Summertime is ripe with opportunities to get roughed up. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, bug bites and sunburns or skin irritations from the heat and humidity… it can take its toll and leave you with unsightly scars or itchiness that takes forever to stop. We (and kids especially) have more opportunity to be active and out […]

Are there mosquitos where you live? I grew up around them and then lived two blissful years in Denver, Colorado where nary a mosquito can be found (I had one bite during my entire residence). Then I moved to the worst place for mosquitos I’ve lived yet. At the height of mosquito season, I’ve been […]

This month I nearly tried a DIY I’ve never been brave enough to experiment with—a coconut oil hair mask. As you can tell from the title of this post, I chickened out. I have fine hair that is easily weighed down and prone to oily roots, and I also tend to break out from straight […]

  This spring, I’ve vowed to stay ahead of the foot care game going into summer. Every year when winter ends and I break out sandals and flip-flops, I’m pleasantly surprised by how soft my feet are after a winter of being hidden away under fluffy socks. All I have to do is paint my […]

Since I’ve switched to gentle, all natural shampoos my hair has become more balanced and requires less washing, but I still have this romantic notion that I could one day do without shampoo altogether. The trouble is that I’ve never had success with the no-poo method. That’s ok. I’m quite happy with the non-toxic shampoos […]

In addition to lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, lemon is one of the most useful, multipurpose essential oils you can have around the house. The bright happy scent comes from the peel of the lemon, which is expressed for its oil (cold pressing the peel breaks the oil glands and allows the oil to release). […]

  It took me a long time to put avocado on my face. I love eating them so much I couldn’t stand the thought of letting any “go to waste” by putting avocado on my skin rather than in my belly. Then one day a moment of revelation came when I cut into an avocado […]

  One of my favorite ways to practice simple aromatherapy is to take a relaxing aromatic bath. You can easily make your own bath salts if you keep a few basic ingredients on hand. Epsom salts make a great, affordable base for your mix, though you can mix Epsom with sea salt for added minerals […]

When I was kid, probably around the 5th grade, one of my mom’s friends sold makeup and skincare from one of those multi-level direct sales companies called BeautiControl. She would come over to our house loaded with makeup samples, and I would watch her and my mom swatch different colors and gab about makeup. One […]

We’re entering the time of year that is notorious for colds, flu, and other sickness. Busy fall schedules, holiday preparations, and hectic social calendars can elevate stress and exhaustion in the lead up to the New Year, suppressing your immune system as a result. You can boost your immunity and get ahead of the cold […]