Mud Scrub: DIY

What is Mud Scrub you ask?? Well... basically it’s a sugar and coffee scrub. I love it! Especially because the coffee has such great benefits for your skin. 

Coffee and Caffeine are showing up all over in beauty products due to their tightening and antioxidant effects on the skin. Caffeine, works on skin in the three primary ways: as a vasoconstrictor, an antioxidant, and a diuretic. Applied topically caffeine helps to redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of cellulite. It also acts as a vasorestrictor, tightening and shrinking blood vessels thereby helping eliminate varicose veins.

Guess what! It can make you feel more alert too, this is because you associate the smell with the invigorating effects of drinking coffee (it's a learned response).

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What you will need:

1 C Sugar (white, brown, cane) 

5 TBSP Coffee grounds 

1/4 C oil 

(veggie oil, almond oil, extra virgin olive oil, baby oil…) 

1 tsp Peppermint Extract 

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Mix:

Mix sugar and coffee. 

Add small amounts of oil to the sugar/coffee mix until everything is coated. 

(You may not need the full 1/4 C, I didn’t use all of it) 

Add any fragrance you like. I chose to use Peppermint and Vanilla and they blend well with the coffee aroma. 

Mix well. and You’re done. 

If you find it a little watery from the oil, just add more sugar and or coffee.

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This recipe can be tweaked to your liking.

A few tips:

◦ If you have sensitive skin, do not add coffee grounds and use brown sugar (as it is less abbrasive) 

◦ If you would like a coarser scrub, try 1/2 C of sugar and 1/2 C of coffee grounds.

You can see pictures from our our Spa Day here. We had a blast! 


** for those that have inquired, my handmade dolls are available @ stitchedvintage.com

Pinwheels + Summer Decorating

Pinwheels (or as Adelyn calls them “ballerina flowers”) are a fantastic summertime decoration.

Whether you’re setting up for a wedding, baby shower,
4th of July party or just a random summer party,
Pinwheels are an easy and fast way to add splashes of color throughout

I love the idea of using them as favor tops and centerpieces!!!

A lot of brides are opting for Pinwheel bouquet’s instead of the traditional flower bouquets.
Which I think is such a neat idea.

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Want to make some yourself??

I used brown paper lunch bags. 
Mainly because a big pack of them have been sitting in the cupboard for over a year.
But, I love the way they turned out!
Definitely a little flimsy, and if little hands are going to be playing with your pinwheels,
I’d suggest you use a thick cardstock.

I love the idea of attaching small pinwheels to a toothpick and using as cupcake toppers.
Or as wedding cake décor??

What about attaching mini pinwheels to stirring straws (instead of drink umbrellas).
Oh, the possibilities are endless!

Adelyn loves them!

Don’t forget to click on the pictures to be taken to there little home on the web.
When you get there.. you will be amazed at all the beautiful photgraphs!!!

# kristanlynn
xoxo   

DIY Citrus Salt Scrub

 

It’s that time of year. Where you need all the exfoliation you can get! Everyone wants fabulous beach-ready skin! And lets be real, if you’re anything like me… exfoliating just didn’t seam important when you’re all covered up in winter clothing. Well, now it’s time to peel of those layers of clothing AND skin! Here is a fantastic recipe and I just know you will have all the ingredients in your kitchen.

What you will need:

• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  (or olive, almond or coconut oil) 
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice (or zest) 
• 1/2 tsp orange zest (not necessary)

 

photo credit: via

MIX:

• First mix the oil and sea salt together. (Add a bit of oil at a time, you may not need all that is called for! I've made a few batches, each time it's taken different amounts.) 
• Add orange zest. 
• Drizzle the lemon juice over the salt and oil mix.(you do not want too much lemon juice, or else your mixture will become a watery consistency.)
• Mix well. Store in a air tight container.

 

 

How to exfoliate: Clean body as normal in shower.  Just before getting out, apply salt scrub in a firm circular motion all over body.  Concentrating on those knees and elbows! Rinse and pat dry with towel.

Now I’m ready for the beach.
If only there were beaches in Tennessee!!!

# kristanlynn
xoxo

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Sun Sweet Peach Tea

Nothing says SUMMER is here better than some Sweet Tea brewin’ on the back porch!

I’m constantly craving Snapples Peach Tea, and always sending Craig out to grab some.
So when I seen Lipton’s Iced Tea w/ Hint of Peach at the grocery store the other day,
I HAD to try it!

__________________________________________________

¼ C Sugar
1 Mason jar
Lipton Iced Tea w/ Hint of Peach
The sun.

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Add sugar to mason jar.
Fill with water and stir.
Add 2 tea bags.
Set in sun and let it brew all day.
Place in fridge until cold.
Remove tea bags.
Add ice.

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Sip right out of the mason jar.
There is nothing better than sweet tea outta a mason jar!

Close your eyes, tune out the kids, and breathe.

OH the simple things in life.

# kristanlynn
xoxo   

P.S. WHO knew Robots could be so cool! Check out this Robot Giveaway!
P.S..S. New cards in the shop. Check em out.

DIY Clean eyes!

Eye make-up remover is so darn expensive!
Here is a quick and cheap DIY Eye Make-up Remover recipe.

If you have kids, you’ll have the materials!
If you don’t… and you have to buy ingredients,
well, you’ll spend less than 3 dollars!
And get at least 30 bottles of remover.

Ingredients:
1 C water
1½ TBSP Baby Shampoo (tear free)
⅛ TSP Baby Oil (Cocunut Oil or Olive Oil) EDIT! Due to the overwhelming response to my use of Baby Oil. Please Note: Some say you should not use Baby Oil on your face, others say you should not use it period. If you are worried about it’s effects, just use Coconut Oil or Olive Oil. I will say that I have super duper expensive eye cream, that has mineral oil in it… andddd I don’t see a problem with it, BUT that’s just me. =) I mean c’mon… it’s like literally a DROP of oil you’re using. LOL. To each his own. Next time I make it I’ll probably try the coconut oil.

Materials:
Mixing Bowl
Measuring cup/spoons
Bottle to put finished product in (I used an empty medicine bottle; an empty baby oil bottle would work GREAT)
Small funnel (or improvise like me)

Combine ingredients.

Stir

Pour
I didn’t have a funnel.. and didn’t feel like messing with a  make-shift one.
I poured the mix from the bowl into a plastic cup (I guess I could have just mixed it in the cup?!)
I squeezed the top of the cup into a point and poured. Worked just fine.

I didn’t have enough room in my little bottle.
So I’m storing the rest into little glass jars.

Verdict:

It works PERFECT! Actually better than some super expensive brands I’ve tried!
It doesn’t leave a greasy film like most, and takes off the make up in one swipe.

WAIT!
Don’t put that Baby Oil away just yet… there are soooo many uses for it!
My favorite:
Stick it in your shower.
Rub it all over right before you get out next time.
Let the water rinse it away for about 30 seconds.
And VOILA, your skin is as soft as a baby’s bum… and has a glow to it too!
Edit: AGAIN… use Baby Oil AT YOUR OWN RISK.

What are some of your favorite uses for baby oil??

Hope everyone’s having fantástico weekend!

# kristanlynn
xoxo      

P.S. Fantástico?? Thanks Dora!


** for those that have inquired, my handmade dolls are available @ stitchedvintage.com