Dishwasher SOAP

This is what I will try next:
1 tsp Oxygen bleach (oxiclean, etc)
1/2 tsp Dawn dishsoap

1/2 cup vinegar in a bowl on the top rack of the dishwasher sitting upright.

I got this from OneGoodThingbyJillee.

DISHWASHER DETERGENT

My next adventure was dishwasher soap! After reviewing many recipes, this is what I did:

2 cups Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Baking Soda
1 full container Lemi Shine
1 cup Epsom Salts
30 drops Wild Orange essential oil

stir or shake together (store with a silica pack like from a shoe box to prevent clumping)
use 1 Tbsp in a load of dishes

put White Vinegar in the rinse aid spot

UPDATE: Dishes coming out cloudy...adding 1/2 tsp of Dawn dishsoap to my detergent and 1/2 cup vinegar in a bowl on the top rack.

WASHING SOAP for my HE washing machine

4lbs (or 8cups) Baking Soda
4lbs Washing Soda (laundry aisle)
4lbs Borax (laundry aisle)
4 cups (or 32oz) Oxy Clean (store brand is fine)
14-16oz bar of Soap  (I used Zote, can use FelsNaptha or Ivory, just be sure it's soap not a cleansing bar)
Essential oil (optional)

Grate the bar of soap (I bought a grater just for this, a finer grate than I use for cheese, but not that micro fine kind). Dump everything into a garbage bag and mix it up.  Then I cut the corner off the bag and poured it all into a glass container.

Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. Safe for HE washer.

HEALTHY FABRIC SOFTENER

 I just found a recipe for fabric softener that won't ruin my
machine!! 

4.5 Liters of White vinegar
10-20 drops of wild orange essential oil

use 1 cup in the rinse cycle

FREE dōTERRA oils

Who doesn't love free stuff?!

My good friend is giving a limited number of people $300 worth of essential oils. These oils are natural medicine and can be used topically, aromatically, and internally for various things. I've used these oils for weight loss, eczema, swine flu, allergies, etc.

Comment on this post if you're interested!!

Hurry...the offer ends January 31st!!


This offer is for Utah county, Salt Lake county, and surrounding areas.
This offer includes a live class to educate you on how to use these oils and 1 webinar.
You also need to pay your own enrollment fee ($35) which allows you to receive this promotion.

Essential Oils

My new found love? Essential oils. It's literally amazing how much these little oils can do!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

It's been a while since my last post, life has been busy! Christmas was great!! I love that time of year when we get to stop and reflect on Christ and what he means to each of us!
I have resolved to be better at blogging.
My goal is one post/month at least!!
So, HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY LEAP YEAR!!
LEAP into something fun!!

Lemi Shine

Recently, I was asked to try Lemi Shine Machine Clean. The stuff is amazing!! We have hard water and regularly get mineral build up. We have tried many options to clean and prevent this build up, but nothing worked like this Lemi Shine Machine Clean. After using it, we are not getting spots and white minerals on our silverware nor our cups and bowls! Thank you, Lemi Shine!!!

Couponing

My sister recently introduced me to couponing.  I did the coupon thing years ago when we lived in CA, and it was time consuming.  So much so that I gave up.  I was hesitant to try it again, but HOLY COW! I am loving it!


She gave me a few websites to go to and a couple ideas of how to keep it simple:
1- Start with one store! 
She recommends Rite Aid since they have amazing deals and their coupon policy is so flexible.


2- Buy the things that you use.  
Don't go overboard buying things you'll never use, unless they are totally free.


3- Her favorite websites are:
www.hip2save.com (I go to stores and look at store deals individually)
www.totallytarget.com


4- One more website I love:
www.savvyshopperdeals.com (they often have things hip2save doesn't have and vice versa)


5-Lastly, I don't get a Sunday paper, but there are TONS of printable coupons and those sites above will put links to the printables next to the deals!


Happy Couponing!!

Coconut oil for Dry Hair

You can use coconut oil as a deep conditioner.  It can be used prior to shampooing, or as an overnight conditioner.  I've found it works best to apply it to dry hair.

• Take a tablespoon or two of coconut oil (depending on how long your hair is) into your hands and rub together to melt it.  
• Rub your hands in your hair all the length of your hair.  
• Massage into scalp as well.    
• Leave on at least 15 minutes before shampooing.  
• If you are using it as an overnight conditioner, put a shower cap on your hair to protect your pillow.                      
• Shampoo out in the morning.  
• Enjoy your shiny, healthy hair!!  

There are lots of articles on how great coconut oil specifically, is the best oil for dry hair!

Another way to apply it if you are going to take a bath with coconut oil in it is to just dip your hair in the water and squeeze the excess water out.

Soft, not oily, skin

One of the best products I've found for my skin is MSM lotion.  I buy one at my local health food store, Good Earth, made by Sunstar Organics (http://www.sunstarorganics.com/935/1901/MSMLotionSunscreen/MSM-PURE--NATURAL-LOTION----UNSCENTED.html) and I believe you can order it online.  I'm loving the Berry Vanilla scented one.

One of the best features is that it's completely ALCOHOL FREE!! I've never seen another lotion that is alcohol free.  Good for moisturizing, controlling acne, and minimizing scars and stretchmarks!  Comes in unscented as well.

COCONUT MANNA

I got Coconut Manna from Nutiva, and it's delish!!! Think peanut butter, but from coconut.  They take the whole flesh of the coconut and grind it up into a smooth paste.  It has all of the coconut oil, fiber, and flesh you want. I've had it on toast and in my hot chocolate.  Others recommend putting it in smoothies! Definitely on my "to do" list!!

https://store.nutiva.com/coconut-manna/ FREE SHIPPING on orders over $30!!!

Coconut Cream Concentrate - Tropical Traditions

Coconut Cream Concentrate - Tropical Traditions

This stuff looks delicious!!! Must try it!!!

SUGAR SCRUB

I JUST FOUND MY FAVORITE FACE AND BODY SCRUB AGAIN!!  Walmart used to carry this Freeman Sugar Scrub and then stopped! I just found it on Amazon at a pretty good price!! So excited, this stuff is awesome! You can use it on your lips, face, elbows, and all!!

Crayon...

Now I LOVE to color, but I don't usually color on my walls.  My son, however, did.  This was such a chore to get his beautiful mural (which I should've at least preserved in a photo) off of his walls in his room, that I have to share how to do it.  I tried the bug and tar remover from Walmart, great option for small stuff; but we were all breathing fumes before too long and the mural was largely still there.

So, what to do? You can't get crayon wet, it's waxy and the water runs right over it.  My friend told me the crayon comes right back through a fresh coat of paint, so that wouldn't work.  Finally, as I was talking on the phone, it came to me.  If I could just heat the crayon and wipe it with a dry rag! BRILLIANT, I TELL YOU!!!! I got my hairdryer and blew on the crayon and rubbed with my rag.  I could not believe that after days of rubbing until my arm hurt breathing fumes, that the answer was so simple.  So there you have it! Don't buy the bug and tar remover, just use your hair dryer and a dry rag and save your arm a little!!

hCG

So, there's an awful lot of hype about this hCG.  At first, I was totally against it.  It sounded so unhealthy.  Then everything I was trying was making me so discouraged.  I had a couple friends drop some weight and completely reshape their bodies and decided I had to know.  I read pounds and inches...you can read it on HCG Loss.

I'm going to abridge Dr S's research (it's pretty long).  Basically, he sees obesity as a curable condition.  He studied hundreds of people for years before drawing his conclusions.  Hcg is a hormone in the body that regulates the hypothalamus and tells it that it's okay to release the stored fat a person is holding.  In women, this fat is reserved somewhat for the beginning of pregnancy before she's aware she's pregnant.  This way, the growing baby has food to live on without the breaking down the woman's muscle and/or structural fat (ie the fat that you need).

The idea for the diet is that you take hcg, and it works in a similar fashion to mobilize the fat that the body so desperately wants to hold onto for emergencies, the abnormal fat (hello, those of us living are descendants of those whose bodies were able to survive famines... so we are geared to survive).  When you are consuming such a low quantity of calories, your body looks to consume something for more energy and; Lo and Behold, that fat is ready to go.  It's more about the specific foods you eat and less about the amount of calories, meaning, I don't count calories.  I follow the diet.

I did my research and decided to use the drops, for expense and ease of use.  This was also largely based on what my dear friend used.  I got the same brand and everything,  Well 9 days later I am down 11 lbs.  NOT BAD!!!  I'll keep you posted on my progress.








I am using Mediral HCG Drops.  Post here if you want to know where I got them for $17.50/bottle (including shipping) and I'll get you the info.

SKIN...

 I've been struggling with my complexion for the past 5 years.  It's not something I'm happy about, it's all over my chin! I've tried many, many, many things and spent many, many, many, hours researching what others have tried.  This is what I've come up wiht that seems to work for me. I take MSM daily (5000 mg in the morning and if I'm really broken out, again in the evening).  I also use my NitroFx (truly AMAZING stuff)!!  The two together seem to be really good. 

Topically I like to use Zinc Oxide during the day.  It helps to dry any weeping and is white, so it reduces any redness.  It's a great barrier and moisturizer at the same time.  My teenaged son loves this stuff.  It really hides the blemishes.

(I use Clearasil Vanishing Cream or Zapzyt during the day if I really need some drying power.)

I also recently discovered Cetaphil face wash and lotion.  I can't say enough.  I wash with apricot scrub every morning and follow up with Cetaphil wash.  GOOD STUFF!  If I use the lotion, it's after I've put Zapzyt and or zinc oxide on.  I let those soak in and about ten minutes later I smooth it all out with the Cetaphil Lotion.

At night I need to moisturize to help heal my skin.  I love my coconut oil (of course); but I often use Palmer's Cocoa Butter (in the tub).   I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!!!

Coconut Butter

So, I've found that there's a product called coconut butter that includes the flesh of the coconut and the oil that naturally occurs.  The problem is, I can't find where to buy it.  I can find it online and that may be the route I go, but I really would like to try it right now!! Looks so yummy!!

Tell me if you've found it in a store...and I'll let you know when I get some and how it tastes!

This is the brand that I see most often on the internet. http://www.premierorganics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=35

I just can't get enough!!

I am finding more and more info on Coconut oil.  I'm replacing all of my oils with Coconut oil and Olive oil (although, I'm favoring the coconut oil).  Found this on Nutiva's website :


Coconut oil is about 50 percent lauric acid, a rare medium-chain fatty acid found in mother's milk that supports healthy metabolism and is now being studied for its anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial health-protecting properties. Overall, coconut oil contains 92% saturated fats, and only 1% Omega-6, the fat Americans get way too much of.


Now, why wouldn't I use this stuff?!


My favorite info on coconut oil...


In the 1940s, farmers tried dishing up coconut oil to fatten their animals but instead discovered that it made them lean and more active. Those who use coconut oil consistently for several weeks often report an increase in energy, better sleep patterns, an improved sense of well-being, and weight loss a low-carb diet is important to follow, but adding coconut oil has made the difference in the weight coming off and staying off.

Why Is Coconut Oil Effective? Simply explained, most oils from animal and vegetable sources are composed primarily of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs), whereas coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This means that the fatty acids in coconut oil are not packaged into lipoproteins and do not circulate in the bloodstream like other fats, but instead are sent directly to the liver where they are immediately burned up and converted into energy. It¹s like adding kindling to a fire, rather than a big, damp log.

Coconut oil yields fewer calories than any other oil because of the MCFAs, unlike the LCFAs in vegetable oils, which tend to get stored as fat. MCFAs actually speed up metabolism so we can more efficiently burn the calories we eat.

Coconut oil is also shown to enhance thyroid function. This in turn stimulates the conversion of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol into the anti-aging hormones pregneonolone, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). These valuable hormones not only aid in weight management, but also in preventing heart disease, senility, and other degenerative diseases. It is believed that coconut oil helps convert thyroid hormone T3 to T4, a big bonus for the thousands of people who have sluggish thyroid function that causes weight gain and inhibits weight loss.

More on Magnesium

This is from http://www.ctds.info/magdiet.html...


While too much fat in the diet can be unhealthy, eating at least some fat along with your meals may help improve nutrient absorption. In a 2004 study published in theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers reported that, "Essentially no absorption of carotenoids was observed when salads with fat-free salad dressing were consumed. A substantially greater absorption of carotenoids was observed when salads were consumed with full-fat than with reduced-fat salad dressing."¹ If you are trying to lose weight but are low in magnesium, you may be better off cutting down on calories and especially high glycemic, empty calorie foods like white bread, cake and cookies rather than fat. I developed many of my major Mg deficiency symptoms (twitches, fibromyalgia, muscle cramps, etc.) as an adult when went on a low fat diet to lose weight, though at the time I didn't realize that a lack of fat may have been a factor.


Check it out, you'll be impressed with all that magnesium does for our bodies!! I am finding more and more benefits of beans in my diet the more I study nutrition!!