Pumpkin Mini-Bundt

Recently I had the opportunity to bake birthday treats for Alex’s office. I couldn’t decide what type to make so I went ahead and made five different types! I absolutely love the Nordic Ware Brownie Bundt pans. This recipe makes one pan of mini-bundts, just multiply the recipe per how many dozen you need. They also tend to pop over the edges, if you want smaller bundt use a mini muffin pan for the extra batter.This bundt pairs well with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting, caramel, cinnamon glaze or a vanilla buttercream frosting. I had a jar of Trader Joes Pumpkin Caramel Sauce on hand so I used that on one half of the bundts. I put a vanilla buttercream with drizzled caramel sauce and crushed pecans on the other half of the bundts.

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Pumpkin Mini-Bundt1 ½ Cup Flour½ Tablespoon Baking Powder½ Tablespoon Baking Soda½ Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice½ Teaspoon Salt2 Eggs½ Cup Sugar½ Cup Brown Sugar1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract7.5 oz Pumpkin Puree½ Cup Oil

Preheat the oven to 350 and spray a mini-bundt pan

Mix the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree and oil in a large bowl.

When well combined add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well.Add the flour and mix well.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean.

Let cool for 2 minutes then turn onto a cooling rack.(If you don’t turn them out right after you bake they will likely stick to the pan.)

Let cool completely then glaze, or ice.

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Source:Adapted from: Kiss my Bundt by Chrysta Wilson

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Homemade Pretzel Buns

These buns have become a semi-regular occurrence in our household. They are light and fluffy with a slightly sweet tang to them. We love to pair them with Pulled Pork BBQ or Chicken BBQ. I always make them in our automatic bread maker, but you can just as easily adapt this recipe if you don’t have one. Just mix and let rest for an hour, then beat and let rest for another half hour. Just make sure to keep the dough warm to encourage it to rise.I find that when I go to cut the dough apart for rolls it is easiest to do if I use a pizza cutter to separate the dough. I also cut it into quarters then cut those in half. This gives me rolls about the size of a hamburger bun. If you want smaller dinner sized rolls just cut the quarters into quarters and then form your rolls. I find this tutorial very helpful when rolling buns or dinner rolls and I suggest you check it out.

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 Pretzel Buns:1 Cup Water (room temp)2 Teaspoons Salt1 Tablespoon Honey3 ¼ Cup Flour2 ¼ Teaspoons YeastBaking Soda Bath:4 Cups Water¼ Cup Baking SodaPlace the water, salt, honey, flour and yeast in a bread maker in the order listed. Select the “Dough” cycle.Once your dough cycle is complete remove from the bread pan and set on a lightly floured counter.

Cut the dough into eight to twelve pieces. Shape into buns.

Let rest while you prepare the baking soda bath.

When your baking soda bath is boiling add the buns one at a time. Poach both sides (approximately 1 minute).

Remove from the baking soda bath and set onto a lined baking sheet.

Cut vents in the top and cover with Kosher salt.Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes.

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Source:Adapted from: Cuisinart Recipe Booklet

Pumpkin Brownie Pie

This is a pie you must try! When we celebrated the holidays with Alex’s family I made several different pies. In my opinion this one was by far the best. It is decadent and is a unique flavor combination. I never would have thought to pair chocolate and pumpkin in a pie.  The chocolate in the dessert is quite rich and the pumpkin filling is light an airy.One thing that you need to make sure to do is mix the extra water into the left over batter. I forgot to do this on my pie so the brownie filling sort of sunk to the bottom instead of being swirled on top.

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Pumpkin Brownie PieBrownie Filling:1 Stick Butter12oz Bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips2/3 Cup Brown Sugar2 Eggs1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract½ Cup Flour2 Tablespoons Dutch Process Cocoa Powder½ Teaspoon Baking Powder¼ Teaspoon Salt Pumpkin Filling:1 Cup Pumpkin Puree1 Cup Heavy Cream1 Egg¼ Cup Sugar¼ Cup Flour½ Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice¼ Teaspoon Salt Preheat the oven to 350 and coat the bottom of a 9in pie plate with oil or butter. To make the brownie filling:Heat the butter, chocolate chips and brown sugar in a saucepan, whisking occasionally until the butter and chocolate are melted. Remove from the heat and whisk in eggs and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt until combined.. Pour about one third of the batter into the plate and set the rest aside. Bake until the top is shiny and just set, about 20min. To make the pumpkin filling;Combine the pumpkin, cream, egg, sugar, flour, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour the pumpkin over the warm brownie layer. Stir 1 Tablespoon of water into the remaining brownie batter, then spoon the batter onto the pumpkin filling. Using the back of the spoon or a knife pull the brownie batter into the pumpkin filling creating a swirl design. Bake until the whole pie is set about 40-45min.

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Source:Adapted from: Food Network Magazine, November 2014 pg. 184

Peppermint Chocolate Pie

So now that Christmas is done and you've (hopefully) taken down most of your decorations I’m sure you've got candy canes left over and are searching for the perfect sweet treat to use them with.  This is a fantastic way to use those last few peppermint candies! This pie is light, fluffy and pepperminty. I used peppermint hot chocolate instead of water in order to give it a more complex flavor.

You can make this pie in either a graham cracker crust or a traditional pie crust. Just be aware if you choose the traditional pie crust you will need to blind bake it before you add the filling. I used Cool Whip as the topping for the pie. If you have more time while prepping you could try a homemade whipped cream in either a vanilla or peppermint. This will accent the lightness of the pie well.

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For the Crust:30 Wafer Cookies or 1 Package of  Chocolate Graham Crackers3 Tbsp Sugar6 Tbsp Melted ButterYou can also use a premade graham cracker crust. If you choose to go with a traditional pie crust you will need to blind bake it before you add the filling.To make the crust grind the cookies and sugar in a food processor, add the melted butter and pulse until moist. Press into a 9inch pie plate and bake for 18-22 minutes. Cool before filling.For the Filling:2 Cups Milk or Cream½ Cup Sugar¼ Cup Cornstarch½ tsp Salt4 Egg Yolks2 Tbsp Cooled Peppermint Hot Chocolate¼ tsp PeppermintExtract4oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chopped/Semi-Sweet Chocolate ChipsHeat the milk in a large saucepan until hot but not boiling. Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl then add the egg yolk, cooled hot cocoa and peppermint. Whisk half of the hot milk into the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the mixture into the saucepan with the remaining milk. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens. This will take approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat once it thickens and stir in the chocolate.{The recipe calls for chopped chocolate. I never seem to have the baker’s bars on hand so I typically just use chocolate chips. I know some bakers’ say not to do this because of the differences in the amount of cocoa butter in the chocolate chips and the baker’s bars. I’ve never had any trouble substituting the chocolate chips though.  If you happen to have a baker’s bar on hand I would suggest you use it. You will have a richer finished product. But don’t worry if you only have chocolate chips on hand, those will work great in this recipe!}Transfer the mixture into another bowl and let it cool, whisking it every so often to prevent a skin from forming.Pour into the pie crust and press plastic wrap onto the top and let it cool in the refrigerator. I found it was best to leave it overnight in the fridge. The original recipe calls for at least 4 hours. When you are ready to serve, top with Cool Whip and crushed peppermint candies.Because you put plastic wrap on the top you won’t have a very pretty top. However, the plastic wrap will keep a skin from forming on the pie. You probably want to cover the whole top so you can get a gorgeous dessert in addition to a yummy one.

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Source:Adapted from: “Sweet: Our Best Cupcakes, Cookies, Candy, and More – Editors of Food Network Magazine

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Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion

Since I struggle with extremely dry skin during the winter I love being able to make my own lotion combinations.  I made this Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion for my extended family at Christmas. I put it into small 8oz mason jars and gave them as presents.While my Lavender Lemon Lotion has more of a body butter this recipe has more of a lotion consistency.  It gives a nice coverage and dries quickly. The lotion is a tad bit oily when you first put it on but it absorbs quickly and is very hydrating.

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Organic Eucalyptus Citrus Lotion:1 Cup Coconut Oil½ Cup Sunflower Oil½ Cup Sweet Almond Oil1 Teaspoon Shea Butter½ Cup Beeswax¼ Cup Distilled Water30 Drops Lemon Essential Oil30 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil15 Drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Melt the Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, Sunflower and Sweet Almond Oil, on the stove, stirring consistently.

You want to take the mixture off the stove right before the beeswax has fully melted. Finish the melting process by continuing to stir the mixture until everything has melted.

Once melted pour into a bowl add the distilled water and essential oils.

Mix with a hand mixer until it looks like lotion (approximately 1 minute).Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Spoon into an airtight container.

Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

I love exfoliating scrubs. They are especially great right after I shave my legs! This recipe has a bunch of fantastic oils that are sure to keep your skin super hydrated.I chose to add peppermint essential oil since it encourages circulation. You could use whatever oil or oil blend you like. Make sure you store your scrub in an airtight container.

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Exfoliating Sugar Scrub:2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (Melted)2 Tablespoons Sunflower Oil3 Tablespoons Almond Oil1 Teaspoon Coarse Sea Salt1 ½ Cup Sugar30 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Melt the coconut oil in a bowl, add the rest of the oils and mix. Add the sugar, salt and essential oils. Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight container.

Life Hacks: Swiffer Pads

I don’t know about you but I love my Swiffer broom. However, those Swiffer pads are SO expensive! So I was searching online for an alternative and the idea of using fuzzy socks was all over pinterest. For me this is a super easy life hack since I have a bunch of pairs of fuzzy socks that I don’t wear often anymore.

The basic premise is that you take a fuzzy sock and put it on the end of your Swiffer mop.

You then Swiffer like normal. If you want a Swiffer wet pad just spray some of the natural cleaner onto the fuzzy sock.

The sock will pick up all sorts of things up off your floor.

The best part is when you’re done just turn the sock inside out to take it off of the mop and then toss it in the laundry.

If you don’t have a pair of fuzzy socks you can pick up great ones for $1-$2 at Old Navy. This is a great price for reusable Swiffer pads!

Isannah turns 13!

My youngest sister Isannah turns 13 today! Where has the time gone!?!? She is one of the sweetest, most loving individuals you will ever meet. However, she is a little different that your typical 13 year old, Isannah was born with Down Syndrome.

Here is a narrative I wrote regarding growing up with a special needs sibling. This was supposed to be for a friend of my Mom’s daughter’s book, but work was especially crazy around the time it was due and I never got around to submitting it.

It all changed the year I turned thirteen. At first it looked like my family had gone from being almost perfect to a huge joke. Before Isannah was born everything seemed to be perfect. There were four of us, three girls and a boy.

We all got along for the most part. We were active in our Church and local homeschool group. Actually we weren’t just active, we were leaders in both.

The day Isannah was born was very exciting. I remember being at HOME group (one of our homeschool co-ops) and someone told us that they were going to deliver the baby. I was so excited to have another sibling!

I had been eight when my last sister was born and from what I remembered it was AWESOME to have a baby around.  I was looking forward to all of the things big sisters get to teach their baby siblings, all the things we were going to share.

When we went to the hospital later that afternoon I could tell something was off. Before we even got out of the car my Dad was rummaging through my Mom’s purse looking for the baby photos of us.

When I asked him why, he just told me that Mom wanted them. But something in his voice told me there was more going on than he was telling.

When I asked him if everything was alright I remember that he got a slightly panicked look in his eye before he calmly responded that everything was fantastic and he couldn’t wait for all of us to meet the new baby.

When we got upstairs to my Mom we were all so excited to see the baby. I remember looking at Isannah for the first time and being super excited. I noticed my Dad covertly had the baby photos to my Mom out of the corner of my eye as I was holding the new baby. After a while when I went to talk with my Mom I asked her why she wanted the photos.

I remember her being a little off when she told me she just wanted to compare Isannah to us as babies. I thought to myself that this is an odd thing to do, but she’s my Mom and wouldn’t she tell me if something was wrong? I remember as we left that night my parents talking about how Isannah was in the “NICU rooming out” program. I’d never heard of this being done.

I don’t actually remember when they told us she had Down Syndrome, I just remember there being A LOT of people in and out of the house. There was a constant stream of therapists around us. Lots of doctors appointments and things to do. At first her delays weren’t really noticeable to me.

I’m sure that my Mom could tell you differently but to me she was just a super happy and loving baby. It got harder as she got older though. I remember a bunch of my friend’s parents also had babies around the time Isannah was born and they were constantly doing new things and moving forward.

This was really hard for me. None of my friends understood what we were going through and they always seemed like they felt sorry for me. During this time I was especially mad at God.

I couldn’t understand why in the world he would condemn such a loving baby to a life of delays. This was before I really got involved in the Down Syndrome community. I was afraid of what I didn’t know and angry that I had to figure out a new normal in life.

Many years later I learned from my Mom that people had berated my parents for RUINING our lives. Both friends and family members could not understand why this had happened and they assumed that mine and my siblings lives would never be the same. They were certainly correct about it, our lives would never be the same again. But this was not a bad thing!

I think because I was the oldest child I probably took Isannah’s diagnosis the hardest. My fear of the unknown caused me to be pretty angry for a few years. It was only through the guidance of my Youth Pastor and a couple of years of counseling that I was able to realize that this was the greatest blessing in my life so far!

Living with a sibling with Down Syndrome is just like living with a typically developing sibling. The only difference is that Isannah would hit her milestones a little later than her peers. This makes any milestone a huge celebration.

She has just as many friends as her peers and she loves them all. She can read, write and is really good at math. She has met a movie star (David DeSanctis from the movie Produce) and a bunch of music stars. She’s met her “whole guy” Scotty McCreery, and loved every moment of it.

Life with a sibling with Down Syndrome can be hard at times but it is very rewarding! Because of Isannah I’ve worked extensively with children with special needs, both babysitting and teaching Theater classes.

I have a greater understanding of the fact that every life deserves a chance to live and thrive. Yes your life may change when you have someone with a special need in it, but let me tell you from firsthand experience it is totally worth it.

 Like this song says:

I've heard it saidThat people come into our lives for a reasonBringing something we must learnAnd we are ledTo those who help us most to growIf we let themAnd we help them in return

Well, I don't know if I believe that's trueBut I know I'm who I am todayBecause I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbitAs it passes a sunLike a stream that meets a boulderHalfway through the wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?But because I knew youI have been changed for good

Happy 13^th Isannah! You are such a blessing!

Homemade Dryer Sheets

In my quest to find more ways to save money I decided that I wanted to do something about my dryer sheet problem. They were just so expensive I was having a hard time justifying purchasing them. So after I made my own laundry detergent I decided to try my hand at dryer sheets.I was skeptical at first that this would actually work, but wikihow knows its stuff! This softener is economical to make and will last you a very long time, especially if you are just making dryer sheets. I can’t speak to how it works in the laundry since I never actually use fabric softener in my loads.The dryer sheets work just as well, if not better than the store bought ones. I also really love the fact that I can use one sheet in more than one load.

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Homemade Fabric Softener:6 Cups Water3 Cups Vinegar2 Cups Conditioner OPTIONAL: 25-50 Drops of Essential Oils that compliment your scentMix ingredients being careful not to make suds. Store in an airtight container.If you want to add this straight to your wash use about ¼ of a cup per load. You can use any type of conditioner you have on hand. You also do not need to use the essential oils, they will simply intensify the scent of the softener. (I used Suave Rosemary Mint conditioner and Rosemary/Peppermint EO’s because I saw the scent combination on another blog and thought it would be good.)  If you’re looking for an unscented dryer sheet just use an unscented conditioner and don’t add the oils.

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Homemade Dryer Sheets:Squares of fabric – These can be washcloths, small squares of fabric or just about anything you have on handHomemade Fabric Softener Soak the squares of fabric in the softener.Squeeze out so they are just damp.Let them sit out until they are completely dry.Use as normal in your dryer. One sheet will last you approximately 12-15 loads. I’ve used extra homemade potholders that I had on hand. They were the right size and easy to use. I’ve also found that adding a safety pin to the dryer sheet helps prevent static cling!

Natural Gel Dishwasher Detergent

I’ve been looking for an alternative to regular dishwashing detergent for a while. I wanted something that was more natural and also more cost effective. After a bunch of research and trial and error I finally came up with this detergent that works well for our house.When you’re making dishwashing detergent you need to understand that every recipe won’t work for you. There are several factors that include your water and the age of your dishwasher. We have soft water and a newer dishwasher.  If you have hard water this may not work for you.I’ve also found that using white vinegar as a rinse aid helps dissolve any leftover soap spots. This is because the vinegar de-saponifies the castile soap. This is why you never want to include vinegar in a castile soap recipe. You will actually un-soap your soap!You also want to make sure to shake the mixture throughout the day. It will take a while for the washing soda to absorb the water and castile soap. When it has been fully absorbed it will form a gel detergent.  Shake it before each use if you don’t quite mix everything together.  I find it easiest to use a tablespoon to load the dishwasher and then stick the tablespoon in the dishwasher before I start it.

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Gel Dishwashing Detergent:4 Tablespoons Castile Soap3 Cups Warm Water1 Cup Washing Soda15 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil25 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil25 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Mix ingredients in a large mason jar.

 Shake throughout the day until the mixture gels.

 Use 1 Tablespoon per dishwasher load. Use white Vinegar as rinse-aid.

Natural Cleaner

I’ve been using vinegar as a natural cleaner for a while now, since Pond and Rory like to lick everything in sight. When we adopted both of them I decided I wanted to transition into natural cleaners to keep them healthier. I tried a bunch of different natural cleaners from the store but I just didn’t like the way they cleaned. So I decided to try vinegar as a cleaner.Using just vinegar as a cleaner kind of makes your house smell like a pickle factory for a little bit; I came up with this cleaner mixture to ease the smell when you use it. The essential oils mask a lot of the vinegar smell and the citrus oils helps loosen gunk.You can use this cleaner on just about anything. I’ve used it on counters, stove tops, windows and glass, and bathroom fixtures. I find this to pretty much be a multi-purpose cleaner

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Natural Cleaner:1 Cup Water1 Cup Vinegar8 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil16 Drops Lemon Essential Oil16 Drops Orange Essential OilMix and store in a spray bottle. Shake before each use. Use as normal.

Homemade Mascara

Mascara is the final touch for me when I decide to wear makeup. I was unhappy with the types I was buying at the store since they are full of chemicals. When I was researching mascara recipes on the internet I came across a lot that had a coconut oil base. Since coconut oil is liquid above 76 degrees I didn’t feel that this was the right base for me.I decided to use Aloe Vera Gel since I use it for hair gel when I need it. This has been a great alternative for me. I think that it sticks better. This is NOT waterproof mascara by any means. I have also found that it flakes slightly after a long day of wear. Do not leave out the cosmetic clay, this will help it adhere to your lashes, and you can add more activated charcoal to get a darker color.

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Mascara:2 ½ Tablespoons Pure Aloe Vera Gel½ Tablespoon Bentonite Clay6 Capsules of Activated Charcoal

Thoroughly mix, store in a clean empty mascara container (I purchased a new one on Amazon).

You can easily fill the container by turning an empty egg carton over, slicing small holes in the spots where the egg goes and putting the container inside. This will keep it upright and easy to fill. I filled it by putting the mascara in a ziplock and cutting off the edge. I then squeezed it into the tube until it was full.

Homemade Lipstick

Lipstick is one thing that I love to wear all the time. This homemade lipstick gives you a very light coloring. It is also very hydrating for your lips. I chose to go with pink since it is what I normally wear, but if you wanted something darker you could add cinnamon or cocoa powder to get a dark shade. You can also add some Vitamin E oil to make it even more hydrating for your lips.I found a very easy way to fill the empty tubes. I cut an empty egg carton in half and turned it upside down. I cut small holes in the bottom of the carton and stuck the tubes inside. This held them upright and made them way easier to fill. I did have a little trouble with them overflowing but it came off the tube easily with a warm damp washcloth.

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Natural Pink Lipstick:1 Teaspoon Beeswax1 Teaspoon Shea Butter1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil¼ Teaspoon Beet Root Powder

Melt the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil over medium heat.

Once everything is melted add the color.

Pour into empty containers.This is a bear to clean but putting soap and water in the pot immediately will help with that.

Homemade Eye Shadow

Eye shadow is one of my favorite things to wear. You can totally change your look by simply changing the color of your shadow! I tend to stick with neutral colors though when I do wear makeup.  You can use different spices to get different color shadows.If you’d like to get a pink shadow use beetroot or hibiscus powder, if you want a yellow color use ginger or turmeric. Cinnamon will give you a reddish brown color and cocoa powder will be pretty dark. Use arrowroot powder to get a silky smooth base and bentonite clay to help it stick.I’ve use a combination of the spices listed below to come out with three different neutral colors that work for my coloring.

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Eye shadow:Arrowroot PowderCinnamonGinger½ Teaspoon Bentonite

Mix until you get the coloring you want. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Blush and Bronzer

The other two powders I use aside from foundation are blush and bronzer. These recipes use the same natural premise as the foundation.  You can create whatever shade you want by adding additional beetroot powder (for blush) or cocoa powder (for bronzer).The Bentonite clay helps the makeup adhere to your skin and stay longer. You can use any type of cosmetic clay you may have on hand.

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Blush:2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder½ Teaspoon Bentonite Clay1 Tablespoon Beetroot PowderMix until you achieve the color you are wanting. Store in an airtight container.

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Bronzer:2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder2 Teaspoons Cinnamon1 Teaspoon Bentonite Clay½ Teaspoon GingerMix until you achieve the color you are wanting. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Foundation

After converting my shower products to all natural I decided to try and make my own makeup.  I don’t tend to wear a lot of makeup mostly because a lot of makeups tend to irritate my extremely sensitive skin. I decided to try making my own makeup to try and help keep my skin from getting irritated. I also wanted to take out the nasty chemicals that are in the makeup.Each person’s recipe for foundation will be different. I have super light skin so this mixture works for me. If you have darker skin you can add more cocoa powder, if you have more of a yellowish tint you can add additional ginger.You can use any type of cosmetic clay that you have on hand. The clay will help the makeup adhere to your skin and stay. This can also be turned into concealer by taking some pure aloe vera gel and some of your foundation mixture and mixing until you get the correct consistency.

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 Foundation:5 Tablespoons Arrowroot Powder1 Teaspoon Bentonite Clay1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder1 Teaspoon Cinnamon½ Teaspoon Ginger

Mix until the color matches your skin. Store in an airtight container.

My No-Poo Experiment

I decided to try going shampoo free to see if I could completely rid my shower of nasty chemicals. After doing a lot of research I decided not to try the baking soda wash since there are so many stories emerging about the baking soda destroying hair.I researched and found an alternative from Kanelstrand: Rye Flour Shampoo. This blog does a fantastic job of explaining in scientific terms what your hair needs out of your shampoo regime. If you are thinking about going no-poo you should definitely check out this site to learn more about his.However, my hair did not like the Rye Flour shampoo. It was quite unfortunate. I was really hoping to come out of this experiment with an alternative to shampooing. I started off by clarifying my hair since I’d been using products with silicone in them. My experience went something like this:Week 1: Woah! Greasy hair galore! Hopefully my hair will get used to this soon.Week 2: Still greasy hair. It won’t lay flat at all and since I’m not using silicone products any more I don’t want to regularly straighten my hair.Week 3: Still extremely greasy.Week 4: A month of greasy hair, this is getting old.Week 5: Not getting any better.Week 6: Still greasy! With the holidays coming up I need to actually wash my hair so I look acceptable in pictures.The one good thing to come out of this experiment was the Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. I will NEVER go back to conditioner again! Take 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in 8oz of water. Pour it over the hair, let it sit for a minute then rinse out. I haven’t had any sort of vinegar smell from doing this and my hair has been SO soft and manageable. ACV is a natural detangler and will close your hair cuticles just like conditioner. The key to getting this to work is to comb your hair after shampooing it before applying the rinse.I also found this natural shampoo that I would recommend if your hair isn’t enjoying no-poo. It is Tea Tree Triple Treat shampoo. It really cleans my hair and it doesn’t have any of the nasty chemicals I’m trying to avoid. I would highly recommend this shampoo along with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse.  Your hair and scalp will thank you for it!

Lavender and Lemon Shower Gel

One thing I’ve had trouble finding an alternative to has been my Bath & Body Works shower gels. I have used shower gels for years and I love their ease. I tried using Dr Bronner’s Soap in bar form for a while but I just didn’t like the final feeling it left on my skin.After not finding anything that quite fit what I was looking for I decided to create my own. I used Dr Bronners bar soap as the base to keep the shower gel all natural. I added Coconut Milk for a moisturizing element and Vegetable Glycerin in order to get suds. I used the same essential oils as my lotion so that I have a cohesive scent throughout my body products.

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Lavender and Lemon Shower Gel1 Cup Grated Soap Flakes1 Cup Water¼ Cup Coconut Milk (Not the stuff in the refrigerated aisle, the real stuff from the can)2 Tablespoons Vegetable Glycerin20 Drops Lavender Essential Oils10 Drops Lemon Essential Oils5 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oils1 ½ Teaspoons Xanthan Gum (Optional, this will thicken the shower gel so it is more like a shave gel)

Grate the soap flakes in a food processor.

You can store the left over soap flakes in a Mason jar for your next batch.

Put the soap flakes and water on the stove and stir until melted.

Once melted add the coconut milk, vegetable glycerin, and essential oils. (If you are adding Xanthan Gum to thicken it to a shave gel add this now.)

Once it is thoroughly mixed pour the cooling liquid into a container. (If you make shave gel put it into a wide mouth Mason jar, this will make it easy to get it out later.)

Wait until the shower gel has fully cooled to use!

Lavender and Lemon Body Cream

I tend to struggle with very dry skin during the winter months. I have only ever purchased one lotion that works well. I decided to try and make a thick lotion to help with my dry skin. I also have super sensitive skin so I needed to make  one that didn’t have anything I’d react to.I formulated this lotion to be crazy thick and perfect for my sensitive dry winter skin. If you aren’t interested in it being quite so thick you can add an additional tablespoon of Aloe Vera Gel to make it thinner. Because of the coconut oil this will be slightly solid during the winter.

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Lavender and Lemon Body Cream¼ Cup Coconut Oil2 Tablespoons Shea Butter2 Tablespoons Grapeseed Oil2 Tablespoons Beeswax1 Teaspoon Vitamin E Oil2 Tablespoons Pure Aloe Vera20 Drops Lavender Essential Oil15 Drops Lemon Essential Oil5 Drops Tea Tree Oil

Melt the Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Grapeseed Oil,  Beeswax, and Vitamin E Oil on the stove, stirring consistently.

You want to take the mixture off the stove right before the beeswax has fully melted. Finish the melting process by continuing to stir the mixture  until everything has melted.

Once melted pour into a bowl add the Aloe and essential oils.

Mix with a hand mixer until it looks like lotion (approximately 1 minute).

Let it sit for 15 minutes.

Spoon into an airtight container.

Homemade Natural Deodorant

Natural deodorant can be so expensive so I wanted to try and find an alternative that I could make on my own. Not only would this save money but I would also be able to get a deodorant without all of the nasty additives. I tried a couple of different recipes and I found on that works very well for my body.You can try different levels of baking soda and essential oils in order to get an odor coverage that works for your body type. Because I have such sensitive skin I have used very little baking soda since it is so abrasive. During the summer you can add a tablespoon of beeswax to help it keep shape since Coconut Oil is liquid above 76 degrees. If you don’t add beeswax in the summer you will want to keep your deodorant in the fridge.

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Homemade Natural Deodorant:2 Tablespoons Baking Soda¼ Cup Arrowroot Starch5 Tablespoons Coconut Oil4 Drops Lavender Essential Oil3 Drops Lemon Essential Oil2 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil Melt the coconut oil in the microwave, you want it to be liquid so everything will mix evenly.

When the oil is melted add the baking soda, arrowroot starch and essential  oils.

Pour the mixture into a clean deodorant container or a container with a lid.

Use as you would normal deodorant. I find that it takes a few extra minutes to dry. I've never had any issues with smell as long as I use it consistently.