five...all natural spring cleaning recipes

in the middle of spring cleaning this week, an unseasonably late winter storm hit colorado bringing freezing temperatures, school closures, icy road conditions, grumbling, complaining and two feet of heavy, wet snow wreaking havoc on trees with their new leaves and full branches. paul and i spent hours knocking snow off our trees as it continued to fall through the day and into the night. will winter never end?

back inside, since it was no fun outside, i continued on with my spring cleaning schedule. this year, i decided to choose options for making and using all natural cleaning recipes. i'll share the new to me as well as tried and true recipes i've always used. 

 monday: tile and grout cleaner

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

1 teaspoon dr. bronner's liquid castile soap

mix ingredients together and store in a resealable jar. 

grab a toothbrush and start scrubbing that grout.

tuesday: copper polish

white or apple cider vinegar

table salt

i was given this cute copper pot as a wedding gift from my aunt kathleen. i love this pretty, little thing but it definitely needed some tlc after all these years. setting the lid and pot in the sink, i poured vinegar over the entire surface and sprinkled salt on the copper, gently scrubbing with rubber gloved hands. in no time at all, my pot was bright, shiny and looking like new. now on to polishing the silver.

wednesday: homemade soft scrub recipe

1 part each: table salt, baking soda, distilled water

a few drops essential oil (i used idaho blue spruce)

mix ingredients together in a glass jar. spoon a dollop onto the sink's surface and scrub everywhere with a sponge. grab that toothbrush again to work on the seams and corners.

on wednesday, i attacked all of the white sinks in the house, actually all of the sinks in our house are white. if there is one simple pleasure that can brighten my entire day, it's having bright, white sinks. beautiful!

thursday: degreaser

2 cups very warm water

2 tablespoons baking soda

2 teaspoons liquid castile soap

15 -20 drops lemon or orange essential oil

mix ingredients together in a glass spray bottle. spray on surface to be cleaned and wipe with a clean cloth.

on thursday, i only focused on cleaning my range. greasy burners, greasy back shield and shelf, greasy vent hood. yuck. to finish up, i even cleaned my oven. (yep, that definitely feels better :)

friday: glass cleaner

1 cup distilled water

1 cup white vinegar

juice from 2 lemons

20 drops lemon essential oil

in a glass spray bottle, mix distilled water and vinegar together. add the lemon juice and lemon essential oil, mixing gently.

my mom has used this streak free glass cleaner recipe since i was little. ok, i've amped it up a bit by adding distilled water and essential oil. but, i can still remember one of my spring jobs as a little girl was cleaning the storm windows my dad had taken off and put on the grass for me to work on in the backyard. (hey, whatever happened to storm windows?) with my vinegar spray bottle and crumpled up newspaper i'd get to work spraying and wiping until they sparkled. i just beamed when they met with dad's approval and were ready for summer storage.

now all is shiny and clean inside! and well, at least someone is happy outside and enjoying the snow.

make your own natural mouthwash

i love all things fresh, clean and simple. i love fresh, clean and simple clothes, fresh, clean, simple food, makeup, rooms, colors, scents.......just about everything. when it comes to cleansing routines, i like them to be the same.....fresh, clean and simple. over the past couple of years, i have made an effort to learn more about natural health, beauty and cleansing products and how to make them myself. i have been able to replace many store bought products with simple, natural, homemade and healthy substitutes and it....well, it just feels good. 

my newest changeover, which should have been my first effort, is natural mouthwash. i dislike e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g about the scary-looking, brightly-colored bottles of shocking-tasting rinses i have used for years only because i thought they were beneficial for my dental health. well it turns out, they are not. first of all, they contain several toxic ingredients including thymol, hexetidine and methyl salicylate as well as synthetic colors and sugars, all harmful ingredients easily absorbed by the body. that was enough for me to know it was time for a change. 

i learned how easy it is to make your own mouthwash that freshens breath, improves oral health and prevents cavities using just five simple and natural ingredients: 

peppermint essential oil - gives you minty, fresh breath. i chose to use peppermint essential oil for my recipe but if you are not a fan of the taste of mint, like my son ben, you could try using clove, cinnamon or wintergreen essential oil instead

coconut oil - as with peppermint essential oil, coconut oil helps rid your mouth of bad bacteria as both have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. using the liquid form of coconut oil is most practical for this recipe (thanks for my bottle of coconut oil, ben)

sea salt - helps eliminate bacteria as well as promote healing of gums

distilled water - best for homemade products, you can use filtered water for short-term use

baking soda - helps neutralize acids, fight germs and take care of odors, some studies show that it may also help fight stains on teeth

here is my tried and true recipe for fresh, clean and simple mouthwash.

natural mouthwash

1/2 cup distilled water

1 teaspoon coconut oil (liquid)

2 drops peppermint essential oil

pinch of sea salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

combine all ingredients in a lidded, glass bottle. 

shake well before each use to mix ingredients.

pour a small amount, 2 teaspoons, into a glass and swish around your mouth for 30 seconds or so and spit out. 

as with any mouthwash, do not swallow. rinse with water.

there, that looks, tastes and well, just feels good.

five.....bath soaks

ever since i repainted my footed bathtub, i've been enjoying long morning soaks, bubble baths and

other relaxing benefits of bathing, instead of showering, much more often than before. sorry, shower.

who knew a fresh coat of paint would make bathing more enticing?

and now that summer is here with its carefree days and early morning light, it's become a ritual.

here is a tried and true collection of calming, natural bath soak combinations i recommend to peacefully begin or end your day.... 

for soothing skin and calming the body

honey oat and epsom salt soak

1 cup oats 

4 - 6 tablespoons raw honey

1/3 cup epsom salt

4 - 8 drops essential oil

finely grind oats in food processor or blender. add honey a little at a time pulsing between additions. when combination looks crumbly, add epsom salts and pulse for a few seconds. add drops of your essential oil choice and pulse just once. add a spoonful or two to your bath and store remaining in airtight container.

for relaxation and gentle detox

lavender detox soak

1 cup epsom salt

1 cup baking soda

1/4 cup dried lavender blossoms

2 -3 drops lavender essential oil

mix ingredients together. add 1/2 recipe to your bath water. sit in bath for 20 - 40 minutes for body to detox and absorb minerals. detox bathing is recommended twice a week.

for soothing irritated skin, loosening muscles, relaxing

homemade milk bath soak

1 cup epsom salt

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 cups powdered milk

1/4 cup coconut oil

20 drops of one or more of the following essential oils:

chamomile - relaxing and soothing

lavender - relaxing

orange - mood lifting, fresh

peppermint - refreshing and invigorating 

combine all ingredients, stirring until evenly combined.

transfer to an airtight container. soak for at least 20 minutes to reap full benefits.

*our snowball bush and lilacs are in bloom so before bathing, i marched outside in my bathrobe and picked a bunch to float in the bath. 

moisturizing tub tea

i made my own tub tea bags, ordering the tea bags from here. 

feeling like i was getting this tub soak thing down, i filled the bags with a combination of whatever i felt like: powdered milk, mineral salts, epsom salts, vitamin e oil, essential oil and dried flower petals. 

in a bowl, mix your chosen ingredients together so the oils are evenly distributed. use a small scoop or your fingers to fill the tea bags with your personalized mixture. seal the open end of the tea bag with a hot iron.

while filling the bath, hang a tea bag on the bath spout. toss a couple tea bags into bathwater, climb in and relax.

energizing, invigorating and refreshing

*peppermint and garden herbs bath soak

1/2 cup chopped fresh, green herbs and leaves (peppermint, pine needles, sage, rosemary, thyme)

1/2 cup epsom salt

1 tablespoon baking soda

few drops each eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils

use a small food processor to coarsely blend fresh leaves and epsom salts together. spread salt and herb mixture on sheet of parchment paper and air dry for 1 - 2 days. the salt works quickly to pull moisture from leaves and needles, preserving the bright green color.

in a small mixing bowl, combine the dried herb salts and baking soda. stir in a few drops of essential oils and store in airtight container. 

pour loose bath salts into warm bathwater. enjoy the rejuvenating scents and benefits.

*my favorite bath soak 

homemade foaming hand soap

when it comes to health, beauty and cleaning products, we've been making the switch to a more natural lifestyle here in the house that grandpa built.

if you are taking this route as well or at least thinking about it,

today i'll share with you one of the easiest, most simple recipes for the natural version of a product we all use each and every day.......hand soap.

this recipe is for foaming hand soap but the liquid recipe follows.

it's super easy, you can create the scent of your choosing or keep it scent free
and you'll never run out of hand soap again.
to make your own pump soap dispenser, use any size regular mouth mason jar
and top with this.

foaming hand soap recipe

to fill a 1/2 pint (8 oz.) canning jar with foaming pump:

3/4 cup distilled or boiled water

1 tablespoon liquid castille soap

(good place for dr. bronner's soaps, i used almond)

1/4 teaspoon liquid oil

(olive or i used almond)

few drops essential oil, optional

1. first, fill soap dispenser with distilled water to about 1 inch from top

2. add at least 1 tablespoon of liquid castille soap

3. add the oil, then essential oil, if using eo use a glass soap dispenser

4. securely attach lid and lightly swirl to mix

liquid hand soap recipe

1 cup distilled water

2 tablespoons liquid castille soap

few drops essential oil, optional

1. add distilled water to soap dispenser

2. add liquid castille soap

3. add essential oil, if using eo use a glass soap dispenser
4. securely attach lid and lightly swirl to mix

p.s. paul recently surprised me with a new nifty fifty (50mm) lens and i am loving experimenting with it! (above) 
thanks, baby.

Soothing Vapor Shower Disks

it is cold and flu season. sniff......

luckily, we haven't been hit yet but i am ready when anyone is feeling under the weather and just aching for a hot, steamy shower to ease chesty congestion and the like.

these do-it-yourself vapor bombs are easy to make even if you are the sneezing, snuffling
head cold sufferer. 

this recipe caught my eye listing eucalyptus essential oil as one of the ingredients and brought back a heartwarming memory. 

it was the month of january when we arrived in australia (2nd relocation of 3 :) with toddler nicole and baby margo. both were very sick. we had just left a cold and wintry u.s. entering a hot, steamy, summery australia and their little bodies reacted. a new and thoughtful friend saw our situation and offered her sound, australian advice..........

"just put a few drops of eucalypt oil into the water of a humidifier as your babies sleep. it'll be 'right."

so, after buying a new, aussie power compatible humidifier and adding "eucalypt", we were sold on the soothing powers and disinfectant properties of eucalyptus oil. it was our first step to becoming true blue aussies! 

leanne ended up being one of my best friends and eucalyptus oil continues to be a favorite in our medicine cabinet.

Soothing Vapor Shower Disks

2 cups baking soda

2/3 cup water

15 drops each of peppermint, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils

In a large bowl, mix baking soda and water until blended, resembling a thick paste. Add 15 drops of each essential oil and mix well. Spoon mixture into mini muffin tin (ice cube tray, chocolate mold, etc.) Allow to set overnight until hardened. Store in a tightly closed glass jar.

To Use: Place a shower disk on the floor of the shower. Turn on hot water and slowly breathe in the vapors, relieving upper respiratory ailments. 

*You could also drop a disk into a hot bath as the baking soda has the additional benefits of softening the skin and purging toxins.

Kombucha

a cool word has entered the au courant health beverage vocab......

kombucha. 

it's delicious.....and at our house, we're even making our own! it's been quite an amazing, fascinating

 science project-like endeavor and we just can't stop learning and experimenting.

paul's favorite: kombucha/ginger beer blend

janet's favorite: add peach chunks and celestial seasonings sleepytime peach herbal tea

gabi's favorite: plain and simple over ice

ben and kensey gave me my very own.......here comes another new word......scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) for my birthday this year. at first glance, i was a bit wary and initimidated by this strange and slimy yet essential kombucha ingredient but now i adore my scoby and nurture and appreciate its amazing qualities (being packed with probiotics is just one of many). 

it's also one of those gifts that just keeps on giving. my scoby was a "baby" of kensey's scoby. when a scoby grows very thick, just slice off half the thickness from the underside and give it to someone you love :) so they can begin their own kombucha making adventure too. my scoby's geneaology goes back 40 years to russia. pretty cool.

this kombucha tea how to has been my reference through this new adventure. she explains it all so thoroughly yet simply, much better than i could, so i would suggest, if you're interested, to follow her directions, instructions, list of ingredients, equipment and wealth of knowledge as you embark on your own homemade kombucha tea endeavors. if you are unable to find a scoby she even has instructions on how to make your own scoby.

so far, i have made 4 batches of kombucha, each taking about 2 weeks to process, and am patiently waiting for the latest to finish carbonating. 

to health and goodness......cheers!

Homemade Natural Body Wash

i've got a new homemade beauty product recipe to try for

natural body wash. it's gentle and pure and smells....oh so good.

one of the main ingredients in this recipe is liquid castile soap. i love this magical stuff. i could create a whole post about dr. bronner's organic castile soap.  in fact, i just might. it is the base for a myriad of simple, natural cleansing products i make for myself, my family and our home. you can too! the company is all about making socially and environmentally responsible products and has been for 150 years - way before it was chic and au courant. go dr. bronner!

the other simple ingredients include: raw honey, olive oil, castor oil and essential oil.

raw honey? yes, honey has natural anti-bacterial qualities, nourishes the skin without drying and is gentler than soap. honey is also loaded with enzymes and probiotics, both skin goodies. 

homemade natural body wash

6 tablespoons liquid castile soap 

6 tablespoons raw honey

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons castor oil

20 drops essential oil, of choice

     

in a medium-sized glass bowl, combine all ingredients and gently hand mix with a spoon so as not to create bubbles. pour mixture into a glass container. (essential oils react to plastic) use in the bath or shower as a body wash. apply with a natural sea sponge for an extra touch of pampering.

*aromatherapy notes: i used peppermint liquid castile soap and 15 drops of orange essential oil plus a few more drops of peppermint essential oil.  it is a refreshing, almost to the point of exhilarating, morning wake up combination.

enjoy!

all natural deodorant

in my ongoing efforts to keep things naturally simple and beautiful around my home and family,

the products we use come into effect. for more than a year now, i have been making and using this simple recipe for all natural deodorant. it is not an anti-perspirant so does not inhibit the body's need to perspire or sweat, keeping the body cool and releasing toxins, but works as a natural and effective deodorant.

there are fairly nasty metals, chemicals, even carcinogens in deodorants and antiperspirants that shouldn't be absorbed by the body so i decided to go this way.....

All Natural Deodorant

6 grams (1/5 ounce) beeswax, grated

40 grams (1 1/3 ounce) coconut oil

35 grams (1 1/4 ounce) baking soda

15 grams (1/2 ounce) arrowroot (or other starch, such as potato starch, corn starch, etc.)

*5 - 10 drops of essential oil

Put grated beeswax in a heat-resistant bowl and place over a pan of simmering water. Let it melt gently (don't overheat). Add the coconut oil and let melt. Use a small whisk to combine. Remove from heat. Use a pastry cutter to blend in the baking soda and arrowroot powder until you get a creamy consistency. Add the essential oil and mix. Scrape and press mixture into empty deodorant containers (found online). Let set at room temperature, or in the fridge to speed things up. 

This recipe makes 100 grams or about 1/4 cup, enough to fill one deodorant tube. Recipe may be doubled, tripled etc.

*i have used tea tree essential oil in previous batches of deodorant because the scent reminds me of
tea tree oil lovin' australia but i switched it up to lemon this time. whatever essential oil you use, i recommend choosing one with anti-bacterial qualities such as:

bergamot

eucalyptus

lavender

lemon 

lemongrass

peppermint

pine 

tea tree

go ahead, give it a healthy try!

sleepy lotion

a new snowstorm has arrived adding to the 12" leftovers of last weekend's storm so i'm opting for a stay indoors kind of day.

with moisturizing lotion on demand in our house this winter, our supply is almost gone.  

so, today i am making another batch of my favorite, gentle, calming to the point of drowsy body lotion.  

there are only three ingredients to this pure lotion, each contributing their subtle, childlike scents.  sweet almond oil is a lightweight oil and helpful for dry and/or itchy skin, beeswax, as well as gifting its honey-like fragrance, adds thickness and lavender essential oil imparts its gentle, calming qualities to the potion lotion.

you'll sleep like a baby lotion

1 cup sweet almond oil

3 tablespoons beeswax pastilles (if using a beeswax block, grate finely)

30 drops lavender essential oil

Over low heat, combine almond oil and beeswax in a small saucepan, stirring until melted. Remove from heat and cool in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally.  Once the mixture has cooled completely, whip until it forms a smooth lotion.  Stir in lavender essential oil and transfer to a pump container.

 (recipe from Heather at postroadvintage.com)

my suggestion: 

at the end of a long, cold winter's day, run a warm, luxurious bath, soak contentedly, apply lotion liberally,  

sleep like a baby.

castile bar soap

it was totally worth the wait!  

i made my first batch of pure castile bath soap last august and after curing for six months, it is finally ready to use.  castile soap originates from the castile region of spain way back in the 12th century.  castile soap is one of the most luxurious soaps out there and is made using only three ingredients: water, lye and olive oil.  using olive oil, a liquid fat, causes this finicky but truly doable softer soap to need an extra long curing time.  

for you soap makers out there, castile soap is a must-try.....so pure and moisturizing.  use your regular solid oil recipe, substituting olive oil but expect castile soap to take longer to reach trace.  be patient. you may also personalize your recipe by adding clay for color and essential oils for scent, creating your very own dream soap.  as i mentioned, expect this liquid fat soap to need a longer curing time to harden. patience, patience.

well, i'm off to make a second batch of my now favorite bath soap.  if i time it right, the new bars will be right and ready by july, just as i finish this baker's dozen.

have a lovely weekend.

lotion bars

i needed a hostess gift for a very special friend this weekend and i wanted to take the time to make her something nurturing for this busy, holiday time of year.  i chose to make Christmas scented lotion bars.

would you like to learn how?  i'd love to share the process with you.

 peppermint cocoa lotion bars

beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter - 1 part each by weight (3 ounces of each ingredient makes 3 good-sized lotion bars)

10 drops peppermint essential oil

melt beeswax (pastilles or grated from a block), coconut oil and cocoa butter in double boiler.  let cool slightly and add essential oil.  stir.  pour into mold (muffin tin, chocolate mold....) and let sit for 6 - 12 hours.  release the bars from the mold.  

they turned out just as i'd hoped they would!  

i've made lotion bars before, substituting shea butter for the cocoa butter and using lavender essential oil.  that is the beauty of making your own products as you can get creative and experiment with what works for you.

for gifts, slip lotion bars into glassine paper bags taped with festive washi tape and adorn with these charming animal holiday gift tags.  

i will keep one bar on a dish for us in the kitchen, handy for anyone needing a quick, minty, moisturizing treat.  gotta love our dry, dry colorado.

have a lovely weekend. 

 ours is busy with holiday concerts and festivities.  is it all beginning for you too?

Rose Water

instead of saying goodbye until next year,

 i have a way to happily use the last of summer roses so even through the winter, 

their scent and beauty lingers on....

rose water.

i used the old-fashioned method for making rose water. 

it is as simple as can be with only two ingredients:

rose petals - it is best to pick roses from your garden so you know they are pesticide free

and

rain water - you may also use distilled water

when you feel like the weather is turning and your roses are slowing down,

 head out to your garden a few hours after dawn, so the dew has time to dry, and

pick your roses. 

this morning, i woke to gusty, gusty winds and fearing a rose petaled bridal path 

for a front lawn, skipped the dew drying step, threw my robe on and picked my 

roses before dawn.   

pluck off just the petals.  you will not be using the stems nor leaves.

gently rinse the petals under cool, running water to wash away any hidden bugs.

if roses are store bought, this step will help get rid of chemicals.

put petals in a saucepan and pour in rain water, just up to the petals.  

too much water will dilute the rose water.  cover and let simmer on low until the rose petals lose their color and the water takes on the color of the rose petals.

 the water should be steaming hot, not boiling hot.  

next, drain your rose water into a sterilized jar and let cool.  it smells beautiful.

store the rose water in the refrigerator.

rose water has many beautiful qualities and uses.... 

adds flavor and scent to tea, lemonade and frostings

 as a light fragrance - it doesn't last long but smells like fresh petals
as a hair rinse - your hair will love it and your locks will smell dreamy

poured into your bath - aromatherapy!

as a natural astringent - is so good for your skin, packed with anti-oxidants

and other healthy bonuses....

my plans are to fill a glass bottle with a spritzer top and keep it in the

refrigerator for a quick, naturally hydrating and nourishing treat for my face, 

all throughout the winter.

have a lovely weekend.

green tea toner

i'd like to share another natural beauty recipe i've been

using for a few months and feel good about.

green tea skin toner

it's not beautiful to look at so there's a little adjustment when comparing it to the store bought

usuals we see.  but just like a dear friend, i don't even notice her little flaws or if i do, 

i know and appreciate that her virtues far outweigh her foibles.  

Green Tea Toner

4 green tea bags or 1 tablespoon loose leaf green tea

2 teaspoons dried lavender buds

1/2 cup alcohol-free witch hazel (liquid)

Place the green tea and lavender buds in a glass jar and pour the witch hazel over to completely cover the dry ingredients.  Cover and put on a cool, dark shelf for 2 weeks, shaking a few times a week.  

After the two week steeping period, remove the tea bags and strain out the lavender.  If the liquid has reduced to less than 1/2 cup, you can add additional witch hazel.  Store in a covered container.  

Refrigeration feels nice and soothing but isn't necessary.

(recipe from Heather and postroadvintage.com)

since the toner is alcohol free, this recipe is gentle enough for those of us with normal skin.

if you have oily skin, you will particularly enjoy incorporating it into the middle of your 

daily facial cleansing, toning, moisturizing routine.

the witch hazel cleanses and removes excess oil while the green tea and lavender buds soothe and nourish your skin.  gorgeous.

the jar on the right is the freshly made batch of green tea toner i put together this morning.

the jar on the left had steeped for two weeks in the cupboard, so i strained it and is now all ready to use.

during this process, i glanced out the window and just had to share the 

peaceful scene that greeted me............a fresh, calm, nurturing morning. 

all natural gentle face scrub

i've been making my own beauty concoctions for a while now:

bath soap, deodorant, lotion, body butter, toner, hair conditioner, masks.... 

there's something that bothers me about not being

able to pronounce, let alone spell bewildering ingredients i put on 

my skin or eat, for that matter.  our brains and bodies have so, so much to cope with 

out there that when i can, i like to keep things naturally simple and beautiful. 

here is a recipe full of all natural and most probably already-in-the-cupboard

ingredients for a

gentle face scrub

1/2 cup finely ground oatmeal 

       (use a small blender, food processor, or coffee grinder)

1/4 cup finely ground raw almonds

2 tablespoons fine sea salt 

(omit if you have sensitive skin)

2 tablespoons bentonite clay

1 teaspoon baking soda

20 drops lavender essential oil

(or 2 tablespoons finely ground dried lavender buds)

In a bowl, whisk together the oatmeal, almonds, sea salt, clay, baking soda, and lavender oil until well combined.  Place 1 teaspoon in a small bowl and store the rest in a clean, glass jar.  Add a small amount of water to the bowl and stir to wet the dry ingredients.  Let sit for 1 minute to absorb water.   Using fingertips, apply the medium thick paste to the face in gentle, circular motions, avoiding eye area.  Rinse clean or leave paste on for 15 - 20 minutes as a mask.  Rinse off and pat dry, follow with a moisturizer.  

(this recipe came from Heather at postroadvintage.com)

ok, this is my first attempt at selfies for the blog.  you'd think after the 50+ photos i took, i'd be able to find more than these two borderline acceptables (i was no where to be found in most of them).  where is my 14 year old selfie master when i need her?  i need lessons.

anyway, back to the facial scrub..........so, don't expect any catcalls during this slightly messy process but i promise your original fan base will still be there when you're finished and who knows, with this fresh, bright and smiling face you may be surprised with a couple new members!

have a lovely weekend.