Fashion Week this year was the coldest yet! Some days were the coldest I have ever been and I am not exaggerating haha it really was like slap in the face freezing! I wanted create a hair diary for you, but I’m not going to lie, the weather didn’t always permit standing out on the sidewalk and filming. It was SO cold, or snowy, or both! But at least I got to go to the TRESemmé Salon at Lincoln Center to learn tips and tricks from the stylists for these 5 easy, cute looks! And yes I tried really hard to not look freezing in them – but don’t be fooled because I was!
It was so much fun partnering with TRESemmé again this winter. I went into their salon in the Lincoln Center pretty much every morning to get my hair done by their team before each show and always loved what they were able to do! So I captured all the looks in this diary to share with you. These looks are SO easy to recreate at home, especially with some of the tricks I learned from the salon. Let me know which are your favorite and I’ll make tutorials for you! Until next year!
Original article and pictures take barefootblond.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com site
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Apple Cider Vinegar is an amazing treatment for hair, and chances are it’s just hanging out in your pantry, waiting to be discovered. The vinegar is a gentle acid that can help regulate the PH of your scalp, temporarily tighten your cuticle, lock in hair color, reduce excess oil, and calm scalp issues like dermatitis, dandruff, and psoriasis.
Apple cider vinegar is great for when you want to remove product or oil and refresh your hair, but a shampoo could be too drying. It’s great for curly clients who are trying to wean off of, or reduce, their shampooing!
We recommend that you buy the generic apple cider vinegar for use in your hair. As much as we love raw apple cider vinegar, we have found that the acidity is not consistent the way it is with pasteurized apple cider vinegar and you can end up pickling your hair!
To give yourself an apple cider vinegar treatment:
– Mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, pour it in to a spray bottle.
– Rinse your hair thoroughly under warm water, massaging your scalp to begin loosening up oils or buildup.
– Spritz your scalp liberally with your vinegar solution, and massage it throughout your scalp.
– Let that soak for 5 minutes.
– Massage through your hair again then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
– Follow with a conditioner!
You can even tint a small batch to enhance your hair color’s shine! – keep refrigerated and use within a week. It won't color your hair, but can add a really nice glow.
Redheads- 1 c strong brewed Rooibos tea + 1TBS apple cider vinegar
Golden Blondes- 1 c strong brewed Chamomile tea + 1TBS apple cider vinegar
Deep Burgundy Redheads- 1/4 fresh beet juice* + 3/4 c Rooibos Tea + 1TBS apple cider vinegar *this can stain light hair, clothing, towels, etc so please be careful!
Brunettes, 1 c brewed black tea + 1TBS apple cider vinegar
Dark, cool Brunettes 1c strong brewed coffee or espresso + 1TBS apple cider vinegar
The only kitchen remedy we don’t recommend are Baking Soda washes. Baking soda is a harsh alkaline and a mild abrasive. What that means is that it will raise the cuticle of the hair and remove hair color, and it will aggravate sensitive scalps. We only use it when we need something harsh to help pull chlorine build-up from hair, or remove over deposited hair color. It is not a good idea when you want to preserve your color and shine!
Original article and pictures take www.thehivesalon.com site
Do you ever have the feeling that your ponytail doesn’t look quite as you wanted it to? It’s a bit droopy or not as full and usually it drops as the day goes on? Well, for years I’ve been searching for the perfect ponytail trick and guess what, I finally found it! It involves 2 minutes of your time and 2 bobby pins – that is all!
Fancy trying it too? Here is how it goes: Once you've put your hair in a ponytail, insert two bobby pins halfway inside the elastic and facing downward toward the crown of your head. Then, fluff your ponytail and flip it over for a fuller look that won't sag or droop.
That is how it’s done – the perfect summer hairdo! Btw: I'm wearing it right now:) Will you try it too? What's your go-to summer do? xo
P.S: Just got myself this set of sassy hair bands.
When my husband told me he wanted to make me a potting table, I was hesitant at first. After all, the patio table seemed to work fine for the little “potting” I actual did. And honestly, I could think of better places to spend the money such as new hostas for the shade garden, another ornament or two for the perennial border, more day lilies, you know……the essentials in life.
But then he said he could make it from reclaimed pieces of wood cluttering stored in the garage, it didn’t seem so silly. We had been holding onto this old wood since we found it stored in the garage when we moved here three years ago, knowing that one day the perfect project would come along.
So on Easter weekend, he got to it and quickly built a basic potting table. In fact, it didn’t take longer than an hour to take those reclaimed pieces and put together a really decent sized table. And he even custom made it to my height specifications – I’m 5’10” and am constantly hunching down to complete table top tasks.
(Nearly there) “after” shot
Once it was completed though, I knew it needed gussying up a bit. And I had the perfect thing stored cluttering up the garage – the top piece off of a sideboard, mirror and all.
Out came the Annie Sloan, this time in French Linen. I wanted to create a worn look to go with the table and the old door which stands next to it. So once it had a couple of coats of paint, I got out the old garden hose and “wet distressed” it.
perfectly aged reclaimed piece
By spraying the piece with the hose nozzle set on “jet”, it removed just enough paint to make this reclaimed piece look old and worn. You can achieve the same look with sanding, but this was a lot easier and quicker and outside. And hey any time this Canadian can get outside to work, she’ll go for it!
Never enough thyme
Once I got it down to the desired look, it was sprayed with outdoor polyurethane to protect the look. And finally a little saying was added to the mirror, just to give it a little humour. After all, there never is enough thyme (or time for that matter).
The table has come in handy already. It was the perfect place to thin some garlic shoots for replanting today. And it provides some much-needed storage for important things like the old chicken feeder and egg basket which had been lovingly cluttering up stored in the garage!
Linking with the following wonderful blogs:
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Original article and pictures take www.newhousenewhomenewlife.com site
I need your help! I wanna get my hair cut and colored, since I haven't since I was pregnant with my son. I just don't know what to do with my hair. I don't want it super short, but Im open to any suggestions. This is me......any ideas what would look good with my face shape?
Since you have a baby, I imagine you don't have a lot of time for styling your hair. I think a subtle swoop bang would be nice; you could blend it back into your hair when you don't want to deal with it, or bring it forward when you want to look more styled. As far as the rest of your hair, in the name of keeping it simple, I'd go for long layers trimmed in to give it shape.
For color, a mix of lowlights and highlights would be nice. It would give dimension without requiring you to get a super styled cut (which means more maintenance!). You want to look a little sunkissed and give your hair the vibrance of tone that most of us seem to lose as we get older.
Products are important too. I'm a big fan of Redken's Guts 10 root boost. Spray it directly at your roots in a few layers and rub in. Blow dry your hair upside down and it will give you lots of volume and movement. I'm also a fan of Redken's Satin Wear 02 Ultimate Blowdry Lotion, which would be good to a) help style your hair and b) help protect it from the heat and keep your color looking fresh.
Original article and pictures take jjb.yuku.com site
Are you like me and want to change up your outdoor Christmas decorations every year? Maybe it’s just because I’m blogging, but last year’s decorations just seem…..well…..last year. Or maybe it’s because we’ve changed things around a bit since last December……
We got rid of the red/burgundy/purple paint and took out the black wrought iron railings. I also moved the concrete urn to the back entrance to give some light to a dark corner by the garage. These were replaced with a pair of classic urns on either side of the landing. All in all, I think it’s a lot cleaner looking with the brown paint. We still need to replace the light fixture and door mat. Which I never really realized how ugly it was until I looked at these photos. Time to go – you are out of here, Mr. Door Mat.
Because there’s so much brown around the house now, I didn’t want to add too much colour so chose a burlap ribbon as a base. (All you florist/crafty people out there – please forgive my awful bow making – it’s a skill I’ve never learned despite the hundreds of tutorials I’ve watched). Anyways…..
So to add to the natural theme, I used what I had around the yard – boxwood clippings, pine clippings, spruce, cedar and my favourite weeping cypress as an anchor. Adding some hydrangeas which had been drying in a jug in the kitchen, gave the urn some life. And of course, the ubiquitous twigs – this time in gold.
The natural theme continues on the store-bought pine wreath by tucking in some additional clippings, a burlap ribbon casually draped throughout and some gold twigs.
I love heading out to the garden on a nice late fall day with my secateurs in my hand to find the material. If you’re lucky enough to have a naturalized area close-by, you can always head out for a walk to gather some clippings. Using found items instead of purchasing things at the grocery store gives your holiday decor a more personalized touch.
Original article and pictures take www.newhousenewhomenewlife.com site
Making a set of branch coasters from a fallen tree will allow the beauty of that wood to live on and tell the story in its rings. When you are out pruning and cutting back the garden, take a look at what you are about to throw in the wood chipper or firewood pile. Wood slices can be turned into many things, but my all-time favorite is these branch coasters that I made back in 2012.
I’ve had my cedar coasters now for almost 4 years and have had plenty of questions on the practicality of them. I’ve updated this, the original article, with some FAQs at the end of the DIY instructions.
DIY Branch Coasters
It was a sad day when the largest, oldest tree on my street was hacked down and unceremoniously chucked into construction waste bins. The 50’ Western Red Cedar still had a lot of good years left, but got in the way of developers’ dollar signs and no amount of reasoning could sway them. Neighbors came to say goodbye, walking through the wreckage, collecting a memento or two; tears were shed. It’s amazing the impact a tree can have and the immensity of the sense of loss for one treated with so little respect.
I collected a few thick branches to turn into sets of coasters that I will pass on to neighbors who remember their kids climbing those same limbs many, many years ago.
The project is simple but it will take some time to cut and sand each piece. The more time you spend getting them right, the nicer the final product will be.
Materials:
Straight branches that are no smaller than 3.5” in diameter
How to Make Natural Branch Coasters (via Garden Therapy) Staining Natural Branch Coasters DIY project via Garden Therapy #coasters #recycle
Make it!
1. Using the saw, cut sections of branches that are ½” thick.
2. Sand each section with heavy grit sandpaper, and then use a finer grit to smooth out the surface. Do not sand the bark on the edges.
3. Coat front, back, and sides with clear varnish and let dry. Untreated wood can also look beautiful as it absorbs the drips and condensation from the glasses that sit on it.
FAQ
How do you keep them from cracking?
I dried the wood slowly in a cool, dry room before cutting the coasters. A few cracked. I discarded those as I had plenty more to work with.
What varnish/stain did you use?
I used Varathane clear satin varnish. The varnish was labelled as clear, but it does have a honey color in the can. It made the final coasters look a little darker than the dry wood (like wet wood), which I expected and like.
Don’t they leak sap?
No. Perhaps a different kind of wood could leak sap. But I dried the wood thoroughly and have never seen one drop of sap in 4 years of using them.
How did you keep the bark on the outer edges?
The bark stayed on due to the type of wood, Western Red Cedar. I was careful to not pull it off but it is pretty sturdy. I did varnish the sides around the bark as well.
Did you glue felt or anything to keep the coaster from marking the furniture?
When sanded they are smooth so won’t scratch anything, and they are varnished and dry so they don’t stain. You certainly could put felt or little feet on them if you choose, though.
Any more advice?
There are plenty more ideas and tips in the comments section. Have a read over it and please chime in if you have any advice to share!
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Original article and pictures take gardentherapy.ca site
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Myra’s historic home is surrounded by a creative garden filled with garden art, all salvaged and upcycled in her own way. We think she’s sensational!
Meet Myra Glandon
“My husband Mark and I live on about an acre just outside the small rural town of Prospect, Ohio. We live in an old brick house built in 1882 which is a work in progress, just like our outdoor areas. Here is a picture of our house in the early years. My daughters and grandchildren all live nearby,” Myra tells us.
Myra’s historic 1802 home
“I discovered Flea Market Gardening surfing the Internet one day looking for garden art. I thought I had unusual taste until I found this group of kindred spirits. It was love at first sight, and I’ve been checking in every day since. I have been inspired by Flea Market Gardening to create several things I wouldn’t have thought of on my own, like my garden sparkler (inspired by Sue Gerdes), my tipsy tubs (inspired by Annie Steen) My planted ladder (inspired by planted ladders here on FMG.”
A true ‘FMG’ vignette…with all of Myra’s inspiring projects
“I have enjoyed gardening for over 30 years. My mother, grandmother and mother-in-law all like flowers, and all raised vegetables. It is impossible to buy store purchased vegetables that taste as good as fresh from the garden veggies. My vegetable garden isn’t as big as they once were, but I still grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and shallots, my favorite summer veggies.”
Here is my newly planted ladder…
“I have always been a collector of old stuff, aka junker, my mother was a junker, and we collected old stuff long before shows like American Pickers made it popular. My mother was a self taught upholsterer and furniture refinisher. She was very independent, creative and hard working, and she passed those traits to me. When I bought this house 28 years ago it was empty and boarded up. The back and side yard had been used as a dump, and was overgrown and a mess. There had also been a gas station in my front yard in the 50’s, so I had old cement foundations and tons of gravel with which to contend.”
Shed garage corner
“Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, an addition on the back of my house was also used as a meat processing butcher shop. There is a double sided fireplace, and wagon grooves in the floor. Over the years I have cleaned it up, created flower beds, and laid pathways. I also planted sixty-five 6” white pine seedlings about 20 years ago which are now over 30’ tall. They provide a windbreak and a backdrop for our circular patio, picnic area, flower beds and pond.”
This is my interpretation of a dragonfly
“I make dragonfly garden stakes out of old wooden chair legs, spindles, old bobbins etc, add metal wings made from metal flashing, wire, wire strapping, etc., and miscellaneous for eyes, antennae, mouth …. each is unique and hand crafted. I have them scattered all over my garden.”
Myra’s garden angel from salvaged materials Another of Myra ‘s dragonflies
“I enjoy being creative whether working in the garden, or creating with wood, metal, fabric… I like scrap metal sculptures, and have several in my yard. Hubby and I have made some indoor sculptures too. I love making dragonflies out of broken chair parts. I guess I’m big into up-cycling, recycling, junking and repurposing. For me being creative and gardening are therapeutic. I love adding unique items with a story to my home and garden. I’ve never been a person who wanted the same thing everyone else has.”
The brick patio, Myra’s husband made for them
“My husband, Mark, laid the circular patio and we were only short about 25 bricks. If you look close the two innermost circles of brick are a little different color. I used a large grinding stone I had as part of the entrance to the circular patio. When I met Mark he didn’t care about gardening, but he’s evolving, and now loves sitting on the patio looking at the fishpond, or admiring our flower beds. He also enjoys helping create things for our yard, like our pond, birdhouses and trellises.”
Angel in sedum Through the pines… Woodsy setting for the bottle tree
“We have a huge old weeping willow tree near our house which was dug up down at the river and brought home in a quart mason jar when the house was built. So, our willow is 131 years old and last I measured, it was 17 feet in circumference! I installed my garden angel in a flower bed I made around my old willow, using salvaged rock as a short retaining wall around it.”
Old collection of street signs hides mismatched windows
“When my sister’s neighbor replaced their picket fence I asked for their old fence that was stacked in their trash. After replacing a few pickets or boards, I have used them throughout my gardens for many years, and recently shared some with my daughter.”
Myra’s funnel planters
“All of my garden beds are edged in either old brick or rocks. I must confess I love rocks. Big rocks, little rocks, I just love using rocks in my landscape!”
Sink birdbath under the trumpet vine Myra’s awesome and now famous cornzebo snugged up against the house
“I have never had a lot of money to spend, but even if I did I would still be want to be creative and use repurposed, salvaged stuff instead of spending a lot of money. I feel anyone can have a beautiful home and gardens if you have lots of money. But creating these spaces with minimal money, and lots of creativity and personality is much more interesting and challenging. I like to think the things I make reflect my personality in a small way.”
“Here are two of my favorite people, my grandkids Cody and Kaylee.”
Besides gardening and being creative my husband and I enjoy riding our motorcycles, going to flea markets, woodworking, creating scrap metal sculpture, traveling, and spending time with our family. ~~ Myra
Have you ever realised just how much more colour people add to their own homes in foreign countries? Outside of the ‘West’ you’ll find houses in all the colours of the rainbow but the greyer the weather, the more dull both building and clothing colours seem to be. It’s the same for beehives and up until last year I’d only seen them painted in white or in neutral colours.
Then a friend shared a photo of rows of colourful beehives that she’d spotted on a trip to Poland and I saw them adorned in pink, blue, yellow, and bright green! I decided then that I’d eventually follow suit transform my hives into a row of little Mexican houses, a splash of colour tucked away in the grey-green gorse.
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As of today I have my first brightly coloured hive – painted with two coats Periwinkle Blue exterior paint. Truthfully I chose the blue for one main reason – it was free! I picked up the can at the local recycle centre last year and have been waiting to use it in a project. I have to point out though that bees are also apparently attracted to the colour blue too. Or at least that’s what I was taught in my beginners beekeeping course.
The hives I use are Nationals which are the most commonly used in the United Kingdom. I currently have two spare in my garage so painted one of them up in the blue leaving the other for a different colour. I also had the stand from the white hive that I brought home after my last visit to that colony. It’s old and battered and had a landing stage that is too big really. I made the stand by myself back in 2012.
To revamp it I literally cut off the old landing board with a jigsaw and mounted a small piece of pallet wood on the front for a more simple landing pad. A little diy work and a lick of paint can do wonders in giving a piece of rubbish new life.
The plan is that I’ll take the blue hive up to Laxey tomorrow and prepare my Onchan hive to be moved early on Sunday morning. That means a bright and early start to that day! I’ll be tying the hive up in one piece with the honeybees inside and transporting them in my car for the twenty minute drive in to Laxey. It’s a stressful thing to move a hive and you can bet I’ll be driving with my bee suit zipped up and tucked in. More on how that goes in my next beekeeping post and video.
I’m really looking forward to having a bright and vibrant apiary and am even considering planting some flowers around the hives as well. Who says that beehives can’t be as pretty as other parts of the home and garden?
Original article and pictures take lovelygreens.com site
Some time ago, I went to my local nursery and was stopped in my tracks by what was standing by their dumpster! This old galvanized utility sink was a bit rusted, but definitely worth asking about. This nursery was always a favorite of mine because they had had the junk gardening vibe, but sadly, it was going to close down soon.
Sadly, this sink stayed here for two years!
To me, Flea Market Gardening is a bit of taking materials that would otherwise be wasted and giving them a new sense of value by turning them into something beautiful and useful.
Before- My old galvanized sink,…pretty sad…
I tentatively asked about the sink and wouldn’t you know,…they were surprised ANYONE wanted it! What? They said they’d let it go for twenty bucks! Ha! Luckily, I could take it right then and there. Score! It sat for awhile,…and eventually we moved to the mountains where we had plenty of room to stash it. One day, I finally was able to set it up to be my work area.
Once moved to its new spot, the old sink was ready to play with
Galvanized sink into a functional garden potting sink
Tractor Man and I took some old wood and some iron brackets I had found at a yard sale and put up the sturdy shelves. I had a rake head and hung that for hand tools,…everyone has seen that idea, right?
I arranged all my extra clay pots on the shelf, then added two more treasures, a wrought iron twine holder and an old Boraxo dispenser.
What is it that I like about vintage dispensers? This Boraxo dispenser would remind me of my Dad, who always had Boraxo on the garage sink when I was a child. I can still feel the grittiness of it when my child sized hands were washed after a day of playing out doors.
After- My play kitchen and potting sink
An old crock for more hand tools, a woven cloth basket and two small pictures completed my kitchen. Next project will be to attach some faucets and hook up a hose to make it even more functional,…my play kitchen! I’m so happy with it and work there a lot.
Have you noticed a LOT of kitchen themed garden vignettes lately? What’s your best garden treasure? ~~ Sue
See the whole story of how I spiffed up my messy potting area. Yikes!
Original article and pictures take www.fleamarketgardening.org site
After being away on a five week trip I’m just now settling back into routine. Making handmade soap, giving soapmaking classes, catching up with customers, and also tidying the garden. We had house-sitters while we were away and fortunately they took care of my plants both in and out of the house. Still, there was a lot of weeding to do and preparation for the winter. I also thought it would be the perfect time to test out my new GoPro HERO Session and take you on a little tour!
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The flower patch needed weeding and clearing
One of the biggest jobs for me since I’ve been home is cleaning out the ‘Wildflower Patch‘. Planted up with perennials like lavender and rose bushes, I’ve sown the rest of the area with wildflower mixtures. Two years in a row I’ve done this and I’ve decided that I’d like a change for 2017. I’ll be having a think about what I’d like to see here.
In the meantime, I’ve cleared all of the weeds including digging up a lot of Creeping Buttercup. It’s one of the worst weeds I have to deal with. I’ve also taken down a lot of the Crocosmia foliage and taken away anything that will encourage slugs to hang around.
A quick look around the greenhouse
In my greenhouse I have a lot of potted plants, herbs, and cuttings I’ve propagated. There are also still loads of tiny ‘Yellow Currant Tomatoes’ to pick but the ‘Red Currant Tomatoes’ have seen better days. I’ll cut down all of the tomatoes soon and tidy up the trough planter they’re currently in.
The plastic GreenStalk planter that I have in one corner of the greenhouse is still looking great. I’ve had to trim back the sage but the strawberries, thyme, and oregano are going strong. If you’re interested in the planter it really is great but so is the pricetag. If you don’t mind buying something cheaper, I’ve found this one for a fraction of the price.
I really need to think of a shelving idea too – there are loads of plants just sitting on the paving stones inside the greenhouse. It makes it a bit difficult to move around when you’re inside.
I’ve been working on a new planter idea
Though I don’t think I’ve shown it on my blog before, I’m working on a new ‘Pallet Planter’ idea. This one has areas on the sides where succulents can grow and an open area on top. This year I’ve used it as a carrot planter since the planter has depth and is raised off the ground.
In Britain, carrots suffer from the pest called ‘Carrot Root Fly’. They fly within a couple feet of the ground and will lay their eggs on members of the carrot family. The maggots turn your lovely root veg into an inedible mess! The carrots I’ve pulled up from this planter are perfect though so no flies have been at them. Success!
I transformed an old olive oil tin into a planter
Earlier this year I took an old tin, banged some holes into it and then planted it up with succulents. It’s been a lovely little feature near the kitchen door ever since. Some of the succulents have had to be replanted in that time but others have thrived. Every month or so I’ll trim the vigorous ones and have a poke around the ones that are struggling.
The Sempervivums (Hen & Chicks) like the planter the most after the silvery-blue variety and the green one that trails from the top. I’m terrible at remembering the names for all of these succulents in case you haven’t remarked on that yet. What I do know is that all of them are pretty easy to take cuttings from and to propagate at home. That’s where most of my succulents have actually come from.
Strawberry Pallet Planters
Way back in 2012 I came up with the idea of transforming a single wooden pallet into a strawberry planter. My video tutorial for it has almost a million views now! The original still sits on the patio humbly unaware of it’s star status.
I built a second one and now the two sit side by side. This year they both got new coats of paint on the outside part of the slats and I’ve replanted them with new strawberry plants. Strawberries need refreshing every three years or so to keep up productivity.
Now on to the Allotment…
I haven’t been to my allotment garden since mid-August – literally the day before I went on holiday. At that time it needed some weeding and maintenance so I’m afraid to see in what state it’s in now. Tomorrow morning I’ll be heading up to look at the state of it and to see if there’s anything edible to take home. No doubt it’s going to take some time to get it all in tip top condition but I look forward to some hard work on the plot. I’ve missed spending time up there.
Original article and pictures take lovelygreens.com site
