My Late DIY & Crochet Updates!

It's rainy and yucky outside so I decided since I had not done a week update on Sunday, I would catch you up today.

I have many things going on my hook, and more to come.

I wanted to share with you a few ideas I have and show you how the African Flower Pillow turned out.

Plus, I have a few ideas that I am not sure about so I am going to talk them over here. Maybe I can come up with a solution that way.

First off, I will show you the DIY pillow. I made the post about it earlier. I even made the pillow. You can go here to read all about it.

I just put the 3 granny flowers together and made 3 rows of dc to the seams in the pillow, then I just continued on working dc in each dc and decreasing when needed, and sl st the crochet seam together and walla! A crochet pillow!

I think it turned out really pretty. The colors are all shades of purple, teal and wine. It's more of a neck pillow. I have nothing to match it but who cares! 

It's CROCHET!

My next idea is crochet edging for my cutoff jean shorts. I wanted something to fill the V that is cut into the sides of the shorts. 

Here is what I came up with, with the help of 5 Little Monsters. She has made a bunting out of this doily pattern and it's lovely, she even gives the option for hearts. I followed her on Bloglovin. It looks like a great blog to follow.

Its just a half doily, and the pattern is super simple. 

The doily is not attached yet because I am still looking for the perfect pattern. I think I am going to use this pattern but change yarn. I used cotton yarn but its a size 2, I think and not really heavy enough to hold up to the jeans. 

I do love it though and I think I am going with this one.

Even if I don't I am going to make her lovely bunting because I love them too!

So what do you think? Good idea or not?

One of my good friends came to visit me yesterday and said she needed something for her front door. I have a craft closet, and I love to make wreaths so I pulled one out and proceeded to whip her up one right there on the spot.

Here it is. I made it so she could use it for summer and the 4th of July.

The wreath is not huge, just big enough for the middle of your door. I crocheted the little stars as an after thought so I wouldn't let her take it home. 

She should be by today to pick it up.

I think is really pretty, and I would love to use it on my door.

I think I blogged that my oldest son Hunter moved downstairs.

I put him up curtains but since we have to have 84' we have to have curtain ties to keep them open. 

He asked me to crochet him a set. I about fell out. Crochet curtain ties for a boy, AND he asked for them. How could I not?

Here they are, not fancy but they turned out great. I want to make a set for my kitchen. The beads are a great touch.

Seriously, this is just chains and dc.

I can not for the life of me find the simple pattern I used. I updated to Windows 8 and I switched back to Chrome and I am getting used to it again but I have lost a few things in the process.

This pattern was ch 50, leave the last 8 sts unworked, turn work up other side dc all the way and crochet 8 chains at the end. Tie ends into little loops and your done.

I took 2 foot long pieces of yarn, doubled them, put the through the middle of the tie back and slipped the bead on and knotted at the bottom so it wouldn't fall off.

Thats it. 

Super simple and my kids is using them as we speak. He liked them because I made them boy style. No flowers or variegated yarn. So simple.

Let's see what's next...

Oh yeah, I found a lampshade on the sidewalk up from my house. Of course I had to rescue it. I think I am going to crochet on it to match my gray/pink never ending granny blanket and shams I just made. There is a blog post for this but I cant remember the name. I need to remember to start tagging my stuff. I am learning as I go.

Here is the once pretty shade and what I intend on doing to it to make it pretty once again.

This is the start. No pattern. I just have to increase along the lines of the shade. You can see them clearly. The RHSS is the leftover skeins that I had from the bedroom set.

See how it's getting bigger as it gets longer. I plan to make all the panels. There are 8 of them so this shouldn't take too long. The shade itself is ok, but the top hardware where it attaches to the lamp is gone. Thankfully Bub recycled the guts of a shade with no fabric so I have the parts I need. I love being with a man who loves to recycle and DIY like I do. 

If I say I need anything, he is on the lookout for it. Most of the time he is successful.

He's good to me. <3

So, do you think the lamp is doable?

One more project and I swear I will quit. I told you I had been busy this week. Projects are just filling my head but I am having a hard time settling on anything so I am finishing all the wip's I have going on.

This is another one about my son, Hunter.

He has these favorite Areo jeans that are his absolute favorite. Naturally they have a hole where every pair of jeans gets a hole. At the pocket, and it grows from there.

Bub brought me a new tool the other day, and it worked perfect for this. I am super excited about it because I can punch holes in everything so I can crochet through it.

Aren't they awesome. I love tools!

Here is what I decided to do to the pants rather than throw them away or make recycled denim yarn.

Ok, its not fab looking but its a whole lot better than thread and my son tucks nothing in so this worked out perfect. Keep in mind this was the experimental pair so if they are a little wonky so be it. It did extend the life of the jeans, and he is happily wearing them. 

Its strong and will last a while. 

I did this without asking him. He just thought I'd just thought I'd keep them for another project. Ha! He knows I wont throw them away. 

Here is the process....

I just kept going round and round until it closed itself. 

All in all I consider this a success!

I want to thank all of you for visiting with me today.

My rambling brain had to get this blog post out or I was going to go crazy.

I appreciate you taking time out of your day.

Supplimend Melatonin Plus Review

Good Morning!

It's a rainy yucky day here in West Virginia so I have decided to catch up on my blog.

I have a great review for you today. A product I actually use in my real life.

DISCLAIMER: I GOT THIS PRODUCT FREE FOR A REVIEW. I RECEIVED NO MONEY FOR MY REVIEW. THIS IS MY HONEST OPINION. 

I don't know about you but I suffer with insomnia. It has been this way for me the last 10 years or so. I think my age has something to do with it. I am 40+ and starting to get signs of menopause. 

I have been taking regular Melatonin supplement at night for at least 2 years now.  I buy these supplements at my local Dollar Store.

When I was approached and asked to do this review I acted quickly because this is a product I use in my day-to-day life.

Regular Melatonin Pills work for me. I take 2 10mg pills every night about a half hour before bedtime.

This is the bottle of Supplimend Melatonin Plus Advanced Sleep Formula. 

Its says Bon Nuit Proprietary Blend, Dietary Supplement, 60 capsules.

Here is a picture of the capsules.

These capsules are rather large. Matter of fact, they are the biggest capsule I have ever taken, and sometimes at night when I have my SleepyTime Tea, I open the capsule and pour it into my tea. I can take it easily that way, and you can't really tell the Melatonin is in there. 

Here are the supplement facts that are on the back of the bottle.

Product Description

NOT ALL SUPPLEMENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL!Having a hard time falling asleep?  Worried that if you take the off-the-shelf medication you’ll wake up groggy?  Your can trust our proprietary blend of Melatonin, Hops, Skullcap, Chamomile, Passion Flower, and GABA to wake refreshed!Our special combination of natural herbal extracts have been proven to help you fall asleep fast, and stay asleep throughout the night.Manufactured in the USA, to Strict FDA Standards and by cGMP Certified Laboratory, our Melatonin formula have no added colors, lubricants, stabilizers, flowing agents, or preservatives!Finally, if you don't like our melatonin for whatever reason, we'll refund your money...no questions asked.  Simply return the bottle, along with the unused portion, and we’ll issue your full refund.  We believe in our products!

• 100% NATURAL - Supplimend Melatonin has natural herbal extracts proven to help you fall asleep fast, and stay asleep throughout the night!
  100% REFRESHING - You don't have to worry about being groggy in the morning. Wake refreshed and ready to go with Supplimend Melatonin!
  100% PURE - Our Melatonin formula has no added colors, lubricants, stabilizers, flowing agents, or preservatives!
  100% SAFE - Our Melatonin is manufactured in the USA, to Strict FDA Standards, and by a cGMP Certified Laboratory!
  100% RISK-FREE - Try a bottle today and if you don't like it we'll refund your money...no questions asked. We're that confident in the quality and efficacy of our products.

This information came from the Supplimend Melatonin site I use.

I like that this is a natural product. I do not wake up groggy in the morning, they work fairly quick at night putting me to sleep and I stay that way. 

This product is made in the USA, and stands up to strict FDA Standards.

100% Money Back Guarantee!

I normally take 2 10mg tablets before bed, now I am using the 3 mg capsules and I am taking 2 of them at night and I can't tell the difference in the 10's and the 3's. To me thats a good thing.

I have a sensitive stomach as well. I usually take my meds about an hr before bed and I try to eat a little something so I don't end up with an upset stomach and leaning over the toilet all morning. These Supplimend Melatonin Plus capsules are very easy on my stomach and I have had no repercussions so far.

Actually, they are working really great for me.

Here is some information from Amazon.com/SupplimendMelatoninPlus, 3mg, 60 capsules

SUPPLIMEND Melatonin Plus, 3mg, 60 Capsules - Wake Refreshed & Energized with our Fast Acting Sleep Aid

from Supplimend

   18 customer reviews

---

List Price:	$49.95
Price:	$17.95 ($0.30 / Count) & FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Details
You Save:	$32.00 (64%)

In Stock.

Sold by Supplimend Nutraceuticals™ and Fulfilled by Amazon.

.

*Promotes Restful Sleep

*Aids Improved Sleep Quality

*Supports Refreshed Awakening

SUGGESTED USE: As a dietary supplement, take 1-2 capsules before bedtime. 

CAUTION: Do not exceed recommended dose. The product is not intended for pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, or individuals taking any prescriptions medication including anti-depressents. Reduce dose if drowsiness occurs.

Avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing other potentially dangerous tasks while taking this formula. If you have a known medical condition or have questions about the advisability of taking this product consult a physician prior to use. 

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN, DO NOT USE IF SEAL IS DAMAGED OR MISSING. 

STORE IN A COOL DRY PLACE.

***THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. 

You can find the product on their website Here.

You can find this product and company on Facebook here.

You can find this product and company on Twitter here @ #goodnightsrest

You can find this product on Amazon.com here

Here is the product URL

All in all I would recommend this product if you are having trouble going to sleep or staying that way this product can help you. 

It's working for me. I take Melatonin Pills but I am really liking the capsules best.

Do your research and see what you think about Supplimend Melatonin Plus Dietary Supplement. 

I like that it's a natural product, with natural ingredients. 

I feel safe taking it, and I wake up refreshed every morning, not groggy at all.

This is a great product that I will continue to use once this bottle is finished.

Thanks for reading this review and hanging out with me this morning.

If you are looking for a way to drift off at night, go ahead and give this product a try. 

I think you will be pleased with it. I am.

~Crystal

Crochet Beach Shorts, Easy & Quick Pattern

Good Morning.

It's chilly here in WV, and its early.

I have a quick project for you today.

This is the cone of sugar and cream for my shorts. Its white with blue, green and yellow.

Here is the link...

You Tube Beach Shorts

The pattern is super simple. These shorts should only take one day.

This is the start of the waistband. I chained 100 instead of 75.

The 75 makes a pair of shorts, my 100 made them fit around the waist.

I used a small hook because I didn't want you to be able to see though the dc.

this is how they have turned out, not quite finished.

Here they are finished. I added a few rows to the waist so the wouldnt be crack shorts, and I added a few rows and the legs. That way this tall girl actually could wear them.

Finished product. I took a chain and wove it thought the waistband to hold them up.

See, they don't look bad on. I think once I make the matching tank I will have a great lounge around the house pj set.

These shorts are made with dc, and I used a smaller hook so the dc holes would not be so big. 

Hanging on the line.

Ok, honest. These shorts took a day. Once you make your chain, join in round. Then once you get so far along the waist, you will chain 12 (I used 20) and this makes the crotch part of the legs. You do this twice.

For a person who has not made anything wearable on the bottom these turned out great. The pattern is for a 29 waist but I chained 100, good thing I did or they would have been too small. I also crocheted 20 instead of 12 at the crotch, to make it wider.

I am still connected to the yarn here but they shorts fit!

Go ahead and check of Shades of Lilly's youtube video. It could not makes these shorts any easier. I think they were made for a small girl, because the pattern is so small. Good thing is, they can be adjusted to fit you.

I really love the way they turned out. They are nothing fancy, and I plan to wear them to bed.

I am more than happy, they turned out!

If you would like to make a pair look at the video.

If you make these please show me.

They are basically a regular cotton shorts,

They can be made in acrylic too.

Now to make the tank top.....

Have a great day!

A Weekend Update

Good Evening, my crochet friends.

I have been doing so many reviews that my crochet sharing has fallen by the wayside this week. 

I have a few things to share with you today.

 I would update what I have been working on all week. Kind of a catch up. I need to think of a catchy name if I plan on making this a regular feature of the blog. That, and I have to make things during the week. Sometimes that is a feat in itself.

I had an order for a bag from a friend of mine. She wanted a tie-dyed yarn. Well, since it was a beach bag and had to be made in cotton I decided to use Sugar and Cream in Psychedelic. That is as close as I could come to an economy yarn. It worked out great.

What do ya think?

The only thing the picture is missing is the flap and the button. 

I looked everywhere for a matching big button and I just didn't have one. I did have some Sculpy Clay and I decided to make my own. Somehow I had the exact colors I needed.

Here are my buttons before the oven...

They look a little wonky in the pan but I rounded the edges out with a spoon and made them smooth. I poked the holes in them with my smallest steel crochet hook. Baked on 200 because they are not thick. 

This is a picture of the pj shorts I am attempting to make. I have got the measurements right. This is the waist and it goes on me just fine. 

Here is the youtube video for the pattern for these easy shorts. They have to be easy because I have been crocheting less than a year and I have never made anything to wear on my bottom half. How bad can it be? The pattern seems easy enough. Yeah, I have heard myself say that before, and I had to frog it all.

Crochet Beach Shorts

Here is another quick project I started. I just have one so far but they have turned out really pretty so far. 

Here is the link to these earring. Be forewarned, the pattern is in spanish but totally understandable. If I can do it, I know you can.

Crochet Earrings

Here is my last project.

A summer scarf.

Made out of a heart motif.

Just keep going until I have 12, then I have to make the other end.

Here is the link to the Heart Scarf if you are interested.

Heart Scarf

Here is my finished bag with it's new button. 

I am fine with the way it turned out. Actually, I think its really cute.

The button worked fine. I just put a clear coat on it.

Well, thats what I have been up to this week. 

I have a few more projects up my sleeve.

This week I will finish the African Flower Pillow and update here.

I hope you had a great weekend.

I will talk to you soon.

Happy Hookin'

~Crystal

PROTEGE LUMINATE Premium Skin Lightening Cream Review

Good Afternoon!

I have a great product review for you today.

Its Protege Luminate Premium Skin Lightening Cream.

DISCLAIMER: I got this product free for a review. I only got the product. I got no money for this review. I have given my HONEST opinion. Just because it's a free product does not in any way taint my review. I am currently using this product with success.

You can find Protege Premium Skin Lightening Cream HERE

They have a whole line of Protege products for all your needs.

My product to try is the Protege Luminate Premium Skin Lightening Cream.

The box says it brightens skin and gradually fades pigmentation spots and melasma.

Directions: 

Apply once or twice daily to clean, dry skin. Avoid exposure to the sun or use SPF 30 or higher. For isolated hyperpigmented spots or melasma, apply only to those areas.

Results start to become visible after 6 weeks of daily use.

I apply this cream once I get out of the shower and I have clean skin.

This is what the cream looks like...

Its is a creamy yellow color, with hardly any scent at all. I like unscented products. I feel like they don't compete with my perfume. The cream has a nice texture and rubs in well. There is no greasy feeling left on your skin.

I sun bathed when I was young. I also worked as a lifeguard for several years. I have sun damage on my face and hands. I have 2 dime sized dark spots on my cheeks. I also was blessed with a sprinkle of freckles across my nose. These I am not worried about, it's the big spots that make me self conscious. 

I am currently using the product but since it takes several weeks to see results I will show you the pictures from their website.

These are some great results. I can only hope that my spots and freckles lighten like this on my face.

I do have some age spots on my hands. I am 40+ but not on the back side. I have been applying the PROTEGE LUMINATE to my hands as well twice a day. They are nice and soft. No noticeable lightening yet.

This product is cruelty-free and not tested on animals. 

MADE IN THE USA!

Here are some of the ingredients in the Protege Luminate Premium Skin Lightening Cream.

Arbutin & Kijic Acid + Niacinamide, Water, Sea Kelp, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil , Avocado Oil, Chia Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Lycopene, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, and Citric Acid. 

That is just a few of the ingredients that's in the Protege Luminate. The link takes you to their blog. Take a look at it. Its very informative and I learned a lot about the company and their mission statement.

Product Description

LET'S FACE IT, OUR SKIN ISN'T SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH.

You wouldn't do anything to harm it, and neither will we! Human beings aren't meant to slather their flesh with Additives, Parabens, and Sulfates, so we've designed an FDA Regulated product that is not only wholly from nature, but one that really works! Kiss those blemishes and dark spots goodbye with LUMINATE from Protégé!

When you receive your product, make sure you start using it IMMEDIATELY. The longer you wait, the longer that uneven skin tone is allowed to hinder your ability to look as good as you should.

WHY LUMINATE?

The answer is simple: All natural ingredients with PROVEN results. The last thing we want to do is waste our time producing something that isn't worth it, because your time and money are too valuable to be spent on wannabe's. That's why we've rigorously tested our product to ensure the very best results in the shortest reasonable time. We want you to be fulfilled by your appearance every single day, and the best way for you to get that satisfaction is with us.

Here is some information from Amazon.com

Skin Lightening Cream - LUMINATE - Natural Brightening Treatment to Correct & Improve Discoloration, Freckles, Melasma, Hyperpigmentation, Dark Spots and Age Spots - With Sea Kelp, Lycopene, Niacinamide and Kojic Acid - Bleach-Free Skin Whitening

from Protege

   119 customer reviews

| 22 answered questions

---

List Price:	$99.99
Price:	$89.99
Sale:	$35.00 & FREE Shipping. Details
You Save:	$64.99 (65%)

In Stock.

Sold by Protege Beauty and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.

• ✿ PROVEN EFFECTIVE After running an in-depth clinical study, we confirmed that 94% of our trial users saw major progress in the lightening of their skin with significant improvements in dark spots, discoloration and hyperpigmentation! The results are truly in; LUMINATE makes your skin more even, clear, and bright. We were even able to see anti-aging benefits with a slight reduction of fine lines and wrinkles in a portion of our participants.
• ✿ NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL We don't waste time and health on additives and compounds created in laboratories. Using only the finest natural ingredients like Sea Kelp, Kojic Acid, and Arbutin, we take our cues from nature to bring you a revolutionary product to lighten and even out your skin. We use absolutely NO CHEMICALS. Luminate is free of hydroquinone, bleach, mercury and all other harsh skin bleaching chemicals present in many skin whiteners. You'll never have to experience burning, stinging, or dry skin again!
• ✿ "CONFIDENCE CREAM" Beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin! The truth is it's easy to have perfect skin, but you have to be tenacious about it. Poor pigmentation,dark spots, freckles, and an uneven skin tone are just few of the problems that we all must face. It can be disturbing and embarrassing to step out with even ONE spot marring your completion. With LUMINATE, you not only lighten your skin, but lift your confidence as well.
• ✿ HOME GROWN HAPPINESS We want to bring you a product you can truly trust. By having our product made here in the USA in our Advance FDA Registered Facility you can rest assured that you are using only the safest and most suitable organic ingredients available on the market today. Best of all, we're cruelty free and support animal rights. We've never tested our products on our furry friends, and unquestionably, we never will.
• ✿ SATISFIED? We hope so, and we'll make sure you are! We go far beyond Amazon's 30 day guarantee. Protégé provides a FULL YEAR money back guarantee. If for any reason you are not satisfied, simply let us know and we will issue you a full refund, no questions asked, and NOTHING TO RETURN. You risk nothing when you order LUMINATE, and can gain so much. What are you waiting for? Order now!

Protege Luminate Premium Skin Lightening Cream offers a great guarantee. They provide a FULL YEAR money back guarantee. The product takes a few weeks to start seeing a difference so the year guarantee makes perfect sense and it makes me want to try it even more. I don't know about you, but I look for a money back guarantee when I purchase items. You never know how your skin is going to react to the product, you may not be able to use it, then what? You are out the money it costs. My wallet is not so fat that I can make a purchase and just throw it out if I am not happy with the product or the results. 

Personally, I am happy with this cream. I have not been using it near long enough to see results but I can say that my skin likes this cream. My hands and face are moisturized and soft. Thats progress.

That cream yellow dot on my hand is the actual cream.

Here is a little something from their website. They sound like a great company who cares about the people who purchase and use their products. 

I was impressed by the communication I had with them as well.

Hi! Welcome to Protégé! We are honored to have you here. Please feel free to take a look around, explore what we have to offer and what we’re about. You can explore our products, and our blog, which has some great info and tips. Also check out our Facebook page. It has some great resources as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We always happy to help. Thanks for stopping by!

We stand behind our products 100%. When you choose a Protégé product, you are getting much more than just the product itself. You will receive all the information you need to understand how the product works, how to use the product, and what to expect from it. You get access to our amazing Customer Service, which is there to answer any questions you have and address any concerns that may arise. To top it all off, we offer a no-questions-asked, 365 day money back satisfaction guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your Protégé product, simply contact us and we will issue you a full refund immediately. No returns, no hassle.

That is our Protégé Promise. Your purchase is safe with Protégé.

About Us

We believe that no matter what stage you are at in your life, you should feel great about yourself. At Protégé, every product we offer has been developed to achieve that goal: feeling the best you can about your body, your skin and yourself. Our products were created to deliver some of nature’s most effective botanicals and technology's most innovative actives in a manner that allows every customer to experience an improvement in their life.  

Protégé prides itself as a company that values the highest levels of customer service and client needs.

All Protégé Beauty products are:

Developed Using the Highest Quality Ingredients with Proven Effectiveness 

Manufactured at our Facility Meeting or Exceeding FDA Good Manufacturing Practices 

Proudly Made in USA

No Animal Testing — 100% Cruelty Free

Completely Paraben-Free, Phthalate-Free, and Sulfate-Free

Our formulas are created by leading North American scientists using clinically proven ingredients that deliver results. We develop our products using a combination of science and creativity, which results in unique, effective solutions.

Our ultimate goal is to inspire you to live a better life by taking care of yourself, from feeling better about yourself.

If you have dark spots, or Melasma I recommend this cream. By the website, Amazon, and my personal experience I would purchase it. Matter of fact, if I get the results I am looking for (I see no reason why I should not) I plan to purchase another jar of it. 

I liked the mission statement of the company. I feel like they care if I like the product or if it worked for me. They should want to impress me with a great product that produces results. That is important to me. I don't want to just be another sale for them. If my skin, looks great because of them, that's some great advertisement so they should do their best to keep me happy with great products.

I see all the time consumers on amazon ask for a response to a question they asked but they want someone who did NOT get the product free for a review to respond, like this makes a difference in how the product works. I don't care if the Pope gave me the item they are asking about, how does that change the way the product worked for me. Bottom Line? IT DOESN'T.

If you have used this product with or without success please leave me a message. 

I would love to hear your results and pass it on to the PROTEGE company.

As with any product DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE! Not every product I like you are going to like, so make sure you are comfortable with the purchase.

Make sure to read the ingredients, you could be allergic. You never know. 

I WANT you to spend your money wisely. I don't have money to burn and I am sure you don't as well. 

I don't want to focus on a company and their products if I don't feel like they are a good buy, have good customer service, or are selling a useless product that doesn't work. 

I WANT the product to work for you. I want you to feel good about yourself and this product says it can help you do that. 

So, you do what you think is best. In the meantime I will keep on keeping on with the PROTEGE LUMINATE PREMIUM SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM and I will be back in a few weeks to update with pictures of the results. That way you can make your best informed decision. If that's not your personality, then go ahead and place your order. The cream has great packaging, texture, scent, results....

I think you will be pleased. 

I am.

Thanks for hanging out with me and learning about  PROTEGE BEAUTY.

I will be back again soon.

~Crystal