Wild Water Guess That Disease Kingdom!

So the boyfriend and I decided we would try a water park that was advertised as Canada's only salt water park.
Turns out what they should have advertised was a festering cesspool of bandaids and bad vibes.

To begin, we started our journey on a high note. Starbucks breakfast and sun with the windows down as we drove.
After a couple of hours of driving and barely managing to make it to the park after a significant amount of time weaving through all the weird sketchy side roads...we made it!
'Wild Water Kingdom"
We were directed by an incredibly rude staff member to what is by no other definition...a field.
Hundreds of cars crammed in beside each other with what Aaron liked to call "reeds" pressing up against the front of the cars.

Now please don't read this with some strange idea that I have incredibly high standards.
I am pretty easy going, and am by no means a "germaphobe"...but this place....UGH, I can not even find words to describe the filth.

We stood in line for WAY too long to be let in to what would be the sketchiest place on earth.
NOT KIDDING
Disney is supposed to be the "happiest place".
Well this is the "Sketchiest". UGH

We ended up going on ONE ride which was a giant slide that drops you at such a high angle that your body comes OFF of the slide when you fall. Now this wouldnt be so bad is it were not for the fact that the sides of the slide were less than a foot tall and you could literally plummet to your death if you didnt stay PERFECTLY still the whole time.

The entire park could be seen in a total of three minutes if you actually want to walk that long on the...wait for it...CARPETED PATHS they have at the park. I swear you could taste the mold and disease in the air.

The biggest structure there was the first aid building. BIIIGGGG shocker there.
Even if you got hurt, youd have to wait in line for it. Thats right...there is a line outside the first aid building, which, again big shocker, was also a centre for 'Missing Children".

To make things even more appealing, Aaron pointed out the children's area of the park that had diarrhea colored water...mmmmmmmmm.

The slides were not ever worth getting in line for, but if you did...you had to wait in another line to RENT a tube.
Ya, you rent a tube to use the whole day.
That means after you spend $8 per tube, you need to have it with you at ALL times after the rental, or someone will take it.
Don't plan on going to the bathroom or sitting down to eat, because your $8 dollar tube will be gone before you can blink.

At one point there was what looked like a naked obese woman, who turned out to be a man with so much back fat, he had back boobs...complete with zit nipples that I have no doubt were a product of swimming in the water at the park.

Bottom line is...DO NOT GO TO WILD WATER KINGDOM.
If you do, you will get Aids, another STD or pregnant (which would not surprise me).

Aaron and I left to go to Canada's Wonderland after 15 minutes and spent the whole way there coming up with different names and things to say about this disturbing water park.
Here are some of the names:

• Brown Water Syphilis Kingdom
• Gout Park
• Cancer Kingdom
• Gonorrheaville
• STD City 

 The whole experience is hilarious to us now, and makes for a good story, but please save yourselves the time and avoid this place altogether.
 I hope you are entertained by our misfortune.

BUHBYENOW

Owl themed blog deserves owl themed Etsy favorites!

  In honor of the owl theme to my blog, I thought I would show you some of my favorite owl items on etsy! As always, you can buy each item by clicking the "Buy here". Enjoy and stay precious!

Not brave enough to get a real tattoo? Try this awesome temporary one! $2! Buy here!



What an adorable coin purse! $20! Buy here!

Handmade and one of a kind! Buy here for $27!

Buy here and for $22 you will have an adorable handmade owl organizer/memopad.

Protect your phone's screen or your point and shoot digital camera for $15 in this adorable gadget case! Buy here!

$32 buys you this adorable soap dispenser. Only one available. Buy here!

This orange/glittery owl light switch cover(with glow in the dark eyes) would look adorable in a retro themed room. Buy here for $16.

With this adorable pattern, you can "owl up" any fabric or paper. Bags, a t-shirt, party invitations etc. Buy here for $0.99!

Love this clutch!! Makes me feel like I should be a fashionista in a tree! Buy here for $90.

$10 will buy you this precious little owl pillow, named Emily. Buy here!

This is an ADORABLE little owl dress! It comes with a matching headband and is made with tons of love! $94.95. Buy here!

A refreshing yet comforting cocktail for this Autumn season!

Fall is here! I am so excited for scarves, boots, jackets, leg warmers, chai lattes, and bonfires! I discovered a tasty cocktail to match my chilly weather vibe for the next month or so. Its sweet and spicy and perfect to drink while curled up in a warm blanket with a book or movie or favorite TV show.

ENJOY!!!

• Sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• 1.5 oz Tequila of your choice.
• .25 oz Honey
  
• .75 oz Fresh lime juice
• .5 oz Fresh pink grapefruit juice
• .75 oz Ginger liqueur
• .5 oz Fresh Granny Smith apple juice

Pour your tequila, honey, lime juice, grapefruit juice, ginger liqueur and apple juice into a shaker filled with ice and shake it (you can do a little dance too).
Put some lime juice on the rim of the glass you plan to use. and then mix equal amounts of sugar and cinnamon on a small plate and coat the rim of your glass with the cinnamon sugar.
Fill the glass with ice, and strain and pour your drink mix into the glass.
Mix equal amounts of sugar and cinnamon on a small plate and use to coat the rim of a rocks glass. Garnish with Granny Smith apple slices and perform your taste test.


Have a great night!

Delicious Mac & Cheese Casserole

I love comfort food, but it does not always agree with my diet. Try this SUPER easy macaroni and cheese recipe that will allow you to indulge in the gooey, cheesy goodness, without feeling guilty.

 

 Here's what you will need.

2 cups of elbow whole grain or low carb macaroni 

4 tbsp. margarine 

4 tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper 

1 cup shredded low fat old cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese

1 cup baby spinach

Cook macaroni in boiling, salted water until al dente. 

Drain the pasta in strainer and put in mixing bowl.

In a small pot, melt butter and blend in flour, but be careful not to burn the butter.

Add the milk to the butter and flour mix and stir until the mix thickens.

Add salt, pepper and the mozzarella cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.

Add spinach to sauce.

Mix the sauce and macaroni in a mixing bowl and then add the remaining cheese. 

Put the whole mixture into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until bubbly and browned.

 

Let cool and enjoy a warm and gooey bowl of deliciousness.

Keep an eye out for an Autumn cocktail recipe, coming soon!

Some of my favorite recent finds on Etsy!

Etsy is one of those sites that I can look through for HOUURRRSSSS! If you're not familiar with the site, you should check it out at www.etsy.com. Everything you find on the site is either handmade or vintage. Cool is an understatement. Here are just a few of the things I found while scrolling through today. Click on the "buy here" and it will link you to the shop the item is found in on etsy.

These are absolutely gorgeous! The seller makes them in a variety of stone colors. Buy here for only $30.

This locket, called "Ink and Snow" is adorable! Selling for $60. Buy here!

This ring is made with recycled 14k gold and has 5, 3mm opal stones set in it. Custom made to fit any finger! It is one of the more expensive items on the list, running at $345, but is ready in a week to be shipped! Buy here!

Cute little bracelet. Perfect for Spring! Buy here for $19, and take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING within the US and Canada!

For $3.50 you can rock this cute vintage inspired necklace! Buy here!

This is a beautiful bracelet! It is made with a vintage sparrow, and real amazonite gemstones. Buy here for $44.

Buy here and receive this lovely necklace and a free pair of matching earrings for $25.

This a great gift idea. The custom initial is pressed onto a 1 inch handmade clay pendant. Buy here for $25.

$160 will buy you this beautiful ethereal headband. Buy here!

Buy here for $40. The necklace features a 1/2 inch Milky Swarovski Crystal Heart Pendant along with 16 Opalite Glass Beads. One of a kind!

You probably have gathered solely on the name of my blog, that I LOOOOVVEEEE owls. Needless to say I just about died when I saw this. Buy here for only $4.99!!

Buy here for $45.

Buy here for $40 and receive this very feminine handmade necklace.

Gorgeous 1960's vintage necklace. $74. Buy here!

Etched metal cuff! So cute! $28.50. Buy here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to make the best of the small spaces in your home!

I hate articles that start with the over-used “In today’s economy”, so I am not starting this article that way.
More and more I am seeing people down-sizing, usually selling their homes and moving into condos or apartments, which is great for the bank account, but difficult to manage when you don’t know how to work with small spaces. What can be done to open up your smaller spaces and how can you make the most out of the limited room you have? Read on to find out.

Small rooms can feel confining , fortunately there are many design concepts that fool the eye into seeing the rooms as if they are larger and more spacious than they really are.

Color

One of the first things to focus on is color. Painting is almost always the first step to revamping any room, but many people don’t know the color techniques to use when trying to make a room appear larger.

Dark, warm colors will make your space feel cozy and intimate, but will make the room appear much smaller, whereas, light, cool colors make a space feel open and airy. If your goal is opening up the space you’re working with, stay away from dark colors.

Lightly colored walls reflect light very well, therefore, creating the illusion that the room is airy and spacious. On the other hand, dark colors absorb light, making a room look smaller.

I love warm cream colors and cool/icy blues, but I’ve also been using many warm greens and mauves in recent designs. A helpful tip is to keep your trim/frames/moldings and ceiling painted light (always lighter than your walls). It causes your walls to appear as if they are set farther back, thus brighter and more inviting rooms. Remember, your space is small, so the illusion is everything. Choose a monochromatic color scheme. By choosing colors in the same family you have more furnishing options as well.

If you don’t have much natural light entering the room you will want to pick even lighter colors. The more natural light you have in the room, the darker the color can be.


Lighting

Lighting is an important element in opening up a space.

If you do not have a lot of natural light, you can add some lighting features to the room to make it look bigger. You will be amazed at how this small addition can make a big difference. I prefer lighting fixtures installed in the ceiling, in order to utilize floor space and to minimize surface clutter. Look into having the lighting fixtures put on a dimmer, this allows you to set different moods in the room to suit the various uses for the space.

If you have access to natural light, make full use of it. Full height glass panes or picture windows work best in making a room seem bigger because a barrier between your guests and the outside view has been removed. Your friends and family will see an expansive view of the outdoors. Try to purchase window coverings that are short and sheer, or at least lightly colored. This will allow the natural light in better than if your had long, draping, heavy fabrics.
If the view outside your window is less than appealing, you can use hanging plants and potted flowers near windows.


Furniture

Furniture is usually the focal point to any space, but it also takes up the most space, so keep it simple.
Multi-functional furniture is a favorite of mine. Coffee tables with storage space, daybeds and futons are some of my go to items for furnishing the main spaces of homes or apartments. Use an extendable dining table or folding table, and folding chairs, which can all be tucked away when you don’t need them.

Stick to clean lines and simple upholstery. Select soft colored or neutral upholstery instead of harsh patterns or prints. Use textures instead of colors. Textures add interest without breaking up the space.  Believe it or not, bigger pieces are often better. Using many small pieces will create the appearance of clutter and disorganization, but always scale the furniture to fit the size of the room, because an over-sized couch is hard to work around.
Place the larger pieces of furniture against walls so that you avoid creating unnecessary harsh lines and breaks in your soon to be more open space. Leave ample walking space, having simple and visible pathways will keep the room from appearing cramped.

If the furniture(such as an entertainment center or armoire) in your room is tall, it might lead to it seeming as though the ceiling is lower than it actually is, so make sure there is plenty of space between your furniture and the ceiling.

Finishing Touches

You have your colors and your furniture and lighting covered, so you should be set to accessorize.

Simple is always better, so don’t cove your walls with a lot of pictures or paintings. A single, large painting always works better than a group of small paintings or photographs, because if there’s too much going on at once, it can make the room feel busy and crowded.

Mirrors can make your room look larger. Use the focal point in the room (in the bedroom the focal point is most likely the bed. In the dining room, its probably the table etc.)and angle your mirrors towards it, which will give the illusion of depth. The mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear bigger. This is especially effective with near a window so the outdoors can be reflected. Mirrors on the walls and glass tabletops will make it seem like there is a more open flow. You can also use mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered.  


No matter what your reason for living in a small space, you know undoubtedly that you have to make some compromises in your decorating. Start by get really organized, and simplify in order to make everything fit and not feel cramped.

Hopefully you have learned something, or these tips and tricks will be of value to you!

I will start working on an article featured around living in bachelor/studio apartments for all of my friends sticking to a tight budget.



Until next time, hugs and smooches!

Owlivia

Comforting Autumn Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup

Serves 4-6 people

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

You will need:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, chopped fine
1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds), cut in half lengthwise, and each half cut in half widthwise; seeds and strings scraped out and set aside (about ¼ cup)
6 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon brown sugar
Pinch of grated nutmeg

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat until foaming. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, this usually takes about 3 minutes. The you should add the squash scrapings and seeds, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns a rich saffron color, about 4 minutes.
2. Add the water and 1 teaspoon salt to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, place the squash cut-side down in a steamer basket, and lower the basket into the pot. Cover and steam until the squash is completely cooked and is soft, about 30 minutes. Then take the pot off the heat, and use tongs to transfer the squash to a rimmed baking sheet. When cool enough to handle, use a large spoon or fork to scrape the flesh from the skin. Set aside the squash flesh in a bowl and toss away the skins.
3. Strain the steaming liquid through a mesh strainer into a second bowl; throw away the solids in the strainer. (You should have 2½ to 3 cups of liquid.) Rise and dry the pot.
4. Puree the squash in batches in a blender or food processor, set it to pulse and add enough reserved steaming liquid to obtain a smooth consistency. Transfer the puree to the pot and stir in the remaining liquid, cream, and brown sugar. Warm the soup over medium-low heat until hot, about 3 minutes. Stir in the nutmeg and add salt to taste. To fancy it up a little, top it with some lemon zest and drizzle cream in swirls.
5. Serve while warm and enjoy this with friends or family.

Note: The soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for several days. Microwave it for a minute or two or warm it on the stove over a low heat until hot, but do not boil, as it will change the taste of the soup significantly.