Epsom and Dead Sea salts both contain high levels of magnesium.  Magnesium supports our bodies in so many ways, an entire book could be written on it.  In fact, if you search your local library you will come across books on the subject.  My Paternal Grandmother used to "take a soak with my salts" at the end of every day.  She had Rheumatoid Arthritis; the epsom salt bath helped to provide relief from the discomfort she experienced.   Most of us do not have enough Magnesium in our diets.  It is partly due to the food choices we make, but even if we ate an all organic diet, full of whole(some) foods, the soil these foods are grown in has seen depletion when compared with the same soil of our ancestors crops. Magnesium supports the body in other ways as well.  It helps to promote better sleep, relaxes the nervous system through supporting serotonin production, and alkalizes the body as it works to decrease lactic acid build up.  Another major role magnesium play

I recently read an article from a classic Generation X.  While some of it rang true, much of it felt more like a rant.  Born at the tail end of 1979, my generational status waivers between feeling like a former trend setting Xer, and a current hipster Y (but let's be real, there's very little about me that is "hipster" besides my literal hips).  As of late, I have been creating my own career path, a typical trait of both demographics.  Part of me wants the closest parking space at the grocery store, while another side of me wants to ride our Xtracycle there.   While my American Dream appears vastly different from my Grandparents, it's actually very much the same.  They chose a line of work, produced it from nothingness, and thrived doing so.  I left my (very comfortable) office job last month to do part time consulting work and spend more time building Caught Red Threaded.  Although I had my reservations at the time, I felt that it was important to not work 60

By now, you have completed  Part One  of the Better Body Butter recipe.  If you haven't, please complete Part One and check back. Whipped Body Butter can be made with ingredients likely found in your home, and makes for a perfect stocking stuffer, teacher gift, and much more.  Whipped Body Butter even replaces the following: shaving cream oil in baking lotion cuticle cream hair moisture mask Now that you have completed the first phase, let's carry on with the recipe. You have already melted and resolidified your oils. Remove your (now very firm) oil blend from the fridge.  Allow to sit on the counter for 10 minutes, to bring closer to room temperature.  You can work with it from fridge temps, but it's much easier to manipulate once it's closer to the space around you. After an overnight in the fridge, the oil blend is solid! I flipped mine out on to a cutting board. Feel free to cut in to cubes, or spoon out various sized hunks from y

Until recently, my body butter recipe couldn't have been any easier to make.  You may even remember my previous post  with detailed instructions. Of course, there's a catch!  Coconut Oil is incredibly sensitive to temperature fluctuations.  At my house, this means it melts in the Summer, and hardens in the Winter.  Even if you only let your house get as cold as 67 degrees (ours gets as low as 61 at night), it's too cold to maintain the fluffy, whipped suspension. There had to be a better way to produce a body butter, that was just as whipped and fluffy as the lone Coconut Oil, but maintained itself (even during transport to various local vendors who carry Caught Red Threaded). After tinkering in the kitchen, I came up with a recipe that will knock your socks off!  Not only does it whip up beautifully, it maintains that moisture cloud to temps as low as 40 degrees (maybe lower, but I haven't tested beyond that). First thing to do is gather your supplies: Med

Making your own body polish can be as simple as collecting ingredients from around your house, or as complicated as ordering specialty items.  The level in which you take this craft is up to you.  In this post, you will learn how to make a body polish, and I will share with you my coveted Renew Body Polish blend.  The intention of body polish is to leave your skin both exfoliated and hydrated.  Once made, it can be stored next to any sink in the house.  Some prefer to make an extra jar to keep in the shower (perfect for smooth legs, to use during a pedicure, and much more- use a finer salt and this is also great as a facial scrub). Let's get started!  Gather the following supplies: 8 ounce- Clean and dry mason jar(s) or other storage vessel(s) 1 Cup Epsom Salt 1/4 Cup Grapeseed Oil (or other carrier oil) Essential Oils: 5 drops Lavender 5 drops Grapefruit 2 drops Ylang Ylang 1 drop Rosemary  Combine all ingredients, mixing well.  The salt should be complet

Healthful Well-Being Essential oil combinations are virtually endless, and in this tutorial, you will discover ways in which oils can blend together to transform your mind, body, and soul.  The essential oil blends I use in the products I make come from the following sources:         doTerra       Aura Cacia       Mountain Rose Herbs       Pinterest Of course, there are plenty of other sites out there.  These happen to be favorites among the masses.   Not all essential oil companies are created equally.  Please do your research on which oils are safest for internal and external usage before you begin.  It's a critical first step.  As you can tell from the photos in this post, there are currently Aura Cacia, Now, and doTerra in my possession. When blending essential oils, following the recipe is critical to achieve the optimal effect expected.  Likewise, adding extra of an essential oil like Rosemary will completely change the balance within (Rosemary is