Natural Living Articles & Tutorials

With six kids, you know Christmas is a big deal at our house! From finding the perfect gift for everyone on my list to traditions like eating seven kinds of fish on Christmas Eve, December is always busy. Decorations are always at the top of the list, and since time is a premium during the …

I don’t know about you, but this year I’m thinking about the holidays a little earlier than usual — in part for something nice to look forward to, and on a practical level just to make sure everything gets here on time! Many companies are offering holiday deals earlier than ever to allow for extended …

Cooler months mean more time curled up inside. Simmering potpourri recipes are a great way to make a home cozy and inviting. They’re just one way to get your winter hygge on! What Is Simmering Potpourri? When I say potpourri I’m not talking about the strange, artificial scented bowls collecting dust in older relative’s bathrooms. …

I experience a Fall-induced form of “nesting” every year as the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter. Unlike the hormone-driven one in pregnancy, this is one is less about alphabetizing the contents of the freezer and more about filling the house with everything soft and warm and cozy (and preferably also smelling like pumpkin!). It …

In our family, we’re big on creating experiences instead of having things, and we spend a lot of time outdoors. I’ve always said I hoped to be the house in the neighborhood where my kids and their friends would want to hang out. Now that my kids are getting older, this is happening and it …

Sometimes the best things in life are free… or really, really cheap, like this natural glass cleaner recipe. I’ve experimented with many types of natural cleaners and have finally found natural options that are as good (or better) than conventional cleaners. I was motivated to create a natural option for cleaning windows when I discovered my …

What do you do for gifts when the man in your life is hard to shop for? I’ve been trying to answer that question for years, as it always seems tougher to find good gift ideas for men than it does for women. My husband is a perfectionist who insists that anything he buys is of the …

Moving can be a pain, but finding a house that’s safe and healthy to call home can be even trickier. There’s more to finding the best house than the number of bedrooms and kitchen size. Just like toxins in personal care products, toxins can hide in homes. Here are the questions to ask before buying …

Interior decorators know the classic design tip: when working with a small space, look up! Using empty wall space in creative ways can make all the difference in an apartment or small home (I learned this firsthand), and it can work in a garden too! If your outdoor space is limited, these vertical gardening ideas …

This bath and shower spray is just one of the cleaners in my natural bathroom cleaning arsenal. The way it cuts through tough rust and soap scum though it might just be your new favorite. Even better, it’s simple and pulls together fast! The recipe is concentrated and doesn’t call for any water. Not only do …

When my husband and I were newly married, we didn’t have much disposable income, but it didn’t matter because our favorite thing to do was just spend time together (and still is!). Of course, life and kids happened and while it is wonderful, it does make it a little tougher to spend quality time alone. We’ve been working …

You might have heard that gardeners may live longer than non-gardeners. While a lot of the evidence is anecdotal, I believe it! It makes sense that gardening is beneficial to our health because it’s a reason to spend time outdoors and eat more veggies while you’re at it. If you’re looking to start your own …

I love using homemade soap. I love it even more because I can make it myself. Soap-making can be quite addicting! There are countless recipes and options allowing you to completely customize your soap to fit your needs and desires. My husband, however, was not exactly thrilled about using my girly scented soap, so I set out …

Of all the rooms in my house, the kitchen has to be cleaned the most often. It’s often difficult to clean because of the variety of surfaces and appliances, yet the most important to clean well because these surfaces come into contact with our food (and vice versa). It is also a place where harmful …

Rainy days, long afternoons…  sometimes we mamas need a trusty list of fun kids’ activities! A homemade finger paint recipe deserves to make the list. This version can be as simple as two ingredients. Even better, it’s totally edible and non-toxic if they just happen to eat some! Why Homemade Finger Paint? I usually opt for …

There are big benefits to going barefoot. An acupressure mat is a great way to bring some of those benefits indoors. Here’s how to make a river rock mat and why you’d want to. Why I Walk on Rocks Walking barefoot across rocks may not sound like fun, but there’s a method to the madness. …

Much like a pollinator garden, a butterfly garden is a great way to attract and provide for these beautiful insects. There’s a little more to it than planting a few colorful flowers though. Here’s how we can help save the butterflies and have a better yard while we’re at it. Why Do We Need Butterflies? Many …

I’m always looking for easy ways to improve my family’s health and seasonal eating is one of the best. We don’t drive ourselves crazy over it but try to enjoy dreaming up recipes based on what’s at the farmer’s market or in the garden. And it’s not as hard as it seems! Seasonal eating comes …

There’s a lot of reasons to ditch plastic (especially around food!). But things like plastic wrap covered leftovers are pretty convenient. Reusable food wraps made from fabric and beeswax are a great way to get the best of both worlds, without the harmful effects. And they’re fun to make and beautiful to look at! Why Reusable …

I really enjoy the challenge of trying to use every last bit of something. There are so many wonderful things you can make from things most people throw away. Like making nutrient-dense bone broth from a leftover roasted chicken, or repurposing scarves or brown paper grocery bags to make an eco-friendly gift wrap. These things …

What would happen if one day 80% of flowering plants disappeared? If bees and pollinators die out, that’s exactly what would happen. Bee-friendly garden plants are a simple way to save the honey bees and make the world a better (and more beautiful) place. Why Are Bees So Important? In recent years there’s been more awareness …

During World War I and World War II, many countries encouraged their citizens to grow gardens, often called “Victory Gardens.” This relieved some of the burden on the public food supply and was marketed as a way to help the war efforts. In fact, some sources report that 41% of the food Americans consumed during …