Handmade All-Natural Lip Balm Gifts

Hello and Happy New Year's Eve!  I hope your holiday season has been wonderful so far.  We stayed in town over Christmas and enjoyed time with Oklahoma family as well as some out-of-town relatives.

As usual, this winter break has been flying by.  Aside from all the holiday festivities, Jay and I are trying hard to get some "to-dos" accomplished  over break (like shampooing all the carpets!) while still making time for fun.  A couple days ago, we took a day trip to a nearby state park and hiked about seven miles.  It was so nice to get away for a bit and enjoy a change of scenery. 

On another note, now that all the Christmas gifts have been exchanged, I wanted to share a little bit about the lip balm my mom and I made this year for our friends and family.  

Last year's laundry soap was a big hit, so we decided to start a tradition of making a handmade gift together each year.  We settled on lip balm for this year's gift because it's something everyone can always use (especially in this freezing cold winter weather we've been having), and it seemed easy enough to make a large batch in a single afternoon.  

We combed through numerous recipes on the internet and selected four ingredients to use for the balms.  It took a little trial and error to figure out the best proportions, but the consistency of this final formula is just right. I was really happy with how it turned out.

Here is what we used:

6 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons beeswax
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
10-12 drops essential oil

We bought the coconut oil at the grocery store, but the beeswax pellets and vitamin E oil were purchased from Amazon.  We used essential oils that we already had on hand, but they can be easily found online or at any health food store in a variety of scents.

To make the lip balm, we started by melting down the beeswax and coconut oil.  To avoid burning, we placed the ingredients into a small stainless steel mixing bowl which we then submerged in a larger pot of hot (almost boiling) water.  Of course you could also use a double boiler to do this, but our own makeshift method worked surprisingly well.

Once the beeswax and coconut oil were melted, we added in the vitamin E and essential oil and stirred it all together.  We experimented with several flavors of essential oils, but our favorite was the wintergreen.  It was much more noticeable than the orange and gave the balm a fresh, minty fragrance.

We used a small spoon and an eyedropper to fill up our little plastic containers (also purchased on Amazon).  One batch of the lip balm filled up about 18 of the small 5 gram pots.  By the end of the afternoon, we had made enough to fill 50 containers!

After about 15 minutes, the lip balm had cooled off and was ready to use.

To make the gifts a little more special, we decorated each lip balm with a festive sticker and attached it with a dab of hot glue to a small card that I designed on PicMonkey. 

The lip balms were very well received.  Many have commented that they love the way it feels on their lips, and I think everyone appreciated the simple, all-natural ingredients.  Plus, it always seems more special when a gift is made by hand.

I'm not sure exactly what the next few days have in store, but I am going to do my best to enjoy every minute  of my time off before the craziness of work resumes.

Wishing you all a very safe and healthy new year!

Subscription Box Mania

Subscription boxes are all the rage right now.  There's one for just about every interest you can imagine, from food to beauty to fitness, and everything in between.  They make for a great gift that keeps on giving, or a fun treat for yourself!  Here are a few of my faves:

Birchbox
Birchbox was one of the first subscription boxes I ever heard about, and I've been getting them for close to a year now. For only ten bucks a month, I always look forward to my next box of fun beauty samples.  I've received high-end makeup, hair products, lotions, nail polishes, and even the occasional accessory or healthy snack.  I always feel like I get my money's worth, and it's a great way to try new products before you buy. It's just the best!

Stridebox
For Christmas this year, I signed Jay up for a few months of Stridebox, a subscription box just for runners.  For $15/month, it came primarily stocked full of nutrition products, such as sports bars, goo, and electrolyte drink mixes.  Pretty much everything they sent was organic and made with real ingredients, so that was a big plus.  The boxes also included a few accessories, like a water bottle and shoe laces.  Jay really enjoyed it!

Graze
I just recently signed up for a free trial of Graze, a $6 healthy snack box that comes as often as once a week.  I am always on the lookout for easy, nutritious snacks to keep at work, so I thought I'd be worth a try.  I was able to specify my snack preferences and dietary requirements ahead of time, and it's easy to sort through what they have.

I opted for vegan snacks only in my first box, and I received fruit and seed bars, a black pepper cashew mix, a natural energy nut mix, and a mix of dried apples, cranberries, and figs.  Everything so far has been delicious, and the individual packaging is really convenient.  I like that I can easily throw one into my purse or lunchbox when I'm in a rush.

If you are interested in Graze, use the code JY6FN1XJB and you'll receive your first and fifth boxes free!

Naturebox
I also tried Naturebox for a while, which is very similar to Graze.  Instead of receiving a box every two weeks, you get just one box per month full of healthy snacks.  It ranges from $20 to $50, depending on how many snack bags you opt to receive.  It is definitely more expensive than Graze (which is mainly why I stopped ordering it), but it's also a lot more food.  You can select and rate your snacks, all of which are nutritionist-approved.

Naturebox always offers half off plus free shipping on your first box.

Barkbox
I've been seriously eyeing Barkbox for a long time - a monthly box stocked full of toys, treats and gadgets for your pooch.  Wendy and Oliver absolutely LOVE all presents, so I'm sure they would adore this monthly treat.  At $20/month, it's a tad pricey (especially if I were going to get a box for each of them), but I will definitely keep it in mind when their birthdays roll around in the fall.  I've heard really good things about Barkbox, and I love that they donate 10% of their proceeds to doggy rescue organizations.

These pictures of pups with their Barkboxes are too cute!

 

If you're interested in checking out the other millions of subscription boxes out there, try this website for a complete list with reviews.  I wish I could order them all!

Have a great weekend!

Things I'm Loving Lately - Second Edition

Hello friends! I hope you are all having a great weekend!

I am currently enjoying my last day of Fall Break (tear).   I spent Thursday and Friday in Fort Worth with Jay cheering on his volleyball team.  I had every intention of taking lots of pictures and doing some sort of travel blog post, but somehow my camera never even left my bag.  Oops.

The trip wasn't too eventful - I watched some volleyball, obviously, and also ate some great meals, got in some shopping, and relaxed at the hotel.  It was nice to get away!

Yesterday we caught up around the house and had some friends over in the evening for Eggplant Parmesan and game night.  Again, I forgot to take pictures, but next time I make that recipe I will be sure to share it with you all.  It is one of my faves!

Speaking of favorites, I have lots of new (or new to me) products that I have really been loving lately, so I thought I would do another blog post to share.

1. New running clothes
I recently bought some running capris on sale at Old Navy and tried them out for the first time today.  They fit great and didn't move around or ride up when I was running.  And I really love the fun stripey pattern!  I'm sure I will be wearing these a lot this fall!

After our run this morning, Jay and I stopped by Academy to pick up a gift for a friend's birthday party later on today.  I just happened to notice a Nike clearance rack, so I had to take a look.  I found this running skirt for only $16, marked down from $52!  I am not exactly sure what the point of a running skirt is, but I have always thought they looked really cute.  Aside from being stylish, I like that this one has two side pockets and a zippered pocket on the back - very practical!  I also picked up a pink dry-fit Nike shirt from the same clearance rack for $15, marked down from $25.  I can't wait to try these out!  Now, if only my new clothes would magically make me better at running...

2. eos Organic Lip Balm
This lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free.  The round shape makes it super easy to apply, and I also feel like it is easier to find in my purse!  The sweet mint flavor leaves your lips really smooth and tingly.  I am addicted to this stuff!

3. Squash Season!

I was so excited to see so many different kids of squash on sale today for just $.78/pound!  I wanted to buy them all.  Expect to see lots of roasted squash on the blog in the next few weeks!

4. Love & Toast Roller Perfume

I think it was my friend Eva who first told me about these natural perfumes a couple months back.  I've heard that most traditional scents contain lots of bad chemicals, so I have been meaning to look at healthier alternatives.  I recently stumbled across a big Love & Toast sale at Sprouts, so I decided that it was the perfect time to try a new perfume!  All of the fragrances smell wonderful without being too overbearing, but I especially liked the "Dew Blossom" scent.  I wore it all weekend in Fort Worth and kept thinking, "I smell good!"  The company also makes lotions and other natural beauty products that are very reasonably priced and adorably packaged, so I will definitely be trying them out. 

5. Say Yes To Carrots Nourishing Body Wash

Speaking of things that smell good, I am also in love with my new Say Yes To Carrots Body Wash.  It smells sooo good, and it is really moisturizing.  Even though it's a bit more expensive than traditional brands, the bottle is big and a little goes a long way.  I think it's a much better value than Burt's Bees or some of the other natural body washes on the market.  The link above is to Amazon, but you can also buy Say Yes To Carrots products at Target...occasionally they will even offer a sale or coupon!

That's all for today!  I am off to enjoy the rest of my Sunday!

A Few Things I'm Loving Lately

Here are some healthy finds that I've been loving lately!

1. Adidas Women's Squad Duffel Bag

A coworker recently arranged for a cross-fit coach that she knows to lead a boot camp for teachers two days/week after school.  I love trying new workout classes and also thought it sounded like a fun way to squeeze in some social time with my fellow coworkers, so I signed right up.  When I was packing up my gym bag the night before my first class, it suddenly dawned on me that the bag I'd been using was quite ratty and unattractive.  I had gotten it for free somewhere and never really paid attention to how ugly it was.  

I decided that I needed a cute new gym bag to go along with my new class, so I got on Amazon and started looking around.  I settled on this bag from Adidas, because I loved the colors, it had lots of compartments (like a separate one for shoes!) and it was the perfect size.

 

So far I am loving the bag and can't believe I went so long without buying one!  It is so nice to know that my shoes won't be getting dirt or smells all over my clothes, and there are so many padded pockets to protect jewelry and other small items that I may need to store after changing.  

Auromere Herbal Toothpaste

After watching an episode of Dr. Oz touting the benefits of Neem bark for dental hygiene, Jay picked up a tube of this Ayurvedic toothpaste on sale at Sprouts to try.  I was a bit skeptical about it at first, but after one brushing I knew I was not going back to my old Crest!  Even though the mint flavor wasn't as strong as a store-bought brand, my mouth somehow felt so much cleaner after using it.  And, although the tube is small, it is three times concentrated and the tiniest dot produces a ton of foam.  I feel like my teeth are as white and healthy as ever, and when I saw my dentist recently he gave me the seal of approval. 

Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout DVD

I love going to workout classes, because someone else makes the plans, tells you what to do, and pushes you to try new things.  Since it's not always feasible to attend a class, however, I think workout DVDs are the next best thing - like having a private class in your own living room! 

I'm not exactly a huge Bethenny Frankel fan (I don't have cable and hardly knew who she was), but I had heard good things about this yoga DVD from several people and thought I'd give it a try.  

It took me a couple times of doing the workouts to really get the hang of it, but now I can flow through the moves pretty well without having to stop often to look at the TV.  I really am loving the DVD, because I feel so good and relaxed after I do it, yet my muscles are sore the next day.  It is a good blend of stretching and toning, and the moves flow fast enough that you even get your heart rate up a little bit.  The instructor does a good job of explaining things and providing different levels of modifications, and Bethenny adds some useful and occasionally amusing commentary.  I also like that the 45 minute workout is split up into three shorter segments, so you can mix and match depending on what you have time for.  I can definitely see myself turning to this DVD on a regular basis!

Bragg Liquid Aminos
I know I have mentioned liquid aminos before, but I seriously cannot get enough of this seasoning!  I put it on everything - salads, soups, rice, stir-fry, roasted veggies, fish...pretty much anything that you want to taste delicious.  The flavor is very similar to soy sauce, only better.  Plus, it is definitely better for you!  It is made from non-GMO soybeans and contains 16 essential and non-essential amino acids.  There is a small amount of naturally occurring sodium, but way less than regular soy sauce.  I don't really know how they do it, but I love it!

That's all for today!  See you soon!