Ladies Blend Blog

Ladies Blend Featured Indie Candy

A few weeks ago, Donna Maria Coles Johnson of the Indie Beauty Network invited me to be interviewed for a feature in the Indie Experience Newsletter, Indie Candy.  For me, it was an interesting trip down memory lane, if you like, you can read the interview here. 

IBN offers its members tons of benefits to help launch, grow and maintain your business.   I am very pleased with all of the Member Benefits and was quite happy that the Products Liability Insurance covers candles, which is a product that I really wanted to include in my line.

There is also the Indie Business Blog which is filled with all kinds of information, tips and stories, don't miss it, it is updated frequently. 

Thank you dM!

Compose Your Own Labels For Free

A while back, Online Labels invited me to try a beta version of maestro Label Designer.  It is available on their site now, I believe for all to try.  Check it out, it is free and add your input, they listen.  I received a coupon for $5.00 off on my next order for completing a very short survey after trying it out.  It fit all of my needs except for one, I exclusively use the Optima font for all of my labels.  I checked just a bit ago and they now list that font as an option.  Even if you don't need this for business, I know a lot of you like to make labels for your crafts and gifts.  I'm not sure if there will be a fee associated with it in the future or not, but for now, there is no download needed and it is very user friendly! 

Pumpkin Carving Inspiration

Halloween is one week from today, don't get caught up in carving the same ole pumpkin design that you did last year, or even worse, one that looks like everyone else's.  Use the picture above for some ideas to give your great pumpkin personality and flair! 

I have been scouring the Internet searching for homemade Halloween makeup recipes that are natural.  Natural being the keyword, there are lots of recipes, but food dye and kool-aid-not so natural-just to name a couple.  My time would have been much better spent creating some myself, which is exactly what I intend to do for next year.    If I find any in the meantime, I'll be sure to post them here!

Homemade Herbal Vinegars

Herbal vinegars are so easy to make, are a nice staple to have on hand for your kitchen and beauty recipes and are lovely eye appealing useful gifts to give anytime of year. There are a few different methods that one uses to prepare an herbal vinegar, depending on who you ask.  My method is quite simple and takes practically no time at all. 

Supplies To Have Ready:

• Clean Dry Jars
  Recycle your Glass Jars or use Canning/Mason jars
• Assorted Herbs (organic if possible)
  Fresh or Dried
  If using fresh, clean and dry them well, either put through a salad spinner or pat gently with a paper towel to remove extra moisture after washing them.
• Assorted Vinegars (organic if available)
  Apple Cider, White, Rice, Balsamic, White Wine
• Plastic Wrap

Directions:

• Line up your clean dry glass jars.
• Fill each jar with one or more herbs.
• Fill the jar with your vinegar of choice.
• If using a metal lid, place a piece of plastic wrap over the opening of the jar, then cap.
• Label, date and store in a cupboard or pantry for 4-6 weeks.
• At the end of 4-6 weeks, strain the vinegar and discard the herbs. 

For Gift Giving:

• Add dried herbs (not too much) to a clean, dry attractive clear glass bottle, with non-metal lid.  This step is optional, the herbs will continue to extract, but this also leads to a beautiful presentation, sprigs and colorful herbs are especially pretty to use. 
• Feel free to add chunky spices like different colored peppercorns, small peeled garlic cloves/chunks, olives, citrus fruit rind strips and/or wheels (if using a large fruit, you may like to quarter or halve the wheels) from oranges, lemons, etc. and/or small berries.  This step is also completely optional. 
• Fill the bottles with the flavored vinegar and either make a label or copy and print one of the two that I made below, they are about the size of a business card.  Use a hole punch to create a hole in a corner or side, slip some ribbon or raffia through and tie to your bottle. Use the back to hand-write any additional info.

 

 









Similar Varieties:

Using the same method, you can also add fruit to vinegars such as raspberries to make beautiful tasty Raspberry Vinaigrette.  Use about one cup of fruit to 1 quart of vinegar.

Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Ingredients:
equal parts of olive oil and raspberry vinegar
pinch of salt & pepper
clove of garlic

Directions:
Chop the clove of garlic finely and put in the bowl. Add equal parts (about 1/4 cup each) of olive oil and raspberry vinegar. Add the salt and pepper. Mix together and add to your basic green salad just before serving.

Make a Flavored Dipping Oil for French or Italian bread by adding dried Italian herbs (1/4 teaspoon each-oregano, basil, parsley) and a clove of garlic (cut into chunks) to one cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a splash (1/2 tablespoon) of balsamic vinegar and several tablespoons of grated Parmesan Cheese.  Whisk it all together, salt and pepper to taste and bottle. 

Natural Vinegar Hair Rinse

Ingredients:
1-2 tablespoons Herbal Vinegar
1-2 cups water

Directions:
Mix vinegar and water together, shampoo hair, apply vinegar solution, massage in gently, leave on for a bit. Shampoo hair again and condition if you wish. This works very well to rinse out build up and residue, and to control oily hair. You may notice a slight vinegar odor, which dissipates as your hair dries.

There are many herbs that contribute to the health and care of hair, a few herbs that are good to help condition:  Rosemary Leaf, Lemongrass, Stinging Nettle Leaf, Chamomile flower and Red Rose Petals.

Notes:

• Some like to heat the vinegar before pouring over the herbs, if you choose to do this, I would suggest to gently heat the vinegar in a double boiler, but do not boil.  I think if you have adequate extraction time, this step could be skipped, it is a matter of preference.
• Herbs, especially flowers/heads that are rich in color will many times color the vinegar too.  Use a white vinegar for this, so that you can enjoy the beautiful color.
• What herbs to Use?   There are hundreds of different herbs that you can use.  I suggest using whatever is available in your area.  If you would like additional information or recipes, try googling herbal vinegars or some other relatable term.
• If you have your own recipe, please feel free to leave it in the comments section!

Control Bathroom Mold & Mildew Without The Use of Toxic Cleaners

From Rebecca Reynolds, President of Green Clean, Inc.

The strongest defense against mold and mildew is prevention.  In fact, it is the strongest defense against any cleaning issue.

In the case of mold and mildew in your bathroom, please consider doing the following:

• Wipe down the shower walls and any moist area with a dry towel after each shower. You can use a squeegee too, but the result must be a dry wall and shower area.
• Don't leave that wet towel used from drying, any wet washcloths, or any wet towels at all for that matter in the bathroom. This may sound strange but it is the wet towels and cloths that trap the most moisture in the bathroom and create a mini terrarium for bacteria and mold to grow. Taking the wet towels out of the bathroom helps reduce the moisture greatly. You can hang them out to dry or in a particularly dry room.
• Make sure you use the exhaust fan for a minimum of a half hour after each shower. Moisture droplets linger in the bathroom for some time and removing them will reduce many issues from mold to wallpaper lifting. While you are at it, make sure your fan is properly vented to the outside and NOT to the attic. Many home owners have had serious mold issues in their home due to faulty fan installation.
• If you have a window in the bathroom, open this as well. The faster the moisture leaves the better.
• In winter time, close the bathroom door while running the fan or cracking the window, then roll a towel and place under the door to avoid heat loss, Set a timer to remember to turn the fan off, or better yet, install a timer on your bathroom fan and instruct the entire family on how to use it.
• Spray your shower with white distilled vinegar, with ten drops per spray bottle of each of the following essential oils: Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemon, and Oregano. 
  Avoid spraying on the floor to avoid possible slipping.
• If you have mold in the silicone strip around your tub and shower wall, remove the silicone with a putty knife. Clean the area with straight white distilled vinegar, dry , and reseal.
• If you have mold in your grout, make a paste of Castile Soap, and Borax. Apply with a toothbrush and let sit for a half hour. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
• Open the shade and let the light in. Natural sun light is one of the best room cleaners God ever created.
• Make weekly bathroom cleaning and daily touch ups a part of your regular schedule. It is far better to clean as you go then to face a huge mold issue.....and remember mold is serous stuff. When cleaning mold always were a mask over your mouth, goggles, gloves, and if you can throw some cotton in your ears all the better. Mold looks for ways to enter your body and an orifice is an easy in.
• Consider moving to a washable shower curtain, similar to the kind they use in hotels. There are many Eco friendly designs out there now. Moving from vinyl shower curtains will reduce not only the moisture in the shower since vinyl does not breathe well and holds heat and moisture in, it will reduce how toxic your shower is. Also, consider installing a hook, even the suction hooks now on the market work great and do not take any handyman/ handywoman skills to install. When you are done with your shower, give the curtain a good shake and hang off of the floor on a hook to dry. This reduces your mold, mildew, and cleaning issues resulting in bacteria being trapped behind the wet and soap curtain. Lastly, wash your shower curtain weekly. Just like your towel, the curtain needs weekly washing to remove dirt, soap, bacteria, and mold spores.
• Add a shower filter to your shower head. Shower filters not only protect your body from chlorine and other toxic chemicals in your water, they reduce mineral build up, and allow you to rinse away soap easier both in the shower and on your body.

Rebecca specializes in helping others solve their cleaning issues without the use of toxic products. For more information, please visit her website,  Green Clean, Inc. 

© 2007, Rebecca Reynolds, Green Clean Inc., All Rights Reserved.