Which Essential Oil Companies Should YOU Buy From? My surprising findings on my quest to find the best - TheHippyHomemaker | TheHippyHomemaker I am most likely going to piss off some people with this post, but the information that I found was too good to keep to myself and keep you guys in the dark. As always, you should do your own research and question everything (even me!!). I ALMOST fell for the ploy. I got really excited, because I felt like I was about to embark on a journey into the world of “top quality essential oils”. I thought that the lines I was being fed about these oils being “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” (or “CPTG”), “100% pure therapeutic grade”, and “therapeutic quality” meant that these essential oils HAD TO BE THE BEST. I was about to find out that all of these descriptions meant nothing in the eyes of the FDA and the aromatherapy world; they were just that, descriptions. In my ever growing quest to find the healthiest options in my life, I began to wonder what about my essential oils? What is in a smell? You may be asking yourself, “so, which brand would you recommend I buy, Christina?”
Recycled Book Keepsake Growing up, I was never really one to keep a diary or journal. My mom would always buy me blank notebooks, but I would use those to sketch or doodle instead of writing down my secrets. Over the years, I have acquired many sketchbooks and I have stored away many drawings in all of them. They all seem to be in different places though — some are back at my childhood home in Florida, a few are at the foot of my bed, and then there are the random ones that I find in old purses or in my car. I recently picked up an old book and decided that this was going to be my next sketching medium, but in addition to sketches, I wanted this to be a place where I could store little things that were special to me. This recycled book keepsake is going to be by my side until all of the pages are filled up. Where do you store all of your inspirations? More inspiring posts from the BLDG 25 Blog.
DIY: All-Natural Coconut Deodorant For years, deodorant was something I applied every day without question because that’s what society has told us to do since our underarms started perspiring and giving off odor. Then one day a few years ago I did indeed stop to think about what was in my deodorant, and I freaked out! I saw something that looked like this: Active Ingredient: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex 15.4% Inactive Ingredients: Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil; Stearyl Alcohol; Cyclomethicone; C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate; PPG-14 Butyl Ether; Hydrogenated Castor Oil; Hydrogenated Soybean Oil; PEG-8 Distearate; Fragrance; Hydrolyzed Corn Starch; Behenyl Alcohol After several years of trying to find a good all-natural deodorant that didn’t make me stink or break out in a rash, I finally decided to make my own. All-Natural Coconut Deodorant Prep Time: 5 minutes Cool Time: 15 minutes Ingredients Directions Combine coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and arrowroot in a mixing bowl. Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
Want to Feel Great in the Morning? Start the Day off Right with a Morning Ritual. ~ Nicole Carlin Tired of feeling, well, tired in the morning? Yeah, I was too. It didn’t matter how much sleep I had the night before, I still woke up feeling sluggish, blurry-eyed and plain ol’ tired. Using my knowledge of nutrition, yoga and ancient Ayurvedic health practices, I created a morning ritual for myself that not only helped increase my energy levels, but was so nourishing to my body and soul that I actually wanted to get up in the morning to start my day. I find pleasure in committing to a morning ritual. 1. Nicole Carlin, MA Sexuality, E-RYT is a dynamic, playful and fiercely feminine vinyasa, Yin and fertility yoga teacher and teacher trainer. Assistant Ed: Terri Tremblett About Nicole Harlow Nicole Harlow is an international bestselling author who teaches laser-lucid business, writing + marketing skills through her signature program, Brand Better.
DIY Beach Glass Photo Transfer My Aunt and Uncle have been collecting beach glass for years. When I was recently at their house for a visit, I was fascinated by how many pieces they have acquired over time. I picked up a few and started looking at them. I thought to myself, “There has to be something cool that you can do with all of this glass.” What you need: White beach glass Mod Podge Paint Brush Laser printed images (I made sure all of the images were a resolution of 300 and sized them down to fit my glass. Hand towel Step one- Apply Mod Podge to the front side of your image. Step two- Place the image onto a piece of beach glass and press it down to be sure all of the air bubbles are out. Step three- Once all of your pieces are dry, lay them out on a towel and cover them with a damp one. Make sure the towel is wet enough but not soaking. Step four- Start to rub away the white paper gently with the towel. Step five- Once all of the white paper is removed, apply another coat of Mod Podge.
If So Many Basic Grooming Products Are Filled With Toxins, What *Can* We Use? I made the decision about four years ago to clean up my grooming routine. I’ve had severe allergies and asthma my whole life. Being a makeup artist on set, I quickly realized the effects that the cosmetic powders, sprays, and fragrances had on me. I read several books on how to live a healthier life and I became aware of the risks associated with many ingredients in my makeup. So how do I approach my personal care routine? The most important tool you can possess is knowledge of your ingredients! You can find the no-no list of ingredients here and here. Stay away from the majority of drug store products. Many mainstream cosmetics are filled with petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances. It's estimated that 60 percent of what you put on your body gets into it and then stores itself in your tissues. Be wary of “greenwashing.” Companies that care about people, the planet, and profits will have their philosophy and purpose statement on their website. My Basic Grooming Routine 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 9.
3 Ways to Make Your Clothes Smell Good Have you ever given someone a hug and been pleasantly surprised with a full inhale of the most delicious scent? It could be the scent of the products they use on their skin or hair – or it could be their clothes. Many fabrics have the ability to absorb and hold scents quite well. This can totally affect your mood, too, depending on the scents you use. Here are some ways I’ve discovered that will make your clothes smell delicious. Lavender water I feel like I’m always talking about how good lavender is at calming the soul. Fresh air After washing your clothes, hang them out to dry! Extra tip: If you still opt to dry your clothes with a machine, be careful not to dry them for longer than necessary. Scented soaps Place a bar of your favorite scented soap inside your closet or dresser drawers. What do you do to get your clothes smelling delicious?
DIY: Best Nontoxic Sunscreeen Ever I probably don't need to tell you that regular sunscreen is potentially full of toxins which can do more harm than good. Of course, certain organic brands are exceptions, but when it comes to skin care and beauty products, my motto is: nothing beats DIY! Homemade recipes and vitamin cures are fun to make, often a lot less expensive than store-bought alternatives, and with a little know-how they work incredibly well. This is the sunscreen that's been protecting me and my blond and redheaded toddlers for the last two years: Ingredients 1/4 cup beeswax 1/2 cup coconut oil 2 fluid ounce raspberry seed oil 1 fluid ounce soybean oil 1 fluid ounce wheat germ oil 2 Tbsp. carrot seed oil 2 Tbsp. aloe vera gel 4 vitamin E capsules 15 drops lavender oil (or your favorite essential oil) Instructions Melt the beeswax in an old pot placed into a large pot with boiling water. Pour the beeswax and coconut oil into a food processor (I use one specifically for all my DIY recipes).
How To Make Tea There is something really beautiful about tea…the scent, the dried herbs and flowers, and of course the taste. In all of my years of drinking tea, I don’t know why I’ve never attempted to make my own blends. It’s so much fun mixing all of the different ingredients to get a custom tea just to your liking, and it’s also a great gift for others! Have fun with it and experiment with different ingredients and ratios until you find a mixture that’s just right for you. I got my hands on some ingredients and made a few homemade teas that I can’t wait to try. The important thing to note when making your own tea is to be sure that all of your ingredients are safe for consumption. For this first blend I used peppermint, chamomile and jasmine flowers for a soothing, relaxing tea. I wanted to make a more invigorating tea as well so for this one I used black ceylon tea leaves, rose petals and vanilla bean. Once you’ve mixed your teas, have some fun with the packaging!
Geo Painted Wooden Kitchen Tools I always love incorporating natural wood into my home – especially in the kitchen. I was feeling really inspired by our Sacred Geometry lookbook, and thought it could be cool to interpret the idea using wooden kitchen tools like a cutting board and some spoons. Geometric shapes are so simple, yet very impactful at the same time. All you need to do this are wooden kitchen items of your choice, food-grade paint (I used black), and paintbrushes. Before I got started, I wanted to first test out some geometric shapes by drawing them on paper before transferring them to the wood. I then lightly drew my designs on the wooden surfaces with pencil to make sure that I’d be 100% happy with the placement. Next it’s time to paint away! I liked having some of the designs spill over onto the sides of the wood. Finish off with a food-grade wood sealant to protect your designs during use! See our tutorial on geometric nail art – and have a look at our Sacred Geometry lookbook. :)
DIY Paper Weights – Painted Stone Paper Weights This DIY is perfect for the spring and summer months when all you want to do is nestle outside and soak up the lovely weather. Come the weekend you pack up your things and head to the park or the beach. If you’re like me and like to take along with you magazines/books and a sketch pad this DIY will come in handy for you: paper weights! I always carry with me one or two stones in my backpack to place on top of any loose and light items that can easily get blown away. More DIY projects from the BLDG 25 Blog. Tags: DIY, paper weights, spring, summer
DIY Dream Jar For The New Year Today’s DIY is more of an idea that I fell in love as an alternative to the typical New Year’s resolutions. I don’t know about you but I never remember my resolutions – by February they’re pretty much forgotten. In an attempt to remember them this year, I decided to make a dream jar. Gather little trinkets and mementos that have special meanings for you. Arrange your objects of choice inside a mason jar and place the jar on a desk or bedside table where you’ll see it often, reminding you of the things you wanted to accomplish. What would you put in your dream jar? Tags: DIY, diy projects, new year, new year's eve
Homemade Body Scrub; DIY Body Scrub Who doesn’t love body scrubs? A good body scrub is like a magic little beauty potion: it will open your pores and banish dead skin cells, leaving you with smooth, healthy-looking skin. Plus, it will smell incredible! What you need: 4 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 drop essential oil of your choice What you do: Mix ingredients together and they’re ready for use! To use, put your scrub on a washcloth or directly onto the palm of your hand, scrub gently on your skin, and rinse off. Photos by fp brigette. More beauty tips on the BLDG 25 blog! Tags: beauty, DIY, homemade beauty ideas, homemade beauty products
DIY Notebooks – How To Personalize A Notebook If you’re running out of last minute gift ideas for your friends and loved ones, we have a solution for you. Simply personalize a notebook or sketchbook and make it unique. I always carry notebooks and sketchbooks with me whether I go, just in case there’s an idea I need to jot down, a list I need to make, or something that’s worth sketching. Here’s how I customized a sketch book for one on my friends: I gathered bits and bobs from around my home like lace trims and old charms from necklaces that I don’t wear anymore. Then simply use glue and a needle and thread to decorate how you like. Here’s how mine turned out: Check out more DIY ideas! Tags: DIY, holidays