Kipkix Youth Enrichment -> Benefits of youth sports and athletics

Kipkix Youth Enrichment Program Management: Benefits of youth sports and athletics: After School youth sports programs have many benefits.   There are many concerns too, namely safety.  Here we will discuss benefits and th...

Last minute DIY beauty gifts! from your local $1 store!

Well, it's officially 'the last minute', which means there is still time to make a fabulous gift with items from your local $1 store!

Make a Strawberry Body Scrub with just a few ingredients >> you'll need

2 ounces of Strawberry Preserves
8 ounces of Sea Salt
4 ounces of olive oil (or soybean/olive oil mix)

And to make a Soothing Salt Muscle Scrub & Soak you'll need >>

2 ounces of Epsom Salt
2 ounces of Sea Salt
2 teaspoons Vapor Chest Rub (like 'Vicks')
4 ounces of olive oil (or soybean/olive oil mix)

These Body Scrubs are fun and easy to make.  For the Strawberry Scrub, we used Strawberry Preserves because we wanted to get all the items from a dollar store.  The preserves have only 5 ingredients and have chunks of real strawberries.   We scooped out the preserves and put about 2 ounces in a measuring cup and used some in a smoothie we were making and  put the rest in a ziploc bag, labeled it, and put it in the fridge for more smoothies, sandwiches, toast, a mix in for yogurt, or wherever we want strawberries.

Then we filled a pitcher with hot tap water and soaked the jar while we made the strawberry scrub body treat.

Using a metal spatula (see picture above), we chopped the pieces of strawberries and mixed in the sea salt with it.  Then we put the strawberry and salt mixture in a small glass bowl, added the oil and stirred well.  

Then we wash out the jar with hot soapy water, and the jelly label came off really easily!  Dry out the jar completely with a paper towel.  Then, use a small plastic spoon to carefully spoon the strawberry scrub into the jar.

Make sure the outside of the jar is clean and all the way dry.  Then you can label the jar.  We used some of that clear tape that kind of has a 'matte' finish, the one that you can still see a little bit, and used a Sharpie Marker to name our gift.  Make sure you make a label for the back to with the ingredients and directions.  The directions are >> gently smooth on wet skin and rinse thoroughly for a delicious skin treat!  >> Also let them know on the jar to be careful because the tub or shower may be slippery because of the oil, and they must refrigerate it and use it all in about 2 weeks  (You can include a small plastic spoon with the gift too so the scrub can be easily removed from the jar).  It feels great on the skin, leaves skin smooth and silky, and smells oh so good!

The Soothing Salt Muscle Scrub & Soak was easy to make too!  It's made in much the same way.  We spooned out 2 teaspoons (you can use the small plastic spoons) of the Chest Rub onto a clean cutting board (use glass or plastic).  Then we used a spatula to mix the Epsom and Sea Salt into the Chest Rub.  We added a little of the oil just to combine the Chest Rub and Salts together until smooth and kind of like a paste.  We placed this paste in a clean glass bowl and added the rest of the oil until it was well combined.  Just put the rest of the vapor rub into a small container is ziploc bag and be sure to label it.  You can use it as intended or you can make more Scrub & Soak with it : )

You can soak the label off this jar just like like you did on the Preserve jar above.  The label comes off really easy.  Just use some dish soap on the jar and rub with your hands until soapy and clean.  This one is a little messier, but so worth it!  Make sure you add a tag or card with the ingredients and how to use it.  This one can stay out of refrigerator, just still use in about 2 weeks.  This one can be applied to the body or added to bath water, just include a spoon so it can be stirred a little first.  It feels warm and soothing!  Also perfect for a DIY pedicure!  AND great for men and women!

These natural skincare body treatment gifts can be wrapped individually or even included in a gift basket along with a fluffy towel, bath brush, herbal tea bags, slippers, or whatever you want to include for a total pampering experience!  It's fun to enjoy time off with children by having 'spa time' at home too!  Have a fun Strawberry Mani/Pedis, make some delicious fruit smoothies, watch old movie, and relax and have fun!  MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Make your own face cleanser!

Making beauty products is so fun & rewarding!  It’s quite relaxing because some recipes are so easy - and then you get to use them!!!  Collecting your own beauty containers in either glass or plastic is fun too.  You can use small canning jars, and cute heat-resistant plastic containers with lids - they are easy to clean and sterilize (the hot dishwasher cycle does a terrific job).  

It's also fun to print and even paint creative labels and you can even use your creations for gifts for friends and family.  We'll be sharing lots of recipes for you on this blog, which is great for teen skin, which is going through so many changes!  And the ingredients are easy to find at your grocery store, and even some great items at local $1 dollar stores!

Today we are sharing a recipe for an easy yogurt cleanser!  Yes, yogurt!  

Yogurt-herbal Cleanser | Cleanse, tone, and restore your skin’s acid mantle with this gentle facial cleanser.

3 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS >>

·        >> 5 Tablespoons plain yogurt (yes, 'plain', the plain white yogurt from the grocery store, NOT the kind that is mixed with fruit)  : )

·        >> 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh herb (your choice)

o   Rosemary for normal/oily

o   Chamomile for normal/oily/dry (you can use a Chamomile tea bag too!)

·        >> 1/3 Cup boiling water (be careful!  ask an adult for help)

Place herb of choice (or tea bag) in a stainless steel bowl.  Pour boiling water over herbs and allow to completely cool (this is an herbal infusion).  Strain the infusion to remove herbs.  Gradually beat the herbal infusion together with the yogurt.  Pour into sterilized container and label with date and contents.  Store in refrigerator and use within 3 days.

To use:  Smooth the yogurt cleanser on your face, avoiding eye area completely, and rinse well with warm water.

Total cost >> about $1.00!!!

Tips for folks with dry skin

We've been getting lots of questions lately about what to do about itchy dry skin.

Here are a few suggestions:

•  Try using a natural cleaning solution when you (or your cleaning lady) cleans your bathtub.  We make cleaners in our house, we mix equal parts of Borax, table salt, and baking soda and use it to clean tub and shower surfaces.  Household cleaners can be very very harsh, and they have to be rinsed extremely well to remove all traces from surfaces.  So if you have been using conventional cleaners, some of the residual chemicals could be ending up in your child's bath water, drying out skin, and causing itching.

• Double check the ingredients in your laundry detergent.  Just take note and remember if you've switched detergents or fabric softener or dryer sheets that it could be a culprit in skin dryness.  (Also, even if you still use gentle detergent for clothes, if you wash sheets in something different, that could be irritating skin and air quality during sleep).

•  Some non-natural oils like petroleum jelly and mineral oil that is plain with no fragrance can gently soothe dry sensitive skin.  Some 'baby oils' have baby oil fragrance, try to find the plain ole' mineral oil or petroleum jelly from one of the dollar stores.

•  Try gentle soaps, farmer's markets are GREAT sources for all natural detergent free high moisturizing cleansing gentle soaps!  It's awesome to find a artisan soapmaker in your area.  Dove is a more pure option, too.

•  You can also try a little natural bath and body oil like extra virgin olive oil as an effective natural skin moisturizer without harsh solvents and fragrances.

•  Glycerin is also available at discount drug stores as well as solid cocoa butter and are simple one-ingredient-fixes.  They're inexpensive and very effective in the right cases.  Many of these are store brands and are kind of hidden among the many other brands in the vast skincare aisle.  Glycerin is actually a moisturizer, it attracts moisture to our skin.  And cocoa butter is a pure plant vegetable solid that traps in moisture as a pure simple dry skin solution.

All in all just see everything that touches your skin as a potential irritant or possible skin-nurturer, reduce/eliminate irritants and increase skin pampering products!

PS--consult your physician when skin is regularly cracked or broken, and for expert advice/prescription on treating skin issues

Get your skin ready for back-to-school!

Get ready for back-to-school with Farm Face's Banana Peel Face Wash!  Get clearer looking skin with this gentle and natural cleanser that sops up oil.  Use it twice a day if you need to.  Farm Face Banana Peel Face Wash for teens

Relax before and after you ace the test! Back-to-school with Farmface Makeup

Just for teens and use-to-be-teens!  Farmface Spearmint Sugar Body Scrub  All natural.  by Farmface.