Easy Deep Conditioner for Hair

Olive oil is known for its benefits as a food substance because it is flavorful and is known to help lower cholesterol.  It is also terrific as a topical application for skin and hair.  I love making this easy conditioner recipe listed below and using it a couple of times a week for a deep conditioning hair treatment.

Olive oil is biologically closest to sebum, which is the oil naturally produced by our bodies.  Why don't we just leave the natural oils there?  Well, that sounds great, but unfortunately sweat, bacteria, and skin cells tend to collect in the oils present on our body, so it's necessary for us to take a shower or bath, grab our favorite soap, and get squeaky clean.  Unfortunately, soap tends to strip those natural oils and can sometimes leave us with overly dry skin or hair.  That's where conditioners and lotions come in.

This is another beauty tip that was given to me by my brother.  Use this 2-3 times a week (or less, depending on your hair).  Keep it in the shower for easy use, and make sure that you blow dry your hair afterwards to help the conditioner "set."  Otherwise, you may seem to have an oily residue on your hair. 

OLIVE OIL DEEP CONDITIONER:

1 bottle of inexpensive conditioner, your choice

1 teaspoon of olive oil per 8 oz. of conditioner

(Example:  If your bottle is 12 oz., you will need 1-1/2 teaspoons of olive oil.  If it is 16 oz., you will need 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and so on.)

Open the conditioner and squirt out just enough to give you some "shaking room" in the bottle.  Add the olive oil, and shake for 1 minute. Store the conditioner in the shower or wherever you wash your hair.  Apply liberally to freshly shampooed hair and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes.  Try to keep away from scalp.  Rinse well, then blow dry.  Blow drying is a MUST in order for the conditioner to set. 

That's it!  This conditioner will leave your hair silky smooth and well conditioned without spending a ton of money! 

Homemade Hand Cream/Body Butter - Simple Gifts

I saw this recipe for homemade hand cream/body butter on Pinterest.  (When haven't you heard that phrase?)  However, I have seen it pinned many times with rave reviews and just had to try it for myself.  I followed the pin to the original blog post on Patchwork Times HERE and decided to give it a try.  Except I modified it just a bit to add some things. 

The original recipe called for:

16 oz. baby lotion

8 oz. petroleum jelly (2 of the petroleum jelly jars shown below; this one is 4 oz.)

8 oz. vitamin E cream (again 2 of the jars shown below, as this one is 4 oz.)

Those are great, but I also knew that glycerin would add an extra protective element, and olive oil is very healthy for our skin.  I added those to my recipe.  

For my recipe I used:  

• 16 oz. generic baby lotion
• 8 oz petroleum jelly 
• 8 oz. vitamin E cream
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 
• 2 Tablespoons glycerin (found near the pharmacy at Walmart)

Place all the ingredients into a 5 quart bowl and whip at high speed until the mixture has the appearance and consistency of frosting or whipped cream.  This makes about 3-4 quarts of hand cream!! (The photo below is of the bowl from my 5 quart mixer to show just how much this makes!)

Spoon into individual pots or jars and then keep in a cool area.  This will stay in it's wonderfully whipped state unless it is exposed to warm temperatures, and then it will lose its consistency.  However, it can be mixed again into a whipped consistency.  

This is wonderful for hands, feet, and your entire body, especially if you are prone to dry skin.  I've heard it does wonders on dry, cracked feet.  Everyone in my family suffers from dry skin in the wintertime, and this is a blissfully soothing, rich yet light cream that can be applied from head to toe.  It's also wonderful to apply to your hands right after hand washing or doing dishes.  You can also apply it to your entire body straight out of the bath or shower to seal in moisture.  

Put this rich cream into small plastic pots (I found mine at Dollar Tree, my favorite store!) and give as teacher gifts, stocking stuffers, or place in different spots in your home for easy access to hand cream.  Everyone that I've given this to has absolutely loved it!

Broke Food - Pasta with Garlic, Olive Oil, and Red Pepper Flakes

Simple dishes can often be some of the tastiest and most filling.  Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino fits that bill.  Translated, that means spaghetti with garlic, oil, and red pepper flakes. Its rich flavors combined with pasta make this a decadent yet inexpensive dish to prepare.  

It can be eaten alone as a filling but light main dish.  It can also be be topped with grilled chicken, cooked Italian sausage, or other meat.  It also makes an excellent side dish to serve alongside other vegetables or meats.  

Sunday, when I was doing blog posts, this was my lunch!  It was tasty and filling but light enough that I did not feel like I had eaten a heavy meal.   

The recipe located HERE is similar to the method I was taught and as listed below. 

Spaghetti With Garlic, Oil, and Red Pepper Flakes

7 ounces of spaghetti
2 large or 3 small garlic cloves, minced (substitute garlic powder in a pinch)
1 1/2 teaspoons of chili pepper flakes
1/4 to 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil (may use canola or other oil in a pinch)
3/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

Directions

The measurements in this recipe can be shifted depending on your taste preferences.

1. Cook spaghetti according to the directions on the package, until it is al dente.
2. Strain spaghetti and place in a large serving dish.
3. Add minced garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix together well.
4. Serve warm or at room temperature.