DIY Lotion

I'm not a big lotion person, probably because I live in the mid-west with lots of humidity so I don't need it that often. I do use it enough though that I decided to try a home made version.

I found this recipe
http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/how-to-make-an-easy-beeswax-lotion/

1 c. olive oil
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. beeswax
20 drops essential oil

and decided to go for it.  I found the beeswax at Micheal's for a reasonable price and got to work.

First of all, I made the mistake of buying the beeswax in a bar and not little granules. I spent an insane about of time trying to cut up the thing, then even more time trying to pick up all the blasted little pieces that covered the kitchen due to the Texas chainsaw moment I had when I got frustrated with the thing.

After finally getting all the ingredients together I started the melting process. Then waited, and waited, aaaaaand waited.  FINALLY. It was all done and ready to cool.  It cooled off and instead of having a nice creamy lotion, I had a chunky blob. 

The Verdict: No thank you. This is way to frustrating and time consuming, plus extremely greasy.  Check out the shine on my hand. Whenever I use it I can't touch anything for about 30 min. I would say that it could be used a good overnight cream for deep conditioning for the skin, but it doesn't breath.  I never knew this would be an issue with lotion, but I feel like it clogs my pores and my skin can't breath.  However, I made this lotion about a year ago and it still looks the same so it keeps very well.  

Ice Cream Cake

Is there anything better then an ice cream cake?  Seriously, combing two of the greatest desserts was genius. Good things should be combined, except peanut butter and and jelly in the same jar, those need to stay separate.

Ice cream cakes can get a little pricey though, so for my sons birthday my mom told me about a DIY ice cream cake with just ice cream sandwiches and whip cream.  If your thinking "that isn't a cake and that sounds like it would taste cheap," then you had the same thought process as me. But I trust her judgement so I went with it.


All we did was open enough ice cream sandwiches (we got the cheap store brand kind) to cover the bottom of a cookie sheet.  It took about 20 sandwiches.  Then we spread whip cream over it and put it back into the freezer until it was time to serve. That's it. 

The Verdict: Can I say YUMMY!  I really was surprised at how good this tasted.  I ate way to much, then kept sneaking off to the freezer to eat the left overs.  Hello extra lbs.

Even though it was frozen, it was really easy to cut into squares. The next time I make this I want to add some sort of extract to the whip cream to have different flavors and maybe sprinkle something on top. This is a keeper

All Purpose Cleaner

I have what is known as the Myers nose.  Basically, this means I have inherited an acute sense of smell comparable to a dog.  I like to think of myself as Toucan Sam, I just follow my nose.

While you may think this trait is fantastic because I can lead you to any BBQ in town or accurately point out a smelly offender in an elevator, this trait has actually been a curse.  Smells overpower me and can quickly lead to headaches.  The worse offender is cleaning supplies.

When cleaning my home I use to wear masks to try and save myself from the stench of chemicals but I usually ended up with a headache anyways.  I thought of trying DIY cleaning products but was a little hesitant because I wasn't sure if they would clean as well as the hardcore chemicals I was currently using.  A few months ago I decided to give it a try.

After some searching I decided to try the all purpose cleaner I found on this website
http://www.macheesmo.com/2011/01/four-homemade-cleaners/

All-Purpose Cleaner
- 3 Tablespoons vinegar
- 1/2 Teaspoon washing soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon castile soap
- 2 Cups hot water

The Castile soap stumped me.  I had never heard of it.  Fortunately it was very easy to find at Target in the natural product section.

After 4 months of use: This was very easy and quick to make and smells great.  No more headaches for me.  The washing soda tends to settle at the bottom but a quick shake fixes that right up.

So far I am really impressed with this product.  It cleans everything, even that gunky stuff that forms around a contact lens and turns into cement. Beware of mirrors though.  This bad boy will smear mirrors with a vengeance.

 I have been using this on everything, even toilets, and so far no one has been sick.  Although, I'm still a bit skeptical about how well it is cleaning. This cleaner is going to have to prove itself through the flu season before I decide if it's a permanent keeper.

Welcome

Welcome to The DIY Guinea Pig.  I love to try out DIY things but I wish that I could read about the results that other have when they try DIY's.  How many times have you tried a DIY and thought "Wow, that was a waste of time and money!"  With this blog, I hope to save you that time and money by spending it on myself.  Feel free to look around and give any suggestions you may have.