Homemade Toothpaste...

Okay, I know what you are going to say. I've gone off the deep end.

I don't know what is more outrageous...

that I am making my own toothpaste?

or that I already had ALL the ingredients in my house without having to make a special Amazon order?

I might as well live in a tent and use bark for toilet paper.

But go with me on this one...

Toothpastes out there are full of toxic ingredients:

• Triclosan- in Colgate and a major hormone disruptor

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) - also, registered as an insecticide

• Artificial Sweeteners- like aspartame which has something called methanol, a form different than the fruit and vegetable type. This methanol form can not always be eliminated by our bodies and can convert to formaldehyde and rest in brain tissue.

• Flouride- a potent neurotoxin and recently found to only form a protective layer that is only as thin as 1/10,000 of a strand of hair.

• Propylene Glycol- industrial grade mineral oil used in antifreeze, paints, enamels, and airplaine de-icers.

• Diethanolamine (DEA)- a foaming agent and hormone disrupter.

• Microbeads- tiny plastic pellets. Plastic!

So this recipe is from Dr. Mercola. I tweaked a few ingredients to my liking.

And to be honest, the taste was not as muddy as I expected. Totally doable.

Max and I made a huge batch.

It looks a bit like icing but Max was fast to let me know that it did not taste at all like icing!

Homemade Thieves and Coconut Oil Toothpaste

• 1/2 cup Bentonite Clay

• 1/8 tsp Salt

• 2 tsp Shine Remineralizing Tooth Powder (Dr. Mercola uses baking soda)

• 2/3 cup Water (I used distilled)

• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil

• 1 tsp Stevia (optional)

• 1-4 drops Thieves Essential Oil (Dr. Mercola uses peppermint) I use more like 5-10 drops

Bentonite Clay is relatively tasteless and a useful detoxing agent.

Shine tooth powder is NOT vegetarian but it helps to reduce tooth decay with mineral restoration.

Coconut Oil attacks harmful bacteria in teeth to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Thieves Oil is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and is a highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-infection essential oil.

I hope you go bold and experiment like I do. If not, I hope you read a label or two.

Here's to a healthy mouth!

Disclamer:

All information you read on Eat Your Peas & Carrots is for informational and educational purposes only. Information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements within this site have not been approved by the FDA. These are my opinions and should not be interpreted as an attempt to offer a medical opinion. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition or are taking any medications, please consult your health care practitioner.

Get your #@$& shoes on!

As a mom you hear the same sentences come out of your mouth so much it nauseates you.

Kids have a gift when it comes to taking their sweet precious time getting out of the house.

Mornings are the worst. I have gone so far as to record my voice on my phone saying,

"Put your shoes on!" , just so I didn't have to say it ONE MORE TIME!

But after attending parent/teacher conferences for Max, my husband and I realized we needed to try new motivations.

Yep, my kid is that chatty kid in class that always has a story about robots or police cars or a booger flavored jelly bean he tried once at his cousin's house. He is going to be the one kid to raise his hand and have plenty to say about anything and everything BUT the topic at hand.

Josh and I accept this about our son. At least he isn't a bully or the "stinky" kid.

Max's teacher gently suggested some better time management at home to help him along in school.

So what to do???

Timers.

I ordered timers and made up a board for all the tasks needed for a swift morning exit.

Max seems pretty stoked about it and loves having new gadgets.

Here's the Plan

• 20 minutes to eat breakfast.

• 10 minutes to get dressed.

• 5 minutes to brush teeth.

• 5 minutes to get shoes and jacket on.

If all that goes well then he gets a coin in the "GET OUT" jar.

Rewards:

• 10 coins he can have a $1 store toy

• 30 coins and can get a larger toy

Does this seem like overkill? Perhaps. But I am tired of arguing in the morning and tired of hearing myself talk. I hope this will give him a sense of time and a sense of urgency.

Hopefully he gets a feel for the differences between 20 minutes and 5 minutes.

My plan is to keep this up for a few months and then see how he does on his own without the gadgets and prizes.

Wish me luck!

Here are the links to what I purchased if you would like to try at home.

Timer

Cute Letter Stickers

Magnetic dry erase board

Shower Melts...

This time of year everyone is hacking up a lung. Max was home from school for two days and I refuse to get sick. So far, so good.

I have been drinking my elderberry syrup with warm water and apple cider vinegar which seems to help.

But these shower melts are a household favorite.

They are a great way to add essential oils to a steam shower. I pick scents that will open up my nose and help my lungs breathe deep.

My favorites are:

• Theives- for cold prevention

• RC- for a cough

• Eucalyptus- for a spa feel at home

Max loves:

• Lavender

• Peace & Calming- mostly because he can drop the oils onto the melts himself.

Shower Melts

• 1 box baking soda

• 3/4 cup washing soda

Blend together into a medium sized bowl and distribute into silicone molds. Add water directly into one mold at a time. Start with a teaspoon of water and add more if needed. Stir immediately and work fast because this stuff hardens quickly. Repeat with remaining molds.

This recipe should make about 2 1/2 dozen depending on your fill. Let wet molds set for 10-15 minutes. If any excess water remains on top of mold, pour out. Pop hardened melt onto cooling rack to dry for a few hours. I let them sit overnight.

Keep in a container in the bathroom. Add 10 drops of your favorite oil directly onto a melt at the time of shower. Place melt on floor of shower where the hot water can melt it away along with your stress. Breathe deeply.

Please use a reputable company for purchasing essential oils. I use young living oil because I am a distributor. DoTERRA and Rocky Mountain are fine too. If you have any questions about oils and their quality, feel free to ask.