Essential Oils and Weight Loss

Even though aromatherapy has been employed therapeutically for thousands of years across the globe, scientific research on the veracity of essential oils is still in its infancy. However, essential oil aromatherapy can be an effective treatment for anxiety and hormone imbalance. I can testify this statement as it works for me. I am a working mum and I get stressed out easily from work, family and house chores. There are just so much to do with so little time. Therefore, when I reached home from work I will immediately lit up some candles and let the essential oil perfumes my house to relax my nerves before I start to attack anyone.

While there’s no substitute for diet and exercise, many of the hurdles to losing weight (and keeping it off) have a psychophysiological basis. Whether you struggle with emotional eating, dieting fatigue, lack of consistent motivation, slow metabolism, cravings for sweet foods, low energy, poor digestion, or depressed moods, using essential oils as part of your fitness program could be the missing piece that helps propel and sustain you in your weight loss goals.

Some articles mentioned to use it as internal consumption. But, I personally will not recommend this.

Essential oils and the benefits 

Grapefruit Essential Oil	Curbs cravings, Boosts metabolism, Increases energy and endurance, Reduces abdominal fat accumulation
Lemon Essential Oil	Suppresses weight gain, Increases energy, Enhances mood, Relieves pain
Peppermint Essential Oil	Increases energy and mental alertness, Elevates mood Aids digestion, Reduces appetite
Cinnamon Essential Oil	Improve insulin sensitivity, Regulate blood sugar levels, Reduce inflammation
Bergamot Essential Oil	Boosts mood and Increases energy
Fennel Essential Oil	Improves digestion, Suppresses appetite, reduces weight gain, More restful sleep

Essential Oil Blends For Weight LossI found some great recipes online that I can't wait to start trying it out.


Massage oil blends
Fat Reducing Massage – Mix together a quarter cup of almond oil with five drops each of grapefruit, lemon, and cypress oil.


Anti-Cellulite Rub – Combine 10 drops of grapefruit, five drops of rosemary, and two drops each of cypress, peppermint, and ginger oils. Blend with a carrier oil before applying to the body.


Craving Curbing Salve – Mix a half cup of olive oil with 80 drops of fennel, 40 drops of bergamot, and 24 drops of patchouli oil and massage on the abdomen.


Bath  blends
Use only 5-8 drops total of essential oil in a carrier per bath. It is best not to pour the essential oils directly into the bath water. Dilute them first in an ounce of bath salts, ½ ounce of any carrier oil, or in one cup of whole milk or heavy/light cream.


Cellulite Reducing and Weight Loss Boosting Bath Blend - Add 2 drops each of grapefruit, ginger, orange, sandalwood essential oils to 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar and add to a warm bath. Do not add the essential oils to running water to avoid evaporation and mix in by hand. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.

Metabolism Boosting Soak ­– Draw a bath and add two tablespoons of jojoba oil, 3 drops of rosemary, 3 drops of cypress, and 2 drops of grapefruit oil.


Diffuser blends
Appetite Suppressing Diffusion – Blend together 40 drops of mandarin, 20 drops of lemon, 12 drops of ginger, and 12 drops of peppermint and add a few drops of the blend to your diffuser.

Dilution general guide:


1% dilution = 5-6 drops of essential oil to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for children, elders, chronically ill persons, and pregnant women.

2% dilution = 10-12 drops of essential oils to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for massage oils for the average adult.

3% dilution= 15-18 drops of essential oil to each ounce of carrier oil or cream. This dilution is used for specific illnesses or for acute injury.

Information from here.




More information about essential oils and weight loss:
https://www.stillpointaromatics.com/application-dilution-of-essential-oils
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/the-complete-guide-to-using-essential-oils-for-weight-loss/
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/6-essential-oils-for-weight-loss/
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/lemon-essential-oil.html
http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/best-essential-oils-for-weight-loss/

Father's day DIY gift idea - Salt dough fridge magnet

  

I love salt dough. It is so versatile and it only requires a few ingredients that I can find in my pantry. It can be turn into almost anything. I love to use the salt dough instead of the white dough  because it is all natural and this will ease my mind if my Sebastian ever put his fingers in his mouth when we are playing with it. (If I am working alone I might consider using white dough as they are nicer and smoother) But, my Sebastian always comes first over everything else. Previously, we made some alphabets with salt dough and I thought is a really great activity for him to learn alphabets and now he can recognised most of the alphabets. (I am super proud of him!) I also made some edible paint for him to paint his alphabets and the handprints plaque. (We had so much fun!)

Anyway, Father's day is just around the corner and my mother has requested me to help her to make some gifts for her church members to celebrate Father's day. I thought a fridge magnet will be a good idea.

 

Ingredients

1 cup of salt

(This time I actually grinded my salt with my food processor before I used it. I find that the result is better)

2 cups of flour

1 cup of water

edible colouring of your choice

(Mix the colouring with the water before combining it with other ingredients)

1/4 tsp of lavender oil

(Be careful when using essential oil for toddlers.)

Instructions

Since I have used the food processor to grind my salt. I just mix the rest of the ingredients in and 'whizzed' it away until the salt dough is well combined. I put a layer of cling wrap on my kitchen bench top just in case the colour might stained the it. Then I transferred the dough onto the work bench and using my rolling pin to roll it into a thin sheet. Then, let your imagination run wild!

Put it in the oven for 100 'c (212 'f ) for 3 hours. Turn it over after 1.5 hours. (My mum accidentally put it to 180'c and I only realised it after 1.5 hours when I was about to turn it to the other side. Therefore, when you look at my design, it looks burnt. Well, ,my mum called it the rustic look)

I bought a roll of magnetic strip from the $2 dollar shop. (Well, it actually cost me $3. ) I glued it to the back of my design and that's it! Simple and Easy.

Beauty tips: Double cleansing using 4-2-4 method (with DIY oil cleansing recipe)

Aging and wrinkles are every woman's nightmares. My mum always says 'There are no ugly women in this world, only lazy ones'. I guess she is right, it is time for me to take my fate in to my own hands and start putting some efforts on my aging skin.
I am very eager to try this double cleansing with 4-2-4 method which originates from Korea.(But some said Japan) I read a lot of pros and cons about this method and had decided to give this method a go.
Basically the process follows a simple formula: Cleanse first with a cleansing oil to dissolve the makeup for 4 minutes. Then follow up with a soapier cleanser for 2 minutes. This helps to remove leftover impurities and cleanses deeper into the pores. The last step involves using warm and cool water to rinse the face. Use warm water during the first two minutes of the rinsing process. This will help increase blood circulation as well as effectively remove the dirt that was picked up by the cleansing foam. In the last two minutes, use cold water to help close the pores. it will also give you that fresh and revitalizing feeling. It’s such a great treat to give to tired skin.
After cleansing your face, you can then proceed to your usual night time routine. In my case my night time skin care routine consists of the following steps: toner-serum-emulsion/moisturizer/eye cream/lip balm.

Well, I love the idea of making my own product and the ingredients to make the cleansing oil is not hard at all. The basic ingredients are part castor oil, part carrier oil and some essential oil boosters. Castor oil is the cleansing agent and it breaks and dissolves the impurities on our skin. Then, the carrier oil replaces the moisture that the castor oil removed. Finally, the essential oil  infuse our skin with concentrated complexion-loving ingredients. You can find your perfect oil and essential oil combination here.

My cleansing oil recipe (for combination skin)

Ingredients

 -1 clean bottle

- 1 tbsp. Castor oil

- 1 tbsp. Rosehip oil (I love Rosehip oil)

- 1 tbsp. Almond oil

- 10 drops of lemon essential oil for whitening effect

Instructions

Add each oil to the 4 bottle using a small funnel if needed.Next add in the essential oils. Cap tightly and ROLL the mixture between your hands to mix. (I made a small batch to try it out. )

To Wash Face With the cleansing Oil

Put a quarter sized amount of oil in the palm and gently apply it to the whole face and neck. With the 4-2-4 method, slowly massage the oil over the skin in a circular motion for about 4 minutes.  Apply it on a dry face and do not rinse with water. Next take a warm damp cloth and gently wipe off the oil.

Tips: This deep cleansing method should be done regularly, but not too frequently. You'll know if you're deep cleansing too frequently by the dryness that your skin will exhibit.




More information about;
-Double cleansing
http://www.vogue.com/13257184/double-cleansing-japanese-skin-care-acne/
http://sokoglam.com/blogs/news/15008477-tutorial-the-double-cleanse
http://shesintheglow.com/double-cleansing/
-Oil cleaning method
http://theoilcleansingmethod.com/
http://beautyeditor.ca/2010/11/15/my-brief-traumatic-foray-into-the-oil-cleansing-method-or-how-overreaching-can-sometimes-backfire-on-your-skin
http://www.crunchybetty.com/trying-and-troubleshooting-the-oil-cleansing-method-tips-for-flawless-oil-cleansed-skin
http://wellnessmama.com/7569/skin-oil-cleansing/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alisoncaporimo/oil-cleansing#.xyEB4qj9VJ
http://www.makeupalley.com/product/showreview.asp/ItemId=73176/Oil-Cleansing-Method-(OCM)/No-Brand-(DIY-or-homemade)/Cleansers
-Essential oils
http://www.crunchybetty.com/21-things-you-should-know-about-essential-oils
http://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/enhanced-oil-cleansing-method/

  

DAY 1

I made a small batch of cleansing oil and I used it with the 4-2-4 method. (I applied the cleansing oil on my face without rinsing my face first) Then, I used my coffee scrub follow by my Turmeric Mask. After I cleaned my mask, I applied my favourite Rosehip oil. This morning I found a pimple on my nose. =(

I honestly felt good after I used the cleansing oil. But I found a pimple on my face this morning.

DAY 2

Except for the blemish on the tip of my nose, everything seems fine. Not sure whether I am imagining things but I felt that the lemon essential oil is working its magic on my face. I felt that my face complexion looks better. Normally I am lazy to put a layer of sunblock on m face. But, today I took an extra effort to apply it on because I read an article yesterday to avoid sunlight for 12 hours after use.

DAY 3

I usually use my La Mer cleansing oil to remove my makeup but I thought of giving my DIY cleansing oil a try. I find that my DIY cleansing oil works really well. I used it with the 4-2-4 methods so I massaged the oil on my face for 4 minutes in circular motion and later I cleaned it with a hot towel. My face felt clean and refresh. I love it! (I prefer my DIY cleansing oil to my La Mer's cleansing oil as La Mer's cleansing oil stinks my eyes every time I used it to remove my make up)

DAY 5

On Day 2, I mentioned that I felt my skin is fairer. Today I did a comparison for the last 5 days and my skin really looks brighter and fairer! I think the essential oil is working =D I noticed that the red spots around my cheeks on Day 1 are much lighter in Day 5 too.

 

DIY Homemade Natural Hair Gel

My mum has been complaining about me losing too much hair. She said if I don't take care of my hair now, I will be bald when I am her age. I frantically look for hair growth tips and I read some articles that said aloe vera and lavender oil are good for promoting hair growth. Then I thought why not make a hair gel with these two ingredients. I can 'kill two birds with one stone' - I can style and nourished it at the same time. Also, unlike commercial hair gel that contains a lot of weird ingredients, this recipe only calls for 4 and they are all natural.

Ingredients
¼ teaspoon unflavoured gelatine

½ cup hot distilled or filtered water (I used tap water)
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

4-6 drops essential oils 

 

Directions:
Heat the water and mix in the gelatine in a small saucepan. Stir well to combine.
Once the liquid is cool and before it is set, add in the essential oils and aloe vera gel.
Stir the mixture and pour the mixture into a glass jar.  
Store the container in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or until the gelatine set.
Keep styling gel refrigerated between uses.
Gel will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

(Some gelatine is made from animal parts. Therefore, I have a recipe especially for Vegan) 

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon agar-agar flakes
1/2 cup hot water
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

 4-6 drops essential oils 

Directions:
Heat the water and mix in the agar-agar flakes in a small saucepan. Stir well to combine.
Once the liquid is cool and before it is set, add in the essential oils and aloe vera gel.
Stir the mixture and pour the mixture into a glass jar.  
Store the container in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or until the gelatine set.
Keep styling gel refrigerated between uses.
Gel will keep for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Essential oils for hair care
Lime essential oil smells amazing, and is helpful for balancing oily hair. In a more concentrated form it may also lighten hair.

Peppermint and rosemary essential oils stimulate hair growth and add shine. Great for normal hair.

Basil, thyme, patchouli, tea tree and lemongrass have astringent properties which are beneficial for oily hair

Chamomile, lavender, sandalwood and rosemary are helpful for dry hair.

Clary sage, tea tree, eucalyptus, and patchouli are helpful for dandruff

  

Sensory play activity with dry pasta - Hide and Seek with animals

He loves playing with the dry pasta. Maybe it is because he is only allowed to play with it when I am around. Small things like pasta can be a chocking hazard so I prefer to supervise him while he is playing with it. 

For this activity, I hid the plastic animals in the pasta and I asked him to find the animal. I will name the animal and make the animal's sound. When he found it, he will repeat the animal's name and sound. I am a believer in praise, encouragement and rewards for kids. I always praise him when he do well.  I always felt a little encouragements wont hurt.

 

Homemade edible Finger paint

I made some salt dough alphabets and handprints plaque last week and was so excited to make the paint so that I can paint it with my little Sebastian. This is my first time making edible paint and it turns out not too bad. Just a little bit lumpy. I should have used my food processor to mix all the ingredients before cooking it on the stove. But overall, it is a pretty good experience and I will definitely make it again with my little Sebastian.

Ingredients:

1 cup of Flour

4 tablespoons of sugar
2 cups of cold water
Pinch of Salt
Food colouring

 

Instructions:

Mix all of the ingredients together in a food processor except the colouring. (Make sure the mixture is smooth and not lumpy) Then transfer the mixture to the stove and heat in on a medium low fire. Stir it constantly until the mixture thicken. Once it has thickened turn the burner off and let it cool. After cooling divide the finger paint into separate storage containers and add food coloring. Make sure the lids are on tight while storing so it doesn’t dry out.

Family Handprints with Saltdough

Family handprints - From far left is grandma, Sebastian, Daddy and Mummy

Last Tuesday night, I had this crazy idea to make a family handprint plaque from salt dough.  This is my second attempt in using salt dough (my previous project -alphabets with salt dough ), the recipe I used this time is slightly different from the previous one. The last recipe was using 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of salt and this recipe is using 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of salt .I try this recipe because I was hoping that the salt dough will look less grainy. The handprint plaque turns out less grainy but I think it still can be better.( I probably should have grind the salt to make it finer) But, I felt that this recipe takes longer to dry.

Ingredients:

1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1cup water



Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a mixer until a smooth dough forms. Make holes in the plaque, or add hooks.(depending on your preference) To dry the dough, bake in oven at 250F (approx. 120C)  for at least 3 hours. Then flip over and bake an additional 45-60 minutes, or until it is hard.


Can't wait to put some colours to it this weekend with Sebastian. We are going to have so much fun with the edible paints.

  

Learning activities for toddlers - Learning alphabets with salt dough

Weekend is always a good time for me to work on my big projects that require a lot of my time. This week's project is making alphabets with salt dough. This project requires at least 2 to 3 hours of baking time. The process of making the initial is not long but the baking time takes forever. 

 

Sebastian (my little handsome 28 months old baby ) and I had a lot of fun making the alphabets. The only difference is that he was using his play dough while I used the salt dough =P.

 Let's start baking!

 Ingredients:

1 cup salt

1 cup plain flour (all purpose)

Up to half a cup of water (add bit by bit until the right consistency) 

 

Instructions:

Mix together until smooth. Knead into a stretchy dough. If it is too sticky then add more flour.

 

When the models are finished, lay them on some baking parchment (greaseproof paper) and cook on a very low heat for about 2 - 3 hours. About 100 degrees C (210 F) is enough. If the models are thick then they will need to be turned half way through and may need an extra hour.  

 

The alphabets turns out pretty good and can't wait for next weekend when we can put some colours the alphabets. I am planning to make some edible paint for him. Stay tune for my next post on edible paint.

ACTIVITIES

1. I printed out the alphabets in an A4 paper and asked him to match it.
2. I mixed all the alphabets in a container and get him to find the alphabets. 
3. Next weekend activity -  Colouring the alphabets  

 

 

 

Learning Activities for Toddlers - Jell-O play dough

My little Sebastian (28 months now) loves play dough. We made some last month and we spend hours playing with it. I bought him some plastic cookie cutters to cut the play dough into shapes. Sometimes, he will ask me to make animals with the play dough too. It is really good for him as I can see his hands and fingers are becoming stronger and more agile.

 

Then I thought it will be a good idea to make some Jell-O play dough where he can learn about colours and smells.  It is so easy to make and I took less than 30 minutes to make 3 colours; Blue heaven, Strawberry and Lime. They smell so good.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients listed on the 'Ingredients' to a mixing bowl.  

Mixed all the ingredients and pour the mixture into a saucepan. Cook the mixture on medium heat and stir it constantly. 

The mixture will gradually turn into a dough. When it is ready, it will look like the last picture shown in the following diagram.

Let it cool down in the saucepan for a while and start to work on the second batch (If you are making more than one colour) When the dough is cool, transfer it to a floured surface and knead it until the dough is not sticky. Add more flour as needed.  (You can add extra food colouring or even glitters to make it more interesting). Then pack it into a container. 

Sebastian was trying to match the Aeroplane Jelly box with the correct container. He was saying "Green-Same", "Red-Same" and "Blue-Same". It was so cute! Then I opened the container to let him smell the aromas. He loved it!



 

The Jell-O play dough is so much fun, I even made this into a small present for my friend's baby boy birthday. I hope he will love the play dough  as much as Sebastian loves his. 

 

 

Sensory activity with dry pasta

 

I love spending time with my little munchkin but as a working mum, I don't have enough time with him. I reached home from work at around 6pm and he sleeps at 8pm. Therefore, the 2 hours we have is very precious to me.  When he was younger, we spent the time cuddling each other and reading books. But now he is older, I think I should introduce some learning activity to our 2 hours quality time.  I want him to feel that mum is not just for comfort but mum can be a friend too.

 

I started to look for some activity online that is easy to setup and is great fun for my little boy who is now 28 months. I found this sensory activity using dry pasta and this activity helps the little ones to explore their sense of touch and sound.

 

What you need for this activity

• A big container to store the pasta
• 2 bags of Coles small pasta shells (500g per bag)
• Recycled yogurt cups, measuring spoons and some recycled plastic containers

 

 

I set it up on his play table with the lid still closed on the container. He was so excited and he kept on drumming the lid on the container like the drum rolling and waiting for me to reveal the mystery behind the lid. Once I lifted the lid he immediately dipped his hand into the container to feel the pasta. His face was filled with excitement and he kept on laughing and smiling.  It is priceless to see such happiness on his face.

Such a simple activity for us as an adult but it is quite challenging for the little ones. He was very engaged with the activity and I thought to myself that this is a very good activity for him to learn to scoop the pasta and to fill up the containers without spilling on the table. When the shell pasta drop on the floor, he will say “Opps! Pasta drop.” Then, he will pick it up and put it back on this spoon. It is so cute to see him so serious.  He loves to shake the little containers when the lids are closed because it reminds him of the sound made by the maracas.  (He has a set of percussion instruments)

This activity turns out not just a sensory activity but he learned so much more than that. I am so happy seeing him having fun while learning. I will definitely try to find more of these activities to play with him. 

NOTE: Pasta can be a real choking hazard so please be careful. I stayed by his side the whole time while he was playing with it.