tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68715030663323732022024-03-18T23:19:42.744-04:00TerraScentsNature inspired artAngelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-20017160892195466392014-04-01T15:50:00.000-04:002014-04-01T15:51:32.732-04:00Tropical Popsicles<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Want to make the BEST tropical popsicle? I came up with a recipe using homemade coconut milk + pineapple. Super easy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">You need 3/4 cup shredded coconut</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">1.5 cups boiling water</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Put the coconut into your blender. Don't turn it on yet. Heat your water and once it reaches a boil measure it out and then put it in with the coconut into the blender. Blend on High in increments of twenty seconds for at least three minutes total. Burp the blender lid every once in a while to let built up steam escape. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Let the coconut milk cool for about five minutes in the blender. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Open an 8oz can of pineapple(with pineapple juice, not water) and dump it directly into the blender with the coconut milk. Blend on High until most of the chunks are pulverized. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Now most people strain coconut milk through a very fine mesh strainer to make 'milk' they can drink or cook with but in this case you want to keep the tiny bits of coconut in this mixture. It gives the popsicle a nice texture in our opinion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Pour your coconut milk and pineapple mixture into your popsicle molds and let it freeze. Voila! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">I think next time I make this I'll use a little bit of Rum. yum! </span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-54125648717605100642013-08-07T00:48:00.002-04:002013-08-30T23:01:17.137-04:00All natural flea deterrent and killer for pets and home<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've been determined to get our sporadic flea issue under control this year. With two cats who like to sit out on the screened porch at all hours of the day and night you better believe we've had our share of flea nightmares. This year has been better than most but really, I'm very tired of the chemicals. So are my cats. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">One cat is now over twenty years old and the other is so allergic to fleas that within a day of being bitten he's heaving his guts up all over the place. Not pretty. He's very sensitive to Advantage and all the other back-of-the-neck gels, too. I want to kill the fleas, not my cat!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">So after doing a bit of research I've found what looks to be a very easy fix. Cheap, too. I like cheap. Who doesn't? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two things you'll need: diatomaceous earth and vinegar. You can find the proper diatomaceous earth in the gardening or pet section of most general stores. Get the <u>food grade variety</u>, not the stuff out of the pool and filter section. That stuff is poisonous for what you're going to be using it for. If you get the diatomaceous earth(DE for short) out of the pesticide/gardening section make sure that you read the bag very carefully. You need 100% DE, not a product which has any other ingredients. I've seen a couple of those products and their website said that the 'other' ingredients are proprietary in nature and will not be disclosed. RED FLAG! Don't get that stuff. Only get 100% DE. <a href="http://diatomaceousearth.net/" target="_blank">Here's a good place to get it. </a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">First, decide if you want to deal with the pets first or your home. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pets</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fill your kitchen sink with warm water. Add one cup of either plain white distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar. For kittens and puppies up to 6 months cut the vinegar amount in half. Swish and mix the water. Test it and make sure it's not too hot or cold. Taste the water. It should have a <i><u>very</u></i> slight puckering taste to it. You should be able to smell it but not really taste it, at least not to the extent that you feel like you're eating a pickle. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Next, grab your pet and put them in the water. Thoroughly saturate them and using a cup, keep them in the water for at least five minutes while you pour the water all over their body. Take special care around the face. Don't let it get in the eyes or nose but you should definitely get some in their whiskers because that's where fleas love to run to when they feel they're in danger. The ears, too. Their coat should begin to feel very slick and silky by the end of five minutes. Vinegar has a conditioning effect on fur and skin.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Take them out of the water and smooth down their body with your hands, lightly pushing out as much of the vinegar as you can. Towel dry their face and ears and paws then let them go on their way. Let them dry in a warm environment if possible. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">They will smell like vinegar quite strongly for a few hours but this will pass. They can lick themselves and will be fine. Also, more than one animal can be dipped in the same bath water. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Home</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">First, fhoroughly vacuum all carpets and rugs. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now here's a safety concern I have to point out because I think it's pretty important to everyone's lung health-- don't breath in the diatomaceous earth. Open every window in the room you're attacking and then leave the room for at least 30 mins while the dust settles. DE <i>can</i> be a lung irritant. I do my whole house one room at a time in a methodical way and it doesn't take long at all. Open the windows, squirt a bit of DE and see which way the wind blows, literally. Then you can plan how best to squirt the stuff on and exit the room in relation to the window and the work you've done. Don't 'paint' yourself into a dusty corner. Cover your mouth and nose if you have to. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Using a squirt bottle(I use a large hair dye squirt bottle I got from Sally's Beauty Supply) puff the diatomaceous earth over your carpets. You don't have to be heavy handed with it for it to work. Even a single molecule of this powder can kill a flea or roach. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sprinkle more diatomaceous earth around your floorboards and in any nooks and crannies you have seen fleas. You can even sprinkle some in your pet's bedding or in boxes they like to lay in. Again, you don't have to be heavy handed with it. Even a small puff of powder is good in a space about 3'x3'.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bear in mind that any kind of moisture will kill the effectiveness of DE. If it gets wet then it has to be replaced. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Next comes the vinegar. In a spray bottle fill it with 1:3 vinegar/water. Spray all your upholstery and any cloth in any areas which you think may be appealing to fleas, including comforters and blankets on your bed. Don't spray the carpet with the vinegar. The vinegar is only to be used on furniture. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let the diatomaceous earth stay in your carpet for at LEAST a full week before vacuuming again. Two weeks is better. But, if you gotta vacuum then you gotta vacuum, right? After vacuuming, put down more diatomaceous earth. Fleas have an egg cycle which you must cover at least three times before you can be assured you're safely flea-free. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Just to be clear, the vinegar is a <span style="color: #cc0000;">deterrent</span> and the diatomaceous earth actually <span style="color: red;">kills</span>. Warm blooded creatures are not harmed, only creatures with exoskeletons are. Your goal with using vinegar on the pets and upholstery and bedding is to make the little biting bastards run from those areas and force them onto the carpet which has diatomaceous earth. From the frying pan into the fire, so to speak.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Diatomaceous earth is pretty much the only other way besides heat to kill bedbugs, too, by the way. I've read some amazing stories about people's infestations and how they managed to reclaim their home using this natural product. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">We have personally had great results with DE and now I recommend it to all my friends with pets. Have you tried it or even heard of it? </span></span><br />
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<br />Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-77679792938321107892013-07-31T11:12:00.002-04:002013-08-30T23:01:07.194-04:00Getting away from commercial toothpastes<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">To get away from fluoride and other nasty chemicals in today's toothpastes, make your own. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">1 tablespoon of bentonite clay</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">a small pinch of sea salt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">a pinch of baking soda </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">+ 6 tablespoons of water. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mix it up, cover it up, and in a few hours you'll have a natural tooth-mud that'll scrub your teeth up really well. I add three drops of clove essential oil to mine. Make sure you mix WELL!!!! You don't want pure clove oil in your mouth, it'll be too strong and burn. Don't like clove? Use spearmint or peppermint essential oil. Or how about orange or lemon oil? A drop of tea tree oil is a perfect additive to any of these oils to make sure you're fighting germs and keeping your mouth in tip top shape. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">It takes 8-10 hours for the clay to soak up all the water properly. That recipe I gave will make enough toothpaste for one person for a week, brushing 2-3 times a day. I know one tablespoon seems like a ridiculously small amount of product but trust me- clay expands! And you're using SIX tablespoons of water so it'll fluff up quite a bit. This recipe is deceptively thick looking. Don't be fooled. And don't thin it out any more than six tablespoons of water or you will not get the scrubbing action your teeth need. It's very smooth feeling, but the clay has to be of a certain concentration for it to do you any good. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">I keep mine in very small glass candy dish with glass lid. Tupperware makes some nifty little glass containers nowadays which have easy-off rubber lids. Most are less than $3.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">You can use a small spoon or stick to scrape up the amount you want up onto your toothbrush. Me, I just use my index finger. It's my own toothpaste so I'm not concerned with germs. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">One word of caution on making a batch for more than one person. I highly recommend not making more than what can be used in a week at any given time, no matter how many people are dipping into that container. The essential oils tend to get dull and aren't as effective.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">When the last bit is used up at the end of the night then just whip up some more. It's quick and very VERY easy!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you think the clay near the bottom isn't as potent when you get to it you can always add a drop of essential oil. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have fun with it. This recipe is the basic bare-bones recipe and you can tweak the essential oils to your heart's content.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Be healthy! Hugs to all!</span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-83033168363520526352013-02-17T04:32:00.001-05:002013-02-19T01:03:55.549-05:00Mosalu Shampoo Bars<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dreadlocked hair rejoice, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mosalu?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Mosalu is here!</a> This new Etsier has been recently added to my Favorite list of sellers. Brenda, the imaginative soapster in charge of all the great scents and lush bubbles, has capture my interest due to the unusual combination of essential oils in her recipes. The top and bottom notes in the scents are a heady combination. You feel like you've visited a perfumer's private laboratory/studio when you receive one of these bars. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because I have Caucasian neglect dreadlocks, I don't need all the heavy butters and oils like others might. To keep my tangles tight and my locks soft(but not too soft!) it's necessary to use the best soaps-- no cheapie detergents will do. <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have to treat your scalp right<span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">For those of you who may not have ever used a bar soap on their head here's a pointer or two: get soap you like. Use liberally. Rinse. Enjoy your healthy hair. It's really that simple. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are more explicit directions for those still wary of bar shampoo: Part your hair with your fingers after you wet it, grip the bar with your hand and then gently rub the opposite edge of the soap in your scalp. Repeat all over. Re-wet your head a bit, swipe the bar all over your hair two or three times, add a bit more water, scrub with your fingertips and then rinse. Healthy scalp and hair!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">One bar of soap will last quite a long while. My hair is down just past my shoulders and I think one bar of Mosalu will last me two or three months and that's shampooing three times a week.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One other note on <span style="font-size: large;">the 'notes' in Mosalu's soaps-- she doesn't use synthetic <span style="font-size: large;">scents in her special dreadlock soaps, <span style="font-size: large;">only es<span style="font-size: large;">sential oils</span>! So if you're looking for <span style="font-size: large;">t<span style="font-size: large;">ruly natural soap for your truly natural hair<span style="font-size: large;">, <span style="font-size: large;">look no further<span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are her current shampoo bars for dreadlocked hair: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/121455961/charcoal-all-natural-vegan-nourishing?" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QT7bzXPSulhX2DKgs1nM8XJBhNcCQf8_5KxrWacFEbBi7dvk2I48YBV-jeG3W6tVDTz9gbgWVO7PScGZ0tBQuAh2X6QB1zIjwdrSDDRY2PhwnQn9YBomjj8i8Y_x_ETErfLerbouwgQ/s400/blue+charcoal+mosalu.jpg" width="373" /></a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Charcoal" </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, Palm. Grapefruit Seed
Extract, Vitamin E, rosemary extract, mica, activated charcoal powder,
<b>sweet orange essential oil, black pepper essential oil and coriander
essential oil.</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVmtrKEes2Kgu44QZNTTJ_JI3c0IZG1lWo9uz3D7C1CEOE3wDepayb-RO-tJUb8E1xigpbynN6fZ0RLhWkoWx-EOuLeBmeeQSHWdOhoSdKmfWOLAhPv9ExckXmBsB2GPBfi-U6YsRe2U/s1600/citrus+mosalu+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCVmtrKEes2Kgu44QZNTTJ_JI3c0IZG1lWo9uz3D7C1CEOE3wDepayb-RO-tJUb8E1xigpbynN6fZ0RLhWkoWx-EOuLeBmeeQSHWdOhoSdKmfWOLAhPv9ExckXmBsB2GPBfi-U6YsRe2U/s400/citrus+mosalu+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">'Citrus Scent' (I think this one looks kind of like peacock feathers, what do you think?) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, Palm. Beer, Grapefruit
Seed Extract, Vitamin E, rosemary extract, kaolin clay, activated
charcoal powder, mica, and healthy essential oils of <b>orange, lemon,
grapefruit and geranium.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/123816818/healthy-scalp-dread-shampoo-bar-all?" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj7izIBG3lK6f4D8EcnIYisJFkIYZ5bppHA_RH7HkNFnMwsztJILU3qvrbz3vjOQ2C9SNyMlo3wU2e0mFAT2Syuh6i-CRmh-yHgxnGW7yzkzDT6_dlPOUaBeE5CvVGgrgzxb8iBfaN1o/s400/licorice+mosalu.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> 'Licorice'</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, Palm. Beer, Grapefruit
Seed Extract, Vitamin E, rosemary extract, kaolin clay, activated
charcoal powder, healthy <b>essential oils of tea tree, peppermint, ylang
ylang, rosemary, lemon, lavender and anise.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">This one sort of reminds me of that old style swirly taffy candy you can find around Halloween.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brenda says she's working hard on more recipes so I most definitely look forward to seeing them. My scalp and hair have never felt so happy. Essential oils are good for dreads and she is very liberal with her use of them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mosalu?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Check out her shop! </a></span></span><br />
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<br />Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-49241430537749222622011-12-09T02:42:00.003-05:002011-12-09T02:43:56.299-05:00Practical beauties from Etsy<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ExaltHimx7?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">ExaltHimx7</a> is an Etsier offering some lovely upcycled and vintage items for those looking to spice up their wardrobe(deck out those dreadlocks, baby!) or add a little sparkle to their jewelry selection. Here are three of my personal faves from her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ExaltHimx7?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">shop</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dread beads in gorgeous swirls of color and various sizes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QODk1txFIeFct8jXrKqyPkyBopXJriSixWrFwvxhpM0neboeI7-geM2xnsyh_Z3bXn5VQzqWcXehPrAb5iX71-_IyF554BjzSCRvFy_q6_BOv31UzALMZ5TKNrJyogv4uXutEGBYdu4/s1600/Dread+Beads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QODk1txFIeFct8jXrKqyPkyBopXJriSixWrFwvxhpM0neboeI7-geM2xnsyh_Z3bXn5VQzqWcXehPrAb5iX71-_IyF554BjzSCRvFy_q6_BOv31UzALMZ5TKNrJyogv4uXutEGBYdu4/s320/Dread+Beads.jpg" width="199" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Steampunk gorgeousness!! I love the tiny gears and bits and pieces in this pendant. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4sOLLeRhZ7-BkV9tcC-rgyYCMkJrQHPLHgw7hSUFNKScVWXh2qumdDIs5HTxUzhtkwLLvXHAmMcreus-DpR11buXfOTUW6HiXvny2FBp2FYCXeDk_sX37NzxJu3TatHUMDDGUqbsPwg/s1600/ExaltHimx7+watch+pendant+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4sOLLeRhZ7-BkV9tcC-rgyYCMkJrQHPLHgw7hSUFNKScVWXh2qumdDIs5HTxUzhtkwLLvXHAmMcreus-DpR11buXfOTUW6HiXvny2FBp2FYCXeDk_sX37NzxJu3TatHUMDDGUqbsPwg/s320/ExaltHimx7+watch+pendant+necklace.jpg" width="253" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are your dreads in need of some woolie love and beautification? How about a sweet headband to accent your lovely locks? (Also a great ear warmer....) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp9XxDYVMQMrPIi_7QQbSEMTJrOn8MS0jbtmehCCcfUoRVNV0PLsk4QC4igUKyb7LywDB6m5c-NI_E54xG6UHCXcaN0FbSHVSYUTyxCPM8H1cvVH4FjijP6ob5_QnoCAvEqoNh4GyRZU/s1600/Wool+plaid+headband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp9XxDYVMQMrPIi_7QQbSEMTJrOn8MS0jbtmehCCcfUoRVNV0PLsk4QC4igUKyb7LywDB6m5c-NI_E54xG6UHCXcaN0FbSHVSYUTyxCPM8H1cvVH4FjijP6ob5_QnoCAvEqoNh4GyRZU/s320/Wool+plaid+headband.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEp9XxDYVMQMrPIi_7QQbSEMTJrOn8MS0jbtmehCCcfUoRVNV0PLsk4QC4igUKyb7LywDB6m5c-NI_E54xG6UHCXcaN0FbSHVSYUTyxCPM8H1cvVH4FjijP6ob5_QnoCAvEqoNh4GyRZU/s1600/Wool+plaid+headband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-64847453730831425952011-09-05T17:55:00.002-04:002011-09-05T18:01:34.606-04:00Salsa and Margarita!<span style="font-size: large;">Muy sexy, no? This treasury is making me awful thirsty.... </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjYxMzY4NHw2NzM3NTk4OTQ/salsa-and-margarita" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiFC-1NuDquNAM81pCD3yA0aNtIqnzaAZfCNQpG2lsJHWgL90vS8EM_v91bScHuBYstP86gCv3k-8sQ6AgQsYgOvOP8oGynxRsXmvvzoKI9XIP_W-td4nKMGuQX-H01nQezH047hW8NSw/s400/Salsa+Treasury.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> One of these items is in the <a href="http://www.terrascents.etsy.com/">TerraScents shop</a>. Can you find it?</span><br />
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Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-5511636777434068932011-06-22T02:11:00.001-04:002011-06-22T02:12:43.896-04:00Getting Ready For Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_570xN.193174364.jpg" width="320" /></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yup, it's heading toward that time of year again: Hunting Season!</span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been elbow deep in terra cotta clay the past two weeks, desperately trying to fill a few boxes of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TerraScents?section_id=5777594">Hunter's Helpers</a> before I get slammed with orders. I don't want to be caught off guard when the kids are back in school because it was really not fun last year. So I'm taking the initiative and getting a great deal of work done during the summer. So far so good. I've got one box full! </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now ask me how I've managed to keep my cat away from the skein of sisal twine while getting the orders together. hehehe... Bribery! Yes, it's true. Straight out bribery. He gets one long length to run around the house like an idiot with and I get to work in relative peace for a little while. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6YPEN9-mEtTGE_491j6BCDGqIH2JLHYSYORjH96GaZaB9qMftgI5weAIGjmDkdzwMFbP_kbO0LPHJeCr99JA5ZpZFwcZ8kko7KDP59OLOd7u1bXiY7buHM7-FHJFG0tYKnrGuCvBSk4/s1600/DSC07919_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6YPEN9-mEtTGE_491j6BCDGqIH2JLHYSYORjH96GaZaB9qMftgI5weAIGjmDkdzwMFbP_kbO0LPHJeCr99JA5ZpZFwcZ8kko7KDP59OLOd7u1bXiY7buHM7-FHJFG0tYKnrGuCvBSk4/s320/DSC07919_edited.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the little brat himself. Totally incorrigible. An unrepentant comedian. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5cA7C4Ip1s7Emcs_WX0olctJ9ZQ3H3uzCpC3GBJT8oQrjrNEophrkCmA2kSGCrcbHm2z0INYuHg3kzCOl4rT-jKs6g68cxv6meku2QdDPYFTTw9mJpqrEbTtidDEyB6NILHyEpjlsYs/s1600/Freshly+Southwestern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5cA7C4Ip1s7Emcs_WX0olctJ9ZQ3H3uzCpC3GBJT8oQrjrNEophrkCmA2kSGCrcbHm2z0INYuHg3kzCOl4rT-jKs6g68cxv6meku2QdDPYFTTw9mJpqrEbTtidDEyB6NILHyEpjlsYs/s400/Freshly+Southwestern.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">This Treasury was a real treat to trip across a while back. It contained one of my terra cotta diffusers(in the red box). It was called Freshly Southwestern. Cute, eh? What a wide variety of objects! You've got everything from jewelry to cookware and photography, all the way down to stone carving, soap, and photography.</span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-9840081820799541262011-06-19T03:10:00.001-04:002011-06-19T03:18:52.601-04:00Featured in Treasury!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I discovered today that a Celtic inspired design of mine made its way into a Treasury! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In Red highlighting, there is my Celtic brown and tan terra cotta diffuser. Surrounded by plaid and terriers.... that diffuser seems right at home, don't you think? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVGCKeYdz2-JgT250glCQ5_px-MRQtB4HWKBQp2Mvexhb5l6pkbwfMVB-BjHo3fGvFeHz2GpxOSFg-IgzidDG8mYMONO222lLFRJxIVYlp8HXzZo-y-Ir3HIZf2A03K7PFH2LZoPyYSQ/s1600/Scotland+the+Brave.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVGCKeYdz2-JgT250glCQ5_px-MRQtB4HWKBQp2Mvexhb5l6pkbwfMVB-BjHo3fGvFeHz2GpxOSFg-IgzidDG8mYMONO222lLFRJxIVYlp8HXzZo-y-Ir3HIZf2A03K7PFH2LZoPyYSQ/s400/Scotland+the+Brave.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-90631614273437633842011-06-18T00:57:00.002-04:002011-06-18T00:58:06.973-04:00New Nature Photography<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Top to bottom, here are some new items available in <a href="http://www.terrascents.etsy.com/">TerraScents</a>: October Sunset, Broken Spine, and Floral Mandala. The third photograph is offered in either color or black-and-white. </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAwvREX3mL_YTbOOlel-oe24N1E3EJvwtVhA4cSxVKf6H9uiZmybLUso8pY8lVhsW4QBFeVr3U-7ahfP98H95W0xePc4507E7OiGjj_yGJ0NChxLR8u2P_NRA1YqHKDa7D8qSp9DgZXs/s400/October+Sunset-460-framed.jpg" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFM44yWr1Km0l19KRnwVKMuLkSMokBHOj0TSu-A6fK6-6oZeS5s01nmhITGWMR4yti5Q8uXNo-7PPLM_lUw1e7DJMZOyojgj-5uDHwiXAfV2RwBI9PnI6hhVQmgdSq2yEuvW-FPlTj4s/s1600/BrokenSpine-small-in+frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFM44yWr1Km0l19KRnwVKMuLkSMokBHOj0TSu-A6fK6-6oZeS5s01nmhITGWMR4yti5Q8uXNo-7PPLM_lUw1e7DJMZOyojgj-5uDHwiXAfV2RwBI9PnI6hhVQmgdSq2yEuvW-FPlTj4s/s400/BrokenSpine-small-in+frame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rOZVLenfSd9TwB12O9EZBErIUZv9FNKi5NSsjtgBCtsqRzhZJNKsTRgcgVxSaPcHIAjTZ6U-_pCCBgTffLd3JRrBmDJzd1RR7ogpp-nnZuwUCXWBq6bjjuQAzMLtYzquiZqZ6fgyzik/s1600/RedAndGreen-both+option+examples-framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rOZVLenfSd9TwB12O9EZBErIUZv9FNKi5NSsjtgBCtsqRzhZJNKsTRgcgVxSaPcHIAjTZ6U-_pCCBgTffLd3JRrBmDJzd1RR7ogpp-nnZuwUCXWBq6bjjuQAzMLtYzquiZqZ6fgyzik/s400/RedAndGreen-both+option+examples-framed.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-70452114316335787722011-06-05T01:27:00.001-04:002011-06-05T01:28:24.876-04:00New Additions To The Shop<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's been quite a number of months since my last update here. I've been holding off and crossing my fingers, praying desperately for certain things to change in the economy. Alas, it's only gotten worse. This is one of those Good News/Bad News sort of updates. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some craziness going on in Africa and I'm guessing Italy as well has led to a complete lack of olive butter here in the USA. (Let me clarify that-- REPUTABLE olive butter. Not the cheap watered down stuff that I refuse to use.) What does that mean for TerraScents fans? I can't make Boo-Boo Cream OR my Anti-Frizz Hair Balm!! Nada. Zero. Zilch. No more can be produced. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last jar of Boo-Boo Cream is in my own refrigerator and is already half empty. I shipped out the last jar of Anti-Frizz Hair Balm to a loyal customer a while back and all these months of crossing my fingers and holding my breath have resulted in failure. I've searched high and low for another reputable butter dealer and none have surfaced yet.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's not just a matter of my dealer not being able to get it anymore--they also went out of business! I'm so frustrated I could scream. I can't find anyone with comparable quality that has reasonable prices. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only natural oil based product I can make right now is my Coconut Cookie Scrub. The oils and other ingredients contained in it are able to be obtained locally without compromising the quality in any way. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TerraScents?section_id=6522596"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cS708AL4m9q4cRsfn1dtXOwYP4IbTLQoBHNWdCarjvnB-sNsHWuHWwMlBrFeklk2MU4aNGeGfMfXCdDKlzprc8NFWp_3lDYXeoObBqdMxxFqbmKI-86Qe_C905F3JHIsJAZGy0zdzs0/s400/Inside+Jar+of+AFHB.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Neemzuki and Amla Clay face & body products are also pulled from the cyber-shelves due to such drastic inflation on the price of natural grains and clays. Or the grains I use in my formulations just simply aren't able to be obtained easily anymore! There's some real supply issues going on lately in the USA with natural bath and body ingredients. This has led to the more economical "pre-made" formulations you see out there now in which a person simply has to add a scent to and then sell. But if you're looking for something withOUT all those cheap fillers and you want the real deal..... that's going to be more expensive now. And I just plain don't have the cash to do it. And I don't think I could keep a good customer base with the products, unfortunately. There are too many cheap imitations out now and so quality goes by the wayside. If I'm going to put my name on something then I want to be able to say that 100% of the finished product was inspired by and created by my own hands. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">OK, so now that I'm done with the Bad News let's get to the Good stuff already and see the New Additions the title of this post implies are in the shop. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are three ballet themed photos currently in <a href="http://www.terrascents.etsy.com/">TerraScents</a>: Balance, Crossed Pointes, and One Pointe, all shown below. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="cssButtonOuter"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTvJlJrMTDlLdgO0diJRY7z_ZLxSubu0mcI2KLVhIY2kByePlvD0LANYgZmzYEUNKVCmAgPrUlPCD6NArSG7vSRVqe7M7XOu0T7IKkB42ee0AkwfwJlcICYELoSREyt3MVo9U5aWmnw4/s1600/OnePointeBox-small-BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTvJlJrMTDlLdgO0diJRY7z_ZLxSubu0mcI2KLVhIY2kByePlvD0LANYgZmzYEUNKVCmAgPrUlPCD6NArSG7vSRVqe7M7XOu0T7IKkB42ee0AkwfwJlcICYELoSREyt3MVo9U5aWmnw4/s200/OnePointeBox-small-BW.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="cssButtonMiddle"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0_4Mu6SlZncs9opPrruJPVPsyVCgLjuksDeW0h_xIWdQXVNRYWPhk7RbGGZpxDq94F5_7t4k4Dh9X1AljohtnZYKmzEY3tO4IP22iUAZmI3dLUWHSNPxUOuoNH3aDz5Rx23JsfTiarU/s1600/FMakers-460+listing+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0_4Mu6SlZncs9opPrruJPVPsyVCgLjuksDeW0h_xIWdQXVNRYWPhk7RbGGZpxDq94F5_7t4k4Dh9X1AljohtnZYKmzEY3tO4IP22iUAZmI3dLUWHSNPxUOuoNH3aDz5Rx23JsfTiarU/s200/FMakers-460+listing+image.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkb6vWcS_3mHONvkc471peB962kMCOV6ANFPMCpQLvYuh2hzVVCgXE8q9Cj036_Xo2cJZi1HWnsv6ZROyTbL8m_pyhPpDqYvLYGhqK4YOhqMtvhy8ax0iB8bO9CQaE_ZsSh4SYuMS4k8/s1600/CrossedPointes-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkb6vWcS_3mHONvkc471peB962kMCOV6ANFPMCpQLvYuh2hzVVCgXE8q9Cj036_Xo2cJZi1HWnsv6ZROyTbL8m_pyhPpDqYvLYGhqK4YOhqMtvhy8ax0iB8bO9CQaE_ZsSh4SYuMS4k8/s200/CrossedPointes-small.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="cssButtonInner"></div><div class="cssButtonInner">These photos were all shot in the summer of 2007 before I had to quit dancing due to illness. I'm quite fond of black and white photography and also the 'near black and white' style of selectively adding and subtracting color for a certain feel. </div><div class="cssButtonInner"><br />
</div><div class="cssButtonInner"></div><div class="cssButtonInner"></div><div class="cssButtonInner">In the same category of black and white but backing away from athletic sports, there is a certain feline who is making his debut this weekend: my tuxedo cat who is appropriately named Killer Kitty. He loves to hunt three things: naps, my raggedy smelly pointe shoes, and deer. Thankfully, he is now domesticated and the local deer are no longer in danger. The first two on that list, however, are always in danger. He tries to cram his face into my pointes as far as he can and then fall asleep. He's a royal terror when it comes to satin ribbon, too. </div><div class="cssButtonInner"><br />
</div><div class="cssButtonInner">With Killer's photo I wanted to offer something a bit different to my customers: customization! </div><div class="cssButtonInner"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq3oLZM9O89COaIuo2EPpOmrnrcDrVHXzoSDixeQLMTctp5MCvfLy2_xypYUFAViAL0_5DjbreVu_6xbw_guPRBfnK1kORp31wXt6mT-0Jn-i_eBOafp-Tz8gm-6yP6yJYqemh9p2aEI/s1600/Killer+Kitty-460pixels-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq3oLZM9O89COaIuo2EPpOmrnrcDrVHXzoSDixeQLMTctp5MCvfLy2_xypYUFAViAL0_5DjbreVu_6xbw_guPRBfnK1kORp31wXt6mT-0Jn-i_eBOafp-Tz8gm-6yP6yJYqemh9p2aEI/s320/Killer+Kitty-460pixels-small.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBtuF_uNUNNwkVZJmoMTXpITd6GlXPfUjg1ZuvzyEMqsC8S_d169YTCkLR6lRPXwkFYcuXCrLlUUDbICQaFAdEy3PP8uSN9QJOgNVtKBgKpS8Oji1MUWWT9xq3Sm6ZNGsrcMzdlyJGuE/s1600/eye+color+options.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBtuF_uNUNNwkVZJmoMTXpITd6GlXPfUjg1ZuvzyEMqsC8S_d169YTCkLR6lRPXwkFYcuXCrLlUUDbICQaFAdEy3PP8uSN9QJOgNVtKBgKpS8Oji1MUWWT9xq3Sm6ZNGsrcMzdlyJGuE/s400/eye+color+options.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="cssButtonInner"><br />
</div></div></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's the original look of his eyes in the pure black and white version of the photo. And then here he is again with Gold, Blue, or Green eyes! </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am currently hard at work on getting test samples printed on <u>dozens </u>of other artistic photos taken over the past few years. When I am satisfied with them then they'll be listed. Just check directly in the shop at <a href="http://www.terrascents.etsy.com/">www.terrascents.etsy.com</a> or you can glance back here and look to your right----> to see a random selection of the goodies available. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">TerraScents terra cotta diffusers and Hunters Helpers are still in stock and ready to ship! Hunting Season is creeping up again and I think I'd better get my hands dirty with some clay sometime real soon to increase my stock of the Hunter's Helpers.... I remember being quite overwhelmed with orders last year right before Christmas and staying up a few nights until well after midnight. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fnqgJBJz4oYtdWIaepbrJHOwXhkjwMGiiVkuEay475I89VBBonmc8JO32HixbLiZ-PxAkIPrUThqkIyX5qf4Bdl7SoHbnr7_2S3tURnb71FokG01LZEESbAMCmpEByfUoOr6XtY0IcE/s1600/One+Hunter+Helper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fnqgJBJz4oYtdWIaepbrJHOwXhkjwMGiiVkuEay475I89VBBonmc8JO32HixbLiZ-PxAkIPrUThqkIyX5qf4Bdl7SoHbnr7_2S3tURnb71FokG01LZEESbAMCmpEByfUoOr6XtY0IcE/s320/One+Hunter+Helper.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone is having a lovely summer so far. Stay hydrated and stay safe!</span></div>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-9118539260935878722011-01-13T00:49:00.002-05:002011-01-13T00:52:14.011-05:00Seed Bombs!<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/recycledideas?ref=pr_shop">RecycledIdeas</a> is a green-thumb friendly place to hang out. I've favorited more than a few of her items over the past year and even tried them out. Fantastic gifts!! All my friends and family have raved over them.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am in love with the thought of infusing such a small but powerful thing as seeds in something as simple as paper. Call me a minimalist, but I adore functional art which makes a statement without wasting too many syllables. </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Browsing around today I stumbled upon a wonderful new addition to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/recycledideas?ref=seller_info">RecycledIdeas'</a> collection of handmade seed papers: guerrilla seed bombs! (What a great way for her to use those left over scraggly pieces after she's done cutting out shapes. Waste not- want not, right? Very smart.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Valentine's Day she's offering a collection of pinks and reds: </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZanhtpEavh1f0aBqnm1LC00wbMhHTBQS4aQWuV3tRGu7o8AQajDXNdthyUocQgiVNHjx9UxjohJjizyxWvoDLhKy9-VVNVR83nOjy5rPRsovBjkbvwm3hrs2DfdOkHVaWGTfRLbWG4I/s1600/Seed+bombs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZanhtpEavh1f0aBqnm1LC00wbMhHTBQS4aQWuV3tRGu7o8AQajDXNdthyUocQgiVNHjx9UxjohJjizyxWvoDLhKy9-VVNVR83nOjy5rPRsovBjkbvwm3hrs2DfdOkHVaWGTfRLbWG4I/s400/Seed+bombs2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZanhtpEavh1f0aBqnm1LC00wbMhHTBQS4aQWuV3tRGu7o8AQajDXNdthyUocQgiVNHjx9UxjohJjizyxWvoDLhKy9-VVNVR83nOjy5rPRsovBjkbvwm3hrs2DfdOkHVaWGTfRLbWG4I/s1600/Seed+bombs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Makes me wish Spring was here already.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-46152929009169506972010-01-16T21:40:00.004-05:002010-01-16T21:42:47.586-05:00Saving A Lot Of Money On Laundry Soap- a recipe<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">If you are trying to find ways to save money (blog author raises hand to add herself to this crowd) then I have one way you may want to investigate. Talking to a few folks and doing some research has led me to an awesome solution for saving money on laundry detergent and I'd like to share it with you. Print this article out and pass it around to all your friends! Everyone likes saving money, right?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The section on the breakdown of how much $$$ you'd save is below the two recipes. The savings are substantial so this is worth your time to really investigate the math on what you're paying now versus what you could be. </span><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >To start, let's make sure some terminology is understood. Whe</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >n I spea</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >k of "one batch" I mean a full quart-sized ZipLock baggie. This is the amount which is easiest to whip up at one time and is equal to a five-gallon bucket of wet soap. So one quart-sized baggie of dry = a five gallon bucket of wet. You have a choice of using it either wet or dry but the process is different for the wet version. Both recipes are below.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">A total of 4 cups dry volume of ingredients equals 64 tablespoons of product. If you regularly use 2 tablespoons of product because you always do large loads of laundry at a time then you're looking at 32 loads of laundry per batch of soap made.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Here's the recipe that I have been happily using for a few weeks. It's quite concentrated and works very well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">1.5 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Soda(NOT baking soda!)($2.19 for 3lbs 7oz)</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> 1.5 cups Mule Team Borax ($2.98 for 4lbs 12oz)</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> 1 bar of Fels Naptha Bar Soap($.99 per bar)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOjdNCaMkYtyOT2MJlnXY0Sdy8dNRcKjUjXLmaT_e71VBEHzLSI9n69MybyQR1WYjYhjQNX7X4SvTFxc24PIGsp20EMzZDKuxsgfwK52BRT4o3w3lbotLZ_HOfs5tkJDcRMUJ8y-8Voh1/s1600-h/Handmade+Laundry+Soap+Ingredients.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOjdNCaMkYtyOT2MJlnXY0Sdy8dNRcKjUjXLmaT_e71VBEHzLSI9n69MybyQR1WYjYhjQNX7X4SvTFxc24PIGsp20EMzZDKuxsgfwK52BRT4o3w3lbotLZ_HOfs5tkJDcRMUJ8y-8Voh1/s400/Handmade+Laundry+Soap+Ingredients.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426644645063914514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I prefer the dry soap, myself. It really saves space in my tiny apartment. If you'd rather make the wet soap then you can purchase a five gallon bucket+lid set at any hardware store for around $2.50.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Dry recipe:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Use a cheese grater to shred the whole bar of Fels Naptha soap, as shown below.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQtLnflNTAYmb-5payuEYeweqpcqwaXWALH3r1x9tSQIvW7Do6A7l2TWD1ugnDpNu_iy4fzX0toJBzofPw1bBcGSPDwsqD1mRedcf0W7C6euom33CGzfcMhwxkWGQ19ano3eN4XICT06a/s1600-h/Grated+Big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQtLnflNTAYmb-5payuEYeweqpcqwaXWALH3r1x9tSQIvW7Do6A7l2TWD1ugnDpNu_iy4fzX0toJBzofPw1bBcGSPDwsqD1mRedcf0W7C6euom33CGzfcMhwxkWGQ19ano3eN4XICT06a/s400/Grated+Big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427519062479299490" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Next, use a food processor to finely chop the soap as small as possible. In my own food processor I found that I had to take a sharp steak knife to dig around under the blades from time to time. Do it in a few small batches if you have to. It's pretty quick. It will end up looking a bit like cous cous.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE1TeReTjj6jgVUN5RW-yDKZCod8Wuy6NvEMmO5jUkRBzcHcUBoRYv7o-3_Rq7aQvFOekD2n3LtuZ6YDtMc_i6fFwiGP66SaOhdjNLBoNZQDIS1SDpxoBVoe6Sz5aKPTMi9C-KYk1z935/s1600-h/Processed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE1TeReTjj6jgVUN5RW-yDKZCod8Wuy6NvEMmO5jUkRBzcHcUBoRYv7o-3_Rq7aQvFOekD2n3LtuZ6YDtMc_i6fFwiGP66SaOhdjNLBoNZQDIS1SDpxoBVoe6Sz5aKPTMi9C-KYk1z935/s400/Processed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427519409986379522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Mix the finely processed soap flakes with the Borax and the Washing Soda in a bowl and stir with a spoon. Here is what the finished product looks like:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3a4-ajCe58l8vsDBidSMdOIuD1RteZVeABgC-QiTqHUjx2Z5rVKrjlft0RWU7mmxg2106R5acVIAwMrRWlM7UXTjGOVvVko2dF2fP7ig4LR7K5NAGwxFFdxisFVsZ67GyqPzGxEwKGQ_/s1600-h/Completed.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3a4-ajCe58l8vsDBidSMdOIuD1RteZVeABgC-QiTqHUjx2Z5rVKrjlft0RWU7mmxg2106R5acVIAwMrRWlM7UXTjGOVvVko2dF2fP7ig4LR7K5NAGwxFFdxisFVsZ67GyqPzGxEwKGQ_/s400/Completed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427519985208676450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Voila. Simple. It's done. Then you simply scoop the dry soap mix into a container and make sure you keep a tablespoon handy for use. One tablespoon for a small load 2 for a medium large load and 3 for a super large load. Even on my kids' nastiest stuff I've only had to use 2 tablespoons and everything comes out very clean.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This soap doesn't create a lot of suds but that has no bearing on how effective it is. Commercial laundry soaps are full of synthetic surfactants which make it "prettier" for the customer. Quit paying an arm and a leg for pretty and make something that works just as well with your own two hands! </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Wet Version: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">You're going to need a larger pot for this. Dump the shredded bar soap(you don't have to run this through the food processor) into the pot and turn on medium heat. Mix in 12 cups of plain tap water. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Stir frequently as soap melts down and keep stirring until soap is completely dissolved. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Add the Borax and Washing Soda to this soap soup. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Dump 8 cups of water into your 5 gallon bucket.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Add your soap soup from the pot to your 5 gallon bucket. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Mix well. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Add 2 gallons + 12 cups(water) to your 5 gallon bucket. Mix well. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Allow mixture to sit 24 hours in bucket. Then mix one last time. It's not going to be a clear liquid. You will see some random slimy soap flakes floating throughout. That's normal.<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Some people use a drill with a paint mixing attachment to mix the solution in the bucket. If your wrists and hands hurt then this would be an excellent option. If not, then a nice long paint stirring stick works just as well.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">You can fill old laundry soap containers(the pourable kind- not the button mashing kind) and use as needed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">1 cup of liquid soap per large load and 2 cups if you've got rolling-in-the-mud/small child type laundry to contend with.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Where do you find these three ingredients? I was able to purchase the Fels Naptha bar soap and Washing Soda at Publix while the Borax was cheaper at Walmart. Borax and Washing Soda are fairly easy to find in the detergent isle of most grocery stores while Fels Naptha soap can be a bit trickier to find depending on which locations will carry them. In my city there is only ONE store that carries the Fels Naptha bar soap. Go figure. Even when we have 2 Publix stores, 2 Super Walmarts, and several other smaller chains in the city. All three of these recipe ingredients can be found online, however. Just make sure you check out the laundry isle in all of your city's supermarkets </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >before</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> going this route. Nine times out of ten purchasing these items online is way more expensive from what I've seen because of the shipping costs.</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Helpful details/Stuff I learned the hard way: </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Do not EVER put the clothes in the washer and then dump this laundry soap on top. You'll be sorry. It gets clogged up in the folds of cloth and then you're scraping it out. Instead, turn on your washer and put the laundry soap in the bottom of the machine then put the clothes on top. Sounds terribly stupid to point out this minor detail if you already do this but... hey. I thought I was doing a good thing at the time when I put a little extra soap on top. Wound up making me feel pretty damn dumb in the end as I spent several minutes scraping the soap off with a spoon and then rinsing my jeans out by hand. If you put the soap in the bottom of the washer then you will have no issues like this. </span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The math and how much you'd save<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:130%;" >There are three different weights and densities with these three ingredients. Using the simplest method to see exactly how much of an investment a person would be making I measured how much product was in each box and then worked out how many batches each box would make.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div></div><ul style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">One box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is 3lbs 7oz (55oz total) and costs </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >$2.19</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> at Publix.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">One box of 20 Muleteam Borax is 4lbs 12oz (76oz total) and costs </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >$2.98</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> at Walmart</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">One bar of Fels Naptha Soap 5.5oz and costs </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >$.99</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> at Publix<br /></span></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Note:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> I shopped around at Walmart and Publix and there was a whole $1.01 difference between the stores when it came to the Borax. It PAYS to compare! Every little bit helps.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">You need one full bar of Fels Naptha Soap for each batch but each box of Washing Soda and Borax holds many more times the quantity for one batch. Each box of Washing Soda holds 6 cups and each box of Borax holds 10.5 cups. (And yes, I actually sat down at my kitchen table with a measuring cup to verify this.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">That means that a $2.19 box of Washing Soda will make 4 batches of laundry soap while the $2.98 box of Borax will make 7 batches!!! Can you see the savings adding up now?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">1 1/3 cup grated soap + 1.5 cup Washing Soda + 1.5 cups Borax settled down to equaling </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" >just</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> over 4 cups of product after the soap was run through the food processor for the dry method. Each competed batch of dry laundry soap is 1lb 12 ounces.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">So how much does it cost per batch to make?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">$2.19 box of Washing Soda divided by 4 equals $.55 per batch</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">$2.98 box of Borax divided by 7 equals $.43 per batch</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">+ One full Fels Naptha Bar of soap at $.99 per batch</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The grand total is $1.97 for one batch equaling 1 quart bag dry or a 5 gallon bucket wet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Using </span><a href="http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=196608&catid=157181&aid=335933&aparam=tide_liquid_detergent_2&CAID=4e2ff1a9-5cbd-42f2-b07a-5e82605543c5"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">this average example</span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> of Tide soap ($13.99 for 24 loads) you're looking at paying $.58 per load. Whereas with homemade laundry soap it's $1.97 for 65 loads(using one tablespoon) or 33 loads if you double up and use 2 tablespoons per load. That's $.05 per load of laundry soap if you use two tablespoons and under $.03 if you use one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Happy Soap Making!</span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-17844268042676821012009-12-14T22:50:00.007-05:002009-12-14T23:39:05.583-05:00Plantain Hoecake Recipe<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I am a Southern woman born and bred. There are few things I love more than salty pork chops and tomato gravy rice. However, one must deviate from those tried and true recipes sometimes for... something a bit different. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Figures that I'd latch onto yet another Southern tradition to fall in love with. My two children as well. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The recipe I'm about to share with you is not only Southern it has it's roots in the Caribbean island slaves' kitchens. And with the price of </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantains">plantains</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">(ugly/green bananas) right now ($.38 per!!) I'd be an idiot not to enjoy these with my family while we can. </span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Plantain Hoecakes/Johnny-cakes<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Serves 4 </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">You need: </span><br /></span><ul style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Two plantains, the uglier the better. If you buy them while they're still pretty and unbruised then let them sit out on your kitchen counter for a few days until they're good and ugly. They'll be a bit soft to the touch usually, when they're ripe.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 cup of cornmeal.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Vegetable oil.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">1 large round skillet for the stove top + 1 glass pan for the oven.</span></li></ul><ol style="font-family:times new roman;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Cut the tips off the plantains. Then, take the pointy tip of a knife and make several long but shallow cuts down the length of the plantain, all the way around it. Peel the strips of skin off. This is the only easy way to do so. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Slice plantains into quarter inch rounds and place them in the glass pan after it has been coated with cooking spray or vegetable oil. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Bake in oven on 400 degrees for 20 minutes. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Remove from oven and poke with a fork. The slices should be softer and have a brownish swirly pattern to them. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">After the plantain slices have cooled for about five minutes dump them into a bowl and using a fork, mash them up very fine. It takes some work but by cooking them in the oven your job is made much easier.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Once your plantains are thoroughly mashed begin adding the cornmeal to it about an eighth of a cup at a time. Make sure you are mixing well. The more you add the thicker in consistency the mash becomes. The goal is to create a mash which you can form with your fingers into a patty. One cup of cornmeal generally does the trick for two plantains. Don't add too much more than that otherwise it'll make the cake crumble apart in the pan. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Warm up your skillet just below medium heat. Add a quarter inch of vegetable oil to the pan. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">When oil is hot then you can start forming your cakes. One heaping tablespoon equals one cake. Scoop up some mash on your spoon and then roll it into a ball. Mash it flat and put it into pan oil. Make each cake between a quarter inch and a half an inch thick. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">The easiest way I've found to turn them over is with a spoon and a fork. The fork grabs and the spoon cradles it so it doesn't fall apart. Fill your pan up with little cakes and then begin turning them over. Generally it's about four minutes before the first side is done. Cook until both sides are golden brown. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Gently transfer your golden brown hoecakes onto a plate which has been lined with paper towels to sop up the oil. Lightly salt the hoecakes before the oil dries. </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Let cool for five minutes and then... enjoy! </span></li></ol><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I think plantain hoecakes are a wonderful marriage of salty and sweet flavors. My two kids adore them and instead of considering them a side dish to the entree of the evening they really think they're dessert. Sometimes they like to put a drizzle of honey on them. It satisfies their sweet tooth and still gives them some healthy fiber. Plantains have a much lower sugar content than your average yellow bananas and yet when they are cooked they have a taste very similar to them.</span> </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-54122222073962534122009-11-19T13:46:00.008-05:002013-08-30T22:33:17.559-04:00Shea Butter & Eczema<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Summeresque wrote, "I left feedback but I just wanted to personally thank you for such an amazing product. I have never seen anything work so well(Boo-Boo Cream) on my sons eczema. I am so glad I decided to search etsy for something better than big corporations were putting out. I have tried so many things and nothing truly helped the itch or helped him heal. This cream does both! Amazing! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">**************** </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Admittedly, I do get a lot of rave reviews for my Boo-Boo Cream. And I certainly don't mind talking about how the ingredients work- but I'm going to do you one better. I'm going to talk a bit about how to <u>stop</u> eczema rashes in their tracks. This is a preventative measure. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Summeresque, I know exactly what you mean by 'nothing really helped the itch or helped it to heal' all too well. That stuff made by pharmaceutical companies is full of steroids or synthetic "moisturizers" and quite honestly, the skin knows what's fake and what's natural. Our body craves natural ingredients. The steroid creams are the worst, in my experience. You might as well be coating the skin with Vaseline with a little colony of ants mixed in. Once you stop using the cream your skin freaks out and then you've got a problem that's become worse than it was before. And it doesn't ever really HEAL the skin to begin with, and that's the biggest problem with eczema. If you've still got those cracks and fissures you're never going to be able to stop the itch. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Ever tried Lachydren(can't remember exactly how to spell it. It's Lack-Hye-Dren) on your boy? Don't. Stuff's $45 a bottle, smells like butt, you can only get it from a dermatologist(usually), and it makes the skin feel like it's been slathered with so many vitamins it's about to start growing things. Fake pharmaceutical moisturizers. That was the last product I tried before I screamed ENOUGH. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here's a helpful tip to keep your boy's skin super supple and to help stop eczema flares. He may balk at it, being a boy, but if he becomes accustomed to just doing it every day it will save him from having to use the Boo-Boo Cream so much. Over time it gradually reduces flares and then... the skin is a peace. It's amazing, really. And so simple I wanted to bang my head against my desk when I discovered it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Shea butter. That's it. I'm not kidding. PURE shea butter. I have a little Pyrex bowl with a rubber lid of the stuff in my bathroom. After I shower I smear a bit of the shea butter into my hands, rub until it's warmed and turns into an oil, then pat it all over the body parts that flare the worst(my legs). Shea warms to the touch so it's especially nice in the winter. Less than a 1/4 of a teaspoon is enough to do one adult sized leg. Very cost effective. A small smear is all it takes. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here's my recipe: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">1 cup pure shea butter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">In a glass bowl, heat the shea butter until it's melted. Make sure your bowl is big enough to contain any possible bubbles. Leave out in the open for about an hour to naturally cool. After an hour or two it will be safe to add a 5-10 drops of scent if you want to and stir with a butter knife. Pour liquid shea into an air tight container and let cool for two days in the refrigerator.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">The result is something which looks like alien cauliflower. Don't let that scare you away from it. Shea butter has a naturally lumpy appearance. It's a pure complex fat and therefore it ain't too pretty. Cocoa butter is pretty. Shea isn't. Cocoa butter is a 10 on the butter/oil hardness scale and shea is around a 6 or 7 depending on the location of the trees where it's harvested. I do use a lot of shea butter in Boo-Boo Cream but I'm quite sure you don't want him to run around reeking of neem and tea tree oil all the time. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Well, keep in touch and let me know how it goes! And thanks again for the rave feedback on the Cream. Mother Nature loves us. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">All the best, </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Angel</span><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /></span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-12167438211244830572009-11-11T19:23:00.004-05:002009-11-11T19:26:36.095-05:00Demure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6YShyUg6MpXAOCAII2gJeynUV5Z4Kp0d8scGWI4kjT-SXAjbX8aLoLaRlVh_3H9ayC7q40qGl_iwIWRyUw2YKgJWb_dwr1EUZj6pRWrTlO9ADo_tlfgStokylB0HASXOuYeCpM1ZG5Q/s1600-h/Demure-wet+Black+Steel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6YShyUg6MpXAOCAII2gJeynUV5Z4Kp0d8scGWI4kjT-SXAjbX8aLoLaRlVh_3H9ayC7q40qGl_iwIWRyUw2YKgJWb_dwr1EUZj6pRWrTlO9ADo_tlfgStokylB0HASXOuYeCpM1ZG5Q/s400/Demure-wet+Black+Steel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403006280294852674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Meet Demure. She is a super sexy shade of neutral green with a subdued silver/gray sheen. Paired up with Black Steele as a wet eye liner she rocks!! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Thanks, Doree! The first eye shadow for my </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.PinkQuartzMinerals.etsy.com">PinkQuartzMinerals</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> six month subscription is fantastic!! </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-76944506576232439352009-11-01T01:17:00.003-04:002009-11-01T01:21:53.709-04:00Happy Halloween, Everyone!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">lolcats would like to go trick-or-treating at your house... Be scared. Be very scared.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemH9KdK-qZezK1PbSWukcnmQTbW83LqjV98oUUkNs0uEWWPZ5VQl1yFR9gotzdMMdj-Ucwn5uxuq89G8-szhYGwmTU-Z4u6xv9vm_5T9H4GaVWQtXlSoPyUX0W2Z4zToghYhZFCN0kiA/s1600-h/zombie+kitty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemH9KdK-qZezK1PbSWukcnmQTbW83LqjV98oUUkNs0uEWWPZ5VQl1yFR9gotzdMMdj-Ucwn5uxuq89G8-szhYGwmTU-Z4u6xv9vm_5T9H4GaVWQtXlSoPyUX0W2Z4zToghYhZFCN0kiA/s400/zombie+kitty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399000679644520850" border="0" /></a>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-77718817857249103152009-10-31T01:23:00.025-04:002009-10-31T10:46:26.191-04:00PQM's Eye Shadow Of The Month<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd_qR-hY_Z7NrgYJ3w8nhMgTa2NHJMrLVKotMXmY_48fSjG0tzzdHfQoYwSi7XLBv0QqUOfucLl2gEjxdgQbCkrqpDIduXhGbQpJLz-DIJdRXj2aeVwEimFWCFszFiONQ6oOOw7jM-08/s1600-h/HAzelnut-Charcoal-softened.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyd_qR-hY_Z7NrgYJ3w8nhMgTa2NHJMrLVKotMXmY_48fSjG0tzzdHfQoYwSi7XLBv0QqUOfucLl2gEjxdgQbCkrqpDIduXhGbQpJLz-DIJdRXj2aeVwEimFWCFszFiONQ6oOOw7jM-08/s400/HAzelnut-Charcoal-softened.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398646376995561554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.pinkquartzminerals.etsy.com/">PinkQuartzMinerals</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> is my absolute favorite makeup seller. Anywhere. Period. I love writing about her. I love talking about her. My hair stylist hits me up for information on her new colors every time I get a trim. Because, naturally, I'm wearing different colors on my eyes every time I go. Everything Doree makes is one-of-a-kind. She specializes in custom foundations, blushes, bronzers, lipsticks, and of course eye shadows.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Although she constantly tells me that she needs to stay away from the micas, lest she mix like a madwoman and hours go by... she still does it. Over two hundred shades and counting now.</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I purchased some large jars of my three most recently named "Faves" and received the package yesterday. I bought:</span> <strong style="font-family: times new roman;"><br /><br />Wrap</strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> a more </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHYZ0r1_iIlUqF_8z-SBbA0G1fx_xx9sMcfIQzj8cy40rxegOc_I4a2N5G0XhExm4dBZoHFG5KLvqG7ULtee-gjbezvAc1LXdgQHZO2-PmDMVf0Tp-I2j2VYxsvdw9SgfYKQQPc55VZE/s1600-h/Pandsymonium-NakedFrost-Look+to+right.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHYZ0r1_iIlUqF_8z-SBbA0G1fx_xx9sMcfIQzj8cy40rxegOc_I4a2N5G0XhExm4dBZoHFG5KLvqG7ULtee-gjbezvAc1LXdgQHZO2-PmDMVf0Tp-I2j2VYxsvdw9SgfYKQQPc55VZE/s400/Pandsymonium-NakedFrost-Look+to+right.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398772887181511762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">subdued version of gold, meant to be an 'everyday' type shimmer and shine. A neutral sort of pe</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">achy gold with pale green sparkles.</span> <strong style="font-family: times new roman;"><br />(<----Pandysmonium</strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> A funkadelic brown/green holographic effect shadow. I always ge</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">t a lot of double takes with this shade. It is truly stunning. But very wearable.</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br />Garland:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> a slightly more bold peachy gold shimmer and sparkle. Not 1,000 watt gold, more neutral and blends in with pale skin well.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />Besides these three jars I got a new eyeliner brush and a flat/rounded eye shadow brush- YAY! I needed new brushes. Doree also sent me samples of her NEW unreleased shades and upon close inspection I saw that some envelopes had numbers on them like, #101. #102.. etc. Ok, so she needs help naming them. I'll bite.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br /><br />I smeared some of the shadows on the back of my hand and looked at them in bright light individually, promptly deciding right then and there that I hate her. I mean, how is it that a person can whip micas and minerals together and create something so completely </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >indescribable</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">?!!!! Just when you think you have a color pinned down you shift your eye a bit to the side and BAM! you see another hue that jumps out at you. Or another layer of sparkle in a different color. It's not that she just dumps micas together and it looks like a jumbled mess- it's that she mixes so strategically that you can't tell where one color begins and another ends. They flow together seamlessly until a mirage effect is created. Thus, the problems of naming her creations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I think I'll leave her with that headache for now. My brain is still buzzing trying to decide which one of my new lovelies I'm going to wear today for a party I'm attending.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Because I am consistently amazed at her mica mixing prowess I have have decided to give her Eye Shadow of the Month a try. I'm purchasing her </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33573652&ref=sr_gallery_1&&ga_search_query=eye+shadow+of+the+month&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">six-month subscription</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">.<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31812608"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLoQQK0rb4pCxJp_l-y3BBDMhtZh9Ycruwbt2o40f8xBrcVClkAwS8srCCNm6JYpc96qvShpeaRyW-EKRmeSCmqte2k6d5b3pwjCWND_lKhhohs-YbWaS_u8isUnUk2veAYTy24Ybfjk/s400/EyeShadowOfTheMonth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398632386892982018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The three month subscription is $23, six months is $45, and a full year is $78. And that's already including shipping. The way I figure it, I already get samples galore from her because I bat my eye lashes in front of my camera. But I want full sized jars, darn it!! Mine. All MINE! No samples. (I use up the samples, get pissed when I run out, and then beg for more. I'm so pathetic.) Big beautiful jars of colors made just for me. Greed concerning makeup is one personality flaw I plan to work on in the New Year. But not just yet. *grin*<br /><br /></span> <a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaMaiM0OZg_oXnesvX4t24r6lwUYf7rflfvc37nN9Vj4Unnq_rMbO_qfqp3lw3_1ilVKCziufmhpDvXbMOnvhpKTWXCzT6OAF4Un8z5PSiOc0_d_KpYSXg5y7xxZnfhm3jgwR6_OXysI/s1600-h/Peachblow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaMaiM0OZg_oXnesvX4t24r6lwUYf7rflfvc37nN9Vj4Unnq_rMbO_qfqp3lw3_1ilVKCziufmhpDvXbMOnvhpKTWXCzT6OAF4Un8z5PSiOc0_d_KpYSXg5y7xxZnfhm3jgwR6_OXysI/s400/Peachblow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398630639765878450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Here's my eye with PinkQuartzMineral's Peachblow eye shadow and Jet Black eyeliner, used wet. Classic and sexy, yes?</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">I plan to take pics of myself with the eye shadow I receive every month so keep checking back for updates!</span></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;" >(The first pic above is Hazelnut + Charcoal eye liner.)</span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-20442010223780793252009-10-31T00:21:00.006-04:002009-10-31T01:02:19.355-04:00Sweet Holiday Deals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxnAO6PyUC7ZixuqXexOOmGD8TkliUVZxSiFSMNINdZ-5Ln-mNITmc4RfRSun49wNEIIuQ-UEpEOmbToObE0Db6V4gUE-HM6kS0nmHGyD7LotopWzpanAKMPW84tzYwEpLZvcgBCZEiE/s1600-h/CCS-closeup.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxnAO6PyUC7ZixuqXexOOmGD8TkliUVZxSiFSMNINdZ-5Ln-mNITmc4RfRSun49wNEIIuQ-UEpEOmbToObE0Db6V4gUE-HM6kS0nmHGyD7LotopWzpanAKMPW84tzYwEpLZvcgBCZEiE/s400/CCS-closeup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398615385082710514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">My Coconut Cookie Scrub has always been a favorite. I've even had customers track me down from one store incarnation to the next, begging, PLEADING with me to make them a few jars of it. (One woman wanted me to fill a gallon milk jug of the stuff and mail it to her. No joke.) No more! I've finally had my fill. It will be stocked permanently in the shop. No begging necessary. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">To celebrate the occasion I have decided to offer a nice holiday gift pack. Two 7oz jars of Coconut Cookie Scrub for only $15 -- smooth skin for that great price, you gasp? Heck yeah, two whole jars of it. Pamper yourself. Pamper a friend, even. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I'm contemplating putting together a Pina Colada and Mojito themed ladies' night next week with some friends. Foot scrub? Check. Toenail polish... still shopping for that perfect shade. </span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCKfpOMUF-jD9lrRoMVIQmAhPiEPHawsevtbYvRLxIi3hjOohE2rHfFwh1fbQ8UdczZF_xCSAZqf3kPe4OTdi77WMo_wyGbM-RS3KBABDRjF6snwG-5N-fbwfTcwZPZuJzkN2niHeFu8/s1600-h/Two+Favorite+Drinks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCKfpOMUF-jD9lrRoMVIQmAhPiEPHawsevtbYvRLxIi3hjOohE2rHfFwh1fbQ8UdczZF_xCSAZqf3kPe4OTdi77WMo_wyGbM-RS3KBABDRjF6snwG-5N-fbwfTcwZPZuJzkN2niHeFu8/s400/Two+Favorite+Drinks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398624842514723090" border="0" /></a>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-43564364796293264392009-10-18T18:58:00.005-04:002009-10-18T19:10:30.929-04:00For The Hunters<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Deer Hunter Helpers are fully stocked in the store!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiGMoUFkaKh5cR-NIjB2cri8YQN3zJhtipusOq0egAqXfR5wRQCgbLlTveTmC1Moj-Wf5t6Pft1tjbTxw52i-4pd_BgcO_M5B_fwcM89UdeN1Y4gL3wyy2dFPUYYL0_pF6Vv0cA_Eq5A/s1600-h/6HuntersHelpers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiGMoUFkaKh5cR-NIjB2cri8YQN3zJhtipusOq0egAqXfR5wRQCgbLlTveTmC1Moj-Wf5t6Pft1tjbTxw52i-4pd_BgcO_M5B_fwcM89UdeN1Y4gL3wyy2dFPUYYL0_pF6Vv0cA_Eq5A/s400/6HuntersHelpers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394078622065035810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">A </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31612033">single Hunter Helper</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> is available as is a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18710477">Three Pack</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> or a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32617093">Six Pack</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">. They make fantastic stocking stuffer gifts for the hunters in your life, or if you simply like a rustic decor ornament to liven up the area with assorted scents. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">What exactly are Hunters Helpers? They are pure terra cotta disks which are hung by sisal twine(included) from trees and bushes around the hunter's stand. These disks are infused with doe urine(not included) in order to attract the bucks in the area. </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-30319086667690533912009-09-29T07:11:00.003-04:002009-09-29T07:19:15.581-04:00Teflon Mishap<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Teflon isn't supposed to chip off your pans the first time you wash them... is it??<br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW_FCdUw68Ef-CSNfq_Upsg87ZFq0udLLuRydglHbKrf_G0U91ij-smWe9SRw-V9Lut5CZhdnG3guzq9mTxPxfjvHNZUQY1DtPRoStW-BGG2rb5zbL1U7JOJRV3aaBbW7O4gQlpFdC8o/s1600-h/DSCF0408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW_FCdUw68Ef-CSNfq_Upsg87ZFq0udLLuRydglHbKrf_G0U91ij-smWe9SRw-V9Lut5CZhdnG3guzq9mTxPxfjvHNZUQY1DtPRoStW-BGG2rb5zbL1U7JOJRV3aaBbW7O4gQlpFdC8o/s400/DSCF0408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386846169849446818" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmwOk2UvXD5DStjMSQJwpNrGq0FlllOjNCFyKKGgu-eOfx6o6ixHhwii9lcxV7p27u2DBnvxwpVRFkf9UIBKijVGOE1-SLMOu0NXYc8odAMzhGPBcj71BT6mBrTuTvkbu1HFgUvBqVvE/s1600-h/DSCF0406.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmwOk2UvXD5DStjMSQJwpNrGq0FlllOjNCFyKKGgu-eOfx6o6ixHhwii9lcxV7p27u2DBnvxwpVRFkf9UIBKijVGOE1-SLMOu0NXYc8odAMzhGPBcj71BT6mBrTuTvkbu1HFgUvBqVvE/s400/DSCF0406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386846948561310610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Needless to say, this whole set was returned. </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-1439632808975550172009-08-06T12:54:00.004-04:002009-08-06T13:10:08.865-04:00Win Free Makeup!<span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">~~~~~~NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS~~~~~~~~<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">PinkQuartzMinerals, who I model makeup for, is holding a drawing for $100 worth of FREE makeup! Go to her blog to learn more: </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.pinkquartzminerals.blogspot.com">www.pinkquartzminerals.blogspot.com</a></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZx_3zP3mDQuKv-f2hs7VShSuXgjs4k2s_NVrfQeaXkM-PzaYQag3y3BgYJ2dEdfjO9d0NnODMDTX8BXxugdlDV4NHXb7z35unWvxzHEzIaf_kqAZo00M5yNhNagctherV76hYosHU3o/s1600-h/Four+Eyes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZx_3zP3mDQuKv-f2hs7VShSuXgjs4k2s_NVrfQeaXkM-PzaYQag3y3BgYJ2dEdfjO9d0NnODMDTX8BXxugdlDV4NHXb7z35unWvxzHEzIaf_kqAZo00M5yNhNagctherV76hYosHU3o/s400/Four+Eyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366898980936703522" border="0" /></a>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-27779456277516699802009-08-05T18:50:00.006-04:002009-08-05T18:57:24.719-04:00Unusual Custom Paintings<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here's me going out on a cliff: I moved from painting on canvas and paper to painting on plastic. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhGpp4oNInJB1huTA_NGWbfRtAhi9mn0loa6-9HcdVOfdWbyx_8JCV91MdEutve6wyn5N8EJwa9Xso3KqQRF5wRT473xgQlaxvGVdAMbUO-XWaaexkChF9ijWf37QUMrtDjr1cwnVotE/s1600-h/Promo+square+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 434px; height: 430px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhGpp4oNInJB1huTA_NGWbfRtAhi9mn0loa6-9HcdVOfdWbyx_8JCV91MdEutve6wyn5N8EJwa9Xso3KqQRF5wRT473xgQlaxvGVdAMbUO-XWaaexkChF9ijWf37QUMrtDjr1cwnVotE/s400/Promo+square+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366616209302950402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Yes. You read correctly. I've begun painting custom Transformers. The demand is surprisingly high. It is certainly a specialized niche, however if you're good at it you can be quite successful. </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-87346042790086250662009-07-23T14:37:00.006-04:002009-07-23T14:44:25.262-04:00Spiced Honey<span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=78881">KittyThing</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, a fellow Etsier, makes a most unusual edible treat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">"This clover honey was cooked in a small batch with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and lemon slices then seal up with spices and a lemon slice in the jar to mature. 8oz. jar</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Enjoy it in your tea (hot or iced), on toast, warm biscuits or drizzled over fruit for an unusual dessert!"</span><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=27935315"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmb0rX4oEidaIgv_uEmEnYltvB-JvFVK4YCTWa0N6S8fDKlEQkueF1SIc9Bt_vxrgr1LGmTH23de3oV7-Izwv4yaEANK7oPnfZl_EpLj3Wo7svu4YOvL1yGQMT9-kAI7i7Q9OOjxsAeU/s400/SpicedHoney.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361727176102857890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Can I get a side order of scones with that?? I'm hungry now. </span></span>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-51787804432746388972009-07-05T14:07:00.005-04:002009-07-05T14:16:51.259-04:00More cupcake lovin'<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">An Etsier after my own heart....</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_recent&listing_id=16195136"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkMQ8Hi67JtQEJWVBVOVGGBttspR9hWEX2DC0-PuICnzVfnXXyzq32GcFFcHkRdZgYsF0CkogvwTDRfskM-tC9Q0tVfPvsV7xiES7w3xItKJbLadrVpi7CWC7rwC27qdkOZvYk7H73X8/s400/Meanie+Cupcake1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355041210134571730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_recent&listing_id=16195136"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9QCJb3SZv6LsEAc4kmo5_CbpBJwvgKWAXCDaQ5NsuJGOCRDTti1ROt8T1b5axTpz33Ejp3Ga8SQzGy18xTl5zI5pV5SCfXg46FoaxqRT0HaTNkET8m9qqonGuOswwOmblExEu0SujSc/s400/Meanie-closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355041279776408338" border="0" /></a>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6871503066332373202.post-13996225929617148662009-06-12T10:25:00.008-04:002009-06-12T12:23:13.652-04:00Cupcakes!<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">My hypoglycemic cravings just wont quit lately. And it seems that this is translating into my art.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Behold, sugary sweetness in terra cotta scent diffusers!</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.terrascents.etsy.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmGytguPviP4ClDe1SRp73WjXcVKR5DG3NXib73T4A0iYBR1rtoLy-vamIejLyFUey96xdAe-OC429k3uQNT3jleXDfxen5CNnmJsY6wYf7e_jdPiONJN-9CdveKykkQQgSM2d47U2EA/s400/Cupcakes+For+Blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346474014190710402" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Scrumptious, yeah?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here are a few of the other diffusers I made in that same batch:</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.TerraScents.etsy.com"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 401px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ0JDQcFljZ07oC0L-d6RQyMQbP1E6Y6JBxXnLqh1kk60mm-LEBX9qsqyfOt9ZmJg9tC75WH8GtfM3-InbBOMyasEaKTpwGE-i3WxDLBrr9-xCqEuSemgyVanXrBJprTr3C1o9NpoKtY/s400/Others+Posted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346476903277179522" border="0" /></a>Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12652271081105903698noreply@blogger.com0