Growing Home

Wednesday, February 1

Make Your Own Lip Balm

It took a few tries, but we finally made a lip balm that's "just right!" It's a combination that works to permanently heal your lips, rather than offer a short-term solution as is the case with many store-bought brands made from synthetic ingredients.

There are a variety of cute little containers to use at the Dollar Store, and if you really want to go all out, you can even design your own labels on the computer! (Do I smell a business potential here? If you're in the natural skin care business, this recipe is free to use.)

:-)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 Tbsp grated beeswax
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
800 IU (2 capsules) Vitamin E
3 drops tea tree oil
4 drops spearmint oil

Directions:

Combine beeswax, coconut oil, and almond oil in a glass measuring cup (or a double boiler, if you have one).

Add water to a small saucepan and set the measuring cup inside. Heat slowly until all the ingredients have melted together.

Remove from heat. Pierce the vitamin E capsules (I used the tine of a fork) and squeeze into the oil mixture. Add the essential oils and stir together.

Pour into a small container and let it stand for twenty minutes to cool and harden before using.

Looking to make more of our own natural skin care products? Try the DIY Guide by Kristy Howard from Little Natural Cottage. It's a winner of a book and a steal at just $4.00!

Linking to: Frugally Sustainable, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, The Barn Hop

Tuesday, January 31

Teach Me Tuesdays | Homemaking Link-up #29

Welcome to the 29th edition of our weekly homemaking link-up party: Teach Me Tuesdays! Here, you can share as many posts related to homemaking as you would like from your own blog. Thank-you all for your encouraging bits of wisdom, the lovely tutorials, and introductions to several new blogs. I so enjoy "meeting" and learning from you all!

A few favorites from last week...

How cool is this dish scrubby made from an onion bag?! A complete tutorial (with pictures) can be found at Mooberry Farm Homesteading.

What if you haven't been blessed with children? Is keeping your home full-time still a legitimate profession? Visit Reviving Homemaking for an honest perspective.

Whether you've suffered through a miscarriage or been spared from having one, Rachel's post on what her miscarriage taught her about the sanctity of human life is well worth your read.

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How have you grown your home this week? Was it through gardening, preserving, baby-wearing, cooking, crafting, teaching your children, cleaning your house, loving your husband, or through something else the Lord has been teaching you? Encourage other aspiring Proverbs 31 women by linking up below. Remember, you may share as many posts as you would like!

Enter the direct link into the Linky Tool below.
A link back to Growing Home is kindly appreciated but not necessary.
Enjoy the learning and fellowship!
Vote ("like") for your favorite entry.
Check back next week to discover who's been featured and to link-up again!

Disclaimer: Growing Home is not responsible for the content of any blog or ad linked herein.

Monday, January 30

Battling the Selfish Mom in Me

I rolled over, pulling the covers on our bed a little tighter and hoping the faint cry I had just heard was part of a bad dream.

It wasn't.

I heard it again, this time a little louder. Maybe he'll go back to sleep. His cries continued and my attitude worsened. Please Lord, make him fall asleep! I selfishly, yet earnestly mumbled. I tried burying my head into the pillow to muffle the sound, but that didn't work either.

I knew I'd have to get out soon and give him his bottle. I didn't want his sister to wake up too. I sighed loudly, secretly hoping my husband would overhear and offer to do the job for me. He didn't.

Annoyed and jealous that my husband could sleep through anything, I complained to myself about having to go through the hassle of stepping out of bed into the freezing cold air, finding my slippers and housecoat in the dark, waiting to warm up Judah's bottle, and spending the next two hours trying to fall back asleep.

I felt so justified with my anger. I was fighting a cold and deserved the rest, or so I told myself. Instead of feeling pity and tenderness towards my teething babe, I responded to his tears in bitterness rather than love.

How often do I resent the violations of my "rights" when I should be praising the Lord that He has enabled me to stay home with our children and given me the opportunity to show them Jesus by dying to myself and putting their needs above my own!

The next time I'm tempted to indulge in a "me-centered" attitude, I hope I pause for a moment and reflect on the love of God through Jesus Christ. If His life exemplified but one thing, it is this: there is no room for selfishness in love.