All Natural DIY Baby Bottom Balm (Cloth Daper Safe)

 

I first made this recipe about a year ago and immediately fell in love with it! Until I found a recipe for homemade Neosporin (which is amazing) I turned to this balm for just about everything. It's simple ingredients are perfect to soothe a baby's tender tushy, all without damaging cloth diapers.

(for those mama's in love with creams like Desitin, I recently made a batch of homemade baby rash cream.)

 

This great recipe also works terrific for scrapes, burns, eczema, dry skin and bruises. This particular recipe is all over the web. When I deleted my blog 'Raising Godly Daughters,' I lost the recipe. I was running out and hurriedly began searching for it. I found multiple blogs that had the same recipe but this is where I got mine today. :) Simply Real Moms

This recipe is so easy and so worth your time! You'll love it. It has such a delicate, calming scent. We all love it.


Here's what you'll need:

• 1 oz Beeswax
• 1 cup Virgin Coconut Oil
• 20 Drops of Melaluca (Tea Tree)
• 20 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil

 

 

 Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler over low/medium heat. When it's melted add tea tree and lavender. Pour into containers and cool.

 

How easy was that! Soon you'll have a multi-purpose balm.

 

Isn't making your own products fun!

"Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breasts" (FP)

This wonderful dinner is not my personal creation. Sadly I cannot take credit for it, but I can vouch for it's deliciousness. And, the above picture is mine. I believe the original recipe comes from bestfoodpins.com Their picture looks like they use some sort of bread crumbs which I don't understand. ?? Either way, this recipe is amazing!

This is super easy and unbelievably yummy! You will not believe that you are eating a FP. Seriously! It's that good! (for you non THMers, 'FP' means Fuel Pull. To find out more, check out my Amazon shop and take a look at the Trim Healthy Mama book)


Melt in Your Mouth Chicken Breast

• 1/2 c Parmesan cheese (I use Kraft)
• 1 cup 0% Fat Greek yogurt
• seasoning of choice (I use Tony Cachere but you can use just salt, or salt and pepper, garlic powder., whatever :)

1. Season chicken
2. Mix yogurt and parmesean
3. Spread mix over chicken breasts
4.  Bake at 375 45 mins

It's literally that simple!

Enchilada Chicken over Rice (E) Slow Cooker Meal

I've said it before on my old blog 'Raising Godly Daughters,' and I believe it bares repeating. I struggle with E meals. There I said it again.

E meals just aren't as fun for me for some reason. Maybe it's because my husband has no interest in them. hmmm I might be on to something. LOL Anywho,  I took some time and tried to figure out how to take some of our family meals and turn them into E meals for me and crossovers for everyone else.

Thus my 'Enchilada Chicken over Rice,' was born. It's ridiculously easy and perfect for someone who either has no time to cook or has a job and is exhausted when they come home from work. It's also perfect for homeschooling mama's like me who are just plain tired some days.

• 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lg. can of Enchilada sauce (or you can make your own. If you do I'd love the recipe!)
• Cooked brown rice
• Shredded cheddar
• 0% Fat Greek Yogurt (or sour cream if you're not a THMer)
• black olives (optional)
• Salt and pepper or my favorite, Tony Cachere seasoning

K, here's the nitty gritty of the recipe. Are you ready?

1. Season chicken and put in slow cooker (smile. You're almost done for now)
2. Open can of enchilada sauce and pour over chicken. (tired yet? lol)
3. Close slow cooker, put it on high for 6 hours or low for 10 (you will have crazy tender chicken)

When it's done, serve on 3/4 cup brown rice. Add just a wee sprinkle of cheese. (not too much or it will be a cross over) or a couple of olive slices. This is also super yummy with a dollop of 0% fat Greek Yogurt.

Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Granola (E)

I'm always keepin my eyes open for good Trim Healthy Mama E meals so when I saw this easy treat I jumped on it. Well not literally, that could have been bad.

You can see the original recipe here Fir and Cypress. She has detailed pictures for us to check out. I don't know if she created it, but it's her who I'm givin my shout out to. Thanks girl! It was yummy!!



Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Ezekiel 4:9 cereal (original only)
• 1/2 cup 0% Greek Yogurt (I, like  Dakota at Fir & Cypress like Chobani)
• 1/2 an Apple (I used organic Gala)
• 1/2 tsp Maple Flavoring
• 2 tsp Truvia (or a few sprinkles of stevia to taste)
• Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

1.  Add 1/2 cup Ezekiel cereal to a bowl
2. Top with 1 tsp. of Truvia and some yummy cinnamon 
3. In a separate bowl mix 1 tsp. Truvia and 1/2 tsp. maple flavoring in your Greek yogurt. Stir. :)
4. Dice half an apple.
5. Add yogurt to your cereal and top with your pretty apple.
6. Eat and enjoy! Oh and stop by and tell Dakota it was yummy!

DIY Homemade Diaper Rash Cream

I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon this recipe from Keeper of the Home. I was on a search for the recipe I had gotten a long time ago for the Baby Butt Balm I made and loved.

When I saw this one I was intrigued and knew I wanted to make it which I did and boy was it easy! This recipe makes a lovely cream. Even better it's Cloth diaper safe. Oh yeah!

The following recipe will make only one container. I doubled mine. I have two hiney's in diapers and mama's in and out of my home with little ones.


Get ready to say goodbye to Desitin!

• 1/8 cup beeswax (1/2 oz)
• 2/3 cup Coconut Oil
• 3/4 Tbsp. Zinc Oxide Powder

1. Melt beeswax and coconut oil over medium heat in a double boiler. When melted, put in a bowl and mix in zinc oxide powder with either an immersion blender or a hand held one. I used my Kitchen Aid pink handheld.
2. Pour into container and cool.

It's that easy! I didn't add any scents but you can if you want. For easy clean up, wipe your bowl before with a paper towel and discard before washing. I did this and washed my things with pretty hot water and soap and had no issues getting it all to come clean.

This would make a great gift at a baby shower or for a friend with lots of little ones!!

Homemade All-Natural Chapstick

My love of chapstick really began when I was in 6th grade and played the saxophone. All that lip licking I had to do playing a reed instrument made my lips chapped fast. After that I was sold. Then as an adult I moved to Idaho and my love for chapstick turned into a need for it. Up here we're in high desert which means it's dry. There's good and bad to that. One thing you will typically see Idahoans with, especially during winter months is some sort of lip balm. It's not at all what I saw growing up in the humid city of Houston, Texas. Up here everyone (except maybe my husband) has chapstick.

The girls and I are no exception. The cold, dry weather can wreak havoc on our lips. Chapstick is a must. I always used Burt Bees but as more of my kiddos started wanting chapstick too the price of Burt Bees bothered me. Then I found out they had been bought out by a bigger company. I also found out that that particular company has some unfavorable commercials for one of their products demeaning men.

I am not cool with that at all and as much as I loved Burt Bees I will not give my money to a company that thinks it's comical to emasculate men.

The recipe I'm about to give you is not one I created. This particular recipe is all over the web. I got mine from Passionate Homemaking She got hers from someone else and I had multiple tabs open with the same recipe.

You will need:

• 2 Tbsp Beeswax (1 oz)
• 2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp. Refined Shea Butter
• 12 lip balm containers (I got mine from a local nutrition store. If you don't have one near you they are available online)
• dropper (I used an extra one I had that came with our baby Gripe water)

1. Melt beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter together in a double boiler over low-med. heat.
2. When completely melted use dropper and fill lip balm containers. The lip balm will shrink just a tad when its cooled so you can top each one off a little if you want.

I added a little Peppermint Essential oil to my mixture when I had only 4 containers left to fill. I used about 6 drops but could have used more. Those 4 chapsticks are very lightly peppermint. It's really nice. The others all have a delightful light honey scent and the feel is so soft. I love it! So do my two girlies that got their own after I made them. We all approve! Even the hubby after kissing me. ;)

I kept asking myself why I bought store bought ones when I could make 12 for a fraction of the cost, even using all organic ingredients and I would be able to know every ingredient in the ones I make? I'm glad I took the jump into the unknown world of do it yourself chapstick.

I wasn't disappointed and you won't be either. :)

Raising Future Wives & Moms: Making Homemaking Fun

Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a mother. I would lovingly play with my dolls, caring for their every need. Today, I am blessed to be able to be a mother and care for the needs of real little people and babies.

As a mom to all girls, 5 at home, and a follower of Jesus I believe it is my duty to raise future godly wives and homemakers. This is no easy task my friends, but it is a huge blessing for God to entrust these special little ones to my care and teaching. I have learned much over the years.

One of the many things I have learned is that more is 'caught than taught' with children, as Michael Pearl says. He is so right. Whatever I show joy in my daughters take notice.

Take cooking for instance. I love to cook for my family and my little ones love to help their mama. Above and below is my 4 year old assisting me in cooking fajita's.

 

For my little ones I have a pink step stool to make it easier to see and help me.

 

Below is my 7 year old folding a blanket.

 

I have had mom's ask me how I get my kids to help without moaning. First I tell them that every now and then I hear a moan but my kids do what I ask anyway. ;) For the most part though my girlies love to help. That includes doing laundry or even just picking up the house. Chores aren't chores if they're enjoyed. In our house singing while working is encouraged.

Another thing I do is start them young. My children are not a burden to me. I homeschool them and they are with their mom more than a public schooled child would be with theirs. I love this. From infancy I have them with me an begin teaching them little things. Most things they learn by watching me. Each one can't wait to be able to try their hand at a certain task that they were previously "too little," for.

Below is my youngest sitting with me while I did laundry.

My eldest at home is 12 and she is such a blessing to me in so many ways. My heart leaps with joy when I think of God blessing her father and I with her. She was our first and came after 7 years of infertility and miscarriages.

This sweet girl grew up watching me change into the homemaker I am today. She is a phenomenal big sister and enjoys learning what I can teach her and helping me with her little sisters. She dreams of becoming a pastry chef and a wife and mother. Her future husband is one lucky guy.

I have encouraged my daughters to hang out with me in the kitchen when they want. Our kitchen is small so it can become quite the dance but more often than not we all dance around each other quite well.

One thing I try to do is make the art of homemaking enjoyable and that includes having fun. In the below picture I was allowing my 7 year old to lick some icing.

 

Memories are made daily. I asked myself a long time ago what I wanted my daughters to remember.

 

 What did I want then to catch from me?

 

In my opinion there is a shortage of sweet, godly women in the world today. God blessed me with 5 daughters at home to raise for His glory and I believe it is my duty to do whatever is in my power to help shape them into strong godly women who are not only ready to be a helpmeet to their future husband and a good mom to their children, but also look forward to it with excitement, should that be what God has planned for their life. 

 

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Last year in Blog Land I stumbled upon a recipe that would change my life and the life of my family. Homemade Elderberry Syrup. I had just discovered Elderberry syrup and experienced its great benefits during cold and flu season when I also discovered its high cost. O.O At $11-$14 a bottle depending on brand and where you buy it, that can and will add up for a family as large as mine. I knew we couldn't keep buying it so I began researching online to see if I could make it and voila, thanks to Wellness Mama's Post Here I could.

My girls had such good memories of taking it last year that my house was filled with ooo's and aaahhh's this year as the elderberry syrup was cooking. They all told me that it was the smell of Christmas coming. LOL

 

Each day my kids beg for this syrup. When I tell them its time to take it they line up like they're in line for some new toy. It's adorable!

 

Thank you http://wellnessmama.com/!

 

2/3 cup black elderberries

3.5 cups of water

2 T fresh or dried ginger root

1 tsp. cinnamon powder

1/2 tsp cloves or clove powder

1 cup raw honey (you can also replace with all natural strawberry or raspberry syrup but it won't have the healing qualities as it would with honey. I've been out of honey and in need of elderberry syrup so I made a batch replacing honey with one of the above syrups and it still worked great!)

1.Pour water into a medium pot. Add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Do not add honey yet.

2.Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour or until the liquid has reduced by almost half. When it's ready remove it from the heat and let it cool until it is cool enough to be handled. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl. I use cheesecloth and pour it into a large bowl. I squeeze the cheesecloth as to get as much of the juices as possible.

3. Throw away the elderberries. Or if you like you could always compost them. :)  Now it's time to allow the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.

4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a pint sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.

Standard dose is 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp for kids and 1/2 Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

Make Your Own All Natural Deoderant Cheap & Easy

I began making my own deodorant years ago. So long ago that I don't even know where I got the recipe. I do not take credit for it, but I am here to say it works. It works so well that when I accidentally forgot to put it on one day a year or so ago I was amazed that I had no issues. Seriously, I was so excited I had my husband smell my armpit. You might think this odd, but you don't know my husband and I. We are best friends and when I'm excited, he is excited about what I'm happy about. I share the good and bad with him. I guess you're probably thinking he was pretty blessed that day that I wasn't sharing anything bad with him.

 If you only knew about the time I had him taste a Spring Roll from a Chinese restaurant back in our hometown of Houston, Texas that tasted and smelled like Giraffe poop. hahaha No, I have never tasted Giraffe excrement, but if you've ever been to the Houston Zoo you would know what Giraffe poop smells like, and that my friends is exactly what that spring roll smelled and tasted like! It was odd to say the least. And yes, that was our last time eating there.

Anyway, back to the deodorant. I love this recipe. It's simple, cheap and it fills two deodorant containers. I apply it once a day during winter and sometimes a couple times a day during summer.

On a side note: This deodorant will melt at high temperatures due to the coconut oil. I keep mine in my bathroom at room temperature and it remains solid. Store at room temp. or cooler.

• 1/2 cup Cornstarch
• 1/4 cup Baking Soda (I use right under 1/4 c. because my skin is really sensitive)
• 6 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

*Optional* 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. I used vanilla when I made my last batch. When I'm pregnant I don't use any scents.

Matthew 18:3 Become as Little Children

Matthew 18:3

Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

There are many reasons I feel blessed to be a mom. It was a dream of mine since I was a little girl playing with my baby dolls.

My personal journey of motherhood started at 16, long before it should have and sadly it is a story of long proportions and not always pretty.

On the bright side, we have an amazing God who loves us and wants us to be close to Him. I believe that's one of the reasons He gave us the above words in Matthew chapter 18. To enter into heaven we have to become like little children.

As silly as it may sound the above picture is how I feel when I think about being with Jesus one day, about seeing my earthly father again and seeing my unborn babies for the first time. I get almost giddy inside.

You don't have to be a parent to see that children unscathed by the world are different than us adults. Left to grow at their own pace there is an innocence, a purity, a trust and truth that most adults just don't possess. How can one not love that? Especially our Creator?

My daughters have such a joy of life that it's highly contagious. Each little thing in their life has the potential in their eyes to be something great. .

They don't initially see bad anywhere. They are prewired to see good in all things. And they are each filled with so much love that it literally bursts out of them even as babies.

We all adore baby kisses. They're the best!

Children aren't tainted like most adults. They are forgiving and resilient. They are incredible.

They are precious gems.

I often find myself laughing with my children. Their antics keep me smiling and today something dawned on me. Being around my kiddos as a homeschool mom has allowed me to be blessed to where I get to see the world through their eyes every day.

I have to share with you that when I had this revelation I realized I was smiling because I wasn't looking at the world through my eyes anymore. I was looking at it through a child's eyes and what a blessing it was.

I can tell you this much. It's a much happier view.

SF Pumpkin Spice Kicker THM (FP)

Hello, my name is Kristy and I am a Starbucks addict. Okay, well maybe not an addict, but I have gained weight from drinking one too many Decaf Café Mocha's from there which has brought it to my attention that I either drink too many, or that they're not really good for my body. *gasp* I know, right. How can that be when they're so tasty?

I have one thing to say to that. My scale doesn't lie.

Real quick, before I give y'all the yummy weight loss drink recipe that will knock the socks off your taste buds, all the while warming you to your core AND shrinking your bum, I would like to bring something to your attention. It (sadly enough) was something I never put much thought into until recently.

If you're a fellow Starbucks drinker like myself (the employee knows my drink when I walk in *sighs*) have you ever really paid attention to the picture on their cups?

A couple of weeks ago I asked my Starbucks Drink Diva (she really does make great drinks) what that odd woman-mer-thing was. She told me that it is the "Siren." I had no clue what she was talking about so I asked and she kindly explained to the best of her knowledge, she too finding it a bizarre choice for a logo.
If you're like I was and don't know exactly what a Siren is, here's a definition for you.

si·ren
/ˈsaɪrən/ Show Spelled [sahy-ruhn]  

noun

1.

Classical Mythology . one of several sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners to destruction by their seductive singing.

 

I say: O.O

 

Taken from Starbucks own website about their Siren:

 

Starbucks: "She means something different to every one who sees her, who knows her. For me she’s kind of the final say on the spirit of everything I write and everything we do. Even as I’m writing this, I wonder what she thinks. (She likes it, by the way.)"

 

Me: hmmm...

Starbucks: "After all, who can resist her?

Not me."

 

Wanna read that from their site directly?  http://www.starbucks.com/blog/so-who-is-the-siren

 

Anywho...

 

Moving on :D I believe that it's just about time I share with you the recipe for this tasty drink. Only one more thing first. I want to share with you how I came up with it. I happened upon this recipe for Spicy Hot Chocolate Tea but sadly didn't have the needed ingredients. I had just put my kiddos down for a nap and wanted a Starbucks-ish drink so off to my kitchen I went and out I came with this!!

 

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I used Silk unsweetened vanilla)
• 1 cup water
• 2 bags of Oolong Tea
• 1 Tbsp. Cocoa
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Truvia (or sweetener of choice)
• 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Spice
• A sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
• FF Ready Whip
• A Cinnamon Stick (optional, but sooo good!)

 

 

1. Heat Almond Milk and water to a boil (or almost)
2. While heating, mix Cocoa, Truvia, Pumpkin Spice, & Cayenne together in a small bowl.
3. When almond milk & water are heated add Oolong tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Take tea bags out and mix in spices.
5. Add a little FF Ready Whip.
6. Sprinkle a little Nutmeg on top and add your Cinnamon Stick.
   
   Now sit back, drink, enjoy and help your body burn those calories! It's even hubby approved!!

Happy Autumn drinking!

P.S.
This is the actual size of the drink.

 

 

SF Raspberry Vanilla Jam (THM FP)

 

I love jams. Heck, I love sugar, well maybe the taste, that is. I sure don't like some other things that go along with eating too much sugar like weight gain, diabetes and even heart disease, all of which run in my family.

 

If you're looking for a cost effective, tasty sugar-free jam, this recipe is for you. :)

 

It's so easy to make that you'll be thrilled!

 

What you'll need.

 

1. Raspberries (I used 1 1/2 small bags from Fred Meyer. I didn't use 2 because I didn't have two full bags left LOL :) You can use strawberries, black berries, or mixed berries as well. These would all keep it as a FP. Using blueberries would make it an E if you ate over a certain amt. I'm too tired mentally at this point to figure out how much that would be so for me I still to FP berries ;)
2. Truvia and Pure White Stevia (or sugar alternative of choice)
3. Glucomannan (For convenience purposes I have some gluccie in a shaker which is so handy when thickening jams or gravies)
4. Vanilla extract
5. Water 

 

All you do is put the frozen (you can use fresh if you prefer) berries in your pot and add some water until it comes up about halfway, maybe a little less. It doesn't really matter. The more water only means the more yummy jam you'll have.

Turn burner up to med/high and don't leave it. You will want to stir it gently during this process.

Add a dash of pure vanilla extract.

Add 2 tsp. Truvia and a sprinkle of pure white stevia. (to taste)

Sprinkle gluccie as your stirring. How much you use will depend on you and how thick you will want it. It took me maybe 5 minutes to get mine to where I wanted it. As I was stirring I tasted it to make sure it was the right sweetness.

*warning* If you have littles in your home like I do since I homeschool, you will most likely need to have spoons ready so that your wee ones can have a taste at what is making their home smell so good. Just sayin...   :)

Happy sugar free-jam eatin!