I love the Old Farmer’s Almanac.  It just seems that the “old wisdom” depended less on technology and chemicals, and more on the laws of God’s nature and simple common sense.  Not that the folks at OFA don’t enjoy some old wives’ tales thrown in, but for the most part they have a lot of useful information.

Like how to deal with fruit flies.  Those little critters bug-bug-bug me; my goodness, they’ll fly right by my mouth as I’m taking a bite!  The solution at Old Farmer’s Almanac online is simple: 

“You may want to try trapping the flies by inserting a paper or metal funnel into the mouth of a quart jar baited with bits of overripe fruit.  The flies will get into the jar, but they will not be able to get out.”

See?  Simple!  I actually have OFA online as my homepage.  I enjoy the tidbits of information that I never knew I needed  :)  They have an Old Farmer’s Almanac for kids, too, that I’m going to suggest to the grandparents for Christmas.  It’s got facts that kids would find interesting, like the part of a cricket’s body it uses to listen, and directions for activities like how to make a sunflower house.

The no-rinse hand sanitizers have always bothered me.  It’s the thought of putting chemicals on my hands to kill germs but not rinsing them off… then I rub my itching eye or lick the chocolate off my finger…  I don’t know, it’s just doesn’t seem healthy.

But I like the concept, a lot.  If we’re on a trip and stop at a gas station to use the bathroom, I just can’t believe there’s any part of my body with worse germs and bacteria than what’s on the doors and faucet and doorknob of that bathroom.  In the past I’ve kept baby wipes to clean our hands after using a nasty public restroom, but I like the idea of a hand sanitizer much better– something that will actually kill the germs!

I found this recipe online, and I can’t wait to try it out!  It calls for ingredients I need to purchase so I haven’t made it yet, but I’ll let you know how it goes when I try it out.  If you make it before me, please share your results!

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

• 1 cup aloe vera gel
• 1 tsp rubbing alcohol
• 2 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 8-10 drops tea tree or lavender essential oil

Check out the full information here if you are interested in making your own hand sanitizer!

Have you looked at the ingredients on your make-up remover lately?  I cringe at the number of chemicals listed as the thing I’m supposed to use to swipe my face “clean”.

I stopped using my make-up remover for something much less expensive and much more natural:  coconut oil.  I read about it on a forum some time ago, and when I ran out of my usual make-up remover, I tried it.  I was pleasantly suprised by how tiny, tiny an amount I needed, and how effectively it cleaned my skin.  My skin felt more moisturized, and I was happy about it being a natural alternative.

I put about 3 tablespoons of coconut oil (which isn’t liquid-y but has a consistency of peanut butter or Crisco) into a small glass bowl about 2 months ago, and it’s still about 3 tablespoons!  I simply glide my finger across the top of the surface twice, just enough to get my finger greasy (no clumps!) and it’s enough to clean my eyes of the shadow, liner, and mascara.  Then I take a cloth or a square of toilet paper and wipe if off.  Any residue is just moisturizer!

I’m all for going natural when I can, and this is one of those happy times that it’s much cheaper, too!  I am compelled to make choices by what is the least expensive, but my topmost motto for purchases is this:  What God has made beats what man has made, hands down.

Try this out!  Coconut oil can be found along with other oils in the cooking aisle at the grocery store.