I got my salad!

Facing surgery and an INR of 1.6 the only thing I really wanted was a salad. Off coumadin for a week, as a surprise....birthday party...totally thru me off. Hahaha thought I was getting a mani-pedi. Haha they got me good. Dinner was spaghetti and a mixed green salad........with spinach. I can't have spanich...tried to eat it anyway and my face...tingling, itching...instead of risking a closed throat...which undoubtedly the hospital stay would have interfered with my surgery...I behaved. The day before the surgery...inr was still too high at 1.1. The doctor told me to pick up a perscription of a mega dose of vitamin K (5 mgs is 'mega'...powerful stuff!) ..."buy a bottle of water when you pick it up....and take it immediately....then go get your salad...a larger one." First I said, "for real? You serious?" She said yep...no comadin and a salad with K is a lowere INR. It worked...they didn't cancel my surgery.

Now I have a great memory to appease me when the phantom toothache pain hits. Haha no teeth but I swear its like I ate a big piece of my cake. Ahhh well it will go away soon...and my personal cake has been frozen so soon as I'm able to eat solid foods again...that cake and a salad are the first things on my list. Haha we take salads seriosuly around here!

They made me wear closed toe shoes (which I had to buy...I only own boots and sandals) and my nail polish had to come off...the color wll be going back on soon as I get some of that color. As for the swelling...it has REALLY gone down into a less scary look.

Laundry detergent

So....the small container was laundry detergent I made from a bar of unscented soap....it occured to me that even at 1 tbs per load...this was not enough for a family of 4. So I made a small 24 oz batch of 100% coconut oil soap...just for the laundry. It gelled immediately, split, and hardened to a solid white loaf. Too hard to be sliced the regular way...ussed a miter box and blade. Not worried about how cute it looked since its destiny is to be shredded into some washing soda and used for laundry. The ph7 was a surprise....i was expecting a much harsher soap as i made it with pure coconut oil and no softners such as superfatting or other oils. It zapps grease and is a little drying on the hands...but since its not for skin....no big whoop.

When done....I have 5.5 pounds of laundry powder and a pound of coconut soap left. The only reason I didn't make 10 pounds is the thought of carrying down the basement stairs...14 steps...no banister.  Besides...this was a test batch...new method, wanted to be sure everyone likes it. General concensus..."it smells like ivory" which I find funny cuz there's no ivory in it. Everyone agrees it cleans well. My main concern....and delight...no itch.. by now.....I've washed all of my clothes.....there's no worries with this mix. Loving it.

check out http://peepla.etsy.com for current inventory.

The first slice

This is the 1st slice of the first cp soap I ever made. This soap is gonna be kept for prosterity....and amusement...and as a reminder of what not to do.

Making this soap....didn't know how to release the bubbles. I learned first hand about raw soa splashes. what happens when a fresh cut...soaft soft falls into another bar....see that divot...2 bars fell into each other...both bars have that divot. Then the corner...that's an indentation from my finger.

I have since learned how to make my own recipe...instead of a frankinstien like this where nearly every ingredient got switch out for another one. I've leearned soap calculation, sap values, I can do it by hand but I have a soap app on my phone and 2 others on the net as I've also learned that all calculations aren't equal and the best 2 out of 3 is a better way to go than taking 1 as the absolute truth....gotta be sure when it comes to soap.

I've learned where to get ingredients in bulk, cheaper, and when to go to the local grocery store. Everything from this point is upward bound cuz all expenses....molds, themometers, pots, measuring bowls, etc....done. from this point on....I only need buy ingredients and make soap out of it.

Good! Soap .....cut

I cut the Good! Soap and it has been curing for nearly a week. I fear I didnt use enough fragrance oils....the smell seems weak. I have been told that it may get stronger as it cures. Time....literally... will tell.

I also made myself a batch of mango-mac-mint butter. Mango butter...unrefined, all natural was combined with macademia nut oil and peppermint. Nothing else was needed...no colors, no chemicals, no scent. These natural ingredients does the trick all by themselves.

"Smells Like A Man"

A decidely masculine scent. Clean, fresh, reminescent of a snow fall in a citrus orchard. I created this scent in an attempt to make a unisex or "non-girly" scent. What i came up with....this amazing scent that was a total accident. A happy accident. I have since wrote down exactly what I did and the formulation values so i can recreate it at will.

The current soap is cocoa butter based and lightly scented with "Smells Like A Man" and I have 9 bars available. The next batch will more than likely be with a clear or translucent base with a stronger scent. Available now on ebay.

7up cake soap...day 1

Here is the soap fresh cut. I will be taking a pic each day of the discoloration process.

I now have varieties!



NOW LISTED! Check links at the bottom.

Kaya's Softness, Mel's Favorite, Kaylan's Beautiful Skin, and coming soon Peachy Passion, Earl's Elite and Mom's Mango. These are named and formulated for the folks that inspired its creation.

Kaya's Softness: goatsmilk, yougurt, grapeseed oil...unscented, lavendar sage, and peach scents. Kaya's Softness was based on my need for soft skin even though Im sensitive to a lot of stuff...this does not break me out. The unscented smells like a glass of fresh poured milk...literally. very nice...very subtle. I use it on my face. The scented versions I use on my body. 

Mel's Favorite: Clear base, lavendar, peppermint and vanilla.

Kaylan's Beautiful Skin: olive oil, grapeseed oil, vanilla, lavendar, fresh bamboo and white grapefruit.

Peachy Passion: will be based on the needs of Peachy ...my babygirl.

Earl's Elite: will be based on whatever Earl says he needs in a soap.

Moms Mango: its in the planning stage, the base is mango butter, there will be moisturization and oil reduction properties, and there probally will be no scent cuz mom doesnt like a bunch of scents.....the sellable varities may.

These are all cut to weigh at least 3oz and will sell for 5.00 each.

 Kaya's Softness 

 Mel's Favorite 

 Kaylan's Beautiful Skin 

Kaylan's beautiful skin soap

The new batch...goats milk base for all. One has olive oil base chunks and fresh bamboo and white grapefruit scent. One has no extra scent, one is fresh peach, and one is lavedar sage. All have base of lavendar and vanilla. This is called "Kaylan's beautiful skin"

My soaps are now listed on eBay, Kaylan's Beautiful Skin is found here: 

 Kaylan's Beautiful Skin 

Multipurpose spray

 Watch "425. Kaya's Multi-purpose spray a.k.a. natural deo" on YouTube folks keep asking me about it....so here it is. My vinegar deo.

Purple butterfly shell earrings

Check out the detail on these. Thank you Topaz! These are all natural and hypoallergenic! Gotta. Love that!

Duck tape wrist brace

Another use for ducktape....injured wrist. Not broken but needs support. I wrapped a paper towel around it......then lightly wrapped it with ducktape. This also works on knees and ankles. Whats more....i dont have to take it off when i take a bath. To remove...simply cut it off.

Water Challenge

 Watch "233. Drink your water! challenge" on YouTube and drink 64 oz of water a day. I challenge you to do this for 21 days since it takes 21 days to form a habit.

Water is crucial for life, clear skin, healthy hair, strong nails, heart, lungs, joints, muscles, you name it...water is needed. If you are on a biotin program, or vitamins, or take certain medications, you need even more water.

Drink your water...I challenge you!

Rediculous packaging

I went to replace my biotin, 5000mcg caplets, 60 count. Got to the store and they only had it in softgels. What's the difference....biotn is biotin. Well I get it home and its time for the coffee bribe....I can't have my coffee until I take my vites...little game I play with myself, but it works. I open up the bottle....and stuck to the bottom....having to be shook to get them to release is 60 softgels. However....you couldn't tell by looking it was 60 because the 75% empty bottle distracts you. I actually counted them....twice. just to be sure.

The other bottle I had was half the size with 60 caplets in it and an inch of air. This bottle...all air. If companies use a standard size bottle, and just adjust the label....then put that infomation on the label. I feel like I'm paying for air. The smaller bottle, same amount, same vitamin, no air, cheaper price. This bottle, air. That's all I see....air...and a few vitamins down there....but I can't get past ....AIR. I'm so considering buying a different brand just to avoid the air. They need to change their packaging or I'll be changing my choices.





Video: Rant on Rediculous Packaging 

Nails...after the buffing shine.

Can you see the difference? This shine is the result of a hand buffer called the Crazy Shine nail buffer made by Revlon. There's no top coat, no nail polish, no major time involved.

I used a little olive oil and a little know how and this is the result. Watch the video by clicking here: buffing nails to see how to do it....then shine your nails to a glass-like brilliance!

Using a neti-pot

Using a neti-pot is a good thing. It is a cost effective and natural way to clear out the sinuses, remove excess mucusc, rid nostrils of allergens. It cleans nasal passages of dust, it dissolves mucus build up and relieves nasal dryness. It makes breathing easier before and after excercise and when entering a warm house after being out in the cold. A clean nose is a happy nose. This is worth a try. There are 2 in this house, I bought both of them on Amazon, about a year apart. One is ceramic...classic....mine...and warms to the tempurature of the water in it. The other is made of "bio-plastic"...eco neti pot...mom's....better for the evinroment as it can be recycled if you ever decide you dont want it. Also the eco pot is made in a way that it cant harm the enviroment and its unbreakable. Heres a vid showing how to use it: 

 214. Using a neti-pot