My favorite skin care

My mom found this stuff while on vacation in Northern California.  We have really different skin types but it works awesome for both of us.  I like that it is organic, natural, and made in Arizona.  The price is awesome as well. 

The first time I used the cleanser I found it to be a little odd. It feels like lotion.  It does not feel like the typical sudsy soap cleanser I was used too. Also it recommends that you leave it on for 2-3 minutes.  I did as recommended and have had great results.  My acne has cleared up and my skin feels soft.  I am used to the way it feels now and I like it.  In the shower I usually put on the cleanser and hair conditioner and then shave.  That way it isn't taking any additional time. 

After the cleanser I put on the herbal gel.  The herbal gel is my favorite out of all the products. Its the second step in my skin care routine, but it has many other uses.  I use it for my son who has eczema. In the winter I also put it on my legs before I put on my moisturizer to give it a boost.  It clears my face and feels amazing!! I really cannot say enough good things about the herbal gel.

The last step is the moisturizing lotion.  It has natural sunscreens in it.  Its not to light or heavy.  It is really perfect.  I have also used this as an all body lotion as well. Before I found these products I had experimented with so many types of lotions and this one is the perfect balance.

The products are all around $11.50.  Definitely worth a try and the price!!  This post is not sponsored, I just really really love the product. Here is a link to their website if you want to explore further.

https://southwestsunshineherbal.com/

 

 

Bookshelf Bedroom

This was my apartment bedroom.  I took two IKEA bookshelves and put them on either side of my king size bed.  Next I hung a shower rod between the two bookshelves.  I hung blackout curtains on it.  I think it made a great backdrop to my bed.  It did block out the window for the room but I was ok with it.  I like it very dark when I sleep so this blocked out the sun.  

Organize Kitchen Small Space

Before we moved into our house, the boys and I were living in a small apartment. Since we came from a house with a nice size kitchen I had a lot of cooking supplies.  I love to cook and entertain.  With our new space I could still cook and entertain on a smaller level.  I experimented with different ways to save space or make space.  My apartment as you can see only had two above cabinets, two below, and a small pantry.  Here is was my solution to housing all of my cooking utensils:

The hooks that I hung them on I got from Dollar Tree.  They are $1 come with the screws and are white.  I spray painted them gold.  I actually have a lot of these hooks and have them for different uses all over my house.  I have one in my boys room for their jackets and backpacks.  In the playroom currently for Noah's rainbow loom bracelets.  In my closet I have two, about to be three.  Right now I have one for my purses and the other for belts and scarves.  The next one will be for my necklaces.  I find I wear more jewelry if it is out and easy to grab.  Being a working mom of two I have about 15 minutes in the morning to pull together a look.  My boyfriend has some in his closet as well. He hangs his hats on one, and his pants on another.  Lots of uses!!

The BEST Guacamole

I LOVE GUACAMOLE!! I love avocados in general actually.  I would say I eat at least one a day.  They are so yummy.  I realize that they are full of fat, but its a healthy fat. Believe it or not we all need some fats! 

Anyway my boyfriend makes the best guacamole.  It is mind blowing.  So so yummy!  Here is the recipe, make it for you friends!

Ingredients:

5 Avocados

1 Lime

1 Lemon

1 Garlic Clove

1 Fresh Jalapeno 

1 handful fresh cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

Tools:

Food Processor

Lemon Squeezer

Garlic Press

Large Bowl 

Utensils

Prep: 10 minutes

How to:

First with the avocados remove the skin and pit and then put in bowl.  Once that is done mash them by fork. Make it smooth but still a little bit chunky.  

Then in the food processor add the juice of half lime and lemon, garlic press one clove, cut the stem off the jalapeno and throw it in the processor whole. Also add a handful of cilantro.  Add salt and pepper.  Then process.  

Take the mixture from the food processor and add to the avocados.  Mix together with fork.  Taste test...should be perfect!

DIY CHALKBOARD DRESSER

GOOD MORNING BOYS! 

What shall we do today?!?!

 

This morning these guys decided we needed to do a project.  For Christmas I got a new drill/ sander so it was time to put it to good use.

Slowly we have been redoing the boys bedroom into a new sports theme.  Today we decided to work on this very old dresser.  It is UGLY!! It has so many water marks, wax, stains.  It has been thru it! I got this when I was in college and have since passed it onto the boys to use as one of their dressers.  It was in desperate need of a makeover.




So I started off by sanding the entire thing. That was a job in itself!! Since this dresser originally came from an antique shop it had years of wax, pledge, oil and whatever else on it.  I had to blast through all of it to make the top and sides even and smooth. 




Once I was finished sanding I painted the entire dresser black with a paint/primer in one.  Once the paint dried I painted the top and the drawers with chalkboard paint.  I let each coat dry, I did 3 coats of chalkboard paint.  On the other parts I finished it with polyurethane.  I love polyurethane for the final coat.  I feel like it gathers a lot less dust then other finishes and gives the sheen I am looking for.   Finally I also spray painted all of the hardware/knobs silver. 



Here is the finished product!! I love it! The boys would barely let me get a picture of it before they went to town with the new chalkboard.   I think it looks so much better and is a fun addition to their room!


 

Noah did the cursive "pants"! I am really glad that they still teach it in school.  I think it looks so pretty.

Country shabby chic romantic bedroom

When I moved to my new house, the bathroom was already painted a light blue color and the wall entering into it was in my bedroom was painted that color.  
I didn't hate the color, but it was going to clash horribly with the black, red, white theme I had currently in my room.  So I had to come up with a new theme.  Where does anyone these days turn for inspiration?!?...Pinterest of course.... I found this bedroom and absolutely loved it!

This lady has amazing eye and style, I love her entire blog.  When you have a moment check it out.  You will definitely feel inspired.
 http://downtoearthstyle.blogspot.com/?m=1

So with this picture as my inspiration I was off to recreate a bedroom with this sort of feel.  I wanted it to feel cozy and clean.  I also wanted it to be more girly than my previous bedroom.  
First order of business was to make some sort of headboard.  I like the wood headboards that look worn and country.  My lovely dad volunteered to make me a headboard.  He bought 6 fences planks at home depot.  He sanded them, painted them white, then grey and then sanded so some of the white would show thru.  He then attached all of the planks to each other with two boards backing boards.  His theory behind this was that instead of drilling multiple holes into the wall I would only need two.  Genius.  My mom made me a burlap "Love" sign and gave me some old knobs to hang on the headboard.  I need to re-thread the love banner so that it is only going thru one string instead of two. 

Next I wanted a shelf/mantle above the headboard.  My boys had bunk-beds in our apartment but did not want them in our new place.  So I had extra wood support beams that worked as a shelf.  I bought very inexpensive shelf brackets at home depot to mount the shelf on.  Luckily during this same time, Michaels was having an awesome sale and I was able to get the candles and the candle holders I placed on top of it for less than .40 cents each.  The candles are not real they are the flameless kind.  They really light up the room nicely.  I love them.

 I love mason jars. I wish I could think of more ways to incorporate them in all of my decor.  My boyfriend uses them in his kitchen.  He also brings over his super healthy smoothies in them.  I think they make him look cooler.  Mason jars are very hip and so is he =).  Anyway I added a mason jar on each side of the candles on the shelf.  Even though we do not live together I wanted to make "his" side of the bed in his style. He is a golfer and is always leaving his tees, tokens, and sometimes balls around.  I did not realize it until I put it in his mason jar, but I have got quite the collection. 

 

For my mason jar I put rhinestones in it.  I mean really what girl doesn't like sparkle?!?

 

The night stands are re-purposed as well.  The one on the left I found in my moms house.  She has amazing style and loves to decorate.  I am usually first in line waiting for her hand-me-downs.  This one I believe she got at Bombay.  She also has a random collection of lace and doilies so I took one for this stand and then also one for my bedspread.  I will explain the bedspread in a bit. I enjoy this necklace holder as well. 

  The other side was a jewelry box/chest.  We removed the legs from the bottom so that is was not to tall. On it is a picture of me and my boyfriend and another small mason jar.  In the jar is more random golf things and his watch.  The only thing I do not like about using this jewelry stand as a night stand is that only the top drawer is really functional.  I do not own or wear a lot of jewelry so I don't have a use for such a large stand.

 Behind each night stand I wanted it to look unison.  Since the jewelry stand is taller than the night stand I added a small shelf behind the night stand.  On it was a small trinket I found at Michael's and a sign I painted white to match my new room.

I made the chevron pictures on each side of the bed. I downloaded a template, penciled my area and then painted. 

I always buy canvas from Micheal's when they are having a sale or when it is in the clearance isle.  Sometimes an entire 6 pack will be in the clearance isle because one of the canvas' has a small hole on it. 

In front of my bed is one of my favorite pieces of furniture I own.  My trunk.  I have used as a toy chest, a coffee table, and now and the end of my bed.  I love it.  My mom went on a shopping spree when I was in high school and bought 3 or 4 trunks.  Since black has always been a favorite color of mine I always loved this one.  I wanted it as soon as I saw it.  She told me no, which rarely happens.  Anyway when I was about 25 she finally gave it to me.  I was so happy! Its awesome! 
 
The trunk is on a rug I got at Ikea.  I think I paid $19.99 for it.  I liked the pattern and the price so much, I bought one in red as well. On the trunk is a rhinestone mirrored serving tray.  Adorable, but I have yet to receive breakfast in bed on it.....(hint, hint).  


 
I also love mirrors so I have a couple of random ones in the room.  
My bedspread is multiple things.  First off I love blankets.  On that bed currently is my sheet, my Amish quilt, two duvet blankets, and my bedspread.  The bedspread set I found at Marshall's on clearance for $35. The lace cover was another great find I found in my moms stuff. Apparently it was pricey, I had never seen it, she ordered it off TV or something.  I am not sure what her original plan was with it, but it is working well with my theme. I still need to add some throw pillows.  I always like to wait until I find really good deals, so those are yet to come.
Also there is my makeup vanity, which is always a mess so its not pictured =)
This is still a work in progress.. The window above the bed are really cramping my style.. I am trying to find a way to cover or incorporate them into the whole look. 

This is the lovely wall that made me need to revamp my bedroom style


 My bathroom is a very awkward shape.  So far I have left the colors as grey and white and burlap/natural.  These stars above the towels we a silver color but for this room I decided to paint them white and give them more of a nautical feel.







The towels I got at target.  For some reason during the holiday season is when I always find things I really love.  The towels were in their Christmas/holiday decor.  They look like everyday to me! I added burlap that I got at Micheal's. 
The storage drawer stand was much needed in my small apartment.  Apartments never have enough storage ever, so I had gotten this for all of my beauty supplies.  I painted it grey and added some sparkles so it would match my new bathroom.

Lastly this is by the sinks. I already had both of the signs from previous decor.  The middle used to be a picture of two ladies at a bar drinking martinis.  I modge podged a picture of my dog and my parents dog in the middle instead.  Super simple and I think looks awesome.  I just printed in in black and white on card stock and modge podged it on.

I am still working on this room. It is really a trial by error for me.  I have never had white anything in my life.  I really like it however.  It feels serene and relaxing to me.  For a super busy active single mom like myself that is important! 

DIY Lego MiniFigures Display

My boys love Legos.  I love Legos. I was lucky enough to have my parents save all my Legos for my boys. Our playroom is overflowing with these things. I am not sure how to keep them off the floor but I am learning to add character with them.

We decided today to make a lego mini figure or guy display.  First up we need a nice frame or old picture to start.  At goodwill we found this beauty:

Every other Saturday in my area everything is 50% off so we got this guy for a little over $12.  We took it home and the first thing I did was paint it: 

I painted two coats of the black. Next week counted out 20 2x4 bricks.  You could do the 2x2 bricks but my guys like to have a lot of accessories so it would be to crowded for us. 

I then took them to the garage to spray paint gold (or butter as my boys say is gold): 

Make sure you flip the Legos over after they dry and do the other side as well 

When all the pieces were done drying I arranged the gold bricks on the picture and started gluing! I used my glue gun but I'm sure any strong glue would work. 

Now I asked the boys for 20 lego MiniFigures :

Turned out great! It looks great in our work in progress playroom!