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If you remember, I one of my commitments for the New Year was to live simpler and make more of my own products.

I was already making my own Laundry Soap, and I recently starting making Stache Shine & Hair Pomade, so I decided to add Homemade Lotion to that list.

Lotion is one item that we use a ton of in my house.  I have severely dry skin, so I am always trying to add moisture back into my body.  But I have found that no matter what lotions I buy I am still dry.  Or at least in places!

I knew I wanted my lotion to be coconut oil based, but I really didn’t know what other ingredients would be best.

After looking over many options, and becoming a little overwhelmed, I finally decided on the following ingredients…..Coconut oil (organic if possible) for the base, vitamin e (not only to help with extra moisture, but vitamin e helps shelf life of the lotion), cocoa butter (helps moisturize your skin, and a great antioxidant that helps with scars, scratches and stretch marks), and essential oil (optional, but a great fragrant enhancer, as well as mind and body wellness.  Essential Oils are a known remedy to lift your mood, calm your nerves and strengthen your immune system).

I went with peppermint oil because it is great for dry skin, as well as, a great remedy to help sooth my aches, pains, and sore muscles.

Another great essential oil for this lotion recipe is lavender, which is great for sensitive skin.  If your skin is naturally oily, try lemongrass or sandalwood.  And try rosemary if you are looking to lighten scars and stretch marks.

I love this recipe!  It’s so simple to make and it feels good knowing I am not adding any chemicals to my skin and body.

Homemade Coconut Body Lotion

What you need:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 oz cocoa butter
• 4-5 drops of vitamin e oil 
• a few drops of your favorite essential oils (optional)

You can customize your lotion to your skin type and desired scent.

What to do:

1. Cut your cocoa butter up and blend it in a food processor.

2. Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Leave coconut oil as a solid.

3. Mix on high speed, using an electric mixer with beaters or a whisk attachment or for 5-7 minutes.

4. Spoon the coconut oil body lotion into a mason jar or other container.  (plastic free if possible)

*I love these cute little tins with the see through lids I am using. Exactly fits 8 ounces of lotion.

*If your house is extremely warm, you may want to keep in fridge for longer shelf life.

*Your Coconut Oil Lotion should stay relatively soft, even at colder temperatures.

You will be a believer in Homemade Coconut Body Lotion after you have tried it once!

AWWWW makes my skin feel so smooth!  Give it a try!

If you would love to try my product, but just don’t have the time to make it, then you are in luck!

Thrifting Grace, my online store for all my homemade and homeschooling products will be opening soon!

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Need a last minute Fun and Frugal Valentine Gift?

Valentine’s Day is so hard for me because there is only so many balloons and boxes of candy you can give and receive.

Since I am a canner, I always have an endless supply of Mason Jars on hand so I thought it would be fun to do a gift in a jar.

I still wanted to incorporate candy of some sort into the gift so I decided on S’more’s in a jar.

It’s a fun, easy  and frugal gift idea.  Since I wanted it to be a Valentine Theme I decided to use heart shaped marshmellos and Valentine wrapped candy.

Of course I couldn’t just use regular graham crackers, I had to use chocolate graham crackers to go with the strawberry marshmellos and chocolate bars!

I created Valentine Tags for labels and Voila, a perfect Valentine Gift that fits everyone!

Click the download link below for my *FREE* Valentine Tags.

S’More Valentine Printable Tags

Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day!

The post Valentine Love In a Jar with *FREE* Printable Labels appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

“I love living natural. I would love to say that 100% of my life is all-natural, but reality is, life gets busy and sometimes it’s easier running to the store to pick up laundry soap, shampoo and hair products than it is to make them.”

“Making my own products guarantees that I know exactly what ingredients I am using on my hair and body. I feel a sense of accomplishment after I had made products for myself and my family. And it’s easy and fun!”

Click here to check out my complete post and recipe!

And be sure to check out all of Godly Glimpses amazing posts!

The post All Natural Homemade “Stache Shine” and “Hair Pomade” Guest Post for Godly Glimpses appeared first on GraceandGravy with a side of life!.

Laundry…..Does it ever end?

Do you ever feel like a laundry fairy comes at night and reproduces all your dirty clothes?  I can FINALLY be caught up and then the next morning we have a huge pile again… URGGGG!!!!

I see two things that are going to have to happen…1) We are going to have to not change so many times during the day. (Why do you need to change so many times unless you are taking a shower and putting on clean clothes) or 2) Start going naked!

I’m really down to those 2 choices.

One thing I love to do is make homemade laundry soap. I love the fact that I can determine which ingredients to add, I also love the low cost and how long the detergent lasts my family. I almost feel like a June Cleaver! Oh wait, June probably never made her own laundry soap did she? But really, it’s super easy and I wanted to share my variation.

First, I start with my Ingredients:

Borax

Washing Soda (such as Arm and Hammer)

Bar Soap (I use Ivory, it’s so natural and so cheap)

Epson Salt

Essential oils (or in my case I try to buy epson salt already scented with lavender).

Second, I grate my bar soap on smallest grate possible.

Third, I get all my ingredients  measured.

2 Cups Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 grated bar of soap
1 Cup Epson Salt
and if you prefer scented
10 drops of essential oil

Finally, mix in a container and seal.

I use appx 2-3 tablespoons per load of laundry, depending on the load size
With 1 box of Borax, 1 box of Washing Soda, 2 bars of soap, and 32 oz of scented Epson Salt, I can make 4 batches of Laundry Detergent. Enough to last my family 3-4 months. (please keep in mind, I do a lot of laundry)

No judgement on the Ice Cream Bucket turned into Laundry Soap Bucket, needed!  Hey it works and that’s all that matters!

I also love Line-Dried Clothes.  I must confess though, I do put them in the dryer for about 10 minutes first to fluff and get any excess lent off of the clothes.  (Can’t stand the stiff feeling or maybe it’s just I would have to iron if I didn’t fluff them first loI) I can remember when I was little, we had a washing machine but no dryer.  All Spring, Summer and Fall, my momma would hang out our laundry to dry.  When Winter came, we would have to take Saturday Morning trips to the Laundry Mat.  I can remember after my momma passed away, my daddy finally went and tore down that old clothes line that was no saggy and worn from years of weather and use.

Maybe it’s from the line-dried clothes as a child, I’m not for sure, but there is just something so tranquil about hanging out my laundry and watching them blow dry in the wind.  I can see my clothes line from my bedroom window, and some days I go sit on my bed just to watch it blow back and forth.  Simplicity maybe? Or contentment?  All I know is a peaceful feeling that settles over me.

I would love to swap Laundry Soap Recipes!  Please feel free to Link me up to your Blog Posts!

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