So my mom and I learned how to make cold-process soap a while ago, and over Christmas break, we made another batch, but it didn't hold the color very well with our synthetic colorant. That's fine, because I don't mind the natural-colored soap. But it DID motivate me to research how to properly color my soap. See, I decided that I'm going to make this my new hobby. I have my beadwork, but sometimes a girl just needs to rest her hands a bit! So soap it is!
In this path of colorant discovery, I'm realizing that I really don't want to use commercial/synthetic/mass-produced colorants. I want to go natural. I've always wanted to keep my soaps as natural as possible, so I like the idea of using things like kelp powder or paprika or alkanet to color my soaps instead of mica powders or waxes. Plus, soap gets washed down the drain. I want my oceans to be there in 20 years, thanks.
I've realized that I want to buy some of these herbs fresh, dry them myself (hello delicious-smelling apartment!), and then use a mortar and pestle to grind them up to a powder for coloring. This is a great, simple post on using a mortar and pestle: http://cutemojo.com/2012/05/how-to-use-a-mortar-and-pestle-to-make-powders/
What I'd like to try, especially for swirling, is pull out a small amount of the soap once it traces, then color it with the powder, then swirl it into the main mixture and pour into the molds. I've seen it done, I'm just not sure how strong the powders will be. Fun experiment though, and it's not like it will ruin the soap if it doesn't color it deeply enough.
In my Internet vortex, (I have 25 tabs open right now! eek!) I learned that infusing herbs into oils before I use them in my soaps is another great way to increase color: http://www.lovinsoap.com/2011/07/color-soap-naturally-infusing-oil-with-herbs-and-spices/
And then, depending on the herb, I may put slightly larger pieces (like seed-sized pieces) into the soap at trace for either an exfoliant or just decoration. So there you have it, a three-fold way of increasing the herb presence in my soaps AND colors, the natural way.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Numb3rs is underrated
I've been watching Numb3rs on Netflix during the break. It's my second time watching the series, but I just really love it.
I think these are what I like most about it:
1. Charlie and Don are an awesome sibling duo. As the series unfolds, it becomes apparent that this has not always been the case, and they spent a long time out of touch, but when the show starts, they are becoming friends, as well as brothers. It's awesome because both brothers are so crazy smart in their own way that each brother has an unspoken awe of the other one's talents.
2. It's the cleanest show on Netflix right now, I'm positive. I didn't even notice until the second season, but I realized that there is very, very little swearing, and no sex scenes. Actually, the closest we get to a sex scene, everyone still has their pants on. Blood and gore are kept to a minimum. The cameras don't just sit and focus on it like some other shows do while I'm trying to keep my dinner down (ahem SVU).
3. There is very little drama. The show has its own continuing story arcs like the cute Charlie-Amita dance, but there is no main antagonist besides the criminal-of-the-week, and we don't really strongly dislike any of the characters, even Millie, who ruffles feathers at first, but then settles in as one of the crew. Basically, there is never any deep, traumatic drama that leaves me feeling unsettled at the end of the show. Which leads me to the next favorite:
4. Each episode ends with the brothers and usually their dad or friends engaging in gentle banter and such. It's very heartwarming (as much as I hate that word) and makes me smile. That's a win in my book.
5. Each character is just a good person. They are good people. There is a scene where Alan stops by the office to see if the boys want dinner, but he declines to interrupt their heartwarming little sibling moment, and instead asks Megan to come by the house for dinner. She is just his son's co-worker, so really it should be a bit more awkward, but I love how they get along too. All of the group members are just friendly and likable and get along easily with each other.
5. It draws attention to the importance of math. I'm terrible with math, but watching this show makes me realize how important it will be to make sure my kids do well and enjoy it. Plus, I like how the crime solving aspect keep it from being too nerdy.
6. Charlie and his friends' nerdisodes are hilarious. Most shows have some aspect of them just geeking out, like making ice cream from liquid nitrogen (I did that in high school!), or making things explode through high school science experiment type stuff. I love it. It's so funny. Like, the world's most brilliant minds and they are thoroughly entertained by scientifically determining how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. They really are kids at heart. (and boys will be boys).
7. Random little comments that make me laugh, because it's so true life. For instance, there is a time when Charlie is with Don, Sinclair and Granger, and Charlie says, "the odds of that, it would be like all four of us getting struck with lightning on the way home." Enter Sinclair: "...and it's not even raining." Astute observation, buddy. I love how all of these characters are so intelligent in different ways. They complement each other so you never feel like any one character is smarter than everyone else. Even Charlie has to be schooled by the others sometimes.
So if you haven't watched Numb3rs yet, I suggest you start. It's a detailed, intensive show, but it is also lighthearted and cute. Good combination.
I think these are what I like most about it:
1. Charlie and Don are an awesome sibling duo. As the series unfolds, it becomes apparent that this has not always been the case, and they spent a long time out of touch, but when the show starts, they are becoming friends, as well as brothers. It's awesome because both brothers are so crazy smart in their own way that each brother has an unspoken awe of the other one's talents.
2. It's the cleanest show on Netflix right now, I'm positive. I didn't even notice until the second season, but I realized that there is very, very little swearing, and no sex scenes. Actually, the closest we get to a sex scene, everyone still has their pants on. Blood and gore are kept to a minimum. The cameras don't just sit and focus on it like some other shows do while I'm trying to keep my dinner down (ahem SVU).
3. There is very little drama. The show has its own continuing story arcs like the cute Charlie-Amita dance, but there is no main antagonist besides the criminal-of-the-week, and we don't really strongly dislike any of the characters, even Millie, who ruffles feathers at first, but then settles in as one of the crew. Basically, there is never any deep, traumatic drama that leaves me feeling unsettled at the end of the show. Which leads me to the next favorite:
4. Each episode ends with the brothers and usually their dad or friends engaging in gentle banter and such. It's very heartwarming (as much as I hate that word) and makes me smile. That's a win in my book.
5. Each character is just a good person. They are good people. There is a scene where Alan stops by the office to see if the boys want dinner, but he declines to interrupt their heartwarming little sibling moment, and instead asks Megan to come by the house for dinner. She is just his son's co-worker, so really it should be a bit more awkward, but I love how they get along too. All of the group members are just friendly and likable and get along easily with each other.
5. It draws attention to the importance of math. I'm terrible with math, but watching this show makes me realize how important it will be to make sure my kids do well and enjoy it. Plus, I like how the crime solving aspect keep it from being too nerdy.
6. Charlie and his friends' nerdisodes are hilarious. Most shows have some aspect of them just geeking out, like making ice cream from liquid nitrogen (I did that in high school!), or making things explode through high school science experiment type stuff. I love it. It's so funny. Like, the world's most brilliant minds and they are thoroughly entertained by scientifically determining how to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie. They really are kids at heart. (and boys will be boys).
7. Random little comments that make me laugh, because it's so true life. For instance, there is a time when Charlie is with Don, Sinclair and Granger, and Charlie says, "the odds of that, it would be like all four of us getting struck with lightning on the way home." Enter Sinclair: "...and it's not even raining." Astute observation, buddy. I love how all of these characters are so intelligent in different ways. They complement each other so you never feel like any one character is smarter than everyone else. Even Charlie has to be schooled by the others sometimes.
So if you haven't watched Numb3rs yet, I suggest you start. It's a detailed, intensive show, but it is also lighthearted and cute. Good combination.
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