Still Using 'Em

I have been using cloth diapers (read about the reasons I choose them here) for almost 9 months now and you know what...I still love them! I had A LOT of people tell me that I would get tired of all the washing or that once he started on solid foods, I would want to just throw the nastiness in the trash. I will admit there have been times when I did want to just trash the diaper (who knew something so small and cute could produce such a vile stench), but overall I can deal with it. As for the laundry, we worked out a system and it isn't a problem. We have had to start combating diaper pail stinkies, but I came up with a solution for that too. I purchased an odor neutralizing fragrance and made a pail deodorizer out of baking soda and borax. You do have to do an extra rinse cycle (or use less detergent), but it works well. Plus, with sunny days, hanging them out on the line works wonders.

One thing that excited me so much was when someone opened an actual store for cloth diapers here in The Springs. The diapers aren't really cheap to begin with and when you add shipping, it can get ridiculous. The Cloth Diaper Market is awesome and I love their Rocky Mountain Diapers because they have the cutest colors and patterns and I like the overall design. Plus, I'm supporting another small business owner, not a large corporation!

I love cloth diapering so much that I even created products designed for parents that have chosen to cloth diaper. I have a cloth diaper safe balm, a cornstarch based powder, and a wash for getting that tiny heinie clean! They will be added to the website soon, so "like" Honu Naturals on Facebook or sign up for our newsletter to get the latest information!

Fragrance Oils

I know that I said in the past that I was against using fragrance oils because I had had bad reactions to products that contained fragrances.

Well, it seems I must change my mind. I purchased a few fragrances for a friend because she requested in for her birthday. I did not get any of the oil on me, but I did try the product to make sure it was what I wanted to send. Guess what? No reaction!

This got me thinking, maybe it wasn't the products, it was something else that caused it. So, I tried some of said big store product. Guess what? Unhappy skin :(

My hypothesis is that it is not the fragrance, but something else in the products that caused my reactions.

I decided to try out some of the samples that companies keep sending me with my orders. I have still not had a reaction.

Because of this, I have decided to add some scents that are made with fragrance oils. I have chosen pthalate free scents only and I will continue to offer products that contain essential oils only for those that do not want any artificial fragrances. I will also continue to offer products that are completely unscented.

I made this decision for several reasons. First, I wanted to offer a larger selection to my customers; I've received numerous compliments, but also many requests for other scents. Second, for some scents, this is more cost effective and allows me to keep my prices down (patchouli is a great example of a recent price spike). Third, if we are being honest, some of the fragrances are just delicious.

I hope you enjoy my coming selection. To get the first scoop on our new scents, sign up for our newsletter!

After Bath Oil

Since I've moved to Colorado I have had extremely dry skin. Sometimes lotion just isn't enough and I need to use something more. My solution was to create an after bath oil that I could apply to moist skin and last all day.

Recipe:

• 2 parts olive oil
• 1 part grapeseed oil
• 1 part jojoba oil
• 10 drops peppermint eo
• 10 drops rosemary eo

I mixed it all together in a bottle with a pump. I use peppermint and rosemary because I can always use a good pick-me-up in the morning, but any would work. I rub this on right after the shower before I dry off. It helps keep the moisture in and I don't feel greasy.

I chose olive oil because it is simply amazing for the skin and you can read about some of its benefits here. Grapeseed oil is lightweight and provides your skin with vitamin e. It is also thought to help repair delicate eye tissue and supporting blood vessel strength. I used jojoba oil because it is similar to human sebum and balancing for the skin. Jojoba is also very stable and doesn't go rancid like many other oils.

I have recently read about an oil cleansing method using oils. I think I might give it a try to see if I like it. I'll let you know what I think.

What kind of fragrance would you want in an after bath oil?

Peanut Butter Pancakes

I got these for breakfast. These were so good, I decided to share the recipe. I didn't use any syrup, just butter. I think they might be good with jelly too!

Peanut Butter Pancakes:

• 1 cup flour
• 1Tbsp sugar
• 2tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 4 slices crumpled bacon (I didn't add this)

Combine dry ingredients. Beat peanut butter, butter, and eggs until creamy. Add dry ingredients and milk, blend until smooth. (Stir in bacon-again I didn't do this) Make the pancakes as usual! They don't get really fluffy like most pancakes, but they tasted delicious!

Corona del Mar Won

Corona won the Tour de  Turtles! She hasn't transmitted a signal since February 18, but she traveled a grand total of 2,382 km! See her trip here.

If you don't remember, I got an adopted sea turtle for Christmas and you can read about it here!

Half-Price Soap Sale!

I have some bars of soap that I need to clear out to make room for my summer inventory, so I am putting those bars on sale! You can get some of your favorite Honu soaps for half off (click here)! You have to hurry though, I have very limited quantities remaining.

SOAP Panel, Please

Well, it is time for another SOAP panel and I'm giving it another try.

What is my favorite Bramble Berry product? Well, I'm going to be totally cheesy and give you a movie quote; "I could no sooner pick a favorite star from the heavens." Anyone know who said it? Oh yeah, it was Drew Barrymore's character Danielle from Ever After. But, that is way off topic.

Favorite Fragrance Oil: Dark Rich Chocolate FO Why do I like it? It is delicious. I haven't made anything with just that fragrance (although I'm sure it would be wonderful), it blends well with several other fragrances. For example, for the Soap Swap, I made Dark Chocolate Pumpkin soap and blended it with the Pumpkin Spice FO. I also made a special soap for a friend and mixed it with a coffee scent and it was the perfect trip to the coffeehouse, without the calories or overpriced drinks. Works great in CP soap!

Favorite Essential Oil: Hungarian Lavender EO This is not like grandma's lavender! It is soft and floral, but not powdery and old lady-like. It sticks well in CP soap and is long-lasting in lotion.

Wishlist: Baltic Birch 36 Bar Wooden Mold Talk about making things simple! You can also get a different dividers to make smaller size soaps. No more cutting, just pour the soap and put the dividers in!

Bramble Berry is one of my favorite suppliers (and not just because I hope they pick me). One of the things that I look forward to with every order is my free samples of different fragrances. They are perfect for trying before buying! I have made small samples of soap using several of them and I would be so excited if I was picked to help them test possible fragrances!

Check out their Facebook page or the Soap Queen blog to see the results