Forever

[gwynhyffar]

I haven't posted in forever. I've been really busy with work and trying to go to the Y most evenings, plus I've started making my own soaps, bath salts, and lotions. It's a LOT of fun! Plus I know exactly what's in everything and I can scent it how I want. Love it! In other news, I've lost 65 pounds :) What a difference that makes in everyday

Comments

[dawtheminstrel]

Holy cow. I am so impressed by (1) the weight loss, (2) the gym almost every night, and (3) the soap making. Go you!

[gwynhyffar]

I've been trying to find ways to stay busy so I don't just sit in front of the TV. I don't make it to the Y EVERY night, but I'm pretty good about getting there about 4-5 times a week. Since the weather has been nice I've also been riding my bike, which has been fun.

I LOVE making soap! Even the scary part with the lye. I've recently been experimenting with body butter and think I've finally got a really nice recipe. It's definitely different than the stuff you buy in the store and takes a little getting used to. The soap is nicer than store bought because it doesn't dry out my skin. The lotions are different because when you first put them on they seem a bit oily. The good part is that it soaks in fairly quickly and then your skin feels sooooooo soft and there is no need to keep reapplying it like you do with the stuff you buy (apparently that's because the water in the store bought stuff evaporates and leaves your skin drier than it was when you first put it on.. viscious cycle!).

[dawtheminstrel]

Do you scent the soaps and lotions?

[gwynhyffar]

Yes, that's one of my favorite things :) I have a pretty big collection of essential oils at this point (don't ask how much I've spent on all that!) and I like trying different combinations. Right now I'm big into coconut and lime and pretty much anything with sandalwood (my old standby). Next time I make up a batch I'll send you some! :)

[meckinock]

Congratulations on the weight loss and workout routine. I felt a lot better after I shed several dozen pounds also. The soap and lotion-making sounds really cool! But where on earth do you buy lye? I wouldn't know where to start.

[gwynhyffar]

I get the lye from a hardware store. It's in the drain cleaner section! Just make sure to get 100% lye and not one of the partial mixes. I love making the soap and lotion! It's so much fun!

[dot_o_choillmor]

Wow. You're amazing! In all aspects! I'm so glad things are going well for you.

I was reading your explanation to daw about the soaps and all that and I'm fascinated. I'm picturing a laboratory set up in your house!

[gwynhyffar]

Hahaha, my kitchen table does occasionally turn into a mini-lab. I'm working on getting some things for temporary storage of all the supplies so I don't have just a couple boxes sitting around.

[perelleth]

COngratulations on the wieght loss, Gwyn! 65 pounds is really a wondrous achievement, actually a whole turn of lifestyle!

A friend of mine who lost her job a year ago atarted doing soaps and oils and lotions at home and now she has a small but enternaining business going on! :-) Sounds like fun,.

[gwynhyffar]

I thought about selling some of the stuff online, but it seems like so much work! I'd rather give them away to friends when I make big batches. It's FUN!!!

[elliska]

You go girl! I am so impressed!

And I love making soap too. Bath salts sound cool too. SOmetime you'll have to share the recipe for that.

[gwynhyffar]

My current batch of soap is different from ones I've done before-I'm using different oils. I tried to use goat's milk instead of water, but for some reason I wasn't getting the right reaction when I put the lye in (it wasn't getting hot enough), so I went back to water. I hadn't used avocado oil in soap before and this time I did. Next batch I'm going to try walnut!

Bath salts are one of my favorite things ever and sooo easy to make. It's basically just sea salt and epsom salt. I like to do 1/2 cheaper sea salt and 1/2 Dead Sea salt. Then you add a little glycerine or aloe and scent it.