Tag Archives: winter

Airstream Living Update: 1 & 1/2 Years

IMG_0681We’ve been living in the Airstream for a year and a half now. Whuuuuutttt. Some days it feels as if we’ve lived there forever and other days it feels like we just moved in yesterday. But that’s what life is like, am I right? We’ve now got our routines down and our lives seem very “normal” for living in 188 square feet.

IMG_0645 IMG_0643 IMG_0582I do have to admit, old man winter is not my favorite person right now. Staying warm in an Airstream can be a challenge. (Read more about how we stay warm here.) When it’s cold outside, I just want to hibernate, but it is so important for my sanity to get out and go places and do things. The struggle is real.

IMG_0585We did get a blessed glimpse of spring this past weekend and I feel renewed. I’m so ready for working in my garden and long hikes in the woods and cooking on our fire pit! All that snow was pretty, but I’m ready for you, spring.

Are you seeing glimpses of spring in your neck of the woods? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

The Dermatologist’s Cure for Dry Skin

The Dermatologist's Cure for Dry SkinI regularly call myself a dry, old corn cob. I have naturally dry skin, but I also love to sit directly in front of a heater. It’s one of my vices. What can I say. I’ve tried countless products for dry skin and all of them have failed. After putting up with my alligator skin for way too long, I decided to take a little trip to the dermatologist.

Thankfully I wasn’t diagnosed with Eczema, but I did spend an $80 specialist co-pay, so I was hoping to get some prescription lotion out of the deal. But instead, my dermatologist gave me the best over the counter cure for dry skin. It’s way better than any prescription because I can share it with you all!

Before you shower, brush your body (sounds weird, right?) with a dry brush. Dry brushing will brush that old, dry skin right off. Then, shower with moisturizing soap, like Dove. When you get out of the shower, blot yourself off with a towel and apply baby oil. I like the kind with aloe. Let the baby oil soak in a bit. Brush your teeth or do something to distract yourself for a few minutes. Just don’t rub on anything! Baby oil can stain walls. Again, blot yourself dry. And this is the most important part, apply Cetaphil RestoraDerm moisturizer. The regular brand Cetaphil doesn’t cut it. The RestoraDerm version really locks in the moisture.

This isn’t truly a budget way to cure dry skin, but it’s the only thing that’s worked for me. I usually try to use my drugstore coupons to buy the lotion which is the most expensive part of this cure.

I’m so glad to have kissed my alligator skin goodbye. Now if I could only find a lip balm this moisturizing!

love,
melanie

Super-Easy Snow Cream

snow cream recipe  I was told from some old country folk that I couldn’t eat snow cream from the first snow of the season or from yellow snow (ha!), but the second snow was fair game. Yellow snow is never fair game. This week we had the second snow! Since I had never tried it, ya’ll know good and well that I was determined to make some snow cream.

how to make snow creamThere are a million different variations of snow cream. I stuck with the easiest I found and the one with the ingredients I had on hand. There is no way I’m driving in the snow to the store for extra ingredients.

Here’s how I made super-easy snow cream:

Ingredients:

  • One gallon of fresh snow
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 3 tablespoons of vanilla (I like mine very vanilla.)

When it begins to snow, set out a gallon bucket. When the bucket is full bring it inside, add the sugar, milk and vanilla. I mixed mine with a stand mixer and it was so much easier to bring the ingredients together. That’s all there is to it!

a close up of snow creamNote: I want you all to know that yes, I considered the implications of using real snow that fell from the sky. I know all about acid rain and chemicals and in no way am I claiming that this snow cream is organic or good for you or even safe. I’m not feeding this to children or anyone against their will. We all know what’s in snow cream and that’s that. Eat at your own risk.

Have you ever had snow cream? I want to hear about it in the comments!

love and snow!
melanie

Cheap and Easy DIY Holiday Crown

winter berry crown There aren’t very many occasions in my life that I get to wear something fancy. Weddings, our anniversary, maybe. I mean, a library doesn’t really call for glitter or even heels. But during the holidays I get the urge to spice my ensembles up a bit without buying anything that won’t be worn more than twice a year.

I’ve been seeing some adorable holiday crowns on Pinterest. Gah, so many of my conversations lately have started with, so I saw this thing on Pinterest… Anyway, I wanted to recreate the look without spending more than a few bucks. Enter this pearlized branch stem from Michael’s. It cost me a whopping $1.49 and would have cost me less if had I remembered to pull up my Michael’s coupon on my phone. Michael’s always has coupons. It’s kind of awesome.

berry crown close upWhen I got home, I just bent and fashioned it into a circle that fit my head and voila! I’m totally fancy.

I can’t wait to wear this on our anniversary trip to Austin! It’s coming up so fast!

Have you made anything festive lately? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie

Our Wedding is on Photobug today!

Photo by Richard Israel

Photo by Richard Israel

Our wedding is over on Junebug Wedding’s photoblog, Photobug today. Check it out!

love,
melanie

Easy Before and After: Snow Boots

Boots_BeforeI know spring is on the way and I live in the south, but snow boots were a total necessity this year. For a couple of months, it seemed like I needed these boots every weekend. Normally, I don’t need snow boots, so I have a hard time justifying buying a pair of cute, new boots. I’ve actually had these boots since middle school!

I love the recent trend of colored laces, so I decided to do an easy, upgrade on my boots by replacing the old, worn laces with bright, pink neon laces.

boots_afterUpgrade! Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!

Do you have David Bowie songs stuck in your head yet? Have you completed any SUPER easy DIYs lately?

love,
melanie

 

a little reminder…

Here’s a little reminder for you all on this Monday morning.

EnoughI need this reminder today– maybe you do too. Here’s wishing for a brilliant week.

love,
melanie