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

Tidbits ~ Work Starts

 

Homemade detangler was restocked.  Pretty easy to make, starting with a tea made from marshmallow root.  I think I've been using it for about a year now.

Current crochet blanket.  I wanted to use the granny square stripes to use up this yarn, but you can see that the color varies from skein to skein.  Oh well.  I have one more skein, so I hope it creates the right size.  It is a bit larger than my usual lap afghan.  It's been a slow project with other work around here.

Our handy-man showed up.  Work has begun on the room.  Carpet is ripped out (wooden subfloor treated), storage area drywall replaced, and mudded, ceiling light removed and cleaned, and ceiling has a new coat of paint.  Much more to do, but making progress.

In the meantime, I started to purge my books (many of these are non-fiction), and filled 2 1/2 boxes so far.  I found a file folder container that had about 25 plastic document envelopes (with business card slot).  Those went into the donation box as well. I have no idea why we had them.

At about mid-afternoon, I started to get pretty bad sinus pressure. I have not had any sinus issues in years now.  I downed four thieves, took a nap (very unusual for me), and made a plan for today.  There will be some herbal tea brewing going on.  One of our daughter's had a really bad sinus headache last weekend, so I am wondering if it's the seasonal air change or the air itself.

I let my chickens out into their open run mid-morning, and went to take a look-see about 1pm.  Sure enough hawk droppings all around the fence, and my ladies were huddled inside behind their feeder.  Sigh.  The new run is on the to-do list.  Weather has been a big issue.

In the midst of purging, I found another journal.  Imagine that!!  Ha ha ha!  My canning journal.  Now that it's just the two of us, I do not track what we have in stock.  I just go look, as I prepare meal plans.  Chalk that up for more grocery list/to-do list scrap paper.

I'm down to purging some manuscript log books (copies of anything I published in the past years), but this is only happening due to the room being repaired and renovated.  Otherwise, I don't think I'd be sparked to even look at this stuff.  Add to the fact, who wants to leave the house, and leave the handy-man here alone (gotta keep an eye on things).

It's a brisk 25°F this morning, so I don't expect my handy-man too early.  My husband forgot to bring home some grocery items, so I'm going to make some changes with dinner, but that's okay too.

Typically, I have a friend make a grave blanket for me to put on my parents graves, but it didn't happen.  I am not even sure I can get any there before Christmas as this pace.

Tidbits ~ Work Starts © December 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Just the Bits

We hit a high of 53° yesterday, and the chickens were loving it, as well as the full day of sunshine.  

The paint brushes/rollers took a break for a few days. February is starting out with some hiccups.  

However, I have finished washing down the rest of the hallway walls (all but a small section).  I can now proceed to spackle any holes, allow them to dry.

 

Laundry got caught up.  I had some to fold and some to put away.  I also caught up on some paperwork.  Bathrooms are getting cleaned.

Healthy breakfasts were prepared.  We decided that the next time I make this sweet potato hash, we prefer two eggs per serving.

Meals got made and meal prep (lentils cooking for a dinner recipe).

I got another rug washed.  I love the ones we bought at the flea market in Amish country.  They are the "washable" ones, and more expensive, but boy do they wash up nicely.  I have had cheaper ones from the box stores, that did not hold up to washing them in the washing machine. 

I had time to look through a library book I've had for over a week now.  There is one interesting recipe in this book that would come in handy for someone who is sick (Chicken Noodle in a jar).  They say to use a "Gift Jar" but I'm guessing a quart jar with 4 cups of dry egg noodles.

The book also has gift jar recipe for dog and cat treats, and body scrubs.

I made homemade hair detangler (spray).  I will be back with a review after I use it for a while.  It was super easy to make.  I have never brewed marshmallow root, and when I squeezed the cheesecloth, when straining it, the tea has a conditioner type feel to it.  I put it in a spray bottle, and it will need to be stored in the refrigerator (has no preservatives in it).

Go figure, just when I start tackling blog drafts, the draft selection function is not working properly.  Now it brings up all your posts, and it when you select "drafts" it should only bring up your drafts. 

Just the Bits © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart