In the Test Lab... Mint Chocolate

If you are a fan of our Facebook page you have already seen some pictures of this soap! When I made my test batch I had no idea what the reaction would be and within 10 min of posting we had sold all the bars in pre orders!

Our mint chocolate soap blends coconut, castor, olive, palm and canola oil with cocoa butter to create its amazing texture. The almost milk base adds to its creamy texture. Our chocolate scent comes from the the cocoa butter as well as cocoa powder and a blend of minty essential oils add to this amazing soap! (We did not use peppermint to decrease chance of sensitivity)

If you know and love our warm cocoa soap you will love this new addition!!

Quick Tip... Coconut Oil Eye Makeup Remover

If you dont mind an oil eye makeup remover then try this...use coconut oil in place of your fave makeup remover. Many oil based eye makeup remover contain mineral oil and I know for many this is something you are trying to get away from!

Coconut oil not only removes eye makeup like a dream but moisturizes your eye area at the same time!! I like coconut oil as well because it is solid at room temp which makes it easy to travel with.

I simply fill an old lip balm container and use my finger to remove a small portion to clean off my makeup!

Simple and amazing all at the same time!!

Saturday Mornings at the Farmers Market

This year we took the plunge and started at the farmers market. I'm going to be honest the first 4:30 am wake up time was tough but we did it! Starting after the holidays meant a slow start but we were very lucky to have our amazing customers visit us starting the first day!!

It took a couple of weeks but finally we are gaining the shoppers trust and more and more. We are having fun shopping the local businesses the market has to offer as well! My kids love spending Saturday mornings with their grandparents and my husband and I get some actual alone time!!

As time goes I hope to have to tips and tricks for anyone wanting to try their hand at a farmers market... Until then I will enjoy this learning process!!

Quick Tip...Clarifying Your Hair

Did you know that simply adding a sprinkle of baking soda to your shampoo will help to clarify and strip buildup from your hair?!

Shampoos are made to leave a residue on your hair that makes it appear healthier... over time that residue builds up too much leaving our hair feeling waxy and lifeless. That is why we often switch up our shampoo thinking the new one has solved our problem when it merely removed the old build up and is now starting a new one!

If you dont have the option to use an all natural shampoo or shampoo bar use this baking soda trick when your hair starts to loose its lustre!!

DIY Dishwasher Detergent

Dishwasher detergent has always been an issue for me. Either I felt it was too expensive... or just didn't work! For the past several months I have been playing with different at home recipes that I found on Pinterest etc but none worked exactly how I wanted. Well I think I finally found a solution that works for me!!!

For starters I use vinegar in place of Jet Dry. Vinegar is is so many DIY projects that I always have it around and it works great for so many things! I pour mine right into the Jet Dry area my dishwasher has which works best for me, however many people use 1/4 cup in a small container on the top shelf of their dishwasher!

Secondly I mix 2 cups of Borax with 2 cups of baking soda. I find Borax in the laundry aisle at my local store and I always have baking soda at home. Now I have seen Arm and Hammer washing soda used in a similar recipe but it is difficult to find in my area!!! I whisk up the mixture and add essental oils. Now the mix and amount is up to you. I used a citrus blend of orange, lime and lemon and I used a good amount (approx 40-45 drops in total) because I like to smell that citrus scent come from my dishwasher.

Lastly you need some Dawn dishwashing liquid... the good old original formulation. I often find mine at the dollar store which only adds to the savings!! (You can skip this step if you are able to get your hands on Arm and Hammer Washing Soda)

How do you put it all together?? As I mentioned above my Jet Dry compartment is already filled with vinegar. Then I simply fill my detergent compartment with the Borax baking soda blend and add a small amount (approx 1 tablespoon) of Dawn to the inside of the dishwasher. I just squeeze it right into the bottom of the basin.

Thats it now run your dishwasher and be amazed!!

Want a price comparison??? I always used the Electrasol tabs in my washer previously so I will compare using that product. I found the Powerball tabs on Amazon for $30.43 for 85 tabs. That is .36 cents a load and a way better price you will find in stores. If you break down the cost into units, our detergent costs us .17 cents per dishwasher load!! That is a $16.15 savings over the 85 loads the Electrasol will do!!