Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-Sufficient Life
320
Little House Living: The Make-Your-Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-Sufficient Life
320eBook
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Overview
Shortly after getting married, Merissa Alink and her husband found themselves with nothing in their pantry but a package of spaghetti and some breadcrumbs. Their life had seemingly hit rock bottom, and it was only after a touching act of charity that they were able to get back on their feet again.
Inspired by this gesture of kindness as well as the beloved Little House on the Prairie books, Merissa was determined to live an entirely made-from-scratch life, and as a result, she rescued her household budget—saving thousands of dollars a year. Now, she reveals the powerful and moving lessons she’s learned after years of homesteading, homemaking, and cooking from scratch.
Filled with charm, practical advice, and gorgeous full-color photographs, Merissa shares everything from tips on budgeting to natural, easy-to-make recipes for taco seasoning mix, sunscreen, lemon poppy hand scrub, furniture polish, and much more. Inviting and charming, Little House Living is the epitome of heartland warmth and prairie inspiration.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781501104299 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Gallery Books |
| Publication date: | 10/20/2015 |
| Sold by: | SIMON & SCHUSTER |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 320 |
| File size: | 57 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
baby lotion
• • •
There’s nothing quite like feeling your new baby’s soft skin. It makes you a little bit jealous, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, once babies and little ones are introduced to the world, their skin can get dry, flaky, and irritated, just like yours.
Usually when we notice dry skin, we simply rub a little extra-virgin coconut oil into their skin right away to repair it and get it moisturized quickly. However, if the skin is very dry or there are several patches of dry skin, this lotion is very helpful to have on hand. It’s very smooth and ultrahydrating and will heal up your little one’s dry skin in no time. We generally do not add any essential oils to this recipe, since we use it on babies and because I love the pure, natural scent of babies and wouldn’t want a lotion to overpower it! Before long that little one is going to smell like dirt, sweat, and maybe even dog drool, so enjoy it while you can!
WHAT YOU NEED
1/2 cup mango butter
1/4 cup coconut oil (extra-virgin if possible)
1 tablespoon vitamin E oil
1/4 cup avocado oil
In a saucepan on medium heat, melt the mango butter and coconut oil together. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add the vitamin E oil and the avocado oil. Beat with an electric hand mixer for a few minutes until smooth and creamy. Place in a jar or container and use when needed. The mixture will harden up slightly as it cools.
Money-Saving Tip: Babies don’t need the fanciest and best new baby items on the market. Stick with a crib, blankets, clothing, and bottles to fulfill their basic needs. The regular stroller will get them around in the exact same way as a $500 stroller. And babies go through clothing so fast, if you have too much for them you won’t even get to see it all before they move on to the next size!
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Getting Started: Ingredients, Budgeting, and Storage 9
Body and Beauty 19
Dry Shampoo 25
Non-Drying Hand Sanitizer 27
Non-Petroleum Jelly 28
Basic Soothing Lip Balm 31
Smooth and Shiny Lip Gloss 33
Shampoo and Conditioner 35
Hair Detangling Spray 38
Moisturizing Body Wash 39
Bath Salts 43
Hair Spray 45
Whipped Coconut Oil Lotion 46
Chest Rub 48
Shaving Cream 49
Gardener's Healing Hand Scrub 50
Foaming Hand Soap 53
Aftershave Lotion 55
Simple Sunblock Lotion 56
Sunburn Relief Cream 58
Zit Zapper Sticks 61
Lotion Bars 65
Eczema Cream 65
Face Masks 67
Healing Salve 69
Burn Salve 70
Deodorant 72
Body Scrubs 73
Body Butters 76
Refreshing Peppermint Foot Lotion 78
Cracked Heel Relief Cream 80
Shoe and Foot Spray 81
Household 83
Cooking Spray 87
Dish Soap 88
Produce Wash Spray 91
Oven Cleaner 92
Dishwasher Detergent 94
Dusting Spray 96
Furniture Polish 98
Floor Cleaner 100
Cleaning Wipes 101
All-Purpose and Window Cleaner 103
Carpet Cleaner and Shampoo 105
Laundry Detergent 106
Fabric Softener 108
Wrinkle Release and Fabric Freshener Spray 110
Stain Stick 112
Ant Spray 113
Garden Pest Spray 115
Weed Spray 117
Gel Air Fresheners 118
Deodorizer Disks 121
Candles and Wax Melts 122
Jewelry Cleaner 125
Children and Pets 127
Children's (Mud Puddle) Wash 132
Bubble Bath 134
Baby Lotion 137
Diaper Rash Cream 138
Baby Wipe Solution 141
Baby Powder 142
Rainbow Sidewalk Chalk 145
Outdoor Bubbles 147
Play Dough 148
Air-Drying Clay 150
Watercolor Paints 151
Finger Paints 153
Pet Shampoo 154
Pet Flea Wash 156
Pet Treat Mix 157
Make-Ahead Mixes 161
Hamburger Help Mix 167
Beef Stroganoff Mix 168
Chicken Help Mix 169
All-Purpose Baking Mix 171
Biscuits 171
Chicken Pot Pie 172
Dumpling Soup 173
Rice Side Mix 174
Rice Side Dish 174
Herbed Garlic Rice Side Dish Mix 176
Spanish Rice Side Dish Mix 176
Faux Bouillon 177
Chicken Noodle Soup Mix 178
Chili Mix 179
Onion Soup Mix 180
Cream of Soup Mix 181
Brownie Mix 182
Brownies 183
Brownie Bites 183
Fudge Cookies 184
Brownie Whoopie Pies 184
Layered Cheesecake Brownies 185
Brownie Batter Fudge 185
Cake Mix 186
Yellow Cake 187
Chocolate Cake 189
Dump Cake 190
Soft and Creamy Cookies 190
Dessert Waffles 191
Cinnamon Rolls 191
Honey Bun Cake 192
Pancake and Waffle Mix 195
Basic Pancakes/Waffles 196
Fried Chicken 197
Coffee Cake with Crumble Topping 197
Oven Apple Pancake 198
Muffin Mix 199
Baked Oatmeal Mix 202
Instant Oatmeal Packets 204
Pudding Mix 206
Chocolate Pudding 206
Vanilla Pudding 208
Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix 209
Sugar Cookie Mix 211
Sugar Cookies 212
Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies 213
Two-Tone Banana Bars 214
Fruity Sugar Cookie Bars 215
Fruit "Pizza" 215
Hot Chocolate Mix 216
Chai Tea Mix 219
Powdered Coffee Creamer 220
Vanilla Sugar 220
Coffee Creamer 221
Homemade Basic Breads 223
Bread Machine Bread 223
Handmade Bread 224
Corn Bread Mix 226
Corn Bread 226
Cherry Cobbler 228
Corndog Bites 229
Cheesy Com Bread Flatbread 229
Quick Bread Mix 230
Cobbler Mix 232
Instant Refried Beans 234
Quick Bean Bowls 235
Bean Dip 235
Homemade Dip Mixes 237
Dill Dip and Spread Mix 237
Fiesta Dip Mix 237
Herb Dip and Spread Mix 238
Homemade Seasoning Mixes 239
Roast Topping 240
Seasoning Salt 240
Taco Seasoning 240
Fajita Seasoning 241
Herb Seasoning 241
Ranch Dressing Mix 242
Italian Seasoning 243
Italian Dressing Mix 243
Meal Planning with Mixes 245
Afterword 257
Appendices 259
Simple Substitutions 259
10 Uses for Mason Jars 262
13 Uses for Baking Soda 263
9 Uses for Honey 265
5 Uses for Plastic Bags 266
5 Uses for Milk Jugs 267
7 Uses for Peppermint Essential Oil 268
11 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar 269
5 Uses for Coffee Grounds 271
6 Uses for Beeswax 272
5 Uses for Shea Butter 273
12 Uses for Coconut Oil 274
5 Uses for Witch Hazel 275
5 Uses for Epsom Salts 276
5 Uses for Sugar 277
8 Uses for Tea Tree Essential Oil 278
5 Uses for Lavender Essential Oil 279
5 Uses for Plaster of Paris 280
9 Uses for Olive Oil 281
7 Uses for Dish Soap 282
3 Uses for Vegetable Glycerin 283
5 Uses for Bathroom Tissue Rolls 284
5 Uses for Newspaper 285
5 Uses for Cornstarch 286
10 Uses for Oats 287
5 Uses for Clothespins 289
5 Uses for Lemons 289
5 Uses for Aloe Vera 290
5 Uses for Ziplock Bags 291
5 Uses for Eggshells 292
5 Uses for Tea Bags 293
Index 295