We Like Making Our Own Stuff

I do not consider myself a shallow person.  I don't Botox or spend hundreds of dollars on anti-aging serums. But when I noticed a wrinkle beginning to form on my brow, three words popped into my head:  WTF!?  I'm only 31.  A wrinkle?  Really?  I used to hear older women complain about them, and would think to myself, big deal.  It's a natural part of aging.  Get over it already.  I'd like to go back in time and smack 25 year old me in the face. Still, I do not consider things like botox or plastic surgery as being options.  They just creep me out.  Therefore, I look for alternatives--something I can do myself at home that wont cost a fortune.  And that is how I stumbled upon a very simple idea:  baking soda. Baking soda is a cheap exfoliant, which means that you can use it often without breaking the bank, and it will remove dead skin cells, revealing the beautiful, healthy skin beneath. When you use baki...

Making your own fabric softener is both easy and inexpensive.  It can be as simple as buying a jug of vinegar, or a little more complex if you'd like to have added scent.  Vinegar does a great job not only softening your clothing, but also in brightening colors and removing odors.  Following are a few easy recipes to get you started. Fabric Softener #1 - Plain Ingredients: White Vinegar Place 1/2 cup of white vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser per load of wash.  (Pretty darn simple!) Fabric Softener #2 - Scented Ingredients: 1 gallon jug of white vinegar A big handful of your favorite herb (such as lavender, chopped orange peels,  or peppermint) 20 drops of a matching essential oil (optional) You will need to remove some of the vinegar from the jug in order to infuse the herbs in it.  Just pour a cup or so into a jar or bottle.  You can save it to pour back into the jug of vinegar once it is infused, or use it f...