Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Detox Project: Easy Sea Salt Face & Body Spray






 This is by far one of the easiest (and cheapest) of the detox projects I have done thus far, and I was amazed at the results!  I have "hormonal" skin, (i.e. acne), and for the past month I have sprayed this on my face after showering or before bed every night.  It has cleared up my acne better than all OTC and prescription creams I have tried - no joke.  And it smells great, which is another added benefit!  Give it a try - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.  The recipe is originally from this website, but I re-wrote it below the way I made it for the sake of ease. 
Easy Sea Salt Face & Body Spray    
1 cup pre-boiled (heated to almost boiling) or distilled water        
1 Tablespoon sea salt
1 generous pinch Epsom salt
10 to 20 drops lavender essential oil           

Directions: Add the salts to the water while it is warm.  Then let the water cool if you are using a plastic spray bottle.  Pour the water and salt mixture into the spray bottle and add essential oils at the end.  Shake well.        






Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Oatmeal Energy Ball Recipe




This is possibly the best energy ball recipe I have found!  Unfortunately, I scribbled it on a piece of paper after seeing it on Facebook, so I have no idea where it came from.  They are delicious, however, and have been given rave reviews in my house by adults and children alike.  The recipe takes about 10 minutes from start to finish, and the last batch I made lasted in the fridge for approximately 3 weeks.  Too good not to give them a try!


Oatmeal Energy Ball Recipe

1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup almond butter (or peanut butter, but I prefer the taste of the almond butter)
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract

*Optional ingredients include coconut or dried cranberries.*

Directions:  Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Form into balls with clean hands (if your hands get too sticky, you will have a hard time).  Place in an airtight container in the fridge.  *Makes approximately 20 balls.*

Friday, July 12, 2013

Detox Project: Homemade Bug Spray!

I never had to use bug spray growing up, since I was a city girl, and city girls don't need bug spray.  However, after having children and moving to a house with a heavily wooded yard, I found myself in dire need of some.  The problem is, I refuse to use the chemical-laden kind available at the stores.  So, in that case, what's a city-girl-turned-country-girl to do?  MAKE HER OWN!  I found a great recipe on this website, and it has variations depending on the types of essential oils you have on hand.  Due to it being a very rainy summer around here, the mosquitoes are breeding quite rapidly and plentifully.  So, I doused myself with this bug spray just last night and went out to the woods at dusk.  I couldn't believe it, but it actually worked!  Not a single mosquito bite, despite the fact that I was practically in a swarm of them for at least a half hour.  Give it a try!  Next spring, I'm definitely going to make the more powerful Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent variation. 

This is what I used:

1/2 Cup boiled or distilled water
1/2-3/4 Cup witch hazel
30 drops lavender essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil

There are more variations of essential oils that you can use here.  Give it a try!