...like a fox!

Support your local farmer and know what is in your food!

2010-05-11T13:45:00.000-04:00

Recently we decided to take part in a local farm's CSA programs. It is community supported agriculture. Basically we pay an up front amount for what share we want and for 22 weeks we get a box full of fresh produce and/or meat every week. It is a great way to support local farmers and a great way to be sure you know what is in the food you are eating. A regular share is enough to feed a small family their basic vegetable needs works out to be about $35 a week.

     *CSA members participate in their own food supply by committing to share in the harvest of a local farm. Members purchase shares in the spring, and each week receive seasonal vegetables: a subscription to the farm’s weekly harvest. A CSA creates a unique relationship between the consumer and the producer – nowadays, not only do many people not know what country or what state their food comes from, they certainly don’t know the farmer who picked the tomatoes they are eating. By joining a CSA you express your support for locally grown food, for clean food, and for the farmers that grow it. CSA may not replace patronizing a farmers market. It does guarantee your access to the best of each week’s harvest. This is a way to be a part of something positive for you and your community. *info from elmwoodstockfarm.com

Important factors for our family when choosing who to do a CSA with:

   -they are good to the animals and let them graze and roam free at all times.
   -they are good to the earth
   -they don't use harsh chemicals on crops
   -they don't use hormones or antibiotics in their meats.


We chose to do a CSA with Elmwood Stock Farm. As a CSA member one of their benefits is a farm tour. We went on the farm tour on Mother's Day and had so much fun. Here are a few pictures:

Know your local farmer and know what your eating.

Some good links to get you started:

www.elmwoodstockfarm.com

My Father's Garden Winchester, Ky CSA

HOLY COW IT'S BEEN FOREVER

2010-04-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

So, so, so sorry for my lack of postings lately.....I went out of town, found out I am PREGNANT, and things have just gotten crazy from there! SO! Here I am, back to the foxin world of style and am happy to serve :)

This week's topic? Not hair color? Not nail polish? Nope! It's swimwear! If you started with me on my challenge, I hope you are still forging ahead (reports are excellent per the facebook page!) If not, you still have time to hop on board....9 weeks til summer! It's just about time to start looking for great poolside or beach wear that's perfect for your unique and foxy shape!

Some basic guidelines for swimwear----

A little lacking in the bust area? No worries! Stay away from triangle cut tops and one pieces without some padding. Add some ruffle or pleating to your top, and you'll see an instantaneous boost to your bust!

Need a bit o' belly control? It's best to stay away from shiney fabrics and even the tankini....it can ride up when wet or just get too clingy. Never fun. Stick with a more matte fabric in a sassy one piece....a low cut top or high cut leg can make mouths drop in the most wonderous of ways.

Need to tame the top region? Stay clear of triangle tops if you are a D-cup or above.....definitely not enough support for your girls.....find a flattering halter top suit or something with a fabulous underwire. Nothing says saggy like.....saggy. Lift and support are where it's at!

Have some foxy curves? You don't have to say no to a two piece--just pick one that hugs in all the right places and that just fits GREAT! Just beware of anything with strings....leave all that mess to Borat. You can also find uber flattering one pieces that will make you strut with no skirt necessary (think wrap around waist)!

And the best accessory for any suit......a good shimmery glow. BUT you don't have to lay out in the harsh sun or lie in a tanning bed for weeks to get it! Jergens makes a great little product that's an everyday moisturizer. You can pick how dark you want to go, and gradually it will take you there. Just know, though, that most self tanners can rub off on your sheets as you sleep. So, best to apply them in the morning after your shower to give you all day to let it soak on in. You'll have fabulously moisturized skin in no time flat, as well as having gotten rid of your winter white!

My apologies for not being able to steal images off the internet to give you the perfect picture of what looks hot (ha!)......but you can go to here and find some great swimsuits for very reasonable prices. Just follow your guidelines for your specific shape, and you will be one happy sun goddess!

So, remember ladies....you still have a whopping 9 weeks til summer! If you are not where you want to be, there's still time! Start looking for that perfect suit and you'll be ready to be Stylin like a Fox all summer long!

Yogurt on a mission!

2010-04-06T08:08:00.001-04:00

Attention All Yogurt Lovers!!!!!!!

At our house our fridge continually has a big tub of Stoneyfield Cream Top yogurt inside. Levon (our son) eats it on a daily basis and LOVES it. Yogurt is a super delicious and healthy snack.

Below is a copy of Stoneyfield's mission.

Yogurt on a mission

We’re no greenhorns when it comes to green business. We were on a mission to make the planet healthier even before we were making yogurt. Today, we make it our mission to work towards all sorts of healthy.

Our mission:

We’re committed to healthy food, healthy people, a healthy planet, and healthy business.

Healthy food. We will craft and offer the most delicious and nourishing organic yogurts and dairy products.

Healthy people. We will enhance the health and wellbeing of our consumers and colleagues.

Healthy planet. We will help protect and restore the planet, and promote the viability of family farms.

Healthy business. We will prove that healthy profits and a healthy planet are not in conflict, and that in fact dedication to health and sustainability enhances shareholder value. We believe that business must lead the way to a more sustainable future.

Cool stuff at Stoneyfield.com

Read their story:

Read the importance of organic farming:

Coupons and Offers:

When we buy Stoneyfield yogurt we are happy to know that it is a safe and healthy product. When we buy Stoneyfield products it's nice to know that they stand for healthy food, people, planet, and business.

When at the grocery store we as consumers vote for what kind of food we want. . . .

Local or not, organic or not, etc.

Go to the store and vote.

Thanks for reading!

Lets Make Pizza Dough!!

2010-03-30T12:39:00.000-04:00

We found a recipe for pizza dough on Jamie Oliver's website and decided to try it.

Ingredients:

1 kg strong white bread flour, 1 level tablespoon fine sea salt, 2x7g packets of dried yeast, 1 tablespoon of gold caster sugar (we used regular sugar), 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 650 ml lukewarm water.

Sieve the flour/s and salt on to a clean work surface and make a well in the middle. In a jug, mix the yeast, sugar and olive oil into the water and leave for a few minutes, then pour into the well. Using a fork, bring the flour in gradually from the sides and swirl it into the liquid. Keep mixing, drawing larger amounts of flour in, and when it all starts to come together, work the rest of the flour in with your clean, flour-dusted hands. Knead until you have a smooth, springy dough.

Place the ball of dough in a large flour-dusted bowl and flour the top of it. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and place in a warm room for about an hour until the dough has doubled in size.

Now remove the dough to a flour-dusted surface and knead it around a bit to push the air out with your hands – this is called knocking back the dough. You can either use it immediately, or keep it, wrapped in clingfilm, in the fridge (or freezer) until required. If using straight away, divide the dough up into as many little balls as you want to make pizzas – this amount of dough is enough to make about six to eight medium pizzas.

Timing-wise, it’s a good idea to roll the pizzas out about 15 to 20 minutes before you want to cook them. Don’t roll them out and leave them hanging around for a few hours, though – if you are working in advance like this it’s better to leave your dough, covered with clingfilm, in the fridge. However, if you want to get them rolled out so there’s one less thing to do when your guests are round, simply roll the dough out into rough circles, about 0.5cm thick, and place them on slightly larger pieces of olive-oil-rubbed and flour-dusted tinfoil. You can then stack the pizzas, cover them with clingfilm, and pop them into the fridge

We rolled our dough ball out into a thin pie.

For our pizza we pre-heated the oven to 500 with a large pizza stone in it. Once the oven and stone where pre-heated we took out the stone and placed the dough on it. Once the dough is on the hot stone you have to add your toppings quickly. We put our homemade marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, fresh mushrooms, fresh parmesan, spinach, and thinly sliced garlic cloves.

After the toppings are on the pizza put it in the oven and watch it bake. Watch it closely because it will bake quicky.

While you're waiting clean up your mess!!!

When the crust and cheese are gold and bubbly take that baby out and EAT IT!!!

Mmmmmm!

Thanks For Reading!!!

2010-03-23T11:59:00.000-04:00

*Why buy local?

There are countless reasons why buying local food is both rewarding and delicious, including enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship,support for family farms and rural communities, and ensuring animal welfare.

There is also significant peace of mind in knowing where our food comes from. One of the biggest benefits to buying food locally is having someone to answer questions about how it was grown and raised. What goes into that loaf of bread? Can we be certain that the hog that is now bacon lived a life without suffering? How do we know those jalapeños are salmonella free?

Developing a relationship with local farmers gives us an "in" with our local food system. At farmers' markets we can get answers to questions like: When do tomatoes come into season? How might I use celeriac? Often, we can take a tour of the farm our food comes from. Some farmers are thrilled to share their knowledge and experience with their customers. Ask about the challenges your local farmers face and what they are doing to address them. It doesn't have to be complicated. Ask about the weather! Any farmer will be pleased to talk about how the growing season is going and how that affects the food they grow. Knowing local farmers can go a long way to simplifying buying local.

Another significant reason to buy local is to keep food miles to a minimum. "Food miles" refer to the distance a food item travels from the farm to your home. The food miles for items in the grocery store are, on average, 27 times higher than the food miles for goods bought from local sources.

In the U.S., the average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator. About 40% of our fruit is produced overseas and, even though broccoli is grown all over the country, the broccoli we buy at the supermarket travels an average of 1,800 miles to get there. Notably, nine percent of our red meat comes from foreign countries, some as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Our food is trucked across the country, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burn up even more fossil fuel. In contrast, local and regional food systems produce 17 times less CO2.

*Information copied from www.sustainabletable.com

My favorite local place to shop:

2 of my favorite things Full Circle Market carries are local honey, and delicious yummy farm fresh eggs.

Full Circle Market a lot of high quality products at great prices!!!

If there are any local places that you love to shop and would like to share with other readers please feel free to leave a comment!

Rules? What Rules?

2010-03-19T08:39:00.000-04:00

Can you list 3 things your mother ALWAYS told you to do before going to bed?

Mine--put your dirty clothes away, lay out clothes for the next morning, WASH YOUR FACE

Why, as a teenager, that last rule was so hard I will never understand or even attempt to explain. -sigh- But it was. The turning point for me was when I was watching the Today Show one morning and there was a woman who looked to be in her early sixties, but later was revealed she was in her LATE 80'S!!!! Madness, I say! She swore by washing her face with simple soap and water every night and morning and using Oil of Olay lotion. Since then, I coat my face in the stuff every night. I wash my face at night by first using the Oil of Olay face cloths followed by the wonderful world of Proactiv's 3 step system, and ending it all with that O of O face lotion. Unfortunately I cannot get away with just soap and water, but everyone has their own routine of what works best for their skin.

According to betty confidential, Jennifer Aniston relies on simple Neutrogena soap. Queen Latifah? Baking soda!! Both, of course, are foxes (although I find Jennifer a tad over-rated.....) and who wouldn't love to have their glowing skin? Proactiv has been endorsed by the likes of Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry, Alyssa Milano, Julianne Hough....even P. Diddy, hello?! I love their green tea moisturizer, but I still use my Oil of Olay....I can't get the picture of that woman on the Today Show out of my head all these years later. She was foxy!

Something to just keep in mind after coming in from a late night out and all you want to do is crash: for every night you don't wash the make up off your face, it ages your skin A WEEK!!!!!! Ugh! So simple, simple rules for young, healthy, glowing, foxy skin? Wash your face with some kind of "soap and water" regimen (whether it be facial cloths, cleanser, gel, foam, etc), use a toner to remove excess make-up, and mois-tur-ize. Even if your skin is oily it still needs some love....just make sure you find an oil-free moisturizer. Nothin says wrinkles like dry skin. Also, try and find one with an SPF of at least 15 and DON'T bake yourself in the sun. Sun damage is not only non-foxy, but it's a killer! I'll get into self-tanners on another Friday....

Until then, take super care of your face, and Stay Stylin....like a fox!

A Food Revolution!!

2010-03-16T12:53:00.000-04:00

I am super excited about a new TV series on ABC called "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" the first episode airs on Friday March 26 at 9pm. Click Here to watch the trailer.

In the series, Jamie goes to Huntington, West Virginia. Recently Huntington was named the unhealthiest city in America. He is on a mission to try and help Huntington off that list. In doing this he is hoping to start a chain reaction that ultimately makes positive changes across the country. Needless to say he meets resistance in Huntington from locals who disagree with him. But is also welcomed by some of the young population.

Jamie says, "The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love. There's an incredible community in Huntington, and I want this experience to be a celebration of what we can achieve when people come together. I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn't have to be boring or dull in the slightest. Wonderful stories will unfold in Huntington, and hopefully this will inspire the rest of the States."

Join Jamie's Food Revolution and sign the petition

Click here to sign the petition

Below I have copied some facts from Jamie's webpage. It is a harsh reality.

Obesity and Overweight

• Two-thirds of American adults weigh too much.

• More than 27% are obese. That’s 72 million people. In the worst states, Mississippi, Alabama, West

Virginia and Tennessee, that figure rises to over 30%.

• If rates continue to rise, in just five years’ time, by 2015, 40% of Americans will be obese.

• Obese people suffer from poore health including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

• Obesity accounts for nearly 10% of all medical costs this amounts to $14 billion annually.

• Healthcare costs are 42% higher for someone who is obese - that’s over $1,400 each.

• Medicare spends $600 more on prescription drugs for an obese person.

Childhood Obesity

• Nearly one in three (32%, 23 million) American children are obese or overweight.

• In total, 17% of kids of all ages are obese, but this rises to over 25% in all but three states for kids

aged 10-17.

• Most obese children (over 80%) will also be obese as adults.

• Today’s generation of children are predicted to be the first to die before their parents, due to

obesity-related bad health.

THANKS FOR READING!

"Crunchy"

A Color State of Mind.....

2010-03-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

So lately the weather here has been A-MAZING and it has put me in the mood for COLOR! As a hairstylist, I know that hair color changes with the seasons. Typically, people go a little darker in the fall and winter, and start brightening it up in the spring and summer. So, guess what?! I totally think it's time for everyone to start making their hair ready for the fabulous weather this time of year brings! Does that mean you have to go blonde? Nope! This raven haired fox has no intention of that (was a blonde at birth and all through high school til I had to darken it up for a play....never looked back!), but I am craving a change. Subtle..like my tattoo, only seen when I want it to be seen. That's right....welcome to the foxy world of peek-a-boo colors!

Peek-a-boo colors are strategically placed under the layers of your hair. You can do them on the sides, in the bangs, or (my personal fave) behind the ear. That way, it really only shows when you tuck your hair or have it pulled up. If you are dark, any color lighter than your own will work, and vice versa if you are light...but you know that I love some pink, some red, even a little purple in there. If you are a blonde already, those colors really POP, but make sure your stylist knows what she/he is doing as it is all to easy to have that color bleed into the rest of your tresses, and that is not foxy.....at all. This is a relatively inexpensive process as it is not all over color, so it's fun for a little pick-me-up, and easily taken out by bleaching, or by covering it up with another dark color. If you go with a fantasy color (pink, blue, green, red, purple) versus a natural color (blonde, brunette, black, auburn), be aware it will fade faster so USE A PROFESSIONAL SHAMPOO. I cannot stress that enough. No guarantee can be made for the longevity of the color if you are using something over the counter from a drug store.

So am I suggesting peek-a-boo's for everyone? Nah....but they are fun and an amazing way to ease into color if you have never had color done! What I am mainly suggesting is a change. Change with the season. Go shorter! Go lighter! Get some high lights or low lights! Change up your style! You will feel so amazing afterwards! You will feel FOXY! Like a snake shedding his skin (gross, I know....sorry) shed the same ol' same ol' from the winter! Find some magazines, figure out your facial shape, ask your stylist what color suits your skin tone, and just do it! No fear, foxes! No fear!

So if you have been in a rut, it's time to get Stylin....like a fox!

Interested in my Stylin Summer Challenge update? Check out my personal blog here! Also, it's not too late to join the Slim by Summer facebook event! 15 weeks til summer, foxes! WOOT!

Teaching Your Child (and yourself!) to save...

2010-03-11T19:23:00.001-05:00

Kids love to collect pennies... just ask my 4 year old who will stop in the middle of a busy parking lot to grab one! They rarely understand their value when they're so little... but they are shiny and they love to collect shiny things. This can be a great way to start a conversation about the family budget. This doesn’t mean worrying children about the day to day bills or making them feel guilty in any way. What it does mean is explaining where money comes from and where it goes when we spend it.

Teaching your children to save can be fun. By setting up a “Adventure Jar” you can create an exciting way to save. Our family has a "Disney Jar". When our children find loose change around the house, with our permission, it goes to the "Disney Jar". When they get money in birthday cards, they have the choice, to spend it, or to put it into the jar... more often then not, we are finding those dollars in the large jar on the kitchen counter. I honestly cannot wait until we get to go to Disney (more than likely it will take much more than that old jar) to watch them and help them realize that they helped save for that adventure will be a very cool day!

Another way to teach your kids (and yourself) that the world is bigger than ourselves... set up a Charity Jar. For every dime you drop into the "Adventure Jar"... drop one into the Charity Jar... research it, find something you love. ASPCA, Tom's Shoes, World Vision (organizations like World Vision and Compassion International allow you to "adopt" a child, you will get pictures and letters and you can send some of your family back... let your children see that they are helping a fellow child)... You will find something outside of yourself and you will probably find that you enjoy putting money into your Charity Jar just as much as the other.

If you don't have children right now, what's stopping you from starting your own piggy bank? We all accumulate loose change. More often than not, it ends up going into the ash trays of our cars, our lint screen in our dryer, or into a vending machine. Go online, find yourself something cool. A fabulous new outfit, a fancy restaurant for you and your sweetie, or dream bigger: a cruise or vacation you've always wanted, then find a Charity that you are passionate about... and start snatching up those pennies! It might not add up immediately. You may run into an unforeseen opportunity or emergency and need to break the bank a few times.... but the important thing is to set it aside.

Be deliberate and you will see results, both in your life and in your world!

Lets make a funky elephant!!!!!

2010-03-10T18:38:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the late posting. Wednesday kind of creeped up on me.

I was recently going through my cloths and found ol pj's that had a hole in them but they were to cute to throw away. So I racked my brain trying to think of something I can make out of them. Then it came to me..... AN ELEPHANT!

Why? Well, my son Levon loves the animals in his room and on the walls. Everynight we say our prayers and tell all the animals on the wall good night. As we tell all the animals, including the elephant, good night. Levon waves to each and every one of them as if they are all his friends. So, I decided to make him an elephant to sleep with.

Step 1:
Fold a peice of fabric in half so it is wrong side facing wrong side. Draw an outline of an elephant (or any animal, critter, monster, or doll.)

Cut around your drawing. And you will have 2 elephants.

Step 2:

Take a piece of ribbon and cut out 2 oval pieces and draw eyeballs.

Sew on eye balls.

Step 3:

Make the ears out of a different color of fabric. Make the ear whatever shape you want. Make two of the same shape for each ear. Sew both pieces together with the pretty sides together. Leave an opening so you can turn it right side out. Fold the un sewn edges of the ears inward and sew to the elephant.

Step 4:

Sew the two pieces of the elephant together. Leave an opening for stuffing. Stuff the elephant with as much stuffing as you can. When you sew the elephant sew it with seams out so it will frey with washing. Sew the opening you stuffed with together.

YOU DID IT!

Thanks For Reading!!!!!!!

I feel pretty! Oh so pretty!

2010-03-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

So it's March....finally.....and that means Spring is right around the corner. Woot! Spring means no more dark dreary colors, both in the sky and in your closet! Don't get me wrong, I love winter fashions of warm sweaters and big coats, freshly knitted gloves and hats (*wink, Savvy), but I L-O-V-E when I can bust out a bright blue top, some hot purple, and even a lighter shade of my favorite red, (dare I say it?) PINK! Spring is in the air, even if it doesn't quite show on the thermometer, yet.

So if you are like me and don't live in sunny Florida, you might still be feeling the chill. What's the best way to perk up for spring even if you can't let go of your jacket yet? Nail polish, bien sur! (and if you can get a full-out mani/pedi, so much the better) OPI is a staple of my wardrobe (Black Cherry Chutney, Lincoln Park After Dark, I'm Not Really a Waitress, Friar Friar Pants on Fire, as well as OPI Red, Cha-Ching Cherry, It's All Greek to Me....classics! The new Off With Her Red is fanfoxintastic), and I like to change it up! And, yes, the pinks are what I cling to when I have worn my dark purples and deep reds all winter. My pink of choice to brighten my day as well as my toes? Flashbulb Fuschia!!!!! It's a lil pink, a lil purple, and in their Brights collection so it makes me happy!

So....if you are feelin the Spring Fever and still having to put on your gloves when you walk outside....put on a foxy pink nail polish that will immediately make you feel fabulous when you take those gloves off!

Stay stylin....like a fox!!

Need a break?

2010-03-04T20:57:00.000-05:00

Hey all... sorry for the late post this evening... but I was having a difficult computer day (paging Geeky! stat!).

I will save my longer savvy post for another day and instead share a l'il somethin' with you loyal readers!

Oh how I love me some redbox. Have you ever used them?! $1/1 day rentals and they are virtually EVERYWHERE. I super super love them. #1... it's a dollar. A dollar for brand new movies. #2... they are uber convenient... they are just about everywhere. Check your local McDonalds, Walmart, Kroger or just about any other grocery store. Our little local town has three of these bad boys now. and #3... did I mention it's only $1? **Savvy note** it's only $1 if you return it by 9pm the following day. Most of the time, I am passing one of these machines at some point the next day... but there are still those "doh!" moments when I forget.

Now if you go to redbox.com, you can sign up for email alerts for the new releases, you can check and see which redbox in town has the movie you are looking for and you can even reserve them so you know it will still be there just waiting for you when you finally get there!

Another cool part of being a part of the email list is that you get Free Rental codes... that is right FREE (what is more savvy than free right?!) Well... just for kicks... I will give you one of the free codes they give out! The code is BREAKROOM. Just type that in, you will still need to swipe your credit/debit card (in case you keep it longer than a day! If you haven't used it before, you won't be sorry... I love it and we use it regularly.

Stay savvy... and take a break every now and then!

Happy Smile!!!!!!

2010-03-03T12:51:00.002-05:00

I have been using Peelu toothpaste for about 2 months now and I love it. It is a different texture than most toothpastes but my teeth feel so clean when I use it.

*For centuries, people of Asia, Africa and the Middle East have cleaned their teeth by chewing the dried branches of the Peelu tree. Peelu (botanical name: Salvadora Persica), also regionally called Siwak, Miswak and Neem, means “Tree for Tooth Care."

Despite its long history, Peelu tree branches have only been used in the form of a chewing stick. The Peelu Company, for the first time, converted its remarkable qualities into a toothpaste, tooth powder, liquid extract and a dental chewing gum.

The researchers discovered a number of naturally occurring qualities in the peelu tree, including:

It contains a natural chlorine which whitens and removes tartar and stains (tartar is the yellow material on the teeth, chiefly Calcium Phosphate)
It contains Tannic Acid and Vitamin C, making it beneficial for healthy gums
It contains sulfur, which helps keep the mouth clean

Clean your teeth the natural way! Peelu Toothpaste provides safe, effective dental care with a 100% natural, state-of-the-art formula. Most toothpastes and polishes contain harsh, gritty abrasives like sand (silica), chalk (calcium carbonate) or animal bone (dicalcium phosphate), all of which can irritate gums and damage teeth by thinning the enamel layer. This can cause teeth to yellow and be more sensitive to heat and cold. Peelu Toothpaste uses the soft fibers of the peelu plant to bring you a gentle, nonabrasive toothpaste that works naturally to clean and brighten your teeth. Unlike most other brands, Peelu Toothpaste is sugar-free, contains no artificial sweeteners or preservatives, and uses only natural flavorings. *

*information copied from www.peelu.com*

Thanks for reading!!!!

"CRUNCHY"

Geeky Gifts!

2010-03-03T09:18:00.000-05:00

OMG!

{Oh My Geek}

Whoa look what Icon Pillows is doing...

{even though I know I these are just pillows...i got a little excited seing the (4) message icon}

{I *heart* blogger}

{These are so super cute and T-Totally *GEEKY*}

That was fun!!! Have a Geeky Day!!!

Oh and just so ya know...

I'm giving away a

*FREE*

over at iheartsmiles blog!!!

Oh and P.S. I lost 4 lbs this week during Stylin Fox's Slim by Summer Challenge!!!

Go me!!!

-Geeky out!!!

I'm totally crushing on...

2010-03-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

Hedgehogs!

(source)

I recently participated in a Pincushion Swap over at Freckled Nest. I had to mail out a pincushion to my partner by this past weekend and I, of course, waited till the last minute. I didn't want to make your everyday pincushion. So, in a mad frenzy, I started searching some of my fave sites for pincushion inspiration. When I found this

I was in LOVE!

Anyone that knows me, knows I like to have a pattern for everything! I don't know why, but I basically refuse to try and make my own pattern. That's just how I roll! Did I just say that? Ugh, I'm a dork. Anywho...here's the pattern from Urban Debris

full size pattern here

It's super easy and it takes all of 45 minutes, if that. I wanted to add some to mine, so mine took a little longer, but not much. Here's my completed hedgehog

Eeek!!!! Isn't she cute?!?!?!

I hope my swap partner loves it...I know I do!

Have a great day!

-Crafty

a REAL eye opener!

2010-02-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

I wear, and swear by, liquid black eyeliner. Everyday. Morning and evening. I started wearing it when I was in high school.....I remember seeing Selena and deciding right then and there liquid was the ONLY way to go. I used to wear pencil liner but it would get all over my lids and look none-so-foxy, so this little make-up product is a gem!

My preference is Revlon Color Stay liquid liner in blackest black. It really does stay and just gives a sharper, more classic look. The absolute BEST part of this is that the tip of it is like a pen. It's not as messy as a brush and you can get the thickness that you want with barely any room for error. (I learned on Clinique's liquid liner-- and while it does last for-ev-er, it was a booger to put on....too many "DOH!" moments for this stylin fox!) You can wear it with shadow for a super dramatic look, but I think it's best with just some mascara for a cleaner notice-my-eyes-more-than-any-other-feature kind of statement. Either way, you are sure to look foxy!

To apply liquid liner----clean off some of the liner on the inside of the bottle (start out with a little....it's easier to add than to try and remove). Begin lining as close to the lashline as possible in the center of your lid going to the outside corner. Make sure you get it as thick as you want it. You can take it just to the corner for an everyday look, or swoop it out a bit for are-they-or-aren't-they cat eyes. Without dipping the pen again, go to the inner corner of your lid and very carefully draw in towards the starting point. While you are learning to perfect this, it's best to go in shorter strokes to make sure you don't get it too thick. You want it to grow in thickness from the inside corner to the outside. The real trick, however, is getting the other eye to match. It just takes a little bit of practice, but you will get there in no time! Don't get frustrated....I've been doing this for about 12 years and it's still the longest part of my make-up application. The main things to remember are: 1) do not stretch out your lid with your finger! Other than possibly making unncessary wrinkles (gasp) it pulls the lid to unrealistic lengths and can cause gaps in the liner. When you release it to it's normal shape there's no telling what you'll end up with! If you need to stretch your lid, simply raise your eyebrows. 2) your eye make-up should go on in this order---eye shadow, mascara, eye liner. If you put on mascara before shadow, the shadow can get stuck in your mascara. If you put eye liner on before shadow, it won't be as sharp. If you put eye liner on before the mascara, you can clump your lashes together and make the mascara situation a situation.

Disclaimer: As with anything, there is more than one way to do it and, sadly, liquid liner is not for everyone. If you try my method and find yourself still having some issues, before you hang it up try Trish's. She is a bit different about it than I am (she likes the pull method), but I love liquid liner so much I am making sure you have options! If after trying both ways the look is not working for you but neither is the pencil, try a gel liner or a dark shadow using a brush like this one. You can click here to see the info on this particular brush!

Questions? Just ask 'em! And as always, stay stylin...like a fox!!

(so far so good this week.....hope you are feelin even foxier!)

Woot!

2010-02-25T00:30:00.002-05:00

Woot... someone recently tweeted the question "What does 'woot' mean?" well... Hmm... from what I can tell "Woot" is the written form of the sound we all used to make with that ridiculous arm swinging Arsenio Hall motion we all used to imitate back in the early 90s. It is an expression of joy, can be and has been used with sarcasm. And for now, thanks to a dear Stylin' friend of mine is a common word in my vocabulary both online and in the flesh.

But Woot! is actually also a really cool website I've become an obsessive watcher of lately. Woot.com is a unique site... offering one and only one item for sale each day at ridiculously low prices. I like spunky web peeps too... people who are creative in their faq's make me smile... for example...

What is Woot and who's behind it?

Woot.com is an online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. It started as an employee-store slash market-testing type of place for an electronics distributor, but it's taken on a life of its own. We anticipate profitability by 2043 – by then we should be retired; someone smarter might take over and jack up the prices. Until then, we're still the lovable scamps we've always been.

Now, not everything up for sale on Woot! can be considered a savvy purchase (b/c who needs to spend $$ on junk you don't need?) but if you're in the market for say a Kodak 12 Megapixel Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom
and Woot.com's item of the day is an amazingly priced Kodak 12 Megapixel Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom with free shipping, then by all means click the "I want one!" button and see if you're one of the lucky ones to get it before it's gone!

If nothing else it will be a bright spot in your day... cute website... good blog, and who couldn't use one more good blog to read right? And you just might walk away with a great deal!!

Stay Savvy people.

Cool gear for outdoor activites, camping and hiking with your little ones!!!!

2010-02-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

To the left is a picture of Levon in his Kelty Wallaby child carrier. This carrier was very handy for his daddy to carry him in when we did light outdoor stuff. Click the picture to go to a link to purchase it.

In the above picture is a Kelty child carrier ideal for hiking with your child. We have one that isn't the exact same model but is basically the same. It's max weight load is about 50 lbs. So your kid will be able to use it for a while. We love it!!! We actually found ours at the local goodwill for $5. Which is a major STEAL!!!!! Click on the above picture to purchase it.

To the right is one of my favorite items on my "I wish I had this" list. It is basically a play pen and a bed ideal for camping or going to the beach. It also has an inflatable mattress. It packs down small enough to fit in a suitcase. It also has a zip off UV shade you can buy seperately for sun protection. I want this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click on the picture to purchase it.

Thanks for reading!!

Swap-a-rooski?

2010-02-23T08:19:00.008-05:00

A few weeks ago I did a *SUPER* cool tutorial on how to make your own blog button with a copy/past html code like this...

And I've gotten lots of feedback from people who have used it and made their very own buttons!!! *GREAT*

Like any proud teacher ;O) I want to see your hard work!!! If you made a blog button from my tutorial, post up your blog in the comments and we will post up your button on the ...like a fox! blog!!! And since this is a *Swap-a-rooski* then you can grab one of our buttons

YAY!!! Let the swapping begin!!!

XOXO Geeky OUT!!!

Burlap...really?

2010-02-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've been slowly (and I mean sloooowly) redoing my living room and kitchen. They are basically one BIG room. We've lived in our house for 8 years and it's pretty much been the same the whole time. I'm just bored and need something new. I've been making mental notes of what I like and I think I've made some desisions. One think I know is that I like all this burlap stuff I've been seeing. Being the Crafty Fox that I am, I've been looking for some great tutorials for home projects. I was in burlap heaven when I came up on Tatertots and Jello

This is my go-to blog for all things home decorating. Jen has it down, when it comes to using burlap! My first project is this:

Burlap Wreath

I'm hoping it will only take me a couple of days. Then I'm going to move on to this:

Wall Grouping

She just uses some Dollar Store frames. So, it's a cheap little project.

I'll need some new curtains, too

No Sew Burlap Curtains

Oh, and I need some new lamps, BAD

Lamp Makeover

There's not really a lot of burlap involved in this but the embellishment is cute!

I'll be decorating the kitchen, too. We're not fancy at our house (is that bad?) but I LOVE this table!

Ruffled Tablecloth

And last, but not least, I WILL be making these pillows.

Pottery Barn Inspired

They aren't burlap, but they go with the color scheme and feel of what I'm trying to create in my home. I hope you were inspired by some of these DIY home projects. I know I am!

Have a great day!

-Crafty

Congrats Savvy!!!!

2010-02-20T09:41:00.000-05:00

We are SO thrilled to announce the *GRAND OPENING* of our dear Savvy Fox's store today!!!

Come down and share in the yarny goodness

Has to offer!!!

WE LOVE YOU SB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gimme a Y gimme an O gimme a U

2010-02-19T07:00:00.061-05:00

This blog is going to be about your best fashion accessory: yourself. You can add all the make-up, hairspray, bracelets, nail polish, etc. you want.....but when it comes down to it, if you don't feel good about yourself, there isn't anything that will make you look good to yourself. So. I have struggled in the past with something millions of people struggle with everyday---my weight. Not just my weight, but how I feel it holds me back from being my most confident all the time, and even fully enjoying a fun shopping day with friends. And let's not even think about a bathing suit (omg! omg! omg! shake it out! delete! delete! omgomgomg!!!) I feel like any and every time I have started to diet one of the real reasons I don't stick with it is because of when I begin---normally, it's in October. So I lose about 10-12lbs before the holidays. I give up the fight during Thanksgiving and that will last until the New Year. I don't normally start seeing a gain, though, until the end of January....so I have tricked myself into thinking I am not gaining anything because I don't see it immediately upon inhaling the 10th Christmas cookie. But then February sneaks up on me.....

I am taking a new approach and if you are wanting to get on board with me, PLEASE DO! Summer is exactly 17 weeks away from this coming Monday. Summer--you know--when you want to be in cute shorts and little dresses and wear bright, fun colors. We have gotten through the hardest part of the year for a dieter, so why not get going now? 17 weeks is a decent amount of time, but it will get here quicker than you think....my goal is to have 20 pounds gone. I don't want to just be stylin' this summer, but super stylin! However, it is more about feeling good about myself and taking control. The cute clothes are just a bonus ;)

So here, for all the foxin world to see, are my stats:

height: very nearly 5ft6

weight: 183.8

chest: 41 inches

waist: 35.5 inches

hips: 45 inches

jean size: 14

This will not be a blog focus, but at the end of each of my posts for the next 17 weeks, I will let you know, in my own foxy way, if I passed or failed for the week. My goals are to eat healthy (think Weight Watchers), and to do one of my many pilates DVDs 4 times a week. I will enjoy my last 2 days of eating without thinking, but come Monday it's ON!

I have my reward outfit already picked out so that by the first day of summer, I can be super stylin....LIKE A FOX! -------->

photo taken 2/18/2010

My top picks for laundry detergent that is easy on the environment!!

2010-02-17T08:11:00.005-05:00

My #1 Top pick is Country Save Laundry Powder.

(click picture to purchase)

It works great and is free of dyes and perfumes so it is safe for those with sensitive skin. Country Save is septic tank safe and doesn't test there products on animals nor do they use animal by products. The best part is that you don't have to use a fabric softener on your clothes wen you use this detergent. It makes your clothes so soft a fabric softener isn't needed. Although it doesn't have any perfumes it still smells fresh!!!

My #2 Pick is Planet Laundry Powder

(click picture to purchase)

I love Planet laundry detergent because certified 100% biodegradable, not tested on animals, free from animal ingredients, unscented, uncolored, recycled packaging, and hypo-allergenic. Its strong and effective and gets your laundry good and clean.

Both of these detergents are great for washing cloth diapers and for use on baby clothes. I have used them both to wash stuff for my son who has VERY sensitive skin and he has had no problems with them.

Thanks For Reading!!!

Crunchy Fox!!!

Project Blog Makeover!

2010-02-16T08:50:00.000-05:00

Hiya!!! It's ya girl *GEEKY*

It's snowing like *WHOA* here in our little town and I've been stuck inside ALL day...boo

BUT one good thing about being stuck inside is...MORE TIME TO BE GEEKY!!!

Most people I know who are creative love a good day inside so they can work on their projects. Get out all their fabric, thread, yarn, and what not ...and sure I like to do that sometimes too. But on a day like this all I wanna do is snuggle up to my good ol' laptop and get geeky!!!

(source)

I've been blogging for oh about 5 months really...not long I guess BUT I have found some really valuable stuff since my journey started! So today I'm gonna share with you some SUPER helpful sites that help all us blogstars out there!!!

Follow me...

http://www.designerblogs.com/

has TONS of super cute blog layouts and they are *FREE*

like these..

other sites to check out for cute backgrounds are...

http://www.shabbyblogs.com/

http://www.hotbliggityblog.com/

and

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

Now what do you do once you fall in *LOVE* with a background???

Simple!

Step 1. Copy the html code provided

Step 2. Sign into blogger

Step 3. Add a gadget

Step 4. Choose an html gadget

Step 5. Paste the html code

VOILA!!!

-Geeky OUT!

Cruisin' with Cricut

2010-02-15T12:28:00.000-05:00

Any Crafty Fox knows about this wonderful, do-it-all machine, Cricut.

It's made by ProvoCraft and it can do just about anything. It cuts cardstock, vinyl, chipboard, magnet sheets, felt, foam, and lots more! There are also many, many cartridges for it with different fonts, tags, and images. It truly is a must-have for any Crafty Fox!

Well, back in the summer, Cricut was having a FREE crusie promotion. Inside 20 (only 20) cartridges were golden tickets. If you got this golden ticket, you WON a 7-day Eastern Carribean "Craft" cruise for 2! It sounds too good to be true!

Well, would you believe that my Mom was one of the lucky 20?

Well, she was and she just got back from her AWESOME cruise!

Their ship , the ms Eurodam, left on January 30th from Ft. Lauderdale is was full speed ahead from there! There were crafting classes where they made scrapbook frames and cruise scrapbooks.

My dad even got in on the scrappin' action!

Not only did they have a full week of crafting, they also stopped at some AMAZING ports

Grand Turk

and

San Juan

and

St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands,

where my Dad found my old iguana, Iggy! I'm sure he likes it better in the islands than with me in Kentucky!

And their last stop was

Half Moon Cay! How cute is Cricut relaxing in the sand?

Pretty nice, huh? Well, ProvoCraft really knows how to treat their customers, because ON TOP of this unbelieveable cruise, they were just throwing gifts at them left and right. Here's some of the goodies my Mom came back with:

and when they thought it was all over, they gave them THIS!

A brand new GYPSY! Seriously?!?!?!

and hold on to your scrapbook paper for this...

A GOLD CRICUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's only like 30 of these in the world and my Mother has one!

They had so much stuff to bring back that they had to buy 2 extra carry-ons!

Thank you ProvoCraft and Cricut for giving my parents a vacation they will never forget!

Have a great day!

DeAndra

Vday Style

2010-02-12T08:38:00.001-05:00

So....Valentine's Day is in -gasp- 2 days! You have plans? Have you gotten your outfit yet? No plans? Need something to make you feel sassy and stylin? Here are my fave trends for either the attached or single fox:

Luckily, the hot colors for the most lovin month stay constant year after year. Reds and pinks are where it's at.....and I have to admit I have never met a fox who didn't look great in either! For me, I am all about some red lips, so a little red dress OR a little black dress with some fabulous red heels/belt/lips go a long way. Fuchsia is a big color as I search through online stores such as Macy's, Forever 21, and even more casually at Old Navy. When it comes down to it, though, go with whatever color makes you feel the most foxy. This is a look that I L-O-V-E.....

(dress and shoes found at Forever 21, clutch found at Amazon)

Rule #1 in make-up application is you never (and I mean never, ever) play up both eyes and lips at the same time. Or else something like this occurs.....

A fabulous go-to for foxy red lips and perfect eyes is Gwen Stefani

If you would rather play up those fabulous peepers, go for a smokey look (and if you dare some GREAT false lashes....practice makes perfect, though, and it's easier to apply with tweezers than your fingers) and a neutral lip like so

For your hair (--my favorite part!) try something a little different from your normal look. If you are curly, try a straighter style....if you are straight, try putting a little bounce in it. Attached? Maybe put that little something extra into your style that you know will make him take notice! Single? What is it that makes you feel so foxy? If you want it out of your face, a trendy "up-style" that is easy to do yourself is the side pony (yes, 80s ladies, it returns!) but.... it's lower and with less crimp. :)

However you dress up on Valentine's Day, be confident, be comfortable, BE FOXY!

Stay lovin....like a fox!

Brain Dump...

2010-02-11T07:03:00.004-05:00

I'm going to let you in on a secret... I often struggle with being savvy. I do! Maybe for those of you who know me outside of the blogosphere this really isn't that much of a secret. But the key word here is that I struggle... which means that while I don't have this whole "savvy" thing down to a science, I'm always looking for better ways to save, better ways to get organized... better ways to truly define savvy in my life. How many self-help books leave you feeling worse than you felt before you picked it up?? Well readers... let me promise you one thing... I ain't that kind of fox! I right out there with you... looking for ways to stretch my hard earned dollar and make my household run smoothly!

Since Crafty and Geeky have gotten to share their blog crushes... I'm here to share mine! Tsh and her fellow bloggers at simplemom.net seem to be overflowing with helpful tips on how to thrive as a household. Don't let the name fool you, although the name may reach out to moms, it's a wonderful site for men too! She's got some wonderful downloads (some *free*--what's more frugal than that?!) including her Daily Docket , which is a wonderful daily planner. Take a peek... you can print or design your own! For the artsy, right brained type try Todoodlist , an e-book with some really cool creative ways to get your thoughts out on paper!

Even with all the technology in the world, I would say that nothing helps me iron out my thoughts for the day better than a good brain dump. Sounds rather crude because, well... it is. It's not pretty, it's not organized, but that's ok... it's just to clear my head and prepare myself to get down to the brass tax. I start with a blank page and just write. To-do's get jotted, appointments, random thoughts, doodles.... those little things that I think (and usually say to my husband) "I won't forget that"... I've even started to write those down. Then things can get a little cleaner-- take your to-do's and plug them into your phone... write it on the fridge, put it in your planner, send yourself an email. Whatever it is, you've now gotten all your thoughts out, and have organized them "outloud". You may find that you need to plot out your day like a timeline, you may find that a helpful post it may do the trick... but whichever way it works for you, stick with it! By dumping your thoughts out on a piece of paper, you may be able to see that the tasks ahead of you aren't as daunting as you may have thought at first. You may also find that a seemingly easy task may need more attention to detail than you had thought. But by giving yourself a few moments to pull out your thoughts and take a good look, you gain the flexibility of having a better handle on the tasks ahead of you!

Give it a try! There's no wrong way! Just get it all out... Dump that Brain and get Savvy!

How to Tie dye.

2010-02-10T10:12:00.000-05:00

How to tie-dye

Step 1: Put the front of the garment face down on flat surface and find the center.

Step 2: Twist the garment until it is twisted into a circle.

Step 3: Secure the garment with rubber bands tightly.

Step 4: Put the dye in a squeeze bottle and begin applying dye to your garment. Let garment sit for 24 hours to allow the dye to soak in.

Step 5: While the garment is still secured with rubber bands run under hot water until water runs clear. Remove rubber bands and place garment in the washing machine with several black garments and wash on hot with detergent 3-5 times. This process ensures the dye is not going to bleed when washed with other clothes.

You did it!!!!!!

Thanks for reading,

Crunchy Fox!!!!!

Geeky Gifts!

2010-02-09T07:57:00.000-05:00

My top 5 Geeky Gifts...for the Geek in your life!!!

Charging Doc!

Laptop Case by

Cute Geeky Ring!

USB Flashdrive!

Big Foot Laptop Decal!

One Up Designs

Wow that was fun!!! Hope you have a geeky Valentine's Day! Ill be back next week with a little tutorial on how to bling out your blog!!!

-Geeky

DIY Valentine's Day Gifts

2010-02-08T16:01:00.000-05:00

I LOVE finding a good tutorial! I have a favorites folder a mile long of only tutorials and patterns. It makes all my blog surfing worthwhile! I've found a lot of great tutorials for Valentine's Day gifts, too. They all look super simple and fast and that's what I like! So, here's a few ideas for the people you heart!

Heart Zipper Pouches

Scrappy Heart Pin Cushion

Felt Tic Tac Toe Game

Love Letter Tutorial

Valentine Playing Card Coupons

Simple Valentine Gift Idea for the kids

and don't forget for sweetie's sweet tooth!

Strawberry Candy Popcorn

Strawberry Marshmallow Heart Pops

YUM!

I hope you found these tutorials helpful and inspiring! Now go out and make a GREAT Valentine's Day gift for the one you love!!!!

Have a great day!

DeAndra

What the?!?!

2010-02-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

Hello!! Today's post will answer those questions that should be answered, but not necessarily asked in your stylist's chair. Ooh, scandalous!

What is a proper tip for services?
Well, if you think that a normal tip for someone who brings food to your table is 10-15%, it's fair to say that the person who went to school for hair, has kept up continuing education classes, and ensures you leave her chair lookin h-o-t, should receive 20-25%. Keep in mind, though, that a tip is not required, but rather used to show appreciation for the stylist's efforts and for producing a great look. If you are totally satisfied, tip as high as you want (*wink*)! However, leaving a tip only to call again and complain (i.e.I really did love it but my husband/boyfriend complained that I spent $150 at the salon and now I have to retrieve the bills to save my relationship) is generally frowned upon. If you are truly unhappy, that leads me to....

How do I handle being unhappy with my cut/color?
If it's your first time seeing that stylist, you simply tell her/him that it was not what you had in mind and see if they can fix it immediately. Do not, do not, just walk away acting like everything is ok. You are a paying customer, afterall. Now, that does not mean turn into the Incredible Hulk and start cussing and throwing things, name-calling and other embarrassing reactions. It simply means that you should leave somewhat content if the unthinkable does occur. If this is someone you have been going to for a while, hopefully you have built up enough of a relationship with them that you can just be straight forward and know they will fix it in a snap. Sometimes your vision and your fantastic stylist's miss each other...but I am sure you have all heard the saying, "I'm a beautician, not a magician!" To ensure your end result is what you want, communicate. Bring in pictures of what you like as well as what you don't. Listen when your stylist tells you something won't look as good as what you think it will----(platinum is not a universal color, and a pixie cut does not make you look like Posh). Keep in mind that very rarely are refunds given, so once you pay it's done. You can return to have that stylist try again, but it is best to address the situation when it happens. If you really and truly don't notice the heinousness of your cut until you go to fix it yourself (a stylist's blowout can hide many a blunder), call back and speak to her/him directly. If it's so bad you don't want their hands in your hair again.....

What is the best way to find a new stylist?
Ask your friends or trusted co-workers with fabulous hair who they see. Honestly, though, the best way is if you see a stranger in the super market with amazing hair (who fixes their hair to go grocery shopping?? It must be a great cut!), ask her who her stylist is and if she has a card. Make sure you get her name so when you go in you can say, "I saw Caroline in the grocery store this week....I love her hair and she referred me to you!" This will make the stylist feel like a million bucks and she will definitely give you the 5 star treatment. Also, a lot of stylists have referral rewards....so Caroline might get something extra for referring you, and so might you! The best reward, though, is being relaxed in the chair and leaving knowing you look foxy!

Victoria Beckham approves this message! (not really...she endorses nothing in this blog...but I think she would if she knew about it)

More questions? Contact this Stylin Fox at likeafoxblog@yahoo.com

Have a stylin weekend....like a fox!

Shopping When Hungry=Savvy Fail.

2010-02-04T01:38:00.000-05:00

Hey there foxy readers! One sure way to kill your savvy shopping buzz is to get to the checkout line at the grocery store and find that you've gone way over budget. The easiest way to do that is to shop while you're hungry. Suddenly everything on the shelves looks delish. Even things you may ordinarily pass, are suddenly on the checkout counter just waiting to go home with you! Another easy way is just poor planning. How many times do you walk into the grocery store to pick up something for dinner and walk out with everything except what you came in for?

2010 can be different. With just a little pre-planning you can get your shopping skills in order and spend less time and less money and have better mealtimes at home in the process!

First of all... eat something before you go to the grocery... at the very least drink a small glass of orange juice, the natural sugar should curb your appetite long enough for you to shop!

Second... the most important shopping tool is your weekly menu. So many times we stop and get something fast because well, it's just easier... but it's rarely healthier and rarely cheaper than eating at home! Make yourself a weekly menu... if you want a night out... just plan it! You can make your own, or go for one of these printable menus available on etsy (Geeky--are you seeing this?!).
Grab the circular from your favorite grocery establishment and plan your menu around the sales. Getting tired of the same ol' meals? Google is your friend! There are so many good cooks out there just giving their recipes away! One of my absolute favorites for great homemade recipes is Tammy's Recipes. Try her homemade pizza dough recipe...
a-freakin-mazing! Take a poll of your families favorite restaurants and meals. There are lots of CopyKat cooks out there trying to get just that right blend of their favorite restaurant's signature dish! Don't forget the coupons!

With your menu made, you can now make out a very accurate shopping list. This next step may be the hardest part... do not deviate from your list! It will be hard to resist those oreo's on the endcap... but it will be worth it when you bake the brownies that were on your list instead!

In the end... with a plan of attack, you can cut the amount of extras that just "jump" into your cart... cut the guesswork out of your dinner plans and save some time and dough in the process...

And that's just one of many ways to stay savvy, savvy?

Square Foot Gardening!

2010-02-03T09:37:00.000-05:00

Hello foxy readers,
I am Crunchy Fox. I am on a mission to make our lives and our pockets a little "greener."

Recently I was talking with some friends about square foot gardening. I had never really read about it or even considered doing it. But, after talking with my friends and reading about it I am convinced it is a good idea. We will be doing a square foot garden this spring in our yard. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may be asking yourself ..... " what the heck is she talking about?" So, here is some information I found that might help explain this awesome concept.

Square foot gardening is originated by Mel Bartholomew. To purchase his book click here!

What is square foot gardening?

Well, it is an easy way to grow your very own garden by basically building a box with a grid. It saves time, water, work, and money.

(Earth friendly tip: find free left over wood at construction sites to build your box out of. If they're gonna trash it you may as well create something useful out of it!)

Why?

It can be done in a small 4 foot by 4 foot area, no fertilizers are necessary, can be started during any season, produces 5 times the harvest than your typical garden, and the best part of using this gardening method you do no weeding, no thinning, no heavy digging and best of all it's a money saver.

Watch a video about square foot gardening tips for February . . . . CLICK HERE!

Starting your square foot garden:

- Pick a location that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunshine daily.

- Follow the basics: Layout your garden in squares. Build boxes to hold a new soil mix above ground.

- Place boxes 3' apart to form walking aisles. Fill boxes with Mel's special soil mix: 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite. Make a permanent square foot grid for the top of each box. NEVER walk on your growing soil. Select something different for each square foot. Plant. Water. Harvest.

- build a box, fill with Mel's Mix, add a grid. THATS IT!

This sounds like a fun and easy way to garden. I will post pictures this spring when we make our square foot garden.

Put a little crunch in your day!

"Crunchy Fox"

Resources: www.squarefootgardening.com

GEEK ALERT! Widget Tutorial!

2010-02-02T09:55:00.000-05:00

Hiya foxes!!! So I'm the geeky fox....I haven't always been a geek but here lately I guess you could call me that! I LOVE LOVE LOVE designing things on my computer and want to learn more and more everyday!

So for all you bloggers out there I'm going to give you a little tuturial on how to make a copy/paste widget for YOUR super cool blog!!! The example of what I will be making is ----------------> over here at the top!

They look a little something like this..

+ the html code for easy copy/paste action on your blog!!! You can see more examples HERE on LA's Blog...

just scroll down and look on the bottom right hand side for her widgets!!!

p.s. LA is my geeky crush!!! She designs super cool things with her computer too!!!

So lets get started!!!

Step 1. Create an image! It can be a photo or logo or whatever you want!

You can use picnik.com or any photo editing program to make this!!!

Step 2: Upload your photo into photobucket.com

Step 3: Click EDIT picture

Step 4: Click RESIZE

Step 5: Resize your picture to the *preset SMALL 160x120* on the drop down menu

Step 6: Click APPLY

Step 7: Scroll down and click REPLACE ORIGINAL

Step 8: Scroll down and on the left side there are a few codes. Copy the DIRECT LINK and paste it to a word doc.

Step 9: Now COPY/PASTE this code into your word doc.

Step 10: Don't freak out at that alien language! It's your friend!!!

Step 11: type your website into the spaces between the " "

(ex." http://www.iheartsmilesblog.blogspot.com " ) you will do this TWO times!

Step 12: PASTE the DIRECT LINK from PHOTOBUCKET where it says

"PHOTOBUCKET DIRECT LINK"

( ex. " http://i933.photobucket.com/albums/ad175/dreamingtreestudio/mommafia-p003-2.jpg " )

Your FINAL HTML code should look something like this...

Step 13: Still with me??? Good!!! Almost done!!! Now go into blogger.com and click on customize.

Step 14: Add an HTML Gadget

Step 15: Paste the HTML code we have been working on and save.

Step 16: View your blog and check your NEW WIDGET OUT!

Now your faithful blog followers can snag that html code available at the bottom of your *new* widget and copy/past that into their blog!!! It will allow people to click on it and link DIRECTLY to your super cool blog!!!

I hope this was super easy for you! If you have ANY questions PULEEZ feel free to email me at iheartsmiles@ymail.com !!!!

Get your Geek On!!!

xoxo Desiree AKA GEEKY FOX!!!

DIY Photo Garland

2010-02-01T11:01:00.000-05:00

Anyone who has ever talked to me about crafting, walks away knowing one thing: I have a craft crush on this girl

I read her blog daily (sometimes twice a day)! I have gotten so much inspiration from her. So, today's crafty...like a fox idea comes right from Elsie, of course!

A few weeks ago, Elsie had some cute polaroid-like holiday decor ideas.

I added these to my favorites and knew I would be back to try them. Today was the perfect day! In the first photo, Elsie actually uses pictures from a Fuji Instax camera. It prints out little pictures that are very similar to polaroids. I don't have one of these cameras, so I decided to make my own polaroid-like photos! Here's what you need to get started:

Since I'm cutting letters out of my photos, I chose photos that were lit badly or blurry or duplicates. Next, you'll need to cut your cardstock and photos.

The cardstock needs to be 3.5" wide and 4" high. The photo should be 3"x3". Next, with your exacto knife, cut out your letter on the photo. I just freehanded mine, but you could trace your favorite font. I wanted mine to look a little funky! It helps if you do this on a self healing mat. That way you won't accidentally cut into your countertop or table!

Glue down your photo on your cardstock. Position it so that it resembles a polaroid.

That's all you need to make your "polaroids". I wanted to add a little extra touch to mine, so I just drew little dashes around the inside of the letter

Cute, huh?

When you get all your photos ready, you need to punch a couple of holes on each side of the photo. Take some yarn or some other kind of stringing material and slide your photos through.

Hang it up!

Ta-Dah!!!

I made this for the Geeky fox for her 1st craft show. I thought it turned out super cute!

I hope she loves it! :)

Have a great day!

DeAndra

POW!

2010-01-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

There are three important aspects to having FOXY hair: 1- a great cut by a fantastic stylist 2- fabulous color by a fantastic stylist (no box color! and if you are blessed with awesome natural color...ask about a glosser to add shine for up to 4 weeks) 3- the proper product for your personal hair type.

If you already have #s 1 and 2 and notice you are still having hair issues at home, maybe your product is to blame. Not everyone can use a pomade. You may want to leave out that leave-in. Here are this fox's basic rules for common hair issues:

If your hair is curly, you need moisture moisture moisture! My curly clients prefer a curl cream to a curl spray....less crunch. My personal faves are Bed Head Foxy Curls (foxy!) and Catwalk Curls Rock.

If your hair is straight and you like volume, you don't need much moisture...but you don't want to dry out your hair, either. L'Oreal Professional Volume Extreme is GREAT! It adds volume without drying out your hair as is common with volume shampoos. Need lift at the root? Joico Body Luxe Root Lift is fantastic! Spray at the root and round brush to new heights!

If you use a flat iron on a regular basis (hello, you everyday hotties), a thermal protectant is a MUST! Save your ends! Chi Iron Guard is great as it's not overly oily. Just spray on your ends as you section off an area to flat iron and you will notice smoothness and shine.

Speaking of shine, if you have thin OR thick hair and just need to add some gloss without adding the grease, Kenra shine spray will be your new BFF. It's a fine mist that fights frizz and fly-aways, and smells (get this) just like an orange julius (aahhh....) It's my official POW (Product Of the Week)

Always use as directed and remember: salon products are guaranteed only when sold in a salon. You invest in your hair with every trip to your stylist, so invest to stay stylin....LIKE A FOX!

Meet the Foxes!!!

2010-01-27T13:01:00.000-05:00

Who are we? Well, we are a group of woman... but mostly friends who want to share our talents with the world!!! We believe in doing things for ourselves, supporting each other, and mostly SHARING THE LOVE!!! Let us introduce ourselves!

Hi! I'm DeAndra...and I'm *Crafty Like A Fox*

I'm a blog stalker. It's a problem I have. Everyday I find new ideas and inspiration that keep my craft studio buzzing. I took the handmade pledge a year ago and never looked back. Got a birthday coming up? You better believe I'm going to make you something! I have a little shop called Pink Checkers Design. I'll be blogging about awesome craft tutorials and cool tips and tricks on how to unleash your inner crafter.

Hi! Im Desiree...and well..I'm *Geeky Like A Fox*

I like to blog, build websites, and create things on my PC! I have a little business called iheartsmiles and I make TONS of really cute things! I'm also a mom to a wild and crazy-fun little boy who is 1 year old! He keeps me on my toes! I love being a mommy and wife! I'll be blogging about cool things you can find online and techy geeky stuff!!!

Hi! Im Becca...and I'm *Crunchy Like A Fox*

I'm a pretty fun chick who loves to listen to good music and hang with cool people. I'm a wife and mommy. I run a cool blog called Handy Mother where I give awesome tips and tricks on how to add a little green to your life! I love cloth diapering, anything organic, making things,and keeping our earth the way it should be...GREEN! I'll be blogging about all things crunchy!

Hi! I'm SB and I'm *Savvy Like A Fox*

As my household's main "domestic engineer/goddess", mommy of three boys, and small business owner (Sarabee's Little Yarn Shop) I love to find great deals for my family. Be it a great way to save a few bucks on everyday must haves, a more efficient and time saving way of doing a daily task or a fabulous way to get organized... I'll share it here!

Hi! I'm Monica...and I'm *Stylin Like A Fox*

I am a master hairstylist in Winchester, KY. I am a graduate of Lexington Beauty College and work at Uniquely U Salon and have been doing hair for about 5 years. I have always loved playing with hair (dolls, friends....) and I love to find the latest trends as well as bring the past into the present! I have a love for the dramatic, and I guess that partly comes from my love of acting. I was a theatre major in college at Western Kentucky University, which was where I also got some hands-on up style training from formal dances with my Alpha Gamma Delta sisters! I LOVE: false lashes, black liquid eyeliner, red lipstick, razor cuts, chignons, peek-a-boo color, and classic glamour. I DISLOVE: no mascara, too much blush, aquanet, chipped nail polish, perms, and, of course, split ends.

Check back soon for our daily posts for our FAB FOXES!!!
Have a question for one of us? Awesome! email us at likeafoxblog@yahoo.com