A trip to Iron River, Wisconsin ▷

Hello, hello! Hope everyone is doing very well! I can't believe that in less than a few days August will be rolling in... crazy! So... we have been thinking about traveling somewhere very local for awhile now and Iron River it was! This little town is absolutely adorable! Plus, it's a very peaceful drive along highway 2... lots of trees and fresh air. Ahhhh...

We actually travel here quite a bit during the year, but I swear that each time we visit, there is always something more to see! To start out, we ventured into one of our favorite shops... The Bunk House.  Ah yes-- this little shop is so lovely with hanging vines and little treasures in every nook and cranny.  Each time we stop, everything is always re-arranged and put in its place perfectly. 

As you can see down below, these are the vines I was talking about hanging with stringed lights... so amazing and clever! It really adds to the whole aura of the shop. ▽▽

Look at how cute everything is... there is something for everyone in this amazing little place. If you love prim decor, you will absolutely fall in love with this shop! You can expect to see jewelry, candles, books, chocolate, and so many amazing little gifts! Really. just. go. there. You will not be disappointed. 

I had to take a pic of this awesome bike hanging from the ceiling... whaaaa?!  You almost have to look up throughout the shop to see everything.  Actually, we walk around once... then, walk around again to make sure we didn't miss anything. Today, we purchased an amazing tart burner for my beeswax tarts and some delicious homemade chocolate peanut butter cups. YUM!

See this cute section in the back of the shop and up the stairs... it's for babies and kids!  They have their own special section. Look at the stairs... honestly, a little eye candy everywhere you look. It's truly a great place to find unique and special gifts for anyone, anytime of the year. Oh boy, don't even get me started on Fall and Christmas decor... I'll be back...

Next stop... White Winter Winery. Just a block before The Bunk House. Yes, I'm still a little giddy. This place is the bomb if you are wanting to sample some amazing beverages. They make everything from ciders to wines to gifts that are simply amazing!  We did the wine sampling, and they were all so delicious. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable as well. 

Yup... this is where we sampled some amazing wine and even various fruit brandy. The best part is that this winery is very sustainable, in that they believe that local is best. It is though right? They utilize local honey and fruits to produce the most delicious wines, ciders, spritzers, and more. Really, if you live local and have not been here... it's a must. They also have some fun little gifty items which compliments the wines and ciders. You can even take a tour of their brewery, which we have not tackled yet... next time. 

After consuming some delicious wine samples + shopping, the next best thing was to stop and have some pizza! Each time we stop at the Pizza Parlor, the staff is also great and friendly. This town always has the nicest, most genuine people. 

Okay, okay... I know your wondering what we ordered. It was the pepperoni + feta pizza... if you read my blog, then you will know what I said about eating in moderation. Well, it was tough today, as it was delish, but I handled myself quite well. Thank you. 

Oh, so guess what?! We travel to the Pizza Parlor to order something delicous, and we realize that they serve the Blue Spritzer... yes! This is the non-alcoholic drink that they create at the White Winter Winery... the place we just were at! That is what we drank with our pizza, and it was a perfect pairing-- sweet blueberry spritzer + salty pepperoni pizza = winning.

I hope you enjoyed the "Iron River" escapades and will visit these places if you live here or do travel to Wisconsin someday. Very worth it.

Take care, 

Jennifer 

DIY Organic Green Tea Toner

Hi there! Hope everyone's week is fabulous and productive!  It's been very hot here in Wisconsin, and my face has been feeling a little off-key lately. I usually have combination skin... a little oil, a little dry, and very sensitive. Bleh! Right now, it's just oily, that's all. By the end of the day, my skin can look like an oily mess! Anyone else have these issues?

As I was getting frustrated with my skin, I decided to try the green tea toner, which is actually pretty amazing and easy to make. The best part is that it's very cooling and refreshing, especially on these hot, humid Summery days.  

Green tea comes from the plant Camellis sinensis and originated in China more than 3,000 years ago! Its leaves are not fermented before steaming, they do remain fresh. Green tea has a ton of antioxidants and polyphenols (vitamins that counteract the bad stuff in the environment). It's also very soothing and anti-imflammatory... great for sensitive skin. 

In addition to wearing it on our skin-- drinking it is excellent for beautiful skin as well. Green tea is well consumed in most Asian countries, and they always seem to have amazing skin. Every morning (yup, every single morning), I will fix myself a mug of Organic Green Tea and mix a little honey in with it. Wow! It is not only great for anti-aging, but gives you natural energy. So, it's not only good for the skin and body, it tastes delicious hot or cold. 

Let's read on how to create this amazingly delicious toner:

You will need:

▷ 1-2 Organic Green tea bags (depending how strong you want it). They can be picked up at Whole Foods. You know how I feel about using only organic on the skin if you have read any of my posts. 

▷ 2 oz glass bottle with spray top (here is a link if you can't find them). 
     Glass bottles

▷ Mug of choice

▷ Funnel 

▷ Hot water

It's actually very simple.  After you have your supplies in front of you, take your organic green tea bag and place in the mug. Boil some hot water. After it has boiled, pour into mug. Steep the tea for a good 15-20 minutes, or longer if you desire. 

Then you will put the mug in the fridge to cool off... maybe a half hour to an hour.  Make sure it is cold to the touch and place your funnel over your mug.  Gently pour tea into your little glass bottle and put cap on... that's it! You just created your own Organic Green Tea Toner. You can even get fancy and label it...

You can use this toner anytime you feel like it. Shake it up each time. I like to use it after I cleanse my face in the AM and PM. I also use it in the middle of the day when it is extremely hot out to refresh the skin. 

This toner should be kept in the fridge and only lasts 3-4 days at the most. However... you can make this more frequently if you have a large box of tea bags.  ❤︎

I hope you have an amazing weekend and week!  Hope this was helpful to you for combating some skin issues or just to have something on hand to refresh the skin.

Take care, ❤︎

Jennifer 

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." -Grandma Moses 

** This post is not intended to cure or treat any disease and not been approved by the FDA. 

 How to make a homemade box ❤︎❤︎

Hello there! I hope everyone is having a great week! Today is all about homemade! I don't know about you, but I love anything homemade. These little boxes can be used for little gifts, cookies, or just holding little things from around the office. You can use any paper you want, (any size, color, etc..). 

The boxes are made from scrapbook paper that you can purchase anywhere from the department store to Michaels. I love Michaels, and we actually don't have one in our town, so I have to travel over the bridge to Minnesota to shop.  It's not that far, thank goodness! But when I do stop there, I make sure I grab everything I need for awhile (I love to create all the time)! ❤︎

There is not much to say other than... let's get started on this fun project!

You will need:

● 2 sheets of scrapbook paper (or any paper that is not real thin... otherwise the box may not stay together well.) The size I use is 12in x 12in. The sheets don't have to be the same pattern... I tend to do something crazy like polka dots with stripes. So fun to be creative! 

● Scissors

● Tape

● Patience 

Here we go! I hope the pictures are easy to see. You can read them straight across ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎
(I made the pics extra big so you can see them better). 

1. Take your paper of choice and fold diagonally to a perfect point. Switch and do the same with the other side. 

2. Now lay your paper in front of you and fold each corner to the middle crease... all the way around. It should now resemble one of those fortune tellers you made when you were small. 

3. Next, fold each of the 4 sides up to the middle crease again... now it should look like a bunch of creases everywhere!

4. Take 2 sides out... and leave them for a moment. Now you are going to take your scissors and cut along both sides of each of the triangle that is still folded inward (Only 2 should be folded in at this point). Now, take your scissors and cut both side of the triangle to the FIRST little crease only along your folded in triangle. (Not all the way up). If you cut along the whole side of the triangle, you are cutting part of the middle of the box. If done correctly, you will start to see the middle square part of the box forming. 

That's the first part... are you with me still? Remember: it's only paper, you can start over.  It gets easier each time, I promise!

5. Okay-- now, you can see the two folded inward triangles are cut to the first crease.

6. Let's work on the sides that are left out... fold the 2 corners inward as shown above. Then, take those pieces you just worked on and fold in half along crease so it sits up almost... take the triangles that you cut and sit them up along the crease as well. Finally, fold in the 2 corners of the cut triangles inward. Wrap your triangle left out up and around the little tabs you just created. Now, do the other side the same exact way. You should see your cute box starting to take form. 

7. Finished! You can add a tiny piece of tape in the middle to keep them from coming apart. 

8. Take your second piece of scrapbook paper and repeat these steps. At the end, you will just close them together to form the box. It may get a little tight to form the box, but they will loosen up and overlap. 

Yay! You are done! Now you don't have to worry about purchasing boxes if you have smaller gifts.  They are easy and you can use any colors or size.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Jennifer ❤︎

Mocha Moose Coffee Shop

Happy Summer! I hope you are having an amazing week so far.  It's beautiful here in the Northern part of the states.  It's actually been very nice almost every day of our Summer.  Our flowers are able to grow and sitting on the patio is lovely in the evening. 

Since it's been so warm and sunny lately-- we decided to do take another drive up the North Shore. We went to the Mocha Moose Coffee Shop in Two Harbors. It's such a delight each time we stop. The people are very lovely and the coffee drinks are pure amazement. 

I don't know about you all... but my favorite kind of cool Summery drink is an iced mocha. The fabulous drink I have been getting at the Mocha Moose is called the Albino Moose Mocha... and it is amazing! The great part... when you are finished with the drink, you will find the surprise at the bottom-- gobs of fresh caramel. YUM! 

Yup... my drink was gone within five minutes... it's that good! This little coffee shop has a cute sitting area with a piano, outdoor patio, and they also feature many local artisan goods around the shop.  

Mocha Moose also offers meals and a few alcohol beverages. Live music can be found here some Friday nights... we have not made it quite yet, but soon. What a lovely way to spend a Friday evening-- sipping on wine listening to live music. 

As we sit there with our delicious iced drinks,  I will always bring my gigantic black handbag with the following items; journal, idea book, plenty of pens, iPhone, iPad, Organic Dream Nuage Coconut Lotion Bar and an Organic Mocha Mint Lip Butter (shameless plug).  Most people love to just sit and ponder, but driving up the North Shore gives me plenty of ideas.  I will write in my journal what I am grateful for and jot some marvelous business and blog ideas in my little lavender colored Eiffel Tower book. 

Oh, so as we are driving home... we see a bald eagle sitting at the top of a huge tree.  We pulled over and snapped a few pics... here is one I got.  I always think that they are good luck.  You don't see them often. 

That pretty much wraps up this very short trip up the North Shore.  We hope to be traveling somewhere in the next few weeks in Wisconsin.  

Have an amazing weekend! 

Take care,

Jennifer 

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out." - Michael Burke

Favorite inspirational books and positive thinking...

Hi there... I hope everyone had an amazing Holiday! I wanted to share a few things today with you concerning something that we all have had... "bad days." Some days it's very difficult to remain at peace and stay positive. We all have those days when we wake up and feel sad or just downright crabby. It seems that whatever we do, all we can say is -"what next!" Well, I still have those days once in awhile, but I now know how I like to deal with them. Instead of waiting for the next thing to go wrong, I like to keep myself calm and think good thoughts. 

How do I keep myself sane? There are a few little exercises that I like to accomplish even before I get out of bed that help me to get my day started in the most awesome way! 

Here are a few ideas that you can try to make your day awesome:

▶︎  First thing when I wake up... I will check my amazing iPhone app called Daily Teachings. This little gem is truly amazing-- it gives daily positive inspirational quotes directly from the book, The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes (I can't say enough about this book)! I will also check my Daily Bible Inspirations app for some uplifting words.

▶︎  As I am getting ready for the day to begin, I like to think of people in my life that I am grateful for and give them a few blessings -- so they have a good day too! It's very important to bless others and feel grateful. Everyone wins! Being grateful for everything transforms your mind into something pretty amazing! Try it. 

▶︎  If you want to have a positive day, it's important to eat a nutritional breakfast to energize your body to accomplish all your goals and creations. If there is no time in the morning, I like to prepare my breakfast at night before bed.  For example, I may boil eggs for hard-boiled eggs-- or prepare organic muffins to grab quickly. 

▶︎  Throughout the day, we all have obstacles... it happens.  As we have these little "struggles," think about them for a moment, enough to conquer them-- then, LET THEM GO!  Don't hold onto that struggle all day... switch your mind to something bigger, something more positive! Try to think of something that you are looking forward to--maybe you are going to a favorite movie or are planning an amazing vacation... anything that will switch your mind to something happier and more productive.  As we hold onto these negative thoughts or things that we have to get done... we dwell. That's when our day starts a negative chain reaction. You know what I am talking about. It's not fun, nor does it feel good. Plus, those negative thoughts drain the heck out of our minds and bodies. Who needs that! 

▶︎  Music, music, music! What else more can I say?! This is a stress reliever and a day picker-upper. There is nothing better than singing very loudly to your favorite songs. If you are a dancer-- go ahead and bust out the moves! Also learning a new instrument is fun! I am learning the guitar... challenge yourself. 

▶︎ Meditation really helps as well... taking 1-5 minutes of the day to just be. I mean, totally clearing your mind and taking in some deep breaths ALONE... these deep breaths will help your body to fight the stress while soothing the mind. Lovely. 

Now, these are just different ways that help me to become a better person each day and enable myself to accomplish my goals. You may have other little fun things that you do to keep your mind at ease... please share if you would like. Everyone can use some good vibes now and then. 

Taking a little time to read everyday will also revitalize and refresh your mind. There are so many books to read out there (and I read all sorts), but lately -- I prefer my self-help books. There is something about reading books that will improve the quality of life and to keep the mind happy. 

Here are some of my absolute favorite books that I read to keep my mind happy and peaceful. Many times, I like to re-visit to make sure it sticks in my brain forever! I may take one to two chapters per day and just let them all sink in. Heck, light a candle if you are at home and relax. By the way, I do have a mini iPad to read from, but I prefer to get the hard copy books. There is something about holding an actual book and smelling each page as you turn to the next. I may be old fashioned...

I have also included some of my "other" books that keep my mind healthy and inspired. I enjoy browsing through the pages of my French book with its rich colors, the beauty of its cobble- stoned roads, and quaint little shops. It just makes me happy and gives me plenty of ideas. My journal is my other book I like to keep with me most of the time... there is always room for ideas. 

I hope this has helped a few of you to keep the day rolling in a positive direction.  It takes some practice, but in time, you will be a pro! 

Here the links for the apps and books; Check them out! 

FAVORITE APPS: (iTunes store)

❤︎ Daily Teachings (The Secret)

❤︎ Simply Being 

❤︎ Itunes 

❤︎ Wisdom Quotes 

❤︎ Tiny Buddha 

❤︎ Fireplace HD 

❤︎ Pandora

❤︎ Daily Bible Inspirations 

FAVORITE BOOKS:

❤︎ The Secret - Rhonda Byrnes (one of the best books I have ever read, it will change your thinking)

The Secret Book

❤︎ Don't Sweat the Small Stuff - Richard Carlson (teaches us that everyday issues shouldn't control our lives) 

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

❤︎ No Limits But the Sky (little daily quotes)

No Limits But the Sky

❤︎ Saving Graces (more fun inspirational thoughts and images) This one I could not find... stay tuned. 

❤︎ Kick- Ass Creativity - Mary Beth Maziarz (amazing book for individuals wanting to extend their creativity)

Kick Ass Creativity

❤︎ Rick Steve's Pocket Paris (who doesn't love a book about travel, Paris especially) 

Rick Steve's Pocket Paris

Have an amazing and positive day! Be creative!

Take care, 

Jennifer 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  -- Theodore Roosevelt