Designing earrings is so much fun, especially if you like wearing unique jewelry. My outfits are often simple, so to spice things up, I always throw on a pair of dangling earrings. Accessories always help add interest to any of my outfits. I've been wanting new earrings, so I took the opportunity to make a new pair. I headed to the nearest craft store to buy all the supplies I needed to tackle this project.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Hoop earrings
• Earring hooks
• Beads
• Pliers
• Optional: charms  (I made my own, learn how here.)

MATERIALS:

• Water Color Paint
• Watercolor Paper
• Paintbrushes
• Ribbon, Tassel, or String
• Scissors
• Marker or Pen

 I love terracotta pots because they're affordable, easily accessible, and are fun to customize. I found these mini planters at my local dollar tree, along with these succulents. I went for a simple design that is easy to recreate.  I love the overlapping layers of paint that give the pots a more modern look. I picked neutral colors to match the decor in my home, but I know it would also look great in vibrant colors.

 MATERIALS:

• Terracotta pots
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrushes
• Greenery

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumrope or continue below for the step-by-step tutorial.)

Are you trying to grow your hair this summer? Then you might want to try this natural aloe vera hair mask. Aloe vera is known for its healing properties, but it's also shown to boost hair growth. This succulent is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It helps keep your scalp hydrated, treats dry hair, and promotes healthier hair. Creating this recipe is easy and consists of 3 simple ingredients you might already have in your kitchen, so let's begin...

ALOE VERA: Aloe vera contains amino acids, vitamins A, C, and E that help strengthen the hair, promote hair growth, improves shine, and make the hair softer. It also reduces dandruff and prevents itching on the scalp. Aloe vera also contains vitamin B12 and folic acid that prevents hair fall and breakage. 

CASTOR OIL: Castor oil contains fatty acid ricinoleic acid. When applied to the scalp, it increases blood circulation, which helps promote hair growth. It reduces inflammation which can help treat dandruff. Castor oil reduces hair loss, strengthens the hair, and nourishes a dry scalp. 

VITAMIN E OIL: Vitamin e oil promotes a healthy scalp, increases hair growth, prevents hair loss, and increases hair shine.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tbsp aloe vera gel
• 1 tbsp castor oil
• 1 tsp vitamin e oil

 MATERIALS:

• Canvas Tote Bag
• Fabric Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pencil

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumprope or continue below for the step-by-step picture tutorial.)

Have you ever considered using your green tea bags to make a facial scrub? After drinking your tea, instead of disposing of the bags, use them to create an amazing scrub for your skin. Green tea is full of antioxidants that can help benefit your skin in various ways. Combined with other natural ingredients, this green tea facial scrub will rejuvenate your skin and give you a healthy glow.

GREEN TEA: The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties found in green tea can help treat acne, oily skin, and unclog pores. The caffeine in green tea constricts the blood vessels around the eyes, treating puffy eyes and dark circles. Green tea protects the skin from UV damage and premature aging.

HONEY: Honey contains antibacterial properties that can effectively improve oily and acne-prone skin. Honey is also a natural humectant and is extremely moisturizing.

JOJOBA OIL: Jojoba oil can help reduce oil production and prevent bacteria growth. It also slows down the appearance of aging and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 GREEN TEA BAG
• 1 TBSP HONEY
• 1 TSP JOJOBA OIL

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumrope or continue below for the step-by-step tutorial.)

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Bring water to a boil, pour the water over the teabag, and steep for about 5 minutes.

2.) Remove the teabag from the cup, set it to the side, and allow it to cool.

3.) Open the tea bag and pour the crushed tea leaves into a bowl.

4.) Add the honey, jojoba oil, and mix well to combine.

HOW TO USE:

1.) Gently apply the mask to the skin. Rub the mask in small, circular motions. 

2.) Leave on the skin for 10-15 minutes.

3.) Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply your moisturizer.

Good morning everyone, today I'm going to show you how to make this beautiful embroidery hoop art design. I got the idea of painting a woman's portrait with elegant flowers from a YouTuber called Dalia. She's so talented and creative. ( I'll leave a link to her youtube channel here.) In her video, she used pressed flowers as the women's hair. I didn't have any on hand, so I decided to embroider mine instead. If you are new at embroidery,  I used the wagon wheel pattern to create beginner-friendly roses. 

MATERIALS:

• Embroidery hoop
• Embroidery thread & needle
• linen Fabric
• Puffy Paint
• Scissors
• Pencil

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumprope or continue below for the step-by-step picture tutorial.)

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Sketch a simple portrait of a woman with a pencil.

2.) Trace the woman's silhouette with black paint. 

3.) Allow the paint to dry.

5.) Draw a circle (the size you want the rose to be.) 

6.) Draw 5 lines coming out from the center. ( It should look like a wagon wheel.)

7.) Bring the needle up through the middle of the wagon wheel and stitch the five lines.

8.) Next, weave the needle in and out of the wagon wheel. (Weaving the thread over and under.) 

9.)Keep weaving the needle until the wagon wheel is full.

10.) Decorate the roses with leaves.

My entire life, I thought I had straight hair. Until I saw videos online of women with the same hair type as me trying the curly girl method. I was shocked to see these women go from frizzy "straight hair" to beautiful wavy/curly hair. I was intrigued, I'm not going to lie, and curious to find out if my hair was actually wavy. When I was in high school, I always wondered why my hair was never pinned straight and why some strands were on the wavier side. I noticed my hair texture changed as soon as I stopped using heat tools, products that contained harsh ingredients, and when I chopped off the dead ends. Once I finally gave the curly girl method a go, I discovered that my hair was actually wavy. The more I did it, the wavier my locks looked. This experience taught me how to properly care for my hair and to embrace my 2a/2b waves.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAIR TYPE I HAVE:

Back when I had no idea my hair was wavy, I used to brush my hair after the shower, let it air dry, and would add a tiny amount of oil to the ends. I always noticed I had a slight wave, almost like an "s" shape. When I watched Brad Mondo's video, I learned what curl pattern I have. His video was very informative, especially when you have no clue what hair type you have. He discusses 4 different topics, the first category he talked about was scalp type, normal, oily, or dry. The second category is hair thickness and hair density. People often confuse the difference between these two topics (including me,) so he explains with further detail what the differences are in his video. He also speaks about damaged and healthy hair. The last category he discusses is hair pattern. Type 1 is a rare hair type that is naturally straight with no curl pattern. If your hair isn't pinned straight, this means you have wavy or curly hair. There are 3 subcategories, wavy, curly, and coiled hair. Once you determine your hair type, you'll have a thorough understanding of what products your hair needs.

HOW I TRANSITIONED TO  WEARING MY NATURAL WAVY HAIR:

As I mentioned above, I stopped using heat on my hair to reduce damage, switched to natural products, and trimmed the split ends. I purchased hair care products specifically for wavy/curly hair and made sure to buy styling moose/gel. I use hair treatments once a week to strengthen and repair my hair. Doing rice water rinse a few times per month improved the overall texture of my hair. I also use a regrowth serum ( I highly recommend incorporating them into your hair care routine.) After the shower, I make sure to scrunch n plop it. Afterward, I'll protect my hair with a silk scarf before going to bed. 

MY HAIR THEN V.S NOW:

MY ADVICE:

Never in a million years did I ever think my hair was wavy. I've only been doing the curly girl method for a month, and I have already noticed a drastic change in the way my hair looks and feels. Transitioning to wavy hair is challenging as it is high maintenance, but trust me, it gets easier once you get the hang of it. If you think you have wavy/curly hair and you're curious to find out, I recommend trying out the curly girl method. Walmart and Target sell affordable hair products for curly hair under 20 dollars. Give it a go, and feel free to share your experience with me in the comments down below.

Mother's day is approaching soon, and if you don't have a gift yet. You're in luck! I have the perfect Mother's day gift idea, flower soap bars. Handmade gifts are always thoughtful and special. Natural soap bars are easy to personalize, not to mention how fun they are to make. These soap bars make great gifts not only for mother's day but for any occasion.

INGREDIENTS:

• Shea Butter Soap Base
• Dried Flowers
• Essential Oil Of Choice
• Silicone Soap Mold

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumprope or continue below for the step-by-step picture tutorial.)

MATERIALS USED:

• Ebony wood stain
• Sushi mat
• Dowels
• Wooden knobs
• Handsaw
• Gorilla wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Paintbrushes
• Screwdriver
• Wood filler

(Watch the full tutorial on Jumprope or continue below for the step-by-step picture tutorial.)

5.) While the dresser was drying, I began working on the drawer.

6.) I measured the drawer and trimmed the sushi mat according to those measurements. (Mine was exactly half of the sushi mat.)

7.) I then glued each bamboo stick on the drawer and repeated the process until I was finished.

8.) For the trim, I used wooden dowels to frame the drawer. You can use anything you'd prefer, that's what I had in hand at the moment.

9.) I used a wood filler to fill in the gaps.

10.) Once the drawer dried completely, I replaced the old hardware with round wooden knobs.