Happy National Donut Day

All diets go out the window today because it's National Donut Day! What kind of donut do you crave? I'm a classic glazed girl.  And did you know there are actually two National Donut Days (the other is the first Friday in June)? Because donuts are worth celebrating twice, no?



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Friday Favorites

There always seems to be a hint of excitement and anticipation in the air the week after Halloween; the feeling you get when you know a package is coming in the mail but it hasn't arrived yet. Or perhaps it's just me because I love the holiday season so much. This week, despite the craziness and exhaustion, knowing that Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away was enough to sustain me. We're kind of relaxing this weekend, which I couldn't be more grateful for after months of planning my big girl's birthday party (which, by the way, was a huge success!). Have a fabulous weekend, and God bless!

Festive cranberry apple sangria that I can't wait to try.

DIY mini pumpkin florals, perfect for a Friendsgiving celebration.

Beautifully presented mini apple pies for a fall gathering. 

Disneyland Paris at Christmas--the most magical place in the most magical city during the most magical time of the year. 

The love of fall. 

3 Steps to Keep Pumpkins From Rotting

Halloween may be over, but you can still incorporate pretty pumpkins that haven't been carved or cut into your fall and Thanksgiving decor--you just need to know how to keep them from rotting before the month is over.  After you've chosen a pumpkin that's free of blemishes and rotted spots, and still has a stem attached, follow these steps to preserve it.

1. Wash pumpkin with a solution of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of bleach.

2. Spray a gloss sealant all over the pumpkin, including the stem, to help it maintain its shape and keep it from rotting. NOTE: If you plan to paint your pumpkin or add deco foil or anything like that, do it before you spray with the sealant.

3. Keep it out of the direct sunlight, because, as you know, the sun naturally speeds the ripening/rotting process.



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Get Gorgeous With Sesame Oil

Sesame oil has never really been on my radar as a beauty oil (I've only used it to make stir fry) but it turns out this stuff is an incredible beauty elixir. It's full of zinc--essential for producing collagen, as well as repairing damaged skin from acne--vitamins E, B complex, and D, as well as calcium, phosphorus, and protein for strong, healthy hair. To really reap all the benefits of sesame oil, make sure it's organic cold pressed.

1. Make a detoxifying oil cleanser by mixing 1/4 cup each sesame oil and apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons water; apply to damp skin, then wash off with warm water and your usual skin cleanser.
2. Apply sesame oil to skin right after you shower to help lock in moisture.
3. Use as a hot oil treatment for hair; it'll stimulate blood circulation to promote growth, and the fatty essential oils will nourish your strands.
4. Heal dry, cracked heels (essential now that the weather has cooled off); rub it into heels at night and cover with cotton socks that you don't mind getting stained.
5. To help prevent hair loss, make a pre-shampoo treatment by mixing 2 tablespoons of sesame oil with 2 egg yolks and the juice of a lemon, apply to damp hair and massage into scalp and down to the ends, wrap hair in a towel or shower cap, and rinse after 30 minutes.
6. Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar with 4 teaspoons of sesame oil and about 30 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to make a refreshing body scrub.
7. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of sesame oil to your bath to draw out oil soluble toxins from your skin. 
8. Rub a small drop between your palms and apply to dry hair to combat frizz. 
9. Sesame oil is a natural sunscreen; apply to face and body to protect skin against harmful UV rays. 
10. Wet face and massage oil into skin, then apply about a teaspoon of rice powder (find this at Asian markets) and gently exfoliate. Rinse with warm water. 



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Wordsmith Wednesday: Cloying

Here's where I share my favorite words with you. Because savvy girls have impressive vocabularies.