Coffee Sugar Body Scrub

 "Coffee coffee coffee, bringing people together" is what my now, father-in-law sang in attempt to tell our wedding guests the story of how my husband and I met. Well, tonight, I'm singing, "coffee coffee coffee helping people get smooth skin."

The other benefits of the coffee sugar body scrub? Legend has it that Sirens used ground coffee as an exfoliate for it's natural antioxidant properties, to increase blood flow and improve their fins skins texture.

The Fixin's:

• 2 C coffee (Any coffee is fine but I'm a Seattle gal so Starbucks it is - just make sure it's ground for a paper cone filter or slightly finer)

• 1/2 C Raw Sugar or Sea Salt

• 1/4 C oil (actual massage oil is ideal but I used good ol' olive oil)

• 1 t Vanilla

• a few drops of Vitamin E Oil (Optional)

What To Do:
Prep: A couple days before hand begin collecting your used coffee grounds after your morning brew.

Step 1: Mix all your ingredients together either by hand or with a mixer. Store in a plastic*, seal-able container.

Step 2: Go use it! While showering, apply in circular motions to wet skin then rinse!

*I say plastic, because if you're like me, you will drop it, more then once, while standing wet and naked in the shower...(awkward)!

Cleanse Your Face With Oil? - REVISED

Being someone who has suffered from acne since the good 'ol middle school days, there's almost nothing I wouldn't try, in effort to overcome it. So, when I discovered the 'Oil Cleansing Method,' I was intrigued.

I gave it a shot last January and let me tell you, my face has never been so soft and so hydrated through the winter months. However, it is now mid-April and I have the worst case of acne that I have ever had!!! The culprit? The Oil Cleansing Method. A much anticipated trip to my dermatologist confirmed that. According to her, while this method can fair nicely for some individuals (most likely those who don't suffer from acne and typically have dry skin) this is not an appropriate alternative for anyone with combination, oily or acne prone skin.
That being said, I apologize to anyone who also converted to this method only to discover it did more harm than good. And to anyone considering it, my advice is - DON'T DO IT!!!!

If you still feel the urge to give this method a shot...read on. More information can also be found here.



The Oil Cleansing Method works like this:

Step 1: Pour a quarter sized amount of oil into your palm and rub your palms together to heat the oil.

Step 2: Begin massaging your dirty, make-upped face with your fingers in slow firm motions. Spend extra time around your problem areas. This is the oils chance to work into your pores and dissolve impurities.

Step 3: Soak a clean washcloth under hot water, wring and place on your face until it cools. The steam from the hot washcloth will assist in lifting the dirt and crud out of your pores. Once the washcloth has cooled, gently wipe your face. NEVER scrub. Scrubbing is bad news bears!

Step 4: Repeat step 3, twice more.

Still interested? Here's how to make your very own oil cleanser:

The Fixins':
Castor Oil* - does the cleaning
Almond, Grape seed, Jojoba, Olive or Sunflower Seed Oil - does the moisturizing and nourishing
Travel Size, snap top container

What To Do:
Step 1: Carefully fill your clean travel size container about 20% full with the Castor Oil.
Step 2: Fill the remaining 80% with your desired second oil of choice.

For acne prone skin, add a couple drops of tea tree oil to your bottle.
Give your skin a week or so to adjust to this routine.

*Yes, castor oil is also used as a laxative. Don't be alarmed, that's simply another qualification on it's resume.

Memory Jar

As a newly married couple with so many exciting opportunities on the horizon, I thought it'd be a fun tradition to begin documenting each year through a Memory Jar. The idea is to write down funny stories, significant events or heartfelt moments as they happen.


The Fixin's:

• 3x5 note cards or card stock cut to size
• a collection jar or box
• felt-tip pen

What To Do:

Step 1: Designate your collection jar or box and place it in a well traveled area where you will see it often.

Step 2: Punch holes in each card so when the year comes to an end you can easily secure them together with binder clips.

Step 3: Add memories through out the months, then, on New Years Day, make a date with your loved ones to flip through and reminisce 2012's Highlights!

Some examples of our silly memories so far include:

TV Stand Make-Over

I was about a moment away from handing this over to Goodwill when the snow hit. Boredom set in and the light bulb went on! 'Why don't I just paint it?' I thought to myself? So I did!

Our hand-me-down TV stand went from looking like this

to this!

The Fixin's:

• something old

• paint

• paint supplies: brush, sand paper, primer, etc.

• knobs (can be found at Pier 1, World Market, Anthropology, JoAnn's)

• contact paper (Target, Walmart, some grocery stores)

What To Do:
Step 1: I began by removing the old knobs. It would have been too much of a fuss to take the doors off their hinges so I left them on.

Step 2: With the sand paper I went over any rough areas.

Step 3: Paint! I went with what we had on hand, since we were snowed in, so I didn't even consider priming or staining the wood first. It took 2 coats, which I did a few hours apart. Normally, I'd let dry for longer intervals but with our heat blasting that day I was able to get away with it.

Step 4: I lined the inside with contact paper. Baby Bruno supervised this step.

Step 5: Originally, I had picked up a variety of knobs for a different project, which would have been far less fun,

so I chose my 2 favorites and replaced the old ones with these!

And there you have it! Good as new!

Hex Bracelets

I’m at it again, stealin’ Dad’s tools for a much prettier and arguably more functional purpose.



The Fixin’s:
Hex nuts – Any size and amount you’d like. I used about 30 on each bracelet.
Twine, ribbon or leather string – 3 yards per bracelet.
Spray paint – optional, depending what color you want your beads.

What To Do:
Prep: Spray paint your hex bolts well in advanced. Mine took a couple layers, with a solid day of drying before I used them.

Step 1: Cut 3, 1 yard strands of your preferred string type and secure the ends of one side together with tape or a lose knot. Pin the secured end to the top of your work space. I safety pinned it to a pillow which worked well, mostly because it allowed me to keep my butt glued to the couch so I could watch endless hours of FRIENDS…a personal goal I had this week. Which, by the way, I accomplished!

Step 2*: Braid from the secured end, your desired length, until you’d like your bolts to appear. For me, this was about 2 inches.



Step 3: When you’re ready to start adding the beads, string the first hex nut onto the left strand and cross its end to the middle.



Step 4: String the second hex nut onto the right strand and cross it to the middle, over the left strand.



Step 5: String the 3rd hex nut onto the non-beaded strand, which is now on the left, and cross in into the middle.



Step 6: Repeat steps 3 – 5 until you’ve achieved your desired length. Once that’s done, braid the remaining tail of your string and tie off. You can then trim your ends to fit your preference. I left mine long enough to wrap around the wrist twice, once with the hex nuts and then again just as a braid.



*Another alternative to the standard braid is the Hemp Knot, which I used here.



It’s as simple as the braid.

Step 1: Start by separating your strands into a left, middle and right position.



Step 2: Take the left strand and cross the end over top of the middle and right strand.


Then bring it underneath the right and middle strand, and pull it back out.

Basically, you are tying a knot around the middle and right strand with the left one.



Step 3: Repeat step 2 with the right stand; and then again with the left side. Do this until you’ve achieved the length you desire then tie off.





And that's all there is to it. Nice work! Or, in the words of Ross, "Hot Stuff!!!"

No More Shampoo?!?!?!

I know, if this is the first time you're hearing this it sounds a bit Tree-Hugger EXTREME! At least that's what I thought. But then I tried it. The Baking Soda Wash & Vinegar Rinse has won me over and I'm excited to share this with you!

The Fixin’s:
Baking Soda
Vinegar (apple cider works best and smells better!)
Vanilla (masks the vinegar smell)

Baking Soda Wash

For Single Use:
1 T baking soda
Water (enough to make a paste)

For Multiple Uses:
1 part baking soda
3 parts water
Squeeze container

Vinegar Rinse

For Single Use:
2 T vinegar
8-10 ounces of water

For Multiple Uses:
1 part vinegar
4 parts water
1 T vanilla
Squeeze container

What To Do:

Step 1: Combine the above ingredients together to make your desired amount. Here I reused a 24 oz dish soap container.

Step 2: Shake the Baking Soda Wash well before squirting directly onto your wet scalp. Massage your scalp like you would with shampoo and leave in for 1-3 minutes. Now how you spend these next three minutes are up to you. What you do in the shower is your business…
You’ll notice you won’t get that same nice and foamy lather here like you would if you were using shampoo, but I promise you it’s a very small sacrifice to make.

Step 3: Rinse the Baking Soda Wash from your hair. Next, squirt the Vinegar Rinse onto your scalp and through your strands – careful not to get it in your eyes. Rinse out after 30 seconds. FYI – the vinegar smell doesn’t stick around once your hair has dried.

Step 4: Wash behind your ears, under your arms and in your belly button, like your mother taught you and get on with your day.

Benefits of using the Baking Soda Wash:

• Similar to the Oil Method theory, using shampoo strips our hair and scalp of its natural oils, thus causing our oil glands to produce even more. By washing with baking soda, your hair is cleansed of impurities without striping away the healthy, much needed oils.

• Also – baking soda is an inexpensive, natural, chemical free alternative to the harsh dies and the hard to pronounce toxins listed on the back of those shampoo bottles.

• The after affect of washing with baking soda leaves my hair softer, fuller in volume and easier to manage. I can even go a day without washing – something I could never do with shampoo. Within 6 hours after washing with shampoo my scalp would be oily again.

• It's GLUTEN FREE!!!
  

Benefits of the Vinegar Rinse:

• Vinegar restores the pH balance of hair by removing residues which cause it to look dull. In other words, it makes your hair SHINY!
  
  

• It also closes your hairs cuticles promoting strong, tangle free strands.

• Helps prevent dandruff.

• It's GLUTEN FREE!!!

DIY Household Cleaners

Today, boys and girls…or should I just say, girls? Do boys even know what household cleaners are? Anyways, today we are making easy, every day use household cleaners. Laundry Detergent, Dish Washing Soap and Multi-Surface Cleaner to be exact. Here we go…

Laundry Detergent

The Fixin’s:

3 c Washing Soda
3 c Borax
3 bars of Fels soap - apparently this stuff is “da bomb!” or at least that’s what the 45 year old checker told me when I bought it.

What To Do:

Step 1: If you don’t have the above ingredients, go to Fred Meyer. They are the only place I’ve found so far that carry all three. They are even all nicely placed next to each other in the detergent isle. Talk about one-stop-shopping.


Step 2: Begin by grating the Fels soap. If you have a Cuisinart- this is the time to use it! If you don’t have one, meet a nice man to marry and register for one. They are awesome!


Step 3: Swap out the grater blade for the general use blade and add the washing soda and borax. Blend until ingredients are finely ground and mixed. An actual blender would also work well here.




Step 4: Store in a air-tight canister. Use 1 tablespoon for a small load, 2 for a medium, 3 for a large.




Dishwasher Soap

The Fixin’s:
1 c borax
1 c washing soda
½ c citric acid
½ c kosher salt

What To Do:
Step 1: Whisk it all together in a large bowl, then pour into an air tight canister.
Step 2: Use 2 tablespoons per load.



Multi-Surface Cleaner

The Fixin’s:
2 T Vinegar
1 t borax
3 drops of Dawn dish soap
10 drops of essential oil (optional)

What To Do:
Step 1: Mix it all together into an empty spray bottle.
Step 2: Add a little warm water and swirl to dissolve the borax. Continue to add warm water to the rest of the bottle.

Look how clean!