I’ve been trying to wear more of my lipstick collection lately, but I found it hard after realizing how dry my lips were. There’s really one major rule to wearing lipstick — you just can’t pull it off on dry lips!

I’ve heard great things about the Mint Julips lip scrub from LUSH, but I just could bring myself to buy it. As much as I love LUSH, I thought this was something simple that I could make myself.

Here’s what I used:

• 1 empty container
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons of olive oil (or try jojoba!)
• A few drops of honey

That’s it! You can play around with the oil and make sure you have enough after you stir it together. The oil hydrates while the sugar exfoliates, and the honey has beneficial properties as well but I just like the aftertaste it leaves. No more dry lips!

I recommend following up with your favorite lip balm before any lipstick, and it’ll look even better.

Have you ever made your own lip scrub, or do you prefer to buy?

]]> http://one-parade.com/diy-natural-lip-scrub/feed/ 1 http://one-parade.com/homemade-all-purpose-cleaner/ http://one-parade.com/homemade-all-purpose-cleaner/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:29:37 +0000 Marjorie http://one-parade.com/?p=6876

I ran out of my Meyer’s cleaning solution this past weekend. Which is a good thing, because it was pine tree scented and it’s certainly not that time of year anymore. However, I love my Meyer’s products and I had nothing else to replace it.

It was late at night and I was still in the middle of cleaning, so I decided it was the perfect time to try a homemade cleaner with things I had around the house.

Here is the formula I used:

Pros: This stuff isn’t a miracle worker, but it does the job of a variety of different cleaners. It cleaned my counter tops, polished hardware to an insane shine, got rid of soap scum on my shower doors, and I was shocked when I successfully used it on my mirrors. It even prevented foggy windows after my shower!

Cons: There was a slight vinegar scent because I hadn’t put in any essential oils and I probably used a bit too much vinegar in my solution. Next time I will try lemon oil, which is recommended, or add another scent booster. I also found this stuff wasn’t potent enough to scrub the bathroom tub or tiles. Unfortunately, I still have to stick with my Comet for that, but I hope to soon find a less harsh alternative.

Would you ever consider making your own cleaning solution?

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I love days when the sun is out, the sky is crystal clear, and the weather is warm with a cool wind. It energizes me and puts me into a good mood for the rest of the day. I feel productive and happy, and I tend to have a better day.

But I also love cloudy, rainy days. They make me want to curl up with a blanket, book, candle, and warm coffee. However, these types of days are not so wonderful when you’re stuck at work. Although I still feel safe and cozy, I feel more inspired to take a nap on my desk than strike up a conversation with a client. Today is one of those uncommon, rainy days in LA.

If I had it my way, every weekday would be beautiful and Saturdays would be my cozy days. Do you hear me, planet Earth? Make it happen!

What’s your favorite kind of weather?

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Started biking to work, and as a result ended up at work pretty early a few times which resulted in waiting in the lobby for someone else to open up the office. I have yet to figure out why I sometimes get to work in 10 minutes one day and 20 minutes the other. I guess I don’t realize when I’m speeding down the road, but I’m sure getting there in 10 minutes is because I’m pedaling a lot faster.

Roses! Josh knows that if he doesn’t get me roses on special days, I’m not a happy person. Red roses are my favorite flower. I love the smell and look… They’re just amazing. He forgot a vase, but luckily I was finally able to use my white pitcher vase for something. Seeing as how we barely get any natural light in this apartment, I’m betting these will die by Valentine’s Day. But that’s okay, because we celebrated this weekend.

The color on this is not exactly what my makeup looked like in person, but I still like the vintage effect. I don’t wear lipstick often, but going out for lunch to celebrate Valentine’s Day was a good excuse as any to wear red, don’t you agree?

We went to Market City Cafe in Burbank. The bread is always tasty fresh and that alone is enough to get me in the door. I’m a carb addict. The last time we ate here, a violin group was playing. No entertainment last weekend, unfortunately. We still had a nice view and I watched the little birds play in the fountain behind us.

The day after that, I turned into a rampaging cleaning lady, which included assigning cleaning tasks and taking on the couch myself. I washed the cover for the first time, and boy am I glad that cover was washable… Apparently our dogs have very dirty feet. Who knew?

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