Month: July 2013

diy: recycled paper mermaid art

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Here’s an idea to recycle all those Anthropologie and Free People magazines… take a hole puncher and cut out lots of tiny dots. Then, grab a canvas and slap a pretty shade of blue on it and get ready to create your own mermaid art.  Supplies: A handful of small, recycled hole punch dots Mod Podge Small brush Pencil Any color paint 8×8 inch canvas, or any size you want Start by painting your canvas. Let it dry and plan your mermaid design. I chose one with flowing hair, a crown and a conch. Sketch the pattern onto the canvas. Then, start in a wide area and work out – I chose the middle of her body. I first painted a bit of Mod Podge and then sprinkled some dots and used the back end of the brush to flat them against the paste. I later found that using the end of the brush to grab the dot and strategically place it along the mermaid pattern worked even better. I also painted over all the …

instamoments: days of summer gone

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My time on the island is growing shorter – I’ll soon be vacationing to the States for that much needed break to spend with family, plus a quick trip up to Portland for a friend’s wedding. These past few weeks have been so busy with diving and research, but I still managed to give myself time for reading, crafting, cooking and a couple nights out with Evan to unwind and relax. I don’t know how it happened, honestly. Sometimes I think both Evan and I just work ourselves thin. Does this happen to you often? My blog is my creative outlet and I love sitting down to compose posts. I’ve met so many wonderful people through blogging and I’m so grateful for everyone’s support and community. I hope this blog continues to be an inspiration to you during the week. I’ve got some cool ideas planned for August, despite my two week absence to the States. So stay tuned for more :)

travel: yoga retreat

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I’ve been researching yoga retreats for some time now. I’m particularly interested in attending a month-long or longer session in India – with wellness and spiritual nourishment too. I’ve been practicing yoga for several years now, although I’m no yogi master but I love the peaceful flow of movement and grounding I feel afterwards. It’s great for your mind, body and soul – even if you aren’t “in to” the whole new age type of movement. But of course, India is a little far away [expensive] so I found some cool retreats a little closer to home. Have you ever considered attending one of these?  Yosemite // This national park is a beauty, I can’t imagine a better place to relax. Check out the cool video of Yosemite in HD and you’ll never wonder why this location is a prime spot for yoga retreats. I found a few different options:  Back to EarthEarth Yosemite Yoga RetreatBalanced Rock Mexico // I love Mexico for its bold colors and rich culture. I can imagine this country would …

diy: cook healthy meals this week

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I have found a new-to-me blog that I love: a house in the hills. Now, if you follow me on Instagram, then you’ll notice I post a lot of food photos. I’m naturally drawn to other people’s awesome food photos too. And I just love to eat and try new things, so when I came across this insta-collection of yummy good for you meals, I had to share with you guys! Click Here to visit A House in the Hills and for Sarah’s collection of yummy meals. Thanks for the post, Sarah! These look delightful and delicious!

words to live by: proverbs 27:19

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[Photo here] Something to ponder for the mid-week. I often think about this as I strive to live a Christian life- both inside and out. Everyone has those moments, and I’m thankful that I can [mostly] catch sight of them before I let them define me. For instance, I have a big frustration with drivers here in PR, and I find myself expressing anger outwardly – which no one can hear but myself and God – and I wonder, if others were sitting in the car with me right now, would they define me by these actions? This is a difficult one, right? Because we know that we fall short, and we know that there are always those people around who take that opportunity to say “Ha! See! You say you’re a Christian, but I just saw you do… that thing, or say those words, or make that gesture”, even if they don’t express this openly or verbally. How do you respond to this? Or, do you respond to this?  I love this proverb. I …

favorites: summertime beauty

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These are my favorites in my beauty arsenal for the summertime [which is kinda all year round for me]. In Puerto Rico, its very humid, which is great for keeping my skin moist but doesn’t do much for my hair. I have naturally curly, wavy hair and I can generally keep it pretty tame when I spend most of day indoors. I never bother to straighten it here, because as soon as I step outside of A/C – BAM! right into frizz  mode. waste. of. time. Additionally, I’m always exposed to sun – everywhere I go here. Being so close to the equator (only 18 degrees latitude away), the sun is closer and more direct than when I lived stateside. This equates to much needed sun protection and dedicated skin care. So in my cabinet, I’ve got these lovely things: Hair // Loreal EverCurl to tame that frizzy mess atop my crown. This works wonders, I put it on after showering and can leave it as is, or blow dry a little bit to set …

culinary: buckwheat blueberry pancakes

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Good morning and Happy Monday! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. I’m currently diving for my project again all this week, so please excuse my absence in our blog community. Do you remember my summer goal to bake/cook with more gluten free, dairy free options? Well, I have a delicious pancake recipe for you that is gluten free indeed [and oh so tasty!].  Adapted from Cookie & Kate: 1 cup buckwheat flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups vanilla 7-Grain milk 1 large egg 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup of blueberries (thawed or fresh) Butter, for the skillet Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Next, pour the milk into a measuring cup, then beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the wet stuff to the dry stuff and then gently fold in the blueberries. Use a tad bit of butter for your skillet and get to it! I added a bit of whipped cream and some more …

photography: abandoned to nature

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There is an old house up the hill from me, that all the locals oddly call “the goathouse” yet no one has been able to tell me why that is. It is loaded with all kinds of graffiti – some from Puerto Ricans and some from tourists visiting Rincon who end up finding out about this “hang out”. The view is killer, which is why folks trek up here. You can watch whales in the season, enjoy the sunsets every night and watch the waves break on my favorite beach. Whoever built this house had the right idea – too bad they never finished it. I love to wander through the rooms, especially those facing west because there are piles of sand all around and I have no idea how it all got there? It looks like a deserted desert building, not something situated atop a hill above the sea. So every now and then I wander up there to do what everyone else does: get away from the sounds of the street below, and …

menagerie: inspirations, lately

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Here are some of the things I’m loving lately… // This paint palette is pretty much how I’d love to deck out a beach home// This scene speaks to me, so tranquil and peaceful – just you and the sea// I’ve been considering my next tattoo(s) and placement. I’m realllllly leaning toward a 3/4 sleeve! // I love to watch octopus swim and move. They are gentle and incredibly smart. // These chocolate buttermilk cupcakes sounds so scrumptious // Love the styling in this photo, but the drink itself sound heavenly: pear nectar thyme mimosa // I’ve been really trying to add kale to my diet and this looks SO delicious! So healthy! // Love this coral and linen iphone cover. I wish it were waterproof and I’m sold hah// This camera strap DIY from a scarf looks awesome (and simple!)// My mother has been stocking a “hope chest” for my one-day marriage; this chest is perfect! // A swinging day bed is a dream come true for island living. Evan, let’s build this pronto// …