Brand New Series

back image credit

Get ready for a brand new series coming next week.  Stay tuned......

Sinus Bath Fizzy Recipe and GIVEAWAY!!!

I have had quite a few requests for my sinus bath fizzy recipe because of this post.  While I have made my bath bombs whole, most of the time I like to make them in halves.  They get stretched a little bit further and it leaves me the option of adding more if I need it while not wasting any if I don't.  So, here ya go:

My Basic Bath Bomb Recipe

8 oz. Baking Soda
4 oz. Citric acid
4 oz. Corn Starch
4 oz. Epsom Salts
4 Tbs. Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp. Vitamin E. Oil (optional)

Mix all the dry Ingredients except the citric acid.  In a separate container melt your coconut oil if it is in its solid state and combine it with your vitamin e. oil if you choose to use it.  Its a great skin conditioner but not necessary for the bomb to work.  Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and start to combine.  Lastly, add the citric acid.  The reason you wait for the citric acid is so that it has less opportunity to react and begin to 'fizz' when you don't want it to.  When you pick up a handful of the mixture in your hands and squeeze it, if it stays in its form, it is ready to mold.  If it crumbles, you may need to add more oil, no more than 1/2 tsp. at a time.  Pack very tightly into your molds and release gently.  Let them sit for at least 24 hours to harden. 

For the sinus aspect you add:

1 tsp.  Eucalyptus Oil
1 tsp. Menthol Crystals.  (can be purchase at http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/.  They offer free shipping with a minimum order.  You can also purchase smaller amounts from etsy sellers)

The menthol crystals will need to be melted.  I do so with the oil.  If you are melting with the microwave, DO NOT take a huge wiff when you open the door.  The menthol will smell really strong and you will clear your sinuses faster than you want to.  Don't worry though.  The finished product isn't nearly as strong.  The eucalyptus oil would be added at the same time as the vitamin e. oil or in place of it.

I hope my directions are clear.  Please email me if you have any questions. 



 To go along with this post, I am having a GIVEAWAY for a set of 4 half size sinus bath bomb fizzies!  All you need to do is comment on this post.  You can earn an extra entry if you like me on facebook as well.  Just let me know in your post that you did so for the extra entry.  It is best if you are already a follower so you will be up to date if you win.  Otherwise, please leave me a way to contact you.  Contest will close Saturday night and I will draw a winner on Sunday February 19th.  Good luck!

Yummiest Lotion Bar Ever!

For those of you that don't know me, I make ALOT of my own beauty products along with household cleaners.  I feel soo much better about using them when I know exactly what is in them.  While I have made lotion bars before, they just seemed either too heavy or flat out too hard to mess with as an every day moisturizer.  I kind of gave up on making them rather quickly because of this.  Well, after doing a little more research, I think I finally came up with my own recipe that I am really happy with and that smells SUPER!  The essential oil I used is called litsea cubeba.  This oil is refreshing and uplifting with a citrusy smell, close to lemongrass only sweeter.  I love citrus but I don't want to smell like furniture polish!  The sweetness in this fragrance stops all of that.  You can read more on this essential oil here. The recipe follows:

1 part beeswax
1 part coconut oil
1 part grapeseed, apricot or almond oil (I chose grapeseed)
1/4 part shea, mango, or cocoa butter (I used shea)
1 tsp. of essential oil per pound of product
1 tsp. Vitamin E oil per pound.


I chose to make a small batch and used 1/4 cup each of the oils and 1 Tbs. of the shea.  I used a 1/2 tsp. of both the EO and the Vit. E oil. 


Basically you take your top 4 ingredients and melt in a double boiler or microwave.  If you choose to use the microwave, check after one minute and stir contents.  You do not want the oils to boil and burn.  If it still needs more time, choose 30 second intervals or less.  Once they are all melted and combined you can add your EO and the Vit. E oil.  Stir them gently together again.  Place the melted oils in molds.  I used these two little massage bar molds that I found on etsy and they were the perfect size.  Wait for the oils to harden and then remove.  The lotion bars should pop out really easy.  Once they pop out, place them in a container or on a plate.  You do not want to handle them for long lengths of time as the point of them is to melt when coming in contact with body heat (unless, of course, you are wanting to put lotion on right away).  Then, voila!  You are finished.

You can find the ingredients for these bars in many places.  I've listed some links below to get you started. 

32oz. African FILTERED CREAMY Shea Butter from Ghana
Sundown Pure Vitamin E Oil 70,000 IU, 2.5 oz
Now Foods Grape Seed Oil, 16 Ounce
Nature's Way Organic Coconut Oil, 16 Ounce
BEESWAX PELLETS YELLOW 1-LB
Litsea Cubeba 100% Pure Essential Oil - 1oz

Bath Fizzy Pizza Gift Boxes

I am always looking for new and creative gift packaging ideas for all of my homemade goodies.  I get bored easily and enjoy challenging myself with new designs.  So, when I made a batch of heart shaped bath fizzies to give to my friends this valentines day, I wanted something that was the perfect size to contain them.  If you are looking for a bath bomb/fizzie recipe, you can go to my post here.  Aside from changing up the essential oils and choosing a smaller mold, the recipe is the same.

I wanted something small and flat, like those little mini chocolate boxes.  I found this tutorial on one of my favorite 'papercraft' idea sites and ran with it.  Here is the finished product:

They were super quick and easy.  I know I will make a few more.  Enjoy!

Valentine Gifts for Teachers

I really do try to remember my children's teachers, especially around any holiday.  They work so hard for our kids and are not given enough credit for the work that they do.  I've been on a mission these last few days to search for projects that could be made for them without breaking the bank, yet still personalized and special.  Here are some of the ideas I have found:

Valentine Fortune Cookies

Heart Shaped Soap

Decorated Candy Bar Wrappers

Decorative Hanging Cone

Now it's just a matter of collecting the supplies and getting a move on.  What are your suggestions for teacher gifts this upcoming Valentines Day?









Make it Yourself: Orange Dreamsicle Bath Salts

I am a sucker for all things that remind me of my childhood years and this recipe reminds me of  those infamous orange push pops.  I have made more things than I can count with this essential oil blend.  This is too good not to share:




2 cups epsom salt
1 cup dead sea salt (I used pink himalayan)
20 drops vanilla essential oil
20 drops orange essential oil
1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, etc.)

Simply combine the ingredients above  in a container and give it a really good stir and shake to make sure the oils are well dispersed.  Add the mixture to your bath.  Then, just relax and enjoy!

Chamomile and Calendula Gift Set

How do you describe Chamomile and Calendula?  Chamomile has a soft floral, herbal, apple aroma.  Calendula?  Pretty close to the same.  Both essential oils blend extremely well together.  So well that you probably couldn't pick the two apart in this mix.  I chose to use this combination of essential oils in a goats milk/glycerin bar soap and also some bath salts.  I also added dried chamomile flowers to both for appearance, texture, aroma, and color.  Chamomile is known to be anti-inflammatory.  It is wonderful for dry, achy, itchy, flaky skin amongst other things.  Calendula contains many of the same properties and is a wonderful healer.  This combination is also safe for babies in small amounts treating cradle cap, diaper rash, and others.  You can find a million different recipes for bath salts all over the web.  A very simple recipe could contain just a mixture of salts (epsom, sea salt, etc), a carrier oil, and the essential oils.  The soap is simply a melt and pour soap.  You buy the soap in blocks, melt, mix in your additives and pour into molds.  It really couldn't get any easier. 

If you are looking for a good start in finding your herbs and oils, I suggest mountain rose herbs.  I have ordered from them many times and their quality is unbeatable.  I am not compensated in any way for saying that, I just really love the company and the products it provides.

***I am not a doctor or claim to be an expert.  Please see your physician if you have any ailments.  The recipes/ideas represented here are from my own personal experience and in no way meant to diagnose, treat, or cure anything.

Peppermint Snow 'Bombs'

I cannot even begin to tell you how many 'bath bomb' recipes I have tried and have always failed at them for one reason or another.  This one stuck to the mold, that one crumbled, another was too wet, yet another too dry.  On a wimb, I decided to make up my own recipe to see if I could do any better.  It actually worked!  I stayed away from using any water or witch hazel and I did have to wait a few days for them to dry but the recipe turned out perfect and I can't wait to share them.

Recipe:

4 oz. baking soda

2 oz. citric acid

2 oz. corn starch

2 oz. epsom salts

2 TBS. coconut oil

1/4tsp. Vitamin E. oil

1/4 tsp. essential oil (I used peppermint)

Combine all of the ingredients WELL with your hands and place in round molds.

I found some plastic round 3 inch molds that split in half that worked perfectly.  You really need to pack this in as tight as you can and remove from the mold s-l-o-w-l-y and carefully.  I placed mine out to dry where they couldn't be disturbed.  Because of the size, I waited three days to start messing with them and they were rock hard by then.  I didn't have to worry about them breaking at the point.  Wrap them up in any way you choose to give as gifts to friends.  These smelly wonderful.  They really are 'the bomb'.  :)

Handmade Holidays: Peppermint Soap

For a woman who does not like to eat candy canes, I sure love the smell of peppermint.  Aside from the aroma, peppermint can aid in minimizing headaches and migraines-all the more reason to use the essential oil.  The smell can help clear your sinuses too.  As far as using it in soap, it is antibacterial and antifungal; great additions without the use of harmful chemicals such as triclosan.

Soap is sooo simple to make using a melt and pour base.  For this soap I used a goats milk base.  Once you have melted the base in a double boiler or in 30 second intervals in the microwave ( you don't want it to boil), you simply add 1 tsp of peppermint essential oil to 1 pound of goats milk soap base.  I even added a tsp of vitamin E oil for softness.  Pour the soap into molds and spritz with alcohol to get rid of the bubbles on top.  Once the soap is solid and completely cooled, remove from the mold and package accordingly. 

I can't wait to give these as gifts.  I have a few friends who are peppermint crazy and will love this!  Now, you try it!

Candy Corn Soap?

Yes, you read that right.  I am a lover of candy corn.  I could eat a whole bag of the stuff in one sitting without evening realizing it.  There's just something about that sweet buttery goodness that I just can't resist.  But, eating gobs and gobs of the stuff is NOT good for my waistline, especially when there are two more weeks til the Big Day.  So, to curb my cravings while still being able to smell the stuff, I decided I needed to make some festive soap.....hence candy corn.  And the best part?  It's calorie free and actually good for me to use!  The ingredients couldn't be simpler, or the process.  I used goats milk melt and pour soap, candy corn fragrance, colored mica powder, and a mold.  Look around your house and in your pantry.  Anything could be a mold, even your bundt pan!  Simply melt small batches of the soap and color them one layer at a time.  You need to wait until a film has formed on your previous layer before pouring the next, otherwise, you will just end up with a marbled mess. (I still mess this up sometimes as I am incredibly impatient.)  Let it cure at least overnight before cutting.  And voila!  Candy corn soap to enjoy in every room of your house as often as you wish!  Happy Halloween!  :)