The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

Jackie Ritz

Natural Holiday Gift Guide

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I’m partnered with some wonderful companies this season and have a wonderful list of some of my favorite product and created a Natural Holiday Gift Guide! 

I’m a huge fan of supporting small businesses and many of my favorite companies provided an exclusive coupon for The Paleo Mama (Natural Homestead) readers! 

I hope you enjoy this list and have a wonderful season of giving. 

Best of all – I order these products myself! Further, by visiting these companies and purchasing through these links, Natural Homestead may receive a small commission for the sale which helps support the work I put into this website. Thank you for supporting Natural Homestead and the companies I believe in. 

Real Food Resources: 

Scroll down to each category! 

  • Superfoods
  • Fats & Oils 
  • Butter & Ghee
  • Flours & Grains
  • Meat & Seafood
  • Dairy & Cultures 
  • Natural Sweeteners 
  • Salt, Spices & Condiments
  • Prepared Foods & Meal Planning 
  • Personal Care
  • Natural Home 
  • Snacks & Treats 
  • Beverages 
  • Kitchen Supplies 
  • Organizations We Support 
  • Homeschooling Supplies 

Superfoods

superfoods

Cod Liver Oil. Extra-virgin cod liver oil is fresh and a rich source of vitamins A, D and Omega fats and is one of the best superfoods you can have in your diet. You can purchase it here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Butter Oil. Extra-virgin butter oil is a natural source of vitamin A, E, K2 (MK-4), Butyric Acid, Wultzen Factor and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). It is extremely potent it its levels of Vitamin K2 and supports bone and heart health. You can find it online here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Gelatin. Gelatin is so great for hair, skin, nails and digestive health. It’s a healthier alternative to protein powders and you can add it to smoothies and even tea or coffee for a nutritional boost. We like this grass-fed beef gelatin in recipes and cooking that need to gel or thicken. We prefer grass-fed beef collagen in hot drinks like coffee and tea (it dissolves quickly and has no taste). Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Probiotics. Fermented foods and cultured dairy products are a great, real food probiotic that promote a healthy gut, but our family, also, uses a therapeutic-grade probiotic. You can purchase an adult one here (10% off with coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10), a kid’s probiotic here and an infant probiotic here (10% off with coupon code PALEOMAMA) . 

Prenatal Vitamin. When I’m pregnant, nursing or trying-to-conceive, I use this prenatal vitamin. Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Liver Capsules. One of the world’s most sacred foods, liver from grass-fed cattle contains more nutrients, gram for gram, than any other food. You can purchase desiccated liver capsules here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Elderberry Syrup. I make my own elderberry syrup (recipe here) and use it for immune boosting during the fall and winter. If you don’t want to make your own, you can purchase a great one here. Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Vitamin D3. Vitamin D is essential for immune support, supporting healthy moods, and supporting healthy bones and joints. We prefer the D3 drops and the kids have no problem taking it. You can buy the drops here. Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Essential Oils. We use essential oils for many, many things around our homestead, including immune support, homemade cleaning recipes, and making your own homemade beauty products. THIS MONTH ONLY I am giving away a full-size diffuser, Frankincense and other essential oils if you purchase a qualifying kit. You can purchase them here. 

Colloidal Silver. We use colloidal silver to boost the immune system, fight infection, and improve skin conditions. It can be used internally and externally and can be purchased here. Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Si Jin Bao. This is a full-service Chinese herbaceutical company specializing in custom formulations and proprietary herbal blends. Our Pediatrician in Orlando turned us on to this amazing stuff and now we order the Air Tea and the Open Air Tea online here. 

Magnesium. We use magnesium to boost our magnesium levels, promote a healthy night’s sleep, and support healthy moods. I love using a magnesium supplement that I can mix right into my water and I use a magnesium oil to apply to my skin and make my magnesium butter with. Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Herbs & Teas. I order my herbs and teas in bulk from Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Fats & Oils 

Fats and oils

Olive Oil. Olive oil is one of the most adulterated oils in the world. I order first-pressed olive oil that is hand-picked, milled within 48-hours of harvesting, and grown on a small family farm in California. You can purchase it here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Lard, Tallow, and Duck Fat. I use lard from pasture-raised pigs and tallow from grass-fed cows for homemade soap and salves and for cooking (find them here). We raise our own ducks for all their delicious benefits and use their duck fat for cooking and frying. I know everyone can’t raise their own ducks, so this rendered duck fat is the one I recommend. 

Coconut Oil. Coconut oil has a high concentration of fatty acids which makes it a great oil to cook with at a high heat temperature (frying). I order all of my coconut oil from Tropical Traditions. They have really amazing sales and frequently offer free shipping. You can purchase your coconut oil here. 

Ghee. Ghee is clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed and it has a mild, nutty flavor making it a great option for those with dairy allergies. You can purchase my favorite brand here from Pure Indian Foods. Use discount code thepaleomama to get $5 off your purchase over $25 from Pure Indian Foods! 

Cold-Pressed Nut Oils. These oils aren’t for cooking with, but they are great for finishing over salads and vegetables. A few that I love are pumpkin seed oil, walnut oil, sunflower seed oil and flax seed oil. You can purchase them here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Butter & Ghee 

Butter and Ghee

Butter. Butter…oh sweet butter. This is my favorite fat to cook with. If you can’t find a good local source of butter made from raw milk or cows that are grazing on green pastures then you can purchase some online here. 

Ghee. Ghee is clarified butter that has had the milk solids removed and it has a mild, nutty flavor making it a great option for those with dairy allergies. You can purchase my favorite brand here!  Use discount code thepaleomama to get $5 off your purchase over $25 from Pure Indian Foods! 

Ghee and MCT Oil. If you take your coffee “Bulletproof” like I do (see my demo), then you might be interested in Coffee++ from Pure Indian Foods. It’s a combination of ghee and MCT oil which makes it easy to spoon into your morning coffee or tea! You can purchase it here. Use discount code thepaleomama to get $5 off your purchase over $25 from Pure Indian Foods! 

Butter Oil. Extra-virgin butter oil is a natural source of vitamin A, E, K2 (MK-4), Butyric Acid, Wultzen Factor and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). It is extremely potent it its levels of Vitamin K2 and supports bone and heart health. You can find it online here. RECEIVE  10% off at Radiant Life by using the coupon code PALEOMAMA before 12/25/15! 

Flours & Grains

Flours

Almond Flour. It’s so important to know that the almond nuts are soaked to remove phytic acid before grounded into flour. If I use almond flour, I prefer to use this one. 

Coconut Flour. I get most of my coconut products from Tropical Traditions including coconut flour. You can purchase it here. 

Arrowroot Powder. I use arrowroot in place of corn starch in my sauces, gravies and stews. I like this one. 

Einkorn. If you cook with grains then I highly recommend Einkorn flour. It is an ancient grain that is a lower gluten alternative to modern wheat. You can purchase it here along with products made with einkorn like spaghetti or various pastas.  

Sprouted Heirloom Flour. Sprouted flour means that the wheat berries were soaked and rinsed for days to allow the wheat to sprout. This removes much of the phytic acid and makes the flour more digestible. I like the heirloom Turkey Hard Red variety from the 1870’s because of it’s rich history. You can purchase it here. 

Sourdough Starter. Want to start making your own sourdough bread? I got my FREE sourdough starter that is over 160 years old from a man named Carl Griffith. You can get your own for free by going here. 

Meat & Seafood 

meat and seafood

Grass-Fed Beef & Lamb. We grow most of our meats on our farm, but when we don’t have something, I source it locally at our farmer’s market or through Eat Wild. However, if you are having a problem sourcing it, you can purchase grass-fed beef, bison, and lamb online. 

Pastured Poultry. We grow all of our chickens, duck, turkeys and geese on our farm, but you can source your own locally through Eat Wild. If you are having trouble finding a local farm, then I recommend your purchase it from Wellness Meats. 

Pasture Raised Pork. We purchase our pork and bacon through a local farm. Check out Eat Wild to see if there is a local pork farmer near you. If you can’t find one, then you can purchase delicious bacon and pastured pork online (click here). 

Bone Broth. Bone broth is one of your most healing diet staples and we drink it, almost, daily in our traditional diet. I make my own (watch my demo here) but you can purchase it if you do not have the time or energy to make your own you can purchase it online here. 

Sustainably Caught Fish. The pickins around me for wild-caught seafood can be rather slim. We purchase lots of seafood online when we have a hard time finding it locally. You can purchase sustainably caught seafood here. 

Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin. Instead of protein powders, we use gelatin that is sourced from grass-fed cows. We use it in our homemade marshmallows, jell-o, thickening sauces, and even in our coffee. We use this gelatin for things that we need to gel and this gelatin for adding to drinks and smoothies (it doesn’t gel). Receive 10% off at Perfect Supplements by using the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 ! 

Fish Sauce. Fish sauce is a good source of minerals and additive-free flavor enhancer. Most of my dishes are splashed with my favorite fish sauce. I frequently splash my bone broth with fish sauce to add some saltiness to it. You can purchase my favorite all natural, first-press fish sauce here. 

Diary & Cultures

Old milk jugs, cans, bottles and bucket

Raw Milk & Cream. Our family has our own dairy goats and milk cow. We consume their delicious raw milk, use the cream for our coffee and homemade sour cream, and make lots of gut-friendly cultured dairy products. You should check to see if there is a local farmer near you with grass-fed raw milk or ask around at your local farmer’s market. 

Milk Kefir Grains. Kefir is a traditional fermented dairy food that is similar to yogurt but thinner and offers a delicious tart flavor. You might be able to find someone in your area who sells extra kefir grains but if you can’t, you can purchase them online. 

Yogurt Culture Starters. I use mesophilic cultures in my cheesemaking and and a yogurt culture to make our weekly batch of homemade yogurt. You could, also, use store-bought, organic, non-additive yogurt as a starter. 

Natural Sweeteners 

Natural Sweeteners

Raw Honey. We are lucky enough to have our own honeybees and lots of delicious raw, unprocessed honey. If you’re not so lucky, or ready to be a beekeeper, then ask around at your local farmer’s market or purchase some online here. 

Unrefined Cane Sugar. Unrefined cane sugar is much different than white sugar. It is rich in minerals and and can be used as a 1:1 substitute for recipes with white sugar. It, also, could be labeled “sucanat” or “rapadura“. You can purchase it online here. 

Coconut Sugar. Coconut sugar is very low on the glycemic index and comes from the fresh coconut tree sap and is a rich source of potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and B vitamins. You can buy it online here. 

Other Sweeteners. We use a few other sweeteners that are rich in minerals like grade B maple syrup and blackstrap molasses. 

Salt, Spices, and Condiments

Salt and spices

Salt. Salt is, truly, the spice of life and we use it unsparingly on our homestead. I recommend unrefined sea salt that is hand harvested in the coastal region of France. You can purchase it online here. 

Spices. I prefer to buy my organic spices in bulk for the deeper discount. I get them from Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Condiments. 

Tomatoes. I try to grow my own tomatoes or buy them locally to throw in soups, chili and homemade marinara. When I can’t grow my own, I buy sun-dried tomatoes for scattering on top of salads and omelets, tomato sauce to use when I don’t have time to make my own, and diced tomatoes to throw in recipes when the garden is closed for the winter. 

Fermented Food. We enjoy lacto-fermented foods and use them like condiments. Some of our favorites are sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and atchara 

Prepared Foods & Meal Planning

meal planning

Pete’s Paleo. Farm fresh and gourmet Paleo meals delivered directly to your doorstep! I’ve used this service during moves and to gift to new moms who are on a Paleo diet. You can check them out here. 

Real Plans. Whether you eat Paleo, grain-free, traditional or vegetarian, Real Plans is amazing at offering simple recipes to you each week. Click here to see Real Plans. 

Personal Care 

personal care

Deodorant. Sometimes I feel like making my own, sometimes I don’t. It’s important to me to use only non-toxic, aluminum-free deodorant and I find that this brand actually works.  

Toothpaste. When my kids were younger they loved this toothpaste . Now we all can’t get enough of doTERRA’s OnGuard toothpaste. 

Skin Care. I use the Oil Cleansing Method for my face and neck. I use almond oil and essential oils and you can watch my demo here. 

Feminine Products. I, personally, love my diva cup, but, also, use organic cotton tampons. These pads are great if you prefer using pads. 

Sunscreen. We prefer to use Badger sunscreen. It ranks very low in toxicity on the Skin Deep website. You can purchase it here. 

Lotions. I make my own Lavender Body Butter and Healing Salve but you can purchase wonderful skin care products from Mountain Rose Herbs. 

Perfume. I stopped buying over-the-counter perfumes and just buy the real stuff now. I use all essential oils and even love creating my own perfume blends. You can buy essential oils here. 

Hair Care. Morrocco Method offers a wide-range of raw, wildcrafted hair care products including shampoo and conditioner, as well as henna, which is a safe and permanent way to dye your hair. 

Makeup. Bare Minerals has some low-toxic products that rank pretty good on the Skin Deep website. You can buy them here. 

Sew Grown Purse – If you enjoy essential oils, as much as I do, and need a beautiful carry purse to hold them when you are on-the-go, then Sew Grown has all you need! Use the coupon code 10g2015 for 10% off $30.00 or more (expires 12/31/15)! 

Natural Home 

natural home

Natural Cleaning. Branch Basics offers a non-toxic, plant-based, hypo-allergic and cruelty-free natural cleaner concentrate that is a multi-tasking workhorse. You can use it to make hand soap, bathroom cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, and it’s even safe to wash your baby with it. 

Water Purification. Radiant Life has got you covered for all your water purification needs. They have complete home systems or if you are on a tighter budget, then the Berkey Royal is amazing and what my family uses! 

Aromatherapy. We’ve traded in our toxic plug-ins and candles for aromatherapy. We use water diffusion to disperse essential oils into the air. You can purchase all your essential oil needs and diffusers here. 

Sew Grown Purse – If you enjoy essential oils, as much as I do, and need a beautiful carry purse to hold them when you are on-the-go, then Sew Grown has all you need! You can purchase from here. Use the coupon code 10g2015 for 10% off $30.00 or more (expires 12/31/15)! 

Bainbridge Farm Goods: I love these modern, farm signs that you can put throughout your home, farm, or garden. You can purchase these from here. Free shipping on orders over $14.95. Go to their website and you will see a popup. 

Snacks & Treats

Nick’s Sticks. 100% grass-fed beef and free-range turkey sticks without any MSG or gluten! Purchase them here. Use the coupon code NATURALHOMESTEAD10 to get 10% off from Nick’s Sticks (expires 12/31/15)! 

Nut Butter. I use nut butters that are presoaked, sprouted and come from organic nuts. You can check them out here. 

Soaked Seeds & Nuts. It’s hard to find nuts and seeds that have been properly soaked (and sprouted) to remove excessive phytic acid. I purchase mine from here. 

Chocolate. A natural, non-gmo chocolate that is so good. Buy it here. 

Non-GMO Popcorn. Who doesn’t love popcorn? We use non-gmo popcorn and make it ourselves on the stovetop in coconut oil and top it with butter and celtic sea salt. Yum! 

Coconut Butter. Don’t buy this. You don’t want to become addicted like our family is. Coconut butter is the whole coconut meat in a concentrated form. It’s sweet and can be used like peanut or almond butter. You can purchase it here. 

Beverages

Coffee. I get my fair-trade, organic coffee from a local farmer who roasts it in small batches. However, you can purchase coffee online. 

Tea. I buy loose tea from Mountain Rose Herbs .

Coconut Water. My kids enjoy something other than water and raw milk at times. Coconut water is a natural, rehydrating drink filled with beneficial electrolytes. My kids like the flavored kind from here. 

Kitchen Equipment 

Instant Pot. Hand’s down my favorite kitchen appliance that you can get. I make bone broth in NINETY MINUTES y’all and it has a yogurt function that I use to make homemade yogurt (watch demo here)! This is a God-send to a real food kitchen. Get it here. 

Slow Cooker. What’s that? My Instant Pot has a slow cooker function on it so I ended up donating my slow cooker. 

Excalibur Dehydrator. Make your own jerky, dry your own fruit and herbs, and even make homemade crackers. Purchase it here. 

Kitchen Aid Mixer. Whip up your own marshmallows, whipped cream, and let it do the hard work of kneading your homemade bread. Couldn’t live without my Kitchen Aid! Buy it here. 

 

Shop from Home

60 Family Books for Advent Season

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There are so many great children’s books that you can read with your children during this coming Advent season and so many treasured classics that never go out of style. I want this blog post to excite you with the possibility of sharing wonderful literature with your children this Christmas season and to give some suggestions on some classic books for Advent.

As you probably know, I’ve posted earlier in on my Facebook page about the fantastic idea of wrapping 25 books for Christmas and putting them under the tree on December 1st. That gives our family the perfect opportunity for allowing the kids to choose one book each night during the Advent season for us to read together as we cuddle near the tree sipping on warm cider and anticipating the birth of our Savior.

So get ready to make your own chosen list of books, hopefully finding some among the ones I’m sharing in this post, and create some wonderful 2015 Advent memories with your family. I’m including the following ideas for you.

  1. Ideas for easy books for toddlers and babies
  2. Ideas for preschool to elementary level books
  3. Ideas for books for older children 
  4. Ideas for books for everyone
  5. Ideas about traditional Christmas classics
  6. Ideas for creative ways to share these books with your family

1. Ideas for easy books for toddlers and babies

Lift-the-Flap Nativity by Juliet David – Children can enjoy learning new things about the Christmas story in Lift the Flap Nativity, with flaps to open on every page and surprises to discover behind every door.

Merry Creature Christmas by Dandi Daley Mackall – Little Star, Big Bear, the proud, white mare and all the bluebirds sing and join the forest creatures dancing everywhere. The pictures tell the sweet story of the forest animals having a Christmas party celebrating Jesus.

The Little Drummer Boy illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats – Keats drew lovely illustrations to go along with the old song. Another book you can sing!

Claude the Dog: A Christmas Story by Dick Gackenbach – Christmas would not be complete without this adorable story with its simple reminder of what really matters at Christmas (friends and family, not the gifts). 

The Animal’s Christmas Eve by Gale Wiersum – The sing-song words in this young toddler’s book are sure to catch your children’s attention, especially if they love animals.

2. Ideas for preschool to elementary level books

The Perfect Christmas Gift – Part of the God’s Little Princess Series by Sheila Walsh, which teach little girls great lessons about being a daughter of the Highest King. In this book, Gigi, as usual, knows EXACTLY what she wants … but finds that being a little surprised, like the Christmas shepherds, is OK too.

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones – Each page shows and tells about different aspects of our world—the wind, the trees, the animals, and the stars. The anticipation builds until at last Jesus is born.

Humphrey’s First Christmas by Carol Heyer – Humphrey is hilarious as he describes the injustice of his life as a camel. And then Humphrey finds himself on a journey … and that maybe things weren’t so bad after all. 

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado – Joshua the lamb can’t keep up with the other sheep and feels left out … but finds himself in a special stable.

Katy’s Christmas Gift by Bernadette Watts – Katy sets out in the snow to visit the new baby born in the innkeeper’s stable. She is bringing gifts: a loaf of bread, her cat Sasha and, most importantly, her favorite toy—a wooden bird whistle. But Sasha doesn’t want to play in the cold snow, and the animals of the forest eat the bread. Soon Katy’s carefully chosen gifts are gone—except the most special one of all. 

A Calf for Christmas by Astrid Lindgren – It’s the last day of school before Christmas and snow is falling heavily. Johan heads to school on his sled, but he can’t stop thinking about the terrible thing that happened yesterday—his family’s only cow died, and they have no money to buy another. The rich farmer Peter Jonsson has come to town today for the Christmas market. He buys a calf then, after spending some time in the local pub, loses it on the sleigh ride home! When Johan heads out to clear snow, what does he find?… Maybe he’ll have a happy Christmas after all.

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston – The Armistice has been declared, but still there is no sign of Ruthie’s father in their little Appalachian town. So, in accordance with the traditions of Pine Grove, it falls to Ruthie and her mother to bring home the perfect Christmas tree to donate to the town.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski – Jonathan Toomey is the best woodcarver in the valley, but he is always alone and never smiles. No one knows about the mementos of his lost wife and child that he keeps in an unopened drawer. But one early winter’s day, a widow and her young son approach him with a gentle request that leads to a joyful miracle. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson – The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies and Herod needs a good beating—has a lot of people up in arms. But it will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone has seen and, just possibly, the best one ever.

The Crippled Lamb Hardcover by Max Lucado – In this timeless bestseller, readers experience the tender love God has for those who feel alone and different. Joshua was a lamb with a crippled leg who felt left out because he couldn’t run and play like the other lambs. But God had a very special plan for Joshua’s life, as He does for all who feel alone. 

3. Ideas for books for older children

The Candle in the Window by Grace Johnson – This one is long, but it’s a beautiful story of a German cobbler who remembers the true meaning of Christmas as Christmas Eve passes. 

The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin – Carol Bird, a Christmas-born child, who as a young girl is unusually loving and generous, having a positive effect on everyone with whom she comes into contact. The book is a wistful moral tale about a saintly child, but is enlivened by many humorous scenes.

The Story of the Other Wiseman by Henry Van Dyke – Often retold as the tale of the fourth wiseman, and even turned into a movie, this is an unabridged version by the original author, who also penned the words to the Christmas carol, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee. 

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas – This special edition is beautifully illustrated. It can serve as a precious guide to help recapture the sacredness of the Advent season and to help the entire family understand and celebrate the epic pageantry of humankind from Adam to the Messiah.

The Old Shepherd’s Tale by Christopher Nye – An old shepherd shares the stable with his animals on the night Mary and Joseph arrive and give birth to the infant Jesus. The shepherd sees the greatness of these beasts—and shares that vision with us in this story that goes straight to the heart. For all ages.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry – In a shabby New York flat, Della sobs as she counts the few coins she has saved to buy a Christmas present for her husband, Jim. A gift worthy of her devotion will require a great sacrifice: selling her long, beautiful hair. Jim, meanwhile, has made a sacrifice for Della that is no less difficult. As they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, the discovery of what each has done fills them with despair, until they realize that the true gifts of Christmas can be found more readily in their humble apartment than in any fine store.

4. Books for everyone, all-ages

Some of my personal favorites that are “twaddle-free.” If you are a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, like me, then you understand that this simply means that these books are classic, undiluted, and do not undervalue the intelligence of the child. 
 
If you ever see these books at a used-book store, you snag these books up in a heartbeat. They are literature gems that your children will love (and so will you). 
 
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin
The Tough Winter by Robert Lawson
The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens
Cole Family Christmas by Jennifer Bryan
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
Christmas Remembered by Tomie de Paola
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
Christmas Spirit by George Grant and Gregory Wilbur
The Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. John
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas
God Is in the Manger by Deitrich Bonhoeffer
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
An Orange for Frankie Patricia Polacco
Stars over Bethlehem by Opal Wheeler
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Gifts of the Christ Child by George MacDonald
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacoo
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Becky’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor
Angel Mae by Shirley Hughes
 

5. Ideas about traditional Christmas classics

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter – The Tailor of Gloucester was first published in 1903 and tells the story of a poor tailor trying to survive in his freezing workshop over a hard winter. He has a terribly important commission to complete for the Mayor of Gloucester’s wedding on Christmas Day but is ill and tired, and before long is running out of food and thread, as well as time! How will he possibly complete the beautiful coat and embroidered waistcoat? Luckily, there lives in the dresser, some very kind and very resourceful mice who set about helping the poor tailor with his work. Not only are they exceedingly helpful, but they are also, luckily, far far too clever for the tailor’s sly cat, Simpkin.

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long – This well known Christmas song deserves lavish illustrations, and this edition exceeds expectations.

Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffman – The tale of Nutcracker has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share. Maurice Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Christmas production of Nutcrackerand created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. He joined with the eminent translator Ralph Manheim to produce this illustrated edition of Hoffmann’s wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all ages.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (picture book edition) (Chronicles of Narnia) – A picture book retelling of C. S. Lewis’s classic story for the youngest fans! Now younger children can share the magical experience, entering into a world of enchantment that will forever lure them back. Four adventurous siblings step through a wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land frozen in eternal winter—but never Christmas—cursed by the power of the White Witch. Only Aslan, the Great Lion, can reverse her wicked spell.

 Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus by Francis P. Church – In 1897, a young girl wrote to The New York Sun asking whether Santa Claus truly existed. The paper’s response, written by reporter Francis P. Church, has become a beloved holiday literary tradition. An original approach to a children’s classic, this captivating book creatively reinterprets that heartwarming letter about the truth behind Santa Claus and Christmas. It is accompanied by charming Victorian artwork. Joel Spector is an artist and illustrator known for his elegant pastel images. 

6. Ideas for creative ways to share these books with your family

There are many ways to extend your family time with these books beyond the simple reading of the book. Try some of these ideas with your family: 

  • Advent is the time before Christmas when we anticipate the birth of Jesus. It begins the Christian year. Learn more about the Christian year, and why or why not people follow it. (Helpful Info)
  • Compare the stories in different retellings of the the Christmas story with the biblical versions of Christ’s birth. (For more help) 
  • Learn about Christmas celebrations around the world. Find out how people from other countries have brought their celebrations to their new homes in North America. (Need a suggestion?)
  • Try serving different snack and holiday foods from other cultures during your family advent time. (For more help)
  • Add a time of making Christmas crafts to your family advent time. Then take some crafts and your favorite books to a local nursing home or hospital to read the book and share the crafts with people who may be lonely or sad at this special time of year. (For more ideas) 

Don’t miss the wonderful opportunity of sharing the advent season of 2015 by making family advent memories that your children will remember for the rest of their lives! This blog will get you started—but don’t stop here; go and make your own lasting advent memories.

60 Family Books for the Advent Season

Sources

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=bIhLDFY6g1QC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA91&dq=best+children%27s+books+for+advent+season&source=bl&ots=AXTUq2QMtJ&sig=3IfEe6f4cZanKL7xs5zIWZOteuM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CIABEOgBMAU4CmoVChMI6Ze0hOPiyAIVSakeCh3uawvY#v=onepage&q=best%20children’s%20books%20for%20advent%20season&f=false
  2. https://www.jessieweaver.net/2012/11/25-jesus-centered-christmas-books-to-celebrate-advent/
  3. https://trinaholden.com/the-ultimate-list-of-advent-books-for-kids/
  4. https://www.waldorfbooks.com/christmas-and-advent

25 Ways to Use Beeswax

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Recently after moving onto our farm, we harvested our first honey from the five established honeybee hives already there. (You can read about our first experience here.)  It was so exciting to find that we had several gallons of pure, sweet honey just waiting for us. But I’m not sure if I was more excited about the honey or about the beautiful beeswax that came with the honey! One of the great benefits of raising honeybees is the awesome potential of the many homemade uses you can find for the beeswax the honeybees produce to build their honeycombs. These 25 ways to use beeswax should keep you busy and give you lots of ideas for homemade gifts! 

There are dozens and dozens of uses for beeswax. In this blog post I want to tell you about twenty or so of my favorite uses. I’ll include the following:

  1. Basic Information About Beeswax
  2. Great Uses for Beeswax Around the House and Garden
  3. Beeswax Is a Great Helper in the Kitchen
  4. Using Beeswax in Homemade Health and Beauty Products
  5. Beeswax Products You Can Make for Your Children

1. Basic Information About Beeswax

Bees

Only honeybees make beeswax. Honey bees make six-sided cells that are space-efficient and the best shape to accommodate a round, growing honey bee larva. To make comb, the bees remove the bits of wax called “wax scales” from the undersides of their abdomen and chew and mold them into place. The production of beeswax is stimulated when there is a great supply of flower nectar such as when clover and alfalfa bloom. Bees do not build comb before it is needed. Pollen is the adult honey bee’s source of protein and they collect it in great quantity. The gums and resins, which beekeepers call “propolis,” are used to varnish the inside of the bee’s nest. 

Beeswax has been used since the beginning of civilization. It has been found in the pharaohs’ tombs, in sunken Viking ships, and Roman ruins. Beeswax is virtually the duct tape of old, with thousands of uses and being virtually indispensable.

Pure beeswax is solid at room temperature. It will have a putty-like consistency above 80-90 degrees F, and will melt around 145-147 degrees F. It never goes bad, but does get a powder called bloom on it when stored at cooler temperatures. A blow drier will remove the bloom, or you can use a soft rag to buff the bloom off. You can wrap it in plastic to prevent dust, dirt and fuzz sticking to it.

2. Great Uses for Beeswax Around the House and Garden

There are many ways you can use beeswax around the house for maintenance and to enhance the environment. I want to give you a few ideas that may be things you’d like to try.

Candles—We love our homemade beeswax candles to much that, of course, that is the first idea I want to pass on to you. We love the ambiance they give, and the wonderful scents we can create with the natural pleasant odor of the beeswax mixed with our favorite essential oils. There’s nothing better than sitting down with the family in the evening, lighting our beeswax candles, pouring some chamomile tea with raw honey and watching our favorite TV show, Little House on the Prarie. I’ll be sharing my own recipe for making these candles soon, but here is a link to an easy recipe you can try.  

Grafting wax—Gardeners have been using beeswax for grafting two plants together for hundreds of years. Beeswax is non-toxic, and does not deteriorate, lasting for the months necessary to allow the plants to grow together. You can find a simple formula for making grafting wax here. 

Waxing thread—It is a big advantage to keep a small cake of beeswax in your sewing box. If you wax the thread before you use it, not only is it easier to thread the needle, but it will also keep your thread from knotting up as you use it.

Oiling furniture joints—Beeswax is a great lubricant for those squeaky furniture joints. It is great for helping your doors and window to move smoothly, and so much healthier for your environment that the chemical products available.

Preventing rust—Coat your hand tools, cast iron, and shovels with beeswax to keep them from rusting. You can even rub the beeswax on the handles of your tools to protect them against wear and tear.

Homemade furniture polish—Beeswax is a fantastic furniture polisher. Melt 1 TBSP. of grated beeswax with 3 TBSP. of coconut oil. When this cools and hardens, use a clean cloth to rub it onto your wood furniture. Buff with a soft clean cloth until all the residue is removed.

2. Beeswax Is a Great Helper in the Kitchen

Granite polisher—Do you love your granite countertops but hate the dinghy look they have after hard use? Polish them with molten beeswax, wiped on and allowed to dry, then wiped off with a suede piece of cloth.

Grease-free baking pans—Keep a block of beeswax ready to use to rub over your baking pans and cookie sheets before using. Beeswax is completely edible, so this is perfectly safe. Over time you pans will take on a permanent coat of wax, eliminating the need to grease them every time.

Cleaning your iron—When your iron starts to get gummy or scorched, you can make a homemade iron cleaner with beeswax that is chemical-free, economical and sustainable. You will find a tutorial for making it here.

Cheese waxing—If you, like me, like to make your own cheeses, beeswax is the best natural cover for cheeses. When your cheese has completely dried, you can apply hot wax, which ensure a proper seal for your cheese. Beeswax works well for this because it has a low melting point.

Using beeswax to help in plucking poultry—OK, I’m including this one because I have a homesteading kitchen! Beeswax is a great help in defeathering and removing down from your poultry. You will find a video on how to pluck a duck using beeswax here. 

Barbecuing with beeswax—Whether you have an outdoor grill or a stove-top indoor grill, coating your grill with beeswax before using it makes clean up a whole lot easier.

3. Using Beeswax in Homemade Health and Beauty Products

Beeswax locks in moisture, protects skin from environmental factors, and fosters skin cells. Because of its moisture locking properties, it is naturally nourishing and effectively softens skin. It is even speculated that honeycomb has traces of Vitamin A, which help restore and replenish skin.

There are many homemade health and beauty products you can make using beeswax. Here are a few of my favorite:

All-Purpose Salve—When you have little ones in the house, there seems to be an endless supply of boo-boos, bug bites and itchy skin. You can make this all-purpose salve to have on hand, using beeswax and your favorite essential oils with other ingredients. (Here)

Lavender Body Butter— There’s something about putting together the simplest of ingredients and then whipping it up into this luxurious, natural, and nourishing lotion. This Lavender Body Butter does just that; it’s simple to make, only four ingredients and uses lavender essential oil. By adding beeswax to the recipe, you also have a healthy sunscreen lotion. (Here) 

Baking Soda-Free Deodorant—You can make your own natural deodorant following my suggestions here.  For those who have had difficulty with getting this “firm” enough, and not pasty, try adding 1-2 tablespoons of beeswax, which will help to give you a more solid consistency.

Spiced Chai Lip Balm—Homemade lip balms are some of the easiest things to make using beeswax. Because I love chai tea and the wonderful aroma of the chai tea spices, I created this delicious Spiced Chai Lip Balm recipe, using beeswax. 

Homemade Comfrey Salve— One of my favorite things about my new homestead is our very own comfrey patch. Of course, you don’t need to grow your own comfrey to make a nourishing salve with it. There are several places online that you can purchase dried, organic comfrey leaves to make this simple and homemade comfrey salve. Try using my recipe here.  

Whipped Magnesium Body Butter—Here is another great suggestion for making homemade Magnesium Body Butter.  It will help you to supplement your body with more magnesium, and you can adapt the recipe by substituting 2-3 tablespoons of beeswax for some of the recommended almond oil. Your butter will be slightly more solid, but will be easy to apply when you need it.

Homemade Mustache Cream—Beeswax is a regular component of mustache creams. Facial hair for men is the trend right now, and you can make the men in your life some great mustache wax. You will find great information and three recipes here. 

Homemade styling gel for hubby’s Mohawk or other trendy hairstyle—The men in your life will love this all-natural styling gel that can be used on those trendy men’s hairstyles that need some extra support. You can choose to make a heavy-hold gel or a medium-hold gel. All the instructions you need can be found here.  You may even find a use for this with your own hair styles or those for your children.

4. Beeswax Products You Can Make for Your Children

Beeswax modeling clay—Making beeswax modeling clay with your young ones is a fantastic homeschooling project. You can teach math skill, color theory, and discuss bees and the work they do as you work together and enjoy the warm honey scent of melted beeswax. You can find complete instructions here. 

Beeswax Gummy Bears and Jelly Beans—This is a fun experience you can do with your kids. You can adapt my recipe for Fruit Gummy Snacks (here) for this by using small jelly bean molds or miniature Easter egg molds and adding a couple of tablespoons of beeswax just before you pour the mixture into the molds. Beeswax is completely edible, and will coat your jelly beans to give them a harder texture.

Diaper rash cream—This is somewhat harder to make, and requires a double boiler, but you will have a healthy, chemical-free diaper rash cream to use on your little ones that will keep them free from rashes and other diaper irritants. You can find full instructions here. 

Homemade baby lotion—This is another great homemade product using beeswax for your little ones. It is so filled with healthy ingredients and has such a pleasant aroma. (Here) 

Making Beeswax candles with your kids—Make a wonderful holiday tradition by making homemade beeswax candles as gifts for Christmas. The process is easy and fun for all, and your friends and family members will treasure the candles for a very long time. You can find complete instructions here. 

I promised you this would be 20+ ways to use beeswax, and we ended up with 25 great uses for that wonderful beeswax specially made for you by your honeybees! If you do not have your own honeybees, check with local farmers, or you can order natural beeswax here. 

Be sure you try some of these suggested uses for beeswax. You will love them, and it just might convince you to begin doing your own beekeeping. The raw organic honey is delicious, and you will find so many ways to use the beeswax when the honey bees no longer need it.

25 ways to use beeswax

Sources

  1. https://www.mainebee.com/articles/beeswax_history.php
  2. https://hiveharvest.com/beeswax-facts-and-faqs/
  3. https://www.naturallyloriel.com/17-cool-and-unusual-uses-for-beeswax/
  4. https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/12/21-brilliant-benefits-of-beeswax.html

My Journey to Diamond in dōTERRA

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cover

You all know how passionate I am about natural living, DIY recipes, and essential oils. I’ve been using essential oils for nearly 10 years, but it wasn’t till two years ago, that I found dōTERRA. I’ve pushed back writing this blog post for over a year now, because of various reasons and fears, but it’s about time I step out in boldness and share with you my journey to diamond in dōTERRA (I’m Blue Diamond). 

This month I saw a renewal fee in my monthly dōTERRA order and waves of emotions came over me. I sat there in my bed in the early morning, coffee in hand, rooster crowing outside, and tears flooded down my cheeks. The past two years of my life have been life-changing for me. 

Many of you know my story and how far I have come, but to keep my thoughts organized, I’ll be discussing these things: 

Why I Chose dōTERRA

Sources of Oils MAP

Like I said before, I’ve been an avid user of herbs and essential oils for many, many years. However, it wasn’t until that dōTERRA showed up on my radar that I truly understood the dire need for using essential oils that are not only very pure, but oils that have an impact of how and where they are sourced. 

The “International Sources of dōTERRA Essential Oils” map shows you the many places that dōTERRA is sourcing their beloved essential oils. Where a plant is grown has a major impact on it’s constitution, which then determines the potency of the plant. Additionally, harvesting the right part of the plant at the right time is a major determiner in the quality of an essential oil (1). 

This short video on dōTERRA’s impact they are making around the world with their sourcing methods, speaks volumes. 

Next, I loved their testing methods. dōTERRA has an internal testing standard that they labeled as “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade”. You see, my skeptical brain has never believed in labels so it took me awhile to understand what this standard really meant.

Be aware, my friends, that just because something is labeled “therapeutic“, does not mean it’s the best purity or quality. There are many essential oils on the market that deem themselves as being “therapeutic-grade“, yet there quality is poor. While many companies promote their own therapeutic grade standard, one should be aware that there is no universally accepted independent body that certifies essential oils as therapeutic grade. 

dōTERRA’s mission is to have the purest oils on the planet so they created their own internal standard. They want to be able to test all the oils they are getting from all over the world and make sure they were indeed pure. Why in the world would dōTERRA source their oils all over the world and not just do what most other companies do and grow them in one spot and slap on a “therapeutic-grade” label? It’s cheaper to grow them all in one place, but dōTERRA is true to their mission of having the purest and most potent essential oils on the planet. 

After learning all this and then seeing their testing protocol, I must say, I was impressed. Here’s the 8 ways they test their oils: 

  • Organoleptic testing
  • Microbial testing
  • Gas chromatography
  • Mass spectrometry
  • Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
  • Chirality testing
  • Isotopic analysis
  • Heavy metal testing (2) 

And none of this amazing information with dōTERRA would have mattered to me if I didn’t actually see a difference in my life while using them.

I purchased the cheapest starter kit (big mistake) and started incorporating them into my family’s life. I actually felt comfortable using this brand on my small children, on my body, and in my home. I saw, smelled, and felt a drastic difference using dōTERRA, instead of all the other brands I had in my pantry. In fact, I still have those “other” brands and will let people smell the difference between the different brands.

Why I was drawn to the business side of dōTERRA

I didn’t purchase my dōTERRA starter kit because I wanted to share or sell the oils. In fact I told my friend I enrolled with to just “leave me alone“…in much nicer words though. 

But after feeling such a difference using dōTERRA, I couldn’t stop talking about them. I even swapped out some old blog links on recipe posts using essential oils and added a link to my little “landing page” I made. 

And the next morning…I had quite a few enrollments! I had no idea what I was doing, nor did I even care how much money I had just made, but people were buying starter kits through me and HOLY COW, I better figure the “business part” of dōTERRA out. 

So, here’s the low-down on why dōTERRA has the absolute best compensation plan in the world because I know some of you really want to know. 

dōTERRA is on the left of the diagram and the direct sales company standard is on the right. 

earning chart

  • dōTERRA’s unilevel compensation plan is paid on seven levels (or more) of referrals. You can see the seven levels on the diagram I made. 
  • You receive a percentage of sales on each level.
  • The x3 is the average amount of people who are on that level and the average earnings you will make
  • The earnings grow the further down you grow
  • You earn the LEAST on the LEAST(people on a level) and the most where the most people will be on your levels. This is so true! The majority of my team is on my 4th-7th+ levels and I’m earning the most percentage of commission. 
  • Most companies reverse this percentage payout and pay you the MOST on the LEAST (people in your levels) and the LEAST on the most. Shame! 
  • This means, if reversed (like most direct-sales companies) that you would be making $20,000 less per month. 

Since most direct-sales companies pay you 7% on your first level and 2% on your 7th level, this does not encourage the desire to grow deep in your organization. You probably would want to keep everyone on your first level since you would be making the most on them. What kind of teamwork and growth does that encourage? None, in my opinion.

dōTERRA not only pays you through unilevel commission, but 5 other ways as well: fast start bonuses, power-of-3, retail, preferred membership, and leadership pools. Read more here for explanations and more details. I recommend anyone looking into creating an income with a direct sales company, to take a good look at their compensation plan and see it lines up with dōTERRAs. 

The MLM Challenge

The multi-level marketing companies of today are not the same of our parent’s generation. The ones that are legitimate are NOT a get-rich-quick scheme…it’s hard work! 

What I love about direct-sales and legitimate MLM’s is that you get to purchase a product from another person, often another mom like myself, rather than from a big store. It’s very similar to buying local and supporting your farmers…this time you are supporting your friends and family. 

I, personally, swore I would never be part of a MLM, but dōTERRA is so different and I love these oils and use them every, single day. I’m passionate about sharing them with the world around me. 

In just two years, I have been able to completely surpass my husband’s income, making well into six-figures, retire him and bring him home to be with me and the kids, and I’ve empowered many others to make better choices for their health and wellness. 

I would rather people tell me no, then to never share something that I believe in wholeheartedly. 

Financial Freedom and becoming debt-free 

My purpose in sharing about dōTERRA isn’t to get a yes, an enrollment, or hit a new rank. My primary goal in sharing about dōTERRA with others is to help them find natural solutions PERIOD. 

My purpose is to help others experience the abundance and financial-freedom that we experience everyday. We are living our dreams because we laid down a pipeline the past two years and stopped hauling all those heavy and frustrating corporate buckets. 

You are going to work hard in life…and if you have a dream, like we did, then you might as well work hard building your dream, instead of your bosses. 

When I started sharing dōTERRA (never selling) we were heavy in debt but working towards becoming debt-free following the Dave Ramsey method.  

In the early leadership ranks of silver and gold, I was able to help pay off a few thousand dollars a month to whatever debt, or bill, we were working on getting rid of. All my money from dōTERRA went to paying down debt. We were so adamant about getting the monkey of debt off our backs and determined to make it happen as soon as possible. 

We tore up bill-after-bill and when I hit the rank of diamond 8 months after I started sharing dōTERRA, we WERE DEBT FREE! 

At diamond, I started bring in an extra $15,000 a month and that was when my husband and I started talking about him coming home and working with me. We started dreaming again and then we started living our dreams! 

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You see — our dream was to live in the mountains and have a farm. We wanted to homeschool our kids and live a life of freedom. We wanted to travel the world and because of dōTERRA we have been to Jamaica for free and in January of 2016, we are headed to the Dominican Republic for free. 

My focus turned to leadership development within my dōTERRA team and training them to share from there hearts. I wanted this so bad for my team and for the people on my team who needed this financial freedom. 

Three months after hitting the rank of diamond, I was recognized for achieving the rank of blue diamond…one year after I purchased my wonderful starter kit and told my enroller to “leave me alone“. 

Then my dreams unfolded. We bought the house (errr…farm) of our dreams. My husband quit his busy corporate job. We worked less and were way happier! 

We put in about 20 hours each to our business these days and it’s wonderful. I have time to homeschool our kids, travel, and buy any farm animals that my heart desires. The best part? I give more and that is the most beautiful thing of all. 

The opportunity of dōTERRA for anyone

If you have a passion for serving others, and want to use your God-given talents and gifts, and believe that YOU ARE WORTH this, then you can do dōTERRA. 

You don’t have to be a doctor, an aromatherapist, or an expert sales person…the world has enough of those. The world needs people who are willing to put down their agenda and just sit down and listen. 

The world needs people who are leading with their heart and not their pocketbook. 

The world needs people who want to empower others to have the answers at their fingertips. 

Freedom comes when you decide to stop living someone else’s dream and decide to live your own dream. 

Do you dream of a rustic red barn, milking goats in the morning light, and making your own butter? I did…and I made it happen. 

Do you dream of staying home with your kids, your newborn? 

Or do you simply dream of living an abundant life where you can be a blessing to others? 

The world needs more people who are financially free. I make more money so I can give more money. I invest my money back into my children, my business, and into my future. 

I don’t want to end this post by saying, “sign up with me so I can change your life” because I can’t. The decision to change your situation is up to you and you don’t have to join dōTERRA to do that. However, dōTERRA is an incredible tool if you choose to be a part of it…and it’s not going anywhere. 

If you are interested in the opportunity of building a business with doTERRA, please email me at jackie@ritzessentials.com and I would LOVE to talk with you and help answer any questions you might have! 

Journey to Diamond

References:

  • https://www.doterra.com/en/ourProducts/sourcing/coImpact
  • https://www.doterra.com/en/ourProducts/sourcing/testing
  • https://www.joomag.com/magazine/mag/0599302001443815720?feature=archive
  • https://www.doterratools.com/documents/Compensation_Plan.pdf
  • https://www.doterratools.com/documents/2014_Opportunity_and_Earnings_Disclosure_Summary.pdf

Homemade Gift Ideas for the Homesteader

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Gift Ideas

The holiday season has already begun. Every year it arrives, and so often chaos, stress, and uneasiness about gift giving comes with it. But it doesn’t have to be that way for those  prepared with several homemade gift ideas for the homesteader in your life that loves the beauty of things “from scratch”. 

In this blog I want to get your season started right by sharing some of my favorite homemade gift ideas for those homesteaders-at-heart in your life. You can make these easily for your friends and family and give them healthy, original gifts that are so much better than last-minute store-bought items. I will follow up with a second blog on ideas for making homemade tasty food gifts for your loved ones.

Get your shopping list ready and prepare to impress your loved ones with these great gift ideas. I am including three groups of DIY homemade gifts:

  1. DIY Homemade Beauty Products
  2. DIY Health Supporting Products
  3. DIY Home Cleaning Products

For most of these recipes, you are going to need high-quality essential oils. 

essential oils and medical flowers herbsI LOVE LOVE LOVE dōTERRA and would love to help you get started using essential oils. dōTERRA is sold exclusively through independent distributors 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!). If you want to take a peak at the starter kits which include most of the essential oils you will need for these recipes, CLICK HERE and let me know if you have any questions! 

DIY Homemade Beauty & Health Products

(Click here to get my DIY Beauty Recipes eBOOK for even more ideas!)

Sugar Scrub BarsSugar Scrub Bars

I love making my own sugar scrub. I, also, love making my life easier which is why I made these sugar scrub bars. All I have to do is grab a bar before getting in the bath or shower. No more opening up a mason jar and scooping out the scrub and letting water get into the scrub. Now I just take a bar and start lathering it over my body. It’s easy to hold and easy to make! (Find Recipe here) 

Lavender Body Butter

I have an obsession with making body butter. There’s something about putting together the simplest of ingredients and then whipping it up into this luxurious, natural, and nourishing lotion. This Lavender Body Butter does just that; it’s simple to make, only four ingredients and uses lavender essential oil. (Find Recipe here) 

Spiced Chai Lip Balm RecipeSpiced Chai Lip Balm www.thepaleomama.com

I love chai tea and the way the spices in a chai tea smell. I have been making my own lip balm for years now, usually I just put my Healing Salve on my lips, but I wanted something a little “fancier” so I created a delicious Spiced Chai Lip Balm recipe that I know you will enjoy. (Find recipe here) 

Whipped Sleepytime Rub

Winding down at night can be tough at times. I know my mind keeps going for minutes and sometimes hours after I lay my head down on my pillow. The same goes for our kids.

Our nightly routine has become essential at our house. I notice that the nights we go from dinner to bed is CRAZY. The kids are not ready to rush rush rush and then get in bed. So, I stopped expecting it from them and started taking our bedtime routine a little more seriously.

Whipped Sleepytime Rub www.thepaleomama.comNow we eat dinner at the table as family and then we slowly start getting ready for bed. The kids take a nice relaxing bath, sometimes a detox bath, with certain essential oils in it, and then we get all snuggled up in our pajamas and read books.

During our reading time I apply this Whipped Sleepytime Rub made with essential oils to my kids. They absolutely love this! The 3 main oils I choose to apply are Frankincense, Lavender, and Vetiver because these oils promote a nice, restful sleep. (Find recipe here)

DIY Health Supporting Products

Elderberry Syrup

Elderberries are packed with Vitamins A, B, and C, iron, potassium, and powerful antioxidants. Making an elderberry syrup recipe is a great way to get all the nutrition from these delicious bushes into our body! (Find recipe here) 

Comfrey Salve

Homemade Comfrey Salve

One of my favorite things about my new homestead is our very own comfrey patch. Of course, you don’t need to grow your own comfrey to make a nourishing salve with it. There are several places online that you can purchase dried, organic comfrey leaves to make this simple and homemade comfrey salve. 

Comfrey has been in use as a medicinal herb for more than 200 years. The allantoin content of comfrey aids in healing wounds, sores, burns, swollen tissue, and broken bones. It can be applied externally to bruises, sprains, arthritic bones of any inflamed tissue, and acts as an anti-inflammatory and pain reliever. (Find recipe here) 

All-Purpose Salve

My goal in creating this recipe is to minimize your medicine cabinet and prove to you that, once again, nature has given us the remedy. This all-purpose salve is good for so many things. The coconut oil and olive oil bring nourishment, while the beeswax is known to lock in moisture, foster cells, and protect skin from damaging environmental factors. For children, the BEST two essential oils to have on hand are melaleuca and lavender.

(Find recipe here) 

DIY Home Cleaning Products

Multi-Purpose Floor Cleaner

When it comes to cleaning your floors, you don’t need expensive products to do the job. Essential oils are great at cleaning up the dirt while leaving a refreshing, clean aroma in the air. Cleaning your floors with essential oils is completely safe, non-toxic, frugal, and easy!

The beauty of using essential oils on your floors, is that you don’t have to worry about using a specific oil on a specific service. Each essential oil will work on your floors. This recipe works if you have tile, hardwood, linoleum, ceramic, laminate, and vinyl. You can mix any of the oils I recommend above to make this recipe or use one single oil. (Find recipe here) 

DIY Laundry Detergent—$0.02 a Load

I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for years now. I was so scared at first to switch over to natural-homemade detergent because there was this mindset that store-bought is best…store-bought smells better…store-bought makes my clothes fresher. However, when we did our budget makeover, I decided to take homemade detergent into my own hands and come up with a DIY laundry detergent recipe that saves a TON of money. (Find recipe here)

Wool Dryer Balls with Essential Oils

 Wool Dryer Balls from The Paleo MamaSince I have made the switch to using wool dryer balls, instead of dryer sheets, my pocket-book is much happier, and so is my energy bill! I love my wool dryer balls with essential oils and I know you will making the switch too! Here are some of the reasons why you should try these wool dryer balls:

  • They can cut your drying time in half
  • They help reduce static
  • They save you money on your energy bill
  • They are chemical-free, unlike dryer sheets
  • They can be re-used over-and-over again
  • They increase the fluffiness of your clothes
  • They are safe to use with cloth diapers

(Find recipe here)

All of these easy-to-make homemade products would make fantastic holiday gifts for your friends and loved ones. You will have fun making them, and your loved ones will appreciate the efforts you make to prepare gifts offering healthy, economical alternatives to the chemically laden products you can purchase at stores.

Gift Ideas for the Homesteader

 

The Decision to Stop at Two and MTHFR

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I’m not sure if every woman goes through this emotional struggle. As I look back over my blog the past year, I can sense how busy I must look and how unattached I have been. Sometimes it’s easier to pump out lots of information and be completely and emotionally detached. It’s been a year that has been filled with so much joy and peace…except in this one area…this one nagging question…should we try again for another baby?

You see, I always envisioned our family have three kids. Frank comes from a family of three children and so do I, so naturally, we always wanted three kids. And we tried…we could keep trying…but it’s tormenting. 

A year and a half ago I wrote a very emotional and raw blog post on my natural miscarriage. I said that I was done and and “100% positive that I cannot go through this again.” But the truth is, I did. 

Eight months ago we wanted to try for a third child. I wasn’t really ready, but it happened and I was pregnant. Then I wasn’t. And then all the emotions, anger, and the memories of my previous miscarriage all overcame me again. I was so mad at myself for letting myself get pregnant…and I questioned why my body ALWAYS got pregnant but just couldn’t keep the baby. 

After reading a book that my friend Emily from Holistic Squid gave me called, “Feed Your Fertility“, and I saw a little snippet in there about MTHFR gene mutation and miscarriage. It peaked my interest and I started reading more and more about this MTHFR stuff. 

The genetics home reference explains what the normal function of the MTHFR gene does…

The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme plays a role in processing amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is important for a chemical reaction involving forms of the vitamin folate (also called vitamin B9). Specifically, this enzyme converts a molecule called 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to a molecule called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. This reaction is required for the multistep process that converts the amino acid homocysteine to another amino acid, methionine. The body uses methionine to make proteins and other important compounds.

There is a long list of the conditions of the MTHFR gene mutation and what they can cause, but the one that stood out to me was miscarriages. I wondered if my history of three miscarriages had anything to do with this MTHFR stuff. 

So, what does any woman with a strong intuition that something wasn’t right, do? Well, she gets to the root of what’s going on and I sent off to have my genetics tested through 23 and Me. Sure enough I have one of the most problematic mutations.

The two most problematic mutations that can occur are  C677T and A1298C.  The most common forms of MTHFR mutation are below:

  • Homozygous: the same gene passed on from both parents and occurs when both parents pass on the 677 mutation, or the 1298 mutation.
  • Heterozygous: one parent passed on the 677 mutation or the 1298 mutation but the other parent passed on a normal gene.
  • Compound Heterozygous: one parent passed on the 677 mutation and the other passed on the 1298 mutation.

I was found to be compound heterozygous, which means I have a 677 mutation and a 1298 mutation. The largest problem that women of childbearing age can have who carry a MTHFR mutation is that they do not properly break down folic acid, and they also have a very hard time detoxing from heavy metals. 

BAM.

Could I have found the reason for my miscarriages? Tears…peace. 

I took my findings to a specialized MTHFR doctor that was recommended off of MTHFR.net and have been seeing him for the last year. I have discovered lots of interesting things about my health. I was crucially low in my B vitamins…I mean crucially. I am VERY low in my folate…rightly so since my body doesn’t even process it correctly. I carry a chronic virus that tells my body to constantly fight. And here I was…I thought I was a healthy 34-year old woman. 

So, with the help of my MTHFR doctor, we have been addressing the issues of my health. But lately…and loudly… my emotions are taking hold of me and needing closure. 

I think I am one of those woman that will ALWAYS want another baby. As long as I can have kids, I want kids. 

The downside is, in this “want”, I have never been satisfied with the two amazing, beautiful children that I have. I want another one…but they should be enough for me. 

So through tears and frustration, we have decided that I can’t go through this all the time. I can’t go through the agony of a monthly period coming late and the hope that this “might” stick. 

I want to move on and be content with my children…the two children that have made me MOM. I don’t need anything more than what God has already given me. And the complete agony of “trying” is more than my body can take. 

11So, it’s done. I’m a mother of two delightful and precious children. Little Farm Girl is almost 7 years old and is quickly becoming my greatest friend. She’s sensitive to my emotions and always wants to please me. Little Farm Boy is 4 years old. His birth and life has been during the most difficult time of my life, but the past year we have felt a breath of fresh air…renewal…promise…and the ability to create joy within our lives. 

I couldn’t be happier. Will I always want another child? Probably. Have we thought about adoption. Absolutely. But I want to learn to be satisfied with the life that I am living right now and the two living blessings that need all of their mommy. 

I could die today and know that I have lived a full life. I know my miscarried babies will meet me in heaven. I, also, know that my husband and I are making the right decision. Is it hard? For sure. Do I long for another baby? I do…but I long more for contentment with the wonderful two children that I have. 

MTHFR Video: