Create your own natural baby salve to keep your baby feeling smooth and comfy!

With a baby’s skin being new and very tender, it’s important that we take care in what we put thereon. Also, babies love to put their fingers and toes in their mouths, making a natural baby skin salve seem like the perfect solution.

Commercial baby lotions typically have a petroleum product as a foundation, but it’s not the best choice for absorption. A better choice for the home crafter is any vegetable oil.

To this base all manner of options exist. For example, you can take a little vegetable oil and add a little dried milk and cornstarch into it, forming a paste. Add more oil until its smooth and spreadable, and wa-la ‚ a soothing cream for baby’s bottom. If the baby is more than 6 months old, you may also add a drop of lavender oil into the blend.

By the way, if you can find it arrowroot powder can be used in place of cornstarch (or as a 50-50 blend). For something even more spreadable, simply add more oil or try a slightly different recipe. Follow these steps to create your homemade natural baby lotion:

1. Begin with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil, add about 1 tbs. vitamin E (available at many health food stores), and two tbs. dried comfrey.
2. Warm this over a low heat and strain.
3. Take the strained solution and add about 1 tbs. melted wax (beeswax is best). Pour this into a wide mouth container and beat the mixture together until cooled.
4. You now have a product very close to cold cream that will moisurize, heal, sooth and provide antioxidant elements.
5. Note any time you’re making a new blend for baby, only make a little and be painstakingly aware of your proportions. Test a small amount on a tiny space of skin, such as the heel, to be certain your baby won’t have a bad reaction to it. Remember, your child is meeting various elements of the natural world for the first time, and there’s never any perfect way to know to what they may be allergic.

Learn how to make your own all natural baby wipes at home!

One of the great assists in parenting is having a good all-purpose baby wipe.

But why not make them at home with ingredients you can trust. Follow these steps to make your own all natural baby wipes:

1. To begin you‚ll need some of those soft, light weight baby blankets that you seem to have in abundance when your child first arrives. The beauty of these is that they‚re washable and reusable, and they were gifts (thereby decreasing your initial outlay). Alternatively, if you didn”t get tons of these at showers, go to a fabric shop and search the remnant bins for flannel.
2. Step two is easy. Cut the flannel into pieces that will easily fit into any food storage container you have with an airtight lid. They need to be just shy of the full dimensions to go in and pull out easily. Cut at least 12 in all so you have enough to last a day or two before washing. It’s recommended that the edges of the cloths be sewn with a finishing stitch to keep them from fraying badly, and increase longevity.
3. If your child has sensitive skin, you may wish to stop with just the clothes and dampen them with warm, filtered water. For children with normal skin a little aloe gel, lavender and rose water blended together are also good choices. Note that the lavender MUST be essential oil, and rosewater is best if its organic. For 12 wipes mix one cup aloe with 5 drops of lavender oil, and 1//4-1/2 cup rosewater. Mix this, and slowly add about 5 tablespoons filtered water so you can pour the blend over your cloth wipes.
4. By the way, some recipes also recommend adding an equal amount o grapefruit seed extract and essential oil to that of the lavender. These items seem to protect the baby’s skin from irritation nicely in combination with aloe. These are best stored in the refrigerator, and even then for not more than a few days as water can (and does) get nasty after some time.
5. If you notice the solution around the cloths growing cloudy ‚ immediately throw it out. You can always carefully warm the wipes before use with a heating pad, and the refrigerator increases longevity.

Zero calorie fad diets are a sure way to fail at losing weight. You need a plan you can stick to if you really want to shed pounds.

But with many of us working at computers, spending leisure time watching TV, listening to music or otherwise spending so much time in an inactive state these days, its easy too gain unwanted weight.

And the long term health risks associated with obesity are all too well known, so aside from looking good, keeping trim and fit will also extend your health, keep you feeling your best and may well lead to a longer lifespan. If you have tried exercise, diet and other weight loss programs, perhaps you’ve been conditioned into thinking it’s a complex process?

In reality, if you follow a few simple ideas you can lose weight quickly and keep it off permanently. Follow these 10 easy tips to get thin quickly without risking health problems or those overly complex diet plans that always seem to fail:

1. Talk To Your Doctor – Before starting any diet plan or rapid weight loss program, consult a physician. A blood test will reveal if you have blood sugar level or other potential health concerns that need to be considered. If you have any health conditions such as diabetes, heart, kidney, lung or other health problems, you could seriously jeopardize your health. Losing any amount of weight just isn’t worth the risk!
2. Make An Attitude Adjustment – 90% of losing weight is about attitude and self confidence. If you can just set your mind on losing weight, you will have conquered the battle before you even start a weight loss regimen. Most of us can set our minds for a few days or even weeks, but maintaining a positive outlook and steady focus on losing weight is always a LOT harder than it sounds.
3. Exercise Regularly – You don’t have to work out for 2 hours at the gym everyday, but daily walking or other exercise that gets your heart, lungs and muscles moving is key to losing weight and keeping off those pounds. Start by setting a schedule; you might walk for 30 minutes on odd days and practice yoga or other stretching exercises on even days. Whatever work out regimen you set, the main key is to make it enjoyable enough that you can stick with it regularly.
4. Research Diet Options – There are literally hundreds of diet plans out there today, from Atkins to the South Beach Diet, Jenny Craig, The Special K Challenge and plenty of others. But you need to find one that you can live with; if the food you select to eat every day doesn’t taste good to you, you are bound to give it up sooner or later. Also, be sure to pick a program that offers a balanced and nutritional diet. Avoid programs that rely on supplements or otherwise unbalanced nutrition; you need a good mix of fibers, protein, calories and, especially, vegetables and fruits to maintain your health, regardless how quickly you want to shed pounds. Your diet plan should aim to lose fat, not muscle content!
5. Set Your Diet Plan – Once you select your diet plan, spend some time to plan and write out your meal schedule, taking care to give yourself enough variety so you won’t hate it a few days after starting.
6. Track Your Calories – While keeping track of every calorie you eat is ridiculous and certain to turn you off to staying on a plan, it is important to track what you eat to be sure you are sticking more or less to your plan.
7. Get Plenty of Rest – Your body needs more or less roughly 8 solid hours of sounds sleep nightly, so try to avoid sleeping irregularly. If you have trouble sleeping at night, don’t get up to read or watch the tube; remaining in bed will at least give your body some rest and sooner or later you can get your mind and body accustomed to staying in bed and sleeping more regularly. Also, if your exercise regimen includes any strength training, resistance training or serious weight lifting, be sure to allow at least 24 to 48 hours between work outs so that your muscles can recuperate properly.
8. Avoid Binge Eating – Eating smaller amounts of food more often is one of the best ways to give your body a continual source of energy, which can aid your metabolism, thus accelerating the weight loss process. If you are prone (as most of us are) to binges, try to keep plenty of healthy snacks available to quench your appetite when the need arises. The worst thing you can do to your confidence is allow binging to overcome your emotional balance. Stepping back to point #2, once you start thinking “I’m fat and I’ll never lose weight” the battle is nearly over.
9. Don’t Rush Weight Loss – OK, while the point of this article is to lose weight quick, you really can’t rush things too much. While you can lose weight relatively quickly by following these steps, you can’t rush things too quickly; steady, consistent persistence in your diet and exercise regimen will pay off. Trying to rush things by skimping on calories is more than likely to cause binge eating and lead to complete failure, not to mention that losing too much body weight too quickly is simply not healthy for your body either!
10. Stick With Your Regimen – This point has been emphasized already, but the most important thing in losing weight quickly is sticking to your plan and not veering off the path because you have a bad day or week or you binged yesterday and again today. When you experience set backs, try to regain your confidence and attitude that you will not give up. Talk to a friend, see a nutritionist; whatever it takes to keep to the plan consistently over the long haul. Before you know it, you will have lost pounds, feel better both physically and emotionally and be on your way to a slimmer, happier self. Good luck and stick to your plan!

I have tried different ways to prolong the healthy looking salon shine and appearance of my hair and have conducted a list of does and don’ts when it comes to hair.

DON’TS

Firstly, prevent washing your hair too often as the hair gets used to receiving moisture and becomes greasy easily and begins to clump together.

Secondly, don’t wear your hair in an up style all of the time as the hair cannot breath and begins to get brittle.

Thirdly, avoid using hair irons as the heat burns the hair and causes split-ends making the hair look tatty.

DOES

Firstly, try and use the shampoo and conditioner that is designed for your hair. There are a variety of different shampoos and conditioners designed for different hair types. If your hair is dry then I recommend using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner, if it is coloured use the one to suit your hair colour and so on.

Secondly, I recommend letting your hair dry naturally sometimes to avoid the heat of the blow drier.

Thirdly, try not to use heat irons or heat curlers if they are not necessary. Wear your hair in an up style once in a while.

Fourthly, use a hair mask once or twice a month to re-inject life into your hair.

Furthermore, use an anti-dandruff shampoo for the duration of approximately one week during a two month period.

Finally, wear your hair in a pony tail when going to bed because it prevents termites in your bedding and dust in the air from being able to access the whole of your hair.

There are many other tips to maintain healthy hair that I am yet to discover but I hope these tips have helped so far. I will keep this post updated.

There are many products available on the high street that claim to prevent and remove cracked feet but this is not always the case. These products are often expensive and can be as much as $30 per product. In addition, they are not always destined to work. I have always suffered with cracked heels due to the job I work in as I am always on my feet. I’ve used a majority of products that claim to put a stop to this problem, for example, the brands Scholl and Callex, but I am yet to find one that works. Because of this I decided to try and solve the problem myself and I now have smooth heels.

To re-gain nice feet wasn’t easy and it took a lot of grooming but the outcome was outstanding, better than the outcome I received with the recommended products.

Here are the things I constantly repeated to re-gain smooth feet.

Firstly, when you are in the tub your skin softens and so when you vacate the tub the cold air automatically attracts to dampness in an attempt to dry it. This adds to cracked feet, so when you get out of the water be sure to wipe your feet thoroughly ensuring that they are completely dry. It is also good to wear shoes and slippers with backs on them during cold seasons.

Secondly, buy yourself a foot scrub (exfoliator), they aren’t expensive, they can cost as little as $1 and are available at most stores that sell beauty products. Using this, scrub your heels once or twice a week in a clock-wise or anti-clockwise motion. This removes dry skin and leaves a smooth surface.

clipart

Thirdly, on waking up, add a small layer of moisturising cream to your heels and leave until it has soaked completely into your skin. Repeat this before going to bed also. I recommend using a menthol moisturising cream because they are made up of mint extracts. Menthol products prevent soreness because mint extracts are natural ingredients that cool the skin.

Finally, try and wear socks or slippers around the home to keep your feet warm. However, be sure that you let your feet breath by letting them get some air once or twice a day because if your feet are suffocated of air it can lead to other problems with the feet including fungus infections and athletes foot.

To maintain nice feet be sure to persist with the above things. Most importantly, be sure to moisturise your feet before and after sleep.

I hope this helps.

-Lay back, relax and let the stresses of the day exit through the tips of your toes.

*If it has been a very stressful day I like to enjoy a glass of wine whilst indulging in my bath.*

bath tub

I recently found out how fizz bombs are made. They’re so simple to make and so I thought, as I always do, that I would experiment with them by adding a few more ingredients to add a little scent and some other bits and pieces.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

2 tbs citric acid

2 tbs cornstarch

¼ cup baking soda

3 tbs vegetable oil

2 bowls

Wax paper or bath mould (necessary for shaped fizz bombs and available at most craft stores)

EXTRA INGREDIENTS

¼ tsp essential fragrance oil of your choice

3-6 drops food colouring of your choice

½ cup of dried flowers

WHAT TO DO

Step 1: Take the first bowl and add the citric acid, the corn snatch and the baking soda into the bowl.

Step 2: Take the second bowl and add the vegetable oil, food colouring and fragrance into the bowl. Step 3: Mix together.

Step 4: Add the dried flowers.

Step 5: Slowly poor the ingredients in the second bowl into the first bowl. Be sure not to poor the ingredients within the two bowls together too quickly as it may cause the reaction before you can use it in the tub.

Step 6: Mix all of the ingredients together well.

Step 7: Poor the mixture into bath bomb moulds or make 1 inch balls and place them onto waxed paper.

Step 8: Leave to set on a flat surface.

Step 9: The bath bombs should harden within two to three minutes. However, be sure to leave them at least 24 hours before use or storage.

TO STORE

In order to store fizz bombs place in cling film or in a sealed container away from moisture.

Within 24 hours you will be able to indulge in an aromatic and relaxing bath with the products you made yourself. These are also great as gifts. Simply present them in a cup, basket or container and decorate the packaging with things such as ribbon. In addition, why not add a little personal note.

These are the perfect, personal gifts that are ideal for your grandparents, your mother, your sister, your friends… these fizz bombs can even be enjoyed by males (but be sure to give them the gift fizz bombs discretely. We wouldn’t want to offend their masculinity after all.)

Enjoy!

Begin with a cup of good quality oil that has a texture you like on your skin. Almond, for example, is very light but it does have an aroma of its own to consider. Olive oil is heavier but relatively scent-neutral.

To that base oil add organic extractions one to two drops at a time until the aroma is pleasing. Note, however, that some botanicals are very harsh on the skin. Cinnamon, for example, may burn. So test this on a small patch of skin before starting to use it regularly. This step is essential to ALL recipes presented here.

The second approach begins with three parts of good oil and one part dried herb or flowers, or two parts fresh herbs or flowers. Note that both the herbs and flowers need to be free of dirt, stems, and seeds. Be fastidious about this for best results.

Put these ingredients together in a non-aluminum pan and warm over a low heat until the herb(s) or petals turn translucent. This means they’ve given up their natural oils / scents. Gently squeeze the herb/petals to drain off any residual oil. Now smell the results. If it’s too intense, just add more oil. If it’s too weak, you can re-warm adding a little more herb/flower until the result satisfies. At this point, store the scented oil in a dark, airtight container in a cool location. If you ever notice the oil getting cloudy, toss it out. That implies it’s begun to turn. The typical shelf life on this process is 6 months.

The third method is very similar to the last except you won’t be applying direct heat. Now you’ll want to put the herbs and oil in a clear, airtight container that can be left in a sunny place akin to making sun tea! Shake this twice daily for at least two weeks. Periodically open and do a sniff check toward the end of the two weeks to see if you need to add more herbs or oils for personal taste. The beauty of this approach is saving energy. Additionally, some plants are very sensitive to high heat – it can spoil their aroma, so you’re also protecting your ingredients.

Enjoy!

Annie has some amazing books out there to teach us green living in every category from home cleaning to personal care.
From Care2.com comes this recipe for Autumn Body Polish.

The Christmas season is well underway in the US and in many cases that means off the shoulder blouses and low necklines, even bare arms in the wintertime, but sadly this is the weather that will bring with it the ashy elbow syndrome, dull skin and flaking, as well as other issues due to the increase in heating and the decrease in moisture that we see in winter months.

For middle aged women this is also the perfect solution to the need to exfoliate and moisturize.

INGREDIENTS

1/8 cup finely ground sunflower seed meal (try using a coffee grinder)
1/8 cup applesauce

1. Mix ingredients into a paste, then apply with gentle circular motions into your face, throat, chest, arms, and legs.

2. Allow formula to remain on skin for 10 minutes so the sunflower oils can be released and your thirsty skin can absorb them.

3. Rinse with warm water and gently pat dry.

Makes enough for one application.

Dry skin is proven to age quicker than clean, fresh skin and so beauty experts advise using exfoliators. Exfoliators are products that promote the removal of dead skin cells, they are a microdermabrasion -a technique using sand crystals to remove superficial skin cells and improve minor skin imperfections and help prevent effects of aging. They add moisture to the skin but can hurt delicate skin.

Personally, I dread the thought of getting old, feeling your body sag and looking drained and dull more and more daily. Many women try everything to prevent poor skin, no matter what age they are, and, dare I say it, I’m pretty certain men attempt it too. After all, looking good on the outside promotes you feeling good on the inside.

So, you’ve tried the anti-aging creams and every product that claims to prevent anti-aging and I bet the visa bill is sky high. You’ve tried the de-toxin and the steam facials but nothing seems to be working and you ask why??
Answer: because we can’t stop ourselves from getting old. However, we can try and postpone the procedure of it. The products we buy don’t always work, some may help a little but they definitely don’t help the bank balance. There is an alternative way.

Why not try making a natural anti-ageing exfoliating face wash??

All you need is water and sugar, salt is often suggested but it can damage and scrape the skin.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp water

PROCEDURE:

Add the sugar and water together into a bowl
Stir until sugar has dissolved, otherwise it could tear your skin
Apply to your face
Using fingertips massage in a light circular motion on a make up free based face
Do this for approximately 1-2 minutes
Rinse off with warm water, or a steamed washcloth
Pat dry
If desired, afterwards, apply a mild fragrance-free moisturiser

If you wish to make the experience even more en-lightening, after you have used the face mask/wash, cut two slices of cucumber and lay back placing them on your eyes. The natural coolness of the cucumber prevents puffiness and puts that sparkle back into your eye.

Voila! There you have it. Soft skin without the expenses.

Finally, as a concluding tip, avoid using soap to wash the face as it dries the skin, which, as previous information indicates, promotes aging of the skin.

Sunflower oil has many purposes, for instance: maintaining health, skin protection and it also plays a part as an ingredient in many cosmetic products such as ’La Femme, Complete Manicure’. The oil is made from sunflower seeds and further ingredients such as Stearic acid. As it initially comes from a natural resource, sunflower oil is high in vitamin E and has soothing properties. Vitamin E is clinically proven to be a protective and strengthening element. All of this formed the basis of my experiment to attempt to use sunflower oil as a natural nail hardener.

As I currently work in a very hands on job, it is necessary for me to have strong nails. So here is how to do it. When it is convenient, retrieve an empty bowl and pour in some sunflower oil, just enough to cover your nail and cuticles. Add water if you wish but this is not necessary. Place your hands into the bowl allowing your nails and cuticles to soak up the oil for approximately 15 minutes, or longer if you desire. Do this regularly each day or every few days and your nails and cuticles will begin to look fresh, clean and strong. It is as simple as that. No more need for those regular trips to the nail salon, no more need to polish and re-polish your nails all of the time, no more unexpected nail breaks and, most importantly, no more excuses for brittle and nasty looking nails. It the simplest and easiest form of pampering for women on the go!

Affected toys which have been recalled just in the past 67 months alone account for several million more.. they are from nearly every store and several places which are not stores, among them, Gordy Toys, Toys R Us, Simply Fun, Fisher Price, Jo-Ann Fabrics, Duncan Donuts, J.C. Penney, Mattel, Tri-Star, Target and Walmart.
It seems no one is safe from the unsafe. There are literally thousands of trendy toys out there that your kids want, and you want to give them what they’d like this holiday season, but unfortunately, not all of the toys they might like, are safe.

The smart parent is going to read the fine print, and make sure that this toy is suitable for you childs age and motor skills and tht is has no other hazard in store for them.

Every year, over 150, 000 children in the US alone are treated for injuries they sustain while playing with toys that are supposed to give them pleasure.

Among the most common toy related injury is choking, which can of course cause a fatality. Children of ages two and three are prone to tasting everything because taste is how they function. Avoid purchasing anything with parts that may come off and cause a choking hazard.

Nearly all children will pull push and twist at their toys, so a toy that can break into smaller pieces, causing cuts, or choking is also something that should be passed by.

Test your toys using your own version of the push and pull game and any toy that is not sturdily made should be left at the store. Steer clear of games that have marbles, balls or anthing that is smaller than about 2 inches in diameter, particularly in homes with smaller toddlers.

Most upscale toy and department stores will have a choke tube to help you tell when an item could pose a hazard in your home.

Pull toys with long cords or remote control cars which are not cordless are also a hazard in the hands of younger children due to the risk of strangulation.

Non toxic art and craft supplies are an absolute must, particularly if your child will be crafting at any point on his or her own accord.

Try to avoid sharp points or edges, particularly on childrens furniture.

Last, but most assuredly not least, don’t buy toys for your children that are intended for a much older audience, regardless of how intelligent your child is.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has offered a guideline for age appropriate toys.

* Newborns to age one: crib gyms, floor activity centers, activity quilts, squeaky toys, soft dolls or stuffed animals.
* Ages one to three: soft blocks, large blocks, push and pull toys, books, pounding and shaping toys.
* Ages three to five: nontoxic art supplies, pretend toys (i.e. play money, telephone), teddy bears or dolls, outdoor toys (i.e. tricycle and helmet).
* Ages five to nine: arts and crafts kits, puppets, jump ropes, action figures, miniature dolls.
* Ages nine to 14: handheld electronic games, board games, sports equipment with protective gear, model kits, musical instruments.

In addition, if you are concerned with the toy recalls, as every parent and grandparent should be, stay in the know about them by checking weekly, both during AND after the holiday season to make sure that if a toy your child owns is on the list it can be removed promptly.

That list is available to you here: US CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION RECALL LISTINGS.

Halloween is a time of fun and fantasy where every child ( and sometimes adults) can be exactly what they want to be.

Sadly, the costumes arent all that can be spooky about Halloween

We all want our children to enjoy their time out with friends or at parties, and we all want to see them come home safely.

Why not plan and work for that safety prior to the actual day, so that the parties we throw and the costumes we buy or rent help to assure our childrens safety rather than put it at risk.

I was in love with the a fairy princess costume when I was a little girl. Beautiful gathered skirt which fell in folds to my feet, and slippers made of some shiny plastic that was glitter covered and had heels. I wanted that costume, and I was simply horrified to find that it was going to be denied to me by an over protective parent.

Somewhat spoiled I sobbed and ranted and demanded, all to no avail.

The woman I dubbed that weekend as JUST MEAN could possibly have saved my life with her unpopular decision.

Not long ago I saw that costume, or a modernized version of it and was even more horrified.

The handkerchief hem was much too long to be worn safely by a child on the street, or anywhere else that children will play as they always will when in the company of another child.

The slippers I had seen to be so lovely had little or no means to assure that the bottoms were not slippery and on a chilly evening with a bit of moisture on the walkways, they would have oh so easily impelled me to the ground on the concrete.

The Perfect Halloween Costume:

Isnt the one with the glass slippers and the mask that looks like it might have been worn by your best friend at Mardi Gras.

It isnt necessarily the most popular or the best decorated. In a mothers mind the perfect costume is the one that will keep your child the safest.

My own choice for a costume is the one that doesnt impede walking or vision.

Its the one that doesnt have a huge hood which can fall over an infants face when he is placed in his car seat.

In trick-or-treat and Halloween Costume safety. Include some popular costumes like star wars Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean and make reference to them in the store at the bottom after the safety info. Trick or treat is about laughter and fun and having a good time with friends.

Falling and needing treatment, burns and scrapes are not fun.

With that in mind, lets take a hard look at safety hazards that can happen during this most fun filled season, with a view to heading them off at the pass.

In Costuming

*Be certain that a hooded infant costume has the hood withdrawn before your invfant is placed in his or her car seat.

*Childrens costumes should be those which dont interfere with their walking. Length should be adjusted if need be so that they are able to move freely with no danger of falling.

*Masks: I personally prefer face paint, but if a mask is the way you want to go, then be certain that the eye holes are of sufficient size to allow for free range of vision, both frontal and peripheral vision.

*Face paints. Buy those which state uncategorically that they are not made of petroleum products and are non toxic.

*Purchase materials for childrens costumes that are flame retardant and instruct them always to steer clear of the candles that are invariably part of the Jack O Lantern.

Overall Safety

*Be certain that you know the area where you take your children door to door.

*NEVER let a child trick or treat alone. Make sure a parent or an adult sibling is with them.

*Always carry a cell phone with you when out trick or treating to be prepared for any circumstance.

*Tools which are used to carve the pumpkins should be age appropriate. Some which are highly recommended are plastic or unsharpened metal on the edge toward the child.

They can be purchased at nearly any good store, or any online facility. Halloween should be a time of fun and adventure. Make certain that for your child, it is.

This is one of those gifts that is unusual enough to be interesting and is elegant in looks and makeup.

I found this ages ago in a book and have made them endlessly, sold them and given them as gifts.

Nothing spells romance like a soft scent and some victorian style jewelry and this combines those two elements naturally.

necklace

Materials you will need

About 150 Costmary leaves ( a very historical and useful herb, traditionally used as bookmarks in Bibles and prior to that in other historical texts)
Fragrance Oil of your choice (I used white clover)
1 cup ground myrrh
vegetable oil
small spoon
straight pins
plastic foam tray ( as in one of those that meat come in, well washed of course)
dental floss or thin linen cording, waxed
Natural beads, such as glass, silver, aventurine or malachite look lovely as does azurite
beading needle
clean glass jar
cotton balls
needle threader
necklace clasp.

Remove the stems from the costmary leaves.
cut them into pieces and place in a small saucepan, barely cover with water and simmer on low heat until the water is gone.
cover with water again and repeat the process, simmering until the water evaporates.

process them in a food processor or blender until they are a fine paste, perhaps adding a bit of water to process it well
return to the saucepan and simmer on a VERY low heat until it is nothing more than a thick paste.(this willhelp to dry the paste slightly and make it far easier to roll)

transfer it to a glass or ceramic bowl. Do not use plastic bowls for this step.
add about fifteen drops of fragrance oil.
add the myrrh until the mixture is one lumped up mass. From this point on, work rapidly ..

Oil your hands lightly with the vegetable oil
Roll a piece of it into a pea sized lump and place a straight pin through the center of the bead, pinning it to the foam tray.

Continue this process until all the mixture is gone, working rapidly and making sure to push the pin down past the point, so that you leave yourself an adequate hole in each bead to permit you to string it easily.
Place the beads in a warm dry area. They will take about two or three days to dry.

String the beads, alternating your other natural beads with the scented ones. and add the clasp at the end.
you may also use some of these on the wire type earring findings to make matching earrings.

WHen not being worn, store the necklace in a glass jar to preserve the scent. If it does wear down after many months, you may spritz it lightly with essential oil mixed with a bit of grain alcohol.

To keep the scent stronger, you can glue a cottn ball to the inside of the lid of your jar, which has been moistened with the frangrance oil of your choice.

The blackhead reaches the surface, where the whitehead stays beneath causing a bump on top. By the way, the color of the blackhead isn’t due to dirt at all, as commonly thought, but simple discoloration.

It’s estimated that as many as 20 million people in the United States have Acne, and it’s not only among teenagers. While the condition isn’t life threatening, acne can cause serious scarring. Thus far there’s been a lot of discussions about the exact causes of acne, including hormonal changes, genetics, certain make up products that clog pores, friction on the skin, and pollution all seem to be potential factors alone or in concert.

Having said all that, what are some natural ways to tackle this problem? Having gone through two teenagers thus far, one simple solution is mixing baking soda and water as a paste that’s applied after washing the face with hot water to open the pores. Leave this on for at least 10 minutes then rinse it with a tincture of vinegar and water (one part vinegar to 8 parts water). At first a child might balk, but when they see the results over time, they’ll begin doing it themselves.

Another good blend is a mix of parsley and garlic juice and peppermint tea. Use this as a wash after washing with soap. It may not smell great, but when used regularly and rinsed with vinegar like the baking soda, it helps the skin get back to normal ph levels. Of course everyone has their own unique blend of herbs that they’ve tried and claimed work.

My friends recommend a tea of yarrow, chamomile, catnip, thyme, lavender, and lemon juice followed again by a rinse of vinegar water daily. If it’s a really bad breakout consider doing this twice a day (in the morning and at night). Note that these particular washes seem best for whiteheads.

For treating blackheads, mix milk with lime or lemon juice and apply this warm to the face. I find that one cup of milk with the juice of one fresh lime does the trick nicely. Alternatively, blend up raw potato with papaya juice and apply this like a facial, allowing it to dry then rinse thoroughly.

The lives of our ancestors were, in many ways, much more rugged. Meaning that their skin took a lot more abuse than many of us ever experience, so the prevalence of skin care products is not overly surprising. So much was the case that by 200 AD the recipe for cold cream was part of the physician Galen’s writings, in part as a medicinal treatment since not all makeup of that era was safe to use.

It was 1910 in the United States and America that the first commercially-available skin softener came to the market. From that point forward various skin care products appeared on supermarket shelves and popular media spots like I Love Lucy. However, commercial products often contain ingredients that holistically-minded consumers don’t like. Holistic philosophy dictates that what you use, both inside and out, affects your body, mind and spirit. To be naturally beautiful and healthy, therefore, requires a natural product!

For those of you wanting to make natural skin care preparations begin with good ingredients. Specifically some of the most commonly used bases include:

Olive oil Safflower oil Avacado oil or paste
Beeswx Aloe
Cocoa butter Coconut oil

I would also personally add sesame oil, which is great for itchy skin, and buttermilk for its soothing qualities.

To that base any number of items can be added to condition the skin, including honey (which ranks among the world’s oldest and most popular beauty treatments). Honey’s basic nature helps retain moisture in the skin, making it perfect to keeping your skin soft and smooth.

Honey’s natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties and ability to absorb and retain moisture have been recognised and used extensively in skin care treatments as they help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun’s rays and rejuvenate depleted skin. It was good enough for Cleopatra, it’s good enough for you!

Other causes include retaining fluids, changes in hormones, intense emotion, eating too much salt, and allergic reactions. Additionally certain illnesses, the lack of sleep, aging, high blood pressure and dehydration all can contribute to puffy eyes especially first thing in the morning.

The simplest solution for puffy eyes caused by strain or crying is to rinse them with cold water or applying an ice pack over the eyes, a few minutes on and a few minutes off. I find if I don’t vary it, sometimes a headache erupts. For symptoms caused by allergies or salt intake, drink plenty of water throughout the day to help flush your system. Chilled tea bags (plain black tea or chamomile), potato slices, apple slices, or cucumber slices also provide some relief for puffy eyes of all causes. Apply these chilled for 15-30 minutes.

If you’d like to make a nice soak for your eyes there are a lot of blends to consider. The simplest is a little rosewater on cotton applied to closed eyes for about 20 minutes. Personally I like to mix the rosewater with very cold whole milk.

Similarly a pint of hot water with two teaspoons of salt applied to the eyes helps. Make sure the water isn’t burning hot, and re-soak the pads you use when they cool over 20 minutes time. Vitamin E and aloe can both be applied carefully around your eye. And, you can make a skin-tightening blend of beaten egg white brushed under the eyes with a little witch hazel.

Beyond this, remember to watch your salt intake. Don’t wear makeup to bed (this reduces irritation and the chance of infection). Sleeping with your head elevated decreases fluid build up in the eyes, as does sleeping on your back. Also when you first wake up avoid rubbing your eyes as this will only increase the irritation, meaning it will take longer to decrease the puffiness.

The reality is that nearly all frizzy hair is the result of a lack of water. It’s not about natural oil, or hot oil treatments, but really about moisture. Your hair’s ability to retain moisture directly relates to porosity, akin to a sponge and how much liquid it will soak up. Hot oil treatments won’t really help this because they lay on the surface of the hair, and don’t penetrate further than that. What you get is a temporary gloss, but no type of long-term help. illiance. However, it will also coat the hair.

There’s also the chance that your hair is dry from product build up (color, perms etc.). That makes it harder and harder for your hair to absorb what it needs. If you live in a hot environment, that creates even worse conditions. Hair becomes more frizzy and dry as the sun beats down on it.

With all this in mind, its important to find natural blends that improve moisture levels. Any recipes that contain rice or wheel improve the hair’s ability to receive moisture, for example. Avocado is a good choice for conditioner too. Apply it pulped to your hair and scalp but leave on for at least 10 minutes for light to normal conditioning (longer if your hair is really damaged). Just like your skin, hair responds to avocado

Eggs and plain yogurt also seem to offer moisturizing to your hair. Use one egg and 3-4 tablespoons of yogurt. Work this into your hair after washing, making sure to get it down into your roots. Leave it on for ten minutes then rinse with cool water for best results.

As a side note, be aware of the overall abuse your hair takes every day. From cigarette smoke to oven grease, your hair is going to encounter all types of things that you wouldn’t want it to if you had any choice. That means you may need to experiment with various options before you find the right treatment that works for both your environment and your hair’s overall condition. I gave up dying for two years to restore health to my hair, and it was worth the gray! Now my hair will accept a permanent and dye very well without the frizz that occurred after nearly a decade of doing both within weeks of each other. So, if you have to give your hair some “time off” do so! The results will surprise you

The Romans weren’t alone in their passion for bathing. Jewish traditions have very strong guidelines for what’s acceptable in the temple in terms of personal cleanliness. Islamic regions adopted the Roman bathing customs into what we now call a Turkish Bath, and bathing was very important to their religious rituals as well. Going even further East, the baths of China and Japan were more ancient still, cleanliness being considered lucky.

In all of these settings it wasn’t uncommon to read about various types of aromatic herbs and flowers being added to the hot water. Some were added just for the scent, while others were added because of their purported healthful qualities. One recipe I found called for a woman with “female problems” to soak in tansy, feverfew and Mullin to ease tensions. Other popular herbs included lavender, rose, rosemary, and pine.

Making your own body soak is not only easy, but it’s a rather decadent pleasure. I suggest using a well-washed stocking or cheesecloth in which to house your chosen aromatics. What type you use depend on your goal. One that I use for smooth skin is a blend of oatmeal, coconut extract (added to the oatmeal – 1 tsp to one cup), orange pekoe tea (bags are fine), and powdered milk. Both the milk and the tea should also equal about one cupful. Mix the ingredients together and make up to three good-sized bundles tied into the stocking or cheesecloth for use whenever you wish. Note, however, that the aroma of the coconut will fade over time and may need refreshing.

If that blend isn’t your cup of tea (pun intended), then consider what you most need. If you’re feeling stressed out, lavender, rose and a little citrus rind make a wonderful aromatherapy bath. For this soak, I recommend some soothing music (safely put in an area away from the water) and even candlelight (which is much easier on the eyes). While you’re at it, grab a couple of cucumber slices and put them over your eyes to give them a rest too! Or, if you enjoy pantry aromatics, bundle up some vanilla bean, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. I swear this blend smells like fresh baked cookies.

Really there’s no “wrong” way to make a soak other than avoiding anything to which you (or someone to whom you’re gifting) is allergic. Don’t be shy-give it a try.

lemon

The primary ingredient found in nearly all tea blends of this nature is lemon juice. It’s high in vitamin C and supports the immune system. Similarly helpful to the immune system are two other key ingredients: honey and ginger. For this very basic blend you‚ll one ‚½ inch of freshly ground ginger root, 2 tbs. fresh lemon juice, 2 tbs. honey and about ‚½ quart of boiling hot water. Let this steep completely for 15 minutes. Strain into a container that you can re-heat as desired (this is, however, also good cold to sooth the throat). For best results have about 1 cup of this every 2 hours to flush the system and keep yourself hydrated.

To find some of the best honey that is available, with a variety of herbs in it, check out the WORLD CLASS HONEY web site too.

honey

The Ancient Romans has something akin to this recipe but it was based in honey to which fresh lemon, finely minced ginger (or ginger juice) and crushed garlic or garlic juice was added. People took this a teaspoon at a time for a sore throat / cold much as we might cough syrup. It also happens to make a lovely glaze for chicken! Clever herbalists might also add some hot red pepper to clear the sinuses, cinnamon to warm the body, and a little lavender to sooth the nerves. Still makes a good chicken glaze!

Whether you use the tea or honey method, remember to keep drinking filtered water, continue to get a lot of rest, take your vitamins, and consider a nasal irrigation of warm salt water and baking soda. This clears your nose and helps battle sinus infections. Symptoms that don”t improve in a few days should be reported to a physician.

Pomander takes its name from Latin pomum de ambra‚ meaning ball or fruit and amber. This designation refers to the early form of pomanders, which resembled balls of fragrant herbs and spices. Originally this type of pomander was made out of dirt, clay, and aromatic resins. Pinches of this mixture went into elaborate jewelry cases that were designed for wearing or carrying. Some years down the line, the base of clay or dirt was replaced with soaked sponges, and then finally cloven fruit.

During the Victorian era pomanders were popularized. It was practical and had the perfect romantic appeal (the Victorians were enamored of the Middle Ages). At this juncture, however, the aromatics mixed with mothballs in closets, and sometimes caused sickness. So we‚ll avoid that tact. Making the cloven version of a pomander, however, is something anyone can learn to do. It’s a fun project for children, especially for gift giving.

I was introduced to cloven fruit in a historical recreation group. In some cases they used it for flavoring hot ciders and wine. In others, they used it as a portable mouth freshener (taking a clove before giving a kiss to a lady fair!). Nonetheless, the pomander’s basic function as an overall portable aromatic remained.

To make your own begin with choosing an orange, lemon, or lime. Take a toothpick and make a pattern of holes all around the fruit. Make sure these do not touch each other otherwise cloves will fall out as the fruit dries. Next, push whole cloves into each hole you‚ve created (note: the denser the clove coverage, the longer lasting the pomander will be.

Once that’s one, dust the fruit with sandalwood oil (about four drops per piece of fruit). Traditional spices for this purpose include allspice, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. It’s important at this juncture to leave the pomander in a cool, dry location for about 5 weeks. The perfectly dry pomander will sound hollow when you tap on it. Afterward, wrap it in a ribbon so you can hang it where most desired.

These can also be used as holiday decorations on a tree or mantel

This article also has information on SLS and a couple of other common ingredients found in most shampoos.

The skin, and hence the scalp are part of one large organ, which we many times prescribe medications that are absorbed through it so it is possible that it happens with these as well. It would be wrong to assume that the chemicals we use in lotions and shampoos are not absorbed into our bodies.

The thought of using something more natural, such as a common natural soap, is probably not what you would think of as hair care, yet it is absolutely healthier and in fact, your hair, after the initial removal of all the build-ups of conditioners will be shinier and healthier than it has been in years.

Use a mild vegetable soap or glycerine soap to wash your hair and if you must rinse it try one of the rinses below to naturally condition and add shine to your hair.

The PH of soap is not the same as shampoos so we used an apple cider vinegar rinse to balance this. Besides helping with the proper PH, it also provides some awesome conditioning for the hair and scalp.

Natural Homemade Hair Rinse

½ cup apple cider vinegar

1 qt. water

Combine and pour and massage onto your scalp and hair. Rinse well and no you won’t smell like vinegar, honest.

I keep a 1 qt plastic Rubbermaid type jar in the shower and a bottle of vinegar in the bathroom cupboard. When we run out, I simply put the vinegar into the jar to the ‚½ cup mark and then fill the rest of the way with water.

To provide shine to your hair, try the following recipe.

Steep some sage in a cup of boiling water for about five minutes. Add a cup of cold water and rinse your hair in about a cup of the solution leaving it on for a few minutes before rinsing.

I have also found since using homemade soap and homemade hair rinse that I experience less tangles and less difficulty combing out my hair when I wait until my hair is dry before combing.

If you would like to work at making your own soap/herbal type shampoo try taking a look at the Pioneer Thinking site for some good ideas.

As you work to change your current methods to more natural, health conscious methods you will be pleased with the results. Just remember to give the process and your hair time to make this transition.

Of course you will want to take into account your skin condition, any allergies you may have as well as whether your skin is dry or oily in nature prior to deciding which ones to make to best suit what you need.

There are four, listed below, that are natural in makeup and will serve the cleansing purpose very well.

Please bear in mind that anyone can develop an allergy at any time.

If your skin becomes reddened or breaks out in a rash, as with any other skin care product, natural or otherwise, discontinue the use of the product immediately.

2) Buttermilk and Fennel Cleansing Milk (For Oily Skin)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp crushed fennel seeds
Heat the milk and fennel seeds in top of double boiler for 30 minutes. Turn off heat, let steep for 2 hours. Strain, cool, pour into bottle and refrigerate. Keeps for 2 weeks.

3) Chamomile Cleansing Milk (For Dry and Sensitive Skin)
1/4 cup cream
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp chamomile flowers, fresh or dried
Simmer ingredients in top of a double boiler for about 30 minutes, do not allow milk to boil. Turn off heat and let sit for about 2 hours, strain. Keep refrigerated. Apply with cotton balls to the face. Variations: Use elderflowers, sweet violets or lime blossoms in place of chamomile

4) Cornmeal Cleanser (for Oily Skin)
Castile soap
1 Tsp Cornmeal
Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add cornmeal. Mix meal and soap into a lather, wash face, being careful to avoid the delicate skin around the eyes.

5) Honey Cleanser (For Dry Skin)
Castile soap
1 Tsp Honey
Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add honey. Mix honey and soap into a lather, wash face.