My Precious One Year Old

She's so cute. I love those cheeks, her smiles & how her eyes light up.

God has given me so much love for her. My heart just swells with love for her. Love multiplies, it doesn't divide.

Foods That Can Give You Instant Energy

I was reading an article from Mercola.

One food that is often shunned for its high saturated fat content is coconut oil. However, it has many spectacular health benefits such as promoting heart health, weight loss, immune system health, thyroid function and more.
Microorganisms are often feared as dangerous, however, fermented foods are among the healthiest foods. The beneficial bacteria in these foods are very potent detoxifiers, capable of drawing out a wide range of environmental toxins, including pesticides and and heavy metals
10 nutritious "superfoods" that can up the ante on your diet include fermented veggies, fermented beverages, kale, sardines, whey protein, organic eggs, coconut oil, avocado, raw organic butter, and pomegranate

This blog of Mine, the purpose of it.

I've decided I'm going to make this blog about my hobbies and recreations, such as soap making, ess oils (how to use them, how I use them), herbs, health (food & exercise), cooking and such.....You get the picture. ; )

So far no one is reading my blog. I'm still blogging. Its my way of having someone to talk with about stuff I like. One day, one day someone(s) will catch on to what I'm doing and enjoy this too.

Its getting late. I'm going to wrap this up. Kurt is putting Rosie to bed and letting me have this time to blog. Thanks for 'listening.' I look forward to many more blogs, even if its just a journal for me to look back on.

~April Z.

Essential Oils Preparedness Chart

  For those of you interested in essential oils. Here's a preparedness chart.  It would be good to print it out and have on hand whenever you need it. 

Essential Oil Preparedness Chart

This is such an extremely helpful chart. I hope you can zoom in to see it or click on the link to take you to the page. I go back to it a couple times a year to refresh my memory. 

32 Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

32 Amazing Ways To Use Lemon Essential Oil

Please note: These uses are for pure, unadulterated essential oils, like YL or HEO. Please know that not all essential oils are the same! Most essential oils are fragrant/cosmetic/perfume grade oils, however, YL & HEO are therapeutic-grade and are safe for internal use!

1. To clean non-carpeted floors, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Then add 5 – 10 drops of lemon, pine, or spruce essential oil. If the floor is especially dirty, add several drops of dish washing soap. This will clean even the dirtiest floor.
2. To make a carpet freshener, add 16 – 20 drops of essential oils to 1 cup of baking soda or borax powder. Mix ingredients together well and place in a covered container overnight so that the essential oil can be absorbed. Sprinkle over carpet then vacuum the powder up.
3.  You may also put 3-7 drops of Lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and place it into a vacuum bag – doing this scents the air while vacuuming. If your vacuum collects the dirt into water, simply add a few drops into the water reservoir before vacuuming. This refreshes both the carpet and acts as an air freshener.
4. Some essential oils can act as gentle stimulants to the limbic system of the brain by their scent, increasing alertness and concentration enhancing the capacity for learning, improving memory, and assisting many other cognitive functions. A wide range of essential oils offer these benefits, such as: Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary and Melissa. To help increase these functions simply inhale the chosen essential oil directly from the bottle or put a drop on a tissue and keep in your pocket for use throughout the day.
5. Use 1–2 drops to remove gum, oil, grease, grease spots, glue and adhesives, and crayon from most surfaces. Tip: try a test area before to make sure you won’t ruin any finishes.
6. Substitute lemon oil for lemon juice or lemon seasonings to flavor seafood, vegetables, beverages, and desserts. To use Lemon oil in place of the zest of “one” lemon – use 8 drops of Young Living Lemon essential oil.
7. Combine 2–3 drops with water in a 4oz. spray bottle filled with water to help cleanse and sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
8. Soothe or prevent corns, callous, or bunions by rubbing 1-2 drops of Lemon oil on the affected area, morning and evening.
9. Fill a bowl with cold water, add 2–3 drops of Lemon oil, and drench fruit and vegetables in the lemon water to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.
10. Add a drop to your dishwasher before the wash cycle for spot-free dishes.
11. Lemon has antiseptic-like properties and contains compounds that have been studied for their effects on immune function. According Jean Valnet, M.D., the vaporized [diffused] essence of lemon can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, Staphylococcus aureus in two hours, and Pneumococcus bacteria within three hours. Even a 0.2% solution of Lemon oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria.
12. Lemon has been shown to have antidepressant effects in research done by Komori, et al.,1995. Diffuse or inhale Lemon oil to receive the benefits of aromatherapy.
13. Lemon oil may help brighten a pale, dull complexion by removing the dead skin cells. Simply mix a drop with your cleanser to help promote healthier skin tone.
14. Lemon oil can serve as an effective insect repellent.
15. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a wart morning and night, may help it to disappear.
16. Rub 1-3 drops of Lemon oil to clean a butcher’s block or other cutting surfaces to disinfect those surfaces.
17. Add one teaspoon of lemon essential oil to one-cup mineral oil for an effective furniture polish.
18. Homemade lemonade, in a blender mix 2 drops of Lemon oil, 2 tablespoons of honey and two cups of pure water. Adjust the amount of each ingredient to suit your own taste.
19. Put a drop of Lemon oil on bleeding gum’s caused by gingivitis or tooth extraction to help with healing and disinfecting.
20. Rub 4-6 drops of Lemon oil with 1 teaspoon of V-6 Massage Oil on cellulite, may improve circulation and help eliminate waste from the cells.
21. Rub 4-6 drops of Lemon oil with 1 teaspoon of V-6 Massage Oil on varicose veins, may improve circulation and relieve pressure on the veins.
22. Some find lemon oil to help remove warts. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on a wart morning and night, may help it to disappear.
22. Put 10-15 drops of Lemon oil in each gallon of carpet cleaning solution to help pull out stains and brighten the rug. This also leaves a fresh smell in the room.
23. Diffuse Lemon essential oil to freshen the air in your home or office.
24. Add 1-2 drops Young Living Lemon oil to a glass of water, tastes yummy, no calories, and alkalizes the water. Tip: only use a glass glass as Lemon oil WILL dissolve items made from petrochemicals and styrofoam.
25. Soak kitchen dishcloth overnight in a bowl of water with a drop of Lemon oil to disinfect and kill germs.
26. Rub a drop of Lemon oil on your hands after using a public bathroom to sanitize hands.
27. Use a paper towel soaked with several drops of Lemon oil to sanitize bathroom fixtures.
28. Place a drop of Lemon oil on cold sores, herpes or other mouth ulcers to lessen pain, may aid in healing.
29. Rub two drops of Lemon oil topically, may clear athlete’s foot.
30. Heartburn is a burning pain felt behind the breastbone. It is most often the result of acid reflux, that is, when stomach acid rises up the esophagus where it irritates the lining. Lemon essential oil (which comes from the rind, not the pulp) is one of the best remedies for heartburn, as it causes the stomach to stop excreting digestive acids. Simply add a drop or two of Lemon oil to a small glass of water and drink. (This will only help you if you have too much acid. Sometimes we have similar reflux experiences and its due to, too little acid. For that drink two tablespoons of organic, apple cider vinegar in half a cup of water.)
31. Relaxing & Rejuvenating Aromatherapy Bath Salt Recipe: 1 drop Grapefruit oil, 1 drop Lemon oil, 1 drop Orange oil, 1 drop Patchouli oil, 3 drops Ylang Ylang or Geranium oil, 1 cup Epsom Salts or Sea Salt. Add to running bath water. Soak for 20 minutes.
32. Refreshing Bacteria Killing Spray: You’ll need - 32 oz. spray bottle, 8 drops Spearmint oil, 8 drops Lemon oil, 6 drops Lavender oil, 6 drops Thyme oil, 6 drops Rosemary oil, 4 drops Eucalyptus globulus, and water. Fill spray bottle 7/8 of the way with water, add your Young Living essential oils. Shake the mixture well and periodically during use. This mixture smells as terrific as it is powerful at killing germs.

Essential Oils 101

I have been very interested in the green herbs of the earth for over 15 yrs now. To put in very simple terms essential oils are basically a concentrated herb. I have found someone who has writen it in easy to read article. Here it is

What is an essential oil?

The essential oil of a plant is its “life blood” because the oil protects it from disease, provides nutrients and helps to repel insects.

Essential Oils were mankind’s first medicine!  God created plants in the beginning and the oils were used for healing and anointing all throughout Scripture.  Today, they are still used to bring health and healing to the body (physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.)  The essential oil can be found in the plant’s flower, stem, leaves, bark or fruit. 

Essential oils are very complex containing hundreds or thousands of different chemical compounds; this is what gives each plant its unique healing attributes and characteristics.  Young Living essential oils areTherapeutic grade essential oils – they are quickly absorbed by the body when applied topically. The oils work on every system in the body on a cellular level to assist in the elimination of toxins.The fragrance of the oils works on the limbic system in the brain where emotions are stored. Essential oils can help release emotional trauma, relax and clear the mind.

Essential oils do what???  Sounds too good to be true.

Therapeutic grade essential oils do the following:

• reach every cell in your body within 21 minutes when applied topically to the body
• eliminate toxins in your body
• regenerate DNA
• have the capability of passing the “blood-brain” barrier (chemotherapy cannot)
• work on emotions via the limbic system of your brain when inhaled
• release emotional trauma, relax and clear the mind
• transport nutrients to starving human cells
• powerful antioxidants
• increase atmospheric oxygen
• remove toxins in the air
• increase ozone and negative ions in the area which inhibit bacterial growth

Essential oils must be therapeutic or medicinal grade in order to maintain its healing properties.

This means the plants were grown organically or in the wild, without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. They must be harvested at the correct time of year and distilled properly without chemical solvents or additives. The majority of oils found in the flavor and fragrance industries do not fulfill these therapeutic standards because the oils have been created synthetically or manipulated in some fashion. Only 2% of oils produced are therapeutic grade.

*To be fair I will tell you this info came a website by Carrie Raab. http://younglivingoillady.com/essential-oils/essential-oil/

**I do not endorse Young Living Oils. She sells it. I will say that they do carry a high quality therapeutic grade ess oils that I trust. I do not like their multilevel marketing system that makes everything so expensive to pay for everyone's bonuses and such. I do buy Thieves Cleaner from a friend that sells YL. I personally buy from Heritage Essential Oils (HEO). I do not believe one person owns the monopoly on high quality therapeutic essential oils. I believe HEO sells high quality therapeutic essential oils with out the multilevel marking system, that makes prices go up.  Here's HEO's webpage and there is alot of information on there to help you make informed decisions. If you choose to email HEO, you will be answered in a timely and courteous manner. I have receive no financial returns of any kind from HEO. I just like to encourage the sells for a company I stand behind. Please tell them I sent you, if you choose to buy from them. They like to see how their company is growing. This company is growing from word of mouth, there is no advertising or MLM to pay for, that is why their prices are lower.

***Here's equal opportunity. Above I gave you the link to a YL distributor. Here's the link to HEO, it is a family run business in the Waco, TX area.
http://heritageessentialoils.com/

Coconut Oil Wonders

Homemade Coconut Oil Deodorant

  I follow CoconutHealth on Twitter, They have a lot of great information and uses on coconut oil.
CoconutOil.com

  I've been wanting to make this along time, but didn't want to take the time for experimentation, test, failures, recalculating the recipe, etc. Let me know if you've made this & how it goes. I hope to make it this coming weekend.

by KerryAnn Foster
Cooking Traditional Foods

Of all of the body products I have made at home, coconut oil deodorant has made me the happiest. I was thrilled to be able to get away from the paraben and aluminum-filled commercial deodorants but still find something that works well. I’ve used this deodorant and it has worked wonderfully well for everything except the heaviest of manual labor days spent mucking out the coops or clearing brush.

I like to use citrus essential oils to scent my deodorant, but lavender or rose are also popular choices among women. Lemongrass, tea tree, sage, velvetier, sandalwood, bergamot and eucalyptus are also popular choices.

If you like your deodorant to be thicker, or you need extra absorbing power, you can add extra baking soda or cornstarch. Cornstarch absorbs moisture and baking soda controls odor. The shea butter is to moisturize and soothe, as the powders can be drying to your skin. If the mixture irritates your skin or makes you itchy, use less baking soda.

If you like a lighter deodorant, you can transfer the mixture to a bowl and use a stand mixer or hand mixer to whip air in as the coconut oil cools and hardens. Transfer to a container and place in the fridge while the mixture is still soft.

If you like a soft deodorant you can apply with your hands, leave this mixture at room temperature and warm it slightly in your hand before applying it when temperatures are cool. Use about a pea-sized amount to start with, then adjust amount up or down. I like to put it into a stick deodorant container and apply it like a commercial product.

Most people report that this recipe keeps them odor-free all day, regardless of their activity level. However, you can expect an adjustment period as your body gets used to not having the commercial products. Some people report a temporary worsening of their body odor for a few days during the adjustment period while the commercial product works its way out of their system.

Finally, be aware that some people will experience stinging if they apply this or any other deodorant immediately after shaving. Waiting an hour or two after your shower will usually prevent that problem.

Homemade Deodorant

¼ cup expeller-pressed coconut oil
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup baking soda
¼ cup cornstarch or arrowroot powder
10 drops essential oil of your choice, optional

Over medium-low heat, melt the coconut oil and shea butter together and whisk in the remaining ingredients until smooth and uniform. Cool slightly and whisk in the essential oil of your choice, if desired.

Pour into a wide-mouthed container or a clean and empty deodorant container and smooth the top. Allow to cool in the fridge until solid before use. In the summer, store it in the fridge if your house stays so warm that the coconut oil won’t stay solid.

Only Suzie Would Say This

Suzie: Momma, I have allergies.
Me: Oh you do? What are you allergic too?
Suzie: I'm allergic to coughing.
Those beside us in the room listening cracks up laughing.

She's so precious. Only Suzie would say that. You see we have a respiratory sickness going through our home. She has a little cough. It kept her from being able to go to the last Awana meeting for the year. What a sad little girl she was on that night.

Long Time No Write

  Well, I started this blog some time ago and haven't done a thing with it. I've changed the layout to be more pleasing to the eye and if I can blog from my phone, I can keep this up pretty good. I can jot down things through out the day, almost like a journal. I just don't have time to really sit and type at a computer. I'm always on the move. So here goes round 2, lets see how it goes. ; )