Make your own natural weed killer

October 27, 2016 · 22 Comments

Make your own natural weed killer

With the arrival of Spring, I swear a million weeds popped up in our back yard overnight!

Being in a different house this year, this weed problem was all new to us.

Obviously we didn’t want to use a chemical weed killer – they contain some of the worst toxins you can use around your home. Not great at all for the kids and pets.

I did a bit of research on the best way to kill them off naturally and discovered a few different things. Many people swear by boiling water which is great for a stray weed here and there but if you have the whole backyard of weeds, it’s going to get a bit tiresome.

Based on a few different recipes, we tried out this DIY weed killer and it worked really well. The recipe is so easy you probably already have this stuff at home.

You can use just vinegar but the weeds will grow back. The addition of the salt stops things growing in that spot again (so be careful where you spray it). The dishwashing detergent helps the mixture cling onto the weeds.

Homemade Weed Killer

This is what you need:

4 litres of white vinegar

2 cups salt (just regular old table salt is fine, don’t use your expensive pink salt for this!!)

2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid (anything is okay but we only have our favourite Kin Kin Naturals so we used that)

This is what you do:

Mix everything together in a bucket and then pour into a spray bottle. WE got a big pump action one from the hardware store as it was such a big area. For weeds in paving like ours was, you could even just pour it straight on, but otherwise just generously spritz all over the weeds.

It only took a couple of days for all the weeds to go brown and die off. You can then pull out the weeds or whipper snip them.

After a few weeks, there has been no sign of new growth, even with some rain.

So I’m calling this one a winner.

Have you tried this? What do you use for weed killing?

You might also like to make your own citrus cleaning spray!

How to make your own natural hand wash

May 12, 2016 · 18 Comments

How to make your own natural hand wash

Around this time of year (winter for us in Australia) the ads for ‘antibacterial’ handwashes start to hit our TV screens in force.

Apparently we need to buy their anti-bacterial handwash to have happy, healthy kids!

Not only are these ads misleading, they are promoting a product full of chemicals with the words healthy? Arrrgh!

Okay, so what is so bad about anti-bacterial handwash?

“There are two types of antibacterial products, those with alcohol and those with triclosan. Triclosan weakens the immune system and is suspected of causing cancer. Its overuse can also lead to the creation of “superbugs.” Slow Death by Rubberduck.

“Triclosan also affects the natural environment. Wastewater treatment does not remove all of the chemical, which means it ends up in our lakes, rivers and water sources. That’s especially unfortunate since triclosan is very toxic to aquatic life.” Environmental Working Group

Alcohol in antibacterial products worries me too. A 60-75% alcohol content makes them highly flammable and dangerous around children. There have been cases of children hospitalized from accidental ingestion and poisoning. A quick google search also reveals that teenagers are drinking hand sanitizers to get drunk!

Other ingredients commonly found in hand wash and sanitizer is fragrance which can contain phthalates – known endocrine disrupters. “They have been linked with endometriosis and early puberty in girls, and reproductive organ abnormalities and reduced fertility in males. They can also act on the thyroid, and have been linked with obesity.” Choice Australia

How to make your own natural hand wash

I do prefer to use a hand wash over soap and water… mostly because it is less messy in the bathroom. It’s so easy to make and it’s very cheap!

Here’s how you do it:

1. Get yourself a foam pump

You can buy foaming soap pumps/dispensers. If you want something cheaper and you are not worried about plastic, you can buy a foaming dispenser with hand wash already in it and then repurpose it! Eco Store and Thank You are two brands that make a foaming dispenser. Of course you can buy the hand wash refills and do it that way if you like but I prefer making it myself as it’s cheaper, contains fewer ingredients and I can tailor it to suit.

2. Pour in about 50ml (or 1/4 of your container) of Castile soap

Castile soap is a very mild, all purpose vegetable based liquid soap. One of the most popular brands is Dr Bronners – I like this company as the ingredients are ethically sourced. I use the unscented baby version.

3. Add around 10 drops of essential oils of your choice

This is where I like to tailor the hand wash to suit. If the family is a bit germy or it’s lurgy season, use some oils that will kill bugs like the tea tree or eucalyptus. You can also try the Wellness Warrior blend.

4. Top up with water and give a vigorous shake

This is the fun bit! Leave a little gap at the top so it mixes in well.

5. Your hand wash is ready to go!

The result is a natural, safe handwash at a fraction of the cost you buy them at the supermarket.

Is this something you might try??

PS thanks to my ‘hand model’, my daughter… she thought it would be cute to make a heart shape with it 😀

Homemade Relaxing Bath Salts

October 15, 2014 · 12 Comments

I am always shocked at how expensive bath salts are to buy! Let’s not mention all the toxins – fragrances and artificial colours and chemicals added to commercial ones as well.

You can make a batch of your own for such a tiny cost. They also make amazing gifts – just pretty them up with a cute jar, label and scoop! So, here is my favourite way to make relaxing bath salts. Enjoy.

Homemade Relaxing Bath Salts

1 cup magnesium flakes

10 drops of good quality essential oils

handful of dried rose petals or any other flowers

Mix everything together in a ceramic, glass or stainless steel bowl. Stir well to distribute the oils or massage it in with your hands.

Package into cute glass jars, label and add a scoop or spoon to make a cute gift.

To use: Add to a few tablespoons of foaming product (such as castille soap), mix well and then dissolve in a hot bath or foot bath as needed.

♥ Magnesium flakes are fabulous for relaxing muscles and improving your magnesium levels and the bicarb will soften your skin and help detox the body.

♥ I really love the Instant Calm essential oil blend from Twenty 8. Based on Lavender, Mandarin, Orange, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile and Neroli it helps to strengthen an overburdened nervous system and restore calm. A great oil blend if you need to calm your emotions and relax before bed or simply to get into a nice quiet space. I love that these oils are affordable, but superior quality and Aussie owned.

♥ I never buy dried rose petals as such. I just save them from bunches of flowers. All you do is just pull the roses apart and leave the petals to dry in a warm spot. When they are dried out, pop them in a jar and keep them in the cupboard. I also like to sprinkle a few in birthday cards!

HOT TIP: The bath is a perfect place to meditate. Turn off the lights and put a candle on and tune out from the world!

Do you DIY for gifts?

10 Cool DIY Christmas Gifts

November 15, 2013 · 17 Comments

10 Cool DIY Christmas Gifts

DIY gifts are so special.

Sometimes taking time to create something beautiful with love is a much more appreciated gift. The imperfections are just part of the charm.

Last Christmas I put the challenge out to my family to hand make one gift for each another. At first they laughed at me, but they soon got into the spirit and had a ball creating something special. I wonder if they are up for the challenge this year?

Here are ten ideas to get you (and me) inspired!

♥ Honey Lip Balm

This is so easy to make – it just uses coconut oil, beeswax, honey and essential oils! You only need to find some cute containers. Get the tutorial at Hip Home.

♥ Jewellery Storage Board

Transform an old frame from the opshop into a funky piece of art work and storage in one! Find the tutorial at Mona Luna.

♥Succulent Mugs

Upcycle some old mugs into a gorgeous succulent pot plant holder. Using doilies and some decoupaging. Stunning! Find the details at The Happy Housie.

♥ Upcycled Snow Globes

You know how you have all those glass jars hanging around? Well, time to get them out and turn them into gifts or decorations. You don’t have to do Christmasy scenes, choose a toy or character your child loves instead. Head to the op shop to find some toys or nik naks. Find the tutorial at Martha Stewart .

♥ Inspirational Sign

I love all those motivational signs and posters, but some of them are incredibly expensive. Why not have a crack at making up one yourself? It’s pretty easy – just some recycled wood and a stencil (your local scrapbooking shop can help you out with this). Find the tutorial at Natalme.

♥ Quote Votives

Make your own cute tea light holders with quotes. It’s really pretty easy and you can personalize them to suit. Find the tutorial at Design Mom.

♥ Toy and Snack Strap

For kids on the move – their own strap to hold toys and a little jar of snacks. Really fun and original! Find the tutorial at Whip Stitch.

Want more DIY gifts? Go here. Want real food homemade gifts? Go here.

Do you do DIY gifts at your place?

Make your own natural dog shampoo

June 10, 2013 · 14 Comments

Does your natural lifestyle extend to your pets?

Now that we have ourselves more or less sorted out, our attention is turning to our beloved doggie.

This is Wilbur. He is a long-haired dashchund that we rescued from the RSPCA several years ago.

When our dog shampoo ran out this week, we decided to make our own.

It is so easy and cheap, while still being made with all natural ingredients. The whole wash worked out to be around $1.50. I knew that tea-tree oil deterred fleas and I thought the lavender would be nice to chill him out while taking a bath (not his favourite thing). So we decided to add those two oils to our mix.

If your dog has a specific issue or ailment, google some aromatherapy oils to help or get a book. Some oils may not be safe for dogs, so please research well. Some research suggests that tea tree oil may have adverse effects on dogs, but I have not experienced this. Never use it straight – always dilute. Smaller dogs may need less drops.

Make your own natural dog shampoo

Okay, so this what you need:

50ml Dr Bronners liquid castille soap (I use the unscented one)

200ml water

5 drops tea tree oil

5 drops lavender oil

Okay, so this is how you do it:

Mix up all the ingredients in an old glass jar and shake well. The Natural New Age Dad used the whole amount on the dog and lathered it right in. Rinse off and doggie will be clean and happy!

post bath blissed out doggie

NNAD said Wilbur was much calmer during his bath and afterwards was very happy. He looks pretty happy to me and he smelt really good!

Is this something you would try?

Have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

December 8, 2012 · 41 Comments

Have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

“Australians are expected to spend about $10 billion on food over the Christmas period, but a staggering 35 per cent will be wasted and end up as landfill.” ABC News.

“A recent Australian survey by McCrindle Research has shown that 78.5% of Australians have received a present that they didn’t want. 13.7% of people will throw away these unwanted presents – meaning they go unused from manufacturer to landfill.” Clean Up Australia.

I know ‘statistics’ are a grey area, but I certainly believe there is a lot of waste happening at Christmas time. When you think that most people buy at least a couple of presents, multiplied by everyone in Australia, it’s not too hard to figure out, that is a whole lot of paper, cards and packaging right there!

This whole over-consumption thing started bothering me a few years ago. We are by no means perfect, but by thinking ahead and opting for the most environmentally friendly options, we are doing our little bit.

Here are some ways to have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

♥ Christmas Cards

I have taken to sending mostly email greetings on Christmas Eve every year. I usually jazz it up a bit and include some photos of the kids and the dog in their Christmas gear so it’s a bit more special! You can even Elf Yourself and give the rellies a bit of a laugh.

If you still want to send cards, purchase some eco-friendly Christmas cards, like these from Australian company, Earth Greetings.

Make sure all your cards go in the recycling bin after Christmas or donate to your local childcare, kindy or school for crafts. Alternatively, you could keep them and upcycle them into various craft projects next year.

♥ Parcels

Save postage bags and packing material throughout the year to reuse at Christmas time. Read more here.

♥ Christmas Wrapping

There are so many alternatives to paper for wrapping gifts, from fabric and kids’ artwork to reusable bags. Check out a few here.

♥ Food Wastage

Plan your Christmas menus ahead and try not to overcater – there is only so much you can fit in your tummy! Make sure you get the leftovers back in the fridge quickly and have a plan for them. If you won’t eat them within three days, then freeze or giveaway. Find out where in your area will take leftover food. Compost what you can as well.

♥ Ditch the disposables

I know disposable crockery and cutlery is really handy and saves so much work. But, they really have an impact on the planet, particularly if they are not bio-degradable. If you are having lots of people over, grab some extra crockery and cutlery from the op shop. You can always donate it back later or pop it away in a box for next time you entertain.

If you want to go disposable, investigate some green options like these biodegradable. compostable palm leaf ones. I think they look so much more stylish than plastic plates too!

♥ Christmas gifts

We have adopted a Ten Dollar Christmas which is very fun and eco-friendly as most gifts are from the op shop!

You could consider consumable gifts like home-made treats or experience type gifts.

Charity gifts are fabulous for the person who has everything and they really make a difference to those in need.

If you are giving battery operated presents, consider also adding a battery charger and rechargeable batteries. When upgrading electrical items for Christmas gifts, make sure you recycle the old electronics. Find out where you can recycle near you, here. Electronic waste is fast becoming a huge problem in this country.

A gift card is always a good gift and it’s not wasted as the recipient can buy exactly what they want or need. To make it a bit more thoughtful, whack it in a home-made snow globe!! My favourite idea this year from The Creative Mama.

♥ Christmas decorations

I don’t get the idea of buying an entire set of new decorations every year! I just use the same ones I have had for over ten years. Buy quality ones that will last and take care of them. I love this idea of using egg cartons to store them – we also use shoe boxes padded with recycled tissue paper.

Have you ever thought of buying pre-loved Christmas decorations? Try op shops and local buy swap and sell sites.

You can also make your own Christmas decorations. Kelli from Be a Fun Mum has some fabulous ideas here.

When the Natural New Age Dad and I were first together, we didn’t have a tree. So I hung some cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and walnuts from some branches with lots of tartan ribbon. Simple, but still festive! Take a look at Red Tart Art to see how to do the orange slices.

You can also source fair-trade and recycled Christmas decorations if you aren’t gifted in the crafty department.

♥ Christmas tree

Although I am not a fan of plastic, a good quality tree will last you for years! If you have a fresh tree, you could compost it or use it for bark chips on the garden when Christmas is over.

You could also get creative and make your own Christmas Tree with recycled materials!

♥ Advent Calendars

Make your own with toilet rolls like this idea from Totally Green Crafts or make a wooden or fabric one that you can re-use every year. Check out my bumper list of Natural and Eco Advent Calendar Ideas.

I could go on forever – there are so many great eco-friendly ways to have a very green Christmas! It just takes a little creative thinking.

Tell me, what are you best eco-friendly tips for Christmas?

Hope you have a very GREEN Christmas with these eco-friendly tips!

10 DIY Christmas Gifts to Make with Love!

November 8, 2012 · 47 Comments

10 DIY Christmas Gifts to Make with Love!

I have put a challenge out to my family this year.

We have to make, with our very own hands, one gift for each other for Christmas!

This challenge was met with shock, then laughter and disbelief. When the hoo-ha had died down and they realized I was serious, their brains started ticking over and then ……… they started getting excited!

Trying to avoid the commercialism of Christmas time without being a Grinch is a pretty fine line. But this year, getting back to basics and making something with love for each other might just be the answer.

Now, DIY gifts may seem a bit daggy. But if you have been browsing Pinterest lately, you will soon see that DIY can be very funky, stylish and not all that hard, even for a creatively-challenged person like me!

We have all sorts of ideas lined up and I wanted to share a few with you that I have found with thanks to the wonderful world wide web.

Of course, I am going with natural and new age theme!

Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

Simply mix 2 1/2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and a few drops of essential oils. Any of the citrus oils would go beautifully with this. For the full tutorial, go here. Put it into a pretty jar with some ribbon, a cute spoon and a home-made tag. Wonderful!

Christmas Tea

Oh how I love my tea and I also love these cute jars from Ikea, which I have a zillion of! I am looking forward to making some of this blend up for family and friends. Choose organic black tea and organic spices for extra goodness. Find some pretty Christmas ribbon and make some tags or find some free printable tags online.

Quote Crockery

This very cool idea has been going viral on Pinterest and Facebook. I can’t wait to try it. I can imagine all my favourite quotes on a whole dinner set! Draw some of the kid’s favourite characters with coloured Sharpies onto plates or a funny moustache for Dad onto a mug. The ideas are endless. Check out your local op shop for some white crockery and get into it! Go here to see how to do it.

Photo candles

How beautiful is this idea I found on Pinterest? I couldn’t find the original website, but the instructions were on the pin. Use glass vases (try the op shop!) Then print out your black and white photos on vellum (from a scrapbooking store or Spotlight) and glue them (or use double sided tape) to the outside of the vase. Add a soy tealight candle and you have a beautiful and heart-warming gift for family and friends!

Oil Diffuser

I love my aromatherapy oils! First, get yourself some good quality oils (check out the ones at Twenty 8). Then all you need is a pretty jar or bottle (try the op shop), some bamboo skewers and a carrier oil like almond or jojoba. I have also seen it done with twigs from the garden for a really rustic look. Go here to see how it’s done.

Aromatherapy Playdough

I used to make this all the time when my cherubs were little, but with a little imagination, it transforms beautifully into a special gift. Make a whole set of play dough, each with their own natural colour and scent! Use Hoppers natural food colouring and good quality oils so you know your littlies will be safe. You can even name them fun things, make labels and package in some upcycled containers. Go here to see how it’s done.

Upcycled Jewellery Rack

How sweet is this!! Find a piece of driftwood or old bit of wood you have lying around. Go to the opshop or hardware store and find some cute door knobs. Attach. I even think I could manage to do this one! You could make it a coat or tie rack for the men in your life using slightly more masculine knobs (ooh that sounded a bit rude). Get creative! Go here for the details.

Upcycled Tyre Swing.

A seriously cute and budget friendly idea for the kids. Get an old tyre, paint, attach hooks and chain and find a tree. Lots of fun! Go here for the info.

Okay, so that is some of the very funky and clever ideas I have found so far! We still have a few weeks to go until the fat man arrives, so we are busy thinking and plotting and planning. I am really pleased at how fun this is turning out to be!

I would love to hear from you. Do you make handmade gifts for Christmas? Do you have any more ideas or links to share with us?

Make your own (mostly) organic face wash

April 20, 2012 · 18 Comments

Make your own (mostly) organic face wash

Our skin is our largest organ and will absorb what we put onto it, straight into our blood stream. Think how nicotine patches work!

When you start really looking at all the products we use and what’s in them, it will freak you out! This short video explains it really well for those of us without a science degree. You can also check how toxic your cosmetics are at Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.

I have been using natural skin care for a few years now. In a perfect world, I would love to be able to afford organic products, for the whole family, all of the time. But, seeing as it’s not a perfect world, I have to be content with finding ways to avoid the toxic chemicals that are within my budget.

One option I am investigating more and more is making my own products at home. I like to keep it simple though, as I don’t want to spend hours tracking down unusual ingredients and fiddling around like a mad scientist!

One thing I have been able to make at home, really easily, is face wash. In fact it’s embarrassingly easy. It’s also very economical – which is handy with kids who like to splash stuff around!

I start with Dr Bronners Unscented Baby Castile Soap and then add essential oils. I decant it into smaller bottles, then I add essential oils, shake well and label. You only need to use five drops of the mix to wash your face – told you it was economical!

DIY Acne Face Wash

For the teenagers, who need a good face wash for acne, I use:

100ml Dr Bronners Pure Castile Soap

10 drops of tea-tree oil

10 drops of eucalyptus oil

10 drops of manuka oil*

10 drops of lavender oil

*Manuka oil is an essential oil I picked up in New Zealand. It is the pure essential oil from the manuka tree (yep, same one as the honey!) It is absolutely incredible – I find it to be much more powerful than tea tree or eucalyptus. If you can’t source it, then just leave it out.

I usually just play around with whatever essential oils I have on hand, so experiment yourself! You can also add things like some herb-infused water, jojoba oil and rose-hip oil.

That’s it. Pretty easy, right?

If you are interested in learning more about making products yourself, take a look at these awesome DIY beauty recipes. They also have all the ingredients you need as well!

Do you DIY?