COMPETITION - FOR THE LOVE OF COCOA

CHICKPEA ANYONE?

I have always been a fan of ingredients in our kitchen cupboards which can easily be used on the skin. I was recently chatting to a friend when we just happened to talk about facials and she mentioned the use of chickpea flour.

Chickpeas are grown in the Mediterranean, western Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Australia. Domestically they can be sprouted within a few days all year round with a sprouter on a windowsill.
Mature chickpeas can be cooked and eaten cold in salads, cooked in stews, ground into a flour called gram flour (also known as besan and used primarily in Indian cuisine), ground and shaped in balls and fried as falafel, fermented to make an alcoholic drink similar to sake, stirred into a batter and baked to make farinata, cooked and ground into a paste called hummus or roasted, spiced and eaten as a snack (such as leblebi). Chick peas and bengal grams are used to make curries and are one of the most popular vegetarian foods in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK.

Although I did not get the exact measurements, I was given the ingredients as follows: * chickpea flour
* sugar
* salt
* vegetable oil
* fresh lemon juice
* turmeric

You basically add the oil, flour & lemon juice before adding the sugar & salt.
As I always mention, prime your face before treating yourself to a facial mask.
Apply the mixture, leave it on for ~ 30mins for it to dry. Gently massage your face before rinsing off.

Salt is a bit harsh on the face but this I believe will dissolve hence the addition of the sugar.

This is what I ended up using over the weekend:
*~ 2 tbs chickpea flour
* 1/2 lemon juice
* 1 tsp table salt
* 1/2 tsp turmeric
* 3/4 tbs shea oil
<- I know these were not weighed as I was camping at the time and did not have access to weighing scales :)
I know I looked like a warrior but the treatment was very effective and worth it.

TUCUMA HAIR BUTTER

When I introduced this hair butter in June 2009, I never knew it would affect my sleep ;)
I love my job but then I also love my sleep. I am writing this feeling like a zombie as I stayed up all night to make this fresh batch of tucuma hair butter. At least I know it would be worth the lack of my beauty sleep as some thirsty hair strands are waiting to be moisturised.

Grab your jar and get your hair pampered

ROSEMARY IS BACK WITH A NEW DRESS

Ok, I am referring to our gorgeous rosemary leave-in conditioner. Fresh batch now available in new packaging. We have now decided to opt for a jar rather than the lotion pump to make it easier in moisturising those curls and helping with a little gloss on your crowning glory.

Ah, but do not wait too long as there is a special 10% discount valid till midnight of 12th July 2010.

Feed your hair this way >>>

GROUND SHEA KERNEL

We are nuts about sheabutter here at Sheabutter Cottage. We like to break boundaries with this wonderful natural ingredient in its pure form and can now offer you the ground shea kernel for gentle exfoliation.

Available in 50g pouches in slightly coarse or fine texture, you can grab one or two for your soaps or face masks via our online store

SPEECHES AND DANCING TO THE SOCIAL TUNE BEYOND FAIR TRADE

I have spent the last few days trying to edit video clips of my trip to Ghana. Some people thought I was going on a holiday to a very warm country close to my heart. Well, the latter was true but it was all hard work with no lazying around. At least, I got the chance to meet some amazing people and survived working alongside another workaholic. Hope you enjoy these two videos.

WORKING TRIP TO GHANA - JUNE 2010

Open publication - Free publishing

IS IT WRONG TO BE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE?

As a Ghanaian - born & educated in Ghana, I have experienced poverty. I even remember the "not so fashionable Rawlings' chain". However, nothing prepared me for what I recently witnessed whilst working in Gumu in Northern Ghana. I have set up a page to appeal for donations on behalf of this warm loving community and hope that you can help.

YELLOW SHEA & KOMBO BUTTER

BUY YOUR KOMBO BUTTER HERE

NO REST FOR THE WICKED

It has been hard work trying to get things done under the intense Ghanaian sun. I was hoping to be reporting from the pool side sipping a chilled glass of Amarula but alas, it is almost midnight in Accra, I am wearing socks as the 'quitoes make fun of my sunripe ankles and I have a cold cup of strong tea to keep be hydrated.
My stay in Ghana is almost over and it has been work, work and keep working. I now need a holiday!!!
Anyway, the purpose of this trip has been 90% fulfilled - who knows, I might return in time to work on the remaining 10% before the 7 year old road works in Accra are completed!!!

The work schedule started with the inauguration of OhanaPassion.org a day after my arrival. I know I look terrified in the photo - I was tired and the microphone was also playing up.

Soon after the inauguration, I traveled North where I was based for 5 working days working at Gumu.

I had to inspect a soap mould soon after my arrival. At least I know it is from recycled metal - what a bonus.

I worked with the lovely ladies and men including Madam Samata Iddi who was sooooo funny and very very hardworking. Even though there was the language barrier {I don't speak Dagbani and most of the women do not speak English nor my local dialect, Twi}, we had 1 thing in common which was to educate ourselves through empowerment.

They were pleased to learn that I had managed to pay their annual Health Insurance fees.

I saw myself clad in this beautiful blue stripped fabric with gold thread after the inauguration of the co-op on Friday 11th June 2010. This was a lovely unexpected gift from the co-op.

I was invited to another village after the inauguration to visit another co-op. We hope to also adopt this co-op which is currently made up of 66 women.

I had planned on visiting cocoa farmers but I soon realised that I was few weeks late as they had harvested the crops. I managed to sneak onto a farm though on Wednesday on my return from Kumasi - my birthplace. Sorry for the blurred image, the battery was nearing death and we were also scarred of snakes that lurk beneath the cocoa trees.

Today was full of meetings so I decided to start the day harvesting some moringa seeds

ROCK YOUR 'FRO

YAY - it is competition time.

See details on our Facebook fan page

KEEP COOL WITH A T

Working at the "cottage" means no more high heels nor skirt suits. I am always dressed down like a female Ranulph Fiennes as the "cottage" can get pretty cooooold. It is however nice and cool during the warm weather and I prefer to work in a t-shirt.

If you like to keep cool with an organic t-shirt, then pop over to our facebook fan page where you can win one in our Spread Hope prize giveaway. Winner(s) will be selected on Thursday 27th May 2010 so arm yourself with some knowledge about Sheabutter Cottage :)

OLIVE SQUALANE

We have been using this lovely light oil for years in our range of products

and can now offer it to you to bring the mixtress out of you. Visit our store for your bottle.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS!

Here is a special offer on our pure unrefined creamy fair trade raw shea butter - we DO NOT compromise on quality.
Sometimes you need to use up containers taking up space hence this special offer.
Great size and value for family use too.
Grab a 425g tub of pure unrefined fair trade shea butter @ £9.75. At such a good price if I may say so, it will be a shame to miss out. Great for top2toe use:
* great as a hair conditioner
* great as a face mask
* great for all family members
* great for skin elasticity
* great for ......... the list goes on

WHY BLACK WHEN IT IS BROWN IN COLOUR?

WHICH PALM? ADWENGO IS GOOD FOR THE HAIR.

Grab a bottle

BACK IN FULL SWING

Actually, I never went away. I took time off work although ironically, I was working behind the scenes. So much has been happening at Sheabutter Cottage and I would like to take this opportunity in thanking you for your support.

GUMU - GHANA: I am pleased to say that we have managed to raise 281.7% of our target [as of 11.Apr]. We hope that we can hit a 300% target before I visit the lovely ladies in June.
Our latest donation to Gumu was a much needed one to provide a roof before the raining season. I was glad to receive a phonecall yesterday to confirm this had been carried out. Some of the money also went towards providing a pipeline. Learn a bit more of this co-op.

NGO/CHARITY: Back in December 2009, I mentioned "I finally signed documents for the formation of our Ghanaian based company [NGO/Charity]. This will be to help meet the psychosocial needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable children". We are now planning on the inauguration in June.

KOMBO BUTTER: I sometimes receive requests for items that we do not necessarily stock due to our sourcing policy. I was excited though to be challenged with this butter. I actually did not have to look far as I managed to track this butter down whilst chatting to one of the ladies at Gumu. The butter was delivered yesterday - freshly pressed and is now available : on our site

NEW PRODUCTS @ CIOCCOLATINA: We have been known for our range of fair trade exotic supplies. However, we still make our range of natural toiletries under the Cioccolatina brand. Yes, all the products are handmade by yours truly and here is the latest offering:
Scalp butter
Frankincense & Lavender gift pack
Frankincense & Lavender shea soap
Frankincense & Lavender whipped shea

Until next time, keep pampering your skin.
Akua
Sheabutter Cottage

2 NEW PRODUCTS AT CIOCCOLATINA

Cioccolatina is our brand of handmade natural toiletries at Sheabutter Cottage. All the products are made by yours truly and I absolutely love mixing simple ingredients for effective use on skin and hair. These are the 2 latest offerings:

AFRO SHAMPOO BAR

ARGAN SOAP

Visit our online shop for more >>www.sheabuttercottage.co.uk

CAN'T CONTAIN THE EXCITEMENT

I don't even know where to start? There is always an air of excitement when my alarm aka the rascals wake me up on a Friday morning.
Yes, it signifies the weekend is just a few hours away.
However, I am sooooooo excited today because I have just taken delivery of one of our first 2 orders of pure creamy gorgeous unrefined fair trade shea butter from the lovely hardworking ladies at Gumu - Ghana.

The excitement does not just end there though - tomorrow is the 53rd independence anniversary of my beloved country Ghana. Come and join me in tapping those feet, shaking the waist and swinging those hips.

THANK YOU ....