Balance Blend

 One of the first oil blends I fell in love with this is still one of my most used oils in my diffuser, especially in my kitchen where it gives Balance to the family after a long day at work and school when we can become a bit ratty. 

The oils in this blend help establish a feeling of calm, peace and relaxation. It can aid the harmonising of various physiological systems of the body and promote tranquility and balances the body and mind

• The blend includes: Spruce, Ho Wood, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, German (Blue) Chamomile, Osmanthus
• Calming/Relaxing: Add 3 drops to 1tbsp (15ml) fractionated coconut oil and use as a soothing massage oil
• Harmonising/Grounding: Place 3 drops on the bottoms of the feet
• Balancing: Diffuse in an aromatherapy diffuser
• Primary uses include: Anxiety, Back pain, Balance, Brain Integration, Bursitis, Confusion, Depression, Energy, Fear, Grief, Hot Flashes, Herniated Discs, Mood Swings

You can check it out here 

Frankincense

 One of my favourite and most-used oils. Created through steam distillation of resin Frankincense has been used for thousands of years in cosmetics, perfumes, skincare and medicines With a rich, deep, warm scent and blends beautifully with all oils.

🌳 Focus energy, improve concentration. It eases hyperactivity, impatience, irritability and impatience.

🌳 Is great to diffuse during yoga practice and can enhance spiritual awareness. In religious ceremonies it was used to help communication with the creator.

• Arthritis: Can be massaged into joints affected by arthritis (with coconut oil)
• Depression: Can be inhaled directly from the bottle, applied neat to the temples or diluted with coconut oil for massage or diffused for depression
• Mental Fatigue: apply neat to the temples, back of neck or feet to relax
• Inflammation: 3 drops with 2 drops lavender in a bowl of cold water and using a flannel apply to the affected area.
• Focus: diffuse with lemon or citrus oils
• I use it with lemon, tea tree, oregano and On Guard in a capsule to combat any lurgy

You can purchase through my shop here

Wild & Stone Dish Cloths

I would love this to be a super glamorous post but it's not, it's a post about my quest for the perfect, sustainable washing up cloth and how by god I think I've found it. 

Eco dish cloths either work well but stain and smell or look great and last 2 weeks. But fear not, I've found you not one but two options. 

For my main kitchen sink I have gone for the Organic Cotton Dish cloth - get two one for the wash and one to be used. These hold their own, give good heft to whatever you are cleaning and don't get smelly or slimey. They are so good my mum ordered one and thus far she has been incredibly dismissive of all others I've tried often holding them between thumb and finger whilst looking pained. 

Then for the utility room sink which is mostly washing up the dogs bowls - they are fed raw so I like to keep these very specific - I have got these Swedish dishcloths. They are compostable, washable and really sturdy so as of yet, I've only used one from my pack of 4. 

January Morning Diffuser Blends

 I find one of the ways to make January more bearable is to treat it like a new season so here are some ideas for diffuser blends to make your year get going in the right way

For any oils you can check out doTerra 

Sweet Potato Salad

I'm late to the sweet potato party but I'm making up for lost time. I'm not a huge fan of potatoes in general and the name sweet potato does not do this delicious, filling healthy object justice. With both of us working from home and me doing the majority of homeschooling I handed the cooking reigns over to Joe but since moving to Hampshire just before Christmas I have taken back one reign and will occasionally do a freezer filler or a filling salad for a healthy lunch and this is one of my go to's. 

You can of course tweak it to suit your tastes - I would always add pomegranate seeds, Joe can live without them - but this should be just what you need to liven up your working-from-home lunch break and you can cook the sweet potato, keep in the fridge and then make the salad when you need to which means it takes a matter of minutes. 

This is the basic recipe - I tend to do the sweet potato, I usually have feta in the fridge and some herbs and then add whatever else I have. Avocado is delicious in this as are a few spinach leaves. 

Sweet Potato & Feta Salad
serves 2

2 sweet potatoes 
1/2 block feta, cut into cubes
Pumpkin seeds and/or pine nuts
Pecans and/or almonds, chopped
Half a head of broccoli
1 tbsp teriyaki 
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
basil or any fresh herb you like
salt & pepper

For the dressing:
soy
honey
olive oil
fresh ginger

Pre-heat oven to 200C/

1. Peel the sweet potato and cut into cubes, you can par boil it or not. If you do it will reduce the time in the oven. Then toss in oil, cumin and turmeric and cook in the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until slightly crispy. 

2. In a small frying pan over a low heat sprinkle the pumpkin seeds and pine nuts with the teriyaki and cook briefly til they are coated and the teriyaki is sort of hardened onto the pan - not too much! If you don't have teriyaki soy will do just as well. Tip into your salad bowl and using your wooden spoon get the teriyaki off the bottom of the pan into the bowl too. 

3. Add the feta and then tear off tiny mini heads of broccoli into the bowl. It can seem ponderous but small bits of raw broccoli are amazing so worth it. 

4. Mix up the dressing and then put the sweet potato into the salad bowl, add the chopped nuts and the dressing. Add the basil and toss. Season to taste.