DIY Body Sugar Scrub! || Peppermint & Melaleuca

Sugar scrubs are an amazing natural way to exfoliate your skin leaving it healthy!

Importance of Exfoliating:

Proper exfoliation removes the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and uncovers fresh new cells below. This opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which makes them more effective. In short, a regular exfoliatingroutine will leave your skin looking fresh and healthy.

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This is an easy DIY recipe for a peppermint & Melaleuca scrub!

Peppermint Benefits:

Reduces stomach aches, great for sinus issues (seasonal threats, stuffiness, etc), helps with head discomfort, soothes muscle aches and looses them up, antimicrobial, soothes digestion, freshens breath, stress/emotional upset reliever... basically, peppermint is amazing and a MUST HAVE).

Melaleuca Benefits:

Melaleuca is known for its cleansing and rejuvenating effects on the skin (Hello! of course i put it in my body sugar scrub!). Helps with environmental and/or seasonal threats. Promotes healthy immune function!

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Recipe

Ingredients 

• Raw Sugar (1 Cup)
•  coconut oil and/or almond oil (1/4 Cup)
• Peppermint Essential oil (3-4 drops)
• Melaleuca Essential oil (3-4 drops)
• Glass sealable jars!

Directions:

Soften/Liquify coconut oil using hot water (don't use stove or microwave as the coconut oil being too hot can run the consistency of the sugar).

you can add in a little almond oils if desired.

place in measuring cup.

add sugar!

add in Essential oil drops!

its so important to get good quality oils! (especially the melaleuca). "large amount of what is called tea tree is either synthetic or adulterated to include synthetics. In addition to this issue, much of the "real stuff" is actually distilled with a chemical distillation process, making it much more precarious to use"

i only trust Doterra!

where you can purchase oils---> https://www.mydoterra.com/christacox/ {join and save!}

DIY Sugar Scrubs! {Holiday Gifts}

In my search to finding a great sugar scrub recipe for some holiday gifts.. 

i found some really great ones and i thought id share my top 5!

Enjoy!

(Website links are under the image)

Simple Sugar Scrub Recipe 

Sugar Scrub Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown sugar- preferably organic)
• 1/2 cup oil (olive oil and coconut oil work great)
• Optional: essential oils of your preference

Sugar Scrub Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients and store in an air tight jar.
2. Use 1 tablespoon as needed in the shower. Scrub skin with the mixture and rinse will. it will leave your skin feeling like silk.

Peppermint Sugar scrub Recipe 

INGREDIENTS
2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Coconut Oil (or Almond oil if you prefer)
Red Food Coloring
Peppermint Essentials Oil 

Optional:  Add a tablespoon of Vegetable Glycerine for extra moisturizer.  Glycerine is not easily found in stores so do yourself and favor and order it online.  It will save you time and gas.  Trust me.  It makes your skin amazingly soft.

DIRECTIONS
Pour sugar into medium sized bowl.
Mix in coconut oil (add more if you like a wet consistency).
Add a few drops of your Peppermint Essentials Oil.
Divide your sugar mixture into two equal sized portions.
Mix in a few drops of red food coloring to one portion (be careful not to add to much or you will have a bright red).
Add your sugars to the jar in layers. Press your Sugar down with a spoon or I use a can to compact.
Alternate between your pink and white layers
Add a Label to the front and maybe a ribbon to gift.

Gingerbread Sugar Scrub Recipe

Ingredients (makes 2 1/2 cups body scrub)

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (or other carrier oil)
• 1/4 cup almond oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp all spice
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• Mason-style jar with lid

Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (You can use up to 1/2 cup if you want your scrub to have a more coarse, sand-like texture.)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (I use Trader Joe’s organic virgin coconut oil.)
• Optional>> 1 tablespoon citrus fruit zest (The zest from one piece of fruit.) (I’ve tried grapefruit, lemon, and orange.) OR
• Optional>> About 1/2 teaspoon of citrus essential oil (about 50 drops) (I’ve tried certified organic grapefruit, lemon, and orange essential oils.)

Directions

• Combine all ingredients.  (Unlike my homemade coconut oil lotions, I do not recommend heating the coconut oil prior to mixing, because hot oil will dissolve the sugar.)

Lavendar Sugar Scrub Recipe

1/2 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup Raw Sugar

up to 1/4 Olive Oil or Coconut Oil melted (or almond oil) as needed

1 tablespoon dried Lavender (optional but recommended)

3-4 drops DoTerra Lavender Essential Oil

Directions:  Mix together the sugars and slowly add the coconut or almond oil while stirring.  Pour in as much oil as you need to get your desired consistency.  I do not like my sugar scrubs too oily so I always use less than 1/4 cup.  Stir and mix thoroughly.  Stir in the essential oil and the Lavender.  Store in an airtight container.  Lasts up to 3 months if you keep bacteria and germs out of the scrub.

To use:  Rub a little bit of the scrub on your body or between your hands with a little bit of water.  Rinse with warm water to remove excess oils.  It will give your skin a nice exfoliation and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth and smelling like Lavender.  Great for use in the shower or bath and before bed time.

Pinterest DREAM Life...

Today lets talk about Pinterest. A place where we pin pictures that are linked to websites. Pictures like hair styles, photography ideas, fitness stuff, recipes, DIY project etc. We put them in albums tittled "DREAM HOME" "DREAM BODY" "MOTIVATION" "MUST HAVE" "MUST DO" "MUST MAKE" "ONE DAY.." "IN THE FUTURE" "THINGS I NEED".

Now, dont get me wrong here, i LOVE Pinterest and it can be VERY helpful when the pics are linked to sites showing you how to make something, or certain workouts etc. But i find Pinterest making me sad majority of the time. Not because its filled with dream homes, dream bodies, models with perfect hair and all that jazz (im just not that type of person), but because i see that Pinterest is a place that is full of unhappiness!

(all pics found on pinterest, feel free to pin them)

Now let me elaborate. We are taught that we should be great full for what we have. Appreciate what we have, instead of always LONGING for what we DON'T have. But not only that, these pins have tittles of "i want her face" "i want her butt" "i want her hair" "i want this house". Things that are so unrealistic. No matter how hard we work out, we all have our own body shape. I could NEVER bulk up my butt to the size i want it to be. Some girls naturally have flatter abs. Shorter and longer torsos play a HUGE effect in how our abs look and how easy it is to obtain abs. Sometimes, no matter what products we use etc, our hair WILL NOT GROW. Or its nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get it to be shiney and healthy. When some girls have shiney hair and dont even do anything!

My point is, we are always searching for what we dont have, and its sad. Can we ever be TRULY, fully, SATISFIED?

Yes its good to have goals. Yes its good to strive to be healthier. We dont magically end up where we want to be in life, we have to work hard for that job ect to make the money you want to make to live the life you want to live. So of course we strive to be better and have bigger better things.

Whats bad is when these things become un-realistic or over the top. 

We unintentionally are destroying our soul, depriving ourselves of our happiness.

Some people get CONSUMED with wanting to be someone that they are not. 

It becomes an obsession to want their face to be a different shape,

have bigger eyes, smaller nose, bigger lips, more cheek bone, perkier boobs, tighter toosh, more defined abs, more hip bone, smaller thighs.

How sad is it that we cant just be happy with who we are and what we have,

especially when we are all perfect in our own ways.

Girl #1 wants girl #2's boobs, when girl #2 is wanting girl #1's boobs.

They each have a different idea of what is perfect and arent satisfied with what they have.

Is it really realistic to cut into our bodies and PAY for these un-necessary changes.

Is it really realistic to be in a constant unsatisfaction with our bodies, lives, homes, etc.
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So my challenge to you today, is to stop wanting what we DONT have,
and start loving what we DO have.
To strive to live in a state of satisfaction, instead of envy and greed.

Maybe even blog about everything you love about yourself and your life,
then leave a comment with a link to it so i can go read it! :)

Shelby: Christmas DIY Wooden Vase

Hi pretties! I'm Shelby Osmond and i have a Christmas DIY Tutorial for you today that i'm really excited to share! When I think of Christmas I think of a natural, organic smell and what better to bring that smell into your home than a wooden vase. Here is a short tutorial on how to create your own wooden vase or give it as a present! What you'll need: -Small branches -Wood glue -Vase -Brown spray paint-non-slick paint -plastic ornament

1. We first went to the mountains, picked up a couple of dead tree limbs and brought them home to be cut into 1 inch thick chips.

2. After they were cut we got a regular glass vase and sanded it down. Note: We sanded it down so that when we glued on the wood chips there would be texture to form to, instead of just sliding off the glass. 3. Use wood glue to glue on the wood chips: Note: This is the most fun trying to get the chips to fit its like a puzzle. 4. To make the glass look more uniform we spray painted the inside brown with a non-slick paint. 5. Sand plastic ornaments and glue on chips {same as before} 

Enjoy your new organic vases, hope you'll stop by and say hello!

Our looks is little more woodsy, but hey we saved $139 

Guest Post: Hollie DIY Jewelry Frame Holder!

Hi there! I'm Hollie (aka The Drama Mama)! I am wife to Robbie, mom to Kole (almost 10), Alexie (almost 8) and Kylie (almost 5), born and raised Texan but recently picked up and moved everything to Iowa, lover of ALL arts and crafts, addicted to Pinterest and absolutely L♥VE spending time with my family and friends! Because of this love affair I have with any type of project, I love making things for Christmas gifts (mainly for the woman in my family!). But Husband has been known to whip out some ridiculously good vintage signs as well!! Last year, I attempted my first jewelry frame holder, and I absolutely love it! I made this one for my mom.... I mean, who couldn't use one of these bad boys?! I love that there are so many possibilities as far as personalizing it to fit someone you love perfectly! And the best part....it is super easy to make! All you need is: 1 frame (any style, shape, color, size...options are endless!) 3 decorative knobs (again, personalize as you wish....use as many or as few knobs as you want) 1 frame stand (purchased mine from Hobby Lobby) screen material (purchased at Home Depot) scissors staple gun drill (and 1 handyman/handywoman that can drill holes in the frame for the knobs) Step 1: Take off the back of the frame and removed glass. Step 2: You can use the back of the frame to measure your piece of screen that will cover the back. Step 3: Staple the screen around the back of the frame. *Make sure you pull it nice and tight all the way around as you are stapling. If you don't, it will droop and not look as clean or finished. Step 4: Drill holes for knobs and screw in. Lastly, place jewelry frame on your stand and Voila!! How FUN is that?! Also, if you decide to make your own frame, leave me a comment....I'd L♥VE to see it!!

 Thank you again, sweet Christa, for letting me stop by and say hello to your readers!! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!! xoxo

Jalynn: DIY Snowman Wreath!

Hi everyone!! I am Jalynn from the The Red Closet Diary.


 I am really excited to be guest posting today! I have been in a huge decorating kick lately and I figured it would be perfect to make something for Christmas. 


I searched and searched for the decoration I wanted to do. I am going to show you how to make a snowman wreath. 


The great thing about this project is it's not pricey for supplies and it literally takes five minutes to put it together!! 

What you need:

3 wreaths. The wreaths need to be different sizes to create the snowman look. I got my smallest wreath at Dollar Tree and my two bigger wreaths at Michaels Craft. The smallest wreath is 15 inches. The second one is 18 inches and the last one is 24 inches. 

Next you will need ties. You can probably use just about anything to attach the wreaths together but I found the ties to be the best.

Last, you will need accessories. You can put any kind of gloves or scarves or hats that you want!! 

This is how my snowman wreath turned out:

This was a fun project and like most, you can make it your own or personalize it and add something a little different!! I will be doing more great DIY's for the holidays and clothing DIY's, so stop by and check them out at www.theredclosetdiary.com

Happy Holidays!

DIY Fall Decor

In celebreation of it officially being FALL, my favorite season, hense why i get married in the fall (and because of my first miscarriage due date), here is a SIMPLE diy (do it yourself) project.

Im not the most crafty person on this planet but i want to be! My sweet mother is SOO crafty and always baking, i just love her and want to be like her. Well she surprised me with some fall decorations, with a catch. I had to make it! Haha. It was alot of fun! And Braylee loved helping too.

You can go to the store and buy this all made,

Or you can go to a craft store,

and make yourself!

And save money! We all want to save money right?

 *supplies*

 Cut the cone thingy thing down so that its level in the pot

 Use your glue gun for the fake grass

 I stuffed some of the grass in the sides so that the cone didnt wiggle in the pot.

 and TA-DA!

cute huh!?

 Cute leaves to add into the fall colored flowers

Told you it was simple :)