Hi, Friends!

How is everyone doing?

Yesterday was a rough day for me.

Nothing crazy, just one of those days where you feel drained and like you can’t handle things as well as you usually do.

I ended my day curling up in my bed, with my adorable son, crying. And I am not a cryer.

My house is literally like an insane asylum. I am sure it’s nothing special …  from what I hear most parents go through some type of craziness with their kids (and dog!).

No joke.

And my Jaxon is the cutest boy on the planet, yet he’s giving me gray hairs already.

He decided that he now refuses to hold my hand in parking lots (only Ella’s, but she isn’t always around), and if I try to even lay a finger on his shirt or something he collapsed to the ground, like right in the middle of the street, with cars all around trying to pass.

And thinks it’s hilarious no matter what I try to do to teach him not to.

He is also a magician in the cart or stroller, so that has become unsafe and a scene if I try to contain him or carry him (oh, the stares I get from people).

Having a boy is like a whole new experience.

Like, I looked in the mirror the other day and had the biggest, longest gray hair ever for the first time in my life.

My Brittany needs to take care of that soon.

Anyway, long story short, that was about a tenth of the craziness I was experiencing, and sometimes life just gets overwhelming.

I hate myself when I get like that, but then I realize that I am only human and can’t always keep it together.

Then at the end of the day, you say you can’t wait for the kids to go to sleep so you can get an ounce of quiet time.

But when they fall asleep you can’t stop staring at them, and miss them.

Especially when the one that only likes their own space and never falls asleep in your arms does, because he knew you needed it.

Parenthood is so strange.

And when I cry from being overwhelmed by the laundry, the messes, work, the constant everything .. I am reminded just how grateful I should be for all of it, and grateful for the tears I shed to help me release my emotions and feel my feelings so I can be better.

With that said, today’s DIY was created for my babies who struggled badly with eczema and dry skin (but I benefit as well).

A whole lotta love and self care goes into this simple recipe

Not only is this going to make your skin feel like a baby’s butt … it is also a crucial part of my nightly routine (check out my post on sleep!)

I’ve been making body butters for a few years now, and used to go off of a recipe … but have since been playing with different things to find the perfect combo for us.

You have a lot of wiggle room to play too … and I am going to tell you how!

This recipe combo here makes all of our skin feel SO dewy and soft … it isn’t super greasy either. For a while I had used coconut oil, and it really was too greasy for me, and didn’t absorb in my skin well.

I also had this “aha” moment about measuring the butters.

Before, I’d just shove them in.

I use cocoa butter but you can use shea butter, mango butter, or a combo of all or 2 … it really will work.

I personally love the cocoa butter … I love how buttery it is, I love how my skin feels with it on.

The smell can be overpowering to the essential oils (who doesn’t want to smell like chocolate though?!) but it is still great, and you still get skin benefits from essential oils if you choose to add them.

We can’t use mango butter because of Jaxon’s nut allergy. Mangos are in the same evergreen tree family with cashews and other tree nuts… so it could have a topical reaction for him.

I add carrier oils/elements to measure out to 1 cup of liquid.

To keep it simple, get out your liquid measuring cup and add your combo.

I start with 1/2 cup of avocado oil, add in 3 TBSP of vegetable glycerine, then 2 teaspoons of olive oil, and after that I just fill to the 1 cup line with olive oil because I am bad at math.

I’ve used jojoba, which I love, rosehip, which I also love, and  argan oil ….  but they are all expensive, so I save them for face serum and oil cleansing.

You definitely don’t have to use essential oils , everything in this will make your skin feel amazing … but they really add support based off of what you need or want.

Right now I am digging lavender, ylang ylang, and German chamomile for their skin benefits.

(I only use Young Living, there’s some info and a PDF on this page as to why .. one word … FARMING!)

After you melt down all of the ingredients (EXCEPT essential oil)in a double boiler:

you want to freeze it for about an hour so that it is firm, but when you stick a spoon in it, it looks like this:

Then add your oils:

And whip the crap out of it:

Tip: Cover the kitchen aid and put it on full blast, scraping the sides often.

If it starts to get melty, or isn’t whipping up a lot after 5-7 minutes, place it back in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

The more you whip, the more it fluffs up, but if you go too long it will start to melt from being hot.

If all goes well you’ll end up with this!

This body butter has really helped my kids dry skin. And I love it so much.

I think vegetable glycerine makes a big difference in it too! That was the only thing really different lately … so try it! And try some of my other DIY recipes using it too!

Homemade Whipped Body Butter

{makes about five 4-ounce containers}

ingredients:

• 1 cup cocoa butter (can sub mango or shea butter, or a combo of any if you like)
• 1 cup liquid oils/elements (I use 1/2 cup avocado oil, 3 Tablespoons vegetable glycerine, 2 teaspoons Vitamin E, then fill the rest with olive oil until it reaches 1 cup)
• 20-30 drops of essential oils {I mix it up a lot, but right now I am loving ylang ylang (10), German chamomile(5), and lavender(10) }

directions:

1. Chop up cocoa butter to measure it. Add that, and the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT for the essential oils in a double boiler. I use a metal bowl on top of a saucepan.
2. After the elements are completely liquid, add them to your kitchen aid bowl and freeze for an hour (you don’t have to use a kitchen aid, it is just more convenient than hand whipping).
3. Once it is solid, but soft to touch with a spoon, kind of slice it up and little then whip it for about 10 minutes, scraping the sides often. Try not to over whip or it will get hot and melt, if that happens, stick it back in the freezer .. you can’t mess this up, really!
4. In the last minute of whipping, add essential oils of choice (I use this brand)
5. Place in 4-ounce mason jars (Amazon), and they keep for months in a cool dry place!

These made a FANTASTIC gift for teachers, birthdays, holidays, and so on!

I know that I have been posting a TON of beauty recipes lately … there are some healthy food recipes in the works soon … PROMISE!

PS-If you want to join my Healthy Home and Essential Oils group on Facebook, send a request here!

XO

-Laury