Homemade Hydrating Face And Body Scrub

Raise your hand if your skin is excessively dry with the cold, wintery weather upon us! I know my face and legs are personally taking a beating, so I've been moisturizing incessantly.

Remember how I talked about dealing with hormonal acne a few weeks ago? Exfoliation and moisturizing are a key component of great skin, so I wanted to share a little homemade recipe I've been using.

It's a hydrating face and body scrub, and it smells like a tropical paradise. Just close your eyes when using it in the shower and you will instantly transport to Bora Bora, where you will be greeted by a glistening cabana boy who brings ever-flowing (virgin) piña coladas and a platter of heart shaped fruits. Yes, it's that good.

The face and body scrub contains three ingredients, which takes only a minute to whip up.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions and how to use:

1. Mix the brown sugar (which is a great natural exfoliant) and baking soda (an excellent natural cleanser) into the moisturizer. It will be an oily consistency. Pour into a jar.

2. When in the shower, rub the scrub into your arms, legs and face. Rinse off, and pat dry.

Your skin will be so soft and delicious! I've been using this scrub as an exfoliating moisturizer for my face, and it gives it such a dewy, soft glow. Not to mention that I smell delicious. The Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer comes in three scents, but I recommend Refreshing Coconut Oil. And if you aren't into the whole scrub thing and are looking for a good moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and silky during these horridly cold and dry months, this goodness is for you! You simply apply it to wet skin after showering and then pat dry. It absorbs instantly and locks in all that moisture. Please and thank you!

I've been using Jergens products since my sister introduced me back in my awkward years of puberty, so I sincerely recommend this one. Here is a coupon for $2 off for any 10 oz bottle of of Jergens® Wet Skin ™ Moisturizer so you can make this body scrub. Or having luminous skin. They're both awesome. Choose from Refreshing Coconut Oil, Calming Green Tea Oil and Nourishing Monoi Oil. The coupon is on a first come, first served basis, so you better snag it before it runs out.

Happy moisturizing!

Disclosure: Sponsored by JERGENS® Skincare through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer, all opinions are my own.

How To Make Engineer Print Portraits For Your Wall

I posted this picture of the boys playing in our living room on Instagram a few days ago, and I had smattering of questions about our engineer print portraits. I aim to please, so here is a little tutorial on how I did them!

More than likely you have seen them floating around Pinterest, and the genius who started it was Julia Marcum of Chris Loves Julia. I am merely a copying, literally and figuratively, with these prints, and I am glad I did!

The ceilings in our living room are enormously tall, meaning there was this giant blank wall staring at me every day. I needed something that was clean, crisp, yet impactful to go on there. I toyed with the idea of a gallery wall, but since I don't have a Smithsonian supply of art or pictures, it was a deal breaker.

One day I was scrolling through my home inspiration board looking for a very specific steel framed window, when, what to my wondering eye should appear! The engineer prints! Bing! It was a done deal.

Here's a list for my process of making them and putting it all together, because I am a list-maker and that's just how my brain works.

Step 1: I started with buying the frames, which are the 27½ x 39¼ RIBBA frames from IKEA in medium brown. At $24.99 you cannot get a more sturdy and nice looking frame for that price. I promise, promise. We decided to go with three since my sister is a pulpit pounder about The Rule of Three. Good thing I obediently followed her command. We centered them and spaced them seven inches apart—I was also schooled about hanging objects—always space in odd numbers, she said! Yes, ma'am! I took the mat out because I wanted the drama of negative space and a laser sharp focus on the subject.

Step 2: Three months later after hanging the picture frames, I finally got my act together and took THE portraits to hang in the frames. I dressed Luke and Wes in neutral matching tank tops, and had them sit against a blank wall. The key to getting a good shot is the lighting. I shot in natural light next to a north-facing window around 3:30pm. That's when the light hits the sweet spot in that room and it worked like magic. I made sure to leave plenty of negative space on the top half of the portraits, so I would only have to make small cropping edits and have a better image to print.

Step 3: Editing! I have a very intense passion for editing photos. Whether it is in Photoshop or on my iPhone, I love it all. Need someone to edit your Instagram photos? I will be your editing assistant! ;) Anyway, I edited the portraits of Luke and Wes in Photoshop. First and foremost, I cleaned up the lingering dirt smudges on their faces, because boys. Then, I used Pioneer Woman's B&W action. I did, however, delete the ugly edge burn. Next, I used A Beautiful Mess actions to enhance and sharpen. My favorite action is Stella, which does a mix of brightening and sharpening. After adjusting that action, I went back to the light on the B&W action until it was closer to a pure black and white, and vibrant.

Step 4: Resizing! I wanted the photo to be as clear as possible, so I made sure my resolution was 300 dpi. Next, I selected inches and sized it to my exact measurements of 27.5 x 39.25 inches. I saved it as a PNG image file (I always feel like they give my photos a better finish versus a JPG) to my flash drive and was on my merry way to Staples!



Step 5: The folks at Staples were friendly and helpful as always. Initially, they said the file wasn't showing up in the correct dimensions, but that it wasn't an issue and they would have them ready and cut down to the exact size. After twenty minutes of roaming the back to school supplies and waxing nostalgic about my Lisa Frank folders from third grade, I heard my name being called. They showed me the finished product and I was incredibly impressed with my skills. I felt like a professional! Such exhilaration! Upon calming down about my finest works of art (my children) I finally got to the register. Because I live in California and everything here is about double from any other state, my prints were $5 each to my surprise, instead of the $3 cost you will hear about engineer prints anywhere else. Meh. The $2 difference did not matter. The outcome is WORTH. IT.

Step 6: I raced home and hung these bad boys immediately. The one downer was the stupid little groove thingamabobs jacking up my thumbnail. So, yes, word of advice: use a knife or something other than your fingernails to pry them up! There are like, 25, on each frame. Multiply that by three and that's one sore thumbnail by the end.

Ta-daaaaaa!!! I think the wall looks beautiful. (And yes, our couch is ripped and peeling. 🙈 Don't look too closely! We are in the market for a new, sturdy couch that can withstand boys. Holla if you have any good suggestions.) For under $100, it's nothing short of a miracle.

DIY Body Scrub For Sore Muscles (And A Giveaway!)

I am officially starting Week 3 of the BBG! Honestly, I cannot believe how quickly the time is going, but I have the sore muscles to prove it. They yell at me on a daily basis—especially the ones in my glutes. Oy!

Next week I will be posting my Week 4 progress pictures, but in the meantime, I wanted to share with you my body scrub I have been using to rehabilitate from all of those burpees and mountain climbers, AKA workouts from hell. No pain, no gain, right?


I have been using the bath salt crystals from Relax Spa and Bath to soak after a hard workout (which has been pretty much every single day since starting my fitness journey). The one pictured is their Recover crystals from their range of salts specifically made for athletic soak therapy.



To make the body scrub, simply add 2 tablespoons of bath crystals and about 1 teaspoon of water to a small container and mix it into a paste. Draw yourself a steamy, warm bath and scrub yourself down in all those achy places. As you soak for a few minutes, it starts to tingle all over and the relief is A-MAZING.

You lucky ducks get to enter to win a pack of eight of their aromatherapy crystals! The salts are all-natural and contain a mixture of Dead Sea salt, epsom salt, essentials oils, anti-inflammatories, vitamins, and minerals. I like to use mine in the bath because they help pull out all of those yucky toxins and moisturize my skin, but you can use them in a humidifier or in the laundry too! So many good uses and the scents are delicious.

This eight-pack includes (from left to right in the picture):

• Tropical Rain to refresh
• Dream Love Potion to set the mood, if you know what I mean... 
• Recover for sore muscles (the one I used above and absolutely recommend)
• Verbena Lime Coconut to awaken the senses
• Warm French Vanilla for a comforting soak
• Green Tea to invigorate
• Eucalyptus Mint to stimulate (it smells so good and is awesome in the humidifier to clear out congestion!)
• Lavender Palmarosa to calm and relax

Don't you just want to go light some candles and take a nice, long soak in the tub now? I do! I use these as a reward for doing my daily workouts. My inner dialogue sounds something like this... Abbey, 20 more minutes and you get to take an aromatherapy bath! Lavender Palmarosa is just around the bend! Ten more lunges and it's Warm French Vanilla time!

A fit girl's gotta do what a fit girl's gotta do to stay motivated! Now, go enter to win this set in the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. If you are into making your own natural health and beauty products, check out my whipped body butter, lavender facial cleanser, facial exfoliant scrub, insect repellent, and homemade powdered blush!

Painted Easter Egg Balloons

We made painted easter egg balloons for tot school yesterday. It is an incredibly easy and pocket-friendly kids craft (inspired by this post), and these balloons are perfect for playing the balloon pop game during your Easter egg hunt! Do you remember that game from the birthday parties of your childhood? It usually ends in tears for some and bruised ankles and shins for others, but it is a classic!



To make these adorable painted easter egg balloons and to play the balloon pop game you will need:

-Balloons in the color of your choice
-Paint and brushes
-Markers
-Washi tape
-String (about 2 feet for each kid)

Directions:

1. Blow up two balloons per kid, or however many you would like. Paint your balloons in any patterns or colors, doodle all over the surface with markers, or get creative with the washi tape.

2. Allow the painted balloons to dry for an hour or two. You can accelerate the drying time by using a hair dryer on the cool setting if you so desire.

3. Tie a foot of string to each balloon end and securely tie around your child's ankles.

4. Line everyone up and count to three. Let the kids run like crazy animals and attempt to pop the other balloons while keeping their balloons intact. The child with the last balloons standing wins!

I would like to note that I think this game is appropriate for kids ages 3 and up. I also feel like this game isn't only for kids. I could actually see this balloon pop game being more fun for the adults at an Easter egg hunt, or anytime for that matter! 

If you need more ideas on how to ramp up your Easter egg hunt, be sure to check out this list of creative ways to supercharge your hunt this year! 

Happy painting and popping!

P.S. This is what the painted balloons look like after they have been popped. I think they are so cool! Also, please be sure to keep a close watch if you have little ones playing around the balloons. They can be a joking hazard and should be removed if they try to bite the balloons or put them in their mouth.

How To Make Your Own Natural Powdered Blush

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and All You® and Real Simple® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SpringintoMeTime http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

My latest homemade, natural beauty creation is powdered blush. I am kind of a blush hoarder. I honestly have about 15 different blushes and cannot stop buying them! It was high time I made my own, and I am pleased as a peach with the results!

This natural powdered blush was inspired by the lovely cover of this month's Real Simple magazine and all of their amazing anti-aging tips. I've been a little burnt out in the mommy department lately, as I shared last week, and thought this simple beauty DIY would make for some good "me time." I picked up a copy on my weekly Target run and read it while drawing a nice bath with some chocolate, and I soaked up all the the inspiration. By the way, you can save $2 off any purchase of Real Simple®, All You®, or PEOPLE® magazine now through March 28, while supplies last. Oh, and you get another 15% off select magazines if you use the Cartwheel app through April 17, while supplies last. (Gosh, I love that app with all my heart. I am that lady holding up the line with all my coupons and deals! Ha. Sorrrry!)

This homemade powdered blush has only three natural and delicious ingredients. Yes, you better believe I taste tested it! I was this close to throwing some in a smoothie and drinking it. And isn't that always such a grand feeling, knowing that the products you are using on your skin are natural and safe? I think so, too!

Homemade Natural Powdered Blush

Ingredients:

Beet root powder

Arrowroot powder

Ginger powder

Directions:

1. In a small tin container or empty makeup container (I used an old Altoid mini tin—high five for recycling!), put 2 tablespoons of beet root powder. (FYI, if you find your beet root powder is a bit coarse or has crystals in it, run it through a food processor so it is an extra fine powder.) Mix in 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder and about 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder. 

2. To make it a lighter tint, keep adding arrowroot powder. Conversely, if you would like it darker, add more beet root powder and less arrowroot powder. The ginger powder gives it some shimmer so feel free to adjust that based on the amount of glimmer you like in your blush. I personally like my blush a REALLY light pink so I added almost an equal amount of arrowroot powder. Also, my beet root powder was a bit grainy so I added a dab of water to my brush to break open the crystals for a more saturated color. 

3. Grab your blush brush and swipe it onto the apples of your cheeks. The beet root powder base creates a beautiful, rosy shade, which looks wonderful on various skin types. All you have to do is adjust your tint! Enjoy, my beautiful friends!

If you love natural, homemade beauty products, be sure to check out my facial cleanser, exfoliating scrub, whipped body butter, and insect repellent!

A Random Thing Or Two-sday

Lapis Quilted Jacket (similar)
LOFT Striped Tee (similar) — see DIY instruction below for pom detail!
Kiind Of Track Jogg Pants
Steve Madden Jazie Oxfords (similar)
Cents of Style 'Serena' Over-sized Beanie c/o

1. I am in a closet-purging mode again and almost tossed this pink tee into the give away pile. But then I had some pink pom trim sitting around and the lightbulbs went off. I could embellish this boring, old sucker! The bottom was the part that drove me nuts anyway. Adding a pom edge is possibly the easiest refashion to spice up your tired and old tees. Simply use fabric glue to adhere the pom trim to the bottom of your shirt, sleeves or wherever you need some flounce. (Isn't that a lovely word?) Ta-da! Brand spanking new tee!

2. Fact: Justin Bobby used to be Adam Levine's hairstylist (source). Could you imagine working at that salon? Heart eyes for years. (Also the most pointless fact I've listed yet, but every time I watch The Voice and see Adam's perfectly tousled hair, I can't help but think of Justin Bobby styling it and mumbling some drunken philosophical crap. Speaking of...)

3. JOHNNY DEPP. Guys, I am still dying over his slurred introduction at the Hollywood Documentary Awards. "That's the weirdest microphooone I've ever seen in my life!" It still makes me laugh so hard. Usually I suffer from major secondhand embarrassment at such a thing, but he is a quirky oddball as it is, and I think I might even like him more now.

4. Wes is standing now! It's only a matter of days before we have a walker on our hands. I cannot believe it! Luke says, "I wuv you, mama" whenever we have conversations now, and it gives me butterflies and the warm fuzzies. I wuv my little fellows :)

5. Would you rather shave your eyebrows (no drawing them back in!) or dye your teeth blue for a week month?

How To Make A DIY Moon Piñata

What's a birthday party without a piñata? It's not a proper one, that's for sure. Wesley's party was over the weekend, and I thought this DIY moon piñata was the perfect touch. I saw a photo of it on Pinterest and had to have it, but couldn't find the directions anywhere. So, I totally winged it on how to go about making one, but then when I went to Google something about a moon piñata as I was uploading these photos, I finally found the original source from Oh Happy Day.

Anyway, here are the directions on how I made mine!



Materials:

1 sheet of thick poster board
Pencil
Tape
Scissors
Glue gun
Needle and string
One roll of white streamers (or whatever color you would like your moon to be)
Candy and trinkets to fill

Directions:

1. Trace and cut out two crescent moon shapes. (Mine measured 26 inches long, 5 inches deep at the widest part in the middle). Then cut two 26 inch strips that are 3.5 inches wide.

2. Start by taping one of the crescent moon sides to one of the 26-inch straight pieces. I spaced out my tape by one inch. Also, be sure to use clear tape if you don't want fluorescent colors bursting through your fringe later on. (Rookie mistake, but I like to say it gave it a "glow.") Once that side is done, tape on the other crescent moon side.



3. Now is the fun part where you get to fill it with toys and candy! Fill it up about 2/3 full and make sure the size of your piñata can withstand the weight of the goodies filling it.

4. Use a thick needle to attach the string it will hang from. (Mine was about three feet long.) Tie a quadruple knot and secure the hole with tape around it so it doesn't rip.

4. Now for the fringe! Take your pack of streamers and cut fringe on the bottom, spacing about 1/4 inch apart and cutting it 3/4 of the way to the top. You can overlap them in multiple layers to make the cutting process more efficient.

5. Starting at the bottom, hot glue the top portion of your streamer to the cardboard, and continue this pattern, making sure to leave about a 1/2 inch between each layered streamer when you overlap them. Continue on all four sides until it is covered. Once it is all glued, take your scissors and trim up the sides for any excess fringe or fluffiness. Lastly, glue on any star embellishments or whatever you would like to spruce it up.

Now all you need to do is attach it to a stick, grab your blind fold and bat, and whap the guts out of your new DIY moon piñata! Enjoy!