Domestic

Mixing things up a little bit and wanted to share a few things making me smile/laugh/feel good… enjoy 🙂

Kiss Cam

Nothing makes me happier than a Kiss Cam… so to see David Beckham ON a Kiss Cam (with baby Harper no less) I basically died.  But I almost enjoyed what happened at the 33 second mark the most!

A Good Book

I love to read, and this past weekend I started reading “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me” by Mindy Kaling.  I know I am a little behind (the book came out last year) but it is so funny and so many parts are SO true.  Do yourself a favor and indulge in a great poolside read… I also am totally addicted to her show “The Mindy Project” (it is easing my pain of losing the office).

Wedding Season

The season is upon us… and what can make a person happier than seeing two people come together/having a reason to get a new dress (shoes, jewelry, purse)/hopefully have a little mini getaway for all of those destination weddings?

Bar Method

I never thought a workout would make any positive list that I would create… but the joke’s on me!  Three weeks ago I decided to get back in the workout groove and cleaned out my garage and have been doing workout DVDs (almost) every morning.  This workout is already showing benefits – a leaner, more toned physic and (my mom will love most) – better posture.  I bought a bar/weights/stretching strap, but honestly you can do these workouts with a chair on your living room floor.  Definitely worth a try!

Spring Rolls

We ate these a lot growing up, but once I moved out I was too intimidated to make them on my own… until recently! I realized what a quick and healthy meal this can be, and you can pretty much throw whatever you want into them!  My latest obsession is shrimp, butter lettuce, mango, cucumber, rice noodles, and mint… make or buy your peanut sauce and voila you are ready to go!  I also do this with leftovers for work the next day!

Ready for Love

My latest guilty pleasure, this Bachelor-esque show got canceled after the first episode and is only available online.  But don’t be deceived by one day of poor ratings… this show is amazing and last night’s episode took the cake.  Do yourself a favor and grab your laptop and a cocktail and catch up on this amazing matchmaking series!!!

Coffee from my favorite spot in Santa Cruz – Verve

Sunday afternoon drinks

Wine Tasting at Testarossa

My Love

Sharks Playoffs Round 2

PS. I’m very happy to report my website’s URL is officially LaundryinLouboutins.com (no WordPress needed! So exciting… for me at least 🙂

Jeremy and I are learning that a queen bed is not ideal for two people averaging 6 ft… so I’ve been investigating bedding options while we plan out our upgrade.  Here is what I’ve learned so far:

Thread Count: Often used to help determine durability and smoothness of sheets – higher the thread count the better.  General consensus seems to be – Never buy something lower than a 200 thread count, 300-400 will be a soft, nice option and anything over 800 will be a waste of money. While thread count is a factor, I learned it’s actually more important to determine the type of cotton.

Material: Best option is 100% Egyptian cotton (retail pricing on sets will be around $500).   The threads are long and produce a strong, long-lasting yet thin and luxurious fabric.  Runner up would be 100% pima cotton (aka Supima – retail pricing on sheet sets will be around $200).  This cotton is also soft and will pill less than standard cotton. Don’t be tricked by labels that just say 100% cotton because these sheets tend to be more rough. (Note: other options are available, but not recommended for a splurge – ie flannel sheets are great for boys or a cabin house and silk sheets are just creepy and not really good in any situation – in my opinion).

Weave Types: When shopping you will come across terms like percale or sateen – these are weave types.  Both are great options, percale is a matte, plain weave – has a cool, crisp feel (great for summer or those that heat up when sleeping). Sateen is very soft but a heavier fabric with a smooth finish (similar to satin).

Where to Buy: My mom has always said Restoration Hardware has some of the best bedding and I have to agree! My mother-in-law gifted us this bedding for our wedding and it’s amazing.  The great part is it gets better/softer with each wash!  Just make sure to wash your sheets in lukewarm water and not to dry on high heat because heat will breakdown the weave of our sheets. Anyway, I’m partial to Restoration Hardware (keep an eye out for sales!), but Bed, Bath and Beyond (use those 20% coupons!) are another great option, as well as online shopping resources – Overstock.com, Gilt.com, OneKingsLane.com, etc.

We spend almost half of our life in bed so it might as well be a good one!  Sleep tight!

1. Pick out your vase, rinse it out, then fill with clean water.
2. Remove your flowers from its carrier and clean each stem (remove all leaves that will be below the waterline).
3. Cut each stem at a diagonal at the desired length (I recommend removing at least an inch).
4. Add 1/4 teaspoon of bleach to water (helps to fight bacteria).
5. Sprinkle some sugar into the water – it acts as great nutrients for them.
6. Change the water every other day.  Make sure to trim each stem at a diagonal when you change the water.
7. Try to keep your flowers out of direct sunlight and in a cool place.
8. Enjoy your flowers for an extra long time!