Do you like to DIY?

I am doing a Galentine’s Day (Valentine’s Day) Workshop at IKEA in sunny Jacksonville Florida 🌴 only problem is it’s NOT so sunny. It’s been storming and it’s 90% chance of rain ☔️ today. I hope the ladies come out and play with me and not let rain get in the way.

So excited to do a Workshop at IKEA ❤️

If you’re looking for a fun DIY gift 🎁 I like to give as gifts … you’re in luck. My workshop is all about self-care and made with love.

SPA in a Jar

Here’s what you will need to make this gift:

❤️1 medium or large glass jar with a lid and a large neck so you can fill it. Decorative ribbon and other touches to embellish it. Greenery and faux or even fresh cut flowers work too. This gives it a natural and pretty touch.

❤️Things you might want to use to fill your very own SPA in Jar are:

A headband,washcloth or eco friendly washable facial rounds,sheet masks, eye gel masks.

❤️ How about some bubble bath,epsom salts,shower gel,hand lotion, a body lotion and a luxurious soap and bath sponge.

❤️ Crystals, incense, sage,Palo Santo or a mini book.

❤️ A bottle of Prosecco, mini liquor, small beer can, (optional)

❤️ A small box of candy. An apple 🍎 as an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Or you can create a mix of store bought and hand-made DIY recipes. Please note IF you are allergic to any of my recipe ingredients please do not try them.

Kiss Me Lip 👄 Polish

1 jar organic coconut oil

1 packet of sugar left in your purse from last coffee shop stop or 1/4 cup brown or white sugar. It all depends how many jars you want to make. Note: both sugars will work too.

Mix the two together with a spoon or spatula and place in a small microwave safe bowl. Warm the polish 5 seconds to melt a bit and stir again. Be careful. It will be hot. Let cool a bit.

Place mixture into a small glass or plastic jar of your choice. If you want a bigger batch double the recipe. Add a pretty lip stickers or custom label you make and it’s all set. Men and women love ❤️ thus recipe. Including my husband.

Kissable lips in minutes! This is a unisex recipe guys love it too!

❤️ Chamomile Flower Facial Steam Bath

Chamomile dried flowers- a small handful will do.

A pot of water 💦

This recipe is so easy and so gratifying. Your skin will love you back by the way it looks and feels. A relaxing detox facial steam!

Place some dried chamomile flowers in a bag and give it to the person you are gifting to. Add instructions with it. All they do is warm water to a light boil. .

Place the flowers in the water. Place a small towel over your head like a tent. Do NOT put your face in the hot water. You are simply allowing the steam to RISE up to your face. Do this for 3 or 5 minutes. If you have high blood pressure or a skin condition like Rosacea or acne please do not use this facial steam recipe.

Rose 🌹 Eye Mask

Cooling cucumbers 🥒 are refreshing and certainly you can still use them. They work! However, I love this simple aromatic eye mask. Asian Royalty and in many other times in history used them to look younger and refresh their eyes. Did you ever really feel a petal from the rose? It’s so soft and lovely to the touch. It’s known for its skin softening and feel good properties.

Pick me up … for the eyes.

1 fresh Rose rinsed please.

Rinse rose gently in water

Tear off one of the rose petals for an aromatic relaxing treat. They add a touch of moisture for your eye area.

Eyelid pillows are great but I love this nature based eye treatment.

Chill out & rest with a rose petal eye mask!

Laying down close the eyes. Place a rose 🌹 petal on each eyelid and rest the eyes. Listen to some relaxing music. Leave on your closed eyelids at least 6-10 minutes. That’s it!

I hope you enjoy these recipes! Please note…Store bought self-care products are great for your jar. However there’s nothing like a handmade and homemade creation.

Made with LOVE. ❤️

Oops! Forgot to post to my blog before I left. Update despite the rain i had an awesome crowd, workshop and morning at IKEA! Went crazy shopping in the stores food market. Had one of their awesome pretzel with their yummy dipping sauce and drive away smiling all day!

❤️Love that store.

Love is in the air! ❤️

Today on River City Live TV I am sharing some of my favorite ideas to give as a Valentine’s Day gift. The show airs in Florida on WJXT4 .

Here’s one idea that does NOT cost much except your words, time, paper and seasonal embellishments. It is a beautiful way to tell anyone in your life you love or care for them. To your sweetie,your daughter, your son, your mom or even yourself!

What better way to say “I love you” than writing a love ❤️ letter!

A sImple way to say “I LOVE You”

It doesn’t have to be long. It can be short and sweet. You can mail it, leave it on a mirror in the house or under or on a pillow for your lover to discover when it’s time to go to bed.

Embellish with your “ sealed with kiss created with your actual lip print, a kiss 💋 rubber stamp, home-made label you make on your computer or decorative ribbons with lips or LOVE on it.

Whatever you want to do! Surely they will love the gesture too. Better than a greeting card or along with a card.

Add a Hershey’s Kiss chocolate or a flower 🌺 they will love even better!

So I hope you’ll consider this old school but beautiful gift. Handwritten and homemade and straight from your heart!

Words of Asian Wisdom

I discovered a tall Tea cup on a shelf in a store in Asia. I purchased it in my travels to the Orient. ✈️ . What’s so interesting it has words across it not a design with an Asian theme. I love ❤️ sipping from this unique cup. Especially with my flower 🌺 tea.

As it’s Chinese 🧨 New🎉 Year 🧧 which is a fifteen day celebration I thought I’d share what it reads.

Ten Ways to Good Health

Less alcohol … More tea

Less meat … More vegetables

Less salt… More vinegar

Less sugar … More fruit

Less eating .., More chewing

Less words .. More action

Less greed … More Giving

Less worry … More sleep

Less driving … More walking

Less anger… More laughter

Aren’t these words awesome?

Simple words yet so true and how I try to live my life.

Do you like this as much as I fo?

Gotta get some rest I’m on TV 📺 in the morning on River City Live TV here in sunny but very cold Jacksonville Florida.

Totally Unexpected!

The other night I went to the store for a quick stop for milk. While there I saw a couple shopping 🛍 they were the only ones with me in the store.

We continued browsing and getting what we needed. When I was ready to check out at the register with a few more things …more than milk!

I could not find my money. $$$

I started to search deeper in my purse.

The couple came up to register at that time. I asked them to please go ahead of me and I stepped to the side to search for my cash. Yes,I had a charge card in my wallet but I prefer to pay cash.

They thanked me and asked me “Are you sure?” I said “Yes.” I searched in another section of my purse and could only find $3.00 and a few coins.

Next this happened the gentlemen/couple told the cashier “Let me pay for her purchases”. I said “Absolutely not” by now I had $20.00 worth of goods. He insisted I said to the cashier I’m good. I told them God bless you! 🙏 I thanked them for the kind offer and I told them “ I hope someone blesses you when you need it one day”

I found my cash AFTER they left. I mentioned to the girl at the register how kind and unexpected that was! She said “ Yes, it was”. She added that they come in the store sometimes for food etc. They had been LIVING in their CAR 🚘 for quite sometime in the area.” She went on to say “I think things must be looking up for them and they are not living in their car right now.

I could not believe it.

They offered to pay for my milk and other store purchases and they’ve had nothing.

Might I add they were in their late 20’s or early 30’s and were black. I am an American who just happens to be Polish & part Asian. I don’t know if this matters to you. But with all the division and hate I see in the world right now. There gesture was so special to me.

With ALL the horrible things happening in the world. You know the stories. I was thrilled to see there are good, respectful and sweet people in the world. I will NEVER forget this gesture from a stranger. It warms my heart and makes me smile 😎!

I hope I see them again!

Be KIND … keep an open heart and mind.

All we need is ❤️ LOVE!

To the female heroes of Ukraine today … I salute and celebrate you!

I celebrate International Women’s Day and toast to the strong & beautiful women of the Ukraine today!

You are fierce, brave and fabulous!

AND let’s not forget those women in Poland welcoming all the women and their babies & children. Some who fed them with a warm soup. Others who dropped off baby strollers for moms once they arrived in Poland to help them with their children on their journey from Ukraine.

Sending the women reading this and the woman of Ukraine 🇺🇦 & Poland 🇵🇱 lots of love!

One day at a time.

Bless you!

Life!

Trying to hang in there? I am too.

These days into months have not been easy for us. I’ve been keeping busy with my work and lost in our pandemic life. (Sorry I have not posted a blog lately.)

But we’ve got to keep moving, keep going, keep working,keep dreaming and keep taking care of each other and our families.

And above all continue to take care of ourselves even if it is doing it ourselves until we can see a PRO and visit the spa or salon again. I have been able to see my stylist for my haircuts unlike many of you across the country and globe. Wonderful!

Nothing like a fresh haircut and someone else shampooing your hair.

Am I right?

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
TRY A New mani & pedi nail color!
Missing a trip to the SPAaah!

I long for a real mani & pedi!!

I so want a facial! (And not one I do myself)

I want to fly ANYWHERE or travel out of the country again!

Photo by Chevanon Photography on Pexels.com

I want to work again on the road and continue to spread beauty and love all around the country again! I want to pamper my clients and wrap my arms around them again.

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

I long to eat at some of my fave local places and around the country safely again!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I want to see the faces of my sisters and feels their hugs and LOVE in person again! There is nothing like A HEALTHY dose of love from your family.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

How about you?

What are you doing to take care of you?

How are you?

What are you looking forward to once the world heals better soon?

Brown & Black Girl Beauty!

I love ❤️ ALL my clients and those who are girls of color too. So, I thought you’d like to learn some tips for a pretty awesome complexion,makeup and hair.This post addresses three beauty issues.

Since I am Eurasian I usually mix two foundation colors to create my look. Same is true for women of color.

Things have changed in the world of beauty with beauty brands like Fenty Beauty and other brands you can find a foundation. But at times or if you’re a mixed chick like me or not sometimes you’ll find foundation for you may be too pink, too pale, too red… so you’ll look better if you play chemist and mix two. It’s fun actually.

Mixing one foundation from a brand and a few dots of another brands color you will look even more even toned. That’s the goal… Right?

For applying foundation I like to use my Makeup Magic Wand sponge on a stick damp with a dash of water. This way it spreads easier and you can sheer the colors out as you give them a whirl.

I apply a lighter color on the inner part of the face and a darker on the edges, forehead and chin. Black or brown skin is usually two-toned. So I have learned to play with makeup and mix.

Photo by Marcelo Chagas on Pexels.comphoto of woman wearing white shirt

For feet, soft elbows and knees I highly recommend one of Oprah’s favorites.

Farmhouse Fresh Honey 🍯 Heel Glaze. It has an aromatic scent with hydrating loveliness that takes away an ashy look to your soles,toes, elbows and knees. It smells like grandma baked an awesome pie! Instant soft skin gratification. Beyond yum!

As for the eyes. I show my clients how to create a one color all over the lid look with a highlighter. Or how to apply several shades of  highlighters …all over the lid. Champagne, gold, copper… and at the outer corner a smidge of a deeper matte shade to pull it all together for even more definition.

As for hair I recommend what clients tell me they use for a hair hydrating treatment it is Clarified Butter. Yes, a spa hair treatment awaits you at the grocery store. You just need to go buy it. Do this once a week and leave on at least 20 minutes. Your hair will say… Thank You!!

My clients teach me and I teach them. Caring is sharing!I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips and tricks!

woman wearing green rib turtleneck sweater

Photo by Jennifer Enujiugha on Pexels.com

Make Mom Happy!

If you’re on a budget and you want to show mom some love ❤️ today. Here are a few ideas you can gift 🎁 her today!

*If she’s away from you mail her something with a love note.

Even better than a card. Nothing like an old school love ❤️ letter to your one and only MOM!

❤️Calling and saying I love you is priceless and will last in her memory a lifetime. Really!

❤️Colorful flowers 💐 are lovely but a plant will last a lot longer! Choose ivy, 🍃 aloe, rosemary. Every time she looks at them grow she will be reminded of you!

❤️ Give her a relaxing foot massage. Use sunflower oil or coconut oil and add a few drops of lavender or rose 🌹 essential oil.

❤️ Drop off a bag of her favorite cookies 🍪

❤️Give her a bottle of her fave wine 🍷 Or even a few cans of exotic 🍺 beer.

❤️A bag of Hershey’s Kisses says I love you and sends kisses too!

❤️Run a bubble bath 🛀 for her bubbles and all! Add some Epsom salts for ultimate muscle relaxation. It’s like a cheap massage in a tub! So relaxing to the nerves. Especially in the midst of this pandemic.

❤️ Make her a face mask… wearing facial covers and 😷 face masks are rough on the skin on our face. All you need is: 1 cup of natural Greek yogurt and 1/2 cup of oats.

Blend the oatmeal and yogurt together.

Mix well and place in a jam jar. Or a jar that you can recycle that has a large mouth for scooping the product out.

This mask is great for normal to dry to sensitive skin. give her instructions. Tie a bow and a small spoon for scooping out. She needs to leave on at least 10 minutes. Rinses off with warm water 💦 and a washcloth.

❤️Buy your mom a few of her fave magazines. Or buy a years subscription. Fashion, food, beauty or wellness. She’s bound to love anyone you choose.

❤️ A book 📚 is another great choice!

As you can see these are all SIMPLE ideas but ones she will love ❤️ and they are so useful too!

These are great ideas for a glamma or auntie or godmother too! Whoever you want to celebrate this Mothers Day… do it in your own loving way. Life is short and sweet. We’re not promised tomorrow so celebrate 🎉 all things mom today.

If you’re like me and your mom is no longer with you. Talk to her and let her know how you feel. She’s listening.

Blessings 🙏 to all you moms all over the world 🌎! YOU rock and are yet another essential worker on the universe!