My Healthy Homemade Life

7 Ways to Use Herbs This Fall

Jen — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 10:41:05 +0000

Fall has definitely arrived here in the northeast! The mornings are crisp and cool and many of the flowers and herbs are starting to fade. It’s time to start thinking ahead and preparing some home remedies for winter! Today I’m going to share with you 7 ways to use herbs this fall. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Over the past few years I’ve developed a bit of a routine in the fall. Once my kids start back to school, I start making home remedies for winter and try to use up any herbs growing in my garden that won’t tolerate a light frost. Our first frost is usually only a month away and I hate to see those herbs go to waste! Here’s a glimpse of my normal fall routine for using up those herbs and getting your home apothecary stocked at the same time! 7 Ways to Use Herbs This Fall Gather and Dry Your Fresh Herbs The time for gathering herbs is fleeting if you live in a cold climate (although many of […]

The post 7 Ways to Use Herbs This Fall appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

Low Sugar Blueberry Lavender Jam Recipe

Jen — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 11:02:59 +0000

With blueberries in season, what better way to preserve the harvest than to make some delicious low sugar Blueberry Lavender Jam? A hint of lavender takes traditional blueberry jam recipe over the top! This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Every year, the kids and I go blueberry picking. Our tradition started long ago when the kids were toddlers and they ate much more than they ever dropped in the bucket! Some things never change! Our goal every year is to pick 100 lbs to freeze for snacks and smoothies. Sometimes we make it (like this year!) and sometimes we don’t. It’s just one way we eat healthy on a budget. Needless to say, my family loves blueberries! While we primarily pick blueberries for snacking and smoothies, since my pantry was totally wiped out of homemade jam, I decided to reserve some of our berries for blueberry jam–but not just plain ole blueberry jam, I wanted something more special than that. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you know how much I […]

The post Low Sugar Blueberry Lavender Jam Recipe appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

How to Use Goldenrod as a Home Remedy

Jen — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 10:14:39 +0000

Late summer into fall is the prefect time to find and gather goldenrod to use as a home remedy. Today on the blog, you’ll learn some of the best ways to make use of this late summer herb. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Goldenrod is starting to bloom! It brightens the meadows and roadsides with its gorgeous, yellow blooms and reminds us that fall is coming. Many people take one look at goldenrod and run the other way, coughing and sneezing–thinking it’s causing their allergies when in fact, it is actually the cure. You see, goldenrod’s pollen is heavy and sticky and doesn’t blow through the air causing us to cough and sneeze like another plant that often grows nearby–ragweed. Not quite as noticeable as the beautiful goldenrod, ragweed is often the real cause for seasonal allergies this time of year. (Here’s more on Goldenrod vs. Ragweed from the Herbal Academy of New England. ) When to Harvest Goldenrod Harvest goldenrod flowers, buds and leaves just as the flowers are […]

The post How to Use Goldenrod as a Home Remedy appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

10 Herbs to Add to Your Smoothies

Jen — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:55:39 +0000

Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrition into a snack or meal. Today we’re going to explore some of the best herbs to add to your smoothies for the most nutrition! This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! 10 Herbs to Add to Your Smoothies Lamb’s Quarter (Wild Spinach) A common garden weed, you can find lamb’s quarter growing in fields, along roadsides, in gardens and in manure and compost piles. One of the most highly nutritious plants ever analyzed, lamb’s quarters beats many common greens like spinach and kale in vitamin and mineral content. It’s especially rich in fiber, beta-carotene, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and manganese. Like spinach, it is high in oxalates so it can cause kidney stones in some people. It’s always a good idea to rotate the greens in your smoothies for this reason. Used fresh, lamb’s quarter is mild tasting like spinach and makes a tasty addition to smoothies. You can substitute lamb’s quarter in any recipe that calls for spinach. Chickweed Chickweed is another commonly […]

The post 10 Herbs to Add to Your Smoothies appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

DIY Calming Calendula Face Oil for Skin Redness

Jen — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 12:15:32 +0000

This DIY Calming Calendula Face Oil is a dreamy blend of herbs and nourishing oils and is perfect for all skin types including those with sensitive skin. It penetrates and nourishes the deepest levels of the skin so it’s also anti-aging. Made with three gentle, anti-inflammatory herbs, it soothes and calms any redness in the skin. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you know how much I love to make my own skin care products! Not only is it more economical but you also have complete control over the ingredients when you make your own products. Most over the counter skin products contain a long list of toxic ingredients that build up in the body, making us more susceptible to illness and disease. It’s always a good idea to avoid them when you can. I’ve had sensitive skin and roseacea for a number of years so I have to be very careful what I put on my face. Most over the counter products irritate my sensitive skin, especially […]

The post DIY Calming Calendula Face Oil for Skin Redness appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

How to Use Yarrow as a Herbal Home Remedy

Jen — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 10:42:05 +0000

Yarrow is commonly know to be a superior herb for First Aid but did you know there are many more uses for yarrow? Today on the blog, we’ll explore several other ways to use yarrow as a herbal home remedy. Be sure to check out Part 1 of our series on yarrow: How to Use Yarrow as a First Aid Remedy. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! How to Use Yarrow as a Herbal Home Remedy The yarrow is blooming in my garden and it’s time to get picking! Many of you shared with me last week that you found yarrow growing in lots of places near you and can’t wait to start using it! Be sure to read my last post if you’re unsure about which yarrow is best for medicinal use. While the yarrow leaves are used mainly for First Aid, there are many ways to use the flowers (or a combination of the leaves and flowers) as a herbal home remedy. Here are several uses for yarrow flowers: The flowers of yarrow […]

The post How to Use Yarrow as a Herbal Home Remedy appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

How to Use Yarrow as a First Aid Remedy

Jen — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:33:17 +0000

Let’s talk about one of the most ancient and useful First Aid herbs we find in nature–yarrow! In today’s post, you’ll learn all about how to use yarrow as a First Aid remedy. Be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 of Using Yarrow as a Home Remedy as we talk about how to use yarrow flowers! This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Getting to Know Yarrow I was first introduced to yarrow several years ago when I was given a single plant started from seed. For several years my yarrow made happy company with some red bee balm and filled a nice little spot in my flower garden. It gradually filled out and one plant became several but without being a nuisance like mint planted in the wrong spot (oh yes, I’ve done that!) It was only after I started studying herbalism that I began to realize how absolutely amazing and useful yarrow is! In fact, because it is so easy to find (it grows all over Europe, […]

The post How to Use Yarrow as a First Aid Remedy appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

Hibiscus & Rosehip Lemonade

Jen — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 11:49:38 +0000

It’s that time of year that most of us are craving refreshing, cold drinks. Today, I’ve got a delicious and healthy herbal spin on homemade lemonade. I can’t wait to share this Hibiscus & Rosehip Lemonade recipe with you! “This recipe was featured in the roundup of Best Lemonade Recipes in 2018“! This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Whenever summer rolls around, I’m always reminded of my mom’s homemade lemonade! Made with lots of fresh lemons and a good amount of sugar, it was always a special treat when Mom started juicing lemons. Today’s Hibiscus & Rosehip Lemonade recipe puts an herbal spin on my childhood lemonade. I prefer to use honey and a pinch of stevia herb but you can use sugar if you prefer. By the way, last week’s lilac infused honey is AMAZING in this recipe! If you’re unfamiliar with stevia herb, let me fill you in. Stevia herb is the dried, cut and sifted plant in its original unprocessed state (unlike stevia drops […]

The post Hibiscus & Rosehip Lemonade appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

How to Make & Use Lilac Infused Honey

Jen — Thu, 24 May 2018 10:25:48 +0000

I’m excited to share with you one of my favorite springtime recipes–Lilac Infused Honey. Yes, lilacs are more than just pretty flowers–they are edible and absolutely delicious! Today on the blog, I’ll show you how to make and use lilac infused honey. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! It’s amazing, I’ve had one or more lilac bushes growing in my yard since I was small and never realized they were edible until last year! Once I found out this amazing news (lilacs are some of my favorite flowers!) I went a little lilac crazy and took full advantage of the four lilac bushes growing in our yard. Who knew lilacs could be so versatile? Two of my favorite lilac creations from last spring were a delicious lilac jelly and today’s recipe, Lilac Infused Honey. The lilac jelly was a huge hit with my family and friends (it made such a unique gift!) but I have to admit, I hoarded the Lilac Infused Honey a bit! It was […]

The post How to Make & Use Lilac Infused Honey appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

DIY Rose Face & Body Cream

Jen — Thu, 10 May 2018 10:45:58 +0000

Today I’ve got an amazing DIY Rose Face & Body Cream recipe to share with you! I’ve been adding it to my skin care routine for the last 6 months and my skin has never felt softer. This lovely Rose Face & Body Cream smells absolutely wonderful and contains nothing but nourishing ingredients that will leave your skin radiant. I can’t wait for you to try it! This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! It’s been a little while since I’ve shared a DIY Beauty recipe with you all! I have to admit, I’m pretty boring when it comes to my skin care routine–I’ve found what works for my sensitive skin and I stick with it! I’ve mentioned before that I have rosacea and very sensitive skin. For the most part, that means that most over-the counter skin care products are out for me. Any kind of synthetic fragrance sets my face on fire! Well, not really, but it sure feels like it! Even many natural products irritate my skin. […]

The post DIY Rose Face & Body Cream appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

5 Easy Recipes for Making Herbal Kombucha

Jen — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:03:06 +0000

I’m excited to share with you how I use herbs to flavor homemade kombucha! Today on the blog, I’ve got 5 easy recipes for making herbal kombucha! If you are brand new to kombucha-making, be sure to check out this post with step by step instructions and pictures of how to brew your first batch of kombucha or download this free kombucha guide. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! I’ve tried my hand at a few different types of fermented drinks over the past few years–water kefir, coconut milk kefir, ginger bug and kombucha. But there’s one drink that I continue to make on a regular basis because it’s so simple, delicious and full of good bacteria –plus my family absolutely loves it! Yes, that is kombucha! Making homemade kombucha is not difficult at all and it has become a regular part of my routine. Most of the work of kombucha is just waiting for it to be finished! For quite a long time, I loved flavoring my kombucha with fresh […]

The post 5 Easy Recipes for Making Herbal Kombucha appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

Simple Spring Practices for Better Health

Jen — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:29:45 +0000

Spring is the perfect time to adopt some new practices that move us toward wellness. In today’s post, we’ll be exploring some simple spring practices for better health. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Simple Spring Practices for Better Health Move from eating heavier meals to lighter, simpler meals Often we crave warming, hearty meals during the cold, dark months of winter. They can feel so comforting and nourishing! Just imagine sitting in front of the fire on a cold, dark evening with a bowl of thick, hearty stew and maybe a slice of freshly baked bread to go with it! But as the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, our bodies naturally crave more seasonal foods. Try moving away from those heavy meals into eating lighter, simpler meals that don’t weigh down your digestion so much. Try incorporating more seasonal fruits and vegetables into your diet that are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Take advantage of the fresh, delicious green vegetables of spring such as baby […]

The post Simple Spring Practices for Better Health appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

Relaxing Stressful Day Tea

Jen — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:14:25 +0000

For stressful days when you need to feel nourished and supported, try this relaxing Stressful Day Tea. Full of herbs that help you manage stress, nourish your nervous system, and help your body and mind to relax, this tea will help you unwind and get a restful night’s sleep. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Earlier this month, we talked a bit about the toll that chronic stress can take on our health and I shared with you 5 herbs for stress that are easy to find and grow in your own garden. When combined with positive lifestyle changes, each of these herbs can help you manage stress in a different way–some by relaxing the mind and nerves, some by nourishing the nervous system, some by helping the body adapt to stress and some by relaxing tension in the body. Today’s recipe is a relaxing tea blend that includes each of these 5 herbs. While this tea can be enjoyed any time, I love to prepare a cup after a […]

The post Relaxing Stressful Day Tea appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

5 Herbs for Stressful Times

Jen — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 11:39:33 +0000

Whether you have acute or chronic stress, there are some herbs that can help, some by nourishing and relaxing the nervous system, some by calming the mind and nerves, some by bringing balance to the body and supporting its ability to deal with physical, mental and emotional stress and some by helping us get the rest we need. Today, we’re going to explore 5 Herbs for Stressful Times. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! I titled this blog post, “5 Herbs for Stressful Times,” but on second thought, it probably should have been called 5 Herbs for Just About Every Day! “ Stress and Our Health While there are times that are more stressful in our lives, it is easy to feel stress and be stressed on a daily basis. Unless you are retired on a beautiful, sandy beach in the Caribbean with minimal contact with prickly people and bad news (my dream!) you probably find yourself feeling stressed more often than you’d like to admit. Busyness, traffic, news, […]

The post 5 Herbs for Stressful Times appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

Warming Ginger Massage Oil & Salve for Pain

Jen — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:06:06 +0000

If you’re feeling inspired to experiment with ginger after last month’s post, I’ve got just the recipes for you—-a simple, DIY warming massage oil and salve for aches, pains, sore muscles and joints, arthritis, nerve pain and menstrual cramps. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! Ten years ago, I never would have dreamed I’d be making my own home remedies and salves (and certainly not ones containing ginger and cayenne!) but here I am! (If you’re new to the blog and haven’t read how I ended up exactly where I am, head on over to my About Me page to hear my story. It’s a doozy!) Today on the blog, I’ve got two pain-relieving recipes for you containing herbs that you most likely already have in your pantry–ginger and cayenne. Both the massage oil and salve can help relieve inflammatory pain, sore muscles and joints, arthritis and nerve pain, as well as other aches and pains. Let’s take a look at the key herbs in these recipes and how they […]

The post Warming Ginger Massage Oil & Salve for Pain appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.

How to Use Ginger as a Home Remedy

Jen — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 12:37:53 +0000

This month on the blog, I’m sharing some simple herbal home remedies using ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Today, we’re going to look at how to use ginger root as a home remedy. While most people know ginger as a remedy for nausea, there are many more ways to use this common, easy to find herb. This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase through my links I get a small commission, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you for supporting my blog! How to Use Ginger as a Home Remedy Looking back now, it’s hard to believe that I detested ginger for years (more on that later!) because ginger is so useful both as food and as a home remedy. Fresh ginger is easily accessible (just about every supermarket carries it) and it’s easy to keep and store. If you rarely use fresh ginger, you may want to take a second look at this incredible, healing herb. Here are some of my favorite ways to use ginger as a home remedy. Fresh vs. Dried Ginger Root While the fresh root is warming, stimulating and slightly drying, dried […]

The post How to Use Ginger as a Home Remedy appeared first on My Healthy Homemade Life.