We Made Bagels!

Mmmm

I have a plan...and I'm so excited!

I have a plan for a bible reading quilt for my sweet Ruby.    I'm going to get my favourite bible verses for her printed on fabric from Spoonflower.  Then I'm going to make them all into a nice scrappy quilt alternating fabric with verses printed on it, with fun pretty fabrics.

I had a whole other plan...that involved the whole thing looking like a bible, and folding up and velcroing shut to look like the outside of a bible...but... I have decided on this idea..and I think it's going to be not only cute..but easier than my other crazy but difficult plan.

So... as long as photoshop cooperates with me (more like my horribly slow laptop cooperates with photoshop) then I'll be able to get all those verses picked out and printed....

the hard part will be the wait for the fabric to be printed and sent to me...I want to do it NOW!!!

Homemade Bath Salts, for bath or pedicure

So,  I love a pedicure...love.. I mean love!   I love those big massage chairs, and that whirlpool foot bath...and the hot water, and the quiet..or chit chat...whatever, I'm not picky ;)  I just love the little bit of time away and calm..and relax... oh.. and pretty feet!!!

Seriously, my feet get out of hand.  I just neglect them.  Badly.  It's gross really.  Sigh.

I used to take epsom salt baths all the time.   I got massages for my migraines (not the relaxing kind of massage!)  and then had an epsom salt bath after every one by order from my massage therapist.   I haven't taken baths in ages...since being preggers.   Monique said no epsom salts when preggers... I don't know why it's not safe, but I'm a bit of a paranoid preggo so I listened.

Anyways, I decided that to be frugal, I should really set myself up for pretty feet at home.   A bucket (ha!) some epsom salts, a foot file, nail polish.   I can give myself pedicures after the kids go to bed at night while I'm nearly passed out on the couch watching TV with my sweet husband.    Hmmm, I could even knit while doing this I bet.

I did the first one last night, and that led me to miss the pretty smell of the stuff at the spa.   Hmmm, I have a few bottles of essential oils.... can I just add them to the epsom salts?  Why yes!  After some googling effort (tough work people!)  it seems that is exactly what most people do.  Some add colouring, some add glycerin to moisturize, some add baking soda to soften skin, some add (insert something here).

Here's what I'm going to do... super simple:

My homemade bath salts:

4 cups Epsom salts
20 drops essential oil total*  (I have orange, lavender, ylang ylang, peppermint)
1Tbsp Baking soda 
*See the note at the bottom about some essential oils that should NOT be used in bath salts. 

Mix it all together in a bowl.   Spoon it into pretty little mason jars.  Label it with "Bath Salt" or "Pedicure Salt" and the type of scent used.  Make it look pretty by using ribbons, or scrapbook paper (I definitely have enough to spare!) or fabric scraps (got those too!).

I think this might end up being a fun little gift idea.   Imagine a little basket with a couple of jars of bath salt.  A cute bottle of lotion, a foot file or pumice stone, and a pretty nail polish.   Yep!  I'm doin' it! 
 

There is a nice little recipe on the Saltworks page that lists some essential oil combinations.   I'm planning on lavender and orange, although that's not listed there.

They also say that these essential oils should NOT be used in bath salts:  basil, oregano, thyme, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, and bay (Pimenta and Laurus)

Births...and Birthdays

We have been busy around here! 

We welcomed our sweet baby boy in April....and celebrated the 2nd birthday of our sweet girl in June...  we are so incredibly blessed.