Escapeland

Indiana Wineries and Wine Reviews

05/31/2009

I’m a huge fan of wine, and nothing tastes better than a cool, crisp glass made right in my home state: Indiana. Indiana boasts a number of wineries which puts all our fabulous breweries up against some stiff competition.

Whether you like white wine, red wine, sweet wine or dry wine to spice up those nights with friends or peers, Indiana is the place to come. The prices are inexpensive and affordable and you’re sure to find the perfect wine for you and your occasion. Here are four of my personal fav’s:

indiana wine

Easely Winery

Downtown Indianapolis
Easely’s has 14 wines in addition to an American Champagne, all of which are sold at their winery located in downtown Indianapolis. They provide free tastings every day, wine tours on the weekends and a great, homey-feel. In the summers they host live music and offer cheeses and wines – making it a great place to take even your kids!
*I recommend the Reggae Red (mix it with a little coconut rum!). It’s a sweet, red wine with hearty flavor. Great for dessert!

Chateau Thomas Winery

Plainfield, Indiana
Chateau Thomas is an award winning, nationally recognized winery. The winemaking process of each wine (from fermentation to bottling) takes place in Plainfield. The grapes are grown in California, Oregon and Washington vineyards, crushed on the west coast and then shipped to Plainfield via refrigerated truck (to ensure the best taste).
*They’ve recently introduced a new “Slender Wine” branch which is wonderful. They offer white, blush and red wines that have zero sugar, carbs and fats! How’s that for a sweet treat?

Oliver Winery

Bloomington, Indiana
Oliver may very well be my favorite winery (and not just in Indiana). It’s nestled in the heart of Bloomington (where Indiana University is located) and it’s a great place to bring a date, your family or just a friend. Buy a bottle of wine, some cheese, and find a place to call your own on the 15 acre rolling green premises!
*Try the new SkyDog line – the packaging is great and the taste is even better.

New Day Meadery

Elwood, Indiana (near Anderson)
Because I grew up in Northern Indiana and my family still lives there, my fiance and I would often drive from Indianapolis to Goshen about every other month before moving to Korea for a year. Every time we take the road trip we pass, ‘New Day Meadery,’ a tiny wine shoppe that offers meade wines (wine that is made with honey). They have their own bee farms and get the honey from there. The wines are all great – you can try them all with an inexpensive wine tasting. The wine is slightly more expensive than the other wineries on this list, but totally worth it (and it’s great to support small business).
*Try the “Dry Blueberry Honey Wine,” – it’s a great treat!

For more Indiana wineries, check out indianawines.org.

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DIY

The Chihuahua and Her Wardrobe

05/10/2009

“ Hello, my name’s WANWAN and I’m a little deer chihuahua.
I find that only the cutest outfits make their way into my wardrobe and I absolutely adore prancing around and playing in them. My hair is quite short you see, I’m mostly bald! I get awfully shivery without anything on! Because of my bald little body, I also just love standing on the heat vent. Whenever it turns on I hear it and trot on over pretending I’m Marilyn Monroe. “

DIY

It’s getting a little chilly here in western-US so I’ve decided it’s time to whip out all of my fibers and create a little wardrobe for my Chihuahua. I’ve composed a pattern to create an easy coat for small dogs and also for cats (although my cat is a thick puffball). The front and mid section are attached by way of your choosing (buttons, snaps, velcro). You can also knit your little one a sweater. My own pattern is simply a small tube with arm holes due to my pup’s tiny size. The coats are so easy to customize! Change up your fabrics and liners, try embroidery, patches, buttons, yo-yos, bows and all sorts of cute. Thing of fun patterns, check a vintage book for inspiration! Fun coat themes include fall, daisy meadows, mushroom forests, snow, winter wonderlands, russia (nesting dolls?), snow bunnies, etc.

Wanwan’s Picks

running!Modern Tails, The Pet Boutique, Trixie & Peanut, Calling All Dogs, Paw Palace, Pooch Online, Artful Pups, Chic Dog, Bella Claires, Paws on 5th,Doggie Clotheslines, The Ritzy Rover, Pool Pup, Bella Claires, Paws on 5th, Doggie Clothesline, The Ritzy Rover, Pool Pup, Funny Fur*, G.W. Little, Haute Dog Boutique, The Haute Hound, Ezra Dog

Doggy Tip

Dogs are a little bit stinky so it’s important to bathe then only in a special shampoo formulated for your dog’s skin. Myself, being the cat person I am found the dog’s natural scent very unappealing in the beginning. After a nice warm bath in her favorite shampoo, she smells like a coconut and as her own scent comes through I find it a sweet match. 😮 She uses an organic oatmeal shampoo for dogs and cats made with aloe, vitamin e and skin-softening nutrients I picked up at the local pet store. They have aisles of pet shampoos at all major pet stores — take a look!

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Crafts DIY

Create and Flavor Your Own Lipgloss

05/06/2009

Miseducated girls like to stand out in a crowd. Which is precisely why this make-it-yourself, fully customizable lip gloss recipe is perfect. (Not to mention, Miseducated-mavens always have pretty puckers).

Read through this super easy recipe and then feel free to add whatever your heart desires (within reason, of course!) to make your very own lip gloss.

creating lipgloss

You Need

Option 1 (the extra-easy route)
Have you ever applied Vaseline to your lips? Well whether you have or haven’t, it’s a great moisturizer for your puckers. If you prefer to take the easy route (which is great when you’re in a bind), can use this as your base and then customize the rest.

Option 2
Take 1 tablespoon of beeswax and place it in a clean glass jar. Place the jar in very hot water. Be careful not to get water in it as the two don’t mix well. With a toothpick or stick-like device, stir until you see that the wax has softened.

Next, add a tablespoon of almond oil. Mix thoroughly. If you want, you can add a capsule of Vitamin E which preserves your gloss for a longer amount of time and also adds nutrients. Another option is to add ½ a teaspoon of honey. This makes it a little sweeter and also adds nutrients.

If you’re a simple lassie then you can stop here. If you’re in the mood to customize, here are a few ideas to give a go:

Customize your Gloss

Fresh and Fruity
Add a few berries to your mixture while it’s hot. Crush the berries and pick out the skin or strain it. Some great berries to try are cranberries (which create a lovely shade of dark pink) or blueberries which create a pinky-tone. [Check out my Berry Beauty article which has a great Blueberry Honey gloss].

Mighty Mint
Add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint oil, mix it up and you’re set to go! Refreshing!

Cola Queen
Add a few drops of your favorite cola (try Sprite or Orange!) and mix thoroughly. Yum!

Charming Chocolate
You can either purchase chocolate scented oil or melt a little piece of chocolate with your beeswax. Guaranteed to melt on your lips! That’s a good thing.

Whimsical Flowers
Feeling romantic and whimsy? Try a little jasmine, rose or lavender oil!

Brewed Beer Gloss
That’s right! Infuse your lips with the scent of beer! Just add a few drops of your favorite brew and mix it up.

Lemon Lady
If citrus is your thing, squeeze a bit o’ lemon, lime or orange juice into your beeswax and mix thoroughly. Zing!

These are just a few ideas. Let your mind go free and you’re sure to come up with even better customizations!

*Make this gloss in small doses as it does not last forever. Store it in your fridge at night to make it last longer. Oh, and if you want to bring it out with you (a total “do”), store it in a recycled lip gloss container or even a fabulous little pill box!

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DIY Recipes

Egg Beauty Recipes for Eggstacy

05/06/2009

We all know that eggs are a great food source and mega healthy for your body. But did you know that the all-natural item is also beneficial for your skin? In fact, egg whites clear up/prevent acne and blemishes, tightens skin and decreases signs of age.

Here are a few egg*y DIY beauty recipes for you to try at home! I promise, these recipes will yield products just as good (if not better) than any spa could provide you!

diy egg beauty

Chilled eggs and honey face mask

This cool face mask is great for dry skin. It’s soothing and moisturizing! Here’s what you need:
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 tbs honey

(1) Heat your coconut so that it is warm, but not too hot. You can do this in a microwave save container in your microwave or over the stove at a low-medium heat.
(2) The first thing you need to do is crack your egg open into a small bowl. Beat the egg until it is foamy and consistent in texture.
(3) After you’ve finished stirring the egg, gradually add your warm coconut oil. Doesn’t it smell delicious? Next, add your tablespoon of honey. Beat all of these ingredients until you have a semi-thick consistency (similar to mayonnaise).
(4) This next part will sound a little strange! Use an empty toilet paper roll and place one end into a bowl. Put your mixture inside of the roll and place it in the freezer. Remove the roll once the contents inside are completely frozen!
(5) Once it’s frozen, peel part of the toilet paper roll away (about 1/4 inch) and apply to your face, rubbing it around in a circular motion. It should resemble a frozen popsicle! Let the contents sit on your face for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Splash your face with cold water to tighten pores and gently pat dry.

*You will have plenty left over for future-use! Simply cover with a plastic bag and place in the freezer again.

Moisturizing Egg Yolk Hair Mask

This recipe is super easy and a great cure-all for dry hair, dead/split ends and frizz issues! Gather these items before you begin:
1 egg yolk
1 cup milk
1/2 tbs. rosewater (optional)

(1) Separate the egg yolk from the egg white and place in a small-medium sized bowl. Beat the yolk until there are lots of little bubbles on the top – it should be frothy looking!
(2) Gradually add the milk in. If you have rosewater, you may add the 1/2 tbs. at this time. Mix all of the ingredients together until you reach a consistent texture.
(3) Apply the mixture onto your hair, starting with the ends (which tend to be the driest). Work your way up until your hair is fully coated.
(4) After 15 minutes, rinse the egg mixture from your hair with tepid water (if it’s too hot you’ll end up with scrambled egg-yolk hair). Make sure you remove everything!

Shine Reducing Egg and Lemon Treatment

This treatment does wonders for a tired and/or oily face. Not only does it firm and tighten skin but it also reduces shine. Here’s what you need:
1 egg white
1 medium sized lemon

(1) Separate the egg white from the egg yolk and place in a small-medium sized bowl.
(2) Cut the lemon in half and squeeze out the juice into your bowl. Remove any seeds that may have danced their way into the bowl!
(3) Whisk the lemon juice and egg until it is completely blended. The texture should be smooth and consistent.
(4) Apply the concoction onto your face and let it set for 15 minutes. Once it’s hard and flaky, rinse the mixture from your face with warm water. Splash your face with cold water to tighten pores and gently pat dry.

You may follow up with your nightly moisturizer.

Good luck and happy beauty!

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Design Your Life

What Life Should a 20-Something Live?

04/23/2009
what life to live?

I am a twenty-four year old woman and I don’t know what I want to be, do or where I want to live when I grow up. Sound familiar? Lately I’ve spoken to a lot of girl friends and women and have found they all have questions and concerns about the life they have chosen and the lifestyles they are living. Women have more choices than their mothers and grandmothers, they have a choice to be whoever they want to be, to live however they want to live. This also makes for more stress, what if you miss your chance? What if you wake up when you’re 60 and realize you didn’t achieve any of your main goals and choices? Possibilities are endless. Lately ladies have been finding economic stresses and lifestyle decisions that leave them in shells, filled with questions. How can you decide how to live your life when you can’t even afford to live it? Will you marry? Start family? Start a business? Travel the world and write a novel? Record a demo and play your songs live? Redesign a product? Help people in some way? Whatever you life you create, build it — be conscious you’re always changing and you’re always molding your life into the life of your dreams. If you’re not happy where you are after honestly questioning yourself, find new routes, question yourself about new goals and dreams, make steps to create the life you want and that life will be yours.

DIY Lifestyle

Step 1: What is my lacking in? What is abundant in my life?
Step 2: What is my dream life and what goals do I want to achieve in life?
Step 3: How can I achieve these goals? (even if you’re not sure, quite a lot of resources are available for us to research possibilities)
Step 4: Make conscious efforts, daily, to create that life and achieve those goals. Talk to people doing what you want to do, tell them you admire them and get advice.
Step 5: Continue working towards and gaining the benefits of your dream lifestyle.

Lifestyle Inspiration

Is it most important to you to do what you want to do, live where you want to live or to live with whom you want to live with?

Lifestyle Q&A

Reply or contact us for questions and comments regarding this article~ Please communicate with us if you do not want your questions/comments to show here after discussed and answered.

* The photo above was taken by myself in Hello Kitty’s house (Puroland, Japan).

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Design Your Life

Who’s That Girl? Anna of Branch and Birdie

04/22/2009

At 18 I ran as quickly as I could from my two stoplight town, to New York City where I dabbled in the fashion and modeling industry.

At 19 I tried out Los Angeles and motherhood all at once. Three years later my daughter and I headed back to the Big Apple in search of something more. What I did find was my soul mate, and we moved out West together to bask in a few of San Diego’s rays. Sunny yes! Creativity and culture? Not so much!

So a Medical Assistant Certification, a marriage and one more baby later my little family of four and I trudged to the rainy town of Portland, OR. Now at 25 years old here I am.

My life has already started, it’s in process and I knew I would not ever be content without creating and decorating.

I had always dreamed of having a little boutique full of local artist’s goods, but I never would have imagined that I would be able to become that local artist. I had sold some of my handmade jewelry in stores before, but did I have the motivation to start up my own empire? Then I discovered Etsy! Fantastic! Phenomenal! A mecca of beauty and vision! With a few click clicks on my computer keyboard, and some design help from my genius filmmaker husband (owner of Two Penguins Productions) I plunged forward and started up Branch and Birdie.

I find my inspiration in nature, scavenging through thrift stores and watching my daughters draw and play! As women we are being profiled from birth, directed to become the celestial being of beauty- but don’t you think that it’s time we take charge? Diaper in one hand, courage and confidence in the other? So good bye NYC glamour and hello PDX basement! I’ve traded my Louboutins in for a sewing machine, and couldn’t be happier.

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Crafts DIY

Create Your Own Mosaic Frame

04/14/2009

Before you begin

Choose boxes or frames “unfinished”; paint them with acrylic paint gold or silver (or whatever color you want, depending on your color scheme) just to have a base for the tiles to stick to. I don’t like to show raw wood between tiles because I don’t use grout in between the tiles (too messy and may scratch). Paint back and edges.

Create Mosaics

Supplies

Polymer clay (various colors)
Acrylic roller and/or pasta machine
Cookie cutters and craft blade
Stamps ( rubber or any texture you find around your house)
Acrylic paint and brushes
Metallic powders
Varnish for polymer clay
Glue (Liquid nails or Weldbond are good)
Oven (don’t use you home oven)

Creating Mosaics

Paint white tiles as if they were little canvases using acrylic paint.. get creative! Use more than one color. Paint a single tile with multi colors or a landscape, try to make small pictures.. tell a story.

Mosaics with Texture

Cut the polymer clay until desired thickness, approx. 3mm ( see picture ). Gently stamp with your texture (I use toy palms in this case, you can use any texture like buttons, stamps, texture sheet, etc ). You can use mica powders or metallic powders to enhance the texture, then cut my tiles with the cookie cutters or a blade (squares are easy to arrange on you frame). I bake them following the instructions for the polymer clay brand. I don’t like to use a regular oven (fumes).

Mosaics with Stamps

Paint white tiles with acrylic paint, before they dry gently stamp them, it will take the paint off the tile creating a negative image of the stamp. Use rubber stamps for this and wash them after each use.

Making the Mosaic Mirror

I classify the mosaics by color, so they are easy to arrange when designing the mirror.
Arrange tiles on the frame as a puzzle and when you like the composition glue each tile. You may use ceramic tiles, milagros, beads, etc. just to have different textures and fill spaces when I don’t find the correct size of tile.
The last step is varnishing the tiles.

Use your imagination and have fun!

Create Mosaics
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DIY

Should You Felt Your Knitted Projects?

04/07/2009

Working with wool has become one of my favorite creative endeavors. I love the unique way each article of clothing comes out just a bit differently than another. I use any used or new sweaters and am always on the hunt for vintage wool skirts or jackets to use in my projects. I love to use them to make baby clothes or toys. Little stuffed woolies are lots of fun to make. Using wool makes me feel happy to be able to put to use something someone else believes to be un-useful (is that a word???). No two items I make are alike. I don’t use patterns because I find it easier to ‘eyeball’ the felted sweater and let the colors and textures dictate what will come of it. If you are a ‘pattern person’ (what a title!), you most certainly could use patterns with this kind of felted fabric.

felting

1. Find a beautiful 100% wool sweater that is in good condition. Be sure to check the label carefully. Do not purchase or use one that says it’s okay to ‘Machine Wash’ it. Some wool sweaters have been treated for easier care and do not require dry cleaning… the process they use will prevent it from felting-the desired effect! Use only one that recommends dry cleaning or hand washing.

2. Machine wash in warm water with 1Tbsp. soap or detergent. Wool fibers have little barbs on them and the agitation of a machine wash cycle binds the fibers together. When felted, a garment will shrink and become thick, dense and will not unravel when cut. After washing, check to see if the sweater is now ‘felted’ enough for what you desire to make. If not, either rewash or for further felting, dry it in a warm dryer. If it is rumpley after washing, iron with an iron using the ‘wool’ setting. Wool is a very durable product and responds well to misting and ironing.

3. Once your item is dry and smoothed out with an iron, you may begin to design and construct your item. If making a dress for baby, you can use the neckline or collar area of the sweater for the neckline of your new dress. Sometimes you will need to put darts in the back of the neck or cut it in the back and re-seam it to reduce the size of the neck. Because properly felted wool does not unravel, you will probably not have to hem or bind your hem or sleeves but sometimes I do anyway. A sweet cotton fabric can add a lot for extra detail. The sleeves of the sweater can be used to make leg warmers to match or save them for a pair of hand warmers for yourself or a friend!

4. After your pieces are cut out, sew them together with a machine using either a regular straight stitch or serger. Appliquéing a unique design on your dress or romper will personalize it and add whimsy and interest, but be sure to do the appliqué or embroidery work before you sew front to back; it’s just easier. Above all, have fun! This example is just one of many ways to use wool sweaters. Get creative and enjoy!

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Visual Splendor

All About Tea and Tea Time Talk

04/04/2009

There’s nothing that fills my beating heart with as much happiness as a steamy cup of hot tea and the soft pages of a new book. Lucky for me, tea comes in a multitude of flavors, styles and pretty little boxes, all the more reason to spend hours admiring my options in the tea aisle of my local grocery.

Now, I’ve tried a variety of teas in my day, from strawberry iced goodness to chocolate-lovers delight. All have proven to be extraordinary! So, you can imagine my delight when I discovered the positive, health benefits associated with sipping the delicious beverage! And, imagine my double delight as I discovered that each kind of tea has its own benefits to boast! Let me share:

tea time talk

Rooibos (or Red Bush) Tea

This red tea comes from Africa and can do a body good. It is a pure tea, meaning there are no additives, and it helps slow the aging process. This non-caffeinated tea is great to drink before bedtime because it helps with insomnia, headaches, nausea and heartburn!

Herbal Tea

One of the best things about herbal tea is that you can drink it before bedtime (or if you just want to refrain from caffeine in general).

One of the most popular herbal tea’s is world-approved Chamomile. There’s a reason your mother served you chamomile before you laid your sleepy head to rest. One of its most obvious effects is that it is a muscle relaxant! It also helps with skin issues (from rashes to burns to irritation to acne) and fights off all kinds of unwanted illnesses and diseases. Not to mention it smells heavenly…

Anyway, some other great herbal tea’s include: Ginseng (Chinese, cures just about everything just as its name implies: “all heal.”), Ginger (helps with motion sickness/nausea/indigestion), Peppermint (muscle relaxer, stomach cramps, freshens breath), Cinnamon (lowers cholesterol/blood sugar),

Black Tea

I enjoy a Black tea to help wake me up in the morning. I appreciate how stable my body is throughout the day after a hot cup, as opposed to the high and low I get with coffee. Black tea is especially great for cardiovascular issues and is rich in antioxidants and cancer-fighting agents. According to TeaBenefits.com, “Recent studies in leading medical journals declare black tea a potential heart tonic, cancer blocker, fat buster, immune stimulant, arthritis soother, virus fighter and cholesterol detoxifier.”

Some great Black tea’s to try include: Darjeeling and Nilgiri (both from India), Yunnan (Chinese) and Keemun (also from China).

Green Tea

Green tea is famous for its beneficial effects, so it should come as no surprise when I tell you it’s probably the healthiest kind of tea for you! In fact, it’s commonly believed that by drinking more green tea you can increase your longevity and lead a happier life. So what, exactly, are the great benefits? Let me get you started.

Green tea is linked with weight loss, reduces the risk of all types of cancers and lowers cholesterol levels. In addition, it prevents/helps rheumatoid arthritis, infections and inhibits blood clots! All because of a very powerful antioxidant called EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) that stops cancer cells from growing (by killing them), all the while nurturing healthy body tissues. Sweet!

TIP #1: Let your tea bag, or tea strainer for loose tea, steep for at least 3-6 minutes in order to get the most out of it (taste wise and health wise).

TIP #2: Add a slice of lemon to your tea and be amazed as your headache eases (or even melts away completely).

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