HOMEMADE HAIRCUTS: How I save $360+ a year, minus cost of suckers!!!!

 It all started about 2 years ago, my husband started to pack the kids into the car to go get a round of haircuts.  I had a sad look on my face.  He knew I had always wanted to try to cut "boy hair", but never had the guts to try it.  On the way to the local SUPERDUPER CUTTERS he turned into a Wal-mart and bought me a set of hairclippers and a huge bag of lollipops.  When he came back home I panicked.  Uh-oh.....Now I would HAVE to try it! 

It was not so bad.  I had been watching them get their haircut for years and my friend down the street who is a stylist had already showed me what to do.  Before I started snipping I watched a few videos on Youtube.  Then I took a deep breath and away the clippers flew.  I wasn't really nervous, UNTIL......it was time to cut my husband's hair.  I was so afraid he would go to the office on Monday and be ridiculed by his peers (and fellow lawyers) by saying "Hey, what happened to you?  Your wife cut your hair!!!"  Of course it was nothing like that.  No one even noticed and over time I have gained more confidence and skill!  So, the point is....don't be afraid!  Go for it! 
(And remember, hair grows back anyway.)

 Before and Afters

 

We ran the numbers and by cutting my 2 sons and husband's hair every 6-8 weeks I save about $360 per year.  (I also cut my girls hair, but sometimes take them in if they want a particular style I am not sure I can do for them.)  The time I save running around is precious and they seem to like getting the one and one as well.  This morning while I was giving Gabe his haircut he wanted to talk about heaven.  When I was done he said, "Thanks Mom, it's just the way I like it.  Now, don't forget my lollipop!"

HOW I DID THESE TWO CUTS:

*starting w/ dry hair, comb or brush through to avoid pulling on tangles

*begin at the base of neck, (I used a #2 guard) and go up like a "C" motion against the grain.

*trim up hair until it is even with the ears

*wet hair and begin cutting sections from bottom to top.  Be sure to hold hair up and down in a line between your fingers going vertical with the head, not horizontal, except for the bangs.

*trim bangs

*using small trimmer shorten sideburns to even lengths, shave neck and even up the bottom of hairline.

This takes me about 10 minutes per child and then I pop them into the shower!!!

Homemade Play Dough

Looking for a fun and inexpensive activity?  Try making your own play dough!

It is really easy, most every ingredient is already in your pantry, and the kids will play for hours and hours! 

I have children with symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and they are serious sensory seekers.  So this activity feeds a healthy sensory diet as well, keeping them engaged and out of trouble.  We use vibrant cake icing colors and food grade flavorings for safe and yummy smelling dough!

  

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups Flour

1 cup Salt

4 tsp. Cream of Tarter

4 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

2 cups Water

gel food coloring

fun flavor/scents (click here to find apple, cotton candy,

watermelon, cherry, strawberry or

blueberry cheesecake :)

Directions:  In a large pot stir flour, salt, cream of tarter, water, and oil.  Continue to mix on very low heat until the dough starts to pull away from the sides and forms a ball.* 

*it may look like this is never going to happen, but trust me it does!

Remove from heat and let dough cool.  (At this point I dump it out on a plastic board and start the next kid's batch.)  When dough is cool split into balls to color/scent.  Add a few drops at a time until you get the colors and smell you are looking for.*  If you use liquid colors it may get slightly sticky, just add a bit of flour while you are kneading it. 

*you can use extracts like vanilla, peppermint or almond, but do NOT use cinnamon because it can burn the skin!!!

When done cover your table with plastic, give them cookie cutters, rolling pins, plastic spoons, pizza cutters, etc. and go relax for a while!  The first time they play with it some you may notice the dye staining hands or the tablecloth, but it does wash out and is harmless.  It stops happening after a couple of times.

At the end of playtime we store the dough in ziplock bags and in the back of our refrigerator!  Costs pennies lasts for months!

HOW TO MAKE: Tea Stained Paper

Tea Stained paper is a favorite activity in our house. I have a friend who runs a recycling paper company and he gives us rolls of plain white paper that printers usually just throw away (Call your local newspaper and ask when they give out their short rolls). We haven't bought craft paper in years. I like to give my kids a warm, wet- not hot- teabag to use like a paint brush. We tea stain the paper, let it dry and then I write words (usually Bible Verses) and decorate our house with it. It looks rustic and is a great educational tool too!

 
Another use for the "free" paper is to let your kids stamp, color, or draw on it with markers and use it as wrapping paper for birthday parties.  (I haven't bought birthday wrap in years either!)

Tea staining is so easy...and it's ADDICTING!  Have fun!

HOW TO MAKE: Facial Cleanser

When my oldest child started to hit puberty she began trying out different products to help control acne.  I saw a segment on the news talking about a study of cosmetic products and the toxins that we put on our skin everyday, especially teen girls.  I went to the website and read the study for myself (http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens). 

They have examined and reported the ingredients to thousands of everyday products like shampoo, lotion, etc., and rate them on their safety.  I used their search bar to look up the products from we had in our home and ended up throwing away 3 laundry baskets full of products!  (http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/)

After my "cleanup", I had to replace the questionable products with safer options.  This is what started my whole focus on being naturally homemade.  I have found that not only do we save money, but we feel better too.

So here is my recipe for FACIAL CLEANSER.

Ingredients:

empty 8oz. bottle with lid
5oz. Rubbing Alcohol (I use 70% )
3oz. Aloe Vera Juice
15-20 drops Tea Tree Oil


Pour the ingredients into your bottle.  Then I use a cotton pad to wipe across my face.  *Be sure to avoid your eye area.  If you have more stubborn acne you can increase the alcohol and tea tree oil.  If you have dry skin increase the aloe vera juice.  It is really that simple and this recipe really works!

I hope you are seeing the pattern here....you only need a handful of ingredients to make dozens of products.  Think of it like stocking your pantry with the essentials, like flour and sugar!

Thanks for reading!

HOW TO MAKE: Natural & Safe Deodorant

Why would anyone want to make their own deodorant?  Well let me share with you a few reasons:


1. First of all, it is quick and easy.  If it wasn't easy I would have stopped doing it years ago.  I do a lot of running our 7 kids around and can't do things that require much time, so it has to be simple.


2. Another reason you should consider making a natural deodorant is because it really works.  I have a darling husband that plays hockey and he LOVES my deodorant!  If it didn't work I would have stopped making it a long time ago because hockey players are stinky.


3. If you are trying to cut your grocery bill and save money, then you are going to love this recipe!  It costs you about $.30 per deodorant.....compare that to your store bought or organic brands and you will save some serious cash!


4. The most important reason I think you should make your own deodorant is because it is safer.  Most deodorants contain harsh chemicals and irritants to the skin.  Your skin is the largest organ in your body.  It is so important to pay attention to what you are putting on your skin or exposing it to because it can effect every other system in your body.  Read the label on your deodorant and watch for the ingredients tricloson and/or aluminum.  Tricloson is thought to cause many cancers and has been linked specifically to breast cancer.  Aluminum has been connected to Alzheimer's disease. In commercial deodorants, aluminum comes in the form of aluminum chlorhydrate, a heavy metal that can be absorbed through the skin. When you apply these chemicals to an area near the underarm lymph nodes they are very easily distributed throughout your body. 

I hope I have you thinking about the safety of the products you use.  Here is the best working, cheapest, and safest recipe for deodorant I know of, so give it a try and let me know what you think!

All Natural Deodorant

INGREDIENTS
3 TBSP. Corn Starch (Can be found in Organic also)
1 TBSP.Baking Soda
1-2 TBSP. Coconut Oil (Can be found in Organic also)
1/4 tsp. Vit E Oil (or 2 broken softgels)
3 drops Tea Tree Oil
scented essential oils if you want a scent (like rose or geranium)


Sift the baking soda and corn starch into small bowl.  Pour melted coconut oil over the top. Add Vit E oil or squeeze out 2 broken capsules.  Stir until smooth.  Mix in any tea tree or essential oils you may like.  Store in any plastic container that can be sealed, and let cool (will get firm).  To use, apply like a thick lotion to underarm area.

Some noteworthy notes:

* Coconut oil has a very low melting point.  If you live in a warm/ hot climate your deodorant will be soft or may need to be stirred before use.

* I put 1-2 TBSP of coconut oil in the recipe so you can adjust it your climate or preference.  I like mine more creamy like lotion, but my husband likes his more thick like paste. 

* If you increase the coconut oil a bit and can keep your deodorant cool it can be put into a deodorant stick!  I actually pushed up my daughters Teen stick and broke it off, washed out the container, dried it, spooned in my deodorant "batter" and let it set.  Then you can turn the button and your deodorant will come up perfectly and you can use it just like the store bought kinds!!!

* If you do not want to use coconut oil you can substitute Olive Oil.   It works just as well, but it does tend to separate more often.  The olive oil is lighter and works it's way to the top of the deodorant.  So you will probably need to stir it before each use.

*Vitamin E and Tea Tree Oil are great for the skin as well as acting as natural preservatives in your deodorant.  I do not recommend omitting them, but you can easily leave out the Tea Tree Oil if you do not like the smell ( I personally love it :)

* I don't scent my deodorant, but sometimes do for my daughters.  It is up to you, just be careful to add oils that are not burning to the skin (like cinnamon).  You can always add imitation extracts (like Almond) to get a nice scent without the risk of stinging.

* I included linked words (ones in blue) so if you want to see an item or need help finding one you can just click.

HOW TO MAKE: Baby Wipes

Most of us don't mind buying baby wipes, but it is still a very useful thing to know how to do in case you ever run out or have a child with skin allergies.  I use a wipe warmer and when I have store bought wipes (like Huggies) they can get dried out and I make this recipe to pour on them keeping them moist. 

So here you go, my recipe for HOMEMADE Baby Wipes:

INGREDIENTS1 roll of Paper Towels

2 cups Aloe Vera Juice

5-10 drops Tea Tree Oil

3 drops of Lavender Oil

 First take the paper towels and separate them by pulling them apart.  (I have my kids do this while they are sitting on the couch watching TV!)

Then, cut them in half, and then each pile in half again, giving you a stack of quarter size sheets.  In a large measuring cup pour in your ingredients.  Put the paper towels in your container and pour over the top.  I flip them several times to insure they are evenly saturated.  That is it!!!

Some noteworthy notes:

*Most containers hold only 1/2 roll, so you can easily adjust this recipe.  I would only decrease the Aloe Juice, not the oils, but that is up to you.

*Buy a good quality paper towel and be sure it is dye free without a colored pattern printed on it. 

*Many people use water, but I do not.  Water grows bacteria and especially quick if you use a wipe warmer.  Trust me you do not want to worry about mold.

*Aloe and Tea Tree fight bacteria and are natural antiseptics making them perfect for baby wipes.  They are proven safe for baby's skin, but as with any herb/product it is wise to ask  your pediatrician before use.

*All the above ingredients can be purchased at your local Walmart, Walgreens or Health Food Store, but I have linked them (in blue) so you can see what you are looking for or have a way to find them if you are having trouble.

Please feel free to comment or leave your recipes below!  Next time I will be teaching you to make your own all natural deodorant!