Days 112 to 117 - Busy Bee (pun intended due to my experiment with Beeswax)

I have definitely been more focused on the GAPS goal of reducing toxins in other areas of my life for the last few days.  The food part of my journey has been a little more relaxed due to celebrating my birthday and taking a day trip to Illinois.  I will openly admit that when I have allowed some sugar in my meals, I have not felt great afterwards.

On the toxin elimination side, I officially launched my lovethewell.com site, as well as the facebook page and twitter account.  I am preparing for the first public appearance at my mom's antique sale this coming weekend.  One of my last products to whip up before this weekend was men's stick deodorant.  My dad was not only the one who requested that I make it, but he has volunteered to be the first to try it!  It smells amazing, with several essential oils and some wonderful odor-absorbing and natural skin conditioning ingredients.  The process was a little messy, but fun, and the end product turned out really well.

Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter & Beeswax to be melted together

In the jar awaiting their fate

It was interesting to see watch the ingredients melt at different thresholds. First the coconut oil (almost immediately), then the cocoa butter (when there were bubbles and a little steam in the water outside the jar), and then finally the beeswax (after boiling for a couple of minutes).

Melted mixture cooling

Stirring in the essential oils, pro-biotic, arrowroot, witch hazel, and vitamin E oil

Filling the deodorant container

Finished product!