Having grown up attending church whenever the doors were open at Bethesda Baptist, I can recall many vivid memories of church life. One of them was the special anointing oil that the pastor sometimes used while praying for people. At my young age, I reasoned that the oil must have been used for the more difficult prayer requests, or the more stubborn church people or both. It seemed likely that this special oil would likely have come straight from heaven for emergency situations, but when I finally got close enough to read the label on the bottle, it read extra virgin olive oil. I had heard about the Virgin Mary, I just wasn’t too sure about the virgin olive oil. It didn’t stop my young mind from concluding that this was the sole purpose of olive oil, and that I would only ever see it in church. Boy was I wrong! I had to get much older and wiser before I learned just how great olive oil really was (outside of church prayer meetings). Sometime during my college days I began buying olive oil to cook with-I had read that it was much healthier for the body than the Crisco shortening I had seen mama using. I have since learned that olive oil doesn’t even have to be limited to your sauté pan; there are loads of uses for this economically-friendly and eco-friendly product. So go grab a bottle, from your cupboard or from the store, and let’s go over some other uses for this wonder oil. Like everything else, olive oil prices vary according to the level of quality. My suggestion is that you use the least expensive brand of olive oil for around the house (prices start at around $5) and save the higher priced Greek or Spanish olive oil for cooking.
Body care solutions
Shaving: Rub some oil on for a close shave and even after shaving for added moisture.
Hair: Add olive oil to your favorite conditioner for extra moisturizing and let it sit a few extra minutes. Also, a small amount the size of a dime makes a great daily hairdressing.
Fingernails: Use a little oil to massage into your cuticles to reduce dryness.
Lips: Say “so long” to dry lips by mixing oil with beeswax in a 1:1 ratio (add an essential oil for fragrance if desired). It also removes makeup.
In the Bath: Pour in a few capfuls of oil, and you’ll be amazed at your skin’s softness. Better yet, use the olive oil in place of lotion, or in addition to lotion.
Soothe Diaper Rash: Gently smooth olive oil onto baby’s bottom for relief.
Home care solutions
Wood Furniture Polish: Simply wipe with about a teaspoon of olive oil and a soft towel.
Shine Stainless Steel and Brass: Rub a small amount on a clean towel to reduce streaks, corrosion, and tarnish.
Stop the Squeaky Door: Use a cotton swab to apply oil to the top of the hinge at home or in your vehicle.
Clean Garden Tools: Spritz oil on and your clean-up will be much easier.
Condition (and Shine) Leather: Simply rub the oil on, your baseball glove and let it sit for about thirty minutes. You are then ready to play ball! It works well for shoes, too.
Based on the predictions of the groundhog, winter will hang around a bit longer-which means we’ll have to continue to endure cold, dry conditions at least for now. But don’t let the low temps get the best of you-fight back! Arm yourself with two bottles of extra virgin olive oil-one for the kitchen and one for the rest of the house. That way you can keep everything and everybody “lubed up”-and you’ll always be ready for a prayer meeting. (The Shepherd) anoints my head with oil and my cup overflows… Psalm 23 Enjoy!
Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.
