READING MEETUP

Wow, a lot has happened at "the cottage" since my last blog post.  Yes, we have moved to new premises but that will be another topic soon.

I am so excited for our first meetup in Reading and hope you will attend.

Sheabutter Cottage has teamed up with Naturally Simple Haircare to present our very first Meet 'n' Greet event in Reading, Berkshire!
* Do you have natural hair or are you transitioning?
* Would you like to learn how to care for your/your child's kinky/curly hair?
* Would you like to use more natural hair and beauty products but don't know where to find them?

Come and join us for an afternoon of sharing journeys, tutorials & advice about how to care for your skin & hair naturally! 
Free refreshments will be provided & products will be available to purchase on the day.
Tickets: £3.00, under 16's & OAP's FREE 

Tickets available from Reading Meetup or call 07795 625240 
Sponsored by@naturallyyoucoach @unitedkurls & @thirdpixel_

3-STEP HAIR PACK

Been combining science with nature lately :)

We understand how difficult it can be at times to maintain and seal in moisture so we came up with this 3-step hair pack.
We like to take care of your hair naturally with this subtly scented trio which comprises of:
* 200ml avocado + moringa shampoo 
* 200ml avocado + coconut leave in conditioner
* 100ml avocado + flaxseed seal & shine oil

Visit our site http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk for your purchase

NEW PRODUCTS AT SHEABUTTER COTTAGE

Been such a long time since I posted on this blog.  So many things have happened since my last post.

* Launched Sheabutter Cottage in Ghana last year [June 2013]
* Won a GUBA award [November 2013]
etc, etc.

Why not join us via the social media platforms Instagram, FaceBook  to keep up with what is happening at the "cottage".  You can also join us on our Sheabutter Cottage - Ghana fanpage [a bit quiet at the moment] where we will announce our next Sankofa Day event.

Anyway, just returned from Ghana with some new customised/handcrafted products :

Bags - 

Sterling silver Adinkra earrings

and more fabric 

We look forward to serving you online/in store

ethical + fair trade business - http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us

facebook  * instagram  * twitter * pinterest 

SANKOFA DAY : GHANA

Been quite busy lately in between attending events, packing orders and preparing for our Sankofa Day in Ghana.  
Yes, it is almost time and due to overwhelming response after we sold out of the first 2 sets of tickets, we have decided to make this an open day. All those with tickets are entitled to a FREE swag bag.

Keeping fingers crossed that there is no rain and no power failure.

Bring a friend along not forgetting your purse or wallet and let us have a chat.

I am really looking forward to this and I hope you are too

Best wishes

Akua Wood

ethical + fair trade business

http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us

facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage

instagram : http://www.instagram.com/sheabuttercottage

twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood

pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

SHEABUTTER COTTAGE : SANKOFA DAY

An open day in Ghana to have a chat on skin and hair care whilst we introduce our range of natural products onto the Ghana market.

Free food + free swag bags for all attendees.

No ticket = No entry

Register at : http://www.sheabuttercottage.eventbri...

ethical + fair trade business

http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us

facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercot...

instagram : http://www.instagram.com/sheabutterco...

twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood

pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

SHEABUTTER COTTAGE: HELPING HAND PROGRAMME

Getting excited about our next helping hand project as we celebrate 9 years this month. 9 years of Sheabutter Cottage, 9 years of stretching a helping hand all thanks to YOU.



Read more about our helping hand programme : http://akuawood.x-shops.com/pages.php?pageid=9


Akua Wood
ethical + fair trade business


socialise with us
facebook :
instagram :
twitter : 
pinterest :  

CASTOR OIL CHALLENGE

Happy sprouting with Kinky Curly Coily Me castor oil challenge. Registration now open http://kinkycurlycoilyme.com/castor-oil-challenge-spring-2013-registration/

Order your bottle(s) of organic castor oil or Jamaican black castor oil for the challenge

Best wishes

Akua Wood

ethical + fair trade business

http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us

facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage

instagram : http://www.instagram.com/sheabuttercottage

twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood

pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

TROPIC ISLE LIVING @ SHEABUTTER COTTAGE

How many of us dream of such idyllic setting on a dreary January day? Well, let Tropic Isle Living "transport" you to the Caribbean with the invigorating scent of either energising lemongrass [good for concentration] or the therapeutic cerasse bush bath/shower gel range


LEMONGRASS MINT ~ STRESS RELIEF
A deodorising blend of Caribbean herbs to help calm the nerves, sooth aches and pain and tingle your senses.

CERASSE ~ SKIN THERAPHY
A herbal blend of cerassee and rosemary to help moisturise/disinfect/deodorise the skin.

Fancy a spicy kick start in the morning? Try this duo:

GINGER ~ SOOTHING
Made with a twist of lime and ginger to help kick start your day. Great for a relaxing/stimulating wash for tired achy muscles.

ISLAND SPICE ~ ENERGY
Transport yourself to the warmth and sunny Carribbean island in the comfort of your home with a blend of spices to invigorate your senses.

Akua Wood
Sheabutter Cottage : ethical + fair trade business



socialise with us
facebook :
instagram :
twitter :
pinterest :

SHEABUTTER COTTAGE : 2012

‎10% of every purchase - NOT profit goes towards our Helping Hand programme. 2012 was such an amazing year and we thank you so much for your support. We achieved a lot through our helping hand programme [https://akuawood.x-shops.com/pages.php?pageid=9] and these are some of the highlights:

1. Payment of health insurance for all ALL 118 members of the 2 shea co-ops in Ghana.

2. Donation of money towards the build of a new water tank for a primary school in Kikuube [Uganda]

3. Payment towards the education/health care of Aharanatu of Ghana

4. Donation of £438.87 to the Orangutan Land Trust to help release orangutans into the wild

5. Funded the build of a shea drying platform in Malshegu [Ghana] to enable the co-ops produce grade A unrefined shea butter

6. Loan of $3,225.00 to 10 entrepreneurs through Kiva

WE BELIEVE IN HELPING TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

Akua Wood
ethical + fair trade business
Sheabutter Cottage


socialise with us
facebook :
instagram :
twitter :
pinterest :

KELEWELE

I love food, I love spices and I love food full of flavour.
Growing up in Labadi - a suburb of Accra (Ghana), kelewele {spiced plantain} was a snack that we sometimes queued to buy 2 streets away from our house. It is best served with roasted peanuts.
Imagine my delight a week ago when I realised that Pepper and Stew Ltd were offering the pre-packaged spice blend – I HAD TO BUY some!!!

After taking time off work today, I decided to make use of the kelewele spice. I blended the spice mix with medium sized onion, small scotch bonnet, fiery Ghanaian skinny ginger {a real pain to peel but worth it} and a teaspoon of water not forgetting a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour.
The paste was added to the plantain and left to “marinade” in the fridge for almost 2 hours before frying it. The end result is one glorious snack which I really enjoyed and brought back good memories of living close to the beach in Ghana.
The one down-side (for me personally) is the taste of cloves still lingering in my mouth. All in all, it is a great blend and I am really proud of PepperandStew for offering this to those of us with a diverse palate.

Akua
ethical + fair trade business
sheabuttercottage


socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
instagram : http://www.instagram.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

SCALP ISSUES : AN EXPERIMENT

Back in September this year, I had an interesting conversation about the use of baking soda + distilled water as a shampoo and wondered how many used this hair cleansing system? I posted this on our Facebook fanpage with mixed reaction

I therefore decided to try it myself.

I believe our scalp thrives best around pH of 4 -5.
I used distilled water which has a pH of around 7 [neutral], organic apple cider vinegar which has a pH of 5 [acid] and bicarbonate of soda which has a pH of 8 [alkaline].

These were separately mixed with distilled water - sodium bicarbonate solution iin the plastic jug - left of the screen and ACV in the glass jug - right of your screen.

"18.09.12:
Sodium bicarbonate is a mild exfoliant to release the dead skin cells.

Apple cider vinegar on the other hand is seen as a fungicide as dandruff could also be the result of bacteria.

I diluted ~15g of sodium bicarbonate in 270g of distilled water and used this solution to wash my hair.
Rinsed out with distilled water ~ 500g
Applied diluted apple cider vinegar - ~15g in 250g of distilled water. Massaged into my hair and rinsed out with distilled water after 5 minutes. My scalp was and has been breathing since.

Not yet oiled my scalp but neither the scalp nor hair feel dry."

Akua
Sheabutter Cottage

TROPIC ISLE LIVING BUSH BATH @ SHEABUTTER COTTAGE

Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Step into a bush bath
To relax the muscles
Soon will be asleep.

BUSH BATH

TROPIC ISLE LIVING BUSH BATH/SHOWER GEL

We are excited to receive our Tropic Isle Living consignment which includes the new range of 100% natural bush bath/shower gel which can be purchased at http://akuawood.x-shops.com/product.php?productid=832&cat=42&page=1

Now here is the fun part - caption this photo below and win a bottle of ginger bush bath/shower gel.

This is open to all till midnight of 4th September 2012.

Good luck

Akua Wood
ethical + fair trade business
http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

TROPIC ISLE LIVING JAMAICAN BLACK CASTOR OIL

TROPIC ISLE LIVING [TIL] asks

Did you know this?

For ages throughout the Caribbean, black castor oil was and still is highly prized for its beneficial effect on the hair and scalp. Women with natural or permed hair use it to cleanse toxins and fatty deposits on the sca

lp and hair follicles that causes dandruff, dry scalp, and barber umps. It also nourishes the scalp; thickens hair roots; and stimulates hair growth. A black castor oil hot oil treatment will moisturise dry brittle hair; repair split ends; and gives the hair body, bounce and sheen.

Black castor oil is also popularly used to manage aches and pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism, joint stiffness and muscular strain. By massaging black castor oil in these it will help to sooth, cleanse and improve blood circulation to the area. It’s also used to soften corns and calluses and reduce the soreness.

Traditional healers usually recommend that women massage their breast with black castor oil to ease the soreness due to hormonal changes and to help prevent cysts and lumps from forming.

Black castor oil is also popularly used to manage aches and pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism, joint stiffness and muscular strain. By massaging black castor oil in these it will help to sooth, cleanse and improve blood circulation to the area. It’s also used to soften corns and calluses and reduce the soreness.

Traditional healers usually recommend that women massage their breast with black castor oil to ease the soreness due to hormonal changes and to help prevent cysts and lumps from forming.

Tropic Isle Living is still the trusted Jamaican Black Castor Oil brand for 18 years and counting. We are the originators…not the duplicators. Our healthy natural products come to you from many years of research and development.

Sheabutter Cottage is proud to distribute this wonderful product through.  Grab yourself a bottle and find out why some call this a miracle in a bottle: http://akuawood.x-shops.com/product.php?productid=124&cat=42&page=1

TIL - the name to trust

Akua
ethical + fair trade business
http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

SHEABUTTER COTTAGE @ UZIMA HOLISTIC EXPO

Your discount coupon for next Saturday Uzima Expo - just click + print BUT don't leave it behind!!!!!

*Only printed coupons will be accepted*

Buy your tickets at http://uzimaexpo.eventbrite.co.uk/?ebtv=C

Hope to see you there

Akua

Sheabutter Cottage

CIOCCOLATINA GIVEAWAY

Watch and WIN goodies from an ethical + fair trade business [http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk]

All comments to be either on our YouTube channel [http://www.youtube.com/user/sheabuttercottagehq] or facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/SheabutterCottage]


socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

AUTHENTIC AFRICAN BLACK LIQUID SOAP

Mild and fragrance-free for the whole family with more than 40% of pure unrefined fairly traded shea butter. This natural soap is nice and thick in texture like melted chocolate. Used in West Africa to relieve skin irritations, it has a pleasant smoky scent and can be used as a body wash/shampoo.

Lather up
Akua

ethical + fair trade business
http://www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

socialise with us
facebook : http://www.facebook.com/sheabuttercottage
twitter : http://www.twitter.com/akuawood
pinterest : http://pinterest.com/akuawood/

TROPIC ISLE LIVING : JBCO WITH ARGAN

We are proud to introduce a new product for distribution from Tropic Isle Living range of Jamaican black castor oil.


Tropic Isle Living is THE HOME of original Jamaican black castor oil aka JBCO


JBCO + Argan + Shea = bye bye frizzy hair

Akua

Sheabutter Cottage

DON'T JUST HANG YOUR ONIONS *repost*

*repost from 31st March 2010* Just like all teenagers, I had selective hearing but 1 of the things that kept ringing in my rather stubborn ears was "onions are good for you". My mum said this and even went on to say how good it is for scars. 

Thank goodness I did not ignore her. I have always added onions to my diet and as well as a daily massage of pure unrefined shea butter on my skin, I barely have any scars.

There are so many different varieties of onions but they are used to:
* improve memory
* sore throat
* tummy infection
* high blood pressure

I came across this article whilst flicking through the newspaper yesterday:

EATING onions every day could protect against heart disease.

Researchers have found onions contain the largest amounts of quer·ce·tin A yellow powdered crystalline compound produced synthetically or occurring as a glycoside in the rind and bark of numerous plants, used medicinally to treat abnormal capillary fragility. Also called meletin. , an antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene thought to help delay or slow damage to cells and tissues.

Quercetin may also lower levels of 'bad' or LDL cholesterol 
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the primary cholesterol molecule. High levels of LDL increase the risk of coronary heart disease. -- a risk factor for heart disease.

In a study at Wageningen Agricultural University, Holland, researchers looked at three major sources of the compound: tea, onions and apples. Onions contained twice as much as tea and more than three times the amount found in apples.

A second study at Christian-Albrechts University in Germany showed that a daily intake of 50 to 150mg was needed to enjoy the health benefits.

One medium-sized onion contains around 22 to 51mg. It doesn't matter whether the onion is raw or cooked.

Akua
Sheabutter Cottage 

NEW PRODUCT AT CIOCCOLATINA : GREEN & FRESH POMADE

We ♥ your hair and would like to introduce one of our new Cioccolatina products - Green & Fresh pomade is a rich moisturising & vegan friendly blend of cactus, broccoli, laurel and castor oil with a touch of a fresh blend of essential oils to help add shine and promote healthy hair. No waxy feeling. Great for braids & locs.

Now available online : http://akuawood.x-shops.com/product.php?productid=799&cat=29&page=1

Akua
Sheabutter Cottage