DIY Natural!

This is a post with links to all of my DIY natural products, just so you don't have to go searching through the entire blog for a certain recipe...I will keep adding to this post as I add new products.  Hope this is helpful to Natural, Healthy, Beautiful, You!

Cleaning:

1.  Household Cleaning Supplies

2.  DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Beauty:

3.  Eye Makeup Remover

4.  Soothing Lip Balm

5.  Sugar Scrub

6.  Homemade Deoderant

7.  Cuticle Softening Oil

Health

8.  Natural Vapor Rub

9.  Essential Oil Hand Sanitizing Spray

10.  Foaming Moisturizing Hand Soap

From Scratch - Irish Shepherd's Pie

Are you ready for Saint Patrick's Day???  I love my Irish heritage so each year we do something special for the holiday.  In the past my mom made corned beef and cabbage, but since my hubby and kids don't really like the meal I wanted to come up with something that everyone would enjoy.  

I attended a Scottish-Irish festival awhile back and they had the yummiest Irish Shepherd's Pies.  I decided to try to replicate the deliciousness and here is the result!  It is a little bit time consuming so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make it - probably an hour and a half.

Irish Shepherd’s Pie

You can make 4 individual pies using ramekins or 1 large pie using a 9” pie plate.

Crust

11/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter (I freeze my butter ahead of time and then grate it into the flour with a cheese grater)

4-6 tbs cold water
**Pie Crust original recipe from theprairiehomestead.com**

Filling & Topping

1 lb ground beef

Salt & Pepper to season beef to taste

¼ cup finely chopped onion

½ can beef broth

1 tbs cornstarch and ¼ cup cold water for thickening

½ cup frozen peas

½ cup frozen or fresh chopped carrots

4 – 5 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1” pieces

1 tbs butter

3-4 tbs milk

Paprika

Instructions

Heat oven to 475°. Combine flour and salt in large bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumb. Mix in enough cold water with fork until flour is moistened and forms a ball. Place ball in a lidded dish and refrigerate.

Take peeled, cut potatoes and place in pot of hot water to boil.  They will be done and ready to mash for the topping when the pierce through easily with a fork.

In a small pot add carrots and peas, cook on medium with a tiny bit of water until tender.

Begin browning beef.  Add salt and pepper and onions cook until meat is done.  Add beef broth and the water/cornstarch thickening mixture.  After the broth thickens, I add the peas and carrots and continue to cook on low until everything else is ready.

Roll out ball of dough on lightly floured surface into 11-inch circle. Fold into quarters. Place dough into lightly greased 9-inch pie plate; unfold dough, pressing firmly against bottom and sides. Trim crust to 1/2 inch from edge of pan; prick the bottom of the pie crust with a fork and place in the oven for 10 minutes.

Drain potatoes and mash with butter and milk until smooth.

Remove the crust from the oven and pour the beef mixture onto the bottom.  Top with mashed potatoes and sprinkle a tiny bit of paprika on top if you like.  I usually pop it back in the oven for about 10 more minutes.  

I hope your family enjoys this amazing Irish meal as much as we do!  

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!!

Natural Cold Care

During our excessively long cold season, I like to keep a few things on hand to keep the family comfortable when a virus strikes.  I prefer to start with rest and fluids, but when that doesn't prove to be enough I use a variety of products to help ease the symptoms.

We love to drink tea with raw, local honey.  Our favorite teas right now are by Traditional Medicinals. They have a Seasonal Sampler which includes Gypsy Cold Care, Echinacea Plus, Throat Coat, and Breathe Easy.  We have found each works wonders for it's specific purpose.

For sore throats we use Ricola Honey Lemon with Echinacea.  They have many other flavors, but this tends to be our favorite.  There is no stinging menthol and the drop leaves raw throats feeling soothed.

Finally, for our kids we like to use Hylands Cold n' Cough.  They have a day time and a night time formula.  Both are safe for children ages 2-12.  We have found the night time formula really does work on those persistent bedtime coughs.

If we are suffering with a chest cold or stuffy noses, I like to use my homemade vapor rub...check it out here:  Natural Vapor Rub

If we have fevers we use ibuprofen or acetaminophen.  And I am certainly not against a trip to the doctor's office when we need it.  However, we almost always start with these natural basics and are usually pleasantly surprised with the brevity and lack of severity in our colds!

Here's to your (natural) health!

***Disclaimer 1:  I am not a doctor, please confer with a doctor before taking any and all medications, natural or otherwise***

***Disclaimer 2:  I am not affiliated with these companies in any way.  These are products that we use in our home and have found them to be helpful***

Cuticle Softening Oil

If you live anywhere with harsh, dry weather, you may find your cuticles and the skin around your nails dry, peeling, cracking and splitting.  This is especially true in the winter or even in the summer if you tend to garden and have your hands in the dirt a lot.  I have blended a few oils together to come up with a cuticle softening oil which really seems to be working to keep the skin all the way around my nails nice and supple.

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp jajoba oil
8 drops tea tree essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

Place in a glass bottle with a dropper.  Shake well before each use.  I can usually moisturize all of my fingers with about 5 drops of this oil.  A little bit goes a long ways!  I try to use it each night just before bed for maximum benefit.  It even worked on my daughter's persistent hangnails.  What a great little oil to help keep hands looking and feeling nice.

I hope that this cuticle softening oil will help heal your skin just as well as it did ours!

10 Terrific Uses for Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil or Melaleuca alternifolia is an essential oil derived from a plant native to Australia.  Tea tree oil has some pretty amazing properties, such as: antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, astringent and disinfectant.  Because of its many wonderful properties it is one of the most used essential oils in my medicine cabinet.  Please click on the links in red for recipes using tea tree oil.

Here are ten terrific uses of tea tree oil:

1.  Antiseptic:  use slightly diluted on a cotton ball with witch hazel to cleanse cuts and scrapes.

2.  Treat acne:  use a small drop on break outs to help clear skin up faster.  Some people find it irritating so it can be diluted with witch hazel.

3.  Treat dandruff:  add 25 drops of tea tree oil to your average sized shampoo bottle and shake well.  Tea tree oil will eliminate dandruff and dry scalp.

4.  Deodorant:  use tea tree oil in Homemade Deodorant because it is known to eliminate the bacteria that cause odor.  

5.  Relieve insect bites:  put a small drop directly on bites for itch relief.  Or mix with coconut oil for a double dose of itch relief. 

6.  Soothe sunburns:  use in combination with witch hazel, vinegar or aloe vera gel to ease the sting of sunburn.

7.  Hand Sanitizer:  use in combination with a few other essential oil for an effective Hand Sanitizing Spray.

8.  Heal toenail fungus:  use 1-2 drops of undiluted tea tree oil on toenails twice per day to treat fungus.

9.  Treat many skin conditions:  use tea tree oil that has been slightly diluted with witch hazel or a carrier oil like olive oil to treat psoriasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, cold sores and more.

10.  Control mold:  use a solution of 1/4 cup water and 25 drops tea tree oil and spray on shower walls to prevent mold from growing.  (This was extremely impressive to me as even bleach couldn't take care of the problem!)

I love and use several essential oils and tea tree oil is among my favorites.  If you are thinking about trying essential oils, this is where I would suggest starting.  Tea tree oil has so many fabulous uses! 

Natural, Healthy, Tea Tree Oil!

10 Wonderful Uses for Coconut Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil has hundreds of fabulous uses and should definitely be something that you keep on hand in your home all the time.  I actually have an enormous jar in my kitchen for cooking and a smaller jar in my bathroom cabinet for beauty needs.  I will share my top 10 favorite uses of coconut oil along with some recipes links (in red) for a few of my favorite health and beauty products that use coconut oil.

1.  Cooking:  especially at high heat, like frying chicken.

2.  Baking:  use in place of hydrogenated vegetable oils.

3.  Lotion:  just rub a small amount into dry skin for soft smoothness.

4.  Lip balm:  it can be used alone or check out this Soothing Lip Balm recipe.

5.  Deodorant:  coconut oil is the base of this Homemade Deodorant.

6.  Sugar Scrub:  coconut oil is the base of this skin smoothing Sugar Scrub.

7.  Natural Vapor Rub:  coconut oil and essential oils comprise this natural cough soothing Vapor Rub.

8.  Bug Bite Relief:  rub a little bit onto mosquito and other insect bites for itch relief (my eight year old insists that nothing works better!)

9.  Deep Conditioner:  work into washed hair and allow to absorb for at least a half an hour.  Wash and condition as usual.

10.  Anti-Frizz "Product":  rub a tiny amount of coconut oil into hands and then smooth into hair for excellent frizz control.

These are only a very few uses to get you started if you haven't used coconut oil before.  I hope you will try it and find the many amazing benefits of this natural wonder!

Natural, Healthy, Coconut Oil!

A Few Simple Food Changes

Here are a few quick changes you can make to improve you diet without too much stress or hassle. You might be surprised on some of them, but trust me I have done my homework.

1.  Get rid of margarine and vegetable oils.  Replace them with butter, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.

Why?  Because of the process used to make margarine and vegetable oils, known as hydrogenation, they tend to be higher in trans fats than other oils which can raise your bad cholesterol and lower your good cholesterol. Olive oil is monounsaturated fatty acids.  Which according to the Mayo Clinic are considered a healthy dietary fat.  Coconut oil is also free of trans fats and is great for use when cooking with high heat (fried chicken for example).  Butter does not have trans fat, but does have saturated fat, so it should be used sparingly.  Oils in general should not be used in excess, but choosing healthier oils is a good option.

 2. Say goodbye to iceberg lettuce. Replace it with green leaf or romaine lettuce.

Why?  Vitamin A.  Iceberg lettuce has 7% DV of Vitamin A, green leaf has 53% and romaine has a whopping 81%.  We usually eat salads to be healthy, right?  Then we should probably use a lettuce that actually has some vitamins in it!

3. Ditch the bleached white flour and white rice.  Replace them with whole wheat flour and brown rice.

Why?  Bleached flour goes through a chlorination process to make it whiter.  Wait...What?  Yep, bleached means bleached.  I don't know why this didn't dawn on me until just a few years ago, but when it did I decided never to buy bleached flour again.  Unbleached all purpose flour is barely any less white than bleached flour!  I really only use unbleached all purpose flour for pie crust.  Normally, I choose whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour.  Whole wheat contains the 100% of the whole kernel of wheat, making it a whole grain.

Brown rice is also a whole grain and can easily replace white rice.  To me it has a slightly nuttier flavor and is definitely hardier.  It also takes a lot longer to cook, so take that into consideration when preparing a meal with brown rice.
 
A few health benefits of whole grains include: possible reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, weight loss/descreased fat, and reduced risk of stroke.  These are just a few of the many, many benefits.  The nuttier flavor and courser texture take a bit of getting used to, but are completely worth it in my mind.

4.  Buy local when you can.  To include:  meat, eggs, produce and honey.  It helps the local economy and these products are often fresher and more nutritious.

5.  Grow your own garden and preserve your produce for the winter months. You know exactly what is on (or is not on) your veggies and gardening is amazingly gratifying.

6.  Make your own homemade food from scratch whenever you can.  It's easier than you think!
Here are some links of common prepacked foods that you can easily make from scratch.
Hot Cocoa and Whipped Cream
Granola Bars
Taco Seasoning
Salsa
Fresh Baked Bread
Delicious Whole Wheat Brownies


A few final thoughts on food.  If your great grandmother would not recognize it as food, you probably shouldn't eat it.  And if you are reading through the ingredients on prepackaged, processed food and you don't recognize an ingredient as food, you probably shouldn't consume it!

I hope that I have encouraged you to try these simple changes for increased health and well-being!

Delicious Whole Wheat Brownies

I have a confession.  I don't like brownies.  Before you decide to hate me, let me explain.  I don't like brownies from a box.  I LOVE brownies from scratch.  I have tried a lot of recipes and found one that I like.  And then of course I changed it and now I love it.  I really like baking with whole wheat pastry flour instead of all purpose flour.  My only exception is pie crust (but that's for another day).  So here is my recipe for whole wheat brownies.  

Delicious Whole Wheat Brownies

Ingredients
1 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips and/or white chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Mix the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.

In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir well to make sure it is completely mixed.  Gradually mix the flour mixture into the sugar and butter mixture until well blended. Add in the chocolate chips. Evenly spread the batter into the baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean (this is tricky because the chips can make the brownies look underdone), 40 to 45 minutes. Remove and cool before cutting.

These are good warm, but they are even better after they have cooled and the chips have had a chance to harden.

I hope you enjoy these delicious whole wheat brownies as much as my family does!

Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet Alternatives

I promised this week would be all about laundry!  If you haven't read about how to make your own DIY liquid laundry detergent, check out the post here: DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Today we will delve into some alternatives to fabric softener and dryer sheets!

Commercial fabric softeners and dryer sheets leave clothes soft, scented and static free.  They also leave behind a chemical residue that can irritate sensitive skin and cause headaches among other things.

I prefer a natural option to both. While there are many choices out there, I certainly have my favorites.
For fabric softener, I just use 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar.  Vinegar removes soap residue, softens and brightens clothing and linens.  Clothes never smell like vinegar after they are dry.  Personally, I can't smell it when they are fresh out of the washer.  So that should not be a deterrent in the use of vinegar as your softener.  I just pour the vinegar right into my washer's softener dispenser.  If your washer doesn't have a dispenser, you can put it in a downy ball which will dispense during the rinse cycle.

Instead of dryer sheets, I use 100% pure wool felted yarn dryer balls.  I purchased 2 skeins of 100% pure wool yarn and rolled them into six balls the size of small oranges.  I tucked the end of the yarn in and around several times using a yarn needle to be sure that that it was firmly secured.

The next step is to place the balls in an old sock, knot the sock at the top and wash with a load of clothes.  Remove the balls and dry.  At this point you can add a drop or two of essential oil for scent.  I left our unscented.

They are now ready to replace your dryer sheets.  For a large load of clothes I use all six balls.  Just toss them in the dryer with your load and they will help clothes come out soft, fluffy and static free!

Natural, Healthy, Chemical-Free Laundry!

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

This week is all about laundry.  Love it or hate it, it has to be done.  Unless of course you enjoy wearing stinky, dirty clothes.  I didn't think so.  Let's learn how to make some liquid laundry detergent...

About four years ago I stopped using the typical, chemical-laden brands that you find at the store and switched to a natural detergent.  Initially, it was to avoid unnecessary chemicals however, we soon discovered that our sensitive skin preferred the natural, chemical free brands. While the natural brand worked well, it was very expensive.  Unfortunately, my family generates a lot of laundry, especially in the winter with all of our layers.  I wanted to try to come up with a more economical solution.

I love trying to make my own products whenever possible, so why not laundry detergent?  I researched about a billion sites to see what the different ingredient options were and how to make a liquid detergent.  The one problem I kept coming back to was the sheer amount of detergent people were making, 5 gallons at a time.  It just seemed a little overwhelming to me, especially if the stuff didn't work.  

I decided to combine a couple of recipes.  One called for baking soda and not borax, one called for borax only.  I decided to go half and half with baking soda and borax.  Many recipes call for Zote or Fels-naptha bar soap.  I looked into both of those, and while cheaper, they both had a strong scent.  Instead, I chose Dr. Bonner's Baby Mild Pure Castile Soap, which is unscented and gentle for sensitive skin.  The final two ingredients are washing soda and lavender essential oil for scent.  The washing soda was tricky to find, I actually had to go to four stores!  But I have a box now and that should allow me to make at least 12 gallons of laundry detergent!


Here is the recipe {please note the description of what each ingredient does to the side}:

2 cups boiling water
1 cup grated pure castile bar soap (I like Dr. Bonner's baby mild) - cleans dirt and grease
1 cup washing soda - pulls out grease and oil, softens water
1/2 cup borax - deodorizes, whitens, disinfects
1/2 cup baking soda - deodorizes, softens water
1 additional gallon of water
Your favorite scent of essential oil - 20 drops more or less depending upon preference

Directions:

Grate 1 cup of soap. (For me 1 cup of grated soap was about 2/3 of the bar.)  Get your two cups of water boiling in a large enough pot to accommodate 1 1/2 gallons of liquid and then add grated soap.  It will kind of clump together until it completely melts.  I used a whisk to stir and that seemed to help with the smoothness.  After the soap melts, allow it to cool a bit and then add the washing soda, baking soda and borax.  Stir until well and completely mixed.  Add the final gallon of water and mix well again.  At this point I added 20 drops of lavender essential oil, because it is my favorite.  I think I could have added more, because now I can barely smell it when I am doing laundry.  I transferred my concoction from my huge pot, to a clean and empty vinegar jug.  It remained very liquidy until fully cool and then became more gel like.  If it becomes too thick you can always add a little more water and shake. I ended up probably adding four more cups of water because it became too thick.  I use about 1/4 of a cup for a large load of laundry.  

Imagine my delight upon removing that first load from the washer and finding the clothes clean and fresh smelling!  No more store bought laundry detergent for this girl!  It took less than 15 minutes to make this detergent and that was mainly for pictures!  So, this turned out to be a quick, easy and successful project!

Just for fun here is the break down of costs =

Washing Soda 1/12 of the $4.87 box = $.41

Baking Soda 1/108 of the $19.97 bag = $.18

Borax 1/32 of the $3.99 box = $.12

Castile Soap 2/3 of the $3.75 bar = $2.48

One gallon of liquid laundry soap = $3.19 WOW!!! 

I hope you will give making your own laundry detergent a try!  It's easy and very affordable!

If you have a recipe that you love, please share it in the comments below :)

10 Fabulous Uses for Vinegar

I LOVE vinegar.  It has so many incredible uses, it's natural, it disinfects and it's inexpensive.  What is not to love?  One bottle of vinegar can truly replace a number of household cleaning products.  Here is a list of my favorite vinegar uses...

1.  Disinfect household surfaces. Countertops, door jams and knobs, light switches, and other highly used surfaces should be wiped down regularly to eliminate germs.  You can use a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water or a lemon infused vinegar solution. See my All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner recipe below.

2.  Make mirrors and windows sparkle.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water.  Traditional glass cleaners do not even compare to the streakless, sparkling shine that vinegar produces.  I just put my solution in a spray bottle, spray on window or mirror and wipe with a an old t-shirt rag. 

3.  Polish chrome and stainless fixtures.  I spray pure vinegar on all of our faucets and fixtures and wipe with a soft cloth.  The result is fabulous.  No streaks, just shine. 

4.  Shine up hardwood floors.  50/50 solution of vinegar and water sprayed on floor and wiped up for gleaming, clean floors.

5.  Sanitize sinks, tubs and toilets.  This works especially well if you sprinkle a little baking soda in first and then spray vinegar onto the surface.  Scrub, rinse, and enjoy the results.

6.  Clean the oven.  Again sprinkle baking soda, spray vinegar, scrub, wipe clean with a warm wet washcloth.  

7.  Refresh your coffee pot.  You know when your coffee gets a strange bitter taste?  It's because your coffee pot needs a good cleaning.  Fill the pot with full strength vinegar, run it through, and then follow twice with hot water.  You will be amazed how much better your coffee tastes after doing this!

8.  Wash your produce.  Produce is covered with dirt, pesticides, and waxes.  Before consuming fill your clean sink with cold water, add a cup of vinegar and soak produce for 5-10 minutes.  Rinse produce and dry.  You can eat it immediately or store it.  For some reason this vinegar rinse also helps prolong the freshness of produce.

9.  Extend the life of cut flowers.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 3 tablespoons of sugar to the vase water to keep flowers looking beautiful. 

10.  Kill grass and weeds in sidewalk cracks.  Simply spray full strength vinegar onto grass and weeds in the sidewalk and they will wither and die.  (Don't spray weeds in your lawn or garden because it will kill grass and other plants around them!)

Vinegar has many, many more uses, but this is a good start for everyday use around your home!
If you have other uses for vinegar I would love to hear them.  Share in the comments section below :)


~All Purpose Vinegar-Lemon Cleaner~
Take squeezed lemons and place peels in a large glass containers.  Fill container with distilled white vinegar and cover.  Allow the mixture to set for at least 24 hours.  Finally, strain the lemon infused vinegar into a spray bottle and it is ready to go.

Essential Oil Hand Sanitizing Spray

Essential Oil Hand Sanitizing Spray

I will admit I am some what of a germaphobe.  I can only imagine where other people's hands have been and it makes me want to douse myself with hand sanitizer, especially in a place like Wal-mart or at the playground with my kids.  I know that the alcohol and other ingredients like triclosan in hand sanitizer are drying at best and toxic at worst.  The skin on my hands was painfully cracked around my nails, but I didn't want to give up my hand sanitizer because I was just so concerned about all the germs floating around. Even worse was that I was using it on my kids hands all of the time too.  I decided it was time to search for a natural alternative.  

I found a recipe for a spray hand sanitizer on mymerrymessylife.com.  I liked the idea of using Witch Hazel as my base because it is an astringent. The brand I chose is Thayers.  Their Witch Hazel has Aloe Vera, which is a great moisturizer too. The original recipe only called for Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Bergamot Essential Oils, but I added two more, Sweet Orange and Lavender.  I removed the Eucalyptus because it can be dangerous for young children.  Below in the recipe I have included the properties of each oil.  All combined they make a great hand sanitizer.  It smells nice too, which is always a bonus!

 

Ingredients

• 2 oz. (1/4 cup) Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera - astringent
• 6 drops of Tea Tree Oil - antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, disinfectant
• 6 drops of Wild Orange Oil - antibacterial, antiseptic
• 6 drops of Lavender Oil - antiseptic, disinfectant
• 3 drops of Bergamot Oil - antiseptic, anti-parasitic, astringent

(Tea Tree Oil contains all of the necessary properties so it would be possible to use 24 drops of only this oil.  It would have a very strong smell though).

Instructions

1. Combine the ingredients in a glass spray bottle and give it a good shake. The oils can break down a plastic bottle. I bought this 2 oz amber glass bottle at the local natural store for under $1.

Remember to shake well before each use.  Spray on hands and rub it in.  There you have a simple hand sanitizing spray.  

As a side note, after using for several weeks, I noticed that all of the cracks around my fingernails had healed and that my hands were soft!  That is when I decided sharing this recipe was a must!  I hope it works well for you too!  

Enjoy being Natural, Healthy and Germ Free!

Homemade Deoderant

I started using homemade deodorant a couple of years ago after reading about and researching the dangers of traditional store-bought deodorant and antiperspirants.  Some toxic ingredients in most antiperspirants are aluminum, which is used to plug sweat glands, and several parabens.  Both are estrogenic compounds and can mimic or disrupt the body's natural hormone estrogen.  I will leave you to research these ingredients and make an informed decision.  For me, the risks did not out weigh the semi-wetness protection I was receiving.  

The hunt began for a natural deodorant.  I tried Tom's, Alba and some other natural deodorants but by the end of the day I was left feeling pretty sticky and stinky.  Nobody wants that!  I decided to make my own and even though the first few batches didn't turn out to well, I adapted the recipe until I had a consistency that I liked.  My first attempt was clumpy, because I didn't soften the coconut oil.  My second batch was to gritty because I used too much baking powder (this batch also irritated my underarm.)  Finally, my third batch was smooth, not gritty, and did not burn my underarm.  And, it worked!!!  To understand why it works so well here is a breakdown of what each of the ingredients do.

Baking Soda, Corn Starch and Arrowroot Powder:  absorb sweat and keep underarm dry.
Coconut Oil: holds all the ingredients together and soothes underarm and razor burn. 
Tea Tree Oil:  is a natural anti-bacterial (bacteria is what causes body odor)
Essential Oil:  scent

Homemade Deoderant:

5 tablespoons coconut oil -- softened in a hot
water bath (not melted)

1/8 cup arrowroot powder - available at any natural foods store.

1/8 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup baking soda

Sift the 3 powders together

Several drops of tea tree oil [optional]

Several drops of essential oil of your choice.
(I love lavender myself) 

Instructions:  soften your coconut oil in a warm water bath.  Don't melt it or it won't mix well.  Sift together the 3 powders and then dump them into the coconut oil.  It will take some mixing to get it smooth.

 

Keep mixing!  It will smooth out wonderfully if you just keep at it.  When it is nice and smooth, I then add my essential oils.  I usually do 20 drops of tea tree oil and 10-20 of lavender oil.  You can use more or less to your preference.  Finally, transfer it to it's storage container.

 

 

 

I like to store mine in a half pint jam jar.  It will harden on its own over 24 hours or you can speed the process along and put it in the refrigerator.  To use, I just put a tiny amount, less than dime size, on the tip of my finger and rub it in.  If you notice some irritation, lessen the amount of baking soda that you use in your recipe.  I let it absorb for about 5 minutes before I put my clothes on and I have never had a problem with staining.

 

Now you have a recipe for natural homemade deodorant.  I encourage you to give it a try!!  Natural, Healthy and Nice Smelling Too!!

 

Caring for your Bamboo Utensils and Cutting Boards

According to my dad, who is in his 70's, we live in the throw-away society.  Many of the younger members (age 40 and under) of society buy expensive toys on credit, misuse and abuse said toys, and then throw them away just to turn around and repeat the whole process.  Sadly, I think he might be right.  I look around and see people buying things they can't afford and then not even taking care of them properly.  This can apply to expensive things like homes, cars, furniture or technology and less spendy items like small appliances, tools, or clothes.  I'm not sure of the reasons behind this phenomenon, but I am thankful that my mom and dad took the time to instill in me the joy of caring for what I have, be it much or be it little. 

 

All that to say, I want to teach you how to take care of your bamboo utensils and cutting boards so that they last for years and years.  I LOVE my bamboo.  It isn't excessively expensive, but it holds up so well, especially considering how much I use it.  Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial, which is fabulous for the cutting boards that are used for meats. 

 

The first rule of thumb when using bamboo is to NEVER put it in the dishwasher.  The sanitizing hot water is great for your glass ware, but not for bamboo.  The drying cycle is even worse for bamboo and can cause splitting and cracking.  To wash, simply use warm water and mild soap.  Allow to air dry.

 

In addition to hand-washing, it is necessary to oil your bamboo regularly.  When bamboo is brand new it is important to "season" it by conditioning it once per week.  After a month of weekly oilings you should only need to oil them once per month. 

 

I have read several websites suggesting the use of food grade mineral oil. As a rule, I generally don't like mineral oil as it is a petroleum product.  It is also difficult to find and expensive.  I decided to try coconut oil and the results were amazing! 

 

The process was simple:

 

I melted a scoop of coconut oil in a hot water bath. 

  

Using a paper towel moistened with the melted oil I gently rubbed all of my bamboo. 

 

I left everything to absorb and soak in for 24 hours.



 

Lastly, I rinsed everything in luke wark water and allowed it to air dry.  The result?  Naturally conditioned bamboo utensils and cutting boards.  I love knowing that I can use them for years to come and won't have to run out and buy new ones every few months because of cracks.  My dad would be so proud!  Natural, Healthy, Well-Cared For Bamboo!  

 



Homemade Sugar Scrub {Christmas Gift Idea}

Tis the season for making lovely gifts to give away!  I like to get all of my Christmas gifts taken care of in October and November so that in December we can focus on Christ and spend time with family instead of running around like chickens with our heads cut off at the mall.  It requires a little planning, but it is well worth it!  A lovely gift to give at Christmas time (or anytime) is Homemade Sugar Scrub.  I gave this last year and it was a hit with my girlfriends.  It's simple but luxurious and is something most ladies won't spend the money on at the Spa, which makes it a nice gift.

My first recipe came from pinterest and didn't call for olive oil.  However once the coconut oil solidified, the sugar scrub was SOLID!  So, I tried a new batch using half coconut oil and half olive oil.  Problem solved.  The texture is perfect and it does not solidify.

Here is the recipe:

Sugar Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup olive oil
10-15 drops of essential oil (I recommend lavender, vanilla, lemon or peppermint)

 Directions:

 

Slightly melt coconut oil, blend with olive oil add sugar and make paste.  
 

 

Put in mason jar.  Decorate the lid, add a pretty ribbon, and give away :)
**You can half it or double it depending on what size mason jar you use or how many you want to make**

 

 

See, I told ya it was simple!  Natural, Healthy, Beautiful ~ Gift Giving!

From Scratch - Bread

Fall here has brought a winter like chill to the air.  My favorite kind of weather for hot soups and delicious, fresh baked bread.  I started baking my own bread about a year and half ago and haven't turned back.  My husband prefers store bought bread for his sandwiches, but the rest of the family likes homemade.  When my husband made my daughter's lunch he would just use the store bought bread.  I later found out that my daughter had been throwing away her bread and just eating whatever was in the sandwich.  When I asked her why, she responded, "it's just not as good as yours mama."  Now how could I be mad about that?

My recipe comes from the book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg MD and Zoe Francois.  It is a fabulous book full of wonderful recipes and very detailed instructions.  I would highly recommend it.

As with most recipes I have changed it to make what I consider the best end product.  I will include the original recipe with my changes to it italics and in blue.  This can also be made into a peasant loaf, but I usually make mine in a bread pan for sandwiches.  So I changed the directions for use of a bread pan.  At the end I will include the instructions for a peasant loaf, which is super yummy with stews and soups.


Light Whole Wheat Bread
 
Ingredients:

3 cups lukewarm water

1 ½ tablespoons granulated yeast
1 tablespoon salt or 1 ½ tablespoons of kosher salt
1 cup whole wheat flour  (2 cups whole wheat PASTRY flour)
5 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (4 1/2 cups unbleached BREAD flour)

Directions:

1.      Mix the yeast and salt with the water in mixer.  Make sure the water is only lukewarm, hot water will kill the yeast.

2.      Mix in the remaining dry ingredients, using the dough hook attachment.

 

3.      Transfer to a large container, that has been lightly greased with olive oil, and has a lid (NOT airtight) and allow to rise for 2 hours.

 

 

 

4.      Split the dough in half, leaving half in the container and put it in the refrigerator for later use (within 5 days).

5.      With the half you are going to bake dust that piece with flour and quickly shape it into a ball by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball in a quarter-turn as you go.

 

6.      Stretch to an oblong shape that will fit in a bread pan.  Place in lightly greased (with olive oil) ceramic bread pan. Allow to rest for 40 minutes.  If it has been in the refrigerator, it may need up to two hours to rise again.

 

 

7.      Twenty minutes before baking time, preheat the oven to 450°,  Place an empty broiler tray (or an empty muffin tin) on the bottom rack.

8.      After the bread has risen again sprinkle liberally with four and then slash the bread three time or make a tic tac toe slash. 

9.      Place the bread pan in the oven.  Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler tray or muffin pan, and quickly close the oven door.  Bake for about 30 minutes, or until deeply browned and firm.  (If you use the original recipe you may need to lengthen baking time to 40 minutes.)

10. Allow to cool before slicing or eating.

 

 

Changes in directions for a peasant loaf in numbers 6, 7, and 9:

6.      Allow to rest on a cornmeal-covered cutting board for 40 minutes (if it has been in the refrigerator I find that it needs about 2 hours to rise again.)

7.      Twenty minutes before baking time, preheat the oven to 450°, place a baking stone on the middle rack.  Place an empty broiler tray (or an empty muffin tin) on the bottom rack.

9.      Slide the loaf directly onto the hot stone.  Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler tray or muffin pan, and quickly close the oven door.  Bake for about 30 minutes, or until deeply browned and firm.   (If you use the original recipe you may need to lengthen baking time to 40 minutes.)

 

I hope you enjoy this delicious bread as much as we do!  It is really difficult to eat anything other than homemade now :)  Here's to Natural, Healthy and Homemade!