Skin Deep App is Out!

You guys!!

I have been waiting for this moment for over a year. Skin Deep Cosmetics Database (the search engine I've blogged about in the past where you can look up your personal care products to determine their health impacts/risks) finally just came out with an app (for both Iphone & Android).

....and the best part is....it has the barcode scanning option too!

SKIN DEEP APP (obtainable by clicking)

This evening I stood in the aisles of Freddie's trying to decide which shampoo is best or if what I regularly use is really the safest available in that store. I decided to look it up just using the website and woohoo they announced the app was available. I literally scanned every "natural" shampoo on the shelf...and determined that what I use is the safest that is carried--woo!

But seriously PLEASE download the app and check it out for yourself...

Home Tour 2014

So I still have the occasional home project that I want to complete (like adding a saying or patterned insert to the short burlap "curtain" I hung in the kitchen window) but for the most part, when I look around my home I feel comfortable and that the final touches that have been completed to it are completely representative of how I want home to be. While there might be the occasional movement of furniture within the rooms (and should M relocate then I'll need to secure an extra guest bed for the front bedroom), the home finally feels completed. I realized in reviewing past blog posts that I haven't posted any updates of how the home currently looks so thought I'd add some pictures here:

LIVING ROOM (viewed from the front entry):

although it may just as easily return to this lay-out: 

The Den (off the kitchen):

(furniture rotated and TV came in this space as it can be shut off from the rest of the house)

The Eating Area: 

Kitchen (viewed from the den looking toward the rest of the house):

Guest/Furnished Rental Room: 

(Eventually I might like to find a used silver metal bedframe for this space.)

My Master Bedroom: 

Love, Love, Love this finally completed space.

Of course, in the back of my mind I have LOTS of grand ideas for how to upgrade the actual spaces if it was a purchased home and not a rental (wood floors, tiled kitchen, rotate kitchen, darken kitchen cabinets and upgrade counter tops to concrete or recycled glass, redo bathrooms, upgrade windows, stain fireplace & add a mantel/built-ins, remove gas stove in den, add external vent to kitchen, create "open" concept), but I've seriously come to love the easy comfort the dogs and I have created in the space. The house is now a home that is every bit representative of who I am and how I want to view the world: full of light, soothing beachy colors, bits of texture and pattern, international components, simply furnished, functionally organized, inspiring art and wall hangings, mixes of old, organic, used, and newer elements, but most of all, well loved and lived-in.

Feb's Oregon Outdoor Beauty Weekend

This particular weekend is one of those perfect Oregon outdoor advertisements. The opportunity to easily access so many outdoor options within hours of each other is one of Oregon's greatest marketing features.

16 mile Storey Burn & University Falls Loops:

Dogs exploring a random waterfall/creek run-off crossing the trail

Sunbeams through the woods on a beautiful section of trail

An open view of the forest & hills in the distance

Crossing under the highway overpass

A change in the terrain and creek run-off

Crossing the Tillamook River

The dogs & I at University Falls

Pictures of the maps to help guide me

The Storey Burn Loop was a trail outing I had been wanting to cover for a month or two and finally was able to arrange time to conquer toward the end of February. I felt good toward the end of the loop, so I decided to cover more mileage and tack on the University Falls Loop I had done before. I hadn't been able to sleep much the last few days prior to this so I felt like pushing myself to exertion would encourage my body to sleep (plus I also wanted to see if I would feasibly be able to make the 30 mile hike the next weekend). The Storey Burn Trail was absolutely gorgeous this time of year and University Falls was even more swollen than usual. Although not as picturesque as the Gorge, the Storey Burn trail would be a great one to take out of town visitors on.

After the hike, I decided to change clothes and since we were 35 minutes from the beach and my heart had been craving my home environment for weeks, I decided to drive the dogs and I over for sunset and a bit of a beach stroll. Sometimes I just crave an extra dose of spontaneity and its nice to indulge it as well. Luckily I was able to raise my body core back up (which tends to be a problem post work-out and leaves my extremities white and numb thanks to Raynaud's! :)), I looked up the closest beach access, found a tiny market deli where I could purchase some calories (chicken salad sandwich and a PBR!), and navigated the dogs and I onto the sand. My legs were still in tact to manage a bit of a stroll down the beach, so I scarfed down the sandwich and let the dogs roam as we strolled, before settling in on a log to take it the amazing views before me:

Seriously an amazingly fulfilling day!

Twin Lakes Snowshoe Loop

Not to be outdone by the day before, I decided to head up to the mountain on Sunday to get some snowshoe mileage in. I still hadn't slept well but after stretching out my calves, my legs felt good enough to get in another outing. We'd finally been having some good snow and the day was to be sunny as well. This trail is one I have done many times before but the other trail heads I tried were incredibly full and always make me nervous as to how many dogs I'm going to have to navigate Roxi by :)

The day was seriously beautiful, the dogs couldn't believe their good fortune at trail, sand, and snow all in one weekend, and the snow was set enough that I actually only put my snowshoes on once I hit the powder on the backside of upper Twin Lake (about 3-4 miles in).

Lower Twin Lake

Upper Twin Lake w Mt Hood peaking

Drenched from the snow melt crashing from the trees above trail and knee deep in snow in stretches of the back side :)

Seriously an amazing weekend full of Oregon outdoor beauty and adventure, happy outdoor smiles, and  finally sleeping like a baby on Sunday!