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Making soap can be very intimidating. The powers that be will have everyone believing that lye is this big, bad scary substance to live in fear of.

The truth is, yes lye is caustic in it’s original form. Once it goes through it’s saponification process and turn oils into soap, it’s no longer caustic. 

Once you start making soap, you will be addicted and never want to stop! I am serious! There is something so amazingly pioneer-ish about making your own soap. Like Little House on the Prairie! 

I’ve been experimenting with a few recipes and really like this herbal soap recipe from Shalom Mama. I made an amazing holiday spice soap from it for Christmas gifts that everyone loved! 

I was asked by a friend recently to make favors for a baby shower that were egg shaped. I didn’t want to do an herbal infused soap but I did want to use herbs as a decorative part of the soap. 

I chose calendula to go with the earthy, patchouli, lavender and cedarwood essential oils that I used to add scent. You could use cornflowers, roses, lavender petals or any other colorful herb or flower. I found egg molds here.
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I turned to Shalom Mama’s tutorial once again but added and took away things as needed to suit what I was looking for. Please visit the herbal soap recipe to see what equipment you will need and for detailed pictures if you are a beginner soapmaker.

Method:
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1. If you are using large soap molds, line them with parchment or butcher paper. If using small molds you don’t need to line them. 
2. Weigh each of the oils either in a bowl or in a pot, taring the scale after each addition. Or if using a bowl, pour the oils one by one into a pot after measuring. Warm on the stove on low. 
3. Alternatively, heat the oils in a crock pot on low.
4. While heating the oils, put on a pair of gloves, a mask and eye goggles and add the lye to the water. I like to take my bowl of lye and water outside and place it in a bowl of ice water (or in the snow in the winter) to the fumes are not in my house. ALWAYS pour the lye into the water and not the other way around!
5. While the lye is cooling down to 110 degrees, get the temp of the oils up to 110 degrees. 
6. Pour the lye into the oils and blend using an immersion blender until it reaches trace. Trace is a thickening of the soap mixture so that when you run the blender over the top of the mixture, it makes ridges in it. Think of pudding consistency. 
7. Add in your essential oils and pour into molds. If using dried herbs, put them in the mold prior to adding soap. 
8. Place soap molds in a box with a lid for 48 hours. 
9. Unmold carefully and allow to sit for 3 weeks to harden. They can be used earlier, they just won’t be as hardened.
10. Clean all of your equipment thoroughly with hot water.

This recipe makes enough soap for 5 egg soap molds plus one loaf pan. If you are just making soap loaves, it makes two standard sized loaves. 

Have fun! 

All the soapmaking ingredients like oils and herbs can be found at Mountain Rose Herbs.

​Herbs to Help Relieve Stress and Encourage Healthy Weight Loss

Many women overeat because they are stressed out or emotional about something going on in their lives. They find comfort in food and eat even when they are not really hungry. Usually their food choices are sugars and carbs which causes weight gain. This can lead to even more stress which leads to more emotional eating…it’s a vicious cycle!

How do we solve this problem?

1. 1. Stop yourself from eating while stressed or emotional, and cut out sugar from your diet. This can be difficult and will take a conscious effort. Do it on a gradient, a little at a time for as long as it takes. Unhealthy habits take time to correct and carb and sugar cravings are not easy to conquer.
2. 2. Make a list of healthy activities you can replace the stressed, emotional eating with. Instead of grabbing a bag of cookies, go for a walk. Call a friend and go to the park or to the lake. Something active to help relieve that stress without eating.
3. 3. Utilize herbs  or essential oils  to help reduce stress by balancing hormones and strengthening your adrenal glands.

This is where DIY Slim Assist Adaptogen Tea comes in!

Herbs can help nourish the body and bring harmony.  They can aid digestion and elimination, help balance hormones, relieve stressed organs, and gently detox the body. 

The herbs chosen for this particular blend are:

• Nettle – My number one herb for nourishing the body with bioavailable vitamins and minerals.
• Chickweed – A common, little weed that can do big things! Great for aiding weight loss, nourishing, and anti-inflammatory. 
• Dandelion Leaf – Another common weed that most people use weed killer on. Nourishing, bitter herb that aids digestion. Great for detoxing the liver. 
• Ashwagandha Root – An Ayurvedic, adaptogenic herb which means it is very soothing to the nervous system. Helps calm the adrenals and relieve stress. 
• Shatavari Root – Another Ayurvedic, adaptogenic herb that relaxes the nervous system which can encouraging healing of stressed, hormone producing organs, like the adrenal glands. 
• Marshmallow Root – Soothing to the entire digestive tract, from the throat through elimination. 
• Slippery Elm Bark – As slippery as its name implies. Helps digestion and elimination, and also soothes.
• Sweet Cinnamon Chips – Adaptogenic in nature, and works as a catalyst between other herbs.
• Orange Peel – Another catalyst herbs that bring synergy to the blend as well as flavor and essential vitamins like C. 
• Fennel Seed – Wonderful digestive aid. Relieves gas and bloating, as well as stomach inflammation. 

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Instructions:
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1. Blend all of the herbs into a clean ball jar.
2. Cover with a lid and label.
3. To Brew: Place 1-2 tsp of dried herb blend into a cup of boiling water and allow to steep for up to 20 minutes.
4. It's best not to sweeten or sweeten just with stevia.
5. Drink 1-4 cups per day.

While this blend is gentle enough to drink daily, it’s best used as a 21-30 day detox type tea. Drink 1-4 cups daily while cutting back on sugar and refined carbs (like bread, muffins, cakes, etc.).

Don’t want to make it yourself? Buy it from my 90210 Organics Shop!

​Be nourished. Be Happy.
Enjoy!

My first post for this super fun series is an amazingly easy and heavenly scented DIY Winter Chai Sugar Scrub! Spoiler alert: If you’re on my Christmas list this year, this will be part of your gift! 

There’s something about a sugar scrub that draws me in. Maybe it’s because I didn’t eat sugar for over six months, or that it just makes my skin feel so amazing! Especially in the winter when skin gets very dry, sugar helps to buff off the dead skin cells and exfoliate. 

Using this chai-scented scrub makes taking a shower a spa-like experience. If you’re a mom like me, you know that just getting a shower can be a luxury sometimes. This way you can kick it up a notch! The exotic aroma puts me in mind of my favorite winter memories of spice cookies and yummy tea by the fire. Fun times! 

My favorite winter beverage is chai. I have my own blend that I’ve shared with all of you through my shop and the recipe here. This is the blend that I use in this scrub. It’s super simple to make and very easy to find the ingredients. You can get them at Amazon, Frontier, or Mountain Rose Herbs. You can usually find them locally as well because they are common spices.
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Instructions:

1. Blend all ingredients together.
2. For a wetter scrub, use more oil. Use less for a drier scrub.
3. Spoon into an airtight jar.
4. Using a spoon or wooden scoop, use a small amount as a body scrub in the shower.
5. Rinse thoroughly.

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Just making this aromatic scrub will make everyone think you’ve been baking! If you use edible oils like coconut, you can add this scrub as a sweetener to your favorite winter beverage…not that I’m condoning sugar consumption… 🙂

If you’re looking for easy gifts this holiday season, the recipe can easily be doubled, or tripled, or more to meet your gift giving needs. This will be a hit with anyone you give it to for sure!

I remember when I first heard of hard lotion. “Lotion’s not hard. What is this stuff? It sounds ridiculous!” But then I tried it.
 
No mess, no goop and nothing your toddler can smear all over your bedroom wall. No one’s had that happen, right? All in a convenient little bar.  
 
These are perfect to throw in your purse or the diaper bag to whip out whenever you get that itchy, dry skin feeling. I also like keeping one by the sink next to my semi-handmade hand soap to moisturize my hands after I do the dishes or get some cleaning done. I hate using cleaning gloves, and I feel safe not doing so since I make my own cleaners, but it can make my hands dry.
 
Use a mold and these bars look so elegant and chic in a guest bathroom. You can even include it with some diy whipped body butter and this room and linen spray in a little basket left in the guest room. Perfect for welcoming any overnight guests. They’re really so simple to put together, but the results are impressive.  
 
I’ve recently discovered the world of essential oils (Sarah’s note: I get mine here) and they’re super useful, especially with homemade body care products. If you prefer to use herbs though, this is a great way to use an infused oil. Calendula is my go to herb for skin care since it’s great for a plethora of skin issues. I use it along with lavender and plantain to make a salve to help with diaper rashes and eczema.
 
Below are some herbs and essential oils you can use in your lotion bars. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s enough to get you started. Even though some of these are good for rashes and broken skin, I can’t recommend rubbing a hard lotion bar on broken skin as it will most likely irritate the area more.  

 Essential Oils For Skin 

• Tea Tree – good for acne, dermatitis, eczema, rashes, sunburn
• Lavender – useful for dry skin, itchy skin, stretch marks, wrinkles
• Frankincense – helps prevent scarring, wrinkles
• Geranium – useful for dry skin, diaper rash, wrinkles
• Helichrysum – reduces scarring, wrinkles
• Myrrh – good for chapped dry skin, stretch marks, wrinkles
• Roman chamomile– useful for dry skin
• Sandalwood – useful for dry skin, wrinkles

Herbs for Skin

• Calendula – useful for eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, burns, inflamed skin
• Plantain – useful for eczema, psoriasis, rashes, damaged skin
• Comfrey– useful for eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, burns, and sores. 

​If you’re infusing the coconut oil with herbs, see how I do it here.
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Instructions:
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1. Add all ingredients, except for essential oils, into a double boiler (I use a glass bowl on top of a sauce pan).
2. Stir occasionally with a metal spoon until everything has melted.
3. Remove from the heat and add your essential oils. I like adding 10 drops per 1 oz.
4. Give this a quick stir and immediately pour into your molds. Let cool at room temperature until solid.
5. For easy removal put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes before popping them out. Don’t leave them in for long though otherwise they’ll split.

​​I like putting these into little organza gift bags to giveaway. These tins are a great way to store the bars as well, especially when toting them around in your purse.
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All of these herbs are also available at Mountain Rose Herbs or the Bulk Herb Store.
Resources:

Practical Herbalism
Modern Essentials
 

About Jamie:   
Jamie writes about diy projects, healthy recipes and natural living on her blog, How To Just About Anything. She attended Grace College for journalism and is currently enrolled in natural health courses. She runs her own bodycare business and is the development director for A’amarna Toothpaste. Come say hi on her Facebook page, follow her on Pinterest, or check out her blog! 

​Last time I tackled a delicious lemon sourdough pancake recipe. This time I am continuing on the breakfast theme with a delicious Berry Almond Bread.

This bread was a hit with my family. It’s the perfect blend of tart and sweet. The almond extract adds a depth to the flavor that really brings out the berries. 

I am a mom of four and really need “easy” for breakfast. This recipe can easily be made ahead and served quickly in the morning. 

To get the recipe, click here and head on over the the Grain Mill Wagon to check it out!

I am more than a little obsessed with grain-free, paleo waffles!

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It’s really hard to improve on waffle perfection, and Hayley from Health Starts in the Kitchen’s waffles really are perfect! If you haven’t tried them yet, you must!

I wanted a yummy fall twist and to make them even more nutrient-dense, so using her recipe as inspiration, I went to work creating grain-free, paleo pumpkin waffles.

Pumpkin pie spice is star of my fall. It’s what really gives a recipe that pumpkin pie flavor. I use it in everything from coffee, to pancakes, to waffles. I buy mine already blended from Frontier, but it’s available at Amazon. You can also make your own with this recipe from Live Simply. 

If you don’t have homemade pumpkin puree already prepared from a recipe like this one from Naturally Loriel, use canned pumpkin. Make sure it’s organic and from a non-BPA can like this one.

Before I get yelled at for using milk in a paleo recipe, yes I do know that milk isn’t strict paleo. I also know that many paleo peeps use raw dairy if they can tolerate it. It’s a grey area. Raw milk is very nutrient dense so if you can have it, do!

I use gelatin hydrosylate in many of my recipes to add to the nutrient-denseness. This is optional and can be left out if you don’t have it. 

I make all my batters in my Blendtec blender. It makes less cleanup for me, and a nice, smooth batter every time. I don’t need any extra work, and neither do you!
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I don’t know what it is about dutifully plopping batter into a waffle iron that makes me so blissfully happy…maybe it’s knowing what amazing goodness I’m about to put into my mouth. It’s the anticipation! That and the joy on my kids’ faces when I yell, “Kids, the waffles are ready!” They come running! I always eat the first waffle before they get to the table or I won’t get one. 🙂
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These waffles are more dense and less crispy than the originals. They need to be cooked thoroughly so check with a fork for doneness. When they are ready to come out, they will do so easily. If they fall apart, they’re not ready. 

I eat them plain, like a cookie, but they are great with a little maple syrup too!

Be nourished. Be happy.
​Enjoy!

These Molasses Spice Breakfast bars recipe is a guest post from Renee of Raising Generation Nourished! I am thrilled to have one of Renee’s amazing recipes featured here! Be sure to read more about her after the post.

I have a household of big breakfast fans.I know some people are light breakfast eaters…our household is not. It is typically our biggest meal of the day, and I especially look forward to it on the weekends.

On the weekends my husband get to be home for breakfast, and we love making big breakfasts together. During the work week he has to take all 3 meals of the day along with him to work, so we really love our weekend breakfasts!
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I usually take advantage of weekend breakfast making to plan myself ahead for the upcoming work and school week. My husband usually likes to take grab and go breakfast cookies, or a thermos of soaked oatmeal on the way out the door with him so I make those a lot on the weekend.

I have been looking for some other ways to change things up though, so he isn’t eating the same thing day in and day out. I created this breakfast bar with him in mind as I know he loves the flavor of molasses.

These breakfast bars are definitely hitting my breakfast making rotation. It was delicious with a cup of tea, and since we are bigger breakfast eaters we also had sides of fried eggs and hash, and raw milk.
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One of my goals in recipes like this is no fuss. I want it to be something everyone has time for. This is literally everything into the blender, onto the baking sheet, and bake it off. The recipe can be doubled or tripled, and the bars frozen individually for quick grab and go. The leftovers were great for school morning breakfast on Monday, and my daughter loved having it in her lunchbox later that week. My toddlers were big fans of them too.

 

Instructions:
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1. Put the bananas, molasses, and coconut oil in your food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend to combine.
3. Spread the batter on a Silpat lined (or parchment paper lined) large baking sheet or jelly roll pan, and use a butter knife to make your bar shapes however big you want. Once they bake, they will pull off into bars super easy.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Check them at the 30 minute mark in case our ovens run differently.

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I’m so excited to get to review Kelly Bejelly’s brand new cookbook PALEO EATS!

I’m sure you know Kelly from A Girl Worth Saving Blog. I first was introduced to her through her paleo pop tart recipe. I have followed her ever since! I have the great privilege of being a part of a blogging group that she runs and have really enjoyed getting to know her better over the last year. 

When I heard that Kelly was looking for reviewers for her book, I jumped at the chance. I had preordered the book and was excited to also received TWO advanced copies (thank you, Kelly!). I’ll be giving away those two advanced copies to two lucky people!

When Kelly Bejelly started sharing her new Paleo-versions of some of her favorite foods on her blog, she was soon overwhelmed by the positive response and support from so many of you out there who are taking control of your health, but miss the recipes that you grew up with.

As a mother herself, she appreciates that you just want to be able to give your child the gift of knowing the simple joy of a cookie. So, she took your words and messages to heart and poured all of her knowledge into a cookbook that focuses solely on Paleo cooking from the heart, Paleo Eats: 111 Comforting Gluten-Free, Grain-Free and Dairy-Free Recipes for the Foodie in You.

To help you navigate these waters and smoothly transition your family to this diet, Kelly has included a few special sections in Paleo Eats, including how to:
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• Go Paleo without breaking the bank
• Find the freshest, “cleanest” veggies
• Work with new-to-you Paleo ingredients
• Rescue a culinary disaster
• Stock your Paleo pantry
• Recreate your own family-favorite recipes

Now you can enjoy soft chocolate chip cookies like the ones you shared with your mom, hot out of the oven and sweet and sour meatballs like the ones you got every time you visited your favorite Chinese restaurant, and even the key lime pie your grandmother made every time she visited.
You’ll also find:
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• 111 Easy-To-Follow Recipes
• 10 Invigorating Breakfast Dishes
• 27 Satisfying Dinner Recipes
• 17 Can’t-Miss Sides and Salads
• 24 “Too-Good-To-Be-True” Desserts
• 18 Must-Have Pantry Recipes
• 5 Refreshing Drinks

These recipes aren’t just fuel for the body. They are beloved caretakers of some of our favorite childhood memories that you can now delight in again!


​The recipe calls for an egg but since one of my daughters and I are sensitive to egg white, I just used a yolk. It still turned out fine. 

Delicious! The kids thought so too!I also made the paleo fried chicken for dinner and it was AMAZING! I love this book!

Be nourished. Be happy.
​Enjoy. 

Maca, which is found in the high Andes mountains of central Peru, has been touted as a superfood for its multiple health benefits. It’s been eaten as a medicinal plant for over 3,000 years to boost libido, strength, and stress. Today I’m sharing with you my Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie recipe which takes advantage of one other benefit maca provides – increased energy.

What is Maca?

The maca plant is a cruciferous vegetable known scientifically as Lepidium Meyenii. It contains 133% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C as well as other nutrients such as vitamin B6, manganese, copper, potassium, and iron.

One ounce (28 grams) of maca root powder contains 4 grams of protein and only 20 grams of carbs and 1 gram of fat. It also contains bioactive plant compounds like polyphenols.

The powder form can provide stable energy without the jitters you get with caffeine. It has a slightly sweet, nutty, and earthy taste, which makes it ideal for smoothies or blended drinks.

Aside from this smoothie recipe, I like to enjoy it in iced coffee and lattes, but it also works well in baked goods, energy bars, and oatmeal.

Where can you get it?

You can find maca powder in your local health food store in the supplements section and through online retailers. If you’re new to maca, consult your doctor to see if it’s right for you, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or have thyroid problems. Also, start with a small amount, such as half a teaspoon to see how your body reacts to it.

Blending Tip

If you find your blender doesn’t give you that smooth consistency you want, make sure you add the liquid to the blender first. Doing this allows the blender to pull down the ice and other ingredients into a “vortex” for a better, smoother blend.

For easy cleanup, fill your blender with about a cup of water and a few drops of dish detergent. Cover and blend. The action will easily scrub bits off the inside of the carafe. Empty the contents, give it a good rinse, and enjoy the time you saved with this quick cleanup tip.

Personally, I love my BlendTec blender.

Easy Swaps

If you have nut allergies or dislike the taste of almond milk, you can substitute with coconut milk.
Want to skip the vanilla protein powder but still want some sweetness? Try substituting a banana, two pitted Medjool dates or a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Storage

I highly doubt you’ll have any leftover, but if you want to whip up a big batch in advance, it will keep well in the fridge for a day or two. Store it in the blender carafe so you can easily remix it just before serving.

Alternatively, pour individual servings into mason jars and shake well before drinking. Mason jars also make it super easy to travel with or take to work.


​Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie

This maca smoothie is rich and chocolatey but packed with superfoods to give you a boost of energy to kickstart your day.

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 1 minute
Servings: 1

Directions:
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1. Add all ingredients to a blender. Mix until desired consistency.
2. Sprinkle cinnamon or cacao powder on top.
3. Serve and enjoy!

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If you’ve tried one of my recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Shared it on social media? I would love to see it! Tag your post with #RealLifeOutlawBlog, so I can find it.


Be Well & Thrive!
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With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN