Beauty/ FUN/DIY/ HEALTH/ How-Tos/ Natural Products/ RECIPES

2 Ingredient Lemon Sugar Facial Scrub

I make this simple homemade 2 ingredient lemon sugar facial scrub about once a week. It is so easy to throw together, and it leaves my skin very soft, smooth, & exfoliated.

Start by juicing a half of a lemon. I like to use the lemons in my refrigerator that are on the verge of being too ripe to eat. This is a great way to use those lemons up!

AN EASY WAY TO JUICE YOUR LEMON

Don’t underestimate the power of a simple fork! I have several fancy lemon squeezing gadgets, but when I am just doing a lemon half, I grab a fork. It is amazing how much juice a simple fork can extract! Just stick it in the lemon half and give it a twist while squeezing the lemon with the other hand. Rotate the lemon and repeat.

It is amazing how much juice a simple fork can extract! Just stick it in the lemon half and give it a twist while squeezing the lemon with the other hand. Rotate the lemon and repeat.

This lemon facial scrub has organic sugar and organic lemon juice in it. That is it! I squeeze 1/2 a lemon right into the jar, add about 1/8-1/4 cup of organic sugar and stir.

I like to use organic pure cane sugar. Regular white sugar has been bleached and I don’t want that in my body or on my face!

This makes enough for several applications, but in time the sugar dissolves, so I usually let my girls know that I have homemade lemon facial sugar scrub. I’ve been making this since they were young and loved doing “facials” with it.

I remember when they were little they would end up putting lots around their lips so they could lick it off. Tastes just like lemonade!

It is delicious and ends up being a great lip scrub, too! You could also take leftovers in the bath with you for a great body scrub.

HOW TO USE LEMON SUGAR FACIAL SCRUB

I put some of the mixture into my palm, and rub in circular motions all over my face. It feels so good! I love a good scrub! I then let it sit on my skin a few minutes until it gets sticky and feels a bit hard. Then I get a washcloth nice and hot and just lay it on my face for a few seconds. The steam opens the pores and softens the sugar mixture. I then wipe off and rinse well. I will often follow with a dab of coconut oil for moisture.

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I let it sit on my skin a few minutes until it gets sticky and feels a bit hard. Then I get a wet microfiber facial washcloth — nice and hot — and just lay it on my face for a few seconds. The steam opens the pores and softens the sugar mixture. I then wipe off and rinse well. I follow with moisturizer.

Lemons do have a lightening quality about them and I notice it has faded sun damage that I have on my forehead. It is also great for breakouts. It seems to really help with blackheads and just clearing the junk out of my pores. I love it!

2 INGREDIENT LEMON SUGAR FACIAL SCRUB

1/2 organic lemon
1/8-1/4 cup organic sugar

Juice 1/2 lemon using a fork into a mason jar. Add the organic sugar and stir. Apply to face in circular motions and gently allow the sugar to scrub your skin. Let sit for a few minutes. Use a hot washcloth (I love a microfiber facial cloth–it is great for gently wiping away smudged mascara under the eyes) and lay on the face to steam for a minute, then use it to wipe of scrub. Rinse well & moisturize. Use the lemon sugar facial scrub once a week.

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Featured/ Homemade Gifts

Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

I recently was part of a planning team for a local IF: Conference. I had the fun job of decorating. I got to create an atmosphere where the women who came felt comfortable, loved on and cared for.

Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub was a small touch, both for beauty and for pampering, that I put in the restroom. It got rave reviews from the women who used it. I personally love this recipe, and was delighted when it was so well received. I even got sweet comments on my Facebook page that evening– women asking for the recipe.

{photo from conference via Lelia Chealey}

This Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub is quick to throw together and leaves the hands so very refreshed and soft. Just take a small spoonful, rub into hands, then a quick warm water rinse and a blot dry. This will leave you with a slight bitof moisture that can be rubbed into your hands. It is a cleanser, scrub and moisturizer in one!

Don’t forget to rub the scrub into those cuticles. Winter can wreak havoc on cuticles and dry them out. When rubbing the scrub into your hands, gently massage into the cuticles, too. Then rinse. Then massage the leftover oil into your cuticles. My cuticles have never looked better after using this scrub!

It is addicting and amazing.

I keep a jar at all times at my kitchen sink. It sits on my kitchen sill in a cute little mason jar & has a fun, tiny little spoon with it.

I also have made a batch for the shower and used as a full body scrub. It is amazing stuff!

I highly recommend adding lemon essential oil to this recipe. It makes the world of difference in how your hands smell after using the scrub, and adds great cleansing and even lightening properties for those pesky age spots we get on the back of our hands. It truly is divine!

Lemon Sugar Scrub

{via I Heart Naptime}

2 1/2 cups sugar, divided

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (almond or jojoba oils works well, too)

1 lemon

5-7 drops lemon essential oil (optional, but not really!)

~Put sugar in a large bowl. Set aside. Measure out 1/4 cup of coconut oil and place it in a microwave safe bowl. Heat coconut oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or until the oil is melted. Add 5-7 drops lemon essential oil & stir. Pour oil over sugar and mix to combine.

~Using a zester or small rater, zest the rind of 1 lemon. Then, cut tested lemon in half and, using a juicer or a fork, juice the lemon. Remove any seeds from lemon juice. Add lemon juice and zest to the sugar mixture and stir to combine.

~If sugar scrub is still too “wet”, add up to 1/2 cup more sugar until desired consistency is reached.

~Store in a cute little jar, with a cute little spoon.

~Add a free printable label courtesy of I Heart Naptime.

Keep for yourself or give away as a sweet and meaningful gift. Enjoy!

Drinks/ Featured/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

Honey Ginger Lemon Tea – A Cold Reliever

Yesterday there was a blizzard here in the Midwest. It was super fun to be snowed in, even though it was Super Bowl Sunday. We stayed in our jammies all day, I made a big ol’ lasagna, and my Avery made some chocolate chip cookies. It was a super slow, super chill, super fun Super Bowl Sunday!

Today my 3 girls had a snow day as the roads were still a mess and the windchill was too low to be outside and stay safe.

We decided it is the perfect day for tea, especially when my Avery girl (11 years old) came to me and said “Mom, I think I’m getting a cold. My nose is stuffy and my throat is a little sore and has ‘stuff’ running down the back of it.” Oh no. Not cool. Especially when she has been home bound for 2 days already. She will be extra bored with a 3rd day at home, especially if she is not feeling well.

Time for a cup of good, healthy tea.

I’ve been drinking this particular tea every morning, shortly after I wake up, and before I have a cup of coffee. It is a great way to hydrate and get all those amazing good things that lemon- in -water gives you. The addition of honey and ginger makes the tea even more nutritious. When I drink it in the mornings, I add a pinch of cayenne. I’ve read that it is a great way to stimulate the liver to do its detoxifying magic first thing in the morning. Read more about that here.

I know when I have a cold, sipping on something hot is so very soothing. I prefer something hot & light…like chamomile tea or this honey ginger lemon tea. The steam will warm you right up, and the ginger & lemon will help clear sinuses, and the honey will help soothe a sore throat. My sweet Avery certainly enjoyed it
and was very thankful for her cup of tea. Later I will make her my Sweet Tart Smoothie for even more nutrition from aronia berries. I do not want this cold going anywhere but away!

The lemon in the tea gives a nice dose of vitamin C & there is wonderful goodness to the essential oils that diffuse into the tea from the rind of the lemon. The ginger, honey and lemon all have their own natural medicinal qualities so when you drink them combined, they create a calming and relaxing tea that can ease cold symptoms and boost immunity.

This cleansing tea will become a favorite , whether you have a cold or not. Make it for your family. You will love it and so will they. It tastes like a lightly sweetened hot lemon drink, with just a hint of ginger flavor. It is so very thirst quenching and soothing.

Before we move on to the recipe, I have a great tip for having ginger on hand and how to store it. It is to keep it in the freezer. I like to store it in mason jars in the freezer 2 ways. One–sliced thinly for tea. Two–in chunks in a jar ready to be grated and used in the next recipe…like Korean Beef over Rice. Frozen ginger is easy to peel and grate, and it lasts so much longer in the freezer.

Here are 7 of the top benefits of ginger:

1. Ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.

2. Ginger clears the “microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

3. If you chew on ginger, it will help with nausea and airsickness.

4. Got a tummy ache? Eat some ginger.

5. Joints giving you trouble? Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can bring relief.

6. If it is cold outside, ginger tea has warming benefits.

7. Rid throat and nose congestion by drinking ginger tea!

Don’t you love that porcelain infuser teacup? It was a gift and it is my fav. Buy it here.

On to the recipe.

Honey Ginger Lemon Tea

6 oz hot water

1 teaspoon raw honey

1 teaspoon thinly sliced ginger

1/2 lemon

~Start heating up water. I LOVE my electric tea kettle and use it everyday. It does a great job of heating the water quickly and keeping it warm for multiple cups of tea throughout the morning.

~Take a tea cup that has an infuser in it, and using a fork, pierce the half of lemon while holding it over the infuser and twist the fork and lemon to juice it. Squeeze as much of the juice out of the lemon half as possible. Cut the lemon half into 2-4 pieces. Add them to the infuser.

~Meanwhile, take 1 teaspoon of thinly sliced ginger and put into the infuser. (Slice using a mandolin and store in the freezer in a mason jar.)

~Last, take 1 teaspoon of honey and drizzle it over the lemon and ginger.

~Put the infuser into the cup of tea, then pour hot water over.

~Let steep 3-4 minutes.

~Lift the infuser our of the cup and enjoy your amazingly light, clean, fresh & oh- so- good for you Honey Ginger Lemon Tea!

HEALTH/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Fighting Colds With Homemade Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Fellowes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve just started drinking this amazing tea a couple of months ago, during a cleanse/detox week. It has quickly become one of my favorites.

I recently served it to my daughter who has been fighting a cold. She loved it. It tastes like a special lemonade and was super soothing to her sore throat.

We all know lemon and honey both have health benefits, but did you know ginger is full many many benefits?

Here are 7 of the top benefits of ginger:

1. Ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body.

2. Ginger clears the “microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.

3. If you chew on ginger, it will help with nausea and airsickness.

4. Got a tummy ache? Eat some ginger.

5. Joints giving you trouble? Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can bring relief.

6. If it is cold outside, ginger tea has warming benefits.

7. Rid throat and nose congestion by drinking ginger tea!

My favorite way to make Honey Lemon Ginger Tea:

~Cut some organic ginger root into 1/4′ slices (no need to peel)

~Keep slices in a small mason jar in the freezer

~When you are ready for some tea, squeeze 2 wedges of lemon into the tea cup.

~Add the wedge itself into the cup for the added benefits of the oils from the lemon skin.

~Add 2 slices of ginger.

~Heat water in the tea kettle.

~Pour hot water over ginger and lemon.

~Add 1 tsp or more of honey until desired sweetness.

All of this is to taste. Add more or less ginger. Same with lemon. I steep for a good 5 minutes.

It is that easy!

{Electric Tea Kettle}

My favorite teacup and electric tea kettle make this process very easy! The electric tea kettle heats water up in minutes and keeps it hot for hours. The tea cup has its own saucer, strainer, and a lid to keep it hot or to set the strainer in when steeping is done. I LOVE this cup!

The second way we are fighting colds around here is with my favorite new toy. It is the Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 and I am so thankful for it! I have set it up in my daughter’s room to keep her room purified as she fights her cold. I have also moved it into the living area at the end of the day to help keep germs at bay so the rest of us don’t get sick.

When her cold is over, I will move it into her sister, Colsie’s room. We had a couple warmer days last week and it was just enough to trigger her allergies. She wakes up pretty congested. I am hopeful that the Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 will help keep the allergens out of the air while she sleeps.

A few reasons why I love the Fellowes AeraMax™ DX-55 air purifier:

~it is ultraquiet

~it automatically monitors the indoor quality of air and adjusts the fan accordingly

~no more stuffy noses and sore throats when waking up

~uses a true HEPA filter, which removes 99.9% of airborne particles, including germs, viruses, allergens, dust, mold, pollen, ragweed, pet dander, and cigarette smoke.

~the LED lights on the machine clearly let you know what the machine is up to…when it is purifying and when it is done, or when the filter needs to be changed.

~it is portable. I can move it from on daughter’s room to another.

~it is sleek-looking. I do not find it obtrusive.

~it is easy to find. You can buy the Fellowes AeraMax technology at BestBuy.com. Prices start at $189.99.

~it not only works for cold and flu season but helps my girls allergy and asthma during allergy season.

———–

What are your favorite ways to stay well during cold and flu season?

Have you ever considered an air purifier?

RECIPES/ Sides

Fresh Lemon Pasta Salad With Asparagus & Tomatoes

Easter Sunday was a beautiful, meaningful, relaxing and delicious day for us. After a great church service, we went to my in-laws, and the food was wonderful!

I had to take a picture of my plate, I thought it was one of the prettiest plates of food that I have seen in awhile. Look at all those colors! I skipped out on the ham, but sure was not missing it due to all the wonderful food we had.

We have a large family so my mom-in-law does much of the cooking, and then we all bring a side dish or dessert to share.

I brought Fresh Lemon Pasta Salad With Asparagus & Tomatoes. I had seen it on Pinterest, and it sounded so light, fresh and delish! That is exactly what it was. Very simple, very fresh, very light. I made it Sunday morning while getting ready for church, yes, it was that easy. I loved that it can be served warm, cold, or room temperature.

Fresh Lemon Pasta Salad With Asparagus & Tomatoes

12 oz. pasta (I used whole wheat spaghetti, the original recipe calls for Orzo pasta)
1 bunch fresh asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 lemon, zested and juiced
4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Salt & Pepper
Grated Parmigiano Reggiano (leave out to keep it vegan)

Bring 2 large pots of water to boil. Add a big pinch of salt in each.

To one pot, add asparagus and blanch, about 2-3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus. Place blanched asparagus in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking and keep them green.

To the second pot, add the pasta. Cook per package instructions. When tender, drain and place in a large bowl. Add blanched asparagus and tomato halves.

Mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir into pasta and vegetables. Stir in parsley and grated Parmigiano Reggiano, if using.

This can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

RECIPES/ Sweets

Lemon “Larabar” Balls

Another “Larabar” knockoff! Last time it was Chocolate Coconut Balls, this time it is Lemon. These are really good and refreshing. They hit the spot when you are craving something sweet with a bit of a crunch. They are the perfect snack size and portable.

Larabar Lemon

I am a huge Larabar fan because they are made of just a handful of healthful ingredients.

The above lemon bar contains:

dates, almonds, cashews, lemon juice concentrate, natural lemon flavor

Do not let the dates throw you if you are not a date lover. I do not like dates, but I love these Lemon Balls. The dates job is to sweeten and hold the ball together, which creates the best chewy texture. Enjoy!

Lemon “Larabar” Balls

inspired by this post at Shutterbean

1 1b. pitted dates

1 1/2 cup raw mixed nuts (or 1 cup almonds, 1/2 cup cashews, if desired)

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lemon

______________

Combine all in a food processor. Your food processor will work hard, so make sure you tell it that you appreciate its effort. Process until nuts are desired size and ingredients are incorporated.

Coat hands with oil ( I used coconut oil and loved the hint of coconut it gave the balls) and roll into balls.

Keep balls in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Makes 20, 1 inch balls.