14 Days of Pampering For Valentine's Day Part 3

The Finals Days of Pampering: Days 9-14 Part 3






I really hope many of you have been taking care of you and have begun the process of  learning to pamper yourselves!


                               

Let's wrap this series up!

   

Day  9     Today we get to apply some goop onto our face and
                take care of those dark circles, puffy tired eyes!
                Remember what you wrote on your pad of paper.
                Is your face, dry, oily or do you have combination
                skin? Before you start, remember to pull your hair
                back and remove all your makeup with your favorite
                cleanser! Choose from the recipes according to your
                needs: (all face mask recipes are from Homemade Facial Masks 
                        Recipes / All Recipes Index )

Oily Skin:                     

Grapefruit Face Mask

Prep time to make facial: 5 min
Cook time for facial: 0 hour
Total time for facial: 25 min

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon grapefruit juice

1 teaspoon sour cream

1 egg white 

Instructions:

This is for an oily to normal skin type. Beat egg white until it is fluffy, add sour cream and grapfruit juice and blend well. Apply to face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. 

Dry Skin:

Avocado and Olive Oil Face Mask

Prep time to make facial: 5 min
Cook time for facial: 0 hour
Total time for facial: 25 min

The nourishing attribuites to this facial mask cannot be measured if you have dry skin. You'll love how your face feels when you are done.

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 tablespoon olive oil 

Instructions:

Mash the avocado and the olive oil together in a bowl. Apply to your face and wait for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. 

Combination Skin:

Banana Avacado Face Mask

Prep time to make facial: 5 min
Cook time for facial: 0 hour
Total time for facial: 25 min

This mixture with exfoliate and nourish your skin at the same time. Great for combination skin.

Ingredients:

1/2 banana

1/2 avocado

2 Tbsp full-fat yogurt

1 tsp olive oil 

Instructions:

Puree all ingredients in a blender. Apply to freshly clean face and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with warm water and pat dry. 

For the Eyes:  Treat with sliced cucumber, sliced potato, or tea bags.  Try not to rub your eyes, instead pat them every so gently and get plenty of rest, until the 13th day. (Everyday) for the rest of your life would be great, but that isn't gonna happen!)  Drink water and 

apply lotion to your body!!

                     

          

Day 10      Make your special one a Valentine's gift and card. I'm
                  making cookies for my hubby and family. (Recipe
                  posted by tbspSusan)   
                  http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/pink-chocolate-
                  chip-cookies/1f63354a-49e8-4686-808c-8785883ffc89
                           I'll be putting these cookies in a tin with a bow!

                                             

                  
Day 11      Throw a towel in the dryer for about 10 minutes to warm
                  it up while you deep condition your hair.  Apply heated
                  coconut oil, olive oil, or canola oil, on your hair. Coat
                  entire hair with your choice of oil and wrap your hair
                  around your head and cover with a plastic bag.  Take
                  that towel out of the dryer and wrap it around your head.
                  The warmth helps condition the hair. Leave on for 20-30
                  minutes.  If you have oily hair, only condition the ends
                  of your hair!

                  Lay down and apply cucumber slices, potato slices or
                  tea bags on your eyes. Set your timer and relax!
                  After 20-30 minutes,  remove eye treatment and
                  shampoo hair.  Your hair will be silky soft!       

Day 12      Today get a good nights rest! Eight hours if you can!!!
                 Also, make sure you have your gift and card ready. 
                 Check on the babysitter, do your last minute grocery
                 shopping, rent those movies for movie night, or get that
                 wine you'll need.  

Day 13      Exfoliate the skin!  You will need 1/4-1/2 cup of white
                  sugar and your favorite body wash (place the sugar in 
                  your shower where it won't get wet while showering).
                 
                  Sprinkle some sugar on to your hand and start to 
                  scrub your elbows, knees, legs, arms, shoulders, neck
                  and face, while in the shower.   Apply more sugar as
                  needed.  You can apply some body wash on to your
                  hands with the sugar.   Rinse off!  I don't like using
                  the body wash on my face, just sugar and water.  Your
                  skin will feel smooth and soft!!!  Lotion up!

                 Remember to drink your water, and get a good nights
                 rest!!



Day 14      Its time to shine and show off your beauty! Have fun!
                  I would love to hear back from you, so please share!!


This series is just a touch of what pampering is about!  I know all of us want that outer beauty, but that outer beauty starts with your inner beauty!  All of you are beautiful and it's important to believe that.  I know my Maker, Creator of heaven and earth, has created you and me, to be beautiful!

  He makes everything beautiful in its time. 
Ecclesiastes  3:11 



14 Days of Pampering For Valentine's Day-Part 2

http://inchworming.blogspot.com/2014/02/14-days-of-pampering-for-valentines-day.html
14 Days of Pampering for Valentine's Day and Great Ideas- Part 1

http://inchworming.blogspot.com/2014/01/14-days-of-pampering-for-valentines-day.html

14 Days of Pampering For Valentine's Day-Part 2

Follow my blog with Bloglovin Part 2

I hope you all have begun to pamper yourselves to a more beautiful you. I know Days 1-4 may not seem like pampering, but it really is. Just adding a few more glasses of water to your day helps your skin hydrate, glow, and can slow down your skin from wrinkling! I alway picture the desert, that dry cracking surface. That's our skin without water! Yeck! Water also helps us from getting tried, helps with our digestion and helps our body to get rid of toxins much easier. It's not to late to start!!! When you step out of the shower or tub, lotion up! This helps lock in the moisture.  Moisturizing will also give you glowing skin, prolonging those wrinkles!! 

Ready for days 5-14! 

Some of your days will be different, but you can swap it with another day!!! 

Day   5      It's color your hair day!!! Some of you will get your hair
                  colored and cut on the same day.  I need two days.   
                  Follow the instructions on the box.   Here's a really great 
                  YouTube link I came across while searching for 
                  examples. I know some of you haven't colored your hair
                  before but this video How to Color (dye) Your Hair like 
                  in a Salon, at Home!  makes it easy. It can get a little
                  messy.  So I flip my bathroom rug over, wrong side up.
                  Use one small towel for clean up,  another
                  regular sized towel for when you rinse your hair out.
                  Use old towels.   While waiting for your hair to set,
                  make yourself some herbal tea and relax!   

Day  6       It's cut your hair day! If you already had your hair cut
                 you can play with your hair and try out different hair
                 styles! I always find it great to cut your hair at least a
                 week before a special occasion! I've had my bangs cut a
                 little to short and if any oops happen, it gives you time to
                 adjust and figure out how you will style your hair.
                 Continue drinking extra water and moisturize your skin
                 at least twice or more a day! 

 Day  7     Figure out your plans for Valentine's Day! Will it be
                causal or dressy? Will you be cooking or buying? If 
                you're doing the asking, its time to ask that special
                Valentine! You married girls, why not do the asking!
                My husband loves it when I ask him out on a date and 
                do the planning! If it's going to be you and the kids, ask
                them to be your Valentine! 

                Now that you've figured out what you will be doing on
                Valentine's, plan out your outfits for the big day! Lay 
                your clothes out on the bed, shoes too! Try them on,
                make sure everything fits. Pull out a casual look and a
                dressy look, if you're not sure! Do the same for your
                children. Planning early will allow time to shop for
                something new. It gives you time to sew something
                new, like a new scraf to jazz up that outfit. 

Part of pampering yourself is to be less stressed. Being kind to yourself and getting organized helps the day go smooth. Most of us live busy lives.  When we're nice to ourselves, it reflects on our attitude.  Remember you're beautiful and be kind to yourself.  Let your little girls join in!

Day  8    Get your nails done!  Always start
               with your feet! Soak
               your feet in the tub or in a
               basin,  large enough to fit both
               feet. You can use special
               soaking soap.  I like using
               bubble bath or body wash gel
               soap.  Just squeeze a little into
               warm water and soak your
               feet for 10-15 minutes. 
               Here's a tutorial on how to 
               Pedicure:  How to Give 
               Yourself a pedicure! 
http://beauty.about.com/od/perfectnails/ss/pedicure101.htm








Here's a great video on how to give yourself a manicure
              (http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-do-a-salon-perfect-
               manicure-at-home) 

if you don't know how!  Check it out!



Please leave me a comment and if you have any questions, please fill free to ask!!!  Thank you!  Tune in for Day 9-14!!  

If you missed Days 1-4: 
14 Days of Pampering for Valentine's Day and Great Ideas- Part 1








*Photos are from Pinterest!  Tutorials are not my own! I do not know these people but found them informational for this blog!


              

14 Days of Pampering for Valentine's Day and Great Ideas- Part 1

14 Days of Pampering for Valentine's Day and Great Ideas- Part 1

It's almost Valentine's Day, and it's time to pamper yourself, whether you have a man in your life or not!  This is for you.  With the new year well on it's way, lets get in gear and start a beauty regiment for the next 14 days.  If you have little ones, involve them too.  I'll give you a few cute ideas later.

Okay, are you ready!! The first day, today, we will be taking inventory with ourselves.  Take a pad of paper, a mirror,  a calendar and something to write with.  That's all you need for the first day.  Stand in front of the mirror and examine your hair.  You might need to color your hair and get it cut .  Maybe your hair feels dry.  Write it on your pad of paper.  Next look at your hands and feet.  Most likely you'll need a fresh coat of nail polish on both your hands and feet just before Valentine's Day.  I could use a pedicure to get those heels nice and smooth!  Our hands always take a beaten with sewing, crafting, doing the dishes, cleaning and so much more.  You will then be looking at your face and take note of what you see.  Is your skin dry, oily or do you have combination skin?  Have you been working hard and not getting enough sleep, so you notice dark circles under your eyes.  Write it down on your pad of paper. Take one more look in the mirror and say, "I'm beautiful!" Write it on a your pad of paper! I'm beautiful!!! I deserved to be pampered!!!

Each day I have shared a tip or two on how you can pamper yourself for Valentine's Day.  Okay, ladies, you know that we don't need an excuse to make ourselves feel beautiful and to be good to ourselves, but it sure is great to have one!  

Most of these pampering ideas will be DIY.  I can't cut my own hair so for that I will leave it up to my hair dresser.  Some of your days will be different then mine.  Just remember to swap it with another day. 

Don't get sad, if your man is away, your single, or you feel like you don't have the money to spend.  Maybe you feel like you have no reason to pamper yourself.  That is simply not true.  When you do meet that special someone, I would think you would be attractive   You deserve it!!  If money is tight, most of these ideas are DIY with items we already have at home.  Besides, you don't have to do them all.  Pick and choose what works for you!!!

Get some of your girlfriends together and have them over.  Plan a movie night, a pot luck dinner, game night or maybe just have wine with the girls and enjoy a few appetizers with your friends.   If it's just you and the kids, bake cookies.  Make cards for the Grandparents.  If you're alone that night make plans to going shopping, or buy some pretty fabric to make some pajamas!!

Day 2    Today and everyday lotion up. In the morning after you

              shower and before you hit the sack.  Target your face, 

              neck, hands/arms,  legs and feet.  We want our skin to be

              soft! I use a different lotion for my face then I do for my
              body.

Day3      Schedule your hair appointment to have it colored and cut

               for whatever day works for you.  I color my own hair but,

               I do need it cut by someone, so this will take two

               different days.  Also, make an appointment with yourself

               to do your nails and pedicure.  Mark it on your calendar!

               Don't forget to lotion up twice a day!!!  

Day 4     Drink more water!  Add at least  2-8 ounces of water to
               your day.  I find it hard to drink water so I make a light 
               tea in the evening before bed.  A light tea means I dunk
               my tea bag 3-4 times in my cup of hot water just enough
               to give the water some color.  Do this everyday!! It's 
               important to hydrate the skin!!! Lotion up!

14 Days of Pampering For Valentine's Day-Part 2

 14 Days of Pampering For Valentine's Day Part 3

   

Join Some Communities!

Hello Fellow Readers!


I need to continue to stay focused and accountable for the things I write and what better way then to blog about it. May this inspire and encourage you to climb up those steps into those list of goals you've made for your own personal growth.  If you haven't, why not get a pen and some paper and jot down a few things you'd like to get started on and see through in the next couple of weeks, month or even year.  

Back in December I wrote a blog, I Can Do All Things, which I should have named,  I Can Do All Things And So Can You!  But I didn't and I can't cry over spilled milk. Carry on, Nina! No looking back only ahead to what's next.

That first goal on my list was to grow my blog my joining a few blogger communities and by studying other sites which I have been doing.  There's a lot of really great sites out there.  Great support  too.  A few of the Communities in Blogger I've joined that are supportive and have great feed back are: 

Sewing For Children 
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106917099947792662177, 

The Newbie Blogger         https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/106424019938464282585/stream/a3915cc5-01b8-4150-9db1-6fa6f83c7a02

Recipe Sharing Community
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/104445639155204998254

Check out all the communities that you are interested in and make sure you #1 and comment!  Help and answer any questions you know the answer to.  We want to make others feel welcome and not   alone, because we all matter!  (Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31)  Support one another is key! 

Also, during the month of January I've been trying to fix my blog, make it look better (it's not there yet), reading up on adding widgets, etc. Boy, does it take time to learn how to do all that stuff.  I'm not very computer savvy so it takes me just a wee longer to accomplish.  I want you to know that I'm such a new blogger and by encouraging you, it also encourages me to press forward to the goal that is before me.  

It's okay to cry, to fall, and to get frustrated.  Maybe, some of you have been blogging for a while and you're tried and have run out of ideas.  Join some new communities and be refreshed. Deep down in our hearts we all have a desire to produce a great blog, take great pictures, and dish out fabulous material.  There are so many of us out there that are in the same boat.  You are not alone!!  

Remember you can only take one step at a time!!! 



JOIN SOME COMMUNITIES-JOIN SOME COMMUNITIES-JOIN SOME COMMUNITIES




               

What's in the Bag and Making Bias Tape

Thanks for stopping by because this week it was time for me to pull out one of my patterns I had purchased while on sale at JoAnn's Fabric Store.   I chose Simplicity #2381.  I really liked  4 out of the 5 bags featured on the front envelope and decided to make View D first.

Here's the finished bag.  I love the way it turned out. The pattern called for a light interfacing, and a package of 1/2 inch bias tape (also known as binding).  Most packages contain 3-4 yards (but I used about 5 yards on this bag). I wanted the bag to have more body so, what's in the bag! Instead of light interfacing, I used a light cotton batting (batting is used for quilts).   Don't use thick batting unless you quilt the fabric before you cut the pattern pieces out.  Otherwise,  your bag will not turn out correctly.

I located the center front by folding the pattern pieces in half.  Marking center with sewing pins. Then I quilted the two layers together (front fabric and batting) by sewing on the center bag front.  Next,  I lined up the pressor foot with the first line and kept using each line has a guide for the next sewn line. I did come across extra bulk when matching some of the seams especially along the binding areas. Also,  I decided to make my own bias tape  because I wanted a coordinating fabric and nothing I had seen was available to match my bag.

I made my own bias tape and below are two ways to make it.

1. Strip Method~

Take a strip of fabric.  The example here is 7" by the length of the fabric.

Fold your fabric over.

Cut on that folded line.  Remember this is your 45 degree line. Cut out your strips to desired width.

Here you have your cut strips.

Place right sides together and sew 1/4" seam allowance to create your strips.

2. Continuous  Bias Tape
The second method  and the method I prefer.~ A fabric needs to be made in to a square of your desired fabric and cut from corner to corner. (For the bag above,  I made my square 20" and  had about 7 yards of bias tape.)  Fabric is right side up.   I placed a pin on the top and bottom of the square because it makes it easier to understand placement of fabric when your moving it around.  Take the bottom triangle

and place it above the other triangle where pins meet. The fabric is still right side up.

Fold over top piece (right sides together) and sew a 1/4" seam.

Press seams open and place fabric wrong side up.  Draw 1/4" seam allowance lines at top and bottom.  Measure out desired width and draw lines. (For this project, I cut the strips 2" wide.)   Place a pin on the first line drawn (top) and place a pin on the second line drawn (bottom).

Match pins with right sides of fabric together and sew.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Take your scissors and cut on drawn lines. You will now have a continuous strip. 

To finish the bias tape I like to press my strips in half with an iron and then guide it through the bias maker tool (these tools come in different sizes).  If you don't have a bias tool, don't worry.  

All you have to do is fold your strip in half, press.  Open up pressed seam and press raw edges toward center fold line. When using your iron be careful.  Your fingers tend to feel the heat of the iron especially when using stream to really get a nice crisp fold.

How to Determine the width of your bias tape:

The way I determine the width of by double bias tape is very simple:

Width needed for project  X  4 = width of cut strips

For this bag I needed

1/2" double bias tape X  4 = 2" (width of cut strips) 

I hope you have enjoyed me sharing this project along with some tips on how to make your own bias tape.  You don't have to follow the pattern exact.  If you have any questions, please ask. Thanks!

  

Easy to Do-DIY Chalkboard Frame Craft

I've been wanting to make a chalkboard frame for months.  I see them around everywhere!  So a week before Christmas, I went over to Michael's Craft Store and picked up a few supplies for my chalkboard frame.

You will need: wire ribbon (about 40 inches)

scissors (not your good scissors)   

wood glue

paint (your choice of color) I used black or keep it natural 

sponge brush

chalkboard paint (your choice of color) I used black

frame 

wood (at least 1/2" larger then frame whole

tape measure (not shown)

chalk to write on board

  First, I measured my frame and piece of wood.  Cut your piece of wood to fit the back. On the frame you see below it's 1/2" larger then the opening of the frame because I didn't want the board to show on the front size because of the holes in the frame. If you purchase your board at Lowe's, they will cut your board for free.  Michael's had the right size I needed, no cutting was necessary.

Next paint your board with Chalkboard Paint and let it dry 1 hour between coats, I did 3 coats.  The last coat, let dry over night (Follow manufacture's instructions).  Also, paint your frame with whatever color you desire.  I used Folk Art outdoor acrylic paint in black just because that is what I had.  In the examples below you will see that I left the frame natural, you could paint a clear on to it. Further down you will see other examples in different colors.

The next day, bead a line of wood glue around the edge of board (not to much or it will bleed to the front).

Front side-lay the frame over glued board. If you get glue on the right side, wipe immediately with a damp cloth.

Back Side- use books to weigh it down to help it dry overnight!

Here's a smaller frame in natural. I wanted the black to show on the front, so board was cut a little smaller then frame.

(Example in black)

(Example in white) The black frame is underneath it.

Take your ribbon and cut to desired length.  I cut mine 40".

Run ribbon through holes.

Tie knots on either side.

Make bows and tie again, so ribbon won't come undone.

Write your message!

Hang and enjoy!!!

I hope you give this craft a try.  It was fun and I just love my new chalkboard frame!!!  Please post pictures of your frames.  I would love to answer any questions you may have, so please ask!

May you and yours have a happy, prosperous, and fun filled year!  Happy New Year 2014!

I Can Do All Things

During this crazy month of December, I kept thinking, there has to be a better way to  accomplish all of life's craziness (at least all of my craziness), to get organized and encourage myself to really express myself to others. I'm totally new to blogging and I do feel overwhelmed and wonder if I can bring that same awesomeness to my blog that I see in other blogs.

I can do all things through Christ who strengths me  (Philippians 4:13). Right, right! This verse in the bible, doesn't mean I don't have to put any effort into the things that come along my way.  Instead, it's because of Him, I can. Drawing near to Him and on His strength to carry me through!   I must draw on God's strength to care me through the messes I make and the trouble I get myself into! His word encourages me to think ahead and plug along.  Inch by inch, inchworming through the fog, the clutter in my head, and avoid becoming overwhelmed.  Break it down one step at a time.  

I want to do it all, but I can't.  At least, not at the same time. I must be focused on the goal and it's crazy different for all of us.  Here it goes.  Just a few ideas swimming in my head for the new year. A list of my goals and how I can accomplish these goals:

                 1.  Build my blog
                      a.  Join a few blogger communities
                      b. Study other sites

                  2.  Be better organized
                       a.  Get a calendar and use it
                       b.  Schedule a day and time to blog
                       c.  Purchase a note pad and write down ideas
                       d.  Make a list of things you need to accomplish

                  3.  Remove the clutter
                       a.  Get rid of the old to bring in the new
                            1.  I received a new blanket for Christmas, I will get rid of one
                            2.  Go through each room and toss out, sell or donate items
                       b.  Remove or add activities that help you reach your goals
                            1.  Spend less time on the phone
                            2.  I need to use what I have and not shop for more
                       c.  Break it down
                            1.  Work on one area at a time
                                   
                    4.  Be who you are
                         a.  Don't over think it
                              1.  Make it yours and own it
                              2.  Not everyone will like your ideas, but that's okay, I like it
                   
                    5.  You will fail but you will also succeed
                          a.  Write a down a verse , a saying, that encourages you
                          b.  Call a friend you can talk to and who has positive energy
                          c.  Play some high beat music and dance to it (it makes me feel better)
                          d.  Remember how blessed you are
                                 

I hope this has encouraged someone else to continue on their journey, what ever it may be.  I want to improve and grown in all areas of my life.   I know that things don't always work as planned, but we can put in the effort and inchworm our way through.

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