Whole Green Love

This past week I whipped up an awesome clay mud mask. I was in the mood for a DIY skin care project and wanted something that felt hydrating and rejuvenating. A busy life can easily lead to an overlook of the largest organ in our body…our skin! Plus, during the dry winter months you can’t help but want to pamper your skin and give it a little TLC.  I ended up creating a super easy clay mud mask that you could throw together even on the busiest of days. It would be the perfect end to a busy day to wind down for the evening.  It would also be a great addition to a home spa day pamper session.

Lavender Bentonite Clay Mask

2 Tbsp. bentonite clay

5 Tbsp. pure aloe

2-3 drops pure lavender essential oil

Mix all of the ingredients together and you’ll be set to go. For an added kick you can put the clay mud mix in the fridge to chill before you apply it. I used my fingers to smear a decent amount evenly around my face and down my neck. Be careful to not get the mask in your eyes and wear clothing that you are okay with possibly getting mud mask on. This would be great to use when you are planning on taking a soothing bath or before you hop in a shower. Leave your mask on for 15-30 minutes and then wash off. I like washing it off with a bowl of lavender infused water. It the perfect addition to this cleansing ritual and makes it feel extra spa like.

Benefits of  Bentonite Clay

-soothing for dry, irritated skin

-calming effect helps reduce itching that is associated with skin irritation

-has been used for blemishes, insect bites, burns, eczema, and psoriasis

-can be used as a cleansing product that removes toxins from the face and body

Benefits of Aloe

-anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties

-supports skin cell regeneration

-soothing and moisturizing to dry, flaky skin

-has a cooling effect, which can be very soothing for irritated skin

Benefits of Lavender

-calming scent that helps relax and ease the nervous system

-calming effect is also helpful if you are having sleep difficulties

-antiseptic and antifungal properties

-helpful in reducing acne, inflammation, and irritation of skin

After reading all of the possible benefits of these ingredients, you can’t help but want to slather this calming and cleansing mask on your face…or anywhere on your body for that matter. I think it’s so cool that you can create a perfect spa experience at home, without the hefty price. This recipe makes about 3 face masks worth of clay. You’ll be so surprise at how creamy and velvety this mask is. I loved it because my skin is so sensitive and this mask was so calming and cooling. I added about 5 drops of pure organic lavender oil to a bowl of steamy water to wash my mask off…talk about a DREAM. You are smoothing off this extra velvety mask and all you can smell is the light, delicate scent of lavender. It’s like a mini vacation in the comfort of your own home. A good portion of my skin care products are from Aura Cacia and Frontier Natural Products Co-op. I’ve never been disappointed with a product and I like knowing that I’m using great quality skin care goodies. Other companies can be so sneaky with their products and ingredients. No secrets here, just pure skin care delight.

If you haven’t made a clay mud mask before, you’ll have to give this recipe a try! Click here to purchase your own bentonite clay.

I have a must-make winter spa foot soak. Seriously…you need to make this! It is soothing, relaxing, and smells like a spearmint dream. Not only does it smell great and feel wonderful, but it’s easy to throw together even if you are short on time. I was going to share a recipe for tapioca yesterday, but I ended up with a runny, curdled mess. I should have known not to proceed with my recipe after my glass bowl on my double boiler cracked. It was a sign that I didn’t listen to! Ha! I don’t normally have such bad luck with making recipes, so as you can imagine I was a little bent out of shape, considering the time and six cups of milk I wasted. Ugh! I figured after that mess I could use a little spa restoration and a project that was a no fail.

Spearmint Foot Soak

 10 c. hot water

1/3 c. Epsom salt

10 drops spearmint essential oil

1 handful fresh mint leaves

All you have to do is get a big bucket that fits your feet, add the hot water and then stir in the essential oil, Epsom salt, and mint leaves. The aroma is out-of-this-world amazing. Instantly revitalizing and soothing all in one, your feet won’t know what hit them. This would be the perfect addition to a weekly routine to refresh your tired feet after a long day or week of standing. I let my feet soak for about 30 minutes. It felt so good to wiggle my feet around flexing and extending them in the warm water. I would take one foot and press some of the fresh mint leaves into my other foot to release some of the oils right onto my skin. Afterwards I towel dried my feet and rubbed in a hydrating lotion. You could even take it a step further and have a fresh towel just out of the dryer that is still warm. If you are doing a home spa experience, you might as well go all the way!

I don’t have a pumice stone right now, but that would have come in handy after a long foot soak. It’s easy to get super dry and callused feet during the winter months. Doing this treatment a few times a week will keep your feet singing all the way into summer. It can lift your spirit even in the dreariest of winter weather. 

Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)

-    Can help reduce inflammation of sore aching muscles

-    The sulfates help soothe itchy or irritated skin

-    Can been used to relieve mild constipation

-    Exfoliates skin, removing dead skin cells and softening pesky calluses

-    When used with warm water it brings freshly oxygenated blood to provide nutrients for healing and repair

-    Provides stress relieving measures thought to come from the magnesium, which helps regulate blood pressure and promotes a well functioning nervous system

Spearmint Essential Oil & Mint Leaves

-    Eating mint and drinking mint teas can soothe an upset stomach and digestive tract

-    Provides a cooling sensation that soothes irritated skin

-    May possibly help cleanse the body by removing toxins

-    The scent is both refreshing and soothing to combat stress

The next time you want to relax at home, pull out a big bowl and indulge in a fabulous foot soak. You can toss it together in a matter of minutes and benefit from its lasting relaxation effects. I like mixing it all together with my hands so I can smell the hint of mint on them along with the vapors coming up from the bath itself. My only qualm about this foot soak was that I wanted a whole bathtub full of this mixture to immerse myself in. I couldn’t get enough of the minty freshness! Who would have thought something so simple could have such a lasting relaxation effect? Enjoy!

Looking for another similar spa treatment for your feet? Try this Winter Mint Foot Soak!

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s just so hard to catch your breath sometimes. I’m coming off of almost two weeks away from work, which has been a total dream. We got to spend so much time together as a family because Nic was off of work too. I feel reenergized…and ready for another week off from work. Ha! So not ready to go back.

So to recap this crazy, awesome, lovely, stressful, amazing month of December that just wrapped up, here are a few things that that totally rocked our socks off. And we got a lot of socks for Christmas, so that’s a lot of sock rocking.

• We are super duper fans of natural cough remedies in our house. We’ve discussed a few natural solutions for dealing with a cough on this blog before (like Thyme Tea and all natural cough medicine), but I love this natural cough remedy from Oh Lardy, the homemade “vaporub” salve

• Did you receive a stocking full of lotions, soaps, balms, and lips glosses this holiday season? It’s that time of year that we are trying out all of those new products that were given to us as gifts. Real Food Forager’s post about toxic skin care products is a great reminder to read the list of ingredients on any products before slathering it on your bod. Remember, pharmaceutical companies take advantage of the use of creams to get certain drugs directly into the bloodstream. If your lotion contains toxic chemicals, the same thing is happening.

• Lentil stew is always a favorite in our house. It’s packed with protein, fiber, and most importantly, flavor. Lentils pair easily with nutrient loaded winter vegetables like mustard greens, carrots, and parsnips, like in the lentil stew from Nourished Kitchen.

• Recently I’ve been exploring some alternative options to maintaining oral health, beyond avoiding conventional toothpaste. A post from Actual Organics pointed out a few new options to try for natural teeth and gum care. Next research topic, swishing with coconut oil!

• Chocolate peanut butter coconut ice cream from Whole Natural Life. This does not need any more explanation. Yum.

• With all this talk about genetically modified crops, the question always arises, “can organic farming feed the world?” YES!

• Did salted caramel flavored things stalk you this holiday season? I feel like that taste combo was everywhere! And I love it. Here is a recipe for salted caramels, made with real food ingredients from Holistic Squid.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, and very blessed 2013!

I want to share with you a simple and fun gift idea that anyone would love to indulge in! Nothing beats a warm and toasty bath or a steamy hot shower and this tea bag idea is a perfect addition to either. You only need a few materials and you can assemble some lovely scented bath tea bags.

Lavender & Eucalyptus Tub Tea

1 tsp dried lavender blossoms

1 tsp dried eucalyptus leaves

2 (heaping) Tbsp epsom salt

1 5x5ish piece of natural cheesecloth

small piece of twine

small piece of pine for decoration

All you have to do is pile the salt, lavender, and eucalyptus in the center of your cheesecloth and then pull the edges up around your scented goodness. Take your piece of twine and secure it tightly with a couple of knots around the cheesecloth so it won’t unravel in your bath water. If you feel like adding a little jazz to the front of it you can add any type of greenery or twigs and just add another knot to secure it to the front of the bag.

The warm water from your bath will dissolve the salt into your bath water and soften up the lavender and eucalyptus to help release their natural oils and create an awesome smelly spa experience right in your own bathtub. If you want to make a tea bag for your shower you’ll want to skip out on the salt and just fill your little cheesecloth squares with your favorite herbs. Place the herb tea bag right under the steamy showerhead and the aroma will fill your whole bathroom. Salt can easily dissolve out of these cheesecloth tea bags, but most of your herbs should stay secured inside. After a relaxing bath or shower you won’t have a big herb mess to wipe out of the tub. Bonus.

These tea bags would make great holiday gifts. You could make a couple of different scent mixes and then create little gift sets for your loved ones. Hey, it wouldn’t hurt to treat yourself too. Everyone deserves a little TLC and these tea bags can do the trick. I found my dried herbs in a bulk herb and tea section of Natural Outpost, but most health food stores have a selection of these products to choose from.

Any homemade holiday gift ideas you are putting together this year?

Hard to believe that November has come and gone! I swear every month seems to go by faster and faster. Sometimes you need to just step back and enjoy the present moment. With this mild weather we’ve been having (at least in Wisconsin) be sure to get outside and enjoy it! I have to say that I am looking forward to a little snow. The holiday season gets me in the spirit and snow just completes that thought. Plus, I really want to go snowshoeing this season! Since November flew by, we wanted to share some blog posts that we admired this past month.  I’ll just cut to the chase and give you the cliff notes!

Check out The Polivka Family blog where Courtney gives a great “how to” tutorial  on making Kefir…sweet! Nothing beats a video to show you how to create something.

This creamy vegetable chowder with fresh herbs that Kendahl from Our Nourishing Roots made looks absolutely divine. This would be perfect for the cold days ahead!

Lauren from Empowered Sustenance made these delish looking Paleo cornbread muffins. Top them with a little butter and raw honey and you have yourself a tasty looking treat. Mmm!

Tamara from Oh Lardy had some fabulous posts in November. Between the butternut squash gratin, fermented food uses, and reasons to ditch traditional sports drinks, I thought I’d just share them all!

This coconut flour banana bread looks soft and rich. Slather it with a little butter to send this snack over the top. Caroline, we can’t wait to make this recipe! P.S. your kombucha is tempting…we’ve been wanting to try to make our own too.

Meghan from Whole Natural Life has this great coconut oil post that gives you the details about this awesome tropical fruit. I love having it on popcorn with sea salt.

Lemongrass is one of my favorite scents to add to homemade “spa” products. This lemongrass bath salt from Monica was posted on Holistic Squid’s blog.

We are so looking forward to seeing what December brings for blog posts…should be great with the holidays around the corner!