Monday, March 9, 2015

Homemade Shaving Cream



I know I'm not the only one that skips a shave every now and then during the winter, so when summer rolls around, it can be tough to get back in the habit. Although I'm not completely opposed to using my homemade soap for shaving, this homemade shaving cream leaves behind just a bit more moisture and makes the shave a little easier on your skin.

After forgetting my razor on our recent weekends away, and having to resort to an old disposable...this recipe moved to the top of my need-to-make list.

It's probably best to keep water from getting in the cream as much as possible. Having a towel hanging just outside the shower to quickly dry your hands before dipping your fingers in helps keep the cream from spoiling.

Keeping things simple is mostly my mantra, but if you want to add a little scent, essential oils would really amp up the experience. Just remember not to heat them!


Shaving Cream

1/4 cup shea butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 tablespoons macadamia nut oil
2 teaspoons vegetable glycerin

Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and melt the shea butter and coconut oil in the bowl, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat once completely melted and stir in the macadamia nut oil and vegetable glycerin. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for a couple of hours until completely hardened.

Remove from the refrigerator and use a hand mixer to whip the mixture until light and fluffy.

Transfer to a covered container. Rub a small amount over your wet skin before shaving and lightly dry after showering to keep from removing the protective oils that remain after you've shaved.

Friday, March 6, 2015

How to End a Horrible Day on a Good Note


*Before I get into this post, I realized I haven't told you yet that we're expecting our second baby in the summer...whoops! Anyways, just wanted to let you know before I start posting baby pictures and there's general confusion :)


The other week both my husband and daughter were sick for a few days and although I didn't get sick, it was mentally and physically exhausting being the only caregiver. At the end of one particular day as I crawled into bed, I realized that I probably hadn't had one positive thought (at least that I was aware of) all day.

And knowing how intertwined your mental and physical states are, I realized that not only would it be hard to fall asleep, I didn't want all that negativity to be the last thought I had.

As I lay there, I was miraculously able to come up with a few things I could be grateful for.

I quietly said to myself:

"I am so happy and grateful now that I am feeling well.
I am so happy and grateful now that I have the knowledge and tools to best support my body.
I am so happy and grateful now that I am in my warm and wonderful bed."

And then, to make things even better, I made statements that were not true yet in the moment:

"I am so happy and grateful now that our family is feeling healthy and well.
I am so happy and grateful now that our days are full of fun and laughter.
I am so happy and grateful now that our days are full of sunshine and warm weather."

As I spoke, I could feel my negative state lifting and by the end, I even had a smile on my face and felt joyful. A much better way to end any day!

There's no magic number of statements to make, but I just keep going through until I feel a noticeable shift. You'll know when you get there!

Although this would certainly benefit you at any time of day, I seem to only think of it when I'm quiet in bed. If you can think of pausing more often during your day to think of or say what you're grateful for, that's even better! But we all have to start somewhere, right?

It's been said that what you think about, comes about and that certainly seems to happen in my life. When I'm stuck on a path of negative thinking, negative things from my past and imagined things from my future seem to come up! When focusing on, and being grateful for the positive, the negative diminishes and the positives seem to multiply without any extra effort!



*And yes, I realize I haven't given you part 2 of my fermentation series, but I've been having problems with getting a SCOBY started. When I do, it's going to be all about kombucha!