Homemade Shaving Cream

   When I came across this recipe, I knew I had to make this for my brother for Christmas (I know I can tell you guys what I made him because he doesn't read my blog - tee hee!!! Nobody tell him!). He has been very much into becoming a classy man, and among other things, he has taken up shaving with the good 'ole foam + water + mix = shaving cream. He is also appreciating hand-crafted items because of their typically higher quality. So I knew I had to make this for him as soon as I found it. I also came up with the name, hoping it sounds goofy and manly enough for him :D

   It's SUPER easy! (I say that about alot of things don't I? Well, it's the truth!) And homemade shaving cream is a great companion to the bath bombs I posted a while back. Now you can make bath bombs for the women and shaving cream for the men!

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- 45 grams cocoa butter

- 30 grams light olive oil

- 20 mls liquid castille soap

- A few drops of essential oil (optional)

   Melt the cocoa butter and olive oil together in a double-boiler. Let cool. Add liquid castille soap - and essential oils if desired. Whisk or blend with an electric blender. It makes about one cup total because it will increase in volume as you blend. When you're ready to use it, mix a little with some water as you usually would and get to shavin'!

   See? Pretty easy. I can't vouch for how it works, as I haven't dipped into my brother's Christmas gift, but it sure does smell good! I had to wrap it so I'd stop smelling it. I'm not sure if it's my imagination or not, but it seems like the scent is dissipating from me opening it so many times to smell, and now it mostly smells like the cocoa butter....oops! Let's hope that's just my nose getting used to the scent and he won't think I made him chocolate scented shaving cream! :D

This post is linked to:

"Courageous"....the movie.

   Last night I was able to go see the new movie "Courageous" in the theater with a friend. I'm not one to go to movies often but it was special that we got to go together....and to such a great movie! If you haven't seen it yet, you really should! Yes, it IS rated PG-13 - so make your own choice when bringing kids. It contains violence and drug content (since they are cops). I've heard there is also a book to work through as well as the full-length novel of the movie, and a resolution poster for men to do the same with as the men in the movie. I found a link here for the set.

   I'm starting to doubt Sherwood Films will ever "jump the shark". But how can they when they let God lead it? God doesn't go shark-jumping ;-)

    I laughed until my side hurt....I cried....I sat inspired. It is hilarious and moving all at the same time. But I will go no further. I'm not going to spill the beans!!!

   Grab a friend or family member and go see it! Or if you are among those who are waiting patiently for the DVD, just know that you should get it as soon as it's available. It is great stuff.

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   And now a thought for us single ladies.... The "men of courage", as the movie Courageous calls them, can seem few and far between at times. My friend and I discussed it after the movie...they're rare. We're here wondering where those men are - but we concluded that they are also out there...wondering where the ladies are.

    Married ladies, all I can say is this: support your man. Support him in being a real man. Support him in becoming a strong and godly man of integrity. Support him. Support him. Support him. It is so beautiful and inspiring to see a woman come alongside her man to support and encourage him as he grows to be the godly man he is striving to be.

    And finally, ask God to mold your heart to Him, so you will grow more and more as a lady of true beauty. Encourage the ladies around you to do the same. As men can be guilty of taking their role lightly, undoubtedly us women are each often guilty of the same when it comes to our role as ladies.

Let Those Men Be Men!

Usually when our family goes to get hay for the animals, our dad is the one who heads up the expedition :D But this time, after a series of events, one of my sisters and I ended up being the two that headed out to get the hay. We came out to the farm at baling time and were planning to grab some hay straight from the field. I parked by the side of the road, but then realized that wasn't such a good idea (it's a long walk when you're carying bales of hay!). Now I must say that I am not too good at backing up a trailer, but I accidentally drove past the field entrance. Oh shoot.... The wife of the man who was baling hay was there and when she found out I wasn't so sure about backing up, she volunteered her son's service (he was perhaps in his mid-20s?). He gladly backed it up and even pulled the truck into the field. Then he said, "Do you want me to help you guys load it up?" I responded..."Sure, if you don't mind and you don't have anything else you need to do." He said he would stay. So I drove (how did I get the easy job? Ha ha!) and my sister and the man tossed in the bales of hay. They must have been sweating hard because those were dense bales (heavy!) and I was sweating just sittin' in the truck! We drove around the field and the man who was baling helped us a bit at the end after he finished up. The two helped us strap down the hay and then both of the men gave sweaty grins as my sister and I heartily thanked them and drove off.

At some point during our hay-gathering, it struck me: those men love being men. They new how to work hard and weren't afraid of a little sweat. The son just came on over and helped us ladies load all that hay. For nothing. No reimbursement besides a big thank-you. But I think perhaps he got a bigger reimbursement than that. He got to feel like a man. Work like a man. And be strong like a man. There were ladies trying to do some hard work, and the guy wanted to help them. Give 'em some muscle. Help out the ladies.

When times come when men want to use more muscle than me and help out, I usually oblige them. A man has to feel like a man. The more you learn and the more you study, the more you'll see that not only do women often like a man to come "save" her from a hard situation, but men love to save the ladies. Not in a weird way, but in a manly, protecting way to any lady that may come his way.

So, my desire for you today is to just let a man be a man! Let him have opportunity to help a damsel in distress and you too might get a hard-working man with a sweaty grin to come to your aid! Though note that I am not saying to flirt with them any more than a man holding the door for a lady does. As a man holds the door for strangers, so you can let a man help you out that you don't know. (Of course men who know you can help you out too).

One final note. Don't be wimpy. Don't be weak and overly needy. Men do not like that. As with anything, either extreme can be over-the-top. If you pretend to be overly weak and needy, he'll run the other way. He doesn't want to get stuck with trying to help a lady who can't, and won't, do a squat. They want to HELP us and show us how they can do a manly job of it.

Let the men be men. It comes from deep in their soul. Ask them once. Ask a real man once. They'll tell you it's so.