body scrub

I made chocolate body scrub for gifts a month or so ago. I've also made this recipe without the cocoa. Both are nice. The chocolate has distinct pros and cons - very yummy smelling, but makes your shower look very muddy! I felt like I had to clean the walls after. When I made the recipe without cocoa I added a few drops of lavender essential oil which was nice. Make sure to use a nut based oil (almond, apricot, walnut, etc). Once again, not doing research first is not the best strategy... I decided to concoct a batch of body scrub out of olive oil, sugar and salt (very first attempt - before the cocoa batch). Olive oil... not the best choice! Your skin will be nice and soft, but hold on tightly - your shower and tub will be VERY slippery!

Here's the chocolate recipe...

1/2 cup sugar ( I used the sugar in the raw brown crystals)

1/4 salt (I used kosher because it is coarser)

1/4 cup baking cocoa powder

avocado oil (or other light oil per above)

Mix the first three ingredients together, then gradually add the oil until you get a paste-like consistency. I find after a few days you may need to add a bit more oil, or add a little water to moisten the mix again. As mentioned above, if you don't want a chocolate scrub, just leave it out, and add whatever essential oils you like - 2-3 drops will likely be plenty.

When I gave the scrub as gifts I wanted a nicer container than the tupperware I had in my shower. I went to an art supply store and bought small double walled plastic jars, which worked nicely.

http://www.hyatts.com/art/plastic-jar-with-lid-4oz-J37714

baby wipes

In the weeks leading up to Charlie's birth, I decided to make my own baby wipes. Disposable wipes are expensive!!.. especailly considering how long you need to use them. I started by buying lightweight flannel fabric and cutting it into 10' x 10" squares. I had them nicely stacked and ready to be zig-zagged around the edges when Charlie decided to make his debut 2 weeks early. Fast forward to this scene - the new family is home - 16 hours after Charlie was born - Adam is at the sewing machine and I'm talking him through his first sewing effort. He did a great job! We began with about 30 wipes, but soon realized that life would be easier if we doubled it. Adam finished up that batch, too. Now the recipe... I modified this from a few I found to make it my own. I really like it - smells really clean and very gentle on little bums....

2 cups water (I used distilled in the beginning - very nervous mom wanting everything to be perfect - Charlie now has his bum washed with water from the tap, poor guy)

2 TBSP olive oil

2 TBSP Dr Bronner's baby mild liquid soap

2 TBSP aloe vera gel

2-3 drops of essential oils (I use tea tree most of the time - I use lavendar occasionally - you really only need 2-3 drops - especially tea tree, as it can be quite astringent)

I usually make a batch and put it in a big squeeze bottle and use it to fill a smaller spray bottle. When Charlie was really little, we would fold the wipes in half and put a dampened stack of them in a wipe warmer, then when we needed one spray it down with the wipe solution. These days we just douse a wipe with the solution and try to wipe him down as he runs away. Things change a lot in a year. We do use disposable wipes on occasion, but I find these to be almost as easy to bring with you on the go if you're prepared (with small bag for laundry, etc). I find that the flannel wipes do a much better job cleaning though. Many 3 wipe situations (paper) can be 1-2 wipe siuations (flannel). =)