Thank Goodness It Ain't Maybelline Homemade Mascara

January 7, 2014

Seriously. There's some scary stuff in regular mascara, and if you don't believe me just read what The Naked Label has to say about it! Even some organic mascaras sneak in harmful preservatives.

So what's a mascara lovin' lady (or guy) to do? Simple: make your own. I know it sounds like one of those crazy hippy projects--and it is--but not only do you end up with a product as good as any store bought makeup (and safer to boot), but it also costs you a fraction of what quality organic mascara does. I would typically spend $15-$20 for a good mascara. The cost of making one tube of your own is about $1-$2, maybe $4 tops if you splurge and buy your own $2 mascara tube online instead of recycling your old ones.

The only potential downside to DIY mascara is that it's not out and out waterproof--you need synthetic stuff for that. However, I find that if you add more beeswax, you get a product that is less likely to smudge under duress (rain, Lifetime Original movies, cute puppies--anything that brings on the waterworks).

So here is my recipe for homemade mascara, which I adapted from Thank Your Body, Ditch the Wheat, and Wellness Mama. Ingredients can be found at your local health food store or herb store.

Ingredients:

2 tsp coconut oil

1/2-1/3 tsp grated beeswax

1 tsp activated charcoal (or 2-3 capsules)

Melt beeswax on low heat. I do this by placing the wax in a clean tin can. This tin can then goes in a saucepan with about one inch of water in it (see photo). Once the beeswax is melted, mix the coconut oil into the tin can and let it melt and combine with the beeswax. Once the ingredients are in liquid form, gently stir in the activated charcoal. Remove from heat and carefully pour liquid into your clean mascara tube. I do this by pouring the cooling mixture into a plastic bag that has a corner cut out of it. Place the open corner of the bag inside the mascara tube and slowly push the liquid into the tube (see Thank Your Body above for pictures of this). Allow to cool before using.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Body Scrub

December 17, 2013

There is nothing more delicious than peppermint hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Oh, wait. Yeah, there s: my peppermint hot chocolate body scrub. It has all the feelings of sweet indulgence without the calories or sugar overload.

It also makes a great gift that is enjoyed by the recipient after the last holiday candy cane is gone and is super easy for you to make during the flurry of winter preparation.

So here is the recipe to make for your loved ones--and yourself:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

5-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. To gift this, simply put the scrub in a mason jar and wrap the jar in a festive ribbon.

Thankfulness

November 27, 2013

I'm sitting on my couch, drinking a cup of tulsi peppermint tea and writing.

I've spent the day with my mother and sister cooking for our big feast tomorrow: we made pies and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, brined the turkey, and even had time to sneak in some yoga, playtime with my sister's dogs, and pumpkin cider sipping at lunch.

It was a wonderful day, the kind that revolved around kitchen and conversation. It was made even more delicious by the fact that I took the day off school to help prepare this Thanksgiving meal. I woke up feeling like a kid playing hooky, knowing full well that while I was out having fun, the rest of the world was at school (to my fanciful mind at least).

In the quiet of this evening, I realize thankfulness is an art form, best expressed in the simple actions of making cranberry sauce with both tangerine and orange slices in it because you know that's how your family likes it. Thankfulness is in setting the table just so with the fine china, napkin rings, and homemade place cards for the people you love. You can find it in your kitchen smelling of freshly baked pies, a heavenly scent for those coming home from work, a perfect perfume promising a day full of nourishment and relaxation. It is the basket of herbs shared between mothers and daughters or the gift packages sent to those away from home. All these things are tokens of thankfulness, letting those around you know that you are grateful they are in your life.

Tomorrow I will continue to celebrate my thankfulness--for my family, my friends, my readers--and relish the gravy-making and the dishwashing for what they are: acts of thankfulness in their purest form.

5 Ways to Make a House a Home

November 10, 2013

So it's happened: I've moved in all the boxes, arranged and rearranged the pantry, contemplated organizing my bookshelves better, hung every picture, and moved around furniture until it looks just right. But with all that in place, there remains quite a bit of work to be done in making my new house a home.

Here, I offer you my top five ways to make a new space more than just a place to crash, but a vital, nourishing sanctuary:

1. Cook. A lot. For friends. For family. For yourself. Nothing says home like a meal made from scratch. The first night I was relatively all moved in, I had my special moving helpers--my family--over for a big pasta dinner. And I had them over again this weekend for a nice cheese tasting and steak dinner--with a pumpkin fudge chaser thanks to Coconut Mama. I made stuffed acorn squash for myself all week and epic breakfasts over the weekend. I'll be making Tea a la St. James Tea Room in Albuquerque for a good friend next weekend. And I plan to keep cooking! The menu planning, the preparations, the enjoyable get-togethers all bring warmth to a home the way nothing else can.

2. Take a long bubble bath. Okay, so this might not be for everyone, but after long hours moving, an Epsom salt bath does wonders for the soul. It's also become a ritual for me to take a super long bubble bath in each new space I move into. There's something about letting the soapy bubbles wash over you as you get lost in a good paperback that lets you relax and feel like you're in a nourishing space. If bubble baths aren't your deal (no judgement!), craft your own ritual that allows you to feel nourished in your new space.

3. Have a pajama day. Who says jammies are just for nighttime? A home isn't a home until you spend time in it--especially down time, where you don't have to go anywhere or do anything. So set aside a day to putter around in your PJs. Have no agenda, merely float from cooking in the kitchen to lounging on the couch, to staring out your window to lingering over the titles on your bookshelves. It's a great way to get to know your new home.

4. Brew a pot of tea. Even if you don't make your own tea blends like I do, there is something about putting on hot water for tea and then drinking a pot on the couch as you sift through magazines, knit, or get lost in a good book to sooth the soul. Tea says home. And if it's a relaxing herbal blend, it might also say nap on the couch. Either way, brewing tea connects you to the rituals of your daily life--an essential aspect of making your house a home.

5. Do yoga or meditate or whatever you do as part of your self-care routine. During moving, it is easy to let your normal self-care routine (exercise, eating right, sleeping) slip in favor of getting your house settled. But as soon as humanly possible, get back to that routine. Fill your home with the tranquil energy of a good meditation session, the clean energy of a wholesome meal, the catharsis of a good yoga that wrings out the aches and pains brought on by hauling boxes.

So there they are--my tips for making a house a home. They're also useful to reconnect with your space if you've been out a lot lately. I hope they inspire you to make your living space a sanctuary that nourishes your soul. Happy homemaking!