Pinterest Projects: DIY Candy Container

Oh Pinterest, what would I do without you and your crafty ideas? Every time my mom sees something semi-creative in my house she says, "Oh that's so cute! Did you see it on Pinterest?" :) I'm not sure why she bothers to ask that anymore. I pretty much have zero creativity when it comes to crafts, but if I see something simple I can duplicate it. So, if you're ever at my house and you see something creative and handmade . . . Yes, I got the idea from Pinterest!

Well, I intended to make this crafty little thing for Christmas . . . That didn't happen. Then, I meant to make it before Brynna was born so I could have it ready for Valentine's day. That didn't happen either, even though I had all the supplies. So, last weekend I buckled down and made this adorable candy container!

You can find the directions for this little project over here. I only made a couple changes:

1) I used chalkboard paint - that way I can change what it says depending on the occasion. (I thought the "Merry 'Kiss-mas'" idea was adorable, but then I could only use it for Christmas)

2) I used my hot glue gun to glue everything together instead of E6000 adhesive - worked great for me!

Anyway, let me know if you've made this little craft, or how it turns out if you make it now! I have a feeling it'll be a hit with my boys. Who doesn't love chocolate in a fun container?

How I Broke the News of Baby #3 to My Hubby

Baby #3 was semi-planned, but came a lot more quickly than we were expecting. So one Saturday morning we were all on the main floor of the house picking/cleaning up and waiting for my sister and brother-in-law who were coming later that afternoon.

I snuck a pregnancy test in while Dusty was doing dishes, and . . . Remember this DIY gift I gave him for Valentine's Day?

Well, I made use of it to tell him I was pregnant:

I hastily scribbled it on there and waited until he noticed. I think his exact response was, "NUH-UH! Are you serious?!" He was elated and disbelieving at the same time - neither of us expected it. I definitely had fun breaking the news to him, but it took some patience because I wanted to blurt it out instead of waiting for him to notice I had written something different on the frame. Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long. ;)

How have you broken baby news to your partner?

Pinterest Projects: Budget Savvy

The idea of making products for the home has become really appealing to me lately. I'm not sure if it's because I know I'm saving money, or if it's because I feel as though I've accomplished something, or maybe it's something else entirely.

Whatever the reason, I've tried a number of "home products" recently, and this is one I feel is worth sharing. Fabric softener can be pretty spendy, so when I saw this recipe for making it at home I thought I'd give it a go. The first time I made it, I was a little bummed that I couldn't really smell the fabric softener, so the next time I made it I bumped up the "smelly" ingredient by 1 1/2, and it seemed to make a difference. Next time, I might even add some essential oil to it to enhance it even more . . . We'll see.

Anyway, this fabric softener works well, and is considerably less expensive than buying the nice ones from the store. All you need are three easy ingredients:

Homemade Fabric Softener (original can be found here)
6 c. hot water
3 c. white vinegar
3 c. Suave conditioner (I used Ocean Breeze, but use your favorite scent)
1. Mix all ingredients together until conditioner is dissolved.
2. Shake before each use, and use as you would any other fabric softener.

 I use an old fabric softener container to store it in, and my Downy ball in the 

wash - same as I always have.

Pinterest Projects: Pamper Yourself

Do you ever have one of those mornings (or days) when you just need a little pampering? Happens to me on a fairly regular basis. A long, hot shower goes a long way to relaxing me, but usually Saturdays are the only day of the week that I can enjoy a shower because Dusty's home and I don't have to worry about the kids, and we're not in a rush to get out the door to church.

If you're having one of those mornings, I urge you to try this homemade sugar scrub. It's definitely up to scratch with the fancy ones you buy in the store for $15-$20, and odds are you probably have all the ingredients on hand. Can't get much better than that, right? You can find the original recipe here, as well as some other homemade beauty products (I haven't tried any of the others yet). She uses organic olive oil and raw honey, which you can certainly use, but I don't stock those on my shelves, so I used what I had.

This would also make a fantastic gift for a new mom, a friend, a teacher - anyone you'd like to make feel special and pampered. And, the great thing is that if you know the person, you might know what smells she likes and you can tailor it specifically for her! Personalization is key.

Body Scrub
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/8 c. honey
1/4-1/2 tsp. desired scent: vanilla extract, lemon juice, essential oil, ground coffee, cinnamon, clove, etc. (I also think if you used coconut extract and lime juice it would smell like the Coconut and Lime Breeze from Bath and Body Works - $14!) *I used vanilla because I love anything vanilla, but I might add some cinnamon to it, too . . .
Mix all ingredients together and store in a jar. Use it whenever you feel the need for a little (inexpensive) pampering.

I'd recommend storing it in a shallower container than the one I chose unless you have super long, skinny, alien-like fingers, or just keep something handy to scoop it out when you want to use it . . . It'll be hard for me to dig it out with my fingers once it gets toward the bottom!

If you make this, I'd love to know what you think!