Earthy Girl Living

Shocking News!!!

Posted on March 14, 2016May 17, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

We need a reality check folks! I was watching TV the other night, which I don’t do very often. The news can be so depressing!!! What I have to tell you this week fits right in under that category……DEPRESSING! Did you know that 46% of adults in California have diabetes?!?

If California has these statistics, I really worry about the south. California is so trendy and health conscious. They drink their green drinks and do yoga while we love fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. Now I know that is an overstatement but it makes me wonder.

The CDC says that 1 in 3 Americans have pre-diabetes or don’t even know they have full blown diabetes. This is mind-blowing! As of right now, 33% of 16-39 year olds, have pre-diabetes. How can that be? We are all in need of a change.

(If you did not catch this quick little clip about the population in California and are interested in hearing it, click the video link below. It’s only about 2 minutes but worth watching. http://news.yahoo.com/video/study-almost-half-calif-adults-001107233.html. )

Diabetes is a big issue and needs to be taken seriously! It can cause so many complications such as blindness, kidney disease, or possibly death. And whats even scarier is that pre-diabetes shows no symptoms!

To find out if your blood sugar levels are high, you must go to your doctor and get a simple blood test. They recommend you do this first thing in the morning after fasting from midnight the night before. I encourage each of you to go get your sugar levels checked! Better yet go get a full blown physical! Technically we should have one done every year! How long has it been since your last physical?

Now the really good news is that if you happen to have elevated sugar levels, you can lower them through diet and exercise!!! If you are interested, watch a great video on NetFlix called Forks over Knives. Go to www.forksoverknives.com to see the trailer.

The Film

This disease does not have to progress and it is totally preventable! First off, you have to take responsibility for your health. It’s not all genetics folks! Start by eliminating sodas, now I love a real Coke but I know it’s not a wise choice. There have been studies showing how bad diet drinks can be. You need to also watch your carb intake and get out and exercise!! Just make small changes!

They say to stop a habit, change your actions for 21 days! You can do that! That is only 3 weeks! You will feel so much better too! Remember New Year, New You!

Exercise is the bomb! It’s really weird but the more you lay around the more lethargic you feel. You would think it would be the opposite. Like if you laid around all day you think you should feel well rested and great. Wrong!

I know first hand. Sometimes I’ll be so tired after working all day that I just want to come home and sit. Once I stop, it’s over. If I push through and go for a walk, it always makes me feel better! I sleep better and my digestive system works better too! (TMI) ha ha . It’s good for mind, body, and soul! So get moving!!

Essential oils can also help you remain healthy too!! Who knew, right? The hard part is that you of course have to make diet and lifestyle changes. It’s a package deal!

Coriander oil and Cinnamon oil help promote a healthy metabolic function as well as circulatory function. Read here to find out 13 Health Benefits of cinnamon. I love cinnamon so I hope you check it out!

Here is a daily routine to help balance the body. Rub 1-2 drops of the grounding blend oil on the bottoms of your feet in the morning. Rub 1-2 drops of lavender oil on feet at night prior to sleep. You can make a roller ball using:

3 drops Coriander oil or Basil oil
3 drops Metabolic Blend oil
1 drop of oregano oil

or drop all these oils together in a Veggie gel cap capsule and take 3 times a day.

Last week I touched on Essential oil cellular complex. If you are not taking a multi-vitamin you really need to start. It will change your health and make you feel so much better! I also started adding more greens to my diet by using the fruit and vegetable supplement powder. We all need more greens in our diets. I add these greens to my chocolate meal replacement shake every morning! You can’t even taste it!

This is a great month to get started with essential oils. If you are interested in receiving $167.00 worth of free products, this is the month to get involved with my favorite oil company. I would love to help you get started using essential oils as an alternative health care. Please let me know if you would like some information or samples.

I would love to share them with you so you can experience how great these oils are too!

They can change your life too!!

Have a great week! Be kind to someone and make their day!

Naturally, Lisa

Sick???…You Need Bone Broth!!

Posted on March 7, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Well it’s a bummer when someone gets sick in your family! If someone does come down with a cold, flu, or sinus infection……the best thing in the whole world is to cook a whole chicken and make some bone broth. I’d like to share one of my family’s favorite recipes!! It has been passed down for generations and this recipe is always requested when someone is under the weather! It is so easy and it’s packed with nutrition!!!! It’s a healer for sure!

This is my version of bone broth. You of course can make bone broth using beef or chicken. I really like making chicken broth because of the simplicity of it! I find the best way to make the broth is to throw a whole chicken in a pressure cooker with 2 cups of water. I season the chicken with a little salt and pepper and bring it up to pressure. I cook the chicken for 20 minutes. Then bam it’s done! You can let the chicken sit there and cool and then debone it.

I like to take the pressure off the pot with a quick release method and then open the lid. (You will of course need to read the instructions for your pressure cooker to learn how to do this.) Click here to see an overview of how to use a pressure cooker. There is enough meat from the whole chicken for 2 meals for my family of 4. I stick the other half, that I am not using, in the freezer for later use.

Typically what I do is divide the broth that is in the pressure cooker after it has cooked. Usually there are about 3 cups of broth in the pan after I have pulled out the chicken. I measure out 2 cups of broth and set the other cup aside. I usually store the 1 cup of extra broth in a ball jar and freeze it. This way I can use it for another meal at a later time without having to go through the cooking process.

I take the 2 cups of broth and put them back in the same pressure cooker (haven’t washed it yet) and add 1 cup of rice. I have found that Mahatma works the best. I salt and pepper the rice. I stir in about half of the shredded chicken and close the lid to the pressure cooker and cook for 10 minutes after it comes up to pressure. I do a quick release on it again and there is a nice hot steaming meal that it absolutely delicious! Serve with a salad and you are all set!

So you still have 1 cup of delicious bone broth in the freezer and the frozen chicken. When you are in need of another delicious meal, thaw them both out and get out your pressure cooker or a big stock pot. Add the bone broth and about 4-5 cups of water to the pan. Remember the bone broth is super concentrated. Cut up 2 carrots in slices, 2 celery stocks chopped, 1/2 of an onion chopped, and the other 1/2 of the chicken meat, which I like to chop up. I like to add either 1/2- 3/4 cup of elbow noodles or rice to my soup. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Put all ingredients in the pressure cooker and cook for about 3 minutes, after it has come to full pressure. Use the quick release method and of course your noodles will not be quite finished. I place the glass lid over the pressure cooker and let it steep for about 10 minutes. The noodles continue to cook. Make some cornbread and Yummo!! You have another meal ready to go.

I use to think the gelatin in the soup was fat and it was bad. I remember spooning out the gelatin after I had put it in the refrigerator overnight. I actually threw it away thinking it was fat! Oh my! Little did I know that was the best part and filled with nutrition. Don’t throw the gelatin away!!

Of course you can make bone broth on the stove in a regular pot and let it simmer. There are recipes out there where you cook the stuff for 24 hours. If you are hanging around the house and you’ve got time, this works. I just always do it the quick way, with a pressure cooker. I think the flavor is better too! Now I have to say I have not tried the broth that has been cooked for 24 hours. I’m sure it is probably fantastic too!

So let me tell you…….all pressure cookers are not created equal. I have had many over the years. I started with an oldie that had the rocker on top. It use to scare me to death! I always thought it would explode. I worried using it around the kids.

I have since gotten a Fissler brand and I love my new pressure cooker! I would highly recommend it to anyone that wants to start cooking with pressure. This new cooker does not have a rocker on top and it is super quiet! It’s a little expensive but a great investment.

Here’s another recipe that you might want to check out using a Fissler pressure cooker. It goes over how to use the pressure cooker and you can see how easy it is!

I bought a 2 piece set . The set came with both a 6qt and a 4 qt pan, a glass lid that fits both pans and then of course the top that you use to seal the pans to go under pressure. I use them both constantly in my kitchen. They can be used like regular pans too.

Please do not be scared off from these recipes if you do not have a pressure cooker! They are so yummy and worth making. Just get out a pan and start cooking! We need to get back into the kitchen! If you make these 2 recipes, you will have made 2 meals with nothing artificial added and you know exactly what is in them! This is the way we need to be cooking folks! This will heal any ailment out there! Just try it!!

One thing I have to add here is that I hope you are all taking vitamins! This will keep your immune system in check!! I’d love to tell you about the best vitamins I’ve ever taken. I can totally tell a difference when I take them. I have more energy and I feel fantastic! They have a money back guarantee and you really should try them! Please let me know if you would like to try them for 30 days, and feel the difference.

Hope you have a great week! Be kind and make someone’s day!!

Please subscribe to this blog by scrolling all the way down to the bottom! Also make sure to follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving

Naturally, Lisa

SHHH! Avocados in my Chocolate? What?

Posted on February 29, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Yes you read that right!! But first how did we get here?? It’s hard to believe that this is the last weekend in February and March is only 2 days away. I hope you have been able to make a couple simple changes in your lifestyle to start transforming yourself into the New Year, New You that you want to be!

I’m still plugging along and making changes in my life too! It know it gets hard with work, schedules, and kids, but any little change for the better, does make a difference. I hope you have either tried a new food, (maybe one of my recipes), that is healthier for you, or maybe you’ve tackled some of those things you have been putting off! Yeah for you for making a change!

I’ m a big music fan and love to be turned onto new music. I will be sharing some new artists from time to time. I really like this guy’s voice and I think he has great things to say in this album. The first song is about change so I thought it appropriate with New Year, New You! Take a listen.

Ok so eating all things healthy can be really hard!! Sometimes ladies and gents you might just want something sweet, right? Maybe chocolatey? Creamy, yummy, delicious, chocolate! Well you are in luck today!! I’ve got a couple of recipes that will knock your socks off!

This first recipe is amazing! SHHH! Don’t tell anyone but there are avocados in the recipe and the best part is that no one will even know it!! I got these fabulous recipes from a class I took at Breadbeckers.

Chocolate Heaven

1 large or 2 small Avocados
1/2 – 3/4 cups Blue Agave Nectar
1/4 cup Raw Cocoa Powder
2 Tbs. Coconut Cream Concentrate
1 Tbs. Vanilla
Dash of Salt

Place everything in a high-power blender or food processor and blend (on high) until very smooth. You will need to stop and stir frequently until mixture is satin-y smooth and well blended. Keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge – that is, if it lasts long enough to make it in to the fridge.

Serve as is, for a delicious pudding, or add some mix-ins, such as cacoa nibs and almonds.

Serve as a dip with strawberries, bananas, sweet cherries and/or pineapple. A sure crowd-pleaser.

Chocolate Sauce

6 Tablespoons of cocoa
4 1/2 Tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup boiling water
1 3/4 cups Honey Granules (sugar replacement)
1/2 tablespoon Vanilla

In saucepan, combine all ingredients except vanilla. Bring to a boil on medium-high heat. You will need to stir constantly to dissolve granules. Reduce heat to maintain a boil. Boil covered for 2 minutes and then uncover for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

You can put sauce in jars and store in refrigerator. Use this in place of store bought chocolate syrup. You can use this for hot chocolate. Just stir into some almond milk (you hopefully made from my previous blog) and heat up.

You can put it on your ice cream as hot chocolate sauce. Oh my! Scrump-dilly-icious!!!!

Now if you want to have a yummy chocolatey smoothie in the morning or for an afternoon snack use 1 heaping scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder. I mix 1 cup of Dark Chocolate Almond Milk, (which I am trying to come up with a recipe for that so we can make our own) 1/2 frozen banana, 2-3 frozen strawberries, flax seed, Maca Root powder, and chia seeds.

I have written about this recipe before but it goes perfectly with our chocolate theme here. It is my go to, every single morning. It keeps me full until lunch time.You really should give it a try! Even kids will like this one and it has so much great stuff in it! Of course, as I have said before, recipes are just a guideline so tweak this however you like.

Now, I know you all have been waiting for the winner of the drawing from last weeks giveaway…..drum roll please…….

Congratulations Lauren Morrison, you are the winner of the portable diffuser and the 15mL Wild Orange Essential oil. Thank you all for entering and supporting me on this journey!

Stay tuned for more giveaways coming soon!

If any of you are interested in a sample of wild orange, please email and I will be happy to get one out to you. You will love the experience!

Please make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this blog and subscribe so you don’t miss one!

Follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I will talk with you soon!

Make someones day and be kind to someone!

Naturally, Lisa

Goobers and Giveaways!!

Posted on February 22, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

So, last week I touched on a power house of a nut, the almond. I thought it would be perfect this week to transition to a nut that gets a bad rap, the peanut, also known as the goober! My brother actually nicknamed me Goober growing up haha! I was known as “The Goob”, probably because I acted like one!

Peanuts actually originated in South America and have been used for thousands of years. The Aztec and other Indian groups of South America and Mexico relied on peanuts in their diets. Explorers visiting this region were intrigued by this little nut and took it back to Africa. They grew well there and actually became known as a “sacred nut”. So when explorers were coming to North America, they brought the peanut plant with them.

George Washington Carver came up with over 300 uses for the peanut. Being that it is Black History Month you can watch the quick video about Carver and catch up on your history too! It’s very interesting. He was way ahead of his time!

I realize many younger folks are allergic to peanuts, but isn’t that strange. Back in my day, growing up, being allergic to peanuts was unheard of. It has to be due to the many toxins in our world that are ending up in our soil. So if you can buy organic, it’s best that you do so!

You can eat peanuts raw, on salads, in smoothies, or even just as peanut butter. I like to just munch on peanuts as a snack, but my daughter is a sucker for a good piece of Elvis Toast! Bread toasted to perfection, peanut butter, honey, bananas, and topped with cinnamon! Sounds yummy right?

So here’s an easy way to make your own peanut butter. I put the peanuts in my blender. I do have a Vita Mix, which is the bomb. If you want to invest in 1 kitchen appliance this is one I would highly recommend. It is an investment, but well worth it! I use mine everyday for some sort of food preparation or meal making. You of course can use any blender you might have to make this peanut butter. Don’t get scared off if you don’t have a Vita Mix.

You will need about 3 cups of peanuts. I usually add 2 types: I use lightly salted and also unsalted. You can use all unsalted but you will most likely need to add a little bit of salt. Do not use Planters brand “roasted”. They have a lot of “spices” added to them that you don’t want.

I always try to avoid any food that has MSG added. The scary part is that manufacturers are getting wise and if you ever see the word “spices” on your label….beware! They can put anything they want in this vague label of “spices” and usually there is MSG.

3 cups of peanuts go into the Vitamix and then add some good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil. (EVOO). I use about 1/8 cup. I add honey granules which is a white sugar replacement. I typically add about 4 teaspoons. You can add more or less according to your taste. You know this is all subject to your taste! Just tweak these recipes to fit your likes. Recipes are just a guide line!

I turn on the Vita Mix and stir until all the peanuts are creamy. It takes a minute or so. I stop the mixer and I grab a spatula and scrape the sides to make sure it’s evenly mixed. I blend again for a few more seconds. If you like crunchy peanut butter don’t mix it as much, and if you like it more creamy maybe mix it some more! Just make sure to follow the directions for your appliance.

Pour your fresh peanut butter into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator with a tight cap.

Enjoy, and think how much healthier this peanut butter is for your family. You know exactly what’s in it and it’s not loaded with sugar!

Now if you want to take this one step further and have a heavenly protein shake with peanut butter, here’s another great recipe: You will need 1 scoop Meal Replacement powder, 3/4 C almond milk, 1 Tablespoon homemade peanut butter, 1/2 banana, 1 cup of ice. Mix together and enjoy!

I hope you are enjoying this blog! Please follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving. This week I am giving away a 15mL Wild Orange and a fantastic portable diffuser! The giveaway will be on my Instagram starting tomorrow at 10:30 am and I will be announcing the winner next Sunday! Make sure to follow me so you can have a chance to win!! Rules to enter will be found under the post tomorrow! Good Luck!

If you would like any information about the best oils in the world please contact me.

Naturally, Lisa

Heart Healthy for Valentine’s Day!

Posted on February 15, 2016May 10, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

I hope you are having a fabulous Valentine’s Day! No better time to think about your heart than today!

Do you need to boost your heart health or your immune system? I’d like to tell you about a food that has earned the spot as one of the top 50 healthiest foods of all times and is super heart healthy. This amazing miracle food is part of the peach family. Don’t cheat and read ahead! Can you guess which food I’m talking about?! Think hard!

This little super food is the almond! Did you know that almonds literally may be the best single food you can eat? Almonds have taken over peanuts as the most eaten nut in the world. California grows more than 82% of the world’s almonds. Crazy right? How about this fact…eating nuts can decrease your mortality rate by 20%. We all need to be chowing down on some nuts!

Almonds help with weight loss and satiety, they help prevent diabetes, and they inhibit cancer cells from growing. They boost your magnesium and B-12 levels. They even decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s too! Wow! In those little nuts, there’s a lot going on.

If anything, we all need to add a handful as a snack each day. New Year, New you! Right? Think ahead and add a baggie of nuts to your lunch box. Instead of reaching for those greasy potato chips and other such foods, eat the nuts that you pre-packed!

Many people are switching to alternative milk products because milk is a natural inflammatory. There are tons of folks out there with lactose intolerance. Did you know that if you add 2 drops of Lemongrass oil into a veggie capsule about 45 minutes before you ingest milk that this can possibly help to relieve the digestion discomfort associated with dairy products? It could be a game changer for some of you dairy lovers out there!

Do you ever drink almond milk? There has been a lot of controversy about almond milk lately. You never know who or what to believe.

The information out there says to be aware of the ingredients in some of the selections you can get at the grocery store. There is a product called carageenan that is an additive made from seaweed. That doesn’t sound so bad right? It is used as a stabilizer and thickener. The scary thing is that it is not digestible. Many times it will be in your “organic or natural” products such as yogurt, butter, milk, almond milk, etc. Check your labels!

So you know me…… trying to be all natural and stuff haha! I decided to make my own almond milk. Let me tell you, it was really easy!! You can do it too!

All you need is a blender, some water, sweetener of choice, and raw almonds of course!

Take 1 cup of raw almonds, soak them in enough water to cover them in a bowl of water 24-48 hours. (The longer you soak them, the creamier the milk.)
Drain, rinse and place almonds in your blender. Add 2 cups fresh water and mix for 2 minutes.
I strained the milk out with a nut bag, (yes there is such thing as a nut bag and it’s not a little speedo bathing suit ha ha!) You can use a cheesecloth too. Squeeze all the milk out into a bowl. Makes about 4-6 servings.

I poured the milk in a glass jar and added maple syrup to taste and a little vanilla extract. You can also use Stevia or your choice of sweetener.

I then put the almond milk in the refrigerator. I use it in place of regular milk for eating cereal or making oatmeal.

You can use it to cook with too. I made muffins with the almond milk and they were great!

The best part is that I know exactly what was in it the milk. No funky ingredients!! And it tastes to fresh and like real almonds! Go figure!

Check out Dr. Axe’s article entitled “9 Amazing Benefits of Almond Nutrition” and his video below:

I told you there was nothing to it! I hope you try to make some too!

If you are interested in ordering any essential oils from my favorite company at wholesale click HERE.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving. I’ll be giving away a fun prize to one of my followers on Instagram! Don’t miss it!!

Talk to you next week,

Naturally, Lisa

I Interrupt the regularly scheduled program

Posted on February 7, 2016February 8, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Are you ready for spring? Well it’s official, the ground hog says winter will be with us for only 4 more weeks!! Is that exciting or what? It’s so nice to be able to get outside and get a little fresh air and exercise!

The warmer air we had this past weekend has me thinking ahead to springtime and one of my favorite things….CAMPING!! About 8 years ago, after I read Bill Bryson’s, A Walk in the Woods, I got all fired up to walk the Appalachian Trail. (about 2,500 people every year start off on the trail in early spring) There’s no telling how many dreamers like me there are out there!

If you haven’t read the book you should check it out. It’s a funny read and offers interesting facts about the trail. I highly recommend it, even if you have no intention of ever walking the trail!

The movie was just released this past year too. I enjoyed it, even though the book was better! It is a great movie to rent at Red Box. Throw a dollar at it because it’s well worth it!

So, I am still dreaming of walking the trail even though when I first learned about it, I had never been camping a day in my life. Everyone thought…”It’s a phase….it will go away….She won’t like it…..It will be too cold”…. you name it, they thought it. Well the phase hasn’t gone away!! So in the meantime, I figured I needed to get some gear, since I owned NOTHING for camping!

… I showed up at REI one random day and it happened to be a “garage sale” day!! They usually have these sales on used equipment 2-4 times a year! I rounded up 2 must haves: a tent and a sleeping bag. I ended up with a 2 person Big Agnes tent. It had been returned since it had a one inch rip in the front screen and get this, I got it for 70% off!! What a steal!! I put a little piece of duct tape on it and it’s as good as new! I highly recommend checking out the garage sale at REI when they have them! Major deals can be had!

The Big Agnes tent has been the right fit for me. My husband (6’2″) and I squeeze into it with zero room to spare, but it will be the perfect size for me alone when I go hike the trail. I’ll have a little wiggle room, it weighs just over 2 pounds, and its is super easy to put together!! Check it out at the link here. I couldn’t be happier with it and we’ve camped through many a storm with no leaks!

I also ended up with the Big Agnes Mummy sleeping bag. I have to say I like the bag but I feel a little claustrophobic in it. I like to sleep on my side and it’s rather hard to do. You basically have to sleep on your back and lay still. Not the best nights sleep for me. My husband has the primo bag. It’s a Western Mountaineering Ponderosa bag. It’s the bomb! He has plenty of room to move around and it is super warm. If I buy another bag, that is what I’ll buy. I will watch for end of year close outs!

Living in North Georgia is really a perfect location for outdoor adventures. There is so much available to us within a few hours drive. I drove 2 1/2 hours north last weekend and it was spectacular. I went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it was actually closed since they just had the 7th largest snowfall on record, 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, they expect the parkway to be closed until spring, but the view is still worth heading up there!

We parked at the barricades where they blocked the road and just got out and hiked up the parkway. It was the coolest experience. There were no cars and it was so quiet up there. There were only a handful of other people hiking. Next time we would like to hike to Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower. Have you ever been there before? Please comment if so. I’d love to hear about it! Also if you have any other favorite places to hike, please comment so I can add them to my list!

It was so nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the work week stress and just sit and look out at how beautiful it was. It was so quiet and the air was so fresh and clean. It would be a great place to sit and meditate.

If you like meditating, I’ve included a great blend to put in your diffuser.

Meditation blend:

3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Patchouli
3 drops Lavender

Also if you read my past blog on how to make your own homemade laundry detergent and are interested in making your own dryer balls, check out this blog. It is super easy. I hope you try it!

I hope you all have a fantastic week! I will be back with you soon!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving

Naturally, Lisa

It was a Tough Breakup!!

Posted on February 1, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Can you believe the month of January is already over?! This month I have accomplished a few of my many goals for the new year, and it makes me feel really good! Were you able to make any changes this month? Start small, baby steps are all it takes! Remember it’s a new year, so you can be a New YOU!

Last week, I touched on one way to make a change for a healthier YOU by using homemade laundry detergent. I am so happy to hear that many of you are trying it out! Did your triceps hurt after making it?! I have another idea for you this week that will be beneficial to your health and wellness. This one is really easy and does not involve getting physical! All it requires is the push of a button!

I’m sure, if you’re like me, you have your go to aromas and fragrances that you just absolutely love! Smells are very powerful and can trigger memories from your past and make you think of special occasions. For me, and I’m sure many of you, there’s nothing like walking into the aroma of fresh baked bread or cookies. A realtor once told me to bake cookies right before showing our house to create a more inviting, homey space! It actually worked!

I have always used the popular wall plug-in air fresheners, as well as candles to spice up my life. After being on this wellness journey, I have learned that most of these products are toxic and harmful to our bodies. They are no longer welcome in my house! It was like a tough break up with all those nasty products; but it had to be done!!

(Read here how you can de-pollute the funk in your house. A helpful tip: If your product does not have the latin name of the fragrance on it, then it is synthetic. Which basically means that it is man-made in a laboratory and it is dangerous for you. Talk about polluting the air in your home and your body!)

I’m not going cold turkey though! OH NO NO! Even though I banned those other products from my house, I love aromas too much! I have replaced all those toxic, smelly, items with several diffusers!! You may think “Oh I use to put one of those on the end of my hair dryer to diffuse the air and it made me look like that girl from the movie Flashdance.” Does that bring back memories or what?! If your behind that generation then all you young whipper snappers should check it out. It was one of my faves!! But this is no hair diffuser, this is a type of diffuser that you put essential oil into.

The cool thing is my family and I actually benefit from diffusing oils. Now let me say one quick word about essential oils. All essential oils are not the same. You have to be very careful about what and where you are purchasing oils. You want to buy an oil that is pure therapeutic grade! My favorite oil company has pure therapeutic grade oils. Their oils are 100% pure with nothing added and nothing taken away! My favorite oil company tests their oils 7 different ways! They are by far the best oils on the market!

Let me know if you’d like more info and how you can get started with a 25% discount and over the course of a year, up to a 55% discount on my favorite oil products!! Now that’s what I’m talking about!

So back to diffusers!

Diffusers are so easy to use. You add a small amount of water (read your manufacturers instructions) and then add 4-5 drops of Essential Oil. Turn it on and voila! It works its magic!

Basically, a diffuser transmits the essential oils therapeutic qualities into the air. The oils not only smell nice, but they are cleaning the air and benefiting your body too, without any toxic side effects! There are many varieties of diffusers available, but I prefer to use a cold air diffuser since warming the oil will change the chemistry and effect its benefits.

I typically run mine daily, refilling it every time it runs out. I have several throughout the house and one in my first grade classroom too! I just can’t get enough of them!!!

Depending on the style, diffusers run anywhere from 4-16 hours and usually will turn off by themselves. They work great in kids rooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and in the kitchen too! I like to use one that runs longer in my bedroom. At night, I love to use respiration blend, as well as calming blend. These two oils help me get a more restful night’s sleep and keep my airways open! If you have someone keeping you awake at night because of closed airways and loud noises beside you in bed, you should give the respiration blend a try!! Let me know if I can help you!

During the day, I love to diffuse Wild Orange and a very popular blend known as the Protective Blend. It is a great, uplifting, energizing, combo that gives me that extra boost throughout the day! This blend supports immune system function and protects against seasonal threats, so its especially great in the classroom.

You can diffuse so many different combinations of oils that it is almost endless. You will first need a diffuser and then some oils.

Here are a few of my favorites to try:

For seasonal support:

2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

For respiratory support:

1 drop Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 drop Rosemary Essential Oil

How about a more manly smell you say? :

2 drops Wintergreen
2 drops White Fir
2 drops Cypress

The list is endless. You just need to play! I will continue to add ideas for you.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like a sample! I can hook you up! I also have a few diffusers, so if you are in the market for one, let me know!

This simple addition to my house has changed my families lives for the better!!! I am positive that you will fall in love as well! Let me know what your favorite blends are!

Naturally, Lisa

Who has time for that?!?!

Posted on January 25, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

It’s true, people always look at me like I’m crazy and think I’m off my rocker when I tell them I make my own laundry detergent! I know they laugh and mumble under their breath, “Who has time for that?” Well I can tell you, you do!! YES YOU! It only takes about 20-30 minutes to make a batch, just like a batch of cookies. But let me tell you, this detergent will last you way longer than those cookies. I’m talking at least 4 ENTIRE MONTHS!!! It is well worth the investment! It is cheaper and so much safer for you!!

The holistic approach encompasses not only thinking about what your are putting on the inside of your body, but also what you are putting on the outside too! Just recently I’ve switched many things in my home from the traditional, store bought products and cleaners, and I have started making my own concoctions!!

About 2 years ago, I started making my own homemade laundry detergent. Store bought laundry detergents actually have quite a few chemicals that pollute not only the air in your house but also have chemicals that are being absorbed into your skin. Yes, even the ones that say “fragrance free!” Remember biology class taught us that our skin is the largest organ in the body? So, let’s start protecting it!

I encourage you to visit: www.ewg.org and check out the laundry detergent you currently use. If you have not checked out this website yet, you really need too! It will give you the low down on almost any product you use in your house. It rates the items on how toxic they are. So use it to check out any cleaning items you use or even things like your make-ups and shampoos! I looked up Tide with Febreeze and it was rated “F.” It was at the highest category for toxins. It showed high risk for asthma, skin irritation, and even a slight risk for cancer! Check it out!

I hope I’ve gotten those gears to start turning and have helped you to consider making a change! So if you’re ready, you’ll need to round up the following items to get started! You can buy your supplies at your local grocery store and even on Amazon! It just takes a little pre-planning!

Earthy Girl Laundry Detergent

1 (4 lb 12 oz) box of Borax- found in the detergent aisle (got mine on Amazon)
1 (3 lb 7 oz) box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda– found in the detergent aisle. (I got mine on Amazon.)
1 (3 lb) container of Oxi Clean- can find on the detergent aisle.
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap– I used lavender, but there are several scents to pick from. (I ordered on-line at Amazon and got 6 bars at one time.) Have seen them at Target too.
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- found on the cooking aisle. I found a big bag at Sam’s and Costco. It was a 13.5 lb bag. I’ve been able to use it for several batches. It was about $7.00.

Supplies:

A cheese grater/shredder. I bought an extra one to use only for the soap.
A large bucket with a lid. I recycled one of my wheat buckets (6 gallon) The ingredients only fill it up about 1/2 way.

Well, get your elbow grease ready. You actually are going to shred 2 bars of soap!! When you shred the soap, it’s a little bit of a work out. You might actually feel your triceps working, that’s basically going to the gym right?! Be safe when you’re shredding the soap to make sure you don’t cut your fingers! Ouch!

Instructions

Grate soap with a cheese grater or food processor. I do both. I grate first, then, put it in my food processor; so it’s super fine. I found it works best, especially if you use cold water in your laundry loads.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load. I put it right on my clothes or in the soap dispenser. Sometimes both!
Add a few drops of cleansing blend (from my favorite Essential Oil company) if you have smelly clothes, towels, or shoes. While the laundry is filling up, just add a few drops right in the water. It eliminates odors!! Sometimes I have kitchen towels that just have a weird odor. After I use this blend of essential oil, the smell is gone! You can also add your choice of essential oil to your laundry for additional fragrance. A couple of my favorites are lemon oil and wild orange oil.

If you’re going all natural you might as well get rid of your dryer sheets too! Switch over to using wool dryer balls! I bought a pack of six and I typically use 4 in each load. I place a few drops of whichever essential oils that I would like that day on each dryer ball! I usually like to add the Wild Orange or lavender oil. Start your dryer and let the balls do their magic. It may sound like you put tennis shoes in your dryer, but your clothes will be softer than ever, and even better, there will be no chemical residue. It’s a great change! That means no synthetic chemicals on your skin or pollutants in your house!

I made my last batch of laundry detergent on September 10, 2015 and I just made a new batch on January 20, 2016. It lasted a little longer than 4 months! I have a family of 4 and do on average 6-8 loads a week! Talk about bang for you buck! Just think, if you have a smaller family it will last you longer!

These minor changes have been a positive change in my life!!!

I hope I have inspired you and maybe you’ll try it too!

Next week I’ll talk about de-polluting the funk in your house by using a simple product called a diffuser.

Naturally, Lisa

What’s that smell?!?!

Posted on January 18, 2016May 15, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Well let me tell you!! That is the aroma of á la garbage! I’m totally kidding!! It’s not garbage like you might be thinking.

You would never know that I have a pile of rotting food on my counter- top right now! Feeling inspired after watching Cowspiracy on Netflix, I purchased two different pieces on Amazon to help me embark on saving the earth one piece of rotten banana at a time! I’m composting!

Wait a minute, rewind…Cowspiracy? It actually was a very interesting movie on how livestock are causing so many of our environmental issues today. It was a little disturbing, and honestly, I’ve contemplated becoming a vegan after seeing it.( Read more about it here.) If not a total vegan, could I be a vegan until 4:00 each day? Or, could I eliminate meat out of my nightly meals, maybe a few days of the week? Could you? Would you? If you have time you should check out the movie and then I’d be interested in your answer! Big things to ponder.

The bottom line is that I do want to help save the planet!! So I will start with baby steps and at least I can compost, right? Every little bit helps. Maybe you too will consider changing your diet or at least composting too!! Read some interesting facts about trash here!

Let me explain how it works. The Compost Pail (pictured on the left) sits on the counter and as you are preparing a meal, you can drop the items into it easily. It is completely sealed with charcoal filters on the top to prevent the smell from permeating your kitchen. Trust me, you don’t want to leave it open! After the pail becomes full, I can transport the items to the larger EcoBin Composter (pictured on the right,) which is outside in my yard. How easy is that? It really requires very little effort. As I tell my first graders, “You just need to train your brain!!”

Items that you should compost are: kitchen scraps, fruits, vegetables, used coffee grounds, tea bags, and egg shells. You should not put in fish, dairy products, animal fats, or oils. These items are harmful to plants and they may cause odor, which of course, would attract rodents and flies. You do not want to add diseased or insect ridden plants as they might infect your new plants when you transfer the compost to your garden. I also read that you do not want to add black walnut leaves or twigs since they will omit harmful compounds to plants.

In the outside bin, in addition to your kitchen scraps, you would add grass clippings, green leaves, flowers, vegetables from the garden, dry, brown leaves (other than black walnut), dried grass, straw, hay, sawdust, coffee filters, paper napkins, or shredded newspapers. For the best results, you want to alternate layers of greens and browns. You would not add coal or ashes, pet waste or coated paper products either. You will want to bury and mix in food scraps so the local critters don’t chow down. You want to remember to break the items down for quicker decay.

Of course winter is not the ideal time to start this process but, what the heck! At least I got started!!! The compost needs heat to break down. You will need to aerate the pile by turning it at least once a month. The more you turn it, the quicker the items will break down. A well maintained compost will have temperatures of 140-160 F. If you decide to take a break from composting the outside bin folds up for easy convenience.

I’m excited about using the compost soil in my flower pots once spring time comes!! I can’t wait to plant some Impatiens and geraniums on my porch! I know they are going to be vibrant with color and add that nice pop!

Now on to something else totally trendy: A smoothie bowl. You may ask, “What is a smoothie bowl?” Well it is actually a nice twist on a basic smoothie. You add the ingredients you would typically add in your smoothie, but instead of sipping it out of straw, or a cup, you would pour it in a bowl. I know, that sounds really weird and crazy, but I have to tell you, they are awesome! You are able to add toppings and eat it with a spoon. It is like ice cream or frozen yogurt, but way simpler. No waiting time to freeze! On top, I added my homemade Earthy Girl Granola and some fresh strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and coconut pieces. I was excited to throw all the toppings from the strawberries and banana peel into my new counter-top compost pail!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Bowl Recipe

1/4 cup yogurt (vanilla or your favorite) *Vegan omit yogurt
1 cup berries of choice (I like strawberries) can be frozen
1 banana (best if frozen)
Chia seed 1 tsp
Flax seed 1 tsp
Maca root 1 tsp ( find out about it here)
1 scoop Trim Shake protein powder vanilla (contact me if you want more info on this product)
Coconut water ( just enough to get it in a liquid state)

I used a frozen banana and fresh strawberries. It gives the smoothie a good consistency. You could use ice cubes too.

Mix in a blender, pour into a bowl. Add toppings. I put blueberries, Earthy Girl Granola, and toasted coconut chips on mine in the photo.

The best thing about smoothies is how easy it is to change them up. You can tweak the amount of any of the ingredients to suit your taste. Be creative with your fruit choices!! Find a combo that you like!! Just try it!

Check out how pretty these things are and not to mention absolutely delicious too!

Let’s Get Uncomfortable

Posted on January 11, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

What do I mean “Let’s get uncomfortable?” Why would anyone want to be uncomfortable? And on purpose? Am I loosing it? I have been so blessed in my life; beyond words to express. I am so dog-gone lucky, so why in the world would I be saying “Let’s get uncomfortable?!” I just want you to ponder this…… If you are warm and comfortable, in your own little cocoon, there is no growth happening. Growth is hard. It is cold. It is scary! But you know what?, “life begins at the end of your comfort zone!”

Because it is a new year, I’ve decided that I am using the mantra “New Year, New You” to motivate me to make those changes. I was going to have to get uncomfortable to take new steps in the right direction. I wrote down a few things that I knew needed some work My house for one, is on the top of my list. As my children have grown up, and moved out, their empty rooms have been left behind and needed a little TLC. Yes it is bittersweet to clean out all the yearbooks and memories of their childhood, but I have to get uncomfortable. Right? Maybe a few tears too!

I decided I want to use one room as a work-out/ “Aromatouch Technique” room. I have been certified in this technique which is an amazing process of applying oils to the back and feet. It creates an overall felling of wellness. It is very powerful, yet simple. I invested in a massage table and I needed the space to set it up. So the number one goal was to clean out the ol’ bedroom. I worked on it a little each day, and it created the biggest disaster! There were things everywhere and I couldn’t hardly walk through the hallway. Was I uncomfortable? Yes! I couldn’t stand it!

We started by heading to Home Depot and we picked out some wall colors that would be fun and up-lifting. My artsy daughter chose moroccan sky, which is an orange shade; a purple shade called heather sachet, and a light gray. I was thinking…”What the heck?…this is going to be awful, but I went with it. We got home and cleaned everything out of the room. Talk about time consuming and slow. That’s when things started piling up everywhere. OH!!, one thing I forgot to tell you, “I think I’m part hoarder.” No really!! I hate to get rid of things because one day I could possibly need it. So this task was difficult to say the least. I’m still having separation anxiety as it all sits in the garage to go to Goodwill. We painted the walls and it looks amazingly fresh and fabulous! I touched up the baseboards and doors with white gloss so the colors on the walls would pop! We got some new wall decorations from Target (50% off, gotta love it) and Etsy. We included a Himalayan salt lamp which I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond. It has many healing properties to help with allergies. (Read 10 Reasons to Have a Himalayan Salt Lamp). You know me, trying to go for the natural approach.

So now, I challenge you to start taking steps toward your goals. Do you have anything you want to get started on in this new year? You can make it happen. One small step at a time. Pick one thing! It’s so motivating to see the results. Like “I did this!!” Yes!!

We got a lot done this weekend and decided to celebrate by making some granola. This is something that is super easy to do (minus breaking open the coconut). It is so much better for you than store bought brands. You know exactly what you’re adding. I love to eat my granola on yogurt, ice cream, or as a cereal with almond milk. It’s great on smoothie bowls if you’ve hopped on that train!! Here is my new granola recipe if you are looking for new, deliciously healthy options for this year.

Earthy Girl Granola

4 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup chopped cashews
3/4 cups sunflower seeds
3/4 cups Pepita seeds (pumpkin seeds)
3/4 cup shredded coconut (if doing from scratch here’s how and don’t forget to freeze it first, because it will save your life, or your hardwood floors 🙁 at least!)
1/4 cup Sucanat (dark brown sugar replacement. Found( here)
1/4 cup maple syrup or to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
salt to taste (if the nuts you are adding are salted, you will want to decrease the amount used)

Preheat oven to 250. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, stir thoroughly, place on jelly roll pan or baking dish with sides. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes or 1 hour and 30 minutes if you like it crunchier. Stir every 15 minutes for an even, golden color. Let cool, eat and enjoy!! Store in Ziploc or Tupperware.

Sneek Peek: Next week I will be diving into all things composting and delicious smoothie bowls. I will be posting my blogs on Sunday nights around 7:00. I hope you all will join me each week as I embark on this new journey!

Naturally,
Lisa