Deodorant - homemade

This homemade recipe, however, is truly completely natural and harmless. And cheap.

Ingredients for homemade deodorant:
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup  corn starch
~5 tablespoons coconut oil
 a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil if you want.

Directions for making homemade deodorant:
1. Combine baking soda and cornstarch in a bowl and mix with a fork.
2. Start with about 4 tablespoons/one-fourth cup of coconut oil and add the coconut oil to the baking soda mixture, working into a paste.

The deodorant will have somewhat of a play-dough consistency, and will be softer or harder depending on its temperature. You can put the deodorant into a small container with a lid, or into an empty stick deodorant dispenser if you have one. My deodorant hardened somewhat after I put it into a container.

This homemade deodorant is really quick to make and inexpensive (and I already had the ingredients for it!).

Ease of use? I've only tried it in a container, where I put a small make-up pad in for ease of using the deodorant.

The real question: Does it work?

I think it works okay. I like it really well and every so often I get the scent of my added in sandalwood as my essential oil.

Well, this homemade deodorant works well for about 8-12 hours. In a relatively low-stress, low-sweat environment. It's fine for around the house if you plan to shower every day. I have been using this deodorant for about 2 weeks, and I'll definitely update if my opinion changes.
Edited to add:
I am pleased to be adding this update about the deodorant! When I originally published this post, I had been using the homemade deodorant for 2 weeks, a time frame that I thought would be sufficient for testing.
Even though I wasn't 100% thrilled with the deodorant since I was used to the store bought, I planned to use up what I had made -- especially since I knew it was healthy
.
Now, I have been using this homemade deodorant for about 4 weeks, and it's really working well! I think that for me, it seemed like it took my body about 3-4 weeks to fully adjust to the deodorant -- whatever that means, I don't know -- just that it gradually worked better and better and I am now completely satisfied with this deodorant!  Woohoo!! :)

I have also tried putting the deodorant into an empty commercial deodorant dispenser but that method of dispensing didn't work as well as I had anticipated. So, it's back to make-up pad from a container.

Laundry Soap

It has been a long time since I was able to post something.  In the meantime I was searching and experimenting with homemade and green items to use in my household.

Two items I am using so far and I must say, I'm very happy with it.  A 3rd I'm using but it's not totally green and homemade but its a cost saver anyways.

Here is the 1st one I'm posting.  Try it, it's fun and cheap.......

Laundry Soap - the dry kind:

2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try your homemade soaps)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
 I also use one cup of very cheap laundry detergent to add a little suds at the beginning since homemade laundry soap does NOT suds.  So I cheat a little........

• Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
• Use 2 tablespoons per full load. Experience with how much you need.  But not much is needed.
• Put water on hot for a couple of minutes while you put your soap in so it can dissolve. Then put it on the cycle that you want it to wash.

And my laundry is clean and smells good.

While washing, I put 1/4 cup of vinegar in the softener cup of the washing machine for large loads. This will eliminate a buildup of soap and help with the static cling.  And no, your laundry does NOT smell like a salad  :)

LadyBug

Meet our new addition.  LadyBug is 9 weeks old and a spunky little Boston Terrier mix young doll.

 

A little bit of snow............

When does it end

Seems that winter has been extremely cold and long this time around. Another cold one coming from north and I'm so tired of it. Don't mind the cold, but frigid is too much.

Gonna stand by the groundhog next week and if he sees his shadow for another 6 weeks of winter I'm gonna "whack" him!!

Whew, I feel better. Even though I should've saved my steam for heat :)

Clean the World Asks for Help from Soapers for Haiti...click here

It is sad to see all the hardship and pain that our fellow people are facing.

So here is a great idea to get involved with help. Even if you don't have money to donate, it shouldn't be hard to come up with a few dollars to ship a care package.

I'm cleaning out my "closet" and sending some of soaps to help.

Come on, everyone has some soap stashed somewhere. Doesn't need to be made by you. It can be store bought and sitting on your shelf for awhile and forgotten. Or how about that gift basket that had some in it and you don't know what to do with it.

If it is under 13 ounces it can be shipped even cheaper. I have enough that I can fill up a bigger flat rate box and will feel good that I was able to contribute.

This is only normal for human nature to want to help in a crisis. I'm normal (maybe)....I'm human (kids tell me I'm super human)....and this is a crisis!!

Tribute to Kaiser

I had a goal. I didn't make it.
I had a dream. I didn't finish dreaming it.
I had a resolution. I didn't put it in effect.
I had a beginning. I think I never really began.
I had a heart. I got it broken.

Christmas and New years should be a very happy time. I celebrated both but on January the 2nd I lost my best friend. My dearest boxer, a dog named Kaiser. And he WAS a Kaiser. Just like a child to me. He was handsome and as thick headed as a true blue german! But he sensed when I was feeling down or sick and he was right by my side. He laughed and danced with me when I was feeling up. He talked to me when I wanted him to chat awhile. He was for 12 years my friend. He is missed very deeply by me and the rest of my family.