Sugar & Cloth

It’s been approximately seven months since my last sugar scrub recipe, which means I’m approximately 6 months over due. So, I’ve come back with a punch by mixing my life-long love affairs with coffee and homemade beauty products to make this cinnamon coffee sugar scrub. Seriously, it’s smells so good I could take a bite out of it…

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of coconut oil
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds

All you have to do is combine all of the ingredients together and stir. I always get a lot of comments about the recipe being too runny, or too dry. This is really just personal preference, so if you find it’s too runny, add more sugar, and f it’s too dry, add a tad more coconut oil or honey.

Aside from the number one question I always receive (which I mentioned here), people always ask me how I come up with ideas for projects, or things that inspire me. I can say without a doubt that adventuring to new shops, cities, and places inspires me more than anything else. I’m always intrigued by how things are displayed or used in new ways, and there is never any shortage of genius ideas behind little boutiques and local spots that are reinventing the creative wheel. To spread the wealth, I thought I’d start sharing my favorites with you here…

I’d like to introduce you to Sweet, the cutest, most drool-worthy bakery and coffee shop that you may ever step foot into. Not only does Sweet do sweet really well, but it definitely has bragging rights for the loveliest decor on the Houston macaron block, and trust me, I have been around the macaron block!

And just in case you want to take the treats (and cuteness) home with you, all of their goodies can come lovingly tucked into containers and boxes that could make any heart melt.

I had the strawberry and vanilla pots de creme… and maybe a macaron or two for the go, but I can neither confirm or deny that.

Can I confide in you a little secret? I actually go to sleep excited for breakfast the next morning, particularly coffee. My beloved morning coffee is hands down my addiction of choice, but sometimes I get tired of hot coffee (especially living in Houston). On the flip-side, I’m not a exactly a morning person either, sooo to make a long story short(er) I’ve fallen in love with this simple iced-coffee recipe… fair warning, though, this post may not be for the coffee-snobs out there.

Ingredients:

• 3 tsp. instant coffee
• 1 cup of milk (or use cream, your choice)
• 2 tsp. flavored syrup (I used sugar-free vanilla)
• 3 tsbp. warm water
• Ice

Combine the warm water and instant coffee in your cup, and stir really well. I like my coffee strong so I use 3 teaspoons of the coffee grounds, but two will work. Add in your flavored syrup, milk, and ice and stir once more, than you’re good to go!

I’m a big advocate for hostess gifts. Mostly I just love giving gifts in general, but hostess gifts hold a special place in my heart considering I’m an over-acheivor when it comes to parties (and by over-acheivor I actually mean that I run around like a maniac making things just so).

All of this to say that the holidays are the perfect time for a DIY hostess gift for the ones on the front lines of party planning, like this DIY coffee stained gift set filled with hot chocolate for two!

First, I bought this simple unfinished box at Hobby Lobby and burnt a monogram on the corner using a simple wood burning tool.

I used fresh coffee grounds to stain the wood naturally, this way it’s food safe if you want to fill it with cookies or fun edibles, and it’s practically free considering we drink coffee as our second water.

All you have to do is rub fresh grounds over the entire box with either your hands or a clean cloth. The more layers you do, the darker it gets. Rinse the whole box once you have the color you’re going for.

Then I filled glass spice jars full of hot chocolate mixes, marshmallows, and peppermint to make a hot chocolate for two gift set! It makes for a really inexpensive, personalized gift that people can reuse.

Also, what did you think of the awesome giveaway from yesterday? You can find the 4th day of the 24 merry days blog event on The Sweetest Occasion today!

Oh, and my “Meet the Maker”  interview is live over on Kollabora for you to get a little behind the scenes scoop on S+C!

If this color dipped coffee set DIY from Rebecca at A Daily Something hasn’t knocked your socks off yet, then just check out some of her other projects here. Crazy amounts of talent over there! I found out about her blog through Twitter (which, admittedly, I don’t use very often), nonetheless I’m glad I did! I have to say, I’m always excited to come across people who aren’t afraid to express their love of God, and  honor Him with what they do.

For instructions to make your own, read more!

photos & project via A Daily Something