ok friends so i haven't posted since before Christmas! i feel like i'm finally getting out of the cold dark days of winter and getting back into my groove. i am loving this sunshine.
so, i have had this dream of making lip balm. i am totally addicted to lip gloss, chapstick, anything to ease the dry lips (since the 6th grade). i am not a fan of putting petroleum based substances on my lips, if i don't have to. now is the time to make the switch for good!
if you don't know i am a sucker for homemade, local and all natural stuff, so i gave a shot at the lip balm making myself. after much research and waiting for all of my precious ingredients and supplies i have finally begun making one of my many dreams come true. i've been making batch after batch trying to find the perfect cocktail. the first one was a little too hard, the second one was just pretty good, 3rd try definitely too soft- it has felt a bit like Goldylocks and her adventure. i think today is the day that i created the perfect one! i am so excited i can barely stand it. i thought i would post the few pix i took while the process was taking place. please join me on this journey. i'm so excited about all the possibilities!
here are the ingredients i've been using.
beeswax -from our neighbor beekeepers
Sandridge and Sons Honey
organic olive oil
organic coconut oil
sweet almond oil
cocoa butter
vegan shea butter
vitamin E oil
orange oil
This summer is in full swing here in Hanover. Most days its feeling over 100 degrees and our garden is producing lots of tomatoes and peppers- as usual. My squash and zucchini were a no go and the eggplant is looking a bit on the frail side. We've had a lot of fun tending to our gardens and harvesting veggies. After a target trip for school supplies for our soon to be kindergartner today, we hung out mostly in the house. I took advantage of using up some fresh veggies and fruits that were in the refrigerator. I made tomato sauce with sausage from our friends at Dragonfly Farms, and of course Greenhearts Farm signature seasonings. We also baked up some cereal bars that i saw on Blue Sky Confections blog. They are delicious! The boys also helped me decorate a letter P that i cut out of plywood. My husband had been giving me a hard time because i had to get the jigsaw "right now" a few weeks ago to cut out a P. After i impulsively cut out the letter it sat in the shed for weeks until i got around to decorating it today. He just informed me that the picture doesn't do the "P" justice- it's much prettier in person he says. At any rate we used spanish moss and glued it on. We all had a good time and the boys were great helpers. Our mess was minimal. I need to invest in a better camera so that these fantastic foods will look more appealing. 
