My daughter likes Sesame Street…yes, I know, TV is evil–but it makes cooking dinner easier…if my day today was sponsored by a letter and number, I think it would be the number 15, and the letter ‘P’. 15 because today I start the 15th week of pregnancy and I start my last 15 months in the navy…and the letter ‘P’ for puking, pregnancy, procrastinate, popcorn and pickles.
Keepin’ the summer buggy blues away…
April 20, 2008 at 9:26 pm (herbs, recipes)
Tags: anti-itch, bug bites, insect repellents
Since biting insects can harbor disease (malaria, west nile, lyme disease, etc)—and its annoying to be scratching anyhow, it is better to simply avoid getting bit in the fist place.
Around the home, eliminate places where mosquitoes can breed, make sure that screens are in good condition, and plant plants that pests dislike. In areas where this is difficult, protective clothing should be worn. Chemical insect repellants can also be used, or there are herbal alternatives.
Bug Repellant
2 oz vodka or carrier oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops cedar essential oil (optional)
5 drops lemongrass essential oil (optional)
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops cedar essential oil (optional)
5 drops lemongrass essential oil (optional)
Mix and spritz on exposed skin (if in alcohol), or rub on exposed skin (carrier oil)…avoid clothing as oils can stain/discolor. (Remember, no insect repellent is effective against all bugs all of the time–essential oils are volatile, evaporate quickly, and must be reapplied regularly.) If you use a carrier oil, try infusing catnip into the oil prior to mixing the essential oils.
Child-Friendly Herbal Insect Repellent (oil)
2 parts catnip leaves
1 part peppermint leaves
1 part rosemary, cut into 6-inch sprigs
enough carrier oil to cover the herbs……I recommend at least 1/2 c of grapeseed oil as grapeseed oil is high in vitamin E, which acts as a preservative
1 part peppermint leaves
1 part rosemary, cut into 6-inch sprigs
enough carrier oil to cover the herbs……I recommend at least 1/2 c of grapeseed oil as grapeseed oil is high in vitamin E, which acts as a preservative
Lightly crush (fresh) herbs and place in clean glass jar. Infuse. Strain and store.
*note: According to a study at Iowa State University Department of Entomology, one of the oils found in catnip is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than potent chemicals such as DEET.
*if you are a cat owner, I’m not sure this is a good idea…lol
*if you are a cat owner, I’m not sure this is a good idea…lol
*Pest repellent plants for the garden include basil which deters mosquitoes and flies (and it tastes and grows well with tomato as a companion plant), henbit which is a general insect repellant, the mole plant which doesn’t deter bugs but will deter moles and mice, tansy deters ants and flies, peppermint deters flies, mosquitoes and ants (and also rats), and pennyroyal deters fleas (but is not meant to be ingested, so keep away from where kids and pets can ingest it).
*Essential oils citronella and its cousin lemongrass, eucalyptus, bay laurel, lavender, thyme, geranium, and mint family plants (catnip, peppermint, etc) can be diluted in a carrier oil (you can also try infused oils of these plants), or added to aloe vera gel or witch hazel as a spray to repel insects.
*Real vanilla extract (as opposed to the flavoring) is reported to deter mosquitoes. Real vanilla extract is also expensive…not sure the effectiveness of this, much less if it works in dilution (but at least it smells yummy…and is baby safe)
*Bentonite clay and echinacea tincture or powdered echinacea and lavender essential oil combined to form a paste/plaster to apply to insect bites and stings to relieve itching.
*Fresh leaf poultices can be made from plantain, chickweed, witch hazel or willow and applied to bites (to make a fresh leaf poultice, be certain you have identified plant properly, pick leaf, chew, apply to bite, cover with band-aid if needed to hold in place).
*Apply witch hazel to a cotton ball and cover with a band-aid to hold in place as a sort of mini compress to bug bites.
Naturally clean…
April 20, 2008 at 8:46 pm (cleaning, recipes)
Tags: cleaning, natural cleaning
Modern cleaners suck. Sure, they get the job done, kill the germs and sanitize the space…but they have some nasty side effects…
Take those so-called air fresheners. According to a study published in New Scientist in 1999, in homes where aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers experienced 25 percent more headaches and were 19 percent more likely to suffer from depression, and infants under six months of age had 30 percent more ear infections and 22 percent higher incidence of diarrhea.
from http://www.grist.org/advice/possessions/2003/03/18/possessions-cleaning/
Other than the toxic chemicals that families are exposed to in their own homes, one must consider that anti-bacterial cleansers kill good bacteria too…about 10 years ago I read an article that mentioned a study that linked an increased number of childhood illnesses, allergies and asthma to the amount of commercial cleansers used in the home. The immune system “learns” by exposure to germs, remove the germs and a child is more susceptible, and less likely to “learn” to identify other compounds (allergens) that it may come into contact with.
We keep a clean house, and a neat one (well–as much as possible with a 1 year old), but not a sanitized, germ-free one. We clean with baking soda, apple cider, lemon juice, soap and essential oils… W save a ton of money, and guess what? No one notices the difference…unless its to ask “What do you use in here? It smells fantastic/great/awesome/etc!”
MY FAVORITE CLEANER!!!
1/2 c lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dr. Bonners lavender soap
10 drops lavender oil
10 drops lemongrass oil
add to spray bottle, fill with water and clean…
Deep Cleaning tip:
for really gross, gritty, greasy messes, keep baking soda in a shaker, sprinkle on the dirty area and add a 1/2 c of vinegar to the cleaning spray, spray where the baking soda is and scrub!
