My Blog = My Life: healthy living

  • DIY Herbal Air Fresheners

    DIY Herbal Air Fresheners

    The chemical aerosol fresheners you can purchase in the store may send off a pleasant odor, but they wreak havoc on our health! The highly condensed level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and artificial fragrances can cause headaches, earaches, diarrhea, vomiting - even wheezing in young children!

    However, sometimes it take more than just an opened window to clear out an unpleasant odor from a room. This Herbal Mist Air Freshener is completely natural and the scent is as lovely as you choose to make it! Mist in the kitchen after frying onions and bacon, spray inside the diaper pail, and store a bottle in the bathroom.

    To make your own herbal spray air freshener, all you need is a clean spritz bottle and 2 basic ingredients:

    1. Distilled water
    2. Essential oil (I've provided some blend suggestions below)
    Prepare by adding 7 drops of an essential oil (or a combination of oils) to every 8 oz (1 cup) of water. Experiment with different oil combinations to create a scent that is uniquely you! My personal favorite is a combination of lavender, tea tree, and spearmint - so fresh and invigorating!
    Essential Oil Air Freshener Blends:

    • Country Spice | cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, bay
    • Spring Morning | lavender, rose, geranium, rosemary, sweet orange
    • In the Woods | sage, thyme, cedar, patchouli, frankincense
    • Lover's Lane | vanilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, neroli, rose
    • Far East | patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, lime, coriander
    • Energizing | basil, lavender, orange, nutmeg, mint
    • Calm, Cool, & Collected | bergamot, geranium, clary sage, chamomile, yarrow
    • Garden Glimpse | lemon, orange, basil, thyme

      What's your favorite essential oil combination?

      Linking to: Natural Living, The Prairie Homestead, Mind Body Sole

    • How To Make Your Own Lavender Oil Infusion

      How To Make Your Own Lavender Oil Infusion

      Lavender has got to be my all-time favorite herbal scent. I purposely brush my legs against the plants when I walk along my garden so I can catch a whiff of their glorious fragrance. With a little work, I can preserve and enjoy the smell and its healing properties long after the blooms have died off.

      Although not as strong as a distilled essential oil, a lavender oil infusion produces the same fragrance and can serve the same purpose without the need for dilution. Here's how I made mine:

      You'll need:

      • a pale colored oil with a mild scent (olive, almond, or jojoba work well)
      • fresh lavender blooms, not completely opened
      • a plastic (Ziploc) bag and wooden spoon or mallet (or a mortar and pestle)
      • a glass jar with lid
      • a piece of cheesecloth or muslin, large enough to cover the mouth of your jar
      • a smaller jar in which to pour the strained oil

      Directions:

      1. Place the lavender heads in the Ziploc bag and seal tightly. Green leaves and stems can be added too, but keep anything woodsy or branch-like out.
      2. Tap the flowers lightly with the wooden mallet or spoon to bruise them so they can release their fragrance.

      3. Stuff the large glass jar full and pour in enough oil until they are covered. 4. Seal the jar and shake well. Set aside for 48 hours for the flowers to steep.

      5. After 48 hours, strain the oil with a cheesecloth into a dark colored jar and discard the flowers and stems. Store in a cool, dark place.

      You'll find the aroma to be quite subtle, but it will become more pronounced when it's warmed or rubbed into your skin. Stay tuned for a luxurious, all-natural hand cream recipe that uses the oil we've just created.

    • Nursing Time Essentials

      I love nursing.

      After breast-feeding Charity exclusively for 8 months (she quit on her own), I never thought I'd say that. That's because I was "doing it all wrong." Charity had some trouble with latching on when she was first born, so at the midwife's suggestion, I started using a silicone shield. It worked great. Too great; Charity grew so accustomed to using it that all my attempts to try again without it proved fruitless. It was similar to bottle feeding, having to clean and disinfect an artificial nipple after every feed.

      Also, the easiest way for me to feed Charity was lying down. It's still I position I favor, but now I know the importance of switching it up. I nursed Charity lying down for the first few weeks, and that ended up being the only way she would feed! Whoops! Imagine having to ask, "Do you mind if I borrow your bed for an hour?" whenever you went visiting. It ended up being rather frustrating trying to schedule everything "just right" to avoid nursing her in public.

      I didn't know it then, but I had a very low milk supply. I just figured it was normal for a baby to eat for an hour. Now that we've had Judah (a champ eater-done in 10-15 minutes!) and a lot of expert advice on getting this whole nursing thing to work-like taking Fenugreek to increase milk production- I know better.

      Nursing is so much easier this time. I've had a lot of help from a different midwife than I had with Charity, who also happens to be an excellent lactation consultant. Her motto is, "sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind." In other words, flicking your lethargic baby's feet when he's just a day old and making him scream might be just the thing to getting his sucking reflex in high gear! She also taught me how to get his mouth to open and how to get a good latch. It took over an hour of one-on-one time with her to figure it out, but now that I've got it "mastered," I don't regret a minute of it! When Judah latched on within the first try after our "training session," I had a "so-this-is-how-it's-supposed-to-work!" moment.

      There's a hundred and one reasons why I love nursing which I won't get into now, but here's small list of things I consider to be "Nursing Time Essentials"; things that make quiet time with your own baby even easier!

      • A good nursing cover. I've tried three now and by far, my favorite one is the Udder Cover which I got as a gift from Sarah. It was a wire insert inside the top hem, allowing you to peek at your baby and nobody else. Also, the fabric is breathable and there's plenty of it; no need to worry about baring your midriff accidentally.
      • A bottle of water. We normally don't buy bottled water because it can get pricey. But when I'm nursing, this is the luxury I like to indulge in. Bottled water stays contained much better than in a glass so it's easy to take a swig, even while lying down, when your mouth starts feeling parched. I drink a 500ml bottle at every feeding.
      • A pocket Bible. Brad bought me a cute little, lime green, leather Bible when we were going out and I make the most use of it while I'm nursing. It's small enough to hold with one hand and its soft cover allows it to remain open on its own.
      • A good book. Judah's barely two weeks old, but I've been able to do more reading in that time than I have in the previous two months combined! I've just finished three books, all highly recommended: Running Scared by Ed Welch, Shepharding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, and Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell.
      • Quality nursing pads. There's nothing more irritating than a nursing pad that doesn't stay in place when it's supposed too: "So that's why the delivery guy looked at me funny!" I've tried several brands, but there's only one that I really like: Johnson's Nursing Pads. They're extremely absorbable, breathable, and they have a sticky peel that actually works.
      • Pen and Paper. My penmanship looks like chicken scratch if it's done while I'm nursing (I know people who can write beautifully while breastfeeding-that's what I'm working towards!) so for now, I limit myself to writing what my eyes only will see: grocery lists, reminders, etc.
      • The telephone. If I have any phone calls to make, I like to do them while I'm nursing. I know Judah will be quiet, and it's a better us of my time to call while I have to sit down anyway. I can focus on the conversation much better then when I'm trying to clean the house, make supper, or fold laundry.
      Do you have any favorite things you like to do/did or use/used while nursing? Any good habits you'd like to share? I'd love to hear and maybe copy your ideas!

      Please note that I am not being compensated for the endorsement of any of the above products. The views expressed are simply my own opinions.

    • 9 Ways To Increase Your Breast-Milk Supply

      9 Ways To Increase Your Breast-Milk Supply

      Many mothers who are determined to breast-feed their babies, including myself, often worry needlessly about whether or not they have enough milk to grow their babies. Assuming you and your child have no major medical concerns, let me reassure you: You are well-equipped by God Himself to feed your nursling! I am not a lactation consultant or medical expert; just a mom who's enjoyed breast-feeding two of our children exclusively for most of their first year and am currently nursing our preemie.
      Genetically speaking, we are not a large family. My pre-pregnancy weight is 120 lbs. and my husband has a slim (and handsome ;-) build, but as babies, our kids are chunky-monkeys! We're often asked where they get their rolls from - it's from Mama's milk, the benefits of which scientists haven't even fully researched yet!

      Charity at 8 weeks Our first-born never dropped more than 2 ounces from her birth weight. She was all chubb until she started walking and slimmed down.

      Judah at 8 weeks Our second was 17lbs at 4 months old - more than twice his birth weight.

      When our Anna-Grace was born, the nurses at the hospital tried to convince us she needed formula because she was premature. I have no medical expertise but I knew they were wrong. I wanted to breast-feed my baby and believe God equipped me to do so. We fought long and hard for the right to nurse her, and eventually we won. As soon as I put her to the breast, she started gaining weight rapidly - 4 ounces during her last night at the hospital where she roomed in with me for the first time, and another 6 ounces within the first two days of coming home.

      Here are some things I do to ensure a good milk supply for our babes:

      Fenugreek (available through The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs). Immediately after giving birth, I start taking Fenugreek: 3 capsules, 3 times a day with meals for the first week post-partum. By then I usually have too much milk and cut back to 3 capsules a day for the rest of my nursing duration. Blessed Thistle (available through The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs). Blessed Thistle can be added to Fenugreek to further increase your milk supply. 6-12 capsules a day is adequate, but be sure to spread them out rather than taking them all at once. You can also drink this as a tea. Drink, drink, drink! It's so important to stay hydrated when you're nursing! I drink 500ml of water at each feed. No caffeine. Try to stay away from liquids that dehydrate like sodas, coffee, and some teas. Pump. I only pumped for our preemie because it was absolutely necessary (she wasn't allowed any oral feedings for the first few days of her life), but it worked splendidly! By the time she was 10 days old, she was solely breast-feeding and I haven't pumped again.

      Use an electric pump an do both breasts at the same time, every 3-4 hours beginning soon after your child is born. Don't be discouraged if there's nothing collectible for the first few days. By the third or fourth day you'll be producing more milk than your baby will be able to consume in one feeding! A good latch. If your baby doesn't seem to be getting enough, more than likely the problem is in the latch. Wait for a wide open mouth, tongue down, before bringing your baby to the breast rather than your breast to the baby. It shouldn't hurt at all. A steady swallowing sound is a good indicator they're feeding properly. Rest. As a mom of three, aged 3 and under, I know this is easier said than done. Perhaps relax is a better word. The less stressed you are, the more milk you'll produce. Nursing while lying down is a good way to catch some shut-eye.A good diet with plenty of EFA's.I've found that incorporating DHA and EFA oils into my morning smoothie not only give me more energy to breast-feed, but the fat in my breast milk is higher too. Drain one breast completely before offering the other. Not only is it important for your baby to get your hind-milk (the stuff that fattens them up!), but draining one side completely helps keep mastitis at bay and regulates your supply.The best way to tell if your baby is gaining getting enough milk is by the amount of dirty diapers they produce and a steady weight gain.

      Have you breast-fed your babies? What kind of tips do you have for mothers who'd like to do the same?

      Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living,Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival

    • How To Prepare A Postpartum Herbal Bath

      How To Prepare A Postpartum Herbal Bath

      I've enjoyed this herbal bath with each of our babies! The herbs, garlic, and sea salt make combine to make a healing, soothing, aseptic bath that helps prevent and control excessive bleeding, repair a woman's reproductive organs, and rapidly heal the baby's cord stump. No one (except the midwives who told me this would happen!) could believe how quickly our babies were sporting beautiful belly-buttons instead of black stumps - usually within two or three days!

      This recipe is midwife approved and makes enough for 2 baths. If you don't use it all up, it can be frozen until the next bambino comes along or passed along to a pregnant friend. She'll love you for it!

      You'll Need:

      • 1 oz. Calendula
      • 1 oz. Uva Ursi
      • 1 oz. Comfrey
      • 1 oz. Shepherd's Purse
      • 1 cup sea salt
      • 1 large, fresh garlic bulb



      Directions:
      Place herbs in a large pot (I use my biggest soup pan) and fill with water. Bring to almost a boil. Steep for a minimum of 2 hours - the longer, the better! Strain the solution. Pour the liquid into freezable containers (ice cream or yogurt tubs work well) and store in the freezer. The garlic and salt are added directly to the bath on the day you intend to use it.
      As soon as possible after the birth, fill the tub with comfortably hot water (Brad usually does this for me while the midwife is checking baby's vitals and making sure everything is okay). Add one frozen tub of the herbal solution (it will melt in no time), a cup of sea salt, and a whole bulb of crushed garlic. You won't come out stinky, I promise!
      Immerse yourself in the warm water and have your husband or midwife pass the baby to you. Your baby will stretch, unfold, float - maybe even smile, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of familiar weightlessness in the warm water. It's beautiful!

      After you've had a good long soak with your precious new gift, pat yourselves dry, dress in warm, soft pajamas (or clothes if you give birth during the day!), and snuggle up in bed with your baby!

      ***You can also enjoy this bath after a hospital birth! Ask your husband to prepare it for you whenever you're feeling up to it after arriving home. The sooner after giving birth you use it, the more noticeable the healing effects will be.

      Great selection of bulk herbs, books, and remedies. Articles, Research Aids and much more.

      I recommend buying your herbs and sea salt from high quality, organic sources like the Bulk Herb Store or Mountain Rose Herbs.

      Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living,Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival

    • 6 Natural Household Cleaning Recipes

      6 Natural Household Cleaning Recipes


      I'm big fan of using natural, tried and true cleaning recipes instead of chemicals to get the job done. In addition to using my Norwex cloths, the following recipes featuring vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and essential oils are regularly put to use in our home. They work wonderfully, satisfying my desire for a clean, non-toxic environment.
      Fizzy Sink Cleaner

      • 1/2 cup baking soda
      • 6 drops lemon essential oil
      • 1/4 cup vinegar
      Combine baking soda and essential oil. Sprinkle on sink and pour vinegar on top. Once it stops fizzing, scrub and rinse clean. Toasters and Oven
      • hot soapy water
      • baking soda
      Wipe down with hot soapy water. Make a paste with baking soda and water to remove tough stains. Rinse away and dry with a soft cloth. Lemon Scented Furniture Oil
      • 1 cup olive oil
      • 20 drops lemon essential oil
      Pour both ingredients into a clean, dry bottle and shake well. To use, dab sparingly onto a soft cloth, wipe onto wooden furniture, and buff to polish. Window Cleaner
      • 1 part white distilled vinegar
      • 4 parts water
      For a smear-free finish, pour into a spray bottle, spritz onto windows, and wipe away with a microfiber cloth, chamois, or crumpled newspaper.Carpet Stains
      • Borax
      • Water
      Mix borax and a little water, stirring into a paste. Test on an unexposed area of carpet for fastness, then rub into the stain, allow to dry, and vacuum off the powder. Lemon Dust Cloths
      • Water
      • Distilled Vinegar
      • Lemon Oil or Olive Oil
      • Dustcloths or rags
      • Lemons
      • Air tight jar with screw lid
      Make a solution of two parts water, two parts vinegar, and two drops or lemon or olive oil. Soak rags in this solution and wring them out until just damp. Pare the rinds from several lemons and lay a couple pieces on each dustcloth. Roll up cloths and store in an air-tight jar until needed. Wash or boil cloths after each use and re-infuse them with lemon and oil.

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