Fabulous Fall Foot Scrub

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There are certain spices/scents out there that scream 'fall' to me:  cinnamon, pumpkin, clove, orange, you get the picture.  I've been trying to find a way to really incorporate the 'real thing' into some of my beauty products without it seeming overwhelming.  The following recipe is what I have come up with.

The basics:

Equal parts of Ground oats

Cornmeal

Coarse Salt

Olive oil

(For this particular recipe I used 1 Cup of each ingredient)

This is the base for almost all of my foot scrubs.  The result is a semi firm consistency with excellent scrubbing action

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The fall addition combination:

 

1 tsp. ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Orange essential oil

2 drops Cinnamon essential oil

2 drops Clove essential oil

Simply blend all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container. 

One amazing benefit of this combination is that cinnamon and clove have antibacterial and antifungal properties which make them perfect for use on your feet.  The addition of the orange oil adds antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties as well as being an uplifting scent.

****Essential oil benefits listed for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any of your ailments.  Please seek a physicians advice.****

Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub

So, we are soon coming to the end of another summer and we want to make these last few weeks last.  How about pampering yourself with a bit of the tropics?  Nothing feels as silky smooth as skin that has just gone through a vigorous sugar scrub.  And nothing smells more tropical than coconut.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have.  This stuff smells good enough to eat!

1/4 C. Coconut oil, melted
1 Tbs. Grape seed oil
1 C. white sugar (can always substitute if you prefer)
1 Tbs. shredded coconut
15 drops Lime essential oil

Melt your coconut oil and combine with the grapeseed oil.  Stir in remaining ingredients and store in an airtight container.  To use:  rub into your skin gently while bathing or showering and enjoy.

*this particular recipe has a firmer consistency than most sugar scrubs as the coconut oil becomes a solid state in temps under 76 degrees.  If you live in warmer climates and/or prefer a more liquid consistency simply adjust the coconut and grape seed oils accordingly.

 

Kids Body Spray

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I have two tween girls and both of them love all of the bath and body products at the retail stores.  However, I run into two major problems when shopping for them.  1.  kids fragrance choices can be limited.  Sure, they can wear the adult smelling fragrances but, what fun is that? 2.  Have you seen the list of ingredients in each bottle?  Can you name them? 

Now, my recipe is not 'all natural'.  I do use fragrance oils for my children.  But, if you check the ingredients list on the bottles of the stuff you buy, fragrance oils is just one of the ingredients.  They still add a multitude of other un-pronounce-ables on top of the fragrance.  Totally unnecessary!

As of today (tweens are constantly changing their minds), their favorite scent is cotton candy.  It is sweet smelling with a hint of vanilla.  How can you possibly go wrong?  What are the ingredients you ask? 

6 oz. distilled water
1 Tbs. Modified fragrance oil  (see post here).  We used cotton candy fragrance oil from wholesale supplies plus.

Just shake it up once, place in a pretty spray/mist bottle and you are good to go.  Easy peasy, huh?  And did I mention cheap and easy to make?  Now you have no reason to go out and buy the expensive stuff.

*I am in no way affiliated with wholesale supplies plus nor am I compensated in any way from them.  I truly enjoy their products and believe they offer an excellent product. Opinion expressed is solely my own.*

Wax Tarts plus Giveaway.

I am addicted to all things smelly.  (good smelly, that is) Whether its soaps, lotions, candles, body sprays.......I love them all.  I have found ways to make the majority of these products on my own that are all natural or as close to natural as I can.  The fewer the ingredients the better.

And I have a confession.  I am a hoarder.....of said smelly things and the ingredients that make them.  And it all started with a simple wax tart.  You know, the ones you buy at specialty stores for about $2 a pop? Or $5 for a clam shell? Well, you CAN make them cheaper at home and get just as much joy out of them.  They make great gifts too.

Recipe:  Soy wax (natural and sustainable)

               Fragrance

               I choose not to use any artificial coloring but you can.

Ratio:  1oz of fragrance oil per pound of wax.

Directions:  Melt wax.  This can be done in the microwave.  Check the flash point for your fragrance.  It should be listed on the bottle.  This point is where the fragrance will start to burn off.  When you add your fragrance oil to the wax, make sure the temperature is BELOW the flash point.  Stir ingredients together.  Pour into silicone mold and pop out once solid to be used at any time.

****GIVEAWAY!  I am giving away 1 clam shell (6 small tarts) of either black cherry or blueberry cobbler (your choice) to one person to see just how easy it is to do yourself (and because I just like to give gifts). Rules are you must be a follower and/or comment on this post.  I will select a winner at random on July 4th.  (hence the red and blue fragrances)  Good luck!****

Peach Poppy Flowers Soap

I love it when I can buy a soap making kit and my actual product comes out looking just like the photo on the website.  This has been one of the very few occasions where it has.  Best of all, its melt and pour soap, so its perfect for beginner soapmakers (and kids with parent supervision) not wanting to handle lye. And the scent is super fresh and fruity; perfect for summer.

Web photo:

My photo:

Want to buy the kit?  Here is the link.

***I am in no way affiliated with wholesale supplies plus nor am I paid for this post.  Views expressed are solely my opinion.***

Stretching Your Vanilla Beans

I have recently started making my own vanilla extract for a multitiude of reasons:  its easy, its economical and I can control the ingredients.  Check your bottles; there is actually added sugar in there.  Vanilla beans can be expensive so the best option I have found are these ones from amazon:  Premium Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Beans - 1/2 lb. - Approx. 54 beans.  I have more beans than I know what to do with so I have been trying to do some research and experimenting with ways to stretch these beauties to get the most for my money. Out of the same beans/pods I can do the following four things:

1.  Vanilla extract-cut the beans down the middle and soak 3 beans per 8oz. of vodka  for approx. 2 months.  You can always continue to  add more vodka every time you use half the bottle to have a never ending supply.
2.  Grind the beans up and add them to a vanilla sugar/salt scrub.
3.  Let the beans dry out and add them to your sugar for vanilla scented sugar.
4.  Once the beans have lost most of their fragrance you can grind them up and add them to your coffee grounds when making coffee.  The flavor is subtle and smooth and always yummy. 
5.  Take that same dried bean pod and grind it up to use in your own melt and pour soap recipes.  It will add a slight vanilla aroma but also some "grit" for extra scrubbing. 

I'm sure there are many other uses for these crazy pods.  I would love to hear yours.  I keep thinking there may be a new cleaning product in my future for these things.  Carpet deodorizer with baking soda???  I'm working on it.  Please share your creations.  I still have a ton of these beans!

Vapor Rub

Vapo-rub 

  While this recipe is simple, it is very effective and contains ZERO petroleum products.

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While you, most definately, could turn this recipe into a salve, I chose not too for a few reasons.  Beeswax is just one more ingredient that you have to buy and, honestly, I hate the sticky feeling left on me from the salves.  Its just a personal preference.

You will need a dropper bottle for storage.  The one pictured here is from specialty bottle.  You can usually find them in drug stores by the medical section as well.  You do not want clear glass.  Clear glass allows light into it which can make the oils go rancid much quicker.  O.k.  Enough of the talk.  Here is the recipe.

Vapo-rub

20 drops peppermint essential oil

50 drops eucalyptus essential oil

4 drops tea tree essential oil

6 drops rosemary essential oil

4 tsp.  Almond oil

Funnel these ingredients into your dropper bottle, replace the cap, and shake gently.  That's it!  To apply, just place a small amount onto a cotton ball and rub on your chest and neck.  My kids love this stuff cause it smells so much better than the store bought.  I hope you have success with your own as well.

Bath Bomb Basics

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Bath bombs are always a treat.  But they can come with a hefty price tag. That's why I want to share with you how to make your own. While I have made my bath bombs whole, most of the time I like to make them in halves.  They get stretched a little bit further and it leaves me the option of adding more bombs if I need it while not wasting any if I don't.  So, here ya go:

My Basic Bath Bomb Recipe

8 oz. Baking Soda
4 oz. Citric acid
4 oz. Corn Starch
4 oz. Epsom Salts
4 Tbs. Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp. Vitamin E. Oil (optional)

Mix all the dry Ingredients except the citric acid.  In a separate container melt your coconut oil if it is in its solid state and combine it with your vitamin e. oil if you choose to use it.  Its a great skin conditioner but not necessary for the bomb to work.  Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients and start to combine.  Lastly, add the citric acid.  The reason you wait for the citric acid is so that it has less opportunity to react and begin to 'fizz' when you don't want it to.  When you pick up a handful of the mixture in your hands and squeeze it, if it stays in its form, it is ready to mold.  If it crumbles, you may need to add more oil, no more than 1/2 tsp. at a time.  Pack very tightly into your molds and release gently.  Let them sit for at least 24 hours to harden before you take them out of their molds.  I hope my directions are clear. Enjoy your bath!

Summer Bath Salts

I am a sucker for all things that remind me of my childhood years and this recipe reminds me of  those infamous orange push pops.  I have made more things than I can count with this essential oil blend.  This is too good not to share:

2 cups epsom salt
1 cup dead sea salt (I used pink himalayan)
20 drops vanilla essential oil
20 drops orange essential oil
1-2 tablespoons of carrier oil (almond, grapeseed, etc.)

Simply combine the ingredients above  in a container and give it a really good stir and shake to make sure the oils are well dispersed.  Add the mixture to your bath.  Then, just relax and enjoy!