Re-useable Snack Baggies

 I made some snack baggies for my mom for Christmas last year, but I wanted to make some for myself and I had some ideas for improvement. The ones I made for her were fine, but I just didn't like the way they folded and closed up, plus I wanted to use a different liner. 

This time I went with a velcro closing and a ziploc plastic liner. 
I Love the results!!!!
  

 They are easy, practical, and convenient! The plastic lining is easy to clean out, and makes it more versatile.
 I am totally tooting my own horn. I love these baggies and I use them every day!
 

 Perfect for fruits, crackers, chips, cheese, sandwiches, popcorn, etc. 
 

Homemade Toothpaste

 Here is just another recipe in my all too consuming quest to become a self sufficient, frugal, homesteader. It all started with my Homemade Cleaning Solutions and I have been hooked ever since. It is going to take me a long time to be where I ideally want to live my life, but I am starting slowly and surely. Since there are so many different things out there to do that fall in all those categories, I have simply started with the things that I ran out of first. Toothpaste being one of them...





 

 I will still be experimenting with different recipes for a while, but after trying a couple, I decided I liked this one enough to make it a second time, so I figured it was probably worth posting about.

 

Homemade Toothpaste
 8 Tablespoons Baking Soda
4 Tablespoons coconut oil (warmed to a liquid)
2 teaspoons peppermint  oil
Organic Stevia- add according to taste. I only added like 1 1/2 packet to mine.

Mix all the ingredients together in a jar. Since my bathroom is super cold, it stays pretty solid, so I keep a spoon in there to scoop it up onto my toothbrush.


I wasn't quite used to the baking soda taste, but after a while it wasn't so bad. My teeth feel clean, and while my breathe isn't fire minty, it does feel and smell fresh. Its so nice knowing what exactly is in my toothpaste, and being able to pronounce and identify every ingredient :) 

Homemade Shampoo

I have always been the type of person who wants to do good things for my body and my environment, and to be healthy. Cancer runs deep in my family (both sides) so that is always in the back of my mind. My boyfriend has totally opened my eyes to all the different things in life that aren't exactly the best for my body. I used to think he was totally crazy and always paranoid, but the longer I am with him, the more he rubs off on me. In fact, I have taken it to a whole new level than him. I am in the process of making anything and everything I possibly can in my house homemade. This encompasses anything from decorations to food, to make up and anything I use on a daily basis. I would love to be as self sufficient as possible, but of course that is going to take a really long time.

There are so many ingredients that are put into our products that are known to cause cancer and to be toxic to your body. When you look in the ingredients list on any product in your house you should be able to pronounce and recognize every one of them! Sadly, this isn't the case :(

For now, I am starting off slowly with my Homemade Cleaning Solutions, and some other Beauty Supplies for the Body which I will share as I test and approve ;) 
I am in the process of testing out some different recipes for toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, and  moisturizers, but I am done testing out this recipe for my Homemade Shampoo.
 
I love this shampoo so much that I haven't even tried a different recipe. Its amazing!
I have short, curly, frizzy hair, and since I have been using this shampoo I have noticed that my hair is less frizzy and my curls are easier to control and maintain. My curls are tight and adorable now and I am able to just let my hair air dry without doing anything to it or adding in any products! And seriously, I haven't EVER been able to do that!

Homemade Shampoo Recipe
1/2 cup distilled water
1/2 cup liquid Castile Soap (I used lavender scented)
4 tsp Grapeseed Oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops tea tree oil

Mix all ingredients in bottle or container. The solution is thin and runny, but don't be fooled- it lathers up great and smells amazing. Since it is thin though, you might even be able to use a spray bottle and just spray it on your head.