This would be a wonderful gift idea for a mom, a sister, a sister-in-law, and a new mom to reminder her it’s okay to relax and have some “me” time, don’t you think?!

Go visit St. Helena Olive Oil Co. and send this Sacred Bath gift set to someone in need of some love or de-stressing!

This makes me wish for my Garden Tub right now…

-ib

Some really great outdoor spaces I just simply adore!

Love,

ib

Just 4 quick living rooms I'd love to try and replicate!

All are so inviting!

<3,

ib

  thought it might be a good idea to keep a running Wish List of things I’d like to purchase.  Just so I always remember, because I always tend to forget!  Something that I’ve always wanted…

A FujiFilm Instax Mini Camera.

You can get them for pretty inexpensive on Amazon right now, but the film is still a little pricey.

I LOVE the way the photos turn out though, and I just love instants!

I’d love to start taking instants again.

The film for my Polaroid Spectra is just so hard to find and so expensive!

Here’s some examples of the photos it takes!

Are they not just dreamy?!

Soon enough, as long as I remember!  Once I have my new office set up in our huge Master Bedroom, I get more organized and have a true place for everything in my life…it will be so much easier to be creative and have more time and space to be able to enjoy the small things in life.

Can’t wait.

 ,

ib

I would love to make these paper crane garlands and hang them from the ceiling for a party or even in a corner of a baby’s room, or over a bed even!

So Romantic and fun!

,

IB

Boy oh boy do these look yummy!  I can’t wait to make and try these out!  They may Christmas-y, but I’ll be these will be great with other flavors and different colored sprinkles!  Great to make with kids too!

Check out the recipe and tutorial HERE!

Homemade Peppermint Oreos

2 boxes Devil’s food cake mix

4 eggs

2/3 cup vegetable oil

Frosting:

1 (8ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

sprinkles or crushed candy cane for decorating

green or red food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil with a mixer. The batter will be very stiff. Pinch of pieces of batter and roll into 1 inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets and flatten slightly with fingertips. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove immediately from the cookie sheets with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.

In a small glass bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter until completely blended. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and peppermint extract and mix until the icing is smooth. Color frosting green or red if desired. Spread half of the cookies with icing and top with remaining cookies.

Roll in sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or just leave them plain.

Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container or resealable plastic bags.

,

ib

I would love to get my mom THIS dried bouquet of lavender for a random gift to make her smile!

Is dried lavender fragrant?

I think she would love to be surprised with some flowers, and I know she likes lavender!

This is such a great idea, and I’m thinking about sending this to her this upcoming week or next!

If I find some other great things that would be great for Mom’s, I’ll be sure to post it here!

,

ib

I can’t wait to try this out! This would also make a great gift idea for the holidays.  I’m thinking of making a  nice homemade gift set for the women in the family. This lip gloss,  lemon lime sugar body scrub, a foot scrub, a homemade bath salt, a bath sponge, and maybe some other homemade goodies I come across the rest of the year!

Homemade Pink-Tinted Lip Gloss

Ingredients:

2 TBSP grated beeswax

2 TBSP coconut oil 2 tsp. sweet almond oil

chunk of red lipstick

1/2 tsp. of shimmery eye shadow powder 10 drops of essentail oil (I used peppermint but you can use any kind)

Directions:

Melt all but essentail oil in a doubleboiler until completely melted and there are no more beewax flakes. Do not boil or overheat. Stir with a throw away tool like a bamboo skewer. Remove from heat and add essential oil. Using a syringe or medicne dropper fill your lip balm containers. Let it sit at room temperature or in the fridge until hardened or opaque.

This looks so easy!  Now…where to find beeswax on the reg… Go HERE to see the full tutorial!

,

ib

Check out this recipe for Mini Apple Pies over atHeavenly Homemakers!  The recipe looks super easy, can be frozen for a quick tasty treat you can pop into the oven when your sweet tooth strikes!

Crust:

3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 t. sea salt
1 cup melted butter
1 cup plain yogurt

Stir ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.  Use the dough right away to create pockets or pies…or let the dough sit overnight on the countertop to break down the phytates and make the grains more digestable.  This dough is MUCH easier to work with if you work it like playdough in your hands a while before you try to roll it out.

Filling:

3 pounds of apples – about 11-12 smallish apples (any kind you like)
1/4 – 3/4 cup sucanat (your preference)
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Topping:

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
2-4 Tablespoons sucanat
3 Tablespoons melted butter

Definitely something to make ahead of time, store in the freezer, and remember you made when you can’t find something sweet to eat for dessert!  I always have that problem, and I’m pretty sure this would hit the spot!

Thanks, Heavenly Homemakers!

,

ib