chemical-free hand sanitizer DIY

i hate germs. in fact, i am somewhat of a germaphobe. i am constantly using hand sanitizer, especially during the winter months. the one thing that i hate the most about hand sanitizers found in stores today is that they are so drying. as if winter isn't drying enough. i can't stand it when my hands are dry, so i decided to make a hand sanitizer without alcohol which is the main ingredient that causes our hands to dry out.

i've been on a quest lately to eliminate chemicals from our home and this is just another way for me to keep us healthy and the best part is, it's 100% non-toxic. the recipe below fills two of the containers pictured above, so adjust as needed if you want to make more bottles. this alcohol-free version will not only clean your hands, but it will moisturize them too! now, don't get me wrong, there are a few natural hand sanitizers on the market, but i've found that making my own is far cheaper and i know exactly what is in it. here is how i do it: 

supplies you will need: 

• 5 tablespoons 100% aloe vera gel
• 1/4 teaspoon vitamin e oil
• 5 tablespoons water
• 10-12 drops on guard essential oil {you could use any essential oil that is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal}
• small plastic squeeze container {i purchased mine here}

directions:

1. in a small bowl combine the aloe vera gel and vitamin e oil.

2. add 10-12 drops of on guard blend to the aloe vera gel mixture.

3. slowly add water and mix well to combine until you achieve your desired consistency. i used all 5 tablespoons and this was perfect for me.

4. pour into your container and toss into your purse. i also keep a bottle on my desk at work.

i gave a bottle of hand sanitizer to my mom last weekend and both her and my dad have texted me a few times raving about how much they like it. i would love to hear your thoughts on the hand sanitizer if you decide to make your own.

note: i've received some questions about storing the hand sanitizer in plastic containers. in this case, it is okay because the essential oils are highly diluted. if they were not as diluted, i would recommend storing in a glass container. if you do use plastic containers make sure that your essential oils are of high quality. contact me if you have questions!

scrappy kitchen bunting DIY

i'm here today to share with you all a quick tutorial on my scrappy kitchen bunting. i've received a lot of compliments on it and it's just SO easy to make and completely changes the feel in our cozy, little kitchen.

one of my goals in 2014 is to actually use my fabric stash. you see, i have a problem, but at least i can admit it. i am a fabric hoarder. no lie. my sewing studio is bursting at the seams with fabric. the majority of it is snuggle flannel because i went a little crazy a couple black fridays ago. i probably won't need to buy snuggle flannel for a few years. i also have a fair amount of quilting cotton and that is what i used for this project. so, if you have some extra quilting cotton, jump on the scrappy bunting train too!

this bunting has been on my long list of projects for longer than i can remember. i finally decided it was time to make it. in fact, i decided about 45 minutes before six of my closest friends were coming over for our annual favorite things party. two little scrappy buntings were happily hanging on my kitchen windows before they arrived, so from beginning to hanging it took me less than 30 minutes.

supplies you will need:

• 1/2 yard of six different fabrics (this is an estimate, but i probably used about a half yard of each fabric)
•  scissors
• rotary cutter, cutting mat, cutting guide (this will save you so much time - get one if you don't already have one. i use mine ALL the time)
• twine

directions:

1. using your rotary cutter, cutting mat, and cutting guide cut the six 1/2 yards of fabric into strips. i cut mine ranging between 1 and 1.5 inches wide.

2. if using quilting cotton your fabric is probably about 45 inches wide. after you cut all the fabric scraps use a scissors to cut the strip in half so you have two 22 inch pieces from each fabric strip. you don't need to be very accurate because the whole point of scrappy bunting is that it's not supposed to be perfect. 

3. cut your twine to the length of your choice. since i knew i wanted my bunting to hang on our kitchen windows i used each window as a guide for how i wanted the bunting to hang and made cuts accordingly. 

4. tie the fabric strips onto the twine. i tied double knots and i wanted my bunting to be quite full so i tied each piece of fabric quite close together.

5. now you're set to hang your new fabric bunting. how easy was that? i am smitten with the results as it adds a lot to our kitchen. even my mister likes it. i thought he would think it was too girly, but he noticed it right away and said that he liked it.

i would love to see a picture if you make your own bunting. tag me on instagram @mrshein or email me. this would be the perfect addition to a nursery or sewing/craft room as well. i might have to make some more for my sewing studio!

the scrappy bunting also makes the perfect back drop for my morning coffee and smoothie photos. ;)

 

bedtime spray DIY

my close friends and family know that relaxing is not something that comes easy for me. i cannot come home after a day at the office and sit on the couch watching tv all night. in fact, i don't watch tv often and i rarely watch movies. i just recently learned how to stream tv shows on my ipad, so sometimes i stream parenthood while i'm working in my sewing studio.

my brain doesn't turn off. i always have some new project in mind and i would prefer to spend my free time doing something as opposed to keeping the couch warm. this drives my mister nuts and he has been encouraging me to relax more. and while i try to explain to him that sewing and creating is how i relax, i have tried to spend some time actually relaxing because i think it is important for my health. and because my mister says so.

i made this super fantastic bedtime spray to induce sleep and help me relax when i crawl into bed each night. this spray, along with our diffuser has helped both my mister and me sleep SO MUCH better. for real. i would not joke about this because i take my sleep very seriously. it usually takes me awhile to fall asleep at night, and that's just not the case anymore. have i convinced you to make your own bedtime spray yet? come on, do it! it's so simple.

what you will need:

• small glass spray bottle {i found mine here}
• lavender essential oil
• distilled water
• small funnel

directions:

1. add 20 drops of essential oil to the spray bottle {sometimes i add closer to 25}. i used lavender as i wanted a calming scent, but you could use any essential oil that you choose. a citrus scent would be great as well. i think i will use grapefruit or citrus bliss next.

2. fill spray bottle with distilled water using the small funnel.

3. place spray cap back on bottle and shake lightly.

4. that's it, you're done. now go crazy. spray that bedtime spray all over your pillow and sheets before you crawl into bed for the night. i sometimes even spray it on my face. don't forget to shake the bottle before each use to help distribute the lavender throughout the bottle.

5. sweet dreams!

just a few notes:

• the spray bottle i purchased is dark glass. it is recommended for storing and preserving essential oil mixtures since exposure to light can lead to a less potent oil over time. if you think you will fly through this spray in a few weeks, you probably do not need a dark glass bottle.

• you could also use this spray for freshening up clothes, furniture or an air freshener. i keep one in my car. you can use it as a febreeze type spray and the best part is that it's chemical free, and much healthier all around. the artificial chemicals in febreeze cannot be good for our lungs.

• i use doterra essential oils. you could use other brands, but make sure they are of high quality. i like doterra because they are certified pure therapeutic grade oils. email me if you have questions!

garbage disposal refreshers DIY

a common theme you will see in the coming weeks. . .

blog posts on what i am doing with my doterra essential oils!

i don't know how to explain how happy i am with these oils. even my mister is sold. and usually it's hard to sell him because he thinks i go through phases and that in a few weeks i'll be over whatever phase it is that i'm in. i have proven him wrong with my "sewing phase" that has been going on for well over a couple years now and i am 1,000% sure that i will prove him wrong with the essential oils. in my mister's defense, i have gone through plenty of so-called phases in our 6 years together so i can sort of understand what he is getting at. plus, there are two other things i am doing right now that he also thinks are a phase. . .

so, back to my doterra essential oils. as soon as my family physician kit arrived i could not wait to test them out. besides diffusing and applying the oils topically, the first thing i made was garbage disposal refreshers because who doesn't want a fresh smelling kitchen?!

this simple recipe helps to freshen, clean and deodorize your garbage disposal. just drop 2-3 of these homemade refreshers down your disposal for a lemony fresh kitchen sink.

supplies:

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup salt
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup liquid castile soap {i prefer unscented & found mine at target}
• 30-35 drops lemon essential oil
• cookie sheet
• parchment paper
• tablespoon measuring scoop
• half gallon mason jar

directions:

1. combine baking soda and salt into a bowl.

2. add castile soap and essential oil {any citrus flavored essential oil would work. with my next batch i plan to try the wild orange or grapefruit.}

3. add the water 1 tablespoon at a time while mixing with your hands. you will want the mixture to be the consistency of damp sand so it sticks together when you press it together. i definitely did not use the whole 1/2 cup of water. if you end up adding to much water you can add a little more baking soda and salt until you get the right consistency. this was my favorite part of the whole process. it was very therapeutic and almost relaxing mixing with my hands.

4. using the tablespoon measuring scoop, place packed spoonfuls onto parchment paper.

5. let the garbage disposal refreshers dry for 24 hours or until they harden. my batch made about 35 garbage disposal refreshers.

i store my refreshers in a half gallon mason jar and keep them next to our sink because we use them daily. wherever you choose to store them, make sure you keep them in an air tight container. put 2-3 refreshers into the garbage disposal and turn it on. these little miracle rounds pack a serious punch and you will instantly smell the lemon essential oil.

hashbrown egg cups

today i'm going to share my hashbrown egg cup recipe with you all. and oh my goodness friends, they are oh so good and oh so easy to make.

we used to make these tasty little cups all the time. i'm talking like at least once a week. yes, they are that good. last week my mister suggested we make them again soon and i happily made them last night for brinner. yes, breakfast for dinner.

ingredients:

3 cup. simply potatoes hashbrowns (usually found in the refrigerated section by the milk & eggs)
1/4 cup melted butter
salt
pepper
6 slices of deli ham
handful of baby bellas, diced
small container of egg beaters
shredded cheddar cheese
italian seasoning (or my favorite and what i usually always use is penzey's spices northwoods seasoning!)

 directions:

preheat oven to 400 degrees. combine hasbrowns and melted butter in a mixing bowl. stir well and add salt and pepper to taste. spray muffin tin and evenly distribute hashbrown mixture into each cup. press into cup and up the sides. bake for 12-15 minutes, until the hashbrowns begin to brown.

in a pan, heat the ham until a little crispy. then saute the mushrooms. this is where you can switch up the recipe a bit. sometimes i add sauteed onions, peppers, or any other vegetables that we have in the house.

pull the muffin pan out of the oven. evenly distribute the ham, mushrooms or any other vegetables you choose to add. pour the egg beaters into each muffin cup. sprinkle your favorite seasoning onto each cup and don't forget to add some shredded cheese.

place the muffin pan back in the oven for another 12-14 minutes. then grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a delicious breakfast. oh and add sriracha. delish!

valentine heart pillow DIY

a few weeks ago i made the cutest little valentine heart pillow that i posted on my instagram account. a few friends asked for more details so i decided to create a DIY post so that everyone can have in on the valentine's day cuteness! this project is easy peasy so even if you're a beginner sewer i encourage you to give it a try.

supplies you need (for a 16" x 16" pillow):

• 1/2 yard of fabric
• fat quarter of fabric for heart
• sewing machine, shears/rotary cutter, tape measurer, tailor's chalk, coordinating thread, pins/pin cushion
• embroidery floss and needle (if you want to hand stitch the heart. i liked the chunky look of 6 thread embroidery floss, but you could always sew with your machine)
• 16" x 16" pillow form

 first, hand draw a heart onto the wrong side of the fat quarter with tailors chalk. cut out the heart.

cut out a 16" x 16" square for the front of your pillow. if your pillow is very plump you may need to add 1/2" to your measurements. i chose not to and my pillow fit just fine.

cut out two 16" x 11" rectangles for the back of your pillow. iron all of your pieces of fabric on the wrong side of the fabric.

pin the heart onto the front of your pillow. hand stitch or machine stitch heart into place.

take the two rectangles and fold over one of the 16" sides 1/2" and press. fold over another 1/2" and press again. pin this down and repeat on the other rectangle. sew the fold your back pieces and use the edge of the presser foot as a guide. make sure to back-stitch at the beginning and the end of the piece.

place the front of your pillow right side up. place the right side down of one of the back pieces (the right sides should be facing each other) and line it up at the corners and raw edges. pin this piece down and repeat with the other back piece.

sew around the pillow using the presser foot as a guide, removing the pins as you sew. remember to back-stitch at the beginning and end and pivot at each corner. trim the corners to reduce bulk, but take care not to cut too close to the stitch.

turn the pillow cover inside out and place pillow insert inside and you've got yourself a valentine heart envelope pillow. go ahead, toss it on a chair and admire your work!

if you make a pillow cover of your own, please share it on instagram and tag me @mrshein so i can check it out! happy sewing.

doterra essential oils

in my instagram world i have seen a lot of my friends posting about essential oils (eo's) and all the benefits they can provide. a couple days after christmas, my mister and i both came down with a nasty bug and a lot of my friends recommended doterra's onguard for immune system support. when i was feeling human again i started to research eo's. of course the internet is filled with information and i quickly became overwhelmed.

enter my friend kate from nesting elm . she was 40 weeks pregnant and sweet as could be explaining about all the different eo's and how to use them. she still sends me weekly texts with tips or ideas when she thinks of something and diligently responds when i annoy her with my 17 questions a day! ;)

through conversations with kate, i decided to sign up with doterra's family physician kit. the price of this kit includes the enrollment fee and i signed up as an independent product consultant so i qualify for wholesale prices which are typically a 25% discount off the retail price. the family physician kit includes 5mL bottles of lavender, lemon, peppermint, melaleuca, oregano, frankincense, deep blue, breathe, digestzen and onguard, a 15mL bottle of slim & sassy essential oil blend, an introductory packet and the enrollment fee.

upon receiving my starter kit, i was excited to explore the different uses for each oil in the kit. oh and pinterest has been an amazing wealth of knowledge. i love diffusing onguard, lavender, or breathe at night when we sleep. even my mister has commented that he has been sleeping better since our eo's arrived. one to two drops of lemon oil in my water helps with digestion and an energy boost. lavender on my feet at night is a natural sleep inducer. last night i used the lemon oil in a cleaning product that i will include as a future blog post. we've used the lemon oil so often that it's almost gone and it will definitely be an oil that we order on a monthly basis.

be on the lookout for more posts about our adventures with essential oils and the results that we see.  if you have any questions feel free to send me an email: ashley.r.williams {at} gmail {dot} com or check out my website:  http://mydoterra.com/ashleyhein