[Note from Beth: My month-long publishing hiatus is over, and I’m excited to kick things off around here again with an awesome tutorial for luscious fruity lip balm from contributing writer, Cheyenne. I look forward to sharing again, including some things I learned while on my month-long break! I’m also working on a new ebook that I’m excited to share more about soon. :)]
We’re heading into the end of the summer– can you believe it? I, for one, am happy to see it go–it is way too hot here in Texas. But there are things about the summer that I will miss, especially having delicious, juicy, ripe fruit whenever I want it. There’s little better than fresh fruit, am I right?
While I know I can’t have fresh fruit into the fall and winter, I thought maybe I could preserve a little bit of the “feel” of summertime by making myself some fruity summer lip balm that will last me well into the chapped winter months.
It’s so easy and quick to make! Here’s how to do it:
Ingredients
1/3 to 1/2 an ounce of beeswax pellets, depending on how waxy you like your balm (buy beeswax pellets here)
(If you’re buying a lot of these ingredients for the first time, you’ll be able to use them for many other body care recipes, so consider it an investment!)
Directions
1. Combine the beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter into a double boiler or (as in my case) a glass measuring cup set carefully in a pan of hot water. Melt the oils and wax together.
2. While the mixture is melting, using a mortar and pestle, grind your freeze-dried fruits into a fine powder. Strain any larger bits using a fine mesh strainer.
3. Once the oil & wax mixture is melted together, take it off the heat and let it cool just a bit before adding your essential oil and the ground fruit powder. Mix all ingredients together.
4. Pour the mixture into small lip balm jars or any other small jar you have. I stuck mine in my fridge for a few hours to hurry the hardening process but once they’re hard you can keep them out at room temperature.
5. Use your balm into the cold months and dream of summer!
Easy peasy, right? And so yummy and fruity! These would make great gifts for teachers for back to school too! Happy end-of-summer!
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
A Brief History of Disinfectant Cloths in Our Household: The Early Years
(Gosh, that title just has timeless classic written all over it, doesn’t it?)
When I was a newlywed (long before I started my natural living journey), I refused to buy Clorox disinfectant wipes. How very trendy and non-mainstream of her, you might be thinking. Saving the earth since 2003. Go team!
Actually, the plain old unromantic truth is that I was just too cheap to pay that much money for something you use once and throw out, especially when it’s something that I could so easily make myself!
If I’m going to splurge on something it will probably involve fancy fair-trade coffee or organic, grass-fed steak. You know – the important things in life. A throw-away paper cloth to wipe the yuck of life is just not high on my wish list.
It wasn’t until a few years later that I also became passionate about treating the earth with kindness and becoming mindful and conscious of the types of products I consume and support with my buying habits.
My mom always stored a bag of rags in the bathroom cupboards and used them for cleaning. They were literal rags – cloths and dishcloths that had gotten too worn and holey to be in regular use, and thus cut up for dirty cleaning jobs. (She was doing the eco-friendly and reusable thing long before it was hip and trendy.)
At first I just used them with some water or cleaner for random cleaning jobs, but now I use them for pretty well anything (Although I fully admit to using toilet paper for cleaning up cat barf. Ewww.)
In the past when I’ve needed to disinfect something I’ve reached for my big honkin’ jug of vinegar that lives under the sink. White vinegar is amazing and I use it all the time to wipe down countertops after handling stuff like raw meat. That was a bit of a clunky system, and most of the time way more than enough would pour out which gave me a frugal-heart-attack.
Then I moved on to some vinegar and H20 in a spray bottle. That works nicely, and is pretty simple to spray and wipe with a clean cloth. But what about when you want just a little extra oomph in your cloth – some cleaning power in addition to the disinfecting properties?
The vinegar disinfects, but it’s not the best at removing grime on the bathroom sink.
I was still committed to never buying Clorox wipes for a variety of reasons (Mainly: wasteful one-use products full of toxic chemicals that harm me and the earth. Compelling, right?)
Enter: DIY disinfectant cloth wipes (angelic chorus). All of the convenience of the disposable store-bought chemical-laden version, only without the price tag, the negative environmental impact, and the nasty toxic chemicals to wipe all around your home. Hello common sense, nice to see you again!
DIY Disinfectant Cloth Wipes
Emily says: “The vinegar and lemon have disinfecting properties and the lemon also gives it a pleasant scent. The dish soap is for extra cleaning power. The combined scent of the dish soap and lemon essential oil smells really fresh and clean, and covers up any smell of the vinegar in this recipe.”
Step 1
You can use any sort of washable cloth or rag for this job. I like true rags – clothes that were demoted due to holes and stains and such. Using old clothes as rags makes me feel all Ma Ingalls and stuff (only with hot showers and a heated home and also: chocolate, because: duh), which is always fun.
Any sort of bar mop towels or cheap washcloths would work. Even old receiving blankets cut up would be great. Be sure to choose an absorbent material, like cotton or microfiber.
Step 2
Once you have small squares (or squarish shapes) of cloth, decide how neat and tidy you want your system. You have two options: lay them out carefully with slightly overlapping corners on an angle so that when rolled up you can grab a corner from the inner one and pull it out continuously, like with the store-bought version… or (my personal fave) stuff ’em all into your container willy-nilly.
Then douse ’em with the vinegar solution you’ve mixed up, and use as needed! Any sealed container would work, even a mason jar, which would be very hipster-trendy of you, of course.
Step 3
Revel in the magic – cleaning is crazy fun again!*
(You can see more instructions and details over at Em’s blog, Live Renewed, along with an alternate recipe in case you don’t have the ingredients for this one.)
*This has not been verified by any sane person ever. Be highly suspicious of false advertising claims. Ie. this one. Cleaning is not fun. Tolerable, yes. Rewarding, maybe. But fun? You need to get out more, my darling.
If you think these wipes sound awesome, you would be correct. They are brilliant. You can’t beat the convenience, the price tag, and the safe and natural aspect.
Now, I mentioned that this was Emily’s recipe. She graciously gave permission for me to publish it here for you lovely peeps so that I could show you just a teeny taste of how totally-freaking-awesome her new ebook is: Green Your Life: A Guide to Natural, Eco-Friendly Living.
I happen to have edited this book for Emily, which means that I have read every single word from start to finish, and I can confidently say that it is an absolutely stellar resource.
It is 268 pages packed full of information – there are a ton of DIY recipes just like the wipes recipe I posted here, tips for green living (I bet you’ll find several you’ve never heard of even if you’re a more seasoned eco-friendly enthusiast).
I want to emphasize just how packed with helpful information is in this book… and how finding all of that information would take forever on your own. The internet is an amazing thing but it is vast and never-ending. You could spend literally weeks culling information from various websites to find this stuff, but even then it would not be shared from the expert perspective of someone who has been there, done that.
Emily has gleaned the best information and compiled it together into one jam-packed resource that you can trust without reservation.
This book is pretty well the best go-to guide for green and natural living that I could possibly recommend. It also struck me how accessibly the information is presented for newbies, but how more experienced folks in this lifestyle, like me, also can find it super useful.
You can get your digital copy here, along with more details on exactly what it contains. Right now the book is just $5.00!
Head over to download your copy today – you won’t regret it!
“Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children.” – Kenyan Proverb
Affiliate links included in this post.
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
DIY Diaper Rash Spray – Avoid Tugging at Tender Skin
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We’ve used some pretty good diaper rash creams/butters/salves over the years. But they all have one negative thing in common: simply by their design, they require that you “tug at” the baby’s tender skin to apply them when they’re needed. I wanted something soothing & healing that I could apply to an irritated or raw baby bottom and not have to rub it in or spread it on. The most logical solution was a spray. This is what I came up with.
Ingredients
This recipe uses aloe juice, not aloe gel. It's a liquid, so don't try to substitute or you might gunk up your spritzer.
The essential oils in this recipe make a just-under 1% dilution. If you’re uncomfortable with that (have an itty-bitty baby, or whatever), just halve it. (2 drops lavender and 1 drop tea tree, if you still want to use both)
Also, you can eliminate the tea tree oil if you prefer and just replace it with more lavender. The tea tree oil is good for fungus, like if you’re dealing with a yeast-based rash. But personally, I’m not crazy about the smell of tea tree. And the very youngest babies may be better off with lavender alone.
Now, I should probably warn you, lest someone should freak out, that my little guy acts like this is not comfortable the moment it hits his bottom. It only seems to bother him for that first split second, though, when it makes contact.
The spray can also be used on cuts, scrapes, and bruises, and it’s a good blend because the essential oils used here are oils that are okay for little tiny people. (Some essential oils shouldn’t really be used on babies and toddlers.)
Do keep in mind, though, that it’s liquid and does not contain preservatives, so it’s not going to last forever.
SAFETY NOTES: This is intentionally kept at a low dilution, and the essential oils were carefully selected. However, babies still have tiny bodies, thinner skin, and less-developed metabolisms than older folks, and essential oils should be used sparingly with them. So I would recommend against this for tiny newborns (under about 3 mos.), and I recommend that it be used for occasional diaper rash, not at every diaper change.
You know the drill. I’m a mom, not a doctor. The FDA doesn’t approve anything on this site – like the comments in this post – and even if they did, I wouldn’t consider that meaningful. Use this for informational/educational purposes and take responsibility for your own health and your children’s.
The cold and flu season is nearing rapidly. If we get a cold where we have stuffy noses, or coughs, I want to be ready.
In the past, I would use the OTC name brand vapor rub to help relieve symptoms.Of course, after learning what the ingredients in the OTC rub were, I wanted to avoid that like the plague. I mean, really, why do you need paint thinner in there?? I figured though, I make other stuff, why not this? So, after a bit of trial and error, I came up with my own diy decongestant rub.
We call this DIY Decongestant Rub “Special Tissue Lotion”
because when my kids were little, and my mother still with us, if they got a stuffy nose, she would put a bunch of vapor rub on a tissue for them to smell the vapors in as they wanted. Ah, memories. This stuff is great because it works just as well, and there is no questionable ingredients.
So, without further ado, here is my DIY Decongestant Rub.
Carefully stir the softened coconut oil with the essential oils until well blended. Store in a container like this or upcycle an old candy tin (like this-which is what I used here.) To use, simply rub 1/2 teaspoon on the chest 2-3 times a day. Even though it’s coconut oil, it’s still fairly easy to get out, even in colder conditions. If you find it’s too hard for you, simply rest the container in a bowl of warm water for a minute or two for easier use. Not for use on children under the age of 2.
Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site
When I found out I was (surprise!) pregnant with my daughter, I hadn’t made many decisions about parenting. I thought I had a good half-decade before I needed to choose a stroller, decide what kind of birth I wanted, or actually need to know what really is necessary for a baby (do I need a swing and a bouncy seat? Why are there so many kinds of carriers?)
But without a doubt, I wanted to cloth diaper. I saw cloth diapering in action with my niece and immediately knew I wanted to do the same with my kids.
One of my happiest moments of those early days of motherhood was when I wrapped my daughter in a soft cloth diaper for the very first time. I didn’t even mind the extra loads of laundry.
But I quickly realized I had a problem.
I used, threw away, and wasted money on disposable wipes with toxic ingredients, which was the main reasons I didn’t use disposable diapers.
I had reusable cloth diapers, and I wanted reusable cloth baby wipes.
So I sewed simple flannel cloth baby wipes that I washed with the diapers and made an all natural, non-toxic cleaning solution (plain ol’ water works, too) to keep my baby’s skin clean.
My first set of cloth baby wipes made it beautifully through two children but now that I’ve got baby #3 in cloth diapers, it is time for a new set of baby wipes.
*Full disclosure: I do have disposable, non-toxic wipes for super messy diapers and when we’re away from home. Kudos to you if you do use cloth baby wipes full-time!
These baby wipes are super easy to sew. I only have very basic sewing skills so if I can do this, so can you!
You could make up a whole batch of these in an afternoon or sew a seam here and a seam there if you only have limited amounts of time (or older children around!)
You can use this same method for making family cloth and disinfectant cloth wipes. Or you can re-purpose the baby wipes once your little one is potty trained!
Here’s how to do it:
Get fabric: For 12 wipes you need 1 yard of flannel fabric. Flannel is absorbent and durable so it’ll do the job well. You can use one pattern for both sides of the wipes or use two patterns, one for the front and one for the back. Or do as many as you like. They’re baby wipes – go crazy and have fun if you want!
Cut: Cut fabric in 9×7 rectangles. You can go bigger or smaller depending on what works for you but this is the size of a disposable wipe and it works well with the 1 yard of fabric.
Assemble: Put two pieces of fabric together inside out and pin if you prefer. You want the side of the fabric that will be on the inside of the wipe showing.
Sew: Using a 1/4 inch seam sew three sides together, leaving a short side unsewn.
Trim: Trim the corners. This will help the wipe to lay flat.
Turn right-side out: Turn the wipe right side out and fold both pieces of fabric in about 1/4 of an inch and iron them down.
Sew: Sew the last side. This stitch will show.
Sew a star or firework: Now for the fun part! It’s time to sew the pieces so they stay together and don’t turn the wipe into a balloon when you wash them. You can sew any design or shape that you want, just be sure to cover enough surface area to keep the wipe together. Here’s what I did: starting in one corner sew a line to the opposite corner and do the same with the other corners. You now have an X. Next sew lines from the top to the bottom of the wipe and then from the left side to the right so it looks like a star. Or a firework as my 4 year-old describes it.
Use and enjoy!
Wash your wipes with your cloth diapers and enjoy saving money and keeping toxins away from your baby!
Do you use cloth baby wipes? Would you like to try making your own?
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
Cold and flu season is coming hard and fast this year. It is time for us to stock up our natural medicine cabinet with herbal allies and homemade treatments to get us through the various illnesses of the season.
One of my go-to treatments when my family gets chest congestion, cough, or cold symptoms is my home made chest rub. This natural chest rub is an easyrecipe, made with Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils, the highest quality oils you can find. This safe and effective remedy helps soothe cough and congestion, clears the sinuses, ease spasms, coughing, catarrh, is calming to the senses and helps promote a good night sleep.
Directions Melt the oils and bees wax in a double boiler set up until the bees wax is completely melted. Remove from heat. Add the essential oils and put in a container for later use.
Double Boiler Method
You may choose to exclude Rosemary and Peppermint if you are using this while pregnant. That is fine. This blend will still help calm and soothe an irritated respiratory system without them.
To use simply rub onto the chest or back to relieve cough and congestion. For children under 6 months or people with respiratory issues, rub onto the bottom of the feet and put socks on. The essential oils will permeate the large cells membraines in your feet and provide you with the medicinal benefit without the vapors.
You will not regret having this amazing chest or foot rub in your natural medicine cabinet.
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Here is a great chest rub recipe I like to always have stocked in our cabinet using our essential oils. I find it great to use on our chests and backs when needed to support my family's wellness.
I make sure I have this recipe which uses Eucalyptus oils and blends and our homemade vapor rub on hand all year long. I often use this rub on our chest and back and the vapor rub on our feet.
I like to make this with RC Essential Oil blend and Eucalyptus Globulous. RC is a blend of Eucalyptus Globulus, Eucalyptus Radiata, Eucalyptus Citriodora, Myrtle, Spruce, Peppermint, Pine, Lavender, Marjoram and Cypress. It has a very invigorating aroma, creates a spa like atmosphere and contains the naturally occurring constituent limonene (google it!).
This crazy easy to make and you will love it!! Make a good size batch so you are sure to have it on hand!
10% Discount
And our friends from SKS Bottle and Packaging are offering a 10% discount on these great 2 ounce glass jars. Use coupon code SKSCoupon05 for item #4026-15 at this website!
Original article and pictures take ohlardy.com site
