Cute fabric, lettering and pockets. Do you know how many advent calenders I "added to cart" in the past month? Sorry, Anthro, I love you, but I just couldn't do a $50 pocket-covered curtain. I wanted something with big enough spaces I could really get creative with little treasures for the kids, without breaking the bank.

I'm pretty sure gummybears are apart of my DNA at this point.. and will be part of our girls soon.. I mean, it was my number one craving while I was pregnant with Aria and is kinda a household staple.. thank you Costco..

We do ration them, making them more of a treat for Aria.. but I wanted to make a healthier version - gummy snacks that are actually good for you!

These gummy snacks are ridiculously easy to make, fun to eat (I mean.. look at their little bear faces!)  and an easy way for everyone to boost their nutrient intake without all the sugar and artificial flavorings.

Do invest in some good gelatin - you'll reap that much more benefit from these little gummies. Gelatin in known for: maintaining joint health and recovery,  supporting skin, hair & nail growth, supports digestion, and helps to enhance cellular turnover which is great for your skin! Going down a rabbit hole for a moment, one of my very first posts here on Barbell in the Kitchen was a well-researched post about Gelatin.. you can read it here.

I chose to include NingXia Red in my gummy snacks, because I’m all about finding new ways to consume this amazing super fruit drink! It’s packed full of antioxidants and supports energy levels, normal cellular function, normal eye health.. really all of your body's systems. And, it’s delicious!


INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup organic tart cherry juice
1/2 cup NingXia Red
2 Tbsp grass-fed gelatin
5-6 drops of Orange Vitality essential oil
Silicone Bear Molds

DIRECTIONS
These take maybe 10 minutes to make, total. Too easy!

1. Place silicone molds on a baking sheet or tray that will fit in your refrigerator or freezer (for the gummies to set). Doing this first makes it easier to chill them without making a mess before they’ve set! If you don’t have molds you can lightly grease a glass baking pan with coconut oil so you’ll be able to remove it once it’s set to cut into shapes.

2. Pour the juices into a small saucepan and bring to an almost boil.
Remove from heat and very slowly add the gelatin 1 Tbsp at a time while whisking until blended.  Add essential oil and whisk again

4. Pour or use a dropper to fill the silicone molds with the mixture (my gummy bear molds came with a dropper!), pour any leftovers into a glass dish (grease lightly if you’d like to remove and cut shapes). Whisk a few times during this process to keep the mixture well blended.

5. Place in refrigerator for a couple of hours to set. Or if you’re impatient like me, put them in the freezer for 15 minutes! Remove from molds or cut into shapes (this set of cutters are cute!)

Store in the refrigerator, they’ll last about 4-5 days (if you can restrain yourself from eating them all at once!)

To get yourself some Ningxia, GO HERE, you can choose Retail Member to just purchase the Ningxia Red, or Choose Wholesale Member for 24% off - and add it to your Starter Kit order. Check out this page for more details.



Comment or send me a message if you have any questions! What kind of gummies are you making?

xoxo

Summer is FINALLY here, (if you're in Oregon like me, winter lasted 10 months too long) - but sunny weather means all the fun posts and summertime activities. We love essential oils and all the fun DIY's and festive things that come with them, so I thought I'd share a few things I've put together recently in case you're a new member of our team or interested in what all essential oils can do.

First things first, because in the valley.. we have lots of bugs.

1.  Outdoor Spray: In a 2oz glass bottle, add 1 tablespoon witch hazel then add 10 drops Lemongrass + 10 drops Citronella (you can also use Purification) + 8 drops Lavender, top with distilled water. Shake before each use and avoid spraying on face, I prefer to spray lightly on back of the head/shirt, arms & around ankles/shoes. You can also bring that diffuser outside for to enjoy dinner on the back patio or fun in the yard.

But on the flipside for those super busy moms, (because mommin' ain't easy) Young Living just launched (literally last week!) a deet-free insect repellent that when tested by a third party was 30% MORE EFFECTIVE - and is so, so much better for you and your children than the chemical-based sprays. So there you go.. a not-DIY thing on a DIY post. ;)



2.  After Sun Spray: This one is perfect after an afternoon at the park or playing in the water. In a 4oz bottle: 1 tablespoon witch hazel + 1 oz pure aloe vera gel + 10 drops lavender + 10 drops Copaiba + 10 drops Peppermint. Mist on sunkissed skin as needed.  One of the new product launches was a spray called Lavaderm After-Sun Spray - so that makes that easy too!

3.  Sugar Scrub:  These are so fun because the possibilities are endless! The ratios that I use are 1 cup of sugar (white or brown) + 1/4 cup of oil (coconut, almond or jojoba)+ 10-12 drops of essential oil. This makes one small mason jar which should last a few weeks! Using these ratios, you can pretty much make any kind of sugar scrub using things you have on hand. A few of my favorite oil combos are Orange + Stress Away or Grapefruit + Peppermint or any of these individually. These make for super amazing gifts - triple the recipe and make a few smaller jars to give to teachers, moms, etc.

Please note to avoid peppermint if nursing and to avoid citrus oils on skin before spending time in the sun.

4.  Homemade Play-Dough: 

You will need:
1 cup of flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup of hot water
1/2 cup of salt
1 tbsp. cream of tartar
3-5 drops of essential oil - we love using Lavender, Stress Away or Peace & Calming
+ food coloring of your choice.

Whisk together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the hot water and oil and stir until mixture becomes thick & clumpy, once it sticks together, pull out of the bowl place on wax paper to cool. Once the playdough has cooled, add your essential oils and mix well with your hands. This is such a fun activity to do with your kids, and using calming/relaxing essential oils will provide an aromatic environment that is soothing and entertaining at the same time

4.  Beach Day Room Spray:  In a 12 oz. spray bottle, add 12 drops Grapefruit + 8 drops Bergamot + 5 drops Stress Away and top with distilled water. Mist around your home or on linens to freshen the room (from 12+ inches to make sure oil does not stain) for a summery, beachy vibe!

6.  Long Hair- Don't Care Leave-in Conditioner:  In a 2oz. glass spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon coconut milk (yes, milk ;)) + 10 drops essential oil (lavender + rosemary) and top with distilled water. Shake before each use & store in the refrigerator. 

PS. Add a few drops of Lavender to your shampoo during every hair wash to promote healthy hair growth

7.  Mermaid Hair Salt Spray: In a 4oz spray bottle combine 1 tablespoon epsom salt + 2 teaspoons organic coconut oil + 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel (the real stuff) + 5-10 drops essential oils of choice (rosemary & grapefruit* or lavender & lemon* both smell amazing!). Top with warm distilled water and shake before use. Spritz on dry hair fora "I just had a relaxing swim in the ocean" look ;)  

>>A couple notes for this recipe - you can definitely use real sea salt, however that can result in a crunchier feel and can be somewhat drying for the hair shaft. Epsom salt results in a softer, more natural wave and is gentler on hair.

>> And the * is because citrus oils are photosensitive and will lighten your hair, so omit if you'd like.



We absolutely love oils & believe that every household should have them. If you don’t already use oils & want to get learn more, you can read more over here! In this post, I talk about all the ways we use essential oils everyday and to find any of the spray bottles mentioned above, head over to My Favorite Oil Swag (scroll down the page a bit). Also, follow along on our Happy Mama Essentials instagram.

xoxo

Maybe it was some crazy nesting instincts.. maybe I had dealt with the wood paneling for too long.. maybe this old house just needed a living room face lift..

Our little house was built in 1970.. and we're renting. One outweighs the other, but both mean we are limited in what we can do to this house, but I can say I have never had such satisfaction come from a gallon of paint.

I don't think I will ever understand what made wood paneling popular.. dark, smelly and just ugly. On top of it, the fireplace had an a little accident at some point in time leaving the bricks stained with soot.  As a note, when we moved in the fireplace veneer was actually old brass.. I took a little High Heat Rustoleum to that for a quick fix.




A trip to Home Depot preceded the painting supplies. I chose Behr Ultra Premium Stain Blocking paint in Swiss Coffee for my color.

For the wood paneling:

You will need:
Sanding block or sandpaper, fine grit
sponge or damp rag
Paint that contains stain-blocking primer such as Behr Ultra Premium
(or Kilz)
Paint roller & tray
1 1/4" paint brush for flat surfaces

I purchased a sanding block and spent about an hour going over every inch of board to take off the top layer. Be sure to use a mask for dust.

Wipe down all the wood with a damp rag after sanding, let dry.

A stain-blocking primer or paint is important when painting wood. If you already have paint you want to use that is not a stain-blocker, apply a layer of Kilz and let dry prior to painting.

Apply your first layer of paint (or primer if using). Apply in "W" motion for best coverage. Let dry overnight.

Apply the next layer and touch up any thin areas.

Next, (if you don't do if first) paint the trim. The trim still took two coats, but I find it's easier to do at the end and use the brush to blend into the rest of the painted surface.

To paint a brick fireplace:

You will need:
Wire bristle brush
spray bottle
white vinegar
painters tape
1 1/4" paint brushes

Similar to the wood paneling, you have to clean the surface first. I bought a wire bristle brush and went over all the bricks, reaching in to the grooves as best I could to remove dust, ash and soot.

Vacuum the brick to remove excess dust.

Using a spray bottle, fill with 1 part white vinegar, 2 parts water and spray brick until damp. Using a soft sponge, wipe down the entire surface. Let dry.

Using painter's tape, tape off the entire perimeter - carpet, walls, trim, metal from fireplace (or remove if you can). Using your paintbrushes, apply your first coat of paint, making sure to just get in all the grooves, you will go back over this with a second coat for better coverage.

Once painted, remove all your tape and enjoy your new fireplace - or entire room! I know we love it, it brightened the space immensely and updated the look a bit too.