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Homemade Bath Bombs DIY

May 16, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Homemade Bath Bombs DIY

I never truly appreciated my bathtub until we did a bathroom renovation and removed our garden tub. We rarely used it but as soon as it was gone I sure did wish I had a big bath tub (isn’t that how it always goes?!)! We have since moved and have a big garden tub once again and boy do I love it!

I also really LOVE Lush and their big, amazing bath bombs. Well, they are quite pricey and I knew that it was going to be reserved for a special occasion purchase. This bath bomb recipe is a close comparison to the LUSH bath bombs but the price is SO MUCH better!

You can just use an easter egg to form the bomb. Or, if you have other molds from trying various recipes we have shared here, those would work as well. Really, it’s up to you!

Homemade Bath Bombs Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup, Baking Soda
  • 1/2 cup, Citric Acid
  • 1/4 cup, Cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup, Melted Coconut Oil
  • Cosmetic Grade Mica Powder (found here)
  • 4 drops, Essential Oils* (this Lavender is one I frequently use)
  • Disposable face mask
  • .15 cc Scoop (found here)

* Only only therapeutic grade essential oils, non-therapeutic grade essential oils can cause skin irritation.

DIY Bath Bombs

Homemade Bath Bombs Directions

The citric acid can irritate your eyes/nose so you may want to wear a mask for safety.

  1. In a medium sized glass mixing bowl combine all your dry ingredients (baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch) and mix well.
  2. Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to separate your dry ingredients evenly into 3 separate glass bowls.
  3. Use your .15 cc scoop to add a scoop of each color mica powder to each bowl and mix.
  4. Heat 1/4 cup coconut oil in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds or until melted (careful as this gets very hot quickly).
  5. Use your measuring spoons to mix the essential oils with the melted coconut oil.
  6. Slowly add a teaspoon at a time of melted coconut oil to each bowl and mix, repeat until you’ve used all your coconut oil and once all of the coconut oil is added, your mixtures should feel like damp sand. If it’s too dry, add a little more.
  7. Start filling each mold with a mixture of each color and press firmly.
  8. Let dry for about 12 hours then carefully remove from your molds.

Place one in the bottom of your shower or in your warm bath tub to release your bath bomb. Don’t rub your eyes during/after use as it may cause irritation. Store your bath bombs in glass jar or container. You may have to hide them from the kiddos because they sure do love to use them too!

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir the liquids in this recipe.

Bath Bomb Recipe

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: DIY Gifts, Personal Care Recipes

Ice Cream “Pint” Bars

May 9, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Homemade Ice Cream Bars that are so easy to make!

Here’s a little known fact about me: I worked at the local dairy cone growing up. Yeap. And, I could make an AWESOME ice cream bar. We called them dilly bars. I have no idea why they were called that, but they were.

The process to make those ice cream bars were more tedious than this, as it involved ice cream from the machine. These ice cream bars are as about as easy as it gets! Play around with the flavors and toppings to make these customized treats!

Ice Cream Bars Ingredients

  • Ice Cream Pint (choose whatever flavor)
  • 1 Cup, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 2 TBS, Coconut Oil
  • Crushed Oreos
  • Crushed Pecans
  • Miniature M&M’s
  • 3 – 5″ Wooden Taster Sticks

Homemade ice cream bars made with PINTS of ice cream. SO EASY!

Ice Cream Bars Directions

  1. Place your chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.
  2. Snip the top of your ice cream pint and carefully peel the wrapper off.
  3. Place your ice cream pint on it’s side on a cutting board and slice into 3 even sections.
  4. Carefully press a wooden taster stick into the bottom of each ice cream slice.
  5. Hold onto the wooden stick and dip the top half of your ice cream into the melted chocolate and place onto a piece of parchment paper.
  6. Immediately top your melted chocolate with either Oreos, pecans, and M&M’s.
  7. Let harden for a minute or two and enjoy!

Keep them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 weeks. I doubt they will last that long!

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to stir and top the bars in this recipe.

These Ice Cream bars are about the easiest kind you can make yourself! Get the kids involved for this tasty treat!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert Recipes, Summer Recipes

Homemade All-Purpose Healing Salve

May 3, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Homemade All-Purpose Natural Healing Salve

As much as possible I try to utilize natural ingredients for ailments for our family. You will find several recipes we share include essential oils because they are easily accessible and one of my favorite ways to incorporate natural ingredients! In fact, you probably have many of the ingredients to make this salve if you made our homemade lip balm recipe!

I tend to grab essential oils to use alone, or add into recipes. But, this all-purpose, all-natural healing salve recipe works so much better than stand-alone oils. Use it for muscle aches, tension, headaches, allergy relief and other ailments.

All-Purpose Healing Salve Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz, Beeswax
  • 2 TBS, Unrefined Coconut Oil
  • 2 tsp, Sweet Almond Oil
  • 20 drops, Frankincense Essential Oil
  • 18 drops, LavenderEssential Oil
  • 18 drops, MarjoramEssential Oil
  • 15 drops, PeppermintEssential Oil
  • Small Glass Containers (similar to these on Amazon)

Homemade All-Purpose Essential Oil Healing Salve

All-Purpose Healing Salve Directions

  1. Melt your beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can always melt the beeswax in a tin can inside a sauce pan.
  2. Once the beeswax starts to boil, put the burner on a low setting and leave it there. Stir once or twice in the process until the beeswax is fully melted into a nice, smooth liquid. The melting time will vary depending on which type of beeswax you’re using. The brick type takes longer.
  3. Stir the coconut oil into the beeswax until fully melted.
  4. Finally, add the sweet almond oil the essential oils.
  5. Now you’re ready to fill the glass jars. Keep the water on the lowest setting to keep the wax warm while you fill up the containers. 
  6. Fill the containers almost to the top and if the wax gets thickened as you are pouring, just replace it over the heat again for a minute and it will melt fast.
  7. Leave the salves to cool at room temperature for around 30 to 45 minutes.
  8. To be sure they are all cooled, feel the bottom center of the containers to see if it is totally cool and if so, they are all done.

Now, apply any lids and labels to the jars and you are ready to go! Rub the salve directly on the area that is hurting for best results.

Find MORE Personal Care Recipes HERE

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir this recipe.

Try this all-purpose healing salve for muscle aches, headaches, allergy relief, and more!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: Personal Care Recipes

Heart Shaped Pie Crust Chips

April 25, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Make homemade "chips" with pie crust dough!

This is an easy snack to make with pre-made pie crust. You can play with the flavors, shapes and fruit-flavored dip as well. These “chips” would go great with fruit salsa too!

Pie Crust Chips Ingredients

  • Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust
  • Cherry Pie Filling
  • 1/4 cup, Sugar
  • 2 TBS, Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 TBS, Butter (melted)

Make homemade "chips" with pre-made pie crust dough!

Pie Crust Chips Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar.
  3. Unwrap and roll out your piecrust onto a sheet of parchment paper.
  4. Use your cookie cutters to cut out as many hearts as you can. Roll your scrap dough into a ball and roll out using a rolling pin and you can get a few more.
  5. Lightly brush your hearts with melted butter and sprinkle with your cinnamon and sugar mixture
  6. Place your pie crust hearts on your baking pan and bake for 12-15 minutes (depending on your oven) or until golden brown.
  7. Serve with a cup of cherry pie filling and enjoy!

Find MORE Snack Recipes HERE

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert Recipes, Snack Recipes

Jalapeno Dip

April 18, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Need a yummy dip that any crowd will love? Look no further! This is super easy to make, and can be a slow cooker dip if you want. Take this to your next gathering and enjoy with friends!

Jalapeno Dip Ingredients

  • (2) 8 oz blocks, Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 3/4 cup, Real Mayonnaise
  • 1 cup, Sour Cream
  • 3/4 cup, Mexican Cheese Blend
  • 1/2 cup, Parmesan Cheese (shredded)
  • 1 tsp, Garlic Powder
  • 4 oz can, Diced Jalapeños
  • 4 oz can, Diced Green Chilies

Topping

  • 1/3 cup, Salted Butter (melted)
  • 1/3 cup, Parmesan Cheese (shredded)
  • 1 1/4 cups, Panko Breadcrumbs

Jalapeno Dip Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375° and spray a baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter.
  2. And a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer beat together your softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, Mexican cheese blend, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, diced jalapeños, and diced green chilies.
  3. Scoop your jalapeño dip mixture into your greased baking dish and spread evenly.
  4. In a separate mixing bowl, mix together your salted butter, Parmesan cheese, and Panko breadcrumbs.
  5. Top your jalapeño dip evenly with your breadcrumb mixture and bake for 25-30 minutes.

You can also prepare in the slow cooker, just add all of your ingredients as listed above and slow cook on low for 2-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, add the breadcrumb mixture so it’s nice and crusty.

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir this recipe.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Appetizer Recipes, Snack Recipes

Carrot Patch Pudding Cups

April 11, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

These little carrot patch pudding cups are so easy! This would be a great classroom snack activity – very little mess and lots of stuff the kids can eat!

Carrot Patch Pudding Cups Ingredients

  • Chocolate Pudding Cups
  • Oreos
  • Gummy Carrots (here on Amazon)
  • Edible Easter Grass (here on Amazon)

Carrot Patch Pudding Cups Ingredients

  1. Scrape off the white filling from your Oreos (1 cookie per pudding cup).
  2. Place your chocolate cookies into a sandwich bag, seal the bag, and crush the cookies with the back of a large spoon.
  3. Top each pudding cup with crushed cookies.
  4. Add about 3 carrots to each pudding cup, pushing each one slightly down into the pudding.
  5. Cut a few small pieces of Easter grass and stick into the top of the pudding to look like grass/weeds.

Easy enough, right?! Enjoy making this with the kids!

Find MORE Snack Recipes HERE

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert Recipes, Snack Recipes

Grasshopper Chocolate Bark

April 4, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

Andes mints are one of our family’s favorite sweet treats. My mother-in-law always has them in the candy jar. We always raid the mints when we go for a visit! This grasshopper bark is the perfect combination of mint and chocolate, with the best mints on top!

Grasshopper Chocolate Bark Ingredients

  • 16 oz, White Chocolate Chips
  • 16 oz, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 box, Andes Crème de Menthe Thins
  • Green Food Coloring
  • 1 tsp, Mint Extract (optional)

Grasshopper Chocolate Bark Directions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Unwrap the entire box of Andes Crème de Menthe thins and chop them coarsely. Set aside.
  3. Melt the white chocolate chips in a bowl according to package directions. Add mint extract if desired and stir to combine. Add 3 drops of green food coloring (or more depending on desired color).
  4. Spread the white chocolate layer evenly on the prepared baking sheet. The bark does not need to cover the entire pan – it can be a thicker or a thinner consistently depending on personal preference. Refrigerate the white chocolate layer for at least 15 minutes to allow it to harden.
  5. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a bowl according to package directions. Once the white chocolate layer is hardened, spread the melted semi-sweet chocolate over the top evenly.
  6. Immediately sprinkle the coarsely chopped mints onto the bark and gently press larger pieces into the top. Refrigerate bark for 30 minutes to allow it to set.
  7. Once cooled, place the bark onto a cutting board and using a sharp knife, break the bark into pieces.

The bark may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I doubt it will last that long!

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir this recipe.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert Recipes, Snack Recipes

Mica Powder Lip Stain

March 28, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi 1 Comment

This is literally a 3-minute DIY! If you have leftover Mica Powder from the Mica Powder Soap recipe, you won’t have to spend a dime to make this one!

Mica Powder Lip Stain Ingredients

  • Vaseline (or any Petroleum Jelly)
  • Cosmetic Grade Mica Powder (found here)
    (we used Scarlet Sparkle)
  • .15 cc Scoop (found here)

** Mica Powders will stain so make sure you lay newspaper down before using. **

Mica Powder Lip Stain Directions

  1. Measure and scoop 3 1/2 tablespoons of petroleum jelly into a small dish.
  2. Measure a .15 CC scoop of mica powder into your petroleum jelly and mix with a craft stick until  your mica powder is mixed in with no excess powder. Note: the mica powder will stain so we do not recommend using your wooden spoons to stir or mix.
  3. Scoop your colored lip balm into small clear lip balm containers.

This is another DIY that would make a great gift! Check out more of our DIY Gift Ideas for inspiration!

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to scoop with this recipe.

Super easy lip stain DIY! It only takes 2 ingredients and will literally take you 3 minutes or less!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: DIY Gifts, Personal Care Recipes

Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cups

March 21, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi Leave a Comment

It’s that time of the year – Girl Scout Cookie season! Once you get your “sleeve” of those amazing thin mints, you will have a head start on the ingredients for this recipe! Of course you can use the Keebler Grasshopper cookies, but there is something about those Thin Mints!

This would be a great recipe to make for a birthday party or classroom snack too since the size is small and portable.

Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cups Ingredients

  • 48 oz tub, Mint Ice Cream
  • 1.5 cups, Heavy Cream
  • 12 oz, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 package, Chocolate Mint Cookies
  • Cupcake Wrappers

Mint Cookie Ice Cream Cups Directions

  1. Set the ice cream out to allow it to soften.
  2. Insert cupcake wrappers in two muffin pans.
  3. Place the chocolate mint cookies in a food processor and pulse a few times until they are crushed (can also place in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin to crush).
  4. Sprinkle a layer into the bottom of each cupcake wrapper.
  5. Top with a layer of the softened mint chocolate ice cream – leaving about a quarter of an inch space at the top for the chocolate layer.
  6. Place the cupcake pans in the freezer while completing the next step.
  7. Using a small sauce pan on low heat, melt the chocolate chips – stirring consistently.
  8. Add the heavy cream and combine. Additional heavy cream may be added to taste, if desired.
  9. Remove the cupcake pans from the freezer, and pour the chocolate sauce on top of the ice cream layer. Optional – add a few chocolate chips or sprinkles to the top.
  10. Place the cupcake pans back in the freezer for at minimum 1 hour to allow the mint ice cream cookie cups to harden.

This recipe makes 2 dozen ice cream cups. Be sure to store the ice cream cookie cups in an airtight container in the freezer.

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir this recipe.

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Dessert Recipes, Ice Cream Recipes, Seasonal Recipes

3-ingredient Lip Scrub

March 14, 2017 By Andrea @ utensi 2 Comments

Confession time! I used to purchase lip scrub for around $20. When I started to look at the ingredients in the product, I realized that I was throwing money away! Also, in my attempt to be more aware of the ingredients in the products I’m using, I knew the $20 lip scrub was something I wanted to start making myself.

3-Ingredient Lip Scrub Ingredients

  • 2 TBS, Granulated Sugar
  • 1 TBS, Honey
  • 1 TBS, Coconut Oil (melted)

This recipe will make enough for 3 (10 mL) containers.

3-Ingredient Lip Scrub Directions

  1. When making homemade beauty products always work in a clean area and sanitize your small beauty containers before using.
  2. In a small glass container, combine your sugar, honey, and coconut oil and mix well with a wooden stir stick.
  3. Separate your lip scrub into three little containers.
  4. To use place a good amount onto your finger tip and rub into your lips, rinse with warm water.

These make great gifts too! Be sure to check out other DIY Gift Ideas we have shared as well!

wooden measuring spoons long handles utensi

Use our long handle measuring spoons to measure and stir this recipe.

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: DIY Gifts, Personal Care Recipes

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