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

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

 

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:  

2 Essential Oil 4-Packs

2-5ml bottles of Oregano essential oil

 2-5ml bottles of Shield essential oil.

 4-10ml roller bottles

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

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint is one of my favorite essential oils!  I thought I'd write a blog post about it since it's the oil of the month at Spark Naturals!

Some tips about the Oil of the Month Club:

A 15 ml Peppermint Essential Oil at Spark Naturals is $18.45.  Each order you place is charged a $6.49 shipping fee unless your order is over $99.00.  

If you sign up for the Oil of the Month Club at Spark Naturals you can get this oil shipped to you free of charge and it's only $15.99!  It's a great deal! 

Here are some ways that we use Peppermint essential oil:

We use peppermint at the first sign of tummy issues.  Here's a previous post about a blend that we keep handy→TummyEase.

Have you heard that peppermint will help keep spiders away?  It will!! We add it to a spray bottle with witch hazel.→Spider Ban

We use peppermint when we are struggling to keep focus or if having a rough start to the morning due to sleepy minds or just fogginess as we start school.

We put 3 drops peppermint essential oil and 

3 drops wild orange essential oil

in the diffuser.

We use peppermint at the first sign of a headache.  Here's a post about another blend that we always keep handy→Headache Cease 

 
One of our most used EO (essential oil) blends is a salve that I make called Cold & Cough Chest Salve.  It contains peppermint along with a few other EO's. →Cold and Cough Chest Salve

We use peppermint if feeling queasy, have nausea, motion sickness or dizziness...especially in the car.  Try our Motion Potion blend.

Peppermint is a great essential oil to have handy at home or in your vehicle...

Purchase some today from Spark Naturals!  

Peppermint Essential Oil 

Or better yet, join the Oil of the Month Club and build up your EO supply at a great discount!

Oil of the Month Club

And, as always...use code "sonshine" for a 10% discount on any order at Spark Naturals.  (Discount code does not apply to the Oil of the Month Club--bummer, I know...but, hey! You're already getting such a great deal! :) )

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

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

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.

106th Wildcrafting Wednesday

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.

106th Wildcrafting Wednesday