thirfty momma thursday and *giveaway winner*

Thrifted plates and mugs $6

Max's FIRST birthday party is next weekend!! Am I all ready and organized? Nope. Does party planning stress me out? YEP. I would be the worst wedding planner...I would most likely give the bride a mini panic attack..

I finally decided I am going to be making cupcakes instead of a big giant cake. I wanted a cute stand but everything is so girly. I am not the type to search everywhere for the prefect stand so I decided to make one. IF YOU ARE NOT SUPER CRAFTY (I fit into this category) this is SOO SIMPLE.

The only thing you need other than plates and mugs is a glue gun...which I borrowed.

Line the bottom rim of the mug with glue.

Place the mug in the center of the plate and push down tightly so it adheres to the plate. Rim the top of the mug with glue and attach next plate...continue doing this until you reach the desired height of your cupcake stand.

All finished!

And now for the winner! Even though you most likely scrolled down here first...hey I do the same thing :)

Congrats to #38 Joanna! I will e-mail you this evening to get your info.


Linking up here

diy clay bangles

I have a bangle obsession...and I have a deep love for polymer clay. I am definitely keeping the polymer clay section at Michaels in business.

I have quite the collection going, which is filling up our kitchen panty pretty quickly. Ian opened the cabinet to get some food goodies last night and told me I should "Probably get organized." What?!! I think the kitchen cabinet is a PERFECT home for all my crafts. Okay maybe not. Anywhoo...

I am going to show you an EASY and inexpensive way to make just about any kind of bangle you want.

What you need:

• A few different polymer clay colors.
• A bangle. Use this as a guideline to measure and shape the bracelet before baking it.

Using the palm of your hand roll two thin tubes. If you just want to use one color you can.
My hand look a little dry...hello lotion where are you?

Wrap one color over the other. Roll them together with the palm of your hand to blend the two.

Using the bangle as a guideline wrap your tube of clay around it tightly. Mush the two ends together and smooth out with your finger.

Remove the guideline bangle and bake your bracelet at 275 degrees for 20 minutes.

You can make as many as you want!

baked kale chips

Most of you were not jumping out of your seats with excitement about the kale smoothie I mentioned last week. Raw kale is not one of those veggies that you pack in a little container and eat on your lunch break...it's more of a get it down fast so you can receive all the health benefits kind of veggie.

I ALWAYS have a little pep talk with myself before I eat tortilla chips. It goes something like this..."Only a FEW then WALK away." Never happens. I end up camping out by the chips and end up with a giant chip hangover the next day.

I made a batch of baked kale chips over the weekend. Ian and I ate every last one. YEPPPP Ian ate them...that is proof they did not taste like raw bitter kale. No chip hangover the next day makes me a happy camper.

Directions:

• Wash and dry Kale
• Remove the stem from the kale
• Rip them into chip sizes
• Spray olive or coconut oil on them
• sprinkle with sea salt and whatever seasoning you like
• Bake for 15 min at 300 degrees

SO easy and seriously delicious!

Skin Care Tip of the Week *Ingredients to avoid*

Reading ingredients on the back of a skincare label is something most people just don't do. Its one of those things where you may turn the bottle over, take a little peak and wonder what the heck Phenoxyethanol is and move on... never thinking twice. Today I am going to share the top three most common ingredients found in skincare products that should be avoided and why.

• Parabens- a commonly used preservative. They mimic estrogen and even have an impact on your hormone levels. EEEEK! Recent studies have related parabens to breast cancer. NOT good at all. So now when you see a product that is labeled "Paraben Free" you know why.
  

• Sodium Laureth Sulfate- This is the ingredient that causes your cleanser to be extra bubblicious. It is a MAJOR skin irritant that can make your skin dry and itchy. It has also been associated with eczema. I always ask new clients who have irritated and over sensitized skin what kind of cleanser they use. Most of the time the cleanser they name contains this...and I let them know it's time to switch!
  

• Synthetic Fragrance- The face wash that smells like "Morning Burst" is most likely full of synthetic chemicals. Synthetic fragrance can irritate your skin and cause major breakouts. When a product says, "Fragrance Added" and does not list what it is, this almost always means that it's synthetic. Fragrance added from essential oils are good, synthetic fragrances are bad..capiche?
  

I am not saying throw out everything you own... but just be more aware. Start by making small changes. Next time you go skin care shopping take a few moments to peek at the back label and look for these ingredients.

If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below and I will be happy to answer :)

strawberry yogurt muffins

I never want to paint a picture that my life is all dandelions and rainbows. I have bad weeks. This week was one of them. I wore myself too thin and feel pretty burnt out. To top it off Max is teething, miserable and running a low grade fever.

Sooooo anywhoo about the strawberries. There is a fresh strawberry stand by my house and I decided a frozen strawberry daiquiri sounded pretty fantastic. I was also desperately craving carbs...so i stopped and picked up a flat. SO that is how the strawberry yogurt muffin was born.

What you will need:

• 2 cups of fresh strawberries
• 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp of baking soda
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 2 egg whites
• 2 tbs coconut oil
• 1tsp of vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together all the dry ingredients.
3. In a blender puree one cup of strawberries.
   
4. In a separate bowl beat the egg whites. Add the yogurt, strawberry puree, oil and vanilla extract. Combine with dry ingredients. Chop up the remaining strawberries and add to batter.
   
5. Spoon the batter into the muffin pan. Bake for about 15 min.

If your week is slightly suck-y these will definitely help, or if you are just craving carbs these will do the trick.

Have you entered THIS giveaway yet?

**giveaway** thrifty momma thursday

Vintage bright yellow Pyrex bowl.

Gold flats. Size 7 1/2

Bronze beaded necklace.

I LOVE thrifting and adding new fun things to my closet and home...but whats the fun of thrifting if you don't keep the cycle of giving going? No fun at all.

So here is the deal-e-o...I am going to keep on thrifting but I am going to start giving away most of the things I thrift. I believe nothing is worth enjoying unless you can share it with someone else...SO lucky you!

How you can win one of the items above:

Leave a comment telling me which item above is your favorite. Make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment. Simple enough right?!

You do not need to be a follower to enter...BUT If you are a follower or decide to follow I will do a happy dance just for you!

The winner we will chosen via random.org within a week.

things that make me say yeay!

Mini packets of Nutella spread across my FAVORITE low carb cinnamon and walnut flax seed bread.

Mustache mint tin. It makes giving out mints just a little bit more fun :)

A new set of colorful pens. I find myself writing little notes that are not even needed just so I can use them.

A fresh bowl of cherries from the Farmers Market.

By the way... I thought summer started last month but I have been informed that it officially started YESTERDAY! So happy summer!

Skin Care Tip of the Week *Kale smoothie*

Whenever a client comes to me with a skin problem I always start by asking them about their diet and eating habits. Our skin is the largest organ and everything we put into our bodies plays a role on how your skin looks and feels. If you are loading up on processed carbs, genetically modified unhealthy foods...chances are your skin is suffering.

So today I am going to share with you a kale smoothie I make. Kale is SOOO good for you AND your skin. It is a true SUPER FOOD. Why?

• It is loaded with antioxidants
• It is an anti-inflammatory
  
• Its loaded with Vitamin K, A and C
• It is a great source of calcium
  
• It is good for your eyes
• It has a super high mineral content (great for your skin)
  
• It has also been shown to retard the growth of certain types of cancer. There is no reason why you should not add it to your daily diet.
  

Kale Smoothie:

5-6 organic kale leaves
1/2 organic avocado (also a super food)
1 cup filtered water

Optional: I add a little basil to mine..or you can add a banana or a little applesauce if you want it sweeter.

Blend and drink.

If you have any questions leave them in the comment section and I will be happy to answer! :)

a little fathers day shout out

Happy Fathers Day to such an amazing Dad! We love you. Yesterday Max was baptized and it was such a beautiful ceremony. Today we are doing whatever Ian wants and I will be cooking up a Father's Day feast and doing a test run of Max's applesauce carrot cake for his birthday.

Hope you all have a GREAT rest of your weekend!

Steamed Clams

Last night I made steamed clams for the first time. Clams fit into the category of "fancy foods" that I was always scared to try.

I bought one pound of clams. I had NO clue what to do with them. Thanks to this site I figured it out. First I had to soak them in filtered water. This lets the clams breath and they let out the salt water and sand... WAIT WHAT????!! I started wondering why are they bubbling?!! Are they still alive?!! So I called the fish department where I purchased them and asked..yep I sure did. I found out they are still alive! Aw poor little clams. Once I got over the shock..I moved on.

I melted 1 tbs of coconut oil and 1 tbs of minced garlic in a large saucepan. Added the clams. Stirred them around until they were evenly coated. Added 1/4 cup of white wine and got the clams nice and drunk. Had a glass my self :) Waited for the clams to open, which means they are ready.

Hello there clam!

Since this was my first time ever eating clams..it is safe to say I did a clam good job :)

Ian said they reminded him of "the beach" and they were "a little too clammy" for him haha! I have a feeling writing five star food reviews will not be in his future.

thrifty momma thursday

I am SO stoked on this beautifully carved end table I found! I am going to refinish it and give it a whole new look this weekend..along with a million other things I have to do...like plan a carnival themed birthday party for Max, which is just a few weeks away! I really need to get on that.

Side note: That yellow spray paint mark on the right is from me..WOOPSIE...Ian was not too stoked that I accidentally forgot to put down cardboard when spray painting some frames.

I am loving all the detailed carvings.

Thrifting tip:
Have vision. Look at the bones of the furniture. Is is sturdy? Is it real wood? Do you like the overall shape? Everything else like paint, wood color and knobs can be easily changed.

guest post at olive & a

Hello friends!! Today I am guest blogging over at olive & a!

Stop on by and say hello...pretty please!

I will be sharing my top three beauty essentials with you.

Thanks again for having me over today Heather!

Skin Care Tip of the Week *DIY green clay mask"

If your skin is looking more oily and congested than normal it's time for a green clay detox mask!
Green clay is is an all natural organic material made up of essential minerals and decomposed kelp and seaweed.

It works by absorbing impurities and toxins from your skin as it hardens. It also promotes blood flow and leaves your skin feeling like just had the most amazing facial!

You may be thinking, "That's great... but since you are an esthetican you can get this stuff easily." Let me share a little secret with you...I get mine in bulk at the local natural market! So you can get it too!

Mix 1 tablespoon of green clay with a few drop of water to make a paste. Apply to your skin with a smooth brush. Let it harden on your skin for about 15-20 min. Rinse with warm water.

If you have oily skin I recommend using this at least three times per week. You can also use this mask as a spot treatment if you only breakout on occasion.

things that make me say yeay!

I have FINALLY decided on a carnival theme for Max's first birthday party! Found these great bags at World Market. One of my favorite places.

On any regular day you will find me wearing gym clothes or jeans and a t-shirt. Its nice to feel extra girly every now and then with fresh pink nails. Loving my new Essie nail polish called "need a vacation." Pretty fitting I must say.

Why does deodorant make me say yeay? Well because it is the only deodorant that doesn't cause my underarms to breakout into a weird bumpy rash. TMI? Plus this one is aluminum free and smells pretty fantastic I must say! Regular deodorant and me just do not get along. With summer here (hello tank tops and Maxi dresses) the last thing I need is deodorant rebelling against me.

Ian told me a few months ago that my hair looked "dry and crispy" haha! Sweet huh?! So what did I do? I made an appointment the following day to get my hair dyed (one last time) back to my natural darker shade. FRESH start. NO MORE BLONDE. Along the way I discovered the most amazing hair treatment products called 12 Benefits. This stuff does everything!! Best purchase for my hair that I have ever made.

Do you want to know why I love blogging? Because (never start a sentence with because) I am a total spaz and it is the perfect outlet for me to share the millions of things going through my head on a daily basis. Sometimes I am up way too late with ideas burning through my brain and this all natural sleepy time tea is AWESOME! I love waking up feeling refreshed and without that unnatural sleep aid hangover. So if you have a little trouble putting the brakes on your brain...try this!

Speaking of ideas...I have a really fun diy that I cant wait to share with you soon!

thrifty momma thursday

Isnt this the cutest little elephant figurine?! I am going to use it as a ring holder. Hello fun jewelery organization.

It was elephant week apparently! I also found a sterling silver elephant brooch. I plan on taking the back pin off and attaching it to a plain cuff that I have.

A bright yellow Pyrex bowl. I have this dream of opening my cupboards and all I see is brightly covered vintage Pyrex dishes.

Thrifting tip:
Get an early start. Early bird gets the Pyrex! Plus...in the morning things are more organized, the employees are generally happier and there are not tons of people yet. Just a little observation.