Recent Etsy Purchases

I always love those rare occasions that I get to play dress up and buy a few new items to jazz up my outfit. I bought these silver pieces to complete an outfit I have in mind for a wedding I am attending in Hawai'i. I thought the orchids were perfect for the occasion. I love the more delicate silver pieces from this shop right out of L.A. and the prices are very reasonable!

 GoJo Design on Etsy

Aside from the beautiful crochet work and the pretty floral print, I think the white tube top pairing in the photo got me on this. I can imagine a perfect pair of dark blue jeans and some big silver hoop earrings would complete the outfit and I can't wait to find out! Check out the other gorgeous scarfs from this shop! Items ship from Turkey but it is worth the wait!

fairstore on Etsy

Retiring some soap - I'll miss you!

Despite my love for all of the soap that I make and have made, some things must be sacrificed in order to make room for the new. I am discontinuing these soaps in 2012, Apricot Yuzu and Sticky Fig are still available in limited quantities in the sale section of my shop. SALE

I will miss you!

 Apricot Yuzu

 Sticky Fig

 Milk and Honey

Tea Room

Italian Soda

New Stuff: Whipped Scrubs!

The benefits of daily exfoliation are widely known. When we exfoliate we help remove dead skin cells from the outermost layer of our skin, the epidermis, which the keeps skin clean, and helps reduce dry flaky skin. Exfoliation helps to expose newer skin cells and helps to unclog pores, allowing sebum to flow and keep skin moisturized. Exfoliation also increases blood flow to the surface of the skin so toxins can be more readily removed and exfoliation can help improve the tone, texture and evenness of skin color.

Available in Cinnamon Coffee, Key Lime & Grapefruit and Lemon Gingergrass. This product emulsifies into a creamy scrub when applied to wet skin. It will leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated without feeling too oily! 6 oz/ 170g. in a cute bail jar available at naiadsoaparts.com. 

98% natural.

Our Fragrant Cinnamon Coffee scrub is made with Natural Cocoa Butter, high in vitamin E and easily absorbed by the skin, Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, and Coffee Grounds for a more intense scrub. With a sweet Cinnamon, citrus scent!

Our Key Lime and Grapefruit scrub smells like fresh squeezed Key Limes and Pink Grapefruit and is made with Organic Shea Butter. Shea Butter contains beneficial fatty acids thought to promote cell regeneration and circulation. Wonderful for dry and aging skin! The antioxidants in vitamin C from Grapefruit and Lime are said to reduce damage to the skin caused by free radicals.

Our Lemon Gingergrass scrub smells like Lemon Ginger Frosting and is also made with Organic Shea Butter. The antioxidant in ginger, gingerol is a powerful antioxidant that fights skin damaging antioxidants and Ginger and Lemon are both used to promote an even skin tone.

Recipes: Avocado Berry Smoothie

This morning I started my day with Key Lime and Grapefruit Whipped Shea Butter Scrub and an Avocado and Berry Smoothie to help my metabolism started after 8 hours of sleep! Eating a balanced breakfast including good carbs, protein and fat can help reduce the risk of weight gain, fatigue throughout the day and muscle wasting*. I need to keep up my energy for soapmaking after all!

This recipe only takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start your day! This recipe is packed with protein and due to the avocado this does have a fair amount of fat but it is good fat and it will give you sustained energy until your next meal unlike quick burning simple carbs. For your reference I included nutrition info below.

Ingredients:

• 16 oz Pure Almond Unsweetened
• 2 scoop , 100% Whey Protein. NOTE - any protein powder will do. I used EAS Vanilla Whey Protein powder. If you use another protein powder nutrition info will vary slightly.
• 1 cup Strawberries, Fresh or Frozen
• 1 cup Blueberries Fresh or Frozen
• 75 g Avocado(about 1/2 fruit)

1) Wash the blueberries and strawberries. I like to wash fruit ahead of time and freeze it and use the frozen fruit in my smoothies but you can use unfrozen as well, or store bought frozen fruit as long as it is unsweetened whole fruit.
2) Slice strawberries if necessary.
3) In a blender add Almond Milk, Berries, Protein and Avocado and blend on high for ten seconds, and then in 3 or 4, five second pulses.
Serve immediately - 2 servings



Here is to happy healthy mornings!

*Resources: http://www.livestrong.com/article/385504-the-effects-of-eating-a-healthy-breakfast/
http://drerico23.hubpages.com/hub/3-Essential-Thyroid-Diet-Tips-For-Hashimotos-Thyroiditis-Sufferers
http://www.muscleprodigy.com/getting-started-nutritional-secrets-for-fat-burn-arcl-647.html

Last Minute handmade gift ideas

I often find myself making last minute gifts during the holidays - they are perfect for those friends who have everything and are nice to have around in case there are any unexpected guests during the holidays! Here is what I did this year:

1) Flavored liquors make for pretty gifts when packaged in corked bottles! You can get the recipes for these on my blog here. There is still time to make the Chai Whisky which only needs 24 hours to infuse! I used frosted glass cosmetic bottles that I had left over from some R&D but you can find Cork top bottles at most craft stores. Mason jars would also be lovely for packaging. You can make up sticker labels, or a raffia tie with a tag and the name of the infusion would be perfect too!

2) Handmade chocolates are always a hit! Get some nut and dried fruit trail mix and add to melted chocolate to make fruit and nut bars. Trader Joe's Omega Trail mix works well! Wrap in tin paper and a cigar band label or tag label.Good quality chocolate can be found at most health food and natural food stores or get melting chocolate from the your local craft store.  
how to to temper chocolate

For chocolate clusters get some raw nuts, candy them (great recipe here), and then dip the nuts into chocolate and spoon onto parchment paper until set! I made some yummy ones with white chocolate, candied almonds and freeze dried blueberries from Trader Joes! They go great with a blueberry vodka spritzer! (wink)

3) You can NEVER go wrong with homemade marshmallows! I used an easy recipe from the NPR website and the book "Make the Bread Buy the Butter". I added some cardamom to mine, or you can add a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder for chocolate marshmallows or even some peppermint extract! Bags can be found at your local craft store.

Sales and Giveaways

Here are just a few deals around the web I wanted to share!

Giveaway:
Product Body is giving away 2 soaps of your choice and a new Bath Tea
Enter the Product Body Giveaway

Lotion bar Cafe is giving away a $25 gift certificate to their shop!
Enter the Lotion Bar Cafe Giveaway

Sales:
Christmas Cupcake soap is on sale at Platypus Dreams

Lillian Skincare is having a sale on all Vanilla Mint Products!

Use code "Welcome" for free shipping on your first order through rep Ellen's at Mark cosmetics! I used these products for my wedding makeup and LOVE it!

Be sure to check out the Holiday Gift guide at the Rikrak Studio

Infused Liquors Part One: Recipes & Method

 Grapefruit Lavender Gin,

Blueberry Lemon & Rosemary Vodka and Chai Whisky

A couple of years a go my friend Nikole gave me a jar of vanilla beans with instructions on how to make your own vanilla extract. I was thinking about her and remembered the gift which was the inspiration for these infused liquor recipes! I am thinking I will give them as gifts to my friends who drink alcohol and are looking for something adventurous to try!

In Part One I will show you how to make the infusions and in the second part I will show you some packaging ideas and recipes!

Materials:
32 oz widemouth Glass containers with lids
Small Food Processor
Mortar & Pestle
Herbs, dried fruit, spices and citrus peels

Method:
Prepare ingredients by dry toasting and grinding herbs with Mortar & Pestle, chop or food process dried fruit and bruise fresh herbs and citrus peels. Add the ingredients to your glass jar and fill with liquor. Tightly seal and label. Store in a warm dark place and shake twice a day for 24 hours to one week depending on the strength of the herbs. Strain liquor with a coffee filter and fill glass storage containers.

Grapefruit Lavender Gin
Ingredients:
Peel of one Grapefruit
1/4 cup of Organic Dried Lavender
30 fl. oz. of Gin

1) Peel the Grapefruit rind being careful to avoid the white bitter parts and add to your jar along with the Lavender Buds. 2) Add the Gin. Let sit in a warm dark place for 1 week. Shake the jar twice per day.

Blueberry, Lemon and Rosemary Vodka
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Dried Wild Blueberries (Trader Joes)
Peel of one Lemon
sprig of fresh Rosemary bruised or 1 Tablespoon dried and chopped
30 fl. oz. of Vodka

1) Peel the Lemon rind being careful to avoid the white bitter parts and add to the jar. 2) In a food processor pulse the blueberries and a few ounces of the vodka until the blueberries start to break down. You do not want to form a paste, just break them up a bit. 3) Add the Blueberries and vodka to the jar along with the rosemary and remaining vodka. Let sit in a warm dark place for 1 week. Shake the jar twice per day.

Chai Whisky (or Bourbon)
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Cardamom Pods
1 Tablespoon White Peppercorns
2 Cinnamon Sticks broken up into about 1 inch pieces
1 Tablespoon fresh Ginger chopped (dried pieces are ok or 1 Teaspoon ground)
1/2 Teaspoon ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon ground Cloves
2 Vanilla Beans washed and broken into 1 inch pieces
30 fl oz Whisky or Bourbon

1) Toast the Cardamom, Peppercorns and Cinnamon until the spices start to pop. BE CAREFUL - the Peppercorns with go up like popcorn if they get too hot! 2) Transfer to a Mortar and Pestle and grind to a coarse consistency just to release the oils. You will have a lot of large pieces of Cinnamon. 3) Chop the Ginger if necessary and add all of the ingredients to your jar and fill with Whisky or Bourbon. Let sit in a warm dark place for 24-48 hours. Shake the jar twice per day.

Stay tuned in a week or so for packaging tips!

For Organic Herbs and Spices:
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/