If you've never heard:
"d*mn, guuurrrrlll, you sure is ashy!" stop reading now & return to your regularly scheduled sewing/crafting project! LOL! Now that summer is here and we're all baring a bit more flesh, here's my secret for smashing summer skin (and its great for combating winter chap, too):
Sweet almond oil is odorless and not sticky or oily at all! No need to go all fancy with it, just pick it up on the oil/shortening aisle of your favorite well-stocked grocery store (e.g., Whole Foods, Central Market, Sprouts, etc.).
I use it in a number of ways, but mostly I just mix a few drops with my favorite body cream
du jour and rub it in to my skin after a shower. You can use it stratight on your skin, but I like to incorporate the scent of my body cream, so I mix them. I also have been known to take a handful of sea salt, douse it with a splash of almond oil and rub the paste into my skin, paying particular attention to rough heels, knees, and elbows before jumping into the shower — voila! homemade salt scrub. The paste is also good for a quick mani/pedi if you don't have time to make an appointment with your favorite nail care professional. Remove old polish. Grab a handful of sea salt/epsom salts and a dash of almond oil. Rub it into your hands or feet, especially the cuticle area. Rinse with some mild hand soap, pat dry and rub in your favorite hand lotion (or more almond oil). You can swipe on a coat or two of clear polish if you like (but, swab the lotion/oil off of your nails with some polish remover first). Instant revitalization for tired looking hands and feet! Its also great for massages and can be used as a light hair oil. Of course, you can cook with it, too! It can take high heat and is great for sauteeing veggies.
One of my favorite bath salt recipes includes almond oil:
Homemade Bath SaltsIngredients- 1 cup Epsom salts
- 1/2 cup sea salt, optional (you can do all epsom or sea salt or a mix)
- 3-5 drops essential oil(s) of your choice (e.g., lavendar, bergamont, rose, jasmine, lemon, etc.)
- 1-2 T almond oil (you can use mineral oil, olive oil, etc., as long as it won't go rancid)
- dried herbs/flowers of your choice, optional (e.g., rosemary, lavendar, dried lemon/orange peel)
Instructions- In a glass or metal bowl (don't use plastic or wood, they absorb odors), toss the salts, essential oil, and almond oil until well mixed. Using your hands to mix is the best method.
- Add additional essential oil and almond oil to suit your taste. The salts should be slightly shiny and on the translucent side when well mixed.
- Toss in dried herbs/flowers for a pleasing look.
- Dispense mixed salts into glass storage containers with tight-fitting, airtight lids.
- Run some bath water and Enjoy!
I store my bath salts in old wide-mouth mason jars I found while thrifting a few years ago. They have glass tops held on with a wire spring mechanism. Very cool! I recycle the scoops from powder detergent or drink mixes to use with my bath salts. I also have a scoop that is a sea shell from a potpourri gift I got years and years ago! LOL! Again, the bath salts can be used as above with some extra almond oil or coconut oil (expensive!) to make a body scrub or do a quickie mani/pedi touch up.
If you are not allergic to nuts, you should try out sweet almond oil sometime.
I'm calling it a "burnt orange" since this is Longhorn country out here — University of Texas (Austin) Longhorns that is. I'm not an alum, but plenty of family and friends are. Burnt orange and white were my high school colors and the Longhorn was our mascot, so I think I have sufficient connection to co-opt the theme for my coat. Besides, when you wear this color in Texas, everyone assumes that affiliation anyway.
But look at the draft! Very interesting! Straight grain for the left panel, bias for the middle panel, and cross grain for the right panel. I can see some really cool effects with a subtly (or not-so-subtly) textured woven. Of course, a plaid or stripe or symmetrical print would really pop.
