Your Thriving Family

Indoor, Outdoor All-Around Bug Spray {Essential Oil}

We went through a HORRIBLE time of bugs. I tried a ton of commercial "kid safe things" before I finally found something that worked! I scoured the internet finding natural repellents, including diatomaceous earth. Then I compiled the list of the essential oils that would do the job.

Bug repelling essential oils include Citronella, Catnip, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, Melaleuca, Clove, Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil and quite a few others and Neem,, which isn't strictly and essential oil - but these are what I have used, in roughly that order of effectiveness. Most importantly is to use citronella for about 40% of your oil mixture and a tiny bit of neem - then fill out the rest with what you have.

Today I did a six-ounce bottle and used every oil I had listed above with vodka. I am hoping this lasts us through our month long summer trip. I will use it to spray down the beds and clothing when there is potential for bites. For this I use the "cheaper" oils - for the most part (these are food grade, but better safe than sorry). Theoretically none of the oils are going directly on skin, so I don't want to use the nice stuff that is definitely skin and ingestion safe.

For 3oz of distilled water or witch hazel use about 40 drops of essential oil, place in spray bottle, shake and have at it. We usually use this up so fast I just use a plastic bottle, but you could use a glass one. For example the mixture I use most is:

3oz Vodka or Witch Hazel/Distilled Water combo
20 drops Citronella Essential Oil
10 Eucalyptus Essential Oil
10 Catnip Essential Oil
5 Thyme Essential Oil
3 Neem Oil

I say most because it is good to change things up - just so the bugs don't get used to it. Also, I used to actually sit there and count - now I pretty much just eye ball it by parts. I usually keep a bottle filled with the oil mixture and then add it to water as needed so I don't have to mix it up so much during high pest time.

I spray it in my kids room and on their beds during the warmer months to keep the bugs at bay. I've also sprayed down their playhouse as well as their clothes and bodies when I know they are going to be playing outside for a while. You can also add some lavender if the smell really bothers them, but we like the Eucalyptus smell.

Additionally, you could also grow any of the oils listed in their plant form around your home, especially near windows and other access points, to help keep those little buggers (pun intended) away!

If you already have bite marked children, hop over to see how we've healed our kiddos.

What do you do to keep your home pest free?

Crock On: A Semi-Whole Foods Slow Cooker Book

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This post may contain affiliate links. I sometimes receive compensation from advertisers, sponsors and affiliates. All opinions are mine. Purchasing through my site is of no additional cost to you, but helps support this blog and my family. All health advice is from personal experience, I am not a healthcare professional, please seek medical advice for any healthcare concerns.

Weekend Whatever #73

Welcome to Weekend Whatever link up! We are so glad you are here! A place for sharing your best of Healthy Recipes, Marriage, Parenting, Frugality, Homemaking, Homesteading, Crafting, Christianity or where ever else your heart has taken you.

Hosting are:

Sara at A Joyful Mother

Joanie at Simple Living Mama

Sara of Your Thriving Family

and Justyn from Creative Christian Mama

Check out the Weekend Whatever Favorites Pinterest board for more!

Danielle at More Than Four Walls has been doing a Misconceptions of Motherhood series. It has been great! I love getting an insight into other mothers lives. Isn't it great to know you are the only one, or there are others who think just like you?

If you were featured this week you have or will be promoted via many forms of social media by the hostess who chose you!

THE RULES While we want to see as many posts from as many bloggers as we can, we would request that all posts adhere to the Weekend Whatever Rules. Any posts that violate rules will be deleted. We have a delete button, although it makes us very sad to use it. Please read and follow the rules carefully!

1) Please link the specific post URL, not your general blog link.

2) Link back to the Weekend Whatever in every post you link up here!

3) If you are sharing a recipe or foodie post, please only link up real-food posts (i.e. processed foods and recipes using table sugar are not allowed, etc...please keep in the spirit of transitioning to real and whole foods).

4) Please only link up to 3 posts per week.

Some requests:

Please share or tweet this post to spread the word about the link up! Sharing will ensure more posts to read each week, and more views for your linked-up posts!
Visit at least the two blogs next to you, if not more!
Please do not share other link parties to Weekend Whatever. You may however add them to our growing linky list for all to find you.We love comments!
Come follow the Weekend Whatever Favorites Pinterest board! All hostesses pin several of their favorites from the past week.

What the four of us ladies have been up to - other than running around after a total of nine precious children and taking care of our hubbies . . .
Your Thriving Family is pleased to announce that The Veggie Book, How to Pick, Prepare and Plate will finally be coming out! That's why we've been a little dark as of late. We should soon be getting back to our Essential Oils series, as well as Faith Through Loss, my journey through Miscarriage. Though, as usual, I'm writing for the Green in 365 series and The Humbled Homemaker.

In May at Creative Christian Mama we've been learning to make buttermilk, homemade "Jello", drinking chocolate and pain-relief salve. We've also taken a look at what a week of groceries in our house looks like, choosing to be joyful and thankful in marriage, how I overcame infertility twice with nothing but changes in my diet and we've had some fun giveaways! In June, we'll be talking a lot about natural mothering. I'll share some real foods recipes, natural remedies, gardening tips and more! Be sure to subscribe to make sure you don't miss any of the fun!

Simple Living Mama has been busy showing you how to do a garden theme with your preschoolers and telling you why she chose the “My Father’s World” curriculum for her soon-to-be kindergartener and her toddler. She also wrote a post about how her family is doing halfway through her husband’s deployment. Stay tuned for a post on eight sustainable goals she plans on accomplishing this summer, as well as a series focusing on cultivating habits in our children the Charlotte Mason way! Like her on Facebook to stay updated!

A Joyful Mother has been going through some website renovations...what do you think of the blog's new designs? Sara has been in "summer-mode" and writing posts about outdoor activities with kids, homemade strawberry ice cream, and spring cleaning. She is also going to be hosting a Giveaway...be sure to "like" her Facebook page to keep updated!

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Summer Treats {Raising Health Families}

Welcome back to the Raising Health Families series, join us each week as we take a look at different ways to keep your family healthy and vibrant in a not-so-healthy world. Join Kelly Smith at The Nourishing Home for some alternatives to the normal summer treats.

read more about positively real media here

“I Scream, You Scream! We All Scream for Ice Cream!” Especially when it’s fresh fruit covered in wholesome creamy goodness!

Join us at The Nourishing Home to celebrate summer with some delicious and nutritious real food ice pops certain to bring a smile to your kids faces, while keeping the ice cream man at bay!

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$5 off Any Purchase of $30 or more at Abe's Market June 10-17, 2013 with code SUMMERFUN.

This post may contain affiliate links. I sometimes receive compensation from advertisers, sponsors and affiliates. All opinions are mine. Purchasing through my site is of no additional cost to you, but helps support this blog and my family. All health advice is from personal experience, I am not a healthcare professional, please seek medical advice for any healthcare concerns.