10 DIY Natural Beauty Products

I love my homemade natural beauty products, I have been making them for years and they work better then any store brought product and the best part is it costs about an eighth of what a chemical filled product would cost.

Hair:
1. Apply coconut oil directly to your hair leave for 20 minutes then rinse of. This is best done once a week to help prevent split ends and also makes hair more manageable. You can also add avocado to the mix for extra moisture.

2. Lemon Juice sprayed directly onto the hair will work as a natural lightener.

3. Sea salt and water in a spray also work as a relaxed hold hair spray.

4. Corn Flour applied to the roots works as a dry shampoo and will also add extra body

5. Coffee grounds and coconut oil mixed together make a great purifying face mask.

6. Witch hazel and lemon juice skin brightening toner. I have used this since being a teenager and I have always had a healthy summer glow.

7. Aloe Vera can be applied directly to skin as a soothing moisturiser after sun exposure.

8. Olive Oil makes a great hand moisturiser.

9. Epsom Salts make a great detox bath for sore muscles.

10. Oatmeal for itchy skin. This can be made into a paste and applied directly to the skin or else a small amount can be added to the bath.

Getting a handle on anxiety naturally

Living with anxiety can be hell! Unless you know the feeling its difficult to explain, I have struggled with anxiety since being a teenager after spending most of my young adult life on various medications that usually just left me doped out and off the planet. I researched into natural remedies for managing anxiety. Here is everything that I found helped me to get a firm hold on my anxiety.

Essential Oils for anxiety
I have found that making a roll ball anti anxiety mixture a great way to get a handle on anxiety in public. Its very low key and easy to hide if you aren't ready to share with the anyone how you are feeling.

Here is my top list of essential oils.

Lavender
Rose
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang
Bergamont
Chamomile
Frankincense
These also work well in a oil burner for creating a calming home.

Herbal Tea

Studies have been done and show that drinking herbal tea can reduce anxiety in many patients as much as standard medications.

Chamomile - Soothing
Lemon Balm - help with sleep

Feeling Fit

When you work out/ be active your body releases endorphins. endorphins are the bodies natural happy hormones. I have found that if I am really getting anxious and feeling like the world is going to come down around me. I step out and take a brisk work it helps give me a boost of happy hormones. It also gives me a chance to clear my head without anyone watching me. Yoga is also a great way to get a boost of happy hormones it also teaches you to clear your mind.


Create a haven
Create a haven for yourself where you can go and shut the door and just take a breath. Maybe have some essential oils to sniff and somewhere comfy to sit. This is a great way to escape and just take a few minutes to yourself.

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Suprising benifits of Honey and Cinnamon

There is a lot of benefits in using Honey and Cinnamon.

Arthritis:
Copenhagen University recently did a study on 200 patients that suffered from arthritis, The patients were treated with a mixture of Honey and Cinnamon before breakfast. 73 of the 200 patients recorded a significate reduction in pain from arthritis.

Bladder Infection:
Stir 2 level tablespoons of Cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water and drink. This mixture has been said to destroy the bacteria that cause Bladder Infections

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Heart Diseases:
Make a paste of 1 tablespoon of Honey and one level tablespoon of cinnamon, Use as a spread with Bread. Eat it on a regular basis to reduce your risk of heart diseases.

Hair Loss:
Make a paste with equal parts Honey and Cinnamon, apply to scalp and leave for 15 minutes, Then wash hair as normal.

Colds:
It has been said that Drinking Honey, Cinnamon and warm water will help to prevent infections from influenza.

Infertility:
It has been used to treat infertility in men for thousands of years. Take two tablespoons before bed. In eastern countries use Cinnamon to treat female infertility. They mix a pinch of cinnamon powder with half a teaspoon of honey.

Fatigue:
Studies have shown that the sugar in Honey is more of a help then an anything to the human body. Extensive research has been done, that when you drink a glass of water, honey and a small amount of cinnamon is effective to bring energy levels back up to where they need to be.

Aging:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder can slow down the aging process. Add four tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon of cinnamon powder and three cups of boiling water. Drink a cup 3-4 times a day. This will keep your skin looking smooth.

Honey and Cinnamon is a powerful super food that can be used to treat a large variety of common aliments. so before going to the doctor try looking in the pantry for a natural cure.

Treating Exzema Naturally

Ever since my son , has been 2 years old he has suffered from eczema. It was so difficult to watch your child go throw that sort of pain and feel so powerless to stop or control. After a few misses I started to notice patterns, this helped me to develop a eczema management plans.


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Here is my list things that can help manage eczema

Wash everything in hot water
Line dry in the sun for longer then 4 hours
- This will kill any dust mites that might be living in your bedding and clothes.

Use Dove Soap or an Oatmeal Bath
- Both have a natural PH this will stop the skin drying out even more

Keep the shower at a medium heat
- Extra hot showers will dry the skin

Dry yourself extra well after a bath or shower
- Air dry for 10 minutes if you can

Reduce the amount of processed foods
- A lot of additives can cause eczema to flair up

Stop skin rubbing
-This is an important one, when skin touches the air is unable to dry the sweat and will stop the skin from healing

Stick to natural fibres
This will again help the sweat on your skin to dry and heal.

Dust regularly
- Dust is a common cause of Eczema

Test for food allergies
This is a common cause of eczema, Ask your doctor to do an allergy test.

These are just simple ways to treat eczema. Having an allergy test done at the doctors is a great place to start. Once you discover what is causing your eczema its easier to manage long term.

Gluten Free Dinners That Rock

I have recently been told that I am gluten intolerant and need to cut gluten from my diet. For those who don't know what Gluten is it's a mixture of 2 proteins that are found in cereal grains, that means not more bread, vegemite, porridge and muesli bars. Gluten products made up a large part of my diet so it was really hard to find foods that were gluten free that I really enjoyed. But after some research and trial and error I have come up with a list of things to cook for dinner that are both Gluten Free and delicious.

1. Baked potato with the trimmings
This is a great one because you can make it for the whole family and add in as much or as little that you like.

2. Pumpkin Soup

I posted earlier in my blog a gluten free pumpkin soup recipe that has no gluten it use sweet potato and coconut milk.

http://slowlivingmum.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/vegan-pumpkin-soup.html

A delicious recipe.

2. Stuffed Capsicum

This is super easy I like to fry some mince add some carrots, peas and corn as well as a can of tomatoes and place it all in a capsicum shell place cheese on top and bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.

3. Creamy chicken and Avo with GF Pasta
This is super easy and delicious dish that only uses a handful of ingredients. Will post the recipe shortly.

4. Steak and Veg
Country Classic/ Suburban special
Meat and 3 veg typical classic. How ever if you are planning to use a pre-packaged sauce read the ingredients because a lot of then have Gluten in them.

5. Stir fry and rice noodles.
This is again a meal that can have anything added in that you desire and suits your family.

Ways to slow down everyday

Facing the rat race everyday can be stressful it seems that everyone wants everything done yesterday. I have been working hard lately and I have discovered easy ways that you can slow down and take a break. Here is my favorite ways to slow down and just breathe.

Savour Nature:
This is a big one that I have been working on, Just to stop and look at the beauty that is around me. I have been posting a lot of the things that I have come across on my IG account.

I snapped this cheeky little guy after a rain storm.

Take off your shoes:
Every lunch time I sit on the grass and look at the beautiful trees and things around me, I also like to take off my shoes and enjoy a bit of grounding. Good for the soul.

Solo Coffee Date:
As a teenager I wouldn't be caught dead out in public without a group of friends but as I approach 30, I began to stop caring what people think and started doing what would make me happy. Its soothing to sit in a cute little café and people watch or read a book. It doesn't matter so long as you are enjoying some alone time. No one else to consider but you.

Technology Ban:
For 1 hour a day I place a technology ban on everyone in my house. Nothing with a screen it starts at the same time everyday so everyone can just organise around it.

Cook:
Take time to cook something so delicious that it has the whole house waiting with baited breath. Get out your grandmothers old cook books and bake something from scratch.

Vegie Pasta Sauce your kids will love to eat

I love to make food from scratch that everyone in my family love to eat. I have been working on this recipe for a long time to make it the perfect mixture of healthy and fresh but also delicious.

You will need:
2 Large tomato's
1 Zucchini
Crushed garlic
Italian herbs
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons of tomato paste

Step 1
Dice Tomato's and Zucchini into cubes

Step 2

Place Tomato's, Zucchini and 1/4 of a cup of water into a small saucepan

Step 3

Add in the rest of the ingredients

2 cloves of crushed garlic

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

Salt to taste

Sprinkle of Italian herbs

Step 4

Mix everything together and bring to the boil.

Once everything is cooked through serve over pasta

I was planning to take a photo of the end result but it didn't last long enough.

 

Green Cleaning Hacks - Every mum should know

Being a mother of 2 growing boys and running a homestead. Someone is always coming in with muddy boots or putting muddy hands on my cupboards. When my eldest came along I wanted to eliminate all the chemicals that I used within the home.
It took me a long time to work out the best way to make and use my own green cleaners that worked.

I want to share with you some of my best green cleaners for around the home, many of them work just as well as the chemical cleaners.

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Smelly Car/Couch/Carpet or Curtains
20 Drops of Eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle and fill with water
It will kill all the bacteria that cause smells

Pongy Drain
Sprinkle a cup of Bi Carb soda in and around the drain, leave for 20 minutes then rinse off with vinegar.
The Bi Carb absorbs the smell and the vinegar dissolves the vinegar.

Water Stains in the shower
Cut a lemon in half and rub directly on the glass and fixtures to remove the water stains, it make take slightly extra rubbing, but leaves a beautiful finish.

Dirty Mirrors
Straight in vinegar a spray bottle spray directly on the mirror and rub off with old newspaper. Using newspaper stops the little bits of fiber left behind.

Toilet Bombs
Mix Citric acid, Bi Carb Soda in a bowl add a few drops of your favorite essential oil press into molds
Simply drop into toilet and leave for 20 minutes then flush.

Disinfectant spray
Either place eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil in a spray bottle add a small amount of water and spray where it is needed.

To clean benches and counter tops
I use dish soap and water
I also use dish soap and water to clean my cupboards and stove top.

Ways to slow down! and enjoy the moment

Slowing down and enjoying the moment has never come naturally to me, I always seemed to be on the go. When I first started living a slower life I really found it hard to stop after a while I had a list of things that were kid friendly and always helped me to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Sleep Outside - Pitch a tent, lay under the stars
Read a book outside
Cuddle your babies to sleep
Take photos
Sit under a tree
Yoga
Meditation
Listen to the radio
Write down what you are grateful for!
Walk on the grass
Cook/Bake
Garden
Build a fort with your kids
Have a tea party
Write
Cuddle your partner

Stop and take a breath

Vegan Pumpkin Soup

I love this recipe particularly at work in winter, super easy to re heat in the microwave.

You will need:

1 Butternut pumpkin
1 Sweet potato
Salt and Pepper
400 ml can of coconut milk
2 cups of Vegetable soup

Directions

Peel Pumpkin and Sweet Potato
Place in an oven tray with a little bit of oven tray
Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper
Bake in an oven at 180 degrees for around 45 minutes or until soft
Remove from oven place pumpkin and sweet potato in a blender add around half the stock and coconut milk
Blend together
Continue to add small amounts of the coconut milk and stock until the texture is slightly watery.
Add the mix to a large pot
Place on a medium heat and simmer until it is a smooth consistency.

Serve hot

5 plants for a Medicinal Garden

Please note straight off the bat, my advice does not replace the advice of medical professionals if your leg is turning blue, Go to the doctor. Now that everything is cleared up home herbal remedies can be great way to heal minor aliments.

1) Aloe Vera
This would of been in every grandmothers garden, its great for treating burns, it also works wonders on eczema and cuts. It needs to be grown in full sun with well drained soil. you can cut off the lower part of the plant and squeeze just near the cut part until the sap starts to flow rub the sap on the affected area.

2) Great Burdock
The leaves and seeds should be crushed into a poultice and applied directly to the area. Can be used to treat boils, ring worm, bites, acne, herpes, rashes and bruises. It grows in moist soil and full sun its an easy to grow plant.

3)  Pot Marigold
The petals can be used as a tea to treat varicose veins. The crushed stems can be used to treat bites, stings, minor wounds, sprains and sore eyes. It grows in almost any soil type so long as its moist.

4) Tea Tree
Has been used for centauries to treat a wide range of conditions. The young leaves can be chewed on to relieve headaches, leaves and twigs can me used to make tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is anti fungal, antiseptic, can be used for nits, cold sores, insect bites, warts, acne and minor burns.

5) Lemon Balm
Lemon balm gets its name from the scent that the plant produces. The leaves can be crushed into a poultice and used to treat herpes, gout, insect bites, minor sores it also makes a great mozzie repellant.
The leaves can also be used to make a tea to treat colds, fevers, digestive upsets, headaches and mild insomnia.

Organic pest control in the vegetable patch

Organic gardening can be a tricky thing to get right. If you don't you can lose all your harvest to pesky pests or end up with a crop that doesn't ripen properly. Here is some basics that every organic gardener needs to have in there arsenal.

White Oil - Is a handy pest exterminator. Its simple to use and easy to make with ingredients from home. It works by sticking to the bugs and suffocates them.
To make White Oil:
- 1 cup of vegetable or white mineral oil
- 1.5 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid

Neem Oil - This works in much the same way as white oil does, you can however buy Neem Oil already mixed. Its great for all sorts of minor aliments including nit treatment for your kids hair.
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COMMON PESTS

Aphids - nasty little green bugs that typically are found on roses, however they can be partial to the odd vegie or 2.

Snails - Make a beer trap. Put a small amount of beer in the bottom of a container and dig into the soil. The snail will go in, get drunk, drown and die a happy death. Another option is to make a salt ring as snails can't cross salt. This is also a great way for kids to help out in the garden, get them out in the morning picking them off.

Caterpillars -  The little buggers eating the life out of all your plants. There is a couple of simple ways to get rid of them with out Caterpillars first of all is just like with snails go along and pick them off. Neem oil also works a treat to sort these buggers out. Another easy way is to get rid of them is let the chickens in!! they will get a great feed.

Reasons to live in the country

Here is my list of reasons to pull up stumps in the city and move to a large block in the middle of nowhere. We made the plunge around 3.5 years ago, I believe it was the best move we ever made.

1. Wide open space
2. Room for the kids to play and be kids
3. House prices
4. vegie gardens, fresh vegies.
5. Teaching kids valuable life skills
6. Community values
7. Smaller class sizes at public schools
8. Safe communities
9. Local characters
10. Views to take your breath away
11. No neighbours on your doorstep
12. Pets, Dog, Cat, Sheep and maybe a pig too
13. Freedom to live your own way
14. Building resilient kids
15. Allowing kids to have responsibilities, the locals will be quick to tell you if they get into any mischief
16. Local events - CWA markets, Rodeos and country fairs
17. Wood fires
18. Room for a shed or 2

Country Classic: Chicken Pie

This is an absolute family favorite of ours. Its super easy from ingredients that you have already have in your cupboard.

Serves 4

You Will Need:
500 grams of chicken Mince or thigh fillets
2 cups of Chicken Stock
1 Cup of Milk
1 Cup of Flour
2 Cups of Vegies
1 Tablespoon of garlic
Puff Pastry Sheets

In a frying pan add a small amount of oil, then add chicken and fry until brown.
Scope out chicken leaving behind the fat.
Add Chicken stock and milk stir until combined.
Add half the flour mix all together then return the chicken to the pan
Slowly add the rest of the flour until it makes a watery paste.
Add vegies and mix together
Remove from heat.
Line a baking dish with puff pastry
Add chicken mixture to baking dish and add more pastry to create a lid.

Place in oven for 30 Minutes at 200 degrees

3 things that take 30 minutes or less to clear the clutter.

Clearing the clutter can be a daunting job, where do you begin?  On many occasions I have tried to clear the clutter and I just end up in a big fat mess!!
Here is a few tasks that will take 30 minutes or less to complete and will instantly make you feel more in control.

1) Phone Station
Everyone has a phone station, even if like us its just a corner of the bench.

1. Clear the old paperwork away. Old bills and school notes seem to pile up very quickly. Everything that's important file for later reference. Everything that's out of date bin it.
2. Check all the pens. Throw out any that no longer work or any that you don't like to use. About 10 should be sufficient.
3. keep a lined pad or block of post it notes by the pen cup. easy reach to jot down a phone message.

2) Bathroom Draws

1. This is usually where most people keep make up, nail polish and hand creams. How many do we actually use? For me it was a few things but I seemed to hang on to a lot of things that people had given me as gifts. Many were not my style, colour or didn't agree with my skin. So everything I hadn't used and wasn't planning on really using I packed up and gave away.
2. I replaced only the things I use on a regular bases, everything else I placed in a separate container. If its still there in a few weeks I will give it away.

3) DVD's

1. Give away any that you don't enjoy watching.
2. Give away any kids DVD's that your kids have grown out of
3. Place all DVD's with the spines facing out and I like to group mine by Category.

Quotes for living a simple life

Everyone has those days that it all seems to much, that trying to remain calm and the simple life just seems all to much! Its at those times we need a little extra motivation to keep calm and carry on. I keep bright post it notes on surfaces I look at everyday.

Here is some of my absolute favorites:

Be who you are!
Not who the world wants you to be.
I have this written on my mirror where I like to get ready in the morning. It reminds me to keep being my crazy self that has some how always worked in my favour. Working in a corporate role it easy to get sucked into a world of grey.

Note to self:
Let shit go
Its way to easy to bring the stress and all the niggly little things that get piled on you every day. I need to be reminded to take a breath and let shit go!

Every child needs to things, a pet and a mother who will let them have the opportunity.
I love animals in every shape and size, I am a self confessed animal hoarder. My partner is not and doesn't quite understand that there is a love that is easy and unconditional. I love this quote because every time I bring home some new creature that has been abused or mistreated, and my partner tells me its not staying I just smile and say every child needs 2 things a pet and a mother who will let them have the opportunity.

Happiness comes from inside.
This is written on my wallpaper on my phone, its a great reminder that happiness is an inside job no body is going to make you happy unless you have a inner happiness.

Live, Love, Laugh.
This isn't written any where its ingrained in my mind. If nothing else remember to live, love and laugh everyday.

5 Things to consider before moving to the country

I am country girl in every sense of the word, I wanted to bring my children up in a rural setting where they were free to be kids, make noise, have pets and just enjoy there childhood. I pitched the idea to my partner and the boys father, he was a city boy born and raised. At the time he was all for moving out of the city to a block of land. It all sounded so simple at the time.

Here is my 5 of things I wish people would consider before moving to a rural block.

1) Organisation is the key to success.
There is no just quickly dashing in anywhere. You need to be organised and keep a stock pile of everyday items. Because its really annoying to have to run out for milk and nappies when its at least an hour round trip. Also if you look like crap or wearing your slippers you are guaranteed to run into everyone from town.

2) The neighbours are nosey
This is a can cause some people discomfort particularly if you are used to being anonyms in the big city. This isn't something that can be avoided in a new small town. My advice would be to head down the local pub for a beer and introduce yourself around, it will help things to calm down a bit.

3) Animals are not polite
They will make noises before 9am, smell, and have sex out in the open! It can be a bit shocking to look out across the paddocks and see a bull mounting. It can also be a little awkward to explain to the kids. But that is the way of the land.

4) Always allow extra time for the commute.
I remember one day my commute usually is a 40 minute drive down the highway, on this one day I was cruising to work at around 6 am when I had to come to a complete stop because there was around 400 sheep on the highway. They had pushed through a fence. It took me almost 20 minutes to get them back into the paddock before the farmer turned up. Things like this can happen without warning always allow 20 minutes extra to be anywhere.

5) Phones don't work
There is very little to no mobile coverage in the country. Its very simple phones don't work. However there isn't a shortage of things to do.

I still believe that moving to the country was the best decision we ever made. I get to see my son excel at school because of the smaller class size he gets more attention. I get to watch my vegetable garden grow, and the excitement on my kids faces when they get to pick and eat what we grow.