The end of the year is the perfect opportunity to pause and look back. As a blogger, one thing I love reflecting on is which posts resonated most with readers throughout the year.
I always find it so interesting to see what people gravitate toward. And often, it’s a fun surprise because the recipes and remedies that get pinned and revisited the most are not the ones I would have expected.
Below, you’ll find little year-end review in blog form. Here are the most viewed posts of 2025:
1. Goldenrod Salve
This was by far the most popular post on my blog this year, and last year too! And for good reason. Goldenrod salve is an excellent multipurpose remedy that is great to have in your medicine cabinet or first aid kit. We like keeping it on hand as all natural “boo boo balm” for minor cuts, scrapes, and rashes. Learn how to make your own goldenrod salve in my post.
I’m actually pretty delighted goldenrod is getting some much-deserved love! It grows wild in many parts of North America and has long been underappreciated (and even considered an annoying weed by some!). But beyond being a wonderful medicinal herb, it’s also a unique and flavorful addition to culinary creations.
If you’re curious to try working with it in the kitchen, check out these goldenrod recipes:
2. DIY Kids Foraging Pouch
Kids love to pick up rocks, seeds, leaves, flowers and other cool nature finds while out hiking. But, since most their clothing often lacks real pocket space (especially girl’s clothes!) they quickly begin to try to hand things off to mom and dad to hold for the rest of the hike.
Sew your little forager a pouch of their own so they have a convenient place to stash their treasures along the way. This little felt pouch is simple enough for beginner sewers and older children to put together. Get the tutorial in my post.
3. Springtime Infused Witch Hazel
Witch hazel extract infused with spring plants makes for a lovely skin tonic. Crafted with herbs that are wonderfully nourishing and soothing to the skin, it can be used as a daily facial toner or utilized to ease a number of skin woes.
Learn how to infuse witch hazel with spring plants in my post.
4. Nettle Tincture
Nettle is cherished for its nutrient-dense qualities, and while vitamins and minerals aren’t extracted by alcohol, tinctures are still a wonderful way to work with many of its other beneficial properties. You can read more about how to make and use nettle tincture in my post.
Nettle is one of my favorite herbs and one of the ways I work with it most often is by drinking nourishing nettle infusions. Learn how to make them in my post.
5. Coffee Scalp Scrub
This invigorating scalp scrub was #3 on last year’s top post list. It’s made with a few simple ingredients you likely already have on hand, including the leftover ground from your morning cup of coffee.
Coffee has many beneficial properties for the skin, as it is rich in antioxidants and is naturally anti-inflammatory. Ground beans are a great exfoliant, improving circulation and slough away dead skin cells to rejuvenate your scalp. Learn how to make it in my post.
6. Butterfly Pea Cream Cheese Frosting
This naturally bright frosting made the top posts list again in 2025, after coming in 7th last year. Anthocyanin-rich butterfly pea flowers give this cream cheese frosting its vibrant blue-purple hue. No artificial food dyes needed! I love how colorful it is, making it especially fun for decorating kids’ cakes and cupcakes. Get the recipe on my blog.
For ideas for more ways to work with butterfly pea, check out my posts Butterfly Pea Salt and Butterfly Pea Facial Mask.
7. Lemon Balm Cucumber Agua Fresca
On a hot day, few things are more refreshing than a cold glass of agua fresca. This version combines cooling cucumber with calming, citrusy lemon balm, creating a refreshing and soothing drink that’s perfect for summertime. Get the recipe on the blog.
8. Placentophagia: Eating Your Placenta
I was admittedly quite shocked to see this post in my top 12. While discussing placenta consumption is more or less acceptable in crunchy mama circles, it’s not something I would consider a popular topic by any means.
Placentophagia isn’t as gross as it might seem and may even offer benefits for a postpartum mama. As midwife and author Robin Lim writes in her book Placenta: The Forgotten Chakra, “Placentophagia is not such an unusual behavior for most mammalian mothers in the perinatal period. Animals of all mammalian groups […] most all will ingest the placentas of their newborn young.”
You can read more about placentophagia and why some postpartum mamas choose to consume their placentas in my post.
9. Oregano & Tea Tree Vinegar Hair Rinse
This cleansing hair rinse was the 2nd most popular blog post of 2024 and apparently people are still loving it! This apple cider vinegar based rinse has many benefits for the hair and scalp. It balances pH, which can help reduce frizz and tangles and boost the overall health and appearance of hair. It’s also cleansing and can help remove excess oil and build up of hair products.
Read more about the benefits and learn how to make it in my post.
You might also like these other herb infused hair rinses:
10. Chayote Coffee Cake
I love this recipe and am happy to see it make the list. Its a fun twist on a classic recipe from my childhood and is a unique way to work with chayote squash.
Chayote (Sicyos edulis) is a type of perennial squash that is cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It grows abundantly in our gardens and aside from enjoying it in chayote tacos, I like using it as an apple substitute in baked goods, like this classic coffee cake. You can get the full recipe on my blog.
11. Elderberry BBQ Sauce
Elderberry barbecue sauce is a lovely example of food as medicine. It’s made with delicious, flavonoid rich elderberries that have a number of beneficial properties. They are a good source of antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. They also help to boost immune function.
This herb infused condiment is tangy and not overly sweet. It adds great flavor to a variety of dishes, including chicken, pork or beef ribs, meatballs, pizza, salad dressings, and more. Get the recipe in my post.
12. Nettle Soda Bread
Nettle soda bread is one of my favorite quick breads. Quick and delicious, it pairs wonderfully with a hearty soup or a breakfast scramble. It’s wonderful when enjoyed warm, slathered with butter and a sprinkle of salt.
Nettle is a nourishing addition to this simple bread. It’s rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and several other important nutrients. Ready to whip up a loaf? Get the recipe in my post.
Wrapping Up 2025
As the year winds down, I just want to thank you for being here and reading along. January marks 13 years since I began writing this blog, and while much about my life has changed since 2013, my passion for sharing ways to incorporate herbs into daily life hasn’t.
I’m really looking forward to what 2026 brings for Mama Libélula. I have a lot of ideas for new recipes, remedies & more in the coming year, and I’m so excited to share it all with you.
