An Easy DIY Gift

I know that it's already April and I am totally behind on posting this, but I just wanted to share with you part of the gift I gave to my sister for her birthday. She told me that for her birthday she wanted bath salts or bubble bath. I tried looking at some online or other places but decided that it would be better if she could pick out the one she wanted and then I would pay for it because she is so picking about scents (as am I...). So on her birthday, I took her to Bath & Body Works, which seemed like a good candidate for bath salts, but they had hardly any options! It was so disappointing! So we left B&BW disappointed, and I still needed to get something for my sister. I thought about it for a while and decided that I would maybe just try to make my own - how hard could it be after all, right? Turns out, not too hard at all!

These are all the ingredients you need, and it's super simple to put together!

First measure out a cup of salt, either sea salt or epsom salt, into a bowl. Then add a tablespoon or two of baking soda to the salt and mix. Next, add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of essential oil - I used lavender for one of the jars, and then a mix of tea tree oil and peppermint for the other. If you want the salt to look all pretty, then you can add a couple of drops of food coloring to the salt. Just don't go toooo crazy with the food coloring, or else it might dye the person's skin while they are bathing...Then mix super well until all of the color is evenly distributed and put into a cute container, like this little mini mason jar or something. Tie a little raffia ribbon around, label the scent on the top, and you are done! It was so much fun to make, and I could customize the scents and everything just how I wanted. You do have to have your own essential oils, which may be a little pricey, but they last forever, and you can get the same ones that I did right here on Amazon. And then you can give everyone you know bath salts for the rest of your life! Woohoo!

A Question

source

So, now that Halloween is over, we all know that it is Christmas shopping time! I've been working on putting together some gift idea lists and shopping around (mostly the internetz). But there are some people on my gift list who are just super hard to shop for. Have you ever had someone like that? I feel like I'm easy to shop for -- I love lots of things! Anything Disney, orange, or Psych or clothes related, and you're doing pretty good. But I hate trying to guess for someone who is hard to shop for, and then getting something they will never use.

So here's my question -- what do you think of asking someone if they would like a gift? I think I have a great gift idea for someone, but I don't want to spend money on it and give it to them if they are just going to not use it or think it is a terrible idea. Is it lame to ask them and then ruin the surprise? Or is it better to know ahead of time so you can think of something else to get them?

My opinion? If someone is going to get something big for me (and since I'm poor, big means like more than $40), I would totally want them to check with me first if they were unsure. Of course I would prefer them to pick up on my not-so-subtle hints, but you can't always get what you want. It's so much less awkward than accepting a gift you don't really like and then having to return it and avoid the subject in the future. And for the surprise factor, I'm greedy -- they can get me something big that's not a surprise, and then a small thing that is a surprise :)

What do you think?

come on sunshine

sunglasses: f21, earrings: kohls, shirt: kohls, skirt: ?, tights: gift, shoes: charlotte russe

I bought these sunglasses like two weeks ago, and ever since I bought them, it has absolutely refused to be sunny. Come on Utah! You are famous for freezing temperatures with bright sunshines!

So yesterday and today, there have been like fifteen minutes of sun total and I have insisted on wearing my sunglasses at all times we are in the car. I love them and CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SUMMER TIME!

Dear Summer, Please Come Quickly...Love, Chelsey

Side Note: Valentine's Day and Owen's Birthday are coming soon! Must come up with gift ideas for my man! Unfortunately, I have bought two different gifts and he guessed them both, so I had to return them. What kind of super-guessing machine did I marry?

_______________________________________________________________________

Today, I am grateful that my husband still loves me even though I totally smell like shallots and don't want to shower until tomorrow. What a nice guy :)

day 13- a letter to someone

To: Santa Claus
1 Reindeer Lane
North Pole


Dear Santa,

I know it has been a while since I've written to you, but this year just seems like a good year to send word your way. Maybe it is because now I am a poor married college student. Or maybe I am just looking forward to a little Christmas magic right now to lift my spirits in the midst of studying for microbiology.

I really think that I've been pretty good this year. Sure I don't always study for my tests as much as I should and instead I blog, but I've tried my best. And I know I shouldn't always make Owen do the dishes or complain about doing the super boring time detail at work, but I promise I will try harder next year.

For Christmas this year, I want

• A new planner. You know how much I use my planner everyday and I would really like to have a cute one like this (in really any color except Twirly Birds Pink please):

• New neighbors. Is that too much to ask? I really just want upstairs neighbors who don't stomp around everywhere like sumo wrestlers, don't smoke, don't have an annoying dog, who go to bed at some sort of reasonable hour, and who don't yell interesting things at all times of the day. That's all.
• A front door that closes and that we can lock.
• Black boots that I actually like, that will last a while and that won't cause me to slip and fall in the snow. Good luck with this one, because I still haven't found a good pair that won't break the bank.
• This adorable and also very practical umbrella that was feature on Gossip Girl. And it's on sale right now! 

• Some satsumas. Not mandarins or tangerines or clementines or "Cuties." Just satsumas please. 
• A hot pad for the oven. I know they aren't expensive or exciting, but we just keep forgetting to buy one when we are at Target
• Time next year to exercise. Please give me a manageable life schedule?
• A lab coat so when I'm doing research, I stop getting holes in all of my shirts across the front. It really is quite embarrassing. 
• A vacation to Disneyland and Blake Lively's hair. Okay, now we are dreaming...

I hope things up North are going well for you. Have you been having mild weather like we have? It's been great! But I do hope that there is snow for Christmas since my family is coming up here this year and I want them to experience some real Utah snow. 

Tell Rudolph and the elves hello and Merry Christmas for me!

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes,

Also a ridiculous gift I found online: a Swarovski-crystal encrusted toilet. A perfect gift for someone if you have $75,000 laying around

Dream List

All of this Christmas music I have been listening to makes me feel like I need to get on top of my Christmas gift shopping--especially considering the fact that I was already done with all of it by this time last year! And instead of being productive in finding useful, meaningful gifts for people, I have discovered one dream tool--the Amazon Universal Wish List.

Wrong Amazon...

 It's great because no matter what website you are on, you can add a link and usually image of it to your one wish list! How convenient is that? I started making a wish list for myself, and trust me--some things on there are definitely a big Wish with a capital W. But that's what the holidays are for right? Online window shopping and daydreaming. Oh, and trying to finally memorize all of those diseases of the respiratory system...Next week, we'll be on our way to Washington! I cannot wait to see my family again! And also get away from this Utah snow! Anyway, here is the link to my wish list, in case you have bucket loads of money and just want to buy me something expensive hahahahaha. I'm so funny.

Chelsey's Wish List