Soap Making Class

Finally!

And here it is! Soap Making Class for those who wants to make their own soap from their very own Kitchen.

In this class, you will learn how to:

* Make your own soaps at home with Step-By-Step lessons 

*Make your own soaps safely in the comforts of your home

*Get ingredients from your local stores

You will be bringing home with you:

500gms worth of  Handmade Soap

A Soap Making Handbook

A "Where to buy" Ingredient List for you to shop for your soap making projects at home

Gloves and Face Masks will be provided

The class will be small and it won't be something so formal. The class will only have a maximum of 3 people so that you will have better one to one attention and hands on making soaps.

Have a great Weekend!

My First Mei Tai! Finally!

Someone from a sewing group in Facebook that I have joined shared her Mei Tai Project

I have always wanted to make one for myself but never found the time.

Plus the Mei Tai Illustrations and patterns I found online were mostly tie around ones

I love buckles because I just hate the whole thing dangling everywhere.

So after cracking my skull and referring to a few tutorials online especially from Still Learning Life on her hooded / head rest idea, I decided to get the drawing block out and start drafting.

My only regret about this Mei Tai was that I wished I had reduced the width of the straps since I am petite. 

But I added a chest buckle to keep the straps together which most mei tais have anyways.

So here's my Mei Tai for show.

Hoping to go for a hike somewhere soon like old times

Maybe to Mulu Caves?

Folded the Hood into a head rest.

This is even more weightless feeling than the pea pod carrier I made before

Chest straps, wide straps and my tie on waist straps.

Till I baby Wear Next :p

Making Homemade Butter

I was looking through the net looking for an inspiration and looking for ways to make my own oils without spending a fortune on just buying them.

I was about to shut my lappy off when I suddenly had an idea about making my own nut oils.

In Google, I saw lots of articles about Nutty Butters...

Butter?

It took me awhile to figure that out...

Until I started reading.

And then comes the palm slap!

YES... Now I get it!

We have PEANUT butter in stores to spread on our bread, so walnut, almond, cashew, pistachio etc can also be made into Nutty Butters just like Peanut Butters! Only it's a whole lot healthier and yummier because you can custom whatever to suit it to your own taste buds.

I made to batches.

One for Us to eat - Almond + Sunflower Seeds + Pumpkin Seeds

and One for getting Almond Oil out of

Here's the SIMPLE RECIPE on how to make your own Butter for Consumption:

I promise, This Will be Easy!

Ingredients:

Almonds - I used about 200gms of Whole Unroasted Raw Almonds

Coconut Oil / Olive Oil - I used Coconut Oil because I prefer the smell and taste of coconut oil to olive oil. I find that Olive oil has this really strong Olive smell. 

Honey**

Salt**

Cinnamon**

Ground Nutmeg**

** are optional ingredients you might want to add in. I like to leave mine without the additional stuff so that I can experiment with different flavours when I spread them on my bread, or when I use them in cereals or making cookies / cakes

Tools:

A blender

A spoon to scoop out the Almond Butter

A clean and dry container for storing your Almond Butter

Method:

1. Place Almonds into the blender and blend them slowly at first using the impulse button and slowly increasing the speed.

2. Add a little bit of the oil of your choice and continue blending. The Almonds should start balling up inside. Use a wooden spoon to push the sides and even up on the insides but make sure the blender is turned off when you do this!! I say this because I know some people who actually does this while the machine is on!

3. You may want to add more oil if you find that the Almond is taking some time to actually become a creamy paste. Add a little bit at a time. You can try using a teaspoon at a time. Give it some time to blend. I think it took me about 15 minutes to blend. 

4. You now officially have your very own Pure Almond Butter!

5. Add in a pinch of salt / to taste, honey, cinnamon or nutmeg or whatever it is you are crazy about, mix them up and transfer them into a container for you to store your butter!

6. Store them in a nice cool place. I store mine in my refrigerator. Since Coconut oil does not harden up like a rock, it's actually quite easy to scoop out with a butter knife and spread it on toasted bread.

7. Serve them to any nut crazy kid/adult and watch them enjoy it :)

Chago loves his :)

I actually used Pumpkin and sunflower seed along with Almonds as mentioned above. It tastes more or less just like pure almond to me except the colour has a hint of green to it from the pumpkin seed.

This is Pure Hazelnut Butter which I made for the purpose of extracting its oil from.

The method of doing this is the same way as mentioned above. Just omit the extra stuff out.

I used Olive Oil for this.

I store this under room temperature.

Wait for 2 weeks and Hazelnut Oil will appear on the surface of the Almond meat!

Just get those oil and you'll have the oil you would need.

What can you use it for?

1. Add them into handmade lotions, soaps, shampoos and

Heck!

Why not?? Into commercial Lotions too!

2. Rub the oils directly on your skin. They will not feel oily or sticky on your skin. Use it as a serum for your face and your hair. Rub them on the rough and dry areas on your body i.e. Elbows, heels of your soles, knees, in between your toes and fingers, palms etc!

What to do with the meat?

Rub them on your face, or use them as a facial mask.

You can also use cheese cloth to squeeze all the oils out and use the meat in your soaps as an exfoliating agent.

Hope you find this useful :)

I love making homemade edibles for Chago and the adults :)

Great ideas for gifts too don't you think so?

Power Breakfast and anchovies for lunch and dinner please!

I have religiously been doing this for chago and Miguel (of course) ever since Chago started on Solids full time upon turning one last July. 

I never actually blogged about it...

But I get lots of mails from some others asking me about the home made dishes Miguel and I 

would prepare for chago.

So here is me sharing what I prepare in jars to add into Chago's breakfast...

Pumpkin seeds (not the salted Kuaci but the unsalted ones where you can find packaged in an airtight pack)

Sunflower seeds - again unsalted and unsweetened and organic unsalted almonds.

Mix them all together,

ground them up in a blender... I make them a little chunky and not too fine :)

and then store into a jar.

Anchovies - Yummy!

I use anchovies for Chago not only for the nutritional values they carry but also as a natural substitute to salt since we have not once use salt in any of his home cooked food.

Wash the anchovies, I do this around 3 to 4 times,

strain and leave on a strainer for an hour.

Spread the anchovies evenly on a baking tray,

pop it into the oven under low heat and let it bake till it looks dried up - but not to the extend where it goes brown and crunchy! It's delicious that way I know but what we want here is the nutrition it carries :)

Let it cool and then blend the anchovies a little bit at a time

Will post more on what the breakfast looks like tomorrow :)

Coconut Goodness :)

Wonders of Virgin Coconut oil

I bought this at an Agricultural fair that was held locally. I have always wanted to make my own but never got to do so. I saw someone selling this so I got to asking how they process it and whether it was heat processed or cold pressed. It was cold Pressed.

According to the guy, 

the shredded were dried for a little while under the sun. 

I didn't know it needs drying...

Anyways, I got me this and got a free 60ml VCO spray as well. 

So this is what I have use it for so far:

1. 1 Teaspoon in Chago's Oats and cereal breakfast

2. On Chago's growing curly locks

3. On my crazy distressed dry hair (works wonders) before shower

4. On insetc bites - I put it on Chago and the swelling and bites disappeared after 30 minutes!

5. Chapped Lips

6. Salads - Yummy

7. Rice - I add 1 tbsp og VCO into a cooking pot of rice and it makes a lot of difference! The aroma is enough to get people into the mood of eating

8. Steamed Fish - marinated the fish with tumeric, a little bit of salt, pepper, thyme and VCO. Delicioso!

9. Repellent against Insects

10. To strengthen Immunity

11. Natural Sun Block!

And....

Today, Just before taking a bath, I decided to put some on my face for awhile. 

I have this habit for using a tweezer to tweeze out my white heads around my nose area, so I did so today before actually leaving the room to shower and..

It was so easy! Easier than it was without VCO on my face.

It was as if the oil went into my pores and loosen the sides of where the white heads sit in and  made it so easy to remove. I got so many out in just minutes without damaging my skin or causing my nose to turn red.

There are so many benefits to consuming VCO at least 1 to 2 tablespoons a day. And if you could afford it, you can replace your regular cooking oil with this. 

They are quite costly, but I will still want to do it myself.

I'll just need to find the time to get me some fresh desiccated coconut flesh.

Till then, I'll continue with this bottle of V 

Amber Teething Necklace

I have had them for 10 months now but I never thought of blogging about them.

When Chago was 4 months old, his crazy teething phase started. His tantrums got me throwing mine towards Miguel because while he was away at work, I was the one who was trying very hard to keep myself sane!

My mum actually told me that someone she knows in Singapore bought a teething necklace for her daughter to wear and never really had that much problems with teething. Out of desperation, I did some reading, but the more I read the more difficult it was to select or find someone who sells GENUINE Baltic Amber teething Necklaces. I stumbled across a Baltic Amber Teething necklace handmaker, Who was more than helpful with my questions and concerns. I was a sceptic even when I was purchasing it online from her. I kept on thinking... 

"Man... if this doesn't work, I'm just wasting my money!"

I bought 4 to save on shipping. I must say, Miguel was not happy with my purchases. Why 4??

One for Miguel's God Mother, we were living with her at that time.

One for Miguel

One for Chago

And one for myself.

As soon as it arrived, I put it on Chago.

I swear... Just 3 hours after putting it on Chago, I got my Happy boy again!!!

His 2 lower front teeth came saying hello the following week. 1 month later, another two upper front teeth.

And the other 4 came without my knowledge as he did not scream, no diarrhea, very mild fever, but the same old happy Chago who continued drinking 9 oz of milk at every 2 hours!

This is Chago when he was 4 months old. Just 3 hours after putting the necklace on him. Hehehe! I got my smiling Chago again!

You can see that I am wearing it on my wrist too :) I bought a Child's Teething Necklace and go round twice at my wrist.

We had it on him while he sleeps and even when he showers. The Baltic Amber that I got for Chago and ourselves were not polished ones but Raw ones instead. Although some may say that there aren't any differences, some begs to differ. 

You can read more on RAW vs POLISHED Baltic Amber Beads:

RAW Baltic amber is unprocessed, untreated amber that has come directly from the Baltic Sea. It is the true form of amber and also contains extra layers of succinic acid which is what relieves pain and helps with all other issues amber can help with. Since raw amber does have extra succinic acid in/on it it is considered (and proven) to be MAXIMUM strength amber. Due to the great relief Raw amber gives it is the only amber I will use on newborns for gas and colic and is also what I recommend most for severe/chronic pains and also for GERD! You can also make your raw amber look polished by soaking it in baby oil and water. This will not effect the amber's healing just makes the colors more vibrant.

Polished Baltic amber has been heat and pressure treated to make it shine. This amber does still contain succinic acid in healing amounts and works well with teething babies as well as other issues even in adults. This amber is often used for pain relief and does work well.

MANY people also come to me with the question of "is the lighter colored amber stronger?" the answer is NO! All colors of amber heal the same. The condition (RAW or Polished) is what really makes the difference for those needing the extra pain relief.

Miguel took it off him while giving Chago a bath about 2 months ago. I thought, well, since he wasn't teething or anything like that, might as well just take it off him.

I just realized that of all the times that he was not wearing his necklace, he had been having diarrhoea, mild fever, being more and more cranky etc!

And just 2 weeks ago, I have been sick along with him, he recovered and I never did because it was hard keeping up with orders and having to take care of both Chago and myself at the same time. Miguel was sick too trying to take care of the THREE of us!

When his teething tantrums kicked off again, and I saw how he bit his fingers till there were scars in them, 

I then remembered the the necklace.

I got it and put them on him that night and he went right to sleep. The next day (yesterday) I have my happy Chago again!

:D

Now taken from Baltic Creation's Site, here's some info on Baltic Amber:

What is Baltic Amber? Baltic Amber is a fossilized tree resin originating from the Baltic Sea Region of Lithuania (near Russia). Baltic Amber contains Succinic Acid and when it is heated against the skin it releases an all natural analgesic (pain relief) which helps to ease teething pains in children as well as colic and gas and other ailments. This works so well that necklaces made in lengths for children are the main thing used in Europe and Asia for teething pains and other ailments. These also work wonders with adults! They help with Migraines, arthritis, acid reflux and many many other issues!! The Amber I use is imported by me directly from Lithuania. It is found in the Baltic Region in the Baltic Sea area. Baltic Amber is believed to contain the highest amounts of this acid. Though all types of amber are believed to contain this acid only Baltic Amber contains enough to be considered healing. Contrary to what some think NOT ALL Amber is Baltic. 

"Amber is associated with the solar plexus chakra and sometimes the sacral chakra. Mystical lore says that amber is beneficial for purifying the body, headaches, bone problems, heart problems, circulation, ears, hearing problems, endocrine system, fibromyalgia, intestinal/digestive disorders, kidney, bladder, lungs, and general healing purposes." INFO found HERE

Other internal uses: Amber is used as an ingredient in tonic formulas, it is used as an anti-aging formulation and a treatment to aid recovery for cancer patients after undergoing standard medical therapies. ...

Succinum is used in treating stomach ache.

Topical applications: Astringing ulcers and promoting tissue regeneration. Used externally, it is efficacious in the treatment of ulcers, boils, swellings. ...

It is interesting to note that the Chinese rely on Pure, Natural Baltic Amber. They have found what science has proven and that is that the Amber Acid from Natural Baltic Amber is the active agent and that they need Natural Baltic Amber for their remedies to be effective. Simply stated, even unripe gooseberries and rhubarb stalks, which are the richest in the natural acid, contain a thousand times less of the acid than in Baltic amber- succinite.

Russia is a major source of Baltic Amber. And their experience with it over the centuries has added to the knowledge base. (http://www.masterpage.com.pl/amber/amber-cures.html )

Wearing baltic amber close to the skin is a traditional European remedy for baby teething. A natural analgesic, amber will help calm a baby without resorting to drugs. Used for centuries in Europe, amber's natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties are perfect to soothe teething babies. Amber is fossilized resin, which warms against the skin, releasing it's therapeutic properties safely and naturally. It treats the throat, stomach, spleen, kidneys, bladder, liver, and gallbladder, alleviates joint problems, and strengthens the mucus membranes. As an elixir and for wound healing, it is an excellent natural antibiotic. It aids the Abdomen, Bladder, Blood, Eyes, Kidneys, Stomach, Tissue Revitalization, Throat, Liver, and Joint Problems.

Here is what they say about Amber, or in Latin, Succinum:"
 
The calming effect of succinum is only one of the claimed properties, which include these main areas:
 
Subduing fright, tranquilizing the mind, and relieving convulsion. Succinum is used in the treatment of palpitation, amnesia, dreaminess, insomnia, etc.Alleviating water retention and relieving stranguria (difficult urination). Succinum is applied to the urinary disorders such as stranguria complicated by hematuria (blood in the urine), particularly when caused by pathogenic heat. Promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Succinum is used in the treatment of amenorrhea and abdominal mass caused by blood stasis and stagnation of vital energy. Amber is also recommended for lower abdominal pains affecting the genitalia, such as pain of the testes, prostate, uterus, or vulvar region. Amber "frees the orifices" which is designation for treating conditions such as atherosclerotic blockage of the arteries and blood clots that can cause angina, heart attack, and stroke.... for more info visit the website this was found on here

SOME of the things Baltic Amber helps (Including but not limited to):
Arthritis, Acid Reflux (GERD), Burns, Broken bones, Chemotherapy, Chronic Back Pain, Chronic Fatigue, colic, Endometriosis, Fibromyalgia, Gas (for children), Kidney Disorders, Lupus, Menstrual , Cramps, Migraines (Chronic Headaches), Muscular Aches and Strains, Nausea, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Stomach Problems and Upset, Teething Pain