Not all products are what they say they are- QV wash VS Handmade Natural Soap

It really makes me angry when people are mislead by major companies, ads on TV, Chemists and Doctors when people go to get advice on any sort of rashes, eczema or even people who have delicate skins especially babies.  We all want to do what is best for our children.  We listen to chemists and doctors because apparently they know best.  Or do they.  Do you ever think how much kick back they get from major companies to promote their products.


Over the years of soap making, attending markets etc I have heard so many comments like.  Ï can't use soap I get a rash.  The doctor has told me I am allergic to soap.  Soap is bad for you.  I can only use liquid soap.  Soap has dangerous chemicals in it.   The list is endless.  You ask any soap maker and they all get the same statements made at them. 


Today I went to the supermarket with my daughter and she mentioned to me that she found a ECO soap at Woolworths the other day which was lemongrass.  It smelt so nice but the list of ingredients on the back was daunting.  Even though it was only about $1.50 a bar she said no.  Yes I to am wondering why she was looking at soap in a supermarket but won't go there.  lol  Any way she showed me the soap and I deciphered the ingredients list.  First ingredient was Palm Oil then Coconut oil then loads of chemicals including SLSA which is a foaming agent which is also used in car wash, degreaser etc....... I personally wouldn't use it.


Another thing that really worries me is those Washes.  Especially QV Wash.  Have you read the ingredients.  Do you know what they are.   Ok lets first look at handmade Soap and what is in that or what is in the ones I make.


Sunflower, Olive, Coconut, Grapeseed Oils, Water, depending on the liquids if I am making a Goatsmilk Soap I actually use Goatsmilk.  Not powdered but real Goatsmilk.  If I scent it I will use either essential oils or fragrances especially made for soaps.  Colours may be natural clays, natural colouring or skin safe colours.  I list all my ingredients from largest amount used to smallest.
Yes when you make soap you need to use caustic soda.  No matter what any other soap seller says if you don't use caustic soda you can't make soap.  Even those pretty clear soaps you buy have caustic in them.  Most people buy the base already made up so they don't actually have to use caustic and all they need to do is melt it down and add colour and fragrance.  The hard work is all done.  But did you also know that when you buy that handmade soap the caustic is gone.  There is no active caustic in that bar of soap.  It is safe for you and your family to use.


Now lets look at QV Wash.  I have a customer who I met through my husbands work who had been using this for years as he suffered from really bad eczema and the doctor told him that soap was bad for him and he could only use this product.  He hasn't used QV for quite a few years and is a regular customer of my Goats milk Soap.


I am going to now let you know about all those ingredients on the back of that bottle of QV wash and what they mean.


Aqua - Water (that's fine)
Sodium Lauryl sulphate- Is a detergent, a crystalline salt of sufated lauryl alcohol which is also used in degreaser and floor cleaners.
Glycerin- No problem with this.  My handmade soaps have glycerine in them. 
Lauryl Betaine- Synthetic Vegetable Derived Liquid.
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate- this is a preservative but there are better more natural preservatives on the market.
Sodium cocylisethionate- sodium salt derived from coconut oil
Peg 120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate- this is a thickner.  But some studies in America have linked it to breast cancer.  This should not be used on broken skin.
Glycol distearate- Chemical compound emollient.  This is a pearlizing agent. This makes it white.
Methyl Paraben- An anti fungal agent.  This is a controversy ingredient.  There has been some concerns over Parabens in products as it has been known to disrupt hormone functions and is also linked to increase risk of cancer.
Citric Acid- Not harmful
Propyl Paraben- Again another paraben.  Paraben is bad for you and should be avoided.  Quite a few products are out on the market that are Paraben Free.




The list above is scary isn't.  Would I use this wash.  NO not in a million years.  Are there better products on the market.  YES  Plain handmade soap.   That's all you need.  Handmade soaps with Milk are great.  Whether you buy my soap or another soapmakers soap they can tell you exactly what is in their products.  No chemicals, no nasties just plain soap.

Chocolate, Date, Ginger and Port Cake. (What a mix)

Wow it really has been awhile since my last blog.  I have neglected it and I am sorry but life has been very busy these days but I hope to blog a bit more.


Yesterday when I came home from work I was craving some cake.  Not any old cake but handmade Date Cake.  Looking in the cupboard of course there was a pack of dates.  I decided that I would prepare them so I could cook it the next night.  Below you will see the recipe.  I am not one for exact measurements.  I don't use a cup measurement but use a coffee cup instead so measurements will be by coffee cup.






1  1/2 cups of chopped dates
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 cup port
1 teaspoon of Bi carb


Mix all of the above ingredients together in a bowl and set aside in the fridge for at least 24 hours.




2 1/2 cups SR Flour
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup of Cocoa
1 egg
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1 to 1/2 cups of Soda Water (Yes I know weird ingredient)


Mix  the first 4 ingredients together.  Add the date mix.  Add in the Olive oil and mix by hand.   Add in the Soda water until it is of a good cake batter consistency.   No electric beaters needed just do by hand.  


Pour batter into a greased and floured round cake pan and place in a preheated oven of 160 degrees for approx. 1 hour.  I have an old oven that is not fan forced so it took an hour.  If you have a fan forced oven I would start checking it at the 45 minute time.

Losing weight, excerising and feeling great

Its amazing how one little stint in hospital can change your whole life.  I have changed my whole eating pattern and have rid myself of all those processed foods and junk.  It is amazing how much companies who sell the so call diet products really aren't that good for you at all and they are the reason you do not lose much weight.  At this time I have now managed to lose just over 6kg which is great.  I can't wait until I can fit into at least a size 14-16 dress.  That was the size I was when I met Bill all those years ago.  I know I have awhile until I reach that but I am determined to do it. 

In my kitchen I have a whiteboard where at the moment I have a quote that I love...............

 

 

I have the same determination that I had when I gave up smoking 5 years ago.  I feel the healthiest that I have felt for along time and I am so far off my target weight.  What are my secrets...............  There really isn't any secrets.  I walk.  Every morning I wake up at 4.45 am and have a cup of coffee then I head down to the beach at Redcliffe and walk.  I normally walk about 3-4 km in the morning before I go to work.  I am a morning person so early mornings don't bother me.   I'm not the only one and so many people are down there doing the same thing.  Even on the weekends I do the same.  I walk.  Some afternoons after work I head to Scarborough and walk before I need to pick up William.

 

 

My food choices have changed so much.  I eat loads of greens, and of course fruit.  Nuts, eggs, avocado, berries, fish, chicken, steak and so much more.

 

I don't eat chocolates and of course junk food but have also taken out bread, pasta, processed cereals, crackers and diet (low fat) so called foods,  Gluten free foods I really check the labels to see the fat and sugar content.  Fake butters and margarine and vegetable oil.  I have removed Soy, wheat and corn from my eating.   

 

 

I do have a few things I want to do............  I have decided to join the Dragon Boat Club here at Redcliffe.   I need to be a bit fitter to do this but know I can achieve this.    I will be buying myself a pushbike as well.  Last time I rode one I was 15. 

 

 

So for now my clothes are slowly becoming baggy which I am loving.  I can't weight until I reach that size 14 and know I will get there.

 

 

Sue

Courage Award goes to.............................................

Last Saturday was a very special day for our family.  This is the day that my eldest grandson Callum was being awarded for the "Children of Courage" Award through the Lions Club of Australia.   It truly was a great afternoon witnessing so many children receiving their awards and listening to their stories of the many obstacles they have had to overcome in their lives.  It made me really realise how lucky we are. Some of these  "Special children" have had to overcome major health issues that we would never want our children to have.  Some are confined to a wheelchair, ASD, and have various impairments but the one thing they all have in common is that they have shown great courage and bravery.  

You all may of read a previous blog I did on my other blog page about  State school issues with Callum and see the issues Callum was facing at school.  At the beginning it was so hard to see my grandson going through so much crap.   I hated to see my daughter having to deal with it but she did it.  Instead of sitting back and just being another family dealing with ASD in Queensland with little support from anyone my Grandson and mother fought back. 

I had tears in my eyes when Callum was called up to receive his award on Saturday.  This grandma was so proud.  You see Callum and I have this special bond and that will never ever change.  I truly adore all my grandchildren and treat them all the same.  I am blessed with 5 amazing grandbabies and can't wait to attend all their special moments in their lives.    

Thank you to the Lions club of Australia for this award.  This organisation does so many fantastic things for the community.

The Lifestyle Change Begins......................................!

Well its only been a couple of days since I was given the news of change your lifestyle, eating habits, exercise regime and work on your stress levels or you will have a heart attack or stroke in the future.  I'm feeling quite good at the moment and have taken all the advice.  Funny how something can change your whole outlook on life.  There has been quite a few massive things that has happened in my life that has impacted me so much.  Meeting and marrying my man was a positive impact.  Birth of our children positive.  The loss of 2 sisters in 10 years was negative and at present I am not ready to be the 3rd sister.

I had a look at my eating habits of late which consisted of snack foods, food, wine, chocolate, pizza etc.  You get the idea.  So easy in the morning to throw in a couple of muesli bars a chocolate and a apple into my handbag to keep me going at work.  Very rarely would I actually have a lunch break away from the computer so was eating on the run.  Travelling through Brisbane in the car from one side of town to the other was probably the best lunch break I had.  The reason for the snack foods are easy to eat when you are driving.  Wasn't a breakfast person but occasionally may stop at the shop near work for a strong coffee to kick start the work morning with.  Funny by the time I got home and picked up William from his day service it was now close on 6pm.  I made sure most nights he had a cooked dinner which consisted of fish, salad and chips or spaghetti, or sausages.  Most nights I didn't eat as I didn't feel hungry.  Some nights I spend long hours creating candles, making soaps, wrapping soaps and filling and sending out orders for Green Me Up Granny.  Some nights I would have a glass or two of wine.  Friday nights were always Pizza Night.  William loves pizza night.  I would also stop at the bottle shop on the way home for a bottle or two of wine. 
Weekends consisted of catching up with family or setting up a market stall somewhere.  This also meant lots of fast foods or quick easy things to buy to eat.  Sausage Sizzles, Hamburgers etc.  You get the picture. 

As you can see my eating habits are were bad.  In a length of 5 days everything changed.

I really checked out websites, different diets, meal replacements, diet tablets etc to find out different ways to lose some weight.  The real issue I had with all of this was the four letter word DIET. 

I really don't like that word as I have tried so many DIETS over the years I don't want to set myself up to fail again.  All I need to do is to change my foods and exercise.  Walk. Walk, Walk.

Yesterday saw me purchase a Magic Bullet.

 

I love it.  My new toy that will play such a big part of my healthy lifestyle journey.  I have already started using it. 

 

 

My DH with my SIL also moved a massive Treadmill from my daughters place to here.  No easy feat as it was heavy as anything and of course didn't fit through any of the doors.  They had to pull it a part to get it inside.  It is all set up and yesterday I walked 1 km.  I know not much but it is to a person who is obese and doesn't exercise.  Slow steady steps. 

 

 

 

As you can see very little room to swing a cat around but the treadmill is in and I will continue the 1 km walk each day and slowly build up the speed and distance as the days progress.

 

 

 

My eating has changed.  I now have breakfast and its healthy. I have a healthy snack at morning tea..  Salad for lunch, piece of fruit or handful of almonds in the afternoon and a healthy dinner.  I also found this clear stuff in the tap here called water and starting to drink plenty of it.

 

I am not ready yet to advise the world of my current weight as I am embarrassed that I could let myself go so much.  I will put a couple of pictures up.  One of me when I met Bill all those years ago and one of me last week fishing.  You will then understand why I am not ready. 



 

 

I know I may not get back to the size I was when I was 17 but I am going to at least give it my best shot.  The weekend is fast approaching and I am sure being the first weekend it will be had but I know I can do it. 

 

 

Sue X

Calm Blue Ocean

We spent just over a week at Woodgate last week in the only tourist park up there.  It was a glorious week of relaxation.  Fishing and just enjoying the scenery.  We did head into Childers for the morning and came across this amazing Pharmacy Museum in the main street.  If you are ever in Childers you need to check it out.  The couple who run it knows quite a bit of history.

We spent a couple of days fishing but didn't catch anything but it was so relaxing.  The beach was straight across the road from the park so we went for plenty of walks and loads of shells to collect.


If you are looking for a place to get away from everything this is certainly the place to do it. Only a couple of shops there so was great to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Health Scare

Well it has been a turmoil over the last couple of days.  After spending a glorious week at Woodgate in Queensland I had to return to work on Monday.  (Will do another blog on our holiday).  Monday morning got out of bed not feeling the best.  Very light headed but new as a Manager I had to go to work as a week off meant that I had a weeks worth of work that I needed to catch up on plus deal with the normal things that I have to do.  Arrived at work just before 7am as I knew today would be a long day and would not get home until at least 6pm tonight.  How wrong was I. 

After arriving and unlocking dealing with the first issue of the morning which was staff telephoning in sick.  Agency staff organised.  The list continues.  Pays need to be done.  Staff claiming for days they weren't at work being denied.  Phone calls from my manager.  More things to do.  Variances due.  Some staff having issues completing time sheets.  Following up things that happened over the week.  Sifting through nearly 100 emails.  Reports to complete.  Clients arriving wanting me for different reasons.  Blah!  Blah !Blah!  The list is endless and I have only been at work just over 90 minutes.  The next hour was a bit of a blur.

Tightness in chest, aching arm, sweating, cold, dead arm feeling and staff are now telephoning ambulance.  Taken off to Prince Charles Hospital.  I won't go into anymore but I am home now but a big wake up call.

Green Me Up Granny needs to take control of her life.  Make some lifestyle changes and better choices or next time it could be a lot serious.

Need to cut out a lot of the foods that I have been eating.  More home cooked low fat foods.  More vegetable etc.  Everyone knows the rest.  More exercise.  Found this one a challenge since work hours and running a home business is very time consuming but going to try.

Love you to follow my journey.  Not returning to work until at least next Monday on a directive from my Manager. This gives me time to start and change a few things.

Today Bill is heading to the daughters place to pick up a treadmill for me.  We did a swap.  Then I need to start looking at the foods etc to eat and remove those processed foods from the cupboard, fridge and freezer.

Todays the start of my new and improved life.  I know it is not going to be easy but I need to make sure that I am still around for my grandchildren's weddings etc.  Plus Bill and I have just celebrated 27 years of marriage.  I want to see out at least 2 more life sentences with him. lol

Sue X