Interview With a Stinker

It's almost like I can't stop posting videos, isn't it?

Not to worry, if you are craving some Smockity wordiness, check out my guest post on Life as Mom, "Shopping in Your Own Kitchen", where I explain how I can feed our family of 9 for 33 cents each.

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Smockity Cooks: Homemade Country Gravy

Have you ever made homemade country gravy? I used to be intimidated to make it. I tried a couple of times, but it always turned out lumpy and tasteless.

Then I resorted to buying those packets of gravy mix, but I always wanted to learn how to make it for myself. I did a little research and, after many trials and errors, finally perfected my method!

Here is a step by step video of how to make perfect homemade country gravy, from beginning to end. Also, see my Fried Chicken Coating recipe.

In case you were wondering, the interrupter was trying to wear this top with a black and red plaid skirt to church.


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Homemade Lotion Bar Tutorial

I have posted before about making homemade lotion bars, and I would like to give you detailed steps so you can make them yourself.

I recently posted a question on some Blog Frog Forums asking what to do about extremely dry skin.

This winter weather and the dryness of the heater constantly running is doing very ugly things to my skin! It is itchy, scaly, and extreeeeemely dry.

I got a few responses, mostly about different lotions I have already tried. That's when I remembered that I had a few of these lotion bars leftover from giving them as Christmas gifts to Bible class and piano teachers.



I knew they felt good on my hands, but on a whim I rubbed one directly onto my legs, and aaaahhhhhhhh! Relief!

The shea butter, avacado oil, vitamin E oil, and beeswax make it luxuriously rich, thick and soothing!

These are super simple to make.  The kids even got involved and enjoyed making them for their teachers.


Homemade Lotion Bar Recipe
(I ordered the supplies I needed from Bramble Berry.)

1 part shea butter
1 part avocado oil
1 part beeswax
vitamin E oil

• Use a double boiler (one small pot floating in a bigger pot of water) to slowly melt the shea butter and beeswax. 
• Stir in the avocado oil and vitamin E. I used about a teaspoon of vitamin E for every cup of the other ingredients.
• Pour into some pretty molds.
• At this step, I added a few drops of vanilla extract to some for a delicious scent. I really like the ones that didn't have it, too, though. They smell of honey because of the beeswax!
• Allow to cool.
• Pop out carefully and enjoy!

I ordered this lovely mold from a soap making site on Ebay.

Here is a lotion bar I have been using, so it is a bit worn down.

Is it just me, or does it look like my grandmother's hand has taken over my arm? Ah, well. No matter. Just look at how moisturized I am!
 
*This post is linked to A Soft Place to Land and Works For Me Wednesday.

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The Bible in 90 Days Check Up

How are you doing on the Bible reading challenge?

We are on day 11 now, and I'm finding that the reading is easier than I thought it would be. I try to get up a little early to complete it and if I don't get all the way through before something else needs doing, I take my Bible with me wherever I go and read what I can until I'm all caught up.

Be sure to check in at Mom's Toolbox to let everyone know how you are doing. It's a great way to receive encouragement from others, too!


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Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I just bought my first plane ticket since the 1900's.

Seriously, I haven't flown since 1998. I hear a few things have changed since then, so I guess I'll be wearing my good socks. And underwear. Just in case I have to show proof that I'm harmless.

I bet you'll never guess where I'm going, either.

That's right! A gen-yoo-wine blogging conference!

I hope I learn all kinds of pertinent stuff like:

• Is it offensive to a readership to use the Southern Plural Possessive "all y'all's"?
• Is it appropriate to call 10-15 people a "readership"?
• Will posting a picture of a baby in a bag be cause for alarm to Child Protective Services?
• Are readers interested in diaper changing videos wherein a bad rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" is the highlight?

The part I am most looking forward to, though, is meeting a whole big bunch of ladies I have been stalking reading about for years!

I can't wait to meet Lora Lynn of Vita Familiae! The first thing I'm going to do is show off my fancy Latin pronunciation of her blog name and see if I've been getting it right (in my head, where I say it) all this time. If not, I'll just keep saying it that way anyway. Who would know? IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD!

I'm also dying to meet Toni, The Happy Housewife. I won't tell her that I'm thinking of stealing a couple of her kids' names for our new baby, though. ~wicked laugh~

Crystal Paine, Money Saving Mom, (formerly Biblical Womanhood) will be there, too! I'll probably have to stand in line to meet her, but I can't wait!

And I'll be looking for Kimberly of Raising Olives.  She's pregnant, too, so maybe I'll get a cute photo of the two of us together. But only if she doesn't make me look too fat.

I'm rooming with Monica from Daily Dwelling (She said I could borrow her curly hair products. Remember, Monica?) and Liz from Hoosier Homemade. Word has it that Liz is going to be bringing her famous cupcakes. They will be in our room the whole time! STAND BACK! Pregnant lady at the buffet!

What about you? Are you going to Blissdom? Who would you want to meet?

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