Balancing Facial Toner is now 8 Ounces!

Just like everyone else in America, I'm a little annoyed with the rising prices of everything -- not to mention the ever-present grocery shrink ray.  (Can ice cream cartons get any smaller?)

I've resisted raising prices at Wilava because I didn't want to become one of 'those' companies, and I'd really hoped I'd be able to ride out the bad economy.  But, the costs of running my business have gone up... by a lot.  Not just insurance and the day-to-day costs, like printing labels and shipping, but some of the raw ingredients I use have gone up in price by more than 100%.

More than 100%!

So I've spent the past few months analyzing products, prices, packaging, suppliers, you name it.   I think I have some solutions that will allow me to both stay in business and benefit you!

As of today, Balancing Facial Toner is going to be sold in an 8 ounce size, and I'm eliminating the 4 ounce bottle.  In reviewing past orders, I noticed many customers were buying two bottles of Toner for every one bottle of Cleanser.  So this change has benefits beyond just $$$ savings -- there's less packaging, which is great for the enviroment and it will take up less space in your home. The price is going up a few dollars, but you'll be getting twice the amount.  I hope everyone is happy with the change.

Vitamin C Serum is also going up to $30 at the end of this week.  Unfortunately, there was no easy fix  here.  I had switched packaging from jars to airless bottles a few months ago, and didn't raise the price.  But the new packaging is a bigger raw cost vs. the jars, so I really just have to give in here.  This change will take place on Friday, so if you want to get a bottle before the increase, order now!

DIY Snowy Day Spa Soaks

It's been cold here in central Massachusetts the past few months.  It seems like we've had about 12-18 inches of snow just about every 3 or 4 days, school is always being canceled, and people have had enough.  In fact, I just looked out the window, and it has just started snowing again.  True story.  Well, everyone deserves a respite, and for me, it comes in the form of a nice, warm bath.  Luckily, a comforting, pampering bath is one of the easiest DIY spa experiences to create at home.

To start, all you need is a nice, warm tub of water.  Not too hot -- that would be drying to your skin -- but warm enough that you can sit comfortably for 15-20 minutes.  (It's okay to replenish the heat with short bursts of hot water while you're in there, too.)

And now, the best part:  Bath Additives.  You have a whole kitchen filled with possibilities!  The basics are milks, grains, oils and botanicals.   Here's a breakdown for each category.  Mix and match depending on your mood.

Milks:  It's said that Cleopatra bathed in milk.  I'm not sure if that's true or not (I wasn't there!), but either way, added to a bath, milk is mildly exfoliating, cleansing and moisturizing.  Use Cow's milk (skim, whole, buttermilk...), Goat's milk, and even Coconut milk, which creates a super-silky bath and smells like a tropical paradise (can be found in the Asian aisle at your local market).  Add 1-4 cups per bath.

Grains:  My go to bath grain is Old-Fashioned Oats. It's naturally moisturizing and can alleviate dry, itchy winter skin. You can buy cosmetic-grade colloidal oatmeal at the drug store, or you can simply grind up some whole oats in a coffee grinder until they reach a powdered consistency.  Add them while filling the bath.  If you have some cheesecloth, even better.  Fill it with whole or coarsely ground oats (and some botanicals, if you wish), tie up with string, and hang it under the faucet while filling the tub.  Then, just let it float in the water while you soak. 

Oils:  Boost the moisture in your bath by adding oils.  Unless you happen to have an emulsifier on hand (such as one of the Polysorbates), the oil will simply float on top of the water.  But it will leave you feeling soft and moisturized.  Try adding a small amount (a teaspoon or so is all you'll need) of jojoba, hazelnut, extra light olive, rice bran, flax oil, or any other liquid oil you have on hand.  Just be forewarned that these will make your tub slick, so take caution when stepping out of your bath.

Botanicals:  Here's where you can get really creative.  Do you have a kitchen stock-pile of herbal teas?  These work great in the tub, and if you keep them in the tea bag, you don't have to worry about cleaning up messy buds, barks and leaves afterward.  The obvious choices for botanicals are calendula, chamomile, lavender and rose (all are soothing, and smell nice).  But do you have a cold?  Teas with peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary or fennel will help with congestion, and even sore muscles.  Looking for an antioxidant boost for your skin?  Try Roobios or Green Tea.  A nice chai blend can help to stimulate circulation.  With teas, or any botanicals you choose, keep in mind that in high concentration (like in a cup of tea) they can cause staining... both on you and your tub.  One bag, perhaps two, should do the trick in the bath.  [Caution: if you suffer from hayfever or other seasonal allergies, certain botanicals, such as chamomile or lavender, can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Be sure to read labels!  Also, some herbs, such as Chamomile may lighten hair.]

You'll want to limit your soak to about 15-20 minutes as anything more can be dehydrating and can sap energy.  

When you're all done and the water's drained, a quick sprinkle of household baking soda and a wipe with a damp cloth will clean the tub and get rid of any residues.

Bread, Bread, Bread, Cinnabun

A few weeks ago I had lunch with a friend at Panera and, long story short, I somehow convinced him he could be making breads and tasty breakfast treats -- better than those at Panera -- very easily in a bread machine.  Well, he went out and bought one.

I sent him my recipe for Cinnabuns, and promised that as I made different breads, I would send him the recipes.  Well, Christmas Eve is a big bread making day for me, and today I'm making three types of loaves, and cinnabuns for tomorrow's breakfast.  Thought the recipes might make a nice holiday-themed blog post.

These recipes have been perfected over the years.  Usually I'll sub out up to half of the Bread Flour with Whole Wheat Flour, depending on my mood and how much of each flour I have on hand, but for Christmas it'll be all soft, fluffy Bread Flour.

Note:   Most bread machine recipes have you add the wet ingredients and yeast first, but through trial and error, I've found that adding dry ingredients first, then pitching the yeast separately before adding it to the machine works best.  It takes just a few minutes to put it all together.  Easy Peasy, as my kids say.

Plain Ol' White Bread

• 3 cups Bread Flour
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 Tbsp White Sugar
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil (or vegetable oil)
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees)
• 2 1/4 tsp Rapid Rise yeast (for Bread Machines)

Add Bread Flour, Sugar, Salt, and Oil to bread machine pan.  Dissolve yeast in warm water until it begins to foam, them add to the bread machine.  Select Basic setting, and press Start. 

This next recipe is a Pumpkin Yeast Bread that I usually make with leftover pumpkin after I made pumpkin desserts in the Fall.  Today I'm using up some leftover Squash from our dinner a few nights ago. I had made a usual recipe of Mashed Butternut Squash with cinnamon, brown sugar and applesauce, but I think it'll make a good substitution here. 

Pumpkin Yeast Bread

• 2 3/4 cup Bread Flour
• 1/4 cup Dried Buttermilk Powder
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup Pumpkin (or leftover squash) puree
• 1/4 cup butter  (melted)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon (I like Saigon Cinnamon)
• 3/4 tsp Nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Ground Ginger
• 1/8 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees)
• 2 1/4 tsp Rapid Rise Yeast (for Bread Machines)

Add Bread Flour, Brown Sugar, Pumpkin, Dried Buttermilk, Cinnamon, Salt, Nutmeg, Ginger, Butter, and Skim Milk to bread machine.  Pitch yeast in warm water until it begins to foam, then add to bread machine.  Select Basic Setting, then press Start. 

Molasses Oat Bread

•   3 cups Bread Flour
• 3/4 cup Rolled Oats
• 2 Tbsp Dried Buttermilk Powder
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 Tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Butter (melted)
• 4 Tbsp Molasses
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp Warm Water (110 degrees)
• 2 1/2 tsp Rapid Rise Yeast (for Bread Machines)

 Place Bread Flour, Oats, Buttermilk Powder, Salt, Brown Sugar, Butter, Molasses and Lemon Juice in Bread Machine pan.  Pitch yeast in warm water until if begins to foam.  Add to Bread Machine.  Select Basic Setting and Press Start. 

Cinnabuns

(for ease, I've separated this recipe into dough, filling and frosting instructions.)

For the Dough:

•  4 cups bread flour
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 package instant cheesecake pudding mix (vanilla works, too)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 4 Tbsp butter, melted
• 4 Tbsp warm water (110 degrees)
• 2 1/4 tsp bread machine yeast

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon (I use Saigon Cinnamon)

For the Frosting:

• 3 oz. Cream Cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp salt

1. In the bread machine, place all dough ingredients, except  yeast and water, in the pan in the order given. Pitch yeast in the warm water separately, then when it begins to foam, add to bread machine.  Choose Dough cycle.

2. When cycle is finished, remove dough and knead by hand for about five minutes.  Roll out into a rectangle.

3.  Mix together all filling ingredients, then spread evenly over dough.  Then, starting with the widest end, roll the dough into a tight log, and pinch seams together.  Cut into 1 inch slices, and place in a greased 9x13 pan.  Cover with a damp towel and let rise until doubled.  

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

5.  For frosting, mix all frosting ingredients together.  Spread over warm cinnabuns. 

Shop, Then Wash Hands

It's been widely reported that BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical (biologically active estrogen mimic) that is linked to cancer, infertility and early puberty, is found in high levels on some thermal paper cash register receipts.  So, the Washington Toxics Coalition and  Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition conducted a study to see if our money was contaminated as well.  Turns out, it is.

The BPA on receipts is found in a powdery film on the paper's surface, unlike the bound BPA in plastics, and can readily spread to anything it comes in contact with... our skin, money, and the insides of our purses and wallets.  There's really no way to easily tell if a receipt contains BPA unless you have access to a lab, so if you're out shopping, make sure you wash your hands.  (A good practice anyway, since it's cold and flu season, and sick people are everywhere!)

If you happen to work in, or know someone who works in, a retail store, you can ask the owner or manager if he/she can check with their paper supplier to see if it contains BPA.  (If the supplier happens to be Appleton Paper, they acknowledged safety concerns about BPA and went completely BPA-free in 2006.)  And if receipts do contain BPA, you may want to try to wash your hands more frequently, or even don some gloves or finger cots, which are like latex gloves, but only the finger.  Limiting exposure may be especially important for teenage employees who are still growing, or pregnant/nursing women.

I've got to get back to work (it's Wilava's busy season!), so I'll leave you with  a link to the press release from the Washington Toxics Coalition -- they even list stores where they found both BPA-laced and BPA-free receipts -- and additional links to the full report.  

Small Business Saturday Coupon Code -10% off EVERYTHING!

Use coupon code:  SBS2010 at checkout for 10% off your ENTIRE order at http://wilava.com.  All Wilava products make great gifts and stocking stuffers, but go ahead, stock up on the best natural skincare for yourself! (Expires 11/28/10).  And, Free Shipping on all orders over $85! (no coupon needed for that perk. It'll be automatic at checkout).

Step Away From the Pie!

It's no secret that I have a weakness for desserts.   I didn't want to pass that trait along to my kids, so I've worked hard since they were babies to teach them to stop eating when they're full.  This means that I end up finishing all the pies.  I finished the Lemon Pie first, and the Pumpkin one is left.   Luckily for me, Pumpkin -- in both its puree or pie form -- makes a great spa facial.

Here's the recipe:

Mix 2 Tbs pumpkin puree with 1/2 tsp honey, then add, depending on skin type, 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of (milk, cream, or yogurt for dry skin) or (apple cider vinegar or cranberry juice for oily skin). Apply to cleansed face, avoiding eye area and rest for 10 minutes. Rinse with water and moisturize.  If you have a lot of leftover pie, make up a larger batch,  and add some Brown Sugar for a great body scrub. 

All About Aspartame

Well, really not ALL about it, just the parts I don't like.  I avoid eating/drinking/buying foods or drinks with aspartame in them when I can, and one of my friends just asked me why, so I told her I'd blog about it.  To tell the truth, I'm not really sure if she really wants to know, or if she just thinks I'm a crazy person and is trying to call me out, but I'll be emailing her a link to this post either way. 

Where to start?  Well, 78% of all consumer complaints to the FDA are about aspartame.

Aspartame (found in NutraSweet and Equal)  is comprised of phenylalanine (50% - an amino acid), aspartic acid (40% - an amino acid, nonessential), and methanol (10% wood alcohol, as in "moonshine").  These break down into formaldehyde, formic acid (like the venom in insect stings) and DKP (may cause brain tumors), and this breakdown is accelerated when products containing it are stored at 85 degrees for a period of days or stored for longer periods (over 250 days). 

These are all things I don't want in my body.  

Now, some of these components are also found in food items like fruits and vegetables. For instance, pears and bananas are on the high-end of those containing naturally-occurring formaldehyde, but fruits also contain ethanol, which stablilizes it.  Also, fruits contain natural pectins and enzymes which help to stabilize the compound. 

And, before you ask, we all hear about the essential amino acids we need in our diet, right?  Well, the synthetic ones in aspartame are incomplete, and as our bodies go to work to break them down, it causes an imbalance in the brain.  "What?" our brains ask.  "Where's the nutrition?"  This contributes to the idea that drinking diet sodas will increase hunger, causing you to gain weight.  Ummm, I think I can do without.

Another interesting tidbit:  In 1996, there are about 164 peer-reviewed studies relevant to aspartame safety.  Seventy-four deemed it safe, and 90 deemed it unsafe.  Seventy-four studies were industry-funded, and 90 studies were independently funded.  Hmmm.

And I wish more people knew about this, but ask a pilot, and he/she will tell you that aspartame is bad.  Pilots are actually told to avoid aspartame in order to pass their yearly medical exam. And in 1992, the US Air Force issued an alert to its pilots in its Flying Safety magazine.   In the past, many pilots have passed out in the cockpit while flying and eating/drinking products with aspartame, thus putting the entire flight at risk.  (Possibly due to the elevation causing increased symptoms, not unlike how people from sea level can get drunk really fast in the high altitute places like Colorado).  Not to mention, aspartame can adversely affect EKGs and the methanol in it can impair vision. 

There's lots of anecdotal evidence on the effects of aspartame, too, which you can google if you're interested.  But for me, I avoid it simply because it's not something I need, it provides no health benefit, and it may actually be quite harmful.  I don't miss it.


For further 'easy' reading:
Summary of symptoms, with references: http://www.ceri.com/aspart2.htm
Article written by a pilot:  http://www.aspartamesafety.com/Article4.htm
An Email from Operation Mission Possible re: pilots and aspartame: http://www.dorway.com/betty/avmags.html

Research:
1 Jensen J. Aspartame – The World’s Best Ant Poison. The Idaho
Observer. June 2006.
2 Gold M. The Bitter Truth about Artificial Sweeteners. NEXUS
Magazine. Oct/Nov 1995.
3 Soffritti M. Aspartame induces lymphomas and leukemias in rats. Eur.
J. Oncol., vol. 10, n. 2, 2005
4 Martini B. Aspartame proven to cause cancer. Mission Possible, Jul
21, 2005. http://www.wnho.net