Self Care Activities - Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog

DIY Bug Repellant Candles

Deirdra Monet — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 02:15:23 +0000

As summer evenings stretch out, inviting us to spend time in our gardens or on the patio, the last thing we want is to be swarmed by pesky bugs. If you’re tired of chemical-laden repellents or just looking for a more natural alternative, why not try making your own DIY bug repellant candles? Not only are they effective, but they also add a charming, aromatic touch to your outdoor space. Plus, they’re incredibly simple to make. Let’s dive into this refreshing project that combines natural ingredients and essential oils to keep those insects at bay.

Ingredients

To get started, you’ll need the following ingredients and equipment:

Mason Jars: These are the perfect vessel for our candles and provide a rustic charm.
Water: Forms the base of our candle mixture.
Witch Hazel: Helps the essential oils disperse evenly in the water.
9 Lemon Slices: Adds a zesty, fresh scent.
9 Lime Slices: Brings a citrusy kick.
9 Stalks of Rosemary: Provides a fragrant, herbaceous aroma.
Essential Oils: For the key bug-repelling properties:
- 15 drops Citronella
- 15 drops Lemongrass
- 15 drops Lavender
- 15 drops Eucalyptus

Assembling the DIY Bug Repellant Jars

Prepare Your Jars: Start by slicing your lemons and limes into thin pieces and gather your rosemary stalks. Place three lemon slices, three lime slices, and two rosemary stalks into each mason jar. These not only add a pleasing aesthetic but also infuse the candles with delightful natural fragrances.

Mix Your Liquids: Pour 1/4 cup of witch hazel into each jar. This will help your essential oils mix well with the water. Next, fill the jars almost to the top with water, leaving a small space at the top. This gap is essential to allow the candle to float properly.

Add Essential Oils: To each jar, add 15 drops each of citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oils. These oils are your secret weapon against bugs, and their combined scent is incredibly effective.

Stir and Set: Use a large spoon or the handle of a wooden spoon to gently stir the mixture, making sure to keep the fruit and herbs submerged under the water. This ensures that the oils are well distributed.

Insert the Candle: Place a floating candle on top of the water in each jar. The candle should sit comfortably on the surface of the water without overflowing.

Final Touch: Light the candle and place the jar in the area where you want to repel bugs. The candlelight combined with the aromatic oils will create a pleasant atmosphere while keeping those unwelcome insects away.

Benefits of Essential Oils to Fight Bugs

Essential oils have been used for centuries for their therapeutic and aromatic properties. When it comes to repelling bugs, certain oils stand out for their effectiveness. Here’s a closer look at the benefits of the essential oils used in this recipe:

Citronella: Citronella is well-known for its bug-repelling properties. Its strong, lemony scent effectively masks the scents that attract insects, particularly mosquitoes. This oil is a staple in many natural insect repellents and is highly effective when combined with other essential oils.
Lemongrass: Similar to citronella, lemongrass has a potent lemon-like fragrance that insects find repulsive. It is particularly effective against mosquitoes and flies. Lemongrass also has antibacterial properties, adding an extra layer of protection.
Lavender: Lavender’s soothing and calming scent isn’t just pleasant for humans—it’s also a deterrent for mosquitoes and other insects. Lavender’s natural compounds can repel insects while promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus oil is renowned for its ability to repel mosquitoes and other bugs. Its strong, fresh scent disrupts the sensory receptors of insects, making it difficult for them to locate their targets. Additionally, eucalyptus has antiseptic properties that can help to soothe bug bites and skin irritations.

Essential Oil Substitutes

If you’re looking to experiment with different scents or have a limited selection of essential oils, there are several effective substitutions you can use while still keeping bugs at bay. For instance, if you don’t have citronella, you can substitute it with lemongrass alone or bay leaf oil, which also has strong insect-repelling properties. If you’re out of eucalyptus, tea tree oil is a robust alternative with its natural ability to deter mosquitoes and other pests. Peppermint oil is another excellent substitute, offering a strong, invigorating scent that repels ants, spiders, and mosquitoes. For a more woody note, cedarwood oil can replace lavender and provide a different but effective bug-repelling aroma. These substitutions can be used in similar quantities to maintain the effectiveness of your bug repellant candles, allowing you to enjoy a custom blend that suits your preferences and what you have on hand.

Creating your own DIY bug repellant candles is a fun and effective way to enjoy your outdoor spaces without the annoyance of pesky insects. By combining fresh ingredients like lemon, lime, and rosemary with a carefully chosen blend of essential oils, you can craft beautiful and functional candles that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the senses. Not only do these candles help keep bugs away, but they also enhance your outdoor environment with delightful scents and a cozy ambiance.

DIY Bug Repellant Candles

The perfect fall and summer diy bug repellant candles to fight gnats, flies, mosquitoes and ticks. Easy to make and smells delicious to sit outside while enjoying the warm weather, bite-free.

Keyword bug repellant candles, diy bug repellant candles

Cook Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings jars

Equipment

3 mason jars

Ingredients

3/4 cup witch hazel
9 lemon slices
9 lime slices
6 stalks of rosemary
Water (to fill rest of jar)
3 floating candles

Essential Oil Blend

15 drops citronella essential oil
15 drops lemongrass essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
15 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In each mason jar, place 3 slices of lemon, 3 slices of lime and 2 stalks of rosemary,
Pour 1/4 cup of witch hazel into each mason jar. Then fill the jars the rest of the way up with water leaving only a little space for the essential oil drops and to allow the candle to float on top of the water without overflowing.
Add 15 drops of each 4 essential oils, citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and eucalyptus, to each mason jar as the blend for the DIY bug repellant candles. Use a large spoon or the handle of a wooden spoon to gently stir the mixture together. Try to keep the herbs and fruit pressed into the jar and not above water.
Place each candle in an area surrounding where you want to fight away bugs. Place the candle in the center of each jar, floating on the water. Light the candle. Enjoy the smell and lack of bugs around you from these DIY bug repellant candles!

Notes

To store, blow out the candle when done for the night. Top each mason jar with the lid and seal tightly. Store inside or outside for future use. Whenever you need to use again, just uncap and light the candle.

The post DIY Bug Repellant Candles first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

DIY Cream Blush

Deirdra Monet — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 18:16:29 +0000

Who knew it was this easy to make homemade makeup? With only 3 ingredients you can make a diy cream blush that will give you the perfect glow-y blushed cheeks to finish off any natural makeup look.

I love this blush because it has a bit of shimmer to it based on the mica powder used, and you don’t have any extra unwanted chemicals mixed in.

If you are a natural makeup girl who wants to create a quick diy cream blush, creating whatever color you would like to match your skin, then this is the recipe for you. Let’s get right into it!

Equipment & Ingredients

To make this diy cream blush you will need these ingredients:

Beeswax Pellets
Mica Powder
Shea Butter

As for the equipment, this is all you will need:

Small Mixing Bowls
2 ounce tins

Once the blush is cooled in the tin you transfer it into, be sure to let it cool for at least a day. This way the blush has time to fully set and when using a brush to apply, it came off much more evenly on my face, than when used only a few hours after cooling.

From making an orange, to light pink or dark red blush, create whatever DIY cream blush you desire with this simple recipe. let me know how it came out for you in the comments and be sure to share this recipe with your family and friends!

The post DIY Cream Blush first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Shimmer Body Oil

Deirdra Monet — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 19:49:30 +0000

We all need that perfect summer glow this summer and I have the recipe for you. Whether you want a bronzy shimmer or something colorful that pops a bit more like purple or blue, creating your homemade body shimmer oil is easy, cheap and quick.

If you are like me, you love to have your arms and shoulders out during the summer, especially if I am spending a day by the pool, on the beach, or at a festival. Mixing this blend of oil and mica powder will have you looking extra moisturized and smelling delicious too.

With only 2 ingredients and less than 5 minutes your summer glow is awaiting you. Let’s hop right into this body shimmer oil recipe…

Equipment & Ingredients

To make this shimmer body oil you will need these ingredients:

Moisturizing Body Oil
Mica Powder

As for the equipment, this is all you will need:

2 ounce dropper bottle
Funnel

To make this shimmer body oil you simply need to combine the body oil and mica powder in a 2 ounce dropper bottle. Close and gently shake until you the oil and powder have completely combined.

The moisturizing shimmer oil is now ready for use. While I used a bronze color if you purchase a pack of mica powder from Michael’s like I did, which is only around $8, you can choose from 3 different body shimmers. A beautiful teal blue, a purple or this bronzy color I used.

Let me know how your shimmer body oil came out and what color shimmer you enjoy best in the comments. This mixture will most likely separate after sitting for awhile, so be sure to shake before each use. Don’t forget to share this recipe with family or friends.

The post Shimmer Body Oil first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Sugar Scrub Bars

Deirdra Monet — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:44:13 +0000

Exfoliating has become a biweekly part of my shower routine and there’s plenty of reasons why. It keeps my skin smooth and moisturized, especially when using these sugar scrub bars. They not only provide exfoliating ingredients but oils and butters that hydrate and moisturize the skin too!

Equipment & Ingredients

Its super easy to make these sugar scrub bars with less than 10 ingredients. I have come to appreciate the sugar scrub bar compared to something like my Turmeric Sugar Scrub, because of its perfect if needed for traveling, a beautiful gift and provides a certain ease of use. Lets get into this recipe…

To make this sugar scrub bars you will need these ingredients:

White Sugar
Coconut Oil
Cocoa Butter
Vitamin E Oil
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit Zest
Dried Flowers (Optional)

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

Silicone Mold
Sealable Jar (for storing)
Mixing Bowl
Mixing Spoon

I think DIY body care and self care products are my favorite to make because not only are you replacing consumer products with many ingredients that aren’t healthy for your body, but you also get to customize the scents and beneficial oils and ingredients to your personal liking. I also find this to be one of the easiest ways to make homemade gifts for family and friends, which most people enjoy because of the time and care you put in along with your personal touch!

Let me know how these sugar scrub bars came out for you as well as any alterations or substitutions you may have made in the comments.

The post Sugar Scrub Bars first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

DIY Brightening Face Mask

Deirdra Monet — Fri, 17 May 2024 00:34:43 +0000

Do you want to brighten your skin? Do you want to remove dark spots? Do you want to have a smoother and supple facial texture? This is the DIY brightening face mask you need to make ASAP to see results after just one use, but even more so after a couple months.

Ingredients such as turmeric, honey and yogurt do wonders for healing, brightening and softening skin as well as reducing hyperpigmentation. So if you are looking for a gentle homemade and natural face mask to use regularly, you should definitely try this recipe. Lets get into it…

Equipment & Ingredients

To make this DIY brightening face maske you will need these ingredients:

Turmeric
Yogurt
Honey
Aloe Vera Gel

As for the equipment, this is all you will need:

Small Mixing Bowl
Spoon

Let me know how your face feels after using this DIY brightening face mask. This is the kind of mask you could do on a weekly or biweekly basis and start seeing benefits of a less dull complexion after the first use and reduction of hyperpigmentation after using consistently for a couple months. Share this natural and beneficial recipe with your loved ones so they can start getting their skin ready for a summer glow!

The post DIY Brightening Face Mask first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Matcha Brownies

Deirdra Monet — Fri, 17 May 2024 00:13:55 +0000

A sweet, matcha flavored fudgy brownie bursting with tons of white chocolate chips to balance the earthy flavors into sweet bliss. If you are a matcha lover then this brownie recipe is for you. It is so much easier than you think to upgrade a simple brownie recipe into something gourmet.

Even non-matcha lovers have loved these brownies. This match brownie recipe is thick, not to sweet, not too earthy, but just right. The white chocolate cuts through the heavy flavors in this dessert, so if your mouth is watering like mine is right now, lets hop right into the recipe.

Equipment & Ingredients

To make these matcha brownies you will need these ingredients:

Butter
White Sugar
Brown Sugar
Salt
Eggs
Vanilla
Matcha Powder
Flour
White Chocolate Chips

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

8×8 Square Baking Dish
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowls

Let me know how these matcha brownies came out for you in the comments and if you made any alterations for a different texture or flavor. If you can’t get enough of matcha, but are more of a cookie lover, be sure to check out my Matcha White Chocolate Matcha Latte Cookies recipe. Also don’t forget to share your delicious baked good with loved ones and/or share this recipe so they can enjoy this matcha brownies recipe.

The post Matcha Brownies first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Homemade Glazed Donuts

Deirdra Monet — Sat, 11 May 2024 03:00:36 +0000

You can make a fluffy, cake glazed donut in the comfort of your home and its not as hard as you might think. There is nothing better than a breakfast pastry that you know isn’t filled with unnatural preservatives and I swear when you share baked goods people can just taste how much love and effort was putting into creating this sweet donut.

If you are a donut lover, you will love making these homemade glazed donuts. Perfectly fried lightly golden, with a cakey center and a think but sweet glazed outer crust to finish. Let’s get into this recipe…

Equipment & Ingredients

To make these homemade glazed donuts you will need these ingredients:

Wheat Flour
Active Yeast
Milk
Vegetable Shortening
Eggs
White Sugar
Salt
Vegetable Oil
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla Extract

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

Cooling Rack
Parchment Paper
9×11 Baking Sheets
Frying Pan
Mixing Bowls

Let me know how these homemade glazed donuts came out for you in the comments. While I used wheat flour in this recipe, this could easily be replace with cake flour or regular all purpose flour, but know the textures may come out a bit denser when frying if so. Be sure to share these donuts with your loved ones and/or share this recipe so others can enjoy the wonders of baking from scratch.

The post Homemade Glazed Donuts first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

DIY Allergy Relief Shots

Deirdra Monet — Sat, 04 May 2024 01:08:09 +0000

Spring and fall allergies are a menace. I have tried countless over the counter medicines that strip my wallet dry and yet don’t give me the relief I hoped for. So after some research I came up with a DIY allergy relief shot that mixes ingredients with many natural antihistamines and a potent amount of vitamin C to work against the pollen, grass and other attacks us allergy prone individuals suffer through every year!

Of course this is a health shot, so don’t expect it to taste delicious, but it definitely tastes better than a shot of alcohol! If you want a natural way to fight your allergies, lets get into this recipe!

Equipment & Ingredients

To make these DIY allergy relief shots you will need these ingredients:

Lemon
Green Tea
Honey
Camu Camu Powder
Parsley
Ginger Root

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

Cheese Cloth
Shot Bottles
Blender

Let me know how these DIY allergy relief shots are working for you in fighting allergies. Because of the servings amount they are best to make a batch weekly, or bi-weekly. I know personally, when I start continuously take allergy medicine, I get to a point where I don’t need to take it everyday anymore to feel ok. Be sure to share this recipe with your family and friends who also are looking for natural DIY allergy relief.

The post DIY Allergy Relief Shots first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Rice Water Face Toner

Deirdra Monet — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 20:10:33 +0000

I’ve been looking for an easy and quick homemade toner to both save money and use natural ingredients on my face. Especially as someone who needs skincare that works for sensitive and acne prone skin. After some research on the benefits of rice water, I think I have found the perfect recipe!

If you want glow-y skin, a toner that reduces acne and hyperpigmentation then this rice water face toner is perfect for you. With only three ingredients and a little time for the rice water to activate to do its job, you can have a long lasting face toner to use daily for less than 1 dollar.

Equipment & Ingredients

To make this rice water face toner you will need these ingredients:

White Rice
Distilled Water
Lemon

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

Sifter
Mason Jar
Facial Toner Bottle

Let me know how this rice water face toner came out for you in the comments. I have been using it for a couple weeks now and my skin is so glow-y and has been soft and supple too. Be sure to share this recipe with your family and friends who also have sensitive skin and are looking for some easy natural skincare recipes!

The post Rice Water Face Toner first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.

Chocolate Beignets

Deirdra Monet — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 16:36:35 +0000

Even better than a classic New Orleans beignets is a chocolate beignets recipe for all the chocolate lovers. These are so fluffy and airy

These chocolate beignets are made with a homemade bread dough, and fried in hot oil until fluffy and browned. Then while still hot, drizzling with some chocolate sauce to allow the powdered sugar and cocoa powder topping mixture to coat the beignets for a super sweet finish!

Equipment & Ingredients

To make this chocolate beignets you will need these ingredients:

Warm Water
Whole Milk
Active Yeast
White Sugar
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Salt
Flour
Cocoa Powder
Unsalted Butter
Chocolate Sauce
Powdered Sugar

As for the equipment, the list is much shorter! You will just need:

Frying Pan
Sifter
Stand Mixer

Let me know how this chocolate beignets came out for you in the comments and be sure to share your finished product or this recipe with your family and friends!

The post Chocolate Beignets first appeared on Deirdra Monet's Lifestyle Blog.