What's Up?

Hey, guys! It's been hard to peel myself away from being outdoors now that Stephen is off for the summer. But my own deadlines are looming this week, so I figured I'd take some time to write on the blog to tell you what we've been up to lately.

// Lake George

We went on a very last-minute vacation last week to Lake George, NY. The last time we'd been up in that part of the Adirondacks was in 2009! It was just as beautiful as we remembered, though, and it was fun taking the kids around to places we enjoyed when we were basically still newlyweds.

Here's a few photos:

I've been interested to see that many of you are asking on Instagram if we're going to Cape May this year! I realize we go most every year, but this year we decided to switch it up with the ADK. We are going to Wildwood Crest this summer with my in-laws, though.

23 Weeks Pregnant

I had a doctor appointment last Friday and I'm now in my 23rd week of pregnancy. Everything is going well aside from occasional heart palpitations (I have a test set up to see what's up with those). Still running 4-5 days a week, but I've switched it up due to the heat where I'm running .75 miles and walking .25 miles for four miles total instead of running three straight. It's working out better that way.

I will be sure to do a more formal pregnancy update soon, but I'll be honest and say my two are keeping me plenty busy. It's flying by, which is a new and welcomed experience for me.

House Projects

We're in the middle of extending our backyard fence right now. I love and hate summer because we have lots of time to do work . . . but the money flow is more stagnant than usual. That said, Stephen decided to switch up how he gets paid this year, so we got a nice balloon check at the start of the summer and now feel confident we can frugally do a few projects.

Other items on the list:

• Moving Eloise's room (painting)
• Painting the nursery (because we never finished before Eloise came along)
• Adding a side yard garden

Stock Tank Pool

Our other big project was the stock tank pool. We're absolutely loving it. Again, I'll do a full update on it soon along with some stuff we've learned after installing it and using it for a month or so. In this heat wave, it's been such a blessing to have a small pool of water to soak in! And I love how it looks. I don't think we'll ever do a bigger pool. This one is totally manageable and pretty. Yes, trendy . . . but, hey, I am into trends that make sense.

Here's part I of the stock tank pool story.

What's next?

I have a homemade granola bar recipe I plan to post on either Thursday or Friday. It's vegan, gluten-free and peanut-free. I mean, I eat all those things, but I know some of you have more restricted diets and appreciate these types of recipes. So HOLD ME TO IT! I am hoping to post twice a week during the summer. Again, HOLD ME TO IT! I still love blogging, it's just hard to transition between seasons of work/coaching/etc. during the year.

Hope you're all having a nice summer and staying cool.

And happy 4th of July!

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Our Stock Tank Pool: Part I

You may remember the pool we set up last year in the backyard. It was absolutely perfect. Around 7.5 feet by 9.5 feet and just around 2 feet deep. The kids had so much fun splashing around all summer in those 870 gallons of H2O. The setup worked well, and it was relatively inexpensive. If you're interested, I would highly recommend these Bestway pools as a first step into learning how to care for a pool.

But we had a mouse issue in the fall and they got to the pool. So, we needed a solution for this year . . . and hopefully for many years to come. I've seen so many articles about stock tank pools crop up in recent years. I was always too intimidated by the process of getting a huge galvanized tub to my house, so it was on the back burner.

This year, we decided to pull the trigger.

For those of you who have been asking me questions (and there are many of you!): We picked up our 8 foot stock tank at Tractor Supply. It's 24 inches deep. Our store does not do delivery, so we asked a friend to help us get it home. It wasn't too bad a process -- aside from one roadside adjustment -- and ended up being much easier than we anticipated. When we got it home, we gave it a good scrub because the store had been displaying plants inside it.

From there, it was all about re-leveling the area we had dug out last year.

Surprisingly, it took a few hours to get the area absolutely perfect. Last year, we settled with level-ish. But one benefit of getting this type of pool is that you can leave it out all year. We're hoping to leave it in place, so taking our time was in our best interest.

When that was done, we put it where we want it to go and got to work on the landscaping. Mostly rocks that we bought at the store and pulled up from the creek area behind our house.

I love how it looks! So much prettier than the bold blue with white supports from last year.

This stock tank holds around 700 gallons of water, so it is smaller than last year's. I had to buy a new filter pump that we are going to drill/hook up tonight. That will be part II of my posting. But if you're interested in doing a similar project at your home, I highly suggest checking out the number of really helpful tutorials I found online.

Here are some of my favorites:

DIY Stock Tank Pool: Everything You Need to Know
How to Make a Stock Tank Pool
Stock Tank Swimming Pool Ideas

Just a budget breakdown. We ended up getting the tank for $349 plus tax at the store. They're usually $399, but we got it on a Memorial Day sale. The new filter we bought was $35 on Amazon. The rock was around $30 because we already had some leftover from last year. It's not the least expensive upgrade we could have done, but I am hoping it will pay off in the long run.

Why didn't we go with a larger option? Well, partially because we didn't want to eat up our yard with a pool the whole year. Or have a big hole when it's cold outside. I like that it's shallow enough that Eloise's head is well above the water. But yet it's big enough to still get in as an adult and cool down. It looks nice, though I understand the style isn't for everyone. And we are hoping that the galvanized steel is durable and lasts for many years.

If you have further questions, I'd be happy to answer them either in the comments or on Instagram!

I'm going to do another post once we get it up and running to talk about any issues we run into or any tips I have. But I won't be writing out a full tutorial. Again, I highly recommend the links I provided above. We're learning as we go.

Happy Monday!

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Weekend Recap // Mother's Day, etc.

Hey, everyone!

Happy belated Mother's Day. 

It was a rainy and cold one here, but we packed in a lot of fun stuff this weekend. Stephen had three track meets last week. And Saturday was a long one in the rain. Poor guy. My parents actually came up on Saturday for the afternoon and took us out to eat at our favorite restaurant. It's my dad's birthday today, too, so there's lots to celebrate. I was bummed, though, because the only menu item they were out of was exactly what I planned to get (a quinoa burger). But I made up for it with a huge slice of vegan chocolate peanut butter pie.

Sunday morning we woke up, tossed on some clothes (nothing fancy -- it was laundry day), and drove down the street to our local diner. It's a good spot. Just basic food. We got there before the big rush, thank goodness. I got a chocolate Belgian waffle topped with whipped cream. And I think I ate it in two seconds flat. Ada had made me a little Mother's Day book at school as well as a last-minute hand-drawn card. Stephen also has a tradition of making silly cards using family photos. In mine, he gave me a coupon to take a spa day for myself next weekend.

He also got me tickets to go see A Quiet Place yesterday afternoon (so good). Going to the movies alone is my favorite thing to do since becoming a mom. It's dark, quiet (and THAT movie was INCREDIBLY quiet), and nobody is yelling for me or needing anything.

Perfection.

I also got a nice gift card from my in-laws for Ulta. So, I thought I'd share my Ulta haul. I know it's silly, but I've gotten in the habit of watching haul videos on YouTube. I love seeing what other people buy or use for different products. I'm not a real high-end type of person when it comes to personal care. In fact, I do still make some of my own bath and body stuff. As a result, I was able to get an impressive haul of things I'll be using for months to come.

Anyway, here's what I got:

Soap + Glory is my favorite. This shower gel and lotion set (with loofah) was on clearance for only $10. Score. They were also running a sale of buy 1/get one 40% off for the brand. So, I picked up another container of my favorite face cleansing milk (best smell ever) and my favorite lip gloss (in Rose & Shine).

I had originally planned to get my hair dyed professionally, but I'm going to go it on my own with this L'oreal box dye. I've used this kind a lot in the past with varying results. It's only hair. We'll see how my highlights turn out. I also picked up a hair oil spritz by OGX. It's super light weight and has organ oil. It also smells amazing.

Neutrogena's hyaluronic acid line (especially the foundation!) is doing great things for my skin. So, I picked up some of the Hydro Boost Skin Serum and the Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream. Other skin-care stuff I love is a face mist by Mario Badescu. And I couldn't resist getting a lip scrub that smells like my beloved mojitos. Gosh I miss those when the weather is hot.

Last but not least, I picked up some of my favorite NYX eyebrow pencils. I had been buying the Anastasia Brow Wiz for a long time. But I go through so much product, I needed to find a good + cheap alternative. I am really happy with NYX. And to round it out, I got a bath bomb for Ada that has a prize inside. Fun!

Happy Monday. I'll be back soon with more parenting stuff. You guys really liked my post about why I do the things the way I do with parenting. So, I'm hoping to write more around that topic. If you have questions or suggestions, send them my way!

(Note: I'm linking to Amazon because it's the easiest -- but check local stores for better prices. Some of these prices are great and some of them are not. Buyer beware!)

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10-Year Rewind // Before the Blog

You know how everyone always asks what’s in your 5-year or 10-year plans? Do you ever know how to answer that question? I definitely felt like I was super goal-oriented and ambitious 10 years ago. I’d daydream about what direction my career would take, where my personal life would meander, and when kids might enter the equation. I thought it’d be fun instead of projecting what my next 10 years might look like . . . to take a step back and examine myself 10 years ago. When I was 24.

Stephen and I were married a couple months after I turned 24 (he was 23! We were BABIES!).

We lived together in a 2-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of Ithaca, NY, at the time. Scully (R.I.P.) lived with us, and I took a lot of photos of her back then. It was in this apartment that I really started cooking and baking up a storm. I started my first blog (Method) here, and I’m pretty sure this photo is from some pumpkin muffins I posted.


I used to love how the sunlight would stream into our kitchen from the sliding doors leading out to the tiny balcony. I think we MAY have been able to see a sliver of Cayuga lake from this spot. Oh, by this point, I had lived in a whopping 10 different houses/apartments in my life.

Scully had already lived in five, so that shows you exactly how much I had moved in the three years since college graduation (I adopted Scully a few weeks after graduating in 2005).



Stephen and I were big into running shorter distance races back then. I think we mostly did 10Ks, but we’d do long runs like up to 8 miles. Our apartment was in a hilly area with mostly country highways, so I didn’t like going much farther than that. It was a good area for biking, though, which is why you see those bikes on our balcony. We’d go for hours-long rides and look at the lake.

We especially liked trekking to a nearby park that had a lighthouse.


We also did a lot of kayaking. I don’t remember what it’s like to have so much free time!


So, when I was 24, I was working at a software company in the marketing department. I absolutely loved the people I worked with. In fact, I’m still very close friends with a few of them.

LOL. Sorry, guys. I love this photo.



Professionally, though, I was sort of a mess. I was in over my head trying to go from a communications person to a marketing manager. I had no idea what I was doing half the time. I was traveling often for work (which really stressed me out).

Here’s a photo from a campus visit where I helped film our products in action.


Anyway, it got to be too much. Around 10 years ago I did make the decision to leave that job and pursue a different path. I first left and started working as a professional writing tutor at a community college. I won’t go into my career progression (I covered it in a video, if you’re interested). But that was a big transition for me in 2007/8.

What else? I was getting really into photography. I bought my first DSLR and would take long walks just to find photo opportunities. I learned a lot through trial and error.


I was also in community orchestra.


We had moved to downtown Ithaca at some point during that year because we were unhappy in the country. But that ended up not working out either because Stephen was commuting to his first teaching job, and it was killer for him. So, one of the biggest changes that year was the big move from Ithaca about an hour away. It was still close, but we knew nobody, so intimidating and somewhat a mixed bag of emotions.

Also: Moving multiple times in a year SUCKS.


We bought our first house, so you can see that this meant I had moved from house/apartment 10 earlier to 11 and then 12. Phew. But it was cool to dig in and do some DIY home stuff.

Like ripping up #allthecarpet


Wow does style change. This was a mood board I had made for the living room plan at the new house.

Holy orange and blue!


I was super into mid-century style.


And this was our bedroom. I was so proud of it back then!


And then some short while after we moved in, we adopted Rivey.


And then at some point, I started working at the university library. This was my usual style there. I always wore scarves, too. For some reason, I have this photo titled “zero-dollar outfit” -- so I was into frugal fashion even 10 years ago!


I also started (never)homemaker around the same time in my small, carpeted kitchen. A few of you have been following me since then. Wow. Thank you. Can you believe this is 10 years ago?!?!?!


What a blast from the past. Thanks for reading if you got this far. I am hoping to put up my gift ideas for kids post soon!

What were you doing 10 years ago?

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Weekend Things | Burst and Bloom

// 1: Check out these flowers. They're blooming on the tree in front of our home.

After nearly two weeks of cruddy, rainy, cold weather -- next week looks to be turning all things summer. Well, that is, after this weekend's monsoon. I'll take what I can get, though. And today? Today things are looking nice.

// 2: Read When the Gospel of Minimalism Collides With Everyday Life via the New York Times.

It's an interesting take on the "trend" of minimalism and how maybe all those pretty photos you look at of all-white rooms on Instagram don't tell the whole story. It is definitely a new way to look at things when you realize that minimalism is something that you can come to mostly if you have some privilege. It is indeed a privilege to decide to live without things that you already have versus simply not having them.

I'm in the middle on this discussion. I find a host of benefits from trying to adopt minimalist ideas. I'm far from being perfect at it, so this will be a discuss to expand upon another day.

// 3: Make chia pudding. Just do it.

Today's ROAD meal was a simple smoothie. But I wanted to mix things up a bit -- quite literally.


Chia pudding is simple. Just use a cup of almond milk or any plant-based milk. Then toss in four tablespoons of chia seeds (I get mine at Aldi). Stir every now and again for about 15-20 minutes. And then you're golden. For the rest of my smoothie, I simply blended frozen cherries, banana, and water in my NutriBullet. Then I layered and slurped.

// 4: Look at these girls!


Eloise is on the brink of walking. As in, I think it'll happen within the next week or two. As a result, the girls have suddenly started playing together. As much as they can. It's adorable to watch. I still have to be around E like a hawk because she's still in that phase of falling on her head often. You know, though, progress.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there. This will be my sixth big day, and it gets sweeter each year.

// 5: Try Schmidt's deodorant.



I've made my own deodorants throughout the years, but I decided to give Schmidt's a try, and I'm so glad I did. It works really well and smells absolutely amazing. You can find it at Target . . . but they have even more fun varieties on Amazon. My personal favorite is Lavender + Sage. I bought Stephen the Cedarwood.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Weekend Things

Random post for you guys today. Maybe it's the return of WEEKEND THINGS! Here's what's current in my life right now. If you didn't catch yesterday's post, check that out. I didn't really advertise it. But it's a goodie. Not only is happy within reach . . . but you can also lose 43 pounds by Memorial Day. You know. Because that sounds about right.

Current goal: Yoga everyday

I don't know if I'm just getting older or if I'm just being lazy with my strength and flexibility. It's probably a combination of the two. Whatever the case, I feel so stiff and sore all the time. I can't bound around and feel like I'm 10+ years older than I actually am. I've been running a good amount, but what I haven't been doing is much stretching.

So, I'm committing to at least 15 minutes of yoga each and everyday. Unfortunately, I shopped around at our local classes . . . and our schedule is too hectic for me to make a class in person. No problem! I do videos on Yoga with Adrine's YouTube channel. Totally free. Totally awesome. Totally varied. Totally on my schedule. I actually just finished 20 minutes of yoga outside on our deck. What a great way to flow in the morning!

Current joy: Being outdoors.

The weather has done a 180. There's nothing more boring than going on and on about the weather, but when you live where it's winter essentially half the year. Yeah. It's a big deal. We're in the 70s and 80s this week, and I couldn't be happier. The leaves are starting up on the trees. There's pollen, but I'm happy to sneeze a little if it means I can be outdoors in shorts and a T-shirt.

I have a serious question for those of you who live in warmer climates: Do you ever get tired of it? Or do you just bask in the glory of being where's warm all the time? We likely cannot move due to a variety of reasons, but I genuinely feel I'd live a longer, happier life somewhere warmer.

Current workout: 3-mile stroller jog.

Stephen's long hours have meant that my own fitness has been hit or miss. I'm trying to get in 10,000 steps a day at very minimum. It's actually harder than you might think for someone who works from home. It's become much easier with the weather change, though. I'm going to do a post next week about how I get in my 10,000. But besides walking and general movement, I've started jogging with the stroller again.

I can do only about 3-4 miles tops before Eloise gets antsy. She lasts about a half hour with a cracker and teething toy. But I take her up on it. It's better than dooming myself to feeling trapped just because I don't have babysitting. I am also hoping to start doing some more strength workouts with kettlebells again.

Current lunch: Ramen noodles with veggies and a fried egg.

I found this brand of ramen noodles at Wegmans recently that's only 99 cents per bowl. They're organic and made with heirloom wheat. Of course, they don't have a ton of nutrition as is. So, I've started adding a cup of frozen veggies to the mix. Then I top it off with a fried egg. It's pure heaven. I am really excited for lunch today.

You can find the Koyo noodles on Amazon (that kind is reduced sodium -- I may need to order them!) if you cannot find them at your local store. If you're gluten-free, I've also had good success with the Thai Kitchen noodles in the past. They're rice versus wheat.

Current show: The People vs. OJ Simpson

Raise your hand if you remember watching the infamous Ford Bronco car chase back in the early 1990s. Also raise your hand if you know all the names of the people involved in the OJ Simpson trial. Keep your hand raised if you REALLY know anything about what happened. Yeah. I have the first two, but watching this show has been really eye-opening. I had no idea that the car chase was as complicated as it actually was. I also had no idea that OJ and the Kardashian family were so intimately connected.

It's a a good show. Plus, I absolutely love Sarah Paulson. What have you been watching lately?

Current obsession: Outdoor spaces. 

We recentely added a 10 x 10 addition to our deck. It has made just a gigantic difference in our backyard, let me tell you! Now I'm obsessed with making the ultimate backyard . . . on a budget. I'm hoping to make this a bit of a series. We need to build a better fence this summer, but I'd also like to spiff up the fire pit area and the garden. Wow. The garden needs some attention.

Here's a question for you green thumbs: If I am a lazy gardener this year without much plan -- what plants should I do? Cherry tomatoes have done really well in the past. I just want some produce and the experience of growing without having to give up a lot of time. I just don't have it right now. I think next year we could have a pretty banging garden if I start sooner.

Current cart:

And here's the stuff I've purchased or put in my cart on Amazon lately.

• I am finally buying a new pair of Birkenstock Mayari sandals. I bought my last pair in 2012. I cannot tell you how many people ask about these shoes. Mine have held up so well . . . but now the cork and tread have both had it. I've seen these shoes go for upwards of $120, so $80 felt like a total win -- especially knowing how much I will wear them.
•  OK. So as I was just getting the link for the sandals I bought, I somehow stumbled on the Birkenstock Daloa sandals. Ugh. That might be on my birthday list this year. They wrap around the ankle! 
• Since I'm trying to create a Braverman backyard, I've obviously been researching lighting. I think I may go with these solar globe string lights for the deck. Do you have experience with solar string lights? I didn't know there was such a thing!
• This adorable wooden fox ride-on toy by ALEX. Because Eloise's birthday is SO SOON. How did this happen!? 
• I'm also looking into those spiderweb swings to add one to our swing set.

That's all I have for you today. I actually don't have any freelancing work to finish up (#winning), so I'm hoping to enjoy a bit of quiet and maybe do a bit more yoga before Eloise wakes up from her nap. This weekend, I need to turn my attention to the indoors for cleaning. Our outdoor spaces look so nice . . . but, yeah, we actually LIVE inside. So, you know.

Enjoy!

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Me

Thank you for all your kind words and shared experiences related to Losing Scully. It's been a weird week. But I think we are feeling more at peace with our decision. I found a stray dark cat hair on myself earlier today, and it is still a strange feeling. Over time, though, I know it will get better. But thanks again for sharing your stories with us.

Today I thought I'd post a video. It's been a while, but I really want to keep up with my YouTube channel. This is a video I've seen going around for a while with 10 things you didn't know about me. I tried choosing things I don't think I've covered on the blog. They're not all terribly interesting -- but you get the idea!



This month really got away with me between taxes, Scully, Stephen's track schedule, and spring break. I'm hoping to get into a better groove from today forward. So, I'll be back on here soon with another post.

Happy Monday!

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Watch Me Get Ready! 5-Minute SAHM Makeup

Quick post for your Friday. Get ready with me! Here's my everyday makeup routine. It's very basic, it takes me just five minutes to complete. And when I'm done, I look natural -- just a bit more polished. Many of the products I use are from the corner drug store, though I do splurge on a few items, like my brow pencil.

Here we go!




Like I said in the video, I'm not (and don't pretend to be) a makeup expert. This is just the routine that works for me and fits into my schedule. When I go out, I may take some more time to do eye shadow, etc. -- but, I generally don't do anything more than this simple routine.

My hair, on the other hand, could use some help! I am considering getting it cut again. Not sure yet. I just hate the stage when it's too short to pull up but too long to look good by doing nothing to it. And I also haven't decided if I'll continue with blonde or go back to more of my natural shade.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed watching me get ready for the day. Now I'm off to visit a friend. Eloise's naps are definitely funky today, so wish me luck that she won't have a meltdown.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

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Cacao Coconut Banana Bread

We've been baking this particularly fabulous (and vegan!) loaf of banana bread every week since January. This is your perfect weekend or -- in our case -- snow day baking project. Yup. We've got yet another snow day over here today.

Anyway, banana bread tastes great, is semi-healthy, and is hard to mess up. You can use up those past-peak bananas and add in whatever you have in the pantry.

And kids love to help (and eat!).

CACAO COCONUT BANANA BREAD

What you'll need . . . 

• 3 super ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (refrigerated kind)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup white flour
• Scant 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• Heaping 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Handful unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Method . . . 

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spritz a glass 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray or coat in a little coconut oil.
2. Mash the bananas until they are goopy. You can also run them in your mixer with the paddle attachment.
3. Add the oil, sugar, coconut milk, and vanilla extract to the bowl and whisk well. 
4. Then toss in the dry ingredients -- except the shredded coconut and chocolate chips -- and mix until just incorporated.
5. Then briefly fold in the chocolate chips and coconut flakes.
6. Bake for 50 minutes to a full hour, until edges slightly pull away from sides of pan and the center is set. (You can insert a toothpick -- I used a knife! -- to check.)
7. Let your loaf cool for 20 minutes or so before taking it out of the pan to cool the rest of the way on your cooling rack. 

Slice and enjoy with a good smattering of peanut butter!


Related recipes:

• The BEST Banana Bread
• Nutella + Chocolate Chip Banana Bread 
• Banumpkin Bread 
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Cinnamon Raisin Applesauce Bread 
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

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Mommy + Daughter // Pink Hair

Good morning, everyone! You may have gathered on Instagram that Ada and I dyed our hair pink this weekend. What fun! Really -- I love Overtone hair coloring conditioner so much. I've gone purple, orange, grey, purple again, and now pink. Each and every time, the product impresses me.

I promised Ada that she could temporarily dye her hair pink for Valentine's day. So, I ordered a bottle of vibrant pink, waited a few days, and here's what happened.



We love the color.

I really wish mine looked exactly like Ada's.

Some major hair goals right there.

So, there you have it. Pink hair. At least for a while.

If you'd like to hear more about my thoughts on Overtone, check out my first Before/After YouTube video when I did orange. (Don't forget to subscribe while you're there!) PS: As with many of my reviews, I bought the product myself and have no affiliation with the company.

Happy Wednesday!

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DIY Beeswax Ornaments

One of my favorite things about the Christmas tree is our wax ornaments we made a few years ago. I wrote about them soon after I made them, but I never quite explained the process. With still a good six days until Santa comes, you surely have enough time to try this out. They make wonderful gift wrapping toppers, too!

Here's some from our collection:

Beeswax Ornaments 

What you'll need . . .

• Beeswax, of course*
• Old pot and glass bowl (or double boiler)
• Molds
• Spray oil
• Twine or yarn or ribbon
• Something sharp to poke holes

* Alright, with the beeswax, you can definitely head to your local craft supply store and get it either by the block or in little pellets. Don't forget to take one of those 40% off coupons with you to save on it. The pellets are easier to work with, but we've used block wax with no issue either. 

If you think ahead next year, consider heading to a local apiary for wax or ordering some online. I've ordered beeswax on Amazon that I use for ornaments, but also for different DIY things, like natural lotion cubes, zero-plastic food wrap, and 5-minute homemade deodorant.


How to:

// 1: Lay out all your supplies. Wax sets rather quickly, so you'll want to have the molds ready when it's time to pour. Clear out some space in your fridge, too. I liked putting mine in there to cool.

// 2: Fill a pot halfway with some water and place the glass bowl inside the pot to create a double boiler of sorts. Toss in some shaved wax an melt it over medium heat. I never got too detailed with how much wax. I just did a bunch (a pound) and if I didn't need it all, it would cool a bit while I waited for everything to set. I could re-melt it or store again for later use.

// 3: For my ornaments, I used simple candy molds made from plastic. Though I don't think this is the best practice, it got the job done. Some people use Brown Bag Cookie Molds, and they are gorgeous, but expensive. I'd love to find some of these on thrift for the future. I think silicone molds would work out wonderfully (and be easy to take ornaments out of).

In the end, you just need anything to mold. I got creative and used a decorative dish. Whatever you use, you'll want to spritz just the slightest bit of oil on it. At least that is what I did. Not too much or it might affect your end result. But just enough to help the wax slide out/off when it is set.

// 4: So, once your wax is all melted, slowly pour it into the mold (that's on a level, flat surface). It should start cooling right away. Very carefully transfer your molds to the refrigerator and wait a good 10 minutes before taking the ornaments out.

Just FYI -- I've even experimented with adding glitter and other texture to my ornaments (see image below). I've used green rice to make a wreath, etc. It's fun. Play around. My favorite ornament is the one I put very large flakes of hexagonal gold glitter inside of.


// 5: Once they are out of the mold and completely set (you may need to shimmy a bit), poke a hole where you'd like to thread some twine, ribbon, or yarn. You can even use a paper clip in a pinch. Just make sure you're not too close to the edge or it might break off.

// 6: Storage. Once you're done using the ornaments for the year, I like to store them in plastic wrap. They can break, so use care that they don't have pressure placed on them. I read once if your ornaments get a bit cloudy looking, you can quickly blast them with a hair dryer to make them a bit shinier. I haven't tried that trick myself.

So, there you go! It's a bit late, I admit. But -- honestly? I think these ornaments would be a fun activity you could do in the week AFTER Christmas to save until next year. Or even to make for other holidays. I have to say, they're one of my favorite DIY projects to date.

Oh! And they also add this nice, natural scent to the room that goes well with your tree's aroma. You could even put a couple drops of essential oils in them for good measure.

The countdown begins! Have you finished your shopping? There's a couple more days. Don't forget to check out my 2016 gift lists!

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