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the story of stuff project

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Wednesday, June 08, 2011 by

I've been following the Story of Stuff Project, which has been really eye opening about various products and the means of their production.  I like to think that I am fairly aware of what is going on in our world, and my family and myself are passionate recyclers and believers in protecting the Earth the best we can.  


The Story of Stuff Project is a series of videos that explain all the damaging effects that our "stuff" has on our planet.  In particular, the Story of Stuff video on cosmetics has intrigued me.




It scares me to think of all of the unnatural, and hazardous materials that are going into products that are not only sitting on, but seeping in our skin.  It can be overwhelming in the cosmetic and hair product isle's in stores, especially when we're faced with ingredients that we don't even understand.  My husband is a biologist and luckily he understands a lot of the scientific terms of the ingredients, but it worries me when he cannot even tell what they are!  We all have products that we turn to, whether it's because they work well for us, or because the price tag is right!  Even the natural ingredients on labels can be in their scientific terms, so how can we tell which to trust!?


There is a great website, EWG's Skin Deep, which lists more that 65,000 products for you to search, and will tell you the health concerns for the ingredients like the overall hazard, cancer, developmental & reproductive toxicity, allergies & immunotoxity, and use restrictions, as well as telling you the overall score of risk.  Products range from Makeup, Nails, Fragrance, etc. including baby and kid's products.


Get involved in The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, get informed, and even get crafty with some easy DIY recipes for makeup, shampoo, deodarant, etc.


Help save our planet and your health!


-A

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i dream in wainscoting...

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Monday, June 06, 2011 by

We were really lucky when we bought our house 2 years ago that it was neutrally painted and decorated, and that the main rooms like the kitchen, halls, living room, and loft family room were all painted for us.  Beyond that, it came with amazing blinds in each room (that all have a lifetime warranty, which was a bonus), hardwood floors, ceramic tiles, crown molding, and pot lights (inside and out)!  Now that we've been here for 2 years, and as much as I love our house, I am hankering for a change.  Maybe it's because I didn't pick the colours myself, and it was always easier to not paint them and keep them the way they were, but I really feel the need for a change.  Our main floor entrance way and living/dining room is this golden yellow colour, which is quite beautiful, but just not my style anymore.

For a while now, I've been dreaming of wainscoting.  It would brighten up the room really well, and make it a titch more girly (and by no means am I a girly-girl, but I need some more white in this house (besides just in our master bedroom and daughter's room!).  I've been dreaming of painting the walls a grey, with a crisp white wainscoting below.
Namely, I am loving Benjamin Moore's Smoke.  The hints of blue underneath the grey makes it such a gorgeous colour.
Benjamin Moore Smoke 2122-40
 I can picture making curtains with a bold floral fabric like an Amy Butler or Annette Tatum, or stenciling and painting some of my own.
Look at these beautiful painted curtains, see on PBJ Stories. Pamela has also posted an awesome tutorial.
"Floral Garden Sea" by Annette Tatum
"Temple Tulip Azure" by Amy Butler
Wouldn't these fabrics make for beautiful cushion covers?!  Oh how a girl can dream! My only fear is where would the wainscoting end!  I wouldn't want it to go into our kitchen, and would have to make sure that the grey paint would match with the deeper golden yellow in our kitchen.  But regardless, our house needs to be lightened up, and I think wainscoting is juuuuust the way to do it!


There are SO many different types of wainscoting out there. Here is a great link outlining just some of the different types.  The easiest and most inexpensive way (since you do not need to removed your baseboards), would be the paint and squared trim way, as seen here in this great how-to-video.


Enjoy your adventures (or dreaming) in wainscoting!


-A

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welcome to norelle & co.

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Friday, June 03, 2011 by

Today is the day I've started my blog.  I've been toying with the idea of creating this blog for a while now, even having the name picked out for some time.  I often thought to myself, "who would want to read a blog about a stay at home mom, and all the things she loves in life?".  At last, I've caved in the hopes that there is someone out there who will have the same passions and interests as myself! 


I am currently a stay at home mom to my beautiful, newly turned 3 year old daughter Norelle Ainsley (hence the blog name).  I have just finished my Undergraduate Degree at University, and will be graduating on June 13th.  I will be starting my Masters in Teacher Education this upcoming fall, so that I can become a high school History and English teacher.  


In my down time, I love scouring the internet for music, fashion and art I love, and dreaming of all the low budget and crafty makeovers I could do in my home.  I am interested in finding new ways to help save and preserve our planet, and this is something I plan on instilling in my daughter.  I hope that you enjoy exploring the world around me, and maybe we can even teach each other something new!


-A

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we all have places go to, things to do, and people to see. i am a mom, a forever student, a soon-to-be teacher, an earth sympathizer, and a want-to-be do it yourselfer. this is the way i see life, with all the things i love about it.