Vanilla Bean Exfoliator

I am always looking for new scrubs and moisturizers to try for both me and my son.  As I am getting older, my skin is alot drier than in youth.  It needs a bit of help whereas before it was beautiful ah naturale.

As for my little one, he needs constant moisturizing and exfoliating due to a skin condition that does not allow his skin to naturally slough from his body.  The dead skin hangs on until it is physically removed by hand.

That is why I was so excited to read this months copy of Better Homes and Garden.  They shared 3 wonderful skin care recipes that are perfect for summer time and those of us needing a skin pick me up.

Ingredients...

• 2 TBS. white rice
• 2 TBS. coffee beans
• 1 fresh vanilla bean cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup natural plain yogurt

Directions...

1. Mix first 3 ingredients mini food processor or coffee grinder.
2. Pour into a mixing bowl and add a small amount of warm water.  Mix together to make a paste.
3. Apply all over body rubbing vigorously.
4. Rinse.
5. Apply yogurt over skin to moisturize.
6. Rinse.

Store remaining exfoliator in an air tight container for up to a week.

Note:  If you are going to make homemade skin care products on a regular basis, it is a good idea to purchase a cheap blender, coffee grinder, and/or mini food processor.  It's better to not contaminate your appliances used for food preparation.

Stuffed Banana Peppers

Ingredients

• 4 banana peppers
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 5 fresh tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4-5 fresh basil leaves chopped
• small handful fresh oregano chopped
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
• 1/2 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pound hamburger
• 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

1.      Cut off tops of peppers, and remove ribs and seeds. Chop edible portions of tops; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2.   Dice tomatoes into very small chunks and simmer in a medium sized cooking pot with chopped garlic.  Stir often.  As you are stirring, press tomatoes with a wooden spoon to smash the tomatoes and help the sauce liquefy faster.  Season with basil, oregano, ½ of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3.      Spray a medium skillet with cooking spray. Saute reserved chopped pepper and onion until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add mixture to tomato sauce and stir.  Cook an additional 5 minutes.

4.      Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine ½ egg, remaining salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan. Mix in cooked hamburger, bread crumbs and ½ cup of the tomato sauce mixture.

4.      Using a piping bag or sausage stuffer, fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Place in a 3 quart casserole dish, and pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.

5.      Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour.  Feel free to top with cheese when the peppers are done.

...altered from a recipe I found on All Recipes...

More From Monave...

image found here

As I have mentioned before Monave is a wonderfully, eco-friendly company that provides the latest in skin care and beauty needs.  I have reviewed their lip glaze before and found the results to be amazing.

This time I was able to try out 3 different shades of vegan lipstick.  I have been wearing the lipstick now for about 2 weeks.  I believe the samples I am trying are matte finish. 

At first, I was afraid the product was going to be drying on my lips as the feel is similar to that of long wearing lipsticks.  However, I was please to discover how wrong I was.  Though the product is not as moisturizing as the lip glaze appeared, it does provide your lips with nourishing oils and butters.  You would think with all the emollients that you lips would be slick and the product wouldn't have staying power, but wrong again.

This product not only provides the nourishing effects of the natural oils and butters, but does not bleed or easily fade.  The colors are very natural looking as well.  I have found that I reach more often for my new Monave lipstick than I do my tried and true favorites. 

Monave is also the perfect place to look if you have a young girl just beginning to wear beauty products. With the natural shades and eco-friendly ingredients, the products are sure to enhance rather than over power a young girls beauty.

My overall option of Monave and the lipsticks I have tried are very favorable.  I will definitely be ordering more in the future.

Monave Lip Glaze

I found a new lip glaze that is absolutely perfect... modern, natural, & versatile.  Not only is Monave Lip Glaze 100% vegan and gluten free, it feels fabulous on your lips.

The sheer color is natural in appearance, yet lends a shine that is sure to last for hours.  Since receiving this product, it has become a go- to for my tired, dry lips.  The natural oils and vitamin E are very nourishing and healing.

I would definitely recommend checking out this outstanding eco-friendly find.  I want to try out the natural makeup products Monave has as well.  They look fantastic!

Natural Vinegar Disinfectant Spray with a Twist

I get a newsletter from Learning Herbs and couldn't be happier with all the great things they share.  This week I received a wonderful recipe I'd like to share as well as access to a free webinar with Rosemary Gladstars.

If you are interested in natural health and healing or just want to learn more about herbs, you have to check out the site.  What Learning Herbs.com has to offer:

• free ebooks
• free webinars
• free ecourses
• a cooperative board game to teach children about herbs (my kids love this game)
• medicinal kits with all you need to create your first salve and tincture. 

I got so excited about sharing this wonderful resource with you I forgot to share the recipe I received in this month's newsletter.  You will not be disappointed.

How to Make a Lavender Thyme Disinfectant:

1.  Fill a quart jar with 1 cup dried thyme leaves and 1 cup lavender flowers.

2.  Fill the remaining portion of the jar with white vinegar and seal tightly.

3.  Allow mixture to sit for at least 24 hours.

4.  Strain vinegar from jar.  Try to get as much of the herbs separated from the vinegar as possible.

5.  Place vinegar into a spray bottle.  Use to clean an surface you would normally clean with a disinfectant.

*NOTE*  You can add a few drops of essential oil to the vinegar and shake.  I like orange and lavender together, but you can experiment to find a duo that works best for you.

Learning Herbs.com suggest getting herbs in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

I came across this amazingly powerful challenge a bit too late in the year to implement with my kindergarten students, but wanted to share for all you homeschooling mamas & papas.  Looking at your environment now gives you plenty of time to plan ahead for a future project that would benefit our planet.

Here is what the site says about Siemens:

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is "the only national sustainability challenge that empowers students in every grade level to develop and share environmental solutions that just may change the world!"

The process seems simple:

• Go online.  Create a team. 
• Brainstorm with your children an environmental change that needs to be addressed in your home, classroom or school. 
• Come up with a plan to address the problem and implement the plan.

I really want to do something with lunch waste... both recyclable and compostable.  Not sure exactly how to gather data and what to do yet, but I guess that is what next year's kiddos will help me decide.

Please go check out the challenge and consider signing up next school year.  The environmental impact alone is enough of a reason for me, but there are prizes too... really BIG prizes. 

I could list the prizes for you here, but I really want you to take a look at the site for yourself.  I think you just might be interested.

What environmental issue do you think your children could address?

Simplify Garden Planning

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I was given the oportunity to use a wonderful product from groOrganic to assist in planning my garden for this year.  I am truly ecstatic at how easy the Garden Planner made the entire process from selecting plants to designing the garden bed itself. 

Before using the Garden Planner, my husband and I walked our backyard and decided on the perfect spot for this year's garden.  We took measurements and then proceed to check out the groOrganic site.

When you first open the Garden Planner online, it is best to watch the short video clip on getting started.  This will give you some simple steps on how to use the product to design your garden.

We began by drawing out a plot in the exact dimensions of our garden site.  From there, we perused the vegetable templates to select the best veggies for our soil and climate.... You even enter where you live in order for the Garden Planner to provide you with an accurate planting timeline.  But, we will get to that in a minute.

After we decided on the vegetables that would be planting, we began adding them to our garden plot.  It is super simple... click and drag.  The best part of all is you do not need to know how many plants you will place in each space. 

Once you place a vegetable onto your garden plot you can click and drag the vegetable to take up the desired amount of space.  The program will automatically space the plants at the appropriate intervals.  You can go back and change this at anytime by simply resizing the vegetable.

After you have filled your garden plot with all the veggie goodness it will hold, you can print out a timeline.  The timeline is awesome.  It will list which vegetables to plant when and how many plants you will need of each variety. 

We used the timeline when we went online and purchased seeds, as well as, when we went to purchase plants.  We knew exactly what to purchase and in what quantity.

With the garden ready to plant, we headed outdoors with a printed copy of our garden plot.  It has rulers along all edges to assist in your planting.  My husband is the math whiz in the family, so he went around the garden and placed the plants into the positions specified.  I got to be the lucky one that actually planted the little beauties.

All in all our garden planting this year was so simple and easy.  We were not struggling to find inforamtion on how far to space, which plants need sun/shade, or the amount of water needed in the soil.  All this information was readily available in the Garden Planner.

If you are a garden novice or even seasoned gardener, I would highly recommend the GroOrganic garden planner.  It made planting our garden this year so much fun.  The kiddos even wanted to look at the plot map and try there hands at locating where to place specific veggies.  What could get better than that?

Do you have any great resources you use when planning and tending to your garden?

If so, please share.  I need all the help I can get.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM7783d3eb0cca3f309457d77f15de32e4">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">Product review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com">giveaway</a> Disclosure.

Homemade Beeswax Finish

I have been wondering if it was possible to make your own beeswax finish and I found my answer.

Yes,
    Yes,
         Yes!

Below are the modified directions I plan to follow when I get the chance.

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce of beeswax cut into tiny pieces
• 4 ounces of oil (olive, coconut, or jojoba)
• 4 or more drops of orange or lemon essential oil
• tin can
• stock pot
• water
• recycled glass jars with lids

Directions:

1. Fill the stock pot with just enough water to heat the tin can.  Turn on heat and allow water to almost come to a boil.
2. Place tin can in water.  Add piece of beeswax.  Stir until melted.
3. Add oil to tin can.  Stir consistently until oil and wax are blended.
4. Add 4 or more drops of essential oil to mixture and blend well.
5. Pour mixture into a clean, glass jar and allow to cool.  Once mixture has cooled secure lid tightly.

*You can use this finish to seal homemade toys, wooden spoons and bowls, polish furniture, etc.  The ingredient list sounds like it might make a good body moisturizer as well.  Worth a try, I think.*

SOURCE: Plain & Joyful Living

Ionic Water and Glass Water Bottles

image source

While on the HCG Diet I am drinking ionic water and loving it!  Iconic water has many added benefits including releasing excess body fat and stored toxins, normalizing blood pressure, supporting health colon function, resolving urinary tract infections, reducing chronic pain, providing tons of antioxidants.

I actually went into the local Naturopath yesterday and sampled 3 different waters: tap and two different ionic waters.  They store owner put a device in the waters.  The tap water was +400 for bad stuff (oxidants of some sort... to be honest I do not understand it all completely).  Ionic water #1 was -200 meaning it had that amount of antioxidants in the water.  The second ionic water was -400.

I cannot praise ionic water enough.  I am NOT a water drinker... just do not like it.  It's hard to describe, but ionic water goes down more smoothly and your body begins to crave it.  With the amazing benefits it contains, there is no wonder!

You can physically see the difference in water clarity.  I know you can taste the difference.  My youngest tasted my water and asked why it was so yummy.  I told him it was a different water for my diet.  When he wanted a refill, I asked him to go to the fridge like normal and get filtered water.  He requested the new,  "better" water.

Now, that's an accomplishment.

Since the water is ionized you have to be careful of the containers in which you drink it from.  Stainless still is okay, but glass is a better option because some metal containers have a coating on the inside to keep the liquid from tasting metallic.  It is unknown at this time if the lining leaks BPA's or not... I did not know this.  Yikes.

Glass Water Bottles:

• Love Bottle... An old school bottle that can be personalized.  Super cute, though not the easiest to clean... tiny opening.  $18 for 1000ml
• Life Factory Glass Beverage Bottles... Wide mouth, silicone cover.  Not as cute, but very practical.  $22
• Glass Water Bottle... If you are looking for a traditional plastic bottle look and feel, here you go.   Holds 20 ounces.  $13.99
• Urban Glass Water Bottle...  The words "allow peace" are printed on the bottle.  100% recyclable, no toxic leaching, and leak proof lid.  Holds about 14 ounces.  $22
• Takeya Modern Glass Water Bottle with Silicone Sleeve... Very modern looking design.  Comes with a silicone sleeve in a variety of color options.  25 ounce capacity.  $25
• Kor Water - KOR ONE Hydration Vessel... Comes in a variety of colors.  Hinged lid and fits most cup holders.  Holds 25 ounces.  $30

  Happiness and health to you all.

Simple Cough Cure

1 TBS Lemon Juice
1TBS Honey

Mix well.  Heat for 45 seconds.  Mix well again.  Consume.

Really does the trick.

Cloth Snack Bags

Saw the easiest tutorial to make cloth snack bags.  Thought I'd give it a go and think they turned out well enough.

For some reason, the You Tube video is not uploading.  Here is the link to Angry Chicken and the simple tutorial.

Clean That Laundry

Since I just reposted a recipe from Nature Mom on how to make a super cheap laundry detergent, I thought I would post some additional items related to laundry.

You can purchase a Detergent Making Kit with all the needed ingredients to make the detergent from my previous post.  You can't get much easier than having all the ingredients delivered to your door.

Fels Naptha can be used as a pretreatment on stains such as ring around the collar and sweat.  It can be used to treat lawns, black spots on roses and to deter aphids in gardens.  Fels Naptha is a natural way to take care of your plants and garden.

Washing soda has so many uses in regards to cleaning.  I think you should look check out the information on Soaps Gone Buy to see for yourself.

If you have any really great laundry detergent recipes, I'd love to hear from you.

How do you make the unending task of laundry more enjoyable? 

How do you keeo up with laundry and reduce the piles?

Cheap! Cheap! Homemade Laundry Detergent

My favorite green blog, Nature Mom, posted this wonderful recipe on her blog yesterday.  I wanted to try it out, so I am reposting for you.

• 1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
• 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda {not baking soda}
• ½ cup of Borax
• Essential oils {whatever scent you like}
• 5-gallon bucket

First you’ll need to grate the bar of soap and add it to a saucepan with 4 cups of water. Stir continually over medium-high heat until all the soap is melted. Second fill one 5-gallon bucket up half way with hot water then add your melted soap, washing soda, and borax to it. Stir well!  Finally fill that bucket the rest of the way up with water. Stir, cover, and let it sit overnight to thicken.

The next morning you’ll need to take a used, clean laundry detergent dispenser and fill it half full of your soap and then fill it the rest of the way with water. Now if you want it scented, you’ll want to put 10-15 drops of an essential oil in for every 2 gallons.

Viola! There you have it. Homemade, all-natural laundry detergent. Remember to shake it before each use because it will gel. This recipe yields approximately 10-gallons of detergent. For a top-load machine use 5/8 cup per load {approx. 180 loads}, and for a front-load machine use ¼ cup per load {approx. 640 loads}. So, you get all of this detergent and it only costs about $2.00 to make it! I don’t know of anything cheaper than that!

*Posted directly from Nature Mom.*

Child Safe Paint for Toys

This year I have made a good amount of the toys that my boys will get for birthdays.  Wanting to have a painted finished product, I went in search of a more natural paint to use during the process.

Here are some paints I have found:

*  Milk paint was the option I choose.  It is 100% natural with a milk protein binder... not good to use for a child with a milk based allergy.  This powdered paint comes in small sample bags making trying a variety of colors more economical.  You can mix the exact amount of powder you need and play around with the thickness of the paint to get the desired effect you are looking for. 

The one downfall is that you definitely need to seal the paint.  It is very susceptible to water spotting.  Using a beeswax finish is the idea option to create a completely natural toy for your child.  I used what was on hand which was unfortunately an acrylic spray.

The end result was beautiful, but not as natural as I would have liked.

*  Eco-Paint is an all natural paint made of flour, cornstarch and various fruit and vegetables.  It is sold in powder form and mixed as needed.

It did not state if this product needs to be sealed or not.

*  Watercolors make a great stain on natural toys, but need to be sealed because they are water soluble.  Be sure you get the AP Certified variety as not all watercolors are safe for toys.

*  Acrylic paint will work on all wood products and is very versatile.  It does however contain a plastic binder though which is a major downfall.  Again, some acrylic paint is safe for toys and some is not safe.   Look for that AP Certified label!

* Oil finishes such as linseed, walnut or mineral oil are a safe choice as well.  The only downfall here would be that the toys will not have any color.

*  Beeswax seems to be the most used sealant on natural toys.  You will need to repeat the process periodically which was another reason I choose a less natural alternative.  I was just afraid I would never get around to resealing as time goes on and wanted a toy that would last.

I really enjoyed experimenting with the milk paint.  I think I will get some beeswax to seal my next batch of toys just to test it out.

Hope this will help you make a child friendly choice when it comes to painting any toys you might make in the future. 

Do you make wooden toys? 

What kind of paint or finish have you used? 

How did you like the finished product?

Clear Sinuses

Chelsea, one of the amazing women who author the zine, Rhythms of the Home, shared a wonderful inhalation recipe for helping to loosen all the gunk associated with chest congestion and the sniffles.

Add ten drops roman chamomile, ten drops lavender, and five drops eucalyptus or peppermint to a bowl of steaming water.  Place a towel over your head and tent it above the bowl.  Inhale the vapors as deeply as possible.  Do this repeatedly until there is no more steam coming from the bowl.

Blow your nose several times after the inhalation treatment.  It is really important to get all the gunk out of your system in order to heal the body.

*If you are trying to administer an inhalation treatment to a young child, have the child sit in your lap.  Place the towel over both of your heads.  Follow the same procedure as above. 

You might need to make it up a game to encourage deep breathing for the younger kiddos..  For example,  Let's see if you can take a breath that last for 3 seconds.  I'll count... 1, 2, 3.  You did it!  Do you think you can breathe in for 5 seconds?  Count again.  Continue in this manner until there is no more steam coming from the bowl.

No More Colds

I was reading the quarterly zine, Rhythm of the Home, and found another remedy to help deter a cold.

As soon as you notice your little one is showing signs of sickness, rub the soles of each foot with 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil.  Promptly cover the feet with warm socks. 

Try to implement the oil rub about 3 times a day until the cold has subsided.

*Remember to keep the feet extremely warm during the colder months... even while sleeping.

Bright Blessings to you and yours!

Warm Foot Bath Treatment

*Shared by Naturopath, Lidia Tomulet at a Holistic Moms Group in North Carolina

Supplies:

• 1 pair of cotton socks
• 1 pair of thick wool socks
• Towel

Directions:

1. Take a pair of cotton socks and soak them completely with cold water.  Be sure to wring the socks out thoroughly so they do not drip.

2. Warm child’s feet first by soaking them in warm water for 5-10 minutes.  Alternatively, you can give them a bath right before the treatment.

3. Dry off feet (and body) with a dry towel.

4. Place cold wet socks on child’s feet. Cover dry wool socks immediately.  Get them to bed right away to avoid getting them chilled.

5. Leave the socks on them overnight.  You will find that the wet cotton socks will be dry by the morning.

Benefits:

• Contrast of hot and cold stimulates the immune system.
• Increased peripheral circulation leads to decreased congestion and better sleep.

Natural Health Remedies for Children

I am on a mission to create a family healing basket much like the one mentioned in
Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule.  While searching the web for ideas and items to include in my basket, I came across some really great home remedies.  Many of the ideas below I have used for years, but I was reminded of them after reading an article from Parents Magazine.

1.  Sore Throats and Cough:  Mix 1 TBS of honey and 1 TBS of lemon.  Microwave for 15 seconds.  Have your child sip the mixture slowly.  Honey has been known to work better to relieve a cough that some OTC medications.  Lemon juice helps to dry congestion.

2.  Tummy Discomfort:  A lukewarm cup of chamomile tea works wonders.  Steep for 5 minutes and allow to cool before serving.

3.  Bug Stings:  Mix baking soda and water to make a thick paste.  In no time the pain and itching or a bug bite or sting will subside.

4.  Nose Bleeds: Cayenne pepper helps to stop a nosebleed.  Pinch your child's nose and have your child lean forward for several minutes.  Place cayenne pepper on a q-tip and apply to the inside of each nostril.  The nose bleed will subside more quickly than it would have previously.

*If your child is prone to nose bleeds as mine is, you can apply bactroban ointment or vaseline into each nostril before bed.  This will help to keep the nose area moist which will naturally cut down on nose bleeds.

5.  Warts:  Duct tape over the wart.  Change tape out as needed.  Check the area in about a month the wart should be gone.  If not, continue as long as needed.

6.  Stress Relief:  Blowing bubbles can be a form of meditation.  Have your child take a deep breath and slowly blow it out.  Allow your child to watch the bubbles dance in the air and slowly descend.  Repeat.  The deep breathing combined with the repetitive motion of blowing the bubbles is bound to relieve a bit of stress and bring a smile to an otherwise cranky kiddos face.

7.  Headaches:  Sewing together a simple cloth bag with a drawstring.  (I would double the fabric.)  Place several ice cubes into the bag and secure around you little ones head with a bandanna.

8.  Minor Aches and Pains:  Create a simple rice pad.  Sew together a square of fabric leaving a small opening on the corner.  Pour uncooked rice into the opening and hand stitch the opening.  Microwave the rice pad for about 20 seconds.  Knead to distribute heat.  Place the rice pad on any area of the body in need of comfort.  Repeat until your child begins to feel relief.

9.  Ear Aches:  Heat water on the stove until very warm, but not boiling.  Pour water into a glass jar.  Secure lid tightly.  Place jar inside your child's pillow case and cover pillow case with a small hand towel.  All ow your child to lay on the warm bottle.  This worked miracles for me as a child.

10.  Congestion:  Mix 1/2 tsp of table salt into 1 cup of  HOT water.  The water should be really hot, but not enough to cause discomfort.  Using an eye dropper, angle the dropper towards your child's sinuses and squeeze.  Do this several times having your child blow his or her nose after each application. 

For adults, I would suggest investing in a Netti Pot.  It is worth the money hands down.

"Another paste to try for severe sinusitis is 1tsp of cinnamon with a drop of water, mix to form paste and apply to sinus areas making sure to avoid eyes. This paste will redden skin and it does tingle but results are amazing for sinusitis."

11. Mild Swelling:  Place cold cucumber slices onto the swollen area.  When the cucumber warms, simply discard and replace with another slice form the fridge.

12.  Diarrhea: "1 to 5 teaspoons of corn starch in half a glass of milk with a touch of vanilla for flavour & 1 tsp of sugar you can take 3 to 5 times per day or take double or triple doses, will stop the runs & will not hurt children can be used without sugar or vanilla.This mixture will not bind you up is over 150 years old. From Grandma Miller 1855."

I hope some of the above ideas will comfort you during cold and flu season.  Also, I will post my healing basket as soon as it is completed.

How to Make Natural Salve

I found some wonderful ideas for making homemade salves over at Love to Know.  Any of the following bases can be used to create a salve of your choosing.

Base One

• 1 part oil
• 5 parts beeswax

Base Two

• 1 part beeswax
• 4 parts lard or lanolin
• 1 part oil

Base Three

• 4 parts cocoa butter, shea butter, or a combination
• 1 part beeswax
• 1 part oil

To make a salve of any of these, melt over low heat, and stir until blended.

Herb Infused Oil

1 part dried herbs 2 parts oil

Mix in a container and leave in a warm place for two to three weeks to infuse. When herbs have infused into the oil, strain the oil and store covered in a cool, dark place. The longer the herbs stand in the oil, the more potent it will be.

Good Oils to Use:

• sweet almond oil
• extra virgin cold pressed olive oil
• extra virgin coconut oil
• sunflower oil
• apricot kernel oil (for facial salves)
• grapeseed oil (for facial salves)
• avocado oil

Always use cold pressed, organic oils for best results.

First Aid Salve

• 1 part goldenseal oil
• 1 part calendula oil
• 1 part comfrey oil
• 1 drop essential oil of lavender
• 1/8 tsp. tea tree essential oil
• 800IU vitamin E

Use as the oil in any of the basic herbal salve recipes. This is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and promotes quick healing. It is good for use on cuts, scrapes, infections, or just about anything.

Lip Salve

• 1 part lavender oil
• 1 part comfrey oil
• 1 part rose oil (be sure to use unsprayed petals)
• 800IU vitamin E

Use with the lanolin salve recipe. Coconut oil is a good oil to use with this.

Chest Rub

• 1 part rosemary oil
• 1 part thyme oil
• 1 part peppermint oil (not essential oil, homemade oil infusion)
• ½ Tsp. camphor essential oil
• ½ Tsp. eucalyptus essential oil

Use with any salve base recipe.

**NOTE:  The vitamin E in the oil is the preservative.**

More Directions for Salve Making

natural salve directions

lip balm and salve

5 Ways to Go Green for Thanksgiving

Getting ready to pack that suitcase and head out for Thanksgiving?  Be sure to green your home before you go and save a bit of energy along the way.

1.  Pack a reusable bag for all your dirty clothes.  Also, keep a couple extra bags for any additional goodies you might be bringing home.

2.  Remember those goodies I just mentioned?  To avoid throw away containers, bring along a few of your favorites from home.  This will let you get your treats and be earth friendly too.

3.  Unplug all electrical appliances that are not in use.  Energy is still drawn from an item that is plugged into the outlet.

4.  Run your ceiling fan clockwise in the winter to distribute the heat better.  This allows you to keep the furnace turned down a notch.

5.  Turn your thermostat to a temperature that will more than likely not activate it.  No need to heat or cool a home when it is not in use.

By implementing just a couple of the steps above you are saving energy in your home and helping the environment at the same time.  You'll be able to head out to your Thanksgiving gathering knowing you have helped in some small way.

Give thanks for the world we live in and take care.