stay or go?

I'm clearing out the store inventory and need to know which items should stay or go (that totally sounds like the intro to a terrible Dr. Seuss book).  Comment below and let me know if this pillow is a keeper or a sleeper!  Ok, seriously, I'll stop with the rhymes.  xoxo Courtney

diy lush's big shampoo

I can't stop touching my hair.  This could be a symptom of my OCD, but I believe it's because I have discovered the recipe to the most fabulous shampoo of all time.  My hair is so soft and fabulous that my hands just automatically go there - I can't stop them!

I am a lover of all things Lush Cosmetics, but I live in Knoxville, TN, where no Lush Cosmetics exists.  I could order my products online, but if you've ever seen some of Lush's products, you'll know they aren't exactly the cheapest of products.  Of course, they are handmade and all-natural and completely worth the price, but Miss Frugal over here is, naturally, going to challenge herself to come up with a way to make the shampoo at home for cheaper.  This time, instead of it being a disaster like usual, I actually succeeded... and it has been a huge success!

Of course my first stop was Pinterest to find a recipe, but I couldn't find one that I really liked.  I wanted to duplicate Lush's Big Shampoo, so that's what I searched for.  Most of the recipes I found said just to mix coconut oil, course sea salt, and castille soap.  Well, Lush's website clearly states there is avocado butter and seaweed extract, as well as lime juice in the shampoo, so those recipes do not fly with me.  It was time to get into mad scientist mode and make my own.

Here's a breakdown of my ingredients:

1.5 cups Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castile soap
2 tblsp coconut oil
2 tblsp seaweed powder
3 tblsp avocado butter
3 tblsp lime juice
.5 cups fine sea salt
1 cup course sea salt
30-40 drops of lavender essential oil
4 cups hot water


I pretty much added the ingredients except the castile soap in a large bowl and then used a hand mixer to mix them together.  The only problem is: A) The seaweed powder reeks, and B) I believe it's the avocado butter that makes the mixture somewhat chunky.  As I was mixing, I added the water (mine was straight from the tap, but you could add distilled if you're really picky), and the chunk almost completely dissolved (don't be fooled, it will come back later).  It helps to melt the coconut oil under hot water before measuring it, but the avocado butter won't melt, it will only soften.

Warning: This shampoo looks like someone threw up oatmeal when it's finished.

I let this watery green disgusting seaweed mixture sit for about an hour before using an old Dr. Bronner's bottle (you will probably want to either buy a DIY shampoo bottle from a craft store or use an old shampoo bottle) to pour in my concoction.  I filled my bottle halfway and then filled the rest with my castile soap.  As I shook, I noticed my chunks coming back, which was bothersome, but they ended up being okay in the shower and actually added some nice texture to my lather.  You could play around with the mixture, but I tried about 1/3 castile soap to 2/3 seaweed water at first and didn't like it, so I recommend about half-and-half.  It will give you a good lather.

It's not the prettiest shampoo you'll ever see, nor does it smell the best, but I am absolutely in love.  My hair feels clean and thick, just like if I were using Lush's Big Shampoo.  I am not having to use any products, and most importantly, I am using less heat on my hair.  Wait, this is most important: this shampoo is costing me pennies per use.  Yes, pennies.  Whatever I have leftover I just store in my refrigerator until I can use it.  Most of the products that I bought can be used for other purposes, and they are healthy and gentle for my body.  I am so in love.

Do you guys have any other suggestions to add to the shampoo?  What other ingredients would you like to try?  xoxo Courtney

ten things to do as a couple this summer

I have a problem with making time for Robert, my boyfriend, and he has a problem with making time for me.  We live together, so we automatically see each other, but I think living together has made it that much harder to make time to actually spend time together.  I've come up with my top 10 bucket list of things we can do together this summer.  It's probably not very realistic, considering Robert is serving almost everyday to pay off some bills, but maybe I could use it for next year.  The point is, we need to make more time for each other!

1. Go to a baseball game.
Baseball is my sport of choice.  I grew up learning the rules and all of the players, and I can spit out facts and stats now like they're chewin' tobacco.  This is essential for me.  If we have to settle for our local minor league team this year, that's okay, but I need my Atlanta Braves.  Cincinnati may be closer, but the Braves are America's team, and more importantly, my team, and it wouldn't be right if I went to a game without Robert.  I've been following them since I was the ripe old age of 3, and I want the tradition to carry on with my love.  My ultimate dream would be if we timed it so we could also make the Braves Bark in the Park game and take the dog with us.

2. See Dave Matthews perform live.
I haven't really listened to DMB in years, but when I was in college, I would go to 3 or 4 Dave concerts a year, and it was so much fun.  My parents would sometimes go with us, or my friends and I would go by ourselves, and it would always be an outstanding affair, which is something I want to get in the habit of doing again.  Even though we don't know any of his new music, both Robert and I have decided that Dave is a good enough musician that we would like to make an effort to see him every summer.  So far, we have plans to see him in Cincinnati on June 5, so I hope the tradition will actually start this year.

3. Tube the Ocoee with the dog.
I'm not even sure if this is allowed, but I would be happy to put my little Charlie in my lap and tube comfortably down the river with Robert and a cooler by my side.  So many of my friends have done this, and I feel like I'm missing out.  Yes, I might be allergic to the sun, and yes, the dog might be terrified of water, but I have sunscreen, and he has a lifejacket, and I think we could make it work.  Picture it: just the three of us and a cooler, floating along, no worries.  Ahhhh, life is good.

4. See a movie.
Sometimes life gets so in the way that we can't even stop and see a movie.  I'm not really a movie person, but I am a popcorn person, so I will do my best to sit still through a movie so I can devour politely eat my giant bucket that I purchase every year (The tradition started when my best friend bought it as a gift for me.  Do I have the best best friend ever, or what?).  I mean, a movie is something so simple and easy to stop and do, and if we can't do that, then we have problems.

5.  Get the house so clean that we can stay in bed all day.
This one Robert is going to have a problem with, but a girl can dream.  The house being actually so clean that I don't have to clean it on the weekends is something that I can only wish for upon a star, because I live with a really messy man.  But maybe, just maybe, one day, on a weekend, the house will be so clean, and he will have helped out during the week (there's a lump in my throat just thinking of the idea), that we will be able to lounge around all day and do nothing but eat junk food and watch sports and silly movies.

6.  Work out together.
This speaks for itself.  We worked out one time, and he couldn't even speak to tell me how made he was with me when it was over.  I guess we will need to find something other than my boxing gym.

7.  Go for a stroll, with the dog, downtown.
Most people don't want to include their "children" when spending time with their significant other, but I don't think Robert and I could do anything without our "child".  It's sad, but we both have some separation anxiety.  We live in Knoxville, which is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country, and sometimes just taking a stroll downtown, followed by eating outside at a yummy local restaurant makes for a great date.  Plus, it makes Charlie a very happy dog.

8.  Let Robert pick a date.
This speaks for itself and makes me very nervous.

9.  Let Robert choose a destination.
This also speaks for itself and makes me very nervous.  I would need to approve the hotel.

10.  Grill out and go to bed early.
For some reason, this just sounds so appealing, and it's something we never do together.  Last summer Robert grilled out while I cooked in the kitchen, but that stopped when he started working so much.  As far as going to bed early, I'm usually out by 9 while he doesn't even get home until 11 or 12 every night.  It would be nice to just crash together around 10 and then wake up early, refreshed and ready to conquer the day.

These ideas just came off the top of my head.  I'd love suggestions and more ideas!  Maybe I'll try them out!  xoxo Courtney