Even More Natural

I have always tried to be aware of what I ate and what products I used on my body.

The more natural the better has always been my motto.

No processed foods, no make-up, and the "most natural" soaps and lotions I could find in the market that were not too expensive.

The expensive part has taken a jump these days and combine that with healthy or natural products and the price skyrockets.

So, I have been doing a lot of reading and researching.

Time to try making some of my own lotions, soaps, and shampoos.

This has always made me nervous thinking I couldn't do it right.

But I don't want to keep using all the chemical mixtures on the store shelves on my skin and hair any longer.

And if others can do it successfully, then I don't see why I can't.

I have ordered several types of organic carrier oils that are meant for my skin type - grapeseed, almond, apricot, and my favorite, jojoba.

I already have several bottles of essential oils, and my kitchen is stocked with herbs for cooking - and many of them are also used for skin and hair care.

My daughter is the queen of aloe vera plants - they multiply like crazy for her - so adding them to my supplies will be too easy.

I will start with very small batches, breaking down some of the recipes I have found to just a couple day's supply to see how well they work.

Once I know what works best, I can make bigger batches.

But as with natural products, they don't have the preservatives that the chemical ones do, so they are only good for so long.

I am excited to try mixing and creating my own "potions".

And of course I will share my findings right here!

Stevia Sweetener

In a previous post, I discussed how I was watching the added sugar intake in my diet.

It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be, and I really do feel better because of it.

I tried the different sugar substitutes on the market, but I couldn't get past the thought that they were artificial chemicals - something our bodies should not be ingesting.

Even the stevia sweeteners on the market have been processed with additional ingredients.

They are white and look like sugar.

The natural stevia plant is green.

So why not go straight to the source - the plant itself.

I ordered some dried leaves and soaked them in some vodka for 24 hours.

After straining it, it is ready to use.

It only takes 1/2 a teaspoon to sweeten a  16 ounce cup of iced tea.

With no calories and no affect on blood glucose levels either.

And it is all totally natural.

I think next time I will make it with water instead of vodka.

It only lasts a couple if weeks in the refrigerator though, so it will have to be a smaller batch as the alcohol preserves the vodka method indefinitely.

I am giving some thought to purchasing some seeds and growing it myself this summer.

I am glad to have discovered it - it is amazing what mother nature provides!