Quick, Easy, & Tasty Lip Scrub

It has been crazy cold in Atlanta for at least the past month, and I'm not even remotely ashamed to admit that a few weeks ago, it was so cold (in the teens all day, every day), that I didn't leave my house for almost a week. It's sounds ridiculous to say out loud, but it was freezing...literally. 

During the course of that time, I developed super dry lips. I was drinking water, wearing some sort of balm, and doing all of the "right" things, but my lips got to be so chapped, they physically hurt. I did a little research and discovered that if your lips are chapped, and you never rid them of the dry skin (ew), adding more and more balm isn't necessarily going to do anything. You have to remove the dry skin in order for them to heal. 

Makes sense to me! 

So, I whipped up a quick sugar scrub using ingredients I already had on hand. It kept for almost a week, and I used it every other day. I cannot tell you the immediate difference in my lips after just ONE use. If you're having issues with dry lips, too, make a batch of this quick, easy, and tasty lip scrub. 

Quick DIY Lip Scrub for Dry Lips

You will need:

- a small, air-tight container

- 2 tbs sugar

- 1 tbs honey

- 1 tbs coconut oil, warmed/melted

To prepare:

Warm or melt your coconut oil in a small bowl. Add honey and thoroughly mix. Add sugar and mix well to combine. Place in air-tight container. 

To use:

Gently massage dime-size amount onto lips, working slightly into skin until some of the sugar dissolves. Rinse with warm water. Immediately apply moisturizer, lip balm, or coconut oil to lips to lock in moisture. 

Note: If you have one handy, use a small paddle to get the scrub in and out of your container to avoid excess germs or contamination. 

Nutty Valentine's Day Snack Mix

Call me a total cheeseball, but Valentine's Day happens to be one of my favorite holidays. I know it's commercialized, but I love celebrating love. Even though you're supposed to show your love year-round and even though it can be labeled as a couples-only holiday, I firmly believe you should just embrace it for what it is: something fun! Be cheesy, be cutesy, be friendly...and be those things to everyone in your life. Whether it's your sibling, your pet, your co-workers, or your significant other.

A good way to have a little fun this Valentine's Day is to mix up a huge batch of this Nutty Valentine's Day Snack Mix. Pile it into small, food safe containers, add a cute note (or a Valentine like these from Minted) and deliver a little happiness to those you love. 

Get the recipe for the snack mix here (great for the big game, too!). 

DIY "Hello" Embossed Stationery with Paper Source

Hello, it's me! And 4 adorable little stamps that are about to turn into the cutest DIY you ever did see. I am so thrilled to share a project with you that I've been working on the past few weeks with one of my favorite stores, Paper Source. Paper Source has been my go-to for cards and gifts for many many years. I even bought all of my wedding paper from them! 

One of the things that I love about Paper Source is that they encourage you to get your hands dirty which in the crafting world means creating things on your own. I love DIY anything, and I couldn't think of a better DIY than creating my own stationery. Using Paper Source's selection of stamps, notecards, and embossing tools, I created my own set of notecards.

For this project, you will need:

- Hello Rubber Stamp Set
- Embossing Heat Tool
- Gold Super Fine Embossing Powder
- Versa Mark Watermark Ink Pad
- No Spill Tray
- A2 Notecards in White 

Take a look at the video below and for full project details, head to Paper Source's blog!





Shop the post at Paper Source or click any image below:

I received the products seen here in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own. 

A Beginner's Guide to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

If you follow me on Instagram and Snapchat, you know by now that one of my favorite things to do is visit antique and thrift stores; I even have favorite antique shops in other states. I love the idea of making something old new again simply by bringing it home with me. I've thrifted everything from bar carts to chests to picture frames to books. 

And while I love bringing home a new piece of furniture, I've never refinished anything. Well, that's not entirely true. One time I tried to refinish a desk, but I got SO SICK of sanding it and painting it and sanding it again and adding yet another coat of paint that I finally gave up and sold it to a very stylish (and more patient) friend. Had I known about Annie Sloan chalk paint then, I probably would have kept my West Elm parson's desk look alike for myself.

Last week, I attended an Annie Sloan chalk paint workshop at The Bird and the Bee. Not only did owner Betsy and her trusty paint experts walk us through every step of the Annie Sloan process, but they helped us get our creative juices flowing by encouraging us to step outside of our comfort zone. We tried colors that we wouldn't usually incorporate into our homes. We added wax finishes that were not entirely our style. We used a crackle finish to spruce up plain Jane wood. We did it all! 

As a beginner myself, I wanted to capture my thoughts on being a newbie chalk painter. Here's a beginner's guide to Annie Sloan chalk paint: 

Step One: Choose a practice piece. Ladies, I LOVE your ambition. Really. You inspire me! But do yourself a favor and choose a small piece to practice your chalk paint skills. We used an intricate picture frame which allowed us to understand the process without it being too simple. 

Step Two: Prep your piece. Wipe your piece down and make sure it's clean, especially if it's been collecting dust at your favorite thrift shop. 

Step Three: Gather your supplies. For chalk painting, you'll need:

1. Your Annie Sloan color of choice. 

2. Paint brushes of choice (if you can splurge go Annie Sloan here, too!)

3. Annie Sloan soft wax (in clear or dark). 

4. Scott's Rags for buffing. 

Step Four: Paint your piece! Be intentional and thoughtful about your painting, but the beauty of Annie Sloan paint is that you really can't mess up. And bonus: you don't need to prime! 

Step Five: Let it dry. Aim for drying overnight. I know, it's hard! 

Step Six: Apply clear wax. Using a clear wax sets your paint and protects your piece. Be sure to apply your wax with a brush in circular motions and buff it out until it's smooth. Remember, a little wax goes a long way, and the more you apply, the more buffing you'll do. Tip: wash your hands when you think you're done buffing and run your hands over the piece. If it's still sticky, get back in there and buff some more. 

Step Seven: Stand back and admire your handy work! 

Step Eight: Sign-up for a Annie Sloan chalk paint workshop at The Bird and The Bee or in a location near you. Let's be real: transferring these skills from a picture frame to a large piece of furniture might be a bit of a challenge. Plus, there's no way I can go over every technique we learned in a short blog post. So, gather your friends and sign-up for a workshop near you. It's a great way to spend an evening DIYing and learning all about what Annie Sloan chalk paint has to offer. 

Special thanks to The Bird and The Bee for putting together this workshop for some fabulous local Atlanta bloggers. If you're in the Atlanta area, visit The Bird and The Bee and tell them I sent you. 

5 Valentine's Day DIYs

I heart Valentine's Day (no pun intended). I truly do. Over the years, I've learned (and shared here) to embrace the reds, pinks, and purples, love the hearts, and enjoy the holiday. Don't take it or yourself too seriously and have fun with it! Today, I'm sharing 5 quick Valentine's Day DIYs including snacks, classroom valentines, & decor.. Each of these are super easy and will bring a little joy to your face. Whether you are celebrating with your significant other, your best friends, or your coworkers, get a head start on this love-filled holiday with the DIYs below!

One:

No Sew Pompom Placemats 

Having the girls over for a Gal-entine's Day party? These placemats will spruce up your table without the extra headache. They take no time at all, and everyone will gush over the cuteness! 

Two:

Easy Coaster DIY

Incorporate the Valentine's Day colors around the house with these DIY coasters. They're seriously simple and will add a holiday punch without too much cheese. 

Three:

You're a Peach Party Favor

Tiny spice jars filled with adorable peach candy? What friend wouldn't want to go home with these? Use the free printable to your heart's content. 

Four:

Mason Jar Cookie Cutter Valentines 

Pick up adorable mason jar cookie cutters, grab some twine, print the free printable, and you're armed with one a-mason Valentine! I love the idea of whipping up a batch of mason jar cookies, wrapping them up in cellophane, and attaching the cookie cutter for friends and neighbors. 

Five: 

Popcorn Snack Mix

Popcorn is one of my favorite treats, and when you combine it with dried strawberries, chocolate, and pretzels, even more amazing things happen. This is the perfect pink treat for classroom or work snacks.

DIY Makeup Cleansing Towels

Last week, Viva® Vantage® invited me to partner with them and participate in a 7-Day Switch Up, ditching my tried and true paper towels for theirs. As someone who is definitely a creature of habit, I decided to take charge of my old ways and try something new. In other words,  switch up challenge accepted! By using Viva® Vantage® towels, I was able to make some subtle changes in the kitchen and around the house that really made a huge difference. For one, did you know that you can place a damp paper towel under a cutting board to keep it from sliding? How about placing that same damp paper towel around a bottle of white wine, tossing it (gingerly) in the freezer for a few minutes and ending up with chilled wine? Genius switches!

But enough about the kitchen; I was curious as to how Viva® Vantage® towels would fare in other walks of life. As I've shared with you before, I am terrible when it comes to makeup removal; it really is an issue.  I am almost out of my usual cleanser and since I'm trying to make it last, I am saving it just for morning cleansing. In the meantime, I have been a major slacker with taking off my makeup at night. It's just so time consuming, and I am way too lazy. I have seen a few DIY recipes for creating your own make-up cleansing towels, and when I saw the stretchy-strength and great scrubbing power of Viva® Vantage®, I decided now was my chance! After all, who says paper towels are just for the kitchen?!

These DIY towels are super easy to make, and you can probably use items that you already have around the house, including your Viva® Vantage® paper towels. Just make sure that you're using the right ratio of ingredients.

You will need:

- 5 Viva® Vantage® paper towels

- 1 small air-tight container (I used a canning jar)

- 1 cup of water

- 2 tablespoons coconut oil

- 2 tablespoons tear-free soap

- 5-8 drops of lemon essential oil

To prepare:

Begin by bringing 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Once boiling, add the coconut oil, soap, and essential oils and stir. Remove from heat to cool.

While liquid mixture cools, fold your Viva® Vantage® towels in half and in half again creating a square. Use a round object slightly smaller than your jar to trace 3 circles on the folded towel. Cut each circle out (this will yield roughly 12 circles per towel).

Add your liquid to your air-tight container, filling it 1/2 of the way. Stack your cleansing pads (towel circles) into the liquid. Because of Viva® Vantage® sponge-like absorbency, the liquid will absorb into the towels quickly. Continue stacking towels until you cannot fit anymore in the jar. Top with some of the remaining liquid (if needed) until all towels are wet. That's it!

Just to make sure these worked, I prepared a faux eye on my hand. There is a layer of primer, 2 layers of eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara on my hand. It wiped away in just a few seconds and left my hand smelling delightful! Not to mention the revolutionary V-Flex™ Weave was soft on my skin. Using them 1-2 times daily, these should last you about 2 weeks (but be sure to dispose of them if they get moldy). 

Curious about taking your own Viva® Vantage® 7-Day Switch Up? Visit their website for a Viva® Vantage® coupon to purchase and try the product yourself!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Viva® Vantage®

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DIY makeup remover recipe modified from here.

Easy Coaster DIY

This past weekend, I had the honor of attending Allison of Peachfully Chic's birthday brunch. It was everything a southern soiree is supposed to be: great food, great company, and great takeaways. I cannot wait to share all of the beautiful images from the event, but in the meantime,  I am sharing Allison's super easy coaster DIY. Every guest had an opportunity to make coasters for their home, and this less than 10 minute DIY is something you can easily recreate yourself with just a few supplies.

Follow these step-by-step photo directions, and you'll be placing your beverages on chic coasters in no time:

You will need:

- Mod Podge

- Foam Brush

- Tiles 

- Scrapbook paper

- a Pencil

- Scissors 

Special thanks to Meg from Peachtree Roadies for snapping all of these pictures while Kelly and I worked on our lovely coasters!

Mason Jar Valentines

These easy DIY mason jar valentines are a great way to show your appreciation for friends or coworkers. Hontestly, once you've gathered the materials, they take approximately two minutes to make. Love that! 

Over the past few days, I've had so much fun developing cute valentines with the help of finds at World Market. I stumbled upon these mason jar cookie cutters for a steal. Add a cute gift tag with things you already have around the house, and you can gift these for less than $1. 

You will need:

- mason jar cookie cutter

- scissors

- baking twine

- small hole punch

- gift tag

To create:

Print or write your gift message on the tag. I love the idea of gifting these to friends, so I chose "You're an a-mason friend!" Next, punch a small hole in the upper corner and loop your baker's twine through. Tie the tag to the cookie cuter with a simple bow. Then gift away!  

If you liked these valentines, be sure to check out my peach themed ones, too. 

DIY Back to School Gift

Can you believe that it's back to school in Georgia already? It's true! We started yesterday with a new group of kiddies eager to learn. It's crazy how fast summer flies by, and we're right back into the old routine once again. 

One of my favorite parents ever does this really amazing thing where she gives her kids' teachers back to school gifts. I just love that! It is such an unexpected surprise, and it really kicks off my year well. I thought I'd offer y'all an idea of an easy back to school gift for your students' teachers. Don't have kids? Gift it to a coworker. Work from home? Do it for yourself! It's so easy and takes less than 5 minutes. Ready? Here it goes...

For this DIY, you'll need the following: 

- an indoor plant

- a cute coffee mug (like this one from Anthro)

- a gift tag

- a paperclip 

Place or plant your greenery into a coffee mug, add a gift tag, and send it off to school with your favorite student. It's that simple.

Since my coffee mug was the perfect size for my plant, I chose to leave the plant in its original container. This will allow for excess water to drain into the base of the mug. Plus, no extra soil is needed. Add a gift tag to the cup with directions for how to care for the plant. Slide your gift tag through a paperclip and push the paperclip into the mug. Don't forget to write who the plant is from on the front of the tag.

I am sure you already know that plants are not only a natural source of air purification, but they also have a tendency to rejuvenate, boost energy and improve productivity. That's why plants make the perfect back to school gift. Pop it into a cute coffee mug, and your work here is done!

Moore Fiesta with Kate Aspen

A few weekends ago I headed to Charleston with a few of my very best girls to celebrate our friend, Lindsay. We spent the entire weekend sipping on margaritas, tossing back corn chips, and having a belly-laughing good time. We even took an Aerial Yoga class, and if you're in the Charleston area, I highly recommend it; we had a blast! 

The weekend would not have been complete without a stellar place to stay. We rented condos in Folly Beach, and the decor was definitely on par for our fiesta theme, don't you think? Poms & tissue paper flowers set the tone while a weekend hashtag was displayed just about everywhere (you know, in case someone forgot it).

Kate Aspen provided us with some chic votive candles for the table as well as adorable swing top bottles for favors. As a last little touch, I filled each bottle with margarita flavored jelly belly's for a parting gift. It was muy cute ;)

Wrap It Up: 5 Unique Gift Wrap Ideas

With holiday gift guides popping up left and right (and mine on the way next week!), I thought it would be best to give a few ideas for wrapping those gifts we are all so excited about giving. I absolutely love putting as much thought into the outside of the package as what's on the inside, and I have a penchant for making them look perfect. 

Here are 5 unique gift wrapping ideas for all of your holiday needs:

stripes

 

craft paper

washi (tape available here) 

chalk

And of course, dots