lemony-minty toner diy

yesterday, PI said something to me he hadn't said in a long time.

'why are you so sweaty?'

he had just come home from work, and we were both laying on the couch and decompressing.  i mentioned it was a pretty hot day out, and he looked at me and examined the greasiness of my face.  i thought i had a healthful glow from my jog that morning, but he set me straight.  it looked like my face was dripping with sweat [though i assure you it was not].  but either way, it wasn't a good look.

but don't judge me.  it's hot out.  really, really hot.  it's smack-you-in-the-face, never-dry-off-from-the-shower type hot.  it's that east coast humidity that really gets in your bones, and once it shows up in june [or the last weekend of may] you aren't getting rid of it.  all. summer.  long.

to help combat summer-sweat-face, i like to use a garden tomato toner in the morning and whenever i feel like i need it to freshen up.  but my toner seems to be gone from just about everywhere i can find it, so i was stuck looking for a new one.  but then, after coming across a few recipes online, i decided i would try my hand at making my own. 

my favorite recipe i found was from shwin & shwin, and i made only minor adaptations.


all you'll need is:

1 c of filtered or distilled water
2/3 c cucumber witch hazel [i used thayer's, available at whole foods]
1/2 c fresh lemon juice [took me 2 1/2 lemons worth]
2 tbsp rubbing alcohol
1 bunch fresh mint leaves
a plastic container or jar

directions after the jump ...

today is pretty cool.

reasons why i am loving today, in photos.

1.  coffee with this guy, one of my favorite people/uncles.

my uncle joseph, famous actor : ]

talented actor and brilliant founder of the playhouse creatures theater company. 

2.  it's nearly 70 outside in boston + things are blooming.  spring is here.

little buds + a yellow door.

i see pink!

3.  a  much needed HAIRCUT.  

the inspiration

more inspiration

side note - yes, i am totally obsessed with rashida jones.  who isn't?

the finished product, salon styled.

not too shabby.  it needs some color though.  courtesy of liquid salon in the south end.

4.  home baked sweets [by me, but still].

cinnamon roll cupcakes

with coffee icing

yup.  delicious.  recipe via bakingdom.

5.  normal chromosomes.
ok, no pictures for normal chromosomes.  but we heard from our doctor today and our test results from the miscarriage are back - and both PI & i have totally normal chromosomes, which is good.  nothing there that could have caused the miscarriages.  i was so surprised when PI told me there was nothing i thought he meant the doctor said nothing, and i just stood there stunned.  i've just been thinking something would come back.  but it's a good thing that there wasn't, so now we can move forward with other testing.

so, all in all, not a bad day : ]

til tomorrow...

pinspiration #8: ribbon bobby pins

i am always running out of ideas of what to do with my hair.  i see so many cute ideas on pinterest - but some are nearly impossible for me, because i have pretty low skills when it comes to styling my hair.

when i came across this pin, it looked so easy i just had to try it.

not only was the hairstyle super easy and cute - but mine came out just like the picture.  except for that little ribboned bobby pin.


so i got out my trusty glue gun [MAN does that thing come in handy!], some ribbon, and went to town.

i threaded the ribbon through the pin, tied it in a bow, and then dotted the hot glue over the knot to make sure it stuck.

i even went out and bought some big, pretty ribbon to make a few additional pins.  but the ribbons were so pretty i couldn't bear to glue them to anything.  i'll just leave them alone so i can wrap them around a ponytail or sock bun any old day. 

pretty much the easiest thing i have ever found on pinterest ever.

sunday evening deep thought.

you can't be a man.

don't even try.

be a woman.

it's powerful business when done correctly.

thought of the day, courtesy of mad men.

photo from http://jensonjane.tumblr.com/

pinspiration #2: hairbow

this was too cute for words.  and since i am a new devotee of every-other-day washing (which i LOVE), i like having something fun to do with my hair on no-wash days.

i fell in love with this fun, flirty and easy style.  turns out it was just as easy as it sounds.

the pin

so while we were in boston headed out for drinks, i thought it would be the perfect time to give it a shot.

my take

 well the picture isn't as great, but it still turned out pretty good.  and it took about 5 minutes, which was the best part :)