An Experiment
06 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in DIY!, Everyday stuff, Oh, Pretty!
I’ve been browsing Pinterest a lot lately and I came across a post for a homemade facial cleanser. I’ve been trying to get rid of a lot of the chemicals in the house so naturally I’ve been looking for beauty products. All I could think was “SWEET but I might have to change it a bit.” You see, I have normal skin and the recipe was for dry skin so there was going to be a problem there. So today I decided to take the plunge and give it a try. Here’s my altered version for normal skin.
Oil facial cleanser: equal parts of castor oil and grape seed oil, plus a few drops of essential oil (I used eucalyptus). Put into a sealable container and shake until combined. Pour onto a cotton ball, or wash cloth and rub onto your face until clean. rinse with warm water and wash off extra oil if desired.
That’s it. All oils, but it does an amazing job! I left the extra oil on my face for an hour so my skin could soak some of it in, then wiped my face with a wash cloth that has a very small amount of my favorite soap on it (One With Nature Dead Sea Mud Soap) just so my skin didn’t have that oily look for the pic that I’m posting. In the future I’m going to leave the oil on my skin overnight. My skin is so soft and doesn’t have that tight, dry feeling it can get with normal soaps.
Here’s the before:
and after:
My after kinda looks like it left a lot of makeup around my eyes, but that’s just the way they look. I’m getting good at covering my dark circles!
On a related note, I’ve always gotten really dry skin during the winter and lotions, even the ones with cocoa butter, have never helped. I went out on a limb this year and decided to try putting coconut oil on my skin twice a day. Not only does my skin look and feel amazing (never had that happen with store-bought lotions!) but I haven’t had a problem with dry flaky winter skin this year.
An Updated Book
16 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in DIY!
I recieved this book for my 6th birthday. I remember taking it for to show and tell in 1st grade. It’s been well loved over the years and was in need of TLC.
The spine was starting to split at the bottom so I had to repair it. As I was working on that I thought why not recover the whole book? I was planning on keeping it around until it turned to dust anyways. So I did.
The new cover is made from Alyssa’s old baby clothes and lace trim I had lying around. Alyssa loves it and calls it her pretty book.
Christmas Time Is Here!
16 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Everyday stuff, People in My Life
On the 10th we took my parents to the Longmont Lights Parade on Main St. Alyssa loved it and Ben about froze.
I think Ben looks like a turtle!
My Latest Creation (and the link to the tutorial!)
15 Jun 2011 1 Comment
in DIY!
It’s a heat mask for when I get migraines or for when I just want to relax. My tutorial for it it found on Cut Out + Keep.
She’s 3!
30 Apr 2011 1 Comment
in Adventures in Mommy Land, Alyssa, People in My Life, Stuff close to my heart
Happy Birthday sweetheart! We love you!
Images: Alyssa minutes after birth April 2008, Alyssa hunting for eggs April 2011.
He Lives!
24 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
I couldn’t say it any better if I tried. He is a Hero, the Savior of the world!
Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10 ESV (verse numbers removed) Song: Abandon’s Hero. Video found on Youtube.
Death Gives Me Life
22 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
His life was given for us. Our sins were passes onto Him so we can enter heaven. He is our Passover lamb, the sacrifice so we may live.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
The curtain has been torn so we may enter God’s presence. What a wonderful day this is!
Scripture: Matthew 27: 45-54 ESV (verse numbers removed.)
We’d Love You Forever!
13 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Everyday stuff, People in My Life, Stuff close to my heart
Ben, along with the rest of Antherium are in an online Battle of the Bands. If they are in the top 100 bands when voting closes they will get the chance to play at Warped 2011 here in Denver. Is there any better place for a Christian band to get their message out? I think not!
As of now they are on page 6 rankes at #92
They need all the votes they can get to stay in the top 100, and to move up the ranks! The guys would love you forever if you voted for them everyday! I have!
You can find them here: Battle of the Bands-Antherium
Guilty Pleasure? Yes, Please!
12 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in DIY!, Oh, Pretty!
I’ll admit it. I have a guilty pleasure, although it’s not food like most would think (although I am known for stealing Alyssa’s Fruit Rollups!). It’s not sneaking away for a day without the kid, or even the occasional mani/pedi, seeing as I’ve never had one before. It’s even one that I bet no one would have expected me to have.
My weapon of choice?
I just LOVE looking through the hundreds of pages worth of designer clothes that are oh so gorgeous! I was looking through the March 2011 issue with Lady Gaga on the cover when I came across several ads for Fendi. Then I saw this dress from the spring/summer 2011 Fendi Collection.
Simply AMAZING! Wrap around skirt, empire waist, tank under an almost strapless look. I like! I must find a way to recreate this dress. It’s begging for a DIY.
Anyone else have a guilty pleasure that no one knew about?
images: Vogue logo (google search), Fendi dress
Oh The Dress!
11 Apr 2011 2 Comments
in DIY!, Everyday stuff, Stuff close to my heart
We have a wedding to go to at the end of May, and as any woman knows, that means dress shopping. Something I hate to do because the cutest dresses are either too expensive or I can’t find one to fit me.
I had decided to sew one from a Vintage Vogue pattern. That is, until I discovered that it would cost me close to $100 for the pattern, the fabric and the closures. Not cool. I could buy one at Macy’s for that! Off I went to search for a cheaper pre-made dress. I had found one from Forever 21, but I still wanted to make my own! What’s a girl to do!
Now I have a few dresses I was going to donate. I loved the prints on them , but not so much the fit. Why donate when I can re-style them into something new!
Concept #1.
Sweetheart neckline, 2 inch wide halter strap, gathered bubble skirt, solid underskirt to add length. fabric would be from a black dress and a blue/white/black print dress. Total cost for me? Less than $10 for a zipper, thread and a ball point needle.
Concept #2
scoop neckline, A-line skirt, with a contrasting belt. Made from a black tank dress, and a green/black/yellow/grey print t-shirt dress. Total cost will be around $25, depending on the price of colored leather/other stiff fabric, belt closures, and thread.
I already know I’m going to make both, I just hae to wait for payday to get started. Hurry up Friday!
