I've solved the fly problem!

I'm always discussing flies on this page because the number one problem I cannot solve as a greenie is how to get rid of flies without killing them with toxic chemicals. Over the years I've used fly paper - which works but looks terrible, peppermint oil and plants, fly swats, fly curtains, you name it.
Then just before Christmas I came across a product called Flysphere which is a stylish version of plastic bags filled with water that they use to deter flies at taco stands in Mexico. The theory is that the refraction of the water, amplifies colours and movement that makes the fly nervous, scaring it away.
I liked the look of the glass blown creation, which is made in Mexico so I ordered one online from Australia.
Up north we have a big problem with blow flies which seem to think that our front door is the way to heaven because they all fly in, like it's their flight path, and then get trapped inside. One day when I was cooking a curry there were hundreds of them.
So I put up a fly curtain, which Paul immediately got tangled up in and broke, and was considering a chain mesh one when I saw the Flysphere.
So I hung it up, making sure it has plenty of light and colour by the front door and hey presto - no more flies! We can't quite believe it. The odd one does get in through other windows and doors but we seem to have deviated the flight path.
I can thoroughly recommend these if you don't mind paying the $130.

But...you could try my new low budget version
I'm a big fan of the All Good sparkling waters which are little flavour bombs of juice and yes ... sugar. But these are small so a little treat now and then isn't too bad and I actually use a tiny bit to flavour up my vodka sodas.
I saved the bottles because they have screw-on lids and I thought they would be great for tomato sauce or other sauces I might make.
Then I realised they have the same shape as the Flysphere and so I made one and hung it out the other side of the house (pictured).
And...it worked. So buy yourself a nice drink and re-use the bottle later to get rid of flies.They are in cafes mainly - find out where here.

New Rose Cream

I have to say that spending so much time up north is really reinvigorating me both physically and creatively. I am gardening, fishing and swimming every day so the exercise is great and my brain is coming up with so many ideas ... especially for Wendyl's. So far not another novel, which is probably for the best at this stage!
A friend of ours arrived last week, took one look at me and said, "Ah I see you have found your happiness." He is so right, and he is so charmingly French - only a French man could say it just like that.
I found myself making this rose cream yesterday as a prototype to launch our new beauty range. It is so divine, smells just like all our other rose products and features such great ingredients as almond oil, beeswax, lanolin, organic rosewater and essential oils. And a little goes a long way. A little dab on my finger does my whole face and two dabs does my legs. I like it also because it isn't heavy. You rub it in, and it looks and feels moisturised but isn't sticky or clingy as some creams are.
I'm going to make some more batches - it takes a long time to make - and then Daniel and Sam will put it in little jars and we'll release it for you all to try.

How to dry sheets

In Italy women apparently dry their sheets by draping them over rosemary and lavender bushes in the hot sun. The odour from the plant gets into the sheets and they smell amazing. I have a huge rosemary bush and there's been plenty of hot sun so I tried it out (pictured).
My sheet was whiter than white for sure and it had a faint smell of rosemary but not that strong. Maybe you might like to try it at your house and let me know how you got on.

How to use an egg as shampoo

Thanks to everyone who emailed me last week about their no-shampoo experiences. I have to say most of you found it a good thing to do, but a couple said never again. I'm still happy using my herb shampoo and actually think that the more I am using it the better my hair is feeling - perhaps from the conditioning properties of the herbs.
If you missed it last week here it is.
Reader Linda send me this great email with how to use an egg to wash your hair.
Dear Wendyl
Have you tried egg shampoo, it works wonders! This sounds awful but try it and you will love the result. Crack an egg into a cup and mix lightly.In the shower close your eyes think happy thoughts and pour it over your hair. Massage into the hair as you would any shampoo and rinse off well. Your hair will be clean and soft.This is extremely old fashioned but it works. In the 60s you could buy egg shampoo which really was ordinary harsh shampoo with, I suspect, no egg in it despite being yellow!
I think the oils and dirt are removed by the proteins and the natural fats in an egg condition the hair. You certainly don't need a separate conditioner. Lady Mary in Downton Abbey in an early series asked her maid to make up a 6 egg hair rinse so it must be true!
I dealt with going from dyed to au naturel by cutting my hair short, then I realised how easy that was and have it this way ever since. If it is any reassurance having greying hair brings an amazing amount of respect from people, of all ages
Happy gardening
Linda

Recipe of the Week - Strawberry Tea

Our strawberries haven't exactly produced a huge crop this year, but they are first year plants which we put in the berry house. The previous owners of our house up north had built a berry house which was covered in weeds when we moved in. So Paul and I got in and weeded and discovered to our joy that we also managed to revive a number of what we think are raspberry or blackberry plants. So they have come back quite happily and next year I'm hoping we'll see a good crop.
One of my old books suggested a tea using strawberries and their leaves. So I gathered a few leaves and fruit and made it up - delicious. I thought you guys might enjoy this too as a change from commercial fruit tea bags.
If you don't have strawberry plants just use the fruit.

3 strawberry leaves
2 strawberries, sliced

Place these into a small pot and cover with nearly boiling water, enough to fill a teacup, not a mug. Do not use completely boiling water so as not to ruin the flavour and benefits of the tea.
Cover with a saucer or lid and leave to steep for five minutes. Pour into a cup and enjoy. This will be a very light green colour so don't expect it to be bright red!

New Year, New You! - save $25.95

This special was so popular last week that we nearly sold out! We are impressed with your enthusiasm for starting 2015 with a mission to green clean. We have more stock on hand now so we're keeping it on special for one more week, so get in while you can. lI know a lot of you make one or two like the spray cleaner or the glass cleaner, but imagine how good it would be to open up you cleaning cupboard and see it stocked full of stain removers, laundry powders, dishwash powder and toilet cleaner!
To get you started on your New Year cleanse we've put our very popular DIY kit together with my new book Wendyl's Recipes for a Cleaner Life in one handy kit.
Normally you’d pay $90 for all six ingredients and $34.95 for Wendyl’s Recipes for a Cleaner Life which is a total of $124.95 but we’re selling it for just $99. You’ll get:

1kg Premium Baking Soda
1kg Premium Borax
1kg Premium Soda Ash
1 kg Premium Oxygen Bleach
1 Litre Double Strength White Vinegar
1 236ml Dr Bronner’s Mild Liquid Castile Soap
1 Wendyl’s Recipes for a Cleaner Life

All you need to do is add your favourite essential oils and you can start clearing out those nasty old supermarket cleaners and start making your own. And why not buy one for a friend who is yet to take the plunge into chemical-free living?
Click here to buy now for just $99 and save $25.95.

Loo-Ease still going strong

Thanks to everyone who has already bought their little bottle of essential oils which you drop into the toilet bowl before going to the loo to get rid of odours. As we say on the bottle it "takes care of your business".
Paul came up with the name after we considered other suggestions such as Poo-fume and Eau de Toilet. And he even created a little poem you can put in your toilet if you like:
Please, please,
If it's not just wees,
Make life a breeze,
And use Loo-Ease!
As you can see, we have been having quite a lot of fun and the best part is that it really does work.
It comes in a small, discreet 5ml bottle so that it can happily live in a purse, be taken to the toilet in the palm of your hand, or left on top of the toilet cistern.
And at just $25 it's a great price for making life a breeze, or making someone laugh.

To buy now click here and join in the Christmas fun.

Don't forget to start the New Year with all my recipes

My new book is chock full of hundreds of old-fashioned recipes for everything from cleaners to crumpets, soap to seed cake, washing powder to win and much more. This book will become your go-to recipe book as you make over your home, your beauty routine and your garden so that you and your family can enjoy the benefits of leading a healthier, 100% natural life.
You can still order Wendyl's Recipes for a Cleaner Life and get free postage. Click here to read all about it and place your order.

Win a book

We're continuing our book giveaway this year. Every week we're giving away one of my books. Choose from A Supermarket Companion, my novel The Road from Midnight or Mother's Little Helper. __
To go in the draw to win simply email us at wendylsgiveaways@gmail.com with your name and address and which book you would like. We'll select one lucky winner. Good luck!

Shop with us and earn points!

I'm glad you are enjoying earning points on our site. I see that many of you have already collected 100 and got your $10 off so it's great that it is all working smoothly. You never know with these things how it will go.

If you haven't signed in to earn your points remember that for every $1 you spend you will get 1 point. When you get 100 points you will get $10 off your next purchase.
You do have to create an account so that the points can accumulate, but I'm also offering 50 points ($5) when you sign up as a customer on the website and 20 points ($2) to do a review.
I hope it all works nice and smoothly and you feel rewarded for being our customers and returning regularly to buy.
Please note the points system is only for online purchases.