23April2008
Posted by Diane under: Herbalism; Homemade Products; Mommy Care; Remedies.
Kiss those kiddies all you want, and without fear! You know there’s no lead in your lip balm when you make your own. Here’s the basics for creating lip balm, with some additional instructions to help you personalize your creation.
Basic Lip Balm:
4 Tbs. almond oil
1 Tbs. grated beeswax
1 tsp. honey
Over very low heat, warm up the oil and beeswax until all the wax melts. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the honey. Pour into a small jar with a wide opening, and stir it occasionally until it is cool. Always keep your balm in a cool place so it doesn’t melt and separate.
With the above basic recipe, you are now able to add some oils and make the balm your own. Right after stirring in the honey, and before it cools and solidifies, you can add essential oils. Try 10 drops of peppermint for cooling peppermint balm. Or add 10 drops grapefruit essential oil with 5 drops lavender. Another nice one: 5 drops chamomile with 10 drops neroli oil. Or for sensitive lips, try 10 drops rose oil.
For extra help with chapped lips, you can take a Vitamin E capsule (400-IU), puncture it, and add the contents in when you add the honey.
22April2008
Posted by Diane under: Activities for Kids.
It’s Earth Day once again, and if you frequent dkMommy Spot, chances are you like to recycle, eat organic vegetables, and living on the fringe. So you’re probably wondering what you might do to celebrate Earth Day with your kids. This is a fun one for children, because there are so many hands-on activities you can do; and with the springtime weather in abundance, there’s no better time for taking the kids into the great outdoors to get to know their planet a little better.
Recycle: Alright, so cleaning out the garage doesn’t sound like such a great activity. But if you set up some boxes to help your kids sort through all those plastic bottles and piles of cardboard, they may just enjoy a trip to the recycling center to see what it’s like. And you’ll have an item to check off your spring cleaning list.
Plant Something Green: Make an excursion out of visiting a greenhouse and pick out some plants or a tree to put in the ground back home. Let the kids pick out their own annual, like a marigold or petunia, or get a special tree. Trek back to the house and dig in some dirt, explaining how trees and plants add oxygen and clean the air. Kids will enjoy watching their plant or tree grow throughout the summer or beyond!
Head for the Woods: Get a plant or herb guide and take your kids out for a hike. Help them identify plants and talk about the uses for those plants. But don’t pick anything unless you know it’s not illegal to do so! And never take more of a plant than you’ll use.
Clean out the Toy Box: Help your kids go through some of their old toys and choose the ones they don’t play with anymore. Take the toys to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army for a great way to recycle. Kids will feel good knowing another child will get to play with it too, possibly a child who would otherwise not be able to afford a brand new toy. Talk about other ways to recycle and reuse our old items, like clothes, etc. Make sure to take some of your own items too. Kids learn a lot by seeing you do what you’re asking of them.
20April2008
Posted by Diane under: Article; Great Blogs.
I wanted to pass on an interesting site called Alltop. They have several sections to peruse if you’re in the mood for discovering some new websites and blogs, and they also have a mom blog site at www.moms.alltop.com. I’ve been having fun tinkering around with it and finding some interesting sites. My book blog, carp(e)libris reviews, is on www.books.alltop.com also.
No need to thank me for getting you hooked! (Okay, just send chocolates.)
18April2008
Posted by Diane under: Article.
I ran across an interesting mommy blog this morning that shared her findings on a new book called “My Beautiful Mommy”. This charming tale tells the story of a little girl witnessing her mother going through plastic surgery transformations to her tummy, boobs, etc. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share this wonderful and heartwarming story of a girl who will grow up knowing her own body will not be good enough if she turns out looking anything like her mom in pre-plastic mode.
I think the plastic surgeon who wrote this has been spending too many hours playing Miss Bimbo.
17April2008
Posted by Diane under: Health; Recipes.
I did a post awhile ago on how to eat flax seed, and it’s been quite the popular little post. I wanted to provide you with some flax recipes since they’re so healthy but few people actually know what to do with them. I came across a site that is loaded with interesting recipes containing flax from Golden Valley Flax. I noticed they also sell flax on this site; not a paid post, just passing on something good.
Spiffyman offers a recipe for Super Flax Muffins that I think I’ll try out this evening.
HealthRecipes.com also offers a few interesting flax recipes, including some hot flax cereal that I would suggest you eat only if you’re already used to flax because it’s a lot of seed! As with all these recipes, that old adage “too much of a good thing” applies. So I wouldn’t recommend having flax dinner night at home with all these recipes unless you really have nowhere to go tomorrow and there’s a bathroom available for each member of the household. ‘Nuf said!
Now go grind some flax.
I plan on trying out some of the recipes; if you try any, let me know what you thought.
