Cinco de Mayo Pedicure

Tags

Cinco de Mayo, foot bath, foot soak, Holiday pampering, Mexican pedicure, pedicure, tequila shooter foot bath

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I forwent the Margarita for a Tequila Shooter Foot Bath instead.

I mixed several fresh mint leaves (torn), a few shots of tequila, a few drops of lime essential oil, 2 sliced limes with warm water. After I soaked mis pies for 10 minutes, I used an exfoliating sugar scrub and then slathered on a cilantro lime lotion. Put on a sombrero and painted my toenails with a bright color (a huge difference from my standard french pedi) and I’m good to go.

Sugar Scrub Recipe

Tags

de-stress, de-tox, home beauty, homemade beauty, natural beauty, pampering, rejuvenation, relax, relaxation, sugar scrub

I love using a sugar scrub to exfoliate and moisturize my skin. Whip up a batch of your own at home to pamper your skin or to gift a batch to a loved one.

To Make
Mix 2/3 c. dark brown sugar, 1/2 c. almond oil (you can use vegetable oil), 10 drops vitamin E (I puncture and squeeze a vitamin E liquid capsule) or glycerin, any 10 drops of any other essential oil you might want to add .

To Use
Mix ingredients together before use. Rub the sugar scrub mixture in small circles on dry skin. Concentrate on tough areas, such as elbow and heals (careful, shower may get slippery). Rinse off completely when finished.

To Store
Store in small plastic or glass jars. This is the perfect use for recycling baby food jars. I used metal tins I had on hand, I just need to get my hands on some baby food jars.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

*If you have raw brown sugar, use 1/3 c. brown sugar and 1/3 c. raw brown sugar.

*Limit use to 3 x’s per week (I use once a week in the winter and 3 x’s during the summer).

*Continue pampering yourself with a soothing salt soak or cold eye pillow.

Aromatherapy Satin Eye Pillow

Tags

aromatherapy, de-stress, de-tox, eye mask, eye pillow, eye pillow tutorial, hangover cure, lavender, migraine relief, pampering, rejuvenation, relax, relaxation, satin eye pillow, self sooth, stress buster

As I mentioned in Soothing Salts, I need to focus on relaxing and de-stressing. I haven’t owned an eye pillow in years and decided it was time to make myself a customized one. I used an old satin camisole as the casing (perfect time to reuse a preloved item).

Eye Pillow

Step One
Cut two 5″x8″ rectangles and stitch three sides closed, leaving an 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step Two
Turn the satin pouch right side out and fill it with one cup of flax seeds (better than those plastic beads), a sprig of dried lavender and 10 drops of lavender essential oil (or you can create you own combinations).

Step Three
Folded the open side into the sack. Then stitch it close on the outside on the pillow, continuing across all four sides. This creates a finished seam.

In order to preserve the aromatherapy benefits of the lavender, store it in a plastic zipper bag in the freezer of the refrigerator (check your cold tolerance).

Other combinations to try: rose petals and rose oil or dried chamomile flowers and peppermint oil.

*If flax seeds aren’t available to you, try using corn kernels or uncooked rice.

*This is perfect for migraine relief, puffy or sore eyes, hangovers, etc…

Soothing Salts

Tags

bath salts, de-stress, de-tox, pampering, relax, self sooth, Valentine, Valentine's Day

Bath Salts, Valentine Edition:
51% of me wanted to have a productive weekend, 49% of me just wanted to melt into the couch with a book and a bag of cookies. Since work and life have been so hectic, I knew I wouldn’t be productive unless I pampered myself first. I got a jump-start on being productive, but making a treat to help me relax. Bath salts are so easy to make, I decided to whip up a batch.

Ingredients: 1 c. sea salt, 1 c. Epsom salt, 1 c. baking soda, 1 tsp. liquid glycerin, 10 drops of essential oil, a few drops of food coloring

Directions: Mix these ingredients together in a bowl, breaking up all the small clumps, then separate into smaller batches. You can store them in decorative glass bottles, plastic baggies or in a decorative glass canister with a beautiful scoop. When it’s time to enjoy, just dissolve into steamy hot bath water.

Valentine Bath Salts

*I used red food coloring to make my salts pink, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.

*I used almond essential oil this time, but I also like lavender (relaxing), lemon (energizing), etc…

*Mist salt with water, add a bit more glycerin and press into plastic molds to make heart-shaped bath salts.

*I made a batch and separated them into decorative little bottles to include in my Out Of Town Baskets for my wedding. I think they make great favors for baby or bridal showers, stocking stuffer or as a thank you gesture.

Gift Basket Bath Salts

Soapy Saturday

Tags

handmade soap, homemade soap, soap making

Today was the perfect rainy day to stay in bed, wrapped up in a warm blanket. After slowly awaking, I remembered that I wanted to try soap making today and quickly hopped out of my toasty bed.

Last week I bought a basic soap making kit, I thought testing this out would be the perfect way to try soap making. The molds are basic and I can use rubber stamps to emboss the soaps.

Bamboo Embossed Soap

The kit only had one fragrance and two powdered colors. It did come with cute handmade paper and raffia for wrapping up the soaps. The problem is, I could only make small batches at a time, allowing the soap to cure before I could use the mold again. My cheese knives came in handy to loosen the edges from the mold and trimming off excess.

My first batch turned out cute! I decided to vamp up the second batch by adding chopped oats to the soap before pouring it into the molds. This will be a great natural exfoliant . This addition made me feel better about not make the soap from scratch.

Soap Stack

I used plastic-wrap to cover (and help keep) the soap before wrapping it in the paper and tying it with a raffia bow.

Pretty Pavlova & Egg Yolk Beauty

Tags

Baking, berry picking, dessert, egg white recipe, egg yolk conditioner, egg yolk facial, meringue, natural beauty, natural facial, pavola, raspberries, raspberry, summer dessert, whipped cream

Pretty Pavlova

Berry Picking Boots

While on holiday, we had lunch at my sister’s in-laws’ house, and her MIL made a yummy berry Pavlova. I was my first! After my first bite, I was making plans to make one with the raspberries that would soon be ready at home. It was something I always wanted to make, but it hide in the back of my head when the opportunities arose. It is the perfect summer dessert, light, delicate, fruity and refreshing. Lemon Meringue Pie was my first perfected dessert in my college days, but due to my computer crash in 2006 (lost my recipe files) I haven’t since made a meringue dessert. My first mission would be to start searching for the perfect meringue recipe. (I could have just asked for the recipe at my sister’s MIL, but I think my sister once did and was answered with “Oh, you want a pavlova? I’ll make you one.”)

Meringue Recipe

Ingredients: 4 egg whites, 1 c. sugar, 1-2 Tbsp. Rice Flour, 1 tsp. white vinegar 
 I remembered my how-to for meringue, just not the exact measurements and baking needs. I found one that looked right instruction wise, but had some other added ingredients. Nevertheless, I made that one. Before starting the meringue, I lined a baking tray with wax paper and trace an eight inch circle on the middle, to use as a guide. I preheated the oven to 250°F. I brought 4 egg whites to room temperature before I began to beat them with my electric mixer. I slowly added the sugar, one Tbs. at a time and continued to beat until stiff peaks formed. Then I folded in the rice flour (the original recipe called for corn starch) and vinegar and then piled the mixture on top of the wax paper. I made a well in the middle (and reminisced of my mashed potato sculpting days…) and smoothed the edges. I baked the meringue on the center rack of the oven for 1 hr 15 minutes, until it was hard to the touch and had a hint of gold. I turned off the oven and left the door ajar until the meringue was completely cool.

Unbaked Meringue 

Whipped Cream
Ingredients:
2 c. heavy cream, splash of vanilla (or almond) extract, 2 Tbs. confectioner’s sugar.

Directions:
Start with a chilled metal or glass bowl and chilled metal beaters (I just didn’t have time, this time). Lightly whip cream until small peaks appear, add sugar and vanilla. Do not over beat or cream will become too thick and butter-like.  

Whipped Cream

Fresh Picked Raspberries
Pumpkin woke up as soon as Hubster left for work today, and I decided to get a start on raspberry picking. The second summer in our house, we discovered that in the woods behind us, there is a huge patch of overgrown red raspberry bushes. Usually we gather a couple handfuls to throw on our cereal, and then Pumpkin gets tired and we leave the berries for the birds. This year, we stuck on our boots and went out picking. We each carried a large cup, since it’s easier to manage than a bucket and would empty them into a bowl once they were full. I filled 4 cups and Pumpkin filled 1 1/2 cups and his belly. Resulting with an overflowing bowl. There are still a few days of good picking on the bushes. If I can get out there (get my son out there with me, that is), I wonder what else I’ll be able to make.

Bowl of Berries

Assembling My Pretty Pavlova

I waited until it was time to serve before assembling. I placed the meringue on a plate and filled the well with the fresh whipped cream, spreading it up to the edges. Then, I covered the top with the fresh raspberries and  presented my pavlova to my family. Yum!

Raspberry Pavlova

 

 

Inside View

What to do with 4 Egg Yolks?
I hate wasting egg yolks when I only need the egg whites, so I started to brain storm uses. I didn’t want to make mayonnaise, sauce, custard, or another dessert… (although next time I make a dinner with a hollandaise sauce, I’ll make a Pavlova for dessert). So I decided to pamper myself. I gave my hair an egg yolk conditioning treatment for my hair (after shampooing and wringing out extra water): I mixed two egg yolks with 1 Tbsp. of olive oil (I used EVOO, because that’s what I have on hand) and 1/4 c. warm water. Then I poured it over my scalp and hair (avoiding my face), coating  thoroughly and let to set. I gave myself a facial: I blended the two remaining egg yolks with a tsp. of honey and lightly applied to my (freshly washed) face, neck, shoulders, elbows and knees and allowed to dry. Twenty-five minutes later, I hopped in the shower to rinse my hair and my face clean from my egg goo.

XOXO,
Young Wifey