Simply Natural Saturdays 12-29-2012

Our Top Five Most Popular Blog Posts of the Last Year

Now that Christmas is over and we're quickly headed towards the start of a new year, many of us find ourselves looking back over the last year as we plan and dream for the new year. Maybe in the new year you want to try living more simply, work on more DIY projects or even start dabbling in wildcrafting. To inspire you with some fun ideas, here are our top five blog posts from the last year:

1. DIY Snap Fitted Nursing Tank and Nursing Bra

Backyard Farming on an Acre Book Review

Angela England's new book, Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) is an inspiring guide and must have for folks new to small scale backyard farming and homesteading. With 25 helpful and easy to read chapters, England outlines the basics from choosing land to gardening, animal care, preserving and even homestead crafting!

England's knowledge, experience and wit show through in this well written beginner's guide to backyard farming. I loved how easy the book was to read since it is organized into distinct categories. This allows the reader to jump around to different sections of the book depending on which topic you are most interested in at the time.

Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

Today we are joining Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

The holidays are always a time when I am keenly aware of all we have been blessed with in our lives and find myself being filled with gratitude! Here are a few of the things we have been grateful for this last week:

-Feeling a renewed sense of passion and creativity for our Etsy shop after feeling a bit burnt out for a few months. I am so grateful that I am finding it a joy to create in my little craft room again and not finding it a chore anymore! 

Homestead Property Shopping Wish List

While everyone else is busy decorating and doing their holiday shopping, we've been out perusing the real estate market and doing some homestead shopping. Being the frugal minded shopper, I realized that this time of year is a buyer's market with some good real estate deals to be found.

The properties that are currently for sale in our area are ones that either have sat on the market for months not selling for one reason or another or the owners need to sell quickly due to reasons like foreclosure or divorce.

Our goal in looking for a different home is to find a new space that is better suited for full time homesteading and self-sufficient living. Our current home and small plot of land have allowed us to do some homesteading but we are limited in space. As we've embarked on this homestead shopping adventure, a few weeks ago I sat down and outlined the items on my homestead wish list to help us narrow our focus.

Simply Natural Saturdays 12-22-2012

Welcome to Simply Natural Saturdays, where bloggers share their best natural and green living posts from the last week so we can all learn from each other!

Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Cold Buster Beverage

 

Welcome to the December 2012 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Natural Remedies. This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month our members have written posts about how they use natural remedies in their homes.

 

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The apple cider vinegar and honey cold buster beverage is my new go-to natural home remedy when I feel like I am starting to get sick with a common cold. A few months ago I happened to read a thread on someone's Facebook page discussing natural remedies for a cold. I was starting to feel like I was getting a cold at the time so I was intrigued by the ideas listed. 

One of the remedies in particular peaked my interest: using apple cider vinegar and honey in a drink.I tried this remedy numerous times in the last few months and every time it does the trick and I don't get sick. My body is able to fight off those cold germs with the help of apple cider vinegar and honey! I also love that this natural cold buster is so simple to make and I always have the ingredients on hand. 

Why Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey?

Apple cider vinegar is fermented from crushed apples and a popular folk remedy used for hundreds of years. Apple Cider Vinegar is full of healthy goodness like acetic acid, amino acids, and potassium to name a few. Apple Cider vinegar is touted as a modern day health tonic and I've read that some people even drink the apple cider vinegar and honey drink up to three times every day for a daily health drink and not just when starting to get sick. The best kind of apple cider vinegar to use is unrefined and unfiltered so it has the "Mother of Vinegar" in it; these are those little dark brown strands or globs floating in the vinegar. We love to use this type of vinegar since it is organic, unrefined and unfiltered which means more healthy goodness for our bodies and lots of Mother of Vinegar in it!

Honey is a natural sugar full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. The best kind of honey to use is raw honey meaning it has not been processed or pasteurized so filled with more nutrients. 

Here is the recipe: 

1 TBS apple cider vinegar and 1 TBS raw honey mixed in a cup of warm water. While I have always loved the tart and tangy smell of vinegar, I never drank it in a beverage until trying out this recipe. The sweet flavor of the honey balances out the tartness of the vinegar for a tasty warm drink. 

Next time you feel a cold starting, try this natural home remedy and see if it works magic in your body just like it does for me!

If you're interested in participating in next month's Natural Living Blog Carnival, visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more! Visit all the other blogs listed below to find out some other natural remedies: Please note this post does contain affiliate links.
This post shared on: Simply Natural Saturdays,    The Homemacre Hop, 
Frugal Days Sustainable Ways , Simple Lives Thursday  Clever Chicks Blog Hop

How to Repurpose Holiday Cards into Gift Tags

Want to learn how to make fun, eco-friendly gift tags? Reusing and repurposing holiday cards into gift tags is such an easy, no cost project I can't believe I didn't think of doing this until this year! 

Post of Silence: Remembering Those Who Died in CT

Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

Today we are joining Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.}

Here are a few highlights of our gratitudes from the last week:

-The pace of life slowing down a little so I finally have a bit more time to do the things I enjoy like writing my gratitudes every day, reading a good book and blogging.

-Having a VERY successful day vending at the Missoula Holiday MADE Fair last Sunday.

-Hearing my husband's laughter and feeling his lighter moods spread over us after he finally made some big decisions and changes in his life earlier this week.  

Simply Natural Saturdays 12-15-2012

Welcome to Simply Natural Saturdays! I am thrilled to start co-hosting this wonderful weekly link-up with three other natural, green living bloggers.

Easy Holiday Gift: DIY Homemade Lavender Bath Salts

The last few years many of the folks on my holiday gift list received a package of homemade lavender infused bath salts. Bath salts are low cost, natural and easy to make. They are a wonderful gift to give your family and friends so they can treat themselves to a luxurious, skin softening bath with the relaxing scent of lavender.

Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

Today we are joining Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

I've been very busy this last week crafting and creating in preparation for vending at the huge Missoula Holiday MADE Fair all day today, my first juried show! Unfortunately I've been so busy I have not taken much time to write my gratitudes during the week so my list is rather short. Here are a few highlights of my gratitudes this week:

How to Make Un-Paper Towels and Cloth Napkins

DIY un-paper towels and cloth napkins are easy and affordable to make. They also make a great gift during the holiday season!

Gratitude Sunday

G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y

Today we are joining Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for

G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y 

{Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.} 

A few of our gratitudes from the last week:

-Precipitation! Although it has been too warm and bringing us rain instead of snow, I'm grateful we are getting precipitation after a long, dry, smoky forest fire summer.