REFRESHING – Life, Lipstick, & Glowing Skin

Got Leftovers?

Tidying up the last signs of Christmas 🎄 in your house and the holiday season? Me too.

In fact some of my neighbors can’t let go and still have their Christmas trees lit up inside and decorations in their windows and outside their front door.

So if you happen to find you have left over CANDY CANES let me stir your imagination and let’s make and enjoy a few things.

It’s cold 🥶 outside even in sunny 😎 Florida. 🌴 . We have our fireplace going and I’m cozy in bed with a hot chocolate with a candy cane hanging from my 👄 mug with lips. I just took a bath and enjoyed this recipe below. I love the smell, taste and minty feel of peppermint in food and on my skin! Especially my feet after a long work day or a day of travel. ✈️ So I refresh my skin and exfoliate it gently a bit too. I use this peppermint recipe especially in the winter.

Peppermint Kiss Foot Scrub

What you will need is:

1 cup of cornmeal (I prefer the fine one)

1 cup of powdered milk

Approximately 15- 18 drops of peppermint oil. Not cooking or food grade but aromatherapy essential oil.

And add a dash of water and stir.

I fill smaller mason jars with the above mix.

OR I pour into mini snack size baggies to have individual portions.

Take a shower or bath or just wash your feet and pat them dry a bit.

Sit at the edge of the tub or on a chair in the bathroom.

Place down a bath mat or towel.

While skin is still damp apply this scrub and massage it in on each foot.

Then pay attention to the soles and calluses and dry areas of your skin. Massage in circular motions of your foot and work the scrub in.

This revitalizing foot 🦶 scrub smells dreamy and feels so invigorating on the feet

Leave scrub on your feet at least 5 more minutes and rinse well.

Your feet will feel brand new and your spirits will be too.

Who says you can’t enjoy and eat candy canes only during the holiday season?

I remember the days…

When we served rose all day.

I miss seeing my clients in my makeup studio. I miss touching their faces! I miss giving them hugs too. Now with the pandemic things are so very different. I have NOT opened my beauty cottage YET. The Covid-19 numbers upticking here in Florida I don’t want to yet. I care about my clients safety and the health of my family.

I also remember the good old days when we would serve them all kinds of treats and drinks. From sugar cookies dipped in chocolate and lavender buds and chocolate dipped strawberries to sparkling drinks. Rose wine 🍷 was the last drink we served them in March.

Here is one of the recipes I enjoyed serving them. I thought you might enjoy this coming weekend. Or tonight!

Rose Sparkler with Raspberries and Lemons.

What you will need to make this refreshing drink:

1 bottle of chilled rose

1 1/2 pt. of fresh raspberries

2 tsp.of sugar

2 tbsp. of lemon juice

Sliced lemons and raspberries for embellishment!

Mash the raspberries with sugar and lemon juice in a pitcher. Top with sparkling rose. Serve over ice with the sliced lemons and raspberries.

How’s your life? Chat back. Share!

berries berry blur close up — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

shallow focus photography of sliced lemon — Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

action alcohol art beverage — Photo by Posawee Suwannaphati on Pexels.com

Drink Up!

Photo by Susanne Jutzeler on Pexels.com

We’re headed into another long weekend! 🌴🌞So looking forward to chilling away. If your business is open maybe you can serve something refreshing. Or simply enjoy this recipe at home with your family. I so love to entertain CLIENTS.family and friends. I even wrote a book on it Entertaining in your Salon or SPA.

Strawberry Mango Lemonade

Blend and give it a whirl with 1 cup of frozen strawberries, 2 cups of frozen mango chunks and 2 cups of lemonade that you made.Or cheat and use store bought already made.

This recipe makes 4 glasses of refreshing and delicious lemonade. More if you use smaller glasses.

Garnish with a pineapple chunk for a tropical twist. Since we can’t quite getaway at least we can pretend we are with a few of life’s simple treasures.

Stay hydrated!

Ho,Ho,Ho … Christmas Punch!

When you are entertaining your clients OR for family, friends or a 🎈 party of one. Add a punch to the celebration.

Hot coffee ☕️ and tea 🍵 are cozy but it’s not a party 🎉 without punch!

ALL you need is LOVE and these ingredients below:

4 Cups of cranberry 🥤 juice

4 Cups of pineapple 🍍 juice

4 Cups of Florida Orange 🍊 Juice

Chill all of the above before your guests arrive. Add a bottle of Sparkling Pellegrino water.

Dress it up u with colorful cranberries and a few orange 🍊 slices

Pour in a pretty pitcher or place in a punch bowl. Your clients or guests will LOVE this sparkling pretty delight.

If you’re a fan of egg nog… think about serving egg nog SHOTS. My clients and family love the serving portion (less calories) and have fun drinking it in this way.

egg nog bottle near cupcake red berry fruits and ice cold drinks — Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Candy Cane Lane

Have you gone down the candy aisle or shopped at one of Ralph Lauren’s daughter’s candy stores?

Candy canes are having a major moment right now. They come in so many hues and are so fun when used in a variety of delicious and decorative ways.

They come in so many colors and styles these days. I love to serve them to guests with milk, hot cocoa and crush them and sprinkle on top of cheesecake, cupcakes and more. I also enjoy serving my clients Candy Cane Lane hot Tea with a tiny candy cane hanging from inside the cup.

photo of milkshake near heart shaped marshmallow — Photo by Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush on Pexels.com

They seem to make people of all ages smile around this time of year especially.

One of my fave ways to keep it fun at my makeup studio is by making some special clients a fresh home-made lip treat. Peppermint candy canes work well and taste refreshing. But I am also over the moon with the other flavors and colors available today.

All you need for my recipe is…

1 fresh jar of organic coconut oil (not used from your kitchen pantry)
A candy cane of your choice.

Using a kitchen mallot I crush the canes into tiny pieces but a few mini chunks work well and are visually appealing.

close up photo of person holding candy — Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com

I then place a soup spoon (or fill with a 1/4 cup) of the coconut oil and place it in a microwave-safe small bowl. The amount of coconut oil depends on how much you want to make)

I sprinkle in a few pieces of the crushed candy cane.

I microwave for 50 seconds or less. I eyeball it. (Yes, you can do this on the stovetop but I like it this way too)

IF you want to have a peppermint kick add a dash of food-grade peppermint oil.

Next, I take this mixture out of the microwave, stir a bit and let it cool very quickly and then place some of it in a small container. You will have leftovers depending on the size jar you use.

What you will have is a cool to the tongue and refreshing lipgloss or lip balm that is not only fun to make but this recipe is so EASY to do.

The shelf life isn’t months but more like a week or so but the feeling on dry winter lips and skin-softening will make you want to use it daily! Treat yourself or someone else this holiday season and keep those lips soft and kissable this cold winter!

Sometimes the best gifts are home-made and made with love!!! Don’t you agree?

Refresh Yo’self this weekend!

Fri-YAY! It is the start of the weekend. Time to refresh,renew and chill out. Serve this to your clients and let the smiles begin.

Back from Vegas and we really need this cool treat.

Enjoy making a minty ice cubes D.I.Y. by filling a tray with small pieces of fresh mint.

green leaf — Photo by Yigithan Bal on Pexels.com

Serve yourself in sparkling water or make this refreshing drink below.

What you will need:

1 cup of seedless watermelon slices

1/2 cup of Coconut water

A dash of fresh lime juice as icing on the top!

Crushed ice

Mix all of the above together in a blender.Pour in a pretty glass and enjoy!

*Fresh mint or peppermint to go in the blender or as garnish.

Drink umbrella optional!

YUM! Don’t you want some?

watermelon juice — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com