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.

Prettier Healthy Skin from inside and out!

They say “You are what you eat” and it is so true!

This week on TV on River City Live I featured some ideas for snacking,face and body masking and for GLOWING skin! I hope you will enjoy them too.

I try and eat the right stuff and love most fruits and veggies. But sometimes I am looking for a little cheat drink that gives me energy and can help give my skin a boost over time. I discovered an easy recipe that actress Reese Whiterspoon shared on Instagram last year. I am kinda addicted and make and drink this recipe weekly. IF you have not tried it its worth looking into. Even my husband enjoys it.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

All you need is:

2 HEADS OF ROMAN LETTUCE

1/2 CUP OF SPINACH

1/2 CUP OF COCONUT WATER

1 WHOLE BANANA

1 WHOLE APPLE

1 WHOLE PEAR

1 WHOLE LEMON

SCOOP OF ALMOND BUTTER (optional)

Mix all of the above to a Vitamix type blender for easy blending.

Sometimes I like to make a smoothie/ drink what I call “Everything but the kitchen sink” I simply pull out whatever leftover vegetables and fruits I have on hand and put it in a blender with a juice I might have leftover or some bottled water. It usually turns out quite delicious!

If you are really pressed for time, Dole makes some delicious options in the freezer aisle of a mix of fruits and greens blend. One of favorites is made with mango.banana,apple,pineapple and spinach.

Stay hydrated for plump happy skin for face and body. If you are not a water drinker snack on cucumbers or drink coconut water. Add a cherry in the glass or an umbrella and make it a fun ritual. you look forward to.

Photo by Tamanna Rumee on Pexels.com

Celebrities just like I love using produce for prettier vibrant skin and a healthier body. Like a strawberry face mask with fresh strawberries or they use it as a teeth whitening treat.

Photo by Jenna Hamra on Pexels.com

Avocado masks are also good for your hair or face and neck. So nourishing.

Spinach is a rock star for skin and body! My friend Victoria Evelyn founder of the Chocolate Skincare Factory brand happens to be both a pharmacist and an esthetician recommended to me another way to get my greens for my on the go lifestyle! Simply keep on hand fresh bag of spinach in your fridge and pop a handful as a quick snack. I even take a mini snack bag with me on the road or on the run. Be like POPEYE and eat spinach.

Photo by Rodolfo Quiru00f3s on Pexels.com

I love baby tomatoes! I pop them like candy. Really! There is a magical ingredient in tomatoes that research shows may protect our skin from UV damage from sunburn. Naturally I have to protect my skin with a SUNSCREEN from a tube but I also eat these and also make Italian dishes with tomato paste which is loaded with lycopene. Since I have had a bad sunburn before I really never want to feel that again.

I also love a banana mask for dry elbows and knees. All you do is mash a banana and put it on those dry dull areas for the body. Or you can use it as a soothing hydrating face mask too.

Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com

If you crave a little crunch…mini baby carrots are a great go too instead of potato chips! Although I really love a bag of Kettle Chips! Your eyes and skin will love you too.

Grapes are hydrating bites of love that keep your skin looking good too.

Nuts and dried fruits are good for you snack too! You haven’t lived until you have tried dried cherries! I love them as a sweet treat alone or in a salad.

Whatever you do…always remember your health is #1.

And so should your skin be too!

Yum!

I made the same treat my family likes especially this time of year. I thought it was worth sharing with you again.

Especially those of you who are new to my blog. It is a simple , sweet, salty treat! Enjoy this Halloween or into Thanksgiving!

What you will need for this recipe:

1 bag of candy corn (I have also used candy pumpkins)

1 bag of salted peanuts

I mix all of the above other with my clean hands. I serve in a glass Pyrex bowl. What I love is how colorful this treat looks and how good it tastes. Not too sweet or salty.

I also include a mini spoon to scoop on your hands for a single serving. No hands dipping in or double dipping into the bowl!

I have given it as gifts too! Mason jar or smaller canning jars work beautifully. Add a message and some ribbon and give to those you 🧡 love!

PS

Tomorrow most of the Halloween candy will be discounted…so save some $ and buy more!and make this delicious salty & sweet mix.

Whipping up some beauty!

DIY Recipe for your hair:

Have fun in the kitchen and whip up some face and body care. I featured these recipes on TV 📺 yesterday on River City Live on http://www.News4Jax.com

Check out the video clip.

FYI

If you are allergic to any other the ingredients below. Please skip that ingredient. If you have very sensitive skin do a patch test on your inner wrist.

I have super sensitive skin. I do not have any problems with any of these delightful DIY treats. 😍

Coconut 🥥 milk by the can is so softening and gives you a healthier sheen. Use it before you shampoo and then pour a cup on your ends and rub a comb through your hair. Leave on at least 15 minutes.

Women from exotic countries love this hair trick!

Canned Coconut milk or coconut oil both work!

Hi 🍯 Honey! Face Mask Recipe

Local honey makes a skin softening and soothing face mask for women or men. Yes, it’s a bit messy and you might want to eat it and lick 😋 the leftovers. but it is a quick wonderful mask. Apply on clean face and leave on at least 10 minutes. I also like to do this mask on my neck.

A little honey goes a long way!

Rice 🍚 Water Face Mask for uneven skin tone

Raw White rice for your skin? Yes, please!

Oats for your bath? Why not?

Milk & Oat Bath Body Recipe

Fill a bathtub with warm water. Place a sachet (muslin or organza bag both work)

Filled with a cup or two of raw oats and some powdered milk.

* You can substitute the powdered milk for a small bottle of water.

Soak your cares away, dry skin and itchy skin away! Soak in the bath until the water 💦 cools. Your skin will feel amazing.

Nail & Cuticle Hand Bath

All you need is some olive 🫒 oil, avocado 🥑 oil or other favorite oil. I like to soak my hands in this oil bath. Do this for at least 10 minutes.

* Rub the extra oil on your toe nails and feet.

Instant mani & pedi fix !

End these spa like treats from your kitchen with a martini 🍸 or a glass of bubbly Prosecco or champagne 🍾

My husband likes to join in on the pampering self care fun too!

Interesting Cookie Recipe

Photo by Malidate Van on Pexels.com

You know by now I love to cook or bake. My husband will tell you I kiss better!

But he eats ALL my meals and cleans his plate so go figure!

Here is a recipe from a cookbook someone gifted me.The book is called No Bake Cookies,Bars & Pies. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cookbook.  Since it is a long holiday weekend I thought I’d make these cookies for 4th of July. Wish me luck!

This recipe is quite appropriate for the 4th of July.

It is former President Jimmy Carter’s cookie recipe.

What you will need:

2/3 C. of sugar

2/3  C corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 C. chunky peanut butter

3 C. corn flakes cereal

In a large saucepan over medium heat,combine sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and add vanilla and peanut butter. Stir until well mixed. Gently mix in corn flakes. Drop the tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Cookies will harden as they cool.

Hope you like them!

Happy 4th for those of you who celebrate!

Photo by Edgar Colomba on Pexels.com

Feed Your Face from the Inside Out!

Photo by Trang Doan on Pexels.com

I’m really trying to enjoy being more green, clean and eco friendly…with my food and lifestyle.

And in my skincare too!

Skin is so in…Especially when it is healthy looking. If your skin is not looking the way you would like it to… Perhaps its time to try something fresh and new! Looking good takes a little effort girls and so worth it. If you do not have a skin care regime now is the time to start. Also if you have been wearing sweat pants and not taking care of your skin think about taking time for YOU and get your skin in shape too.

They say “You are what you eat” and it is so true. Eating right … with a little bit of a naughty is really best. All in balance and moderation darlings! I’ve been on a kick of making SMOOTHIE BOWLS and making them is so much fun too. Your whole family will enjoy.

I love to get glowing, use beauty from my kitchen, a local farmer’s market, and make a few D.I.Y. beauty recipes and beauty potions on my own.

I will share some of the them on my new podcast to come too! But here are a few for you to enjoy this Memorial day too.

Take care of your skin and your skin will always take care of you!

Recipe for pretty skin starts from within. Not only are these good to eat they are good to use as skincare. Especially when many of us are on stay at home orders.

Yogurt (plain Greek yogurt) makes a GREAT cheap and chic face mask. Apply to a clan face and leave on at least 15 minutes. Genty exfoliates dead skin cells too.

Avocados are a great for hydrating your face and neck. Add honey to a mashed avocado and leave on at least 15 minutes. Your skin will LOVE it.

Bananas work wonders on dry elbows and knees. If your bananas are beyond ripe and you don’t feel like making banana bread…give your skin a moisturizing natural treat.

In addition, when the weather is hot and you want to chill down and make your skin feel amazing. Take a plain ice cube and rub gently on your skin. Not your eye area but try on the face. It will tighten your pores and make your makeup glide on beautifully. I also like to use an ice cube on my chest and neck. So cool and refreshing.

Have a BEAUTY filled deligthful day!

11 Desserts You Should Make With Those Apples You Just Picked — StyleCaster

They say “An Apple a Day keeps the doctor away!

I so LOVE these fabulous recipes. I’ve gotta make at least a couple. How about you?

 

So, you’ve done your civic duty as an autumn-abiding citizen and gone apple picking over the weekend. You’ve braved the plaid crowds, successfully navigated the corn maze and taken a selfie with a pumpkin. Congrats—you’ve officially been initiated into fall. Now, you just have to figure out what to do with the 20 pounds of…

via 11 Desserts You Should Make With Those Apples You Just Picked — StyleCaster

11 No-Cook Breakfast Ideas with 5 Ingredients or Less — StyleCaster

Over the moon having found these awesome easy recipes for Breakfast…FAST and yummy!

 

Most breakfasts don’t take much effort to throw together. Oatmeal comes together on the stove or in the microwave in five minutes or less, scrambled eggs are done before your toast pops and even pancakes can be a quick breakfast if you have batter ready to go. But sometimes the thought of cooking in the…

via 11 No-Cook Breakfast Ideas with 5 Ingredients or Less — StyleCaster  

Wanna feel …cool as a cucumber?

So do I.

The temperatures are soaring across the country on my trip to Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago it was in the 100’s most days. In Florida we are so HUMID and in the 90’s. Los Angeles 112? It is a melting pot of hot. So, here is a way I like to keep cool with the cheapest vegetable around…the cucumber!

Did you know? It is composed of 95% water,but also contains,vitamins B1,B2,B3 and B12? hese vitamins help soothe the skin from any irritations,reduce swelling,and prevent water retention.It also contains ascorbic acid ,folic acid and polysaccharides (a hero in hydrating your skin) and has super powers.

Today it is going to be another hot one!!! So, I am going to make cut them up in a few small chunks and fill an ice cube tray with them and make “cuke cubes” my cool and refreshing version of ice cubes. I like to sprinkle a smidge of sea salt on top. Once frozen I like to pop one in a glass of seltzer water and or Perrier or Pellegrino water. So refreshing and when the ice cube melts enjoy that lovely cumber.

Yes, you can also enjoy them like a cracker alone. Or embelish with some yumminess on top. I also like to make those cool cucumber eye pads out of them simply by cutting a slice and lay one on each eye for at least 10 mins. and let it’s beauty benefits soak in and calm those tired peepers!

I also highly recommend doing a Cool Cucumber Facial!  All you need is to scoop out the inside pulp of the cucumber and place that on a freshly cleaned face with a fan brush or baby spatula. This is mask is  really an awesome feeling skin treat. I leave the mask on at least 15 minutes and lay down.

Cucumbers are not only great for a tray of crudites at your next party but great for sunburned skin,help plump your skin,tightens the pores,helps with elasticity of the skin that leads to skin sagging.It also balances the PH level of the skin and gently lightens thus brightens and gently exfoliates the skin.

This pulp mask on a clean face is a wonderful…NO chemical skin care! And FYI other skin therapists/estheticians like me use this mask on their clientele too.

So now you see you can enjoy the cucumber in your salad,in a drink and on your face and neck!

 

 

 

VEGAN or NOT..you know you will love at least one of these recipes!

It’s no secret that veganism is huge in Hollywood. Considering hundreds of A-listers—from Miley Cyrus to Beyoncé—have sworn off meat for a 100-percent plant-based diet, you’ll be hard-pressed to not find at least a handful of vegan celebrities on your Instagram feed. MORE: 15 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Vegan But while it’s easy to identify who’s…

via 10 Celebrity-Approved Vegan Recipes to Try Out Immediately — StyleCaster