Twinkle Loon

At my job I receive packages every day and sometimes the packing material is more exciting to me than the merchandise in the box. A few months ago I came across this packing material that I loved. It was very similar to chartham satin, which is kind of like a thick tissue paper. I saved it knowing that I would find a use for it. And just a few weeks ago I did. Above is the finished product of my faux origami gift wrapping. My friend Anne’s birthday was a few weeks ago and had a fabulous typography birthday party. I am not the greatest with type but I thought something with lines would be good for a graphic designer. First I wrapped the gift with an opaque paper. Then I folded multiple pieces of the transparent paper and began laying them across the gift to make different patterns.

It took some time playing around with it to get something I really liked. I then flipped it over and began carefully folding the paper around the back side of the gift and taping it down. I am really happy with the way it turned out and was able to re-use paper that would have normally gone in the recycle bin. It got one more life!

My absolute favorite moisturizer is Sweet Almond Oil. A few winters ago my cheeks became incredibly dry and chapped (the trials of aging I suppose. My brain still hasn’t gotten the memo though). It seemed the more I applied my old faithful Oil of Olay face cream the more cracked my skin became. And it stung like crazy! So off to the internets I went trying to find an alternative way to soothe my (aging) cheeks. In most of the homemade recipes I found they included sweet almond oil. And being a bit lazy I decided not to bother with the whole recipe and go straight for the oil. Low and behold it worked like a charm! It’s very light and did not make me break out at all.

Wash your face as you usually do and then just barely dry your face. You want your face to have a bit of water on it because it makes the oil go on much easier. Put a few drops of oil on your finger tips and rub them together. Then gently pat onto your face. Use very light, short strokes to rub it in. A small amount goes a long way and you can always add more if needed. I use the NOW Foods brand of sweet almond oil that I found at my local health food store but there are many brands out there. Just make sure it is 100% pure sweet almond oil. Don’t go spreading almond extract on your face!

Common sense warning: Do not use this if you have nut allergies. Always test a small area of skin before using any new oil.     

(Image at top: How Stuff Works )

Now you know my (not at all) dirty little secret! I have not used shampoo in over a year and could not be more happy with it. It’s super cheap and my hair is chemical free!

I first thought about doing this while looking for shampoo recipes to make my self. I didn’t want all the chemicals from regular shampoo and the organic ones were just too expensive! Through my research I started seeing people comment on how to not wash your hair at all. Now this does not mean that I have dirty, greasy hair. In fact my hair is more healthy than ever and looks great. There are many ways to be shampoo free,  I especially love this page on Natural Forces. If like my self, you don’t have time to make your own shampoo and want to mostly use water for washing be prepared for an adjustment period. Our hair is used to the vicious cycle of stripping the oil with shampoo and then artificially replacing moisture with conditioner. Because of this your scalp actually over produces oil in preparation for the shampoo process. So the first few weeks your scalp will continue to produce more oil than you need. But don’t worry! Just keep up with it and your scalp will balance it’s oil production in a week or two. Think of it as an excuse to wear beautiful scarves and hats

Here is the regime that I have found works perfectly for me.  I give my scalp a really good massage and then thoroughly brush it while dry. I then rinse my hair in the cool water before it fully heats up for my shower. This way I use the water that would normally be wasted and I use cool water which is much better for the health of your scalp and hair. I massage my scalp and hair while under the running water as if I were shampooing it. If I end up skipping day of rinsing I simply sprinkle a little corn starch in my hair and brush it through.

Once a week I do a baking soda wash. Take a small amount of baking soda (about 1 tsp for short hair) mixed with a bit of water to make a paste and rub into hair toward the top of your head. I try not to rub the baking soda into my scalp because it is too drying for me, then rinse very well. Baking soda can be difficult to rinse out so start with a small amount and increase as needed for your length and type of hair.  Some people use baking soda as a dry shampoo but I have found that it makes my scalp very itchy. Occasionally I have tried an apple cider vinegar rinse because it makes my hair nice and shiny. The big draw back is that well… it smells like vinegar. I have a very sensitive nose and I can smell it all day long. I am currently experimenting with mixing in essential oils to cut the smell. I’ll post on that when I have a solution.

I hope these tips help you out! Experimantaion is the key! Not everyone’s hair is alike and remember that water type and weather will factor in as well. But there are many natural shampoo recipes out there too (if you have time!). Thrifty fun has a great list of home made shampoo recipes!

Good luck on your shampoo free adventure!

(Image above: ebay)

In a house with four roommates we really need our own space for things and that includes mail. I have seen many pocket style mail holders in stores but couldn’t stand spending $30 bucks just to put my mail someplace! So this is my version that I came up with. It was surprisingly easy. And here’s how I did it.

Supplies: Scissors, decorative paper, left over cereal boxes and double-sided tape

First I measured the area and cut the cardboard to size, adding an inch and a half for the side flaps. I then covered the inside of the back with a light green paper.

Next, I folded and taped the box up and covered it with decorative paper that was left over from another project. As a final little touch I stamped each persons initial on the front.

I just saw these fabulous porcelain lamps by Laura Pregger over at NOTCOT. I love that she reuses existing china in a new and creative way. It’s really an inspiration!

Did you know that most states require you to dispose of shoe polish as a hazardous waste? Your average shoe polish is composed of 65-77% volatile substances and must be used in a well ventilated area preferably while wearing gloves. But why bother with all those chemicals when a simple banana peel and old stockings will do the job!

I first saw this tip on Tree Hugger. First brush off all loose dirt with a soft brush or cloth. Next rub the inside of a banana peel onto your shoe (do not use on nubuck or suede). Then simply buff with a clean, soft cloth or an old stocking. Finally, compare to the un-shined shoe and marvel at your work! I also love this trick because you can use it on any color shoe. No more searching for that certain shade of red.

I am a thrift store junkie and always look for things that I can alter. This dress at first glance was quite horrible. But it had nice fabric, an interesting neckline and button detailing. And oh yeah did I mention it was only $2.60

Before:

After: