• Home
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
Real Life Outlaw
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Blog

by Sarah Outlaw
Access Octomono Masonry Settings
I blog about real food, nutrition, DIY, and herbal wisdom…the Outlaw way!
    Picture

    About Me

    ​I want to help change the lives of others the way my life was changed through better health. I am an advocate of getting back to natural, as much as possible. 

    Subscribe

    email > Subscribe
    Categories

     

    All
    Adaptogen
    Almond
    Asparagus
    Autumn
    Baby
    Blueberry
    Breakfast
    Butternut Squash
    Cake
    Chia
    Chicken
    Chicken Wings
    Chocolate
    Cocktail
    Coconut
    Cold
    Cucumber
    Desserts
    DIY
    Drinks
    Electrolyte
    Food Allergies
    Fruit
    Gelatin
    Ginger
    Gluten Free
    Gluten-Free
    Grain Free
    Harvest
    Herbal
    Holiday
    Honey
    Ice Cubes
    Kickstarter
    Lip Scrub
    Macaroons
    Main Dish
    Mangos
    Meal Plans
    Migraines
    Mocktail
    Natural Living
    Nuggets
    Oatmeal
    Organic
    Parfait
    Peaches
    Peanut Butter
    Pear
    Picnic
    Pot Cream
    Protein Balls
    Pumpkin Pie
    Radish
    Ranch
    Real Food Basics
    Real Life
    Recipes
    Remedies
    Salad
    Shrimp
    Side Dish
    Smoothie
    Smoothie Bowl
    Snacks
    Sore Throat
    Soup
    Spaghetti
    Spices
    Spicy
    Squash
    Sriracha
    Strawberry
    Stress Relieve
    Summer
    Tea
    Teriyaki
    Toddler
    Varicose Veins
    Waffle
    Water
    Weight Loss
    Workout
    Yogurt
    Zucchini

    ARCHIVES

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021

    RSS Feed

⇠ Back To Blog

How To Make Soap Using Dried Herbs

2/16/2022

 
Picture


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.
​
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.

Ingredients:
​
  • 18.5 ounces Olive oil 
  • 12 ounces Coconut oil
  • 9 ounces Palm oil
  • 1 ounce Shea butter
  • 5.8 ounces powdered lye (or buy here)
  • 13.5 ounces water
  • 2-3 Tbsp Essential oils – I used an earthy blend of patchouli, cedarwood and lavender. I like this brand.
  • Dried herbs of choice if using to decorate. 


Method:
​
  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.

Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

Slim Assist Adaptogen Tea. For Managing Weight and Stress

2/16/2022

 
Picture


​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. 
​
Ingredients:
​
  • 2 parts Nettle
  • 1 part Chickweed
  • 1/2 part Dandelion Leaf
  • 1/2 part Ashwagandha Root
  • 1/2 part Shatavari Root
  • 1/4 part Marshmallow Root
  • 1/4 part Slippery Elm Bark
  • 1/4 part Sweet Cinnamon Chips
  • 1/4 - 1/2 parts Orange Peel
  • 1/4 part Fennel Seed


Instructions:
​
  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!
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

DIY Winter Chai Sugar Scrub

2/16/2022

 
Picture


​I’m so excited to be part of the 12 Days of DIY Christmas series hosted by Homegrown & Healthy! 


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.
​
Ingredients:
  1. 1 cup organic brown sugar (or your choice of organic sugar)
  2. 1/4 cup winter chai (ground in a spice or coffee grinder)
  3. 6-9 TBS apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil (or other choice of oil).


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.
​
Picture

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!

Picture
Picture
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

DIY Hard Lotion Bars

2/16/2022

 
Picture


I’m super excited to have Jamie from How to Just About Anything guest post for us today!  Read more about her after her awesome DIY Hard Lotion Bars post which we’ve included in the 12 Days of Christmas DIY Blog Hop!  


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.
​
Ingredients:
​
  1. 1 part shea butter (I use 1.5 oz)
  2. 1 part beeswax
  3. 1 part coconut oil
  4. Essential oils of choice (optional)
  5. Herbs of choice (optional)
  6. Muffin tin with liners or molds (I use one like these)


Instructions:
​
  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.
​

Picture


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! 

Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

Maca Morning Motivator Smoothie

2/8/2022

 
Picture


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


Ingredients:
​
  • 2/3 cup plain unsweetened or unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk
  • 1-2 scoops SP Complete Vanilla or Veg-E Pro Complete Vanilla protein powder (Standard Process)
  • 1 tablespoon Maca powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon cacao powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
  • 5 ice cubes


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

​
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!
​

With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

Basil-Thyme Vinaigrette

2/8/2022

 
Picture


​When your diet consists mostly of vegetables, fats, and proteins, you tend to eat a lot of salads!

​A good dressing is a must-have. Store-bought dressings, even the organic ones always contain less-than-desirable oils, so it is always best to make your own. Canola, vegetable oil etc. are not as healthy as we’ve all been led to believe. I prefer olive oil for salad dressing.

This dressing recipe has been my family’s favorite favorite for a long time. I’ve posted it before, but have revamped it a bit so that it is even more amazing.

Fresh herbs are a must for this dressing. While dried herbs work, they are not the same. It tastes like a completely different dressing. Still delicious, but different. With fresh herbs of basil and thyme, it tastes like summer. It’s tangy, and slightly sweet. 

The recipe calls for 1-3 cloves of garlic. I would start with one and then add more if you feel you need more. It tends to get more garlicky the longer it’s in the refrigerator so less is usually better. My kids love this dressing as long as I don’t load it up with too much garlic. 

6 sprigs of thyme is 6 of the sprigs shown in the photo. I throw the whole thing in. My blender takes care of the stalk. If you don’t have a high powered blender, you may want to remove the thyme leaves prior to blending. You can also use a food processor for this recipe.
​ 
There is honey in this recipe. This is a problem for a lot of people who are completely off sugars. It is such a small amount that it is *usually* okay. Not always, but usually. 

Ingredients:

  1. 1 cup olive oil
  2. 1/2 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  3. 1 TBS course mustard
  4. 1 TBS dijon mustard
  5. 1 tsp onion powder
  6. 1 tsp sea salt
  7. 1 TBS or more raw honey to taste
  8. 1-3 cloves of garlic
  9. 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
  10. 1 bunch of fresh basil


Instructions:
​
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until creamy.
  2. Taste to see that it is seasoned as desired.
  3. Serve on salads or use as a marinade.
  4. Refrigerate.

This basil-thyme vinaigrette will quickly become your favorite dressing. You will get complimented on how delicious it is and get recipe requests. Trust me! 🙂


​Be nourished. Be happy. 
Enjoy!

Picture
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

5 DIY All-Natural Detox Body Scrubs

2/8/2022

 
Picture

Introducing self-care into your weekly and even daily routine is important. It’s more than just applying a face mask or reading a book. Self-care is about taking care of you and your mental health. It provides you with time to relax and reflect. So, I invite you to take a break to pamper yourself with one of my DIY all-natural detox body scrubs and treat yourself to some self-care.

What Is a Body Scrub?

If you’ve never used a body scrub, you’re in for a treat. Scrubs are a fabulous way for you to exfoliate your skin. Not only do they leave you flake-free, but they also revitalize your skin by encouraging blood flow to the areas you are massaging. Additionally, body scrubs help purify and detox your skin by drawing out impurities like dirt and excess oil, leaving you feeling clean and refreshed.

Body Scrub Benefits

Outside elements can take a toll on our skin. Whether you live in a cool or warm climate, environmental stressors can irritate the skin. And when our skin experiences drastic changes in temperatures, it can get stressed, lose moisture, and become dry, itchy, and even sore.

In warmer climates, your skin can produce excess sebum (oil) as a result of perspiration and dry skin. In cooler climates, skin tends to become red from cold air and windburn. 

Regardless of temperature, we must take care of our skin, our body’s largest organ, and make sure it gets the nourishment it needs. Treating your skin to a detox body scrub can be the perfect fix to these problems.

Soothing Ingredients

Commercial body scrubs are often filled with chemical irritants and toxins like synthetic fragrances, color dyes, and harsh exfoliators. These ingredients can cause an allergic reaction, damage to the skin, and further irritation. When you make your own, you can skip the toxins and use more nourishing and protective ingredients.

My all-natural body scrubs are packed full of exactly that, with no chemicals or preservatives. And they’re made with things you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, you can make them in just ten minutes or less.

Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind for creating your own body scrubs.

Essential Oils

Be aware when using essential oils as over-scenting your products can cause irritation and contact dermatitis.

Shelf-Life

Your scrub should last between one to three months or a maximum of one week if you’re using fresh produce. Use them within this timeframe for the best results.

Storage

You can store your scrubs in a mason jar or air-tight, BPA-free container and keep them in the shower. I find it helpful to add a label to the container with the name of what you made and the date you made it.

Organic and Non-GMO

To get the best results from these scrubs, use organic produce, 100% pure essential oils and extracts, and non-GMO ingredients.
​


5 DIY All-Natural Detox Body Scrubs

These are five of my favorite recipes for a detoxifying and relaxing skin treatment. Make them according to the recipe or change it up and create your own variations.

​Exfoliating Coffee & Sugar Scrub

Do you have leftover coffee grinds from your morning cup of joe? Rather than throw them out, grab the grinds from your French press and save them to make an invigorating body scrub.

This scrub is perfect for prepping the skin for shaving. With the addition of coconut sugar, this recipe is extra exfoliating. The other ingredients serve a purpose too. Coconut oil provides moisture to the skin, while vanilla adds a natural and pleasant scent. And cinnamon is not only antifungal, but it rids the skin of topical impurities.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 – 30 applications
​

Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup coffee grinds
  • 1/8 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or 1/8 teaspoon 100% pure cinnamon essential oil
  • 1/2 vanilla bean or 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure vanilla essential oil
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (use less for a thicker scrub)

Directions:

  1. Add all the ingredients except the coffee grinds and coconut sugar into a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
  2. Slowly add grinds and sugar until you get your desired texture.
  3. Depending on how you like the consistency of your scrub, you may want to add more or less of the coffee and coconut sugar.


​​


Moisturizing Lemon & Avocado Scrub

Got avocado but no toast? Turn that would be snack into a soothing and moisturizing scrub.

Avocado is packed full of healthy fats, and when applied topically to the skin, it helps skin retain moisture. Lemon is a powerful bacteria fighter, so it’s perfect for not only toning the skin but detoxifying it of unwanted pathogens that could potentially enter our body. Baking soda is a mild exfoliant that helps fight bacteria, and it’s great for people with sensitive skin.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 – 30 applications 
​

Ingredients:​

  • 1 ripe avocado 
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure lemon essential oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure rosemary essential oil
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup baking soda

Directions:

  1. Add all the ingredients except the baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
  2. Mash the avocado until smooth, add it to the dry mixture.
  3. Slowly add baking soda until you get your desired texture. For a thicker consistency, add more.
​
​
​
Purifying Green Tea & Kiwi Scrub

The next time you steep a cup of tea instead of drinking it, add it to your shower routine in the form of a scrub.

Green tea is not only a relaxing scent, but it’s a purifying ingredient. This type of tea does a fantastic job of protecting you from the formation of free radicals, molecules that damage our otherwise healthy cells. When applied to the skin, green tea not only moisturizes and gently tones, but it also protects the skin from oxidative stress.

Want brighter and clearer skin? Kiwi is the answer. It’s packed with vitamin C, which is another powerful antioxidant that helps clear and detox free radicals.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 – 30 applications 
​
Ingredients:​

  • 2 tablespoons freshly steeped 100% organic green tea (cooled to room temperature)
  • 1 ripe kiwi
  • 1/2 teaspoon chlorella
  • ​1/3 cup baking soda

Directions:

  1. Add all the ingredients except the baking soda into a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
  2. Slowly add baking soda until you get your desired texture. For a thicker consistency, add more.



Anti-Inflammatory Golden Turmeric Scrub

This golden-colored scrub is more than just pretty. It’s packed with powerful bacteria-fighting ingredients. Both turmeric and honey have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to help detoxify the body from infection. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that help detoxify the skin of unwanted pathogens.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 – 30 applications


Ingredients:​


  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • 2 tablespoons organic honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure rosemary essential oil
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup coconut sugar

Directions:

  1. Add all the ingredients together except the coconut sugar into a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
  2. Slowly add coconut sugar until you get your desired texture. For a thicker consistency, add more.

​


​Energizing Charcoal Body Scrub


Purifying, tingly, and awakening! This scrub is perfect for the morning. It will help wake you up and get you energized for the day. This scrub is not only excellent on your body but would be fantastic for sore or tired feet!

Charcoal is great for drawing out impurities on the skin. Both tea tree oil and spearmint oil are antibacterial, which is excellent for keeping you healthy.  Natural clay, like Rhassoul clay, is a skin detoxifier that pulls out excess oils, dirt, and sebum from your skin, leaving it feeling fresh and clean.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15 – 30 applications



Ingredients:

  • 10 charcoal capsules or 1 – 2 tablespoons charcoal powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure spearmint essential oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon 100% pure tea tree oil
  • 1/3 cup natural clay
  • 1/3 cup Epsom salt

​Directions:

  1. 1. Add all the ingredients together except the Epsom salt into a medium-sized bowl and mix together.
  2. 2. Slowly add Epsom salt until you get your desired texture. For a thicker consistency, add more.

Note: If your Epsom salt is coarse, you can make them smaller by pulsing them in a blender. This will make it easier to spread on the body.




Self-Care with a Body Scrub

Treating yourself to self-care is a good thing! It helps lift your mood, relaxes you, and lets your mind and body take a break from your busy day. With these homemade all-natural detox body scrubs in your arsenal, your skin will feel incredibly refreshed again.

​
Are you feeling inspired to try something new? If so, tell me which recipe gets you most excited to make!

Share this recipe with a friend who could use some self-care. If you try any of these recipes and post them on social, tag me. I would love to see your creations. @reallifeoutlawblog


Be Well & Thrive!

With Love & In Health,
Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN




​
​References:

  1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon 
  2. https://foodrevolution.org/blog/detoxifying-foods/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2855614/
  4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric
  5. https://www.healthline.com/health/tea-tree-oil-for-scalp
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade

1/12/2022

 
Picture


​One of my favorite remedies for just about everything from colds to stomach viruses is Garlic-Ginger Lemonade. It is made with hot water, garlic, ginger, lemons, and honey.  It is not gross as some would think by the name. In fact, it is quite tasty and even a little addicting! Honey make almost anything taste good! You may smell like garlic but at least you won’t have to worry about vampires!

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade is not your everyday lemonade. It is made for the purpose of preventing or lessening the duration of illness and is quite effective, especially during cold and flu season. Drink it anytime you have been exposed to someone ill or are starting to feel ill yourself. Or, if you are like me you will be drinking it every day!
​
  • Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties which helps fight off illness and build the immune system. It is a wellness powerhouse that should be a part of the daily diet.
  • Ginger is especially calming for the stomach and is very anti-inflammatory. It also adds a really nice flavor to the lemonade.
  • Lemons are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. They also help the immune system function properly with their antiviral, antibacterial powers.
  • Honey when it is in its raw, natural state is a wonderful superfood. It is full of enzymes, vitamins, and minerals which are essential for the health of the body. It also helps fight infection and is often used in cough remedies. Just be sure not to heat above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat kills the enzymes and may lessen overall potency.

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade is safe for children age one and above. Honey should not be given to an infant younger than one.

Garlic-Ginger Lemonade

​Author: Sarah Outlaw
Recipe type: Herbal Remedy
 
Adapted from a recipe by Dr. Aviva Romm
​
Ingredients:
​
  • 1 quart hot water
  • 2-4 cloves chopped garlic
  • 2-3 lemons, juiced
  • 1 inch (or so) piece of fresh ginger, chopped
  • Honey to taste or approx. ¼ cup


Instructions:
​
  1. In a 1 quart mason jar combine chopped garlic and chopped ginger.
  2. Cover and let steep for at least 20 minutes or until it is less than 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Add lemon juice and honey. Stir to combine.
  4. Either strain the garlic and ginger pieces out or leave them in.
  5. Another option is to put entire mixture in the blender and mix into a garlic-ginger lemonade "smoothie".
  6. Best if consumed warm and as needed. Can be drank at room temperature but I do not recommend drinking it chilled.
Comments
⇠ Back To Blog

Teething Tea

1/12/2022

 
Picture
 
I have a teething baby. Need I say more?

​
My lifesaver during teething is my amber teething necklace. It is incredible! I also love Hyland’s Teething Tablets and have used them with all of my 4 children. Sometimes though I need a little extra help for my little one as he cuts 4 molars and 2 eye teeth at the same time. It’s tough!

We don’t use conventional pain relievers. We haven’t used Tylenol or Motrin for about 8 years now. We don’t miss them!!! I’ve learned to use herbs and homeopathy to naturally relieve pain. I am not okay with giving medication to children unnecessarily. Acetaminophen is toxic to the liver even in small doses and ibuprofen is toxic to the kidneys and to the stomach.  These are drugs and should be treated as such. I’ve learned to use herbs and homeopathy in place of those drugs for the health of my family.

Teething tea is a wonderful blend of soothing, calming herbs that help relive the pain and discomfort of teething. It also helps the other symptoms that sometimes go along with teething like fever and runny nose. It’s great for the immune system to help ward off any colds or other viruses that might want to attack when baby’s defenses are down.

The herbs I chose for the teething tea have a long proven history of being used for these sorts of things. They are a common blend of anti-inflammatory, analgesic herbs. Taste is key because you don’t want to give something that is gross when your baby is already uncomfortable. Teething tea is so pleasant that I drink it!

Chamomile is so gentle and lovely that even Peter Rabbit and his siblings were given a spoonful before bed. It’s calming and helps the child rest. It is an incredible would healer and helps heal the mouth as the teeth are pushing through. It’s soothing to the stomach and can even help fight against colds.

Lavender is beautiful and brings this tea to life with its bright purple hue. It helps with the feverishness and headaches that can sometimes accompany teething. It also encourages sleep and relaxation, relieves anxiety and reduces pain.

Catnip has the opposite effect on humans as it does on cats. Don’t worry! It’s very calming and beneficial for pain relief and allowing the child to sleep peacefully. It’s also a wonderful herb for fever support.

Skullcap like catnip is great for calming, restful sleep. It’s very relaxing and relieves the stress cutting teeth brings.

Oatstraw is very nourishing and contains many vitamins and minerals like calcium and magnesium, vitamin A and B-complex vitamins. It strengthens the nervous system and relieves has anti-spasmodic properties.
Rose Hips are a lovely addition to this tea because they provide much needed vitamin C which is great for the immune system and for those new teeth coming in. So many times a cold will accompany teething and rose hips can help prevent that.

Red Clover is another highly nutritive herbs that nourishes the body and provides much needed support. It contains isoflavones which are linked to bone health.

Cloves are naturally analgesic and are such a wonderful part of this tea. They provide a pleasantly different taste from other herbal teas. Cloves have been used for gum pain for centuries and for their antibacterial properties. They are also anti-inflammatory and full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin K.

To make this wonderfully nourishing, soothing teething tea: mix 1/2 ounce of each herb and place into a jar for storage. Don’t forget to label your jar! When you want to make the tea, add 1-2 teaspoons of dry herb mix per 1 cup of water. Let steep for at least 20 minutes and up to 4 hours or overnight for a more potent infusion. Give warm or chilled. Can be frozen into ice cubes or on a clean cloth for further teething relief.

If you don’t have all of the herbs on-hand and need something ASAP, it’s okay to leave some of the herbs out. Use what you have while you build your herbal medicine chest.

Two great places to buy herbs can be found here and here.
​
What are your favorite methods for teething relief?

I hope your little one gets some relief soon!



Disclaimer: I am an herbalist, not a doctor. Nothing in the post is to be construed as medical advice nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, or heal any disease. Please inform yourself on the proper usage of herbs. I am not responsible for user error.  Please use common sense.
​
Comments
<<Previous
Just Breathe

Latest Blogs

Kava DSM Fall Favorites...
5 Spices You Should Be Cooking...
​Stuffed Zucchini Boats 2 Ways
​
Cassava Flour Chocolate Cake

Useful Links

About Sarah
Recipes
Blog
​Contact

About RLO

Real Life Outlaw is dedicated to providing crucial nutrition facts and individual health advisory.
​© 2021 Real Life Outlaw. Site by Northgate Marketing