Budget Botanical Baby Bum Balm

All three of my kiddos had super sensitive skin as babies. We went through lots and lots of Desitin, diaper rash abounded. I used cloth diapers pretty exclusively when they were really young, and while it helped they would still get bad diaper rash on a pretty consistent basis. On a whim, I bought a tube of Burt's Bee's diaper ointment. Miracle cream I tell you, it seriously worked like magic. No more diaper rash! But at $9 a tube, it was an expensive miracle and after several tubes I decided to try and make it myself.
So I read the label on the back of the tube to get an idea of what all was in it. Seemed like it was fairly easy stuff to get my hands on, a few things required a trip to the health foods store but not hard to find.

I bought tea tree oil, calendula oil, lavender oil, vitamin e and vitamin a capsules, jojoba oil and a few tubes of diaper cream. Yes, my initial investment was more expensive than just buying a tube of cream. But you use very small amounts of each, and all the essential oils (tea tree, calendula and lavender) have a myriad of other uses. Make sure you buy "essential" oils and not fragrance oils either, as fragrance oils are cheaper and not make for cosmetic use.

I took two tubes of diaper cream and placed it in a bowl. I bought the off brand at Target, get the highest percentage of zinc oxide you can, the higher the better. I added 4 drops of tea tree oil, 6 each of the calendula, lavender and jojoba oil and five capsules each of the vitamin a and e oil. Mixed it all together and put it in a large opaque container with a screw top lid. Make sure your container is opaque (not see through) as light can't hit the cream or it'll break down the components.

I would say my initial investments of the "ingredients" (not including the diaper cream) was probably $30-$40. However I have made countless batches of this cream and still have plenty left. You can use tea tree oil as an astringent, disinfectant, shampoo additive (for dandruff) among other things. Just be careful with tea tree oil and boys, because it mimics the estrogen hormone if used in excess and we don't want that with our little guys. I've used the lavender oil as an additive in cleaning solutions, lotions and just for aromatherapy. The calendula oil can be added to petroleum jelly and used as a boo boo cream among other things.

I'm telling you, if your kids suffer from diaper rash this stuff is a must. Also, if you or you family suffer from heat rash or chaffing this stuff works wonders too. It also makes an AWESOME and much appreciated shower gift.

Click on "Linky Parties I Love" on the right to see what parties I'll be sharing my "recipe" with.

Click below to see a special baby related Linky Party at "Somewhat Simple":

Card Art

I am a big fan of picture frames. I have a lot of them. I always enjoy keeping my eyes open for a new one when out and about. Pictures, in my humble opinion are one of the cheapest and most meaningful decorations one can have in their home. That being said, every once in awhile I like to mix it up and frame things other than pictures. The white frame above was found at my fave thrift store for $1. It is a heavy thing, it must be made from cast iron. I love the swirly, intricate pattern that it has cast into it. Very shabby and "nesty" (I know that isn't a word). I found these really cute blue note cards with a nest on them and thought they would look cute framed. The silver "grid" frame was on clearance at Target for $2. It's a pretty good size, I think it's a 5x7. I got a really cute birthday card this year from my Momma, part of which had the cute vase with flowers that you see above. I cut it out of the card and framed it, I think it looks great for spring/summer decorating. It looks right at home with my first project I made in HS ceramics and the framed picture my oldest colored awhile back, I wrote more about framing/displaying kids art here .

Start looking at cards for frugal frame worthy options. It's a fun way to add to your collection without breaking the bank. Click "Linky Parties I Love" on the right to see what parties I'll be linking up with.

Frugal Fresh Flowers

Want me to let you in on a little secret? How would you like to have beautiful, fresh, FREE flowers for your home? I don't know about you, but I really have come to enjoy having fresh flowers, but don't always like having to pay for them. Since I don't have flowers in my yard that are "vase" worthy, my free flower options are limited.



Ok, let me tell you what I do to get these beautiful FREE flowers. Number one, buy a pair of inexpensive but sharp pruning shears. Number two, put the pruners in your glove box or under seat storage in your car. Number three, when out and about and you see beautiful flowers in an EMPTY LOT or an ABANDONED PROPERTY ONLY, clip them. Viola, fresh FREE flowers! See, pretty easy!
Both arrangements were clipped from some overgrown plants at a home in our neighborhood that has been untended for years. There used to be an elderly lady that lived there, but she's been gone for a few years now and her once beautiful yard is now gone wild. These flowers were easily accessible from the sidewalk, I promise I didn't go trudging through her yard to get them.


I'm sure you've on more than one occasion seen pretty flowers on the side of the road, in an open field or another place that you've thought would look pretty on your kitchen table. Keep pruners in your car, and you can make your idea a reality!