Diaper Cream

     I have 4 daughters.  I try to feed them healthy whole foods and avoid processed sugar, soda, and fast food when I can.  I do not let them use the internet unsupervised.  They can not stay home alone for more than an hour or so and aren't allowed to go to friends homes when their parents aren't home. They don't have cell phones or Facebook and can't date.  We try to always apply sun screen and bug spray when needed.  They must always wear their lifejackets in the boat and on the lake shore.  They never get into a car without bustling their seatbelts.  I do what I can to keep them healthy and safe and to avoid any unnecessary risks.  I feel like all good mommies and daddies try to do the same... so why do we use personal care products on our children that are filled with yucky chemicals, preservatives and additives?  Shouldn't we try to use products that are natural and healthy without being filled with carcinogens and other harmful substances?  I feel like this is an area of parenting where I have failed for years.  I purchased whatever products where on sale or clearance without every reading an ingredient label.  Well, no more!  I am trying to do better by my family and myself by making products that I am able to and purchasing natural products that I am unable to make myself.  I am educating myself on natural products and remedies and incorporating natural products and essential oils throughout our home and lives.

    As a mother of 4 I have, a time or two, needed to use diaper cream, ointment, or salve on a tiny baby bottom.  I used the named brand product that is widely available and fairly inexpensive for a long time but now I am making my own diaper cream!  It is easy to make and works well.  I put mine into an empty deodorant container for easy application.

Kirk's Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

I am so thankful to have a hubby who can cook and cook well!  Here is another of his yummy recipes.  I snapped a pic of mine (after devouring over half of it and thinking "OMGawsh slow down and take a pic before it is gone!") so you could see the finished product.  Enjoy!

Kirk's Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Spice Mix-

1 1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp Paprika

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Onion Powder

1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

Sauce Mix-

2 tbsp Butter

1 tbsp Olive Oil

2 tsp Garlic Powder

3tbsp Lime Juice

1/2 cup Chicken Broth

In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning.  Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts.

Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.  Saute chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes in each side.  Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder, chicken broth and lime juice.  Cook 5-10 minutes stirring frequently to coat evenly in sauce.  

That's it!  So easy and so so yummy!! We served it with mashed potatoes and green beans.  I think it would also be great with rice, pasta or on a salad.  Let us know how you like it served. 

Toilet Fizzies

I use doTERRA essential oils in every way that I can.  One of the great ways to utilize these amazing oils is in natural cleaning products and home remedies.  I like to make these super easy Toilet Fizzies that I use to freshen up our bathrooms and clean/deodorize the toilets in our home.  All you do is drop a fizzy into the toilet bowl 1-2 times per week.  Just let it set in the bowl between uses and flush as usual after using the toilet.  They smell so yummy and can be customized with whichever oil scent you like.  I use lemongrass EO and purify blend.  This blend smells good and is antibacterial and anti fungal.  Yay for multipurpose oils!

I start by gathering my ingredients and supplies.   You will need a mixing bowl, fork, measuring spoons/cups, 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup citric acid, 1/2 tsp vinegar, 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide, a silicone mold, spray bottle with 1/2water and 1/2 vinegar in it and the essential oils that you want to add.

First mix the baking soda and citric acid in the mixing bowl.  Use the fork to break up any clumps.

In the largest measuring cup I mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  Drop by drop add this mix to the dry mix, stirring as you go.   Spray the silicone mold with the water/vinegar mix then lightly pack this mix into the mold. 

Add your essential oils to each fizzy.  I use 1-2 drops per fizzy.  Then spritz with water/vinegar mix again.  *Spraying the mold and fizzies with this mix creates a "crust" that holds the fizzy together.

Let the fizzies dry in the tray for 1-2 days (depending on the humidity level where you are) until they are soft but solid and dry on the outside.  Then remove from the silicone mold and store in a glass jar or PET plastic container. 

Drop into the toilet bowl 1-2 times per week for a fresh smelling bathroom and cleaner toilet!

The Craft Fair Mommy

I am a craft fair mommy.  I set up booths and sell my wares and I take my children with me, half of them anyway!  My littlest is only 4 months old and exclusively breastfed so she goes where I go.  My eldest is 14 and she is my muscle.  She helps me load and unload our products, tables, display stands, etc and helps me man the booth while I am nursing or changing the baby.  Such a big help!  We do on average 1-2 events per month with more during the busy holiday season.  We make friends with our co-sellers and customers and have fun selling as well as shopping.  My eldest has learnt (I hope!) that hard work, ingenuity and creativity pay off.  I can see that being a part of this community of hard working men and women is beneficial to her.  She sees the honesty and integrity of these wonderful people and will hopefully learn to behave in like fashion and pick up a positive lifelong work ethic.  She isn't always thrilled to get up early on a Saturday and load up boxes and bags of crafts and doTERRA products but she always has fun at the events that we work.  I get to enjoy a day spent with my girls and get to watch my little girl become a hard-working young adult.  What a great way to spend a day!?! 

Make Me Sleepy Rub- Extra Strength

I posted a recipe earlier for the  "Sweet Dreams Spray" that I use for my kids.  I have had a few insomniac friends ask me to mix them up the same spray.  Some of these friends said that the spray worked wonders and for others it just wasn't enough.  This is the mix that I use for folks (adults only!) that really have a hard time getting to or staying asleep.  I call this mix the "Make Me Sleepy Rub- Extra Strength".

I start with 1/3oz roller bottle.  I like the blue bottles because the dark glass protects the oils from damaging sun rays.  

  

I add 15 drops of Lavender EO, 10 drops of Vetiver EO, 8 drops of Roman Chamomile EO, 5 drops of Frankincense EO and 5 drops of Wild Orange EO by dropping the oils directly into the roller bottle.  

 

After I have all the essential oils in the bottle, I fill the roller bottle with Fractionated Coconut Oil,  insert the roller ball plug and put the cap on the bottle.  That's it! So easy to make and works so well!

To use just shake and roll onto the bottom of each foot at bedtime.  I hope this mix will help any of you non-sleepers out there!