Why You Should Be Wearing SPF Every Day

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine.

You might be surprised to learn that I don’t add an SPF product to my daily skin care routine in the summer.  That’s because SPF is always in my skin care routine.

I’ve been using SPF on my face every day since I was a teenager.  Now, in my mid to late 30s, my skin looks great.  When I tell someone my age or that I have a child in college, they are in disbelief.  I was lucky to inherit some good genes, but I attribute most of that to wearing sun protection daily.

Homemade Body Powder Recipe With Essential Oils

I always joke that I'm going to move south when the kids are grown, but it hit the 90s today, and I legit thought that I was going to melt.  I couldn't even walk outside.  My hair frizzed, and there was no saving my makeup.  By the time I got home, I felt, well, icky.  Now we are in a mad scramble to get the pool open before we all die from the heat.  

Nothing beats a nice shower after a hot day, but sometimes you just need to freshen up before you can get to a shower.  That's why I make this homemade body powder recipe with essential oils.

Body powders used to be really popular, but they aren't so popular anymore.  I remember walking into Bath and Body Works in the late 90s and getting a tin of body powder.  It was probably in Sun Kissed Raspberry or Cucumber Melon.  

I didn't use them for years after that, but then I started again, especially in the summer.  Body powders are wonderful all year round though.  I like to use them after a sugar scrub or after I put on a body butter because they help make your skin oh so soft.  

DIY Finishing Powder Recipe

It's summer!  It's time for lazy days, swimming, catching fireflies, and outdoor movies.  It's also time for high humidity and temps so high your makeup melts right off.  

Luckily, there is one easy DIY recipe that will help keep your makeup looking flawless.  It naturally absorbs sweat and oil while it gives you a flawless airbrushed look and fills in fine lines and large pores.

If you go to the drugstore or specialty makeup store, expect to spend anywhere from $10 to $40 or more for a finishing powder.  You can make this one for a few pennies, and it works wonderfully.

I had all of the ingredients already, so I didn't even have to spend anything.  If you do have to buy some of the ingredients, you can use them in other recipes, so there's no waste.  

Storebought finishing powders can also have questionable ingredients and preservatives.  Since this recipe doesn't have any water, you don't need a preservative.  I know exactly what's in my DIY finishing powder recipe, and I can control the ingredients.  

15 Liquid Castile Soap Uses

Ten years ago, when Caleb was still a baby, he developed environmental allergies and breathing problems.  He would later get diagnosed with asthma, but even before then, his allergist suggested that I not use chemicals to clean.  Even that short of a time ago, using natural cleaners wasn't popular.

I found some recipes online, tried them, played with them, and came up with my own recipes.  I loved making my own cleaning products because I saved a lot of money and because if I ran out of something, I could just make more.  Most cleaning product recipes use many of the same ingredients, so I just have to keep those on hand to make more of my products.

One of the ingredients that I always try to keep on the shelf is liquid castile soap because it's so versatile.  Seriously, you'd be amazed at what all you can use it for!

Dynatrap FlyLight Insect Trap Review and Giveaway Ends 6/25/18

It's summer on the farm, which means planting, yard work, and lots and lots of flies.  If you live in a rural area or have spent time in a rural area, you know that flies are just a part of summer.  

Flies outside are a pain, so we use a Dynatrap outside to keep pests to a minimum.  What the Dynatrap doesn't take care of, we use my bug repellent wax melts on the patio.  

I detest flies in the house.  My kids don't understand the importance of keeping the back door closed, so we might as well just leave the door leading to the patio open for as many times as it opens each day.  

Dynatrap recently sent me their FlyLight Insect Trap to review.  They were generous enough to host a giveaway as well, so one of my lucky readers will get one too!