Science Friday: Invisible Ink

May 22, 2015May 22, 2015 | Megan

Happy Science Friday, Friends! Today we’re experimenting with INVISIBLE INK!

TRUTH: it was not as cool as I had hoped. I don’t know what I expected. Maybe I just believed it would be MORE dramatic than it was.

TRUTH: Who cares! It was still so fun for my littles! Little P exclaimed more than once, “I can’t even SEE anything I wrote! It’s totally invisible.” Plus, the three-year-old only lasts for so long in any experiment. 🙂

TRUTH: It was so simple to put together, I’d do this again on a rainy day in a heartbeat.

I hope you have a Fabulous Science Friday!

XX, Megan

To begin, there are several recipes for invisible ink, here. Pick you poison. We went with straight lemon juice. Gather a lemon, salt, paint brushes, paper, crayons.

Cut the lemon.

Squeeze 1/2 the lemon profusely, with great concentration, into a dish.

Commence in writing/drawing your SECRET MESSAGE in lemon juice on your paper.

When you are finished encoding your message, cover the lemon juice lightly in salt.

Dust the salt off after a few minutes, and allow the paper to dry completely.

Lightly color the entire picture/message/drawing. (That big Y on his paper was part of his SECRET MESSAGE!)

The SECRET MESSAGE should be a slightly DARKER than the rest of the color!

Science Friday, WE LOVE YOU!!!

Azul and the Pool

May 21, 2015May 20, 2015 | Megan

Upon returning from Palm Springs one of my dearest friends asked, “So what did you do while you were there in Palm Springs?”

I thought about my response for a moment. “Nothing.” I replied, “We really didn’t do a thing other than lay pool-side!” It was the truth. Each morning we’d indulge in a leisurely breakfast. I opted for an egg-white omelet and side of fruit almost every day. Then we’d head back to our casa, lather up with sunscreen, don our swimsuits, pack water and reading material and go straight to the pool.

It was PERFECT. Not a care in the world but trying to decide what to read, or sip, or whether it was time for another cooling dip!

Today that pool seems far away. We’ve had rain upon rain upon rain. WONDERFUL for the mountains, but certainly not 90 and sunny. The grounds of the La Quinta were so lush and lovely. Grapefruit and lime trees lined the median next to the sidewalks. Bougainvillea, roses, and hibiscus graced every garden plot.

This dress has proved the perfect summer maxi for two summers running now. It even has a back story. I followed a dress almost identical to this one on J.Crew for months. It was the same blue, the same cut but it was A LOT more expensive because it was 100% silk. I kept waiting to see a sale or price drop without success. At some point I gave up stalking the dress online– it sold out. While shopping around Old Navy with my sister one day, I laid eyes on this version.

SOLD! It was 1/8 of the price, and just as fun! The blue is vibrant, and the length of the dress is just right. Unfortunately this style is no longer available, but I’ve linked some similar options below. Thank goodness it’s Thursday!!!

XX, Megan

Dress: Old Navy (similar, similar, similar), Bag: Kate Spade, Sunglasses: Prada, Necklace: Madewell (on sale!), Bracelet: Banana Republic, Sandals: J.Crew (on sale!)

Orzo, Arugula, Olive, and Pecan Salad

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 | Megan

Let’s pretend these photos were taken in an Old World Italian kitchen, shall we? Then I don’t have to feel bad that I don’t know my camera settings well enough to realize they are off until I’m previewing the pictures on my computer! I should probably invest in a class from the community college here in town.

Well, here are the slightly grainy pictures, but still DELECTABLE salad offering for your Wednesday from The Scramble. You can bet I had a couple “test” bites of this salad after I made it, as we are having this meal real-time tonight for dinner! It was delicious! As always, I’d love to hear your feedback. I subbed pecans for the walnuts in the original recipe because I had them on hand. What are you cooking up tonight for dinner?!?

XX, Megan

Ingredients for Main Dish

3/4 cup orzo (use wheat/gluten-free if needed)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 – 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, preferably with a light flavor like orange or raspberry
6 oz. arugula, coarsely chopped, or use baby spinach (about 3 cups)
20 pitted kalamata or Italian olives, sliced into thirds
1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted (about 6 minutes at 300 degrees, or 3-5 minutes on a skillet on the stovetop)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Side

Your favorite loaf of whole grain bread.

First, start the orzo boiling in salted water, cook according to the package directions. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet and toast the walnuts/pecans for 3-5 minutes, stirring as they heat. While the nuts are toasting, you can mix the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar in a large measuring cup. Set aside. Slice the olives in thirds. In a large serving bowl, combined the arugula, olives, and walnuts/pecans (after they’ve cooled).

Drain the orzo, allow to cool for a few minutes. Then add it to the salad mixture along with the dressing. Allow the entire salad to cool for a few more minutes and then add the parmesan. Alternatively, you can reserve the parmesan to add to the salad when serving! Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 2 days.

Boil

Boil the orzo on the stovetop according to the package directions.

Toast

Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a small skillet for 3-5 minutes until they begin to smell fragrant.

Mix

Combine the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and whisk together.

Slice

Slice the olives in thirds, and combine all of the ingredients.

EAT!

*The Scramble is a meal planning service to which you can subscribe here. For a fantastic price you will receive 5 weekly meals which means 5 recipes (main course plus a side dish), complete grocery list, the ability to tweak the number of people you are making for, and full nutrition facts. PLUS tips as to how best to PREP your meal beforehand, add a punch of FLAVOR, and how to SLOW COOK almost every recipe if you’re especially slammed that night. This wonderful service really does live up to it’s name. You can come home at 6 p.m. and be sitting down to a DELICIOUS, HEALTHY, HOME COOKED meal by 6:30 p.m. most nights.

Palm Trees and Pink Bags

May 19, 2015May 19, 2015 | Megan

Take me back! I was not kidding about this past week of hard WORK! We have been going great guns on our fence and yard. I’ve been doing prep work throughout the day, and when my husband gets off of work we’ve hit the ground running. Some late night work sessions have lasted past 11 p.m. because we’ve also been trying to work around on and off thunderstorms!

But these outfit scenes didn’t have much work involved. In fact, sometimes the most effort my friend Mel and I had to bend to our day was deciding where we would brunch before hitting the pool deck for sunshine and pure relaxation! Rough life, I tell you. Rough.

This white shift was the perfect little number to beat the heat and doubled easily as a cover-up. When we planned our little getaway, we didn’t realize that we had scheduled ourselves to be gone over Mother’s Day. When I brought this up to my husband he laughed and said amiably, “Oh, well! I guess you won’t have to struggle to sleep in and have a crappy breakfast in bed. Don’t you think Palm Springs sounds better?” Sweet man.

While I did miss my boys from the biggest to the littlest while we were gone, the trip was SUCH a glorious break. Perfect, perfect destination for a Girls Weekend. We stayed at the La Quinta Resort and Spa, which was actually located in La Quinta, California. I would recommend the resort to ANYONE.

Beautiful, low-key, luxurious, dog friendly, and a place where we eventually determined you truly could take your kids for an escape as well! At least we both agreed our kids could just spend the entire vacation in the POOL! Thank you to my best friend for these photos and for the most AMAZING girls getaway!

While your Tuesday may not include palm trees, I hope it does involve smiles, sunshine, and a delicious brunch!

XX, Megan

Dress: J.Crew Factory (similar, also fun, similar), Sunglasses: Karen Walker ‘Super Duper’, Bag: Kate Spade (similar, save), Sandals: J.Crew (25% off!), Bracelet: Banana Republic, Swimsuit: Top and Bottom

Mondays in May, Get Moving: Manual Labor

May 18, 2015May 18, 2015 | Megan

Yes. I originally had a book review of The Invention of Wings scheduled for today. I will return to that review in June, because today is another MONDAYS IN MAY, GET MOVING post! Yes, admittedly, I forgot that this was the programme until this morning!!!

Today I want to talk about a form of work, or working out that ISN’T as dear to my heart, but CAN be an INTEGRAL part of good fitness, good health, and an overall good work ethic. I am talking about the merits of MANUAL LABOR.

I hope to encourage us all (me especially!) not to forget that physical activity can also be motivated by WORK. Case in point, my everyday since returning from Palm Springs (yes, it was a harsh awakening back into the world of home ownership).

I have to be honest and state that outdoor chores are not my very favorite endeavor. For me, it seems much more straightforward, easy, manageable to get my work out at the gym or on a dedicated activity such as running, biking, swimming, or paddling.I am not one to wake up in the morning and say, “Hmmm, what am I going to do in my yard today to burn some calories.”

Maybe I need a paradigm shift! Maybe I needed this shed, fence, deck project– otherwise known as #shedfencedeck– as a reminder that good old hard physical labor can be a GREAT WAY to GET ACTIVE and GET MOVING!!! (And wear yourself out! I am pooped after all of our labor!) I am willing to guess that many of you Refined + Rugged readers are already well-versed and maybe well immersed in the ways of yard work, garden work, manual WORK!

Every Spring construction and renewal are a HUGE part of the daily life of many, many of us. So what I’m saying is that many of you are probably saying, DUH. I already knew that I could smash some calories and get fit while I upkeep my home and garden. DUH.

For those of you who are a bit more skeptical I’ve complied a list of some the top manual labor calorie burners. As well as linked to some expert opinion articles to bolster my stand: here, here, here, here, here.

MANUAL LABOR CALORIE BURN (outdoor)

Shoveling snow: 400-600 calories per hour

Heavy yard work (landscaping, moving rocks, hauling dirt): 400-600 calories per hour

Raking and bagging leaves: 350-450 calories per hour

Outdoor construction and remodeling: 250-300 calories per hour

Gardening: pulling weeds, planting flowers, etc.: 200-400 calories per hour

Mowing the lawn: 250-350 calories per hour

Washing the car: 175-250 calories per hour

MANUAL LABOR CALORIE BURN (indoor)

Major cleaning (turning mattresses, washing windows and blinds): 175-250 calories per hour

Moderate housecleaning (laundry loads, mopping and sweeping, vacuuming): 150-200 calories per hour

Light housecleaning (dusting, straightening up, taking out the trash): 120-170 calories per hour

Child care: 300-600 calories per hour (depending on how old the kids are and how active they are)

If you don’t want to jump into yard work just yet, pick an indoor chore to stay active and fit. I mean, if I can burn up to 600 calories per hour playing tag with my boys, why not? If I can get a physical boost from Spring Cleaning I had better go after it!!!

Yes. I spent my weekend staining every single board for our fence. That meant that a couple nights we were up until 11:30 p.m. staining and screwing! There are pictures below of all of our current projects: shed, deck, fence. You can see our late night fencing in the last shot. I love the dark of the night against the trees and the glow of the fence in the industrial work light we borrowed from our neighbors.

I don’t know specifically how many calories I burned, but I can tell you that my back and arms and hands ached every night it was time to crash into bed. Seems to me that my body was experiencing a really good, rather intense work out. No gym. No dedicated path required! What are your favorite WORK tasks?

Have you experienced the healthy benefits of getting up and putting some elbow grease into it? Whether IT is deep cleaning the carpet, remodeling your kitchen, creating a new garden space, or maintaining your current yard, how do you get moving with manual labor? I’d love to hear!

Have a brilliant Monday!

XX, Megan

P.S. I really need to give credit where credit is due here. NONE of these project would have happened without my SUPERMAN of a husband. He has the most incredible work ethic of anyone I have ever met. In his day job, and in his constant commitment to make our home and yard a beautiful space and place to live! I am one very lucky gal! Thank you, babe!!!