How To Make Your Grout Look Brand New.

After living in our house for three years and trying every option under the sun to try to clean the grout in the hallway bathroom, I stumbled across this blog post from Young House Love and boy, am I glad I did!  

I spread this project out over a few days so I didn't get totally burnt out on it. It was super easy - just clean your grout with a rag/brush and soap, let it dry, then paint on the grout renew with a paintbrush that you probably already have lying around your house! Have a cloth or tissue handy to quickly wipe up any mistakes (there will be). 

This Grout Renew can be found at your local Home Depot for $11.97 and is available in a large amount of colors.

Over halfway done!

This was also the day that I discovered (by hearing running water) that we had a pipe burst under the house. 

Fun. 

 BEFORE / AFTER

Enjoy your sparkling, new grout! 

Sunday Not-So-FunDay.

Saturday night everyone was talking about and getting pumped up for the first Sandbar Sunday of 2014. Come Sunday around noon and the skies are super overcast, and it's not as warm as we all expected. On to plan B. House work. Yay. Just playing, I actually enjoy a low key day of housework every now and then. Feels so good when everything you set out to do is complete. 

We started out by taking the hallway doors off of their hinges so that we could paint them. After making a Lowe's list and eating lunch (French dips - yum!), Cameron went to go grab a quick shower. Well, that didn't happen because there was no hot water. Awesome.  So he goes to investigate and I go work on my hallway bathroom grout project that desperately needs to get finished.

I finished and can't wait to show you the final result!

 While I'm in there, I notice that I hear the sound of running water. Is the dishwasher running? No. Is there a load of laundry in the washing machine? No. So I mention it to Cameron. He doesn't really think much of it. He winds up calling plumber #1 to come take a look at our hot water heater. Plumber says heating element is fine and leaves. I mention to Cameron that the running water sound is still going on so he investigates. Thinks we may have a busted pipe. Awesome.  Calls another plumber to come out because our hot water heater still isn't working, and if we have a busted pipe, that would suck. 

Well guess what? We have a busted pipe under the office.

Awesome. 

So that was our Sunday! 

But, the fact that we spent it together and this homemade pizza for dinner made it all better!

 

{Guest Post} DIY Coffee and Vanilla Body Scrub

Treat Yourself this Spring: DIY Coffee and Vanilla Body Scrub

Springtime is finally here, and with it, the promise of shorts and sundresses. Although you may certainly be ready for the warmer weather, you winter skin may not be. This spring, don’t let that winter coat prevent you from thoroughly enjoying the outdoors – take some time to rejuvenate. Don't think you have time? Think again. As women, we need to take time to unwind and pamper ourselves every once in awhile. Your job, your friends and your family deserve the very best you!

Spas, now more than ever, are being utilized as a tool to de-stress. After a long career in the travel industry, I know all too often the tendency to put off beauty treatments and relaxation for vacation days that come only a few times a year. But with our schedules packed and our stress levels high, why do we limit ourselves – and our skin – to nourishment so infrequently? You can start today with a do-it-yourself spa treatment that won’t break the bank!

 

Recently, I returned from a trip to Honolulu with my family. The day before I headed back home, I spent an afternoon at the Moana Lani Spa at the Moani Surfrider Hotel, ranked prominently as one of Honolulu’s top hotels, where attendants pampered my skin with a scrumptious-smelling scrub made from Kona coffee beans and vanilla. As my nose took in the comforting aroma and I felt the massaging hands of the attendants on my aching muscles, all my stress melted away. Using coffee beans as a scrub has been shown to reduce cellulite, something I think we all wouldn’t mind leaving behind.

 

Fortunately, I discovered that I can replicate the same experience at home for less than the price of a bag of coffee.

Coffee and Vanilla Body Scrub

You'll need:

2 tbsp Coffee Beans (Kona coffee is preferable, but any will do)

2 tbsp of Rice

1 Whole Vanilla Bean

Optional: Your favorite body wash OR a mixture of olive oil and honey

 

To make your own coffee-vanilla scrub, head to the grocery store and purchase a small bag of coffee beans. Also, you'll need one whole vanilla bean and some rice. Remember, it's important to use all-natural ingredients. Split the vanilla bean and cut it into small parts. Add two tablespoons each of coffee beans and rice. Grind all of the ingredients in a coffee mill. For a less intense scrub, combine with your favorite body wash or a mixture of honey and olive oil. Then apply to skin, concentrating on rough spots such as elbows and the soles of your feet. Massage lightly and enjoy the invigorating scent this scrub evokes.

There you have it, a spa-inspired treatment you can do at home. I hope you enjoy this little piece of the tropics as you prepare for spring!

 

Bio: Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. I have mixed my excitement for travel by bringing the taste of authentic cuisine and rejuvenating beauty remedies to my own home with some of my unique recipes and tips. Enjoy!



DIY Baby Shower Gift

Cameron calls me a stage 1 hoarder. I don't see it as hoarding at all, I see it as saving something you're going to use later! And I don't do it with everything, mainly gift bags, furniture I can re-do and decorations. :)

When it was time to think of a present for Alyssa & Chris's Baby-Q, I didn't want to just purchase something off of their registry. That would be too easy and I like to put some thought into presents. (As a side note, while I was tackling this project, Cameron told me that I was a thoughtful gift-giver, which made me smile. :) ) For some reason, this little wooden Lipton carrier, that I received as part of a review, popped into my mind! I thought it would be fun to paint in and then fill it with goodies!

Owen's (the baby) nursery is safari themed so I painted zebra print on both of the ends...(I just Googled "zebra print" and based the painting off of a picture.)

 And giraffe print on the front and back! I'm not a big fan of how his name turned out, but whatev...(I left the other side blank just incase she wasn't a big fan of how his name turned out either.)

 I filled the carrier with Orajel teething gel, Desitin diaper rash ointment, Johnson's bedtime bath wash, Johnson's safety swabs, Johnson's lotion, and Boogie Wipes.

 Alyssa sent me a picture that night of the carrier already set up in the nursery! I'm so glad she liked it! :)



What I'm doing at work today..

You can't tell, the outside those doors is the ocean, which was relaxing to listen to while I was spraypainting.

Anyway, we're making these for our company Christmas party this weekend:

source

Can't wait to see how our's turn out! 

Giani Granite Countertops!

They're FINALLY done! It only took us, oh, 5 months to tackle this project. The package has been sitting paitiently in our junk guest room waiting for us to put it to use. We had guests stay at our house last weekend (shoutout to The Bright's) and will have more guests this weekend (Jana & Ashley!) so we decided it needed to be done.

I failed to take step by step pics, but basically we rolled on the bottom black coat. Sponge painted three different colors (silver, black and copper) and then rolled on a few top clear coats. We used a Giani Granite paint kit and I would highly recommend it if you are looking to change up your countertops but don't want to spend a lot of money! The kits come in 6 different color schemes, have very easy step by step directions and only cost $69.95 before tax and shipping.

BEFORE:

a LOVELY shade of hunter green laminate countertops.

 AFTER: