On Guard Concentrate Liquid Laundry Detergent!

Quite Fabulous!

I love making my own laundry soap as much as anyone (my sister might have something to do with this).  I like saving money, the landfill and a product that works!

I started with Jillee's Super Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent formula and added new twist by replacing the blue Dawn dish soap with doTERRA's On Guard Cleaner Concentrate 

You won't understand the magnitude of this discovery until you try it yourself, you won't!

For instance, here's a "before shot" if I ever saw one.  Some crazy person uses white washcloths to wash her face.  A mess of makeup, mascara and coconut oil that normally needs to soak overnite in order to get to white again.

Not so with this formula!  The washcloth was bright white after a normal wash cycle. Here's a photo of the same washcloth straight from the washer, before I put it in the dryer - no trace of a stain - tra la la!  Are you getting excited yet??

Jillee's Super Concentrate Liquid Detergent 

{with a twist}

To a 1/2 gal mason jar (64 oz) or unbreakable jar of your choice, add...

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Washing Soda

1/2 cup Blue Dawn dishwashing soap

1/2 cup On Guard Cleaner Concentrate

Add to that...

4 cups of HOT water to dissolve the dry ingredients, stir.  Next, fill to the top slowly with COLD water.

The ingredients can settle to the bottom between laundry days, just tip your bottle back and forth a few times to mix.

Remember, this is a concentrated detergent, you'll only need 1/2 cup per large load. When washing whites, I recommend a scoop full of oxygenated bleach be added for brightening.

Product Description
On Guard Cleaner Concentrate is designed to be the ideal natural cleaner. It is fortified with
dōTERRA’s proprietary On Guard Protective Blend of wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon, 
eucalyptus, and rosemary CPTG essential oils that naturally defend against surface-dwelling 
contaminants and microbes. This powerful essential oil blend is combined with plant-based 
derivatives that provide a non-toxic and biodegradable way to clean and eliminate odors. It is
safe for your family as well as the environment. The multi-purpose capabilities of On Guard 
Cleaner Concentrate make it perfect to expertly clean hard surfaces in the kitchen, 
bathroom, or any room leaving behind a clean and invigorating scent.



Note:  Liquid laundry detergent is the perfect medium for adding essential oils.  Clothes and bedding are clean, in the purest sense thanks to wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils from the On Guard Immune Blend!
  

Now you can make your own Stain Remover with On Guard Concentrate Liquid Laundry Soap & Blue Dawn!

Pick up a plastic condiment squirt bottle at any $1 store, they're fabulous for lots of things, including this...

Fill plastic squirt bottle with On Guard Concentrate Liquid Laundry Soap, leave enough room to add 2 T of Blue Dawn dish soap.  Tip to mix!  Easy Peasy.

This makes a super easy stain remover for whites and darks without a lot of extra ingredients!  

I forgot to mention how GREAT this smells!

Rebecca

Diffuser Bombs! Share the Love!

Diffuser LOVE!  Pass it on...

Oh how we love diffusing!  The benefits are real and far reaching, from opening airways to killing airborne pathogens.  We also love the aromatherapy of it all...essential oils wafting about our home, office or classroom, lifting our mood and purifying the air we breathe.

Diffuser Bombs are a handy way to pack around tiny remedies in a bottle for the ones you love or, just like...

Bombs for wellness, a better night's sleep, brightening moods, purifying the air, the options are many! Customize a few for friends and family - and if you're feeling especially generous, give the gift of a diffuser too.  

Looking for a heck of a deal?  {Click Here!} Use this CODE - SPAVAPOR and get yourself a $20 diffuser oh, and tell them Camp Wander sent you ;)

To craft your own Diffuser Bombs, you'll need essential oils and a few tiny glass dram bottles.  If you don't have any of these super convenient bottles, you can order yours from that same place you can get the "heck of a deal" diffuser above!  

glass dram bottles

essential oils

glass eye dropper {optional}

Depending on the size bottle you choose, adjust your recipes accordingly...

wellness.

On Guard - go right ahead and fill the bottle to the top, this is an amazing blend to keep the entire household, classroom or office well!

Breathe & Frankincense - equal parts - for anyone with a nasty persistent cough.  Diffuse this blend in the bedroom at night.

sleep.

Lavender - fill the bottle to the top with this favorite!

Lavender & Vetiver - 10 parts Lavender to 2 parts Vetiver.  This combination takes Lavender to the next level, a super duper sleep blend.

Hibernation Blend - equal parts - Frankincense, Bergamot, Roman Chamomile and Vetiver...ahhhh so nice!

For more Sleep Blends see - Lullaby Sleep Blend post {HERE!}

mood.

Balance - fill the bottle to the top!  This is my favorite EO blend of all time for reducing stress levels and grounding my busy self.  Put this in a friends diffuser, suddenly you're BFFs!

Lavender & Bergamot - equal parts please - this combination is grounding and brightening!  Trust me, you want this in your life :)

Before I bid you adieu...

....a pretty little welcoming blend shared with me from a dear friend.  Kollette's Gratitude & Joy Blend, smells like roses...a very happy, bright fragrance...just like Kollette :))

Have a great time sharing Diffuser Bombs with friends, family and colleagues.  Experiment with your own blends - it's fun, share some diffuser love today!

Rebecca

Thicker, Softer Hair with Rosemary, Lavender & Apple Cider Vinegar

"Keep Rosemary at your Garden Gate and Fall in Love Whenever you can"...

...use it in your hair too!

Rosemary essential oil is one of those powerhouse oils that serves us in many ways.  One of those being it's amazing hair rejuvenating properties.  Another, Rosemary improves memory, both very good reasons for us to drench our scalp with Rosemary Recipes!

My Rosemary Story...

This is me, pointing to my genetic tendency.  In our family, a few of us are watching our hair thin at the hairline, of course it's the front of my hairline.  Heaven forbid it be at the back and "un-noticable"!?  However...

A while back, I decided to enlist the help of Rosemary EO, straight up in fact!  I've been massaging 2 drops of Rosemary into that thinning spot directly on my scalp everyday.  Some days, I even layer a drop of Frankincense with the Rosemary.  I highly recommend this protocol daily, I'm noticing very nice results!

  

Without good blood flow to the scalp, hair will thin, genetics and hormones can accelerate the thinning process too.  As we age, the skin on our scalp gets tighter with less blood flow inhibiting hair growth.  Since using Rosemary EO regularly, I've seen my scalp go from a very pale pink to downright rosy!  

  

Note:  If hair follicles have been shut down long term, you may not see much of a change in new hair growth BUT, if you're just beginning to notice some thinning, by all means...enlist the help of Rosemary essential oil!  

Since this success with direct application of Rosemary to my scalp I looked for more ways to use Rosemary EO.  Thanks to lots of different recipes from different websites, I settled on one that I love...it's a Crunchy Betty blogpost, she adds Lavender and Apple Cider Vinegar too!  

How to use a Hair Rinse

If you're a poo-less fan, you can use this rinse as your only hair product.  No need to rinse it out.  If you shampoo and condition, use this hair rinse as your final rinse.  Again, no need to rinse out.  Trust me, the vinegar scent will fade away leaving only the faint fragrance scent of Rosemary and Lavender, love it!

Rosemary:  Cleanses, strengthens and nourishes hair follicles and encourages growth.  It also has the ability to darken gray and the aromatherapy effect improves memory.

Lavender:  Called the Swiss Army Knife of EOs, is antibacterial but also enhances the properties of Rosemary for improved cell regeneration and better penetration.  Beneficial for dandruff too!

Apple Cider Vinegar:  ACV cuts through shampoo and hard watr build up and balances the pH of scalp and hair!  This is great news for those with oily tendencies especially.  Vinegar also closes the cuticles making hair smoother.  In case you're wondering, I color my hair and haven't noticed lightening of color but I color light so I can't speak to whether this would strip dark hair color.  

Borax:  This is optional, I know some people get all worked up about Borax but it's a salt/mineral, it won't hurt you.  Borax is an amazing softener but like I said, completely optional (but really, really nice!).

Rosemary & Lavender Hair Rinse

4 cups water (filtered if possible)

8 drops Rosemary essential oil

8 drops Lavender essential oil

1 tsp. Borax

3 T. Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's)

Combine ingredients in a glass jar, I love my 1/2 gal mason jars for this!  I also picked up two plastic condiment squirt bottles for a $1 at the dollar store...this is what I take to the shower with me.  One recipe can give you 2 to 4 rinses depending on the length of your hair.  Once or twice a week application is all you need!  The rinse will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, but more than likely you'll use it all before then :))

Enjoy your newly, naturally softened hair and all the other benefits that Rosemary and Lavender have to offer!

Enjoy a 10% discount on every order of Spark Naturals products with the CW discount code:  campwander

: on my sewing machine :

So, remember that secret project I said I had to make?

I finished it. And I decided it was probably safe to share it with you all. :)
 

A friend of mine is graduating from high school, and her sisters are putting together a quilt with each of her friends making a square for it.

The theme color is yellow, so after some deliberation (and much Google image browsing for inspiration), this is the design I came up with. 

I've never made a quilt square before, so I was pleasantly surprised when the corners all matched up nicely, and amazingly, I only had to rip out and re-sew about 2 inches where the rick-rack had gotten a little bit crooked.  *faint surprised cheer*

So now that I have that completed, my current sewing project is finishing up my bridesmaid dress for my bestie's wedding... :)

The Sinus Rescue Bomb!

The Sinus Rescue Bomb

This is a great protocol to fight the infection and ease symptoms when sinusitis has you in it's clutches!  Spark Naturals powerful essential oils which are pure, potent and special in the fact that you can take them internally, create a natural anti-biotic that's safe and effective.

Sinus Rescue Bomb

3 - drops Oregano

3 - drops Rosemary

3 - drops On Guard

2 - drops Frankincense

2 - drops Myrrh

Take in capsule form if possible, using a 00 size gel capsule.

Take as needed first 2 days (every 30 min if needed) to get the infection under control.  Taper off to 1 capsule 3x daily after symptoms subside.

For additional recipes and remedies for sinus headaches and mild infection, you'll find more information {HERE}!

Diffuse!

If you have a diffuser, use it!  Diffuse Breathe or Lemon and Lavender, Eucalyptus and Lemon is a nice blend too.  Diffusing essential oils into the air will help ease your sinus symptoms, kill airborne pathogens and just plain make you happy!

  

Because I like you immensely, here's a tip on how to get this gem of a diffuser for $25!

I really L O V E this diffuser!  It's so affordable and great for bedrooms or small spaces like an office.  It runs approximately 3.5 hours then shuts itself off.  You can't see this in the photo but, it puts on a soft light show if you so desire!  For this reason, kids love it as a night light however, you can turn off this feature with the press of a button :))

You can get this very affordable Diffuser at My Oil Business. {CLICK HERE} 

Here's the SECRET discount code that takes the price from $49.99 to $25.  SPAVAPOR

Be Well & Enjoy Your Diffuser :))

Please enjoy a 10% discount on any Spark Naturals order with this code:  campwander

Lotion Bars [Contained!]

Serendipity & Nice Surprises

Yesterday, the kitchen/lab space was dedicated to making DIY skin treatments.  First, approximately 40+ pots of Anti~Aging Healing Salve {Click HERE for Recipe}.  Next, my blog project - Lotion Bars.

I've always thought a Lotion Bar was a great idea.  I found a basic recipe on Wellness Mama for Pain Relief Lotion Bars {HERE} and I had the ingredients on hand, bonus!  Salve was done, time to start the Lotion Bars. 

 

Right about then, my son arrives with a new table that he made, so beautiful!  Of course, I had to rearrange furniture immediately to find the perfect spot for my new table...enter Serendipity.  Oh - my - back!!  It started to spasm so down I went to lie flat on the floor and stretch it out.  Whilst lying there, I pondered Lotion Bars.  What will I keep them in?  What other applications can Lotion Bars be used for?  Hmmm...

Now, I'm excited to share the brain storm...which I wouldn't have had if I hadn't been lounging around :))  My answer to "containing" a Lotion Bar is the trusty Altoid tin - just pour the melted oils right in and you're mobile.  No silicone molds to order online, no extra shipping costs just a pure practicality (especially when hubby takes the mints to work).

Meet the MINI, Altoids Smalls.

{oh my...the uses!}  

No need to wait 2 days or pay shipping costs, just run to your local convenience store or market for a few of these!

Trust me, they're a bargain...especially after I show you all of their possibilities :))

You might want to pick up a couple of full size tins too.

The basic Lotion Bar recipe is simple:  1/3 cup coconut oil, 1/3 cup shea butter and 1/3 cup beeswax pellets all plopped into a mason jar for a slow melt.  Just like making CW All Purpose Healing Salve as shown.  With one batch, I filled 2 full size tins, 2 minis and approximately 15 small lip balm pots! 

FYI!  

Every container you fill can be a custom blend depending on the EOs you select :))

VARIATIONS...

Deodorant (large tin):  Solid & healthy!  Portable & Packable!

~ add 6 drops each:  Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon

Solid Carrier Oil (large tin):  Keep in your purse, desk, first aid kit, backpack!

~ add 10 drops Frankincense for it's Enhancing properties.  Any oil you choose to use with this solid version of carrier oil will be enhanced with the addition of Frankincense.

Lip Balm (mini tin or pot):  The coconut oil & shea butter creates a luscious balm!

~ Mini: add 10 drops Peppermint, 3 drops Frankincense

~ Pot: add 6 drops Peppermint, 2 drops Frankincense

There were some snags in the process...

Ingenuity to the rescue:  

Clean up leaks or overflow after the oils have cooled and save in an extra lip balm container.

The Lotion Bar recipe an EASY way to make at least { 3 } different types of skin care products with one simple recipe.  

Experiment with your EOs combinations for customizable use, such as Sandalwood and Frankincense for a more masculine deodorant scent.  Note:  I encourage you to use Frankincense in deodorant due to the close proximity of so many lymph nodes.

Have Fun, Get Creative! 

{share your new uses for lotion bars too, we'd love to know}

Rebecca

Stress Buster Remedies!

Oh to be as Stress Free as this...

Stress is bad, correct?  Or is it good?  The experts say we need both in our life.  However, when your mind recognizes a stressful situation it immediately alerts your endocrine and nervous systems.  From there, every cell on your body gets on the stress express!  And therein lies the rub...

Everything non essential in your body shuts down like your immune system, creative thinking, cell regeneration and then your heart beats faster, breathing accelerates and blood get diverted from your organs.  You are now ready to fight or flee.  This is all good if a deer just jumped in front of your car.

The problem is, if stress like this continues for days on end you can expect some serious health problems.

We know we need a certain amount of stress in our lives in order to be productive but how can we manage too much of a good thing?  I might just have a few good EO remedies up my sleeve :))

Muscle Relax Remedy

Let's start with relaxing those tight, painful muscles in your neck and shoulders that tend to bunch up in knots when the stress-ometer creeps higher and higher.

12 drops Wintergreen

9 drops Cypress

15 drops Basil 

7 drops Lavender

Fractionated Coconut Oil

Add the essential oils to a 1/3 oz glass roll on bottle and top off with some fractionated coconut oil.  Apply to stiff neck and shoulder muscles as needed, massage in and relax.

{ Have fun, embellish and label Roller Bottles with Washi Tape and Stickers! }

Another area of the body where stress likes to live is the head.  Stress headaches are pretty common in our busy lives and can be quite debilitating not to mention annoying to the nth degree!

This is a simple combination of EOs, two of my favorite - does the trick for my stress headaches while leaving me more relaxed and grounded:

As you can see, I carry small dram bottles of my most used EOs everywhere I go.  I don't like being too far from my Lavender and Balance Blend.  This is my GO TO combination for a stress induced headache!

2 drops *Balance Blend

2 drops Lavender

Use "neat" (undiluted) or with carrier oil.  Apply as needed, to back of neck, behind temples and on forehead.  I like to swipe some under my nose too...and maybe a little on my wrists that I can inhale throughout the day :)

*A blend of Spruce, Frankincense, Rosewood and Blue Tansy.  "It's an amazing blend that grounds and helps to recover balance inside and outside the body.  

Anti-depressant, anti-anxiety, calming and soothing to the nerves, supports pancreas in processing sugar and carbs, pain relief to muscles, coordination enhancer and assists cells to remember how to be perfect",  according to Dr. Susan Lawton.

Another area where stress likes to live is the stomach.  Indigestion, ulcers, acid reflux, nausea...none of these symptoms are the least bit pleasant!  If you're looking for a simple, one bottle remedy, do I have a blend for you :))

A blend of ginger, tarragon, carroway, peppermint, coriander and anise work together to balance and return your digestive system back to it's optimal functionality.  

I've seen violent food poisoning symptoms get quieted within minutes by dripping 2 to 3 drops under the tongue.  You can drink DigestZen with water or apply topically to the tummy.  It's safe for both children and adults and is a lifesaver for those with stress sensitive tummies!  

I can't recommend strongly enough that you keep this blend in your purse, car or backpack!  

It's another "emergency preparedness" EO blend, you just don't want to be caught without.

There are several stress relief skills we can put into practice too, like relaxing your muscles, paying special attention to relaxing all the muscles you use for breathing and giving your mind a rest.  Practice several times a day on "those days" and keep your stress arsenal of essential oils close :))

...and don't forget to drink water with Lemon EO too...

Stay well, relax & enjoy life!

Rebecca