MYO: All Natural Baby Powder or Dusting Powder

This fun little project was so quick and easy I'm certain anyone can do it in just minutes! It's as easy as 1.2.3... Just think- you can  make your own apothecary creations! It's so much fun, I'm going to share with you and I hope you will give it a try!

First you need to have a baby powder shaker! I just saved my old one, a travel size bottle from a gift pack that was given to me because I'm a packrat frugal! But you can buy one, or just get a clean empty spice bottle with a shaker lid. 

1. Gather Supplies.

The next you need to do is gather your ingredients! Put them all out on your work surface to make it easier. 

 You will need:

2. Measure and Whisk together.

 3 T Arrowroot powder

4 T Cornstarch 

2 T Cosmetic grade clay

Essential oils as desired.2-4 drops.

                                                                           Then use the recipe to measure out your ingredients. Stir them well with a wire whisk. 

Then... 

Wait for it...

3. Pour into shaker.

                                                                            Use a funnel to pour your HOME MADE ALL NATURAL BABY POWDER in your shaker. Don't forget to label it, with ingredients in case you forget. 

Go ahead, laugh out loud at how simple that was! (and try to refrain from kicking yourself for not doing it earlier!)

 

 Now go find an adorable baby butt and sprinkle some on!

Here are a few tips: 

*If you want it scented you can try adding a couple drops of essential oils. Lavender is a good one for babies. But take it easy- start with 2 drops and go from there. You can always add more but you can't take it back.

*Keep in mind that if your baby is sensitive to new products their could be a reaction, so know your baby, know their skin and act accordingly. 

*For a slow healing rash or other skin issues, you can even add powdered herbs like comfrey to help it heal. Try the herbs in a separate batch and stick with the basic batch for every day use. Use about 1-2 tsp of each powdered herb, depending on their strength, for this size recipe. 

*You can use the same basic recipe and concept above with mint oil, just a drop or two, for a cooling deodorizing dusting powder for mama to wear in the summer heat! I love it!

So there you have it- Fast - Fun- Refreshing- and Cheap!
 Home made body products for you and your family that are good for you and good for your wallet!

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands." Proverbs 31:13 KJV

Blessings,

Staci

Annnd Roll Film...

We'reeee Baaaaaaaaack  
We're creepy and we're cooky, we're little, big, and loopy, we're a home school family...

Baby boy turned 1!

Well ok, maybe not creepy, but definitely cooky. Hello again! :-) 

I know - I've been insanely busy absent for quite some time. Such is the life of a mom/teacher/wife/business owner/blogger. LOL Here are a few of the things we've been up to lately:

"Tractor" rides with daddy!

      Our youngest baby boy isn't a baby anymore! :-( He just celebrated his first birthday. Not to worry though- he's still very determined to be at the breast and attached to my hip - and I am totally ok with that! :-) I like them to stay with mama as long as possible, it helps things not seem to go by so quick!

  The spring time routine of mowing lawns in between the rain storms has started! And daddy thought he'd make it special and share a few rides with the kiddos! (Sans blade and low speed of coarse) What a loving daddy!

And below you can see that we are actually crazy enough to BBQ when ever we want. We enjoyed this one on a nice crisp cold day. From left you have smoked turkey, smoked marinated ahi tuna, and yummy southern style BBQ steak. (and no we didn't eat it all at the same meal :-) Sometimes I save time this way- I cook enough ahead to use for other meals.

And lip smackin' BBQ!

 So there are a few highlights... OK- these are all the glamorous parts, my favorite moments from recent times. But I have to say I am very excited to be back! I have been hard at work, snapping pictures and planning lots of fun things to share with you all! (all- ok I know I'm not a celebrity! :-) I can handle that - but I'm excited anyway because there are a lot of things in the works right now. Stay tuned!

^"6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: ⁷ Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, ⁸ Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8 KJV 

Blessings,

Staci

Depression Pie

AKA - Pinto Pie - This is a neat recipe. Probably from the south. Definitely discovered or made popular during the great depression. I'm not sure this exact recipe would have been used by the poorest of families, but at the very least a variation of it. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. And well when all you have is beans, you find a way to make them go down and stay there. As funny as that may sound, eating beans day after day gets difficult, and you find yourself choking them down or going without because you can't stomach it. Well at some point a very creative mama came up with a way to help with that. Here is the recipe:

Pinto Bean Pie

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs beaten
1/3 cup butter
1 heaping cup mashed, cooked pinto beans
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
whipped topping or ice cream
Beat until creamy the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and butter. Add pinto beans; blend well. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 375 deg. for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 deg. and bake an additional 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve with whipped topping or a scoop of ice cream. Optionally you could add a cup of walnuts or pecans. This will give it more of a pecan pie taste.

 Now, thinking in true desperation mode, you can cut back up to half of the sugar and it will still be palatable, serve without toppings, and use any wild harvested nuts. This is the way things were done, making do with what they had.

" ⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4 KJV

Blessings,
Staci

I am NOT going to smile!

Lately, things have been hard! Dreams are dreams and life is well... life. We have life so much easier than most, here in the states. But when you're in the thick of it, it's hard to see beyond it. Some days I just really feel like I CAN'T smile. Can't and don't want to. I figure I'm not alone, so I wanted to briefly share with you something that was on my heart. When you feel like this...

 Turn to the word... the word of the Lord. I cannot explain how, but for some reason, at least for me. Reading the word the Father has given us seems to set things right when we're low or tired or discouraged. I know that the personal relationship we have with Him is a large part of it. But I also know there is strength given THROUGH the word. So let me encourage you, when you're feeling down, drained or just plain uninspired. Read, pray and refocus on Him. The world won't be set right in the blink of an eye, but our vision being focused on Him will help us to see our world in a right light.

^"16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." John 17:16-18 KJV

Blessings,
Staci

Kind disclaimer: the above photos are copyrighted, contain my children and belong to me. Please do not repost them, share them, or use them for any reason. You're welcome to share a link back to the post if you like. Thank you :-)

NEW Giveaway You Won't Want to Miss!

Autumn Beck of All About Cloth Diapers is hosting a HUGE giveaway she's calling My Favorite Things! She is giving away a new gift every day for 12 days (skipping sunday). She's giving away cool items from Bee All Natural, Monkey Foot Designs, Ragababe, and Abby's Lane. There are lots and lots of different ways to enter and you can complete one entry or do them all. Best of all you can win MORE THAN ONE PRIZE! Today is day 4 and she's not done yet! So get on over to All About Cloth Diapers and enter to win her My Favorite Things Giveaway!

If you like giveaways, be sure to go to my Facebook fan page, for our Windy Willow Pond store and "like" us! When we get to 38 fans we'll have a giveaway AND offer a discount code to ALL our fans too!

Thanks for reading! And come back soon, we're working on some new articles on lots of different topics!

Be blessed!
Staci
 
ps: you can find it here.