Holiday Scents

Tis the Season

 

ThanksGiving (as a Holiday) is over and everyone is shifting to the Christmas mood. Our son has been asking since September to sing Christmas songs and I’ve told him all along, “Not till after Thanksgiving.” Well, it’s here.

The fragrance of the holidays is one of the top things that I think make it seem like the holidays. But artificial fragrances do me in. I can’t handle too many candle brands, and no “air freshener” brands. I just don’t tolerate chemical smells well (not even perfume and cologne, and certainly not in cleaners and such.)

But I do love natural scents, such as whole food goodness baking in the kitchen, spices simmering in a pot of soup or such, and 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils diffusing throughout the home.

Holiday Joy and Christmas Spirit are favorites. In fact, another son has been diffusing it for over a month, any chance he gets. It’s obviously one of his favorite essential oil blends.

Others that will get you in the holiday mood are White Fir, Wild Orange, Cinnamon, and Clove.

Of course, we can’t forget Frankincense and Myrrh either.

 

Order your holiday essential oils now to get in the mood with natural holiday scents from 100% pure and natural, therapeutic grade essential oils. And don’t forget a Diffuser to get the scent-sational fragrances in the air. 

See our essential oil website for more info on Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ Essential Oils.

 

My disclaimers: Neither the FDA nor any other entity has endorsed any of my content. I make no claims for healing, and do not advise, diagnose, prescribe or any other such thing. I only share our own personal experiences and those relayed by others. It is your right and responsibility to educate yourself and make decisions for yourself in matters of health.

Bone Healing at Our House

Broken bone healing support at our House – before and after proper medical attention, setting and casting. (Not med advice, claims, or any such. Just what we do. And not everything at the same time.)

General important foods: green leafy veggies for calcium and trace minerals, bananas for potassium, easy to digest proteins-good whole foods. Sounds like a Green Smoothie to me. 🙂

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils: Lemongrass, PanAway/ Deep Blue, (need to re-order or find quickly) Helichrysum, Peppermint (especially at the beginning, and for tummy after anesth).

Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Vita D, Vita C, chlorophyll.

Herbs: Echinacea Goldenseal (for detoxing fro anesthesia), Nettles and Oatstraw (for bone healing), Astragulus (healing support – if I can find more, we’re out.)

Homeopathic: Arnica (pain and healing support), Phosphorus (for anesth detox) (Didn’t have Nux Vomica in my purse for immediately after awakening. He didn’t get sick, but it helps for the detoxing too.)

Thankful for God’s original natural healing helps, and His design of our bodies to self-heal with proper support.

See our essential oil website for more info on Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ Essential Oils.

Decadent 3 Layer “Raw” Brownies

I just made the yummiest “death by chocolate” type, 3 Layer brownies. The base layer is brownie. The middle layer is a cream (almost mousse like) with peppermint. The top is ganache.  I adapted a recipe I found online. Oh, and it’s a “raw food” recipe – no baking – and Good for You-Naturally!™

It’s close enough to Friday to make this a Friday Food post, especially since so many have asked for the recipe. So here goes….

Decadent 3 Layer “Raw” Brownies

Brownie Layer

  • 3/4+ cup raw almond flour* (see below)
  • 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
  • pinch nutmeg
  • very small pinch unrefined salt

Mix together. Add:

  • 1/4 pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract (mine’s homemade)
  • approx. 2 Tbl. pure water

In food processor, add maple syrup and extract to dry ingredients, process. Gradually add water to get just wet enough to be all mixed and hold together – brownie consistency. Press into small pyrex rectangle pan.

(This is a bit different than my regular bRAWnie recipe, which would also work as a base – but the maple syrup in these is yum.)

Cream Layer

(This makes twice as much as needed for this small pan. But my food processor wouldn’t do the half-size recipe. I left half of this cashew cream without the cacao in it for another use.)

  • 1/4 cup fresh coconut milk (blend coconut meat with coconut water)
  • 2 Tbl coconut butter (Artisana brand is what I have)
  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked
  • approx. 20-25 drops Sweet Leaf stevia drops (plain or peppermint) and
  • 4-6 drops doTerra Peppermint Essential Oil  (whatever to get the right sweetness and as pepperminty as you like – since this was my first time making this, I used a combination of these trying to get just the right mix. Next time I’ll get more precise.)
  • 2 Tbl. raw cacao powder

Process until smooth and creamy. Spread about 1/2 on top of brownies and refrigerate to set.

Ganache Topping

    • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
    • 1/2 cup + 1-2 Tbl. raw cacao powder (told you this was death by chocolate!) 🙂
    • 2-3 Tbl. raw extra virgin coconut oil
    • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 1 Tbl  coconut butter

(Again I had to do a bit of adjusting, by adding a bit more cacao and the coconut butter to get a thicker consistency. You want a soft creamy spreadable texture. Not as stiff as frosting, but not runny.)

Process till soft and creamy. Spread on top and return to refrigerator.

(This Ganache would make a scrumptious fudge topping for ice cream, or frosting for cupcakes, or just eat it with a spoon.) 🙂

You could also double the brownie recipe, and omit the cream layer for a plain “frosted” brownie.

Mm-mm good.

* Almond flour – Get 2 for the price of one. I make almond flour from the pulp leftover from making almond milk. (Almond milk instructions in Good for You Naturally!™ Weekly Menu & Recipes – Level 1.) Dehydrate almond pulp till dry, then blend/process into flour.

Tooth Powder Recipe

Are you looking for an alternative to harmful, chemical laden toothpastes? We’ve used several natural toothpastes. But if you’d like something much cheaper that you can make yourself, homemade toothpowder to the rescue. Also, although a “natural” ingredient, glycerin (in many “natural” toothpastes) has been found to not be the best for helping prevent tooth decay.

 

Whether you’re looking for a healthy alternative, a cheap alternative or just something “on hand” to get you through a pinch, homemade toothpowder is a good choice. Super simple, cheap, convenient, and works great.

 

Of course, you could just use plain baking soda. That would be great all on its own. But if you want a bit more complex recipe, with a few more benefits, like helping prevent tooth decay, tasting great, and giving you minty fresh breath, read on.

 

Good for You-Naturally! Tooth Powder

1 Tbl. baking soda

1/4 tsp. unrefined/sun dried sea salt

3-4 drops On Guard Essential Oil

6-8 drops Peppermint Essential Oil  – both from  doTerra

Mix the salt into the soda well. I use a toothpick to stir. Add the oils and mix in well. Store in a small container with an air tight lid, preferably a glass container ( but plastic, like a Tupperware mini midget or a small bottle with a flip top, small hole in lid with an over-cap, also works.)

(If you don’t use doTerra essential oils, be sure the oils you use are safe for ingestion. We choose doTerra for their supberb therapeutic-grade quality and safety. IOW, they work–not just smell good.)

 

 

Friday NOT Food – Lisa’s Lemon ???

Today I’ve got a different kind of recipe for you. I love finding organic, natural home and body care products but many of them are pricey. Thankfully it is super easy, and inexpensive, to make some cleaning products for your home and body, that are great for them too.

 

I’ve tried a few different body/face scrubs that I’ve liked, one that I used years ago and loved, but is no longer available. So I decided to try to replicate it. I did it and I love it. It works great. It’s good for my skin. Perhaps you’d like to try it too.

 

Lisa’s Lemon Salt Scrub

Add a couple Tablespoons or so of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to approx. 1 cup unrefined sea salt. Add 1 Tablespoon oil at a time and stir. You want it to just hold together. Not too dry. Not too runny. Stir in the juice of 1 Lemon and a few drops of  Lemon Essential Oil from doTerra. That’s it. Store in a sealed container (such as Pyrex or a jar with a screw top lid.) It keeps well and will last you a month or more (as a face scrub).

See our essential oil website for more info on Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ Essential Oils.

 

Mosquito Season

It’s started here. The mosquitoes are out in full force.We must protect ourselves from these fiendish foes.

We don’t use any deet or other chemical products to protect. Purify,* a therapeutic-grade essential oil blend is our favorite bug repellent. We put it on bites straight and it removes the itching and swelling right away. As a preventative measure we add a few drops to a spray bottle of water, and spritz on our bodies. This spray can also be used to repel bugs in your home. Spraying it along floor and wall edges and window sills – or anywhere else you are having a problem, will stop ants and other “bugs” from invading your space.

Another commercial natural bug spray we’ve used is:

Buzz Away

Another we will be trying this year is Stinger’s Bug Off bracelets.

Bug Off! Adult Biting Insect Repelling Wrist Band

Stinger Insect Repelling Wristbands KK-4

*See our essential oil website for more info on Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ Essential Oils.

Living Coram Deo – before the Face of God,

Lisa @ Me and My House

Whammy – Bounce Back

Recovering from a brief whammy that started Wed. Sore throat, unable to breathe, cough, chills, fever. Felt quite a bit better Thur. Was able to get up for the not yet bright but early drive to Denver to pick up daughter’s friends yesterday. BUT, had absolutely NO voice yesterday. Today I’m preparing to sing special for church tomorrow – make that SIGN. I’m preparing backup for SIGNing, not SINGing this time. But I’m feeling much better. Voice returning. Just keeping the Kleenex close.

Here’s what I’ve used: [edited to update to what we are currently using]

On Guard in a Spray – down my throat at first sign of sore throat

Colloidal Silver – alternated with the Spray at the beginning

Fresh lemon juice (or Lemon Essential Oil, if we don’t have fresh lemons)  and raw honey in hot water – sip often

Breathe Essential Oil blend – for cough (or Oregano & Lemon)

Breathe Essential Oil blend – for congestion (whichever was closest each time) – oils applied 2-4 times a day

Oscillicoccinum – homeopathic remedy, 4 doses because I was desperate to kick this thing quick, with the week we’ve got.

No sugar or other “junk” food, milk/dairy, or meat.

LOTS of prayer for healing mercies.

See our essential oil website for more info on Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade™ Essential Oils.

Congestion Help

It’s that time of year. Spring colds and congestion. Here are some things that have helped our family. (Not prescribing or anything, just telling what works for us. Use at your own discretion.)
Eucalyptus herb – drink hot tea made from it, make a poultice from it and put it over your nose and sinuses, breathe the steam of it (put a handful or more into a pan of boiling water, remove from heat before adding the herb. cover the pan and let set about 15 min. cover your head and the pan with a towel and breathe deeply of the infusion. – You can also do this with chamomile herb. Chamomile is very relaxing too.) Traditional Medicinals makes tea bags called Breathe Easy (eucalyptus, licorice root and fennel) that are good if you can’t or don’t want to get the eucalyptus herb in bulk. (Chamomile Tea Bags.)

Irrigate your sinuses. Make a saline solution by dissolving 1 tsp. sea salt in 1 cup distilled room temp. water. Fill a large rubber bulb syringe (a 4 oz. baby syringe) with the solution and squirt it up your nose – do it over the sink – and let it drain out. Do both nostrils several times. This never fails me.

Eucalyptus (or eucalyptus blend) therapeutic-grade essential oil. Rub over the sinuses, and also place in a nebulizing diffuser. We use Breathe blend from doTerra.

More about therapeutic grade Essential Oils on our God’s Scents™ page.

Cough Syrup?

I just heard the latest. “They” are now saying, “Don’t give your children cough syrup.” Hmm, haven’t I been saying such things for years? But I’m sure my reasonings are not the same as theirs, nor my solutions.

Oct. 11, ’07 – “the voluntary withdrawal of oral infant cough and cold medications from store shelves.” Oct. 18-19, ’07 – An advisory committee “voted to recommend to FDA that cough and cold active ingredients should no longer be available for use in children under six-years-old.”

Anyhow, the news didn’t affect me in the least. I haven’t bought or given my children OTC cough syrup for decades. But I thought if any of you did, you might want to know my grandma’s recipe. She wasn’t a big herbalist or anything, so there’s nothing unusual in this recipe. It’s easy enough for anyone to get the ingredients and anyone to make.

My mom was raised on it herself, and used it for her 7 children. She found it especially helpful for my older sister who has bad asthma that the doctors didn’t diagnose right away back then. And I’ve used for our 10 children when we’ve needed it.

It’s onion syrup, and it does a great job of cutting through the phlem and soothing the cough. This weekend, after a night at Chuck E Cheese’s while we are on the road, a couple of my children started coughing at grandma’s house. She pulled out the onion and started chopping. Here’s how.

Slice one large onion into a stainless steel sauce pan. Cover with raw honey – a cup or more. Put the lid on the pan and heat on a very low burner. Stir occasionally. How long? Hmm, good qustion. Until it’s done? The honey will turn to the thin liquid. The onions will get limp and transparent – and the fragrance will fill the house. I figure the aroma begins the healing benefits before you even consume the syrup. Anyhow, a couple hours maybe? Maybe less, maybe more. Let it cool enough to take. Take a couple tablespoons full. You can keep it in a sealed container – glass jar with lid or Tupperware. If you won’t use it all up right away, you can store it in the refrigerator as is, or you can strain the onions out an keep in the cupboard for a while. Especially if you refrigerate, reheat gently, until a warm thin syrup, before taking each time. You may be able to heat it enough just by putting the container in hot water. If you don’t refrigerate and don’t have time to rewarm it each time, just use as is.

At home I generally will add fresh lemon juice too, either to the batch after it is cooled or just to the individual dose. When we aren’t able to cook the onion syrup, or if we’re dealing with a sore throat and not cough, we just mix raw honey and fresh lemon juice. If even that can’t be done, if we’re somewhere else, I just take a spoonful of honey and add a drop or two of therapeutic-grade Lemon Essential Oil.

I hope you find these beneficial real foods helpful when your family needs a health boost.

Ditching the Junk and Detoxing 1

Greetings from Me and My House,

I would venture that most of you are like me and the hardest thing about getting started – or re-started! – eating right is the detox process. Our appetites have gotten addicted to whatever our downfall is – sugar?, meat?, dairy? and those things are all very addictive – and it’s so hard to make it through those first few days without it. The only way I’ve seen it work is COLD-TURKEY. As long as you keep feeding an addiction “just a little bit”, it won’t go away. We tell ourselves “this is it, just a little” but then our body continues to crave it, and we continue to feed it, and the cycle goes on.

I find one of the best ways to aid in staving off the addictions is to make sure that I’m eating PLENTY of the good stuff, that I’m not allowing myself to become hungry. When I become hungry AND I’m craving the junk, it’s just too easy to give in, because somehow the junk is usually easily accessible. Which is why a cardinal rule at our house is the junk doesn’t come in the house. (OK, my dear sweet husband breaks it sometimes.) Anyhow, eating lots of the good stuff isn’t going to make you fat, and I believe in the “grazing” principle of eating – i.e. throughout the day rather than 3 strict “meals”, we do eat 3 meals but we also allow snacks of good for you foods available at anytime. Have them on hand and ready to eat! A piece of fruit or a handful of nuts can satisfy a sweet tooth or fill the protein pit. They may not give you the emotional satisfaction of the junk, but they can help you overcome the craving and when coupled with PRAYER!!!!!, they can do the trick. I also find that Fresh Juices and Barley Green [now Barley Life, also Barley Max] really help in overcoming the cravings. When you are pouring a lot of concentrated nutrients into your body, it doesn’t cry out as much. Another tip to getting through the detoxification process sooner, and with less stress, is to drink plenty of pure water with fresh lemon juice in it, or Lemon Essential Oil. It really helps your body make it through detox. The Lemon juice speeds up the getting the toxins out of the body, and a non-toxic body desires the good stuff.

The other way, is just the opposite, and usually works faster, but requires a special grace. That is to fast. It is the quickest way to detox and get over cravings. But it’s usually harder emotionally on us. For some people though it’s easier to not eat ANYTHING, than to only not eat what they are craving. Using the Lemon Water, and possibly the Fresh Juices/ Barley Green [ now Barley Life] for a 3-plus days fast will do wonders for our bodies. And give us a fresh start when coming back to foods, only the GOOD ones. When going into or coming out of a fast have your last meal before the fast and your first meal after the fast be a fresh veggie salad (no heavy dressing, preferably only lemon juice). Watermelon or *organic* grapes can also be used to break a fast. Have your next meal be a baked potato with a salad, or some plain brown rice with a salad. You want fresh and easy to digest foods to reawaken your digestive system. Whatever you do don’t eat a heavy meal, and don’t break your fast by eating the junk foods you just went off of. Your body will thank you.

Detoxing is not a pleasant experience, but it is a GREATLY rewarding one. One you will be VERY GLAD you did. Victory feels SO GOOD.

Well, plenty more on this topic, but enough for now. A 2 year old needs her momma.

At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa – who’s needing to detox – again – before this baby comes in the next week or so!!