a make-do bathroom makeover! ~ Like Mother Like Daughter

Read article : a make-do bathroom makeover! ~ Like Mother Like Daughter

{At the end of this post you will find paint colors to update your almond fixtures, and notes about sources. The Amazon links are affiliate links.}

I have come to that point where either I show you some pictures of my bathroom makeover in its not-quite-complete form or I give up altogether, because in real life, the “done” things very quickly get to be decidedly worn out, even as you are trying to finish up the details.

And that would not be good, would it, for me to wait so long that the new things got old. So that’s what I’m doing — showing you the way it is in real life, namely, not quite done (or ever likely to be!).

I have one million things to tell you.

We redid two bathrooms at once, simply because they are right next to each other and it seemed to make sense in terms of economy of scale. I’m not sure if that turns out to be correct. It certainly makes sense in terms of one’s willingness to return to chaos after one stage has been dealt with. It also makes sense when the second one is completely unusable, as opposed to the first which is just crumbling.

Here is a diagram/plan of our second floor. Those of you who know me well, know my little attempts to give you an overview of things… which may or may not be helpful.

What this is conveying to you, in my own wacky way, is that in an old house, choices have to be made, usually according to things known as “stacks” — places where plumbing gets put in and it’s just simpler to go up with it to the next floor than to, you know, actually put it where it’s needed.

Thus, yes, I go a far piece to get to the bathroom. (The Chief also does, but, you know.) And those bathrooms are next to each other. Because, plumbing.

I will show you the other one at some point. We are putting shelving up and then I hope to!

Here are some befores. Please remember that befores are usually taken at the very last minute, after the leaks have gotten bad and pretty much when the demo has begun and suddenly you’re like, “Let me stop the hating for a minute, just for the sake of the blog.” So don’t judge me too harshly; it wasn’t quiiiittte this bad. Well, not till the very end.

BEFORE:

The leaks had sprung, and that’s what the towels are all about. In my dreams, I would have had an upscale construction company come in here and gut everything, and I would have put in black and white tile and white porcelain fixtures. There would be a freestanding tub with a shower; I don’t see what’s wrong with that! I like it, and it’s old-fashioned and timeless. Plus, way easier to bathe a baby in, versus a dumb jacuzzi and too-small shower.

However, that was not to be.

It’s just too expensive to rip out these built ins. Let this be a warning to you! Try not to build things in. That tub — not going anywhere. Likewise the vanity. It would just cost so much to replace it with its built-in sinks.

That meant that we had to work with the almond. I know. But because of that, I’m here to tell you the best way to do that in terms of decorating!

BEFORE:

Somewhere along the way, when I was still nursing that black-and-white dream of mine, we replaced the old almond (terrible and malfunctioning) toilet with this nice white one.

My reasoning — what would be the point of putting in new almond one if we were on track to gut this bathroom and make it all NOT ALMOND?

Yeah. After crunching the numbers (and recovering consciousness, and paying the tuition bill), we did end up getting one to match, and this beautiful white number is in the new laundry room.

Now, I want you further to note the golden oak trim. Baseboards, windows (sorry, no befores of that), and the radiator cover. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to incorporate almond fixtures and golden oak trim, and then I came to my senses.

The trim was getting painted.

AFTER:

I took the radiator cover down to the garage and spray-painted it. It’s at times like this that spray-paint earns its keep. Painting all that metal screen with a brush would have been a nightmare of drips and surfaces!

I also spray-painted the radiator underneath. It had been white and the white showed through the mesh and contrasted with the black. However, I would not do that again — spray painting inside is not a good idea!

We got a bigger shower. The space above the new wall is open on the theory that air circulation is a good thing.

The trick with the almond is to go a bit darker on the walls, and a white-leaning-towards-gray-taupe (taupe is beige with black in it, or brown/black with white in it, however you want to look at it) for the trim.

Black accents lift everything up out of the 70s-90s. I painted the light fixtures black and got new glasses for the sconces.

I do really love the flooring. It’s vinyl plank (not laminate sheets). It’s completely waterproof and floats on the subfloor — in this case, partial tile and partial plywood. Just covers it all up and provides a warm, easy to clean surface. I love the color of it.

I call it “Escape from Golden Oak.”

The paint and a bunch of the black we had already decided on in the last go-round (the real before featured blue wallpaper, which, who puts wallpaper in a bathroom I ask you, and blue is not a good way to uplift almond). The vanity had been golden oak; I hadn’t thought to take a before picture (there is a similar one on this blog), but I was very pleased with how the hardware went from blah to fab, just with the color change.

We did update the faucets. Surely you can see why…

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I will say that the surround of the tub and the countertop and backsplashes are all Corian. I like that surface. I would have liked it not to be almond, but oh well.

One little note you might not think of: The nice-looking black and chrome toothbrush holder from Target (as seen in the before pic just above)?

No good.

No matter how much you rinse the toothbrushes, the dried residue is white! Making your holder look gross. I spray painted mine white.

There are nice touches in old houses…

Before:

After:

Things I would do at some point:

Touch up the black of the vanity and the frames of the mirrors

Spray paint the towel ring between the two mirrors black

Replace the window over the tub so that it opens (which, among other things, would allow for it to be cleaned on the outside; it’s over the roof of the garage, so a cleaning isn’t happening otherwise!)

Replace or paint the faucet of the tub

Line the curtain to make it look a bit more substantial — this requires coming across a good length of muslin at some point

Paint and sources:

Walls: Olympic, Sienna Sand (which may be the Benjamin Moore name which we originally used, but they can make it at Lowe’s)

Trim: Valspar Cliveden Mist (first we primed the oak well)

The black is just some random black in the case of the vanity (I don’t remember, but just don’t get a blue-black) or black spray paint

Ceiling paint: Take a tip from me and use glossy paint for your bathroom ceilings, preferably one that is mold-resistant — this was a huge upgrade from the regular ceiling paint that had been on there before

Flooring: Shaw’s Matrix Regency Vinyl Plank Flooring in Gunstock, from Lowe’s (I bought this after buying a similar product from Home Depot; I was actually hoping for a lighter color (which I think doesn’t show as much dirt). I was checking out with enough flooring for both bathrooms and caught sight of a sample laid out. My, it was ugly! So I turned right around and returned it all! After much texting of photos to Rosie and a considerable amount of agonizing over the fact that some colors are in stock and some are decidedly not and anyway how are you supposed to tell, I found this one at Lowe’s. I love it.)

Toilet: Gerber

Shower: Got it from the plumbing supply store — it is 5′ wide and has a built-in seat! The door is from Lowe’s and is suspended from the top, making it easier to clean

Faucets: Ufaucet from Amazon. These are very nice and the pop-up drain is metal, not plastic, and the price was right

Towel racks/hooks: Spray painted regular hooks black; Phil made the peg board; carved wooden hook from Marshall’s

Paris map: Available at art stores that sell wrapping paper, for under $4, or here on Amazon for more. I decoupaged it onto a spray-painted piece of particleboard that we had, so the whole thing cost me $5

Curtain fabric: JoAnn’s

Other art: Thrifted, or decoupaged greeting cards — the “abstract art” is actually a picture of a Gee’s Bend quilt, and however much a source of contention it is in my family, I love it for the sweet thriftiness it represents

Shout-out to Bridget who helped me choose the fabric and who did a lot of painting!

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Meditation 101 - Paula Faris on Mindfulness & Meditation

Read article : Meditation 101 - Paula Faris on Mindfulness & Meditation

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By Paula Faris

Aug 11, 2017

Ten years ago, I would never have considered meditating. But I wasn't a mom then.

The other day, my 3-year-old licked a popcorn kernel off the floor at Starbucks. And incredibly, that wasn't the moment that drove me to look for some inner peace. No, that came while I was alone in my car one afternoon. I'd pulled off to the side of the road, crying, because in the midst of shuttling my two oldest kids (ages 7 and 9) to this practice and that party, I'd snapped and said some things in anger that I wished I could take back. I wasn't who I wanted to be for my children.

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Like so many of my friends, I feel like I'm drowning. I'm a weekend anchor on Good Morning Americaand a cohost on The View, and while I love what I do, it only adds to the chaos of navigating life as a wife and mom. My schedule changes constantly. More than once, I've had to postpone vacations and parent-teacher meetings to hop on a plane to cover breaking news.

At home, I try to be fully present for my children, and as a Christian, I get peace from my faith. But none of that means I'm patient. While of course I'd heard of meditation, it used to make me picture people chanting, cross-legged, in a candlelit room. Then I met Dan Harris, my GMA coanchor and an ambassador for the practice. (He wrote the New York Times best seller 10% Happier.) The more I learned from him — about the scientific evidence behind meditation and how it can rewire your brain, making you calmer and more focused—the more I wanted to try it. Dan calls it "a bicep for your brain."

So, when Redbook challenged me to meditate for an entire month, I jumped at it. I'm the type of person who needs structure and deadlines — someone to hold me accountable. "I used to be you," said Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder of Unplug Meditation in Los Angeles and my designated coach for the challenge. "I wish I'd had meditation when my own three kids were littler," she told me, noting that I could see a difference in as little as two weeks. So off I went to find some calm.

Week 1

This week was about mindfulness, and yay, I already knew what that meant — to really reflect on the moment you're in, to soak in the experience. I had never done it, but I was sure it would be wonderful.

As Suze explained, you can practice mindfulness anywhere and at any time, even while brushing your teeth. To make it easier, she gave me two short daily meditations and access to her studio's Unplug Meditation app so I'd have teachers to guide me.

On the first morning, I cued up a video on the STOP practice. You simply stop what you're doing, take a few breaths, and observe (with your eyes open) for a few seconds before proceeding with your day. When the sound faded out, I couldn't believe the meditation was over already. It was so simple — for days after, I repeated it on my own whenever I needed a reset, like at a stoplight or on set at GMA. One evening, in the kitchen, I found it worked rather well with a glass of wine; I noticed the way it swirled, its color and consistency. (Yes, I drank it.)

With that kind of success, I moved on to a meditation the military calls "tactical breathing." You take a deep breath in through your nose, hold it, and breathe out again. It takes roughly 16 seconds, and the idea is that when you're focused on your breath, the stuff causing you stress can fall away.

The testing ground was dinnertime: The kids were fussy, first about what I was cooking and then about one another. At the table, I took a deep breath, held that tension, and breathed out. "Mommy, are you mad?" my daughter asked, all three of them quiet, eyes fixed on me. Not anymore, sweetheart. Not anymore.Later that night, I did it again to fend off a meltdown (mine) during the hostage negotiations known as bedtime.

It wasn't until the next morning, however, that I found my favorite meditation yet: the three-minute cure. While my toddler watched TV, I slipped into the next room and watched my own video. For the first minute, you focus on your breath. For the second, you imagine being in your happy place — for me, that's Lake Michigan, surrounded by family, wind in my hair. The final minute is for positive affirmations. (I repeated Scripture in my mind: I am fearfully and wonderfully made.) When I emerged, I was quite emotional — there's something cathartic about extending the same grace to yourself that you give to others.

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In the days that followed, I had some mishaps: I fell asleep meditating once, and had to skip it another night when I came down with food poisoning on a flight to Utah. As the meditations got longer, I had to fight my share of distractions, which can be frustrating. ("You'll never completely turn off your thoughts," Suze assured me.) All that said, after just one week, I felt calmer. I was starting to understand the hype.

Week 2

I was really eager to tackle this week's meditations — all designed to engage the senses — as soon as I learned that the first couple involved essential oils, which I'd been using for years.

On the first morning, I grabbed two of my favorites (peppermint and orange, which are supposed to help you feel energized), rubbed a few drops in my hands, and breathed them in before starting the three-minute cure. The oils were strong, but immediately I felt more alert, and my nasal passages seemed more open, allowing me to breathe deeper. At night, I did the same thing, but with lavender, to help prepare for sleep.

On Wednesday, I was supposed to try tapping, where you lightly drum different areas of your body with your fingertips while repeating positive affirmations out loud. It took about 30 seconds for me to realize it just wasn't for me. (It's a hard pass for my coanchor Dan too, apparently.) It's not exactly practical for someone who tends to meditate on public transit — and I found I preferred my meditations still and silent anywhere. I also did my own version of a sound bath, where you listen to music and feel the vibrations. Focusing on the rhythms and background instruments of some of my favorite Coldplay and Hillsong music was almost like being at a concert. Seriously— I felt transported.

These were interesting techniques, but I was struck by how I was able to keep using mindfulness in my everyday life. After a celebrity shoot in Miami, a cameraman came to me and said, "We have a problem — we don't have anything." Seemingly the camera had failed to roll on the interview. I noticed his face turning red as he checked the camera; he had to lean against something to steady himself. "You don't look well," I said. "I want you to do something with me for 16 seconds: Take a deep breath in and hold it, then blow it out." A few minutes later, he was calmer, and thankfully — because there's only so much that meditation can fix — we found the video for my segment too.

Illustration by Shout

Week 3

Guided imagery was on my schedule this week, and I was glad it came later in the month. It would have been a hard sell earlier, but now I understood that being able to take yourself to another place when you're under stress can be an incredibly valuable resource.

I started the week out by writing down the things that make me happy. I struggled at first — a painful reminder that, as moms, we often lose sight of ourselves. (What with the floor licking and all.) But after a while, it started to come back to me, and I realized that it's some of the simplest things that bring me the most joy: drinking coffee, watching my kids play sports, picking flowers, hearing my husband laugh. I realized that I just needed to be more present in those moments, to be more mindful.

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That insight proved invaluable as I moved into the new meditations, sitting for up to 20 minutes at a time as a teacher asked me to envision things like a movie theater where the best possible version of my life played out on the screen ("What would it look like?"). One day, I imagined being in a tropical paradise — hilariously, even as my train's conductor announced, "Next stop: New Rochelle." The longer the meditations became, the more my mind wandered. Did I turn off the sprinkler? Oh, man — I forgot to call my mom back! When am I going to shower today? Now, however, I just smiled through them and brought my focus back to the meditation. It was like I had been doing this forever.

Week 4

I was due to try transcendental, or mantra-based, meditation for my final week, and honestly, it seemed like the most out-there one yet. That said, I was willing to give it a go.

Suze put me at ease when she explained the practice this way: Man means think, and tra means instrument — so, a mantra is a mind instrument, a word or phrase you repeat silently that helps you stay focused. The videos I was following along with suggested mantras like "Ahh-hum," but since Suze's studio encourages people to BYOM (bring your own mantra), I modified them to things like "Amen" and "Be still." I sat, for fewer than 10 minutes at first, repeating the mantra in my mind with each breath, softer and softer until I could just sit in the silence. And while I finally reached my limit on the last day — the video was 45 minutes long, but I could only do 15 — I finished the week feeling empowered, knowing that I had made this practice my own.

I'm no longer setting reminders in my phone to meditate, because I don't have to. I meditate throughout the day, by pausing to reflect on a leaf outside my window, taking 16 seconds to quiet my thoughts while my kids swirl around me, or focusing on a mantra I desperately need before I lose my mind.

Meditation is one of the few things I do just for me, and it's emotional: I've explored places within myself that were neglected or repressed, like warm memories of my family, feelings of anxiety, the harsh way I judge myself. It's made me more present in every aspect of my life. One of Dan's teachers says life is like a game of whack-a-mole — you tackle one thing and another pops up — and while meditation won't change your circumstances, it can change how you react. Now I see that instead of frantically smashing moles, I can slow them down and focus on one thing at a time.

My kids have noticed: "You're not as cranky," my daughter offered one day, and my older son said I had been giving more kisses than usual. My being more present with them has been a gift for all of us. They like this me better — and so do I.

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How do you meditate, anyway?

"There are more ways to meditate than there are to make an egg," says Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder of Unplug Meditation in Los Angeles. But they all boil down (ha!) to three things: You focus on a single point, like your breath or an aroma. Then you let it slip away so you can just be present — feel the air on your skin, listen to the noises around you. And then when your mind starts to wander, you bring it back to that single point and begin again. Seems simple enough, right?

What meditation can do for you

A lot, actually. Research suggests that meditation can help ease pain, anxiety, and depression. In one study, people who practiced it for a short time had fewer inflammatory markers in their blood — lowering their risk for stress-fueled illnesses like heart disease. Scans showed that meditation had improved communication within parts of the brain that maintain calm and focus. Still, the science is evolving, and it isn't clear yet how often or for how long you need to meditate to see the rewards. For now, "it's best to think of meditation as a skill — the more you develop it, the more likely you are to benefit from it," says Madhav Goyal, M.D., of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Catch Paula on ABC's Good Morning America Weekend every Saturday and Sunday morning on ABC (check local listings).

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Around Iceland in 4 days with Happy Campers

Read article : Around Iceland in 4 days with Happy Campers

As you may have noticed here on the blog, I’ve never been a big fan of campers in Iceland. It’s not that I was against campers per say, it was just the very specific and often hard-to-tackle camper problems that maybe got my knickers in a twist a bit.

There were two things in particular that I had issues with:

1) For some reason, when the campers first burst into the tourist scene here in Iceland they were advertised in a way that made people think they could just park them anywhere and everywhere to spend the night. This was never the case, although the laws were a bit muddy back then, but now it is specifically stated in the law that you are not allowed to camp in a camper outside of a designated campsite. But to save money, and maybe for bragging rights as well, a lot of people that rent campers still break this law. And to locals, that’s infuriating. For tons of good reasons.

2) The rough conditions in Iceland can make it downright dangerous to travel around in campers in the winter but people still insist on doing it. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer here but it’s just not a good idea to stay in a camper in a crazy storm (which some winters occur every other week) with the wind blowing at 90 mph. Plus that most of the campsites are closed and then it becomes difficult to follow the aforementioned law.

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So when Happy Campers suggested for the first time that we’d borrow one of their campers to travel around Iceland I was skeptical. Did I really want to contribute to this problem by introducing more people to campers? I know it probably sounds ridiculous but sometimes I just take my job as a blogger very seriously and I get tangled up in my efforts in being a good role model.

I also have to be completely honest (airing out my dirty laundry here) and admit that I’ve become quite used to staying in nice hotels with big fluffy duvets and fancy toiletries and I just wasn’t super psyched about sleeping in a car and share a bathroom with a bunch of travelers with limited access to showers. I fear I’ve become an accommodation snob – the first step is acknowledging the problem, right?

So I kept putting it off. I just wanted to know how I felt about it before committing to anything and to be sure it was the right thing. And apparently, it takes me two years to make a decision because that’s how long it took me to take Happy Campers up on their offer. I almost backed out last minute but seeing how excited Hrannar was, I put on a brave face and powered through it. Because I love him. And I don’t want to be accused of being middle-aged.

Full disclosure: Happy Campers provided us with a car free of charge but we paid for the insurances ourselves. We paid additionally for the extra SCDW because like I’ve said many times before I never rent a car without it. Everything else on this road trip came out of our own pockets. Furthermore, this post contains affiliate links so if you book with Happy Campers through these links we earn a little bit of commission. They won’t charge you anything extra but by using the link you help us out keeping the blog alive. 

A little bit about Happy Campers

Happy Campers was one of the first camper rental companies in Iceland of its kind. It’s a small family owned company and the whole family still works there. The mom is the CFO, the dad the big boss and their three sons all work for the company in one way or another.

Talking to them we also learned that they seem to really care about what they do and their customers. For example, they share my view on it not being a good idea to travel in a camper in winter so they simply don’t rent them out during the coldest and darkest winter months. They also have a little booklet in all their campers where they remind people that camping outside of campsites is illegal and they give good tips on how to drive on gravel roads, how to replace a flat tire (with photos – good for car-idiots like myself) and all kinds of other important things.

Although I was still not completely convinced when we left Reykjavík I was at least happy to see the little details Happy Campers thought of to ensure a smoother ride for their customers and encourage a more responsible travel behavior. Because that kind of stuff actually matters to me.

Our experience with the camper

Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed traveling around in our camper. We got a Happy 3camper (because I announced to them that I  would not be sleeping in their smallest camper – the diva that I am), a converted Renault Master that sleeps up to 5 people. Realistically, I probably wouldn’t recommend it for 5 full grown adults but it’s ideal for families with kids or smaller group of friends.

Sleeping arrangements

There are two seats in the front and then three in the back that convert easily into a double bed. Above the three seats is a bunk bed of sorts where 2-3 people can sleep. We didn’t sleep up there since there were only the two of us but used it to store our stuff at night instead.

Although the double bed was more than big enough for us I can’t deny that it was a bit hard to sleep on. I’m not in the best shape (I have sensitive old lady hips) and am used to sleep in our fabulously comfortable Tempur bed so I didn’t get much sleep the first night and kept having to toss and turn. The second night was better, it was like my body was getting more used to it at that point but for the third night we bought a cheap eggshell mattress topper that made all the difference and I slept like a log. Hrannar did better but he also complained a little bit after the first night. So if you’re like me and you have any issues with your hips or your lower back I would recommend you buy/bring with you one of those self-inflatable air padsor something to make it a little softer.

The mattress on top is much softer than the lower bed so if you feel comfortable with sleeping up there then that might also be a good idea. From the photos I’ve seen of the smaller campers, they also seem to have softer mattresses so I doubt this would be a problem there.

The camper comes with duvets and pillows which we didn’t use because we brought our own but they seemed to be quite nice. If you’re worried about being cold there’s a heating system in the camper that you can put on at night before you go to bed (just remember to turn it back off) which we hardly used. We were wearing our woolen long underwear under the duvet, a standard fare for campers in Iceland, and woolen sock which probably helped but as the resident ice queen of our family that usually shakes and shivers in tents cold was not an issue for me.

Cooking facilities

The camper came with everything you need to make a simple meal, including cutlery and pots and pans for the gas stove. It’s really easy to replace the gas container if you run out and at least in our camper we had a couple of extras at hand, There’s also a sink in the camper that is connected to a water tank that is easy to fill but we didn’t use it at all. We just used the washing up facilities at the campsites we stayed at which seemed like it was easier and would cause less mess in the car. We used the sink mostly to store stuff we wanted to keep at hand while driving that we didn’t want to fly all over the place in case of a hard turn or a sudden stop.

We bought some pre-made pasta at Bónus which we warmed up the first night that was kind of great after a long day on the road. We also opted to get a BBQ, which you have to pay extra for, and used that to cook hot dogs and such for lunch along the way. Camping and BBQs go together like PB and Jelly in the minds of Icelanders so this was essential to us but it might not be for you. One thing we learned though is that if you use the BBQ to grill some lunch you have to factor in a bit of waiting time while the grill cools down after you finish your lunch.

The thing we used the most was the cooler. It’s great because it’s plugged into the electric system of the car so it keeps things constantly cool without you having to worry about a thing.

Finally, one thing we didn’t have but wished we had thought of were camping chairs. You can get them as extras with your camper but we just forgot to think about it. We talked about it at least once a day (usually in the evening when we wanted to sit down and enjoy a beer in the evening sun) how we wished we had them.

Campsites and such

We stayed at three campsites: At Höfn, Borgarfjörður Eystri and Hofsós. They were all clean (although Höfn was the least clean but also the busiest) and they all cost around 1100 – 1500 ISK per person. All of them had plenty of space available but we were, of course, traveling in May before the big tourist and camping season in Iceland. All of the campsites had shower facilities but the only ones I used were at Hofsós (very nice!).

Because we were traveling outside of the main season none of the campsites had personel on the grounds at all times. Instead, they relied on honesty boxes where you’re expected to pay for the facilities. So it’s good to keep a little cash on you so you don’t become the douche bag (get it?) that uses the facilities but doesn’t pay for it.

We visited the swimming pools in Fáskrúðsfjörður (which is tiny by the way) and Hofsós (one of my favorites) but visiting the pools is a great way to keep clean and get rejuvenated after a long day in the car.

Tjalda.is has a comprehensive list of campsites available and you can find info about most swimming pools in Icelandon sundlaugar.is.

Overall camper verdict

In the end, despite the problems we had with the hard mattress at first, we LOVED our time in the camper. It was so great not having to follow a specific plan and just go where the wind took us. The weather was amazing the whole time (close to 20°C and sunny one of the days) and the camper just made the camping experience some much more enjoyable and comfortable. My attitude towards campers took a U-turn and I feel much more comfortable recommending Happy Campers now.

And if you factor the cost of accommodation and everything, even if you include what you pay at campsites per night, it’s actually quite an affordable way to travel. Especially for families.

In fact, we liked it so much that Hrannar is now convinced that we need a camper of our own. We’ll see about that.

Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner {Recipe}

Read article : Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner {Recipe}

Posted by Cindy  ·  January 4, 2017

This homemade bath and shower cleaner is amazing. This recipe has been floating around the web and I had to give it a try for myself! I couldn’t be more thrilled to have found an inexpensive powerful homemade bathroom cleaner. You problably have the ingredients already at your house. Once again vinegar proves to a a great household cleaner. You can even mix vinegar with baking soda for a great way to unclog a drain.

Homemade Bath and Shower Cleaner Recipe

Measure out equal parts of Dawn dishwashing detergent and vinegar. Heat vinegar a couple of minutes in microwave or on cook top until vinegar is hot. Carefully pour vinegar into a spray bottle. Add in Dawn dishwashing detergent and shake to mix.

This Dawn & vinegar cleaner will cut through soap scum, clean sinks, and also the potty. Just spray it on, scrub and rinse. For tough soap scum build-up, spray the mixture on and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes. Scrub and rinse.

Do be careful, it does make alot of bubbles, so the tub might be slippery. If there are too many bubbles try mixing two parts vinegar to one part Dawn. Salt will also dissolve the bubbles.

You will be amazed with this bottle of blue magic! 

If you like this cleaner you might like this DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe.

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Stretch Mark Prevention During Pregnancy and Clear Skin Essentials by KNC Beauty Crush

Read article : Stretch Mark Prevention During Pregnancy and Clear Skin Essentials by KNC Beauty Crush

Kristen Noel Crawley, jewelry designer and co-owner of Chicago's RSVP Gallery, a.k.a. KNC, became fixated on beauty products in high school, when she suffered from bad acne. "Stress from pre-college courses, ACT prep, and a shitty boyfriend destroyed my skin," says KNC, who tried hundreds of treatments in her quest for clear skin before honing in on the perfect mix. "I'm so excited to share with everyone all of my secrets."Welcome to KNC's Beauty Crush.

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Guys, I'm pregnant with my second child! The moment you find out that you're having a baby, everything changes. For me that included my skin care routine. I could no longer use my beloved 'extreme clean' techniques and products and my chemical peels that I get every other month went out the window. So what would I do now that my options were so limited? I decided to go au naturel. I didn't want to put anything on my skin that would harm my baby. The products below gave me the peace of mind that I was searching for and kept my skin clear even through my difficult first trimester.

Clear Skin Essentials

My skin was really bad when I first got pregnant. I had those teenage-style breakouts. I'm talking cheeks, chin, forehead, nose, everything. And I couldn't use any of my regular cleansers because they all had glycolic and salicylic acid in them (a no-no in pregnancy). I tried a lot of different organic and all-natural cleansers but I found that the NUDE Perfect Cleanse Clarifying Oil worked well for me. Not only is it vegan, but it's loaded with omegas 3, 5, 6, 9 and it doesn't include any of the bad stuff (parabens, sulfates, phthalates, PEGs, DEA, etc). I'm following this with the Dr. Sebagh Vitamin C powder cream, Serum Repair, and finishing up with the Kate Somerville Dilo Oil. The Vitamin C cream gives me a nice glow and brightens my complexion. The Dilo Oil is really nice as well. It's 100 percent natural and works in unison with the skin's lipid layer. I'm exfoliating as well, but I have to use a gentler approach. I'm using the M-61 SuperSoothe E Microdermabrasion Scrub two to three times a week. It took about two weeks for my skin to fully adjust to the new routine, but I would say that it looks just as good if not better than before.

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Kristen Noel Crawley

Because I've been breaking out a lot more, I've really had to step up my mask game. I'm using a face mask every night, which might seem excessive, but I enjoy it. It's relaxing and helps my skin. I'm actually really glad that I did research on all-natural products and brands because I've discovered one of my new favorites, May Lindstrom. She's a small, indie brand out of Los Angeles. I've been using her Problem Solver mask three times a week and it's helped tremendously. It's a powder that you mix with water and apply with a brush. I use it on my neck and décolletage as well. I also am obsessed with the Honey Mud from her line. It's so luxurious. If my skin weren't so prone to breakouts at the moment, I would use it as an everyday cleanser, but for now I'm using it as a mask. Speaking of breakouts, because my skin is so crazy right now, I had to invest in a spot treatment, the Blue Clay from Herbivore Botanicals works wonders and dries my bumps up in just a few hours. Sometimes I even put it on in the morning if I'm working at home that day.

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Kristen Noel Crawley

Spa Treatments

I've been doing a lot of treatments. I asked my peel lady what I could do and she made a custom fruit peel for me. It includes all natural ingredients derived from fruit enzymes. It burned like hell but man did it work. My skin was glowing after. I get all of my peels from Tricia Dikes in Beverly Hills. I also tried the pregnancy facial at Kate Somerville. The spa there is so chic, I felt like I was in another world. They had an amazing blueberry mask that was included in the facial that really hydrated my skin. My face looked incredible after. I'll definitely be visiting this spa for the rest of my pregnancy and maybe even after when I'm breastfeeding. When I travel I like to always try the spa at the hotel that I'm staying at. We went to Chicago a few weeks ago and stayed at the Langham. They happened to have a really nice spa and they offered a pregnancy massage and facial. I've been so tired and worn down this time around, so the massage was needed, especially after traveling. The Chaun Spa at the Langham is definitely one of the most luxurious I've been to, highly recommended to anyone, pregnant or not.

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My Bathtime Ritual

Bath time has been a staple now that I'm in my second trimester. It's part of my nighttime routine. I run a bath every night and soak for about 15-25 minutes. So naturally, I'm now obsessed with bath bombs, oils, and soaks. I love Laura Mercier's Honey Bath in Fresh Fig because it leaves skin silky and smells so nice. I like oils as well; the REN Moroccan rose oil is really nice and of course I love the smell of roses. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll use the Diptyque precious oils. I've been shopping at LUSH a lot too. One product in particular that I love from Lush is their Ceridwen's Caldron. It's a little bag filled with cocoa butter, oats, walnut oil, and lavender. You just throw it into a full bath and when it's done melting you can use the bag to scrub your skin with the remaining oats. Milk baths are also a new favorite of mine. I like the Cleopatra's Milk Bath from Organic Pharmacy. It has cute little mini rose buds in each jar and smells amazing. Herbivore Botanicals makes this amazing coconut rose body polish that I use probably two times a week. I haven't been using body scrubs that much because I don't want to scratch my ever-expanding skin, but this scrub is gentle enough that it won't damage my skin.

Kristen Noel Crawley

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My Stretch Mark Prevention Plan

I think one of the biggest things that I worry about with my changing body is stretch marks. I didn't get any with my first pregnancy and I am so serious about not getting any with this one. Every morning I apply an oil. Usually coconut oil but if you're a morning shower person, I highly recommend the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil. You apply it while your skin is still damp and then rinse it off with cold water. It has a cooling effect, which has been super helpful in these hot summer months and the smell is so divine. At nighttime after my bath, I use the African Botanics Marula Stretch Mark Botanical Body Oil. After the oil absorbs, I rub down my body with raw shea butter. I apply this every night religiously. It's a bit greasy at first so I usually have to wait a few minutes before I put on clothes or get into the bed. It's also extremely important to drink a lot of water. I drink at least a gallon a day. It helps to keep your energy up and your skin elasticity. It also helps with the breakouts because you're constantly flushing out anything in your body. Another one of my secrets is a homemade body mask. I call it the BBB mask: boobs, belly, and butt! I mix two ripe avocados with a half-cup of honey and apply generously to the BBB area. I wait about 15 minutes then rinse it off in the shower. I do this once a week and it really hydrates my skin. So far I haven't gotten any stretch marks and I plan on doing this routine up until and after I give birth.

Kristen Noel Crawley

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KNC

For more fromKNC, check outKNC Beauty Crush: 17 Game-Changing Summer Products.