Lavender Hot Chocolate/ Mocha

Lavender Hot Chocolate / Mocha

• Create a double boiler by placing a bowl over a pot of boiling water
• Whisk together: 
• 1 cup of milk, any kind (dairy, nut, etc)
• 1 heaping tsp cocoa powder
• 2 heaping tsp sugar, any kind (I used coconut sugar)
• a generous sprinkling of ground lavender *
• Optional: Make it a mocha by adding a shot of cold brew coffee
• When it is warm enough, strain through a coffee filter and enjoy!

* How to make ground lavender:  Use food grade lavender flowers and ground them in a spice grinder. Sift through a strainer for lavender powder. 

Oatmeal Tea

Little did I know my fate was sealed as I brushed against the thick foliage while loading kayaks onto the truck. The day had been glorious, following the the sunshine with the rhythmic dipping of paddles into the water. We were learning from an instructor how to read the water currents to safely navigate a river. However, the danger for me that day turned out not to be in the swift water currents. It was in my inability to identify poison oak.

It didn't take long for the rashes to show up and spread all over my body. With my skin inflamed and irritated from head to toe, few remedies brought as much relief as an oatmeal bath. Simply make a large pot of “oatmeal tea” by using six times more water than oats. (For example, one cup oats in 6 cups water). Cook the oats for about 15 minutes to draw out the healing properties into the water. Strain and add the “cooking liquid” to your bath. Put the solid cooked oats in a porous bag. Muslin bags work well or a DIY version such as nylon stockings or cotton tied into a bag. You can add this oatmeal bag to the bath, but be sure to keep it contained in the bag! I learned the hard way and had a difficult time explaining to my grandmother why her bathtub drain was severely clogged with oatmeal. Oops!

The anti-inflammatory properties of oat tea baths sooth any kind of skin irritation, whether it be poison ivy/oak, sunburns, insect bites, chapped/dry skin, rashes, or eczema. Oatmeal is gentle so it works on all skin types, including sensitive skin of babies and the elderly.

What makes oatmeal so soothing and healing for the skin?

• Oats contain polysaccharides and proteins. This means they leave a protective layer on the skin which helps prevent dryness as well as help maintain the skin’s natural barrier function of keeping the bad stuff out and the good stuff in.

• Itchy and dry skin as a high pH level. Oatmeal aids with restoring balance and normalizing the skin pH.

• Oats are filled with saponins. Saponins are natural cleansers which work to remove irritating dirt and oil from the skin’s pores.

• Oats contain one of the highest lipid content of natural cereals. This is good news for the skin since it acts as a moisturizer and lubricant.

Just be sure to pat your skin dry instead of rubbing. Rubbing causes irritation which would undo all of the amazing benefits of an oatmeal bath. While oatmeal baths do provide relief, the best form of relief is prevention. Stay well hydrated and learn the causes of your skin irritation. Educate yourself on how to prevent it from happening.

Personally, I've learned to identify poison oak and poison ivy. :-)

Citrus Peel Vinegar Infusion

Citrus Peel Vinegar Infusion

“Do not use cleaning chemicals on your kitchen surfaces. Someone will inevitably make a sandwich on your counter.”   -Found on a random passerby’s LuLuLemon shopping bag

Inspiration does indeed strike where you least expect it, during moments when you think you’re not looking. This was the case of my cleaning revolution.

Look at the cleaning supplies aisle, and you’ll most likely see a plethora of chemicals that are toxic to bad bacteria…. but also toxic to our bodies and the environment. Commercially available “green” cleaners often times are just a marketing gimmick. A closer look at the ingredient list reveals the contents really aren’t that good for you. Truly safe and natural cleaners might be safe for our bodies, but they damage our wallets more than we’d like and are still just as wasteful with so many bottles and containers!

If there was a frugal way to clean your home using the waste by-product of food in your kitchen, would you do it?

There is! All you need are your leftover citrus peels, white vinegar, and a mason jar.

Save all of your citrus peels in a large mason jar. By leaving the lid off, the peels will air-dry to prevent rot and mold. When the jar is full, fill it with white vinegar. (Tip: Buy the vinegar in bulk.  Less container waste and it is usually cheaper too!) Let the vinegar and citrus peels soak in a warm sunny window for two weeks, or a little longer if a warm sunny window isn’t available.

By doing so, you are creating an infusion. An infusion is a quantity of liquid in which herbs (or in our case, citrus peels) have been steeped long enough for the properties to transfer to the liquid.

But why are we infusing citrus peels? Sure, it will make the vinegar smell better, but consider these reasons as well:

• The peels are a natural solvent (meaning it can effectively clean grime and cut grease without the use of toxic chemicals)
• Natural acids repel bugs (so long summer-time flies in the kitchen!)
• They are antioxidant, antiseptic, and antibacterial
• Naturally deodorizing oils in peels neutralize bad odors
• The aroma aids in mental clarity, stress reduction, and improves concentration

Once your vinegar infusion has seeped, strain out the peels and dilute the vinegar with water with a a 50/50 ratio (more vinegar for really dirty messes) in a reusable spray bottle. Compost the leftover peels instead of throwing them away.

You have just created a cleanser that not only reduces waste and eliminates the need for chemicals, it is healthy AND beneficial for your body. Next time think twice before tossing those citrus peels!

EDIT: Use Organic citrus peels since pesticides and chemicals will infuse into your vinager. Wash citrus peels before use. 

DIY Deoderant

Kendall Catwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail, Washington

Don't let underarm body odor stop your curiosity of what's around the bend. Your hiking partners will thank you. 

DIY Deodorant

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp coconut oil + 1 extra Tbsp

1 Tbsp beeswax

¼ cup cornstarch

Few drops of oil (I use avocado oil)

¼ cup baking soda

Essential oils: 5 drops tea tree + 5 drops lemongrass

Notes: 

• Instead of baking soda, some people prefer arrowroot powder or an arrowroot powder/baking soda blend. Experiment to see what works best for you.
• I use the above mentioned essential oil combination for antibacterial properties. Tea tree is known for being antibacterial, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antiseptic. It's not the most pleasant smelling so the lemongrass covers up the scent as well as providing cleansing properties. Click on this link to learn about alternative deodorant oils: http://neatoilessentials.com/antibacterial-deodorant/

Procedure:

In a double boiler, melt 2 Tbsp of coconut oil and beeswax.

Remove from heat and stir in the rest of the ingredients (saving the extra Tbsp of coconut oil for last).

Pour into deodorant containers. Reduce waste...Re-use old containers. Just peel off the label and proudly put your own on.

Note: You may need to add a little bit more beeswax for hotter weather.

DIY Borax-Free Laundry Detergent

Shi Shi Beach. Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Do your part in keeping our waters clean and healthy with eco-friendly laundry detergent! 

Borax-Free Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup baking soda

1 ½ cup washing soda

½ cup epsom salt

2 Tbsp salt

A few drops of essential oils for scent (my favorite combination is lavender and lemon)

Note: Many DIY laundry detergents contain borax. I prefer to remain borax-free for washing clothes for since Borax performs better in hot/warm water wash and I mostly wash with cold water (saves electricity and less harsh on my clothes)

Procedure:

Blend in food processor using mill blade to evenly distribute the mixture.

Note: My blender is not big enough so I half this recipe.

Usage:

Approximately 1 heaping Tbsp per load.

If you need extra cleaning powder for especially dirty clothes, add vinegar to your laundry.