Homemade Face Wash for Every Skin-Type

I have very oily skin ~ even though I'll soon be 53 years old. I have made my own face wash for oily skin for about 5 or 6 years, now, & plan on using it for as long as I can. I very rarely have acne anymore . . . ask ANYONE who has known me before I found put together my simple-but-effective recipe. (It's also great for back or check acne.)

But I have had some friends & customers at the health food store I work at ask me about an effective face wash for drier skin-types. And even oily skins can use this for those occasional dry patches ~ yes ~ we all get them, especially in the winter months.

This recipe is very effective and so easy to make ~ whether you are acne-prone (use occasionally) or dry (can be used daily) you will benefit from this!

You will need:

~1 ts honey
~1 TB cream OR whole milk
~1 ts oats (finely crushed works best)

Directions:

1) slightly warm the honey ~ 5 seconds in the microwave is fine
2) mix in the cream/whole milk
~this mixture in itself is a great face wash . . . but if you want a little bit of exfoliation . . .
3) mix in the oats
4) w/your finger, apply the mixture w/gentle rotating motions around your face; avoid lips & eye area
5) rinse w/warm water & splash w/cool water; dry gently w/a towel.

Let me know how you LOVE it.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Obedience Among the Disobedient

"The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says' . . . whether they listen or fail to listen . . . You must speak My words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious . . . Go now to you countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen.'" ~selected verses from Ezekiel 2 & 3

"Where did this Man get these these things?" they asked. What's this wisdom that has been given Him, that He even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's Son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't His sisters here with us?" And they too offense at Him.

Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." ~Mark 6:2(b)-4

Many of us have known scoundrels in our lifetime. I would even venture to say that many of us WERE scoundrels. Things that we have done ~ good and bad ~ give us a reputation . . . or as my grandparents would say, they give us a "good name" or a "bad name."

For those of us who didn't become Christians until our early adulthood, some of the hardest people to witness to and to convince of the change in our lives are our family and those who have known us most of our lives. Why is it that those who know and love us best find our faith in Jesus so hard to believe? Why does Jesus seem to be such a threat? Is it us? Or is it Jesus?

And when we experience such wonderful changes, when we have been changed from death to life, when we realize that all because of ~ and ONLY because of ~ Jesus we have been saved from the eternal punishment of hell and will live eternally with Him in heaven . . . we want people that we love to know that forgiveness and peace as well . . . but . . . what if they won't listen?

We are required to tell this lost and dying world about the forgiveness and freedom found ONLY in Jesus. Some will listen and, sadly, some will not. We are required to tell. Usually, it's nothing against us, but this is a fallen world, a rebellious world. We can only do what we are called to do; to be faithful with the tasks that God has given us ~ to be obedience among the disobedient.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Help for Dry, Rough Skin

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I don't know why, but for whatever reason I have had the worst "winter itch" this year that I can ever remember. From my elbows down to my hands, & from my knees down to my feet. It has driven me CRAZY!!!

I have tried my own wonderful healing salve & some specialty lotions from the health food store that I work at. They offer great relief, but now I'm left with some scarring & rough spots. :-(

What I need is a good, healing oil. Good oils penetrate into the skin & can heal inside and out. I looked in my "Herbal Antibiotics" book & modified a healing oil recipe for my own needs. Hopefully, this will be something that will help you, too.

You will need:

Crock pot
1 c. of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 oz echinacea root
1/2 oz garlic granules
1/2 oz sage
Straining cloth/cheese cloth
Glass container w/tight-fitting lid or gasket lid (I like the gasket lids)

Directions:

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1) Add oil to crock pot (do NOT use aluminum or cast iron pots) & turn on "Low."
2) Grind herbs as fine as you can.
3) Add herbs to oil in crock pot.
4) Cover, heat on "Low" for 7 days.
5) On the 7th day, use pot holders to remove hot crock pot from the heating element & place on a cold burner on your stove, or a trivet, to cool.
6) Using a straining cloth/cheese cloth, strain the oil mixture into a glass container.
7) Seal tightly & keep out of the sunlight; no need to refrigerate.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Vitamin D3 ~ More Important Than You May Think

[Please read disclaimer at bottom of page.]

Since going back to work outside the home in the Spring of '09, I have found myself in a the happy position of learning more about health/home care/personal care/food alternatives ~ right up my alley!

In the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing with you some of the things that keep coming to my attention & I have asked many questions of several people (from my VERY patient store manager, for one) & have done some extra research on. In this business, it's SO easy to want to take every single supplement that graces our shelves (& many customers seem to think we do! . . . "Have you ever tried this?" . . . "Nope." . . . [astonished] "You haven't?!?!?!?!"). Although I'm not against taking Rx meds when necessary, I do however look at some supplements as Rx that I'm not taking, & side-effects I'm not dealing with. Now . . . having said that, not every supplement is necessary for everyone & not everyone can take every supplement. Success with your supplement "cocktail" depends entirely upon you ~ after you weigh your needs, family history, medical needs & body's tolerance.

Some vitamins cross over almost all boundaries & are beneficial for everyone ~ to one degree or another. One of those is Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is "the sunshine D" & is especially good for women. And because we know we can't always be the "sun worshippers" we thought we could in our younger years (for us Baby Boomers), we HAVE to get our sunshine benefits in the next-best way.

Scientists are finding more & more that almost everything in our body can benefit from D3 ~ almost 2,000 different genes are regulated by it! Astounding. Vitamin D3 can help with pregnancy problems, avoiding some birth defects, depression, skin cancer & many other cancers, heart disease & even multiple sclerosis. Within mere days, many people notice a better feeling of general well-being. Archives of Internal Medicine has said that as many as 77% of the general American population are low in D3 & recommend around 1,000 IU per day; many requiring more.

Even though D3 is fat-soluble, it's rather hard to "over-does" on it. According to an article in Women's Health magazine, we can handle A LOT more than previously thought; "You'd have to inject 10,000 IU everyday for 6 months before before you'd even begin to approach problem levels." When shopping for a D, check the labels & make sure it says D3, this is type of D vitamin that your skin makes.

On top of the benefits I listed earlier, a recent Newmax.com article listed these as the top 5 benefits of taking Vitamin D3:

1. It helps the intestine absorb nutrients, including calcium and phosphorus. This ensures strong bones and a strong immune system.

2. Vitamin D prevents osteomalacia and rickets. Osteomalacia, which causes weakness of the muscular system and brittle bones, is most prevalent among adults with vitamin D deficiency. Rickets is a skeletal deformity mostly seen in children with vitamin D deficiency.

3. Vitamin D provides calcium balance in the body that prevents osteoporosis or arthritis.

4. Vitamin D regulates blood pressure, reduces stress and tension, relieves body aches and pains by reducing muscle spasms, reduces respiratory infections, helps in differentiation of the cells, aids in insulin secretion, helps fight depression, improves overall skin health by reducing wrinkles, makes skin soft, strong, and smooth, and improves cardiovascular strength by providing a protective lining for the blood vessels.

5.Vitamin D is recommended in the treatment of several diseases. It may prevent preaclamsia by improving kidney function, cancer by controlling abnormal multiplication of cancer cells [a big reason why I take it; family history of cancer on both sides], diabetes mellitus by controlling insulin production, hyperparathyroidism by reducing parathyroid numbers, osteomalacia by improving bone and muscle strength, hypophosphatemia by controlling the phosphates in the body, hypocalcaemia by preventing abnormal deposition of calcium, and renal osteodystrophy by regulating calcium content and fibromyalgia.

The benefits of vitamin D can be obtained by increasing exposure to sunlight and including vitamin D rich foods into your diet like fish, cod liver oil, milk, and eggs. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also good sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin D3 is truly an amazing vitamin; the more I find out about it, the more I am convinced of it's benefit. And just in case you are interested, I take Carlson's D3 drops ~ 1 drop a day ~ you can drop a drop in your mouth or many will drop a drop on top of their hand & simply lick it off (kids LOVE to do that); 1 little bottle has enough for 1 person's use for 1 year.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#58~ Silencing the Critics

PASSAGE: "Another time He [Jesus] went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them [the Pharisees] were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.'

"Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent." ~Mark 3:1-4

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." ~Titus 2:7-8 [emphasis mine]

LESSON LEARNED: I don't know about you, but in my lifetime I have been the victim of rumors and distortion. As sad as it is, I'm sure many of us have. There are those who, for whatever reason, look for something to take out of context or even make up about someone they have a grudge against or want to slander.

Jesus went through the same thing during His time on earth. The "religious leaders" of the time were so jealous of Jesus that they "were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus" of . . . well . . . anything. They couldn't stand that He was teaching with authority and clarity and what they, in their piousness, could not. People gravitated to hear Jesus speak the truth of God's love and forgiveness that the Pharisees could not communicate because most of them had not experienced God's love and forgiveness, much less understand it. How could they teach something they hadn't experienced themselves?

But we have. Jesus has walked the walk of the accused. He has taught us, by example, the life to live; how to do good. With Jesus as our Example, we too can silence the critics.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

A Deception Set Straight

"Feminism is mixed up with the muddled idea that women are free when they serve their employers but slaves when they help their husbands." ~G. K. Chesterson

Taking Care of Our Men-Folk

As our husband's help-meets, & as keepers of our homes, it is up to us to make sure that our wonderful husband's are healthy. I don't know about yours, but if THE Man were in charge of preparing our meals, if it's not a omelet it's going to either be from a can or take-out. lol

In Rosemary Gladstar's book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, she has a list of 10 Superfoods for the Male System. I think it's a great list & I also noticed that it is very similar to common sense foods mentioned in the Bible & in What the Bible Says About Healthy Living.

Here's the list:

FOOD ~~~~~~~~ BENEFIT

Chicken ~~ Contains high-quality proteins

Cultured milks, such as buttermilk ~~Aids digestion; supports the immune system

Dark-green leafy vegetables ~~ Excellent sources of minerals, vitamins & fiber

Fish ~~ Contains high-quality proteins

Fresh Fruit ~~ Excellent source of vitamins, minerals & fiber

Pumpkin Seeds ~~ Rich in zinc; excellent for the prostate

Sesame Seeds ~~ Calcium-rich; support the nervous system

Sesame or Tahini Butter ~~ Calcium rich

Squash Seeds ~~ High in zinc; good for the prostate & male glandular system

Yogurt ~~ Aids digestion; supports immune system

I would also add making sure that your husband takes either a good pro-biotic or enzymes, better yet, you can find some supplements that contain both.

As I said, these are many common sense suggestions, but it never hurts to have someone reinforce what you are already doing.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#57~ Make Way!

PASSAGE: "I [Daniel] looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude . . . " ~Daniel 10:5 & 6

"Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him [Zechariah] . . . When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard . . . The angel answered, 'I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God . . . In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you . . . You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." ~Luke 1:11, 12, 19, 26-28, 31 [emphasis mine]


LESSON LEARNED: Have you ever watched an old movie that had messenger of sorts, a herald, who went before a king and shouted, "Make way! Make way for the king!"? In many respects, that is what the archangel, Gabriel, did for Jesus.

As one of God's most trusted servants, Gabriel has the incredible privilege of announcing to both Zechariah and to young Mary that the Lord was not only going to bless them with children, but that those children would be born for His purposes. One would himself be a herald calling out to all to "Prepare the way for the Lord." (Luke 3:4)

And the other Child ~ oh, the other Child ~ born to a young Jewish girl, would be The One. The One Who would be the Savior of the World, the Lamb of God, the propitiation of all sin. Jesus the Christ. The long-awaited One!

Every word written in every book of the Old Testament was about to be fulfilled. Every prayer, every hallelujah ("praise the Lord, Yahweh"), every Old Testament prophecy was about to come to it's "Amen"! Gabriel had just come from the very Presence of God ~ he already knew Whom it was that he was introducing to us.

Do you know Him? You don't need a herald to burst through the door shouting, "Make way for The King!" And you don't need Gabriel in all his magnificence to stand before you and proclaim His coming.

Jesus is already here.

All He wants is for you to open the door of your heart and ask Him in. Just like the famous painting of Jesus knocking on the door, if you will notice ~ there is no doorknob on the OUTside, the door (of our heart) only opens from the INside.

The herald has come . . . Jesus is knocking . . . the rest is up to you.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#151~ 2/21/12

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . still dark outside.

I am thinking . . . that I have a long day ahead. Some days I wish I could wear a pedometer to see how far I walk in a day.

I am thankful . . . for how the Lord takes care of us in the most unexpected ways. The heating element in my oven caught on fire yesterday . . . but I caught it in time, turned off the breaker switch & we still have a home! PTL!

In the kitchen . . . Nothing. Because of my dead stove. :-(

I am wearing . . . jeans, light plumb turtleneck sweater, purple socks.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to look at new stoves tonight.

I am wondering . . . how things will turn out w/my brother.

I am reading . . . the brand new issue of the AWESOME new magazine, The Christian Women's Voice. The 2nd issue just came out & I'm so excited to be writing for a magazine again. I hope you will check it out.

I am hoping . . . for a good out-come to some family business on Wednesday.

I am looking forward to . . . some more home repairs & improvements; gardening.

I am learning . . . to lay it all down at the foot of the cross & NOT walk away with the problem still tied to my foot!

Around the house . . . general pick up . . . considering what to do about the stove ~ new or repair? Hmmm . . .

One of my favorite things . . . a sweet friend reminded me of my very favorite candle fragrance ~ Yankee Candle's Home Sweet Home ~ Cinnamon & cloves . . . Ahhhh.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, working something out w/my brother, worship practice, lunch w/a friend I haven't seen in ages, Sunday worship w/the saints.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "Belief is important; belief in Jesus Christ is supreme." ~from Sunday's sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'" ~John 11:40

A peek into my day . . .

Read 100's of other Daybook's at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Marmee-isms ~#24~ It Can't Be Helped

"Jo, I'm anxious about Beth."

Why, Marmee, she has seemed unusually well since [Meg's] babies came."

It's not her health that troubles me now; it's her spirits. I'm sure there is something on her mind, & I want you to discover what it is."

"What makes you think so, Marmee?"

"She sits alone a good deal, & doesn't talk to her father as much as she used to. I found her crying over the babies the other day. When she sings, the songs are always sad ones, & now & then I see a look in her face that I don't understand. This isn't like Beth, & it worries me."

"Have you asked her about it?"

"I have tried once or twice; but she either evaded my questions, or looked so distressed that I stopped. I never force my children's confidence, & I seldom have to wait for it long."

Mrs. March glanced at Jo as she spoke, but the face opposite seemed quite unconscious of any secret disquietude but Beth's; &, after sewing thoughtfully for a minute, Jo said ~

"I think she is growing up, & so begins to dream dreams, & have hopes & fears & fidgets, without knowing why, or being able to explain them. Why, Marmee, Beth's 18, but we don't realize it, & treat her like a child, forgetting she's a woman."

"So she is. Dear heart, how fast you do grow up," returned her mother, with a sigh & a smile.

"Can't be helped, Marmee, so you must resign yourself to all sorts of worries, & let your birds hop out of the nest, 1 by 1. I promise never to hop very far, if that is any comfort to you."

"It is a great comfort . . . "

Little Women ~ Ch. 32

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><