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.

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!

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!

Date In A Box (not to be confused with another D-word In A Box)

For Christmas this year we gave Dirk and Rebecca* a pre-planned, and partially paid for, date. It all began when we bought them a Groupon for Go-Karting and realized we needed a little something extra to fill their evening with.

Enter: Dirk & Rebecca's Date In A Box


The Fixin's:
A note card with instructions
2 Envelopes, labeled: Restaurants, Dares
A CD for their driving entertainment
A pre-planned activity (Go-Karting)
Some props (bag of change, disguise glasses)

What To Do:

Step 1: Based on what your couple likes to do, seek out a fun activity they can participate in. This can be a movie (un-original but whatever), batting cages, rock climbing, bike riding, putt-putt golf, laser tag, comedy show, a concert, the Fair, street markets, wine tastings, cooking class, anything! Make them a card showing the activity’s details (time, place, location) and if you're feeling really generous, pre-pay their way for them and include their tickets.

Step 2: If you're really close with this couple, you most likely know what songs are "theirs." Put them together on a CD for them to, you know...set the mood.

Step 3: Google the location of their activity and write down 5 - 8 fast food restaurants on individual strips of paper and put them in an envelope marked, 'Restaurants.' This is for the progressive dinner part of the date. They'll only visit a total of 5 (one for: drinks, appetizers, main course, dessert and coffee, in that order) but by giving them a few extra choices you allow them an opportunity to veto a restaurant they may not like.



Step 4: For each restaurant stop they make, come up with a dare. Write the dare on a note card and specify on the back which stop this is to be done at, (ex. drinks) then put them in an envelope marked, 'Dares.' One dare must be completed at each stop, but it doesn't matter who does it. For each dare completed, that person gets a point. The person who has the least amount of points buys coffee, or in D & R case, pays for the rest of Go-Karting.



Here are the dares that Peter and I came up with:

For drinks...

For appetizers...

For the main course...

For dessert...

For coffee...

Step 5: Include any props needed to assist in these dares. For this we used the disguise glasses and a bag of change.


Step 6: Complete the date box with instructions. Encourage them also to take pictures for each stage of the night, that way the next gift you give them can be a photo album...just kidding.

Pictures of Dirk & Rebecca’s Date In A Box coming soon!!!

*Speaking of Rebecca, check out what she's up to at:
365 Thousand Words
Rebecca Anne Photography

DIY Eye Make-Up Remover

Wipe those eyes, girl! And do it for a fraction of the cost!

The Fixin's:
1 c of warm water
1 1/2 T baby shampoo
1 t of whatever is in the kitchen - almond, grape seed, jojoba, olive or sunflower seed oil
Travel size container(s)


What To Do:
Step 1: Mix the warm water, baby shampoo and oil together and pour into clean containers.


Step 2: To use, gently apply a generous amount to a cotton ball. Hold the saturated ball over your closed eye long enough to let the cleanser work into your lashes. Gently swipe your lashes in a downward motion to remove make up. Wipe away any gunk under your eye and in the crease. Repeat for the second eye with a clean cotton ball.



While you're at it, lather up your make-up brushes with the baby shampoo and give them a good washin'. Rinse, perform the 'accio water off' wand flick (Harry Potter, anyone?) and lay flat on a clean towel to dry.