Hello to an old friend.

Giving it another shot!!!

What's For Dessert? No-Cook Ice Cream

Folks,
If you're like me, no summer is complete without indulging in at least one bowl of homemade vanilla ice cream. Every summer my Aunt Ruth would make us several quarts of that delicious, cold, creamy dessert and I would eat until I thought my belly would pop!! Well, now that I am a tad bit older, I have found that making that delicatessen requires a lot of work that I simply don't have at the time my hankering for homemade ice cream comes on.

Anyway, I was given this No Cook Ice Cream recipe from a co-worker and thought I'd try it, thinking it was going to be a flop. Boy, was I ever wrong!! This is some good eatin' right here. My two sons couldn't even let it finish freezing before they had finished the batch. Try it, it's really simple. I think y'all might like it, too!!

Recipe (makes 4 quarts):
Half-gallon 2% milk (chocolate, white, strawberry - whatever tickles your fancy)
8 oz whipped topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Follow the instructions for your ice cream maker.
Mix the condensed milk and whipped topping together until blended. Add a 1/2 cup of the 2% milk to this mixture and stir. Pour this into your ice cream freezer and finish adding the 2% milk until your freezer chamber is full. You don't have to add the entire amount - it's up to you how thick or thin you want it. Stir it up a few times and turn on your ice cream maker. That's it. Freeze for several hours until firm. Serve.

Enjoy!!
Kena

Check out some of the Estonesoaps Products

Hey folks,
This is a snippet of some of the handmade products made by me that you find at my store. Check it out and give me your thoughts on how it looks.

As always, take care of yourself!

Top Sunscreen Tips for Summer

Happy Friday, folks!!

If you're headed outside this weekend, whether it's to take Dad fishing, relax outside next to the pool, or just take a nap in your hammock, sunscreen should be something you keep in the back of your mind. Why? Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst both adult women and men. It is also the most curable. Almost all skin cancers are a result of too much ultraviolet light exposure from the sun and such things as tanning beds.

Here are a few tips to save your skin this summer:

1. Use at least 1 ounce of sunscreen for adequate coverage on an adult. Don't forget the ears, neck, and feet.
2. Look for sunscreen that is water-proof or water resistant, especially if you plan on being in the water or may sweat.
3. Reapply your sunscreen often. Most sunscreens only provide 45 minutes to 2 hours of coverage. After being in the water or exercise, reapply the sunscreen then as well.
4. Apply the sunscreen even when it's not sunny outside. UV rays are out even when it's cloudy. These can be harmful to skin with constant exposure.
5. Use a physical barrier to the sun. This means wear a hat or loose fitting long clothing while outside.

These are just some of the ways we can protect our skin. Pass this along to your friends and loved ones.

Folks, as always, take care of yourself!!
Kena

5 Tips for New Soapers

Hello, Friends! No matter what day of the week, I am an early riser. I simply cannot sleep past 6 a.m. Today was no exception. I got out of bed, made the coffee, cut my Unscented Oatmeal soap, and placed them on a rack to begin curing. Early mornings are the only time when my house is perfectly quiet and I can do my best work then. During this quiet time, I thought about the arts and crafts festivals that I would like to participate in and all of the preparation it would take for me to have a good turnout. I will keep you posted on my progress.

In the meantime, I wanted to give some suggestions to new soap makers out there. I have been asked by some who want to start making soap what's the best way to start.

Here are my 5 tips to Start "Soaping":
1. Research, research, research - become as knowledgeable as you can about ingredients used in making soap. The internet will become your best friend as there is a wealth of information on the web regarding this subject. Once people discover you are a sopamaker, they will want to know which of your soaps is good for certain skin conditions, such as eczema. You should be able to comfortably answer these questions, because you are now regarded as an "expert" and experts know their stuff!

2. Buy from a reputable supplier - Please do not take short cuts with your ingredients. I have learned this the hard way. Buy good stuff the first time and save yourself the heartache of having a product turn out bad because you started with poor ingredients. You will also be able to sleep at night knowing that the soap you sold Susie Q will not make her itch or cause skin irritation. DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

3. Line up a couple of soap recipes and stick with those. I wouldn't recommend branching out to new recipes until you have mastered a few basics first.

4. Practice, Practice, Practice

5. Learn to take good notes - on everything! This is critical. I use index cards for my soap recipes. On the back of the recipe card, I note the date I made the soap, what I added to the recipe such as essential oil, fragrance oil, or colorant, and on the front I write the date that that batch is ready to use. I keep all of my cards in a rolodex. This has helped me keep things organized and is a wonderful reference.


I hope this helps some of you just starting out in soap making.

Hello World!!

Hey folks! I wanted to welcome you to my new blog. I am a nurse by day and soap maker by night. You might be asking yourself who would want to make soap. Well, I absolutely love it! It is a creative vehicle that releases stress for me. Sign up and become a follower to see what's goes on in the life of a soapmaker. TTYL!!