Pumpkin Spice Rebatched Fall Soap Recipe Without Lye

My pumpkin spice rebatched fall soap recipe is third in a five part series of pumpkin bath and beauty recipes.  All of the other recipes have pumpkin puree, but not this one.  There are soap  recipes that have pumpkin puree, but they are hot or cold process recipes with lye.  I was originally going to make this recipe with melt and pour soap, but I really need to use up some of the products in my cabinet.  Keep reading for the easy recipe.

Pumpkin Foot Mask Recipe to Naturally Exfoliate

Naturally exfoliate your feet with this pumpkin foot mask recipe.

Pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere!  Yep, it's fall!

This is the second in a five day series of pumpkin recipes.  I used organic pumpkin puree from home grown pumpkins.

Making your own puree is a labor of love.  First you have to cut the pumpkin and bake it to soften it.  Then I ran it through my food mill to get the puree.  It takes several hours, so I usually only do it every other year.

This was from last year's harvest that had been frozen.  That's why it's a bright orange and not brownish like you'd normally buy in the store.

If you used storebought canned pumpkin, be sure that you use the 100 percent pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling.

Pumpkin Face Mask Recipe

This pumpkin face mask recipe naturally exfoliates and moisturizes your skin.

To celebrate fall, I've got 5 great pumpkin recipes to share with you this week.  Four of them have real pumpkin, and one is a pumpkin spice recipe.

We grew pumpkins last year, and I processed them and froze them to use in pies.  If you've never made a pie from homegrown pumpkins, then you don't know what you're missing!  Wow!  The pies I made were delicious, but one family can only eat so many in one year.

I decided to make some recipes with some of my homemade pumpkin puree.  You can certainly use store bought pumpkin puree, just be sure to get 100 percent pumpkin and not pie filling.

Pumpkin Spice Is Here!

Last week marked the official start of fall.  Fall is my favorite season, and I wish it would last all year.  If I could find a place that had fall temperatures all year, I would be there.  I love the smell of the air, the colors on the trees, and the perfect temperatures.  We are still having beautiful weather in the high 70s and even 80s, so it doesn't feel like fall.  The leaves haven't turned yet either, so it's like a bonus summer since we didn't have much of that this year.  Even though it's not quite fall yet, pumpkin and pumpkin spice are everywhere.  Here are my favorite pumpkin spice products this year.

Peach Iced Tea Recipe with Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener

Thank you to Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener and Her Campus Media for partnering on this post!

School has been in session for a month now, so we are finally in a good routine. Homeschooling is a lot different than when the kids were in public school. My days are crazy busy until about 3 p.m., but our evenings are a lot less hectic because we don't have any homework or school projects to work on. It's nice to have evenings free, but did I mention how crazy the days are? When school is over for the day, I'm more than ready for a small break. The weather has been beautiful lately, so I've been spending my afternoons on the patio watching the kids ride their bikes or play with the chickens to unwind after school. That's where the inspiration for this peach iced tea recipe with Born Sweet™ Zing™ Zero Calorie Stevia Sweetener came from.

How to Prevent Bed Head

I'm not sure which is worse for bed head: long hair or short hair.  When I had long hair, I'd wake up with a tangled mess.  Now that my hair in chin length, it tends to stick up in odd places some mornings.  I straighten my curly hair, so wetting it really isn't an option unless I want to dry it and straighten it again.  My poor daughter is 8 and still has baby fine hair.  She has about the worst bed head that I've ever seen.  She was waking up with knots in the same spot until we learned how to prevent bed head.

Paula's Choice Custom Skin Care Routine

Thank you to Paula's Choice and Pretty in My Pocket (PRIMP) for sponsoring this post.

Last week I turned 35, which means that I am closer to 40 than 30. While I wouldn't trade any of my life experiences to be in my 20s again, I do wish I could keep my skin looking like it did in my 20s I've taken great care of my skin and have used sunscreen since I was a teenager, so I don't think that I look my age. I do have some fine lines starting, but overall, I'd say that my skin looks great for my age.

When I was a teenager and in my 20s, my skin was very oily, and I would breakout a lot. After I had my babies, my skin changed to combination skin, but the oily T-zone wasn't as oily as it was before that. Thankfully, my face no longer breaks out, but I have very large pores. Other than the fine lines, my pore size is my top concern. I've tried several products that promise to make pores appear smaller, but none worked very well. Then I found Paula's Choice Resist line.

Gluten Free and Vegan Skin Care from Derma-E #ICANTWHEAT

Thank you to derma e for sponsoring today's post and for providing me with samples.  As always, all opinions are my own.  

Do you get overwhelmed with all of the options in the skin care aisle?  If you use vegan or gluten free skin care products, you've got to read every label and research every brand and then wade through the options before choosing the right ones.  Luckily, derma e makes it easy to find the skin care products that are best for your skin type, and they are gluten free and vegan!

Busy Mom Exercise Plan

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. You must be 21+ years old to try Poise Impressa Bladder Supports. #LifeAfterLeaks #CollectiveBias

Before I had kids, I could do a lot of things.  I could stay up all night and sleep in the next day.  I could eat a hot meal in one sitting.  I could walk through my living room in the afternoon without stepping on a toy.  I had time to exercise, and I didn't have to worry about leaks while I did it.  Yes, moms, you know what I'm talking about.  Maybe it happens to you when you sneeze or cough.  Or maybe when you laugh.  Isn't that the worst?  You're having a great time, laughing with friends, and you have to excuse yourself.  Ladies, I have great news for you.  There's a new product called Poise Impressa that helps prevent leaks.  Really!  Keep reading to see how it works and read my busy mom exercise plan.  

Pumpkin Brulee Body Cream Giveaway Ends 10/12

Thank you to Good Earth Beauty for providing a sample and sponsoring the giveaway.  

Raise your hand if you've had a pumpkin spice latte this year!  My hand is not raised...yet.  I'm not ready to let go of my frappes from summer, but if the temperatures keep dropping, I'll be switching to pumpkin soon.  Even if you are like me and haven't your obligatory pumpkin spice drink this year, you can smell like a pumpkin brulee with this amazing body cream.  Good Earth Beauty was generous enough to send me a bottle to sample and one for my readers to enjoy!  Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win one.

Get Healthy + Save Money Zarbee's at Target in September

Thank you to Zarbee's for sending me product and sponsoring this post.  As always, all enthusiasm is my own.  

Do you remember when you were a kid and you got so excited about getting mail?  One of the best things about being a blogger is all of the wonderful packages I get.  A few weeks ago, Zarbee's sent me a package with their powdered drink mixes that are high in antioxidants and vitamins.  Honestly, it couldn't have came at a better time.  As I briefly mentioned in my first post about Zarbee's, I recently got hurt and bruised my tibia.  If you've never experienced this, trust me when I say that it hurts.  A lot.  I'm walking now, but not for long periods of time.  I'm not able to cook much, and I definitely can't stand to clean for very long.  It's made me realize two things: I need to slow down a bit and that I can not afford to get sick.  My family really doesn't do well without Mom to hold them all together.  

So I headed to Target to stock up on Zarbee's for myself and my husband as we head in to cold and flu season.

DIY Shine Spray for Hair Recipe

The last time I got my hair done, she bleached all of my blonde highlights again to get them a little lighter.  It looks amazing, but I noticed that my hair isn't as shiny as it could be on the top.  Since I have curly hair, my hair tends to get a little dry anyway, so I made this shine spray for hair recipe to boost the shine and add some good oils to my hair.  It's so easy to make with just three ingredients too.  Keep reading for the full recipe and what each ingredient does.  

How I'm Staying Healthy This Winter With #Zarbees

Thanks to Zarbee's for sponsoring this post and providing me with samples to review.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Last weekend, I had an accident that left me bed ridden.  My kids and husband are taking good care of me, but I'm starting to freak out a little bit.  As I lie here, all I can think of is my to do list and how long it is going to take to catch up once I can walk again.  What am I going to do this winter if I get sick?  How will I do everything that I need to do in a day if I'm in bed?  The kids are homeschooled, and I have obligations for social media and my blog.  That's when I decided that I just wasn't going to get sick.  Ever.

Don't you wish it worked like that? 

Never getting sick isn't likely, but that doesn't mean I don't take steps to protect my health.  Keep reading for how I protect my health and prevent getting sick.  

Choosing The Perfect Panties

Ladies, have you heard that granny panties are gaining popularity while thongs are losing popularity?  It's true!  I think comfort is finally becoming more important than fashion.  While I always strive to look my best, I do admit that I dress for comfort.  Keep reading for tips on how to choose the perfect pair of panties.

Transition Your Hair Care From Summer to Fall With CLEAR SCALP & HAIR™

Last week, we talked about transitioning your beauty routine from summer to fall, but today we are going to focus on preparing your hair for fall.  I had actually had the same cut and color for two years because I loved it so much.  For fall this year, I decided to switch things up a little bit.  I have the same cut, the inverted bob, because it's so easy and works well with my hair.  I used to get brown all over with blonde and red highlights.  I went a little lighter with the blonde highlights for fall for more contrast and got rid of the red and replaced it with purple!  I've always wanted purple hair, so I got the under part of the back of my hair purple, a peek a book highlight.  I love, love, love it!  Keep reading for some tips to transition your hair care from summer to fall.

Transitioning Your Beauty Routine From Summer to Fall + Pumpkin Pie Lip Scrub Recipe

Although my air conditioning is still running, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are starting to turn.  There's no denying it; it's almost fall.  Along with swapping my flip flops for boots and tank tops for longer sleeves, I also switch my makeup products.  In the summer, I'm more worried about preventing breakouts from sweating and increased oil, but in the fall and winter I have to change to moisturizing products so my skin doesn't dry out.  Keep reading to learn how I transition my beauty routine from summer to fall, including a moisturizing pumpkin pie lip scrub to prevent chapped lips.

I've wanted purple hair since...well forever...and last week I got it! I went with a shade of dark brown on top with light blonde highlights and purple underneath in the back. Since my hair is so dark, she had to bleach it first. I've been dying my hair with streaks of bright red for two years, and my hair has always stayed healthy.

Getting purple was a bit of a shock for me, and I quickly realized that I had no idea how to care for it! Purple, lavender, and violet hair is a popular trend right now, but most people don't know purple hair care tips. Keep reading for tips to help your violet hair last longer.

Purple Hair Care Tips

1. Shampoo Less

I used to wash my hair every day without fail. If you have bright colors like purple, blue, or green, you should only wash your hair every 2 to 3 days and use a DIY dry shampoo recipe on the days that you don't wash your hair. If you're not a DIY person, there are several dry shampoos that work great.

To use dry shampoo, spray on your roots. You don't need a lot; you should only spray for a few seconds. If you have long or thing hair, you might have to section your hair to get the roots.

Then use your fingers to work the products into your scalp and roots. Finally, comb it out. Combing should remove any white residue.

I like to use dry shampoo before bed, but you can use it in the morning as well.


READ 13 New Uses for Dry Shampoo

2. Use the Right Shampoo

Sulfates in shampoos will strip the color out of your hair, so it's very important to use a sulfate-free shampoo. One of the best shampoos for bright colors is Kerastase Reflection Chroma shampoo. It's expensive, but it can really help you keep your color longer.

A less expensive option is Renpure Argan Oil Luxurious Shampoo and Conditioner, but these don't work as well as the Kerastase shampoo.

Avoid using any clarifiying shampoos or dandruff shampoos because they will strip the color from your hair.

3. Cool Rinse

This is the hardest one for me, but try to wash and rinse your hair in cool water. Hot water opens the cuticle, which means color can escape. After you're done washing your hair, you can wrap it in a towel and turn up the heat.

4. Wash the Roots

Your scalp is usually the only part that needs to be washed, so just wash the roots of your hair to protect the color on the ends. My purple is in the back underneath, so I am careful to just wash the roots and rinse well.

5. No Swimming

Chlorine will cause your color to fade, so don't swim in chlorinated pools. You can wear a swimming cap to protect your hair if you want to swim.

6. Healthy Hair

One of the best ways to keep your color is by starting with healthy hair. Try an intensive hair mask like this DIY argan oil hair mask or this deep repair mask before you dye your hair.

7. Color Your Conditioner

Add a teeny bit of the hair color to your conditioner and use that every time you shampoo to give your hair an extra boost of color. Even if you went to the salon for your color, you can usually find the same hair dye or a similar color to use. My stylist use Provana color, so I picked up some extra.

8. Heat Protection

If you use a hair dryer or flat iron, use a DIY heat protection spray or one like this HSI Heat Protection Spray with Argan Oil.

9. UV Protections

UV rays from the sun can fade your color. Use a product to protect your hair from the sun like Philip Kingsley Sun Shield. It's lightweight, so it won't weigh your hair down. It also helps moisturize your hair and prevent frizzy hair.

10. Touch Up With Eyeshadow

If you have some areas that are fading, you can touch them up with eyeshadow. Just sweep on a color close to your hair color. It lasts surprisingly well! I've used shades close to my hair that weren't an exact match, and they looked great.

11. Skip Hot Oil Treatments

Since you deep conditioned before you got your hair colored, skip the hot oil or oil based hair masks for a while after you get your hair colored. It can fade color. Wait until you're close to your touch up date and use a hair mask then.


Have you dyed your hair a bright color like purple, violet, or lavender? What's your favorite purple hair care tip?

How to Wash Your Hair

How to Fight Frizz

13 Ways to Use Dry Shampoo

photo from freedigitalphotos.net / Patou