Eco & Elsie

A World Of Pure Imagination

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 02:08:00 +0000

This is a post from my new adventure, Fairy Much Fun! Come visit and take a look at our 2014 Holiday Fairy Homes.

We live in a world where being an adult means not believing in fairies (or hobbits, or gnomes, or birds that will do our laundry.) Okay, birds will probably never do our laundry, otherwise I'd have a very posh aviary with some very well fed birds, but the rest of it? Well, I'm done and ready to stick a fork in this belief that growing up means losing our imaginations! I'm not talking about completely up-rooting ourselves from reality. I'm talking about letting go of a pre-conceived notion that magic and love and amazing things aren't possible.

Photo from Deposit Photos

I'm putting this out there, because I'm done with my facade. I love the make-believe world. I cry when I go to Disney World. I get just as excited as my four year old when I meet Princess Belle or Aladdin. I believe that our trees have souls, that there is a place where fairies exist, and the number three is special. Let's remember that just because we can't comprehend something, doesn't mean it's not possible. Our eyes can only see what our brain can compute, so the next time you get unexplainable goosebumps, hear a soft whisper out of nowhere, or simply feel you aren't alone, take note and take heed, because just maybe, there's a reason for it.

So what's your secret? Encounter with a ghost? Have you seen something a bit odd in your peripheral vision? Feel a poke on your shoulder when no one was there? Please do share in the comments!

Help Fairy Much Fun reach a goal of 100 likes by 2015!

New Adventure!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 01:21:00 +0000

This blog is on an indefinite hiatus, but please feel free to look around. And check out my newest adventure - Fairy Much Fun!

Free Peace Cards + Summer Daydreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 17:40:00 +0000

Peace Print

Hello, friends! So who watched Game of Thrones last night? Honestly, I did not see that coming and my mind is running rampant speculating over who the culprit was. I'll shut up though - no spoilers here.

Anyway, made a new print over the weekend! This print is meant to remind you of the calming and relaxing nature of the ocean. I love the water and am so excited that we're getting closer to summer time. What does that mean? It means flip flops, beach hats, and sunscreen. We'll be traveling to the coast this summer with two young kids in tow.

I'm really looking forward to putting my feet into that cool, clear water and eating sandy, homemade sandwiches while listening to the surf. And I'm awfully good at the manta ray shuffle now. A few years ago, we were told to "shuffle" our feet through the water because it was mating season for the manta rays. They prefer to hide near the shore, right underneath the sand, so it's advised to shuffle your feet, rather than step, where you're more likely to put a foot smack down on a manta ray. Let's just say I got extremely good at shuffling!

Anyway, below are some freebies. Just right click to save, print out and cut along the gray line, then fold in the middle. Now you have some calming peace note cards! Enjoy! :)

(All free downloads are only for personal use.)

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Hold Your Love Like You Hold an Umbrella

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 20:33:00 +0000

Umbrella of Love Nursery Printable

Although this print is cutesy and references a popular children's book, I really intended for it to convey a message of love. The idea being that we should all carry around our love the same way we carry an umbrella in the rain. High above our heads, using it as a shelter, and ready to share it with someone who needs a warm and safe place to rest. There are many people - I am sure you can think of one or two - who hide under a ginormous umbrella of fear. They fend off the world with an enormously judgemental attitude and they relieve their own pain by spreading it to others. It can be really hard to want to share your umbrella with these types of people. But the next time someone annoys the poop out of you, just think of this sweet polka dot umbrella and two cute little mice sheltering from the storm of fear. I'm even going to give you a free print because I love you so much (check it out below - just click to download). It's a lot like the one above, but with a more grown up message.

Enjoy! PS: Check out the advertisers and sponsors to the right and below this message and if you make a purchase through the link, I earn a little commission. I am hoping to earn some extra income so I can hire a sitter to watch my two little girls, while I work on my dream - writing a novel!

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FREEEE PRINTABLES: Motivating mini pep-talk-notes to get you into shape!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 16:47:00 +0000

Even olympic athletes need motivational pep talks every now and then. That's essentially what these little notes are - little movitational pep talks for any one looking to get into better shape. Personally, I love hitting the gym, but getting there is a different story. I plop on the treadmill and slowly move to a trot, at which point my butt feels like it weighs about a million tons. Once the blood starts moving and my heart rate jumps up though, I hit an awesome high and I'm ready to take on the day!

These little notes are here to help you get there. Maybe your "there" is the gym, maybe it's just doing crunches in the basement, or maybe it's taking the stairs at work, but I know you can do it. Click on the image above to print them out, tape them to your mirror, pin them to your cubicle wall, and place one on your dashboard. We all need these little moments to remind ourselves that we're worth it. We're worth the fight. We're worth the nutrients. And we're worth a better life.

Good luck my loves. :)

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Pushing Past The Desert of Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 02:19:00 +0000

Added another one! :)

Ice Cream Wonder Printable

I'm up late tonight and feeling, well, awful. Not sick. No. Just feeling restless, uneasy, and ungrateful. Nothing in particular happened today, so I wonder where do these feelings come from?

I didn't make it to the gym today and I wonder about the possibilities of sweating out the "bad stuff." Is it possible these feelings are really just some type of foreign entity, digging deeper and deeper into the delicate spirit? It does seem that rigorous exercise has an effect on anxiety, stress, and general unhappiness.

I have found that putting in the effort to fight these feelings can be fairly difficult, but necessary and given time, quite satisfying. The part of my psyche that says, "You'll never be good enough," is the part of me that lives in a vast desert of negativity and fear. I honestly don't think that desert will ever go away. It's a part of us and the only thing you can do is accept it, walk through it when necessary, but never, ever set up camp there. The only way out is to just keep moving. Force yourself to the gym. Get out the pen and write. Send that e-mail. Pick up the phone. Find something you want to accomplish and just do something, anything, even if it's a super small thing, to make it happen. Bonus points if it's something that scares you.

On to tomorrow, friends.

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New Printables Added!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:31:00 +0000

Check out some of the new prints I've added to the Etsy shop! Still trying to add more inventory, so hopefully I'll have a bunch more up in the next week. Colors and quotes can be changed, just PM via Etsy if you're interested!

"All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where its planted."

Artsy Tree Printable

Never Look Back Printable

Dream Big Doggie

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Taking the First Steps in Accomplishing A Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 16:02:00 +0000

The Voyage of Discovery Printable

I ventured out last night to my first writing group! The goal of the group is to gather feedback and discussion on something you've written. It's scary to wade into such unknown waters, especially when I really have no idea what I am doing, but it feels good to force the fear aside and take the first steps toward accomplishing my dream of writing a novel. It may seem silly, but sharing my work is more nerve wracking than almost anything I have ever done before. Ever. Seriously. Anyway, as mentioned previously, I said I would share what I wrote here. Below is something I hammered out during my daughter's ballet class. I am not a ballerina, but I have watched enough documentaries to know it's a tough life. Enjoy. :) (It's not finished - I'm not sure I will finish it. Psst, advice is always welcome.)

Discipline is overrated. It's a trait that leaves you alone in the dark to wither away with nothing but bloody toes, brittle bones, and dashed hopes. No matter how detrimental it was though, discipline was my constant and favored companion. It gave me insurmountable highs and allowed me to dance with nothing but spotlights in my eyes and the rhythm of my heart. I practiced Pirouettes and Pliés and Relevés until I could literally no longer stand. I would bend and leap and turn until my body gave in, eventually crashing on the studio floor. I dreamed ballet. I spoke ballet. I was ballet.

I ate nothing though and malnutrition was something I carried like a badge of honor. I lived in Paris, a city where the delicious smell of warm butter, sugar, and fresh crepes wafted through sweet, cobblestone streets. The smell was intoxicating and would often render me woozy. I however relegated myself to a diet of only dry carrots and black coffee. I had no relationship with man or woman, instead I found myself creating sporadic, but pretend love affairs with everything I had forsaken: the glistening glazed breads that taunted me in patisserie windows, attending the cinema with girlfriends, enjoying leisurely strolls along the Champs-Elysee. These things I only visited in my mind, for in reality they were simply for people who couldn't control their destiny. I, however, was 5'8" and weighed 95 lbs. I worked hours upon hours on my craft, I shunned what made life beautiful, and I slowly descended into a world that didn't actually exist.

In hindsight, my mind began crumbling when I left New York for France. Maybe it was the incessant pressure of my career, maybe it was the fact I had broken my arm during an overwrought rehearsal, or maybe it was the fact that my boyfriend of five years decided we weren't meant to be anymore. I am sure all those things contributed to my cognitive decline, but ultimately, I am most certain it was the isolation which I inflicted upon myself.

It began innocently enough with a snippet of missing time. One afternoon, I awoke suddenly on the sidewalk completely unaware of how I got there. Drool and concrete grit stuck to the side of my face and my gym bag hung around the neck of a rather pungent homeless man sitting next to me. I refused to believe this could be a problem. "I'm just really, really tired," I told myself, which was a very valid excuse. A tiny part of me acknowledged that I had hit levels of dangerous exhaustion and for the next few days, I indulged in long naps and marathons of The Real Housewives of Paris. My work schedule allowed for it and since I had no friends, there weren't any social engagements to be concerned about. A few days passed and, convinced I had regained enough energy, I went back to my regular schedule of 18 hour days. Carrots and coffee were still my staple items, but now I proudly included celery and fat free cottage cheese and for a while it seemed the extra protein was all I needed. Everything was back to normal. Dance and sleep, dance and sleep, dance and sleep. I was functioning. I had pulled it off. I was going to survive.

Until one day, I didn't survive. Those weeks where everything was "normal," had merely been the calm before the storm. This time I didn't wake on the sidewalk, I didn't wake in an ambulance or even in a hospital bed. I awoke in my own world, even more isolated than I was before, and the only way out was through a series of incredibly difficult acts of courage.

2014 is the year I...

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:25:00 +0000

Accomplish Great Things Printable available in my Etsy Shop

2014 is the year I am going to write a novel.

Okay, shit. How the hell am I going to write a novel? I call myself an illustrator or a designer because I spent a whole four years partying, er, I mean studying at a school for that purpose. I earned that title by playing both teams - the Mac team and the PC Team, duh! - and by learning how to deal with eccentric bosses, one of which who liked to make up words and insisted I look at 150 of his vacation photos. Not to mention the tuition that was paid at school, which was like an academic dating game. I paid my money and the school put out in the form of a diploma. I'm not saying it was that easy, there were certainly some tough classes and brutal all nighters, but yeah, it definitely was that easy.

So here I am on the brink of calling myself of a writer. What a farce!? I fear any moment the world will find me out and hang me at the gallows. "A writer!? Hah," they will claim, "for my pig could write better words than her!" Sigh... well, if I had Charlotte helping me, I would probably be as good as that pig. (Really silly reference there, don't hate me.)

I am going to do this though. I am going to fight every freaking ounce of fear and make this effing book happen. The first book will probably be horrible, but my goal is to at least complete one novel and hone my craft in the process. Hopefully, the next one will be better. And if you ask why I have so much passion for this, I feel it's almost unanswerable, but my heart truly yearns for it. I can't really explain it any other way. It's not about becoming the most amazing writer, it's about telling the most amazing story and creating an entirely new world that you can not only immerse yourself in, but one that turns the depths of your soul into the hardest stone and the gentlest of waters. (Crap, was that a run-on sentence? I'm going to need a damn good editor.)

I signed up for a group where we all bring something we've written for feedback and critique. I'm shaking in my jeans on this one, but I've got to start somewhere. I'll share it here when I'm done! Until then, have a good weekend friends. Love to you all.

Goals Reviewed. Spinach Nuggets Await.

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 21:21:00 +0000

Above: Making Things Happen Powersheets. These are so beyond awesome and I highly recommend them. I have started using them in my own goal setting endeavors.

I feel like for the past year, I have been a professional ambler. I've been walking around, slow and half asleep, like a bored cat constantly chasing her kittens. Now that my second daughter has made it to the milestone year of one and sleep comes at more regular intervals, I finally feel like I can rejoin society. Although, I have to admit, there are times when I have the appearance of someone who comes from a tribe of never-washed nomads rather than civilized society, but such is life.

So anyway, as I mentioned earlier, 2014 is my year of no excuses. This means a few goals are on the to-do list (not in order of importance): One, get fit. Two, focus more on love, not fear. Three, write a novel. Four, generate passive income.

In the beginning of 2014 I signed up for a local mud run! I am scared out of my pants on this one, but it certainly lit a fire under my butt to hit the gym! I can now run a 12 minute mile and learned that burpees are awesome for almost every part of the body, except the brain which will try to convince you that eating rotten eggs is better than burpees.

On passive income, I am working on that. I don't really have an established amount as to how much I would like to generate, but I figure I will work on actually selling some stuff first. More about this another time though. Mac and cheese is on the stove. Spinach nuggets in the oven. We eat fancy over here.

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2014: The Year of No Excuses!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 16:06:00 +0000

This is a hard blog post to write. Okay...

Let me check twitter now, just to distract myself.

Okay...Seriously, writing now....

I am transitioning this blog to more of a personal one. I haven't quite figured out what I'll do with all the wedding stuff on here, but for now "done is better than perfect," so I'm just going to write this post and publish. It is really difficult putting yourself out there for all the world to see, to judge, to scrutinize, but I am really tired of living in this mental space of fear. My brain throws daggers out often - "You're not good enough, you're not smart enough, you're not pretty enough, you're not... You're just not..."

Why is it so hard to fight these words? I don't subscribe to the theory this is the devil on my shoulder. It's the yin to my yang. It sucks. I need to build up my yang or something.

2014 is my year of NO EXCUSES. So I am here and I am going to live it. I am done with worrying about what other people think, done with holding on to pain, done with being the product of my own mental atrocities. This blog will hold myself accountable...I hope. I have some goals. Certain ones seem harmless and others seem so incredibly unattainable that to put it out there - to write it here - would be terrifying. Why? I don't know. It's the yin thing. Fortunately, I have started off with other, less intimidating goals.

They will be shared here. I promise. Until then, let's remember that you don't get to that place without hard work. Right now, I just have to have faith that the place I am in now is right where I need to be. Hard work awaits.

Rock on, friends.

(Re-Post) Get Your Free Chevron Patterns!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 19:28:00 +0000

This is a repost, but it's a super popular one, so enjoy! :)

Chevrons are the thing right now. I see them everywhere, especially on Pinterest, and it's starting to grow on me. I really enjoy their bold presence and I love seeing them incorporated in usual places, but I have to draw the line at chevron nail art. It just ain't me, folks. However, being that I'm a graphic designer, I thought I'd have a little fun and offer you all some free chevron patterns. Free for what? Oh, I don't know... you could use them for invitations, your blog, a guide for mowing your lawn in a chevron pattern... Just click on the picture and you can save the image from there.

P.S. Don't scroll too fast - it will hurt your eyes!

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A New Type of Family Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Ah...marriage. Some embrace it and some fear it, but whatever the case, marriage is about more than just sharing a sink in the morning and picking your underwear up off the floor. The story of your life fundamentally changes when you sign that piece of paper commemorating your commitment for one another. In one amazing moment, you merge the history of your family with the history of another.

Below are some beautiful, modern style, family trees, which are a wonderful way to celebrate your changing story. Available at Modern Trees.

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Is That Really Rustic?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:30:00 +0000

There are rustic weddings and then there are "rustic" weddings that have had 65k thrown at them. There needs to be a petition to start calling these "luxury rustic," or something weird like that, because that's about as rustic as camping in an RV with a butler and a maid.

Anyway, the wedding below is so absolutely beautiful and, I feel, a true "rustic" wedding. It was held at Riverbend Environmental Center in Gladwyn, PA. I personally love how the bridesmaids are all in soft neutral dresses, which fits so perfectly with the calming and serene environmental backdrop.

Pondering time: can an exorbitant wedding still be considered rustic?

Beautiful photography From Love Me Do Photography

Find more info about this wedding over at Sparkle and Hay,

a blog choc full of rustic awesomeness

Corks Turned Awesome

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Although I imagine this would require one to collect a whole lot of wine corks, I really love this idea. What a great way to re-purpose old wine corks, right!?

Photography by Libby James, found via April Foster Events - Click both links to see so much more awesome corky goodness!

Etiquette Shmetiquette: My Mom Wants Favors and I Don't!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:42:00 +0000

Today is Etiquette Shmetiquette day!

When planning your wedding, you may find that everybody and their mother (literally!) has an opinion about what you should be wearing/serving/buying/etc... Especially when you tell them you want to have an environmentally friendly wedding.

We all know we're supposed to bite our tongue and act as the compromising diplomat, but even Dear Abby wasn't perfect. Here I'll give you a common etiquette question, Dear Abby style, but with an alternative, less cultured, answer.

Dear Eco & Elsie,

I don't want to give favors out because I'm afraid they'll just end up in the trash, but my mother is horrified by the idea of not having them. What should I do?

- Amanda (Favor-less in Texas)

What you want to say: Threaten her with elopement and then, in your most exasperated tone, tell her that you'll only agree to give out these useless trinkets if she can sufficiently explain the series finale of Lost, which has left a vast and darkening hole in your life since 2010.

What you should probably say instead: "I really appreciate your concern for our guests mom, but this wedding should represent the values that my future husband and I share. Contributing to waste in the environment is something I am deeply against." Then offer to look up more eco-friendly favors online, such as edible goodies or plantable items.

Got an etiquette question? Feel free to send it to jen@ecoandelsie.com and don't hesitate to include your own "what you wish you could say."

Wedding Shoes For A Good Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:30:00 +0000

(This was originally posted in February, but it's such a popular post, I thought I'd share it again. You'll find additional links at the end of this post for your perusal. Have a great weekend everyone!)

Our weather was freakishly warm yesterday. And I took full advantage of it when my hubby treated me to a wonderful surprise. He took the day off work, arranged for my parents to babysit, and took us to the new ice rink at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, which was refreshingly cool. It was such a wonderful time and I am so grateful to have his love and friendship. Now that we have our lovely daughter, these "dates" are even more precious to me.

Anyway, mushiness over. So the warm weather had me thinking about sandals and summertime. And then I got a lovely e-mail from Sseko, a company which gives women in Uganda an avenue to empower their lives. Here is how it's done:

In an impoverished and male-dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work. Sseko hires these college-bound women during their nine-month period from school to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. The women that Sseko employs will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers, and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country ravished and divided by a 22 year-long war.

Sseko also offers custom made sandals in custom colors. Visit their site. Or go straight to their wedding collection.

Links to keep you busy over the weekend:

Goodness gracious great Cakeballs!

Flavors of Fall Squash

Treehugger's Green Gift Guide for animal lovers

Green Destination Wedding at Eco-Beautiful Weddings

Seriously amazing pumpkin carvings

Can I get married again so I can wear one of these?

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

What you see below: Eco-friendly Dresses From Natural Bridals

The Lauren Dress

What's going through your head: I want/need/must have or I'll die

(it's okay, you can admit these thoughts are going through your head even if you're not getting married. They're certainly going through mine and I'm already hitched.)

The Amanda Gown

What's coming out of your mouth: Drool...

The Jane Dress

The Registry Pickle

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I've heard a few people ragging lately on CB2, an offshoot of Crate and Barrel aimed at offering stylish home decor items at more affordable prices. However, I like the concept, the products, and the prices (although I'm not crazy about some of it - I don't need to see a little man riding a biscotti). Although one does not usually associate a big name store with being environmentally friendly, I've been impressed with Crate and Barrel's efforts to utilize renewable and sustainable materials.

Below are some of my favorite items from CB2. The colors are so fun and the graphics so entertaining.

Are you (or would you) registering at a big chain store like Crate and Barrel?

Adorable, Handcrafted Birdcage Veils and Fascinators

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Brides used to wear long veils to symbolize their virginity and the unveiling was meant to symbolize consummation after marriage. So the birdcage veil must have been a way of saying, "My virgin status ain't none of your biz-nas!"

I'm kidding, of course. I'm not really sure what the catalyst was for a shorter veil - perhaps brides just wanted to be able to see better - but whatever the case, these birdcage veils are pretty darn adorable. And if you are so inclined, skip the veil altogether and opt for a handmade fascinator. All of the below are handcrafted from Deeds and Petunia. Kinda makes me want to get married all over again just so I can wear one of these!

Bandeau Style Birdcage Veil

Pink Flower Fascinator

Vintage inspired - so pretty. 9 inch French veiling

Vintage inspired mini bridal hat and veil

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Easy DIY: Toilet Paper Tubes Turned Into Party Lights!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Not too long ago I challenged myself to come up with a new use for an empty toilet paper tube. I was actually really worried that I wouldn't be able to pull this off. I really enjoy repurposing and creating, but I will be the first to admit my inventions aren't always show stoppers. I think I managed to create something fairly fun here though and if nothing else, it was super easy!

These lights can be used for any type of evening party or even an outdoor engagement party. To really make things special, use the couple's initials rather than the word "love," or for a wedding, consider putting the date

All you really need are the following tools:

X-acto knife
twine, yarn, or string
LED tea lights
tape
Card Stock
regular paper
pen or needle

Step one: gently cut out the letters of the toilet paper tube using an X-acto knife with a new, sharp blade. It's easier to pencil in your letter and then slowly go over the line with your x-acto knife. It's better to go over the same line a few times rather gently than to bear down and try to cut it all on one stroke.

Step two: cut a few strips of card stock and tape them into the bottom of the inside tube in the fashion of a cross or plus sign. This is to hold the tea light in place.

Step three: cut out a small rectangle of regular or slightly see through paper (I used plain ivory resume paper) and tape it in the inside of the tube, covering up the window created by the cut out letter.

Step four: Use a needle or pen to thread the twine through each tube

Step five: Drop in LED tea lights and hang up in a spot to be admired by all.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the comments! :)

Polaroid Project

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 01:30:00 +0000

This is sort of a new take on the "Before you die..." art installation. This particular project was created by Nicole Kenney, a brooklyn based artist who "explores universal themes through the intimate and the personal." She plans to follow up with each participant to see if they accomplished their goals.

I can imagine this being a wonderful project for a bride and groom to take on as they embark on their new journey together as husband and wife. What do you think?

Mason Jars - Love Them or Hate Them

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I actually hesitate to post too much about mason jars. One, because everyone else already does it, and two, I've already posted about them a lot. But...how can I not post this? I mean, seriously? I figure you either love 'em or hate 'em, so hopefully you love them, because here is one more mason jar post. (Check out instructions here.)

Cupcake Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

I used to be obsessed with cupcakes, but I've been somewhat alleviated of this affliction in the past year or so. Not sure why, so don't ask, but I'll still eat them - I'm just not obsessed with them. That doesn't stop this ex-cupcake stalker from appreciating them and occasionally dabbling in cupcake-ish recipes. If you feel the same, check out Ming Makes Cupcakes. I don't know who Ming is, but Ming is pretty awesome, which is apparent on his/her website. And if you get sick of cupcakes, you can check out Ming's Cookies too.

Safer Alternatives to Tanning Beds

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Last Monday, I wrote about the dangers of tanning in the post, "A Healthy Tan or a Healthy Body?"

However, there are options when it comes to sunless tanning. And there's nothing wrong with switching up your look a little bit, especially when summer rolls around. To give yourself a toxin-free, natural glow, Treehugger touts Lavera as being the greenest sunless tanner on the market. Made with organic soy extracts, jojoba oil, calendula, aloe vera, and rose water, it was voted the greenest cosmetic and beauty brand in Europe. It also won the "Best Sunless Tan" award in the New York Times bestseller, "Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth Friendly Life."

Unfortunately, it seems not too many other companies are following in Lavera's footsteps. According to Skin Deep, the cosmetics safety database, there isn't one sunless tanner given their "low hazard" rating. This essentially means that most sunless tanners will have some potentially hazardous ingredients. You can weigh the pros and cons though and move onto their "moderately hazardous" products.

One of the more interesting sunless "tanners" I came across was a do-it-yourself concoction from Care2, involving natural ingredients like water and sesame oil. Although it seems a bit on the archaic side, it's certainly one of the most appealing in terms of being eco-friendly, health-friendly, and budget-friendly. Of course, this all is assuming it works. Check out the Natural Sunless Tanning Lotion from Care2.

If all else fails, I refer you to the comment of Jaime (from It's a Jaime Thing), who told us how she learned to "embrace the porcelain," by making the decision not to get a spray tan for her sister's wedding. You rock Jaime!