DIY Spicy Cinnamon Lip Balm

I don't know about you but every time the weather start to cool-- I start needed some mega moisture and warmth. Especially on my lips!

What's really fun is cinnamon lip balm! Not only does it warm your smoocher but it can make your lips appear fuller naturally. I call that a win-win.

5 Crazy Benefits of Salt Lamps

If you're a part of my Natural Living Essentials group on Facebook then you've probably noticed that I have a real obsession with salt lamps. After reading this post-- I bet you'll understand why.

But first, let's look at how darn cute they are! Don't you just love that soft warm glow? The hippie vibe? The throwback to nature? Even if all that's hogwash to you-- you still have to admit that they are totally adorable.

But besides being the cutest little lamps you can find, they actually can do a lot for your body! Let's chat. Take a seat.

Homemade Holiday Air Fresheners

Tis the season!!! The smells of apple pie, gingerbread cookies, and pumpkin spice latte fill the room and give us a big ole holiday hug.

A holiday hug full of carcinogens like benzene and toluene!!!

Nobody wants that. Not you. Not Grandma. Not sweet little Aunt Suzy. Not even your naughty nephew. But I can tell you what they do want...

A holiday smell that won't give them a headache.

4 Winter Weather Recipes For Warmth and Health

Can I be real with you? Don't judge me.

We just moved to North Carolina and its cold in October. This Florida-born girl loves the cool days, but the nights are, well, COLD. And we all know that when it gets cold, we are more likely to get sick because our immune systems start to take a dip.

That's why it's so important to keep your immune system strong before it gets too cold! Give it the support it needs to keep you healthy and happy all winter long.

But, I'm taking it one step further this year. I am looking for DIYs that can keep me healthy AND warm.

Interior Car Cleaning Spray DIY

I don't know about you but I have a man who regularly gets sweaty and then gets into the car. Or he likes to mow the lawn and move the cars without washing up first {this is my not amused face}

Needless to say, I appreciate him but he drives me crazy sometimes too.

That's why I created this DIY interior car cleaning spray which is easy enough for even a man to use without complaining.

DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel

Did you know that Clint and I have only lived in big cities, but recently we moved to a small town (population 713)? It's kind of amazing and we are in a little bit of culture shock!

We are now the proud owners of 7 acres on A MOUNTAIN. It's insanity. We own the top of a mountain. Gives me chills!

Anyways, we plan on starting a garden in the spring along with getting some chickens and bees! It's a brave new world out here (and so many bugs). But for now... it's remodeling time! 

Stinky Armpits Detox Solution

Have you ever tried to use a natural deodorant and it just didn't work? You were still stinky! Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is a reason for that. And, thankfully, a solution too.

Have you noticed that when you switched to a natural beauty products that sometimes our skin doesn't behave the best? We call this a "skin purge" as the chemicals and other junk that's inside our pores takes it's cue to exit the body. It may appear to be acne, but it's detoxing! Often people give up switching to natural products because they see these things as a failure. It's the furthest from the truth!

When we detox our pits, we are bringing it back into natural balance. And, in fact, often readers have told me that don't even need deodorant anymore except in extreme heat. I love my DIY deodorant recipe, but if I'm being honest-- I rarely use it anymore because I just don't need it.

Homemade Mighty Manuka Moisturizer

I don't know about you, but when the weather starts to cool off my skin gets ANGRY (aka: dry, flakey, red, and generally pissy). It's frustrating, but I know that it's just the best way my skin has to communicate with me and tell me something isn't working.

Some people may decide to plow through this time of the year using their beloved beauty products, but I just decided to give my skin what it wants: extra moisture. After all, that drop in humidity may feel great to me, but my skin misses that extra lovin'.

Most of the year I use my Wrinkle Blasting Serum which I LOVE, but there comes a point in your life that you need to super charge your DIY beauty routine. And that's where my Mighty Manuka Moisturizer comes in....

Non-Toxic Cleaning with Enjo Review

Don't lie. You want the amazing triad of cleaning awesomeness: Non-Toxic, Easy, and Saves Money. It's the dream!!

But it always seems like it is absolutely impossible, doesn't it? It either takes time to make something non-toxic, the brands that are actually non-toxic costs double the price of other brands OR the easy option is packed full of chemicals.

Where, oh where is the holy grail of cleaning?! 

Lucky for you-- I found it. 

Angry Uterus Roll-on for PMS

I don't know about you, but I can become a little crazy and just "slightly" emotional when my baby maker tries to kill me. I was using Dragon Time which is AMAZING! I would start to use it a few days before my period and zero to teeny tiny PMS symptoms. It's so great!

However, I can't find it. It's packed away in a box somewhere in this huge new house we just moved to. WAAAHHH!! My PMS-ing mind got desperate and I asked myself, "What does my angry baby box need?" Of course it needs JOY!

Healthy Weight Naturally with Slique

I don't know about you, but I desperately want to lose five pounds. Like NOW. As in yesterday would be ideal. But sadly, those five pounds are still sitting on my hips. Unacceptable!!! 

If you're like me, then you may have tried diets which may or may not have worked. And if they did work, it only lasted until you gave into the temptation of chocolate. LOTS of chocolate. Or bread. Sweet, sweet bread.

Or maybe you joined a gym and that lasted all of 3 weeks. Hey! Working out is hard!! 

Or maybe you are NOT like me and you're completely badass and you do everything right, but you still have some weight to lose. Whatever your story, it's okay because I'm here to tell you there is a better way. 

5 Essential Oils for Coping with Mass Tragedy

My heart is broken.

This weekend my hometown has been host to multiple shootings which have killed or injured so many people. We lost a great talent, Christina Grimmie, on Friday and countless others when a night club was attacked on Saturday. The worst shooting in US history. My heart is breaking for the victims, their families and my city.

Although I know that there are more good people and more love in this world than hate, violence and psychopaths-- it can be a scary place. There are no clear answer on how to stop this trend of violence, but one things is clear: we have a duty to be persevere. We have a duty to honor those lost.

Thankfully there are some natural ways to help strengthen ourselves and our resolve while allowing us to grieve the great loss and honor the victims of these horrible attacks.

DIY Cooling Summer Spray

I don't know about where you live, but Florida is hot in the summer. HOT. Today I went outside to get my mail and I was sweating bullets before I even got back inside. Ridiculous!

This "Cooling Summer Spray" is a great way to stay cool in the heat. You can take anywhere when are going to spend more than 5 minutes outside (or get the mail). It would be awesome to take on vacations, camping, to the beach or lake, outdoor weddings, theme parks, hiking, dog parks or anywhere else that you may be outside for longer than 5 minutes.

This DIY Spray is a fantastic way to make the outdoors more inviting, smell amazing, and you won't be a big pile of sweat at the end of the night. Sounds pretty great, huh?

Litter Robot Self Cleaning Litter Box Review

I don't know about you, but I love my cats and I hate clean those darn litter boxes. Seriously, what happens in their bodies to get their poop to smell like that?!

Maybe you've tried other "smart" or "self cleaning" litter boxes-- I know I have! What a joke, right?! My favorites were the rake and the sifter which both made me want to vomit when I cleaned the excrement from the teeny gaps and holes! Gross! But there are so many other options like the chemical crap storm washable litter, the cradle of filth box, train your cat to use a toilet nightmare and the topsy-turvy poop mixer. What amazing selections!

For over a decade, I've been searching for the answer to the litter box problem, but time and time again I would just go back to the old fashion scoopable litter box. But when Leo (the lazy) started having urinary problems, my vet told me that making sure he had an "extremely" clean litter box was critical for his health. In fact, the consequences of another urinary problem would be chopping of what remained of his manhood. I don't know about you, but I think he would want to keep that!

So, here I am scooping the litter box 4 times a day so my cat can keep his penis. I'm so generous. And tired. Of Poop.

DIY Butt Stuff

Butts are one of those taboo topics nobody wants to talk about, but everyone want to know about! So guess what? I'm writing about it. Let the haters hate but your butt is about to feel awesome. You are welcome.

Before we begin--- there is something you should know about me. I have no shame. Seriously. None. I was a nurse for nearly a decade so I will talk about ANYTHING! The words "vomit", "explosive diarrhea", and "puss oozing sores" fall out of my mouth frequently.... over dinner. And I LIKE it. So you can see, butt talk is nothing to me. You may want to sit down.

15 Easy DIYs Using Coconut Oil

Have you discovered the amazingness of coconut oil?

If you have, then you know you can do almost anything with it, right?! It's crazy how versatile this stuff can be. If you haven't been using coconut oil for more than just cooking, then you are in for a treat because I am about to blow your mind.

Coconut oil is good for so many reasons. It's got a great amount of healthy fat, it can help keep your brain strong, it's fantastic for skin care, it's a great moisturizer, it can boost metabolism... and the list goes on. You can read more here about the health benefits of coconut oil if you're interested.

Today we are going to talk about my Top 15 DIYs to make with coconut oil. It was so hard to narrow down this list to 15 so if I missed your favorite, please leave a comment to tell me what you love to do with coconut oil!

DIY Shoulder and Neck Roll-On

Have you ever thought "Oh. I'm normal!" before? You're wrong. Trust me, you're never normal.

A few weeks ago my acupuncturist told me that she was worried about how tight my shoulders and neck were. This was news to me! I never knew the muscles in my shoulder and neck were anything other than perfect. I asked her why that could happen and I got a laundry list of answers.

• Stress
• Bad posture
• Sensitive to other's energy
• Recent physical labor
• Working out
• Sleeping on the wrong pillow
• Sitting at a desk for too long

And the list goes on!

5 Favorite Aromatherapy Diffusers

Have you ever wanted to make your house smell great for guests? Or maybe you were just looking to remove some unwanted odor (there is a reason there are no wet dog candles, you know). If so, join the club! That's why there are so many air fresheners in the world!

But did you know that air fresheners are so toxic? They currently undergo little or no testing and can say anything on their bottles! Many which say "all natural" are even full of artificial chemicals (read more here). That's why it's so important that we take matters into our hands!

And what better way to keep our families healthy while also sticking it to those shady air freshener manufacturers, then to use a diffuser!

Now only if we knew which ones were good to use.... hmm....

Easy Garbage Disposal Cleaning Cubes

Do you have a love-hate relationships with your garbage disposal? Wanna join my club? Seriously, what is more annoying than a garbage disposal that tries to attack you with stinky water every time you turn it on?

I'm a big believer in offense when it comes to most kitchen situations, don't you? I mean isn't it better to prevent stinky water attack than trying to fix it after the sudden onset of the deadly kitchen geyser? I think we can agree on that.

DIY Trash Can Deodorizer

If you are some kind of domestic goddess who scrubs your trash can clean weekly, then I applaud you. However, if you are like the rest of us-- your trash can will stink from time to time. I mean, hello-- trash can bags leak, some things are just stinky, and sometimes you forget to take out the trash.

Nobody's perfect (except maybe you, domestic goddess) but most of us want to have a nice smelling kitchen without all the work. That's why this crazy, simple DIY hack will make you appear like the domestic queen that you are. No one will ever know it's just a DIY hack!

How To Use The Feelings Kit

So let's get this out in the open right now. Do you think essential oil can help with your emotions? Do you think the idea that a scent can change how you think is nuts or do you think it's so cool?! Or maybe you just don't know yet.

So let's cut to the chase-- they work. It's in research. It's a fact. It may sound crazy, but it's awesome. Don't trust me? Check out PubMed or How Emotions Are Released Using Essential Oils if you want to learn more.

I've been using essential oils to help with my emotional "issues" for years! I've used them for grief, nervousness, stress, sadness, negativity, confidence, anger, and pretty much any other emotion you can think about! What's crazy is that they also help with the physical manifestation of negative emotions!

You probably already know that emotions and the body are connected. After all, have you ever been so sad that your body hurt? Or maybe you have been so nervous that your stomach was upset? Emotions are so powerful that they can impact how we physically feel! Many times when we have no answer as to why our body is behaving a certain way-- it may be due to emotional blockages or negativity stuffed away. Once we release those patterns we can help regain control over our lives!

If you still think I'm crazy then just listen to Gary Young talk about what the feelings kit can do for your mind and body by clicking here.

4 Ways to Clear Negativity Naturally

You are awesome. The fact that you are here reading about how to release negativity means you are taking actions to create a more authentic, happier version of YOU. How cool is that?! If I could give you a hug or a high five, I would!

Negativity is like dust-- it can just keep collecting and piling up. Eventually our piles of dust can be so thick that it's hard to see or even remember what's underneath them. But as soon as we start brushing that dust away, then we start to see the glimmer of the awesomeness that is there. It may be a negative space or a negative part of ourselves, but with a little TLC we can make it radiate with all the things that make it (or us) so amazing.

Let me share with you four very simple way that you can start taking that step forward out of negativity, but first let's have a little chat....

5 Reasons to Ditch Your Makeup

Have you heard about those dirty little secrets of retail makeup? Do you want to know if they are true? After all, makeup is important to many women all over the world. We use it to cover a flaw, enhance an asset, increase our confidence or just to have some fun!

However, with the increasing popularity of makeup, we have to start asking some tough questions about quality, testing, chemicals, and more! But maybe the most important question of all is... "As beauty companies strive to be number one in a booming industry-- are they really keeping your best interest in mind?"

Homemade Tinted Lip Gloss Recipe

Do you ever just want to make something beautiful? And how would you feel if that something beautiful helped your gorgeous self to look even more smoochable?  I know. I know. You are stunning already and you don't need anything else for your fine self, but DIY tinted lip balm (or gloss) can be a fun way to show off those amazing lips.

And if you are afraid that it just wouldn't be fair to the other ladies in your life if you looked THAT good, then you can always make a large batch and give them out spread the love!

This recipe is fun, easy and anyone can easily customize the recipe to suit any personality and style! My favorite part is that the color is just a soft tint and the lip balm is ultra-moisturizing which I need this winter!

Breathe Deeply Chest Rub for Exercise

Did you know that you could be breathing incorrectly? Most of my life I've blamed my shoes, but lately I couldn't quite find the logic in that. I mean-- does this make sense to you?

"I hate these running shoes! They are so old. I need to upgrade. In fact, I almost died because I couldn't breathe... due to my, um, shoes."