The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

DIY Beauty Recipes

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: 

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  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. 

 

Risks of Using Essential Oils

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I’ve been using herbs and essential oils for over 10 years now and I’m shocked at the risks that people are taking when they jump into using essential oils. So, I feel I need to warn you all before you use another essential oil or before you buy your starter kit of essential oils. 

10 Risks of Using Essential Oils

1. You will need to buy a new purse 

It’s true. Your purse you have now won’t work. You need something that your oils will fit nicely into. I love my Sew Grown clutch but there are tons of great purses on the market that you can fit all your oils into. 

2. You will notice your family is healthier. 

This is a huge risk. I mean waking up in the middle of the night with a child who has ear discomfort can be frustrating. Thankfully, now you will have the answers at your fingertips, and you can run downstairs and grab your Melaleuca and rub it behind his ears and down his jawline. 

3. Your house will smell better and feel cleaner. 

Throwing away your plugins and candles is scary! DO IT! Those things have chemicals in them and you’re breathing them in ALL.DAY.LONG. Swap them out for an essential oil diffuser. My kids don’t know this but I sneak sleepy-time oils in our diffuser at dinner-time because I NEED THEM TO SLEEP….and they do, thanks to Lavender and/or Serenity “calming” blend. 

4. You will have more energy. 

You might not be bouncing off the walls like you do with your energy drinks, but you also won’t experience that dreadful “caffeine crash.” I love using essential oils for energy. My favorite combination is Peppermint and Wild Orange. I put a drop of each in my hands and rub my hands together and then breathe it in like I’m a crack addict. 

5. Your kids will scream for you to put their diffuser on at night.

So, if you’re like me and on some nights, you just want to throw the kids in bed (literally), then you’re gonna hate this one. EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. my kids must have their diffuser on. I created little mini-monsters. And they seem to remember this when I’ve sweetly tucked them in and kissed them good night and settled into my chair downstairs with my hot tea and homemade afghan. I hear little footsteps coming down the stairs saying, “Mommy, can you put some lavender in my diffuser?” Monsters. 

6. You’ll need all the oils. 

Oh you will need them all. You will buy your starter kit and realize you need Cedarwood, or Arborvitae, or some Lime to put in your “mommy drink.” Oh yea—you’ll need them all and you’ll buy them all…which is why you should buy the Every Oil Kit and just get it over with. 

7. If you’re a guy, your testostrogen will increase. 

Oh that’s a word. Traditionally, doTERRA has mostly women doing the business. So when a man goes to a class or an event and sees all the women embracing each other and telling powerful stories, he will not be able to help becoming emotional and teary-eyed as well. Trust me—I’ve watched my hard-faced, military husband break out in tears over this Nepal video. 

8. People will actually want to hang out with you. 

Oh you’ll be nicer. You’ll be pleasant to be around. Not only will you smell incredible (especially if you wear Whisper “Blend for Women”), but essential oils have such a positive effect on your mood. Essential oils are now known to stimulate the limbic system, which can cause one to reminisce about positive events in their past and that can lead to smiles and laughing and visions of goats bouncing around on the mountain (oh wait, that’s just me). 

9. Everyone will want you to make them a roller-bottle. 

You’ll become the crazy, oil lady…oh yes you will. Just embrace it. When everyone calls into work because their immune system is shot, you will be the next phone call. So, get ready to make samples and roller-bottles for your friends and family, you crazy snake oil lady. 

10. You will say you don’t want to sell, but then you’ll come crawling to me asking me how to sell because all your friends want to buy the oils.

“I don’t want to sell the oils, Jackie. Don’t bother me about that if I purchase a starter kit with you.”

Oh, absolutely. I will leave you alone. The great thing about doTERRA is that you don’t have a monthly order. You can just purchase the oils whenever you want and there is no requirement to sell anything. But I’ll be here WHEN you need help sending someone your referral link or when someone at your work won’t leave your office because you have your new diffuser sitting on your desk and they really need to get out and buy their own. 

See, you guys. This is risky. Essential oils are a huge risk. 😉 

5 Essential Oils You Need in Your Life

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Essential oils are volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants, fruit, seeds, roots, and bark and have powerful health benefits. They can be used for a wide array of purposes for your health, home, and homemade recipes. 

Using essential oils to support your health is called aromatherapy and natural-minded, holistic people have been doing this for thousands of years. When essential oils enter the bloodstream, they have an effect on the whole body. They can enter the bloodstream through various application methods (diffusing, topical use, internal use) and circulate through the bloodstream and interact with tissues and cells throughout the body.

America is a little late to the game and is just now starting to become more aware of the many benefits that essential oils can bring to our bodies…especially these top 5.

You can purchase essential oils here! 

5 Essential Oils You Need In Your Life…like right now!

1) Lavender. Lavender has been cherished for it’s unmistakable aroma and beneficial properties for thousands of years. 

Lavender Essential Oil

Primary Benefits: 

  • Soothes occasional skin irritations
  • Helps to reduce sad feelings because of it’s high amount of linalool 
  • Promotes a peaceful night’s sleep 
  • Helps to ease feelings of tension

How to Use: 

  • Add a few drops of Lavender to your pillow or feet at bedtime
  • Keep a bottle of lavender on hand to soothe occasional skin irritations 
  • Add to a roll-on bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil and apply to wrists, neck and feet to help reduce anxious feelings

2) Frankincense. Renowned as one of the most prized and precious essential oils, Frankincense has extraordinary health benefits. It’s soothing and beautifying properties are used to rejuvenate skin and reduce the appearance of imperfections.

Frankincense

Primary Benefits: 

  • Promotes healthy cellular function
  • Promotes feelings of relaxation and helps to balance the mood
  • Reduces the appearance of skin imperfections

How to Use: 

  • Apply to the bottoms of your feet or diffuse to promote feelings of relaxation and help to balance mood
  • Take 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule to support healthy cellular function 
  • Add 1-2 drops to skin to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections 

3) Melaleuca. More commonly known as “Tea Tree,” Melaleuca essential oil has over 92 different compounds and limitless applications. 

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Primary Benefits: 

  • Promotes healthy immune function 
  • Protects against environmental and seasonal threats
  • Cleanses and rejuvenates the skin

How to Use: 

  • For occasional skin irritations, apply 1-2 drops of melaleuca on the affected area
  • Apply a few drops to a spray bottle and mix with water and spay on surfaces to protect against environment threats
  • Combine 1–2 drops with your facial cleanser for added cleansing properties, or apply to skin after shaving

4) Peppermint. The peppermint plant is a hybrid of the watermint plant and spearmint and is, personally, one oil I could not live without.

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Primary Benefits:

  • Promotes healthy respiratory function and clear breathing
  • Promotes digestive health
  • Repels bugs naturally

How to Use: 

  • Use a drop of Peppermint in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth wash
  • Take 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule to help alleviate occasional stomach upset
  • Place 1 drop in the palms of your hands and inhale for a mid-day pick-me-up

5) Lemon. The top-selling essential oil, Lemon has multiple benefits and uses. Lemon is a powerful cleansing agent that purifies the air and surfaces, and can be used as a non-toxic cleaner throughout the home.

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Primary Benefits: 

Cleanses and purifies the air and surfaces

Naturally cleanses the body and aids in digestion

Promotes a positive mood

How to Use:

Add Lemon oil to a spray bottle and spray on surfaces, tables, sinks and countertops

Diffuse in your home to create a uplifting environment 

Take 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule to assist with seasonal respiratory discomfort

Essential Oil Quality

The most important thing about essential oils is knowing that not all essential oils are created equal. 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. 

This is why I use and love doTERRA. They are a step above any other essential brand I have ever used. They have a very strict testing standards and harvest their oils all over the world in their prime environment. 

How to Buy

If you would like to start using these 5 essential oils, then I recommend a wholesale starter kit through doTERRA. The Home Essentials Starter kit and the Natural Solutions kit include all 5 of these essential oils and more. 

Purchase a qualifying starter kit before December 31st and I’ll throw in an extra full-size diffuser, 2 bottles of essentials oils not in your kit, and Frankincense! 

Ready to get started? CLICK HERE and let me help you! 

Top 5 essential oils you need

 

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. 

 

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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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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