Spring is here! I think. She's been a bit of a tease this year, what with the hail, snow and general cold nastiness that has crept in. Granted, it's only March. But be that as it may, we still have a certain expectation, like more sunlight, an increase in our vitamin D intake and thoughts of gardening.
With every fresh snowfall, every hail and wind storm and every downpour, we seem to feel another layer of depression and bleakness take hold. So, in order to remove that energy that we really don't want to carry with us into the fresh, new Spring of 2012, we are going to cleanse our home.
In the spirit of Feng Shui, which I dabble in, we cleanse with a white sage smudge stick. After opening a couple of windows (to allow the negative energy out), I light the stick, and with a large feather, fan the smoke around each room, paying special attention to corners. This moves the chi, which is energy life force. Energy gets stagnant and stops moving. Smudging, chanting, ringing bells and clapping are all ways to move the chi to create fresh opportunity for you and your family.
Anyway, while I smudge, I say a positive chant as I go, "I attract love, peace and prosperity", is my standby. When I have my kids join me, I have one clap and one ring our Tibetan bell as we go as well. No chance of any chi escaping that racket!
We go around the house clockwise and then 'herd' all the negative energy we've collected out the living room window. Done! With much of Feng Shui, it's about your intent. If it's honest and pure, it will work. So fill yourself with some positive light and go cleanse that energy!
Spring will officially be here before you know it!
Friday 16 March 2012
Monday 5 March 2012
No more poo in our shampoo!!!
I recently bought organic shampoo. The same organic shampoo I had bought for over a year. I figured that because it said it was organic, I was good to go. The first six ingredients (all essential oils) were organic, the rest were unpronounceable and there was even sodium laurel sulfate! I have become disheartened by the labeling on the products we purchase. We have to be so careful and knowledgeable of what is in the products that we put on and in our bodies!
So I took it upon myself to make my own. Here is the first one I found:
1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
1 cup spring water
30 ml liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
2 drop lavender oil
Crumble herbs and place in glass container with a lid. Boil the cup of spring water and pour over herbs. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Strain and add lavender oil, mix. Store in a glass bottle for up to 6 months.
I found this recipe to be very watery and a lot of it was wasted before it even got to my hair. I found that when I did use it, my hair didn't feel clean at all. Now, as one wise friend reminded me, its the chemicals in the commercial products that make our hair clean. The sudsy bliss that indicates to us that our hair is now clean- chemical. I needed to change my thinking- but I was going to do it with a different recipe.
Here's the new one I found:
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
10-20 drops essential oil
Mix in a bottle. Good for one month.
This ended up being a thicker product that actually lathered! I was thrilled with the thicker consistency of this product, as well. I also found, in the styling process, it was best that I skip the mousse. I am a hair stylist and not using product is really a big adjustment for me.
Since I had purchased the herbs to make the first recipe, I didn't want to waste them. My wise friend suggested I infuse the almond oil with the herbs and add that to the new recipe. Brilliant! Here is the new recipe:
1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
Enough almond oil to cover
In a small crock pot, place herbs and almond oil. Allow to cook for a few hours, stirring occasionally. Let cool and strain into a bottle.
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 liquid castile soap
1 tsp herb infused almond oil
10-20 drops essential oils
Combine ingredients and mix. Pour into a bottle. Good for one month.
By Jove, I think we got it! Now....conditioner!
So I took it upon myself to make my own. Here is the first one I found:
1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
1 cup spring water
30 ml liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
2 drop lavender oil
I found this recipe to be very watery and a lot of it was wasted before it even got to my hair. I found that when I did use it, my hair didn't feel clean at all. Now, as one wise friend reminded me, its the chemicals in the commercial products that make our hair clean. The sudsy bliss that indicates to us that our hair is now clean- chemical. I needed to change my thinking- but I was going to do it with a different recipe.
Here's the new one I found:
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup liquid castile soap
1 tsp almond oil
10-20 drops essential oil
Mix in a bottle. Good for one month.
This ended up being a thicker product that actually lathered! I was thrilled with the thicker consistency of this product, as well. I also found, in the styling process, it was best that I skip the mousse. I am a hair stylist and not using product is really a big adjustment for me.
Since I had purchased the herbs to make the first recipe, I didn't want to waste them. My wise friend suggested I infuse the almond oil with the herbs and add that to the new recipe. Brilliant! Here is the new recipe:
1 tsp nettle leaves
1 tsp horsetail
1 tsp coltsfoot
Enough almond oil to cover
In a small crock pot, place herbs and almond oil. Allow to cook for a few hours, stirring occasionally. Let cool and strain into a bottle.
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/3 liquid castile soap
1 tsp herb infused almond oil
10-20 drops essential oils
Combine ingredients and mix. Pour into a bottle. Good for one month.
By Jove, I think we got it! Now....conditioner!
Sunday 4 March 2012
The squirrel is out of hibernation...
Spring! I do believe it is definitely on the way! We had a day that, other than the wind, was beyond fabulous. So it was today that I looked around and realized that not only did I have unfinished projects awaiting my attention, by I was creating more for myself! And I still have to make shampoo, conditioner, toner, cough syrup and more lip gloss! It's like the squirrel in my brain came out of hibernation and wants to get BUSY!!!
So, I decided, I better get on it. My family is helping me make a bird bath, bird feeder, stepping stones and redo the back yard, including creating a veggie garden, but here is the trick: we are doing it all (or at least, most) of it with recycled materials. I reclaimed 2x4 frames that were used to ship product on pallets to create raised beds (still collecting, so will post when I have everything I need) and we will be making a deck from pallets heading for the dump.
Our other goal is to do as much as we possibly can with what we have. My hubby cleaned out the shed and we even found more plant pots that will grace our yard as well this year. Can't wait to start posting!
Stay tuned!
So, I decided, I better get on it. My family is helping me make a bird bath, bird feeder, stepping stones and redo the back yard, including creating a veggie garden, but here is the trick: we are doing it all (or at least, most) of it with recycled materials. I reclaimed 2x4 frames that were used to ship product on pallets to create raised beds (still collecting, so will post when I have everything I need) and we will be making a deck from pallets heading for the dump.
Our other goal is to do as much as we possibly can with what we have. My hubby cleaned out the shed and we even found more plant pots that will grace our yard as well this year. Can't wait to start posting!
Stay tuned!
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