a DIY: I made my own non-aluminum deodorant (and I smell so good!)

I'm going to start with the "2 Weeks Later" on this post, because I made my deodorant a couple of weeks ago and I've been using it every day since. So, this is not a brag or anything, but I smell great. Honestly. I've been using store (well Amazon) bought non-aluminum deodorant for a while now (Lavanila is just wonderful) and so I got over the fact that we aren't talking about antiperspirant here a long time ago. But your body is meant to sweat, it's good for you, and the aluminum in antiperspirant has been linked to breast cancer (if you think about it you're shaving your armpit, creating tiny cuts, then smearing a known carcinogen onto the area) as well as other illnesses. No thanks. The funny thing I found is that not too long after going off antiperspirant I wasn't sweating as much. Yep, sweating less! With antiperspirant there was always a point in the day where I'd start mega-sweating and end up with pit stains. That hasn't happened to me in so long. I sweat a little bit, the deodorant soaks up the smelliness, and I end the day smelling good and without aluminum smeared near my boobs. All good things.

I've also come to realize that I'm crunchy as fuck. It's true. I spent a good few years saying things to people like, "I'm kind of weird about food," or, "haha yeah I guess I'm on the crunchy side!" ::adorable shrug:: but the truth is that the more I know about the food I eat, the things I smear all over myself and my kids, the more I'm just like, "to hell with this." I suppose a crunchy lifestyle is among the last things that's it's still OK to just make fun of super openly and we're all supposed to laugh and be cool about it, hello truck and beer commercials! But guys... I am uptight. There, I've said it. I have a hard time being super cool about it. Everything in moderation but come on now. Ok, this commercial is funny.

Welp! Has the talking-too-much crazy-eyed chia seed eating lady scared you away yet?

So! Non-aluminum deodorant, it turns out, is incredibly easy to make and it works! This is based off a recipe I got at Crunchy Betty. Here's what you do...

You need
- wooden spoon & mixing bowl OR mortar & pestle if you have one
- 3 deodorant empties
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 5 TBSP of coconut oil
- vanilla extract (for smell)
- essential oils (for smell)

Here's what you do

1. Melt your coconut oil down so that it's a liquid. This doesn't take much at all. I did 30 seconds in my microwave at half-power. You just need to get it to it's non-solid, oily state.

2. Mix in your baking soda, corn starch, vanilla extract (I am terrible about measuring, but I used about 1/2 tsp) and essential oils (I used honey buckthorn vitamin C serum because it is the only oil I own; it smells super citrussy and like honey which is awesome).

3. Here is where I'll do better next time. Really mix that stuff up until it's as smooth as possible. My deodorants ended up with the occasional little tiny lump in them which hasn't killed me yet, but it feels a little grainy going on which I will improve on next time.

4. Twist your empties down as low as they'll go. I didn't even clean mine first. And then just pour your batter directly into each, stopping when you get to the top.

5. Put in the fridge to set. It takes a couple of hours.

Done! 
Once set, I've been storing mine in the bathroom just like store bought. I suppose in the thick of summer I might store them in the fridge but for now they've been doing great in the medicine cabinet.

I had my husband smell test me the first few days I used my homemade deodorant. What a champ. And he confirmed, I smell really good. Like end-of-the-day, one application in the morning, and I smell GOOD. Not just non-bad, but good. The deodorant smells like citrus scones or something yummy and so do I. Nice!

Finally, I hear you can add shea butter, avocado oil, argan oil, or aloe to these recipes to get a more soothing, skin-smoothing result. I will try the argan oil next time and just add a bit more of the dry ingredients to offset the additional oil.

ps. Thank you, Brandy (from heart and habit) for getting me started on my deodorant journey and inspiring me in so many ways, as well as sending me deod recipes. I love you, lady.

simple lavender syrup

the house next door to us is uninhabited and overgrown with flowers, blackberries, and lavender. what luck for us! we have been scavenging the yard like nobody's business. and what i am about to tell you will change your life forever. you will be tap dancing and syrup guzzling and thanking me for the rest of your sweet sweet days. ok, here it is. you can make lavender simple syrup and put it on everything. it is easy and heavenly and smells your whole house up like heaven and you're just going to eat the crud out of it. it is THAT GOOD. yes!

first, find a partner in crime. make sure he's dressed really shady so if the cops show up they'll know at a glance which one of you was the mastermind behind the yard thievery.

next, assemble 3 tablespoons of the lavender flowers. i found that 2-3 stems equals a tablespoon so in order to get 3 tablespoons you'll want roughly 8 stems. we cut many more than that which meant we ended up with a batch of lavender syrup and a nice table centerpiece.

you can strip the stems of flowers by pinching the flowery tip and sliding your fingers down the stem. they come right off.

 next boil 1 cup of water with the 3 tablespoons of lavender flowers.

 once it boils, add 2 cups of sugar and reduce to a simmer. stir as it simmers for the next 5 minutes.

remove from heat. strain out the flowers. a tea strainer would have been handy. or cheesecloth maybe? i just used the big spoon you see there to get the bulk of it, then the tablespoon to ladle out most of the rest. a few stragglers were left in mine which doesn't bother me, but to each his own.

and what you are left with is a fragrant, delicious simple syrup that's just right for ice cream, yogurt, teas, waffles, toast, cocktails, homemade soda, lavender milk, or whatever else strikes you. we did ice cream.

 this lady joined us. i love her so much.

 yum!

i had one lavender drizzled ice cream bowl with Otto and then another immediately after he went to bed. i am jazzed up on lavender syrup right now! it is so amazingly delicious! and was so easy to make! i found the recipe here and look forward to trying the honeyed version as well sometime soon except maybe with agave instead of honey.

this keeps for about 1 week refrigerated. that is all the time i need to eat through it!

i will make this recipe again and again for the rest of my life. it is that good. really! i hope you give it a try too!

Say Hello to The Northwoods Goat... Plus an Exclusive Discount!

I'm so excited to feature our newest sponsor (and a discount code!) Hilary of The Northwoods Goat.

Hilary is a Vermont homesteader (I can't even express how "wow" I think that is), a loving mama, a loving goat mama, and an amazing soap artisan. Just look at some of the amazingness that she creates.

Simply and beautifully packaged, The Northwoods Goat products are already carried in body shoppes, farmers markets, and boutiques throughout Vermont. Hilary has now launched an Etsy shop as well and lucky you, she is offering TidbitsParenting readers an exclusive discount through April 30. Just use discount code "TIDBITS10" for 10% off your order!

I found the process Hilary uses to create each unique bar fascinating. I love reading how things are made, especially when they are hand-crafted, because then I can pretend "I could do that" even though yeah right. I'll leave my soap-making in the hands of the masters like Hilary, thank you.

I also can't get over the amazing "flavor" combinations. Some of them sound good enough to eat. I am so intrigued by the Rosemary Lavendar Shampoo Bar that I will def be ordering some when my shampoo runs out! I've always said if they made rosemary or basil scented perfume I'd douse myself in it!

Please help me welcome Hilary by saying hello here, on Facebook, and swinging by her site to check out all the yummy, soapy amazingness. And don't forget to use the code "TIDBITS10" if you place an order before April 30 for 10% off.
xo,
Lindsey