Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Make Your Own Wool Dryer Balls



These wool dryer balls are one of my new favorite DIY projects, because even for non-crafty people like me, they are pretty hard to mess up.



Why use wool dryer balls?

  •  Soften and fluff without toxic chemicals. Wool dryer balls have no chemicals. About a year ago when I embarked on my natural journey, I learned about all of the harmful chemicals that are found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets (which are not indicated on the label). One of which is formaldehyde (#1 cancer causing chemical). Wool dryer balls can be used in place of commercial fabric softeners and dryer sheets. The chemicals from these products coat your clothes and end up on your skin. The effects of the chemicals are especially harsh if you have sensitive skin, like my husband.
  • Wool dryer balls are green- apart from the color. They can be re-used for years, saving you hundreds of dollars.  They are also made from a renewable source.
  • Wool dryer balls won’t affect the absorbency of your towels, cloth diapers, etc. like commercial softeners do.
  • They reduce drying time, saving money (they fluff and tumble your clothes, and each load is done faster, reducing energy costs).

How do they work?

Wool dryer balls separate clothes so that warm air circulates better. They soak up some of the moisture from your laundry as it dries, and evenly distribute it into the air, thus reducing drying time, softening the clothes and lowering energy usage.  Some people just use a few, and others use more. The more you use, the faster your clothes will dry.

You can go about making them several different ways, but I’ve outlined the way I did it below. You can use wool roving (which is why my balls look the way they do) or wool yarn – and you can even reuse an old wool clothing item like a piece of a wool sweater or wool socks for the middle of the balls.

My favorite look is to use wool roving, which gives a unique felty look.

What you need to make your wool dryer balls:

  • Wool roving or wool yarn  (You'll want at least 6-8oz to make 3 balls if you only use roving)
  • Felting tool 
  • Optional: Wool scraps (this will decrease the amount of roving needed)
  • Pantyhose
  • Scissors

 This is what wool roving looks like:

Directions:

  1. Twist wool into a tight ball. If you are using scraps, cover the scraps with wool yarn or roving.
  2. As you add pieces of roving, use a felting tool to get all of the roving to stay together in a ball. Stick the tool straight into the ball several times until it seems to stay together on its own. Make sure to poke it straight in, because otherwise the needles will break. (I use three needles in my tool). This process takes a few minutes. 
  3. Get the ball to be about the size of a softball (they shrink down).
    Here is what it will look like at this point:
  4. Tie the balls tightly and separately in pantyhose. They will look like this:
  5.  Wash on HOT. You can toss into the washing machine alone or with other clothes. Then throw them in the dryer. You can do this twice to make sure it felts correctly.
  6. Once dry, free the balls from the pantyhose! You may need a scissors. They should come out the size of a tennis ball.
  7. Once complete, toss the dryer sheets and set them free into the dryer for future loads.

Don’t forget to scent!  Because I use non-scented laundry detergent, I put a drop of essential oil on each ball to make the laundry smell fresh. My favorite oil to use is Young Living’s Purification. Choose a high quality oil so your clothes won’t get stained. 





Thursday, December 17, 2015

Why I love Peppermint Essential Oil


 


There are hundreds of essential oils out there, but if I could pick one that I use the most often, it would be PEPPERMINT.

The health benefits of peppermint oil and uses have been documented back to 1,000 BC and have been found in several Egyptian pyramids. Young Living's peppermint is labeled as a dietary supplement, because it's primary benefit is aiding digestion. You can not only ingest, but also diffuse or use topically. Note: I would never recommend ingesting any essential oils other than Young Living's because of their Seed to Seal Guarantee. Knowing exactly what I put on and in my body is very important to me.

Young Living peppermint oil is so potent and pure that ONE DROP delivers the effectiveness of 26 cups of pure peppermint tea! These oils are potent so a little goes a LONG way!

Caution:  Peppermint is considered a "hot" oil. That means your skin can be sensitive to the oil. You may want to dilute the oil with a carrier oil before applying. A carrier oil is any greasy kind of oil you'd find in your kitchen such as olive oil or coconut oil.  A list of carrier oils can be found in my post on facial moisturizer.  When using on kids, definitely dilute.

Some of MY FAVORITE uses of peppermint oil include:
  • Putting it on my temples or under my nose to energize during that occasional mid-day slump (Essential oils are grease-less, so you cannot see them if you put them on your face)
  • Diffuse a couple drops while working in my office to help with focus
  • Drink a drop in a cup of hot water. This it does WONDERS for my nose (and not to mention digestion)
  • Use after a long day to perk me up for the gym
  • Add it to my homemade "Deep Relief" roll on for happy muscles
  • Use in various personal hygiene products such as homemade peppermint foaming hand soap, lavender mint shampoo and peppermint sugar scrub. (I'll add my recipes soon.)
  • 2-3 drops in a batch of brownies
  • Spray with water around the door jams and windows to keep those spiders out!

Other Primary Benefits:
  • Supports gastrointestinal system comfort.
  • Promotes healthy bowel function.
  • Enhances healthy gut function.
  • Maintains efficiency of the digestive tract.
  • Supports normal digestion.
  • May support performance during exercise.
  • Wakes up your body
  • Helps cool down your body
  • Tightens pores- toner

Essential Oil Diffuser for the Car



 I'm super excited about my new creation! I commute 60 miles a day for work, and spend a lot of time in my car. I found a simple way to spread the invigorating aroma of peppermint essential oil throughout my car, keeping me more alert while driving with this diffuser clip.

Supplies:
- clothes pin (Here are some fun ones found on Amazon)
- cork  (Amazon or Michael's Store has some)
- glue  (I used a hot glue gun)
- essential oil (I use Young Living's therapeutic grade)

Directions:
Glue a small piece of cork to the clothes pin (leather or felt works too).
Place one drop of essential oil on the cork and place on car vent.
Enjoy!




Thursday, November 12, 2015

How to Make Non-toxic Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap





Have you wanted to rid your home of the store bought anti-bacterial soap filled with various disruptors to your body's systems? Now you can have a soap that not only smells great, but is also great for your body! 

Did you know that the word "fragrance" on a label can contain up to 300 non-disclosed toxins! This peppermint foaming hand soap is non-toxic, easy to make, and perfect for the holidays. 

Ingredients
*Note that the carrier oil is optional. I added it because it helps to hydrate the skin. 


Directions
Pour the castile soap and carrier oil into the dispenser. Add drops of essential oil, and add the water. Mix and screw on the top. That’s IT!




Friday, August 14, 2015

DIY Room Spray- Freshen up!

After learning about all of the toxins found in air fresheners, I rid my home and bathroom of air fresheners and used this super easy DIY that is incredibly refreshing!

This spray is great for neutralizing odors and creating a freshness.   Using a small bottle makes it perfect to throw in a purse or bag for travel.
  

Ingredients

 

Directions

  1. Open the empty spray bottle 
  2. Put a pinch of salt in the bottom (water and oils don't mix, so the salt will help the essential oils disperse better in the water)
  3. Add 5 drops of Purification Essential Oil blend (I use Young Living for it's purity)
  4.  Fill to the top with distilled water
  5. Shake up
  6.  Spray

Uses:

  • Bathrooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Linens  (especially in hotels)
  • Clothes
  • Carpets
  • Cars
  • Shoes
  • Gym bags
  • Outdoor spray- to keep those pesky guys away!








Thursday, August 6, 2015

DIY Deep Moisturizing face serum


 Lavender and Frankincense Face Serum
 
I made a super simple DIY face serum, and love it. I have to be honest, it took me a little while to start with the DIY recipes with my essential oils because I always thought it would take a lot of time. I am all about super simple, quick and easy recipes. I think this took me about 30 seconds total to create.


Ingredients:

  • 1 oz bottle to store the serum   ( I recycled a glass face serum container I had from the past.)
  • Frankincense Essential Oil  (100% pure- Young Living)
  • Lavender Essential Oil  (100% pure- Young Living)
  • Carrier oil (Jojoba, grapeseed, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, etc.)

Selecting the right carrier oil
My face is more on the dry side, so I selected sweet almond oil (sweet almond and coconut are both heavier). If your face tends to be greasier, I suggest picking a lighter carrier oil such as jojoba oil (popular). Below is a chart that can be helpful in selecting which oil is best for your face.



Directions
Start with adding your oils. For every 1 oz, add anywhere from 2-10 drops Frankincense and 2-10 drops lavender. I tend to put in more for the oily goodness, but there are some recipes out there with as little as 2 drops per 1 oz of carrier oil. I typically apply my face serum at night, but if you'll be using this during the day, you could consider adding some carrot seed for a natural way to protect your skin from the sun.

Fill the rest of the container with your carrier oil of choice. Seal up and shake to mix up.

So why did I pick Frankincense and Lavender essential oils out of the many other oils? Frankincense does amazing things for aging skin and Lavender is overall wonderful for the skin.


Voilà, you're done!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils. It is referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife” or the "everything oil".  I mentioned Lavender in my Essential Oils and the Spring Season, so I want to provide a little more information on the oil. I personally use it almost every night to support great sleep and keep a calm mind. I will diffuse it before bed and I have also created a lotion with coconut oil and will rub it under my nose when I get into bed. It has worked very well for me for both falling asleep and an overall better night's rest. Below I've listed just a few of the most common uses for the oil.

Calming
Diffuse 1-2 drops of lavender oil.  Rub 2-3 drops of lavender oil in your cupped palms, then use the inhalation method to calm the mind.   Rub on the feet, temples, wrists (or anywhere) for an immediate calming effect on the body.

Sinuses
Rub a drop of lavender oil between your palms and inhale deeply to help keep your sinuses healthy. You can also do a "lavender swipe". Put a drop on your finger and swipe the inside of your cheek. This doesn't taste good, but it is effective.

Sleeping
Many people put a drop of lavender on their hands and spread on their pillow at night to help get a good night of rest. 

For healthy skin, put a drop of lavender on:
Bee sting / Insect bite
Minor burn
Cuts
Lips
Mix with melrose and coconut oil = great for keeping skin smooth and moist, especially in the winter


If you couldn't tell already, lavender is wonderful for the skin. Many people include it in their DIY face moisturizers or serums. I plan on making one soon that will include lavender, and will post the recipe.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Essential Oils and the Spring Season!

Spring is one of the best times of the year in Wisconsin. It means the weather is getting warmer and the trees and plants are blooming. I love to spend time outside. One thing that comes along with the warmer weather are all of the plants blooming and pollen. I've had experience with itchy eyes and runny nose in the spring since I was a kid.  I am so happy to say I have found a great oils recipe to help support a healthy system during this time of year.

The recipe is simple and calls for three oils: Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint- all found in the premium starter kit.

There are three ways you can use the oils:
  1. Diffuse: add a few drops of each oil to your diffuser
  2. Ingest: add several drops of each to an empty veggie capsule and top with a a carrier oil (such as olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil) Take several times a day as needed.  OR add several drops of each to some food such as honey, yogurt or a drink. I personally add mine to the antioxidant rich Ningxia Red that I drink each morning.
  3. Topical:  Make a roll-on and use liberally (see recipe below). Apply to bottoms of your last 3 toes (VitaFlex points for sinuses) and back of neck.
It's time to ditch those over the counter meds for an all natural remedy. Where can you get therapeutic grade essential oils?  Order here.


How to make a roll-on:
  • 10 drops Lemon Essential Oil
  • 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
  • 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
  • Carrier Oil (such as almond oil or olive oil)
  • 15 ml bottle and roll on fitment
Directions:
  1. Add essential oils to bottle.
  2. Top with a carrier oil of your choice.
  3. Add roll on fitment.
  4. Roll on Vita Flex points for sinuses (bottoms of last 3 toes) and back of neck.