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Lavender and Oatmeal Soap

Limited Edition of Chocolate Decadence Soap

Fresh Air Salt Soap

Grapefruit Baby Bear Soap

Soap by Pure Naturalis, London , Ontario
Photography by Melly

All Natural Laundry Soap

After a round of testing by my family, friends and willing customers I am happy to add Laundry Soap to my line of products. Soon it will be available for sale in my Etsy shop.
 

This Laundry Soap is made with our own handmade all natural soap. Irregular bars, end cuts and trimmings are finely grated and mixed with sodium bicarbonate, sodium borate and essential oils. These two natural earth minerals boost the cleaning effect of soap.

I used to buy natural liquid laundry detergent but it occured to me that there has to be a way how to use all those end cuts and trimmings left after cutting soap into bars. My soap is perfect for people with sensitive skin and children so it also has to be perfect for their clothes and fine fabrics. 

Commercial washing detergents are full of chemicals, synthetic fragrances and colourants not mentioning phospahtes and whitening agents. All these are quite harmful to us and aminals, polluting water and soil.

My Laundry Soap is quite different. It is very simple and mild, biodegradable, safe for septic tanks, yet effective. It works well with cold and warm/hot water. It is helpful if you first dissolve the laundry soap flakes in a small amount of hot tap water, especially when cold water is used for the washing. Then pour it into the washing machine  and load the clothes. 
Depending on which type of washing machine you have the amounts needed for 1 load are as follows:
Top loading machine => 2-3 tablespoons per load
Front loading machines (high efficiency) => 1-2 tablespoons per load  
If the load you are washing is very soiled, then add 1 extra spoon of the soap powder.

When I started to use my own soap for cleaning the clothes, I was very surprised to see how clean and fresh smelling they came out. To be honest I was rather doubtful in the beginning. I expected the commercial detergent to be more powerful and efficient. To my surprise the Laundry Soap was exactly as effective cleaner as the store-bought detergent. It is also very economical costing only couple of cents per load.

The Laundry soap comes in a reclosable plastic bag and/or a brown bag with label and instructions. This packaging is easier for shipping. But I suggest that you transfer the soap flakes into a spare glass or plastic jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use an old measuring or tablespoon to scoop out the neccessary amount. Do not forget to cut out the label from the bag and stick it to the jar FYI and for safety reasons. And of course keep the laundry soap high enough so kids and pets are not able to reach it.


Some tips:
~ For spots and heavily soiled areas try to pre-treat them by rubbing the dissolved laudry soap into the spot.

~ Many spots can be cleaned with the help of hydrogen peroxide. It's not only good for disinfecting minor cuts and skin scrapes, but also works great for stain removal. (Use the 3% concentration commonly found in pharmacies and stores.) Red wine spills, blood stains, sweat marks - spray the hydrogen peroxide directly on the spot, rub and let sit for couple of minutes before washing. Might be necessary to repeat the process.

~ Hydrogen peroxide can be used to whiten clothes as an alternative to bleach. Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the machine when washing the whites. 

~ Sun is another great helper for fighting the stains. Try hanging freshly washed clothes in the direct sun. Stains should face the sun that will whiten them. This is exactly how our ancestors used to treat woven linens. They washedd them in the stream or lake, spread them on grass and let them dry in the direct sun. Repeating it several times achieved white linens. Sun also has disinfecting effect.

~ If you have a chance and possibility to dry your clothes outside in the sun, DO IT! Line drying in the fresh air is the best! Your clothes will be soft, clean, bright and super fresh smelling. There is nothing like it!

{I am not that lucky. I live in a city that has these silly by-laws that prohibit drying the clothes outside within the city boundaries. The reason for this is the  unsightliness of this activity! Some people find it offensive to look at someone's drying socks, T-shirts and pants!!! They would be probably horrified by hanging bras, underwear and longjohns as well. For me as a European this by-law is very stupid. I don't know whether this rule is just a specialty of London, Ontario or people in other places on this continent have to obey similar non-sense. Would love to know, pls leave a comment :) I hope by-law-makers will realize that in these days when we need to save electric energy, decrease EMF and reduce the use of chemicals, it is more ecological, economical, pleasant and clever to dry the clothes outside. Drying in the electric dryer or on the line in the basement is not an option. And as soon as I move into a house with a garden I am drying my clothes outside. I'll let you know how many appalled complainers knocked on my door :)}

~  Avoid using fabric softener. It adds unnecessary chemicals to your clothing and environment. You can use a few tablespoons of vinegar for the final rinse for the same effect. Also Laudry Soap contains a small amount of glycerin that has softening effect.

~ If you want your clothes scented but avoid the use of fabric softener, add several drops of your favourite essential oil to the compartment for fabric softener in your washing machine. The last rinsing cycle will leave the laundry smelling nice. Great essential oils for this purpose are lavender, lemon and lemongrass.

~  Maybe you've never heard of this, but moon influences the water on our planet. As it causes the masses of ocean water to rise and fall in regular tides, it also influences the water in our bodies, plants and all other things. During certain moon phases it is much easier to remove spots from clothing and the laundry will be cleaner with less detergent/soap used. All due to the water and moon effect. 
If you would like to try this but don't know when, sign up for our monthly newsletter, which will include the list of days for each month that are best for doing laundry and watering the plants in your house and garden.
You can sign-up via email: infonaturalis(at)yahoo(dot)ca or this form.

Green Smoothie with Dandelion Leaves

Spring is almost here and soon there will be fresh young greens sprouting everywhere. But until we can go out and pick our own fresh dandelion leaves we have to rely on store-bought bunches. The best would be organic but if you cannot find these, regular are better than nothing.

Here is a recipe that includes this great and nutritious plant. Dandelion is one of the cleansing herbs that we should include in our diet especially during spring and for cleanses.

You need: 

1 bunch of fresh dandelion leaves, 

2 bananas, 2 pears, 1-2 apples, water.

Wash all leaves and fruit very well, put the leaves and water in the blender and blend until you cannot see any large pieces of leaves. Then add chunks of apples and pears one by one through the opening in the lid while the blender is still running. Add bananas as the last.   
Drink immediately. Offer to children, family members, any neighbours and visitors who are there with you :) 
If they make yucky faces and refuse, be a role model and enjoy it yourself. Don't push them into trying. If they see you drink and enjoy a really GREEN smoothie, next time they will be curious and taste it.

Cheers to your health!

Post a comment below, if you like this one :)

Chocolate-Banana Roll

In case you don't have enough of sweets and desserts after all the carnivals, mardi gras, Faschings, Valentine's day and all other feasts of this time of year I thought you might like to whip up a delicious dessert for the sweet tooth of your darlings, your guests or just for yourself :)
I have this recipe from my mother-in-law. She always makes the roll for us whenever we come to visit. Here is my try.

Chocolate-Banana Roll

The recipe is for one roll. If you want to make two like I did, please double the ingredients.

Dough:
2 1/2 tbsp cake or semi-fine flour
5 tbsp sugar (I always use cane sugar or coconut sugar)
5 eggs

Filling and topping:
2 long streight bananas
50 g semi-sweet or cooking chocolate
6 tbsp water
100 g sugar 
2 tbsp powdered cocoa
250 g butter
puffed millet (or shredded coconut or white chocolate or almond halves or whatever you'd like to have on top)

Line a large, flat baking pan with partchment paper so that you have extra paper sticking up from the sides to catch the runny batter. Set aside.

To make the dough: in a large bowl whip egg whites and sugar untill stiff peaks form, best with an electric mixer. One by one add egg yolks, then flour. Make sure the mixture is constantly thick. Pour the batter on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes on regular temperature.

When baked, place the dough with the parchment paper on a wet kitchen towel, roll it and let to cool.

In a small pot boil the water, sugar, chocolate and cocoa powder. When almost cool, mix in the butter.

Spread half of the chocolate cream filling evenly on the dough. Place the bananas along the inner edge and roll.

Cover the roll with the remaing chocolate cream and sprinkle with puffed millet or decorate to your liking.

Enjoy!

When to drink water?

Boxing Day Special

I hope you are all enjoying great holidays!
For the rest of the week, here is the special for my etsy shop:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Boxing Day Etsy Special: save 20% on all items in my Etsy shop with the coupon code "BOXING" on Dec. 26-31
+
Each sale over $25 will receive a small free gift.

For Local London, ON Customers

LOCAL LONDON, ON CUSTOMERS:
Local customers are always welcome to pick up their order at my location. By appointment only. Please email/convo me for further details.
Complimentary gift-wrapping available.
Free delivery within London, ON with every purchase of $ 25.00 and more.
I take orders until Dec. 23, 2012 and then from Dec. 26.

Stay tuned for the Boxing day coupon code :)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

This weekend is the weekend of wild shopping for Christmas gifts!
If you want to get wild, too, here's my offer :)

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Etsy Special: save 20% off with the coupon code "BLACKCYBER" between Friday Nov. 23 and Monday Nov. 26
+
Each sale over $25 will receive a small free gift.
Valid for online purchases only.

Christmas Bazaar in London, Ontario

Yay, it's my birthday that day!

Green smoothie with wild greens

Here is a simple smoothie made with a handful of wild greens that I pictured in the previous post (dandilion, lambs`quarters, purslane and plantain).

Greens with bananas and apples and ...

...some blueberries

Great Greens You Don't Have To Buy

Here is a list of edible and nutritious wild greens that I don't buy but get from my own lawn, flower beds and small vegetable patch behind our house. 

In the near future I plan to write more  about each of these plants, but right now I just add the pictures.

Plantain (Plantago major) (Skorocel)

Lambs' quarters (Chenopodium album) (Merlík biely)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)  (Púpava)

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) (Portulaka zeleninová)

        

Green Smoothie with Parsley

Today we had a simple blend of leftover romaine lettuce and parsley leaves and banana. With too much water it came out quite runny. It was easier to feed it to my 10 month-old baby in the bottle than with a spoon. Even though he is breasfed and never had a bottle before, he had no problems with drinking from a bottle. 
{I was experimenting with the camera and the pictures are not the best. Some are too dark, some too bright :( But the smoothie tasted delicious.}

When the smoothie comes out froothy and starts to separate, more bananas or a mango will make it creamier.

Green Smoothie with Purslane

Sometimes during summer I have learn about Purslane (Portulaca oleracea).  I haven't noticed this small groundcover weed before. But as I read and searched more on the internet I was happy it's growing in my small vegetable garden patch. 
Purslane is super-nutritious. It has the highest content of omega-3 fatty acids of all green leafy vegetables and is rich in various minerals, vitamins and fiber. 

I used the fresh succulent leaves and stems in a smoothie. It tasted a bit sour but an extra banana will make it more palatable for children. My kids both love green smoothies and they don't mind the extra "green" taste.

Purslane from my flower patch (Portulaka zeleninová)

Purslane from my neighbour Eva

I was lucky to have a chat with my neighbour Eva about plants when she mentioned this weed sprouting all over her front flower bed. We discovered it was purslane. She let me help myself and pick some of it for my smoothies. When my own garden supply got low, I went over and my toddler (He knows several edible wild plants/weeds now and every time we go for a walk, he picks the fresh leaves and says "It's for the smoothie, mom.") gathered a handfull for next days breakfast.

And in go some soaked chia seeds, bunch of purslane, some blueberries, one apple and two bananas

Yummy breakfast is ready.

I hope this tasty-looking smoothie has inspired you to try it, too. But before you go out and pick your lawn, do some research of your own and make sure you know very well which plant to pick. There are some similar weeds that can grow near purslane that are not edible and might be harmful. (Purslane is succulent with meaty leaves and has round stems with clear juice.)

Here is the nutrition chart:

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), raw, fresh, Nutritive value per 100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base) Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA Energy 16 Kcal 1.5% Carbohydrates 3.4 g 3% Protein 1.30 g 2% Total Fat 0.1 g 0.5% Cholesterol 0 mg 0% Vitamins Folates 12 µg 3% Niacin 0.480 mg 3% Pantothenic acid 0.036 mg 1% Pyridoxine 0.073 mg 5.5% Riboflavin 0.112 mg 8.5% Thiamin 0.047 mg 4% Vitamin A 1320 IU 44% Vitamin C 21 mg 35% Electrolytes Sodium 45 mg 3% Potassium 494 mg 10.5% Minerals Calcium 65 mg 6.5% Copper 0.113 mg 12.5% Iron 1.99 mg 25% Magnesium 68 mg 17% Manganese 0.303 mg 13% Phosphorus 44 mg 6% Selenium 0.9 µg 2% Zinc 0.17 mg 1.5% Dry chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) are tiny but packed with nutrients. To get the most out of them they need to be soaked in water and blended. They form clear gel in contact with liquids.

Cherry Pudding for Kiddies

Today I made my kiddies a deliscious afternnom snack. They gulped it down :)

1 or 2 ripe bananas and a handfull of fresh pitted cherries...

...blend well..

...yummy, yummy, yummy!