Guest Post :: Homemade Deodorant

My friend, Jodi, who has shared with us in the past, has returned with another guest post. This time, Jodi is sharing her recipe for and experience with homemade deodorant. Take it away Jodi!

Going totally 'green' has been an overwhelming at times, process for me. It seems like there is so much out there, so much that could be cut back, or changed. Old habits are hard to break. I've been easing myself into a healthier living style. Over the past few years I've made a lot of changes for the better. Changes in diet - whole foods, little to no gluten, and fresh and local foods. Changes in cleaning habits - from chemical sprays to all natural products, experiments in floor cleaning, carpet cleaning, and getting crayon off windows (rubbing alcohol and water, 1:1!!!!). Each year I've set a goal for myself and for my family of six.

This year the goals were to make my own hygiene products and/or use something organic/natural (personal care, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant), and the rest of the house 'chemicals' such as laundry soap and dishwasher soap.

One of the first products I decided to go with changing over was the deodorant. I'm quite happy to say that it was a successful experiment and I will absolutely be using it from here on forward.

Using a recipe from here, I made a few minor changes to suit my needs, and the end product turned out great.

The recipe!

1/4 cup baking soda +
1/4 cup corn starch +
4 tablespoons coconut oil

Mix and that's it! I did melt my coconut oil to help mix it in more thoroughly, but the end product will harden back up quickly. I keep mine in a small glass canning jar in my bathroom.

The original recipe from the website suggests using Arrowroot. However, as I know this is just for a thickener and I did not want to go spend upwards of $7-$8 on a thickener, I used corn starch I had on hand. I also omitted the essential oil, simply because I did not have any. While I'm sure a few drops of yummy smelling oil would add to the great smell of coconuts, I wasn't going to buy any just for deodorant. However, if you have some on hand or know someone who can give you a few drops, definitely add it in! Make sure to pick an oil that will coincide with the coconut nicely.

Very simple to do, a few minutes set aside to make yet another lifetime change. I highly recommend you try it too!

Home Remedy :: Anti-Acne Toner

I saw this recipe recently in Real Simple magazine.  I have been using it when breakouts arise and loving how it helps.

Tea tree oil + Aloe = Anti-Acne Toner

The anti-microbial properties of the tea tree oil plus the soothing of the aloe makes my skin scream, "Thank you!"  I just break a piece of my aloe plant and drop in a drop or two (you really don't need very much) of tea tree oil.  Simple, perfect, effective.

What Do You Feed Your Skin Every Day?

As I mentioned, we were at my mother-in-law's for the Thanksgiving holiday. While there I was reminded of how many toxic chemicals we have eliminated from our home and how many are still in the homes of others. As I stood in the bathroom getting ready, I looked around at all the products and couldn't help but think about how many chemicals people put on them every day just in the beauty department. Then I thought about all my friends who insist that it's not that much/it can't matter that much. So I thought it might be a helpful exercise just to take a look at how many beauty products the average person uses in a day.

• Toothpaste
• Soap/body wash
• Shave cream
• Lotion/After shave
• SPF
• Face cream
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair product
• Cosmetics
• Perfume
• Facial Cleanser

What am I missing? Then you add that all together and multiply it by every day of the year. Just think of all the chemicals that could enter your body! Sometimes when we look at the change one product would make, it doesn't seem like that much. But as we can start to trade up many of these for ourselves and our families, we can really start to make a difference in what we are doing to/for our bodies and our health.

Staying Green and Healthy During Flu Season

Here in Michigan we are in the midst of a huge flu outbreak. Tucker's school is cancelled yesterday and today due to illness and everyone is in a tizzy over vaccinations, staying in, and staying well. We really aren't worrying about it that much in our house, but we are taking some basic, green, precautions to stay as healthy as we can. Whether you are a flu worrying fanatic or just someone who wants to stay as healthy as possible in every way possible, here are some things that are helping us:

• Start healthy. We try to always eat a balanced diet with lots of (organic when possible) fruits and veggies. Yogurt is a daily staple for everyone (Ok, almost everyone. I can't get my husband on board yet.) because it is filled with the good bacteria that helps keep your system balanced and restore your body to where it needs to be, especially if you are taking antibiotics. We all take multivitamins daily. The truth is, if you keep your immune system up, you are less likely to get sick even if you are exposed and if you do get sick, you will get over it quicker.
• Wash your hands. This is common sense right? But sometimes it's tough. Like yesterday when Tucker kept putting his hands in his mouth and I literally had to ask him to wash his hands with soap over 20 times. Also, the kind of soap you use is important too. There a lot of studies now saying that over using anti-bacterial soap may be weakening our immune systems. So try to get a soap that's as chemical free as possible. If you want a hand sanitizer on the go, try for something that will still do the job chemical free, like Babyganics hand sanitizer.
• Change your toothbrush. It's a good idea to regularly change your toothbrush anyway, but even more so when you or someone in the house has been sick. Try Preserve toothbrushes (for adults and kids) that are made out of recycled toothbrushes and try to recycle yours when possible.
• Get the chemicals out. This may seem counter intuitive when you are trying to stay healthy, but being surrounded by chemicals constantly can actually make you more sick and weaken your immune system. Kind of ironic if the very thing you are using to clean is making you sicker. I try to wipe down high traffic areas (faucets, light switches, computers, cell phones, door knobs) every day with vinegar and water and a microfiber cloth. Remember, vinegar is the original disinfectant.
• Try not to stress. Worry and stress will knock down your immune system. So take the precautions you can and then try to let it go.

What are you doing to stay green and healthy (which are basically the same thing right)? What more do you want to do?

I am wishing all of you the very best health this crazy season!

Getting Your Move on At the Homestead

That picture is what I see every morning as I start my run.  It brings me joy.  It's one of the reasons I quite the gym this spring.  The other reasons are the following pictures and the fact that my 30 minute drive to and from the gym and time indoors were not bringing me even a little joy.

My view at the one mile mark

I love nature and this Summer I chose to take advantage of it by running outside for my daily workouts.  It feeds my soul, not to mention the earthly benefits.  Finding a way to get your workout where you live serves the planet well in a number of ways:

...cutting down on gas driving to and from the gym

...cutting down on electricity from machines, lights, and facilities used

...often times gyms use toxic cleaning chemicals to clean the building and machines, less time at the gym means you using and inhaling less chemicals

...getting outside allows you to enjoy and appreciate nature, perhaps allowing you to treat it better

...less equipment used means less equipment made, which means less resources used

The creek at 1.5 miles 

I know that running isn't everyone's thing, and there are some people who really need to go to the gym.  But for those who want to/can get moving at home there are lots of options:

• Walk/Bike/etc...if you can, make it part of your commute
  
• Get some exercise videos (check out Netflix, your local library, or Swap-a-DVD) 
  
• Check Craigslist for used exercise equipment and set up a home gym

This perfect barn makes me happy there and back...but always a little more happy at 2 miles

What have you done to exercise at home?  How have you found that it helps you or the environment?  

Getting Healthy Is Green

Since I started out the week on healthy home remedies, I decided to keep the health kick, well, kickin'.  Today I want to talk about why taking care of yourself is a green thing to do.  The truth is, taking care of yourself and taking care of our environment go hand in hand.  

I have mentioned before that using organic products without toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients not only keeps those things out of the planet, but also out of your bodies. We have long heard that you are what you eat (more on that in a minute) but with your skin being one big sponge, you are also what you put on (and therefore in) your body.  We have to start facing the fact that some of our collective health issues may be arising from some of this stuff.

Which brings me to...you are what you eat.  This is why it is important to choose locally grown and organic options whenever possible.  I won't jump on the vegetarian/vegan soap box right now, but it's something to educate yourself on when you have time.  When you treat yourself well, you treat Mama E well.  Not only because you are consciously consuming that which is good, but because...

...you consume less medicine.  Less medicine = less chemicals.

...you spend less time in the hospital.  Most hospitals are some of the least green places possible and use tons of energy.

...you can stay active which means walking/biking more and driving less.

...working up a sweat helps to release toxins from your body

...carrying around less weight means less work for your car, plane, train, etc...

...if you are a parent you are raising a whole new generation of children of who appreciate the balance between the health of humans and the health of the rest of the planet.

We are all tied together.  Making yourself healthier, makes all of us healthier.  What are some ways you have found that being healthy helps you make less of an impact?

Tune in later this week for some tips on getting that health through home excercise.

Healthy Headache Cures

Ugh.  That's the only sound I can verbally utter from my bed today as I lay here with the my fifth migraine in as many days.  I know what you are thinking, "Then Willo, why the heck are you writing a blog?"  Well, the truth is folks, I can only sit and be unproductive for so long.  

We haven't been able to pinpoint where the headaches come from or to what they are related.  So there is some work to do there.  In the meantime, I am trying to keep up healthy eating and exercise (look for the importance of staying healthy later this week) and do what I can.

For me, this means rest, and a couple other all-natural things I have found can have a positive effect.  The first is the smell of mint.  A few drops of peppermint or spearmint essential oil right under my nose can offer a little bit of immediate relief.  

Another thing that can really help is cold.  I put my flax wrap in the freezer for an hour or so and then lay it across my forehead or drape it around my neck.  Like the mint, the cool offers a little bit of immediate relief.  I would highly suggest a flax wrap, but if you don't have one and need immediate relief, a washcloth soaked in cool water or put in the freezer will also work.  I have even used teething rings (clean of course) and placed them on my eyelids straight out of the ice box.  

I would love to hear from you on this!  What are your quick and green home headache remedies?  Have you tried any of these?

The Itchy Skin Solution

In case you haven't heard enough about my skin issues yet, I am going to indulge you further.  I have itchy, sensitive, often pink skin.  And it is so much all of these things, that when it flares up (often at my wrists, elbows, and chest) I have a really hard time finding anything to sooth and protect it.  

Occasionally hydrocortisone cream will work, but I try to avoid using it because a. It's toxic b. It smells funny c. I can't use it on my boys who have been blessed with these characteristics of my skin, mainly on their lovely cheeks.  I have also tried the natural/green versions of these creams and I hate to say this, but they didn't really work for me.  I'm not saying you can't go out and try them, or that they won't work for you.  I just didn't have success with them.

But I did have a ton of success with the simple solution I am sharing with you today...diaper cream.  That's right, when I get skin flare ups, I sneak into my youngest son's stash of Burt's Bees diaper cream and slather it on.  It works perfectly because it relieves the itch, eases the redness, protects the area from water, sweat (perfect when I am running), it's good for me and the Earth, and smells great at the same time (well, if you consider as fresh as a baby's bottom pulled out of  a beehive great).  It's also great not only for these spring and summertime flare ups but also for when their cheeks get wind burn (especially in the Winter).

I know what you are thinking, "But Willo, it's diaper cream, doesn't it get all over everything?"  Alas, it does.  And I have not come up for the perfect solution for this yet.  But I apply it to myself before I run and before bed, and the boys before bed.  And when we get up it is soaked in and the skin is healed (or mostly healed).  Don't worry, it easily washes out of clothing and bedding.  

What do you think?  Anyone else have skin like this?  Is it worth a shot?  Have you tried anything similar?

Terrific Tea Tree

My next couple posts are going to be green discoveries made on my weekend trip to western Massachusetts, which by the way is very green, but more on that later.  One of the joys I rediscovered on my trip was tea tree oil.  This first came about as a result of my blisters.  My poor feet, they get tortured every time I travel.  So when we got to stop at Whole Foods I grabbed some organic tea tree oil and band aids.  For those of you who don't know, tea tree oil has naturally occurring antibiotic and antibacterial qualities.  On my tootsies it went to start healing immediately.

Later that evening my friend Tiffany was having a lot of trouble with a stuffy head, sneezing, and runny nose.  Because we had nothing else, I just suggested she try sniffing the tea tree oil and see if that helped.  Sure enough, she was instantly cleared up and feeling better!  What a little miracle oil!

We also use it as home on our cloth wipes to help prevent nastiness (yup, that's the very technical reason).   What have you used tea tree oil for?  

Eco-Comfort

I have been sick.  It started in my head and has moved down (and out) my nose to my throat and chest.  It has been days of discomfort.  I spent all day Wednesday literally in and out of sleep, chills, and sweats.  So if I miss a blog or don't comment back or visit yours right away, this is why.

The striped sack of flax you see above (along with a very supportive husband) has been my saving grace.

This is a flax seed comfort wrap and it has been my savior more than once.  Most notably when I was in labor with my youngest.  Five days before that lovely experience, some friends took me to a craft show where we walked around trying to force the stubborn one out.  That effort was unsuccessful but while we were there I found this and had an inkling that it might be helpful when the time did finally come.  

Boy was it ever!  I had the nurses keep heating it up (in the microwave for no more than 2 minutes) and bringing it to me to help with contractions and after the birth with cramping.  One of my postnatal nurses actually said every woman who comes in should have one.  

And since then I have used it time and time again; with heat for sore muscles, cold (in the freezer for 2 hours) for headaches, and most recently heated on my sore and achy muscles and chest.  

The best thing about this is that it is totally eco-friendly.  There is no electricity required like with a heating pad (except the temporary use of microwave or freezer).  If you are crafty you could make your own by repurposing scraps or stained shirt, filling with organic flax seed and sewing shut.  If you are like me and far from crafty, I have found some Etsy shops for you that feature cuter wraps then mine for less money.  I am trying hard not to be jealous.

The Ferris Wheels features not only wraps like mine, but a neck, shoulder, back wrap, wrist, hand, and arm wrap, foot cozies, sinus migraine, and keyboard mouse rests.  

There are all kinds of ways to indulge.  Or, if you are trying to save money (and really, who isn't) I would suggest just buying a large versatile one like mine and draping it across the different areas of your body as needed.

There are also a number of artist's who make boo boo bags for your kid's bumps and bruises.

What do you think?  Is it worth giving a shot?  Do you have your own household flu remedy?  If so, bring it on.  I am willing to try almost anything at this point.

Maybe Winnie the Pooh Had It Right

Happy Weekend!!! My mom called me one morning a couple days ago to tell me about something she had seen on her morning news show. This isn't an uncommon occurrence as we do not watch TV and therefore always miss out on the "the latest studies" my mom calls to tell us about. This one was about a pediatrician who had found that sometimes giving your children honey works as a cough suppressant. Perhaps you saw it.

 The main idea is that often cough medicines are unsafe for young children and that a spoonful of honey might work just as well for children over the age of 1 (honey is a no, no for children under that age according to the medical gurus that be). So the other day when our youngest, 14 month-old Everett, developed a hacking cough that caused him to lose his pacifier, start screaming, and wake us up all night long, you better betcha I broke out that honey. 

And guess what...it worked! A spoonful of honey before bed and nary a cough all night long. My sanity and I say thank you to the sun, the bees, the flowers, the earth for this little magic remedy that lets us all sleep better.

What about you? Have you had success with honey for a cough? Honey for other things?

And on a side-note, how do you like the new layout? I am playing around with things, so please share your feedback. Good or bad, bring it on, this is your page too!

Sniff Sniff. Wheeze Wheeze.

To say that it has been cold here in Michigan would certainly be an understatement.  Every morning I wake up to my trees blanketed in snow and smile.  And then I hear it...sniff, sniff, sniff...it's my family, and sometimes me.  We have become a bunch of snuffleupaguses with stuffy noses, runny noses, sore raw red noses.  And we are cold and snowbound all day just passing it back and forth to one another and going through more kleenex then anyone ever imagined possible.  

The worst part about the snuffles is that it keeps my babies from sleeping...which means it keeps me from sleeping...and I need sleep.  A lot of people use vapor rub, but I am suspect.  For one, it is petroleum based product which equals bad news for you and Mama E.  And, it isn't recommended for children under the age of 2.  No wonder with ingredients like "spirit of turpentine."  Am I the only one beginning to wonder if I can't put it can't be used on a  baby then maybe everyone should give it a second thought?

So I was over the moon when I discovered this simple, inexpensive, and most importantly, effective solution.  PEPPERMINT OIL!  I took a whif of it a while back and it totally cleared me up.  That got me to thinking, if this works for me, it's bound to work for the little guys.  So I started putting a few drops on the mattresses (for the smallest one) and pillows of all who were stuffy and they stopped sniffling and coughing and started sleeping like the proverbial baby!  All night long!  They even woke up less stuffy!  That's what I call a little miracle in a bottle.

If you don't feel comfortable putting it right on the pillow, try a few drops in a humidifier in the room and make your own vaporizer.  If you don't just have peppermint oil, I found this great place where you can grab a bunch and save a historic mint farm from foreclosure.  

And stock up because not only have I found peppermint oil great for easing stuffiness, but it's a huge blessing when I have a headache or want a refreshing bath.  What about you?  Are you a fan of peppermint oil?  What for?