Doggy Deodorizing Powder ~ Fresh & Flea Free!

Our dog Barclay, happily claiming his spot on the sofa.

I love my dogs...I really do, but sometimes our senior beagle Barclay just stinks. Now don't get me wrong, its not the overpowering offensive "get out of the house now" sort of stench, but its enough that you may not want to sit next to him on the sofa. Since he is older and has some stiff joints and various aches and pains, baths can be a little hard on him. So I try to limit baths and just needed something for the stinkified in-between bath days.

Easiest Cinnamon Apple & Oats Wheat Free Dog Treats

I love easy recipes but I want them to be good too. This dog treat recipe may be the easiest one I have ever made, even the clean up is easy, Now I can't tell you for sure if they're good, they sure do smell good, but I'm quite sure my two dogs would tell you they are delicious.

Organizing My Pantry, A Labor of Love

I hated my pantry! There, I said it. I didn't hate the space, I loved the space. It's wonderful to have that space in my small kitchen. Our pantry happened almost by chance, a second thought. We had been doing a little remodeling work, and we were going to be left with this rather awkward space. My DH suggested throwing some simple shelving in there and putting some bi-fold doors in front. Oh overjoy and wonderful! A pantry was born. But since we were already pretty tired from the original remodel work the pantry just existed, never repainted or made pretty, just functional. 

DIY Total Skin Repair Balm (or Make Me Look Younger Balm)

This was one of the first concoctions I came up with when I began using essential oils. Over time it has changed a few times. At first it was just Coconut Oil, Frankincense, and Lavender. I loved the way this formula helped my aging skin and some areas that had signs of sun damage. Then I added geranium, some time later I added Hemp Seed Oil, and as soon as my next order arrives...I will add Carrot Seed Oil. I tend to focus on essential oils that will help my particular needs, the first being aging and sun damaged skin. 

Homemade Antiviral Cough Drops

Have you made your own cough drops yet? Yet another very simple way to move away from chemicals and harmful additives in many commercial products. This formula is quite simple, containing only honey and essential oils. You may want to adjust the Essential Oils to your taste, you can make them stronger or weaker, your choice. Each of the individual essential oils has its own marvelous properties so this formula is not only soothing but I believe it is healing as well.

DIY Quick Drip Pan for Hanging Plants

Okay, here's a Sunday afternoon quick-post. I have this Boston Fern that I rescued a couple of days ago. Someone had thrown it out and well, I just felt the need to save it. lol  I watered it well and hung it on my porch. The next time I watered it the water just went straight through and out the holes in the bottom of the pot. No drip pan..., many hanging plants come without them now and its such a pain. You water and water and it just runs right out the bottom.

DIY Peppermint & Lemon Antibacterial Hand Soap

If you are like so many of my friends you are trying to move away from using commercial bath products due to the chemicals and toxins and their possible connections to cancer and other health concerns. The David Suzuki Foundation reports that,

Some of the ingredients in beauty products aren't that pretty. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.