Luxurious Lotion

 

 

I have never been very fond of hand lotion.  It always seems too greasy!  However, my hands NEED something.  Dish washing, yard work and general house cleaning leave them dry and rough. 

 

A couple of years ago, I began trying out various homemade lotions and I have combined several "recipes" into one that is my absolute favorite.  It is not too greasy, soaks in quickly and leaves my hands feeling amazing.

 

Yesterday was lotion making day.  I ran out a week ago and have missed my favorite lotion being by my bathroom sink.

 

Here is how I make my "Luxurious Lotion":

 

 

 

 

And for anyone curious, beeswax is NOT the same thing as emulsifying wax.  I made that mistake on my first try making lotion.  The emulsifying wax (sometimes referred to as lanette wax) is what makes the oils and waters combine and not separate.

 

Spark Naturals is a good source for FCO, Sweet Almond Oil, Rose Water (hydrosol) and essential oils.  Use discount code:  lisakaye for 10% off on every order.

 

 

 

Essential Oil Safety

     

I love using essential oils ,but I also know that they should be used carefully and with caution.

I want to make sure that anyone using essential oils based on my recommendation is also aware of these safety concerns.

You may have heard, "essential oils are pure and natural and totally safe to use".  Well, based on that logic, would you feed your family wild mushrooms that you picked out of the woods?  Certainly not!  We all know that there are mushrooms that can be poisonous.  Likewise, many of us take vitamins and give our children vitamins, but we would never take more than the allowed dose, because too much can be a serious health risk.

Essential oils are  no different.  There are safety issues to be considered and taken seriously.

#1 - Use EXTREME CAUTION or AVOID INGESTION of essential oils. 

The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy NAHA warns -

"Some oils are associated with toxicity problems (e.g. a risk of accumulative effects), and so internal use is not entirely hazard or risk-free."

The International Federation of Aromatherapists Code of Ethics states -

"No aromatherapist shall use essential oils for internal ingestion or internal application nor shall any aromatherapist advocate or promote such use of essential oils unless the practicing aromatherapist has medical, naturopathic, herbalist, or similar qualifications and holds an insurance policy which specifically covers the internal application of essential oils." (IFA code of ethics.  Simply Essential, No. 11 December 1993).

Robert Tisserand, one of the world's leading experts in aromatherapy says -

"With ingestion, various risks increase, including gastric irritation, interactions with conventional medications, and fetal damage in pregnancy.  And long-term, depending on dose and frequency, there's a risk of accumulation in the body, possibly leading to systemic toxicity." (Interview of Robert Tisserand)

Jennie Harding in The Essential Guide to Oils by Jennie Harding says -

"First and most important:  don't ever swallow essential oils.  They are concentrated and highly potent substances, and in large amounts they can attack the delicate linings of the mouth and digestive tract.  In sufficiently large doses, swallowing essential oil may cause a poisoning reaction in the body."

Linda Halcon, PhD, MPH, RN, RATC states -

"Most essential oils are safe and free of adverse side effects when used properly.  However, as with any substance you are introducing into your body, it is important to use them intelligently.  We recommend that you never eat or drink essential oils."

Common practice in the aromatherapy, herbalism, and alternative medicine health care is that essential oils are NOT to be taken internally unless under the proper care of qualified care providers.  Both major aromatherapy organizations (NAHA and IFA) have in the scope of their practice and ethics that members do not recommend the use of internal essential oils and almost every respected aromatherapy book written by experts in the field advise against internal use of essential oils.  The only places that differ with this are some of the major oil manufacturers; their brochures and literature and their blogging followers widely promote internal use of essential oils.

#2 - Keep all essential oils out of the reach of small children.
This is because children have a tendency to put things into their mouths, and swallowing essential oils can be dangerous.  If you think a small child has swallowed some essential oil, it is always best to seek medical attention immediately.  Take the bottle of oil with you so that the nurse or doctor can advise you appropriately. (The Essential Guide to Oils)

#3 - Check with your doctor before using essential oils if you have any major health issues.

Caution should always be used during pregnancy and for small children.  People with epilepsy and anyone on prescription medication should check with their doctor before beginning use of essential oils. 

One of my nephews has epilepsy and his mother uses essential oils carefully.  She checks all essential oils with his doctor before use.

As with dietary supplements and herbs, it is important to discuss regular essential oil use with your doctor to insure no drug interactions or interference with your necessary medications. (Linda Halcon)

#4 - Essential oils should always be properly diluted. (with very limited exceptions)

Undiluted essential oils can cause skin irritation (an immediate effect such as blotchy redness, often painful), skin sensitization, which is a type of allergic reaction and photosensitivity. (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy)

Proper dilution for topical use is typically 1-2%.

There are a few essential oil companies that propagate falsely that "it is not possible to have an allergic reaction to essential oils because they do not contain protein which is what causes a histamine reaction" and that if you have redness or irritation it is because "your skin is detoxifying".  One doctor that is often cited for this misinformation is not a medical doctor at all, but a PhD who is employed by an essential oil company to help sell their brand of oils.

The most respected book in the aromatherapy community, Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand speaks about skin sensitization and essential oils and the need for dilution.

It is important for each of us to do our research to decide the best way to use essential oils to improve the health of ourselves and our families.  Reading ONLY information from oil companies is not wise.  We don't trust the safety information directly from car manufacturers when looking to buy a new vehicle, we depend on independent safety testing and reporting.  We should use the same care to research the essential oils that we are using!

Here are some good books to begin your research:

Essential Oil Safety:  A Guide for Health Care Professionals by Robert Tisserand
The Essential Guide to Oils by Jennie Harding
Aromatherapy:  A Lifetime Guide to Healing with Essential Oils by Valerie Gennari Cooksley
The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless

Love to Decorate - Baby Boy Rooms

 

As I said before, I love to decorate.  I am currently planning a baby shower for a sweet friend expecting her first baby.  While preparing ideas for shower decorations, I began thinking about the last two baby boy rooms that I decorated, the room for my last baby, and only boy, who is turning three in July and my nephew who will be one in July.

Here are the idea boards that I worked from:



     

I like to decorate baby rooms so that they can "grow" with the baby and not have to be updated from nursery to child's room.  I decided on an Aggie them for my son, Kyle, and I had the perfect photo of Kyle Field that I had taken the summer before he was born.  My sister-in-law and I chose a picture she had taken of her husband, my brother, and their dog for the inspiration in my nephew's room.

It is important to me to make rooms personal and using photographs that I have taken is one of the ways that I accomplish this goal.  My sister-in-law has her own file of impressive photographs, so that was my first thought when planning her baby's room.

I was very happy with how the Aggie room came together.

And I think that my sister-in-law is pleased with her baby boy's room, too.

 

10 Important Things to Know About Essential Oil Use

1. It’s important to use high quality essential oils. Some companies add fillers to the oils while still advertising them as "Pure". I have done a great deal of research about the qualities of different brands of essential oils. It took a while to convince me that the inexpensive brand sold at the health food store was not as good as the pricier brands, because we did have some success with it. I can recommend a number of good books that I have read and refer back to, but for a quick study, I am linking a blog article that I read and found helpful.  While I don't use the brand that she recommends, (I think they are great, but I found another company that I prefer) her articles are helpful. I trust Spark Naturals to be a great source for high quality essential oils.

2. Many oils can be harmful if not used properly. Some will burn your skin if you put them directly onto your skin (commonly referred to as HOT oils). Some oils can cause photo sensitivity. Others should be used with caution or avoided if you have certain health conditions (epileptic, pregnant, etc.)  It is important to do your research and know how to use an oil before you start experimenting. 

3. There are some oils that should be used with caution around children and some avoided. Other oils should be diluted more with a carrier oil than you would for an adult.  It is important to always do your research!

4. It is important to use a carrier oil or a salve when you apply oils to your skin. A carrier oil is typically a vegetable based oil that helps the oils absorb into your skin better. The essential oil is diluted in a carrier oil, then applied to the skin.  I usually use fractionated coconut oil (FCO). Other good options are sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, and jojoba oil. Just as certain essential oils work better for some people, certain carrier oils will work better for some people than others will. Some are better for dry skin, some for oily. Experiment with different oils and see which ones you like the best. I really like to use Camp Wander's salve base for many oil applications.  There are rare occasions when essential oils should be used without being diluted in a carrier or salve. Applying essential oil straight (undiluted) is called a NEAT application. It is usually recommended to treat a burn with one or two drops of Lavender applied NEAT. It is important to remember that some oils  can burn or irritate skin (HOT oils) and  always use with caution. 

5. Diffusing essential oils into the air has many benefits. I use an essential oil diffuser in the house almost daily, sometimes two, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom.  A well made diffuser emits minute particles of essential oils into the air allowing us to breathe them in and absorb them through the skin.  Pure essential oils diffused through your home can kill airborne pathogens, help to ease breathing difficulties, and lift moods.  I use many different oils and oil blends in the diffuser, depending on the results I want. 

6. Oils are VERY versatile. One oil can have many, many different uses. This is one of my favorite things about oils. Lavender can be used to treat burns, reduce fever, help with sleep, calm anxiety, lower blood-pressure, and much more. I’m not saying that it will do every one of those things or that it will cure all of those problems, but it can help each of those ailments.

7. Everybody reacts differently to oils. One oil or blend of oils that works wonders for one person might not work at all for another. Sometimes more or less oils, or a different blend is needed to be effective. This is similar to the way acetaminophen works great for some people and ibuprofen works better for others. Bodies react differently to different oils. If one oil or blend doesn’t work, keep trying until one does!

8. Oils should be applied only a drop or two at a time, and the protocol can be repeated every hour.  It is always better to use less oil, more frequently, than to use a lot and never reapply.

9. Essential oils work to promote our body's natural systems. While some medicines kill off the good with the bad, essential oils help our body work the way God intended. 

10. Essential oils aren’t the answer for everything. They are not a magic potion. God has provided us with many natural sources for healing and He has also made modern medicine possible. While I believe that oils can help to lessen the need my family has for over-the-counter medicine and doctor visits, I still believe there is a time to turn to the doctors and medications.

Love to Decorate (even if it's not my house)

I love to decorate, organize and rearrange!  Sometimes I run out of ideas at my own house, so I like to go play in other people's houses.  (I have been known to beg people to let me organize their closets.)

My mom lets me do what I want at her house...usually, as long as I run it past her first.  And I have the best sister-in-laws, who let me share my opinions (bossy??? maybe???) and sometimes even let me help a little!

Last summer, I got to go on a major shopping spree with one of these sweet sisters who had a small fortune in wedding gift cards waiting to be spent making their house a home.  We had so much fun...well at least I did, I'm not sure about her, since shopping is not her favorite thing to do.

Just last week, I was at her house and told her that I saw a mudroom bench on Pinterest that was so similar to what she let me do for her.  She said that I should post hers on Pinterest, so I guess I will!

I didn't have my camera with me, so an iPhone shot will have to do. 

 

She already had this great old church pew, and the room was just begging for some bright color.  I love how it turned out!

Everyday Essential Oil Storage for Kids

 

In our house, we use essential oils everyday.  And each one of us has a different combination of oils that we use for various reasons.  To make this easier, first I make roller bottles for everyone for easy application. Spark Naturals has 10 ml roller bottles available on their website, making it convenient to add them to your order of essential oils and carrier oils (my favorite carrier is the liquid coconut oil).

To make it easy for the kids to use their roller bottles, I store them in travel soap containers.  This way, they know where to find their particular oil bottles and it keeps them all together in a safe place.  One of these travel soap boxes can hold three of the 10 ml roller bottles of essential oil.

If you are looking for a way to order top quality, pure essential oils WHEN you want, WHAT you want, and HOW much you want, Spark Naturals is the place to go!  And as an added bonus, you can enjoy 10% off of every order by using discount code:  lisakaye
And every order over $55 comes with FREE shipping.  If you want an affordable way to build your supply of essential oils, Spark offers the Oil Of The Month Club.  For only $15.99 a month (total cost, including shipping and tax), you receive a 15 ml bottle of top quality essential oil.  You can sign up at any time and cancel at any time, no lengthy commitment required. 

 

 

If you have any questions about these essential oils, please ask me!

Lessons from the Trail: Avoid Hidden Snares

I love running trails. And there is no more beautiful time of year to be on the trail than in the fall. There is also not a more dangerous time to run trails than in the fall. The thick cover of newly fallen leaves covers roots, rocks and holes. I have to slow down and be extra careful of these hidden dangers. 

This made me think of an important lesson for life. We need to slow down and listen to the LORD, through His word, the Bible, and be careful not to fall into the snares of sin. 

In Psalm 141, David is praying to the LORD for safekeeping from wickedness. 

LORD, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. But my eyes are upon You, O G OD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely. (Psalms 141:1-10 NKJV)

Let's all do our best to avoid hidden snares!