Beauty Out of Africa

Stress Relief and Aromatherapy-The Chamomile Flower Part 1

Another wonderful oil to use when feeling stressed is chamomile.  There are actually 3 types of chamomile, including Roman and Moroccan, but today we will concentrate on Roman Chamomile.

Roman Chamomile was first used by the Egyptians and then introduced into later civilizations. It is believed that Roman Chamomile is useful for a variety of conditions including:  Depression, anger,anxiety, insomnia, neuralgia, psoriasis and PMS.  It is soothing to the mind and for the body has anti-inflammatory benefits. 

The flowers of the chamomile plant are actually very pretty, and resemble a daisy. It has a sweet apple like odor.

It can be combined with other oils such as; Lavender, Clary Sage, Rose and Bergamot to name a few. 

There's no Such Thing as Bad Shea Butter

Even the 'worst' grade of shea butter is has it's uses.

Shea Butter comes in 3 Grades based on specific quality parameters
a    Unrefined shea butter of ‘First’ grade can serve the needs of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, and for direct consumption.
b     Unrefined shea butter of ‘Second’ grade can serve the needs of   the food industry (confectionery, chocolate,    edible oil, or as a basis for margarines).
c     Unrefined shea butter of ‘Third’ grade can serve the needs of the soap-making industries, or can be further refined for direct consumption.

So when life hands you a batch of stinky shea butter, make a bar of soap

Reflections on Africa

We just returned from a two week visit to Nigeria. We had a wonderful time. The only downside was that I did not have much access to the internet. I took some good notes and photos so I can share details of the trip.

Day 1 April 1st 2009.

We flew into Lagos on Lufthansa after a three hour layover in Frankfurt. While in Frankfurt we stopped by the Airport McDonalds to get the kids some breakfast. Everything was so expensive, we paid $18.00 for 3 breakfast sandwiches and one drink. Can you believe that?

Arrived in Lagos at approx 5:00pm in the afternoon. Mum and Dad were there to meet us at the airport. I stepped out and felt the warm Lagos breeze. It's great to be home

Do Good Feel Good - Part 2

You may still wonder, what will I ever get out of doing something for free? 

Well, think of all the times in your life, that either a friend, or a complete stranger has come to your assistance.  Now think... Imagine, what may have happened to you had that person decided not to help?
Without kindness from others your life may have been altered for the worse! You "could" have been left on the side of the road, stranded with no gas ,"or" even evicted from your home!

Wouldn't "you" like to be that person, to change someones life for the better?  It may sound cliche, but the more you give, the more you recieve.

The love, time, or personal attention, that you show others, will come back to you in ways that you could not imagine!  Sometimes it might not come back to you, in the form of material posessions, but in other forms.

New friendships are formed, your self-respect will improve.  This will do doubt have a positive impact on your physical and mental health. 

Volunteering is not just about helping others, it is also about helping yourself!

Why I Believe in Fair Trade

My husband grew up working with his father on their cocoa farm in Ekiti, a small town in Western Nigeria. It was hard, back breaking work. They prepared the seed/shoots, planted them, tended them and harvested them. All this was done by hand using very crude farming implements. At the end of the cocoa season they would gather their harvest and sell through the local cooperative. The fruit of their labor would be sold for a bare minimum. Nothing to compensate them for the toil and sweat expended in the process. Most African farmers and agricultural workers live in poverty even though they work hard.

I believe that fair trade allows farmers to rise above poverty and make a decent living. It allows them to provide for their families and educate their children without getting into debt. Fair trade gives the hardworking farmer options. It allows him to know that his hard work has value.

*The nine standards/principals for Fair Trade are:

1. Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers; supporting the poorest producers
2. Transparency and accountability; dealing fairly and openly with trading partners
3. Capacity building; developing the skills of producers and creating opportunities for trading their products
4. Promoting Fair Trade; telling as many people as possible about Fair Trade and informing customers where products have come from
5. Payment of a fair price; ensuring that producers receive a fair price for their products
6. Gender Equity; providing equal pay and opportunities for women and men
7. Working conditions; ensuring that producers are working in a healthy and safe place
8. Child Labor; ensuring that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is respected
9. The Environment; ensuring that materials used in production and packing do not damage the environment

COFTA - Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa