DIY NATURAL SHOWER CREAM

Hello friends,
I know how much you like natural beauty products so I invited my dear friend Catarina from Joan of July to share one of her magical recipes with you guys :)

"Are you a fan of natural soap as much as me? I prefer naturally and handmade soap to any other alternative to wash my skin. By using natural soap you’re not putting any nasty chemicals or parabens into your skin or system.

I even learned how to make my own natural soap a few years ago and I love making them! I mostly use olive oil and sometimes soy wax in the base, then add some essential oils to give it a nice smell and to make it more appropriate for my skin type.

But… what happens when you find yourself with a bunch of old, unused soap and other pieces of used soap that are now looking less than fresh so now you don’t feel like using them anymore?

WHAT TO DO WITH OLD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES

Since 2015 started I’m trying to reuse instead of separate products for the reclycle bins. Reusing is even better for the environment and for our pockets. I’m always looking around the house to see what I have and could do something amazing with that stuff.

I arrived from my trip in South America in March and collected a bunch of maps, postcards, notes, contacts that I’d like to keep with me to bring all those happy memories and to show my kids one day. I could buy a nice cartoon box but I have this habit of personalizing everything, I love to be unique :) A great way to achieve that is to build something with your hands.

SCRAPBOOKING TRAVEL PHOTO ALBUM

One thing I regonized everytime I come back from a trip is that I have tons of wonderful pictures, all digital and none in paper. For this South America trip I wanted to make a change and print my favorite pictures on the road. What I wasn't expecting at all was to find wonderful stationary to play with in Walmart (Yes, I spent 20 dollars in Walmart, that awful place that pays low salaries, give no work conditions to employees, the products come mostly from China so a lot of children work going on and last, but not least, it's a not fair competion with local stores, since they sell more expensive but better quality), I immediatly fell in love with all these papers and started dreaming about my future Travel Photo Album.

First I want to show you all the goodies I got:

NAIL POLISH SHELF DIY

Few weeks ago I decided to wake up a bit earlier to see what was going on in the Flea Market. Although there was a bunch of empty spots without stalls due to the new rules of one year subscription, I found some good stuff.

Usually I buy everything I like and end up not using an half so this time I was pretty stricted to myself and bought stuff I really needed like a dress you can use in Summer or with leggings in the Fall, a pair of almost new brown boots, a super cute frame with pictures of cupcakes and macarons to my friend Su who's a baker, a crochet hat to Bruno who didn't have any, brown vintage inspired sandals and, when I was about to leave I found this wooden container for spoons, knives and forks in a kitchen drawer... I immediatly had an idea how to use it in a different way: a nail polish shelf!

BASKET MADE OUT OF NEWSPAPER DIY

The other day I was bored at home and felt like create something with my hands. I didn't want to spend any money, just use what I have and recycle. I looked around and remembered to see this stall in a crafts fair that was selling necklaces made out of newspapers.

Immediatly checked pinterest for inspiration and then search for a video on how to make a neat basket of newspaper :)

MADE BY YOURSELF BOOK

While in my trip in Amsterdam I found this Stedelijk Museum but actually didn't go to the museum... I just saw this huge place full of books and had some time to kill until Ana was off from work. The truth is that I got too excited and spent way more time looking at books that I should :D I mean, I was in book heaven: arts, design, do it yourself, travels, cultures, tribes, hippie times, pretty agendas, oh dear!

This book "Made by Yourself" by the stylist, designer and photographer Peter Fehrentz caught my eye in two seconds... I'm really into anything that teaches you to create with your own hands. And come on, you cannot go wrong with such pretty book cover! The sad new is that I didn't buy the book because I was backpacking and it's extra weight for more ten days... and it was hardcover. I will buy it in the future though!

VERTICAL RECYCLED BOTTLE GARDEN

 Ricky is super crazy dog and his favorite hobby is to eat and play with the plants of my parent's backyard. Mom always has parsley, cilantro, basil and mint, these herbal plants give delicious flavor to food and we often use them in portuguese cuisine.

FELT OWL PLUSHIES

I guess is Baby Boom around here or... Am I in the age for babies? Well the fact is that all my closest college friends are pregnant or have babies, also my australian cousin and other people I know. Just my girl friends don't even think about it and I'm so glad because I feel I'm not the only one.

Instead of buying baby gifts for my college friends and cousin I decided to make something handmade myself, because I put all the efford and love on them and is something unique, they deserve all the time spent on this.

I never worked with felt before so this project was challeging and slow. But I'm so into felt right now, I started a new addiction and can't wait to make cats, butterflies and other lovely animals.

VINTAGE SHELVES MAKEOVER DIY

I always dreamed about a small before/after DIY project so I'm super happy to share my latest craft project! It includes a small bookshelf I found in the trash for 2 years and a delicious vintage fabric I found in a flea market for more then 5 years, finally I had the guts to cut it off (auuuchhh).

RECIPE BOOK DIY

One of my 2014 Goals includes a Recipe Book to make me cook diversity food. I went to the Public Library and found this Traditional Algarvian Gastronomy Book, brought it home and wrote down about 20 South Portugal typical recipes, great to keep traditions and to show off to my dear overseas friends :) Also found a mini Spanish recipe booklet (those that are free when you buy a magazine and then you collect) which I ripped out the ones I wanna try to my own Recipe Book.

Spanish and Traditional Portuguese Food so far, let's say I'm doing good. But where's this recipe book you are asking? I just made it, myself and I. Why buying one when I can do myself with my personal touch?

Here's the DIY project, pretty simple.

Materials:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

One day late but been pretty busy with the party we are organizing :) Read more here.

Long time ago I used to celebrate Valentine's Day with my boyfriend, dinner in a nice and fancy restaurant and then go home and spend romantic time together. Nowadays I think it's just another comercial day, to make us cosumists, spend money in gifts (that sometimes the other person doesn't need but you have to buy something) and dinners out. I respect people who celebrate it, but isn't Valentine's Day everyday? Just like Children's Day or Mother's Day? We should celebrate LIFE everyday with our family and friends, doesn't matter if there's a reason to celebrate or not.

SUPER FUN CHALLENGES FOR 2014

I found out about two interesting projects for this coming year and decided to share with you.

Someone made this incredible chart! This is a genious idea to save money for what you wish/need/want. In the end of the year you save 1.378 dollars or euros. Very worth it and besides the last months, it's pretty easy to save up the money. If you cannot make it until the end of the year it's OK, don't need to be so hard to yourself... 500 dollars/euros is already lots of money.

DO IT YOURSELF: TEN CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

It's early to think about Christmas but when we think about handmade projects we better start them as soon as possible, because they take time.
I thought about this post because many people are concerned what to buy for Christmas to family and friends and usually they just get in a shop and buy something they think the other person will like. Well, if you want to buy something, what about a Local Store? This way you are helping out locals, instead of giving more money to millionaire people... Shops like Zara, Springfield, Pull and Bear among others belong to rich owners that will spend their money in business to get more money. Not to mention that mostly of the clothing are made by 6 years old kids from Cambodia or China, but that's another story. When you are buying to a local shop, you are increasing the economy of that family. This is a micro thinking, but if a good percentage of people do this, we will make money circulate and more buying power.