Christmas Bliss

Written December 26th...

It's the day after all the Christmas festivities and as I sit here drinking my coffee looking around at the Christmas goodies around my living room I can't help but have a full heart! I am so thankful for my family and my husband's family. They have been such a big support and big reason for our success as a family through the years. I cherish their continued love and support and my heart is thankful for that!

My daughter's had a wonderful holiday and were so thankful for all they got! I have to share a short story about my oldest Emily. As we divided the gifts up early Christmas Day, her pile was noticeable smaller than her sisters. This was due to the new phone she would be getting and had no idea. As she opened her gifts I could see that she was not disappointed but like she didn't get what she wanted. She kept a small smile on her face as she watched her sister opening up her gifts and then her moment came and we surprised her with her cell phone. She cried and was so excited and thankful it made me cry and as tough as my husband is he was bright red fighting back the tears. I asked her after how she was feeling as she watched her sister open up all her gifts. She said to me, "Well, I knew that I was getting my ears pierced so I kept telling myself be thankful for that and I have that to look forward too."

That moment as well makes my heart swell and so proud of my Emily. This young girl has a huge heart, is so sentimental and truly thankful for all she has. She never says she doesn't have enough and really doesn't ask for much at all. She is going to do great things for people when she gets older; I feel that and believe that with every fiber of my being. She is a very special young lady and I am so in love with her and so proud of her.

Meanwhile, back in Cristina land she too has many wonderful qualities and is definitely going to be the person to make people laugh and enjoy life. She had picked out a robe to wear around the house while on a shopping trip with my mother in law. This robe was not the cutest by far but she loved that damn thing. So, my mother in law bought it for her and when she opened up that gift she was so excited and wore it immediately. What I love about that is she is not afraid to be herself. She is truly one of a kind and unique! She does what she loves and that is it! A true free spirit not corrupted by others thoughts or words!

My heart is overflowing with love for them, they are my world and I am so proud of them. I really am excited to see what they become as they grow up and what they accomplish. If you ask me everyone will know their names, but I am biased, I am their mom!

In reflecting about my girls I could not imagine my life without them. My thoughts go to the families who didn't have their child home for Christmas this year. May they find some type of peace!

I hope you found your moment of bliss this holiday season, amidst all the holiday chaos! 

Natural Lotion Bars

Feeling rather crafty this holiday season and I LOVE IT!!!!

Today I made Natural Lotion Bars.  I decided to make them mostly to help my youngest with her skin issues. She gets really dry skin and LOVES to scratch the heck out of it leaving scabs. No Bueno!

 After much searching on the internet I found a wonderful recipe which I made today.   Thank you to Anne at http://raisingsweetgrace.blogspot.com/ for this wonderful recipe!

 

Here is the recipe:

½ cup Beeswax

½ cup Coconut Oil

½ cup Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter

Essential Oil (optional)

2 tsp. of Vitamin E Oil 

(I used Shea Butter for my recipe, it does not clog pores like cocoa butter does.)

 

Use a double boiler. You can see from the picture I took I use one for candle making. I think it was $14 at Hobby Lobby but with a coupon 40% off.

 DIRECTIONS:

Add the Beeswax and let it melt completely giving it a stir once in a while.  Then when it’s all melted add the Coconut oil, stirring periodically. Lastly, add the Shea Butter. Try not to leave that in the double boiler too long. Shea Butter has a tendency to become grainy when overheated.  Again, stir periodically then you can take off heat and add oils. I didn’t measure how much essential oil I used. I LOVE lavender so that is the oil I chose. Add what you like, just a few for a hint of the scent or lots for a strong scent. Typically with any homemade recipe calling for oils 15-30 drops are safe. Don’t forget to add the Vitamin E oil too. STIR really good make sure it is all mixed in.  If needed, let the double boiler sit in the hot water for a few seconds again.  Pour into molds!

THAT IS IT!

This recipe filled 7 muffin tins about 3/4 full.

 

You can buy all kinds of fancy molds for these bars in the soap department or even baking department.  I followed the recipe I found and used muffin liners.  The only thing I didn’t like about it is for the first few uses all the little groves from the liner break off the mold.  You can see that in my final product, all the ridges.

The lotion bars will melt if put in a warm spot so don’t leave them in cars or in the sun!

These bars are completely natural and so good for your skin.  Coconut oil is natural antiseptic, will not hurt raw or cracked skin it also encourages healthy cell regeneration over time.   Shea butter is great for healing dry skin, reducing wrinkles and scars and is a natural anti-inflammatory.  I used the Shea Butter versus Cocoa Butter because Shea will NOT clog your pores.  Beeswax locks in moisture and protects skin.  Beeswax is also a skin softener which makes these bars really good for those feet during winter!  Vitamin E is also good for scars, wrinkles and brown spots.

 So you see how can you go wrong with them? They will make great gifts for Christmas and literally took me 15 minutes to make.

UPDATE:   !!! Just realized this could double as chapstick!!!

 

I hope to have more of my crafty goodness up from the holidays.  Let me know how you like the lotion bars?  To me they resemble Burt’s Bees Hand Cream.  They smell really good too!

 

Tis The Season

 

It is my most favorite time of year.  I absolutely love the Holiday season, I enjoy baking yummy goodness, decorating, spending time with family and friends and getting that perfect gift for someone. 

We are late getting our tree but hope to do that this week.  This weekend the kiddos and I made our own holiday cards. They were amazing simple and fast. 

I have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the project that I forget to take pictures. I did manage to snap the final project but like I mentioned earlier they are so easy there is no need for more pictures.

Without further ado….

Well what do you think?  I think they are super cute and the girls had fun making them with me.

All you need for supplies are:

•             Glue stick
•             Star sticker

•             And scrapbook paper or construction paper whatever floats your boat. 

Take the paper and rip it into strips, then rip to size you need THAT SIMPLE!!

I know this post is short but sweet. I just didn’t want to go much longer.  I am sure there will be more posts to come.  I hope you take time to enjoy time with your children and family during the hustle and bustle of things to create memories.

I will be posting soon on all the crafty goodness that went on for Christmas this year. I just don't want to spoil it for my friends.  Here is a bit of a spoiler... I made rings, hats, cowls and lotion bars. I will be posting all with instructions. :)  Stay tuned...

Tis the Season!!