Save Yourself a Trip to the Spa With This Beauty DIY

Year after year, we resolve to make major changes in our lives: visit the gym more, eat healthier, be more creative, the list goes on. But rarely do we ever consider resolving to treat ourselves better. So when the pressure of being a better athlete, mindful eater or legendary artist in the new year begins to weigh heavily on you or your loved ones, make these single-use bath salts to help you unwind. The best part is that most of these items are readily found in the pantry, so you can also cross that 2016 resolution to soak in chocolate off your list with this DIY ;)

We’ve put together together a few recipes that will help you relax and feel rejuvenated so you can continue kicking ass for the rest of the year. These bath salt recipes are conveniently measured into individual portions, and we’ve made a few printables that you can download HERE.

Materials and Tools:

— paper sachet printables (download HERE)

— spoon for mixing

— markers

— washi tape

— glue

— scissors

— measuring spoons

— measuring cups

Cocoa Salt Bath (Restore):
— 1/3 cup epsom salt
1/3 cup sea salt
1/4 cup baking soda

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

Sea Salt Detox Bath (Unwind):
— 1/3 cup epsom salt
1/3 cup sea salt
1/3 cup baking soda

2 1/2Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Lavender Salt Bath (De-stress):
— 1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup lavender

Instructions:

1. Cut along the edges of the printable pattern.

2. Add your own creative accents to the packaging using markers and pens.

3. Fold along the light gray lines on the pattern and apply glue to the tabs.

4. Close up the box and allow it to dry for one hour.

5. Thoroughly mix all of your bath salt ingredients in a bowl.

6. Spoon the mixture into the paper sachet until it’s about 3/4 full.

7. Tuck in the sides and seal the top flap with washi tape.

Gather your materials and let’s get started!

Cut along the edges of the printable pattern. Each recipe has its own pattern with ingredients listed, and we’ve also included a blank one for your own custom recipe!

Now comes the fun part. Using your markers, add fun patterns or a sweet note to a friend. We’ve chosen to add some metallic accents with a gold paint pen.

Once you’ve finished adding accents to the printable, fold along all of the solid gray lines. Add dabs of glue to the sachets and close up the box.

Allow the boxes to dry for at least an hour before filling.

Pour your ingredients into a bowl and be sure to mix thoroughly.

Carefully spoon the bath salt mixture into the paper sachet and fill until the sachet is about 3/4 full.

Tuck the sides of the sachet in and fold to crease them. Fold the flap over and seal with a piece of washi tape.

Repeat these steps with your remaining sachets. Make a bunch to gift to your friends and family or enough to stash away for a monthly soak.

These cute bath salts will remind you to take a moment to relax while you’re making good on those new year resolutions!

What other bath salt recipes are you mixing up? Show us your project by tagging us on Instagram and using the hashtag #iamcreative!

DIY Production and Styling: Marianne Koo
Photography: Brittany Griffin

Can you believe that there is actually a whole holiday dedicated to eating as many beignets, King Cakes, and loaves of rainbow bread as you want?! Mardi Gras, we love you, but our bodies are glad you’re just a one-day holiday and not a week long ;) Inspired by the beautiful rainbow bagels made by the Bagel Store, this loaf also has some purple, gold and green hues to amp up the Mardi Gras spirit. Hand letter your own printable bread wrap to give it as a gift, or slice it up and top it with cream cheese and sprinkles. This recipe will yield three loaves of bread, but you may want to make more, because once it’s adorned with sprinkles, this fairy bread will have everyone coming back for more.

Ingredients:

  • 10 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 3 packets rapid rise yeast
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 1/4 cups water
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • purple, yellow and green food coloring (we used a mix of McCormick neon and assorted food coloring)
  • plastic wrap
  • dish towel
  • printable bread label

Instructions:

  1. Mix one cup of flour, one tablespoon of sugar, one teaspoon of salt and one packet of rapid rise yeast in a mixing bowl.
  2. In a microwaveable bowl, mix 3/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of milk, one Tablespoon of butter and about 10 drops of food coloring. Microwave on high for 45 seconds.
  3. Pour liquid mixture into the dry mixture and mix throughly. Once mixed, slowly add another 2 1/2 cups of flour.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each color of dye.
  5. Rip apart the colorful dough into small pellets and twist together to form a rainbow marbled effect.
  6. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let it rise for one hour.
  7. Cut the risen dough into three equal loaves, place into greased pans and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

This bread will yield three loaves of Mardi Gras goodness, so make sure you have enough of all the ingredients. Grab a mixing bowl and mix 1/3 of the dry ingredients together — one cup flour, one Tablespoon of sugar, one teaspoon of salt and one packet of yeast.

Grab a microwaveable bowl and mix 1/3 of the wet ingredients together — 3/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of milk, one Tablespoon of butter and about 10 drops of food coloring. Microwave for 45 seconds on high.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Let’s also just call attention to that awesome purple color :)

Mix the wet and dry ingredients together, and then start slowly adding in another two and a half cups of flour. Mix it all the way until it forms one huge ball of dough.

Repeat the first set of steps for each color. Each will yield one loaf but we will be mixing the colors together to form rainbow magicalness.

Last but not least — the green! Don’t be afraid to try other colors. This is a great recipe to create any holiday loaf. (Don’t be surprised if we do it for Fourth of July too!)

Once you have all three loaves, pull apart each color into little pellets. Layer the colors when you put them in the bowl to get maximum color variation.

Use your hands to give this mega loaf a good couple of twists.

Cover with plastic wrap and a dish towel and let the dough rise for at least one hour.

Divide your loaf into three sections and place into a greased pan. If you don’t have a loaf pan, you can totally make a rounded loaf in a cake pan or on top of a cookie sheet. Bake for 30 mins at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wait for the bread to cool and then slice into magical rainbow bread.

If you’re nice enough to gift one of these loaves, we suggest printing out a bread wrap printable and hand-lettering a fun saying. Tie up with some baker’s twine or embroidery floss.

Sadly, there is no baby inside of this sweet dessert. But hey, we’re totally all for you continuing the King Cake tradition and adding the little trinket into your sweet loaves. Just remember to warn your guests ;)

Add sprinkles and enjoy!

Show us your rainbow bread on on Instagram and check out our email newsletter for more recipes!

DIY Production and Styling: Kelly Bryden
Photography: Brittany Griffin

This post has been updated.

Christmas has come early for two reasons: Carpool Karaoke is back — and so is Lady Gaga! Wondering what they have in common? Everything!

The 2010's sensation gave us amazing celebrity appearances with James Corden as driver extraordinaire, and stars like Harry Styles, Katy Perry, and Selena Gomez. Lady Gaga joined the carpool in 2016 — with over 88 million views on Youtube — singing songs like "Million Reasons" and "Bad Romance" to her heart's content.

Finally, the pop star — and the show itself, TBH — made a return this week! And more than that? Lady Gaga even debuted her new Christmas song. I've already played it multiple times, so I know it's about to top my most-played Christmas songs. Excited? Here's everything you need to know about the surprise song drop, the return of Carpool Karaoke, and more!

See how Carpool Karaoke gave us the biggest surprise of 2024 — a new Lady Gaga Christmas song!

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

In an unexpected trailer for A Carpool Karaoke Christmas, Zane Lowe can be seen accepting a phone call from the one and only James Corden who has a huge favor to ask. The first passenger Lowe picks up is the "Bad Romance" songstress herself — followed by Chappelle Roan and Dua Lipa's own individual appearances.

The car's decked out in green wreaths and festive red bows which adds to the Christmas spirit as everyone sings along to famous holiday songs. Lady Gaga can also be heard singing "Christmas Tree" which has fans in the trailer's comment section besides themselves with glee!

According to Deadline, the special premiered on Apple TV+ December 15, so it's not too late to watch it if you're just as excited as we are. But that's not all!

The outlet also reported Lady Gaga and Lowe released a new version of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" on all streaming music platforms! This means you get to hear the pop star give the nostalgic song a punk rock vibe that's now stuck in our heads.

If Lady Gaga tells us not to pout or cry, we're going to listen! (And sing along while we're at it 😉)

Follow us on Facebook for more fun celeb news!

It's that time of year again, when apples are ripening, days are getting shorter and school is starting up. So if you're obsessed with all things back-to-school, then check out these awesome (and free!) printables. This year, we're saying hello to bright agenda stickers, fruit-themed designs and chic book covers. Even adults will want to try these. Scroll through and download a couple of these 17 super fun back-to-school printables.

1. Composition Book Covers: Back in the day, all our notebooks were splattered with a cartoon unicorn at best. These emoji-inspired book covers will have you hitting the download button immediately. (via Damask Love)

2. Fill-in-the-Blank Lunchbox Notes: Leave cute love notes for your kids or partner that will have them smiling each time they open up their lunchbox. Everyone loves a fun reminder of just how great they truly are. (via Five Mari Golds)

3. Paper Pencil Tube Printable: Skip the traditional pencil cup and try your hand at these fresh and unique paper pencil tubes. They’re perfect for holding markers, pens and, of course, pencils. (via Hello Wonderful)

4. Book Covers: Instantly update your textbooks with these undeniably classic, modern-inspired book covers. Aside from their stylish exterior, they might even protect your books from an accidental coffee spill. (via Better After)

5. Lunch Notes: Inspire your loved ones to do and be their best. These cute lunch notes are sure to brighten anyone’s day — even yours! (via Living Locurto)

6. Daily Checklist: If writing in a boring planner every day sounds like your worst nightmare, this is the printable set for you. You'll get tons of cute pages that are full of motivation and personality. (via The Sarah Johnson)

7. Lunchbox Jokes: If you'd rather write a funny one-liner than a sentimental note, then these lunchbox joke printables are just what you need. Google some kid-safe jokes for inspiration. (via Paging Supermom)

8. Have a Bright School Year: Present your favorite student with this year's highlighter set by binding it with a cheery and colorful printable tag. Or attach the tag to a pencil cup to remind yourself where you keep your markers. (via The TomKat Studio)

9. Colorful Monthly Prints: If you need a calendar in under 30 minutes, we've got the printables for you. Be prepared for lots of colors and fun fonts. (via Short Stop Designs)

10. First Day of School Signs: Kids are never too old for a first-day frame to mark those back-to-school pictures. It works for kindergarten, high school or even college. (via Mother's Niche)

11. First Day Signs: This is another great first-day-of-school printable to capture that morning full of possibilities. The classic design has the advantage of being black and white, so it'll save you color ink. (via Remodelaholic)

12. Food Sticker Printables: Get ready to take class head on with these adorable stickers featuring food-inspired prints. Plus, these can double as both agenda and binder decor stickers. (via Design Eat Repeat)

13. Motivating Lunchbox Stickers: There's nothing better than going to school with a positive mindset and feeling like someone truly believes in you. Make your loved ones feel special with these motivating lunchbox stickers. (via The Crafted Sparrow)

14. Summer Printables: Back-to-school printables don’t just have to be about calendars and stickers. These, for example, are the perfect touch for adorning a fun keychain or binder cover. (via Oh Happy Day)

15. Planner Stickers: Planner stickers should be fun, sassy and full of color. These printable labels are just what you need to stay organized and plan out your weekdays. (via Craftsposure)

16. Watercolor Binders: Watercolor inspired notebooks are a perfect way to start each and every morning. Check out these fun and motivational journals that you can DIY. (via Eighteen25)


Want more organization inspo? Follow us on Pinterest!

This article has been update from a previous post.

I knew beauty trends were officially headed in a different direction when latte makeup dominated social media last year. Everything about it gave the appearance of soft features, making this millennial appreciate the ‘no makeup’ look more and more. And while I'm working on staying up-to-date on all the latest makeup trends, it also reminded me there are outdated trends that unintentionally age people...and definitelyneedto go.

Wanna look younger and more on-trend, too? From super metallic eyeshadow to contour that dominates your face, here are the 8 outdate makeup trends to leave in the early ‘90s to mid-2000s.

The 8 outdated makeup trends you need to stop ASAP!

1. Full Coverage Foundation

KoolShooters

There was a time where wearing full-coverage foundation was all the rage. From drugstore to high-end brands, it seems like they were consistently shoved in consumers’ faces to help us achieve a ‘full beat’ without sitting in a makeup artist’s chair. Also, those of us with dark spots or hyperpigmentation may have relied on them when we were in the thick of our skincare woes.

But these days, wearing too much foundation isn’t as popular as natural and skincare makeup are prioritized. If anything, more people are interested in wearing light-to-medium coverage foundation, skin tints, or tinted moisturizers.

2. Too Much Concealer

George Milton

It wasn’t until I watched this video by makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes that I realized some of us have been too heavy-handed with our concealers. There’s no reason we should be slapping products under the thinnest parts of our face, but we didn’t know any better!

Now that you know you can still get the desired effect with a minimal amount of concealer, don’t revert back to painting your under eyes!

3. 'Baking' Your Setting Powder

Chidi Young

Before you throw away your setting powders, step away from your makeup drawer and have a sit-down chat with me. There isn’t anything wrong with applying them to your face to help ‘set’ your foundation and concealer. However, spending over 10 minutes ‘baking’ your powder (AKA letting it sit untouched) doesn’t work for everyone.

It can lead to creased makeup which can derail your look, plus it’s a pain to correct when you’re halfway through your routine!

4. Overlining Lips

Kaboompics.com

I love a good lip liner, especially if it mirrors my favorite ‘90s makeup look. But, there’s such a thing as overdoing it. The key to lining your lips is following the natural flow of them. Going out of your way to draw above and under your lips’ lines comes off as comical and exaggerated. If anything, use a lip plumping gloss to help your lips look fuller.

5. Overtweezing Your Eyebrows

Getty Images

I don’t even have the words for this outdated makeup look besides wanting to say “no” 20 times in a row. But, I’ll bite and say why this shouldn’t be on your 2025 beauty moodboard.

Some people naturally have thinner eyebrows which is A-okay! However, purposely tweezing your eyebrows to smithereens is cringey. If you truly want to wear this look, here’s what you can do instead of tweezing:

  • Create a faux bleached look by applying a skin tone colored setting powder all over your brows.
  • Once they’ve ‘disappeared,’ take an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner to draw a thin line over them.

I’m…wondering what the ramifications of telling you how to do this will be, but only use go for this look if it’s a part of a themed party…like Halloween.

6. Exaggerated Highlighter On Cheeks

Milad Farhani

The shimmery look is in since it’s winter, but please don’t make it look like you dipped your cheeks into a vat of glitter. You can lightly dust highlighter onto your cheeks for a more natural glow that flows with the rest of your look. Otherwise you’ll look like a walking disco ball which could be the opposite of what you were going for.

7. Heavy Contour Or Bronzer

Laura Garcia

I know the ‘sculpted’ look is popular, but too much contour or bronzer can overpower the rest of your makeup and face. While it’s not impossible to fix if you do it by mistake, using the wrong shade of contour or bronzer may still peep through no matter how much you try to buff it out.

When in doubt, be gentle with your contour or bronzer application!

8. Incredibly Matte Makeup

Nataliia Yatsiuk

Matte makeup that didn’t budge was the ‘It Girl’ look for oily and combination skin girls! We thought it was the answer to our skin’s incessant need to hydrate our faces instead of actually using skincare products that focused on combatting that issue (psst…Vitamin C serums help!).

But now’s the time to break up with this look for good for one reason: dewy skin looks healthier.

While we have you here, learn about the outdated shoe trends you shouldn't be wearing in 2025 either.

As much as I love the wholesome parts of the holidays (like decorating Christmas cookies and opening gifts in the morning), one of my absolute favorite parts about the end of the year is ringing in a new one. 2025 is on its way, baby, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already scheming up a New Year's party plan. The key to a good time is definitely having a great outfit – and these 12 Abercrombie & Fitch party dresses are actually perfect for the occasion. I’m talkin’ sequins, mesh, and even leopard print.

Get ready to stand out this season in these drop-dead gorgeous Abercrombie & Fitch party dresses!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Strapless Drop-Waist Maxi Dress

Drop waists will always get me. Plus, they're so flattering! This flowy maxi can be conveniently worn with or without straps to suit your personal style.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Long-Sleeve Sheer Hem Mini Dress

The scooped neckline on this stunning mini dress is mirrored along the back, which dips a bit lower for a sultry vibe. Pair with some basic heels, and your 'fit is complete.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Collared Zip-Up Midi Dress

The ruching along the front of this zip-up dress is super flattering, drawing eyes to your waistline. The high leg slit feels flirtatious as ever, which could be just the vibe you're needing for your New Year's plans.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Satin Slip Maxi Dress

Slip dresses are simply timeless and so easy to style. Lean more '90s with this foxy leopard print. I'd def wear it with some black boots and a black faux fur jacket for the drama (and more importantly, the warmth).

Abercrombie & Fitch

Long-Sleeve Mesh Maxi Dress

This meshy maxi comes with a mini-length slip along the inside so you won't have to constantly worry about coverage. The material still shows your skin in all the right places!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Strapless Pleated Skort Dress

This preppy piece can easily be played up for a party – if anything, I think the tailored look gives the impression that you're super polished. Slip into this strapless skort dress (yep, there's built-ini shorts!), step into some cute kitten heels, throw on a shaggy coat, and you're set!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Long-Sleeve Off-The-Shoulder Satin Mini Dress

I could see this one working just as well for a Christmas dinner as it would for a rather lit New Year's get-together. The off-the-shoulder look is simply so sweet!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Straight Neck Sequin Midi Dress

Sequins. Need I say more?! You'll immediately stand out among the crazy New Year's crowds in this fancy, disco ball-esque frock.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Off-The-Shoulder Rhinestone Maxi Dress

If full-on sequins aren't quite your thing, you can still put on a bit of shimmer with this dress that's dotted in tiny rhinestones. It comes in this amazing nude color or black to best suit your style!

Abercrombie & Fitch

High-Neck Satin Sculpt Midi Dress

While the front of this sleek midi is more modest, the back features an open design that lets you show some more skin. It's definitely on the elegant side, so I'd advise wearing it to a fancy cocktail hour or more low-key NYE party this year.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Emerson Off-The-Shoulder Skort Dress

Polka dots always feel super energetic to me, so if you want to be the one to get the party started, this is the dress for you! Plus, it'll make for some super cute Instagram pics. The design includes some built-in shorts, so coverage won't be an issue throughout the night.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Satin Embellished Strapless Mini Dress

Oh, this one is perfect. The tiny rhinestone embellishments will certainly have heads tuning your way.

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