Beginnings of much more to come...Bare with me ...

Finally putting some of the theory we've been learning for the past 4 months to practice!! The last months have been as interesting as they were a bit intimidating. I was worried that it wouldn't sink in to be  honest. I wasn't the best student back in the day ...and well, Science...was worse...Unless you count the yr we had a hot science teacher ! I was somewhat more motivated that year LOL.

After xmas our professer Stephanie Plamdondon  launched the production phase of our courses. Starting with the chapter on soaps. I can honestly say that watching assembly and techniques helped to connect the dots in terms of the chemical reactions we learned about. The science makes more sense when you see it in action so to speak. I also really enjoy how Stephanie teaches. She makes it interesting and answers all of our endless questions. I've learned so much these past months and look forward with much anticipation to each week that unfolds!  That said...it will still take me yrs to know all those $20 words. .. I'm still debating a venture into the glycerin soap she made last week. Lot's of additional steps. They are clearly beautiful soaps though.....haha! get it~ ;-) ..I know, a groaner! My husband would be so proud!

Anyway, for this chapter we have to make 2 soaps for our homework. A solid soap and either a glycerin soap or a liquid soap. The calculations that have to be worked out are quite impressive if I do say so myself. Took me near 5 hrs to get all the different values for each given oil/ingredient in my soap to work out the exact amount of Sodium Hydroxide you need in order for it to become soap!

Of course I had to make things easy by starting with a soap that has at least 26 ingredients in it! But it's the most important soap I will ever make, so I might as well do it now , work out the kinks if needed. It's absolutely ridiculous to have as much as I do in there but it incorporates almost all the ingredients of a melt and pour soap I had formally used to make an eczema, psoriasis soap that made huge differences in my husband and my moms life! As I'm now making from scratch, I need to repeat the same results but with an even better soap.

So now I have my recipe in hand...ALL the  precious ingredients I need. Most of which I get at Noblessence in Montreal .....All the tools and protective gear is ready to go.......Ready to go!.......Hello!!! Ready to go!!!

Ok, I'm nervous!....Really NERVOUS!

I'm sure soap makers are having a good chuckle over this apprehension for not so big a deal but
I doubt I'm the only one who was super intimidated about the 1st step of combining the Sodium Hydroxide with liquid causing a chemical reaction that heats the sodium immediately. All the precautions have to be taken for safety.
-Ventilated area, either outside or safe place away from ppl, (garage)
-Protective eye gear....check
-long sleeves, apron....check
-face mask for fumes ..check
-long rubber gloves......check
-all ready to go............check

Oh get on with it!!!....(I can't tell u how many times I rechecked everything)

Ready

How exciting ... No?

I want the temp to cool down so putting this in abed or snow or ice does the trick.

As my sodium cools, now I can start to assemble all my oils ...

I've already weighed all my first oils...to melt slowly...and cool off before combining with sodium. Below are just the ingredients being added AFTER trace! To Super Fat my soap and add all the beautiful essential oils that give it the properties needed to sooth Eczema & Psoriasis .

 

My Sodium is cooled down, my oils are between 30c-40c...So it's time to combine!! The moment of truth!.....Oh look how lovely that is ! (I know I'm talking to myself at this point)

After trace is attained ( kinda like when u get peaks with whipped cream...light trace is when u see slight marks that stay on the surface. That's when it's time to add your powders, exfoliates, essential and super fat oils if desired.

 

Yummy .... ;-)

My PRECIOUS Oils............... (in my best Gulum voice)

 

Needs a bit of colour...

I'm loving this rich green!

Pour into molds

This makes 1 kilo. so 10 soaps of aprox 100g.

I wanted to make some 50g sizes also...

I've sprinkled some with dry calendula petals as garnish.

The soap itself has ground calendula , oatmeal & goats milk powder, all for their therapeutic properties among other things.

I've also used some of my own oils infused for 6 weeks with calendula, hibiscus, chamomile.

Time to cover my pretties and set aside in a cool place to rest 24 ours before unmolding ...

Now comes another fun part!

My pretties are ready to cure for 4-6 weeks! I put garnish on half.... Curious how it will look and feel once hardened.

These are extremely rich soaps! The cost is redonkulous but their properties attest for every cent! I will have to sell these for at least $10 each. It's a lot but definitely worth it!

 

 

I've already started another beautiful floral face soap with a 2 colour technique....

Hope they turned out the way I hope, but won't know for another 24 hours :-)

 

 

What a bunch of KNobs!! At least these ones are useful!!

Part of being in the Great White North means owning big coats, warm scarves, hats and/or toques ! As organized as some people manage to be...I'm not among the best for sure!!. Last yr I did a good purge, got some nice big baskets to put up top in the closet. Which works great ....during the warm months! But as soon as winter hits...well.....

basically a mess ensues in short order! I'm too short to deal with the basket back and forth. Scarves end up stuffed into sleeves or thrown on anything that will hold it there ..barely... So I started thinking.....I want a better way!....I have a small entry...but as I stood looking at the mess I heard a PPSSSSSSTTTT! from the small wall facing the mirrored closet ...

A blank canvas! I can have some fun! So the cranks started to turn as to how to make hats and scarves easily accessible and fun to look at. But I also wanted something that looked good during the summer months when all those things are put back in the basket in the closet. (who wants to see wool scarves and hats during hot and humid temps!

I started to accumulate bits and pieces as my idea started to germinate ...First though...I had to paint the top part of that wall the same red as my living room...that boring beige was driving me nuts anyway...

then all the other painting began...

                                                                 White then Black

and finally assembly begins...

I was so impatient. I had to wait a few days for all those layers of paint to dry!! But it was worth the wait!

Now was time to figure out where to put what ...I can't tell you how many times I changed things around! Then promised myself I was done.....no wait...this with that looks better... too much white over there...but if I add this to that I need to change over here.........you get the picture!!......

But finally, with Chris' help we got all the pieces screwed in and ready to dress up or down depending on the season! We love how it turned out if I do say so myself! Next summer I can see a straw hat thrown up there with an umbrella or two...or like now, I see some of the beautiful scarves I have to choose from. Some are precious gifts given to me or made for my be friends and family! I love that they can be seen now as much for their practical use as their special beauty!

                                                                          VOILA

 

JUST THROW IT UP HERE...

Lets do a BEFORE

 

After

 

So there you have it....My knob wall. Something practical and pretty all year round ...

What do you think?

 

 

 

 

Saddly Snubbed but for the Actions of Another..

We hadn't been there for a good while. So we were happy to return to our favourite breakfast place today. During the past cpl yrs, we were always warmly greeted by the owner. He always took the time to chat and exchange pleasantries. This came about because we had a mutual friend. Who happened to be the one who recommended this place to us. Over that time we have brought countless ppl there to eat and recommended it to many others. The food is always good there, I  happily admit.

Today there was no Bonjour, no pleasantries, no smile, not even a courteous nod. Today was as if he had never met us before. Better yet... we were the next cpl up in the waiting line to be seated... but he gave the next table to the ppl behind us instead.  Which was ok , we were in no hurry and they had a small child with them. But this was an obvious snub. We were quiet and waited. When Chris went to pay later, he never made eye contact, or said a word. It was blatant and rude.

and such a pity.

I shouldn't feel hurt by the actions of someone who is just an acquaintance and certainly not worthy of that kind of emotion but ...It smarted nonetheless. We didn't deserve to be treated that way.

Especially given the reason why.
The mutual friend....

The crux of the story...

Earlier this yr , as some know. I hurt my back terribly. I was flat on my back in the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. Unable to do anything at all. For a cpl of weeks! Chris was my hero! He cared for all four of our live in clients with special needs AND Me!

I had what I thought , was a very close friend for a cpl yrs. Who happened to be a very good massage therapist. I liked her a lot I truly believed we were good friends.. I was always there for her. Late night calls about her relationship probs...staying with us when she needed space. Sounding board for all her woes, invited to all our get togethers yada yada like friends are. We also encouraged her with her career. I hired her often to come with her table , as much for me, as for any guests that came to visit us. Never expecting to pay less then others. As it should be. She worked on me often when I had neck and arm problems.

Then I hurt my back...

The 1st week ... she was booked up. But thought maybe she could fit me in the next Tuesday?
I was a bit flummoxed to be honest. I was demoted to meer client status. Friendship not surpassing business hours?

 I was deeply hurt. She was the one friend who could have made a huge difference in my condition or at the very least, be cause for some relief . She also knew how much pain I was in. But then asked if I could go to her when we had no sitter and I couldn't sit up to drive ! It hadn't even occurred to her to come here , after business hours. That I would have paid for anyway!

 So I was hurt. But I kept it to myself until one evening , exhausted from the pain and miserable about this, I just started to say her name to Chris...

Who immediately said...I CAN NOT BELIEVE we called her a friend! Seriously a friend would have been there as soon as possible to try to help. Like you've been for her over and over again. Not to mention that we would have paid her anyway! Just makes me sick...

I decided then, that I would just walk away....Who needs friends like that? We choose who we surround ourselves with. Friendship isn't one sided. It's not always about one person. Sometimes the other one needs help. Another week later, I got one message asking if everything was ok, she sensed something.

Didn't reply, just walked away. Needed to put all my energy toward trying to get better over the summer. Physiotherapy and massage therapy by a stellar professional who Chris and I really appreciate.

Never heard from her again... in the last 6 months since.....which is perfect.

Fast forward to today.

She obviously told the restaurant owner we weren't friends anymore. Why? Who knows.  Have to wonder what was said to merit such distain. But I certainly can't blame him for taking his friends side of things, since he hardly knew us...
What I do blame him for is being a total jerk to two ppl he knows little about!
Most of us have been guilty of blind loyalty for friends in our lifetime . But in a professional/business manner, any mature person would have politely greeted us and showed us to a table. Not only to act like an adult, but to smartly ensure we continued to patronize his establishment. We would not have been the wiser lol...Our money is just a drop in the bucket but each drop is the sum of many....

Needed to Vent that today....