Dusting Powder

It used to be that no lady was ever caught without a generous dusting of fragrant, silky powder, and I really wish it was a tradition that endured today. For this reason, it is one of my favorite little indulgences.

I clearly remember my first; Strawberry Shortcake powder given to me by my Grandma on my fifth birthday. How I treasured it! It was such a treat to smell so delicious after my bath each night! I have tried many different ones since, but sadly many have been discontinued or are simply too difficult to find. I have tried the very simple and inexpensive, such as Johnson & Johnson baby powder in their various scents. I also loved a rose-scented one that Victoria's Secret used to make while I was in high school. I have even tried (and amassed quite a stash when I found out many were being discontinued) glittery, delicious-smelling and tasting Urban Decay dusting powder in flavors like gingersnap and marshmallow. I also like the more natural powders that companies like Burt's Bees make.

Since I am such a fan of making things on my own, one day I set out to make my own dusting powder, so that I could customize it until it was just the way I wanted it. I started by reading the labels on the more natural powders. Many were talc-free, which was handy since I don't know where I can buy a bunch of talc, anyway! It seemed the main ingredient was usually cornstarch, which I already have in the baking cupboard. So I got to work, and I finally created a recipe for a silky, fabulous powder that costs literally just a few cents to make.

This recipe makes just enough to fill a travel-sized container of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. I find I prefer small batches because I can change scents frequently without having a bunch of unused powder sitting around. If you'd like to be more fancy, however, I'd recommend using an old sugar shaker container, maybe with a pretty label and a ribbon.

Here are the instructions to make your very own dusting powder:

1. In a zip-lock baggie, place 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. This is where the "silkiness" of the powder comes from.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. This is where the "freshness" comes from.

3. Zip up the baggie, and squish it about with your fingers to break up any lumps.

4. Add 1/4 teaspoon of your fragrance. You may need to adjust the amount according to the scent you are using.

5. Zip up the baggie again, and shake it like mad! Make sure that the fragrance is evenly distributed and you don't have any clumps.

6. Decant into your container (if you're using an old baby powder container, pop off the top with a screwdriver).

7. Let it sit for a day, then give it a good shake before using.

Now, for a word about fragrances. I have found that the scents used in soap making work wonderfully. I personally get mine from http://www.sweetcakes.com/

They have every fragrance you can imagine, plus about a hundred more! Their prices and shipping are also very reasonable. You could also look for fragrances at the craft store, but I find many of them to smell cheap. Essential oils are also a good way to go, but some can be irritating to the skin so test first and use with caution. If you use a high-quality perfume that doesn't have too much water in it, that would also be lovely and a wonderful way to layer your scents.

What else can you add? All sorts of things! If you're making some for a young girl, consider adding some fine soap glitter for a little sparkle. You can also put dried lavender or rose petals in a mini food processer and chop until they are as fine as possible. Then add to your powder for a natural scent and pretty confetti-like appearance.

This method is so very simple, but I promise you'll love it! In fact, it's a very real possibility you may get addicted to creating all sorts of new scents for yourself and for others!

Now that you have made this fabulous dusting powder, what should you do with it? There are so many possibilities, but here are some of my favorite ways to use it.

1. Sprinkle it on yourself after bathing, after taking a walk outside or anything that makes you--uh--"glisten."

2. Sprinkle a bit into your underwear drawer.

3. Sprinkle your sheets as you make your bed in the morning.

4. Add to your bath water.

5. Sprinkle into your rubber gloves. It makes them slide on so much more easily and will trap any moisture that is inside.

6. Use it on your children. Since it is all-natural, it won't irritate their skin (but again, be careful they aren't sensitive to whatever scent you're using first).

7. Keep a little in your handbag for freshening up in public restrooms.

8. Give it as gifts for almost any occasion.

I'd love to hear if any of you try this recipe, and what you think of it. And if you come up with any interesting scent "cocktails," be sure to let me know, too! I am obsessed with things that smell delicious!

Favorite Things

One of my favorite things is a nice hot drink, especially before the weather turns too warm. I never drink tea or coffee, but that doesn't mean there aren't dozens of delicious, hot beverages to choose from.

While walking through a health food store not too long ago, I noticed that the beverage aisle was filled with delicious-looking herbal teas. They had names like "Wild Cherry Berry" and "Rise and Shine." I found myself particularly drawn to a brand named Celestial Seasonings and their dessert tea line. I picked up a box of Vanilla-Hazelnut and English Toffee. Doesn't that sound good? Well, they are! I took them home and brewed up a cup or two, with a splash of vanilla syrup and cream. It was delicious, and then I decided to get creative! I saw a show about coffee on the Food Network that explained how lattes, cafe au laits, etc are made. It seems that often a very strong coffee called espresso is brewed in a small quantity (usually only about an ounce or two) and then poured into a hot cup of milk. I thought, how about I do that with my dessert tea? So I put a tea bag in a little cup and added a couple of ounces of water and let it brew for a good 15 minutes. It became very fragrant and almost as dark as coffee. Then I heated up a mug of milk, added the tea, and a splash of vanilla. It was delicious! Truly a "dessert" tea if ever there was one!

I am also a huge fan of hot chocolate. Starbucks used to make a drink called "Chantico." They called it "a drinkable dessert" and it was so, so good! It came in a small cup--maybe no bigger than 6 ounces or so. It was so thick, so rich and creamy. It was so full of chocolaty goodness that if you let it cool, it would actually start to become gelatinous from all the chocolate starting to solidify. It was also about 700 calories and so a rare indulgence for me. I have probably only had two or three ever, which is why I was so disappointed when they stopped making it! I haven't tried regular Starbucks hot chocolate; maybe during my next trip to Target I'll pick one up and see how it is. I also enjoy making my own hot chocolate. When I am feeling especially decadent, I will make a mug using nothing more than a bar of grated chocolate and a mug of hot, hot cream. Oh, it's so delicious! Also about 700 calories, but also worth it!

About a year ago I discovered that the International Coffee Company (the people who make those little red and white tins of coffee mixtures) came out with a product called "Vanilla Creme." It's basically hot chocolate, but instead of chocolate, it tastes like vanilla. So I suppose it's hot vanilla? Anyway, it's delicious made with milk, as it specifies on the tin to do. If you're feeling crazy, and I usually am, you can top it with marshmallows for a real treat. Since the flavor is so wonderful, I also have found a spoonful of the powder to be fantastic in smoothies too.

Yet another little thing I love also comes from Starbucks. They are called "steamers" and consist of nothing more than hot steamed milk and flavor syrup. Many coffee shops have dozens of different syrups, so mixing and matching can be quite fun! I love a combination of caramel and vanilla, or raspberry and vanilla, or pretty much anything and vanilla! My favorite, however unusual it sounds, is mint and vanilla. My husband is such a sweetie, he makes sure that I have vanilla and mint syrup in the house at all times for homemade steamers. Unfortunately, they're never quite as good as the ones from Starbucks as I don't have a milk frother and so am forced to just heat up my milk in the microwave. Still delicious, though!

Lastly, a very simple classic is nothing more than the juice of half a lemon in a mug of hot water. Sometimes I'll add a touch of honey for sweetness, but generally I prefer the clean, tart taste of just the water and lemon.

Now that spring is here though, I think it's time to expand my repertoire of cold drinks. I'll have to search for some yummy ice-cold drinks before summer comes!