Clever Cinder Block Water Heater for Chickens

This is a very easy way to make sure that the water for your chickens won't freeze.  Scroll about 2 thirds down to see how on the link below.


http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mareed2ks-chicken-coop

Make Your Own "Curiously Strong" Mints

These are great and so economical! They make great gifts too. You can also re-purpose any small tins or containers you might have hanging around. 


http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/11/make-your-own-curiously-strong-mints-altoids.html


   

How to Pack a Camp Kitchen

It may not be camping season but this easy "camp kitchen" is really a great idea to have in an emergency situation. It's never a bad idea to be prepared! You can use this as your guide or use your imagination, the possibilities are many! 

Click the link to see how.
http://www.libertyandlunch.com/2012/02/20/how-to-pack-a-camp-kitchen


 

DIY Dry Shampoo

I love this idea!  Ever since my sister introduced me to dry shampoo I have been a fan.  This is even better because it doesn't contain all the chemicals that store bought dry shampoo has.  Just a few simple ingredients, easy, I like that.


http://wellnessmama.com/5047/diy-dry-shampoo/

Elderberry Echinacea Syrup

I am a huge fan of elderberries! My pappy would tell me to take elderberry syrup for colds and flu. I made a half gallon batch of elderberry tincture this year and will be filling some Christmas stockings with small jars of this incredible elixir. Echinacea is equally effective for getting rid of seasonal ailments. This recipe looks wonderful and I will be trying it soon now that I can order these items online. Enjoy! 


http://www.crunchybetty.com/your-natural-medicine-cabinet-elderberry-echinacea-syrup-recipe 


 

Be Prepared! Easy, Inexpensive Bug Out Bag

Hopefully you will never need it but it's always a good idea to be prepared for emergencies.  Here's a good video that shows how easy and inexpensive a bug out bag can be.  You can customize it any way you like.  Keep one in the car for each family member and maybe have some in the house too.  Ya never know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zt0s5l-Vic

Rice Bran: The Little Known Japanese Beauty Secret

Many years ago in Japan, women would clean their wood floors with rice bran in a bucket with warm water. Rice bran is gritty and slightly oily and is perfect for cleaning wood. After awhile, the women noticed how nice and smooth their hands looked and figured it was because of the rice bran. They started using it on their skin and hair and saw remarkable improvements, soon it caught on in Japan and women started incorporating rice bran into their beauty regimes. After reading about this I found some rice bran online, it is very inexpensive, about $3 or $4 for a nice sized bag. I then sewed together a few simple muslin pouches and filled one up about halfway with rice bran, added a drop or two of essential oil (rice bran has a very "earthy" smell) and use it in the shower on my skin. Let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING! After a couple weeks of using this I noticed my skin looking younger and softer. Did I say it was amazing? Another thing I discovered was how to de-tox the skin with sake (rice wine). I bought a big bottle of the cheapest sake I could find and emptied the whole thing into a very hot bath. I threw the muslin bag of rice bran in it and soaked. The rice bran gave a milky appearance to the bathwater. I used the muslin bag to clean and I even dunked my hair into the water. By the time I was done with the bath, the water was brown with toxins pulled from my skin, it was gross! Oh, I didn't mention that I was perfectly clean when I got into the bath, I showered first, this is how the Japanese women did it. When you are clean and get into the bath, you can see all the toxins you leave behind in the water. When I got out of the bath, my skin felt so soft and smooth, I literally couldn't believe it. After about 3-5 uses of the bag you are going to want to toss it.  It gets kinda smelly.  Good thing these materials are so cheap!  :)  You gotta try this! I love this little beauty secret, I have been doing this for years and it really works, I highly recommend it!

 

Living Frugally

I'm a single parent. I've learned to live frugally. I will share all the tips I have learned along the way with you when they pop up in my mind. The weather has started turning cold up here in the Pacific Northwest and today is the 2nd day we are seeing frost on the ground. I live in a charming, older duplex that was built in the 40's and it hasn't been converted to electric heat, therefore we have to heat our place with oil. Oil is hecka expensive! More so than electricity, which is bad enough. So I was thinking of ways to warm the place up without having to use the oil. I turn the oven on periodically for heat and I have purchased electric blankets for all of us. So far this is working great, the blankets seem to be heating up the rooms. If it gets colder I will have to break down and get a space heater or 2. There is also the issue of all the condensation on the windows because it's kept a bit chilly in here. I searched online for dehumidifiers and they're hecka expensive too! So I turned on the fan on the overhead stove exhaust and in a few hours all the water on the windows dried up! For freeeeeee! I love it when I can find a free alternative. Do you have any frugal living tips? I'd love to hear them, please share!

Hawthorne Berry Tincture. For the Heart

 

This medicine has been used long before modern high blood pressure medicine was invented.  There are those who claim to have ditched their meds after taking this for a period of time.  It's good preventative medicine too.  I have a hawthorne tree growing in my yard and decided I would give this a go.  The universe put this tree in my presence and I feel it's a sign that I need to make this medicine.  It's very easy to make;  I use a quart mason jar and fill it up halfway with dried haws.  I then fill the jar to the top with cheap 100 proof vodka and put in a dark place for about 6 weeks.  It's important to shake the jar once daily for the first week and then whenever you think about it for the remaining time.  After that, strain, put in a dark glass container or in a cabinet that doesn't see much light.  I will take a tablespoon a day and hopefully my ticker will keep tickin for a long time to come!  Here's a good article on this subject from a woman I have learned much from and really respect.
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/November08/healingwise.htm

Homemade Laundry Soap

I have made this and I absolutely love it!  It makes about twice as much as a box of commercial laundry detergent and you use only 2 tablespoons!  It's easy to make and it works awesomely!

You will need:
One box of Borax
One box of Washing Soda
One bar of Fels Naptha soap

In a large bowl, combine the box of Borax and the box of Washing Soda.  Grate the bar of Fels Naptha and add to bowl.  Mix and put in container of your choice.  Easy!

Eco-Chic Centerpiece

What a beautiful inexpensive way to brighten up a dining table. Dust off those apothecary bottles you've been keeping/collecting and put them to use in this charming display.

Healthy, Homemade Cat Food

http://healthandfitnessart.info/pets-health/top-healthy-homemade-cat-food-recipes/

Quick Homemade Vapour Rub

All natural ingredients make this a good addition to your seasonal home remedy cache.  Follow this recipe or make it any strength that works best for you.  Smells great too! 

http://www.crunchybetty.com/quick-homemade-vapor-rub

How To Make A Patchouli-Tangerine Solid Perfume

As a little girl I remember wearing a bracelet that had a small locket containing solid perfume. It may have been Avon, but after all these years later I'm not sure. I absolutely loved it and still think of making solid perfume to this day. It's not difficult to do at all! All you need is three ingredients; a carrier oil such as jojoba, beeswax and essential oil. Click the link below to see how it's done.



http://www.freshpickedbeauty.com/2012/03/patchouli-tangerine-solid-perfume.html





 

Homemade Sugar Scrub in Decorated Jars

Just in time for the holidays! These are so easy to make and look like they came from an expensive salon. This tutorial shows how to make Lavender Sugar Scrub, Mandarin Sugar Scrub and Peppermint Foot Scrub.

Follow this link to the tutorial:    http://www.maybematilda.com/2011/04/baby-shower-gift-homemade-sugar-scrub.html 
                                                     

Fire Cider!

This is some wicked good stuff! A couple tablespoons of this a day is sure to keep the Dr away! It has anti-cold, anti-flu and immune boosting properties along with all the goodness of raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar.

Recipe as follows:
2 tablespoons finely grated horseradish root
2 tablespoons finely grated ginger root
2 tablespoons finely grated garlic
2 tablespoons finely grated turmeric root
1 medium onion minced
2 habanero peppers minced
2 tablespoons rosemary minced
1 lemon finely sliced
1/4 cup raw honey
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to fill container

 If any of these fresh ingredients are unavailable, powdered versions are fine also. Any combination of these ingredients will work if you don't have all of them on hand. Combine all ingredients except honey in a glass container and let sit for 2-4 weeks. Shake everyday for the the first week.
After 2-4 weeks, strain, add honey and enjoy.

Welcome!

This is something that I have been thinking of doing for a long time, I just didn't know where to start.  I'm new to blogging and I will be learning as much as I can about it so please bear with me!  :)  I am a single mother of 2, living in a suburb of Seattle, Washington.  I love to forage and make meals and medicine from things growing around where I live.  There is so much abundance here in the Pacific Northwest, one never needs to worry about starving up in these parts.  I have been blessed to find many wonderful and healing herbs growing around as well.  I like to try to find a natural remedy for minor things before going to a Dr.  I personally believe that proper diet, exercise and clean living can cure much of what ails us.  A big love of mine is making tinctures and potions of all kinds.  As a young girl growing up in Seattle, I would gather bunches of wildflowers and mash them up in a jar to create perfume that I would bottle and give to my grandmother when I went to visit her.  She always encouraged me to appreciate the special beauty in all flowers. How I miss her!

I returned to my roots about 4 years ago so I am learning about the landscape and all the wonderful things of the Pacific Northwest.  I will be blog about the things attracting my attention that I feel are worthy and hopefully helpful to share.  I have a desire to leave the world a better place than which I found it.  I will also be sharing awesome little tidbits I see on the web.  It should be fun and I hope you enjoy it too.