Oatmeal Soap Balls

Well I tried another first this weekend. I made homemade soap balls. They turned out very cute! I have had the supplies for a little while now and just didn't take the time to do it. I guess with school starting in a week I thought I better get something accomplished.

I was given this soap from a friend so that item was free and I bought a can of oats for just over a dollar so this whole project was very reasonable. I think I spent more money packaging them then I did on the soap itself. That is something I will have to watch, but if I had to buy the soap I think it would even out just fine.

I first took two bars of soap and grated then with the largest side of the grater so that it would be in small pieces but not soap dust. The small pieces makes it easier to mix.

I then added two cups of oats. I did not break these down at all. I was going to but it chopped down so small it looked like corn meal so I decided to leave them whole. This made the soap look much better and it will help with the exfoliation if the soap is actually used.

I mixed them both up in a bowl and then added a small amount of water. I added a few tablespoons at a time so that i didn't make the mix to wet to mold. I rolled a small amount in my hands to form a ball, just smaller then a golf ball. I laid them out to dry and that was it. It did not take long since there was not much water. I also didn't scent the soap because the bars I used already had a scent.

And here is the finished product! I think they turned out very cute! And my hands were so soft after I finished making them...added bonus!

The ones I am keeping were put in this jar. Looks good to me! I got the soap keep from a friend of mine. She made it out of old barn wood from her barn just for me and I love it. I added the little tin cup and a grungy wash cloth and it is prim perfect! Have a good day everyone!

First Time Canner

Yep, you heard me right. I am a first time canner. And I did it, or at least I think I did. I canned tomatoes yesterday and all the lids popped so I think we are good! But we will have to see this winter how it tastes.

I have always wanted to try it but something about it scared me. Then I got a chance to buy a water bath canner with rack and jars for ten dollars. Who can refuse that! I had planned on just using it in a display for my old blue jars but i couldn't resist. A few hours later I had canned all the tomatoes in the house. And boy was I going to be in trouble. I didn't leave one for hubby's sandwich. Oh no! He says down in the coal mines nothing taste better on his ham sandwich then a garden fresh tomato. So........Papa, our neighbor saved me and shared his. lol Gotta love those neighbors!

I have also been trying to figure out how to do more on my blog. Such as pages, links, music player and things of that sort. And so far no luck. I even went to an open topic computer class and the instructor had no idea about blogging so that was a bust. I checked out a book, Blogging for Dummies, and that didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. So I guess I am not a dummy at it, but far from where I want to be. So if anyone has any suggestions on how I can learn more let me know. And Thanks in advance!