What’s Up, Some Comments and Link Love

by Judi on Mar 25, 2008

I have been slightly out of commission the past week and a half. Mostly due to health - Crohn’s Disease commonly causes depression, so between feeling pretty crummy and dealing with a lack of energy, I was barely doing anything internet related.

My husband is on his “required” 30 leave from work, so I’m happy to have him home, to say the least! And Easter was fun, though pretty cold… I saw where others woke up to snow - egads.. I’ll pass on the winter weather - I’m so ready to start seeing an increase in temperature.

I’ve been making some rounds this morning and trying to post some comments, but blogger seems to be having issues with their comments..

To Entrecard Favorites - thanks for all the link love! And for the raffle win. I received your credits the other day and couldn’t figure out just why, ha! Now I see. Great idea and again, much thanks. :)

Barrs By The Bay used (in part) my crockpot soap tutorial to make a batch of hydrangea scented soap in her crockpot. I don’t think it matters what soap making method you use, it’s fun to make!

Ok.. so.. I’m back and I have more to post… but work calls.

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Four Foods on Friday

by Judi on Feb 16, 2008

A food meme from Fun, Crafts and Recipes.. visit her site and join the meme.

#1. What’s your favorite potato chip?

I’m not really picky about my pototo chips.. I usually get Mike Sells and Pringles - I think Mike Sells is a semi local chip.. I know they don’t have them in the SE.

#2. Do you use butter, margarine, both or neither?

I use both.. it depends on what I’m cooking. I also like to use oil.. and one of these days I plan to make my own margarine with real butter and olive oil. As an aside, I like Rice Bran oil to cook with too… very nice… right up there with OO. And I use both, depending on what I have on hand, for soapmaking.

#3. What’s your favorite mixed alcoholic (or virgin) drink?

I’m not much of a drinker, but I do like Seagrams wine coolers .. Cherry Fizz is my favorite.. but I like Wild Berries, Daiquiri and Passionate Kiss…

#4. What’s your favorite vegetable and how do you prepare it?

I like so many veggies it’s hard to say.. I like asparagus, chopped and cooked with lots of butter and salt… acorn squash baked with butter, salt and bacon cooked on top… zucchini and yellow squash chopped and steamed (to super softness) with butter and salt… ahhh.. see the butter and salt theme, huh.. lol.

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Soft & Silky Handmade Lotion Recipe

by Judi on Sep 12, 2007

This is one of my favorite lotions, moisturizing without leaving an oily feel on the skin.

Oil Phase:
9 oz sweet almond oil
3 oz jojoba oil
6 oz grapeseed oil
1 oz wheatgerm oil
2.5 oz stearic acid (used to thicken lotion)
2.5 oz ewax (thickens lotions; allows water and oil to blend)
3 oz shea butter

Water Phase:
44 oz distilled water
.6 oz citric acid (used to soften water)
1.8 oz glycerin
2 oz hydrolized wheat protein
1 oz rose hydrosol*
1 oz lavender hydrosol*

.8 oz fragrance (optional)
.7 optiphen (preservative)

* hydrosols are option, if unavailable, just up your water amount.

Separated Steps:
1. Combine all oil phase ingredients, except shea butter in a pan or microwave safe bowl. Heat over low on stove or in microwave until ewax is melted. Once melted, remove from heat, add shea butter and allow to melt.
2. Combine water phase ingredients, heating over low heat until citric acid is disolved.
3. Combine oil and water ingredients and mix with mixer on low until cool.
4. Add fragrance and preservative, blending until well incorporated.
5. Pour into sterilized containers

I combine my steps to speed the process, with no ill effects. Here’s how I do it now:
1. Combine all ingredients, except fragrance and preservative.
2. Heat until melted.
3. Blend in a mixer (I have a kitchen aid that works awesomely for lotion making).
4. Once fairly cool to the touch (think “luke-warm”), I add my fragrance oil and preservative.
5. Continue mixing to ensure the last ingredients are well incorporated.
6. Pour into sterilized containers.

Lotion Percentages will provide percentage information, to allow you to make your own lotion recipe. Or experiment with the ingredients in this recipe - each oil you substitute may result in a different feel to the end product. I’d suggest making a smaller batch while you experiment.

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Soap Making - Lye Calculator List

by Judi on Aug 25, 2007

Soap cannot be made without the use of sodium hydroxide. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is mixed with fats to create soap. But, you need to know how much of each to make a really good bar. Here are a list of soap / lye calculators.

Soap Calculator by weight / percentage - enter recipes by either weight OR percent, up to 9 oils.
9 or less oils - Calculator - recipes containing 9 or fewer oils.
Up to 18 oils - Calculator - recipes containing up to 18 oils.

MMS
FNWL Creator
Soap Naturally Calculator
Brambelberry Lye Calc
North Country Mercantile Calculator
Lye Calculator
Cranberry Lane
Suds and Scents
TLC Soaps
Pine Meadows
Herbal Soaps by RJ
Soap Recipe Calculator - On a website in frames..
Rainbow Meadow Soap Calc
Soap Nuts
Soap Crafters
Snowdrift Farms

For Purchase:
SoapMaker - a downloadable program for your computer. Download a free trial. Free recipe creation and management as well as inventory control.

Learn to calculate your lye amounts by hand:
Oregon trail Soaps Files
Soap Bubbles Saponification Page
Miller Soap Worksheet

Because of these calculators, we are able to make soaps that are gentle on our skin, have creamy, bubbley lather and smell and look lovely.

See Momma Muse’s Handmade Soap Recipes

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