Old Favorites

Conner Prairie

Indianapolis Zoo (the butterflies are back)

Children’s Museum

Rhythm Discovery Center

KidsCommons

Fundamentals Open Gym (they have a new location, with more time slots)

Kids Bowl Free

Indiana Transportation Museum

Hunter’s Honey Farm

New Adventures

The Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo – I said this last year, but I really mean it this time. The Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo has been on my agenda for a couple years, but this year I’m going to make it happen. I have heard nothing but good things about this zoo, which is geared toward children, providing views of the animals that are accessible by even the smallest of visitors. That means you don’t have to get the kids out of the stroller or lift them up at every exhibit, because everything is at their level. While you’re there, you can feed giraffes, get nose-to-nose with lions, stroll through a mob of kangaroos and so much more. There’s also a ride in every corner of the zoo, from the Treetop Safari sky ride, to an Australian Log Ride. I’m really looking forward to it.

Garfield Park Little Green Thumbs – Garfield Park has tons of great programming, like free concerts, story time for kids and more. But this year we’re going to get our hands dirty. With the Little Green Thumbs program, participants will have the opportunity to plant, care for, and harvest crops in the garden. This program is $4 and is suitable for children ages 3-6. It’s held on the last Thursday of the month from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Registration is required, so call 317.327.7580 to save your spot.

Nature Valley Ranch offers trail rides and horse education on over 70 acres of land in Hendricks County. But, because my kids are a little afraid of horses (and truth be told, so is mommy) we’re going to head up for a tour instead. They offer a variety of options, but we’re going to tour the barn, visit all the animals, learn about horse safety and how to care for horses, make horse salad and feed it to the horses. We’ll also visit the petting zoo, take a hay ride through the woods, and the kids will have a chance to ride a pony. To find out more, visit them online at naturalvalleyranch.com.

The Ropkey Armor Museum is a free destination featuring an extensive collection of military vehicles. To be honest, I’m pretty interested in this one. For the past two summers we’ve gone to the Indiana National Guard Car Show where they have several military vehicles on display. It’s so interesting to check them all out…I can only imagine how neat it will be to see the vehicles our grandparents’ generation used. Plus, we won’t have to battle the summer heat to enjoy this indoor display. The museum is open Monday – Friday from 10:30 – 4:30 or by appointment.

Recreation Unlimited will be perfect for the dog days of summer. Located in Nobelsville, Recreation Unlimited is actually a supplier of outdoor play equipment like swing sets, play houses and trampolines. But, they also offer “pay to play” on more than 15 play systems, 3 trampolines, an indoor basketball court, play houses and Thomas the Train play tables. It’s all set up on a rubbery safety floor and is totally climate controlled. So, you can leave the sunscreen at home and let the kids run wild. Click here to learn more about it.

Wonder Lab – It’s hard for me to remember that Bloomington is just as close to my house as many of the other Indy destinations. But, we’re going to change that. This summer I plan to take the boys south to enjoy this Museum of Science, Health and Technology. I think the boys will be particularly interested in their newest exhibit, Construction Junction, which opens June 4. Wonder Lab is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 – 5:00 and on Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00. Admission is $7 for anyone over 1.

Saxony Beach And Lake In Fishers – For the last two years we’ve gone to the Indiana Dunes and have loved watching the boys play in the sand. We’re not going to make it up there this year, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on a little beach action. Saxony Beach is a relatively new 20 acre man-made lake that has areas roped off for swimming as well as standing paddleboard rentals, kayak rentals, paddle boats and fishing. Click here to learn more or here to see what Katy from Indy with Kids thought about her visit.

Indiana State Police Museum – I couldn’t find a whole lot of information about this one, but it does look interesting. (Thanks to The City Moms for finding this one!) According to the State Police website, you can look at various uniforms, cars and equipment used by the Indiana state police over the years. They also have displays of items from the John Dillinger era, as well as a moonshine still, a variety of state police vehicles, and numerous antique equipment relating to law enforcement. The museum is open to the public Monday – Friday from 9:00 to 3:00, or by appointment. For more information or tours of the center, contact the Youth Education & Historical Center, 8660 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219, 317-899-8293 or 1-888-ISP-YOUTH.

Greenwood Fire Department – Many fire departments will offer a free tour if you call in advance (though I recommend taking a healthy treat to thank them for their service and time). We’ll be heading to our local department here in Greenwood. The kids will watch a short video (similar to Bob the Builder), see the trucks, the kitchen and a fireman will dress up in his suit.

The Movies – Cinemark offers a Summer Movie Clubhouse program in select theaters, which shows movies for just $1, or 10 shows for $5. These movies aren’t new releases, but it’s always fun to head to the theater. Click here to see if your local theater is participating.

Regal’s Summer Movie Express offers $1 admission to selected G or PG movies start at 10:00 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. Tickets and seating are first-come, first-served, are limited to theater capacity and are exclusively available at select theater’s box office on the day of the show. Check the site to find a participating theater.

Special Events

Indiana National Guard Car Show – I’m kind of hesitant to share this one because it’s one of Indy’s best kept secrets. Every year around July 4th, the National Guard Association of Indiana puts on a car show at the War Memorial. The best part is that they bring their military vehicles (including a Black Hawk Helicopter) and let the kids climb  inside to see them up close and personal. It’s always a great event with hardly any crowd at all…and definitely something we look forward to every summer.

Greenwood Touch a Truck will be held on June 22 from 9:00 – 1:00 at the Parks Maintenance Building in the parking lot of Greenwood Middle School. There will be fire trucks, ambulances, construction vehicles and more. Plus, kids will get the chance to sit behind the wheel, honk the horn and talk to the drivers. This event is free, but you can get VIP access by purchasing passes to Pancakes in the Park sponsored by University Heights Health & Living Community and Bob Evans Restaurants. The breakfast tickets are $5 a piece and can be purchased in advance at the Greenwood Community Center. For more information about this even call 881-4545 or to find more Touch A Truck events check out the schedule over at Indy with Kids.

Monster Truck Nationals – My boys love monster trucks, but I’m not a big fan of shelling out $20 or more a ticket for those big arena shows. That’s why we opt for the Monster Truck Nationals at the Indiana State Fair. The small venue is perfect for us because we can get there early for a good seat and not have to worry about needing to leave early if the boys get scared. Shows start at 1:00 and 7:00 on August 3 and last year’s tickets were $5 at the gate, plus admission to the fair. So, it’s a perfect way to spend the day. *Note: It’s a good idea to take along ear protection, especially if you plan to sit close.*

The Night Before the 500 at Lucas Oil Raceway – My kids love just about anything that has an engine, so this will be a fun event for them. To be honest, I’m not much of a race fan, but it’s hard not to get in the mood during the month of May. I love it when the Indy cars come to town and I’m really looking forward to seeing other open wheel racing at this event. It starts at 2:00 with practice and qualifying. Then racing starts around 7:40. Other than that, I’m not exactly sure what to expect. General admission is $20 a person and kids under 12 are free. Hubby says there’s a nice grassy area we can sit in, so we’ll probably do that.

Hauler Parade – Every year before the Brickyard 400, there is a parade of more than 40 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series haulers — the large, colorful trucks carrying stock cars to and from the track during the season. Haulers park in two lines on Main Street in Speedway (between 10th and 15th Streets) giving fans an up-close look. My son was even allowed to sit in one of the cabs and take a peak in one of the trailers.

Colt’s Open House – On Wednesday, June 12, Lucas Oil Stadium is opening its doors from 2:00 – 8:00 for a mini camp and free fan open house. They’ll host cheerleader autographs, on field activities, team autographs, full team practice, half price concessions and more. I’m not going to lie, walking around the end zone is pretty cool in and of itself.

Day Out with Thomas is something my kids are going to go crazy about. My 2-year-old is too young to remember when we rode Thomas through the Whitewater Valley Railroad the summer before last, but my 5-year-old keeps asking when we’re going to do it again. Now, I’ll be honest, the ride isn’t exactly “scenic”, but the kids don’t seem to notice that stuff. They just love riding trains and it’s a big thrill to do it with Thomas!  The 25 minute train ride isn’t the only attraction either…every location has a Thomas & Friends Imagination Station where you can Build with Mega Bloks and participate in other Thomas-themed activities including stamps, temporary tattoos, arts & crafts, and a Thomas & Friends storytelling and video viewing area. Thomas will be riding into Indiana June 14-16 and 21-23. Tickets are $18 a person, or you can buy an unlimited riding pass for $30 a person.

Note: If you’re planning to use any of these remedies, I highly recommend that you purchase high quality ingredients that are pure and free of harsh additives that might alter the remedy’s effectiveness. I like to purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs, DoTerra and VitaCost.

Natural Remedies for Summer

Bees, Hornets and Wasp stings

First Aid:

First, gently remove the stinger with tweezers or a credit card…be careful though, pinching the stinger could release more venom. I like to administer a dose of Benadryl immediately to fight allergic reaction, but call 911 if you notice signs of anaphylaxis, which include: difficulty breathing or wheezing, tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing, hoarseness or trouble speaking, nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting, fast heartbeat or pulse, anxiety, dizziness, or loss of consciousness. Once you’ve removed the stinger and washed the bite, you can use the following remedies.

Remedies:

After removing the stinger, apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda (or meat tenderizer). This might not give immediate relief, but is said to be effective and long lasting.

Apply mint toothpaste (not gel) directly to the bite for fast and long lasting relief.

Apply a cool compress with Roman chamomile essential oil. Or combine 1 drop basil, 2 drops Roman chamomile, 2 drops lavender essential oils and 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and apply to the area three times a day.

Soak in Epsom salts or make a paste to apply to the wound to ease discomfort and pull out the venom.

Jellyfish Sting

(I was stung by a jellyfish as a child and it is one of those painful experiences that is still fresh in my mind. So, if you plan to head to the beach this summer, make sure to pack vinegar in your first aid kit…just in case.)

First Aid:

Wash the area with salt water only (fresh water releases more toxins) and douse with vinegar or lemon juice. Then remove any remaining tentacles with tweezers, a towel or piece of clothing. (Don’t use your bare hands!) Once the wound is cleaned you can follow the following remedies.

Remedies:

Covering the wound with wet beach sand will help lessen the sting, especially if you need to mobilize to reach additional care.

Apply a paste of meat tenderizer and water directly to the wound to help ease pain.

To continue soothing the area, mix a 1:1 ratio of lavender essential oil with coconut or olive oil and apply to the wound every 15 minutes as needed.

Mosquito Bites

Mix 2 ounces of fractionated coconut oil (or EVOO), 3 drops of Eucalyptus, 2 drops of Wild Orange, 2 drops of Patchouli, 2 drops of Vetiver, and 2 drops of White Fir 2 drops then apply to bite site for rapid healing. (You can also apply this mixture to skin before going outdoors to avoid bites.)

Dab a bit of toothpaste onto the mosquito bites and the itching should stop very quickly. Peppermint toothpaste (not gel) is the best.

Apply lavender or helichrysum essential oil directly to the bite.

Make a paste out of witch hazel, rubbing alcohol or tea tree oil and baking soda. Apply it and leave it on for about 15 minutes.

Apply chilled aloe vera gel to the bite.

Mix a crushed asprin with a bit of water and apply directly to the bite.

Poison Ivy/Oak

Mix 2-3 drops of rose, lavender or Roman chamomile with olive oil and apply directly to blisters.

Add peppermint essential oil with fractionated cocount or olive oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply to blisters.

Boil cracked acorns in water, strain and cool the remaining liquid, and then apply to affected area

Apply a paste of water and baking soda directly to the rash to sooth inflammation, draw the fluid out of blisters and dry them.

Unless you are allergic to milk, applying buttermilk to the blisters may help by drawing out blister fluids. Plain organic yogurt can also be used as a soothing element.

Taking a bath with a dozen chamomile tea bags will help dry blisters and reduce inflammation.

Appling an ice pack for 5-10 minutes will reduce itching temporarily.

Sunburn

In a 4oz bottle, mix together: 4 oz organic Aloe Vera Gel, 15 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops Vitamin E Oil and 2-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Store in the refrigerator and apply to the skin as often as you like.

Gently mix together 2 tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil with 6 drops of Helichrysum, 5 drops of Lavender, 5 drops of Roman Chamomile, and 3 drops of Patchouli and then spritz area or apply gently to area for pain and skin recovery.

For a soothing bath: add 2 drops of eucalyptus oil, 6 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of Roman Chamomile oil and 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil with 1/2 cup Epsom Salts to lukewarm water and soak without rubbing for 10 minutes (anything longer could dry your skin out too much). This recipe can be used as room temp moist compress also.

Soak a washcloth in cool water and apply it directly to the burned areas. You can also add a soothing agent like lavender essential oil, baking soda or oatmeal to the water.

Drink plenty of water to replenish moisture and help the burns to heal better.

Liberally moisturize skin with coconut or olive oil. You can place the oil in the refrigerator for extra comfort.

*Use high quality essential oils, and avoid soaps and commercially processed lotions which may contain harsh ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin.

Wounds (Minor skin abrasions)

Witch Hazel extract has astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties, which makes it an ideal solution for cleansing minor cuts and abrasions. To avoid irritation, make sure to get a high quality solution that has less than 20% alcohol.

After the wound has been cleaned, add 1-3 drops each of helichrysum and/or lavender essential oils to 1 tsp olive oil and apply a small amount to the wound regularly.

Disclaimer: I have not be compensated in any way for the purpose of this post. However, I am an independent consultant for doTERRA and an affiliate advertiser for Mountain Rose Herbs. If you click on my links for MountainRose or DoTerra, I will make a small commission based on your purchase. This is just one way you can help support me and the administration of The Average Parent website. Additionally, I have pledged to Blog with Integrity. So…although I might make money based on the links I provide, the recommendations I make are based on my own experiences in the real world. I promise to only provide reviews on the products and services I absolutely love, and I define this as something I would purchase for myself or as a gift for others. For more details about my review policy please visit the Disclaimer Page.

For more clever ideas like this, make sure to follow me on Pinterest.

But now that I’m a parent, I’m starting to begrudge all the advice everybody has for me. When you have a baby, it’s natural for people to chime in with a bit of guidance. Try this for his runny nose. That blanket isn’t safe. He needs a hat. Put a little cereal in his bottle and he’ll sleep through the night. It’s OK, parents of babies usually don’t know what the heck we’re doing…or so think the advice givers.

Once our kids hit the preschool age, the advice usually slows down because people assume you have the hang of it now…unless you have a difficult child. Then everybody has an opinion. He needs more discipline. You’re smothering him. He needs more consistency. You have to pick your battles.

When it comes to my son, we are in a unique position. His behavior and developmental problems are severe enough that he has a diagnosis and requires additional help, but mild (and inconsistent) enough that most people don’t realize there’s anything wrong. When you have a child like this, it’s hard not to become sensitive to judging eyes. You’re constantly wondering what people are thinking when you can’t control him. What do they think about the fact that he’s touching everything, throwing a tantrum or running like a wild man through the parking lot while you completely ignore him because you know it’s just attention seeking? Do they think I’m lazy because instead of working with him to tie his shoes, I buy him Velcro to avoid the battle? Are they right? As a parent it’s natural to second guess yourself. But, when you have a difficult child, that insecurity multiples exponentially.

And of course, there are the people who don’t believe you. Oh, boys will be boys. He’ll grow out of it. You’re overreacting. He was fine when I watched him.

Don’t get me wrong, it makes me so happy that he can seamlessly fit in with his peers and that I can leave him with a sitter without any worry. He is a charming fellow, sweet and very well liked. So when people tell me they don’t agree that he has any problems, I’m relieved and saddened at the same time. Do they think I’m making this up? Or maybe they’re saying it’s my parenting? After all, he behaves so well with others….it must be me. Do they know that he’s doing so well because of the countless hours we’ve spent working with him or the thousands of dollars we’ve spent on therapy?

Perhaps I’m being over sensitive. Aren’t we all a bit sensitive when it comes to our kids? We all worry if we’re doing a good job and wonder what the world thinks of us. We want everybody to love our kids as much as we do, but we also want someone to understand our struggles. It would be nice if someone told us we were doing a good job…and we believed them when they said it.

To read all about our experience, check out my post on Indy with Kids.

The Marketplace will be held at the Expo Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “A Taste of Indiana Artisan Marketplace” preview party will be held Friday, April 5, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the preview are available in limited supply through VSA Indiana, online at this link, at Traders Point Creamery and at the door.

I’m really excited to offer this prize pack to on lucky reader, because I know how much you’re going to love it.

Here’s what you can win:

2 tickets to the Indiana Artisan Marketplace main event on April 6 or 7.

A selection of puffs from 240Sweet. This artisan company makes the most amazing gourmet marshmallows, with natural, locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. If it’s not local, it’s organic. I feel comfortable giving these treats to my boys because they don’t use any preservatives, stabilizers, artificial colors or artificial flavors. I highly recommend the sweet beet crunch or the Bourbon Sugar Churro. I absolutely love the contrast of the crunchy sugar with the smooth marshmallow. It’s kind of like a peep, but a 100 times better. Their marshmallow creations can be bought at their studio in Columbus, online and at select locations around Indiana.

Award winning chocolate from Chocolate for the Spirit, including a world’s rarest chocolate forever bar, a Mayan spice bar and their handcrafted, small batch toffee. By the way, in case you’re wondering what makes their toffee so special…it all goes back to the wooden spoon, owned by Chocolatier Julie’s Grandmother, who inspired her to create incredible toffee the old-fashioned way, hand-stirred with a wooden spoon, in small batches, with the very best ingredients. I can’t wait to try it! Chocolate for the Spirit can be purchased online as well at their studio located in the Indianapolis City Market. Some selections are also available at Vine and Table in Carmel and Goose the Market in Indianapolis.

One jar of all natural BBQ or dessert sauce from Best Boy and Co. It’s quite impressive that this company strives to bring forth ethically conceived, prepared and distributed food…but they also donate 100% of the profits to qualifying 501-c3 charities and organizations benefiting children and families. They make a variety of handcrafted dessert sauces, savory grilling sauces and spice rubs perfect for any appetite. You can even find their balsamic fudge sauce as the main ingredient in a 240Sweet marshmallow creation. That’s a double yum, if you ask me. You can find Best Boy at farmers markets and events around Indiana, but ordering online is the easiest way to get your hands on some.

Win It

To win this prize pack valued at close to $100, follow the prompts below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Additional Information and Contest Disclaimer: This contest will end Thursday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m. at which time the winner will be chosen by rafflecopter. The winner will be announced on this page, on the facebook wall and will be contacted via email. The winner will be required to claim their prize via email to me by noon on Friday, April 5 before another winner will be chosen. The tickets will be left at will call and the winner will be required to visit each booth to claim his/her prizes.

For more chances to win tickets to the marketplace, visit WritRams and The Queen of Free.

The prizes for the purpose of this post were provided at no cost to me. This giveaway is administered by me. Therefore, any questions or comments regarding this promotion should be sent to me. The Average Parent is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes. Winner is responsible for any taxes and/or fees that may result from winning. The Average Parent and the sponsoring company are not liable for any injury or damages to person and/or things as a result of the acceptance of the prize offered. Additionally, The Average Parent has pledged to Blog with Integrity. So, although I occasionally receive free products from PR and marketing reps, the recommendations I make are based on my own experiences in the real world. I promise to only provide reviews on the products and services I absolutely love, and I define this as something I would purchase for myself or as a gift for others. For more details about my review policy please visit the Disclaimer Page.

So…I’ve been scanning the web and compiling of list of possible things to do and here’s what I’ve come up with.

The Indiana Medical History Museum – OK, on the surface, that doesn’t sound very interesting. But hubby and I love attractions that we can learn from…especially if we can go back in time. (i.e. The Indiana Experience at the Historical Society is a fave!) With a building that is on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum maintains a collection of scientific artifacts from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is equipped with three clinical laboratories, a photography lab, teaching amphitheater, autopsy room, and library.

The museum offers guided tours on the hour between 10am and 4pm (last tour starts promptly at 3pm) Thursday through Saturday for drop-in visitors and on Wednesday by appointment only. Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children under 18. The museum only accepts cash.

Indiana Artisan Marketplace – Originally we were thinking of hitting up one of Indiana’s wineries for a tasting, but some of my blogging friends reminded me that the Indiana Artisan Marketplace is coming up and many of the wineries will be there…along with other local artisans. Anybody who knows me knows that I am a sucker for locally produced commodities, so this seemed like a no-brainer. Indiana Artisan Marketplace brings together a majority of Indiana Artisans so you can talk with the state’s highest-quality artisans in one place, as well as taste their foods, see their exceptional talent and abilities and buy their work. In addition to browsing the booths, visitors throughout the weekend will enjoy live Indiana music, art and craft demonstrations, and food and drink tasting.

The Marketplace will be held at the Expo Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door. “A Taste of Indiana Artisan Marketplace” preview party will be held Friday, April 5, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and available in limited supply through VSA Indiana, online at this link, at Traders Point Creamery and at the door. *Note: I’m giving away tickets to this even along with a few treats from Indiana Artisans. Click here to check it out. *

Cocktails and/or Dinner Out – One thing I love about Indy is that there is no shortage of top notch places to eat or enjoy a drink. Some of my favorites include Hal’s Fabulous Vegas (on the Southside), the Rathskeller, Greek Islands, Scotty’s Brewhouse and Bosphorus Istanbul Café. But there are a few places I’d still like to check out, so it might be hard to decide. Chatterbox Jazz Club offers live music every night of the week and would be great for a cocktail (or two), and Santorini Greek Kitchen and New Day Meadery come highly recommended.

Turkey Run State Park – If the weather cooperates, it would be nice to head out on the trails with just the two of us. Located about 90 minutes west of Indianapolis, this park offers sandstone ravines, aged forests and breathtaking views along Sugar Creek. Like all state parks, Turkey Run offers a variety of trails suited for all levels of fitness and the nature center offers interpretive naturalist services all year long. So we’ll definitely have to look into that. And for the history geeks in all of us, there is Lieber Cabin, a log church built in 1871, and the historical Lusk home and mill which was built by the first settlers to own land in the area. Entrace to the park is $5 for Indiana registered vehicles and $7 for out-of-state vehicles. For more information call (765) 597-2635.

The web tells me that the Lusk home is only open for tours during the summer, so we might have to head into Crawfordsville to get our history fix at the The Rotary Jail, which was the first and only still functional rotating jail. The jail opened in 1882 and used a hand crank to turn the circular cellblock. The jail closed in 1973, but the building has since been converted to a museum and art gallery under the care of the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation. According to the website, it’s also a hot spot for paranormal research. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturdays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Admission is $3 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.

The Bookstore – My friend Katy from Indy with Kids asked her facebook followers for suggestions and I love this one from Lucinda:  “One of my favorite inexpensive dates is browsing through a bookstore. Barnes & Noble and Half Price Books are our usual stops. It’s relaxing to browse through the store together. We often play a game where we each find one book and try to “sell” it to the other. Depending on the title/topic, that can be quite comical. Afterwards, we leave with any purchases and head out for coffee and dessert.” I’m definitely keeping this idea in mind.

Follow these links for more Indy date night/staycation ideas:

My Indiana Pinterest Board

50 Dates for Less than $50 in Downtown Indy

Crown Hill Cemetery Tours (sounds creepy, but super informative…summer only)

Indiana Repertory Theater (tickets start at $25)

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

Save at the Movies

10 Ways to Save on Date Night

City Market Catacomb Tours (Summer Only)

This recipe for all purpose cleaner is ridiculously easy, super cheap, environmentally friendly, kid safe AND effective. This formula smells so much better than straight vinegar and it’s great for cutting grease and grime on a stove top or busting through hard water stains on the sink. And, it’s gentle enough to use on the wood furniture and laminate floors (just so long as you don’t saturate them). I use it for EVERYTHING!

You won’t believe this, but when I calculated the cost, it came out to be about 80-cents for a 32 ounce bottle of cleaner. (not counting the initial investment of the bottle)

Here’s what you need

32-ounce glass or sturdy plastic bottle (I bought a glass bottle online from aromatools.com…you can use plastic, but the ones from grocery/dollar store are crap)

4 tsp Borax

1/2 tsp Liquid Castile soap

1/4 cup white vinegar (use 1/3 cup or more if you battle particularly difficult hard water stains)

3 drops of doTerra’s OnGuard essential oil blend*

Warm Water

Directions

In a 32 ounce measuring cup or bowl, add borax, liquid castile soap and OnGuard. Fill to the 31 ounce mark with warm water and whisk together till all the borax is dissolved. Pour into your spray bottle and add vinegar (mixing it in this order reduces the risk of reaction between the vinegar and borax, but it’s still a good idea to work over the sink, just in case.) Shake bottle each time before using.

Update: I decided to make a simple label for this cleaner. It’s formatted for 4×2 inch labels, but you can easily print it on plain white paper and affix to your bottle with clear tape or Mod Podge.

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*when I first made this cleaner, I used about 40 drops of whatever oil I had on hand. But then I read that there is ongoing research suggesting that you only need 3 drops of doTERRA’s OnGuard, the individual oils are not as effective as the blend, and that adding more might actually reduce the effectiveness. Preliminary results from this study by doTERRA advisory board member and microbiologist, Jennifer Eddins, SM(ASCP), also suggests that using OnGuard can not only kill germs such as MRSA, but it can prevent them from growing for up to 7 days. If that’s not enough, an additional study was published by PubMed in November 2010 about the effectiveness of OnGuard against the flu virus, particularly H1N1 (or swine flu). This study found that OnGuard was able to kill viruses (something antibacterial solutions cannot do) and reduce viral replication by up to 90%. That was enough to get me on board with OnGuard.

Here’s What We Used:
cheap plastic flower pots
Green Styrofoam discs
Baking Soda
Fake Flowers
Stickers (or other craft materials for decorating the flower pots)
Baking soda
Food coloring

Here’s What We Did:

First we decorated the flower pots with stickers. Paint and/or markers would work well here too, but both of those are messy for my kids, so I wanted to stick with something easy.

Next we poured the baking soda into a bowl and filled the watering can. Originally I thought we’d color the “dirt” brown, but decided it was better to let the boys choose. So, we added blue food coloring to one and red to the other. Then we slowly added water to the baking soda and started stirring it with a spoon and our hands. This was the fun sensory part because we could feel how the texture changed as we added more water. Just make sure not to add too much because then you’ll be left with soup.

Once the “dirt” was mixed, we put a foam disk in the bottom of the pots, added flowers and scooped the dirt in around them.

When our flower pots were done, I dumped the left over “dirt” onto trays, pulled out some kitchen tools and let the boys play.

Here’s What You Need:
1/2 cup of unrefined virgin coconut oil
2-4 tablespoons bee’s wax pastilles or shavings (the more wax you use, the more solid your salve will be)
1-2 Vitamin E capsules (optional)
Glass, tin or sturdy plastic containers
Essential Oils

Here’s What You Do:

In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil and bee’s wax. I use an old glass measuring cup for this part because it makes it super easy to pour once it’s melted. When it’s totally liquefied, empty the vitamin E capsules into the liquid (if using), pour the mixture into your desired containers and add essential oils, using 15 drops for every ounce of ointment. Here are some I’ve made:

Chest and Sinus Rub – I chose lavender and a breathe blend from doTERRA, but other good choices would be rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus and/or peppermint.

Healing Ointment – frankincense, lavender, geranium and Roman chamomile essential oils. Click here to learn more about this ointment and how it works.

Lip Balm – essential oils are optional, but some good choices would be peppermint, lemon or lime. You can even tint your lip balm naturally with a little beet powder.

Muscle Rub – doTERRA’s DeepBlue blend is perfect. You can also use any of the following oils: wintergreen, frankincense, peppermint, marjoram, birch, lavender, white fir or helichrysum.

Cuticle Cream – lemon essential oil

Where to Buy Supplies:

Quality coconut oil can be found in the organic section of at most grocery stores, in health food stores or online. I purchase mine from VitaCost.com because it offers the best price.

Bee’s Wax can be found at some health food stores, but I like the pastilles from MountainRoseHerbs.com because they’re so easy to work with. Solid bricks of bee’s wax can be quite tricky to cut.

Therapeutic grade essential oils can be purchased from a variety of sources, but I recommend doTERRA, MoutainRoseHerbs.com and Simplers. I caution against the cheaper brands offered at health food stores or Amazon because they often contain fillers and the quality just isn’t as good.

I purchase containers through MountainRoseHerbs.com, AromaTools.com and SpecialtyBottle.com.

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, aromatherapist, doctor or other professionally trained medical expert. By accepting my advice, you agree that this information has not been evaluated by the FDA, but was garnered through internet research and personal experience. Some people may suffer adverse reactions to essential oils and other supplements especially when pregnant, taking other medications/supplements or suffering from a chronic health condition. You also agree not to hold me liable should you have an adverse reaction to any of the protocols I recommend. Do your research and speak to your doctor before staring any new supplement.

Additionally, while I have not been compensated for the purpose of this post, I am an independent consultant for doTERRA and an affiliate advertiser for MountainRoseHerbs.com. If you click on my links, I will make a small commission based on your purchase. I have also included a refer a friend link to VitaCost. This is just one way you can help support me and the administration of The Average Parent website. I guarantee to never recommend products that I would not purchase for myself or as a gift.

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