DIY Cosmetic Bag Party Favor

DIY cosmetic bag

How do you leave a little sparkle?

Maybe its your personality? Smile? Random, simple acts of kindness? A charming accent? Whatever it is, find it and do it because I love people who enter a room and own it, and leave me with a good feeling, or a memory when they walk out the door. I’m talking about the people I don’t forget, and leave a trace of their optimism behind with me. I have friends like this, who are special and simply amazing, and I believe they “leave a little sparkle wherever they go.” So, for a recent Bachelorette celebration for one of my bestie’s, I made cosmetic bags with this quote to go along with our Sparkle theme for the weekend. More photos of that extravaganza to come, but for now, a DIY.

You’ll Need
$3 cosmetic bags from Target {in the travel cosmetics section}
Chacopaper from Michaels
A printed quote
pen
Krylon Gold Leaf Pen from Michaels

DIY cosmetic bag

How To
Use Microsoft Word to create your quote in a favorite font.
Print your quote on a regular piece of printer paper.
Cut the quote and a piece of the Chacopaper the same size as the quote.
Layer the paper, bottom-up, starting with the ‘chalky side’ face down on the cosmetic bag {you can feel the ‘chalky’ side}, your quote and then top it off with the ‘tracing’ paper.
DIY cosmetic bag party favor
Use a black pen to firmly {without tearing} trace the quote on the tracing paper.
Once finished {or you can even get a sneak peek to see if its working if you can lift the edge without moving the paper} lift the 3 sheets of paper from your cosmetic bag and you will see a traced image of your quote. I used the white Chacopaper, so it appeared white like the photo below.
Use the Gold Leaf pen to carefully trace your ‘image’
Voila.
DIY cosmetic bag party favor

DIY cosmetic bag party favor{images via j. sorelle}

DIY Homemade Lavender Body Butter Recipe and Planter Gift for Teacher

thank you for helping me grow teacher gift

I’ve been loving lavender lately. Can’t seem to get enough, so it was my inspiration for the kids teachers, ‘end-of-year, thank you for everything’ gift. This week the kids happily handed their teachers a lavender plant with its roots planted in a DIY decorated terra-cotta pot with the phrase, ‘thank you for helping me grow,’ along with homemade lavender body butter. Teachers need to relax, so hopefully lavender body butter in a mason jar {who doesn’t love a Mason jar} they can rub on their hands at feet at the end of a long day does the trick.

For the Lavender Plant
You’ll Need

terra-cotta pot
Sharpie oil-based paint markers from Home Depot
lavender plant
dirt

How To
Find a free printable or ‘art’ inspiration for your quote. I used this as an inspiration from Somewhat Simple.
Free hand your art on the terra-cotta pot or you can cut shapes and trace {you can lightly use a pencil or chalk first, and then trace with the Sharpie markers, which I loved}.
I re-traced the words and shapes 2-3 times so the Sharpie colors were darker/brighter…just wait until the first coat dries, which is about 15 minutes or less.
Have your child sign his/her name in the back of the pot.
Then, plant the lavender plant.

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

DIY teacher gift

For the Body Butter
You’ll Need
mason jar with a wide lid
1/2 cup shea butter, raw and organic {from Amazon}
1/2 cocoa butter, raw and organic from Amazon}
1/2 cup olive oil, organic
1/2 cup coconut oil, organic and unprocessed
40 drops lavender essential oil {doTERRA brand} or whatever combination of oils you enjoy

How To
Add the oil ingredients into a double broiler, or add a glass bowl onto a pot with boiling water in it.
Mix with a whisk until completely melted.
Remove the bowl from the pan, remove whisk and let cool for a couple of minutes, then place in the refrigerator until it is chilled {hard on top}, which took 1.5-2 hours.
Remove from the refrigerator and begin to blend with a hand mixer for a whipped texture. Add your essential oils. Whip until you have a nice texture and then place in mason jars.

note: I am not a body butter expert, but I read that the butter can lose its whipped texture and harden slightly, but it’s still good. And, it will last for several months. It will likely melt in hot temps above 70, so keep it around room temperature. I’m only a week into trying it and I think its lovely. I use coconut oil daily as a lotion, so I’m use to the oil texture on my body, but your dry skin will thank you.

steps to homemade body butter

homemade body butter

homemade body butter

DIY lavender teacher gifts

{images via j. sorelle}

Travel Essentials for Those Who Fear Flying

I am terrified to fly. I hate everything about it. And, since I’ve had kids, it’s gotten worse. I love to see the world and am grateful for all the amazing places I’ve traveled to, most of which wouldn’t have been possible without an airplane. But, even if I book a flight months in advance, I find myself daydreaming about being on the flight and I am filled with anxiety – it’s like I can feel the turbulence without even being in the air. It’s the loss of control {yes, I’m a control freak}. It’s the thought that a gigantic piece of metal with an engine is in the air with a lot of people and bags. It’s the thought of it crashing. All of it scares me. So, for some upcoming trips, the bar and some serious lavender may be my best friend…or maybe I should give up my ‘homeopathic only’ for the day and go straight to the Xanex.

I ran across these cute and fun travel accessories from Flight 001 – love that shop – you must check it out. At least if I have to travel, I may as well put some humor, organization and pretty accessories into it.

flying essentials_jsorelle

1. Flyin’ Drunk Luggage Tag

2. Evian Facial Spray

3. To Go Bottle Set

4. Mini Emergency For Her Kit

5. Heavily Medicated Pouch

{images via Flight 001}

garden essentials for the kiddos

garden kits for kids_jsorelle

Nani and Mimi have the Easter baskets filled with goodies, accessories and clothes, so instead of a typical Easter Basket this year, we bought the kids their own gardening essentials to grow their favorite vegetables. My fave, Target’s dollar section, had colorful watering cans for just $3 each and gardening tools, and good ‘ole Home Depot supplied the organic cucumber, carrot and pepper seed packets, as well as the Transplant Peat Pots.

You’ll Need:
organic potting soil
biodegradable peat pots
cellophane bags
seeds packets
tools
watering can
name labels

How To:
Fill the cellophane bags with potting soil and tie a bow, then just fill the watering cans with the gardening goods. All the kids need to do is plant, water, find a sunny spot…and watch them grow. Once the weather gets warm, we will transplant the biodegradable pots into pots or the garden.

DIY gardening kits for kids_jsorelle

DIY gardening kit for kids_jsorelle

DIY gardening kits_jsorelle

DIY gardening kits_jsorelle

DIY gardening kits for kids_jsorelle

It’s a fun project for the kids {especially on Monday, April 22 – Earth Day}, teaches them the responsibility necessary to take care of something, and they will have the opportunity to watch and eat what they sow.

NOTE: The potting soil bags look slightly foggy – seems the soil was somewhat wet, and when I took the watering cans outside, the outside cold temps ‘frosted’ the bags.

{images via j. sorelle}

easter baskets

We’ve gathered some of our favorite gifts for the kids Easter baskets this year. Hop to it!

easter_girls basket_jsorelle

FOR THE PRETTY LITTLE LADIES
1. Pink Bunny Coin Purse, Paper-Source
2. Tropical Romper, The Children’s Place {I just bought this for my daughter – LOVE}
3. LIL tOOders Superhero Custom Cape – enter a giveaway for a free cape {including an Anna or Elsa cape from Frozen} here.
4. Melissa and Doug Bright Flashlight, Yo-Yo
5. Sunglasses, Gap
6. Melissa and Doug Watercolor Paint Set, Amazon
7. Bunny Jute Bin, Land of Nod
8. Frozen Snow Wand, Target

easter basket ideas for boys

FOR THE HANDSOME GENTS
1. Aviator Sunglasses, Gap
2. Swimways Torpedo Bandits, Amazon
3.  LIL tOOders Superhero Custom Cape – enter a giveaway for a free cape here.
4. Woosh Frisbee, Amazon
5. Green Puppet on a Stick Pen, Amazon
6. Galvanized Bucket, Pottery Barn
7. Melissa and Doug Habitats Reusable Sticker Pad, Amazon
8. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, Amazon

{images via The Children’s PlaceGap, Target, LIL tOOders, Amazon, Yo-Yo, Paper-Source, Pottery Barn, Land of Nod}