Guest Post: Natural Doggie Treats

We try to do a lot of things for ourselves to be wholesome and organic. What about our pets? Sure, we animal lovers want to do what is best for our non-sapiens friends. The downside is the cost. I don't know about you but, I would rather spend the dough on having clean running water, my child's health or my family's dinner. Fido does not have to have treats. But, if you make your own, it is very affordable and you know what is in them!. There are so many recipes on the web. I encourage you to do a search and try some out.

No, I do not have a dog but, I am a "doggie auntie". We have "adopted" the neighbor's dogs. "Buddy" is our friend's dog & "Oscar" is from next door. (You may find him pictured in some of my blog posts.)
I do love our doggie friends and wanted to make some simple dog treats to spoil "our pets".

Here is our simple recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered milk
1 tablespoon bran
1 tsp concentrated chicken stock
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl till all mixed well.
Shape mix into teaspoon sized balls, or disks.
Place the shapes evenly onto a cookie sheet with about 1/2 inch space between them.
Bake for about 15 minutes till firm.

let cool completely before storing in airtight container.
If they show condensation in the container - bake them on lowest heat for 15 more minutes or spread them out on a dry surface to dry out some more.


They love them!

Danielle lives on a a few wooded acres in the foothills of western Washington with her husband, daughter and chickens. Her interests include enjoying nature and life with her family and friends, as well as learning how to implement a more natural and sustainable way of life. She stays busy taking care of family, home, garden and poultry, as well as creating photography, artwork and crafts for her Etsy store. Danielle also maintains a blog about her personal adventures, including recipes, wild food, poultry care, travel, gardening, reviews and other topics of interest.

You can find Danielle at:
Blog: www.mossytrees.blogspot.com
Store: www.etsy.com/shop/PoultryPlayground
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoultryPlayground

Disclaimer - always check with your vet to make sure the ingredients you use are OK for your pet.

Bug Off! Bug Repellant Winner!

Thanks to all who entered the Bug Off! Bug Repellant giveaway! 

We have our winner, but, remember if you are not the lucky winner, you can still use code "GIVEAWAY" in the Moody Sisters Etsy Shop for 20% off your order!

Now, for the winner! Lucky Number 19 -- 

SUSAN SENE 

Congratulations!!!! 

Thank you, again, to everyone who entered!

The 411 on Preservatives

There are a lot of differences between store-bought products containing chemicals and ingredients you can't pronounce and the way organic skin care creators, like Moody Sisters, preserve their products and extend the shelf life of their products.

We do not use artificial preservatives, but we do use ingredients that help preserve. Anything that is antioxidant, antibacterial or antifungal will help preserve a product. We use Vitamin E, Grapefruit Seed Extract, and Lemon as our tried and tested trio for preserving. It's amazing though how each natural ingredient has benefits and usually also are antioxidant, antibacterial or antifungal which help inhibit bacteria growth.

Anytime you use water in products it gives the product a higher chance of bacteria growth. The more water based the product is, the higher that chance. In most cases we use aloe juice instead of water as it has more beneficial properties. However, when we do use water we use filtered and distilled water, the purist kind that eliminates bacterias that can be found in tap water. Bacteria grows with oxygen and sunlight so to help preserve our liquids we use aluminum bottles which help keep sunlight out. Our lotions do not contain water and have the smallest chance of growing bacteria.

We also list our recommended shelf life on our product descriptions. Our liquid products, since they do have more risk at bacteria growth is 6 months and our lotions at 12 months. These are the minimums and I have yet to see a product go bad in over 2 years.

Did you Know? The reason manufacturers came out with artificial preservatives in the first place is because the product was manufactured, shipped to a distributing house where it sat for a few months, shipped to a store where is could sit for a couple years, and then bought! In order to mass produce products they had to make a product that could last in a box, truck and shelf for long extended periods of time. The products you purchase in a store have been made weeks, months possibly years ago. We are so proud that when you purchase Moody Sisters Skincare you are getting FRESH made skincare EVERY WEEK without having to worry about it going bad.

We are very confident in the ingredients we use and if you ever have a questions about any Moody Sisters products, please do not hesitate to contact Jess and Whitney via the Etsy shop or the Facebook page!

Guest Post: A Guide to 100% Natural, Non-Toxic Skincare

 

Proper skin care is an essential part of leading a healthy life style. From treating the skin to daily moisturizers, through to making sure that scalp, feet and hands do not dry out, it is important to follow the right routines to stay healthy. However, many artificially produced products for skin contain abrasive products that can contain high levels of toxins. Prolonged use can cause damage to the skin, and especially if you suffer from dry skin. An alternative option is to invest in natural skin care products, which are 100% natural and non toxic. Some of the key areas in which these products can help with skin care include:

1 - Face Care

Natural creams and moisturizers can help to cleanse and exfoliate the face, resulting in reduced wrinkles and softer, smoother skins. Butter scrubs and honey extracted moisturizers are particularly recommended for reducing dry skin and improving the overall consistency of your skin.

2 - Lips

Your lips can easily become cracked, especially during colder months. It is possible to use hydrating creams and scrubs to add moisture to your lips. Conditioning creams that contain natural fruit oils can also help to regenerate skin and prevent dryness.

3 - Sensitive Skin

Those who suffer from dry and sensitive skin can benefit from scrubs that use natural ingredients like camomile. Regular use of extracts like manuka honey can also help to soothe conditions like psoriasis.

4 - Scalp

A dry scalp can be uncomfortable and embarrassing if it leads to flakes. Natural products like tea tree oil can help to treat the skin on the scalp, adding moisture and preventing a buildup of dry areas.

5 - Feet

Fungal conditions and dry feet can also be uncomfortable and unsightly, and can be treated through the use of natural scrubs like shea butter, as well as essential oils that can help to reduce cracks and dead skin. Manuka honey can also be used to treat bacterial and fungal conditions.

6 - Hands

Dry and cracked skin can be a problem during the winter, but can be helped through the use of hand balms and lotions containing lavender and geranium, which moisture the skin. At the same time, the use of cuticle oil can prevent damage to your fingernails.

7 - General Moisturizing

Body creams that can be used for a number of different areas can be used as a scrub or as part of a bath. Shea butter is particularly recommended in this respect, as is jojoba oil and essential oils.

8 - Sun Protection

Natural products can have an excellent effect in terms of protecting against sun damage. Different kinds of moisturizers can use naturally occurring titanium dioxide and minerals, as well as emulsifiers, to layer the skin and provide UV protection. Moreover, aloe and other extracts can help soothe sunburnt skin.

9 - Treating Cuts and Bruises

Skin damage caused by injuries can be treated by using natural products like manuka honey and other materials, which include antibacterial and antimicrobial ingredients that help to kill germs, soothe sore areas and speed up the healing process.

Bio:

Patrick Hegarty is freelance copywriter with a keen interest in heath and beauty and the merits of natural skin care products.

Getting Your Feet Summer Ready!

This post is very hard for me, since it is very personal. It's about my feet. My yucky, gross feet. I hate shoes and wear flip flops year round (we can do things like that in North Carolina, haha!) And if I'm outside, I'm usually barefoot - I have been since I was a little girl. This has resulted in some feet that have seen much better days.

Moody Sister, Whitney, sent me a "recipe" to give my feet a little TLC using all Moody Sisters products:

1. Apply Intense Moisturizing Cream to your feet
2. Apply Hydrating Sugar Scrub OR Dry Facial Scrub (over the Intense Moisturizing Cream)
3. Scrub!
4. Before rinsing, apply Foaming Face Wash
5. Rinse!
6. Apply Face & Body Whip
7. Optional, but wise suggestion, put on socks - your feet will be slippery!

I followed this recipe for about 2 weeks (about 3-4 days a week) and was floored at the results!

Before:

After:

Before:

After:














As you can see, there is a huge difference. My feet went from dull looking and "scruffy" (seriously, gross feeling!) to almost-smooth (I'll be using this 'recipe' for many more weeks to keep working on revitalizing my feet!) and looking so healthy!

I can't imagine if I had used this daily what the difference would be!

So, if you are dealing with not-so-pretty feet, give this recipe a whirl and be floored yourself! Share your results here or on the Moody Sisters Facebook page!

Summer Skincare & giveaway

 Summer time is here!! The weather in our area has been gorgeous, so my hubby and I have been spending a lot of time outside with our boys. Our kids love to be outside and we love being out there with them, but sometimes I feel getting out requires a little too much work... getting the kids lathered in sunscreen , finding their hats and so on. By the time I get my kids ready to be protected by the sun, I always forget to put the sunscreen on myself & I normally end up with a sunburn :-/ , we all know how painful they can be. I am always looking for a great product to relieve the pain some, or even just the tightness your skin can feel after being in the sun too long.

 Moody Sisters Lightweight Moisturizer is a great aloe based product that helps hydrate your skin without leaving you feeling greasy. I have had the chance to use this moisturizer a few times now and I absolutely love the way it makes my skin feel. With the aloe, vitamins and herbal extracts it is great for after sun use, full of healing and hydrating properties.

 You can purchase this moisturizer for just $10 and one of you can win a bottle just by filling out the form below. We will leave this giveaway open until Monday May 28th.

Bug Off Bug Repellant Giveaway!

On Tuesday I shared my review on the newest Moody Sisters product to hit the Etsy shelves - Bug Off Bug Repellant. We are seriously loving this bug repellant. We've been in our home for 3 summers now, and each one gets cut short due to pesky bugs. We are so excited to enjoy the upcoming summer, bug-bite-free, thanks to Bug Off!

And guess what? Today is your lucky day! Enter below for a chance to win your own Bug Off! 

Get ready to re-claim your summer!!!

This giveaway will run through May 26, 2012. At approximately 7pm(EST), I will use random.org to draw a winner. We must have 15 entrants to choose a winner - so enter now and share with your friends on facebook, twitter, and your own blog! Make sure your friends mention you, and you'll get extra entries!

You may need these links:

Moody Sisters Facebook page

Moody Sisters Etsy shop 

Bug Off Bug Repellant Review

Here in North Carolina, we have an abundance of bugs out already, thanks to a very (very) mild winter. I was so excited to be able to try out the newest creation from Moody Sisters, Bug Off Bug Repellant and be able to enjoy our back yard a bit more.

The Scent: 

I love the scent of Bug Off - it has a very light, citronella scent. It took me back to my childhood - totally reminding me of warm, summer nights, outside chasing lightening bugs! (Isn't it funny what the lightest of scents can do?!) Within minutes, the scent is gone, but the repellant works on!

Citronella is one of the key ingredients, along with Rosemary, Lemongrass, Lavender, Mint, and Clove. Witch Hazel and Apple Cider Vinegar are also included in the key ingredients.

The Feel: 

I was worried that Bug Off would be greasy or oily. I started to spray it, and I barely knew it was there. There was no residue left behind.

The Result: 

We're sold. Bug Off worked so well to keep away the bugs! We were able to go about 2-2.5 hours without needing to re-apply. The only bug it didn't seem to keep away was the "demon mosquitoes" we have (but we have tried every thing and nothing keeps these evil things away - they are Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, so if anyone has ideas, let me know!) I love that Bug Off does not contain DEET, and it smells way better than any commercial bug spray we've tried.

My youngest boys have extremely sensitive skin and I am happy to report that Bug Off did not irritate their skin one bit! 

If you're in the market for an organic/vegan, natural bug spray, you'll definitely want to give Bug Off a try! We've been so happy and are thrilled to re-claim our back yard this summer!

Disclaimer: I received a trial sample of Bug Off for review. All opinions are honest and my own. You may have a different experience.

A Tribute to my Mom

My mom and I, although we battled it out throughout my pre-teen and teen years, are very close. I love that we are great friends now. While I was growing up, my mom definitely stressed the importance of green living.

There are so many things she/we our family did, including:

• having 4 gardens where we grew most of our own vegetables, and many fruit trees and bushes
• having chickens so we could have fresh eggs
• trying her best to avoid prescription medications and rely on home remedies 
• modeling reusing and reducing
• recycling - everything. 

And now, as a mom, I am always trying my best to live by many of these standards. We rent our home, and our landlords don't allow us to have a garden, but we do have some plants in buckets. What we can't grow (which is a lot, thanks to my brown thumb!) we get from our (very) local (less than a mile away!) Farmer's Market or though an online Farmer's Market (we get weekly deliveries of fresh produce!)

My mom laughs now how I always made fun of her for her "weird ways" and now, I'm following suit!

I'm so thankful to have my mom living just a few hours away and am able to see her play with and love on our boys very often. I'm so thankful that my husband likes and respects my mom, and that she adores him as well.

(I searched and searched for a picture, but my mom and I like to hang out more behind the camera than in front of, and I couldn't find anything from more recent than 15 years ago!!!!)

A tribute to my mom

 I know a lot of women say this, but I seriously have the most amazing mom. Not only is she an amazing mom, she is just plain out an amazing woman!
 When I was growing up, I didn't always feel that way...unfortunately I was that rebellious teenager who sought out to do pretty much everything her parents told her not to do so my momma & I had a horrible relationship. But that lady was faithful in praying for me EVERYDAY and she always did her best to show me how much she loved me. When I was 18 the Lord got  a hold of my life and in turn my mom and I developed a wonderful relationship....almost 12 yrs later and she is one of my best friends!
  My mom is one of the strongest women I know, she has been through so much..but I have never heard her say "why me". I am a twin, and my brother was born with some disabilities that have him still living at home and my mom (and dad) have no complaints, I know its not the path you imagine when you plan on having kids, and while they dream bigger things for him they are amazing at meeting his every need because it is their love! My brother was also diagnosed with colon cancer when we were just 16 and my mom was by his side every long step of the way, cancer again reared its ugly head twice in her own life over the past few years and both times she has come out on top! She is a fighter :)
  My mom is also an amazing grandmother to my kids. I have always seen kids that are close to their grandparents and I have envied that. I have been fortunate enough to have both of my grandparents on my mom and dads side living , but I have always had cousins that were close to them...it was just never a relationship that I was blessed with & I am so thankful that my mom has that with both of my kids. They simply adore her & I love that!
   My mom is truly a great mom, a wonderful friend and a source of strength for our whole family. I only can pray that I will grow into the type of woman she is.

Wednesday Guest Post & Linky 5/9

Wednesday is our guest post and linky day! Post your organic related, blog, giveaway or review on our linky and email us if you're interested for writing a guest post!

-----------------------------------------------------

Danielle gives us a delicious recipe for using your home grown eggs! Read her previous post on EGGS!

Here is a recipe that uses lots of your fresh eggs.
Flan is a custard-like desert with a caramel sauce topping.
Some folks love it and some don't. Some may have just not had a good flan.
It can be difficult to make (as I have experienced) but if you can get it right (or close) it is so good.

FLAN

Good yummy Flan

Ingredients:

8 eggs
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
You will need a kitchen towel, a 9 inch pan for the flan and a larger pan for the water bath (I used a 13x9 inch casserole dish) and a heavy sauce pan for the caramel sauce.
 Blend the eggs, vanilla condensed mild and cream till well incorporated.
Heat the saucepan on medium heat and add the sugar. Do Not stir the sugar or it will crystallize. when almost melted, you may push the liquid around carefully with a spatula in order to melt all the way. Take off heat and pour into the waiting flan pan and coat the bottom evenly. do not touch the liquid sugar as it WILL Burn you! Be careful not to over-cook or burn the sugar.
Pour egg mix over the sugar.
Line the large pan with the towel, place the flan pan on the towel and carefully fill the larger pan up to halfway up the flan pan.
Bake 60 minutes or till knife inserted in center comes out clean. Be careful not to over-cook the custard.

1st Flan Fail

Remove flan pan from water bath and set aside to cool completely.
Run knife along edge of flan to loosen.
Place serving dish on top and carefully and quickly invert.
serve warm or cold.

A few things I learned about Flan...
The caramel sauce is difficult. It takes a while to melt but once it starts it goes pretty fast. It helps to have a heavy saucepan so that it heats more evenly.

caramel sauce fail = yummy candies

The custard can be made creamier with the addition of ... cream.
The 1st flan I did not use cream and it came out much like scrambled eggs. I found a recipe that added heavy cream. I tried it and it seems the more cream the more custard like it becomes.
It is easy and not good to over cook the custard. Keep an eye out toward the end of the cooking to be sure not to over-cook it.
I made many mistakes in the sauce - one of them turned into caramel candies.


Danielle lives on a a few wooded acres in the foothills of western Washington with her husband, daughter and chickens.
Her interests include enjoying nature and life with her family and friends, as well as learning how to implement a more natural and sustainable way of life. She stays busy taking care of family, home, garden and poultry, as well as creating photography, artwork and crafts for her Etsy store. Danielle also maintains a blog about her personal adventures, including recipes, wild food, poultry care, travel, gardening, reviews and other topics of interest.
My links:
Blog: www.mossytrees.blogspot.com
Store: www.etsy.com/shop/PoultryPlayground
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoultryPlayground


The photo of the good flan has candied sugar on top because of the sauce fail. But, my hubby said it made it extra delish and liked the crunchy  texture with the smooth custard. Hopefully next time I make flan I can replicate the oops.

Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother's Day is right around the corner and Moody Sisters has so much to offer for mom.

My mom loves flowers and would love the limited edition scent of Floral in the Whipped Face and Body Lotion. This scent is made up of Jasmine, Lavender, and Vanilla. But you MUST order today (Monday) to get it in time for Mother's Day!

She is also in love with the Moody Sisters lotion line. The Variety 3 Pack Whipped Lotion would be perfect for her! This 3 Pack spotlights the Citrus Face & Body Whip, Almond Face & Body Whip, and the Intense Moisturizing Cream.

Maybe you have a soon-to-be mom in your life, pamper her with Almond Pregnancy Belly Cream. This cream helps prevent stretch marks, soothe and protect dry and damaged skin, and heals and hydrates the skin.

 

You could also get mom-to-be ready to pamper her little one with the Baby Skincare Pack featuring the Cleansing Spray (to replace baby wipes), Body Wash (in a light lavender scent), and Body Balm (to protect from chapping and irritation, as well as to hydrate the skin).

 

And...if my hubby is looking for ideas for me...This mama is looking for some Citrus Intense Moisturizing Cream:

the Citrus Silky Body Wash:

and the Hydrating Sugar Scrub:

What are you gifting (Moody Sisters, or otherwise!) this Mother's Day? 

What are you hoping for?

Pampering Mom

  Mother's Day is approaching so quickly. Since becoming a mom my gift ideas for my own mom on this special day have become much better. I now understand that she probably doesn't want some flowers to sit on the table and die a few days later. She wants something to help her relax! I know thats what I want anyways, whether its going out to dinner...or my hubby cooking for me (going out is probably the better option) or a day at the spa...I just want time away from my day to day job. I want to be pampered!
   Two of my favorite products by Moody Sisters that I think would be great for Mother's Day are the Cocoa Intense Moisturizing Cream



 and the Eye Cream & Cuticle Cream.


 I think both of these would be great in a little gift basket for mom for Mothers Day. Throw in some sparkling cider or wine, some chocolate covered strawberries and some nail polish and your mom will be ready to give herself some pampering! If your a really good daughter you could give her the pedicure yourself....however I despise feet, so as much as I love my momma she will have to be doing that one herself. :)
  What is your favorite way to be pampered?

Wednesday Guest Post & Linky 5/2

Wednesday is our guest post and linky day! Post your organic related, blog, giveaway or review on our linky and email us if you're interested for writing a guest post!
---------------------------------------------------------

Reap the rewards of fresh vegetables by getting a head starton your garden using the following season-extending ideas:

With the melting snow, thawing soil, and fresh scentspermeating the air, it’s challenging to hold off on spring planting. However, knowingwhen to plant in the spring is half the battle of successful gardening.Gardeners who plant too early end up with dead or damaged crops while gardenerswho plant too late must wait longer to harvest. Timing is essential.

Cold Frames
The use of cold frames will help you get a head start on thegrowing season. Cold frames can be very simple, using materials like wood, haybails, glass or clear plastic. What you will need is an enclosed frame with anopening in the center and a clear cover to allow the sun and warmth topenetrate, such as a recycled window laid across four hay bails.

Frost Cover
A frost cover protects plants from the cold, yet allowswater to penetrate. It can be used by itself or placed inside a cold frame,provided it is suspended above the plants. If the frost cover touches theplants, it will most likely cause irreparable damage. If planting seedlings beforethe last frost, plant them directly in the ground, mulch, and enclose themimmediately with the frost cover.

Spring Seeds
Once you have prepared your soil, determine which seeds toplant based on USDA zones. Popular early season vegetables include carrots,spinach, lettuce, kale, peas, potatoes, onions, cabbage, and broccoli. As Marchand April bring warmer weather, several warm season crops can be grown beneathcover as described above, including cucumbers, tomatoes, bush beans, corn,cantaloupe, squash, eggplant and watermelon.

If equipped with the knowledge of when to plant throughoutthe spring, you will undoubtedly enjoy a productive, diverse, and extendedharvest. Good luck!

http://nicoleringgold.blogspot.com/
About Nicole: http://www.liveinart.org/p/about-nicole.html