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Revitalize your Wild Women Goddess with this Infused Honey
May 18th
I want to invite everyone to try making infused honey with wild rose petals. For each petal is full of magical wild woman energy. Why not capture this in a honey? Nothing is more self reliant, wild & care free then those brambling wild rose bushes. The more they expand and grow in their wildness the more “Humans” try to contain them by cutting and burning and digging. Yet the rose will find a way to come back more wild and full of thorns. We women need to remember the roses teaching everyday!
Every fall I pick the rose hips for winter teas and herbal mixes (high in Vit C ). This spring the rose spoke to me in a different voice. On my hike the other day I came upon some of my favorite wild rose bushes. Pausing to say a “good morning” I noticed that the rose bushes were just starting to bloom. The rose bush spoke to me, saying: that each petal of her flowers contains a wild woman essence and the women of the land need to remember their wild woman energy. The bush explained that for too long I have held my wild woman in check. She told me to make a soap and herbal honey to capture this wild energy and release the wild goddess inside.
I will use the honey in my tea when I feel too domesticated and the soap when I need to revitalize my feminine energy.
How to gather petals: approach the wild bush with love and stand there for a few minutes and connected to the bush. Touch a leaf and ask permission to harvest a few petals. Remember that these petals are the rosebuds you harvest in the fall so don’t harvest all from one bush. Thank the bush and leave a little bit of tobacco or cornmeal. You can also leave a piece of your hair if you don’t have anything else.
LET ME KNOW YOUR ADVENTURES AND HOW THEY TURN OUT!
Humans crave sweet things so why not have sweet medicine? Here are some wonderful herbal honeys that taste good and are good for you!
Herbs:
- Enough dried lavender flowers (Lavendula spp.) to fill a 1 pint jar 1/4 full.A 4 ounce (weight) packet is the smallest available.
- you can purchase herbs through Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com
Other ingredients:
- 1 pint of good quality, local, raw honey.
Supplies: (all available at supermarkets, farmers markets)
- 1 wide mouth pint jar (16 oz.) (available at supermarkets or hardware stores)
- A strainer
About Herbal Honey:
Honeys are a delicious way of adding herbal nourishment to our diets. They can be made with most any herb with a high volatile oil content. The strong smell from these plants yield delightful tasting honeys that will add extra beauty and flavor to your morning toast, tea or baking recipes.
About Lavender:
Lavender can be used to help calm a person’s nerves and also to relieve depression or just to lift a person’s spirits. So this honey is a wonderful addition to our everyday diet.
How to use your honey:
Spread this honey on your toast in the morning, add to recipes that call for honey, or add a spoonful to your tea.
How to make herbal honey:
My Skin Does What??? (an amazing tale of the skin)
Apr 24th
Not only is skin our largest organ, but also one of the most dynamic and effective organs. Every gust of wind, cough, and blast from an exhaust pipe hits our skin first. Biologically, our skin is our first line of defense. Culturally, skin defines much of our standard for beauty. Bright, youthful skin signals health and vitality. And, like every part of our bodies, skin responds to care and attention. Proper treatment can revitalize skin and slow the aging process, keep skin healthier, longer.
Our skin holds our bodies together, shielding us from the outside world. It is our protective covering, our first barrier to fight illness and disease, and a passageway to our bloodstream. Our skin works so well that it’s easy to take skin for granted. But the difference between neglected and papered skin is incredible—once you experience the joy of supple, breathable skin, you’ll be hooked. Your whole body functions more smoothly when your skin doesn’t have to fight to perform its natural function.
By using MIDNIGHT OIL SOAP products your skin will begin to function properly. M.O. soap is the same pH as your skin and doesn’t strip your skin of natural oils. It won’t leave a film and being an all natural product your skin will breath easy!
Skin covers about 20 square feet of the human body. It is composed of two main layers: the epidermis (outer) and the dermis (inner) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_skin). The cells in the epidermis are continually replaced with cells produced in its bottom layer. The entire epidermis is replaced approximately every 27 days. This process slows as we age. Exfoliating dead skin cells helps speed up the process, promoting youthful skin. The dermis contains nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and blood vessels. Together, these two layers provide us with protection and comfort.
MIDNIGHT OIL SOAP offers a line of exfoliating soaps ie. Scrubby Bar, Highland Spirit, Milk and Honey, Moon Maiden to name a few. M.O. Rejuvenating skin care line “Unbound Beauty” offers a gentle carrot soap for the face, and moisturizing face scrub, cream and serum!
Simply put, healthy skin is vital for our survival both emotionally and physically. To boost these capabilities, we need to understand its role and importance in our overall health and learn how to better care for our skin. What we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our body; both affect the well being of our entire body (skin included!). The next time you slather on that chemical laden lotion or soak in a toxic tub, remember that your skin absorbs a large percentage of what you put on it. MIDNIGHT OIL SOAP is an Hand Made with All Natural Ingredients! You can feel SAVE using Midnight Oil Soap for all your skin care needs. More >
NATURAL EASTER EGG DYES
Apr 1st
Give the Easter bunny a run for his money by dyeing Easter eggs the natural way, using common foods and flowers.
- Start with hard-cooked (boiled) eggs and refrigerate until ready to use.
- The longer you soak the eggs in the following dye liquids (of your choice), the more intense the colors will be.
- If desired, before dyeing the eggs, draw shapes, pictures or inspiring words on them with crayons or a piece of wax. The wax won’t absorb the color so the designs will show through. Using a crayon, simply draw a design onto your eggs and then dye as you would any other Easter egg. Your crayon design will be accentuated by your choice of dye!
- Rubber bands are all you need to make tie-dyed eggs. Use a collection of different sized rubber bands. Wrap the rubber bands, one at a time, around the eggs. Make sure to leave some of the egg shell exposed so it can be dyed.
- Once the eggs are dyed to the color you like, remove them from the water and let them dry. Once dried completely, pull the rubber bands off to reveal your banded design.
- To get a natural leaf design or flower impression on the egg, you need fern frawns, leaves or flowers, pantyhose and rubber bands. Place leaf/flower on egg cover with a cut piece of pantyhose, that covers the entire egg and rubber band the ends. The pantyhose hold the leaf/flower on the egg. Boil in onion skins or your choice of dye and place pantyhose covered egg in the hot solution, when you remove the pantyhose from the egg you have a fossil look to your egg.
How to make natural egg dyes: More >
Reducing Puffy Eyes
Mar 26th
Whether it’s an evening of heavy drinking or a sleepless, restless night, fluid retention and stress can lead to red, puffy eyes in the morning. Also caused by allergies and changes in your hormones, puffy eyes happen when there is increased blood flow through the eyes due to the skin around the eyes being very thin. The production of too many tears can be another factor. There are several inexpensive home remedies for the treatment of puffy eyes.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers placed over eyelids is a popular image seen in advertisements for spas and beauty salons across the U.S. The theory is that the moisture in cucumber slices is refreshing and soothing. They also contain an anti-irritation ingredient that helps deflate the skin around your eyes to reduce swelling.
How to use: Cut out two cucumber slices about ½” thick and place them in a bowl of ice water for approximately ten minutes. Splash your face with cool water from the faucet, then find a comfortable chair to sit in (do not lie down!) and apply the cucumbers for 5-10 minutes.
Tea bags
Because caffeine shrinks blood vessels, and puffy eyes are caused by irritated blood vessels and increased blood flow to the eyes, applying tea bags will help reduce redness and swelling. Placing the tea bags in ice cold water (see “How to use” section below) has a rebuffing effect that is soothing to the eyes. Tea also contains tannic acid, which acts as an astringent and may even tighten the skin around the eyes, at least temporarily.
How to use: Dip two tea bags in a bowl of ice cold water for a few seconds, then apply one to each eyelid for approximately 10-15 minutes. If this proves to be too soggy, another option is to lightly moisten the tea bags in cold water, then chill them in the refrigerator for a few minutes before using.
Preparation H-
Because Preparation H reduces swelling it works wonders on puffy eyes. You can feel is working right away.
How to use: small amount on finger and rub under eye. Be careful not to get into eye
Diagnosing Eye Inflammation
Swollen eyes are generally fairly noticeable and may include visible swelling, sensations of heat and pain and redness, all of which are caused by an increased flow of blood to the affected area.
What Causes Eye Inflammation?
Eye inflammations can be caused by a variety of factors, and sometimes it takes a professional diagnosis for insight into the source.
Common Causes of Eye Inflammations:
- Allergies: A fairly common cause of eye inflammation, allergies can cause persistent eye irritation. Allergic rhinitis triggered by pollen, seasonal changes, house dust-mites, molds or pets can often result in itchy and inflamed eyes.
- Bacterial and viral infections: The most common bacterial infection is conjunctivitis, a highly contagious viral infection also known as pink eye. Blepharitis, or chronic inflammation of the eyelid caused by infection, is also a common problem. Styes, or tiny painful infections that form in the oil glands around the eyelash, can also be a bothersome problem. Most commonly, these problems occur from improper contact lens wear, surgery, trauma, injury to the eye, or touching the eyes with unclean hands.
- Overuse of prescription and over the counter eye drops: Many people use eye drops to soothe mildly irritated eyes and prolonged use can cause a “rebound affect”. This is when your eyes become sore and irritated until you use the drops again, thus creating a kind of dependency on the eye drop affect.
- A deficiency of vitamin A: This may make you more susceptible to eye infections and other eye problems.
- Improper contact lens use: A common cause of inflammation or infection if hygienic measures are not taken or are worn past their intended period of use (allowing bacteria overgrowth). Hands should be washed before putting in and taking our contact lenses, the correct solution should be used and proper storage methods kept. Problems also occur when particles get trapped between the lens and the eye, causing irritation, or the lenses are worn too long.
- Illness and disease: Measles, herpes, and diabetes may cause eye inflammation. Sexually transmitted diseases are also easily spread to the eye area. Inflammatory conditions such as lupus, arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome can also be causes.
- Foreign matter or foreign substances: Dust, grit or plant-sap can get trapped under the eyelid, causing inflammation and discomfort.
Natural Remedies for Eye Inflammation
In many cases, eye inflammations are a bother more than anything else and tend to go away soon enough. Some cases however, are more serious and should be treated accordingly. Whatever the cause, nature has a few effective herbal and homeopathic remedies that can help with over-all eye health, thus promoting recovery and preventing complications to begin with!
- Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) is a well known and commonly used herb for eye health for strengthening eye capillaries, preventing eye-related disease and infection, and restoring the eyes to a problem-free state.
- Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) and Sutherlandia frutescensare other herbal ingredients that work as effective anti-oxidants used to maintain a healthy supply of blood, oxygen and essential nutrients to the eye – all of which are essential to the rapid recovery from any eye condition.
- Calendula & Chamomile soak – use fresh or dried herbs. Bring 1 cup of water to boil add 1 TBS of each herb let steep 15 minutes. Soak a cotton ball and squeeze a few drops in the eye and then place cotton ball on eyes for 10-15 minutes. Repeat this daily and continue 3 days after symptoms disappear. This combination works on pin eye as well.
- Reduce sodium intake
- Always consult a doctor if things worsen. Your eye site is precious and you must be careful.
Night Witches
Feb 28th
Night Witches Russian lady bombers who bombed German lines in WW2 using the oldest, noisiest, crappest planes. Engines used to conk out halfway through missions, & they had to climb on the wings mid flight to restart the props. To stop Germans from hearing the planes & firing at them, they’d climb up to a certain height, coast down to German positions, drop their bombs, restart their engines in midair, and get out as quickly as poss. The leader flew over 200 missions and was never captured.
Such interesting history! Hope you enjoyed this little bit of history!
Tomato Paste Saver (cool idea)
Feb 22nd
FREEZE TOMATO PASTE: This is a brilliant idea! How many times I have felt guilty throwing away a half a can of paste or try to save it in the fridg only to throw it away later.
Tomato Paste Saver: Most recipes call for only a small portion of tomato paste — you use a tablespoon or two, and the rest invariably goes to waste. To save the remainder: Carefully open both ends of the can with a can opener. Remove one metal end, and discard it. Leave the other in place. Wrap the entire can in plastic wrap, and freeze overnight. The next day, use the metal end to push the frozen paste out the open end. Discard can, tightly rewrap unused portion, and store in freezer up to 3 months, slicing off just as much as you need each time you cook.
Enjoy this little tip!
Sudsily yours, Kim (your friendly soap goddess) 
Cranberry Mojitos recipe!
Feb 13th
Cranberry Mojitos (makes 2):
8 oz. fresh cranberries
1 C sugar
1 C water
20 mint leaves
2 T lime juice
Ice
4 oz. rum
4-6 oz. soda water
5 tips to brew a perfect cup of tea
Feb 10th
1. Water temperature
“The temperature of your water is hugely important. Using boiling water on green tea will burn the leaves, ruining the taste of your cup. I use slightly cooler water for Japanese steamed green teas than I do with Chinese pan-fired green teas. But using boiling water on Black Tea is a must! Black tea is best steeped with boiling water and the pot should be pre-warmed!
A quick way to determine the proper water temperature for your tea (without using a thermometer), is to bring the kettle of water to a full boil and let it sit for a few minutes before using. Also, standard tea practice stipulates that hot water must be poured over the tea, never tea into water.”
2. Steep time
“Over steeping your teas can leave them bitter, and you lose the delicate flavor of the leaves. You could use a tea timer, but proper steeping time is approximately four to seven minutes depending on the type of tea.”
3. Re-infuse
“Looking to get as much out of your tea as possible? Try re-infusing your tea leaves! Some teas, like green teas and oolongs, can be re-steeped several times and produce a different flavor profile after each infusion.”
4. Always be sure to give your tea enough room to infuse
“As water seeps into the tea leaves, they expand into the cup. For maximum flavor, you’ll want an infuser that gives them enough room to grow.”
5. Break the rules More >
DRY BRUSHING SKIN (get rid of toxins, improves health and tighten skin)
Jan 16th
What is the largest organ in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
What organ is responsible for ¼ of the body’s detoxification each day?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
What organ eliminates two pounds of waste acids daily?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
What is one of the most important elimination organs in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
What organ receives one third of all the blood that is circulated in the body?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
When the blood is full of toxic materials, what organ will reflect this with problems?
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
What organ is the last to receive nutrients in the body, yet the first to shows signs of imbalance or deficiency
ANSWER: THE SKIN!
A Simplistic Approach to Healthier Skin
The practice of dry skin brushing may be old news to those who practice the daily routine, but with all the skin care products and hypes out there, I thought it important to re-introduce a process that is not only a great way to maintain healthy skin, but also helps you to maintain a healthy body. The ability of the skin to excrete toxins is of paramount importance to you.
Dry skin brushing is one of the healthier self-help methods available to us today. Stimulation of the skin sets in motion natural healing pathways within your body. Additionally, it encourages nerve beds within its structure that in turn increases normal healing processes throughout the body.
There are several automatic systems contained by the body including healing processes. Your heart beats by design—you breathe automatically—and your body’s “automatic healing process”, is another. It is set in motion when your body generates an itching response to the required areas. You will obviously scratch that area, and in turn, the area turns red with a fresh blood supply and the natural healing process has now been set in motion. This is the same healing process that will follow a skin brushing session.
Your skin is the primary sign of an internally toxic body. As soon as your internal body becomes toxic, it will spread out into your skin causing your skin to become irritated and itchy. There are numerous ports of elimination of the skin including your mouth, face, and arm pits, the inside of your upper thigh region, feet, and toe nails. Did you know that body odor is also an additional indicator of toxic build-up and is eradicated through the same channels. Let’s not forget your tongue, which builds up a plaque and is yet another gauge of toxins in the body.
Our skin is permeable or porous, and can absorb toxins directly from the environment. According to Jacqueline Krohn, MD, “Caustic chemicals, such as alkaline solutions, can also penetrate the skin. Once a chemical has penetrated the stratum corneum (the most superficial layer of the skin), it moves through the epidermis and into the dermis. Skin brushing will enhance your health significantly. You may wonder how this is accomplished using, “skin brushing”. It is a fact that the skin is one of the optimal ways to getting to the endocrine system and all the glands it reaches very quickly. In addition, at the same time, it triggers them to react successfully. The instantaneous result from a brushing session is a feeling of increased physical well being.
The Benefits Of Dry Skin Brushing
- • Dry skin brushing helps to shed dead skin cells, which can help improve skin texture and cell renewal.
- • Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes, which greatly aids the lymphatic drainage of the entire body. When the body rids itself of toxins, it is able to run more efficiently in all areas.
- • Dry skin brushing also helps to tighten the skin because it increases the flow of blood. Increasing the circulation to the skin can also help lessen the appearance of cellulite.
- • Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymph canals to drain toxic mucoid matter into the colon, thereby purifying the entire system. This enables the lymph to perform its house-cleaning duties by keeping the blood and other vital tissues detoxified. After several days of dry brushing, you may notice the gelatinous mucoid material in your stools.
- • Dry skin brushing helps with muscle tone and more even distribution of fat deposits.
- • Dry skin brushing also rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin.
- • Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health.
- • Individuals who sit at a computer screen all day long will particularly take pleasure in the benefits of skin brushing. People who have inactive lifestyles or jobs usually experience stiff and sore necks and shoulders that reach even into their arms and down their spines and into their lower backs. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that permits you to feel energized and invigorated.
- • LADIES—Cellulite is toxic. Cellulite is toxic materials that are accumulated in your body’s fat cells as they are unable to be eliminated. So, rather than liposuction surgery, how about utilizing the “dry skin brushing” techniques coupled with an alkaline diet program and a great exercising routine. It will break down the unwelcome toxic body deposits and send them scurrying out of your body through the elimination channels we discussed above.
How to Get Started With Your Skin Brushing Regimen
| 1.Purchase a natural, NOT a synthetic, bristle brush. (vegetable bristle)2. Purchase a brush with a long handle, so that you are able to reach all areas of your body. Best-case scenario would be one that had a removable head with a strap for your hand.
3. Skin brushing should be performed once a day, preferably first thing in the morning. If you are feeling ill, please do it twice a day until you feel better. 4. Skin brushing should be performed prior to your bath or shower and your body dry and naked. 5. Begin brushing your skin in long sweeping strokes starting from the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction. Always brush towards the heart. Try and brush several times in each area, over-lapping as you go. 6. Avoid sensitive areas and anywhere the skin is broken. |
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7. After brushing your skin, rinse off in the shower. Paavo Airola, author of Swedish Beauty Secrets, recommends alternating temperatures in the shower from hot to cold. This will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin.
8. After getting out of the shower, dry off vigorously and massage your skin with Midnight Oil Massage Oil, Body Butter, salve or Lotions
9. Don’t forget to clean your skin brush using Midnight Oil soap and water once a week. After rinsing, dry your skin brush in an open, sunny spot to prevent mildew.
10. For a thorough lymphatic cleansing, perform skin brushing daily for a minimum of three months.
Caution: Do not brush on or over skin rashes, wounds, cuts, infections, poison oak or poison ivy.
Note: Any well designed program will take about 30 days to see and experience the changes. Please be patient and keep up the program!
I love the way I feel after dry brushing and you will too!
Sudsily yours, Kim (your friendly soap goddess)
Simple Steps to Protect Your Skin this Winter
Jan 4th
- MIDNIGHT OIL SOAP (M.O.): add moisture back to your skin as you bath. DO NOT USE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, they contain
detergents that can remove protective, essential oils. - M.O. Soaps are olive oil based with the added benefit of Goat Milk making the soaps the same pH as your skin. This allows your skin to not be striped of it’s natural pH.
- Don’t take extra-hot showers. As much as you want the comfort of that heat when it’s chilly, there’s less moisture in the air during winter and hot showers can further dehydrate your skin. Make showers as tepid as you can tolerate.
- Don’t assume that drinking water or replacing fluids internally is enough to keep your skin healthy during cold weather.
- BODY BUTTER from M. O.: Replenish skins moisture with these easily absorbed, skin loving butters that are high in fatty acids, vitamins and nourishment for all types of skin, perfect for extra dry skin. Apply to every part of your body and enjoy soft, silky smooth skin! I love this lotion and highly recommend it.
- BODY BUTTER FOR HAIR???? Yes, take a handful of M.O. Body Butter and massage it into your hair, and cover hair with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15 to 60 minutes. A great natural conditioner for the hair in winter.
- HEALING HERBAL SALVE: If you’ve got the driest of dry skin, the best defense for that is a couple of days this salve. Use sparingly, a little goes a long way! Perfect for dry, cracking skin when lotion just isn’t doing the job.
- Wearing slightly loose cotton gloves to bed after applying a sealant will speed the healing process for hurting hands and nails.
- Drinking fluid is important but moisture from the extra fluids can evaporate if not trapped by the epidermis, the skin’s outer layer. Moisturizing is so important this time of year because it protects the outer layer from winter’s wrath while retaining natural moisture from within. Try M.O. Body Butter it will keep your skin supple and healthy!
- Remember that certain beverages are dehydrating, such as those containing alcohol or caffeine, so consume them in moderation.
- M.O. REJUVENATION SCRUB: is perfect for winter use it is a gentle exfoilent in a light, rich lotion base.
- Humidify the air in your home, especially in your bedroom so that healing and repair can take place while you sleep.
- CUTICLE REPAIR: Don’t ignore nails. They’re made of the same basic compounds as the skin and crack and split in similar fashion, I don’t think people realize that when nails split it’s 90 percent from lack of proper moisture. CUTICLE REPAIR IS FULL OF vitamins and oils that strengthen and moisturize the nails and cuticles.
- Take a vitamin B supplement can improve skin, hair and nails, especially during winter.
By using Midnight Oil Products your skin will be healthier, softer and happier! Enjoy!!
Sudisly yours, Kim
