Posts Tagged ‘diy’

Homegrown Collective December 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

While I was away for the holiday break, I got my Homegrown Collective GREENBOX for December and I was itching to get my hands on it! I finally did this week, but didn’t have daylight to take pictures so I got up early yesterday to snap these shots on the freezing cold porch. Can’t wait til we’re at the condo and I can easily get good lighting indoors.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid and white homegrown collective sticker on brown paper wrapping

This time the sticker was artistically off to the side.

contents of the homegrown collective december 2013 box with naturally essential home remedies and cure-alls theme

Project #1, oregano oil: I just love everything I learn from each month’s box. I had no idea oregano was such a powerful plant! And I certainly didn’t know essential oils are THAT potent. Just one or two drops for that bottle? Wow, this cure will last a long time. I’m totally going to have Panda try this since he just got sick and tends to be more prone to illness in general. Of course I shall be taking it too so I can ensure I don’t catch anything! Is it just me or is that amber dropper bottle just adorable? I assume you drop some on your tongue but I’ll have to make sure how to use it best. In researching, I discovered it’s great ingested or topically – it can help everything from respiratory issues to acne (OMG I NEED THAT PRONTO). If it helps with my breakouts I will be thrilled.

the homegrown collective december 2013 project oregano oil info card

the homegrown collective december 2013 products for oregano oil

I laid out all the essential oils before noticing you only need the oregano one for this project.

Project #2, herbal tinctures: A tincture?? Another completely new concept for me. At first I thought I was supposed to get all three herbs but then on the last info sheet you see that you get either the echinacea and elderberry OR the St. John’s Wort. All these herbs sound great, so really trying any of them would be cool. I’m cautious about the alcoholic content here since I don’t drink and I have no idea what 80-100 proof alcohol means. But since you only need a fraction of a teaspoon I think it’s much like taking some cough syrup.

the homegrown collective december 2013 project herbal tinctures info card the homegrown collective december 2013 products for herbal tinctures

Project #3, eucalyptus vapor cups: So cool (literally too right?)!! I have shower bombs and never really knew what it’d take to make them. I’m so excited about this one, though I might wait til we move to the condo to make them. I can just see myself using the kitchen there having a blast! I also love those little baking tins, which will be so fun to use to make chocolate cups and maybe even little cupcake things in the future. One of the side bonuses of HGC is the awesome tools and jars and accessories you get, which can be reused for plenty of things.

the homegrown collective december 2013 project eucalyptus vapor cups info card

the homegrown collective december 2013 products for eucalyptus vapor cups

Yeah, I decided to keep the oregano oil in there even though you only use the lavender and eucalyptus for this one.

And a quick roundup of the amazing box, with some info on essential oils. What a fantastic way to start off the new year healthy all naturally!  the homegrown collective december 2013 essential home remedies info cardWhat are your thoughts on the last box of 2013? If you want in, be sure to sign up for your own Homegrown Collective boxes soon to get the January one (and beyond).

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective November 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

As always, it was such a pleasant surprise when the Homegrown Collective box arrived! This time there are two projects, one that is perfectly seasonal and one that is a more involved food project. I’ve already done the first one and I’ll need to find a blender to try out the other.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid, sprig of evergreen cutting, and white homegrown collective sticker on brown paper wrapping

Hehe, it was really cute how they let one of the evergreen cuttings poke out.

contents of the homegrown collective november 2013 box with almond de"light" theme

Project #1, evergreen oil lamp: What an adorable idea! I love that this oil lamp makes use of very seasonally-appropriate items that totally remind me of winter. You also have the freedom to throw in whatever you might have in your yard or neighborhood to make it even more personalized. I think it’s fantastic and so simple yet creative. I can get more paraffin oil and keep on changing the look of this lamp throughout the months as I find random plants I can use!

the homegrown collective november 2013 project evergreen oil lamp info card

the homegrown collective november 2013 products for evergreen oil lamp

Project #2, almond chocolate milk: Ok, so I’m generally not a fan of almond milk, but I don’t think I’ve tried chocolate almond milk before. The main problem with this particular project is that I don’t have a blender, so I’m not sure how I could possibly make it right now. The good thing is that the move into the new condo is the perfect excuse to get a few items for the home, like a blender! I’ll have to keep these ingredients stored away for the time being, until I can try making my very own almond chocolate milk. I hope I like it!

the homegrown collective november 2013 project almond chocolate milk info card

the homegrown collective november 2013 products for almond chocolate milk

the homegrown collective november 2013 almond de"light" info card

At the back, you get to learn about almonds and the awesome clean burning oil lamp!d

Have you subscribed to The Homegrown Collective? I’m absolutely loving all the cool projects they come up with – I feel crafty without actually doing much! 😀

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective October 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
0

I’ve had this Homegrown Collective GREENBOX for a week or so but hadn’t gotten around to taking pictures! Finally, this morning I braved the cold porch and got these shots. I’m looking forward to trying these fun projects, which are very well-themed for the cooler seasons.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

contents of the homegrown collective october 2013 box with harvest feast theme

homegrown collective october 2013 preserving & preparing the harvest feast box info sheets on the inner lid in plastic sleeve

Project #1, antioxidants & superfoods: Ok, so technically this isn’t a project and they just tell you about the benefits of cinnamon, ginger, and cranberries, which were some of the featured items in this month’s box. I think it would have been nice if they had included some simple suggestions for how to incorporate these into your diet for those health benefits mentioned.

the homegrown collective october 2013 antioxidants & superfoods info card

Learn about what makes these food items so fabulous!

the homegrown collective october 2013 products for antioxidants & superfoods

I wonder if you can make something tasty with all three of these…

Project #2, gourd candle making: How fun! I love candles even if I don’t actually burn them very often. The concept of a gourd as the container is really cool and unique. I can be confident nobody else will have one quite like mine. 🙂

the homegrown collective october 2013 project gourd candle making info card

What a fun way to make a unique candle.

the homegrown collective october 2013 products for gourd candle making

Looks like fun – can’t wait to try it!

Project #3, water bath canning: I’ve never tried canning before, so this is perfect. I like pretty much anything that involves a mason jar these days (I know, it’s a silly criteria). I don’t usually eat cranberries but I’m definitely looking forward to contributing them to the Thanksgiving gathering this year!

the homegrown collective october 2013 project water bath canning info card

Gonna try my hand at canning, how cool!

the homegrown collective october 2013 products for water bath canning

Seems like quite an interesting process. Hope it tastes yummy!

the homegrown collective october 2013 project food preservation 101 info card

And some information about preserving and canning your own food.

Do you receive The Homegrown Collective too? What do you think about the projects this time?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective September 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
1

I got the Homegrown Collective September GREENBOX about a week ago, but am just getting around to reviewing it! I enjoyed this “Back-to-school: sustainable laundry 101” theme a lot because it is so useful – I mean, everyone’s got to do laundry, right? (I hope.) Here’s the unboxing video for those who prefer that.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid and white homegrown collective sticker on brown paper wrapping

They stuck the info sheets on the lid and changed up the sticker this time.

contents of the homegrown collective september 2013 box with laundry theme

All sorts of laundry goodness. Yes, I already used the wool ball, which is why it looks worn.

Project #1, soap nuts: This is a nice project because it’s as easy as tying the bag and throwing it in the wash! These soap nuts are so cool and I wonder if someone has accidentally tried to eat them. Do they taste soapy? I’m not about to test it out, but I am curious.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project washing with soap nuts info card

Yay for a sustainable way to wash clothes.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for washing with soap nuts

This will clean my clothes?! Amazing.

Project #2, olive oil castile soap: Wow, this soap can be so versatile, cleaning everything from clothes to yourself. Mix it with washing soda + salt to clean your laundry or just rub it on your skin or hair to wash clean! Simple – nice and easy.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project mixing olive oil castile soap info card

A slightly more involved laundry soap solution.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for mixing olive oil castile soap

What exactly is washing soda? Baking soda?

Project #3, dryer ball & essential oil: I totally wasn’t expecting the ball to be so soft and large. It’s totally fun! All you have to do is add it to your dryer load so it can soften your clothes and prevent static. They also included a bit of essential oil with a super refreshing minty scent, which you can dab on the dryer ball to make your clothes smell fabulous.

the homegrown collective september 2013 project using wool dryer ball and essential oil info card

A ball to beat your clothes soft, hehe.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for using wool dryer ball and essential oil

Fun fuzzy ball and the invigorating essential oil too.

Project #4, laundry soap & bleach alt.: Once again, an effortless project where you just use the pre-made products. I wonder how they make this laundry soap and bleach alternative, versus what’s out in the market these days. I’d like to make some myself!

the homegrown collective september 2013 project using bleach alternative info and summary card

A summary of the contents and the intro to the bleach alternative.

the homegrown collective september 2013 products for using bleach alternative

What an adorable spoon!

Did you get this The Homegrown Collective box? What do you think about the theme?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective August 2013 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
4

Woo hoo! My long-awaited FIRST Homegrown Collective box is in my possession and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve had my eye on them since I first saw reviews for them months ago and I got the 12-month subscription as soon as I had a job in the bag. 🙂

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

The August theme is “superfood-detoxifying-antioxi- …docious” (sing it to “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious*”) and it features three superfoods: alfalfa sprouts, green tea, pomegranate, and cacao as a bonus one. The projects include two food ones and a spa/luxury one! Oh I can’t wait. 😀 Also, check out my unboxing video! [update: projects were completed and you can see how I did]

the homegrown collective box wrapped in plastic layers

It came all wrapped in plastic as if something might leak. Everything was fine though!

inside of homegrown collective box with the homegrown collective sticker on brown paper wrapping

Opening the box…

the homegrown collective august 2013 info sheets in plastic insert

August theme revealed! Love their info cards.

I really enjoy how they have separate cards for each project, but make each one a different size so you can see all the labels like this. So creative and such great design.

contents of the homegrown collective august 2013 box with super food theme

All the products laid out. Fabulous!!

Project #1, alfalfa sprouts: I love a little bit of sprouts in a sandwich or salad, so I’m pretty excited about these. It takes a little less than a week so I shall report back later and share my experience. I hope they taste as good as the ones I get in my food! Then again, how could you mess it up when it’s just water and seeds pretty much, right? Haha hope I don’t kick myself for saying that later on…

the homegrown collective august 2013 project growing alfalfa sprouts

First up, the alfalfa sprouts.

the homegrown collective august 2013 products for growing alfalfa sprouts

All you need is the seeds, a jar, and some mesh! Add water and let it grow, let it grow, let it grow…

Project #2, detoxify your body: I loooved the scent of the green tea and the lavender. I’m so excited for this bath soak! Not only will it be relaxing and smell amazing, I can get some detoxing done as well. Perfect.

the homegrown collective august 2013 project making green tea & lavender epsom salt bath soak

Next up is the detoxifying bath soak.

the homegrown collective august 2013 products for making green tea & lavender epsom salt bath soak

Pretty simple to use – just soak! Smells wonderful. 🙂

Project #3, cacao & pomegranates: This sounds unbelievably tasty. I love dark chocolate and pomegranate, but have never thought about making a snack like this. I can’t wait to make them and I’ll report back on a follow-up post with the results of all these projects.

the homegrown collective august 2013 project making dark chocolate pomegranate wonder cup snacks

Finally, an antioxidant-filled treat, oh yes!!

the homegrown collective august 2013 products for making dark chocolate pomegranate wonder cup snacks

Now this is the way to get me in the kitchen. I love snacks!

the homegrown collective august 2013 info sheet describing contents of box and benefits of super foods

And to round it all up, you can learn about these super foods and make sure you got all the items needed to complete the projects!

Do you subscribe to The Homegrown Collective as well? What was your favorite project from this month?

*I tried to spell it on my own and I actually got it right! Yeah, I’m proud.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

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