River rocks...my DIY tile job (recommend to everyone)

After we replaced the carpet on my main floor with bamboo hardwood we needed to tile the entry ways. Well I waited and I waited for my wonderful husband to do that and after two weeks I took to google to find out how to instal the tiles myself.

The great thing about the tile I use was that they were rocks and came in all sizes so I didn't have to cut...woohoo no scary wet tile saw. 

First things first was a trip with my trusty sidekick to my local home improvement store...my little black pug, Ezmee.

The options were slim at my local store, black or beige for the rock tiles but that was ok with me because I wanted something warm like the tone of the floor. After purchasing the tiles and matching the grout I also bought a sealer (make sure it's the right sealer for you tiles), grout bag (oversized piping bag), mortar and a v-notch trowel. 

So there I was, all set with the items I had decided I needed from watching YouTube videos and my Googled instructions. I set right to work. 

Step 1: lay out the tiles on you floor. (Hot tip, don't take them off the mesh that they come on.) When you reach the edges of your section use scissors or an exactoknife to cut away unneeded stones. If you find yourself in an area that just doesn't look right you can swap out stones. For example in a corner one stone might be to big but it would also leave too big of a gap if you left it empty, cut out the big stone and on another "tile" or grouping of stones cut out a smaller stone and insert it. Super easy, super simple!

Step 2: Seal your stones. Go to the store and read the different products. Make sure to get one for you specific type of tiles. Follow directions and when dry move on to step 3.

Step 3: Instaling the tiles. Lay your tiles back out on your floor so you know where they are going, then remove a small are of the tiles. In that area you're going to spread a thin layer of mortar with the flat side of your trowel then remove some of it using the v-side. Now press in your tiles. I used my grout float to push the tiles into the mortar at an even height but you could use an old book or anything you have that is flat. Your hand will create hills and valleys as your hand is not flat. 

Continue on till your floor is complete. (Hot tip, overlap your float on previous sections and new sections to keep consistency between areas.)

Now all your tiles are installed so we wait....and we wait. Follow your mortar directions to find out how long to let them dry before applying grout.  

Step  4: The grout. This part is not the most fun but it is quite rewarding, and very time consuming. Mix your grout to package directions and be prepared, you will need WAY more grout then you would assume you would need. Fill your grout bad with grout and like icing a cake, pip it into all the holes. Work in small sections as to not let the grout dry before removing the excess. I worked in about 2x3 sections. After all holes are filled and filled good (even under the stones) use a damp sponge to remove excess. When my doorway was done I got fresh water and gave it all a very good cleaning, let that dry and did it again.

Now the whole area is completed we have to let that dry and if you live in a very dry climate or it's the middle of summer you need to be careful not to let the grout dry too quickly or it will be more likes to crack. On other blogs and websites I saw recommendations for hourly sprays with a water bottle and tapering off as time went on. 

The Fifth and final step other then enjoying your floor is: sealing the grout. You probably need a different sealer then you used on the stones for this but read the labels and follow directions!

Like I previously mentioned it was a very time consuming job but I am very proud to say I did it!

Happy homemaking

Juice continued...

Wow, the longest 5 days of my life are over...I did it with no cheats, that part wasn't the hardest. It was the time. I highly recommend that if you are going to do a juice cleans get a juicer. Since mine broke I decided to just blend and strain which ate up hours of my day!

Truthfully I felt no affects of the cleans, I didn't sleep better or have more energy, but maybe if I had gotten further off course I would have. I did however loose 4lbs which put me back into my comfortable ( but high) range. 

Two big questions I got while on the cleans...where are you getting your protein and isn't that a waste with all the pulp going in the trash? Well the answer to number to is NO, and in posts to follow I'll show you how I am using the pulps but this post is about question1. 

Where are you getting your protein? 

While I like to think of myself as some what educated on nutrition I am not a nutritionist so I took to googled. Take these pictures as you will just know that I am not certifying that the information is correct I just found them helpful!

This one is one of my favourite resources when making salads because it gives options other than meat as a protein sources. I also love that it has the recommended daily allowance because I think often times we forget that we don't need mass amounts of protein for the average human being. As per the information on these images 1 cup (8oz) of Hemp Seeds has almost all the protein that a woman needs in a day...food for thought isn't it?

Started a juice cleans...Juicer broke!

I weighed myself and I hit a number I NEVER wanted to see, so after a few days I thought its time to get real! My little of this and little of that approach was not working so I had basically thrown in the towel and ate whatever I wanted for the past couple of months....so now I had hit my "wake up" number! 

What now, where do I go from here? 

I am a certified Personal Trainer and I am not happy with my weight! I am 'too busy' to work out (I no longer work in a gym) and lately have been giving in to all my cravings. You name it, sweet or salty I would eat it and I know better!!! That is by far the worst part of this for me, that I know better! I know what I have to do to be in shape and healthy. I am cursed with genes that say I am destined to be large, I`ve got `birthing hips` people used to say.  Well that`s all well and fine but I don`t believe in destiny, I make my own so I am determined to do the same with my size!!!!

So to the point of this story, I decided to do a juice cleans. Recently I had watched FAT, SICK AND NEARLY DEAD, and its sequel which prompted me to think a reboot was the way to kick me back into a healthy, active lifestyle.

I Googled juicing and found a 3 day cleans on Dr. Oz`s website based on Joe`s journey.

(if  your not familiar with the movies they follow Joe Cross on his Juicing Journey for 60 days and profiles others he meets along the way.) http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/

So, I go to the grocery store and purchase everything I need for this juice cleans but I decide I am going to do it for 5 days not three. Yes I know how crazy that maybe to a lot of you but I need to do this...remember I need to get my buns in gear, high gear! 

There it was my quick and easy `reboot`that I jacked up...Off I go to get started with my budget juicer that had work well so far on the rare occasion I used it.  Then, halfway though my first day juices it died...Just like that DEAD!

Ok, plan B-blend and strain.

Tips to blend and strain to make juice:

Start with fruits that contain the most juice (Cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.)

Slowly add other items, pulsing along the way

Blend only till everything is chopped not to the point of mush

Use a strainer with VERY small holes (wire mesh works best)

Work liquid through the strainer with a spoon, scooping out solids when minimal liquid remains

If you want pulp free juice re-strain not working it with the spoon.

Double straining will also cut down on your liquid. First strain results in about half as much product and second cuts that in half.

My verdict the juices...

Carrot, Apple Ginger Juice - The best by far but beware of over using the ginger

Mean Green Juice - its ok...tied with Citrus Inspired Green Juice for third

Gazpacho Juice - This one is NASTY, probably because I don`t love raw tomatoes or parsley. 

Sunset Blend Juice - is surprisingly good. I give it second best

All in all they were for the most part tolerable or better except lunch. However I do recommend giving it a try, even though I will skip it next time and try a different juice from Joe`s website.

Follow me for the rest of my juice cleans and other updates on my health make over!

Ombré Walls

 

So my puppy's are accentually my children so my first DIY project had to be their room! 

So here is my quick tutorial of how I created this look....

First I started with a all white room and 3 cans of paint. Each color was off the same color paint chip, the lightest, the darkest and somewhere in between.
I painted all the walls and the ceiling the lightest color, allowed it to dry and then marked the walls in thirds. I painted the bottom third with the darkest color, but did not end the top of the section in a straight line but rather more of a zig zag look.
Then I mixed 5 shades from the 3, the lightest with the middle and the middle with the darkest. If I could do it again I would have mixed a sixth shade in between the lightest and the new second lightest to create a better blend.

Ok so how I actually put the paint on the wall... I worked in sections, about 2 feet wide slapping on the paint from the 5 shades then worked quickly with a dry brush to blend the colours.
Once the whole room was done I blended out the seams between sections by putting a little paint in areas that looked blotchy and dry brushed them until I was happy with the results.  It took some work and like I previously mentioned I would have preferred more blend at the top.

Happy painting,

Happy 2015, time for new goals, mine is to post on here more and actually take my own advice. How about you? Did you make one?
I have fallen off the healthy wagon and need to get back on, need to be accountable and putting it out for the whole world to see seems like just the way to do it.
So here's to a great 2015 and us getting to wherever we want to be by 2016!