Check out this new cool site on flavor.com.  Great way to put all my links together in one place!   Natural Grace.

Finally after month’s of waiting for our little bundle to arrive.. This little darlin’ made his big debut.. Meet Luke! Born 8/3… so my posts may be sparce for awhile…

Wow we are half way through summer already!  Where did it go?  But anyway by now you probably have a decent tan and you’ve been so busy that you haven’t done any exfoliating lately right?  I hear ya.  Well this morning as I was sitting here eating my Pineapple I thought of this quick and easy recipe to slough off some dead skin cells as well as use up the rest of the juice.

Pineapple has natural acids which act as an exfoliant.  Although they do tend to bleach the skin slightly it will help smooth, balance and even out the tone.  The Sunflower Seed meal finely ground will gently scrub away dead skin cells and because the oil from the sunflower seed is extremely rich in vitamins A,C,D and E it is very soothing and gentle when applied to the skin.   Use this scrub no more than once per week on oily, normal or combination skin.

All you need is:

1 tablespoon fresh, raw pineapple juice

1 tablespoon sunflower seed meal

Combine the ingredients to form a paste.  Gently massage onto face & throat and allow to sit for about 10 minute.  Rinse and follow with a light moisturizer.  Ahhh!

Hi y’all!  I am feeling crafty today so I made a new blog button.  Feel free to snag it and share!  

Here is the code:  <center>
<a href=”http://www.naturalgraceorganics.com/blog” target=”_blank”>
<img alt=”The Natural Gourmet Blog”title=”The Natural Gourmet”
src=http://naturalgraceorganics.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Blog-Button-New.png”
style=”border: 0px solid ; width: 125px; height: 125px;” align=”middle” hspace=”0″ vspace=”0″></a></center>

I have to admit that when I first opened my Etsy Shop in November of 2008 I didn’t get it.  I had just found out about the site, Etsy.com, and had no clue what it was about other than it allowed me to sell the goods I made by hand.  At first I was all excited because it looked pretty cool, was relatively inexpensive and I thought it would help me generate some sales.  So one evening I uploaded a few product pictures and descriptions and anxiously waited for some sales.

The next day I went looking on Etsy for my product listings and found that they had been buried in a sea of other products.  I was heartbroken and immediately gave up.  To be honest now looking back I realize that at that time my photos looked like crap, I didn’t really put much effort into my descriptions and I didn’t even have a banner for my store.  I have to laugh now at that.. what the heck was I thinking?

Now after a few years have past I finally understand what it is all about. It’s not just about the sale of a product but about the presentation and representation of a lifestyle…an artisan showcase.  For myself my work is my passion and a true artist wants nothing short of perfection when showing off a product from start to finish.  In the past few month’s I have put a real effort into getting my shop looking great from shop appearance to profile to photos.  I spend more time these days on photos and descriptions than ever and I have to say I am hooked on the whole process.

Uploading my photos is a real joy for me.  I get the warm fuzzies when my product pictures turn out great and I click that ‘finish’ button.  Not to mention when someone ‘hearts’ my item.. Woohoo!  It’s like being handed a warm chocolate chip cookie unexpectedly.

Another great aspect of selling products within a community like Etsy is how much the other shop owners support each other.  I have found that we all share a love for handmade products and we are our own cheerleaders so to speak.  Encouraging each other, helping each other out with tips-n-tricks and giving newbies such as myself advice on how to generate some business.  It all makes sense to me now.  It’s like a quaint little market street where people can spend the day shopping at niche stores and delighting in their lovely finds.

Speaking of supporting each other.. check out this blog post called Love Handmade.  I was mentioned in this morning by a fellow Etsian Delightful Scents.  Her shop is lovely and so is she!

Body Honey??  Sounds pretty interesting huh?   Not only is it simple and great for your skin.. it’s edible!  Perfect for an evening of enjoyment.  Ooh lala..  “Oh honey???  Could you grab the body honey??”   You get my point..

Here is all you need:

1 Teaspoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Teaspoon of your favorite Raw Honey

1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Whip up the ingredients in a small bowl and your ready to go!  A little goes a long way but you can make more or less if you wish.  Only make what you plan to use.

I’m so thankful for my little angel who helps me discover new Eco-friendly Cleaning Products.  Yes just this morning she took what was left of my dishwashing liquid and happily squeezed it into the toilet.  How she got it down from the sink is another story but in short the toilet it nice and clean…

Anyway I have tried this recipe before and for some reason I forgot to share it but it does make for a nice, non-toxic and simple addition to your natural household cleaning supplies.  All you need is some liquid castile soap, water and some essential oil.  Here are the measurements:

1 Cup Liquid Castile Soap

1/4 Cup Warm Water

5-10 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil (Or your preference but Citrus Oils work best)

Simply combine the Castile Soap with warm water in container, then add Essential Oil.  If you want to make it look pretty you can also add a few drops of food coloring as shown.  I used Sage coloring.  Voila!  Works great, smells great and I didn’t even have to run to the store.  You can of course double the recipe depending on the size of your container.  Remember to shake it gently before each use.

All You Need…

Pour the Castile Soap into container…

Add Lemon Essential Oil

Make it perdy!  Add some food coloring..

Your done!  Takes about 5 minutes and you have your own dishwashing liquid!

Happy 4th of July!  Its going to be HOT this weekend so be sure to pack your sunscreen.  But if you do get sunburned do you know what to do? Most people don’t think about it until it’s too late.  Here is what to do if you do happen to get burned:

1)  First off get out of the sun so that your mild sunburn doesn’t turn into second degree burns with blisters.  Ouch!

2)  Take a cool shower or bath. Much like other types of burns cool water helps.  Add in oatmeal for extra soothing relief.

3)  Next it is very important to soothe your skin with Aloe Vera.  You can use your Aloe Vera Houseplant or purchase it at the local Rite Aid etc.  Apply multiple times per day for relief.

4)  Continue to moisturize. Your skin is dry and screaming for moisture from the burn.  Use a natural based moisturizer like Cocoa Butter. Cocoa Butter melts at skin temperature which allows it to sink right in.

5)  Take a pain reliever like tylenol or advil to help reduce the pain.   Be sure to seek medical attention when necessary.  If you have blisters or severe pain, it is best to see your doctor.

The juice from the Strawberry contains effective yet gentle astringent and bleaching properties and gentle exfoliating acid that helps to remove dead-cell buildup.   Need a quick, light, rejuvenating facial?  Make your own fresh strawberry facial cleanser!  Quick and simple and perfect for when you need a little facial pick-me-up.  Very refreshing!   Best for use on oily to normal or combination skin.  Use no more than once or twice per week:

Simple Strawberry Facial Cleanser

4 Very Ripe, medium-sized strawberries, sliced and stems removed

2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

1 Drop Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Mash the strawberries in a small bowl or mortar & pestle.  Then strain the pulp with a mesh strainer or cheesecloth so that all that remains is the juice.  (Its ok if a little pulp comes through)  Then add the essential and stir.

Apply to face and neck area with cotton square but be sure to avoid the eye area.  Massage gently for about 1 minute.  Rinse thoroughly with coolish water.  Follow with a gentle toner and apply a light lotion.  Walla!  You are refreshed and ready for a special day.

‘Tis the season for fresh strawberries and boy did I find the freshest, most tastiest strawberries on the planet!  There is nothing better than fresh, locally grown fruit and veggies to brighten your day.

I stopped at a local farm stand on Route 31 in Baldwinsville, NY.  I sure would like to mention them but I don’t know the name and I cannot seem to find a website.  I think it’s called the Country Market.  Anyway they had a great selection of super fresh fruits and veggies.  I thought about using my delectable find to create a fruit inspired, decadent hand and body lotion but the more I thought about it the more I ate.  Sorry. 

And check out these super looking beefsteak tomatoes grown in Rochester, NY.  Wow!  They are early in the season but they are so juicy and sweet.

Best way to eat these babies is slice ‘em up thick and sprinkle with Sea Salt.  Yummo!