Thrifty Tuesday: Make Your Own Cough Syrup

Why spend tons of Cough Syrup, when you can make your own and much better for you and  your family.. I found this great recipe from Frugally Sustainable. Hope you enjoy it!


How To Make Herbal Syrups

1. Combine approximately 2 ounces of herbs and 1 quart of water. Begin simmering the mixture over low heat and reduce liquid down to 1 pint.
2. Strain herbs from the liquid by running through a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth or coffee filter. Pour concentrated liquid back into the simmer pot. Note: Be sure to compost the discarded herbs.
3. Add 1 cup of honey (or maple syrup, vegetable glycerin, or other sweetener you have on hand) per pint of liquid.
4. Warm honey and liquid, on very low heat, just enough to blend together. Note: Cooking honey any longer, or on a high heat, will destroy the healing properties of the honey.
5. Bottle, label, and refrigerate syrup.

Herbal Cold and Cough Syrup
Gather the Ingredients:

-1/4 cup dried echinacea root
-1/4 cup dried licorice root
-1/8-1/4 cup freshly grated ginger root (to taste)

Directions:

Grate Ginger.

Add dried herbs, ginger, and 1 quart of water to pot. Simmer on low heat until liquid is reduced to 1 pint.

Strain herbs.

Add 1 cup of honey to liquid. Over low heat, warm just enough to mix well.

Bottle, label, and refrigerate.

Dosage:

The syrup can be used as often as needed, up to every hour, until symptoms are relieved.

For Children: 1 teaspoon

For persons 10 years and older: 1 tablespoon
Expiration:
Syrup will keep in refrigerator for approximately 3 months.
Tips

-I like to add an ounce of brandy to the syrup in order to help preserve the syrup. Adding the brandy also allows the syrup to act as a cough suppressant. Preserving with brandy will increase expiration to approximately 6 months.

-Feel free to experiment with the herbs. For example, consider adding Valerian for restlessness.

-Don’t have licorice root on hand? Make the syrup simply with echinacea and ginger. However, increase amount of dried echinacea root to 1/2 cup.

-Add 1/2 cup chopped onion to the herbs and ginger for a increase in medicinal properties

Locally Check Out Earth Fare or Natural Food Market

 

 

DISCLAIMER: The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Thrifty Tuesday: Organzing the mess...

 

 

It's that time of year, I organize and throw out the crap...

 

Here is the before underneath our bathroom sink..

 

It actually was worse this but I forgot to take a photo at first LOL~!

 

 

So with a very cheap budget and a trip to the Dollar Tree.. this is what I came up with.

 

All the bins were $1 each at Dollar Tree

 

I bought 3 rolls of contact paper for $1 each, and my handy dandy sharpie help me label everything...

 

 

( Just a reminder we rent so I can't do a lot of things I would love too)

 

 

 

 

 



Thrifty Tuesday: DIY Ideas for Valentine's Day

School Valentines from I Heart Naptime

 

 

 

 

Conversation Heart Specimen Art from Remodelaholic

 

 

Printable Valentine Heart Garland from Landee See, Landee Do

Conversation Heart Decor from The Peanut Paintshop

 

 

Thrifty Tuesday: DIY Night Light

Homemade nightlight: cut out photo from old book; tape shut; add battery-operated tea light. Cozy! For more directions go here: http://fellowfellow.com/diy-houses-by-night/

Thrifty DIY: Pencil Burlap Hanging

I saw this on pintrest and went over here to check it out

rowdy in room 300 blog

Here is how I did mine. My Goal was not to BUY anything to make it. So I had to use what I had around the house.. I probably will add a bow when I find my ribbon box. Basically you trace out what shape you want to cut out, cut two pieces. I am totally thinking about doing a pumpkin for fall. I think these would make great teacher's gifts too! 

Supplies:

glue gun, sharpie marker

acrylic paint in colors you want to use (I used orange, light gold, black, and pink)

burlap, scissors,paintbrush

I stuffed it with plastic trash-bags.

I used twine to make a way to hang it.

Here it is so far:

TA - DAH!

DIY Angry Bird Magnets!

DIY angry bird Magnets!!

View this Printable

DIY Angry Birds Magnets

This free printable feature three full sheets of fun Angry Birds printables: one page of lumbar and stone, one of birds and pigs, and a whole page of extra accessories. Check out the post for info on how to turn the printables into magnets. The possibilities are endless for fridge play with this fun homemade craft.

Countdown to the 4th: Free Printables

I love these! Download these free 4th of July Cupcake Toppers at Less Cake More Frosting. So cute!

Download this free 4th of July Subway Art at the Crafting Chicks. Print it and pop it in a frame to fluff up your 4th of July decor!

Make your Own Gatorade~!

Basic Sports Drink
. 1 quart (32 oz) or 1 liter water
. 1/3 cup sugar
. 1/4 teaspoon table salt
. Flavoring to taste - orange juice, lemon juice, etc.
Keep refrigerated.

20-Oz. Sports Bottle's Worth of Sports Drink
. 3 tablespoons table sugar
. 1/8 teaspoon table salt
. Flavoring to taste - orange juice, lemon juice, unsweetened Kool-Aid or
Wyler's drink mix, etc. Suggest trying 2-3 tablespoons of juice or 1/3 packet of
unsweetened Kool-Aid.
. Fill halfway with water, mix well.
. Top off with water.
Keep refrigerated.

Your Own Powdered Sports Drink
I like to take along sports drink powder and mix it up with water from a water
fountain, etc. when out on my long walks, after drinking my first sports bottle
of plain water.
. 9 tablespoons table sugar
. 3/8 teaspoon table salt
. 1 packet unsweetened Kool-Aid or other drink mix.
Mix dry.
Portion 1/3 of the mixture into each of three ziplock bags.
To reconstitute, add contents of 1 bag to a 20-oz. sports bottle. Fill halfway
with water, mix, and fill with water, mix again.

DIY: Spa Water

Warning: If you mix lemon, orange, and grapefruit together, it does a lot more then taste good :)

How to make Infused water (spa water)

You can find fancy flavored waters in the grocery store, including some that are free of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Spas also serve water that has been flavored with herbs, fruits, even vegetables. But you can easily make your own naturally-infused spa water at home. Try adding any of the following to a pitcher of ice:

• Sliced citrus fruits or zest (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit)
• Crushed fresh mint or other herbs
• Peeled, sliced fresh ginger or sliced cucumber

THRIFTY TUESDAY: DIY new sew red white and blue table runner

Check out how to make this here at :scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com

Countdown to Mother's Day

 

Breakfast in Bed Printables...

For Directions go here:

ohhappyday.com



Countdown to Mother's Day ....

Get this Printable here:

http://www.4shared.com/document/GX3H9IwR/Mothersday_RoomService_Hanger2.html



Thrifty Tuesday: DIY Modge Podge pots for teachers or mother's day!

For Directions go here:

a boy.a sister. crafts

Pin of the idea:Neat Idea for teacher gift

Pin of the day

                                                                        Teacher gifts

I am attempting to do these with yellow and black, and BEES for Wednesday.

They have to bring a gift for the classroom for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Today was a flower, Grace picked one with a stem. Aidan just picked a flower, so I had to explain it

had to go in a vase... Oh yes love my very literally boy!



Thrifty Tuesday: Tips for cleaning your dishwasher

• Cleaning Your Dishwasher

Add a tablespoon or two of baking soda to your dishwasher before starting wash cycle to remove odors.

Doing this also increases cleaning power and makes inside sparkle.

• Use KoolAid Lemonade Mix

• Fresh Smelling Dishwasher

When washing the dishes, you want them to look and smell fresh. For a fresh smelling dishwasher, try placing a lemon half in the utensil container. Run your machine through a normal cycle, and your dishes and dishwasher will come out smelling fresh and lemony. Lemon is great for all kinds of ktichen cleaning as it leaves everything smelling wonderful!

• Dishwasher Soap Film Removal

  The soap you use for washing dishes may clean your cups and plates, but it may also leave a film on the inside of your dishwasher. Try this kitchen cleaning tip for a film free dishwasher: Fill washer with dirty dishes but make sure you have not included any silver or other metals. Place a bowl with 1/2 cup of bleach on the bottom rack and allow the machine to run through the wash cycle only. Fill the same bowl with 1/2 cup of vinegar and this time allow the machine to run through a full cycle.

• Dishwasher Stain Removal

You may think that since your dishwasher uses soap for washing dishes, its inside is spotless. This isn't always the case however, as dishwashers can take on yellow stains. to quickly remove these, first allow your empty machine to fill for a wash. Then add a package of flavored orange crystals (the kind that make instant orange beverages) and allow the wash and rinse cycle to complete. How's that for a kitchen cleaning tip!

Pin of the Day: Pallet Love.... 4/27/12

God save the pallet: pin of the day

 I picked up some pallets yesterday to use for Grace's Bday party, if they had been the kind below

I would saved them for something else :)

Thrifty Tuesday: DIY Dish Soap Cake Stand

You can find this neat idea here:

http://www.natalme.com/dish-soap-cake-stand/

To make this on the cheap use your local dollar store or thrift store for the candlestick and plate!



Pin of the Day: 4/23/12

Katy's Pin of the day

pin of the day