Phase 2 of The House Behind The Trees ~ The downstairs #TeelsBuildaHouse

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So we are starting the downstairs ... I HATE to say basement because we had a basement in our old home, where you opened a door and went down stairs separated from anything else. It was a finished basement complete with a bedroom, craft room, family/game room and we spent a lot of time there ~ our oldest son moved down there in jr high and stayed through high school ... until we finished the master suite in the attic then he moved back up to the bedroom floor with his brother and sister.  So here our downstairs is open to the rest of the house, you can see through to the outside from the top of the stairs going down because we have a wall of windows down there as well.  We really didn't plan to have a kiddo down there but since we are having to do a switch-a-roo with rooms (I'll explain later) he is moving home soon and will be downstairs. Anyhoo, our downstairs will house our main family room, our middle sons room, a full bath and kitchenette.  I thought it would be fun ...
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Its that time of year that all the bugs start to awaken ... make your own natural bug repellent without all the toxins.

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Learn how to make your own natural "bug spray" without toxic chemicals!

Whether it’s mosquitoes, fleas, or ticks, we all need protection from biting insects. DEET is he most common insect repellent but it is just not very safe for our skin and health, many of us would rather use an all-natural product if we can. 

If you want to steer clear of potentially dangerous chemical bug sprays, here are some how-to's to make your own bug repellent. Your best all-natural defense comes from essential oils, especially lemon eucalyptus oil. Lemon eucalyptus oil is not a blend of lemon oil and eucalyptus oil, but an oil made from the lemon eucalyptus plant. This essential oil is proven to be every bit as effective as DEET and it even comes with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control. However, because it can be toxic in extremely high doses, it isn’t recommended for children under three years old.

There are also several other bug-repelling essential oils, though none as effective as lemon eucalyptus. Here’s a list of effective essential oils if you’d like to make a blended insect repellent:
• Lavender
• Thyme
• Basil
• Bergamot
• Peppermint
• Tea Tree Oil
• Eucalyptus Oil

All homemade insect repellent sprays have three basic ingredients: water, the oil or blend of oils of your choice, and a carrier to dilute the oil. A common rule of thumb is to make sure that your mixture is 10% essential oil, with the rest being a half-and-half mixture of water and the carrying agent.

Here’s are a couple basic recipes, just mix and apply to exposed skin before heading outdoors:
Recipe 1
• 4½ ounces of water
• 4½ ounces carrier
• 1-ounce essential oil
Mix the three ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before using.

Recipe 2
• 9 drops citronella essential oil
• 6 drops Tea Tree essential oil
• 6 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 1 tablespoon carrier oil, such as almond oil or jojoba oil
Mix the three ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before using.

You may be wondering what a “carrier” oil is? Well you can use all kinds of things as a carrier, including vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, vodka, vinegar, and witch hazel. The choice is up to your personal preferences. A bug spray with rubbing alcohol evaporates quickly and won’t stain clothing like almond oil, for instance, but it may dry your skin. If you want a moisturizing bug spray, then using a vegetable-based oil for the carrier might be the way to go.

The best part about homemade bug repellent is that it lasts just as long as store-bought chemical repellents. A 10% mixture of either DEET or a DIY essential oil recipe, will need to be reapplied every hour or two. Stronger mixtures will last much longer, so if you’re looking for an all-day repellent, simply increase the amount of essential oil in your bug spray. Mixtures that contain 30% DEET or essential oil typically last five to six hours, which means one or two applications will let you be bug-free outside all day long!

To order any of these oils please visit www.youngliving.com and use my number at checkout #28902226.

PLEASE NOTE that essential oils are very powerful and should be used with caution, especially with pregnant women and young children. Essential oils should always be diluted as noted above.

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