Happy Friday!

It's finally Friday! YAY! To cool off from this scorchy, summer heat we are introducing you a Citrus Tea Punch.

To start off you will need:

• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 family sized tea bass
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup orange juice
• 16oz lemonade thawed

1. Combine 4 cups water and sugar in heavy saucepan and boil.

2. Cook until sugar dissolves; remove from heat.

3. Add cloves, tea bags, and cinnamon.

4. Steep 6 mins.

5. Strain into pitcher; discard solids.

6. Add 2 cups water, juice. lemonade, and still well. 

7. Chill and serve over ice. 

Throwback Thursday ~ Coconut oil liquid soap

I bet most of you don't remember Lulu Blossom made coconut oil liquid soap.For today's Throwback Thursday we are offering a DIY recipe that you can make at home.

To start off you will need:

• 4oz coconut oil 
• 10.7oz Potassium Hydroxide for lye/water solution
• 32.2oz distilled water
• 4tbs 5% Borax solution per 8oz of soap paste (neutralizes)
• 4-5oz distilled water per 8oz soap paste for dillution
• Stainless steel pot or crock pot
• Rubber gloves
• Protective eye wear
• Ball jar or glass container 
• Utensils (spoons, spatulas) only to be used for mixing lye. Lye is poisonous and should be mixed outside or in an area with plenty ventilation. Never cook with utensils or pots that have come in contact with lye. 

Directions:

1. Measure and melt coconut oil.
2. Mix lye and water for solution.
3. Mix oil and lye together.
4. Bring to trace (which is when it starts to thicken.)
5. Cook the paste either in crock pot or stove top- usually about 4 hours.
6. Add 4tbs of 5% borax to 4-5oz distilled water and mix per 8oz of paste.
7. Once the solution is mixed and neutralized, pour into glass container and cap lids until the solution starts to become viscous and cloudy. It will go from clear to the color in the picture above. Once this has happened feel free to add any fragrance or essential oil for a scent. However, we find that unscented is pleasant as well. 

***When mixing water lye solution, make sure to wear protective eye wear like goggles or glasses and mix lye slowly as it becomes very hot quickly.***

Churro Waffles recipe!

Good morning, fellow readers! Recently, while browsing the interwebs I stumbled upon a recipe that I'm pretty sure was crafted by the hands of all the Greek gods.  The churro waffle is a delicious food that is perfect for breakfast or brunch. You decide!

To start off you will need:

1 teaspoon salt 

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons white sugar
2 eggs                                                                      
2 cups of all purpose flour1 1/2 cups warm milk 
1/3 cup butter, melted                                                

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 3 shakes of cinnamon plus

For the churro topping:
1 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup of melted butter

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside.  Also at this time you can combine your churro topping and set it aside. Preheat waffle iron

      2.In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture;  Next fold in three shakes of cinnamon beat until blended

       3. At this time you can also melt your 1/2 cup of butter used to pour over waffles. Next generously spray your waffle iron with no stick cooking spray. Than ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron. Cook the waffles until golden and crisp. Once fully cooked immediately pour melted butter on each side of the waffle and than dip each buttered side into your cinnamon/sugar churro mixture.

Lulu Blossom President and Founder Shares Natural Face Mask Recipe on I Am Big

Lulu Blossom founder and president was featured recently on the online talk show, I Am Big. I Am Big focusses on what's working in the lives of everyday citizens and aims to redefine "big."

In this episode Rachael Kash shares a recipe for an all-natural vegan face mask that will give you a moisturizing glow just in time for the holidays. Check out the video and let us know why you think of this simple and effective face mask recipe.

All Natural Vegan Face Mask:

1 mashed avocado

 a mixture of grape seed oil and olive oil to equal 1 tbsp of oil

 and a small tsp of fresh orange juice.

Smash avocado then add liquids and mix thoroughly. Apply all over face and neck and let set for 10 mins and then
wash with warm water.