Thursday, April 3, 2014

Balm of Gilead

Balm of Gilead

(This is educational use, not for medicinal purposes.)


So this winter the kids and I have been making balms and salves.  What a blessing it has been, we are hooked and love it!  The longer project has been Balm of Gilead



First we picked some buds of several downed trees.




 We then filled our quart jar 3/4 full with organic virgin olive oil.

Making a double broiler system, we boiled the buds in olive oil for 3 hrs.
  (The fresh picked buds covered in oil begin to heat and this helps release the resin.)


Removing the jar carefully from the heat we placed the lid and screw band over top.  We then placed it resting near the wood stove.   Each day when we fill the wood we shake it around.



Balm of Gilead is used  for many purposes.  (This is educational use, not for medicinal purposes.)  I can only tell you what we love it for.

An example would be my husband wounded his hand.  There was an open gash and a lot of swelling with pain.  Only a few weeks ago the boys and I made a mixture salve with a few different oils and herbs to compliment the tree oil.  We purchased little tins like this:



Each one of the boys can place it in their first aid compartment of their backpack for hiking.

The salve we made was applied to my husbands hand.  The swelling seemed minimal, it started to "numb" it a bit, and with the chamomile and lavender, he was very relaxed. ;)  All in all, it looked a lot better 14 hours later. 

As always, check with a doctor first, but for education purposes NOT MEDICINAL, here is a basic recipe:


Balm of Gilead
1 Cup oil (extracted oil)
9 oz of beeswax
4 drops of Vit. E




  The balm can be mixed with different oils, this is just a basic recipe.  Grapefruit seed oil, lavender, lemon, chamomile, or your carrier oil to palm, coconut, etc.  Just remember by altering (adding or starting with a solid at room temp. oil) will change the texture and properties. 

Whether it's a project when the kids are asleep or a family project, have fun experimenting!  

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Sugar Scrubs continued...

As you may already know there are several variations and recipes resulting in luxurious, delicious flavorful sugar scrubs.  Here is a quick round up of a few more.   If you have your own sugar scrub recipe and would like to share a link for that, please do so in the comments selection and I will list them in the next sugar scrub update.  Thanks.


1. Mint sugar scrub from lovegrowswild here.

Homemade brown sugar scrub stored in recycled baby food jars on blogs.babycenter.com
Homemade brown sugar scrub, photo by babycenter.blog (click photo for link)
2. Brown Sugar scrub here.
3. Sugar cookie scrub.
4. DIY Peppermint sugar scrub from Beth.



http://ourhouseonthecorner.blogspot.com/2011/12/scrub-dub-dub-diy-sugar-scrub.html
Photo from little house on the corner, Amanda has more on her coconut scrub, these are cute!  Click on photo or link below for her coconut scrub or other great treasures on her blog.
5. Coconut sugar scrub
6. Lip scrub
7. Pumpkin sugar scrub
8. MommyMusings has some wonderful gingerbread sugar scrub, smells delicious.
9. A lavender foot scrub here.
10. With maple syrup season here, we may give this recipe a try.  Color My Bliss has a maple syrup sugar scrub, lemon, and brown sugar scrub recipe.





DIY Kids- Project Birds!

DIY Kids-Project Birds

The warm weather is almost here...yay!  Do you find yourself up at night thinking of all those projects and cute ideas you have?  Maybe the vegetable garden arrangement, a new flower bed, possible a few more rhubarb starts?  Those are all there, trust me; however, the first thought is birds.  The kids love attracting and bringing in new birds (and other critters).  Here is the Tinkering Tuesday theme- bird.


Bird Feeders

kids craft - bird feeder


How about a handy recycled tissue box? Click on the picture for instructions.


bird feeder collage4

Head on over to cub scouts ideas for a few details on these simple ideas for kids.


Bird Feeder

This tray feeder is so simple and fun!  Thanks Spoonful!

A simple feeder out of an orange juice container or any card board box.

Bird Feeder Outdoor Crafts for Kids
Pinterest picture

This is such a cute accent to a flower garden too.  Click picture for the details.
                                         Spring Craft for Kids: DIY Recycled Cup and Saucer Bird Feeder!

Birds love oranges on our nail board.  We simply slice in half and put in place on a nail board.  Here is a link for several more simple, yet cute ideas.  Enjoy! (click here)


You could also help the birds out by collecting twigs, yard bits, tissue paper scraps and any nest building materials the birds could use.  Just place them in a suet feeder or simple near your feeder tree. 
 
http://tillerytimes.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-day-of-spring-celebration-2012.html

Click on the picture for some super cute ideas from this mom.



Monday, March 31, 2014

Menu Monday!

Monday
  • Breakfast- Oranges, brown sugar oatmeal, toast, & milk
  • Lunch- Turkey sandwiches, carrots, apple/cranberry juice
  • Dinner- Grilled hot dogs and brats, salad, baked beans, chips & milk
Tuesday
  • Breakfast- Hash browns & eggs, toast OJ, tea, coffee
  • Lunch- Hearty enchilada bean soup (turkey), dinner rolls, & milk/ tea
  • Dinner- Boiled dinner, butter crackers, milk
Wednesday
  • Breakfast- Pancakes with strawberries, eggs, coffee/ tea
  • Lunch- Soup, crackers, milk/ juice
  • Dinner- Baked chicken parmesan, linguine, peas, texas toast & milk
Thursday
  • Breakfast-Homemade power bars (oatmeal & pine nuts), OJ & milk,
  • Lunch- Fried loaded hash browns (onions, peppers, etc.), egg sandwiches on wheat, OJ, milk
  • Dinner-Taco venison rice medley, dinner roll, milk
Friday
  • Breakfast- Pumpkin pie french toast w/ wheat, fruit salad, milk, coffee, tea
  • Lunch-  Taco salad, juice
  • Dinner- Friday Fun Night (boys pick)
Saturday
  • Breakfast- (early go) Bagels, OJ & coffee/ tea
  • Lunch- (picnic) Fajitas & fixings, milk & juice boxes
  • Dinner- spaghetti, cheese bread, salad, milk
Sunday
  • Breakfast- Scrambled egg cups w/ bacon wrap- on the go, OJ
  • Lunch- Boston Butt, & giant butter rolls, vegetable chicken salad, brownies, milk
  • Dinner- leftovers, milk
**Snacks for week (rotate until gone)- Bananas, oranges, peaches, carrot wedges, broccoli and dip, corn bread, rhubarb squares & juice/ water

DIY Sugar Scrub!



Delicious Sugar Scrub

3 C. Sugar
1 Cup oil of olive oil
(*feel free to substitute with your favorite- I like almond oil)
10 drops of essential oil of choice for scent
(ideas are peppermint, lavender, chamomile, etc) 
(These are great for an AM scrub- lemon, orange, a combo., etc.)

In a large bowl mix sugar and oils.  If you want to make more than one scent, hold out on the 10 drops of essential oil.  Instead place your divided mixture into several bowls or coffee cups and add 3-4 drops per /cup.  Place in cute jars and/or decorated containers.  Great gift item.  This is super easy!

Here are links with similar recipes and deviations:


 1.  The most delicious recipe ever!  Cinnamon vanilla sugar and sweet n' spicy brown sugar scrub by tidymom.  A great luxurious spa gift or accent and she has a link for great gift tags as well.  Enjoy! 

2. Cute idea from Vivian and recipe a little more textured than my recipe.  This is great for removing paint from your hands.



 



Lavender Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe

3. This lavender sugar scrub posted by Samantha is another option for gifting. This includes a recipe, and label template.  Thanks Samantha!





Sunshine Sugar Smoothing Scrub Recipe







http://www.chsugar.com/holidays-parties-gifts/gifts/white-cane-glimmer-sugar-scrub


4.  Sarah includes this with a recipe of her own, it looks great too!
















5. White cane Glimmer Sugar Scrub


Click here for a few more links.