Thirsty Thursday- Agua Loca

Seriously?!  After several days of nice 80 degree days, I woke up to a brisk, windy 52 degree day.  I was just sitting on my porch last night enjoying the weather.  Now I would get blown off my porch!  I realize that the north is way colder and still covered in snow.  But I live in Texas for a reason!  I don't do cold.

Well, if I can't change today's crappy weather, then I can at least drink like it's warm outside.  I found this great and simple drink on Miss Information's blog The combo of coconut and pineapple will make you think you are on an exotic beach somewhere far away.  It's pretty easy to make.  

Here's what you need:

Ice

3 oz pineapple juice

2 oz coconut rum

Maraschino cherries for garnish (optional)

Recipe: 

Fill a glass with ice.

Add pineapple juice and rum; stir.

Garnish with a cherry.

Enjoy.

                          

Go check out her page to get the recipe to make a larger serving size.

Hugs y'all,

Melissa

Make up Monday- March Birchbox

                 

I am pretty new to the "Birchbox" thing.  My sister and mom have had their subscription for a while.  I had an Ipsy subscription but wasn't happy with it.  This month was my 2nd box and so far, so good.  For those of you unfamiliar with Birchbox, it's a monthly subscription that sends you 5 trial size beauty products.  If you like a product, you can go to Birchbox's website to order full size products.    I received a moisturizer, shampoo, lip gloss, eye cream, and a blow out spray.  The only product I have not tried out is the blow out spray.  Texas has resembled Seattle lately, and curly hair girls know better than to straighten their hair on days like that!

Bee Kind Shampoo:  full size retails for $15 which is not bad for a good shampoo.  It is made with honey extract that moisturizes even the driest hair.  Usually my hair doesn't feel soft until after I condition it.  As I washed out the shampoo, I immediately felt a difference...a good difference!  I am definitely going to buy the full size!  

Key West Aloe:  Full size retails for $18, reasonable for a good lotion.  It's a body moisturizer that is made from plant oils and 30% aloe.  I love lotions.  They are stashed everywhere...in my vehicle, my bathroom, office, purse, beside the bed, etc.  My problem with most lotions is they leave you feeling a little greasy.  I feel like I have lotion on.  Key West Aloe doesn't feel that way.  The scent is subtle but clean smelling.  It soaks in and you forget you are wearing lotion.  This will be another purchase!

Mirenesse: Full size retails for $22 so again, not too bad.  This sample came with directions to use this lip crayon as lip color and cheek color.  I have only used it on my lips.  It is basically a lip stick and Chapstick in one tube!!!  I usually apply Chapstick and then my lipstick.  This is all one step!  It's hydrating as well as applying a little color.  

Amika: Full size bottle retails for $24.  It's a lightweight blow out spray that volumizes, smooths and protects.  I will give it a try when I have time to straighten this hot mess of hair.  

Supergoop! Eye Cream:  Full size retails for $45.  So here's the deal; at 34 (and 3/4) years old, I am in complete and utter denial about getting older.  When I look in the mirror, I still think my skin is the same...but it's not!  Nothing like a Throwback Thursday to make you realize that!  This anti aging cream has an SPF of 37.  It reduces dark circles, blocks UV Rays and minimizes fine lines.  I am trying it out now.  It took longer than a week to get the lines, so it will take longer than a week to minimize them.  Jury is still out on this product.  

Hope Monday is treating you well!

Hugs y'all!

Melissa

Thirsty Thursday- Eat, Drink & Be Irish

I love how we take other countries' holidays and celebrate like they are our own.  St. Patrick's Day is my most favorite Irish holiday.  I don't know any other Irish holidays so it wins by default.  Anyways, it seems like we take our favorite green holiday as prime time to get a little tipsy.  So I have brought you some fun drinks to help you celebrate your inner Irish!

The Tipsy Leprechaun 

The Ginger Hooley

                

Green Sangria

                  

May you have the luck of the Irish!

Hugs y'all!

Melissa

   

Thirsty Thursday- Frederickburg Brewing Company

                                        Fredericksburg Brewing Company

Let me be honest; I am not a beer drinker.  My hubs makes up for me not drinking though.  I prefer wine.  That being said, I do like the atmosphere and history of breweries.   I like the breweries that are also resturants.  Probably because I like food way more than I like beer.  This blog post came about when I started wondering how many beers are made in Texas and the history behind them.  My family is big on knowing the history behind things.  (Yes, we might be a little nerdy but we make for fabulous conversation!) Once I started researching, I found that Fredericksburg  Brewing Company was one of the top ones in Texas.  They are the oldest brewpub in Texas and have been voted the best brewpub in Texas TWICE!  It's located in downtown Fredericksburg  in a 1890's 2 story building.  The bottom floor houses the dining area, their large air-conditioned Biergarten and a lager room.  The top floor has "Bed and Brew" rooms-12 rooms with baths.

Wondering what a "brewpub" is?  Simple!  It's a small brewery that also sells food!  They brew their own beer to sell as well as other beers.

I have been to the Fredericksburg Brewing Company and it is fabulous. It was crazy crowded when we went so I took that as a sign of good food.  

 Super cool for many reasons...

1.  Flags hang everywhere so my kiddos enjoyed learning different countries' flags.  (Educational opportunity, hello?!)

2.  The brewing equipment is visible behind the bar.  It's a work of art.  Gorgeous copper and stainless tanks shine brightly in the sunlight.  

3.  It sits in downtown Fredericksburg !!  It's a beautiful little historic German town.  Nothing more needs to be said other than location, location, location.

4.  It's surrounded by cute little shops that have great and unique items.  Have lunch there, make sure the hubs has a couple of beers...shopping trip just got better.  Hubs might be less likely to notice how much stuff you're buying.  (Completely hypothetical scenario!  But it did work!)

5.  The food is fantabulous!  I ordered an appetizer (Brewer's Nachos).  It was early August and I had just climbed to the top of Enchanted Rock with family.  Needless to say, I wasn't very hungry.  More thirsty than anything!  The waiter could have warned me.  We are talking MOUNTAINS of chips, beans, ground beef, cheese and who knows what else!  The hubs and Red ordered regular lunch plates (of something I don't remember) and Chief ordered chicken tenders. Is it just my kid that orders that everywhere we go?!  

6.  The last reason I have is the best... It just a few doors down from a fudge shop!!!!!!!

So next time you're in Fredericksburg, go check this place.  Enjoy!

Hugs y'all!

Melissa-The Lone Star Ginger

Meet the Blogger Monday!

I know...usually this is make up Monday.  But today, I thought I would introduce myself to the new followers to the blog, Facebook and Instagram.

I am Melissa.  I live in a small Texas town with my husband and two kiddos.  Actually, I live in the town I grew up in...and in the same house I was raised in.  The hubs and I are (SLOWLY) remodeling the house but everyone knows that's a process!  From time to time, I might show off a project or two on the blog (only if it's easy!!).  As for my kids, "Red" is 13 years old and "Chief" is 8 years old.  I had given them names in my first blog post but "little red" is now taller than me:( and "Pistol" asked for his to be changed to "Chief."  Red plays volleyball, basketball and runs track.  She is quirky and has a dry humor that I have never seen in a kid her age.  Chief plays basketball and baseball.  He runs his mouth literally 24 hours a day!! He thinks in order to breathe, he must talk!  Unfortunately, that gene came from my side of the family.  And me, I am a pediatric speech pathologist by day.  I own a small private practice that allows me to visit the children in their home or daycare.   I love working with the families!  It is an honor to work with them.

So in all of this, you are wondering "What is Lone Star Ginger?"  LSG is a side business that allows me to flex my creative muscle. I love making stuff...especially for others!  LSG has been open since April 2014 on Etsy, facebook and instagram.  I started out with handstamped jewelry and custom shirts.  I hope to add more products before Christmas like leather cuffs and metal cuffs.

My links are on the side so feel free to click on them.  Have a great Monday!!

Hugs y'all,

LSG

Texas Tuesday- The Enchanted Edition

Each summer, we take a road trip with a "loose" agenda of places we want to see and eat at.  This past summer we took a trip to the beautiful hill country.  I mentioned the wineries in last Thirsty Thursday's blog.  Today's blog is all about one "enchanted" place right outside of Fredericksburg, Texas.   You feel like you can see the entire world from the summit.

 I am talking about Enchanted Rock. However, it is not for the faint of heart.  If you want to see those views, you are going to have to work for it!!  Be ready to climb straight up a steep mountain.  

Sure, it may not look that bad in the picture.  That's what I thought... boy was I wrong!  Make sure to take good walking/climbing shoes and plenty of water (especially if you are going in the summer).  We did the climb early one August morning.

So what is Enchanted Rock?  It is a GIANT pink granite rock formation between Fredericksburg and Llano.  It measures 500 feet tall, making it the second largest formation in North America.  It is estimated to be at least 1 billion years old, making it the oldest exposed rock in North America. The hike to the top is only 6/10 of a mile...but don't fool yourself...it's a tough 6/10!  The park does also offer 7 miles of hiking trails for those not interested in making the trip to the summit.

That's me after I climbed it with my kiddos and hubby!  After all the complaining about how hard it was, I would definitely do it again!!

PS-Pistol wants the readers to know if they get the summit and it smells less than fresh...that's because he broke wind up there!  That is his claim to fame.   (Welcome to my world!!)

Hugs ya'll
LSG

Make up Monday-Pretty Little Nails

Sorry, I have not been posting much lately!!  I hope everyone is enjoying the school shopping that comes with this time of year.  My manicure pins on Pinterest are getting repinned like crazy so I thought I would repost my very first Make Up Monday blog post!!

Ok so I am starting off easy with nail polish but... I LOVE nail polish!  I mostly paint my toe nails since I am a slowly recovering nail biter.  I am not super picky about brands. I mostly choose my nail polish by it's name (yea, I know...how immature but that's me!).   I mostly love OPI (especially the Texas edition that came out a few years ago!).

I love to get manicures but I seldom have the attention span to sit long enough at the salon.  So how do you get the perfect manicure at home?  

1.  Scrub your nails clean with nail brush.  I read somewhere that if you clean your nails with vinegar, the polish goes on smoother and lasts longer. For the sake of research purposes,I will give it a try tonight.  

2.  Clip, file, shape your nails to your liking.  If you have a buffer, buff those nails beautiful and smooth (but wash your nails again!).  I do not like messing with my cuticles so the most I do is moisturize them.  If they are crazy, then I go to the salon.

3.  Apply a basecoat.  This protects the nail.  I have a lime green nail polish that stains my nails if there is no basecoat.

4.  Now the fun part!  Apply the nail polish starting in the middle and working to the sides.

5.  Apply your topcoat.  I have one that dries that paint fast.  You could also dip your nails in super cold water for 3 minutes to dry them... but "ain't nobody got time for that!"

6.  Clean up your mess-ups.  Unless you are a professional, at least one of your hands looks like a toddler painted your nails.  So dip a ultra thin paintbrush or Q-tip into polish remover to clean the mistakes up.

Now that we have established 1.  there is no such thing as polish addiction  and 2.  how to do at home manicures GET BUSY DOING YOUR NAILS!! I would post a picture of mine but they are not painted at the moment.  I was going to do it last night after the detox bath but no...I went to bed!

Hugs ya'll,

LSG

The Beginning

I thought I would use the first post to let you know a little about me, the Lone Star Ginger.  Obviously, I am a redhead from the great of state of Texas.  But I am also a speech therapist who works with little ones.  I'm a mom to 2 great kids who play sports pretty much year round!  Then there's my wonderful hubs who is a perfectionist and not afraid to tell me when one of my products looks like crap!  I have dabbled in jewelry making for several years now.  I love it!  I love playing with colors, the imperfections of hand stamping, and the look on customers' faces when they get their jewelry.  I really love making necklaces for my daughter, who doesn't wear anything I make her (note the extreme sarcasm here).  That's another thing about me...I have a healthy dose of sarcasm that I am proud of.

Now on to why I started this blog and what I plan for it to feature.  I thought it would be fun to promote the jewelry and other accessories.  There are usually stories or experiences behind each piece.  Some are funny, some are not but there's still a reason for each piece.  My plan is to blog once a day (yea, I know...ambitious) giving each day it's own special title.

Lazy Southern Sunday: could really be anything that I find relaxing

Make up Monday:  fun beauty tips either that are for gingers, sweat proof, humidity proof ( cause let's face it, in Texas summers we deal with LOTS of heat and humidity) or just really interesting

Texas Tuesday: this blog could feature a small Texas business, vacation spot, fun restaurant or interesting fact.

Wonderful Woman Wednesday: feature a woman every week who does amazing things!  Whether you're a stay at home mom, working mom,or single mom, you are amazing!

Thirsty Thursday: self-explanatory...starting the weekend early!

Fashion Friday: fashion tips showcasing LSGB originals! 

LSG Saturday:  showcasing new pieces and the story behind them.

While I hope everyone enjoys the blog, I know that is unrealistic.  So like I was raised: if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Hugs ya'll 

Lone Star Ginger