Vitamin C melt aways

These little nuggets of melt in your mouth mints are just what you need on a winters day. They are packed with Vitamin C and so good tasting that even your hardest to please member of the family will rave. Cook time: 30 Min  Prep time: 30 Min I started out with a plain butter mint recipe by my friend Pat Duran and switched it up to create these.

1 1/2 c granulated sugar

1/2 c frozen OJ concentrate

1 /2 butter, softened

1/8 tsp vanilla extract or orange essential or flavored oil

 2 to 3 dash(es) orange food coloring or use you favorite or none at all

1. Butter a 15x10 inch baking pan. Place pan in refrigerator to keep cool until needed. In a large heavy saucepan with a lid, combine sugar,water and butter. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon over high heat until sugar is dissolved.

2. Bring to a boil; cover and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down. Uncover; cook over medium heat, without stirring, until candy thermometer reads 260 degrees (hard ball stage).

3. Remove from heat; stir in peppermint oil and food coloring. Pour into chilled pan without scraping. Let stand undisturbed for 10 minutes. With a rubber spatula, gently fold edges of hot candy into the center of the pan, repeating 2 or 3 times until the candy is cool enough to handle.

4. Butter your fingers well, form candy into a ball, then begin stretching until candy becomes porous and satiny about 5 minutes. Pull out into a 1/2 inch rope.( like making taffy)

5. Using buttered scissors, cut candy into 1/2 inch pieces. Store candy pillows in an airtight container for at least 24 hours before serving.So the flavor melds and ripens. Makes about 1 1/2 #'s

6. Note:you can change up the color or use no color.

Monterey Bay Spice Company shared this scrub

Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Grapeseed Body Scrub

1/4 cup turbinado sugar
1 tablespoon of sea salt
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, stirring to blend. Transfer into a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. To use, massage a small amount onto skin with fingertips, using small circular motions. Rinse well with warm water.

Get the spices & grapeseed oil you need to make this - www.herbco.com

It not only sounds good enough to eat you can as all the ingredients are digestible.  So happy scrubbing or enjoy it on toast, either way it is very healthy for you.

Recycling crayons

http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled-Crayons-for-Valentines-Day-Kids-Craft/

For Gun Practice

http://www.instructables.com/id/Ballistics-Gel-1/

PAIN RELEIVER SALVE

Thank you "Witches and pagans on facebook" for this one

Mix together 1 oz of chickweed (reduces inflammation and aids in healing), 1 oz of
wormwood (a great pain reliever), and 1 ounce of yarrow (an anti-bacterial agent that
also helps relieve pain). The yarrow plant contains achillein and achilleic acid.
These substances reduce the clotting time of blood, so they help stop any bleeding.
Yarrow also has pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties that are similar to aspirin.
Add the mixture of herbs to 2 pints of olive oil and simmer 3 hours.
Strain and add 3 ounces of beeswax and 1 teaspoon of tincture of benzoin.
Test for consistency before pouring into wide mouth containers.

A suppliment oil for your dog

We all love our pups. We would be lost without them but sometimes we don't think about their health until they are no longer healthy. This quick and easy supplement will help your dog maintain his youthful vigor. This makes 1 cup or 48 teaspoons. That is enough for 24 days

1/4 c flax seed oil

1/4 c cod liver oil

1/4 c canola oil

1/4 c olive oil

 

 Place oils in brown bottle and shake well. Store in refrigerator. Add two teaspoons to the dogs food each day. Can be add to dry food as well.

 

flax seed oil can boost your dog's health, aid in the treatment of cancer and play a major role in maintaining the immune system. Inflammatory disease like a bowel disease or arthritis can be maintained and even treated by feeding your dog flaxseed oil on a regular basis. heart disease in dogs. beneficial as a preventative measure. Implementing fatty acids as a regular part of a dog's diet can help prevent high cholesterol, blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. If your dog has already been diagnosed with heart disease, using flaxseed oil should still be a priority alongside his prescribed medications. Flaxseed oil is also helpful in the treatment and prevention of cancer in dogs. omega-3 fatty acids work to slow down cancer growth or prevent it in the first place. Better yet, regular intake of this substance can boost the immune system over time, helping your dog's body fight against the cancer on its own or prevent free radicals from converting more cells into cancer. Making flaxseed oil a regular part of your diet can also prevent or control allergies. Dogs that suffer from allergies often have poor immune systems to begin with. Another benefit of flaxseed oil for your dog is its affect on his coat. If your dog suffers from a dry or very dull coat, fatty acids help to improve the texture of his coat, making for fuller, shinier hair. While superficial, a dull coat is often a sign of other health problems like a weakened immune system. Since flaxseed oil makes the coat shiny, it is apparent that this also helps the health of your pet.

 

cod liver oil Health Benefits of Cod Liver Oil for Dogs Cod liver oil is a natural fish oil that provides the omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, as well as naturally occurring levels of Vitamin A and D. The omega 3's in cod liver oil supports: joint health cardiovascular health skin and coat health visual development brain health energy production anti-inflammatory environment Vitamin A in cod liver oil supports: vision health growth immune system Vitamin D in cod liver oil supports: bone and joint health phosphorus and calcium balance for healthy bone cells muscle contractions

 

 canola oil It contains Lineolic acid (omega 6), an unsaturated essential fatty acid that plays an important role in the regulation and functioning of every organ and cell in the body. Linoleic acid also helps to balance and heal the immune system as well as reduce inflammatory reactions such as those seen in arthritis and allergic reactions.

 

olive oil Conditions your dog's coat from the inside out with a daily serving, which helps to impart moisture and gleam to even the driest, dullest fur. Circulation improves and breathing comes more easily with a daily dose of olive oil -- it helps increase blood flow and, in humans, lessens the effects of asthma. So, by extension, it can be a dogsend for brachycephalic breeds such as the Bulldog, who sometimes struggle to breathe. Olive oil helps prevent the cognitive decline associated with aging in all species, so be sure to serve it to senior dogs at least once daily, to keep their minds beautiful and cloud-free. This is especially important if your dog is a super-smartie, such as a Border Collie, Poodle, or Mensa mutt. Dogs don't live nearly as long as we want them to, but nothing looks sadder than a young dog going gray before his time. Olive oil prevents free radical cell oxidation which can lead to premature aging. Rich in monounsaturated fats, olive oil prevents and lessens the effects of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Whether the portly pepperpot is canine or human, if there are some unwanted pounds that need shedding, olive oil will help grease the weight-loss engine. The monounsaturated  fats in olive oil actually encourage pound-melting by breaking down the fat inside fat cells, to get rid of belly fat and reduce insulin sensitivity. With high levels of antioxidants -- including polyphenols, vitamin E, chlorophyll, and carotenoids -- olive oil is very effective at arming the body's immune system so it can efficiently fight off disease.

The teens are right on top if cutting edge ideas for hair

Tipping your hair without harsh dyes. You do this with Kool aid yes Kool aid. Watch this

Or dyeing it with koolaid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlGCChOrH2Q

You can also do your whole head

Then there is chalking

Here is another one, hair chalking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJVBFS0o1zw

Lavender Beeswax Soap

This one was shared by a friend Angela M Pietrantonio from JAP But she shared on  on facebook.

4 ounces unscented, clear glycerin soap
1 teaspoon grated beeswax
¼ teaspoon lavender fragrance oil
Violet food coloring -- (or one drop each blue & red)

Melt the soap over low heat until liquefied. Add beeswax and stir until melted.

Remove from heat and add the fragrance oil and food coloring. Stir until blended.

Pour into mold and let set for 3 hours.

Removing a splinter

easy throat soothing mix

Got a Sore throat!

Thin slice some onions  and put in a mason jar. Cover  with sugar, yes  regular granulated sugar. Put a lid on it, put in the refrigerator and shake often. The sugar will extract the juice from the onion (like when covering strawberries with sugar). After sugar is all dissolved and onions are syrup-like, pour them into a strainer, and strain the syrup into another jar. This onion syrup that's excellent for the throat. Put your lid on it and store in the refrigerator. 

 To Use: Take a tablespoon as needed

Sore Muscle Rub

 

1/4 cup cocoa butter
1 teaspoon beeswax
1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E
15 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
15 drops Rosemary essential oil

mic cocoa butter and bees wax in mic until melted. add the essential oils and vitamin E stir well and put into a jar to harden. label, date and keep in medicine cabinet.

Gentle dog shampoo

About as pure a shampoo as you can get, this recipe is detergent-free; in addition, the healing properties of Aloe Vera gel helps to sooth skin irritations.
Makes 2 cups of shampoo

2 c water

2 Tbsp aloe vera gel

2 tsp liquid castile soap

1 tsp vegetable oil or glycerin

 

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Shake to blend. Get the pet's coat wet, pour on the shampoo a few tablespoons at a time, lathering as you go. Work the shampoo in with your hands. Rinse thoroughly.  Towel them dry.

 

I add 15 drops peppermint essential oil for fleas. 

Triple antibiotic salve (No they are not all the same)

This easy to make salve is so much better than those store bought versions. No added chemicals.
This is the one I made and here is what it will do for you.
Grapefruit seed extract  (immune-system stimulator, anti-oxident, kills bacteria and viruses including E.Coli, Antiviral and anti-fungal, antibiotic, anti cancer, kills yeast, effective in killing over "800 bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single and multi-celled parasites." No other naturally occurring anti-microbial can come close to these results.
Lavender EO (pain relief, improves circulation, antibiotic, anti-bacterial, chicken pox, scabies, scars, sores, burns, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.
Peppermint EO (analgesic, anesthetic, antiseptic, antigalactagogue, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, astringent, pain relief, anti-bacterial and kills skin infections, increases blood flow.

Triple antibiotic salve
1/4 cup cocoa butter
1 tablespoon bees wax
25 teaspoon grapefruit seed extract
25 drops Lavender essential oil
25 drops peppermint essential oil

Put the cocoa butter and beeswax in a microwave safe glass bowl and mic 30 seconds and stir, repeat until all is melted. take out stir, add the essential oils and grapefruit seed extract. mix again and put into a container with a lid. Keep on medicine cabinet.

These are other  antibiotics you may want to try and what they do. you can switch up any essential oils including the grape seed extract above for these below.

Manuka Honey (works with MRSA, antibacterial, infections, anti-inflammatory and pain relief )
Thyme ( antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-cancer and a strong antioxidant) Do not use if pregnant.
Eucalyptus (antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti inflammatory),
Usnea (effective against staph, strep, pneumococcus and tuberculosis bacteria),
Golden Seal ( antibiotic, immune system enhancer, anti-inflammatory and astringent)

Using Devils Claw

I started getting interested in Devils Claw a few years back when I read in many pain rubs the name devils claw. from there I started using it myself

Below is three Devils Claw recipes each with a different purpose plus how to create the infused oil.

Use salve as a relief for headaches and for use with general nerve type pain.

Devils Claw (Grapple Plant) also known as Leopards or Wolfs Bane or wood spider. Genus: Harpagophytum procumbens (Harpagophytum means hook plant in Greek.Procumbens means prostrate in Latin) Grows in the warm African savanna or grasslands. Proboscidea Louisianica is the U.S. plant. It’s the plant’s roots and potato-like tubers that are valued the most and harvested for medicinal purposes. It soothes and heals bruises, sprains and relieves irritations from trauma, arthritis and muscle pain, all forms of Arthritis ( Rheumatoid or Osteo). Devil’s Claw – the roots and tubers are used to make the oil. The thick, secondary roots are sliced and dried. An ointment is made from the root material which is applied to sores, ulcers and boils. In Europe, Canada, and the United States, devil’s claw is widely used for joint inflammation, pain, and treating degenerative disorders of the musculoskeletal system. It was the ingredient in nearly three-fourths of the prescriptions for rheumatism in 2001.

NOTE 1: Devil's claw may interfere with the action of ticlopidine and warfarin, and patients should consult with a physician before combining Devil's claw with these medications

NOTE 2: Devil’s claw should be stored in a closed container, away from light

NOTE 3: I have friends save their old jars from beauty products for me to fill with salves. I love the "night of olay" jars they are milk glass with a dark top. (perfect for keeping light out. Any herbal product can leaching harmful stuff out of plastic so do not use.)

Devils Claw Salve (headaches)

Use for headaches, sore joints and muscles that you do not want heat with

½ cup (8 Tbsp) devils claw infused oil

2 Tbsp bees wax

1 oz cocoa butter

Mix all together and heat in microwave watching so that the beeswax melts, but no longer. 1 do 30 second intervals and stir in between. Take out and mix very well and pour into a waiting jar with a tight fitting lid. Allow to cool before placing the lid on. Keep in a cool dark place like a medicine cabinet.

Note that product will sting if it gets near the eyes so you need to take great care when applying it. It is safest to wear gloves. 

Devils Claw Salve (sore muscles needing heat)

Use for Sore joints and muscles where heat is needed

½ cup (8 Tbsp) devils claw and cayenne pepper infused oil

2 Tbsp bees wax

1 oz cocoa butter

Mix all together and heat in microwave watching so that the beeswax melts, but no longer. 1 do 30 second intervals and stir in between. Take out and mix very well and pour into a waiting jar with a tight fitting lid. Allow to cool before placing the lid on. Keep in a cool dark place like a medicine cabinet.

Note that product will sting if it gets near the eyes so you need to take great care when applying it. It is safest to wear gloves. 

The Infused oil

NOTE: Can oil be made from any powdered herb

You can use this for either of the salves above.

½ cup sweet almond oil of jojoba

¼ cup powdered devils claw

2 tablespoons powdered cayenne pepper (if using)

In a glass container (I use a measuring cup that I only use for salves and lotions) place the powders and oil. Stir. Heat 1 minute in the microwave. Allow to sit 10 minutes. Stir and repeat 4 more times with the last time being 1 ½ minutes. Cool ½ hour and strain through cheese cloth or strainer. (Remember to use separate utensils for this that your family's kitchen ware. Just a good practice as many essential oils may be consumed. So get in the practice.)

Note that product will sting if it gets near the eyes so you need to take great care when applying it. It is safest to wear gloves. 

Devils Claw Muscle Spray

The infused oil can be placed in a spray bottle and used as a muscle rub spray. 

Note that product will sting if it gets near the eyes so you need to take great care when applying it. It is safest to wear gloves. 

A wonderful Video on Yarrow

  http://www.herbfirstaid.com/fe/38466-yarrow


some of his other  videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfj5XuY5SIc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93W0UmZRBUI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIFICiEFQQ0

That hunting trip needs some de-scenting products

Any hunter will tell you it is the lack of human scent that is how they bring an animal in. Since our scent has to be masked, the natural smell of dirt is the number one choice.

As a child we went every year Bow and arrows in hand. My parents only went bow and arrow. Dad said it was the thrill of the hunt. He never killed anything despite the fact that he went every year for more than 50 years. Although I can shoot both a bow and a gun, I myself have never been hunting. But the men I have know, all love it. My husband wants to try his hand next year, we will see, he also said that last year. But for my three brother-in-law's these recipes are gold. Making your own de-scenting products is both cheaper and better for you because you know what is in it.

Easy body wash

1 tablespoon Crafters Choice™ Dirt Fragrance Oil 141
16 oz Castile soap or baby shampoo (fragrance free)

Simply add the fragrance to the bottle and shake. Allow to sit a day or more and use in the shower from head to toe before hunting. 

Laundry detergent 

The second part is re-leaving your cloths of your scent. This is usually done by laundry.

2 c borax (20 mule team)

2 c super washing soda ( arm & hammer)

1/2 c baking soda

2 bars fels naptha laundry soap

4 oz  Crafters Choice™ Dirt Fragrance Oil 141

In large bowl add all the powdered ingredients and mix.

Grate the two bars of laundry soap.

Add grated soap to the powder mix and combine. Sprinkle the dirt fragrance over top, mix well. You can transfer to a container and use it as is or you can whiz it in your food processor to make it a finer texture. allow to set over night and whip again. allow to sit over night and whip again. This will incorporate the scent throughout the laundry soap.

USE 1 - 2 TABLESPOONS PER LOAD ! *DO NOT BE ALARMED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SUDS... PRODUCT WILL CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES.

Liquid laundry detergent

I love it more than store-bought detergent! No need for bleach, fabric softener, and our drain pipes love it, too! Quick and easy to make, and so economical!

Makes 2 Gallons

1 c borax

1 c arm & hammer super washing soda

1 c shredded fels naptha soap (in laundry isle)

30 c water

4 oz Crafters Choice™ Dirt Fragrance Oil 141

Shred your soap. Do NOT mash the soap into a measuring cup. Keep the shreds fluffy, so they will melt more easily. 1/2 cup will be about half of what you grated...or will be equivalent to a nice mound in the cup of your hand.

Put 4 cups water into a pot on stove. Add Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda), and shredded soap. Stir continually over medium heat until all soap is completely dissolved.

In a 2-gallon plastic container, add 8 cups of hot tap water, then add the soap mixture from the pot and stir together. Add 18 more cups of hot water. Stir.

Cover with plastic lid (I use a 2-gallon bucket from Home Depot. The extra large Tupperware bowl can also work.) Let sit 24 hours, and keep the lid on it the entire time.

After 24 hours, the liquid will be a runny gel. Some hardened soap-like pieces may float to the top - discard them. Stir the liquid gel. Your soap is ready. Use 1/2 cup - or a regular liquid detergent lid.

This soap will not be sudsy - but, your pipes will love you, and your laundry will be clean and fresh.

Another easy way to make the laundry detergent

Okay you want to hunt but you do not want to make so much laundry detergent that your family will be wearing dirt scented laundry for the next year and you do not know enough people to make making so much detergent a worth while project. No problem here is a easy 2 cup recipe.

2 cups any fragrance free laundry detergent
1/2 oz Crafters Choice™ Dirt Fragrance Oil 141

Mix together. Allow to sit mix again shaking well to break clumps. Repeat each day for three days and use according to directions the original soap gave you.


Spray for scent disguising

1 (8 oz) clean spray bottle
7 oz distilled water
1 tablespoon Crafters Choice™ Dirt Fragrance Oil 141
1 teaspoon vodka 

In the spray bottle put the fragrance and vodka. add water and shake. allow to mix for 3 or more days and shake before using to spray anything that you need to get your scent off.