​Some of the ingredients you might find in a natural, handcrafted soap are:

• Various skin-loving oils, such as olive, avocado, rice bran, coconut, jojoba, sunflower, grapeseed, meadowfoam, sweet almond, canola, and castor oils
• Various milks such as buttermilk, goats milk, and coconut milk
• Butters like cocoa, avocado, shea, mango, and coffee
• Potentially beneficial liquids like organic teas, beer, wine, coffee, pure water, or cider
• Natural ingredients that add a natural color or scent like essential oils, clays (such as bentonite or kaolin), pure salts (like Pink Himalayan, Black Hawaiian, or Dead Sea salts), dried citrus peel or various herbs, carrot or pumpkin purees, natural micas and oxides, or coffee grounds

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Tailored Touches' handcrafted artisan soaps do not contain any of the preservatives or detergents that are often loaded into store-bought "beauty bars." Did you notice that we called the store-bought variety a "beauty bar"? That's because it isn't even SOAP! Unless you see the word "soap" on the label, more times than not, it is a detergent-based cleansing bar that can strip your skin of natural oils and cause drying. Plus they are loaded with preservatives that can be harmful.

Now that summer is in full swing, there are so many great vegetables in season! These 12 vegetables are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and perfect to add to your summer menu.


Leafy Greens

​Lettuce has its benefits, but there are plenty of other leafy greens that you should add to your meals! These greens will provide a pleasant change to boring dishes, and they each have important vitamins and nutrients.
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Watercress and spinach are sources for your daily value of vitamins A, C, and K. Watercress is an underrated vegetable, but its small leaves have the healthy vitamins and antioxidants our bodies need. Try adding some of this peppery green to your salad or with breakfast in your scrambled eggs. Yum!

You’re probably familiar with spinach, but did you know this is one of the most versatile vegetables?! Whether you prefer it raw in a salad or sautéed with some garlic, spinach will always be a health-boosting choice. If you want to be more adventurous, add some spinach to your smoothie! Grab your favorite summer fruits, and blend them with spinach for a refreshing drink. Try any combination... like peaches, banana, and spinach.

Beet greens and collard greens are another excellent and healthy addition to any menu. Both are rich with vitamin K, and collard greens provide a nutritious serving of folate (a vitamin) and beta-carotene, which helps strengthen vision. Try sautéing your beet greens with some garlic and olive oil for a lighter side dish to a heavier meal. Collard greens, a Southern staple, are best blanched in boiling water, and even make a great alternative to tortillas for wraps.

Adding Some Color
Incorporate some of summer’s bright colors in your meals! Beets add a bright red or purple to your plate, and, like their leaves, contribute many nutrients, like fiber and nitrates. Grate raw beets over your salad, or bake them in foil like potatoes. I’d suggest combining them with watercress and feta cheese in this delicious salad!

Red bell peppers also add a vibrant pop of color, not to mention a huge helping of vitamin C. They’re delightfully crisp, and add a sweet flavor to any dish - I love wrapping them in a pita with some hummus, cucumber, and kalamata olives. Mmm.

The colorful stalks of swiss chard also brighten any meal. Lightly steam them, or sauté them and add them to a quiche.

Fun Sized Veggies
Good things come in small packages, and summer vegetables are no exception. Microgreens are the mini versions of your favorite veggies, like broccoli, cabbage, and radishes, but hold even more nutrients, like vitamins C and E. Mix them into a salad with pomegranate or strawberries, or even use them to top your tacos. 

Baby kale is another vegetable to add to your shopping list. Sure, we all know about kale as a “superfood,” but baby kale is more tender, and doesn’t have the strong flavor of regular kale, making it better to use in wraps and pasta salads.  ​

Summer is the time of year when folks get together for graduations, family reunions, birthdays, cookouts...and to celebrate July 4th! With the July 4th holiday coming up, have you ever wondered what the colors of red, white, and blue signify or why they were chosen to be the colors of the newly formed United States of America in 1776? Until recently, I didn't realize that the colors were taken from the colors of the US's mother country's flag, the Union Jack flag of England. Because many of our founding Fathers had served under or been exposed to the colors of Great Britain, it was rather fitting that those same colors were chosen for our flag's colors. They were also used in the Great Seal that was developed to represent the newly formed country.

But just what do the Red, White, and Blue signify to us as Americans? Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, presented the Great Seal to Congress and explained that the red signified hardiness and valor; the white signified innocence and purity; and the blue signified perseverance and justice. The US flag has 13 red and white stripes to signify the original 13 colonies and 50 stars, one for each state of the Union.

In honor of our country's flag and her 3 defining colors, here are some very fitting Red, White, and Blue recipes to try at your July 4th celebration!

ENJOY!

This is incredibly easy to whip up when unexpected company arrives!

Ingredients:
Angle food cake - all ready prepared
Strawberries, washed and sliced, set aside a few for garnish
Blueberries, washed, seta side a few for garnish
Can of whipped cream topping
Cute serving dishes that are clear

To assemble:
Cut up the Angle food cake into small cubes that are about 1" square. Arrange in the bottom of your serving dish. Sprinkle on the strawberries and blueberries so they drop in between the cake cubes. Top with whipped cream and garnish with a slice of strawberry and a couple of blueberries. Serve immediately.

Directions:
​Mix the cake mix according to the directions on the box. Add the coconut flavoring if you'd like.

~​Separate the batter into 3 small bowls. Color the first bowl blue and color the second red. Leave the third bowl white. 
~​Divide the red batter between 24 cupcake papers in muffin tins.
~Carefully top with the white batter, being careful not to break into the red layer.
~Lastly, top with the blue batter, again, do not break into the white layer.

~Bake cupcakes according to the box directions until done. Cool completely.
~Frost your cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting; sprinkle with coconut and red & blue sugars.

​Store loosely covered.

Directions:
DOUGH
~Cream together the butter, sugar, and cream cheese until fluffy. Add egg and beat well. Stir in almond extract and lemon zest.
~Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until soft dough forms.
~Separate into quarters, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour.

PREP
~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Take one quarter of dough. Roll between sheets of parchment paper or waxed paper to 1/4" thick. Using a STAR shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies and carefully place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
~Bake for about 9-11 minutes until edges look slightly dry and top is barely browned. Cookies will look slightly under-baked.
~Cool completely on racks.
~REPEAT above for remaining quarters of dough until all cookies are made.

TOPPING
~Beat 4 oz. cream cheese with 1/4 c. powdered sugar until smooth. Carefully frost each cookie. Decorate with sliced strawberries and blueberries.
~Serve immediately.

These are best topped with the fruit right before serving to avoid the cookies getting too soft. You may keep the plain cookies tightly covered at room temp and frost them right before serving.

YIELD: 2-3 dozen based on the size of your cookie cutter.