Making My Own Soap - Recipes

I think we are ready to figure out our recipes... not that the melt and pour method (our first try) requires a lot of parameters to work through.  I wanted to provide you with lots of ideas - so will be including recipes that are very different in nature. 

El Don Soap Bar (Intermediate skill level)

Ingredients: Commercial crafting melt and pour soap base, cosmetic grade colorants, soap fragrance (Leather, Masculine Musk, Juicy Lime, Green Tea (Soap Crafters), Sandalwood, Frankincense, Myrhh).

Canola Harvest cooking spray used for mold release. 70% rubbing alchohol sprayed on for soap layer adhesion and bubble reduction.

This batch was made mostly from leftovers that already had some fragrance in it. I added some extra Frankincense and Sandalwood during Step 3. All of the color mixes I used in this soap were opaque.

1. Mix up a batch of light brown soap, about the color of hot chocolate. Pour into a container and let it harden.
2. Cut curls from the light brown with a melon baller or your curl-cutting tool of choice. Fill a suitable container or loaf mold with the curls, spraying periodically with rubbing alcohol or Bubble Buster. I used a large yogurt container for this project.
3. Mix one batch of pearly white soap and one batch of pearly green soap in separate glass measuring cups. You'll be pouring these two colors simultaneously, so try to melt them at the same time and get them to the same state of liquidity at the same time. It doesn't have to be exact, just close. Add fragrance now.
4. Let the two melted batches start to form a skin on top.
5. Remove the skin, then pour both batches at the same time, one on each side of the mold. Don't move the cups much while you pour if you want a two-tone effect like my sample.
6. Gently tap the sides to dislodge any bubbles and allow them to float to the top. Use the alcohol or Bubble Buster to break bubbles on the surface.
7. Let the mold sit undisturbed until the soap is hard. Such a large chunk of soap might take several hours to harden completely. To be safe wait until it has cooled off completely and then wait some more. It will be worth the wait!
8. Pop the loaf out of the mold, slice, and enjoy!

I liked this recipe for all of the swirls in the soap.  This one was pulled from http://www.chasenfratz.com/soaprecipes/#eldon.  They have some good ones here - so check them out for some other interesting ideas.

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Cocoa Vanilla Layered Soap Recipe (Intermediate skill level)

Submitted By:

Aaron of Mulberry, FL

Summary:

A pretty layered soap

Ingredients:

2 oz clear melt & pour base
2 oz white melt & pour
10 drops chocolate fragrance
10 drops vanilla fragrance
Cocoa powder or brown colorant

Instructions:

Melt the clear soap in double boiler and add the cocoa powder to get a nice deep brown color and a natural cocoa scent. Alternatively, you could also let the clear MP cool slightly and form a light skin, then sprinkle it liberally with the cocoa powder and swirl loosely with a toothpick before pouring. This will cause a swirl effect of chocolate instead of a clear brown. Let it cool briefly. Add 10 drops chocolate fragrance oil if you wish. *You may wish to make this bar extra special by adding a little cocoa butter to the brown batch*. Pour into a mold, filling halfway up. Let the clear sit for about twenty minutes until it is slightly tacky at the top.
In another pan melt the white soap. To this you may add a little shea butter or coconut oil. Allow the melted base to slightly cool and then add vanilla fragrance oil. After letting it cool a few more minutes, pour over the cocoa colored soap.
Let the soap sit for a few hours to firm. Overnight would be best. Pop out and voila! Layered Chocolate-Vanilla Soap! Some other ideas are: Chocolate-Peppermint Honey-Almond Lemon-Orange Mango-Shea Use your imagination!

Many people like layering either scents and / or textures.  This one allows for mixed scents and a pretty change of color.  Consider some of your favorite combinations - Cinnamon / Cloves, Apples / Cinnamon, Orange / Cream, Blueberries / Cream, etc... This one came from http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/recipe.asp?recipe_id=328 and they have some great ideas. 

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Oatmeal Soap (Beginner skill level)

(1) Melt 8 oz. of white/opaque base
(2) Melt 8 oz. of clear base
(3) Optional: Grind up 1/2 oz. of Oatmeal in coffee grinder for a smoother,
lighter exfoliation. Also, the smaller the particle, the easier to suspend in the soap.
(4) Combine the two bases
(5) Add your fragrance oil - approximately 1/2 oz. (Oatmeal, Milk and Honey is a good one!) and stir in well
(6) Optional: Add colorant
(7) Add the oatmeal and stir. Wait 20 or 30 seconds - is the oatmeal sinking to the bottom of your bowl/Pyrex or is it staying suspended. If it is staying suspended, skip to step 8
(8) If the oatmeal is sinking, this simply means that your base is not thick enough to support the oatmeal. Either cover the bowl/Pyrex with saran wrap and wait for the base to cool, or stir the melted base until it is becomes thick enough to suspend the oatmeal.
(9) Pour your oatmeal soap into molds
(10) Spritz with alcohol to finish the soap and break up any bubbles on the top of the soap
(11) Wait 2 to 3 hours (or even better, overnight!) to pop the soap out of the molds. Wrap with saran wrap and you're done!

I LOVE oatmeal soap.  It is one that I have in my shower always.  It is a wonderful exfoliant and it aids in clearing up acne and softening skin naturally.  I prefer to have LOTS of oatmeal in my soap and for it to be roughly ground.  This recipe came from http://www.teachsoap.com/recipes.html

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Loofah Soap (Beginner skill level)

You will need :
a loofah
melt and pour soap
A spray bottle full of water
fragrance or essential oil (optional)
liquid color (optional)
A shallow dish( like a jelly roll pan). It should be a little larger than the length of your loofah.
Some small disposable plastic plates

Melt a small amount of CLEAR soap and pour it into your shallow dish. Spritz your loofah with water until damp. Take the loofah and roll it in the soap, so that it completely coats it. Set it on some wax paper to dry.

After it has dried and set, cut into slices. Melt some more CLEAR soap and pour a small layer onto each plastic plate. Take the loofah pieces and set one of the cut ends into the layer of soap while it is still soft. (One loofah per plate)This will seal your soap on one end. (I tried just wrapping some plastic wrap around the end instead, but it didn’t work.) Melt some more soap, color and fragrance it and fill the loofah. It works best if you pour it in after the soap is cool enough to form a light skin on the top.

This one looks definitely interesting.  I will have to get some natural loofahs and try it out.  This recipe came from http://www.soapcrafters.com/how_to_make_loufa_soap and there are other options on the page.  Here is another page where they show step by step photos which helps.  http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soaprecipes/ss/loofahsoap.htm

If you have any recipes you would like to share... please reach out to me.  I would love to hear about them.  Blessings... E

Foods You Should be Eating - Mango

Mango is getting more and more popular in the US.  There are several variations, and I know that when I first bought mango I didn't like the flavor AT ALL... here are some points to help you get the right mango, serve it when it is ripe, and how to cut it to serve it properly.

There are two major types of mango and a wide range of varieties of mango.  The two major types are champagne and haden.  It is very easy to see the differences between them - Champagne is yellow, haden is green / red.  I prefer the champagne, they ripen quickly and are sweet.  Haden has fibers and are more difficult to tell when ripe.  Picking a mango.  The champagne mango will ripen fairly quickly.  If you are wanting a fully ripe mango it should be fully yellow and will give a little when you squeeze it.  It may also leak juice from the stem end.  I usually purchase several at a time and let them ripen naturally on my counter.  If it takes more than 2 days to ripen on the counter, it will never be sweet.  The haden mango - a ripe haden mango will be more yellow and red rather than green and red and will always weep from the stem.  It should give a little when squeezed.

Cutting a mango.  This was the hardest for me... I peeled the first one I got... and got a horrible after taste.  The mango has a long slender seed in the middle.  Start at one end of the mango and cut as close to the seed as possible.  You will almost have cut it in half lengthwise.  Set it in your palm skin to skin and cut a tic-tac-toe grid in it without going through the skin.  When finished scoring the mango, gently push the skin so the cubes stick out.  Use your thumbs to gently remove the cubes.  Serve and enjoy.

Recommended reading: http://www.champagnemango.com/site/varieties

Now you know how to buy, check for ripeness, and how to serve... but WHY?  Mangoes have many great health benefits.  They aid in digestion.  For those that have problems with indigestion, the enzymes in mangoes help settle the stomach and reduce acidity.  They help lower cholesterol.  Mangoes are high in dietary fiber, pectin, and vitamin C which help lower LDL cholesterol numbers.  Mangoes are also high in Vitamin E which has been known to help regulate sex hormones and is good for skin, hair, and nails.  They also help boost memory and and concentration due to the Glutamine Acid.  Mangoes are high in iron and are great for those of us that are anemic.  One mango a day will significantly boost your iron.  The enzymes in mangoes also regulate your sugar levels in the body helping with diabetes.  And finally - the two big boys - Cancer and Heart Disease.  Mangoes are known to prevent both due to the high levels of antioxidants. 

I eat my mango plain - no sugar, no salt, no lime, nothing... One mango a day during their season.  But there are many other ways to serve mango... chutney, salsa, in savory dishes.. etc...

Recipes: http://www.champagnemango.com/site/recipes

More Recipes: http://freshmangoes.com/mangorecipes/recipes.html

More Recipes: http://allrecipes.com//Recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/fruits/mangos/Main.aspx

Blessings... E

Healthy Skin

Healthy skin again, like most things, is a combined effort.  It takes more than just washing your skin for it to be healthy.

Let's take your skin as a whole, before we break things down.  Some useful facts to think about.  Your skin is the largest organ your body has.  It protects the rest of your body by releasing toxins, changing sunlight into vitamin D, changes the green leafy vegetables into energy, moderates your internal temperature.. it is a very complex organ that has a lot of very important functions.

What causes damage to my skin?  Believe it or not, one of the worst offenders is suntan lotion - your SPF 50 does not protect your skin it actually is one of the reasons that the US has such a high percentage of skin cancer.  Think about it - do equatorial countries have high percentages of skin cancer?  These countries see more sunshine and more heat than any other countries in the world.  No, they do not.  The chemicals that make up your suntan lotion are not good for your skin when combined with.... the sun!  Be smart about going out into the sun - don't get burned, know your limits, expose your self gradually.  Getting burned is just as dangerous as suntan lotion.

What else damages skin?  Make-up can be dangerous.  When the beauty industry started many years ago - their first guinea pigs were starlets.  There were many of these women that went into seclusion because the make-up used damaged their skin.  Acne can cause permanent damage to your skin.  Stress also can cause damage.  And finally dehydration can cause a lot of problems including cancer and tumors. 

Remember that your skin is an organ, and every ailment you have is a "warning sign" that there is a bigger problem brewing.  If you have rashes, acne, eczema - discover the underlying issue and resolve.  Don't ignore the little things as they grow into much larger issues. 

So, some natural healing methods for skin issues...

Acne.  Acne for most is a teenage ailment, but more and more adults are finding they are having breakouts more often.  This tends to have two reasons, one - stress.  Stress is one of the primary reasons for massive quick outbreaks.... you have a date on Saturday, want to look your best, and voila! a huge pimple pops out Friday.  Deal with your nerves and stress.  Second - WHAT YOU EAT.  Are you eating fast food?  prepackaged food? lots of fried / greasy foods?  All are major contributors.  There can be more severe forms of acne and these tend to be related to mental well being.  You have something in your life that you need to address and resolve.  And it comes out in your skin. 

Eczema.  Eczema can be a debilitating disease.  Anything that is chronic goes hand in hand with immune breakdown.  Your immune system is not functioning properly and needs help.  Eczema also could be some type of an allergic reaction - something that touches the skin (cloth, soap, detergent, softener, metal) or something internal (food allergy, artificial coloring, pesticides, artificial colors, preservatives).  Eczema can also be a hyper-sensitivity - a reaction to normal every day things.  The first recommendation is to strengthen your immune system - that is foods high in vitamins C and B complex. 

What are you feeding your skin?  Are you taking care of it?  Be careful what you use to wash your skin, soften your skin, etc.  Make sure the products you use are hypo-allergic, and don't have preservatives, artificial colors, or chemicals.  Drink enough water - it is surprising how much your body will reward you if you drink enough water daily.  Get sunshine!!!  This is vital to a healthy body.. Enjoy!  Blessings.

What's the Cause - 2?

Installment number two...

Migraines / Headaches - more and more people are being diagnosed with migraines  and from what I have read, there is very little understanding as to the why.  I never had migraines until after I had two major surgeries in one year, now I have them regularly.  I believe the combination of being put under for surgery and the change in my hormones caused a shift in my body chemistry, the result being migraines.  Many women going through menopause have stated that they get migraines.  Migraines also come from caffeine, tumors, food allergies, environmental allergies / stimulants, anxiety, skipping meals / dieting / fasting, foods containing nitrates (processed meats), tyramine (red wine, aged cheeses, smoked fish, chicken livers, some beans, and figs, and MSG (processed foods / some Chinese foods / some restaurant foods), chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods also can be "triggers" for migraines. 

Since we have a hard time pinning down exactly what causes migraines - it is hard to provide foods that will help - instead the foods / herbs listed are more to reduce swelling, and to promote healthy brain functions, and healthy blood functions.  Peppermint oil rubbed on the temples and base of the skull has been proven to help migraines.  Increase your intake of the Omegas 3/6/9, and ginkgo biloba - I take daily in pill form as I don't get enough of either in my food intake.  The B complex vitamins focus on the brain as well as overall immune health - I highly recommend that if you choose to increase your B vitamin intake you read up (you can overdose) and you take it in the morning - or you may have problems sleeping.  A strong shot of caffeine also can help with a fast onset of a severe migraine as it opens up the blood vessels and allows for better blood flow. The herb feverfew is the most common herb used for migraines.

Honestly, I have yet to find a 100% effective natural solution for my migraines, and one of the few pharmaceutical drugs I do keep on hand is Excedrin Migraine.  It works for me, especially when combined with the other - Claritin.  I know that my migraine triggers primarily fall into one of three categories - high stress, allergies (environmental / seasonal), and high energy levels / absorbing negative energy from others.  You would be well advised to understand when and why you have your migraines to help avoid and treat them better. 

Also, cell phones are very dangerous when put next to the ear to talk to someone.  Read up on cell phone tumors and the dangers of cell phone usage. 

Additional Reading for herbs related to migraine relief - http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/headachemigraine/a/Migraine.htm

ADD / ADHD - When I was a child there was no ADD / ADHD, but then again there was very little fast food, junk food, processed food at that time either.  Nor were there so many chemicals / preservatives / artificial colors / artificial flavors either.  Taking a serious look at your diet may shed light on your / your child's hyperactivity.  Processed Sugar / flour, sodas, artificial sweeteners, junk food, fast food, and processed frozen foods all play a huge part in these diseases.  These foods disrupt the natural flow in the brain.  Changing the diet and including some herbs helps substantially - Omega 3/6/9, ginkgo biloba, B complex vitamins all are important for a healthy brain.

awesome article on ADD / ADHD and the natural treatment of both - http://www.all-natural.com/add.html
another good article on how to get started on the right diet for ADD - http://www.oneaddplace.com/add-diet.php

Acne - Acne in children / tweens / adults can be fairly normal.  It is a warning sign that there is an imbalance somewhere, that you touch your face too often (especially with dirty hands), and / or that your skin is naturally oily (which is horrible as a child / but great as an adult as it keeps your skin supple and younger looking longer).  In children it is far more likely to be a dietary issue.  Too many of our "standard" bad foods in the diet, not enough exercise, and not enough sunshine.  In tweens it is more likely to be hormone imbalance as the onset of puberty progresses - and can be again modified and some what controlled by diet.  A good skin regiment, and proper hygiene is also required.  As an adult, diet, certain medications, dehydration, food allergies, stress, anxiety, cheap cosmetics, allergic reaction to skin products, hormone changes (peri- and menopause / male menopause), and birth control pills can be contributing factors.

You should clean your face at least twice a day with both an astringent and a toner and follow with a moisturizer (yes, even those of you that have oily skin).  Make sure you choose products that are good quality and that fall low on the ladder of chemicals and high on the ladder of hypoallergenic.  I have very sensitive skin and only use Neutrogena products on my skin if I purchase a product.  Witch Hazel and Vinegar are great for cleaning your skin.  Oatmeal soap also a wonderful moisturizing / toning product.  Astringents and toners will remove oil and dirt and "tone" the skin, while the proper moisturizer puts the proper moisture back into your skin.  If you wear makeup - put it on right before you go out, and take it off as soon as you are in for the night.  Make sure you purchase good quality products.  Try not to touch your face too often and if you have a hard time with this directive, you will need to clean your face more often.  A good part of the reason adults have acne is related to touching their face with dirty hands.  Wash your hands as frequently as possible.

Water plays a big part in acne as well,  Remember that water removes the toxins from your body - if you are not drinking enough, the toxins go to the muscles and also through the skin.  Drinking enough water every day is critical to removing the toxins properly.  Green tea, dark green leafy vegetables, apples, pears, broccoli, and avocados all help.  Vitamins C, B Complex, and Vitamin E all work to promote a healthy skin.  Our "standards" again should be avoided.

Additional reading: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/alternative-medicines-for-acne.htm

Arthritis - Arthritis, joint pain and a host of other similar diseases have two very important things in common - Water and Omegas.  I am beginning to sound like a broken record - but water again removes toxins from the body.  Think of a clear glass of water sitting in a window - what happens after several days of sitting in the sun?  The water evaporates, right?  But what is left behind?  Mineral deposits.  If your body is chronically dehydrated those minerals must go somewhere - and they tend to gather in joints.  Your Omegas (3/6/9) help lubricate your joints.  Not having enough in your body causes stiffness, and stress on your joints just like having a wheel improperly lubricated on a bike or a car - does it run properly?  No.  The same principle applies.  Immune system weakness also allows for infection and other possible causes.

Drinking sufficient water (see post on water), get enough of your Omegas (I recommend a gelcap including all three 3/6/9), and eat foods that reduce inflammation and promote a healthy immune system.  Those include dark green leafy vegetables, fruits / vegetables high in vitamins C, B, and E.  Anti-inflammatory foods include kelp, wild salmon, turmeric, shitake mushrooms, green tea, papaya, blueberries, olive oil, broccoli, and sweet potato.  And of course - stay away from our "standard" bad food list.

 Recommended reading - good and bad foods for arthritis: http://www.lifescript.com/Health/Conditions/Arthritis/Fight_Arthritis_10_Foods_That_Help_and_Hurt.aspx
Anti-inflammatory foods: http://theconsciouslife.com/top-10-anti-inflammatory-foods.htm

Did you know....

Good Morning!
I woke up thinking about quick and easy things that everyone can do to improve their overall health. So let's play "Did you know?"

Honey not only is the only food substance that will not spoil, but it is also a natural antibiotic. It can be used to heal cuts / scrapes / burns. It can be added to your hot tea when you have a cold. It helps fight allergies - especially if you purchase honey that has been cultivated locally.

Oatmeal helps lower cholesterol, and also helps your skin. It fights acne (soap), dries up weeping rashes (bath), and there are many health benefits of eating whole rolled oats for breakfast - cancer fighting phytochemicals, and diabetes fighting soluble fiber. Avocado is also amazing for your skin.

Asparagus is one of your "super" vegetables. It has been shown to destroy cancer and tumors in the body if eaten regularly. Asparagus helps the body remain alkaline and cancer can't live in an alkaline environment.

The pectin in apples and grapes helps strengthen your nails.

A combination of Eucalyptus oil (40 drops) and Lemongrass oil (20 drops) mixed in water in a 32oz spray bottle has a multitude of uses. If sprayed around your windows (inside and out) and along your doors, will naturally deter bugs, and kill any that pass across it. I spray my house about once every three months, or as soon as I start to see creepy crawlies. If used in the laundry (I put it in the final rinse), it will keep bugs away from your clothes, towels, sheets.

Onion and garlic are natural mosquito repellents. On the flip side - if you eat bananas in the summertime, the chemical reaction in your body attracts the nasty little buggers. I buy pellets and sprinkle the yard every three weeks. I don't want to kill the mosquitoes because the birds eat them and I love listening to the birds. I have found that they also keep away moles and armadillos. :) A side benefit for sure! Plant either or both around your roses and they will keep the aphids and bugs away.

Colloidal Silver is probably the most important natural product to have in your home. It is a natural antibiotic and a powerful healer. It works on ear aches, to MRSA one of the most aggressive and deadly staph infections there is.

Well, how did you do? Got any for me? How about ideas for posts or questions you would like answers to? TTFN! E