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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Oil of the Month Club

Have you signed up for the Oil of the Month Club 
at Spark Naturals, yet?  
 This is the BEST deal!  And, an awesome way to start your EO collection.  It's an inexpensive way to build up your arsenal of essential oils.  And, as you begin to use essential oils, you'll want to have a lot of different ones on hand.

When you sign up you will get a 15 ml bottle of essential oil at the same time every month for only $15.99 and that includes shipping.  
What an incredible deal!

Below are the oils that you get each month in the Oil of the Month Club.  

Click on the name of the essential oil and it will take you directly to Spark Naturals site for more information about that particular essential oil.  

Also, below each picture is the price for the oil. 

January – Cassia
Price $17.10
 
February – Peppermint
Price $18.45
 
March – Bergamot
Price $24.75
 
April – Oregano
Price $21.50
 
May – Lavender
Price $18.90
 
June – Geranium
Price $24.30
 
July – Basil
Price $18.00
 
August – Shield
Price $28.80
 
September – Melaleuca
Price $17.10
 
October – White Fir
Price $18.00
 
November – Coriander
Price $23.40
 
December – Respire
 Price $18.00


As you can see the Oil of the Month Club really is a STEAL!!

What are you waiting for?

In this post....wherever it says Oil of the Month Club...it's a link to sign up.  So click away and get started building up your supply of essential oils.  

You'll be so glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

TummyEase--For All Digestive Discomforts

This blend works well for any type of 
stomach/colon issues, including tummy upset, indigestion, diarrhea, stomach pain, heartburn/acid reflux, gas/flatulence issues, nausea or vomiting.  It may also help with feelings of anxiety which tend to exacerbate indigestion troubles.
We roll this on the bottoms of our feet and clockwise around our belly button.  When it's a heartburn/acid reflux issue, I also roll on my neck on either side of my throat.  ooohhh, it eases that burn so nicely and soooo much better and faster than medications!

And, if you are out in public and it's a little difficult to be discreet and lift your shirt to roll clockwise around your belly button....then try it on your wrists.  Be sure to smell it, too.

TummyEase Concentrate
5 drops ginger essential oil
5 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops wild orange essential oil
6 drops basil essential oil
5 drops ylang ylang essential oil
3 drops frankincense essential oil
Mix this up in a 5 ml empty.

Then place 8 drops in a 1/6 oz roller bottle
and fill with fractionated coconut oil
or
Place 15 drops in a 1/3 oz. roller bottle and fill with fractionated coconut oil
I just put the essential oil drops into the bottle in the order listed and then fill to the top with fractionated coconut oil. As with all blends, give the bottle a little shake each time you use it.


Ginger works well against diarrhea, gas/flatulence, indigestion, nausea, morning sickness, vomiting

Peppermint works well against diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, irritable bowel, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting

Wild Orange works well against sluggish digestion, nervousness, heartburn, diarrhea

Basil works well against abdominal cramps, digestive issues, anxiety, intestinal problems, vomiting

Ylang Ylang works well against indigestion, stomachaches, anxiety, intestinal problems

Frankincense works well against ulcers, diarrhea, nervous conditions, heartburn/acid reflux

Make up a roller bottle and try TummyEase today!  You'll be glad you did!

If you don't have all of these essential oils on hand, you can purchase this blend at Sonshine Botanicals.

Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn

 All of these essential oils, fractionated coconut oil and the roller bottle can be purchased at Spark Naturals.
Use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

ENERGIZE Me! Scrub

This is an incredible body scrub!  

Not only does it smell fabulous, but it really wakes you up in the morning and energizes you!!  

It is almost as good as having that first cup of morning coffee!

I first saw this scrub: Mint Java Body Scrub over at Creating Naturally and knew I had to try it (I mean, who wouldn't with a name like that, right?)  And, Mindy graciously allowed me to use her recipe and blog about it, too.  Thank you, Mindy. 

So, I tried it---oooh how wonderful it smells!!  

However, it was a little too runny and I wasn't very fond of having my bathtub or shower full of coffee grounds at the end! But, I really could excuse that and did...and kept using it.  I was so ENERGIZED after my bath and my skin felt so good and I smelled good!!
 
But, I got to thinking how to get rid of the coffee grounds and still have the flavor and energy from the coffee and a nice scrubby feel when using it.

So, I decided to steep the grounds in the almond oil.  I had no idea how long to do this to get a full coffee aroma.  Finally decided that I would leave it for two weeks and then strain out the grounds.

I did it and then added more sugar to the recipe to keep the scrubby feel since you lose some of that without the grounds in there.


ENERGIZE Me! Scrub

First
Steep 1/2 cup of sweet almond oil with 1 cup of coffee grounds in a glass jar for two weeks.

2 Weeks Later: 

2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar
30 drops peppermint essential oil
1/2 cup coffee flavored sweet almond oil

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together (inhale the yummy aroma!)  Be ENERGIZED!!

This will make about 3 - 8 oz. containers of scrub.  You could put this scrub into 4 oz. jars and make it go further.  

This scrub would make awesome gifts.  In fact, I made it and gave them all away...so fast in fact...that I don't have a picture of the scrub itself to show you.  And....I'm still waiting on my next batch to finish steeping so I can whip it up!!

RUN for the shower with your jar.  Don't let anyone else smell it or use it...or you won't have anymore.  Be sure to hide it and don't tell anyone about it....

um...
I mean make a double or triple batch, share it with the world, make another batch and another...and let's all unite with  
ENERGIZE Me! Scrub!

 Wouldn't you like some today??!!

Bummer, it takes 2 weeks to steep those grounds in the almond oil.  You might could do it for less time...or, you could possibly just click over to the Sonshine Botanicals store and purchase it...then you'll have it in just a few days!  How's that?!!

Or if you don't care about coffee grounds in your shower or bathtub...use Mindy's recipe!

I think it's a total win/win situation!
:)

Now, why should you use this scrub...besides the fact that it smells so yummy??

The sweet almond oil is moisturizing to your skin.
The antioxidants in coffee help to rid your skin of toxins.
The caffeine increases circulation and reduces water retention.
The caffeine also stimulates your blood flow by dilating the vessels and that will tone and tighten your skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
 The sugar exfoliates your skin.
The peppermint essential oil cools and refreshes the skin and elevates the senses. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn

Don't forget you can purchase the sweet almond oil and the peppermint essential oil at Spark Naturals.
Be sure to use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount.
Lovely Ladies Linky
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Sunday, September 8, 2013

ReFresh--A DIY Sanitizing, Deodorizing, Cleaning Blend

Are you tired of several different cleaning blends for each and every area of your house?  

Me, too.  

Too many different things to make, etc.  
I love how this blend will work for so many different things--not everything, mind you....but there are a lot of different uses for ReFresh.


This is a great all-purpose, cleansing blend of essential oils.  It has sanitizing, purifying and deodorizing properties.


ReFresh Concentrate
6 drops Cilantro essential oil
8 drops Citronella essential oil
20 drops Lemon essential oil
31 drops White Fir essential oil
13 drops Lime essential oil
7 drops Melaleuca essential oil

This will give you 85 drops of oils and will fill an empty 5 ml essential oil bottle.

ReFresh Spray Cleaner
Add 35 or more drops to a 16 oz. bottle of vinegar for an all-purpose cleaner.

**Use this as an antiseptic/antibacterial/anti-viral cleaner and wipe down countertops, kitchen table, doorknobs, refrigerator (especially the handles), front of dishwasher, stove handles, microwave, outside of toilets, inc. 

**This spray blend works well on windows, too.

**We used it to get rid of the mold on our grill...inside and out.
  
 **It's a great cleaner for all things mold and dirt that covers your outdoor lawn furniture after a really wet summer.

**Spray it in trash cans to get rid of odor.

**Spray on carpet where puppy thinks it's the potty area. Make sure to sop up all the pee first.  It cleans and gets rid of the odor.  I typically spray in the area once a week to keep the fresh EO smell so puppy won't "go" there again.

 **A great deodorizing spray for bags (like duffel or gym bags).

**Use it as a Fe-breeze type spray on furniture!

Other Uses:
We mix ReFresh with witch hazel and spray in stinky shoes every night for a wonderful "Stinky Feet No More" Spray (click link to see blog post about this one).  

Diffuse ReFresh in rooms that have an odd odor and in vehicles. 

Place a few drops of ReFresh in the rinse cycle of your laundry.  I use vinegar in my rinse dispenser and just add a few drops of ReFresh in with it.

Add a spray top to the 5 ml ReFresh bottle and you have an instant anti-itch spray....we call it "Stop that Itch"!!  You can use witch Hazel for a carrier, if needed.

And...
when you think you've encountered poison ivy.  Just spray it on and rub it in...rub on your flip flops, too.  It stops poison ivy in it's tracks!! 


Each of the oils properties are:
Cilantro is antibacterial

Citronella is antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, tonic and stimulant

Lemon is antiseptic, antidepressant, antifungal, antiviral, astringent

White Fir is analgesic, antiseptic, and stimulant

Lime is antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, restorative and tonic

Melaleuca is analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-infectious.



Mix up some ReFresh today!  I think you'll be glad you did! 
   
Most of these oils can be purchased at Spark Naturals.
Use code "Sonshine" for a 10% discount.

Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn 

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Cold & Cough Chest Salve

I've made this stuff for years and it really works!  

We use Cold/Cough Chest Salve on the bottoms of our feet, upper lip, neck and chest when we feel like we might be coming down with something and most times we can knock it out overnight before it becomes anything!  YAY!  

It will help to clear sinuses...you can rub right over the bridge of your nose.

Runny, yucky, icky nose...bottoms of feet and upper lip.

Sore throat...just rub down side of the neck

It really does knock out a cough...rub liberally on chest area and upper lip!!

Sometimes we don't catch it quick enough and we do get sick...but this sure relieves the symptoms and helps us sleep better.  

I decided to use Rebecca's salve recipe from Camp Wander this time.  I love the coconut oil and olive oil in this instead of the dreaded vegetable oil that I used to use...Oh my!!  (What was I thinking?)

This batch is a little bit softer than I normally like...so I will probably add more beeswax next time.
(I did already increase to 5 T).  It will still work, though! :)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup virgin coconut oil
5 T. beeswax
40 drops peppermint essential oil
40 drops eucalyptus essential oil
40 drops lemon essential oil
40 drops melaleuca essential oil
10 drops Shield essential oil blend (clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary)

I use a double boiler and add the oils and beeswax.  Set it on a medium-low heat to melt the beeswax.  Once melted I take it off the burner, move the double boiler to sit in an empty pan and add the essential oils.  Stir and then pour.

This makes approximately 4 - 4 oz. jars of salve.

Uses for Peppermint include:
asthma, bacterial infections, fever, flu, MRSA, sinusitis, throat infections, bronchitis.

Properties:
analgesic (for pain), antibacterial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral

Uses include: asthma, bronchitis, congestion, coughs, expectorant, fever, flu, pneumonia, respiratory viruses, sinusitis, hay fever

Properties:
analgesic, antibacterial, anticatarrhal (inflammation of mucous membranes) anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, expectorant

Uses include: colds, dry throat, fever, flu, throat infection, tonsillitis, asthma, MRSA

Properties:
antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant

Uses include: allergies, bacterial infections, bronchitis, colds, coughs, ear infection, earache, flu, MRSA, sore throat, staph infection, tonsillitis, viral infections

Properties:
analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antiviral, decongestant, expectorant, immune stimulant

Uses include: bacterial infections, breathing, stimulates the immune system, infection, pneumonia, viral infections, fever, fungal infections, bronchitis, flu, sinusitis, cholera

Properties:
analgesic, antibacterial, anticatarrhal, antifungal, anti-infectious, antioxidant, expectorant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, antiviral, immune stimulant
 source:  Modern Essentials, 4th Edition

All of these essential oils can be purchased at Spark Naturals!
Use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount.

Make some up...you'll be glad you did!!  I'd love for you to come back and comment once you've made it!  Let me know what you think and let others know, too!

And, if you don't have all the ingredients, you can purchase Cold/Cough Chest Salve via paypal through Sonshine Botanicals rather than making it yourself.

Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn 

Check out all the great posts at the 103rd Wildcrafting Wednesday!
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The Chicken ChickLovely Ladies Linky
Healthy2day Wednesdays 
 
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