A couple of days ago, Miss G and I had the absolute pleasure of having a morning out at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. together. Besides it genuinely being one of our favourite kid-friendly restaurants in the city {I’ve written about it several times in the past – see here and here}, while there, we got to hang out with fellow blogging friends, sample the delicious brunch menu {yum!}, and learn all about dyeing Easter eggs naturally! Our kind of morning.
{this post contains affiliate links}By now, it’s no secret that our family is a slightly ‘crunchy’ one {even if Brad fights it just a little and despises that use of the word crunchy}. We’re by no means the extreme, but we do our best to make things from scratch, eat whole foods, avoid unneeded chemicals and toxins, and generally live pretty naturally. One of the things we use daily in our attempt to live more naturally is essential oils. I’ve never been a huge user of traditional medicines, and since the arrival of Miss G four years ago, my medicine cabinet has slowly grown more and more full of pretty little oil bottles with less and less traditional medicine to be found.
One thing our family just can’t go without anymore is coconut oil. From the kitchen to the beauty cabinet to the first aid kit, it truly fits the term ‘multipurpose’. We love it so much in fact, that we have several different jars stashed around the house at any given time. Here are the ways we (Gracen and I especially) use it in our home…
1. Baked Goods (muffins especially)
Instead of using grape seed oil, our usual butter/margarine substitute in muffins, we’ve been using coconut oil recently. Makes them super moist and they won’t dry out as the days pass. (THESE are delicious!)
2. Body Moisturizer
Great for when you’re fresh out of the shower or your just before your babe heads off to bed. It soaks in quickly and smells delicious!
3. Eye Make-up Remover
Simply massage a tiny pinch of coconut oil into your eye area, then wipe off with a damp cloth or cotton pad. Voila – make up gone!
4. Face Cleanser
Massage a small pinch into your face, then use a hot, wet washcloth to wipe your face clean. Most likely, you won’t need moisturizer afterward.
5. Diaper Cream
Coconut oil is soothing, has anti-fungal properties, and gentle on skin – perfect for using on little bottoms! Plus, it’s cloth diaper safe too!
6. Pan Frying
Great in high temperatures, coconut oil can be used when pan frying meat, veggies, or grilled cheese sandwiches.
7. Hair Mask
Take a generous amount of coconut oil, work it into the ends of your hair, and leave it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Wash it out as usual afterwards and notice how silky your hair feels.
8. Face Paint Remover
Simply rub a little coconut oil onto the paint to loosen it up, then wipe it away with a damp cloth. Magic! And no more stained pillow cases. (Remember THIS?! Perfect example!)
9. Face Exfoliant
Take a small amount of coconut oil and warm it up in the palm of your hand. Add a sprinkle of baking soda, mix the two together, and rub it onto a clean face in a circular motion. Rinse and dry.
10. Bites, Cuts, & Scrapes
Apply a thin layer of coconut oil as a topical cream to your little one’s cuts and scrapes. It’ll form a protective barrier and speed healing along.
11. Lip Balm
Super moisturizing and perfect for before bed. We keep a tiny container of coconut oil in Gracen’s reach so she can moisturize her lips any time she feels the need.
12. Smoothies
With tons of nutritional benefits, adding a teaspoon to your morning smoothie is a fast and easy way to add coconut oil to your diet.
13. Stove-top Popcorn
We use coconut oil exclusively when popping popcorn. It can handle the heat, it is healthy, and depending on the type of coconut oil you purchase, it leaves your popcorn with the faintest coconut-y flavour. Yum. (If you haven’t already, you have to try THIS. Double yum.)
14. Homemade Deodorant
Mix some arrowroot powder, baking soda, essential oil, and coconut oil and you’ve got yourself a deodorant sans the harmful aluminum. I’ve been been using it for months now and it works.
15. Homemade Bubble Bath
Mix some pure castile soap, coconut oil {in its liquid state}, and almond oil, and you’ve got a luxurious, moisturizing bubble bath. When using it with wee ones, just be sure to have some sort of no-slip grip on the bottom of the tub as it does tend to make it slippery.
16. On Toast
Spread a thin layer on warm toast as a great butter/margarine substitute. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon, and you’ve won Miss G’s heart.
17. Foot Treatment
Slather dry feet generously just before you go to bed, throw on some socks, and wake up to seriously soft feet.
18. Hair Tamer
Tame fly aways or add shine by rubbing a tiny amount of coconut oil into your hands first, then onto your locks.
19. Homemade Body Scrub
Mix up some coconut oil, sweet almond oil, coarse/brown sugar, and pure vanilla and use it in the shower. It smells delicious and leaves your skin soft and smooth.
20. Straight Off Your Finger ☺
Miss G’s personal favourite! Each night after she’s had her bath and we’ve slathered her body in the stuff, she digs out a little chunk of coconut oil with her finger, and pops it in her mouth. Slightly strange? Perhaps. But you should see how excited she is about that part of her night.
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