Leslie's Lotions

 I have taught a few classes this fall on making herbal oils, salves, and lotions, and I plan to teach some more in the spring. The most rewarding thing about the classes has been the friendships formed. The most common question I've been asked is, "Where do I start with learning about herbs?" I remember feeling overwhelmed too with that question. There's still so much I don't know about plants! The more you learn, the more you realize how vast the world of plants is and how little you know.  My advice is to start with getting to know one plant or tree that grows near you. Maybe it's mint, a pine tree, a rose bush, a raspberry patch, a quaking aspen, or a willow tree. Plants grow where they are needed. Somewhere near you a plant is growing that will help you or a family member feel better. Start with one plant. Learn its common and scientific names and how it might be used, and any precautions associated with it. Smell it, taste it, bring it into the house, an...

Massage can be a powerful healing tool. It doesn't require going to a trained professional, although they are wonderful! You can do simple massages at home for yourself or your loved one.  A little story about massage. My parents had newborn lambs a few years ago, and we went with my children to see them. There was one baby lamb that was not doing well with breathing, my parents thought it wouldn't live very long. They had brought this lamb into the house, in a small tub with straw bedding. At the time, I was recovering from a miscarriage and I was moved by the struggling lamb. I wanted so much for it to live, as I had wanted the baby inside of me to live. I used massage I had learned in a short class, on the lamb, massaging its spine. Instead of massaging the feet and hands like you would for a person, I massaged the soft pads under the lamb's hooves. I asked my husband to come and bring peppermint oil, which he did, and we put it on the lamb as we massaged its back and 4 ...

Finding the gifts in every season Watching nature, we see that winter is a time to rest, and reflect. The deer lay low on the ground, conserving their energy.  Many animals either hibernate or slow down. Even with heavy snow, dried sunflower stalks are strong, and hold their heads above the snow to feed little birds.  Trees and plants are kept alive by the life in their roots. Somehow trees know to let go of leaves but hang on to fruit. The fruit and berries on trees feed birds through winter. It is amazing that trees can tell the difference between what to keep and what to let go. It is harder for us to know what to let go of and what to hang on to! Even with snow on the ground, birds sing and chirp, happy that the sun comes up every morning. I hope you also take time to rest, reflect, and feel sustained by God, who gives us all life. Winter is a perfect time to enjoy the flowers that bloomed in the spring and summer. Our skin care products are made with nourishing and h...

Spring flowers are some of my favorites. They come up amidst storms and snow, and the petal's colorful hues are treasured and so welcome after winter. Spring flowers are like old friends that remind us that it is possible to bloom beautifully in adversity.  Using oils infused with these flowers in your skin care is a great way to bring nature's gifts and flowers into our daily lives. When I use the our lotions and lip balms made with the plant infused oils, I think of the flowers they were made with and am thankful for the gifts our Creator put in nature for us. I hope you will also feel a connection to these plants and nature in what I share with you, and in the lotions and lip balms.  One of my favorite spring wildflowers is arrowleaf balsamroot. The bright yellow petals are similar to a sunflower. The leaves are shaped like giant arrows, pointing to the sky and its Creator. They are covered with soft velvety hair. The resinous tap roots reach deep into the ground to store t...

One of my daughters wrote me a note with some of the first few words she learned to write. In her 5-year-old handwriting, with crayon, she wrote, "I am loved. I love you." It touched my heart and helped me to know that she felt loved. A little later she wrote me another note, "You are loved" and taped it to my wall. Her note reminds me that being loved and loving others gives deep meaning to our lives. The love we receive from our Creator and our loved ones, and the love we give is what makes life meaningful.  I added the phrase "You are loved," to a lip balm label that I made. I hope you cherish the gift that it is to be alive and to be you. You are worthy of being loved and treasured. Serving others and giving them love is significant and rewarding, but giving ourselves the care and love we need, and not waiting for someone else to do that for us is also empowering and rewarding.  My mid-winter skincare products are made with cheerful summer flowers. Let...

Thank you to those who made my first time selling lotions and soaps successful! I really appreciate your support and hope you are enjoying your lotions and soaps! If there is anything you would like to see, or if you have any feedback, please let me know.   I hope this holiday season finds you well.  I hope you make some time to nourish you, and that you find deep gratitude for simple blessings. I have a couple new offerings. Our new Christmas Spice Lotion is a favorite at our home, it smells like spices, pine trees, cinnamon, and citrus. It comes in a 4 oz bottle and is $7.  The 8 oz bottles of lotion pictured below are $12. Fragrance Free Lotion is a new one. All of the other lotions are very mildly scented, we are minimalists when it comes to fragrances. I wrote about the lovingly chosen ingredients for our lotions in my last blog post , click or scroll down to see the previous post. One addition to all the recipes is aloe vera juice, it adds another layer of soot...

This year I've decided to sell soaps and lotions. I've been making soaps and lotions for 10 years for family and friends. Many times I've been told that they work better than anything else they've tried, and those who have received them have offered to buy them. With a large family, selling lotions or soaps isn't something I have had time for until now.  Making lotions from herbs is one of my favorite things to do. We used homegrown elderberry flowers and lavender flowers to make these lotions. The happy moments in the garden with my children, feeling the sunshine, watering the plants, and gently picking the flowers- the peaceful energy of all of those moments is part of these lotions. Humming bees, families of shy quail, and colorful bluebirds are part of moments in the garden too, it is wonderful to see God's creations. The deer get a few nibbles in as they gracefully meander on their daily route around the garden fence. The lavender and elderberry flower...