Author: sharondashariee

Self-Care, Uncategorized

Fuchsia Spa – Sunlighten Infrared Sauna

sharondashariee

You all know I live for finding things that are an experience, fun, and worth the coins, especially if it provides health benefits.  I found this cute little spa, Fuchsia Spa, and near my home.  That made me extremely happy, not a far drive.  The staff was pleasant, and facility was exceptionally clean.  Let us get to why I sought out Fuchsia Spa.

I have severe inflammation in my hip (hip bursitis).  It evolved while carrying my daughter in my womb and it has never gone away.  Anyhow, I am always on a quest to find soothing options, such as regular turmeric supplements, foods that reduce inflammation, so on and so forth.

If you have experienced the fire that hip bursitis sets a blaze within in your tendons, googling soothing relief is endless.  I came across an article, and you know it takes just one article to send me into the rabbit hole, of infrared sauna therapy.

I found the nearest and most suitable spa, where infrared treatments were a service and gave it a whirl.  The sauna space was cute, clean, and tranquil.  I took two books with me, since I would be in the sauna for one-hour.  May as well knock out a few chapters of something.

The experience was HOT.  I entered the sauna at 135 degrees, and it slowly climbed to 160 degrees.  If you have ever been in any sauna, there was no difference.  I was a bit taken back because there were no red lights, as the treatment name alluded.

You had a choice to enter the sauna butt naked, which I immediately thought who had done that before me, in THIS very sauna, or you could keep minimal clothing on to partake in the warmth.  I chose the latter and spread three towels across the bench, because you know, the potential butt nakedness that may have taken place before me.

I removed the comfortable slippers, I almost inquired about purchasing, re-dressed, and guzzled down a chilled bottle of water, provided by the spa in a small refrigerator located in the corner.  I gathered my things, feelings sweaty but refreshed.

While the inflammation in my hip is not going anywhere after one treatment, I would certainly return as an overall weekend relaxation technique.

Location:

Fuchsia Spa-Ahwatukee
4025 E. Chandler Blvd., #3
Phoenix, AZ 85048

Cost: $19.99 (one session)

Uncategorized

Saltgrass Steak House

sharondashariee

Salt Grass – The Original Texas Steakhouse

This blog post should solely say, go for the Brussel sprouts and stay for everything else.  The end.

However, we did not go for the Brussel sprouts, we went for the steak and was pleasantly surprised by how delightful the Brussel sprouts were.  Yes, delightful.  As an adult I have been attempting to overcome my childhood trauma of being made to sit at the table for hours until my Brussel sprouts were finished.  Salt Grass’ Brussel sprouts have made me fall in love with their potential. Salty, sweet, crispy with bits of real bacon encrusted throughout. Just yum.

Ok, the reason we graced Salt Grass’ doors in the first place was the reputation of their steaks. I am a steak eater, but not a thick-meat eater.  I know, does that even make sense?  Probably not, but it is the complicatedness that I am.  My husband prefers his steak medium-well and I prefer mine well-done, so we comprised on having the steak cooked well-done.  Ha-ha. The chefs cooked our ribeye steak to perfection without it being dried out, grilled nicely and it was super flavorful.  They do not hold out on the seasonings, which makes their steaks suburb.

Now, let’s talk about the jumbo jalapeños stuffed with shrimp and jack cheese.  Fried to a golden brown. Served with ranch dressing.  That is Salt Grass’ description, no need to be altered.  For the folks that may be steered away from the fact that they are technically jalapenos, but they are not spicy, at all.  We ordered 3 and ordered 3 more, they were THAT good.  Just get them, and just get the order of 6 at the beginning.  Don’t play yourself.

Salt Grass earns a solid 9/10, and they could earn a perfect score if they would add a location in our home city, Phoenix, Arizona.  Checkout one of 80 locations across the United States, Salt Grass, we need you! (total for our meal was $83, and that include a very delicious cocktail-not pictured)

Location visited:

Saltgrass Steak House
4601 City Lake Blvd W.
Fort Worth, TX 76132

Living, Marc Jacobs, Marc Jacobs Perfume, Perfume, Perfume that Last All Day, perfume water, Self-Care, toilet spray, Versace, Versace Perfume

My Favorite Perfumes That Last All Day

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My favorite perfumes that last all day are Marc Jacobs and Versace perfume.

I am not a huge perfume wearer, more of a body spray type of gal but you can barely resist when you walk into a department store and the choices are plentiful.  Let us not talk about all the samples you leave with if you peruse all the cosmetic counters.

I set out on a quest to try all the samples I gathered and find my favorite perfumes that last all day, because it is nice to smell nice. And when you dish out the money that a bottle of perfume costs, you certainly want it to last all day. Plus, when I spritz my absolute favorite, Marc Jacobs Daisy Love- Eau So Sweet, my husband cannot stop saying how amazing I smell.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love-Eau So Sweet

This is the thing with Marc Jacobs perfumes, they all smell the same to me, with each one having just a slight twist. 

My favorite, Marc Jacob Daisy Love-Eau So Sweet is sweet, subtle, pretty and pleasant. You can certainly wear it as an everyday perfume.

My next favorite perfume is Versace’s Bright Crystal. This is my, “we are going out perfume.”  It is also sweet, with a bit of “turn-up”, if you will. You are definitely “in the streets” being a grown-up when you wear this one.

Versace Bright Crystal

My next favorite perfume, and the newest to my and Marc Jacob’s Daisy Love perfume collection is, Marc Jacobs Daisy Love-Daze. 

I read many reviews before making this last additional purchase, because I had no sample and one reviewer expressed, Daze smells just like the others but different.

When I received the bottle in the mail and tested it, I knew exactly what the reviewer intended to convey. Daze, indeed, smells like all the rest, so sweet but with a slight musk or woodsy note. This is one you wear when you feel like wearing it, if you know what I mean.

Marc Jacobs Daisy-Eau So Fresh Daze

So, in the department stores a bottle of designer perfume will easily run you $100+, if you are aiming for the big bottles.

In my research, Amazon has the exact same perfumes bottles for 25-50% less.  Be sure to purchase directly from the designer as oppose to a seller to avoid knockoffs.

If you would like to check out my favorite perfumes on Amazon, click the following links:

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love-So Sweet: https://amzn.to/2WH3ICP

Versace Bright Crystal: https://amzn.to/3fHEyvn

March Jacobs Daisy-Eau So Fresh Daze isn’t available on Amazon just yet, but you can find it at Sephora.com or Ulta.com.

Perfume Application Tip: If you apply a moisturizer, such as lotion, prior to spraying perfume you give the perfume something to attach to. It lets allows the perfume to last even longer.

Plants

Easy-Build Raised Garden Bed

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There are many ways you can build garden raised beds, including just buying them.  They can get pricey, especially now, as more people are gardening because they are at home more.

This easy build raised garden bed consists of one trip to your local home improvement store and these 4 items.  I will list pricing at the end:

-Planter wall blocks
-*2×4’s
-Soil
-Seed

First step is to pick and measure your space.  This will help you in determining how long you need your 2×4’s and if you will need to make cuts at the store while you are there. Believe me, do not skip the measuring.  It will save you a trip.  Most local improvement stores will cut your wood for you, to your desired measurements, within reason.

My friend (Jazmine) and I did a collaboration and built a raised bed at her home and one at my home.  You can certainly build the raised bed by yourself, but with an additional person you will go faster and will have help lifting.  You will see two sizes for our respective spaces. 

Jazmine’s raised bed measures 2.5 feet by 8 feet.  My raised bed measures 4 feet by 8 feet.

Next, you will put your wall blocks in four corners.  You can stack the wall blocks to your desired height, we used a 2-block height, so 8 blocks total.

Slide the 2×4’s into place, add the soil, and plant the seed.  That is it. 

You will notice that Jazmine’s garden bed doesn’t have string across to create squares, and mine does. We are having fun with this thing, and learning our styles. I love that we are different in our approach.

Easy Build Raised Garden Bed with Square Foot Gardening Method

Jazmine likes to let the plants grow wild, and do what they do. I, on the other hand, want to control the plant as much as possible so I use the square foot method. This literally describes our personalities. I love that we have different methods, we compare what works and what does not work.

You can decide, as you go, how your personal gardening style will be. Check out the video below of one of Jazmine’s garden spaces. She’s already harvested a few times this year, and more are growing.

Jazmine’s Garden

I attended a class at Home Depot, some time ago and learned how to build this easy-build raised bed, and took a few photos at the demonstration. I want to also show you below how you can continually build onto your space by connecting 2×4’s up and along the sides.

Happy Gardening!

Project Pricing:

-Planter wall blocks ($3.38 each, we used 8)
-*2×4’s ($3.42 each, we used 6)
-Soil ($7.98 each bag, Jazmine used 4 bags. *I used 6 bags.)
-Seed (prices vary depending on what type of seed you choose, typically ($1.59-$6.00 per packet)

Project build time, from start to finish, one hour. Project cost, $79.48.

*(2×4’s measures by height and depth, the last number will be your length, so a 2×4 that is 8 feet long, is a 2x4x8)

*My raised bed incurred more cost, because of a space issue I had that required additional soil beyond 6 bags.

*All pricing is based on my local improvement store.  Prices will vary for your location.  Prices also do not include tax.