Homemade Coconut Sugar Scrub

I hate soap.  Normal, sweet smelling soaps are super drying on my already dry skin  and the ones that I can use on my super dry skin are boring and blah!  I prefer scrubs by far.  A good sugar scrub is AH-MAZE-ING on my skin!  It buffs and then leaves a moisturized feel behind.  Plus they usually smell amazing.  Unfortunately, they can be a bit pricey for a tiny amount.  I just can't justify spending that amount of money on something that will last me two weeks.  So I decided to try and make my own from ingredients in my cupboard.  I once again turned to Pinterest for some ideas.  I couldn't find a recipe that used coconut oil in place of olive oil, so I altered a recipe found on Just Another Day In Paradise.

Ingredients

2 cups of white sugar

1 cup of solid coconut oil

juice from 4 lemons

1 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp vanilla

You will also need a container to store your finished scrub in.  Though a glass container is prettier, I opted for what I had on hand, which was a Snap-n-Lock plastic container.

I bought my coconut oil at SaveMart I think.  Nothing special.  It was the cheapest for the largest amount.

Directions

Add the solid coconut oil to a standing mixer bowl.  I have read that you can melt your coconut oil beforehand to get more of an oily scrub.  I prefer a whipped feeling scrub, so I went with the solid.

Mix on low for approximately 5 to 6 minutes, until you have a nice whipped feeling to the mixture.

Next, add the sugar and mix until blended.

Add the lemons juice (I used fresh squeezed, because that is what I had on hand, but you can use juice from the cute lil lemon shaped bottle) and honey and mix until blended.

Now scoop into your favorite container.

This recipe made more than I thought it would (the coconut oil really fluffs up nicely), so I put the majority of it in a shallow plastic container to use daily in the shower, and the rest in a recycled pizza sauce jar for later use.

I officially used the scrub this morning in the shower and it was perfect!  You can feel the sugar granules scrubbing, and then dissolving, on your skin.  I thought the oil might leave a greasy feeling, but it didn't.  It felt just like a scrub from the expensive stores.  Moisturizing and light.  I even used it on my face and it feels so good.  Plus, the lemon and honey are great scrubbing agents and have antibacterial properties that are great for your skin!  I was hoping for more of a scent with this scrub.  I really though I would smell of coconut all day.  But I couldn't smell anything at all.  Which is good for people who don't want to smell like the tropics.  I, however, do. lol  Next time I might add some vanilla for scent.

Overall, this was a huge success.  I am so happy I went with this option instead of the expensive store option filled with who knows what.

My first attempt at homemeade baking...Funfetti Cupcakes...FAIL

I was craving sweets the other night and decided to torture myself by looking at pictures and recipes for cupcakes online. I was especially craving a funfetti cupcake. But not the kind from a box (though my husband is the bext "box baker" ever). I wanted this particular kind that a coworker made for a friend's "going away" party at work. I have no idea who the coworker is/was as I think she is newish. But she made these incredible homemade funfetti cupcakes. She also made these incredible lemon with cream cheese frosting cupcakes. This woman was awesome. But back to the funfetti...

The cupcakes didn't have those normal, tiny sprinkles in/on them. They had chunky, almost chewy sprinkles that I adored. I ate like 3 of them (they were small...back off). I cannot find a recipe for funfetti cupcakes with chunky sprinkles though. So I settled for the recipe at How Sweet It Is for homemade funfetti cupcakes.  I mainly picked this recipe due to the fact that I had all of the ingredients (minus the powdered sugar for the frosting, but my husband is getting that for me as we speak).

So I took a chance and whipped these together today.  Unfortunately, I should never operate an oven while also looking at baby stuff online.  It's just not safe for ehatever is in the oven..or our house really.  I overbaked the cupcakes.  The timer went off at 18 minutes, I checked them and decided my fork was not being removed cleanly...so I stuck them back in the oven.  Now at that moment, I knew I was a distracted baker.  I KNEW I should set the timer for 2 minutes.  But I didn't.  So about 10 minutes passed and I pondered the awesome smell of my house while looking at an adorable corcheted yoda hat online.  Then it hit me.  OH NO!  And yed, the cupcakes are a bit brown.  Probably dry too.  But I won't know that until I have one tonight after I get the powdered sugar for the frosting.  Oh well.  I can always make more tomorrow and try, try, try again.

Anyway, here is the recipe for those interested:

Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes
makes 12 cupcakes

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 whole eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup assorted brightly colored sprinkles + more for top of frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.

Add half of the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Add the milk. Once mixed, add remaining dry ingredients.

Fold in assorted sprinkles. DO NOT "OVER MIX" THE SPRINKLES.  Just lightly fold them in.  If you mix them too much, they will turnt he batter all sorts of weird colors instead of just adding pops of color.  I learned this on another website.

Pour into cupcake tins and fill 2/3 of the way full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool.

Oops. 

I'll post the frosting recipe and pics after I have completed it all.

 Here is a random picture of my cat...fully enjoying our new couch.

EDIT:  I didn't make the frosting after all.  After about 15 minutes of cooling...my poor overbaked cupcakes hardened to biscuits.  Sooo, first attempt was a fail.  I will try again this weekend.