The Greener Side of Being Beautiful!

As women well know, it's not easy being beautiful!!  There are many steps (and products) that we go through to ensure that we have beautiful skin, beautiful hair, beautiful nails, beautiful feet...but unfortunately, most of the products offered for our skin, hair, nails and feet are full of toxic chemicals that, while they may help in the beautifying process, can actually be harming us!  Even some products that claim to be "all natural" contain ingredients that have bee proven to be harmful to our bodies.  So I set out on a mission to find ways to stay beautiful, using only products that are safe and organic.  And not only are they better for you, they actually work and can be easily made at home using things that you probably have in your refrigerator or cupboards!  The ingredients in these actually come from natural, God-made things....not man-made chemicals created in a lab somewhere!  And I don't know about you, but that sounds a lot better to me!!!  If these facts alone don't curb your way of thinking and buying the store products, just imagine all of the packaging waste that can be avoided by making your own products!  Not to mention the harmful effects these products have on our water when we wash them off and they make their way down the drain and into the waterways!  By using organic products, we are avoiding the risk of contaminating water and reducing packaging waste!  It's a win/win scenario for being a greener you! So read on and see some of the simple, safe and organic ways of making yourself as beautiful as you can be!!!! :)

Dry Skin Moisturizing Treatment
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons real mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (you can substitute the olive oil with any oil...be it safflower oil, baby oil or whatever you may have on hand)

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together
2. Smooth mixture onto any areas that may need it....face, neck, rough elbows, knees, heels, etc.
3. Leave on for approximately 20 min.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water

This works great for rough heels in the summer and I've even used it for my hair when it gets to feeling dry.
                                                                                                                  

Honey-Avocado Invigorating and Revitalizing Hair Treatment
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1 medium avocado- peeled and seeded
• 2 Tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Mash ingredients together in a small bowl
2. Massage into hair
3. Leave on for 20-30 min
4. Rinse with warm water

Leaves hair looking shiny and healthy and helps bring body back into it.
                                                                                                 

Nail Strengthener 
(This will yield enough for 20-30 applications)

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons castor oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil  (this can be found at your local health food store)

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a sealable container.  (I used a small glass baby food jar)
2. Shake well before each use
3. Rub a small amount onto each nail
4. Leave on 3-5 min
5. Wipe clean with a cotton ball

I had a problem with my nails chipping or breaking while gardening or doing housework and consistant use of this really helps strengthen them!
                                                                                            

Honey- Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
(This will yield enough for 100 applications)


Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 3/4 teaspoon beeswax- grated 
• 1/2 teaspoon pure cocoa butter
• 1 Vitamin E capsule
• Optional- flavored oil of your choice (ie. vanilla, peppermint)

*Note- the beeswax and Vitamin E capsules can be found at your local health food stores.

Directions

1. Combine oil, honey, wax and cocoa butter in a small saucepan and heat on low until melted.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 min
3. Add contents of Vitamin E capsule (and flavored oil if you choose to use it)
4. Pour into a container of your choice.  (I had a small tin that I used)

Once this cools completely, it is the consistancy of any other lip balm.

                                                                                         

Skin Exfoliant
(This will yield multiple applications...the number depending on how much/how often you choose to use it)

Ingredients

• 1 cup coarse sea salt
• 1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil, but you can opt to use baby oil, canola oil, castor oil...whatever you have on hand)

Directions

1. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl
2. Pour the mixture into a screw top container (I used an old peanut butter jar...since this product is going to be used in the shower, it's best to use a container with a plastic lid to prevent rusting/corrosion of a metal lid from the water)
3. Leave to set for 24 hrs
4. Apply mixture to any dry areas that you wish to exfoliate
5. Rinse off in shower water

This is a great way to invigorate your skin and exfoliate all of the dead skin....best for arms and legs...especially in dry winter months!
                                                                                        

Revitalizing Face Mask
(This will yield 1 application)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped avocado
• 1 egg white
• 2 teaspoons powdered milk (I've found that powdered goat's milk works great for this!)

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth
2. Apply to face and neck in a circular motion
3. Leave on for 30 min or until dry
4. Rinse with warm water  (best if the warm rinse is followed by a cold water splash to invigorate the skin!)

This really is a great mask.  It has been proven that avocado and cucumber both help our skin, so it's a great easy way to combine both into a mask.  Not to mention that egg whites help to tighten skin...leaving it looking younger!  Also, just a note- this mask mixture will keep in the refrigerator for about 30 min, so you can make it up ahead of time if you would like.  Not to mention that a cold mask really helps invigorate the skin!
                                                                                  

Hand Softener 
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• enough oil to make a paste (again, I use olive oil, but any oil can be used)

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together in a bowl to form a paste
2. Apply to hands (I apply it in the same way as I would wash my hands or put on lotion...just rub it around thoroughly onto hands)
3. Rinse with warm water

The brown sugar combined with oil really does help to soften hands!!  The brown sugar acts as kind of an exfoliate while the oil helps to soften and moisten the skin.  I really like to use this in summer months when my hands tend to get rough from all of the yard work and gardening.  It helps keep the calluses from yard work softened.
                                                                                        

End-of-Day Foot Spa
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Epsom salts (can be found in almost any drug store)
• scented oils of choice (I love lavender for this!!!!  It's very calming and relaxing.  You can also use rosewood, sandlewood or patchouli for a calming effect.  But for a more rejuvinating effect, you can use lemongrass or eucalyptus or peppermint.)
• water
• foot bath or a very large plastic bowl/container (you can even use the bathtub with water filled to about ankle height)

Directions

1. Fill the container you choose to use with warm water to ankle height
2. Add Epsom salts until dissolved
3. Add scented oils
4. Soak feet for 10-15 min
5. Pat dry

Who doesn't love a great foot bath after a long day??!!!  This is a great way to relax and treat yourself to something special in a very simple way.  This is especially nice if you are on your feet all day long!

                                                                                          

And there you have it!  A few simple ways to help beautify yourself without contamination of harmful chemicals!  I highly recommend these....even if you don't use them all of the time, it's a great way to pamper yourself at home in a safe, organic way, while saving some money too!  And that's what being a "green at home mama" is all about!!!!  :)

I Love Composting!!!

With the warm weather rolling in, it's a great time to reap the rewards of all my hard composting work throughout the year!  If you don't compost, then this article is for you!  I've been a firm believer of composting for years!  And now I would like to share some tips and knowledge of composting and just my personal opinions on how great it is! 

First of all, it's a great way to reduce the amount of trash you take to the curb!  I will get into further detail as to what kinds of trash can be composted further in this post.
Secondly, it's an easy, cheap way to get organic, nutrient-filled soils for your vegetable and flower gardens without even leaving your home!  I don't even have to buy fertilizers or potting soils anymore with the amount of soil I get from my compost bin!
And lastly, depending on the type of container you wish to use, you can make a compost bin from almost any scrap materials you may have lying around your garage or barn!

To begin, you need a bin.  There are several different options you can use....from chicken wire/fencing material to metal garbage cans to the more common plastic bins found in stores.  Whatever option you choose, just be sure that it's made from a material that won't rot...wood isn't a good material to use in making a compost bin, because it can break down from the common processes of breaking down that occur in composting.  If you choose chicken wire or fencing, simply wrap it in a circular shape and tie with plastic ties or wire ties to hold it together.  If you choose to use a metal garbage can, be sure to drill holes into the sides of the can to help aerate the material.  And if you choose to buy a bin from the store (this is the method I chose), there are many different options available...from simple square plastic bottomless bins with a lid, to circular bins that can be turned in order to aerate the material inside. 
If you choose on of the simpler methods that don't have an aerator method for turning your compost material, then you need to manually turn the material on your own by simply using a shovel or pitchfork and occasionally turning the material inside.  The process of aeration allows the composting process to occur quicker.

Next, you need to accumulate products to compost.  The list is pretty extensive as to what you can compost.  Among the list of compostable items are kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable clippings, skins and rinds, coffee grounds, tea bags, coffee filters, egg shells, and leftovers.  Just be sure that any of these kitchen scraps do NOT include meat, poultry or fish products.  These are things that cannot be composted.  In addition to the kitchen scraps, you can also compost newspapers and shredded papers (I don't use the any "glossy" newspaper ads or paper), and you can use fallen leaves in autumn and grass clippings and flower clippings in spring and summer.  For a more extensive list, you can visit this website, which provides an extensive list of compostable products for easy reference.  http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html  (not only does this website provide a list of compostable materials, but it also gives useful tips in getting started with a compost bin and how to maintain your compost bin, as well as answering questions you may have on the composting process)
Another website beneficial in composting is http://www.composting101.com/. 

And lastly, you just need to maintain your bin as you add material.  Every few days (I normally do it once a week or so), you will need to turn your compost material, if you don't have a turnable bin. It's as easy as taking a pitchfork or shovel and simply moving the material around to allow it to blend and get air.   When you add kitchen scraps, they tend to be wet or watery, so it's best to top them off with something dry when you add them to the bin.  You can use leaves, straw, grass clippings or other yard materials to do this.  You can also add fertilizers to your compost bin to help add nutrients, as well as help speed up the composting process.  (I choose not to add fertilizer, because I want to keep my material as organic as possible, but it is an option if you want!)

And that's pretty much it!  The more material you add, the more soil you will yield! I use the soil for adding to my vegetable garden as well as my flower gardens.  The soil is very rich in nutrients and helps give your plants what they need to grow!  You can have a compost bin no matter where you live and it's highly beneficial to whatever plants you intend on growing! 


Now go out there, and get composting!!!!!!! :)

Spring is Here!!!

With the long winter coming to an end, I'm ready to embrace the warm weather and sunshine of Spring with open arms!  One of my favorite things to do when the weather warms up is to head to the outdoors and enjoy nature!  And when I can't be outdoors all of the time, I like to incorporate little things from the outdoors into our everyday life...through decorating, through crafts or even just opening the windows to let the sunshine and breezes come into our home! 
This craft that I would like to share with you is just one example of bringing the outdoors in!  It's a cute, simple craft for children of all ages to do in just a few easy steps.

I've nicknamed thes cute little guys "Mother Nature's Peeps" :)

Materials

• various printed cardstock
• solid color cardstock of choice
• orange cardstock
• black marker
• small twigs
• small leaves (I used leaves from a Myrtle plant)
• scissors
• glue
• hole punch

Directions

1. Cut bodies of birds in "egg" shapes using a solid colored card stock of choice.
2. Cut beaks of birds using orange card stock
3. Cut tail feathers of birds using printed card stock of choice.  I chose to use "boy" patterns with browns and blues since I have a son, but any patterns will work!
4. Glue beaks, tail feathers and two small leaves for wings and twigs for legs onto the bodies of the birds.
5. Punch hole in the top of each bird and place ribbon through the holes.
6. Tie ribbon off for hanging.

(Additional Note- Instead of making individual birds, you can also make a mobile of birds or even a birdie garland for hanging as Spring decoration as well! )

We used these cute little guys as "Springy gifts" for grandmas, aunts and friends!

Organic Meat

I've tried the whole vegetarian scene and have come up with one conclusion....I LOVE MEAT!!!!   I just can't resist the urge to eat a juicy steak or burger!  BUT...I have a real problem with the way animals are raised and processed in order for us to consume them.  Coming from a family that raised our own livestock for eating, I know that animals have to eventually be butchered in order to eat them (sad, I know, but it's a fact of life).  However, they don't have to be raised in unhealthy, disgusting conditions and taken to giant manufacting plants where they are mass-butchered in dirty facilities.  At this time, my family doesn't have the means or the land to raise our own meat, so I've found a place that is doing it right, and I wanted to share this rare gem with you!   For those of you interested in getting organic meat, raised on a family farm and processed in the best way possible, then this place is for you.  Rus-Men Farms...a family stemming from generations of farmers, set out to provide the best quality meats possible.  It's a farm located on the outskirts of Galion with a variety of meats available at affordable prices. Here is a link to their website, where you can get insight on the history of their farm, the meats that are available and information on prices and ordering meat. 
http://rusmenfarms.com/
I highly recommend them and hope that you check them out!  You won't be disappointed!!!! 

*Note- you can also find a link to their website listed on my blog under "My Favorite Websites!"

Our Favorite Valentine's Day Craft!

I try to do a different craft with my son each day, along with a fun lesson to go with the craft.  To pay tribute to love on Valentine's Day, we did this fun little craft that is sure to be a hit with any child!!  It's a great way to let your child have a hands-on experience with a craft, with the end product being something that you can cherish for years to follow!

Yarn Hearts

Ingredients

• Colored yarn cut into about 1 ft pieces (we used red, pink and white yarn for Valentine's Day)
• Cornstarch
• Water
• parchment paper/wax paper/or baking sheet
• heart shaped cookie cutter

Directions

1. Make cornstarch glue by combining 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup water into a sauce pan.  Heat over medium heat until mixture thickens into a paste.
2. Let cornstarch glue cool until it's safe for your child to put their hands into it.
3. Place heart shaped cookie cutter onto parchment paper
4. Let your child dip pieces of colored yarn into the cornstarch glue until it is fully covered.
5. Run fingers over glue covered yarn to remove excess glue, and place into cookie cutter.  (placement of the yarn isn't really crucial...I've found that these hearts turn out cute no matter how the yarn is placed into the cutter)
6. Continue dipping the yarn into the glue until you have a filled the cookie cutter about half way.
7. Press yarn firmly into the cookie cutter and then remove the cutter, leaving a heart of yarn.
8. Continue making hearts until you run out of yarn or glue.
9. Let hearts stand overnight to dry.

Once dried, you can add ribbon to these to make an ornament or simply use them as Valentine's Day decorations as is.  They are a cute, inexpensive craft that children have a lot of fun making!! 

**On a side note, these aren't limited to just Valentine's Day.  You can use cookie cutters of various shapes and yarns of many colors to create lots of different yarn things for many different occasions.  We've done pumpkins for Halloween and some things for Christmas too (trees, stars, bells).

A Healthy, New Twist to an Old Favorite!

Rice crispy treats are always a favorite among children!  However, loaded with sugar and fat, they aren't the healthiest snacks to give our little ones.  So I've come up with a healthier, less fattening take on the old favorite.  And not only is it better for your children, but you can make them out of all organic products as well.  Not to mention that the cost of making them at home is much cheaper than buying them in a store!   Hope you thrifty, organic mamas love this recipe as much as I do...and hope your children love it more!!  :)

Healthy Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 6 cups brown rice cereal
• 2/3 cup of your favorite dried fruit
• cooking spray

Directions

1. Combine peanut butter and honey in a pot over medium heat.  Heat until melted (about 2-3 min)
2. Add brown rice and dried fruit and stir until mixture is sticky and rice is fully covered.
3. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
4. Fill the pan with rice mixture and press firmly into pan.
5. Put into refrigerator and let cool for approximately 30 min.
6. Cut into squares when cooled and serve.

These are a yummy, healthy treat that your children are sure to enjoy!!!!

*Note- some fun ways to liven up these treats are to add food coloring to the peanut butter/honey mixture in the pot for a colorful special occasion, substitute different things for the fruit for a different taste, or cut into fun shapes for a more festive look!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

After many years of growing up making our own homemade salsa, canning tomatoes and other garden veggies, I decided to take a shot at making my own homemade spaghetti sauce.  I will be straight-forward and honest when I say, it isn't easy, it's pretty messy and it's very time consuming!!!  However, it is so worth the hard work...it tastes delicious and fresh, it full of flavor and it's better than anything you can get from a jar or can!  And I also take satisfaction in knowing that all of the products that I use to make it are homegrown and organic!  So not only does it taste good, but it's good for you too!  For all of you organic mamas like me who want to give your families the healthiest, safest foods possible, this is for you!

Ingredients

• at least 2 bushels of tomatoes
• fresh herbs -I used basil, oregano and parsley
• garlic powder to taste
• tomato paste (enough to thicken the amount of tomatoes you use)
• *optional* veggies of your choice (I used zuchini, green beans, and carrots)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Wash tomatoes.  Boil water in a large pot.  Once water is boiling, add whole tomatoes to fill the pot. (they won't all fit, but just add as many as you can)  Leave tomatoes in for just a few minutes. Remove tomatoes and place into a large bowl or kitchen sink filled with ice water.  This is a step that a lot of people don't do, but it's such a valuable one!  By boiling the tomatoes for just a short time and blanching them in ice water, it loosens the skins, making it a breeze to remove the skin, which you don't want to add into the sauce!  Once the tomatoes are cooled, you can peel the skin right off.  Repeat this for all of your tomatoes.  After all of the tomatoes are peeled, slice the tomatoes in half, and remove the seeds and juices inside.  Something I like to do is to put the insides of the tomatoes through a strainer into a bowl, so that I have tomato juice that I can put into jars and can separately later on!  (it's a good way to get as much as possible out of the tomatoes that you use!)  Next, once you have all of your tomatoes seeded, chop them into about 1 inch cubes.  Add to the large pot you will use for your spaghetti sauce.  Now finely chop and add any herbs you like...I opted for lots of basil, oregano and parsely.  Add enough to flavor your sauce as you like it.  I love basil, so I use a lot of it and just filled with the oregano and parsely. Next, add tomato paste.  This will help thicken your sauce.  Now add garlic powder to taste.  I don't add fresh garlic because I've been told that it tends to get bitter during storage, so I opt for powder.  (but I do add fresh garlic to it when I prepare it for spaghetti) Also add salt and pepper to taste.  I put just a bit of garlic powder in it also for some extra flavor, but that's optional.  And last, finely chop any vegetables that you would like in your sauce.  This is a step that can be skipped, but I've found that it's a good way to get more veggies into our diets by adding them to stuff like this where they blend right in with the sauce!  With a persnickity 2 year old, I sneak veggies into almost anything I can when I can!!! :) 
Cook your sauce on a low heat until thickened.  This normally takes at least 2-3 hours, but I let it go longer than that.  The longer you cook it, the thicker it will be.  So if you don't mind runny sauce, you don't have to cook it long!
Once the sauce reaches a consistency that you are satisfied with, turn off heat and let it cool.  After it cools, simply pour it into freezer bags.  (*Note- I always make sure to label the bags with what it is and the date I made it prior to adding the sauce so I know...I make it multiple times throughout the garden season, so I like to know the dates so I can use the older stuff first)  
You can always can the sauce if you prefer, but I've found that freezing it works just as well.  Not to mention that the bags are easy to stack in a freezer and don't take up much space!  

And there you have it....yummy homemade spaghetti sauce that your family is sure to love!  Whenever you want to make spaghetti, just pop a bag out of the freezer, remove from the bag and put it into a pot frozen and cook it...or thaw it by putting the bag into a pot of boiling water for just a minute or so and then pour it into a pot for cooking. 
Enjoy!!!