Homemade Lipstick in 6 Easy Steps!

A a poor college student, I'm always looking for any chance to save a few bucks, and after discovering a way to make your own lipstick, I knew I just had to give it a try! Plus, it only takes 2 ingredients that you probably already have laying around.

Here's what you'll need:

1. Coconut Oil
2. Crayons
3. Measuring Spoons
4. A double boiler
      OR if you don't have one, you can use a large pan and a small pan
5. Small, white dish (Needs to be white so you can see the color better as it melts)
6. Something to put the finished lipstick in. I used small containers

Now, let's make the lipstick. It's all natural, since crayons are mainly just paraffin wax and dye. I mean, I ate these - er, some kids eat these - in preschool, so they're made to be nontoxic and safe!

Step 1: Pick out your colors

I used these three colors. I recommend writing down the colors on a white sheet of paper as shown above, so that in case you want to re-make a color you really like, you know what color of crayon you used.

Step 2: Set up your double boiler

What you'll want to do is fill the large pan with water, set the small pan in the middle of the water, and then put the small dish in the small pan. Turn the stove on LOW and wait a while for the dish to get just warm - not hot - enough so you can still comfortably touch it.
While you're waiting for the dish to heat up, you can do step 3.

Step 3: Peel

Peel the paper off your crayons. Make sure to keep them in order of where you wrote the color down.

Step 4: Melting coconut oil

Add in a teaspoon of coconut oil to the dish. Wait about two minutes for it to melt completely, and it should look like water once it's melted.

Step 5: Add your crayon

Break your crayon into 3 or 4 pieces, and put them into the coconut oil. Mix occasionally and wait for the crayon to melt completely into a liquid. This step should take about 12-13 minutes to ensure all of the crayon melts.

 

Step 6: Pour lipstick into container

Once the crayon has melted completely, you can pour it carefully into a  small container. Wait for it to cool. Then, all that's left is to wear and enjoy! I use my finger to apply them, and just wash my hands afterwards. I keep hand wipes in my purse in case I want to reapply on the go. I find that the heat of my hands helps melt the coconut oil slightly and it goes on smoother. If that freaks you out at all, you can always use a small makeup brush or a q-tip.

Lavender Crayon

Violet Red Crayon

Bittersweet Crayon (My Favorite) 

These lipsticks make perfect gifts! And they're so fun to make and they save you money!

Happy Crafting! 

Keep it classy, Keep it country, 

Gretta Patrick <3

Hate dry skin? Then don't use this product!

For some time, I have been a straight up Mary Kay girl. Everything I use and that I love comes from Mary Kay. However, because of being in the great city of Chicago, around so many cosmetics stores I've been getting samples of other products, GASP!

Usually I use TimeWise moisturizer, dry skin formula. Then the TimeWise day cream over that, but when a dashingly handsome man with a European accent handed me a sample of Merlot Collection Day Cream and told me he was, "giving me a piece of his heart," I just had to take the sample and actually use it! (I cannot resist a man with an accent. I've bought more from carts with foreign men than I'd like to admit... just because I want to hear them talk more)

Here is what I think of the Vine Vera Merlot Collection Day cream.

1. It takes a step out of my morning routine. It's moisturizer and day cream in one, and for a heavy sleeper and a reluctant riser, this is crucial.

2. It's creamy consistency and wonderful smell draw me in

3. Its propensity to wear off halfway through the day leaving me with a painfully dry face draws me right back to my tried-and-true Mary Kay products.




 Only goes to show ladies, that sometimes the tried-and-true is (sometimes) better than the exotic. Even if the exotic comes from gorgeous European men.

No. I'm not only talking about makeup.


Keep it Classy, Keep it Country <3
Gretta Patrick

Has anyone tried any new Products lately? Share your stories in the comments below!

The Happiness Project. Day 17. Breakfast

Today's mission - well actually there's two missions - is to eat breakfast food! Then, in the middle of the day, I get my hair cut for St. Baldrick's, so you'll get to see the cutting of the long locks along with some mouth watering footage of what it is I'll be eating today. Let me just tell you, if bacon doesn't make you happy, I don't know what will.
For those who don't know, my apartment has been unofficially named "The Breakfast Club," because I buy way more breakfast food than regular food, and therefore when people come over for dinner, they get treated to breakfast foods. This happens so much that now, my sorority sister Leah and I have made it our mission to always be making a different kind of breakfast food!

What's your favorite kind of breakfast food? Are you a pancake lover or a bacon and eggs type person? Comment below!

The Happiness Project. Day 16. Romance Novels

Today's misson: find and start reading a sappy romance novel. Reading makes me happy, and one of my favorite novels happens to be The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, by Sarah Strohmeyer. Hopeless romantic that I am, reading about other peoples' love stories makes me infinitely happier. I love Nicholas Sparks books, but since this isn't the sadness project, I decided to stay away from those.
However, I also think that if reading makes you happy, but not necessarily reading about romance, you should read about whatever it is that makes you happy! So read people! 

P.S. This post was filmed one day before I got a major haircut! Be sure to check out tomorrow's to see footage of me cutting it all off!

Tell me: What's your favorite book?

The Happiness Project. Day 15 Part 2

Today I decided to not only finish my day of making something nobody else has, but I also decided to throw in another happiness project along with it! Enjoy!

Also I'm cutting my hair TODAY! (Not yesterday, since I make videos a day in advance) So here's the link to donate! DONATE NOW!

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/686985/2014

The Happiness Project. Day 15 Part 1

Today starts a two-part happiness project, because I simply didn't have the time to complete today's task! So stay tuned for the completion of this one! Today, I tackled the process of making something that nobody else has, and as you all know, that can take a while. So watch as I start on my journey, and do a little something extra that makes me happy.

The Happiness Project. Day 14: Disney Movies

I love Disney Movies. That's not a secret! So while I'm at home this weekend, I'm going to take advantage of the comfy couch and big TV and watch a Disney movie! Tangled is tonight's choice. I just love that quote where Rapunzel says, "What if it is [everything I've been dreaming of]? What then?" And Flynn tells her, "Well that's the good thing I guess, then you get to go find a new dream."

So precious! Also, I want to send a shout out to Ann Leone! She's been watching my vlogs and comments on my FB every now and again how much she likes them! So just for you, here's a post you sent me that really cheered me up when I was down! Plus, it totally relates to today's Disney post!

http://9gag.tv/p/5yWRM/this-african-tribal-cover-of-let-it-go-will-blow-you-away

The Happiness Project. Day 13: Cute Shoes

They say that "With the right pair of shoes, a woman can conquer the world." And I would definitely have to agree with that! That's why wearing cute shoes makes me happy! I picked a day to do this where I could wear more than one pair of cute shoes, and I even threw in a couple of my favorite pairs at the end.

Also, I want to give a shout out to one of the Happiness Project's biggest fans, and the president of my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, Shabbie Daneshgar! Keep being awesome! Seeing your face makes me happy any day! <3

The Happiness Project. Day 12. PINK!!!

Think Pink! Today is all about pink, but I decided a while ago, that I was going to spin this happiness project day into something bigger than just a color, so I ordered a shirt to fund a mammogram from this site, and even did a little retail therapy. So do some online retail therapy and fund a mammogram!

Oh, and here's something else that made me happy today. Have fun getting this song out of your head! For your viewing pleasure! It's just a reminder that every girl deserves a man who puts her love on top! <3

The Happiness Project. Day 11: Long Walks.

Ever have a long day where you just need to get out and clear your head? Well take a long walk. Don't have time for a long walk? Oh bet me. Just get off on the stop before you normally do and walk home. It's just extending your commute by a few minutes and it gives you the perfect excuse to clear your head.

The Happiness Project. Day 10! Finally Right???

Hey all! So I'm finally posting another Happiness project. Today's topic, "Feeling tired, but accomplished after a long work day."

I know I haven't posted in a while, and that's because I went through a really rough time, where I felt I just needed to be sad for a while. There's nothing wrong with that, and sometimes being sad is the best healing mechanism, but you can't be sad forever, so now to continue on with the Happiness Project!

Hope you enjoy hearing about my experience at Nazareth Farm!

The Happiness Project. Day 9. Joe's Pizza

In my hometown of Paris, IL, there is a pizza place that makes the best pizza in the world! In my opinion (and many others). It's Joe's Pizza and eating this pizza makes me very happy. So I thought while I was at home, I should take advantage of the happiness-producing Joe's Pizza!

The Happiness Project. Day 8. Home.

I'm going home! I've waited weeks to finally say that! And today, I get to take that "home" post it off the wall and go to the place I was born and raised! Good old Paris!... Illinois.
If home is truly where the heart is, and I can say with all my heart that I love being home. I only get to stay for a couple of days, but they're going to be awesome days!

Keep it classy, keep it country!
Gretta Patrick<3

The Happiness Project. day 7. Camo.

Yes, I'm a country girl. Big surprise. And I happen to love camouflage. Seeing men in camo is my weakness (that's why I love it when my boyfriend wears it), and I think that wearing camo is like a little slice of home. It's no wonder I get in a good mindset when I put on some camo!

The Happiness Project. Day 6. Coffee.

Coffee, Cafe, whatever you call it, I can't live without it. Life is so much better when you have coffee in the morning, and when you get Starbucks gift cards, even better! So see how lots of coffee makes me happy!

The Happiness Project, Day 5. Me Time.

Sometimes, you just have to take a little time to yourself to stay sane. Today's mission was to do just that, so I carved out a little time of my busy day to take a little time to myself. It helps a lot! And it decreased my anxious tendencies.

The Happiness Project. Day 4. Big Hair

What is it about a big bump-it style that makes me so happy? Maybe it's the way it makes my face look, or the way it reminds me of the South. Whatever it is, it makes me so much happier when I take the time to bump up my hair. Therefore, I made sure to set aside a day where my hair would be big. Really, really big.

I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday. Also, just a heads up, I felt a little under the weather today, so I didn't get around to filming tomorrow's happiness project. The videos will resume on Tuesday though. Sorry about that!

The Happiness Project. Day 3. Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate, hot cocoa, whatever you call it, I had it. I had lots of it! In fact, I drank it until I was sick of it!
Chocolate is proven to make you happy, so how can you stay sad after this kind of day?

I also received a video from Sam, my sister, after I got out of my theatre practicum tonight. A video of my nephew telling me how much he wants to see me when I'm home on break, and that he wants to have a movie marathon. Well, buddy, I have a little surprise for you. I'm coming home next weekend!!! Hope you're ready for some awesomeness, because I'm coming to get you you little booger!

Keep it Classy, Keep it Country.
Gretta Patrick <3

The Happiness Project. Day 2. Eskimo Kisses!

Since we're basically all Eskimos here in Chiberia, I thought it would be appropriate for me to pick the very lighthearted Eskimo kisses post it off my wall of happiness this morning.

Before this happy plane got folded, my mood got lifted by some adorable nose-rubbing. I really wanted to go Eskimo kiss the big, blue wolf statues by Dumbach Hall, but unfortunately, by the time I finally got around to it, it was too dark out to film that particular scene. Plus, I had nobody to film it for me. The struggles.

Since I was lame and only obtained one human Eskimo kiss from my sister, Nellie, I thought I'd throw in a little something extra to remind all of you how to stay happy. The idea for this came from my older sister, Meg, and it's great advice. Watch and see what that advice is.

Comment below: What made YOU happy today?

The Happiness Project. Day 1

It's GLITTER!

Day one, I chose the glitter post it off the wall. Watch what happens when I surround myself with glitter.

Also, yes that is Christian Rock playing in the background as I get ready in the morning. It will always be playing in the mornings, because it's my happy music, and I always get ready in the mornings listening to my Mercyme Pandora station. If you don't like that, I don't really care. Deal with it. I can't help it, I just love Jesus.

So now that you know that glitter makes me happy, I want to know: Does glitter make you happy? 

The Happiness Project

Lately, I have had a terribly hard time being happy. I've been sad and depressed for a long time. I don't know what's been wrong with me, but it's a mixture of homesickness, weight gain, relationship troubles, stress, and just not being able to get over any of those things.

Needless to say, I'm sick of being sad. So, in a stroke of genius, I came up with this happiness project. It involves lots of post its, dancing, dogs, cats, snowmen, and so many other amazing things. The idea is that at the end of the happiness project, it will be impossible to be sad, because I'll have nothing but happiness around me... both literally and figuratiavely.

I hope you'll join me in this journey, and I'd appreciate it if you kept unnecessarily negative comments to a bare minimum (If I get any comments to begin with).

Tell me, what makes you happy?

What if I had never come to Loyola?

View from my Freshman year dorm

There's a life-changing question there. How would my life be different if I had gone somewhere else for my four-year degree.

Although I miss home terribly now, I probably wouldn't have gone to anywhere closer to home than I am now, because at age 18, I wanted to go as far away from Paris IL as I could.  I did strongly consider Indiana University.


Therefore, for the sake of argument, let's say I went to IU. What would be different about my life?

1. I wouldn't have joined Alpha Chi Omega, or at least, I wouldn't have the same group of sisters as I do now.
2. I would never have gotten into a mess with the Loyola theatre people, which prompted me to change my major
3. I may not have changed my major to journalism. 
4. I wouldn't be living in this nice apartment that I love. 
5. I wouldn't have gotten the job I have a White House Black Market. 
6. I wouldn't hate Chicago as much as I do now. 
7. I'd be able to go home a lot more than I do now. 
8. I'd have completely different friends. 
9. The paddles on my wall would be from different women. 
10. I'd never have found that perfect, red dress from that vintage shop off the Addison stop. 
11. I wouldn't have become Catholic (or at least it is very unlikely that I would have had the same access to the RCIA program)
12. I wouldn't be in a rough patch in my relationship.
13. I would never have met Kyle. 

The bottom line is, my life would be much different. Will I ever know what my life would have been if I had chosen IU over Loyola? No, and that's the thing about life: You never know what it's going to bring.

Take those last two examples, yeah if I were at IU, I probably wouldn't be stressing over my relationship right now. I wouldn't be in this rough patch after having dated the same guy for two years. My life would probably be easier right at this second because I wouldn't have so much on my mind. On the other end of that spectrum though, I would never have even met Kyle. So, the choice I made to come to Loyola has impacted my life at a higher level than just causing me stress.
Sometimes people aren't good at looking back and seeing the bigger picture in that way. We tend to live for the here and now, and if the here and now isn't good, we make rash decisions rather than thinking things out.

Life is a series of choices, and I made the choice to come to Loyola. Do I absolutely love it all the time? Well, no, but I do know a lot more about myself because of it. For example, I know that I would not have liked the world of musical theatre as I thought I would. I also know that I love to write and read teleprompters. I know that I prefer wide open spaces of the country to the confines of a city. At a larger school in the middle of nowhere, I would never have found these things out, because I never would have tried the alternative. I may wonder what life in the city would be like... but now I know. I think we can all agree that knowing is infinitely better than wondering.

Knowledge hides on the outside of one's comfort zone. The funny thing is, I didn't know what my comfort zone was until my Loyola experience. Now I know where I'd be comfortable: Anywhere but a city. I know I want to be closer to family, and I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with Kyle.

Although I know for sure I would be more comfortable at a different school closer to home, that doesn't mean I should be at such a school at the moment. That's life, you have to stick out the rough patches in order to get to the most awesome part of your life.

Keep it Classy, Keep it Country.
Gretta Patrick <3