Web Wonders

/

Ok, they may not be complete wonders, but here are some fun finds from the web this past week:

 
 
  1. Sometimes I feel like I have never fully recovered from pregnancy brain.  I'm going to have to start implementing some of these daily habits to make me smarter. (Mydomaine.com)
  2. There is such beauty and diversity in the world, even in just one family. This mother shares images she captured of her daughters. (Yahoo.com)
  3. Pet peeve of mine: badly hung wall art. Here's how to do it right in your space. (yahoo.com)
  4. I'm always on the hunt for small space storage ideas. These built-ins are harder to implement in a rental, but still some good ideas.  (apartmenttherapy.com)
  5. "My strong body image was a direct result of feeling validated by society."  An honest look at body image I could relate to. (huffingtonpost.com)
  6. Since it costs an arm and a leg just to get in, its good to know you can get some free stuff at Disneyland. I'm definitely asking for the map next time we go. (buzzfeed.com)
  7. If you're going to spend on pricey skin care products, be sure you are investing properly. (birchbox.com)
  8. Another life-hack that I'm a fan of: DIY/green ways to organize your life. (buzzfeed.com)
  9. Anthro does it again, though out of my price range so I'll just drool from here: I don't think you could feel anything but pretty in this dress. (anthropologie.com)

 

Free Denim!

/

Had to share that this great denim company, RE/DONE, is having a drawing to win their full collection.  Enter here.  Umm, or don't enter, because then there's a better chance that I'll win. ;)
 

About the brand: 

RE/DONE jeans are a celebration of the Levi’s jean’s past and a continuation of the jean’s individual story. They take the vintage denim apart at the seams, repurposing it as the fabric of the new jeans. The jeans are manufactured in Downtown Los Angeles using water conserving methods and no harsh chemicals. Quantities will always be limited since each pair is handpicked, hand cut, and distinctly one of a kind.

Great way to shop green and support local merchants/manufacturers.

Enjoy!!

Holiday Weekend = Roadtrips!

/

Memorial Weekend is upon us, which unofficially signals the start of summer vacation season.  While gas prices have been rising (SO annoying) which may keep many at home, a road trip in the car can still be a cheaper get-away than flying somewhere.  Plus, on a road trip you're just tied to your own schedule, and can stop and go whenever and where ever you want.

To make your trip as smooth as possible, here are some prep tips:

  • Pack an emergency kit: jumper cables, first-aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, road flares or reflective triangles, a fleece blanket, bottled water, and some protein bars.
  • Stay charged: don't forget your universal car charger. You know how helpless you feel when you don't have your phone.
  • Get Real-Time traffic updates: Download the Waze GPS app (free), and it will give you directions as well as notify and re-route you if there are traffic tie-ups ahead.
  • Map your route and stops: Use the Roadtrippers app (free) to plot and save a route that hits all the sights you want to see.  You can also use it to discover local favorites restaurants and hotels en route.
  • Gas-station finder: GasBuddy app (free) helps you find gas stations near you or along your route, and shows you the price per gallon.  You can also type in your origin and destination and it will estimate how much you will spend on gas for your entire trip.
  • Do a vehicle check:  test the tire air pressure, top off the oil, coolant and wiper fluid, check that you have a spare and its inflated, you have a jack and a lug wrench.
  • Confirm you have important documents: Registration, insurance and license, roadside assistance membership, health insurance cards.

Have a great weekend, whatever you do, and be safe!!

Have to Try: Home Brewed Iced Coffee

/

I know many of you can't imagine starting your day without a hot cup of coffee.  I get it, but I'm not one of those people.  I'm not a morning person, by any means, but I've just never lived with a coffee maker and developed the habit.  That is not to be interpreted as I am not a coffee drinker.  I just don't have the means for it at home. So I usually get it from a shop or at work.  Plus, now that I have a toddler to chase around in the mornings while trying to get us out of the house, having a hot drink on hand is not ideal.

 
 

But I do love iced coffee.  I usually prefer a cold drink by the time I can actually sit and have a drink (after the toddler-wrangling), and it's a bit easier to transport in a spill-proof container.  I have learned the steps to properly home-brew my own cold coffee, and is the easiest thing ever.  I shake my head at myself for ever forking over the $4 per beverage to Starbucks. You don't need any fancy equipment, just a pitcher and strainer/filter.

The Thing To Know: Iced coffee is not simply hot brewed coffee over ice. I mean, you can do that, but its not the method to get the best tasting result.  Hot-brewing raises the acidity level which brings out the highs and lows of the flavor, but doesn't translate over well once cooled and diluted with ice.  Cold-brewing has a lower acid level, so you have a smoother-tasting coffee.

This takes a few minutes to prepare, but needs to steep for half a day.  But you can make a batch on the weekend that will make enough to get you through the week, because it will keep.

What you need:

  • A pitcher
  • a spare container, bowl or pitcher
  • A coffee filter & fine mesh strainer
  • 4 1/2 oz coarsely ground coffee
  • 3 1/2 cup cold water
  • Extras: milk/creamer, sweetener, ice

What to do:

  1. Place the coffee grounds in pitcher, add the water, stir to combine, cover with plastic wrap and let steep at room temperature for at least 12 hours and up to one day.
  2. Line the fine-mesh strainer with the coffee filter and fit it over the spare bowl/pitcher.  In batches, slowly pour the coffee into the filter until all of the liquid has passed through the strainer.  Discard the grounds & filter.
  3. If your coffee is now in a bowl, transfer back into the original pitcher AFTER you wash it clean.  If you used a spare pitcher, you can leave it there.  Cover pitcher and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 5 days.

How to Serve:

  • The coffee you have made is very concentrated.  For each cup of iced coffee, dilute the concentrate with milk or water to your liking, and doctor as you like.
  • Pour over ice.
  • To get a coffee shop take on it, sweeten with simple syrup (recipe here.)
  • Enjoy!
 
 

6pm Shoes - My Wishlist

/

A girl can never have too many shoes.  Ok, so that's not really true, but I have yet to encounter the time when I felt like I have too many.  One pair of shoes can go with so many things.  And a fun pair can totally transform an outfit.  Say you're wearing jeans and a T: basic, could be boring.  Throw on some sneakers and run your errands, nothing special.  But swap the sneaks for some strappy, sassy heels for a dinner or an evening out and you've got a stylish look.

A shoe habit can get very expensive though. While you don't want to skimp too much, because your feet will pay with blisters and aches, after a certain price point, the cost of many shoes is just inflated. I have not found any more comfort in a pair of $600 Manolos than I do in a $80 Nine West.  A 4-inch heel is a 4-inch heel.

So I'm always on the hunt for quality shoes at as affordable a price as possible (because then you can buy more!) One of my favorite sites for a wide selection of discount shoes is 6pm.com.   If you don't know them, check the site out.  They also have some clothing and accessories, but their shoe and handbag selections are the best.  Regularly you can find brand names at 30-50% off, but sometimes it even goes up to 70-80% off.  Men's, women's and children's.  They have free shipping on all orders, and their customer service is very good.

This is my current 6pm.com wishlist, and they're all (except one) under $50:

Those should get me through the summer, don't you think? ;)