PINNED: The Best Lotion Ever

Let's talk PINTEREST! Who doesn't love Pinterest these days? I have pinned SO. MANY. THINGS that it's starting to make my head spin. I'm trying not to PIN as much and instead DO/MAKE the things I've pinned. I plan to do a post every so often about what I've tried.

My first attempt is the 'best lotion ever' (at least that's what they were calling it on Pinterest).

The site it's from, is called Patchwork Times. I changed the recipe just a little, because I read a few comments saying it was a little greasy, which I HATE.

My recipe is: 4 oz. Vaseline (so I used half of this container)

8 oz. Vitamin E Cream (so I used 4 of these 2oz. tubs),

and about 16 oz. baby lotion (once again, I used about half of the bottle).

I whipped all of the ingredients together in a bowl and filled ten 4 0z. jars with my homemade lotion, to give to friends.

THE VERDICT: I'm really liking it! It's still a little on the greasy side, but I don't think it's TOO greasy. It's very moisturizing. Like I've mentioned before, Utah is so dry, and this feels like heaven on my thirsty skin. I put it on all over, first thing in the morning, or right after I get out of the shower. And I reapply before bed. Some people said they use it on their dry, cracked heels and it softens them up. If you're concerned about the greasiness, it would be great for a nighttime cream. Put it on 15 minutes before bed, and let it go to work while you sleep.

Tip: I looked and looked and looked for the Vitamin E Cream and couldn't seem to find it anywhere (Wal-Mart, Macey's, Sunflower Market, Target), so I gave up. Then one day I was at Macey's (our local grocery store) for something completely unrelated, and just happened to see it on the top shelf in the lotion section (I HAD already looked there a couple different times, and hadn't seen it). I cleared the shelf. The one I got was around $2.50 for 2 oz. I also saw more of it in the Pharmacy section with all of the vitamins, so it's worth a try to look in that section if you can't find it with the lotions and creams.

What I've learned (skin)

I never thought I'd be the type to take the 'natural' route with skin and hair, but I also never knew what a hit my skin would take in my late 20s. I don't know if it's the dry Utah weather, or just my escalating age. Add to that, three pregnancies and breastfeeding babies, birth control, etc (hormones out of control), and my poor skin has really had a hard time staying CLEAR the past few years. And that would explain my path down a road full of natural home treatments. I think my skin is thanking me. Even though it's not quite 'there', I'm seeing some good results and I like knowing what's in the products I'm putting on it. My skin feels healthier, cleaner, clearer, smoother, and more hydrated.

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THE ROUTINE:

[NIGHT] oil-cleansing, Apple Cider Vinegar Toner, Coconut Oil Moisturizer

[DAY] Honey Mask (or sometimes I just rinse with water), Apple Cider Vinegar Toner, and Hyaluronic Acid Day Cream

[ONCE A WEEK] Aspirin Mask

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I've learned a few things along the way, if you want to try these at home. Here's what you should know:

Oil-Cleansing: go to the Crunchy Betty Blog to learn more. I mix my castor oil and avocado oil in this squeeze bottle and use it to clean my face every night! I LOVE this stuff! It's such a gently way to wash your face, without stripping it of moisture.

Apple Cider Vinegar as a Toner: It needs to be the kind with 'The Mother'. You don't know what that means? Never fear, it says it right on the front of the bottle. I got mine at Sunflower Market. Shake the vinegar up, and mix 1 part vinegar/3 parts water. I mix mine in a small spray bottle. I spray some on a cotton ball, and wipe it all over my face. No need to wash it off or anything. Just let it dry. I promise the smell goes away once it dries.

Coconut Oil: So many great things about coconut oil! I cook with it, too. Make sure you get 'Pure' or 'Extra-Virgin', cold-pressed, unrefined, non-homogenized kind and slather on your face as a moisturizer, or your whole body, which is what I do.

Don't be intimidated by all of the label stipulations. Just read the front label. Once again, I got mine at Sunflower Market. Check this out for some more uses. When using it on my FACE, I only put it on at night, so it has time to soak in (if I use it in the day under make-up, I feel like it makes my make-up run. But, if you're more 'natural' than I am, and you don't wear makeup, I doubt it matters.)

I also like 'Yes to Carrots'. (On my body, not my face.)

Hyaluronic Acid: This is what I use as a moisturizer during the DAY. I first heard about hyaluronic acid a long time ago, on The Beauty Department and have wanted to try it out since. The other day at Sunflower Market, I came across this Day Creme with Hyaluronic Acid and couldn't keep my arm from reaching out, grabbing it, adding it to my basket and running to checkout like I hit the jackpot. I LOVE this stuff!! The Beauty Department said to use 100%, which is not what this is, but I love it still. It's a great way to combat this dry Utah weather. Maybe next time, I'll look for the 100% version (supposedly you'd only need a drop or two of that, but I slather the creme on because it feels like I'm quenching my thirsty skin)

Honey Mask: Just remember-RAW honey (got it at Good Earth. I'm sure they'd have it at Sunflower Market, too). I use this in the morning, to wash my face (or sometimes I just splash some water on my face). Just rub about 1 T. between your fingers to soften it up, then rub it all over your face and let it sit for five minutes. After five minutes, rinse with warm water.

Aspirin Mask: non-coated or lightly coated. I couldn't find anything that said that? I got chewy. ha ha! I think it works. It's like a lightly exfoliating mask. That's why I use it just once a week. (found on Painted Ladies)

I wash however I'm washing at the time (oil, water, or honey), then do the mask: You simply dissolve two or three tablets in the palm of your hand with a few drops of water, rub it on your face and let it sit for five minutes. Then rinse it off. I like to use a towel so I can get all of the flakes off. (then I follow with the rest of my routine- apple cider vinegar toner and either coconut oil or hyaluronic acid for moisture)

Phew! That seemed like a lot, I know. Let me know if you have any questions. All of these things are working for me. It might sound like a lot, but once you're in the routine, it's really not that hard AT ALL. And another thing I love about these natural methods of cleaning and moisturizing is that you get a lot of bang for your buck. This stuff comes in HUGE containers and lasts a LONG time.

One more thing: I also take Fish Oil for my skin. My doctor recommended it. I was happy, because I was going to start taking it anyway, as I had heard there are a lot of benefits to doing so.

A Scarf and Some Carrot Shampoo

I made a spur-of-the-moment scarf today. I was sitting on my bed and noticed this white chunky yarn with silver specks in it. I used it to make the star on our Christmas tree and I was thinking I don't know what I'll ever use it for again. That's when I decided to make a scarf with it! It's as simple as can be, and I love how it turned out! You can wear it down, like a necklace, or fold it around again. I like it both ways. I'm going to give it to a friend, as a Christmas gift.

(the color in the pictures is off. The yarn is bright white)

Here's what I did:

Ch 62. Turn.

Row 1: dc into 3rd ch from hook. dc into each st across. (60 dc)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first dc). Turn. dc across. (60 dc)

Row 3-8: Repeat row 2. Fasten off.

Attach both short ends together to make one big loop.

(also, since I was taking pictures of this scarf, I decided to just slip on the circle scarf I made the other day and get a better picture of it. you can actually see what it looks like now. go HERE)

And in other news, as I mentioned before, I've been trying to decide where to go from here with my hair. I was planning on making some shampoo myself, with a recipe I got from a friend, but I was having a hard time getting to the health food store. One day, I was wandering around Target (when I was shopping for Griffy's teacher gift) and I happened across this shampoo, without even looking. I felt like it was the answer to my hair dilemma.

I can't tell you how good it feels to have CLEAN hair!!!! And it feels good to know I'm not going all the way back to my old ways. It's a nice, happy medium. I'm still going to wash every FEW days, but I'll use this [mostly] organic shampoo instead of baking soda (boo!). I'm also still not using any additional products. And, guess what! My hair is holding curl still. AH, the best of both worlds! Clean AND manageable. Hallelujah!

Linky Love. . . .

The internet can be a dangerous place for me, if I'm not careful. There are WAY too many crafty blogs and shops that inspire me, I sometimes have a hard time ripping myself away. And then I have an infinitely long list of projects, which only stress me out. Please don't tell me I'm the only one.

Here's just a sliver of the things that have caught my attention lately:

KnitKnit on Etsy. I don't know why, but I can't get those knitted power cords off my mind. They're so random. And I love love love the embroidered felt animal necklaces and the felted cameo necklaces and brooches.

Pumpkin Spice Lattes via Domestic Reflections. Oh my!! I made these last night (sans espresso) for my husband and I as we watched our Wednesday night shows (The Middle and Modern Family) and they were SO GOOD. I made something similar in October one night, but these were SO. MUCH. TASTIER. I will probably be making them again tonight. yum yum.

Can't get this blanket off my mind. From Good Knits.

DIY Clay Lollipop Ornaments on Creature Comforts. Very cute. Since we're already into December now, I'm all about the fast projects so I don't think I'll have time for these this year, but I'll keep them in mind for next Christmas. Scroll down to the end of the post, where she has a few pictures of the different uses for these. All so cute.

The Modern French Tip on Black Eiffel. Love this!

A Beautiful Modern Christmas on 'Sitting in a Tree'.

Paper Snowflakes on Kerli and Animals. We made paper snowflake garlands last year and it added such a festive touch to our home. We WILL be doing this again!

And I only just scratched the surface. I've got a problem!

No 'Poo Challenge: DAY 23!!!

I did it! I reached my goal of not using shampoo for three weeks. Some days were easier than others, but I made it.

I'm still trying to decide where I want to go from here. After all that work, I don't know if I want to go back to my old ways of shampooing daily or every other day, but I'm not loving the waxy build-up that I get with using the baking soda. I also feel very accomplished to have gone this long without using a single product on my hair!

I DID end up washing with applesauce on Wednesday and it really helped. My hair felt much softer and cleaner than it ever has with baking soda. For about a day, my scalp looked a little flaky, but it got better after that. This picture was taken the next day. Once again, I used the no heat curl. You can find the tutorial here, at The Paper Mama. I've become a big fan of this hair style.

You can use regular store-bought applesauce, but I made my own. It's very simple:

Set the oven to 350 F.

peel and core two apples

Put them in an oven-safe dish along with 1/8 cup water, and bake for 15 minutes.

Run in the food processor until smooth.

Then you just use it in the shower, the same way you would with shampoo, being sure to rinse out as well as possible.

I used all of this in the shower, but I think you could EASILY split it between two showers.

Put half of it in the fridge and use a few days later.

ps don't forget to enter our giveaway!!

hats are my friend

Okay soooooooooo, this no 'poo challenge is getting difficult. It's DAY 17!

I feel yucky.

I didn't think through this very well. I had to show up at the fire station (where my husband works) for Thanksgiving, looking like a grease ball. I wanted to wear a hat but thought that might be rude, so I opted for the ever so popular bun.

I felt disgusting.

Now we've got church tomorrow and Christmas is coming so we need to do family pictures. . . . not really the best time to have a constant bad hair day.

So lately I either wear my hair in a bun or a hat. It's starting to look really piece-y, so even a hat doesn't hide it. Just look at these pictures I took today. You can still see how bad my hair looks, even if most of it is covered.

I tried to do the no heat curl for Thanksgiving but it just looked stringy so up in a bun it went.

Well, I'm still not going to give up. I've come this far and I need to finish. I only have 4 more days until I reach my 21 day goal, but I don't really want to stop until I see results, so I might try an applesauce wash. I'm just worried about being 'flaky' afterwards.

sigh.

What to do, what to do? We shall see.

Sare and I are working on our giveaway. I think we should be ready in a couple more days! Get excited people! Get REALLY excited. ; )

Bow Headband

I started teaching a friend how to crochet and it made me really antsy to start more projects, so I made this headband last night.

When I decide on a project, I have to make it RIGHT THEN, so I used my yellow Vanna's Choice yarn I had on hand. I'd like to make some other colors though, and maybe a matching one for baby Penelope. I love how it turned out. It'll be great for an ear warmer in the snowy months.

As for the No 'Poo Challenge, I'm still finding things to be happy about. Like I said before, my hair is definitely feeling greasy, but I'll take that as opposed to how it usually is when I wash with shampoo- flat, lifeless, and completely unmanageable.

My hair has a lot more body and is 10 times more manageable than it's ever been!!

I'm on DAY 11 and I'm going for at least 21 days (more, if it the greasiness starts diminishing).

And one more thing- sorry my pictures are always such horrible quality. I always take pictures at night, in my windowless bathroom, after the kids go to sleep, so this is the result. I'd love to take beautiful pictures outdoors, in the daylight, in a pretty setting, but just don't have the time for that. Or the energy to wrestle three kids. Maybe one of these days. . .

Dirty hair is better than clean hair

Okay, maybe that's not exactly true, but I haven't washed my hair (with shampoo) for a week, and it sure does SEEM better than before.

I've had a few ups and downs with how I feel about the no 'poo challenge, but today has been an UP.

In my last post I voiced a concern about what I was going to do with my hair for church.

I also mentioned the No-Heat Curl tutorial, on The Paper Mama. Like I said, I've tried the no-heat curl before, but not since starting my no 'poo adventure. After posting that last night, I decided I might as well try it again for church. I figured curling my hair would be the perfect way to cover up the greasiness, since I can't wear a hat or anything. And it would give it a little extra body, instead of sticking to my head.

OH. MY.

I LOVE LOVE LOVED the result and I was so surprised. I expected to wake up on Sunday morning and have a really hard time getting ready, but it ended up being a breeze.

I was in a rush to get out the door this morning (as ALWAYS, on Sundays), so I quickly snapped a shot of myself in the boys' dirty dirty bathroom mirror, but you get the idea.

Now, to understand why I'm so excited about this, you need to know the nature of my hair. USUALLY, when I curl my hair, it falls 15 minutes later. No joke. As a matter of fact, the only other time I've used this no-heat method to curl my hair, that's exactly what happened. And I spray a whole lot of hairspray on it, too. I've tried curling clean hair, dirty hair, using gel, hairspray, surf spray, curling irons, hot rollers, velcro rollers, sponge rollers, leaving it over night, etc. NOTHING EVER WORKS.

SO, you can imagine my surprise when I decided to use a NO HEAT method of curling my hair, without using ANY product, and it actually WORKED! AND it was still just as curly after 3 hours of church and still hasn't fallen.

I did not put one product in my hair!! Like I said in the video yesterday, the natural oils in my hair ACT as product, without having to use any.

Last night, I took it out of the bun I had it in, brushed through it, gave it a side part, put a stretchy headband on and twisted the hair around the headband like she does in her video. Then I went to sleep. I woke up, took out the headband, and brushed through my hair. I pinned the top back (because the crown is too greasy to wear down, I think), and that's all it needed! It took all of five minutes to complete!

after church:

Just the same as before church.

I have a BIG smile on my face right now. I feel like I've made a wonderful discovery. I like fixing my hair and trying new hairstyles, but it's usually a lot more time consuming than this. Not to mention the little fact that I didn't have to damage my hair in any way to get results. No heat, no chemicals. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

I'm quickly becoming a huge no 'poo advocate!!

No 'Poo Challenge: An Update

So today makes DAY 5 of not using shampoo and I am definitely feeling like a grease ball, but it'll all be worth it when I look in the mirror and see soft, shiny hair, full of the body I never knew I could have!!

Because that's what's going to happen, RIGHT??

Until that day, I'll continue finding ways to hide my hideous, 'in-between stage', hair. I find that I prefer hats when the crown of my head is REALLY greasy (like the second day after washing with BS) and buns ON the days of the BS wash, like today. I don't know WHAT I'm going to do for church tomorrow. Should be interesting.

HATS:

BUNS:

SCARVES:

links:

sock bun tutorial on Cheeky Chicago

head scarf tutorial on Keiko Lynn

no heat curl on The Paper Mama

(I've tried this, but not since switching to no 'poo, so I'm not sure what it would look like. worth a try, though)

Oil Cleansing Method

The Oil-Cleansing Method, or the OCM, is a method of washing your face that I found on Crunchy Betty. Instead of washing with SOAP, you wash with OIL. The idea is that like attracts like, so the oils will grab the dirty oil on your face and replace it with clean oil. Or something like that.

When I reached the old age of 25, I felt my skin start to change. I'm now 29 years old and my skin looks dry and dull and it breaks out on a regular basis. I guess I kind of felt the same way about trying this out, as I did about the 'no 'poo challenge'. My skin's not doing so hot as it is, so I've got nothing to lose. I figure what's the harm in trying it out and seeing if it's the solution to my skin problems?

I did my first oil cleanse on Monday night, and washed with honey the next morning (tutorial here). I've continued the morning/honey, night/oil routine since then. So I've done it a total of three times and I can't say enough good things about it. Sounds strange, but I get so excited to wash my face every morning and night. That's what happens when you're seeing results.

Now, mind you, my after pics are with make-up on so I know it's not completely valid, but I'm just feeling so much better about my skin, I felt like I HAD to share. I'll do another 'after' post in a few weeks, when I've been doing it longer. Something important to note about the make-up, though, is that I usually wear foundation, concealer, AND powder. In these pictures (which I took yesterday- DAY 2), I'm only wearing a little liquid foundation to even out my skin tone. And that's how I've been doing it since starting my oil cleansing routine. I'm not nearly as self conscious as I was just THREE days ago!

I cannot believe I'm about to show the world my broken out face. Am I crazy!

EEK! I'm just going to press 'Publish' before I can change my mind.

before (right side):

I've been breaking out along my jawline and it seemed no matter what I did, I couldn't fix it. Until the OCM, that is.

after (right side):

this was the area that saw the biggest change. right after washing for the first time, I saw a difference. It didn't completely clear up (that would be impossible, I think) but there was a considerable change.

before (left side):

after (left side):

before :

after (don't mind the oily hair):

So, this was just after TWO DAYS and I've now been doing it for THREE!! My skin feels softer, smoother, clearer, and my confidence has been boosted. I'm LOVING the fact that I don't have to cake on the make-up to cover up all of my many skin flaws.

I just can't wait to see how this goes after a few weeks!

The oil mixture I use is 1tsp castor oil, 2tsp avocado oil. I massage it into a wet face for about two minutes, then get a washcloth completely wet with hot water. Ring it out and put it on my face for 15 seconds to soften the oils. Then I just wipe my face clean (I don't even remove my make up beforehand).

I pat it dry with a towel and that's it!

here are the links to Crunchy Betty again:

Oil Cleansing Method

check to see the different oils she suggests. you kind of have to figure out the right mixture for your skin type. I chose to use avocado oil because I think I have dry skin.

Honey Cleansing

GOOD LUCK!

Crunchy Betty Blog

Okay, some of you may think I'm a liiiiittle crazy, and maybe I am, but I'm going to stop using shampoo. You heard me! I'm not using shampoo anymore!

'Why', you might ask? Because it sounds so crazy that it JUST might work, that's why.

I'm not a huge fan of my hair as it is, so when I read on Crunchy Betty (which I'm mildly obsessed with at the moment) that there was such a thing as not using shampoo, and getting prettier hair, I was on board. I've read a lot about it in a short amount of time and have to admit that I'm scared. MOST of the reviews I read were GOOD, but there are always the horror stories. If you'd like to join me, I'll be doing updates on the blog. Click here for Crunchy Betty's instructions.

(I have to say, I felt like the biggest DORK sitting in my bathroom, talking to a camera. Hopefully I get a little more comfortable with it, the more I do it.)