For What Ails You!: Herbal Chest Rub

With cough and cold season up it is a good time to get the medicine cabinet stocked with some all natural cures. I just made up a batch of this herbal rub for my Grand daughter. She has been coughing just at nap and bed time and instead of reaching for the Vicks on her I found this recipe.

Herbal Rub

Ingredients:

8 ounces of olive oil

2 ounces of bee's wax

Eucalyptus essential oil

Lavender essential oil

Camphor essential oil

Directions:

Warm olive oil over a double boiler. Melt bee's wax gently in the olive oil. Remove once the wax is completely melted. Pour into a container, add essential oils, and cover until it hardens. I split mine into two containers so I could make a batch of each.

Adult Strength

40 drops eucalyptus essential oil

30 drops camphor essential oil

10 drops rosemary essential oil

Child Strength

40 drops eucalyptus

30 drops lavender

This stuff works really well for my grand daughter I just put it on her chest and back after bath time and then once I put her in bed I rub some on the bottom of her feet and the cough is much quieter. 

Craft Corner: Up-cycled Brochure rack

My boyfriend found this old rack in his Dad's yard and brought it home to me. I am having a lot of fun taking old stuff and up cycling it into something else. So, I decided to paint this as it was all rusty, and not so pretty! I had a lot of fun painting it and my daughter and I made all the hanging little adornments. I still need to figure out what to do with the top baskets. The fairy garden I made out of a piece of bark and the other log with plants on it, was a gift.

I Tried That!: Chocolate Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies

I should have posted this earlier in the year. This is a great recipe for when you want something sweet, but don't want to turn on the oven!

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal

Directions
Bring sugar,cocoa,butter and milk to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute then add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Remove from heat and drop by rounded teaspoon fulls on a piece of wax paper. Let cool until they are hard. I put mine in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes because we can't to dive into them. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

Craft Corner: Refurbished garden bench

My boyfriend found this wonderful old bench that was in need of a new home and a little love. This was a family project, as we all took turns with the painting. We were able to make use of some left over paint from other projects, so this project didn't cost anything and it was fun.

My grandsons trying out Nana's new bench!

Healthy Living: No bake energy bites

No bake energy bites

Ingredients
2/3 cups toasted coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup local honey
1 tsp vanilla

Directions
Stir all ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Chill in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour. Roll into balls (a melon baller) works great for this). Store in airtight container and keep refrigerated.

 My son loves these and will happily have them in his lunch for snack. I don't remember where I originally found the recipe, but it's a keeper!

Happy cooking!!!!

DIY: Body Wash

I love body wash, but I don't love all the harsh chemicals that come along with it. So I got a bottle of Dr Bronners Magic Soap and made my own body wash. I bought the peppermint one because I am using it as a household cleaner, as well. A word of caution, peppermint gives of some heat, so do be careful not to get the body wash into sensitive areas of the body. I would recommend that you buy the baby mild liquid soap as the base for the wash and then just add essential oils in for fragrance.

Body wash

1 part Dr Bronner's

4 parts water

Directions:

just mix and put it in a squirt bottle. I used a empty liquid soap dispenser and it works great.

If your going to use essential oils I would recommend about 20-30 drops per 1 1/4 cup wash, 

but it's all up to you.