Even though there hasn’t been any snow this winter, we’ve certainly felt the effects of the season, especially on our lips! Dry, cracked, chapped lips are very common during cold months due to cold winds and the lack of moisture in the air. Here are [...]]]> I published this today on the Jennie Fresa blog.

Even though there hasn’t been any snow this winter, we’ve certainly felt the effects of the season, especially on our lips! Dry, cracked, chapped lips are very common during cold months due to cold winds and the lack of moisture in the air. Here are a few ways to keep your lips happy:

1. Drink water. It’s always important to keep your body hydrated, but especially during the winter when the air is so dry. Drink lots of water and other fluids, and run a humidifier in your home if you find that you often wake up with a sore throat.

2. Apply lip balm regularly. A lip balm made with natural waxes and oils is a must-have during the winter. My Coco Balm is a good choice because it’s made with Candelilla Wax, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Certified Organic Jojoba Oil, and Vitamin E Oil — all skin-nourishing, natural ingredients. You can buy Coco Balm in my Etsy shop, at Jennie Fresa, or Brazen Betties.

3. Use a lip exfoliant. Many of us exfoliate our face, feet, and other areas of dry skin, but we don’t always remember to exfoliate our lips! Here’s an easy and natural lip scrub DIY I found on Pinterest:

ANYWAY, I don’t really consider myself poor OR pretty, so [...]]]> Hey everyone!  Jeff here, I’m a friend of Sami’s and she asked me to write a guest post for her superawesomeblogaboutbeingfashionableinexpensively, ::pause to take a breath:: also known as Poor and Pretty!  But, you obviously knew that already since you’re here!

ANYWAY, I don’t really consider myself poor OR pretty, so why did Sami ask me to write a post?  Well, dear reader, I’m glad you asked!  She happens to know about a little hobby of mine called crocheting.  Seeing as though winter is right around the corner, knowing how to crochet can be an awesome way to stay warm, but most of all, be fashionably fabulous!  (Trust me, I never thought I’d ever say/type those words together in my life.)

As I’m writing this, I find I tend to ramble a lot, but I guess that adds to the humor of this post, right?  SO, I’m not going to bore you about how to crochet and the necessary steps and garbage and blah blah blah, YouTube has all the information you need.  BUT, before you go to YouTube, go to your local craft store and buy a crochet hook and some yarn.  “But Jeff, how do I know what size hook and yarn to buy?”  Glad you asked, reader, because you don’t need to know or care!  Well, just kidding, you might have to care a little, but all you’ll need to care about is how much time you want to spend on your little project.  Obviously, with a smaller hook and thinner yarn, your project will take a lot longer because the stitches will be smaller.  I totally like to cheat by using a huge hook and really thick yarn because it doesn’t take that long aaannnddd, your final project ends up being a lot more comfortable and warm, and frankly, who doesn’t want that?

Now, I bet your next question is, “That’s great Jeff, but what do I make?”  That’s a great question, and I have an even better answer for you – whatever the heck you want!  I’ve made lots of different winterish themed garments ranging from hats (like the one above I made for Sami) to scarves to mittens and slippers!  One of my favorite things about crocheting is the creative aspect of it.  Anytime I make something new, I never use a pattern.  I like the challenge of trying to figure out how to make something from scratch – it’s a lot more rewarding that way too!

Well, there you have it, crocheting is a fantastic way to stay fashionable in the winter, and trust me, you’ll spend a lot less than if you were to buy a hat/glove/scarf set.  AND, you can brag to people and tell them that you made it yourself!  And, if you find you’re spending too much money on crocheting, you can always sell the things you make to people!