Cultivating: Growing a Home

My friend Jenny and I had talked about potting plants for our homes but both discussed our poor track record with keeping plants alive. We often get these crazy ideas of projects that we should work on and convince one another to tackle them together. This challenge was no different. Despite our past failings we decided to give it a shot. We were quite proud of ourselves as we worked on this project. We picked out a few plants each and got to work. It was fun to work together on a something that I knew would brighten both of our homes! Also, we got to enjoy the most beautiful spring day! And of course, the pups were quite the helpers.

The goods.

Ranunculus won both of us over. 

Succulent love. And Toms, love those too.

Jenny getting down to business.  Her hyacinths smelt so good!

Jenny and Ziva are great buds to Avery and I. 

I love this picture because Ziva is so loving and always giving Avery the sweetest puppy kisses. 

They were thrilled. I promise. 

Ta-da!  

Luckily, the hubster came home for lunch so he could snap this photo of us with our hard work!

Weekend Recap

My friend Abby let me borrow her camera lens this weekend and I had the best time playing around with it. Thanks Abby! I took pictures of anything and everything. Hence: the photo of the suma mandarin. Have you tried these things? I hate oranges but these babies... delicious!

I also tried out a new cookie recipe via Mel's Kitchen Cafe blog, you can find the recipe here!

E-man helped Campbell with his brackets. Also, is there anything sexier than a wedding ring? I think not.

Although I'm a close second, Everett wins the award for best napper in the house. 

And now, the rest of the weekend brought to you via my iPhone:

Watched the Zags lose. so rough.

New nails. 

Tried out the Train of Four on ourselves in ICU training. Train of Four =  shocks. 

Date night with Hubs. 

Had a serious convo with these two. 

Embraced day 2 hair.

Got beat to bed by this little lady.

Was disgusted by day 3 hair. 

Made popcorn for dinner. Yes, for dinner. 

Coffee at my favorite new coffee house with two good friends.

We also had dinner at my in-laws which involved teaching them a new game, it was a ton of fun and somehow I managed to get zero photos. We also attended a great church service. Have you heard this song yet??? Check it out here: Man of Sorrows.

Current Crushes : Beauty Product Review

One of my favorite things is to find a new product that performs beyond expectations! With so many products out there, some that can be quite pricey, I like to know that my money is going to be well spent. I thought that it would be fun to share a few of my favorites with you. Products that were worth the price and performed above par. Two are all time hall of famers in my mind, the other two are current favs that I'm loving right now. 

Hall of Fame: 

Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser by Philosophy  {link}

Clarisonic Mia  {link}

Currently Loving:

Hot Off the Press Thermal Protection Hairspray  {link}

Sugarbomb Blush/Bronzer  {link}

The lineup

Purity face wash, by Philosophy 

 This face wash has been a favorite of mine for years! The main reason that I love it so much is that it is gentle and can be used for an everyday face wash but also, easily removes make-up. I was so impressed the first time I used it with how easily it removed eye make-up that I've been hooked ever since!

Clarisonic Mia

 My face never has felt cleaner than after using my Clarisonic. I feel like this piece was a hard sell for me to begin with because of the price point. However, once I used one, I understood the value that this would add to my beauty routine. I've been cleansing this way for about 3 years and would not use anything else!

Hot Off the Press by Paul Mitchell

 I recently saw this recommended on a hair tutorial here. I have no idea how I even wound up watching this video but I wanted to try the protection hairspray. I heat style my hair on the daily and know that I should be doing something to keep it from getting damaged. However, truth be told, I've been heat styling without protection. Guilty! I got this at Ulta with a coupon and really love it so far! I does not make my hair "wet" the way that some heat protectant sprays have and it also does not make it crispy. I also really appreciate that it is a hairspray and not just a protectant spray because I've noticed it helps my curls last longer. 

Sugarbomb by Benefit

I have been trying out (and loving!) several Benefit products lately. This is my current fav, by far. A go-to for blush and bronzing. I had been using Orgasm (excuse the name) blush by NARS and still love that as well, but this is just a fabulous and gives a nice bronze as well!

Hope you enjoy some of my current crushes!

Restaurant Review {The Marc}

Walla Walla Restaurant Review: The Marc

This weekend we wanted to celebrate the end of a period of waiting for Andrew and I, a period where we leaned heavily on the encouragement of others and a time when we realized (again, and again) how important our parent's are to us. We had Andrew's family over for dinner on Friday night, and unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures! On Saturday we wanted to go out to dinner with my parents. Tri-Cities does not abound with amazing restaurants so I put out a request for restaurant recommendations in Walla Walla. I got some great ideas from several lady friends and we decided to check out The Marc first. However, after getting several great "must-try's", I think we will be making many more trips to Walla Walla for dinner! We had a fabulous dinner at The Marc at the Marcus Whitman Hotel. It was a little fancy for Andrew's taste, but he made it through! 

At dinner I was also able to try the Viongier from K Vintners - I know very little about wine, but this was delicious, light, not to sweet and paired perfectly with my pasta dish! Dad tried the Chardonnay from L'ecole. I usually do not like Chardonnay but this one was surprisingly enjoyable. 

Prior to dinner Mom and I wanted to do a little shopping so we sent Dad and Andrew off to find a beer. When we were done shopping we found them watching basketball at Sweet Basil Pizzeria. They each had a beer on tap, but we cannot wait to go back to try the pizza, it looked amazing! 

Sweet Basil Pizzeria

Mom and Dad at dinner

Campbell and I at dinner

Thank you to everyone we suggested a dinner spot! We cannot wait to try them all!

P52 {8 & 9}

They are sitting still, so near to one another and not wrestling, only because a treat was a stake. I hope someday when they are old and slow and loyal, that I will remember these days when they are rowdy, dirty, and fairly naughty with a huge smile. 

Ziva and Avery : The best of friends. 

Such proud pups. 

Conversations are best over carbs and crochet hooks. 

Dear Circadian Rhythm,

You totally elude me.

This spoken from a tried and true morning person, or... at least the remnants of one. 

In bed by 9 pm, up by 6. What happened to those precious nights?

Now life is flipped upside down, on it's head, and I'm trying to figure out which way is up. 

How am I supposed to be awake during the day if you flounce your way into my bedroom unannounced (rude) and wake me up at 0300? 

So you win again, I'm up, drinking coffee by 4:06 am. 

You were always such a faithful companion. We got along so well, you and I. 

You'd better believe that tomorrow night, I'm coming for you. 

Because there's a new sheriff in town, and her name is Benadryl, and we will track you down. 

Until we meet again, 

Caitlin

scary stuff here people.