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Chair Repair – Fixing a Loose Back on a Wooden Chair

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Our dining room set is over 20 years old, so it's not too surprising that some of the wooden chair backs have come loose over time. Recently, two of the backs got to the point where they moved if someone leaned back. We assigned our sons to chair repair duty, and asked them to record the process to help others out. Our youngest, Duncan, demonstrates the repair in the video below. He also wrote a description of the repairs in case anything isn't clear in the video.

young man with wooden kitchen chair [Read more…] about Chair Repair – Fixing a Loose Back on a Wooden Chair

How to Make Perfume with Essential Oils – Blends for Stress Relief & More

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Why subject yourself and those who are close to you with a chemical cocktail when you can make perfume with non-toxic ingredients? Learn how to make perfume with essential oils and enjoy these blends for self-confidence, stress relief and more. These are great for your own use or as a gift. You may not find an exact match for your favorite perfumes, but you may find a new favorite signature scent.

homemade perfume with essential oils

The modern fragrance industry uses some pretty scary chemicals. [Read more…] about How to Make Perfume with Essential Oils – Blends for Stress Relief & More

Natural Tick Repellents and Easy Tick Control Tips

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TICKS – Everything you will read about avoiding or repelling ticks will have the word DEET in it. From the CDC to the EPA, they all recommend using DEET to protect yourself and those you love from blood-sucking ticks. Instead, I'd like to discuss Natural Tick Repellents, tick control, and tips to avoid getting bit. We also include recipes for tick repellents for humans and dogs made with essential oils, and how to remove a tick safely.

Natural tick repellent [Read more…] about Natural Tick Repellents and Easy Tick Control Tips

9 Easy Homemade Citrus Gifts – Great for Little Helpers at Gift Giving Time

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Turn citrus peels into a fun array of homemade citrus gifts! From candles to cleaners to luxurious body scrubs - you may never throw out a citrus peel again.

One of my favorite things about fall and winter is the availability of fresh citrus. The lower temperatures also mean cold and flu season, not to mention another season that is my favorite – the holiday season! I use citrus to do many things – quench my thirst, treat my colds and inspire my gifts. I let no part of the citrus fruit go to waste. In this post, I'll share some affordable and easy to make homemade citrus gifts that are sure to please. (You can also check out a delicious citrus cider blend in the spiced apple cider recipe roundup.) These gifts are simple enough to make that the kids can lend a hand, making them great for family project times. [Read more…] about 9 Easy Homemade Citrus Gifts – Great for Little Helpers at Gift Giving Time

Easy, No Sew Kitchen Scrubbies from Produce Bags

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Don't toss those mesh produce bags! Upcycle the bags into free, easy to make, no sew kitchen scrubbies in a few simple steps.

So many types of produce come in mesh bags – from onion sets to citrus fruits. I hate to just throw them out, and I can only reuse so many for storage, so I decided to upcycle some of the produce bags into easy, no sew kitchen scrubbies. If you have more than you can use yourself, they also make a nice addition to a natural cleaning gift basket. I found that four mesh bags from oranges made a firm scrubbie that fits well in my hand. [Read more…] about Easy, No Sew Kitchen Scrubbies from Produce Bags

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