Sunday, October 26, 2014

Shampoo Bar - 100% Natural Product



Hello again from Natalie Loves Beauty! In my effort to incorporate more natural products into my beauty routine, I've been on the hunt for toxin-free hair care products, and while vacationing in Alberta this past summer, my sister, cousin and I stumbled upon a lovely shop in Banff called the Rocky Mountain Soap Company, which offers 100% natural bath and body products. Sadly we do not have this store on the East Coast, but the good news is that the company is expanding and there are now 10 locations across the West Coast. It was actually my first time hearing about this company, and the beauty blogger in me obviously could not not go in. As soon as I set foot in the store, I was overwhelmed (in a good way of course!) by the variety of products that they carry and the invigorating scents that immediately put me in a state of zenness. All their products are handmade in Canmore, Alberta and include ingredients such as essential oils, herbs, real grains and natural fruit bits. I've never tried a solid shampoo, so when I saw the Rocky Mountain Soap Company Shampoo Bar with Rosemary (C$5.25), I knew I had to put it to the test.


First, let me start off by saying that this Shampoo Bar will last you a very long time! I've been using it ever since I got it a couple of months ago and I am still not even near having used half of it. This shampoo is cruelty-free (as are all of their products) and vegan, and contains no sulfates or other chemicals. It is targeted for people with a normal to dry scalp, and the ingredient list includes coconut oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, castor seed oil and rosemary leaf oil. As you may have guessed, this product has a very earthy and warm scent to it. One thing I quickly learned is that not much is needed, since after my first wash, my hair was left looking and feeling weighted down and greasy (which I should have know considering it is primarily made of water and oils). I learned from my mistake and now only apply a very thin layer and it does suffice to cover my mid-back long hair. I simply wet my hair followed by the shampoo bar and work it into my hands to have it slightly melt and then work it into my scalp until it forms a nice lather before applying it to my ends. It's also important to rinse well to get all of the product out. Because this shampoo is oil-based, I don't find the need to follow up with a conditioner since it is so moisturizing.


For the results and the price, I think this product is a steal! I wish I would have picked up more beauty items, although I did also purchase a copy of the book that they had on display near the register titled "There's Lead in Your Lipstick: Toxins in Our Everyday Body Care and How to Avoid Them" by Gillian Deacon, which I still haven't gotten around to reading. The good news is that they have an online store that offers worldwide shipping, so if you are interested in trying their products, there is the option!


I thought I would leave you with a few pictures from my trip - I really can't wait to go back! Alberta definitely should be added to your bucket list if you haven't been already!

Tunnel Mountain - Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise - Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Whistlers Mountain - Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
One of many caribou sightings - Alberta, Canada
Have you tried a shampoo bar or even tried making your own? Who knows, that might just be my next endeavor!
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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fall Door Wreath DIY

I've finally started decorating my front porch for Fall.
I love creating my own wreaths each year.  
This year I just fell in love with all the gorgeous
 little pumpkins available everywhere. 
 So my theme was born.



I picked my pumpkins and gourds up at HomeGoods.
The wreaths were ones that I had stashed 
from a sale at Joann's for 99 cents
I found some beautiful sunflowers and pinecones 
at Joann's too.



I always keep a few grapevine wreaths in my 
stash so that I'm ready when the 
creative mood hits me.  They get very 
cheap at the end of summer so I stock up.
Add a little hot glue and my wreath starts taking shape.






My finished DIY Wreath.
I love it.





These towels were on sale so I picked up a 
couple for chair pillows.


10 minutes on the sewing machine and I had pillows.
So simple.  Just fold your towel in half and sew 
both sides first.  Then add your filling;
I used and old bed pillow and took out the 
stuffing and reused it.  Then sew up the bottom
and you have a chair pillow.  Sew simple.






Enjoy the season.  Be creative.
Hugs
Angel

Social Media Mixer!

Welcome to the 22nd week of the Social Media Mixer! Thank you to everyone who joined us for Week 21 - we had 114 blogs and numerous social media link-ups!
We have an announcement to make - this will be the last and final Social Media Mixer! If you would still like to link up with us, please join Turn It Up Tuesdays every week, or Social Media Saturdays on BrittanyBullen.com. We'd love to have you!!! It has been a great 22 weeks, and we love all of you that have joined us - past and present. Wishing you all the best!
Social Media Mixer-2

CLIMB Cohosts WANTED for November & December!


God’s Growing Garden

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Supreme Pizza Sloppy Joes

Hello there, again, Sew Crafty Angel Readers! It’s me, Christie with A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures again to bring you yet another tasty post. If you like what you see, then make sure to stop by and look for more tasty goodness!

Using turkey sausage and pepperoni along with healthy peppers and onions, these Supreme Pizza Sloppy Joes will not only be your kids favorite, but since they're healthy, they'll be yours as well!

A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures | Supreme Pizza Sloppy Joes

Dead & Breakfast Inn

My kids are always hungry so I tried out this quaint little place that is close to home.
The name got my attention right away.  Dead & Breakfast Inn, too cute right?
A little different than the places we usually eat but the kids couldn't wait to see what was for lunch.



Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" Party #39



               Welcome to the 39th week of 

 Wake Up Wednesday "Linky" 
************************************************************

Before we party this week I wanted to 
remind everyone that our 
HUGE CHRISTMAS EVENT GIVEAWAY 
$1650 Paypal Cash
starts next week at one minute after midnight on 
October 31st  (Nov 1st).
Make sure you come by and enter.



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We are so excited to have you all party with us.
Thank you so much to all those who participate in our party.
Last week we had  406 awesome linkups!   

 Wake Up and be happy, get excited and have fun with us! 
We want to be inspired, entertained, laugh and have a good time!

 The hop is hosted and posted on these different blogs

Your link will appear on the blogs of


This weeks 
Featured Bloggers

The Easiest Princess Anna Inspired Cape

Ruffles And Rain Boots

Simple FROZEN Inspired Princess Anna Cape
This might come as a surprise to you, but it’s cold and rainy a lot here in Seattle in the fall and winter months. Newsflash, right? Anyway, it’s cold and rainy and fleece is cheap, so I am making some accessories for the munchkin’s dress up costumes. Whether trick-or-treating for Halloween or just traipsing about Disney (or the grocery) in the fall or winter, our happy-go-lucky little Princess Anna will be prepared with a caplet to accompany her Princess Anna dress up apron.


Chicken Bacon & Avocado Ranch Flatbread Pizza

I Thee Cook

Here is another super simple easy weeknight meal that your family will surely love. I have been on this easy dinner kick lately. Everyone loves pizza right? We only have one free weeknight in our house this school year so fast and easy dinner ideas are a must. I refuse to succumb to the drive through.  I just wont do it! 



Use what you already have.
Use colorful items as accents.
Add items from the great outdoors.
Use candles. Lots of candles.
Get creative and use different colors, textures and shapes.
Add a little silver or gold spray paint for some glam.
Vary heights and layer.


DIY Garden Tic Tac Toe Game
My boys LOVE playing Tic Tac Toe! Whenever my 8 year old gets a scrap of paper, it’s instantly filled with tic tac toe grids and he’s asking all of us if we want to play. On our road trip this past summer we came across a garden tic tac toe game at the Montana Zoo and I absolutely loved the idea and knew it was one DIY project that I had to make! It wasn’t too hard to make, either, but I didn’t have any motivation to work on the project once I bought the supplies until the weather finally started cooling down here in Phoenix so we could set up our garden tic tac toe game outdoors and try it out.



This Mama Loves

Kids and adults alike will gobble up these delicious and friendly Frankenstein frozen banana pops. A yummy after school treat or a sweet addition to your Halloween party.   They are so simple to put together that the kids can help from start to finish making it not only a great snack but a super fun activity to do together (you can also convince yourself that they are healthy since its fresh fruit).  If you want to lighten up this snack you can probably use yogurt in place of  white chocolate to coat your bananas. This recipe makes 8 small pops but can easily be doubled or tripled

A Scary Halloween

H and I took a little drive today to see the Halloween yard decor ......eek......I'm gonna have night mares tonight!   Who thinks I should have took a selfie with this guy!   


New Lil' Book Caddy

I found this little wooden caddy awhile back and painted it yellow.   I didn't like the results and decided to paint it a mint color.  I absolutely love this color right now and happened to score this quart for a dollar at Home Depot awhile back.  I actually would like to paint my daughter's room this color and accent her room with pink and yellow hues



How many times in your spiritual walk have you found yourself needing guidance or wish you had someone that you trust to talk about a problem you were having?  Over the last few years, I’ve become more intentional about reading and studying the Bible and I’ve became very interested in what it takes to be a Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 woman.


Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

It’s finally here, my favorite season of the year, Fall! I love the cooler temperatures and the changing colors of the leaves during this time, not to mention it’s football season..Yaay! 
And while everyone else is making everything pumpkin and apple right now, I’m off in another direction, marching to the beat of a different drummer, going towards….wait for it…..peanut butter! Ah yes, the creaminess and peanutty deliciousness of peanut butter. 


Nanaimo Bars, and Some Canada Love

  Last year I shared a recipe for my favourite cheesecake, from my favourite Victoria restaurant.  It is truly the best cheesecake I've ever eaten.  Just like these Nanaimo Bars are among the best bars I've ever had.  They've always been one of my favourite sweet treats, and coincidentally also come from Vancouver Island.  Nanaimo, obviously. 


West Coast Mama

holland-in-his-sling
Just eight days shy of his second birthday, Holland took a spill off of the couch and broke a bone.
We had spent one night in our new home, I was upstairs in the kitchen putting the kids dinner together, and I heard a thump and some crying. I had left both children on the couch, watching a television show, innocent enough. But toddlers are not predictable. In fact, they are quite the opposite.


Cocktail: Candy Corn Pain Killer

We were playing around with pumpkin puree making two different kinds of pumpkin cocktails and this one was AMAZING! We started off with the intentions of using rum (traditional Pain Killer ingredient), which was great but not something I would rave about. We had some candy corn infused vodka remaining and substituted the rum with the infused vodka, the end result was FALL heaven. I hope you enjoy this Candy Corn Pain Killer Cocktail!



DIY Photo Collage Letters

A few weekends ago was spent celebrating with my friend that will be moving away to San Diego.  So today I am sharing this personalized gift that a friend and I made for her.  We wanted to make something that represented SLC and also all the fun times we had together with our group of girlfriends.  So being that we live in Salt Lake City, we decided to get some wood blocks that say SLC and put a photo collage of all the fun times we had together in with the girls!


Valentia Even Glow Serum - 6
I tested the Valentia Even Glow Serum by applying the product to my freshly washed face (using my regular cleansing products) once a day at bedtime – without moisturizer – over a period of a few weeks so I could see if I noticed a difference in the appearance and texture of my skin.



a house tour & a love story

The Honeycomb Home

mirror over fire place
I have an amazing home tour to share with you today!  This house belongs to my husband’s cousin, Cindy.  Cindy was gracious enough to have my daughter and I over to photograph her home and share her story with us. I called this A House Tour and A Love Story because to Cindy and her husband, Gary, creating this home was a labor of love. Wait until you see what they did with the place with an eye for design & an ultimate DIY attitude!


Stone Cottage Sweet Tea

Stone Cottage Adventures
Everyone who drinks my sweet tea always says, "How do you make sweet tea?  I love this!"  Here is the recipe: 


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