Online Grocery Shopping: 7 ways it will help you save money

Do you prefer online grocery shopping or walking into the supermarket? I’m going to share 7 ways it will help you save money and I why I prefer it.

If only I had online grocery shopping when my children were very young. It would’ve been so much more convenient. No having to time shops in between feeds or naps. No lugging bags of groceries into the house while you’re trying to wrestle children. And then the packing away after an already hectic time.

Once online grocery shopping was introduced here in Australia, I was a convert. I tried the home delivery a couple of times but I couldn’t justify the extra cost and my supermarkets are literally around the corner. I can be there and back within 15 minutes using the click’n’collect service for no extra charge.

But will online grocery shopping save you money? Here are my 7 ways.

A running total of your order

What’s your grocery budget? Adding items to your grocery cart online you will instantly see a running total of your order and if you’re going to stick to your budget.

If you’re likely to go over, you have the opportunity to take out items you probably don’t need or it can wait until the next time you shop.

I bought bath soap today knowing I have one cake of soap left but I’m not likely to run out soap between now and my next shop. If I was going to go over budget, I could’ve easily taken this item off.

You stick to your list

Do you keep track of what you need each week? I keep a well stocked pantry and know when I need something. As soon as I run out, or am likely to run out very soon, I add the item to my magnetic whiteboard on the fridge.

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This helps with knowing what I’ll need for the week ahead for breakfasts, school lunches and evening meals. Also if I’ve run out of toiletries or other household items like laundry powder or dishwashing liquid, for example.

No impulse buys

Supermarkets are masters at putting impulse buys right before our eyes. At the end of each aisle, at eye height, at the checkouts and that markdown rack are all places supermarkets like to tempt us to buy extra.

I’m all for a good markdown but if it’s not on your list and you don’t need it, buying your groceries online will help you fall into their sticky traps.

Also, don’t fall for the online tricks either. They’ll suggest items you may have bought last time but not buying this time and the half price or online only specials are also there to tempt you.

Buy all means, check out the online specials to see if your favourites or items you’d like to try are there but only if they’re on your list.

Higher priced substitutions

I’ve never met a substitution I’ve never liked. The great thing about buying online is that the supermarket wants to keep you coming back and offers substitutions on the products you place in your order.

That is, if the item you ordered isn’t available at the time the order is filled, the order picker will pick as close as possible to your item but the same priced item or better.

I’ve received big named branded goods that I normally don’t buy (because of the price) because they can’t supply the item I ordered.

If anything, it gives you an opportunity to try a different brand to check for quality. Maybe that homebrand item you always buy isn’t so bad after all.

Costly convenience

It’s not only the dollar value of the order the cost of your time. We all know how busy we are lately, right? It’s not only the time you’re in the supermarket but the driving there, fighting for a car park, wrangling children (if you have them and avoiding the treats or bribes which all cost extra) the time to pack it all into the car and lug it into your house.

Depending if you get home delivery or click’n’collect, the cost of your time, fuel etc could be saved plus your peace of mind.

No other spending

Most supermarkets are within a bigger complex be it a shopping mall or smaller suburban shopping centre.

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There’s everything from coffee shops, bakeries, dollar stores and other stores that cater to everyone’s tastes.

When you grocery shop online you don’t have that temptation to purchase things you probably don’t need. Put that money towards a holiday, day out with the family or a special buy at the supermarket like fresh seafood or a big piece of roasting meat (which are all so expensive today).

24 hours per day

I thought I’d throw this one in as it costs me my sanity. There was a time when I religiously did the grocery shopping, in store, every Monday morning after school drop off. I guess it was my me time plus getting a good head start on the week ahead with a full pantry, fridge and freezer.

Now the children are grown up and I’ve been grocery shopping fortnightly for ages, I can shop at any time of the day.

When I went to bed last night at 11pm I had forgotten to place my online order. I quickly jumped online this morning at 6am and the order will be ready for pick up at 3pm this afternoon. It fits in well with whatever else I have going on for the day.

Conclusion

Whether you pay the extra for home delivery or use the supermarket’s click’n’collect service, online grocery shopping will definitely save you money in the long run.

It will help you get everything on your list, stick to your budget, have the convenience of someone else to pick your order saving you time and it will save your sanity being able to shop online any time of the day or week.

Do you love it as much as me?

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How to upgrade your home for free without moving

Are you outgrowing your house? Feel like you need to move? There might be a way to upgrade your home without moving. It’s what I’ve done over the last 22 years since I’ve been in my house. Here’s how.

When I purchased this house with my (now ex) husband 22 years ago, we had plans to have children eventually one day so a 3 bedroom home was going to be more than enough space. In the 4 years before our children were born, there was a spare room I used with a single bed for visitors, our desktop computer (it was the early 2000’s so desktop computers were still relatively a new thing) and a second bedroom set up for visitors.

How our home started out

In the 4 years before our children were born, there was a spare room I used with a single bed for visitors, our desktop computer (it was the early 2000’s so desktop computers were still relatively a new thing) and a second bedroom set up for visitors.

I thought there was more than enough space for our clothes in the built in cupboard in our bedroom and there was a freestanding wardrobe in the third bedroom and plenty of cupboard space in our relatively small kitchen. No real pantry as such but I certainly could make do (and just quietly, love my small kitchen – there’s less to clean and it functions perfectly).

My ex always though there wasn’t enough storage but not having a lot of clutter, back then, I found it quite easy to fit everything in that we owned.

The converted garage

We were lucky that we had what was a converted double garage under our house that was an entertainment room. There was a built in bar, a pool table, a dart board and a TV. Everything that a young couple, soon to be married needed to entertain family and friends. The downstairs laundry had enough room for the washing machine, a dryer and storage under the internal stairs.

I was an avid gardener back in those days so one of the first things we did was put in a downstairs second toilet. It saved me having to run upstairs to our only toilet if I was in the middle of yard work.

The next thing we did was put in a double carport with a solid roof. There was only a timber structure with mesh to cover and it didn’t provide much protection to our vehicle if it stormed.

Getting a double shed

The next thing we did was put in a double shed in the back yard. This was a huge expense at around $10,000 but well worth it in the end. It is now a really great space for storing garden equipment, a workout space, kid’s wet weather space, out of season clothes, Christmas decorations and tools for my now husband to do odd jobs. (My ex didn’t keep the space very neat and tidy so it was a nightmare to find or store anything so a bit of a wasted space all those years ago. It’s been a great asset to the house and come in very handy. It has allowed any storage that didn’t fit inside the house to be stored in the shed.

In saying that, we have tried to declutter all of these things in the shed. There is no point in holding onto them. My husband keeps it very neat and tidy and uses wall and ceiling space to store things out of the way like his surfboards and gardening equipment.

When the children arrived, sadly the days of entertaining and partying were over so it didn’t take long for the downstairs room to become a convertible space for visitors. We had a convertible lounge/fold out bed that my in laws used when they visited. There was a fridge downstairs so they could make their own tea and coffee. Also that downstairs toilet. They could come and go as they pleased and joined us for meals.

How the house changed when the children came

Upstairs, the third bedroom became the nursery. Two years later, my second child was born so the first baby went into that second bedroom and the new baby stayed in the nursery.

Built-in cupboards were put in both the second and third bedrooms nearly tripling the amount of storage space I now had in my house. Out of that came a linen closet. Something I hadn’t had before but made do with a freestanding wardrobe.

When the children were babies (both born in November), it was hot in the summer and I tried to stay indoors in the air conditioning so the living room became the play room. There was a blow up ball pit, a box of toys each (that were on rotation) and we painted outside and drew at the dining table. As they got older, that downstairs room became their play area with a TV/video player, lounge and our computer (where I started this blog all those years ago).

It was also my sewing space, craft area and where Santa would leave the presents for the children under our tree.

The downstairs room became such a convertible space over the years. The trouble was, it was only ever a built-in garage with a cement floor that the previous owners had converted into that entertaining space all those years before. We had no clue that it could or would ever flood as we hadn’t seen flooding in my home town of Brisbane since 1974.

Making changes after flooding

By my daughter’s 7th year, things were going to change with the downstairs room. Heavy rain came in 2011 that flooded the downstairs room. Carpet had to be thrown out, timber swelled around the walls. We had a terrible mess. Little did I know that over the years we would get even more rain and every attempt at rebuilding the space and reconverting it to something bigger, better and more useful met with more heartbreak.

After the last rain of 2022 where we received a year’s worth of rain in 3 days and we were flooded again, we decided to keep the downstairs room as it was intended and that was a concreted floor garage that has a few lounge chairs and my son’s gaming equipment, ie TV and PlayStation.

The room still needs a bit of work to make it look nice, ie painting walls and ceilings, painting the concrete floor with a non slip paint and a new blind for the window. Just small cosmetic fixes. But the home office/craft space is now in the spare bedroom and that’s a job and a half to sort through.

I’ve been having a big declutter and trying to make the space still calm and that’s been a work in progress. The upstairs living room, which was just a quiet space to sit and read, without a television, is now a homely and cosy space again. We purchased 2 x $79 rugs and repurposed the TV unit to hold all of the sound system and television.

There’s still a bit of sorting and decorating to do but not too much. As it’s coming into winter, the throws will come out and I can give it an update with a few new cushion covers.

Conclusion

You can outgrow a house but you can look at it as rather rethinking a room or space. Ask yourself:

• Can I repurpose this room?
• Can I reuse furniture and décor that I’ve already got?
• If I haven’t used or touched something taking up space in this room, can I donate, sell or repurpose it?

We are so influenced by what we see in magazines, on television and on social media to think that we need a bedroom for every child, a bathroom for every person in the house and a toy room, a walk-in pantry, a kitchen island (and the list goes on). Unless you can really afford to move and upgrade to a bigger house (and bigger mortgage), stay put, enjoy the home you already have and rethink spaces.

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Pegs: Why stainless steel clothes pegs are best

Do you still hang your clothes out on the clothesline? Yes, same here but it seems to be a little old fashioned now and not many people have the time, opting to use the clothes drier to get the laundry dry.

There are many reasons why using the natural sun to dry your laundry is best but why are stainless steel clothes pegs the best? This is why I think they are.

Is your climate right for using clothes pegs

I’m extremely lucky that I happen to live in a sub-tropical climate here in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia so we have pretty much all year round sunny weather.

Except for a couple months a year when the temperature might drop to under 20^oC (68^oF) in winter, we have the perfect weather. Even in winter, the sun shines warm enough and long enough for us to get our laundry dry. (Maybe thick doonas and blankets need a dry, windy day in the middle of winter.)

For those who live in snowy conditions, hanging your laundry outside isn’t probably ideal but definitely worth it in the summer months.

Stainless Steel Pegs are environmentally friendly

Unlike plastic clothes pegs, stainless steel pegs are made from marine grade steel so are easily recyclable unlike plastic pegs.

Plastic pegs deteriorate from being in the sun, from wear and tear, age and those with a metal spring just give up over time.

Wooden pegs also contract mold and mildew if left out in the elements.

The stainless steel clothes pegs are made from marine grade 316 1.7mm stainless steel so they won’t rust. They have been constructed as one piece so the spring of the peg mechanism forms part of the entire peg.

They are also good for the environment in that they are fully recyclable.

Stainless steel pegs have many uses

Just as I am with food and anything else I buy, if a product has more than one use, I’m happy.

Stainless steel pegs have been great for many other uses in the home including:

• paper clips
• clips for using in sewing, quilting and other craft projects
• use to guide creeping plants and vines
• hanging children’s artwork
• hanging Christmas cards
• strong enough to hang washed shoes and toys on the clothesline
• keeping packets closed in the pantry and freezer and I think a few have gone missing in the shed for my husband’s various home DIY projects.

Conclusion

For the price of the stainless steel clothes pegs compared to cheap plastic pegs, you’ll have the stainless steel pegs for a lifetime with the ability to use them in many ways in all areas of your home. They’d make a great practical housewarming or wedding gift for someone.

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Feta Cheese: The best ways to store it

Feta cheese and the best way to store it. I wish I’d done the research before I fell ill, twice. You’d think I would’ve learned after the first time. After I did a bit of research, I soon found out there is in fact a better way to store it so it does last longer. Let me explain.

How to buy feta cheese

Feta cheese is available to buy from the delicatessen section in the supermarket also the refrigerated section where all the other packaged cheeses are available.

It can be bought in shrink wrapped plastic, in olive oil or in brine.

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  Feta in Brine

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  Feta in Olive Oil

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  Feta in shrink wrapped plastic

I prefer to buy it in the shrink wrapped plastic. It’s the perfect amount to crumble a bit in a Greek Salad or Pumpkin & Feta Pastry Triangles. A little bit goes a long way.

Usually, any unused feta I freeze and crumble from frozen. On these 2 separate occasions when I fell ill, I didn’t freeze it but thought I had weeks until it spoiled. But I was wrong.

When I say I was ‘ill’, I had terrible stomach cramps and was really not feeling well at all. Lesson finally learned.

How to store feta cheese

I have always bought feta cheese in the shrink wrapped plastic and have observed the best before date on the package only to realise that this date is the date it will keep till unopened. Once you open it, it should be eaten with 5 days.

If you don’t see yourself eating your shrink wrapped feta cheese within the 5 day period once you’ve opened it, you can pop it into the freezer. It will keep for 6 months in the freezer.

Remember that once frozen, the feta cheese won’t defrost as well as you bought it and really is only good for cooked recipes.

Or you can store it in brine or olive oil yourself.

Keep it in brine

To store your opened packet of feta cheese in brine, dissolve ¼ cup of salt into three cups of cold water. Place the block of feta into a large, sealable container, and pour the brine solution on top until the cheese is completely covered.

Tightly seal the container, and store it in the refrigerator. It should keep like this for a month. (Be sure to mark the container with the use by day as a reminder).

Keep it in olive oil

An alternative to storing it in brine is to store it in olive oil. This is a great way to add a boost of flavour and marinate the feta cheese to your taste.

Using a clean glass jar, cube the feta cheese and pour over a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

Add any of the following to your taste:

• Fresh or dried rosemary
• Oregano sprigs
• Dill
• Thyme
• Lemon zest
• Roasted garlic
• Red Chilies
• Peppercorns
• Olive oil
• Roasted Vegetables

The great part about this is once the feta has been consumed, you have a wonderful salad dressing, stir through cooked pasta or a dipping oil for bread.

Marinated Feta Cheese in Olive Oil makes a great gift

Feta cheese will keep for another 2 weeks keeping it in olive oil.

Summary

Purchasing feta in shrink wrapped plastic will keep for as long as the date on the pack stipulates as long as it remains unopened. Once opened, it will only last 5 days.

You can put the opened packet of feta into a brine solution or olive oil yourself or purchase it this way from the supermarket. It is always much cheaper to do this process yourself rather than buying it already done for you.

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How To Make Your Hardwood Floors Last Longer

Hardwood flooring may be one of the most popular floor choices among homeowners. It’s versatile in terms of use and style and has a natural appeal that may offer homes a distinctive look and attractiveness.

If you’ve installed engineered hardwood flooring in your home as well, you’d want to keep it clean and unscratched. After all, hardwood floors are not at all inexpensive, so you want to make sure they last. Fortunately for you, maintaining them for long-term use is easy to do. Here’s how you could go about it.

Sweep The Floors Regularly

Sweeping your wooden floors on a regular basis may help prevent dust and grit accumulation. To prevent scratches on the wood, it’s advised to use a broom with soft bristles.

Sweep away any dust or debris on the surface, especially areas that are always walked on, such as the entryway or hallway.

Dust The Floors 

Don’t forget to schedule a regular dusting of your hardwood flooring. You may use disposable dusting mops, which have a slight electrostatic charge to take up more dust and debris from your floors. They’re generally quick and simple to utilize, and you could simply discard them after use.

You may also try a dry mop with an ultra-soft head to pick dust particles and smudges. When dusting and mopping, make sure to also reach places where dust particles love to linger, such as corners and crevices.

Mop The Floors Every Month

If you want to thoroughly clean your floors without stripping or straining the hardwood, use a mop specifically designed for hardwood as well as a wood floor cleaner. You may get them from home improvement shops in your area or check them out online.

The procedure for cleaning is easy. Begin by diluting the wood floor cleaner with water. Then soak the hardwood mop in the mixture and drain off any extra water. When you run the mop over the floor, try to follow the path of the wood’s grains. To prevent missing any areas, consider working in portions. Finally, let the floor dry completely before stepping on it.

Avoid Wearing Shoes When Walking On The Floors

Your footwear has the potential to scratch your hardwood floors, which could cause the wearing and tearing of your floors over time. Thus, try to be careful when wearing spikes or footwear with heels as they may cause damage to your hardwood floors.

But even if you walk on them barefoot, the oil from your feet may cause the floor to deteriorate over time. Hence, the best thing to do is to walk on your hardwood floors wearing socks only.

Attach Felt Pads On Furniture

Furniture such as tables and chairs could leave scuffs on your hardwood flooring, so consider attaching felt pads on their legs to prevent scratching. You may also do the same with your beds, sofas, ottomans, recliners, and stools.

Trim Your Pets’ Nails

If you have pets running around your house, check their nails to see if they’re long enough to produce a scratch on your flooring. Some cats and dogs tend to scratch on any surface, including floors. And if you have hardwood flooring, you may need to clip your pets’ nails to prevent them from damaging it.

Furthermore, dogs may accumulate dirt and grit between their paws. So be sure to wipe their feet before letting them in to avoid leaving paw prints on your flooring.

Protect The Floors From Direct Sunlight

The ultraviolet (UV) light in daylight has the potential to do major damage to your wooden flooring. Prolonged exposure to UV light may cause it to distort and fade over time. Thus, consider installing window coverings such as drapes and blinds and placing a carpet on your flooring to shield it from direct exposure to sun rays.

Refinish The Floors

If it has been three to five years since you installed your hardwood floors, you may opt to refinish them. A brand-new coat may restore the brilliance that must have faded through time. The wood stain you use may also serve as a protective layer, preventing scratches and fading on your floor.

However, for low-traffic areas of your home, such as guestrooms or dining areas, refinishing may be done only every five to six years, depending entirely on how drab they look.

Final Thoughts

Wooden floors are known to be durable and appealing. However, in order for them to last long, you must know how to properly clean and maintain them. 

So do regular sweeping, dusting, and mopping of your floors using tools appropriate for the hardwood material. It’s also important to avoid causing damage to your flooring, such as scratches from footwear, furniture legs, or pet nails.

Protecting your flooring from sunlight is also crucial, as well as refinishing it to restore its brilliance. After all, the timeless and warm aesthetic that hardwood floors provide is worth any additional expense and maintenance.

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Last minute DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas? I’m not suggesting that Mother’s Day gift ideas should be a last minute idea. I still remember those gorgeous crafts and handmade cards my children gave me when they were younger. Now they’re teenagers, they barely remember that it is in fact Mother’s Day. That’s okay. I know they still love me. But if things have popped up and you haven’t had a chance to go to the store, these last minute DIY (or practical store bought gifts) will help you come up with an idea for a thoughtful gift for the mother in your life this Mother’s Day.

I can remember when my mother was alive, she always appreciated a handmade gift more so than a store bought one. What do you buy a woman who has everything? She appreciated a trip to the cafe, me bringing over a homemade cake or making lunch for her at her place. Often it’s the thought that counts to us mothers more so than an expensive gift.

Check out the following ideas for inspiraiton.

Beauty Products for Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Treat your mother to a homemade beauty product. There are so many beauty and pamper products you can make from basic pantry items. Find an empty jam or spread jar, create a pretty label, spray paint the lid or cover in fabric and you’ve got a beauty product that cost next to nothing.

Coconut oil is an amazing product on it’s own. A jar of coconut oil from the supermarket with this print out of over 40 uses for coconut oil (instant download) will be much appreciated for less than $10.

If your mother wears makeup, there are a few suggestions here to make different make up products and moisturisers etc.

There are also a lot of online places like Groupon or Scoopon where you can buy online vouchers for massages and other beauty treatments. Just print out the coupon and pop it into a greeting card.

Homemade Baked Goods & Sweet Treats

My mother was a fantastic baker and taught me well. As she got older, she couldn’t be bothered baking much, just for herself so she always appreciated if I brought her something homemade.

Cakes, biscuits, homemade sweets, muffins or even a batch of pancakes always went down well. You can check out all my baked goods recipes here for inspiration or my homemade sweets ebook.

Failing that, take your mother out for a nice morning tea or high tea. Groupon and Scoopon usually have vouchers for those as well. They don’t have to be on Mother’s Day. (Always so much more expensive.) A good way to catch up with your mother at any old time.

Handmade Mother’s Day Cards

You can buy cheap greeting cards or expensive ones but often the handmade ones are best. I’ve always got a stash of card stock and could create a quick greeting card with a heart felt message for my mother.

There are 19 ideas here for handmade Mother’s Day cards that you can use for inspiration. If not, maybe your mother doesn’t like receiving greeting cards. Save the time and your money and don’t give one at all. Even a handwritten note with a special greeting in your own handwriting will be well received.

Plants & Gardening

My mother was an avid gardener and in fact, a huge orchid fan. I wouldn’t have a clue what orchid to buy her but I always took her to the gardening store if she needed to get supplies. A voucher to her favourite garden store or the hardware is a great gift and she can buy what she wants.

Photo by Lisa on Pexels.com

A cutting from one of your plants, repotted into a nice planter or repurposed planter makes a nice gift. Herb seedlings in a tea pot, old boots or shoes to hold a plant are all great ideas if you’re looking for something last minute.

The supermarket also has a small range of gardening tools, fertilisers and gardening gloves etc. Cut flowers or potted plants are also available from the supermarket.

Handmade Gift Wrap

I always have a roll of brown paper in the house. You can turn it into any design. Get the kids involved with some finger painting or hand prints.

You don’t even need paper. An unused or new tea towel, hand towel or even a piece of fabric makes wonderful gift wrap.

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas from the Supermarket

There’s always the good old box of chocolates but look no further than the supermarket for a bunch of great ideas.

Fruit baskets with the freshest seasonal fruit, your mother’s favourite tea or coffee, jars of preserves, spreads, jams or unusual ingredients she doesn’t normally buy to spice up her meals all make great gifts.

Magazines, stationery and other reading material are all available from the supermarket. Toiletries they don’t think to buy for themselves, nail polish, manicure kits, body lotions etc all make great gifts.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Conclusion

I hope this round up of last minute gift ideas gives you some inspiration. I’m sure your mother will be grateful for whatever she receives.

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Day Spa at Home using Pantry Staples + Recipes

Day spa at home? Wouldn’t that be nice? It’s easier than you think using your basic pantry and fridge staples. There are many reasons why we can’t get to the day spa as much as we would like but you don’t have to make it hard for yourself. You can create a haven at home and treat yourself as often as you need.

WHY HAVE A DAY SPA AT HOME

Of course it’s just as easy to go out. But with the worldwide pandemic it was hard to get out of our homes at times and we missed out on our regular treatments.

We’re all busy too. It’s not just about the 20 to 30 minutes you’ll actually spend at the day spa. It’s about getting ready to go, driving there, coming home and what about your children or if you’re working out of the home full time? Creating a day spa at home is ideal for those who are time poor.

There are so many benefits to your overall health if you try some of these treatments. Not only are some of them great for your skin and hair, there are medicinal properties to some of the ingredients in these treatment recipes I’m going to share with you.

Stress, tired muscles, sore feet, damaged skin, nails and hair will all benefit from these treatments. Let’s also take into the account the benefit for your mental health when you’re able to treat yourself with kindness because you deserve it.

If you are at home most of the time, a bit of time out for yourself can be used as a reward. If you’ve got decluttering, organising or cleaning to do, say to yourself that you will reward yourself with a DIY facial, soak in the bath, pedicure or aromatic shower. You deserve to be treated in a way that is going to benefit your overall health.

It’s also a very cost effective option. Why spend hundreds of dollars to pay someone else to do this for you when you probably have all the ingredients yourself?

Sure. It is nice to go out and pamper yourself once in a while but even as an inexperienced beauty consultant you can easily apply these products to yourself.

WHAT TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding ingredients for some of the following beauty spa treatments. Substitute where you can. If you only have rose essential oil, use that instead of lavender. Or if you only have white sugar and not brown sugar, use that.

Set yourself up with all the tools you’ll need and keep them in a tub or a box that can be your special home day spa treatment. Here are just some tools you might need before you start:

• small mixing bowls and utensils
• food processor to blend oats etc
• hand held mix master to whip some products
• tea infuser
• tongue depressors for applying product
• reusable face pads, cloths to clean your face
• Head band or hair wrap
• Small jars to keep recipes made up
• Small spritz bottles for toners etc

INGREDIENTS FROM THE PANTRY & FRIDGE

Like I mentioned above, these ingredients are only a guide to what you can use. If you don’t have the essential oil, use your favourite. If you don’t have a particular type of tea or fruit, use what you have. It’s all about being as cost effective as possible.

From the Pantry

• Oats
• Quinoa
• Honey
• Coconut Oil
• Vanilla extra or vanilla bean pods
• Extra virgin olive oil
• White sugar or brown sugar
• Salt including Himalayan Pink Salt
• Tea bags including herbal tea, green tea or flavoured tea like Chai
• Used coffee grounds
• Milk powder
• Canned coconut cream or coconut milk
• Spices, eg turmeric, cinnamon, pepper etc

From the Fridge

• Avocado
• Citrus fruit, zest and/or juice
• Mayonnaise
• Greek yoghurt
• Eggs

Miscellaneous

• Epsom salts
• Essential oils

DIY BATH SOAKS

The following are only a limited number of DIY bath soak recipes for your DIY home day spa. Use what you have. You also don’t need anyone to tell you what time of the day you can take a bath. Have a bath when your young children have a sleep or they’ve gone to school.

Did you also know that In a recent study on metabolic diseases or in other terms diseases linked obesity, heat exposure in the form of a hot bath is shown to have the same effect as exercising (Faulkner, S.H. 2017). The study indicates that just one hour spent in a hot bath burns as many calories as a half hour walk. Passive heating decreases inflammation and boosts metabolism exactly like exercising.

Epsom Salt & Lavender Detox Bath Soak

Milk & Honey Floral Bath Soak

Oatmeal & Lavender Bath Tea

Green Tea & Peppermint Bath Soak

Coconut Milk Bath Soak

“Fresh Snow” Moisturising Detox Bath Soak

Bubbling Lemon Vanilla Bath Soak

BATH & SHOWER SCRUBS

We may not have time for a long soak in the bath but an all over body scrub in the shower can leave you feeling refreshed plus exfoliate and replenish your skin. Remember to substitute ingredients with what you have an use your favourite essential oils.

3 Ingredient Shower Scrub

DIY Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Vanilla Coffee Body Scrub

Pink Lemonade Sugar Scrub

EASY DIY FACIAL AT HOME

One of the things I used to love going to the day spa for (before children and when I was working full time) was for a full facial. It was so relaxing to have someone else really cleanse my face but I always found the products irritated my skin and left it feeling greasy.

I soon learned to do it easily from home and I can leave on a DIY mask while I have a soak in the bath or while showering. Create that ambience at home while doing a facial with soft music and lighting and put your feet up, have a cup of tea or glass of wine, read a book or meditate.

Whatever you can do to relax to allow the benefits of a facial to do it’s magic, do it. Here are some recipes for a simple DIY facial at home.

The steps usually involved in a facial are:

• Cleanse
• Exfoliate
• Deep Cleanse
• Tone
• Moisturise

Click on each step above to go straight to the recipes or keep reading.

CLEANSE

Homemade Foaming Face Cleaner

DIY Rose Cleansing Balm

DIY Honey Tea Face Wash

EXFOLIATE

Oatmeal & Honey Face Scrub

Homemade Coffee Face Scrub

Baking Soda & Brown Sugar Face Scrub

DEEP CLEANSE

Turmeric Face Masks

Banana Face Masks

Coconut Oil & Honey Face Mask

TONE

Green Tea Facial Toner

Rice Water Toner

All Natural DIY Skin Toner

MOISTURISE

All Natural Daily Moisturiser

DIY Rose Face Cream

Aloe Moisturiser

FOOT SOAK/PEDICURE

I actually feel sorry for the women (or men) at the day spa that have to work on my feet after a long hibernation. My husband actually bought me a foot spa last Christmas and I intend using it more often. Prior to that, I would use a shallow tub, wide enough to put my feet in.

With a few simple ingredients added to warm water, you can give your tired aching feet a long soothing soak after a long day at work, a day in the garden, a day running around after your children or working out or running.

Smooth off the dry skin with a pumice stone, trim your nails and give your toe nails and feet a rub with coconut oil or your nails a lick of nail polish.

Here are a couple recipes for DIY foot soaks.

DIY Foot Soak & Dead Skin Remover

Easy Peppermint Foot Soak

DIY Citrus Foot Soak

MANICURE

‘I’ve had so many manicures, acrylic nails and gel nails over the years and every time I get them, I soon regret it. They weaken my nails when the nail ‘artists’ buff off the polish or acrylic. I type a lot so don’t like long nails so I’m happy with short, natural nails. I do like to give my hands a good moisturising so sometimes treat myself to a DIY manicure.

Here is a step by step guide to help you.

DIY Manicure at Home

CONCLUSION

Whether you use your favourite brand named products or some of these DIY recipes using common ingredients you can find in your home, treating yourself to time out to rejuvenate, replenish and restore you is what you’re trying to achieve.

Not only are you treating your skin, hair, nails and body to a therapeutic treatment, you are taking time out for yourself. Sometimes you just need a total distraction from the stress in your day and what better way to do than with a DIY day spa day at home.

Make this time really special for yourself by putting on the music, lighting a candle or diffusing essential oils. Treat yourself to a new fluffy towel or hand towel and make the most of the experience.

The other thing is a lot of these products make great gifts for your friends and family. Why not share some of the recipes with them made up into jars with instructions. I’m sure someone you know also needs a reminder to take time out for themselves.

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