I’m super excited to announce the first big giveaway I’ve ever run on Humblebee & Me.com! It’s my “Healthy Hair Giveaway”, and I’ve assembled a great goody bag of prizes to help you get your hair care healthy & natural. What’s in this grab bag and how do you enter? Keep reading!
The grab bag is loaded with all my natural hair care essentials, most of which I make!
- Your choice of 3 of my homemade shampoo/soap bars
- My fabulous super-nourishing hair balm
- My deluxe all-natural dry shampoo, made just for your hair
- The dry mix for a seaweed & clay hair mask
- A little bottle of my Camellia & Argan hair oil, for parched ends
- A great birch wood detangling comb from The Body Shop
- Twenty (2½”) straight brown hairpins (stay tuned for a blog on how awesome these things are!)
Since I don’t really sell anything I make it’s hard to come up with an estimated value for the prize, but if you were to buy all this stuff (or similar products) at Lush or the Body Shop it would cost you about $100, so I think that makes this a pretty awesome prize! Plus, my goodies don’t have any preservatives, petroleum byproducts, or artificial fragrances!
Entry is super easy. Just:
- Subscribe to my blog by e-mail or WordPress (you can subscribe using the little form in the sidebar over there <–. Already subscribed? Awesome!);
- Comment one or more times (seriously, go nuts, I love comments!) on one of the 350+ entries (this one doesn’t count) sometime between now and the contest closing date.
Contest opens today (Friday, May 3rd, 2013) and closes on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 11:59:59PM MDT.
And for the rules & regulations:
- By entering you agree to the following rules & regulations:
- Open to anyone & everyone!
- The contest opens May 3, 2013 and closes June 7, 2013 at 11:59:59PM MDT
- The contest is administered & sponsored by me, Marie Rayma, and Humblebee and Me.com (referred to as “I”, “Sponsor”, or by name from here on).
- To be eligible to win you must:
- Subscribe & confirm your subscription to my blog by e-mail or WordPress (already subscribed? Awesome!);
- Comment one or more times on one of the 350+ entries (this one doesn’t count) sometime between now and the contest closing date.
- One entry per person—subscribing and commenting with multiple names/e-mails will result in total disqualification.
- Comments deemed to be spam will also result in disqualification. As long as you are not writing in gibberish and hawking low-interest loans/porn you will probably be fine. Just say something relevant and/or ask a question 🙂
- I am not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, or inaccurate entries.
- I will choose the winner from current, active subscribers that have posted at least one comment during the contest period, so if you unsubscribe before I choose a winner, you won’t be eligible to win.
- If there is a dispute as to the identity of an online Entrant, the prize will be awarded to the authorized account holder of the e-mail address or WordPress account. Winner may be required to provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address/Wordpress account associated with the entry.
- I make all of these goodies in my house, in my kitchen. I don’t have a sterile lab. So, while I try my best to ensure everything is clean (I use this stuff, too!), if you have any serious allergies (especially to nut products, dairy products, wheat products, or dogs), this isn’t the contest for you. Sorry!
- I am not responsible if the winner has any negative reactions to any of the items in the prize package—I will include a list of all ingredients and the winner is responsible for ensuring they are not allergic/sensitive to any of them.
- I am not responsible for any negative reactions resulting from misuse (intentional or accidental) of any of the prizes. They are not food safe, and should not be consumed or inserted into the body in any way, shape, or form. Keep out of eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and all other orifices. Don’t be an idiot.
- Entrants CANNOT SUE ME (Marie Rayma) for ANY REASON. I am running this contest out of my own pocket and the goodness of my heart because I am excited about the products that I make and I want to share them with my readers. I’m just a young woman with a hobby, and there’s really nothing to gain from suing me.
- I’ll be making the dry shampoo just for the winner, using pictures supplied by them to match the colour. I’ll try my best to match it, but it might not be exact. If it is not exact, the winner cannot send it back to be fixed.
- If the winner is allergic/opposed to the ingredients in some of the items in the prize I’ll try my best to work with them to come up with something they’re happy with, but I can’t promise anything.
- The prize has no cash value—if you don’t want it, I’ll choose someone else instead.
- I’m going to mail this using Canada Post’s basic parcel service—I am not responsible if they lose or damage it between me and you. If the winner wants shipping that is faster and/or includes insurance, they must bear all additional costs.
- To be declared a Contest Winner, a selected Entrant must answer correctly, without assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited mathematical skill-testing question.
- The winner must reply to the e-mail selecting them as the winner within seven (7) calendar days or another winner will be selected (so you should subscribe with an e-mail address you actually check).
- Before claiming the Grand Prize, the selected Contest Winner will be required to sign a declaration and release confirming compliance with the Contest Rules and acceptance of the Prize as offered, and releasing Marie Rayma from any liability in connection with the Contest and the prize.
- By accepting prizes, winners agree that Marie Rayma/ HumblebeeandMe.com may use the winner’s name, likeness, photograph and/or biographical information, without limitation, for contest purposes without further consideration or payment, where permitted by law (basically, I just want to be able to brag about giving away this awesome prize!).
- Except where prohibited, by participating Entrants agree that: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant(s) and Sponsor and its agents shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to the Contest, or awarding of the prizes, shall be filed only in the courts located in the Province of Alberta and Entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Except where prohibited, by participating in this Contest, Entrant agrees that:
- any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or awarding of the prizes, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and
- any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in the Contest but in no event attorneys’ fees; and
- under no circumstances will any participant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
- I (Marie Rayma) reserve the right to update and change these rules as I see fit throughout the duration of the contest
ooooOOOOoooo – I love your website! You have about as many interests as I do! I love what your website is about.
Thanks! Having lots of hobbies is awesome—if not a wee bit expensive/time consuming 😉
Oh, man! I know what you mean 😉 I need a job just to fund my DIY hobby!
Yup! I’m pretty sure that’s at least 30% of the reason I work 😛 Another 30% for travel and the remaining 40% for fulfillment and all that jazz 😛
first time to your site…it is neat! trying to get away from preservatives and chemicals in all that we put into and onto our bodies…as busy as we are it can be a challenge! thanks for the info…would love to win your gift bag!!!
Thanks for reading, Sarah! Enjoy your journey into natural products, it’s a super fun one 🙂 And good luck in the giveaway!
It is so refresshing to see a web site such as yours. It brings things back to simpler times. I would love to win your gift bag of goodies. I am a new subscriber to your website, and am looking forward to all of the great articles.
Thank You,
Jo-Ann
Thanks Jo-Ann! I love daydreaming about older, simpler times 🙂 I hope someday I’ll be able to make everything I need in day to day life! Enjoy my blogs, I’ve got lots coming 🙂
I think being self-sufficient is a great goal; however I believe it is only truly possible as part of a community.
We will all age and or become sick and need others to maintain the choices we have made in how we live.
So very true! I have come to accept I will probably never be able to weld, nor be a brilliant carpenter, so I can only hope to have enough valuable skills to be a part of a local economy 🙂
How exciting! I always love reading about your adventures in diy (and cooking–gotta love the cooking!). Thanks for an awesome giveaway, but an even awesomer blog!
You’re very welcome! Thanks for reading 🙂
How exciting, not just for us but for you, too!
😀
I subscribe to your blog … and thanks for the fun giveaway! I would love to win this; my hair needs some healing!
Good luck 🙂 Thanks for subscribing!
Oh man, I hope you’re joking about the math question! D:
Sadly, I’m not—it’s a legal requirement here in Canada to keep a contest from being an illegal lottery. That said, the difficulty of the question is up to me 🙂
Love your blog! Look forward to your DIY beauty and healing recipes…. and cuisine. I would ♥ to win your wonderful hair products!!! Thank you for a great giveaway!
Thanks for reading, Frani! I really appreciate it 🙂
Really enjoy your site. Thanks for sharing what you do with others!
Thanks! I have so much fun sharing 🙂
Ok I really love everything you have here and would love to try them on my hair!!!!
Good luck! And thanks for reading 🙂
The last prize I won was at the library when I was 6 for a reading contest. Everyone was getting prizes but me, and I was pretty worried until I found out I was the top winner/reader and won a super-awesome clear phone that lit up and showed its innards. I was the envy of all my friends (and my older, phoneless brothers). I suppose 22 years later I’m due for another win, but I won’t get my hopes up 😉 I never even win on Roll Up the Rim! haha. Thanks for hosting it either way!
Ha! I rarely win things, and then when I do win it comes in bursts, about once a decade 😛 Good luck!
I am always happy to see your emails in my inbox. Everything you post looks so interesting, yummy, and/or something I NEED! Sure would be wonderful to win.
Thanks for reading! And good luck!
Well Marie, I already subscribe to your awesome blog, so I can’t do that, but I can leave comments on your posts, which I do pretty regularly! Ha, how fun is this going to be!!! Good idea! Ok, really, do we have to answer a mathematical question? I felt my stomach flip-flop at the thought !
Anna
Thanks for reading, Anna! I really appreciate it 🙂 The math question thing is a legal requirement here in Canada so my giveaway isn’t an illegal lottery. The difficulty of the question is totally up to me, though 🙂
You have such wonderful blog. Look forward to reading it. Such a great giveaway. Great ideas for a giveaway. Thanks!
Thanks for reading, Salome! I really appreciate it 🙂
Super duper giveaway! Pretty sure I’ve commented at least once 😛
I’ll pin this, should get you some more entries 🙂
Thanks, Ruth! You’re the best!
I just found your amazing blog and I cannot wait to try some of these “recipes”….I would love to win the giveaway of course 🙂 How awesome is this!!!
Thanks for reading, Nichole! And good luck 🙂
Your soap recipes are wonderful. I slightly modified one to use with goats milk that is curing right now. I love your attitude and views on various subjects. Way cool… for a young’un. 😉
Awesome! Which recipe did you modify? I absolutely must make some goats milk soap sometime soon… I love it! And I’m thrilled to meet your definition of cool, even if it is for a young’un… at least my age isn’t my fault 😛
The Lemongrass, Ginger, Coconut Milk and Oolong soap recipe (I liked the proportions you use). I have 12 oz bags of coconut, hemp and goats milk in the freezer, but decided on trying the goats milk. (I was not sure when I was going to make the goats milk so bought canned organic, then decided to go ahead and freeze it for future use.) I did not have jug-o-avocado oil on hand and substituted shea butter. I changed the percentages to- 35% olive oil, 30% beef tallow, 25% coconut oil, 5% castor oil and 5% shea butter, running it through SoapCalc with 5% superfat and 33% for the liquid. I use fluid ounces for the liquids, the calculator gave me 12.804 ounces. I put the .804 of an ounce of water with the goats milk chunk, then slowly mixed the lye in small amounts into the milk, which melts the frozen milk but does not burn it. I, uh… did not notice until I was mixing the milk/lye mixture into the oils that it was rather thick. It seems the canned milk I bought was *evaporated*! laughing… It still worked out fine. I did not add ground oats or honey. I wanted to see how it came out first. Even with it being concentrated milk, the soap is quite lovely. I do not add EOs. If I do, I wait until I cut the soap, letting it cure for a week, then add a few drops to each bar. It slowly soaks through the whole bar and the lye does not “eat” the benefits of the EO. (A friend has always done this and passed on her little tip.) If you want anymore of my manglings of your recipes, I will pass them on. 😉
Your soap sounds beautiful! Wow! Wish I could try a bar 😉 And I cannot tell you how much I love the idea of adding the EOs after saponification!!! I have been dying to have a bar of fir balsam scented soap ever since I got my first bottle, but was heartbroken when the batch I made smelled of pretty much nothing by the time it had finished aging. Brilliant! I think this just might be the ticket. I expect you will see a recipe or two using this method sometime soon (with a note mentioning your awesomeness, of course) 😉
I really must try making soap with proper liquid milk… I’ve always used dehydrated as it is just so easy! I’m curious all the same, though. Up next on my list is beer soap! Hehe. I have a big jug of beer going flat in my laboratory as we speak 🙂
The EO trick is from one of my best friends, Stephenie Gaustad. She is also a master spinner, weaver and dyer, a well-known author and teacher on those subjects too. She taught me how to can (food stuff). I am south-west-ish of you in northern Idaho. I send my salves, lotions and soaps down to Steph and my daughter. When this batch is done curing I will send you a couple of bars to see how to improve. 🙂 They are half-circles cut in half because they were still too big to be comfortable in my hand. No fancy bevels or anything. Just boring, weird-shaped soaps. There are photos on my “blahhhg” (not half as fancy as yours), along with recipes for a couple of my salves, pit cream (works even if out all day digging in the dirt without a nasty whiff of “pencil shavings” though one still sweats) and my cracker recipes and… I am jsut a boring middle-aged-ed woman. 😉 I have not posted my lotion recipe yet, still putting it through all my persoanl tests of worthiness. I also bead, knit, spin, garden… I detest being greasy-slimy and you cannot do those crafts if your hands are gooey, but the lotion still has to moisturize well. I won’t post a recipe until my pickiness is satisfied. Feel free to “take” whatever recipes you want and improve upon them or make them your own. I am easy. 🙂
Stephenie sounds like an amazing friend and resource to have! I’m jealous—I’m pretty alone up here with my DIY projects, I haven’t managed to meet many people that like to make their own soaps and other such things (though I keep hearing about them! Like urban legends lol.) I checked out your blog and the soaps look beautiful! As much as I love a nice, square-edged bar, I really love the more handmade, odd shaped bars 🙂 The bars that just say “I was made by hand by somebody who was having lots of fun!”. I definitely have some of those aging in my basement as well 🙂 For non-greasy lotions I’d definitely recommend trying out some emulsifying wax, as it allows you to make a lotion that is 75% water/25% oils, rather than the 50/50 ratio that a more standard emulsion requires. I’ve found lotions using e-wax to absorb super quickly and to just be lovely overall 🙂 Give it a go!
And I checked out your pit cream and your owies salve! The pit cream looks like it has a lot in common with mine—and why shouldn’t it? Baking soda is an amazing natural deodorizer! Your owies salve has continued to encourage me to order more herbs 🙂 Can’t wait for them to arrive—more toys! WHeee!
I think I found the trick for a good lotion that is not slimy- aloe vera gel or juice for the liquid and the oils are one of or a blend of: grapeseed, apricot kernel and jojoba oils. Those absorb quickly without leaving me feeling like I have been slimed, yet the lotion does the job. I may try e-wax sometime. I usually use a little local beeswax, though. I also use Rosemary Gladstar’s bit she learned from a student: mix the water into the oil(s) and both should be of similar temperatures of warm but not hot. I do this in my blender, whipping until it thickens before jarring. It is rare for my lotions to separate… or I must use them up before they get the chance? For the butter oil, shea tends to absorb better than cocoa butter. 3/4 shea to 1/4 cocoa butter works okay too.
For a real treat? Wet your face and smear honey all over it. Leave on for 1/2 an hour and wash off (without licking all you can off around your mouth…). Clears boo-boos, moisturizes and other good things. Excellent for surgery wounds once they are properly closed. Honey keeps almost forever, too. Best of all- it supports local beekeepers who are trying to save our bee populations from extinction.
Agreed! I’ve got an entire collection of quick-absorbing oils like grapeseed and camellia seed oil just for making lotions with 🙂 I love using aloe vera juice, but I can’t say I’ve ever noticed it makes lotion absorb faster. The similar temperatures are definitely a must for emulsions—soaps, lotions, whatever, and I’m the same—my beeswax lotions have never separated, either, as long as I’ve used a blender. I can remember a few lotions where I tried to use a whisk and it separated a few days later. Sad 🙁 Anyhow, you should definitely try e-wax as it makes a totally different type of lotion—absorbs like a dream, no matter what. It’s awesome!
Your honey facial is on my to-do list for this weekend!
If you have a dog or cat… they will love the honey facial, too. They will want to give you kisses, even if you do not want them. It is amazing how persistant a 7 lb dog can be when she wants to taste, er, lick-kiss, your face. (laughing…)
Ha! Meet Tobyn, if you think a 7lb dog can be problematic I’m a bit scared to see how an 80lb dog is! His hair will definitely get stuck in my face mask, lol.
im so happy I have found you! im studdying nutritional medicine and Im loving all your little tips on living a healthy life and also keeping the enviroment happy. I hope I win this as I have to wash my hair every day. I was using the spray dry hair shampoo but gave up on it due to the feeling of it in my hair. Bring on the awesome posts!!! I love it. Thank you so much for sharing1
Thanks for reading—and good luck!
is it international???
Read the rules for all the details, but in general, anyone can enter 🙂
Awesome! A hair giveaway! Marie, you are the best. Oh, I have a friend who just started a blog and was curious if there was any advice, tips, never’s you could pass along. Thanks for being such an awesome, inspiring individual. 🙂
Thanks for reading, Heather! Good luck 🙂 As for blogging—make sure you’re constantly posting good content. Make a schedule, and keep to it. Share lots of great, relevant stuff. Add personal touches. Include great photos. Be unique. And then just… wait. It’ll happen if you’re filling a niche and doing it well!
I Follow you from Italy.. You and your products are wonderful!! happiness
Thanks, Caterina! I really appreciate it 🙂
I just found you through three mango seeds blog- You have an awesome site. I am now subscribed with email
Thanks for reading, and good luck!
I am very interested to learn more about this site and entering the hair gift give-away! I am interested in the argan oil but, it took me to the Canadian store, the American store, I couldn’t find the argan oil. I too have tried Jose Maron’s famous argan oil….but it’s too pricey for me. I hope to learn more from your site! Thank you for it!
Here’s the link to the American NDA Argan oil page 🙂 Enjoy it!
Thank you so much Marie for the link for the Argan oil! I wish you luck in the hair gift give-away! ( although I would like to win, I just pray it goes to the person most appreciative of it) 🙂 I l-o-v-e this site!!! My Mama used to do things “the old fashioned way”….I like the idea it’s never left!
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Pamela, I really appreciate it! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
This giveaway looks so awesome, esp the comb that looks amazing. I love getting your newsletters 🙂 Thanks for offering the giveaway 🙂
Thanks, Jen! I’ve had one of those combs for over a year and it’s the only wooden comb I haven’t snapped in half yet, so I can vouch for its awesomeness 🙂 Thanks for reading & good luck!
Awesome, oh how many combs I have gone through lol. My hubby has long hair too so they are getting double duty lol.
Ha! Combs these days just don’t seem to be up to the task 😉
Wonderful idea! Thank you for being so thoughtful!!!
Thanks for reading and good luck!
I only just discovered your blog and am enjoying going through some of your older posts. Thank you for sharing this all with us! 🙂
Thanks for reading, Robyn! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Fabulous contest idea. I stumbled across your site last night somehow, and I’m absolutely loving it. I am a similar DIYer, but I also do sell my products. I fell in love when I saw you mention NDA which has quickly become my favorite place to buy ingredients, and is almost the sole place I buy things now.
I just recently started the obsession of soap making so I’m very much enjoying reading all your adventures in soaping. I’m making shampoo bars this week. I’d be making them right now if it weren’t pouring down rain outside. Anyway, I just love your blog and I’m excited to read more!
Thanks for stopping by and reading! I’m so thrilled you found me, it’s always great to “meet” other DIY-ers online as there aren’t many in my day-to-day life here. Gotta love NDA for their awesome selection, quality, and prices—they enable me to be the DIY addict that I am 😛 Enjoy your shampoo bars—I love making all my hair care/cleaning products! It’s super rewarding and really fun to play with 🙂 Let me know how they turn out!
This is such a fun giveaway! And since you are giving products with reusable tins/bottles/jars and offering us your amazing recipes all the time, its the gift that will keep giving!
Do you have an option on your blog to look at the archive, or do I just need read backwards? Often when I find a blog I love, I like to look back at the earliest entry and read forward, to see the progression.
Thanks for reading, Stephanie! I’ve just added an “Archive” drop down in the left hand column, just for you 🙂 It’s just below the “Recent Posts” section and will let you start way back in September 2011!
I’ve made some of your recipes which were so appreciated this long canadian winter!!! My face thanks you 🙂
I’m so glad to hear it! Whereabouts in Canada are you? I’m out in Calgary, where it was 28° yesterday and it snowed last week 😛
A friend sent me a link to your site and I’m interested I trying out some of your recipes! Do you know a good substitute for cocoa butter by any chance? My other half is deathly allergic to all things cocoa!
Thanks!
That’s rather tragic! Cocoa butter is pretty unique in its texture—it’s the only butter I’ve found that is brittle at room temperature (as opposed to soft, like shea butter or coconut oil). I’d recommend faking it by combining liquid oil and beeswax; try 2 parts oil to 1 part wax (by weight) and see how brittle it is. If it’s more or less as hard/brittle as a bar of room temperature dark chocolate, you’re golden! If not, adjust and make notes 🙂
Marie I am your stalker LOL! I seriously stalk your blog almost EVERY DAY to see if you’ve made something new 🙂 You’re awesome for doing a blog give-away! I too, don’t sell my products, don’t own a blog so maybe you can do a give-away for me 🙂 I’ve collected so much already!
Hehehe 😛 I’m glad my efforts aren’t going un-noticed 😉 And I know what you mean about having a massive collection when you don’t sell things! You should see my soap collection… oh dear lol. It’s huge!
Yay, I am yet another blog stalker *shifty eyes* Seriously though, I love reading the neat things you have on here. It adds an additional spark to my already overwhelming active mind seeking activities (seriously, I could fill an encyclopedia with ideas alone)
KEEP UP the awesome ideas, and I’m crossing my fingers, I’d love to try some of your concoctions.
(And note to all, coffee works great before trying to type fast XD)
OOoh, look at me… so popular lol 😛 Maybe I should start taking alternate routes to work? Haha. It sounds like we have lots in common, I’m always jotting down notes in my phone and taking photos of things I see in shops that I want to re-create—so many possibilities and ideas out there! Now I just need a never-ending supply of ingredients 😉
I find tea and the glee of a new batch of soap is also super awesome when typing at mach 9 😛
After years of looking at alternatives to shop purchased shampoos and conditioners, I have finally decided to make the change and try a natural option. Yesterday I started to use your Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar remedies instead. For the first time in ages, I have not been scratching my head all day.
Now I’m keen to have a go at some of your other recipes. Especially some of the face moisturisers, I’ll let you know how I fare.
Bye for now
Pam
I’m thrilled you’ve decided to go natural with your hair care, Pamela! You won’t regret it 🙂 I’d definitely recommend my favourite argan oil facial serum for your face, it’s an absolute staple for me, I’ll never be without it!
just discovered your site,will enjoy reading all your posts !!
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Linda! I really appreciate it 🙂 If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to comment and ask, I’d love to help (or try to, at least, haha).
I really love your blog, your recipes are awsome and so usefull for me thank you so much for that info, i’ve already suscribe by e mail and im exited to keep up with your updates, sorry for my english im uruguayan Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Daniela! I love having readers from all over the world 🙂
LOVE your blog!!!! Thanks for the awsome giveaway!!
Thanks Debbie! And thanks for reading 🙂 I really appreciate it!
My sister in law had this on FB and this is the perfect website I have been looking for. Ordered some other oils, etc. from other companies but from what I have been seeing this is the exactly what I have been looking for. Looking forward to checking more of the website and place some orders for the oils I need. Thanks Terri for sharing.
I LOVE love love NDA! They have super awesome service and prices can’t be beat. When NDA doesn’t have what I need, I order from saffireblue.ca or voyageursoapandcandle.com — I am so happy with these suppliers!
I’ve heard of Voyageur, but never Saffire Blue! I just spent ages trawling their website and I will definitely be placing an order for some dried herbs and tins I can’t get from NDA! Thanks so much, finding a new Canadian supplier is super exciting (especially when they carry things I’ve been wanting to play with for ages!). WOOO!
Awesome! I’m so glad you found me, Patti! Enjoy all your new-found ingredients, there are few things more exciting than getting new goodies to play with 🙂
new to your site, just getting to check it out, looks great
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Laureen! I really appreciate it 🙂
I just found your website today and instantly subscribed. I use to make a lot of my own beauty products, especially soaps and then went off on a tangent and opened a coffee shop. Now I am too busy for a lot of the things I love to do at home but someday I will be able to return to them!
Hi Lynn Marie! Thanks for reading and subscribing 🙂 I definitely know what you mean about having so many hobbies/interests/commitments that you don’t have enough time for everything—am I too young to be looking forward to retirement? Ha!
What an awesome website. Can’t wait to try some of try some of your recipes.
Thanks for reading! I really appreciate it 🙂
Lots of great information!! And the healthy hair giveaway looks like a great start to try the natural products! I make some of my own supplies and recently was looking at the dry shampoo – My teen daughter likes to use dry shampoo when she is running late in the morning!
Dry shampoo is an amazing thing to have in your DIY beauty cupboard 🙂 It’s awesome for stretching out your washes and those mornings when you’d rather sleep in 😛
This is wonderful , I love your page and tried some of your recipes already. It’s nice to win something when u got 3 kids to provide for and they come first . MOney is tight but my kids are my life and my husband. Keep them coming and Have a Blessed Day! Stacy
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Stacy, I really appreciate it! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I am becoming very interested in the products you create!!!
Thanks for stopping by & reading, Hannan, I really appreciate it!
My daughter referred me to your website. So glad she did. Anxious to see what you do with the hairpins.
I’m thrilled to hear it, Karen! I just need to find someone to take pictures of me doing my hair with hair pins… haven’t figured how to get good shots of the back of my head while my hands are busy lol.
Thank you for the hair care giveaway!
Thanks for reading! And good luck 🙂
TY for all the information. I can definitely use it 🙂
You’re very welcome! Thanks for reading 🙂
I just found your blog by accident, I’m so happy I did! Everything I’ve looked at so far looks so interesting. I have subscribed to your blog. So far the only thing that I have made is lip balm, a recipie also from searching the web. It turned out quite nice…I can’t wait to try making some of your recipies, especially now that I’ve ordered Shea butter, Cocoa butter, Jojoba oil, and 10 small containers to put lip balm in…I just recieved my shipment on May 8…I ordered it from New Direction Aromatics, now i can’t wait to use all my goodies! Your contest is awesome too…I would love to try some of the products you have made.
I’m so thrilled that you stumbled across my blog, Lori! Enjoy all your new goodies—I just placed an order as well and I can’t wait to play with all my new toys!
So glad I found this blog. I always thought making things on your own would be time consuming, hard and expensive but now I know different! Always wanted to go more toward all natural and now is a good time to start. My daughter comes home from college this weekend and I am gonna send her back with some nice goodies!!
I’m so glad you found my blog, Debra! Thanks for reading 🙂 I’m so thrilled you’re planning on trying some DIY projects for yourself—I want nothing more than to inspire people to try and make things for themselves (I’m sure your daughter will appreciate it as well 😉 )!
I love your blog! I have always wanted to make my own products. Thank you for sharing all that you learn in your hobbies. Looking forward to more recipes!
Thanks for reading, Deanna! Have fun on all your DIY adventures 🙂
I would love to try natural hair care. Im a new follower.
Thanks for following, Gail! And good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I have studied your blog in the past, but only subscribed now, after studying your so luxurious dry shampoo recipe : ). I must say, your articles have inspired me greatly, I have made many products for myself already, the latest one being the natural foundation (I changed the recipe a bit though, added some powder bamboo extract for a plus o silkiness). Reading about natural living and cosmetic care is my absolute favourite internet hobby, my relaxation.
I wish you all the luck in everything you do!
It sounds like we have lots in common, Maria—I love scouring the internet for information and new ideas on natural everything! And I just went and added some bamboo extract to my shopping cart for my next order, I can’t wait to try it—thanks for the tip 🙂 How’s your foundation working out?
I was looking at my emails and it was Herbs and oils and I noticed it said how to make your own dry shampoo so I opened it and im telling you I couldn’t stop reading everything, it all is so interesting and being all natural is very important to me, and doing it myself, wow, how impressive! My skin is very sensitive and im concerned about the lye but I will google it and see if there might be an alternative. 🙂 The makeup is probably going to be the first things I try and the coconut lip balm. Thank you for sharing all your idea’s. lol you should keep a journal by your bed so you can make notes and not lose your idea’s. 🙂 Thanks again, Teresa
I’m so thrilled you found me, Teresa—cheers to Herbs & Oils World, they send me all kinds of awesome people like you 🙂 Now, there is no substitute for lye when making soap, but sensitive skin is NOT an issue here because ALL of the lye is totally used up when you make the soap, so in the end you don’t have fat and lye anymore, you have soap! So, no issue at all. Any bar of proper soap you’ve used in the past will have been made with lye as well, so past experience should show you that it’s not a problem.
Definitely try your own make-up! I love making all my own cosmetics! I have a GREAT new recipe coming out this Friday that I am super excited for, so stay tuned 😀
I have a “note” in my iPhone of ideas that I am constantly updating… there must be 200+ items in that note now! 🙂 Thanks for reading, see you soon!
Wow! I would Love some of your Deluxe Dry Shampoo! I have such oily hair that I could never skip a day or it looks like a week! I love using natural products instead of harsh chemicals as I’m too sensative but would Love to order some if I don’t win? Thanks for all your creations!!
Good luck in the giveaway, Charmaine! I don’t currently sell any of my concoctions, but this one is super easy to make, so I’d really encourage you to make some for yourself if you don’t win 🙂
Love that your DIY projects don’t contain a ton of ingredients!
Thanks, Lynette! I’ve definitely devised some that have oodles of ingredients, but I find all my most successful recipes are the ones where I keep it nice and simple 🙂 Thanks for reading!
hi I love your web side………..I want to ask if your products are gluten and wheat free? keep it up and good luck
I generally do not include wheat products in my body products as ingredients, but if you are very sensitive to wheat/gluten, I wouldn’t recommend using anything from my kitchen as I make everything in the same place I cook and bake, and there is likely to be some cross-contamination.
Your site is great! I have very long, naturally curly hair. I am constantly looking for the best hair products and would love to win yours!!!
Oooh, your hair sounds just beautiful 🙂 I wish I had curls!
Your products and recipes look amazing. I am so excited I found your site!
Thanks for reading, Rena, I really appreciate it 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
I love your blog and i have subscribed 🙂
Thanks, Milky! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Love you blog so much!….Great ideas and wonderful things…I subscribed also so I can get up to date information going on don’t want to miss anything…I am new at these things but it is awesome and hope I win in need of so much pampering for sure….My hair is so frizzy and this balm will tame it down…..We need to get back to simple no preservatives and additives in our products and I give you thumbs up with your products!……:)
This is a great blog and the products look wonderful! Can’t wait to try them.
Thanks for reading, Deena! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
Thanks for reading, Brenda 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
What a gem of a site you have, I was just surfing looking for a dry shampoo recipe and stumbled on to your site (as you do 😉 ….loving the recipes, articles and especially how you write. well done, this is a keeper for sure, bookmarking it now!.
I’m so glad you found my site, Cassandra 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway! And let me know how your dry shampoo goes 🙂
Just found your site and I am looking forward to browsing your articles and an opportunity to win your healthy hair giveaway.
Thanks for reading & good luck in the giveaway!
What a generous thing of you to do! This giveaway sounds absolutely amazing!! so glad I stumbled onto your website (gotta love pinterest)! Already have many of your DIY projects and recipes lined up to try and look forward to continue reading your posts! thank you!
Thanks for reading, Crombie 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
I absolutely love your website, and was thrilled to see that you are hosting a give a way. Such a nice thing for you to do. I look forward to Sundays and Mondays to see what you’ve been up too.
Keep up the great site.
Thanks for reading, Mel! Don’t forget to check back on Fridays and Saturdays, I post those days, too 😉
I recently found your website and love it. I have Celiac Disease and am gluten free and love making my own products so I can be sure they’re safe. I’m always looking for new ideas and spins on things since I don’t have the patience to be so creative. 🙂
Thanks for reading, Lisa! I’m glad to help you be healthy & gluten free in any way I can 🙂
I’ve only just found your blog today (via something someone had pinned on Pinterest) and can’t wait to start going through the archives for fun, natural summer beauty things. Good luck to everyone (but I hope I win!)!
Thanks for reading, Valerie—gotta love Pinterest, eh? Good luck in the giveaway 😉
I enjoy your emails, so informative. I will probably never do a fraction of a fraction of what you send out but still find them interesting.
I think a friend shared one of your Facebook post and that got me hooked.
Thanks so much for doing the work for us, even if we never do use it.
Thanks for reading, Di! And I’m super thrilled to hear that a friend of yours liked something of mine enough to share it on Facebook—that just gives me warm fuzzies 🙂 And it’s never too late to get into DIY projects 😉
I just found this blog, and am so in love!! These are some of the interests I have been investigating lately, and there seems to be a wealth of info on here…now to manage my time wisely (a balance between reading your blog, and creating my own goodies!). And I got on here in time to sign up for a wonderful giveaway…the planets are all aligning!!
Thanks for reading, Darla! I’m thrilled to hear you’re joining me in DIY world 🙂 I find the more I make, the more things I am inspired to create… I need a DIY vacation every 2 months! Pity my work doesn’t agree 😛
I follow you via Blogger, so does that count?! You are listed as one of my faves on my blog, too! 🙂 I SO love your blog and your amazing recipes for everything! I can’t wait to try making my own shampoo bars!
Lyndsey—For it to “count” I have to be able to see you in my list on the back end, and that only shows me e-mail and WordPress subscribers, not RSS subscribers :/ Thanks for reading! Good luck with your shampoo bars and with the giveaway!
I have so enjoyed your blog and am deep into making many of your recipes. I feel so much better about using natural products on my body and in my home. It has also given me a great new hobby. Keep up the good work and I’ll be following you. :o)
Thanks for reading, Sharron—I really appreciate it 🙂 I’m totally with you on the natural being better thing, of course 😉 I love that I can get excited about cleaning my tub when I come up with a new recipe 😛
Hi Marie,
Just found your site through Dragonfly beauty’s blog. Glad I did.
I have subscribed and commented on your DIY red lipstick !
I look forward to reading new posts and perusing some of the older ones.
I could really use some healthy hair products as my hair is rather damaged. I am all into natural so this would be fantastic. Home made is always special because of the love put into it.
In grateful appreciation for all you do and are.
Blessings.
Liliane
P.S. My younger sister is named Marie !
Fantastic! I’m so glad you found me 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway, and say hi to your Marie for me 😉
I just found your site through pinterest and saw this great giveaway. I have been making balms, and lip balms for a few years but never ventured to make soaps. Sounds a bit too complicated but I wish to try as I LOVE soaps of any kind. I like that you are a fellow Canadian, that makes for similar shopping experiences and share local knowledge.
Take care.
Why hello, fellow Canuck! Where abouts in Canada are you? I’m sure you noticed I’m in Calgary, where chinooks make everything better and the Stampede is an excuse to dress in plaid and denim all year round 😉 I would really encourage you to get into soap making, it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds—just don’t drink the lye water 😛
just came across your site while stumbling along reading natural DIY projects and I think you are awesome for sharing all of this and now a contest, too?!
Love you!!
Rebecca
Thanks for reading, Rebecca! Good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I love your hair balm recipe, I modified it to the items I have in stock and it works amazingly. I’ve found that it works great for skin as well like dry cuticles and such.
Glad to hear it, Mariah! The funny thing about most of my recipes is that they can all be used almost anywhere on the body (except for maybe the face), but I find it sure helps to suggest a specific use for something, both for the readers and to help me choose ingredients.
I am so excited to find you! I am 56 and finding it so hard to figure out how to look after my hair, and skin as I am aging. I have ordered the Argan oil and carrot seed oil for my maturing skin. and I’m entering your contest for your fabulous gift! my final YAY is that you are in Calgary! It’s wonderful to find you! looking forward to your blogs!
God bless!
Another Calgarian? Fantastic! When I first started running websites back in 2002 the Internet was so much smaller (comparatively) that I rarely ran into another Canadian, let alone a Calgarian. How exciting! Enjoy your argan oil and carrot seed oil, it’s great stuff 🙂 My mom is around your age and she love it as well. Thanks for reading!
What a fabulous gift giveaway! I just discovered your blog via a friend’s facebook comment. I don’t subscribe to anything (seriously, I hate keeping up with email) but I love every single one of your posts and all of your hair and skin potions sound awesome. I think the first one I’ll try will be one of the lip balms. Then I’ll try some of your hair recipes because my hair is so damaged and I’m trying to grow it long. I have lots of grey that I’m not ready for yet so the colouring is pretty harsh. Thanks for such a beautiful blog with stories and tips and recipes. What a magical place!
Thanks for reading, Cee! I’m glad I am worthy of your inbox 🙂 Stay tuned for more hair recipes, I just developed a fantastic smoothing hair rinse that I am totally in love with!
Super jazzed that I came across your site too. I love DIY and natural products. =0)
Thanks for reading! And good luck in the giveaway 🙂
I really want to try to make the shampoo bars molassas shampoo bar. I am nervous becuase it will be my first try with making soap.
I really wouldn’t recommend that recipe as your first soap/shampoo attempt as the molasses can be tricky to work with and can ruin the batch in an instant if you aren’t careful. I’d recommend starting with my All-in-One recipe, using water as a base. It’s a great recipe to start with as it traces quickly (you won’t need an immersion blender), and I’ve never managed to mess it up! Just make sure you have all your ingredients ready & measured out when you start, work slowly and methodically, and wear protective gloves and eye wear. Have fun!
Hi. I just subscribed 2 this AWESOME page!! Greetings from Pakistan. Just wondering, do u hv a facebook page?
Nope, sorry—I can barely keep up with Twitter & Instagram, let alone Facebook 😛
Love your site !!! I just discovered it and I am hooked !! So many great ideas !!! Look forward to seeing more ❤ Thanks so very very much for sharing !!!
Thanks for reading, Brynn! 😀
I can’t believe I only found your site tonight! I’ve been slowly getting into what my sister calls “a crunchy granola hippy thang” – so far I’ve only been making homemade cleaning products. I’ll admit to being very intimidated by making homemade body products. Your entries are easy to follow and make it seem so simple – I can’t wait to try some of your diy recipes!
Why hello there, fellow crunchy granola hippy 😉 Homemade body products are really easy to make, especially if you start with things that are in the “measure, melt, and pour” category, like lip balm or body butter. From there you’ll be hooked, I promise!
I just stumbled on your blog a short while ago and have been very much enjoying your posts. I’d LOVE to win this healthy hair giveaway!!!!!
Thanks for reading, Robyn!
This is amazing! I can’t find a dry shampoo to match my hair. I usually use baby powder but I know that isn’t very good for me. Do you sell these things?? So glad I subscribed. I usually check in every now and then. I was referred from another site. You are so elegant! I see your posts and makes me think about having tea parties growing up. It just makes me happy!:)
Hey Rowan! I don’t sell any of my stuff, I just don’t have the time. That’s why I share the recipes instead 😀 I’d definitely recommend switching away from talc to something like clay or even just baking soda & cornstarch mixed with a bit of cocoa powder for colour (assuming your hair is brown, that is). Thanks for reading!
Absolutely adore this site! So many great homemade natural products that are free of chemicals and hormone disrupting ingredients. I would LOVE to try your natural hair products and since I have a natural health blog it would be very cool to do a feature on your natural hair care recipes. I have made a few different homemade shampoos but haven’t quite found anything that works for me yet. I think its amazing that you’ve created shampoo BARS – so creative and something I have not seen before. I hope I win so I get to try some of your amazing products and promote you!
Thanks for reading, Alesha! And I appreciate the credit for inventing shampoo bars, even if it is misplaced 😉 I have no idea who invented them (maybe Lush, sounds like something they might do), but I can remember seeing the Rocky Mountain Soap Company selling them as far back as 1998 or ’99.
What’s the URL for your beauty blog? You didn’t include it and I’d love to check it out!
I just found your site! Wow I love to make soap and can’t wit to try the Fathers Day soap ideas or the Beer Soap! Loving everything I am seeing so far!
Thanks for reading, Jenni!
love all your postings – 8 kids so not much time for me
Thanks for reading, Amy!
Got to check out all of you products ,love your site !!!!
Do you make the wooden combs ? Good luck to everyone in the hair care contest !!!! Peace ,Brynn
Sadly I don’t make the wooden combs, they’re from The Body Shop. It’s on the list, though!
I appreciate everything about your site. Your well thought out recipes have become favorites on my list of things to try. Thank you for all the love and time that you share here!
Thanks for reading, Lesli! Feel free to reach out with any questions you might have 🙂 I’d love to help if I can!
Awesome! I LOVE your blog, and want to try making everything!
I can promise you will have a fantastic cupboard of ingredients if you do 😉 My assorted cupboards are borderline ridiculous 😛
I love the idea of the vitamin C toner! I don’t quite have everything to make it, but when I do, I can’t wait!!
Let me know how it works for you, Jamie, I always love getting feedback and hearing about results 🙂
Gosh…you’ve got wonderful goodies to give away!! My son is very much into healty eating and he also uses ONLY natural stuff on his body….shampoo, soap…and and..and! He likes using essential oils when he has to help us fight a cold, headaches…stress, you name it!! So, I am also changing to natural products. Facial cream, body wash, hand lotions…and now I am waiting for you to tell me I am the winner of this devine price (I’m still using shampoo full of chemicals (outch)! Oh yes…and I did mention it’s my birthday next week…15th!! Haha…goodness..I am not forward, am I!! Marié
PS – How can I upload a profile picture to your site?
It sounds like your son has the right idea 🙂 Sorry you didn’t end up winning, but now that means you can make your own shampoo! I bet your son would love to help 🙂 And happy almost birthday 😉
To get a profile photo you actually need to sign up with Gravatar—they will then associate a picture of your choice with your e-mail address wherever you use that e-mail, so you’ll have a profile photo on every blog!
so glade I found this Blog today thank you!!
Thanks for reading!
Marie,
You have a wonderful blog with so many great ideas!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Karen
Thanks! And thanks for reading 😀
I love your blog. Thank you so much.:)
Thanks for reading! 😀