Thursday, December 4, 2014

Make Your Own: Spa Gifts for Teachers!

'Tis that time of year where we always manage to forget some of the most important people in our lives that we rarely see... the kids teachers. Not to mention their bus driver..... and the mail carrier. Those people that do the "behind the scenes" jobs that we are so grateful for, but we rarely see them, so they are easily forgotten in the midst of all the holiday chaos. But not this year!!

This year, we are going to be the family that remembers them! So let's get to making them some personal handmade gifts to show our appreciation!

One idea that I am going to go for this year is a spa package idea, with mostly homemade items and inexpensive items that can easily be found. So here goes!

To make a nice little spa gift set, you can use the following:

A Mason jar, basket, or any other packaging item that is to your liking;
A loofah or nice washcloth;
A nicely scented sugar or sea salt body scrub;
A handmade soap;
A handmade lip balm;
A handmade body lotion;
A few handmade lotion or massage bars;
Some relaxing tea bags;
A few scented tea light candles

And any other ideas that you can come up with!

For the handmade items, DON'T FEEL INTIMIDATED!! Handmade items are very personal, and usually very appreciated because so much thought and work have gone into them. Most of these items are so very easy to make, and won't break the bank, and whatever you don't give away, you can most certainly use for your family or friends.

The following are recipe ideas for the above mentioned handmade items, but feel free to use anything you like!

Lemongrass and Rosemary Sugar Scrub

This lightly scented scrub is perfect as a homemade gift! The olive oil is a wonderful base, and is wonderful for use on the skin, while the sugar exfoliates dead skin, leaving your skin soft and glowing. You can use essential oils or fragrance oils, and you can certainly substitute the scents with any scent you have available or any scent you (or the recipient) prefer!

You will need:

A few small Mason jars

1 cup Rosemary infused Olive oil (made a few days beforehand)

2 cups of white sugar

1/4 to 1/2 ounce of Lemongrass Fragrance or Essential Oil

2 tsp. Vitamin E oil

(To make the Rosemary infused Olive oil, place one cup of olive oil in a sauce pan and add a few sprigs of rosemary. Warm the oil with the rosemary sprigs for about 5 minutes. Store in a sealed container for a day or so to allow for a good infusion)

Combine the Rosemary infused olive oil, Vitamin E oil and Lemongrass fragrance oil or essential oil and mix well. Then add the 2 cups of white sugar, and mix until it has formed into a paste. Put the required amount in the Mason jar and seal tightly. Allow to sit for a few days before use to allow the ingredients to be perfectly combined. Use during shower.

When you are ready to package the scrub for gift giving, place a label of your choice on top with the name, tie some ribbon around the neck of the jar with a gift tag (it may be a good idea to include the ingredients on the label, in case your recipient has any allergies), and decorate as you wish!

Homemade Beeswax Lip Balm

A homemade lip balm is perfect for those dry chapped lips that seem to plague some people during those cold winter months, and offers great protection in the prevention of chapped lips department! I personally love making and using these for my family.

You will need:

Small containers to hold lip balm (You can find these in your local craft store, order them online, or use some Altoid tins!)

1 tbs. grated beeswax

1 tbs. olive oil

1/2 tsp. of Vitamin E oil

A few drops of Fragrance oil or Essential oil of your choice (I personally use peppermint EO in mine!)

Melt the beeswax in a heatproof container (Pyrex measuring cup works perfect!) in the microwave. Do it in 30 second increments; beeswax is flammable and can catch fire if heated for too long. OR you can melt it in a container set in a saucepan half full with boiling water, or a double boiler.

Once melted, mix in the olive oil, Vitamin E oil, and your choice of FO or EO.

Pour into container and allow to harden fully before using.

Handmade Body Lotion

You will need:

Mason Jar, or any container that suits your needs. (Caution: Avoid a pump bottle, as this lotion will NOT pump well)

1/2 cup Olive oil

1/4 cup Coconut Oil

1/4 cup Beeswax

1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil

2 tbs. Shea or Cocoa Butter (Optional)

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Fragrance or Essential Oil

Mix all the ingredients in a heatproof container and place container in a saucepan half full over boiling water. Allow ingredients to melt, stirring often. Once all ingredients are melted and combined well, pour into container of choice and allow to sit for a while before using.

Enjoy making your creations, as I am certain that your intended recipients will enjoy using them!! Have fun, and don't be afraid to let the kids participate in the creating of the handmade body care products! They'll love it, and it will mean more to them.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Try Your Hand At: Growing A Lemon Tree!

Summer may be a little bit away, but it's never too early to start planning for it! A great way to start is to begin growing your own lemon tree (or trees!) from seed indoors now!

Nothing uplifts the spirit better than green plants growing in the home. No matter how much space you have (or don't have), there's always room for one little potted plant. You can start with one, or ten; it's all up to you.

Start with an organic lemon. The seeds in a lemon have a seed inside them, so you will have to remove the outer shell of the seed. Once you have done that, you will have a smooth looking whitish or even greenish looking seed. Take a damp paper towel, place the seed in the middle and fold it once or twice loosely. Place it in a plastic sandwich bag, and place the sandwich bad in a warm, dark place.

In a week or so, you should begin to see the seed sprouting. Make sure that the paper towel is still damp. If it isn't, dampen it again a bit. Then just wrap the seed back up again loosely in the paper towel, place it back in the sandwich bag, and monitor it for a few more days.

Once you have a pretty nice looking sprout, go ahead and plant it in a small pot with some good potting soil. I put a teaspoon of organic fruit and vegetable food around the sprout and watered it. I then kept it on a windowsill in my kitchen, ensuring that it did not receive direct sunlight.

A few weeks later, my plant has a couple of leaves and is about five inches tall. Keep it in the pot until is gets a little bigger. At that time, you can replant it into a bigger pot. Before you introduce it outside completely, make sure to get your lemon "tree" used to it by exposing it to direct sunlight for a little while daily.

It may take several years to grow lemons, but when it does, at least you know that they will be lemons that came to fruition from your hands. And that satisfaction is worth it all!

So go get some lemons, and have at it!!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Make Your Own: Beeswax Candles!

I have to be honest and say that the scent of beeswax is one of my favorite scents. I love the delicate scent of "honey" that it carries within. I try to use it in my soaps, and I always use it in my lip balms. One great way to keep that scent around the home is to make your own beeswax candles, as a gift or for your own personal use!

Beeswax candles smell lovely, and are long burning. They are said to be calming, and are also very beautiful to look at. Go ahead, make your own, and see what all the "buzz" is about!

Beeswax Candles

Materials:

1- 16 x 8 inch beeswax craft sheet
2/0 wick (they are about 18 inches each pair)

Instructions:

Let the wax sheets stay out in room temperature for several hours. Do NOT let the sheets freeze.
Cut the wicks to about 9 inches.
Cut the wax sheets in half crosswise.
Place the wick along the edge of the wax and begin rolling the wax tightly and evenly around the wick. Make sure that the top and bottom edges of the wax stay aligned. Roll to the end of the sheet.
Repeat for the second sheet of wax.

Relax and enjoy your beautiful, new, handmade candles!!

Have you made your own beeswax candles? Post your comments on how they turned out!

Freebie Friday! Neighbor Gift Idea

It's Friday, people!! Let's get this weekend GOING!!!

I'm going to start posting Freebie Friday ideas, tutorials and more in depth How To's, along with my regular daily posts, so check back in every Friday for something new to inspire your creativity plus your fun-o-meter!!

I just saw a post from tatertotsandjello.com that I thought would be a fun way to surprise your neighbors, or even just to get to know them. It'd be a great way to get a "snowball" effect going, and it'd be fun to do with the kids, who love to do nice things for others.

I think it's a pretty fun idea and can't wait to get it started with my family!

(From http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/12/happy-holidays-neighbor-gift-idea-youve-been-snowed-on.html and www.dimpleprints.com)

Hello Tatertots and Jello readers! It’s Carli here from DimplePrints and we’re here this week sharing some free prints, perfect for a neighbor holiday gift. Many of you have seen “You’ve Been Boo’d” Prints during Halloween, so we did a similar thing with “You’ve Been Snowed On” prints for the holidays! It’s a fun and easy idea to spread some holiday cheer across your neighborhood!

You've Been Snowed On! from DImplePrints

The premise is simple, come up with a treat or a snack for your neighbors, provide them with a copy of the print and a “You’ve Been Snowed On” print to put on their door along with the instructions. Once they receive it, they have 72 hours to make a treat for another friend or neighbor and watch it spread throughout the neighborhood!

You've Been Snowed on Girl Snowman Print

We used powdered sugar donut holes for our treat, along with a box where we punched holes on either side of the opening of the box and ran ribbon through it. The box can’t open up until you pull the ribbon off and your neighbors can see the tasty treats that await them inside!

You've Been Hit print with donut package from DimplePrints

We added a bow to the bottom of the box and some little ornaments from the Target dollar section to the door handle for a little extra holiday cheer.

You've Been Snowed On Free Printables from DimplePrints

You can download your free Snowed On Prints by visiting HERE.

They come in boy and girl snowman themes too!

You've Been Snowed on Free Prints Girl Snowman

We hope this helps you spread the holiday cheer a bit through your neighborhood this year! Enjoy!

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Let us know how your neighbor gift idea turn out by leaving a comment below!!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Make Your Own: Bath Salts!

With all the normal stresses of every day life, it's always nice to come home and take a nice hot bath to help you relax. Most of us can't afford the luxury of a bath every day, having to make do with a quick shower in the morning before heading out the door. So when you do FINALLY get to take a relaxing bath, why not make it relaxing and beneficial with bath salts?

Bath salts can be made with ingredients you may already have in the home, with the exception of essential oils, which can easily be found at your local health food store, craft store, or online. The many added benefits of bath salts include stress relief, muscle pain reduction, along with relief for many other ailments.

So let's get started on making our own bath salts!

(Recipe from http://wellnessmama.com/24610/lavender-mint-bath-salts-recipe/)

Lavender Mint Bath Salts Recipe

Homemade bath salts with epsom salt, baking soda, sea salt, and essential oils for a soothing and relaxing bath experience.

Author: Wellness Mama

Recipe type: Beauty

Ingredients

2 cups epsom salts
½ cup baking soda
¼ cup sea salt (optional)
30 drops of lavender essential oils
10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl.
Store in an air-tight jar and use ¼ cup per bath.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Make Your Own: Body Lotion!

Dry, itchy and flaky skin are quite common to most people once the cold and dry winter weather sets in. The cold and dry air robs moisture content from your skin. There are ways to alleviate or prevent the dreaded winter skin. Shorten your hot showers, and switch to a moisturizing soap (handmade soaps contain glycerin, which attracts moisture). One other way to combat this? Lotion up! (And yes, this goes for you men out there, too!)

Of course, the first step to protecting your skin from the cold is to bundle up, which pretty much goes without saying. But to pre-protect your skin, a barrier cream applied to your skin will go a long way. Applying a thick moisturizing cream before heading out the door is well worth the minimal effort that it takes.

And what a better way to lotion up than with a homemade lotion!

A homemade lotion can give you the moisturizing benefits you require to protect your skin. You can customize it to suit your needs and add your desired scents. It also gives you peace of mind knowing that what you are putting into your lotion is natural. Also, just the satisfaction of making it yourself is a wonderful feeling!

A good homemade lotion will have a three to six month shelf life, since most natural recipes do not have any anti-fungal preservatives. Therefore, when making and using it, please ensure that all your utensils are completely clean, and watch that you only dip into it with clean hands. A little precaution goes a long way!

(Basic recipe courtesy of http://wellnessmama.com/3765/homemade-lotion-recipe/)

Organic Homemade Lotion Basic Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup beeswax
Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

Note: All ingredients and many essential oils are available here.

How to Make Lotion:

Combine ingredients in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives or other foods.
Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (8 ounce) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
Use as you would regular lotion. This has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and no water is added. Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.

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Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Make Your Own: Homemade Vapor Rub!

Here's to hoping that the cold and flu season don't show up at your front door. BUT, in case it does, one way to provide relief and soothing comfort is to use Vapor Rub on the chest and/or feet. While some people prefer to just grab a jar of commercial vapor rub from the local drug store, I actually prefer to make my own for my family. It's a fairly easy process, and it is so worth it to know exactly what ingredients are going into the rub!

One really good way to use this vapor rub is on your feet covered with socks while you sleep. And the best part is that you can customize this recipe to fit your family's needs. I personally don't use the cinnamon oil in the rub because it can be a little too overwhelming on the skin, but that is just a personal preference. So go ahead, give it a try and see for yourself the benefits of making your own vapor rub!

(This recipe is from http://wellnessmama.com/3527/natural-vapor-rub/):

Homemade Vapor-Rub Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil
2 level tablespoons of beeswax pastilles
20 drops of Eucalyptus Oil
20 drops Peppermint Oil
10 drops Rosemary Oil
10 drops cinnamon or clove oil (optional)

How To Make Vapor Rub:

Melt beeswax with oil of choice in a double boiler until just melted.
Add the essential oils (use half the amount for a baby version or dilute with coconut oil before using)
Stir until well mixed and pour into some type of container with a lid to store. Little tins work well, as do small jars. I also always make a few in lip chap sticks to keep in my purse or use on baby feet.
Use as needed to help sooth coughing and congestion.

*Please note that this recipe should not be used on babies. Consult a medical professional if you have questions regarding usage of this product on children under six years of age. Eucalyptus oil, for instance, is not considered safe for use on children.

*Also note that pregnant women should not use rosemary essential oil.

Make Your Own: Beeswax Lip Balm!

Tis the season for chapped lips! My little ones, born and raised in the balmy, warm climate of the South, are very susceptible to chapped lips. Once the weather starts getting cold, those telltale red marks start appearing around their lips. Last year, I decided to make my own lip balms for them to have and use. I found a pound of beeswax at an apiary shop up in North Carolina (Wild Mountain Apiaries) for a very good price and decided to go to town with some lip balms for them! Not only was it simple to make, but I knew (and could pronounce!) every single ingredient that went into my lip balms. That peace of mind was well worth the effort.

Here's a recipe that I used for my balms. I was also informed that it would last about a month or two, but in all actuality, I found one of my lip balms a year later that still worked perfectly.

* Note: Please make certain that you know where you are getting your bees wax from. Some commercial beekeepers control pests in their hives with pesticides, which gets into the wax.

Now, without further ado.....

Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe

What you'll need:

Glass measuring cup or jar (I used a mason jar)

A spoon

A container to store the balm (I used an old Altoids tin)

Beeswax

Olive Oil

Vitamin E oil

Peppermint Essential Oil (Optional)

(Make sure that your hands and all tools are clean before you get started!)

Grate one teaspoon of beeswax (use a knife; using a grater for beeswax, while easier to do, will make for a heck of a clean up job later!). Make sure you fill that teaspoon, so pack it in tightly! Then place the grated beeswax into your glass container.

Measure out two teaspoons of olive oil and put in to the glass jar with the beeswax.

Now to begin! Since you are making this in the microwave, please use caution and microwave in small increments of 30 seconds. Beeswax is quite flammable if it gets too hot. Microwave for 30 seconds, take it out and mix it with your spoon, and repeat until the beeswax is completely melted.

Once your beeswax has melted completely and you have mixed the ingredients well, add a few drops of Vitamin E (not only is it good for you, it helps to prolong the shelf life of the lip balm!) and a few drops (one or two) of peppermint essential oil if you choose to use it, or any other essential oil of your choice.

Pour the mixture before it has a chance to set (harden) into your lip balm container and allow to sit undisturbed. Once the balm has cooled off and set, it is ready to be used! Enjoy your new lip balm!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Make Your Own: Felted Soap!

Have you ever sent your kids in to take a bath, only to have them come back out smelling like soap, but still looking like they need a run through the car wash with a scrub brush? What did they forget? Oh, yeah! The washcloth!

Well, I found a way to eliminate this little problem by making my own felted soap!

Felted soap is basically similar to a washcloth permanently wrapped around soap. No more excuses about forgetting the washcloth. Felted soap is also great for the older generation, who really don't need to chase a slippery soap around in the shower for safety reasons.

Making your own is so simple, and very much worth it! So have at it....

Felted Soap Recipe

(The following recipe is from http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-felted-soap)

How To Make Felted Soap

Ingredients:

Scented Bar Soap

Wool Roving

Nylon Stocking

Cold Water

Hot Water

Friction

Patience

Step 1:

Find old bar soap in back of bathroom closet to use with project.

Wonder if soap ever expires?

Look for expiration date.

Shrug and proceed.

Thin wool roving out until you can almost see through it and place bar soap in center.

Step 2:

Wrap almost expired soap in wool roving.

Tuck in at ends.

Lightly cover soap with wool.

If you have too much wool it will bunch off soap….too little wool and you can see the soap.

Step 3:

Adhere to the philosophy that why have one color of wool roving when you can have three.

Add two or three colors with little strips of wool roving.

Stretch and thin wool roving until it covers the bar of soap.

Step 4:

Drizzle a little hot water on soap and press wool very gently together.

Step 5:

Insert bar of soap wrapped in wool roving into the nylon stocking.

Sprinkle a little more cool water until soap starts to foam up inside nylon.

Gently rub wool on soap….alternating hot water and cool water.

This is where the patience comes in.

And the friction.

After a few minutes….the soap will lather and the wool will start to contract (or felt) onto the soap. At this point you will be lathering the soap up in your hands like you were washing them.

The nylon helps hold the wool into place until you have finished the felting process.

Keep rubbing the wool until it tightens around the soap.

It may take 10-12 minutes….but eventually the wool will tighten and form a casing around the soap.

Step 6:

Remove soap carefully from nylon.

Wipe excess lather off with a paper towel.

Set out to dry in sun for about 10 minutes.

When dry….it’s ready to use.

Please feel free to leave your comments on any felted soap you make!! Have fun and enjoy!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Make Your Own: Strawberry Soda!

So, if you have been keeping up with my blog, you already know what a Ginger Bug is (if not, please go back to the home page and check it out!!)

But if you already do, here's another recipe for lacto-fermented soda from http://holisticsquid.com/cultured-strawberry-soda/

Cultured Strawberry Soda

I’ve received a lot of requests for more cultured soda recipes. That’s right. I said more. Check out my Easy Peasy Pomegranate Soda, my Apple Ginger Soda and a sweet favorite of mine,Old Fashioned Root Beer.

To me, cultured strawberry soda says sparkling, sweet fun! It makes me want to wear tube socks, short shorts and go roller-skating.

This is such a delicious, crisp drink, many who’ve enjoyed it cannot believe it’s organic and full of beneficial bacteria and hydrating electrolytes.

Kids of all ages love this drink. It also makes a fun mixer for grown-up drinks, and the beneficial bacteria help to buffer the effect of alcohol on the liver. Any way you choose to enjoy it, this cultured strawberry soda is so darn good.