Homemade Bath Salts

Health Benefits of Bath Salts and Making Your Own

I am no doctor nor am I an expert in bath salts, but I do firmly believe they have multiple health benefits AND are super easy to make. As much as I love selling my bath salts, I decided there is one thing I would love even more and that would be to share with everyone my recipes! 

The health benefits of soaking in a bath with salt are remarkable. Magnesium absorption is the number benefit and it's amazing the more I read of some of the side-effects of being magnesium deficit. I do want to put a disclaimer here that I do not use bath salts on a regular basis and I really should use them more. I'm an avid believer in their benefits for sure but just don't want y'all to think I make time for a bath everyday although this really would be a great idea! As I am research more and more to add valuable info to my post I'm thinking 'Why don't I use these more?!?!?'

When making bath salts I prefer a 1:1 ratio of Epsom salt and Dead Sea Salt. When I first started making my salts in bulk I did some research and came across SALTWORKS, 'America's Sea Salt Company'. Saltworks sells a variety of gourmet and spa salts at retail price or in bulk. I have only purchased their Dead Sea Salts, but have always wanted to try some of their other items especially the Himalayan Pink Bath Salts.

Here is some interesting information I came across while I was researching: 

The Benefits of Dead Sea Salt - Saltworks

Epsom Salt Uses and Benefits - Saltworks

Need More Magnesium? 10 Signs to Watch For - by enviromedica

As with most things we consume or put on our body, quality is important to me but for a family of six there are definitely times I have to sacrifice quality for affordability! No matter your priorities or budget there are always options.  

Homemade Bath Salt Base

1 part Epsom Salt

1 part Dead Sea Salt (Sea Salt can be used instead of Dead Sea Salt)

Mix salts together in a large bowl. Add essential oils (recipes at the end of post). Stir until well combined. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/2 cup bath salt mixture (or more if you like) per bath. Relax for at least 30 minutes. Then snuggle in your 'comfy clothes' under a blanket for another 30 minutes OR go straight to bed! :)

Buying Options (prices are based off online, in-store prices may differ)
Epsom Salt
Walmart - $2.86 for 4 lbs; $5.43 for 8 lbs
Meijer - $1.29 for 1 lb; $4.49 for 8 lbs
Saltworks - $6.50 for 5 lbs up to $1,160 for 2,000 lbs (that's right folks you can purchase THAT much!! WOWZEERS!)

Sea Salt
Hobby Lobby - $9.99 for 7 lbs (don't forget your 40% off coupon)

Dead Sea Salt
Saltworks - $8.95 for 2.2 lbs up to $1,892 for 2,200 lbs
Amazon.com - prices vary
Walmart - I've purchases from here before but they were more expensive and I the quality didn't compare to Saltworks

Essential Oils
Hobby Lobby - $6.99 for 0.5 ounce, limited selections
Wellington Fragrance - Prices starting at $2.25, great selection, most are for external use only
Young Living - Prices starting at about $20.00, great selection, Seed to Seal commitment, most can be digested
AND MANY MORE ... these are just the ones that I have used :)

If you would like a great essential oil resource, I would highly recommend The Complete Book of Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. This book has essential oil uses for all areas of the home and everyday living as well as what oils are safe to use on infants.

Lavender Chamomile Bath Salts 

This would be best to use before bed to help you sleep (or throw a little in the children's bath to help them sleep ... HALLELUJAH!!!!)

3 cups Epsom Salt

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

30 drops of lavender essential oil

30 drops of chamomile essential oil

Grapefruit-Palmarosa Bath Salts

This one is to jump start you energy in the morning, which I really need to use this blend of essential oils in some shower disks since I don't have make the time to take a bath in the mornings!

3 cups Epsom Salt 

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

30 drops grapefruit essential oil 

20 drops of palmarosa essential oil

10 drops of vetiver essential oil

5 drops of cypress essential oil

Lemon Eucalyptus Bath Salts

And probably my favorite, ESPECIALLY during the yucky cold season! 

3 cups Epsom Salt

3 cups Dead Sea Salt

18 drops of lemon essential oil

12 drops of thyme essential oil

12 drops of tea tree essential oil

6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Mix salts together in a large bowl. Add essential oils. Stir until well combined. Store in an airtight container. Use 1/2 cup bath salt mixture (or more if you like) per bath. Each batch makes about 3 pint-sized mason jars. 

Fresh Baked Apples

'tis the season to use up those apples ...

There's something about the smell of apples baking in the oven as I glance outside to see the fall colored leaves gently blowing around that just brings peace to my soul. Everybody has something different that in a simple moment can completely melt all the anxiousness, worry, and doubt (or any other bothersome life 'stuff') right off of your heart and for me this is one of them along with listening to Christmas music, snuggling up in the biggest, warmest blanket I can find, and soaking up sun-rays that are pouring through a window ... to name just a few. I strongly encourage discovering the little things that calm your heart!

Today's recipe is from one of my grandmas and it's super simple and easy. I still had about a 1/2 a bushel of apples the Mr. brought home and I wanted to get them used up before they all went to waste, which would be a terrible shame! So last night I wiped up 4 batches (and still have enough for 4 MORE) from start to finish in about an hour and a half, ate one pan last night, another pan today, and sent two home with Momma Bear to serve the residents for lunch at the senior living center.

Fresh Baked Apples

Apples - 

8 to 12 apples (enough to fill a 9 x 13 baking dish)

3/4 cup sugar

2 rounded tablespoons flour

1 1/3 cup water

4 tablespoons butter 

Peel, halve, and core apples. Place core side up in baking dish. Mix sugar, flour, and water together. Pour mixture over apples. Top each apple half with a dab (about a teaspoon, just couldn't bring myself to leave out the word dab) of butter. 

Topping(s) - optional 

cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons softened butter

2 tablespoons flower

To crumble or not to crumble. You could just top with a sprinkle of cinnamon OR you could mix the brown sugar, butter, and flour together for a crumb topping OR my preference ... BOTH!

Bake at 360 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until tender. 

For the next big batch I make (hopefully tomorrow night), I am going try freezing the baked apples individually in muffin tins and see how they do for the kids' lunches. I will keep you posted how that turns out.

Birthday Season

This has consumed much of my free time over the past few weeks, between the Pinterest searches to get ideas, the baking, and the decorating. Making our kids' birthday cakes has been a fun tradition and I could have never imagined some of the cakes I'd be making! #4 has a June birthday, #1 has a September birthday, and #2 and #3 have October birthdays, so it really is always a season of birthdays around here from June through October.

The key through all of these birthday cakes is the element of surprise! The kids have loved coming up with a challenge for me but they don't get to see their cake until we are ready to blow out the candles. Since going back to work full time, it has taken a little more commitment to keep the tradition than it used to. Instead of being an afternoon project while the birthday kid is napping or at school, it has turned into a couple late nights after the kiddos go to bed, but it's all worth it!

Here's the cake that ended our birthday season in honor of the Mets playing in the World Series (so sad to be posting this after their loss in game 5). 

#2 turns 8

This is one of my favorites to date and I was pretty excited in how it turned out. Before I begin any cake I'm never quite sure if it'll turn out like I envision it and then as the layers go on and the detail gets added; it all comes together! Over the last few years, the kiddos have really stepped up their requests but I always like to think back and share where it all started.

Six years ago, when #2 turned 2, I got the idea to try my hand at cake decorating. Instead of a plain cake with fun candles, I attempted some tractors. I had no cake decorating experience, baggies served as piping bags, there was a complete absence of frosting tips, and I only had a basic 4 pack of liquid food coloring.  I distinctly remember being so frustrated with not being able to get my tractor tires black, but a hobby was started. A few things I learned on my first attempt were frosting does darken the longer it sits and it's worth the extra money to buy paste food coloring if there is a specific color you want.

a throwback picture from when #2 turned 2, 
this is where I started 6 short years ago! 

From amatuer looking tractors to a realistic looking Everest (the newest Paw Patrol pup), who would have thought. #3 has been my most challenging requestor due to the detail required alone. However, I wished I had taken step by step pictures of how this all comes together, because it really is easier than it looks and involves some minor cheating :).

#3 turns 5

And then they don't always turn out like you are hoping! #1's only request this year was whipped frosting, so I attempted. From the picture it's harder to tell, but I had made this the day before and let's just say by the next day my whipped frosting was starting to was loose its fluff. Still, I am bound and determined to find a whipped frosting that's better than store bought, easy to work with, and keeps for longer than 1 day. 

#1 turns 11

And then there's #4's. He couldn't decide on Baymax from Disney's Big Hero 6 or Superman, so we went with Baymax on top and a Superman inspired 3 on the the sides.

#4 turns 3

Each cake is a fun journey, I love the challenge and the excitement the kids show when they finally get to see their cake!