DIY Herbal Face Scrub & Facial Cleanser

I love using organic herbs to make my own skin care products when I can and this is one of my favorite recipes! I purchase my dried herbs from a local apothecary, but you can order them online just as easily if you do not have access to an herbal apothecary. This recipe is full of yummy-smelling herbs that are beneficial for your skin. My husband and I both love the smell of it and the gal who runs my local apothecary calls my special custom mix "Herbal Pretty Face." There are two different recipes I use with this mix, both of which are listed below for you.

Herbal Face Scrub Recipe
- organic lavender flowers
- organic calendula flowers
- organic chamomile flowers
- organic echinacea flowers
- organic life everlasting flowers
- organic rose flowers
- organic green tea leaves - organic horsetail (shavegrass)
- organic lemon balm
- Redmond Clay
- organic lemon peel


To make the scrub, you will need to first grind your dried herbs. I recommend keeping a separate coffee grinder for use only with your organic herbs. Mix (with whatever measurement you choose...it could be a teaspoon or a cup...it just depends on how much you want to make) 3 parts each of the lavender, calendula, and chamomile with 2 parts each of the echinacea, life everlasting, rose, green tea, horsetail, and lemon balm, with 1 part each of the clay and lemon peel. You should end up with a finely ground powder mix that smells heavenly. To use: after cleansing, place a small amount in the palm of your hand, add a couple drops of water, massage onto face and rinse with water. Follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer.

To use this recipe as a facial cleanser, simply eliminate the clay from the recipe and add:
- 4 parts organic aloe vera leaf gel
- 4 parts organic aloe vera juice
- your favorite mix of organic hydrosols and essential oils       - note: I normally use a mix of lavender, rose, orange blossom, and helichrysum hydrosols with a special Lavender Reserve essential oil and a rose essential oil. (I only recommend essential oils from Veriditas Botanicals.)

Allow your herb mixture to sit in the aloe gel and juice for at least a few days, then strain it through cheesecloth or muslin into a jar with a pump that can be used to store your face cleanser.

 
Caution: Do not ingest or use this product on open wounds or broken skin. Not for use on children. Always ask your physician before trying a new product, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication.


Disclaimers: I am not a medical professional and none of the above information is meant to be considered as medical advice. The information above is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness or disease. I am just a natural health and pure, organic living enthusiast, sharing what I have learned. I encourage you to always do your own research. Please check with your naturopathic physician or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist before introducing anything new into your home.
This post contains affiliate links that help to cover the costs of running www.jonanderinstewart.com. Thank you for your support as we grow!
None of the companies mentioned in this post are compensating me for this post. 

DIY Foot Soak // Bath Salts Recipe

I've been really into making homemade foot soak mixes lately. I don't know why, but for the last few weeks, I've really been wanting to start pampering my feet on a regular basis. Maybe it's because I miss pedicures a little bit (but not all the toxins and germs that go with them!), or maybe it's just because I know winter's coming and I don't want any crusty heels gracing my little feet. Either way, if you're like me and you like to show your feet some love without all the nasty chemicals in salons and store-bought products, this one's for you! Only 3 ingredients, super easy and quick to make, and smells sooooo good. It'll leave your tired, hard-working feet feeling soft, invigorated, and spoiled.

What you'll need:
- Bath Salts Plus from Redmond Bath Salts
- Organic Lavender
- Organic Peppermint Tea Bags

For this recipe, I used the unrefined Bath Salts Plus from Redmond Trading. These are the best bath salts I have found. They're naturally richer in trace minerals than other bath salts and they draw toxins out of the body, while still allowing your skin to soak up all the yummy minerals. The company extracts the salt without using any additives, chemicals, or heat processing, which I love. Just pure and all natural sea salt that is rich in trace minerals and natural clay (additional source of minerals!). The tub of salts says the product is great for soothing stiff, sore, and aching muscles, aids in detoxification, helps improve circulation, and promotes sound, restful sleep...just some of the reasons why I use this mix as a bath salt mix too! I recommend purchasing the salts in bulk, as the cost works out to be much cheaper per batch that way.

For the peppermint tea bags, you can use whatever organic peppermint tea you have in the house. We like the Traditional Medicinals Peppermint Tea. It's the most potent and delicious peppermint tea I've ever had. We always have some in the cupboard. We've found it at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Mother's Market, and even Albertsons and Kroger. It's usually about $5 per box (I promise you, it's worth it.) but you can buy it in bulk online for about $3 per box.

I recommend purchasing your lavender online if you can't find any locally. I had a few bunches of organic lavender that I picked up at the farmer's market a couple weeks ago and dried, so I used that. I will warn you...if you do what I did, you'll end up spending 30 minutes hand-harvesting lavender buds, so if you want to save time, just buy some online or from your local apothecary.

Instructions
Mix everything together and enjoy! When you're ready to use it, just add some to your running water. For a foot soak, I use 1 TBSP of the mix, but for a bath, you would use 1/2 cup. If you buy the 18 oz. tub of the bath salts, it'll last you for 4 baths or 32 foot soaks. If you buy the 7lb bulk tub (best price option) of bath salts, it'll last for about 25 baths or 200 foot soaks.

This mix smells so luxurious and yummy. I love it and I hope you give it a try!


p.s. - You can also pick up organic Peppermint and Lavender from Mountain Rose Herbs.



Disclaimers: I am not a medical professional and none of the above information is meant to be considered as medical advice. The information above is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness or disease. I am just a natural health and pure, organic living enthusiast, sharing what I have learned. I encourage you to always do your own research. Please check with your naturopathic physician or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist before introducing anything new into your home.
This post contains affiliate links that help to cover the costs of running www.jonanderinstewart.com. Thank you for your support as we grow!
None of the companies mentioned in this post are compensating me for this post.  

Southwestern Taquitos - Organic Recipe - GF, SF, V

When I was a kid, we used to eat these chicken & cheese taquitos that we thought were super yummy. Never mind the fact that they were super processed and microwaveable (yuck!). Who knows if they even had real chicken or cheese in them? But we loved them. We'd all come barreling into the house after swimming in our backyard pool for hours, dripping wet and ravenously hungry, pop a few into the microwave, and jump back into the pool until they were ready to eat. Fast forward a few years and you'd find me loving the flautas (they reminded me of giant taquitos) at a Mexican restaurant down the street from my college dorm. At the very least, I think it's safe to say I like Mexican food and Mexican-food-inspired flavors. I get it from my Momma. She loves her spicy foods!

My new favorite taquito recipe is a much healthier version than our kid-hood favorite...it's gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, and doesn't wreak havoc on all of my little cells (or my digestive system)! It even tastes better than those microwave ones we used to eat. Exponentially better. You're just going to have to trust me on that until you try them yourself. ;)

Ingredients:

- organic corn tortillas (organic corn is super important // try to look for ones that only have organic corn, water, and lime on the ingredients list)
- organic black beans (2 cans, or the equivalent in freshly made beans)
- 1 medium organic onion (whatever color is your favorite), finely chopped
- 1 medium organic shallot, peeled and finely chopped
- 3-4 cloves organic garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 cup organic tomatoes, diced (we used organic baby heirlooms from the farmer's market)
- 1 organic jalapeno, seeded (or not), and diced
- 1 organic red bell pepper, seeded (or not) and diced
- 2-3 organic sweet mini peppers, seeded and diced
- 1 organic serrano, seeded and diced
- 1 ear organic corn
- handful of fresh, organic cilantro, chopped
- handful of fresh, organic oregano, chopped
- juice of 1 organic lime (feel free to add the zest, too!)
- organic cumin
- organic black pepper, ground
- organic chili flakes or red pepper flakes
- Real Salt
- organic hummus (optional)


Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine your beans, onion, shallot, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeno, bell pepper, sweet mini peppers, serrano, and seasonings in a large bowl. Play with the seasoning level, adding a little at a time, until you reach a flavor intensity you like.
3. Warm your tortillas in a skillet or pan over low heat. It only takes a few seconds to heat each tortilla. This just softens them up a bit so they don't break or crease when we roll them.
4. If you're using hummus, spread a TBSP of it down the center of each of your tortillas. (You can always substitute pepper jack cheese if you're not concerned about avoiding animal products. Just make sure your cheese is organic and/or made from milk that came from cows that were pasture-raised and not given antibiotics or hormones.)
5. Place a couple spoonfuls of your bean/veggie mix in each tortilla.
6. Roll your tortillas and place, rolled edge down so they don't unroll, in a baking dish or on a cookie sheet. (Parchment paper on a cookie sheet works the best for us.)
7. Bake 15-20 minutes or until heated throughout and the outside is crispy

Enjoy! I recommend serving these our Avocado Salsa Verde Dip.

Experiment: We are going to make a larger batch next time to see if these freeze well. Let me know in the comments below if you're interested in knowing how well they freeze.

DIY Clay Hair Mask Recipe - non-toxic, chemical-free, organic and all natural

I think almost everyone who frequents Pinterest has seen those pins that suggest using gobs of coconut oil as a hair treatment. As many of us discovered, after trying the method described in those pins (please tell me I'm not the only one), the thing about using coconut oil on your hair is that you have to use super tiny amounts of it for it to be beneficial without having to wash your hair 3 times before you can leave for work in the morning. Unless you want to look like a grease-head at work...in which case you can feel free to slather it on! But for those of us who prefer shiny, healthy, soft hair over Chuck E. Cheese pizza grease hair, there is a better way!

While I do like to use coconut oil with my homemade conditioner every few days, I only use a pea-sized amount of the oil and I only apply it to the last 8-10" of my waist-length hair. However, my favorite hair treatment right now has zero coconut oil in it and its main ingredient is actually clay!

Remember when Redmond Trading made it possible for a few of you to try their Earthpaste toothpaste? Well, right around that time, they sent me a few of their other products to try. One of the products they sent was their Redmond Clay. To be honest, I didn't really know what to do with it besides use it as a face mask, and they had already sent a face mask version of it that took all the work out of mixing it up...so the tub sat on my shelf for a couple weeks while I tried to think of something to do with it. A few weeks ago, I decided to try it on my hair and, after a couple test runs, I settled on the recipe below as the most yummy (for my hair, of course) & effective.

You can see in the before photo that my morning pre-shower hair was looking pretty dull, limp, and matte. After using this clay hair treatment, my hair was softer than I can ever remember it being and had much more shine and volume! My hubby, sister, and mom all agreed that this hair mask worked wonders for my boring hair. Another bonus? It's a refreshing scalp treatment too!

Ready for the recipe?

 Ingredients:

- 1/4 cup Bragg's Organic, Raw & Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar (this stuff is like miracle conditioner for your hair)
- 2-3 TBSP Redmond Clay (depending on your hair length)
- a few squirts of Organic Lavender Hydrosol (good for your scalp & softens your hair...plus it smells amazing)
- 3 drops each of Organic Tea Tree, Lavender, & Peppermint essential oils (we recommend Veriditas Botanicals oils -  the only US company that exclusively offers 100% ECOCERT/USDA Certified Organic Essential Oils)

Instructions:


- Start with the apple cider vinegar & add your Lavender Hydrosol & Essential Oils.
- Mix in your Redmond Clay. You can use a popsicle stick or a glass stirrer, but I just use my finger.
- The consistency should be a little bit like spongy cake batter.
- After shampooing, massage the mixture into your scalp and down to the ends of your hair. Avoid contact with eyes. Let it sit for a minute while you shave your legs or something, then rinse it out completely and enjoy your luxuriously soft, fresh-smelling tresses!

I hope you give this recipe a try and, of course, that you love it as much as I do! Leave a comment below to let me know if you do try it & feel free to share your favorite homemade beauty recipes.

Much love,
erin







Disclaimers: I am not a medical professional and none of the above information is meant to be considered as medical advice. The information above is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness or disease. I am just a natural health and pure, organic living enthusiast, sharing what I have learned. I encourage you to always do your own research. Please check with your naturopathic physician or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist before introducing anything new into your home.
This post contains affiliate links that help to cover the costs of running www.jonanderinstewart.com. Thank you for your support as we grow!
None of the companies mentioned in this post are compensating me for this post. 

Herb Spotlight: Thyme (what it's good for and how to use it)

“I can appreciate thyme because of its antiseptic qualities. It contains thymol and its smell destroys viruses and bacteria in the atmosphere as it destroys infectious germs in the body. I do not know any infection that cannot be mitigated if treated with this precious herb. It is an excellent weapon against epidemics and much cheaper than other means of controlling them. From boils to typhoid and whitlows to tuberculosis, it is excellent beyond compare!” – Maurice Messegue (French herbalist)

Our first attempt at growing thyme was not very successful. The little seed babies sprouted quickly and grew their beautiful first true leaves just like they were supposed to before the bug and bird monsters got to them. We’ve since taken to keeping our herbs and seedlings in a screened box frame when they are young to protect them from critters and that seems to be working out well, which means we now get to enjoy our fresh thyme! I’m glad, too, because I love thyme. It is one of the most powerful and versatile healing herbs. Thyme has been used for centuries for cooking, healing, in the home, and in the medical industry.

HISTORY

We know people have been using thyme since at least the first century A.D. and many believe thyme was used in the manger where Mary placed her son, Jesus. It is believed to have been grown in gardens in America since the very early 1800’s.

ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION METHOD: usually water or steam distillation*

PROPERTIES

-          Antibacterial

-          Antibiotic

-          Antifungal

-          Antimicrobial

-          Antiparasitic

-          Antiseptic

-          Antiviral

-          Antioxidant

-          Deodorizer

-          Disinfectant

-          Germicide

-          Healing

-          Pest repellent

-          Purifying

-          Refreshing

USES

-          Skin care products, soaps, mouthwashes, and cosmetic steaming mixtures

-          Treatment and prevention method for sleeplessness and nightmares

-          Treatment for headaches, migraines, muscle tension, stress, cramps, and other aches and pains

-          Season fatty foods with thyme to help prevent acne

-          Beneficial for the nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system, immune system, and respiratory system

-          Helps to loosen congestion and ease coughs

-          Effective treatment and prevention method for colds and flu

-          Calms nerves and dispels anxiety

-          Relieves mental fatigue, stimulates memory and concentration, lifts the spirit

-          Useful for skin conditions like ringworm, burns, cuts, eczema, bruises, acne, insect bites, etc.

-          Used in veterinary medicine

-          Treat/prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and other signs of compromised oral health

-          Cleaning in the home

TIDBITS

-          The medical industry used pillows made with thyme because of thyme’s disinfecting, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

-          It was once common for women who were giving birth to be placed on a bed of fresh herbs, including thyme, to ease labor and reduce the risk of developing an infection.

-          In many cultures, thyme has long been believed to be an herb that instills courage.

CAUTIONS

-          Thyme essential oil should be diluted for external use. Failure to dilute thyme essential oil can result in blistering of the skin.

-          You should only take Thyme essential oil internally under the supervision of a doctor and only if the oil is USDA and ECO-CERT certified 100% organic (DoTerra and Young Living oils do NOT meet these standards). It is a powerful herbal medicine and, if used improperly, can prove to be lethal. Children and women who are pregnant should avoid using Thyme essential oil. Thyme should only be used medicinally under supervision of a doctor or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist.

 TO TRY:

-          Make a cosmetic steaming mixture of equal parts thyme, chamomile flowers, and lavender flowers.

-          During flu season, or when you are exposed to the flu or colds, eat foods with a lot of thyme, sage, garlic, and onion. It’s an easy, tasty, and effective flu prevention method!

-          Some communities use thyme to keep chicken lice away from their hens and out of their coop.

*you should always verify extraction methods with your essential oil provider

 RECIPE IDEAS FROM OTHER BLOGGERS:

Blueberry Lemon Thyme Ice Cream //  Garlic Thyme Parmesan Popcorn // Toasted Almonds with Thyme, Rosemary, and Lemon // Herbal Wreath // Thyme & Onion Crackers (grain free and nut free) // Homemade Poultry Seasoning // Fig & Thyme Jam // DIY Thyme Clear Complexion Toner 

Information Sources: Natural Health Complete Guide to Medicinal Herbs – Penelope Ody, MNIMH / The Complete Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy – Julia Lawless / Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Herbs and Spices – John Heinerman / National Geographic Guide to Medicinal Herbs  by Rebecca L. Johnson and Steven Foster, Tieraona Low Dog, MD & David Kiefer, MD / Essential Herbal Wisdom – Nancy Arrowsmith / 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and none of the above information is meant to be considered as medical advice. The information above is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness or disease. I am just a natural health and pure, organic living enthusiast, sharing what I have learned. I encourage you to always do your own research. Please check with your naturopathic physician or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist before introducing anything new into your home.

Heirloom Tomato Salsa Farmer's Market Style + Cookbook Preview!

Jon and I usually spend Saturday morning browsing the farmer's market and running our errands for the week. The last few weeks, we have been finding the most beautiful organic heirloom tomatoes at our farmer's market. I'm definitely a chips and salsa kind of girl when it comes to snacking. Actually, I like salsa with just about anything and Jon doesn't complain about it (he's just as enthusiastic as I am) so we always have salsa in the house. I prefer making my own, though once in awhile I'll pick up a jar of store-bought. You just can't beat fresh when it comes to flavor, though, and homemade pico is my favorite. This is my version of it, with a bit of a Stewart family twist. This is one of the recipes from the cookbook we're creating, so it's also a preview of that for you!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

- 2-3 organic heirloom tomatoes (for this recipe we used 2 large and a handful of baby heirlooms)
- 1 organic red onion (use 1/2 if you want yours to be more mild)
- 1 organic jalapeno
- 1 handful organic cilantro
- 3-6 cloves of organic garlic (whatever suits your taste)
- juice of 1/2 an organic lemon
- pinch of organic cumin
- pinch of organic crushed red pepper
- pinch of organic black pepper, ground
- pinch of sea salt or Real Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop everything up, toss it in a bowl, season to taste, and enjoy it before it's gone! It never lasts very long. ;)

What do you put in your homemade salsa? Leave a comment below!

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Most hand sanitizers (even "organic" or "natural" options) contain toxic chemicals, preservatives, and carcinogenic fragrance ingredients. We've been trying to replace items we use that contain these toxins with items that do not, but it's been quite a challenge to find a hand sanitizer we consider pure enough to use! So here is our current homemade hand sanitizer recipe:

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

What you'll need:
- a bottle or container for your homemade hand sanitizer
- isopropyl alcohol (we use 91%)
- organic, food-grade aloe vera gel (not the green gel stuff from the sunscreen section - that's full of toxins too)
- organic essential oil for scent (optional) - We choose to use the pure, organic oils from Veriditas Botanicals and, for this recipe, we are using their lavender oil.

Instructions:
- Fill your bottle 2/3 full with the aloe vera gel (a funnel really helps with this step). Fill the remaining 1/3 with the rubbing alcohol. Mix thoroughly. Add a few drops of essential oil (refer to the bottle to see how many drops to use) and mix again. Enjoy your homemade hand sanitizer!

We keep a bottle of this in our car because we are germ freaks. ;)

Note: For an even more natural recipe, substitute witch hazel for the rubbing alcohol.

Earthpaste Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to all who participated in our Earthpaste giveaway! If you missed our review of Earthpaste toothpastes, you can check it out here.

The winners of the giveaway are:

Colleen Anderson
Moo77hb
Jeremy Desnoyers

Enjoy your toothpaste! =) All of the winners have been notified via email. If, for some reason, you did not receive the email (check your spam folder), please send your name/mailing address to me at jonanderinstewart@gmail.com and I will send your info to Earthpaste, who will be sending you your package. Thanks!

Tropical Mango Smoothie Recipe

This one tastes like something you would drink in the middle of summer while you're sitting on the wrap-around porch out front, watching the sunset from a wooden porch swing (piled with cushions, of course). I love it so I hope you do too. =)

Tropical Mango Smoothie
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup organic coconut or almond milk
- 6 oz. organic pineapple, peeled, chopped, and frozen
- 6 oz. organic mango, peeled, chopped, and frozen
- 6 oz. organic peaches, peeled, pitted, sliced, and frozen
- 1 organic banana, peeled, halved, and frozen
- the juice of 1/2 organic lime (optional)

Add your wet ingredients to the blender first, followed by the rest of them. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Favorite Products Series featuring Natural Vitality // What is Amla?

When Natural Vitality recently asked me if I would be interested in testing some of their products, I excitedly responded with a "yes!!" I had been hearing about and seeing reviews of their products on blogs I follow for months and there were definitely a few things I had been wanting to try. Here are my thoughts on some of their products (plus, some ways to use them in our smoothies!). I'll start with my favorite:

Natural Vitality's Vitamin C Complex is sourced from organic amla, which has been my preferred source of Vitamin C for use in supplements/vitamins for quite awhile now. Amla is basically an Indian gooseberry. It naturally contains 30 times more vitamin C than an orange and also contains proteins, other vitamins and minerals, and is packed with powerful antioxidants. I was beyond excited when I saw this bottle in my box of goodies from N.V.

I love that Natural Vitality's amla-sourced Vitamin C. is in capsules, so I can easily add its power-packed nutrients to my smoothies! This one is great, guys. No additives, nothing extra...just organic amla-sourced Vitamin C and bioflavenoids (well...and the capsule). No yeast, dairy, egg, gluten, soy, wheat, sugar, starch, preservatives, or artificial flavor or color. I definitely recommend this one. Love it. Love, love, love! Empty 2 capsules into any of our smoothie recipes for an extra Vitamin C. boost.

The Organic Life Liquid Multi-Vitamin ingredients from Natural Vitality are plant-sourced, which is really important in a multi-vitamin. The multi includes 24 organic veggies, superfruits, and berries, and its aloe vera contains more than 200 plant-based biologically active amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, enzymes, and sterols. The box they sent me contained 30 individual packets (one packet = one serving) that you can take alone or mixed with water, juice, or a smoothie (more on that later). This product is vegetarian, gluten-free, and GMO-free.

To add this multi-vitamin to your smoothies, simply pour the contents of 2 packets in with the rest of the ingredients in any of our smoothie recipes! Our smoothie recipes make 2 servings, so you and your smoothie-buddy will each get a full serving of vitamins.

The Plant-Sourced Minerals mix from Natural Vitality is a purified water extraction of soluble plant-derived minerals. They are minimally processed and this mix offers a complex of more than 70 plant-based, small-particle, bioavailable trace minerals. It's vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, cruelty-free, allergen-free, and contains no wheat, dairy, egg, sugar, or artificial color or flavor. While this is the liquid version of the product, I recommend the capsule version of it, which does not have the extra "other ingredients" list!

To add the plant-sourced minerals to your smoothies, simply add 2 tsp. of it to any of our smoothie recipes.

Overall, I really like what Natural Vitality is doing. They strive to provide plant-based, organic, quality products. They also give back to our wellness-building community, which you can read more about here. They keep their products GMO-free and pesticide free and support organic farming (yes!). Browse more of the products they offer here (and don't forget to go buy their Vitamin C!!).

Much love,
Erin

Dark Chocolate Smoothie!

Hello. My name is Erin and I love chocolate. Well, raw chocolate that is...the dark, pure stuff that's only sweetened with pure goodness and doesn't have any soy or additives in it. Not that contaminated-with-lead grocery store junk. ;) I knew it would only be so long until I would try a chocolate smoothie recipe, and here it is! It even has veggies in it...and you know what?? The kids didn't even notice! Ha! Success! Want the recipe?

Dark Chocolate Smoothie
Servings: 2

Ingredients:
- 1 cup organic almond or coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 3 bananas, peeled, halved, and frozen
- 4 carrots, peeled, chopped, and frozen
- 3 heaping tsp (a real tsp, not a measuring spoon) of raw, organic cacao powder
- 2-3 TBSP raw, organic almond butter
- 1/4 tsp organic cinnamon

(we buy our almond butter and cacao powder from Mother's)

You know the drill! Wet ingredients into the blender first, add the rest, blend until smooth and enjoy! This smoothie is best enjoyed immediately after blending.

P.S. - If you taste your smoothie and find that you would like it a little sweeter, add more frozen banana. If you want a richer chocolate flavor, add more cacao powder.

Amazing, Natural Toothpaste Review & Giveaway Featuring Earthpaste!

Jon and I recently tried a new-to-us toothpaste that we absolutely loved and couldn't wait to share with you! Before I get into details, I just want you to know that I think everyone should try this toothpaste...so I contacted Earthpaste and they offered to give 3 of you a tube of your own (your choice of flavor!) so you can experience all the natural toothpaste goodness for yourselves! Make sure you read through to the end of the post to see how you can enter to win. =)

About the Company

I love love love companies that are focused on wellness and non-toxic options for everyday products, so when I found Earthpaste, I was immediately interested in their toothpastes. We have tried a few other natural toothpastes, but this brand featured an entirely unique list of ingredients and I couldn't wait to try it. Earthpaste's toothpastes are made with hydrated Redmond Clay, a little xylitol, essential oils, and Real Salt. That's it! No chemicals, no additives, no artificial flavoring, and no flouride (yay!)! It's even safe to swallow (probably the first time I've ever seed a toothpaste that was)!

Flavors

Earthpaste currently offers four different flavor options. Our favorites so far are Peppermint and Cinnamon. The Peppermint is so refreshing. I really love that I can taste a little bit of the tea tree oil in it. The Cinnamon is just right - not too hot or spicy, like some of the other cinnamon toothpastes. The fresh-mouth, long-lasting aftertaste is great too!

Texture

Okay, so this was the first thing that kind of surprised me. The texture of this toothpaste is much like a normal natural toothpaste when you first put it on your brush. It's got a very natural color to it and it is a little bit thinner than other toothpastes, but it still squeezes out onto your brush in a nice line. Then it sort of dissolves while you're cleaning your teeth. You can tell it's there and that it's really cleaning, but because it doesn't have all of the added chemicals and foaming agents, you don't end up with a mouth full of "soap suds" while you're brushing. Makes sense...it is made of clay. It took me all of a day to get used to, and now I absolutely love it. I feel like my mouth is so much cleaner after I brush my teeth and there's no nasty chemical residue coating covering my teeth. Actually, I think this toothpaste leaves my mouth feeling cleaner than any other toothpaste I have ever tried!

Things I Love About It

- the natural ingredients
- the lack of chemicals and toxins
- no glycerin, no flouride, no artifical coloring
- the use of clay - so cleansing! It totally makes sense to use it in a toothpaste.
- the vibrant tastes and clean aftertastes - so pleasant and refreshing!
- the super clean feeling it leaves in my mouth
- the lack of nasty foaming agents, detergents, and artificial soap suds
- it's safe enough to swallow
- it promotes healthy teeth, a healthy mouth, and healthy gums
- it's very affordable for a natural toothpaste
- the company is committed to wellness and quality, pure products

Actually, I think I love everything about this toothpaste. You should try it! Want to try it? (Of course you do!) Here's how you can enter to win a tube for your family:

Mandatory entry (leave a comment for each entry you complete):

1. If you are a subscriber of www.jonanderinstewart.com, you are already entered to win (if you want to subscribe, you can do so through the subscribe box at the top right of the page, then activate your subscription through the email sent to you)!

Optional (extra entries):
2. Visit Earthpaste and let me know which flavor you want to try in the comments below.
3. Be a fan of our new Facebook page.
4. Be a fan of Earthpaste on Facebook.
5. Share this post on Facebook (leave a comment with the link to your post).
6. Share this post on Twitter (leave a comment with the link to your tweet).
7. Pin the giveaway image on Pinterest (leave a comment with a link to your pin).

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Homemade, All-Natural, Non-Toxic Hair Conditioner Recipe

We've been gradually replacing chemical-laden household and personal products with organic, non-toxic options for about the last 2 years. Some of the things that have been the most difficult for me to replace are hair products. I'm actually still looking for some organic, non-toxic options (leave suggestions in the comments!), but I have already found a hair conditioner recipe that works perfectly for me, so I thought I'd share it with you.

 

I started using this method to condition my hair a few months ago and my hair has already been so much healthier.

What you'll need:
- Organic apple cider vinegar (I use the raw, unfiltered version from Bragg)
- a pint-sized mason jar
- 2 cups water
- 3 drops of organic essential oil (I use the Cinnamon Leaf oil from Veriditas Botanicals)

Before you get in the shower, pour a splash (probably 3-4 TBSP) of the vinegar into the mason jar, add the drops of essential oil, and fill the rest of the jar up with water. After rinsing out your shampoo, pour the vinegar mix over your hair, starting at the base of the crown and working down to the ends before rinsing.

Note: You can choose any essential oil you want. I add it for the scent. I tried an orange essential oil prior to the cinnamon leaf, but found that the acidity of the orange smell only added to the acidic smell of the vinegar, and I didn't like smelling that on my hair all day. The cinnamon leaf oil cuts right through that acidic vinegar scent and I don't smell the vinegar at all throughout the day anymore! Just yummy, delicious cinnamon. =)

Deep Conditioning Tip

Once a week or so, use a pea-sized amount (I use a pea-sized amount and my hair is almost waist-length. It really only takes a tiny tiny bit.) of organic, unrefined coconut oil to deep condition your hair from the ends up to where you would start a ponytail. Distribute the coconut oil through your dry hair before showering and shampooing. Your shampoo and the vinegar rinse will take care of any oiliness that could result from the coconut oil, but the oil will still have a chance to add those beneficial nutrients to your hair. I love my hair on the days I do this. Honestly, I could probably do it every other day, but I normally forget to grab the oil on my way to the shower. ;)

Note: You might not want to try that oh-so-common Pinterest version of coconut oil hair conditioning that involves slathering it all over your entire head and leaving it for awhile. It will take forever and half a bottle of shampoo to wash it out. Less is more with the coconut oil. Trust me. ;)

Do you have a favorite hair product or natural hair care recipe? Leave it in the comments below! I'm still searching for other hair products/recipes.