Snowtime Like Bathtime

Wind gusting to 60mph and temperatures dipping into the twenties has made me think a LOT about a nice HOT bath! Of course I cannot fathom just a plain water bath, so I have to add oils or salts or something! Today I steeped a while in some Raphael's Healing Garden Bath Soak to help get some arthritic relief, but the Cleo's Bath Soak from my last bath left me feeling quite queenly, I must say! Next bath I am going to use my Luxurious blend, but today I thought you might enjoy some recipes you can try at home, or even make as Christmas presents!

MILKY BATH MIX

1 cup powdered milk

1 cup corn starch

1 cup baking soda

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup powdered chamomile flowers *

1/4 cup patchouli powder *

1/2 cup powdered lavender buds *

**If you do not have the flowers, you may substitute 3-5 drops of Essential Oils in place of the powders, just make sure that you mix thoroughly. Sifting the mixture works best to ensure even mixing.

Mix all ingredients together, then package as desired. Use 1/2 cup per bath, allowing mixture to dissolve in running, warm water. Relax and soak in bath for 15-20 minutes.

FIZZY BATH SOAK MIXTURE

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup corn starch

1/2 cup citric acid

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (or sunflower oil)

1 -2 teaspoons of your choice of Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil

Combine the baking soda & corn starch in a bowl, you can even add a few drops of food coloring if you want (just be careful to not use too much, you don't want a ring around your tub!). Then add the liquid ingredients and mix well, using a wire whisk, until completely combined. Next add the citric acid and whisk again, until well blended. Once well blended you can press into small balls or into molds. Allow to dry for a few hours, then they will be ready to use or to wrap and package for gifts.

WINTER BLUES AWAY BATH OIL

2 oz Sweet Almond Oil

6 drops pink grapefruit essential oil

10 drops sweet orange essential oil

Mix together well, then use in bath of warm water. Soak for 15-20 minutes, as these essential oils help to chase your winter blues away while the oil softens and soothes your skin!

Tis the Season to Use Hand Sanitizer!

My (young adult) children are recovering from the flu, what the Dr. assumes was the H1N1 variety. Since one of their girlfriends' works with children, and the other works in heath care, they are routinely exposed to nasty germs. But, so are you! If you go anywhere, touch anything, you are being exposed to germs. Handle money, then touch your face and you have introduced all sorts of germs to your body. Hand sanitizing is a first line defense against germs. By simply washing your hands frequently you cut your risk of contracting many different viral and bacterial ailments. Since soap and water is not always readily available, there are hand sanitizers that you can carry in your purse, keep in your car, or keep in your desk. Of course you can buy hand sanitizer at almost any pharmacy or chain super store, but, for anyone concerned with being green, or if you just like control over what you put on your body and use in your home, you can easily make you own! Many, if not most essential oils have antibiotic, germicide and antimicrobial qualities (see the various oil descriptions A-Z from last year!). Below are a few recipes that I have found, not only for hand sanitizing, but for sanitizing your home. While I have not made any of these, the recipes look to be sound and, based upon their ingredient lists, these are ones that I would make. In fact, I do intend to try each one of these very soon. Meanwhile, if you find a favorite or dislike any one for whatever reasons, please let us know in the comments.

Germ Spray

6 drops Eucalyptus Globulus 12 drops Tea Tree essential oil 6 drops Lemon 1/4 cup distilled water

Combine all the above ingredients then pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use (oil and water do not like to mix, so you must shake well for this recipe to be effective).
This antiseptic, germ fighting spray is great to use, even on cuts and scrapes, but it can also be used as a room spray.

Viral Disinfectant Spray

10 drops tee tree essential oil
10 drops pine (black) essential oil
10 drops white thyme essential oil
10 drops clove essential oil
6 oz distilled water

Mix ingredients and pour into a spray bottle and make sure to shake well before each use (remember that oil and water don't like to mix, so to be effective you must shake well).

Hand Sanitizer

1 Tbs. rubbing alcohol

3 Tbs. Aloe vera juice

2 ml cinnamon leaf essential oil

3 ml tee tree essential oil

3 ml lemon essential oil

Mix the ingredients together and pour into container of choice. Shake well.

Since alcohol is a natural emulsifier this recipe does not require shaking prior to each use. Additionally, cinnamon leaf essential oil can be a skin irritant. Should it irritate your skin, try doubling the aloe juice, if it still irritates your skin, double the tee tree oil and eliminate the cinnamon oil altogether.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog. They state that they based it upon the research in the Journal of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery (2009), available on line at www.sciencedirect.com

Natural Disinfectant Spray

1/4 tsp. French Lavender essential oil

1/4 tsp. eucalyptus globulus essential oil

1/4 tsp. lemon essential oil

1/4 cup vodka

16 oz distilled water

Mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. Shake well before use.

This recipe is great for spraying kitchen counters, cutting boards, and the dish rack. It can also be used as an air freshener and on any furniture that you want your cats to stay off of!

Antibacterial Bathroom Cleanser

2 tsp Tea Tree essential oil 1 tsp Peppermint essential oil 2 tablespoons (may need slightly more) unscented liquid soap 1 Tbs. white vinegar 1 cup baking soda

Measure the baking soda into a bowl with a tight fitting lid. Add approximately two tablespoons of liquid soap (you can use castile or regular dish washing soap, unscented is best). Mix well to create a paste-like consistency. If you need more liquid soap, add a little at a time, mixing as you go, until you have the consistency that you feel you can work with. Once you have the paste consistency, add the essential oils and mix well, then add the vinegar (which heps to boost the cleansing powder). To use, scoop out a little cleanser and use a sponge or other cleaning tool to gently scrub tubs, showers, and sink surfaces. A little of this goes a long way. It is a natural antibacterial cleanser that will help you clean your home without hurting the planet!

Hand Sanitizer

3 tablespoons Aloe Vera Gel or Liquid

5 ml Lemon essential oil

4 ml Tea Tree essential oil

2 ml White Thyme essential oil *This is optional

Mix all of the ingredients together, pour into a spray bottle, shake well and use. This recipe can also be used on furniture, but you will want to do a small test patch before using it all over.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog.

Hand Sanitizer

1 ml White Thyme Essential Oil

1 ml Litsea Essential Oil

2 ml Orange Essential Oil

1/2 Cup Aloe Vera

1/2 tsp. Lecithin

Combine the lecithin and the essential oils together in a small container. Slowly pour the essential oils into the aloe vera, while stick blending the mixture. This will help to emulsify the mixture (think salad dressing). Lecithin is typically found in health food stores and is a natural emulsifier, with a shocking yellow color. This blend will go salad dressing thick and will not easily spray unless the spritzer is very hearty. Because of its lotion like texture, this recipe is best used on hands and body rather than furniture.

*This recipe is from Brambleberry's Soap and the Finer Things blog.

Peaceful Sunday

I am now back in the Fall weather of southern Ohio, but it seems as though I brought some Florida back with us, because today is a lovely 60, sunny degrees! What we in this area call an "Indian Summer", although I do not know why that term is used. At any rate, most of the gorgeous colored leaves are gone now, with lots of sparse limbs sprouting out from the tree trunks, but it is still beautiful in the sun, none the less!

Wherever YOU are today, I hope that you can take some time to appreciate the beauty of the nature that is around you, and allow yourself to bask in the wonder of it all!

For more pictures see http://flickr.com/uniquegarden To make it a bit easier for yourself (as I have over 2000 pictures), click on the set (on the right side) of "Friends and Good Times", then open the Englewood, Florida set OR click on "House, Yard and Scenery" and open the Fall pictures or the Sunset and Moonlight ones!

What You Up To Wednesday

Truth be told, I am actually in Florida, at the beach! I had not planned on this vacation, but I was asked at the last minute and just HAD to accept! I have been collecting sharks teeth, shells, and even an occasional sand dollar. Watching sunrises and sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico and birds....lots and lots of birds. I have truly enjoyed this break, but will soon be back to the Fall in souther Ohio. I heard that it was 40 degrees there yesterday while I sat on the ocean in the 82 degree sun! Man am I gonna miss it here!! lol.

At any rate, before I left, and as soon as I get back, I was/will be working on finishing up the winter, Christmas lines. I have begun making wine charms too (which I actually brought here to work on, but haven't yet managed to even look at yet! lol). I have many more pictures on my flickr account, but here are a few to get you started!

What You Up To Wednesday

The Home Spa Treatment

The long, hot summer is behind us, leaving the long, hard, cold, winter before us. To help make it through, try some of these spa-like recipes in the privacy of your home!!You could even invite friends over and make an entire home spa day!

SALON-TYPE HOT WAX HERBAL TREATMENT

1 cup beeswax (either grated or block)

10 Tbs. sweet almond oil

8 Tbs. virgin olive oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

3 drops chamomile essential oil

*For stiff, sore hands/feet, instead of the lavender and chamomile, add

5 drops wintergreen, 3 drops peppermint, and 2 drops of camphor essential oils

In order to keep a steady, even heat, this formula is best done in a crockpot. The wax should be cool enough to use when it forms a crust over the top. Use extreme caution when dipping your hand or foot into the wax. Hot wax will burn! If the crock pot is not large enough for you to fit your hand/foot into, pour the wax treatment into a pan that is deep enough and wide enough for them to fit and use it immediately.

Melt the beeswax in the crock pot on low heat (using medium or high heat can cause a fire!) Once melted, add all of the oils and stir well. Make sure that the wax is not too hot to use by inserting a candy thermometer to test it. 91 to 98 degrees works well. Dip one had/foot in the mixture at a time, then sit back and relax as it dries. Allow the wax to set up, 7-10 minutes is the average time, then peel of the wax. Save the peeled off wax, as you can remelt and reuse it several times. The formula should remain good for about a year, but if it gets too dry or looses its aroma, simply add a little more oil. Store the wax in a container out of direct sunlight.

SPA-TYPE AROMATHERAPY FACIAL STEAM

Steaming is a simple concept that produces a great effect on your skin and your mood. Simply put some water in a pan, bring it to a boil, drop in the proper essential oils and turn down the heat to low. Drape a towel over your head to direct the steam to your face and bend over the steam. There will be enough steam for your face for about 2-3 minutes. Once done, pat the skin dry and moisturize.

Steaming allows you to get the benefit of the essential oils on your skin and in your lungs, while the heat opens the pores and sweats the impurities out of them. Wash your face and neck prior to steaming so that you will work the true grime from the skin, not surface dirt.

For relaxation, peace of mind, cleansing and toning of skin,

use 2 drops each of the following essential oils. Bergamot, Clary Sage, Geranium and Lavender.

Don't forget about you hair when doing your in home spa day! Here is a spa-quality hot oil treatment that is wonderful for dry hair (do NOT use if you have oily hair), and a Herbal Conditioning Pack that is good for all hair types (when used once a month).

SPA-TYPE HERBAL HOT OIL TREATMENT

1/4 cup virgin olive oil

1 vitamin E capsule 400U or more (pierce and squeeze the contents into the mix)

1 Tbs. coconut oil

1 Tbs jojoba oil

3 drops lavender essential oil

1 drop rosemary essential oil (may substitute cedarwood EO if prefered)

Mix all together, then rub into clean, towel-dried hair. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash out.

Stored in a bottle, this mixture will stay good for 2-3 months.

The following Herbal Conditioning Pack is full of deep conditioners and is great for all hair types when used once a month . It is alike a mud pack without the mud!

SALON-TYPE HERBAL PROTEIN CONDITIONING PACK

1 tbs. coconut oil

1/8 cup sweet almond oil

1/8 cup aloe vera gel

3 Tbs. gelatin mix (mix 1Tbs. unflavored gelatin in 2 1/2 Tbs. of cold water. Stir. Put in microwave to heat water to boiling, then stir again)

2 drops geranium essential oil

3 drops rosemary essential oil (may substitute bay EO if desired)

Mix all together and stir well. After shampooing, put mixture on towel-dried hair. Leave in for 5-10 minutes, then wash out. This mixture does not have a shelf life, so use it as soon as it is made.

Contest

17 Great Prizes Up For Grabs

What is better than having a chance to win a great prize? Having 17 chances to win one of 17 prizes, that's what! What am I talking about? Well, let me tell you all about it! The Stalkers guild, of Artfire.com, has come together to sponsor a treasure hunt.

To enter the treasure hunt, all you need to do is to search the participating shops to locate the

"You Found Me" picture. Keep track of where you find each shops' picture, then submit a list of where you found them on the Stalkers Blog. That's it, easy peesie! You can even enter once a day until the contest closes! WOW!!!! Winners will be chosen from correct entries. Each participating shop is the donor of one

of the prizes, so all the winners should be quite excited!!!

To read more about this, and to get the list of participating Artfire shops, visit the Stalkers Blog

Then Good Luck & HAPPY STALKING!!!!!!!