A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked. ~ Bernard Meltzer
Thankfully I no longer live full time in a region with bitterly cold winters, and I am lucky enough now to live in a region where, in a few hours drive, I can be up in the mountains and snow when I have a need to go snowshoeing. During my early teenage years we lived in Minnesota, and one winter my parents thought it would be a great idea for me to take over my brother's newspaper route. Not only did he have two routes in the neighborhood, but our house was also the drop house which means that in the wee hours a huge pile papers would be dropped in our driveway - papers for all of the routes in the neighborhood, and I would have to count them out into neat piles before the other carriers arrived to pick up their stack of papers.
Now I don't know if you have ever spent any time in Minnesota in the winter, especially outside in the
snow, ice and bitter cold from about 3-6am, have you? I can still hear my mom telling me how this paper route will build character and intestinal fortitude. I have been called a character many times, but I still don't have a clue about intestinal fortitude. Sounds like an illness to me... Webster's New World College Dictionary defines intestinal fortitude as: courage and perseverance; grit; pluck: a euphemism for “guts”. Nice. Hey everybody - I've got grit and pluck!
One of the biggest problems with this job in addition to wearing many, many layers of clothes in an attempt to stay dry and somewhat warm was the cracked skin that resulted from exposure. Every winter my hands, and especially my hands would become so dry that my skin would crack and sometimes even bleed. yuck.
Last winter I started to make a body and hand cream to help with this winter time dry skin, and I've found that it works great for me, my family and several people I've met while traveling in the winter in Alaska and around Lake Tahoe. Just a few days ago I received a compliment from a gentleman in a hotel elevator telling me how much he enjoyed my perfume, and when I explained it was my body and hand cream he wanted to buy the container right out of my suitcase - cool!
Cracked Winter Skin Hand and Body Butter
Ingredients
1 oz. Kokum Butter
.5 oz Evening Primrose oil
.5 oz Grapeseed oil
10-20 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Vitamin E
Weigh out butter and heat slowly until almost melted, and remove from heat.
Weigh out oils while butter is melting and then pour into melted butter.
Add essential oil and vitamin E.
Mix all ingredients together and pour into clean container.
It will take a few hours for the butter to solidify. When ready to use take a small amount, maybe a dime size amount initially, in your hand and rub together to melt the oils before rubbing on your hands and any extra dry areas on your body. You will find that Kokum Butter melts quickly on your skin.
You may want to rub on your hands and cover with soft cotton gloves overnight to really help soften rough skin.
Keep storage container closed when not in use.
You can scent with any essential oil/s you prefer, or you may choose to leave the butter unscented.
I have also used jojoba oil in place of the grapeseed oil, and I have also used lavender infused grapeseed oil as well.
NOTE: Kokum Butter is not recommended by those with nut allergies.Kokum Butter is rich in essential fatty acids, which aid in cell oxygenation. Kokum Butter is a non-comodegenic (non pore-clogging), and it helps regenerate worn skin cells and supports skin elasticity.
Do you have any intestinal fortitude or character building stories to share?
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