DIY: Sock Bun

I have been diggin this new hairstyle -- super easy, fun and comfy + it looks like it took you a long time! The secret is "THE SOCK!" Look here , I'm actually wearing one today!

Check-out this great sock bun tutorial by Sarah Johnson at 3 Pink Dots to make a bun of you own!

Beautiful Free Printables: Invites, Labes, Crafts etc.

Simply WONDERFUL!

Click and you will see.

Oh I am so going to use these!

DIY: Reindeer Gift Bags

I made these cute little reindeer bags for my nanny girls school Christmas parties. We filled each reindeer with peppermints, chocolates and other fun candies! These were fun to make and less than $1 per bag including all the candy! The girls told me that the gift bags were a big hit with their classmates. I found this cute idea from Family Fun.

Instructions

1.        Use a pencil to mark a brown paper bag as shown, then cut along the solid lines to create a rounded top and 2 separate teardrop ear shapes.

2.       Fold the bag along the dotted line, then hot glue an antler (cut from brown card stock) and an ear inside the fold on each side of the bag.

3.       For the eyes, (I bought googly eyes from Micheal's craft store -- much easier than cutting out your own) glue them to the bag with a hot glue gun.

4.       Glue on a red pom-pom for a nose. Let all of the glue dry before placing a small gift inside.

***If your kids are under 10 yrs. old I'd suggest doing all the gluing yourself. You can have little one help with separating and stuffing the bags with candy.***

DIY: Elbow Patches

Learn how to make your own elbow patches at A Beautiful Mess.

DIY: Miniture Letters

I love this idea. I like to leave Danny little love notes here and there; hiding them in places that he'll find during his day (ex: on his steering wheel, keyboard or in a drawer). Sometimes I'll fold them into origami hearts , paper cranes or make a miniture letter such as this one.

This is also a cute idea for your kids...you can tell them that a Christmas elf, tooth fairy or leprechaun left a personal letter for them. 

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Elf On A Shelf

My nanny family has a cute Christmas tradition...Elf on a Shelf.

I like to find new ideas for the elf to do each night! These are some fun ideas that I want to do when I have kiddies of my own.

 A Note From The North Pole:

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? Elf on a Shelf -- A very special Elf that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses its magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa.

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! 

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50 All Natural Beauty Products You Can Make Yourself

This is Amazing! 50 DIY all natural beauty products! Love it!

DIY: Wine Bottle Candle Holder

Save your cute wine bottles and turn them into unique candle holders!

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DIY: Lace Light Bulbs

Spray paint a doily onto a light bulb or use a silver pen and draw your own designs. When the light shines through, it will cast a beautiful pattern on your walls.

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DIY: Beautiful Little Packages (Free Printables)

I found cute packaging ideas from Oh The Lovely Things. This will come in handy when you need smallish pillow-boxes to put your little gifts in. Here are some free printables!

{MEDIUM SIZE - 1 per page}

Download at Oh The Lovely Things

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{TINY SIZE - 4 per page}

Download at Oh The Lovely Things

DIY: Avocado, Olive Oil and Honey Hair Mask

A week or so ago, Danny bought a bunch of avocados from a man with a veggie cart on the beach. The avocados were tasty, but unfortunately we didn't get to finish them before they went mushy. I looked in the refrigerator today -- darn, a few of them had turned brown. Hmmm what to do? Throw them away? Noooo!

Make your own hair mask!

3 mushy avocados

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

Mix in a blender until creamy

Massage into dry hair and twist into a bun

Leave mask on for 1hour (or more...even over night if you're hair is feeling extra frizzy)

Shampoo hair 2X to rinse out.

****Hair will be SHINY and SOFT when it dries!****

DIY: Lace Denim Shorts

Such a cute idea. I know it's November, but I coudn't resist this DIY! You may want to hold off until a warmer month before you sport these babies!

Add lace inserts to denim shorts, via Oohsochic

DIY: Cake Stands!

This is such a lovely tutorial for DIY Cake Stands! 

Click here to learn how!

DIY: Bow Hairclips

Make a bunch of these super cute little bow hairclips, via Ruffles and Stuff - tutorial here

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Tastes Like Starbucks!

Every year around this time the world seems to go crazy for Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Guess what? I've found a wonderful recipe to make your own at home! I made these for the ladies in my Bible Study last Sunday and they loved them.

You know what's so great about the homemade version? You use real pumpkin puree instead of the fake sugary pumpkin syrup that they use at Starbucks! So yay for choosing a healthier latte this holiday season!

 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1. Make coffee (a pot, a cup, in whatever fashion and however you prefer making your coffee. The stronger the better)

2. Make Pumpkin Milk

1 c milk (I used almond milk but use any kind you want from half and half to rice milk)

1/4 heaping cup pumpkin puree (more if you really love pumpkin)

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend, or to taste

1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

1 tsp vanilla extract

sweetener of choice, to taste ( 2 tbsp brown sugar or a pinch of stevia to taste; or try honey, maple syrup, etc. to taste)

Optional: pinch of ground nutmeg, ginger, garam masala, cardamom, or other warming spices to taste

Directions: Combine all Pumpkin Milk ingredients in a blender and strain through a fine mesh strainer.

Optional: Warm the finished pumpkin milk mixture in the microwave or on the stove top (I do a quick nuke of about 1 minute)

3. Pour 1 c of brewed coffee into a mug and pour half the pumpkin milk mixture over the top of the coffee and enjoy. (Optional: Finish by garnishing with real whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon on top)

The other half of the pumpkin milk mixture is for the refill you know you will want. If you truly don’t want a refill, refrigerate it for up to a few days and use for your next latte.

Notes:

The spices will not “blend” or entirely dissolve. This is to be expected and normal. If this bothers you, this may not the recipe for you and you may want to experiment with other recipes or techniques.

*I suggest using a strainer to get rid of any gritty spices that bother you (after you let it heat on the stove or in the microwave)

Recipe adapted from Love Veggies and Yoga Picture by blisstree

DIY: Fab Filing Cabinet's

I really need to do this to my filing cabinet! Right now I’ve got one in the corner that’s blaaah-ing up my room. This would look perfect! Now all I need is a free weekend.

All Things Coffee Bean

I have a relationship with coffee beans. I love the smell of them, eating them, drinking them, relying on them every morning...basically I'm in love with the bean. I stumbled across these fabulous things to do with beans and thought I should share them with you.

DIY Coffee Bean Projects

Spray-paint your coffee beans and use them in a glass vase or put them in a clear box to hold your make-up brushes, pencils etc.

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Cool Beans Ice Tray

So cute! Never have watered-down iced coffee again!

Pour coffee into the ice tray to make ice coffee beans.

I <3 this idea

I need to get one of these trays!

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 Jessica Kernochan owner of La Licious 

Firming Coffee Body Scub

Renowned as an anti-cellulite agent, coffee detoxifies and tightens the skin. According to Jessica Kernochan, founder of skincare line LaLicious, the ground beans can also exfoliate, reduce fine lines, and fend off acne.

The scrub is gentle enough for everyday use and leaves skin silky smooth.

INGREDIENTS

• 1½ cups cane sugar
• ¼ cup ground coffee beans
• ¼ cup shredded coconut
• ¾ cup macadamia nut oil or olive oil
• 1 tsp. honey
• 3-5 drops essential oil of choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix sugar, ground coffee beans, coconut, and oil in a bowl until fully combined. Add honey followed by the essential oil.
2. Transfer the mixture to a plastic container with a lid. (The scrub will keep for 1 to 2 weeks sealed at room temperature.)
3. Rub a generous scoop of the scrub over your arms, legs, stomach, chest, and bottom, scrubbing medium to hard depending on your sensitivity. (Skin should be moist when applying the scrub.)
4. Rinse off in the shower under warm to hot water, ensuring the sugar crystals disintegrate completely. Pat dry to allow the oils to soak into your soft, glowing skin.
   

   
   

Note: Those with very sensitive skin may wish to use pure cane sugar because it is less abrasive than raw.

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Spiced Cream Coffee

Kick-Start your day with French vanilla coffee, Irish cream, a generous heap of dark chocolate powder, a pinch of cinnamon and a fresh pod of cardamom. Yum.

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DIY: Flying Lantern

 

1) Pin four sheets of tissue paper to a clothesline and spray with fireproofing product, avoiding the corners where the pins are. Allow the paper to dry.

 

4) Using the craft pattern as a guide, cut the tissue paper, making four slightly curved pieces with one straight edge. Glue the lantern pieces together, leaving the straight edge open, creating the bottom of the lantern. You will want to make sure that your glue has dried before moving onto the next step.

5) Make a bamboo hoop. Split the bamboo into thin strips, carefully moving a knife slowly down the length of the pole. Once you find a pliable piece, sand it until it is smooth. Form a hoop with the bamboo strip and secure the ends with glue. * If you don't have bamboo strips handy, you can use any light weight, bio-degradable hoop you can find.

6) Install a wire "X" onto the frame; secure in place with staples. Cover the cardboard square with foil and secure it to the center of the "X" with tape, staples or glue.

7) Make a foil cup, large enough to hold your fuel (step 9). Tape this to the center of the pad.

8) Attach the tissue paper to the hoop at the open bottom with tape, staples or glue--remember, it works like a hot-air balloon, so the foil cup should face the inside.

9) Making Lantern Burner

Buy some blue industrial paper-towels (the thick kind), and saturate the towel in melted canning-wax.

Warning: Canning (paraffin) wax is very flammable, and should only be melted over low heat in a double boiler. It should never be exposed to open flames or high heat.

10) When your balloon is dry and ready to fly (fix all tears and cracks), place your treated paper towel into the foil cup and light it on fire. You may need a friend to help level the balloon while it fills up with hot air. When the sides are hot and you can feel the lantern pulling away, release it.

 Don't forget to make a wish!

Instructions on how to make a flying lantern were adapted from eHow and Skylighter.



DIY: Corkboard

Thifted frames and cork sheets = Awesome organizational boards for your office or home.

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DIY: Photo Runner For Your Table

Wouldn't this be a cute idea for a party? I'm thinking something along the lines of an anniversary party, small wedding or family reunion. Print out pictures on your computer and stitch, tape or glue them together to make a runner for your table.

It would be a fun conversation starter too!

Pictures: Hgtv, artofweddingspdx