DIY Organic Body Butter

DIY Body Butter

DIY Body Butter

 

 

I have just run out of body butter. This annoys me to no end and lately I have been annoyed at the prices of good quality body butters as well. I like my skin to be smoothed and moisturized just like everyone else but I don’t appreciate paying an arm and a leg for good ingredients. I am not sure why it didn’t occur to me to make my own as I have made plenty of other beauty products. I have almost all of these items at home with the exception of the raw shea butter. I have looked at a bunch of recipes for body butter so below is a compilation of a few I liked best. If you make your own you can customize the scents and as you get better at it you can add other ingredients specific to your skin type. A little goes a long way with making your own so even if the ingredients may be a little costly you can make much more than what you would purchase at a store.

Ingredients:
1 cup Organic Raw Shea Butter
½ cup Organic coconut oil
½ cup Organic almond oil
Several drops essential oils like these Organic Pure Essential Oils Set (a few drops goes a long way so be careful) *Not all essential oils are skin friendly or child friendly. Please do your research before adding.
Glass or plastic jar or canister to put the butter in.

Instructions:
1. Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler.
2. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
3. Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing.
4. Place oil mixture in freezer or outside to chill for 20 minutes.
5. Whip until the mixture has a buttery looking consistency.
6. Put in canister or jar.

Tips:
You can use what ever oils you prefer if you have allergies or preferences, just make sure you keep the ratio recipe ratio is 75% solid to 25% liquid.
The chilling step is the most important. If you don’t let the mixture cool properly, your butter won’t whip correctly or stay whipped. About 20 minutes in the freezer for this recipe works best. Make sure you scrape down the sides before mixing.

Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Best Vitamins

Pet Naturals Daily Best Vitamin

Pet Naturals Daily Best Vitamin

 

 

My little pooch is getting up there in dog years and I recently decided that perhaps vitamins are a good idea to safeguard my baby.   It is just as important for our pets to get their nutrition as it is ourselves.  Pets, just like humans, need help to get much needed nutriants as they get older.  My pooch isn’t necessarily deficient in anything particular so I wanted to find a multivitamin for her.  I have heard good things about Pet Naturals products from some of my pet owning friends and decided to try their Daily Best Vitamin.  My pup has only just had her first vitamin today, I will keep you posted.

Product Description: Daily Best is a balanced, comprehensive, high potency multivitamin/mineral formula to maintain optimal health in dogs. Recommended for dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages and activity levels, it is also beneficial for breeding dogs, pregnant and lactating bitches and stud dogs. It is specifically formulated with a balance of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, digestive enzymes, antioxidants and other factors that work synergistically to maintain the physical well-being of your dog.
Have you tried supplements for your pet? Let me know what brand and what kind!

Deep Rosemary and Mint Organic Bath Soak

Deep Rosemary and Mint Organic Bath Soak

Deep Rosemary and Mint Organic Bath Soak

 

I have been in need of a long bath for quite a while.  Baths are one of my most fave things ever but I never have the time to take a bath and relax the way I really want to.  That being said I am sure there are some of you out there that have that same issue.  I figured while I was dreaming about the most relaxing fabulous bath I have ever wanted to take I would showcase a product that I am also dreaming of with my bath.  The Deep Rosemary and Mint Organic Bath Soak would make my bath all it could ever be.   Both rosemary and mint help relax and revitalize the senses after a long stressful day.  Mint is used in many bath products to open up the senses and help you breathe easier.   Some benefits of rosemary have been said to be that it is a mood elevator, anti-inflammatory, improves memory, migraine relief, pain reliever, immune booster, aids in anti-aging, helps with circulation besides a large list of other things.  Mint is known for helping with digestion, it has been suggested that mint is an anti-cancer herb, antioxidant, cools, treats acne, helps cleanse the blood, relieves congestion and nasal issues, helps relax and soothe the skin.
Ingredients: Organic Breton Sea Salts, Rosemary Organic Essential Oil, Organic Rosemary Sprigs

Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish Review &Give Away Again

Hopscotch Nail Pollish

Hopscotch Nail Polish

 

 

I love nail polish! I change mine all of the time and I really love making it my own. What I don’t like is the smell and chemicals that go into making nail polish. Even my pooches cringe when I am applying. This made me think about a few things, one being what about children? I know mom’s love making their little ones look extra cute by painting their finger and toe nails but are they considering what is actually in the polish might be harmful? I never really did until I went on a mission to find some non-toxic nailpolish brands.  I found Hopscotch Kids Nail polish at Nature’s Basin. Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish comes in 16 incredibly vibrant colors that are super fun!

I tried a bottle of the color Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater to see how it worked. I won’t lie I kind of thought the colors would need many coats to look as thick and vibrant as they do in the bottle but that wasn’t’ the case at all. The polish went on smoothly, the color was gorgeous. It was also easy to remove and didn’t stain my nails. I was glad I tried it. This is a brand we can all feel comfortable using. Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish is also made in the USA!! That is something you know I can get behind! To find Hopscotch and other great products visit Nature’s Basin. Free shipping on orders over $49 and free samples!

Product Description: This natural nail polish is the premier non-toxic, kid-friendly alternative to solvent-based nail polish. The water-based formula is free of the harsh, smelly chemicals that most nail polishes contain, helping condition your little one’s nails with long-lasting, salon quality vibrant color. Hopscotch Kids is free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, nitrocellulose, butyl and ethyl acetates, acetone, FD&C, coal tar and lake colors.

If you want to try your very own bottle of Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish click to enter here and read the contest rules! The contest ends on July 2nd so enter ASAP before it is gone.

Tiare Jasmine Tea Body Milk

Tiare Jasmine Tea Body Milk

Tiare Jasmine Tea Body Milk

Summer sometimes makes your skin dry. You are out in the sun for long periods of time and that definitely takes a toll on your skin with or without sun block.Tiare Jasmine Tea Body Milk seeps in to your skin to nourish and replenish your skin. JUARA Skincare utilizes active botanicals such as rice, tamarind, turmeric, candlenut oil, healing teas and red sandalwood, JUARA combines time-honored recipes for skin health and well-being with the best in modern technology and innovation to deliver efficacious and elegant treatments of the highest quality.

Product Description: Tiare Jasmine Tea Body Milk Evoking the scent of fresh jasmine tea leaves on the hills of Indonesia,this silky body milk combines  antioxidant-rich white, black, and green teas with softening and nourishing oils to quench thirsty skin.
Triple-tea extracts of Green, White and Black teas soothe and calm skin stressed by sun exposure and environmental aggression. A nourishing combination of plant oils (candlenut oil, rice bran oil, avocado oil and illipe butter) soften and moisturize the skin in this milky formulation that absorbs quickly and leaves a signature velvety finish, pleasant to the touch.
Paraben-free. Dermatologist Tested.

What Is Gluten-Free?

I know you have heard a lot about gluten-free and may not know exactly what it is so I have decided to define it for you as well as show you some products that look delish and are gluten free to boot! Maybe you will decide to rid yourself of gluten as well.
I have tried many a gluten free product some good, some awful, and some great. It really is a taste preference. I am sure if you are strict about your gluten you would get used to even the worst tasting of product. Here is Wikipedia’s definition of gluten-free: A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes foods containing gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye, malts and triticale. It is used as a food additive in the form of a flavoring, stabilizing or thickening agent, often as “dextrin”. A gluten-free diet is the only medically accepted treatment for celiac disease, the related condition dermatitis herpetiformis,and wheat allergy.

I went on a little search for some yummy looking gluten-free items so here they are:

Gluten-Free Snack Kit

Gluten-Free Snack Kit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glutino Gluten Free Snack Kit is a perfect way to start off your gluten free diet. All of your major sweet cravings are included so you nothing is left out. I think I am going to get this one for myself it looks that good.

 

 

 

 

 

Risotto Alfredo

Risotto Alfredo

 

 

Lundberg Organic Risotto Alfredo is making my mouth water right now! It may just be the Italian in me but when you say Alfredo I drool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Banana Gluten Free Bars

Chocolate Banana Gluten Free Bars

 

 

 

Glutino Chocolate & Banana Organic Barsis maybe not a flavor everyone enjoys but it is one of my absolute favorites. Banana and chocolate make the world a better place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organic Gummy Bears

Organic Gummy Bears

Let’s Do Organic Gummi Bears Classic are organic and gluten-free! Can you say yummo!! I know the gummy bears are mentioned above but it doesn’t hurt to mention them again.

SleepyTime Tonic

SleepyTime Tonic

Sleepytime Tonic

 

 

As I have mentioned a zillion times my house is full of pets and they are all rescues. I love them all and they are my life but sometimes rescuing an animal does require you to give them a little extra TLC. My animals are also super spoiled because the BF works from home and is with them every waking moment.
That being said the girls have horrendous separation anxiety. We have to lock our puppy in a crate when we leave because she eats holes in walls and furniture which is not good. Our older dog was abandoned in the first year of her life and was chained to a fence for a long period of time before she was rescued so she gets terribly nervous and scared when we leave and for a multitude of reasons when you haven’t left. We have tried training and different products to help but nothing really has worked.
I have written about Happy Tails Spa a few times and feel like I can trust their brand so I went searching to see what they had to help soothe my pooches. I found their Sleepytime Tonic and was excited to try it. I had tried other products like it before and they never really had an effect but I was determined to help my babies. I tried putting the drops directly in the pooches mouths but they didn’t seem to like that too much so I put a few drops on their Frosty Paws treats or in their water and that worked like a charm. I will say I didn’t notice an immediate change the first few times I used it but after a little while the girls definitely started to exhibit a calmer demeanor when we got home. I started giving our older dog a few drops when it would storm out because she really hates that and I have to say she hid under things much less and seemed less bothered by it over all.
I am extremely happy my pooches are having an easier time when we leave them and even happier our older dog seems more relaxed. I hate to see them sad.
Here is a little more about what Sleepytime Tonic does:
Sleepytime Tonic was developed to relax and calm an over-anxious dog. The blend of all natural ingredients address underlying predispositions and weaknesses which cause the anxiety. If you have a nervous dog, an overactive puppy or simply want to calm down a hyper hound Sleepytime will do the trick. It does not sedate your dog it simply calms them down.
To learn more about Sleepy Time Tonic and Happy Tails Spa click here! Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.  You don’t want to miss out on awesome stuff for your pet!

Cocoon Facial Cleanser

Petal Purity
Petal Purity

 

 You must know I love body scrubs because I write about exfoliating all of the time! I generally like to make my own but sometimes you don’t have time for a fresh beauty treatment so you must go to the next best thing! If you have to purchase a cosmetic or beauty product make sure you are choosing a responsible one. Remember whatever ingredients are in the product are going in and on your body. I know the words are difficult to sometimes understand on the back of the bottle but that should be the first clue that maybe you should rethink using that product. Cocoon Apothecary has a wide variety of skin care products that are perfect for the green beauty inside all of us.  You can see for yourself in their ingredient listings.  Nothing crazy in there.  You can pronounce all of the ingredients and probably have seen most of them in nature. I am actually drawn to the site simply because I think it is pretty. It is simple and almost elegant much like their products. No flashy designs or adds to confuse the customer, their products speak for themselves which speaks volumes about the kind of business Cocoon Apothecary really is.

Product Description:

This gentle exfoliating cleanser combines the purifying powers of lavender and geranium with spherical jojoba beads to remove dead skin cells and keep pores clean and clear. This facial cleanser is for all skin types so don’t be afraid to give it a try.

BENEFITS:

•Promotes skin-cell turnover, a process that slows down with aging.
•Keeps skin pimple-free by keeping pores clear and unclogged.
•A gentle formula that can be used daily as a scrub and a cleanser.

KEY INGREDIENTS:

•Jojoba Beads Non-abrasive beads that gently exfoliate skin.
•Lavender Essential Oil Anti-bacterial, healing, combats acne.
•Geranium Essential Oil Astringent, balancing.

GOOD STUFF:

•Biodegradable with eco-friendly beads
•Cruelty-free and vegan
•Made with certified organics
•Rated 0 on the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic Database
•Amber glass bottle, corn label, pre-cycled pump and cap

INGREDIENTS:

Distilled water, certified organic sweet almond oil, jojoba beads, certified organic virgin coconut oil, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, vegetable glycerin, certified organic geranium essential oil, certified organic lavender essential oil, sodium anisate, sodium levulinate, sodium cetearyl sulfate, rosemary leaf extract.

organic skin care

Ecoist Pink Hope Collection

Ecoist Pink Hope Collection

Ecoist Pink Hope Collection

 

 

 

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Ecoist in all of their awesomeness has made a collection just for it! Ecoist has committed to donating between 1 and 5 % of profits to the Breast Cancer Fund.
As a women and having two women in my family who have had breast cancer it is of constant importance to myself and others around me to be aware and to help support the cause as much as I can. Have you don’t your part this month? If not purchase yourself or someone you love one of the adorable bags from Ecoist’s Pink Hope Collection. You will look cute as well as feel good about your purchase. You can get your very own Pink Hope Bag by clicking here!

New Face For Eggs

New Face for Eggs

New Face of Eggs

Ingredients:

* Organic Free Range Hard-boiled eggs
* Organic Round crackers (any shape will do but round tends to be the easiest shape)
* Organic Vegetable and herb garnishes
* Organic Cold cuts, organic pepperoni or organic bacon (vegetarian options also)
* Organic or non-dairy cheese (sliced or grated anything that will add some fun)
* Condiments (mustard, mayo, ketchup, Sriracha anything to add the fun)

Directions:

1. Slice hard boiled eggs evenly and thinly.
2. Place the egg slices on crackers
3. Place out the herbs, garnishes, veggies, cheeses, meats or anything else you want to use for decorating.
4. Have fun, be creative and go healthy!

How are these for a super fun snack? Let your kids be creative and healthy while doing it!  Not all children may like eggs so lunch meats can be a great alternative! Allergies are always an issue too but these days there are excellent substitutes. Keeping your children interested in being healthy is a constant challenge so do what you can to keep them having fun with their food.

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