Knock Off Calamine Lotion

Summertime will soon be upon us, Woo Who.  To me summer begins when the school year ends, and summer vacation starts.  According to the calendar the official start of summer is around June 20th.  Anywho?  Who doesn’t love summertime!  Filled with trips to the beach, sunny skies, lazy days, vacations, water fun, warm weather, and memories.

I have put together a list of Summertime must-haves.  First up, a big floppy beach hat, a maxi dress, a fun pair of sunglasses, water toys, natural bug spray, sunblock, and of course calamine lotion.  Well before you dart off to the store here is a recipe for my knock off calamine lotion.

Knock Off Calamine Lotion Recipe

Ingredients:

¼ Cup of Zinc Oxide

4 Teaspoons of Bentonite Clay

4 Teaspoons of Baking Soda

¼ Cup of Distilled Water

½ Teaspoon of Vegetable Glycerin

3 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil

2 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

1 Drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil

Pink Food Coloring (optional)

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.  Store in a small jar with a tight fitting lid.

I will be taking this with me when I go visit my Mom and Dad at their lake house in Kentucky this July.

What are your summertime plans?

Smiles, Paula

{ Follow Me On Pinterest  } Paula Parrish

DIY Herbal Bath Salts

Only two weeks of school left here in the sunshine state of Florida until summer vacation.  I do enjoy the summer months living on the coast line with the beautiful gulf being my swimming pool.  Being so busy with housework, cooking meals, laundry, playing with my daughter, my job and life’s chaos.  I have a Mommy tradition of spending a few days of “Me Time” just before school is out for the summer.  I spend this time alone doing what I love, floating in our swimming pool, taking a hot bath, shopping, reading or laying on the beach.  I am sharing my favorite Herbal Bath Salt recipe with you today.  Go ahead and enjoy some  “Me Time” soaking in a hot herbal infused bath.

DIY Herbal Bath Salt Recipe

Ingredients:

½ Cup of Epsom Salt

½ Cup of Salt

¼ Dried Botanicals {lavender, rose petals, calendula petals}

A few drop’s of Lavender Essential Oil

Directions:

Mix together all of the ingredients and store in a jar of your choice.  To use, simply scoop up about ¼ cup of the lovely salt mixture and toss into your bath water. Enjoy! After your bath, follow up with a organic body lotion by Natural Garden Soaps.

This recipe is perfectly formulated with a blend of organic ingredients to help draw toxins from your body, ease body aches, relieves congestion, improves breathing, and promotes a good night’s sleep.

I placed my bath salts in a old candle jar with a lid.  I think that it looks so pretty sitting in my bathroom.

Do you have any traditions before the end of the school year?

Smiles, Paula

{ Follow Me On Pinterest  } Paula Parrish

What’s Fresh in Natural Garden Soap’s Shop?

Do you see something you like here on my blog, but you don’t want to make it yourself?

Check out Natural Garden Soap’s by Paula Parrish on Etsy to find all sorts of fresh and natural handmade skincare items.

Island Coconut Soap

Ready for Summer!

Hello my lovely friends!  Hope that all is well with you?

The end of the school year is around the corner.

Are you ready to hit the beach or pool,

one thing's for sure summer is almost here!

As the countdown begins for summer vacation,

I am giving away a bar of Island Coconut Soap.

How To Enter:

{ Follow, Comment and WIN }

Follow my Blog and leave a comment on any post

from now until the end of May.

Or simply do as many or as few of the following:

"Like" NaturalGardenSoaps on Facebook.

"Follow" PaulaParrish on Twitter.

Tell your friends on your Facebook/Twitter/Blog to enter this giveaway.

Post and Tweet the following:

"I hope I win the May giveaway on @paulaparrish blog

www.paulaparrish.blogspot.com.”

Good Luck!

Please remember to leave a way for me to contact you if you win,

I prefer an email address.

PLEASE NOTE: Must be US resident.

Smiles, Paula

{ Follow Me on Pinterest } Paula Parrish

{ southern paradise }

We grabbed our beach ball, floats, swimming suits,

and headed out the beach last weekend.

We had the pleasure of hosting our annual summer beach party.

We enjoyed two days filled with friends, family,

swimming, kayaking, yummy food,

and the beautiful Florida landscape

of the ocean and intracoastal waterway.

{photo by Bruce Henderson a family friend}

{my precious Granddaughter Isabella}

{my hubby walking on the beach}

{the girls enjoying the pool}

I moved to Florida in the late 80’s,

and quickly fell in love with the landscape and the beach.

It is a tough job living in such a breathtaking paradise,

but I believe that I do it well.

I must say that I am truly grateful

and feel so blessed to live in a place that I love.

{photo by Bruce Henderson a family friend}

{my son Ashton with his friend Klye ~ photo by Bruce Henderson}

{my precious Granddaughter Isabella}

{my youngest daughter Destiny}

{photo by Bruce Henderson a family friend}

Thanks for stopping by.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you

who have stumbled upon my blog.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my thoughts on life,

DIY skincare obsession and everything else in between.

Smiles, Paula

DIY Chocolate Chip Lip Balm

Summer is swimming in the pool.

Summer is play on a beach.

Summer is camping trips.

Summer is riding bikes.

Summer is…”Mom, I’m bored”?

Oh no, those soooooo dreaded words no Mom ever wants to hear.

How do you keep the kids busy during summer vacation?

A group of us crafty blog Moms have gotten together to offer some help.

Keri is doing a summer blog series called "Make Summer Funner",

which includes all sorts of easy and fun ideas to do with kiddos during the summer.

I was super honored when she asked me to take part,

and write a guest post for her blog.

Be sure to head over to Keri's blog, and check it out at Shaken Together.

I am sharing with you a DIY tutorial, on how to make Chocolate Chip Lip Balm.

Chocolate Chip Lip Balm Recipe

5 ounces of Olive Oil

2 ounces of Beeswax, grated or shaved

½ Capsule of Vitamin E

2-3 Chocolate Chips

In the microwave carefully melt the beeswax and the oil together.

Do not boil. If the mixture starts to boil,

carefully remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

Once the beeswax and oil is well blended,

pierce the vitamin E capsule with a needle,

squeeze out half the contents, and stir in.

Drop in the chocolate chips and mix.

Then, pour the mixture into clean containers with lids.

Thank you!  Keri for inviting me to write this guest blog post.

I love sharing my DIY natural skin care recipes.

I feel so lucky go happy!

I hope that I will meet many new blog friends and make new connections.
Smiles, Paula

{ Follow Me On Pinterest  } Paula Parrish

Summertime Childhood Memories

While browsing on Etsy, I came across a few images that quickly brought back a flood of childhood memories.

This amazing barn photo was taken by Rebecca with Sew Good Photography on Etsy.

This photo was taken by Amanda on Etsy.  She does a wonderful job of taking pictures of nature and turning random objects into beautiful photographs.

This images was taken by Julie with  JPG Photography on Etsy. Her shop includes a select collection of amazing photos taken and processed.

Here are a few precious memories, dedicated to my cousin Tracy.
I thought of you today.  You know, of all the early years growing up.
I remember the summer that we raided your Mom’s kitchen drawers and pantry in your farmhouse to find Jello and food mixes.  So that we could create the perfect snack; which turned out to be a mixture that no one would eat but your Dad {Uncle Leroy}.
I remember running thru the cornfield to get to the blackberries for a afternoon snack, vines packed full of yummy blackberries that bordered your country road.
I remember the year that you, your brother Leroy Jr., my sister Penny and I filled Grandma and Grandpa’s car with glowing fireflies; wow were they surprised to see their car lighting up when they came out to travel home.
And then one day, you grew up, I grew up.
Life should always be as simple as this phrase; "Come and play with me!"
Let’s stay connected. ;o)
Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest
Thanks for dropping by and visiting my blog.
Smiles, Paula

Sweet Summertime

Whowoo it is summertime and one of my favorite songs is playing over and over in my head.
Perfect song on the radio
Sing along 'cause it's one we know
It's a smile, it's a kiss
It's a sip of wine, it's summertime
Sweet summertime
What makes summertime just a little sweeter our newest creation of handmade soap. Orange Creamtickle Soap smells just like a yummy Creamsicle bar. It is sugar free, refreshing, sure to cool you down when water is added, out of the freezer safe, and is extra creamy with Mango and Shea Butter added for extra moisture to your skin.

Orange Creamtickle Soap is better for you, it’s loaded with tons of nourishing natural oils and organic ingredients unlike that commercial soap with added phosphates and harsh chemicals which are bad for the environment and bad for your skin.  It will be impossible to use this Orange Creamtickle Soap without smiling.

This new Orange Creamtickle Soap smells so yummy with a blend of orange and vanilla.

This happy tangerine Pom Pom is designed and created by Sevyn Designs.  Sevyn Designs Ink is the creative collaboration of two long time friends, Coral Pentecost & Hailee Van Wagner.  They create fun, whimsical and unique decor for any party that are sure to leave your guests talking.  Who's the best party hostess?...YOU ARE!!! To check out their online store on Etsy at this link: Sevy Designs.

Indulge in a tasty summer time treat with an irresistible, cute Cake in a jar! Old Time Favorites Bakery delicious Cakes in a jar are a fantastic twist on the traditional Cake.  Check out Kristy super yummy store online on Etsy at this link: Old Time Favorites Bakery.  Kristy has cupcakes, pies. cookies, brownies and much more all made from scratch.

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Monthly Giveaway for June

This month I'm giving away a “Home Spa Gift Box” which includes a bar of handmade aromatherapy soap, Shea Butter lotion and a crocheted washcloth.  Simply leave a comment during the month of June to enter to WIN.

Only eight days left before the drawing and the WINNER is selected on June 30th!

Good luck everyone!

Are you interested in WINNING? Leave me a comment.

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I have shared with some of my newest favorite things on Etsy and our newest homemade soap.  Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.

Now back to that Summertime song by Kenny Chesney . . .

Summertime is finally here

That old ballpark, man, is back in gear

Out on 49

Man I can see the lights

What is your favorite summertime song?

Smiles, Paula