Homemade Cough Drops

The idea of making my own cough drops/sore throat drops is especially appealing when I think of all the unknown ingredients that are in the cough drops available at the store. My interest is peaked even more when I think of my grandchildren, and my daughters concern over what they eat, including trying to limit their sugar intake. This is a simple solution to both concerns.

This first website lists different flavors (Herbs) of cough drops and for what use each particular herb is used. http://snappyliving.com/homemade-cough-drops/

Once you're there, they have a link (which I also added to the end of this paragraph) to a site with the actual step-by-step recipe and method. (Including lots of great photos!) http://homesteadinghomemaker.blogspot.com/2008/12/make-your-own-horehound-cough-drops.html

I can't wait to try this!

Homemade Waxing Supplies

For under $10.00 you can purchase enough
 supplies to last quite a long time.

Waxing at home is simple & inexpensive if you have the right equipment. Once you've got your Homemade Sugar Waxing Recipe made, you'll need just a few more items to make this a relaxing & effortless experience.

This is a basic list with no details on size or brand. I purchased the jumbo craft sticks (Above, left) at the craft store along with the popsicle sticks. (Center) The sticks on the far right are wooden coffee stirrers. You can buy these by the hundreds, if desired. The fabric is just plain muslin, purchased at the fabric store. One yard will go a LONG way! Make sure you've washed & dried the fabric once you get it home, as some fabrics have a residue on them which resembles Scotch Guard. (This inhibits the absorption you'll need from the fabric.) My small strip was cut straight, while most purchased muslin strips have an edge that resembles small teeth, which can be achieved with some pinking shears.

Now of course, you can go ahead and purchase any of these items from the beauty supply store, if desired.

Wooden sticks

Cornstarch

Muslin strips

Mild Cleanser

Baby Oil

Aloe Vera or similar product to soothe & cool

STEP 1: Use the mild cleanser first to clean the area of dirt & oils.

STEP 2: Dust a light coating of cornstarch over the area. This will help absorb any remaining oil your skin has produced, causing the wax to adhere solely to the hair, not your skin! (This really helps with the ouch! factor when the strip is pulled off.)

STEP 3: Apply warmed wax to the area with the wooden applicator of your choice. Apply the wax in the direction that the hair grows. Don't apply wax to an area any larger than your muslin strip!

STEP 4: Apply muslin strip, rubbing over the area to insure it adheres to the wax sufficiently.

STEP 5: Quickly remove muslin strip in the opposite direction of hair growth. (Rip it off! FAST!!) Repeat as necessary.

STEP 6: Once the area is free of hair, use the baby oil to remove any wax residue.

STEP 7: Use your mild cleanser once again to wash off the baby oil.

STEP 8: Apply Aloe Vera to any areas that require soothing/cooling. A cool rag works well if you have no Aloe Vera.

Homemade Sugar Scrub ~ A Sweet Treat..from head to feet!

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub on left.
Candy Cane Bath Salt on the right.

A homemade Sugar Scrub is just about the easiest homemade beauty recipe. It can take as little as two ingredients, or more if you want to add a little personality to yours.

What you'll need:

1 cup oil (Mild cooking oil, OR baby oil, OR glycerine, OR honey. All work just fine.)

1 cup sugar (Regular table sugar, not super-fine. Brown sugar works great, too)

STEP 1: Combine the two ingredients thoroughly.

STEP 2: Add 1-2 drops of essential oil, if you want a smell. Add coloring, if you want color. 

STEP 3: Scoop some sugar scrub into your hand and massage gently into your skin. Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Enjoy your soft skin!



Packaged up & ready to give!



*My first sugar scrub was made with white sugar, peppermint essential oil and red food coloring. Of course, it turned out pink. I made it as gifts at Christmas time. I called it Candy Cane Sugar Scrub. I had purchased some clear plastic containers online with white lids. I placed one jar of the Candy Cane Sugar Scrub and one jar of Candy Cane Bath Salt into a Christmas cellophane bag. I then tied it up with matching ribbon. and a tag. It's a quick & easy gift idea that doesn't break the budget!

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Homemade Fabric Softener

One recipe fills these two containers perfectly!

I usually try to stick with recipes that are completely homemade, but this is one exception. I've tried other fabric softener recipes and I just prefer this one. It isn't made from all-natural ingredients or from organic food-stuffs,... but it IS cheap! Much cheaper per ounce than what I'd purchase at the store. So until I get something better, I'm going to stick with cheap!

6 cups HOT water (If using baking soda, use 4 cups water)

2 cups hair conditioner (OR 2 cups baking soda)

3 cups white vinegar

STEP 1: Combine the HOT water with the hair conditioner. Stir gently until conditioner is fully incorporated into the water.

STEP 2: Add in the vinegar. Mix well.

STEP 3: Store in a container with a lid. (An old fabric softener jug works great, obviously! There will be no need to label what's in it or mark the jug with usage instructions.... & the family doesn't seem to question the contents when doing their own laundry!)

This bottle of hair conditioner makes one recipe, with plenty left-over.

*Want to try to make some homemade laundry soap, also? Check out this recipe!

Mens Pajama Pants

I made these pajama pants for my husband, Kevin, with some fabric he chose at the fabric store! I was shopping for something else and he had come along as company for me, when he spotted this fabric. We were looking for fabric for my grandsons...for some little soft blankets they can carry with them, not a large one for their beds. My husband really wanted me to get this particular one for them. He loved it because it was super soft and the pictures of the reindeers were cute. So I went ahead and bought it. Little did he know it was for him!

I layed a pair of his pajama pants flat & traced it onto brown craft paper.

STEP 1: I got out a pair of pajama pants that fit my husband well & traced the front panel, the back panel & the pocket onto brown craft paper. I traced about 1/2 an inch around each piece for a seam allowance. I traced about 3 inches higher at the waist so I would have enough for a hem & casing for a piece of elastic.

STEP 2: I cut 2 pieces of the front panel & 2 pieces of the back panel.

STEP 3: I placed the two front panels with right sides facing each other & sewed the short edge together. (This would run down from the waist area to the crotch.) Sew the same short seam on the two pieces for the back panel.

STEP 4: With right sides facing each other, sew the front piece to the back piece at the inside leg seam, starting at what would be the bottom of one pant leg, going up to the inside crotch and down the other pant leg. (Starting and ending on the inside leg seam.)  You will now have an inside-out pajama pant that is sewn in the middle, but the outer leg seams are un-sewn.

STEP 5: With right sides together, sew up the outside seams. Fold top waist area over & sew, leaving an un-sewn section (maybe 1-2 inches) to insert elastic. Hem each pant leg.



I also added pockets since my husband likes pockets.



Sugaring- A Waxing Technique to Make & Do at Home

Bought these containers through the mail.... very cheap!

Paying to have waxing done can become quite costly (especially if you are blessed with lots of hair!) Even home waxing kits don't come cheap. Here's a recipe to try next time you run out of your waxing supplies at home or just don't want to pay for a salon service:

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup lemon juice (I used Real lemon brand, from my 'fridge.)

STEP 1: Thoroughly combine all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan, keeping the heat medium/high.

STEP 2: Continue stirring until mixture begins to bubble.

STEP 3: Turn heat down to medium and continue stirring until mixture reaches 250*.

Don't own a cooking thermometer? Just test a drop of the sugar syrup in a glass of cold water...if it's thready or makes a soft ball, it's not ready. If it forms a firm ball, it's done! You can check the consistency with your fingers: after you've dropped some into the glass of water, scoop it out with a spoon. Touch it with your fingers. Don't worry, it will already be cool!

STEP 4: Pour into desired storage containers with lids.

STEP 5: You can wax now or later since the mixture can be used as soon as it has cooled down enough.

*Use with homemade muslin strips, your own wooden sticks and accessories, or use with store-bought accessories..

Retro Hair-Tie



My daughter, Abby, modeling the first hair-tie.

                                     
I love a lot of things from the 1940's and '50's.. dishes, appliances, cars, music,. even movies. But I'd have to say one of my most favorite things about that specific time period would be their style. Their clothing style.

I love the aprons, the classy way men dressed with their suits, ties with tie-clips, shiny shoes & hats. The womens' dress suits with all those fabulous accessories! (Hats, scarves, purses with matching shoes, jewelry and gloves...just to name a few!) We haven't even begun to talk about their hair and makeup...with those classic hair-do's that are becoming popular all over again!

Which brings us to today's project... a retro hair-tie inspired by all those things that made that era unforgettable.

Materials List:

Here's a better view of the top.

7" x 22" piece of floral fabric

7" x 22" piece of polka-dot fabric

Thread

Instructions:

STEP 1: Wash, dry & iron all fabric.

STEP 2: Cut one of Piece A from the floral fabric and one from the polka-dot fabric. (Scroll to the bottom for the pattern.)

STEP 3: Cut two of Piece B from the floral fabric and two from the polka-dot fabric.

STEP 4: With right sides together, sew up the left and right sides of Piece A. When done, you should have raw, unfinished ends on both ends.
 

  

STEP 4















STEP 5: Of the four pieces cut from Piece B (two floral and two polka-dot) place one of
each floral with each polka-dot.  With right sides together, sew each up the long sides to the point and back, leaving the bottom open. 

STEP 5

STEP 5 (Closeup)

 STEP 6: Turn all three pieces and iron flat.

STEP 6













STEP 7: Fold the open ends of Piece A (the longest piece) under 1/4". Iron. Insert the raw, unfinished end of one of the B pieces into one of the open ends of Piece A, making sure the floral print is on the same side. Pin in place. Do the same with the other open end of Piece A with the remaining Piece B.

STEP 8: Using matching or contrasting thread, topstitch 1/8" all along the four sides of the center piece, or Piece A, making sure to secure the edges of the two B Pieces into the stitching.

Pattern

 Notes about pattern: There are measurements written on each pattern piece showing the final dimension of each. Enlarge or reduce the pattern accordingly.