Moments: RECIPES for my girls in the 'hood...

K, prepare yourself for some really amazing homemade crap. I'll start with my faves and the most requested ones.

SHAMPOO BASE:
1/4 cup water (I use filtered)
1/4 cup liquid castille (I used Dr. Bronner's Baby-Mild)
1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil (I used organic)

This makes 1/2 cup of base that can be used as a shower gel base as well. Here's the variation I tried:
Avacado-Jasmine
1/2 cup shampoo base
1/2 cup aloe vera gel (Not the 'gel' that comes in a tube, the kind that is thick but pour-able)
3/4 tsp avacado oil (I substituded olive oil)
3/4 tsp jasmine essential oil (I substituted lemon)

Mix this up and keep it in an old shampoo bottle and shake before each use.

Another variation to try is:
1/2 cup shampoo base
2 T. glycerine
1/2 cup water
1/2 c. fresh lavendar
5 drops lavendar essential oil

For Oily hair:
use only 1/4 cup shampoo base
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp aloe vera gel (again, the pour-able kind)
This needs to be kept refridgerated and used within one week.

HAIR RINSE:
After I used the above shampoo a few times, my hair got 'heavy', so I tried a rinse of apple cider vinegar and water. I put in maybe 1/3 cup of the vinegar in a ketchup/mustard squirt bottle (I got the set for like .73 cents at Walmart, and they work great because I can use the pointy tip to get real close to my scalp) and filled the rest with water. After shampooing, I bent forward and squirted it near my scalp, sorta rubbed it around and rinsed. Viola! Clean hair. My comb went right thru, and again, I didn't need any styling products. Oh, and the vinegar smell doesn't stick with your hair. For those who like exact measurments: use 2-4 TBLS of either apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice per cup of water. (The lemon juice mixture will need to be refridgerated).

I also tried using a teaspoon or so of baking soda mixed with a bit of water to make a paste and massaged that into my scalp, but it didn't work as well as the vinegar rinse.....though it made a fabulous facial scrub!

BATH SOAP
This is really called 'rebatching' as you won't be making soap from scratch (with lard and lye).
2 bars Kirk's Coco Hardwater Castille ($1.50 at my health food co-op)
1/3 c. boiling water
1/4 cup almond or olive oil (+some for greasing molds)
Herbs and essential oils (+ .5-5% oz volume of grapfruit seed extract for preservative)

You'll need:
a box grater (I used the grater on my food processor)
double boiler pot with lid (or use medium pot with 2-3inches water and a glass heat-resistent bowl on top)
wooden spoon
large bowl
molds (can use mini muffin or loaf pans, tuna cans, bottom of milk or 2 litre containers...I used regular muffin tins and got four big soaps.)

STEPS:
~Grate soap into bowl
~Heat over medium heat and cover with loose-fitting lid
~when water boils in bottom pot, add the 1/3 c boiling water to soap all at once. Mix slightly, then add oil
~Continue mixing til water is incorporated...should look like mashed potatoes. Turn off heat.
~Place soap mixture in large bowl and add herbs and oils. Mix thoroughly.
~grease molds and hands (I used Olive Oil Pam spray). Let mixture cool slightly then use hands to scoop soap and press into molds. Smooth top.
~store in cool, airy place (I used my basement). Takes 24 hours to 1 week to harden. When your finger leaves no indent, it's ready. Cut around to release or put in freezer for a time. Slice if using a loaf pan. Wrap in wax paper.

I added 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 TBLS ground almonds (skin on) and 3 tsp cinnamon oil to my mixture before pressing into molds.

I've since found tons of sites that troubleshoot 'rebatching' as well as offering lots of yummy recipes. Here's some that sound darn good to me:
Coffee and Cream
1 tsp ground espresso
1 tsp powdered milk
10 drops coffee fragrance oil

Lemon Loofah
1 tsp powdered loofah
15 drops lemon oil
1 drop yellow coloring

Raspberry Oatmeal
1/3 c dry oats
15 drops raspberry fragrance oil
1 drop red coloring

Vanilla almond
2/3 c. whole almonds, ground
2 TBLS almond oil
1/4 tsp vanilla fragrance oil

Christmas Soap
ground cinnamon
mint essential oil
lemon/orange rind

Peaches and Cream
1/2 cup powdered milk
2 TBLS almond oil
1/2 tsp peach fragrance oil
2 drops orange food coloring

NOTE: I've read some places that recommend not using food coloring. I've also read not to use extracts for fragrance. Today I found some info about making rebatched soap in a crockpot, so when I try that, I'll post that method as well.

Places to get crafty with soap (and everything else under the sun)
Craftster
Soap Delicatessen
Homemade Bath and Body Recipes
Soapnuts
Craftbits
Teach Soap
Crafter's Touch
Homemaker's Cottage

SHOWER GEL
(must confess, this is technically a recipe for hand gel soap, but I plan to use it as a shower gel as well)
2 cups soap flakes (or grated castille bar)
1/2 gallon water (use more if gel is too thick)
2 TBLS glycerine
essential oils of choice

Mix all in double boiler, then transfer to jar/pump.
(I made this with lemon essential oil for hand soap. At first it didn't gel, but now it's nice and thick. I think I'll add lavendar or some other flowery scent to make it shower gel.)

Here is a recipe for liquid dish soap with a different configuration of the same ingredients above that might also make a good shower gel:
1/4 c. soap flakes
2 cups hot water
1/4 c. glycerin
1/2 tsp. lemon or other essential oil

Mix flakes and water till dissolved. Cool til lukewarm. Stur in glycerin and essential oil and leave to cool. When it forms loose gel, stir with fork then funnel into pump. (Haven't tried this one yet.)

As far as toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant.....2 words. BAKING SODA.
I just dip my wet brush in a bit of BS and brush.
I add a tsp or so of BS to a glass of water and swish and gargle
I smear some BS under my pits after showering.

I will attempt these recipes for a 'dusting' or 'roll-on' deodorant soon:
1/4 c baking soda
1/4 cup talc-free powder
1/16 cup cornstarch
Use a large makeup brush to apply to pits

OR
mix equal parts BS and cornstarch. Add water to make a pourable mix to put into a mold. After dry, moisten and apply.

Tomorrow I'll post cleaning crap. Dishwasher detergent (powder and gel), laundry detergent (powder and gel), fabric softner, disinfectant spray, scouring powder, etc. BTW, I'm storing dry goods in glass mason jars of all sizes. I got squirt bottles from the Dollar Tree. And we're reusing old plastic shampoo/hair sprair pumps as well.

Fun Fun! If you try any of these, let me know how they turn out!

Misadventures: Experiments in frugality

Hmmmm....now what might this eclectic grouping be doing in my kitchen? Well, let me 'splain.

In my pursuit of simplicity, frugality, and health, I spent a day gathering all manner of 'recipes' from the internet for homemade cleaners and toiletries. I'll start right off telling you that baking soda and vinegar are the king of natural cleaners. Olive oil and pure castille soap rank big in toiletries (with baking soda yet again making a strong finish).

Here's a brief listing of products I've made and am currently testing, none of which includes any of those 'unpronounceables':
shampoo
conditioner
soap
shower gel
hair gel
hair spray
deodorant
liquid hand soap
bubble bath
bath salts
body powder
foot soak
toothpaste
lip balm
facial scrub
facial mask
body scrub
mouthwash

Cleaners include:
laundry detergent
laundry softner
dishwasher detergent
dishwasher rinse aid
scouring powder
liquid dish soap
carpet cleaner
antibacterial all purpose cleaner
window/mirrow cleaner
tub/tile cleaner
toilet cleaner

So far the only 'bombs' have been the liquid hand gel and the dish soap. They work fine, but they didn't 'gel'. I'll give them another try next month. My favorite has been the shampoo, which is so fabulous that I didn't need conditioner, styling products or hair spray after using it! Plus my scalp doesn't itch and flake anymore. The soap is also a keeper...can't wait to try new scents and textures. The toothpaste is just plain nasty-tasting, but works wonderfully.

All told, so far I've spent about $100 for the supplies to make all this, and the priciest items were the essential oils. (Lavendar and tea tree are must-haves, but I also got cinnamon and lemon). I think in the long run, it will save us tons of money, be safe for the environment, and give me the satisfaction of being 'crafty'. As I get more experience with making and using these things, I'll be glad to post recipes, all of which can be found different places on the 'net so will be thoroughly plagarized. :o)

I feel like Ma Ingalls.....sans the cheerful disposition.

Moments: You know how to whistle don't ya......

....you just put your lips together.....and blow. Ms. Lauren Bacall, er, I mean G. enjoyed her first formal dance Saturday night. Isn't she just D-I-V-I-N-E?

Here's Miss G with the girls from the 'hood: