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tailored tidbits

10 Natural Ingredients to Repel Insects

5/31/2017

2 Comments

 
With summer here, it’s the perfect time to spend more time out in the sunshine. It’s also the best time for the pesky bugs to be out, too. There are so many products on the market to repel insects from outdoor activities and to keep them from coming into your home, but so many of them contain strong chemicals such as DEET. YUK!

Have you thought of trying all natural ways to repel insects without needing to use any harmful chemicals? Many of these are already found in your home. Here are some ways to repel insects both inside and out… naturally! 
​

What Spices Certain Bugs Hate

Ants
  • ​Ants have a strong sense of smell and dislike cinnamon, garlic, and mint
  • Lay cinnamon sticks or garlic cloves on windowsills or under the kitchen sink to deter them
  • Plant mint along your home's foundation to repel them outdoors
Cinnamon
Garlic
Peppermint
Spiders, Fleas, and Ticks
  • Plant peppermint in pots on your deck or in your yard and garden to repel spiders, fleas, and ticks
  • To keep spiders from coming inside, place a drop or two of peppermint essential oil or pure extract  in the corners of door frames and windows where spiders have been seen
  • Crush fresh peppermint leaves and rub over your skin before venturing outdoors
Citronella
Calendula (Marigolds)
Lavender
Mosquitoes
  • Citronella, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, calendula (marigold), and geranium all repel mosquitoes
  • Plant lavender and geraniums in pots on the porch or deck
  • Lay lemons cut in half near outdoor seating
  • Citronella essential oil can be used sparingly in drops around windowsills or outdoor seating areas
Bay Leaves
Fresh Lemon
Rosemary
Pesky Flies
  • Bay leaves and rosemary can be used in bowls around outdoor seating areas to repel flies
  • Lavender and mint will also repel flies
​
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Most Insects
  • Basil is disliked by most any insect!
  • Plant basil in pots and place on your deck or on the kitchen windowsill to chase bugs away
Added BONUS! Fresh basil is such a treat in many cooking dishes. Cut as needed to add flavor and color to your recipes.

Camping Tip
Place 3-4 shiny pennies in a plastic sandwich bag with about 1/2" water. Seal bag and tack on door frame of outside door. The reflection of the pennies in the water will chase flies away. This is a great trick for camping and your tent.

DIY Project: Bug-Repelling Lantern

Supplies:
  • 2 wide-mouth mason jars
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1 lime, sliced
  • 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 2 floating disc candles
  • 10 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil*
  • 10 drops citronella essential oil*
  • water

*Essential oils will work best, but you can try pure peppermint extract (1/4-1/2 t. in each jar) if you do not have the essential oils.

​Instructions:
  • Add 1/2 lemon + 1/2 lime + 2 rosemary sprigs in each jar
  • Fill each jar 3/4 full with water
  • Add citronella oil to the first jar
  • Add lemon eucalyptus oil to the second jar
  • Place a floating candle in each jar and light the candle to activate the scents!
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Want a Natural Solution? 

Our See Ya! line of outdoor products are made with a special blend of 9 essential oils that include citronella, lavender, lemon, and others. We've got three options to protect yourself this summer: soap, spray, or a lotion bar!
See Ya! Outdoor Lotion Bar
See Ya! Outdoor Soap
See Ya! Outdoor Spray
Shop Outdoor Collection
2 Comments

Bath Bomb Ingredients... More Than Just Fizz!

5/1/2017

3 Comments

 
There are zillions of bath bombs on the market. Folks love them! They make soaking in the tub a special treat. But most bath bombs are all about fizz. As long as they're fizzy, that's good enough, right? Well, we wanted our bath bombs to be fizzy AND good for you and your skin.  

What makes ours so different? The ingredients! Watch our video and then read about each ingredient below. Then have fun in the tub!

Our Good For You Ingredients

Baking soda: Baking soda makes the bomb fizz when mixed with citric acid... but it's more than just that! Baking soda is great for exfoliating the skin. It helps remove all the dirt and dead cells from your body, leaving your skin soft and smooth. It helps balance the pH of oily skin, too, which some people say prevents breakouts for them. 
Citric acid: Citric acid helps make the bath bomb fizz! Don't let the name "acid" scare you... it's a weak acid found in citrus fruits. It's also wonderful for adjusting and balancing the acidity of your skin. It promotes healthy skin re-growth. It is said to prevent mild acne, pigmentation, and clogged pores while minimizing wrinkles and dark spots. ​
Sweetheart Bath Bomb
​
with Pink Himalayan salts
Coffee Cafe Bath Bomb
with
 coffee butter and Black sea salts
Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey Bath Bomb
with
 oatmeal and honey powder
Coconut oil: This oil is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, and it is a great moisturizer for all skin types.
Coconut milk: Coconut milk has high levels of Vitamin C. This vitamin is said to maintain the flexibility of skin to prevent wrinkles, sagging skin, and even age spots. We hope so! Cleopatra is said to have loved milk baths, so we couldn't resist adding this rich ingredient!
Clean Cotton Bath Bomb
Watermelon Bath Bomb
Quiet Waters Bath Bomb
Coffee butter: This ingredient is said to be highly moisturizing. It'll make your skin feel oh-so-soft, which is especially great if you have dry skin. Coffee is a natural mood-lifter, so the espresso scent is heavenly!
A variety of salts: Pink Himalayan, Epsom, Black Sea salts, oh my! The salts are made of magnesium and sulfate, which are absorbed through the skin to reportedly relieve muscle tension and inflammation. They are even said to alleviate tension headaches and abdominal cramps!

​Fun fact: Our Black Sea salts are harvested in Hawaii and include activated charcoal!
Lavender Vanilla Bath Bomb
Orange Creamsicle Bath Bomb
Pearberry Bath Bomb
Colloidal oatmeal: Oats were said to have skin-soothing properties for years. The FDA cites oatmeal and other oats as effective for relieving the feeling of dry skin and inflammation. You can use oats on stings, rashes, and even eczema. "Colloidal" simply refers to the finely powdered particles of oatmeal. In bath bombs, oatmeal can soothe the body and moisturize your skin. Mmmm...
Honey granules: Honey is naturally anti-bacterial, not to mention full of antioxidants and moisturizing! The honey granules in our bath bombs are sure to give you a glow. 
Zingy Lime Bath Bomb
Moonlight Path Bath Bomb
Peaches & Cream Bath Bomb
So there you have it! Our ingredients unpacked and explained. In the mood for a bath? Click on any of the bath bombs in this blog, or shop all: 
Shop Bath Bombs!

For Special Events

Have a special event coming up? Here's some ideas for favors. So cute!
Bath Bomb Variety Pack
Perfect if you can't decide on a favorite
Egg & Chicken Bath Bomb
Each egg hatches a chick eraser
Mini Sweetheart Bath Fizzies
Adorable as baby or bridal favors​

Disclaimer (the FDA makes us do it!): We use only the finest, good-for-you ingredients in our products, but we cannot claim to treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Moreover, while all of our ingredients are skin-safe, some people have sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients or essential oils.  We recommend you do a skin test prior to using a new product. 
3 Comments
    Melissa Simmons

    Welcome to Tailored Tidbits!

    If I'm not in the kitchen cooking up new items for my shop, I'm sewing fabric baskets, taking care of our honeybees and Ms. Kitty, pitching in on the latest project at my son's, or planning a trip somewhere with my daughter. Here, I'll share a "day in the life" at Tailored Touches!


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Tailored Touches, LLC
​​Richmond, VA
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  • Home
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    • Body Care >
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      • Massage & Relief
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      • Lip Balms
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