My Grandma!

Cheers to my lovely Grandma who turned 103 on December 5!  She is AMAZING!!!

Weekly Etsy Finds!

Today on Etsy, I am loving:

Vintage Morning After Rocks Glasses by babylonsisters

What a hoot!

Vintage Silverware Garden Marker by monkeysalwayslook

Would look great on a kitchen windowsill with fresh herbs!

Cuckoo Clock by decoylab

I've wanted a cuckoo clock at LaNa for sometime...could this be it?!

And, you've just got to love this video!   I think Hannah's place is super cute and wacky!  Can you imagine the dusting of all those knick knacks??  Like Hannah, I love to go to vintage shops to relax...something about it just clears my mind and puts a smile on my face!

Have a great weekend!

A wamer LaNa!

The cold weather is here and that means chilly temps inside LaNa! Unfortunately, it seems that there isn't much insulation in between our walls!!

Therefore, yesterday I took advantage of DTE's December special on energy audits. A representative came out to let us know what areas we could improve to lower our heating costs and also where we could get some tax credits.

Knowing what needed to be done already, I also had someone come and blow R 49 cellulouse insulation into the attic yesterday! Cellulouse insulation is made with recycled newspaper and is a wonderful green alternative. With the tax credit, I'm only paying half the costs out of pocket!!! Yippie!

And, what a HUGE difference! One night with more insulation in the attic has helped to take the chill off!

Included with my FREE energy audit was a programmable thermostat, five compact fluorescent lightbulbs, a low-flow shower head, insulation for the water pipes, and three faucet aerator's!! No charge AND they installed everything for us!! What a bargain!

Next up - new Wallside Windows before the end of the year on the second level. And with that...another tax credit! Yahoo!

More uses for wodka!

diy Network has highlighted vodka as a cleaner around the house...check out their tips!

Weekly Etsy Finds!

I spy with my little eye...these fantastic items on Etsy!  Just in time for the holidays!!

"Ties that Don't  Suck!"  Detroit Watertowers silkscreened necktie by Cyberoptix Tie Lab.  Awesome designs!!

Hot Pink Cardinal on Agapanthus Retangle Pillow by Joom. 

This would look great in my niece's new PINK bedroom!

Sterling Silver Hugs and Kisses xo Pendant Necklace by
Christina Kober Designs.  Love it!! xo

if you heart LaNa...

Thank you to all of you who check my blog regularly! If you love LaNa, please become one of my followers!

Cheers!

Monday Etsy Finds!

Baby Onesie by my friends at Fuzzy Baby Designs.

Sketchbook Ivory Pillow Cover by Nestables -
I could see this on my bed at LaNa!

Red Cone Dog by Pink Baby Mouse - LOVE it!

Birch Forest No. 8 Print by San Francisco's Lisa Congdon.
Birch trees remind me of my paternal grandparents...

Fall at LaNa!

Just celebrated my 39th birthday - Prom Style!

With my grandma who is almost 103!

Her birthday toast was the highlight of my day!

With my lovely Mom...

Pretty flowers from BF....

Wodka's many uses!

Many of my friends and family laugh when I tell them that I use vodka to clean my shower...maybe it's that they're under the impression I'm wasting the good stuff??

No fear, I actually use the cheap stuff in a spray bottle to clean soap scum and mildew from the shower. I swear it works!!! And, it appears many others also believe in vodka as a cleaning agent:

Apartment Therapy - 12 Best Household Uses for Vodka

Cleaning and Disinfecting with Vodka - via Squidoo

*Linnea - don't you wish we had known about this before you cleaned that chandelier of mine on 9th Ave piece-by-piece!!!

**Sam - your Great Grandma would have loved this! Or, maybe she was ahead of the game and started the craze!!!

Great garden idea!

What a wonderful idea for a garden!

Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

LaNa's Green Tip of the Week

Green Your Kitchen Space - from marthastewart.com

"Unclog Your Sink Naturally
As is, baking soda won't necessarily clear a pathway. It first needs to change its chemical composition. Don't worry, it sounds more complicated than it actually is. Boiling water converts baking soda to sodium carbonate, a more effective drain cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water, and let science take over. It's a much safer choice than commercial drain cleaners, which can harm skin, eyes, lungs, and the water supply."

Happy Cleaning!

LaNa eating local!

My edible garden is going strong!!

Tomatoes a plenty!

Squash blossoms!

Raised bed (and some crazy weeds in the background!)

Kale, bibb lettuce, and red leaf lettuce! My first cucumber!!

Squash!

Yummy Kale!

Prepping Kale Puttanesca!

Yum!!!

Caprese salad w/basil from LaNa!

My trip to DC...

I recently traveled to the east coast for some work events and stayed in a fun, hip hotel in DC - Donovan House.

The pics don't do it justice...it was very swanky and in a convenient location.

the shower...

Cool Vertical Gardens!

Check out these great vertical gardens from Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco...cool!!

Hens & Chicks immediately take me back to my childhood...they were faves of mine and my sisters.

Today's my Friday!

I'm so looking forward to the L-O-N-G weekend! I've got a laundry list of things to do around LaNa and will post updates as tasks are completed. Stay tuned...

My paternal grandparents - Hazel & Dan - posted just for fun!