Homemade is the best!!!!

I have a lot of friends who ask me what my recipes are for all of my homemade items... so here they are just for you!!

Homemade deodorant - this stuff actually works. I dont know about you but the natural store stuff does not work. No matter how much I use - i just smell no matter what!!! Heres an awesome deodorant and way cheaper!!!

• 6 T coconut oil
• 1/4 cup (4 T) baking soda
• 1/4 cup (4 T) arrowroot or cornstarch
• essential oils (optional)

What to Do:

1. Mix baking soda and arrowroot together in a medium sized bowl.
2. Mash in coconut oil with a fork until well mixed.
3. Add oils if desired.
4. Store in small glass jar or old deodorant container for easy use.

http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant-beating-the-b-o-with-natural-deo/

Homemade toothpaste

• 5 parts Calcium powder or Calcium Magnesium Powder
• 2 parts Baking Soda
• 3 parts Xylitol Powder- This ingredient is not completely necessary, but just keeps it from tasting bitter. (I use stevia)
• 3-5 parts coconut oil to get desired texture
• Optional ingredients: Essential oils for flavor (mint, cinnamon, and orange are all good), Grapefruit Seed Extract, Myrrh and Trace Minerals

[Note: To keep things simple, I just use a teaspoon or tablespoon, depending on the size batch I'm making, so the above recipe would read 5 TBSP calcium powder, 2 TBSP Baking Soda, etc.]

http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/

Homemade Hand Foaming Soap
I use and old foam hand soap dispenser. I fill it mostly up with water and then add a little dr bronners castile soap. I also add a little vitamin e, so my hands dont get dry. wallah!!!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

weve had this recipe for so long and because we are a large family we make a very big batch. im pretty sure this is the recipe we use though.

Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

• In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
• In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
• Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring before each use (will gel).

Homemade Baby Wipes

2 cups water
1 tbls coconut oil
1 tbls dr bronners castile soap

cut paper towel roll in half and remove the brown core. (save for giving to a church). soak the paper towels in above solution and wallah!!!!

Homemade Lotion

• 1/2 cup almond or olive oil (can infuse with herbs first if desired)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
• Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

Note: All ingredients and many essential oils are available here.

How to Make Lotion:

1. Combine ingredients in a pint sized or larger glass jar. I have a mason jar that I keep just for making lotions and lotion bars, or you can even reuse a glass jar from pickles, olives or other foods.
2. Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.
3. Put a lid on the jar loosely and place in the pan with the water.
4. As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Small mason jars (8 ounce) are great for this. It will not pump well in a lotion pump!
5. Use as you would regular lotion. This has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and not water is added. Use within 6 months for best moisturizing benefits.

Note: A litte goes a long way! This lotion is incredibly nourishing and is also great for diaper rash on baby, for eczema and for preventing stretch marks!

http://wellnessmama.com/3765/luxurious-homemade-lotion-recipe/

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Ingredients:

• 3 lemons
• 14 oz water
• 4 oz white vinegar
• 1 cup salt

Cut lemons and remove all seeds.  Chop lemons into small pieces. Put cut pieces in blender with water and blend at maximum speed until smooth. Pour into a stainless steel pot, add salt and vinegar, and stir. Cook just below boiling for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally if needed.  Let cool slightly, stir, then store in glass containers. {If your blender is not super powerful, strain final mixture with a thin mesh strainer.} Fill the dishwasher soap dispenser and also put a small amount on the inner side of the dishwasher door. You can also use it to clean your counters and stove!  I would test a small area first just to be sure.  Don’t want to be the cause of ruined household parts!  But it worked really well for me.

http://motherofpearlspcos.org/homemade-lemony-all-natural-dishwasher-liquid-i-love-this-stuff/

5k

yesterday and today i ran a 5k at lake murray - despite my calfs hurting and my nike thing bring wonky i did good :) i cant seem to get out of the 180s. i weighed myself today and i weigh 180.2. ugh trying to break these 180s - im still hoping i hit my goal of 140 by aug 15th :). i feel no difference with my shots. once they stopped making me sick i have felt no difference.

2lb off

I did not meet my goal for my health class. I am 2 lbs off. However, I am still on track for my goal by the time we renew our wedding vows. I am very excited about that :) I have been able to lose weight eating all whole foods. That is something I did not think was possible. Though tonight is my last class I will continue on my health journey. Since the beginning of January I have lost 20lbs. I am getting there, slowly (which is better), but getting there. One lb at a time :) Sometimes in life we come short of our goals but that doesnt mean we have to give up or throw in the towel. Keep on keeping on!!!!

Musings of a genetically mutated mom

I started my health journey quite a few years ago and in that found out I needed thyroid medicine (natural kind). There were other things too like my estrogen was super de duper high. Probably more but I cant remember. I lost 69 lbs and then was pregnant with our 5th beautiful blessing. In January of this year I started the weight loss journey again. I found myself at 201 lbs. I started MediFast again and it was slow going. I then started an 8 week health class. Eating low glycemic. My goal has always been to lose the wight without a program, on whole foods. This class was what i needed. Someone to monitor my food intake and help me where I struggled. Apparently I wasn't eating enough. Can you believe it...not eating enough. How could that help me lose weight. Tomorrow is our last class. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and will be bummed when its over. While in this class I discovered that I have some genetic mutations. This basically means my body cannot absorb nutrients like folic acid and b vitamins. I started a natural shot regimen. The first shot was a full dose and made me sick. The second shot was a lower dose and did nothing. This last shot was a full dose and made me sick but not as bad as before. I really want my body to accept this. my friend is doing so well on it. Im so happy for her!!!! It will be my turn one day, I have hope that it will help me and my body will accept this treatment. I really want to know what it is like to feel normal. When i tell people they way i feel or the way my body behaves people tell me that is not natural....one day my body will behave itself. Im praying sooner than later :)

Kid FUN!!!!

Right now we are peeling the wrapper off of the crayons to melt them into different shapes. Peeling the crayons is a long task but I think they will enjoy using the melted crayons to color with. I learned this from Pinterest :) and bought the crayons while they were $0.24/box in an after school sale :)

Recently...

So recently some friends were asking if I didnt have my babies what would be my dream job. Well kids i was working my dream job and quit when I had my babies. I would still be interpreting - if u know me in the slightest I am addicted to ASL. I so wish I was interpreting for my church. I do miss that. I would probably be interpreting plays, maybe on tour with one of my fav bands interpreting their concerts. i love to interpret music - music is a huge part of my life and that would be awesome to do!!!! so ya...

Determined!!!

In high school I was a horse of a different color - i had my own style and got voted most weird my senior year. Ca is a big melting pot and so i had friends that accepted me for who i am. in fact i still have a few friends from that era of my life. well now being a sahm - ive let myself go - not really caring about my appearance, i wear hand me downs so my clothes style is not necessarily mine, but what friends dont want anymore - and im fine with it, and am so thankful for their generosity to me, i wouldnt trade it for anythingint he world - but on the other hand i would like to get my style back. no i wont be sporting a cape anymore - but i am determined to slowly get my style back - whatever that style is now - i really dont know anymore - i havent really bought clothes in so long. the last thing i bought was a dress for my 30th bday party. as i lose this baby weight and get back to my size i will be keeping my eye on things that i like and slowly get them as i can. thankfully i have a ways to go to lose this weight so it gives me time :) i wont be buying a large amount of clothes but i will be wearing my hand me downs and incorporating them into my style :) yes i am looking forward to this - its like re-purposing my wardrobe - keeping what i have, accepting and wearing hand me downs and occasionally buying something to spice it up a bit :)