Happy Summer! How to Make STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

I love a fresh dessert. Strawberry shortcake is light and sweet - perfect for a summer picnic or bbq. 

Strawberry shortcake needs time for the sugar to become syrup. See below for the recipe. 

I added sugar to the fruit and this is what it looked like after just one hour in the fridge:

RECIPE: 

Simply slice the strawberries and other berries and add white sugar to the fruit. Do not add water. 

The more sugar you add, the more berry syrup you will have. 

I like to add about 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of sugar to one basket of strawberries and then add more sugar later.

I also like to add more sugar after about an hour in the fridge. I love the syrup and all you need to do to have more syrup is add more sugar!

Mix well with the berries before putting it back into the fridge.

 

Refrigerate and let the sugar become syrup.

Take the easy way out and buy shortcake from the grocery store. You can find it in the produce section near the berries. I found this lemon shortcake and I loved it!!

Look at all that syrup! Lots of sugar has made my strawberry shortcake full of syrup.

Perfect! It's almost like a strawberry soup. The Strawberry Shortcake will last in your refrigerator. This is a great summer dessert that is easy to make and bring along to a bbq or picnic. You just need time for the sugar to become syrup, so making it before the party or event is key!

Add whip cream if you want to make it decadent!!  

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Hair Donation Day!

Today, I donated 12" of my hair. Want to see the before and after? Check out my video.

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Unique USA in Los Angeles - August 2015 Show Downtown

We went to the Unique USA's Los Angeles Market and had a blast! I cannot show you anything I bought - they are all gifts. Except one! I got myself a party pack to have some fun with my girls! 

Even though I can't show you what else I got, I can show you around this amazing and fun market! 

Let's start at the elevators:

Free boxed water. 

Party Size DIY Lip Balm Kit from Handcrafted Honey Bee

A treat for me!

Selfie before the Market. I am donating my hair in October to

Wigs For Kids and I can't believe how long it is! 

I keep cutting my bangs to keep it from looking shaggy.

All the Vendors I fell for at #uniquela. 

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Meditating: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

A few weeks ago, I came across an article on Goop about a meditation studio in Los Angeles - Unplug Meditation. I have been there, but for the price, I was not really impressed with the class. (Maybe they will start to offer a Student discount.) However, I was very impressed with their Meditation chairs. I thought to myself "I could download a Meditation app, get one of these amazing Meditation chairs, and have this experience comfortably at home and not deal with driving in Los Angeles or parking."

Apparently, the writer of the Goop article agreed with me - although she didn't mention the price or the issue of finding parking... She only wrote a measly, but positive, paragraph about Unplug Meditation and then gives us SIX meditation apps! She obviously did not have a great experience - why would she give a list of apps if she is promoting a Studio? Maybe for people not living in Los Angeles, but for you all I say "No worries! We don't like that elitist Studio anyway." Go ahead and download a bunch of free meditation apps, try them, and delete the ones you are not impressed with. That way when you are ready to meditate, you will only have the apps you like to choose from.

After my class, I asked the receptionist if she knew where I could get one of the chairs, and she rudely told me she had no idea. The chairs have a tag on them that says "Improvements" and I had already taken a photo of the tag and the chair, just in case I had to search for them.

It was not easy to find these chairs on the website. They don't come up when you type in meditation chairs (which is a key word if they connected to their site would bring a lot of sales) and they don't come up when you search folding chairs, either. But, I kept on trying and guess what?!?!

I FOUND THEM!! 

They are on the Improvements website and they are called the 5-Position Floor Chair. 

After having them for a while, I have realized I use these a lot!

Meditation chair in chair position

Penelope the cat loves these!!! It was hard to keep her off.

I don't use these just for meditating; I love to use them for the kiddo's nap time - it is just a perfect little bed to lay on the floor instead of just a mat. They are also great for anywhere you need a backrest and a little more cushion - like bleachers. I know they are a little big to be carrying to some far away place, but carrying them from the parking lot to the bleachers at the local field is not too far. And they make the bleachers COMFY! Who says that? The owner of these chairs, that's who! As you can see in the photos, they lay flat and that makes them easy to store.

Penelope with the chair in the flat position

Here are a few good Meditation apps 

AND 

here is where you can find those chairs! 

Now, go calm your mind and get your Meditation on!

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Vlog: Unboxing My DHC Order

Video:

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Time To Make A Change

Recently, I finished reading Start Something That Matters By Blake Mycoskie.

I have been inspired to not only do good for the world, but also doing good for myself, both inside and out. I need to change my consumption habits. I drink soda, love candy and chocolate, and I only use a few health/beauty products that are considered natural/organic.
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE.
I am usually not very personal on this blog, and the wall I have built up needs to come down.
I want to let you all in on this journey I am about to embark on. Here we go!

I am proud of companies like TOMS, Honest, Lush, method, and even the Melrose Trading Post. I have started to admire a few bloggers: Scratch Mommy, Trash is for Tossers, and even Crunchy Betty, although she has not posted in a while.

I have itchy skin all the time and I think it is a combination of the hard water in Los Angeles and the reaction to the unnatural ingredients I am putting on and in my body. Detoxing is never fun, but I have read that I need to detox even my armpits if I think of switching to homemade deodorant.

SO, What-Ya-Gonna-Do-About-It?

Where do I start? Maybe setting out clear goals will help me in this whirlwind I am feeling:

Goals To Change My Consumption Habits:

- Use and create my own natural, organic, and if possible: zero-waste beauty and health products (toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, lip balm)

- Eat natural, organic, and fresh meals

- Volunteer

- Commit to a solid yoga, meditation, and fitness routine

- Make my own condiments

- Change my grocery shopping habits by focusing on reusing containers, buying in bulk and recycling. This will decrease waste and is mostly inspired by Lauren from Trash is for Tossers!

Honestly, I don't know where to start. 

I have a grocery list and I have not had the chance to locate all the items on the list. 

It is mostly just a list of the basic starters for someone looking to make their own beauty and personal health products. When I have the items on my list, I will begin my journey. Maybe my journey has already begun just by me thinking about changing my habits.

My list to begin my DIY Lifestyle. Prices are from www.thesage.com so I can compare the prices online to what I find in the store. Oh, and shipping from the website is $17! So high!
(Note: I ALWAYS need milk and frozen berry medleys!)

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An Easy Way To Paint On Glass

I love to paint and I have recently come across a lot of old wood window sash's. They are all different sizes, but they came from the same house so they all have the same paint. 

I went to Michaels and picked up some Martha Stewart Glass Paint. The set is normally $30 for 8, but I had a 50% coupon so for $16, these 8 glass paints are worth it! 

Go for the Opaque so it won't look like you are trying to pull off stained glass!!

Two Yellow Birds In The Wind

Buck Head 1

Buck Head 2

How do I do it? Well, to sketch out my paintings, I use dry erase markers on one side and paint on the other:

Notice: I did not have a white, purple, or yellow Dry Erase Marker, so I kept the marker next to the color I wanted it to represent. I did not want to forget or second guess!

These are just a few of the windows. I will show you all more when they are dry!

What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

- Heather

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Save Money: Get Yourself A Coupon Box!

I have always used coupons at the grocery store and this is the secret to keeping them organized!

Get a 3x5 card box - you can find these at Staples, Office Depot, or anywhere 3 x 5 cards are sold.

You can find Coupons in the Sunday paper, in the mail, or online.

I usually clip coupons in my pajamas before I go to the grocery store. I pile them up according to category and then I put them away in the coupon box. I think this is easier and faster because I am not filing each coupon individually, but in groups. It works for me.

My Coupon Box Categories for Tabs: 

Baking, Beverages, Bread, 

Cans, Cat, Cereal, 

Chips/Snacks, Cleaning, Dressings/Condiments, 

Dairy, Frozen, Health, Meats, 

Pasta, Plastics/Paper, and Veggies!!

I also have a VIDEO if you want to see mine! 

What do you use to stay organized with your coupons? 

I know we can use digital coupons now, too. But, sometimes they do not offer them online, only in print - this works well for me.

- Heather

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Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning

This recipe comes from very simple ingredients, but when you put them all together - POW! 

Out comes this fantastic seasoning you will want every time you make taco's!

1 Serving = 3 Tablespoons of Seasoning for 1 1/2 lbs. meat

How to use:
Brown meat in a saucepan, Drain off fat and
Add 3 Tablespoons of Seasoning and 1/2 Cup (Up to 1 Cup) Of Water

As you can see, I make a large batch - note the "3x" next to the larger amounts.

For one serving, the recipe is:

1 Tbs. Chili Powder

1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder

1/4 Tsp. Onion Powder

1/4 Tsp. Crushed Red Peppers (Add more for extra spice!)

1/2 Tsp. Dried Oregano

1/2 Tsp. Paprika

1 1/2 Tsp. Ground Cumin

2 Tsp. Salt 

1 Tsp. Pepper

To make a large batch (3 Servings) to keep handy in a jar, the recipe is:

3 Tbs. Chili Powder

1 1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder

3/4 Tsp. Onion Powder

3/4 Tsp. Crushed Red Peppers (Add more for extra spice!)

1/2 Tbs. Dried Oregano

1/2 Tbs. Paprika

1 1/2 Tbs. Ground Cumin

2 Tbs. Salt 

1 Tbs. Pepper

What would you like me to show you how to make next? Have a great weekend!!!!

Love,

Heather

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The Getty Villa, Malibu, CA

We went to the Getty Villa in Malibu on a very cloudy day, but the gardens were still beautiful!

I always take a picture of where we parked so I don't have to worry about it when we leave.

We could see the Pacific Ocean!

The Hall of Colored Marbles was truly stunning!!!

Look at the floor!

I love these walls!!!! I have seen this look in granite in some 

people's kitchens - they used it in the entire room.

Even to trim the ceiling.

Yes, this is the decorated ceiling of the Getty Villa.

Hercules! Hercules!

I loved this view of the garden!

They have turned off the water due to the drought in California.

Alex and I - The sunset looks as though it is burning!!

The exit - what a view!

This is a photo of sun-rays coming out of the clouds and onto the Pacific Ocean. Just beautiful!

I would highly recommend you make a reservation and go to the Getty Villa in Malibu. Reservations are required, but admission is free - parking is $15 per car.

The museum is mostly focused around its beautiful gardens and Greek and Antiquity art such as jewelry, paintings, and sculptures. Have you been? What did you think of your visit?

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