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Welcome to Self Soul Space! This blog is designed to bring you healthy lifestyle tips. A true healthy lifestyle, embodies a healthy mind, body, spirit, and environment. Thanks for stopping by to check out my way of living.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey Self Soul Space Family!
Just a quick message to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.  I am so thankful for the family, friends, and followers of Self Soul Space. Thank you for tuning in to see my healthy tips, tricks, and recipes.  May this holiday season bring you all you wish for, including health, happiness, love, and peace!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Many Drops of Tea Tree Oil

For the past few months, I have been testing and using a wonderful product from Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil.  I have found many uses for this amazing oil.  Besides it being know as a great topical skin cure-all (I used it on a sun rash, cleared it right up)... It is also an amazing cleaner and freshener... Here are the ways I've been using and will continue using my tea tree oil.


My first use was for my asthma-allergy kids... I added a few drops to our humidifiers, and it helped relieve asthma and their allergy breathing issues.

My second use was as an all-purpose cleaner.  I filled a spray bottle with 1-2 tsp. of tea tree oil and the rest of the bottle with water.
I also made a variation, with water, vinegar, soap, and tea tree oil... For my tub/showers

My third use, was another way to keep my bathrooms fresh, by using it in the toilet.  The toilet bowl receives about 1/4-1/2 cup of baking soda dumped in (I really don’t measure, of course), a few drops of tea tree oil, and a splash of peroxide (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup again). Sometimes I use vinegar in place of the peroxide, but I think the finished bathroom smells fresher with peroxide. Either will work, though. After scrubbing with the toilet brush, I leave it set until someone needs to use the restroom.

My fourth use, helped to freshen my basement's wall to wall carpet.
Homemade Carpet Freshener
Ingredients:
1/2 cup baking soda
20-40 drops essential oil of choice (1/4 lavender oil, 3/4 tea tree)
The baking soda is a natural carpet cleaner, and will help to remove any odors from your carpet.
The essential oils will not only leave a wonderful scent, but will also help to cleanse your carpet as well.
Pick essential oils that smell nice and have powerful cleansing properties. My two favorites for this are lavender and tea tree oil. I love the smell of both of them, and they both have potent antibacterial qualities. However, if you have pets, the ASPCA advises you to stay away from tea tree oil.
To Make:
Mix baking soda and essential oils together, and put in a shaker container with holes in the lid (such as a large, empty spice container).
Let this mixture sit for 24 hours to allow the essential oil to permeate the baking soda.
To Use:
Sprinkle lightly over carpet. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, and then vacuum as usual.

I love this stuff!! I can't wait to find more ways to use tea tree oil.  I completely recommend Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Austrailian Tea Tree Oil.  It will leave your home smelling fresh and clean!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Homemade Fall Applesauce

Clearly it's Fall... no matter where you are.  The season of visiting orchards and pumpkin patches.  The weekend before last, my family and I visited one of our favorites, Linvilla Orchard in Pennsylvania.
Of course we left with pounds of apples, pumpkins, apple pie, and apple cider donuts (shhh).  Honestly, I knew I couldn't eat all of these apples, so I started making my favorite apple recipes.  We made apple muffins, apple crisp, and a new recipe... Applesauce!  And since I'm always about getting more bang for your bite, there's a secret ingredient to make it more fall appropriate.  One more bonus, this is a crockpot recipe, so set it, forget it, and your house will smell amazing!!

Homemade Fall Applesauce

Ingredients
8 Apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
1 c pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
1/2 c Sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 c water

Directions
Chop some apples into smaller chunks, and leave some as slices.
Place all ingredients in a crockpot, stir.  Cook on high for 3 hrs, or low for 6.
As the apples soften, mash them or use an immersion blender to get applesauce to desired consistency.  Serve with a little sprinkle of cinnamon on top, enjoy!!

Some other variations, could include subbing the pumpkin for blueberries, or strawberries, cranberries...