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Judi-Cox blogJudy Cox (480)    Judy Cox    http://www.mommamuse.com Attracting Orioles with an Oriole Nectar FeederPosted Thursday, July 26, 2007 (2 years 122 days ago.) Viewed 689 times. Attracting Orioles Similar to other homemade wild bird and butterfly nectar recipes, Oriole nectar requires only two main ingredients; water and white sugar. Oriole nectar feeders are available through wild bird retail shops. Feeders are similar in look to a hummingbird feeder, but are orange rather than red and have larger feeding holes. Designs vary, but some include an area to put fresh fruit (oranges, mashed bananas, grapes, etc). Or, if you prefer, skip the nectar altogether and just feed fresh fruits - there are other more specific feeders for fruit. Directions for Homemade Oriole Nectar Recipe Oriole nectar is made in a ratio of 1 part white sugar to 6 parts water. 1. Bring your water to a boil. I like to let fresh nectar cool in the feeder, but I don't put the feeder outside until it's completely cool. Nectar storage: it stores up to 2 weeks in the fridge or several months if frozen. I put my nectar in a clean 1/2 gallon (obviously empty!) milk jug, which clearly I write Oriole Juice on the side. (Tip: Use an ice cube tray. Once frozen remove and store in a freezer safe baggy.) Beyond nectar, Orioles like to munch on a variety of bugs (caterpillars, beetles, wasp, etc.) and are particularly fond of grape jelly. I have read they are fond of cherries (maybe some cherry jelly next to that grape?) and blackberries (some jam, perhaps?). They also like fresh ripe fruit, such as oranges, raspberries, cherries, mashed bananas, apples, pears, .... etc. Enjoy! Have fun attracting wildlife and happy bird watching! [http://www.mommamuse.com/2006/04/23/homemade-hummingbird-nectar/]
Judi Cox is a work at home mom living in the Ohio Valley with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys gardening for fun and for the birds, playing with the kids, reading, and promoting other mom businesses. She has been making soap and lotion since 2001. Visit MommaMuse.com. 
Permalink Comments (1) Ingredient and Oil Properties for Soap, Lotion, Serums, Bath and BodyPosted Thursday, July 26, 2007 (2 years 122 days ago.) Viewed 75 times. To help take the mystery out of the ingredients listed in soap, lotion, serum or other products you have received from Momma Muse (or other handmade bath & body companies), here is a list of the commonly used ingredients by common name, label name (the FDA required INCI name - International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients) and description of skin benefits and properties it provides. Don't let those mysterious names on the labels scare you off - so much of it is just a complicated name given to a simple ingredient. Distilled Water - We always used distilled for safety and purity. Hydrosols INCI depends on the hydrosol used. - Hydrosols are also known as floral waters, essential waters, or distillates. They are purified waters which occur during the process of extracting essential oils from plants and flowers. The hydrosols we use are all natural, containing no added fragrance. Infusions and Teas In some recipes, infused oils with herbs, or create a tea, using distilled water and herbs are used to maximize the benefits of specific plants. Not to mention, it's lovely label appeal. Almond Oil Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil - An excellent skin softener and moisturizer. Almond oil is great for all skin types but especially beneficial for dry or irritated skin. Apricot Kernel Oil Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil - High in both vitamins A and E. It helps moisturize and soften skin. Helps skin retain it's elasticity, clarity, and suppleness. Rice Bran Oil Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil - A nourishing oil and a powerful skin protectant, high in gamma-oryzanol as well as anti-oxidants, which will protect and replenish the skin. RBO is rich in phytosterols, helping to help reduce inflammation and soothe discomfort. It also contains the highest quantity of vitamin E in liquic form. Beneficial to mature, sensitive and delicate skin. Olive Squalane Squalane (Olea Europea) - Squalane is a very light, fine oil which is absorbed deeply and quickly into the skin, leaving no oily residue. Squalane is a wonderful oil for skin issues such as eczema, dermatitis, rashes, psoriasis, cracks, so far as helping with bruising or healing of the skin. Because squalane is naturally present in the skin (a botanical lipid) having an identical molecule structure to human lipids, it is effectively used in facial products to help reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. Jojoba Oil Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil - Jojoba oil contains protein and minerals. It is similar to our own sebum which is secreted by our glands, helping lubricate, as well as, protect our skin. Fractionated Coconut Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - This light oil helps carry therapeutic oils under the skin. Containing medium-chain triglycerides, it also helps moisturize and soothe the skin. Vitamin E Tocopherol - A natural skin antioxidant, promoting healthy tissue - healing and rejuvenation. Monoi de Tahiti Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (and) Gardenia Tahitensis - A moisturizing and naturally fragrant oil, which quickly penetrates the skin acting as a natural barrier helping prevent dehydration (and wrinkles) of the skin. A wonderfully, naturally scented oil excellent for all skin types. Palm Oil Sodium Palmate - Used as a base ingredient in many luxury and expensive soaps. It is considered a vegetable tallow which produces a hard bar of soap which is both mild and cleansing. Palm Kernel Oil Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil Sodium Palm Kernelate - Very similar in qualities as palm oil, it produces a cleansing, hard bar of soap which lathers well. Coconut Oil Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil Sodium Cocoate - Coconut oil makes a hard bar of soap which lathers beautifully. Olive Oil Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Sodium Olivate - A moisturizing oil used in soaps - castile soaps are generally 100% olive oil, but there is no requirement as to what percentage must be used. It softens skin while attracting moisture to your skin. Makes for a mild soap which keeps your skin soft, supple and younger looking. Shea Butter Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit - Shea Butter is deep penetrating and long acting. Is needed to restore the skin's moisture balance and prevent visible signs of aging and wrinkles. Cocoa Butter Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter Sodium Cocoa Butterate - Cocoa Butter is absorbed quickly into the skin to soften, lubricated, moisten and nutrients the skin. Works great to prevent and treat scars, stretch marks, and damage skin. Glycerin Glycerin - Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture to the skin. This is the whole idea of lotion right? To moisturize our skin, keeping it soft. Good stuff. Emulsifier Glyceryl Stearate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate - Because lotion is made with mixture of both oil and water, an emulsifier is necessary to blend and hold the two together. We have chosen a natural self-emulsifier which helps to provide a natural moisturizing factor found in the skin. Our emulsifier provides a conditioning and softness to the skin. Stearic Acid Stearic Acid - We use stearic acid 100% palm derived (i.e. vegetarian friendly). Stearic acid is used to help bind the oils and water together, but also to help thicken, as well as stabilize, lotion. Cyclomethicone Cyclomethicone - Used to prevent a greasy feel and impart a soft & silky feel to lotion. Commonly used in lotions to provide a "powdery" feel. Also used in body sprays and bath items (bath salts, etc). Preservative Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynl Butylcarbamate - The preservative we use in our lotions is a broad spectrum, non-paraben bactericide and fungicide. It is highly effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, molds and troublesome house organisms. We do not have our lotions tested, other than to give to family and friends, however we always use the recommended percentage of preservative to provide maximum safety for our users. Lye Sodium Hydroxide - This is the chemical used to make soap. Without this chemical, there is no soap, period. Sodium hydroxides causes a chemical reaction called saponification. Once saponification is complete, the finished product is soap - and there is no lye in the finished product. You will see sodium hydroxide on our ingredient list, however another way to list it is as a saponified oil - for example, for an olive oil soap we could just list it as "sodium olivate" - which means the same as sodium hydroxide, olive oil. Fragrance Oil Fragrance - Fragrance oils are added in small enough quantities to not be an irritant for most people. Yet, we add enough to give a light scent which, in your favorite fragrance, you'll have a hard time resisting the urge to sniff your hands (again and again!). May not be included in all our lotions, as we are able to make available unscented, scented naturally with hydrosols or with essential oils - usually by special request. Colorants - We use a combination of micas, oxides, spices, and clays to achieve colors in our products. Copyright (c) 2007 Judi Cox. Judi Cox is a work at home mom living in the Ohio Valley with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys gardening for fun and for the birds, playing with the kids, reading, and promoting other mom businesses. She has been making soap and lotion since 2001. You will find this and more articles listed on Google Base - Judi Cox or visit MommaMuse.com to view recipes, articles and pictures (that go along with the articles).
Permalink Comments (0) Prepare for New Baby with These Tried and True ItemsPosted Thursday, July 26, 2007 (2 years 122 days ago.) Viewed 389 times. Search the net and you're sure to find list upon list of what you need for a new baby. Most of those lists go way overboard. Babies don't usually need much at all. Here's a list of what I found, through my own experiences, to be the most useful. Clothing Plenty of t-shirts and sleepers. If you only want to do laundry every few days, figure around 4 tshirts, and 2 sleepers per day. This may be a bit more than necessary on most days, but there will always be the occasional day, or days, when baby is spitting up more than normal, or has messy blow-outs. You'll appreciate the extra tees. Diapers and Wipes Disposables or Cloth. In todays internet world, you will find diapers and wipes in variety of styles, patterns and personalities. The options are even wider for cloth than they are for disposables, can you imagine? There are some really ingenious designs that make diapering a baby's tush almost seem exciting! And the following within the cloth diaper community feels the same way. However, beware, you may end up needing to one day admit "My name is ___. And I'm a cloth diaper addict." Can't talk yourself into cloth? No worries, the disposable diapers have come along way and while they aren't soft natural cotton and wool, they do keep your baby dry and don't leak. How much of each? Only keep a couple jumbo packs of disposables on hand at a time. Babies grow so fast you aren't always able to guage how soon they'll be into the next size. Planning on using cloth? A dozen or two dozen would probably be a good start. What I've seen is cloth diapers are an addictive thing and you may end up with wonderful cloth diapers coming out your ears! Wipes? I always buy by the package and sometimes by the box. Making your own? A yard of flannel or fleece would probably yeild a good start. Blankets Receiving blanket. Those itty bitty blankets you wrap a newborn in, but after the first month aren't good for much baby wrapping. But if you, like most women, end up with a few dozen of them, they make great lap pads, burp pads, and for mom, use them to wrap your hair when you get out of the shower - they are light-weight so they don't fall over when you are tending to baby, or use them as a nursing pad when you are bra-less. They work just fine. They may also be used when baby is going bare - to catch any accidents. On the other hand, a couple of really nice, kid-sized blankets are must have! Sling or Carrier The online mothering community has been inundated with every type of baby sling and carrier you could imagine, and then some! Padded to unpadded slings, pouches, wraps and carriers. These, like cloth diapers, may lead to addiction, tread with caution! But a good carrier is a must have. You even see mothers in the public eye touting their babes in slings nowadays. It's no longer alternative, having paved a path into mainstream. Structured carriers are great too. Do some research and where possible, give one a test run. Some communities offer baby wearing classes and have slings you can test. Some online shops will even send you a used sling to try, reserving cost on your credit card - then applied back when you return the carrier. Sleeping Area Co-sleeping has become more commonplace practice, but it isn't always for everyone. Not to mention, some moms, even the attachment parenting mom would like a place to lay baby. Some ideas include a bassinet or cradle, a travel crib, a moses basket, or many others. This is something you may need to experiment with to find the best fit for you and the baby. Different stages of babyhood may require some changes. Pad an out of the walk-way area of the floor with a couple receiving blankets and make a little nest for baby to lay. No extra expense. Required: Car Seat Unless you live in a walking/biking community, chances are you'll need a carseat. For safety's sake, do your research on this one. An infant seat is nice when you can take it in and out of the car easily while baby sleeps, but any secure, up-to-date infant approved carseat is great, necessary! Also, take note that not all car seats fit all cars. Optional: Stroller Most mothers who "wear" their babies say you don't need a stroller. Strollers don't have to recieve use directly from the baby to be useful. It comes in handy to carry coats and jackets, drinks, purse or diaper bag, extra diapers, change of clothes, not to mention any purchased items on your outing. As an added benefit, it leaves mom pretty hands free - you get really good at pushing a stroller with one hand! If you opt for a stroller, choose one that has drink carriers. Bouncy Seat A bouncy seat comes in handy so often, that while I'd classify it as "optional", for myself, it was necessary. I loved our bouncy seat as much as baby enjoyed it. I carried it everywhere with me, to the bathroom for instance. It was a great baby holder while I took care of bathroom duties, did the dishes and cooked dinner. Baby and I would sing, talk and play while I got chores done. Diaper Bag Any bag with a couple pockets works well. The younger the baby, the bigger the bag needed. As baby grows and has less accidents (i.e. spit up, bottom blow-outs), you'll get more efficient at packing just what you may need. Don't go overboard on a diaper bag with all the frills. A nice canvas bag, decorated by you and siblings, works just as well. Toss in a couple gallon-sized baggies for messes, a couple of receiving blankets for padding and you're good to go! ---
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