The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

Jackie Ritz

Why I DIY & Why YOU Should, Too!

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yoooo

By Dr. Eric Zielinski

Don’t miss your chance to attend the online and free Essential Oil summit and learn more about DIY and more! 

Most people don’t realize how lucrative “beauty” is. It is one of the fasting growing industries in the world, and recent reports suspect that the global beauty market will reach $265 billion in 2017! Now, don’t get me wrong, making money isn’t a bad thing. What concerns me is the real cost that the marketplace doesn’t like to talk about; namely, the health risks associated with a vast majority of products sold on store shelves today.

This, my friend, is why my wife and I DIY and why I hope you will, too!

Your Skin is a Sponge 

The reason why we’ve become aware of the harm that body care products can cause is because of the discovery that human skin is literally a sponge. Scientists have proven that more than 60% of the chemicals in our body care products absorb through our skin and into our blood stream, but this is just one part of the equation! Think about all the hairspray you inhale when doing your hair, the lipstick that you unconsciously lick throughout the day, or the minute mascara particles that enter your eyes!

If you’re using an abundant life giving concoction made with a healthy base and therapeutic grade essential oils, then you have nothing to worry about. You can do a happy dance because you’re doing your body good! On the other hand, if your favorite cosmetic line is filled with harmful fillers and preservatives, then you better on dance yourself to the doctor’s office for a early check-up because you’re poisoning yourself!

Yes, I jest, but this is no laughing matter. This is serious business, folks, and the safe rule of thumb to live by is if you won’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your skin!

Hidden Toxins in Your Body Care Products

It is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase pure, wholesome body care products and unsuspecting customers are duped by labels claiming they are “all natural, “organic” and “GMO-free.”  Yes, these qualities are all very important to maintain the integrity of your health, but they are not a guarantee of purity because harmful fillers and preservatives are oftentimes slipped in your favorite lotion or cream.

Some of the most dangerous (and common!) culprits to be on the lookout for are:

  • Coal Tar
  • DEA (Diethanolamine)
  • Formaldehyde
  • Fragrance/Parfum
  • Mineral oil
  • Lauryl sulfates
  • Parabens 
  • Propylene glycol (PEG)
  • Talc  

The bottom line is that you need to be avid label reader, and make sure that you are not being inadvertently poisoned by the products that you’re using every day!

Easy DIY Natural Solutions

Two of the most dangerous culprits in the beauty market are cosmetics and lotions; both of which are extremely easy to do-it-yourself (DIY).

Cosmetics

By and large, the vast majority of women use one or more cosmetic items to enhance their look. Sadly most of these are made up of synthetic ingredients that are caked on their face for hours on end. We mustn’t forget what we have already learned – these chemicals are blinked into your eyes, seeped into your pores, and accidentally licked into your mouths every single day of the year and this accumulates over your lifespan.

The primary way to stop this vicious cycle is to implement some easy-to-implement natural solutions and lipstick is the first place to start. Essentially a jazzed up lip balm, you can DIY by following this recipe:

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Melt oil, beeswax and butter in a saucepan over low heat.
  2. Stir in optional coloring powder
  3. Remove from heat and stir in a drop or two of essential oil for fragrance and nourishment, like frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, nerloi, rose, or ylang ylang.
  4. Place mixture in lipstick tubes or a small tin container.
  5. Put in refrigerator to cool and use when desired.

As a word of caution, don’t forget that many cold-pressed citrus oils are phototoxic, meaning they can cause excessive sensitivity when exposed to the sun. If you’d like to use citrus oils in your lipstick, be sure to use the ones on this list:

  • Bergamot Oil (FCF)
  • Blood Orange Oil
  • Lemon Oil (Steam Distilled)
  • Lime Oil (Steam Distilled)
  • Mandarin Oil
  • Sweet Orange Oil
  • Orange Leaf Oil
  • Satsuma Oil (Cold/Expeller Pressed)
  • Tangelo Oil
  • Tangerine Oil
  • Yuzu Oil

Lotion

We all can use a little moisturizing love to take care of the skin that works so hard for us now and again, right? But, at what cost are we doing so? Granted, lotion is a very basic product (or should be), but most contain a mile-long list of chemicals that are a recipe for nothing good for our health!

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the harmful fillers and preservatives like parabens, mineral oil and fragrance when purchasing your lotion. If you get discouraged because you can’t find one with the fragrance that you enjoy without all the junk in it, then doing it yourself is the way to go. And, oh, how simple it is! 

By and large, the easiest and most effective moisturizer is a simple ointment reminiscent of something our ancestors used to enjoy. All you need is a healthy, non-toxic base and some essential oils. Easy peesy!

  • 1 oz of the carrier oil of your choosing (fractionated coconut, jojoba, almond, olive, grape seed are all great options)
  • 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil (geranium, helichrysum, frankincense, lavender, myrrh, rose and sandalwood are all good choices)

If you want a thicker lotion or cream-type of consistency, try:

  • 1/4 cup Shea butter
  • 1/8 cup sweet almond oil
  • 1 tablespoon beeswax 
  • 20 drops of essential oils

Don’t forget the warning about photosensitization and citrus oils. You certainly don’t want sunspots and excessive burns, because you’re going to be out in the sun too much one day.

Guest posted By Dr. Eric Zielinski (thanks Eric!) 

Essential Oil Starter Kit Giveaway

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I’m on a mission to help other people see how simple and easy it is to make more natural swaps in their health and their home. 

Most of the products that you might be using around your home, have harmful ingredients in them that can cause major issues to your health. 

My favorite all-natural ingredients to use are essential oils. They are so versatile and can be used for so many different things. 

What are essential oils?

  • Pure extracts from plants that have been distilled or cold-pressed 
  • Highly concentrated and can be 50-70 more times powerful than herbs
  • Address problems verses masking the symptoms
  • Very affordable, pennies per drop
  • If you are prepared, they are available at home immediately to use. 
  • Work at the cellular level to protect your cells from environmental threats

Why doTERRA essential oils? 

  • Plants are grown and harvested in their natural habitat all over the world 
  • Each back of oil undergoes multiple 3rd party testing to certify purity 
  • Therapeutic-grade which is the highest quality of essential oils on the market 

How do I use them? 

  • Diffuse them into your home using an essential oil diffuser (my favorite way!) 
  • Apply them topically to feet, chest, back of neck, head, and troubled areas
  • Create your own recipes using essential oils (body butter, salve, deodorant, etc) 
  • Make on-the-go Roller Bottles for you and your children
  • Make homemade cleaners using oils like lemon and OnGuard “protective” blend 

How do I get them? 

Because there is no governing agency that overlooks the purity and quality of essential oils, I chose to go with a company that makes purity their highest priority. doTERRA sets the standard for the purest oils that you can find in the world today. 

doTERRA essential oils are sold exclusively through essential oil educators like me. Working from home, these advocates, like myself, introduce, educate about, and sell essential oils in their local markets, through person-to-person contact, and globally through websites (like this one!). 

When you purchase a starter kit, you become a “wholesale member“, which gives you the privilege of getting all your future essential oils at wholesale price…just like Sam’s or Costco! 

CLICK HERE to check out the starter kits I recommend to people who want to jump into using essential oils! 

Do I have to sell the oils? Of course not! 

Do I have to place a monthly order? No way! You purchase your oils when you want! No minimum order is required! 

So are you ready to try to win a starter kit for free??? Follow the directions below to be entered to win an essential oil starter kit from me! 

AND THE WINNER IS…..

Billie M (email billies_ _ _ _ _402@yahoo.com) 

Billie please email me at jackie@ritzessentials.com to claim your amazing prize! 

Giveaway runs through 11:59pm on August 31st and is only open to US residents. Winner will be announced on this blog post on September 2nd so make sure you come back to see if you won! 

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Mint Chocolate Body Butter

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This recipe I’ve developed has got to be the most amazing and luxurious body butter I have ever experienced. It’s as comforting as a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream and, I’ve got to tell you, it smells the same. You are going to love this mint chocolate body butter!

I’ve made lots of body butter in my years of making my own homemade body products and I’ve made LOTS of mistakes. Many times the body butter doesn’t emulsify. Sometimes the body butter is as hard as a rock. Working with natural ingredients has its frustrations, but this recipe is PROVEN! 

I’m an avid soap maker and one thing I know is that if you want oils to emulsify, then you NEED to add water. That’s why many homemade body butters on the web are pretty and soft for the first day, but then they turn hard and unusable. They don’t have a liquid agent, like water, added to them. 

The most important thing is to use a high quality essential oil, like doTERRA. It’s the best essential oils I have found, and the peppermint essential oil smells so clean and crisp. You can purchase doTERRA essential oils by going here. Also, there’s a free online essential oil summit coming up this month! Make sure you grab your seat and register for it here. 

Now, let’s get to it….

PS. I lost my camera battery charger and had to take pics with my iPhone. Don’t judge the recipe by the quality of the pics. I promise this recipe is to die for! 

Mint Chocolate Body Butter

For this recipe, I recommend using a blender. You are going to be mixing oil and water, which makes this recipe so soft. Pay attention to the exact measurements.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS: 

PicMonkey Image

  1. Use a double boiler and melt the coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax and cocoa butter on low heat while stirring constantly. Do not let the oils get too hot. You are simply melting them. 
  2. Turn off the heat and remove the pot. 
  3. Add the jojoba or almond oil and the vitamin E. 
  4. Allow the oils to cool to room temperature. If you’re impatient like me, stick the pot in the fridge for 10 minutes! 
  5. Get out your blender and pour the melted oils into the blender. 
  6. Add your peppermint essential oil. 
  7. Turn your blender on and remove the central knob on the cover. 
  8. Slowly drizzle your water into the blender. SLOWLY! You will need to use your other hand to cover the hole a little bit so you don’t get body butter all over. 
  9. You will hear your blender gurgle. When you hear it do this, blend for just a few seconds more and turn off. 
  10. Pour into mason jars or pretty body butter jars. 
  11. Rinse out your blender and pot immediately with hot water to keep it from getting too sticky. I like to use the water from my double boiler and dump it over the blender to remove the body butter. You may have to use paper towels to remove any residue. Don’t stress…it’s worth it!
  12. Store your jar at room temperature and scoop out when needed! I like to put extra jars in the fridge for longer storage. 
  13. Enjoy your natural and luscious cream! 
  14. BONUS—register for the FREE Essential Oil Online Summit this month to learn more about using essential oils in your homemade body products. 

 

Our Farm is FOR SALE!

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Did you see our announcement about our family hitting the road for a new adventure? It’s true…it’s crazy…it’s our new dream! 

We have already purchased our new RV and we are rearing to go. This was a super hard decision for us but we are confident and ready for new adventures.

Why are we doing this? Well, we will be calling the road our home for the time being so we can do what we are passionate about and teach about essential oils while training our business partners in doTERRA to create residual income to fulfill their dreams. We have learned that the greatest gift you can give someone you believe in is your time. For our business, we have been limited in the amount of time we can give to our doTERRA team because we have been so busy with farm life. 

We ask that if you are interested in talking more about our farm, to please give our realtor, Robert Price a call. His number is 828-231-4655 or you can email him at robertprice@kw.com. TELL HIM JACKIE RITZ SENT YOU! 

Gather Heritage Farm is a 10-acre farm nestled at the base of Razor Mountain in the quaint farming community of Barnardsville, NC.  This turnkey farm focuses on practices that are sustainable and renewable to provide for years to come.  Craftsmanship and attention to detail hallmark the property from the foundation, through the well-insulated walls and floors, up to the well-constructed ceiling.  Each room was meticulously designed with precision to ensure satisfaction and comfort.  Wormy chestnut from a 100-year old tobacco barn that was present on the property previously, adorns the main floor windows and floors.  Throughout the home, very large double-paned windows allow natural light to pour into the house, providing 360-degree views around the entire home.  Within the ensuite of the master bedroom, located on the main floor, there is subway tile floor with a clawfoot bathtub masterpiece, which was once used to water cattle from within the community!
 
The bottom floor is surrounded by Superior walls with the roof of the home being constructed with SIPS panels, providing unmatched integrity and outstanding construction techniques.  Downstairs, there is a multi-use space with a uniquely rustic bathroom, tandem-style garage and a in-ground root cellar/wine cellar.  This cellar is ventilated with a fan and maintains about 55-60 degree temperatures year-round.  With this detail and the ample amounts of spray foam within the walls and floors, the home stays cool in the summer and cozy in the winter.
 
The kitchen boasts an induction cooktop, convection oven, and french door style refrigerator with a farm-style basin sink, where looking through the swinging windows has long-range mountain views.  Completing the main floor is a refreshing naturally lighted dining room and half-bath for guests when entertaining.
 
 The second floor is a kids oasis or a great space for guests.  With cork flooring and impressive architecture, the floor is comfortable and inviting.  Large bedrooms with bonus areas can be used for a kids’ bedrooms or an office space.  There is a common area with wonderful views of Razor Mountain right outside the windows!  Lastly, the bathroom matches the same style as the master bathroom to complete the floor.
 
 Relax after a day of farming with a refreshing iced tea on the covered wrap-around front porch with long-range views of the surrounding mountains.  Enjoy an after dinner stroll along the fruit and nut orchard, while listening to the bubbling sounds of one of the several waterfalls of Poverty Branch which runs along the front of the property.
 
 The barn is a 3-horse barn, with a 200+ square bale hayloft.  It is complete with well designed stall lights and fans, to keep your animal family cool and refreshed.  It is also equipped with a tack room for supplies and keeping bits and bridle clean and in good shape. Take your friends for a horseback ride in the open air riding arena, located within the orchard!  The rest of the farm is replete with rolling pastures, outbuildings for your critters, and an unmatched locust-post galvanized cross fence system that subdivides the property into manageable pastures and paddocks for the animals.  The fencing is reinforced as well with electric cord to protect your precious farm friends from predators.  
 
 Adorning the side of the mountain on the property is a 1890s log cabin brought log-by-log to the property from a sister county.  So whether it is a walk through the butterfly tranquility path, viewing the newly planted vineyard, or sitting by the fire pit telling stories and sharing time together, Gather Heritage Farm is truly magical and will provide many wonderful memories for family and friends to last a lifetime!

ENJOY THE PICTURES BELOW! 

 

Diary of a Farmer’s Wife – July 28

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Diary of a Farmers 28

8:51am 

I crave these mornings where I am allowed to close myself in my office and get some much needed work done. I couldn’t imagine how hard homesteading would be if both of us worked full-time away from home. I couldn’t imagine this would even be possible if I had an unsupportive spouse who didn’t help me with any of it. I thank God I have a husband who has fallen in love with the farm as much as I have. 

I left the chicken stock out on the counter all night but we are still gonna eat it. I usually remember to stick it in the fridge after it’s all cooked, but last night I fell asleep on the couch before 10 pm (which is early for me). I plan on making Black Bean Soup and Cornbread for dinner (not Paleo at all and I don’t even care right now). Speaking of eating according to a book…I got an email from a reader who took the liberty to tell me that he is unsubscribing from my blog because I purchased a dairy cow and that was not Paleo at all. 

It gave me quite a chuckle and the thought of telling him to just “MOOOOOOOOve on” did pop in my mind a few times, however I think some people just aren’t educated in the way of farming and homesteading. There are too many “meat heads” who live the SAD life of going to the gym and pumping iron, going to work, stopping for their Starbucks, and then going home and reading blogs, like mine, and passing judgement. 

It’s easier to pick up your grass-fed beef from the grocery store than to understand what it takes to raise it. 

So, I took the liberty to educate him a little bit and this was my reply:

“Well since you obviously are anti-dairy, I won’t go into all the health benefits of raw milk, cheese, cream that comes from the pastured cow…especially for growing children like mine. 

There’s countless other benefits of having a dairy cow. One, they are the most productive, efficient creature on earth. And for our sustainable farm, their benefits are numerous: 

1) she provides rich manure for my garden and land. 
2) each year she gives me a calf to raise and use for meat
3) her 4+ gallons of milk with provide my family, hogs, chickens, and other farm animals with nutritious and protein rich milk. 

Quite simply, the family that keeps a cow is a healthy family. I encourage you to do your research before passing judgment. We are homesteaders who raise 80% of our own food. 

Do what you got to do and unsubscribe though,

Jackie”

Having a milk cow for milk is one of the main factors we purchased Holly, but having a cow that gives us a calf each year to raise for grass-fed beef is another. Not to mention all the wonderful manure that Holly will bring to my garden. I’m ecstatic! 

Plus I am not one to live up to stereotypes. Sure my blog is “The Paleo Mama” but do you all really think that all us Paleo bloggers eat 100 percent Paleo (which by the way I don’t even consider myself a “paleo blogger”)? I did write an article once on why my family drinks raw milk…even though I am Paleo (my kids really aren’t). 

Anyways, I’ve learned years ago to never let the naysayers spoil my day. Moving on. 

1:41 pm

TONS more tomatos were blanched, skins removed, and then thrown into pint-sized freezer bags and into the freezer. I’m so happy we have freezer space and I don’t have to can them. I’m pretty sure we grew enough tomatoes for the whole year. I didn’t grow enough onions for the year, although I did braid them today and hang them up in the kitchen. 

I made the soup and cornbread for lunch instead and the kids gobbled down 2 pieces of cornbread and didn’t care too much for the beans in the soup. They washed it down with some southern sweet tea and now they are in their rooms for quiet time. Neither take naps anymore and haven’t for years, but I can usually get them to settle for an hour in the afternoons. Mama needs this hour! 

The hubs and his friend are building my milking area in the barn! Holly isn’t used to being in a stanchion…you simply just tie her off and give her feed. She seriously is a dream to milk…doesn’t kick, doesn’t move…just stands perfectly still! I can’t wait! 

We have a lead on someone who wants our 2 nubians! Yay…just 7 more goats to go. Selling them is taking much longer than I expected. We sold 6 of them in the spring pretty quickly. I’m just praying we get good buyers who are going to take care of them. I sure will miss them…especially Snowflake. 

I didn’t think about it before, but the 2 Livestock Guardian Dogs we have (Esme and Everest) are going to be so confused when the goats are all gone. They have bonded with the herd and I’m sure they are going to miss them too. Hopefully they can bond with the 3 sheep a little bit better once the goats are gone. 

One more month till school starts! I wish I could say I was more sad about both kids being in school at the same time. Barefoot Boy is going into Kindergarten and Dreamcatcher is going into 2nd grade. I do feel a little sad to have school-aged kids now. It seems like the infant/toddler phase of motherhood has come and gone so quickly; however, I am so happy to be entering into this next chapter of our life. 

We’ve chosen not to homeschool anymore. There’s quite a few reasons why we have come to this decision, and we know it’s the best one for our kids. They are so excited to meet some new friends in our community. We have no neighbors because we are in rural WNC so they don’t have anyone to play with this summer other than each other. 

Also, it was just too much for me to take on…I am the main breadwinner, we have a large farm, I travel for my essential oil team, and so many more reasons. 

This past year was so chaotic with traveling (thank God we have a trustworthy farm hand)…..

  • In September we went to Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • In January we went to the Dominican Republic.
  • In February we went to Orlando, Fl. 
  • In March we went to Houston, TX. 
  • In April we went to Portland, Maine. 
  • In May we went to Savannah, GA and then down to Orlando, Fl. 

We have taken the summer off from traveling and I can’t begin to describe to you how nice it is! I love being home on my farm! 

Diary of a Farmer’s Wife – July 27

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Diary 26

6:17pm 

Today was market day…Farmer’s Market that is! We set up a booth and sell some of our surplus every other week. Today we had some homemade products like soap, salve, and Bug-off spray…and about 10 dozen eggs and whole chicken (frozen). We don’t make a ton, but we do make enough to pay for feed for our animals. So, in my opinion, it’s worth it! We also make sure we invite people to learn more about essential oils by coming to our next class. 

IMG_2395

But it was HOT….a good 95 degrees hot and I smell like a hog and am dirty. The day isn’t over yet. There’s still kids to feed, dogs to feed, poultry to feed, goats to milk, hogs to feed, cows to water, sheep to move to the back paddock, and probably something else that I’m forgetting. It’s always a good day on the farm when everything is alive and healthy, so I continue to count my blessings!

I couldn’t sleep well last night because of my excitement about our new Jersey Milk Cow, Holly. I picked up a few things at Tractor Supply and ordered some things from Amazon for Holly: more milk filters, and some mastitis cards to test each week for mastitis. 

Thankfully, I already have most the milking supplies from my goats: 2 gallon milk tote, milk bucket, lots of wash rags, and my homemade salve for keeping the teats healthy. 

The maternity ward for our poultry is complete! This is a chicken coop (on wheels) that we can use for broody hens and new mama hens and chicks. I’m expecting at least 10 new chicks pretty soon from my 2 broody hens and now they have a place to make home for a few weeks after hatching the chicks. 

We ate one of our chickens the other night and I just started my 90-min bone broth with it’s bones, skin, and feet. I, seriously, couldn’t survive without my InstantPot. It makes bone broth in 90 minutes! 

My indoor dog, Samson, is in his last few weeks/months of life. This dog was with me before the farm, before the kids, and even before my husband. He has cancer and tumors that are just growing crazy over his body. Once they attack his organs and he looks like he is suffering, we have to put him down. We are trying everything to help him, but our efforts are in vain at this point. He’s gonna be a hard one to lose. 

I spent 20 minutes in the garden this evening and picked TOO MANY tomatoes.

IMG_2400

I might have gone overboard and planted too many, but we eat them so I figured, why not? I just got done canning salsa this weekend and it looks like I’ll be preserving more. This time I’m going to just roast and freeze the cherry tomatoes and blanch and can the whole tomatoes by the quart. I could just freeze them too…I need to check freezer space first. We have a whole cow and hog we are butchering in the fall so I need to save room.

Well, I need to scramble dinner together and then attack evening chores. Ciao!