As our quest continues, we become at peace, and our minds become calm and tranquil.

It is through this quest for self knowledge that the true creative process takes place, and that true happiness can be found.

A real transformation must occur from within.

With this transformation comes an improvement in relationships with others, and on a much broader scale an improvement in the world that we live in.

This is the legacy of Yoga and Meditation. This is what Yoga and Meditation teaches us.

If you would like to learn more about this fascinating subject, please visit Yoga Awakening to sign up for a FREE guided meditation tour. Now is the best time to restore balance in our minds, bodies, and spirits.

We deserve to be the best that we can be. Our bodies are really all that we have complete control over in this world, all that is truly ours. Should we not treat them with the very best of care? Enjoy!

Basic Rose Potpourri
Blend 1 tsp of rose essential oil to 3 TBS coarse ground orris root and let sit, covered for a few days. For a spicy scent, add 2 TBS each of ground cloves and cinnamon. For a sweet floral scent, add 2 cups lavender and ¼ cup ground tonka bean. For a musky scent, add 1 cup patchouli leaves and ½ cup sandalwood and vetiver root. For a fruity scent, add 1 cup each of dried citrus peel, rose and lemon scented geranium leaves, and lemon balm or lemon verbena. You will soon find yourself adding a little of this and that as you become familiar with the process and begin creating your own blends.

Balsam Fir Potpourri
1 cup balsam needles
¾ cup sweet woodruff leaves
1 cup dried violet blossoms
1 cup lavender 2 TBS salt
¼ cup bee balm blossoms
1 oz balsam Peru tincture

Seal and let set to “cure”, occasionally shaking the mix.

Christmas Potpourri
1 cup each: cut and sifted: whole allspice, star anise, ginger root, and sassafras bark
2 cups each: orange peel, lemon verbena leaves, and rose buds and petals.
30 drops allspice oil, stirred into the mix 5 drops at a time.
10 6″ cinnamon sticks.

Seal and let set to “cure”, shaking occasionally.

Citrus Blend
4 cups lemon verbena leaves
2 cups lemon balm leaves
2 cups orange mint
2 cups lemon, lime or orange scented geranium leaves
1 cup apple mint
4 cups ground citrus peel
Add other flowers for color if you like
4 cups marigold or calendula petals (or other yellow and orange flowers)
2 cups orris root, mixed with 1 TBS orange oil and 1 TBS lemon oil

Seal and let set to “cure”, shaking occasionally.

Lily of the Valley Potpourri
1 cup dried lily of the valley petals
2 cups dried violet and viola flowers
¾ cup dried rose blossoms
4 tonka beans broken into pieces or 1 tsp vanilla extract
3 TBS orris root powder

Seal and let set to “cure”, occasionally shaking the mix.

Moist Potpourri
Rose petals are the primary ingredient, but any flower petals will work. Add any oils or spices to the petals you wish, and layer them with uniodized salt. Compress the potpourri under a weighted dish. Set the potpourri aside for several weeks, but do stir the mixture every day. Once fermentation of the mix begins, let it sit for 2 more weeks without stirring until a cake is formed. Break the cake into small bits, and combine with spices, oils, and fixatives. Let it blend a few more weeks, and then put it in a decorative container. It isn’t attractive, so you may want to put it where it can be smelled, but not seen.

I hope you enjoy these simply sweet recipies… I know I sure will!

~Dragon Girl~

**Note – As always, be certain of your allergies. If you are not sure what may cause harm to you personally, contact your naturopath or health care provider before using anything, even if it falls into the natural realms.

~Dragon Girl~

Today I have been made aware of a Lavender Cleansing Conditionerwhich appears to carry some awesome ingredients right out of natures own backyard. I was just thinking I would love to try something new, besides the generic shampoo’s and conditioners on the market today, and this sweet lavender cleansing conditioner was generously brought to my attention. What a great universe we create!

Let’s take a look at what this delicious sounding Lavender Cleansing Conditionerhas to offer, and exactly what it is we are looking at here.

Ingredients

Water, Organic Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Lavender Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Chamomile Extract, Marigold Flower Extract, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Amodimethicone, Lavender Oil, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Witch Hazel, Ceteareth-20, Sweet Almon Oil, Menthol, Avocado Oil, PEG-60, Almond Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid

Helpful Directions

Rinse hair thoroughly and completely with cool water for at least 1 minute. Cleansing Conditioner should be applied in four sections: the crown of your head, the nape/back of head, ends to the left side of your hair and ends to the right side of your hair. For hair above your shoulders, use a minimum of 24 pumps, (6 pumps per section). For hair down to your shoulders, use a minimum of 32 pumps, (8 pumps per section). For hair past your shoulders use a minimum of 40 pumps, (10 per section). For hair to your mid-back use a minimum of 48 pumps, (12 per section). Add a splash of water to help evenly distribute through the ends and massage vigorously into scalp for 2-3 minutes. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb and clip hair up for the remainder of the shower. Leave on for at least 3-5 minutes. The longer you leave it on the better for maximum results. Rinse with cool water thoroughly for 1-2 minutes by massaging your scalp and running your fingers through to the ends. While hair is soaking wet, apply 1-3 pumps of the Cleansing Conditioner as a leave-in conditioner starting from the back of the head through to the ends. For thicker/coarser hair increase amount of pumps in order to thoroughly hydrate and cleanse the scalp and ends. If you choose to rinse and repeat, use half the amount of suggested pumps for each cleansing.

I would just like to add that I would simply love to enjoy a few minutes of lavender heaven on my scalp and hair, and can only imagine how wonderful this would feel! What a treat for a living part of our body which takes a lot of hits from the environment, as well as our own unintentional careless treatment. Our hair stands up to a lot of stress from many directions, and could use a break from the collaterol damage our busy lifestyles demand.

It seems like a simple process of boiling your materials until they lose their color, and soaking your silk/cotton in the mixture overnight. It is important, I learned, to simmer the mixture for added effect. The longer the cloth is in, the more vivid the color. I look forward to many hit and miss experiences, with Feathers and his lil brother Curious George helping me along!

Note: I have not yet tested any of the natural ingredients listed, or the recipies. I have not ever made dye, or know how it could be used.

After much research, I decided I like the re-batch method best, as far as soap-making. It seems simple, and since our household has small children, and quite a few pets, it would be safest, since it involves no lye. Lye is the main ingredient for making even the simplest soaps. The re-batch mode simply involves grating or finely chopping fresh soap (within 10 days of being made), and cooking with water until its consistency is like applesauce, with no unmelted chunks. Then, you add the colorants, exfoliates, and fragrance, pour into a mold, and your done. Like I said, very simple. So, I will go into more detail on the re-batch method very soon. 
I look forward to becoming a regular poster, and sharing my research into the topic of homemade necessities!

~Dragon Girl~

Welcome to Lavender ‘n Chocolate Dragon Girl!!

I should be sharing this incredible journey with whomever chances upon this tiny piece of cyber space. After all, there is no moment like the present to bring my best self forth, and everything that has gone before is just a thing of the past.

Therefor I am ready to give a few moments thought to this lovely little blog, as time permits. I do hope with all my heart that any who may read my words finds a bit of joy and humor to help light your hearts, and bring a smile into the moment.

I still have to get my moccasins re-soled, even though I have the leather cut out and ready to go. Thank goodness I have enough sinew to get the task done! LOL I love crafting, and Sara and I both REALLY love camping. Although it takes a lot more work to get things done, there is something to be said for how well we all work together. At the end of each day we carry in our hearts a certain satisfaction just knowing we had a full and productive day. And we seem to accomplish everything with such good humor, enjoying the great outdoors with plenty of sunshine and fresh air!

So much laughter seems to carry us through the hard times when we don’t get to see our dear friends and family nearly often enough. I truly wish in my heart of hearts that we could always live like we do when so many of us gather for ceremony. It is such a special time, and something to be forever treasured.

So, I will just take this moment in time to just breathe, and allow myself the luxury of sending many, many thanks out into the Universe for all of our Blessings. It feels good to carry some positive vibes forth to help us and those around us to carry through in the face of grief, and all the trials we face in this earthly journey.

Pilamaye (thank you) for allowing me to share this space in time with you, whenever and wherever this moment might find you.

Teri
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