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Anna Kristina
Interests: music, dancing, reading, writing, photography, god, ian, especially with ian
Recent Activity
My husband and I are slowly working on updating our bedroom, and a rug is on our list!
a {giveaway} with coco carpets...(now closed)
My recent bedroom makeover included this beautiful vintage rug from Coco Carpets. It's an authentic Berber Moroccan rug that has a timeless quality with a pop of color that I just love. And because I love you...my loyal readers so much, I want you to have one, too! So today, we've partnered wi...
We just purchased a home 7 months ago. We're slowly working on the spaces to make it ours, and some extra free time would help us get there a little faster!
a {giveaway} with instacart...(NOW CLOSED)
As a working mom of two, I feel like I have less and less time to get stuff done every day. I've talked before about using delivery services, apps, and other tools help make your life a little easier. Grocery delivery is one of those modern day conveniences that has made my life SO much easier...
I'd do the Mr. Cone for him and the Turbot for me!
a duo of aprons {giveaway}...(NOW CLOSED)
With the holidays fast approaching and thoughts of making and baking our favorite treats for loved ones set in, we have a fun giveaway with Hedley & Bennett today for a duo of their amazing aprons. A mix of modern and timeless, these are our go-to aprons (you'll see plenty of big-time chefs ro...
Ditto on the makeup!!
And deodorant is a hard one. After a lot of trial and even more error, I discovered Soapwalla deodorant via Follain (http://shopfollain.com/), then switched to Meow Meow Tweet baking soda free deodorant cream also at Follain and haven't looked back (my husband uses the Soapwalla one now). Bonus, no more gross antiperspirant buildup in our clothes.
I've tweaked a few other things since I blogged about the products I use (http://annakristina28.blogspot.com/2014/04/living-green-search-for-greener.html), but the next category to solve for me is shampoo/conditioner. My hair is SO LONG so I go through products faster (making cost a big issue) and I have dry scalp + dandruff issues. I have to remind myself I did eventually find an amazing deodorant, and a face routine that has made worlds of difference without a scary prescription, so it's only a matter of time before I figure out hair care. :)
final green skincare post.
Over the years I have shared many a post about "green skincare." (The most recent was March 2014.) I've spent the last four years intentionally and unintentionally narrowing down the amount of product I use on my skin. Originally this came from realizing some of the harmful chemicals we slathe...
I'd probably pick Wave or Tulum, but they are all so beautiful!
a framed photograph {giveaway}...(now closed)
One of my favorite photographers and good friend, Max Wanger, sees in a way that I can't even explain. I'm always blown away by his eye and how he captures images on a camera. Today, we have a very special giveaway, and Max is giving away a large framed print (a $700 retail value) to one lucky...
I've loved all of Tana French's books! (I'm so excited for the next one when it comes out.) And thanks for sharing that Maroon 5 video! I loved it! Hooray for surprises!
april : currently
coming home after a long beautiful weekend in Chicago with my girls. loving my new favorite photo of Ellerie with her globe. enjoying my first tea latte! so excellent. feeling happy about the final version of GTWB ... that double cover and slightly larger coils made all the difference. finishi...
You're not alone! I didn't know about the California Taxis v. Uber lawsuit, but I know it's a discussion here in Boston too. And it fits so well with that quote from Maker's Summit!! What drives me nuts is that taxi companies are just complaining and trying to stop Uber/Lyft. I wish they would look at why people are making that decision and then innovate their own businesses to compete.
When I take a cab, I'm often hassled for not paying in cash, and I've been lied to in an effort to get me to pay more. We asked one Uber driver if he liked his job, and he said he used to drive a cab, but with Uber he's working less for more money and was able to start pursuing his education. I know Uber and Lyft aren't perfect, but taxis could learn a lesson that would benefit customers and maybe also drivers, if they'd focus on improving their own businesses instead of trying to stop someone else's.
weekend links / 58.
I love the Internet. This is some of the rad stuff I found last week... whenever I share this (super easy!) soup on Instagram I get lots of requests for the recipe. wooden letters at Target! anyone else find themselves wrapped up in the Uber vs. Taxi drama? no? just me? the Aether Cone must ha...
That blanket is beautiful! I've been reading for years... I can't remember when/how I found it, so it feels like I've know about your blog about as long as I've been reading blogs! I don't think I can pick a favorite 2014 post, because I'm always happy to see your posts show up in my Feedly. BUT, your Chemex post, where you mentioned weighing the beans, made me a hero when I bought a kitchen scale as a birthday present for my coffee-fanatic husband!
the 30th knit blanket
Last year, while I was knitting my 29 blankets, I knitted one extra (I think it was number 19). I didn't have enough of two yarns colors at the house and I was wanting to knit so I just started adding scrap yarn together. Of course, then I ran out of scrap yarn and had to go buy more to actual...
Pretty! I'd wear it to work!
a winter carry-all {giveaway}…(now closed)
I love classic bags that can be used for a ton of different outfits. So today we've partnered with Lo & Son's (who are known for their awesome travel bags) to give away this Pearl Crossbody Bag (a total retail of $248) to one lucky reader. The strap is adjustable and convertible so that you ca...
I love the waffle turtleneck!
a striped fall {giveaway} with hatch...(now closed)
When dressing the bump, I'm always a fan of pieces you can wear post-baby, too. Hatch always has beautiful and well-made pieces that are designed to wear both during pregnancy and after. In my last few weeks with a bump, I've been loving this outfit for fall and have partnered with Hatch to gi...
My favorite cause is the partnership my church has with a pastor and his family in the Dominican Republic. He serves in a trash dump squatter community just outside of Santiago. Every year, we go for a week and put on a medical clinic/help as they need, and throughout the year we support them financially and relationally. Second to that I'm passionate about clean water and World Vision!
an on-the-go giveaway with able made...(now closed)
Able Made partners with creative innovators and designers to support causes that are closest to their hearts through beautifully designed products. Today, we've partnered with Able Made to give away this Able Made x WHIT clutch and Able Made x S'well water bottle ($161 retail value) to one l...
How often are you watering? Once they started budding leaves, I started watering just a little every few days, making sure the soil is dry between waterings, and mine are growing well (still tiny though). Timing could depend on the variety, but maybe try watering a couple test cuttings, to see if that makes a difference?
adventures in succulent propagating / part 3.
see part one here! and part two here! About two months ago, following this awesome tutorial, I trimmed the leaves off my "leggy" succulent plant in an attempt to propagate (grow tiny new plants) from the cuttings. I am sharing my progress in real time, to give you (and me!) a REAL idea of how ...
I'm not a coffee drinker, but my hubby is! His routine sounds a lot like yours (even the warming!), but since he's the only one drinking it, he uses the Hario Woodneck Coffee Drip Pot which comes with fabric filters. It is a lot like the Chemex but smaller. And he hand grinds with the Hario hand crank burr grinder. He's also a huge fan of his Tonx subscription (www.tonx.org), since it's thoughtfully sourced and the beans arrive within days of roasting. The only thing he doesn't do is weigh the beans. Maybe I'll get him a scale for his birthday. :)
let's talk Chemex (again!).
In the spring of 2012, Paul came home from deployment with a new appreciation for coffee. We bought a Chemex and I shared our experience using it and some facts about it here. When Paul returned home last summer, he was even more inspired to up our morning coffee game. To celebrate his return ...
I'm currently propagating succulents too. I saw your pin of that tutorial, so I'm on basically the same timeline as you. Mine have definitely started sprouting tiny leaf buds in addition to their roots. I'm so excited to see them turn into tiny plants!
adventures in succulent propagating / part 2.
see part one here! About a month ago, following this awesome tutorial, I trimmed the leaves off my "leggy" succulent plant in an attempt to propagate (grow tiny new plants) from the cuttings. I am sharing my progress in real time, to give you (and me!) a REAL idea of how long this takes. I c...
I discovered Follain in the South End in Boston, and Tara, the owner, is amazing. They carry only super-green (and often local) products. When I shop there, I don't worry about if the product is safe. Thanks to Follain, I discovered Soapwalla deodorant, which is amazing, and the Shamanuti skin care line (charcoal cleanser, seaweed toner, and face oil). Depending on what you're used to, it isn't cheap, but lasts a really long time.
I also use goodguide.com (and the app) when I'm shopping. They rate several different things (health = ingredients, environment = company policies, society = company policies), so sometimes I look at the specific rating (ex: health) instead of the average. They also have details behind the ratings, which is super helpful.
green skincare products I (still) adore.
I've written about some natural skincare products a few times before (here is the very first post) but I figured it was time for an update of some of my favorites that we use around here daily. Some of these products I have been using since I made the switch to less chemicals (in September 201...
I second the Soapwalla deodorant cream. I tried several natural deodorants and smelled worse (!) than when I used nothing. I found Soapwalla and will never go back. In the winter, I've been applying jojoba oil before deodorant cream, so my skin doesn't get too try. (Probably won't do that in the summer though.)
green skincare products I (still) adore.
I've written about some natural skincare products a few times before (here is the very first post) but I figured it was time for an update of some of my favorites that we use around here daily. Some of these products I have been using since I made the switch to less chemicals (in September 201...
I missed it as well (by just two hours). After adjusting to my initial disappointment, I got really excited that make29 is going so well for you. That said, if you ever decide to do another run of the ampersands, I'd be happy to be a part of that run selling out. :)
weekend links / 11.
As part of my word WHOLE this year, I want celebrate the work of others by sharing links to my friends, possible friends and complete strangers who are doing great things on the Internet. This is some of the rad stuff I recently saw online... a great post from Emily about being a working mom. ...
I love the caryall duo, and the power trip set!
a super fun {giveaway} with ban.do...NOW CLOSED
My friends at Ban.do never cease to amaze me with the pure joy they create every day. Today, they are launching a brand new collection of lifestyle pieces taking it to a whole new level in addition to the hair accessories they're known for. To celebrate, we've partnered with Ban.do to give awa...
Optic triad in ivory/clay and/or the optic diamond in indigo/forest. The light would look awesome on our sofa, and the bright would be great in our white chairs. I love snuggling under the blankets, watching a movie or reading a book, and drinking a nice warm beverage, while periodically looking out the windows at the snow.
a wintry living room refresh {giveaway}...now closed
When winter comes around, all I want to do is cozy up with a thick blanket and some hot chocolate. One of the easiest ways to update your living room for the winter is to change out the accessories on your couch and chairs. I went from a summery living area to a more cozy one in minutes. To he...
I'd send a note to my favorite high school teacher. He made such an impact. I ran across a couple notes from him the other day, which I have saved since high school, because they still make me feel so encouraged when I read them.
a happy note {giveaway}...NOW CLOSED
As we approach Thanksgiving and thoughts of whom and what we're grateful for are even more apparent, we often tend to write a lot more notes and cards of appreciation this time of year. To encourage more thanks and random notes of kindness, I've partnered with one of my favorite stationery l...
I love the wooden calendar, but would also love the Instagram book!
a {giveaway} full of memories...
At the end of every year, I love putting together a book full of our favorite moments. Artifact Uprising has some of the most beautiful photo-based products I've seen. So today we're partnering with them to give away a $300 gift card to one lucky reader to create your own books for keeping...
I'd go all white for the desk in the bedroom!
a bright light {giveaway}...
One of my favorite desk items in my studio is this Pixo lamp from Design Within Reach. It turns in any direction and has a USB plug in the base which is perfect for charging my phone. It's modern, chic, and goes with anything. So today, we're partnering with Design Within Reach to give away o...
Thanks anyway! I figured it was at least worth asking!
The Bar Cart
This is not a sponsored post despite that big yellow and blue logo on the box. As you know Wille took a bartending course in Dublin in September. When he was still over there we were texting each other about setting up some sort of a bar so he could still practice his stuff at home. There’s n...
We actually just got this exact same cart at IKEA, and noticed it was off balance once we put it together (the bottom isn't quite level). Did you have that problem? Any tips?
The Bar Cart
This is not a sponsored post despite that big yellow and blue logo on the box. As you know Wille took a bartending course in Dublin in September. When he was still over there we were texting each other about setting up some sort of a bar so he could still practice his stuff at home. There’s n...
At the moment, I'd have to pick the duck bag in cactus!
a get-carried-away {giveaway}...
Baggu is kind of like my go-to for all my "toting around" needs. I use their tote bags for grocery shopping, their zip bags for storing Ruby's diapers in my diaper bag, and their key chains for my car and house keys. We're in Palm Springs right now, at my friend Kelly's house, for a little f...
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