Wordless Wednesday ~ July 29, 2015

Sunflower Oil For Your Skin Care

Grow Sunflowers for Fun in the Sun

Sunflowers are fun to plant and grow.  I can remember when my kids were younger we would read the book, "Amy loves the Sun" by Julia Hoban.  As a result of reading this book we created a magical sunflower circle where they could go outside and hide in the middle, just like Amy.  As the flowers grew taller, it was easier to be hidden in the middle of the circle.  When the sunflowers reached maturity we would take the seeds and roast them for a delicious treat and reminisce about the fun that was had in the summer sun.

Secret Hiding Place

Sunflower oil is extracted from sunflower seeds, and is rich in Vitamin A, C, and E.   Sunflower oil is beneficial for both human health and skin care applications.  When consumed, sunflower oil helps to improve heart health, boost energy, and lower cholesterol.  When applied topically, sunflower oil is believed to help acne sufferers, protects skin from sun damage, and prevents signs of premature aging.

I like to use Sunflower Oil in soap and topical treatments because it is a light oil, and is easily absorbed into the skin.  In the winter my skin is in need of a heavy butter for conditioning, while in the summer my skin requires something a bit lighter in consistency to achieve the same results.  Sometimes my skin needs a bit of a boost by softening the dry skin with a lighter topical application prior to the application of a heavy butter.

Sunflower Oil is the common name we all familiar with.  In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Sunflower Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Sunflower Oil in soap is "Sodium Sunflower Seedate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Sunflower Seedate".

Individuals with seed allergies should avoid the use of Sunflower Oil, or check with their Physician prior to using.

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 22, 2015

Visiting Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Last week I was in Salt Lake City, Utah soaking up the awesome desert heat and sun as much as possible! One day I was busy hiking through the Exposition Floor at the Salt Palace Convention Center when one of the Vendors lured me in for a photo opportunity.  

While I was in Salt Lake on business, I did get to take in some of the local sights.  The hotel where I was staying was very close to Temple Square.  I enjoyed walking through the grounds and viewing the buildings and gardens, hearing the choir rehearse, and catching a pipe organ recital.  I had been eagerly anticipating free time on the last day to take the tour of the LDS office building to the 26th floor where you can see The Salt Lake.  Much to my disappointment, that tour was canceled for maintenance last week. Guess that means I need to plan a sight seeing vacation to Utah.

While in Salt Lake, one of our food vendors provided transportation to the Hogle Zoo for a BBQ and fun evening.  When you go to the zoo the animals sleep all day, but after 5 pm it's feeding time, and they were interacting with us.  It was, perhaps, the best zoo viewing experience I've ever had.

By the end of the week I was energized and charged up with multiple new ideas to implement in the school meals program that I am responsible for.  I was also very tired and ready to return home to my family.  Upon take off at Salt Lake City Airport, I quickly realized my sight seeing moments in Utah were far from over when we circled up over The Salt Lake!  I quickly began snapping photos throught the window of the plane, then sat back in my seat to enjoy the flight home.

The Salt Lake view from plane

Shea Butter for Your Skin Care

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is an emollient butter with an off white color that is extracted from the nuts of the African Shea (Karite) tree.  Shea Butter is naturally rich in vitamins A, D, and E all of which are valuable additions in skin care products.

There are many uses and claims for Shea Butter floating around the Internet that I won't be listing here.  What I will tell you, is that from my own personal experience Shea Butter has become one of my favorite butters to make heavy body creams for use through the winter months, and as skin treatments after long periods of time in the summer sun.  Why?  Because for me, the deeply rich emollient butter has offered the much needed relief to my aging skin that is losing its elasticity and becoming drier as the years go by.  I love to put shea butter in my soap because it doesn't all saponify.  That means some of the butter is left roaming free in the soap, waiting to attach itself to my skin when I bathe.

Shea Butter is the common name we all familiar with.  In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Shea Butter.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Palm Oil in soap is "Sodium Shea Butteraerte" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Shea Butterate".

Individuals with nut allergies should avoid the use of Shea Butter, or check with their Physician prior to using.

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 15, 2015

Avocado Oil for Your Skin

Avocado Oil

Avocados are often considered vegetables but they are really a fruit.  These unique fruits are nutrient dense, contain good fats, and are naturally sodium and cholesterol free.

Aside from the nutritional benefits, avocado oil provides an assortment of vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial to the skin.  The oil is easily absorbed by the skin and helps to soothe dry and itchy skin.

I love to add Avocado Oil to soap and topical treatments.  I have seen a noticeable difference in the appearance of my skin since adding avocado oil to soap and topical treatments.  I've come to the age where my skin is losing it's elasticity and appears to be dry all the time.  My own personal use of Avocado Oil has helped to repair some of the damage that years of sun and UV rays has made on my skin.

Avocado Oil is the common name we are all familiar with. In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Persea Graissima (Avocado) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making  process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Olive Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Olive Oil in soap is "Sodium Avocadate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Avocadate".

Technology Is A Wonderful Thing, Or Is It?

Technology is a wonderful thing!  One can do so much from social media to marketing, and everything in between.  It's nothing to walk into a public place to find people talking on their cellphones, texting, facetiming, and more.  

I'm just as technology driven as the next person. We ditched our landline years ago and solely use cellphones because people can reach us wherever we go.  I have four different email accounts syncing on my phone, my Etsy account, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and my dot com checking in.  I have apps for various stores sending sales reminders and/or coupons.  Other apps announcing late breaking news and weather, and more.  

There is something to be said about keeping up with current information and trends, and staying connected with others through the assistance of modern technology.  But when is the convenience of technology too much?  

Common sense should tell us to put the technology down when driving.  I can remember when I was learning to drive we weren't even allowed to listen to the radio as it was considered a distraction.  After too many accidents involving distracted drivers using cellphones, our state created a hands free law when driving, yet people still do it.  And now they've added to the law that you can't even use your mobile device at a stop sign or stop light.  Seriously?  Why do laws have to be made to make the use of hand held devices illegal when driving, when that should be common sense?  

Common sense and courtesy to those around you should tell us to disconnect from technology when dining out, or going into a hospital or doctor's office.  Yet everywhere I go lately, signs are posted asking patrons to turn off their cellphones and/or hand held devices in those places.  Attending conferences they ask everyone to turn off their cellphones, or put them on silent and to please exit the room if you need to take a call yet inevitably there will be interruptions/distractions from several individuals who "forgot" to silence their phones. Why do we have to be reminded, when it should be common sense and courtesy to others?  

My mother resisted purchasing an answering machine for her landline many years ago, as she felt if it was important then they'd call back.  And yet now if we send a text message and the recipient doesn't reply back immediately a level of frustration ensues. When the recipient never responds, we wonder if they got the text, so we call them.  My younger daughter is notorious for sending two or three text messages back to back and when I don't respond, she calls my phone then if I don't answer she proceeds to call my husband to let him know she was trying to reach me and I wasn't responding (all within a 5 minute window of time).  Seriously?  

The availability of a vast amount of information is at our finger tips, attention spans are decreasing, patience and endurance a thing of the past.  One on one, face to face social skills is greatly impacted by the use of technology.  Respect, privacy, and courtesy ceases to exist in our technology driven society.  

What are your thoughts about the impact and control technology has over social skills and society as a whole? 

My Ideal Relaxing Place

San Diego, CA

Sitting atop a rooftop deck by the ocean, feeling the warm breeze, and enjoying the sun.  It is always nice to feel temperatures above 70 degrees fahrenheit, but I'm in my very happy place when the outdoor temperature is at least 80 degrees fahrenheit.

Pacific Ocean

Walking across a sandy beach and dipping my toes in the ocean water.  No coat, no shoes, and I'm happy!

The smell of the salty ocean water is soothing and calming to me, and I have found my happy place.

Exploring the beach to see what the ocean has left behind on the sand.  Seaweed, shells, sea glass, driftwood, and more.

Yummy!

What's your ideal relaxing place?

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 8, 2015

Isabella!!!!!!!!

Summer Trip to Maine

Lunch View

I'm sorry that I missed publishing the weekly Ingredient Feature this week.  Time got away from me with hubby on vacation, the Holiday weekend, and a trip to Maine tossed in for good measure.  Hubby returns to work tomorrow so I can get back to business as usual, for a few days.

Our trip to Maine started with a slight trek south into New Hampshire to check out Bass Pro Shops before heading north to Kittery, Maine where outlet shopping is bountiful, and a visit to the famous Kittery Trading Post.

Taking in a very late lunch at Warren's Lobster House in Kittery was a highlight, and a restaurant that I highly recommend.  The view was amazing and they had the most impressive salad bar I have seen in a while.  Feeding kids for a living I am faced with food allergies, special medical diets, vegetarian and vegan diets, and more.  The salad bar at Warren's was a delicious vegetarian and vegan delight.  And for those craving seafood, these east coast folks know how to cook seafood!

Traveling further north to Scarbourough, Maine we made one last stop to Cabela's before taking the scenic route across Maine to take in the jaw dropping views and vistas on the Kancamagus

Kancamagus Highway

Highway through the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.  The sun was setting as we started our journey along the 34 mile stretch of road.  We saw a huge bear cross the road, but thankfully didn't meet up with any moose.  As we neared the top we were able to capture one photo opportunity before the sun disappeared behind the horizon.  I've only seen these views in the fall, and was delighted to have the opportunity to capture a summer view of the amazing mountain views.

The Ingredient Features will resume next week while the blog is on auto pilot in my absence.  I'm bound for Salt Lake City later this week to attend a conference and fulfill the obligations and duties that come with the title of President-Elect, soon to be President, for School Nutrition Association of Vermont.  I'm super excited to see the amazing Salt Lake region for my first time, and feel some summer sun and heat which we seem to lacking in the Northeast this summer.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Let Freedom Ring!

Enjoy the weekend and be safe.

Worldless Wednesday ~ July 1, 2015

Mission Bay ~ San Diego, CA ~ April 2015