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DIY Blueberry Sugar Scrub

I love blueberries. Blueberry muffins, blueberry cobbler, blueberry smoothies and especially blueberry pancakes! The only thing that I don’t seem to like is blueberry pie. Ironically, I feel like there are too many blueberries in the pie. If you enjoy this dark colored berry with its aromatic fragrance, you’re going to be smitten with this Blueberry Sugar Scrub! After cleansing your skin, use this scrub for not only exfoliation but moisture that last all day long in these cold winter months.

Pampering yourself in your alone time is priceless for peace of mind. Making this Blueberry Scrub is so easy and it will definitely be worth it when you feel how moisturized your skin feels! The warm notes of vanilla combined with sweet blueberries and coconut oil are a treat for skin. This would also be a thoughtful gift for a friend. Who doesn’t need a little more pampering in their lives? And anything made with your own two hands is going to be that much more special. Get the recipe below!

Blueberry Sugar Scrub

Time: 10 minutes

Makes: 8 oz.

Ingredients

1 cup Cane Sugar
1 cup Freeze-Dried Blueberries
2 tbsp. Blue Sugar Sprinkles
¾ cup Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (room temperature)
1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Place freeze-dried blueberries in sealed zip-loc bag. Using a rolling pin, crush blueberries until very fine.
Combine cane sugar, crushed freeze-dried blueberries, and blue sugar sprinkles in small mixing bowl.
Add coconut oil and vanilla extract to dry mixture. Stir well.
Garnish scrub with freeze-dried blueberries.

If you’re interested in content or creative direction for your brand or website, visit my Services page or email me @ thepineapplepen@gmail.com. Chat with you soon!- Emerald

In Interiors & Design, Lifestyle on

Tips & Tricks For Styling A Small Space

When it comes to styling small rooms, it’s not about the size but the way you manipulate colors and objects to make the space appear bigger. A studio apartment can feel light and spacious, while a large home can feel dark and heavy solely because of paint and accessory choices. Check out the tips below, to learn how to maximize your small space.

Small Legs
When choosing furniture for a small space, opt for couches and seats that have skinnier legs. This trick allows your eyes to flow throughout the room without being blocked by oversized furniture legs or skirts. The Monroe Mid-Century Modern Sofa from West Elm in a lush dark turquoise is ideal for styling in close quarters. You can see all around the piece, which gives the illusion of more space.

Mirror, Mirror
Mirrors reflect the available light in the room. Using one will flood your space with light, making the room appear larger. Teresa of Money Can Buy Lipstick styles her vanity to perfection in a tight space with the added help of a round mirror that performs double duty by brightening the room.

Small Art
Instead of a large art pieces, choose smaller ones that don’t take up as much space visually. Large pieces weigh a room down, break it up with petite ones. Sophie at House To Home’s beautiful gallery wall is set against a light and airy neutral color and her storage is also scaled properly to her wall.

Paint The Ceiling
Painting the ceiling a light and airy color automatically brightens a space, pulling your eyes upward as soon as you come in. Timothy of Timothy Mather Design uses robin egg blue in this modern kitchen to make it appear more spacious.

What are some of the things you’ve done to make a space look larger? I’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in content or creative direction for your brand or website, visit my Services page or email me @ thepineapplepen@gmail.com. Chat with you soon!- Emerald

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All Natural Household Cleaning Recipes

Many products you buy from the store can be harmful to you and your family’s health over time. Unless otherwise specified, most store bought cleaners contain toxic chemicals that would be especially dangerous if you have small children. There have been times when I was cleaning and didn’t realize how strong the fumes were. It can be hard to gauge when you need to open a window to let in fresh air.

Constant exposure to harmful chemicals could result in health problems later on, so I’m sharing these DIY cleaners. With a few items you have around the house and a spray bottle, you can create your own natural cleaning concoction. It’s great to have these recipes because you don’t know when you may run out of your preferred brand. After trying one of these, they may become your favorite! The citrus in all natural cleaning sprays smells great and destroys germs naturally. For cleaning and freshening the air in one step, these recipes are amazing!

Lemon & Orange Natural Cleaning Spray

Glass or Plastic Spray Bottle
1/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar
20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
10 drops Orange Essential Oil
2 cups water

Directions: Add all ingredients to your spray bottle and shake well. It’s great on your kitchen counters, appliances and even for windows. The vinegar smell will completely disappear once it dries.

Homemade Clementine Cleaner

Glass or Plastic Spray Bottle
Clementine or any other orange peels
A mason jar with lid.
1-2 cups Distilled White Vinegar
1 cup water
Strainer

Directions: Collect all the orange peels in your mason jar until it’s halfway filled up. (This may take some time unless you eat lots of oranges) Pour your vinegar over the peels and place lid on tightly. Let the mixture sit for 2 weeks. (tick tock) After a few weeks, strain the peels from the cleaning solution and add to your spray bottle. You can dilute this solution with water. A 1 to 1 ratio should be fine.

Happy Cleaning!

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In Interiors & Design, Lifestyle on

Small Changes That Have a Big Impact In Your Home

It’s January and everyone is trying to revise and improve their lives for the better. Even if you didn’t make any resolutions, it’s still important to understand what’s working, what’s not and make the necessary adjustments. In my last article, I talked about how tidying can help improve your mood and overall outlook on life. Now I’m going to give you actionable steps to make your home a place you love to come home to in the evenings. You may not realize how these small things can make a huge impact on how you feel but they absolutely do.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Paint is the easiest way to create a dramatic impact without having to overspend. Years ago, when my husband and I were trying to sell our home, we changed the paint color on the first floor to Benjamin Moore’s Seafoam Green. Within two days after painting, we had two offers at our full asking price. This color is a cool green that has plenty of white in it. It evoked feelings of calm and I enjoyed living there much more during the time before we moved. Paint honestly makes a difference, so invest in a high-quality neutral color that you can enjoy for years to come.

An Area Rug

An area rug will immediately warm up a space if you have hardwood floors. The contrast in texture makes an immediate impact and even if you already have carpets, double up. I currently have carpets in our home, but I placed an oriental rug in the living room to define the space. Area rugs can be used in small spaces to create a new area. In small apartments, there may not be a formal dining room or home office. Create them with a strategically placed rug. If you have children, choose one that will be durable and can be cleaned.

An Essential Oil Diffuser

Essential oils are popular right now and for good reason, they work. Lavender essential oil can calm you down after a long day. Citrus based essential oils such as orange and lemon clean the air and help you breathe easier. Another great choice is vanilla. I recently learned the reason why so many bath and beauty brands use vanilla scents in their products is because the scent aids in relaxation.

Stage Your Entryway

Your entryway is the first thing you see when you walk through the door. Why not take a little time to spice it up and wow your guest? Make sure the space is defined with a side table, even a nice dresser will work. Place a large mirror on top or hang it above the table. Find some books from your own collection or buy interior design books to stack in groups of three. A glass vase with faux or fresh flowers completes the look, with the addition of a few trinkets you may have around the house. You most likely have all these items on hand but just didn’t know to put them together. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out Pinterest.

Air Purifying Plants

If you’re looking for a chemical free way to not only freshen but purify the air in your home, plants are the answer. Plants like the garden mum, spider plant, weeping fig, aloe vera and bamboo palm have been proven to cleanse the air around them of harmful airborne pollutants. Plants are also a great way to introduce color into your space, so it’s a win-win situation

What are some of the things that you do to make your home more beautiful and relaxing? I’d love for you to share in the comments.

Photograph Courtesy of RealEstate.com

In Interiors & Design, Lifestyle on

The Science Behind Tidying Up

Marie Kondo’s new series “Tidying Up,” sheds a light on something that we’ve known all along: being organized creates not only physical space but mental space as well. Somehow, everything having a designated area makes us feel more in control of our lives and by extension, happier. It’s amazing that something as small as cleaning up could be the start of a calmer, more fulfilling life.

I was excited when I saw “Tidying Up,” come up in my Netflix queue. Firstly, I remembered her book “The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up,” and how popular it was. Secondly, I have an affinity for Japanese culture after living and working there for 3 years. Watching Marie brought feelings of nostalgia and intrigue as I watched her help each family in her charming and delicate way. After a few episodes, I looked on YouTube to learn her KonMari Method. I began folding my clothing into small rectangles and positioning them vertically in my dresser. It saved space, although it’s a bit more tedious than my normal folding method. I couldn’t argue with it’s accessibility and effectiveness because I could see every article of clothing and didn’t have to search for anything.

A study published by the scientific journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin used language analysis to measure how 60 women talked about their homes. Those who described their spaces as “cluttered,” were more likely to be depressed than those who described their homes as “restful.” The women with cluttered homes were shown to have a higher level of the stress hormone, cortisol.

At Princeton University, researchers found that clutter can make it difficult to focus on a particular task. It found that the visual cortex becomes overwhelmed by uneccesary objects, making it harder to focus on the task at hand.

There have been various studies proving that being clean and organized directly effects our quality of life. There are people who feel like being unorganized is apart of their personality and not a big deal. However, if you’re suffering from depression, anxiety or overwhelm, tidying up is a small sacrifice for finding peace. The worse that can happen is you’ll know exactly where to find your red blouse.

References

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