clean me!!!

Wash your hands!!! How many times have you told your kids that? From the time my kids wake up in the morning until they go to bed at night i am constantly reminding them to sanitize themselves. Why is it so hard to remember to do so after using the potty for a three year old?!?!

Well for starters the faucet is impossible for such little fingers to manuver. To remedy this prediciment I have started looking into hand sanitizers, you know, the waterless kind that you simply squirt on and rub in. Though not a thorough cleansing it does the job until I can start the dryer and make the trek from the basement up to help them do it properly.

Sadly though I have seen the news reports of kids becoming deathly sick from ingesting commercial products due to the alcohol they are made from, and I also get concerned because if you are killing bacteria (a good thing right?) and humans are made from and actually thrive on bacteria what else are we actually killing?

I found a fabulous recipe for an all natural hand sanitizer that you can tweak to suit your own preferences, remember this is not to take the place of regular handwashing but it does help out in those situations where you need a quick clean.

What you need to get started:

100% pure aloe vera gel
witch hazel
tea tree oil
peppermint oil

Then to create it just:

Add 1 cup of pure aloe vera gel into a bowl

Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. (you do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin)

Add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil.

Slowly stir ingredients together.

(If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency)

Store in any desired container and use as you would any other hand sanitizer

*The ingredients in this mixture are safe and natural to use on your body. witch hazel, tea tree oil and peppermint all have antiseptic and astringent properties to them, which make them great for killing germs and also healing small cuts and wounds. The aloe vera gel will help soothe skin and keep skin from drying out


**Tips & warnings
You can add other scented essential oils to the mixture for a more pleasant scent such as lavender oil or rose oil and if you find the tea tree oil and peppermint oil scent to strong, use lesser amounts

Witch hazel and tea tree oil can cause excessive dryness in people with sensitive skin, if you find this occurring, limit the use of your sanitizer to a few times a day

I send my kids to school with a small container in their backpacks and keep pumps in each bathroom.

Stay fresh and have a fabulous week!!!

fair trade clothing

A few weeks back I did an article on the importance of organic clothing, I should have mentioned the importance
"fair trade" plays in the garment industry. Many of the organic lines coincide with free trade but i never really understood what it was or it's importance until I started researching for my own boutique.

Fair Trade guarantees a minimum price for producers so they can earn a decent, living wage and break the cycle of exploitation and poverty. It has been defined by the four Fair Trade Organizations as "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers, especially in the South. Fair Trade organizations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising, and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade."
~make trade fair

The four organizations involved are known by their initials as FINE:

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) whose main responsibility is to collect data and ensure the audit of all Fairtrade-labelled products from the producer to the sales floor.

International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) is a global network of Fair Trade organizations that work to improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of the poor people in developing countries, and to change the unfair structures of international trade.

Network of European World shops (NEWS!) NEWS co-ordinates the co-operation between World Shops all over Western Europe.

and finally

European Fair Trade Association (EFTA) was established in 1987, and is an association of 12 Fair Trade importers in 9 European countries, they facilitate co-operation and co-ordination between their members in the areas of trading with suppliers in the south, advocacy and campaigns work, monitoring of fair trade and marketing fair trade products.

Now that I have covered the technicalities , I would love to tell you in plain speak why fair trade is important to all of us:

Fair price: farmers group receive a minimum price and an additional premium for certified organic products.


Fair labor conditions: workers enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited!


Direct trade: importers purchase from Fair Trade groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.


Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest revenues.


Community development: Fair Trade farmers and workers invest earnings in social and business development projects like scholarships, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.


Environmental sustainability: harmful chemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations

Check out the Fair Trade Association for some great information and check out Make Trade Fair and sign the petition that "represents the voices of millions of people around the world who are calling for decision makers to make trade fair."

Have a fabulous week!!!

hot little hand sanitizer recipe...

item you will need:

100% pure aloe vera gel
witch hazel
tea tree oil
peppermint oil


add 1 cup of pure aloe vera gel into a bowl

slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. (you do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin)

add 3-4 drops of tea tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil.

slowly stir ingredients together.

(if you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency)

store in any desired container and use as you would any other hand sanitizer

*the ingredients in this mixture are safe and natural to use on your body. witch hazel, tea tree oil and peppermint all have antiseptic and astringent properties to them, which make them great for killing germs and also healing small cuts and wounds. The aloe vera gel will help soothe skin and keep skin from drying out


**tips & warnings
you can add other scented essential oils to the mixture for a more pleasant scent such as lavender oil or rose oil and if you find the tea tree oil and peppermint oil scent to strong, use lesser amounts

witch hazel and tea tree oil can cause excessive dryness in people with sensitive skin, if you find this occurring, limit the use of your sanitizer to a few times a day