely sad lookin', with it's scratches and fadingness (not a word, until NOW!).

Of course, I haven't any luck finding one. HOWEVA...I did stumble across the cutest little thing(s) that I will be purchasing for my F5 and I! (psst, F5, lemme know which one you want, the day or night owls).

Tell me, these aren't the cutest little things? And at $5.99 for 2, you gotta love a good deal when you see one!
"Use your iBend™ on a plane, bus, or train - whilst lifting weights, eating breakfast, waiting at the sushi bar, getting your teeth cleaned, at a business meeting, sitting in traffic, serving on a jury or practicing yoga.

The slenderness of the iBend™ allows you to easily store it in your wallet, pocket or purse so you’ll always have one (or two) handy."

iBend

sigh.love.can't wait.

Memorial Day weekend mLd inspirations!

Over Memorial Day weekend, two of our closest friends, ReRe and KG got married in Quincy, IL. We were so honored to be there and it was seriously one of the best weddings I've ever been to. Friends and family of both the bride and groom were so sweet and man, did they dance the night away! I think it helped that the beautiful bride never skipped a beat and we were just trying to keep up with her! :o)

S0...I have a problem. In the midst of chaos, I tend to get inspired to create, as a mental break of sorts, y'know? So here I was, finishing up my big order for the Bride's gifts to her bridal party. And what do I decide to do? Make a bag for myself. Ok, so the problem is that I can be severely selfish! I had this really cute dress that I bought in Philly, @, of all places, ROSS! I miss ROSS...it reminds me of home. So I have a cute dress and cute shoes, but no bag! You would think that as a handbag designer, I have plenty to choose from! Soo not true! Most of my mLds ended up being either too big, too small, etc. And plus, I wanted to fit my camera (Canon G10, it's quite the beast in size for a point and shoot, though it's not quite a point and shoot either), among all the necessities of a girl at a wedding.

Despite the hecticness of the situation, at the end of it, it's the best feeling holding a finished product. I knew I wanted something with a big base and reinforce it with something sturdy to keep the shape of the bag, especially with my camera in it. But I am most proud that I added a zipper to it! Don't worry, I still left my signature magnetic snaps, which is perfect because I now have 2 options to close it. If I know I will be in and out of it a fair amount of time, I would use the magnets. If I needed everything to be safe and sound, I would use the zipper. Plus, the lining was too darn cute, I liked that the b/w bag had a pop of color!

So here she is:

dimensions:
9.5" base, 9" opening (with 3 pleats), 7 " tall, and 3.5" base

comes with both a zipper and magnetic snap
and of course, 3 pockets - 2 flush against the side, and one big enough to hold a cell phone

single strap

Big and sturdy base to always keep it's shape, even when it's empty!

As of right now, she remains name-less. But open to suggestions :o) No guarantees though! I know namesakes are h*o*t these days.

As you will notice, the title of this blog states that there were TWO designs that emerged from being inspired by our roadtrip to Quincy, IL.

This next design, was made due to sheer NEED, yes, sheer DESPERATION. You see, B and I use electric toothbrushes at home, and being that we are lazy (it brushes our teeth for us!), what's a vacation if you have to do "work"? :o) The problem was, there are NO holders, nor toothbrush head covers (some come with one, but ours did not), made for electric toothbrushes. They are nothing fancy, just those simple ones that come with a charger for $12 at Target.

Previous trips, we've have tried the ziplock bag method. If you have done that before, you will agree with me, whole heartedly, that it is a disaster. The bag is always full of water after you put your wet toothbrush in, and you have to zip it, or else it could fall out, etc, etc, etc.

So...what to do? I wanted to continue my groove with zippers. It needed to be tall and deep enough to fit 2 electric toothbrushes AND a tube of toothpaste. And voila...


Let me tell you, I couldn't love this thing more than I already do! It is perfect with vinyl both inside and out, easy to clean! The zipper is a lifesaver because if the brushes are dry, I zip it all the way. If they are wet, I zip it 3/4 way to let it air dry.

Let me know what you think! ;o)

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The Angelie*Genevive Project (AGP)

My little cousin, Angelie (ok, she isn't so little anymore, but she will ALWAYAS be my little cousin!) is going on a summer mission trip to Vietnam with the Good Samaritan Medical Dental Mission Team in July. I am so proud of her! My Uncle and Aunt #8 and their dedicated family, have been going for over 10 years now and the work that they (along with a team of volunteers, medical support staff, doctors, dentists and surgeons) do for the people of the tiny little villages up in the hillside of Vietnam is amazing. B and I were able to go with them in 2003 and the experience was unbelievably powerful and moving. The lens in which you see your daily live is forever changed. It is both humbling and heart wrenching. But lives are touched and changed every year, which is what keeps the Team going strong!

To help coordinate fund-raising efforts for my little ball of sunshine, mariiLang designs will be releasing 30 genevivies (named in honor of my friend Collette's aunt, whom she lost to Breast Cancer). Here is a preview of some of the different prints.

wheel of genevives

These will mostly be available in Colorado, but she'll have a Facebook page to display them, making them available to everyone (plus $5 shipping and handling).

The genevive measures:

6.5" opening
10" base with reinforced material
4.25" high.

Comes with a pocket for your ID and credit card(s) and a 5.5" strap in the matching material.




More details to come, the debut of the Angelie*Genevive Project fundraiser starts on Wednesday, June 23rd!

Vitamin C to the Rescue!

Friends, this stuff helped B and I get through the winter without getting really sick. When we started to feel any symptoms, we didn't think twice about what to reach for. Funny thing is, I didn't get sick all winter long, but got sick at the start of summer! That was mostly because it would get really hot for a few days and then dip down really low the next few days. Through my body into a frenzy!

In our household, we refer to these as "fuzzies" because they do exactly just that when it first makes contact with water. We also mix it with a chopstick :o) You can mix it with just water or even juice, which I haven't done. It tastes good plan, so I haven't even thought to ever change the flavor of it. In fact, I like it so much, I like it with a shot glass worth of water, so it's nice and concentrated. Wait for all the fizzling to stop, but if you like foam, then go for it.

My most favorite flavor is Raspberry, which I tend to buy from Target. But you can get them at any of these Stores. Beware though, the price difference at each place can be huge. I am blanking on how much I paid for it at Target, but it was way cheaper than at Walgreens, which was $14.99 for a box of 30 packets. If you buy it online, it's $12.99. BUT, if you go to Trader Joe's, be prepared to pay... $7.99! I know, RIGHT!? The only downside is, they don't have my precious Raspberry...oh, the pain! But for that price, the Cranberry Pomegranate will do just fine.

Fuzzie cheers, all around!

Two GREEN Thumbs Up!

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is garden! Like many of the plants I grow at home, I too am a transplant, from Oklahoma to California. Here in Cali there is not a lot of yard space to garden flowering plants or food bearing plants. But, with a little ingenuity, anyone can garden anywhere!

Currently, I am practicing the art of container gardening, which is basically using any pot or container that will hold soil and growing your plants in them. People use everything from tires, to baby swimming pools, to old shoes, to simple gardening pots. I am currently using just some cheap plastic pots to grow tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, and serrano chiles. I am seeing the first of my new fruits in two small baby bell peppers (still green, but will turn yellow eventually).

If these plants seem like too big of a commitment for you, try starting off with some simple herbs in a window. Herbs like basil, cilantro and peppermint do very well inside the house if they get enough sunlight. So, just try to place them in a window that receives at least 6 hours of light each day, and you will be amazed how easy it is to grow your own herbs.

If you are growing food bearing plants or herbs, I recommend using an organic insecticidal soap that will naturally repel little pests that also want a piece of this pie! I use Earth-Tone Insecticidal Soap for Organic Gardening. This spray comes in a 24 oz. orange bottle for about $10 and works well. And, you can even use this spray up to the day of harvest, which means it is will not hurt you if a little is consumed.

If you are looking for other plants that are easy to grow (i.e., hard to kill), I recommend something in the succulent or cacti family. My prima, Sulema, just gave me several starter plants of this kind from flowering succulents to medicinal aloe. I simply put them in a plastic container and placed the end of the starter plants in water. They are already sprouting roots and I will plant them in cactus soil in week or so. Again, these do very well in Cali with lots o' sunshine, but as long as you put them next to a window or on a patio where they receive a good amount of light, it is really hard to kill them!

I think two of my favorite plants from the cacti family are my flowering house cactus, that I affectionately have named Luna, and my Echeveria Lila cactus, which looks like a small rosette. The lila cacti are beautiful little plants native to Nuevo Leon, Mexico and found at any garden store in So Cal.


Finally, if you just don't feel like gardening at home you still have options! At least two viable options to be exact. First, can join a community garden where you have a plot of ground alongside other community members and you go to the garden every few days to maintain your plot and grow your food. Here, you can also share plants and seedlings with other community gardeners, meet new peeps, and find out interesting gardening tips from others who are learning with you! A great community garden in my area is the El Sereno Community Garden located on Huntington Drive. This is a pic of some of their garden plots.

And, option two, maybe my ultimate favorite is called Guerrilla Gardening! This means that you find any plot of land that isn't yours, but is wasted ground (like a bare median plot, a plot of dirt along a public sidewalk, or even ground in a public park) and you plant a little garden there. You can either spend time to till the soil and plant food bearing plants, or you can do this as an art project to spice up the plot a little by adding color with bright flowers. This best website dedicated to this type of gardening is called Guerilla Gardening and they refer to this latter method as "Pimp Your Pavement!" I love this! If you check out the site they have a lot of pics of pavements that have successfully been pimped! They also have an amazing guide to "seed bombs" which are various balls or grenade shaped "bombs" of soil filled with seeds that you can throw into gardens, etc. in order to spontaneously garden!

Make this summer one of growth!