Homemade Self-Care Updates ~ Other Homemade "stuff"

I made homemade hair detangler last year, and used it all year long. I even bought a small spray bottle for traveling with (and it worked great).  I have added lemon essential oil to it now.

I discovered a hair brush, after my hair dresser used one on my hair one visit.

 It's called a detangler brush, and they do exist in your big box stores.  I bought one, and wow!  I can brush out my hair much more easily with this tool (it's a small brush, but hard to tell in the photo).  Not sure how they make the brush, but I use a lot less homemade detangler now, and it takes a lot less time to brush my wet hair out with the detangler brush.  

Remember the homemade face toner? As well as the homemade face serum?  I am still using both, and love them both.  In fact, the serum (I made my own rosehip oil for it first), is said to reduce scar damage, and help the skin grow new skin cells.  I used it all year on a very small scar on my chin and it's barely visible anymore.  I am also using it on the spider bite scar, and my husband was shocked at how it's hardly visible as well.  It takes time, but the "serum" works great on scars too.

I'm not sure if I have a past post on the facial serum, but the recipe is from the same source online.

Homemade body wash.  I love this stuff!  Here is how I prepare it (with organic ingredients):

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup jojoba oil

1/4 cup castor oil

1/4 cup pure liquid castile soap (I use Bronner's)

1 1/2 Tbsp. Glycerin

20 drops Frankincense essential oil

I used a funnel (used only for such homemade items), and poured it into a BPA free squeeze bottle. I just shake it up before using, but you could put it in an amber pump bottle too.

I started with a small amount first, because I read that some people can have allergic reactions to castor oil.  I did not, and I really like the body wash.

Homemade nourishing nail oil.  I am still using it, but it's too early to say if it's doing what it should be doing.  My cuticles look much healthier however.  Long work days outside, may require this extra self-care. 

Homemade Yarrow Salve.

We love this stuff.  After someone told me that you can simply put fresh yarrow leaves (and not by a doctor) into your nose to stop a nose bleed, I was interested in making a salve.  Guess what?  I tend to get a few nose bleeds in the winter, due to dry air (or longer than usual stays in a dry air motel/hotel room).  Twice I have used the salve on a tissue to stop my nose bleed, and it worked within a very short time vs. without it.  We've used it for cuts, and for it's healing properties too.  I will definitely make this on a regular basis, and next time will fill a travel container too.

Homemade Window Cleaner.

Love this stuff.  It's worked great on mirrors and windows.  I just used it to clean the outside of a window, to see how it would dry (or even clean) during these cold days, and it worked great.  It makes bird watching, or wild animal watching much clearer, ha ha!  I do have to mix up some more.  I can't say if it is costing me less, but it is inexpensive to make.  The best part, is contains no weird chemicals.  

The ingredients are from an online source (on my blog post here):  "Looking around the house . . ." It is ingredients most people have around the house, other than buying distilled water.  We have well water, so I can't say I have tried city water for this.

Homemade Self-Care Updates ~ Other Homemade "stuff" © January 2025 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash

 

I know there is one more holiday approaching, but I hope you all had a very nice Christmas.  Our Christmas week is typically full of celebrations - our youngest's birthday, Christmas Day, and our Wedding Anniversary.  A lot to celebrate in one week for sure.

My husband only got Christmas day off of work this year.  It seems the kids also had to work the same days. 

Our weather is taking a turn for warmer temperatures, and tomorrow they expect it to be around 60°F here.  Crazy for sure.  However, it is the perfect weather to take down all of the outside Christmas lights.  I would love to keep them up for New Year's Eve, but the weather will turn right back to very cold temperatures by next weekend.

It's the perfect weather to work on outdoor projects, but the best weather days are during the week.  The home repair list is dwindling, but it's still lingering ha ha! 

Two of the kids are house shopping, and we are trying to help, but it's not a great time to buy right now.

I have been seeing a lot of cardinals here lately.  I do need to clean my windows ha ha!  Next time I will go outside to snap a photo.

We made one batch of our traditional butter cut out cookies (gave most of them to others), and one batch of a new einkorn recipe from Jovial recipes - Peanut Butter Blossoms.  They contain einkorn flour (no white flour), but they do contain granulated sugar and brown sugar.  I used the Hershey kisses, but these went to work with my husband for a treat.  We kept just a few for us.  They are very good.  Next time I will try breaking up an organic white chocolate or dark chocolate bar, and use those in place of the kiss candy.  I got 43 cookies using my small pampered chef scoop.

We also baked a healthier version of "chex mix" and have already given half of it away (one kiddo loves it).  We all love it, so I'll have a post on that soon.  It's a treat only at Christmas and New Year's Eve for us.

I'm still staying on track with my fitness, and otherwise healthy meals despite the holidays and cookies.  I have a few new salad recipes to try soon, and we are focusing on the freezer and pantry for the next month.  Other than buying  fresh vegetables and fruits, it should be a fun monthly meal plan.

I mixed up a new recipe to try - homemade body wash.  Winter brings dry skin, and I wanted to give it a try.  We do typically only use goat's milk soap, but this may help a bit more.   I'm only making a small amount to make sure I am not allergic to any of the ingredients.  I'll update on it after using it for a while.

In other news . . .

I was washing dishes, and saw something jumping around out in the yard.  It was this cat, and he/she (most likely a he by the coloring), was pouncing on something.  I had to laugh.  It was out hunting for food, and caught it.  I've see it hanging around before, but it's been weeks since I've seen it.  I could not get a close enough photo to see if it was a catch and release (tipped ear) cat.

I have not been watching he morning or evening news, so I really don't know what's going on in the "real" world lately.  I have spent more time sipping herbal tea and reading, and a few minutes of easy crochet work.  Once the weather turns cold again, I will check my yarn stash and start a new lap afghan.  I may have enough to donate by next winter (not enough time this year with home repairs/purging/cleaning, and re-organizing (but so worth it).

I have finally opened my new planner and started filling it in already.  Which reminded me about how people spend their entire day looking forward to the end of the day, or end of the week, instead of embracing the moments as they are in real time.  Don't forget to find joy in the present moments, as you can't get that time back.

Do you do anything "fun" to embrace a moment or moments in your day?  Sit outside and watch the birds?  Watch the sunrise or sunset?  Plant a new plant indoors?  I would love to hear your winter activities or plans.  

I was gifted a new planter container last May (gulp), and have yet to fill it.  I had planned to try and bring in Thai basil, but that failed.  Rosemary is very difficult for me to winterize indoors, so I'm looking into maybe another herbal plant.

I have not yet found any local line dancing, but we are continuously seeking out activities for us this winter.  If anything, we'll get some evening walks in.

New Cookie Recipe Tried ~ Homemade Body Wash © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart