Homemade toothpaste - the healthy way of taking care of your teeth

Hello all - how's it hanging?

Today I have a great post for you!
I'm gonna tell you how to make your own toothpaste using just 2 (if you want, 3) ingredients.
As many of you know I love anything homemade which also takes care of our environment. So when I found this recipe for homemade toothpaste I was instantaneously curious.
For the last two weeks I've been trying a method called "Coconut Oil Pulling" - this means that every night after you've brushed your teeth, you take a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 15 to 20 minutes. After a week I saw improvements; my teeth were already whiter and felt a lot cleaner. However, 15 minutes is a long time, and many nights I forgot and had to stay up an extra 15 minutes to do it - which meant loosing 15 precious minutes of sleep.
That was when I found this recipe for homemade coconut oil toothpaste - it works just as great and doesn't take quite as long.

First of all, let me tell you a little about store-bought toothpaste:
Store-bought toothpaste - although advertised as the best product to keep your mouth hygiene up to speed - is not the best way to take care of your precious choppers.
In fact, store-bought toothpaste contains Sodium Fluoride which has a negative effect on your bones and teeth and furthermore, in store-bought toothpastes, you'll also get Glycerin. Glycerin coats your teeth in such a way that they don't obtain the nutrients they need - in fact, one single coating of Glycerine will take 30 brushings to remove.
Scared? I was!

So I tried this simple recipe for making my own healthy toothpaste.
All you need are these 3 ingredients:

1. Coconut oil (( can be bought in most grocery stores or health stores ))
2. Sodium Bicarbonate (( can be bought in every grocery store next to the baking supplies ))
3. (( OPTIONAL )) Minty oil (( can be bought a health stores or the pharmacy ))

All you do is pour 4-5 tablespoons of coconut oil in a glass jar container, add 6-7 teaspoons of the Sodium Bicarbonate and then 30-40 drops of the minty oil. Mix it all together and voilá - you're done!

The minty oil is optional, but it does add a nice flavour to the mix. However, I don't use it - as I forgot to buy it - and the mix does not at all taste bad. 

After a week or two you will notice your teeth are getting whiter and your mouth feels cleaner, that you don't need to go to the dentist as much and that your cavities (( if you have any )) don't hurt as bad. This is just a huge bonus - there's nothing to fear; just enjoy it!

Have fun and remember to show off that dazzling smile! 

Side note: 

Tomorrow's my birthday 

and I have a fun and different kind of post for you then 

- so remember to check back tomorrow :)

DIY: Polkadot Wall

Hi guys!
Since I'm a little too tired to take pictures and sit down and write a post about them today, I thought I'd share this cool DIY instead:

This fantastic DIY comes from Maiju over at My 2Hand Life.
Why not try it for yourself? I would do it, but unfortunately my walls
are already covered in pictures, cuttings, postcards and light chains. Oh well, maybe next time, yeah?

Have a wonderful day ♡

A yummy yummy DIY: Home made coffee syrup

Hello rainy Tuesday!

Over the last couple of weeks, I've gotten into the habit of visiting this charming little coffee house we have here in town.
It's called Kaffekilden, and it's basically Roskilde's equivalent to the TV show "Friends'" Central Perk.
It's filled with old furniture, cozy nooks and delicious cups of coffee.
It's beginning to be an expensive habit of mine, but I'm hooked now
- there's nothing like getting a quick cuppa joe and a ciggy with friends after class.

Well anyway, since this new "tradition" started, I also developed the habit of using syrup in my coffee.
I'm pretty hooked on it by now, and since I also drink several cups of coffee at home, I thought:
Why not make the coffee syrup myself?
It's a fun little project, and you can make it with any flavour you want.
I am a huge cinnamon fan, so of course that's what I used in mine. However, you can choose yourself
- why not try vanilla or caramel?

Here's a little picture tutorial on how to make your own coffee syrup
- it's amazingly tasty and delicious, and as a plus, it is a cheap way of adding a little luxury to your coffee routine ♡

Keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 months  

Plant Pot DIY - Easy and oh-so-cute

Hello Sunny Sunday, hello all of you!

It's been a busy couple of days since last we crossed paths, but even a meteor hitting me in the head
couldn't keep me away from this lovely playground that is f&f.
And speaking of playground, I have a fun DIY for you today.
It's super easy and super cute, and you don't need more than an old clay plant pot and some nail polish
(in the colour of your preference) - shall we? I think we shall!

Being a big plant and flowers kinda gal, I always have at least 10 plants around the house.
Actually, doing a quick scan of my apartment right now, I can spot 30 plants in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ah how I love it!
But anyway, there's no denying that the plastic pots the plants come in are not the prettiest of things.
I am personally a big fan of clay pots for my plants, and as a plus, those are the only ones that the plants actually thrive in.
But after a while, they do get a little boring to look at. About a year ago I showed you this plant pots with lace DIY, and today
I thought I'd show you how to paint cute faces on them.
Of course, you don't have to paint faces - you can paint whatever you want, and in any colour you want.
I thought white paint would go best with my pots, so I used an old nail polish and carefully painted a cute little face on it.

There - wasn't that just the simplest of DIY's? Yes, that's what I thought you'd say.
Now go and be creative, and have the loveliest of Sundays ♡

DIY: How to paint IKEA's Frosta stool in any colour

Hello to you all on such a fine and sunny Sunday - how are you all doing? Had a great weekend?

Today I thought that I would show you how to paint the Frosta stool, which you can buy at IKEA for almost no money!
I don't know how it is around the world, but take a look in any teenagers room or the apartment of a young adult in Denmark,
and you're sure to find this exact stool. As said before, it's really cheap, really sturdy and can be used as an extra seat or a side table. There are tons of IKEA Hacks on the net on how to turn the Frosta into - well, pretty much anything! I've seen it as a sleigh, a TV table, a hat rack, a play bike and so on. If you're looking be a little creative, then just Google "IKEA Hack Frosta"...

... However, that craving for being creative can also be fulfilled right here!
There's no denying that the Frosta stool is practical, but not the prettiest of furniture - colour wise.
But as always: A little creativity, patience and imagination can go a long way.
So if you want the Frosta to match your other furniture, then all you have to do is paint it.
For inspiration, try to Google "IKEA Frosta paint" or come up with your own funny and creative idea.

NOW I KNOW that practically everyone says that you have to sandpaper it first, and that is true with bigger (and possibly more valuable) furniture. But I find that since this stool is so cheap, you don't have to go all out with the pre-painting part. Besides, if you just plan on using the Frosta as a small side table, this is the DIY for you. However, if you plan on using it as an everyday stool, then consider sandpapering, painting and varnishing it. It's a bigger project, but the paint will hold longer and it won't be as prone to dents and scratches.

Here we go

- I did not sandpaper my Frosta. 

- In stead I cleaned it with a damp cloth and then let it dry off completely before painting.

- I spread a bunch of old newspapers on the floor, 

making sure that I wouldn't accidentally splatter paint on my other furniture or the wooden floor. 

- I turned it upside down and started with the legs of the stool.

- With a big brush I painted the stool using simple acrylic paint. You can find it in every craft store.

Making sure I got into every nook and cranny, 

I painted one thick layer of paint, turning it back right side up and then painting the upper part of the stool.

- I let it dry for 12 hours before adding another thick coat of paint. 

Depending on how many coats you do, let it dry for 12 (one coat) to 24 (two coats) hours. 

After just one day you'll have an all new Frosta!

You can do this in any colour - though with lighter colours, you'll need to do 2-3 coats of paint, 

letting it dry for 6-12 hours between every coat.

This is just such a lovely - and easy + cheap - way to add new life to your Frosta. 

As a bonus, acrylic paint is really cheap and you'll only use about a tube of paint, so there's no reason for not trying this out!

It can even be done in your living room, if only you remember to spread a lot of newspapers on the floor before painting.

Have so much fun doing this - I had, and I love the result. 

Lots of positive thoughts and have the happiest of sunny Sundays ♡

Christmas expectations on a string

We might very well be half way through Christmas, but still, there's nothing like presents and gifts.
Why not try this little nifty gift trick this Christmas?
All you'll need is a string, some nice and small gift bags and a little imagination.

Have a very merry and wonderful December day ♡

Prep for Christmas with numbered Advent candles

We're almost halfway through this Christmas month, and already it's the 3rd of Advent this Sunday. Why not get inspired by these pictures then?
Anyway, no need for words here, just get a little Advent inspiration from these pictures from IKEA's Livet Hemma blog:

Have a happy December day ♡

DIY: Advent Calendar Idea

It's Christmas, and though we may be a couple of days into December, it's never too late to do something nice for someone.

Why not make an Advent Calendar? Here's a great idea from IKEA's Livet Hemma blog. Now, I will not provide you with ideas for the actual gifts, but when it comes to hanging them in a stylish and cute way, why not try this?

Happy Christmas, now go play in the snow - that is if you have any ♡

Bless This Mess

Goodevening, dear Internet friends - how are you today?
My Wednesday has been wonderful; I had the day off, so I've been taking it easy,
doing my homework for tomorrow, coloured my hair...

... and then I did this. I often get very inspired by different pictures on Instagram and interior blogs I read,
and about an hour ago an idea got stuck in my head.
I have this small space between my windows, and every so often, I like to change the look of the otherwise small piece of boring and white wall. Currently, I'm so in love with blackboards and have them everywhere! My mum gave me this one a couple of weeks back, and I couldn't quite figure out where I wanted it. Today, however, it hit me: I wanted it in plain sight!
So I got my beloved toolbox out, measured up and hung the blackboard, decorated it with nice lights - and of course, as I do like a little clutter, some different prints to fill out the rest.

I really like the result; as said before, it's now in plain sight from my favorite spot on the couch,
and the chain of lights draws focus to the blackboard message.
"Bless this mess" is one of my favorite sayings, and it is really fitting for my little studio-haven.

No more posting from me today, but I hope you all are having a nice evening.
Remember to smile and be happy - it'll make your life that much better ♡

Very quick candle storage DIY

Hello Wednesday, how wonderful you are!
It's my day off, and luckily I woke up pretty early today. I did all of the chores before noon, so then I found myself kind of bored. That was when I started planning little things I could change around the apartment - nothing much, just move some stuff around and creating a little more space.

Anyway, since we've now really entered late Fall, it's kind of a given - at least to me - that we've also really entered candle season.
I'm the type of gal who spend a lot of money on candles during Fall and Winter. Every year I tell myself to stop lighting so many candles - not because it isn't wonderful and lovely (because it really is), but because I do spend so much money on them. But ah, every year I end up giving in, and every night is just a lovely and oh so "hyggelig" evening!
So I tend to buy candles by the bunch so that I never run out, but since do live in a studio apartment, I don't have much space for them.
That's why it was such an easy, quick and good idea to do this:

It's actually just two old plant pots, some four hour tea candles and two home made flags.
The flags are easy to make; all you need is a glue stick, some paper, a black marker and some grill sticks. Just make a little flag and mark on it the number of hours your candles will burn - it usually says so on the bag. Place the paper around the stick, glue them together and presto! You have a nice way of storing your candles - and as a bonus, it looks adorable!

That's it for today; I still have some projects left, but I'll see you tomorrow.
Have a fantastic Wednesday, remember to smile and be happy ♡

DIY vase or candlestick holder with lace tape

Hello Saturday, nice of you to drop by again.

Today I'm going to show you a very easy, very lovely and very creative DIY. 

You don't necessarily need lace tape; you can do this with other kinds of fabric - or even normal tape with colour or print. However, I think this looks absolutely adorable.

Yes, you will need a vase - or a glass bottle, if you're making a candlestick holder. The size of the vase - or bottle - really doesn't matter, just use whatever you think will look pretty. However, remember to check that you have enough lace tape or fabric, so you don't run out of material in the middle of your project.

That's right; it really is super easy, and doesn't take long. You just want to make sure, when you're cutting the lace tape, that it fits all the way around the bottle or vase - actually, you should add and inch or two extra, just to be sure. Remember to take it easy and make sure that the lines of the tape are straight, so that the ends match together.  

So there you have it - an easy and quick DIY on this lovely Saturday. 

Have fun, be creative and think differently!

See you tomorrow ❤

Home made lace plant pots

Hello rainy Wednesday!
Today I thought I'd show you how to make your own lace plant pots. It's super cute and adorable, it's very personal and it can also be used as a very nice gift for someone.

Yes, that's what you'll need. The lace I used was this fancy "lace tape" which I got for $2 at one of my favourite stores, Tigeren. Because of the sticky tape on the back of the lace, it was very easy to glue it onto the pots. But actually, lace tape is not a necessity for this; you can also use lace fabric and glue it on - carefully - with super glue. That also looks very cute, but it can be a little more difficult. So I'd suggest you try to find some lace tape or a lace string, and then glue it onto the pot.

If you weren't able to find lace tape, and you're doing this the ol' fashioned way, then I would suggest you try your way on a couple of old plant pots first. It's a bit difficult to get the lace glued on the pot in a straight line. So try and try again, because when you're finish, you'll love yourself for the time and effort you put into this.

If you do have lace tape, then this should be easy as pie. Just remember to take your time and make sure the line of the lace is somewhat straight.

And there you have it; a very personal and cute way of displaying your plants.
Oh and by the way; be careful not to spill water or dirt on the lace, since it'll take quite easily, and the lace is hard to take off the plant pots after you've glued it on.

Have a happy, happy day ❤

Personal prints

Hello Tuesday! 
Back in February I did a post on how to make your own print on a cup.
I got so into it, that I've made many since - mainly as gifts for friends and family. It's a great gift and oh so personal, and you only need 3 things to do this; an oven, a cup and a porcelain pen!

I would suggest that you buy some cheap cups for your first attempts, since it can actually be a little more tricky than you'd think. These cups only cost me $1, so it didn't hurt my wallet if they didn't come out exactly as I wanted them. They're not perfect, but I actually do like them - so now they're currently the most used cups in my house.

Anyway, when you get the porcelain pen, make sure to read how to use it - and//or ask the store clerk, if you're not certain. Then just go home and get creative, let the print dry for 4-6 hours, place them in the oven for 90 minutes and then once they're done, let them cool off with the oven door open.
Make sure to wash them before use, and then you're ready to drink coffee or tea, or perhaps give them away as a lovely and personal gift ❤

How to re-pot your plants

Today I thought I'd show you - well, more like tell you - how to re-pot a plant.
On a personal note, I've actually never really been good at the whole "plant" thing, until I decided to make my flat a little "greener" a couple of years ago. When I lived at home, my mum had loads of plants, but I was never really interested. But fast forward 8 years and I'm totally diggin' the whole 'plants and flowers' thing!

If you don't have plants and don't really know that much about them, it's important to think about what kind of person you are - plant-wise. If you know you aren't gonna have time to water plants every day, then get a couple that only needs water once or twice a week. A lot of people recommend plant novices to buy orchids, as they are pretty and the taking-care-of-them part is almost minimal. I have a couple of orchids myself, but I actually prefer green plants.

When you're buying plants, it's important to look at the price as much as the plant. If the plant is cheap and looking a little worn down, it might not be the best idea. Try looking in the back of the display of plants to see, if you can't find one that looks a little more healthy.
Sometimes plants have a little note-sticker on the side, that tells you how to water them. However, I think it's a good idea to always go home and google it - just to be on the safe side.
As a general good idea, it's always important to place your plants where there's sunlight - but not in direct sunlight, as they might dry out. What I like to do, just to help the plant be healthy, is to spray water on the leaves once a week - that way you give your plant a little more life. You can just use a very cheap water spritzer.

 

A couple of times a year, you want to re-pot your plants. This is important, because the dirt in which the plant grows, is very nutritious for the plant, but after a couple of months - depending on how big the plant is - the plant will have "sucked up" most of the nutritions in the dirt. That's why you should re-pot your plants; not only are you helping your plants to have a better life, but your plants will actually look better after a couple of days with the new dirt in the pots.

You will need to buy a big bag of fresh dirt - you can get that many places, for example a plant store, or sometimes local grocery stores also have them.
The process isn't hard, but you should really do it outside, since it can make somewhat of a mess. It's important that your pots have a little hole in the bottom - a so called drain - where the excess of water can go. Oh and remember to have a little dish under the pot. If your pot don't have a drain, then go outside and gather some small rocks and put them in the bottom of the pot - that way, if you accidentally over-water the plant, the excess of water will go down to the bottom where the rocks are.

Here's how you re-pot a plant:
Take the plant out of the pot and shake it carefully, so that the excess of loose dirt falls off. Put the plant down on a piece of plastic, and empty the pot of old dirt. Wash the pot and then fill the bottom of the pot with a couple of inches of dirt, and then place the plant on top of the new dirt in the pot. Remember that when you fill the dirt in the pot, to add a little bit of water so that the dirt isn't too dry. Carefully fill out the sides around the plant, and remember to leave an inch or two between the dirt and the top of the pot - so that the water won't overflow over the edges when you water your plant.
And that's how you do it! Easy as pie, and your plants will have a better life and as a thanks to you, they'll look stunning after you've re-potted them.

Happy Saturday ♡

Home made black pepper ginger tea

It's getting so hot here in Denmark. It's like we've had this cruel Winter, about 4 days of Spring and now we're in the middle of Summer! It's so hot these days, that going for a run in the late afternoon leaves you covered in sweat when you get home. But still, it's manageable - for now at least!
Anyway, even if it's hot out, there's nothing like the feeling when the sun has gone down and it gets a little chilly. No matter what time of year it is, I can't go to bed without a cuppa tea, but I refuse to buy anything else but the organic brands like Yogi and Celestial. My favorite tea of all time is Yogi's "Ginger", and then it occurred to me - why not make it myself? So that's what I did!

Today I'll show you how to make your own Black Pepper Ginger Tea - there's nothing like it; when you've made it yourself and actually know what's in it.

Here's what you'll need:
Some whole black pepper corns
One or two big ginger roots
And some loose tea-filters - you can get them in any grocery store, they're very cheap and you get lots!

And here's what you do:
Grade the ginger roots and place them on a big plate or what have you.
Let the dry off for a day or two, so that they are completely dry and crisp. It's important that when you place the graded ginger roots to dry, they don't "clump together"...

... After a day or two, the graded ginger roots should look like this. But make sure that they are completely dry before you go on and make the actual tea.

When you're sure the roots are dry, then you can start the fun process of making the actual tea.
Now, take the filters and fill them with the dry ginger and 4 or 6 whole black peppers corns - depending on how strong you want the tea. Remember that ginger already has a kind of peppery taste, so you might not want to put so much pepper in the tea bags.
When the tea bags are filled, cut off the long end, tie a string around it and make some cute tea-tags.

And now you're ready to drink a delicious cuppa home made Black Pepper Ginger Tea
- enjoy! ❤

Home made marinated feta cheese

Today I'm going to show you how to make your own home made marinated feta cheese.
This is terribly easy, and feta is not the only thing you can marinade like this. There's a whole bunch of things this works with, for example olives, chilli or garlic.
This is what you'll need:

You'll need some feta cheese (or whatever you'd like to marinade),
A big seal-tight glass jar
And olive oil (you'll need a lot of it, and the better the olive oil is, the better the end-result will be)

And here are some ideas for marinating ingredients:

Whole black peppercorns
Fresh dill
Fresh rosemary or thyme

And now here's what you do - it's so simple:
Slowly fill the jar with feta (or olives), and then for every layer you add the marinating ingredients
- I used whole black peppercorns and rosemary.
Fill the jar, and then when you're done, slowly add the olive oil. It is very important that you fill the jar with olive oil, so that it covers the feta completely.

Some people say that you don't need to keep the jar refrigerated, but then you should remember that the feta - or olives - can only keep for about two days. What I do is, that I put the jar in the fridge. Not only is it nice that the feta is cooled when you eat it, but also, if refrigerated, the jar of feta, olives, chillies or garlic can keep for up to two weeks.

 Enjoy!