DIY Life

By Debra McDuffee

CasaSugar's got it right: most liquid soaps are filled with unnecessary chemicals and toxins. Antibacterial soaps are all the rage, but studies have shown that regular soap cleans just as well as chemical-laden soap, and it doesn't create super-bugs -- germs that are resistant to antibiotics.

If you've got a bar of plain old soap, you can turn it into liquid soap, natural and effective. This is also a way you can use up your soap scraps, or your soap trimmings if you make cold-process soap.

You'll need a bar of soap, distilled water, a grater, a big pot, and a hand blender. CasaSugar lists the detailed steps for making liquid soap in their article. Join me after the break for ideas on how to make your basic liquid soap into an everyday luxury.

DIY fans already know and love Instructables. But in the tradition of two-great-tastes-that-taste-great-together, the how-to site has paired up with active wear company Horny Toad in an invent a sport contest. Whether you're an inventor with a flair for athletics, or an athlete who loves to be creative, this contest is for you.

Simply come up with the rules for your original sport, make a list of necessary equipment, and if you're really enthusiastic, make a video. Send the information about your invented activity to Horny Toad and they'll post it on their website. The winner will receive a $350 gift card to spend on Horny Toad active wear.

If you need a little inspiration, or if you just want to try some of these newly invented sports yourself, check out some of the recent entries, including Crazy Croquet, WiFi Hunting, or this cool and inexpensive DIY skating or snowboarding sail. If you're the more visual type, check out their slide show of invented sports, some of which definitely belong in our Don't It Yourself category!

Mothering Magazine is my favorite publication these days. Partly because I have an all-consuming three-year-old, but mostly because of the message of empowerment it sends to parents: rely on yourselves, create your vision of parenting, and do it your own way. Talk about DIY parenting!

Mothering's website has a new article, 'Scents of Childhood,' that encourages parents to heal and soothe their kids using essential oils. If you read my Scentual Life column, you are beginning to understand the diversity and usefulness of essential oils and herbs. Now, put them to use to help your kids.

If I told you how many essential oils I have in my collection, you probably wouldn't believe me. Suffice it to say, I've got a bunch, and I couldn't live without any of them. Probably you don't need -- or want! -- as many as I have, but having a basic collection can be useful.

There are a few essential oils that every home should have, and one of these is sweet orange oil. I've written in the past about uses for peppermint essential oil; now you'll know what unique things you can do with your sweet orange oil as well.

Pest control
The d-limonene in sweet orange oil repels insects, so it is a good essential oil to spray on your plants to keep away mealybugs and white flies. Science backs this one up!

When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to drink soda. Even back then, my dad was pretty smart. He said the stuff would make me fat and rot my teeth. Seems research studies are proving him right about the unhealthiness of soda.

When I was old enough to move out of the house, I started drinking soda like mad. My dad was right; I did indeed gain some unneeded weight and I had to go to the dentist because I had cavities.

If you are trying to kick the soda habit, try jazzing up water with natural flavorings. You can make your water super cold with ice chips, then add in some lemon or lime juice, along with a couple slices of the fruit. Keeping water refrigerated at all times will get you reaching for the jug instead of the can.

CasaSugar's got it right: most liquid soaps are filled with unnecessary chemicals and toxins. Antibacterial soaps are all the rage, but studies have shown that regular soap cleans just as well as chemical-laden soap, and it doesn't create super-bugs -- germs that are resistant to antibiotics.

If you've got a bar of plain old soap, you can turn it into liquid soap, natural and effective. This is also a way you can use up your soap scraps, or your soap trimmings if you make cold-process soap.

You'll need a bar of soap, distilled water, a grater, a big pot, and a hand blender. CasaSugar lists the detailed steps for making liquid soap in their article. Join me after the break for ideas on how to make your basic liquid soap into an everyday luxury.

After a morning browsing garage sales a few weeks ago, my mom and one of my daughters returned home with three of those square metal looms and hundreds upon hundreds of weaving loops.

After saving one loom and a bag of loops, I had no idea what to do with the excess, until my mom pointed out this fun craft -- finger weaving a jump rope.

Not only will this craft use up all the spare loops you have after your kids get bored making pot holders, lanyards, and whatnot, finger weaving is also a fun and relaxing hobby for people of all ages.

All you need to complete the project are about 250 weaving loops and a spare hand. Place the first loop on your pinky and give it a half twist, then loop it around your ring finger and twist again. Continue until you've reached your ring finger. Repeat with the next loop, then stretch the first loop over the second loop one finger at a time to "weave."

Check out the gallery below for more specific instructions and to see what the beginning of this jump rope might look like.

I know more than one woman who had to have rings cut off during pregnancy. Fingers change size for a lot of reasons -- water retention, warm weather, weight gain, injury, humidity. If you don't get your ring off before those changes take place, you might just have a ring that refuses to budge.

WikiHow has several suggestions for helping you free a ring from your finger (or maybe free your finger from the ring!), including many tried-and-true methods like using soap, butter, or anything else that might make things a little more slippery. They also suggest soaking your hand in cool water or elevating it, if water retention is the problem.

But if those methods fail, there's one more thing you can try -- dental floss. Simply thread the floss under the ring, then wrap it around your finger snugly up to your knuckle. Pull on the floss, and as it unwinds, it should push that ring right up over your knuckle. Brilliant!

Take a look at the gallery below to see how it works.



(via Lifehacker)