Browsing Category

HEALTH

HEALTH/ How-Tos/ Natural Products/ RECIPES

Incredibly Easy Homemade Disinfectant

I can’t tell you how great it has been to no longer choke as I am cleaning from the fumes of harsh chemical cleaners!  I love that I can assign my daughters different jobs around the house and not worry about handing over bottles of cleaners to them.  It just is a good feeling.

This homemade disinfectant can’t get any more simple.  It just uses hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of essential oils for scent, which is optional.

For heavy duty disinfectant jobs, like raw chicken, I’ve read all over the Internet about a this study, which uses a hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, in two separate spray bottles.

“It doesn’t matter which you use first – you can spray with the vinegar then
the hydrogen peroxide, or with the hydrogen peroxide followed by the vinegar.
You won’t get any lingering taste of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, and neither
is toxic to you if a small amount remains on the produce. As a bonus: The paired
sprays work exceptionally well in sanitizing counters and other food preparation
surfaces — including wood cutting boards. In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all

Salmonella, Shigella, or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and
surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective
at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any
commercially available kitchen cleaner. “

 

Homemade Disinfectant

Hydrogen Peroxide

10-15 drops of essential oil (optional–for scent)

Spray bottle

I chose Lemon essential oil as my scent.  I LOVE any citrus scent!  You can order the oil I used here on Amazon. 

I am on a roll in making homemade cleaners as I am tired of paying the prices of organic cleaners.  I wanted an easy way to label them, so I got my daughters alphabet stamp kit out and made a bunch of labels.  You can find links to more of my cleaning recipes below!

Between my cancer history and my daughters asthma issues, I am passionate about getting as many chemicals out of our home as possible.  Making my own cleaners is a super easy way to make a HUGE difference in cleaning up the air in our home.

Homemade Glass Cleaner That Smells Great

Awesome Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

Under The Kitchen Sink Cleaner Organization

*update-an opaque bottle is a must for hydrogen peroxide.  Guess I will have to go shopping.  I’ve read that a small spray bottle top can fit right onto the bottle that the hydrogen peroxide is sold in, so that is my plan!

17
HEALTH/ HOME/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Under The Kitchen Sink Organization

Do you have areas in your home that no matter what you do they seem to just collect clutter?  Well, that is how it has been under my kitchen sink for way too long, and I decided to do something about it!  
I keep cleaning products, paper towels, & garbage bags under my kitchen sink.

Here is a before picture, just to show you what a cluttered mess it was.  I turned it black and white so it is a bit easier on the eyes! You are welcome.
I took a trip to our local dollar store to buy some containers.  I have been on a recent kick of making my own homemade, chemical-free cleaners, so I picked up some spray bottles & scrub brushes.  I got all of this for around $15.00!

Those green dish clothes are great.  They come 2 in a pack for a dollar, and are super absorbent.  They save us lots of money as I use way fewer paper towels when I have these on hand.  I use them wet for washing dishes and because they are so absorbent, I also use them dry to dry dishes.

I mounted an inexpensive tension rod to hang my soon-to-be homemade cleaners.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and had to try it for myself.  It works wonderfully!

I used the containers to hold the dish clothes, scrubbers & to corral my different cleaning products.

I am super excited to have this area organized.  I am much more motivated now to pursue my desire to get rid of as many chemicals as I can and make cleaners that are healthy and effective.  In fact, I was so motivated that made a glass cleaner that works wonderfully! 
Homemade Glass Cleaner
1 cup distilled white vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 tsp dish soap
10-15 drops essential oils
Put all in a spray bottle and shake.
——————–
I have been using just vinegar and water for my glass cleaner, but I missed having a cleaner that smelled good.  This recipe caught my eye because it uses essential oil to add scent.  I chose grapefruit essential oil and it smells so good!

 I plan to make an all-purpose cleaner, homemade dusting spray, disinfectant spray, and weed killer all in the next week or two. 

18
Books/ Spiritual

Saturday Giveaway//Seriously God? Book

For today’s giveaway, one reader will receive a copy of Jen Smith’s Seriously God? book.

Seriously God?  
I’m Doing Everything I Know to Do and It’s Not Working!

I was sitting having coffee with a friend, Leila and she pushed a book across the table to me.  The title of it caught my eye.  Seriously God? I’m Doing Everything I Know to Do and It’s Not Working.  Now that my friends, is a title and tagline, wouldn’t you say?  Who hasn’t felt this way?


My friend Lelia has all kinds of great connections and knows the author, Jen Smith, personally.  As I was thumbing through the book, I said “Boy, I would love to read this and I think my readers would love it, too!”  That is all I had to say and Leila was on her phone texting Jen.  Before I knew it, I had my own copy of this beautiful book and was spending time in my favorite coffee shops with highlighter in hand, eagerly eating up every word Jen wrote.


This book was a huge encouragement to me.  Jen takes you right to the Words of God.  Right to the words that He uses to describe Himself! She talks about what it means to live life “in the name of Jesus” & in order to do that, she explains how we need to have a firm grasp on who He claims to be. She walks through 7 statements that Jesus made about Himself that start with the words “I Am.”  This intrigued me.  I was intrigued that in order to acknowledge the “nothing’s working” statement, Jen takes us directly to what and WHO makes all things work together.  


She does not give pat answers, but takes us to these amazing statements and stories that God tells of himself, and also shares her own struggles and story, which gives the book a wonderful personal feel.  


Below are the 7 “I Am” Statements.  I added some of my own thoughts and highlights that I marked throughout the book to give you a glimpse of what I learned from this great read.


______________

I am the Bread of Life
He knows what we need and meets them. “There is a huge difference in coming to Jesus to have our needs met, and coming to him because He is the only thing we need.” 

I am the Light of the World
“Light always brings security where darkness brought fear.”

I am the Door of the Sheep
His focus is on us.  He cares deeply & is aware of our needs and situation.  Our path.

I am the Good Shepherd
He will lead, guide & protect.

I am the Resurrection & the Life
He is both Divine & Human.  He gets it.  He gets us.  He knows our human emotions, & He also has the power to raise the dead & raise from the dead.

I am the Way the Truth and the Life
He doesn’t just teach truth, He is the Truth..He doesn’t represent life, He is Life.

I am the True Vine
Simply abiding, believing & obeying has the power to transform our lives. Will we become people who act on what they know or not?

_______________

Because of this book, I feel like I know my Savior more intimately and deeply.  When life throws its curves, I can remember these statements–that He is good, that He is all I need, that He is Life & Light!  I can live life in His name, empowered to believe, obey and walk forward.  

Thank you, Jen, for sharing yourself and this great book with me and my readers!







11
Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Natural Products/ Simplifying

Awesome Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

If you read my post on Easy Homemade Glass Cleaner That Smells Awesome, you will know that I am on a Make-Your-Own kick when it comes to cleaners.  I am amazed at how easy, healthful, and inexpensive it is to make my own cleaners, and this Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner is my favorite so far.  I really feel like it has cleaning power, but I love that when I spray it I don’t have to hold my breath!  If anything it is the opposite.  It uses lemon essential oil that smells so fresh and clean that it almost makes me WANT to clean….almost.

I chose Lemon essential oil as my scent.  I LOVE any citrus scent.  I got mine at my local health food store, but next time I will be ordering it from Organic Mountain Rose Herbs, where the price is much better!

All Purpose Cleaner
1/2 tsp. washing soda
1/2 tsp. castille soap (I use Dr. Bronners)
2 cups hot water
20 drops essential oil of your choice
_____________
Combine and put into a spray bottle.

Why am I passionate about making my own cleaners?

~it is inexpensive
~they don’t contain harsh chemicals
~it is easy
~my daughters asthma instantly got better when we switched to organic cleaners
~I have history of cancer, twice, so the less chemicals my in my body the better
~it is eco friendly
~the ingredients used in one product can often be used in other products which makes it cost effective

5
HEALTH/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Easy Homemade Glass Cleaner That Smells Awesome!

I’ve made homemade glass cleaner before, which consisted of just water and vinegar.  It worked well, but I found myself missing a good scent when I cleaned.  I looked around Pinterest for a homemade glass cleaner and found this one.  It appealed to me because it uses essential oil to add scent.  I also liked that it used a drop of dish detergent, which I think adds a bit of shine to the glass compared to just using vinegar and water alone.

Homemade Glass Cleaner

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 cups water

1/2 tsp dish soap

15 drops essential oils

Put all in a spray bottle and shake.

 

 

I chose Grapefruit essential oil as my scent.  I LOVE any citrus scent, especially grapefruit.  I got mine at my local health food store, but next time I will be ordering it from Organic Mountain Rose Herbs, where the price is much better!

I started making my own glass cleaner a couple years ago.  I have 2 glass tables, one in the dining room which is centrally located in our home, and one in the kitchen.  My youngest was struggling with asthma and allergies, and I read a book on how a mother got rid of spray chemical cleaners and it made a world of difference with her daughter’s allergies.  At that time I was the queen of the blue spray glass cleaner, spraying it numerous times a day in our home to get rid of fingerprints on our glass tables.  Little did I know that it was going right into my little ones sensitive lungs and causing an asthmatic reaction.  When I switched to organic cleaners, her asthma immediately got better.  She still struggles with it if she gets a cold or during spring allergies, but she is no longer on inhalers year round.  I was amazed at what a difference switching up cleaners made in her health!

I am on a roll in making homemade cleaners as I am tired of paying the prices of organic cleaners.  I wanted an easy way to label them, so I got my daughters alphabet stamp kit out and made a bunch of labels.  More cleaning recipes to come!

Between my cancer history and my daughter’s health issues, I am passionate about getting as many chemicals out of our home as possible.  Making my own cleaners is a super easy way to make a HUGE difference in cleaning up the air in our home.

What about you?  Have you ever made your own cleaners?  Would you ever consider it?  Do chemicals in your home environment concern you?

13
Love/ Music Renews/ Spiritual

Honestly?


{Honestly by Vota}
Honestly can I tell you where I’m at
Honestly can I pull the curtain back
Will you run if you see how weak I am?

If you don’t see the real me you won’t see what mercy’s done.
If you don’t see my weakness you won’t see what love has won
If you don’t see the distance form the darkness to the sun
You won’t see.  Honestly

Honestly, I’m growing sick and tired
Honestly it hurts too much to hide
Brokenness that’s killing us inside

Let the light escape from this hole inside my soul
When I start to break then grace begines to flow
Let the light escape from this lonely place inside my soul
Honestly
_______________

Can I be honest with you?  A little confession?

It was much easier being real, being honest, admitting struggle, admitting fault…when I was sick.

Sickness was almost an excuse to not have it all together.  People would understand that I didn’t have it all together.

My body is in remission, but honestly, my soul is still sick.  In need of a Saviour.  Daily.  Every moment.

I want to continue to be real, to write honest, to soul connect with others.  This takes a vulnerablility.

It is so refreshing when other soul connectors are willing to put the perfect down and show up real.  It is so life giving to read of women who don’t have it all together, because who does?  Not I.

So these are my thoughts.  I want to write real.  Honestly.

“If you don’t see the real me you won’t see what mercy’s done.
If you don’t see my weakness you won’t see what love has won”

The real me…

…wonders if I will ever be content pleasing God, rather than man.  Just when I think I am free of this, another layer.  I tell a girlfriend a few weeks ago that I feel more free in this area.  Ha!  There have been constant tests to that the minute those words came from my mouth!  Layers.

…would be horrified if you saw my closet right now.  Or my laundry room.  Or my car trunk.  Mess!

…fears that I will never be able to express just how amazing it is to know Jesus.  How do you tell of such love and peace?  What words describe God made flesh?

…still wonders what people think of my ears when I wear a ponytail.  Oh to have ears that were flat to my head.

…feels ashamed that I sent my sweet girl off to school with tears.  She snapped all morning at everyone, and right before she got out of the car, I had had enough and snapped back.  I wanted to show her how it felt.  I became child. She walked away with tears.  Oh God, heal the hurts I cause.  Erase from little brains, or at least show them that mercy covers the real me.  The real them.

If you see good in me, 
It is He who you see.
Not me.

9
Beauty/ Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

Homemade Organic Eye Makeup Remover–Only 2 Ingredients!

I have never really been one to use eye makeup remover.  I usually would just wash my face and slap on moisturizer, then use a tissue + whatever moisturizer was on my face to swipe away the smudges.  But, as I am getting older, I really want to be more gentle with the sensitive skin around my eyes, and scrubbing off smudges just is not gentle.

I was excited to have Pot Holes & Pantyhose link up her DIY Organic Eye Makeup Remover at Anti-Procrastination Tuesday.  It is a simple, 2- ingredient, super pure and healthy recipe.  I made it myself and I am loving it!  Not only does it remove my eye make up beautifully, but it moisturizes the fragile skin around my eyes with wonderful, gentle organic ingredients.  I LOVE IT!

I found this little bottle at my local heath food store.  Same with the Almond Oil.  I have been finding all kinds of fun DIY beauty recipes that I will be trying, so in the future I am planning on using Mountain Rose Herbs as my one stop shop for organic ingredients and containers.

Mountain Rose Herbs. A herbs, health and harmony c

They carry all kinds of essential oils and butters.  They also have almond oil.  They have a wonderful reputation, so I feel very confident sharing their store with you all!
________________

Homemade Organic Eye Makeup Remover
{recipe makes 3.5 ounces}

4 TBLS Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 TBLS Organic Almond Oil

Using a funnel, pour ingredients into a container of your choice.  Use a small amount on a tissue or cotton ball and wipe that makeup away!

_________________

Potholes and Pantyhose has the breakdown of the cost of this.  Let’s just say it is super cheap, especially compared to similar products in the store.  I am excited to have Almond Oil on hand as I am stumbling upon some great recipes that use it.  More to come!

28
Top