:Musings:

Stuff On Sunday: Body W.I.P.

Nicky6 Comments

My latest W.I.P. (work in progress)  is a 20lb weight loss between Sept 1st 2012 and March 31st 2013.    This is not for vanity but for health reasons.  This W.I.P will eventually have it’s own post, but for now, what it does is give me an opportunity to become even more creative in my kitchen.  Since opportunities for creativity exist even in our food preparation, this goal allows me to think about food, to prepare and serve it nicely and also think about what my body needs to function better than it is now.

Today’s finds includes an old promotion from the US Food Administration:

I found it at the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture based in San Francisco.  I’ve decided to go the seasonal route with my cooking and found two awesome pdf’s from CUESA (in addition to truckloads of recipes) — read more about the organisation here.  The website is an awesome resource for anyone who wants to improve his/her quality of life but eating sustainably.   Even their Pinterest board is full of ideas and inspiration.

Eating seasonally means is that I’ll be incorporating vegetables and fruits in my meals according to the season they are grown in.  This ups the market freshness quotient exponentially.  That’s not to say that I wouldn’t be eating any out of season food that’s green-house bred as opposed to field grown.  Since the former is grown with more preservatives, eating seasonally eliminates some of that.

The link to the vegetable chart can be found here and the fruit chart — here.

I start school this week coming up so I’m going to use the next few days to really create a workable schedule that incorporates, exercise, eating, crafting and study.  I love the quick, easy recipes I’m finding on CUESA; I can see myself utilizing this website a lot during the upcoming months.

In keeping with my goal of utilizing more natural items physically and cosmetically, next weekend will involve some of these jars:

found here at Ikea.  I’ll be using them to store some homemade applesauce and test out a sugar-scrub recipe I’m using in the spa-package I’m creating for Christmas gifts.  Once I finesse the sugar-scrub recipe, I’ll be sure to post it.

Have a wonderful week everyone and Happy Sunday!!!

Stuff On Sunday: Decor Inspiration

Nicky6 Comments

I live in an apt.  While I will say that I’m not going live in one forever, and I’ll also say that owning a home is my ultimate goal, any apt I live in, I like to make it “home” for the time being.  Sometimes creating that “homey” atmosphere in a box can test your patience and creativity, but it’s worth the effort because in the meantime, until I own a home, that little box, wherever it is … it’s home.

Right now, my little box is in a state of chaos.  A partially clogged kitchen sink shed light on bigger issues with my kitchen plumbing.  What that meant is that  a 30 minute job turned into a 4.5 hour one and I still have to wait another 72 hours to put everything back where it was, so they’re all over the place.  Honestly, the situation was/is inconvenient but what it did also, was give me an opportunity to look around and see what else I can do to create a living/work space I love despite it being so small.  Again, since I don’t pin 😳 … today’s “Stuff On Sunday” will be the holding place for the pieces that I love which will/might become part of my decor.  What’s great, is that all the pieces can move with me whenever I leave this space.

First up — for my bedroom:  Tier Cascade Faux Chandelier from Urban Outfitters 

I don’t typically go for this type of look, but this piece is beautiful and I can’t wait to put it up.

The area for dining is really small.  I have a large fruit platter on the table that can’t go anywhere else (no kitchen counter-space; that’s another story) but I’ve always wanted to have fresh flowers on the table.  Since there’s no space for that, I’ll be using the wall.  The nerd in me loves this chemistry inspired set of flower holders. I’m going to substitute by using a floating shelf and mason jars.  The UO set doesn’t allow for washing, so in my opinion, the best use for it would be fake flowers.

I definitely had to incorporate in the mini makeover, this fabric from Ikea.  I’m using it to cover the chairs in my dining set.  I love the whimsy!  With beige walls, I need all the colour help I can get and it helps to tie the living and dining space together.

The urban chic-ness of this acid etched letter appealed to me. Although I’m not sure where it’s going to go yet, it definitely will be part of the update.

I had a beautiful silk wing chair that I got from a used/new furniture shop.  It was ruined by multiple leaks in the building’s facade during a rainstorm last year.  The building management reimbursed me for the cost of the chair but I haven’t been able to find one I like — not even at my favourite furniture store.  That was until I came up on this one from Ikea:

I know, it’s not a wing chair, but from all the reviews, it’s comfortable and the interplay between the red cushion against the brown veneer works with the decor I have already.  There’s a black veneer and a birch one, but I really love the brown one.  It’ll add a wonderful pop of colour to my living room and I can’t wait to put it up.

I’m also going to pick up the matching footstool.

I’m excited about the relaxing reading, knitting and crocheting times I’ll have with this duo!

I’ll be making these changes over the next couple of months.  My goal is to be done with them by the holidays.  My goal is to create a warm, little cocoon for myself and my guests over the fall and winter months.  I’ll keep you updated with the changes and I’ll definitely post the before and after photos.

Happy Sunday!