50 Things You Should Stop Buying And Start Making
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Better empty your shopping trolley of this list of 50 ready to use items at least, and live the healthy way. By treading this path, not only are you saving a great deal, but also discouraging the artificial use of preservatives and lots of harmful chemicals to promote the positive cause of a better world.
You might be expecting some food and gift items which are surely on the list, but did you know that your expensive chemical-based cosmetics and artificial home keeping products can also be bid adieu? Here is the least expensive and easiest way to make these:
1. Dishwasher Soaps: Market soaps can be dangerous on food serving plates. Try this dish-washing hack instead. Mix one cup Borax, 1 cup of washing soda, ¼ cup of Epsom salt, and add lemon juice till it reaches a thick gluey consistency. Set it in ice trays or other molders and let it dry.
2. Hand Wash: Bye-bye to sodium lauryl sulfate, take any old hand wash pump. Fill1/3 of it with Castile soap and some essential tree tea oils (10 drops) and some distilled water. Shake before you pump nice foamy soap on to your palms.
3. Glass Cleaners: Mix ¼ cups of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol each into 2 cups of distilled water powered by 1 tbsp. of corn starch and shake vigorously. Pour it into a pump, ready to be used on any dusty glass surface.
4. Disinfectants: Mix 20 drops of eucalyptus oil, 20 drops of lavender essential oil, and 10 drops of tea tree oil in a cup of water. Your powerful disinfectant is ready to be sprayed on dry surfaces.
5. Potpourri: Mix 1 tbsp. of powdered dried oak moss, 1tbsp. clove oil, 1 tbsp. lavender, 1 tbsp. cassia buds, and 1 oz. of rose perfume and store it in a beautiful glass pot, covered.
6. Aromatherapy Candles: Just mix the essential oils of your favorite fragrance into beeswax as it is melted to make the candles of your choice.
7. Herbal Incense: Smoke some myrrh and herbs. Not only will it spread a smoothening smell in your home but keep the bugs and mosquitoes away too.
8. Air Freshener: Just make a gel using gelatin and add your fragrance- 10 drops of essential oil- rosemary, orange, or lemon. Your air freshener is ready.
9. Plug-In: Put an end to cancer-causing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and try this instead! Use an empty bulb and fill it one third with any essential oil of your choice and the remaining with distilled water. Replace the wick and your plug-in is ready.
10. Paper Towel: Replace your paper towels with reusable eco-friendly flannel or cotton.
11. Cleansing Wipes: Just dip your paper towels into a bowl of water mixed with 2 tbsps. of coconut oil and 1 tbsp. organic baby wash. Remove the paper towel (cardboard) roll from the center, to use this as and when needed from a proper container.
12. Sunscreens: Use the double boiling method to melt 1/2 cups almond oil, 1/4 cups coconut oil and beeswax pastilles, 1 tbsp. red raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil, vitamin E oil, each and 2 tbsps. of shea butter. Don’t forget to add essential oils for the extra fragrance.
13. Eyeshadow: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of arrowroot powder with a coloring agent of your choice (cocoa, turmeric or dried beet powder) in a bowl. Add a little shea butter to the mixture and blend until you obtain a soft and creamy texture. You can store this in an airtight container.
14. Mascara: Heat coconut oil (2 tbsps.), aloe vera gel (4 tbsps.) and beeswax (tbsps.) over low heat till the wax is melted and add 1-2 capsules of activated charcoal. Your natural mascara is ready!
15. Homemade Blush: Mix 1 tbsp. arrowroot powder with 1 tbsp. of hibiscus powder and ¼ tbsp. of cinnamon powder.
16. Bronzer: Mix 1 tbsp silk powder, 2 tbsp French red clay, ¼ tbsp jojoba oil, 5 drops vitamin E oil and sieve it repeatedly, while gradually adding 6 tbsp zinc oxide, 1.5 tbsp sericite mica, 1.5 tbsp magnesium stearate and your bronzer is ready to go to mason jar!
17. Lipstick: Use the double boiling method to melt the beeswax pastilles (1 tbsp), shea/cocoa butter (1 tbsp), preferably in a glass jar. Add 1 tbsp coconut oil to it and add your choice of colors, flavors and fragrances. You may try any combis between beetroot powder, natural food colors, turmeric, organic cocoa, cinnamon, essential oils etc. Use a dropper to pour the liquid into the lip chap container and allow it to cool.
18. Deodorant: Worried whether deos would burn and darken your underarms? Melt 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of shea butter in a double boiler over medium heat. Remove the container from heat and add 2 tablespoons arrowroot and 3 tablespoons baking soda to it. Stir well. Add essential oils of your choice for a heady fragrance. Store it in an airtight container.
19. Mouthwash: Just mix 1 cup of distilled water with 2-3 drops of essential peppermint oil and your mouthwash is ready!
20. Mod Podge: Just mix one cup of glue with ¾ cups of water and add some drops of varnish for the glossy feel.
21. Glue: Make a watery mixture of all-purpose flour, and water and heat it over the pan till it becomes thick and sticky. Your glue is ready.
22. Pen Holder: You can take a coke tin or any bottle for that matter and just cut the top. Decorate it according to your creativity.
23. File Manager: Take some old shirt boxes and stack it one on top of other. Stick the whole thing in place. Cut one end so that it appears like a small opening to insert files. Decorate it up!
24. Jewel Box: Take some old chocolate boxes (metal). Fix a handle of cardboard, and also set a tiny latch with a lock at the front. Paint it and work some exciting motifs to match the shape of the box.
25. Greeting Cards: Make your own greeting cards to gift on occasions of wedding or birthdays. You just need to truthfully pour in your emotions on a card made from card paper, paint, glue, and glitters.
26. Photo Frames: Take bottle corks and stick it on a cardboard frame, the right size of your photo. Color it and you are done!
27. Candle Holder: Take two sauce bowls and stick together both its base so that it appears in a beautiful shape. Layer the curved bottom with a generous layer of glue so that it becomes flat. Now the candle can stay properly. Paint the outer with ceramic colors and stick sequins. It is an excellent gifting option too.
28. Vase: Wind your terracotta pot with multi colored wires and you have a beautiful vase.
29. Wall Hangings: Take some bangles and arranged it in a hexagon shape. Tie each bangle so that it remains in perfect shape. A beautiful wall hanging is ready!
30. Homemade Butter: Just skim the butter from curd and wash it in cold water. Store it in fridge. Flavor it with salt or pepper or garlic as per your choice.
31. Homemade Yogurt: Just pour 2 tbsps’ of lemon juice into rich milk and leave it overnight. Drain the water and yogurt is ready. You may add fruits of your choice for flavored ones.
32. Homemade Flavored Milk: While milk is about to boil add pistachios or vanilla to get flavored milk.
33. Peanut Butter: Just rough grind some presoaked peanuts with a bit of brown sugar and you are ready with a crunchy peanut butter spread.
34. Cocoa Spread: Warm milk powder and cocoa powder with a bit of cream/ butter and sugar to taste till it reaches the right consistency. Adding hazel nuts would be awesome!
35. Tomato Sauce: Puree skinned tomatoes and set it to boil with sugar, salt and pepper.
36. Bread: Mix Wheat flour (1 cup), yeast (1 tbsp), sugar (1 tbsp), eggs (2), butter (1 tbsp) and salt (a pinch). Keep aside for 4 hours. Bake and enjoy the richness of homemade bread.
37. Cakes: Mix all-purpose flour (1 cup), sugar (1 tbsp), eggs (2), butter (1 tbsp) and salt (a pinch), vanilla essence (1 tbsp), nuts. Bake and here you go. Try out different options like adding cocoa and the like.
38. Mayonnaise: Beat eggs (10) till they are fluffy. Add oil (1 cup) and garlic paste and salt to taste. Again beat it till it reaches a smooth consistency. Refrigerate immediately.
39. Salad Dressings: Mix olive oil, mustard paste, cilantro, and basil. It is an excellent salad dressing which goes well with even pasta salad.
40. Spice Mix: Take raw, whole spices (preferably organic) and powder it to go into your jars over the kitchen stacks. Use it for seasoning.
41. Jams: Make a pulp of any seasonal fruit of your choice, mix with sugar and cook it till reaches the desired consistency.
42. Pineapple Squash: Take 5 cups of pineapple juice and boil it with 4 cups of sugar and ½ cup of lemon juice. Once it is cool, store it in glass bottles. Now you don’t have to worry about guests. Just dilute this water and instant juice is ready!
43. Smoothies: Into a jar of milk in your mixer, put one banana and the fruit of your choice. Blend to get a delicious smoothie. Add flavors like vanilla or cocoa if you want to. Powdered cookies can give a crunchy taste.
44. Juices: Tired from a day’s work. Instead of going for aerated drinks, juice some seasonal fruits and spice it with mint. Nothing can be more refreshing!
45. Marmalades: Take citrus fruits shreds and granulated sugar into a hot pan and cook till done!
46. Pickles: Mix tender mangoes or lime or mixed veggies with salt and chili, sesame oil, and cumin powder and you have an Indian pickle all set.
47. Soups: Instead of going for the regular instant soup powders just boil some fresh green peas and spinach and blend it together with nice mozzarella cheese. Season it with pepper and salt.
48. Tamarind Paste: Take some fresh tamarind and grind it to a fine paste. Spice it with chili and refrigerate. You can use it as and when needed.
49. Ginger-Garlic Paste: Grind together ginger and garlic into a fine paste and keep it in an air tight container inside the fridge to spice up your curries and soups in case you do not have much time for it amidst your busy schedules.
50. French Fries: Don’t go for the frozen ones in packets. Make and store your homely supply for fries. It’s simple too! Finger-cut half boiled potatoes. Apply some salt and dry it in sun. It can stay in freezer for more than a week. Now whether its’ kids or guests you don’t have to worry. Just take it and fry it.
Don’t go for the glitter and sheen of the beautiful packets in malls. Spend a few minutes of your precious time instead to make our Earth a better place to live! Go natural and stay healthy!
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