Shampoo Bar Natural Additives Excerpt from “How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars”

copyright 2011-2024 by Lisa Maliga

When using herbal additives, it’s better to use dried herbs than fresh—even in the rebatch type of base. This helps prolong the shelf life of the shampoo bar. Here 10 helpful natural additives to improve your shampoo bars.

* Aloe Vera Gel or Juice [Aloe Barbadensis] – Scalp soothing aloe vera gel makes a wonderful addition to shampoo bars due to its moisturizing and balancing properties. It is high in protein. Aloe vera gel is thicker and longer lasting. Fresh aloe vera can be used for rebatch/hand-milled shampoo bars, but the shelf life won’t be as long. Natural and/or organic aloe vera gel is always clear in color.

* Amla [Emblica Officinalis] – Amla is called Indian Gooseberry and is an Ayruvedic herb that conditions and helps with hair growth. In powdered form, it’s brownish in color. In liquid form it’s green and often mixed with coconut oil or sesame oil. You can buy it online and in Indian grocery stores. Amla is beneficial for all hair types.

how to make handmade shampoo bars: the budget edition by lisa maliga paperback

* Avocado [Persea Gratissima] – This vitamin-filled fruit has lots of potassium, vitamin B and vitamin E, can be used mashed up into the rebatched soap or in a hair masque. The oil can be added to melt and pour soap base.

* Beer – American or imported, bottled or canned, light or dark, beer is good for your hair! It contains wheat protein and B vitamins. A healthy and economical addition to your shampoo bars, it can also be used as a hair rinse.

* Chamomile [Anthemis Nobilis] – Whether you choose German or Roman chamomile, you’ll be helping wash away any skin irritations/allergies. Used in a shampoo bar, blonde-haired people will continue to have more fun! You can use whole [dried] chamomile flowers, or those that have been cut or powdered. Naturally, you can enhance the calming chamomile experience with the essential oil.

* Clay – Many varieties of clays are available and range from bentonite, Pascalite, Rhassoul to Himalayan. Recently, clays from Australia include washed blue, olive green, and ivory are now available to us in the USA. Clays remove dirt and grime from the hair and scalp, yet don’t strip it of moisture. Colors range from white to pink to green to brown. Clays make great additions to both shaving soaps and shampoo bars.

* Coffee [Coffea Arabica] – Your morning coffee contains vitamins B3 and E and the aroma is quite perky. The benefits of caffeine include helping boost your hair’s volume and shine.

* Goat’s Milk – Contains a higher amount of protein than cow’s milk. Using goat’s milk in your shampoo bars won’t increase lather but the silky sensation during and after use is almost guaranteed to get you addicted to this additive!

* Honey – Raw/organic honey has gentle, moisturizing qualities that make it beneficial for any hair type. In its purest, unrefined form, it has all the vitamins, along with 16 minerals including calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron. This nourishing nectar also has proteins and amino acids, along with enzymes and co-enzymes.

* Rosemary [Rosmarinus Officinalis] – A gift for your hair and beneficial in essential oil or in the dried and cut or powdered rosemary leaves, which can be used directly in the shampoo bars. It is frequently found in liquid and solid shampoos and in hair growth blends as it may help increase hair growth since it stimulates the follicles.

Book link: How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars

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Meeting Mel Gibson ~ Excerpt from “Diary of a Hollywood Nobody”

Copyright 2011-2024 by Lisa Maliga

Thursday, May 18

I was sentenced to eight hours in the legal department at Warner Bros. The lawyer’s secretary was pregnant and all she did was sit behind her desk and talk on the phone. The lawyer, Mr. Manic, was civil to me at first. He sauntered in around 10:30 and disappeared into his office on the other side of the suite. Preggers sat in the large reception area and I was squeezed into a file room with a desk on the other side of the secretary’s office. The water cooler was beside the desk and he came over to fill up a mug and hand me his car keys! Mr. Manic told me to go down to his car, a Jaguar convertible, and retrieve his briefcase.

I loped downstairs, glad to get out into the sunny day and check out his wheels. It was a white Jag. with a matching leather interior and it sure smelled clean and new when I opened the door. Then I saw the briefcase. It wasn’t the standard issue case made of imported leather; it was quadruple sized and HEAVY! As I lugged it out of the car, I almost dropped the damn thing.  That it contained books was evident–but all 26 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica

The briefcase never left the ground. Having to go upstairs in the elevatorless Admin. building meant that the case rested on each step. Mr. Manic was having me, someone who was probably half his weight, play pack mule? Why? Did he hate temps?

The endearing Mr. Manic also had his car washed for him. A man stopped by and asked Preggers for the car keys so the Jag. could be washed and the gas tank filled. I’d happened to be in the reception area doing some file organizing so I witnessed the man pocketing the keys. I wanted to tell him to make sure he left the top down and hit every phone pole on the way back!

Preggers had me “run” to the mailroom to drop off some important letters. Just as I was rounding a corner, I barely avoided slamming into an equally surprised Mel Gibson! Those famous blue eyes were huge; we were just inches from a collision!

Book link: Diary of a Hollywood Nobody

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Shampoo Bar Benefits Excerpt from “How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars”

Copyright 2011-2024 by Lisa Maliga

Why Make Your Own Shampoo Bars?

Shampoo bars are versatile enough for most hair types. They are fun and easy to make and you can create them to suit your needs. Not only are shampoo bars beneficial for your hair, they are also beneficial for the environment. They can be as natural and organic as you choose, using only the finest plant, fruit, nut and vegetable oils. If you sell, or are thinking about selling soap and/or other bath and body products, they can enhance your inventory.

Shampoo Bar Benefits:

They don’t spill!

Minimal packaging.

Excellent for travel/camping/the gym.

Custom made to suit YOUR hair type.

Unisex.

Easy to use.

No color needed.

Generally, they are preservative-free.

Scented or unscented.

Shampoo bars are versatile. Use as a facial soap and/or body soap.

Economical and earth-friendly

Good for people and dogs!

Shampoo bars can be made in various shapes and sizes.

Book link: How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars

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Arlen’s Best Birthday Excerpt from “The Narcissist Chronicles: The Whole Story”

Copyright 2011-2024 by Lisa Maliga

I loved my birthday no matter how old I got. Our MySpace site was blessed with people who left a lot of comments wishing me a happy birthday and I just never got tired of seeing it all! I did a special birthday poem and got more blog comments that way. God, I was having fun.

On top of that, I was in love with an angel from Tupelo, Mississippi named FlowerChild. She was a divorcee who was only thirty-five and was the brightest woman I’d had the privilege to meet online thus far. She wasn’t a writer but she wrote like one, and she worked in the deli department of a supermarket where she was in charge of making those wonderful party platters.

That FlowerChild was born only ten miles from the King [of rock n roll] made me love her even more. Ironically, she wasn’t a huge Elvis fan at all; something I just happened to overlook and forgive, as she was a fan of my books and had purchased all three copies in hardcover. FlowerChild loved reading and had excelled in it back in high school. She was going to attend Mississippi State, but she got pregnant and married, yes folks, in that order, and college had to wait.

Something about her was so refreshingly different and wonderful that I decided to give up flirting forever. I loved the hell out of her. I thought about her most all the time, and then some, to the point that she’s sort of like a billboard in my brain.

If things were going well for me, that afternoon they hit a peak. I heard back from that publisher I’d been in touch with for the past few months about my short story. Seems like they liked it so much that it would be put into a sexy horror anthology, which was going to be released by year’s end! Payment was okay but potential exposure was great. Not only that, I would finally have a legitimate new writing credit! I was one very happy man.

Book link: https://www.lisamaliga.com/book-the-narcissist-chronicles-the-whole-story

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Private Dancer’s Warning ~ Book Excerpt from “The Narcissist Chronicles: The Whole Story”

By Lisa Maliga

Copyright 2011-2024

This excerpt features an email exchange from Private Dancer, one of Arlen Stevenson’s many online MySpace friends, to another woman who is in love with the zombie author. Only Arlen’s manager intercepts the missive. It serves as a strong warning about Arlen’s narcissistic ways.

Note: It’s been edited for length and the typos and misspellings are intentional to show the rawness of the exchange.

I opened up the email from Private Dancer.

I know you and Arlen have some kind of friendship going here. I know you flirt like hell that there is no harm either, well what you think is no harm. But I don’t know how far it’s gone. I am hoping I am wrong, and you didn’t go there to see him . please tell me you ddin’t and if you did, hun, all I have to say, GOD HELP YOU.

I am going to write some things I bet your bottom dollar he’s said to you. And he not only has told you, he has told all other women that he is woooing, sleeping with, or setting up to sleep with.

* Darlin, don’t listen to tehm, they don’t know what they are sayin.

* You know I love you & only you.

* Darlin I have to make those comments on the profile cause my manager tells me to cause it sells books.

* You are the most important thing to me and no one else.

* If you cant come to me, I will come to you.

* Once I [redacted] and we have sex, you know you are all mine, don’t you?

* If you come out here darlin, we will go to the lake house. Then you can meet my buddies and you can become a member of our private club.

* Once you are here darlin, I want to build you a log cabin for us to live in, and never leave. And you can manage and help me with the myspace and read my emails and comments, then you can help me weed out the ones you don’t want.

* (For those who are married) Darlin, don’t worry that you are married, I am too. She does her thing and I do mine. Your husband will never find out. We can meet some where he will never know… just you and me and have all the sex we want.

*  You are the best in the world, you are the only one I love, you’re the only one I want to be with, none of the other women know about us, so don’t tell them. Be careful with your comments, or they might get wind of us.

* He is going to tell you don’t listen to me..but I can get in touch with all the women who are already in touch with me that he did the same with. The more you keep flirting dirty with him, the more serious he will get about meeting you, and will push youinto it or coherse you to making your mind up to doing it.

* He can’t understand why all the women have this thing for him. He is just a simple Southern smalltown boy. He isn’t a saint, but he never expected this to happen. He knows how bad he can be, but that would make all the other women jealous.

Arlen has ruined some marriages but he blamed the women. He didn’t tell them to come there, or have sex with him. He says this stuff to all the women, not just you. He has all the women believeing they are the only one, right down to sex and cooking and everything else…

I am just trying to let you know what he really is like. And that he doesn’t care no more about you and your feeling than any other woman. He just loves having them eating out of his hand and thinking he is their man, their god, their sex machine…..

If you want to keep it up…fine I cant stop you. But you need to know the truth… remember if he isn’t doing things or saying things to you, he is to other women, and he will hurt them emotionally and blame them for it…

I was glad that Arlen pointed it out, and that I was quick enough to save it. I filed it, not fully contemplating what I had just read. And it was still going on.

An author of zombie fiction, Arlen J. Stevenson uses his writing ability to entice his online victims. He flirts with them via email or instant messages. But what happens when he meets his online match?

Book link: The Narcissist Chronicles: The Whole Story by Lisa Maliga

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Out of the Blue: A Novel ~ Video Excerpt

Copyright 2014-2024 by Lisa Maliga

The month of August was sweltering. Sylvia Gardner was unaware of how the heat would affect her on a Thursday afternoon during the second week of over 95-degree temperatures. Images of Jamaica held far less appeal than they did during the winter months. The thought of visiting Bob Marley’s country faded.

It was her day off from her cashiering job at Jenson’s Drugstore. She was taking advantage of the air-conditioned climate. The movie was Splendor in the Grass starring Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. The Zenith TV stood in the corner of the living room on a faux wood grain wheeled cart. Beneath it was stored the new TV Guide, along with the Richport News entertainment section, and the monthly PBS magazine. 

She switched on the TV, knowing the movie would be on by the time she returned from the kitchen. She could enjoy the movie, sip from a bottle of ice cold 7 Up from the freezer, and maybe indulge in a few handfuls of potato chips. Oh yeah, and that container of French onion dip from Kroger was still on the second shelf of the fridge.

Odd, she thought. It hadn’t done that in a while. As she was about to switch back, the picture sharpened even more and she was attracted to the verdant landscape. Something about the bucolic setting captivated Sylvia.

 And that was how it all began.

book link: Out of the Blue: A Novel

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Zombie Excerpt from “The Narcissist Chronicles: The Whole Story”

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2011-2024

I posted my short story Zombies At The Kings Country Buffet. The comments came pouring in and I was winning more subscribers and more fans. Some of those ol’ gals were bringing in other ol’ gals. I was sent pictures of some of ‘em and lots of private email addresses and phone numbers. To say my calendar was getting kinda full was a huge understatement. God, I loved MySpace!

A few days later I found time to chat with [my manager] Helena on the IM but I had to remain hidden or else I would’ve been inundated with gals wanting to chat. We discussed the overwhelming success of my short story that had been on my web site for years, but over here it had garnered over 60 comments. Danielle in Odessa, Texas wrote about my witty horror tale, saying she was laughing and crying at the same time and she would stay far away from buffets in the future. BlueEyedBlonde wrote, in part: “you have quite a sense of humor about you (Thank GOD!!!) I enjoy your writings…”

Gillian in North Carolina: “I don’t care bout no dam zombies but what you tell me is that u got some balls great big size and I love you writeing”

Frankinzombie: “Because Im a loser baby,now why dont you kill me, that is If I turn into a zombie. Its all fantasy,we know about reality,work,hot girlfriend who likes expensive things,and talks to much while your watching a football game, giving your bud some $ to score some bud, and dosnt show up till the next day,wop-ass time,i know you been pinching my bag mo-fo,escape from reality,til zombies really happens,its comming soon”

Robbi Zombie: “Arlen, you are 1 of the finest zombie writers in your genre. Not only do you maintain a level of tension, but it’s interlaced with lots of humor. I wish I could give you 10 kudos!”

Then it happened. Some firefighter in a small town of South Hampton, Alabama wrote about wanting a speaker at his Christmas party—and the man even gave an amount. That would be enough to buy a new computer. Things were lookin’ up!

An author of zombie fiction, Arlen J. Stevenson uses his writing ability to entice his online victims. He flirts with them via email or instant messages. But what happens when he meets his online match?

Link: The Narcissist Chronicles: The Whole Story by Lisa Maliga

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Ruby Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2020-2023

Soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies retain the lovely pink shade of the ruby chocolate callets. Two ways to retain the color are to lower the oven temperature and to only use baking powder as a rising agent. The undersides of the cookies are brownish in color.

Equipment:

Stand or hand mixer
Baking sheets
Cooling rack
Parchment paper or Silpats
Cookie scoop [ice cream scoop]
Sifter
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups/spoons
Spatula
Cookie jar or airtight storage container

Ingredients:

1/2 cup [115 grams] unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup [100 grams] firmly-packed brown sugar
1/2 cup [100 grams] granulated white sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups [185 grams] all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1 1/2 cups [262 grams] ruby chocolate chips/chunks + 1 Tablespoon [15 grams] for adding later

Oven Temperature: 325 Fahrenheit [160 Celsius]
Baking Time: 16 -18 minutes


Directions:

In a medium bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar and cream together well. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Add the sifted flour, baking powder, and salt to the butter mixture. Lastly, add the ruby chocolate chips and mix until incorporated. Using a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, scoop dollops of dough [about 1-2 Tablespoons]. Place onto a parchment-lined baking tray with about three- inches between the cookies. This step is optional, but you can put the cookies in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to one hour before baking. Bake for 16-18 minutes until browned around the edges. Cool the cookies on the baking tray. Let cool slightly and transfer to cooling rack.


TIPS: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.
Cookies can be refrigerated or frozen if wrapped in freezer-safe plastic wrap and put in an airtight container.
Label and date your container[s] of cookies. Underbaked cookies can be reheated in an oven or toaster oven.

Video

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Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes Recipe

By Lisa Maliga copyright 2017-2023

The combination of dark chocolate and tart yet sweet raspberries is classic. I’ve slightly revised this recipe to include golden sugar and organic coconut sugar rather than plain granulated sugar. Also, golden ‘tinker dust’ has been added on top of each frosted cupcake to give it a distinctive glittery appearance.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [3 oz] https://amzn.to/42Sy1a8

1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder https://amzn.to/3JQ25KU

3/4 cup hot water

3/4 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3nsTVAt

3/4 cup granulated sugar, https://amzn.to/3G0m3Bl  

For more flavor and/or health benefits, try: 2 parts golden sugar https://amzn.to/3lV1MXb and one part organic palm sugar https://amzn.to/3TYTM47

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt https://amzn.to/3KmkzEn

1/2 teaspoon baking soda https://amzn.to/3nnx5Kz

6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz] https://amzn.to/3ZCwXVe

2 eggs [room temperature]

2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste [or extract] https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS: Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners. Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly. Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. There will be small lumps from the raspberries in the dark chocolate. DON’T OVERMIX! Fill cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

ROCKIN’ RASPBERRY FROSTING

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature [6 oz]

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar [confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar] https://amzn.to/3K3ype3

3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves https://amzn.to/3KngZtJ

3 drops neon pink https://amzn.to/3nx2Ot4

Bright Gold Tinker Dust [edible glitter] https://amzn.to/3ZuJ9Hr

FROSTING DIRECTIONS: Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cream, and vanilla extract with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute. Add the raspberry preserves and beat until thick and creamy, about 5 full minutes, so it’s very soft and fluffy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. I used a Wilton’s 1M piping tip.

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“Nuts About Shea Butter” eBook 2022 Edition

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2022

I’ve finally got around to updating my first book about shea butter. I’ve added more photos, resources, and a new cover.

New NUTS ABOUT SHEA BUTTER eBook cover

In NUTS ABOUT SHEA BUTTER the reader will discover shea butter’s benefits, its numerous applications, and how to get optimal use from this healthy and natural nut fat. Learn about the differences between East African and West African shea butter. What is the right kind of shea butter for your needs? Various types of shea butter and shea oil are described in this cutting edge e-book.

Used in African countries for centuries, shea butter has been an ingredient in medicines for the preparation of skin ointments, and to treat inflammation, sunburn, chapping, rashes and more. Written for the consumer and the bath & body products crafter, NUTS ABOUT SHEA BUTTER contains fascinating facts and effective explanations. Shea butter is an ancient African beauty secret that is becoming more popular everywhere.

This new 2022 edition includes several color photos, more varieties of shea butter, interviews with shea butter suppliers and more shea butter resources.

The author has worked with shea butter for more than a decade and named her company after this star ingredient.

The price of NUTS ABOUT SHEA BUTTER has remained the same! I strive to keep all my book prices affordable.

To Buy Links:

Amazon: Nuts About Shea Butter
Amazon UK: Nuts About Shea Butter
Apple/iTunes: Nuts About Shea Butter
B&N Nook: Nuts About Shea Butter
Kobo: Nuts About Shea Butter
Smashwords: Nuts About Shea Butter

Nice ways to package your shea butter.

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