Monday, April 23, 2012
DIY Coconut Yogurt - Mostly Pass
Peace.
I really felt like I had to wait before I could truly give this recipe an objective review. I feel like I have a feel now.
Why:
I have been striving to remove dairy from my diet. It bloats me. That means no yogurt. But I love yogurt. I could use soy yogurt. But…. I could. I am not a soy hater; but I don’t think folks should be overloading their diets with the stuff either. We get a lot of soy in processed foods, so adding it extra, if you don’t have to, doesn’t really make sense to me. And of course, if it’s natural and inexpensive, it’s a plus. A BIG plus.
Method:
Here is the site for the recipe and technique I used…. http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/2010/08/homemade-vegan-yogurt-in-the-crock-pot/
Must give credit where credit is due. And I use brown sugar, simply because I don’t use white sugar anymore
Data
I made 2 batches with canned milk. I suppose I could have made my own coconut milk, but that would have been more expensive, time consuming and not worth it. One with probiotic caps, one with a tablespoon of soy yogurt. The one made with probiotics never thickened correctly and the milk kept separating. Now that could be because the probiotics were dead or because it just wasn’t going to happen. Either way, it wasn’t successful.
The batch made with leftover yogurt thickened much better but not the consistency of store bought yogurt but enough for me to be satisfied with the result. It thickened more once it went into the refrigerator and it doesn’t separate as much as the probiotic yogurt. It has the yogurt ‘tang’ and the coconut flavor doesn’t come through as strong as coconut milk. I put coconut milk in my coffee and it’s overpowering. I tend to flavor it with nutmeg and vanilla (sometimes brandy) and the like just to pretend that flavor is intentional.
Conclusion:
I like it. I will make more of this in the future using the successful batch as a starter.
Peace
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
DIY Laundry Soap: Dry version---- PASS! So far
Peace.
OK. This build is a long time coming. I have been wanting to try this recipe since 2007, but just never got around to it. I think I was still getting over a friend of min clowning me because I wanted to try this. Also, some of the bloggers claim that diy detergent destroys your machine. Since my machine is 12 years old, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. This weekend after I did my personal laundry (there are some things I don’t want soaking with my ‘good’ clothes and unmentionables). I washed dish towels, an oven mit, and 3 of the God’s white undershirts. I ran out of washing powder and was too lazy to go to the grocery for more Tide. So that was as good a time as ever. Plus I already had the ingredients…. From 2007!
Here is the recipe: ½ bar of shredded Zote, 1 cup of Borax, ½ cup of washing soda, ¼ cup of oxyclean all placed in an air tight container.
The Line Up
All mixed up
Other bloggers suggest using 1 Tables spoon. I used 2. I didn’t want to make the liquid versions. I don’t buy liquid washing soap in the 1st place. Why would I make it now? Of course I did the knowledge to all the products first. I have been looking for a vegetarian cleaning product. I don’t eat meat and I don’t think it’s cool to wear clothes that have been soaked in meat. Especially on my girl parts. That’s not saying Zote or Fels Naptha are vegetarian, but now I know it can be done. The interesting thing I learned was that Borax and washing soda essentially did the same thing. Washing soda is more severe, chemical version of borax. And where borax is quarried, washing soda is manufactured. They both soften hard water, they both remove organic stains, they both remove odor. So when I was playing with the proportions, I decided to use less soda and more borax. Also, washing soda is more difficult to find and more expensive. I don’t do online ordering of something I’m supposed to be able to find locally. I added oxyclean because it’s a brightner that I am familiar with.
Since I have given you the recipe and method, let me move on to the results… The mix worked on my non-garment laundry. I didn’t add bleach to the mix because my internet research said I shouldn’t mix bleach and washing soda. Plus I wanted to see how the powder worked all by itself. It seemed to work. BUT… I did wash the items in hot water. Let’s be mindful that hot water and agitation can clean clothes too. Here are some before and after pics….
Before
After
the glove on the left is unwashed. The glove on the right is clearly washed.
Yesterday, the God decided to do his own laundry with the powder. He did whites with hot water. He was very invested in using the powder since he was the one who had to shred the soap, and there wasn’t anything else to use. Shredding the soap is really was a man’s job. That soap was HARD. Also, he has more whites than I do in his wardrobe. I don’t know when this started but I, for some reason, have dark everything with few whites. Dark towels, dark under things, even dark t-shirts. I own very little white. And I didn’t realize that until we moved in together. I would buy bleach maybe every 6 months? In the past I have had skin reactions to bleach cleaned items and used to use that bluing stuff. But when I moved to GA I couldn’t find it here; nor anyone that ever heard of it. But I digress… The God’s clothes looked clean and didn’t smell funky. Isn’t that really the bottom line of clean laundry?
There were a few negatives… The yellow under arm stains did not budge. At all. I really should investigate how to remove those. I don’t really have that problem since I don’t wear white shirts that much, but the God does. And if anybody sees his undershirts, I will be deemed a poor Earth. And he won’t throw them away, or let me do it. Another thing is the laundry doesn’t smell like anything. Not funk, but not fresh. I know I was used to the chemical sweetness of Tide but I’d like a little something something. Also, the dishtowels were rough. I didn’t use fabric softener either. I wanted to see how the powder worked in its purest state. But none of these negatives are deal breakers.
So the conclusion is, I recommend this and will continue using this mix until something bad happens. I do want to do some further experimentation… (1) I want to use it on my clothes to see if it messes with my eczema. (2) I want to make this using vegan soap. (3) I want to use all borax and no washing soda to make it greener and cheaper. (4) I need to see if it works in cold water and on dark clothes. And (5) I am ever hopeful that it doesn’t mess with my machine.
Feedback? Sheila?
Peace
OK. This build is a long time coming. I have been wanting to try this recipe since 2007, but just never got around to it. I think I was still getting over a friend of min clowning me because I wanted to try this. Also, some of the bloggers claim that diy detergent destroys your machine. Since my machine is 12 years old, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. This weekend after I did my personal laundry (there are some things I don’t want soaking with my ‘good’ clothes and unmentionables). I washed dish towels, an oven mit, and 3 of the God’s white undershirts. I ran out of washing powder and was too lazy to go to the grocery for more Tide. So that was as good a time as ever. Plus I already had the ingredients…. From 2007!
Here is the recipe: ½ bar of shredded Zote, 1 cup of Borax, ½ cup of washing soda, ¼ cup of oxyclean all placed in an air tight container.
Other bloggers suggest using 1 Tables spoon. I used 2. I didn’t want to make the liquid versions. I don’t buy liquid washing soap in the 1st place. Why would I make it now? Of course I did the knowledge to all the products first. I have been looking for a vegetarian cleaning product. I don’t eat meat and I don’t think it’s cool to wear clothes that have been soaked in meat. Especially on my girl parts. That’s not saying Zote or Fels Naptha are vegetarian, but now I know it can be done. The interesting thing I learned was that Borax and washing soda essentially did the same thing. Washing soda is more severe, chemical version of borax. And where borax is quarried, washing soda is manufactured. They both soften hard water, they both remove organic stains, they both remove odor. So when I was playing with the proportions, I decided to use less soda and more borax. Also, washing soda is more difficult to find and more expensive. I don’t do online ordering of something I’m supposed to be able to find locally. I added oxyclean because it’s a brightner that I am familiar with.
Since I have given you the recipe and method, let me move on to the results… The mix worked on my non-garment laundry. I didn’t add bleach to the mix because my internet research said I shouldn’t mix bleach and washing soda. Plus I wanted to see how the powder worked all by itself. It seemed to work. BUT… I did wash the items in hot water. Let’s be mindful that hot water and agitation can clean clothes too. Here are some before and after pics….
Yesterday, the God decided to do his own laundry with the powder. He did whites with hot water. He was very invested in using the powder since he was the one who had to shred the soap, and there wasn’t anything else to use. Shredding the soap is really was a man’s job. That soap was HARD. Also, he has more whites than I do in his wardrobe. I don’t know when this started but I, for some reason, have dark everything with few whites. Dark towels, dark under things, even dark t-shirts. I own very little white. And I didn’t realize that until we moved in together. I would buy bleach maybe every 6 months? In the past I have had skin reactions to bleach cleaned items and used to use that bluing stuff. But when I moved to GA I couldn’t find it here; nor anyone that ever heard of it. But I digress… The God’s clothes looked clean and didn’t smell funky. Isn’t that really the bottom line of clean laundry?
There were a few negatives… The yellow under arm stains did not budge. At all. I really should investigate how to remove those. I don’t really have that problem since I don’t wear white shirts that much, but the God does. And if anybody sees his undershirts, I will be deemed a poor Earth. And he won’t throw them away, or let me do it. Another thing is the laundry doesn’t smell like anything. Not funk, but not fresh. I know I was used to the chemical sweetness of Tide but I’d like a little something something. Also, the dishtowels were rough. I didn’t use fabric softener either. I wanted to see how the powder worked in its purest state. But none of these negatives are deal breakers.
So the conclusion is, I recommend this and will continue using this mix until something bad happens. I do want to do some further experimentation… (1) I want to use it on my clothes to see if it messes with my eczema. (2) I want to make this using vegan soap. (3) I want to use all borax and no washing soda to make it greener and cheaper. (4) I need to see if it works in cold water and on dark clothes. And (5) I am ever hopeful that it doesn’t mess with my machine.
Feedback? Sheila?
Peace
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Bathroom Cleaner - Pass!
Peace.
This weekend I was very busy trying stuff. I made washing powder, coconut yogurt and bathroom cleaner. I’m not ready to build on the yogurt and washing powder but I am ready to report on the bathroom cleaner.
Premise:
A DIY bathroom cleaner that alleges to cut grease and soap scum quickly and cheaply using relatively easy products to find.
Background:
Let me get started by giving you the recipe and source: http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275.
Method:
Equal amounts of Dawn and hot vinegar placed in a spray bottle and shake gently until combined. I added the Dawn first and then the hot vinegar to it. The directions say do it the other way around and they also say that when you do that you get major bubbles that slow you down.
Data:
I did a lot if internet research and I did not determine that one way over the other made a difference. And I didn’t have the bubble issue with vinegar added to soap.
Vinegar costs $.75. Dawn costs $1.15. So less than $2 for a full bottle of the cleaner. A full bottle of this solution was 2x the weight of the scrubbing bubbles. And I don’t use name brand bubbles. My bootleg bubbles cost $1. So this stuff is half the cost 1/2 of my usual cleaner.
Results
Did it work? Yes. I have been using it as a bathroom cleaner and it worked as well as the scrubbing bubbles I normally use. When you think about it makes sense. Dawn’s claim to fame is that it is a grease cutter. And vinegar is a strong acid. So together why wouldn’t it work? And it was cheaper than my old cleaner. Win, win.
But there are some negatives. The smell is very strong. I couldn’t stay for long periods of time in the bathroom or be super close to the solution without coughing. The solution burned my hands the mist irritated my face; so factor in the cost of gloves and possibly a mask.
Conclusion:
Right now I’m satisfied. I will be making this repeatedly in the future. I do wonder if I can make this with regular dish soap or does it have to be Dawn? I will check on that in subsequent experiments.
Hope this was helpful.
Peace
This weekend I was very busy trying stuff. I made washing powder, coconut yogurt and bathroom cleaner. I’m not ready to build on the yogurt and washing powder but I am ready to report on the bathroom cleaner.
Premise:
A DIY bathroom cleaner that alleges to cut grease and soap scum quickly and cheaply using relatively easy products to find.
Background:
Let me get started by giving you the recipe and source: http://www.food.com/recipe/tub-and-shower-magic-434275.
Method:
Equal amounts of Dawn and hot vinegar placed in a spray bottle and shake gently until combined. I added the Dawn first and then the hot vinegar to it. The directions say do it the other way around and they also say that when you do that you get major bubbles that slow you down.
Data:
I did a lot if internet research and I did not determine that one way over the other made a difference. And I didn’t have the bubble issue with vinegar added to soap.
Vinegar costs $.75. Dawn costs $1.15. So less than $2 for a full bottle of the cleaner. A full bottle of this solution was 2x the weight of the scrubbing bubbles. And I don’t use name brand bubbles. My bootleg bubbles cost $1. So this stuff is half the cost 1/2 of my usual cleaner.
Results
Did it work? Yes. I have been using it as a bathroom cleaner and it worked as well as the scrubbing bubbles I normally use. When you think about it makes sense. Dawn’s claim to fame is that it is a grease cutter. And vinegar is a strong acid. So together why wouldn’t it work? And it was cheaper than my old cleaner. Win, win.
But there are some negatives. The smell is very strong. I couldn’t stay for long periods of time in the bathroom or be super close to the solution without coughing. The solution burned my hands the mist irritated my face; so factor in the cost of gloves and possibly a mask.
Conclusion:
Right now I’m satisfied. I will be making this repeatedly in the future. I do wonder if I can make this with regular dish soap or does it have to be Dawn? I will check on that in subsequent experiments.
Hope this was helpful.
Peace
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Overnight Oatmeal: Pass!
Peace,
On the internet there is a plethora of overnight Oatmeal recipes. One of my pet peeves with recipes is that the people who comment say things like, “Yummy looking” or “Can’t wait to try this” or any of a number of uber-positive comments. But nothing useful. Like does it work? And I shouldn’t just blame this particular recipe; it’s like that with tutorials of every type. No REAL feedback.
So I just want to tell you that overnight oatmeal does work. Equal amounts of yogurt, milk and rolled oats left in the fridge overnight will yield some nice texture oatmeal. It will have the yogurt tang though if you like it or can get passed that. I don’t know why there is yogurt in it in the 1st place, but all the recipes say use yogurt so I did. I used blueberry yogurt and soy milk. It’s what I had. I was experimenting and not planning to buy a bunch of stuff for a test. It still worked. Also, because it was in the refrigerator all night it was be cold. I don’t often like cold things when the weather is chilly, but I can see myself enjoying this in the summer. I wonder if it must sit in the refrigerator even if it is covered. I suspect the yogurt will get more tangy.I will try that next.
I read you can do this with oat groats if you want to avoid the processed rolled oats, but who eats groats? It’s like eating wheat berries. The rolling of groats is not really all that processed but folks have their limits.
So if you want to try this, I recommend it. It worked. A cool way to get a jump on breakfast if you don’t have a million hours to cook or someone to cook for you.
Peace
PS: I am striving to get away from milk based products outside of cheese and butter. And even reduce my cheese consumption, and playing with alternatives to butter; but butter is so GOOD! So my next ‘test’ will be homemade coconut yogurt.
On the internet there is a plethora of overnight Oatmeal recipes. One of my pet peeves with recipes is that the people who comment say things like, “Yummy looking” or “Can’t wait to try this” or any of a number of uber-positive comments. But nothing useful. Like does it work? And I shouldn’t just blame this particular recipe; it’s like that with tutorials of every type. No REAL feedback.
So I just want to tell you that overnight oatmeal does work. Equal amounts of yogurt, milk and rolled oats left in the fridge overnight will yield some nice texture oatmeal. It will have the yogurt tang though if you like it or can get passed that. I don’t know why there is yogurt in it in the 1st place, but all the recipes say use yogurt so I did. I used blueberry yogurt and soy milk. It’s what I had. I was experimenting and not planning to buy a bunch of stuff for a test. It still worked. Also, because it was in the refrigerator all night it was be cold. I don’t often like cold things when the weather is chilly, but I can see myself enjoying this in the summer. I wonder if it must sit in the refrigerator even if it is covered. I suspect the yogurt will get more tangy.I will try that next.
I read you can do this with oat groats if you want to avoid the processed rolled oats, but who eats groats? It’s like eating wheat berries. The rolling of groats is not really all that processed but folks have their limits.
So if you want to try this, I recommend it. It worked. A cool way to get a jump on breakfast if you don’t have a million hours to cook or someone to cook for you.
Peace
PS: I am striving to get away from milk based products outside of cheese and butter. And even reduce my cheese consumption, and playing with alternatives to butter; but butter is so GOOD! So my next ‘test’ will be homemade coconut yogurt.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Odor Controller
Peace
Sweating is your body’s mechanism to cool down. The average person has about 2.6 million sweat glands, and sweat glands come in two types: eccrine (hands, feet) and apocrine. Apocrine glands are found in your arm pits and in your genital area. The apocrine glands usually end in hair follicles and become active during puberty. This is why babies tend to not be funky. The sweat produced by the apocrine glands contains proteins and fatty acids.
Sweat has no odor; the familiar unpleasant odor is caused by bacteria that live on our skin and hair. These bacteria metabolize the proteins and fatty acids from our apocrine sweat, causing body odor.
The difference between deodorants and antiperspirants is; deodorants deal with the smell by neutralizing it and by killing the bacteria that metabolize the proteins and fatty acids, while antiperspirants try to prevent sweating by blocking the pores using aluminum. Without sweat, the bacteria cannot metabolize proteins and fatty acids that cause body odor.
Antiperspirants are products that try to prevent sweating by using aluminum. However, most antiperspirants also have a deodorizing component. So deodorants cut the smell and antiperspirants stop you from sweating. Make your choice about what you want to use. My question is where is that sweat going when blocked?
It might be a surprise to learn that the antiperspirant you use daily is in fact an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. As mentioned, Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores with aluminum salts in order to prevent the release of sweat, effectively changing the function of the body. Antiperspirants are considered to be drugs because they affect the physiology of the body.
Deodorants and antiperspirants can allegedly cause breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Please be mindful that men have breast too, and can get breast cancer. Benign side effects of deodorants and antiperspirants are skin irritation and allergies, but more serious dangers of deodorants can be acute dermatitis.
An alleged danger of deodorants is that they could cause Alzheimer's disease due to the fact that they contain Aluminum salts such as Aluminum Chlorhydrate (to close the pores), and that the brains of Alzheimer's patients contain high levels of toxic Aluminum. In 1993, the World Health Organization stated that there is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of Aluminum. The long term side effects of the use of Aluminum in antiperspirants might be responsible for the tangles and plaques in the brain of Alzheimer patients.
So what can we do for prevention? Some Lucky folks don’t sweat. They don’t need this build. Some folks choose to not use deodorant/antiperspirant at all. But, the people in your cipher might object to you smelling like onions. Cutting the hair from your armpits will aid in the liquid sweat retention. You could use alcohol. But that only works for a few hours. You’d need to carry some with you to freshen up. Or… You can make your own deodorant with natural products.
Precise has been making his own deodorant for the last 2.5 years and is generous enough to share his recipe....
Peace,
This is one of those health related subjects that most people take for granted. Underarm deodorant. Really? Yeah! Like most other things you have to be mindful of the ingredients of your deodorant/antiperspirant or you might find yourself on the wrong side of a bad reaction. Read on if you want to find out how this can affect or has already affected you. Don't be too alarmed though, as I'm going to include a solution that is both cost effective and easy to prepare all by yourself.
Now on the surface you might ask yourself, "What could possibly be wrong with deodorant?" Well, people are different and different body chemistry could cause one person to have an allergic reaction to something that test subjects or even the average person does not. You ultimately have to find out what works for you. I remember my first experience with deodorant (Speed Stick) as a child and got a bad rash around my armpits. After that I tried various products until I found one that didn't burn. Then I got the nasty orange ring on my Tee-Shirts. After that I tried the "clear" gels. Didn't notice any particular problems with that so
that's what I used until I met my Earth many years later. She told me about one particular ingredient in deodorants that appears to cause many people problems. ALUMINUM!
Aluminum is a natural element (metal) and is one of the key ingredients in antiperspirant. Aluminum crystals are used as a deodorizer. In some people there seems to be an allergic response and can cause various health issues ranging from Kidney problems to Breast Cancer to Alzheimer's Disease. Research on whether Aluminum in antiperspirants can cause these problems is still inconclusive. Either way, knowing the potential risk the ingredients in both antiperspirants and deodorants can cause, got me looking into alternatives. I went through the Internet and found several dozen recipes for DIY underarm deodorants. From those I chose one that satisfied my own personal needs.
Here is the recipe for the deodorant I make:
Below is a picture of the different things you'll need. (D1) Coconut Oil, Corn Starch, Baking Soda, Scented Natural Oil, Cocoa Butter & Tee Tree Oil.
Start out with 1/2 cup of Backing Soda and 1/2 cup of Corn Starch (D2) Baking Soda works as a deodorizer and the Corn Starch works as an antiperspirant.
Then put in 1/4 cup of pure Cocoa Butter (D3) Cocoa Butter is a natural skin moisturizer
Next, put in a few drops of your favorite Natural oil (the one I use is called "Earth") (D4)
Next, put in about 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil (D5) Tee Tree Oil is a natural anti fungal, disinfectant and antiseptic. This makes Tee Tree Oil a great odor fighter.
The last ingredient is the most difficult to get the right amount. Start out with a tablespoon of coconut oil (I melt mine first). (D6) Coconut oil can be used as a deodorizer and skin conditioner.
Add some heat to the mixture. If the cocoa butter and coconut oil is enough, the mixture will turn to a thick paste. Go slowly because if you put in too much coconut oil the mixture will always be runny even in cooler ambient temperatures. Furthermore if it's too runny the coconut oil will separate and leak out of the deodorant container..... so be careful. (D7)
The coconut oil will remain solid up to about 76F degrees (D8)
Once you have a nice thick paste, put the paste in one of your old deodorant dispensers. The recipe will normally fill two of them. (D9, D10)
Put the full containers in the refrigerator for an hour or more.
Now you have deodorant to last you at least a year and if you keep your ingredients you won't need any more deodorant for a long time. It's all natural and hopefully you won't have any allergic reactions to anything in the mixture. If you do then remove that particular ingredient from the mixture and look for a substitute. My Earth has an allergy to Tee Tree Oil, so when I make hers I leave it out. With this article you now have enough info to do your own research and perhaps come up with your own healthy and safe recipe to help fight the underarm smellies.
Peace,
Precise Infinite Peace Allah
Sweating is your body’s mechanism to cool down. The average person has about 2.6 million sweat glands, and sweat glands come in two types: eccrine (hands, feet) and apocrine. Apocrine glands are found in your arm pits and in your genital area. The apocrine glands usually end in hair follicles and become active during puberty. This is why babies tend to not be funky. The sweat produced by the apocrine glands contains proteins and fatty acids.
Sweat has no odor; the familiar unpleasant odor is caused by bacteria that live on our skin and hair. These bacteria metabolize the proteins and fatty acids from our apocrine sweat, causing body odor.
The difference between deodorants and antiperspirants is; deodorants deal with the smell by neutralizing it and by killing the bacteria that metabolize the proteins and fatty acids, while antiperspirants try to prevent sweating by blocking the pores using aluminum. Without sweat, the bacteria cannot metabolize proteins and fatty acids that cause body odor.
Antiperspirants are products that try to prevent sweating by using aluminum. However, most antiperspirants also have a deodorizing component. So deodorants cut the smell and antiperspirants stop you from sweating. Make your choice about what you want to use. My question is where is that sweat going when blocked?
It might be a surprise to learn that the antiperspirant you use daily is in fact an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. As mentioned, Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores with aluminum salts in order to prevent the release of sweat, effectively changing the function of the body. Antiperspirants are considered to be drugs because they affect the physiology of the body.
Deodorants and antiperspirants can allegedly cause breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Please be mindful that men have breast too, and can get breast cancer. Benign side effects of deodorants and antiperspirants are skin irritation and allergies, but more serious dangers of deodorants can be acute dermatitis.
An alleged danger of deodorants is that they could cause Alzheimer's disease due to the fact that they contain Aluminum salts such as Aluminum Chlorhydrate (to close the pores), and that the brains of Alzheimer's patients contain high levels of toxic Aluminum. In 1993, the World Health Organization stated that there is a suspected link between Alzheimer's disease and the toxicity of Aluminum. The long term side effects of the use of Aluminum in antiperspirants might be responsible for the tangles and plaques in the brain of Alzheimer patients.
So what can we do for prevention? Some Lucky folks don’t sweat. They don’t need this build. Some folks choose to not use deodorant/antiperspirant at all. But, the people in your cipher might object to you smelling like onions. Cutting the hair from your armpits will aid in the liquid sweat retention. You could use alcohol. But that only works for a few hours. You’d need to carry some with you to freshen up. Or… You can make your own deodorant with natural products.
Precise has been making his own deodorant for the last 2.5 years and is generous enough to share his recipe....
Peace,
This is one of those health related subjects that most people take for granted. Underarm deodorant. Really? Yeah! Like most other things you have to be mindful of the ingredients of your deodorant/antiperspirant or you might find yourself on the wrong side of a bad reaction. Read on if you want to find out how this can affect or has already affected you. Don't be too alarmed though, as I'm going to include a solution that is both cost effective and easy to prepare all by yourself.
Now on the surface you might ask yourself, "What could possibly be wrong with deodorant?" Well, people are different and different body chemistry could cause one person to have an allergic reaction to something that test subjects or even the average person does not. You ultimately have to find out what works for you. I remember my first experience with deodorant (Speed Stick) as a child and got a bad rash around my armpits. After that I tried various products until I found one that didn't burn. Then I got the nasty orange ring on my Tee-Shirts. After that I tried the "clear" gels. Didn't notice any particular problems with that so
that's what I used until I met my Earth many years later. She told me about one particular ingredient in deodorants that appears to cause many people problems. ALUMINUM!
Aluminum is a natural element (metal) and is one of the key ingredients in antiperspirant. Aluminum crystals are used as a deodorizer. In some people there seems to be an allergic response and can cause various health issues ranging from Kidney problems to Breast Cancer to Alzheimer's Disease. Research on whether Aluminum in antiperspirants can cause these problems is still inconclusive. Either way, knowing the potential risk the ingredients in both antiperspirants and deodorants can cause, got me looking into alternatives. I went through the Internet and found several dozen recipes for DIY underarm deodorants. From those I chose one that satisfied my own personal needs.
Here is the recipe for the deodorant I make:
Below is a picture of the different things you'll need. (D1) Coconut Oil, Corn Starch, Baking Soda, Scented Natural Oil, Cocoa Butter & Tee Tree Oil.
Start out with 1/2 cup of Backing Soda and 1/2 cup of Corn Starch (D2) Baking Soda works as a deodorizer and the Corn Starch works as an antiperspirant.
Then put in 1/4 cup of pure Cocoa Butter (D3) Cocoa Butter is a natural skin moisturizer
Next, put in a few drops of your favorite Natural oil (the one I use is called "Earth") (D4)
Next, put in about 10 drops of Tea Tree Oil (D5) Tee Tree Oil is a natural anti fungal, disinfectant and antiseptic. This makes Tee Tree Oil a great odor fighter.
The last ingredient is the most difficult to get the right amount. Start out with a tablespoon of coconut oil (I melt mine first). (D6) Coconut oil can be used as a deodorizer and skin conditioner.
Add some heat to the mixture. If the cocoa butter and coconut oil is enough, the mixture will turn to a thick paste. Go slowly because if you put in too much coconut oil the mixture will always be runny even in cooler ambient temperatures. Furthermore if it's too runny the coconut oil will separate and leak out of the deodorant container..... so be careful. (D7)
The coconut oil will remain solid up to about 76F degrees (D8)
Once you have a nice thick paste, put the paste in one of your old deodorant dispensers. The recipe will normally fill two of them. (D9, D10)
Put the full containers in the refrigerator for an hour or more.
Now you have deodorant to last you at least a year and if you keep your ingredients you won't need any more deodorant for a long time. It's all natural and hopefully you won't have any allergic reactions to anything in the mixture. If you do then remove that particular ingredient from the mixture and look for a substitute. My Earth has an allergy to Tee Tree Oil, so when I make hers I leave it out. With this article you now have enough info to do your own research and perhaps come up with your own healthy and safe recipe to help fight the underarm smellies.
Peace,
Precise Infinite Peace Allah
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Reheating Pizza in a Frying Pan
Peace.
I love pizza as I'm sure millions do. I can eat cold pizza and be perfectly satisfied. After all it is the breakfast of champions! I was single a long time and I didn't fight the pressure to eat a whole pizza at one sitting. That's when I learned that pizza freezes beautifully. You can't eat pizza straight from the freezer. But there has been debate on the interwebs of what is the most effective way to reheat pizza.
I don't microwave. So that's out. I heat my oven and/or toaster oven and reheat my slices that way. I saw the arguments on reheating pizza in a frying pan.... and we eat pizza weekly.... I had to try this. When we eat pizza for dinner, I can't eat my share in one meal. So I eat the rest for breakfast the morning after. And since I KNOW I'm going to eat it for breakfast, I don't put it up. I just keep it in the oven.
Well I heated my slice up on a non stick griddle. The same one I used to make the God's eggs. The bottom of the slice heated nicely, but the top... you know where the cheese is... didn't. So I covered the slice and let it heat a little more. The result was a burned black crispy crust, and lukewarm cheese that was not melty by anyone's definition. I could only eat the top part which left me hungry later.
There are folks calling this the second calling. I call it a failure and a waste of pizza.
Here are some links for your perusal...
http://thedeliciousdishbyray.blogspot.com/2008/01/great-pizza-re-heat-debate.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys6BkhVJ-gk
http://laruetx.com/life/pizza.html
http://www.labefanapizza.com/best-reheating-pizza-methods-from-la-befana-pizzeria/
Peace
I love pizza as I'm sure millions do. I can eat cold pizza and be perfectly satisfied. After all it is the breakfast of champions! I was single a long time and I didn't fight the pressure to eat a whole pizza at one sitting. That's when I learned that pizza freezes beautifully. You can't eat pizza straight from the freezer. But there has been debate on the interwebs of what is the most effective way to reheat pizza.
I don't microwave. So that's out. I heat my oven and/or toaster oven and reheat my slices that way. I saw the arguments on reheating pizza in a frying pan.... and we eat pizza weekly.... I had to try this. When we eat pizza for dinner, I can't eat my share in one meal. So I eat the rest for breakfast the morning after. And since I KNOW I'm going to eat it for breakfast, I don't put it up. I just keep it in the oven.
Well I heated my slice up on a non stick griddle. The same one I used to make the God's eggs. The bottom of the slice heated nicely, but the top... you know where the cheese is... didn't. So I covered the slice and let it heat a little more. The result was a burned black crispy crust, and lukewarm cheese that was not melty by anyone's definition. I could only eat the top part which left me hungry later.
There are folks calling this the second calling. I call it a failure and a waste of pizza.
Here are some links for your perusal...
http://thedeliciousdishbyray.blogspot.com/2008/01/great-pizza-re-heat-debate.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys6BkhVJ-gk
http://laruetx.com/life/pizza.html
http://www.labefanapizza.com/best-reheating-pizza-methods-from-la-befana-pizzeria/
Peace
Dry skin lotion
Peace.
One of my New Years resolutions was that I would show this blog a little more love. Once a season posting is really not the hotness. It is my ambition to post more regularly over here. And if I feel like I can't really love this like I should, then I will combine this blog with one of the other blogs I keep. And they are all different. The only thing that is the same is the "Peace." That being said.....
If y'all haven't joined Pinterest.com you need to. It takes a minute to get up and rolling, but it's so worth it once you get going. It's on my most visited list now a days. I find a lot of homemaking tips on there. One of the tips I found is for dry skin cream.
Now I have been blessed/cursed/you call it with eczema since birth. I suffer. Prescription creams and ointments have helped some, radiation some, infections some... but as the crunchy Earth I have become I don't want to use those things. I don't want to itch and become disfigured either. So a Pinterest tip has given me mad relief.
Mix baby lotion, Vaseline and vitamin E oil together until it becomes homogeneous. That's it. I bought all that stuff at Family Dollar for less than $5. I have paid $65 for Lac Hydrin and lets not discuss the steroid shots and what they do to my body. This mix is amazing! Truly amazing! But it only stops the itching as long as it's on my skin. When it wears off the itching returns. But that can take hours. So how do I handle that? I carry a small container with me. A little goes a long way and the itching completely stops like a light switch.
If you have itchy eczema do this. Here is the link....
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2010/03/06/homemade-hand-cream/
Please don't give me advice on my skin. I have lived with this for 40 years. Just because you child has it doesn't make you an expert. Not trying to be a smart ass but I grow tired of folks giving me advice that might have worked on me as a child. Grown assed eczema is a completely different ballgame.
I still love, though!
Peace
One of my New Years resolutions was that I would show this blog a little more love. Once a season posting is really not the hotness. It is my ambition to post more regularly over here. And if I feel like I can't really love this like I should, then I will combine this blog with one of the other blogs I keep. And they are all different. The only thing that is the same is the "Peace." That being said.....
If y'all haven't joined Pinterest.com you need to. It takes a minute to get up and rolling, but it's so worth it once you get going. It's on my most visited list now a days. I find a lot of homemaking tips on there. One of the tips I found is for dry skin cream.
Now I have been blessed/cursed/you call it with eczema since birth. I suffer. Prescription creams and ointments have helped some, radiation some, infections some... but as the crunchy Earth I have become I don't want to use those things. I don't want to itch and become disfigured either. So a Pinterest tip has given me mad relief.
Mix baby lotion, Vaseline and vitamin E oil together until it becomes homogeneous. That's it. I bought all that stuff at Family Dollar for less than $5. I have paid $65 for Lac Hydrin and lets not discuss the steroid shots and what they do to my body. This mix is amazing! Truly amazing! But it only stops the itching as long as it's on my skin. When it wears off the itching returns. But that can take hours. So how do I handle that? I carry a small container with me. A little goes a long way and the itching completely stops like a light switch.
If you have itchy eczema do this. Here is the link....
http://www.patchworktimes.com/2010/03/06/homemade-hand-cream/
Please don't give me advice on my skin. I have lived with this for 40 years. Just because you child has it doesn't make you an expert. Not trying to be a smart ass but I grow tired of folks giving me advice that might have worked on me as a child. Grown assed eczema is a completely different ballgame.
I still love, though!
Peace
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