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This next post is going to be my next try at homemade shampoo, or No-Poo I guess. This article comes from http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Shampoo/step10/NO-POO/ 

The article has 10 homemade shampoo recipes, 8 of the 10 have Castile Soap in them and I guess to me that's just using someone else's soap to make yours. I know silly, but that's me. 1 is a dry method, not done with water. The Last of the 10 in a No-Poo recipe. At the end of the recipe there are helpful tips to adjust the recipe to your own hair. So if mine is dry as a board in the winter I add a little honey and that should help, but in the summer when gets a little oilier I removed the honey and I should do fine. 

Step 10NO 'POO

i

Though there are already plenty of instructables that cover this topic, I thought my list wouldn't be complete without including the simplest way to get clean, healthy hair.

• 1 tsp Baking soda
• Apple cider vinegar
• 4 oz Water

Put 1 tsp baking soda in a cup or mug to take into the shower with you.
In another cup, pour about 1 oz (~¹/₈ cup) apple cider vinegar.

When you get into the shower, fill the baking soda cup with about ¹/₄ c water.
Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.

Then begin to gently scrub your scalp, stimulating blood flow and cleaning out your pores.
This will actually stimulate hair growth.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth.

Rinse!

Follow by adding about ¹/₄ c water to your vinegar cup.
Pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out.

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

There may be a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

" If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
" If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you re applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
" If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Have fun and enjoy!

Stand by for the results, will try this week or next...

Homemade Vicks chest rub

A great friend of mine recently made her own version of Vicks! I have been searching for this, because I have use Vicks on my babies every time they get a fever. If you put is on their chest and back and the bottoms of there feet and put socks on them at bedtime, the fever break. It has worked everytime. But everytime I used vicks I worried about what I was putting into their little bodies. This is what I found,
Active Ingredients (Purpose)

• Regular: Camphor 4.8% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic) Eucalyptus oil 1.2% (Cough suppressant) Menthol 2.6% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)

• Lemon: Camphor 4.7% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)
• 
  
• Eucalyptus oil 1.2% (Cough suppressant) Menthol 2.6% (Cough suppressant and topical analgesic)

Inactive Ingredients

Regular: Cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, special petrolatum, thymol, turpentine oil

Lemon: Cedarleaf oil, lemon fragrance, nutmeg oil, special petrolatum, thymol, turpentine oil

Not so terrible, but I would rather no exactly where everything comes from and know its not synthetic. So here is the recipe from my friend: 

Bee's wax and Almond oil mixture to the texture you'd like your rub to be and add 60-180 drops of Eucalyptus oil.

I know it seems like a lot of drops of Eucalyptus oil, but at 60 it really take on that vicks smell, if you want it stronger add more. It's all to your own preference. I can't wait to fever season to start, not that I want them to have fever's, but so I can try this. I know my friend has used it and it works and a friend of her's used it and loved it!

God Bless you in you journey to bring more natural items into your home! :)

The Benefits of Honey: A Remedy for Sore Throats, Wound Care and More

The Benefits of Honey: A Remedy for Sore Throats, Wound Care and More

Just Plain Baking Soda

It finally tried it, just plain baking soda. My hair is clean and it dried faster than normally and it stays in place better, but it feels a little rougher. It just isn't as soft and smooth and the Burt's Bees gets it. I try to comb my fingers through it and it feels like I forgot to brush it, even though I did just brush it. I do not like this. I think next time I try it I will just rub it into my scalp and avoid the ends. The ends are horrible, the hair closer to my scalp isn't too bad.
I will try again and let you know.
My hubby has been using just Baking soda and liking it. I am hoping to have him guest blog about his baking soda experience. Still not sure how to do that, but will work on it.
Thanks for reading you make my smile!

Would You Consider Installing a Wind Turbine in Your Backyard?

Would You Consider Installing a Wind Turbine in Your Backyard?

If I can talk my hubby into something like this, you may just see one in my yard some day. I wouldn't mind being paid back for extra energy. you would?

Laundry Time!

So, this great person I know posted a blog awhile ago about making your own laundry soap. At the time I read it I was thinking "This is awesome! I should try it!" But I never did. Until the beginning of November (I know my posting is behind, sorry!), I finally bought the ingredients, but they still sat a few weeks. I told myself it was to finish off what was left of my commercial soap, but truthfully, I don't think I was sure of taking that first step (we all know how well the first step with the homemade shampoo went). Finally, my hubby (Yes, my man) made the soap and started a load. PHEW! I didn't have to take that step.
It's a VERY easy recipe, that she got from a friend. Now I will share her unspkblejoy with you! Enjoy! She also has a recipe for fire starters! Something not everyone needs, but we do and it gets rid of our used dryer lint! In her post she give credit to her friend, projectjunky, for the recipe for laundry soap! So, Thank you unspklejoy and projectjunky!
The recipe is simple:  2:1:1 (Bar soap:Borax:Washing Soda) grate your bar of soap and mix! TA-DA!
The only thing I would say is Don't use "Ivory" it is a little greasy and leaves a waxy film on some fabrics (like my wool coat, my hubby should not have washed, but he was being HELPFUL! Thanks dntangerthbeard! I love you!), unspkblejoy uses "Kiss my Face" and seems to have no complaints!
Thanks you reading! you make me smile!