Blueberry Chia Jam

 

Just made a super easy and extremely tasty jam!!

Add 3 cups fresh blueberries to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Add 2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup and using a fork or masher, mash up about half of the blueberries and cook 5 more minutes. (I believe I mashed mine too much. 🙊)

Then, whisk in 3 Tablespoons chia seeds. Taste and adjust sweetener if needed. The chia seeds will thicken the jam after time.

Allow to cool and enjoy! 🍯🍞🍇🍓

You know all the ingredients and it's all natural! Add to toast, smoothies, or yogurt!

Recipe from: https://www.savorylotus.com/easy-3-ingredient-blueberry-chia-jam/

Gratitude

Gratitude means the quality of being thankful. People seem to always blame others and be resentful. It's time we take a moment to show gratitude.

The easiest and quickest way to show gratitude is to make a gratitude journal. Grab yourself a notebook and your favorite Flair pen. Each night, make a list of 3-5 things that you are grateful for that day.  That's it!  It's a great way to reflect on your day and be positive.

Gratitude may even be telling someone how grateful you are for them in your life.   Write them a thank you note, send a text, just use your voice to show how much they are appreciated!

I am grateful for you!!

xoxo
~K

Toxic-Free Waterproof Sunscreen

The very talented Kate Doubler has a DIY sunscreen recipe that I have been using the last 3 summers and it is very easy to make, effective, and not full of all those harsh chemicals!  All you need is a double boiler, Mason Jar, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax, shea butter, vitamin E oil, ZincOxide powder, lavender essential oil, and storage containers.

Add in a double boiler:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup sweet almond oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• 2 Tbsp. shea butter
• 1 tsp. vitamin E oil

Melt all then remove from heat and add liquid into a mason jar.  Add 20-30 drops of Lavender Essential Oil and 2 Tbsp. ZincOxide Powder.  Add the lid and shake (the reason for this step is so you avoid breathing in the zinc powder).

Pour into silicone containers or a glass jar.  I love these ones!

I store in the refrigerator after summer to help it last longer.  It works great and is even waterproof!

The first time I used it, I was pregnant and at the beach in Florida.  I was nervous thinking my hormones would whack everything up and the sunscreen wouldn't be effective, but I was wrong!  And an added bonus is the lavender oil as it is great for your skin and can help with burns.

ZincOxide has a natural SPF of 20 and Coconut Oil has an SPF of 10.  So this sunscreen is about 30 SPF.

Enjoy!!

xoxo ~K

Chapstick in a Jar

Since 7th grade, I have been a Blistex junkie.  I couldn't go ANYWHERE without it in my pocket.  My jeans even were faded from where I had it.  It was bad.  Needless to say, there have been studies done that prove addictive chemicals are added into chapstick to made it so addictive. 

Once I delved into the Holistic world, this was the first thing I wanted to make.  I got onto Pinterest and found some recipes.  They were ok, but not fabulous.  Then, my sister gave me some and it was FABULOUS! And it's only 3 ingredients!

To make, you will first need to get some empty chapstick containers.  I got mine on Amazon and they were cheap and nice.  You will also need 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1 Tablespoon and 1 teaspoon beeswax, your choice of essential oil, a large Mason jar, aluminum foil, a pot, and water.

Aluminum foil for Chapstick!?  Let me explain.....

When I first made chapstick, I'd spill most of it pouring it out of my large glass bowl used for my double boiler.  Then, I found a magical way to make chapstick.

Take some aluminum foil and fold into long pieces.  Add to the bottom of a pot and add a few inches of water.  Place your large Mason jar on the aluminum foil and bring the water to a boil.  Add the coconut oil and beeswax inside the Mason jar.  The aluminum foil acts as a barrier so the oil and wax does not burn.  Once the water is heated, it will melt the oil and beeswax. 

Once melted, remove from the pot and add 20 drops of your favorite Essential Oil.  I have used Peppermint and just recently used Eucalyptus and I love them both!  After the Essential Oils have been added, stir and then pour directly into the empty chapstick container. 

After cooled, add caps and enjoy! Makes about 13 tubes!

Body Butter Recipe

 
I was listening to my favorite Essential Oils Podcast and they shared a Body Butter recipe.  I was really wanting to make a moisturizer and everyone I had made so far, I have hated.  Well, this Body Butter recipe is the BEST!

If DIY-ing is scary to you, take a deep breath, and give it a try! If you find easy recipes, get a few items to use, and materials, you can make just about anything!! I have the following materials and have made a lot of stuff with them:

• Beeswax
• Shea Butter
• Cocoa Butter
• Coconut Oil
• A variety of other carrier oils (Sweet Almond, Jojoba, etc.)

To make the Body Butter, you will take 1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup sweet almond oil, 1/4 shea butter, and 1/4 cup cocoa butter and add to a double boiler. I use a glass bowl over a pan halfway filled with water.  Melt all of those then remove from heat.

I allow to cool about an hour then put it in the refrigerator.   This allows it to cool quicker.  If it was winter, I would have stuck it outside.  Around 2-3 hours later, take it out, mix around with a spatula and then add about 10-20 drops of your favorite Essential Oil.  I chose Peace and Calming because it's my favorite!

Then, use a hand mixer and whip away!!  Whip until stiff peaks.  And....viola!  You've made Body Butter!

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

This is by far the EASIEST DIY you will ever do!  You need a few ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store, co-op, or Amazon:

• Empty Foaming Hand Soap container (or reuse one!)
• Castile Soap (I prefer the Mild Baby so it's safe for even the littlest hands)
• Essential Oil of your choice (Get it here)
• Distilled Water

Simple add 1/3 cup Castile Soap to the Foaming Hand Soap container, then 5-10 drops of your favorite EO, fill almost all the way with distilled water, then add the top.  Leaving a little extra room will make sure it doesn't spill over.....which mine always does!  LoL.   But I just wash my hands with the spillage. 

That's it!! 

No need to shake or stir.  You could use regular tap water, but it would have a cloudy look.  The only key thing is to add the EOs to the Castile soap, because remember.....oil and water don't mix!

Enjoy and stay healthy!!

In good health,

xoxo~K

NiNgXiA rEd

Oh NingXia....how I love you!  This stuff really is a game changer!  I felt so sluggish throughout the day and I ordered some to try out.  Well, I am hooked!  I do add a drop of Thieves Vitality to my daily "shot" to help boast my immune support.   

Here are some specifics about the glorious juice.....

Add a daily shot of NingXia Red to your diet to enjoy the benefits of this powerful, whole-body supplement. This sweet and tangy drink’s formula includes wolfberry, which is touted for its health benefits. Also featuring plum, aronia, cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate juices and extracts, Young Living’s NingXia Red is packed with superfoods to support overall wellness.

In addition to these antioxidant ingredients, NingXia Red’s formula includes pure vanilla extract and Lemon, Orange, Yuzu, and Tangerine essential oils for a great-tasting, healthy treat.*

Young Living NingXia Red benefits include support for energy levels, normal cellular function, and whole-body and normal eye health. A daily shot of 2–4 ounces helps support overall wellness with powerful antioxidants.*

NingXia Red Uses:

• Blend NingXia Red into your smoothie, acai bowl, or morning juice as part of a quick, convenient breakfast.
• Chill and serve NingXia Red to family and guests at gatherings and celebrations when you’re looking for a healthy alternative to sparkling drinks.*
• Treat children to this tasty drink instead of sugary sodas or juice cocktails.
• Combine with NingXia Nitro for a nourishing drink that also supports cognitive wellness.*
• Add a drop or two of your favorite dietary essential oil for an extra flavor boost! Try Peppermint, Thieves, Cinnamon Bark, or Grapefruit.

Wanna try your own.....Get a Starter Kit and you will get 2 2oz. samples or become a Retail Customer to get a big bottle!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

In good health,

xoxo~K

How can I get started with essential oils?

The easiest way to get started with essential oils is to first research.  The essential oil market is so saturated now that they are selling them at big-box stores with only a few dollars.....BEWARE BUYER!  A true essential oil (even if it says 100% pure) is not pure for only a few dollars.  These are chemically made "essential oils" which show minimal if not any traces of plant matter that makes up an essential oil.  You will not see the benefits of using these "cheap oils"!

A great place to start your research is at Seed to Seal.  This explains the process in which true essential oils are created.  Starting with the seed, then cultivating the plant, distillation process, testing of all oils, and sealing the bottle.  Young Living is one of the best companies out there for essential oils!  They have farms all over the world and hold high standards to give you the purest, most natural oils ever!

The easiest way to get started using essential oils is by purchasing a Starter Kit.  This is a small investment to give you 11 of the most commonly used oils and an amazing diffuser! Plus samples of other products and information on the company, products, and usage.  You will become a distributor and get 24% off any other purchase.  The only commitment you have to make, is by ordering $100 of product before your year is up.  If you chose not to purchase anything else, your membership will simply expire with no other penalties.  

The oils that come in the Starter Kit include:

• 5 mL Frankincense
• 5 mL Lemon
• 5 mL Lavender
• 5 mL Copaiba
• 5 mL Peppermint
• 5 mL Thieves blend
• 5 mL Purification blend
• 5 mL PanAway blend
• 5 mL R.C blend
• 5 mL DiGize blend
• 5 mL Stress Away blend *Bonus oil

There are so many things you can do with these oils that it would last awhile and get you familiar with using essential oils.

However, Young Living offer so many more amazing oils, products, and specials that you will probably not stop there!

To look into purchasing a Starter Kit, click here and create a "member" account for pricing and information.  If you are interested in order a few oils to try it out, click here and sign up as a "retail customer".

Please feel free to email me with any questions at krissyswango@gmail.com.

In Good Health-

xoxo ~K

hApPy NeW yEaR- to a clean, chemical free year!

Happy 2017 everyone! As we embark on a new year, you may be making resolutions or intentions for the New Year.  This is a great time for new beginnings and fresh starts.

A start I would like you to consider is the chemicals in your home.  Yes I said it, chemicals.  Our homes are infested with hundreds of chemicals- hundreds!  From your candles, to air fresheners, to dryer sheets, to cleaning projects, to make up- they are toxic!!

A simple start to the new year is making your own cleaning products.  This can be as simple as vinegar and water in a spray bottle for an all purpose cleaner.  But Young Living makes an AH-MAZING cleaner base that can be used for SO much!  It's the Thieves Household Cleaner:

 

This can be used to make an all purpose spray, toilet bombs, a bathroom scrub, soft scrub, so many more possibilities!

Essential oils are also a great addition to any other cleaning product!  They are a great stepping stone for a healthy life and limiting (or eliminating) toxins and chemicals in your home.

May you have a healthy and prosperous 2017!

xoxo~K