Country Living {Frugal Tips – Going Paperless Part 2}

 

Transitioning from paper products to cloth is quite simple.  Today in an effort to go further with my ‘Going Paperless’ plan I made cloth wipes and homemade baby wipes solution.  I cut up some left over flannel I had in a bin and put it into an empty wipes container and pour the baby wipes solution over the wipes.  

Here’s the recipe I made up for my homemade baby wipes solution:

• 3 Cups Warm Water
• 2 TBSP (roughly) Dr. Bonner’s Baby Mild Castile Soap
• 2 Drops Therapeutic Grade Lavender Essential Oil (Only use 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils – I only use my Young Living Essential Oils)
• 1 Vitamin E capsule
• ¼ tsp Organic Coconut Oil

Mix warm water and Castile soap together, then add Lavender Essential Oil, break open the Vitamin E capsule to add into the water along with the coconut oil.  Mix well and pour over the wipes in the container you’ve chosen to use.  The wipes will soak up the solution – I think I used about 50 wipes.  I advise changing the solution every 24 hours.  Not only can these wipes be used to gently wipe your baby’s tushy but also sticky hands!  

Other oils that are great to add to this solution are:

Melaleuca Essential Oil (Tea Tree)

German Chamomille

(If you’d like more information on using Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils check out my website Southern SCENTSabilities)

You can use just about any material you’d like to make the baby wipes.  I did nothing fancy.  I cut out squares from some flannel I hadn’t used, but feel free to use baby wash clothes, cut up t-shirts, or old baby towels.  Of course, make sure the material you use is soft – but that’s it.  I did not sew my wipes, although you are surely free to do so.  Easy peasy!

I’m really enjoying this new journey.  This past week when my husband did the grocery shopping, it felt good to save $10 by not purchasing paper towels!  $10 a week will add up and save us a considerable amount of money over the month. 

Serving God and My Family,

Crystal <><

Fennel Essential Oil – God’s Gift to Mothers

Recently I started regularly donating my breast milk to a local mother who is unable to breastfeed her son.  I was so excited and honored to be given the opportunity to help another mother in such a special way.  I am also so thankful for all the Lord has changed in my life over the past few years because this mother is quite particular about the breast milk she feeds her son - and rightfully so.

I had some trouble increasing my supply until I learned about Fennel Essential Oil.  Click on the bottle of Young Living's Fennel Essential Oil below to read about my experience!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><

Please Vote for My Picture!

Hello my devoted readers!

I recently submitted my photo entry to The Common Scents Mom January Giveaway.  I let the girls pick out their favorite Young Living Essential Oil and then grabbed my camera.  Initially both girls were smiling and saying cheese - but the photo captured was of Sofia looking at Charlotte puzzled as to why she wouldn't pick the oil that Sofia picked.  Classic big sister caricature!  HA!

I would really love to win the giveaway.  Young Living Essential Oils is a superior product and I use my oils ever day.  Would you please head over and vote on my photo entry - Photo #8?  All you need to do is head over to The Common Scents Mom and leave a comment telling her why you think #8 should win.

I'm so excited to see who wins - and of course I hope it is me! 

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><

I love to iron!

I have enjoyed ironing since I was a teenager. I know so many people who loathe this homemaking chore, but I absolutely love it! There is something quite rewarding about ironing out wrinkles from a garment. I find ironing to be calming and I generally do it when there are no distractions because, well, let's face it, hot iron + little ones running around = disaster! So, I iron when they are sleeping, and find it quite therapeutic.

I started ironing my stepfather's handkerchief's when I was a teenager, and then when I enlisted in the Air Force (after basic training) it was my responsibility to make sure my uniform was crisply pressed each day for work. I remember lots of new Airman jesting about how stiff they were able to iron their sleeves; so stiff that if you got too close their sleeves might cut you.

Now that I am a homemaker and have the responsibility of ironing clothes for my husband and children (and myself), I have been disappointed at the store bought starches for years. I can never truly get the clothes as crisply ironed as I would like. I found a solution, and I'd love to share it with you at Southern SCENTSabilities! You can learn to easily make your own ironing starch using essential oils!

I hope that you will head over and see how easy it is to make your own ironing starch without being exposed to toxic chemicals! Yuck!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><

Aromatherapy Compress

 

I had so much fun making this today!  I added a few drops of my Young Living Essential Oils to the rice and not only will it come in handy when I get a migraine or when my neck, shoulder and back start acting up - but it will be a great way to benefit from the aromatherapy of Lavender Essential Oil and Purification Essential Oil Blend.  

If you'd like to know more about my therapeutic grade essential oils - check out my new website

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><

Southern SCENTSabilities Official Website!

It is official!  My newest creation, Southern Scentsabilities is a registered ".com"!  I purchased it earlier this week and was beginning to wonder when the URL would switch over.  I checked it today and it is officially my own URL!  I'm pretty excited about the site and wanted to make sure that my readers knew that the address has changed.  The blogspot address should redirect you, but just in case you bookmark your favorite sites - it might be a good idea to make a mental note of the new web address: www.southernscentsabilities.com. 

I've got two new posts up.  One is on "Using Essential Oils Safely", the other answers the question "What are Essential Oils?"  There is a place on the lower left side of the page to "Follow" should you be interested.

I received my new oils in the mail today!  I'll be making hard lotions, lip balms, and sugar scrubs this weekend.  I will definitely share information on each product on Southern Scentsabilities - so be on the lookout!

I pray you all are doing well!

Serving God and My Family,
Crystal <><