Combine in a spray bottle:

• 40-45 drops total of your favorite essential oil(s)
• 1 cup H2o

And that’s it! You now have your very own homemade, all natural air freshener to mist around your rooms, on your sheets, etc.

Some essential oil combinations I highly recommend (all essential oils mentioned are under $10 per 0.5 fl oz bottle and a little goes a really long way):

• sweet orange + cinnamon
• lavender + sage
• peppermint + tangerine

Your home will smell lovely and your mood will be positively impacted by the aromatherapy benefits of the essential oils — definitely a win-win!

So to avoid a faded, animal-fat-laden shirt or pillow case (that’s where it really hits home  for me) you can opt for plant derived softeners like the Squeaky Green Dryer Cloths ($5.49) by Method. They use water-based technology (yes, these sheets are actually on the moist side) to infuse the dryer cloths with renewable, plant-based softeners.  Result: Clothes are soft and static free minus the fat and heavy scents.

I would especially recommend this swap for anyone with sensitive skin. Also, if you haven’t already, opt for a detergent that is fragrance free or at the least, naturally scented. I’ve spoken to many people who can’t pinpoint the source of their skin ailments and these switches can often provide a lot of relief.  Easily irritated by strong odors? You’re another great candidate for making these switches. But of course, everyone can benefit from these more natural options!

If you’re going to use antibacterial cleaning products this is one of the best and healthiest options on the market right now. Choose between two delightful scents – lemon verbena or orange zest – for just $3.99 or less. I opted for the lemon verbena (from Target), but I think I would like the orange zest scent even more.

Why make the switch to a natural antibacterial cleaner? Research is continually showing that antibacterial products can cause bacterial resistance, thus decreasing the effectiveness of antibiotics. The most common ingredient in antibacterial products is a chemical compound called triclosan, which has been proven to have some serious negative side effects on your health (see previous post for more info).

We have really tried to follow this in our new home and let me tell you – it has made SUCH a difference. Getting rid of pointless clutter (aka things that are not functional or joy-producing) is not just visually powerful, but very emotionally powerful as well.

To ponder: Do you have a lot of items around your home that you don’t particularly like or need, but hold onto because you would feel “bad” throwing them out?

(I made the clay pot back in high school)

1. The Feston Rose plant
2. Devil’s Ivy
3. Phalaenopsis
4. English Ivy
5. Parlor Ivy
6. African Violets
7. Christmas Cactus
8. Yellow Goddess
9. Garlic Vine
10. Peace Lily

Well I recently came across two easy ways to keep blooms around even longer:

1. Dunk buds in room temperature water before putting them in a vase to prolong their life by a few days
2. When keeping flowers in the kitchen, keep them away from fruits and veggies since they both release the gas ethylene, which increases the rate at which flowers wilt

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Having fresh flowers around is proven to be a natural mood-booster. I love getting mine at Trader Joe’s -  great variety and awesome prices. I especially love sunflowers. What are you some of your favorites?

p.s. Happy first day of summer!!

modern bathroom design by los angeles architect William Hefner

bathroom design by austin architect Winn Wittman Architecture

contemporary bathroom design by Danenberg Design

contemporary bathroom design by miami designer Pepe Calderin

Do you take baths?

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe it’s almost May?!

It’s important to go natural with your cleaning routine so you can not only feel good about the appearance of your home, but more importantly, your own health! Have you done any major spring cleaning lately?