No, I don’t have bad grammar.
Real simple hairstyles as in Real Simple the magazine.
[Grins]

I recently got my July Real Simple in the mail and was immediately drawn to their simple summer hairstyles feature.

I love trying new things with my hair as it’s somewhat fine and long and won’t do much without some styling effort. So I decided to give 2 of the medium-to-long hair styles out.

I started out with wavy, air-dried hair that I gave some boost with Aussie’s Awesome Volume Styling Mousse. Love that stuff.

Once it was mostly dried I sprayed some Aussie’s Sprunch Hair Spray at the roots, flipped my head over and blow dried until all my hair was dry. Then I lightly combed out any stiff areas and teased my roots slightly at the crown.

Up first, the Sidewinder.

I followed the instructions to a T, minus the hot rollers as my hair was already wavy.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150321192450/http://mylittlecelebration.com/real-simple-hairstyles/I%20really%20liked%20this%20style.%20It%20was%20like%20a%20more%20summery,%20casual%20side%20pony. And it was super easy, which I liked.

Next up, the Twists.

OK, this was one an epic fail. By the time I finished one side I already felt like a 5-year-old named Suzy Joe Arbuckle. So, I modified it by twisting the front of my long bangs back and over my ear and secured them with a bobby pin. Then, I added a flower clip just for fun.

Yes, this was much better than little miss pigtails.

Thanks Real Simple! 1 out of 1 ain’t bad. And it’s probably my fault that I couldn’t master “The Twists.” I can be somewhat hair challenged at times.

Qs:

What is your favorite summer hairstyle at the moment?

Do you blow dry and heat style even when it’s hot out? No. As in N-O.

xo

Dana

just for funs.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZSbC09qgLI[/youtube]

Oh hey. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been going a little hippie lately. What’s new?

Last year I took up couponing, which isn’t necessarily hippie. But it is frugal.
I also officially switched to reusable grocery bags in 2010 and we now recycle like it’s our religion.
Two years prior I made patchouli my primary scent.
I pick up lavender whenever I see any just for touching and smelling.
And I got my nose pierced while visiting Portland.
Oh, and I live in long skirts.
In other words, it’s geting pretty flower child up in here.

And now? Homemade laundry soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Previously I’ve always relied on coupons to score laundry detergent for cheap. But even though it was less expensive, it still wasn’t natural. So after talking to several friends about other alternatives, I decided to go the homemade route.

This recipe is incredibly simple; I adapted mine from SugarPie FarmHouse. It’s essentially equal parts baking soda, super washing soda, borax and bar soap (either Ivory, Kirk’s Castile, or Zotes).

I did one cup of each of the dry ingredients plus one bar grated Ivory soap and was pleased with the result. It’s recommended to use just 2 tablespoons per load, and all of my supplies should last at least 150 loads. Estimated cost is right around $.08 per load, which is about as cheap as it gets.

Here was my cost breakdown.

2 large boxes Baking soda: $3.38
1 large box Super wash soda: $3.35
1 large box Borax: $4.99
10-pack Ivory soap: $4.37
Total: $16.09

16 bucks for natural laundry soap isn’t a bad deal, especially since I expect it to last me well over a year, if not two. Previously, I was spending at least $4 every two months for detergent, which equals at least $24 a year. So I’m happy with this trade-off. Plus, I made it with my own hands! I feel so accomplished, and homestead.

For storage, I used an old protein powder container, but you can use whatever. I’d just recommend anything with a lid to keep it fresh and easily contained. The whole process took me about 5 minutes. Next time I may try and add a few sprigs of lavender just for pretty scent, but I couldn’t get my hands on any this time. Sha-nucks.

So, about that ‘No-Poo Method.”

When I first saw the words “no-poo method” on my friend Alina’s blog, I thought it meant literally no poo, as in no poop. ‘Um, no poop? Yes please! Tell me more about that.” Embarassing, I was way off. No shampoo, no conditioner was more the gist.

Anyways, I hate buying shampoo, it’s expensive, it never works and my hair always ends up looking like I’m a hobo anyways, so what was the point? Considering these factors, I decided to give it a try. What was to lose anyways?

Now that I’ve been poo-free for about a month, in hindsight, I wish I’d started sooner because it, is, awesome.

I got my recipe from Simple Mom and the idea is essentially to use baking soda and apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo and condish because it’s more natural for you hair, it doesn’t strip the essential oils, and it’s way cheaper.

One of my favorite benefits so far has been that it’s made my hair way more pliable, meaning I style my hair in the morning and it stays that way all day long. Plus, it has way more volume, which is virtually unheard of for my fine, limp hair. When I poof it up, it stays. Consider me WOWed.

The recommended recipe is 1 tablespoon baking soda + 1 cup water for shampoo, and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar + 1 cup water for conditioner. I store mine in little squeezable bottles with caps for easy application, but a spray bottle would likely also work just fine.

I’m currently one month in with this method and still going strong, with no intention of ever going back to conventional shampoo and conditioner. John even said he’d be up for giving it try it when he runs out of his current brand. Looks like my hippie-ness is rubbing off on the Mr., too. Oh joy.

Next up for me? Trying the oil face cleansing method, just as soon as I run out of my current overpriced, chemical-ridden face wash. Full review to come soon. Be, stoked.

-Dana

When I was a teenager my sister and I were obsessed with face masks, picking up a new brand or sample nearly every time we went to the store. We were sub-consciously convinced that they were the answer to all our beauty woes since we both had oily, acne-prone skin (and still kind of do).

However, I always hated that the masks were harsh and often contained ingredients that really irritated my skin. Plus, they never really provided noticeable results.

Well, today I have a natural remedy to share. Actually, it’s one that my natural beauty-loving friend Ashley shared over on her blog Never Homemaker (cute name, huh?).

I made it the apple pie face mask for the first time about a month ago and LOVED it. It tightened my skin, seemed to tighten and refresh it, and gave it remarkable texture. It was like a super-power all-natural face mask made of nothing but food!

Since then I’ve made it several times and have been dabbing a little on my face here and there right out of the shower or before bed. Friends, I’m hooked. I think you should be, too.

Find the exact recipe over at Never Homemaker, but all you’ll need is a banana, apple cider vinegar, oats and cinnamon!

Ashley does a great job at outlining the benefits of each ingredient for our skin, which gave me even more confidence that it not only felt like it was working, it was actually working.

Since trying this mask it’s the the only one I’ve used since! But it has me wanting to try and experiment with all other kinds of natural masks to beautify my skin. In the meantime, however, I’m very happy with the results this mask has provided!

If you have a favorite homemade mask recipe, please share! I’d love to know.

xo,
Dana

This recipe comes from a very special woman who has become like a grandmother to me even though she’s technically not. Her name is Sally. She has the sweetest blue eyes you’ve ever seen. She loves giving hugs. Everything from her kitchen is made with love. And she’s the grandma of my best friend, Ashley who shared this recipe with me several years ago as a bridal shower gift.

The best thing about this bread is that it’s easy to make. It comes together in about 2 hours including rising and baking time. And it has a touch of honey and oatmeal that gives it an incredibly moist texture and sweetness that makes it perfect fresh out of the oven with butter or as breakfast toast with jam.

Sally made a couple loaves of this bread when John and I went to visit her and Grandpa Don at Wallowa Lake, Oregon, last year. For dinner one evening she made vegetable beef stew and served it with toasted oatmeal bread and homemade apricot jam.

I’d swear it was the best homemade bread I’d ever had. We all had several pieces that night. We couldn’t seem to stop once we started, just like with everything Grandma Sally makes. She seems to have the golden touch.

SALLY’S OATMEAL BREAD
makes 2 loaves 

INGREDIENTS
1 c oatmeal
2 c boiling water
2 T butter, softened
1/2 c honey
2 yeast packets in 1/3 c warm water
5 c flour
2 tsp. salt
1 c chopped walnuts [optional]

METHOD
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Let oatmeal and boiling water set for 20 minutes, then prepare yeast and let set for 5 minutes. Combine all other ingredients and knead briefly on a floured surface to bring it together. Let rise 40-50 minutes covered in a warm place. Punch down and split into 2 greased loaf pans. Let rise another 20-25 minutes. Then bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown.

note: to make one loaf, simply halve the ingredients. also, adding candied cherries and dates is a great option for the holidays.

I hope you enjoy this bread as much as I do.
I hope it comforts you on the coldest of winter days.
I hope you eat it toasted with apricot jam.
And dunk it in warm bowls of soup.
And I hope it makes you think of the grandmothers in your life and to be thankful for them, like it does for me.

enjoy. xo. dana.

I learned something recently. Or relearned it rather.
That peanuts are not a nut, but in fact, a legume,
hence the reason they can be so difficult for our body to process.
*ah-hem* gas, bloating, bad news *ahem* *cough* *cough*

Well the thing about peanut butter is that I love it.
And one thing about almond butter is that I don’t, really. Or didn’t used to.
I even told Heather of Heather Eats Almond Butter once that I couldn’t stand the stuff.
How inconsiderate of me.
That would be like someone telling me they don’t like celebrating.

Well pooh on you, then. Pooh on you.

Honestly, I’m trying almond butter now because I know peanut butter isn’t doing my digestive system any great services. But after whipping up my very first homemade batch of roasted salted almond butter {with flaxseed}, I’ve decided that it is delicious.

Almond butter, why have you eluded me so long?

Roasted Salted Almond Butter with Flaxseed
yields 1 jar | adapted from edible perspective

Ingredients:
3 cups almonds
1 tsp salt
3 Tablespoons flaxseed meal

Method | Preheat oven to 300 degrees and spread almonds evenly on a baking sheet. Roast for about 20 minutes until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes, then add to food processor and process, scraping down the sides as necessary. Process for 10-12 minutes and once it’s a smooth and creamy texture, add the salt and flaxseed and process for another minute or so until well combined. Transfer to a clean jar or container and store in the fridge to keep fresh.

I didn’t know it was possible for homemade nut butter to be so creamy and delicious. It has the perfect amount of flaxseed and salt, although when I smear some on toast with banana slices in the morning, I add just a pinch more of salt to give it an extra flavor contrast.

And having not had peanut butter for more than a week now – I repeat, one, entire week – I think I may be making a more permanent switch to the almond variety. And, I am rather pleased about the decision.

Enjoy,
Dana.

I like simple.

Simple routines.
Simple clothes.
Simple food.
I’m a simple kind of girl.

And staying with my simple theme, I bring you this 7-ingredient vegan soup that is to-die-for delicious.

I found the recipe on this funny little website called The Vegan Stoner {don’t worry mom, it’s just a website}. You can imagine the funny stares I get when I tell people about my new favorite vegan blog, especially when I explain how my favorite part besides its simple nature, is that the recipes are animated with cartoons.

Oh me. Forever a child at heart.

This rich, hearty stew is my newest obsession. Since whipping up my first batch I’ve already eaten half of it and am amazed at every bite how a few simple ingredients can come together to make such an amazing flavor combination.

It has everything I love: sweet, spice, substance, a little protein and of course, peanut butter.
How can you go wrong with that?

Vegan Peanut Stew
heavily adapted from The Vegan Stoner

Ingredients
1 potato, chopped*
1 white onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 14 oz. can crushed {stewed} tomatoes
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
pinch of thyme {I used dried}
1-2 cups water, depending on thickness preference
1 cup peanut butter {I used natural creamy salted}

Method | Cook onion over medium heat until soft and translucent. Add garlic and stir. Then add tomatoes, peanut butter, garbanzo beans, and stir. Season with thyme and add potato. Depending on desired thickness, add 1-2 cups water and stir. Then cover and cook on low-medium low heat for 25-35 minutes. The soup is ready when the potatoes are cooked through and a sample reveals a delicious, peanutty flavor.

*note: The potato takes a while to cook all the way through if you add it to the soup raw, so I would recommend microwaving it for a minute or two before chopping to speed up cooking time.

All I can say is, yum!

I’ve preferred eating mine like soup rather than over rice as the original recipe recommends.
And I even manage to amp up my veggie intake by scooping up the first several bites with generous hunks of raw broccoli. Can you imagine the stares I get for that? But I don’t care. Healthy is the way to go and this soup is delicious.

It warms my little vegan-loving heart.

I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

Enjoy. Dana.