We Like Making Our Own Stuff

Did you know that many commercial furniture polishes contain ingredients that are known neurotoxins?  Common products, such as Pledge, contain ingredients that can cause depression, damage to the central nervous system, and memory loss. Do away with that junk, and make your own lemony furniture polish at home.  Not only is it a healthier alternative, but it is very inexpensive and easy to do.  In the past, I used a recipe containing oil and lemon juice .  This recipe is good, but I found one that I like even better!  It smells so nice, and it has a secret ingredient in it:  alcohol.  The idea with the alcohol is that it will evaporate, pulling up some of the oil with it, which will in turn leave less of a residue on your furniture.  ...That's my theory anyway. You will need to infuse some oil with lemon peels before you mix this up.  This is quite simple to do, so have no fear! Lemon Infused Oil Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups o...

If you look into my craft room, you will see shelves lined with small, cobalt-blue bottles that have mysterious liquids floating in them.  My husband likes to tease that it looks like a witch's apothecary.  Really, those bottles are filled with my own herbal preparations, and there is nothing witchy about having bottles of tinctures and extracts.  In fact, these products are very useful for everyday things, and easy to make yourself.  I like tinctures and extracts for many reasons, but the thing I enjoy most about them is their long shelf life.  A tincture will last you virtually forever as long as it is stored properly. Before I get down to describing the actual process of making a tincture or extract, an explanation is in order.  What exactly is a tincture?  What is it used for? What Are Tinctures and Extracts? Usually, tinctures and extracts are made by the same process.  The medicinal qualities of a...