Homemade Playdough

My youngest and I just tried out this recipe.  Even if you aren't a parent, you're sure to earn brownie points with this project.  You could win Aunty, Uncle, favorite family friend or babysitter of the year with this one.  Homemade playdough might be more fun to make than to play with.  You can add the color or scents (if using extracts or essential oils) into this recipe while cooking over a low heat if you like or if your kids really like being a part of the process, you can cook the dough first and then allow them to add the coloring after.  I think that allows for even more creativity and that's what it's all about.

Homemade Playdough

2 c. flour
2 c. warm water
1 c. salt
1 Tbsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients in a pan over a low heat.  It should start to look something like mashed potato and quickly as the heat helps it dry out reach the dry and not sticky consistency your kids are used to.  If it is sticky just keep mixing over low heat.  The kids are going to love it and best of all it's safe for your little ones to play with.

Benefits of Ginger Tea

In recent years I've become enamored with ginger, ginger ale, ginger tea, ginger cookies, ginger with a side of sushi and even the ginger essential oil.  Ginger tea is easy to make.  I started enjoying it more after a long flight from LA to Auckland nearly did me in and I learned some of the amazing benefits of this rhizome.  After that over twelve hour flight, I researched a little about what caused my body to not only blow up like a balloon and catch the first virus I encountered but take forever to get back to normal.  Now I always take some version of ginger before and during long trips.

Before I get to the benefits of ginger let me explain why if you fly you might want to pay attention to these amazing benefits. Anyone who spends much time enjoying the miracle of flight has learned, there are some pretty weird side effects.  First, you just sit breathing recirculated air which not only dries out your skin but the instant someone coughs you can't help but think, "Great, here comes the bird flu".  Then there is the blood pooling in your legs and feet as you sit in that same cramped position for hours on end.  What are usually ankles at the bottom of my legs seem to disappear and morph into feet as if they never existed. By the end of even a cross country flight my shoes may not fit.  The cabin is pressurized to something you might experience on a mountain top which not only causes some pretty uncomfortable side effects with your ears but even more shameful it expands the gas in your intestines.  This can cause you to bloat or even, I know it's embarrassing to think about, FART! Wow, I can't believe I just admitted that. The low oxygen levels can cause you to get a little sleepy and even cause dizziness.  For those of us who are prone to motion sickness it is yet one more thing to turn us green.  Yes, I have been that person sitting next to you on the plane that the flight attendant points the vomit bag out to.  I truly lose all dignity on a long or bumpy flight.


I know you can't exactly make ginger tea on plane but you can prepare for one with a nice cup of this tea. Ginger has some amazing benefits.  Let me share a few that I enjoy.  Not only is ginger a natural anti-inflammatory but it has antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-parasitic properties which offer gastrointestinal relief as well as detoxifying and immune boosting benefits.  Ginger is known for its ability to fight nausea.  I use it to aid in avoiding motion sickness.  Ginger is even said to help ease pain associated with menstruation.

The next time you pass ginger in the grocery store and your teenager lifts it up to say, "What the heck is this?" Tell him to throw it in the basket.  Ginger is great as a tea or added to a stir fry. Cook up some chicken with some garlic and ginger and you may even impress yourself.  If that feels a little out of your comfort zone at least try the tea.  I don't think you can get much easier than this.

Ginger Tea
Peel and slice about a one inch piece of ginger
Add to 8 ounces of boiling water (I use an infuser)
Allow ginger to steep in water for about five to ten minutes
Remove infuser or strain ginger from water
Add honey if you need a little sweetness
Enjoy!

Before you begin using ginger as a supplement, make sure you check with your physician for potential drug interactions. 
Web MD has an awesome list but of course you always want to talk to your doctor.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-961-ginger.aspx?activeingredientid=961&activeingredientname=ginger

Rekindling The Spirit

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”  -Albert Schweitzer

Aromatouch Technique

We’ve been using the healing power of the Aromatouch technique in our home since we were introduced to it in 2010. Our daughter has even asked us to do an Aromatouch on her stuffed animals. This technique was developed by dōTERRA’s Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of their Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. David Hill, to improve overall health. There are  five steps in this approach of applying essential oils along energy meridians and visceral contact points of the back and feet. Aromatouch uses a combination of dōTERRA’s Balance blend and Lavendar for stress management, Melaleuca and Onguard for immune support, Aromatouch and Deep Blue for inflammatory response, Wild Orange and Peppermint for homeostasis and finally a technique at the end to stimulate lymphatic movement. Each Aromatouch Technique Kit includes these eight essential oils and blends along with a bottle of fractionated coconut oil and a DVD to demonstrate the Aromatouch process. If you do not currently have a dōTERRA wholesale membership and are interested in Aromatouch and would like more information on how to purchase this kit or when the next training is in your area please email Jenny Setzer at Setzer429@yahoo.com. 
www.holistichomeremedy.com

DIY Shower Cleaner

Enjoy this recipe to make refreshing the shower between cleaning less toxic.
Want a great way to limit the mold and build up in your shower between cleaning? Why not leverage the antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties of Melaleuca or the antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties of Lemon? We use both of these essential oils at our house.  

Fill a bottle with this cleaning spray to shake and use on surfaces after each shower and notice how much fresher it smells every time you step into it. Here is another great tip. Make sure you label the bottle with the recipe to make refilling easier.

• 1.5 cups water

• 1 cup white vinegar

• 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

• 1 teaspoon foaming hand wash or castile soap

• 15 drops lemon essential oil 

• 15 drops melaleuca essential oil

www.holistichomeremedy.com

Guacamole and Pico De Gallo

"Let food be they medicine and medicine be thy food." -Hippocrates

I'm making fresh pico de gallo and guacamole for my family today.  They love it!

Making your own guacamole and pico de gallo are easy and you eliminate all kinds of preservatives when you do it. I'm going to list a recipe here but don't limit yourself. Add what you love.  I've had guacamole with shredded lettuce in it and it was awesome.

Guacamole
Combine the following:
3 pealed, pitted & mashed avocados
1 lime juiced (I'll add in a drop or two of lime essential oil here too.)
1 tsp sea salt (Again I make sure this is pure salt without any anti-caking agents.)
1 cup diced green onions
1 tsp minced garlic
1 diced Anaheim pepper
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro (If you use cilantro essential oil limit it to one drop only. That can be strong stuff.)
black or white pepper to taste

Pico de gallo
Combine the following:
1 diced medium tomato
1 diced onion (Notice I didn't specify red, yellow or white. Use what you like.)
1/2 seeded and diced jalapeño (Add more or less for heat. If you leave those seeds in you should expect some heat.)
2 Tbsp cilantro
1/2 tsp minced garlic (Some folks like garlic powder here but we love garlic.)
1/8 tsp each Salt and pepper
I like a little more acid in my pico de gallo so I add a little lime juice or even lime essential oil here as well.
ENJOY!

www.holistichomeremedy.com

Mattress, Carpet & Upholstery Deodorizer

Here is a simple way to deodorize mattresses, carpet or upholstery in your home. Mix 10 drops of essential oils with one cup of baking soda. We use Lavender or a calming blend if we are cleaning a mattress and the Purify Cleansing Blend with a little Wild Orange if we are cleaning carpets. Sift on to the area you want to clean and allow it to sit for one hour prior to vacuuming. You will be surprised at how well this works and you will rest easier enjoying the calming benefits of these essential oils. We keep a few jars of this in our laundry room for easy use when we are cleaning. Replace the lid of a canning jar with mesh prior to replacing the ring for added convenience.

www.holistichomeremedy.com

Benefits of Lime

Lime has some great benefits. It is a powerful antioxidant that supports healthy immune function and it has a positive affect on my mood. Lime is such a great flavor. It always reminds me of vacation. My new favorite way to use lime essential oil is in a yogurt sauce I make when I serve fish tacos. I blend a few drops of lime oil with lime juice, plain greek yogurt and some fresh herbs; usually cilantro and dill. Be careful if substituting cilantro essential oil. Cilantro essential oil is so concentrated it can be overpowering. If someone insists on having the healthy benefits of cilantro essential oil with their taco, I include that on the side. 

www.holistichomeremedy.com

Fresh Basil Pesto

Thanks to some landscaping changes last summer we moved our herb garden. That means I took advantage of as many fresh herbs from the garden as I could while I had the chance. If you’ve never made your own fresh basil pesto, you have to try it. It’s easy and by adding just a drop of basil essential oil to it you can find another way to experience the benefits of essential oils. Basil essential oil has a spicy and herbal aroma that can help with memory function as well as reduce stress and tension. Basil provides restorative benefits to both the mind and body due to its high linalool content. That gives me a perfect excuse to add a drop to every batch of pesto I make and I made a lot during the summer.
Combine the following in a food processor, chopping the basil and pine nuts first, then add in cheese and garlic before adding in the olive oil and if you are including it a drop of basil essential oil. Finish it off by adding salt and pepper to taste.
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 drop Basil essential oil
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 medium garlic cloves
Salt and Pepper to taste
Enjoy. I like to serve mine on pasta or spread over a little toast.
www.holistichomeremedy.com

Natural Stain Remover

Want another natural stain remover for your laundry?  Try this one out.  Combine a half cup of vinegar with about 20 drops of lemon essential oil for a safe stain removing alternative.  Just soak the stain with your solution before throwing it into the wash.  Lemon essential oil is pretty powerful too.  Did you know you can remove permanent marker from a dry erase board with a little lemon oil?  Who knew?

www.holistichomeremedy.com

Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park

To quote Hippocrates, "Nature itself is the best physician".   This photo was taken with my iPhone at Oxbow Bend in the Grand Teton National Park.  The view is just too amazing for words.

Cucumber Salsa

With the internal cleansing benefits of lemon, lime and cilantro oils you really can’t go wrong enjoying cucumber salsa. We made this for a recent gathering and it was gone before we could get it to the table. Who knew eating healthy could taste this good?

2 cups chopped cucumber

1/2 cup chopped tomato

1 chopped anaheim pepper

1/4 cup onion (Red or Green)

1/8 cup minced fresh parsley

1 garlic clove minced

1/4 cup sour cream or plain greek yogurt

6 drops lemon essential oil

3 drops lime essential oil

1 drop cilantro essential oil

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp salt (we use pure sea salt that has not been treated with any anti-caking agents)

WWW.HOLISTICHOMEREMEDY.COM

Tea Time

I love a good cup of tea. Earl Grey is my favorite. Now that I always keep bergamot essential oil on hand, I can turn any cup of ordinary black tea into Earl Grey. Bergamot has long been used for it's calming and soothing aroma. When my stress levels get high I love reaching for a cup of this wonderful smelling tea to unwind.

Finest Moments

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”  Scott Peck

Power of Being Still