Gerber Baby Nursery

Gerber Baby Nursery by awrightdesign featuring home storage furniture

The Curly Girl Method - Three Weeks

Here's my hair three weeks after I began the Curly Girl Method. Check it out!

The Curly Girl Method

The Method

Recently I decided I was brave enough to try the "No-poo" / Co-wash / Curly Girl Method that a lot women with curly hair use as a technique to make their hair soft and their curls more defined. I was skeptical at first, because giving up shampoo was terrifying. What if my hair got greasy? What if I can't stand not washing my hair every day? What if my hair looks worse?

I had a lot of questions, so I went to YouTube and Google to see how to try it out. Here are some of the best websites and videos I found that explain the method:

Videos:

• DevaCurl: How to Quit Shampoo
• The Curly Girl Method (Curly Penny)
• How To Cowash (Curly Penny)
• How to Co-Wash Naturally Curly Hair
• My Favorite Hair Products (Curly Penny)

Websites:

• How to Determine if a Hair Product is Curly Girl Approved
• Coconut Hair Mist Recipe
• Here's How To Plop Your Hair For The Best Curls Of Your Life

So here's what I did:

1. I went through all of my hair products to see if they contained sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. If they did, out they went. New flash - most of them did. That meant bye bye Garnier Fructis and Tresemme products.
2. I made a run to Target and got some of the products recommended in the videos listed above: Suave Essentials Conditioners, L.A. Looks Hair Gels and Alberto VO5 Conditioners.
3. I shampooed for the last time to make sure all of the hair products that contained sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols were removed from my scalp and hair.
4. I conditioned really well with my new conditioner.

The next time I was in the shower:

1. I followed the no-poo method, as described in the videos above with my new conditioner.
2. Once I was out of the shower, I lightly dried my hair with a microfiber towel and applied leave-in-conditioner spray and gel.
3. Then, I plopped my hair in a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt.
4. I let my hair dry and removed the t-shirt.

Between washings:

I made the Coconut Hair Mist and spray it on my bed-head each morning between washings.

Here's what I found:

• Your hair may look worse before it looks better (see my "beautiful" before photo below). Sulfates, drying alcohols and silicones strip your curls of much-needed moisture and can do significant damage to your hair and scalp. In my research, people say it can take up to three weeks to see major changes, depending on how dry/damaged your hair is.
• Your scalp may itch a bit between washings. This is normal. It means your scalp is healing. Shampoo strips your scalp of its natural oils which causes damage.

Results

Before: This was after my first co-wash, day 2. It was looking pretty rough. Despite the smile in the photo, I'm not gonna kid around, I was scared.

After (Approximately two weeks later): You can actually tell I have curls!

Final Thoughts

My hair is so much softer than I thought was physically possible. Before, my hair was so dry it felt like straw. Now, it actually feels soft and I can't stop touching it! This method is easier than I thought it would be and costs less than when I used salon products. If you want to love your curls, I highly recommend trying this out.

Entry Way - Final

Our entry way is now finished!

I love how it turned out! It's the perfect height and location (right by the basement stairs). The sign makes my heart happy and I hope it makes visitors happy and welcome as well.

Here's another picture of the entryway, with jackets, so you can see scale a little better:

One project down, several to go!

Cruise Tips for Beginning Cruisers

What I wish I'd known before going on a cruise, by Adrienne

1. Eat breakfast the day of boarding and bring snacks! Lunch can be super late due to the amount of time it takes to board.

2. Reserve a seat at the breakfast and lunch buffets before you get your food, so that you have a place to sit when you come back. It's super competitive around the common meal times of  9-10 am and 12-1 pm.

3. There is a lot of time waiting - tendering, excursions, dinner and event lines. Be patient and remember that the staff are doing the best they can.

4. Haggle at port(s).

5. Bring cash. I missed out on several items because the vendors did not take credit cards and there were no ATMs around.

6. Watch your portions at breakfast and lunch. The plates are platter size! Thankfully, dinner is pre-portioned and on the smaller side.

7. You don't need to pack towels of any kind. The cruise will generally provide you with bath towels, which are expected, AND beach towels for the pools.

Weekly Top 5: Craft Ideas

Hi! Here are my top 5 picks for craft projects this week:

Throw Pillow

c/o the sassy life

Side Table

c/o Emily Henderson

Delicates Travel Bag

c/o create / enjoy

Midi Skirt

c/o Cotton + Curls

Throw Blanket

c/o Earnest Home Co.

Have a great weekend!

Entry way project: Part 1

Hi everyone! Since it's the beginning of the New Year, I have decided to become even more organized by focusing on our practically non-existent entry way. Our floor plan by the door is an odd one - the door opens directly into the living room. The walls on either side of the door fall into the living room and the landing to upstairs.

We determined that based on this weird layout, the best location for entryway items would be on the opposite side of the upstairs landing, in the area leading down the basement stairs.

Here's the plan:

So far, we've hung the LEKSVIK coat hooks we purchased from IKEA:

We've also purchased the picture ledge and three baskets for the large shelf to wrangle hats, scarves, and gloves, which will be hung shortly:

Tonight, we are planning on purchasing the large shelf to hold the baskets, along with matching brackets from Home Depot:

Check back to see progress!

I did it!

I closed it! Here is everything crammed in:

Cruise Packing List - Attempting to fit 95 Items into One Backpack and One Carry-On Suitcase

Adam and I are excited to be going on our honeymoon cruise! We have decided to do a 7 day cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It's perfect timing weather-wise. In Utah, it hit a whopping 34 degrees today.

My goal is to fit all of my clothes, toiletries, electronics and snacks into one carry-on suitcase and one backpack. Why pay extra when you can travel light? There are 95 items in total. Here's hoping!

The Toiletries, Electronics and Snacks 

Items shown above:

1. Hand Cream

2. Face Wash

3. Face Moisturizer

4. Perfume

5. Stain Remover Wipe

6. Tweezers

7. Anti-perspirant Wipes

8. Make up Remover Wipes

9. 1 Headband

10. Bobby pins, hair clips, spin pins

11. Sunscreen

12. Comb

13. Sunscreen Face Stick

14. Cotton Balls / Cotton Swabs

15. Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss

16. Extra Ear Plugs

17. Laundry Detergent

18. Hair brush and Curling Iron

19. Room Spray

20. Aloe Gel

21. Body Wash

22. Shampoo

23. Conditioner

24. Deodorant

25. Shave Gel and Razor

26. Hair sprays and Frizz-Ease

27. Disinfectant Spray

28. Heavy-duty clips (8)

29. Quart-Sized Toiletry Bag

30. Additional Toiletry Bag

Items shown above:

31. Headphone splitter

32. Earbuds

33. iPod

34. Charging cable

35. Wallet

36. Eye mask and Ear Plugs

37. Thank you cards and Pen

38. Water-proof pouch

Items shown above:

39. Jewelry and bag

40. Makeup bag(s)

41. Gold Eyeshadow kit

42. Lipsticks (2)

43. Travel Makeup Brush set

44. Blush

45. Mascara

46. Bronzer

47. Concealer

48. Brown Eyeshadow kit

Items shown above:

49. Coconut Chips

50. First Aid Kit: Includes band-aids, moleskin, and OTC pills.

51. Granola Bars and Re-usable Snack Bag

52. Somersaults

Clothing

Below are the items of clothing that I am taking and images of all of the packed up toiletries and snacks:

Items shown above (right side of image):

53. 1 pair of shorts

54. 1 cardigan

55. 1 Sweatshirt

56. Hard to see, but there is 1 Swimsuit

Items shown above (left side of image):

57. 2 Casual Tops

58. 2 Dressy Tops

59. 1 Nice Dress

60. 1 Casual Dress

61. 2 Skirts

Items shown above:

62. Backpack

63. Sandals

64. Flip Flops

65. Purse

66. Passport

Items not pictured:

67. Underwear

68. Feminine Hygiene Products

69. 2 Undershirts

70. Power Strip

71. Night Light

72. Black Suede Flats

73. 1 Pair of Jeans

74. 1 Pair of Yoga Pants

75. Small Magnet for our Cabin Door

76. Collapsible Tote Bag

77. 1 Extra Swimsuit

78. iPad

79. iPhone

80. Wet Bag for Swimsuits

81. Water Bottle

Check back soon to see if this is a success!

Vanity Organization

Today was cabinet organizing day! My bathroom cabinet was a mess with ugly bottles all over the place. I needed to consult one of my favorite magazines, Domino, for some help:

The Before:

It's not bad, just not great. You can see all of my pills, creams and sprays all over the shelves. There are no clear "zones" for getting ready in the morning.

The After:

 Check out the zones I've added:

Now everything is logically grouped.

Products Used:

1. West Elm Mercury Tealight Holders, $5 each
2. Jamali Garden 4 1/2 inch Brass Julep Cups, $8.99 each
3. Muji Polypropylene Box, $2.75
4. J.Crew Cosmetic Bag
5. World Market Egg Cup, $3.96 for 4

6. Amazon Pill Organizer, $4.99

Thanks for reading!

Weekly Top 5 - Back to School

So I'm kind of a crazy person, because even though I am no longer in school, I get pumped up for back to school sales and items. Maybe it's because it means fall is coming, and I love the cool crisp weather - or maybe it's just because I love organizing and a whole slew of new products come out this time of year. Here are my top picks for back to school 2014:

Palomino Blackwing Pencils, from Jack Spade

I love the eraser shape. Choose between black or white.

Der Reisende Scheduler, from Mochi Things

These are undated, so you can start at any time. I love the available pattern options.

Herschel Supply Co. 'Settlement' Backpack, at Nordstrom

This backpack makes me thing of a swanky English boarding school.

Parisienne Pencil Case, at Anthropologie

Add some french flair to your desk.

And the Brass Desk Clip, also at Anthropologie

I love the classic color of this clip.

Good luck to everyone going back to school!

Beauty Crush: Jordana 12 Hour Made to Last Eye Pencil

I discovered these at Walgreens a few weeks ago and purchased them in Stay-On Black and Continuous Almond. I am in love! The pigment is great. I have been using the black for smokey eyes and the beige color as a base and a highlighter. At only $3.99 each, they are a steal!

Image Credit: Vampy Varnish

Purchase them online at Jordana Cosmetics or in store at Walgreens.

Virginia Reception

Adam and I just attended our reception in Virginia last Saturday. We reused a lot of the decor items, with a different set of flowers and pictures. Here's how it turned out:

We swapped out our engagement photos for wedding photos and used hydrangeas and white roses.

My favorite part was the cupcake display:

I loved the idea of displaying my cake from the other reception to show what it looked like.

Hope you like it!

Top 10 Travel Essentials

1. Week Pill Case from Target: You can pop out a few of the days or bring the full case, depending on the length of your trip. You can use extra days to store earrings or other jewelry.

2. Goody Ouchless Headbands: I pack one of these in my carry on and one in my purse, to give my hair a chic look after a long flight.

3. LA Fresh Anti-Perspirant Wipes: Perfect for day trips when you are nowhere near your hotel and they get through security with no trouble.

4. DownEast Basics Classic Tee: I bring at least one of these on my trips. Great to wear under thin tees to add warmth or you can wear it alone and it looks great with jeans or a skirt.

5. Sephora Slim Brush Set: This set has a few brushes to cover powders, blushes, bronzers and the rest can be used to create any eye look.

6. Eye Mask: This particular mask has a flap that holds earplugs (included). Wearing this will make you forget that you are on a plane.

7. Neutral Flats from J.Crew: Flats are a must if you are walking anywhere. I like a neutral color, to match any articles of clothing I pack. You can dress these up or down to save space in your bag.

8. Foldable Tote Bag from Kate Spade: This can be carried around to hold souvenirs, for use in your hotel room to organize beauty supplies, or it can even hold laundry.

9. Moisturizer: I like to slather this stuff on my face, including my lips, to fight dry air on planes. They also make one with SPF.

10. Shawl Cardigan: This can be used to fend off chilly planes and air conditioned rooms.

Nightstand Organization

Last time, I showed you how I organized my electronics, but I did not have the right items to organize inside the drawer. I purchase an acrylic drawer organizer which made the job so much easier!

Here's the before:

Inside the drawer

The top of the nightstand. Note the new lamp!

Full view of the nightstand. My pajamas are stored in the basket on the bottom shelf.

 After:

Full view of the nightstand. No more alarm clock!

Inside the drawer, with the new organizer

I decided that my alarm clock is no longer needed, since I have a wonderful app on my phone. It freed up more space on top of the nightstand - and made the top look sleeker.

Items purchased:
Acrylic Drawer Organizer at HauteLook, similar here at Amazon.
Threshold™ Double Gourd Glass Lamp Base at Target
Room Essentials™ Modified Drum Accent Lamp Shade at Target

Thanks for reading!

Recent Purchases

Francesca's had a sale online and in stores yesterday, so I picked up a couple of items. Check it out!

Delta Cutout Bootie by Pink and Pepper Shoes

In black

8x8 Plaque

"Kindness is always fashionable"

You too can purchase these items here and here. Thanks for reading!

Reception Centerpieces

This may be a little late, but I wanted to show you how my table centerpieces turned out. Remember the draft I drew?

Here's how it turned out:

The differences:

As you can see, there are a few differences between the concept and how was executed. We had a few limitations that prevented the full concept from coming to life. We weren't able to find birch logs that were wide enough to make into pedestals and candle holders, so we bought smaller branches and tied them together with green ribbon and olive branches as its own centerpiece instead. Also, tulip season barely passed, so we were not able to find white tulips for the ivory vases. Instead, we grabbed peach and orange roses.

Sometimes the execution is way better than the plan. I love the way it turned out. What do you think?

New Purse Accessory

On Saturday, I had dinner with my sisters-in-law accompanied with a little bit of shopping. We hit Bath & Body Works, which I have a little beef with, but that's another story. I came across the cutest PocketBac holder. I have been looking for one to have easy access to my hand sanitizer, without having to spend three minutes digging through my purse. I finally found one that was chic enough to display. In the past, most (all) of them have been a bit juvenile for my taste.

Behold, the glam PocketBac holder!

There are so many things I love about this one. The studs are modern, the color matches any bag I carry, and the little tassel makes it classy.

Right now, it's not available online, but you can pick one up at your nearest store. Happy shopping!