New batch of No-Poo (shampoo alternative) - Nicely scented

Well, got a little frisky for the summer - wanted some "smell good" shampoo.  So...

To the 10 EcoNuts (http://econutssoap.com/) Brand soap nuts, I added 2 tablespoons marshmallow root (for conditioning and humectant properties - http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/m.php) and 1 Tablespoon of Rainforest Tea (http://www.republicoftea.com/rainforest-full-leaf/p/V00668/).  Ground these things to dust in a coffee grinder.  Added it to 1 1/2 cups baking soda.

Now, have a scented "shampoo".


Also cause it is summer, will spritz my hair with a mixture of witch hazel (powder soaked in distilled water with a touch of isopropyl alcohol - http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/witch_hazel.php  http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkherb/w.php#h_w_hp), Now Orange Essential Oil (http://www.nowfoods.com/Personal-Care/Products/Aromatherapy/100-Pures/Orange-Oil-1oz.htm#.Uadwu0CTiZg), and Now Bergamot Essential Oil (http://www.nowfoods.com/Personal-Care/Products/Aromatherapy/100-Pures/Bergamot-Oil-1oz.htm#.Uadw20CTiZg).  Also a couple drops of Now Jojoba oil.

Recipes without links:

10 EcoNuts
2 tablespoons marshmallow root
1 tablespoon rainforest tea
1 1/2 cups baking soda

Use 1 tablespoon of mix in 2 cups of warm water (let steep a couple minutes) to wash hair.  Rinse well.

To control frizzies -
Mix witch hazel with a couple drops each Now Essential oils (Orange and Bergamot) and a couple drops of Now Jojoba Oil.  Shake bottle well before spritzing.

IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES - please be sure to use safe for you ingredients!!

Odds and Ends - A catch up blog

Hi All,
Just got back from camping for a couple days.  For those of you who are local - White Rocks Camp Ground in Giles, VA - NICE.  Not a lot of people, flush toilets (NO SHOWERS), a cool little creek, spacious sites.  Lovely!

Chicken -
What to do with 2 fairly large, VERY frozen chicken breasts?  Dust them with onion and garlic powder.  Put them in a glass casserole dish, bone side down/skin side up, cover tightly with foil.  Bake at 400 for 90 minutes.  Tender, juicy chicken.

No-Poo Shampoo idea:
Someone posted this on Facebook.  LOVE the idea.  Going to try it as soon as I get out to the health food store for some aloe.  http://coderedhat.com/aloe-honey-shampoo-recipe/.

Non-toxic, non-allergenic air freshener:
Planted a swiss mint plant in an indoor plant pot.  Put it in front of the fan.  Now, the room is lightly scented of mint and there is nothing to cause me allergy issues.  .... Here is hoping the mint plant will be my second success - I typically kill plants.  However, I have one plant that has survived a whole year.  So... I am branching out to the mint plant.  Up next - an aloe plant.  Then maybe some Rosemary.

Coursera -
Awesome site that provides FREE classes on a variety of topics.  Can get a certificate of completion.  But, more than that, can learn all sorts of wonderful things.  Right now, I am taking a class on ADHD through the lifespan and on Nutrition.  They have a plethora of other topics.  https://www.coursera.org/courses

Camping hint:
If you go camping in areas with ticks and Lyme disease - after you get home, check blankets/sleeping bags, your own body, and your pet's body for little travelers.  To get the fur baby to stay still for tick check - make it fun.  And all-over body scratch is enjoyable for the darling, and reassuring for the human whose bed the darling likes to claim as his own.  ... As I type this, the refrain from the country song runs through my mind "I wanna check you for ticks" ... ARGH!!

Memorial Day:
A sincere "Thank You" to those who have served.  To those who are serving now.  And to the families of all service members, both past and present.

:)

Laura

Shampoo and Soap - What if you are allergic to corn, coconut, and wheat? What about other things? WHAT DO YOU DO?

My allergy and reaction list is fairly extensive.  So, I have learned to make some of my own products.  These are some of the recipes:

SHAMPOO

I use soap nuts (Econuts work for me, other types cause itchies, but no hives) ground into powder (do not buy preground soap nuts which are sold in Indian stores - itchies x 10) in a coffee grinder.  Add about 8 soap nuts into powder to about 2 cups baking soda.  Mix well.  Keep in capped bottle.  Before shower, dump about 1 tablespoon (more if you have long hair, mine is short) into a bottle and add 1 cup or so of WARM TO HOT water.  Let sit while you wash your body (or while you just enjoy the shower).  About 3-5 minutes later, pour over already wet hair and scrub through.  Do again.  Rinse really well.

CONDITIONER

For conditioner, I am steeping marsh mallow root, cinnamon, hibiscus flowers, and a tiny piece of vanilla bean in boiled water for 1/2 a day.  Then strain and put into spray bottle.  Keep in refrigerator.  After shower, and before I make coffee, I spritz my hair.

Been doing this for many months now - very fine hair is shiny, healthy, and frizz free - also not limp or fried.  The no poo with vinegar (and now I react to apples, so no ACV) was rough on my hair.  This is working quite well.

SOAP

For soap, I use a local crafts person's lye soap (lard, ash, water).  It WILL toast hair, but seems perfect for my skin.  I am not yet adventurous enough to try making my own.

HAND SOAP

For hand soap, I have a talc shaker with baking soda in it.  Wet hands, dust with baking soda, scrub, rinse.  For really "yuck" hands, I do the soda, and then rinse with peroxide.

For on the go cleaning I have an empty pill bottle filled with soda and a spray bottle (purse perfume bottle) with peroxide.

CLEANING

I also use isopropyl alcohol for sanitizing and cleaning. - but rarely.  I prefer peroxide.

Skin Care

For skin care, I use Shea butter (the unrefined one that is bright yellow) and beeswax from a local bee keeper.

DEODORANT

For deodorant, I mix baking soda (about 1 tablespoon) and zinc oxide (about 1 tablespoon) (NOT THE MICRO SMALL ZINC) into melted Shea butter - between 1/4 and 1/2 cup.  Last batch I used cocoa butter, but that made the deodorant too"Thick" to spread well.  Also, I am not sure that I do not react to cocoa butter, so it is not something I am using much.