(DIY) Easy chicken dinner!

Helloooo!

I got the basic idea for this chicken off of Six Sisters and decided to kinda tweak it a little....

It turned out rather yummy so here it is!

What you'll need:

I used roughly 6 boneless chicken breasts

A glass baking pan
(This can also be grilled or cooked on the stove)

Butter

Cutting board and knife

Cookie sheet and paper towels

Medium to large bowl and whisk

Measuring cups

Little bowls

Honey

Honey Dijon Mustard

Spicy Brown Mustard

Scallions and garlic

**Since this was my first time making it and my poor pregnant body was telling me I had done too much already it took me almost an hr to prep. Can be prepped much faster than that. :)

Chopping/Mixing/Baking:

1. Preheat ovan to 375 and melt some butter in you glass pan, cover bottom well.

2. Place a layer of paper towels on a cookie sheet and use a secondary layer for when you lightly press your chicken between them to make sure you chicken is dry before trimming and cutting into strips. Then set your chicken aside.

3. Grab 2 small bowls and use them to hold your chopped garlic (About 4 cloves)
and scallions (6 or so) Set aside.

4. Grab you measuring cups, bowl and whisk...
A. Make sure you use equal parts of the honey and dijon mustard! (I used 1 cup of each)
B. 1 tablespoon (or 3) of the spicy mustard, really depends on your personal taste.

5. Add scallions and garlic to your mixture and whisk well.

6. Toss your chicken into marinade and toss the chicken in and make sure each pc is coated well then add to glass pan. Place extra sauce over once all of your pc's are in and waiting.

7. Bake uncovered for 50 min (Roughly)

8. Remove from oven and serve with the rest of your meal!
(We had leftover sweet potatoes and corn from Thanksgiving + rolls)

**Feeds about 6 adults :)

And no... I didn't get an a picture! :( Sorry guys!

**This was a yummy little dinner that has several leftover options.

i.e. The extra chicken (If you have any) can be used on salad, pasta etc...

I took this idea from another site like I said and adjusted it as I went so if you're like me you do a lot of cooking by using your eyes and taste buds!

Enjoy!

Shannon <3

Thanksgiving DIY!! (Stovetop Potpourri)

On our stove today is the most glorious DIY scent ever!!

If you want your house to not only mingle with the scent of your cooking or cooked Thanksgiving Day meal, here's a quick and easy option that will last you a month if used properly......

What you'll need:

1. An older pot you that don't care if it has something sitting in it for a while. Small.

2. Fresh orange peels, as many as desired. 

(Or whole orange sliced if they're the kind you can get in the bag and usually aren't the best for eating.)

3. Whole Cloves, small handful or as many as desired.

4. Cinnamon sticks, about 4 or 5.

5. Fresh or dried cranberries, small to med handful. 

6. Water.

Place all of these items in the pot and pour water over and set to a soft boil then turn down to a simmer once you see more than just a few bubbles at a time. This makes your house smell absolutely WONDERFUL!!! I've seen this done before but had yet to try it and we're so glad we finally did. 

**Just remember to never let the water get too low when doing this! Always keep full.

The aroma is quite therapeutic and rather stimulating so you feel a drive to go about your day and enjoy it! Or if you're lighting vanilla candles as well it'll be a relaxing scent that lulls you into a state of euphoric peace. Reading or organizing some holiday crafts may be what you desire at this point...

Either way,

Try it, 

I know you'll love it :)

Blessings,

Shannon <3 

DYI In a rush or too tired cleaner for spilled milk!!

Ever spill some milk on the carpet and felt too tired to really clean it up the way it should be?

That happened to my husband and I the other evening...

Plumb worn out from a VERY long weekend and looking at a bowl of spilled cereal I told my husband to clean up the actual particles and then I'd grab something to take care of the mess until I could scrub the floor. This not only prevents oder, but it lets you rest calmly if you're too tired or too busy at that very moment. i.e One of the kids does this right before they need to be on the bus and you need to be headed off to work! This will save sanity, money and precious time if you're in a rush. 

Here's how I cleaned it:

1. I had the cereal itself pickup and tossed 

2. Grabbed a couple towels and salt, then I loaded up area with salt and placed towels on it over night.

(The salt helps keep a sour oder away while soaking up any moisture.)

3. Take your sweeper the next day and remove towel to vacuum up the salt.

4. Grab some dish soap and hot water with a sponge or scrub brush and soak but not SOAK the carpet and scrub away for 2 min or so. Maybe less. 

5. Sprinkle baking soda over and replace a fresh towel over spot. 

(You can leave for the next day to clean for added assurance of a dry carpet.)

6. Vacuum 24 hours later and call it good :)

There won't be a smell and it's a safe non-toxic way to clean if you have kids or pets! Plus it's cheap.

I don't like strong smells with cleaners unless it's bleach haha I don't know why. 

**If you desire, you can use a homemade fresh scent spray (Which I will post a DIY later for that) over the area when finished, actually over the room for a super clean and therapeutic aroma! 

That's all for now, have a great day!

Shannon <3

DIY Fruit Fly Killer!

Ever notice how fruit flies multiply so quickly?

They hide in your kitchen and in your bathroom.

Well, we eat a lot of fresh produce in our house and noticed these little guys coming around lately...

YUCK!

Here's a DIY method that's non-toxic and doesn't have those awful fumes.

What you will need:

A clean mason jar

Apple cider vinegar

dish soap

Steps to prep:

1. Grab your mason jar, apple cider vinegar and dish soap.

2. Add 1 cup apple cider vinegar to jar then a few drops of dish soap

3. place in a location out of reach of children and traffic and let the trap do it's thing

It's nice cause it doesn't stink and it took me less than 5 min to make!

It's been under 30 min and it's already claimed a few lives, truly wonderful. :)

Shannon <3

Non-Toxic DIY Drain Cleaner!

Ever use those drain cleaners that aren't supposed to touch your skin?

Or they burn your nose with a level of intensity that it makes your eyes water?

I have too.

They work well but they're not exactly family friendly...

With my first baby on the way I'm happy to find new ways to clean and not worry if any harm is being done to me or my unborn child. Not to mention after the baby is born and begins to grow and explore.

Here's a cheap non-toxic DIY drain cleaner I JUST learned about and it seems to work really well!

Baking soda & white vinegar.

(Your non-toxic DIY drain cleaner system!)

Seriously. That's it!

Here's what you do:

1. Sprinkle a healthy amount of baking soda down the desired drain or drains.

2. Pour your white vinegar down and listen for the "fizz" effect.

3. Quickly block the drain and let set for 30 min.

4. Run hot, hot water for 30 seconds down drain after plug has been removed.

5. And you're finished! Should be done weekly :)

Simple, easy and it doesn't hurt your skin or your nose.

(Unless you have an allergy to either. Then use gloves.)

Have a great day!

Shannon <3

DIY Coconut Oil Hair Treatment!

Greetings!!

I was thinking over some things I've tried for my hair that worked and were really easy and the coconut oil is my latest. Now yes it's oil and people can be leery of it but it needs to be seen as more of a friend vs foe. It's all about learning what type is best for you, problem solved. 

Aside from finding one for your skin type there is a super easy thing you can do for your hair as an overnight treatment. This is amazing for people who color their hair or have REALLY dry hair and need a boost of protection. 

Coconut oil is insanely hydrating and brings life back to your hair, esp after a color job.
i.e.
I let my sister play around with Manic Panic bleach and color on the most under layer of my hair for this cool peek-a-boo look. Yeah, their bleach is crap but we had fun. :)

(Not me, but you get the idea of what bleach does... Strips the hair!)

My sister told me to do an over night treatment on the bleached portion before we added color so I wouldn't end up with fried hair. Smart sister! (She's also one who does research on the whole hair side of things like I do skin ;) So I took her advice and decided to try the coconut oil...

The list of uses for this remarkable product is so vast I won't bother to keep you here prattling them off!
Just know, if you get an unbleached, organic brand from Whole Foods you should be safe.
I bought their store brand for my first try and so far so good.

What you'll need:

A head wrap or towel to protect your bedding/pillow

Clean spoon

pony tail holder and bobby pins

Coconut Oil

After your day has ended and you've washed your face, you are probably ready to call it a night...
This will only take a moment I promise!

1. Get your coconut oil and a clean spoon from the kitchen

2. Once in the bathroom and if desired a towel on your shoulders, scoop out enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but not so much you can rub your hands together w/out loosing half of it.
(You don't want a TON in your hair!)

3. Start working your way through your hair and avoid going directly to the skin, you don't want an oily face when waking up.

4. Use a pony tail holder to place hair on top of your head overnight.
(And bobby pins if you small strays with a layered haircut)

5. Place towel on pillow and go to sleep!

6. Shampoo as normal the next day.
(I usually lather-rinse-repeat. And used a liiiiittle conditioner on my ends out of sheer habit haha)

7. Try to see if you can go a day or two with shampooing as to let this treatment fully indulge your lovely locks! (I usually try to stay away from styling products for this so I don't have to wash my hair...)

(Add this list of foods to your diet for an extra "pow!" in your daily hair care routine...)

This saved my hair after that bleach and once again became super soft and manageable!

Enjoy,
Shannon <3

Please come visit me on my facebook page and click "Like" to follow more tips and tricks for skin, body and all over health at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shannon-P-Aesthetician-Professional-Makeup-Artist/135714456464011

Thanks!

Deeper Nightly DIY Facial Cleanse!!

Good Morning!

I'm feeling really disconnected from my goofy pregnancy congestion this morning so if this sounds fuzzy, please forgive. ;)

I've been toying around with a better/deeper nightly facial cleanse since I've gotten pregnant and want to help this pregnancy acne clear up faster than what it was when it first kicked in. And this is not just for acne, it's for a cleaner face at night in general.

Doing some research and crossing my fingers I've tried various methods...

Some made me feel sick due to smell or made my skin irritated due to hormones being kinda crazy. After trial and error I think I'm finally onto something great!

Taking various ideas off youtube, trusted websites and my own personal experiences I've come up with  a satisfying nightly routine that I won't likely be changing any time soon.

During the day our skin is reacting to our hormones, stress levels, environment, makeup, food, water/liquid intake etc. All of this is on out skin at the end of the day. Kinda gross huh? 

Chances are we aren't getting it all off at night like we thought.

Double the yuck. 

Even the best cleanser can leave residue behind, sad to say.

But that doesn't make it an evil product!

Not by a long shot.

It just might need a little help at the end of the day...

What you'll need:

Cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil

Dickinson's witch hazel

A small plastic or glass bottle w/lid

Cotton balls or cotton rounds

Your cleanser

Sea Breeze astringent (or favorite toner)

1. Mix equal parts of your olive oil and witch hazel in your little bottle.

Shake well before each use and store in a cool place.

(The finished product will look like a childhood science experiment :)

2. Squirt out onto cotton ball/round and apply to face.

Using upward and outward motion this will start to melt the makeup and gunk right off your face!

You will most likely go through several cotton balls but it's worth it.

**Yes, it's safe to use on eye makeup. 

3. After this step you may feel oily which is okay because you'll be taking some witch hazel alone on a cotton ball and going back over your face to clean up anything extra. This acts as a cooling effect and feels wonderful after a long day!

4. Get your cleanser and cleanse as usual. Circular motions up and out, rinsing with warm water.

(Never hot!) 

5. Pat your face dry and grab another cotton ball.

Apply your favorite toner, some more witch hazel or my personal choice, Sea Breeze astringent.

This will show if any residue was left behind and really set the pores up for a good night's rest!

6. Apply any serums or cremes and get ready for bed.

You're done!

Yes, there are 6 steps but after you have everything you need and you do it a couple times it goes by quickly. I actually spend less time getting ready for bed now because of this.

My skin feels cleaner, it's brighter, clearer (from my pregnancy breakouts), and less oily come morning!

** Not every skin type can use an astringent every day. So plan accordingly. 

This is truly the best night care system I've had yet!!

Enjoy.

Blessings,

Shannon <3