Homemade Creamy Potato Salad

Its June! Which means picnics on the beach, bonfires, and late night parties. What better way to be prepared then with delicious potato salad!

Homemade Creamy Potato Salad

Ingredients:

(This is enough for 4 people)

6 medium sized golden potatoes

2 tablespoons bacon bits

1 tablespoon oregano

6-7 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/4 cup of shredded cheese

A pot

Water

Potato masher or whisk

Directions:

1. Peel potatoes, cut up into 1" by 1" squares and let boil for an hour, strain

2. Once the potatoes are slightly cooled, but still warm, mash them until creamy

3. Once the potatoes are creamy, add mayo, oregano, bacon, and cheese

4. Mix until cheese is melted

Congratulations! Now you have delicious potato salad to enjoy with your friends this summer, or to just eat at work!

Strawberry Pineapple Water

March was a heavy month for toxins - Mardi Gras, Oscar Night parties, St. Patrick's Day, and daylights savings time have all thrown me out-of-whack. So for April here are a few wellness activities to do everyday to keep your body in proper order. Plus a delicious recipe for Strawberry Pineapple Water!

Strawberry Pineapple Water

Ingredients:

Two Strawberries

1/2 cup cubed or sliced Pineapple

2-3 sprigs of Rosemary

Water

Ice

A glass/cup

A fork

A knife

A cutting board

Directions:

1. In a glass add pineapple and rosemary (in the image above I have mashed pineapple, which I found was very annoying to drink - therefore I recommend keeping the pineapple in chunks. I found the same problem happened with diced rosemary therefore I would recommend using fresh rosemary sprigs as well)

2. On a cutting board slice the strawberries in half

3. Add strawberries, ice, and water. (Add ice on top of fruit, this will keep it at the bottom so it doesn't get in your way when drinking)

(Optional: To add a boost of detoxifying power try adding 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar to the mix!)

DIY: Chocolate Covered Fruit

I love chocolate covered fruit as a dessert, its refreshing and satisfying after a meal or a long day! Chocolate covered fruit is pretty easy to make, but for those of you that don't know - lets get started!

DIY: Chocolate Covered Fruit

(Note: This recipe will feed 4)

Ingredients:

1 package of quick melt chocolate (I use Wilton's Candy Melts)

2 cups of fruit of your choice (I use strawberries and blueberries)

1 small pot 

1 spatula

1-2 corn holders or a long sturdy needle

Non-stick cooking spray

Tin foil or wax sheet (if using wax sheet you will not need non-stick cooking spray)

(Note: I am using a pot to melt the chocolate on the oven, if you prefer you can use a microwavable safe bowl and slowly, stirring occasionally, melt the chocolate in the microwave)

Directions:

1. Prepare tin foil large enough to hold the fruit you have bought, spray with non-stick cooking spray

2. Empty half the bag of candy melts into the pot, stir gently on LOW heat 

3. Once most of the candy is melted, add the second half of the bag, stir gently

4. Once all the candy is melted (the mixture is a smooth consistency) remove from heat and begin to dip fruit in the melted candy mixture. (For strawberries I dipped them in the candy while holding the stem, for blueberries I stabbed with a corn holder and rubbed the fruit in the candy until well coated) 

5. Place all candy coated fruit in the freezer for about seven minutes to quickly eat or set in refrigerator until needed

Your chocolate covered fruit is complete! A quick and delicious dessert that is sure to delight all, good luck!

Softening Chai Body Scrub

Here in the Pacific Northwest of the United States the winter seems to be draining on. So to revitalize my skin before Summer arrives I felt it was time for a body scrub; and what better to make a body scrub with than chai?

DIY: Softening Chai Body Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or oil of your choice)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 chai tea bags

A container

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Directions:

1. In your container add one cup of brown sugar

2. Cut open three chai tea bags and empty the contents into the container

3. Add cinnamon

4. Gently, using your hand, mix the dry ingredients together

5. Add 2 tbsp of oil and gently mix thoroughly until oil is distributed evenly 

Your Softening Chai Body Scrub is now done! Before use wet down your skin. Make sure to rub in gently (especially if you are using this scrub on your face) or the mixture will scratch the skin. After using the scrub rub any excess material off with a loofah or a washcloth.  

Also, the mixture stores for several months so its perfect for a gift!

Revitalizing Avocado Facial Mask

With the cold winds still blustering outside, my face has been looking rather dried out lately. Therefore I decided to do an avocado facial mask to perk my skin up for Spring!

Revitalizing Avocado Facial Mask

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tbsp loose leaf green tea leaves

(optional) facial moisturizer 

Instructions:

1. Mush 1/2 of an avocado in a bowl (or puree if you prefer)

2. Mix in honey and green tea

3. Mix contents and gentle apply all over face (make sure your face is clean/washed before applying facial mask)

4. Leave on for 3-5 minutes

5. Rinse face thoroughly 

6. (optional) Apply moisturizer to face

Voila a clear and rejuvenated face! Feel beautiful today!

Tips & Tricks for the Everyday

I have all these small tips that I know of that are easy "cheats" in the morning to save time or energy, but I felt they weren't big enough to write a post about on their own. So here are a few

Tips & Tricks for the Everyday!

1. Run a dryer sheet over your hair if you are experiencing static cling (I have this often occur after blow drying or straightening my hair)

2. If your lips gloss tube is low, place the tube in a cup of hot water for a few minutes so that any spare lip gloss on the sides will melt to the bottom so that it can be used

3. Sugar is a great exfoliator in any kind of facial scrub

4. Mix some lemon juice and baking soda into your toothpaste to get a brighter smile

5.  Rub wet coffee grounds on your skin to reduce cellulite (Best to do this before a shower, so you can rinse of more easily)

6. Reuse your green tea bag, once it has cooled - place over your eyes to reduce under eye circle or bags 

7. Accidentally got blood on your clothes? Let soak in hydrogen peroxide for a few hours (or more, depending on how much blood) the blood should be gone before you put the article of clothing into the washer

8. Blonde hair? If you weren't able to wash and your hair is starting to look greasy, add some baby powder to your hair. It'll make your hair look good as new for the day

9. Shoes smell bad? Sprinkle some baby powder in them and leave overnight. May have to repeat for several nights depending on the smelliness of the shoe

10. Wearing flats but no socks? Sprinkle baby powder in your shoes before wearing them. The baby powder will help prevent the sweat from your feet from getting all over your shoes

11. Dyeing your hair? Rub Vaseline over areas of your face (and neck) where you do not want the hair dye to get onto. The Vaseline will act as a barrier and will wash of when you rinse your hair

12. Dead lighter? Use a small of amount of rubbing alcohol (or nail polish remover) onto a small stick and use the dead lighter to create a spark to make a flame

13. Bee sting? Make a paste using baking powder and water. Apply to wound and cover with band aid

14. As a substitute for shaving cream, use baby oil or conditioner

15.  If you must dry shave, then apply lotion first so the area you are shaving does not dry out

16. If you want to naturally lighten/highlight your hair, apply lemon juice to your hair and sit out in the sunshine for a few hours

17. Apply a light amount of Elmer's glue with a Q-Tip around your nails when painting them for any clumsy mistakes. Once the nail polish on the nail is dry, peel of the Elmer's glue from the skin for perfect nails

18. If you receive flowers cut of a small portion off the bottom of the stem every other day so that the flowers live longer (flowers receive more water) 

19. To make temporary false lashes, in-between coats of mascara apply small amounts of baby powder with a Q-Tip. Continue this routine until lashes are a sufficient length

20. An easy way to set your makeup for an evening out (so running will not occur) is to spray your face with a very light dusting of hair spray

21. If you have a small hole in lace or a pair of pantyhose, use superglue to seal the threads so the rip will not continue

Hope these tips help you through your day! You can do it!

Crochet Shell Border

Often, there is an ending on a piece of work (scarf, hat, etc) that your doing that needs more flair to its edges. Therefore your piece of work would do with a border. One of my favorite borders to use, is the Shell border because of the rounded look it gives to a piece.

Crochet Shell Border

(The image above is a shell border on a crochet hat made out of white cotton yarn with a J size hook)

This border is very simple, in each crochet space single or double crochet (depending the size of the item you are crocheting) three to five times (once again, depending on the size of the item you are crocheting). Proceed to the next crochet space and continue until the row is complete.

Voila! A perfect way to finish the tops of socks, the ends of scarves, and the cuffs on mittens!