Deck Dreams

I've finally bit the bullet and began to move forward, formulating and working on my ideas to make our deck more inviting and relaxing. Since leaving LA, I've missed having an outdoor living space and I want to make what we have now even better than our little nook we previously had.

When we moved here we brought our bar table from our LA pad, but we ended up totally and completely neglecting it. It sat alone and sad down in the side yard, out of sight and out of mind. The wood table top was completely ruined by the rain and the day before yesterday I finally cleaned all the junk off of it and removed the trashed top.

Gary decided Teak would trump our old oak top and after much searching I finally found the perfect one...

Via Outdoor Restaurant Seating

Of course we need the largest and most expensive one ( 36", $140 ), and I will still need to carefully cut a hole in the middle so we can put in an umbrella. I can't tell you how long it took me and how frustrating it was trying to find websites that sold ONLY table tops. Majority of my search was links to replace those ugly glass patio tables, thankfully I was able to find a gem in the middle of all the weeds.

The completed table will go on the north side of the deck, with a nice view of the mountains, and at the south end, which currently looks like this...

I plan to build a little lounge area! I saw a post on Stylizimo Blog about using a crib mattress to make a chaise lounge for a sofa. Unfortunately I can't fit a sofa + chaise there, but I can make my own little "couch". The plan is to build a basic frame for it, and after setting the mattress on it I want it to be tall enough so if we wanted to move the table over to use at the lounge, it'd not look/feel awkward.

I'll be putting a protective plastic cover on the mattress to protect it from rain and the dampness we often have and will layer it in comfy blankets and pillows. I want to have two nice looking storage boxes to slide underneath it to put the blankets and pillows in when the weather is nasty (we get some pretty nasty wind here too).

The grill you see in the photo will move further to the right so it'll sit right in the middle of the deck, not too far or too close to the table and lounge area. My hope is to have these little projects done before my birthday as I am hoping to have a pool party with a bunch of girlfriends and I want to have a nice, relaxing hang out spot for the evening. I'm picturing either a lot of jewel tones or more of a caribbean island feel. I'll have to see where my heart takes me once the basics are all set up.

In the meantime aka till I have the funds, I'm still working on getting a job. I had a great interview today and I am really excited about this place and the opportunities I could have there. Also I'd be working with one of my favorite things! I have my fingers crossed incredibly tight and am studying up as much as I can so I have a good amount of basic knowledge before I hopefully get the call for a second interview.

As for my weekend, my parents came to visit. My Mom and I made a wonderful enchilada dinner for everyone and then we all chilled on the couch and watched Once Upon A Time. Didn't really do it for me, but I'm very picky about how my favorite fairy tales are handled. Oh! And my Mom brought me an adorable little topiary for my current patio table. 

I finally get to use my beautiful, aged "Rosebud" pot. It all looks so perfect!

xoxo,

    Gina

(Early) Spring Cleaning

via Country Living

The trees across the street have already begun to bloom with little white flowers, the weather has been nice and warm the last few days and the sunsets have been a moody pink and purple. It isn't quite spring yet, but it feels like it.

I woke up feeling much better today, my small cold finally little more than a nasty cough and just felt compelled to DO.

While laying sick on the couch I could see cat hair and dust floating through sun rays and it gave me such a gross feeling. I don't ever want to let myself get so lazy that things get that bad again. But I go through my phases, times where cleaning is most important and then times where the last place I care about is the state of the apartment. I'd like to stay permanently in the "clean" phase.

So this morning I pulled out my Dyson and went to town. Halfway through vacuuming I decided it'd be fun to rearrange the living room, so after much huffing and puffing the couch was on the other side of the room and Gary's chair was closer to the TV, which he loves of course.

Next up I decided it was time for a complete fridge clean out. I've been thinking for a while now that I want to start meal planning. It would help me get breakfast going much faster and easier and I'm sure, help save money. Also it would keep me from buying items at the market that I think I might try making something with.

I found an app on my phone that was aptly named, Food Planner and set to work. First I inventoried all the food and condiments in the kitchen, began a grocery list and will sit down with the hubby to discuss what easy things we want to schedule for the upcoming two weeks.

Now it was time to clean out and remove the sticky, grody shelves in the fridge. After making the hubby clean the smaller shelves while I went out and sprayed the glass shelves clean and dried, I was finally able to put my fridge back together. I must say, it looks clean and sparkling, but damn is it empty. Can't wait to stock it in an organized fashion and get cooking!

I feel quite good for having gotten all those things done today and am excited to celebrate my Cousins birthday with her tonight at a good old fashion spaghetti restaurant. Maybe we'll take in a viewing of "The Vow" before the night is over too. We both absolutely lover Rachel McAdams!

xoxo,
    Gina

*Happy Sigh*

I'm a sigher. Just ask my husband, I have a sigh for everything, and no two sighs are alike.

Obviously the favorite for both of us is my happy one and these are a few little things (which usually are the best!), one big, that bring it on...

Waking up to new issues of my favorite magazines. 

I'm pretty sure I'll be thrilled each and every time it happens.

via Bath and Body Works

New candles.
After spending the night at my cousins and watching her lights multiple candles around her room, I was quickly reminded how much I love them. The scent and ambience... nothing compares.





The best tea, forever and always. It's my go-to and I love the aftertaste.

My pug. Okay, no he isn't a pug, but for some reason I call him that.

My retired racing Greyhound, Moon makes every day brighter and brings such joy. 

I love his silly, ticklish little butt.

xoxo,

    Gina

The last couple days I've been listening incessantly to Christina Perri. Unfortunately I'm not all kinds of in love with her debut album, but maybe I'll need to do a second listen. Nonetheless, the song 'The Lonely' has a strong place in my heart and I love it to death. When I went to see the latest Twilight film (meh) with my cousin I heard her newest song that was written for the soundtrack and have now fallen head over heels for it. I love the lyrics of both 'The Lonely' and the new song, 'A Thousand Years' intensely and think they will forever be the top played songs on my iPod, next to my love of fun, bumpy Britney songs.

The last couple days I've been losing myself to Phantom fanfic, but also working on getting a job. I've got my fingers crossed, waiting for a phone call and will continue to scan for job postings. 

Tomorrow I need to strip the Christmas tree and take it out. I'd like to get the apartment back in order, especially the bedroom. I tell myself all the time that if I'd just get up and get it done, I could spend the rest of the time doing what I really want to do. As I've been more faithful to my anxiety med, I feel like I'm getting back to the motivated place I was. I shall not make the mistake of going without again. I don't want to go back down the road of depression again if I don't need to.

I've been writing a bit more often in my personal journal and I'd like to get back to my creative writing. I have so many ideas constantly playing about in my head fighting for attention and whenever I dream, something new seems to enter the playpen of jumbling ideas. I just get so frustrated with myself when things don't come out as I want them to. I need to let go and just write! The thought that that silly Twilight author can get a book deal makes me know that I could probably do it too. Sorry Twilight lovers. I admit, I used to fawn over the books too, but it all just got too creepy in the end and now that I've stepped back and really thought about all the stuff in that book, it really isn't a good message for young, impressionable girls. Puts some unhealthy ideas in their heads about what love and romance is. Believe me, I know! Anyhoo, I'm not here to lecture. That's just my little opinion. Take it or leave it. 

Hopefully Katie and I will be resuming our gym meetings tomorrow. I'd really like to get back into the swing of things. Great music with a cardio workout is not something to pass up!

xoxo,

    Gina

Just Breathe...

Today was not the best of days for me. I woke up in a great mood, knowing what I wanted to do with myself and my day and then I realized I had a doctors appointment that I had forgotten about. I rushed through my breakfast and made it there in time. It ended up throwing a wrench in my plans for the day, but that's what life is about, so I went with the flow.

The last couple weeks, since beginning the gym I've felt better and happier and because of that, I've been lax on taking my anxiety medication. I've been on different anxiety meds since this all started in '09, thankfully, this one is the best so far and now I only need to take one little pill a day. I don't want to be on medication though. I hate having to rely on it. I want to naturally fix myself and feel good.

Obviously though that is not an option right now. My doctor says she is sure the reason I feel so weird with just one day of missing a dose is because I metabolize it so quickly and it's just as quickly out of my system. As of today I know I need to take it every day as prescribed, I had such bad anxiety. I couldn't work out, I'm still worried about if I'm breathing "enough". It's just so irritating and ridiculous.

Within a week I will hopefully be back to normal. It can take up to 2 weeks to be continuously present in your system. In the meantime I'm gonna try to take it easy and not be too critical of myself.

I've found that if I can find a quiet spot outside, focus my hearing on a single natural sound, close my eyes and slowing breathe in and out through my mouth I can calm myself. Lying down and breathing deep into your stomach through your nose and slowly out through your mouth can really help too. I learned that great technique from my vocal teacher and the first time I did it I felt so insanely relaxed afterwards I couldn't believe it.

That's the struggle with myself though. I'm so worried about going, going, going! I'm an over-thinker to the extreme. Sometimes I need to find ways to give myself a few minute mental break. I want to take yoga as part of my gym workout. It helps so much with mindfulness and teaching yourself to slow down. It would be amazing to train myself into meditation too. These are all things I'd like to work on and train myself to be able to do this year.

I need to learn to take care of and invest in myself and my health and well-being. I'm always so worried about others and taking care of their needs first. Not that that is a terrible thing in itself. I'm glad compassion and care for others is a part of who I am, but I need to not forget myself in the middle of it all.

Tomorrow is another day and another chance to get what I need to done. I have a few jobs to apply to tomorrow and hopefully Katie and I will finally get in for a yoga class at the gym tomorrow night!

xoxo,
    Gina

Beauty Note

Photo via HudaBeauty

Since I first heard about it, I was drooling to get my hands on Benefit's B.Right! Skincare system.

While Christmas shopping with my Mom, she bought me the intro kit so that I could try it out and see if it worked for me. I talked to one of the Benefit salesgirls while I was there and after having her feel my skin, she said the next time I saw her I had better be using the hell out of the set.

I had cystic acne quite badly as a teenager. I also have oily skin, which as any girl with oily skin knows, we hate it and think it's a pain in the butt! But the fact that it will help our skin when we're older is a slight consolation. My acne has pretty much disappeared, but I do have scarring (not too bad). I also seem to have combination oily/dry skin.

For years I have been using scrub after scrub trying to slough my skin clean and soft, found that most moisturizers just left my skin feeling sticky and even more oily and overall, was mostly dissatisfied with every product I came into contact with. And believe me, I have tried TONS! ProActive, Murad, Acne Free, Chanel, Dermatalogica, Aveeno, Neutrogena, etc, ETC

But finally, FINALLY I have found the ONE! The first time I washed my face with the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash I could instantly feel a difference. My skin didn't feel dry and tight afterwards and when I rubbed my fingertip down my cheek I was awestruck at how smooth and soft my skin felt.

All these months I've been thinking that the only thing that would begin to redeem the texture of my skin was a painful microdermabrasion session or even a glycolic acid peel. I am so happy to not have to waste the time, money or slight pain when I can simply wash my face and see results instantly at home.

I also found when using this that gently scrubbing/rinsing it off with a slightly rough cotton washcloth helps with skin texture too. For years I've been using harsh beaded scrubs or loofah like face sponges. If only I'd known before it was as simple as using a cotton washcloth. Why must we always over-complicate things? haha

After using the Foamingly Clean Facial Wash, you move on to the Moisture Prep Toning Lotion. This is an all new type of toner. All the toners I have ever used before were like rubbing water on my face, but Benefits toner is a lotion. It has a consistency to it and it feels wonderful when you rub it in. I think the toner is my favorite of the set so far.

Next comes moisturizing and lately I've been using the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion during the day as it is oil-free and has SPF 15, the Total Moisture and It's Potent Eye Cream at night.

It used to be that by the evening my skin would feel oiled up, but irritatingly dry. Now my skin feels so perfectly moisturized all the time now.

Honestly, I could go on and on about how awesome and how much I love Benefits B.Right! Skincare, but until you give it a try, you won't know at all what you're missing. If you don't have a Benefit near you, Ulta also has a dedicated Benefit counter where there are always incredibly nice and helpful ladies who can show you products and help point you in the right direction if you have a particular issue.

xoxo,
    Gina

Happy New Years! It is officially 2012 and one of my many goals, as featured on one of my boards on Pinterest (I've become absolutely addicted to it!) is to be more attentive to this blog.

I'd like to feature more on fashion, DIY interior design and of course, I don't think I could ever let go of my personal posts.

In the last few weeks my cousin and I have joined a gym and are working on making ourselves healthier, more fit and happier. We've been pretty good about going a few times a week and I can already see a positive change in myself. I feel more motivated and happier, my arms have been aching the last couple days (muscle!) and I'm amazed whenever I cross a mile mark on one of the stationary bikes!

I'm currently out of a job, but am beginning my search this week. I'd really love to get a good restaurant job so that I can save tips to help pay property taxes in April.

One of the things I'm most looking forward to is hopefully getting a SmartCar again once we've paid off the car in late spring. I miss that fun little thing and the fact that even filling it with Super, I never spent over $40 bucks on gas for that thing in a month.

Christmas was wonderful! Some of my family from AZ came out to celebrate with us and it was wonderful having that time with them.

I got a lot of wonderful gifts, a new stereo system for the car that I can finally hook my iPod directly into (getting installed Wednesday), some beautiful clothes and what I've been wanting all year, a NookColor!

The hubby, Katie (my cousin) and I spent our New Years Eve at the Mission Inn last night to see the lights and ring in the new year. It was a wonderful time and Katie came over beforehand so we could get all prettified together. She did my hair in a lovely 50's style and now I've got to buy myself a teasing brush so I can try to replicate it.

In the meantime we've been cleaning and organizing. I got the bedroom all cleaned up and rearranged, as well as the living room and kitchen. I still have so much more I want to do though! I want to get started on DIY projects around the apartment and the first place I want to focus my attention is the bathroom. Nothing too insane, but it needs better storage solutions first and foremost. It also needs a touch of excitement and some beautifying. Of all the rooms in my house, the bathroom is my least favorite place to end up in and I want to change that. All the details on that will be in an upcoming post.

A couple days ago we bought ourselves a SodaStream. Ya know, that thing that lets you make your own soda at home? I had a taste test at Costco the day after Christmas and was amazed at how close to the brand name soda's it tastes. The money savings is what is most exciting to me, oh and not having to lug bags of soda bottles up the stairs a few times a week! We bought some extra bottles yesterday and I am eager to get a couple bottles of soda going. Another great thing about it is that it requires no electricity or batteries. Amazing!

Have you bought any great, money saving items lately? Do you have any money saving resolutions for this year? Oh, and what did you do last night to celebrate the New Year? 

Whatever you did, I hope you had a wonderful time surrounded by friends and family and that this new year brings you lots of happiness and success!

xoxo,

    Gina