DIY Projects | Page 2 of 2 | Strategic Living

Super Simple Goats Milk & Honey Soap for First Time Soapmakers

June 12, 2019 Gaye Levy 9 Comments

For the longest time, I have wanted to make soap but was intimidated by the process. I envisioned donning my pandemic-ready overalls, goggles, and three layers of gloves so that I could safely work with lye. I have since learned that with care, I do not have to go quite that far but still, I was just not ready to take that step.

About six months ago, I learned about something called melt and pour soap base. Melt and pour base is a block of premade soap with nothing added. All of the work to create soap from oils and lye has been done, leaving the fun part of adding color, fragrance, and molding into bars to you. The more I read, the more I was hooked so I purchased some supplies and got started.

There was no looking back. I have learned that making hand-crafted soap from melt and pour base is addictive and is both a highly creative process and superbly rewarding hobby. I just can’t stop making soap and love giving my precious bars away to friends for no reason at all. Just because.

One of those friends loved her soaps so much that she asked for more. And then she asked me to teach her how so she could make her own and give them away to her friends. So there I was, one day, teaching my friend Nancy to make soap and within an hour or two, she was an expert. Her husband told me I created a soap-making monster. Now I don’t know about that but with all of that experience behind me, I decided to memorialize a beginners guide to making soap.

Given that pursuing your passions, including hobbies, is part of living a strategic life, I share with you what I know so far about making no-lye soap, along with some tips and tricks that will pretty much guarantee success.

How to Make a Base Carrier Salve for Your Essential Oils

March 16, 2018 Gaye Levy 16 Comments

For the last few months, I have been procrastinating when it comes to sharing my very best essential oil recipes. Why? Because most of them start with a base foundation salve made out of coconut oil, beeswax, and olive oil. It would not be fair to post a DIY that says “reach for your Base Salve” when you don’t know what that is or how to make it.

In this article, I tell you how to make this very simple base salve so that you always have some on hand to use when creating a custom EO blend of your own. Bonus: This base foundation salve is also an excellent substitute for petroleum jelly!

Make Your Own DIY Dusting Spray

August 15, 2017 Gaye Levy 4 Comments

One of the woes of undergoing a home renovation is the constant mess. It is not that the workers, myself included, are sloppy, but rather there is so much going on. Projects seem to take forever and tools and materials tend to clutter and create a mess. As tough as it is to deal with, the absolute worst thing is the dust that accumulates everywhere.

For years I have used this DIY dusting spray and believe me, it has been getting a good workout. Today I share the recipe but be forewarned, this formula is going to revolutionize your daily cleaning chores.

How to Make a Super Simple Whipped Body Butter

July 25, 2017 Gaye Levy 9 Comments

Everyone who has experienced dry skin will attest to how difficult it is to get rid of rough, dry patches on your hands, arms, feet, elbows and just about everywhere else. Not only is dry, scaly skin itchy, but looking like a sun-baked alligator is not the prettiest picture on the planet. I am not just talking about the ladies here, either. Guys get cracked hands, knees, and elbows too, and it drives them crazy.

There are many ways to combat dry skin but my favorite solution is with an ultra-creamy, whipped body butter that I make myself. This has not always been the case. My first foray into the world of body butters was over ten years ago with commercial products that had a sticky, yucky, texture that sat on top of the skin. It wasn’t until years later that I was brave enough to try again, this time with my own DIY version.

Making a body butter is insanely easy and requires just two ingredients (or three if you choose to include essential oils). Here is how I do it, and it never fails.