Etsy Finds Friday – Rugged

I’m running so late today that my Etsy Find Friday is going to show up on Saturday, sorry about that. I’m actually on my way up to San Francisco this weekend to do the Nike Women’s Half Marathon with my mom so Friday was a lot of packing, running errands, cleaning, and a last minute foodie photo shoot for the eBook. I’m ridiculously excited about our girls weekend, and half marathon, that I can’t stand it. Lots of fun! I’ll have some posts up during the weekend about our trip, and my Mom’s first half marathon. She’s already a total ROCKSTAR in my book, but I can’t wait to cross that finish line on Sunday with her.

This weeks favorite things were feeling a little rustic and rugged. I was going to create a favorite finds list for men, but aside from the first shop, these aren’t actually targeted toward men. However, they all have that rugged/rustic style that I like in my men (weird transition…let’s move on, shall we?). As usual, these shop owners do not know me and have not paid for this feature. I just have a love for small business and want to share some of the awesome shops I find while shopping for myself.

 

Sam’s Naturals

I was initially drawn to this shop by their graphic labeling and candle packaging. Then I saw a listing for Pumpkin Castille soap. I know this company is targeted toward men, but I want Pumpkin castile soap too! Or the Autumn scented candle…or the Aloe Deodorant. I mean, not all ladies want their armpits to smell like a ‘spring shower’, am I right? I’m impressed by their selection and am considering one of their gift sets for me someone special on my Christmas list this year.

 

 

Urban Wood Goods

LOVE this style in this shop, seriously smitten. They create industrial modern furniture using reclaimed wood and it’s absolutely beautiful. I’m seriously enamored with the wine bar and the fact that they use ‘old wood’ which is 100-200 years old. Each piece looks like it has a story which is exactly the the style I adore.

 

 

Copper River Bag Co

I found something unique when I stumbled across Copper River Bags, and it wasn’t just that they sell attractive handcrafted leather camera bags. They have a 100 year warranty. Yes, you read that write. They promote the high quality of their bags by offering a 100 year warranty. I’m fairly certain I won’t live another 100 years, so I picture these rugged leather bags being lovingly passed down in a family. Stock isn’t limited to camera bags, they also have impressive messenger bags and other handcrafted goods.

  

Etsy Find Friday – Random

I love ‘Favorite Find’ posts, and I don’t do them nearly enough. Since I love ETSY and shopping through small businesses, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Etsy finds each week. The owners of these shops do not know me and I’m not in any way being compensated for posting about them. I simply find these as I shop for myself, and love their designs enough to share them with you.

 

Vintage and Handmae by The Cupcake Kid

The Cupcake Kid has quite a few items in their shop that are really lovely, but they made this weeks favorite list for the letterpress type wood block. I love that instead of selling them piece by piece, they are listed as full word sets. I’m coveting all of these at the moment, especially the DREAM set. Wouldn’t that look great set out on a bookcase or desk!?

 

 

Amelia Bath and Body by Janet Amelia

I was immediately drawn to Janet’s creations when I saw Coconut Vanilla Bean Vegan Soap. Then I saw the variety of other things offered, like Strawberry Champagne Sugar Scrub and Organic Chocolate Clay Face Mask. They all sound so naturally decadent.

 

 

Amaya Handmade by Jen

This is a shop that I’ve actually purchased from. I can vouch for the high quality of her work and the designs are stunning. She uses vintage and repurposed fabrics to make the most amazing items. Below are the two items I purchased recently. One was suppose to be a gift, but I’m…ummm…keeping it for myself. I just can’t give it up.

 

Any other Etsy shoppers out there? I always love new shop recommendations.

DIY: Daily Letterpress Calendar Journal

Wow…The last part of the week really got away from me, hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!

I am ridiculously excited about this project and I meant to have it up on Thursday but I ended up working late on Thursday/Friday. I also had a little trouble writing up this post because every time I starting writing about this project, I just sounded like a giddy little kid over a calendar. In the end, Logic me says “don’t be so excited about a calendar, people will think you’re weird!” and Authentic me says “THIS IS AWESOME!”.

I like Authentic me better.

Every year I go on the hunt for a fun new calendar for the office. I purchased this one a few years back at Anthropologie, and loved it. It sparked an admiration for letterpress calendars and I spend a lot of time looking for my favorite each year.

About 6 months ago I saw this picture on Pinterest and was immediately smitten. I poured over the original DIY post at Design Sponge and immediately started planning my own calendar idea for the new year. With this in mind, I thought I could marry this daily calendar idea with my love for the smaller letterpress calendars.

It was all over for me when I found the amazing letterpress calendar over at Letterpress Calendar. I first saw their 2011 calendar after it had been released so I waited earnestly for the 2012 version.

This is the 2011 version I first fell head over heels for. I still wish I could get a copy, it would look lovely framed.

The colors…the design… ::swoon::

So while I didn’t get my hands on the 2011 version, I am the proud owner of this beauty.

 

Only 500 are made so it feels extra special to me. My little piece of calendar art.

Now that I had the calendar I needed a box. Using some 1 x 4 scrap wood, I built a simple wood box that fit the calendar. My dad gave me his old band saw a few weeks back and it made quick work of the scrap wood. I cut, built and sanded the box in about 20 minutes. It’s held together with nails, no glue. Nothing too fancy.

I love the piece on the bottom, gives it a worn feel.

I also beat it up a little bit since my hope was to create a box that looked rustic, worn…and, well loved.

After the sanding was done, I stained it using Rust-Oleum Kona and then sprayed it with a few thin coats of Satin finish poly.

Due to the weather it took about 24 hours to fully dry so in the meantime I went to work on the individual day cards. Using a standard date stamp from Staples, I stamped each 4 x 6 index card with the day in the upper right hand corner. The year was stamped on the first line of the left side.

Then came the fun part of putting it all together. I used the letterpress calendar as my monthly dividers, specifically laying them on their side so that the month is showing in the upper left hand corner.  I’ll apologize now for the multitude of pictures. I may have taken more of this calendar than I have of my kid dog.

*told you…I’m obsessed!

Since the fit is a little tight to sort through the days, after I fill in the item for that day, I move the card to the back. It will rotate all year long.

I’ve also started stamping the next year on each card after my note so that it’s ready for next year.

Ok, I’ll stop the calendar porn now. I can’t wait to look back at this year after year to see a daily diary of life.

What I Want Now – Winter Skincare

Living in Southern California, winter is mild. Having lived near the beach most of my life, I had never really experienced a dry skin winter, but things have changed. Moving inland has hampered more than my love for an ocean breeze. I also have some serious dry skin during the winter and it took me the entire cold season last year to figure out the perfect winter skincare routine for me.

In reality, the winters anywhere in So Cal are mild in comparison to other parts of the country. I don’t deal with snow or below freezing temperatures. I never use to be the type of person who changed their skincare routine with the season, I’ve been very lucky to only deal with an occasional breakout. Maybe it’s because I’m almost 30 or maybe it really has something to do with the move inland, I’m not sure. What I do know is that this works for me.

 

I’ve been washing my face with Cetaphil for years and it’s never let me down.If I don’t have Cetaphil then I’ll use Dove, they are my favorites. I also use a Clairsonic face brush year round, usually only at night. After washing my face, while my skin is still damp I use the Bio Oil, it’s the only thing that stops my face from getting too dry. I also use this year around, but I use it twice a day during the winter months. During the summer I use a lighter sunscreen, but when I need something thicker I always go for Clinique Superdefense, it’s thick but soaks in without feeling greasy.  The only other thing, not listed, is Clinique All About Eyes. I don’t always use it everyday, but I always keep it in my medicine cabinets for the puffy eye days.

1. Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer Dry Combination $44.50

2. Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser $9

3. Bio Oil Scar Treatment $11

Once a week I use a face scrub in the shower, Khiel’s Pineapple Papaya Scrub is my absolute favorite. It’s very gentle and works miracles. You don’t need a lot to do the job, so usually lasts a long time. I tend to jump from body lotion to body lotion, always looking for a new favorite, but always come back to two. For super dry days I use Vaseline Intensive Rescue; but my usual ‘go to’ winter lotion is Lubriderm Daily Nourishing. I could say it’s for the great formula, but really it’s because the smell reminds me of summer and it isn’t greasy. For the days when I need a little extra moisture for hands or face, I use Josie Maran Argan Oil Stick. It’s easy to carry around, smells great, and works like a charm. I also keep lip balm with me 24/7, but I don’t have a favorite brand. I have them all over the house, and in every purse, so I’ll use whatever is within reach. 

4. Khiel’s Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub $28

5. Lubriderm Daily Nourishing Radiance Lotion (with Shea  and Cocoa Butter) $9

6. Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick $22

 

What are your winter skincare favorites?