A Dose of the Delightful

DIY Gone Awry! Spray-Painting Shoes

This is a post about a DIY d'oh! Sometimes, projects just don't go the way you want them to, no matter how hard you try to make them work. 

In the spirit of making it clear that everything in my life most certainly is not pretty and shiny (you should see the state of my bedroom most of the time!), I wanted to share one of my recent projects, why it didn't work, and what I learned from it.

Mistakes and imperfections are an essential part of a full life, and they teach us so much more than when things go as planned. 

I definitely understand the need to make blogs a visually pleasing, enjoyable place for readers - but I want to make sure I'm not contributing to the idea that life doesn't (or shouldn't) get messy!

This spring, I was inspired by an abundance of pastel colored loafers. Think these:

 

 I gathered my materials: some cheap suede red loafers I found on Etsy, spray paint, and painters' tape. I carefully sprayed on both primer and my mint spray paint until the shoes looked like this:

 

Looks pretty good, right? I couldn't wait to put them on! I did, and here's what happened:

Womp wooomp. Cracks everywhere! All those layers of paint simply weren't going to work with a shoe that had so much flexibility.

Here's what I learned:

• Definitely use a very, very cheap pair of shoes - I did, and I'm so glad I wasn't out much money when these didn't work.
• If you're going to spray paint an entire shoe, a super soft suede is tricky. I think if the suede had been less plush, but still offered some texture, the shoes wouldn't have required so many layers of paint.
• The lighter the color of the original shoe, the better. Having to paint over a bright red required lots of layers for full coverage.
• Spray painting entire shoes should be limited to ones that don't require lots of shoe flexibility. For example, I think very high heels or strappy sandals could work, because when you walk, the shoe's upper doesn't crease/fold.
• The ideal scenario for using paint on shoes would be to add an accent to a small part of the shoe that won't be subject to wear and tear, like the heel or toe of a flat, a la these metallic beauties

Live and learn! Have you guys tried any DIYs lately that didn't quite go as planned?

Anyone tried creating fun accents on shoes using paint?

Currently Delighted By: Kure Bazaar's Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Nail Polish

Currently, Scotch Naturals is my current go-to for completely eco-friendly and non-toxic nail polish. While there are lots of fantastic non-toxic brands out there, Scotch's water-based formula isn't objectionable in the least, and they really seem to get what's going on with color trends.

I'm always on the hunt for any other brands I can add to my repertoire, and I think I've found one in Parisian brand Kure Bazaar!

The formula is 4-free, rather than the now standard 3-free (no formaldehyde - a known carcinogen, and no DBP or toluene - known reproductive disruptors), which means it also excludes camphor (an eye, nose, and throat irritant). Plus, up to 85% of the ingredients (depending on the color) come from natural sources including wood pulp, wheat, cotton, potatoes and corn.

They generously sent me a bottle of Mon Bleu to try, and it's fantastic. 

I'll definitely be purchasing more Kure Bazaar this year. It's not cheap ($16 a pop), but the exclusion of those nasty chemicals is so worth it.

Here's their entire line - what colors strike your fancy?

You can buy Kure Bazaar at Spirit Beauty Lounge and also at Anthropologie.

Colorful Home Inspiration for Bedroom, Living Room, & Kitchen

Color, color, color. It influences our moods so much! The September House Beautiful is chock-full of combinations that lend distinct personality to each of these rooms.

The tranquil blue of the walls of this Greenwich, CT bedroom feels calming, while teal is energetic & creative and navy lends sophistication.

Aquamarine walls (and mattes - interesting touch), stand out against reddish-brown woods, pops of coral red, and brass accents.

This Atlanta living room's tranquil taupes and creams are broken up by pops of sunset-inspired hues.

The colors in this Santa Fe adobe home, built in 1919, are a sort of Southwestern primary palette: buttery yellow, terra cotta red, and a deep blue found often in traditional ceramics.

Color makes such a statement and is one of the least expensive ways to totally change up the way a room feels. My bedroom used to be a pinky peach, which felt soft, girlish and romantic. Now it's aqua (Tropical Pool, to be precise), and it feels a lot more refreshing and energizing.

What is color's role in your home? Anyone planning on switching it up?

 

Good Causes: The Pixie Project

Did you know that one in 9 women in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Abbaba, are trapped in the sex industry?

My good friend Blair, who writes Wild & Precious, cares deeply about trying to change that. She's partnered up with The Mocha Club, a community of people who give up the cost of 2 mochas a month – or $7 – to fund relief and development projects in Africa. They work in five main project areas: Clean Water, Education, Child Mothers + Women At Risk, Orphan Care + Vulnerable Children, and HIV/AIDS + Healthcare.

To incentivize people to donate (and to push herself to do something she's always been nervous to do), she's promised to cut off her long, beautiful brown hair into a pixie cut when she reaches her fundraising goal of $1200. Here's Blair:

Don't you think she'd look good with a pixie? To help make it happen, you can donate here: 

Your donation goes directly towards Mocha Club's programs that gets women out of prostitution.  In return for a commitment to leave the streets, they are given intensive counseling, job training, and medical coverage - basically, a second chance at life.

There are only $96 left to raise! If only 13 more generous people give the cost of 2 mochas, Blair will reach her goal to help these women - and chop off her locks!

Stay tuned for after photos!

Recently Captured: What I've Made/Eaten This Month

Lots of Instagram-crazy folks joke that if you didn't Instagram it, you didn't eat it. I'm not quite that die hard, but lately my Instagram photos have been pretty food-focused! Here are my food shots from the past month - it's fun to look back and see what I've made/eaten.

Top Left: I decided to make this for brunch one recent Saturday morning. I popped over to Essex St. Market for some fresh baked seven-grain from Pain D'Avignon, topped with organic ricotta, organic sautéed kale, and an organic fried egg (recipe here). 
Top Right: My other culinary experiment that day was baking this super delicious, nutritious, grain-free bread using a recipe from Elana's Pantry. It's made of coconut flour & almond flour (flour meaning just finely ground coconuts and almonds) and ground flaxseeds. 
Bottom Left: I'm definitely a crunchy/salty fiend! These baby kale chips were incredibly easy to make, saved me some wilty kale, and stave off those junk cravings. Here's how to make them. 
Bottom Right: Although I've recently been considering cutting way back on dairy to see how it makes me feel, I do love Greek yogurt. Chobani recently opened a SoHo retail shop that whips up delicious creations a la Pinkberry. In the past few weeks, I've had plain yogurt with dark chocolate crumbles, toasted pistachios, mandarin orange slices, and mint. Yum. Even better, the store has made some great choices to further sustainability - all of its creations are served in infinitely recyclable glass. If you take your yogurt to go & later bring back the glass bowl, you get 25 cents back!

Top Left: One of Mongolia's staple foods is mutton. Mutton?!? Yes, mutton. I'll admit we got pretty tired of it after 2 weeks, but these mutton dumplings and pretty red cabbage salad were tasty. 
Top Right: The food in the Seoul airport was delicious - not a McDonald's in sight (at least in my terminal)! On my flight back from Mongolia, I got this tasty, spicy veggie bibimbap. Side note - it's also the cleanest, sparkliest airport I've ever been to. 
Bottom Left: Have you guys ever had dragon fruit (pitaya)? Isn't it pretty? I'm lucky enough to be able to find it in Chinatown, though it's native to East/Southeast Asia. There are two kinds - one that's pink on the outside with white flesh, and one that's pink on outside with hot pink flesh. Unbeknownst to me, I picked the kind with hot pink flesh. It was mildly sweet and reminded me of a kiwi - but the juices were definitely a hazard for clothing if you're not careful!  
Bottom Right: Chia pudding I made using homemade almond milk. This was delicious, but a more exciting meal than I'd have preferred. In recent years, I've developed an allergy to apples and occasionally other things that it's hard to pinpoint. With apples, my mouth gets really itchy and swells, and I've occasionally had the same reaction with almonds. I don't know if my allergy's getting worse or what, or if the almond enzymes were just extra-concentrated in the milk I made, but after a few bites of this, my voice started getting hoarse! I popped some Benedryl and all was fine, but I've learned that what makes me 'sometimes' allergic to almonds is when they're raw. Roasted almonds don't give me any trouble. Bummer!

There you have it - some of what I've made & eaten in the past month. As you can tell, I'm not big on overly complicated recipes & prep, but I've found that doesn't limit me from making something tasty & nourishing. All of the above recipes are very easy - let me know if you try one and what you think!

Cocktail (or mocktail) Hour: Happy National Watermelon Day!

Recipe adapted from here and here

1: IXA Organic Silver Tequila 2, 3, 4,: Fresh blueberries, lime, and watermelon (I choose organic) 5: Sip Sticks - Love these retro-style straws! 6: R.W. Knudsen's Mint Sparkling Essence - subtle, organic, plus no sugar! I included the Cucumber Essence in my last Cocktail Hour 7: Weck Tulip Canning Jar: I really like the shape and weightiness of this canning jar, and also that it can be used for so many different things!

Watermelons are loaded with Vitamins A, B, and C, tons of antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory! This cocktail (or mocktail) is not only a great thirst-quencher, but is also healthier than the average cocktail (provided you only have one ;))

In a blender, blend all ingredients together except Sparkling Essence. Pour essence into glass, pour mixture over it, garnish with watermelon wedge and mint sprig, and serve!

Enjoy!

Today: Guest Post on A Blog About Love!

Photo via Mara's Babble blog - how adorable is her outfit?

Today, head over to A Blog About Love, one of my favorite new blogs, to read my guest post. The couple behind the blog, Mara and Danny Kofoed, are two of the most inspiring folks I've (virtually) met lately, and I'm so flattered they were willing to share their readers with me.

If you're looking to clean up your beauty routine, there are some great recommendations for products to try :)

If you haven't read Mara & Danny's blog, I highly suggest you do so! These two, and what they share, are a testament to the power of choosing your attitude despite whatever your circumstances are.

Hope you enjoy!

-Nat

Currently Delighted By: Argan Serum by Kahina Giving Beauty

Have I told you guys about Quarterly? It's a curated package I receive every 3 months - (my guy gave it to me for my birthday) and it really is the gift that keeps on giving.  Knowing me as well as he does, he got me a subscription to the package curated by the ladies behind No More Dirty Looks, my favorite natural/non-toxic beauty blog.

This quarter, NMDL sent us some seriously restorative stuff: Combat-Ready Balm, Essence of Vali Detox Renew Mist, Stark Skincare's Green Tea Detox Mask, and this wonder serum from Kahina Giving Beauty.

I've been using this super hydrating serum as my night moisturizer. It also works wonders on days when I've had a glass of wine the night before and I'm a little dehydrated.

Haven't worked hydrating serums/oils into your facial skincare routine yet? Read on for why you should give this one a try.

A lot of ladies who haven't tried oils on their faces are afraid they're going to result in oily skin. It does seem a little counterintuitive that facial oils can actually drastically help your complexion. But it's true! When we strip our skin of its own oils (sebum), it goes into overdrive and produces way more than we want. Facial oils are balancing and ultra-hydrating, and depending on the type of oil, can perform other duties as well. For example, tea tree, myrtle, and lavender oils are antiseptic and great for blemish healing.

After using harsh cleansers and synthetic moisturizers since I was a teenager, I'll never go back - they stripped my skin of all its natural goodness and I found they were actually aging and drying rather than 'wrinkle-fighting,' 'firming,' or whatever other vague claims they made.

Sooo, back to why this particular argan oil is the one to try. I'm sure you've noticed that argan is definitely having a moment as the miracle ingredient du jour - there are argan oil hair products, facial products, hand soaps, etc. High quality argan contains skin-nourishing antioxidants and high concentrations of nutrients and essential fatty acids. It has twice as more than twice as much vitamin E as olive oil and tons of Omega 6 & Omega 9, which feed skin's healthy growth.

Low quality oils go through a process that strips it of these nutrients. I'd definitely skip products you find in the grocery store or drugstore that say they include argan - I've scrutinized the ingredient lists of a lot of them myself, and many of them are full of cheap synthetics and fillers (most of which, in my opinion, would completely derail any of the potential benefits of the stuff).

To put it bluntly, this organic oil has all of the pure goodness with none of other crap. It's 100% pure, unadulterated, and organic to boot. Plus, this company's founder, Katharine L'Heureux, is on a mission to support the Berber women of North Africa, who painstakingly extract the oil from the argan nut. In addition to paying a fair wage for the oil, Kahina provides the women and their families additional support by funding local initiatives. Katharine has also funded the organic certification of a women’s cooperative to allow them to more successfully participate in the international argan trade. The previously unprofitable cooperative now provides steady wages for its 46 members. 

I feel pretty strongly that the products we choose to buy represent a great deal more than just the item itself - and this one stands for all the right things for me. What more could you want out of a beauty item than results, pure ingredients, environmental soundness, beautiful packaging, and social responsibility? 

Let me know if you decide to give it a try!