Waterless Hand Sanitizer you will fall in love with!

No lie. You are going to LOVE this stuff!

I created this one about a month ago for a spring cleaning make and take. Since then I have been making everyone try it. So many people fall in love with it instantly and want the recipe. So I'm finally getting around to posting it.

I love it soooo much! And it is so easy!

Some things to note: I use organic witch hazel because I wanted to avoid the harsh alcohol in the regular stuff. I also use a food grade aloe gel so there are no additives. This is the same aloe and witch hazel I use for other things like baby wipes. The essential oils I choose here are great for skin and have antibacterial properties...win win!

So here is what you need....

Approximately 2 ounces of Aloe Gel (I like this one)
1 tsp Witch Hazel (I prefer this one)

5 drops Melaleuca Alternifolia essential oil

5 drops Lavender essential oil
2 ounce Container (I found these at Target)

In your container pour in 1 teaspoon of witch hazel. Add approximately 2 ounces of aloe gel, leaving enough space for your essential oils. (you can always add more aloe to top it off) Then add your essential oils. Put on the top and shake to mix. Done!

I love this. It makes you hands baby smooth. Plus it can also work as a quick wound cleaner in a pinch. Great for your on the go tool kit.

Blessings!

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Green Your Clean Series! The Bathroom

This week we venture into the great abyss... otherwise known as the bathroom. I HATE cleaning the bathroom. I loath it. I used to pay people just to come dust and clean my bathrooms because I hated it so much.

The bathroom is a place where you can find lots of "specialty" chemicals. But really its is simple and you don't need them.

Here are some great options:

Clogged Drain? I hate liquid drain cleaners. They just scream kill me now. I do love the action of seeing things fizzle. So here are the two ways I clean my drain.

1. Fill the drain with baking soda. Maybe a cup or so? Get it down in there as much as possible. Then pour vinegar in the drain and plug it up immediately. The fizz will force the clog down and clean the drain too.

2. A hand held plunger is an powerfully awesome way to remove a tough clog. I found one at the local hardware store about a year ago and wanted to shout from the roof tops. It was the best thing since??? well. I loved it anyways. I did find if you have an overflow hole in your sink you need to cover it with your hand to create a good suction. But it works on the really tough stuff. No chemicals needed!

Cleaning Paste: use baking soda and water to make a paste. Works great for cleaning the sink, toilet, shower, tub. Anywhere you need a little scouring power. Add in some extra power and a great scent by using essential oils. 

Some common oils used for cleaning are: 

• Lemon- kills bacteria and will uplift your mood :)
• Thieves- antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral, antiparasitic and antimicrobial.
• Purification- antiseptic, antibacterial, insecticidal, antifungal, antiviral and purifying!
• Mel-A- antiviral, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, bactericidal, and insecticidal
• Citrus Fresh- antifungal and antiseptic
• Lavender - antiseptic, antiviral, bactericidal, and fungicidal
• Peppermint- antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral

Daily Shower Cleaner Spray: this is for in between cleaning. To help keep it clean and reduce build up. Mix in a bottle and keep it in your shower for daily use. I like to write the recipe right on the bottle for easy refill.

1.5 cups water

1 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1 teaspoon liquid dish soap

15 drops lemon essential oil

15 drops melaleuca (tea tree) essential oil

Toilet Bombs: this is my newest venture in the bathroom. I had a silicone mold to make bath bombs and decided to try this out. My son loved the smell. Way better than breathing in toxic fumes- even from the natural stuff from the store.

1 1/2 cup Baking Soda 
1/2 cup Citric Acid
essential oils

Mix the citric acid and baking soda in a glass bowl. Slowly add approximately 80 drops of essential oils (your choice from list above). I personally love the smell of Citrus Fresh, Lemon and Mel-A together. Mix well. Push mix into mold. It should be slightly wet like damp sand. If needed you can spray a couple spritz of water to help it dampen but remember any water added will take away some of the fiz later. Leave in mold to dry for approximately 24 hours then remove from mold and store in a glass jar. When ready to use drop into toilet! (I use 2 because I have small molds) I drop it, clean the rest of the bathroom while it fizzes. Then I use my scrubber to scrub anything. Then I leave it to soak in the toilet- until it gets used anyways. I do the same with the gel from the store and have noticed no loss in cleaning power and only have been happy to enjoy the pleasant aroma and know my kids are safe.

All Purpose Cleaner: As I mentioned previously in this series. The All Purpose Cleaner is a must. This is one area where you can go crazy and spray away. Spray your mirrors, sinks, counters, toilets, even floors.








There you have it. Some fun new and natural ways to clean your bathroom.

Blessings!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.

Bee Day 2015

They have arrived! 

The bees are here! 

Let take a quick glance at what has happened since my last post....

My girl helped paint the stand.

I made a raccoon deterrent.

We dug out a site and installed some patio blocks 

to help with leveling since the apiary will be on a hill. 

Making sugar syrup in the morning. 

Here is the site with the stand and the raccoon rug in place. 

I then added the bottom board and reducer. 

The first hive body. 

Inner cover. 

Empty hive body to house the feeder pail.

All set and ready for bees!

Picking up the bees! 

My helper.

#3 package of bees all loaded up in the car!

Once we got home my assistant sprayed them with sugar water. 

I did not take any photos of the installation of the bee package as I was busy with the bees. It was fairly easy. The hardest part was getting the can out as it was stuck in there pretty good. The strangest part for me was dumping of the bees from the box into the hive and then spreading them out by hand so they do not get squished when I put the hive back together. It was like liquid bees...a strange thing.

If you want to see a video of how a bee package is installed into a hive check out the Bee Lab video from the University of MN. You can see what I just did as well as some of the things I will be doing in coming months.

Overall, I am pleased to say I did not get any stings. I had a veil and gloves but did not buy a bee suit. (I was worried that I may regret that but so far I am OK with it.) As I was working with them, I was thinking to myself, if they wanted to sting me (through my jeans or shoes) that it would be really easy for them. There were several bees flying around me. (I would guess about a hundred.) I saw a few land on my gloves but did not hear any buzzing near my head. I was also pleased that they stayed near the hive when I walked away. They are certainly gentle and not aggressive.

I will check on them in 24 hours (depending on weather) to be sure the sugar water is flowing and the grass is removed from the entrance so they can get out to forage.

God created something so complex yet so simple in the honey bee. Bees work together in a community and are very social. They all have specific jobs but can also step up to a different task if the community needs it. Unlike a hornet or wasp, a bee can only sting once and it dies. So bees do not want to sting you. However if they feel their community is in danger they will lay down their life for it.

Bees are an amazing creation and so are you!
Blessings!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.

Its early April in the garden

Its spring. Easter was only a few days ago and I love to look for all things new. Life is amazing and wonderful. I am happy to say we are looking at some nice weather coming up here in Minnesota. Its pretty brown around here but things are growing.

Lets take a look and see what we can find....

Under a pile of leaves I find.... Oregano.

Chives are growing strong near by.

A stray onion that I have let sit for the last 

three years still reminds me its there.

The garlic I planted in the fall is coming in.

Strawberries are showing signs of life.

Raspberries are starting to bud.

 

Tulips and Iris

and a little surprise...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:"  Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a lot going on out there if you look around. What do you have growing?
Get out and see. Enjoy the new life and report back.

Blessings!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.

What is cooking in my kitchen this week?

What is cooking in my kitchen today? It is all edible but none of it is food. I was out of a few things so I whipped up a couple easy recipes. Lots of people ask me how I have the time. Really it does not take that long. I have all the ingredients on hand and can whip together most recipes in a few minutes. Lets take a look at what I made today...








Deodorant: I have used this recipe off and on over a year. I would say I am pleased with the results. I have tried several over the counter natural deodorants and still like this one better.

I purchased empty deodorant containers on amazon but you can use old ones after you clean them up if you wish. Here is the one I purchased.

You will need:
4 tablespoons bentonite clay
1 tablespoons shea butter
4 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon baking soda (optional)
1.5 tablespoon bees wax
25 drops essential oils- this batch I used 15 drops lavender and 10 drops Mel-A

In a double boiler melt the coconut oil, shea butter and bees wax. (I like to use an 8 ounce glass gar that I reuse for this each time.) Add in the clay and optional baking soda. Note: Baking soda can irritate some peoples skin. Mix well. Remove from heat. Add essential oils. Mix then pour into deodorant containers. It will make about 2 deodorants. Let cool completely before adding lids.

This project takes me about 30 minutes only because I have to wait for the oils to melt and I tend to do it on low heat. But during that time I can do lots of other things- like make a cute label.


Lotion Bar: I have been making these for years. I just love them and give them as gifts to all my friends and family. They are great for dry skin. Rub them in your hands and the heat from your body will melt the oil. These bars are very moisturizing. I get cracked skin along my finger nails in winter and I will rub my lotion bar on the cracks at bedtime. By morning the crack will be gone. Happy dance!

You can use lots of options to make this with different molds. I use a small loaf silicone mold but you could make hearts for Valentines or pour them into deodorant containers for easy use as well!

You will need:
1 cup bees wax
1 cup mango butter
1 cup coconut oil
1-2 tsp vitamin E oil or about 5 capsules of vitamin E
50 drops of essential oil

In a double boiler melt the beeswax, mango butter and coconut oil. Once melted, remove from heat and add Vitamin E and essential oils. Then pour into molds. Let completely cool before removing from mold or if using deodorant containers make sure its cooled completely before adding the cap.

In the past I have made bars with just lavender essential oil but this batch I decided to use stress away as I recently have been obsessed with the scent of cedarwood and lavender together and this was a perfect complement.

This project takes about 30 minutes to prep and get into the molds. Most of that time again being the melting of the oils. Using the mold above I generally get 10-11 bars.


So there you have it! My quick nap time projects in the kitchen today. Happy cooking!

Blessings!


If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.