DIY After Sun Care Balm Recipe

Use this DIY after sun care balm recipe if you've been in the sun all day.  Even if you don't burn, your skin still need moisture to recover.   After the long winter, few things feel as good as sitting outside in the sunshine.  While I wouldn't say that I have SAD, I definitely feel better when I can get in the sun. As much as I love the sun, I know that I have to be careful because I do tend to burn easily.  When I was a kid, I would get a deep tan and never burned.  As the years went on, I started getting burned and not tanning. My grandmother had skin cancer when I was a teenager, so I use sunscreen on myself and my kids when we will be outside.   Even if you don't get a burn, your skin still needs some love after being in the sun.  This DIY after sun care balm recipe helps soothe irritated skin and puts much needed moisture back in your skin.  

Natural Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

This natural homemade all purpose cleaner recipes is easy to make and can be used on most surfaces in your home. When my oldest was a baby, I started using natural cleaners.  I wanted a more natural home for him, and I wanted to save money.  One of the first things I made was an all purpose cleaner. I've changed the recipe a few times over the last few years and improved it (I think so anyway) with each modification.   One thing that I like about making my own cleaners like this natural all purpose cleaner recipe is that I never run out.  I always have dish soap and vinegar to make a new batch.  If I don't have the essential oils, I can use one or the other until I get more or use different oils.   I'm crazy about this cleaner, but my husband is not.  He doesn't like the smell of vinegar.  It dissipates quickly, so it doesn't bother me.  I'd rather smell vinegar than smell chemical cleaners.  

Instant Pot Sweet Iced Tea Recipe

This Instant Pot sweet iced tea recipe is easy to make.  You can turn on your Instant Pot and walk away with the tea brews.  The tea isn't bitter, so I prefer the taste.  You can make it sweet or unsweet if you prefer. Summer just wasn't summer without my grandmother's iced tea.  She would make a gallon of sweet tea almost every day, so there was always a pitcher in the fridge  When I moved out on my own, I called her for the recipe. For one gallon, she used 14 tea bags and 3 cups of sugar.  Needless to say, it was strong and sweet.  My husband loves real sweet tea, but he doesn't like bitter tea. I've heard of the baking soda trick, but he hated it.  Yes, he could taste a quarter of a teaspoon in a gallon of tea.  He wouldn't drink my tea for about three years after I tried that. I normally make sun tea just because it's easy and low maintenance.  It's not sweet though, and it tastes bitter.   I've made infused water concent

33 Healthy Popsicles Recipes for Kids and Adults

These health popsicles are all made with no refined sugar.  They are perfect for adults or children.   Summer means popsicles.  My kids will go through some popsicles!  I can barely keep the freezer stocked.   I don't like buying store bough treats because they are full of dyes and extra sugars.  Caleb can't have food dyes, and I don't like the extra sugar for any of my kids. Now we make our own frozen treats.  All of these healthy popsicle recipes are easy to make, and you can make them when you have time to enjoy later. I like to use fresh fruit and even some veggies in my homemade frozen pops.  I know my boys don't eat enough fruits and veggies, unless ketchup counts, so this is a great way to sneak more nutrients into their bodies.  

Why You Should Be Wearing SPF Every Day

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Olay. The opinions and text are all mine. You might be surprised to learn that I don’t add an SPF product to my daily skin care routine in the summer.  That’s because SPF is always in my skin care routine. I’ve been using SPF on my face every day since I was a teenager.  Now, in my mid to late 30s, my skin looks great.  When I tell someone my age or that I have a child in college, they are in disbelief.  I was lucky to inherit some good genes, but I attribute most of that to wearing sun protection daily.

Homemade Body Powder Recipe With Essential Oils

Freshen up and add a light scents with this easy homemade body powder.  It absorbs sweat and moisture, so you stay fresh all day. I always joke that I'm going to move south when the kids are grown, but it hit the 90s today, and I legit thought that I was going to melt.  I couldn't even walk outside.  My hair frizzed, and there was no saving my makeup.  By the time I got home, I felt, well, icky.  Now we are in a mad scramble to get the pool open before we all die from the heat.   Nothing beats a nice shower after a hot day, but sometimes you just need to freshen up before you can get to a shower.  That's why I make this homemade body powder recipe with essential oils. Body powders used to be really popular, but they aren't so popular anymore.  I remember walking into Bath and Body Works in the late 90s and getting a tin of body powder.  It was probably in Sun Kissed Raspberry or Cucumber Melon.   I didn't use them for years after that, but then I started again,

DIY Finishing Powder Recipe

It's summer!  It's time for lazy days, swimming, catching fireflies, and outdoor movies.  It's also time for high humidity and temps so high your makeup melts right off.   Luckily, there is one easy DIY recipe that will help keep your makeup looking flawless.  It naturally absorbs sweat and oil while it gives you a flawless airbrushed look and fills in fine lines and large pores. If you go to the drugstore or specialty makeup store, expect to spend anywhere from $10 to $40 or more for a finishing powder.  You can make this one for a few pennies, and it works wonderfully. I had all of the ingredients already, so I didn't even have to spend anything.  If you do have to buy some of the ingredients, you can use them in other recipes, so there's no waste.   Storebought finishing powders can also have questionable ingredients and preservatives.  Since this recipe doesn't have any water, you don't need a preservative.  I know exactly what's

15 Liquid Castile Soap Uses

Ten years ago, when Caleb was still a baby, he developed environmental allergies and breathing problems.  He would later get diagnosed with asthma, but even before then, his allergist suggested that I not use chemicals to clean.  Even that short of a time ago, using natural cleaners wasn't popular. I found some recipes online, tried them, played with them, and came up with my own recipes.  I loved making my own cleaning products because I saved a lot of money and because if I ran out of something, I could just make more.  Most cleaning product recipes use many of the same ingredients, so I just have to keep those on hand to make more of my products. One of the ingredients that I always try to keep on the shelf is liquid castile soap because it's so versatile.  Seriously, you'd be amazed at what all you can use it for!

Dynatrap FlyLight Insect Trap Review and Giveaway Ends 6/25/18

It's summer on the farm, which means planting, yard work, and lots and lots of flies.  If you live in a rural area or have spent time in a rural area, you know that flies are just a part of summer.   Flies outside are a pain, so we use a Dynatrap outside to keep pests to a minimum.  What the Dynatrap doesn't take care of, we use my bug repellent wax melts on the patio.   I detest flies in the house.  My kids don't understand the importance of keeping the back door closed, so we might as well just leave the door leading to the patio open for as many times as it opens each day.   Dynatrap recently sent me their FlyLight Insect Trap to review.  They were generous enough to host a giveaway as well, so one of my lucky readers will get one too!

Save Time, Money Shopping Online + Enter The Off to the Races Sweepstakes from Scott Comfort Plus

This post is sponsored by Scott Brand, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I love shopping.  But I don't love driving to the store, walking all over, waiting in line, and then driving home.  I'm more of an online shopper.  There are weeks that I literally do not have time to go to the store except for my weekly trip for food.   Since I live in a rural are, a quick trip to the store is at least an hour trek since I have a 20 minute drive each way.  That's why I love Amazon so much.  I can buy what we need and have it on my doorstep in two days.  I've been buying more of our home essentials on Amazon, and I'm even saving money with coupons.  Right now, you can get $1.50 extra savings on Scott Comfort Plus toilet paper .  No more clipping coupons, remembering to take them, and then digging for them at checkout.  Plus you can save 15 percent and get free shipping with Amazon Subscribe & Save. You can save even more on Scot

Effortless Everyday Hair Care With Dove

This post is sponsored by Dove Hair Care but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. I will confess that I'm a high maintenance girl.  My hair appointments take every bit of three hours with three colors and an inverted bob.  I want my hair looking perfect before I leave the house. I don't have a small makeup bag.  I have a large lockable train case with several trays and dividers full of makeup.  I don't wear makeup every time I leave the house, but I do wear it more often than not.   Even though I'm a high maintenance girl, I'm also a girl with a packed planner.  Most weeks, I have something planned every day in addition to homeschooling and working from home.  I simply don't have an hour to get ready each morning. I have my hair care routine down to a science, so it only takes a few minutes each day.  I can usually manage to get my makeup done in 10 to 15 minutes. EFFORTLESS EVERYDAY HAIR CARE I have naturally curly hair,

Homemade Strawberry and Clay Face Mask Recipe

This homemade strawberry and clay face mask recipe is easy to make.  The powder will last on the shelf for several months, and you can customize it with different carrier oils and essential oils. A few months ago, I got a sample of a strawberry and clay mask to try.  My skin felt amazing after I used it, but when I tried to buy a bottle, it had a pretty big price tag.  It also had preservatives and some other unnatural ingredients, so I wanted to try to make my own. I've made strawberry face mask recipes before, but I've always used fresh strawberries.  These masks are messy.  I really liked the clay that was in this mask, and I thought that adding clay to mashed fresh berries sounded like a big mess. I thought about it for a while and started testing some recipes.  I came up with a recipe that worked wonderfully for my skin.  You probably don't have the same skin needs as I do, so I'm also going to give you several options to use to make a homemade str