DIY Kool-Aid Lip Gloss (In Under 10 Minutes)!

At this busy time of year, I'm only interested in two words when it comes to DIY anything - quick and easy.  Let me tell you, this recipe embodies both of those words!  With just four ingredients, in less than ten minutes, you have a gift-worthy product that a six-year-old can make.  In fact, my six-year-old did make the lip gloss pictured above.  When she was finished, she even modeled it for us:

I found this recipe on Adventures In All Things Food and my daughter and I totally fell in love.  Kool- Aid + coconut oil + sugar + water = one happy little girl that can pick the color and flavor of her homemade lip gloss.  It doesn't get much better than that, folks.  The coconut oil in the lip gloss softens lips and gives them a nice shine, while the Kool-Aid provides a gentle stain.  Make sure to follow Andrea's instructions on how to combine the mixture, though - I tried a few different ways, and hers was by far the best.  Also, if you do let your six-year-old make the lip gloss, and you have beige counters like me, do yourself a favor and put a plastic placement underneath the mixing station.  Kool-Aid stains! :)

Ease Ear Pain With Essential Oils (Tested!)

 

 

After a bit of a sabbatical, (which, in Homeschooling Stay-at-Home Mom language means, "I'm too darn busy to write a blog post",)  I'm back to tell you about my experience using essential oils to ease ear pain.  First, let me give you a little bit of background information:  My six-year-old has a horrible history with ear infections/ear drum ruptures.  She was in day care for the first three years of her life, during which time she suffered from almost constant ear infections (and two ear drum ruptures), jumping from one antibiotic to another to yet another, and often, the meds didn't work very quickly (sometimes they didn't work at all).  At that time, I was completely ignorant to alternative methods of treating ear infections or ear pain, and I almost feel guilty for my ignorance, because I could have saved her a LOT of suffering.  Long story short, I refused to have her tonsils/adenoids removed when she was ten months old, and elected to take the "wait and see" approach.  By the time she was fifteen months old, the ear infections began to slow down, practically coming to a stop by the age of two.  Since then, she has gotten approximately one ear infection per year, if that, but her ears do seem to be a weak point, and are usually affected by respiratory infections where there is a lot of drainage involved.

That being said, a few weeks ago she contracted a respiratory virus with lots of drainage involved.  It was a rather mild cold, though, and seemed to begin to resolve with the usual regimen of Fire Cider and Elderberry Elixir (click on the words to link to recipes/info).  However, by the fifth day, she began to complain about ear pain/popping, which is usually a sure precursor of an ear infection for her.  In an effort to avoid a trip to the doctor (and more antibiotics), I did some research and decided to try using lemon and lavender essential oils to try and ease the pain.  To my surprise, they actually worked, and she was pain-free within 3 days and the drainage had stopped!  This was the first time we had ever successfully reversed the beginnings of an ear infection for her using a natural alternative.

How I Used Essential Oils (EOs) To Ease My Daughter's  Ear Pain Naturally:

1.) Lemon EO Mixed With Coconut Oil (Or Other Carrier Oil):  I mixed one drop of high-quality lemon essential oil** with a 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil and rubbed it behind her ears and then under her chin and down the sides of her neck.  Many sources claim that you should put garlic mullein oil in ears to ease ear pain, but I didn't have any, and my limited knowledge of Western Herbalism led me to believe that putting a "cool, dry" oil like lemon on a "hot, wet" condition such as ear pain or infection caused by drainage would have a more favorable outcome than putting a "hot" oil of garlic on a "hot" condition.  (There would be no "cooling" or "drying" of the hot, wet condition taking place in that case.)  We did this twice per day for 2 or 3 days.

2.)  Lavender EO On A Cottonball:  I let a cotton ball with 2 drops of lavender essential oil rest in the outer part of her ear - NOT INSIDE of the actual ear canal, just resting there on the outer part.  No shoving involved!  If it fell out, she picked it up and set it back in.  We left it in for a few hours each day for 2 or 3 days.  She did mention that the cottonball approach reduced the pain while it was in, which makes sense, since Mountain Rose Herbs identifies lavender EO as containing "analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory [and] antimicrobial" properties, among others.

If you give these alternatives a try, let me know how things turn out!  I'm very happy to have yet another natural remedy in my detoxed medicine cabinet.

**Not all EOs are created equal.  You can always tell when an EO is of good quality by it's smell (if you happen to have a lower-quality oil to compare it to, the difference in smell can be very significant).  Also, if it's super cheap, that's usually a red flag.  I like to purchase EOs used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes from Mountain Rose Herbs (I do not get anything to recommend them (I wish I did!) - I just really like the quality of their products).**

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate-Chip Cookies

This cookie is perfectly paired with a hot cup of coffee or tea on a cold, rainy October day!  Unfortunately, there is not much that is healthy about the recipe, but it can easily be made gluten-free by substituting gluten-free oats and gluten-free all-purpose flour, or 100% whole wheat pastry flour (which is what I used in the cookies pictured).  Also, I don't find the cookie to be overly sweet like other pumpkin cookies I've had in the past, and the texture is great - not too soft or wet as pumpkin-based cookies can sometimes be.  These are always a big hit in my house - everyone comes back for seconds (and sometimes thirds if I'm not carefully guarding the cookie jar)!  

Yummy Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour (unbleached or whole wheat)
1-1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, or more to taste**
dash of ginger and nutmeg
1 cup canned pumpkin
1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

**Make sure to use new pumpkin pie spice - I have noticed that it loses its flavor rather quickly.  You might have to add more spice than listed above if yours is on the older side.**

Directions:  Heat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.  Cream butter and sugar, beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine the remaining ingredients.  Drop by teaspoonful onto a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool and enjoy!  (Makes about 2 dozen cookies.)

COPYCAT Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough "Larabar" Bites

No, they don't look very appetizing, but let me tell you - these are RIDICULOUSLY GOOD.  Do they taste almost exactly like their "Larabar" counterpart?  Yes.  Do they taste like a cookie?  Absolutely yes.  Do they have any added sugar or flour?  Nope, not even a little.  Can I eat just one?  Ahh, no.  I go for at least 3 every time I touch the container they are in.

The kids love them, my picky husband likes them, and they only contain 3 ingredients.  However, after much trial and error with these types of energy balls, I have discovered two very important things:

1.)  Dates Matter.  You can't buy a package of Sunmaid dates and think you will get the same end product as you would with a fresh package of soft, Medjool dates.  I bought mine at BJ's (and they were grown without the use of pesticides - added bonus!)  Fresh Medjool dates give these a crazy soft, delicious texture, and they stick together and stay together without any problem.
2.)  Cashews make for a lovely texture and taste.  They are not as hard as almonds, and not as overpowering taste-wise as sunflower seeds or peanuts.

These are now a staple in my grain-free snack repertoire.  Do yourself a favor and reach for one of these instead of a chocolate-chip cookie the next time that craving hits!

COPYCAT Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough "Larabar" Bites

Ingredients:

20 Medjool dates
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Blend the dates by themselves in a food processor until they clump together.  Remove the dates from food processor, place them in a mixing bowl, and then add the cashews and chocolate chips to the food processor.  Process until crumbs form.  Add the cashew/chocolate chip mixture to the dates in the mixing bowl and mix together with slightly wet hands (to avoid the mixture sticking to your hands).  Once the ingredients are well incorporated, roll into bite-sized balls.  Place in an airtight container in the fridge.  Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but chances are they won't be around that long!

This recipe yields approximately 40 to 50 bite-sized energy balls.

Flourless Chickpea Nut Butter & M&M Cookies



Yes, that says "chickpea cookies", and yes, that means there are chickpeas IN the cookies.  Call me adventurous, call me crazy - call me whatever you want.  I'm always looking for healthier versions of my favorite cookies, and this is definitely a cheap, tasty alternative that doesn't require expensive or hard-to-find ingredients.  Just 5 ingredients, folks.  That's it.  No flour, refined sugar, butter or eggs.  Plus, they deliver in terms of taste.  That's a necessity for me when it comes to flourless anything, since foods lacking traditional ingredients are usually also lacking in flavor or texture (or both).

Which brings me to my next point:  Use a good blender or food processor, and you won't notice the "chickpea" texture.  You definitely won't notice the chickpea taste.  The cookies are soft and will stay soft, but aren't as crumbly as you might think they'd be.  They keep in the refrigerator for several days, but are still best when eaten the day they are made.  I have numerous, random experiences with GF baking, and these puppies have landed in my top 3 favorite GF cookie recipes.  Live on the wild side and give them a try - I think you might be pleasantly surprised!

Chickpea Nut Butter M&M Cookies
(Recipe adapted from My Whole Food Life)

1 15 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbs. nut butter (I used Wow Butter soybean butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 to 3/4 cup M&Ms

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Blend chickpeas, nut butter and honey until smooth.  Stir in baking powder.  Roll into balls and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Press a few M&Ms into each cookie.  Bake for approx. 15 minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned (on the top and bottom of the cookie) and slightly cracked on the edges.

Recipe makes approximately 15 cookies.

Easy Brownie Ice Cream Cake Recipe (Plus Rainbow Birthday Party Ideas!)

Who doesn't like ice cream cake, especially when there are brownies involved??  I made this Brownie Ice Cream Cake for my daughter's 6th birthday party, and it was BY FAR the easiest cake I have ever made (and very tasty, I might add). 

For this particular cake, my daughter chose Cookies n' Cream as the ice cream flavor.  The flavors worked very well together, but that's the beauty of this recipe - there are soooo many ice cream flavors to choose from.  You can even use two different types of ice cream if you want!  See below for the directions, and read on for some fun "Rainbow Birthday Party" ideas!

Easy Brownie Ice Cream Cake

1 box brownie mix (For an 8x8 pan - I used Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix)
Egg, water and oil called for in the mix
1 container ice cream of choice (I used Cookies n' Cream)
1 container Whipped Topping
Sprinkles or garnish of choice
Aluminum foil to line the pan
A 9x13-inch baking dish

Directions:  All I did was bake a box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownies according to the package directions in a 9x13-inch baking dish lined with aluminum foil (the Double Chocolate kind has chocolate chips in the mix that do not melt, so you get a nice "crunch" while eating the brownie portion of the cake).  Make sure the aluminum foil hangs over the edges of the pan so that you can pull the entire cake out of the pan when it is finished.  I used the smaller-sized brownie mix in a larger pan so that the brownie would be a bit thinner, and there would still be room to add the ice cream and whipped topping.  Once the brownie is completely cooled, spread softened ice cream over it, and then spread the whipped topping over the ice cream.  Garnish with sprinkles or toppings of choice.  Freeze for at least 2 hours.  Make sure to take the cake out at least 15 min. before eating so that it can thaw a bit.  Remove the cake from the pan using the aluminum foil, remove the aluminum foil from the cake, and it is ready to eat!

Rainbow Birthday Party Ideas

 

Looking for ideas for my daughter's Rainbow Birthday Party on Pinterest was fun, but making the ideas a reality was a blast!  UNICORN FOOD:  The "Unicorn Food" pictured above is strawberry-flavored marshmallows on lollipop sticks.  You simply place the marshmallows on the sticks, dip them in water and roll them in sprinkles.  That's it!  The kids loved them.  We used a lot of rainbow crepe paper for decorating.  RAINBOW CAKE:  I looked at a lot of different cake pictures online, but came up with this one on my own.  The rainbow is made from a piece of cardboard with M&Ms attached to both sides with cookie icing.  (If I had to do it again, I would probably use hot glue instead, because it was VERY fragile.  I only picked it up to place it on the cake right before we blew out the candles.) It's hard to see, but there are mini marshmallow "clouds" where the rainbow inserts into the cake.  I just pushed it in and it stayed!  The unicorn is actually a salt shaker that I picked up from Target for $3.  I filled the holes with icing and they were not noticeable.  CRAFT TABLE:  One of the activities we had for the kids was a craft table - I separated beads from the Dollar Tree into "rainbow" colors in baby food jars and had twine out for the kids to make bracelets.  I did the same thing with the crayons - separated them by color and put them into baby food jars decorated with ribbons of the same color.  I printed out unicorn and dragon coloring pages, and also had some stickers, glue and construction paper available.  My daughter is very artsy, so she loved this, but only a few of the other kids actually made anything.

 

PRETZEL STICKS/SNACKS:  We drizzled pretzel sticks with cookie icing and sugar sprinkles to make them a little more festive.  Other snacks we had included "rainbow" fruit kabobs, coconut black bean brownies for those who had food allergies, and cheese and crackers.  UTENSIL HOLDERS:  I love Mason jars.  I use them for everything, including to hold utensils at parties.  I just added some ribbon to the top to make them a little more decorative.  RAINBOW SCAVENGER HUNT GAME:  The kids loved running around the house during this game!  I used this scavenger hunt as a general template and changed it according to my needs/house.  On the back of each clue, I glued a cute rainbow/cloud.  I placed the "treasure" under the Balloon Rainbow (see below), which included their treat bags, gemstone ring pops that I found at the Dollar Tree, and chocolate coins.

 

 

RAINBOW BALLOON GAME:  I found the idea for this game on Pinterest, but the one I saw used darts to pop the balloons.  Six-year-olds and darts just didn't seem like a good idea to me, so we modified it a bit:  Instead of using normal darts, my husband super glued a tack to the end of ONE Nerf Rebelle dart.  He then placed one craft pompom into two different balloons, so that the two kids who popped those two balloons won a prize.  Now, please note that my husband NEVER LET GO OF THE NERF REBELLE with the tack dart in it!  He held it and helped each child aim it so that no one would get hurt by the tack.  The kids had a blast popping all of the balloons!

 

I'm not sure who had more fun with this party theme - me or my daughter!

 

 

Coconut Black Bean Brownies

Come on, you know you want to try one.  My kids did, even though they saw the beans go in!

Despite how they smell prior to baking, these brownies are surprisingly delicious, decadent and satisfying.  I personally don't think you can find a simpler - or better - way to make flourless brownies.  I used this base recipe from Nature's Nurture Blog, and made some minor modifications, including doubling the recipe (if you're going to go through the trouble of blending the beans, you might as well make enough to fill a 9x13 pan...just sayin'.).  Take a walk on the wild side and give these a try - you won't be sorry, I promise!  I think I'm going to have one right now...

Coconut Black Bean Brownies

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (plus more for sprinkling)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.  Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Pour into a baking pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with additional chocolate chips.  Bake for approx. 30 minutes or until the brownies pass the toothpick test.

*Note:  I keep these refrigerated.  They also freeze well.*

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes

 

These are ridiculously good.  So good, I would recommend only making one batch, once per year, because you will eat more than one if they are in your house.  Sugar is addicting, ya know ;)

 

When making these, I have a few recommendations:  Don't skimp on the Oreos - use real Oreos, that way there's no disappointment (you know what I mean).  Also, don't skimp on the cookie portion.  I know refrigerator dough is easier, but it won't do this special cupcake the justice it deserves.  I used the "Original" Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  Recipes like this one are all over Pinterest right now (I used this one for directions), but I haven't seen one using the Toll House recipe, which has the perfect blend of sugars and butter.  The cookies are always soft, never crispy and not too cakey.  Perfecto, in my humble opinion.  For these cupcakes, the Toll House recipe is especially important, because the cupcake just melts in your mouth, and the cookie portion is a nice, soft contrast to the harder, Oreo middle.  Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

If you want to make the cupcakes festive, drizzle with some cookie icing (the icing pictured is store bought).  I also purchased the heart toothpicks and heart-patterned cupcake liners at the Dollar Tree in the Valentine's Day section. 

Don't get me wrong, these are RICH - so if you want a smaller version, make them in a mini-cupcake size and use 1/4 of a piece of Oreo in the middle.  My daughter couldn't finish a whole one, but she really wanted to.

 

Happy Indulgence Day - er, Valentine's Day ;)

 

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes Recipe

 

1 package Oreo Cookies

Cookie frosting (optional)

 

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt (*Omit if using salted butter)

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) chocolate chips (*I used 1 cup)

 

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.

*Beat butter, sugars and baking soda until combined. Mix in eggs & vanilla.

*Beat in flour.  Stir in chocolate chips.

*Line wells in a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Add cookie dough to the bottom of each well until about 1/3 full and press down.

* Place 1 Oreo in each well  (if using a large muffin tin) or 1/4 Oreo in each well (if using a mini muffin tin).

*Top each well to approx 3/4 full with remaining cookie dough.

*Regular muffin tin:  Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges & tops are lightly browned. Do not over bake!  Mini muffin tin:  Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

*Cool completely. Drizzle with cookie frosting and enjoy!

(*Recipe yields 12 cupcakes.  I had enough dough leftover to make about 6 cookies - or you can make around 3 more cupcakes.)

Tomato Bisque With Italian-Sausage Meatballs

This is the ultimate comfort soup for frigid, winter nights like this one.  We added a dollop of pastina to each bowl, which made the meal a bit more appealing to the kids.  On another day, I added whole-wheat rotini and a handful of fresh spinach to some leftovers instead of pastina.  This recipe is variation of this recipe from 100 Days of Real Food, and is a versatile and delicious alternative to chicken, beef and bean soups (that you might be sick of by now). 

Tomato Bisque With Italian-Sausage Meatballs

8 Tbs butter
1 onion, diced
1/2 small bag real bacon pieces (or 2 slices of bacon, crumbled)
2 large cloves garlic
10 Tbs whole wheat flour
4 cups chicken broth (add salt to taste if broth is unsalted)
1 46-oz can 100% tomato juice
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
3 to 6 sprigs of thyme (or 2 tsp. dried thyme)
1 bay leaf
1 cup heavy cream (or less if desired)
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Optional: add cooked pastina, whole-wheat rotini, fresh spinach, etc.

Instructions: Heat the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.  Add onion and cook for 5-6 min., or until onion gets soft.  Add the bacon and garlic and stir for a minute or two until meat is crisp.  Add the flour and stir vigorously for approx. 2 min.  Pour in the broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil while whisking constantly.  Add herbs and simmer on low heat for 30 min.  Remove the herbs and puree the soup with a handheld immersion blender (much easier than a food processor!).  Stir in the cream.  Add optional ingredients like meatballs, pasta or spinach.  Serve warm.

*This recipe makes at least 12-16 servings, if not more.  I was able to freeze half of the soup, and the other half yielded two dinners and a lunch.

Italian-Sausage Meatballs

16 oz. bulk Italian sausage
1/4-1/2 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
1 large egg
olive oil for frying

Instructions:  Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Roll into meatballs of desired size and fry in a light drizzling of olive oil.  Cook until meatballs are browned throughout.  Add to soup bowls.

Papaya Daiquiri Smoothie Recipe

Alright, well it's not exactly a daiquiri because there's no alcohol involved, (although I suppose there could be...) but it's certainly reminiscent of one.  This is definitely a drink I would want to be sippin' on a sandy white beach - or poolside next to a tiki hut of some kind.  Can you tell I'd rather be somewhere warm today?!

Back to reality...this recipe is really very simple and versatile, and the papaya gives the smoothie an amazing texture and color.  I'm not a fan of papaya as an eating fruit (because it's rather bland), but I would take it in a smoothie over almost any other fruit.  I used fresh papaya in this case (from Super Walmart, of all places, and it was actually good!) although frozen would work just as well.  Aside from the papaya, the other key ingredient in these smoothies is the Pineapple Coconut juice (that I also found at Walmart) pictured above.  AMAZING flavor, and it's 100% juice with no additives!  I made two big batches - we ate one batch and stored the other batch in 8-oz. mason jars and the plastic 8-oz Ball freezer jelly jars with the screw-on lids (for easy transportation). 

These smoothies were a hit with both the kids and husband alike, even though no sugar was involved (my husband usually likes to add sugar to smoothies, even though it's totally unnecessary).  Enjoy a taste of the tropics, even if you're in the midst of Arctic weather like me!

Papaya Daiquiri Smoothies

1/2 medium fresh papaya, cubed
1 frozen banana, halved
1 large handful frozen strawberries
2 cups Pineapple Coconut juice (or more or less, depending on the thickness you desire)

Directions:  Place papaya in blender or smoothie maker with frozen banana.  Pour the juice in until about 1/3 of the fruit is covered.  Pulse until blended.  Add strawberries and blend well.  Store any leftovers in the refrigerator (makes approx. 4-6 servings).

Detox Project: Make Your Own Facewash!

I have combination skin that is acne-prone, and I have learned over the years that the face washes formulated with salicylic acid to "fight" acne are much too harsh on my skin and definitely too drying in the winter time (not to mention loaded with chemicals I don't want on my skin in the first place).  As a result, I have been experimenting with a couple of face wash recipes that I absolutely LOVE!  I have included two variations in this post, but the possibilities are endless!

Also, there isn't a set amount to the ingredients, really, so don't worry that you're putting in "too much" or "too little" of any one ingredient.  Besides, the amounts depend on how large your container is.  I used a trial-sized, flip-top dispenser (that I purchased at Drug Mart for under $1) for the Honey Face Wash (pictured above).  Play around with the recipes until you find the combination of components that works for your skin!

Recipe #1.)  Honey Face Wash

Ingredients:  Vegetable glycerine, raw honey, and lavender-scented liquid Castile soap

Directions:    Fill your container about 3/4 of the way with vegetable glycerine.  Add approximately 3 Tablespoons of raw honey and about 2 Tablespoons of liquid Castile soap.  I used Dr. Bronner's lavender-scented Castile soap, but you could also use the unscented baby variety and add essential oils, or one of the other scented soaps available.  Shake ingredients together.  When using, massage into the face and neck and let sit for a few seconds to loosen dirt.  Rinse well.

Review:  It is a watery face wash, but don't let that fool you.  You only need a little bit to wash your face, and it lathers up nicely.  I especially liked that if I got any of this in my mouth by accident, it was sweet and tasted good!  Otherwise, it left my skin feeling very clean and moisturized.  One thing I didn't like was that the lavender Castile soap was very strongly scented.  A little too strongly...

Recipe #2.) Aloe & Tea Tree Oil Face Wash

Ingredients:  Distilled water, unscented Castile soap, pure Aloe Vera gel, tea tree essential oil and sweet almond oil (optional)

Directions:  Fill your container 3/4 of the way with distilled water, and add about 1 teaspoon to 1 Tablespoon of unscented Castile soap.  Then add about 1 Tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel and 2-4 drops of tea tree essential oil, and add 1 drop of lemon essential oil and 1 drop lavender essential oil if available - makes a very pleasant scent.  I also added a dash of sweet almond oil because I had it on hand.   Shake well.  When using, massage into the face and neck and let sit for a few seconds to loosen dirt.  Rinse well.

*Note - Make sure you are using Aloe Vera gel that does not have any additional additives - it's the type that's often refrigerated for freshness.  You can even scrape some out of an aloe plant if you happen to have one.*

Review:  This is also a watery face wash, but lathers up well, just like the Honey Face Wash, and a little goes a long way.  The scent is much more agreeable (especially with the lavender and lemon).  It is also cheaper, due to the use of distilled water as opposed to vegetable glycerine.  Of the two recipes, this recipe has worked wonders for my acne and IS NOT DRYING.  My skin feels a little tighter afterwards than it did with the Honey Face Wash, but overall, this is my pick for acne-prone skin!

Gem Rings - Last-Minute Cheap & Easy Gift Idea That Kids Can Make!

  

My kids absolutely loved making this Christmas gift!  It only takes a few hours and cost me under $5 to make 9 rings. 

 

 

You Need:

A variety of old nail polishes (including clear coat)

A bag of large-sized clear gems (I got mine at the local Dollar Tree)

Ring backs (I got mine at Pat Catan's)

A hot glue gun

 

 

How To:

My 3-year-old schooled me in this project.  See that really cool-looking ring below?  She made it.  By herself.  All you do is flip the gem over to the flat side and start layering on the nail polish.  Start with the lighter colors and get creative.  Then add the darker colors, but make sure that each layer dries completely before painting on the next color.  Paint the whole area with your last color (so that it looks uniform), let dry, and then paint with a clear coat to "seal" it.  If you want to add a clear nail polish containing glitter (see bottom right of above pic), do so on the bulbous side after the flat side is completely dry (and then cover with clear coat).  When rings are dry, attach the ring backs with a hot glue gun and Voila!  You have a bunch of cute, handmade gifts to give away to some very lucky ladies :)

 

(I got this great idea from this tutorial on YouTube.)

 

 

 

DIY Gifts for "Natural Product" Lovers

I don't know about you, but I'm in Christmas mode - and that means I'm thinking about what to give all of the lovely people in my family this year.   I wanted some ideas on natural, chemical-free presents I could make for a few individuals, so I decided to create a Pinterest board dedicated to just that - DIY Gifts for "Natural Product" Lovers.  While you're fighting that after-turkey nap, kick your feet up and check it out!  There are some really great gifts on there :)

Medicine Cabinet Detox Project - Easy Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe

When I say easy, I mean easy!  This recipe is basically herbalist Rosemary Gladstar's Honey Onion Cough Syrup recipe (I don't have a link to the recipe, otherwise I would have included it - here is a link to the video of her making it) - all I did was add some ginger and garlic as she recommends.  Just cover the three ingredients in honey, cook on low for about 30 minutes, strain and voila!  You have an awesome cough syrup.  (After I strained out the onions and garlic, I put them on the burgers I made that night - yum!)

According to www.livestrong.com, "Honey...has been found to be especially useful in treating upper respiratory infections.  A study at Penn State College of Medicine in 2007 found that a small dose of buckwheat honey was more effective than an over-the-counter cough treatment for children."  Not to mention the fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children under the age of four should not ever be given over-the-counter cough syrup (and I don't even use it myself due to the questionable ingredients, so why would I give it to my kids?).   Yet another reason to just go ahead and make your own!

Easy Homemade Cough Syrup

 Rosemary Gladstar says that this recipe is a remedy for colds, the flu, sore throats and coughs, and should be taken by the teaspoon (as needed) by children or adults as soon as they feel a cold or flu coming on, as it boosts the immune system.  (Due to the raw honey content, do not feed the syrup to children under the age of two.)  I didn't think I would like the flavor, but alas, I have been proven wrong.  I could do that bottle some damage!  My five-year-old even loves it.

Since I'm stingy with my raw honey (because it's usually expensive and I use a lot of it), I cut Rosemary's recipe in half and made a smaller batch so I'd have some honey left over for my Elderberry Immunity Syrup.  I'll bet you have all of these ingredients within reach - give it a try! 

Easy Homemade Cough Syrup

1/2 of a medium onion
1 cup raw honey (see instructions below)
1-2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2-inch slice of fresh ginger

Directions:  Slice onion into very thin half-moons.  Place in an iron skillet or small saucepan and cover with honey until onions are just covered (depending on how big your onion is, it might take more than one cup).  Add garlic and ginger.  Cook on low heat for 30 minutes, or until onions become soft (make sure the heat doesn't go above low on your stove, otherwise the honey will become too hot and the enzymes will begin to be destroyed).  Strain and pour into a glass jar.  Label, refrigerate and use as needed.  The mixture should keep for several weeks.

Medicine Cabinet Detox: Elderberry Elixir Recipe (For Cold Care)

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this stuff!  It's like Elderberry Syrup on steroids.  I recently had a cold and took approx. 1/2 tsp of the elixir every 2 to 3 hours (along with about 1 tsp. of Fire Cider in the morning and at night), and my cold immediately started improving and was completely resolved within 2 days.  My husband was not a believer until HE got the cold...I started him on the same regimen (except he insisted on taking more than 1/2 tsp. at a time), and guess what?  His cold immediately started to improve and was gone within a day or two as well.  His only complaint was that it tasted like cough syrup, which it does, but that's because of the alcohol content.  The taste does not bother me at all, but it is strong.

According to herbalist Kiva Rose Hardin, " Elderberry is MUCH more effective when not heated in any way…  Elderberry does not simply stimulate the immune system, which would make it somewhat dangerous to those with autoimmune disorders or certain other chronic diseases. Rather it modulates the immune system to more appropriately respond to environs and circumstance. It also disarms the virus and helps it flush through body quicker, while strengthening the mucus membranes, supporting the body’s natural fever mechanism without overheating, improves energy and stress handling AND last but certainly not least, it tastes great too...If I had a snake bite, you bet I’d reach for the Echinacea. But for viral afflictions and general immune support, there’s no better herbal ally than the bounteous and lovely Elder!"

I would have to agree with Kiva - I did notice the huge difference in effectiveness between the unheated elixir and the heated Elderberry Syrup.  Her recipe on the link above is simple and great - just elderberries, raw honey and brandy - but I used a more "loaded" recipe from The Herb Society.  Please visit the link, because it includes some more great information on the Elixir, as well as variations and dosage information.  I did alter the recipe slightly based on the ingredients I had available at the time, so I re-wrote it below.   Hopefully, you will get over your initial fear of leaving a jar of edibles in the cabinet for 4 to 6 weeks like I did and give this a try.  It's probably my favorite cabinet detox project yet!

Elderberry Elixir
2 pint jar and lid - sanitized in boiling water
1/2 ounce dried elderberries (or 2 oz. fresh elderberries to fill approx. half the jar)
1 cinnamon stick
1 oz. ginger root, peeled and chopped
large handful of fresh rosemary and thyme (1/2 rosemary and 1/2 thyme)
chopped peel of half an orange
approximately 1 pint good-quality brandy
1/2 to 1 lb. honey

Directions:  Place the herbs in the jar, cover with honey and mix well with the end of a wooden spoon.  Add brandy until the jar is full to the brim and mix well again.  Place in a cupboard to macerate for 4 to 6 weeks.  When maceration is complete, strain with a cheesecloth (make sure to squeeze out the herbs well!) and store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid in a cool, dark place.

Dosage:  15 drops or 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. every 2 to 3 hours at the first sign of an oncoming cold.

Medicine Cabinet Detox Project: FIRE CIDER Instead of OTC Decongestant!

Fire Cider...sounds intimidating, right?  Well, it smells intimidating, too, let me tell you!  I came across this traditional cold remedy recipe last year on the Mountain Rose Herb blog and made sure I had all of the ingredients to make it right at the beginning of the Fall, since it needs to "macerate" for approximately 4 weeks.  I know, it looks like orange juice, but looks can be deceiving!  According to Mountain Rose Herbs,  "The tasty combination of vinegar infused with powerful immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, decongestant, and spicy circulatory movers makes this recipe especially pleasant and easy to incorporate into your daily diet to help boost the immune system, stimulate digestion, and get you nice and warmed up on cold days."  This remedy is a tangy, spicy, sinus-opening blend of vinegar, jalapenos, horseradish root, ginger, onion and turmeric, among other cold-symptom-fighting ingredients.  Thankfully, my batch of Fire Cider finished macerating the same week I came down with a nasty cold - and let me tell you, it cleared up my sinuses immediately and cut my cold symptoms IN HALF by the next day (I took a teaspoonful every 3 to 4 hours).  The cold was completely resolved within a few days.  (On a side note, my Homemade Vapor Rub was extremely helpful at night.)

Even though it's spicy, it's definitely tasty, and I'm looking forward to making a stir-fry and maybe even some salad dressing with this Fire Cider.  Instead of reaching for that OTC decongestant that probably contains phenylephrine (which boasts hypertension as its most common side effect), take a spoonful of Fire Cider instead!  It might cause your eyes to water, but that's about it in the way of side effects :). (See the link above for the recipe.)

**NOTE:  Don't get too close to the horseradish root while you are shredding it - it's about 100 times worse than cutting an onion.  Also, the turmeric will stain surfaces, so be careful to quickly wipe up any spills during the straining process.**

A Month of Medicine Cabinet Detox Projects - Beginning With Honey Ginger Lemon Tea!

A few years ago, I began my "Cabinet Detox" projects after doing quite a bit of research on foods, ingredients and skin care products - and then reviewing the labels of the items in my cabinets.   To my utter shock and disgust, the products I had previously believed to be "healthy" were anything but.  It also began to dawn on me that just because I had been using certain products and eating certain foods for most of my life, those foods and products were not necessarily good for me or my body.  They were just "familiar", and possibly even recommended by one of my doctors.  So, rather than overwhelming myself with information and crazy recipes from Pinterest containing ingredients I couldn't locate, I took my husband's advice and simply took baby steps by completing one Cabinet Detox project at a time.

I found a great website containing information on herbalism, located a good herb supplier, and started making minor changes to my purchasing and eating habits (more organic and whole wheat foods, less preservatives and  processed foods, simpler skin care products).  It has been a long, slow process - one that is definitely still in progress - but baby steps DO make a difference, and before you know it, you are making multiple, positive changes to the products - and even the "medicines" - that you are using.  Those changes, once enacted, begin to build on one another, and after a few years, you realize you have quite an arsenal of recipes, and that your cabinets don't look anything like they used to.  For example, I began my Cabinet Detox Projects by replacing some of my personal care products with homemade ones, including Deodorant, moisturizing Lotion Bars and Lip Balm.  I also began overhauling my medicine cabinet, and over the last few years concocted Honey Ginger Lemon Tea and Elderberry Syrup for flu prevention and basic immune system boosting during the Fall and Winter months; Homemade Vapor Rub; Honey Onion Cough Syrup; and Garlic Cayenne Oxymel.  In addition, I just finished making a much stronger Elderberry Elixir (for adults) and HOT Fire Cider for the cold and flu season that I am very excited to share with you over the course of this month!

Considering both my kids are just getting over nasty sinus infections and sore throats, I have been using the Honey Ginger Lemon Tea and Elderberry Syrup quite a bit lately :). To whet your appetite, my recipe for Honey Ginger Lemon Tea is below. This tea is easy to make, tastes great, and I can attest that it greatly reduces the symptoms and duration of colds that I have had.   According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger, in addition to helping in the treatment of the common cold and flu-like symptoms, can also be used to treat motion sickness, vomiting and painful menstrual bleeding.  I keep a bag of peeled, sliced ginger in the freezer year-round, as well as a bottle of lemon concentrate in the fridge in case symptoms strike when fresh ginger and lemons are not in the house.   I whip up a batch as soon as anyone in the family begins feeling sick, and then at least twice per day until the sickness is gone.  I hope you give it a try!  Stay tuned this month for more great Medicine Cabinet Detox Projects :)

Honey Ginger Lemon Tea

1/2-inch to 1-inch slice of fresh (or frozen) ginger root, peeled
4 cups water
3 squeezes fresh lemon juice (or one good squeeze of concentrate)
1 teaspoon raw honey (or more or less to taste)

In a saucepan on the stove, bring ginger root and water to a boil, then reduce to simmering for 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been reduced to half the original amount.  Remove from heat, pour into a mug, add lemon juice and honey, and enjoy!
*Please note - since ginger may increase the risk of bleeding, consult a doctor regarding ginger use if you are currently taking blood-thinning medications (including aspirin), diabetes medication or high-blood pressure medication (ginger may lower blood pressure in some people).*

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup w/ Italian Sausage Meatballs

It's not as difficult as it looks - trust me.  If you roast the squash ahead of time, the actual soup making process is really quick, and can be done on a weeknight.  I don't put soup in food processors, no matter what the recipe says, because I'm rather clumsy (ladling hot liquid into an electrical device?  Um, no thanks). In this case, I used my (cheaply made) immersion blender, and it worked just fine.  I decided to whip up the meatballs so that my picky family would actually eat it.  If I served the soup alone in a bowl, I would get all kinds of "ick" faces and whining, so I decided to sidestep that and make it yummier in the process.  My husband and 5-year-old loved it.  The 2-year-old ate it, and that was good enough for me.  I thought it was delish, and a nice, warm, hearty meal for a cold fall day :)

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup With Italian Sausage Meatballs

Soup
2 medium acorn squash
4-6 cups chicken broth (I added a little chicken bouillon for added flavor)
salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste
1 Tbs butter
2 Tbs fresh sage, chopped (or 1 Tbs dried)
Some of the sausage oil
Parmesan or Romano cheese for garnish

Slice the acorn squash lengthwise and remove seeds and pulp.  Place with the cut side down on a roasting pan filled with 1/2 cup water in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour (or until cooked through and tender).  Remove and let cool.  Once cool, scoop out the squash and mash it with a fork.  Place in an airtight container in the fridge if you are making the soup another day.  If not, add the squash to a large saucepan with the chicken broth, salt, pepper, onion powder, butter and sage, and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until meatballs are finished.  When meatballs are done, pour some of the oil from the pan into the soup. Prior to serving, blend with an immersion blender.  Top with meatballs and Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Meatballs
5 links mild Italian sausage, casings removed
1 egg
1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs (or omit for a GF version)
a sprinkle of garlic powder
1/8 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/8-1/4 cup frying oil (olive, coconut, etc.)

Mix all ingredients well.  Form into small balls and fry in oil until cooked through.  Serve with soup immediately.

Make Your Own Granola Cereal - No Refined Sugar or Preservatives!

If you're looking for a great-tasting, EASY granola cereal recipe that is free of preservatives and refined sugar (and can easily be made Gluten Free by substituting GF oats), check out my guest post on Home Hearted!  While you're there, take a look at Madalyn's other awesome crafty ideas and recipes :)

Detox Project: Make Your Own Tinted Lip Balm (This One Smells Like Fall!)

Last year, I posted a Peppermint-Cocoa lip balm recipe that is perfect for the holidays.  Ever since then, I have been wanting to make a tinted version that would be just as natural, but without the Cocoa Butter (it has a strong scent).  I ended up using this base recipe from Wellness Mama, tweaked it a little, and absolutely LOVE the result!  I also love the fact that I can apply this several times a day without worrying about the presence of harmful chemicals (like petroleum derivatives) on my lips or in my mouth, and I can let my kids use it as well.

Please note that the tint adds only a hint of color to the lips, and this picture is deceiving because my camera is not great - it comes out more of a caramel color.  As I mention in the title, though, it smells like Fall and I simply can't get enough of it!

Tinted Lip Balm Recipe
1 tsp Beeswax Pastilles**
1 tsp Shea Butter**
1 tsp Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp Elderberry Syrup or Honey
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Directions:  Melt the beeswax, Shea butter and coconut oil in a glass bowl in the microwave (about 1 minute - only until melted).  Quickly add the syrup or honey, cinnamon and oils.  Stir vigorously and continuously until well blended (might take a few minutes).  Once the mixture is blended, pour quickly into chapstick containers.  Let cool completely before using.  This recipe will make 2 chapsticks.

**I purchased the Shea butter, beeswax pastilles and chapstick containers from Mountain Rose Herbs.**

++Please Note: If you add cinnamon or another spice to this recipe, it will act as a type of "scrub" if you don't strain it out.  I don't mind it, but if you want a smooth balm, just use a tea ball or other small strainer and strain it as you pour it into your container.++