Tuesday, January 20, 2015

DIY Book Page Wreath



I posted this photo on @thetealegg on Instagram right about the first of the new year.  And I got several comments on the book page wreath on the far wall.  There are HUNDREDS of book wreath tutorials out there.  I mean HUNDREDS!!!  I think that I made my first one 3 or 4 years ago.  But, here is what I know.....they are TIMELESS.  They are always beautiful.  And I NEVER get tired of them.

They are pretty cheap to make and don't take long at all.  In fact, I made and took all of these tutorial photos while watching an episode of FixerUpper on HGTV.  Do ya'll know about FIXERUpper?!?!!!!!  If you don't just trust me and GO watch it whatever way you can get it.  It will make you want to move to a TEXAS and live on a ranch in a big old farm house!

Anyhow...as promised....

BOOK PAGE WREATH
1 Straw Wreath (mine was 10")
1 package of silver straight pins
1 old book (bought mine at Goodwill for $2)



 1.  Rip all of the pages out of the book 






2.  Roll a page up from bottom to top (not side to side, unless you are going for another look)





3.  Fold the rolled paper almost in half (but not quite)


4.  Push a straight pin through the folded paper and into the straw wreath 


5.  I start at the inside of the wreath and push paper in all the way around around 


6.  Then I start a second row and continue the pattern all the way around 


7.  I start a third row and really try and fill in any gaps along the way.  And if you need a fourth row...by all means do it and fill that bad boy in. 







The fuller the wreath the better it will look completed!
ENJOY and tag @thetealegg on Instagram if you make one of these and post.
I would love to see how your's turned out.


And in case you would like to see this in video form...
Click Here.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

My Favorite Beauty Products

I don't have a ton of time to spend searching for the perfect "beauty" products.  But there are a few things that I have stumbled upon over the last several years that have become staples in my bathroom.

|| LUSH Dream Cream ||
{It's their #1 BEST SELLING product}



I have posted about LUSH before.  It is one of my most favorite stores ever!
Everything is handmade and made out of real stuff.
There has not been one product of their's that I tried and did not like.
And I say that with the utmost honesty.

I am a nurse and my hands are always super dry.  
The number of hand washings and foam that I use on my hands in a 12 hour shift
is sometimes out of control.  My hands suffer greatly from this mandatory practice.  
But not only is this cream great for hands, it is great for dry skin all over.
It does have a bit of a smell.  Not sure what to call it.
To me it smells clean.  And full of yummy goodness.
It comes in this large sized pot that will last you a good amount of time.
Because a little goes a long way.


|| Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick ||
{in Rose}


My mom and sister have been spoiling me with this little treat for years.  
I am not sure who found it first.
I can tell you it beats out all of the drugstore competitors.
It is well worth the $50 price tag.
And it lasts a long time (mine last up to a year, at least)
Just a really pretty way to add a slight shimmer to your cheeks.
The one I use is the rose one.
Just. Beautiful.


MRS. MEYER'S HAND SOAP
{Radish Scent}
I. LOVE. THIS. HAND. SOAP. 
I know it is not really a "beauty" product....
but.....it is my soap. 
Mommy's soap.  
It sits on my kitchen counter and no kids are allowed to use it!
Sometimes it is just nice to have something to call your own 
when you share everything all day long with 3 little peeps.
The radish scent is BY FAR my most favorite. 
I love clean scents....probably because I rarely feel like my house is clean all at once.
It makes up for the shortcomings=)

You can purchase this product and scent at Target.
I'm sure other stores carry it as well. 
Target is just where I grab mine. 



LUSH GORGEOUS 
{facial moisturizer}

If you can believe this, I don't wear makeup most days that I am home. 
I really only wear makeup when I go to work and church. HA!
Or a date with my husband or if I need to go to something and not scare everyone!
I would say I wear makeup 3 out of 7 days a week.
It is only since having multiple children that I became okay with this idea.
Honestly, most days I just don't have time to get it on and out the door.

But this moisturizer....I AM TELLING YOU is THE BEST!!!!!
A small little pot of it was given to me at Christmas by a very thoughtful person.
I had never tried it before.  I am not sure she had ever tried it before.
BUT OH MY GOSH!  THE BEST STUFF EVER.

So I stopped by lush and found out that a little bit larger pot is $89.00
YES, you read that right.  BUT I am telling you....This stuff is amazing.
Feels like a heavy moisturizer when you first put it on but then it transforms into this light weight amazing stuff.  It is like your skin just drank in a TON of moisture.

I didn't purchase the pot that day...I decided to come home and save my pennies.
And use sparingly what I have until I can go back and make the purchase.
This would be an awesome Valentine's gift to ask for from the hubby.

The lady at LUSH tells me that an $89 pot should last 3 months.
And while I know that is a lot of money,
I am telling you....your face will thank you.
Especially if you are makeup less most days and it needs some protection from the elements!
AMAZING!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

My Favorite Cleaning Products for a Fresh Start on the New Year!

It is UNREAL to me that I have not written ONE entry on this blog since August of 2014.  That truly is because my shop www.etsy.com/shop/thetealegg has taken off!  I am enjoying creating fun festive banners, garlands and more there.

I thought I would start off the new year by letting you in on a few of my favorite cleaning products as of lately.  My kids have been gone for almost a week and there has been a TON of cleaning in our house this week.  Christmas came down earlier than I have ever taken it down before but I knew I have to move while the little ones are away.  Does anyone else think it is hard to clean with kids in your house?!

So here are my favorites in no particular order......



Honest Company Multi Surface Cleaner
I use this to clean my kitchen counter tops.  A little goes a long way.
The smell is clean and non-offensive.
The trigger puts out a great amount of product.
It leaves my counters feeling crumb and sticky free!


Method Wood Cleaner
I do not like wood cleaners that are oily and leave a greasy film on my furniture.
I decided to take a risk on this product last month and I LOVE IT!
I have used this to clean all wood furniture surfaces in our house.
A little goes a long way.
The smell is fresh.  
Honestly you could just spray it in the air 
and you would feel like your entire house had been cleaned.
This one has a great trigger as well that puts out a great amount of product.
No greasy residue left on my furniture and no streak marks either!




BONA Wood Floor Cleaner
I have definitely posted about this product before but I can not say enough about it!
It does not have a smell....so your house won't smell clean.
But, it is so safe for your little ones and pets who are in close contact with your wood floors.
Costco had a sale on it last January and I was able to get a HUGE bottle and refill for right around $10.00 (which depending on how often you clean your floors....could last you up to 1 year).
This cleaner leaves my floors clean, beautiful, rejuvenated, and feeling awesome to bare feet!


There you have it! 
 My VERY FAVORITES right now!  
It just feels good to start off the New Year with a clean slate!  
Happy Cleaning!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!