Follow Your Nose

Most "make your own beauty product" shops bring up

visions of waxy lip gloss and overpriced body glitter . The Perfumer's Apprentice does not.This cozy little perfume workshop,located in Santa Cruz, has HUNDREDS of scents, and let you test and sample till your heart's desire(not to mention the delicious complimentary tea and cookies, which I demonstrate below).

I know, I know

so attractive,right?

After you finish your masterpiece,you walk out the door with a body spray and roll on bottle of your scent. The best part? (besides the smug satisfaction of informing people that the divine aroma they are smelling, is in fact, you) They keep your scent recipe in their database, so that you can pop in and request a refill of your tailor-made scent.

Click here for more information.

One of Those Nights

I've had a pretty stressful week (banquet, upcoming finals, job applications,etc.) so of course I was THRILLED when my aunt sent me this late birthday gift(aunt working at Ulta=best packages in the world). It was perfect because I LOVE baking (especially cupcakes) and who can resist a nice bath every now and then?)


It's basically a 2 in 1 bath fizzer. The "cake" part fizzes away in the bath, leaving the "frosting" as soap. And it has a candle on top, just for extra fun ( I made my sister sing Happy Birthday to me while I blew it out,just to make it legit).

Had the banquet last night. It went really well. I'll post more on that as soon as I get my friend to burn pictures of it.

Now stop reading this and go give your mother a hug! (like I'll be doing right...now)

ps: Really idiotic blog question...but what exactly is tagging? Is it just answering those questions or what? Don't mock me to harshly for asking, I'm kind of one of those people that have to look up any type of lingo or slang on urban dictionary. Lame, I know.

Saturday Morning Soak

Over the last few years I've collected TONS of recipes for homemade beauty remedies (some good...some not so much). So here are some of my favorite recipes/products for baths that will turn you into a bathing beauty. Enjoy!


Ginger Spice- Warms/Revives Sore Muscles
Add a small piece of fresh ginger (around the size of your big toe) and steep with a gallon of boiling water for an hour or two. Strain, place in bath with a few drops of any essential oil.

Got Milk?- Softens and Smooths Skin
Add a quart of full fat milk or mix in a pot of powdered milk into your tub. Stir and soak up.

Oatmeal Lavender*- Exfoliates
Get a square of muslin and fill with 1/4 cup ground oatmeal and 1/4 cup dried lavender. Tie off with ribbon and tie underneath the faucet to let the running water wet it, then scrub all over.



This stuff is amazing. It feels like you're in a blanket of Jello...without the what you'd imagine to be a sticky mess. I love it after a long day or flag ball practice (yes...I do play that, it's the most un-meish thing I do).



The Best Bubble Bath Ever*- Just plain groovy
Mix together 1/2 cup unscented shampoo and 3/4 cup water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir until it gets thick. Mix in about 15-20 drops of any essential oil (I like grapefruit and coconut mixed together, with a bit of cantaloupe.)

*These ones keep well when placed in containers and make really nice/easy gifts.


I love early birthday presents (yeah, I've jumped on this bandwagon a little late). Tomorrow I go shopping for my party outfit, so hopefully I'll have some good things to post. And possibly see Leatherheads (I'm a sucker for anything John Krasinski...except that movie with Mandy Moore...that was just painful).

ps:Thanks for the comments, they made my day!

Currently Listening to: The Engine Driver- The Decemberists