That time I went to: The Soap Barn

I love Yankee Candles. The votive ones, jarred and even the Car Smart Scent Vent Clips. That got me thinking of some small scale candle making. So as we do, I Googled for raw products and Soap Barn popped up.

At first I was confused because I felt like this was some secret place that was kept from the world then I got angry when I found that this place was right under my nose! You literally pass it on the N3 Highway at Linksfield. I browsed the heck out of that website to make sure I'll get all the items. Since I found them I go in at least every six months.

The store looks basic but it is truly the Aladdin’s Cave for DIYers and hobbyists. You can buy single portions to bulk of raw items like fragrance, bicarb, Epsom Salt, clays, waxes to finished products like shampoo, bath bombs, lotion and soap. Even packaging and storage for finished items. This “basic” store can be genuinely overwhelming as the product possibilities are endless so I do suggest going on the website and browsing the recipes if you are not sure.

I have had multiple hauls from the store but here are a few repeat buys:

African Black Soap Pet shampoo:

What disturbed me about mainstream dog shampoo is that I had to wash my pets with soap that I have to wear gloves for. How is that safe? This bubbles up nice and rinses out with ease.

The African Black Soap range also has hand wash, shower 'gel' and shampoo, as wel as a solid soap for our not-so-millenials. I have bought a normal pet shampoo in between the black soap, but it dried out my pets' skin. I love this stuff. Add to cart 4 eva!

Pro Hack: I also add Tea Tree oil and in Mosquito time, Lemon Balm or Citronella, then re-poured it into their reusable pump bottle for easy use. (Also wastes less because it dispenses measured amounts rather than an endless stream) I wash two Amstaffs (mid sized dogs) weekly for 3 to 4 months with 500ml.

Shea Butter:

Now I know Black Girl Magic is about the mystic, beauty and strength of black women. But I bet if we reverse engineered Black Girl Magic, that a segment of it would be Shea Butter. It absorbs well and leaves skin with a glow. This winter is rough on my skin because I've been outside in the dry air more often. Also my feet become so dry i can litterally peel skin off my heels. TMI. I started dipping straight into my tub of Shea. It's expensive for the bigger 500ml tub but it will last longer than you think. It's heavy so you don't need a lot. NOW teach me more of your magic beautiful Black girls!

Pro Hack: I bought wind up lip balm tubes, melted some Shea and poured it. I'd like to think it work like those hip new type balm make up removers. It melts the make up off. I needed to remove a heavy liquid lip and it worked like a bawse.

Zinc Oxide:

The struggle with sunscreens for me was real. A few years ago, like, 5, I got a few red dots on my hand when I was on vacation. I chalked it up to stress. You know the type when you go away to relax and come back to triple the work because “It's-not-my-job”. That next year (exactly), after two days at the coast MY WHOLE BODY was covered in this rash. I was allergic to sunscreen.💀💀💀

For the next few years I had the worst time finding sunscreen. Then I decided to check out natural/ organic sunscreens and the prices shot up. It is double the money for an already expensive product.

When I saw this it just went straight into my basket and look at that price though. . . 👍👍

Pro Hack: Instead of mixing up a weird batch of a mixture of Shea and Coconut oil, mix it in with their Gel, Lotion or Aqueous cream Bases.

Bicarbonate of Soda:

I use this for a few applications. Here is my carpet powder. I also use it as a exfoliater, to remove build up of products in my hair, to stretch out washing powder. I use at least 1 kg a month so it's super economical for me to buy bulk.

Pro Hack: For stinging burns make a paste of bicarb and water and apply it on the burn. A few years ago I had a bad burn (I think it was close 3^rd degree) and today I can't even tell that I was burned. (images too graphic to post)

Candle Supplies:

This was my first haul here. AAW! That is why the clay is here as well as the balm tubes.

I wanted to make candles to use/ give as presents. The upfront starting price was a large amount but I still got more candles out of that than if I had to use that money to buy candles. I also made a healthier candle because I used soy wax.

The thing that really caught me out was the large fragrance range. From Almond, marshmallow to Watermelon and ylang-ylang. I wanted it all.

Pro Hack: Here is a website that works out fragrance loads. You're welcome.

Facial Mask Items:

If I had to have a 'True Life: Addicted to . . .', it would be face masks. I try and apply a mask at least once a week. I definitly can see the improvement in my skin, Break outs are more controlled and my skin looks more even. For the same price of a month's worth of clay masks, you could buy a bag of clay (Bentonite/ Kaolin/ English China) and few Essential oils (Lavender/Tea Tree/ Rosemary) and have masks for days.

Pro Hack: You can trend it up with some activated charcoal and because you are mixing it up yourself, it's fully customize-able to your skin's needs.

Containers:

I love the variety of containers available for finished products. From 500ml spray bottle to 2ml atomizer (I bought a few so I could decant some perfume for on the go in my handbag)

Pro Hack: Their packaging is super reusable. I like whipping up things and storing them in the tubs I bought them in.

Final Thought:

I feel like this shop is selling items anyone could make a business out of. A bath and body range.(I'm imagining with the Spa fragrance of Avo and cucumber or Bamboo) Candles. (Marshmallows or something weird like banana) Skincare. (Just add water mud masks or SLS & Paraben free face wash) House hold products. (Thinning out the Black Soap, add essential oils and use as a natural dish soap) Even cosmetics and fragrances. There are a million creative possiblities.

É's tips:

• WARNING!!! As with any new hobby, start up is a bit expensive but after that, you just buy as you use
  
• If you are looking into making candles, body butters and potions that require you to melt products. I suggest to buy a small pot and stirrers for your hobby. I lost a good pot to candle wax. 😢
• If you decide to use fragrances, be sure to work in a well ventilated area or else you will need to stop because headaches get real.
• International company, Yankee Candle, started with a guy who made a candle for this mom and people saw it and wanted one too.
• Hoelson Sisters Facial oils started with experimentation of basic oils.
• Lush started as a small business that made everything in-house.
• The Body Shop was started by Anita Roddick as income for her and her children

The Soap Barn Website and Facebook

That place is my jam. Go there.

é

Fry's Family Meatless Monday

 

So hey, I'm not Vegan or Vegetarian. Not even close. I don't have a private chef that sorts it out and can't really afford those Beyoncé-like food delivery services. (Interested tho'? Fitchef has options) I don't have time to go to the store/ market to buy fresh daily. So basically my vegetarian options are salad and Mac'nCheese.

A while ago I was wondering around the frozen food section and saw a fridge top to bottom filled with green. Nuggets, pies, Burger patties, sausages and schnitzel. I bought the Golden Crumbed Schnitzel and I was amazed.

Now, I don't have a problem switching up food. I like cooking and eating unusual things. But I'm not going to be the only one eating it. I have a meat lover husband. I don't know if you know Portuguese cuisine but it's nothing for them to have pork, beef and poultry in the same casserole. Add rice, potatoes and bread and you have a meal.

My meat stash for the month

So I scouted Fry's Website for a month planning delicious things and thinking of how to get bae to participate. Should I sit him down, send an e-mail, Whatsapp an e-card, idk? Eventually end of the month grocery shopping comes up and we are standing in front of the fridge. I asked him “What do you think of meatless Monday?” We picked up a whole lot of Fry's.

Please Note: I have not been paid to say these things. I also bought the products with my own money. Here is how it went:

Monday 1:

First meal was Chicken Stylestrips. In a wrap. I was sick with the flu cough thing everyone seemed to be sick with. I thought it was going to be an issue. New food, I feel like a walker. I was already making backup plans for KFC. I followed the cooking instruction (I just used a damn hot frying pan instead of a wok). Chopped tomatoes and lettuce and served with sweet chilli sauce in a wrap.

[NO PHOTO BECAUSE I WAS A WALKER]

My Feelings: I would try this again but make it with pasta. I don't like that it's suggested to be served with sweet chilli sauce but it help us omnivores eat it the first time.

What did he say: “It was good.” But I could see it wasn't excellent. I like wraps like this, he likes KFC's crispy type chicken wraps.

I give it 6 leaves out of a 10 salad. I'll try it again before I judge it harsher. Cough flu had too much in-flu-ence. (Ba-dum-dum-tish)

Ad-doc Meal – Saturday Fauxlony Breakfast wrap:

I was intrigued by the Polony. I think anyone who grew up in South Africa, your life got touched by polony. (Baloney for other places) Either a friend's school lunch or after school sandwiches, picnics or fried up with breakfast.

I like Breakfast wraps. Mine is usually Mexicorn's Whole-wheat wrap, turkey or chicken loaf slices, scrambled egg and spinach or finely chopped Swiss chard. Delicious, full of protein and fibre. Instead of my normal sliced chicken/ turkey loaf, I sliced some faux-lony.

My feelings: I dunno, for me it was not that great. On the packed it said 'or lightly fried' so I put some coconut oil in the pan and it was still weird for me. It's not so much the taste than the texture. It's kind of like a paste texture.

Monday 2:

A lot of my food choices is that of a child. As an adult it's frowned upon but I wish I had the option of eating of the kiddies menu at some restaurants. I think it's because it's uncomplicated. Cue Chicken style Nuggets. 

My baby gas oven doesn't have a grill so I lowered my oven rack and set my oven to its highest temperature. (295°C) then let it heat up for 15 minutes. Poured a film of oil on the bottom of a baking tray, arranged the nuggets and pushed them into the hot oven for 4-5 minutes. Flipped them and cooked for another 5-6 minutes.

Served with Oven baked wedges and a Salad. (Here it the dipping sauce recipe. I added a few drops of Tabasco).

My feelings: This is all I can think about. Delicious, fast and easy cooking, crispy. You know how some idiots say it, but this is everything. With or without sauce, it is just that good.

What did he say: He just enjoyed chicken nuggets. Until it was Wednesday we were talking and I said something about Meatless Monday, he was all “Meatless Monday?? But we had chicken nuggets?” BOOM! SUCCESS Fry's! You just became a BOSS in my books!

I give chicken style nuggets a 'I bought two boxes of these and I don't know if I should keep it for a dinner or eat it all myself' out of 10.

Monday 3:

I choose you battered prawn style pieces. It's going to be hard to follow the success of the nuggets but my hopes were high. The suggestion on the box was to deep fry. I didn't really feel like filling a pot with oil and waiting forever for it to come up to temp. I cooked it the same way as the nuggets.

I saw up scale ramen on my Pinterest suggestions. So that is the application I would use these for. I sautéed garlic, ginger and the white part of a few spring onions in coconut oil, just until they were soft. Then I added water (just enough to cook noodles) and flavouring packets of two minute noodles (I used Fatti's and Moni's Prawn flavoured ones) then cooked the noodles. I also boiled some eggs for 7 minutes.

To finish I just added the green of the spring onions, peeled the egg and dropped some soy sauce in and added the cooked prawn pieces on top.

My Feelings: I know it's maybe not full vegetarian as I do not know about how the noodles are made. So super delicious. I think any person these days (even if you didn't go to college/ university) between the age of 18 and 25 had gone through a time where 2 minute/ instant noodles was a staple meal. Dinner and/or lunch. So by the time you touch 30, the enchantment is gone. It's my emergency meal. This was next level of next level. It was a filling flavourful meal.

What he said: He thought it was good. He said he would have liked another egg. I'm sure I could make it again.

This gets a 'I want to eat this everyday' out of 10

Ad-dock Meal: Tuesday Lunch:

Country Mushroom Pie is something I wanted to try since I put it in the trolley. In South Africa we have a strong pie culture. It doesn't matter what language you speak or area you live in, there is a 100% chance that you've had a pie from a garage (petrol station). This product falls right into that line.

My feelings: Like any pie, even though it was baked in a civilian, everyday oven, the inside it like molten lava. So a check to that. The pastry is crisp and flaky. The sauce has the taste of traditional Chicken mushroom but the mushrooms themselves taste like freshly cooked mushrooms and they actually look like mushrooms. (sometimes, bits in a garage pies are suspect)

What he said (after making it that Saturday): Also a big garage pie lover this pie ruined other pies for him. After having this he had a garage pie and was very disapointed. All he could think of was that it wasn't a Country Mushroom pie.

I give it 'I'm disappoint that I didn't bake the other pie in the packet as well' out of 10.

Monday 4:

Golden crumbed Schnitzel was the first product I ever tried. Usually after I run errands it feels like a big deal to get home and make lunch. I didn't really feel like eating a sandwich or instant soup or deal with prep to cook something and there are days a smoothie won't cut it. I served this with an easy side salad and mash.

My feelings: It's a bit tricky to cook with a baby oven with no grill. The first time I was more successfully in cooking them. Second time was a bit not so great. It was still good though.

What he said: It was a just okay reaction. I thing next time I'll serve it with a onion or mushroom gravy.

In Conclusion:

The next Monday I made some meat dish and got scolded because it was Meatless-Monday. Since then, Fry's has always been on my shopping list. I've also bought the burgers but don't burger them. I buy bigger wraps or rotis and they are delicious with fresh lettuce tomatoes and a dollop of spiced up Mayo. Also bough the mince and made some Old El Paso Tacos. (Skipped out on the cheese but used cottage cheese instead of sour cream) 

Do you Meatless-Monday?

é

2017 ~ The Green Year

I think Pantone hit the nail on the head when they chose Greenery as the colour of the year. Slowly people are practicing mindfulness (at least the ones who are aware because let's be honest we still live in the age where media tells us excess is the secret of happiness.) Everyone chases other peoples fake Instagram lives.

This year on é, I will be doing 'green' experiments. Using more natural cleaning products, doing tips on saving and reducing waste.

Essence Cosmetics The Gel Nail Polish in Good Limes

If you do read regularly you will see the blog changing as I'm trying to revamp a bit.

I have a few series of posts planned like On-line shopping reviews, a 'must love' series once a month and home organization posts.

Let me know if there are some crazy things you would like to see.

Have a good year. We hope.

é