Make Your Own Soothing Deep Tissue Lavender Massage Butter

As good at nourishing the skin as it is to facilitate a body-soothing massage, this coconut and macadamia oil based massage butter is easy to make and a delight to experience.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup macadamia oil
• 48 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. Measure coconut oil and macadamia oil into a saucepan or double boiler.
2. Under low, gentle warming heat, melt the oils then remove from heat.
3. Add lavender oil and pour into tin or jar with a tight fitting lid.
4. Allow to cool until partially solidified ( I put mine in the fridge cause this is Texas....) 
5. Scoop out small amounts and massage over body.

I used to purchase my essential oils at places like Whole Foods and would pay for a tiny bottle of Aura Cacia what you can get a huge 4 oz bottle for on Amazon - I made this using goPURE 100% natural Bulgarian essential lavender oil

Kelapo Extra Virgin Coconut Oil,, which also makes the most amazing grilled cheese sammiches ever, by the way.....  (normally I use fractionated coconut oil in stuff like this, but you want it to solidify into a butter and fractionated stays liquid.)

and this super cheap macadamia nut oil that is at least half to 2/3 less than most because it's not marketed in a fancy bottle bottle or with a fancy label. 

Fractionated Coconut Oil - Best Carrier Oil for Essential Oils, Base for Aromatherapy and Soothing Massage Oil

It's another one of those multipurpose products that is a constant in my house. We use it for everything from softening rough skin, making hair soft and silky and my current favorite aka; "honey! please rub my back!" This is a great carrier oil too, so you can add your own essential oils or blend with other oils to make custom blends. It's scentless, so it doesn't interfere with the aromatherapeutic properties of essential oils. I like the smaller 4oz bottle for keeping in my purse so I always have some with me (you just never know!) I'm a klutz so I like having some with me at all times for any cuts or scrapes- it's also amazing for keeping your hands from drying out from constant washing and for chapped lips. I use it for everything!

Bonus- I ADORE the hip label!

If You Use Essential Oils, You Need To Check These Out

I've been using essential oils for a really long time for a number of things (Google uses and you'll be amazed!) and normally essential oils are super expensive - I had always bought them at Whole Foods or specialty health food stores. This is a 4oz bottle that will last forever and costs the same as a 1 or 2 oz bottle at brick and mortar stores. This oil is fresh, pure and has amazing scent. I used this to make scent tarts giving new life to leftover wax and after putting them in my tart burner,the scent subtly and perfectly filled my room for days. I'm never overpaying for essential oils again!

 The lavender is a such a real, pure clean lavender scent and a few drops of this in the bedroom created a soothing, relaxing space. A few drops in a bath makes for super sweet dreams :-)

The Peppermint gives an awesome wake up call when I'm groggy, a little of this in the bathroom not only freshens things up but wakes me up at the same time. Who needs coffee?

#review #essentialoils 

Bath Salts - make your own for pennies!

Bath Salts are super easy to make, and doing them on your own allows you to customize them to your specific needs. Using real essential oils gives you fantastic aromatherapeutic benefits as well. A favorite of mine for perking myself up after a long day when I still have far to go (you know those Fridays when you have plans that night but worked your keister off all week?) is to do a blend of tangerine and mint essential oils. Tangerine Essential Oil is rich in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene. It also helps to release stress and occasional nervous irritability while peppermint oil can be both energizing and soothing. 

An Epsom salt bath soak is detoxifying, can alleviate stress and tension, and does wonders for the skin. Try using scents like lavender, jasmine, and cedar for a calming bath, or citrus scents like grapefruit, orange, tangerine, or lemon for clarity and joy.

• 3 cups Epsom salt
• 2 cups sea salt
• 2 tbsp essential oil
• 1/2 cup baking soda

Mix the salts together in a large bowl, then sprinkle in the essential oil. Mix with a whisk or a fork to break up any clumps that may form, then add baking soda and mix well. 

Et Voila! Your "me time" awaits! 

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Blissmo Splendid Spa & Relaxation With product reviews

Blissmo Box is a monthly subscription that allows you to try themed boxes that are filled with natural, organic and eco friendly products. Each month you are given three themes to choose from, as well as the option to easily skip that month. While you aren't necessarily getting a HUGE dollar savings, you always come out a bit ahead and the products are high end, quality items that are always a joy and sometimes a plain old revelation! Evry month I've always gotten at least one item that had the WOW factor for me- an item that just blew me away and made the whole thing worthwhile.

Here's what was in the Splendid Spa & Relaxation box.......

Level Naturals Shower Bomb - Full Size provided $7.99

Ohhhhhhhhh boy, were these ever my WOW Factor item. A sodium bicarbonate shower bomb steeped in sinus clearing, relaxing organic essential oils that fill your shower with steam that will make you feel 100 times better than before. I just got over the flu, and I would sit on the shower floor with one of these bad boys just totally opening myself up and getting rid of the gunk in me. These are a life saver. Especially if you're prone to sinus issues, you would be doing yourself a giant favor by getting yourself a pack or 12 of these.



ScentsbyEilena - Nail Rescue - Full Size provided $5.00

The ingredients are simple- avacado oil, cocoa seed butter, and beeswax. Not only are these a powerhouse trio that moisturize and strengthen your nails preventing peeling and making your nails stronger, it also makes a truly awesome deep therapy for dry and cracked hands and cuticles. Nails? Try even heels and elbows! Unscented, so even the most manly man can feel comfortable using it, my husband has been enjoying this at night before bed to heal his hands.

hellomellow relax aromatherapy spray - Full Travel Size provided $5.00

Clary Sage is seriously the most powerful relaxing essential oil on the planet. No joke- they warn you not to use it while ingesting alcohol. I make a shampoo and conditioner using clary sage that a friend of mine who's a hairdresser uses on his clients to bliss them out. This is a great way to chill out without popping open the Xanax :-)



Choice Organic Jasmine Green Tea - Full Size provided $4.99

• Unbleached, natural fiber tea bag
• Individually labeled, airtight envelope
• 100% recycled, 65% post-consumer content box

Ohhhh are these ever delightful. Quite flavorful without being bitter, and the jasmine scent is to die for. I like to pretty much just shove my face in there. It's actually a nice little triple threat. I like to steam my face with it while waiting for it to cool enough to drink, then after drinking the tea the bags on your eyes are a great pick me up, relaxing the eye area (especially during allergy season) with the caffeine effectively shrinking bags and puffiness while you get to smell more of that heavenly jasmine.

Dream Water - Sleep supplement - $3.99

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I get awful insomnia and glory be and halleluloo! This stuff is AWESOME!!!!! I'm waiting on a big end of the year check, and when I get it, I'm buying a case of this stuff. Literally. Because I take so many prescription meds for my lupus I have a hard time being affected by things that knock out most people, but there's something about this specific blend that totally keeps me asleep through the night with no problems waking up in the morning and no nasty hangover. Seriously, NyQuil doesn't knock me out. You can even take a half bottle in the middle of the night and still get up just fine- relaxed, not groggy.



Olive Remedy Cuticle Cream - Full Size provided $5.99
Not really sure why they included two cuticle creams, but luckily this is something that I use many times a day, so it's not like it'll go to waste. Another great all purpose cream that is not only wonderful on your nails and cuticles, but softens and conditions the driest of skin without heavy scents (so they're gender neutral.) If you use this at night before bed on your toes then sleep in socks, when you wake up your toenail beds look lovely. Great to do his the night before doing a mani pedi!

I paid $19 and the retail value on these items is $32.77.