diy spa kit

today's topic for the blog every day in may challenge is to educate you on something i am good at or know a lot about. this is a little difficult because the things i am good at or know a lot about are not very easy posts to explain. but one of my biggest hobbies and something i am very passionate about, which makes me very good at, is diy. so i thought i would share a diy with all of you! it's one of my more popular diy posts and is one of my faves; diy spa kit that is on my blog chevron stitches.

This kit includes:

Facial Scrub, body scrub, bath salts, and lip balm. You will need for each a mason jar and/or container, pretty label, bakers twine, and a small wooden scoop/spoon. For the entire kit you will need a basket and some moss.

Recipes:

Face Scrub:

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. coconut oil

Mix together and place in jar/container. I got this inspiration from my friend Heidi over at Antlers & Roses.

Body Scrub:

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. olive oil

several drops essential oils

Mix sugar and olive oil together then add desired amount of essential oils. Place in jar/container.

Bath Salts:

1 c. coarse sea salt 

1/2 c. epsom salt

1 tsp. baking soda

few drops of essential oils

food coloring {optional}

Mix salts and baking soda together then add desired amount of essential oils. If you'd like to make the bath salts a pretty color, add desired amount of food coloring and mix together. Place in jar/container.

Lip Balm: 

1/4 c. shaved beeswax

3/4 tbsp. coconut oil

1/4 tsp. vitamin e oil

1 drop essential oil {optional}

Melt shaved beeswax in a double boiler. If you don't own one of those fancy kitchen gadgets you can boil a pot of water then place a pot in the boiling water with beeswax to melt. Once melted, add to coconut oil. Add vitamin e and mix well. Add one drop of essential oils if desired. Pour into container.

Once all of your product is in their jars/containers, tie bakers twine around the jar, knotting the wooden scoop/spoon to hold it in place. You can add a pretty label to it and even add directions with the face and body scrubs if you'd like! Cover bottom of basket with a thin layer of moss, arrange jars on top of moss in basket then fill in desired amount of moss around jars. And you have a gorgeous spa kit for someone special!

These are a great gift for someone, but great for you as well. I actually use each one of these products! It's rare that I take a bath because it's a tiny tub {I remember when we were little and the bathtub was like an ocean to us! Why can't it stay that way!?}, but when I do get in the tub I definitely use these salts. They melt the stress away mentally and physically. Plus, with the essential oils, it gives you that spa feeling - even if your knees are in your face while soaking in the bath! 

enjoy!

blog every day in may

i am joining story of my life for a blog challenge; to blog every day in may. i am pretty excited and nervous about it because scheduling blog posts is something i struggle with, so to make sure i have one for every day is pretty intimidating. but i am up for the challenge and can't wait to share so much with all of you! 

here are the rules:

1. there really aren't any rules. if you miss a day, you can make it up or skip it. the blog police will not come knocking.

2. she will be including a linkup option at the bottom of her post each day, so you are welcome to leave your links there for others to peruse, as well. 

3. you can still post other things every day, too. 

4. she seriously would love you if you also include the "blog every day in may" button (on her post) either on your sidebar or at the end of your posts, but again, the blog police will not come knocking. her main goal here is to get us all back to the basics of blogging, not to gain a million new readers.

5. here are the topics. you can be as creative and awesome or as boring and bland as you like with these. take 'em and run with it. use creative post titles. interpret each "prompt" however you like. there's no wrong way to do it. have fun!

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less (or one paragraph... no one will be counting your words... probably)
Day 2, Thursday: Educate us on something you know alot about or are good at. Take any approach you'd like (serious and educational or funny and sarcastic)
Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable
Day 4, Saturday: Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc) and why you love it
Day 5, Sunday: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don't have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?
Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you're most afraid of
Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.
Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)
Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. 
Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words words or less
Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)
Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.
Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy
Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)
Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it
Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why
Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.
Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them
Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.
Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives
Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off)
Day 23, Thursday: Things you've learned that school won't teach you
Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits
Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget (good or bad)
Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you'd like.
Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers
Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures
Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post
Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go
Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory

will you join us in the challenge? grab a button and be sure to check out story of my life's posts each day... they will include a optional link up so you can link up your post for the day!