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Wende

New Orleans Roadtrip!

This past weekend, Hubby and I took off and went to New Orleans, Louisiana!

 It took us about 5.5 hours to get there from Houston, Tx! Once we got checked into our hotel, we headed off to Harrah's casino for some Pai Gow Poker! Our favorite table game!  We stayed in the Quality Inn just one block off Canal St. and about two blocks from Bourbon St.  It was clean and the staff was very friendly and helpful!

We played at the casino for several hours and then went over to the area next to the Harrah's hotel where they have made a really nice shopping district that has several really nice restaurants that had outside seating!  The weather was gorgeous our whole trip!  We sat outside at Gordon Biersch Brewery and the food was wonderful!!!

 We were tired, so we went back to the casino for a while and then made it an early night and went back to the hotel.  The next morning, we got up early and headed down to Cafe Du Monde!!!  This is MY FAVORITE NOLA stop!!! 

 We ordered beingets and cafe au laits! Hubby got a hot one and I got a frozen one!  SOOOOOOO yummy!!! Cafe Du Monde has been there for 153 years!!!

 After breakfast, we walked down to the French Market and then walked the streets of the French Quarter.  It was so quiet and peaceful so early in the morning!  I love the architecture and all the sights!  If you get a chance to walk around early in the morning, I highly suggest it!

 After our stroll, we headed back to the casino for a while.  That was the main reason we went, so we spent a lot of time there! 

We also ate at Pat Obrien's and had their famous Hurricanes for the first time!  It was wonderful and the food was amazing!!!  I had a muffeletta and Hubby had a burger.  The Hurricanes definitely have earned that reputation!!!

The last morning we ate breakfast at another one of our favorite spots, Johhny's Po Boys!  Its a little hole in the wall place, but the food is amazing and it is quick and cheap!  After breakfast, we shopped for souvenirs and loaded up with a Cafe Au Lait to go and headed back to Texas.

It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to go back!!!

Here's the Vlog of our weekend too!

DIY Midori Style Travelers Notebook Tutorial How to Fauxdori

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DIY Midori Style Travelers Notebook

I discovered Midori Travelers Notebooks while watching Jennifer Ross on Youtube about a week ago and I must say I'm in LOVE!!! 

I did NOT want to drop the big bucks for one though, so I decided to make my own!  It wasn't too hard and I will show you how!

First off, you will need a few supplies.  I purchased everything at Hobby Lobby, but Michaels also carries most of this stuff too.  

From left to right....
nail file, hammer, hole punch (this one is for eyelets, but there were ones in the leather dept. too), lighter, elastic cord, scissors, rivets (near the leather in HL), rotary cutter, ruler, and leather.  I purchased a 3lb bag of leather remnants at HL.

 

First, I straightened two of the raw edges.  Since these are remnants, they are leftovers from other manufacture's projects and are odd shapes.

 

For a cover that fits Field Notes notebooks, I cut a piece that is 8"x6".  This is a little bigger than the Midori brand small one. 

And then I rounded the corners.  I used a marker lid to mark it and then cut with my sharp scissors.

 Then I punched the holes.  For the center hole, I folded it in half long ways and marked it at 4".  This will be for the elastic that wraps around the whole book to keep it shut.

 To punch that one, I scrunched the leather up to fit into my pliers.  There's probably a better way to do this, but it worked!

Then I punched 3 holes on each edge.  One in the center and then one on either side of that one about 1/4" away.

I used this elastic string from Hobby Lobby.  It was near the jewelry cording.  It's 2mm and black.

 OK!  Stringing this is not hard, but there's a certain order to go.....
1. inside to outside in the center top. Pull a good amount thru.  You can go back and adjust it later so you don't waste much.  Then outside to inside to the hole on the right.

 Then go down to the bottom right hole and go inside to outside.

Go from outside to inside thru the center bottom hole.

Then go inside to outside thru the top center hole and back in the left top hole.

and.....back down to the bottom left hole and go to thru to the outside.

 and lastly, pull it thru the center bottom hole again.  You can adjust it now so that you don't have a really long tail in the middle.  Cut the elastic cord off the roll and tie a square knot.  (right over left. left over right. ) Be sure to pull the strings a little tight to where the cover does bend up a little.  This will make sure they are holding the booklets in tight.

  Use a lighter and burn the edges of the cording and that will prevent it from fraying.

Next, you will measure for the closing loop.  Make it just a little smaller than the width of the cover and tie a knot.  Pull it thru from the inside out thru the center hole.  

To make a pen loop you will need a small scrap of leather.  Measure around your pen and cut to fit with enough to attach it to the cover.  (this photo is upside down, sorry!)

Punch a hole thru both sides of the loop and one thru the cover.  Adjust where you would like your pen loop based on the length of your pen.

You will use a rivet to attach it.  They are super easy to use and I found a huge pack near the leather dept. at Hobby Lobby.   There are two pieces to these.  One with a long post and a shorter button one.  

Push the long post thru the cover and both sides of the pen loop from the outside to inside.  Put the button side on the rivet and snap it down.  Give it a good whack with a hammer.  It only takes one or two hits and I used a scrap of leather to cover the rivet so it wouldn't scratch. Test it and make sure it's secure.

And that's it!!!  Loop your booklets by pulling it thru one of the elastics and centering it in your booklet.  I have two booklets in mine, so I used two elastics on each book.  You can add up to four booklets to this one!

 Here's what the loops look like on the outside spine.

 And you're done!!!  If there's rough edges, you can file them off with a nail file! :)

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  Keep checking back for a tutorial on the booklet inserts too!  Coming soon so subscribe!!!

Thanks for reading!!! 

Wende

 

Dermisa Skin Care Product Review

I bet you haven't heard of Dermisa skin care products, have you?

 

I hadn't before either until I went into CVS one day looking for something new to use!  I found Dermisa products in the small section of off brand beauty care products.  They have a facial soap, a moisturizer, and a skin brightening/lightening cream.

I decided to try them when I saw the prices!  The soap is just under $3.  The moisturizer and skin brightening/lightening cream are both just under $10. 

 

I use the soap every day! It is non drying and really takes the makeup and waterproof mascara off very well!  The moisturizer is a thicker cream that has a pleasant smell and it soaks into the skin like a dream! 

 

I have used the skin brightening cream off and on for a few months and when I use it consistently, I do notice my sun spots on my cheeks fading.  I haven't really used it every single day like I should to see great results, but I feel like if I did use it consistently, my spots would be gone!

I highly recommend all the Dermisa products!  The soap bar has lasted me about 8 months with daily use.  The moisturizer jar lasted about 4 months also!  So run to CVS and give them a try!!!

Here's my video review on the Dermisa products!