Mum's Mail Johannesburg - May 2020

Issue 32 | Johannesburg - East Rand | May 2020

From The Editor’s Desk...

We are well into our second month of lockdown and I don’t know how much more I can take!

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ow can I be expected to work a fulltime job AND be a full- time housekeeper and teacher?? Let alone find time to exercise and cook healthy meals… Sound familiar?

Never fear, you are not alone! We are all going through this together and it WILL end one day… There is light at the end of the tunnel. The secret is to remain as positive as you

can - even when you are not feeling it, just fake it until you make it! This is especially relevant if you have kids - they need to know that you are in control and you have got this! I know, it’s easier said than done… add in some depression or anxiety (or both) and it’s even harder. But remember, help is at hand – if you are struggling, reach out to those you know - there are also plenty of free resources online to help you and your kids. Visit our website to

find some of these resources. I hope that this edition of Mum’s Mail will break the monotony of lockdown for you – we have some great parenting and educational advice, Mother’s Day ideas, health advice, ideas for kids, competitions and more!

Take a few moments out of your day to put your feet up, enjoy a coffee, and read our May Mother’s Day issue.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the super moms out there!

Sarah xxx

CONTENTS

Everyday Life/HOME LIFE 3 4 6

Boredom Busting Activities for Teens Meet the Cover Stars Building a Routine for your Kids During COVID-19

Healthy Life 8 9 10

How To Discuss Coronavirus With My Child 12 Time To Put The Cigarettes Down Navigating Learning at Home SPECIAL FEATURES with the ADHD Child 16-17 Pamper Your Mom at

Home this Mother’s Day EDUCATED LIFE/kidS’ LIFE 17 Diy Mother’s Day Gift 12-13 Make a Success of Online Schooling

Ideas 14 Papier-Mâché Volcano 18-19 Diy Beauty at Home 15 Easy Recipes for Kids

The Mum’s Mail Team

Editor: Sarah Mackintosh • sarah@mumsmail.com • Enquiries: 031 - 714 4700 Accounts: meghan@mumsmail.com • Designer: Wendy Offer Advertising Sales: Bev Delew • bev@mumsmail.com | Anisha Singh • anisha@mumsmail.com Cover Photographer: Shoot the Moon, shootthemoonza@gmail.com, 078 099 4372 DISCLAIMER: Neither the Publisher, Printer or Editor can be held responsible for damages or consequences of any omissions or errors, as every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in Mum’s Mail. We do not guarantee the performance or quality of service of any of the advertisers in this magazine. No part of Mum’s Mail magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor.

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IN THIS ISSUE WWW.MUMSMAIL.COM

Boredom Busting Activities for Teens It’s not easy being a teenager. It’s just as tough being a parent to one too. Your little one’s not so little anymore.

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ot kiddies games for them? That’s lame, mom. Adult responsibilities? Ugh. Like, no thanks.

They’re at that (sometimes) unbearable age of inbetween, which is tough. Especially when they’re stuck indoors. And bored.

To cut down on the constant chorus of ‘I’mmm Sooo Borrred’, MRP Sport helped us put together a few suggestions on how to keep your teen occupied during lockdown: Get up and active: No extra-murals and no leaving the house are bound to take their toll on the more active and outdoorsy of teens. Getting them moving will not only have time flying, but it’ll also expend a lot of pent up energy and frustration.

Jam out to their (and your) favourite hits, get dancing and get working out together. A great place to start: MRP Sport’s #KeepMovingInMaxed workout videos on Instagram (@ mrpsport). These quick and easy home workout guides will blast calories, get those endorphins pumping and make for some great bonding time too.

Learn something new: So maybe your teen has

a talent they’re yet to discover. Help them unearth it. They might be the next Queen of Crochet or the Duke of Ukuleles. Unearth any tools you might have laying around to get them started. You’ll be surprised at what you might find: a forgotten pair of knitting needles maybe, a dusty guitar… we all have those unfinished hobbies that have fallen by the wayside.

Now’s the perfect time for your teen to take them up again. With a world of online tutorials at their fingertips, anything is possible.

Make a DIY music video: Every teen has a favourite song. And if they’re lucky, their own cellphone, too.

Get them to film, direct, edit and create a music video to their current favourite song.

A time-busting bonus: throw a choreographed dance into the mix and you’ll have your teen busy for hours.

Room for improvement: Every teen’s bedroom is their sanctuary – their pride and joy. Encourage them to go for a room refresh.

This might be a deep clean, redecorating or simply just moving their bedroom furniture around. The change is as good as a holiday.

Go to a gallery: From the Uffizi to the Tate, plenty of the world’s most renowned art galleries and museums have made their collections accessible with free virtual tours. This allows anyone (with online access) the chance to visit these exhibitions without even leaving the comfort of their couch.

Simply Google ‘Arts & Culture Collections’, and make it a day of culture.

In this together: We’re all feeling a little cooped up, and with that, comes its frustrations and impatience.

Use this rare time at home to bond with your teen and create something together.

Brainstorm some DIY or home improvement projects for you and your teen to take on as a team. Not only is this a productive way to kill time, but it will also leave you with something to be proud of.

Parents, no matter how you’re choosing to make the most of this time with your family, don’t forget: there’s no pressure on anyone to be creative at a time like this.

But if you do get a moment of creativity with your teen, we’d love to see!

Share your pics, tag @mumsmail and @mrpsport, and share your inspiration!

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Meet the Cover Stars Our beautiful cover stars are Jo’burg mom and daughter, Monique and Sienna Ronco.

“Sisi (as we call her) is a little firecracker! As little as she is, she knows exactly what she wants and she will definitely let you know too!” says her mom.

“Sienna was premature so we are extremely proud that her milestones are on par with her age, and even prouder when she’s a bit ahead - but she still licks the floor and watches TV - we like a good balance in the Ronco household,” laughs Monique.

We don’t have much planned for Mother’s Day

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(thanks corona) - but if the pandemic has taught me anything it’s that everything I need is right at home with me, although I wouldn’t be opposed to a lie in and five minutes to myself to have my coffee hot,” jokes Monique. “We absolutely LOVE seeing her grow - it’s bittersweet! I always say parenting is the most difficult job in the world, but it’s the only job you’ll never want to retire from! Parenthood will humble you - I have very quickly learned that - and it teaches you to

laugh at yourself and to not always take life so seriously, and I don’t think it’s a bad lesson.” “Motherhood is tough, so tough, but then she scrunches her little nose and smiles and I feel like nothing else matters.

I live for those smiles and for the thrill of watching her accomplish a new “skill” and although I know that with every skill she’s becoming more grown up and less of a baby, I also can’t wait to see the person she becomes,” concludes Monique.

By Sarah Mackintosh

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Building a Routine for your Kids During COVID-19 Tips by Educator and Entrepreneur, Lisa Illingworth

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OVID-19 brings with it the opportunity for parents and kids to design their own learning pathways.

Here, children can learn at their own pace through various new and exciting learning channels.

There’s no doubt that the cabin fever will set in sooner rather than later and keeping routine is now of the utmost importance. Kids, particularly those up to age eight, may associate the COVID-19 self-quarantine period with downtime.

Lisa Illingworth, co-founder and CEO of FutureProof SA, mom of two, educator and entrepreneur encourages parents to curb this by creating a disciplined and structured daily routine.

“Kids may associate this time with general school holidays or long weekends.

Various online education tools are available, and we encourage parents to put a good routine in place and stick to it as much as humanly possible.”

“Routine is fundamental in building expectations and meeting them – especially in a time of rapid change,” she adds.

“We’ve seen mock class timetables being circulated by parents and I encourage

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this. It’s also a good time to add more to your child’s repertoire – perhaps learning a different language, enhancing their maths skills or undertaking in an exercise video to keep them active such as an online Zumba class,” she explains.

“Now is a good time to get creative. Spend at least one day per week in the kitchen together learning to bake or cook new recipes.

For our budding entrepreneurs, every problem is an opportunity”.

“This is a perfect time to demonstrate the world as a set of systems and how it impacts on our economy.

Why not provide your children with a challenge to develop a plan around a problem and solve it by building a sound business solution?”

For parents who are now working from home, juggling all the factors at play is daunting. Lisa shares a few easy pointers to keep the balance at home.

Communication “Talk openly with your children about what’s currently going on and the measures that you have put in place during this time.

Explain to them that school activities will be taking place

as normal at home and that there will be a routine.”

Ownership Lisa notes that while things should be kept as light as possible to reduce stress on the family, the kids should be allocated some homework and deadlines around these. “As much as possible, this time should emulate one’s normal dayto-day activities. Putting boundaries in placing and having your children ‘own’ their time and account for their time will also help you to focus on work, housework and other activities”.

“This is also a good time for us to adapt to and be flexible to change and this new way of working. Fast change is not always easy but teaching our kids how to adapt from a young age is key,” she explains.

Keep it fun “Have some fun with routine. Add in some outdoor play time in the yard, creative activities such as colouring, painting and pottery and download some workout videos,” says Lisa.

“This is the perfect time to set up a shop, come up with a fun business venture, try out new online learning platforms and cook together,” Lisa concludes.

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How To Discuss Coronavirus With My Child H

e/She is now housebound and unable to go to school or socialise with friends and extended family. Mum and Dad may no longer go out to work but may be working from home instead or are perhaps unable to work at all.

People go out in masks and there is a sombre, anticipatory atmosphere in the air.

Even very young children who don’t have words to describe this will be aware that something is not right from the change in routine, the hushed adult conversations and the general sense of anxiety that abounds.

Your school age child is likely to have some information about the Coronavirus, either from prior discussion at school, from friends or from snippets he/she has heard on the news or from adult conversation. What does your child know about the Coronavirus and is this information correct? Given the impact of this pandemic on your child’s life and the potential anxiety it can cause, it is important to discuss the Coronavirus with them and to address any concerns or misconceptions they might have by providing reassurance and factual information.

There are some won-

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Coronavirus has changed your child’s world, perhaps forever in some ways. derful, free downloadable resources from which to start this conversation. Two free online books (available in pdf) which are particularly useful are Coronavirus: A book for Children

by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson & Nia Roberts and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo) https://nosycrow.com/ blog/released-today-freeinformation-book-explaining-coronavirus-childrenillustrated-gruffalo-illustrator-axel-scheffler and Dave the Dog is Worried about Coronavirus. A Nurse Dotty book by Molly Watts https:// nursedottybooks.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/davethe-dog-coronavirus-1-1. pdf. These books aim to give information to children in a friendly, factual way to help reduce anxiety and misconceptions about the Coronavirus.

A good place to start discussing Coronavirus is to ask your child what they already know about the virus. This is a useful way to clarify any false information they might have been told.

Your child might have questions about what they have heard or read; try to answer these honestly and tailor your answers to your child’s age. Younger children generally just need a simple answer in basic language, don’t give them more detail than they can process.

Older children might need more detail on specifics like how the virus is spread, what the symptoms are or even how we think the virus originated. Try to provide as much information as your child needs to understand it and if you don’t know the answer, be honest about that too. There is a lot we don’t yet know about this virus. Keep the conversation open and let your children know that you will update them when you have more information and that they can come back to you with questions at any time.

Wendy Corfe is a counselling psychologist in private practice in Hilton. She has three children of her own and lives on a farm in the Dargle area. She loves working with families in order to assist them in achieving optimal functioning and particularly enjoys doing play therapy with children to help them process and heal from the life challenges they may encounter.

You can read the full article on www.mumsmail.com.

Time To Put The Cigarettes Down The unprecedented lockdown has had an effect on us both physically and mentally by taking away many of our freedoms, which we previously took for granted.

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here is an added stress for people who are unable to get their cigarettes due to the strict rules put in place by the government. This is of course due to the addictive nature of nicotine.

Nicotine addiction creates such a dependency on cigarettes and other tobacco that the restriction and ban on the sales of such has caused many to feel and go through withdrawal symptoms, as well as increase in headaches, anger and frustration.

As May is Anti-Tobacco month, it is therefore the opportune time to reflect on this and to finally “kick” the habit. Instead of running back to our vices, we can use this as a motivation to keep clean, and to stop smoking all together.

As you are probably aware, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness ranging from mild to severe forms. The more severe forms are commonly seen in those who have chronic diseases, more so in chronic lung diseases.

Therefore by continuing to smoke you put yourself at a much higher risk of developing serious complications from the disease and potentially death. The lockdown may have slowed the curve but it certainly won’t eradicate the virus and that is why we need to do everything within our control to make sure our health is the best it can be if and when we become infected. It is easier said than done and that’s why it is important to know that you are not alone in this issue, and help can be found via your doctor. There are medications, as well as psychological and hypnotic methods to help relieve the symptoms of withdrawal from tobacco.

So let’s take the opportunity and time that the lockdown has given us, to improve our health so that on the other side we can live a healthier and longer life.

By Dr Laura Troskie, www.umhlangagp.net.

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Navigating Learning at Home with the ADHD Child “Navigating learning at home is hard. Navigating learning at home with a child with ADHD… is Everest,” writes Emma Wijnberg, an occupational therapist based in Pietermaritzburg.

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lthough no ADHD child is the same, and there really is no recipe for success, there are some strategies that you can try to implement, to assist with attention, as well as YOUR own sanity.

The fact that so much of the learning at home is reliant on screens, already puts the child with ADHD at a disadvantage. The blue LED light is NOT the ADHD brain’s friend, and will negatively impact on many performance areas. Try to limit screen use as much as you can. Don’t allow screens for at least an hour before bed. Although your child will still sleep, the chemicals released in the brain because of the screens, prevent them from experiencing the stage of sleep that is the most restful for the brain.

The majority of children with attentional difficulties also struggle with sensory processing. Sensory Processing is the unconscious organisation of our senses for use.

Our sensory input is received in lots of different parts of our brain, which are responsible for different functions, from emotions, to coordination, to sleep! This means that the sensory input a child gets, and their individual way of processing it, is going to have a direct influence on their mood, attention, alertness and functional ability. It is helpful to be aware of your child’s individual sensory processing pattern, so that you can intentionally provide the RIGHT sensory input, to put them in a space for optimum learning.

Diet is very important for the ADHD brain.

Research has shown us that refined carbohydrates and colorants have a negative effect on behaviour and attention in the ADHD child. Research has also shown that fatty

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acids, protein and probiotics have a positive effect on attentional ability and emotional regulation. With the correct diet, we can influence the behaviour in the ADHD child quite significantly.

Children who struggle with sensory processing, very often struggle with unpredictability. This very often applies to the ADHD child. In an effort to try and gain some degree of control over an unpredictable environment, the ADHD child may use behaviours such as defiance, avoidance, being bossy or even destructive. The child needs to KNOW that YOU are in control.

That you have GOT this. Because if they know this, they feel safe, and don’t have the need to gain control over their environment in negative behavioural ways. When given consistent, unwavering boundaries, they stop rebelling, and behaviour, after some time, becomes more manageable.

ADHD children often struggle with Auditory Processing and function better when given visual cues that they can refer back to. A visual schedule is a helpful tool to help them to stay on task, feel organised and achieve goals. It is useful to plan the day with your child in the morning.

Lastly - be gentle on yourself and focus on connecting with your child. Connection makes our children feel loved and safe which are the primary nutrients needed for learning. Nobody prepared us for the situation we are in, and there is no right or wrong way to manage it. Everyone is going to have to catch up when they get back to school.

Do what you can, when you can. You are first and foremost a parent, not a teacher.

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Make a Success of Online Schooling H

Lockdown has brought numerous changes to our lives. For many parents who are already struggling with working from home, the increase in domestic chores and family stress, managing online schooling can feel like the final straw.

ere are some tips to help you and your child cope with and succeed at online schooling.

Get organised • Print a copy of your child’s timetable and display it where it will be easily visible.

• Spend some time on Sunday evening going through the work that has been set for the week.

• Sit with your child and work through the coming week’s timetable, checking that they know where each resource is and that they are aware of assignments. This helps your child to prepare mentally for what they will be doing for the week.

• High school children are generally fine to work their way through their daily time-

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table independently.

• Primary school children might need you to recap the tasks they need to do for specific blocks of time.

• Pre-primary children will need a more hands-on approach. Plan ahead so that you can spend a quick 20 minutes introducing the activity, completing the teaching and then leave them to complete the work.

Routine For online school to work, it has to be treated like real school thus sticking to a good routine is essential.

• Wake your child at the same time each morning and encourage them to get dressed, eat breakfast and wash before school starts.

• Ensure that your child is

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also getting enough sleep and is eating healthily.

• Follow your child’s timetable regarding play and lunch breaks as well as lesson durations. This timetable will be familiar to your child will provide structure, predictability and comfort.

• When it is time for your child to have a play/lunch/ end of school break, make sure that they leave the room (and the screen) they have been working in and get outside if possible.

• Encouraging children to have a change of scenery and a change of activity is crucial for them to be able to return to lessons refreshed and able to refocus.

Exercise Try to build exercise routine.

If you think about how much activity your child usually participates in, you’ll see the potential for lack of activity that the lockdown can cause.

• For younger children starting a game of “Simon Says”, “Mr Wolf What’s the Time?”, “Tag” or “Stuck in the Mud,” can be a great way to encourage them to let off some steam.

• If you can’t break at the same time and need your child to run around independently, leave out skipping ropes, Hula Hoops and chalked out Hopscotch squares during breaks. Planning a family obstacle course for them and/or the dogs to complete is also great fun.

• There are lots of workouts, yoga and dance fitness tutorials available online for there to be something which will suit everyone’s taste. Try to ensure your child gets exercise every day or at least three times a week for 30 to 60 minutes per session.

Many teenagers will probably already be motivated to stay in shape.

Support Online school is about children working independently and parents supporting them.

It is not about parents teaching children their lessons all day.

• Set your child up with the work they have been given and leave them to get on with it, with the understanding that if they need assistance, they can call you.

• If you find that your child is constantly needing your support, ask yourself whether this is a confidence or attention seeking issue or whether the work really is unmanageable for them.

• If you find that the work is too complicated, then contact your child’s teacher.

• If you have the time, go through your child’s timetable with them in the afternoon and check that he/she has completed all work and whether there were any issues.

You might find that high school age children become demotivated or overwhelmed by having to constantly read, understand and complete tasks independently within given times. Should they hit snags, listen, empathise and ask what they can do to sort it out. They often aren’t asking you to solve the problem, they are just wanting a bit of empathy and acknowledgement that it is difficult for them. Express how proud you are of them, all the valuable life skills they are learning from this process.

Life Skills • It is hard to switch from being in a busy classroom where you are told when and how to do it to now having to motivate yourself to work alone every day, manage your own time and to solve problems independently where previously you put your hand up and received direction.

• Engaging in this process is teaching your child the valuable skills of self-discipline, time management, independence and problem solving which will be used for the rest of his/her life.

• Support your child in developing these life skills by putting the structure in place and by giving lots of encouragement, praise and empathy.

• Forgive yourself and your child for days that don’t go according to plan. At the end of the day, we can all only do our best and that is enough for now.

By Wendy Corfe, counselling psychologist.

081 013 7338 www.lime-light.co.za Stores in DBN/PMB/CT Nationwide home delivery as well

• Every detail matters • Make your little one feel like a special Princess • Individually handmade princess dresses • Perfect gift • School dress up parties • Birthday parties • Sizes from 1 to 9 years old • In business for 16 years • Contact for fitting advice and dress styles

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Papier-Mâché Volcano Materials: • An empty plastic bottle/cup • Newspaper • Masking tape • A box or similar “to contain” the volcano (we used a flat cake board) • Plain flour and water • Paints • Waterproof varnish (optional) Papier-Mâché Paste Mix one part flour to two parts water in a container (half a cup of flour and a cup of water). Some recipes suggest you heat the mixture in the microwave, but we used it cold and it worked just fine.

Make your Volcano Cut down the cardboard box to create a base for your volcano to go in and to capture the fluids from the erupting volcano. Place your empty plastic bottle/cup in the centre.

Scrunch up some newspaper and place it all around the bottle. Using your masking

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tape, make a “frame” - running from the top of the bottle down to the cardboard platform and trapping the scrunched up newspaper underneath.

Tear newspaper into strips and start applying your papier-mâché layers all around the volcano – using the masking tape as a frame. Let it dry.

Now get painting! We used all shades of brown, grey and black for the rock, then added lava in red, orange and yellow. Let it dry.

Add a coat of waterproof varnish.

For the Volcanic Eruption: To make the lava, all you need is bicarb and vinegar. I added red food colouring to the vinegar to make it look like lava. Add the bicarb to the cup at the centre of your volcano and pour in the red vinegar, and watch it bubble out like lava!

By Sarah Mackintosh.

Easy Recipes for Kids These are the perfect starter recipes for your young chef to try on their own.

And now, during lockdown, is the perfect time for them to start learning their way around the kitchen.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Treats Ingredients: • 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter • 1/4 cup honey • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/3 cup non-fat dry milk powder • 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats • 2 tablespoons Tennis Biscuit crumbs Directions: In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey and vanilla. Stir in the milk powder, oats and Tennis Biscuit crumbs. Shape into 1-inch balls.

Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Chicken & Bacon Roll-Ups Ingredients: • 1 cup of white chicken meat (great if you have leftovers from last night’s dinner) • 1 tub cream cheese • 1 cup salsa, divided • 4 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled (optional – mom or dad can help you cook these) • 6 flour tortillas, room temperature Directions: Mix chicken, cream cheese, 1/2 cup salsa and bacon and spread this over tortillas.

Roll up tightly; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least one hour. Just before serving, unwrap and cut tortillas into 1-in. slices. Serve with remaining salsa.

Chocolate Chip, PB & Banana Sandwiches Ingredients: • 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter • 2 tablespoons honey • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 2 tablespoons chocolate chips • 4 slices whole wheat bread • 1 medium banana, thinly sliced Directions: Mix peanut butter, honey and cinnamon; stir in chocolate chips. Spread over bread. Layer two bread slices with banana slices; top with remaining bread. If desired, cut into shapes using cookie cutters.

Source: www.tasteofhome.com.

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Since we’re most likely to still be in lockdown this Mother’s Day, why not spoil your mom with some pampering at home?

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ive her a relaxing foot soak with a glass of wine or a cuppa, followed by a therapeutic foot scrub.

Finish up with a luxurious foot massage. Try these DIY recipes – you should have most of these ingredients at home already!

Foot Soaks

Green Tea, Lemon and Honey Ingredients: Hot water, three bags green tea, half a lemon, and three tablespoons of raw honey Prepare your basin of hot water, and place the tea bags in the water to steep for five minutes (or until the water’s temperature is cool enough for your feet). Re-

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move the tea bags, squeeze in the lemon juice, and add honey into the basin. Soak your mom’s feet in this solution for 20 to 25 minutes, then pat dry. Adding a few slices of lemon or orange can be a nice touch too!

Chamomile Tea, Lavender and Honey Ingredients: Hot water, six chamomile tea bags, half a cup of Epsom salt, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and three tablespoons of raw honey.

Prepare your basin of hot water, and let the tea bags steep for five minutes.

Remove tea bags, and add the Epsom salt, lavender oil, and honey. Soak your feet for twenty minutes, then

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pat dry. Chamomile has certain anti-inflammatory properties which help to moisturise feet and heal dry and damaged skin.

Foot ScrubS Tea Tree, Olive and Sea Salt Ingredients: Handful of sea salt, two tablespoons of olive oil, and 5-10 drops of tea tree oil.

A tantalising combination of earthy scents! Grab a handful of sea salt, and throw it into a bowl. Add two tablespoons of olive oil, then mix in a few drops of tea tree or peppermint oil. Mix these ingredients into a paste, and scrub all over your feet and lower

leg. Rinse with warm water.

Rosemary, Rose petals and Sugar Ingredients: A few sprigs of rosemary, petals of 1 rose, 1/2 a cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon sesame oil.

To prepare this foot scrub, use a mortar and pestle to grind together the rosemary and rose petals - don’t overdo it, you want the texture to

be rough. Mix the pounded ingredients with your sugar, then add in the sesame oil to form a paste. Give your feet a good scrub, and rinse with warm water.

Coconut, Peppermint and Sea Salt Ingredients: Three tablespoons of pure coconut oil, 1/2 a cup of salt, 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.

Mix the salt, coconut oil and peppermint oil to form a paste. Rub all over feet and lower leg, then rinse with warm water. The nourishing properties of the coconut oil combined with the exfoliation of the salt makes this scrub an amazing remedy for dry feet.

Source: about.spud.com.

DIY Bath Tea

Passion Tea Sugar Scrub

DIY Passion Tea Sugar Scrub – a citrus tea infused sugar scrub made with jojoba oil to exfoliate and moisturise dry skin.

Ingredients • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 bags passion tea (or any fruit-infused herbal tea) • ¼ to ½ cup jojoba oil • 10 drops orange essential oil Instructions Combine two tea bags into a small bowl with sugar. Add a couple of drops of pink food colouring (optional).

Mix in 10 drops of orange essential oil and jojoba oil.

Store in an airtight container.

Source: www.apumpkinandaprincess.com.

A calming and skin nourishing bath tea recipe made with Epsom salt and dried flowers.

Ingredients • 1 cup Epsom salt • ½ cup each of dried roses, lavender, calendula, cornflowers & chamomile • 3 to 5 drops essential oil Instructions Mix 3 to 5 drops of essential oil with 1 cup Epsom salt.

Pour about three tablespoons of Epsom salt inside a small bag (or until the bag is filled halfway). Use organza, muslin, or real tea bags.

Layer a heaped tablespoon of lavender, calendula, chamomile, cornflowers and roses.

Knot bag closed and store in an airtight jar until ready to use.

To enjoy the herbal bath tea, drop one bag into bath water or hang under running water.

Source: www.apumpkinandaprincess.com.

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YOU DON’T NEED HARSH CHEMICALS TO BE A NATURAL BEAUTY. HERE ARE SOME GREAT DIY BEAUTY IDEAS FOR YOU TO TRY AT HOME.

This shampoo is great for normal hair, or as a base to add your own scents.

Basic Shampoo Ingredients: • 1/4 cup distilled water • 1/4 cup liquid Castile Soap – unscented or scented • 1/2 teaspoon jojoba, grapeseed, or other light vegetable oil • Flip Cap Bottles or Foaming Bottles to dispense Mix together all the ingredients. Store in a bottle. Shake before use.

This mixture isn’t as thick as commercial shampoos - you’ll need to just tilt the bottle over your head to get it out.

I am really impressed with how much lather I get from it though!

Source: www.instructables.com

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If you’re looking for a quick pick-me-up that will leave you feeling and looking better, give yourself an oatmeal facial.

Combine 1/2 a cup hot - not boiling water and a 1/3 cup oatmeal. After the water and oatmeal have settled for two or three minutes, mix in two tablespoons plain yogurt, two tablespoons honey, and one small egg white.

Apply a thin layer of the mask to your face, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. (Be sure to place a metal or plastic strainer in your sink to avoid clogging the drain with the granules.)

Source: www.readersdigest.ca

MAKE SMOOTH, LUXURIOUS LOTION AT HOME WITH ALMOND OIL, COCONUT OIL, BEESWAX, AND OPTIONAL ESSENTIAL OILS. Ingredients • ½ cup almond oil (or jojoba oil, or any other liquid oil) • ¼ cup coconut oil • ¼ cup beeswax • 1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional) • 2 TBSP shea butter (or cocoa butter, optional) • Essential oils (optional) • Vanilla extract (optional) Instructions Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea or cocoa butter if using, in a double boiler or a glass bowl on top of a simmering pan of water.

Stir occasionally as the ingredients melt.

When all ingredients are completely melted, add the vitamin E oil and any essential oils or scents like vanilla.

Pour into a glass jar or tin for storage.

Small mason jars work perfectly for this.

Note: This will not pump well in a lotion pump!

Use as you would regular lotion. This lotion is ultra-moisturising and more oily than water-based lotions so you won’t need to use as much. It also has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes since all ingredients are already shelf stable and no water is added. Use within six months for best moisturising benefits.

A little goes a long way! This lotion is incredibly nourishing and is also great for diaper rash on baby, for eczema, and for preventing stretch marks.

Source: www.wellnessmama.com.

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