June 2015 archive
Free Stock Image Trial for DIYs (& a Giveaway)
I love designing with graphics, but I don’t always have the skills to make what I want from scratch. I found a wonderful compromise: a stock image site that lets me download images and designs, which I can then customize in any editing program. I took advantage of my week-long free trial to make this midsummer party decoration. The circle of flowers was too perfect, reminiscent of Kirsten Larson the American Girl doll and the midsummer flower crowns at the American Swedish Institute.
I printed it out and made a tag to attach to a bouquet of daisies and peonies.
Here’s what I like so far about the free stock image trial
You can save your favorite images to your “project bin” and find them later for easy downloading. GraphicStock has a great range of photographs, graphics and design elements so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. The 7-day trial gives you full access to download away!
In addition to plenty of stock photos that would be perfect for using on my blog posts, GraphicStock offers design graphics that are perfect for scrap booking, card making, invitations and wedding DIYs. The interface is easy to use to search by category.
How to get started using stock images
Try it: Check out the free 7-day trial. Once you download the images they are yours to keep. Download up to 20 images a day over 25,000 images. Just be sure to cancel so you don’t get charged if you decide not to continue with GraphicStock-set a reminder for yourself!
Buy it: Ready to get started right away? GraphicStock has a limited time deal: $99 for a whole year ($588 value-85% off).
Win it: GraphicStock is giving away a one year subscription to one lucky reader. Enter this easy giveaway below.
One Year Membership Giveaway
This is a comment only giveaway. To enter:
1. Click here
2. Let me know in the comments below what project you’d use GraphicStock images for!
Many thanks to GraphicStock for sponsoring today’s post on the free stock image trial and inspiring me to create my own midsummer party DIY.
Men’s Beard Care Products Reviews
Sometimes I write posts for the guys, for which I often need a little help from friends. Two of them helped on this post by doing beard care products reviews and sharing their opinions with us on The Pink Paperdoll. Would these make good gift ideas for the man in your life? Let’s see what they say!
Beard Care Products Reviews
My first reviewer, Jeff, describes himself as a down-to-earth guy who works in the healthcare field. Since he lives and works in small-town MN, a region rife with Lumbersexuals, he has perfect credentials for reviewing facial hair care products. Personally though, he says he “stays away from a big beard in favor of keeping a ‘stache that’s neat and trim.” Can’t scare the patients at the acupuncture clinic!
Mustache Wax
Jeff says: “Right after opening the mustache wax I loved the scent. Subtle, yet definitively masculine. Because I have to keep my mustache kind of short for work, I wasn’t able to do much outside of a curl at the very edge, but the hold was great. Regardless, I received a number of compliments for it from the ladies I work with. I would get this again, and I would recommend this to any man who wants to spice things up with a stylin’ ‘stache.”
Premium Beard Oil & Conditioner
Next we’ll hear from Ben, a medical professional from Texas, about the Beardsmen Spirit Beard Oil. Here’s what he has to say about it:
“Beardsmen Spirit Beard Oil is potentially life changing for some men. To give you some context, I hated the idea of putting an oil on my face because I used to struggle with acne. I also only occasionally grow a beard which has its own challenges, largest among which is the itching. This beard oil not only is effective at almost alleviating the itching, it also does not cause acne and smells amazing. The only struggle is needing to wash my hands after I apply the oil, but I’m no longer constantly scratching or shaving down the beard because it gets too itchy. Although my mom hates the longer beards [blogger’s note: me too], I continue to enjoy the constant face warmer that’s just getting more fun the longer it gets. I don’t have an incredibly long or thick beard, but it feels more substantial and comfortable with the oil vs. without. Get ready to enjoy your beard more with this product!”
Thanks to my reviewers for helping with this beard care products reviews post and Beardsmen Spirit for gifting review samples to them.
What do you love (or hate) about facial hair? Let’s share in the comments!
Scalloped Skirts and Art Museums
Scalloping Along
Scalloped skirts
There’s something inherently lovely about the hem of scalloped skirts. For an afternoon at an art museum, let bright colors on their palette of white and navy inspire you!
Outfit Details
These Oka.b sandals are reminiscent of the much-loved jellies of the 80s. I got these for a casual summer wedding and they have been comfortable enough to wear again and again. They’re made in America and are recyclable! Full outfit links are below.
Skirt: Lilly Pulitzer (Similar) / Top: Lilly Pulitzer V-Neck / Shoes: Oka.b Jasmine Slides
What art museums or shows are you looking forward to seeing this summer? I highly recommend checking out Italian Style if the show is coming to your area!
My first yoga class experience
Shockingly, even though I blog about crunchy topics like organic clothing and upcycling and I own approximately 1,278 pairs of yoga pants, I do not do yoga. Or at least I didn’t, until I got a month-long ClassPass membership that gave me access to different fitness classes around the city. I decided I should take the opportunity to try a yoga class, so with a borrowed yoga mat in tow, I showed up at Heat Yoga studio. The class I tried was actually a very calm, non-heated class. I wanted to start slow.
The poses were pretty easy and didn’t require intense stretching or crazy flexibility. Sometimes I got confused about when I was supposed to exhale and when I was supposed to inhale. Who knew breathing could take so much concentration? I left my first yoga class experience feeling relaxed, energized and ready to sign up for another class.
Here’s what I learned about what to know before your first yoga class experience.
10 tips for your first yoga class experience
1. Bring water! It’s important to hydrate after any workout, including yoga. My glass water bottle goes with me basically everywhere, so that’s what I brought my 16 oz. of water in. Most studios will have places to fill your bottle up, too.
2. Introduce yourself to the instructor so he or she knows it’s your first class.
3. Don’t be afraid to join the front row. You’ll be able to see and hear better, and there’s no rule that newbies have to hang out at the back of the room!
4. Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is at a different place in their fitness journey. Focus on you! I guarantee that everyone in the class is there to snag an hour out of their busy schedule for themselves and is not there to judge anyone else.
5. Be prepared to learn a new language. Savasana and Prana were two words used a lot in the class I took. The instructor should explain new words, so don’t panic that you don’t speak yoga (or Sanskrit, more accurately).
6. What to wear? I wore cropped yoga pants and a racerback tank top. Wear something that you won’t have to think or worry about, so you can concentrate on the poses. There’s no need to buy a cute new yoga outfit unless you really want to. The class I attended was all women of varying ages, the lights were dim, and absolutely no one cared what anyone else was wearing.
7. Other things to bring with you might include a yoga mat and a towel. Check with the studio to see what they provide and what you should bring with you to class.
8. Be prepared to leave your boots or shoes outside the classroom. Yoga is practiced barefoot.
9. Turn off your cell phone, or better yet leave it outside the room in a locker. Yoga is a quiet time for focus, concentration and quietude. It feels amazing to unplug from distractions for an hour. You won’t miss your phone, trust me.
10. No matter how you think it went, congratulate yourself for trying something new. It isn’t always easy to find the time and motivation to add something into your schedule. It’s an accomplishment!I know for a fact that many readers are way more experienced with yoga than I am, so what is your best advice for newbies?
Namaste!
Check out Classpass with my affiliate link to find out about unlimited classes in your area!
