Jan 29, 2015

Better Than Store Bought Lip Balm

I don't know if you are like me, but I like to keep lip balm tubes within arms reach of wherever I spend most of my time.  That means, I have tubes in my purse, in my car, in my bedside table, by my chair, in my desk, etc etc etc.

If you are conscious of what is in your products like I am, then you probably have all natural, organic lip balms - cha ching, cha ching, cha ching!

Well, this recipe for lip balm is WAY better than any store bought balm I have found - goes on smooth, moisturizes and heals, smells good and tastes good, all natural and all organic!  Plus, wow, it is WAY cheaper than the leading store bought brands.



To be honest, I put off making this recipe for ages because I was thinking it would be harder than it was.  Truly, this takes less than 10 minutes and is SUPER easy.  Plus, it makes a lot, so you will have plenty to share with friends and family.

Here are a few tips I have learned:


  • Supplies are important!
    • Beeswax - I really prefer the Pastilles rather than the blocks.  They are much easier to measure and much quicker to melt.  I also prefer the white beeswax, but I have used both and did not notice much of a difference in the finished product other than color.  Here is where I buy my beeswax.
    • Shea Butter - I'm also pretty picky when it comes to my shea butter.  I really dislike the African shea butter because it is super hard and not easy to work with.    I use this one quite often.  It's soft and white and easy to work with.
    • Coconut oil - I buy my coconut oil from Costco.  Amazing price on organic coconut oil when you buy the Carrington Farms brand.  
    • Young Living Essential Oils - Y'all, I can not stress enough that the quality of your essential oil is important!  Young Living produces the best quality oils I have tried and I use them exclusively.  Remember, this lip balm is going on your LIPS, which is basically the same thing as eating it... choose wisely!
    • Lip Balm Tubes - Here's where I buy mine.  The cost comes out to roughly 14 cents per tube.  Not bad at all!
  • When it says "1 part" in the recipe, start with using 1 tbsp.  It makes more than you would think, and you don't want to have too much waste.
  • Dedicate a glass container, bowl or jar to this endeavor.  It is very hard to clean all the wax and oil out of the jar when you are done, and I guarantee you will make this again.  I have a small pyrex glass bowl I use and I just keep it with my supplies.
  • The medicine syringe literally changed my life when it comes to this project.  It is so easy to "suck up" the exact amount you need to fill a lip balm tube!  If you do not have one or have access to one, ask the pharmacist at your drug store.  They should be able to give you one.  I keep this and reuse it as well.
  • Let the tubes cool completely before you cap and toss aside.  You don't want your lip balm to cool sideways.
  • I personally used Young Living Peppermint oil for mine, but there are a ton of options you could try.  Lavender would be nice, too!  Just remember that citrus oils are photosensitive, so you might want to avoid those.  What oils did you choose?

I'm literally pulling my lip balm out to use as we speak!  I love this stuff!  I hope you love it, too!


Want to know how to purchase your own oils?  Check out this information HERE!


As always, please remember that I am a Mama and not a doctor. These things work for us and I am in love with using oily remedies for health in our home and I am excited to share them with you, but please use your best judgement for your own home. 


Jan 14, 2015

Game Day Guacamole

The number of uses I find for Young Living essential oils in my home is astounding.  Health, wellness, and cleaning  - but I must not neglect my first love - FOOD!

There are different schools of thought when it comes to ingesting essential oils, and I would absolutely recommend not using store bought oils in your food.  Many of them say "DO NOT INGEST".  A pretty big red flag if you ask me!  Young Living oils, however, have supplementation facts on the label if you peel up the corner.  Not only can ingesting high quality, superior oils be beneficial for your health, they also taste great!

So, some major sporting event is coming up - I know because my friends and my Facebook tell me so.  While sports literally do not cross my path of consciousness, I look for any excuse to have a party and make delicious food for my friends and family.

One of my favorite things to do for these types of parties is a big bowl of Guacamole.  Here's how I do it:



Game Day Guacamole

Ingredients:

4 large, ripe avocados (they should feel soft but not mushy and be a dark color)
1 roma tomato
Young Living Lime essential oil
Fajita Seasoning
Pepper
Seasoning Salt

Directions:

1.  Half the avocados and remove the pits.  Use a spoon to scoop the avocado out of the peel.  Mash the avocado well using either a potato masher or a fork.
2.  Dice the roma tomato, removing the seeds and gooey stuff inside.  Add to the avocado.
3.  Add 1-2 drops of Lime essential oil - you might want to add one drop and then taste.
4.  Season to taste.  I generally add about 1/2 a tsp of each seasoning, but you could add more if your avocados are not very ripe.
5.  Mix well, cover by placing plastic wrap directly on top of the guacamole, not on the top of the bowl.  This will keep it from becoming brown.  Serve chilled.


Super easy and delicious.  Great not only for game day, but for an everyday snack!  Avocados are full of healthy fats and my little ones love this treat.

Make sure the spices you use are high quality and organic!


Want to know how to purchase your own oils?  Check out this information HERE!


As always, please remember that I am a Mama and not a doctor. These things work for us and I am in love with using oily remedies for health in our home and I am excited to share them with you, but please use your best judgement for your own home.