Posted by: Danielle

21Jun / 2011

More on my Hair

Remember that long, whiny post about the state of my hair? Well, around Easter I finally managed to do something about it, and, consequently, my hair and I have been on pretty good terms for the last couple of months. Here are some current pictures:

On vacation in Orange Beach, AL with just-washed hair

Drinking Cucumber Mint Lemonade at a Memorial Day Cookout, again, with just-washed hair

Shopping with my Nanna, after a few days without washing my hair

As I mentioned before, I’m very happy with what Amber of Intricid Salon was able to do with my unruly hair (and not just because it’s summertime and I live in Louisiana). You can follow the link to find out more about Amber and Intricid, a newly-opening salon in the Tupelo area. As for me, I definitely plan on calling her the next time I’m in town, and I recommend her to anyone in northeast Mississippi who’s bored with his or her hair. Thanks again, Amber!

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20Jun / 2011

Lately

Like the rest of the world, I’m pretty hooked on Instagram. Here are some pictures from the last several days. Two of my favorite things, as you can tell, are cute animals and sweet treats. Enjoy!

Maxine taking a nap on Dawn's legs

Chowder loves sleeping on the back of the sofa.

This sweet guy showed up on our porch last week. He hung around until his owner came and picked him up.

Tabouli with Chevre, Red Onion, & Cherry Tomatoes

Avocado & Cherry Tomatoes on Toast

RolyYo is possibly the best frozen yogurt in the world, and definitely the best I've ever tasted. It's pretty unbeatable with strawberries and blueberries.

MaraNatha Dark Chocolate Almond Butter & Strawberries on Toast

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01Jun / 2011

Cucumber Mint Lemonade

I didn't think to take a picture before this delicious drink was all gone, but luckily Dawn snapped this Instagram picture with her phone.

I recently stumbled across this Psychology Today article that praises the benefits of barbecues. So, when our friends Will and Missy invited us to a barbecue at their house for Memorial Day, I was really excited. I decided to make this cucumber mint lemonade I discovered via Pinterest.

Cucumber Mint Lemonade

one batch cucumber juice (recipe below)
one batch mint simple syrup (recipe below)
one cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
sparkling water
sodka
lemons, cucumber, or mint for garnish

In a large pitcher, combine cucumber juice, syrup, and lemon juice. In a glass with a few cubes of ice, combine equal parts lemonade and sparking water, plus a shot of vodka. Stir to combine and serve immediately.

* For cucumber juice, puree four english cucumbers, peeled and roughly chopped, in a blender or food processor until liquefied. You may have to do this in batches. Set a strainer over a bowl and strain the juice, making sure to squeeze out any extra.

* For the mint simple syrup, combine 1 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, and a few springs of mint in a small saucepan. Stirring constantly, heat on medium until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely in the fridge. Once cooled, discard the mint.

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30May / 2011

Body Butter

Dawn's assertion that it resembles mashed potatoes is spot on.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Dawn and I managed to finally make the Readymade natural body moisturizer we’ve had bookmarked for ages. Dawn gives a pretty good rundown of the entire process over at Turby and John. To sum things up, though: we used olive oil, beeswax, and water to make a fairly thick unscented body butter. I’m considering using slightly lighter avocado or almond oil next time, as I think they might be a bit more suitable for summer. For people with oily skin, this is definitely the way to go. Still, I’m pretty smitten with ours as is, and I definitely don’t see myself dropping $20 at the health food store for fancy all natural lotion anytime soon. I have very dry skin, and I’ve been smearing this stuff all over before bed every night and using it on my hands and elbows throughout the day.

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26May / 2011

Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

As my extended absence was evidence of, the end of my first year of graduate school nearly kicked my ass. But now it’s summer! For the next couple months I’ll have very few responsibilities, so hopefully I’ll be able to cross a few projects off the list I’ve been compiling over the last year. In fact, Dawn and I tackled lotion-making last night, and we’re going to take a stab at soap-making sometime this afternoon. Until then, here’s a super simple recipe for Balsamic Vinaigrette, taken from Dr. Frank Lipman’s Be Well recipes. You probably have all of these ingredients on hand, and, as is usually the case, this homemade version is much tastier and less expensive than most store-bought versions. Plus, there’s nothing like the satisfaction that comes from knowing exactly what’s in the food you’re eating.

A less-than-clear cell phone picture of the salad I had for lunch. It consisted of mixed greens, chevre, croutons, sunflower seeds, and homemade balsamic.

 

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1 clove crushed garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon raw honey
Pinch of salt

At least an hour before serving, dump everything in a half-pint mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake to combine. Refrigerate.

P.S. Dawn is hosting a giveaway this week, and you should go enter it!

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