Over 200 cheap, easy and amazingly healthy recipes

For those of you who know me, you know I'm a health nut and always have been. Luckily to my mom who taught me young to eat well and be healthy. I'm currently doing a health cleanse and I'm always looking for quick easy healthy recipes so I thought I'd share this with all of my readers. Here are 246 amazingly healthy and yummy recipes that won't break the bank. All require eight or fewer ingredients and take less than 20 minutes to prep. http://greatist.com/health/cheap-healthy-recipe-collection

 


Also for those of you who don't know already I've got an amazing new soap line coming out. Stop by and "like" my facebook page to see the sneak preview of the new soap line. http://facebook.com/deshawnmariesoap

 

DeShawnMarie.com

DeShawn Marie Etsy Shop

Homemade Bath Salt Recipe

Ever wanted to make your own bath salts?  Well this is my favorite recipe! Indulge and enjoy!

 Mix all of the ingredients below in a large glass or stainless steel bowl.  Store leftover salts in an airtight container.

• 1 cup coarse sea salt
• 1/2 tsp liquid glycerin (can buy at most health food stores or online)
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1/8 cup dried flowers (rose, chamomile or lavender are my favorites)
• 10 drops lavender oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil 

This is really a luxurious experience.  Hope you all take the time to treat yourselves to this indulgent bath.

DeShawnMarie.com

Oatmeal and Yogurt Face Mask. Helps wind burned, chapped skin.

I have used many different face masks over the years and recently discovered a very simple one to help sooth skin during this time of year. I was complaining about my face hurting from running around in the cold windy weather and a friend I was talking to suggested trying this yogurt mask. Well after having a cold and my face feeling like it was about to fall off I decided to try it. It's really simple, but boy does it work. My face feels like new now. It really helped sooth the redness and the burning.

Plus you probably already have the ingredients.  It's just  a simple combo of yogurt and oatmeal.

• 1 cup natural yogurt
  
• ½ cup oatmeal
  

Preparation:

Mix the ingredients together.
Apply to the skin for 10-15 minutes.
Wash off mask with a warm washcloth.
I swear by it now!!  This mask really helped relieve my wind burned face. 
If you happen to have oily skin then add a couple of drops of lemon juice to the mix.
If your skin is extra dry then add a couple of tablespoons of honey.

Give it a try if your skin is feeling the winter blues :-(

DeShawnMarie.com

2010

Well the New Year arrived and I have been busy, busy, busy. As you all know I am leaving for my big trip to Vietnam in a little over a week. I had to go down to NYC to take care of getting my visa lined up for that. I just got back last night, it was very hectic and I wish I could have stayed longer to see more friends, but I packed a lot in to the few days I was there. Unfortunately looks like I also caught a cold in the process of all of that running around in the cold weather. Trying to kick that today with lots of juice, herbs, vitamins and oils.
**TIP: for congestion inhaling tea tree oil or eucalyptus really helps, I've been burning it in a diffuser all night.

Even though I'm not 100% today I have lots of things I'm working on. I picked up some new ingredients in Chinatown while in NYC. I wanted to find a new green tea powder as I am working on an organic line. I found exactly what I was looking for there and picked up some organic green tea that I felt will work with what I'm trying to do. I also purchased a few new herbs and some clay on my visit. I have several new soaps in development and when I get back from my trip to Vietnam I should have everything I need for my new line of soaps.

Also I have a few new recipes I'll be sharing this week when I get the chance to test a few of my new ingredients out. I'm working on developing some new lotions, teas and masks. When I feel I have a few more things down I'll post it on the blog, until then I hope you are all enjoying the new year and as my sister and I have been saying "Happy New Decade!!"

DeShawnMarie.com

Seaweed Facial Mask and Body Wrap Recipe. Seaweed has amazing benefits for the skin.

Seaweed powder is a rich source of vitamins including vitamins B12 (not found in land plants), vitamin E, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, and other nutrients. Seaweed powder makes for an effective cleansing and exfoliating agent. When applied to the skin, Seaweed treatments act as a powerful detoxifier that draws out toxins and impurities while adding beneficial nutrients. It helps to stimulate the body's metabolism and circulation which gives skin a healthy, revitalize and glowing appearance. Seaweed contains fatty acids to combat skin irritation and inflammation; and may assist with skin ailments such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.

I have been making my Sea Salt Kelp Soap for over a year now and really enjoy it.  I use whole Seaweed strips in the soap to get the benefits of the seaweed embedded into the soap.

I've recently played around with some other ways to use seaweed.  I have made seaweed powder by taking a coffee grinder and putting the seaweed in it and grinding it for about 30 seconds.  You can buy seaweed at the health food store or also some grocery stores will have it for making sushi. Grind it into a powder for the following recipes. It should look something like this when it is ready.

Seaweed Face Mask
Combine 1 tbsp of seaweed powder to 2 tbsp of water and 1 tsp of aloe vera gel to form a paste. Apply to the skin and leave on for about 10 minutes before washing off with warm water.
You will be amazed at the results you will get with this mask.

Seaweed is commonly used in body wraps due to it's ability to extract toxins from the skin.  It is very helpful in combating cellulite too.

Seaweed Body Wrap
Combine ½ cup seaweed powder, 3 tbsp jojoba oil and 2 drops of lavender oil in a bowl. Slowly add water while stirring the mixture until it forms into a paste. Apply paste to various parts of the body and cover with plastic wrap. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
 

DeShawnMarie.com

How to make Orange Peppermint Lotion. Recipe to make at home.

Orange Peppermint Lotion Recipe
1/2-cup mint water
1/8 tsp. borax
1/2 c. grapeseed oil
1 tsp. coconut oil
1 tsp. beeswax
8 drops orange oil
3-4 drops peppermint oil

Make the mint water by boiling fresh or dried mint leaves in water and then letting the mixture cool. Strain off the mint leaves. Use 1-cup fresh mint (1/4 cup dried mint leaves) to 1-cup water.

Then mix together the mint water and the borax, stirring until well mixed. Set aside. Mix together the grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and beeswax in a glass measuring cup. Place the cup with the oils--beeswax mixture in a pan of water (about 1 to 2 inches of water), making a water bath. Heat over medium heat until the beeswax is melted (8 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.

When the wax is melted, bring the mint solution almost to boiling (put the glass cup with the mint water/borax in the microwave on High for 1 minute, or use a water bath on the stove top).

Remove the oils-beeswax mixture from the water bath. Slowly add mint water/borax to the mixture in the blender and whip.

Allow the lotion to cool completely. The consistency may seem a bit thin, but it will thicken as it cools. Now add the peppermint and orange oils. Pour the lotion into a clean container with a lid.

VOILA you have Orange Peppermint lotion!

DeShawnMarie.com

Lavender, lavender and more lavender! How to use it.

Lavender is one of the most popular aromatic herbs.


Everybody loves the aroma of lavender. It is one of the most used aromatherapy oils for relaxation. It is popular in aromatherapy candles and soap to help with relaxation. There are a lot of ways to use lavender. I thought I'd share a few ways with you today.

Lavender in the kitchen
Lavender Lemonade is one of the easiest ways to use lavender into the kitchen. Steep 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers in 1 quart homemade or store bought lemonade for a couple of hours. Use room temperature, not cold lemonade. Strain before drinking.

Lavender powder for scenting linens
A simple lavender sachet placed in the linen closet will infuse the sheets (or sweaters) with the lovely, complex smell of the summer garden. Find muslin bags online or at craft stores. One of my favorite ways to use lavender is to finely grind and sprinkle it on clean sheets and pillows. Using an impeccably clean spice/coffee grinder, process the flowers until they are a fine powder. Mix 1 part flowers with 2 parts baking soda. It is nice to buy a powder container to store the powder, but simply storing in a small jar is sufficient. Sprinkle a small amount either on the mattress or over clean sheets. Also sprinkle on pillows before putting on a new pillowcase.

Lavender as medicine
Lavender is an effective remedy for nervous exhaustion, headaches and mild depression. To make a soothing tea, simply pour 1 cup of water over 1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers, cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups per day. For a therapeutic lavender bath, make a decoction by adding 2 tablespoons lavender to 2 cups water, bring to a boil, remove from heat and steep for 10 minutes. Add this to the bath and relax!

Lavender infused oil
I am a big fan of infused oils because they are easy to make and can be used many ways. Lavender infused oil can be used on rashes, cuts, minor burns or as a moisturizing skin oil. Simply fill a small jar with dried lavender flowers and cover with a good quality oil, like almond, apricot kernel or extra virgin olive. Let sit in a warm place for 10-14 days, strain and this fragrant oil is ready to go.

I hope you enjoy these! Oh and don't forget to enter to win a free soap from me in the post below.

If you are reading this in a Facebook note, a reader or some other format then go to my blog at DeShawn's Blog to see the original post.

DeShawnMarie.com