Azalea and Rosebud Knits
  • Blog
  • Patterns
    • Hats >
      • Roelle Hat
      • Winterset Hat
      • Design Your Own Hat
      • Valentine Cables Hat
      • Kilbourne Hat
      • Etoile Hat
      • Glenrowan Hat
      • Button box cloche
      • Adora Hat
      • Aster Hat
      • Argyle Cabled Beret
      • Zoey Star Beret
      • Cairo Hat
      • Honeycomb Hive Hat
      • Lakkos Cloche
    • Pullovers & Cardigans >
      • Noemy Pullover
      • Yvaine Cardigan
      • Daiva Cardigan
      • Trail Henley
      • Salisa Cardigan
      • Thara Cardigan
      • Dealla Cardigan
      • Shiloh Sweater
      • Katrina Pullover
      • Liana Cardigan
      • Jocasta Pullover
      • Edythe Pullover
      • Ripple Edge Cardigan
      • Kaleidoscope Pullover
      • Sunsine & Rain Henley
      • Begonia Pullover
      • Climbing Rose Henley
      • Irisa Cardigan
      • Makalu
      • Sinai
      • Sand Dollar Cardigan
      • Nopales
      • Lava Rock Cardigan
      • Sharee Cardigan
      • Annalise Pullover
      • Starbrook Pullover
      • Rosemary Cardigan
      • Alison Pullover
      • Edelweiss Cardigan
      • Minnette Pullover
      • Erte Cardigan
      • Nocturnal Pullover
      • Morrison Cardigan
      • Wessex Cardigan
      • Valhalla
      • Leftovers for dinner
    • Tees & Tanks >
      • Cowesett Tee
      • Janesse Pullover
      • Kayleen Pullover
      • Tiye
      • Dahshur
      • Rhodora
      • Jacaranda Tunic
      • Sakura Tee
      • Sunburst Tee
      • Lindell Tee
      • Adeline Camisole
    • Vests & Shrugs >
      • Elephant Vest
      • Elephant Safari Children's Vest
      • Rimrock Vest
      • Bartram Vest
      • Karnak Vest
      • Dark Lotus Shrug
      • Lancero Vest
      • Aster Vest
      • Olexa Vest
      • Morocco Vest
      • Loretto Vest
      • Camellia Shrug
    • Shawls >
      • Nadina Shawl
      • Janelle Shawlette
      • Nile Valley Shawl
      • Ciara Shawl
      • Emmylou Shawl
      • Graciella Shawl
      • Djoser shawl
      • Desert Waves Scarf and Shawl
      • Blackberry Mist Shawl
      • Mariposa Shawl
      • Technidream Shawl
      • Log Cabin Shawl
      • Rosana Shawl
      • Siren Shawl
    • Scarves & Cowls >
      • Zohra Cowl
      • Esna Cowl
      • Avery
      • Lavienne Scarf
      • Joselyn Cowl
      • Jayda Cowl
      • Raissa Cowl
      • Rosewood Cowl
      • Lilka Scarf
      • Hoptree Scarf
    • Gloves >
      • Roelle Gloves
      • June Mitts
      • Cranberry Mitts
      • Cabled Heart Fingerless Gloves
    • Skirts >
      • Lucine Skirt
    • Jewelry & Other Accessories >
      • Inez Necklace
      • Bettina Headwrap
      • Saqqara Necklace
      • Endira Necklace
      • Lapis Cuff
      • Athena Headband
    • Stash-busting
  • Tutorials
    • Entrelac Tutorial
    • Double Knitting tutorial
    • Honeycomb Cables without a cable needle
    • Twisted stitches tutorial: k1tbl & p1tbl
  • eBooks
  • About
  • Contact

Homemade for Health

1/15/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
I have been working on this sweater since Thanksgiving, and it feels like it will never end.  This project hasn't been riddled with problems or difficult to execute, life has just gotten in the way.  

Since late summer I have been dealing with some new health issues, and a few other life things have made me put my knitting on the back burner for awhile.  I've spent the last five years as a military spouse, and the experience has helped me embrace the unexpected with a positive attitude.  I'm very much a plan-it-all-out kind of woman, so this has been a challenge.

My health stuff isn't major or life-threatening, but my doctor hasn't been terribly helpful.  In my usual fashion, when I don't get the answers I want, I do my own research.  Lots of reading online and at the library has shown me that it is in my best interest to start eating organic foods and avoid chemicals and plastics.  This sounds easy enough, but on a budget it means that I have to start making even more things from scratch, like beauty and cleaning products, and have less time for knitting.  I've written before about priorities and time, and taking care of my health and well-being is definitely at the top of my list.

I've been doing my all-from-scratch routine for a couple months now and already feel much better.  During the summer I was spending almost half of every month curled up in pain and so tired that I couldn't do my job taking care of the house and meals.  Now I'm down to just a couple days a month of more manageable pain, and I have much more energy.  

So, while it isn't knitting, I figured I would start sharing my other handmade endeavors since they are important aspects of my life.  Here is what I made this week:

Beauty

Picture
Aloe face vera cream.  Since I started doing the beauty-products-from-scratch thing, I've been using pure argan oil on my face.  It was fine with warmer weather (and strangle smelled like lemon cake), but now my face feels like sandpaper and I need something more moisturizing.  I happened to see this recipe on the Prairie Homestead blog and did a little happy dance.  I whipped up a half-batch to try it out, and my skin is so much happier now.​

Food

Picture
Fermented salsa & pickled veggies
So many people in my life are sick now, I can't believe it.  Fermented foods, along with tasting delicious, are supposed to be very good for supporting the immune system.  I'm a big fan of fresh salsa and pickled vegetables, so both of the recipes will be a staple in my fridge.  I used water kefir and salt as the culture for my salsa.  For the pickled veggies I made a brine of 2 teaspoons salt and enough water to cover, plus 1/4 cup water kefir.

Sewing

Picture
Dress shields.  These are something I can't find much information on, except on Gertie's sewing blog.  I have a problem with sweating (mostly due to social anxiety) and I have never found an anti-perspirant that works for me.  Now with the no-chemicals thing, I make my own deodarant, which keeps me smelling good, but sweat is still a problem.  I am trying out various versions of dress shields, and this pair made with flannel and PUL lining have worked best so far.  They made me feel a bit clammy, but I didn't get the embarassing stains on my clothes.  I plan to make the next pair with a few more absorbent layers.
Pads.  Yeah... this is another topic nobody really wants to talk about.  Well, I found this blog post on Little House Living, and these work great for my needs (mostly as a liner and not a pad).  I'm a big fan of Merissa's blog and book, she has lots of great ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg.

Books

​Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality.  I never thought I'd find a Catholic nun hysterically funny.  As a recent convert, I'm still growing in my faith and trying to find my footing, and Mother Angelica never fails to have relevant advice and very funny stories.  Just when I need it, I find little bits of wisdom and comfort.  I am so grateful to have found this book!

So, what sort of from-scratch beauty and cleaning products do you make?  What DIY recipes have helped you to embrace the homemade way of life?   ​
1 Comment
Coupon Plus Deals link
12/14/2022 12:37:56 am

Excellent article! Thank you for your excellent post, and I look forward to the next one. If you're seeking for discount codes and offers, go to couponplusdeals.com.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Azalea & Rosebud Knits
    Picture

    Author

    Cassie loves to knit, read and cook.  She sometimes does all three at the same time.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Visit Azalea & Rosebud Knits's profile on Pinterest.

    Categories

    All
    Books
    Food
    Gardening
    Knitting
    Quilting
    Sewing

    Archives

    May 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.