So Canadian, Eh?

Today I’m over at one of my favourite blogs, Hodge:Podge, taking part in Barbara’s fabulous interview series:

I look forward to reading about fellow Canadian bloggers and designers at Hodge:Podge every Sunday, and am super excited that Barbara included me!  Hop over and read my interview here…

While you are there, stick around and see why Hodge:Podge is one of my favourite blogs…

This lady has serious DIY skills!  She’s tackled a bunch of projects that I’m dying to try…

Like this gorgeous tufted headboard:

The silver-leafed rast hack:

Or how about this amazing chair!!!

Want to learn how to sew an invisible zipper?  Ask Barbara…

See what I mean?  So much great project inspiration!

Thanks so much for inviting me over to your blog today Barbara!  I had fun answering your questions, and totally drove Jeff crazy trying to ‘discuss’ my answers with him!!!

Rawr…

Nothing like a little leopard print to start the weekend off right!  I sewed up these pillows this week.  I needed new ones to work with the new curtains, and the leopard print did not disappoint! 
On a related note… my living room is FINISHED!!!  Yahooo!!! 
Photo tour next week!
Have a great weekend!

The Natural Beauty Experiment: Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

Welcome to the next adventure on my quest for natural beauty.  After my success with olive oil as an eye makeup remover, I did a little more research and found the ‘oil cleansing method’ (or OCM)… and I love it!

via

The basic idea?  Use a combination of oils to cleanse your face at night.  Massage the oil in for about 2 minutes, then use a hot washcloth to ‘steam’ your face for a couple of minutes, then rinse the cloth and wipe the oil off your face.  It leaves your skin feeling soft and moisturized, but NOT oily!  It feels so much better than that tight, dry sensation that is caused by most facial cleansers.  Weird, right?

Apparently, oil dissolves oil.  The right combination of oils will cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria while leaving it moisturized.  When done consistently and correctly, the oil cleansing method can correct skin conditions ranging from dry skin to moderate acne!

There is a bit of trial and error and personal preference involved in finding the right combination of oils for your skin.  You need castor oil, because it is what cleanses the gunk out of your pores.  It can be drying, so you add another oil of your choice to moisturize.  I use olive oil, but jojoba oil, grape seed oil, sunflower seed oil, and avocado oil are all popular choices.  You can even add a drop of essential oil such as lavender to the mix if you want. 

Start with a ratio of about 25% castor oil to 75% olive oil.  Use a higher ratio of castor oil if your skin is more oily, and a lower ratio if your skin is more dry.  It doesn’t have to be exact, I just eyeball it each time. 

I noticed a difference in the way my skin felt the very first time I tried this.  It is super soft, and not greasy at all.  I don’t even need to use moisturizer at night anymore.  It does take a little more time than my old routine of never washing my face at night, but the facial massage is very soothing, and I actually look forward to it.

This post is far from comprehensive, so if you are thinking about trying the OCM, there is more information here, here and here.  Happy cleansing!

100 Things: Thanksgiving Edition

This is a list of 100 Things that make me happy... more details here.

61.  Fireplace.

62. Chevron Crotchet Project.

63.  Pumpkin Spice.

64.  Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

65.  Scarves

66.  Best Jeans EVER.

via

67.  Brown Boots.

68.  Fall Kid Art.

69.  Tofurkey.  Yep, we went there.  And it was GOOD!!!

70.  Family.

photo by Cynthia

Thanksgiving

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving.  I don’t usually do much for seasonal decorating, but I was inspired by Style at Home’s thanksgiving decor ideas.  I decided that decorating my tabletop was a great way to add some festive flair to my home. 
I’m a sucker for sparkly things:

photo via Style at Home
So I bedazzled the crap out of some mini pumpkins.  (Style at Home highlighted a bunch of ways to use mini pumpkins for fall decorating.)  Here are mine:

Here’s how it looks on my table:

Notice how the chevron on the pumpkins totally ties in with the awesome highball glasses that my Grandma gave me?  Love them.
Hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend!

New at Casa Carissa: Living Room Drapes

OK… this story starts with all of the Missoni for Target hype, which I totally did not get caught up in because Target doesn’t ship to Canada.  At first, I was super annoyed when people started selling things on ebay.  But then, the light bulb went on, and I realized that this was one way that I could get my hands on something from the line. 
I knew exactly what I wanted (the famiglia duvet set):

A normal person would get a new duvet set and use it for, I don’t know, bedding?  Not me.  As soon as I saw it I knew it would make perfect curtains for my living room…


I’m not going to do a full tutorial, but here are the basics of how I did it:
- remove the back of the duvet from the front
- cut the front in half to make two panels
- use the fabric from the back to edge out both sides of each panel and add length to the bottoms
- I like to use pleat tape with pins and rings for hanging.  I think it looks more custom than the clips, and if you are already sewing, it’s not much harder.  Sarah has a great tutorial at Prairie Perch.

- IMPORTANT: if you use pleat tape with zigzag fabric, you have to make sure the spaces for the pins are lined up with the points of the zigzags, or it will look wonky, and you’ll lose the zigzag effect.  However, when you line it up properly with each point, the tape will bubble up and not lay flat between the points.  Just fold the excess and sew it down.  (Hope that makes sense).

Anyways, I’m loving how the new curtains really add some impact to that side of the room.  Now I just need some new pillows for the couch!

This and that.

So… I’m off to a slow start today.  What’s the deal with Monday’s lately???  No one wanted to go to school.  I almost caved and let them come back home with me, but I really needed my ‘quiet time’ this morning!
Anyways…
This?  Totally made me laugh:
via
That? Is my cozy fall project:

Don’t worry… there will be no gigantic red sweaters this year.  If all goes well, it will turn into something like this:via
I’m off to finish my current project (living room curtains).  Hopefully I’ll finish them tonight and you’ll see them tomorrow.  Happy Monday!