Homemade Bath & Spa Products and Weekly Link Party

From a natural alternative to body wash to homemade candles, here are some creative ideas to bring handmade touches to your morning routine. Some of the products shown below would even make thoughtful, handmade gifts. Looking for a few natural recipes for personal care products or crafty ideas for the bathroom? These bloggers have some amazing posts to get you started!

1. Chamomile and Lavender Body Wash / Life-N-Reflection
I LOVE the smell of lavender! Enjoy the fresh, floral scent with this recipe for a natural body wash.

2. DIY Soy Candles / Bittersweet Walnut Grove
Have you ever tried soy candles? I can personally attest that they are amazing! Click on over to see how to make some that smell like a fresh batch of snickerdoodle cookies.

3. Essential Oil Mouthwash Recipe / Artful Homemaking
Do you use essential oils? Put those oils to good use with this recipe for homemade mouthwash.

4. DIY Quote Makeup Bag / Maggie Lois
What a fun makeup bag to hold all of your essentials! And this cute craft would also make a fun gift.

5. Lavender Sachets / The Life of Jennifer Dawn (right here!)
Here's a crafty idea from my own blog. This simple DIY project will bring the relaxing scent of lavender to your home! Tuck these in with your linens to deter moths and release the lovely scent of lavender.

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Handmade Gifts for Any Occasion and Weekly Link Party

Need a thoughtful, inexpensive gift idea? These sweet & simple handmade gifts will make any crafter's hearts dance for joy! You don't need to be an expert crafter to whip up these adorable gifts, though. They are simple enough for anyone to make and the recipient will love the sweet sentiment behind the gift. Birthdays, holidays, or any time is the perfect time to let someone know you care with one of these cute handmade gifts!

1. Candy Jars / Gluesticks
I love gifts in a jar and this idea is no exception! Click on over for the full tutorial and for a copy of the "sweet" labels to include with your giftable candy jars. (Pun intended. LOL!)

2. Baked Apple Bath Fizzies / Life-N-Reflection
I bet these smell amazing! And I love the little glass jars with corks that Kristy used.

3. Lemon Shea Butter Soap / Simply Stacie
Three ingredients and you have a lovely lemon soap that perfect for gifting to others. As amazing as this sounds, I'd want to make a few extra bars for myself, too.

4. Succulent Planters / Lolly Jane
Plants make a beautiful gift! And these cute planters are sure to bring a smile. Here's the really fun part! They are made from...wait for it...cereal boxes. How ingenious is that?!

5. DIY Quote Sign / Timeless Creations
Who wouldn't love a gorgeous handmade sign with an inspiring quote? It's a gift that they recipient will be proud to display.

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Grape Sorbet

 

This refreshing Grape Sorbet made with Welch's 100% Grape Juice is a frozen treat the whole family will love! And here's a little secret! This guilt-free indulgence is made with a juice that helps support a healthy heart. That certainly something to get excited about, but the kids will only care about how tasty it is.

When I go grocery shopping, I always try to shop the rainbow. "Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and don't forget there's purple too," runs through my mind as I stroll through the produce and juice aisles. Have you heard the rainbow song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse? Yes, that's the one that plays through my head at the grocery store. I guess that's what comes from having young children who love Mickey Mouse. I know my method is silly, but a colorful diet really is key to ensuring that my family gets the wide variety of essential nutrients that their bodies need. Blue and purple are sometimes the hardest to find, but Welch's 100% Grape Juice made with Concord Grapes is an easy way to incorporate purple into my family's diet.

Did you know Welch's 100% Grape Juice helps support a healthy heart? And it's the main ingredient in this 3-ingredient sorbet. Yes, you read that right! This frozen treat only requires three ingredients with the main ingredient being one you can feel good about serving your family. Don't you just love recipes with only a few ingredients?!

With this recipe, you'll be making a grape mixture that freezes well and still maintains a delicious, sweet flavor. It's perfect for turning into a sorbet, as pictured. You can also use this same recipe to make popsicles which we all know kids love!

I will admit that this recipe does require ample freezing time unless you're using an ice cream maker. It's a great recipe to whip up when you know you'll be available to check on the freezing process a few times before leaving it to completely set in the freezer overnight.

Not only is this a delicious frozen treat to whip up for the kids, but it's a stunning sorbet to serve to guests. Fresh mint leaves contrast beautifully with the deep purple of the grape sorbet. The flavors of mint and grape are also a surprisingly refreshing combination. Feel free to leave off the mint leaves if you're just making it for your kids, though. Pretty as they are; they're completely optional.

Ready for the full scoop on this fruit sorbet? Here's how to whip up a batch for your family or guests!

Free Valentine's Day Printables for Kids & Weekly Link Party

As a homeschooling, stay at home mom to three young children, I'm alway looking for fun, educational activities for my kids. It's exciting to find holiday-themed activities that allow us to acknowledge and celebrate the season, too! And the blogging world is filled with hundreds upon hundreds of printables and resources to fit any season!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, here are several seasonal printables to try with your child. You know those fine motor, pre-literacy, and math skills you've been working on? Here are some simple ways to reinforces those skills while celebrating the season. The best part is that they require little to no prep work on your part. Oh, and did I mention that they are all FREE! Just save and print. These awesome printables are only a few clicks away!

1. One More or Less Heart Clip Cards / Living Life & Learning
I love clip cards! They are an interactive and simple activity for kids. And these math clip cards are adorable!

2. Valentine's Day Lacing Cards / Living Life & Learning
Practice those fine motor skills with these colorful lacing cards. Wouldn't these make cute Valentines that your child could give to friends and family?

3. Printable Valentine's Day Pack / A Little Pinch of Perfect
What an amazing pack! It's 20 pages of educational activities that are perfect for a variety of ages.

4. Free Valentine's Day Coloring Pages / Sight and Sound Reading
Who doesn't love coloring? Here are some cute coloring sheets that are perfect for the day of hearts and love. This would be a great activity to sit down with your little loves and do together!

5. Colorful Heart Activity / The Natural Homeschool
What a cute printable! It's perfect for practicing colors and color word recognition.

6. V is for Valentine Printable Set / The Life of Jennifer Dawn
This post is an oldie but a goodie. It's a Valentine's Day unit that I pulled together when my oldest was in preschool. Writing, reading, math, art and more are all included. There are enough printables and activity suggestions to fill a whole week. Enjoy!

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Weekend Projects to Chase Away the Winter Blues & Weekly Link Party

Does the arrival of February have you longing for spring? There's plenty of wintry weather left, but these DIY projects will help chase those winter blues away. You'll be amazed at how much refreshing your home with these simple DIYs can renew both your home and your spirits! From garden prep to furniture makeovers, there's sure to be at least one perfect project for you to try. Ready to banish those winter blues? Here are some great ideas!

1. How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring / Olives & Okra
Nothing screams, "Spring is on the way!" louder than a little gardening. Here are some fantastic tips to start prepping your garden. Oh, and you just have to check out this blogger's amazing greenhouse!

2. Four Lighting Fast Ways to Light Up Your Room / Olives & Okra
Shed some fresh light on those winter blues with these great tips! Light can be such a mood booster!

3. Farmhouse Bathroom Transformation / Do More for Less by Old Time Pottery
Choose one room in your home to refresh with paint, new fixtures, and new decor. It can even be a bathroom like this awesome room makeover.

4. Kid's Work Space / Thirty Eighth Street
Have the kids been a little antsy this winter? Why not create a space for them to color, craft, and create? This one is stylish, functional, and fun!

5. Linen Lavender Sachets / Bittersweet Walnut Grove
Keep the fresh scent of lavender in your home all year long with this simple craft. It will have you dreaming of the warmer days to come when you'll be out in your garden.

6. Reupholstered Vintage Diner Set / Gluesticks
Repainting or reupholstering a piece of furniture can do wonders for a space in your home and your mood. And this furniture makeover is stunning! Why buy new when vintage looks this great?!

7. DIY Upholstered X-Bench / Anika's DIY Life
What an impressive bench! I love the cozy, textured cushion and the contrast of the springy baby blue fabric against the weathered look of the wood.

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