Peonies In the City of Roses

Peonies are my favorite flower, the only problem is I happen to live in an area where they do not grow very well (sad face). So Im going to try and grow them in my backyard (happy face) in an area north facing that is cool and has no harsh sun light should be the perfect place from them to grow. Cross fingers and toes and we will see what happen (hopeful face).

Peony Festive Maxima 

Mine will hopefully look like this someday,  if and when im successful in the next few months I will have the face of the kid in the Home Alone movie ! 

Idea for my next tattoo 

Return of Gardening Season !!

This is a picture of an empty potting table, an old flea market coffee shop table that i've converted into a potting table that has not been used in months but thats about to change! Valentine's Day and Lincoln birthday are but only two of the events that happen in February, the other is the start-prep of  backyard gardens.

Two weeks ago I started planting wild flowers outside, I will keep you updated to there progress.

To help me out I have been relaying on Better Homes and Garden web site "what to plant in February" for ideas and information. To help you out below are a few ideas from their site, the web page is also include.

Happy seeding !

Better Homes and Garden:

Planting Nursery Plants -- Plant warm-season annual flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, petunias and the like) after all danger of frost has passed but in enough time for them to beat the summer heat. In hot desert areas, for example, that means no later than mid-February. If in doubt, give a quick call to the garden center nearest you. Microclimates and growing conditions can vary radically within just a few miles of each other and in places like Southern California, within just a few blocks of each other.

Planting Nursery Plants

• Once the soil has warmed to 60 degrees F, plant seeds for corn, green beans, cucumbers, squashes, and other heat-lovers. You'll know the soil is warm enough once you can walk on it comfortably barefoot. Or wait until two weeks after your region's last average frost date.

Fertilizers -- Fertilize roses and fertilize perennials at the end of the month and keep them watered. You can use chemical fertilizers (follow package directions on amount and frequency) or organic fertilizers, such as compost, fish emulsion, and others.

Fertilizers

• In the low desert and other hot areas, feed citrus, avocado, and deciduous trees now. In cooler coastal or higher zones, wait until next month.
• Late this month or early next, if desired, apply a pre-emergent weed killer tobeds and borders. It will greatly reduce weeds later on. However, it works by preventing seeds from germinating, so don't apply anywhere you're planting seeds.
• Cut back woody and overgrown perennials. If in doubt, look at the base of the plant. If it is sending up fresh growth there, you can safely cut off the dead or old plant material now.
• Cut back old foliage from ornamental grasses, liriope (monkey grass) and mondo grass to just a few inches high. (Tip: If you or your neighbor have a power hedge clipper, it will make short work of tough-stalked ornamental grasses.)
• You can prune evergreens this month, but avoid pruning them later on this spring and summer.
• Keep up with the harvest of cool-season crops, such as peas, lettuces, and spinach. It will encourage more production. Continue to plant successions of these fast-growers for production over the next several weeks.

What To Plant -- Plant bare-root artichokes, rhubarb, and strawberries now.

Planting Strawberries

• Clear out debris and muck from the bottom of the water garden, if you have one, and add it to your compost heap.
• Mulch your garden with 2-3 inches of mulch.
• Control snails with an organic or chemical bait 

gardening-by-region/southern-california/february-tips-southern-california/

Tomato & Vine

Dish soap should not excited me this much but this dish soap came to my attention today and I cannot keep the cap close on my new Method dish soap "Tomato Vine". The scent, tomato vine should already have you jumping up and wanting to rush to target, nothing makes me want to do dish's or act like I do then a great new scent. Now you may have forgotten what the smell of a tomato vine smells like, being it's not tomato growing season but somehow those smart people at method found away to bottle up that smell into dish soap. 

Last year Method partnered up with the talented "queen of bold prints" Orla Kiely for a limited edition line of hand soap, dish soap and all-purpose cleaner's. The line has come back again for a spring collection, features four new fragrances: tomato vine, white nectarine, honeysuckle and cloudburst.

Happy dish washing !! 

method orla-kiely-take-two

Urban Buddha is Back

Hello my friends , I've been gone for a bit but I'm back now and ready to organize ! Life seems to have taken me on a different path, you may recall that my cousin had passed away, over a year and half ago, like most of you who have dealt with a beloved family member dying you can understand how an event like this can change your life path. Mine has turned my life upside down and I've had to learn to adjust and embrace my new reality.

I looked around at my house last week and its a disaster ! My small 915 sq ft home went from just me (and two kitty's) to adding one adult and my six year old god son , needless to say we are a little cramped in this small two bedroom space . What once had it own place has been pushed, pulled, rearranged and stacked to fit more stuff from another adults home.

I CAN DO BETTER ,

I can do better is what I thought, I need help, I need Urban Buddha at 1602 back in my life

Organizing brings sanity  in my life, if your house is out of control then so is your life . I'm going to start from the ground up again, every room is going to have a make over and I'm going to share every bit of what happens with you. The good and bad, the mistakes, life skills, strategies and advice that I've learned to make every day easier.

Vacation

Still on vacation, no make up mondays... When I get back I will tell you all about my nasty sun burn....

Oh Aveda, My Super Hero Brighten My Day !!

Anti-aging products and I have a bad relationship history. My need to look younger always leads me down the wrong road with one of these products that promise me the fountain of youth and all I seem to receive is a small puddle of hope in a jar. I think it's an unfair abuse of my vanity, so I avoid skin care sales people and magazine advertisements, stick with basic skin care cleaners and hope for one day I will find a product that will be my super hero-skin care who "walks the walk and talks the talk".

One month ago I had a little talk with an Aveda skin care rep, she sang the praises of Aveda and I did my best not listen. As I rolled my eyes when she talked about how important organic and natural skin care, like Aveda, she caught my interest when she told me about a brightening skin care system from Aveda. She now had my attention, for years I have tried endlessly to lighten and remove the dark spots I have on my face and chin, all from a hormonal reaction from medication. She talked me into buying the "Brightening correcting serum". The correcting serum is a highly concentrated plant-powered brightening blend to diminish the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.


Stuff Inside;
100% naturally derived Plant-Powered Brightening Blend including Ascorbyl Glucoside (a vitamin C derivative), mulberry root, and grape extracts to help diminish the appearance of discoloration and dark spots.

Salicylic Acid and Glucosamine help promote surface cell turnover.

A soothing aroma made predominantly with organic lavender, sustainably sourced sandalwood, organic rose geranium and organic rosemary essential oils also helps soothe and calm the skin.

Information is from the Aveda web-site

The Verdict;
I was very surprised, within one week of using the product twice a day (AM and PM) I noticed the spots on my face starting to fade. Unlike other fading products I tried, this product did not dry my face or was not a bleaching cream. The salicylic acid acts as cell renewal and my dull skin has gone away. I repeat my dull, dry looking skin is gone !! I have used this product now for three weeks and I Love, Love it ! Im so happy I was not cheep and spent the big buck for it, worth every penny. The spots on my left side chin are much lighter, and this is the side that had the darkest spots. I found a picture of myself from six months ago, the spots on my chin where so dark then now you can barely see them. If you're looking for skin lightener serum that will not dry the skin, works deep into the skin tissue to give you a youthful appearance and have dull looking skin like me, this is the one for you.

One Last Thing;
I also bought the Brightening Cleanser, Im also in love with this product too, Shape Magazine 2009 Award winner in skin care cleaners. Aveda has a special online, orders are free shipping if you spend $50 bucks, easy to do at Aveda, you will get two free top rated samples.

Happy 4th of July

Sorry no make up mondays today, have a wonderful fourth of July. We will be back next Monday !!