Adios Compadres

As it turns out, the crafting world is too cut-throat for this ginger. I just can't handle the social pressures and cyber ridicule that comes out of a bad craft. So it's my time to leave. Leave and never look back. Keep on trucking. Carrying on like the wayward son I am. Maybe you'll find peace when I'm gone. Layin' my weary head to rest. I won't cry no more. I'm moving on to bigger and better things: bakin and bloggin. Don't fret. I'll live in your hearts forever.

Sugar Wax Hair Remover

This Persian waxing technique is supposed to remove hair without any toxic chemicals that can be found in regular waxing strips, and using ingredients that you can find in your home. It is suggested you have hair at least 2 cm long before attempting to wax.
Start by combining 1 cup of brown or white sugar, 2 Tablespoons of water, 1.5 Tablespoons of lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of salt (optional) in a saucepan on low heat. When the mixture thickens and turns golden-brown, stir it with a spoon to dissolve all of the sugar crystals and let it simmer for approximately 8 minutes, until it has a syrupy consistency. You'll know its been overcooked if its stopped being syrupy and goes back to being liquid, in which case you will have to start over because it will cool into a solid instead of a dough. Once it is syrupy, take it off heat and let it cool into a wax. Once cooled it should have a doughy consistency. Simply apply it to your skin and pull away in the direction opposite of hair growth.
My results: The mixture cooked just as the website said it would, but when I applied it to my leg and tried to wax it, the only thing that it succeeded in doing was putting my in pain. Little no none of my hair was removed, I just had a dull ache. I would suggest sticking to regular waxing or shaving.

Your Guide to Mod Podge

Any crafter can spend hours telling you the wonders of Mod Podge. It is a glue/sealant/finish/miracle maker used in a variety of crafts. It has even been featured in some of my blogs such as the glitter Mason Jar, the glitter dipped Mason Jar, and the tinted Mason Jar. It comes in different styles such as matte, glossy, original, but there are also many other kinds that aren't as popular, but can be just as useful. It is fairly cheap for how multi-purpose it is, costing around $7-$8 depending on where you shop.
Let's start with your basics: Glossy and Matte. These are your classics, nothing too fancy. Best for basic crafts with no special needs. The only difference between the two is that when the Glossy Mod Podge dries it is shiny and Matte dries without any shine.
Paper Mod Podge: Even though the original Mod Podge can be used on paper, this was mad specifically for it. It's great for scrapbooking project and will help you pages last longer without any yellowing.
Sparkle Mod Podge: This Mod Podge gives you the same effect as adding glitter the original Mod Podge, without having to buy the glitter! I only wish they sold them with different concentrations of glitter, but instead you can just continually add layers until it is sparkly enough for you.
Extreme Glitter Mod Podge: This Mod Podge contains ultra fine glitter in mass amounts so don't use it lightly. When they say extreme glitter, they mean extreme glitter!
Glow In the Dark Mod Podge: Oh, the world is so full of possibilities with this one. It tries as a clear finish that isn't visible when the lights are on, but when the lights go out, your craft will glow! The more coats you have and the longer it is exposed to light, the brighter it will be.
Kids' Wash Out Mod Podge: Mod Podge is made to never come out, but with this formula you don't have to worry about letting your little crafters help because it can be washed out of fabrics and off counter tops, but still leaves a glossy finish on your crafts.
Hard Coat Mod Podge: This one is specifically designed items that might get some bumps and bruises, giving the fullest protection with a slightly glossy finish.
Fabric Mod Podge: This is a multi-purpose Mod Podge that you can use to decoupage fabric to other surfaces, decoupage things to the fabric, or apply it to fabrics before cutting them to eliminate fraying. 
Antique Mod Podge: Normally if you want to make a project look aged, it requires acrylic paint in various shades of brown and lots of skill, but with the brown tinted Mod Podge, you can brush on a few strokes and give your project an antique look in a fraction of the time.
Satin Mod Podge: Similar to the classic Mod Podge, this dries clear, glue, finishes, or seals, but dries as a "satin", somewhere in between glossy and matte.
Outdoor Mod Podge: This give super protection to any craft project that is going to be used or left outside, without any harm from weathering. 
Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge: This can be used to seal or apply paper to any of your dishes-as long as you only hand wash them or put them in the top rack. Also be careful to not put them on anything that will come in direct contact with your mouth. I would suggest reading the directions extremely carefully, and follow them entirely. 
Sheer Colored Mod Podge: Tinted Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple and Yellow, this is perfect for tinting glass, like in my Mason Jar recipe. 
Mod Podge also sells finishes, that won't glue, but can be used in specialty projects such as Mod Podge Crackle Medium, Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium, and Mod Podge Super Gloss, all of which vary in prices. They also sell a clear, spray acrylic that I would suggest you use in all of your project using Mod Podge to provide more protection and to get rid of the sticky feeling that Mod Podge often leaves behind. 

At Home Temporary Tattoo

Tattoos are often used to symbolize something important in someones life, but as you grow up, what is important to you can change. Instead of branding yourself with a tattoo that will remain with you for the rest of your life, perhaps you could try this temporary tattoo instead. It's also a fun activity to do with kids or at a party with your friends! To start you will need an eyebrow or eyeliner pencil, baby powder, a soft bristle brush, liquid spray bandage, and an idea of the design you would like to trace. Don't feel the need to stick to only black sharpies. They make markers in all sorts of colors, so use them! If you aren't confident in your drawing abilities and want to draw out your design and then  transfer it onto your skin, you will also need tracing paper, a pencil, scissors, a wash cloth, rubbing alcohol, and cotton balls.

If you plan to free-hand your your tattoo, skip to the next paragraph. Begin by tracing your design onto the tracing paper with a pencil. You can write words, draw a picture, or anything your heart desires, but I would suggest doing a simple design for your first time. Flip your tracing paper over and darken the outline of the design on the back of the paper using a pencil. Cut the paper around the design, leaving about an inch of blank paper around the design. Wet the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub it across your skin where you are going to place the design. Place the tracing paper, with the design facing right side up, onto your body and rub a damp wash cloth to transfer the design to your skin. When you peel back the tracing paper, it will leave behind a faint outline of your design. Go over the design using the eye coloring pencil.

Draw your design using the eyebrow or eyeliner pencil. Sprinkle baby powder over the design and press it in using a soft bristling brush-being careful not to smudge the design. Gently blow off any excess powder. At this point the design should look faded from the powder. In a well ventilated area, spray the liquid spray adhesive, which brings the color back into the tattoo.

The website I found it on claimed the tattoo would last 3-4 days without coming off in the shower, but I can tell you that it faded on its first contact with water. When soap was applied it was nearly gone. It looked like it would have if I had simply drawn it with a Sharpie, so I have the feeling my skin will be stained for the next few days. All that was left was my slightly sticky wrist, the smell of adhesive, and the faint outline of three stars. While you could get away with wearing it for a day, as long as you have no water activities planned, I don't see how you could make it last 4 days.

Getting Rid of Hair Build Up

Build up can gather on your hair for a myriad of reasons: if you get your shower water from a well, the hard water causes build up, environmental factors, or using different styling products, even shampoos and conditioners leave build up. It makes your hair frizzy and less manageable, but fortunately, is extremely easy to get rid of.

Just mix 1/3 cup of baking soda and 4 Tablespoons of water into a paste, apply it to your hair, leave it for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it out and wash your hair as usual. The 1/3 cup mixture is the amount needed for shoulder length hair. I started with this amount and only covered about half my hair. I made another batch (for a total of 2/3 cup of baking soda and 8 Tablespoons of water) and it covered my shoulder-blade length hair nicely.  The website I got the recipe from said you could start with either wet or dry hair, but since she started with dry hair, so did I.

My results: After washing it off in the shower, I noticed that my hair didn't seem to absorb my shampoo and conditioner as well as it normally did, no matter how much I applied. I worried that my hair would end up being more unruly than normal, simply because it hadn't gotten the moisture it needed from my conditioner. To my surprise, my hair felt just as clean and soft as it normally did after being washed. I would say that it did not live up to its reputation of a miracle cure for frizzy hair, but you could save some money by applying it before your shower so you can use less shampoo or conditioner.
An additional method that I have not tried but I encourage you to try is a mixture of 1/2 cup of malt vinegar, 1/2 cup of water, and 1/4 cup of lime or lemon juice.  Follow the same directions, leaving it in your hair for 10-15 minutes then follow with your normal hair washing regiment. Let me know what your results are!

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Spring Cleaning- Norwex Review

Spring is here, and as I've pointed out in recent blogs that means outside fun and getting to wear shorts, but unfortunately it also means spring cleaning. Fortunately, there are certain cleaning supplies that can make the job much easier for you. My environment science class has been making me more aware of the chemicals that I'm putting in my home and then dumping into my environment. A company- Norwex- started in 1994 with a simple goal: bring chemical free cleaning supplies into the homes of people around the globe. That seems nice, but if their supplies don't clean, they're not worth your money. Luckily for you, I've tested some of their most popular items and am going to share my results with you.
Micro Cleaning Hand Pads: These are pretty much the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser of Norwex, but you don't have to worry about getting a headache if you inhale it for too long because there are no chemicals. Simply wet it in warm water and scrub on any surface to remove stains. The possibilities are endless.
Descaler: This is without a doubt my favorite Norwex cleaning agent. It comes in a spray bottle and is great for cleaning your shower. I have used it on persistent limescale that I had all but given up on ridding myself of, and after sitting for five minutes is wiped right off.
Mop: This is admittedly one of my least favorite products from Norwex. You have to buy the mop handle, mop base, and mop pad separately, which total around $80. Besides not being economically feasible, I saw no difference between the Norwex mop or the $5 disposable mop you buy at Walmart.
If you are interested in buying Norwex products for yourself, look on Norwex.com to find a seller near you.

Cinco de Mayo Piñata Cookies

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated one the 5th of May. Many people think of it as their equivalent to America's Independence Day on the 4th of July, but is actually the celebration of a battle won by the Mexicans in the city of Puebla against the French. Even though it was not a major victory strategically, it bolstered the Mexican citizens' moral when ill-equipped 4,500 man army defeated the 8,000 soldiers of the French army, considered to be the best army in the world at that time. Now, Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. If you're going to a Cinco de Mayo party, or want to have a little fun at home, try making these party piñata cookies!
To make the cookies you will need 1 cup sugar, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup butter, 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon almond extract, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 5 cups flour, 1 Tablespoon vanilla, 6 different colors of food coloring ( I suggest black, blue, orange, yellow, purple, and pink), mini M&M candies, and a donkey cookie cutter. To make the frosting simply whisk 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons milk in a small bowl.
To make the dough, combine the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and then set aside. Cream the sugar and powdered sugar with the butter. Beat in the eggs and oil. Slowly fold in the dry ingredients. Mix in the vanilla and almond extract. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions and color each portion a different color.

Next line a rectangular container that is a bit wider than your cookie cutter with plastic wrap. Build up layer of each color, excluding black. Once each color has been added twice, add 2 layers of black (this side will be the donkey's hooves). Let container set in the fridge for 4-6 hours.
 

 Use the plastic wrap to lift the dough out of the container, while keeping the rectangular shape. Slice the dough so it is 1/4 of an inch thick and lay them on a cookie sheet.
Place the cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Each individual pinata cookie will take 3 slices of cookie, so use the cookie cutter to shape 3 donkey cookies.
 
Use a small square cookie cutter to cut a hole in one of the donkey's mid section.
 
 Take one of the whole donkeys and outline it in frosting. 

 Place the donkey with the hole in the mid section on top of the whole donkey. Fill the hole with miniature M&Ms and outline it once again with frosting.

Place the last full donkey on top of the frosting. Wait at least 30 minutes for the frosting to harden and then you can stand your creation up!
 
 Now, when you bit into it, candies fall out just like a real piñata.
Tips:
Keep a close eye on the cookies while they bake, because they are very thin and if you over-bake them-even slightly- the colors turn a golden brown, which takes away from the bright piñata look.
If you use gel food coloring the colors will bake much brighter.
If you don't have any cream of tartar on hand, use 1 teaspoon baking powder instead but if you do only use 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

Give Your Hair the Perfect Beachy Waves

One of my absolute favorite hairstyles for summer is the "beachy wave" Its based on loose and imperfect curls, and if your already have wavy hair, can take less than 15 minutes. It's also great for people who live in areas with high humidity, because you don't have to attempt to tame your hair that you straightened less than 30 minutes ago.
Start with slightly damp hair, either by letting it dry about 80% of the way after getting out of the shower or using a spray bottle to wet it evenly. Apply sea salt spray or curl enhancing mousse to your hair. You can make your own sea salt spray if you don't already own any by mixing 1 cup warm water, 1 Tablespoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon coconut oil, and 1 teaspoon gel and putting it in a spray bottle. I prefer making it myself because not only is it cheaper, sea salt spray from the store has an odd odor that stays in your hair all day that spray that you make at your house doesn't have. If you have naturally straight hair, twist small sections of your hair into mini-buns all over your head, secure them with bobby pins, and let dry completely. If your hair already has a wave to it, dry it the rest of the way using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment. Using a 3/4 inch or 1 inch curler, wrap 1 inch sections of your hair around the curler (without using the clamp) to touch up strands of your hair that didn't wave. Rake your fingers through your hair to separate your curls and finish with a light touch of hair spray.

5 Simple Activites That Children Will Love

Whether your an older sibling, parent, or babysitter, you know that children lose focus quickly, so it's best to have various activities for them to do. Instead of going to the store and buying every kind of toy under the sun, how about making some of them at home? If the children are old enough, you can also have them help you, turning the creation into activities in themselves.
The first craft is a classic: play dough. Only this play dough makes your hands feel like you've just gotten back from a spa day. Just mix 2 parts corn starch with 1 part conditioner, the exact amount depending on how much play dough you want. Because different conditioners have different consistencies, you might have to alter the amounts slightly to get a doughy consistency. Use food coloring to color your dough. While it feels lighter than normal play dough, it is just as pliable and will take longer to dry out. To keep it from drying out, place it is a plastic container or wrap it with Saran wrap.
The next craft is making "goop" or silly putty. Mix 1 cup of Elmer's all-purpose glue with food coloring in the color of your choice. Make sure it is mixed thoroughly. Add 1/2 cup of Sta-Flo liquid starch. Keep in a Zip-Lock bag or an air tight container in the refrigerator for best results.
Next are Rainbow Bubble Snakes. I've never seen an equivalent of this in a store anywhere, but it's great fun for when its warm enough to play outside. All you need is an empty plastic water bottle, a sock, dish soap, and food coloring. Start by cutting the bottom 1/2 inch of the water bottle off, sliding the sock over the bottom (so that the neck that you drink from is still exposed) and secure the sock with duct tape or a rubber band. Mix dish soap with water in a shallow dish. Dip the sock end of the water in the soapy mixture and blow through the neck of the bottle. Bubbles will come shooting out the sock! To make the bubbles colored, drip food coloring onto the sock.
If your baby is still in the "wants to put everything I see into my mouth" then you might be worried about letting them with any paints in fear that they'll start licking it off their fingers. But if you make this finger paint at home from the same foods that you eat, you won't have to worry about them. Bonus: they're scented! Most likely your baby won't need a lot of paint, mix 3 Tablespoons of plain yogurt with half a packet of Kool Aid of different colors. You can also mix different kinds of Kool Aid to create your own colors. If you don't want the paint to be scented, substitute the Kool Aid with a drop of food coloring.
The last activity is mind-blowingly simply, but great for kids of all ages when they're out playing after the sun has gone down.  Just break open glow sticks, and pour them into your bubble blowing solution and voila! Glow in the dark bubbles.

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

To get in the environmentally Easter spirit, I decided to help my little sister dye her Easter eggs with natural dyes found in our kitchen. I tried all of the following but you can pick and choose based on what color of eggs you want: coffee, tea, red onion, red cabbage, turmeric, yellow onion, blueberry juice, a mixture of blueberry and cranberry juice, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. All of the recipes are super simple, and the colors all got more vibrant the longer they were left in their mixture. I left them in for 9 hours total, but would check them every 2 hours to watch their progress. Remember that you shouldn't consume eggs if they've been sitting out for over an hour!
Coffee: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 1 cup strongly brewed coffee and 1/8 cup vinegar at room temperature. The coffee stain produced a lightly tanned egg with dark brown speckles.
Tea: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 1 cup of steaming water with 3 tea bags and 1/8 cup vinegar. It starts as a light brown color and the longer you let it sit, the darker brown it becomes.
Red Onion: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 1 cup water and 1/8 cup white vinegar and a dry peel from a red onion. Before the egg had dried, it looked to be a murky brown color, but as it dried it turned to a deep red with brown specks.
Turmeric: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 2 cups water, 3 tablespoons turmeric, and 1/8 cup vinegar. Even after 2 hours of soaking, I could tell this was going to one of my favorites because it created a beautiful pastel yellow.
Yellow Onion: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 1 cup water and 1/8 cup vinegar and a dry peel from a yellow onion. After about 3 hours the egg will be a deep yellow, and the longer it sits in the mixture, the darker it will become. After 9 hours, it is a burnt orange.
Blueberries: Mash 1/2 cup of blueberries and add 2 Tablespoons vinegar. This takes the least amount of time because you simply have to roll the hard-boiled egg in the mixture and let it dry, a process of 2 minutes. It's also what I found to be the prettiest egg, giving a blue-purple swirled egg.
Cayenne Pepper: Soak a hard-boiled egg in a mixture of 2 cups warm water, 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper, and 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper. Be sure to dissolve all of the cayenne pepper, or it will leave brown flecks on the orange egg.
I've also found recipes for dying eggs with red cabbage (which surprisingly gives you a light blue dye), blueberry and cranberry juice (which is a deep purple), and chili powder (which is similar to the cayenne pepper). The link to those recipes can be found here.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Personally, I think the day we put ready to bake cinnamon rolls in a tube and made them readily available in your closest Target was the day we succeeded as the human race. They're delicious. But when I looked on the Pillsbury package and saw the ingredients listed, including thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, monoglyceride, and  xanthan gum, I thought it might be worth it to look into how to make them from scratch. I found a promising recipe and set forth with my limited knowledge of baking to create a tasty cinnamon roll in which I could pronounce all the ingredients.
To make the dough you will need 4-5 cups all-purpose flour, 2 packages dry yeast (4.5 teaspoons), 1 teaspoon salt, ¾ cup milk, ½ cup water, ½ cup melted butter, ½ cup sugar, and 1 egg. This is enough to make 12 cinnamon rolls. In a large bowl, mix 1¾ cups flour and all of the yeast and salt. In a small pan heat the milk, water, butter, and sugar over medium-low heat, stirring until it reaches 120-130 degrees. Beat the mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. Slowly mix in more flour until it creates a soft dough (it should take anywhere from 1 to 2 cups). Remember that when you knead the bread you will cover your countertop with more flour that the dough will absorb, so it's okay if the bread still fills a little sticky. Knead the dough and return it to the bowl. Cover it in a towel and let it rise for about 20 minutes (unless you are using instant yeast, which will take about half the time) until it has doubled in size. Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a rectangle that is about ¼ inch thick. Spread melted butter over the dough.
To make the filling, combine ½ cup brown sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle it over the dough. Roll the dough (with the filling inside) as if it were a jelly roll. When it is completely rolled cut it into 12 rolls. Put it on a greased baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees.
While the bread is baking, combine 1.5 cups powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoon butter, ⅛ teaspoon vanilla, and 2-3 Teaspoons hot water in small bowl to make the icing. When the rolls are finished baking, take them out and let them sit on a cooling rack  for approximately 5 minutes and then top with the icing.
It ended up taking me 1 ½ hours to prep and bake the cinnamon rolls. While they tasted delicious, I'm going to stick with my 12 minute Pillsbury rolls and whip out this recipe for special occasions.

DIY Dry Hair Shampoo

Chances are, you shampoo your hair too much. Yup, I said it. But I have expert to back me up.According to WebMD's article, "How Often Do You Really Need to Shampoo?", most people with long, thick, or curly hair who shampoo their hair more than 3-4 times a week are stripping their hair of its natural essential oils, causing their hair to be frizzy and less manageable. Unless you have extremely greasy hair, there is no need to shampoo everyday. I personally prefer to shampoo my hair 3 times a week, which gives it more shine and it is easier to style. In between shampoos, I still condition it, but sometimes it can start to look a little greasy. When that happens I normally turn to store-bought dry shampoo, which can leave my hair sticky (plus I think it smells weird). Of course I turned to Pinterest for ideas on a dry shampoo that I could do myself with ingredients I trust.
There are two different recipes, depending on what color hair you have. If you have light hair mix 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 5-10 drops of essential oil. If you have dark hair mix 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, and 5-10 drops of essential oil. Apply the powder with a makeup brush to your roots and let it sit for 3-4 minutes to give it time to suck up any extra oils. Brush it out and style as you usually would.
Because I have red hair I didn't know recipe to use, so I tried both. The one for light hair dulled the color of my hair at the roots, but the one with cocoa powder worked great!

DIY Ombre Shorts

In honor of the warming weather, last week I showed you how to create cute tie-dye shorts out of the jeans you have just gathering dust in your closet. I recognize that tie-dye isn't for everyone, so this week I decided to show you how to create a pair of ombre shorts, which are just as colorful, but a bit less "out there". All you will need is a rectangular bucket, gloves, an old pair of colored jeans, and bleach.

Step One: If you are starting with jean pants, cut them to your desired length. Be careful not to cut too short, because we are going to fray them later, which can decrease their length by about half an inch. To get a straight cut, mark where to cut with a ruler and a washable marker or eyeliner pencil. When you are done cutting, rub a pumice stone (the thing you rub against the soles of your feet to get rid of dead skin), against the cut edges to give them a "distressed" look. You can also use a cheese grater or sand paper. I find that ombre looks too formal on shorts that are cut perfectly. 

Additional Step: If you started with regular colored jeans, use a fabric dye teinture to dye the denim the color you want to be the darkest part of your ombre. Stay away from light colors, unless you want the bottom of your shorts to be white. For instance, if you dyed your shorts a light blue, it would fade into white. But if your shorts were dyed dark blue, it would fade into light blue. Either way works, but I prefer to always have color. Dye your shorts using the instructions on the packet of dye teinture. Once your shorts have soaked in the dye mixture, move onto the next step. If you want to wash and dry the jeans first, you can, but it won't make a difference in the product.

Step Two: Wearing the gloves, fill the bucket 1/4 of the way up with bleach. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WEAR GLOVES WHEN HANDLING BLEACH. If you used dye teinture without gloves, your hands will just be stained for a couple of days. Bleach can irritate or burn your skin, so wear gloves at all times and if skin does come in contact with bleach make sure to wash it off immediately and thoroughly. Make sure you take the bucket outside in a well-ventilated area so you don't inhale the fumes.

Step Three: Let your jeans soak in warm water. Tape your shorts to the side of the bucket so that the bottom 1/2 in. to in. is in the bleach. 

Step Four: Every pair of jeans is different. Some will take 2 minutes to bleach, some will take 2 days. It also depends on how high you want the bleach to go up the shorts. Keep an eye on them. Mine took around 2 hours until I was satisfied. 

Step Four: Once it is bleached to your approval, take your shorts out of the bucket and run it under cold water. Throw them in the washer and dryer by themselves (you don't want to ombre any of your other clothes!). 

 I was really content with how my shorts turned out. I'm even considering doing the same thing with other colors. Because I already had all of the materials I needed, the project didn't cost me any money, compared to the $30-$100 dollars you can spend on shorts in any store at the mall. 

Shave with Baby OIl

If you've seen my last post you'll know that I am very excited about the upcoming warm weather! Summer brings shorts, and that means whipping out your legs for the world to see. I decided to try a trick I have seen on Pinterest for what promises to get you "the softest legs ever". What's the big secret? Baby oil. Instead of buying expensive shaving cream, buy a bottle of Johnson's baby oil. Rub a drop the size of a quarter on each leg and shave with your normal razor. While the softest legs ever might have been a bit of an exaggeration, it does leave your legs feeling super smooth and doesn't give you those pesky razor bumps. Not to mention its also supposed to make your razor last longer! If you follow it up with Johnson's moisturizing lotion, your legs are guaranteed to stay silky soft until your next shave. WARNING: Be careful! If you use it in the shower the floor will be super slick. I'd recommend doing it laying in the tub or sitting on the toilet. Beauty is pain, but I'm not about to fall and crack my head open for smoother legs.

One Color Tie Dyed Shorts

Summer is coming folks. Hair gets lighter, skin gets darker, water gets warmer, drinks get colder, music gets louder, days get longer, and of course, pants get shorter. While every girl needs her soffe and jean shorts to get her through the summer, but some days you just need a little tie die. Instead of going out and buying a brand new ones, why not just make some using an old pair of jean shorts that you never use. All you'll need is some old jean shorts (preferably a light wash so it the color will be more prominent), a plastic tub, rubber gloves, rubber bands, and dye teinture. Dye teinture is a colored powder that you mix with water to dye fabrics in. You can find it at most craft stores, Target, or Wal-Mart. While there are more expensive, brands, some cost as little as $3 which you can use in a gallon of water. I've used the expensive and cheap options and didn't find any noticeable difference between them. If you don't have any jean shorts you want to get rid of, you can also use jean paints and cut them to the length you want the shorts to be. If you are going to make cut-off shorts, I suggest making the jeans distressed using scissors and a foot buffer. Rub the foot buffer against the bottom of the shorts where you cut the legs off or cut tears in the jeans using the scissors and use the foot buffer to rub over the cuts as well.
Step One: Run water over the jeans until they are damp.  Wring any excess water out. Use the rubber bands to bind the jeans together in varying sized clumps. You can use as many rubber bands as you would like, but keep in mind that the more rubber bands you use, the more bursts of color will be on your shorts.
Step Two: Add hot water to your bucket, following the instructions on the packet of dye teinture. Even though the instructions will vary with different brands, I suggest adding 2-4 tablespoons of salt to the hot water with the teinture to help jeans absorb the color, even if the instructions don't call for it.
Step Three: Put the banded shorts into the water/teinture mixture. Wear gloves, because your hands are just as easily dyed as the fabric. Make sure the jeans are completely covered in water so they will be dyed evenly. If any parts of the shorts are sticking out, you can put a heavy item, like a pan with water in it or a jar with rocks in it, on top to push the jeans into the water.
Step Four: Leave the shorts in the water for 30 minutes to an hour.
Step Five: When they are done being dyed, run them under cold water until the water runs clear. Washing them on a normal cycle in the washing machine with more cold water. Wash it without any other clothes, so that the dye doesn't leak onto your other clothes. You can either put them in the dryer (with no other clothes) or lay them out to dry.
Tip: Be careful what kind of materials you are putting in contact with the dye. The color will transfer onto skin ( my hot pink fingers can attest to that), other articles of clothing and wash rags, and plastics. The dye will not stain metals or granite.
Once your jeans are dry, you'll have a unique, single colored tie-dye shorts to wear on a hot summer's day. Here's how mine turned out!
 

Harry Potter Wands

Who here loves Harry Potter? If you responded no, feel free to leave and never return. In early February, I did a post on how to create your own Butterbeer to transport you to the magical world of Hogsmeade, but now I'm back to take down the perilous path of dueling (for all you muggles out there; wand dueling). Harry Potter wands can be bought at a variety of stores on line and in real life, but their prices can range from twenty to fifty dollars. These wands are factory made to look like wands from specific characters in the movies; they allow you no creative wriggle room, and you know there are hundreds of thousands of identical ones in the world. By making you own, you can lower the cost and make them unique using only chopsticks, a hot glue gun, beads of various sizes, and acrylic paint. While you can buy packages of chopsticks at a fairly inexpensive price, you could also just take a road trip to your local Hy-Vee Chinese store, and get some for free. I only suggest this if you're making 4 wands or less.  The acrylic paint can be in any color: in the movies the wands were made out of wood so they ranged from light brown to dark brown to black, but as I said, the best part about these is that you can make it however you want!

Start by applying hot glue to the chop stick. I prefer the wand getting thicker towards the handle end, so I applied more glue to that end of the stick. The tutorial I read suggested waited for the glue to glue but still be pliable, and shaping it how you would like, but I either ended up burning myself or waiting too long until the glue was no longer malleable. Instead, I applied excess amounts of hot glue and moved the chop stick until the glue moved into the shape I wanted. Next, the beads need to be applied before the glue has a chance to dry.  If you have miniature beads, you can roll them in the hot glue, giving it a different feel. For larger beads, apply them to the tip of the wand on the side of the wand that you plan to hold it by.

Don't be afraid to play around with different patterns from the glue and beads, like making swirls or deep crevices. Wait until the glue is stiff- not just until it had cooled. Then use a small children's paint brush to apply the paint, making sure to get into all of the crevices created by the beads. Since I chose the cheap, 97 cent acrylic paint, it took 3 coats to cover the color of the beads. Once they're dry, play to you hearts desire!

The more wands you make, the better they'll look, and at such a low price, you can afford to try it over and over.

Anchor Bracelet

Remember in 7th grade, when every girl and her best friend made each other charm bracelets. They were like the colored bandanas of 12 year olds: everyone knew who was friends with who by what bracelet they were wearing and if you had an arm full of bracelets you were the most popular girl in school. Well, now its time to put your friendship bracelet-making to use in a more mature fashion. Start with a small anchor charm, 2 different colors of twine, and a clasp. I found my supplies at Michael's craft store: only $0.37 for each color of twine, $4.00 for two of the anchor charms, and $3.00 for a packet of 30 clasps. I chose blue and white twine to add to the 'sea' feel.
Start with 2 strips of each color about twice the length of the circumference of your wrist. Fold the strips in half and put it through the hole at the top of the anchor charm, creating a loop. Pull the lengths of the string through like loop, as pictured below.

Tape the anchor to your working surface. Create a chevron pattern using the strings with that ole' information from the 7th grade. If you happened to forget how, refresh your memory with this YouTube video. Once the pattern has reached half the length of your wrist, clamp it closed using the clasp and a pair of needle-nose pliers according to the instructions on the clamp packaging. Create 2 more strips of each color twice the length of your wrist. Instead of folding it through the top of the anchor charm, put wrap it around the arm of the bottom of the anchor, pictured below.
Continue the chevron pattern until it is once again half the length of your wrist. Close it using the loop that your clamp connects to.
Stand back and admire your work!

At Home Spa Part Two

No spa is a true spa without a facial, am I right? There are many options based on your skin types and what you feel like, but since it's the middle of winter and my skin has a tendency to dry out, I used a mask for dry skin and a lip exfoliant to keep my lips from drying out. Afterwards, I also used a pore reducer, just for fun.
Avocado Mask: Mash one ripened avocado and mix it with half a teaspoon of lemon juice, and one egg white. Then I applied the paste to my face and waited for it to dry and rinsed it with cool water. Many of the recipes I found also included honey, so you can add a tablespoon or two if you want to experiment.
Lip Exfoliant: The instructions read to have one part brown sugar to one part honey to one part olive oil. I used 1/4 Tablespoon of each and it made a good amount for using one time. You could also use 2 Tablespoons of each, keep it in a small jar, and use it in the future.
Pore Reducer: Whip one egg white and 1 tsp. of cornstarch and apply the froth to your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes, or until it's dry, then rinse off with cool water. I wouldn't recommend this face mask because I didn't see any reduction in the size of my pores, and it seemed to dry out my skin back to the point of where it had been before the avocado mask.

At Home Spa Part One

Every girl loves to pampered, but we can't go to an elite spa every week, and sometimes when you're having a bad day and need to relax, its nice to be able to whip up some soothing remedies in the comfort of your own home. It's even better when all of the ingredients are things that you can find in your own home. In this section of my At Home Spas we'll be looking at mixtures to exfoliate for your feet and legs, and in my next post we'll be focusing on pampering your face.
First, Feet: I found two highly recommended recipes for exfoliating feet, both of which involved Listerine, which I had never heard of using, but decided to try anyway. Since I couldn't decide which recipe to use, I decided to put one on each foot and then compare them when I was done.
The first recipe I used included 1/4 cup Listerine, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/2 cup warm water. After I had mixed all the ingredients together, I realized that it wasn't nearly enough to cover my entire foot, so I tripled the amounts. After soaking my feet in it for 15 minutes, I was supposed to be able to wipe the dead skin off my foot with a towel. Instead, It seemed only slightly softer than before the soak, and after another half hour my feet were just as dry as before I started. All-in-all, this was a dud, and I wouldn't recommend doing it on your next in home spa day.
My other foot recipe was more complicated, but worked much better as well. I started by making a mixture of half a cup of Listerine and half a cup of water. Then cover your foot in shaving cream. Take a hand towel an dampen it with the Listerine/water mixture and wrap it around your foot. After 30 minutes take the towel off and rinse off the shaving cream. My feet were much softer and while my dead skin didn't immediately wipe off, after a couple minutes and a pumice stone, my feet were much softer. While this foot scrub worked better, I think it didn't work as well as the classic "smother your foot with lotion, put on a sock, and go to bed".
After working on my feet, I moved on to my favorite part of spas, exfoliating my legs. I found two different recipes again, and decided to try one on each leg to compare them. Both of them were fairly simple: involving sugar, citrus juice, olive oil, and honey.
The first used 2 cups of brown sugar, 1/2  a cup of olive oil, and 1/4 of cup of honey. The mixture was fairly dry, so when I scrubbed the mixture into my legs, I had to scrub lightly or else it would hurt my leg. Using these amounts gave me enough to exfoliate my skins 2 or 3 times, so I put it in a plastic container to use later. If you don't want to have any leftovers, you should make only a third of the recipe.
The second leg mixture used half a cup of oil (it said any kind but I used olive), 3 tablespoon citrus juice, and 1 1/4 cups of sugar. was very wet and almost soupy, so make sure to rub it over your legs in a shower or tub because it drips easily.
Both of the leg recipes were amazing, and my legs felt silky hours after I had washed them off. If I had to pick one, I would say the second, with citrus juice, was my favorite. The other left my leg feeling a little sticky, but if you only have the ingredients for the first, I would still highly suggest it. I haven't been able to stop rubbing my legs together since I tried them! Make sure to check my next blog for DIY Spa ideas for facials.

Harry Potter Butterbeer

It's time you learned the truth about me. I am a Harry Potter Junkie. The last book came out in 2007, and the last movie was released in 2011 ( I can't believe its been almost 3 years), but it is still close to my heart. One of my friends even has a Harry Potter blog, called Harry Blotter, which you can find here, if you too are part of the Harry Potter fandom.
In the Harry Potter series, there is a favorite drink for the students of Hogwarts called Butterbeer (non-alcoholic) that they are often found drinking on their trips to Hogsmeade. If you aren't part of the wizarding community, you can also find it at Potterworld in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, I live in the middle of the United States and do not have a private plane that I can hop on and to head to Florida whenever I want, but I can make this easy home recipe. All you need is cream soda, Coke, butterscotch syrup, and whipped cream. This recipe is for making one glass, but you can apply it to however much you want.
Fill the cup 2/3 of the way with cream soda, then fill it almost the rest of the way with Coke. Put however much whip cream and butterscotch syrup you would like in your drink in another cup in equal proportions and mix them together. Pour the whipped cream and butterscotch syrup mixture into the glass with cream soda and Coke, and you'll magically be transported to the World of Harry Potter! Not really, but it tastes pretty good.

Mason Jars Round 2

I already showed you how to make a glitter Mason Jars and spray painted Mason Jars, but there are so many options to choose from, I couldn't stop there! Two of my other favorites include glitter dipped jars and dyed jars. (If you missed my first tutorials check two posts ago for more Mason Jar fun)

Third: Glitter Dipped Mason Jar
The beginning of this tutorial is similar to the spray paint tutorial. You will need a Mason Jar, spray paint and glitter in matching colors, and clear acrylic sealer. Start with a clean and dry Mason Jar. Follow the instructions written on the can of paint to apply 2 coats of the spray paint. I made a black and gold version of this jar. For the gold on I used the Krylon Gold Metallic Color Master Indoor Spray Paint, and for the black I used Rust-oleum Flat Black Spray Paint. Once the second coat is dry, apply a layer of Mod Podge Matte Clear Acrylic Sealer to keep the paint from chipping. Use a small paint crush to apply Matte Podge to the bottom third of the jar and sprinkle the glitter of the matching on. I would suggest doing this part in sections so the glue won't dry before you have put on all the glitter. If you want to be sure to get a straight line of glitter, lay the jar down on its side and hold a piece of paper at the border of where you want the glitter to end. I did this with my black jar but not my gold, and as you see in the end picture below, the line looks much sharper if you use a piece of paper. Don't attempt to tape it because it will remove the paint when you remove the tape (I'm not joking about this. I'm the type of person who thought it would be okay it I used a different kind of tape and ended up ruing my jar because the tape peeled off the paint). Warning: This is a decorative jar. Do not get it wet. In case you do get it wet, use a paper towel to pat the majority of the jar dry WITHOUT wiping, and then let the rest of the water air dry.
This is how my glitter dipped Mason Jars turned out! 

Fourth: Colored Mason Jar
This jar is different from the other colored jars I've done in that it uses no spray paint, just Mod Podge and food coloring! The end result is that it's colored, but you can still see into the jar, so it's more of a tint. Choose what color of food coloring you want and mix five drops of it with 2 tablespoons of Matte Mod Podge in your Mason Jars. If you plan on doing more than one jar the same color. You can mix the food coloring and Mod Podge in a bowl and pour the appropriate amounts into each jar. Tilt the jar until every side is covered with the mixture, then turn it upside down on a paper plate to let the excess drip out for about an hour. Once all of the extra mixture is puddled on the paper plate, turn the jar right side up to air dry. At this point it will look like ordinary paint, but as it dries it will become see-through. Warning: This is a decorative jar. Do not get it wet.
Here's how my color tinted Mason Jar turned out!
Because I didn't let it sit upside down to drip out the excess food coloring for long enough, it had streaks in it when it dried, so I would suggest letting it dry for at least an hour.

Sore Throat Remedy

Cold season is upon us people. And it came back with a vengeance. I live in Iowa, Mother Nature's personal experiment where she see how hot it can get in the summer and how cold it can get in the winter. I know, people in Arizona are going, "You don't even know what hot is!" and people in Michigan are saying. "We can get frost bite by stepping outside!" But what people don't understand is Iowa doesn't have it the worst on either end of the spectrum, but we hop from one extreme to the other. After that long and winding introduction, I get to my main point. This winter has been a hard one, and it's not even February. Being both cheap, and suspicious of all medicines, I LOVE home remedies, especially ones that taste good. This quick recipe can help with sore throat, hacking cough, and tight congestion, using four simple ingredients found in your kitchen. You can use it to help in the midst of a cold, or take a teaspoon when you feel one coming on in place of a drugstore cough suppressant or decongestant.
Mix 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 Tablespoons of Water in a small bowl. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon each of cayenne and ginger in the vinegar and water mix. Add a tablespoon raw honey and mix. Take a tablespoon to help with your cold.

Mason Jars

I am in love with these handy little things called Mason Jars. They are great for keepings organized, and now you can personalize them however you like! I actually have so many that I don't know what to do with them. So far, they are holding my makeup brushes, writing utensils on my desks, and my spare change. I've collected my 4 favorite ways to decorate Mason Jars and I'll be sharing the first two ways with you in this blog post. Keep an eye out for my a post next week, in which I'll show you how to decorate the second two. Mason jars can be found at your local Target, Walmart, or you can even look at a thrift store to see if anyone has donated them. My grandma happens to have a stock pile of Mason Jars in her basement, so I have an unlimited supply to play with.

First: Regular Ole' Spray Paint.
This is the simplest of all the jars. All you need is a Mason Jar, spray paint in your color choice, and clear acrylic sealer. Start by cleaning your Mason Jar with warm soapy water and letting it dry. Once it is completely dry, put it on a piece of cardboard (I just cut a poster board into sections) and take it outside or into a well-ventilated area. Apply your first layer of spray paint. I used Rust-oleum Satin Blossom White, so if I can tie different colored ribbons around it and it will always match. Apply the first coat by spraying in a steady back-and-forth motion, keeping the can an even distance away from the jar. Wait 10 minutes until the jar is dry and apply a second coat in the same manner. Once the second coat is dry, apply the clear acrylic sealer over the entire jar. I used the Matte sealer from Mod Podge. This will keep the paint from chipping. Warning: This is a decorative jar.  Do not drink out of it or get it wet. In case you do get it wet, use a paper towel to pat it dry WITHOUT wiping, and then let it air dry any of the water you could not get.
Here's how my jar turned out!     

Second: Glitter Jar
This has to be one of my favorite jars. Though I would probably say that about all the jars I made. To make it, you need a Mason Jar, Matte Mod Podge, a popsicle stick, and any color of glitter. The jar needs to be clean and dry. Pour about 2 tablespoons of Mod Podge into the bottom of the jar. The instructions I read said fill it until it's about half an inch full, but when I did that I was able to fill up three jars instead of just one, so I would suggest using about 2 tablespoons. Pour your glitter in with it. The more glitter you add, the more concentrated it will be when you are done. Stir the glitter in with the Mod Podge, and make sure it is even so that the glitter will be evenly distributed. Once it is all stirred up, tilt the jar every which way so that the mixture covers the entire jar. Place the evenly covered jar upside on a paper plate so the extra will drip out. After about half an hour the excess will be puddled on the plate. Lift the jar off the plate and let any excess drip off. Place it right side up and let it dry for 24-48 hours. Don't worry that you can see the white Mod Podge while it is still wet, it will dry clear. Warning: This is a decorative jar.  Do not drink out of it or get it wet.
Here's how my glitter jar turned out!

Making Your Own T-Shirt Design

Your always warned to be careful with bleach because it can stain your clothes, but it wasn't until Pinterest that I thought to use it to make my own personalized t-shirt design. The Pin didn't include any instructions, just a four pictures showing the process. Know that the color the bleach will turn your shirt depends on the color the shirt starts off as. You can't tell in the pictures but the shirt is a dark purple color, so the bleach turned it a light pink. However, any color will turn white if you leave the bleach on for long enough.
First, set out your t-shirt or tank top on a flat surface. Make sure to put a piece of cardboard or a white towel in the shirt to keep the bleach from soaking from the front of the t-shirt to the back.
Next, chose your design. I chose something simple, because of my lack of artistic abilities, yet meaningful. It's a tattoo that I've seen people with, a heart made out of the treble and bass chefs.
After that you simply have to put the design on the t-shirt. You can use straight bleach, but that's much more time consuming. If you do use bleach, make sure to wear gloves at all times and our slowly. Only attempt it if you have a lot of faith in yourself. I used a Clorox bleach pen to trace my design instead. You can make it as large as you want, with the lines as thick as you want, but keep in mind the bleach will bleed out a little bit, so if your make the lines too intricate, it will end up one big blob.
Since the tutorial didn't have any words, I didn't know how long to leave the bleach on the t-shirt. After about 10 minutes I could see the fabric around the bleach changing color so I went and rinsed it off in warm water.
  You can see the bleach hadn't had enough time to set in so the color change was too discreet to notice. I retraced the design but gave it an hour to dry this time.
 The design was much easier to see. I then let it air dry before washing it by itself in the washing machine. Make sure to wash and dry it by itself the first time so that the bleach doesn't get onto any of your other clothes.

Baseball Bracelet

This project is the closest I have ever come to making something myself that I have ever come so far on my blog. The idea stuck out to me because it was ingenious and simple, and very unique.
You start with a baseball, and make sure it is one you don't want to use again. If you buy one new from the store you can skip the first step and start making the bracelet. Because I decided to use one of the many baseballs we have from when we were kids, it needed some deep cleaning first. When I tried just washing it with water, it still had some discoloration to it, so as the internet crafter I have become, I googled how to clean old baseballs. I found a simple process on Wikihow that took about 2 minutes and only used a teaspoon of toothpaste.              
Get the baseball slightly damp and cover it with a thin layer of toothpaste. Let it sit for about a minute, and while you're letting it sit, dampen a metal scrubber (the kind that you use when cleaning pots and pans) with warm water. Use it to scrub off the toothpaste  and then wash it with hot water. My baseball showed major improvement. In two minutes it went from this:
  to this: . If you don't have the resources to buy a new baseball or just have some lying around that you know you'll never need, I suggest doing this before making your bracelet to give it a cleaner look.
Now that the baseball is clean you can start making your bracelet. Use an Exacto knife to CAREFULLY cut the part of the baseball with the red strings away from the rest of the baseball. You may have to use the knife to gently and once again CAREFULLY pry the skin of the baseball off the insides. It should come off in a circle and look something like this:
 . Keep the strip with the red string through it, but throw away the rest of the ball.
Cut a strip of the circle so it a line instead. Unthread the red strings about half an inch up both sides of the strip. You can either braid the strings or just tie the ends. The finished product is your bracelet! Tie the string together around your wrist for a unique and sporty accessory.

Side note: like I said at the beginning, I used an old baseball we had used before and cleaned it before starting yo make the bracelet. I would suggest buying a new baseball because what I didn't expect was that the leather was also dirty on the inside after I pried it from the inside. I ended up having to wash it again, and even after I did, it still felt grungy on the inside. It would save you effort and make your bracelet feel cleaner if you bought a new cheap baseball at Walmart instead.

Teeth Whitening

There are commercials on TV all the time about mouth washes and toothpaste or different dental strips, all promising to give you a bright, white smile in no time flat. These products can be expensive and cause your teeth to become sensitive to hot or cold foods. I saw a post promising fast, drastic results using a few simple ingredients that can be found in the average household: hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Not only that but it would only take 2 minutes. So I figured, what do I have to lose?
Start by missing equal parts hydrogen peroxide and mouth wash. I used a third of a cup of each and had a ton left over, so I would suggest using an eighth of a cup of each. Gargle this mixture for 60 seconds. I used the 60 seconds to start mixing up the toothpaste mixture. Mix toothpaste (the amount you would use when normally brushing your teeth) with a teaspoon of baking soda. It will give it a cookie dough-like consistency, so dilute it with a couple of drops of water until it has the consistency of toothpaste again. Once your 60 seconds are up, spit out the mouthwash concoction and start brushing your teeth with the toothpaste and baking soda. Brush as you would normally and then rinse and spit.
I have to say I was pretty disappointed with the results. I couldn't see any difference, even when looking at the before and after photos side-by-side. Perhaps you have to repeat it multiple time before it begins to work, but I don't plan on trying it any more. WARNING: If you do this repeatedly, spread out the times. If you apply it too frequently it could wear down your enamel and destroy your teeth.
If you want to see the original tutorial, you can find it here.

Making a Tank Top from a Guy's T-shirt

We all have those oversized t-shirts in the back of our closet that we never wear but can't bear to throw away either because of its sentimental value or because we are just hoarders in general. Or at least, I hope you hoard t-shirts too, because I have at least 20 hidden away somewhere. When I saw on Pinterest you could turn those t-shirts into cute racerback tank tops, I was excited to dust them off and wear them again. I started on one that I didn't have any particular sentiments toward so if I made a mistake I wouldn't be devastated.
I began by gathering my materials: the old t-shirt, a tank top, a sharpie, and some scissors. I laid out the t-shirt and then put the tank top on top of it to use as a guide when spacing where I would cut.
Next, I traced the sleeves (or lack thereof) and neckline of the tank top onto the t-shirt. You might be tempted to skip this step, but I would highly recommend it because you can move the t-shirt while cutting without having to worry about losing track of where you should be cutting, as well as the lines help you plan where you are going to cut and see if they are even. Once all the lines are drawn you can start cutting. I cut the sleeves first, both layers at a time. When I did the neckline, I cut the front first and then moved onto the back. In the tutorial from Pinterest that I was working off of, she cut the front and back of the neckline evenly, so it would go down as far in the back as it would in the front. I would suggest leaving more material in the back. I'll explain why in a second. After everything is cut, it's time to turn it into a "racerback" tank top. Pot do this, start by cutting two 1-inch strips from the sleeves of the t-shirt you removed. They will come off as a ring so cut them both so they're a line, and then tie them together so it is one long strip. Turn the t-shirt over so the front is on the floor. Hold the two straps of the tank top and hold the together. Use the material from the sleeves to tie them in place until it looks like one stripe. The reason I suggest that you don't cut the back as low as the front is that in my first try I did and there ended up being a gap underneath this piece because of the extra cloth.This is the finished product! My first t-shirt didn't come out perfectly, but I think with a little perfecting it could look great for wearing on a lazy day or when I work out.
Tip: remember that you can always cut more off, but you can never put it back together. Cut off the least amount of material you think you need to. It's very likely that's how much you'll want, but you can always trim off more at the end.

Organix Moisture Mask Review

I have read multiple reviews on Pinterest about the Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil Intensive Moisture Mask, all claiming it would work wonders on damaged hair. It was also advertised to have a very low cost, so I figured you might as well try it. I found mine at target for only $5.79 for 13 oz, which I figured I could get around 6 uses out of because I have long thick hair. The package promises that the macadamia oil will help hydrate your hair while sugar cane and bamboo extract help mend split ends. The review suggested leaving it on for an hour, but the directions on the jar said only 3-5 minutes, so I decided to go somewhere in between. I started by shampooing with the Organix Repairing Awapuchi (yes, that's really spelled right) Ginger Shampoo. Then a applied a quarter sized amount of the mask and put my hair in a bun to keep it out of the water. I continued on with my normal shower routine and used a exfoliating mask for my face that I got for Christmas before letting my hair down and washing out the mask. Total, it was in for about 20 minutes. My wet hair didn't seem any softer than usual so I went to bed and let my hair air dry over night. When I woke up, may hair felt silky smooth. There was just as much frizz as usual, but the container did not advertise to help reduce frizz, so that should have been expected. I straightened my hair and it looked and felt amazing, almost perfectly straight (which for my hair is an accomplishment). My hair felt amazing into the next day as well, but when I took a shower again, my hair went back to normal, with none of the benefits left over that I could see. In the end, this product worked very well short term, but you can 't expect miracles for $5.79. 

Click here to see the original review. 

String Art

About 2 months ago Pinterest went crazy with the newest fad, called string art. The complexity varied: some were simply one letter using only one color of yarn, some were cursive letters using different colors, and some used negative space with string being everywhere on the board but the letters, Each one of these string arts had the same basic concept. You would hammer nails in a wooden board and then use yarn to connect the nails. I decided this would make a great Christmas gift for one of my best friends, and I have always liked giving gifts that I had made because it can show more thought than just buying something from the store. Because I had never done this before, I decided to make a very simple version of the letter 'E' for my friend Emilee. Her favorite color is blue so I found yarn that went from light blue to dark blue to make it look more complex. I started by buy a 8" by 11" piece of wood from my local craft store, as well as the yarn, and a package of nails and white spray paint  (you could use any color that matches your yarn) from a hardware store. I started by using a ruler and pencil to lightly trace a grid onto the piece of wood with 1 inch squares and then drew the 'E' by connecting the lines of the grid. I then hammered nails on the lines of the 'E'  keeping them half an inch away from each other. I then applied two layers of the spray paint to the wood and nails in a well ventilated area and allowed it to dry for 48 hours.

It should look something like this: 
 Next I used the yarn to make the outer later of the 'E':

Then, start making x's through the nails. Start in the upper right corner and go down one nail and one to the left. Then go up one nail and one to the left. Do this until you reach the end of the row and then repeat, only moving one nail to the right instead. 

This should be the result so far:

Once you have covered the entire letter with x's, you continue by connecting nails that are farther apart, for instance moving down one nail then 2 to the left or moving up one nail and 3 to the left. Continue until all areas of the letter are covered with yarn. You can choose how much yarn you want to connect.

Mine ended up looking like this: 

If you don't like having this much empty space on your board you can write a message or attach pictures. If you want to be able to hang it up on a wall, you can also buy an attachment at the hardware store and simply nail it to the back of the board.