How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract Part of the reason that I decided to grow mint this year was so that I could try making my own peppermint extract. Jesse and I are pretty much obsessed with mint (especially mint plus chocolate) so we go through a lot of mint extract. Even though I buy my extracts through Azure Standard, they’re not exactly cheap, so making my own seemed like a great way to save some money. I finally got down to it last weekend. The extract has only been sitting for a few days so far so I can’t tell you how it came out, but I wanted to share the method now in case anyone else has an abundance of mint just begging to be used for something. How to Make Peppermint Extract I did a quick Google search and found a multitude of recipes, all of which followed the same basic outline. Harvest a bunch of mint leaves from your mint plant. Harvested mint leaves Remove mint leaves from stalks (if applicable) and pack leaves into a measuring cup to determine how much mint you have. Mint leaves ready to be rinsed
DIY Natural Room Scents Don't miss my follow-up post to this one withNATURAL ROOM SCENTS FOR DIY GIFTS & CENTERPIECESCLICK HERE This post was featured in the April 2013 issue of Woman's Day magazine. Here's the thing. I'm married to a man who hates artificial scents of any kind. That goes for air fresheners, candles, perfume, soaps and anything else that is scented. We buy unscented everything. Turns out that King-Man may just be ahead of his time. But, the air in my house gets stale sometimes. There is a simple, all natural, truly lovely solution. Keeping the supply list simple. How to Make Natural Room Scents Fragrant items for naturally scenting your home: citrus -- I've tried other fruits. view whole spices on Amazon: cinnamon sticks, anise stars, allspice, cloves, vanilla beans Five Natural Room Scent RecipesThese are all scents that my nose likes. General procedure: Combine the ingredients in a 2 cup (pint) jar or container, or in a pan on the stove top. view on Amazon: ♦pint jars ♦plastic lids for jars 1.
126 Super Healthy Snacks (Low Calorie & High Protein) If you’re searching for healthy snacks it’s best to walk briskly past the snack aisle in stores. Many of them will be full of GMOs, preservatives, chemicals, and artificial flavors and sweeteners. This list of snack idea includes foods you can make at home, several in a matter of minutes so you can curb hunger before it gets the better of you. You’re sure to find a few favorites here, and a healthy twist on some old classics. Meaty Roll-Up A Fruit Roll-Up won’t get you too far in terms of satisfying you until it’s time for a full meal, but a Meat Roll-Up gets the job done. You’ll also be avoiding the sugar and chemicals that you’ll find in fruity packaged snacks at the store. What You Need: 2 Turkey slices (or sliced Chicken Breast, or lean Roast Beef) 1 Mini Carrot (or Celery Stalk, or Asparagus Spear) Steps: Roll the meat of your choice around the vegetable of your choice. It’s good to smell the roasted flavor and get good and ready for a snack right when the timer dings. What You Need:
DIY Naturally Scented All-Purpose Citrus Vinegar Cleaners I've been on a quest to rid our home of toxic chemicals for both health and environmental reasons. Did you know? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be 10 times to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the culprits is common household cleaners emitting toxic fumes. UGH! After my recent post about using fruit, herbs, and spices for making natural home fragrances, it occurred to me that I could use some of those same scent combinations for making natural cleaners with vinegar. These scented cleaners don't completely eliminate the vinegar scent when first sprayed. THESE MAKE COOL, INEXPENSIVE GIFTS. HOW TO MAKE NATURAL CLEANERSwith vinegar, citrus, herbs, and spices Assemble these ingredients: view on Amazon: essential oils, bulk pricing on cinnamon sticks, whole cloves Assemble these supplies: Jars or other sealable containers. view on Amazon:half gallon mason jars, quart mason jars, spray bottles,jar funnel, mason jar lid strainer, wire mesh strainer 1.
13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away Want to be notified each time we publish a new blog post? Then make sure you like Natural Living Ideas on Facebook here where we share not only our blog posts, but the best natural living ideas from around the web. I’m sure everyone reading this right now has experienced the redness, the swelling and the uncontrollable itching that comes with a mosquito bite. Many people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but these insect repellents often contain a toxic pesticide that is dangerous to human health. Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath in humans and is particularly toxic to children. Needless to say, this is a pesticide we do NOT want to be using – especially when there are so many more effective ways to keep mosquitoes away using natural remedies and ingredients. Homemade Citronella Candles Find out how to make these citronella candles here at GardenTherapy.ca
10 Delicious Chia Seed Pudding Recipes Despite their minuscule appearance, chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse: They’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, fiber and protein. Plus, these small ingredients are simple to make into a pudding because they absorb up to 10 times their weight in water! Not only does this make chis seeds a great starting point for breakfast, a healthy snack, or textured dessert, but it also means that they will help you stay hydrated. Try making one or all of these chia seed pudding recipes — and don’t be afraid to put your own spin on them, too. 10 Must-Try Chia Seed Pudding Recipes 1. RELATED: 9 Easy Overnight Oats Recipes 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. RELATED: 9 Smoothie Bowl Recipes You’ll Want to Eat Every Morning 7. 8. 9. RELATED: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies Recipe 10.
26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life I have been collecting all kinds of clever tips to make life just a little bit more simple. Here are some of my favs! 1. Cord organization tips. I am SO doing this. {link} 2. 10. 19. Simple Lemon water. Want to be eco-friendly but not have to mess with cloth diapers? More From New Nostalgia: How To Make Glow In The Dark Paint How to make an amazing decor for kids rooms ? It’s easy, because Rust-Oleum Specialty Glow In The Dark glows for up to 2 hours. Apply to wood, metal, plaster, masonry or unglazed ceramic. Washes with soap and water.
Make Your Own Reusable Peppermint Kitchen Wipes In case you haven’t noticed, I really LOVE making my own homemade cleaning products. ;-) It’s just so comforting to know EXACTLY what is in the products I’m spreading around my home, and I get a thrill knowing how much time and money I’m saving as well! The Environmental Protection Agency cites artificial fragrances in cleaning products as an indoor irritant and pollutant. A single fragrance can include as many as 600 petrochemicals—all within the word “fragrance” on the label. The more I learn about, and experiment with, natural cleaning products (such as baking soda, castile soap, vinegar, etc.) the more I am convinced there really is no need to buy any of the expensive brand names that line the shelves of the cleaning aisle at your grocery store. The good old fashioned stuff our grandmothers and great grandmothers used is EFFECTIVE! Pairing these natural cleaners with essential oils only enhances their cleaning value and leaves behind a pleasant, natural scent.
12 Tips to Use It Up, Wear It Out and Make It Do By Gaye Levy Contributing Writer for Wake Up World Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without! During the Great Depression, frugality was considered a virtue and the phrase “Use it up, Wear it out and Make it do” was the guiding principal in most households. Times were tough which meant that everything from bits of strings to worn out clothing was saved and re-purposed in some other manner. Not only that but every last bit of food from a can or bottle was swished out with a bit of water and used to flavor a soup or stew. These days, most of us are too young to have lived through the Great Depression and yet, because we know that a second Great Depression could happen at any time, we strive to learn from the old ways and to embrace the time-honored frugal ways that were a way of life for our parents and grandparents. Money Matters As much as I would like to say that money does not matter, in the here and now, money is the currency of trade. But back to money matters. 1. Think about it.
* Maria's Self *: DIY Toilet Bombs - Deodorize & Kill Bacteria! Just Drop One in the Bowl;-))) Remember I told you in my previous post that the next product in my store will be an "outside the box" one? Well, you've been warned;-))) I came up with the idea of Toilet Bombs a few months ago. At first I thought it would be embarrassing to make a post about them but I fell so much in love with these toilet bombs that I just HAD to share the idea with you - I'm seriously addicted! WHAT I USE: (for approx. 24 bombs) --1 1/3 cup Baking Soda - amazing for all-natural cleaning AND deodorizing! --1/2 cup Citric Acid - (low-strength acid that exists naturally in fruits like lemons & oranges) - used in many kitchen & bathroom cleaners for its cleaning, whitening & deodorizing properties *** All three oils I use have great antimicrobial properties and kill odor-causing bacteria PLUS this combo smells heavenly!!! Since I work with citric acid and baking soda, I always put medical mask first and then mix together soda and acid. About me: Find this post helpful?
6 Insect Repellent Plants To Grow – repel: mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, fleas & more… | Six insect repellent plants to grow – includes plants that repel biting insects such as: mosquitoes, gnats, ticks & fleas; and plants that protect other plants from aphids & mites etc. Planting and growing insect repellent plants provide a great opportunity to get out in the garden and plant some plants which are a perfect mix of beauty and functionality. Some people are sceptical about using plants to repel insects, whilst others are 100% convinced of the insect repelling properties of many garden plants. The thing is – if you take natural plant based insect repellents out of the equation; the only really option is DEET based products. At the end of the day, if you plant some of the plants listed below, at the very least you’ll be getting some pretty plants that smell beautiful. Feverfew is great for repelling mosquitoes and other flying biting insects. In addition to its insect repellent qualities, feverfew also has many medicinal uses. (Photo from: Wikimedia Commons)
Homemade Liquid Dish Soap A lot of people seemed to be having problems with the original recipe I posted that I found on another blog. So I did some tweaking and the new results are much much better!! Plus it’s organic and antibacterial! Can’t get much better than that! Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Ingredients: 1/2 cup grated soap (I used Dr. Directions: Grate bar of soap. Side note: I used the citrus kind for the smell and because citrus helps cut grease! Thats it!!! This recipe will not create lots of bubbles! Are you as excited about this recipe as I am???? I party here…