DIY Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap

I have a love/hate relationship right now with this time of the year. The little girl in me loves the cold and all of the holiday's it brings. The sights, the sounds, and the smells are all something I embrace. The other part of me however, the mom part, isn't too fond of this time of year.

 I not so lovingly call it "Cootie Season." It's the time where it seems everyone everywhere is sick and they all share their cooties as if it's the kind thing to do. I for one think it's poopy, especially when you have a few kiddos, or 5 that tend to take your lessons in sharing very seriously during this season.

I'm not real interested in bringing tons of chemicals into my house so I've been making my own foam hand soap for years now. It wasn't until recently that I had a light bulb moment and realized that I could make my own antibacterial and anti-viral soap.

All you will need is...

• a foam pump
• Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap (I use the baby unscented one)
• Melaluca or better known as Tea Tree Oil

1. Fill Bottle 1/4 way up with Dr. Bronner's
2. Fill the rest of the way with water (filtered is best)
3. Add 4-6 drops of Tea Tree Oil (I use 6 but I use one I bought at Walmart. If you're using one from DoTerra you will have to deem how much works best for you. I am not familiar with theirs yet so I don't feel comfortable giving an exact amount of drops you would use.)
4. Put pump part back on and gently give it a shake to mix the oil in.

I love the clean smell of Tea Tree oil, but if you don't or if you want to change it up a bit you can always add some lavender essential oil or any scent you like. I made this particular one for my kitchen. When I do one for the bathroom I think I might add just a little vitamin e oil and see how that goes. It might work. It might not. That's the fun of trying. :)

Until next time....

Happy Thursday!

Homemade Vapor Rub

Cold and flu season is here and so is my arsenal. Every year before the season begins (or after it starts lol) I began preparing for the possibility of my family getting sick. This year we've already had a pretty fun cold come through our family. One that knocked 4 of my 5 girls down. Runny noses, fevers, and throwing up from the crazy amount of mucous their little bodies were producing.

Vapor rub is a must during this season as far as I'm concerned.

I was a Vicks Vapor Rub girl growing up. My mom loved that stuff. It wasn't until last year that I discovered what it was made of and that it wasn't necessarily something I wanted to use on my family. Especially when I found out that there have been cases where it has hindered a sick baby's breathing as well as adults. (this was using both the infants and also the adults) Don't take my word on it, google it. It isn't pretty. 

Anywho :)

I began looking for an alternative, (after already buying a brand new jar of each type of Vicks) and low and behold women all over the world were smarter than me. They already knew that Vicks wasn't really great for us or our precious babies. With this being said, I found what seemed to be endless recipes for homemade vapor rub. I settled on this one and we all love it! My kiddos actually ask for it. I found it so long ago that I don't even remember where I got it. Just know, I didn't create this. :) The credit belongs to some smart mama who was well advanced in her healthy walk before I was in mine.

I would totally hug this woman if I could!

You will need:

• 2 parts coconut oil
• 1 part beeswax (I have made this using both pastilles or a 1 oz little bar)
• Eucalyptus essential oil (about 10 drops per ounce)
• White Camphor Essential Oil (about 5 drops per ounce)

Directions:

1. Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler (You can really use any pan you'd want. I use a double boiler so my ingredients aren't directly on the heat)
2. Then add the essential oils.
3. Pour into your metal tins or containers. (You can purchase metal tins at most health food stores. If you don't have one by you, you can order them online. Google metal tins and find the best price for you. They're everywhere:)
4. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes voila, homemade vapor rub. It really couldn't be more simple!

All Natural DIY Baby Bottom Balm (Cloth Daper Safe)

 

I first made this recipe about a year ago and immediately fell in love with it! Until I found a recipe for homemade Neosporin (which is amazing) I turned to this balm for just about everything. It's simple ingredients are perfect to soothe a baby's tender tushy, all without damaging cloth diapers.

(for those mama's in love with creams like Desitin, I recently made a batch of homemade baby rash cream.)

 

This great recipe also works terrific for scrapes, burns, eczema, dry skin and bruises. This particular recipe is all over the web. When I deleted my blog 'Raising Godly Daughters,' I lost the recipe. I was running out and hurriedly began searching for it. I found multiple blogs that had the same recipe but this is where I got mine today. :) Simply Real Moms

This recipe is so easy and so worth your time! You'll love it. It has such a delicate, calming scent. We all love it.


Here's what you'll need:

• 1 oz Beeswax
• 1 cup Virgin Coconut Oil
• 20 Drops of Melaluca (Tea Tree)
• 20 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil

 

 

 Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler over low/medium heat. When it's melted add tea tree and lavender. Pour into containers and cool.

 

How easy was that! Soon you'll have a multi-purpose balm.

 

Isn't making your own products fun!

DIY Homemade Diaper Rash Cream

I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon this recipe from Keeper of the Home. I was on a search for the recipe I had gotten a long time ago for the Baby Butt Balm I made and loved.

When I saw this one I was intrigued and knew I wanted to make it which I did and boy was it easy! This recipe makes a lovely cream. Even better it's Cloth diaper safe. Oh yeah!

The following recipe will make only one container. I doubled mine. I have two hiney's in diapers and mama's in and out of my home with little ones.


Get ready to say goodbye to Desitin!

• 1/8 cup beeswax (1/2 oz)
• 2/3 cup Coconut Oil
• 3/4 Tbsp. Zinc Oxide Powder

1. Melt beeswax and coconut oil over medium heat in a double boiler. When melted, put in a bowl and mix in zinc oxide powder with either an immersion blender or a hand held one. I used my Kitchen Aid pink handheld.
2. Pour into container and cool.

It's that easy! I didn't add any scents but you can if you want. For easy clean up, wipe your bowl before with a paper towel and discard before washing. I did this and washed my things with pretty hot water and soap and had no issues getting it all to come clean.

This would make a great gift at a baby shower or for a friend with lots of little ones!!

Homemade All-Natural Chapstick

My love of chapstick really began when I was in 6th grade and played the saxophone. All that lip licking I had to do playing a reed instrument made my lips chapped fast. After that I was sold. Then as an adult I moved to Idaho and my love for chapstick turned into a need for it. Up here we're in high desert which means it's dry. There's good and bad to that. One thing you will typically see Idahoans with, especially during winter months is some sort of lip balm. It's not at all what I saw growing up in the humid city of Houston, Texas. Up here everyone (except maybe my husband) has chapstick.

The girls and I are no exception. The cold, dry weather can wreak havoc on our lips. Chapstick is a must. I always used Burt Bees but as more of my kiddos started wanting chapstick too the price of Burt Bees bothered me. Then I found out they had been bought out by a bigger company. I also found out that that particular company has some unfavorable commercials for one of their products demeaning men.

I am not cool with that at all and as much as I loved Burt Bees I will not give my money to a company that thinks it's comical to emasculate men.

The recipe I'm about to give you is not one I created. This particular recipe is all over the web. I got mine from Passionate Homemaking She got hers from someone else and I had multiple tabs open with the same recipe.

You will need:

• 2 Tbsp Beeswax (1 oz)
• 2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp. Refined Shea Butter
• 12 lip balm containers (I got mine from a local nutrition store. If you don't have one near you they are available online)
• dropper (I used an extra one I had that came with our baby Gripe water)

1. Melt beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter together in a double boiler over low-med. heat.
2. When completely melted use dropper and fill lip balm containers. The lip balm will shrink just a tad when its cooled so you can top each one off a little if you want.

I added a little Peppermint Essential oil to my mixture when I had only 4 containers left to fill. I used about 6 drops but could have used more. Those 4 chapsticks are very lightly peppermint. It's really nice. The others all have a delightful light honey scent and the feel is so soft. I love it! So do my two girlies that got their own after I made them. We all approve! Even the hubby after kissing me. ;)

I kept asking myself why I bought store bought ones when I could make 12 for a fraction of the cost, even using all organic ingredients and I would be able to know every ingredient in the ones I make? I'm glad I took the jump into the unknown world of do it yourself chapstick.

I wasn't disappointed and you won't be either. :)

Make Your Own All Natural Deoderant Cheap & Easy

I began making my own deodorant years ago. So long ago that I don't even know where I got the recipe. I do not take credit for it, but I am here to say it works. It works so well that when I accidentally forgot to put it on one day a year or so ago I was amazed that I had no issues. Seriously, I was so excited I had my husband smell my armpit. You might think this odd, but you don't know my husband and I. We are best friends and when I'm excited, he is excited about what I'm happy about. I share the good and bad with him. I guess you're probably thinking he was pretty blessed that day that I wasn't sharing anything bad with him.

 If you only knew about the time I had him taste a Spring Roll from a Chinese restaurant back in our hometown of Houston, Texas that tasted and smelled like Giraffe poop. hahaha No, I have never tasted Giraffe excrement, but if you've ever been to the Houston Zoo you would know what Giraffe poop smells like, and that my friends is exactly what that spring roll smelled and tasted like! It was odd to say the least. And yes, that was our last time eating there.

Anyway, back to the deodorant. I love this recipe. It's simple, cheap and it fills two deodorant containers. I apply it once a day during winter and sometimes a couple times a day during summer.

On a side note: This deodorant will melt at high temperatures due to the coconut oil. I keep mine in my bathroom at room temperature and it remains solid. Store at room temp. or cooler.

• 1/2 cup Cornstarch
• 1/4 cup Baking Soda (I use right under 1/4 c. because my skin is really sensitive)
• 6 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

*Optional* 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. I used vanilla when I made my last batch. When I'm pregnant I don't use any scents.