Monday 24 December 2007

Busy? Me?

It's all true! I've been busy :( I haven't had time to do anything lately! Anyway, I probably won't be back until I return to Australia on Thursday. So till then, I would like to wish everyone a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

and (just in case) a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Be happy!

Saturday 15 December 2007

Off To Langkawi!

Hello, I'm off to Langkawi for a few days! I've been busy and I recently found out about something which is pretty devastating news to me. But it's not something I can't fix and I'm trying not to let it get to me.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays as well. Have fun everybody and I'll see you again in a few days :)

Love,
Michelle

Thursday 6 December 2007

Make Your Own Massage Bar!

A massage bar is a solid block of oils that you can apply to your body of someone else's body slowly easing sore muscles while pampering your skin with its wonderful moisturising properties. And they are notoriously easy to make. The simplest recipe I can give you is this:

  • 2 parts hard oils
  • 1 part soft oils

Hard oils are basically oils that are solid at room temperature and soft oils are liquid at room temperature. However, there are degrees of hardness and softness. For example, shea butter and cocoa butter are both "hard" oils but cocoa butter is more solid so it has a higher degree of hardness.

When I make my massage bars, I always use a very hard oil and a soft oil. For example, I use 2 parts of cocoa butter and 1 part of macadamia nut oil. You could substitute cocoa butter with illipe butter. It's the only very hard oil I know of. But who doesn't love cocoa butter, right? Say no and you must be a man. What?! I am NOT sexist, how dare you! Go change a lightbulb.

Hehe, I'm just kidding! Oh, I got sidetracked. You'll get to know me, I do this very often. My friend says I'm like a radio because I just keep on talking and changing topics and he just keeps on listening. Argh! I'm doing it again! Okay, back to where I was.

So, you've melted your hard oils and then added your soft oils. Add any essential or fragrance oils. If you add too much, it may affect the hardness of your bar so substitute some of the soft oils with the essential or fragrance oils. Pour the oils into a massage bar mould. Or layer the bottom of a normal mould with uncooked chickpeas or azuki beans. Leave it to harden or speed it up by putting it in the fridge, the oils may stay a little soft in summer so keep them in the fridge.
This is a massage bar so scent plays an important part. Try searching the internet for scent blends keeping in mind what kind of effect you're looking for it to have. Energizing, relaxing, and so on.

Relaxing Scent Blend

  • 2 drops lavender essential oil
  • 3 drops chamomile essential oil
  • 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
  • 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil

Now all you need are some candles, clean towels, soft music and a willing partner. Enjoy!
If you prefer, you can toss the massage bar into a nice warm bath minus the chickpeas or azuki beans and use it as a bath melt. In which case you will also need some candles, clean towels and soft music. Willing partner is optional.

Bye!

Tuesday 4 December 2007

Green Tea, Anyone?

Chelsea's Japanese tea set and part of her breakfast. It was so cute I couldn't resist taking a picture. Sorry about the bad quality pictures, they're from a phone camera. We have two cameras in the house and no one bothered enough to charge them.

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They were taken in the garden, under the outdoor shower. Seemed a good idea at the time!

Monday 3 December 2007

Happy Birthday Amanda!

I've been busy again! :(

I can't believe I cannot find lye anywhere! It frustrates me. I've been baking to keep my hands occupied or at least trying to.

I went to Pavillion today. It's a new mall and it's gorgeous! I'll post up pictures when I get them off my sister's boyfriend's phone.

It was Amanda's birthday's on the 1st of December. She's turned 19 and still whines like a little girl. She can irritate me like no one could ever and yet she is my bestest friend in the whole world. I could not ask for a lovelier and more cuddly sister.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!