Bonus: Bed Spray

8:28 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

I mentioned to my husband that I had a recipe for a bed spray. He looked at me with a mischievously seductive smile and said he'd like to try it.....so I let him :) He's now downstairs spraying the mattresses and airing them out :)....I don't think that's what he had in mind but I must say, I'm enjoying it.

You're probably wondering what bed spray has to do with beauty week. Well, I'll tell you. Since we became parents I've learned what a desperate part sleep has to play in being beautiful....well at least presentable. Since our son came there has been days of wearing baggy sweats, and baggy eyes all day. I actually day dream about sleeping long enough to have a dream. Having a welcoming bed with the soothing sent of eucalyptus to welcome you to your ever so brief slumber can be a welcoming invitation after a long day of child's play.

This is a great recipe to use on more then just mattresses. Use it on furniture, shoes, carpet....are you imagining yourself like that mom on the commercial that comes across her hubby's shoes and then with one spray she acts like she just had a spiritual experience, has seen the light and wants to leave it all behind and move to the abby and sing in the hills? Ya, this spray is just like that!

Bed Spray

2 c distilled water
10 drops grapefruit
10 drops lemon
10 drops tea tree
10 drops eucalyptus

shake before each use and spray liberally.

Day 91: Shampoo for Thick Hair

7:08 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

The other day I tried to make Shampoo for the first time and I must say I was quite pleased. The ingredients are rather simple and it was quite easy to make. But unfortunately my hair is protesting...again. My hair, like most others, is not what I would like it to be. The hair is always greener on someone else's head I suppose. But with the genes I got (my father is bald and my mom went gray at 20) I'm not complaining! I'm grateful for what I've got but it is quite "notty" if you know what I mean.

My husband, on the other hand has gorgeous hair! It's thick and dark and grows like a weed. Dang him! He's almost 40 and still looks like a teenager (and acts even younger). His hair responds quite well to this shampoo but it leaves mine heavy and unmanageable. If anyone out there has a recipe for thin hair I would LOVE it! Let me know how it works for you.

Shampoo For Thick Hair

1/4 c castil soap
1/2 c distilled water
2 tb aloe vera gel or juice
1/2 tb coconut oil
4 drops lemon essential oil

Pour all ingredients in a shower safe container and shake vigorously. I find this foams really well so you don't need to use a lot. Enjoy

Day 90: Refreshing Body Spray

6:14 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

In St. George it's what you might call....warm. Personally, I LOVE the heat. I grew up in California so it was kind of drilled into me. Then I moved to St. George, Hawaii, and Amerikan Samoa...are ya sensing a theme yet? Since I'm always cold I find the heat relieving. But in St. George even I can get hot. This body spray is not only refreshing, it helps minimize the oderus effects of a woman's natural glow....if ya know what I'm sayin'. It's great to carry around in your purse and give yourself a sprites to cool down and freshen up.

Body Spray

1 finger pump spray bottle
distilled water
essential oil of choice

You can get a cheap ( I mean that in every sense of the word) finger pump spray bottle at walmart for a buck. Fill it with distilled water and 5 drops of essential oil of your choice. I use grapefruit, which I love, and because it's know for being invigorating and offers a great pick me up!

Day 89: Sugar Waxing

11:57 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

In this blog I may get a bit graphic so brace yourself.
Here in Samoa you can not get hair removal products. After 6 months I started to look like Sasquatch and even my husband was suggesting having a mustache race to see who could grow the thickest mustache before we went home. When he couldn't look me in the eye any more I realized I had to do something. I found sugaring as my saving grace. I find that it doesn't hurt near as much as waxing and it is so much easier to work with since it just washes off with warm water. Since you probably have all the stuff you need at home its tuns cheaper too!

Sugaring mix

2 c white processed yucky sugar
1/2 c water
2 tb lemon juice

stir everything together in a sauce pan and simmer. Stir regularly till the sugar turns a dark amberish brown color. While it is still hot pour into a jar and let cool. Once it is cool you should be able to scoop it with your hands and roll into a ball. Dust the clean area you want to wax with baby powder. Apply the wax in the direction of hair. Using strips of fabric (I cut up an old sheet and it gave me a bunch that I use in different sizes for different areas - plus they rinse out easy and are re-usable!) apply the fabric and rub to heat up the wax. Then pull the skin tight and quickly rip the heck out of the area you are waxing in the opposite direction of hair growth. It's best to do this when no one else is home so no one will hear you scream. Allow screaming to come, it's natural, and the more natural the better. It's quite therapeutic. And may I point out that it is a guy pulling the wax off in the picture....pansy!

Day 88: Toothbrush Soak

10:42 PM The Hydes 2 Comments

On my mission we had regular demonstration on health by my favorite Sister Crockett. On one occasion she started chucking pieces of white bread into the audience to demonstrate that it would take a loaf and a half of white bread to equal the nutrition of one piece of wheat bread. On another occasion she told us that our tooth brushes were a breading ground for millions of germs and bacteria and so we were commanded to boil our toothbrushes on a regular basis.

Wanting to be the obedient missionary, I went right home and started the water boiling.....and then I forgot about it. I went about getting ready for bed and when I went to go and brush my teeth I realized where my toothbrush.....or should I say former toothbrush was. It was now a glob of goo all over the pan and would not come off.

To save you the trouble of scrubbing a pan for hours or ultimately buying a new pan like I did, here is a safer, time saving alternative.

Toothbrush Soak
In a cup that you can relegate to the bathroom pour :

1/4 c hydrogen peroxide
4 drops peppermint essential oil

Place your toothbrush in the mix when not in use. The hydrogen peroxide will keep the brush clean and the peppermint will kill germs and leave your brush minty fresh. Replace the mixture once a week. Obviously you'll get a lot more benefit if the bristles are facing down.

Day 87: Detox Body Scrub

9:28 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

I've never really been a "girly girl." I'm not exactly a tom boy either but I've never really been into the whole make up, high heels, shopping and jewelry stuff. With that said, sometimes even I go for a little luxury. In Samoa you need a little reminder ever once in a while that you are in fact of the female gender. For Christmas I gave my friends a packet of this body scrub.....the only problem was I forgot to tell them not to eat it. They must have thought I was a terrible cook. I'm sure they thought this polongie was weirder then ever!


Body Scrub

1 container epson salt
1 cup baking soda
30 drops lavender essential oil


Mix everything together in a big disposable pan. You may not want to mix this in a plastic bowl because the essential oil my remain. Scrub all over with this scrub and leave on for a minute. You'll start to tingle as the epson salt kills bacteria on your skin. After you wash off your skin will be super soft and silky....even, dare I say, feminine.

Jessica, Is that you?

7:37 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

Talofa! We are back from Samoa! It's good to be back. We have been back for a little over a month....which is why I also haven't written. It's been crazy being back with family and friends. We haven't seen them in 2 years so we've had a lot of catching up to do. Since we've been back I've kind of noticed that I've let myself go a bit since we've been in Samoa. A pound here, a little hairy there....nothing that can't be taken care of with a girls day and a session of hot yoga. This weeks recipes are for the women out there that want to take care of themselves but don't want the junk that comes with beauty products. My mother always said, "there's a price you pay for beauty" but I'm not prepared to pay that much. I think there is a difference between being prissy and being comely (I've never liked that word...it sounds to close to homely which is totally different! Lets call is clekesy...clean, kept, and classy) You don't have to spend hours getting ready and wear layers of make up to look nice. These recipes will achieve just that....you'll be so clekesy!

Monday: Toothpaste
Tuesday: Face wash
Wednesday:Detox body scrub
Thursday: Toothbrush soak
Friday: Sugar wax
Saturday: Refreshing body spray
Sunday: Shampoo for Thick Hair
Bonus: Bed Spray

Shopping List

baking soda
essential oils
distilled water
sugar
Epsom salt
hydrogen peroxide
castile soap
coconut oil
vitamin e oil
1 lemon

Day 84: Febreze

4:58 PM The Hydes 0 Comments

Do you remember when febreze first came out and you thought it was the best thing since like ever! and you went to the store and smelled all of them picking out which one was your favorite till you had a head ache and then spraying down your entire house with the new miracle cure for stinkynesses? ok...maybe that was just me. I remember being in love with febreze and then finally reading the label....monochemicalsorbate, fenzolchemicalflorum, biochemicalexplotionide....blah blah blah. Not what I want my family breathing in....no matter how good it smells. I knew there had to be a better alternative and here it is.

Febreze

1 c white vinegar
1 c distilled water
20 drops essential oil of your choice -

I like citronella but then again, I have a bit of a bug problem so this kills two bugs with one stone. It also covers the vinegar smell really well. I also LOVE grapefruit! The main purpose of the oils is to cover the vinegar smell so experiment and have fun with it. Let me know what works for you! I would love to hear your concoctions.

Mix everything together in a spray bottle. Shake well at each use.