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I've been asked to begin a blog that shows a "how-to" for the things that bring pleasure to my life. So, the intent of this blog is to share recipes, gardening, composting, sewing, crafts, art, everyday projects and even psychology tips to aid in healing wounds and living the life you're meant to live, a life with purpose!
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Showing posts with label Garden Produce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garden Produce. Show all posts

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Gifts of Furniture Cleaner / Polish, Citrus All Purpose Cleaner, Face Creams, Lotions, Salt Scrub & more...

Sent out gifts on Monday. Here are what two care packages of homemade Essential and Garden Produce goodies look like. A sampling of home cleaning supplies, lotions, scrubs, sprays, and sample oils. I send detailed information for those who I know will love playing with oils, a sheet on any oil I send, and instructions on how to apply the herbal treatments. On each bottle is the general recipe (I don't put measurements, because it would just get to crowded). 
 Box one is to someone who will love playing with the oils. They have herbal knowledge, but are new to Essential Oils. The box below is for a loved one who will enjoy the products I made, but isn't really interested in herbs; so the box contains mainly instructions on how to use.
 Items before I boxed them up:
This shipment held items made from the fresh, clean power of citrus.
I decided to use real citrus peels, instead of just my essential oils this time. I used the citrus peels in both cleaning products, as well as sea salt scrubs. Recipes are coming up... 

Note: if you wish to make both the Citrus All Purpose Cleaner and the Furniture Polish, a short cut is to: First I put the lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange peels into the juicer. Then pour white vinegar into the machine to get the loose bits through and to help the peels to give up their oils. I took this citrus goodness and put it into my furniture polish and into my all purpose cleaner mix. I left the furniture polish as is, but strained any peel bits out of the citrus for the all purpose spray cleaner. And of course, you can use drops of Essential oils "instead of" / or "in addition to" real citrus peel 

Basic All Purpose Cleaner:
1 Tbl. OnGuard Cleaner
20 Drops Purity
20 drops Wild Orange
1 C. White Vinegar
1 C. Distilled Water
1/2 C Rubbing Alcohol
Mix, shake well. Pour into spray bottle. Use on most surfaces: counter tops, windows, mirrors, and cabinets.


Recipes:

Citrus All Purpose Cleaner:
1 1/2 C. Citrus Peels 
1/2 C, White Vinegar
Soak peels overnight in flat container.
Juice Mixture in morning. Discard dry peel, keep juice and vinegar mixture. Strain to remove solid pieces. To the strained citrus mixture, 
add half of the basic All Purpose Cleaner Mixture (recipe above).

Now you have two cleaners, one is citrus for the extra tough cleans, (like kitchen cabinets with grease finger-prints) and a regular basic cleaner too!

Citrus Furniture Cleaner & Polish
Ingredients
3 Lemon's peel, one whole lemon
4 Lime's peel
2 Orange's peel
1 Grapefruit peel
1/4 White Vinegar
1/2 C. Almond Oil
1/2 C. Walnut Oil
Instructions:
Juice just the peels in a juicer with one whole lemon; 
Add to the juicer:
1/4 White Vinegar to clean out the bits. 
Discard the dry peel into the recycling bin. Use the pulp mixture in your polish. 
Add the 
1/2 C. Almond Oil
1/2 C. Walnut Oil
Mix with a hand mixer to make creamy.


Store in a glass container; pour out onto a clothe and use on your wood furniture for a rich wood glow!
Note: I later changed my container because my sprayer clogged (Mixture too thick to spray) and this was plastic. At the time I made it, I didn't have a good glass container. Now I do. ;-) This wood table has been through a families abuse and the color now pops! The two smaller containers I sent out were plastic squirt travel bottles, meant for shampoo (glass would have been better, but it is what I had on hand).

Also included in gift boxes:
 Carpet Cleaner: 
(See grey lidded glass jars on the back left?)
8 oz. Baking Soda
15 drops of Clove
20 drops of Wild Orange
20 drops of Lavender
Fill four 4oz. glass jars with lid or perpetrated top (like with powder). Shake on carpet; let set one hour; vacuum rug.

Refreshing Mist Spray: 
(See blue and brown glass spray bottles in middle?)
4oz. Distilled Water
20 drops of Eucalyptus
16 drops of Lavender
10 drops of Lemongrass
Fill 4 oz. glass jar with spray top. (I made three 4 oz. jars by doing this three times).  

This image is of the Lotions, Eve Cream, Day Cream, and Shea Body Butter gifts:


Shea Butter Ingredients:
1 1/2 C. Shea Butter, 
15 drops Myrrh,
3 1/2 Tbl. Aloe Vera,
2 Tbl. Vitamin E and C.
15 drops Lavender,
15 drops Frankincense
7 drops Lemon Balm (besides, therapeutic benefits, also works as a bug repellent).
Fill three 4oz. glass jars.  


Sea Salt Scrub ingredients:

1 C. citrus peel pulp

1 C. Geranium Essence, (or substitute 20 drops of Geranium oil),
1 C. Sea Salt,
1/2 C. Epson Salt, 
2 Tbl. Vitamin E, 
10 drops Lavender,
10 drops Myrrh,
10 drops Frankincense, 
7 drops Lemon, 
7 drops Wild Orange
7 drops Rosemary (Optional)
This makes 3 1/2 C's. ~I filled four glass containers (Three recycled 1 C.'s & one 4oz. canning jar). 


Sore Muscle Cream ingredients and product:

20 drops Deep Blue, (or for a dbl recipe: 40 drops)
20 drops Eucalyptus, (or for a dbl recipe: 40 drops)
10 drops Peppermint, (or for a dbl recipe: 20 drops)
1/4 C. Solid Coconut Oil, (or for a double recipe: 1/2 C.)
3/4 C. Cocoa Butter (or for a double recipe: 1  1/2 C.) 
If you're using refined cocoa butter, it is already creamy for use. If you're using raw-hard-purest-form cocoa butter (which is awesome!), you will need to melt it. Black cocoa butter is the hardest I've used. 
Your options are: 1. In a dbl broiler (two pans, larger one has water in it) to slowly melt it. Or 2. Add boiling liquid to cocoa butter and it will melt. Coconut and Almond have a high smoke rate, meaning they can get to boiling without ruining them. But, don't take them past the point of a boil, or you can ruin their properties. ~Perhaps even making them contain free-radicals.
In general you need a ratio of 75% cocoa to 25% liquid in the form of water or oil (like Sweet Almond or Coconut Oil). 
After melting the cocoa butter, and mixing your coconut and cocoa butter together, you may need to refrigerate to make solid again before you can whip it up with a mixer to make an amazing creamy body butter. I pop mine into the freezer for 15-20 min.'s. ;0)
Add your essential oil drops to creamy mixture and stir in. Fill three glass containers with screw top lid (I recycle & use canning jars).(Or if you doubled the recipe, then six glass jars). ---I edited this because I had a question about how to use the cocoa butter from one person, and another question about how I got six jars out of the recipe. Giving away three, I kept three for myself ;0).--- 

For Night and Day Face Cream Recipes: 

http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2016/05/diy-geranium-essence-for-lotions-day.html

For Eyelash Serum, Bug Off, Diffuser, Baby Wipes & more Recipes: http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2016/03/essential-oil-recipes-ive-been-enjoying.html 

For Hair recipes:

http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2011/01/home-remedies-to-treat-winter-hair.html

For more Cleaning recipes: 
http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2011/01/clean-your-house-w-household-items.html
and
http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2016/04/courtesy-rmos-i-stumbled-upon-their.html

The mixture of goodies before I sent the packages out: 

*Note: If you enlarge this picture and spy a gift that isn't included on this blog post, simply ask via comment or in person and I'll add the recipe to this post. I didn't put every recipe that is in the picture(sent as gifts), because I didn't want the post to be too long.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

DIY Geranium Essence for lotions: Day, Night skin and face cream, and sore muscle lotion.



I had just too much fun playing... and saving $
DIY Geranium Essence Master Mix recipe , Day and Eve creams, and Sore muscle lotion recipes below. 


I was making various lotions; trying different mixtures and I wanted to add Geranium as the main ingredient. I made eleven new jars of products; all at a reduction of the cost! I was spending $25-$35 a jar, so I'm counting the savings, not to mention the absence of chemicals!

                    ..................................................................................................................................The far right stack's top two are sore muscle creams, the bottom one is a simpler version of a calming Shea Butter mixture. The Middle pile is my new Evening cream; every night, before bed I lather it on my face, neck and decollete area. The stack on the far left is face cream. Each day, as I head out, I make sure to rub this wonderful stuff onto my face, neck and decollete area. My skin thanks me the rest of the day! Since I have activities that may get me dirty (painting, gardening, and sweating in general) I also add it throughout the day too. For makeup, I simply add a bit of color to it, making it into a tinted moisturizer! Currently, I now have three Day Creams, three Night Creams, and two sore muscle creams in my refrigerator, while I keep four out for my daily use: One Daytime, One nitetime, One sore muscle lotion, and one Shea Soothe.Besides Geranium's wonderful effect on mood, as well as being a natural repellent to insects, it is great for skin and hair care! Not only is it good for oily and combination skin, but it tones and tightens mature skin tissue as well! It can help treat injured skin, healing facial wounds, as it will help regenerate healthy cells, not to mention the damage of the sun (I'm on the lake a lot). Geranium offers soothing, calming effect to skin as well as mood! Lol, a win, win. 



I have tried using my "master mix," a recycled spaghetti sauce jar full of Geranium Essence on my hair. I simply made a hair mask by applying it straight out of the finished jar onto my hair, finger-combing it through. I additionally made a mudd mask for my entire body's skin by simply rubbing it all over me. --Sorry, I didn't take a picture. Lol, I didn't think you all would want to see that!-- After waiting for 15 minutes in the bathroom, I simply stepped into the shower to shower it all off. My hair was fuller and younger looking (how I'd describe it). A hair commercial would say it was, "vibrant with a healthy glow." ;-) 


Something like this, my hair isn't this long, nor am I that gorgeous! Tee hee...

Geranium Essence Master Mix Recipe: 
I didn’t have any geranium oil and I wanted to do something different, that included more of nature's natural bountiful gifts, so I made some. I grow primarily red and white geraniums, which needed pruning, so I took the cut flowers, 



all the scraps (stems and leaves) and made a geranium mixture loaded with geranium’s goodness for    ~my various DIY recipes! 



Once they were slow simmered in solid coconut oil, over low heat for an entire day. (*Note: Cook with a lid to aid in the steaming; additionally, the leaves and flowers were washed by putting into a strainer within a bowl of water to soak and rinse well. Then I did not dry the material, so the water also helped in the steaming process.)  I put the mixture into my powerful juicer, which separated the steamed oil, coconut oil and juices from the dry scrap material (that went out to the compost). 

The next step was picking out skin nourishing ingredients that improve the appearance of skin. The ingredient list needed to include restorative and rejuvenating properties to the skin, anti-aging benefits that reduce the appearance of imperfections, like the reduction of wrinkles, stretch marks, and scars; an anti-inflammatory, skin soothing softness, a glowing, youthful complexion, while hydrating, creating a moisture holding barrier, while promoting circulation and aiding in a healthy cellular function. 

Note: Not all the ingredients listed are needed to make a great lotion! The list are the items, based on their results, I have used, loved and am ready to recommend. 


Day Face
Cream and Night Face Cream:
Pick one or two carrier oils, five Essential oils, two seed or vitamin oils, one tea, and one more addition of something new, which you haven't tried yet! Fresh ingredients like real geranium's and oatmeal will need refrigeration (although, I use one jar at a time, keeping it in my air-conditioned home bathroom and it seems to last around two weeks; I can't say past that because I use it up). Also note, using distilled water in any recipe will extend it's shelf life. 

Ingredients:
Carrier oils: 
Recipe that I did:
1/2 Cup each of Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, 
1 Cup of whipped Shea Butter, 
1/4 Cup Aloe Vera, 
1 Cup Geranium Essence, 
2 Tbl's Rosemary Extract, 
1/3 Cup Vitamin E and C oil, 
14 drops of each: lavender, frankincense, myrrh, Immortelle, 
6 drops of melaleuca, 
3 capsules of Green Tea (or loose green tea, strained) in the Day Face Cream
2 bags or loose Chamomile Tea or 3 drops of chamomile essential oil, in the Night Face Cream 
3 capsules of Evening Primrose oil in the Night Face Cream.  

Mix with a hand mixer the base creams: like Shea Butter and /or carrier oils like solid coconut oil to whip them into a creamy lotion first.  

Then add in your homemade Geranium Essence; see my master mix of Essence? I simply keep it in the refrigerator, until I need it:


 (No worries if you're not wanting to make the essence, you can use geranium essential oil too. I just wanted to try something that contained more of  "nature's gifts." 

To the Evening cream I added evening Primrose capsules, opening them to let their oil out and chamomile tea. Chamomile comes in an essential oil, but I didn't have any, so I improvised: I cooked a small amount of almond oil in a measuring cup to boil, added loose tea (two tea bag equivalence, just tear them open), then I strained the oily mixture; catching the loose tea in the strainer. Note in the next picture: the green chamomile mixture is in top picture, while the orange powder on the bottom of the picture is the green tea. 



To the Day cream I added 3 Green Tea capsules, opening them to release their powders from a capsule (I used Pharmanex, but you can make green tea like I did with the Chamomile). Link:  https://www.nuskin.com/content/nuskin/en_US/products/shop/px_categories/cell_protection/01003529.html



Whip with your hand mixer. I like to use a portable one: 

Upon request, I'm adding the Shea Soothe recipe
Using a hand mixer, whip 1/2 Cup Shea Butter. 
Add 1 Tbl of Vitamin E, 1 Tbl aloe vera, and 7 drops each of 
lavender, frankincense, and myrrh. Simply stir it in. 
I keep this on hand because it is calming for a quick-fix for most skin irritations



Sore Muscle Remedy, or Deep Blue Alternative




I was on a roll with my lotion making, so I also made two sore muscle jars by adding Deep Blue, Eucalyptus, and Aroma Touch to a base lotion of whipped Shea Butter. Now, every night before bed I message my feet, knees, wrists, hands, and anything else that is sore from the Long Day...






Recipe

In a bowl, whip 1/2 Cup Shea Butter with a hand mixer. Add 7 drops each of Deep Blue and Eucalyptus, Add 4 drops of aroma Touch. Stir to mix well. 

Fill 2 recycled clean or new jars with Shea Butter mixture. Use as needed on sore, tired 
muscles. Ahh... 

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Essential Oil Recipes! Diffuser, Allergies, Afterbite roller, Anti-Snore, Anti-Fugus/Bacteria, Eyelash growth, Baby wipes, Lip balm

Essential Oil Recipes!

I've been enjoying the use of essential oils; the following are the recipes I've been making in our household. I'll keep adding more recipes, as I come up with more that are a success for our family. 


I've been using DoTerra, but I'm also experimenting with other brands, as well as researching the "best oils." I may do a follow-up post on the results. 

FAV's: My current favorite DoTerra oils are: OnGuard, Slim & Sassy, Zendocrine, DigestZen, Frankincense and Motivate.


My current FAV diffusing recipes: 

Pollen be Gone:
I live in Atlanta, pollen count is crazy! Allergies are a problem!
Ingredients:
2 drops peppermint
2 drops lemon
2 drops lavender
or
Breathe (at night)

Study Time:
(You could call it the anti-ADD too).
Ingredients:
2 drops peppermint
2 drops wild orange
or
2 drops rosemary
2 drops wild orange

Chill:
Ingredients:
2 drops frankincense
2 drops balance
1 drop vetiver (optional; it is more sedating for evening)

Welcome!:
Ingredients:
2 drops rosemary
2 drops lavender
2 drops lemon
or 
Elevation also smells welcoming. 

Where I get my essential oils from:  http://www.doterra essential oils

Here are the diffusers that I use and love: 


I have these two 500ml diffusers in my great room:


http://smile.amazon.com/Aglaia-Aromatherapy-Essential-Ultrasonic-Humidifier/dp/B014F4UXDA/?ie=UTF8&refRID=0B3D679E86F976GCMG3Y&dpSrc=sims&dpID=41K5X%2B3XKGL&ref=pd_sim_201_7&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_
And


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0118QC1BA/?ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_KZr1wb0HS3GGG


I use this 100 ml in my bedroom:


http://www.amazon.com/URPOWER-Essential-Humidifier-Adjustable-Waterless/dp/B00Y2CQRZY/?qid=1456806923&s=hpc&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=diffusers+lrpower&ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_sc_1_s_it
~For the links: copy and paste them into your browser, this post looked strange with all the links active, because they were all an ugly orange shade.;-/

Fav all purpose cleaner:

This it the recipe I've settled on for cleaning my counters, and etc. I usually make one batch, filling a large glass sprayer for me, and one small sprayer each for my mom's (my mother and my mom-in-law). (Most recipes that I make, I send out at least two small size gifts for family or friends).


I usually write on a sticker the recipe, and stick it onto the bottle.

Ingredients:
1 Tbl OnGuard cleaner concentrate
20 drops Purity
20 drops Wild Orange
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol


Fav outdoor must have:
I'm always on the lookout for ways to use old standards, like witch hazel. Here is a recipe I've been using for: Sunburn and bug bites. It is also good for perinuem issues and hemorrhoids. ;-) 

Bites be Gone:
Ingredients:
2 drops peppermint
3 drops lavender
Witch hazel to fill 1 oz spray or roller glass bottle. 
Package deal for various glass containers: 
http://www.lovingessentialoils.com/products/20-pc-tool-kit?utm_campaign=Pinterest%20Buy%20Button&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_content=pinterest-buy-button-08bfb317f-2f84-4942-a79c-7f5634c15043



Anti-Snoring treatment:My next ToDo project is to formulate an anti-snoring remedy. I haven't tried this yet, due to not having the more costly ingredients, but I've researched various herbs and have come up with the following recipe: 


"Be Gone %#@!" Snoring:

5 drops rose
3 drops clary sage
3 drops roman chamomile
3 drops marjoram
2 drops eucalyptus (optional: globulus)
2 drops myrtle 
1 Tbl fractionated coconut oil

Application:
At bedtime: Rug  onto chest (not on breasts), neck (including back of neck), shoulders and back.


Fav Allergic Reaction treatment; or what I enjoy saying, "die fungus & bacteria," stuff:


My dog is allergic to everything! Meat, grass, and wheat, so he experiences itchy feet, bacterial and fungal infections on his tail and in his ears regularly. His prescribed food is made only of fish and sweet potato; which we can now find cheaper at Pet Smart. We had been giving him an anti-bacterial ear drop and skin medicines; however, the chronic use of medication is not good! So, I made up this topical and it has worked extremely well for him. I experimented before I decided on this recipe, and I found the most effective ingredient to killing fungus or bacteria on him was oregano! ~It is powerful, so I'd be careful not to not put it on directly onto a pet's skin, without diluting it first. 

BTW, this recipe is great for people too. 








Be Gone Fungus Bacteria!:
Or what we call it, Puppy Cure: 
Ingredients:
12 drops of lavender
12 drops of oregano
7 drops of onguard
4 drops of frankincense
3 drops of digestzen or ginger
3 drops of immortelle
1 drop of rosemary 
1 drop basil
1 Tbl aloe vera
1 drop calendula oil (optional)
1 drop of weak cloves** (Optional; I infused the weak olive oil mixtures myself, using low heat and about a 1/2C of cloves with fractionated coconut oil); giving a weaker, less concentrated version. 
1 drop of weak garlic**(Optional; Over low heat, I infused my garden's garlic bunches into fractionated coconut oil; giving a weaker, less concentrated version. 
**Due to potential garlic and clove toxicity issues for small dogs; I prefer the weaker concentrate).
1 Tbl. or 1/2 oz fractionated coconut oil

Directions:
Add the first 12 ingredients to your glass bottle; I get the aloe vera into the bottle by using a small funnel. Then I add the coconut oil into the funnel, which gets the rest of the soothing aloe vera into the mix. Mix ingredients by shaking the 1 oz. glass bottle. I purchased a dropper for application. Two links:
http://www.amazon.com/Perfume-Studio%C2%AE-Dropper-Bottles-Essential/dp/B016SH32GM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_79_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41TqLad0U0L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR147%2C160_&refRID=04NY8ZMFX0YB8N5PWJMG
or
https://www.ebottles.com/showbottles-bottle-1508-kw-ELIQUID_DROPPER_BOTTLES.htm

Application:
For a skin infection:  Apply topically, making sure to not get into eyes, privates or nose. Once your pet has been diagnosed with dermatitis or skin allergies, tests can find what pollen's, dusts, insects or molds cause their allergic reaction; however, it will not test food allergies that cause skin rashes.


For an ear infection: Dilute Bragg organic apple cider with sterile water  (50% to 50% ratio). Fill ear until full of liquid and rub around; then let him shake them. Carefully q-tip or cotton ball out the black infection. Add two drops of essential herb oil mixture to each ear and rub ear around. This last step is my dogs favorite part. 
Great video if your afraid to use q-tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4odbAlDRiz0



Eyelash Growth Nourish:




Eyelash Serum:
Ingredients:

Use fractionated coconut oil or the solid variety, vitamin E oil or organic castor oil as main ingredient.
 2 drops each of lavender & lemon. 10 oz. roller glass bottle.

Application:
Apply roller to under eye skin area; gently rub lashes into oil.  Note: don't get Essential oils into your eyes. 

Here is the brand I buy. Link to buy:  http://www.amazon.com/Castor-Organic-Pressed-Virgin-Dr-Adorable/dp/B00H5WB1OU


For cobalt blue glass:
I just love the cobalt blue color, but they usually cost a bit more than the clear or brown. Due to the variety of choices and price, I usually purchase glass from Amazon. I make care packages for my family, so I send out a lot of containers ;0)

Link to Amazon; I search for whatever container I'm looking for on their website: http://www.amazon.com/Rioa-Essential-Oils-Roller-Bottles/dp/B015IR3SB2


FAV Wipes:

I use wipes for most things; I like to keep them handy in the car and my "baby" is 17! Lol. 

Easy Baby Wipes:

Ingredients:

1 roll of heavy duty paper towels like Bounty.
2 ¼ cups of water (or distilled, which will last longer than one week)
2 Tbsp baby bath
15 drops of lavender or favorite essential oil that is approved for babies.
1 Tbl baby oil
Cut paper towels in half with an electric knife. Place in a plastic container, add liquid. Remove cardboard center and pull wipes from the center.


Or

Completely Natural Baby Wipes:

Ingredients:

1 roll heavy duty paper towels like Bounty
1 ¾ Cups water (or distilled, which will last longer than one week)
1 Tbl aloe vera
1 Tbl witch hazel extract
1 Tbl liquid castile soap
6 drops grapefruit
6 drops wild orange
6 drops lavender
1 ½ tea vitamin E oil
1 tea almond oil



FAV Lips:

Chap-stick or lip balm:

Ingredients & links to find what I buy at bottom:

3 tea. Or 1 Tbl Or ½ ounce beeswax
3 tea. Or 1 Tbl Or ½ ounce pure solid coconut oil 
1 ½ tea. Or ½ Tbl Or ¼ ounce shea butter
1 ½ tea. Or ½ Tbl Or ¼ ounce cocoa butter
15-30 drops favorite flavor of essential oil http://www.doterra essential oils (my fav's: wild orange, lemon or rose)
2 tea vanilla extract

Instructions:
Microwave mixture in a Glass measuring cup; stirring frequently, until melted.

Links to buy:
Beeswax:

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