journal

 Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients: 

• 1 cup washing soda (ordered in bulk HERE)
• 1 cup borax (ordered in bulk HERE)
• 1 bar of pure castile soap, I love Dr. Bronner’s in rose and lavender (ordered in bulk HERE) 
• 20 drops of essential oils (I used Mother E Essential oils)

The process is easy peasy! Chop up your bar of soap into quarter size pieces and put into your food processor, following with the borax and washing soda. Use pulse mode until you get a fine powder and the soap is broken up into a fine powder (you'll have some small chunks of soap). Add your essential oils and pulse a couple more times. Use one tablespoon (two for large loads) per load to the bottom of your washing machine. The best part is, it lasts forever and is great for sensitive skin! Plus you bought everything in bulk so when you run out, no need for a grocery run, just whip up some more!!

Bonus:

I also just started using some felt dryer balls which is a major game changer! I haven't used dryer sheets for years because of Fin's eczema/sensitive skin. It's nice to have something I can use again to get that static under control. I've been using these HERE (can you tell I'm Amazon Prime obsessed?)

You can order Mother E. Essentail oils HERE and click the about section for a little tid-bit about them. We have really been loving this company plus they are local to where I'm from (Utah). Love the quality oils and that they give back by planting a tree for each purchase! My favorite for Spring is the Pure Love blend! 

Xox Makel 

Hello, sweet ones! I hope you are doing well. It’s been a long, long winter, at least here in the Midwest! We have been trying our hardest to get as much Vitamin D as possible, even though the weather is working against us. I think we can all feel the pain of having dry, irritated skin in the winter. I am prone to cracked fingers and knuckles and dry knees! I have an absolutely lovely solution for you, good for mamas and babes - lavender milk + honey bath melts!

Oh my goodness, these are so yummy. They smell so good! Just like a warm cup of tea with milk + honey. My mom walked in while I was brewing these up and said it smelled like cookies! not only do they smell delicious, but they are wonderfully moisturizing and rejuvenating as well, not to mention super easy to put together. Let’s get to making!

You’ll be filling these up with dry milk, which contains lactic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells, smooth rough rough patches, and renew skin. Honey works keep moisture locked in, rejuvenate dry skin, and helps to heal. You can also add some lavender essential oil to calm, relax, and take away stress. In all, these bath melts are extremely calming, soothing, and the perfect way to relax your little one before bedtime.

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup Shea Butter

1/3 Cup Sweet Almond Oil

1/4 Cup Raw Honey

1 Cup Dry Milk

1/2 Cup Arrowroot Powder

5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

2 tsps Dried Lavender Buds

Recipe:

In a small saucepan, melt your shea butter, almond oil, and honey over low heat. I make mine in a makeshift double boiler, by placing a pan inside a large pot filled with water. Make sure not to get any water in your mixture! Melt until they are all combined well. Let cool for about 10 minutes.

In a medium sized bowl, pour in the dry milk and arrowroot powder. The arrowroot powder works to make the melts stick together. You could also use organic cornstarch!

Drizzle in the shea butter mixture while mixing it together with dry milk mixture with your fingers. Working with your hands works much better so you can break up any clumps that form. Drop in your essential oil.

Form the mix into small balls, about 1 inch thick, like you would cookie dough. These are a bit fragile, but will harden up. I found that squeezing them really did the trick to compact everything together. I made about 6-8 melts with this mixture.

Gently roll them in your dried lavender buds. Let sit until hardened, overnight.

To use, place them in the bottom of the bath and let the warm water fill up until you are satisfied. Feel free to massage them into your knees or any other dry patches. On baby’s feet would be so lovely!