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7 Homemade Foods You Can Start Making Now

Homemade foods have become a luxury, an outdated practice for the rich and those with extra time on their hands; but before agriculture and food was industrialized, what we ate was made from scratch in kitchens, bakeries, and restaurants around the world. At-home and small scale production was commonplace, and everything was done by hand or with simple machines. A baker made bread with flour from a local mill, and farmers canned their vegetables in jars to save for later… Read More »7 Homemade Foods You Can Start Making Now

Cold Process Soapmaking for Beginners | What You Need to Get Started

Soapmaking is a beautiful skill anyone can learn. With the right tools, you can create luxurious bars of soap for years to come! Whether you plan on gifting them, selling them, or enjoying them yourself, there are a few things you’ll need to get started. Don’t worry; I’ve put together a list of recommended supplies and where you can find them!  Personal Protective Equipment Soaping comes with a few hazards; lye is caustic, its fumes can be dangerous, and soap… Read More »Cold Process Soapmaking for Beginners | What You Need to Get Started

Florida Summer Prep – How to Beat the Heat

Temperatures here in Florida are on the rise; nearly everyday, the thermostat reaches 85°F. When I moved here last August, I was woefully unprepared for the heat and humidity. While St. Louis summer’s are no walk in the park, the sun hits differently here. I’ve compiled some DIYs, tips, and tricks for beating the summer heat, and hope they help you and I both survive the sweltering sauna that is Florida in the summertime.

How to Effectively Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Ingredients

When reducing your waste, especially in the kitchen, it can be difficult to replace convenient disposables and store-bought products with equally effective and easy-to-use alternatives. Sure, there are some great ideas out there, but knowing which ones are worth trying can be tricky. This is a guide for you to use on your low-waste journey, inspired by the questions I’ve had and the mistakes I’ve made. I began searching for the best disinfectants for Covid and other nasty bugs, and… Read More »How to Effectively Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Ingredients

Year-in Recipe Reviews | My Top Picks for 2021

After moving in with my fiancé, I’ve had a lot more motivation to cook, mainly because I get to choose what it is I make! I have used both recipes online and some from family to fill up this year’s kitchen, and I’d like to share some of my favourites with you! What recipes have you tried and loved this year? Let me know, I’d love to try some! Sweet Treats Starbucks copycat hot cocoa by My Frugal Adventures Cake… Read More »Year-in Recipe Reviews | My Top Picks for 2021

Soothing Calendula Body Wash Recipe

Making liquid soap, in this case a body wash, is a simple way to keep your shower well-stocked. With a relatively small amount of ingredients, you can create a beautiful and effective cleanser! I created this recipe for my fiancé who is sensitive to bar soap, and even added a custom fragrance that we both enjoy! It uses calendula infused olive oil to reduce irritation and inflammation on the surface of the skin, and a blend of conditioning oils to… Read More »Soothing Calendula Body Wash Recipe

Cozy Soups to Create this Fall—Can, Crockpot, Instapot, and Stovetop Recipes

It’s officially October, and even here in South Florida, I have begun craving the many foods of the season: sweet potato casserole, apple pie, warm apple cider, and of course, hot soup. I’ve already made chicken noodle soup and pasta fagioli, and currently have some French onion soup cooking in a crockpot right now! Even without the crisp air and changing leaves I used to see when I lived in the midwest, I still feel a pull towards warm, soothing… Read More »Cozy Soups to Create this Fall—Can, Crockpot, Instapot, and Stovetop Recipes

Daylily Cordage & Listening to Your Plants

There are certain DIYs and techniques spread all across the internet that, despite being part of the “use what’s around you” ideology, have become inherently attached to specific plants. It isn’t intentional, it’s just what works and is widely used, and there’s nothing wrong with sticking to these kinds of staples. However, without digging a bit deeper into why a certain plant appears with a certain DIY so often, we tend to make a mental note and move on. Maybe… Read More »Daylily Cordage & Listening to Your Plants

Rooting Plants With IBA Powder | Why Your Willow Water Isn’t Working

I was looking around the internet, searching for how rooting hormones work in willow cutting solutions, and I stumbled onto a video by Fraser Valley Rose Farms on YouTube. In the video, Jason explains why things like Aloe Vera, Cinnamon, and yes, even willow solutions, don’t work nearly as well as commercial rooting powders. I watched all this with a few willow strips sitting in a jar in my kitchen, and I felt that oh so uncomfortable cognitive dissonance kick… Read More »Rooting Plants With IBA Powder | Why Your Willow Water Isn’t Working

31 Things You Can Make With Natural Local Resources

Today I compiled a list of links to beautiful DIYS and tutorials that use wild and cultivated plants. Take a look and get inspired by the fresh ingredients you have all around you! Let me know what you make and if you have any other ideas! Have a great one, everybody! Birch Bark Paper Paper from Invasive Plants Raffia Baskets Willow Baskets Making Baskets from Natural Materials Cordage Cordage from Cedar Netted Bags from Cordage Wattle Fencing Flour Wooden Spoons… Read More »31 Things You Can Make With Natural Local Resources