Starting back in October my friend and I started going to the gym. We have been counting calories and working out since and I have lost about 38lbs. I feel so much healthier, fit, energetic, and overall GREAT!
Even though I feel great in that area there is one area of my health I struggle with. I have eczema. Most days it's pretty manageable but there are times when a flare up will rear it's ugly head and I usually spend about a week trying to bring my skin back under control for the simple comfort of living. There can be multiple triggers for my flare ups...one of them being extreme sensitivity to cleaning detergents and chemicals. During a recent flare up I began looking for homemade, all natural hand lotions that would not only hydrate my skin but nourish it as well. In my search of a homemade lotion I began stumbling across homemade recipes for cleaning products, beauty supplies, hygiene products and more!
I decided to take my new healthy lifestyle to the next level.
I want to start making anything and everything that goes into or onto my body (and my family's bodies) homemade. I know this won't happen overnight but I feel I have a pretty good start.
Here I will be linking to the posts for all my homemade, organic and healthy recipes, tips, etc.
The main reason I want to start going more "Green" in our household is to maintain and improve our health. I want to instill healthy habits in my children so that they can pass along that knowledge and those habits to their families some day. I believe that God created this earth with His most beloved creation in mind....us. So I know that everything we need to keep our bodies healthy is within His creation. I'm not against ALL man-made medications when they are necessary (in severe cases and emergencies)....I just don't see a need for chemical based household cleaners, beauty products, cold medicines, etc. Everything in moderation, right? I think we overuse all the man made medications and chemicals because they're convenient.
I hope you find these posts helpful and useful for you and your family and God is able to guide you to a healthier way of living. :-)
Green Home Articles & Useful Information:
Herbs & Safety while Breastfeeding
Herbs & Safety During Pregnancy
Room Fresheners & Deodorizers
Natural Disinfectants
Healthy Eating on a Budget
Cloth Diaper Sewing Tutorial 1
Cloth Diaper Sewing Tutorial 2
Cloth Diapering 101
Sewing a Cloth Diaper Insert: Tutorial
Click Below to View the Homemade Recipes:
Squirrel Repellent: How To Keep Squirrels Out Of Your Flower Beds (Naturally)
Lemon Juice & Vinegar Spray
Citrus Room Spray
Disinfectant Cleaner/Spray
Glass Cleaner
Citrus Cleaner
Liquid Dish Soap
Dishwasher Detergent
Veggie Wash
Laundry Detergent
Diaper Rash Cream
Deodorant (It works soo GREAT)
Hand/Body Lotion (Great for Eczema)
Toothpaste
Oil Cleansing Method (Face Wash) - This works GREAT on my sensitive skin!
Coming Soon...
Tile & Grout Cleaner
Citrus Floor Cleaner
Stain Remover
Carpet Cleaner
Cloth Diapering
Shampoo
Bubble Bath
Conditioner
Hair Spray
Disinfectant Wipes
Vinegar:
Vinegar can be used in just about every room in your house. It's a multi-purpose cleaner. It should be diluted 1 part vinegar to 1 part water to avoid eating away at grout in tile and should not be used on marble. Other than that a vinegar solution can be used on pretty much any other hard non-porous surface. Vinegar disinfects and deodorizes as well. Vinegar can even be used in your laundry as a fabric softener. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the liquid fabric softener dispenser in your washer. Your clothes might retain a hint of vinegar smell but it will disappear once they are completely dry.
Lemon Juice:
Lemon Juice is great at dissolving soap scum and mixes with baking soda to form cleaning pastes. It adds a great scent to any natural cleaning product. Do you have a smell stuck in your microwave that won't go away....put some Lemon Juice in a microwavable glass dish and microwave for 2-3 minutes. The lemon juice will eliminate the odors. Lemon juice is also great at shining brass and copper.
Baking Soda:
Baking Soda can be used as an abrasive scrub on surfaces or as a deodorizer. Place a box of open baking soda in your refrigerator to absorb odors or sprinkle some in your garbage can.
Borax:
Borax can disinfect, soften water, neutralize urine odors in mattresses, kill roaches, be used as a scouring cleaner.
Castile Soap:
http://www.liverenewed.com/2011/04/the-many-uses-of-castile-soap.html
Linking up with:
