Transform Your Hair With Vanity Planet + Learn How To Sew This Boho Fabric Headband!


Sponsored Post: This post is sponsored by Vanity Planet but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
#VPbeauty #VPtransformsummer #VanityPlanet

I have had this urge to refresh my routine lately, and I wanted to share a unique product from Vanity Planet, a company that I have loved for some time now. My hair has been a bit lackluster lately. I am not one to use a lot of heat on my hair, and I try to use sulfate free products whenever I can (mainly shampoo and conditioner). I am also one who washes my hair every single day. I have read so much about not doing this every day, but all of that dirt and oil that is in my hair each morning, makes it nearly impossible for me to miss a day of washing, no matter WHAT the experts say!

So, I am excited to try out this Moisturizing and Restorative Hair Treatment from Vanity Planet soon. The brand was so kind to send this hair treatment and also a neat product called the Groove (a scalp massager). I will also give this tool a try soon, which is supposed to help lather in the product. I have super long hair, and I am thinking this is going to be a helpful tool for someone with short hair, that would not tangle into it like longer hair could. My mom has short hair, so perhaps this could be a cute Mother's Day gift, too!

Also, I now you're going to love this super easy DIY Sewn Fabric Headband, because a good headband, that fist like a dream is hard to find. They're either too tight for me, or never fit just right. I used this fun Hair Treatment as inspiration for this post. See this awesome, DIY Fabric Headband in the photo, below.

Since it's already graduation season, and it's almost Mother's Day, I thought this would be a super cute, very thoughtful gift idea for a woman in your life!

I love having an army of headbands, just in case I need a cute way to keep my hair where it's supposed to be in the car on a road trip, or perhaps I just want my hair to be extra cute?! It gets so hot and humid here each summer, that my hair does what it wants when the temps rise. Also, I love being able to pull on a headband while I'm washing my face - I can't stand when my hair gets drenched while I'm at the sink! 

I also figure that this adorable headband would be amazing for Festival Season! Pair it with jean shorts and a patterned, flowy tank top, or wear it with an adorable dress! Any camping trip would benefit from a cute headband or two. 

Even better, Vanity Planet has TONS of sales going on right now, on products ranging across categories like 25% Off HAIR PRODUCTS, 70% Off SKINCARE, and 70% Off MAKEUP BRUSHES!

LET"S MAKE A HEADBAND!!

1.) Cut your materials: 1 Piece at 20" x 6.5", 1 piece st 8" x 3" and a piece of elastic at 5". I used a curtain-like material, that I loved so much! But, it was slightly difficult to sew. Instead, feel free to even use an old t-shirt, other jersey knit fabrics, or any sort of lightweight cotton or even seersucker material. I have made LOTS of these headbands in the past, and love each and every one!

2.) Fold the 8"x3" piece in half, right sides together, and pin lengthwise. Sew this up to create a tube. Turn it right side out. Also, double fold down a small portion of the long sides of the 20" x 6.5" piece to hide raw edges. Use an iron to make flat folds, or just eye it. 

3.) Attach a large safety pin to one end of your elastic, and pull it through the tube you just created. Line the ends of the tube and the elastic up, and sew them together. Next, pull the safety pin all the way through, so the whole safety pin is out of the tubs. This will scrunch the tube a bit. While holding onto the safety pin for resistance, sew the other end of the elastic into the tube (sew across a few times so it's safe). Cut excess elastic and safety pin away and you have a scrunchy tube!

4.) Now, sew the scrunchy tube to the rest of the material. Place the scrunchy tube on top of the longer piece of fabric, right sides together. Place the scrunchy tube about 2/3 of the way into the bigger piece, and use an accordion fold to sandwich the scrunchy tube into the larger piece. Pin and sew across the fabrics to join them. Attach the scrunchy tube to the other side of the big piece of fabric, and again, sandwich the scrunchy tube into the other piece of fabric with an accordion fold. Cut off lose threads and turn right side out. Now, you're done! 

And, there you have it, the cutest headband around! 

Also, I love my SpinBrush, that I got last year, It's very effective in getting dirt and oil off your face, as well as all those dead skin cells - perfect for rising summer temps. This is a great travel companion, too! Get 70% Off, by using code SpinSpring70 at checkout.

Also, Vanity Planet is offering a huge selection of new products like this set of Makeup Brushes, which you can try out at 70% off, by using code MakeupSpring70 at checkout, too!

Reset The Day with Snapple® Takes 2 to Mango™ Tea + A Garden Fresh Bruschetta Recipe

I am so excited about my garden this year. I am growing as many edible ingredients as possible, and here is one recipe for Garden Fresh Bruschetta, using basil from my very own garden! Inspired by the newest flavor of all-natural Snapple, Takes 2 To Mango, here is an all natural recipe and gardening ideas!

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Sheet Pan Meal - Pork Chops and Roasted Rainbow Vegetables Recipe

Wow! This quick and easy dish contains vegetables of every color of the rainbow. It's important to eat as many colors during each meal as possible. By updating traditional boneless pork chops and pairing them with fresh ingredients, your senses will delight you and your busy schedule won't have to wait.

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Tips On Making A Mother's Day Gift Basket + Le Petit Marseillais - Say Bonjour To France's #1 Body Wash - Now In The U.S.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoFreshSoFrench #CollectiveBias

One of France’s biggest beauty secrets is out – say “Bonjour” to Le Petit Marseillais™, France’s #1 body wash brand that is finally here in America. This carefully-curated Walmart collection is available beginning in March and features 17 products, located in the specialty bath & body aisle, where loofahs are sold. I had the opportunity to test out some of these incredibly wonderful products, and I am so excited to share them with you! You will find these products at a very reasonable price point too. I am considering grabbing myself a few of the scents, and am also looking forward to being able to gift these in a Mother's Day Gift basket soon. The full collection can be found in Walmart and also online! I am also sharing some early Mother's Day Gift Ideas, all of which you can customize to your mom's favorite scents and taste preferences. Also, get a quick and easy DIY idea to add into your gift basket. Enjoy!

Shop online for the whole line of products at walmart.com.

Learn all about the brand on their website, here.

Follow the brand on Instagram here.

And, connect with them on Facebook, here.

Le Petit Marseillais™ was originally created in the sunny harbor of Marseille, a city on France's southern coast. It was an important trading center in the region, where the founder, Bernard Lengelle, fell in love with the region's fragrant artisan soap made with local olive oil. Utilizing ingredients deeply rooted in sunny Province, a French region known for its Earthly riches, simple values, and joie de vivre - joy of life, these products are well-loved among those who live in and those who travel to France. Upon reading lots of positive reviews of the brand, I learned that customers are extremely excited that this line is finally available in the US!

I was fortunate enough to receive a shipment of the following items to feature in my post. I have since seen the whole line of products at various Walmart locations, and I am excited to try the entire line - at this price point, I can definitely afford to test a few of them out! Read on to see what I thought of each product. The entire collection includes an assortment of eight body/hand moisturizers, two liquid hand soaps, six body washes and a bar soap with prices ranging from $3.99 - $7.97.

  1. Le Petit Marseillais™ Orange Blossom Extra Gentle Shower Crème Body Wash
  2. Le Petit Marseillais™ Orange Blossom Extra Gentle Hand Soap
  3. Le Petit Marseillais™ Shea Butter, Sweet Almond & Argan Oil Nourishing Body Milk Lotion

If you're looking for a beautiful and easy way to add a bit of a personal touch to your gift basket, here is an idea! Simply use fabric glue, hand stitch, or use a sewing machine to attach ribbon to some wash cloths or hand towels. I used a tropical printed ribbon because I love the fresh and sunny appeal of this line of products. I originally wanted to use some ribbon in an orange hue to match the packaging, but nothing looked quite right in the orange ribbon section. This retro-tropical pineapple ribbon from a fabric store jumped right out at me, and it looked amazing on these white towels. Alternately, feel free to use towels and ribbon (or any trim will do) in whatever colors would go with the recipient's bathroom.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR GIFT BASKET

Lotions, Soaps, Body Washes - Treat Mom (or grandmas, step moms, aunts, friends, really anyone special) to something that will nourish their skin and smell delicious.

Something Tasty and Sweet - I opted to include a delicious chocolate bar that was dark chocolate infused with oranges, because I thought that would pair perfectly with the scent of these body products.

Something Hand Made Or Personalized - like I mentioned, I embellished these cute cloths and think they really added a very personal touch to this gift basket.

Fresh Flowers - I opted for local wildflowers from our property, but feel free to purchase a bouquet that coordinates in color or scent with the other gifts items.

And For The Basket - Feel free to use a basket or container that the recipient can use again and again, and will always think of you when she uses it. This wooden crate was perfect to reiterate the Earthy and adorable look of the gifts inside. I also used colorful tissue paper in the bottom of the basket to secure items inside, and also help raise the bottles up to different heights for visual interest.

As soon as I received these goodies, I tested them out. I wanted to make sure I was gifting my Mom good products, of course. First, I tried the Le Petit Marseillais™ Orange Blossom Extra Gentle Hand Soap. Gentle it was! I definitely do not use a lot of scented products, but this line contains such light, refreshing scents that I was instantly intrigued. I am also pretty particular about hand soap, because I love when my hands feel extra clean, and grease free, and this worked super well. It left just a light scent of orange blossom, and I loved it.

Next. I tried out the Le Petit Marseillais™ Shea Butter, Sweet Almond & Argan Oil Nourishing Body Milk Lotion. I have also had less than appealing results with Milk Lotions in the past, because they can sometimes feel a bit "watery", but this one is definitely different than anything I've tried in the past. I am currently in Arizona, so my skin has been extra dry from the arid climate. Well, this lotion is my new best friend! It also has that light, fresh orange blossom scent (a very realistic floral aroma), and moisturizes extremely well. I did not have to reapply until the next day! And, the pump style bottle is very easy to use. So happy with this lotion.

Lastly, I used the Le Petit Marseillais™ Orange Blossom Extra Gentle Shower Crème Body Wash during my shower the following morning, and this has the best lather and foaming qualities of any body wash I've ever used! Again, it contained that light, fresh scent that I love, and cleansed very well. It was definitely gentle, as the name implies, and I felt extremely clean and also moisturized after the shower. There appear to be no harsh ingredients in these products, making me so happy that I found out about them. 

Overall, I am extremely happy with this line of products, and I know you and whoever you choose to gift them to, will also adore the whole line of simple, breezy, and uncomplicated products by Le Petit Marseillais™. 

I am so fortunate to be spending some time in Arizona, and was able to source some orange blossoms in the neighborhood. Everything here in the desert is kissed by sunshine pretty much every day, so I understand the attraction to and importance of such ingredients. These orange blossoms smell better than I could even describe in words, and these Le Petit Marseillais™ products capture the essence in a very perfect way. 

What are your favorite items to include in gift baskets and gift for Mother's Day?

Treating With Nutrish Treats From Rachel Ray + Road Tripping With Dogs Tips

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TreatingWithNutrish #NutrishPets #CollectiveBias

I found a new way to make my dogs behave better, haha! They absolutely LOVED these Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Dog Treats. Our two beautiful dogs had such a fun time helping me with this post, and planning and packing for our next road trip. I am excited to share some tips on Road Tripping With Dogs (and a puppy)! Our 8 year old Chocolate Lab has traveled nearly 60,000+ miles with us, and our recent road trip from southern Illinois to the Florida Keys was our Chocolate Labradoodle's first big road trip ever. Bringing these treats along with us helps immensely! They will do whatever we want when we temp them with treats, so I was so happy to incorporate these NUTRISH treats into our travels. 

HERE ARE THE AVAILABLE VARIETIES OF TREATS:

Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Deli Cuts
Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Meatloaf Morsels
Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Pawsta
Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Savory Roasters
Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Burger Bites

WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR ROAD TRIP WITH DOGS + A PUPPY:

1-2 Gallons of water

Dog Bed

Keep Collars on Dogs + Leashes Within Reach

Dog Treats

Dog Food In A Gallon Ziploc Bag 

Doggie Waste Bage

Dog Toys

Chewies Like Rawhides

I found these amazing treats at the Winn Dixie grocery store in Big Pine Key, FL. They had these two varieties, the Savory Roasters and the Deli Cuts. In fact, I've already gone back a second time to get more treats, the dogs love them SO much!!

Look for them where you purchase your family's groceries! 

NO artificial flavors or meat by-products!! This is extremely important to me.

Safely USA cooked with the world's best ingredients. 

Note: Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Treats are intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Please watch your dog to ensure Nutrish treats are thoroughly chewed before swallowing. Break into small pieces for smaller dogs.