Make It in May
Are you someone who loves to be prepared? I mean for like the end of the world not for Monday morning?!
I love knowing I can create my own essentials and have the basic ingredients on hand to get by in times of shortages, supply chain issues and future lock downs!
This month I have been sharing some of my easy diy’s on instagram and wanted to elaborate on a few more of my very favorite recipes so you can have them on hand in times of need! Enjoy and please leave feedback, your tweaks and any suggestions on other things you’d like to learn how to make together!
Whipped Shea Forest Butter
This is a beautiful recipe I have adapted from a Wild Remedies Forest Facial Cream Recipe - I absolutely love this book and highly recommend for anyone who wants to dive into foraging and plant medicine. Here is my version of the beautiful whipped forest butter:
1 cup pine infused apricot kernel oil (see details of this below)
1 cup Raw Unrefined Shea Butter
1/2 cup Hydrosol - I have made this with pine, orange, lavender, chamomile, yarrow and other plants (see below on how to make this)
Directions: To make the Pine Oil place 1/2 to 1 cup chopped up Pine needles into 1-1/2 cup of apricot kernel (or other light oil) into a stainless steel pot or ceramic slow cooker and place on low heat for 1-2 hours uncovered to allow any moisture to escape. Strain out needles in cheese cloth or other strainer and store in air tight container. Add 1 cup back into a stainless pot or slow cooker and add shea butter. Melt on low until combined. Set aside to cool. To make Hydrosol without a still place dried herbs and plants of your choice (choosing plants based on their natural benefits like antimicrobial yarrow and pine or skin tightening Rose Petals, soothing chamomile or willow bark) into a stainless steel or copper pot with 5 cups of water. If using bark or a harder material add them first to allow for more time to release their therapeutic benefits. After 30-45 minutes of simmering add a non reactive riser of some kind like a steamer basket or stainless steel trivet then place a glass bowl upright on the riser to sit above the liquid. Place a second glass or copper bowl upright ontop of the pot to allow steam to rise and drip into the inner bowl. Let simmer or very low heat for 1-6 hours or longer to catch the Hydrosol. Placing ice inside the top bowl will help speed up the process but do not remove the bowl for at least an hour to avoid loosing any hydrosol. Once ready to removed; tap sides of bowl to remove any steam from inside of bowl. Avoid contamination by transferring the hydrosol into a clean, glass bottle for storage. Combine 1/2 cup of hydrosol into shea and oil and whip on high until light and fluffy. Transfer into an airtight container and use as needed for up to 12 months!
Toilet & Drain Fizzies
These little babies are one of my favourite products, they pack a punch and they don’t leave behind a trail of toxic left overs for us to inhale and flush away into our water ways. Here’s my go to recipe - make sure to comment below if you give this recipe a try!
Ingredients:
8 oz baking soda
4 oz citric acid
4 oz oxy powder bleach (I use Nellie’s Brightening Powder)
40 drops essential oils of choice (I like Lemon & Tea Tree or Basil & Lime combinations)
1-2 tbs water
Mix all dry ingredients then drop essential oils in slowly. Mix if any fizzing begins. Slowly add water and mix as you go to avoid activating the citric acid. Do the squeeze test to see if the mixture will hold its shape when pressed firmly into your palm. Press mixture into molds (or ice cube trays) and leave over night. Makes aprox. 35 fizzies. Transfer into airtight jar and use as needed. Drop 1 fizzie into toilet bowl, sink or tub and use as a replacement to toilet bowl cleaner or drain unclogging products. (also makes a great freshener when things get stinky!)
All Natural Hairspray
This is one I’ve been wanting to try for ages and finally gave it a go. I don’t use hair spray often so I made a small batch to test out the hold. More Sugar means stronger hold, less is perfect for a flexible, beachy vibe.
Ingredients:
1 tbs Organic Sugar
1 cup Water
10 drops Essential oils (I like rosemary and orange for their smell and benefits for hair growth and strengthening)
Fine Mist spray bottle
Place water and sugar in a small pot and simmer until all sugar is dissolved (needs to be completely dissolved to avoid damage to the spray nozzle). Then add in essential oils of choice and place in the bottle. Again play around with the amount of sugar to find the hold that works best for you! Use within 3 months and if the nozzle starts to get blocked soak in warm water and flush through with the water.
