The BIG Spill! Oh NO!

Here I was multitasking while preparing all the oils for my next batch of soap. I had put some coconut oil in the microwave to melt and was filling a container with olive oil and then decided to do some dishes. A few minutes later I remember that I have olive oil pouring into a container and look over to see about a gallon of oil spilled all over the floor. I had left it too long and the oil filled my container and then just kept on coming! Oh man what a mess! Can you see the darker oil covered area on the floor? This is after picking up a bunch of the oil already.

What a slippery mess!

So I had to get on my hands and knees and figure out a way to scoop up all that oil. I seriously scooped up nearly a gallon of oil! Luckily the floor is not even so the oil pooled in one area and using a flat sided scoop and a silicone spatula I was able to pick up most of the oil. I am still trying to work out how to clean up the rest of the oil on the floor. I think it is going to take a few times cleaning it with a strong detergent to get up all that oil and finally get the floor to no longer be slippery. Not sure what to do with this oil now.  Any suggestions?

Look at all that oil!

Kitchen Coffee Scrub Soap

Hi everyone! I have been taking a mini break from my blog since I have been overwhelmed with work and trying to get my garden/yard ready for the warmer weather. I finally had time this weekend to make some soap! I just ran out of my kitchen coffee scrub soap and decided to make a new batch. This soap is so great for when you are chopping onions and garlic and want to get their lingering scent off your hands. It is also useful for cleaning your hands after working outside or on your cars. One of my uncles keeps a bar to use to get all that car grease off his hands after a day of tinkering with his toys. This soap not only provides a scrub, it is also very moisturizing and has been made with some luxurious coffee butter.

Here is some eye candy for you! This first one is of me mixing the soap. It is at a nice thick trace and was poured into the mold just moments after this picture was taken.

Look at that nice thick trace!

 Here I am putting some texture onto the tops of the soap. I just love the ripples you get with a whisk.

Adding the finishing touches to the soap. Who doesn't love a textured top!

You can pick up a bar of this soap here.

She dreams in pink...

Check out this pretty Etsy treasury featuring my geranium rose soap. You can see the treasury here. Make sure to support us by posting a comment and liking the treasury. If you are interested in trying out my geranium rose soap you can pick some up here or here.

Ingredient Spotlight: Tulsi

This week’s ingredient spotlight covers the plant commonly known as Tulsi or holy basil. Tulsi comes from the shrub Ocimum sanctum that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a sacred plant in the Hindu religious tradition and is worshiped in the morning and evening Hindus at large as the avatar of goddess Lakshmi. The holy basil is also an herbal remedy for a lot of common ailments.

Medicinal uses: Tulsi extracts are used in Ayurvedic remedies for a variety of ailments including colds, coughs, and flu. The powder is often used to treat skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis as well as dandruff. Traditionally, tulsi is taken in many forms: as herbal tea, dried powder, fresh leaf or mixed with ghee. Essential oil extracted from tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes and in herbal cosmetics, and is widely used in skin preparations. The essential oil is a strong antiseptic against many kinds of bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Tulsi oil also has antioxidant properties that may explain its effectiveness in reducing the damaging effects of stress on the body. Studies have shown that tulsi protects healthy cells from the toxicity of radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, tulsi seems to influence the neurochemistry of the brain in a way similar to antidepressant medications.

Other interesting uses: Dried Tulsi leaves can be mixed with stored grains to repel insects. It is used often in Thai cooking for flavoring.

Ayurvedic Shampoo and Body Soap

Have you used tusli as a medicine or in your food? What did you think of it? I use it in my Ayurvedic shampoo and body soap to help eliminate dandruff. You can pick up some of my Ayurvedic shampoo and body soap here and here. 

***One precaution: Studies from the 1970s suggest that holy basil might have a mild anti-fertility effect in animals. Although this effect hasn’t been demonstrated to occur in human beings, if you are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant, don’t take medicinal doses of this herb.***