Eye Make Up Remover

Since I really am not worth much on the functioning scale until I've had at least one cup of coffee, I hopped online Tuesday morning while my coffee maker was hard at work. Monday had been another late night meeting, so I simply collapsed without much effort when I finally got home. This meant I resembled a raccoon who stuck its poor little paw in an electrical socket. My hair is most uncooperative.

Trolling through Facebook and checking the day's weather is the norm for morning like these. While perusing my FB feed, I ran across this post from Jillee on eye make up remover.

Due to my complete lack of interest in shopping, I was out of many things, including eye make up remover so I was not looking forward to getting rid of the eye liner and mascara smudged around my eyes. This seemed serendipitous.

I had most items on hand so off to the kitchen I went. I pulled out a small plastic container, a spoonful of coconut oil, and Lavender EO. I don't have any Vitamin E oil or Geranium (at least until my Oil of the Month from Spark Naturals arrives soon).  My theory is to give it a whirl and if I like it I can then add the Geranium and Vitamin E.

Guess what - it worked wonderfully!  I used a Q-tip to apply it thinking I was going to have to go to town scrubbing with a cotton ball. Nope. The Q-tip was black and brown almost immediately! I did use a cotton ball to remove the excess oil and go after the little bit of  really stubborn eyeliner on my left eye. I'm sold.

I also like her tip about using a small jar for travel purposes. Going to make some more once that Geranium and Vitamin E are residing at home!

Slower Postings

The summer is a busy time for me. Many service trips and travels. I will probably have slower postings for the next few months. My plan is to post three times a week. Plus that Sunday quote.

Just wanted to give any of you readers a head's up!

EO Price Comparison Chart

As I was enjoying a day of actively doing nothing yesterday and pondering what my next project supply needs will be, I was doing comparison shopping between Spark Naturals and Mountain Rose Herbs. The tedious task of jumping between sites eventually annoyed me. Thus, I defaulted to my favorite pastime - spread sheets. Yes, I am that big of a nerd.

So to help you out, you can access this pdf of a comparison of EOs between Spark Naturals and Mountain Rose Herbs. It surprised me quite a bit. Remember also that Spark Naturals has a flat shipping rate which is helpful if ordering just one or two items. Mountain Rose Herbs has more expensive shipping, but their more comprehensive product line may mean you head to their site for other supplies.

Sunday's Quote

In memory everything seems to happen to music.

Tennessee Williams

May you find new memories today, be they large or small that bring a smile and a bit of music to your life.

Fabric Softener

As it seems there is a constant stream of information on how the contents of everyday household products are dangerous, I have really started to incorporate as many homemade options as possible.

Fabric softener was one I questioned. Can these alternatives really soften the fabric? Will it work on things I don't put in the dryer, but dry on racks?

I have used vinegar off and on, not 100% thrilled with it. Items that I leave out of the dryer - jeans, cardigans, and so forth sometimes were a bit to stiff for me.

If you want to try vinegar, I just use the fabric softener ball and fill it with about a half cup of white vinegar.

What I gave a try this week for the first time is a very simple option from Everyday Roots. I chose to omit the EOs in the recipe. I may add them in the next batch, mostly out of curiosity.

The results of this option are much more my thing. Both the items from the dryer and the rack are soft and definitely work with my preferences.

My Obsession

I have a problem. I have a bit of an obsession with Mason jars and other fun glass jars.

At least my obsession has practical applications. I use large Mason jars to store dry goods in my teeny, tiny pantry cabinet. I use the other smaller sizes for the lotions I make. I have a jar of buttons with my sewing materials. When I make a bag of dry beans, I use jars to divide up the cooked beans and freeze for later use.

While I do worry about my clumsiness coming out to play and resulting in the breaking of jars, with more appearing to show that plastics can be harmful, I figure phasing out the plastic is a good bet.

While the branded Mason jars can be challenging to find outside of buying new at the store, I found a few tips for creating a collection of glass jars:

1. Put the word out to your friends, family, coworkers. Periodically a bag of jars appears in my office. I bring in baked goods or homemade pickles as thanks.
2. Save the ones you use - jelly, sauces, etc all come in jars - make use of 'em!
3. Watch rummage sales and estate sales. Our church has a rummage sale and periodically I can nab some there.

Those Little Irritations

It happens to the best of us, something irritates your skin. You get one of those annoying itches that just won't go away but isn't due to anything in particular. Your skin gets dry and itchy.

Welcome Lavender!

I put lavender in pretty much everything. Particularly if it is going to serve as a moisturizer or lotion. It is soothing both to the skin and a peaceful scent.

In my purse I carry a small roller bottle that contains about 8 drops of Lavender and the remainder of fractionated coconut oil (as the carrier oil). This has been helpful when I get those little itches and irritations. I've even shared it with others and despite their skepticism, they had to admit it helped.

Recipe: Black Bean and Rice Patties

These Black Bean & Rice Patties are a new favorite for me.

I found they do not have a ton of flavor on their own, but they make the perfect base to add some great condiments to or add to well seasoned vegetables.

When I made a batch, there would be no way I could eat 8 patties before they turned to the dark side in my fridge. I let each cool, then wrapped them up individually and froze them. This makes them perfect to toss in my lunch bag and take to work. I like them a bit crispy, so I make use of the toaster oven in our staff kitchen. You could just as easily use the microwave or a frying pan to reheat them. I wouldn't waste the time or energy using the oven, but I would suspect that is also an option.

I like making sandwiches with these and some great homemade ketchup. I might try some of the sweet & sour Asian inspired condiments in my fridge too.

Plus if you're watching your budget, these are super cheap to make!

Another Source & Sales!

I forgot to mention how much I love Mountain Rose Herbs.

They are where I get many of the materials for the various projects I make. They also have good prices on EOs. However, their shipping is more than Spark Naturals and is not flat rate.

My general plan of attack then is to take advantage of the monthly specials that Mountain Rose Herbs offers and to plan my orders so I am getting several products at once. This way the shipping is more cost effective. Spark Naturals is still a great choice as they have flat rate shipping, so if you're in desperate need of just one bottle of something you won't get zinged with the shipping.

This month Lemon Essential oil in the half ounce size is on special for just $4.46! After doing some calculations, I decided to order 4 bottles of it along with some witch hazel extract and aloe gel for other concoctions  This made the shipping worthwhile and is filling my stores for things I need on hand - more face moisturizer, after sun spray, etc. Have to make sure I'm ready for all the summer plans!

Oil Pulling

When I first heard of this, I thought it was bizarre  Finally I decided to give it a go when I found coconut oil for a reasonable price at Trader Joe's.

The concept is simple and outlined on a multitude of sites. You simply swish a vegetable oil in your mouth for 20 minutes.

The idea behind it is that it helps to pull out toxins, whitens teeth, helps with sinuses. I have found it to particularly help with the later.

When I feel congestion forming, especially in my sinuses, I pull out that jar of coconut oil. Since I don't want to deal with it in solid form (personal preference, even though it will melt in your mouth), I put about 2 tablespoons of oil in a small ceramic bowl and microwave it for a few seconds to melt it. This worked well in its base form.

Then I ran across a list of EO additions from Camp Wander that can target specific issues.

Let me tell you the wonders of adding a drop of Melaleuca to the coconut oil! Wow! At the least notice of a problem I do the oil pulling for a couple of days in a row and I'm fine - no congestion sets in, no sinus infection, most importantly - no sinus headaches.

Sunday's Quote

Only love can be divided endlessly and still not diminish.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Fair Trade Chocolate

Yesterday was one of those days. Despite being a Friday and therefore sometimes a quieter day at work, I was swamped with meetings, special events to plan, and just the regular day to day tasks. On top of which, my lower back was bothering me for some reason. Then I came home to see the box containing new blinds was outside my door (yay). Oh, wait, that means I have to get them inside my condo. After hauling that, dealing with a new contact prescription that is wrong and seemingly a million other little things, it was safe to say I was in a no good, very bad, horrible sort of evening.

Enter my little happy thought - chocolate.

I wanted to keep it simple and not blow my good eating during the day. So I love the Equal Exchange mini dark chocolate bars (don't worry, they have milk chocolate too). They are my absolute favorite chocolate ever (and I've given much effort and taste tests the world over). Plus being small they won't blow your waist line.

Most importantly, they are fair trade. If you are unaware of the issues tying into the chocolate market, then take a moment to read what they talk about in the stories of their farmers or do a simple search online of the issue.

There would be a picture of the chocolate...but it didn't stick around long enough to be photographed. Sorry. Kind of.

An Essential Oil Journal

Floating around amongst all the blogs that focus or discuss to some extent EOs, is the idea of having a notebook or journal for your EO use and ideas.

Some go all out and they are works of art. Camp Wander (of course) has a post about an example.

For the past few weeks I have used a composition notebook that I picked up on clearance. It is stage one. Here's how I'm doing things.

I use the composition book to write down the ideas and formulations, along with sources, that I have yet to try.

I purchased a hardbound sketch book Monday that I am using for a final version that is more of an archive. Since I love to pull out my colored pencils and art pens, I hope to take time to put in illustrations and doodles along with the information on EO use. To encourage myself to get boring chores done (laundry folding, vacuuming  cleaning the bathrooms), it is a source of bribery to have an art project to work on in the evenings and days off of work.

As I complete pages, I will post them so you can see what I am talking about with this idea.

Staying Organized

Did you know that I could be the poster child for the word "organized"? My mother instilled a love of office supplies and things with compartments.

I'm still working on the best way for me to store my EOs and related supplies. I have a fairly small condo where there is really insufficient storage. I'll keep you posted on this mission.

One thing I love to keep my ideas organized and to make sure I never forget an, "Ah ha!" moment - Levenger's Circa Notebooks. There are less expensive versions that Staples makes too. Much as I enjoy wandering the aisles of Staples, I am sticking with the Circa option.

What works so wonderfully is the ability to treat it like a spiral notebook, but still be able to pull out and rearrange pages like you would with a 3-ring binder.

I purchased some of the starter packs and a massive supply of the basic pages. More frequently though, I will print out pages that are from free printables that I found online.

For instance, in my main, large Circa I have pages that are:

• 'Dailies' - my daily tasks, tracking exercise, how much water I drink, errands to run, major appointments
• A page intended to be a shopping list that I use as a cheat sheet for several frequently used homemade products such as laundry detergent, floor cleaner, etc. It is a quick reference for the half dozen or so most often used DIY ingredients
• A page to list ideas that come to me for the blog when I'm away from my computer (I have a Google Drive doc that I use to keep ideas organized)
• A book wish list - this is the one I fill, then add it to the spreadsheet on my computer. Have I mentioned I'm a bibliophile?
• Weekly blog planner - just for the next week
• Two-month blog topic planner

As we go along, I'll post links to some of my favorite free printables and sites that you can explore. However, it is simple enough to just put in a search for them to find what it is that you may need to help you stay organized.

Recipe: Tofu Opor

I work with a wonderful woman from Indonesia. As I'm one of the few people on staff who likes spicy food, she is always bringing me recipes and those fantastic, incredibly strong ginger chews.

A while back she made a tofu soup that was fabulous. I asked for the recipe. What I got was a recipe from the web that was translated (poorly) by an automated web service. After some explanations and a few trials and errors, here's what I make:

Tofu Opor
Ingredients

• Firm, lite tofu - I prefer the silken version for this. I usually use half the box.
• 2 cups coconut milk - I use light
• 1/4 of a red onion, chopped 
• 2 cloves garlic (I love garlic, so I add about 3 or 4)
• 3 or 4 pecans, or a couple tablespoons of pecan pieces
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 inch or so of ginger root, peeled and diced
• 1 stick lemon grass
• cumin to taste
• salt to taste

Directions

1. Cut tofu into pieces and set aside.
2. If using whole pecans, chop into pieces.
3. Put a dash of oil in a saucepan. Add onion, garlic, pecans, coriander  ginger, cumin and salt if desired. (I usually put salt in after the recipe is complete.)
4. Cook spices and onion until aromatic and the onions have softened.
5. Add coconut milk. A can is about 13 oz so I usually just add a bit of water to make 2 full cups.
6. Bring to a boil. Add lemon grass and tofu.
7. I simmer lightly for a few minutes.

Serve by adding cooked rice. Some recipes include potatoes. I usually don't as I frequently have a batch of brown rice I make up sitting in the fridge.

This travels really well to work in my lunch bag. I have never tried freezing it. I usually get 3-4 servings out of it, especially if I add rice to it.

Easiest Use of Lemon Ever

Here's an easy one for your mid-week stress.

Lemon EO in your water.

Yup, that's it. Now, here's the thing, I don't like lemon in my water. It took me a day or so to adapt, but now I love it.
A couple of benefits -

• It reduces hunger for me. Especially when I'm sitting at my desk, or table at home, the temptation to munch on something while working is strong. Sipping the water with Lemon EO helps reduce this.
• Lemon has several benefits attributed to it: detoxifies, helps with allergies, can reduce stress.

Now, I don't know if you all will have the same benefit regarding the hunger reduction, but just thought I'd pass it along.

Generally what I do is add about 3 drops of Lemon EO (make sure it is one that is safe to ingest like Spark Naturals) to my 24-oz water bottle. I then fill it with my water and ice and give it a good shake. 

Making Your Own Roller Bottles

Yesterday I mentioned that I made my own roller bottles for EOs.

Due to being on-the-go too much and the frequent travels, I wanted to make some small, easy to carry travel bottles of blends I found to be helpful.

Thanks to Camp Wander's post on making your own roller bottles I found supplies I needed. Here's here excellent post to which I can only add a few thoughts.

First, I ordered the roller fittings from 911healthshop. They were exactly what I wanted, just took nearly two weeks to show up. I've been spoiled with 2-3 day shipping mostly, so it was a wait, but worth it.

Second, I love the products I ordered from Specialty Bottle. I only ordered 10 5ml bottles to make into roller bottles. Sort of annoyed that I didn't go for more. However, I did order 20 lip balm tubes as I like my homemade lip balm far beyond anything I have tried commercially. Those are fabulous and also already put to good use.

Third, I was wondering how tight the roller ball tops would fit the bottles. They are a tight seal, but they are relatively easy for me to pop off the bottle.  This makes me a bit nervous, but with the caps screwed on tightly there is nothing to worry about while you have them in transit. You may just want to be careful when using.

Headaches, part One

You'll find that headaches will come up frequently.

Since I was 12, I have battled migraines and frequent headaches. Plus if any medication or prescriptions cautions that "it may cause headaches," I am all but guaranteed to get one.

Needless to say, I am not a fan of all this.

Headaches started the foray into EOs. Here's the first homemade blend I made:

I referenced the site Aromaweb has on headaches.

In a 5ml roller bottle:

• 4 drops of Peppermint
• 4 drops of Eucalyptus
• Filled the rest with fractionated coconut oil

Guess what - it works. And no medications needed, no rebound headaches from medication, no upset stomach from medications.

I haven't had a migraine (thank goodness), but we'll see when that time comes whether I am brave enough to forego the prescription for a bit to give the EOs a try.

What to Buy

Upon entering the realm of Essential Oils (EOs), I was little prepared for the drama that apparently rivals my high school youth group during prom season.

Now, I have minimal experience and no financial incentive whatsoever to say the following.

Before I really was paying attention to the type of EO, I bought some from a local store here. They were essential oils, but it was only recently that I started to look into the use of EO internally that I realized those oils were not for internal use. I still use them in various other things like cleaning supplies, household things.

That realization led me to look at the options for EOs that are safe for internal use. I looked at several of the major brands out there that the blogs I mentioned yesterday highlight. Due to cost I ended up focusing on Spark Naturals. To begin with I ordered their Essential Kit with Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, and Melaleuca.  I also added a 5ml of Eucalyptus in as that is an ingredient in many of the headache and cold options out there. Due to a special Spark Naturals had, I received an extra 5ml bottle of Lemon.  In addition I signed up for the oil of the month special. It struck me as a good deal and a great way to build a collection of oils. The first one I received was Lavender.

The great thing with Spark Naturals is they do have frequent specials where you get an extra bottle of something or they give some of those bloggers I mentioned yesterday a code to share for a 10% discount.  If I hear of those, I'll pass them along.

Getting Started with EOs

First, EOs means essential oils. When I decided to pursue this, that confused me for a minute as some blogs assume you know that already. What started this whole idea was the problem I have of rebound type headaches. Since I was 12, so for 20 years now, I have experienced migraines. When a migraine breaks through the preventative medications, I end up taking prescriptions to break the migraine and often end up with residual or aura headaches for several days. Taking too much over the counter medication to combat the regular headaches can perpetuate the headaches due to the idea of rebound headaches from too much medication. Thanks to another youth minister at a service trip last summer, she introduced me to peppermint oil as a way to deal with a headache that would not go away. I was skeptical, but it worked. It only took me the better part of a year to pursue this more fully.

Second, I know it can be confusing as there are many things labeled essential oils or aromatherapy and such.

Third, who are good resources?

The answer to the third point will help with the second. I have found the following blogs to be incredibly helpful as I decided to start on the EO journey.

One Good Thing By Jillee

Camp Wander

Actively Participate in Your Own Life

Domestic DIY

Frugally Sustainable

More will show up as we go along.

Also, as I do not have time (or the memory) to check all these sites and the others I follow for their daily updates, I use NetNewsWire as a RSS reader which helps me with all the many blogs and news sources I follow. It is a great tool.

Some Guidance

From what I've seen on the internet, of course they are the topics I've searched for so my sample is skewed, there are many who are interested in the same things I've become focused on:

• Living more naturally and more healthy 
• Essential oils

Thus I think I have found my focus. Yes, I can guarantee there will be days where I ramble, however, I believe I will be focusing on natural home products, use of essential oil, and living more healthy in general. 

So what can you expect:

• More recipes & recipe reviews
• Ways to live more naturally at home with DIY options being particularly highlighted
• Use of essential oils from a beginner - seriously, just made my first blend last night
• What I have learned that may be helpful to others on the journey to be more healthy

I do want to clarify that while I hope to continue my weight-loss journey, that is not what this blog is about. My mother had a heart attack when she was in her early 40s and I do not want to repeat that. I also have seen what cancer and choices like smoking and poor nutrition choices have on people. My hope is to develop the healthy habits, with the occasional slice of chocolate cake, now, so that I can live a long life doing all the insane things I enjoy - traveling, spoiling children, picking on my "little" brother, etc.

Let the games begin. Again.

Mea Culpa

Great way to start off blogging. Go stealth for a week.

The only excuse I can offer is that I am a Catholic youth minister. The start of Lent is normally busy and this year has proven no different. There are several special events happening each week that lead to long hours at work.

However, as most likely know by now, the Pope surprised the world with his retirement announcement last Monday. This of course has led to a bit more work than anticipated as the teens will have their mock conclave and many questions from adults and teens alike have needed answering.

I hope tomorrow will give me a chance to get back on track with things. Including a posting of a recipe!

An Old-Fashioned Girl

Besides for being the title of one of my favorite books by Louisa May Alcott, I love my old-fashioned steel cut oats.

According to this article, we've been making our oatmeal the wrong way.

So I gave it a try. I figured I love steel cut oatmeal as prepared according to the normal package directions.

After making a batch and tossing it into a Mason jar (a minor obsession of mine) with a bit of almond milk and maple syrup, I headed to work. It was a Sunday and those days are my craziest. I ended up basically drinking the gruel and it was a wonderful, warm  comfort to have as I ran through my day.

I just made another double batch. This time I added some spices - cardamon, itsy bit of ground cloves, dash of ginger. I put some maple syrup and brown sugar in too. I was running low on the syrup.

Try the method outlined in the article. Curl up on one of these cold winter days with a good, old-fashioned book, and enjoy a bit of comfort.

P.S. Looking for some good old-fashioned books? Here are a few suggestions:

• An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
• Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Ramsay Scallop by Frances Temple
• Masha by Mara Kay (If you ever find a copy of this at a bookstore, I envy you. But many libraries carry it!)

If you have any other ideas, let me know!

Confession of a Carb Lover

I have a problem.

I love carbs.

Normally I maintain control of myself. However, I blame Gordon Ramsey for my current lack of any control. One day I caught an episode of his show that is a cooking course, Gordon Ramsey's Ultimate Cookery Course. Danger, Will Robinson!

It was the episode, Baking. Not something I am a complete novice at, thank you very much. However, one recipe caught my eye. It was beautifully simple and required no exotic ingredients.

The recipe is simply entitled: Flatbread with Lemon Thyme Ricotta. Since I am a stickler about copyright and honoring the hard, creative work of others, if you want the recipe follow the link. I will not be posting it.

[Side note: I will always try to point in the direction of the original source. Should I be mistaken and you know otherwise, provide the information and I will be happy to correct anything. Any errors are made in good faith and I am not young enough to think I know everything!]

I fudge on the ricotta. I use dried thyme (it is February in the Midwest and I'm a girl on a budget). I don't go for the lemon as I'm not a huge fan of lemon anything (except lemonade). I also sometimes add garlic to the ricotta because I don't think I could ever have too much garlic.

May I have helped you with your carb addiction. Go ahead, give it a whirl. You won't regret it!

Wisdom from Fashion

I'm watching an episode of What Not To Wear (season 10, episode 6). The woman on the receiving end of the make over is plus sized. I am so amazed by the episode. Watching the fashionistas, Stacy and Clinton, work with her regarding her self-image even more so than her wardrobe. I do not know if it is really what they think, but their words of encouragement and genuine behavior (at least on film) is so great to see.

Right now I'm at a point weight-wise that isn't fabulous. As Stacy said to Heather, the young woman receiving the make over, she is young and where she is today is not where she will be tomorrow.

One of the most amazing parts of life is the ability to change. Whether it is simply changing one's shirt after a morning coffee "oops," or creating a new lifestyle for oneself, change is always possible.

So, I'm going to tuck myself into bed, read a bit (Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco), and start fresh tomorrow.

Are you up for the challenge?