Homemade Garlic Powder

December 27, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

Homemade garlic powder has the most incredible scent and flavor. You'll be wondering what you've been eating all these years. Well, that's actually one of the reasons why I make my own spices.

Most packaged spices, including garlic powder that we buy from stores are full of anti-caking powders and other fillers so we really don't know what we are eating. There is also no way of knowing how old the spices are. We know that the antioxidants and other nutrients start breaking down over time so we could end up with something that is virtually tasteless and void of nutrition.

I wrote a previous post about how easy it is to dehydrate garlic. Seriously, it is. But I've had a lot of people ask what I actually do with this garlic and how I use it once it is dehydrated. It's so easy to throw a few slices in when I am sauteing veggies, making soups or dips. But my favorite thing is just to make homemade garlic powder.

Homemade Garlic Powder

Dehydrate Garlic Slices

 I use my dehydrate garlic slices but if you don't have any available then you could totally just use granulated garlic. Costco has a big jar of good California granulate garlic that I love.

Granulated Garlic

Garlic Powder

I just always save my spice jars and just reuse them, but there are a lot of cute ones on Amazon you could use if you want a cohesive look or wanted to give away some as gifts. These ones match the Spice Island jars you can get at the store.

I love easy ways to replace toxic and synthetic chemicals in our lives that don't take a lot of effort. Let me know in the comments if would be interested in seeing more ways to switch out everyday products/ ingredients with ones that are more natural and health promoting.

Homemade Bath Salt Ornaments w/ Essential Oil

December 19, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

Ah, I have had these sitting around for weeks and just haven't gotten around to putting them together. When I made my lavender bath salts over the summer, I knew I wanted to make it for friend Christmas gifts this year too. There is just something so special about a handmade gift and these come together so easy.

I found these super cute plastic ornaments at the Dollar Tree and thought they would be the perfect container to use for Christmas.

I changed up the recipe and used different oils. I actually used one called Serentiy. Which is a blend that includes lavender, cedarwood, ylang ylang and vanilla. Basically just heaven in a jar. Every scent that is the ultimate in relaxation and make you feel totally pampered. In fact, I think that is what I am going to put on the tags. Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Or Soak up the Season. Which do you prefer?


I had some dried rose petals I saved from over the summer along with my dried lavender. Don't they looked beautiful mixed within all the salt. And we know rose is great for the skin since it is used in almost every skincare line in the world.


I just used a big, glass jar to mix everything together in, but if you were going to make them in bulk then I think using a Bosch or Kitchen Aid mixer would work amazing.

Ingredients_______________________________________________________________________

• 1 3/4 cup Epsom Salt
• 1 Tbls Carrier Oil- I like coconut oil, but you can use olive oil 
• 10 drops of Serenity Essential Oil- (I only use Doterra Oil, they have such quality ingredients and rigorous testing to make sure their oils live up to their high standards. You can find out more here). 
• 1 Tbls of Fresh Lavender Flowers and Rose Petals - if you don't have these it is fine, they just make the salts look pretty and show what its made of. Kind of like how you garnish a plate with things that are in a dish so you know what's in it. 

Directions________________________________________________________________________

• Pour the Epsom Salt into a mixing bowl (glass or stainless steel- wood will absorb the oils)
• Pour the Serenity Essential Oil drop by drop into the carrier oil and mix together with a spoon. 
• Pour the combined oil over the salt and stir until it is equally distributed and the salt looks like wet sand. 
• Stir in the lavender flowers and crushed rose petals through out.
• Transfer into ornament whatever storage container you would like. (I don't mind using plastic here since they will probably be used pretty quickly and you don't have the chance of it shattering by being dropped in the bathroom.)

I know you are just going to die when you smell these.

DIY Shower Melts w/ Essential Oils

December 14, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

I did this DIY for an essential oils make-n-take I did recently and loved the end result so much I had to share these Shower Melts with you. Have you heard of bath bombs? Of course you have. They are all the rage right now, but if you find yourself without the time for a nice relaxing bath, shower melts are your new best friend.

You can make them in any scent but I made these specifically for someone dealing with sinus congestion or allergies. These O Christmas Tree melts smell like you are walking among a forest and includes doTERRA Breathe® Respiratory Blend to help give feelings of open airways and promote clear breathing.

O Christmas Tree Shower Melts

O Christmas Tree Shower Melts- ProvidentPrincess.com

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups baking soda
8 drops doTERRA Breathe®
6 drops Siberian Fir
3 drops Arborvitae
½ cup water

Instructions:

• Combine baking soda and water in a bowl and mix well.
• Add 15-20 drops of doTERRA essential oils depending on your preferred potency and mix again.
• You can pack mixture tightly into silicone molds to make cute shapes but I just used a Tablespoon and dropped the mounds onto a parchment lined tray to sit overnight until dry.  
• To use, place one or two tablets in the back of your shower and enjoy as the essential oils diffuse into the steam as you shower. (For best results, find a spot away from the direct flow of water so the melts can dissolve and release the aroma slowly).

Tip: For continued benefits after your shower, apply doTERRA Breathe® Vapor Stick to neck and chest area.

Essential Oil Holiday Gift Guide by Price

December 13, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

Hello beautiful friends!

We've put together some gift ideas for the people you love most in your life.
Some of these folks may be lovers of essential oils already, or maybe they are
brand new and you are easing them into this world of natural health. Either
way, we have incredible options for everyone!

Mini Gift Guide

Give the gift of health to everyone you know and love this year! Small gifts
that are perfect to use for any occasion during this season of giving and
gratitude. Think: teachers, mailman, stocking stuffers, Hanukkah gifts,
babysitter, co-workers, etc.

Lavender Touch Roller: relax nerves, support achy heads and tummies, soothe
irritated skin; this roller does it all and is sensitive enough for any person, big
or small. (13.75)

Travel Kit: Purchase this collection of 4 (Lavender, Peppermint, Wild Orange,
& Aromatouch) and break it up, so you have a mini oil for 4 dierent people!
(33.00)

Lip Balms: 3 flavors (herbal, tropical, & original), and full of gorgeous hydrat-
ing emollients and oils to keep your lips in great shape for the holiday mistle-
toe. My personal favorite is the tropical one, especially when it’s this cold out.
(6.50 each or all three for 15.00)

OnGuard Hand Sanitizer: ‘Tis the season for big family gatherings and
spreading germs. Throw this in everyone’s stocking to keep them healthy and
enjoying their holidays. Bonus; with oils like Cinnamon, wild orange, and clove,
it smells just like Christmas. (6.50)

Citrus Bliss Hand Lotion: All that seasonal hand washing leads to dry, cracked
skin, so they will love keeping this perfectly sized lotion in their purse or desk
to soothe their skin & relax their frayed nerves. The scent is uplifting and
bright too. (6.95)

On Guard Cleaner Concentrate: This all natural cleaner will help keep germs at
bay, while also boosting their own immunity; who can argue with that?
(14.50)

On Guard Throat Drops: Immunity right in your pocket. These throat drops
are perfect to throw in your bag and keep your body supported on the go. I
love taking these on airplanes, keeping one or two in my winter coat pocket,
and having on hand when your throat gets a tickle in church, etc. (14.50)

Mud Mask: Self-care is the big buzz word these days. Give your loved ones
something safe, easy, and that works to push toxins from their skin in 10
minutes or less. This helps to seal in moisture, dry up acne spots, and it works as
a wonderful detox when switching to natural deodorant. (Apply mask to
armpit area 1x a week!) (14.50)

Balance Deodorant: Speaking of natural deodorant, if you love someone, have
THE talk with them this holiday season. No, not THAT one. The one where
you tell them that conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contribute to
adrenal fatigue, imbalanced hormones, and ups their risk of congesting their
lymph system which can lead to the c-word. We promise it’s important. And
an easy switch with this deodorant option that scores a 1 on the EWG (basi-
cally the best score). (8.75)

Body Butter: This deeply nourishing body cream is perfect for the winter air
we are experiencing. Nourishing, absorbs quickly, and a perky citrus scent to
chase away the winter blues.(14.50)

Motivate Touch Roller: We all know that getting up in the morning is a chore,
and especially so in the winter when it’s basically dark when you wake up,
AND when you leave work. Motivate is great to swipe on in the morning in
place of perfume/cologne, and also to carry with you throughout the day for
an added pick me up (2pm slump anyone?). (15.00)

OnGuard Toothpaste & OnGuard Mouthwash: Power up your oral health and
boost your immune function, all in one shot! These seem like simple basics,
and they are, which is what makes them so powerful. Help add in wellness
support to their normal routine! (Toothpaste: 8.50 and mouthwash 14.50)

$25 Gift Guide

get her oil journey going and to support her health naturally. Pop in a copy of
101 ways to use them and your recipient will be so grateful for a fresh start.
(20.00)
Serenity Softgels: Every human we know needs more quality rest. These
all-natural herb and essential oil softgels will help you to get the most out of
whatever precious window of time you have to lay your head on the pillow.
Non-habit forming, and totally safe. And, taking just one helps big time with
headaches and anxiety. Perfect for covering all your bases. And The Essen-
tial Midwife gives these 2 thumbs up for pregnant and nursing moms too!
(19.50)

Healing Hands Rose Lotion: Rose is the most precious essential oil available,
and it has the highest vibrational energetic signature of any oil on earth. It
immediately soothes skin, relaxes and slows down the nervous system
(de-stress!), and it gently boosts our immune function.. Plus 100% of the
proceeds goes towards The Healing Hands foundation's humanitarian work
around the world. (20.00)

PB Assist Jr.: These packets taste like a pixie stick, but are actually chock full
of double encapsulated pre- and pro-biotics to keep your digestive tract
running smoothly. Created for and loved by kiddos, but I’ve known adults to
sneak them too! Made with natural watermelon and strawberry flavors, it's a
"treat" mom can get behind too. (Perfect to split up into little bundles to pop
into multiple stockings!) (24.50)

Holiday Joy or Holiday Peace: What do you buy for the person who already
has everything? How about a blend that bottles up all the nostalgia for the
holidays and let’s you sink into the season whenever you difuse it? Put it in
the diuser, scent homemade potpourri with it, or put a drop on your coat
lapel. (24.50)

Hydrating Body Mist w/ Beautiful Blend: This body oil is the stuff dreams are
made of. Featuring our gorgeous Beautiful blend, this body oil is light and
hydrating and goes on so smoothly. It isn’t heavy and oily--you can spray it
on, rub it in quickly, and get dressed. Perfect for winter skin. Everyone you gift
this to will beg to know where to get more when their bottle runs out. (22.00)

$50 Gift Guide

smooths and fills lines, and it brightens the tone. You’ll notice a reduction in
age spots and an evening out of skin. (34.50)

Anti-Aging Eye Cream: At any age, this eye cream is your ticket to youthful,
soft skin and a reduction of dark circles around the eyes. (45.00)

Copaiba Softgels: This oil reduces stress and inflammation, and frankly, we all
need more of that. The new softgel options makes it simple to add to your
morning line up. Perfect for after an intense workout, to soothe ragged
nerves, or to usher you into dreamland. (35)

Deep Blue Rub: So versatile and the perfect gift for anyone who has inflam-
mation in their muscles and joints. Wonderful for soothing neck, shoulder, and
head tension too. The perfect gift to grab for the guy who has everything.
(29.25)

Frankincense Touch Roller: Grounding and balancing emotionally, immune
stimulating, cellular regenerating, and mild enough for little ones and adults
alike. Perfection. (Now you know why baby Jesus was gifted this!) (45.50)

Petal Diuser: Endless options at their home for passive benefits both emo-
tionally and physically from using their oils aromatically. Now you can finally
ditch those scented candles and get ready to hear compliments on how
amazing your home smells, all the while you secretly know you’re making them
healthier too! (47.00)

Jasmine Touch Roller: Incredible on it’s own as perfume, but even better when
layered with Grapefruit. This oil also helps you to feel grounded, and sensual,
and supports your emotional and reproductive help. Maybe get two so you
can keep one. (42.00)

Magnolia Roller: One of the best tools for helping with anxiousness and
stress. Perfect to roll on each morning to support your emotions and mood.
Floral oils are always very supportive to our skin and reproductive health too!
(28.00)

Splurge Gift Guide

The Aromatouch Kit: Only $100 and full of oils to support immune health,
emotional balance, and aching muscles. Plus fractionated coconut oil to
protect and nourish. The perfect combination.

Rose Touch Roller: One of the most precious oils on earth. This oil has the
highest vibrational frequency and instantly helps to uplift your mood and your
energy. Wonderful immune support, incredibly healing to the skin, and a per-
fect gift. (75.00)

Kids Collection: This incredible new collection of oils for the kids in
your life are a perfect way to safely and eectively use oils with your family. 6
special blends that address the heart, mind, and body. The perfect gift for a
new family! (95.00)

Athlete’s Kit: This features 5mL bottles of Breathe, OnGuard, Lavender,
Melaleuca, and Peppermint, as well as the Deep Blue lotion, all in a convenient
zip pouch that you can throw in your gym. It’s also the perfect amount to take
on a quick trip! These staples address everything from respiratory distress, to
immune function, to aching muscles, to feelings of anxiousness. (65.00)

Yarrow/Pom: This new oil duo, available in December is one of the best new
things doTERRA has launched this year. The blend of yarrow essential oil and
pomegranate seed extract pack an incredible punch. Incredible revitalizing,
nourishing, and healing to the skin, you’ll be blown away by the results.
Equally as incredible internally, you’ll notice a reduction in inflammation, and
supported digestive and immune function too! (95.00)

The Lumo Diuser: Stylish and ecient,the perfect option for open spaces
and high trac areas in your home. Give the gift of health by sharing this
diuser and oils to help support immune function, reduce stress, and brighten
dreary days. They’ll love it because having it running will make them think of
you. (70.00)

I hope these gave you some great ideas to show love to the people in your lives.

Merriest Wishes!

Essential Oil Series: How to Dilute Essential Oils

December 11, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

We love our essential oils in our house and use them frequently and consistently to support our family's health. Because they are so potent and effective, when it comes to essential oils, less is definitely more. I remember wishing I had a dilution recipe when I first got my oils almost 10 years ago. I remember being worried about not knowing how to use them 'right'.  I knew they are suppose to be diluted but I didn't have a great method for figuring that out.

Luckily for you, I have this handy oil dilution reference chart. Now you can easily see how many drops of oil you should add to various bottle sizes before filling the rest of the way with a carrier oil. Remember, my favorite carrier oil is Fractionated Coconut Oil because it stays liquid at room temperature and it doesn't leave a greasy feel. Any good, pure vegetable oil will do however: jojoba, almond, olive, extra virgin coconut, avocado, etc.

As you can see, babies and kids really don't need a lot of oils for them to work effectively. Even for adults' everyday use we shouldn't be using that much. It is only when we need to address a targeted area or concern do we ever up the amount we put on; and then it is only temporarily until the issue is resolved.

Essential oils are great and we can use them in so many ways to support our health. I hope this chart makes you feel a little more comfortable and confident to start using your oils. If you want to get oil blends pre-diluted for babies and children, Doterra just released an awesome Kid Collection with safe and gentle oils made just for the precious little bodies in our care. You can check it out here. We've been absolutely loving them at our house. My little guy will walk over to me and life up foot and ask for me to put some oils on.

If you want some roller ball bottles to blend your oils on you can add some onto your DoTerra order if you already have an account or get some off amazon here.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions. And check out the rest of the Essential Oil Series.

Essential Oil Series: How to Use Essential Oils

December 05, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

*Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to doTERRA essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about doTERRA Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician. If you are currently on medication, please do not stop.

How to Dehydrate Garlic Cloves

December 04, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

So I am one of those people who buys garlic in bulk. Tell me I'm not the only one who gets annoyed with how much a single head of garlic costs? You can get like 4 x's that much for the same price if you buy it in bags; which I normally do to feel like I am saving money.

Well actually, I do save money. But then I am left with the problem of having a bunch of garlic that starts to send out shoots before I can get through them all. There are a couple things you can do with your extra garlic cloves that need to start being used up. You can freeze it raw for later use and pull out a few at a time as you need them; but I rarely have the freezer space (yes, even for something as small as a bag of garlic. Talk to my husband, it is his longest running complaint how full our freezer always is.) You could roast it whole in the oven and have on hand to throw into pasta dishes, sauteed veggies or any other recipe. You could also plant it, or you can dehydrate it. 


Dehydrating veggies is one of the easiest means of food preservation and pretty cheap too. I got a dehydrator years ago off a classifieds website for $15 that has served me well. You actually don't even need a dehydrator. You could use an oven on the lowest temperature or even just with the light on or if it is during the summer and you don't live in a humid area, you can dehydrate your food outside. I mean that's how food was dried for centuries and it works just as well today. Honestly, it's so dry where I live that my cloves will dry up right in the whole head if I just left them out. Especially during the winter when my house is really warm and dry.

I usually like to slice my garlic into about 4-5 slices. I feel like that is a more manageable size to use in cooking. It also makes them more even and allows for more surface face to dehydrate faster. Just make sure that if your dehydrator tray has slats like mine, that you don't cut them so small they will fall through once they are dried.

Lay them out evenly and not overlapping but they can be close since they will shrink as they dry. I like to put mine in around the afternoon and let it dry all through the night. When you check in the morning you need to make sure they are crispy and break when you bend them. There can't be any pliability. That means that they aren't all the way dry and they will mold in their container. If they are bendy and don't break, leave them on for a few more hours til they snap like a twig.

Once they are all the way dry, place the garlic slices in an airtight (preferably glass) airtight container and store in a cool. dark place. I don't grind my garlic into powder right now but you could. It is best to break, slice or grind right before using because it helps retain all its flavor and potency.

When I am ready to grind my grinder, I use a spice/coffee grinder because it breaks it down to a soft powder.

Let me know in the comments if you give this a try or if you have done it before. And check back for my posts about making homemade garlic powder and garlic salt.

Essential Oil Series: Essential Oils 101

November 29, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

How to get Food Grade Buckets for FREE

November 27, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

I'm excited to share with you a trick I have been using for years to store my bulk food safely and inexpensively. Who else is gearing up for all the Christmas baking coming just around the corner in December? It seems like I am always cooking or baking something extra in the weeks leading up to Christmas. As someone who cooks a lot anyway, I like to have all of my dry ingredients on hand.

For those of us who cook a lot and like to save money, buying in bulk is a necessity. But when you buy food in bulk, it usually comes bagged in plastic or thick paper packages. Those are nightmare to scoop out of without making a mess. They tip over easily and pests can quickly chew through the thin layers to the food beneath. Not to mention issues with humidity and food going rancid.

Luckily there is an easy way to prevent that from happening. Food. Grade. Buckets.




The good news is that food grade buckets are really easy to get. You can buy them for about 4 dollars a piece. Buying 1 or 2 like that isn't a big deal. But if you want to stock up it can quickly make a pretty big dent in your budget. Some people try to get around this by buying the buckets at like Home Depot because they are less expensive, but you shouldn't do that.

You might be asking yourself if just any plastic bucket will work as long as it is clean. The answer is no. The plastic used for food grade buckets must be free of dyes, additives and recycled plastic products shown to be harmful to humans. The reason for this is that some foods will leach additives and chemicals from their containers which can poison your food. Most food grade plastic is in the HDPE category or high density polyethylene with the plastic code 2. You can find it buy turning the product over and looking for the number in the triangle.

I don't love the thought of spending $100 on buckets just to store my food. I'd rather spend it on yummy food! So one thing I found out many years ago is that you can go to your local grocery store bakery and ask they if they have any left-over buckets. They are usually happy to wash them out and give them to you for FREE. I just call ahead and ask and they will put some aside for me until they have as much as I need.

 What I love most though is that they come in a range of sizes from 5 gallons down to 1 gallon. My favorite size is actually the 3.5 gallon. It seems the perfect size for most packages of grain I get from Costco. And, they fit the same kind of lid as a 5 gallon bucket so I can use my favorite Gamma Seal Lids. Guys, if you haven't tried these, you are missing out. There is a ring that goes around the bucket then an inner lid screws on top making it so easy to get to your food without having to pry off the whole lid. It keeps it totally airtight and they come in a range of colors so you can color code your food easily. Love them.

These are the sizes of buckets I use

•  wheat in 6 gallon buckets (which also can fit the gamma seal lids)
• sugar, flour and long term storage grains and other food in 5 gallon buckets
• rices, oats, quinoa, lentils, long term storage beans in 3.5 gallon buckets
• beans and specialty rice like basmati or jasmine in 1.5 gallons buckets 

Essential Oil Series: Are Essential Oils Safe?

November 13, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

It's a common experience for someone to be so excited about their new oils that they want to use them for everything and on everyone but hold on there tiger, safety first. Just like the we love sunlight for its ability to help us synthesize Vitamin D, we are also very aware of the harm it can do from over exposure. Because oils are so effective and potent (which is why we love and use them), we really need to know how to use and not overuse them. 1-2 drops is enough, we don't need to dump on the whole bottle.

There are a few other points to consider to make your entry into essential oil life go more smoothly. I happen to know first-hand how being uneducated about oils can disrupt your journey into a more natural and healthy lifestyle. Let's just say I ended up with a burning, red face because I didn't know what a 'hot' oil was and that I should've have used it in a steam room. OUCH!

Lucky for you, you can be forewarned. Here are some common questions people ask.

Can I Put the Oils Anywhere?  ______________________________________________________

Why Should I Dilute My Oils? What is a Carrier Oil? ___________________________________

What if I Get Some in My Eye? ______________________________________________________

My husband could tell you about this one. We know that oil and water do not mix so please do not try to wash off with water. It will only push the oil in deeper away from the water. You will want to create a larger area for the essential oil to disperse into; so rub ONLY a carrier oil over your eyes and face to dilute the essential oil back out of your precious eyes. Your vision might be a little blurred for a bit because of the carrier oil but it will be back to normal soon enough!

Which Oils Should I Avoid Using on Baby? __________________________________________

The National Alliance of Hollistic Aromatherapy lists these oils as irritating or caustic to the skin:


There is so much overlap with different oils offering similar benefits, so it is a good idea to avoid applying these oils to young babies and using milder, gentler options. These oils can still be used confidently on ourselves, as long as we dilute them with a carrier oil of our choice. Test them on a small area your skin for your initial use. When you join our team, you get access to our private Facebook Community that is a wealth of knowledge to find the oils for the concerns you have.

Are Essential Oils Safe During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding? ____________________________

It is important to find a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable and will support you in the use of complementary and alternative medicine. As with any product, your midwife or physician should be aware of and approve your use of specific essential oils. The skin is much more sensitive and permeable during pregnancy, so be mindful of always diluting your oils well before application. Some oils that are good to avoid during pregnancy, even diluted, are clary sage, myrrh, and any blends containing these oils. These oils can promote uterine contractions and are best saved for use during actual labor, when delivery is intended. The safe use of oils during this beautiful time can be a natural and effective way to balance mood and reduce anxiety.

Should I Avoid the Sun After Applying Essential Oils? __________________________________

Can I Use Essential Oils in the Bath? _________________________________________________

Can Essential Oils Counteract Prescription Medicine? __________________________________

All Set? Feeling confident to begin using essential oils? I hope so. Remember that one of the best benefits of joining our team is being connected to a huge community with so much knowledge and the resources to be successful in your natural wellness journey. Click HERE if you are ready to take the plunge into essential oils. And please leave me a comment if you have any specific questions.

Read the other installments of the Essential Oil Series.

Get Started

October 30, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

Hi! I am so glad you're ready to dive into essential oils and learn all the ways they can help you. I know it can feel really overwhelming to know where to start; but that's why I am here!

Alright, ready? Click HERE and make sure you have my number 184557 in the enroller field so you can be added to our team!

When you get started you'll have access to our private Facebook community as well as ongoing education, wellness consults, free products + gifts. But the best part of all? Friendship! We have loved connecting with like-minded friends + developing bonds to last a lifetime.





I recommend buying a discounted Starter kit and that includes Loyalty Rewards membership for free.

The Family Essentials Kit- $150

This beginner kit includes 10 core essential oils in 5 ml bottles with On Guard + Peppermint Beadlets. We covered these amazing 10 core oils in our Essential Oil Series.

The Home Essentials Kit- $275-

Our most popular kit! The Home Essentials has the 10 core essential oils you'll need to get going but in a 15ml size- so you get more bang for your buck. Also included is an essential oil diffuser which is a crucial and exciting tool to have for your essential oil usage!

The Natural Solutions Kit- $550

My FAVORTIE kit. This kit has all you need to get started with your core essential oils, some of my favorite mood oils, a diffuser, vitamins (doTERRA’s number one selling product) and much more! PLUS When you purchase this kit, if you order 100PV the next month you will receive 100PV($100) in free points! So loads and loads of free goodies with this one. It truly is the best value!

So now you’re ready to get going? Click HERE!

You’ll first fill our your information and THEN be picking your kit and oils! My Wellness advocate ID is #184557 – be sure that’s entered in so you can receive the benefits of our community!
Once you check out – email me providentprincess@yahoo.com for a free gift and access to our exclusive FB group!


GETTING STARTED FAQ _________________________________________________________

Do I have to order monthly?

Nope, you do not have to order monthly – or ever again should you not want to! We hope that through our FB community we can educate and inspire you in a way that you love using your essential oils. And, ordering them through the LRP system really is the best way to save lots of money and earn free shipping and extra products!

Do I have to sell a certain amount?

Absolutely not! Sharing essential oils is only an option. You do not have to share, meet quotas, sell a certain amount etc to enjoy your wholesale membership. If you do have a desire to build a business with us please select the Distributor option so we can best support and mentor you! Also be aware that you can always change your mind and change to a distributor later.

What is the Return Policy?

DoTERRA wants you to love your oils so they have a great return policy. You can read the return policy in detail here.

What If I don’t know how to use them?

That’s totally fine, that’s why we are here! As you join our community, you will receive welcome info, access to our exclusive Facebook member only group and a wellness consultation where we chat with you one on one about your needs. Please also search this website as there are a lot of tips on safety and oil usage.

We can’t wait to welcome you!!

Sour Cherry Lime Summer Mocktail

July 11, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

Here at Provident Princess we love enjoying seasonal foods and the easiest time to do that is definitely during summer with the abundance of crop varieties and farmers' markets popping up all over. Right now we are celebrating all things cherry. Summer always seems to include all sorts of fun drinks. And for all of you non-drinkers out there, I have the perfect Sour Cherry Lime Mocktail to share with you!  It is supper easy and like all recipes you will find here, this Cherry Lime Mocktail has the simplest and most whole ingredients. I'm not into a lot of fuss. When we buy food in season, the flavors don't need a lot of help to shine.

I was coming back from dropping one of my daughters off at a friends and I noticed a house with a beautiful cherry tree out back which didn't look touched or taken care of at all. So what did I do? I pulled over and knocked on their door of course. The nicest man answered and assured me that I was welcome to take as many cherries as I wanted.

Honestly, I know many people feel intimidated by knocking on a stranger's door asking if they are going to use their fruit; but most people are relieved to give it away. They are usually not the ones who planted the trees and don't really know what to do or can't use all the food it produces. Many people have acted like I was the one who was doing them a favor by taking it off their hands so they wouldn't have the mess to pick up later when it all fell unused to the ground. So if you ever have the chance, Do. It.

I showed back up later that day and we picked and picked and picked. It was so hot. We stuck with it until we had about 3 grocery bags half full and you couldn't even tell where on the tree we were picking because there were still so many cherries on there.

We got back home and were in for a huge surprise. The cherries weren't pie cherries like I had thought. They were Sour Cherries! Instead of the Cherry Pie filling I'd envisioned making for a decadent cheesecake, I had to think of how else to use this sour cherry harvest.

Have you seen that Cherry Juice Costco is sampling at Costco? They are touting it like it's the next pomegranate juice because of its high volume of anti-oxidants . It's made from this type of cherry! (And it is delicious btw, 2 thumbs up from the toddlers.)

Since the cherries are so tart, you can't really eat them plain, so we had to get to work washing and  pitting. My girls had a blast working the cherry pitter and really learned how to get in the groove.

So what can you do with sour cherries? They dehydrate wonderfully. Dried sour cherries at the store sell for 5.99/lb! That was by far our favorite method to eat these delicious cherries. We also made Sour Cherry Jam which I couldn't eat all the time but it is fun to have in the rotation. We also made Sour Cherry Syrup for pancakes and waffles.

I'm not a soda drinker. I've just never liked it, but my children and husband do. So every now and then I will buy some sparkling water to add to some juice to make it a little special. Sparkling water is so much better than soda. No sweeteners, added sodium or caffeine buzzes for the kids.

I had a box of La Croix Sparkling Lime Water left-over from one of these purchases and thought it would be the perfect vehicle to try our new Sour Cherry Syrup we canned. Let me tell you. This drink is like summer in a cup.



Ingredients________________________________________________________________________
3 (12 oz) cans of La Croix Sparkling Lime Water
3/4 cup Sour Cherry Syrup (you can find cherry syrup in the store too by the drink mixes if you don't               have your own homemade)
Slices of fresh limes and cucumbers for garnish (1-2 per glass)

Directions_________________________________________________________________________
Fill 4 Tumblers filled with cubed ice. In a pitcher combine sparkling lime water and cherry syrup. Add the cucumbers to the pitcher to start to infuse its flavor into the drink. You can leave it like this in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Stir to combine syrup and pour into tumblers of ice. Garnish with a lime slice and enjoy immediately.


Perfect for a summer evening spent outdoors.  I also like to garnish the serving platter with limes and sweet cherries so guests know what flavors to expect. I love how this recipe takes so little effort but really gives such an elevated look to any get-together.

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe. And if you are looking for just a single drink for yourself to enjoy, 2 Tablespoons of the cherry syrup to 1/2 cup of sparkling lime water. You're Welcome.

Cheers,

PP

All Natural Homemade Lavender Bath Salts w/ Essential Oil

July 03, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

I am always on the look out for nice, thoughtful, inexpensive gifts and I've got the perfect one for you today. Recently, I was invited to a summer garden party and needed to bring a hostess gift. Hostess gifts aren't supposed to be expensive, just something to show your appreciation for the invitation and effort that went into the event. Just something thoughtful you know your hostess would like.

When choosing a hostess gift, keep in mind the recipient and what they would like. This particular hostess is someone who loves flowers, especially roses and the smell of lavender. I also happen to know that she loves baths.

I could have run out and bought some fancy bath salts but have you ever read the back of a jar of bath salts you can buy at the store? They are full of hormone disrupting chemicals and synthetic ingredients that probably do more harm then good.

Luckily, we have the perfect diy natural lavender bath salts that any hostess would love.

We at Provident Princess love all things natural and non-toxic. This recipe for lavender bath salts is all goodness. First we have epsom salt which helps relieve sore muscles and joints with its magnesium and sulfate content. Second, it smell divine from the pure food grade essential oil which is made from the actual plant and not from some lab. And lastly, we add a little carrier oil which helps equally distribute the essential oil throughout the tub while also 'carrying' the oil into your skin so that it absorbs and really benefits from all the health benefits of the essential oil. And bonus, it acts as a moisturizer too after the bath so no extra lotion is needed.
The best part? Instead of spending $20 or more, this costs less than a dollar to make and has way better ingredient than anything you could find in a store.



Ingredients_______________________________________________________________________

• 1 3/4 cup Epsom Salt
• 1 Tbls Carrier Oil- I like coconut oil, but you can use olive oil 
• 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil- (I only use Doterra Oil, they have such quality ingredients and rigorous testing to make sure their oils live up to their high standards. You can find out more here). 
• 1 Tbls of Fresh Lavender Flowers - if you don't have these it is fine, they just make the salts look pretty and show what its made of. Kind of like how you garnish a plate with things that are in a dish so you know what's in it. 

Directions________________________________________________________________________
It's really simple as can be.

• Pour the Epsom Salt into a mixing bowl (glass or stainless steel- wood will absorb the oils)
• Pour the Lavender Essential Oil drop by drop into the carrier oil and mix together with a spoon. 
• Pour the combined oil over the salt and stir until it is equally distributed and the salt looks like wet sand. 
• Stir in the lavender flowers through out.
• Transfer into whatever glass storage container you would like. Do not use plastic. 

Enjoy your self or use as a gift.

Here's a few pics from the tea party, wasn't it gorgeous?

It was the perfect way to spend a summer's evening chatting with friends and sipping mint julep. I loved how the Lavender Bath Salts fit right into the garden theme. Especially, since I had picked the lavender from my own garden.

Strawberry Chia Seed Freezer Jam

June 20, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

I am loving summer already. Yes, it's fun having the kids home from school and having tons of fun and crazy adventures; but what I am really excited about is my garden! I transplanted my strawberries last fall because they weren't doing great where they were and now they are producing abundantly. So in honor of my first strawberry harvest this season, I am so excited to share my favorite strawberry freezer jam recipe with you all.


 3. Turn on heat to medium and gently mash the berries until they break up a little and reach your desired texture. I like some chunks but mostly spreadable.

4. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until berries are soft.

Easy Homemade Vanilla Extract

May 03, 2018 The Provident Princess 0 Comments

I love making thinkg from scratch. There is just something so satisfying to me about providing something to my family from start to finish. I love knowing that even if I buy the highest quality ingredients, I am still saving more money doing it myself rather than buying a premade lower quality item. That is definitely the case with making your own homemade vanilla extract.

"There's no such thing as too much vanilla." That is a saying my girls and I have whenever we need to measure out vanilla for a recipe and inevitably add more. We love to just open the bottle of vanilla extract and take a big whiff. It's amazing.

What isn't amazing is the price of vanilla extract lately. It has skyrocketed over the last couple of years. Last year, I went to Costco to buy my usual bottle of vanilla, only to discover that what used to cost me around $14 was $20. It's up to $25 now. That is a huge increase and unfortunately it's not going to change any time soon. I decided to do something about that and made my own vanilla extract and thought I'd share the recipe with you today.

Unlike most commodity crops, vanilla has no price regulations, which means that it is susceptible to dramatic price fluctuations due to supply and demand. For almost 10 years there was an abundance of vanilla on the market. That drove the prices down to the point where farmers couldn't make a living wage. So what did they do? They burned all their vanilla bean vines and decided to grow a different crop that would make them money.

Who can blame them?

But what that did is make an incredible shortage of vanilla beans for the next few years and prices skyrocketed. And this is where we find ourselves now.

Luckily, we don't have to be slaves to whatever price vanilla is currently selling at. We can make our own vanilla extract with just 2 ingredients. And what's best about it is that it will last forever.

INGREDIENTS   __________________________________________________________________ 
This is seriously the easiest 'recipe' in the world. All you need is Vodka and Vanilla Beans


Make sure to get grade B vanilla beans. Grade A are meant to be cooked with but grade B are meant for infusing and will give you a better flavor.  These look great or you can use Tahitian vanilla beans for a different flavor.  This is essentially a one time purchase. So while it might be a bit of money up front (about the same as buying a bottle of extract at Costco), you can continue to use these same vanilla beans indefinitely.

The good news is that even though the vanilla beans are pricey, you can buy the cheapest kind of vodka you can find. All you need is 80 proof, but the vodka itself doesn't matter. I like to buy vodka in a glass bottle so I can just use that for storing my vanilla extract too. If you buy vodka in plastic you should use a mason jar or other glass jar to store it in. Make sure it is tall enough to fit the beans standing up.

DIRECTIONS  ___________________________________________________________________
The usual recipe for vanilla extract that you would buy at the store is about 2-3 beans per cup of alcohol and is called single fold vanilla. The super fancy, extremely flavorful vanilla chefs use to create their dishes with a vanilla flavor that can't be matched by just doubling the amount of single fold vanilla is called double fold vanilla. Double fold vanilla calls for 5 vanilla beans per cup of alcohol.

Chose whichever you prefer. Just know that this vanilla extract can last forever. You can just top off the bottle with new vodka as you use it.

• Drop the vanilla beans in the vodka whole. Don't slice them open. Some people like to slice the beans open so you can see the little seeds but it doesn't make the flavor any stronger to do it that way. If you leave your beans whole, you can pull them out one at a time for recipes that call for vanilla bean seeds. Just snip off the end and squeeze out the seeds to use in your recipe. Then just throw the shells back into the extract. It's like you are getting vanilla bean paste for free. 
• Place your vodka in a cool, dark place and give it a shake every now and then.