Garden Update

The general property needed a lot of heavy clean-up,
so this was the plan I used to do it. Garden Palanner

I began my very first full sized garden this year in early April and May. I had always helped out with my Dad's vegetable and herb garden when I was a kid, so I know a thing or two about plants - I just never have done it by myself outside of potted plants in my apartments.

Since starting all the work of ripping out the old garden/overgrowth & planting, it has really taken off and just grown like crazy. So I thought I'd share a little progress report here.













When I started, it was really out of control. (Pictured left and bottom) The previous owner had planted some kind of "wild flower" garden with "decorative grasses" and an herb or two. It was let go and things basically started choking each other out and it looked like a severe hot mess. My friend, Kao, came over and we ripped the entire garden out to the roots.

Kao kicking some grass ass.

This decorative grass "thing" took us 4 hours
to get out of the ground. Literally. We were both filled with more than a little malice towards it by the end.
There was quite the victory party when it finally came free.

I then got to do the fun part! Plant shopping and ordering!

I planned a rose and herb garden with a few decorative flowers.

I got all of my roses from Heirloom Roses.com

The miniature roses are Denver's Dream, Flawless, and Fancy Pants. The full size rose, currently potted and not in these early photos, is a David Austin Charity rose.

My herbs are from Rosemary House in Mechanicsburg, PA (http://www.therosemaryhouse.com/)

And the rest (Snap Dragons, Salvia, and Lantana) are from the wonderful people at Meadowbrook Farm over in Jenkintown, PA.

 In the bottom left photo, you can see how badly damaged the grass was before planting. I planted a lot of grass seed and spent some time cultivating it back to health. Spreading seed during a heavy rain, or right before, is a great way to keep the birds from eating it before it has a chance to get into the ground.

In the photo above, on the right, you can see just how tiny these plants were when I got them and first planted them. Fast forward at least a month, and I started seeing a ton of growth. I made many attempts to take photos that showed the grand scale of it, however, couldn't. I decided to do a youtube video and you can see in this where the growth got to. This was my first self filming ever, totally awkward, but you get the info about the garden, so be nice! :P

And since then I've had a great number of beautiful photo opportunities in the garden.

And Finally, another youtube video covering just how large my garden has grown. We've been getting a lot of rain over the last months. Not all day, every day, but the kind that rains at least a little bit almost every day or every other day. I haven't had a lot of time in the garden because of it, and because of vacation. Now that things are cooling off a little bit, the rain isn't so often, and I'm home more I have a lot of time to do the trimming and clean up. However, I wanted to show via youtube just how big everything has grown before I cut a lot of it back. 

I apologize for the poor quality of this video. :/

Anyway! I've spent this evening doing a lot of summer clean up. I'm going to give the garden at least a week to fill in a little more, and will have another higher quality video up soon. And definitely more photos.

Fashion Design Template for Photoshop CS 6

I've been dabbling in fashion design for about the last 8 years. I haven't had any kind of consistency or "line" or really many clients. The clients that I've had have all been friend recommendations and really wonderful.

This fall, I'm planning on doing my first full personal season line. I've got this really great work space for the first time and a new sewing machine that can handle the kind of fabrics that I want to work in.

One of the biggest problems that I've run into is that when I get an idea I don't want to spend a lot of time drawing out the model for that design idea. So I decided to create a pre-made model in a photoshop psd file that people could download to design on. I'll be smoothing it out to have a cleaner look, adding more features, and posting them as I do so. 

But for now, here's beta test / download #1

Available for Download through my DeviantArt

The model has a few options so far.

Hair Colour: Red, Brunette, Blonde, Black, and Pink

The modesty pasties and panties are optional.

The hands are on a separate group of layers so that they can be seen above your design layers.


Features that will soon be added:
More footwear, Optional footwear so she can be barefoot, and at least one up-do for her hair to get it off the shoulders.


I did create this in Photoshop CS6. I'm not sure if it will open in older versions, but I hope it will.
If you have problems with this or the program feel free to message me at WalkerAndWhite@gmail.com

Pinterest DIY Beauty

From Gluten Free Army Wife

Last night I tried out a new body/leg scrub, because Pinterest is highly addicting and makes me want to try every home remedy I run across. 

I personally have huge issues with my skin. As a model, it's kind of extra-difficult to deal with. I have  Eczema and super super pale skin. So.. not really a great combo for looking "healthy in front of the camera". There are certain fabrics, and products I avoid and it works out okay. Things like body products containing alcohol or strong fragrances, and that 90's weird stretch-spandex fabric - which as far as I'm concerned, nobody should be wearing anyway. Despite all my efforts to avoid irritants, and follow healthy regimin of not-too-hot showers and lotion-lotion-lotion, my skin is regularly dull and unhappy. 

I recently figured out that if I take a vitamin D supplement every single day in addition to my regular multi vits, it helps my skin, hair, and the circles under my eyes. But for my legs, it's just not enough.

I ran into this recipe through Pinterest and decided to make one of my own.

Here is what I used:

2 1/2 Cups of Sugar 

1 Cup of Coconut Oil (I bought mine in a large container on amazon for $8)

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

(I skipped the lemon on her page because I couldn't imagine getting a nick while shaving and then rubbing lemon into that wound!)

Basically, I just mixed it in an old plastic chinese food tupperware and took it up to the shower.

I took my normal shower to let my legs "soak" first, then turned the water off (plugged the tub with a little water in it to rinse the razor) and sat on the edge of the tub. 

1- I shaved my legs like normal. I use conditioner for shaving cream. My skin hates every brand of shaving cream I've ever used.

2 - scrub, scrub, scrub. I grabbed a handfull of the stuff and just scrubbed in circular motions (not too fast/hard) my legs. 

3 - Rinse it off! I just stood up and turned the shower on again for a minute. Easy.

4 - Shaaave again! I definitely had to rinse my razor after every stroke. I also used the scrub on my arms/elbows at that point, standing up in shower w/o water on. I figured it's a sugar scrub, may as well be soft everywhere.

5 - Rinse it off again! 

6 - Wash that shit off with some soap! ---I didn't do this at first. I toweled off, applied some lotion, and then went about the rest of my evening. Within 1/2 hour my skin was super itchy. I had to get back in the shower, and wash it off with a soft goat soap, do the lotion again, and then it felt pretty great. #SensativeSkinProblems. :P 

7 - Follow up with a good quality lotion. Skip the "bath and bodyworks" style extra chemical/fragrance crap and go straight for the good-for-me stuff. ^_~

Overall I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. My body really does feel softer, and my legs really needed that old skin gone. I still have 1/2 a container of the stuff too. :) 

I feel like if I do this on a regular basis (maybe once every other week) it'll definitely improve things. 

I'm really finding out that lotion just isn't enough by itself when you have sensitive skin.

You can follow my Pinterest beauty board here.

For my face, I've been one of those do-as-little-as-possible girls. I don't touch my face with soap, but I don't really have a real cleanser for removing makeup/everyday wash either. My skin has been suffering, and at 25 I'm starting to notice changes. I'm not really going to complain about them, because they're not THAT awful, but I'm certainly not thrilled. I've been trying to find a gentle cleanser that works, makes a difference, and then follow up with a good alcohol free toner. (Note: Alcohol content in body products of any kind drys out your skin.)

My current trial run for my face:

1 - Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. It has phenomenal reviews online, so I picked it up this week at Ulta in a small trial size. I really hate buying full size products when I'm trying something new. It's not just the extra money for something you might not use, but the whole subject of excess. If I don't like a product, I won't use it. If I buy a full size and I don't use the rest, it sits there and takes up space and eventually gets thrown out - which certainly doesn't follow my attempts at sustainability. 

Regardless, I've only tried this product twice. Since I'm not used to washing my face every day other than the shower, I'm starting off at only once a day. I know a lot of girls do morning and then night. But I'm easing into product use. 

So far, I love the way my skin feels afterwards but keep it the hell away from your eyes!

Reviews also available @ Nordstrom

2 - Thayer's Alchohol Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Skin Toner. I follow up the wash with a toner. I read online that toner is for cleaning what the cleanser missed and then eventually tightening and firming up the skin. I purchased a great one on Amazon that I absolutely love so far (all of two days of use, lol). I really did need the "double cleaning" that I didn't think I would. Witch Hazel is pretty much an all-star home remedy. This toner is pretty badass. I read some reviews that said the scent was too much for them, but as a rose enthusiast I love it. (I got the big bottle since no little one was available)

@ Amazon

3 - Looootion. I've been using Cetaphil lotion for a few years now. It's pretty epic wonderful. It works, and it is sensative. A little more pricey, but it lasts a long time. I only buy one big pump bottle about once a year.

I use it every morning and after I take off any makeup/wash my face.

Cetaphil Website

4 - More lotion! When my skin gets extra dry or if there is a lot of harsh weather (too hot or too cold) I use a "mask" of lotion when I go to bed. I've been using Aquaphor since my dermatologist suggested it recently. It goes on like Vaseline, but by morning I can see a difference in the moisture of my skin. 

@Amazon for small size

As for a body lotion? I have yet to find one that I'm satisfied with really. I'm open to suggestions. ^_^

Proper Hello

I apparently only got around to talking about one aspect of me/my life when I started this blog. Oops! A little more about myself, I suppose..


Other than the modeling I do a lot of other things: 


I own/run an Etsy shop that sells a lot of my personal hand made and original art jewelry, some of my own photography, some custom hats, and eventually I'd like to make fashion level and wearable art style wedding dresses. ^_~ 

These are available for purchase at my etsy shop.

I also garden - a LOT. There will be a lot of photos posted on here of and about it.  For now you can check out my youtube video walk through. (It's my first ever vlog, so be kind!)

I also design and sew custom clothing orders - for example, I just completed a very fashionable and custom beige lace dress with custom vintage belt for a client. 

And! I'm a noob foodie. Myself, my boyfriend, and our roomie tend to go out 4-5 nights a week. Which is a lot! But Philadelphia has some incredible food, locations, wine, and craft beer to enjoy! I plan on reviewing a lot of my favourite local places and some new ones along the way.
In the mean time you can check out my google map of some of my fav great local places. 

(Taken at Theresa's Next Door)

(Note: That middle cheese was easily my favourite. Mmm, ash flavor.)

My day job? I'm a personal assistant to the property manager of a local VIP style office center. I enjoy the organization and the relationships with the tenants, though like all work places there are "those days." And I certainly don't get paid enough, though I'm pretty sure it is normal for someone to say that, haha.