Add It Again, Monday (Orange Peel)

I'm getting kind of a late start today, so I apologize. My stepdaughter flew in from Florida this past weekend and we were out having family time. But, I am here now, and ready to tell you about the benefits of orange peel (yes, the stuff that you usually throw away).

Believe it or not, the rind of an orange has many health benefits when consumed. Antioxidants found the in the peel can lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels. For those of you who are looking for more fiber in your diet, the peel of an orange in high in fiber (fiber = weight loss). Additionally, it can reduce bad breath and has anti-inflammatory properties that when consumed can reduce swelling in your limbs, etc. If peel is seeped in hot water and used as a tea, it can help cure bronchitis. Also, for you partiers out there, orange peel makes a great hangover cure (boil in hot water for 20 minutes, add salt, and drink). Sounds delicious!

For bath and body purposes, I put orange peel in my soaps. It makes for a great exfoliant that is not harsh enough to tear your pores. Here are some soaps from the Black Willow Soap shop that contain orange peel:

Monkey Farts Olive Oil Soap

Jamaican Me Crazy Shea Butter Soap

For those of you who are in it for the DIY recipe, here it is.

Natural Orange Peel Toothpaste

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
3 Tablespoons Glycerin or 1 1/2 Tablespoons Peroxide
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Orange Peel

Directions:
Blend it all up in a blender (or Magic Bullet) and store if not using.

Add It Again, Monday: Part 1 (Lavender Blossoms)

Today starts the first of my weekly Add It Again, Monday series. Add it again Monday is a tribute to all the amazing additives that can be put into bath and beauty products to personalize and enhance each product. This means oils, herbs, clays, and many other awesome additives.

I like to start things off strong so I want to talk about a well-known additive, Lavender blossoms. While you may not find many products that add the flowers from the lavender plant, I’m sure that you have seen plenty of products with lavender in them. There is a good reason for this: Lavender is good for everything!

As you may already know, lavender is used in aromatherapy. Why is this? Because just the smell of lavender can calm anxiety and relieve stress. So, if you have the oil, add a drop or five to your bath water to promote relaxation after a long day. I say one to five so that you can gauge your drops on how stressed out you are that day! If you are fresh out of lavender essential oil, but you have the lavender blossoms, you can put them in an organza bag and place it in your bath like a bath tea. It will have the same effect.

While a little can go a long way for relaxation, the same can be true about promoting sleep. If you are someone who does not easily fall asleep or possibly one whose mind does not stop going even after you lie down for the night, you can use a lavender blossom sachet under your pillow to help you sleep. If you have the lavender oils, use them in a diffuser in your bedroom for the same effect. I have a Pink Himalayan Sea Salt bowl that I like to put lavender oil on when I am feeling the need for extra help to get me to sleep and it works great!

Don’t think that people are the only ones who can benefit from the smell of lavender. Overanxious pets can also benefit from lavender oil. While you should not put it on their skin, an oil diffuser in the home can help calm your pet down. Furthermore, lavender oil can help keep fleas and other pests from bothering your dog. After I bathe my Pomeranian, I always put a few drops of lavender essential oil on her collar. This makes her sleep for a few hours after her bath which is relaxing for both of us, and it helps keep away any pesky tag-a-long that may want to hide in her coat.

Ok. Now that we have the nose out of the way. Let’s talk about some other senses that lavender can benefit. For one, did you know that lavender is edible?? And is it good?? Lavender tea is becoming a little bit more popular and you can now find it in some grocery stores. Of course, drinking lavender tea promotes stress relief just like when you smell it. However, you can also add it to recipes (yes, it is an herb) for an amazing flavorful dish. My favorite lavender dish is chicken breast with lavender. You split the breast just enough to stuff a small sprig of lavender in the chicken and then bake it. So good!

Finally, lavender is great for your skin. It is a natural antiseptic so you can use it to clean out and protect cuts and scrapes (Yay! No more rubbing alcohol for this girl). It can also soothe burned or irritated skin. However, you should not put lavender essential oil directly on your skin without a carrier oil (like palm oil, olive oil, etc.). Additionally, women who are expecting or attempting to become pregnant really should not use this oil until they have delivered or are no longer attempting to conceive.  

So, to end my salute to lavender and lavender blossoms, here are a few products from Black Willow Soaps that have lavender blossoms already in them for you (Fun Fact: In the soaps, they provide a nice soft exfoliation and help build a better lather). I have also included a recipe for homemade lavender room/body spray. I hope you enjoy! Have a great Monday!

Earthy Lavender scented Olive Oil Soap

Lavender Oatmeal scented Shea Butter Soap

French Vanilla Lavender scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Homemade Lavender Room & Body Spray

Items needed:

1 spray bottle

Distilled Water

Isopropyl Alcohol

Lavender Essential Oil

Directions:

Fill your spray bottle ¾ full with distilled water. Add 3 drops of isopropyl alcohol. Then add 10-15 drops of essential oil (more if you have a large spray bottle, less if you are using any bottle under 4 ounces. Shake it up and spray (it will take a couple of sprays for the essential oils to come through). This recipe works best with an 8 ounce spray bottle (adjust your oils accordingly). Spot test on skin and/or fabric before use.

How Do You Prepare for the Holidays?

Hello friends,

I wanted to pop in and say hi before the holidays start up. I know that I have already been busy with holiday preparations; putting up decorations, scouring my house for guests, and wrapping last minute Christmas gifts. What do you do to prepare for the holidays?

I have also been working on some pretty awesome new products for Black Willow Soaps. I just listed a new soap for men, inspired by my oldest nephew, Hunter. I created a signature scent for all of my sister's children last year for Christmas and decided to use Hunter's in my shop. The fragrance is very manly with hints of Sea Breeze, Dragon's Blood, and Cedarwood. The soap itself reminds me of the woods. I packed it with sage infused kaolin clay to give it a rustic, woodsy look. And the smell...well, it just makes you melt. Check it out at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/486977860/hunter-shea-butter-soap?ref=listing-shop-header-0

Also, for all of you handmade washcloth lovers out there. I have been working my little fingers off trying to add some new colors. I just finished lilac and jute (which is a natural color). I am currently working on Cornflower, which is a pretty periwinkle blue color. Keep a look out at the shop because I will be trying to post a new product daily!

What color washcloth goes well with your bathroom?

Beating Hurricane Isaac...

Hurricane Isaac is almost upon us here in Southwest Florida. So, I figured that while I am still able to use my internet, I would try and get some work done. All weekend I have been preparing for the storm, but now you have my undivided attention. Well, until my daughter needs more help with her civics lessons =).

 

 

In case you missed some of the new and awesome products that are up in the Black Willow Soap Shop, I have decided to string them out on the blog for you! Here we go!

Pumpkin Spice Soy/Parafin Candle in Glass Flower Pot Holder

Spiced Cranberry Pear scented Shea Butter Soap

Wicked Soy/Parafin Candle in Glass Flower Pot Holder

 

Patchouli, Eucalyptus, Sandalwood scented Olive Oil Soap


 Stop in and see our newest additions at www.etsy.com/BlackWillowSoaps

 



All Day I've been Nostalgic...

All day long I have found myself thinking back to my younger days. Not that I am old enough to be reclaiming old glory days, but I have done a lot of things in the life that I have been given. Today was a day of music. I put in my favorite local band, Cinder (or Soapy Tuna, to the locals), and sang along to the stereo feeling every lyric that was sung by Roger Young, the lead singer. You can check them out at http://soapytunabrandmusic.com/home.cfm or "like" their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/SOAPY-TUNA/268874418297 If you are in the area, you should definitely go see them!

 The band and the music got me thinking of how to incorporate my favorite nostaligia into a blog...or into my products. I thought at length about making a soap to commemorate the band and the time that I spent listening to them in the local beach bars to get through some difficult times. Then I realized that the band's favorite smell would probably be black licorice because of their affinity for Jagermeister. I decided that black licorice would not be the best smelling soap or candle, and voted against my idea. Intead, I created a basket full of goodies that are inspired by sights and smells from my childhood. I am calling it the Fall Harvest Basket.

The fall harvest basket contains an 8 ounce Cranberry Sugar Scrub, a 4 ounce Cranberry & Spiced Pear scented Avocado Cucumber Soap, and a 4 ounce Apple Pie scented Shea Butter Soap. Take a look!

I also realized that I have lost touch with my younger me. I used to sing, and I loved to sing. I used to write poetry and keep legacy books. So, I resolve to sing and write. I have also decided to start a poetry blog for the oodles of poetry that I have written in the past and the oodles of poetry that I hope to write in the future. You can look for me under my pen name, Nautica Mourey. My work has been published in several tabletop anthologies. It is only right to want to collaborate my youth with my current self, right? Or, maybe I am just a busy body and have to create things for myself to do! =) In any event....the poetry blog can be found at www.nauticamoureypoetry.blogspot.com



Soap of the Month Picks are Here!

I have decided to give you a little bit of an insight on what is coming up in the next couple of months for Soap of the Month!

July Picks:

Lime Verbana scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Sea Breeze scented Olive Oil Soap (a sweet and earthy beach smell)

Jamaican Me Crazy scented Shea Butter Soap (smells like the drink)

August Picks:

Sweet Pea scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Fireside scented Olive Oil Soap (smells like red hots candy!)

Earthy Lavender scented Shea Butter Soap (a blend of Lavender, Eucalyptus, & Sandalwood)

September Picks:

Apple Pie scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Dragon's Blood scented Olive Oil Soap

Autumn Harvest scented Shea Butter Soap

 

October Picks:

Boogeyman scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Bite Me scented Olive Oil Soap (smells like a Shirley Temple!)

Wicked scented Shea Butter Soap

November Picks:

Pumpkin Spice scented Avocado Cucumber Soap

Harvest Moon scented Olive Oil Soap

Spiced Pear scented Shea Butter Soap

December Picks:

???

Stay tuned for our Candle of the Month Club picks!

Black Willow Soaps Website is LIVE!

Now you can get all of your Black Willow Soaps products off Etsy! Check out the new Black Willow Soaps website at http://blackwillowsoaps.weebly.com/