Face Powder, Blush, and Eyeshadow

All three powders start the same: a base of cornstarch. If you are allergic, try another starch that is equally light. Start with 1/2 cup of cornstarch and then add your pigment, mixing thoroughly and testing after each addition.

For face powder, add pigment until you get the desired color. It might literally only take 1 teaspoon of powder to get the right shade, so constantly mix and test to get it right:

Pigments you can try:

green clay

red clay

organic cocoa powder

mica

For PLAIN powder just for oil-control, just use cornstarch.

To OFFSET redness, use 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1 tablespoon green clay.

BLUSH:

Blush starts with cornstarch, and then you add pigment, a little bit at a time, until you get the right shade for you.

Pigments to try:

tomato powder

beet root powder

mica

EYESHADOW:

I generally take a bit of my face powder and then add more pigment to it to make it darker. However, you can also do just cornstarch with mica. Appropriate pigments for eyeshadow are generally mica, clay, or cocoa powder.

Mascara and Eyeliner

Mascara:

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
1 capsule activated charcoal

Directions:
Mix together and use an old mascara wand and brush to apply. It will go on gooey, so have an eyelash brush handy to brush it out. Let it dry thoroughly and then you can run your finger across the lashes to "fluff" them up.

Alternatively, you can pour water over the charcoal and mix it up until it is just the right consistency--liquidy but not too watered down. Dip brush in and paint on your eyeliner.

Eyeliner:

Ingredients:
1 capsule activated charcoal
water

Directions:
Open up your capsule and put the charcoal into a container. Dip a wet makeup brush into it and paint your eyeliner on. Can be messy--practice is key!

Lip Balm

Lip Balm:


Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon beeswax pearls
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
3 drops peppermint EO


Directions:
Heat it up on LOW, whip with a whisk until thoroughly emulsified, then put it in your lip balm container and let it sit out to cool. 


BAM!

Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets are one staple most children love and want. You can buy them if you like, but they are RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Instead, make your own.

There are a lot of ways to do it, and I'll add one each recipe as I gather them. This first one is the one I use.

INGREDIENTS
All-purpose GF baking flour of your choice
Eggs
Potato chips
Chicken

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash and cut up your chicken. I like to pound each piece with a tenderizer to make them flatter and easier to cook through. It also makes them easier to eat, more like commercial nuggets.
2. Crush your potato chips by putting them in a plastic bag and whacking it with a tenderizer, then rolling it with a rolling pin. You can also put them in a food processor, but NOT a mixer.
3. Set up your assembly line: a bowl with 1/2 cup flour, a bowl with 1 beaten egg, and a bowl of 1 cup crushed up potato chips.
4. Get your frying pan hot on medium heat and pour in about 1-2 tablespoons olive oil.
5. Begin:
1. Cover each piece with flour.
2. Shake off excess and cover with egg.
3. Let excess drip off and cover in potato chips
4. Put directly into the pan
6. Once the sides are cooked, flip and cook the other side.
7. Put cooked pieces on a drying rack.
8. Add more flour, egg, and chips as needed.
9. Once cooled, put in a freezer bag and freeze for up to two months.

Soup's On Captain?

That's right! Named after my favorite Day Job Orchestra Video: DATA KRUPA

Bento Supply Websites

From Japan with Love
Laptop Lunches
CasaBento
Bento&CO
J-List
All Things For Sale
Amazon
Lunchbots
Eco Lunch

The Bento Box: plastic? metal? glass?

Many families using the autism diet or biomedical or homeopathy avoid plastics: which means no cheap cute bento boxes! I personally only avoid BPA plastic, which is banned from being used on surfaces that touch food in Japan. We do not microwave or put plastics in the dishwasher. Handwash all plastic, and do not put in the microwave EVER. In fact, get rid of your microwave.

Alternatives to plastic bento boxes include wood, glass, and stainless steel. Do not ever use aluminum. Here are some resources for finding plastic-free bento boxes to use:

Lunchbots
Eco Lunchboxes
Pyrex Glass
Lock & Lock
Wooden bento boxes can be found in most regular bento sites.