DIY Essential Oil Bug Spray.

It's that time of year - when the mosquitoes love to FEAST in the sunset glow. I love spending time outside with my boys, but we do seem to have some enemies out there with us, especially right around twilight. My poor little Daxton boy seems to be anointed with my blood type and we get especially bitten up in the summer months if we forget to apply bug spray. I really hate conventional bug spray because most are loaded with toxic ingredients and with our skin being like a sponge, I just can't in good conscience put that garbage on my children. But I have a great, easy bug spray DIY that I've been using since last summer which is completely natural, non-toxic and safe for kiddos - and it works! My boys have gotten used to having this sprayed on as soon as we get outside, and I do re-spray if we've been outside for more than an hour. This DIY is based on DoTERRA's pest-repellent oil blend, TerraShield which is so awesome and smells much, much better than regular bug spray. So it's a win-win! So without further adieu, enjoy this essential oil DIY!

Supplies:
- 2 oz. glass bottle (I got my ombre bottle here)
- Quinn's Witch Hazel
- DoTERRA TerraShield oil blend

Method:
1. Measure out 1/3 cup of water and pour it into the 2 oz. bottle.
2. Add 25 drops of Terrashield essential oil to the glass bottle.
3. Top off the bottle with Quinn's unscented witch hazel (this should be between 1/3 - 1/2 cup).
4. Shake bottle to distribute and voila, you're ready to say, "Shoo mosquitoes!"

Notes:
-  I prefer to use unscented Witch Hazel so that the only scent is from the oil itself.
- When making any kind of blend with essential oils, you want to make sure that you are using a glass contained. Plastic or other material can "pull" on the essential oils and release toxins, etc. into the mixture, whereas glass, aluminum and stainless steel don't have that effect with the EO's.
- I like to make several of these bug spray mixtures and keep on in the car, one in the stroller, one at home, and anywhere else you would find yourself reaching for bug spray! Like the Boy Scouts say, always be prepared!

Interested in learning more about DoTERRA essential oils? I would love to share more about why I love them, how I use them, and how you can get some in your home, too! You can shop for them here, or leave a comment and I can invite you to one of my online classes where you can learn more! xx

Playing it Safe in the Sun.

I am reeeeeeeeally excited to head to the beach for our annual family trip in a few weeks. I've been a little bit fixated on getting in the sun, stretching out in a canvas-backed chair and facing that glorious Gulf of Mexico. Letting all my cares wash into the the waves and breathing in that purifying sea salt air. If you ask me, THAT'S the American dream :)

I've started stocking up on all the necessary gear and sun products to keep my family protected in the sun this summer. These aren't only beach-related products, they will work when you're exercising, gardening, playing sports or playing outside at the park. These are just the essentials that I keep in a gallon-sized ziplock and throw into my beach bag or purse whenever we are going to be outside in the sun. When things heat up in Georgia, there's no time for messing around. Summers here can be brutal without the right gear.

These are my tried-and-true products for fun in the sun. Some are new to me this year, and some have been family staples for years.

For Skin:

• As for sunscreen, I have loved using The Honest Company sunscreen (the Mineral Sunscreen, the Continuous Spray and the Sunscreen Stick) for babies and kids especially. And after doing a lot of research about chemical versus mineral ingredients, this year I'll be using Garden Goddess. More about sunscreen ingredients here.
   
• Don't forget about bug spray! Again, I'm a sucker for The Honest Company Bug Spray. I've been coating it on since I've been gardening lately, and it smells like essential oils. Which is better than smelling like plain old deet.
   
• As a daily moisturizer, I've been using Juice Beauty Tinted CC Cream for a few months now, and I am loving it. It provides just the right amount of coverage so that you can totally get away without wearing makeup for those mom-clothes, mom-hair kind of days. Which I have a LOT.
   
• For a little extra boost, I've been using The Honest Company Elevated Hydration Mist. They sent it to me in one of my bundles as a little Mother's Day gift (thank you!) and it's actually a really nice pick-me-up to spritz on when I hit that 3pm slump. Think of it like a green smoothie for your skin.

For Hair:

• For color treated hair, I spritz on a bit of Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil to keep things from getting too brassy and discolored. It smells a little strange, but what doesn't?
   
• I love coating my hair with The Honest Company Hair Detangler because it's the bomb. Is the bomb diggity still a term I can use? Because this is that.

For Lips:

• I like to keep it simple with an Eos balm most days (this mega pack is my weakness), but when I get in the sun I really like to coat on Kiss My Face Sport Balm. It seems to withstand the elements a little better than your average balm.

And there you have it! All the products that I keep up my sleeve (or actually, in my beach bag) for goofing off in the sun. I want to mention that, obviously, the best protection from the sun's harmful rays is clothing, and I make sure to keep myself and my family in a hat and sun-protective clothing when we are outside.

I hope you are gearing up for at least one getaway in the sunshine this summer! If you have plans, where are you heading off to this season? Any products that you love to add to this list? I'd love to hear from you!