The Art Of Going To Bed

There are many things I love in this world, but as embarrassed as I may be to admit it, sleep is up towards the top of the list.  Wintertime morning gives me the blues, because it is still dark and extra cold when the alarm goes off.  However, I relish the evenings.  Rituals are a fun part of life, and they can make even the most menial tasks seem important.  Bedtime.....ahhh...bedtime.  Pretty bed gear is a must, be it matching flannel or silk button down jammies with slippers, or vintage silk nighties with a robe cover for warmth.  Then, after dressing the part, remove any gross traces of the day by washing the face with some cold cream and a warm washcloth, and brushing the grime off your teeth.  The warmth feels so good on biting cold winter days.  Next, rub some cream on your face in upward circular motions.  You can even close your eyes and pretend a massage specialist is massaging your face.  After your face is taken care of, head to the slumber spot.  As noted earlier in my blog, mine is extra naughty and yummy smelling.  If you would like an extra naughty, yummy smelling bed, wash your sheets once a week, and use a fabric softener in a scent that comforts you.  Plus, don't skimp on comfort.  Get some cozy bedding, and replace your pillows if they need it.  Ok, then get cozy under those covers, turn on the bedside lamp, and make sure you have a carafe full of water to keep you hydrated(I love the one from Victorian Trading Company shown below).  Then, do something calming you enjoy for a few minutes.  I like to rub lavender vanilla lotion on my feet and sometimes read for a few minutes.  I wish I could blog or look at the internet, but I hear electronic media makes you want to stay awake because of the light, and I have noticed for me that is true.  However, it may not be true for all, so if that is how you destress and forget the day, do it.  Another handy thing for bed is a sleep mask.  It keeps the light out, and makes you feel like Holly Golighty from Breakfast At Tiffany's.  Sweet dreams, and I want to give a shout out to a coworker of mine who believed in me, read my blog, and put some post on pinterest.  Thank you Caren!

Wintertime Reads

If you sometimes like to read for entertainment alone, won't be offended by a little shamelessness, and want an addictive series, Sara Shepards Pretty Little Liars Series and The Lying Game Series are for you.  Perhaps I'm a little old to be reading about high schoolers, but this author has me hooked with her beautiful writing style, and her unblushing sense of adventure.  Here is a little example of her wonderful description from Never Have I Ever;"The room was no bigger than a chicken coop, smelled like rotting vegetables, and , inexplicably, had two pictures of serene-looking Japanes geishas hanging on the far wall.....".  Pick up the first in The Lying Game series and see for yourself if these books are for you.

Flapper

I just read the book Vixen by Jillian Larkin.  It dealt with girls trying on the flapper lifestyle in Chicago, 1923.  The details of the clothes, hairstyles, ect. had me wanting to play dressup.  I seriously considered chopping my long locks to a flapper bob.  So I looked online at flapper haircuts, and the cutest pictures were always entertainer Louise Brooks.  But alas, everytime I cut my hair, I miss the femininity of my long hair Although I've seen many feminine ladies with shorter hair, I just don't think I look cute that way.  However, hair aside, I'm now totally obsessed with flappers, speakesies, ect.  The search is on for Louise Brooks movies, because she has me curious just from the still pics.  Also, the search is on for some fun, jazzy twenties tunes to listen to.  Let me know if you want to come along to the 20s with me, we'll have a gay time!

Grandma Lou

I was so proud of my grandma Lou.  She was the grandma you pictured when you thought of a grandma.  She had curly white hair, and she always had it fixed.  She wore polyester pants, cute little shirts with birds on them, and matching necklaces and earrings.  Her house was also the quintessential grandmother’s house.  It was yellow with cute black shutters and a perfectly cared for yard with little cement animals.  I had so many adventures in her yard and ate her tart green apples right off the tree.  Grandma’s oven always had treats inside, although not fresh cookies like you might think.  Better yet, there were individually wrapped Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls and Star Crunches.  She  made Spaghettios piping hot, and let us watch The Price Is Right and The Young And The Restless with her.  She said phrases like “For Pete’s Sake” and “I do declare”.  There was never a holiday dinner, birthday dinner, or family reunion that she missed.  At Halloween, we went to her house and she gave us a special ziplock bag filled with several kinds of candy and a dollar.   However, none of these things compared with the way she paid attention to me.  She listened intently to stories I told her like I was the only one in the room.  And I have a feeling she was the same way with all seven of her grandchildren, because family meant so much to her.   She passed away the other day, and I was quite surprised to see that she was not always my grandma.  She used to be that beautiful young thing pictured above.  It is so easy to think that she was just mine, but she wore many hats throughout her life.  I sometimes wish I could travel back in time and be her friend.  I love her and miss her, and will try to keep her memory alive by sharing her wonderful grandmother qualities with  those who weren’t fortunate enough to have my grandma Lou for themselves.  

Late Night Tooth Fairy...

A special, once in a lifetime moment happened in my son's life today.  He lost his first tooth.  He was so brave, proud, and excited.  I found a little container with a lid to keep the tooth safe until evening.  However, after taking it out to examine it, he lost it at least two times.  It was found on both occasions.  So, after many cups of coffee throughout the day, I played tooth fairy tonight at 11:30 pm.  Had he spent the night in his own room, rather than his sister's room, it would have been much less difficult.  At 11pm I went in, and his sister was still awake.  She knows the tooth fairy is a farce already, so I could have done it then, but sometimes I like to think she might still semi-believe.   The next time I checked (carrying a load of her clean laundry to put away as a cover story), she was out.  In my pocket was a tiny vial of blue glitter dust and a $1 bill.  He was on the top bunk of her bunk bed, so I had to reach up, and find the tiny container with the tooth in it.  After much searching, it was found, and the tooth was extracted.  Replacing the tooth was the bill and money.  Then I put it back under the pillow and took off.  It was such a rush, like playing dong and ditch when I was a child.  Hopefully I can get all this glitter dust off my hands by the time he sees me in the morning....

How about some homemade fabric softener to go with all that....

• 1 cup baking soda
• 6 cups distilled white vinegar
• 8 cups water
• 10 -15 drops essential oils (Lavender, Vanilla, Citrus, whatever you please)
•  one gallon container

1. Add the baking soda to the plastic container.
2. Add 1 cup of water to start with.
3. Add the vinegar slowly to the bottle due to the fizz factor.
4. Add the rest of the water and swirl
5. Add the essential oil.
6. 
   
   Add 1 cup in your final rinse cycle for each load after giving a good shake.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Since I was on the topic of loving to hang my clothes outdoors, I thought I would search for homemade laundry soap recipes on the internet.   There were many, but most of them consisted of the ingredients below.  It is so much cheaper to make your own.  Plus it is fun.

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 bar Ivory bar soap or 1/3 bar Fels Naptha (harder to find but stronger)

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder 
1 oz Essential Oil

1 bucket

2 gallon containers (white vinegar containers are kind of cute if you take the label off)

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.  Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.  Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved.  Remove from heat.  Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket.   Now add your soap mixture and stir.  Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.  Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will turn to a watery gel(like egg whites).  Add 1 oz. of essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice, such as a mixture of Lavender and Vanilla, which I love.  Pour into cute containers.  Use ½ cup per load.