How to Easily Dry Herbs

There are several ways to dry herbs but the easiest and most economical is to air dry them.  This method when done correctly is almost fail proof and works for all types of plants (although I wouldn't try mushrooms).

Buy your herb plants fresh from the farmers market or grocery store.  If you can get them with the root ball attached this will keep them fresher longer.  It's important for the herbs to be as fresh and healthy as possible.  Old and diseased plants will not dry well and will deteriorate during the process.

As well as fresh healthy plants you need to select plants with the longest stems possible tie the herbs with string at the stems to create little bouquets and then hang them upside down in a cool, dark, dry place.  A storage cupboard can be an ideal place and a coat hanger can make a good hanging frame.

Small delicate plants such as rosemary, mint and thyme will dry in about two to three weeks.  Larger items such as chili peppers will need longer depending on their size.  Dried herbs can keep their potency for up to twelve months after drying.

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Book Review: The Victorian Flower Oracle by Patricia Telesco

This book has 221 pages, black and white illustrations and no color photos. This is not a glamorous coffee table book yet it is probably one of the most magical books I own.  You will find folklore, meanings and history or over seventy flowers along with space to add your own personal notes.

One of the things that makes this books so magical is, for example, on page fifty-four tucked away under 'geranium' is a recipe for geranium punch that is idea for summer rituals and romantic rites, on page forty-four you will find instructions for clover honey, on page one hundred and fifty is a recipe for a healing cream and on and on you will find little snippets of information to create a variety of magical plant related lotions, potions and beverages.

However, the main magic of this book is that Patricia Telesco encourages you to build upon the knowledge on these pages and create your own personal flower oracle that you can look to for guidance over the years to come.  The process to create oracle and tarot decks is often a close guarded secret.  Creators work hard at their decks and understandable don't want to part their hard earned information, but more often it's because oracle decks come into being as if by magic and take on a life of their very own that is hard to explain within the pages of a book.

I love how unpretentious this book is.  The recipes nestle in the paragraphs of words like little shining jewels waiting to be discovered.  There is no pomp and circumstance, no long winded build-up or trumpet-blowing, self-promotion.  The author presents the facts in simple plain English for us all to enjoy.

First published in October 1995, I believe this book is now out of print but you can follow my affiliate link by clicking on the picture below to find offers from third party sellers on Amazon.

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What is Argan Oil?

Argan oil seems to be the beauty buzz word at the moment with mentions from Elle, Marie Claire, Goop and a whole heap of other beauty bloggers and suppliers, but what exactly is argan oil?

Argan oil comes from the nut of the argan tree.  This tree is native of Morocco which is why the oil is often called Moroccan oil.  It is also called liquid gold due to its many beneficial health properties. Morrocan women have been using this oil for centuries for both cooking and as a topical application.

After flowering the fruit of the argan tree takes over a year to grow and mature into the oil rich nut.  The contents of the nut is then processed by hand to produce the oil.  The time taken for the nut to ripen and the hand processing of the oil is the reason for the high cost of the oil.  However, a small amount can go a long way and has numerous uses which makes it ideal for anyone looking to streamline a beauty routine.

Good quality oil contains high levels of tocopherols (vitamin E) and fatty acids which are beneficial to soft, supple skin, it also heals sun and age damage, and improves the skin's water content.  Argan oil is always easily absorbed into the skin, it leaves a soft sheen to the skin without leaving a thick oily slick.  If your oil is laying on top of the skin take a look at the label, it is most likely mixed with another type of oil, you want to make sure it is 100% argan oil.  If your bottle does turn out to be a blend of two or more oils it doesn't necessarily mean it is bad and you should throw it away, it just means it is probably made with a particular purpose in mind such as a hand or eye product rather than one product that can perform a multiple of tasks.

Pure argan oil can be used as a moisturizer all over the body including the face.  Because the oil is light and easily absorbed means it can even be worn under makeup.

At the end of the day it can be used with cotton wool to remove makeup including around the eye area. For this reason avoid using as an eye cream if you are going to be wearing mascara and/or eyeliner as you will look like a panda within a few minutes.  I know this first hand.

A small amount rubbed between the palms and then applied to freshly washed hair can work as a leave in hair conditioner and natural hair tamer.

Apply throughout the day to hardworking hands and cuticles will benefit too.

Before going to bed apply to heels and toes and then slip on a pair of socks for smooth feet.

Below is a small selection of argan oil that can be found around the web.  I have added my affiliate links to some (not all) the photos which means if you click on the links below and make a purchase I may receive a small payment at no cost to you.  I hope you enjoy the links.  Thank you for your support!

This is the oil I am currently using.  It's by Aura Cacia and available on Amazon.  I've been using it several times a day every day for the at least the last three weeks and still have over half a bottle left.  I love how soft and supple my skin feels, although learned the hard way not to try and spray it directly onto my face as there is no guarantee the oil will go on the face and not splutter over clothing and of course the oil leaves an oily mark that needs to be washed out.  Otherwise, I have no negative remarks to make other than I wish I had started using this product on my skin years ago.

How to Make Flower Perservative

Flower preservative is that little sachet of white powder that comes attached to many store brought bouquets, but what should you do if your flowers don't come with any preservative or your florist forgets to give you some? Try this simple recipe to keep your blooms lasting longer?

Homemade Flower Preservative
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of household bleach
2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Dissolve all the ingredients in one quart of warm water.  If your arrangement needs more water then double the ingredient quantities and the the amount of water.

How does this work?  Each ingredient has a specific job to keep the flowers lasting longer.  Sugar provides the nutrition the flowers would normally get from the soil via the roots, bleach ensures the water remains clean and the lemon juice keeps the solution acidic which helps with the uptake of water. 

Don't forget to change the water every few days and mist occasionally.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other tips for extending the life of your cut flowers. 

Library of Flowers by Margot Elena

I love discovering new-to-me products and brands.  Library of Flowers makes my heart skip a beat.  Everything from the name, to the floral scent and the whimsical hand drawn packaging is perfect for the flower lover.

What is Matcha Tea?

What exactly is matcha tea? I have tried many teas but must admit I have never had matcha.  I found some interesting information about the antioxidant properties of this tea over at matchasource.com.

So why and how is matcha so much better for you than other teas?  

Firstly the whole leaf of the tea plant is used with matcha.  The entire leaf is ground to a bright green powder and the whole thing is ingested.  Matcha literally means 'powdered tea'.  And by the way, the brighter green the powder, the better the quality of tea.

Secondly, although matcha comes from the same plant as all other teas it is grown slightly differently.  The final few weeks before harvesting the plants are covered with opaque sheeting to prevent light getting to the leaves.  This encourages the plant to start pumping out huge amounts of chlorophyll and amino acids.  These are the chemical compounds that prevent aging and chronic diseases.

You would need to drink at least ten cups of regular green tea to consume the same amount of antioxidants as one cup of matcha as illustrated in the graphics below.

 I have now added matcha to my daily routine by adding it to my morning jasmine tea.  

Are you a matcha drinker?  How do you take yours?  Before you go, leave a comment below... 

The banner below contains my affiliate link and will take you to matchasource.com and provide you with more information regarding matcha tea.  If you buy from this site I may (or may not) get paid at no extra cost to you.  Thank you for your support!