The Healthiest (and Cheapest!) Way to Dry Herbs

It's been a little quiet here on the blog this summer but I just wanted to jump on and share with you how I am preserving all the fresh herbs I have coming out of my garden right now.

My Sage is going crazy!
There are basically 2 ways to preserve fresh herbs. Historically, they have been dried. The advantage to this is that they shrink to a least 1/3 their fresh size and a fraction of their weight and will keep for a very long time.

Another option I've shown you is how to preserve fresh herbs by freezing them in ice-cubes. This is a great option if you really want that fresh from the garden taste in your food (and have room in your freezer!). I think it works best with parsley or basil, even cilantro would be good. Those herbs are frequently thrown in at the end of a meal for a little pop of flavor.

Sturdier herbs like sage, rosemary and oregano are usually added at the beginning of cooking and don't need to be fresh. Basil can be added like that as well so these ones aren't necessary to keep fresh and are perfect for dehydrating.

Dehydrating just means drying out and getting the moisture out of them so they won't mold during storage. Some people use dehydrators or ovens to dehydrate their herbs but you really don't need anything fancy and the way I'm going to show you is actually the healthiest because it keeps the most nutrients in tact. It is also the cheapest. Air drying.

Yep, we are going to do this the old fashioned way. There are just a few things you want to keep in mind.
  • Start with washed herbs. Once they are dried, you won't have the chance to wash them before you use them, so any dirt or other particles that are on there when they are picked will go straight into your food. 
  • Dry as much as you can by patting with a towel or running through a salad spinner. This will help lesson the drying time.
  • Don't place in direct sunlight. Just as we turn the oven to the lowest temperature possible when dehydrating to preserve the nutrients from being affected by the heat and cooking out, we don't want the sun to do that either. A family friend grew up in Switzerland in the 1940's and they would actually take their herbs (and green beans!) up to the attic to dehydrate in the dry, motionless, hot air. 
  • Find a place that is not drafty. You might think that having something blowing softly on your herbs would help them dry faster, and it is true, but it will also dry out the essential oils in the leaves making your herbs flavorless. 
  • Although you don't want air blowing across your herbs,  you do want there to be enough space for air to travel around and through so you don't have dense little pickets of herbs that don't dry out all the way and end up molding a ruining the whole batch. 

  • Here is my sage. It grew really heavily and the leaves are very thick too, so I made sure to separate the stems and only bunch 4-5 together to make sure it wasn't too dense. If you live in a more humid space, you may need to just do 1-2. Alternatively, you can also pick the leaves off the stems and air dry them on a drying rack used in baking. Just flip the leaves over a few times a day when you walk by to make sure none are sticking together. This is some basil my friend gave me. Can you believe how big the leaves are? They're longer than my hand! I love having dried basil on hand. It is essential in my favorite homemade Greek Salad Dressing. 
  • Next, all you need is time. A couple days. You will know when they are ready when they are completely dry and brittle. They should audibly crisp and snap when you bend them. If there is any bending without it breaking, it isn't dry enough yet.
  • Last just find an airtight container and pack it full leaving as little airspace as you can.
  • These dried herbs should last you well past next year's harvest (if you can keep them that long)
Sage Leaf Tea

I love using my dried sage with my Thanksgiving turkey and for healing herbal tea. Sage is most well-known for its benefits to the immune and digestive system as well as anti-inflamatory properties which help to regulated blood pressure, lower cholesterol and blood clots.

Try it, it's yummy.

XO,

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Basil, Canning & Preserving, Canning and Preserving,
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Top Ten Essential Oils for Travel

My husband and I are preparing to take our kids on our first international vacation and in the midst of my ever growing piles of clothes and swimsuits, I thought it might be helpful if I shared the top ten essential oil product I like to bring while traveling. Granted, most of these I bring whether we go stateside or international, but there are a few considerations to make when going to a foreign country.

While I would love to have my entire collection on hand, space is usually at a premium so I try to focus on what my top health concerns would and how many I could address with one oil.



One thing I love about essential oils is that they are so versatile. There are so many chemical constituents that make up the structure of each oil and each of those constituents make it useful for different purposes. For example, Lemon oil has the therapeutic properties of being anti-anemic (helps blood flow),  antimicrobial (immune support), anti-rheumatic (arthritis), anti-sclerotic, antiseptic and bactericidal (cleansing-surfaces, wounds, skin/hair), diuretic (digestive support), insecticidal (bug repellant), and tonic (energizing). It is such a useful oil, but it is also phototoxic; which means it makes skin especially susceptible to UV radiation . Since we will be spending most of our days outside, I don't want any sensitized skin reactions. Most citrus oils are photosensitive and are not recommended to be put on topically if skin will be exposed to sunlight in less than 12 hours. Taking it internally does not have the same effects though. 

Ok, let's have a look at what I will be bringing!

TOP TEN ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTS FOR TRAVEL   _______________________________

Peppermint- Next to lemon, I think peppermint is the most versatile oil. You can use it for everything it seems like! This is what I think it will be most useful for- headaches, congestion/ clear airways, anti-itch for bug bites, scratches, sunburns, over-heating (you wouldn't think it, but it actually has amazing cooling properties making it great for fevers too).

On Guard or Stronger-  Ours bodies are usually a little more susceptible to illness when we travel and I don't want anything getting in the way of our vacation fun. These are DoTERRA's protective blends and I will be rolling this on the soles of our feet every day to keep any sickness at bay. You can also buy or make a sanitizing spray to use one everything from spraying down airplane surfaces (especially if you have a baby touching and sucking on everything), doorknobs, on hands before meals etc. Stronger is the protective blend in the kids line and it comes diluted and reading to use in an easy roll on which can also just be rubbed on little hands if you don't have a spray. 

Lavender-  Lavender is multi-purpose as well for soothing (think sun burn), itching, pain management, calming (anxiety and stress), and restful sleep which is a must when sharing hotel rooms with little kids. 

Digestzen- I love this digestive blend! There are always things we eat that don't agree with our tummies so I love to have Digestzen on hand. It runs the gammut from helping heartburn, stomach discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, carsickness etc. 

Terrashield- Any time you head into the jungle you need a good bug spray. One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan to visit Mexico and go to a Cenote, you absolutely won't be allowed to use a bug spray with DEET in it. You shouldn't put that stuff on your skin anytime but that is a topic for another day. Mexico requires an all-natural, biodegradable bug spray to help keep the water pure since locals use it for drinking and to help keep the ecosystems from being taxed too much. Terrashield is a blend of oils shown to have repellant properties like ylang ylang, arbor vitae, cedarwood and especially eucalyptus. There are some studies showing that eucalyptus works even better than DEET which is awesome considering how destructive DEET is. Terrashield comes in an oil and a spray option.

PB Assist + probiotics- This one might seem like a weird one to include but it is vital especially if you are travelling internationally. I know I said that this will be our first international trip as a family but technically we took a carribean cruise with the 2 older girls when they were younger, but all we did was snorkel at Cozumel, Mex and spend a day at the Disney island of Castaway Cay so I don't really count it. All our food was prepared by american standards and we didn't spend any time at the Cozumel port. One of the best things about travelling internationally is trying all the different cuisine. Usually though, you have no control over how your food is prepared and all the ingredients used. Every country/ region/ culture actually have been shown to have different digestive flora and when our bodies come in contact with these foreign microbes we sometimes experience major stomach upset. Did you know that over 70% of our immunity comes from our gut? Since that is true, we can't afford to have anything disrupt our gut and immune system so taking a high quality probiotic is key. I love that doTERRA offers a kid probiotic too and it comes in a powdered form and my kids eat it just like a pixie stick. There is no sugar but a natural strawberry/melon taste so my kids love taking it. 

Correct X- Think all-natural neosporin. It is a gel with frankincense, helichrysum, cedarwood, melaleuca and lavender for anti-bacterial properties, inflammation, skin healing, and pain management. It's great for bruises, cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. Another tip I love comes from the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan Markle) from all her plane travel. Just swipe a little of this in each nostril after you sit down in your seat or before you get on your flight and since it has anti-microbial properties it will help neutralize any airborne pathogens from the recirculated air we breathe for hours helping to keep you from getting sick. And it also helps keep your nose from drying out as well. I just love this tip. 

After Sun Spray- Ok now we are down to my DIY products I love. If you are going to be spending a lot of time in the sun, you will need this After Sun Spray. My husband and daughters have extremely fair skin and burn so easily and this spray has peppermint, lavender and frankincense in it that really helps get the heat out with such a nice cooling sensation, calms the itching and hurt and helps speed healing. Usually when my husband gets burned, he gets really red then it peels and goes straight back to white skin. Well my husband and I got REALLY burned one day and we used this After Sun Spray for a few days and he was amazed at how nice the peppermint felt on his skin, and his skin never peeled and actually became a tan. Check out my recipe here. 

Hair Detangler- this one isn't a must, but it sure makes my life easier with my long hair as well as three daughters when we spend every day at a pool or the beach. One thing that I like is that not only does it work to get the snarls out, but it is made from essential oils that are actually good for your hair and will help nourish and protect hair at the same time which is so nice with all the salt and chlorine exposure. You can make one with rosemary,  lavender, melaleuca and a little coconut oil or your favorite conditioner or if you want a short cut like I've started to use, the Root to Tip serum has all those oils and more like argon oil that are good for your hair and scalp and is a product I already use at home after showering, so I just squirt a few pumps of that into a spray bottle and fill to the top with water making it so easy. 

One other thing you can use that spray for is as a poo-pourri. Some of the hotels really don't have too much privacy between the bathroom and living areas so it is nice to have an air freshener. Just spray the top of the toilet water and when you go to the bathroom everything will be encapsulated in the oil and keep the smell and airborne germs at bay. 
 
How to Get Your Oils   ___________________________________________________________

Well, there you have it. All my favorite oils for travelling with. I got a lot of these oils when I bought my 1st doTERRA oil kit because I knew I wanted to overhaul our lives and reduce our toxic load in as many areas as I could and wanted the best value for my investment so I got the Home Essentials Kit for $275 since it is a bundled package of doTERRA's top ten oils that comes out to less than wholesale prices, comes with a diffuser and came with a wholesale account that gets me 25% off anything else I want to buy. 

If you aren't ready to make that kind of a financial commitment but really want to get started with a few oils, I would recommend the mini kit that comes with the 3 most versatile oils: peppermint, lavender and lemon for $55. This also gives you a wholesale account so you can add on CorrectX and Terrashield (or anything else!) for 25% off retail if you want. And, Terrashield is an extra 10% off this month as well! That makes it $86.50 for all 5 products and the wholesale account. You can check it out and add or remove anything you like here.

I hope this was helpful and a good jumping off point for you to start planning how you can support your family's health on your next vacation. 

Tiara
-Provident Princess
Essential Oil Series, Essential Oils, Essential Oils for Travel,
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Sour Cherry Jam Recipe

Hooray! Can I just tell you how excited I am now that it is cherry season? It means it is the beginning of all my summer and fall canning. And I've got so much planned that I am excited to share with you. First up is Sour Cherry Jam. Have you ever heard of Sour Cherries or Tart Cherries before? They are not easily found in stores and most often at food stands or farmers' markets for a very limited time at the beginning of Cherry Season. Just like their name says, they are sour. They are beautifully bright red and are best used in another creation like jams, syrups, ice cream topping, pies, or dried and not really eaten as a table fruit. You can find dried tart cherries in the grocery stores for about $5.99/lb. At least that's how much they are in the health section of my local Kroger store. 

In Utah, the best sour cherry variety is Montmorency and it is the most common tart cherry grown in the US. It is heary and can withstand more front than sweet varieties because it blooms latest in the spring avoiding late frosts. 

Tart Cherries are perfect for pies or crumbles because they really let you control the sweetness factor  and they hold their shape wonderfully when cooked. These are what are standard for commerical pie filling cherries.  Once you find a source for Sour Cherries you'll be so excited finding ways to use them up. If you need time to decide though, pit them and freeze them because they won't last long fresh and actually really hold up to freezing well.

I happen to have found an old neighbor with a Sour Cherry tree in his yard. I was driving my girls over to a friend's house and I looked out the car window at this tree we were driving by and thought "that looks like a cherry tree" so of course I had to go have a look. Yes I am that type of person. I noticed that the cherries were quite a bit smaller than other cherries and very bright, shiny red so I figured I had just found one of these rare cherry trees. I knocked on the person's door and he was very happy to let me come back and pick as much as I wanted. I hauled my girls back there the next day and we picked 3 grocery bags full and hadn't even made a dent in the tree!

We returned all hot and sweaty from being out in the sun and sure enough when we bit in to one we found out they were tart cherries!

I thought about all the ways I wanted to use them up and we tried Sour Cherry Jam, Sour Cherry Syrup (awesome in my Tart Cherry Lime Mocktails!) and I dried a whole bunch for the kids. 

Making Jam is so easy. Every recipe is different depending on the type of pectin you use. I like the low sugar one and feel like it is plenty sweet. You can even find a no sugar fruit pectin as well. Look for a recipe that has 3 cups of sugar or less for 4 cups of fruit. 

DIRECTIONS  ___________________________________________________________________
First you want to wash, pit and chop the sour cherries and measure the EXACT amount on your pectin box instructions into a sauce pan. (Making jam really is a science so you have to follow the amounts exactly or your jam won't set)

2.  Add water and pectin package into fruit and bring mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat,  which means that it doesn't stop bubbling when you stir it. And stir constantly. (You can also add a 1/2 tsp butter to reduce foaming if you want)

3. As soon as it hits a rolling boil, pour in the sugar called for all at once and return to a rolling boil. Time for 1 minute at a full rolling boil on high heat stirring constantly then remove from heat and skim off any foam. 

4. Ladle quickly into clean glass jars. I like to use the 6 oz jars. You only need 1/8 inch of headspace. Wipe jar rims  and cover with lid and screw on the band to finger tight.

5. Place onto water bath canner rack and lower into the water to cover jars by 1-2 inches. If you need more water, have some boiling water waiting nearby. 

6. Cover the canner and bring water to a gentle boil. Process Sour Cherry Jam 10 minutes (add 5 minutes for elevations 1,0001-3000 ft and 10 minutes if your are at elevation 3,001-6,000 ft above sea level.)

7. Remove jars after alloted time and place upright. (Some people turn jars upside down but you shouldn't do this). Just set on a towel and let it cool completely for at least 24 hours. Check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. If the lid springs back, it means it is not sealed and you can either refridgerate and use immediately or you can reprocess it again with a new lid if you have any other batches of jam to do. 

That's it. It really goes so quickly. One of the best ways we love enjoying our Sour Cherry Jam is by swirling it through a little bit of plain yogurt. In fact, that was one of my tricks to slowly get my babies to start eating plain yogurt.

As an aside, I remember being an exchange student in Germany and trying to buy yogurt and being so confused why it was so sour. I didn't realize what real yogurt was supposed to taste like. Ours is like melted ice cream in the states! Slowly I got used to it and now I love it. If you want to start weaning your family off the high sugar yogurts,  start with 1 tsp of Jam/ Jelly (that is only 4 grams of sugar) and compared to the amount of sugar that is dumped into store-bought yogurt, it is infinitely better. Then slowly I would add less and less til they would eat just plain yogurt with berries mixed in. Try it, it works! 

I hope you find yourself lucky enough to snag some tart cherries this season. There are some U-pick farms as well as farmers' markets where they will be available for about 2 weeks in July.

Happy Canning!

Tiara
- The Provident Princess
Canning & Preserving, Canning and Preserving, Cherries,
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Make Cornmeal from Popcorn in a Blendtec or Vitamix!

Are you wondering if you read that right? Yes, yes you did.

I know we've all heard it said that "Necessity is the mother of invention", but Plato was really on to something. All my best breakthroughs have come from needing something I didn't have yet. Case in point. I wanted delicious cornbread to go with the ribs my husband was smoking but all my cornmeal was rancid. So I needed a way to grind my own cornmeal because there was no way or time for me to run to the store to grab some before dinnertime.

(side note- You might have seen that I am trying to work my way through my freezers and pantry. I had gotten a great deal on Bob's Red Mill Cornmeal over a year ago and I had been saving it so long it went rancid before I remembered about it. oops. Luckily I only had 2 packages left)

I do have a grain mill. But, did you know that most grain mills aren't strong enough to grind corn? It's true. In the instructions, most mills will say it absolutely can't grind corn or it will break. I got a Blendtec forever ago for green smoothies and grinding my own flour but one of the things I was most excited about was that it can grind corn! I was soooo excited. And it is so easy.

Directions ________________________________________________________________________



I like to use NON-GMO or ORGANIC popcorn to make sure my family is avoiding an exposure to genetic engineering or chemicals, pesticides or herbicides. I needed 1 1/4 Cups for my recipe so I started with about a cup and a half of popcorn and it was just about perfect.


I just turned it on to the highest setting (10) and let it go until it auto shut-off after 50 seconds.



It was the perfect consistency. It took me about 2 minutes from start to finish, using just plain old popcorn from my pantry. I don't think I'm ever going back to packaged cornmeal. Obviously I can't manage to get through it without some of it going rancid. Popcorn on the other hand keeps for years.


And it made a pretty incredible cornbread. I use a soaked cornbread recipe based off of Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions.

INGREDIENTS ___________________________________________________________________
1½ cups cornmeal
1½ cups flour
2 cups buttermilk (or 1/2 plain yogurt and 1 1/2 cups milk or 2 cups milk + 2 TBLS vinegar)
2 Tbsp. lard or coconut oil
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
1 Tbsp. baking powder
3 eggs
⅓ cup non-GMO sugar (you can use honey but all the goodness is killed off by te=he
¼ cup melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS  _________________________________________________________________
Combine the cornmeal, flour, and buttermilk in a bowl, mixing to moisten everything. Cover and leave in a warm place for 12-24 hours.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Place a 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven with 2 Tbsp. lard or coconut oil.
In a small bowl, mix salt, baking soda, and baking powder.
In another small bowl, whisk eggs and mix in honey and melted butter.
Pour wet ingredients into the soaked flour and fold in. Dump the dry ingredients over and continue mixing until thoroughly combined.
Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven, swirl the melted oil around to evenly distribute and cover the edges, then scrape the batter into the hot skillet.
Place skillet in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Serve with honey butter (1:1 ratio) and enjoy!

This cornmeal turns out delicious every time. I've even just soaked it for only 6 hours and it still was amazing. It's one of my husband's favorite dishes. Let me know if you try it or what else you use ground cornmeal for. I love making polenta as  well.


Tiara
-The Provident Princess
Cornbread, Grinding Popcorn, Healthy Food,
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Fresh Lavender Wreath DIY

Isn't this warm weather amazing? I'm loving seeing my garden and yard come alive again. Just look at my lavender plants! Aren't they so beautiful? I just felt like I had to do something with them and thought a homemade lavender wreath for my front door would be perfect!



Aren't they beautiful? My older sister gave them to me one year for my birthday and I just love remembering that and thinking about her as I walk past and smell their beautiful fragrance. It's not quite the same as having her live nearby (she and my younger sister live across the country from me), but always a lovely reminder of our friendship.

I always love finding ways to use my lavender. I have shared my easy lavender bath salts, and have plans to try making soap but many times I just cut them and hang dry in my house for some good smelling decor. 

I was at Dollar Tree the other day and found a wreath form and thought it would be perfect to use for a homemade lavender wreath. And it is so easy. I just put it together on the driveway while I was outside watching my kids play, although by the end all four of my kiddos had gathered around and wanted to help. My older girls loved helping my clip, group and place our floral bundles but I think I probably lost half my lavender to my 2 and 3 year olds who were just thrilled they could use scissors to help cut anything. 

I heard something a long time ago that has stuck with me in my attitude toward letting my young children "help" outdoors or with anything else. There was a women visiting her friend who looked out the window and saw the friend's children out in the garden. They were watering everything in sight with gusto and pulling at plants and digging and picking at things that weren't even ripe yet. She was worried and said to her friend, "Oh, do you want to go stop them from ruining your garden?" and the friend looked out the window calmly and said "No, I'm not growing a garden, I am growing children."  I love that. Really, my goal is to help my kids learn to love gardening and learning the patience that is required before getting the reward of fresh strawberries, tomatoes or flowers. I want to encourage them in any way I can to love the outdoors and appreciate nature, and if I have to lose a few lavender stems or tomato plants (or all my red onions this year -that's another story), so be it.

This really was such and easy project and it comes together so quickly. I had everything on hand, since I had bought the wreath form a few weeks ago. But you could even make one yourself from grapevines or any other vines growing in your yard. That would be a really fun project for the kids.


Supplies   _________________________________________________________________________
  • a wreath form 
  • fresh lavender (dried could work but a lot would break in the process and not form very well to the shape)
  • Any other branches, greenery or flowers you would like to use that dries well. I was going to do just lavender buy my oldest suggested mixing in something else so we used some Karl Forester Reed Grass and I ended up loving the mix.
  • floral wire (I just used my wire I use for my tomato vines) 
  • rubber bands to hold your groupings together (I used clear, plastic hair ties)
That's it!



As you cut your lavender, you will want to bunch them in about 1-2 inch bundles


Start laying them out on the wreath form. I don't like to attach them with the wire until I am sure I have everything where I want it so I place everything first then wire at the very end so I have freedom to adjust things as I go along. I'm glad I did, because this is about when we decided to add the reed grass. 



 I love the different interest and texture it brings. Keep adding until you make it all the way around.


Check and make sure everything is the way you want it. Now it's time to attach to the wreath form with the wire. Make sure the wire is hidden underneath the bundle on top.


Perfect. Now hang on your door and enjoy!

Something that would be fun is to make a mix of lavender essential oil and water and mist your wreath with it every few days so you (and people who visit) can enjoy the scent of lavender as they walk past. You know I love doTERRA oils, they are the best in my opinion. 

Let me know in the comments some ways you love using lavender.

I love how this turned out and think it would be such a nice and inexpensive present to give as well. And it should dry beautifully too!

Tiara
-The Provident Princess
DIY, Essential Oil DIY, Homemade,
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Father's Day DIY- All Natural After Shave with Essential Oils

Hi! I just had someone ask me to put together a bottle of aftershave for him. You all know I love using my essential oils to make homemade products. Even better when it is something thoughtful I can give as a gift. With Father's Day around the corner, this is perfect!

This one is so easy to whip up too.



INGREDIENTS _____________________________

6 oz spray bottle
1/2 cup of Witch hazel (try to find a non-alcohol one like this to prevent drying)
2 Tablespoons Aloe Vera
10 drops Cedarwood Oil
3 drops Rosemary Oil
3 drops Siberian Fir Oil

DIRECTIONS
1. Add Aloe Vera followed by all oils then top with witch hazel.
2. Make sure to shake well before using.
3. Spray onto fingers or palm and pat onto face after shaving.

Enjoy!




For more Essential Oil DIYs check out my Non-toxic Wood Polish or Lavender Bath Salts 

If you want to find out more about Essential Oil usage and safety click on the Essential Oils drop down above, if you are ready to grab your own kit at the best price, Get Started.
After Shave, All Natural Aftershave, DIY,
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How to Make Powdered Sugar Using Granulated Sugar

You won't believe it. It was my son's birthday recently (he turned 2!) and my girls had made some cupcakes and we were starting to make the frosting but when we went to grab the powdered sugar, it was no where to be found! I could have sworn I had a few bags as back up downstairs in our storage room but nope, I was wrong. What I did have though was a few bags of granulated sugar.

I know I have heard about making homemade powdered sugar before but I have never felt the need until now. I grabbed my awesome Blendtec Blender, oh I love that thing. It had ground an assortment of grains and beans but never sugar yet. 

I like using cane sugar because I know that it is Non-GMO. Even if it isn't labeled that way. GMO sugar comes from sugar beets never sugar cane.

2 Cups Granulated Sugar
 I needed 3 cups of powdered sugar and wanted to be on the safe side so I filled it up to the 2 cups mark and blended it on HIGH for 90 seconds.

Homemade Powered Sugar From Granulated Sugar

Magic. 

My 2 cups of granulated sugar became 4 cups of soft and fluffy powdered sugar before my eyes. We were able to go back to our lovely afternoon of baking together without having to run to the store or disrupt our Sunday afternoon family time.

And the cupcakes were so good! I didn't even get a picture before they were all gobbled up. But Nawna's Chocolate Buttercream Frosting definitely was a hit like always.

I love having tricks like this up my sleeves. Not only did it save me a trip and extra annoyance but buying granulated sugar is less expensive than powdered sugar so it saved me money too. Win, win.

Let me know if you try it out. You may need to blend it a little longer to get it as fine as you want.

Happy Baking

PP
DIY, Homemade, Homemade Powdered Sugar,
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New Orleans French Quarter for Families

I love New Orleans. We all know how much it caters to adults seeking great food, culture and entertainment but it is actually a great place to take children as well. There are few places in the U.S. where you can feel like you are visiting another culture, but New Orleans is one of them. From the European architecture, French speaking community and unique food, New Orleans really has it all.

FRENCH QUARTER    ____________________________________________________________

There are so many things to see, but of course the French Quarter gets top billing. Cobblestone streets, wrought iron balconies, tiny shops full of local crafts and treasures you never knew you needed. Every corner holds something worth seeing. You can explore by foot, child centered tours or even by carriage ride which makes it extra magical and easy on tired feet.


  • Jackson Square- Start here. With the European style war statue of Battle of New Orleans hero, Andrew Jackson facing the Mississippi River, soaring St. Louis Cathedral flanked by twin Louisiana State Museum buildings: the Presbytere and Cabildo (where the Mississippi Purchase was signed!) and where all the street artists from singers to painters sell their offerings.
  • Cafe Du Monde- Get here early for breakfast. World famous since its opening in 1862, this cafe is THE place to get beignets in New Orleans. Tuck in to a plate these square, french-style donuts sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar and wash it all down with their scrumptious hot chocolate. beignets and a hot chocolate in this world famous cafe since it opened in 1862. When you are done, head around back to see how they are made.

  • French Market- do a little window shopping while you let your beignets settle and support local artists in these beautiful shops.

  • Arcadian Bookstore- Piled high with books from every genre, my girls were so excited to pick out some books from their French Section. 

  • Antoine's Restaurant- If you are looking to experience history, this is the oldest restaurant in America. Same location, same owner since 1840! There are many historical pictures on the walls along with handwritten menus in the early 1900's. Tip- more suited for older children who can sit quietly through a slow-paced multi course meal. 
There are so many things to see and buy. TIP- Make sure you bring an extra suitcase! You might find yourself like m; with a new hat, work of art, heirloom children's clothes, books, pecan logs, alligator jerky, jewelry and all sorts of accessories from the talented local artists of New Orleans. I always love finding unique gifts and useful souvenirs and this is such a great place to find them.

PP
Family, Family Activities, Travel,
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DIY All-Purpose Cleaner with Essential Oils


One of the things I love most about essential oils is that they are safe. For us, for our children and for our pets. This is one of the reasons I love making my own DIY cleaning products. We don't need to wear surgical masks and rubber gloves when we are cleaning with pure and clean ingredients. I feel confident enough to hand my 3 year old a spray bottle of my DIY all-purpose cleaner so she can 'clean' to her heart's content and I don't need to worry about what will happen if she somehow gets the lid off or swallows some. And heck, I might even get a clean floor out of it.


I love using Wild Orange in my cleaner. It has the same great cleansing and de-greasing properties as lemon but such a cheery scent that makes it a joy to use while cleaning the hard surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom or floors. Seriously, it is like sunshine in a bottle. Citrus oils are known to be uplifting to the mood which is nice when you need a little burst of energy.

INGREDIENTS  __________________________________________________________________

16 oz glass bottle
30 drops Wild Orange or Lemon essential oil
1/4 vinegar
1 tsp dish soap (optional)
1 3/4 c water

The recipe is super easy. Just add the oil, vinegar and dish soap if using to a glass or metal spray bottle and fill the rest of the way up with water. Shake well before use.

OTHER COMBINATIONS  ________________________________________________________

You can make your homemade cleaner in any scent you like. Some of my other favorites are:


I love that making my own DIY All-purpose cleaner is not only less expensive, but it is safer for me, my family and the environment.

*If you would like to have the versatility of  making lots of different scents, I would recommend getting a kit with our top 10 oils. It is discounted below our normal wholesale prices and comes with a free wholesale membership so you can add any other oils to your collection at the wholesale price throughout the year. It comes in 2 sizes: A small kit with 5 ml sample size bottles or the larger kit 15 ml bottle size which is a much better deal with triple the oil amount but not even twice the cost and comes with a diffuser to be able to enjoy your oils aromatically. For more information about getting these amazing oils in your home, click here.
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Top 10 Ways to Use Lemon Essential Oil


Lemon Essential Oil has got to be my most used and loved essential oil. There are countless uses for lemon oil that it was hard to narrow down to just 10. Lemon Essential Oil is found in the peel of lemons and is known for its disinfectant, antiseptic, anti-fungal, antiviral and detoxifying properties.


HEALTH  ________________________________________________________________________


  • Detox- We all know how awesome lemon water is in helping our bodies detox. I love big glass of lemon water first thing in the morning before having anything else in my stomach. It just gives my body a little boost to move out all the toxins it processed overnight. I have really sensitive teeth though and I was afraid of what that daily lemon juice was doing to my teeth enamel. Now I don't worry at all. Instead of squeezing some fresh lemon in my water, I just drop 1 or 2 drops of lemon essential oil in my water and I get all the same benefits without the worry. Lemon also helps support a healthy metabolism, digestive system, liver and kidneys. 

*Of course I only recommend using Doterra Essential Oils because I know they are safe to ingest. Their quality and purity are unmatched. Many other essential oils have added fillers, chemicals or other contaminants which are not safe to take internally.*

  • Colds- help strengthen your immune system by rubbing lemon oil onto the soles of the feet and drink warm lemon water with a touch of honey to help soothe sore throats and coughs. Diffusing citrus with any conifer oil is also great for sore throats. I especially like Siberian Fir with lemon when I am diffusing.  

  • Anxiety and Stress- A study published in Brain Research found that lemon essential oil may possess anxiety-reducing and pain-relieving properties. Diffusing lemon oil aromatically can help lower the stress hormone Corticosterone. (Also, very promising findings showing a significant improvement in the cognitive function of older adults, especially among Alzheimer's patients in a small 2009 study.)

  • Air Purifier- Have sickness and germs in the house? Or did you just burn dinner. Diffuse 5 drops of lemon oil to cleanse and purify the air and no one will be the wiser. I really like this diffuser because it comes with intermittent timing so you can have it going all day but it will never get over-powering. 

HOME  _________________________________________________________________________


Thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, lemon and its refreshing, clean scent is found in so many of our household cleaning products. It is just as easy to add to our homemade and natural cleaning routines without all the extra chemicals. 
  • Add a drop or 2 for fresh smelling laundry

  • Add a drop to your dish detergent for sparkling dishes

  • Make your own All-Purpose Cleaner

  • Stainless Steel- baking soda, vinegar and lemon oil get the sparkle back. 

  • Gum + Sticky Residue- this one is a life-saver. Have you ever had to get gum out of hair? Or stickers off windows or walls? What about tree sap? Lemon oil is such a heavy hitter. Just cover the area with lemon oil and rub off/ out. 

  • Degrease- Mix with dish soap for a powerful de-greaser

  • Ok, one more. Lemon is an amazing addition to non-toxic homemade wood polish in helping to restore, shine and moisture by penetrating worn finishes. 

There are so many other ways to use lemon. I might need to write a sequel, but first, I want to cover a few things regarding its safe use.

HOW TO USE LEMON OIL SAFELY  _______________________________________________


Dilution- Like any oil, lemon oil should be diluted. Read How to Dilute Oils Safely for reference. 

Skin Sensitivity- Citrus oils, including Lemon can be photo-toxic. That means you should rub lemon directly on skin that will be exposed to sunlight. That is one of the reasons I love to apply my oils to the bottom of our feet or along the spine. 

As with any essential oil, there is a risk of contact sensitivity so test out on a small patch of skin first to determine if there is any sensitivity.  

If you would like to start reaping these benefits by using Lemon Essential Oil in your home you can find it here. If you would like to try a few other oils at the same time you can find lemon oil in this Beginner's Trio mini set or as part of our Top 10 oils in the Home Essentials Kit that also comes with a diffuser. To find out more about essential oils read the Essential Oil Series or click to Get Started to get the best price by getting your own wholesale account and access to buy these oils at a 25% discount.
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Non-toxic Homemade Wood Polish


Non-toxic Homemade Wood Cleaner and Polish
Making our own natural and non-toxic cleaning products are so easy. Most of the time we already have all of the ingredients on hand. I love making homemade wood polish because I can get the fresh lemon smell that I love without all the chemicals from an aerosol can floating into the air and poisoning the air my family breathes.

I never really thought much about all of this until I was pregnant for the first time and my doctor's office gave me some literature for new moms. I'm one of those people who read through everything. When we bought our first house I annoyed the title company by reading through everything at closing. Anyway, in one of those papers I read a warning against the chemicals found in most of our cleaning products and that they could cause birth defects if inhaled/ingested. I remember thinking "If those chemicals can cause birth defects or miscarriage, what have they been doing to the inside of my body all this time?"

That set me on a course of learning that I never expected and led to how I feel today about the toxic load we are exposing ourselves and our children to everyday. Our chronic diseases, infertility, and a host of other problems can be laid at the feet of the chemicals that are so prevalent in every aspect of our lives. 

So I learned about GMOs, how to grow and can my own food and found easy adjustments for cleaner food and purer products where I could. This homemade wood polish is such and easy switch.

INGREDIENTS  __________________________________________________________________


  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil- honestly it doesn't need to be cold-pressed, the light will work just fine
  • 2 1/2 Tbls Distilled White Vinegar
  • 10 drops Lemon Essential Oil- you can also use Orange or if you want a woody scent Arborvitae.
  • 16 oz. Glass Spray Bottle- essential oils must be stored in glass, they will eat through plastic. These ones are a pretty color and come with cute chalk labels. 

INSTRUCTIONS  ________________________________________________________________


1. Add olive oil and vinegar to glass spray bottle.
2. Add 10 drops of essential oil.
3. Shake well before each use.
4. Apply to microfiber cloth and wipe wood surfaces clean. Repeat every 2–3 months or as often as needed. 

Enjoy bringing back the shine to your favorite tables, desks, floors, and more with this simple non-toxic recipe for homemade wood polish.

Check out more in our Essential Oil Series.
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