Homemade Remedies

Oatmeal Scrub

A stimulating, thoroughly cleansing 3-in-1 scrub!
Smooths, tones, and hydrates.

1 Tbsp. ground oatmeal (use steel cut oats, not instant)
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. yogurt

Combine and apply.
Optional: let your scrub double as a mask! Let it sit a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

source: http://www.sassybella.com/2008/11/recession-proof-beauty-10-homemade-facial-scrubs/

Furniture Polish

Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.

This "salad dressing" recipe for furniture polish avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed.

Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:
Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

* 1 cup olive oil
* 1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda's mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Put baking soda to work in your organized home:

Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.

For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.

Slow-running drains? Keep bathroom drains running freely by pouring 1/2 to 3/4 cup baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then flush thoroughly with hot water. The deodorizing effect is an added bonus! [Do not use this method on blocked drains.]

source: http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products

Baking Soda


* Wipe shower curtains with baking soda on a damp sponge to remove mildew.

* Clean copper pots with a paste of baking soda and lemon juice; rinse and dry.

* Flush 1 cup of baking soda down the toilet once a week to keep the septic tank clear.

* To unclog a drain, mix 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of baking soda. Pour it into the drain, then follow with a pot of boiling water.

* Use a paste of baking soda to remove black heel marks from a vinyl floor.

* To remove burned or stuck food from pots, pans and casseroles (anything but aluminum), cover the burned food liberally with baking soda, cover with hot water and soak 10 minutes or longer.

* To absorb oil and grease from a garage floor, cover the spot with a layer of baking soda alone or baking soda mixed with cornmeal or mason’s sand. Let it sit overnight. Sweep up. Any traces of stain can be cleaned by wetting and scouring with baking soda and a scrub brush.

http://molly-mormon.com/12-things-to-do-with-baking-soda/

NOTE: I just copy and pasted the information in these sites. I am planning to use these recipes myself.

Terrified, II

*I wrote this a few months before I conceived and started getting the same insecurities.*



I'm scared of having children. Not the pain of labor or the unpleasantness of pregnancy (I am a teensy bit scared of that too), but the actual raising of said children.

I worry that my child will not like me, I worry that I will smother it, I worry that I will not give it enough attention, I worry that I will not be everything it wants in a mother. Aaaaaaah geeeeeeeez, why am I getting all teary just writing this?

Anyway, I want to raise children that are healthy, productive, aware, curious, intelligent, happy, secure, confident, kind, trust-worthy, loving, lovable, joyous, joyful, assertive, determined, creative, funny, reliable.

I wish I were all of those things.

Ultimately, I know that some of these things are genetic, there's only so much nurturing I can do to cultivate a habit. Character traits, in my opinion are there or not, and sometimes, all the loving and structure and standards in the world may not foster kindness.

And that also scares me. I know I am generally good. I know that my husband is good. But what if we have a child that is inherently bad. I have to love it all the same and what if I can't? What if I get a child that requires special attention and my other children are resentful, what if I can't help but to love a child more and it infringes upon the rights of my other children? What if my child is so much like me that it hurts?

So what?

I know that love is instinctive and that a mother will love her child and vice versa (inshaAllah), but at the same time, I want my child to love me and be proud of me and I want to love it with every fiber of my being. How can I not though, when I love it already?

What if my child brings me so much joy, the size of my heart increases just to contain it all? What if my child cures me, takes away all my heartache and misery and makes me laugh with abandon until I'm doubled over in sweet agony? What if my child teaches me things I didn't know and intensifies my moments of pleasure? What if my child just knows when I need a hug or a kiss? What if my child just senses that I need him or her to sit in my lap and look at me adoringly? What if my child is so much like me it hurts?

So what?

I can almost hear your heartbeat
I wonder if you love me yet
You keep me company on nights
the sun refuses to come up
and my back just wont let up
You and me, baby
Just us two
And your heartbeat
Do you hear mine?
A heart that beats a lullaby
Just for you, baby
A heart that loves
Unconditionally
Almost selfishly
Blindly
A heart that is filled
With joy
At the knowledge
That we belong
here
and
now
to each other

Rabbi habli min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami-ud du'A

Rabbi la taZarni fardan wa anta khayrul warithin

Ameen