Natural Gardening

In September, I moved from Seattle back to the East Coast, which meant moving from a one-bedroom apt in to a townhouse with a deck and a small (okay, very small) area for gardening, which I'm so happy about!  But the location I live in now has a fair amount of rain, abundant sun, and rich soil, which is the perfect storm for weeds.  I know one woman's weed is another woman's dandelion, but those little buggers choke out my flowers and other plants, and I just can't seem to keep up with them!

I've been trying to formulate a natural herbicide for awhile; something that won't harm the environment in any way & is safe for me to breathe, but that's still effective in eradicating my weed problem. Here's what I've come up with.

You'll need:

• 2 cups white distilled vinegar
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1/4 cup powdered citric acid
• 1/4 cup witch hazel
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops chamomile essential oil
• 1/4 cup wheat germ oil

Heat the vinegar in a saucepan until it comes to a boil (be sure to open those windows!).  Remove from the heat, add the salt, and stir until it dissolves.  Then add in all other ingredients.  Pour into a large spray bottle.  You'll spray this directly onto the weed that is a problem, especially near the roots.  Apply the solution while still hot for best results.

This formula is great for getting rid of weeds, even poison ivy, but keep in mind that it will kill any plant it touches, so be sure you're only getting the plants you want dead.  

Maybe your problem isn't the weeds, but the bugs.  If that's the case, I have a natural debugger.  This isn't a pesticide, as it won't kill the bugs, just keep them away from your home and garden.  Here's what you'll need:

• a small onion
• 5 cloves garlic, skin on
• olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap

Add the onion and garlic to a blender or food processor and process until it comes to a pulp.  Put the pulp in a bowl or cup, and cover with just enough olive oil to soak overnight.  In the morning, strain off the olive oil into a jar, and add the cayenne.  Allow this to sit for several days.  When needed, add 1 teaspoon of this oil blend to the water and castile soap to a spray bottle.  Be sure to shake before use.   

Happy Gardening!

Namaste-

Candace 

RedSunflower Designs

Clean The Car, Save The Environment

I'm one of those people who loves a clean car, but hates putting all of those chemicals into the ground.  There are natural, mass-produced products out there, but they're out of my budget, and I hate having to buy a product that only has maybe one use.  A big fan of having multi-use products, I came up with my own formulas for a natural carwash!

You'll need: 

• a gallon of water
• about 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 20 drops of essential oil (can be any you want; feel free to set a mood)

Combine all in a bucket, throw in a sponge or rag, and get to scrubbin'! 

Next, we wax.  You'll need:

• 3 tbsp beeswax (could also use soy wax)
• 3 tbsp carnauba wax
• 1 cup linseed oil
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 10 drops citrus essential oil (I recommend lemon or orange)

In a double-boiler, melt the waxes and linseed oil.  Remove from heat, stir in the essential oils, and pour into a coffee can or other container. (NOTE: Please be sure you choose a container that can handle the heat, so not plastic.)  Let this sit until it's completely setup, 1-2 days depending on the humidity in your area.   Once it's setup, you can either turn the wax out of the can, and apply directly to the car, or use a rag to get some wax and apply this way.  Once waxed, dip a different cloth into the lemon juice, and squeeze dry.  Buff to a shine. 

And as long as I'm actually in the mood, I guess I should probably clean the interior as well.  Now personally, I love the way Armor All makes the car LOOK, but hate the greasy feel and that weird smell.  So here's my alternative; it's natural but will still help to restore the dashboard.  You'll need:

• 2 parts water
• 1 part murphy's oil soap (or similar)
• 15 drops cedar essential oil (or other, if you like)

Combine in a spray bottle and shake well.  Spray on the dashboard and other vinyl parts of your car (think doors and windows) and wipe with a cloth.  

Last but not least, we have to do the windows.  I hate this part the worst, because you're spraying some sort of window cleaner in the interior of the car, making yourself feel like you've been smoke-bombed, and is it just me or does it ALWAYS create horrible streaks?!  Here's my solution to this; you'll need:

• 3 cups vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 15 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well to combine.  Spray on and wipe off with either paper towels or a chamois.  You will smell the vinegar at first, but it fades quickly, and this formula is amazing!  Completely streak-free with very little effort. Bonus: This formula helps to reduce frost buildup in the winter months.

Happy cleaning :)

Namaste - 

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Remove Rust Naturally

Rust is one of those things I really hate having to deal with.  (When was my last tetanus shot again?)  I do my best to prevent it from occurring in the first place, but sometimes it just happens no matter what you do.  If you have a home and garden, you've likely seen rust on those expensive tools you bought.  If that's the case (or you need a rust remover for other items) here's a natural solution to your problem.  

You'll need:

• table salt
• 1 fresh lime
• your item

This is so simple but works SO well!  all you do is lay the tool/item down on a surface that will not be damaged or that you don't care about, sprinkle the area affected with rust with the salt, being sure to thoroughly cover the rusted area.  Then, squeeze the fresh lime juice over the salt, liberally.  Leave this sitting for 2-3 hours.  Come back and wipe off the item, and you'll be left completely rust-free!

Happy cleaning :)

Namaste - 

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

DIY Rug Deodorizer

We walk on our floors, dragging in dirt, germs, and everything we come into contact with outside our homes.  And if you add pets and children to the mix, watch out!  Nothing would make me happier than to rip up the carpet and refinish the hardwood floors underneath.  But as a renter, this isn't an option.  So what can we do to at least mask any potential odors?

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 part borax
• 1 part baking soda
• 1/2 part cornmeal
• 10-12 drops juniper essential oil*
• 5-8 drops cypress oil*

*Both of these essential oils are completely carpet-safe.

Combine all ingredients in a container with a tight-fitting lid, and shake to combine and break up any clumps.Sprinkle the mixture on the carpet, allowing to sit for around an hour, before vacuuming.  

NOTE: The longer this mixture can sit, the more it will pull odor from the carpet. 

Be sure to check back frequently, as I'll be posting more recipes for DIY natural cleaners throughout the year. See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

DIY Cleaners: Nature's Pledge

I love having the wood furniture in my house be clean and smelling great.  And as much as I love the job that Pledge does and the scent left behind, I'm left wondering what chemicals I've put into the air in my home for me and my family to breath in.  So, I created what I call my "faux Pledge"!

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 part Murphy's Oil Soap
• 1.5 parts distilled water
• 5-7 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 20 drops cedar essential oil
• spray bottle

Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle and shake to combine.

TO USE: Just spray onto furniture and polish with a clean rag. Done!

TIP: If you're just really in love with that traditional Pledge scent, skip the cedar and orange oils and use lemon essential oil instead (no more than 20 drops total).

Be sure to check back frequently, as I'll be posting more recipes for DIY natural cleaners throughout the year. See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Natural Toilet Cleaner

For many, cleaning the toilet is THE most dreaded chore.  It's also one of the things that we routinely clean with chemicals that we touch regularly and that puts chemicals directly into the environment.  So why not do something that will clean is quickly, while freshening and being eco-friendly?

You'll need:

• a spray bottle
• 2 parts distilled water
• 1/2 part liquid castile soap
• 1 teaspoon (or so) white distilled vinegar
• 20 pine essential oil*
• 8 tea tree essential oil*
• 10 sage essential oil*

*You can adjust these are you want, just keep these proportions in mind.

Start with a clean spray bottle, and combine the water, soap, vinegar, and oils.  Shake well to combine. Presto, you're done!

TIP: I used to work for a commercial cleaning service, so I've been taught how the pros clean, which is to do it fast and do it well.  So, here's how I recommend cleaning the toilet:  With the lid down, spray the entire outside of the toilet.  Lift the seat, spraying it as well.  Don't forget to spray inside the bowl.  Let sit for about a minute, then scrub the bowl.  Wipe down the entire outside of the toilet, starting with the top of the tank and working down to the ground.  You'll be amazed how fast and efficient this method is!

Be sure to check back frequently, as I'll be adding more DIY all-natural cleaners throughout the year.  See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Natural Soft Scrubber Formula

I usually find that showers need alittle extra TLC in comparison to the rest of the bathroom when it comes to cleaning.  I used to live in a really old apartment building, which meant a porcelain tub and tiles with grout.  And while I liked the older feel to this bath, it was a total nightmare to clean, especially the grout.  So I came up with a natural soft scrubber formula to use that I could make at home. 

Here's what you'll need:

• 3 parts baking soda
• 1 part powdered milk
• 1/2 part liquid castile soap
• lavender essential oil (#1)
• pine essential oil (#2)
• peppermint essential oil (#3)
• lemon, orange, and grapefruit essential oil (#4)
• Distilled water
• squirt bottle

There are 4 different formulas you can use here; the changes come down to the oil/oils you want to use.  Take a clean squirt bottle, combine the baking soda, powdered milk, soap, and your chosen essential oil blend.  Slowly add water, as needed, to the blend.  (You're trying to create a loose paste here.) Shake to combine.

TO USE: Apply to the shower walls and tub, let sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse out the shower with hot water.

Be sure to check this blog again soon as I'll be posting more recipes for DIY all-natural cleaning products throughout the year. See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Natural Mirror & Glass Cleaner

As a photographer, I am really picky about how the glass on my frames look.  I also really like to have my mirrors and windows be spotless, so I was incredibly excited when I discovered this formula.  It works better than any glass & mirror cleaner I've ever used.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 part distilled vinegar
• 1/3 part distilled water
• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• spray bottle

Simply mix the vinegar, water, and lemon essential oil in the spray bottle, and shake well to combine.  (Note: This mixture can seperate over time; just shake it before each use to re-combine.)  I find cleaning my mirrors, etc with paper towels instead of rags seems to yield the best results, as no fibers are left behind from a rag.  It's completely streak free and the windows are so clear, you'll be as happy with this blend as I am!

Be sure to check back as I'll be posting more recipes for DIY natural cleaners throughout the year.  See you soon!

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

DIY Natural All-Purpose Cleaner

I love all-purpose cleaners.  You don't have to constantly switch from one cleaner and cleaning rag to another, they work wonders on lots of different surfaces, and ultimately, it means fewer bottles in the cabinet.  But alot of those that are commercially-produced have alot of chemicals that I don't want to inhale, and I don't want my kids or pets coming into contact with either. So, I'm going to share with you my own formula for my Natural All-Purpose Cleaner; it's simple, economical, and one of the best cleansers I've ever used!

You'll need:

• a spray bottle
• Distilled water
• Distilled white vinegar
• liquid castile soap
• Lemon, Orange, Lime, and Grapefruit essential oils (hint: you can use any combo of these or just one; your choice)

Start with a clean spray bottle.  Start with 1 teaspoon of the castile soap.  Next add about 2 cups of the distilled water to the bottle, as well as 2 tablespoons of the vinegar.  Finally, add a total of about 30 drops of whatever combo of the oils from above you would like.  Put the spray top on, shake well to combine, and start cleaning!

I use this to clean kitchen countertops, stove tops, window seals, door frames, cabinet fronts, and can also be used to clean bathroom countertops, sinks, and toilets.

I hope you find this as useful and as much of a time-saver as I do.  Be sure to check back, as I'll be posting more recipes for DIY all-natural cleaners throughout the year.  See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Natural Sink Scrubs

Anyone who has a porcelain or stainless steel sink can verify how much trouble it can be to keep them looking nice.  Many times, the mass producted natural cleaners don't seem to quite stand up to their more toxic and traditional cousins. Now you can make your own sink scrubs that will make your sinks sparkle and shine! 

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 part baking soda
• 1 part dried sage, crushed
• 1/2 part dried rosemary, crushed
• 1-2 teaspoons sea salt

All you need to do is combine all of these in a bowl or container with lid and shake to combine.  TO USE: Simply sprinkle some of the mix into the sink, let sit for a minute, then scrub with a brush or sponge and rinse out with hot water.

Other formulas you can use:

• 1 part baking soda
• couple of teaspoons ground cinnamon
• a few drops of sweet orange essential oil, or a tsp of ground cloves

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

• 1 part baking soda
• couple of teaspoons dried lavender, dried peppermint, and dried rosemary

TIP:  Finding this "part" stuff alittle too close to "a dash of this, a dash of that" you heard from your gramms?  Let me explain:  It's all about proportions versus worrying about actual measurements.  In the first example, if you use 1 cup baking soda, you'd need 1 cup dried sage and 1/2 cup rosemary. 

Be sure to check back, as I'll be posting more recipes for making your own natural cleaners throughout the year.  See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Natural Dishwashing Soap

Washing dishes is, hands down, my least favorite chore.  Alas, it's something that must be done.  But just because you have to do it doesn't mean you have to harm the environment, or your skin.  So I'm going to show you three formulas to make your own natural dishwashing soap!  You'll need:

• liquid castile soap
• 15-20 drops lavender essential oil (#1)
• 10 drops lemon, 10 drops orange & 10 drops grapefruit essential oils (#2)
• 10 drops lavender, 8 drops rosemary & 7 drops peppermint essential oils (#3)

This is so incredibly simple you'll be shocked!  Take your container, whether it's an empty dishwashing bottle or a new bottle, fill most of the way with the castile soap.  Then add your essential oils for whichever blend you wish to create, and shake to combine.  Voila! You're done.

What if I don't have some of these oils?  Just adjust the total amount of essential oils used accordingly.  For example, for the Citrus Soap, if you only have orange oil, just use 30 drops of this instead of 10.  See? Simplicity at it's best :)

Be sure to check back for more recipes for making your cleaning products. See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

DIY Natural Cleaners: The Basics

I've heard it time and time again: "Making my own cleaners sounds great, but I don't even know where to start.  I don't have alot of time, and honestly, I don't want to have to buy a bunch of special stuff."  Does this sound familiar?  If so, good news; I can show you how to simply and quickly make your own cleaners, using ingredients many of us already have.

Here are some basic ingredients you'll need:

• Baking soda
• Borax
• Castile soap
• Cream of tartar
• Essential Oils
• Glycerin
• Murphy's Oil Soap
• Soap flakes
• Washing soda
• White distilled vinegar
• Water (I recommend using distilled for longer shelf life, but you can use tap water as well.)
• Spray/squirt bottles, shaker top containers, jars with lids (will depend on the product you're making)
• Rags, mops, buckets, etc

As you can see, many of these things are items you will already have in your home.  (If you do not currently have essential oils in your home, be sure to check back, because my next post will give you a list of essential oils that are helpful to have, in the order of importance/usefulness, so you know which you should consider buying first.)  You most likely already have a mop and bucket and such items.  If you don't have alot of spray bottles and other jars or containers, start saving your spray bottles from your chemical cleaners as they run out.  Also, save food containers, such as salsa jars & coffee cans, to store your products in.  You don't have to go out and buy brand new containers to put your cleaners in. 

Keep in mind also that not everyone will need all of the items above; your personalized list will depend on your home & your needs.  For example, we don't all have a garage or outdoor area to keep clean.

If you are planning to start making your own all-natural cleaners, go ahead and check your cabinets for some of the items above, because my next post will discuss using essential oils in cleaning and how to choose those that are most useful, so you don't have to go and spend a bunch of money.  After that, we'll start with some actual formulas that I use in my own home.  See you soon!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

DIY Natural Cleaners: An Intro

Sorry I've been away from this blog for so long. At the beginning of September, I moved across the country, from Seattle back to the East Coast.  It's a decision I'm very happy about and and finally getting settled enough to recommit to blogging more regularly.  But enough about that; let's get to the good stuff!

At a time when the economy is still a concern, and we're trying to be more eco-friendly, one area many people ignore is in our cleaners.  Many people who want to just don't know where to start.  Well, I'm here to help you figure that out!

First, let's go over some of the reasons you should consider making your own natural cleaners, from basic ingredients you likely already have in your home:

1. Show that piggy bank some love.  Making your own cleaners at home can be done for pennies on the dollar.  We all know how expensive cleaning supplies can be, and why not go ahead and save that money to buy a new pair of shoes? 
2. 'Cause time is money, honey.  You'll be saving TONS of time by making your own cleaners.  Time spent searching for coupons to save you the money, time spent going to and from the store for ONE bottle of cleaner (because, let's be honest, you never run out of all at the same time), time spent searching the shelves for your brand when they move them every other week, etc.
3. Declutter.  You really don't need 10 different cleaners to get everything done, and it just takes up room that so many of us don't have, especially as we're all downsizing.
4. Put your health first.  You're breathing in chemicals as you lean over the shower or scrub that sink.  Many have been shown to cause health problems, and you have to be abit careful sometimes as to which of those you use together to avoid total catastrophe.
5. Be a tree hugger.  Regardless of whether we readily see the effects or not, these chemicals get washed down our drains, thrown into landfills, and destroy our environment.  This is a simple step you can take to help Mamma Earth!

Hopefully, I've given you a bit of think about in regards to why you should consider going to natural cleaners in your home.  Be sure to check back, because my next post will go over some of the basics you need in your arsenal to begin making these yourself.  See you there!

Namaste -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Healing the Natural Way: Using Herbs & Essential Oils for Health

 I don't know about everyone else, but I came back from the holidays to an office full of people sniffling, sneezing, and coughing their heads off.  One of my goals this year (as "resolutions" seems to be a four-letter word to my subconscious mind) is to use natural healing methods as much as possible, and take a holistic approach to my healthcare.  For me, this means eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep; while I generally eat pretty well, the other two are things I'm constantly striving to improve. 

With the pace of life today, though, we all experience stress and negativity that you can't always get away from no matter what you do, which leaves us open to illness.  We all know that you should drink plenty of fluids, get a full night's rest, and eat light meals.  But I want to share with you some ways, such as herbal tinctures, essential oils, and key foods to eat, to heal yourself naturally when you or a loved one falls ill.

•  Eat plenty of protein. Carbs convert easily to sugar, and too much sugar production taxes your immune system. 
• Lay off the caffeine.  Yes, much to my chagrin, this includes coffee.  The reasoning here is that caffeine in any form dehydrates your body, and at a time when you need to keep up on your fluids this can make you feel even more drained. 
• Eat raw.  Fruits & veggies in their raw form contain the highest amounts of vitamins and minerals, which are lost to some degree cooking. 
• Have a snowball fight.  Okay, so you don't have to do this.  But spending some time out in the cold will stimulate your thyroid gland, which can help relieve you of some of those blah feelings and make you feel more energized. 
• Drink some echinacea tea; add alittle honey to coat your throat if you're coughing alot.  If you're a woman, add alittle red clover as it's good for your system. 
• Chicken soup to the rescue.  Eating fresh chicken soup made with lots of onion, garlic, celery and carrots can provide your body with an additional antioxidant boost.  Also, this combo of veggies seems to pack an additional immune-boosting punch!
• Get moving! Mild exercise, such as talking a leisurely walk in a park, etc, can actually be beneficial.  It gets your blood pumping, which will help your body to flush out any illness and toxins. 
• Apply some oregano or cinnamon essential oil to the bottoms of your feet.  Be sure you've diluted them as both of these oils are considered "hot" oils and can burn and irritate the skin!!! Don't dilute with water, but with a base oil such as olive, almond, jojoba, or grapeseed oil.
• Add a fresh lemon wedge to your glass of water. This is a great immune system boost. 
• Peppermint or eucalyptus essential oils are both considered "cooling" oils and give you that tingly, refreshed feeling.  Use these diluted in either oil or in a salve; rub the oil/salve under your nose to help with congestion.  This can also help with lung issues, such as coughing.
• Be sure to use Thieves.  This is an oil blend that originated during the Black Plague in France.  Thieves would apply this to their body in order to enter and rob the homes of those with the disease without getting sick themselves.   I have a Thieve's oil blend available in my Etsy shop. PLEASE NOTE: This is for external use only  If you're interested in finding out how to make Four Thieve's Vinegar, which is a tincture that you can take internally (and I recommend) you can get the recipe here. 

Stay healthy, and remember, nature's way is always the right way to take care of yourself. After all, that's where we came from ;)!

Candace 

RedSunflower Designs

FALL SERIES: Apple Body Scrub

Happy Sunday all!

In keeping with the Autumn theme, today we're working with apples!  You can read more about the skin benefits of apple here.  So, let's get on with the recipe for an Apple Body Scrub!

You'll need:

• a fresh apple
• salt (preferably himalayan pink salts or dead sea salts)
• OR sugar
• oils (jojoba, coconut, grapeseed; whatever your preference is)
• shea or cocoa butter (if you have it, if not don't worry about it)
• OPTIONAL: a pinch of cinnamon and/or clove powder

Peel the apple (or not, really doesn't matter too much), and crush the apple until you have what is basically a thick applesauce.  Combine the apple, the salt and/or sugar the shea or cocoa butter (if using) and the oils.  Start with roughly equal parts apple and sugar/salt, add about 1 tbsp of the butter, then add oils 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.  If you choose to use the cinnamon, you can add that now. Voila! You have a completely natural body scrub.  This should keep in the refrigerator for probably a week or so. 

You can also check out some of my new scrubs & masks at my shop!

I hope you've enjoyed the recipe, and let me know your thoughts on how you're liking this series.

Peace, Love, and Natural Blessings -

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Finishing Off Unwanted Products

Happy Sunday all!

I hate when I buy a product (shampoo, makeup, etc) and it ends up being not so great, after I've spent all this money on it.  And we all know how hard it can be to take things like that back for a refund.  Also, when you go to the store and forget that one thing, like deodorant or toothpaste.  I could just kick myself when I do this, especially when it's actually ON the list (don't judge me..)!  And it's not just the wasted money aspect, it's the wasted product. I always feel bad throwing things out when we're talking a half full, or more, bottle of shampoo.  So, this week's post is going to have a few tips on how you can find alternate uses for those leftover products, or what to do in a pinch when you forgot to buy something!

• CONDITIONER 
• If you have a bottle of conditioner that just isn't working for your hair, but you don't want to just toss it, use it to shave your legs.  I know what you're thinking, but hear me out. It's conditioning, so it's no worse for skin than a regular, mass produced shave gel.  Probably better, actually.
• SOAP
• Ya know how you get down to that last little bit of bar soap, and it's so slippery, etc it becomes hard to use?  Alot of times we just end up letting it dissolve and go down the drain, but that's wasteful.  And in this economy, I think we're all watching our pennies!  One way to still get some use out of them is to take those leftover "scraps" of the bar soap, pour some boiling water over, and make liquid soap!  This does work; I've done it.  You could even do this with an entire bar of soap that you've never gotten around to using. Just stir constantly, watching the consistency.
• SHAMPOO
• Do a 50/50 mix with your current shampoo or a shampoo you like.  (You could even do 60/40.)  This way, you're using the product, but by mixing it with something you like, you're diminishing the affects you didn't like from the bad shampoo that caused you not to use it in the first place.
• TOOTHPASTE
• We've all done it.  You're to the point that you practically have to put the tube in a vice to get anything out, when it happens.  It's gone and you haven't gone to the store.  Here's an effective alternative: Baking soda.  Wet your toothbrush, get alittle of the baking soda on the bristles, and go for it. Baking soda will help to clean your teeth in a natural way.  It won't taste great, but you can also add abit of Scope or other mouthwash if you have it to the toothbrush to "flavor" the baking soda.  
• LOTION
• This is actually a two-prong tip!  If you're down to that last bit at the bottom of the bottle and you can't quite get it out, add a bit of water to the bottle, and shake.  This will loosen up the lotion at the bottom of the bottle so you can use it up.  
• If you're just out of lotion, you can take alittle body oil, massage oil, or even a tiny amount of olive oil, and use this instead.  It's actually really good for your skin, especially when you first get out of the shower and your pores are still open.
• UNDEREYE SERUM
• If you're out of your usual depuffing serum or gel for those lovely dark circles, here's an alternative that works almost as well as many over-the-counter solutions.  Keep a bottle of aloe in the refrigerator.  Put a small amount on a Q-tip and apply lightly to the undereye area. 

Most of these are things I wouldn't do every day, but if you're at the last bit of a product, or you need something to get you through a day or two, these are some ideas to try out!

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

INHALATIONS: USING ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEALING

Happy Sunday!

So I've been under the weather for the past couple of days, and it's like a head cold/sinus something or other.  Whenever this happens to me, I always put together an inhalation using essential oils.  And since whatever I had seems to be going around, I thought I'd share with you guys what I personally do!  

So first, you need to get a large bowl (think large mixing bowl; I prefer using a glass bowl), a towel large enough to cover your head (hand towel or larger), boiling water, and your essential oils.  The essential oils to use are: eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme.  Basically, these will not only help to clear up your stuffy head, but help to boost your immune system, which you really need when you're sick. 

Once your water is boiling, take your bowl and put about 5-8 drops of each essential oil into the bottom of the bowl.  Find a place to sit where you can sit (at a table, on the floor, etc) and have the bowl in front of you.  Put the bowl wherever you'll sit, pour the hot water over the essential oils, put the towel over your head and lean over the bowl of hot water.  The hot water hits the essential oils, creating a steam that will loosen everything up, so you'll want to be sure you have tissue next to you.  Be sure you do NOT have your eyes open when leaning over the bowl, as the essential oils can and likely will burn your eyes.  You'll want to sit and inhale deeply over the bowl for 15-20 minutes ideally.  You can either set a timer, or I listen to music. 

You'll feel SO much better after this!  But what if you don't have all of these essential oils? You're not going to go out and spend $30-$40 just to have these if you won't use them for anything else, right?  I actually offer a Cough/Cold blend in my Etsy shop that will allow you to buy them in a slightly diluted form, in a smaller vessel, so you don't have to spend so much money. 

I hope you all find this useful, and here's to breathing through the nose :)!

Natural Blessings - 

Candace

RedSunflower Designs

Welcome to RedSunflower Designs

Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog!

I made the decision to create a blog for my business a couple of weeks ago.  As a web-based business, I don't get to physically interact with my customers very often.  So, out of that came adding a page on Facebook, an account on Twitter, and YouTube videos.  But some things are just better conveyed in text.  Thus, a blog was born :)!  

I will be updating this blog once a week (on Sundays) to start.  Also, I'll be using this blog to share ideas, trends in the industry, and discuss the benefits of going natural & the importance of holistic living.  I hope everyone will join me in my journey, and post comments and suggestions along the way, as well as give me feedback on my products and customer service.  I aim to provide what my customers want, while maintaining the ideals I've built my business on.  I look forward to talking to everyone.  

Have a wonderful Easter if you celebrate, and a wonderful Sunday if you don't.  Until next week, Spring Blessings to all!!!