Rose Water Infused Cofee Soap.

Hello Dearies!!! I have made and send soap to a few of my trusted friends recently. I needed some opinion of how and what changes I needed to make. Some of them said no changed are needed while someone suggested if they had some kind of exfoliate in them, the soap would be a great scrub. Your wish was my command, I set the grey in my brain to work. I though of adding oats first, then backed out as I did not find any oats that were ground so fine. I searched my pantry to find any thing that would work, I found filter coffee, rose water, milled flax seed and some sesame oil. So with these ingredients, I set to work.

The wonder never ceases as I can mix and change according to my mood and fancy. Its as easy as 1-2 -3. Video link for melt and pour.
1- Melt
2- Add and stir
3. Pour and set in molds.

This batch I made is of rose water and filter coffee. I had made my homemade rose water that needed to be put to use, what better than soap. Next batch is likely to be with shea butter, cream, turmeric along with some sesame oil. 

Wish me luck and join me in this wonderful world of home made soap. The options and combinations are endless. Soap and lotion making has given me a good insight in things I can do and make in my home with everyday ingerdients. Do you have any tested recipes and home spa remedies that you have been practicing at home? Share them in Comments, looking forward to hearing all your tips and practices.

Peak into my Garden

Rosemary and Sage

Hello Dearies!!Today I am doing no talking just showing around a few of my priced flowers/herbs that gave me immense joy and prove to Mr. Ash that the brown thumb is shedding making way for  a greener one.

Celery root planted from the store brought celery. Best out of waste project

Celery and Spring Onion root planted from the store brought celery and spring onion. Best out of waste project

 

Rope of the bell made from assorted old shoelaces, best our of waste project

 Front view of the home Garden

Hibiscus Plant a Mothers Day Gift.

Jasmine Glory

Oh Camping we go!!!!

 Hello Dearies!!! Firstly sorry for being MIA for one whole week. Reason being we went camping. Oh Yes!! our very own first camping family vacation. We had a lot of fun and relaxing and spent time outdoors in a true camping spirit. Well if you count renting a cabin and a RV for 4 families as camping, then yeah we did it all!!! We had booked a tent space and our friend did set up the tent, but we never got to spending the night there. Must admit that someone chickened out of the whole tent story. We did go river walking, singing in front of the campfire swimming in the pool, bouncing and bike riding. I came to know how talented my friends are who sing so well, some even danced the dance. This was so hilarious, it was like a big mad party with no parents watching us.

Will I do it again, Absolutely YES!!! We never had so much fun on any vacation. The family behaved well, no yelling, no timeouts or even eye staring was in place. Yes I am the mom who gives her family THE LOOK!!!
 

Important part of any nature activity is spotting natural elements. We did spot a toad, my friend saw  a bear, like a big grizzly bear, I did not spot any deers in the deerpark. I never seem to spot any where the signs are put, do you spot any animals where they put signs of spotting? But I did see some treats in the camp site store where we took the kids for some ice cream. Enjoii these rare treats. I did not gather enough courage to try them. Just eye candy and pictures satisfied me.

I also learnt the craft of making carnation flowers from tissue paper; which I will be showing you guys in later posts. My friends 8 year old girl taught me to make these flowers, we attached them to a tic-tac clip and I was in Hawaii. I got so many compliments on how beautiful the flower looked and where did I get such a cute flower in the deep woods midst the mountains. 

What did you all do in the summer? Small Vacations and getaways refresh your mind and give you a different prospective towards life.

Homemade Lotion and Lip-balm totally Natural and Organic

 Hello Dearies!!! Today I bring to you some homemade natural and  beauty enhancers from your very own pantry. I also have a confession to make. I am addicted to something that is not harmful but dangerous in many ways!!! I am not on drugs nor am I an alcoholic, but yes I am addicted to Pintrest. And this is what happened to me when I bumped  into Wellness Mama. This Mama is AMAZING!! she makes everything natural and homemade, using everyday products and oils we have at home. She makes her own baby wipes. Impressed. not yet, run over to her space.

I also tried making her lotion and it won many thumbs up from my elder Donut who does not like any cream or lotion either coz its too creamy or too sticky. Most Winters I worry about his lips chapping and his skin turning into a dessert for camel rides. I am also not blessed with a glowing skin, so my search for one lotion for all ailments from cracked heels to chapped lips is always on. What I loved about these lotions is that most ingredients are very easy to get, except for bees wax which Mr. Ash ordered for me online. I am super impressed with the variations I can use from my pantry and mix and match the oils and essences. This winter is going to be soft and glowing in Ashland. I followed Wellness Mama to the T and stuck to her recipe except the addition of Shea butter and Cocoa powder to the lip balm.I needed to do that, it's just me that if I change the ingredients, I get creative satisfaction of doing something different. I will update you on the progress of my cracked heels and chapped lips after using these lotions for  a while, and keep watching this space as I am seriously thinking about sharing the lotions and soaps with one lucky reader soon. Just that I need to be super confident about the product I am making. There are no side effects as the oils are pretty much used in everyday cooking, like olive oil, coconut oil, bees wax imparts a  soft honey scent and addition of shea butter only adds in the effect.

 You will need;
take a glass bottle and a wide pan with 2-3 inches water, keep the water to boil. in the glass jar take;
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 th cup bees wax
2 capsules Vit E oil

1tsp rose water-Optional-
*I used this

2tsp shea butter-Optional
*I used 2 tsp as I have the shea butter which was costly. so thght will use little than none

When melting, stir often and then when the whole thing has melted, store in a glass jar and use little as it will go a long way. I added cocoa powder to the lipbalm for a brown tint.

 I know I am teasing you now, but I have given you all the resources to go ahead and curb your fear of making such treats from your kitchen. This really does not take any time, as it is only melting the oils and letting them do their own thing, I made these in less than 20 minutes. If I can do it, so can you!!!!! Thanks again Wellness Mama for doing the work for us.

A Lion's Mane and Lioness with no hair- some hairy issues

Indiblogger and Dove have teamed up once again for an intresting contest on Dove and Hair care. The subject line made me realize that having hair or not having hair is no longer an individual decision. To be or not to be with hair is not only your business but the business of dove and like...every 3rd ad on TV is about fairness cream and hair oil or shampoo. Till a few years it was targeting females, but last few ad's which I happened to see targeted males for fair skin....Love is associated with something that is here today and gone tomorrow. Cutting the long of it, having short or shorter hair all my young life made a victim if ridicule and anguish. Having curly and very thin hair did no help. Feminism is associated with long black hair, well styled hair and usually fair skin and long hair are the most wanted things in the bride search.

When I write this post, I am amazed at the way Gods Thinking process worked, Hence this title.  He blessed Lion with his mane and lioness with none, he blessed a peacock with nice colorful long feathers, but pea hen with none....only place where He seriously messed up was with Humans..he blessed girls with hair and made boys with none or fairly less. Imagine how it would be, if he blessed boys with hair and girls with less;
1) in a Indian wedding setting, The bride is ready in a jiffy with just a change of dress and the groom sends a message, give me 15 mins have to do my hair....or
2)where the girl rejects the boy saying his hair is too small almost looks like  a girl.

When I was growing up, Prothima Bedi/Persses Khambatta made BIG news, y you ask, because     they dared do the thing NO Lady in glam biz dared, they bid farewell to their locks of love. They sported Wati cuts. All my childhood went by having such role models, that if they did big with no hair, why make it a huge deal when I have no hair. Only my loved ones thought, that I had beautiful mane just like Mr. Lion. Only later was I told that with my shocking dry curls, I at times looked like him...

When time came to search for Mr. Ash, my mom freaked out at the thought of the grooms hair being longer than her doll's...oh what a poor mom to do now?...so search began for some products that will obviously keep the roots hydrated as to not create any static that will make my hair stand. Some prospective grooms did decline or reject Ms.Ash saying her hair is at fault, some were rude and some were sympathetic, either ways they were disappointing. IF all was good, can a mere Hair fact not be ignored...Apparently not; even in highly educated Indian classes.

Lesson were learnt and time had come to change the role models for now, I was fantasizing abut Dimple Kapadia..even watched Sagar movie for some clues...And as per instructions, I started reading Femina and Agony aunt columns, any hair care articles that came my way, henna with eggs started marking Sunday rituals, and deep conditioning was ordered. The salon girls started hushing about how the Henna has affected my hair and how I resembled a freshly baked potato . I was again lost, wasn't henna and eggs supposed to make your hair nice soft and strong. Were'nt the girls supposed to GUSH about my orange hair and not hush around me??

All in vain, Ms. Ash accepted the fact, that maybe she was not destined to play with her own hair. Being the positive person she is, she thought that all wa snot lost, having some is much better than having none. Life moved on.

Fast Forward to a couple of years, she met Mr. Ash and love happened with the soul with no hair to play a role, she came to the land of dreams and started using Dove. Then fate changed, when the seasons played a game, her hair was no longer dry and suddenly the curls were tamed. She was however not ready for the sudden change, was it love or was it dove??? maybe little dove and lots of love for myself, was the key to end my hair problems!

Slowly but steadily, over the years my hair has improved with the Dove intense therapy formula and now I have resolved for hair donation with locks of love. Regular oiling, conditioning  and having a balanced lifestyle are the mantras for hair care. Stress is the main cause of hair fall and bad hair, unless you are hair challenged like Ms. Ash. But even if you are, if I can do it you can too. So whats stopping you from loving yourself and loving your hair? Get dovey with Dove.. and feel the world change with you.

I will big goodbye to you with this piece of news on yahoo. Watch this link and decide for yourselve, the value of your hair in someone's eye.

Like Dove on Facebook

 This post is my entry to the ‘My Beautiful Hair Story’ contest organized by Dove and Indiblogger.

Chocolate chip cookies and a Teachers Appreciation Gift!!!

My son's Daycare had Teacher's Appreciation week in the first week of May.. but I did not get time to post till about now...I was thinking hard on what to gift the teachers since they do so much for us that would show appreciation without breaking my bank....I landed on this cookie recipe which I found on the Reynolds parchment paper box...Only change I did was added pudding to it.. I don't remember exactly where, but I had read on some blog that adding Pudding to any cookie recipe will make it soft and chewy, just like I like my cookie to be...I like cookie in any way and form....but given a choice I go for soft and chewy cookies...

The same recipe was also found at WHISK KID blog.. I did not save the link, but copy pasted the rec with some changes, that I did

Vanilla Pudding Cookies


2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c butter, softened
3/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c granulated sugar
3.4 oz (96 g)-2 pkg vanilla instant pudding mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat your oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment and set aside.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until light and
fluffy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and beat in the pudding
mix. Scrape the bowl again and add the eggs one at a time, beating
well and scraping the bowl after each addition eggs. Add vanilla. Add half of the pre-mixed dry ingredients to the batter and mix just to combine. Scrape down the bowl and add the remaining half, mixing until fully incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.

* I prepared the dough and froze it for about 4 days. When I had to bake the cookies, I thawed the dough and then with one tbspn measure , portioned the cookies on the lined cookie tray and baked in preheated oven @ 350 for 12 mins.

* I REPLACED EGGS WITH MILK.--2%.. WORKED WELL...as per the need.I don't like eggy cookies...I feel the smell drives me up the wall...but you can stick to the rec and see what works for you....
Hand Printed Jute Bag

I also made small treat bags for the teachers with these cookies. sorry I was too excited to gift them that I forgot the take pictures.. But I added the cookie bags to this Plain Jute bag which, I found in a set of 3 at Walmart and with fabric colour I could make this awesome Semi Home made Gift!!!

The hand prints and finger prints are of my son!! adding a Little personalized touch never hurts!!!!

Dear Teachers, Thank You for all your support, love and guidance. We would have never been so happy without you in our lives!!!!

Love

Ash!!



This is on my mind....

I am participating in Rhonda Jeans of Down-to-earth blog fame" This is on my mind Friday Feature".. I made this cake last Sat for my sons 3rd bday.. but it was so cute.. that I have been asked to make It again this weekend....so this is what is on my mind now......
http://indulge-ashscorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/carousel-cake.html

Thanks for visiting and  do leave  a comment.....

Love
Ash.

Diwali 2010

A very warm and happy diwali to all my friends who have been very kind with their words and take time out of their busy lives to read and most importantly to comment on my posts. I am sharing with you all some of the things I did this Diwali. The mehndi took me to  a very different phase of my life when I was  a little girl and having someone draw lovely henna on my tiny palms was the dream come true!!!!!

 Hoping all your dreams and wises come true in this festive season. Happy holidays!!!!!

Love Ash.

THANK YOU EVRYONE!!!!

As the blogs comes closer to its first Birthday,  The time comes to thank evryone who in one way or other has encouraged me to continue and keep going, maybe at a snail's pace, but to keep posting and updating on my blog.

My DH who has taken a keen interest in the blog, and responsible for all the pictures. Thanks a ton for being
a sport and even eating the not so great things during the trials.

Sayli Panse of  http://mysoulart.blogspot.com/, deserves many many thanks for the makeover of the blog. She has given the blog the new look and is responsible for the all the Techno-Gimmicks you can see here.

Manali of http://manaliscravings.blogspot.com/, for being a support and showing me the way to copyrighting, posting, editing, in short all that it takes for blogging. She helped me create this blog and has been my sole inspiration for evrything.

Manasi of http://acookatheart.blogspot.com/, for the support and encouragement to continue. Thanks Manasi for closely reading all my posts and commenting on evry one, your comments mean a lott for me. She encouraged me to post steadily as per my  speed and capability.

Vrushali of http://aromaticfoodieskitchen.blogspot.com/, she has not been a active blogger lately, due to work commitments, but she makes sure that she reads all my posts and messages me on each and every post.

Amisha of http://amisha-potpourri.blogspot.com/2009/09/protein-packed-pita-pockets.html, she also has been missing from blogging for a while, but she also messages me on each and evry post.

Lastly I thank each and evryone of my friends who have stood by me, passed on recipes, send me blog Links, Speical Thanks to my Best friends V and M, who have given me opportunities to bake cakes at their special ocassions.

Without any of you, I would not have completed one year of Blogging. I look forward for the same love and affection for coming years. As a spcial treat for the Blog, I am joining Wilton's Cake decoarting class 1 this month. I will have  a exclusive label, where I will post stuff we did in class. Am so excited and looking forward for this. Wish me Luck girls!!!!!

Hugs and Love;
Ash.

This Diwali I made these Diya's with Crayola Magic clay.....Hope you like them a smuch as I enjoyed making them!!!!

CTRL+ALT+DEL

Three Steps to END your tension CTRL+ALT+ DEL


1. Control Yourself

2. Look for Alternative Solution

3. Delete the Situation which made you TENSE

YYYYYYYYYY?????

Who Am I???YYYYYYY MEEEEEEEE

This is a question that has haunted me since ages.. When I was a kid.. I was asked; Who am I???. and I would say... I am a girl.. who is free to think wht she wants to think, free to do what she wants to dooo.. but today after many years I still come back to the same Q....Am i really Free to do wht I feel like.. Am i really free.. Free this word has many aspects to it.. meanings to it.. what is the purpose of our life.. why did god create humans...why not make them like any other animals/creatures..i see people seeking god....people join iscon movement.. saying thy are followers of specific group, organization...wht does this mean.. are they not followers of humanity..human race was supposed to be one.. was this god's design when he created humans. so many Q's which have no answers...As kids we were taught recitals from Geeta.. at that tender age we did memorize them, without daring to ask the meaning...all the stories that we were told had good guys killing bad guys.. all the mythological stores from Mahabharata and Ramayana had blood shed, war, demons. and yet we do call our GOd's GODDDD.. OMG...what an impact did we have.. God was justified in killing bad guysss.. and we do it we have cops running after us.....y this discrimination??? after all did GOd not want us to have ba dguys washed out...my thoughts run helter skelter when my grey matter starts asking Q's....thees Q's have no basis.. they keep jumping from one chapter to another..my thoughts are like a wild bee.. with no less flowers to chase.....so much work so little time.. again Y do we meet people.... is there any purpose with which we come across them.. many many Q's and again so little space.........so many Y's and so few ANS's