Homemade Whipped Body Butter

I made body butter this weekend I wanted to share with you! It's surprisingly easy and I'm excited to experiment with different recipes. I used lemongrass and lavender essential oils for this batch and it smells so good! 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup shea butter

16 drops essential oils of your choice - for this batch I did about 10 each of lavender and lemongrass. 

{Note: all essential oils are not made for ingestion and can be dangerous if they are only perfume grade. That's why I can only recommend Young Living oils because of their commitment to purity and quality. Remember, anything you put on your skin (your body's largest organ) is ingested. This is why making our own clean body butter is even more exciting - get rid of all the extra ingredients in processed lotions.}

Directions:

Mix all together in mixer. After well mixed, my consistency was pretty oily/melted, so I stuck it in the freezer for 20 minutes. After that, the consistency was perfect! I mixed again for a little bit, then filled my jars with the luxurious mixture.  

*Some recipes have you add the coconut oil and shea butter to a double broiler (don't heat the essential oils though;)) to melt, then let cool before stirring and adding to freezer. I didn't do this, but some of the coconut oil in my jars has started to separate - so next time, I'll try melting them to see if that helps them not separate. I also may try adding a little more shea butter and a little less coconut oil to see if that helps. I'd love to hear if you try this, what works for you! 

Shea butter & coconut oil 

After freezing, they whipped up so well! 

They look like ice cream or frosting or something really delicious. It definitely smells edible! 

 I was so excited about these little labels! I found a super easy website to make free labels. You type in whatever description you want, and can choose between different templates. It prints lots per page, depending on how big your labels need to be. You could use them for anything really - be creative! 

 I used 4 oz canning mason jars, I did this recipe x4 or so to have enough for my 9 jars. So fun! I'd LOVE to hear what you make!

Now, I'm off to wrap gifts and tackle some projects! 

Today's Pinspiration:

Pinterest Source

I don't know how Buddy the Elf knows how to roll all of my love languages into one sentence. 

'Tis the Season

I can't believe it's almost Christmas. This season has gone so fast, and I feel like December has just flown by. I hope you're enjoying it! My very favorite time of year:)

I case you're working on any very last minute gifts, I thought I'd re-link to a few gifts I made last year. See that post here. It's also crazy thinking back to last Christmas, when we were trying to find a place to live. What a year it has been! 

Also, one year ago is when I was baptized:) Such neat memories with my parents and Nick.

 Last weekend, we had some fun Christmas gatherings! First was Nick's work Christmas party Friday night. It was fancy with cocktail attire, heavy h'ordeuvres, formal photos, giveaways, and meeting Nick's work people. It was great! We didn't take any photos at the beginning of the night, but thankfully we got some when we got home at the end of the night:) 

 The weather was perfect. About 60's, even that late at night! Last year, it was very cold, so this made it so much easier.

Saturday night, we met up with friends downtown for dinner and taking in the Christmas festivities downtown. There were carolers, a bagpipe band, and lots of families out and about, enjoying the great weather in December. 

 Sunday night, we had a Christmas exchange and snacks with our bible study group. We played Would you Rather, and Nick got to draw glasses & a mustache on my face. :) Ranger didn't know quite what to think.. 

Ranger likes to be under the covers. And I like it too, when he's in a sweet mood. 

Handsome boys! This was the night before Ranger's hair cut. It gets so long and we can't see his eyes. He doesn't behave well during hair cuts, so he only gets a few a year, and we take as much off as we can so we don't have to again for a while. Oh this puppy. 

I have to continue to profess my thankfulness for thieves. Especially in December, when so many are fighting getting sick themselves. 1) it smells great, 2) it saves me from getting wintertime ickies, 3) it works. 

I'm making this recipe this week when our family is together. I can't wait, it sounds delicious!

I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas! 

 Today's Pinspiration:

Pinterest Source

Let us remember the reason for this season.

Thanksgiving

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend! Ours was really nice. It started Wednesday afternoon for me. I lucked out that my dad was off work and agreed to come over to help me put up Christmas decorations.

Blurry selfie after getting the tree up:)

 Ranger loved time with his Grampy and wouldn't leave his side. The place got messy really fast as I pulled everything out, but dad helped me get it out, decorate, and make things look less hectic;) for when Nick got home. We have some more ornaments to put on the tree, but I'm excited with how it came together and love sitting in the glow of the lights at night. Our first Christmas in this home! 

 Ranger got his first Christmas sweater :) I think it's the cutest thing to see this boy in a nice sweater. I'm sure there will be more family pics this season in this one;) 

We got a little Christmas shopping in this weekend, a lotttt of college football (good thing I've come to enjoy it!), great time visiting Nick's parents, delicious meals, and rest. 

I always look for beauty on road trips and it's always right there, waiting to be noticed.

I shared this recipe on Facebook, but wanted to share it here too - it's that good. I made it for Nick's Thanksgiving pot luck, after he signed us up for sweet potato casserole. The thing was -- I've never made sweet potato casserole in my life! He knew though that we had some on our counter from our farm batch we hadn't used yet. I looked for recipes and landed on this one. So easy and so delicious. I made it gluten and dairy free too! YUM. Here's the recipe I used.

Today's Pinspiration:

Today's Pinspiration

If you're looking for inspiration in your life, check out Steve Chandler. We listened to him on audio in the car this weekend and were impressed. He has books I'd like to read too! Simple but profound. 

Puppy On the Mend

After a couple of episodes of the sickness Ranger was dealing with (HGE), we're hopeful that he's on the mend! He was on a few rounds of medications (one more since I blogged about it last) to help heal his body and deal with the symptoms, and he's been doing well and seems to be himself more (back to his usual wild self;)).

He wasn't feeling well before we knew what was going on, wanting extra snuggles.

At the vet. We had to leave him overnight to get fluids which was so hard. He's an anxious boy and we knew he was going to be scared there, but we also knew he needed fluids. He was brave.

Going through those few weeks with our puppy made me think of all you mamas and the things you go through worrying about your kiddos when they're sick or something's not right. Making sure he was eating enough, trying to convince him to drink his water, making special meals for his body to digest while sick, watching every bathroom scenario to watch for progress... it was exhausting! Plus, I made extra time for him since he really just wanted to snuggle while he didn't feel well and my mind was thinking about how he was doing when I wasn't with him. I watch Ranger more closely for symptoms now, and really have been appreciating him more. After his 2nd episode in two days, he was not himself and just laid in my lap, with his head on my shoulder. I was paying attention to his little beating heart thanking the Lord for this little life. I've always loved this boy, but I realized that night how much my heart cares deeply for him. 

I think he looks like such a tough guy here ;) 

Last week as I was setting up food for my oils class. He was whining for chips :)

Thinking of all you mommies and daddies and your hearts spread out loving your kiddos (and fur babies). It's hard work, give yourselves some grace. And give them lots of hugs and kisses.


There's so much to be thankful for, and this is always a good time of year to count our blessings. 

Today's Pinspiration:

(Pinterest Source)

October Things

This time of year is so interesting here. It's was into the 90's over the weekend, but down to the 60's at night. Some fall weather sounds so lovely! I think we're getting more fall-like temps this week which I'm looking forward to. 

I made this surprisingly tasty meal (click link to be taken to the recipe) this week I wanted to share with you, even though my pictures don't make it look appetizing. 

Baked butternut squash (I think this was my very first butternut squash experience?! I was impressed with it. It really seemed like potatoes to me.).

Garbanzo beans with tahini and seasonings

Mixed together. It's way better than it looks. The recipe also had onions in it and fresh parsley I think. Those things would add variety to it, but I recommend giving it a try. Even as a tasty side to your meal. 

I got to hold a sweet friend's baby last week. Melted my heart. All babies do - they're so small every time and holding them is just the sweetest thing. Life seems to be put into perspective a bit when you're holding precious cargo :)

 I had extra veggies from our produce co-op last week I didn't know what to do with. I googled zucchini recipe, and thought I'd try sautéing them. They were so good! Why haven't I done that before? They soak up the flavors so nicely. I flavored them with salt, pepper, garlic powder and cumin. We had them with cumin chicken and enjoyed it. 

Mr. Ranger has been under the weather for a few days which breaks my puppy mama heart. We got some pumpkin for him and he scarfed it with his food (which he hadn't been eating much of his food since he got sick), so hopefully he's on the mend. I've been getting extra cuddles in the mean time. 

I ate a delicious brunch at Brewed on Saturday with great company {one was a friend I met at the flourish retreat!:)}. This place was so cute - the atmosphere was so fun and the food was so good! 

Here was my brunch. So delicious. 

For my oil loving friends who haven't purchased the premium starter kit (what are you waiting for?!:)), here's your last chance to get it with Valor and Peace & Calming! 

If you have questions, you can email me at eatexploreenjoy@gmail.com and if you want to order your kit, the steps are at the bottom of this page>> Young Living Starter Kit Sign-Up. Plus, once you get your kit, you'll be on our Essential Families team where we all share ideas and ask questions, you'll get a welcome package from me, and we can be on this awesome oily journey together! 

Today's Pinspiration:

(Pinterest Source)

Lately

We had family in town a few weeks ago and got to enjoy a day at the Texas State Fair together. It was so lovely!

Big Tex! You always have to see Big Tex when you're at the Texas State Fair. You can also see our trips to the Texas State Fair in 2011 and 2013. 

Dad and I giving our legs a rest. 

We watched a really cute wild west dog/animal show. They had a bird show here for years and it retired last year - this was still entertaining! 

I couldn't resist getting Ranger a treat at the fair:)

He loved his peanut butter heart. 

I made minty triple chocolate cupcakes for a work fundraiser too - so tasty! I used the triple chocolate cupcake recipe and added peppermint essential oil to the cupcake and buttercream frosting. 

Our team is so talented at making cupcakes - it wasn't until I came to this team that I even learned howl to make them, and how to make my own buttercream from scratch. I got caramel apple, pumpkin pie, s'mores, sea salt caramel, red velvet, Elvis (banana, peanut bitter & bacon), pumpkin with cream cheese frosting, raspberry & german chocolate. I couldn't eat these (since I don't eat gluten & dairy), but don't they look great?! 

I recreated a meal I loved from my weekend at the Flourish Retreat too. I could eat all of the meals that weekend and it expanded my meal ideas for delicious gluten and dairy free meals. This one is like a Mexican salad. Flavored ground beef, refried beans (I made them myself- yay!!), Mexican rice (made that myself too - I was so proud of this meal), salsa & I added corn we had in our produce batch that week. There is a lot of protein and it's so tasty. 

Sweet potato fries (olive oil, salt, garlic powder & rosemary). We had sweet potatoes in our last co-op farm batch, so I knew I wanted to try these fries. They were delicious! 

I tried making zucchini chips also. 

#fail 

The non-burned ones still had good flavor, but I maybe got 3 "chips" out of the deal, the rest were burned or just cooked (not crispy) zucchini with flavor. 

We've been enjoying beautiful weather lately and some gorgeous skies. I hope you have a great weekend wherever you are! 

Today's Pinspiration:

(Pinterest Source)