The Krafty Life

Arriving in Italy!!

2009-11-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

After a sleepless flight, we arrive in Milan at 8am. The flight in was beautiful with snow-capped mountains. Breathtaking! Now we just have to drive 3 hours to Florence. Yep, we rented a car!!

On our way to Italy...

2009-11-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

We left Santa Fe at 5:00am to drive to Dallas..... boring.... boring..... boring drive. Saw some tractors and open fields and roadkill.

Dallas was only for 1 night but we had fun with "A's" parents and we're very thankful that they took Tucker while we travel. Tucker is getting ready to say 'goodbye'

We flew from Dallas to Atlanta and then in Atlanta I filled the seat in front of me with all the things I might need for the 9 hour flight to Milan. Once I realized I had 'movies on demand' at my seat, I didn't use any of these things.

Sitting in style on the plane, though pearls were off before we left the jetway. I needed more mimosas for my fear of flying!!

Italy... Here we come!

2009-11-13T13:33:00.001-08:00

"A" and I have had a trip to Italy planned for over a year. It's a long story, but we had the trip scheduled for last year but had to cancel it so we're finally off for about 3 weeks! Because Tucker is still very young and we don't want to board him for so long, we decided to make the drive down to Dallas to leave Tucker with "A's" parents - they have 2 beagles who can put up with Tucker's puppy energy. On our way to Dallas we stopped in Santa Fe to visit my family for a couple of days. The above photo is Tucker on the outdoor bed at my step-mom's house, looking inside. I think he could sense that we were leaving him soon and he didn't want to be away from us at all!!

The first thing Tucker did in Santa Fe was to jump on my step-mom, Cristina's bed at 7am. We don't let him on our bed so he made a run for it onto hers. She loved it until she realized, like I told her, Tucker sheds more hair in 5 minutes than I will in my entire life.

Fall Snow Storm

2009-10-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Between yesterday and last night it snowed 16 inches at our house in Denver! The freak fall storm cancelled many schools, appointments for me and made it very hard to go anywhere, BUT I'm loving it! Being cozy at home, cooking, packing (we're off to Italy on Saturday for 3 weeks!)

Tucker loves the snow and wants to stay in it all day!

Andrew and Tucker looking preppy running in a snow packed field
This was at 2 in the morning (Tucker had to go outside) - our courtyard completely covered in snow. I didn't the the best preparation for winter with our patio furniture. oops.

Bling Bling

2009-10-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

One of my new favorite jewelry pieces is from Stella & Dot. They're 3 stackable Deco style rings that look fabulous on everyone. I even wore them the other day with my engagement ring - amazing!! Many of my friends have already ordered these. Perfect for the holiday season or any time of year, these are the go-to pieces for everyday chic. Get them here!!

Cutest dog ever..

2009-10-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

I know that everyone thinks their dog is the cutest, but everyday when Tucker (now 7 months old!) run to the door when I wake up, I just look at him and think, "you are just the best looking puppy ever!" Poor guy has to endure me taking gazillions of photos of him.

This is his 'sad' face because he's almost got kicked out of day care the other day because he was trying to hump everything, including the water bowl. We're still discussing when we're taking him in for his little 'surgery'.

This is his "Zoolander" model face. Beat that Ben Stiller!!
So cute! If he was better behaved I would put him on TV!

The Downside of Blogging.... I knew this would happen

2009-10-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

I read a few other blogs. Some from dear friends, others by people whose style I love, and others that are just pure entertainment.

This morning I read a post by a blog called "Habitually Chic" - a blog that I read for style inspiration by a woman who I think is, well...'chic' and honest. She's a much better and more consistent blogger than I am.

Anyway, her post this morning was about a new law where bloggers must disclose if companies they are reviewing are sending them any freebies or payment for reviews.

To read "Habitually Chic's" interesting blog post and the NY Times article about the law click here

In a world where traditional advertising is not working anymore, I can see how companies are trying to capitalize on the growing number of bloggers and blog followers. Like "Habitually Chic" I just want to let all of you know that I have never approached or been approached by a company to review their products - nor do I receive any freebies from anyone. I only write about products I use and love because people are always asking me for recommendations (and because I decided to take a year off of working and needed to connect with the world somehow!).

I do have a 'store' where people can buy some of the products I recommend from Amazon, but most of these products can be found locally. If people do purchase from Amazon, I get a small kick-back, but have not received a penny to date. Also, as I am now a Stella & Dot Stylist, I will promote those products, of course, because I love them and do make money from that, but the corporate office does not know about my blog at all - it's just me and my own business (which I wouldn't have started if I didn't LOVE the products).

Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that you can read "The Krafty Life" with confidence. I write this blog for fun and because I sometimes have something worth reading! BUT, also like "Habitually Chic," if any company wants to start sending me free stuff - like Louboutin, Chanel or even Mr. Clean Magic sponge - I already love you and will write anything you want - hehehehehe!!

Sofia Necklace

2009-10-02T07:53:00.001-07:00

Not only is 'Sofia' the name of my gorgeous younger sister, but it's one of my favorite statement necklaces from Stella & Dot. As beautiful with a black cocktail dress or a tank top, I wore my Sofia Pearl Bib necklace yesterday with a button up white shirt, black jacket and jeans. I love having the pearls just peak through the shirt - bold yet understated (can I use those two words together?). It even looks good with my nerdy glasses!

I can't wait to try this necklace with my other clothes! I'm not buying a lot of new clothes this year so a new necklace is just the thing I need to make some of my favorite items new again!! I can make the necklace shorter or longer depending on the length I want for a specific look.

The best part is that it's only $118 and stops people on the street! Click here to check out the Sofia Necklace online.

My New Venture!

2009-09-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Now that we're back in Denver, I've been itching to start working again. I need to find something that's flexible, a job where I can live anywhere (because we all know how much I move!) and I would like to 'run my own show.' I've also been thinking about going back to school and studying nutrition or Interior Design. Those are both distinct passions of mine.

So last month when I was back in San Francisco, I visited with my good friend and former roomie, Jamie. She is a stylist for "Stella & Dot" jewelry and I really loved some of the pieces. She started describing the business to me and I loved the idea so much that I decided that instead of just buying the jewelry, I would become a stylist as well! So I'm officially a "Stella & Dot" stylist now and really excited about it.

Who doesn't like gorgeous jewelry at amazing prices? I love fun jewelry, however I don't like to spend a ton of money on it -BUT I also don't like it to look cheap. I am really picky about what I wear so I think that if I love all the pieces from "Stella & Dot" others will to. Plus, I get to call the shots on my own business and I'm really excited about that.

I'll hold trunk shows and I also have an e-commerce website! Check it out and let me know what you think:

www.stelladot.com/krafty

Tomorrow I'm going to have 'A' take a bunch of photos of me with my favorite pieces on so I can share them with you!

I so much look forward to having a new adventure where I'm in charge of my own success.

Most importantly I get to represent a product that I love!! So exciting - more soon!!

Mr. Clean Mr. Clean

2009-09-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

I have been obsessed with cleaning ever since Amber and I were 8 years old and invented a cleaning product named "Clean Clang." We mixed together every liquid in my house (including orange juice, hair conditioner and toothpaste) and developed an 'amazing' cleaning product. We were so enthusiastic about the product that we made up a jingle for it and cleaned my entire house with it. You would think that my parents would be grateful for the free house cleaning with an exclusive new product, but apparently the ingredients we used were not the best for cleaning.... whatever!

Fast forward to today and I've found another great product (thanks mom!). It's called "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser." It's a sponge that you dampen and you can clean your walls and much much more. When we moved into our townhouse in Denver, there were scuff marks all over the walls. I was so annoyed that the house wasn't spick and span! My mom recommended the magic eraser because it doesn't take the paint off walls. I used the eraser to take off one spot that was really annoying me and it worked so easily and so well that I went through the entire house cleaning the walls - it made all the difference in the world. You can use this all over the house - it's super fun! Yes, I said fun!

A's 30th Birthday!

2009-09-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today is A's 30th Birthday! He has now decided that I can write his real name ("Andrew") on my blog since we haven't encountered any stalkers so far.

I can't believe that we've known each other for over 10 years! I'm a lucky girl to be with the man who knew me through many different stages of my life.

Here's Andrew with Tucker (who is growing by the minute!) in our new place in Cherry Creek.

Andrew accepted a job with Lawrence Covell - one of the top retail stores in the country. This made me super duper happy because we got to move back to Denver!!

Among many other things, he is creating a blog for them. Check it out lawrencecovellblog.blogspot.com

If you're in the area, be sure to stop by the store in Cherry Creek.

The men in my life are just so well dressed! I definitely need to break out of my sweat pant habit (that's a topic for another day!).

Happy Birthday Andrew - I'm excited for the next 3o years!

One of the best finds EVER

2009-09-15T07:11:00.000-07:00

Just prior to moving to Colorado, I discovered one of the best San Francisco treats ever. If you go to the Ferry Building, one of the permanent stores is a mushroom/truffle store. There they stock a Honey Truffle Mustard that is life changing (don't be discouraged by the honey - this is not a really sweet mustard).

When I bring this mustard back to Colorado for friends they react as if I just bought them a new car. When I was in San Francisco last month, I convinced my cab driver from the airport to stop and get a jar after he dropped me off. This is seriously a great gift. I buy jars of it and just keep them in our kitchen in case we go to someone's house and need a little gift.

This mustard tastes like it costs $30 per jar, but it's only $7.50. I put this healthy treat on everything - sandwiches, burgers, chicken, sausages....I would but it on ice cream if it didn't gross people out.

Stop by the ferry building when you're in San Francisco (one of my favorite places to go!) or you can order this mustard online www.farwestfungi.com

What are your favorite finds? Please share!!

Detox Time!

2009-09-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have to be honest - I've been indulging a bit too much. Living in Vail during the winter, our home became more like a hotel and we had endless guests. Being the gracious hostess that I always imagined I would be, I wined and dined many friends and family. I didn't want to be rude by watching what I was eating or drinking! The winter went something like this: One glass of wine for you and one for me, one side of truffle mashed potatoes for you and one for me, one chocolate molten cake for you and one for me (oh, and I'll just have a bit of everyone else's dessert too!). Well, after each guest would go home and return to their normal healthy lifestyle, I would wash the sheets and towels and get ready for the next guest and more food/wine/wine/wine (not a typo).

Well, now it's almost Fall (my situation hasn't improved), we've moved back to Denver and I'm realizing that I need to reel it in and get back to some state of normalcy.

This week I've decided to do the "Rapid Total Body Cleanse." This is a 1 week cleanse that REALLY cleans you out, helps your liver etc.

Here's the deal:

No drinking, no dairy, no wheat, no sugar or processed foods for one week. I'm supposed to eat the freshest food possible and have to take herbal supplements, fiber, and drink a ton of water.

I'm also supposed to rest a lot (reading "Twilight" AGAIN - sorry - don't care what you think, I love it) and exercise (moving is helping with this and I'm joining the gym my friends belong to).

I have to say that I'm feeling better already on day 3, though I'm having major Chipotle cravings. It's good to give your body a break a few times a year.

Missing In Action

2009-09-04T14:00:00.001-07:00

I don't know if ANYONE reads my blog anymore, but I have to apologize that I went missing for awhile. I got distracted this summer somehow and now, guess what? We just moved back to Denver!! It was a pretty last minute decision because "A" got a great job offer and we both wanted to be back in the city.

I love Vail, don't get me wrong, but I definitely missed the feeling of being in a city and actually having friends. We still have our great place in Vail for weekends, but found an awesome townhouse in Cherry Creek to rent. I'm so happy to be back in Denver, but so tired from moving....again.

Tucker is tired too.

I've moved 4 times in the last year! It's time to settle down a little and figure out what my next passion will be. I promise to write more. Oh, and I'm trying to plan our wedding...I can't even get started talking about that.

More soon....

Moving is the Pits....

2009-05-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

But Tucker's a big help!

Well, at least he's providing comic relief!

It's Spring - Love is in the Air!

2009-05-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

Not only are we moving back into our newly remodeled house and trying to train a nutty puppy, we just got engaged on Friday morning! I woke up when 'A' walked into the bedroom with a Tuxedo on. I was just thinking, "If that's what you want to wear to work, that's cool." We've known each other for 10 years and he's been known to wear some funky clothes - he used to wear Tuxedo pants to class in college. Anyway, I was completely wrong - he was proposing!

After a few minutes of "Yay Yay Yay!", we realized we had to take Tucker out to do his business. Tucker didn't realize what all the excitement was about, but he liked the new toy on my finger!

He was thinking, "Mmmmm, Mommy, give me a taste of that bling!

Then "A", being the gentleman that he his, picked up all the Tucker poop in his Tux.

That night we went to dinner at our favorite Vail restaurant, "Sweet Basil." Our friend, Breanna, called ahead and sent us a really nice bottle of Champagne! So nice!

'A' has been growing out his mountain man beard - he looks so different now!

Time to plan a wedding! For now, we're just going to enjoy the moment, but we definitely know we're not getting married in the snow!!!

Tucker Time!

2009-05-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we drove down to Boulder to pick up our 8 week old puppy! We were so excited and so freaked out at the same time - our house isn't quite done and here we are bringing a puppy into the mess (more on that later)!

We named him "Lord Tucker of Manchester"

Lord - His grandfather won Westminster (whatever that means) so he needed a 'title'

Tucker - We loved this name and this is what we call him (we also call him 'Bug' for some reason)

Manchester - 'A's' favorite soccer team

Here's Tucker on our way home in his crate - he was pretty scared and begging to get out!

Once home, we introduced him to the wooly Lamb/Giraffe (not sure what it is exactly), but it's his favorite toy. He wrestles with it when he's out of the crate and sleeps with it when he's in the crate.

He looks so innocent, but he peed on our new floors 12 times in the first day. Not his fault at all because he was in a new place, but I started freaking out and thinking that no one under the legal drinking age should be able to adopt a dog, because you need a drink...or three!

After a traumatic bath experience where poor Tucker shook the entire time, he fell asleep in my arms.

And he slept a lot for the rest of the day, he was 'tuckered out'! Sorry, lame joke.

I know I'm supposed to make him sleep in his crate, but I just couldn't do it the first day. What's cuter than this?

Puppy Puppy!

2009-04-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting in our living room and saw the neighbor doggies staring at me through the window. It was a bit unnerving - like they could sense that something was up.

Dogs are so smart! After months of discussion and research, 'A' and I have decided to add to our family - we're buying a puppy! We know it's a huge responsibility, but we're ready for it. Plus, living in Vail you feel like a complete alien if you don't own a dog.

We've decided to add to the Golden Retriever cause for "Total Vail Domination." We found a small breeder in Boulder who has excellent health records, family tree and a long waiting list.

Yesterday, we traveled to Boulder to look at the 6 week old puppies and choose our 2 favorites...

The Golden puppies have a lot of love to give and we got tons of licks all morning. They were all saying 'Pick me, pick me!!"

At 6 weeks the puppies still waddle around and slip all over the place. The puppy above just gave up after awhile.

Puppies like to feel sheltered so they were all trying to hide behind our backs and around our legs.

We held each puppy, trying to see which ones we liked and which ones seemed to like us. We learned that the puppy really chooses the family, not the other way around! The one I'm holding is sticking his tongue out at 'A'. They must be a match made in heaven - now I can have 2 mischievous boys in the house!

Here's Becky Hayes, the breeder, holding our favorite boy. She and her husband (who is a Veterinarian) have been breeding and showing dogs for a long time. They own Redog Kennels in Boulder. They only have a few litters per year and our puppy has champion lines (his grandfather won Westminster in 2002)! Too bad our champion puppy will only be sitting on his throne in our house all his life and ruling the rivers in Vail.

Puppy Play!!

The mommy dog, Charlotte, was very happy when 'A' was petting her while nursing.

It was so hard to choose which puppy we loved most - I wanted them all! We chose our top two and we get to pick him up May 4th (right after we move back into our house!).

We might be crazy.

Shoes that Support!

2009-04-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

As I sit here back in Vail, enduring ANOTHER huge storm, I'm dreaming of summer days in sun dresses and sandals. Looking outside, that's a long way off - but you really never know in Colorado. When I was in San Francisco, I walked everywhere, basking in the sunshine and getting some much needed exercise. For my long long walks around the city, I wore my new 'Toms" shoes that I recently purchased at "Unity" (one of my fave boutiques in Denver - owned by one of my best friends). I love these Toms because they're oh-so-cute, amazingly comfortable and supportive and I love that purchasing these shoes helped a child in need. The company's commitment is to give a pair of their shoes to a child in need each time you buy a pair of their shoes...now, that's a great justification to buy them in every color and pattern! Support those companies who support those in need!

Thanks Tom!

I'm Back!!

2009-04-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

I feel horrible! I've been out of touch for a while because I needed to escape the snow and visit my old home, San Francisco for a week. When I returned, the internet service that we've been "borrowing" from the neighbor at our rental house went down! I can't remember how I functioned before the internet - it was a tough week.

My visit to San Francisco was amazing. Visited old friends and took photos of EVERY flower I saw. Living in Vail, I can't remember the last time I saw a flower growing.

Here's best friend, Amber, picking out strollers for her twin boys on the way!

This fire hydrant was so funny...

Beautiful rose around Coit Tower...

One of the parrots of Coit Tower...there are hundreds.

I followed my heart to Colorado, but I definitely left some of it in San Francisco...

Beautiful view. I used to drive to word every morning across the Golden Gate bridge and think to myself, "I can't believe I live here."

What an amazing city. It was great seeing all my friends - missing them already!

Babies on the Way

2009-04-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

...No, not mine! I have to say that so many of my good girlfriends either just had a baby or are pregnant. One great friend, Courtney, in Denver just had twins and my best friend, Amber, in San Francisco is due with twin boys in July! This is keeping me quite busy. I'm obsessed with the babies - designing closets, lusting after and buying cute clothes and trying to help my new mama friends with anything they need. I'm even going to San Francisco for a month to help Amber when the twins are born - I'm so excited!

There's me talking to Amber's boys (one of them will be my god-son) while she was visiting us in Vail in February (here tummy is growing so quickly now). Check out her blog about being a pregnant lady who loves to run in San Francisco.

Here are some great things I got for the twin boys from Styleicious in Denver:

The coolest 'Camo' baby socks by Trumpette. I would buy these for boys or girls!

I think it's cute when twins match, but not exactly. I found these adorable blue and brown onsies with hats by Margery Ellen. I bought them in "Newborn" size because I want the twins to wear them while Auntie Krafty is in town!

I also got Courtney and Amber "Weleda Baby Products." The products smell like Calendula and I love natural products for babies. To treat the mamas, I got them some hippie/witchcraft 'belly butter' from the farmers market in Santa Fe - always be sure to take care of the mama too!

The Laundress also makes great baby laundry products - I believe in gifts that people can use!

Congrats to all my friends in baby mode! This is going to be great practice for me (no mom, not yet!!!).

My Favorite Beauty Book!

2009-03-30T20:27:00.001-07:00

I have always been obsessed with skin and nutrition. I absolutely believe that what you put in your body effects your skin on every level. A couple of years ago, I picked up this book by Susan Ciminelli who is a well known esthetician and also created her own line of skin care. She shares the same philosophy that I have and she created this amazing book that has a 7-day plan for radiant skin, recipe ideas, home made skin care and an easy to understand philosophy that you can follow for the rest of your life. I love her home-made recipe for 'pre-moisturizer' oils and her soup recipes! The only thing that she is really against (which is something that I LOVE) is putting any type of acid on your face. I have to admit that I'm all about glycolic and lactic acids. Other than this, I'm a believer. I have lent this book to a ton of friends, but I think it's worth it to get your own copy because I refer to it often!

I've been asked a lot about my skin care routine so I'll share that this week too!

Here Comes the Snow...doo...doo...doo...doo

2009-03-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that after living with the snow for a year, I will get used to it. For now, I've been waking up every morning for the last few days and seeing 8 inches of new snow. I love it, but it's consuming me. I don't even know what else to write about. Hopefully I can get out this week to San Francisco (had to cancel my trip last week due to a blizzard).

Since there's nothing else to do, I've been enjoying some amazing skiing and just embracing it! The other morning 'A' and Pete went to the gym and then at at Westside Cafe. This is hands down the best breakfast place in Vail. I 'poo-pooed" it for months because it's connected to the Holiday Inn in Vail (sorry, I guess I'm more snobby than I thought). I finally took Pete (our out of town guest) there one morning and have eaten there 3 times this week (oh no!). Anyway, the other day I had 'A' bring me a breakfast burrito from Westside Cafe and so I could load up before skiing (this is my new excuse for eating a HUGE breakfast). mmmmm......

We then headed to the slopes for a great day of fresh powder. It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be because the roads were so bad!

View from above the Ritz-Carlton. This is my favorite place to ski because the snow is great and it's never crowded!

'A' loves doing tricks with his skies. Makes me completely nervous.
Here's me in the fresh powder. Weeeeeee.......
We taught Pete how to ski. He had never seen snow before so I think he did pretty well for a first-timer!
'A' and Pete went up the bunny slope chair...look at Pete holding onto 'A'.
We love Vail! I've had 20 days of skiing so far this season, but for someone who lives here, that's just not enough!

Drink Your Greens!

2009-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

During the winter, I find it harder to get my veggies and nutrients. I'm going to blame this on entertaining people - too much pasta, steak, cheese and wine. My friend Sarah introduced me to these 'Super Greens' that have too many super foods to list. Every morning I try to make a shake with the following:

*Super Greens powder

*Barlean's Essential Woman

*My Antioxidants

*Bee Pollen

*Orange Juice

*Greek or Plain Yogurt

*Fresh or Frozen berries

It's kind of a big meal so if I don't need that, I just mix the greens in with orange juice (because the greens don't taste like ice cream).

I feel a lot better that I get a huge dose of greens each morning - good for my health and great for my skin.

Snowy Night

2009-03-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

I had anxiety all day yesterday about whether we should drive through the storm to Denver so that I could get to San Francisco today. I think it was too crazy and dangerous out there to risk it, but I couldn't relax all day. 'A' is great at driving in the snow and still had to pull over multiple times on his way to work to clear the windshield wipers of ice. He said it was the scariest drive he's ever done and that's only minutes from our house. So we hunkered down in our house and I paced around while 'A' and his buddy Pete (visiting from Orlando) played hours of "Rock Band." I wish I could have relaxed like that. I woke up this morning and the internet said it snowed only 3" in Vail, but the news said 2 feet. What?!?! I haven't been outside yet, but since I have to delay my trip until next week, I'll probably head to the slopes and enjoy some fresh powder!!

Also, check out the furniture from our rental house! As you can imagine, I'm anxious to move into our house with our own furniture! The renovation should be finished April 15th. Can't wait to share photos.

Go Away Snow!

2009-03-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

Grrrr.....I'm supposed to drive to Denver today to catch a morning flight tomorrow to San Francisco to see my nearest and dearest friends. Of course, now that I'm supposed to go somewhere we're scheduled to have a huge storm, both in Vail and Denver. Almost a foot of snow today. It's blowing out there and I'm not sure I'll be able to make it out of here. I'll keep my fingers crossed but I'm going to stay safe first! It's a much needed storm and the skiing has been great, but I need my San Francisco time! Boooooo!

Bring Home The Bacon

2009-03-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

We have a ton of guests. I am always washing sheets and towels, and drinking AND eating. I love easy recipes for my guests that look like they took a really long time to make.

My friend Breanna, who is a fabulous cook and, I must say, one of the best houseguests EVER, taught me how to make a very easy, mouth-watering appetizer.

Ingredients:

*Dates

*Almonds and/or goat cheese

*Bacon

How To:

1. Make a small slit on the side of the date so that you can get the pit out.

2. Stuff one almond or some goat cheese (or both!) in the opening of the date to create a 'filling'

3. Cut pieces of bacon in half

4. Wrap a 'half-piece' of bacon around each date

5. Broil in the oven until bacon is cooked.

They don't look very good but they're so yummy and unique!!

Handy Work

2009-03-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

My obsession with having nice hands and feet started when I was a ballet dancer in elementary school and came home every night with bloody feet from my pointe shoes. I was seriously concerned that I would have ugly, scarred feet forever. So many women I know take such great care of every part of their bodies, except their hands and their feet and these are the things I notice! No matter where you live, all the cleaning, walking, gardening (or, in my case, slowly but inevitably killing every plant I've bought in Colorado!) and weather elements can make your hands and feet really suffer.

Here are some things that I do that have really helped:

- I keep L'Occitane rich Shea Butter Hand Cream EVERYWHERE.

- I like L'Occitane Cuticle cream

- If I'm staying home during the day, I slather cream all over my feet, massage it in and put Jason Vitamin E oil all over my toes and rub it into the cuticles (I sometimes put this on my lips and eyes too - it has many uses!). Then I cover my feet with socks. I repeat this at night before going to bed - it makes a huge difference.

- I try to get a manicure/pedicure once a month. My friend Courtney introduced me to "Doorway 2 the Sole" - it's a wonderful nail spa in Cherry Creek where they do a Glycolic peel on your feet and a moisturizing mask that they slather on with a paint brush. Plus, my manicure looks fabulous for 2 weeks (which never happened at any other spa!). I like booking my appointments with Diane Winslow because she's fantastic and completely cracks me up, but everyone who works there is fabulous. Sometimes I realize that I've been there for 2 hours just hanging out!

Project Day - Organize Those Magazines!

2009-03-20T09:22:00.001-07:00

I love magazines. 'A' loves magazines. We could have an entire room cluttered with magazines. In my work, I used to receive so many free magazines I could have sold them out of my house. I love bookmarking great ideas on design, organization, fashion, travel, nutrition etc. It can get to the point where my magazines start 'owning me' and I feel overwhelmed with clutter. Once a month I go through all the magazines I've read and have earmarked and I rip out the pages I want to keep and throw away the rest of the magazine. I buy white binders and place clear paper protectors in the binder. I then put each magazine page in a paper protector so they stay clean and organized. I divide the binders by subject matter, but I try not to over organize them because I find that inspiration for one area can come from a completely different field. If you want to be super organized you can get dividers for your binders and write in various subjects. For instance, a 'Home' binder might be divided by rooms or by "Paint, Furniture, Fixtures, Linens, Garden, Ambiance" etc.

This past year has been a time of transition and a lot of moving. I think being organized and simplifying the 'stuff' in life is key to being content and having less anxiety. I'm only keeping the things I love and letting go of the things I don't. I figure that there are many people in the world who would love and need those things more than I do. Take an hour and organize something in your house today!

You'll be so happy you did it.

Protect and Organize Your Foot Bling!

2009-03-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

From the time I was in 3rd grade until the middle of 8th grade, my parents could not get me in a dress without a huge fight ensuing. Though I was a ballerina for 14 years, once I left the doors of my dance classes, I transformed into a grungy skater girl who enjoyed wearing my grandpa's old flannel shirts with these huge orange jeans that I got on Haight Street in San Francisco. I'm not sure how I ever left the house thinking I looked good. My parents would buy me really nice clothes that I threw in my closet, preferring to glam up in my flea market finds. When I was 14, in the middle of 8th grade, we moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and I went to a prep school. Suddenly, I wanted to look like a girl! After fighting with my step-mom for a few years about my clothes, I was now sheepishly in her closet every morning asking, "Can I borrow this?" That is when I discovered my love for nice shoes...and my taste became more and more expensive.

When I moved to San Francisco after college, I considered eating beans all month so that I could afford my passion for shoes.

My problem was that they all looked good on me! I have a size 6 shoe and that's usually the display model size so I get that instant gratification because I don't even have to wait for someone to go in the back and find my size.

Here's the point. If you are going to invest in nice shoes, you need to protect and organize them. Colorado is really dusty, so my dreams of having a glamorous, open-air shoe room just isn't realistic (I guess the dust isn't the only reason for that). Rather than keeping the original boxes, which don't match and all the sizes are different, I like placing each pair in one of these plastic boxes from the Container Store and labeling them.

Here are the benefits:

*You can stack them

*Organize them by Designer, Type, and Color

*The boxes are clear so you can see your shoes and they create and open, clean feeling in your closet.

*These labels are erasable so can fix labeling mistakes and update labels if you replace a pair of shoes

*Your fabulous shoes stay dust-free and organized!

My step-mom and I still trade shoes and I can't help but get a little smirk on my face when I think about the fact that both of my sister's feet are too big to share with us... he-he.

Dessert Anyone?

2009-03-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

I remember my high school days when my dad and I would sit in front of the TV watching football (I AM daddy's girl!) and we would each eat a pint of ice cream. Oh, how I miss the days of my really fast metabolism!

Ice cream is still my absolute favorite dessert, but I try not to keep it in the house because.... it disappears.

For a nice, healthy dessert I love to freeze grapes and bananas. My friend Jamie introduced me to frozen grapes. Just put bunches in a big ziplock bag and you have a tasty frozen treat that everyone loves! It's like frozen Champagne!

I also love frozen bananas. I put them in the freezer (still in the peel) when they are ripe and the skin turns almost black in the freezer (it's not pretty, so I didn't take a picture). Once frozen, I just take a knife and start peeling. It's a bit messy, but it's heaven.

Try it!

Fabulous Winter Shoes

2009-03-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

It snowed 8 inches here last night and just because there is tons of snow and mud on the ground does not mean you have to give up fabulous looking shoes! Though I spend most of my days trudging around in my Technica Boots, I still like to look nice once in awhile when we go out to dinner in town. I always get compliments on my Aquatalia boots. I have two pairs and they are gorgeous boots that also happen to be weatherproof. When I used to travel for work during the winter, these are all I would wear. I have had the red ones for 2 winter seasons and they still look practically new. They have rubber soles so I don't slip on the ice and they are super comfortable. Check out similar ones in The Krafty Life Store.

My Boutique!

2009-03-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

So it's not really a boutique, but I thought it would be great to have a place online that holds many of the products that I've been recommending. This is powered by Amazon an you can find my store on the right hand side of my blog and click on "The Krafty Life Store." There are different sections of the store that I keep adding onto... Beauty, Health, Gift Ideas etc. Enjoy!

Dress Up Your Salad

2009-03-09T08:47:00.001-07:00

So, we all know I can't bake, but I make a mean salad dressing that my friends rave about. I learned about this salad dressing at a cooking class by J. Cipriano - here it is for you to try!

Ingredients I mix well - all in a small glass:

1 tbs. honey (wildflower)

1 1/2 tsp. orange blossom water *

3 tbl. extra virgin olive oil

1 tbl. plus 1 tsp. Champagne or white Wine Vinegar

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

This amount serves 8 as a very light dressing. I like to make a salad with arugula, walnuts or pine nuts, freshly shaved pecorino cheese and Chicken or Prawns (if I want a heavier salad).

Try it and let me know what you think!

*You might be able to find the Orange Blossom Water at Whole Foods in the spice section, but not every store has it. You can also find it in The Krafty Life Store I created that holds some of the various items I recommend! More on the store later.

Sick Sick Sick

2009-03-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

It's snowing outside, it's really cold and we both HAVE colds! 'A' gave it to me, but I'm working hard so that it doesn't go into full development. When I start feeling like I'm getting sick, I always take Oregano Oil. It tastes really bad so I just put a dropper full of the oil in my mouth and chase it with a glass of Orange Juice. This really seems to help during those early signs - I have definitely avoided getting really sick most of the time by using this. Click here to read more about Oregano Oil's health benefits.

My other remedy for cold or flu is Ginger, Lemon, and Honey tea. I make this tea from scratch and that's the best way, but if you don't have a kitchen nearby, you can go to the health food store and buy R.W. Knudsen's "Simply Nutritious: Lemon, Ginger, Echinacea" Juice. I drink this a lot, even when I'm not sick.

Sick Tea Ingredients (I put links to the health benefits of each ingredient):

- Fresh Ginger Root (6 slices for small pot of water)

- 1/2 Lemon

- Tablespoon of Honey (Local honey is best for you)

Directions:

Wash the ginger root and slice long pieces. Place in small pot with water and turn stove on high temp. Let the water boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes. This allows the ginger 'juice' to be extracted into the hot water. Pour ginger water into mug (leave the ginger pieces in the pot) and squeeze in lemon juice and honey. Drink it hot! The ginger pieces should last for 3 'uses' - I try to drink this all day long. It tastes great and it's a bit spicy - I think it helps me sweat out the 'kooties'!

Mmmm....Mmmmm...Good!

2009-03-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

Moving to Vail has increased our popularity by.... A LOT. We have guests all the time and I love it. Trying to be the "Hostess with the Mostest," I explored an area that I'm not that great at - Baking. I was craving Oatmeal Raisin Cookies for our house guests to enjoy and was really looking forward to our house smelling great.

After trying an online recipe for 'healthy' cookies, I basically only got the good house smell. The cookies were terrible. Even 'A', who usually makes me feel so good about my creations, said "Sweetheart, these are really bad." After all that effort, these cookies were crunchy, tooth-breaking frisbees. So if anyone has a great recipe, please let me know!! I need it.

For now, I'm taking our guests out to eat at places like Russell's - it's a steak house but seriously, best crabs legs in the US (and I've lived on the coast).

The Laundress to the Rescue!

2009-03-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

I didn't think that so early in my blogging 'life' I would talk about a company more than once, but I have to say that The Laundress saved us the other night! 'A' and I took my girlfriends from San Francisco to "Zach's Cabin", a fantastic restaurant above the Ritz-Carlton in Bachelor's Gulch (you can only get there by skiing in or taking a snow CAT!). The girls were toasting us for hosting them in Vail and I guess 'A' got so excited that he knocked a huge glass of red wine down the entire front of himself! He handled it really well, but all I could think was "goodbye to your favorite jeans and your Tom Ford shirt." He couldn't even run home to change because we were on the top of a mountain! After a few hours we got home and I grabbed his clothes and The Laundress "Stain Solution" and went right to work on them. To my utter surprise, ALL of the wine came out of everything. I just couldn't believe it. This stuff is magic and saved some of 'A's' favorite things and I'm grateful that the product doesn't have all these harmful toxins in it (so I didn't even need a gas mask!).

I bet 'A' is glad that I asked for "The Ultimate Cleaning Bucket" from The Laundress for Valentine's Day - I have all the flowers and jewelry I need - THIS was the luxurious gift I wanted! I think he's a converted customer now too.

Back by Popular Demand...

2009-03-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

The blog readers loved the post about the deer outside my door.... The deer loved the publicity so they've been coming back often and bringing their friends!

Cute Baby...

There were more than 15 deer hanging out!

The buck glares at me..... "Are you selling these photos to 'US Weekly'?

I'm in the Wrong Business!

2009-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to drive 60 miles to get one of our cars serviced (oy, life outside the big city!!) and I was dreading not only the drive, but the waiting.... Until I discovered that there was a Target in this town! I didn't realize when I moved outside of the city how living without Target would effect me. It's my place. I find so many things there that I didn't know I would ever need!! So I happily walked into Target with two things on my list. 20 items and $136 later I walked out of Target. When I was at the check-out, the lady was ringing up a few cute birthday cards that I got for some friends. The cards were $6.95 each - WHAT?!?!? When did a paper card (okay, these had sequins and ribbon, but still) become almost $7? I could get into that business! So here's the question. Do people keep birthday cards or just toss them? I'm happy to pay a bit of money for a card if people will keep them, but I'm not sure people do and I would rather buy them a glass of wine or something. Let me know what you think - do you keep your cards?

Glitzy Green Gift Wrapping

2009-02-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

I am a very fortunate lady and receive some pretty spectacular gifts...along with those, I get some wonderful wrapping paper that I keep (just one more thing I have to find space for!). Is that weird? I fold up the tissue paper, keep all of the ribbons and cute bags so I can use them again. I keep them in two woven boxes that my mom sent me from Maui. If you receive gifts from me, more than likely the wrapping has been 're-gifted'. I believe in using what you have and re-using things like paper and ribbon.

Three of my best girlfriends from San Francisco are coming to visit me in Vail this weekend and I put together some fun gift bags for them so that they can survive the dry/cold weather.

They're just little gifts like a water bottle, Luna bars, moisturizer samples and lip glosses....

But I made them look really special by using luxury gift wrap - Hermes and Cartier ribbons and a Chanel shopping bag. Hopefully my friends won't mind that there aren't any luxury goods in there!

Tragic Technology

2009-02-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

If you are an iphone owner, like me, you are part of a special club that only 'we' can understand. I have turned into the biggest dork since becoming an Apple convert.....and I LOVE it. However, this love of technology can suck the soul right out of you. I have discovered an "Application" on my iphone that is a game called ReMoveEm. If you find this game, do not download it - run for your life! I have a very unhealthy addiction to this game. It's completely basic (like Tetris, but even easier) but I can't stop playing it. 'A' is always asking if I'm playing the game and I say 'no' so now I hide in the bathroom to play it. I'm living a secret life. So if you would like to keep your job and keep a happy family life, stay far far away from this game.

Plus, I hold all of the 'Top Scores" anyway so you would feel very intimidated playing it.

Mixing Styles

2009-02-21T15:48:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I started getting really bored with my decor 'style.' I realized that I was trying to have a similar look for all of my belongings and it was boring after awhile. I began reading magazines for inspiration and noticed that my favorite spaces combined multiple styles. I like a little bit of everything to keep the look interesting and fresh. 'A' and I bought this square dining room table that has a nice heavy barn look (from Arhaus) and matched it with these really simple, modern plastic chairs from Design Within Reach. The juxtaposition of the two styles works perfectly and everyone comments about how much they love our dining room.

Show Off Your Bling!

2009-02-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

I'm a "if I don't see it, it's not there" girl. I consistently forget about all of the great things I own because I can't see everything. This especially happens with earrings. I end up wearing the same jewels all the time and feel boring without some fantastic earrings. I love having my signature pieces (my gold/sapphire ring, antique gold necklace from Portugal and my Cartier Love bracelet from 'A'), but changing up earrings is so fun!

I keep my earrings hung on this funky 'bust' with a chicken-wire skirt. I found it at a boutique in the Highlands area of Denver, but you can find great items like this in many boutiques. This way I can see all of my earrings and make an effort to actually wear them!

Also, if you're a shoe lover like I am, use your shoes as art! These fantastic cowboy boots should not be hidden in the closet - these were made to show off - so I keep them in a book case, mixed in with books and picture frames. My favorite cowboy boot shop is "Boots & Boogie" in Santa Fe, NM. Roy, the owner, is a hoot and some people (including 'A') pay extra money to buy some of Roy's old worn-in boots!

Happy Ski Time

2009-02-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Now that we're almost unpacked, I can enjoy some great time on the slopes!

Skiing alone can be fun because I can go at my own pace and enjoy nature, though I get more exercise when 'A' and I ski together since I spend the entire day trying to catch up with him.

After skiing my favorite place to go is the "Red Lion" for hot wings and a Blue Moon beer. If I want something nicer, I go to "Sweet Basil" for an Alpine Vesper and a fancy burger with truffle fries!

For the Love of Nespresso

2009-02-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

During my crazy working girl days, I drank a ton of espresso. The employees at the Starbuck's next to my office knew my name and my drink of choice - Grande Non-fat latte with Cinnamon and Nutmeg (because I thought it made the drink taste like Christmas). One day, during one of my "who can afford to live in San Francisco with my lifestyle" freak-outs, I calculated that I spent at least $1300 per year on coffee! When I realized that I could have bought almost two pairs of Louboutin's for that amount or actually put some money in the bank, I was depressed!

Last spring when I moved in with 'A' (that's what my boyfriend would like to be known as now that I'm taking our home life public), we bought a Nespresso machine. It's hard to spend $700 up front on an Espresso machine, but when we added up the savings it made so much sense. The capsules come in a variety of strengths and flavors and are 55 cents each so if you have 2 per day (I do, I do!) that's only $402 per year. Even with the cost of the machine, our espresso costs went way down in the first year!

We have the Lattissima Machine ('top line' model in black).

I bought us these great espresso cups in Portugal at Vista Alegra, one of the oldest China companies in the country. I love the designs!

If you're not convinced by me about the Nespresso machine, George Clooney does the commercial, so there's another great incentive.

Hanger Hanger on the Wall

2009-02-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

This summer I did a home tour in Beaver Creek of some of the most exquisite mountain homes I have ever seen. Aside from my constant calculating of how much money we would have to make in order to build one of these homes, I could not get my mind off of the disgusting hanger displays in the enormous closets in these homes. Though these closets were larger than the 2 bedroom apartment I lived in in San Francisco and filled with designer clothing , the hangers were all mismatched, plastic, wire and all colors of the rainbow. These people had thin plastic hangers holding up their furs! That poor fox did not die so that it could hang on a turquoise tubular hanger. I'm not anti-fur, I'm just anti-disrespecting your clothing. Here's the deal - you will never love your closet until you have matching, functional hangers. Whether you have a custom closet or you live in a rental with a pole and a shelf, matching hangers will change your life and preserve the life of your clothing.

My favorite place to buy hangers is Hangers.com. They have a huge variety of hangers in various finishes and I think their pricing is really good. Also, for me, one of the most important things about working with a company is customer service - I only work with people who 'get it' - and they do.

My absolute must-have hanger is this one....

It's called the Vinyl Hanger. I prefer to purchase it in black, though white and light pink are available. Black seems to show the least amount of dust... oh, Colorado is so dusty - I can't get over it! This hanger is space-saving, keeps wide-neck shirts from slipping and, most importantly, you can hang delicate sweaters without getting 'pucker-marks' or stretching the fabric. I prefer to hang rather than fold items because wrinkles are my enemy and I like to see what I own so I don't buy the same black shirt over and over again. You can buy hangers to match your closet or buy a color that contrasts for a cool look. My step-mom has a white California Closet and I got her all black hangers - very chic!

Hangers.com can also monogram your hangers which is very 'in' right now. Monogrammed hangers make a great gift for a house-warming, wedding or new baby!

I won't show you my closet right now because we are remodeling our house and living in a rental for a few months. I can't wait to show you our new custom closets in April!

Squeaky Clean

2009-02-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Most people know me as someone who prefers to clean with natural products whenever possible. I don't like stinky chemicals and I grew up in a natural home. With that said, there are two things I need my chemicals for - my dishwasher and my mirrors. After trying every natural product known to man for my mirrors (yes, vinegar and everything), I discovered "Windex Glass and Surface Wipes". These are better than the spray because they leave no lint from the wipe and leave no streaks, making me so happy when I'm examining my pores in the mirror! These are these are the little details in life that make my day. A nice glass of wine and some Windex wipes and I'm set.

Also, I always wear gloves when cleaning - protect your gorgeous hands and expensive manicure!

Mountain Girl Beauty

2009-02-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

Living in Vail is amazing, but it's not great for the skin! I've lived in dry, high-altitude climates before (Santa Fe, NM) and know what it's like to put on body lotion while still in the shower. Last year when we came up to Vail for the weekends, I would wash my face with olive oil - I love products with multiple uses! Here are some key products I love that keep my skin hydrated and (hopefully) keep away the wrinkles. I'm embarrassed to show you the gazillions of other products I have/use, but trust that I've tried a ton of products that are on the market. I used most of these hydrating products when I lived in San Francisco too, just not as often:

Weleda Skin Food - This thick cream is for dehydrated, chapped skin. I always put it on before skiing and my skin feels completely protected. During the winter, skin can become really dehydrated and I like to slather on the heavy moisturizer. I would rather walk around looking like a shiny penny than deal with dry, flaky skin. Weleda is a German company that makes holistic skin care. I love their baby products too (for all my friends in baby-mode!).

Egyptian Magic - This all-purpose skin cream has "magic" in the title so you know it's good! (I am every marketers dream customer). This ancient Egyptian recipe blends Olive Oil, Beeswax, Honey, Pollen, Royal Jelly and Propolis Extract to create this wonderful hard paste that turns to oil when you warm it in your hands. I don't have any skin issues besides dryness, but apparently this cream is good for multiple skin conditions. I like to use this a few times a week as my night cream. Take a small amount, warm it by rubbing your hands together and massage the oil onto your skin. A little goes a LONG way so use it sparingly - you can also use it as a hand and foot cream, put it on your elbows or any other dry parts. A big thank you to the Ancient Egyptian peeps!

Aveda Energizing Composition - I just picked this up the other day because....I guess I needed more oil? This oil balances the skin and is actually good for oily skin. The smell is intoxicating (ylang-ylang), invigorating and the oil has many uses - scalp treatment, body oil, pre-face wash (yes, now we have come to the time when there is a PRE-face wash, not just a face wash. Who knew I was missing a step for 29 years! How did I survive?). Aveda creates a great range of products and I love that they focus on preserving the environment and using good ingredients. They also make products for people with sensitivity to scent etc.

Here's a quick list of some of the body moisturizers I love (and have people hooked on):

All the Shea Butter products from L'Occitane. I use their Pure Shea Butter on my lips and cuticles. I have pots of it everywhere. I've been using products from this company since high school and their products make the best gifts! I almost forgot - I'm completely addicted to their Shea Butter Hand Cream. It's the best out there and the tube lasts me at east a year. It also comes in smaller sizes so you can keep one in your purse, car, and at work. This is a 'must-have' product.

Dr. Hauschka oils. I love the Moor Lavender Body Oil (warming and calming) and the Rosemary Body Oil (warming and invigorating) . I usually mix a few drops in with my normal body cream and use more during the winter. I try to use it religiously because it's an organic product and expires after about a year. Another great company - check out all their products!

ALBA Botanica makes my favorite body cream. My entire family has been using it for years. They have a few different kinds of lotion, but I like the "Maximum Dry Skin Formula" with Alpha Hydroxy acids that revitalize dry skin. This is a natural product, but this particular cream smells a little fruity (smells a bit like fresh tuberose) so most men I know use the unscented lotion.

As you all know, one of the key factors in keeping your skin moisturized and youthful is all about what you put in your body, not just on your skin. Drink a ton of water (I have to constantly remind myself to do this because I seem to prefer espresso and wine - these don't count as water!), eat tons of fruits and veggies and eat good fats like olive oil, avocado (yum yum!), fatty fish, and nuts. I also take a great Omega-3 supplement - I am so bad at taking pills so I prefer liquids and this is a key supplement because it's an internal moisturizer, among other health benefits. I take "The Essential Woman" from Barlean's. In addition to all those great Omegas, it contains a ton of powerful ingredients like Evening Primrose, Flaxseed Oil, Lignans, Isoflavones and Rosemary.

Many of the items I mentioned above are available at Whole Foods or multiple websites. Whew, that was a long post...I could write forever because I love this subject and will continue to add more posts about this! Now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine... think antioxidants people!!

Bambi and Friends

2009-02-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

Today I was scrubbing the carpet on the stairs (oh yes, taking time off of work is GLAMOUROUS) and a whole family of deer came to hang out with me at the house - see, I DO have friends in Vail. I asked them if they wanted to help me with the scrubbing but they tried to hide from me. See how toxic all those household cleaners are? The fumes are making me talk to the wildlife and ask them for favors.

Lavish Laundry

2009-02-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

Of course my first 'real' entry has to be about something as exciting as laundry (really hooks the audience). Working for California Closets for over 6 years, I learned a lot about caring for and preserving your belongings. Caring for your clothing is as important as organizing it! My belief around clothing is to buy great quality and take really good care of it. Nothing makes me more upset than wasting money on clothes that fall apart. I would rather spend $400 on a dress that lasts years, than $50 on something I can only wear a couple of times - my style is more classic with an edge, less trendy (I need to mention, though, that the best t-shirt on the market is the "My Favorite T" from the GAP. They're about $2o and better than anything else out there - expensive or cheap).

Back to laundry. The best laundry detergent I have ever used is from a small company called "The Laundress." The company was started by two friends who had years of experience in the textile and fashion world. They created a luxury fabric care line that helps to preserve all types of fabric, saves trips to the dry cleaner, is good for you and the environment, and has 4 different fragrance lines that smell divine. I love the whole line, but if I had to chose I would buy the "Delicate Wash", "Darks Detergent", "Fabric Fresh", and "Wool & Cashmere Shampoo"....it's really hard to choose because every product is amazing.

If you are used to grocery store bought detergent, the prices will shock you, but I justify this luxury by thinking about how long my clothing will look fabulous and the dry cleaning bills I won't have - plus, the products are concentrated. You can find this line in some high-end home and beauty boutiques, but I think it's easiest to buy from their website. Be sure to check out their whole website - I think it's amazing. I love the "Things We Love" posts...such a great idea for any business website.

Check out the products and let me know what you think.

Funny Note: When my boyfriend and I were discussing Valentine's Day, I said I didn't want anything because I would rather save for travel or for something in our newly remodeled house later in the year... but then I decided to ask him for some detergent from The Laundress. I'm not kidding. I'm such a romantic.

Welcome!

2009-02-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! I decided to call it "The Krafty Life" because my nickname has always been "Krafty" - I would consider myself pretty crafty - and I can't seem to focus on just one topic so the title seems to fit. My best friend encouraged me to write this blog because I have always been someone who my friends seek out for my random knowledge on nutrition, beauty, organization, interior design... and anything else I can find information about. I am a resource queen! I have lived in many wonderful places, traveled the world and worked for California Closets (corporate) for over 6 years. I have decided to take the winter off from working while I move to Vail, Colorado and I finally have time to start this blog.

I am primarily writing this blog for friends and family, but if you find this blog, please read my profile so you know who I am and what my story is. I am always amazed that people seek advice online from people they don't know anything about, especially emergency health advice. CRAZY!!

As someone who worked in the corporate world for a long time, I want to state that I am not a doctor, nutritionist, or anything else I can get sued for 'not being' - I'm giving ideas based on personal and professional experience and understand that every person is different. That's my little disclaimer, but I think most of my posts will be great ideas for everyone!

Enjoy!