Lavender Body Butter - Bath Blend of the Month

Getting rough patches on your elbows, knees and heels from the summer activities?  This is the recipe for you. This smoothing and soothing body butter is packed with oils to nourish and fortify your skin.

Lavender Body Butter

1/4 cup cocoa butter

2 Tbls sunflower oil

1 Tbls coconut oil

1 Tbls flaxseed oil

2 Tbls grated beeswax

1 tsp vitamin E oil

5 to 6 drop 100%  lavender essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a double boiler (or in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water), except the essential oil and heat gently until melted. Stir well, then remove from heat and stir in lavender essential oil.  Pour the mixture into clean containers. I recommend 4-ounce mason jars.  Allow to cool. You can pop into a refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.

TO USE: Massage into your skin, especially rough spots, like elbows, heels and knees.

Fresh Herb Sun Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

July is the best month for fresh herbs. Everything is growing well, the sun is at its best, the herbs need to be cut and there is generally an abundance. So this is the perfect time to make a sun tea with all those fresh herbs.

For this one you can use two quart jars or one larger two quart jar with the same results.

Fresh Herb Sun Tea (for about 2 quarts)

2 quarts water 6-10 leaves mint (any flavor you have or enjoy) 6-10 leaves spearmint 6-8 leaves of lemon verbena 3-5 sprigs of rosemary 3-5 sprigs lemon thyme (or any kind of thyme) 6-10 leaves Stevia ( or 1 1/2 Tbls sugar) 1 lemon, juiced 1/3 cup of raw honey

Start by washing herbs as needed. Next fill 2 quart jar(s) with hot water. Then tie together rosemary and thyme with string into two bundles. Place one bundle in each jar or place both in larger jar. Rough chop or break the remaining herbs with hands, including mint, lemon verbena and stevia (if you do not have any stevia just use sugar or sugar substitute.) Cut lemon in half, squeeze one half into each jar or both into a larger jar. Add honey to jar(s) and stir.

Cover and let the tea sit out in the sun for 5 - 12 hours. Strain with clean cheese cloth or a coffee filter and a wire mesh strainer. Refrigerate or pour over ice and serve. Enjoy!

Lemon Basil Facial Mask - Bath Blend of the Month

I first shared this recipe with Lemon Basil herb of the week back in 2013.  I felt it was time to bring it back, as the lemon basil (Sweet Dani to be exact) is ready for harvest. This is a quick simple recipe you can make and use right away or chill in the fridge of a short time for soothing qualities.

Lemon Basil Facial Mask  

• handful of lemon basil leaves
• 1/2 of an avocado
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. honey

Pulverize the fresh new lemon basil leaves in a blender or food processor. Peel the avocado and mash. Add avocado to basil in blender, along with lemon juice and honey.  Blend until smooth. If chilling, cover directly on the surface, with plastic wrap to keep out oxygen.

To USE: Smear this mixture all over your clean, dry face, don't get too close to your eyes.  Then leave on 15 to 30 minutes or as long as you want.  Rinse off with lukewarm water.  Follow with a moisturizer. 

 

Red Tea for Juneteenth - Tea Blend of the Month

Red Drink is a thing for Juneteeth Celebrations, so I thought I would share a hibiscus-based tea recipe that one could use on the upcoming holiday!

This version is high in vitamin C and has a sweetness and a tartness that is perfect for the warm summer days.

Hibiscus Heaven Tea

• 1 part chopped hibiscus flower
• 1 part rose hips, chopped
• ½ part orange peel
• ½ part lemongrass, dried
• ½ part lemon peel

Mix dry ingredients together well (1 part can equal 1 tsp for easy calculation).  

Recipe adapted from Morning Sun Herb Farm

Herbed Baby Powder - Bath Blend of the Month

When the weather gets warm, I move to a dusting of baby powder in the morning to help keep me fresh and dry.  I like to craft a powder from natural items and ground herbs that I can adjust based on my needs of the season.  This blend is a combo of cornstarch and baking soda with herbs and spices.

Basic Herbed Baby Powder

• 8 oz. arrowroot or cornstarch or a blend of both
• 4 oz. baking soda
•  1 T. ground clove
• 1 T. slippery elm
• 1 T. rose petals
• 1 T. lavender
• 1 T. ground orange peel
• 1 T. ground lemon peel

Grind any herbs that are not powdered, then measure into baking soda and cornstarch in a glass or ceramic bowl.  Pure resulting mixture into a large glass jar, covered, for two weeks, allowing scents to blend.  Shake jar well every other day.

Optionally you can also add 10 to 20 drops total of match essential oils.

 

Medicinal Bladder Infection Tea - Tea of the Month

This is a tea you will have to craft at home and probably will have to dig up a few of those pesky dandelions from your yard to make, but you will appreciate the effects.

Bladder Infections Tea

• 1 ½ oz dried Goldenrod
• 1/4 oz Juniper Berries*
• 3/4 oz chopped Dandelion root
• 3/4 oz chopped Rose Hips

Pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 tsp of mixture. Steep 10 minutes & strain.

*NOTE: Juniper berries can become toxic, so only drink 2 cups of this mixture daily for no more than 3 days

Baking Soda Soother - Bath Blend of the Month

Soaking in a warm tub with baking soda can do wonders for the body, especially in gardening season.  This recipe has soothing ingredients to assist with all the summer ailments.

Summer Baking Soda Soother

• 1 cup baking soda
• 10 to 20 drops of lavender essential oil, for stress
• 1/2 cup coconut oil for dry skin
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers or leaves (for sunburn)
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (for itching)

Combine items and add 1/2 cup of mixture to a cloth bag or tied closed in a washcloth and fill the tub.  Rub ball or bag over skin while soaking.