Miracle Gro - Grow Together - A Cute Terrarium DIY

March 29, 2016

Super excited to share my latest project with you! I have teamed up with Miracle Gro and HelloSociety to bring you some pretty amazing Spring Inspirations. I planted the terrarium arrangement about 2 weeks ago, and it's still as happy as ever!

I had so much fun working on this project while visiting my family in Arizona. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, because the Cave Creek, AZ Home Depot has SO many amazing succulents and cacti to choose from.

My plants obviously love their new home in Miracle Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix. The instructions for this terrarium are at the bottom of this post.

Check back soon to see more photos as they go live on my Dedicated Board.

MATERIALS:

Various succulents and cacti (varied heights are good), Miracle Gro Cactus, Palm, Citrus Potting Mix, natural colored pebbles, white or brown aquarium rocks, neon pink aquarium rocks, activated charcoal (optional), gardening gloves, shovel, funnel, tall glass container (Walmart has the best prices that I've found).

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a tall glass container , or glass container of your choice, add an optional layer of activated charcoal. Next, add about 2 inches of larger pebbles. Add a layer of dirt on top, then pat the dirt down with the back of your hand, to create a flat surface. Next, add white or brown colored aquarium rocks, and flatten them with your hand. Add a bit more dirt, almost to the very top, but leaving about 1-2" of space at top. Do a test arrangement by placing the potted succulents into the container. Feel free to break apart plants if it looks like there are multiples in one container. Once you have a layout that you like, take the succulents out of their container (over a bucket or similar), and knock off as much loose dirt as you can. Place plants into dirt and add a bit more dirt on top. Now, using a funnel, add pink rocks around plants, to hide all dirt. That's it! A fun project you can create in an hour or so!

The Tame Flat Iron by Vanity Planet - LOVE this!!!

March 26, 2016

I absolutely love my new Tame Flat Iron by Vanity Planet. If you will remember, I created a post for VP earlier this year, talking all about their Pure Spin Facial Brush, and love it too. Their products are extremely well-made, and I am so lucky that I have been able to upgrade a few of my beauty tools lately, thanks to Vanity Planet!

VP was kind enough to send me this Tame Flat Iron so I could share it on my blog. As soon as I opened the Tame, I practically did a happy dance! I am so impressed by the wonderful quality of this tool. It heats up in a minute or so, which is about 15 minutes less than my old (and soon to be donated) flat iron. I am so thankful to have a new, reliable tool that treats my hair very gently, it has Titanium plates.

The Tame Flat Iron heats up from 150 degrees - 450 degrees with a push of the up and down buttons. So easy!

I also wanted to share my current favorite heat protect product, by Salon Grafix - the Protein Shaping Styling Mist. It's great because I don't really like a lot of scent in my hair products. This one literally has no scent and works really well!

To Use...

Hold the power button for 3-5 seconds, and you will see the temp appear. Use the up arrow button to turn the tool up as high as you might normally set it. I have natural hair that is only lightly color treated. I found that 300-320 degrees worked best for my hair while in California with humidity, and here in Arizona (with NO humidity) I used about 280-300 degrees, and it worked like a dream! So glad to have this amazing Flat Iron, check it out for yourself here. This flat iron was absolutely perfect to bring on our road trip!

"Tame has an Additional Negative Ions Generator that keeps your hair healthy as you style. Designed for all hair types...To enhance your experience, the Tame includes a 360° Swivel Cord for tangle-free styling as well as a Handle Lock Mechanism for easy storage. It also comes with an auto shut-off mechanism that kicks in after 60 minutes of use. Every aspect of this iron’s design was constructed with convenience in mind. The soft touch coating prevents slippage and makes the iron comfortable to hold. Whether you want a sleek, straight look, or bouncy curls, the Tame consistently provides professional-caliber results that will make you want to show off every new hairdo."

Overall impressions are really wonderful for this Tame Flat Iron! Thanks to Vanity Planet for the wonderful tool!

Tips For Camping At A Music Festival (Or Anywhere) - A Complete Guide

March 24, 2016

Tickets are already on sale for many of the bigger summer music festivals. Coachella is happening very soon, too! I wanted to share some camping tips with you so that you don't have to worry about being that person sleeping under a tent that has fallen in on itself or gets a puddle of rain inside, rendering the whole weekend a "wash"! If you're looking for ideas on What To Wear To A Festival, check out this post here!

MUSIC FESTIVAL TIPS

YOUR HOME BASE

A good tent is the first step to ensuring that you have a good night's sleep, and that your personal belongings are safe. I have never had anything go missing from my tent or campsite, but if you want to be safe, get a small lock for your tent zippers and DO NOT lose the key :) I also like to toss my cooler in the car or under the tent vestibule while I am off seeing music or away from the campsite.

Also be sure to set your tent up properly. Make sure to set your tent up ahead of time in the yard a time or twi before the big weekend! My dream tent (above), is one you can stand up in, comfortably fits two cots, and has a bit of extra room for your clothing bags and food bin. You don't need to spend a fortune, but if you get yourself a better tent that that crappy $50 one from a big box store, you can keep it for years, rather than tossing it after the zipper breaks from your first use.

An Ez-Up Shade Tent is incredibly valuable for its' shade factor. It's also a great place to stake out your camp site, and is like a little living room. Hang tapestries, and even set up your tent under it for lots of extra shade and sleep time in the mornings! Make sure to stake the tent down, so it isn't affected by wind. Sometimes, staking it down doesn't always help - a huge storm crumpled my Ez-Up like it was made from aluminum foil, because we had used the provided bolts to attach the top fabric part. So, just check the weather if possible. Most of the time they will be fine :)

SIT PRETTY

A good Camping Chair is very important, since chilling at the campsite is a big part of a festival camping experience. Make sure it has a cup holder :) We love our Alite Chairs so much and they pack down so small. Make sure to stow these away when you leave your campsite though, they might just "walk away" if you leave them out. They weigh nothing and are super nice.

A regular camping chair ($20 or so) will do just fine! And, feel free to bring a couple of extra chairs to sit around your campsite, to invite friends and neighbors over for a drink!

SLEEP WELL & IN COMFORT

The North Face - Cat's Meow Sleeping Bag

A good sleeping bag is key to any good night's sleep. I have had my Cat's Meow Sleeping Bag from The North Face for a while now, and always fall sleep right away when I get into this thing. It's pretty warm, so if you're going to be at a festival that is also warm at night, bring a couple of flat cotton sheets and a lightweight blanket. Something that's washable preferably, and nothing that grandma made, it may get dirty or be used on the ground for a nap in the afternoon.

GET A COT - It's not likely that you will be near a power source, so instead of a clunky air mattress that can easily pop, do yourself a favor and get a foldable cot. You will get the best sleep of anyone in your camp! Here is one cot option (shown below), and the ones we have are old school, from Go-Kot, but work super well. If you get good rest, then you will be a happy festival goer!

SHOWER UP!

If you're lucky enough to be attending a festival with decent shower facilities, I would recommend bringing a mesh bag that you can hang in the shower with you, so that you can bring the essentials with you, and hang them from the shower bar or hook. I use these ones by Sea To Summit for every adventure and LOVE them!

GoToobs are amazing! I take them with me on every road trip or camping trip, and they would hold more than enough shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and body wash for a long weekend festival! They're SO well made and you can even wash them in the dishwasher if you need to.

DON'T FORGET SHOWER SHOES!

Foam flip flops are amazing as shower shoes, and then you can wear them at the site, or walking around to shows, if you wind up liking them. I absolutely LOVE my Teva Flip Flops, and can walk a long way in them, on many surfaces. They last forever, I get a new pair every year or so.

FOOD & DRINK

A good cooler is the basis for making or breaking a festival. You can always buy food from vendors at a festival, but I absolutely try and avoid eating greasy, yucky vendor foods that make you feel so gross! Hey, the comforts of home are not always at hand, so eat and drink wisely :)

Most festivals do not allow glass containers, so plan accordingly. Don't bring glass bottles of beer, bring cans. Don't bring a glass bottle of liquor, pour it into a plastic container with a tightly sealing lid. Bring LOTS of mixers if you like mixed drinks. I would also recommend bringing a slew of airplane bottles of liquor, so you can easily bring them with you as you walk around to shows, and visit campsites! It's easy to find a mixer most of the time.

DRINK TONS OF WATER!!!

Other tips...

Keep your campsite clean! A few times throughout the day, and one of the first things you can do each morning is gather trash and food stuff, and toss it into a garbage bag. Lots of festivals are encouraging recycling (yay!!), and will provide a few clear trash bags for you to keep plastics and cans in.

Have FUN!!! Enjoy :)

Honeywell Lyric Thermostat

March 23, 2016

This thermostat ROCKS! Check back later today for easy DIY instructions on how to install the Lyric Thermostat!

Honeywell Lyric Thermostat + Lily The Wandering Gypsy

Double Layer Easter Brownies Recipe

March 21, 2016

Today was the first day of Spring, and Easter is right around the corner. I created this fun and (very) easy Easter dessert that will be a big hit. I love how chocolatey these are, and if you're craving something sweet, these will be exactly what you need.

I wanted to share this recipe, because they turned out beautifully, but required only a few ingredients.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Box of brownie mix (9"x13" size)

Chocolate Icing

Eggs, Water, Oil for brownie mix

MnM's Candies or similar (I used the Spring color mix, but any holiday colors would do!)

THAT'S IT!!!

INSTRUCTIONS:

Bake brownies as per instructions on box. Remove from oven, and once cooled completely, cut into squares that are roughly 3"x3".

Lay out the squares, and put a dollop of icing on half of them, leaving the prettiest ones without icing, to be put on top.

Place the top layer brownies on the iced brownies. Ice the top brownies, add candies, and you're done! Simple as that :) Enjoy!

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. - Gilbert, AZ

March 18, 2016

Arizona Wilderness was one of the places we had really been looking forward to. They have pretty rare beers, and even though mine was expensive (unexpectedly $10! oops!!), it was very good! The Rim Country Framboise Noir (5.5% ABV) - Sour Red aged in French oak w/ wild foraged blackberries from the Mogollon Rim! YUM!

Bobby's beer was only $3, so they DO have a good range of prices. We got lucky, it was Taco Tuesday, so we got Pork Tacos, which were very juicy, dripping in fact. They had a good spice to them, and I definitely needed some food at this point!

"WE ARE GILBERT’S FIRST BREWERY!

For years we've dreamed of bringing together our two loves: The beautiful and diverse state of Arizona together with hand crafted, artisanal ales. While backpacking the wondrous depths of Arizona we forged ideas that would one day become Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. Well, here we are! We will continue our endeavor into the remote beauties of both the Arizona Wilderness and Craft Beer.

Our belief is that beer is more than a beverage to guzzle on Sundays, just another beverage at the party, or cheap yellow fizzy stuff dad drank while wearing his dirty flannel shirts. Beer is culture and we have a true PASSION for this amazing beverage! Check out our food menu, as it was created to pair quite nicely with our fine ales. C’mon in and see what we are up to next!"

Pinterest Board - Lily The Wandering Gypsy

St. Patty's Day Recipe Roundup - Thin Mints

March 17, 2016

My absolute favorite cookies on Earth are Thin Mints. I rarely indulge in them, though, because we don't have many Girl Scout Troops in Carbondale. One of our first days here in AZ, I got myself THREE boxes of them. I intended to share, but no one took any, so I have just a few left :) Since I don't want to subject my last precious cookies to a recipe, I decided to share a few with you here today!

I also want to share the fact that my grandma Pat's birthday was St. Patrick's Day. Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Thin Mint Cupcakes by My Baking Addiction

Thin Mint Cake Pops by Love From The Oven

Frozen Thin Mint Cheesecake by Chelsea's Messy Apron

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Papago Brewing Co. - Scottsdale, AZ

March 15, 2016

Another stop on our quest for craft beer was Papago Brewing Co.

7107 E McDowell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

We drove a little ways to get to this place, but it was really nice. We almost couldn't find it, because it was one of the few businesses still operating in this strip mall. Nonetheless, I am really happy we went! The food was decent too, not a huge menu but the Nachos with pork added were good, the Caprese Salad was fresh, and the Thai Chicken Wrap was great!

Their food was a nice addition to the amazing beer selection! And, it is a bottle shop where you can have the bartender open any bottle in the cooler and drink it on sight! They also had quite a few beers on draught, including their own beers, 30 taps with various, rotating selections. I took a pick your 6 pack home.

We tried the Transatlantic Kriek beer from New Belgium / Lips Of Faith. It was amazing!!! Love the tart cherry flavor and the beautiful red color of this beer.

THE BEER

"We feature 30 beers on tap. And every time a keg runs out, a different one takes its place. You will never see the same lineup twice. We also offer over 500 different bottled beers to drink on site or to take home. We love beers from all over the world, and you can choose from a wide selection of Belgian, German, and English beers from our coolers and on tap. But our pride and our specialty is kick-ass American craft beer. We love to drink local, and we love to offer the best of the best from microbreweries around the country."

The Thai Chicken Wrap, Potato Salad, and a Pickle.

The nachos were also good. we added pork to them, and there were all sorts of good toppings.

Learn more about the Transatlantique Kriek Ale here. It's sour and delicious!

About This Beer: "In a never-ending quest to create new beers and defy category, New Belgium Brewing and Old Beersel of Belgium have partnered to create TRANSATLANTIQUE KRIEK, a spontaneously fermented lambic ale made with sour cherries. The 2016 edition of Transatlantique Kriek began life in the oaken vessels of Gert Christiaens’ Oud Beersel, a 130-year-old Belgian lambic brewery. After time spent aging in wood, Oud Beersel’s lambic was blended with tart cherries and shipped across the Atlantic to New Belgium. In concert with Oud Beersel’s cherry lambic, or kriek, we blended in a portion of our own sour Felix from our foeder forest, and created a golden brew to mix in, and round out, the engaging beer. The intense cherry nose leads to a pleasing tart, sweet flash across the palate. Crisp and effervescent, Transatlantique Kriek is a trip worth taking."

I thought it was really neat that families gathered here either before or after their kids' baseball games. I saw lots of families in Papago.

Blue Life / Planet Blue Swimwear

March 11, 2016

I have had massive amount of traffic since I last posted some wonderful swimsuits from Blue Life / Planet Blue Swimwear. I love the materials they use, and the incredible variation of tie dyed fabrics. They really make my eyes look like hearts :) Below, you will find some of my new favorites from Blue Life Swim!

A one piece swimsuit, perfect for vacation!

Lemon Sorbet Recipe And Video

March 8, 2016

So, we are here in Arizona for March, and the lemon tree at my parent's house was just calling my name! I decided to make my first YouTube video about a wonderful lemon sorbet recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

- 2 Cups Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice (About 12 Lemons)

- 2 Cups Water

- 1 - 1.5 Cups Sugar (White Sugar or Cane Sugar). I used 2 cups and it was too sweet.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Juice lemons, and make sure there are no seeds. Set aside.

Heat water and sugar in a medium saucepan, until sugar has dissolved.

Add lemon juice to sugar water, and stir until combined.

Pour lemon juice mixture into a Pyres or container with a lid, and put into freezer for at least 4 hours, or overnight.

When frozen, scrape the sorbet with a fork, and then serve! This sorbet will stay good in the freezer for about 2 weeks.

Enjoy!

e.l.f. #PlayBeautifully - Makeup For Spring

March 5, 2016

Playing with makeup is so fun! This project got me out of a bit of a creative rut, because I wanted to think of a more unique way to photograph these items from e.l.f. I treated these beautiful products as if they were more like art supplies, because after all, makeup is art.

I really love the selection of goodies they sent me this time around! My favorite items have to be the blush palette and brush (links below). The blush is very pigmented, so I would recommend patting a little off before you apply it to your cheeks. The angled face brush is the perfect angle for your cheeks, and this blush made my face glow, instantly! The lipstick is very lovely, and the color makes my lips look so beautiful. Check out my photos of these lovely products, below! What are you favorite products that e.l.f. is offering these days? What are your tried and true items? Comment below!

Daily Hydration Moisturizer, Satin Lipstick in Touch Of Berry, Cream Blush Palette in Soft (amazing!!), Sculpting Face Brush (also incredible!!), Flawless Eyeshadow Palette in Natural Matte, and Facial Massager.

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DAILYLOOK - Your New Personal Stylist

March 4, 2016

I am super excited to share some wonderful fashion goodness with you! DailyLook is an amazing source for clothing for just about any style. I have loved their company for many years. With DailyLook Elite, you can have the help of a personal stylist, and look like a million bucks for only a teeny fraction of that!

In fact, you only keep the items you absolutely love, and send back the rest. I just love trying clothes on at home rather than in-store, you always get a way more realistic look at the clothes that way. In your natural environment, real-life lighting, and when you're comfortable!

Check out these wonderful outfits they can send you. Each box, filled with 7-11 items each, is sent to your door each month. This is going to be a great way to try outfits and silhouettes that you may have never even dreamed of, and find out that they become your new personal style. So great!

In addition to being a wonderful shopping destination, they have something amazing to offer you. You can fill out your style profile, and they will send you outfits based on a few fun and easy questions, that helps them get a closer look at your personal style.

CREATE YOUR STYLE PROFILE

Just tell them your size, body type, and preferred fit of each clothing item. My favorite part of this survey is where you choose your personal style, based on the outfits below. I love how visual this part is, and it even gives me so many outfit ideas!

After you choose your favorite silhouettes, you can answer a few more questions about your lifestyle, and which types of outfits and clothing you feel most comfortable in. You can even create a Pinterest board that reflects your personal style, and I am sure that would help your new stylist quite a bit!

DailyLook will help you look your best and costs way less than an average trip to the mall, or even just one piece of clothing! Learn more here, and here's to a new and elevated personal style and confidence boost!

Tune Up Cafe - Santa Fe, New Mexico

March 2, 2016

We headed further west after we left the Denver area, and stayed at a hotel about an hour from Santa Fe. We decided to grab lunch on the way through town, and so I Trip Advisored the highest rated restaurants in Santa Fe.

There were SO many to choose from, and I thought the Tune Up Cafe looked good. Well, it was!

Their portions were huge, though, so we had leftovers for days following :) I would even recommend that two people split a dish here. I'd also love to try their breakfast foods, which I always regret not getting.

And, even though it was pretty warm outside, I still got myself a hot chocolate. It was wonderful, probably the best thing I had that day.

And, although the front part of the restaurant was packed and bustling, the back part was completely open. Looked like they had some pretty good beers on tap.

Bobby got his current go-to menu item, the Cuban Sandwich. Their fries were also pretty darn good. Just look at all of those layers of goodness! Ham, Swiss, BBQ Pork, Mustard, Onions, and Pickles...odd but incredible combo!

ACROSS THE STREET...

I love the architecture of the homes in the southwest. The tan adobes and the washed out and faded colors that have been blasted by the sun for years. It's ALWAYS bright here, so bring your best sunglasses!

ALSO IN NEW MEXICO

- Hangar Bottle Shop in Albuquerque. This was a pretty small place, and had only been open 10 months, but they had a great selection for the size of the store. I wish we could have spent more time downtown, because it was really cute. Seems like there are a few great places to catch a concert, have dinner, or grab a drink in this college town.