Simple Sunday

What a difference a bit of sunshine makes!  After a bitterly cold and wet few months, we have finally been blessed with a delightfully sunny weekend.  Our awfully overgrown lawn has now been tamed, and an army of weeds have been given their marching orders.  Although it is really just the start of all the hard work that is needed in the garden, the difference is already obvious.  The kids spent the majority of the day playing together outside, too.

My supply of home-made laundry powder and moisturiser was low, so today I made a fresh batch of each.  While I was at it, I took the opportunity to try a recipe for a honey facial cleanser that I have been wanting to try for ages.  I can't wait to try it!

I just love Simple Sundays!

Chemical-Free Moisturiser

For more than a year now, I have been making my own moisturiser. My inspiration again came from Julie's blog, Towards Sustainability. I really love Aloe Vera, so her homemade moisturiser recipe seemed to be just what I was looking for!



I found an old, empty pot of Sorbolene Cream, washed it out and make the moisturiser directly in this container. I find that a mix of 4 tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel and 1 tablespoon of vegetable glycerine makes the perfect amount for the size of my pot. It keeps really well (although my bathroom is pretty cold and dark all year round) and a little bit goes a long way! It took a little getting used to at first, as the texture feels quite sticky. I was quickly hooked, though, and I would have to say that of all the homemade cleaners/toiletries I've tried, this is my hands down favourite. I love that it has no fragrance, and it feels so cool and moist when I put it on my combination skin. In summer, it is so soothing to use after spending a little too long in the sun. At this point, I can't see myself ever wanting to use anything else, especially on my face.

Chemical-Free Shampoo

When I decided to start researching home made cleaning products, I stumbled upon Julie's blog at Towards Sustainability. I wanted to start with something simple, and this post about homemade shampoo gave me all the inspiration I needed. I simply put a heaped teaspoon of bicarb soda into a cup of water and tipped it over my head during my shower (it was at this point that I wished I had used warm water instead of icy cold tap water!). I rubbed it in, rinsed it out, and followed up with a splash of cider vinegar and a final rinse.

At first the process felt very strange...the bicarb mixture is not as viscous as regular shampoo and does not lather, so I wasn't sure whether I managed to wash all or only part of my hair. It certainly didn't feel 'squeaky' clean. When I'd added the vinegar to the mix, I felt like a chip smothered in salt and vinegar flavouring. Odd, but strangely comforting to know that everything is perfectly edible.

When I got out of the shower, I was still a bit concerned as the vinegar smell was still quite strong. Although I am a fan of salt and vinegar chips, smelling like one was not one of my life goals. To my surprise, by the time my hair dried (which fortunately doesn't take long - probably the only benefit of having superfine hair), the vinegar smell was completely gone. Even more surprising was how clean and soft my hair was! I definitely felt that it was a better result than I get with my regular chemical filled shampoo. Even my husband commented on how soft and shiny it was (he also confirmed that there was no lingering vinegar smell)...he couldn't wait to try it himself!

I have now been using the bicarb shampoo and vinegar conditioner for a almost a year. It is still working really well. I love the fact that I have eliminated one source of chemicals so easily, and I think my scalp loves that I am not constantly stripping it of all it's natural oils. My hip pocket is loving it too!