Using Australian Tea Tree Oil in skin care and home care: a blog review #teatreeoil

Tea tree oil should not be taken orally. Always check with your physician before using any supplement product and specifically Tea Tree Oil. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition.  Keep out of reach of children.

I have been using Tea tree oil for a number of years now but I never knew the history behind it. I also never realized how many different ways you can use it.  The practice of using tea tree oil actually hails from Australia.  The Aborigine tribes used it historically as an antiseptic to treat cuts and burns years and years. The oil is actually steamed and distilled from the leaves of a Melaleuca alternifolia tree or "tea tree."  Tea tree oil caught on with mainstream Australian doctors and became the antiseptic of choice for them. The popularity of tea tree oil but has gained popularity again in recent years as people realized how many different ways you can use it on your body and in your home. 

You can use Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil to make your own shampoo, lotion, soap, face cleaner, body wash, and even toothpaste.

  Think about how you can stop polluting your home with chemicals and make all natural household cleaners, detergents, shower sprays, bathroom disinfectants, and kitchen sprays.

 Every large 4 ounce bottle comes with a complimentary 100 Page Guide with amazing recipes and ideas. Apothecary Extracts provides you with tons of useful ways to use tea tree oil to improve your life and replace harmful cleaners around the house. Many brands of essential oils are diluted to cut costs. Apothecary Extracts insist on the absolute best quality.  They even share their lab tests to prove the absolute purity of their tea tree oil. They have shared the test results with me below.

I really like the huge bottle which lasts forever. The large sized bottle lets me be creative and use it all around the house.  I even picked up some extra spray bottles and created some cute labels on my computer.  I made some extra Tea Tree Oil cleaners to bring down to our beach house.  I feel more confident when the bath and kitchen smell clean and fresh but natural.  Even my sister in law commented on my new cleaner that I left down at the beach house.  She said she thought it was a super idea to make it myself.

Here is an easy recipe for a great natural exfoliator from the skin care guide:

Tea Tree Skin Exfoliator

1 cup pure coconut butter

10 drops Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil

1/2 cup whole raw almonds

Place almonds in a food processor and pulse about 5 to 8 times, until there are tiny pieces remaining but not until you have a fine powder of milk. Add almonds to coconut butter and tea tree oil until blended.

APPLY IT: Rub scrub into face and body in a circular motion. Rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry.

You can find Australian Tea Tree Oil on Amazon and have it in your home in a flash to use in dozens of different ways. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Relax and be calm naturally with Lavender Essential Oil: a review #bestlavender

I love using essential oils and have a stash of different scents that really help to make me feel good.  I love lavender because it is one of my faves to use in the evening or when work gets out of hand. It allows me to easily control stress and restore some balance and happiness to my day naturally.  Aromatic lavender is just an intoxicatingly divine oil from direct from my best friend Mother Nature herself. 

It is no surprise that lavender oil is becoming very popular with all the stress we have going on in our lives. Many of my friends use it with success too.  The smaller bottle tucks right into your purse too. I recently tried what the company shared with me as the #1 best selling Lavender Essential Oil out there on Amazon. This is authentic premium lavender oil that is therapeutic grade, 100% natural, pure, undiluted and chemical-free.  I like that and feel comfortable using it on my body and breathing it in.  When I use lavender essential oil I feel like I have a natural pharmacy at my little fingertips.  You can use it in tons of different ways each and every day. 

Traditional Uses for this luxurious Lavender Oil:

• Relax! Release stress, tension, anxiety *Aromatherapy*
•Rub on temples to ease headaches
•Soothe irritated skin (acne, cuts, sores, scars, stretch marks, itching, athlete's foot)
•Skin burns (stop blistering, faster healing)
•Rub under nostrils to ease nausea
•Clear oily skin
•Super immune-booster (anti-microbial   for bacteria, virus, and fungus)
•Tranquil sleep
•Ease common allergy, cold symptoms
•Insect bite relief, repellent

I like that this brand has superior potency and quality.  This is the only lavender out there that the company has shared with me that uses gentle super-critical steam distilled extraction. This ensures quality and the highest potency. It smells natural and not too floral and definitely not like chemicals. Sometimes I will blend it with other oils as well and it mixes perfectly. I really like that it is made in USA-GMP Certified too.

Control stress and boost your happiness naturally with an excellent true lavender product  "lavandula officinalis."You can buy it right on Amazon and save yourself time and money.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Beauty Box Five Defining Moments July 2014 @beautybox5 #definingmoments

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample of the product for review purposes. The opinions are my own, based on my personal experience with the product.

It is here. The heat wave of Summer is on in full force. Holy smoke. Mama Sunscreen is my middle name these days. I am crazy about protecting my skin. I like trying new beauty products from sunscreens to lipsticks and find that I often find new faves.  That is one of the great things about BB5.  You can try lots of new things and find your new faves without being stuck with a huge bottle of this or that. I know you know what I mean. Sometimes I look at a product in the store but I worry it might not be for me and I don't want to spend all that money if I don't know that I really like it.  Every once in a while you get lucky and the store has a sample or perhaps a beauty company sends you a sample and you get to try it first. The ideal solution for all of us brought to you by Beauty Box 5. They understand  and created their great sampling box program. Beauty Box 5 is an amazing subscription beauty box sampler that is delivered right to your doorstep (or mailbox) filled with a combination of 5 brand new cosmetic samples monthly, quarterly or annually. You can start out at just $12 a month or save more by getting a longer subscription. Signing up to receive Beauty Box 5 each month is a great new way for anyone from teens to moms to sample new cosmetic products and see what works for you.  Each month they include tips and tricks for the products on the back of this little card below to help you get the most out of your beauty samples each month.

Beauty Box 5 is always on the lookout for the latest new items to make the best matches for your own personal taste and lifestyle.  The prices are reasonable too. You can get a Beauty Box 5 monthly for $12, quarterly for $30 or annually for just $99.  Shipping is always free.  A fun way to check out lots  of the new beauty stuff out there without a whole lot of $$ investment. The great part is that if you like something, you can just up and buy the full size item, right?  Much better than buying a full size you-know-what-beauty-item and paying a fortune and then it sits in the makeup bag gathering dust because it doesn't work for you.

Beauty Box 5 mixes it up with their brands and keeps things adventurous. They source from a mix of niche, luxe, regular drugstore, vegan and eco-conscious brands.  One month you might get hair care, nail care, makeup, skin care, fragrances or even beauty accessories or a mix of any of the above.  I love the suspense!  You will get a carefully curated blend of travel, full-size and deluxe samples from their most current collection.
  

I just received the July Defining Moments Box this week.  The team at Beauty Box 5 wants to help you celebrate the events that made you the amazing woman you are today. Maybe it was a big ole milestone like your college graduation, a first job or even a small victory like  wrangling that first big client or seeing that first paycheck get direct deposited into you bank account.  Perhaps it was a triumph finally nailing the cat eye liner look.  Treasure your accomplishments big and small and find joy in each and every one! Beauty Box 5 is here with a few special treats to help you along the way.  Here is the scoop on the amazing treats that were in this sweet sea blue box:

It was chock full of amazing goodies that I could not wait to try. There were goodies for my lips, peepers, body and hair tucked in there.  Lots of special items to keep me looking fresh and glam wherever my summer days take me.  They take me all over too....from the Adirondacks to the Jersey shore to Florida. I am one busy mama!

Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara has an amazing lacquered formula. What does THAT mean? It means that this specialized formula has some serious staying power. Add to that definitive volume and definition that actually seems to lift my lashes.  I could not believe this worked without my trusty eyelash curler. It stayed put all day long even in the 95 degree heat. My peeps looked so beautiful even my hubby took notice.  A true deal that you can pick up for a steal. Retail:  $7.99 for .24 fl oz

The next product in the box I love. Even the name: K314 Tickle Me Pink. Ideal for summer fun. Star Looks Lip Liner is the perfect blend of creamy, matte and moisturizing...oh and did I say dreamy? It gives you full coverage for all day bright color and sophisticated style. I tucked this right into my makeup bag ready for a week day, a weekend away or a even a warm beach day. I like the versatility of this pretty pink pencil that lets me outline or add a pop of all over color. I tried it first as an all over  color.  I loved how it stayed put all day even through several iced lattes and a healthy salad. I looked fresh and bright with my Starlooks liner all day long.   A good deal at $12.00.

Body Drench Candy Licious Lips is a special treat for your lips. Who doesn't love Red Licorice? So special that my tween tried to repossess it immediately.  She is sneaky but I resisted. What could be yummier than a Red Licorice candy flavored lip balm infused with gentle beeswax, coconut oil and vitamin E? Not much.  It tastes totally like a the real yummy candy licorice that I love. Saves calories for me and I can still enjoy the taste on my lips anytime I like.  Love it! I guess I need to buy one for my tween or I will have to keep looking at that sad little face every time I pull mine out of my pocket.  Even the price is sweet and yummy and leaves me guilt free at $3.99 for .09 fl oz.

Anna Naturals Glowing Mama Walnut Face and Body Scrub is a perfect option for any girl especially if you love all-natural products.   Even more so if you have a tiny little bun in the oven because this scrub is totally vegan for feel good freshness. Not to mention that it smells totally intoxicating. That makes me feel totally good about using it.  It feels and smells luxurious thanks to the infusion of moisturizing botanicals.  It gently exfoliates dry skin is without any parabens, chemicals or artificial fragrances. My legs looked smooth and fantastic and in my fave summer dress after an exfoliation session with my Glowing Mama. My face is up next. $10.99 for 4 oz

The last item in this exciting July box for a final treat is the HASK Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment you can say goodbye to your dry damaged hair that has had you wringing your hands. You didn't know what to do but now you have an easy solution. I used this on my dried out summer beach weekend keratin-treated hair and was impressed. It smells nice and the thick cream penetrated into my hair and left it super soft and shiny.  It felt and looked like I just had a professional hair treatment for a fraction of the cost.  A real deal. I love that the results last up to two weeks.  Sweet. It is so easy too...the ladies at BB5 shared with me that I only needed to use half the packet. Sweet, that means two sessions for my hair.  Applied it, waited 10 minutes and read a magazine and then rinsed. Magical, shiny well-behaved hair.  Retail: $2.49  1.75 fl oz

So, are you ready to get in on the fun? The ladies from BB5 have put together another really amazing box full of beauty fun perfect for summer.  Don't forget to join Beauty Box 5 and get in on the goodies.  You can spread the news on Instagram and have an opportunity to win full-size versions of these products too! Don't forget to tag @beautybox5 and #bb5fave so they know who was spreading the love!

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe would be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255:  "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Keep Momming

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Shire. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

The relationship that exists between mothers and daughters is unlike any other. It has many unique moments, memories, and yes, even challenges along the way. The relationship dynamic can be even trickier when your daughter is in those tween-age years. What can be even more difficult is when some people dismiss certain behaviors as “typical tween girl behavior” when those behaviors can be symptoms of something more serious. Research suggests that girls are more likely than boys to report having mostly inattentive Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Since inattentive symptoms can be less noticeable than hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, it is important that moms know what to look for.

I’m proud to be joining forces with Shire, CHADD and Holly Robinson Peete to announce the launch of keep momming, a new public service initiative geared towards the moms of tween girls to raise awareness of ADHD.

The campaign is anchored within a new digital hub, KeepMomming.com, where you’ll find tips, tools and other go-to resources for moms, including a checklist to help recognize the symptoms of ADHD – inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – and then encourages moms to talk to their daughter’s doctor. The keep momming initiative can help moms learn about ADHD and provide ideas on how to spark a conversation and stay connected with their tween.

Don’t miss Holly’s message about the keep momming initiative http://goo.gl/3tqd5q, and be sure to check out the website at Keepmomming.com.