DIY Olive Oil Sugar Scrub

Sometimes, the easiest of things can create big changes!

I worked in the tourism industry for quite a few years when living near the Grand Canyon. When you are working with the public (I was a florist for 8 years, then worked front desk for another year) -you see a lot of faces from many different places, and they see your face and your hands when you hand them what they need. Clean hands, smiling face and warm friendly service.
A common side effect of working with the public, is washing your hands often. Antibacterial soap does it's job but it can ravage your skin! Mine would get dry and cracked if I didn't take drastic measures. This happens to be another case for me, of "if I knew then, what I know now.."which seems to be a running theme in my life! LOL

The easiest answer I have found is in my kitchen and readily available. I recycled a jar and cleaned it- filling it with sugar and olive oil. It now resides beside my soap pump at the sink. I refill as needed, no recipe really needed. Sugar soaked in olive oil. About a 1/4 c olive oil to 3/4 c sugar.

After cleaning up, when the sponges and cleansers go down for the day, and I am ready to relax with the family and enjoy the night- I wash my hands, and then I sugar scrub.
The sugar cleans and exfoliates. Rubbing vigorously warms my hands and the pores open up, improves circulation, and eases muscles. The olive oil goes to work moisturizing healing and protecting. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, especially Vitamin E. The olive oil has an added benefit of being extremely good for cuticles and nails- be sure to rub into cuticles.  Scrub for a minute, until the sugar starts to dissolve, and rinse with warm water.

I no longer have to purchase expensive, and chemical laden hand lotions again. I had everything I needed right there in the kitchen. :) Done. easy. All natural.Very Frugal when considering the cost of hand lotions today.

A simple easy answer to dry, overworked, cracked hands. I do not have a model's figure or modeling hands- but you can see below- no alligator cracks, no dry patches, no unsightly exzema- just soft hands.

you might also like:
Frugal Days Sustainable Ways #77

You might try:



Disclaimer: Affiliate Links in no way affect your end price, there is no increase for you. But, they do help to support the cost of the blog. Thank you.

DIY Homemade Body Spray

     :) Summer is here in Southern California!!!!!! We can feel it!!!!!

On warmer days it's nice to be able to use a refreshing body spray, but I personally want to avoid the extra perfume chemicals that so often over power them. The older I get, the more I have started to notice certain perfumes overwhelm my sense of smell. I prefer a light and natural scent that essential oils give off. Their aromatherapy is beneficial health wise, and provides a natural alternative everyone can enjoy with out chemical dangers.  

An Easy to make DIY Body Spray

In a mist bottle combine:
8oz. distilled water
1 tbsp. witch hazel
20-30 drops essential oil
Mix and shake well before each use.

The combinations of essential oils are endless: for energetic and bright try sweet orange oil with lemon oil, or grapefruit and lime for citrus zing! For calm and relaxed moods you might like just lavender essential oil;  or for calm focus, lavender and lemon essential oil.  Personally my favorite is lavender and vanilla essential oils. For holidays you might like cinnamon and orange scents.  The possibilities are endless! You cannot go wrong.







Shared with and you might enjoy the links at:
Make Your Own Mondays 7/1











You can find wonderful essential oils at:






You might also like:




You might find items here:



Disclaimer: Affiliate Links in no way affect your end price, there is no increase for you. But, they do help to support the cost of the blog. Thank you.

Bar Soap in the Bathroom

Bar Soap in the Bathroom

Going green isn't always easy.
In changing our household to a greener and less toxic environment, I'm using small baby steps. It has been a wonderful challenge for me.

I know the reasons I want to make a change- I've been doing the initial research and I have read the amount of chemicals used in commercial body products. So for me alone, the change is simple. To change the whole family can be a different issue.

Some steps have been met with resistance from my family members who adore certain favorite products. In particular, convincing my hubby to try new items is not always easy. He has used certain items, like say Lever bar soap, for so long he was convinced that's the only one he'd like. Coming home from work, that's what he wanted waiting in the shower. Period. Done.

Until one day, I just missed the fact he was out. Actually, I didn't do it on purpose. I'd already made a switch to Castile soaps for myself, but I missed restocking his. He had to try mine.

Now, changing bar soaps is NOT one of the problems. Yay! Kirk's Original Castile Soap won him over. It rinsed off easily, he felt squeaky clean, and it worked on it's own accord to convince him. I did nothing, except forget an item on the list. Yay!!

One fantastic change to improve everyone’s health and move to greener household is as simple as switching from Name brand bar soaps to Castile soaps. There are a huge variety of fabulous smelling natural soap bars out there that do the same work on your skin as the Name Brands, without exposing your skin to synthetic toxic chemicals and unnecessary animal fats. A few examples are: Kirks Castile Soaps, or Dr. Bronner's, or Dr. Wood's Castile Soaps. Plus there are many others not containing the extra chemicals, dyes, and fake fragrances.

Castile soaps obey the golden rule for your skin: If you do not recognize an ingredient, your body cannot recognize it either. They are made of 100% vegetable oils, and are vegan approved. You can even find Baby soaps in fragrance free varieties, perfect for the little ones in your life! Mild, gentle, and no toxins!

Castile soaps… Try this simple switch. Your skin will thank you; your body will thank you; and your family will be happier and healthier!





Our favorites are Kirk's Original Castile, and Dr. Bronner's Citrus Bar!

Homemade yogurt Yummmmm!

I was a bit apprehensive- then I asked myself, why are you doing this? Isn't spending a couple of dollars at the store for the pre-made yogurt more convenient? The answer is yes, Simply, YES!...except, lately I haven't been happy with the store bought. Too much sugar. Too runny, and tooo little effect on my gut.  More and more, I am becoming aware of labels, and quality, and basic ingredients and WHY having the live bacteria in a yogurt culture viable is so important for gut health.
I'm not old, but I'm not in the best shape- I notice if things are not working! The more I learn about eating real food, and eliminating the preservatives, and the fake of fast convenience foods- the more I know this is better for me- better for my family, and fun! So I had my answer, and motivation to stop being lazy and give something new a try! Amazing! results! I am so happy with my first batch! I just know...This is going to be a hit!
I got a Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker, and a Cultures for Health Traditional FlavorYogurt Starter to use. My initial cost is going to pay off in just 1 or 2 batches!
This first batch I used 2% milk, and I am impressed! I am going to bump it up next batch to whole milk. (I wish I had a goat- I have read goats milk is fantastic!) Any way from this one batch I can make up to 7 more! And I still have 7 more culture packets beyond that- we are looking at 49 batches before I need to re-buy cultures...

 I tilted one of the 7 jars to show you how thick it was- tilted, and  still didn't pour after I grabbed camera! 2 jars are a tiny bit thinner- so I poured them in a coffee filter to strain and the result comes out super thick! I am impressed! by the time I finish using just this first 7 batches I will almost have my money back in savings, no artificial ingredients, additives or preservatives- and viable probiotic cultures growing for everyone's gut health.... Took me a half hour yesterday morning to sterilize the jars and heat the milk, after that the yogurt maker does the rest- set it aside and wait 8-10 hours, cap the jars and put them in the fridge! Soooooo simple!
Add honey, add fruit. Add granola, oats, nuts, seeds- whatever! Be happy! Yay!!!!
I am having success. Hope this helps! :) Come summer I think this will be great for frozen yogurt bars! And the more I learn! The better it will be! There is a whole host of things plain yogurt is good for! Yayyyyy!!!  LOL :)