Homemade deodorant (Updated 8-21-17)

Okay, I told you I would post this here, so here it is!! My homemade deodorant. First off I would like to point out that there is a big difference between deodorant and antiperspirants. Deodorant kills bacteria when you sweat, so you don't smell. Antiperspirants stop you from sweating with aluminum. Aluminum is only one of the many hazardous ingredients inside of store bought antiperspirants and deodorants, most of which can heavily impact or hormones.
Secondly a lot of homemade deodorants use significantly more baking soda then you need to keep dry, in return you may end up with chemical burns this is what many people will tell you is the "transitional period". There is no reason that you body needs to endure pain to go healthy. Please if you have a painful reaction to something please find the source ingredient and limit use are stop altogether. Baking soda may cause chemical burns in higher concentrations, but  in smaller amounts should be perfectly safe to use. 

Recipe:

• 2/3 cups coconut oil
• 1/2 1/4 an ounce of beeswax (I prefer a softer deodorant so I decreased the amount of beeswax)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda(With the addition of shea butter I found I could increase the baking soda to teaspoon without irritation)
• 1 capsule of vitamin E oil (this time I used a bottle so I tried my best to eyeball it)
• 2 deodorant empty deodorant containers
• 20- 40 drops of essential oils I prefer at least 10 drops to be tee tree 

Some of the oil blends I like are

• 5 drops of thieves EOs, and 15 drops of lavender EOs
• 5 drops of sweet orange EOs, 5 drops of bergamot EOs, 5 drops lavender EOs, and 5 drops of Jasmine EOs

Mix all the ingredients except the essential oils in a small pot over low heat, until coconut oil and beeswax are melted. Take off heat and add essential oils. pour into your containers and set aside in the fridge for 2 hours or until solid.

This deodorant doesn't need to be left in the fridge. So feel free to put in your bathroom cabinet without fear of it melting. it goes on really smooth and my highly sensitive skin hasn't had a breakout since I made the switch. If you think you would prefer a more dense deodorant add more beeswax.

Lasagna

Here is my lasagna recipe and you don't have to precook the noodles!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 walla walla onion
• 1/2 a green bell pepper (chopped)
• 1/2 a red bell pepper (chopped)
• 2 cups of chopped cauliflower
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 pound beef
• 1 Tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 beef bullion cubes
• 12 oz can of tomato past
• 1 1/2 -2 cups of water
• 8-10 lasagna noodles
• Ricotta cheese
• 1 cup of cheddar cheese
• Seasonings (I used Oregano, Thyme, chili powder, turmeric, black peeper, salt, and fresh basil)

In large skillet saute onions, garlic, and bell peppers in olive oil until onions are transparent. 

Add beef and cook till browned. Then add wine, and cauliflower. simmer to reduce the wine.

Add water, bullion cubes, tomato paste and seasonings.

In 2 medium bake-ware dishes (or 1 large) lay down in layers sauce, noodles, ricotta cheese, then repeat these layers and top off with the cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350F for 90 minutes

Tada!

Homemade sourdough tortillias

My family loves Mexican food whether it be burritos, nachos, enchiladas, or quesadillas. So naturally we go through a lot of tortillas, and I like to make as many things from scratch as I can. Well there is this jar of sourdough in my fridge that my husband tends to only use for waffles and the occasional loaves of bread. So I scoured the internet and for ideas and put together my own recipe for sourdough tortillas this weekend. I hope you enjoy. :)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sourdough starter
• 5 cups flour
• 4 teaspoons of Himalayan pink salt
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 2/3 cups melted bacon grease
• 2/3 cups melted coconut oil
• 1 cup hot water

Add all you liquids to the starter first, then mix in the salt and baking powder. Slowly mix in 1 cup of flour at a time. Ounce all the flour is mixed in separate into 18 balls, and cover with a towel. Let sit for 30 minutes.
Roll out the balls into a 12 inch circle and fry them on a dry frying pan for 45-60 seconds on each side.

If you are planning on storing these you will need to rewarm them in a microwave for 2 minutes on medium power wrapped in a moist towel.

Wool Dryer balls

First grab some wool yarn from your craft store. I was able to make 4 dryer balls with just one skein.

To start the ball wrap around three of your fingers 20 times

Then wrap another 20 times around the middle.

This should allow you to pinches the sides together to make a circle.

Keep wrapping yarn around until it's the size of your palm.

Once all your balls are made stuff them down a leg of old nylon stockings. You need to separate the balls I just tied knots in the the stocking between each ball. You can use an acrylic yarn but don't use wool.

Now to felt your balls you need to run them through your washer and dryer at the hottest setting. Once done just remove from the stockings and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to each ball and leave in your dryer for the next time you do laundry.

Your new dryer balls will save you money by reducing dryer time, but still leave your clothes static
free soft and smelling great!

DIY carpet powder

DIY carpet powder

What you will need.
-Mason jar
-Essential oil
-Baking soda
-Paper

Start off by tracing and cutting out the shape of the mason jar lid. 

Make small little holes in the lid(I used a thumb tact), you will probably want larger hole then I made mine.

 Fill jar with baking soda, add 10 drops of essential oils and shake it up with the original lid. I used Lavender in mine, but you can use whatever you like in yours. Replace original lid with your paper lid. 

All purpose cleaner

My All purpose cleaner

1/4 cup vinegar

1 Tsp baking soda

1/2 Tsp of dish detergent

Fill bottle with warm water

I add a couple drop of sweet orange and tea tree essential oil into mine

Mushroom Tortellini

This is my favorite mushroom based dinner, and on the plus side my mushroom hating daughter loves it too!

Ingredients 

• 2 cups of tortellini with cheese
• 1 Tbls of olive oil
• 1 cup of diced mushrooms
• 1 can of cream of mushroom
• 1 lb of ground turkey
• 1/4 onion (chopped)
• 1 Tbls of minced garlic
• 1 cup chopped cauliflower

Directions

Bring water to a boil in large pot. When water is boiling add tortellini and reduce heat to medium. Cook tortellini for 20 minutes or until tender, and drain water. In large frying pan with olive oil saute onion and garlic. Then add ground turkey and mushrooms to frying pan( you can add seasoning here if you want. I used Thyme, parsley, basil, and black pepper). Cook until turkey is browned. Add everything from the frying pan to pot of tortellini and mix in can of cream of mushroom. Cook on medium-low until warm. Enjoy! :)

Chicken Risotto

Risotto is one of those meals I have come to love. It is a great comfort food, and you can use all fresh ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of rice 
• 5 cups of chicken broth 
• 4 tlbs of olive oil 
• 1/4 onion (chopped) 
• 1 tlbs of minced garlic 
• 2 chicken breasts 
• 1 cup of corn 
• 1 cup of peas

Chicken: Add 2 tlbs of olive oil to a frying pan. Cut chicken into strips or cubes. Add chicken to frying pan along with any seasonings you want (I used cumin, dill carne asada, and chili powder). Cook thoroughly.

Add 2 tlbs and onion to a frying pan, and cook on high for 1 min. Lower heat to medium low and add rice. Stir frequently for five min. Then start to add chicken broth 1/2 cup at a time, continue to stir frequently. Wait for rice to absorb the broth before adding more broth. It should take about 30 minutes for rice to become tender. When rice is done mix in garlic, peas, corn, and cooked chicken.

Enjoy :)

Pizza Bread

Pizza bread

My family loves pizza, and we all love different toppings. So instead of ordering some overly greasy pizza, we make our own version at home.

Ingredients

·French bread loaves

·Olive oil 

·Garlic 

·Pizza sauce

·Cheese of choice ( I use cheddar and mozzarella)

·Toppings of choice

Preheat oven to 350°. Then cut the loaves in half. Drizzle olive oil on each half. I personally use pre minced garlic which I spread lightly across the loaves, then coat with the sauce. I sprinkle out shredded cheese then toss on some mozzarella. Lastly throw on your toppings ( I use turkey pepperoni, green bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, olives, and pineapple :D )