LOT prep

So here is the latest (pictures from my good camera..)

Cutting into the lot to create level ground for the home build.. (that's about 8 ft at the highest)

My cute tractor man

I hope my tree survives the brush with the tractor..

my cute babe playing on the rocks

see the light dirt then the dark?  it's about a 4-5 foot drop to the back yard.. i'd be standing in the pool from where I am..yippee!

the drop

moving dirt from one side to the bridge

my mom being silly.. this is where I get it folks! love her

a few of my favorite things..

After yoga recently my two girlfriends and I were chatting about facial remedies and what we can do keep that youthful glow on our faces..  I've tried a thing or two and most recently I am down to these favorite things.. & then some.  I told my girlfriend I'd share with her and thought how nice it is to hear anyones favorite things and what works for them.  Those are some helpful reads..

Here are a few of my favorite things.. for your face and hair.

Breville juicer (starts on the inside ladies & gents..)

Elta MD UV Physical for my tinted moisterizer.  It's not heavy or mask like.. fresh and easy and I know I am protecting my skin from everyday UV.

ROSE SALVE for lips.. in a pinch dry knucles, cuticles..

OBAGI Nu Derm a great set to even out skin color & clarity

This Serum is a mini goldmine.. Skin MEdica TNS Serum (all of the above)

Farm House Fresh One Fine Day (made in TX!) for a spa day at home.  It smells divine, like food on your face.

Clarisonic Pro for everyday exfoliating

Farm House Fresh SPLENDID dirt for a stimulating mask that makes you "feel good"

& Oribe products (pronounced "or- bay" like my stylist says..makes for my dreamiest locks)

Some of these are investments (high on the price scale) but don't be fooled they last quite awhile.. for instance I trade my shampoos every or so wash with Biolage (my curly hair loves the stuff..plus I wash my hair on avarage every 4 days), the FHF products are a weekly or monthly fun fair, and the facial creams you use only pea size in most cases.. If you're willing to spend for it you will begin to see results.  

{exfoliate exfoliate exfoliate}

I'd love to know your favorites and or if these work for you.. if you should try them of coarse.

Some fun reading..

Design is my everything.  It really lights me up whenever I have the chance to help someone with a design question or dilemma, I am up for that challenge!  

I also love to read & i love to read a good blog & I love read a good new blog..  I remember when my husband was in Iraq for a 15 month stay (yeah, that's another story) and I got hooked on Pioneer Women and her love story. It was so endearing, I love her humurous and humble way.  To the point.  I found another sweet LOVE story (talesofmeandthehusband.com), short and sweet but oh so good to read..  It's about Bridget & Steve, a student and a professor.  OH, are you interested?  Go get hooked like me, she is cute.

interior elevations

I sure do appreciate my sweet architect Tim, he gets me, he gets us.  I have a vision & I have a budget.. but our cool artchitect Tim was super in tune with what we loved and designed a hiding spot.. for what?? Well that is the mystery isn't it.  But ain't that nice?

HALL BOOKSHELVES

 Here is a great idea of what it will be like.  

Another elevation of the stairs, a homeschool nook and the bbq area outdoors..

STAIR HALL, DESK & GRILL

And a few more ideas for our stair banister.. trying to capture the vision and be budget savvy..

Images via pinterest

LIVING ROOM

Inspration for the fireplace by Windsor Smith

My Personal Revolution

We have been brain washed into the jucing society..  & we LOVE it!  So months and months ago it started with watching the documentury Forks over Knives..LOVED the show.  I seriously have mentioned to most my friends and proclaim that I could watch it over and over.. and I have with whomever will sit with me so I can share it.  It's just eye opening and pretty facinating on what we eat and how we choose what we eat. 

FOOD effects our lives.

Then more recently (witin the last two weeks) we have watched FAT, SICK and NEARLY DEAD, Hungry for Change & FARMAGEDON.  So interesting!  And it has resulted in this phase of buying a juicer for my husbands office staff and for home.  

At home we went with the 

Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor & for the office Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor.  We have encouraged our office staff to change their lifestyle for the better, improve exercise habits and their eating habits..exactly what we are doing at home.  We wanted the benefits of all the whole foods; more energy, healthier lifestyles and a great teaching tool to our 3 young children.  

We are pretty healthy I'd say but I am in it for the long run and 100 years plus to live sounds mighty ripe to me (pun so intended).

SO it's a give a go type of thing.  If anything eating more whole foods and grains to start and moderating the intake of animal proteins if you can go that far.  I have noticed a difference in me.  My skin, my energy and my overall outlook on the way I want to live seems uplifted by what I put into my body.  This isn't a complete "I am not eating foods again", it's more like incorporating juice (the fastest means to get vital nutrients to my body).

Here is where I start.. I soak my fruits & vegatables in a water bath with Agrisept.  I have noticed the biggest difference with this.  I've tried vinegar to.

Then a short stay on a towel..

To a nice spin if needed.  

Juice it all up.  Leafy greens first and the rest of your choices will help it blend best.

GO JUICE & revolutionize your life!

WINDS of change

So it's been a work in process.. A lot of talk with our builder and a lot of talk with our architect, drawings, renderings, changes back and forth, pictures.. So fun really but when you start to see physical changes it really becomes a PURE JOY kind of feeling.  Here are some of the most recent happenings on the lot.

A delivery of fresh rock.  For retaining walls and a bridge.

So a little behind this scenes conversation.. {I believe in the postive and uplifting things life can offer us.. & even the smallest things matter incredibly}  So I turn the corner in the car and see this beautiful sight and I am beaming.  I stop and get out to take pictures and have a few words with the truck driver..missing half his teeth and all (sweet man) I told him he has just made my day and thanks for doing such fine work and a great delivery.. I seemed to have made his day brighter at the compliment, for this delivery had just made mine.  Although it was only a delivery my toothless friend, these stones are lovely & perfectly gratifying to me.

{naturally I had to post it to instagram}

Then within a day we had some serious machinery moving dirt.. clearing the lot and making cuts.

This is amazing.. BEFORE

AFTER 

The BRIDGE SIDE 1

THE BRIDGE SIDE 2

{that's my DAD!}

TEXAS SIZE ANTIQUING

Collectors, treasure hunters, seekers, second hand buyers that's what we did and we all scored a treat or two for certain on our day of pure fun out near Round Top, Texas at the biannual antique fair.  It was a day full of gabbing with the girls and spending a sweet bundle for some beautiful things for our home.  I bought a few things and then I captured what other beauties I may have purchased had I had the home I wanted to out them in built already.. oh that's coming soon!!  

Just drool with me over a few things..

 (A should have..)

($600 for 6.  They were a leather weave.. SO COOL!)

(all the mirrors were for a client.. I love them!!)

(my bucket list of petrified wood..)

(my second set of horns..)

(You could say it was a horny day {come on guys..} here is my longhorns!! horn #3)