Clearing out the Clutter- Our Health

Oh. My. Word!  What a week it has been.  I have enjoyed every minute of writing this week but boy, am I tired.  Add 5 daily posts plus a few extra reviews and giveaways thrown in and man, my head and fingers are tired!

I pray you have been blessed by the 5 days of ____series and I thank you for sticking with us.  If there is one series you found though the Blog Hop button at the end of this post you really loved, I would love for you to leave us a note and share which one it was so we make sure to check it out as well.  It is always fun to find a new friend though social media.  I am privileged to work with these ladies and I know they will bless you as well.


 Here are 8 in particular that I would love for you to stop by and say hi to!  Tell them I sent you!

Brittney @ Mom's Heart ~ Relaxed Homeschooling

Lisa @ A Rup Life ~ Our Favorite Books

Melissa @ Life Off the Paved Road ~ Fit From Home

Jennifer @ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Educational Apps

Jenni @ Conversaving ~ Homeschool Cooperatives

Lisa @ Home to 4 Kiddos ~ Celebrating Lent

Tawnee @ Adventures in Homeschooling ~ Spring Schooling

Crystal @ Crystal Starr Blog ~ Christ Centered Character Training

So, on our last day we are Clearing out the Clutter in our health!

The first stop in the health day is your medicine cabinet.  I feel like I should have some creepy music   playing here. ;)  I am willing to bet that yours is as bad as mine once was.

See that?  Past tense.

It is now clutter free!
Your turn!

The easy step - throw away anything that has expired.  Yes, I know that many will say meds can outlast their expiration dates, but I am taking no chances.  Especially with my kids. (Just be sure that you dispose of your old medication in a safe and responsible way!)

Next step - throw the rest away!

OK, go with me here.  Yes, I admit to having a few "emergency" over-the-counter medicines around. My husband worships, oops-uses a lot of Motrin.  And I do keep a few other essentials around - think Benedryll for my allergic people.  But for the past few years we have been investing in and regularly using essential oils.

There, I said it.

Out loud!

Yes, we have gone to the dark side.

Well, the natural side.  It started with all of the dyes in children's medicines.  They are bad for you, by the way.  We have a kiddo who is sensitive to dyes.  Even if yours are not - dyes are not good.  Take my word for it.  I can not for the life of me figure out why companies put bad things in medicines that are supposed to make us better and healthier.  Vitamins are another example - don't even make me go there.

So, in search for more natural meds we found essential oils.  They have worked for our family.  The more we use them, the more we trust them and the faster we turn to them instead of the pharmacy stuff.

DO not hear me wrong.  We do still get sick sometimes.  We do sometimes go to doctors.  We even take medicines if prescribed.  But that is not our first defense anymore.  Oils are.

Peppermint for headaches and stomachaches.
Peace and Calming for a hyped child at night.
Lavender for insect bites and scrapes and burns.
Chamomile for better sleep.
And on and on.

Try it, you might like it!

Dyes and chemicals.  Just a recap - bad. for. you!  Get them out of your home and your food as best you can.  We make our own laundry soap and cleaners.   We eat as much food from the local farms as possible.  And when in the grocery store we look at labels.  (and then Mom breaks down and buys a Diet Coke.  For me, of course, not them!  Just being honest!) A few other things you may want to look into - elderberry syrup (when we took this faithfully we had a whole winter season of not being sick,  including a first year college student), local bee pollen (the one thing so far that has helped the same college student better manage her allergies), and Grapefruit seed extract.

The point is that 80-20 rule.  If you are aiming to eat healthy 80% of the time, hopefully your body can manage the 20% of less than stellar choices better.  Let's face it, fast food sometimes just happens. We shouldn't beat ourselves up over  it...just not go out to eat daily.

Exercise.  Yuck!  I wish I could leave it at that but we all know that would not be right.  Tempting, but not right.  Again, at the very least, at least try to get outside daily.  Take a walk around the yard. Then the block.  Then add a bike, or some weights or a few sit ups.  There are seasons that I love my treadmill and it helped me lose 20 pounds a year ago (yep, need to get back on it), but I am a struggling exerciser.  Luckily I have one daughter that shames me into it often and enough guilt of my own to try to stay moderately active.  Hey, whatever works.  Just get moving!

And the purpose of it all?  Why am I passionate about clutter - and getting rid of it?

I want to live with purpose.  I want to live with joy.  I want to live life to its fullest.

And I am more convinced each day that to do so, I must maintain my home, head, heart, homeschool and health in such a way that does not distract me from the more important things God has for me. Many of those things that fill our lives are good.  But I purpose to have them only be the BEST!  The rest of the clutter- be gone!

May you live a clutter free life.  And may you be blessed!

Just joined us?  Make sure you start at the beginning of this 5 day hop with Our Home, Our Heads, Our Hearts and Our Homeschool!  We hope you have enjoyed the series and visit us again real soon.  Want to see posts on a regular basis?  Join us using one of the buttons on the right.

Blessings,



The COMPLETE series-
Clearing Out the Clutter- Our Homes 
Clearing Out the Clutter- Our Heads
Clearing Out The Clutter- Our Hearts
Clearing Out the Clutter- Our Homeschools
Clearing Out the Clutter- Our Health

Fun Fridays- Natural Cleaners

I am cheating this week just a little and reposting an old post for our final Natural Cleaner.  This laundry detergent post has gone crazy, being re pinned on Pinterest weekly since my daughter first posted it back in May.  Honestly, I thought it might be one of those things I would try and eventually fall back into my old Tide ways, but not so!  We make this often, and I have even started putting a drop or two of essential oils in it as well. (Have I mentioned I love those things?)

Anyway, here is the original post! 

Blessings,




Hello! I'm the oldest daughter, ALP, and mom asked me to guest post today while she is in surgery. So here we go. =)

The topic of today's post: Home-made Laundry Detergent.

Let's face it; Laundry detergent is not only expensive but also contains harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances (code for more chemicals), and dyes. A few years ago I started exploring websites and blogs, looking for an easy laundry detergent recipe. It had to meet the following criteria:
1. It had to be easy. (Mom was not totally on board with this yet so complicated recipes were going to be a no-go.)
2. It had to be a powdered recipe. (see number 1. Mom was not going to go for a huge 5-gallon bucket of slime sitting on the laundry room floor. I also didn't like the idea of having to melt soap like so many of the recipes called for)
3. It had to work in a high-efficiency washer.
4. It had to be cost effective. (a tough thing to live up to, as mom was ((and is)) a coupon queen and got laundry detergent at great prices)
5. It had to work. (obviously)
After some experimentation I have come up with this recipe, which is very close to this recipe.

You will need:

One 4oz. (or close) bar of natural soap. Any will do, such as Kirk's Castile (pictured here), Dr. Bronner's, or Kiss My Face, which can be found in the laundry aisle or in the organic/natural section of your grocery store. Ivory soap can used in a pinch but does contain fragrances.

Fels Naptha, although recommended by many, contains harsh ingredients and comes with an eye and skin irritant warning - not something I want to use to wash my clothes! If you are looking for a soap to use, read the label and look for something that has only a few ingredients, ones you recognize! Kirk's Castile does list fragrance as an ingredient, but it is that last thing listed and will not make your clothes smell. It is sort of the least of all evils, if you will. =)

Washing Soda, found in the laundry aisle in a Yellow box.

Baking Soda (usually cheaper if bought in the baking aisle or the dollar store!),

and Borax, found in a white box in the laundry aisle.

Please do not be afraid to make your own laundry soap, it is super easy!

First, grate (or have your children or siblings or husband grate) the 4 oz. bar of soap with a cheese grater. (oh, and please be sure to wash it after you are done. thank you.)

You want the flakes to be fairly small, not huge soap shavings.

See?

You can sort of mash them up if they are too big.

Next, add 2 cups of Borax,

then add 1 cup of Washing Soda,

and 1 cup of baking soda.

Mix well, stop to take a picture. ;)

Now, this is where you can get fancy and add 2-3 drops of an essential oil to make your clothes smell nice. I have yet to do that. But please feel free.

Put your laundry detergent in a container. Mine happens to be a vintage glass jar that came from an falling down house on a family farm but a plastic dollar store container works just as well. =)

You can also make a fancy tag, if you are so inclined. And you are done!

To use: just add 1-2 tablespoons per load. Now, if you are like me, you will want to add a cup. After all, (in my mind) regular laundry detergent works that way and if 2 Tbs. is good a cup will be better, right? Wrong. Regular laundry detergent is watered down so it is cheaper to produce and so you have to use, and therefore buy, more. This detergent is not watered down at all so you do not need nearly as much of it. 1TBS for regular loads and 2 TBS for heavy or super dirty loads like towels or gym clothes. Trust me. Much more will not get rinsed out, leaving soapy residue on your clothes.

Now for the details.
1. It is safe for top-loading, front-loading, regular, and high efficiency machines.
2. It will not foam and bubble like store bought detergent. This is normal, and makes it safe for HE machines. Trust me, it is still working.
3. It will not make your clothes smell like a forest, spring meadow or rainbow. The smell that we have come to associate with clean is actually a toxic combo of chemicals. Please realize that until you get used to the lack of "clean smell" (aka pink cherry blossoms or lavender dream) you might think the clothes don't smell clean. They are clean, and I promise that you will get use to it. You can, however, add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice if you would like your clothes to smell like something.
4. It makes about 90 loads worth of detergent. Our family of six does a minimum of 9 loads of laundry a week. That means I only make more detergent about every three months, and it only takes 10 minutes to do. (Ok, more if you photograph it.)
5. Cost break-down. I figured it out at one point but I'm not sure where it went (maybe it got washed...). Suffice it to say that we are still using it, so it must have been cheaper than what mom was paying for detergent even using coupons. =)

There you go! Easy, cheap, and natural laundry detergent.

Fun Fridays- Natural Cleaners

So how is your cleaning going?  Have you made the switch yet to more natural products?  Several people have asked me, "Do these really clean?"  Let's hope so, it's all I use now!  ;)

Seriously, I have not seen any more dirt than normal and I love the fresh scent as opposed to the chemicals, so yes, I do believe they work.  Plus, with all of the research I have been doing on essential oils, I am convinced they are a good addition to your life!  (If you are interested in essential oils, let me know!)

Like I said at the first of the month, I use one general cleaner for almost everything, but there are times when you need something with a little more umph.  For tile showers, sinks and tubs then I use the following mixture...

Soft Scrub

1 1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup castile soap

10 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil

Combine all to make a paste, adding water a little at a time if you need a softer consistency.  Scoop out and use on cleaning cloth to clean.  If you save this from cleaning to cleaning, it will dry out.  Just add a touch of water and mix!

Happy cleaning,

Fun Fridays- more Natural Cleaners

 

I do not like to mop.  There, I said it.  I used to think hardwood floors were amazing.  Now that I have them,  they are not so amazing.  They have to be cleaned.  Often.  And mopping hurts my back. Yes, I know the carpets are just as dirty, but at least I can't see that.  But, with hardwood floors, everything shows.

This is one area I have tried several different combinations of cleaners.  One left the floor sticky.  Trashed that.  One made the floor look like it had a film over it.  Trashed that.  The one I like the most is simple.  And it works.  What more could you ask for?

Floor Cleaner
4 tsp. Castile soap
10 drops of lemon essential oil
1 gallon hot water

That's it.  Simple!  I mixed it up and keep it in a container under my sink.
Now, if I could just find someone to mop the floor for me!

Blessings,



This post is linked up to Amy, over at Raising Arrows!

CREW Review- Beeyoutiful

Over the past few years our family has begun to try to make our lives somewhat healthier in a variety of ways.  One of those has included trying to stick with products that use only natural ingredients.  When I had the opportunity to review for a company that follows that rule, Beeyoutiful, I was excited!

Beeyoutiful.

Heard of them?  Me neither, until this review and now I am hooked.  From their website-

At Beeyoutiful.com, we believe that each individual is responsible for their own health. It is not a doctor's responsibility to keep you in good health. Instead they are a tremendous resource, especially for those times when urgent care is required. But, they are only one of many resources. And the tools they use, while powerful, are not the only tools available. But a tool is worthless unless one knows how to use it.
We have found a lot of tools that have worked very well for our families, and made Beeyoutiful a repository for those tools, as well as the information to effectively use them. As we learn more, we share more. Our goal is to eventually carry every natural product that we use. We're not there yet. We may never be as we are constantly being exposed to new and great products. As much as is in our power, we want to aid others in obtaining and maintaining good health.

What we received in this fun package for review-

BALM

Berry Well

Miracle Skin Salve

Ow!-Ease
 

Let's just jump right in!

B.A.L.M- Short for Beeyoutiful All-Natural Lip Moisturizer.
We love chap stick in this house.  Have to- we have lived in the west most of our lives where the heat and lack of humidity can dry you out fast.  This lip moisturizer comes in two scents- orange or peppermint.  We received peppermint.  I left it on the kitchen counter and found myself and several of the kids using it several times a day.  It goes on smoothly, does not feel waxy and thick, and smells amazing.  Somehow it has now disappeared from the counter and has found its way into my husband's pocket.  Imagine my surprise when I saw him pull it out and use it at church this past week.  Know what I like most about B.A.L.M?  If I am going to put something on my lips, that close to my mouth, I enjoy knowing it is not something full of harmful chemicals!  B.A.L.M. sells for $3.00 each or you can get 3 for $2.70 each. 

Berry Well- A completely natural syrup made from elderberries to keep you well.  Did you know that elderberries have an anti-viral property?  Me neither!  But after a little, OK, a lot, of research on my own, I was convinced to give it a try.  The three kids at home and I have been taking it since it arrived.  In the meantime, I ordered three more bottles, you can get it at a discount if you order multiple quantities, and I sent a bottle to our daughter in college.  If anyone needs the extra protection, it is her!  Berry Well is also good for those with allergy and sinus issues.  My son did get a slight cold last week, but he continued to take the Berry Well and the symptoms only lasted for three days.  For us that is much better than the typical seven day cold.  Let me warn you, Berry Well smells very strongly of vinegar when you open it, because of the apple cider vinegar in its ingredients.  The boys grimace when they take it but have not really complained that it tastes awful.  I think the smell is what gets them.  We take it using a spoon which makes it quicker to swallow.  Berry Well can be ordered for $19.75 or less if ordered in multiples.


Ow!-Ease- A small stick of rub on ointment for bumps and bruises.  We don't have many of those these days with the older kids, but we did use it on my husband's back one night after a day of yard work that resulted in sore muscles.  He said he slept well and did feel better the next day.  If I were still carrying a diaper bag around for a toddler, I would tuck one of these in for good measure.  It is good for any bumps that are closed skin injuries.  Ow!-Ease costs $15.00 for the tube.


Miracle Skin Slave- This is to be used on cuts, burns, dry skin, diaper rash, you name it.  Miracle has gotten quite the work out in our house!  I used it the minute I got scratched by a stray cat we had rescued.  Worked very well in the healing.  I have also been using it on my feet at night to keep them soft.  (Every woman's husband wants to snuggle up to soft feet, right?  ;) )  My biggest rave however, has been with my son.  For years he has had raw, cut looking areas under each of his earlobes that come and go every few weeks.  Recently he was directed to use a special shampoo by a doctor to help clear it up.  Didn't work.  Enter Miracle.  (Do I sound like an infomercial yet?)  I rubbed it below his ears for 2 nights and began to see a difference.  Now we are using it only every few days to once a week and the places have cleared up completely and not come back.  Seriously!  I am sold!  Wish I had a before and after picture, but it would be cruel and unusual punishment to post pictures of a ten year old boy's ears, right?  You can order Miracle in a 2 oz. jar for $15.00.  There is no doubt it will last a while, even with frequent use.  There is also a bigger size available.

Also in our package of goodies was a DVD called Beeyoutiful Views explaining the use of these products and more that Beeyoutiful carries.  The neat things about the DVD is that it's a personal testimony of how owner, Stephanie uses the products in her own family, giving you multiple use suggestions you might not think of.   It is well worth watching and only costs $3.00.  Beeyoutiful also has a great forum you can use to chat with and to ask questions to other customers, as well as a blog that Stephanie, the owner, writes for.

So, do I like the products?  YES!  I am drawn towards anything that contains natural ingredients and love it when we actually get to see a benefit from using them.  Unfortunately, often times natural products carry a hefty price tag.  I did not find this to be the case with Beeyoutiful and was pleased to see them offer a discount for buying multiples of a product.

I encourage you to get a catalog and see what else they have to offer.  Other products include natural makeups, essential oils (a new favorite in our house), dietary supplements, books (Nourishing Traditions being our favorite), hair products, teas and even a few baking supplies.  They also have monthly sales on certain products, a great way to stock up on your favorites.

Other CREW members reviewed some skin and hair care products as well as the makeup, so I encourage you to click on the banner and see what they had to say as well!

Disclaimer- Our family received the products listed for free in exchange for our honest review.  The opinions expressed are our own and were not influenced by the company in any way.