Now that the weather is warmer and the sun is once again trailing across my back yard, I broke out the sun oven. I've been able to use for two days before it started raining for the next 3. The first day was very sunny and the second was on and off cloudy.
On the partly cloudy day, the temperature in the oven would rise quickly when it was sunny and would cool to about 200 degrees when it got cloudy. I was able to get water boiling hot and cook diced potatoes, carrots and hard boil some eggs. I could have roasted them dry like last year, but I actually prefer the texture of them boiled in water. They came out very nicely, in fact. I also sauteed some onions and garlic in butter and tried to make a frittata, but it was too late in the day to finish. I had to finish the frittata in the toaster oven. Still came out wonderfully! The boiled items took all day to cook since there was no consistent amount of sun.
On the sunny day, the temperature easily broke 300 degrees. I was able to quickly reheat some leftover pasta for lunch, and defrost and heat up some frozen cabbage soup for dinner. For the cabbage soup, I tried something a little different. I aimed the oven for the afternoon sun and didn't readjust after that. I left the oven out until 7PM to see if the soup was still hot. As it turned out, the soup was still warm, but not hot. I had read online that you can leave the sun oven aimed towards the midday sun in the morning before work, go to work, come home and dinner would still be warm and ready. My guess is that you'd have to make it home earlier than 7PM and your dinner would be warm, but not piping hot. Maybe the oven would keep the temperature longer if the weather was hotter. That day, the temperatures were mostly in the 40s. Also, the temperature may have dipped in the afternoon due to condensation building up on the inside the oven glass.
The problem with condensation is that it prevents the sunlight from reaching the cooking chamber and lowers the temperature. Apparently, others have also encountered this problem and I found a post online that offers 3 different solutions. I have yet to try them out, but I plan to the next time we have a sunny day.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Actually happy to be cooking again
Since I got pregnant, I admit that I've been lazy. Either that or I've been too tired to do anything. Seriously, the fatigue was pretty rough. I'd find it almost impossible to stay awake at times. Now that I've been feeling better, I've been more active around the house, taking walks with my hubby on nice sunny weekends and cooking again.
Honestly, I didn't think I would get out of the rut of not cooking, but I've been enjoying it. Last night, I made a fantastic creamed spinach recipe I found online. I spread it over toast and topped with tender scrambled eggs. The recipe is posted here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/07/creamed-spinach-recipe_n_4911268.html
Originally, I just cooked the spinach in milk or cream, but the above recipe is soooooo much better! In the past, I also liked added mustard to the creamed spinach before putting it on the bread, but this time, I wanted to try it without the mustard. Maybe I'll add it next time.
Honestly, I didn't think I would get out of the rut of not cooking, but I've been enjoying it. Last night, I made a fantastic creamed spinach recipe I found online. I spread it over toast and topped with tender scrambled eggs. The recipe is posted here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/07/creamed-spinach-recipe_n_4911268.html
Originally, I just cooked the spinach in milk or cream, but the above recipe is soooooo much better! In the past, I also liked added mustard to the creamed spinach before putting it on the bread, but this time, I wanted to try it without the mustard. Maybe I'll add it next time.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Been on hiatus
I've been on hiatus due to repeated miscarriages and now I'm pregnant again, but this time, it seems to be sticking around! I'm currently nearing the end of my fourth month. The previous 3 were torturous, with constant fatigue and constant nausea. Needless to say, I had no appetite and lost a few pounds. I am happy to say that I am much more comfortable now and am simply thankful to be able to enjoy eating again. :-)
It's strange to me that I still feel like it's early on in my pregnancy, but already a linea nigra just appeared on my belly and I am already wearing maternity clothes. Speaking of maternity clothes, I'm so glad I made the switch. I was wearing a belly band before that, but have now found that maternity clothes are much more comfortable. I haven't gained back the pounds I lost and yet my belly keeps sticking out more and more.
So now, I'm researching cord blood banking, doulas and birthing classes. I am also thinking about enrolling in a cloth diaper service and starting to think about what things the baby will need. My mother has collected some hand-me-downs from friends who've given birth before me and I hope to be able to use some of that.
It's strange to me that I still feel like it's early on in my pregnancy, but already a linea nigra just appeared on my belly and I am already wearing maternity clothes. Speaking of maternity clothes, I'm so glad I made the switch. I was wearing a belly band before that, but have now found that maternity clothes are much more comfortable. I haven't gained back the pounds I lost and yet my belly keeps sticking out more and more.
So now, I'm researching cord blood banking, doulas and birthing classes. I am also thinking about enrolling in a cloth diaper service and starting to think about what things the baby will need. My mother has collected some hand-me-downs from friends who've given birth before me and I hope to be able to use some of that.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
15 Major Retailers That Haven’t Signed the Bangladesh Safety Agreement
Some on the list are not surprising. Have a look:
http://www.ecouterre.com/15-major-retailers-that-havent-signed-the-bangladesh-safety-agreement/
http://www.ecouterre.com/15-major-retailers-that-havent-signed-the-bangladesh-safety-agreement/
Thursday, June 27, 2013
People vandalizing national parks
Seriously, what the heck is wrong with people?!
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/us/as-vandals-take-to-national-parks-some-point-to-social-media.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/us/as-vandals-take-to-national-parks-some-point-to-social-media.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0
Monday, June 24, 2013
Great idea for dealing with irresponsible dog owners
We have a fair amount of dog owners in our neighborhoods. Although most are good about picking up after their dogs, some are regularly bad about it. What's terrible about owners that don't pick up after their dog, is that their leaving the sh*t in front of someone else's house to deal with and that's just not cool. We've even had one time when someone tossed the bag of dog poop into our recycling bin after the garbage people had finished with their pickups. So we were left to deal with it until the next pickup. Because of irresponsible dog owners, we now use plastic bags to put our garbage and recyclables out. I would love to be able to put out our bins instead of bags, but we often come hope to people tossing disgusting things in random bins, like chewing gum and dog poop. I don't own a dog and I assume that not owning a dog means I don't have to pick up dog poop.
Anyways, it appears NYC is not the only place that have irresponsible dog owners who don't pick up poop. Check out how one town is dealing with the problem:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/town-mails-dog-defecation-pet-owners-who-dont-clean
Anyways, it appears NYC is not the only place that have irresponsible dog owners who don't pick up poop. Check out how one town is dealing with the problem:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/town-mails-dog-defecation-pet-owners-who-dont-clean
Saturday, June 22, 2013
10 ways to breeze through laundry
I don't know why, but laundry is one of my least favorite chores. Anything that will make laundry faster and easier is a good thing! Check out this article here:
http://lifehacker.com/5993006/top-10-ways-to-breeze-through-laundry-like-a-boss
I particularly like the folding methods. My favorite is folding a T-shirt in 2 seconds. Hubby goes through a lot of T-shirts and a lot of socks. This makes me think the sock bankruptcy idea might be a good one.
http://lifehacker.com/5993006/top-10-ways-to-breeze-through-laundry-like-a-boss
I particularly like the folding methods. My favorite is folding a T-shirt in 2 seconds. Hubby goes through a lot of T-shirts and a lot of socks. This makes me think the sock bankruptcy idea might be a good one.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
How to tuck a shirt
Supposedly, this method of tucking a shirt will keep the shirt tucked. I can't tell you how many times my shirt has become untucked as I move around throughout the day. A nice blouse or shirt coming out of my suit pants or skirt is not a nice look!
http://agoodman.com.au/how-to-tuck-in-a-shirt-so-that-it-stays-tucked/
http://agoodman.com.au/how-to-tuck-in-a-shirt-so-that-it-stays-tucked/
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Gunk remover
I tried this out on my toaster oven, which was quite overdue for a deep clean and it worked very well!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/03/2-ingredient-homemade-kitchen-cabinet-gunk-remover.html
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/03/2-ingredient-homemade-kitchen-cabinet-gunk-remover.html
Monday, June 10, 2013
How to hang a sweater
If you have more hanging space than dresser space, this might a useful link:
http://snapguide.com/guides/hang-a-sweater/
http://snapguide.com/guides/hang-a-sweater/
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Worrisome trends
I was in denial for quite some time, but I now think it is inevitable that our concept of privacy and our right to privacy is ending. There are just too many in power who do not think such a thing is worth protecting. The average person has no recourse and will have to accept that the only thing they can do is suffer these trespasses. Why the glum outlook? There are number of things that, when added together makes me sad about the direction things are going in this country.
For one, traveling should be fun experience, unless you fly. After all, the TSA can grope, disrespect and steal from you with impunity. If you protest, they can make traveling a horrible experience for you. Yes, some agents have been caught doing bad things and were fired, but those were just the ones that got caught. How many are out there that didn't get caught? Plus the fact that airlines are nickel-and-diming their customers just to bring some vacation essentials along and if they lose or damage your stuff, there isn't all that much you can do. You can try getting some money, but they'll aggravate your efforts at every turn. So really if you fly, your physical person and your stuff is subject to another's wandering hands.
Drones can now fly within the U.S. Yes, sooner or later, the local police can spy on you by flying a remote controlled aircraft by your window or follow you around, even if they don't have a warrant. Technically, the thing is in public space, right? Again, nothing you can do about it.
The government can kill you, even if you're a U.S. citizen if they think you're a terrorist and don't even need to prove it in a court of law. They just label you the right word and bam! You're dead, and there's nothing anybody can do about it. By the way, they can do this while you're on U.S. soil. We might as well throw the Constitution out the window.
Combine the power above with the fact that the government knows pretty much everything about you cause they have been spying on everybody's email, telephone and social media activities for the past 7 years and you're probably f*cked if you have ever even hinted at thinking about something they don't like. The problem is if your own government chooses to target you for any reason, you won't know and there's nothing you can do about it and there's no way to defend yourself. Probably you'll just end up dead or disappeared and nobody will even know why.
It's not just the government, but social media and other companies can know everything there is to know about you too. Companies sell your data to other companies and round and round it goes until everything about you is known to everyone.
Even your physical body isn't sacred with the more and more hotels, resorts and cruise lines making use of biometrics. Soon, all you have to do so go somewhere and doors will either open or lock itself based on either accurate or faulty data. After all, despite the advancements in technology, they do sometimes fail or get things wrong. What if you have an identical twin? What if the systems were hacked and now everything in your life is f*cked? What recourse do you have? How can you, the average person with average income, correct this?
The issue here isn't just invasion of privacy, but also potential for abuse. The fear is what if, in our hysteria to make life appear safer, we cause suffering to thousands or millions of innocents? How many 5-year-olds had to be groped by the TSA before guidelines were changed? Where is the common sense? The government defends their ability to suspend habeas corpus, do away with the right to a trial by peers, reach into your life and spy on your every move without need for "reasonable suspicion," and this is only the beginning. Life goes on, but when will our over-reaching government stop reaching? When will it become apparent that, although nothing unbearably bad on a mass scale has happened, these are the steps to create a situation where unbearably bad things CAN happen on a mass scale? Have we learned nothing from history? Or have most of America stopped teaching it?
For one, traveling should be fun experience, unless you fly. After all, the TSA can grope, disrespect and steal from you with impunity. If you protest, they can make traveling a horrible experience for you. Yes, some agents have been caught doing bad things and were fired, but those were just the ones that got caught. How many are out there that didn't get caught? Plus the fact that airlines are nickel-and-diming their customers just to bring some vacation essentials along and if they lose or damage your stuff, there isn't all that much you can do. You can try getting some money, but they'll aggravate your efforts at every turn. So really if you fly, your physical person and your stuff is subject to another's wandering hands.
Drones can now fly within the U.S. Yes, sooner or later, the local police can spy on you by flying a remote controlled aircraft by your window or follow you around, even if they don't have a warrant. Technically, the thing is in public space, right? Again, nothing you can do about it.
The government can kill you, even if you're a U.S. citizen if they think you're a terrorist and don't even need to prove it in a court of law. They just label you the right word and bam! You're dead, and there's nothing anybody can do about it. By the way, they can do this while you're on U.S. soil. We might as well throw the Constitution out the window.
Combine the power above with the fact that the government knows pretty much everything about you cause they have been spying on everybody's email, telephone and social media activities for the past 7 years and you're probably f*cked if you have ever even hinted at thinking about something they don't like. The problem is if your own government chooses to target you for any reason, you won't know and there's nothing you can do about it and there's no way to defend yourself. Probably you'll just end up dead or disappeared and nobody will even know why.
It's not just the government, but social media and other companies can know everything there is to know about you too. Companies sell your data to other companies and round and round it goes until everything about you is known to everyone.
Even your physical body isn't sacred with the more and more hotels, resorts and cruise lines making use of biometrics. Soon, all you have to do so go somewhere and doors will either open or lock itself based on either accurate or faulty data. After all, despite the advancements in technology, they do sometimes fail or get things wrong. What if you have an identical twin? What if the systems were hacked and now everything in your life is f*cked? What recourse do you have? How can you, the average person with average income, correct this?
The issue here isn't just invasion of privacy, but also potential for abuse. The fear is what if, in our hysteria to make life appear safer, we cause suffering to thousands or millions of innocents? How many 5-year-olds had to be groped by the TSA before guidelines were changed? Where is the common sense? The government defends their ability to suspend habeas corpus, do away with the right to a trial by peers, reach into your life and spy on your every move without need for "reasonable suspicion," and this is only the beginning. Life goes on, but when will our over-reaching government stop reaching? When will it become apparent that, although nothing unbearably bad on a mass scale has happened, these are the steps to create a situation where unbearably bad things CAN happen on a mass scale? Have we learned nothing from history? Or have most of America stopped teaching it?
Friday, June 7, 2013
Fight against the patent troll threatening podcasting!
Seriously, something needs to be done about patent trolls.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Some men are beyond disgusting
Disgusting behavior. Makes me feel nervous to be wearing
skirts whenever I hear about these stories, which seem to have increased in
frequency lately.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Navy switiching to fire-resistant uniforms
Since our military is generally around combustibles, you
would assume their uniforms are fire-resistant. Apparently that is not the case
for current Navy uniforms, which are not only flammable, but also melts. So
basically, if you wear one of these things and you catch fire, it will melt
itself onto you so you can’t get it off and proceed to “burn robustly until
completely consumed.” Scary, no?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Rose bush is blooming
Our rose bush has started to bloom. I trimmed it down aggressively last fall and it has already grown back what it lost. I am taking time out every week or two to keep it under control or the thing will take over the entire yard! I am having fun clipping the roses as they bloom so far, but since they're not long-stemmed roses, they don't seem to last. Still, it's nice to have flowers around. I think once this round of blooms have been spent, I'll trim it back again. Last year, the thing just kept growing and growing and I don't want it climbing over the garage or into my neighbor's yard, which it threatens to do already.
In other news, our strawberries are turning red! Can't wait to try some! I am also happy to report that our garlic is doing well, our potatoes have finally sprouted green shoots, our bean are still alive and our citrus trees are regaining their lost leaves with a vengeance! I am cautiously excited and rather afraid of these promising signs ending in more failure. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
In other news, our strawberries are turning red! Can't wait to try some! I am also happy to report that our garlic is doing well, our potatoes have finally sprouted green shoots, our bean are still alive and our citrus trees are regaining their lost leaves with a vengeance! I am cautiously excited and rather afraid of these promising signs ending in more failure. I guess we'll have to wait and see!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Peppermint
I love peppermint! I remember when I was little, a friend said she hated peppermint and I didn't understand why. I wonder if she's changed her mind since, but I sure haven't. I still love peppermint!
Not only do I have a peppermint plant growing in the back yard, but I also have peppermint essential oil stocked in the house. I love picking sprigs off my plant in the summer and grinding some raw sugar into it, then adding some rum and iced water. Or even just boiling the peppermint sprigs with some sugar for a sweet peppermint tea, which is good for an upset tummy.
I use the essential oil on my temples and ears to relieve tension and headaches, I add it to my tooth powder and I rub it into itchy bug bites to relieve the itch. You can add it lotions to make your lotions minty and I sometimes, I just love sniffing it.
Yes indeed, peppermint is a wonderful thing.
Not only do I have a peppermint plant growing in the back yard, but I also have peppermint essential oil stocked in the house. I love picking sprigs off my plant in the summer and grinding some raw sugar into it, then adding some rum and iced water. Or even just boiling the peppermint sprigs with some sugar for a sweet peppermint tea, which is good for an upset tummy.
I use the essential oil on my temples and ears to relieve tension and headaches, I add it to my tooth powder and I rub it into itchy bug bites to relieve the itch. You can add it lotions to make your lotions minty and I sometimes, I just love sniffing it.
Yes indeed, peppermint is a wonderful thing.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Homemade cleaners
I've posted about homemade cleaners before, but thought I'd give a rundown of what I'm using now:
Laundry Detergent
You can get more recipes and info here:
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
Fabric Softener
I add about half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Dishwasher rinse
I always add white vinegar to the dishwasher's rinse compartment. One person suggested putting a bowl of half a cup in the lower rack and says that works better. Haven't tried that yet, but so far it's working okay the way I've been doing it.
All-purpose cleaner and shower spray
I mostly just spray white vinegar onto countertops straight. It works well for daily wipe-ups.
All-purpose cleaning scrub
Make a paste of baking soda and some water for a basic cleaning scrub. I find that this mix works okay for most things like countertops and the bathroom, but it doesn't work on my toaster oven, which has some baked on gunk on the inside of its door. So I made the paste with some cooking oil and scrubbed the door with a toothbrush and now it looks as good as new! It's funny to think you can use oil to clean up oily spots, but it works! I just saw another recipe where the person uses baking soda and peroxide to make a paste and supposedly, it works wonders! I'm going to try that recipe next. My big oven needs some serious work!
Carpet stain remover
I didn't think this would work at first, and it does require some elbow grease. Basically, wet the carpet stain with a little water and work the baking soda into the stain with a toothbrush. Really scrub it in and then add vinegar. Continue to scrub and repeat a few times until the stain comes out. I used this on some stains in our bedroom that was there before we moved it. Those stains didn't come out even after we used the carpet washer thingy on it, so I'm very happy this worked!
Dust Cloths
Soak some rags in a solution of half vinegar and half water with a several drops of olive oil and lemon oil. I keep a container of this stuff with rags soaking in it and pull out rags to dust dusty surfaces when needed.
Non-Bleach Stain Remover
Soak the stain-ridden clothing in a mix of water, washing soda and peroxide. I never measure. I just fill the washer with water, throw the stuff in and sprinkle in the washing soda and peroxide depending on how much needs to be washed and how soiled the stuff is. The truth is, some stains will never come out, but in my experience, this technique works really well.
Towel refresher
I use the prewash cycle to wash the towels with a sprinkling of borax and hot water. Then I let it drain and do a regular wash on the hottest setting with a cup of vinegar. I do a second rinse with some more vinegar. Usually after this, the towels come out very soft and as absorbent as I remember they used to be.
Drain declogger
Pour up to a half or a full cup of baking soda into the drain. I use a tiny bit of water to get some of the baking soda further down and I also try to work it in with my fingers. Then I pour vinegar into it and close the drain before it can bubble out. My favorite part is watching the bubbles and listening to them foaming. When the sounds die down, I pour more in vinegar and close it again. Once most of the baking soda has bubbled away, I pour a cup or two of boiling water down the drain. If the drain is still a little clogged, I repeat the process.
Destaining the sink
We have an enamel sink that was stained before we moved it. Although this didn't take out the stains entirely, it did brighten things up a bit. I made a paste of borax and lemon juice and scrubbed it into the sink with a toothbrush. After working it in for a few minutes, I rinsed the paste away and repeated the process once more. At this point, if the stain didn't come out, I doubt it ever will.
... and that's it! That's all I got so far. Going forward, I'd like to try making my own dishwasher detergent.
Laundry Detergent
You can get more recipes and info here:
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
Fabric Softener
I add about half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Dishwasher rinse
I always add white vinegar to the dishwasher's rinse compartment. One person suggested putting a bowl of half a cup in the lower rack and says that works better. Haven't tried that yet, but so far it's working okay the way I've been doing it.
All-purpose cleaner and shower spray
I mostly just spray white vinegar onto countertops straight. It works well for daily wipe-ups.
All-purpose cleaning scrub
Make a paste of baking soda and some water for a basic cleaning scrub. I find that this mix works okay for most things like countertops and the bathroom, but it doesn't work on my toaster oven, which has some baked on gunk on the inside of its door. So I made the paste with some cooking oil and scrubbed the door with a toothbrush and now it looks as good as new! It's funny to think you can use oil to clean up oily spots, but it works! I just saw another recipe where the person uses baking soda and peroxide to make a paste and supposedly, it works wonders! I'm going to try that recipe next. My big oven needs some serious work!
Carpet stain remover
I didn't think this would work at first, and it does require some elbow grease. Basically, wet the carpet stain with a little water and work the baking soda into the stain with a toothbrush. Really scrub it in and then add vinegar. Continue to scrub and repeat a few times until the stain comes out. I used this on some stains in our bedroom that was there before we moved it. Those stains didn't come out even after we used the carpet washer thingy on it, so I'm very happy this worked!
Dust Cloths
Soak some rags in a solution of half vinegar and half water with a several drops of olive oil and lemon oil. I keep a container of this stuff with rags soaking in it and pull out rags to dust dusty surfaces when needed.
Non-Bleach Stain Remover
Soak the stain-ridden clothing in a mix of water, washing soda and peroxide. I never measure. I just fill the washer with water, throw the stuff in and sprinkle in the washing soda and peroxide depending on how much needs to be washed and how soiled the stuff is. The truth is, some stains will never come out, but in my experience, this technique works really well.
Towel refresher
I use the prewash cycle to wash the towels with a sprinkling of borax and hot water. Then I let it drain and do a regular wash on the hottest setting with a cup of vinegar. I do a second rinse with some more vinegar. Usually after this, the towels come out very soft and as absorbent as I remember they used to be.
Drain declogger
Pour up to a half or a full cup of baking soda into the drain. I use a tiny bit of water to get some of the baking soda further down and I also try to work it in with my fingers. Then I pour vinegar into it and close the drain before it can bubble out. My favorite part is watching the bubbles and listening to them foaming. When the sounds die down, I pour more in vinegar and close it again. Once most of the baking soda has bubbled away, I pour a cup or two of boiling water down the drain. If the drain is still a little clogged, I repeat the process.
Destaining the sink
We have an enamel sink that was stained before we moved it. Although this didn't take out the stains entirely, it did brighten things up a bit. I made a paste of borax and lemon juice and scrubbed it into the sink with a toothbrush. After working it in for a few minutes, I rinsed the paste away and repeated the process once more. At this point, if the stain didn't come out, I doubt it ever will.
... and that's it! That's all I got so far. Going forward, I'd like to try making my own dishwasher detergent.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Oil cleansing method
I had heard about this oil cleansing method a while back, but I never got into it. I had my favorite cleanser for my face and I was happy with it. The cleanser didn't take off stubborn makeup, but it worked well for days without makeup, which is most days. So not having a need for change, I didn't bother changing my routine.
Lately, I've been using makeup more. I don't know why, but lately, I feel like I would like to not look dowdy all the time. At the very least, I'd like my face to look less splotchy. So these days, I've been using BB cream every morning. BB cream is the latest makeup fad because it moisturizes, primes and evens out skin tone at the same time. Most also contain anti-aging stuff and ingredients that are supposed to be nourishing for your skin. I originally bought an American BB cream, and though I liked it, it was more like a tinted moisturizer and didn't give me the coverage I needed on some days. So I switched to a Korean brand and though still light on my face, does seem to have a bit more coverage. I also only buy BB creams that have SPF using titanium or zinc oxide as its sunblocking ingredient.
So now that I have makeup on my face, I really would rather not have to remove the makeup and then wash my face with a cleanser, which is what I used to do. I want that whole deal to be a one step process. Enter the oil cleansing method. I've already been using extra virgin olive oil on my face to remove makeup. Why not just use it as an every day cleanser? The method is easy. I just rub olive oil into my face, massaging the skin and making sure to get it onto any eye makeup without getting it into my eyes. After a minute or so of that, I wet a soft face cloth with hot water and place it over my face until it cools. Then I gently wipe the stuff off my face. If I didn't get everything the first time, I'll rinse the cloth with hot water, place it over my face again until it cools and wipe. Then I wash my face cloth and hang it dry. All done!
There are a couple of nice things about this method. First, it cleanses and removes makeup in one step. Second, it actually moisturizes the face enough that you don't have to put on extra lotion before bed. You still can if you want to, as I do when I have an eczema patch to take care of, but if my face is feeling healthy, I don't bother with lotion.
If you have oily skin, you can add castor oil. A good blend to start with is 80% olive oil and 20% castor oil. You can also try substituting olive oil for sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. Some experimentation might be involved to find the oil combination you like best. You can even add aloe water or aloe juice to your blend. Just shake the bottle well before applying.
For me personally, I don't mind making a cleansing oil blend and getting creative. However, the truth is that I'm lazy and I want to keep things simple. What's easier than simply pouring olive oil into a small bottle? I always have olive oil in the house so there's no need to specially buy something for my face, and there's no measuring or mixing. Just pour the oil into a small bottle and place in the bathroom. Can't get much simpler than that!
Lately, I've been using makeup more. I don't know why, but lately, I feel like I would like to not look dowdy all the time. At the very least, I'd like my face to look less splotchy. So these days, I've been using BB cream every morning. BB cream is the latest makeup fad because it moisturizes, primes and evens out skin tone at the same time. Most also contain anti-aging stuff and ingredients that are supposed to be nourishing for your skin. I originally bought an American BB cream, and though I liked it, it was more like a tinted moisturizer and didn't give me the coverage I needed on some days. So I switched to a Korean brand and though still light on my face, does seem to have a bit more coverage. I also only buy BB creams that have SPF using titanium or zinc oxide as its sunblocking ingredient.
So now that I have makeup on my face, I really would rather not have to remove the makeup and then wash my face with a cleanser, which is what I used to do. I want that whole deal to be a one step process. Enter the oil cleansing method. I've already been using extra virgin olive oil on my face to remove makeup. Why not just use it as an every day cleanser? The method is easy. I just rub olive oil into my face, massaging the skin and making sure to get it onto any eye makeup without getting it into my eyes. After a minute or so of that, I wet a soft face cloth with hot water and place it over my face until it cools. Then I gently wipe the stuff off my face. If I didn't get everything the first time, I'll rinse the cloth with hot water, place it over my face again until it cools and wipe. Then I wash my face cloth and hang it dry. All done!
There are a couple of nice things about this method. First, it cleanses and removes makeup in one step. Second, it actually moisturizes the face enough that you don't have to put on extra lotion before bed. You still can if you want to, as I do when I have an eczema patch to take care of, but if my face is feeling healthy, I don't bother with lotion.
If you have oily skin, you can add castor oil. A good blend to start with is 80% olive oil and 20% castor oil. You can also try substituting olive oil for sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil or sweet almond oil. Some experimentation might be involved to find the oil combination you like best. You can even add aloe water or aloe juice to your blend. Just shake the bottle well before applying.
For me personally, I don't mind making a cleansing oil blend and getting creative. However, the truth is that I'm lazy and I want to keep things simple. What's easier than simply pouring olive oil into a small bottle? I always have olive oil in the house so there's no need to specially buy something for my face, and there's no measuring or mixing. Just pour the oil into a small bottle and place in the bathroom. Can't get much simpler than that!
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