Thursday, December 15, 2016

2 Skin Firming Lotions



I always get asked what I use on my skin to make it look so healthy and glowing. Oils!

Oils reduce clogged pores by dissolving blackheads, and whiteheads
. Some oils even reduce the formation of fine lines and wrinkles
. All natural oils contain no harsh chemicals
 and won’t strip your skin of its natural oils
. Essential oils and carrier oils moisturize and soothe irritated skin
. Certain oils clears acne and prevents it.

This lotion is not just for the 40's and up!

We all carry different genes and have different types of skin.

If like me you admire the positive benefits that essential oils carry, then give these recipes a try and let me know how it works for you.

1. Face Firming and anti aging serum

Mix the following essential oils together in a 2 oz dark colored glass bottle

6 drops frankincense
9 drops geranium
9 drops cypress
3 Tbsp Sweet Almond
3 Tbsp Rosehip

You can use this serum twice a day and of course a small amount goes a long way so use as little as possible if you do not want to feel like you have greasy skin.

2. Firming Body lotion

Mix the following essential oils together in a dark colored glass bottle

8 drops patchouli
5 drops cypress
5 drops geranium
1 drop sandalwood

Add 2 Tablespoons of your preferred carrier oil for your skin type, shake well. Apply small amounts to the skin and gently massage the lotion until absorbed.

How do you know which carrier oil is the right oil for you?

When oil is applied to the skin, the oil should absorb completely. If it just sits on top of your skin and doesn’t sink in very well, or makes your face look even shinier than before, then it’s not the right oil for you.
If your skin feels “right” and looks supple, dewy, rested, not overly shiny, and the oil absorbs well, then you’ve found your oil!

**Carrier oils for your type of skin**

Oily Skin - Argen, Grapeseed and Jojoba

Normal Skin - Apricot Kernel, Argen, Jojoba, Sweat Almond

Combination Skin - Apricot Kernel, Avocado, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond

Dry Skin - Apricot Kernel, Avocado, Evening Primrose, Jojoba, Olive oil, Sweet almond, Wheat Germ, Hazelnut, Rosehip

Sensitive Skin - Sweet Almond, Apricot Kernel, Grapeseed, Avocado

Mature Skin - Apricot Kernel, Argan, Avocado, Evening Primerose, Jojoba, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond, Wheat Germ, Rosehip


Thursday, December 1, 2016

Felted hand knitted travel slippers


These slippers are the cutest!

Just made these and they turned better then I ever expected. I purchased this pattern years ago and kind of forgot about it until now.

Made the first pair in a charcoal grey and the second pair in a beige color.

If you are a knitter and are interested in making these, please look for Melynda Bernardi at The French Knit Press on Ravelry. You can purchase her pattern there. It comes with instructions on how to make these in a size 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10.
She explains how to sew them together as well as the felting process.

I had never felted in my front loading machine before and found it to be a real easy process. If you need help with that, just write me a comment.

These slippers roughly measured 13.5 inches long for a size 7-8 when sewed together and once felted they shrunk to about 9.5 inches.




What do you all think?

They are perfect for traveling or just relaxing around the house :-)



Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Simple Pre Thanksgiving Table Decor

I like to set up my table before every Holiday to set the mood.


Look who decided to show up last minute for a photo in the corner? 


Big girl Sidney is now 7 months!


Pumpkins and gourds everywhere


Paper straws for show :-)


custom made (by me!) glass place cards



Closer look at the Anchor's glass place card...because we're at the beach!


Pumpkin paper place card


Dragonfly place card


And of course....fall leaf place card




Always Give Thanks


I will be posting my actual Thanksgiving dinner table later....That's all for now.
If you are interested in a custom order for a glass place card set, please message me.

Thank you for coming.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

My obsession with garlic scape pesto


Garlic scape is something I had never heard of before my sister-in-law introduced me to her delicious garlic scape pesto last year. 

So...what exactly is garlic scape?

Garlic scapes have a delicate garlic flavor, a tender, pliable texture, and a fragrance that hints at green grass and garlic. They’re at once a vegetable, an herb, and an aromatic. 

“Scape” is a botanical term that refers to a flower-bearing stem. A garlic scape is the flower stem of the garlic plant (Allium sativum), which forms a pod near the top of the stem that’s full of bulbils, or tiny garlic cloves. Scapes sprout mostly from hard-neck garlic varieties like Rocambole and Purple Stripe; soft-neck types, like Artichoke, are bred not to grow stems at all.

For years, scapes were considered little more than a byproduct of the garlic plant. They were trimmed off in early summer simply to ensure that all of the plants’ energy went into forming plump bulbs underground. Today, scapes are harvested not only for that reason but also to meet growing demand for them as an ingredient.



how to choose:

Typically found at farmers’ markets, garlic scapes are making headway in supermarkets, too. Look for long, curved, or curly stalks that are firm, smooth, and a vibrant green.

how to prep:

Although the entire scape is edible, the pod and tip above it can be fibrous and are best discarded. Use garlic scapes as you would scallions or shallots, or in any dish that could use a garlicky note. Blend raw scapes into hummus, bean dips, salad dressing, or even softened butter to spread over grilled vegetables or baked potatoes. Purée them with pine nuts, lemon juice, olive oil, parmesan, salt, and pepper for pesto. You can also add them to scrambled eggs or use them as a garnish. 

Scapes are more delicately flavored and sweeter when cooked. Slice them into 1/2-inch pieces and sauté them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a spritz of lemon juice for an easy side dish, or grill whole scapes as you would scallions. Like green beans, they’re great steamed, added to stir-fries, or blanched and tossed into salads. 

With their mellow garlicky flavor, scapes pair well with summer produce like zucchini, chard, and spinach; herbs like cilantro and lemongrass; rich ingredients like bacon, cream, eggs, mayonnaise, butter, and cheese; and bold flavors like lemon juice, soy sauce, and mustard.

how to store:

You can refrigerate scapes in a paper bag for about a month. For longer storage, blanch and freeze them for up to a few months, though they’ll lose flavor over time.



Early summer next year, get your garlic scape from your fresh Farmers Market and follow the garlic scape pesto recipe below and let me know if you are not hooked on this deliciousness. Or perhaps, you can get started with this recipe now if you have some in the freezer?


GARLIC SCAPE AND ALMOND PESTO

Makes about 1 cup

10 garlic scapes, finely chopped
1/3 to 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan (to taste and texture)
1/3 cup slivered almonds (you could toast them lightly, if you'd like)
About 1/2 cup olive oil
Sea salt

Put the scapes, 1/3 cup of the cheese, almonds and half the olive oil in the bowl of a food processor (or use a blender or a mortar and pestle).  Whir to chop and blend all the ingredients and then add the remainder of the oil and, if you want, more cheese.  If you like the texture, stop; if you'd like it a little thinner, add some more oil.  Season with salt.

If you're not going to use the pesto immediately, press a piece of plastic against the surface to keep it from oxidizing. The pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days or packed airtight and frozen for a couple of months, by which time tomatoes should be at their juiciest.


Enjoy!


Friday, September 2, 2016

Relaxing Foot Soak



This soak will soften your skin, remove toxins and add much needed minerals to your body.
The best 15 minutes at home that will feel like you are at the spa!

Make this soak for yourself or give it as a gift.

Ingredients:

1 cup of sea salt
1 cup of Epsom salt
2 cups of Baking Soda
12 – 15 drops of your favorite Essential Oil(s)

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix sea salt, baking soda and epson salt. Add drops of your choice of oil(s) all over the mixture and whisk using a spoon until well blended. Store in a tight glass container.
When ready to use, just add 1/4 cup onto hot water and soak your feet for 15 minutes before going to bed.

Tips: You can use any combination of oils. Add marbles at the bottom of your tub for a foot massage. 

Lavender has relaxing properties and is also known for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It also has antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifying, hypotensive and sedative effects

Peppermint gives a cooling sensation and has a calming effect on the body, which can relieve sore muscles when used topically. It also has antimicrobial properties and soothe digestive issues

Eucalyptus has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, decongestant, deodorant, antiseptic, antibacterial, stimulating, and other medicinal qualities

Lemon has stimulating, calming, carminative, anti-infection, astringent, detoxifying, antiseptic, disinfectant, sleep inducing, and anti fungal properties

Orange can be attributed to its properties as an anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, carminative, diuretic, tonic, sedative and cholagogue substance



Sunday, August 28, 2016

Tiny guest room get away




browsing pinterest and fell in love with this beauty. 

Now... I just wish my husband would let me repurpose our shed and turn it into a jewel like this one! 

Do you have a fun shed?

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Teriyaki Chicken and Noodle Bowl


I was looking for a quick asian noodle dish to whip up for my kids the other night and I came across this recipe over at damndelicious

This dish was very good so don't judge the look of the chicken on the photo. I burned it while leaving it unattended when answering the door! But hey, it did not affect its flavor whatsoever.

I only marinated the chicken for 45 minutes and the Teriyaki flavor was good and present. I had no garnish for my plate so pardon me for the lack of "gourmet look" but I promise you it is delicious and quick to make :-)



Ingredients:

2 (5.6-ounce) packs refrigerated Yaki-Soba, discard seasoning packets* or use other type of noodle
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger (or 1/4 tsp dried ginger)
2 tablespoons honey
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 green onion, thinly sliced

Directions:

In a large pot of boiling water, add Yaki-Soba until loosened, about 1-2 minutes; drain well.

In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 1/4 cup water; set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, honey and 1 cup water; bring to a simmer. Stir in cornstarch mixture until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 2 minutes; let cool to room temperature. Reserve 1/4 cup and set aside.

In a gallon size Ziploc bag or large bowl, combine soy sauce mixture and chicken; marinate for at least 30 minutes to overnight, turning the bag occasionally. Drain the chicken from the marinade.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes; set aside.

Stir in Yaki-Soba* and 1/4 cup reserved soy sauce mixture until well combined, about 2 minutes.

Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds and green onion, if desired.

*Yak-Soba is ramen-style noodles and can be found in the refrigerated aisle of your local grocery store.

Enjoy!

Monday, July 18, 2016

Knitted pattern hand towels

These can be used to wash or dry dishes, wipe counters, mirrors and or windows... or wash cloths.

If you are a beginners knitter, I highly recommend starting with the simple wash cloths and use one color only.

Cast on 36 stitched (preferably long tail) and do a garter stitch for 60 rows or until your piece measures 9 inches x 9 inches.

For a more advanced knitter, and if you prefer a diagonal pattern, cast on 3 stitches and increase your work until you have 36 stitches on your needle. Than you can decrease until you have 3 stitches left and cast off.

For the beginner knitter who would like to experiment with color, this wash cloth is a great way to get started. These two wash cloths are my first attempt to using different colors in knitting.

The pattern is from Purl Soho (again!) I just love, love, love their patterns. So inspiring, so many projects. Take a look

Here are Purl Soho's towels

Here are mine










Have fun summer knitting!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

New Guest Room Look

This hot summer has made me dream of sailboat rides, cool breezes and...

make over our guest room

Well...it's not quiet a full make over just yet but the beginning of something new and fresh and nautical just like I imagined it should be for the summer.













Stay tuned for the walls Decor....NEXT

Comforter cover - snatched it on huge sale from Pottery Barn (named sailor Stripes)
Navy chevron coverlet - Overstock
Anchors Shams - West Elm
Flower Euro Shams - snatched them on sale from Pottery Barn (named Rae)
Lamps - Etsy (named Retro Edison Lamp by Ironcladindustrial)
Buoy - Home Goods 
Vintage Chair - Antique Store
Garden metal Stool - The World Market