SAGE AND PEPPERMINT COOLING SPRAY

COOLING SPRAY.................................

Menopause can be a difficult time for many women, marking the end of part of a cycle.  It is an often uncomfortable transitional period lasting many years.  Many of the women I love are currently experiencing menopause right now, and I thought I could help support their journey with a homemade cooling spray.

The idea behind this spray is to combine infusions of cooling herbs and essential oils.  The oils also help to provide a bit of hormonal support that a menopausal woman can greatly benefit from.  The combination aims to bring relief during the hot flashes that seem to be the chief complaints of both of my mothers and one of my best friends.

This spray showcases sage and peppermint, two magnificently cooling herbs.  In fact, this cooling spray will work fantasticly for most everyone, but not for those of us who are nursing (or pregnant), since sage is used to help in the weaning process.

It is easy to make, versatile in what oils you can add, and can be tucked away in your purse or at your desk, or both.  I recommend making a few bottles of this stuff and for an added benefit, leaving the one at home in the fridge.

For those of you not in menopause, but suffering heat waves in the last surges of summer, this spray will also be a friend to you as well.

Ingredients:

• 1 T Dried Peppermint
• 2 T Dried Sage
• 1/2 C Boiling Water
• 2 T Witch Hazel Extract
• 1 1/2 t Glycerin
• 1/2 t Pure Aloe Vera Gel
• 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
• 3 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil
• 3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

This recipe is for a 4 oz. mister pump spray bottle.  Dark colored glass will be best for this recipe to extend shelf life.

Note:  I get my glass spray bottles here.

Method:

Add boiling water to your sage and peppermint.  Steep until completely cool and strain herbs out with cheesecloth or mesh strainer. For best results, combine herbal infusion and all other ingredients in a dark colored glass bottle and shake vigorously.  (In a pinch, you can use any spray bottle you have, but some essential oil experts do not recommend using EO’s with plastic. Use your own discretion).

Shake before each use.

For additonal information check out these helpful links on herbal support during menopause:

• Essential Oils for Menopause
• The Menopausal Journey
• Methow Valley Herbs Herbal Profile–Sage
• http://www.sustaincreateandflow.com/cooling-spray-for-menopause/

MAKE YOUR OWN SIMPLE MOISTURIZING LOTION

I have been wanting to make my own lotion for a LONG time! But I haven’t been able to find QUITE the right“recipe” for me. There are as many formulations for lotion out there as there are fish in the sea it seems! Heavy, light. Greasy, non-greasy. Scented, unscented.  etc etc etc. To be honest I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted…but knew I would know it when I found it.  Sure enough…I did!

I found this semi-homemade version onPatchworkTimes.com and thought it sounded like just the ticket for me.Simple, inexpensive ingredients and no melting or cooking required. Funny thing is I recently bought some beeswax pellets online in preparation for making lotion…but have yet to use any of it. I might have to find another project that requires beeswax…because I LOVE this lotion! It’s rich and creamy and yet not too heavy…and it smells heavenly! I just love the smell of baby lotion. :-)

The original recipe called for: 16 oz. baby lotion; 8 oz. Vaseline, and 8 oz. Vitamin E Cream

But after consulting with my staff of advisors (my sisters), we decided to try replacing the Vaseline with Coconut Oil. The result was LOTION PERFECTION! It’s thick, but not heavy, so it’s very moisturizing but doesn’t leave your hands (feet, etc) feeling greasy. Oh, and did I mention how goodit smells!?!?  I was considering adding some essential oils to make my own “scented lotion”, but thought better of it when I smelled this.

My sisters and I immediately started slathering this stuff on and my oldest sister said it reminded her of her favorite Burt’s Bees lotion, but at a FRACTION of the cost.

So here is the revised
Homemade Moisturizing Lotion:

16 ounces baby lotion
8 ounces coconut oil (solid form, not melted)
8 ounces vitamin E cream

Mix together with handheld mixer until it resembles icing.

Store in air tight containers…keep it for your own supply…or slap on a quick little label for gift-giving!

I gave one to each of my sisters’s that were visiting. :-)

Cost breakdown:

Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil $7.00
Dollar Store Baby Lotion $1.50
Dollar Store Vitamin E Cream $1.50

Use roughly half the jar of coconut oil, the whole bottle of baby lotion and 1/2 the jar of vitamin E Cream.

Approximate cost: $5.75 for roughly 32 ounces. Or $1.44 for each 8 ounce jar I filled.

Ready? Set? MOISTURIZE! ;-)

{{{Update:  Here’s a fun idea!  Put on one of those pump tops! Find out how to MAKEone on this post:  Make Your Own Mason Jar Dispenser}}}

FROM :  ONE GOOD THING BY JILLIE

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/make-your-own-simple-moisturizing.html

THANKS--This is a great lotion!

CREAMY PEACH SALAD

This Sounds So Cool and Refreshing............................

Creamy Peach Salad!

 

 

 

This "Creamy Peach Salad" is so cool and refreshing and it's pretty enough for a special occasion dinner.  It's also really easy and can be made in advance, which is always great!   You can use canned or fresh peaches in this also.  If you have fresh peaches, by all means, use them. This is also very easy to make sugar free!  Here is what you will need:

 

2 (3 oz.) pkgs. peach gelatin

1 cup boiling water

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (15 oz.) can peach slices, drained and diced  (can use an equal amount of fresh peaches)

1 (8 oz.) can of crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup lemon-lime flavored soda (like Sprite or 7-Up)

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 (8 oz.) carton of frozen whipped topping, thawed

whipped cream for garnish

 

Dissolve gelatin in water.   In a bowl, whip cream cheese until it's fluffy and then mix in the gelatin mixture.  Beat until smooth.  Stir in the peaches, pineapple, lemon-lime soda, vanilla and nuts.   Fold in the whipped topping.   Pour into a 9"x13" dish and chill for 3-4 hours or overnight.   To serve, cut in squares and garnish each square with a dollop of whipped cream.