Potential homemade deodorant recipe!

I found a super easy and simple recipe for homemade deodorant, and I am looking forward to trying it out. I have all three ingredients that are needed, so all I need now is some patience to actually do it. This recipe calls for baking soda, coconut oil and cornstarch, and apparently ends up the consistency of store bought deodorant.

By the sounds of it, based on the ingredients, this deodorant will not only make me smell less because of the baking soda (always a plus!) but it will also moisturize the skin in my under arms from the coconut oil, and be less irritating thanks to the corn starch.

My under arms are rather irritated right now, as I’ve been using just straight baking soda as deodorant. It keeps the stench away for most of the day, but I find that the skin is quite red and irritated.

The past few mornings, I put some coconut oil onto the skin of my armpits and rubbed it in before applying the baking soda. The irritation was cut significantly, so once I mix these together with corn starch into one product not only will it be way easier to apply (1 step instead of 2-3!) but it will save time. Plus coconut oil has a faint smell to it that I find quite appealing!

If you’re allergic to coconut (as one of my friends is) you could go with any natural oil that is solid at almost room temperature. Some examples include Shea butter and palm oil.

I will confess that this does not slow down the perspiration. You will still sweat. It just won’t stink, because the baking soda kills of the odor causing bacteria. If you find that the mixture isn’t strong enough to remove the odor, try adding a few drops of tea tree oil.

I plan on making this deodorant this weekend, and I will try it out for a few days or a week and let you know how it goes. If all goes well, I will share the exact recipe with you. I wouldn’t want to share it before I know for myself how effective it is.

Peace and serenity,

Simply Me

Belated wedding gift - A behemoth!

As a belated wedding present, my mother bought me a top-o-the-line computerized sewing machine. I asked for a sewing machine, and I got a behemoth! But seriously, this thing, once I figure it out, will be amazing. It's got like twenty preset stitches, and that much I can figure out how to work. The issue lies in how the heck I'm supposed to thread the needle and stuff! I looked at it, looked at the instruction manual, and I am lost.


Luckily for me, the store that sold the behemoth to my mom offers free beginner sewing lessons. I wouldn't be surprised if it was titled something like "Learn to use the behemoth - Step 1" but who knows! I still haven't called about this. Talk about procrastination at it's best!

My first goal with this new beast will be to make a few handy sized bags. I have some fun fabric scraps that a friend of M's gave me that will be perfect for practicing on. I just need to actually get around to pulling it out (which isn't far, it's on a bookshelf in the living room, haha) and plug it in. Maybe tonight I will pull it out to start experimenting with, we'll see how I feel after work.

In other news, I am planning on moving to my own domain name! I haven't figured out what it will be yet. I am seriously looking forward to the move though, it is very exciting for me and I can't wait to start fiddling around with my new site. I will be getting help with this, from a friend as well as my dad, so at least I'm not going to drown in information!

If you have any ideas, thoughts, or quips about either behemoth computerized sewing machines or owning a domain name, feel free to share them below.

Holidays are inching closer!

This is just a friendly reminder that CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

We started our shopping a few weeks ago, and did some more yesterday. We're sharing a lot of simple things, and I plan on making quite a few gifts too.

So here is your reminder that if you plan on making any of your gifts this year, better get started! There is a wealth of information and ideas out there, but here are a few if you're still stumped:

1. Jam and/or other preserves
2. Vanilla extract
3. Scarves/mittens/hats/anything knit or crocheted
4. Hand decorated picture frames
5. Premixed cookie/cake/baked good mixes, just the dry ingredients, with a tag for cooking instructions and which wet ingredients to add.

If you have any other ideas, or any other gifts that you have made previous years or that you plan on making this year or any upcoming years, feel free to share!

Peace and serenity,

Simply Me

Homemade Hummus

I decided to use some of the dehydrated chick peas that I had in my pantry this week and made hummus.

I soaked the chick peas for about three days.

Saturday I boiled them for just over an hour.

Then I drained the pot, put the chick peas in the blender.

I added around 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2/3 of a cup of water, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder (since I didn't have any fresh garlic cloves) and a few shakes of salt. 

I blend these ingredients, had to stop a few times to move the mixture around since the blender wasn't as strong as the last one I had used. But eventually, my chick peas became smooth hummus.

I put the hummus into containers, left them open to cool.

Then put the lids on around 20 minutes later, and stuck them in the fridge. 

It was my first time making hummus, and I tried it today. It wasn't great, tastes pretty watery instead of creamy and delicious. A friend of mine suggested mixing in a bit of peanut butter, since I am not a fan of tahini. I'm going to try that tonight!

Peace and serenity,

Simply Me

7 different ways to use salt

So, like I said, I love finding fun new information on the internet.

Found on AboutMyPlanet.com, a list of new ways to use salt. Regular table salt.

Fantastic!

Check out the full list here.

I love that these tips and ideas are actually practical, and use an everyday household item.

Let me know if you have tried any of these, and how they work! I am interested in seeing different peoples opinions of these uses.

Lots of love,

Simply Me

Day 4 of 30 - My sibling AND wedding update

@Phil Despite the fact that you don't try to push yourself forward in life, I hope you can find your goal, and become all you should be.

My brother is a strange person. He is incredibly gifted and intelligent, but in that lays overconfidence and know-it-all-ism. He doesn't always accept that his way is not always the best, but he is usually there for me. We have had many disagreements, and many months where we did not speak. But he is my brother, and I do love him dearly. I only hope that he reaches for the dreams that he has, and I know that he will attain them.

In other news:

Just finishing up the sample procession for the wedding (which is in like less that 3 weeks!) and putting everything in order. My brain is mush. There is so much left to do, but it's all little details. I wish I had known how much was left, before now! Then I wouldn't be in crunch time! Bah!

Also, I'm handmaking my place cards. Did not want to pay for someone to do something that I can do. So I'm stamping cardstock with pink and blue letters. Good fun.