Everblossom

Little good deeds.

2012-02-25T09:52:00.000-06:00

Why not brighten someone's day? It doesn't have to be hard:

Use coupons for things you don't need and drop them off at the food bank or shelter.
Offer to babysit for a busy, cash-strapped couple so they can have some alone time.
Bake. Share.
Email your favorite blogger and tell them how they've inspired you. I promise, you are not "bugging" them.
Smile. Say "Hi!"
Help them move.
Surprise people in little ways - a sweet note, a fresh flower, their favorite coffee.
Lighten their load. One of the most romantic things my husband does is when he makes breakfast (usually it's eggs in a basket). I am not a morning person, but I love waking up to him telling me, "There's coffee ready."
Bring a meal to a family going through a busy season - whether they are welcoming a new baby, someone just had surgery, is ill, or they just going through a rough time.
Give compliments - sincere, specific ones. "Cute hair!" Good. "Wow! Your new hair color really brightens your eyes!" Amazing!
Be friendly, especially to cashiers, waiters, etc. Unfortunately they have to deal with a lot of rudeness - do what you can to balance that out.
Use your manners. Please + Thank You never go out of style.
Go the extra mile.
Keep your promises. It's rare these days.
Stand by what you believe in - it can be scary to do that sometimes but it sort of gives other people permission to do the same.
Have real conversations - nobody needs to talk more about what celebrities are up to or what happened on television last night. Talk about what's on your heart and give people space and security to do the same.
Be curious, not judgmental:

What's brightened your day lately?

Coconut water: is it really all that?

2012-02-20T19:39:00.006-06:00

Coconut water has been a common beverage in tropical regions all over the world for a long time. Women have traditionally used coconut water to increase fertility and to promote a healthy pregnancy. The health food market has cashed in on its benefits and now, you can find coconut water in almost any grocery store, usually marketed as an all-natural sports drink. It has become wildly popular and comes with a price tag to reflect that. Though it's not the miracle potion some companies would have you believe, coconut water does have nutritional benefits and can be a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet.

Nutritionally, coconut water is high in potassium, which helps the body regulate blood pressure. It's rich in vitamin C, fiber, magnesium and electrolytes. Coconut water is also a good source of riboflavin and calcium, which many women lack. A 1 cup serving has 46 calories and 3 grams of dietary fiber. It has low cholesterol and even helps the body produce high-density lipoprotein or "good" cholesterol.

Coconut Water During Pregnancy

In addition to the nutritional advantages, coconut water is beneficial for pregnant women. Pregnant women in tropical climates have used it for ages to alleviate morning sickness and to soothe the stomach after vomiting. It's a diuretic, so it helps prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Coconut water also aids digestion and prevents constipation, a common complaint during pregnancy. It even contains lauric acid which boosts the immune system, preventing infection and illness.

A Natural Sports Drink?

The electrolyte and potassium content of coconut water make it useful for replenishing lost fluids during a workout, which is important for women who live in hot climates. However, while coconut water is a decent choice for women who engage in light exercise, fitness experts seem to agree that in this capacity, it may not be necessary. Angela Giancoli, a spokesperson for the American Diabetic Association, states, "Most people don't exercise heavily enough to need a sports recovery drink. Water is just fine for most people."

Weight Loss

Coconut water is low in fat and calories. While the calories do still add up, it's a wise alternative to sugary sodas and juices for women who are watching their weight. Also, with the carbohydrates and nutrients in coconut water, it can provide extra energy for a workout.

My verdict: ehh. I like the way it tastes, but not enough to where I ever crave it. The health benefits are certainly there, but they don't wow me enough to make it a regular part of my diet, due to the cost and somewhat wasteful packaging (I've never seen it packaged in anything other than individual servings). If, however, you drink sports drinks regularly anyway, and you like what they do for you but would like to try a more natural alternative, coconut water might be the ticket!

linked up to Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways

Keeping a gratitude journal

2012-02-09T13:25:00.000-06:00

Looking for the little blessings in each day will do wonders for anyone's attitude - it certainly has for mine. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and unfortunately I let it spoil a good chunk of my day, and by extension - my kid's day as well. Not cool! Whenever I'm grouchy or just in a sour mood, remembering how blessed I am makes me feel pretty silly for not being more positive. When itt becomes a habit to focus on the positive instead of the negative, over time that will makes us feel so much happier and at peace in general. Giving thanks definitely helps you develop a positive attitude.

Step 1.

Get a journal. Any notebook will do, whether it's a college ruled note pad, a fancy journal or a guided gratitude journal.

Step 2.

Set aside time. Decide when you'll practice your new habit and carve out the time to do it. I like writing before I go to sleep - it's a perfect time to reflect on the day and drift off with positive, grateful thoughts.

Step 3.

Make it a habit! Set an alarm on your cell phone or leave yourself a note so you'll remember to write in your journal. It will become a habit eventually, but until then you may need a reminder!

Step 4.

Keep up with it. Some days will go badly and you might not feel like you have anything to write, but remember - THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR!! Isn't that wonderful??? Even if it's the clothes on your back or the food you ate that day, there is always something.

Step 5.

Enjoy your refreshed, more positive attitude! Spread it to others!

Any journal will do! You can use a beautiful, fancy journal for your daily record of gratitude - or just grab any old notebook you have lying around. The point is that you think about what you're thankful for and look for the little blessings in each day. I personally like using pretty notebooks for all of my journalling - it's just more fun - another thing to be grateful for! Moleskine notebooks are my number 1 favorite but there is an endless selection of different kinds of journals, so anyone can find something that fits their style. The most important part of the process, though, is actively looking for the things to be grateful for. Find as many as you can, every day. :)

And remember...

"True thanksgiving means that we need to thank God for what He has done for us, and not to tell Him what we have done for Him." --George R. Hendrick

What are you grateful for today?

Does natural living enhance or inhibit your life?

2012-02-07T11:37:00.001-06:00

For those of us who embrace the natural lifestyle, I think we've all been in situations where we have to choose between making a healthy choice or being polite. There was a great discussion over at Keeper of the Home yesterday about whether or not we should let our kids eat junk food at birthday parties. I really liked a comment over there left by Bek - she reminded us that 1 Corinthians 10:27 tells us, “If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.” We need to remember the importance of relationships!

I used to struggle greatly in this area. I would feel guilt over every little thing I did wrong, every little compromise I made. Thankfully through a lot of encouragement from others and realizations about what my priorities are (or should be!) I have let go of a lot of that. One thing I realized was that natural living should enhance our lives, not inhibit it. Some of us live this way in order to be healthier and avoid illness. Some of us are doing it out of reverence for the environment. Personally, I lean more toward the side of health and wellness, though the environmental concerns are certainly there as well. Either way, is it really beneficial for natural to take over our lives to the point where we are avoiding social situations and building relationships with others? To me, it's really not.

There are a lot of things we could miss out on if we avoided all situations where our lifestyle might be compromised. Think of all the birthdays, weddings and celebrations where food we wouldn't choose for our families is served. Is one more day of "only whole food" worth missing out on all of those? It's something we each have to decide for ourselves but I know that I wouldn't trade relationships with my family and friends for all the whole grain, naturally sweetened birthday cake in the world.

Natural living can enhance our lives - it can make us feel healthier, more energized, reduce our carbon footprint and lower our risk of many diseases.

It can also inhibit our lives by pushing us into isolation, pride or snobbishness and guilt when we don't "do it all." (Which none of us ever will.)

In what ways has natural living enhanced or inhibited your life? Do you ever feel guilty about how much you're doing in the realm of natural living?

Linked up at Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #13 at Frugally Sustainable.

Winter pampering (or, it's okay to act like a baby when you're sick)

2012-02-01T09:47:00.001-06:00

I just got over the worst cold I've had in a long time. I don't get sick all that often so I think I'm a bigger baby about it than is really called for when I do get sick.

Side-note: Dealing with a cold and morning sickness at the same time is not very much fun. At all. I pray that you never have to confirm that yourself.

Anyway, so while I was being a baby I tried to take care of myself as best I could. I slept a lot, took some baths and drank lots of warm things. The three main things that got me through were lemon water, putting garlic on everything and eucalyptus oil!

Lemon Water

Drinking water with lemon is really good for you whether you are sick or not, since it's alkalizes our pH level, which, for most of us is usually too acidic! I like it when I'm sick, warm and with a dollop of honey since it makes my throat feel so much better.

Garlic

Garlic is an amazing remedy! It has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties, so it really works to fight whatever's in your body making you sick and to prevent illness as well. Some people take garlic tablets to get those benefits. I love it, so I simply eat lots of garlic-y foods in the winter and especially when I'm sick.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus is like a breath of fresh air when you're all stuffed up - literally. It clears everything out like magic. (I won't get too graphic.) I was putting it in my bath, making my all natural vapor rub, and even just warming it in my oil burner. Eucalyptus is my best friend when I'm sick.

What about you? How do you baby yourself when you're under the weather?

Linked up @ Frugally Sustainable!

Giveaway! Honey Almond Nourishing Body Cream + Coconut Body Scrub

2012-01-23T13:30:00.001-06:00

As you may know, I recently became an independent consultant for alex + von and I just keep falling more and more in love with products by 100% Pure, the brand I specialize in. I'm so excited to offer this chance for you to try them too, whether you already love 100% Pure or have never tried their products.

ABOUT 100% PURE
100% Pure formulates synthetic-, fragrance-, paraben- and toxin free beauty products. They use the most concentrated formulas possible without the use of water, thickeners, emulsifiers or any other fillers. Inspired by her garden, Susie Wang created 100% Pure's cosmetics line to complement her healthy lifestyle. Made with pigments from fruits and vegetables along with nature's best resources, 100% Pure marries all-natural ingredients with high-end cosmetic formulas to create beauty in a class of its own. 100% Pure is the first and only cosmetics colored from antioxidant rich fruit and vegetable pigments (patents pending).
100% Pure products are never tested on animals. It is the company’s mission to help and save animals. They have rescued and placed 21 dogs in loving homes last year alone, as well as provided financial aid to those who need medical aid for their pets. 100% Pure's long term goal is to open up an animal sanctuary to further help their mission to help animals.

In this giveaway you can enter to win a set of 2 full-sized body products by 100% Pure - Honey Almond Nourishing Cream and Coconut Body Scrub.

Both products are all natural, 100% vegetarian, gluten free & delicious smelling. :)

A winner will be chosen on Tuesday January 31. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. You can tweet the giveaway daily for the whole week, but don't forget to come back and click your entry in for it to count. :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Parabens - What's the big deal?

2012-01-09T11:08:00.001-06:00

Today's article is a guest post by Laura Griffin, makeup artist and beauty blogger at Applied Glamour. She reviews products and comes up with amazing tutorials for her blog, so be sure to check her out! Great to have you, Laura! xo

By now it seems like everybody and their mama is aware that parabens are bad, bad, bad and should be avoided as much as possible. Yay for awareness! Yay for making healthier choices! But have you ever wondered exactly WHY we’re avoiding this chemical in our personal care products? What are parabens, anyway? Are they really that dangerous? How can they be avoided?

Parabens are preservatives meant to extend the shelf life of your health and beauty products. They’re found in cosmetics, shampoo, pharmaceuticals, lotion, shaving cream, and scads of other items you and your family probably use every day. Because these products can eventually “go bad” or spoil just like food, parabens are added to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. They’re extremely cheap and highly effective, which explains why they’re ingredients in practically every personal care product.

Although controversy exists on just how harmful parabens really are, they have shown the ability to mimic the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer, and very low concentrations of parabens have also been found in breast cancer tumors. While current research has not found a direct link between parabens and breast cancer, these studies also fail to show that parabens are entirely safe. There is virtually no data on the long term effects of paraben use. Basically: they may cause cancer, or they may not. We’re really not sure what the effects are right now. Since the studies are so inconclusive, many consumers have chosen to avoid parabens altogether, or at least as much as possible. Considering mercury was not officially banned as a cosmetic ingredient in the United States until 1990 (!!!), they may be absolutely right to eschew parabens!

Luckily, there are paraben alternatives available and more and more companies are beginning to use them.

Leuconostoc is one such alternative; it’s a naturally occurring peptide with antimicrobial properties similar to parabens. Danish company Symrise launched another alternative in 2010 called Hydrolite 6 that has also been proven to increase the moisture in skin. Skincare is most definitely a science, and one that is improving all the time!

If you’re concerned about the potential and unknown effects of parbens, the most important thing to do is check the ingredient labels of your products. Look out for methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, and heptyl forms of parabens and be aware that words like “natural” and “fresh” can be slapped on anything, regardless of contents. Don’t be misled; read the label first!

So what do you think? Should we be concerned about parabens? Do you make an effort to avoid them?

Blossoming: maturing or developing in a positive or healthy way.

2012-01-06T13:13:00.002-06:00

For awhile now, I've been trying to figure out where this blog + business are going. I haven't really been able to put my finger on what it is exactly that I want out of all this, or how I can best use my skills to provide value here on Everblossom. I'm starting to get it, you guys.

The focus here is on natural living. And I also sell a few skincare products. Some of you who have known me longer know that I don't sell as many products as I used to. This isn't really an accident.

I really love making natural bath and body products. But the truth is, there are so many great companies doing what I'm doing already, and they are doing it better. I don't mean this to sound self-deprecating - I'm completely at peace with this fact. Production for me is more of a hobby that my full-blown passion. I'm a writer. I'm happiest when most of my working hours are spent writing. So, I'm going to be offering natural & organic products in a whole new way, as an independent consultant for alex+von.

I'm not going to stop making my own handmade products all together. I plan on keeping my Etsy stocked with serums and I'm also developing a line of baby care products this year. The focus is on hardcore quality, not so much quantity.

There are going to be some changes here on the blog as well. I'm hoping to have more contributors come on board this year, for one. You will also notice that the subject matter here is going to expand quite a bit. Right now the focus is on physically caring for our bodies and the planet, but there will be a shift toward overall wellness, since caring for ourselves and each other spiritually is incredibly important too. A third change you'll see here is more work from others in the handmade community. Until now, Everblossom has really been a one-woman show. I hope to see it blossom (SEE WHAT I DID THERE?) into a community of like-minded creators.

Thanks for coming along for the ride. Some of you have stuck with me for years, and some of you have started reading in the past few weeks. You are all so dear to me, more than I could ever say. I know you're going to love what's in store here.

5 quick and painless real food changes

2012-01-05T13:23:00.002-06:00

I'm sure you guys have noticed by now that I'm just a little bit of a geek when it comes to food and nutrition. Lately, though, I've had to let a lot of things slide due to the holidays. 2 year olds and husbands deserve to eat white sugar and lots of pie at Christmas time, and that's all there is to it. Another setback has been my unrelenting fatigue from growing a little human inside me, so I've had to make some compromises in order to just get us fed. I usually make almost everything we eat from scratch, but that's not possible right now so I've been buying more premade foods and making a lot of green smoothies.

But the holidays are over, and I'm finding it easier to get out of bed in the mornings. So back to it! I know a lot of people are in the same boat right now with New Years resolutions and all that, so I thought I'd put together this list of things I kept doing even during my season of compromise. I know that when you're first starting to eat healthier and cook more, it can be overwhelming to make a lot of changes at once. These are 5 things that are so easy that you barely have to think about them once you get the ingredients home. Here's to a healthier year for everyone!

Replace white sugar with honey, especially raw, local honey if you can find it. LocalHarvest is a good place to look!
Use whole wheat flour in your baking rather than white. I have never had a problem simply replacing white flour in any given recipe.
Switch to whole grain pasta.
Eat oatmeal instead of boxed cereal. You can mix it with milk and fruit and stuff the night before and stick it in the fridge, and it's ready to go in the morning. So easy and soaking it also increases the nutritional benefits!
Each time you grocery shop, buy something in the produce section that you normally don't. Trying new foods is fun and keeps things interesting, and variety is good for you!

How to use "oops" soap.

2012-01-03T14:45:00.006-06:00

If you've ever tried making soap and had it turn out... unexpectedly.. you don't have to toss it out or go through the process of rebatching it. I tried to make some liquid body wash as Christmas gifts this year, but it ended up with a more jello-like consistency than the creamy, sudsy decadent product I was hoping for. I didn't have time to try to squeeze it all out of the several bottles I made, melt it down, add more water, test it and repackage it, so I now have a pile of soap goo that I can use for various purposes.

On the other hand, sometimes soap will set correctly (if you're making bar soap) but turn out ugly - with bubbles or cracks or a gross color that you weren't really going for. You can still use it, but if you made a big batch for gifts or selling, you might be looking for ways to use it up quickly.

Wash clothes with it. Super easy with liquid(ish) soap, just use it like you would normal detergent. You might need to play around with how much to use, and to boost the cleaning power add a tablespoon each of borax and washing soda to each load. (Both can be found in the laundry aisle at most supermarkets!) If you're working with hard soap, grate it up and mix it with equal parts borax and washing soda and use like any powdered detergent.
Clean your house with it. Mix liquid or grated soap with hot water and use it to scrub down your floors, walls, counters, you name it.
Make bath crayons or bath paints with it - my son is crazy about these!
If it's hard soap that smells good, keep a bar in your dresser drawer to freshen your clothes.

If you sell your soap, you can even sell your oops bar soap at a discount - some people will buy it anyway for the cost benefit, or to make laundry soap.

I'm using up most of mine by doing lots of laundry - here's to freshly washed blankets, curtains & coats!

* In this post, "oops soap" refers to soap that is flawed in appearance or texture only. Be careful using soap that is flawed because the lye ratio is off! *

Linked up @ Domestically Divine Tuesday Homemaking & Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Your Green Resource & Natural Parenting Group:

Which serum is right for me?

2011-12-20T12:12:00.000-06:00

I've gotten a couple emails from ladies who didn't know which serum would be best for their skin. I thought I'd put this little guide together for those who aren't sure which to order.

gulp, gulp

Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Ylang Ylang, Orange

Choose Gulp, Gulp if your skin is dry, sun damaged, aging or just a bit dull. Avocado oil is so thick and nourishing, your skin will drink it right up!

clarity

Ingredients: Sesame Oil, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang, Lavender

Clarity is the newest formula I've added - it's a no-nonsense formula for clearing up acne fast. It absorbs easily, without making skin feel greasy and without drying it out.

oh hush

Ingredients: Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil, Lavender, Ylang Ylang

Definitely my most popular product to date, Oh Hush is a miracle for irritated skin. Use it if you're prone to mild breakouts, skin sensitivity or as your usual moisturizer to achieve a healthy, beautiful skin tone.

How to apply Everblossom Serums: Start with a clean face and fingers, and apply 2-3 drops to damp skin each time you wash up.

Other rad things you can do with these serums:

Smooth a few drops over your hair for shine & to tame flyaways.
Add a dropperful to 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt and apply as a mask. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse.
Add a dropperful to a tablespoon of sugar and exfoliate.
Pat a couple drops over applied mineral makeup for an illuminating effect.

I used to think putting oil on your face was ALL CAPS CRAZY but since I started using serums I will never go back to regular moisturizers. I definitely encourage people of all skin types to give it a go and see the difference in your skin. Head on over to the shop and take your pick!

DIY: Shabby Chic Scarf! {Guest Post}

2011-12-08T10:24:00.001-06:00

Today's post is from Julie, who blogs about knitting, baking, crafting and her lovely family over at Coco and Cocoa. She also has an Etsy shop full of cute creations! Good to have you, Julie!

One of the things that I love about knitting is the variety of materials to knit with. There are beautiful wool yarns. Yarns made from silk. You can even get bamboo yarn. You can get organic yarns and locally produced yarns. There are even trends that combine knitting (or crocheting) with recycling. There are patterns to help you turn plastic grocery sacks into reusable bags. It got me thinking that I could knit out of almost anything!

I was going through some vintage sheets and I came across this beautiful pink paisley pattern. I loved the colors and the pattern, but I knew I would never actually use it on my bed.

Instead I decided to try to knit with it. I chose to make a scarf with it, thinking that would be the easiest way to display the colors and pattern. I began by cutting the sheet into continuos strips and then rolling it into a large ball.

Knitting with just the sheet I quickly realized that it was going to be too dense to do anything with. So I alternated knitting with the sheet and with a cotton thread, which gave the scarf a nice drape. In the end I got this very shabby chic looking scarf.

The scarf is very unique and a great conversation piece!

how to use tea tree oil for acne

2011-12-02T14:13:00.006-06:00

Tea tree oil is hands down the most effective natural remedy I've ever tried for acne. It's even effective against cystic acne, those underground monster zits that hurt so bad. Here are a few different ways you can use tea tree oil to fight breakouts:

Use a cotton swab to apply a drop directly to blemishes.
Mix a few drops (2-6 or so depending on the severity of the situation!) with your regular moisturizer. Avoid your eyes!
Add a few drops to your regular cleanser. Again, be careful not to get it in your eyes!
Mix 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/4 cup of sesame or olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey and 10-ish drops of tea tree oil for a acne-fighting scrub. This is good for run of the mill breakouts, but could be a little too harsh for cystic acne. Tea tree oil and honey are even natural preservatives so you can keep this in a jar right in your medicine cabinet.
For acne on your body, you can add tea tree oil to your bath.
Add 5 drops of tea tree oil to 1/4 cup of plain yogurt and apply as a mask. Rinse with cool water after 15-20 minutes. This is my fave! <3

I've written about other cool uses for tea tree oil, too.

This post is linked up at the Patchwork Living Blogging Bee & Frugally Sustainable & the Natural Parenting Group blog hop (below). Check out tons of great posts at these wonderful link-ups! xo

Eating healthy when your resources are limited.

2011-11-25T12:28:00.000-06:00

Melina Bee raised a really good point on my post, How to Eat Healthy:

I think more than just a basic understanding of nutrition, though, the difficult also lies in access to nutritious food and cost.

I totally agree and that is a challenge. I would say for anyone struggling to afford nutritious food or who can't shop for fresh food often because of distance or whatever the case may be, would be to shop bulk foods and build a diet around good grains like brown rice and oats, lots of beans for protein, (especially black beans, they have a TON of antioxidants!) and good fats like olive oil or sunflower oil or at least real butter.

Then, as you are able to, add in fresh produce and other sources of protein. Try to get a good variety of color in, and if you are really limited, start with green - according to dietitian Jill Nussinow, "Greens are the No. 1 food you can eat regularly to help improve your health." Carrots are another great, cheap veggie and they will last in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks. Bananas are really cheap but they go bad quickly. Check out what's on sale as you shop and build your menu around the more inexpensive produce or produce that will keep longer, depending on what your limitations are.

I would also recommend buying flax seeds to grind up and put in your baked goods, sprinkle on your oatmeal, or put in smoothes. They have lots of fiber and are rich in omegas and other minerals. They are cheap, too if you buy them from the bulk foods - I usually pay around 2.89 a pound and that lasts 2-3 weeks for me and my family. (I mostly put them in smoothies and muffins.)

As far as non-plant sources of protein go, I would start with whole chickens and canned tuna. Whole chickens are really cost-effective and then you can make awesome, nutritious soup stock from the bones and veggie scraps. Tuna is great because it's fairly inexpensive and fish is really good for us!

To wrap up, here is what my shopping list would look like for a week if I only had $40 to spend for my family - one man, one woman and a toddler:

Oats ($3)
Brown rice ($3)
Flax ($1.50)
Black beans ($3)
Olive oil ($5)
Kale ($4)
Carrots ($3)
Frozen peas ($2)
Eggs ($3)
1 Whole Chicken ($8)
Tuna ($3)

If I ended up with a couple extra dollars, I would run and grab some cheese - mostly just because I think it's yummy, but the calcium helps too.

I have to add something here though: I get a lot of free food. In the fall, my dad and I go pick loads of apples, so if I can't buy fruit one week, it's not a big deal - I can just pull a carton of apples out of the freezer. I also get a lot of extra veggies and berries from him and other gardeners that I preserve. I know that's not the case for everyone. If you want to save money on food or stock up on things that you don't always have access to (or both!) then you should definitely learn to preserve food - canning, freezing, drying, etc.

This list probably isn't perfect, and it would probably look different for your family, but my point is that eating good food is doable - even if you're only replacing one unhealthy meal a day with a more nutritious one, it's a start. One blog that I read frequently is Real Cheap Food and it is invaluable for someone in this situation - it was really helpful to me when I first started out shopping and cooking for my family on a (very, very) limited budget. If you only take one thing from this blog post, it's this: go read & subscribe to Real Cheap Food!

What would you buy if you had a really tight budget for the week?

Have you put off your holiday cards? Me too.

2011-11-24T16:51:00.002-06:00

I did last year too. I'm ordering mine tonight, so I should get them just in time to send them out to loved ones right on time for Christmas. Luckily, Vistaprint is having a sweet sale on cards right now. There are lots of designs to choose from and they're starting at just $5.49 for 10! Sweet, huh?

I really love this design ~ might go with this one!

I love how easy it is to add your photos and just click through to an effortlessly cute card! Check out Vistaprint if you are still in need of some family Christmas cards.

P.S. Bloggy friends - want a Christmas card? Email me your address & I'll pop one in the mail for you! xo

Call for guest/swap posts!

2011-11-22T10:30:00.001-06:00

Because sometimes it's nice to get out of our own cozy internet home and get comfortable in someone else's.

Everblossom is all about natural & healthy living and parenting. If you would like to write a post on anything related to natural living including a tutorial, why you like to do things naturally or a recipe, I'd love to have you!

In return, I'd love to write a post for your blog - I'm pretty keen on natural health, healthy food, faith and loving on the planet. It's your call!

If you're interested in swapping posts, leave a comment below with your email address or email me directly at kyliejoworthington@gmail.com. I can't wait to work together!

OH! While I have you, are we friends on facebook or twitter? I would love to be! If you decide to add me on either, just send me a quick "hi!" so I can follow/like you back. See ya!

4 ridiculously easy homemade bath & body gifts

2011-11-21T15:49:00.001-06:00

The holidays are fast approaching & if you're planning on giving handmade gifts, it's time to get crackin! I honestly have not even started my gifts yet so I need to get moving on that. Here are few simple bath and body items you can make! They don't get any easier than this. You can get supplies for all of these recipes at Mountain Rose Herbs. They're the best!

All natural vapor rub.
This gift works well for ANYONE - it only has 2 ingredients and is super easy & quick to make.

Lip balm
Another well received item that you can customize with different flavors. There are all kinds of recipes for this scattered around the web. My favorite is this honey lip balm with olive oil, cocoa butter & sweet orange oil. YUM.

Body oil
Just get some pretty bottles, fill them up with sesame oil and add whatever essential oils you think the recipient would like the smell of! I like ylang ylang + vanilla for women and vanilla + cedarwood for men. Make one with just a few drops of lavender oil to give as an all natural baby oil.

Bath salts
You can use plain old sea salt or invest in some dead sea salt - either way! Just fill a jar (use one that can seal airtight like a mason jar) with salts, add a few drops of whatever essential oils you'd like, and shake it up really well until it's completely mixed. I'm probably going to delegate the jar-shaking process to my toddler.

Are you giving handmade gifts this year? What are you planning on making?

This post is linked up at Far Above Rubies & Frugally Sustainable!

How to eat healthy.

2011-11-16T10:14:00.000-06:00

It's actually pretty simple. It all comes down to three things.

1. The vast majority of your food should be un- or minimally processed. Meaning, the closer it is to the way it was when it came out of the ground (or off the animal), the better. For example:

Real Cheese > Kraft Singles

Brown Rice > Rice-a-roni

Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Real Butter > Margarine

Water > Kool-aid

easy.

2. Eat a variety of foods. Try to "eat the rainbow" or get foods of all colors in your diet by the end of the day to make sure you're getting lots of different vitamins and minerals. I'm going to plug leafy greens in here because eating a handful a day makes such a huge difference, even if you don't make any other changes.

3. Mostly plants. I feel that animal products have their place in a healthy diet, but I also think that most people eat way too much of them. Veggies, fruits & grains should make up a HUGE portion of what you eat - meats, dairy, fats & treats should be included sparingly.

There's also something to be said for supplements, but that's not quite as straightforward. The kind of supplement you'll need to take depends on where you live, what you do, what gender you are and the way your body works. For example, I need to take Vitamin D since I live in ND where it's too cold for over half the year to go outside and get enough sunshine.

It's nothing to get fanatical about - you'll go crazy if you do. But I've gone through seasons in life where I eat nothing but crap food, and now I eat like this, so I know: if you eat this way for the most part, you'll feel a lot better in general and pretty much stop getting sick. Awesome.

Gratituesday - Heart Therapy - Family & Forgiveness

2011-11-15T10:11:00.001-06:00

Source: etsy.com via Rachel on Pinterest

It's crazy how much marriage changed the way I look at family.

The size of your own family basically doubles when you gain in-laws. There are habits and quirks that are so normal to them that can be hard to understand at first.

It changes the way you look at your own side of the family, too. How they treat those that marry in, how they communicate with each other and others. It wasn't until I got married and became part of another family that I saw just how much of myself is because of where I came from.

Families aren't perfect.

There are painful things in every family's past, and even present. These really come to light when children come into the picture. "Well I was raised like this." "I was raised like that." It's hard to parent in a way that's different than how you were parented. And if there are things that you'd really like to differently (and this is true for most people to varying degrees), it takes a conscious effort to react differently with your kids than you're naturally inclined to. I'll say it again: it's hard.

Forgiveness.

The reason families aren't perfect is because they are made up of imperfect people. We're not ever going to be perfect, but we can get really good at forgiving each other. We're going to hurt other people and we're going to get hurt. Bitterness is what breaks families. I want to choose forgiveness instead.

This post is also linked up at Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday! Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

A couple favorites: Tea tree balm & Oh hush facial serum - available for Preorder NOW!

2011-11-14T20:39:00.000-06:00

The gears are turning here at our midwest nerd nest and I am so busy making products, testing out new goodies and getting things ready to launch the shop! I'm so excited to share my creations with you, that I decided to offer a few best-sellers for preorder. Check out the shop page and see what's available.

Here are my two all-time best selling products and what a few cute girls have to say about them!

Oh Hush feedback: Love this- thought would be oily on skin after applied but your skin just drinks it in and I've seen it working even with just a few uses !!

Preordering is easy: you can checkout with PayPal (even if you don't have an account!). You'll get a receipt via email and your order will ship the first week of December and arrive in your mailbox in time for the holidays.

& If you order anything from me, please come back and let us know what you think!

Til next time. xo

Parents - Join us at Natural Parenting Group!

2011-11-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

I recently had the honor of becoming a contributing writer over at Natural Parenting Group. The site is a small but quickly growing community of like-minded parents who try to raise up our kiddos as naturally as possible.

I'd like to encourage all of my parent readers to join us over there! I'm Everblossom on the forums - can't wait to see you!

How to get a good night's rest.

2011-11-12T12:57:00.002-06:00

I used to sleep long and heavy, no problem. I was a little nocturnal, but when I did sleep I woke up refreshed and had plenty of energy while I was awake.

Then I had a baby.

After Mercury was born, I wouldn't really sleep. I would take several 45 minute naps throughout the day and night, but it was about 2 months before he started sleeping longer and my body started going back to normal and I could actually get a longer stretch in. Now he's 2, and he's slept through the night for over a year. But my sleep never really recovered. I still wake up to slight noises, if I get thirsty, if my husband grinds his teeth, or if the cat uses the litter box in the bathroom across the hall.

I drink a pretty absurd amount of coffee throughout the day, so energy isn't an issue (HA!). But waking up is SO much easier and more pleasant and less zombie-like if I get a good night's rest. Here are a few things that have helped me get better quality sleep and wake up much more refreshed.

Stop drinking coffee in the afternoon. If I drink coffee past about 3:00 pm, I find myself waking up more at night.
Turn off electronics. We leave our phones on, since they are also our alarm clock, but the computer and xbox need to be shut completely down for me to fall asleep. I don't really understand why this works, but it does.
Lower the temp. My perfect temp is when I'm a little bit chilly when I'm not under the covers. Since our body temperature naturally drops as we drift into sleep, a cooler environment can help us get into sleep mode.
No bedtime snacks. Your body rests best when it's not digesting food!
Prayer and reading. Handing my worries to God, spending time in His word and thanking Him for all of the amazing ways he's blessed our family gives me a peace like nothing else I can do.

I mentioned that the reason I started trying to get better sleep at night was to make the mornings easier. It has! Another thing that has helped me is having a bedtime routine to help me prepare for the next day and start to wind down. Before we put Mercury down to sleep, we do a quick pickup of toys and clutter. Kent and I will usually stay up a few hours after that - before we retreat to our bedroom I try to get all of these things done:

Empty sink. I don't necessarily get all the dishes done (we don't have a dishwasher.) each night, but I hate having the sink full. Any dishes left get neatly stacked on the counter to tackle the next day.
Load coffee pot and "what's for breakfast?" That way, I just go into the kitchen, flip a switch and start making breakfast without having to think too hard. I usually put Kent's lunch for the next day together at this time.
Quick bathroom wipe down, wash face, brush teeth.

These three things ensure waking up to a fairly neat home and allow me to start the day without having to make any pre-coffee decisions. Getting a really good night's sleep makes such a huge difference in how alert I am when I wake up.

What about you? Do you have any "good sleep" tips to share? What about a bedtime routine? I'm fascinated by people's routines and I love how each family does things so differently.

How to make all natural vapor rub for congestion.

2011-11-09T10:56:00.005-06:00

Vapor rub is a strong smelling cream that you can rub all over your chest to help relieve the congestion associated with allergies, colds and the flu. Using an all natural vapor rub is ideal, especially if you want to avoid the toxins and chemicals in commercial products. It's safe for adults, children and even babies to use. Follow these steps to make your own jar of congestion relieving vapor rub:

All you need for this all natural vapor rub is two simple ingredients: shea butter and eucalyptus essential oil. Organic shea butter and essential oils are ideal, but not absolutely necessary. You can get both (and even a cute little jar!) at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Place 4 ounces of raw, unrefined shea butter into a double boiler and heat it on the stove over low heat until it's completely melted. Keep an eye on it to make sure that it doesn't burn.
Turn off the heat and remove the top pan of the double boiler as soon as the shea butter is lump-free.
Add approximately 20 drops of eucalyptus oil and stir well.
Pour the mixture into a glass jar and seal it tightly. Be careful, it will be hot! Use oven mitts to handle the jar.
Allow the vapor rub to cool and re-harden. If you're in a hurry, you can stick it in the freezer or fridge to help speed up the cooling process.

That's it! Make sure you keep your vapor rub sealed tightly and it in a cool, dry place out of sunlight.

You can replace the eucalyptus oil in this recipe with rosemary oil or tea tree oil. Use whichever one you like best or whatever you have on hand. You can even use a combination of these oils if you like the way they smell together. If you want to include other cold fighting essential oils, consider adding lavender, ginger or peppermint. Lavender is relaxing, while peppermint relives headaches and body aches. Ginger promotes circulation, which is helpful for those suffering from the chills associated with fever.

To use this all natural vapor rub, apply a nickle sized dollop onto the chest and rub in completely. The vapor rub can be used any time, as needed. It is especially helpful at bed time when congestion seems to act up more.

I plan on making a big batch of this and giving out little jars as holiday gifts. I might even put a few in the shop when it reopens (so soon it HURTS!) - what do you think?

This post is linked up at Simple Lives Thursdays, Inspired by You Wednesdays, Frugally Sustainable and Your Green Resource~! Go check out some other wonderful bloggers there! xo

A few natural remedies for kids.

2011-11-03T11:49:00.004-05:00

I'm extremely fortunate to have been blessed with a child who doesn't get sick. He's 2, and I can count on one hand (with fingers to spare) the times he's been sick enough to actually disrupt his day. I think the reasons for that are 1. He doesn't go to daycare. And 2. I try very hard to make sure our family eats plenty of immune boosting foods and supplements since we don't do vaccinations.

Still, like most kids, Mercury does come down with some ailment or other every once in awhile. There are a few natural remedies I've tried with him that haven't worked at all. Here are a few that do!

Ear Aches
Tea tree oil is a wonderful natural remedy for many ailments, including ear infection. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties for fighting ear infection. It also has a mild soothing effect as well. To use, add 7-10 drops of tea tree oil to a tablespoon of warm olive oil. Mix well and pour or drop oil into the ear several times a day, especially at bedtime.

I would say hold off on the tea tree oil til your babies turn into toddlers, since overdose is possible (but rare). For babies, I suggest using the gentler garlic-infused olive oil, which you can buy or make yourself. I even apply garlic oil to my son's ears at bedtime every few nights in the winter as a preventative measure.

Headaches
Little ones really shouldn't get headaches, you know? Try to find out what's causing them (stress? food sensitivity? vision problems? etc.) and deal with that. In the meantime, peppermint tea or aromatherapy can help ease the pain. If you decide to try aromatherapy, I suggest peppermint for the day time or lavender at night.

Congestion
I make an all natural vapor rub with shea butter and eucalyptus oil. You can also use an oil burner to burn eucalyptus oil.

Try putting a humidifier in the sick person's room, too. If you don't have one, a bowl of warm water on the radiator works. Or, have them sit in a steamy bathroom. When Mercury was a baby, he was a bit croupy and I would bring him into the bathroom with the hot shower running and it always helped.

Sore Throat
Honey. It's both healing and soothing, plus it's pretty easy to get kids to take. You can either serve it up with a spoon, or offer warm honey water or even ginger tea with honey.

This cold-fighting super tea is safe for kids, too, and will definitely help soothe a scratchy throat.

Cuts, Scrapes, Bites
Tea tree oil again. Clean the wound, put a drop or two (or whatever, depending on the size of the owie.) on a cotton ball and apply it before covering with a bandage. Lavender oil can be used the same way.

You can also use plantain to to speed up the healing process of wounds. My family refers to these as "magic leaves" due to their miraculous (!!) healing properties. And it grows everywhere!

You can place a clean leaf right on the wound and bandage over it, or prepare a tea and use it to clean the wound.

Burns
Just keep them clean. You can use that plantain tea to wash them, but don't put oils or butters on them because it will actually make it worse. After a few days (depending on how bad the burn is), when the burn isn't really a burn anymore but just a healing wound, you can use shea butter to speed up healing and help prevent scarring.

Fussiness/Restlessness
For babies and kids that just can't seem to calm down, catnip tea can be very relaxing. Add honey or juice to help it go down. Catnip is another one of those things that grows all over the place, but only harvest it yourself if you're sure it hasn't been sprayed like crazy with weird chemicals. You can buy organic catnip if you're not sure. And of course, there is always chamomile tea, which is great for babies! It's a relaxant and it also helps with indigestion. Speaking of which...

Indigestion/Nausea

Chamomile tea or ginger tea. Ginger candies are also well-received, or you can just cut a pill-sized hunk of ginger off the root and try to get your child to swallow it if they're big enough.

Fever
For fever-related chills, ginger baths can really help improve circulation. Prepare a strong ginger tea and add it to the bath, or use ginger essential oil. If you have the essential oil on hand, you can also add it to a carrier oil for massage.

I think that about covers the natural remedies we use around here when the little one is under the weather. I'll add that I'm not a doctor - these are simply techniques that my family uses. They work great for us, and I hope they help you too. I just want you to know exactly where I'm coming from.

What about you? Have you come across any natural remedies that work really well for you and your family? Please share in the comments!

Til next time. xo

P.S. If you don't have many essential oils on hand, I LOVE this set from Eden's Garden for starting out. It includes 6 essential oils: Sweet Orange, Tea Tree, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint and Eucalyptus. It's a really inexpensive way to start out your essential oil collection and it also makes a wonderful gift!

Christianity and going green.

2011-10-26T17:49:00.000-05:00

I can't remember where I read it for the life of me, but recently I came across a comment about how Christians shouldn't worry about the environment and going green, since:

The world is going to end anyway, so who cares?
Going green is focusing too much on worldly matters, not enough on God
Concern for the environment shows lack of trust in God's plan for the world

I have to say, I disagree completely with the idea that Christians shouldn't go green. When I look at scripture and think about what God calls me to do, those reasons become meaningless.

I used to struggle with this. I was "green" before I was a Christian. When I started studying the Bible, I wondered if all of my efforts were meaningless or even idolatrous. But as I thought about it a lot and prayed about it even more, here is where I ended up:

God gave humans dominion over the Earth. Although I guess this can be taken as an excuse to do whatever, to me it is a huge responsibility. We are to take care of and protect the Earth, not exploit it for our own greed and glory.
When we put less toxins and garbage out into the environment, we are "loving our neighbor." Part of the reason I try to live naturally is because I know that a lot of the toxins in products we use are the cause of health problems. I want the same for everyone else, too.
Pollution and waste are a result of human sin: greed, laziness, pride.
The world will be destroyed, but we can't use that as an excuse to not take care of it now. Duh. It's not up to us to destroy it. Going back to my first point, we have a responsibility to care for it and protect it while it's "ours."

All that said, I definitely think natural living and going green can become an idol. It's something to pray about and it needs to be done in a way that honors God.