Being an Introvert

 

 

 

What Exactly is an Introvert?

"Contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a shy person.  An introvert can be shy, but introversion is not shyness. 

An introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people." (About.com)

 

"Introverts make up 60% of the "gifted population", but only 25-40% of the general population." (About .com)

 

Merriam-Webster.com defines:

Introvert: to turn inward or in upon itself as;

1. to concentrate on or direct upon oneself

2. to produce psychological introversion

 

 

Using an article from the Huffington Post... I'll talk about my personal view on being an Introvert:

 

23 Signs that You are an Introvert

By: Carolyn Gregorie

 

 

1. You find small talk incredibly cumbersome.

 

* I truly can't stand small talk.  I feel like it's a waste of time and air and I get really annoyed by it.

 

2. You go to parties, but not to meet people.

 

*I only want to go to parties if I know someone that I want to spend time with is there.  Meeting new people is awesome when it happens, but that's never why I would go to a party.  Again, that involves small talk and idle chatter and I hate it.  So, if I go to your party filled with strangers, I'm more than likely going to be a wallflower.

 

3.You often feel alone in a crowd.

 

* Yes, Yes and Yes.  I can be surrounded at school and work with a large group of people and totally feel like I'm by myself.  Example: I like to go to coffee shops to read books, not to interact with people, but just to get out.  I'm relaxed and feel like I'm by myself in my own little world.

 

4. Networking makes you feel like a phony.

 

* I dated a guy who would go to events not to interact with friends, but he would go there with "networking" in mind.  I hate that!!!!  I like a lot of that to happen organically.  Yes, I do art shows and events like that, but for the most part I like to make stuff while I'm there and let people see what I do and meet people that way rather than just handing someone a business card and telling them to check out my stuff. 

At shows, if you asked my friends they would say, I make a "home" at these types of events.  I create a space that is comfortable for me so that when people do come around I don't feel like I've been put in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.

 

5.You've been called "too intense".

 

*I have been called this before... I am very analytical and also very passionate so that can come off as being too intense.   I'm especially like this when I do group projects because I'm very disciplined when it comes to making sure that whatever I work on is up to my standards, especially if my name is going to be on something.

 

6. You're easily distracted.

 

* Yes, this is true.  I am a creative person who has tons of ideas and things that I want to make happen.  I could be researching for one project and then go on a tangent with another idea and start taking notes on that, but I always come back to my original intent.

 

7. Downtime doesn't feel unproductive to you.

 

* I HAVE to have downtime.   I go to school and entertain clients all day and then I go to work in another service industry where I serve tables and interact with my co-workers.  I do this 4-5 days a week in a row and by then end of that time I am burnt out.  If I don't get a break I get stressed, overwhelmed and I even breakdown and cry sometimes.  On those special days when I do get time to myself, I treat myself by sleeping in, writing down ideas in my notebooks, spending time with my dog and getting stuff done around the house.

 

8. Giving a talk in front of 500 people is less stressful than having to mingle with those people afterwards.

 

*I used to hate public speaking, but now I would rather do that.  If I'm fully prepared for the talk that I'm giving, it won't really bother me as much as if I'm not prepared.  So when I have to do those sort of talks, I practice and practice and practice some more.  Interacting with the people afterwards, not my cup of tea.... there is a lot of hand shaking (I'm a bit of a germaphobe), small talking and that part is the most draining for me.  So, if I seem rude... I'm not trying to be.

 

9. When you get on the subway you sit at the outside.

 

* I don't like to feel trapped when I'm on public transportation.  I have to sit on the outside, close to the exit and I don't like to sit close to strangers. 

 

10. You start to break down after you've been active too long.

 

* This goes back to #7.... I've overdone it quite a few times before and the aftermath is not pretty.  I get snappy and irritable, sometimes I have panic attacks, and if it builds up too much then I'll break down and cry. (Selfish )  I've done full months where I'm constantly going and then have to take long periods where I just disappear off the face of the earth for most people.

 

11. You're in a relationship with an extrovert.

 

*My boyfriend will be an introvert at times, but he loves to have people around.  He comes from a big family and so that is very normal for him.  When we first started dating, we were always hanging out in groups with friends and that was totally out of the norm for me...  He might not think that he's an extrovert, but he is.

 

12. You'd rather be an expert at one thing than try to do everything.

 

* It might seem like I can and do everything, but in reality I see a connection to all of the things that I do.  I have a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting and Drawing, but I do a lot of printmaking, papermaking, sewing and more.  To me everything I do connects to making an idea turn into reality.... I can see things in my head and then I figure out the best way to make it come to life.  I have a love for knowledge and challenging things, so everything connects to something else....  It's all relative....

 

13. You actively avoid any shows that might involve audience participation.

 

* The best example of this for me is when you have your first day of class or a first group meeting and they make you stand up and tell everyone who you are and what you do and why you're here.....  I can't stand that...  Another one is when I took a Yoga class they made us partner up for some exercises and I was screaming on the inside the entire time....

 

14. You screen all of your calls... even from your friends.

 

* Yes I am very guilty of this.... but it goes all the way back to hating small talk.... I really hate talking on the phone.....  But, if you call and I don't answer and then you text me to call you, that lets me know that it's important and I'll call back immediately or if you leave me a voice message I'll more than likely call you back.... I also hate having a long conversation in text too..... So try not to get offended by it....

 

15. You notice details that others don't.

 

* I notice a lot..... People think that I'm too quiet sometimes, but really I'm observing, observing people, surroundings, and listening to what people are saying..... Same thing when I watch movies... I'll notice the makeup, costumes, things going on in the background while still listening and paying attention to the plot....  I notice little things too....

 

16. You have a constant inner monologue.

 

* That 40 minute drive to and from school is proof of this.....  I talk to myself all the way home.... not in a crazy way, but it's a way for me to work things out of my head and they say that you remember more of what You say out loud than if you keep it just rolling in your head....  If I have downtime at work.... things that are in the background in my head will come to the front.... so I try to stay busy until I leave.......

 

17. You have low blood pressure.

 

* High blood pressure and hypertension run in my family.....  Usually when I get mine checked I have the blood pressure of a dead person.....  I try to keep myself from being stressed and a lot of that is taken care of when I get that time to myself....

 

18. You've been called an "old soul" since before your 20's.

 

* Yes, I have always been told that I'm an old soul... from my taste in music, books, history, work ethic etc....  Previously, I had only dated men that were at least 9-10 years older than me....

 

19. You don't feel "high" from your surroundings.

 

* I get excited and "high" at the anticipation stage........  Like road trips.... but after being out and around so many people I'm totally drained.....

 

20. You look at the big picture.

 

* I learned growing up to focus on the solution vs. the problem.....  Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, those are what I focus on.....  with that said I look at things from a lot of different views instead of just one...... I hypothesize......

 

21.You've been told to "come out of your shell".

 

*I get told this at local concerts.... I love dancing and singing and all of those things, but I distracted by all of the people around me..... so letting go takes a bit of time.....

 

22. You are a writer.

 

* Part of the reason that I started blogging was so that I could get stuff out.... and blogging allows that on a bigger scale.... It's more public than internalizing in a journal.... and I get to talk without feeling like I'm boring the hell out of someone or taking up too much of their time.... 

 

23.  You alternate between phases of work, periods of social activity, and solitude.

 

* Yes Yes and Yes.... My brother can attest to this... he laughs and pokes fun at the fact that I'll have a period where I'll go out all of the time to do things and then turn into a "hermit". Like right now.... I've gone months without seeing friends and it's not that I don't want to or don't care about these people.... it's just that I need that down time from work, school, etc....

 

 

I watched this Awesome episode of TED that really hits on a lot of what I've just talked to you about.... I hope you Enjoy this....

 

 

TED: Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts

 

 

 

Heather

DIY: Book Nook and The Book Challenge.....

 

Bibliophile: a person who collects and has a great love for books.

(Merriam-Webster definition)

 

That definition would describe me for sure.... Ever since I was a little kid I have always loved to read.... Loved going to the library and then go home to curl up in bed and just escape for a few hours.... In College, I spent a lot of time in the library looking through all of the artists bios, philosophy books and so much more......

 

Recently, I decided that I would do the Rory Gilmore Reading List Book Challenge (Buzzfeed).... there are 339 books on this list.....and the mission to have all of these books on hand began....

 

I had a lot of books for the challenge in my collection already and luckily my boyfriend is a Bibliophile, just like me, so he had a few in his collection as well....

 

Friends began handing me some of the books on my list....

 

But, the real adventure came when my boyfriend and I hit the road....

 

First, we went to Memphis in May and while we were there we visited the most awesome New and Used Bookstore:

Burkes Books

The people there were amazing, friendly, and very helpful and the store was packed full of books... I spent $120 alone in that store, but I got a lot of books on my list.....

 

 

I've been stalking Goodwill stores and getting some awesome finds and more on my list.....

 

 

Any time my boyfriend and I take a day trip... I always want to hit up any used book stores......

 

 

 

The problem with having all of these books is where do you put them when you live in a 2 story walk up with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and a fully furnished living room.....

 

We did some spring cleaning about a month ago and came to the decision to turn one of the 3 walk-in closets, in the bedroom, into a mini library....

 

*First, we measured to see what size shelves that we could get away with....

 

*Next came the search for shelves to fit our space.....

We originally wanted to thrift some shelves, but we couldn't find any around to fit our need....so we caved and went to Walmart and bought 3, 3 shelf bookshelves.... and started stocking away....

 

 

 

Now we have a place to store most of our books and I have a place that I can shut the world out and dive into some awesome books....

*These are the books that I've read so far as part of my challenge....

 

 

 

Currently reading:

 

 

 

 

 



Detox Tea Recipe

 

I've been wanting to do a detox for a while.... to give me more energy, fight bloating, and help boost my metabolism.....

 

So I did a lot of research for different recipes and let me tell you there are ALOT.... and tweaked my own recipe using the typical ingredients in these detox drinks...... because a lot of them can be pretty strong.... and not very tasty....

 

*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, I am not claiming that this will heal you nor am I saying that this will work for you..... this is something that I've tried and that I actually like. *

 

 

 

*Detox Tea Recipe*

*Ingredients:

* Green Tea or Black Tea : 12-16oz

(I use Green Tea for the caffeine in the morning and Decaf Black Tea for the evening)

* Cinnamon: 1 Teaspoon

*Lemon Juice: 2 Tablespoons

*Apple Cider Vinegar: 2 Tablespoons

*Honey: Use desired amount to sweeten

 

*Directions:

1) Brew desired amount of tea:  I brew enough tea to fill a pitcher.

(for mine it was about 7-10 teabags)

 

2) Sweeten tea with honey and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

 

3) In 12-16oz glass or travel cup: Mix Apple Cider Vinegar, Lemon Juice and Cinnamon.

 

4) Mix in Tea and Ice

 

5) Enjoy

 

*Benefits:

(These are just a few for each ingredient)

 

*Apple Cider Vinegar: Improves Complexion, Boosts Immunity, Promotes Digestion, Balances pH in the body, Reduces Inflammation, Promotes Weightloss, Good for Constipation, Whitens Teeth, and deals with cramps.....

 

*Cinnamon: Regulates Blood Sugar, Helps with Heart Disease, Helps with Diabetes, Anti-bacterial & Anti-fungal, Improves Digestion....

 

*Lemons:  Helps with Constipation, Digestion, Anti-aging, Weightloss, Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Flushes Bacteria, Suppresses Appetite, Improves Skin.......

 

*Honey: Immunity Booster, Energy Booster, Anti-fungal, Full of Antioxidants, Helps with the growth of Beneficial Bacteria, Blood Pressure, Digestion, Blood Sugar.....

 

*Green Tea: Helps lower Cholesterol, Heart Disease, Helps Boost Metabolism, Diabetes, Body Circulation, Oral Health, Full of Antioxidants........

 

*Black Tea: Helps with Arteries, Blood Flow, Full of Antioxidants, Helps lower Cholesterol, Bone Health, Oral Health.....

 

 

I'm doing this for a 7 day detox to start....combining with healthy dieting and lots of fluids....Pilates and Yoga.....

 

I'll update with how it makes me feel by the end of the week.....

 

Heather

Summer Skin..... My Summer Skin Care Regimen

I always get asked what products that I use for my skincare regimen... So I thought I'd share what products that I'm currently using for the Summer...

 

(* This is my regimen for my skin type, I'm not telling you that these products will work for everyone, this is just what is working for me right now.*)

 

 

 Summertime in the South is unbelievably hot and humid, so what I would use daily in Fall/Winter is very different from my Summertime routine....

I've listed each product and the product descriptions on the packaging below... and why I love them....

 

My Daytime Regimen:

 

 

 

*Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish: Hot Cloth Cleanser:

*British Beauty Essential that works for every skin type and any age.  It's a rich cream cleanser that removes dirt, residue and makeup and some of my toughest mascaras.  It has naturally active ingredients that make the skin softer, smoother and moisturized without stripping the skin and causing it to be tight and dry.  Ingredients include: cocoa butter, rosemary, chamomile, hops and eucalyptus.

This product has 2 steps:

1) Cleanse: Massaging product onto dry skin and even over the entire face,including the eyes, and down the neck to stimulate circulation.

2) Polish: Use the Liz Earle Muslin Cloth soaked under hand hot water and polish the product off the face and splash with cool water.

 

I heard about this product from some of my favorite YouTube Beauty Gurus: Tanya Burr, Zoella, and the Pixiwoo ladies (Nic and Sam).  I received this product in one of my monthly Birchboxes and I fell in Love with it...

This product is my ultimate fave for facial cleansers.  I love that it's non-foaming and not abrasive or alkaline like a lot of cleansers on the market that can strip the skin of it's natural moisture barrier.

 

*Mario Badescu Skincare: Alpha Grapefruit Cleansing Lotion:

*This is a citrus-based toner: it refreshes and gently exfoliates leaving healthy looking skin that glows.  It has aloe that helps calm the skin and has Seeweed Extract that nourishes the skin with it's rich mineral content.

 

When I look for a toner I search for toners that are Alcohol Free.  A lot of toners on the market can strip the skin due to a high alcohol content and harsh fragrance additives.  I chose this one because I have combination/dry skin and at the time that I bought it I was getting a lot of treatment facials done on me, so I needed to find products that wouldn't over stimulate my skin. 

This toner smells so good and helps make my skin softer and radiant. 

I try to stay away from harsh exfoliants like scrubs or microderm kits and only use those once every few weeks because they can make your skin sun sensitive and cause hyperpigmentation of the face if overused.

 

*Mario Badescue Skincare: Hyaluronic Eye Cream:

*Hyaluronic Acid is a moisture magnets for the skin. Because of the lack of oil around my eyes, I have to hydrate that skin.  This help with dehydration around the eye as well as diminish fine lines around the eye area.

This product locks in moisture and helps with puffiness that I can get from lack of sleep.

 

I truly love this product because I see great results from it.  I use this before I put on my moisturizer.  This product also helps when apply makeup around the eyes and helps prevent dreadful creasing.

 

*Hawaiian Tropic : Silk Hydration Face Broad Spectrum SPF 30:

* This is a dual ribbon formula for moisturization and sun protection.  This product is Amazing!  It's light weight, has a matte finish and smells so good.  I rarely wear makeup during the day in the summer because it will just melt off in the heat and humidity. What I love the most about this product is that it's non-greasy, most sunscreens can leave a shine all over the face that looks greasy and this product gives a nice matte finish.  I get so many compliments on how great my skin looks when I use this product.  I wear it everyday and make sure that I reapply when needed.

 

 

* Daytime BodyCare Routine:

 

*Shea Moisture: Coconut & Hibiscus Foaming Milk and Body Wash w/ Gluten-Free Vitamin E : Firming and Toning

 

* Rich foaming milk cleanser gently cleanses, conditions and scents your skin with a blend of fresh, natural Cocount and Sweet Hibiscus Flower.

This product has:

 Coconut Oil: Nourishes and moisturizes skin with Vitamins E and K, iron and fatty acids.

Hibiscus Flower: Natural emollient that treats dry, rough skin and helps improve skin tone.

Vitamin E: A powerful antioxidant highly effective in protecting skin from free radical damage.

 

I am truly addicted to this brand of products.  They smell heavenly and they are cruelty free and free of parabens, phthalates, paraffin, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, PABA, synthetic color, DEA or sulfates.  All of these can strip the skin and mess with the pH balance.  I use this sometimes on its own or in combination with it's matching scrub.

 

*Shea Moisture: Coconut and Hibiscus: Hand and Body Scrub w/ Gluten-Free Vitamin E: Firming and Toning

 

*Nutrient-rich sugar scrub that exfoliates and tones with a blend of antioxidant Vitamin E, organic Coconut Oil, and Hibiscus Flowers.

 

After using my milk cleanser, I massage this all over my body with a focus on my elbows, knees and my feet. This gets all of the excess dead skin cells that can cause skin to look dry and flaky and that's just not cute when you wear sundresses or shorts out.

 

*Hawaiian Tropic: Sheer Touch Lotion Sunscreen: Ultra Radiance : Broad Spectrum SPF 30 : Protects, softens and Leaves Skin Radiant

 

*Light weight lotion that conditions, protects and luminizes skin.  It's infused with shea butter complex, and mango fruit extract.

 

I use this product immediately after I shower so that my skin will soak the product in.  It's so important to use sunscreen everyday and to apply it before sun exposure even on cloudy days.  It takes 21 days to create a habit and this is one of the best habits to build.... The skin is the largest organ of the body and it needs daily sun protection... I'm very fair skinned, so when I have too much sun exposure I freckle vs. tan or sometimes burn instead and I reapply as needed.

 

 

*HEMPZ Treats Delicious Body Lotion: Vanilla Crème Brulee and Sugar Lemon Squares

 

*Daily moisturizer enriched with Pure Natural Hemp Seed Oil that helps to provide long term moisturization.

 

This products has a blend of:

Natural Honey and Vanilla extracts: rich in antioxidants and skin conditioners for soft and smooth skin.

Natural Hemp Seed Oil: Helps to renew, nourish and rejuvenate the healthier younger looking skin.

 

This product is also:

Paraben Free

Gluten Free

Guilt Free

 

I've started to layer this over my sunscreen because sometimes I just want a different scent for the day then just my sunscreen.  These lotions make you smell like a delicious bakery without all of the guilt. 

 

When layering products you want to start from the leanest and finish with the richest.   

 

*Night Time Regimen:

 

I start with the same cleanser, toner and eyecream that I use during the day and finish off with my favorite night cream.

 

*Mario Badescu Skin Care: Chamomile Night Cream:

 

* Chamomile and Vitamin A are the active ingredients in this non-greasy night cream.  Wearing overnight causes the skin to feel silky, soft and even out the tone.

 

It's so important to use a more emollient cream at night because it infuses moisture into the skin that you can lose throughout the night and also helps heal the skin from the environmental damage and free radicals from the day.

 

* Night Time BodyCare:

 

 

During the summer time I shower at the most twice a day so, if I exfoliated during the morning shower then I will just use body wash instead of following with the scrub then I'll follow with my night time moisturizer.

 

*Shea Moisture: Raw Shea Butter Body Lotion w/ Frankincense & Myrrh, Coconut & Hibiscus Body Butter w/ Gluten-Free Vitamin E, and Olive and Green-Tea Body Butter w/ Avacado

 

* To say I just like this brand is an understatement.  I am truly addicted to it.  Each one of these lotions or butters are Amazing!!!   They smell incredible, are rich in texture, and really treat my skin.  I love hot showers (which by the way are not good for your skin, so I don't recommend this) and these really put all of the moisture back into my skin.  Each one infuses the skin with antioxidants, help treat dull skin, and protect from free radical damage.

 

 

These are just some of my favorite products for Summer at the moment and I have a lot more that I'm trying out as well....

 

Heather

 



Building a Pro Kit.....on a Budget...

 

 

 

 

Makeup Artistry, like any artform, requires special tools and products......

 

Building a pro-kit is not cheap, but it can be done on a budget.....

 

I've built one before when I first started doing makeup on clients last year, but now I'm starting over and it's that time again....

 

Tips:

*Research every product....Not all brushes are equal, not all brands are going to give you the same desired effect( Bridal, Special Events, HD, etc.), Sanitation products for all products are important and skincare that suits a lot of different skin types. It's crucial for you to be knowledgeable and make educated decisions vs. "This looks cool, I'll get it!"  (Sometimes this works out, but you waste a lot of money when it doesn't)

 

*Value Sets: These help you to get a lot of products at once, help you try many types of products and who doesn't love a good value..... Most companies have these types of sets....You can find them at Ulta, Sephora, and the Brand Sites themselves....

 

*Palettes vs. Singles:  Palettes are my favorite way to get more bang for my buck.... Palettes are better for travel because the packaging allows for better storage... Singles take up so much space, they are more likely to break when traveling vs. most palettes...

 

Examples: *Urban Decay Naked Palettes: Basic (has many of the matte colors you will need), 1,2,and 3 are perfect because they are versatile.

*BH Cosmetics has great deals on eyeshadow palettes, blush palettes, and even foundation palettes

*Coastal Scents, like BH Cosmetics, has similar products that are affordable and the pigment payoff is awesome.

 

*BOGO deals:  I've gotten great deals on my brushes this way.... Nice brushes can be expensive, but BOGO deals really help me out when building my kit....

Example:  Real Techniques Brushes come in singles or you can buy the starter sets.... Ulta is really great about having BOGO's that include the sets so you can save up to $20 or more...

 * You can also get great makeup products this way: Ulta, CVS, Walgreens.

 

 

*Utilize local beauty stores: I get the best deals on lashes for my kit this way.  Unlike the bigger stores like Sally's, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid the selection for lashes can be somewhat limited.  I recently shopped at a local store and got great deals on 100% human hair lashes, both strips and individuals.  They also tend to keep specialty lashes like the Kiss Lash Dress( seen in the pic) on hand.

 

*Check the Clearance:  Beauty stores always have a clearance section.  Certain styles of lashes go out of season (Halloween) or Collections get discontinued or Makeup gets Repackaged.   I recently went to Sally's and found the Cirque de Soleil Collection on sale for less than $2 and I know they are extreme, but to have on hand for conceptual makeups they are awesome.

 

 

 

*Outlet Stores: TJ Maxx is one of those stores that I tend to have decent luck finding tools.  I've found so many great brands of brushes, beauty blenders there and sometimes you'll find eyeshadow palettes from brands like E.L.F. that are great for practice.

 

 

 *Disposable: For sanitary purposes for your kit you will need disposable lip wands, sponges, mascara wands and the like....

 

And after the Adventures to find all of the basic pieces to your kit....

 

 

You'll have set up tables that look like this....

 

I hope these tips are helpful to you...

 

Heather

 

Saying Goodbye to a Huge Influence in My Life....

 

 

One of the biggest influences of my life was my Uncle Donzer...

He was a self taught artist: painting, drawing, sewing/quilting(he wouldn't admit that last one, but he did that too) and a well respected photographer....

 

He used to take me to the Albany Herald, where he worked, when I was little and I thought he was a magician when he disappeared through the revolving door for the dark room...

 

He used take me on assignment with him when he had an idea for a picture for the paper and he used me a lot for fun side shoots.... I loved it...

 

 

I can remember drawing all of the time when I was younger and the biggest memory of that is when I asked Uncle Donzer how to draw....

 

He handed me this:

 

 

He said.... If you can draw this... than you can draw anything....

 

He later gave me some of his drawing books that he used when he was younger to help him draw...

 

 

and

 

 

When I was 9 he gave me my first real artist tackle box and in it, it had:

 

*Rapidograph Pens

*India Ink

*Palettes

*Charcoal (stick and vine)

*Blending Sticks

*Graphite

*Moldable Erasers

*Newprint Pad

*Watercolor brush

 

We sat and talked about what each thing was for and he showed me techniques for ink washes and he left me amazed at all of the possibilities....

 

I was so scared to use some of the nicer tools inside for fear of ruining them.... that is until I went College and entered into a Fine Arts program....

I used all of those tools in my classes... the 100 hour pen and ink project, the graphite and white enamel project and so many more....

 

I still carry this tackle box with me to every arts show, festival, event that I go to....

 

When I took a photography class he gave me an amazing set of books for Christmas that I still love to look through:

 

(this is just one of the many of the set that he gave me)

 

He has been the biggest artist influence of my life.... I owe so much to this man.... He

nurtured my creativity and taught me to see things that no one else could see...

 

He had the ability to see incredible possibilities in ordinary things and I'm grateful to have inherited that....

 

I'll miss you more than I ever let you know....

 

Bye Donzer

 

Heather

 

 

 

 



Dirt Therapy: DIY Hanging Herb Garden

I've been so busy with school and work lately and I needed something to do or create that would get my mind off of all the things bogging me down.  I'm always inside during the week whether it be at school, then work, then at home and I don't really get to enjoy being outside.  I remembered that a  friend of mine is always talking about how relaxing it is for her to get out in the yard and get down with some "dirt therapy", so I thought I'd try that.
 

My boyfriend and had been talking about making a herb garden for a while, but living in a 2nd story walk up makes that just a little tricky, there's no backyard, there's no real porch for a box garden either. 

So, we did the next best thing.... We repurposed a  canvas shoe organizer to hang over the terrace....

 

Supplies:

* Repurposed Canvas Shoe Organizer

*Eyelet Punch

*Large Eyelets

*Zip Ties( you can use hooks in place of these, but these were the best for our project)

*Gardening Soil - (you can use compost instead, but we just purchased soil from the hardware store)

* Assortment of Herbs / Peppers

(Make sure that you read the labels on the herbs to know about how much sun/shade each plant needs before purchasing)

 

 

 

1) When choosing the shoe organizer: you want to test the drainage of the fabric.  You want to pour water through to see how fast the water drips through.  Just to be on the safe side... I used the eyelet punch to put some small drainage holes in the bottom of each section.

 

2) For the eyelet placement, I just placed two eyelets per section about 2 inches apart and 1-2 inches from the top of each section....  You have to take into account how much weight is going to be on the fabric with the soil, plant, and water.

 

3) When hanging... make sure that you've secured it well and that the weight will be distributed equally. 

 

4) We just layered soil and mixed with water as we went and placed each plant in the desired pockets based on how much sun and shade they need.

 

 

We planted Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, German Thyme, Spearmint, Sweet Mint, Parsley, Basil and also pot planted Habanero peppers and Jalapeno peppers....

 

Here is the progress a week later:

 

*Lavender

*Sage

*Rosemary

*German Thyme

*Spearmint

 

*Sweet Mint

*Parsley

*Basil

*Habanero Peppers

*Jalapeno Peppers

 

 We're already seeing new blooms :)

 

"Dirt Therapy" truly does work. 

 It lowered my stress and I get to watch the progress of these "garden babies".

 

There is no telling what I might use some of the herbs for, but I have a few ideas:

*Cooking

* Soap Making

* Lotions

 

Heather