Top 3 Reasons to Make the Dryer Sheet Switch

1. They’re a great way to go green! Swap your disposable dryer sheets with these reusable wool dryer balls.
2. Non-toxic. Look for varieties that are made with natural dyes and don’t contain chemical-based fragrances, like their dryer sheet counterparts.
3. Quicker drying time. Wool dryer balls can cut drying time up to 25% and fluff your clothes. That’s a great benefit if you’re paying the electricity bill or if you’re drying at your local launderette!

Bonus reason! You can support small businesses by looking for your own set of Wool Dryer Balls on etsy.com. The organic wool dryer balls featured in the picture above are from Moss Creek Wool Works.

Check ‘em out and let me know what you think!

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Kitchen Cleanin’ – Go natural and non-toxic with this quick and easy kitchen scrub. To mix this powerful cleanser: combine 1/2 c. of baking soda with enough liquid soap to form a paste. Spread the paste onto the cut side of half a lemon. The lemon is now your scrubber! You can use it on tough countertop stains and spills (if you have stone countertops, only use on sealed surfaces), stainless steel and it works great for getting grime and stains out of the sink.

Stink Stopper – Ever notice a mystery smell coming from the garbage disposal? Sometimes it can get pretty bad but it’s easy enough to clean without sticking your hand down there (because I’ve seen one too many horror movies with that exact scenario and it never ends well). To maintain your garbage disposal or freshen it up, slice leftover lemon into large chunks and toss them into the disposal. Turn your sink on with a full, steady stream of hot water flowing into the garbage disposal, then turn the disposal on. Once the loud sounds of lemons being pulverized stops, turn the disposal off and allow the hot water to continue to run for another 15-20 seconds. Viola! Fresh as a daisy…or lemon, in this case.

Copper Cleaner – Years ago, I inherited a set of lovely mismatched pots with copper bottoms. After a while the bottom starts to get a bit tarnished and while it doesn’t seem to affect the cooking surface, it does start to look a bit old and worn. So, any time that I have a bit of leftover lemon, I’ll sprinkle it with salt then pull one of the pots out and rub the copper with it. The lemon juice and salt get it looking shiny and new in no time. Rinse with warm water and you’re good to go!

Microwave Cleaner – Whether you’re moving out of your apartment or expecting a surprise visit from mum, at some point you’re going to need to clean the microwave and if it’s been a while…it might be quite the chore. This quick solution will help loosen and remove any cooked-on food or stains. Squeeze some lemon juice into a cup of water and cook it into the microwave until it boils. Allow the water to boil for a minute, then stop the microwave but leave the door closed, so that the steam can penetrate the stuck on food and stains. Carefully remove the water bowl and wipe the microwave down with a soapy rag.

Facial Toner – I couldn’t possibly be expected to get through an entire post without mentioning some kind of body care remedy, so here you go! Make a quick and easy toner with leftover lemons. This is for the gals with oily skin, those with sensitive skin or open acne sores should skip this one. Squeeze the juice of half of a lemon into 1 cup of (preferably distilled) water. Store un-refrigerated for up to one week, or in the fridge for up to two weeks. This makes a wonderful and invigorating morning toner. Shake the mixture and use a cotton ball or pad to apply a thin layer to your skin after cleansing and before your moisturizer.

If you have any other clever uses, leave them in the comments…I’m always looking for new tips!

Image via: shutterstock.com

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Prevention – Vitamin B Complex

Dandruff is the result of an imbalance on the scalp. It can be caused by your body chemistry, allergic reactions to certain hair products and sometimes by excess sweat and perspiration that is allowed to sit on the scalp for too long.

The ultimate goal for all dandruff treatments and shampoos, is to restore the balance on your scalp. In recent years, the nutrient biotin, part of the Vitamin B complex, has shown promising results when it comes to preventing and stopping dandruff. Biotin is found in many foods, such as soybeans, garlic eggs and avocado.

Kitchen Healing – Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has long been known as the go-to solution for dandruff. It’s acidic properties raise the pH of your scalp, helping prevent further fungal growth.

Apple cider vinegar should always be diluted before use, I suggest going 50/50 distilled water and apple cider vinegar. I like to use distilled water (often found in grocery stores for about $2/gallon) because it has a neutral pH and will not further exacerbate the pH imbalance on your scalp. Put the mixture in a bottle and while in the shower, pour it over your scalp and hair, being careful to avoid getting it in your eyes or in any open sores. Allow the mixture to penetrate for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse with water and follow with a gentle shampoo and conditioner.

Herbal Healing – Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is known for it antiseptic properties and that’s just perfect for dandruff. There are several tea tree oil shampoos available today but you can make your own if you’re feeling DIY. Select a gentle shampoo like a baby shampoo or an herbal shampoo and mix 1 tsp. tea tree oil with 1/2 c. (4 oz.) of shampoo. Next time you’re in the shower, wash your hair and gently massage the shampoo into your scalp – don’t use your nails and don’t scrub – be gentle to your sensitive scalp. Allow the shampoo to sit on your scalp for 5-7 minutes, then rinse with warm water and condition as you normally would.

If you’re not sure if your flakes are caused by dandruff or by a dry scalp, you can check with your doctor to confirm which condition you have.

These are just a couple of the great homeopathic, steroid-free ways to stop the fungus that causes dandruff.  So this year, the only white flakes showing up on your shoulders should come from falling snow!

The post Did You Know That Dandruff Is a Fungus? appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Go Organic

Through the years these items have consistently tested for high levels of pesticide residue (even after being washed) and it is probably best to purchase them organic whenever possible. You should note: organic does not always equal safe to consume and you should still thoroughly wash your organic produce before eating it.

• Apples – Not sure if the Evil Queen is behind this one or not, but apples always make the list (and are often the worst offenders) of “most pesticide residue” on and in this fruit by the time it reaches your hand.
• Berries – Some berries tend to be worse than others (I’m looking at you strawberries), but in general you can probably count on berries to be on the no-no list.
• Stone fruits – What is it about peaches, nectarines and plums that make them so hard to grow without lots of pesticides?? It’s a bummer for sure, because they taste so darn good.
• Greens – With the exception of cabbage, many greens like spinach, kale and lettuce, tend to be on the no-no list. If you can afford to go organic on these…I would.
• Grapes – This one makes me SO sad. I love purple grapes like no other and I’ll go through a pound of these bite-sized, little bits of goodness in a weekend. Knowing that I eat them in such quantity, I always go organic with these little guys because they are one of the worst when it comes to pesticide reside. Darn.

Go Conventional

Personally, I still try to buy these items organic when I can but sometimes my grocery store doesn’t offer them or my food budget can’t handle the cost for the organics so I buy the conventional. These conventionally grown items still have some pesticide residue but it is often less than the offenders above.

• Thick-rind fruits – Often you’ll find that fruits with a thick rind, like pineapples, watermelon and cantaloupe contain less pesticide residue…probably thanks to that thick rind!
• Sweet corn – They’re low on the pesticide residue list but may be a GMO variety, so you’ll need to check that…but low pesticides, at least!
• Onions – These always make the good-to-go list and are one of the easy choices when picking conventionally grown produce.
• Sweet potatoes – These yummy tubers are getting more and more popular with the rise of sweet potato fries and they are on the good-to-go list; however, their counterpart, the standard potato is not on this list…yet another reason these orange potatoes are so darn good for you!
• Avocado – Guacamole fans, rejoice! The avocado is good for you, organic or conventional…ole!

In the end, it is up to you if you want to choose organic and good for you for eating fresh fruits and veggies in the first place. If you’d like to learn more about pesticide reside testing and the levels of pesticide residue that have been deemed safe, click here to visit the official EPA, USDA and AMS pesticide residue site. There is also third-party, non-profit organization that uses results from government testing to compile a comprehensive list of produce and their levels of pesticide residue and you can find that here.

image via: memegenerator.net 

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Citrus Salt

 This great DIY is easy and fast. You can make it using ingredients from the grocery store, pop it into some pretty jars and voila!…instant gifts.

The Ultimate Sweet Treat: Homemade Toffee

This yummy treat is for the candy lover on your list. Make a batch of this chocolate topped toffee, break it into pieces and wrap them up in some pretty brown parchment paper and tie it all up with some string for a natural, handcrafted look.

Easy Marinara Sauce (vegan)

This vegan, gluten-free marinara sauce makes a unique holiday gift. Cook up a batch and pour it into mason jars (often available at grocery stores) and top with a pretty label or package it together with some fancy pasta noodles. This makes a great gift for the hard-to-buy-for guy on your list because, seriously, what guy doesn’t like to get food??

Calming Oatmeal Facial

This recipe is from my first HelloGiggles article and at the time I wanted to celebrate my new column so I made little facial kits for some of my friends. I found little bottles to put the honey in and put the dry ingredients in a small muslin bag, then tied the whole thing up and attached a small instruction label. They were a hit and as a bonus, you can make extra for yourself and do the facial after you’re done packaging up all of your holiday gifts!

Make Your Own Candles

This post is from Mother’s Day but is great for this time of year, too. Choose the type of candle that fits your gift-making personality and go for it! These are quick and easy gifts that can be given to anyone.

DIY Wrapped Candle

If you’re not feeling the Make Your Own Candles post, then perhaps this is the solution for all of your candle gifting needs (people have those, right?). Wrap up the candles using papers and colors that your recipient will love and you’ve got an instant gift simple enough for a child to make. In fact, that’s probably a good idea, if you’ve got a young kid looking for a fun DIY gift, this just might be your answer.

DIY Cupcakes in Jars

Cupcakes in jars! Need I say more?  These are such a fun idea and who doesn’t want to get a cupcake packaged in such a unique way?!

Ditch Your Dryer Sheets…Freshen Laundry Naturally with Herbs

This is another one of my favorite herbal tricks, replace dryer sheets with herbs and reusable dryer sachets. This makes a unique gift and is great for the person on your list that is into saving the planet and eliminating chemicals from their home. Plus you can make one for yourself too, bonus!

DIY Wreath Out of  Wrapped Wrapping Paper

So, maybe you were really gung-ho this holiday season and you started buying great holiday gift wrap ages ago but now you’ve fallen down on the gift buying/making part (it is exhausting, after all). Don’t let that paper go to waste, make these fun holiday wreaths instead and you’ll be covered!

10 Morning of Mother’s Day Gifts

And finally, for those of you who accidentally get snowballed (pun intended) by the holiday season, here are some more great ideas inspired by Mother’s Day. They are all great last-minute, quick and easy gifts that’ll make you look like you’ve been planning your gift giving for weeks!

I hope this helped you find a DIY or two and you’ll be able to get them knocked out this weekend, which would mean you’re done early this year! Cheers to you!

All images are from the original articles that they are referencing, just click them to visit the post.

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I found these great, squat, 8oz. mason jars (like the one in the picture above) in a 4-pack from my local grocery store. You can also find them (or similar jars) in stores like Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond, and if you have time to go hunting you can always find great jars at thrift shops! The vitamin E in this recipe will act as a preservative but it’s still best to make sure you start with clean jars. So no matter where you get the jars from, make sure you wash them thoroughly before use, in order to limit the potential for bacterial growth.

To make 4 – 8oz. jars of sugar scrub, you’ll need:

• 1 1/3 c. coarse, raw sugar
• 1 1/3 c. dark brown sugar
• 1 1/3 c. sunflower OR extra-virgin olive OR grapeseed OR almond oil
• 4 tsp. honey
• 4 tsp. vanilla extract or 2 vanilla beans
• 4-6 vitamin E capsules

I hope you like this fun recipe! I find that it is quick and easy to whip up and is perfect for those last minute gifts that you always seem to need this time of year!

For more easy DIY holiday gifts check out these other posts in the “DIY Gift Ideas” series:

• Orange Body Butter
• Garlic Bulb Growing Kits
• Apple-Cinnamon Tea Mix
• Mayan Hot Chocolate Mix
• Cinnamon Scented Brooms

image via: istockphoto.com

The post DIY Gift Ideas: Vanilla and Honey Sugar Body Scrub appeared first on HelloGiggles.

You’ll need:

Base Oils

• 4 oz. mango butter (or cocoa butter, which will create a sweeter, dessert scent rather than a fresh, citrus scent)
• 2 oz. shea butter
• 1 oz. coconut oil
• 1/2 oz. beeswax
• 3 oz. apricot kernel or grapeseed oil

Waters

• 2 oz. distilled water or herbal floral water of your choice (click here for brewing instructions)
• 1 oz. of aloe vera gel
• 1/4 tsp. desert salt or cosmetic-grade borax

Additional Oils

• 5-6 drops or 1 capsule of Vitamin E oil
• 9 drops of orange essential oil
• 2 drops of lemon essential oil

Making this body butter requires the same steps that making lotion requires. I feel like it is easier to make lotion by watching the brewing and mixing process rather than by reading it, so why not check out this “Basic Lotion Making” video tutorial from my “Lotion Making” series back in March.  Replace the ingredients listed in the video with the ingredients listed above. They will be broken into the same three categories: base oils, water and additional oils.

Make sure you put a note on the butter letting the recipient know that body butter is best used after a nice hot shower when your pores are open and will quickly absorb this deep moisturizer. Body butter is thicker than regular lotion and a little goes a long way, so use sparingly at first, until you learn how fast (or slow) your body absorbs the butter.  It may feel or look greasy when initially applied but hang in there for just a few minutes, once you’ve rubbed it into your skin, it will be absorbed and the shine will quickly disappear. You won’t even know that you’ve applied a product to your skin except that it will feel hydrated and will smell great!

You should also note that this creamy butter will last for up to eight months stored at room temperature (and probably beyond that). Just to be safe though, if you think that it will take you longer than eight months to use the butter, store it in the refrigerator, rather than in a bathroom cabinet.

For more easy DIY holiday gifts check out these other posts in the “DIY Gift Ideas” series:

• Garlic Bulb Growing Kits
• Apple-Cinnamon Tea Mix
• Mayan Hot Chocolate Mix
• Cinnamon Scented Brooms

image via: istockphoto.com

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