French Chic Lotion Dispenser

Tags

bathroom, craft, DIY, french chic, home decor, master bathroom, master bedroom, master suite, Mod Podge, powder room, repurpose

Years ago, I showed you my Chambord Soap Pump and Disarrono Soap Pump. I hate cluttered bathroom vanities so it only made sense to replace my lotion bottle.

Vanity Makeover – Lotion Bottle

The pump is repurposed from a disposable hand soap dispenser, and the bottle is a repurposed Disaronno bottle.  I replaced the straw with the longer one from the lotion bottle and trimmed off an inch. I resized and printed a French Chic image and Modpodged it onto the front of the bottle and sealed it with a few extra coats.

In the future, I’ll make sure my lotion is purchased in a squirt bottle so my glamorous dispenser will be easier to refill.

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Tea

Tags

beverage, detox, fitness, health, tea, wellness

Unplug to Recharge Challenge
You can take the easy route and purchase boxes of detox teas or you can custom blend teas that suites your needs and pleases your palate.

Detox Tea Recipes

Use a mesh strainer to steep ingredients in hot water for about 7 minutes. Stir and sip.

Detox Tea #1
1 green tea bag
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp. lemon
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 2
1 white tea bag
1 cinnamon stick
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
1 tsp. turmeric
honey (optional)

Detox Tea # 3
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
honey

Detox Tea #4
1 dandelion root tea bag
lemon juice
honey

Detox Tea #5
1 white tea bag
1 Tbsp. lime juice
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #6
1 white tea bag
10-15 mint leaves
1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
honey (optional)

Detox Tea #7
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1/2 tsp. coriander 
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
honey

Detox Tea #8
1 green tea bag
1 tsp. cloves
honey

Also check out my Spa Water recipes…

What is your favorite detox tea?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Bath

Tags

balance, Beauty, detox, DIY beauty, health, recharge, wellness, zen

I’m lucky enough to have a large soaker tub. If you have a smaller tub, decrease the recipe to meet your needs. Detox baths can be extremely harsh on your tresses. During your soak, give your hair a deep conditioning treatment and pile it on top of your head.

Unplug to Recharge Challenge: Detox Bath Recipes

Dissolve ingredients in hot water as the tub is filling. It is important to drink plenty of water before, during and after a detox bath. Soak in the tub until the water has cooled (about 30 minutes). Listen to relaxing music or revel in the silence. Read a good book or focus on breathing. To boost the benefits, give yourself a lymphatic massage. Slowly and carefully get out of the bath. Moisturize your skin with almond oil or coconut oil.

Detox Bath #1
1/2 c. Himalayan sea salt
1/2 c. Epsom salt
1/2 c. baking soda
a few drops of lavender essential oil

Detox Bath # 2
1/2 c. fresh grated ginger
1/4 c. lemon juice

Detox Bath #3
2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/2 c. Epsom salt

Detox Bath #4
a bunch of sage or sage essential oil
1 c. Himalayan sea salt

Detox Bath # 5
8 green tea bags
1 c. Epsom salt

USE COMMON SENSE:
Do not drink a detox beverage or alcoholic beverage while in the tub. Do not take a detox bath if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or are pregnant.

Also, check out my Soothing Salt Soak recipe…

What ingredients do you add to your detox bath?

XOXO,
Young Wifey

DIY Spa Pedicure

Tags

DIY, DIY beauty, mani/pedi, nail polish, nails, pedicure, spa

I love, love, love pedicures. Last time I got one, the pedicurist told me that my feet were in the best shape she’s ever seen on a client and that I must get pedicures often. The truth was, up until then I only got a pedi once a year at the beginning of sandal season. The rest of the year, I did my own. Here are my step by step tips for a spa pedicure.

DIY Spa Pedicure

DIY Spa Pedicure Materials:
2 small basins, two small towels, epsom salts or foot soak, nail polish remover, cotton pads, toenail clippers, nail file, stainless steel cuticle pusher, cuticle remover gel, pumice, callus remover gel, anti-bacterial soap, clay mask, lotion or oil, toe separators, rubbing alcohol, base coat, top coat, nail polish

Step 1: Set-up
Gather all materials before you start. Place a towel in one basin and fill with very hot water. Fill second basin with hot water and add bath salts or foot soak. Remove any remaining nail polish from toes.

Step 2: Trim
Cut nails and file to desired length and shape. Carefully scrape under nail. I like to keep my toenails as short as possible.

Step 3: Soak
Place feet in basin with salts/soak. Soak feet for about 15 minutes.

Step 4: Cuticles
Remove feet and blot dry. Apply cuticle gel to cuticles and allow to sit for about 30 seconds. Use cuticle scraper and push back cuticles. Return feet to basin and wash with soap. Some people cut their cuticles, but you really should just push them back and remove only the extra dead skin.

Step 5: Calluses
Apply callus remover to any tough parts on your feet (heels, ball, bottom of toes, etc…). Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Wet pumice and scrub feet until calluses are smooth. Rinse pumice and feet as needed. Use soap to carefully clean feet and rinse with clean water. I’ve tried almost every product tool on the market and love Mr. Pumice’s Purple Pumi Bar the best.

Step 6: Mask
Slather clay mask on top of feet and on lower legs. Remove towel from hot water and wring excess water from towel. Place towel over legs to steam. Once towel has cooled, use towel to wipe off all clay.

Step 7: Moisturize
Massage lotion or oil on feet and legs. I usually use vitamin E oil. Use rubbing alcohol and cotton pad to remove any lotion from toenails.

Step 8: Paint
Apply one coat of base coat, allowing to dry completely. Apply 1-2 coats of color, allowing to dry between coats. If you want to add stripes/flower/patterns add them now. Once polish is completely dry, add top coat. Prop your feet up and relax while nail polish dries completely. I’ve never been one for bold hues (I have very pale skin) on my tootsies, and in fact, I rarely venture beyond the neutral French pedicure.

Step 9: Clean-up
Wash pumice with warm water and set aside to dry. Wipe cuticle scraper with rubbing alcohol and allow to dry. Spray foot basin with bleach, allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean and dry. Launder towels. Store all pedicure items in basin, so they’re easy to set-up next time.

Enjoying my Fresh Pedicure & Flip-Flop Tan Line

Time to pamper yourself!

XOXO,
Young Wifey

Do you have any pedicure tips?

Coconut Oil & Lemon Salt Scrub

Tags

body scrub, coconut oil, DIY, DIY beauty, homemade beauty, lemon, moisturizer, salt scrub

A few weeks ago my mother-in-law mentioned that her elbows were dark and dry. She was worried that they always look dirty, and asked what I thought she should do for it. I suggested lemon juice and a sugar or salt scrub. Since she’s too busy taking care of the 6 other people in her house, I knew she’d never actually remember to take time to pamper herself.

This weekend I whipped up a customized batch of salt scrub for her. I chose salt as the exfoliator over sugar, due to the healing properties of epsom salt. I added table salt to create a finer level of texture to the scrub. The lemon juice helps brighten dark spots. You could add any type of essential oil to this mixture. Coconut oil was the perfect moisturizer to replenish her skin during this treatment.

Young Wifey’s Coconut Oil & Lemon Salt Scrub

Coconut Oil & Lemon Salt Scrub Ingredients:
2/3 c. epsom salt, 1/3 c. table salt, 2/3 c. coconut oil, 1/3 c. lemon juice

Coconut Oil & Lemon Salt Scrub Directions:
Mix together ingredients and store in an airtight container.

How to Use Coconut Oil & Lemon Salt Scrub:
In the shower, rub a dab of the scrub on your elbows, knees, or heels. Rinse throughly.
If scrub starts to separate, simply mix before using.

What homemade beauty treatments do you use?

Rosewater

Tags

DIY, facial toner, homemade, natural beauty, rose, rose water

Since my rose bushes are booming with buds and blooms, it’s time to finally get back to one of my favorite summer ingredients. Rosewater.

Homemade Rosewater

There are many directions on-line for making rosewater, but most of them make it into a complicated process. My method is easy and I think the quality is just as good.

If you are using this in food/drink or using it on your face, it is essential that you use roses that have never been chemically treated. I only use homegrown roses, for I do not trust store-bought “organic” roses.

Ingredients:
about 10-12 roses (just opening is best), water, 1-3 Tbsp. vodka (optional)

Directions:
Remove petals from stems, and carefully rinse off dirt or bugs. Place petals in a medium sauce pan and add 1″ of water. Bring water to a gentle boil. Turn heat to low, and stir petals until they are all wilted. Cover and simmer gently for about 20 minutes or until all color has faded from petals. Remove from burner and allow to fully cool. Once cool, remove petals from water and squeeze the remaining liquid from them. Strain water into glass jar or bottle, add vodka, and seal. Keep refrigerated for about a week.

Rosewater is great used as a facial toner (add witch hazel instead of vodka) or hair rinse (omit vodka). It’s refreshing in a drink and tasty in a baked treat. Either way you use it, enjoy!

Try:
Sparkling Rosewater Lemonade
Rosewater Sugar Cookies

How do you use rosewater? 

How to Dry Herbs for Teas and Cooking

Tags

dried herbs, facial toner, how to, how to dry herbs, red raspberry, red raspberry tea, tea, tea leaves

Red Raspberry Tea
If you’re thinking iced-tea with raspberry flavoring, stop reading this post now. This is about making your own tea and the method can be used for other herbal teas as well as drying your own herbs for cooking. Some people air dry their herbs, but I know my house is too humid during the summer to successfully dry herbs that way. Besides, I’m busy and need something faster.

It’s been suggested to me several times to drink red raspberry tea… so that’s what is guiding today’s post. Since I have a plethora of red raspberry bushes behind my house, I decided to make my own. I picked only the smallest newest leaves at the top of the new canes. I rinsed them and patted them dry before arranging them on my crisper sheet.

Fresh Picked Red Raspberry Leaves

Baked the leaves at 200°F for 40 minutes, or until they crumbled in my fingers. Crumble the leaves and store in a air-tight container. They will last up to one year.

Fresh Dried Red Raspberry Leaves

To Brew:
Place a Tbsp. of tea leaves into a tea strainer and steep in a pint of hot water for about 10 minutes (herbal teas can steep longer than a regular tea). Add sugar if the taste is too strong.

*Red Raspberry Leaves also make a great natural facial toner. Steep tea (unsweetened of course) and allow to cool before use. Store extra toner in fridge for up to one week.

This method was very easy, I planned to make and store my own red clover blossoms and spearmint for teas. My neighbor mowed over the clover patch the day I was planning on going back into the meadow to pick the blooms. My spearmint is plenty safe in my garden though.

What is your favorite herbal tea?