O.K. This is an unusual post, but I think there must be other people out there who are finding the store bought deodorant to be giving them itchy rashes like they do me. Or, Maybe you are concerned with the health risks that come from all the chemicals….I honestly would never have tried this if I didn’t have to. I have tried natural type deodorants before (a long time ago) and didn’t think they worked too great, but this is pretty impressive. I like it. So, here it is:

Ingredients: 2 T Coconut Oil, 2 T Shea Butter, 1 tsp. wax pellets, 1tsp baking soda, 3 T Arrowroot,Cornstarch or Bentonite Clay, 15 Drops of the essential oil of your choice. (I used Mint).

Place the Coconut Oil, Shea Butter , and Wax Pellets in a bowl. Prepare a larger bowl of very hot/boiling water and place the Coconut oil ,Shea Butter and Wax Pellet bowl inside of the other bowl to melt the ingredients. Once Melted, carefully take the bowl out.

Next add the Baking Soda, Starch, and Essential oils, Mix well and pour the mixture into your container. I used an old recycled deodorant stick container that I had boiled to get all residual product out of.

At first I thought it might be too gummy to form into a solid, but after settling over night it is a perfect solid and glides on easily. It smells minty and feels great. I have heard that you might need to fiddle with the ingredients (slightly more oils or starches) depending on your climate. I think I like this better than any store bought deodorants I have ever used, (even though , I admit, if I didn’t have to try this, I wouldn’t have! lol) Hopefully someone out there find this post helpful! 🙂

I recently read this author for the first time at the mystery book club I try to attend monthly. Colin Cotterill : The Coroner’s Lunch. I am now reading the second book in the series, Thirty-Three Teeth, so far it is just as entertaining as the first book. There are great characters in the books, interesting story lines and some humor thrown in, which is nice to have in a murder mystery sometimes.

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I made these for gifts for various people in my life I that wanted to do something little for. They are approximately 2″x 4″ (at the widest point). It is fun giving these to people & saying, “I made you a sweater”. They tend to get quite a few smiles and laughs, which is always nice to see.

The directions are pretty straight forward if you know the basics with knitting. I used worsted weight acrylic yarn (2 colors, knit together) for the example shown: (also, these little sweaters are a great way to use up your scrap yarn).

o.k. here it is:

cast on 10 stitches

k1, p1 rib for 3 rows

work in stockinette for 7 rows

cast on for arms:

next row: knit across, cast on 5 sts

Next Row: p across

cast on 5 sts (20 sts)

work 4 more rows in stockinette

Neck Opening:

Next Row: K8, bind off 4 sts, knit 8

Next Row: p 8, cast on 4 sts, p8

work 4 more rows in stockinette

Bind off arms

Next Row: bind off 5 sts ,k across

Next Row: bind off 5 sts, k across

Next row: bind off 5 sts, p across

work in stockinette for 7 rows

k 1, p1 rib for 3 rows

Bind off!

Then just seam up the sides, and you have your mini sweater.

The sweater hanger is made easily with pipe cleaners (dollar store or craft stores have them, jewelry or florist wire would work also).

I hope someone out there makes a teenie sweater. It would make a nice gift topper year round I think.

Have Fun!

Recently I did a video for Dr. Walter Koroshetz of the National Institute of Health (NIH) regarding his lackluster, and quite frankly, pathetic response to the people suffering from Myalgic Encephalomylitis (M.E.) My video is here https://youtu.be/ziGTTgyfisY .If you are interested in learning more about this, please watch my and /or other videos at the #NotEnough4ME youtube site. Please consider signing a petition or writing Dr Koroshetz /NIH to show your support for us. Thank you.

If you have never read The Book Thief ,one of my all time favorite books (which was recommended to me by a dear librarian and friend of mine from long ago who has a personality of pure gold). The other books I have read by Markus Zusak, were also excellent. Although his books were written for teens they are also great for adult readers.