Homemade Kitchen Clean Up Wipes Recipe...BRILLIANT! :)

**RECIPE TAKEN FROM www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com

These simple-to-make kitchen wipes are the perfect example of a great all-natural alternative cleaning product!  #1) They are REUSABLE, #2) they’re RECYCLED, and #3) they’re completely CHEMICAL-FREE.

Take an old t-shirt (or PJ’s, or whatever) that is bound for the donation bin, and cut it up into “rag-size” cloths.

Pour 1 cup warm water, 1/8 cup (or 1 ounce) liquid castile soap, and 5 – 10 drops ofyour favorite essential oil into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

With its refreshing minty scent and powerful antibacterial properties, peppermint essential oil is a perfect complement to many homemade cleaning products.

Place the rags into the jar with the liquid. (I think I ended up with about 8 or 10 rags.)

Put the top on the jar (or whatever lidded container you prefer) and turn upside down a few times until all the rags are soaked.

After being used, the cloths can be washed and returned to the jar for REuse over and over again.

Now whenever you have a messy spill or just want to freshen up the countertops after you’ve finished kitchen clean-up for the day…pull one out and enjoy knowing you’re saving time and money because you now have one less cleaning product on your shopping list.

Toxin Free Living: This one's for the Ladies! (for reals, ladies ONLY)

WARNING!  This article is going to contain some serious TMI.  Serious.  So serious, in fact, that I've tossed and turned for so long as to whether or not I even POST such an absurd, personal blog on the INTERNET of all things!  But this one little change in my life has literally brought back my QUALITY OF LIFE.  And seeing that most of my followers are ladies, I decided its time.  Time to share with my lady friends something that has changed my life.

Today's topic:  PERIODS.  (Ok, men, time to "x" out now.)

DEAR GIRLFRIENDS,
 Let's have a talk, shall we?

"This" is personal.

"This" is embarrassing to discuss.

"This" is TMI.






"This" is how I feel as I type this:

Do I dare???  REALLY GOD???

"This" is how I will feel after I click "Publish":

I cannot BELIEVE I just did that...

But "this" is far too good to keep to myself.  It has changed my life and even how I view that dreaded week.

"This" is not for everyone.

"This" may totally gross some people out.

"This" in my opinion, is TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!

So what is "THIS"????  Introducing to you:  (drum roll please)...

THE DIVA CUP!!!!!!

Definition:  A menstrual cup is a flexible cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. Menstrual cups are usually made from medical grade silicone.  It is reusable and designed to last for up to 10 years.  (some manufacturers recommend replacing every year as it is a hygiene product.)  A Diva Cup is an eco-friendly “natural feminine hygiene alternative” and it falls under the larger umbrella of silicone menstrual cups (yup, there are several different brands of these things).

Basically, it’s a medical-grade silicone cup that collects your menstrual fluid; when it’s inserted correctly it forms a seal around the top of the cup and takes care of business. It fully replaces toxic tampons and pads. In fact, I have never bought a package of tampons since I switched over.  I have saved LOADS of money by making the switch.  But that's not the only reason why I LOVE "this".  

HOW COME MY OB/GYN NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT IT????  You would think this topic would be heard by every OB doctor when a woman has her annual checkup.  But they aren't talking about it and I don't get why.  Rather, a very good friend of mine called me up one day and said, "Hey, have you ever heard about the Diva Cup?"  As we were on the phone together I googled it and was hooked almost immediately.  I ordered one that very night and have NOT ONCE regretted my decision to do so.  

I won’t get overly graphic because there are many sites that explain the how of the cup better than I can, and if you’re wondering about the fit, the Diva Cup website outlines the nitty-gritty details, pictures of the cup, and instructions.  I even watched a youtube instructional video!  HA!  (it was very tasteful and not at all graphic visually...just a woman explaining how it works)    But let me add...some of the tutorials were HILARIOUS!  Do NOT be looking for my youtube on this particular subject!  Moving on...

Do I have your attention yet?  

10 REASONS WHY I LOVE IT:

1.  CONVENIENCE:  It can be worn 10-12 hours at a time.  Yep, that's right.  It's is COMPLETELY SAFE because there’s no risk for TSS like with tampons.  

2.  DESIGNED FOR THE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.  It's designed for ANY activity.  This thing, when inserted correctly, STAYS PUT.  EVEN...get this...EVEN if you have prolapse issues which a lot of women have after having babies naturally.  

3.  YOU NEVER HAVE TO SEND THE HUSBAND TO THE DRUG STORE AGAIN!  :) Nor do YOU have to go.  It is AN IDEAL TRAVEL companion, especially for those who travel/live in 3rd world countries.  I know this sounds nuts, but I've considered buying this for missionaries on the field!  Or even for women around the world...this would change their lives in a real, practical way. 

4. IT'S "GREEN" AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.  The cup is reusable for a decade (unless your dog eats it) and there is nothing else you have to buy to use with it. You aren't filling up landfills.  This is recycling at its finest!

5.  COST EFFECTIVE:  I’ve done the math ladies. The amount of money we spend over our lives on disposable pads and tampons is mind boggling. If I roughly guesstimate a woman’s fertile life ranges from age 13-48 (seems like a good average to me), that’s 35 years!

Now for the very very rough mathy math:

• Tampon Pack: $5
• Pad Pack: $5
• Monthly Cost: $10
• Yearly Cost: $120

Lifetime 35-year cost: $4200
(This number does not account for inflation or taxes either!)

Basically, we’re making the companies behind Always and Tampax rich. Especially when you consider about 50 percent of the population needs this stuff. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather save thousands of bucks by buying a couple of Diva Cups over my lifetime. That’s just good financial sense. Period.  (excuse the pun)  

I purchased mine off amazon for $25.  Eventually I would like to purchase 1 more so I can have one in my purse at all times for those emergency situations.

6.  SLEEP:  No more midnight bathroom trips. No more sleeping on towels. No more doubling-up. The Diva Cup can be worn all night long, unlike a tampon. Sleep soundly for 8-12 hours. I dare you.  Of course, unless you are a mommy or have a snoring husband.  :)

7.  FREEDOM:  Stop stuffing your purse full of tampons and pads. Carrying stashes of girlie stuff is a thing of the past. With the Diva Cup, your period worries are no longer woes. Go to school or work and forget about it. No more bathroom trips till you get home hours later. You are free.  Sometimes I forget completely that I even have it!  You can use it when you don’t have your period. That means if you are expecting your period you can have it in already and not have to worry about soiled clothing. 

8.  LESS CRAMPING.  I don't know the scientific reasons why...maybe less toxins?  maybe because it doesn't mess w/ my PH balance?  But I swear by it.

9.  COMFORT.  You don’t feel a thing.  

10.  IT'S SAFE AND NON-TOXIC, unlike the chemical laden tampons and pads.  Even if you use organic cotton tampons, you are still messing your PH balance.  The non-BPA medical-grade silicone is far safer for your lady-parts than the surfactants, adhesives, and additives they use in tampons and pads.  There is NO risk for TSS.  Your natural PH balance is not compromised.  

CONS:

1.  LEARNING CURVE:  It takes about 3 months to get the hang of it.  Be patient.  It DOES get easier.  Once you have it down you'll be SO glad you stuck w/ it.  There IS a learning curve and until you get it down you will most definitely leak, so you'll need liners.  You can even buy organic reusable panty liners online!  

2.  INVASIVE.  You have to be comfortable w/ your body.

3.  DISCREETNESS:  Difficult when in public bathrooms.  This could POTENTIALLY be tricky...BUT...keep in mind that it's good for up to 12 hours at a time so the chances that you'll even have to be in this situation is RARE.  You can do your own research or message me privately to see how others are "discreet" if in this situation.

4.  INVESTMENT:  You have to buy one to try one.  If you end up hating it (rare, but it happens) then you are out the $$ you spent on it to try...and it's not really the type of thing you re-gift to someone!  HA!

5.  SANITIZE:  This is not a con for me, but I do sanitize mine in boiling water after use.  This may be a con for some due to the inconvenience.  

So there you have it.  Something that I've wanted to share for a very long time but my own embarrassment kept me from doing so.  But maybe, if it helps just ONE GIRLFRIEND, then I can rest easier tonight knowing that by putting "my business" out there...it was all worth it.   Know why?  Because YOU are worth it!   

Love ya girlfriends.  ~Misty

PS:  this is yet another way to live  TOXIN FREE!  For details on our line of toxin-free household products, please visit our website HERE and/or like our business page on Facebook listed as 'HAPPY HEART HOMESTEAD'.  

The World's Best Chicken Noodle Soup (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free) FREEZE FRIENDLY

WHEN WE MAKE THIS:  AFTER I ROAST A CHICKEN,  a couple of days later I always make this w/ my leftovers.  For my recipe of roasted chicken, click HERE.  I end up w/ most of the prep work already done for  me.  (cooked potatoes, cooked onions, beautiful run off juices that I can add to stock, and leftover chicken!)

To make the Worlds Best Chicken Noodle Soup (large batch, freeze leftovers)

6 cups of homemade broth (click HERE for directions)  If you don't have any homemade ONLY USE ORGANIC chicken or vegetable stock)
2 tbsp of flour of choice (spelt, buckwheat, whole wheat, unbleached white...whatever you want)
2 tbsp of EVOO
large chunks of organic red potatoes
2 cups (or so) of shredded cooked chicken
1/2 large onion-cut into chunks
1 heaping tbsp of diced garlic
3 tbsp of dried rosemary
1 bay leaf (optional)
4 carrots, cut into small sections
4 celery, sliced
2 cups cooked BROWN RICE NOODLES.  For this recipe, I buy Tinkyada brand Fusilli.  It is shaped like corkscrews.  Highly recommend.  They taste just like normal noodles, are GF, and whole grain.  I added about  2 cups Uncooked to water and ended up w/ a lot of leftovers which I put in the refrigerator and will use for spaghetti.

sea salt/ground pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Pour EVOO into stock pot.  Turn heat to medium.  Let oil get hot.
2.  Toss in chunks of onion and cook for several minutes until browned.  Remove.
3.  Add flour to EVOO and stir for several minutes.  It will become "goopy" and thick.
4.  Add STOCK slowly, whisking constantly.  Turn heat up to medium high and continue to whisk until it comes to a light boil.  Turn down heat to simmer.
4.  Put cooked onion and some of the raw carrots in an emulsion blender.  If you don't have one (I have a magic bullet) then use a regular blender but you'll have to add some of the stock to the bottom)    Blend onions and carrots.  I have to do this in batches b/c my magic bullet is small.  Once blended ADD TO Broth.
5.  After adding all the emulsified carrots and onion to broth, add GARLIC and potatoes and chicken.
6.  Add celery and rosemary and bay leaf, salt and pepper.  (you'll have to taste broth to see if more salt/pepper is needed)  Stir well.
7.  Add cooked noodles...about 2 cups or so.  No right or wrong.
8.  put a lid on and let it simmer low for a long time...45 minutes or so.  You can do less than that if the potatoes are already cooked.

Sooo healthy, hearty, yummy!

**LEFTOVERS:  if you have some left over, we will 1) give it away to neighbors or someone we know who has the flu or 2) freeze it for future dinners.  All you have to do is thaw and reheat.

GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD

Top of cornbread may brown a tad more than picture shown

INGREDIENTS:

1 /2 cup of oils of your choice:  any combination of EVOO, Coconut, butter, etc.

2/3 of sucanat or brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup of buttermilk (don't buy any, just add 1 tsp of lemon juice or vinegar to milk and let sit 5 min)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup organic cornmeal

1 cup GF flour blend

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. Melt oils in large bowl or skillet.  Remove from heat and stir in sucanat (or brown sugar). Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Homemade Lavender Oatmeal Facial Scrub

Got Lavender?  Try this easy recipe and you can enjoy it all year!

STEP 1:  Harvest your lavender:  I harvest just BEFORE my lavender starts to bloom flowers.  Using scissors, I cut 2-3 inches below the buds so I have plenty of room to bunch them together w/ a rubberband for the drying out process.

STEP 2:  DRY your lavender.  There are many methods, from dehydrators to laying on a cooling rack.  But I use the old fashioned method by bunching it up w/ a rubber band and hanging it upside down in my basement for 2 weeks-1 month.  BUDS WILL FALL OFF DURING THIS DRYING OUT PROCESS SO BE SURE AND LAY OUT A SHEET OR LARGE TABLE CLOTH TO CATCH THE BUDS THAT FALL.

STEP 3:  COLLECT your lavender.  Once dry, the buds will fall off easily.  Place all the buds in a seal-tight container.

TO MAKE SCRUB:

1 cup of steel cut or rolled oats
1/2 cup of lavender buds (dried out)
1/2 cup of almond meal
**OPTIONAL:  5 drops of Tea Tree Oil
**OPTIONAL:  5 drops of Vit E oil

Place all ingredients in a food processor until you have a very FINE CONSISTENCY.  Store in an air-tight container.  I keep mine in my bathroom and use it on my face AT LEAST once/week.  It is GENTLE yet POWERFUL.  Meaning:  if you have sensitive skin, this is a good scrub for you.  If you have acne or blackheads, don't be fooled for the "gentle" character:  it can clear up the worst of acne!

NOTE:  This will mold if you allow moisture in it.  When I use it in the shower, I avoid scooping it out w/ my wet hands.  Instead, I have a small little spoon inside.

YOU.  WILL.  FALL.  IN.  LOVE!!!

Easiest Lasagna EVER (and Gluten Free!) IF Friendly

Ingredients 

• 1 pound lean grass fed ground beef or ground deer
• 1 (32 ounce) jar organic /soy free spaghetti sauce
• 32 ounces 2% Fage
• 3 cups shredded or sliced organic mozzarella cheese
• 2 eggs
• 
  

• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 2-3 (depending on size) sliced zucchini's (NOT cooked.  And sliced however your heart desires, horizontal or vertical)
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1. In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef. Drain the grease. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the Fage, eggs, dried parsley, salt and ground black pepper.  Feel free to toss in some other herbs, dried or fresh.  A little basil or oregano tastes awesome!
3. To assemble, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of the sauce mixture. Cover with slicked zucchini, 1 3/4 cup of the cheese mixture, mozzarella, and 1/4 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with zucchini slices and remaining sauce, remaining mozzarella and some Parmesan cheese if you want. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F(175 degrees C) oven for 30 minutes. (it might drip!)  Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Raspberry-Mango Salsa

2 Mangoes, Diced
2 pints fresh Red Raspberries
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
Juice of 1/4 lime
Zest of 1/2 lemon
Zest of 1/2 orange
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
squirt of honey
Sea Salt to taste

Combine all into a bowl and toss.

**Adapted from Hy-Vee Ad.