Best Part-time Job Ever

Since closing down my storefront in Kalona, I have been cleaning horse stalls in North Liberty as my part-time job. It's a great gig to keep myself out of trouble, while I wait for my next junk sale.

And, though the horses are cool, the fresh air is cool, and the excuse to not go to the gym, because I'm already getting a workout  is cool, the coolest part of this job is my co-stall cleaner: Cassie. Dang it, she's a sassy little thing with all sorts of fun things to say...

We solved the worlds problems in those stalls, but now it's her time to move on to bigger and better things -- like pta boards. Good luck on your test lady!

Last Friday was her last day, so we made the best of it.

 

 Only a donut and snickerdoodle break could make these two smile this early in the morn.

 I don't know what Cassie is doing! Ha! Fox Barrel!

 Flyer with his ears back like usual... Don't let him fool ya, he likes us.

 

Here's Treasured, the only girl horse on the farm. She's a spunky little thing.

 

And then there is this girl. Daisy, you are the ugliest pig I have ever seen.

 Here's the view every morning. Faces out, all ready for feeding time.

 And, with Cassie's departure, and with my three big shows coming up, I'll be working less at the barn, and more on my projects for my sales. Yikes, 3 busy weeks ahead! But, this job was great while it lasted!

B-day Indulgences

Shew... I finally had an afternoon to just relax! It's my birthday and I took all selfish liberties and pampered myself! I'm of course always on a budget, so it didn't involve any trips to the salon, just at home with products from my cupboards. I got these ideas from my good friend Mandy, and the other from Natural Health magazine. I lost the page that I tore out, so had to make up some of the ingredients, so bear with me.

Beauty Treatment #1... Mission Hair Repair
I haven't been eating the healthiest the past couple weeks, and I've been stressing my tresses out with my job at the barn. I clean horse stalls in the mornings and the dust, the cold weather and over shampooing is getting it fried!  I had to add some nutrients to my hair. So, I grabbed the ingredients that my dear friend Mandy tells me about, and I made me a "Soak."

Here's how it gets after weeks of neglect.

And, here's the ingredients for the "hair soak"

 The essentials for the soak are 2 eggs and oils. I was lucky to have these items on hand: Aloe Vera juice, coconut milk spray, argan oil, olive oil and lemon juice

I mix them all up in a bowl and dump it on my head as good as I can... I suggest wearing an old shirt.

Let it dry for about an hour, or until you're tired of it (p.s. It will get stiff from the egg drying) Then, stick your head under the faucet and shampoo your hair as good as possible. And voila! Healthy hair again.

Now, keep in mind your hair still holds some of the oils, so it is a little thicker than normal, and will look greasy for the night, but after tomorrow's shower, it will look and feel like a million bucks.




Beauty Treatment #2... Mission Detox
Oh, no, my day of pampering wasn't over. Next, I wanted to cleanse my body of toxins. I don't know the science behind any of this, but I love taking baths and Natural Health Magazine suggested this subtle detox, so I figured I'd give it a try.

All I did was take these ingredients and poured them in my bath water:
Since I didn't have the exact recipe, I just guessed:
2 cups of Epsom Salt
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 green tea with cranberry tea bag - yes, just let it steep beside you

And, there you go. Rub-a-dub and soak in the tub. Give it 20 minutes and supposedly, something good happened to your organs.

So, what a wonderful b-day. I got to do completely frivolous things  And, I didn't have to spend a dime.

I Prefer Imperfect People

Due to the pressure of a squirrely door-to-door magazine seller, I now get Natural Health Magazine monthly. I felt the guilt to donate to him and his cause, so I settled on a "Natural Health" subscription.  I figured that I'd come across some topic that I'd find interesting in pages concerning health and all things natural. And, when my first issue came, I knew I must share my first find: "Flaunt your flaws" -this was a section in the magazine I could relate with! It stated that the 2012 summer beauty trend is to be imperfect! Washing and brushing your hair less and having less perfect makeup. Yes! I knew it! I'm beautiful! At least for this season!

And, I'm pretty much trend setting, as I've been a forerunner in this "natural avenue to beauty" since 1995. When other girls woke up early to curl their hair before school, I stayed slumbering, knowing one day, I'd be recognized for this "natural beauty".

And, my favorite friends in life happen to share this same trend setting ability. On a trip to Europe 5 years ago, 3 of my great friends and I went to visit my sister in Spain. After a grueling day of travel, enduring motion sickness and a lack of showers, we got to the hostel. I was ready to look the 2007 version of beauty and asked the girls if I could borrow a brush, I didn't think to bring one, and neither had any of them. :) A moment I smiled upon then, and I smile upon now. That is when our friendship was sealed forever. And, who knew in 5 years that we would be the image of beauty.

It's OPEN!

It is day two of Nutrishop's opening! Here are some pics to commemorate the event.

 They take a friendly approach to figure out your needs.

 Ha ha, ok, so my husband will be so mad when he figures out I posted these pictures. Oh, it's the small joys of life! He is great.

NutriShop Opening Monday!

So, while I've been running around working on my small town decor shop, my husband has been working on opening a shop of his own: Nutrishop, an awesome vitamin, sports nutrition and weight loss store.
And it finally opens on Monday in North Liberty, Iowa! He and his business partner have been working day and night to get the store finalized (with some help from friends). And here is the final presentation...

 

 The Shop is on 965 clear on the North side of town. In the new StoneBridge development. The building is beautiful.

Here are my favorite products.
Nature's Fuel. It's a powder multivitamin drink mix. My husband says the powdered form is important for maximum absorption, but really, I just like the taste.

These things kinda go with that, if it's in your budget. Nature's Greens has up to 9 servings of organic veggies!

Nature's Fruits has up to 9 servings of organic fruit.
It's also in powder form, and tastes amazing!




Oh, yeah, I also take a protein so I can have energy all day (it's the ones in the red jug).

My husband takes some other products, I don't even know what they are...they're a little more for his motivation to get buff.

Anne Up and Go Green!

Come to Simply Rooted to find hypoallergenic, natural, great-smelling laundry soap!
It smells wonderful and is great for the environment, your "green home" and anyone who is prone to rash :) Give it a try!

Hand-made right here in Iowa!