Jeddy's Blend

Have you ever tried Jeddy's Blend?  If not, you're missing out!

We use it when my kids are wild and I need them to focus.

We use it when I've had a stressful day and just need to calm down.

We use it when my daughter has some anxiety before an oral school report.

We use it to help our kids wind down at bedtime if they seem to be having a hard time calming down.

It's also great to put in the diffuser!  We diffuse it in the kitchen and it benefits the whole family.

I've heard fantastic reports of other ways it has helped families....click here for more information and testimonials.

http://jeddysblend.blogspot.com/

You can purchase Jeddy's Blend at Spark Naturals.  Don't forget code "sonshine" for a 10% discount.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dawn

Fall Giveaway 2--Winner

Congratulations, Jessica!

You have 24 hours to provide me with your contact information!

Thanks for stopping by,

Dawn

Another Fall GIVEAWAY

SURPRISE!  Another GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY Ends Wednesday, October 22 at 9:00 p.m. CDT

Please be sure to leave a comment on this post.  

Winner will have 24 hours to give me contact information.

Thanks for stopping by

Dawn 

Fall GIVEAWAY!

It's GIVEAWAY time! 

One winner will receive:

1  5 ml bottle of Shield Essential Oil Blend from Spark Naturals

1  micro mini roller bottle (out of stock)

1 spritzer

Shield Essential Oil Blend is a proprietary blend from Spark Naturals.  It's a fabulous blend for your diffuser, roller bottle, spritzer or sprays.  Shield is a great protective blend.  It's made up of the essential oils of clove, cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary.

From Spark Natural's website:  Spark Naturals is pleased to present this ancient blend based upon legend. The legend has its roots in 15th century England during the time of the great plague. Grave robbers thieves developed their own blend of Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary to protect them while robbing the plague victims.  

We use this blend in our DIY hand soap, our hand sanitizer and our Germs Aside.

All of these items are available from Spark Naturals and if you use code "sonshine" at check out you'll receive a 10% discount.

 TO ENTER The GIVEAWAY:

Just post a comment below telling how you would use these items.

So simple!

Now go....

Winner will be randomly chosen on Monday, October 13th at 9:00 p.m. Central.  The winner's name will be announced on the blog and Facebook page:
The GRAY Area

 Winner will have 24 hours to contact me with name and address.

Thanks for stopping by The GRAY Area

Dawn

Ringworm--Day 18 Update

Well, we are at Day 18 of this nasty ringworm. Here's a picture update....

The angry red has lessened and it is drying up.  It's just taking longer than I would like.  I think the "Slip Away" blend is very effective.  We are keeping at it.  My biggest problem with this is consistency...and keeping him from playing in the dirt.

See prior posts→

Say Goodbye to Ringworm

Say Goodbye to Ringworm Day 2

Ringworm Day 3 and 4

Ringworm Update Day 9

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment on this post.  

Thanks for Stopping by:

Dawn

Ringworm Update--Day 9 and Nose Ouch

Today is day 9 of the Ringworm saga....it's drying up!  On day 7, I added 6 drops of Melaleuca to the blend.  Over the past weekend it was hit or miss (mostly miss) in applying the blend to Judah's arm. 

Here's the new recipe:

"Slip Away" Ringworm Blend

 2 drops Oregano 
2 drops Thyme 
3 drops Lavender 
4 drops Geranium 
6 drops Melaleuca 

Add drops to a 1/3 oz. roller bottle and fill the rest of the way with Fractionated Coconut Oil.  Apply 3-5 times per day.  Remember, ringworm is highly contagious.  Do not share.  If you have multiple people who need to use this blend, make up a bottle for each person.

Remember to purchase quality essential oils from Spark Naturals.  Use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount on your order.

We had to make a quick trip to the doctor yesterday due to a nasty fall and face plant in the concrete (think ouch to the nose).  It swelled up so fast and bled and bled....so we went to have it checked out.  

About 20 min. after happened 

Judah wasn't quite acting like himself either.  A little lethargic and no talking, no noise whatsoever.  If you know Judah...that is NOT like him at all.  Doc was a little concerned also and wanted us to go for a CT Scan.  As he left the room we were in to go and schedule it, Judah started talking again.  Then, he started playing.  When the doctor came in to tell me about the scan, Judah started running around me in circles making noise (like usual).  The doctor said, aha! it was the threat of the scan and now he's acting like normal (lol!).  We say Jesus is a mighty healer!

 At doc's office-Judah wanted to see what it looked like, so I took a pic so he could see

So, we decided no scan after all.  Just take him home and watch him for signs of concussion.  Once we got to Nanny Boo Boo and Poppie's house for dinner, he was totally fine.  The swelling was even miraculously going down.  We prayed a lot and God answered our prayers!  

Rebecca from Camp Wander suggested Lavender, Cypress and Frankincense when I was in a panic and holding a crying child and couldn't get to my books or think straight to decide what to do for his nose.  Thank you, Rebecca!  I do not have any Cypress so used Lavender, Lemongrass and Frankincense in a roller bottle and am rolling it on his nose.

 This morning.  So thankful!  It only looks like a scrape, now with just a little swelling.

So silly!

All of that to say, I had the doctor look at the ringworm on his arm.  He just said "yep, it's ringworm."  I'll call in a cream for you.  

We are going to keep going with the essential oils for a little longer.  Let's get this to clear up without the cream! I've got to stay consistent with this.  So, I'm setting a timer to remind me to keep applying.

It's actually redder than it has been, but it's drying up.  Between treatments of the Slip Away Ringworm Blend it's really dry and almost peeling. 

Day 9
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Original and follow up posts:

 Say Goodbye to Ringworm
Say Goodbye to Ringworm--Day 2 

 Say Goodbye to Rinworm--Day 3 and 4

Say Goodbye to Ringworm--Day 3 & 4

Good morning all!

This is just an update from my original post here→Say Goodbye to Ringworm

I'm just going to post pictures to compare.

Day 4

 Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

It's looking pretty red and raw.  But, it's also looking like it's starting to dry up.  So, we are keeping at it.  He's a rough and tumble boy and has been playing in the dirt a lot.  Not sure that's helping any--lol!

I've started rolling the Cold and Flu Bomb on the bottom of his feet several times a day, too. 

Cold & Flu Bomb
Oregano
Melaleuca
Shield
 
I put 2 drops of each essential oil in a 1/3 oz. roller bottle and filled to top with fractionated coconut oil. We roll on the bottoms of our feet.

The Cold and Flu Bomb Kit can be purchased at Spark Naturals.  Use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Love My Morning Smoothie!

What do you eat for breakfast?  

I'm usually a "coffee drinker and skip the breakfast kinda gal". 

However, I'm realizing that is not the best thing for my body, and....it's not a great example for my kids.  So, I've started making smoothies.  

I found this mix from Bulk Herb Store called Erin's Green Drink Mix.

This mix is chock full o vitamins!

Here's what the Bulk Herb Store website has to say about this mix:

Contains Very Small Amount of Natural Caffeine: Alfalfa, Barley Grass, Beet Root, Bilberry Fruit, Burdock Root, Chamomile Flowers, Cinnamon, Dandelion Leaf, Fennel Seed , Ginkgo Leaf, Eleuthero Root, Green Tea , Hawthorn Berry, Kelp, Lemon Peel Nutritional Yeast, Oatstraw Olive Leaf, Orange Peel Passion Flower, Red Raspberry, Rose Hips, Spinach Leaf, Spirulina, St. John's Wort, Nettle Leaf, Turmeric root and Wheat Grass.

After much research, I developed a Super Green Smoothie Mix that contains 28 different herbs that contain a balance of nutrition that tops any multivitamin you can buy on the market for literally half the price.

I make a smoothie with bananas, kale, frozen strawberries and blueberries and some 100% cranberry juice and 2 tsp of Erin's Green Drink Mix.  Some mornings I will add fresh mango if I have any.

It is sooo yummy!  Now, if I can just get my kids to drink one, too.  They see me put the kale in it and refuse to drink it.  We'll keep working on it. :)

Do you make smoothies?  What do you put in yours?

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

I am an affiliate for Bulk Herb Store and if you click on any of the links in this post and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

I linked up at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home....check out all the great posts! 

Say Goodbye to Ringworm--Day 2

Original Post:  Say Goodbye to Ringworm

Day 1

 

Day 2

We remembered to roll the "Slip Away" Ringworm Blend on 3 times yesterday.  Will try to do more today.

He also played in the dirt some more yesterday, which was probably NOT a good thing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Say Goodbye to Ringworm

Well, this is a new experience for me.  I've never had ringworm and none of my kids have ever had ringworm...until I noticed this, yesterday.....

Judah's right wrist

So, I've been researching the essential oils that will effectively fight this fungus. 

I've come up with a blend that we will start using today and I will keep you updated with daily pics.

Some information about ringworm:

It's a fungal infection

It's highly contagious

Doctors recommend using a topical over-the-counter anti-fungal cream
You shouldn't share towels or bedding with an infected person

It can take up to 2 weeks or even longer for the infection to clear.

Ringworm can be transmitted by pets, other humans, or soil.  

hmmmm...my kids have been playing in a bunch of dirt we just brought in as we are expanding our Christmas tree farm parking lot.

They've been digging, making forts, moving dirt and just having a grand old time! Who knows if this could be the culprit or not.

No anti-fungal creams in use here.  Let's see how our essential oils take care of this.  

"Slip Away" Ringworm Blend:

 (My daughter, Hannah, likes the name cuz you know, worms are slimy, right?)

2 Oregano

2 Thyme

3 Lavender

4 Geranium

Add drops to a 1/3 oz. roller bottle and fill the rest of the way with Fractionated Coconut Oil.  Apply 3-5 times per day.  Remember, ringworm is highly contagious.  Do not share.  If you have multiple people who need to use this blend, make up a bottle for each person. 

Remember to purchase quality essential oils from Spark Naturals.  Use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount on your order.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn 

Essential Oils to the Rescue!

Yesterday something really cool happened....well, um....it wasn't a good thing...but we found out something really interesting, cool, and informational!

I took my son, Caleb to his K-3 Fun class that meets 2x a month.  He absolutely loves it and this was the first day of the semester.  

When we arrived, there was an unmistakeably yucky smell in the building.  I later learned that the vacuum cleaner had blown it's belt.  You know that smell, right?  Well, there was a building full of K-3 graders and parents and it was downright icky.  The teacher asked me if I could find some febreeze or something to try and counteract the smell.  

I remembered that essential oils will actually break down the molecules of the odor and send it on its way.  So, I went to the van to see what I had with me.  My purse was full of roller bottles, so I knew those wouldn't work.  And, then it hit me....I had a couple spray bottles of my Sonshine Hand Sanitizer.  So, I grabbed them and sent my daughter to one area of the building and I went to the other (class had already started by then) and I was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible spraying this in each room. I left a bottle with one of the helpers and we left.  

My cutie, Caleb holding the EO bottle with glee

2 hours later, when we returned there was no evidence whatsoever of the odor.  His teacher even mentioned that some who had come in after I left were remarking at how GOOD the building smelled!  

YAY!  Essential oils to the rescue!!  

Sonshine Hand Sanitizer 

(doubles as an Air Freshener)

12 drops Shield
8 drops Lemon
6 drops Grapefruit
4 drops Lavender 

4 drops Cinnamon
 

Put drops in 2 oz. spray bottle and fill with witch hazel. 
 

Purchase quality essential oils at great prices with a $5.00 flat shipping rate at Spark Naturals.  Use code "sonshine" and you will get 10% off your order.    

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

I linked up here--check out all the posts!

True Tooth Grit

Yeah, it's a spin-off name of the famous John Wayne movie--True Grit. That John Wayne sure had grit! He was brave, passionate and motivated to catch a criminal.  I don't know about you, but I like a toothpaste that does the same thing...

SORT OF...

a toothpaste that is brave, passionate and motivated to catch a germ. 

(without all the chemicals that most toothpastes are laden with)

I want it to be brave to get inside my germ-laden mouth, 

passionate about fighting germs in there, and motivated to ridding my teeth, tongue and gums of them! 

And, I like my toothpaste to have grit--the kind that cleans really well.  My husband says "you mean to tell me I'm cleaning my teeth with dirt?"  

Yep! {grin}

 Honestly, since I've been using this my teeth and mouth have never felt cleaner.

True Tooth Grit

1 cup Bentonite Clay

1 cup Baking Soda

2 Splenda packets-optional

2 teaspoons kosher salt

4 drops Wintergreen essential oil

4 drops Clove Bud essential oil

4 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil
 water

Bentonite Clay--neutralizes acid, removes bacteria filled organic matter, eliminates toxins from metals in your mouth, and promotes healthy gums

Baking Soda--neutralizes stains and odors, polishes and whitens

Splenda--optional for flavoring

Kosher Salt--heals sores or irritations in the mouth

Wintergreen EO--analgesic, antiseptic,

Clove Bud EO--analgesic, antibacterial, anti-infectious, antiseptic

Cinnamon Bark EO--antibacterial, antiseptic and astringent


Mix all ingredients except for the water.  Once blended well, add water until it's the consistency you like.  Fills six 4 oz. canning jars. I use a plastic canning lid on these because the regular lids will definitely rust.

Some do not like the idea of dipping their toothbrush into a jar of toothpaste due to the germ factor.  Well, we just keep a small jar full of water with a few drops of Shield in it.  We clean our toothbrush with it after each use...that keeps it clean for dipping in the jar of True Tooth Grit.  Just dip only once and give each family member their own jar!


Thanks for stopping by,
Dawn

Use code "sonshine" for 10% off all products at Spark Naturals!  This post contains affiliate links. 

Inspiration for this recipe came from Patti over at Patti's Place.

I linked up here:
WILDCRAFTING WEDNESDAY! 

Homemaking Blog Hop Wednesday

Super Salves!

We love my Cold Cough Chest Salve and so when I heard about Bulk Herb Store's Salve Mix herb blends that you can herbally infuse....I just knew I needed to try some of these.  So, I ordered two of their mixes and I had the other herbs already on hand.

Arthritis Salve Mix 
Bulk Herb Store has this to say about this mix:
"Whether you or one of your friends struggle with joint pain, this is a great salve to have on hand. Each herb has benefits that come together to relieve inflammation, fight pain, and promote circulation. Rub this salve onto the sore areas as often as needed."

Includes the following dried herbs:

St. John's Wort

Arnica Flowers

Lobelia Leaf

Comfrey Leaf

Peppermint Leaf

Cayenne

Muscle Salve Mix
Bulk Herb Store has this to say about this mix:
"This salve penetrates the skin, soothes and helps to heal damaged muscles, while reducing inflammation. Rub this salve onto the sore muscle as often as needed."

Includes the following dried herbs:

Ginger Root

Echinacea Leaf

St. John's Wort

Boswelia Serrata

Cayenne

And, I used 3 different herbs for my poison ivy salve...I've made this one in the past and we've used it for many things other than poison ivy.  Anything really...if it was closest when we needed something--like for diaper rash.  This time, though I added some ReFresh/Purify blend to help more with the itching!


Plantain Leaf
Comfrey Leaf
Whole Calendula Flowers 

First you have to herbally infuse these dried herbs.  I used coconut oil for the first two.  And I used coconut oil and olive oil for the last one (only because I ran out of coconut oil--bummer!)

Here's what you'll need:
pint canning jar/jars and lids
herbs/herb mix
coconut oil (my favorite is Tropical Traditions)/olive oil
crock pot
water
dish towels

I washed pint canning jars and lids.  Added the herbs until jar was 1/3 full.  Then, I filled with the coconut/olive oil until 1 inch from top.  Now my coconut oil was in its hardened state, so as it melted I added more to my jar--never did get them full enough.  I'd hoped to end up with about 12 oz. of infused oil when done.  Tightly fasten the lid on each jar.

Place folded dish towel in bottom of crock pot.  Add jar or jars full of herbs and oil. If doing multiple jars in a large crock pot, I suggest placing a couple of dish towels around the jars to help hold them upright and to keep them from touching each other.  

Day 1

Add water in the crock pot to the level of the oil in the jars.  Place on low and let simmer for 3 days.  You want the water to be really hot but not boiling.  Watch the water level in the crockpot as it will evaporate and you'll want to add more.  Be sure when you add more water that you add HOT water to the crockpot or your jars could break.

Day 2

 Day 3

At the end of the 3 days you will have an herbal infused oil.  This makes a great massage oil or you can make a salve out of it.

To Make a Salve:

Strain herbs out of the oil. I used a piece of cheesecloth, pyrex measuring cup and rubber band.  (You can also use a very worn, old t-shirt)

Squeeze excess oil out of the cheesecloth

At this point you want to add beeswax to your oil to make the salve

I use my pan and a double boiler.  I add water to the pan and set the double boiler on top.  Once the water begins to boil I turn the burner off and slowly let the beeswax melt.  Stirring occasionally.
Add essential oil if needed and Vitamin E for a preservative.

Pour into jars and let set until cool.  

I love how they look as they start to set up.

Below are the exact recipes that I used in each of the salves:

Sore NO More--Sore Muscle Salve

Muscle Mix from Bulk Herb Store herbally infused in coconut oil-8 oz (this is the amount I had at the end of the 3 days).

2.5 oz. Beeswax
20 drops peppermint eo 
15 drops clove eo 
15 drops helichrysum eo 
3 vitamin E gels
(use with caution as the cayenne in the mix will irritate the eyes)

Aches Away--Arthritis Salve

Arthritis Mix from Bulk Herb Store herbally infused in coconut oil--7 oz.

2.0 oz. Beeswax
20 drops peppermint eo
20 drops Marjoram eo 
2 vitamin E gels

(Use with caution as the cayenne in the mix will irritate the eyes)

Ditch the ITCH--Poison Ivy Salve

Plantain

Comfrey Leaf

Whole Calendula

Herbally infused in olive oil/coconut oil 12 oz.

3 oz. Beeswax
60 drops ReFresh/Purify
4 Vit. E gels

Thanks to a contest on my facebook page...the following ladies came up with the names of these salves.  I'm sending them each a jar of salve for their help.

Arthritis Salve - Aches Away WINNER: Jamie Briggs

Sore Muscle Salve - Sore No More WINNER: Nicole Kleve

Poison Ivy Salve - Ditch the Itch WINNER: Kristin Fennell

Random WINNER: Camille Rains

I would love to hear what you think about these salves.  Especially if you make some of your own.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

I've added these salves to my Sonshine Botanicals page if you'd like to purchase them instead of buying all the ingredients and making them yourself. 


You can purchase essential oils at Spark Naturals and use code "sonshine" for 10 % off your order at checkout.

This post contains affiliate links. 

  Super Salves was one of the top 3 most read posts on Wildcrafting Wednesday!  Thanks everyone!

I linked up here: 

Joyous Notions Blog Hop Wednesday

Wildcrafting Wednesday

And the Winner Is.....Share the Love GIVEAWAY!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Entry # 4601  Bonnie C.

Thanks to everyone who entered!  What an awesome giveaway!

Dawn