He is LIGHT and LIFE and TRUTH! Look to Him for the ALL the answers. He will guide us, if we'll let Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

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 Baking Soda
2 Splenda packets-optional
2 teaspoons kosher salt
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! 
a-wise-woman-builds-her-home
Lovely Ladies Linky
Wildcrafting Wednesday-Hygiene Edition

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

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. 

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

I linked up here: 
a-wise-woman-builds-her-home

Joyous Notions Blog Hop Wednesday
Wildcrafting Wednesday-Hygiene Edition

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

Share The Love Essential Oil GIVEAWAY!


I've teamed up with several blogger friends who are also Spark Naturals Affiliates to offer you a great GIVEAWAY!  

It's the "Share the Love" Essential Oil GIVEAWAY! 

A Spark Naturals essential oil 4-pack (contains 5ml bottles of Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint and Melaleuca Essential Oils), 
5 ml bottle of oregano, 
5 ml bottle of shield and 
2-10ml roller bottles for YOU 
and then another set to give to a FRIEND.  

If you win the giveaway~~Share the Love!

 Monday, Feb. 3rd-12:00 am PST to Friday, Feb. 10th-9:00 pm PST

The prize is:  


Check out the blogs below to get to know each blogger bringing you this awesome giveaway!

A Mouse In My Kitchen  
Patti's Place 
The Granola Mommy 
Life Inside Nickie's Little Bubble  
Just Trixie 
Bobbins N' Thread 
Clothesline Chic 
The Gray Area  
Abundance of Goodness  
Enjoy Life Anyway  
Natural Mama  
Curly Loves Essential Oils 
Backdoor Survival 
Haute Mess Mama  
Crunchy Urban Mom
Simple Sunsets 

Click here to enter:  a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Winners must be US residents age 18 and older

The winning entry will be verified (if you say you liked a facebook page but didn't, you won't be eligible to win)

The winner will have 48 hours to reply to an email before a new winner will be selected.

I can't wait to see who wins!
Don't forget that all purchases from Spark Naturals can be discounted by 10% if you use the code "sonshine" during checkout!
Thanks for stopping by!
Dawn