Wax and Bubbles

Americas alone wash 100 million (35 billion loads) of laundry every year. But most laundry detergent used is so harmful to the environment it ends up polluting the water ways with phosphates, chlorine and even petroleum. Instead opt for a product that doesn’t take a toll on the environment or your clothing material. Here are three that you should consider switching to.

1. Method Detergent: Contains no phosphates. It cleans through a biodegradable enzyme. $8 for 32 ounces (32 loads of laundry). Can be purchased at Wal-Mart and Target.

2. Biokleen Detergent: Uses super concentrated formulas, which means less packaging. All of the ingredients are from a renewable resource. Contains no phosphates and comes in fragrance-free. Can be used in cold water which saves on additional energy usage. $7 for 32 ounces (32 loads of laundry).

3. Ecos Detergent: Comes out clean in its whole production cycle. The all-natural liquid detergent is made in the United States in green facilities. The ingredients come from a domestic, certified organic source. Packaging and container are recyclable and even biodegradable. Ecos even encourages their employees to garden organically as well. $9 for 50 ounces (25 loads of laundry)

4. Try making your own:
• What you will need:
2 cups Soap flakes
1 cup Washing soda
1 cup Borax
Vegetable glycerin
Heavy plastic or glass container
Essential oils

• What you need to do:
Mix the soap flakes, washing soda and the borax together and store in a lidded container.

If you want to make a liquid all natural laundry detergent, add 6 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin and 6 cups of water to the powder detergent above. You’ll need to shake well before each use.

Lavender and Orange essential oils are good to add for scent. Use about 30 to 40 drops per batch of liquid detergent.

Fumes from everyday household cleaners may make your house “clean”, so to speak, but at what level are you putting your own health and your family and pet’s health at risk? With common products within your own cabinet, you can still get your house clean without the risk of health and lung issues later on. Here are some common ingredients for making all-natural cleaners. Most you have on hand right now.

• 1/2 cup baking soda + 2 tbs. castile soap= Bathroom Cleaner (with a bit of elbow grease and these products, you can take almost anything off your tub, shower and even floor and cabinets)

• Used coffee grinds= Lawn Fertilizer

• 1 cup white vinegar + 1 cup baking soda + 1 kettle of boiling water= An Awesome Drain Opener (pour in baking soda into the drain, add the vinegar and wait 30 minutes, follow by flushing with boiling water)

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil + 1/2 cup lemon juice= Furniture Polish

• 1 cup white vinegar + 1 gallon of water= Glass Cleaner (mix together in a spray-top bottle)

• Brewer’s yeast=Flea Repellent (click here to find out more)

• Vitamin B= Flea Repellent (click here to find out more)

• Cinnamon Leaves = Whole Cloves= Air Freshener (simmer on the stove with water on medium-low heat)

Changing your cleaning routine and cleaning products to include one or more of these ingredients can significantly reduce your families and your own risk of inhaling harmful fumes that make cause other issues later, such as asthma, or even skin irritations. Your pet will thank you as well for changing their chemical exposure to a greener solution.

Skin Toner for Oily Skin:

What you will need:
2 tsp. of high-proof vodka
A clean, dry glass bottle large enough to hold at least 1/2 pt.
3 drops neroli essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
3 drops petit grain essential oil
1 oz. witch hazel
8 oz. of orange-flower water

1. Pour the vodka into the glass bottle. Add the neroli essential oil, orange essential oil and petit grain essential oil and shake hard to dissolve the oils.

2. Add the witch hazel and shake again. Add the orange flower water and shale the bottle until all the ingredients have blended together well. The essential oils will not completely dissolve, so shake each time you go to use the toner.

Skin Toner for Dry and Sensitive Skin:

What you will need:

1 tsp. high-proof vodka
A clean, dry glass bottle large enough to hold at least 1/2 pt.
4 drops rose absolute essential oil
4 drops rose otto essential oil
2 tsp. of witch hazel
9 oz. rose-flower water

1. Pour the vodka into the glass bottle, add the rose absolute essential oil and the rose otto essential oil and shake the bottle hard to mix and dissolve the oils.

2. Add the witch hazel and shake vigorously, followed by the rose-flower water. Shake the bottle until all the ingredients have blended together pretty well. Be sure and shake the bottle before each use of the toner.

Use these toners on your face morning and nightly for a clearer more healthy looking skin. Making your own products is a great way to use all-natural ingredients and to know exactly what is in the facial care products you use daily.

Making the Gold Leaf Candles:

What you will need:

-Felt tip marker
-Tracing paper
-Masking tape
-Sheets of gold leaf
-Pillar candle
-Ballpoint pen, pencil or skewer

Using marker, draw desired motifs on the tracing paper. Tape gold leaf, with the gold side down to the candle. Tape the motif over the gold leaf paper. Using a pen, draw over motif to transfer the gold leaf to the candle on the outside. Peel back the gold leaf to insure entire motif has been transferred onto the entire section you are wanting on your candle. Remove motif and gold leaf as well. Using a fresh sheet of gold leaf, repeat taping and transferring motifs to cover the entire candle, if you choose. Do not place tape over the areas where the gold leaf has been applied.

Making the Stenciled Pillars:

What you will need:

-Candle
-Ruler
-Stenciled plastic
-Pencil
-Crafts
-Knife
-Spray Stencil Adhesive
-Nontoxic spray paint

Measure height and circumference of candle; mark the dimensions on stencil plastic. Draw design on the plastic to fit inside the outlines. Cut out parts of design to make the stencil.

Spray back of stencil with adhesive; press onto candle. Spray candle with paint; let dry. Remove the stencil once the paint is dry. To finish the candle spray finished candle with the stencil dried completely with candle gloss spray. If you stick to smaller stencils they will show up and be seen easier than larger stencils. So choose wisely. This an other tools needed to make these are available at any hobby or craft store worldwide,

Making Peppermint Soap:

40 oz Olive oil
20 oz Palm Kernel oil
20 oz Pam oil
20 oz Coconut oil
5 oz Jojoba oil (added at trace)
4 oz Lavender EO (added at trace)
2 oz Peppermint EO (added at trace)
6 oz Alcanet diffused in 8 oz olive oil (added at trace)
34 oz filtered water
14.5 oz lanolin
Combined oils and lanolin at 100 degrees F. Mixed with stick blender. Poured into loaf mold and covered with plastic wrap. Wrapped in blankets for 24 hrs and then cut into thick strips of soap and wrap in cloth or plastic wrap. Store in a cool, dry location.

Making Peppermint Lip Balm:

1½ oz beeswax pellets
1 oz cocoa butter
1½ oz shea butter
2 ozs. sweet almond oil
1-2 teaspoons peppermint essential oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E liquid

In a very small pan, add the beeswax and melt over the lowest setting.
Once melted add the cocoa butter chunks and shea butter, let melt, and
then add the sweet almond oil. Heat through. Add the Vitamin E oil.
Remove from stove and pour into a glass measuring cup for easy pouring
into lip balm containers.

Add the peppermint oil. Stir peppermint oil in
and pour into lip balm containers. If the mixture starts to harden, place in
the microwave for a few seconds to re-melt and then pour. Makes 6 oz.

Making Peppermint Lotion:

3 tbsp paraffin
1/2 cup shea butter
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp glycerin
10-15 drops peppermint essential oil

Slowly heat paraffin with the oils in a double boiler. Stir until blended. Add in the glycerin and remove from heat. Let cool before using.

Making Peppermint Scented Candles:

1/2 teaspoon peppermint essential oil
Wicks
Wick holder
1/2 pound beeswax
1/2 pound soy wax
Small paintbrush

1. In a double boiler, heat beeswax and soy wax until melted, about 180 degrees. Check temperature with a candy thermometer. Turn off the heat and add peppermint oil.

2. Cut 3 inches of wick; tie a knot at one end. Thread the loose end through a wick holder, and pull so the knot is secure under the holder.

3. Dip the wick and holder with wax until coated; this will stiffen and straighten the wick. Press the wick holder into the bottom of your candle holder to affix. Let the wick dry.

4. Pour the wax into the candle, and fill to the edge. Let the candle dry for about 4 hours.

Self-abhyanga is simple to do, is deeply nurturing and restores balnace when you skin needs soothing. Here;s how to treat yourself:

• A warm room (ideally, the bathroom)
• 2 to 3 ounces untaoste, organic sesame oil
• 1 small glass bottle with a cap
• Hot tap water (in a bowl or sink)
• 1 old towle or mat that you don’t mind staining
• Paper towels

Warm it up: Pour oil into the bottle and cap tightyly. Place the bottle in hot water until the oil is warm enoug for your liking.

Rub it on: Undress completely and stand on the towel or mat. Pour a little oil inot your palm. Test it first on a small patch of skin; if you experience any irritation, try a different oil, such as coconut or sunflower. Apply the oil to the crown of your head, using your fingertips to move outward in circles. (If you would rather not get your hair greasy, you can massage without oil.) Apply the oil from head to toe, working downward until your entire body is anointed. Massage it into your ksin for 10 to 12 minutes, giving each part of your body adequate attention. Use loong strokes up and down your arms and legs, and circular strokes over your joints, chest and abdomnen.

Soak it in: Sit quiety on the edge of the tub with your eyes closedfor a few minutes, breathing deeply while your ksin takes in the nourishment.

Wash it off: Pat any excess oil from your ksin with paper towels. Be sure to dry the soles of your feet before stepping into the bathtub or the shower, so you don’t slip and fall. Cleanse your ksin with warm water and a gently soap. If you have oil in your hair, apply a mild shampoo and rinse well. Pat dry with a fresh towel. (Don’t put an oily towel or mat in the dryer, for it will cause a fire.) Dress, smile, and greet the day a new grounded, warm and balanced from head to toe. (Source: Some information pulled from YogaJournal 2007)

All you need are sheets of beeswax and wicks. You can purchase these at craft stores, bee keeping supply companies or from an online source. To find an online source simply search the words, “candle making”, “wax sheets”, or “beeswax sheets.”

The honeycomb wax is a neat little added flair to the tapers. But, you can use smooth as well, either one works great. They are available in a wide range of colors. The cost for an 8″ x 16″ sheet will run you about two dollars.

Determine the size of the wick to purchase by the diameter of the candles you plan to make. Most sources will have a chart of recommendations to help you pick out the right wick. Wicks come in flat braid or square braid. For the most flexibility, you may want to purchase a range of wick sizes.

Buy enough wax and wick that you will be able to do a few test runs.

To get started warm the wax in the sun until it softens a bit or you can heat it by placing it on a towel lined cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven. It just takes a couple of minutes for the wax to soften and become pliable.

Determine the height of the candle you want and cut the sheet accordingly. Next cut a piece of wick about 1/2 inches longer than the height of your candle. Place the wick 1/8 of an inch from the edge of the wax sheet and press firmly so that it is well sealed. Now gently roll the sheet tightly, making sure the ends are even. When you have created the diameter desired, use a utility knife to trim any excess and a warm metal spatula to seal the edge. Trim the wick down to about 1/2 inch on top.

To increase the diameter of the candle, simply roll the first sheet with the wick in it with a new sheet lining up the edge of the new sheet with the unsealed outer edge of the candle and begin to roll again. Continue these steps until you have the diameter you prefer.

It’s amazing how popular candles have become, particularly around the holiday season, and to think, the essentail ingredient here is from out friend the honeybee.

A gentle facial scrub can be use two or three times a week to smooth the skin by removing surface dead skin cells. Cosmetic clay helps absorb excess oil, and a combination of finely ground almonds and oats gently exfoliates the skin. Oats also help soothe skin irritation, while eucalyptus and lavender essential oils combat bacteria. Oats has always been a way to soothe skin inflamation and flare-ups with skin rashes. With redness on the face and other blemishes causing skin irritation, the oats will help soothe anything of that nature. Here’s how:

2 cups uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup white cosmetic clay
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil

Using a clean coffee grinder or food processor, grind oats and almonds in seperate batches into a fine powder. Place ground oats and almonds in a small nonporous bowl, add cosmetic clay and combine. Add essential oils and mix throughly, using a metal spoon. Store facial scrub in a covered container in a cool, dry place.

To use, mix 1 heaping teaspoon of facial scrub with warm water to make a paste. Dampen your skin with warm water, and gently massage the scrub onto your skin. Rinse well with warm water. (Source: Skin 2007)

**Dana over at Paintball Journal talks about the different comparisons with paintball gun trigger. If you are a paintball player this post will interest you. Read it here.**

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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

Gold Canyon is a party-plan business with more than 25,000 Independent Demonstrators across North America. They offer a complete line of candles, body and home products including home fragrance in the form of scented candles, room sprays and sachets; home décor with various candle holders; personal care with hand scrub, hand silk, body lather, body lotion, body polish, body crème, bath soak, body mist and candle care products such as wick dippers and trimmers. Even with their vast line of products, every item is developed with great care to ensure it meets the highest quality standards that Gold Canyon established in the early days.

Mint Myrrh Toothpowder Recipe:
This old fashioned toothpowder doesn’t have the consistency that most people associate with toothpaste, but it leaves your teeth feeling clean as can be. If you like a sweet toothpoders, add 1/2 teaspoon of stevia powder (available at any health food store location or online.)

1/2 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons myrrh powder
1/2 teaspoon stevia powder (optional)
20 to 40 drops peppermint essential oil

Mix all these ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To use, place 1 teaspoon of the powder into a small bowl or the palm of your hand. Wet your toothbrush, and dip the toothbrush into the powder. Brush and rinse throughly.

Herbal Healing Toothpowder:

This combination of herbs helps heal mild to moderate cases of gingivitis by tightening gums and fighting bacteria. It’s very astringent and doesn’t taste that great, but it does work wonders.

2 tablespoons powdered myrrh
4 tablespoons powdered white oak bark
4 tablespoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon powdered cloves
1/4 teaspooon powdered cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients listed above together and store in a tightly covered container. To use, place 1 teaspoons into the palm of your hand or a small bowl. Wet your toothbrush, and dip the toothbrush into the powder. Brush your teeth and gums throughlt with the powder and rinse well with luke warm water.

**Pujols not to happy over unfounded Steroid allegations. Over at Fastball Fans, Anthony Amobi has the full story. Read it here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

GlobalTech Industries is a customer focused contract manufacturer of exceptional quality, high end scented candle products and provides a complete range of services including concept and design, technical development and final production.

Most of the mouthwash on the shelves in supermarkets contain ingredients we shouldn’t be putting in our mouth to begin with. Common colorants found in these products are FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Green 3, which are carcinogenic. Also, be on the look out for FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6. These colorants contain impurities that have been proven to cause cancer when applied to skin. So why put it in your mouth. Here’s some recipes to help you steer clear of those supermarket varieties:

Cinnamon Sweet Mouthwash:

This mouthwash recipe requires a couple of weeks for the spices to steep in the alcohol.

1 cup vodka
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 tablespoon cinnamon chips
1 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon anise seed
1 teaspoon licorice root

Place the vodka and spices into a small glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Steep for two weeks, giving the jar a shake daily to keep the spices from settling. Strain and pour back into the glass bottle. To use, dilute 1 tablespoon mouthwash in 1 cup of water. Use as a gargle and mouth rinse and do not swallow.

Orange Mint Mouthwash:

20 drops of peppermint essential oil
10 drops of orange essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1 cup of vodka

Combine the essential oils with the vodes and store in a tightly capped bottle. To use, dilute 1 tablespoon mouthwash in 1 cup water. Stir well. Use as a gargle and mouth rinse and do not swallow.

Also, try this homemade tooth-whitening treatment:

Although this won’t give you the same dramatic results as the bleaching kits available at the drugstors and from your dentist, it will result in a brighter smile.

1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide

Mix all ingreidents together in a small container. Wet your toothbrush, and dip into the mixture. Brush your teeth for two minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

**Actor Heath Ledger was found dead today in his Manhattan residence. Over at Pop Culture Buzz, Keith has the details on what happened and why some questions remain unanswered as of yet. “It’s a tragic loss to yet another fine actor”. Read the whole story here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

Colonial Candle continues our tradition of bringing you the best product selection to delight you with new collections and new seasonal items. Combined with your everyday selection of pillars, tapers and containers candles, you now have a full array of home decorating and fragrance options.

Here’s some basic recipes on how to make soaps. Most of the soap on the market contains chemicals and colors that aren’t good for your skin or your body. Making them at home is a great way to bypass all of those harmful ingredients.

• Cirtus Beeswax Soap:

4 ounces (114 grams) glycerin soap base (available at any healthfood store)
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
1 teaspoon beeswax

How to:

Melt glycerin over low heat in a double boiler or microwave. Add beeswax and remove from heat. Stir until wax is melted. Add essential oil. Stir and pour into mold.
The trick to glycerin when using melt and pour soaps is to keep the heat as low as possible. Too much heat will cause a mushy or beaded appearance after a very short storage time. Keep glycerin soaps sealed in plastic to keep the glycerin from attracting moisture from the air.

• Lavender Soap:

2 cups glycerin soap
1/2 cup dried lavender blooms (ground up in a food processor)
7 drops lavender essential oil

How to:

Melt glycerin in double boiler or slowly in microwave. Add lavender bloomks, stir until slightly cooled. Add essential oil. Pour into molds. Cool.

• Green Tea Chammomile Soap:

2 cups glycerin soap base
1 tablespoon powdered chamomile
1 tablespoon glycerin or aloe vera
3 tea bags of green tea

How to:

Melt glycerin base in double boiler on low heat. Blend the green tea, tear open the bag and combine with glycerin or aloe. Stir this mixture into melted glycerin. Pour into small tupperware style containers and leave uncovered until cool.

**Marlee Matlin To Guest-Star on Nip/Tuck and Robyn Charles over at Watching Showtime has the details. Read about it here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

General Wax & Candle Company has been providing quality candles since 1949. Their origins are in institutional sales such as restaurants and churches. These institutions burn millions of candles per year and always insist on the best quality. Many insist on using only General Wax candles. They pride themselves in creating the best burning candles in the industry.

Votives are arguably one of the easiest kinds of molded candles to make. They add a great deal of charm to just about any setting. The typical votive will burn for approximately 15 hours and will consume just about all of the wax that was used to create it.

A properly crafted votive will liquefy to some degree as it burns. This is necessary to achieve good scent throw. Votives are not intended to be free standing candles. Therefore it is important to burn votives only in a holder that is intended for votives.

What you will need:

· Wax suitable for votives
· Wax additives (only if needed for your wax formulation)
· Fragrance oil (optional)
· Dye (optional)
· Pre-tabbed wicks suitable for votives (36-24-24 zinc core used here)
· Metal Votive Molds
· Mold release spray (optional)
· Pouring pot
· Thermometer
Step 1). Prepare your molten wax mixture. You should be able to review these instructions while your wax is melting. Before continuing, set up a double boiler to melt your wax. A good target temperature for votives is 175° F. Once your wax has completely melted, add any additives you have selected and mix thoroughly, but try to avoid introducing air into the mixture. Add them in the following order:

1. Additives such as vybar or stearic acid (but only if needed)

2. Fragrance Oil

3. Dye (this is done last so that you get visual confirmation that everything else has mixed well with the wax)

Before pouring your wax, you may want to lightly coat your molds with a very thin film of mold-release agent such as silicone spray or a Pam-type cooking spray. This helps aid the release of the finished candle from the mold. However, it is really only needed with new molds.

Step 2). Votives: Initial Wax Pour
Place your votive molds on a newspaper-lined surface to catch any spills. With your wax at the proper pouring temperature (about 175° F), fill your votive molds to the lip of the mold. The objective here is to get the wax just up to the lip without over flowing. If you pour to a level lower than the lip, you may get seam lines in your finished candle. Care should be taken to minimize the number of bubbles introduced while pouring. Save about 20% of your wax for the re-pour at a later step. Do not return it to the heat source.

Step 3). Add Pre-tabbed Wicks.
Wait for your wax to cool for a short period of time. While it is cooling, prepare your wicks by straightening them. They do not need to be perfectly straight at this point; a loose approximation of “straight” is fine. Once the wax just begins to congeal, insert your pre-tabbed wicks. The tab will “stick” to the bottom when it touches. Care should be taken to position the tab roughly in the center of the mold.

Once the tab has stuck to the base of the mold, it is very easy to manipulate the wick to straighten it. Sometimes you may wish to wait a few moments to allow the metal tab to form a stronger bond with the base of the mold before attempting to straighten the wick.

During the cooling process, the shrinking wax may pull the wick off-center. If this occurs, simply apply a light tug to straighten the wick from time to time. Do not use so much force as to free the metal tab on the base.

Allow your wax to completely cool before proceeding to the next step. This may take 3-4 hours.

Step 4). Votives: Re-pour Wax
When the wax has completely cooled, it will have shrunken a bit, leaving a sink hole that needs to be filled. Melt down the wax that you saved from step 2 above. This time, your target pouring temperature will be 10-15 degrees hotter than the initial pour (pour at about 190 deg. F for this step). This increased temperature is to facilitate adhesion between layers.

Once your wax is at the proper temperature, fill the molds to a level just slightly above the lip of the mold. Care should be taken to avoid spills. Allow your candles to completely cool.

Step 5). Molded Candle Instructions: Remove Votive from Mold

Once your votives are completely cool, remove them from the mold. They will usually slide right out without any difficulty if they are completely cool. If they are difficult to remove from the molds, place them in the freezer for about 5 minutes. This will usually do the trick.If they are still difficult, place them back in the freezer for another 5 minutes and try again.

Also, for very stubborn candles, it sometimes helps to gently press the sides of the mold inward as you “roll” the mold in the palms of your hands

Always burn votives in a votive holder. Remember that they are not intended to be free-standing candles and they will liquefy. (Source: Pioneer Thinking)

**Bob Greene, Oprah’s fitness guru, was on Rachel Ray and over at Watching Rachel Ray, Lessa has the full story. Read it here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

Aromatique, the Creator of Decorative Fragrance, was created in 1982 by Patti Upton and is based in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Patti created this dynamic company literally “just for fun.” She mixed together a mélange of native botanicals such as acorns, pine cones, gumballs and hickory nuts, fragranced them with spices, oils and ingenuity.

Coffee and its main ingredient of caffeine have a variety of positive effects on the skin, including antioxidant properties, and tightening and firming qualities. It also is commonly used as an ingredient ion products that help to reduce cellulit, and diminish puffiness and dark circles around the eyes.

Coffee and its skin friendly benefits also are included in a variety of home care products like Naturopathica’s Espresso Mud Body Scrub, which exfoliates dead ksin and removes impurities and seals in moisture.

Althought its health benefits may be widely disputed, there is no denying that coffee is here to stay. In fact, the berry that houses the coffee seed, or bean, is poised to become the next hot ingredient due to its high concentration of the beneficial antioxidant phenolic acid. It also recently has come to light from work done at the School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, that coffee coupled with regular exercise may help prevent skin cancers better than either factor individually.

Some coffee Facts:
• Coffee beans are actually the seeds of the coffee plant and are housed in coffee berries.
• The first European coffee house opened in Italy in 1645.
• Darker coffee roasts are generally smoother because they have less fiber content and a more sugary flavor. Lighter roasts have more caffeine.

Make this coffee scrub and see how well it makes your skin feels:

1/2 - 1 cup extra-light olive oil
1/3 cup ground coffee
6 Tbsp cinnamon (or more if you really like cinnamon, mmm)
reusable coffee filter, in a coffeemaker basket
3 lb. container of Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda (optional)
2 - 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup
large flat saucepan
mixing bowl

1. Warm the olive oil in the Pyrex container in a saucepan of boiling water. Mix in the coffee first, then the cinnamon, stirring to blend as the mixture heats. Continue to infuse for 20 minutes on the stove, stirring from time to time.
2. Pour the coffee-cinnamon-oil mixture through the coffee filter into the large mixing bowl, one-third at a time. Careful not to burn yourself here! Discard the grounds and keep the oil. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Mix the infused oil with the salts (and soda if you’re using it). You’re done!

Variation: green tea-ginger. Substitute 1/3 cup green tea and 1/4 cup powdered ginger (cheaper if you buy it in bulk) for the coffee and cinnamon. (Sources: Skin 2007 and Crafters Alley)

**”Eagle vs. Shark” is a quirky little New Zealand comedy full of wit and charm says Keith over at Pop Culture Buzz. Read more about it here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

Bramble Berry is a company that carries fragrance oil, essential oils, soap colorants, soap bases and soap making supplies. They carry lotion making kits as well as all types of molds. They are a basic company that has a lot to offer the soap making crafter.

With a little “elbow-grease” and some household products you already have in your house, you can clean you entire house without harming your lungs or health. The following is a list of all the products you need to make your house a better living environment for yourself and others, as well as pet.

1. Borax
2. white vinegar
3. Hot Water
4. Liquid Soap
5. Baking Soda
6. Washing Soda
7. Olive OIl
8. A Soft Cloth
9. Newspaper
10. Lemon Juice
11. Hydrogen Peroxide

And here is how to incorporate those cleaners into homemade products you can use right now:

• How To Make An All-Purpose Disinfectant: Mix 2 tsp. borax, one quarter cup vinegar and 3 to 4 cups hot water in a spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add one quarter tsp. liquid soap to the mixture.

• How To Make A Countertop Cleaner For The Kitchen: For a “soft scrub”, mix baking soda and liquid soap until you gat a consistency you like. Make only as much as you need at that time, it will dry up quickly.

• How To Make A Safer Oven Cleaner: Mix 1 cup baking soda and one quarter cup washing soda, then add enough water to make a paste; apply the paste to the oven surface and let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe out and rinse the surface with water.

• How To Make A Safer Tub And Tile Cleaner: Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda, one hald cup liquid soap, and one half cup water. Last, add 2 tbs. vinegar (if you add the vinegar too early it will react with the baking soda). Immediately apply, wipe and scrub.

• How To Make A Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Pour 1 cup of borax into the toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush. For an extra-strength cleaners, add one quarter cup vinegar to the borax.

• How To Make Furniture Polish: Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish with a soft cloth.

• How To Make A Safer Window Cleaner: Mix 3 tbs. vinegar per 1 quart water in a spray bottle. Some recommend using half vinegar and half water. For extra-dirty windows try one hald tsp. liquid soap, 3 tbs. vinegar and 1 cups water. Shake well. Want streak-free windows, use newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe your windows instead.

• How To Get Your Laundry Brighter: Add one half cup of strained lemon juice during the rinse cycle.

• How To Make A Solution To Remove Detergent From Clothes Compeletely: Add one quarter cup white vinegar during the washing machine’s rinse cycle to remove detergent completely from the clothes, eliminating that scratchy feeling from your clothes.

• How To Make A Detergent Booster: To reduce the amount of laundry detergent you need to use, add baking soda or washing soda. These minerals soften the water, which increases the detergent;s power. For liquid detergent, add one half cup soda at the beginning of the wash. For powdered detergent, add one half cup soda during the rinse cycle.

• How To Get Whiter Clothes Without Using Bleach: Use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach.

• To Make Any Of These Cleaners Smell Better: Simply add some essential oils to your mix.

**To find out a list of harmful chemicals lurking in your household cleaners check out Natural and Sustainable’s post on “Know Your Cleaners”. Read the full list of harmful chemicals manufacturers’ add to their products here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

TruKid™ is a new, all natural, skin
care line made JUST FOR KIDS!
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Still looking for a last minute Christmas gift idea? Why not make one? Here is a quick and painless way of making soy-candles and it only takes about 15 minutes.

But first, here are some facts about soy wax:

• It’s biodegradeable.

• It’s sustainable.

• It provides a longer burn without a soot buildup.

• You can clean it up with soap and water, eliminating the need for solvents.

• It’s made from 100% natural soybeans.

Materials needed:

Recycled glassware such as Mason jars, candy dishes, thrift-store cups, salsa and jam jars. (choose containers that are less than 4″ in diameter.)

1 package braided wick (size-appropriate for chosen chandle containers. Incorporate alternative fibers by using hemp wicks.)

Soda-can tab

Tape

Pencil or pen

Melting pot or old cooking pot that you’re no longer using for food

Soy wax flakes (can be found at any healthfood store)

Craft or candy thermometer (optional)

Cinnamon, peppermint or other essential oil

Biodegradeable cotton ribbon (optional)

Hot glue gun and glue

1. Cut a section of braided wick a few inches longer than the depth of your chosen glasswater container. Tie an end of the wick to a coda can tab. To stabilize the wick, add a dab of hot glue to the bottom of the tab, then affix tab to the bottom of the container. Wrap top of wick around a pencil or pen a few times and tape it down temporarily. Set aside. Repeat process for additional candles.

2. In a pot over medium heat, melt about 1 lb. of the soy flakes per 1-2 medium0sized candles. Stir continuously until the soy wax melts to about 155 degreeds. Once it’s completely liquedied, remove from the head and let cool for a few minutes, continuing to stir.

3. Once the temperature has dropped about 5 degrees, add 10-20 drops of essential oil of your liking and mix well. Soy wax is easy to work with so you can get by without using a thermometer.

4. Pour liquid wax into containers, leaving an inch or two of space at the top. Let dry overnight. The set soy candles wax should look smooth and creamy-white.

5. Remove tape and pencil from the wick. Leaving about 1″ of exposed wick, snip off excess.

6. If you’re giving these candles as gifts, add a ribbon and tie in a fancy bow. Use hot glue to hold the ribbon on the container in place.

**Time is running low on getting those Christmas cards out in the mail before the morning of Santa comes. Over at Artists Passion, Wendy Withers has some ideas on Christmas cards to help give you the push you need to get them done, posted and out the door. Read the ideas here.**
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WAX AND BUBBLES PRODUCT SHOWCASE:

A Cheerful Giver: Keepers Of The Light Jar Candles.