Citrus Soap, my recipe


I have been wandering with soap's creation. It is a nice way of being disciplined and organise my thoughts.

I have been "Pinteresting" a lot looking for different ways of making soaps, recipes that have healing properties.

I was supposed to make a Castile soap cold process but when I was measuring my oils I went short of olive oil, so I had to adapt it.

Here is my recipe:

614 g olive oil
300 g rice bran oil
114 g lye
302 g water (as I don't have distilled water, I boiled it and put it in the fridge to cool. It avoids the lye getting really hot).
8 g essential oil (a mix orange and bergamot)
Red natural colorant for soap and some drops of yellow

Get your gear before anything. Safety googles, gloves, safe shoes, long pants and wear also long sleeves. Dealing with lye can be dangerous and the burns are significant, so be very careful.

Don't forget to prepare your mould. I used a bread tin and baking paper on fund and sides to ease when removing it from the mould.

Put the oils on a inox bowl (a big one) and over a saucepan with water. It will heat your oils to the point of around 40 degrees C.

In a big Pirex jar put your water (cooled) and slowly mix the lye. Use an inox spoon to mix it slowly.
Stir it carefully while you adding the lye. ALWAYS add the lye TO the water, never the other way around. When it is all dissolved let it rest for a while and wait it cool to around 40/45 degrees C.

When both, oils and lye are in the same temperature, or even with a 10 degree difference, add the lye to your oils mixing it very, very carefully. As it starts to become like a very runny mayonese use the hand mixer - it will speed the process of trace/saponification. It is time to add the essential oils which will help to increase the trace. It should be looking like a pudim consistency. Put it in the mould and leave a bit to add the colour. Mix it and add to the mould. Make some swirls on top to create some waves.  Wait for about 24/48 hours to unmould. Cut and let it cure for 4/5 weeks. 

The pictures show my final product. It smells great and looks OK. Now just waiting for the 4 weeks to be cured and ready to use.

Have a try. :)

The recipes for the soaps (The first ones I made)


The weather is not nice, cold and rain. I pulled the weeds last weekend, so this one is about creating.

I thought it would be good to put the recipes for the soaps in the picture.

The big one was made with the melt and pour technic - easy, easy.

Goat milk base lavender/oats soap

Melted around 50g goat milk base soap, added 3 tbs oats, about 6 drops of lavender essential oil. 

I melted the goat milk base soap in the microwave. 15 seconds, stir, 15 seconds, stir, when all is basically melted, add the oats, keep stirring and then the lavender. Put the mix in your moulds.

Let sit. If there are any bubbles spray some rubbing alcohol (preference without sent). 

The second soap I found this recipe while searching the web. The site is  www.fromnaturewithlove.com.  They have a good recipe database.

The recipe was provided to the site by Ann of Pilot Mountain, NC.

Ingredients:(original recipe)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Water
2 Tablespoons Milk Powder
2 Tablespoons Honey, natural not powdered
Honey, Spice or Vanilla Fragrance Oil if desired
1/2 cup melted Melt and Pour base

Instructions:

Combine the olive oil, the water, milk powder and honey in a small bowl and mix really well. The consistency will be like home made mayonnaise. Add the Melt and Pour base ( I used Goat's Milk). Stir gently until all blended. I did not add any colorant or fragrances. I added some oats as well. It is a nice moisturiser and the smell is delicious.

My next step will be to try the cold process, which I am still reading all I can about it.

One thing I can assure is that soap making is very relaxing and has a world of possibilities.

Creating and re-creating

For a while I stayed put. No creations, no crafts, nothing new.
My mind was all over the place, but not in the right place.

Many readings, many expectations about myself without any clear direction.
Where am I? What should I do? What the steps for change? Or better, what do I need to change to recreate a better version of myself (Yes, Madonna, you are right we can always change).

In one of those days of poor me I decided to watch Tony Robbins - I am not your guru. Something clicked. 
I just realised that there is nothing out there, but all inside myself. I am the only one capable of finding what is missing. And some how I now did. So, thank you Mr Robbins, don't know what is your magic, but worked. One day I hope to have the dollars to attend one of your seminars. 

I feel better when I am creating something, using my hands and imagination.  I've done dolls, candles,  jackets, paper dolls, painting, crochet, knitting....and the amount o crafting stuff I have in my house...yeah, I could open a shop.

My contact with nature is also vital to uplift my mood, so now, I spend literally hours in my garden. Sometimes just pulling weeds; and that is in itself very releasing. To each one, I pull a bad memory, a not so nice person, a reaction from me that it was not a positive one... Then comes the best part of it: planting the good thoughts. Flowers, new succulents, geraniums, iris...each one represents a positive new thought and the deep belief that things will be fine.

Oh lost the line...back to creating. I did my first batch of natural soaps. So simple and so relaxing.
Milk goat base, milk, olive oil, honey and oats. No chemicals to colour, no fragrance. It smells really nice and is a natural moisturising.

I am embracing a  new journey, an interior soulful one and the feeling is amazing. I will keep digging the weeds, planting new flowers and doing lots of soaps.

What weeds are you pulling out today:)?

Recipes and words from Grandma

My grandma was a person who expressed her love through some of the most delicious foods, among other fantastic ways. Nothing was difficult for her. She has always open her doors to everyone, in need or not. There was always a place on the table to whoever wanted a coffee or just a chat.

Sunday mornings' breakfasts were special. We used to wake up early and wait for the feast. Could just be a sweet couscous or french toast grandma way, but were full of taste and more importantly, full of love.

I think she deserved be remembered for all the good things she's done and my way of honouring her memory will be writing her recipes and wise words.

Today I will bring her   Sweet Bread

3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 tea spoons baking powder
2 tbs butter
1 egg

Sift baking powder and flour. Add sugar, butter, milk and egg. Mix very well and put in a square greased tin. Use butter to grease the tin. Let it rest while you prepare the mix to put on top.

1/4 cup sugar
2 tbs butter
2 tbs flour
1 tea spoon cinnamon

Melt the butter, let it cool. Add the other ingredients. Mix with your hands. It should look like popcorn. Put on top of the bread.

Bake it in moderate heat.

The best way to eat is while it is still warm.

Enjoy!

The more you share the more the sun will shine

The more you give the more you gonna get. (from the movie "All dogs go to Heaven"


Some movies are never outdated...I am watching this movie again after, I think, 15 years....still touchy, beautiful and with a great message.