Author: wheregratitudegrows

Body Butter Recipe

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With summer quickly approaching I want to make sure my skin is ready for short and tank top weather so yesterday I made Body Butter, and oh my! My skin feels so good today. This recipe does stick to your skin like butter and slowly absorbs, which has made my skin look so smooth and soft. I love when I use lotions like this on my legs too; it makes me feel like I have shiny super model legs. A girl can dream, right?

For this recipe you’ll need:

  • ½ cup Shea Butter
  • ½ cup Coconut Oil
  • ½ tsp. Vitamin E (No worries if you don’t have this, it’s great for your skin but it’s totally optional!)
  • 15 drops Lavender E.O. & 15 drops Melaleuca E.O. (or if you prefer a different essential oil-this is just what I used because they both have great benefits for your skin)bbmix.jpg

Directions: I used my Kitchen Aid to first whip the coconut oil and shea butter for about 10 minutes. This makes it nice and fluffy. If your shea butter is harder, you’ll want to soften it a bit by warming it up. Don’t over do the melting part though, you want it soft but not warm enough to make it liquid form. Then add about ½ tsp of Vitamin E oil, 15 drops of Lavender essential oil & 15 drops of Melaleuca essential oil. Whip it more!!! Put mixture into glass container to store. DSC04461.jpg

A little bit of this body butter goes a long way! If you use too much, it can feel a little greasy until it absorbs in your skin. I always make sure to let it soak in for a few minutes before I put on my clothing or jump into bed but the benefits of this all-natural recipe is so worth it! My skin looks and feels awesome.

*This recipe is also great for winter months, when your skin is extra dry from the weather.

 

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Horrible Headache Blend

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Today I woke up with a pounding headache at 5am and instantly thought, “oh, crap.” I don’t get migraines as often as I use to but when I do, I know that I am going to struggle all day to get in under control. To top it off, Jase woke up at 5:50am and would not go back to sleep. He usually sleeps until 8:30ish, so I was a bit nervous it was going to be a long day. The whole morning, I was rubbing M-Grain on my face (temples/forehead) & my neck (top of my spine) and also dropped one drop of Thieves on my tongue and pressed it to the roof of my mouth (sometimes this helps give quick relief!) and it just wasn’t cutting it. I was nauseous, and frankly just want to crawl back in my bed. I couldn’t figure out if my head hurt due to seasonal discomforts, because I was outside all day yesterday or because I needed to visit the chiropractor (from landscaping) or if I was dehydrated, but it probably was a combination of all of the above. Once I put Jase down for his nap, I slammed Ningxia Red and a large glass of water and created a new roller bottle. When my headaches are really bad I usually combine M-Grain & Deep Relief but I couldn’t find my roll on and knew I had everything to DIY.

Horrible Headache Relief Roll On:

  • 25 drop of Peppermint
  • 15 drops of Wintergreen
  • 15 drops of Lavender
  • 15 drops of Valor
  • 15 drops of Helichrysum
  • Add essential oils to roller bottle and top off with carrier oil.

Some great substitutes: PanAway, Frankincense, R.C., Basil, Aroma Siez, Balsam Fir & Thieves

FYI: This is a STRONG recipe but it was much needed. I applied it to my temples, lightly rubbed in on my forehead (make sure to not get this in your eyes!) & rolled it on my neck. I then laid down and took an hour long nap. I did feel a lot better afterwards, but if I needed it to be stronger, I was going to add Copaiba next. Copaiba E.O. is a magnifier and strengthens the effects of other essential oils.

After we woke up from our naps we went to visit Aaron at work for lunch, grocery shopped and swung into the chiropractor for a quick adjustment. My neck was out-of-place so it could be a huge reason for my migraine this morning. I feel so much better without the nagging, pounding headache!!!

I also received a new diffuser necklace in the mail this weekend. I’m seriously obsessed with it! It’s made with lava stones and you add one drop of essential oil to each stone and wear it all day. I’m impressed on how well the lava stones hold the scent of the oil. I’ve been wearing my necklace since early this morning and I still smell the oil! If you don’t have a diffuser necklace, I highly recommend getting one! It’s just a nice way to reap the benefits of essential oils all day especially if you don’t get the luxury of having a diffuser at your desk or by you all day. There are a ton of shops on Etsy that sell them!

I hope everyone was able to enjoy this past weekend like we did. It was warm, sunny and a nice two full days of playing outside and getting the yard back in order.

Here’s a picture of my new diffuser necklace:

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(I bought it from Inspired Infusions shop on Etsy!)

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Natural Bug Spray

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Last night I had my first mosquito bite of the year. I have been waiting for it to finally be nice outside and now that yesterday was the first warm, 70-degree-Spring-is-finally-here day, I was bite several times by mosquitoes! They have hatched with a vengeance. The worst part of it, I was sitting on my couch relaxing after a day of shopping with a toddler. He usually is a great shopper but today, he was not having it. We had a few meltdowns because I would not let him crawl under the dressing room door. Let’s just say, I was sweating after trying on clothes / chasing him around the dressing room. I’m just glad he wasn’t the only kid & I wasn’t the only mom running around like a crazy person. Anyways, when we got home, I opened all the windows to let the fresh air in and Jase & Allie (our dog) thought it was great to play by the screen door and they must have cracked it a bit. I was catching up on all my TGIT shows (yes I LOVE Grey’s & Scandal!) and all of a sudden I was being eaten by THREE different mosquitoes, GRRR! I hate these buggers. I am such a baby because they love me (they don’t seem to bother my husband and it makes me so jealous) and I hate the smell of store bought mosquito spray. Not only does the smell bother me but the chemicals in the spray are what really make me cringe. I’d rather be bitten than wear that spray so I am SO glad I found an all-natural recipe that I don’t feel gross wearing (and that actually works!). Last summer, I would often mix Purification with coconut oil and rub it out my arms and legs if I knew I was going to be working in the yard that day & didn’t necessarily need the spray. That seemed to help ward off the mosquitoes if I was in a shaded area. But I seriously could have used the spray last night! I had bugs everywhere and diffused Purification in my bedroom hoping they wouldn’t come get me in my sleep. I guess I will have to make a new bug spray bottle today since I think the weather is finally looking up & I am hoping to spend a lot of time outside this weekend!

Recipe Details: All Natural Bug Spray

  • 5 drops Purification
  • 5 drops Thieves
  • 3 drops Citronella
  • 3 drops Lemongrass
  • 3 drops Peppermint
  • 3 drops Lavender
  • 4 oz glass spray bottle
  • 2 oz witch hazel, unscented
  • 2 oz distilled water
  • Add witch hazel & distilled water to glass spray bottle and drop in essential oils. Shake well and spray!

You can use this mixture to protect your pets from unwanted bugs as well.

Buhbye bug bites, hello summertime.

-Jenna

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Hello EO Shower Bombs

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Need a little pick me up in the mornings? How about an explosion of scent while you shower? These DIY essential oil shower bombs are the perfect way to help wake you up in the morning or relax after a long day. The best part is that there are so many different combinations that you can try.

  • Sinus support? Try Thieves, Peppermint, RC, Eucalyptus Globulus
  • Fresh mind? Try Citrus Fresh & Lemon
  • More energy? Try Lemon & Peppermint
  • Afternoon pick up? Joy & StressAway
  • Relaxation before bed? Lavender & Peace and Calming
  • Sexy time? Ylang Ylang & Jasmine

Like I said, the possibilities are endless! Play around with EO’s and find your favorite mix. Everyone is different. What I might find smells wonderfully, another person might not like.

EO Shower Bomb Recipe:

  • 2 cups baking soda
  • 1 cup citric acid (available at health food stores or online)
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 30+ drops of your favorite aromatic essential oil

Directions:

  1.  Mix together the baking soda and citric acid (I used my Kitchen aid blender, so fast & easy).
  2. In a different bowl combine water & your essential oils. (If you want to wait to add essential oils and add them to your shower bombs as you go, that’s totally fine too. Sometimes I find that easier if you don’t want to make a lot of one kind. Simply add a few drops per bomb).
  3. Slowly add the oil-water mixture (few drops at a time) into your dry ingredients, stirring well after each addition.
  4. When ingredients are thoroughly mixed, tightly pack into 2-inch balls using your hands or cookie scoop, a stainless steel cake pop mold, or any other mold. I also use my mini muffin tin pan for these & it makes about 24 bombs. Set on a plate to dry. If necessary, pack the balls again more tightly. They will expand a little bit.
  5. Allow them to dry for at least 12 hours, sometimes they take a little bit longer. You want them completely dry or they will crumble.
  6. Store in an airtight container for best results. If your bombs need to be refreshed, simply add a few more drops to the bomb right before you shower.

Use: While your water is running, throw the bomb in your shower and enjoy the aromatic experience!

If you are a bath lover, feel free to use these bombs as well. I am not a bath person so these work awesome for me… I must admit I have a huge tub in my bathroom and I think I’ve sat in it once! I know, I really should but I just don’t make the time to and it’s on the bottom of the list of “things that I should pamper myself with.” Anyways I love that I can incorporate these bombs into my daily routine of showering & I can kill two birds with one stone.

Happy DIYing!

-Jenna

 

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Repunzel Spray

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Is anyone else under attack from the revenge of post pregnancy/breastfeeding baby hairs? I always have been known to leave my long hair everywhere and have clogged many drains in my day but when I was pregnant it was a different story. My hair was healthy, thick and beautiful and I wasn’t shedding as much as I do normally. Well now, a year later, my hair is shedding horribly and I have SO many little baby wispy around my face. It is so frustrating! I know most mothers experience this but I feel like mine keeps getting worse! I almost always have to wear my hair up these days (because Jase pulls on it) and I want to get it under control so I pulled out my books and found a few oils that may help support healthy hair growth. I already add a few drops of Cedarwood to my Young Living Shampoo & Conditioner but I plan on incorporating this recipe everyday (morning and night) to my routine to help increase the strength of my locks.

 

Repunzel Hair Moisturizer Spray

  • 1 oz glass spray bottle
  • 3 drops Lavender
  • 3 drops Rosemary
  • 3 drops Geranium
  • 3 drops Cedarwood
  • 3 drops Frankincense
  • Distilled Water
  • Add ingredients to spray bottle, top off with distilled water, and shake well!

Make sure to shake well before each use too & it can be used when your hair is wet or dry.

If I had Royal Hawaii Sandalwood, I would have added that oil too. I just haven’t splurged on that essential oil yet (because it’s one of the more expensive oils) but I have heard amazing things about it!!!!!

Peace out baby hairs, I won’t be missing you.

-Jenna

Tip: If you only have a 3-4 of the oils, try making your own mixture and make sure to let me know how it works!

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Lavender Mint Sugar Scrub

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My skin has been feeling a little bit “blah” lately and I’ve been aching for a good facial. I’ve always wanted to make my own sugar scrubs because they look fun and easy to make so last night I pulled out my coconut oil and went to town. There are so many different recipes out there but I was really looking for something that was healing but also refreshing for my face. My skin has been breaking out like crazy for the last year (since I gave birth to Jase!) so I wanted to exfoliate it and give it a good clean. I woke up today and my face just felt SO soft and smooth. My skin even looks brighter! The air has been so dry here, to the point my nose bleeds, and this just helped get all the dead skin off of me. I’m excited to try this to my arms/legs and give them a good scrub too. I also re-washed my face with Orange Blossom Facial Wash afterwards to get some of the extra coconut oil residue off my face. If you haven’t tried Orange Blossom Facial wash yet, you’re missing out. It is one of those items that is frequently out of stock because it so awesome. I stock my cabinets every chance I get so I don’t ever run out!

Recipe Details:

Lavender Mint Body Scrub

  • 1 cup organic coconut oil
  • 1 ½ cup sugar
  • 40 drops of Lavender oil
  • 20 drops of Peppermint oil
  • Mix together (I used my kitchen blender)
  • Store in glass container & Enjoy!

This batch makes about 16 oz, so I separated it into 4 small mason jars to give to a few girlfriends who are coming over this weekend. I am so excited to share it with them! I just love the soft lavender, peppermint & coconut smell together and hope they do too.

Stay tuned for more sugar scrub recipe. I have a feeling I will be making them more often… I might even make my husband scrub his face and body with one!!!!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe weekend!

xoxo, Jenna

UPDATE: I used this on my arms & legs in the shower and OH MY! I am sooooo smooth everywhere! I then shaved my legs afterwards and the coconut oil was the perfect shaver protecter. The coconut oil tends to stay on your skin so it feels like you have instant lotion on when you step out of the shower, it’s great!

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Spring Cleaning

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If I clean my house enough will it finally feel like spring outside? Man! What a joke! The biggest prank ever was when it was 55 degrees in February in Minnesota. Lets just say that NEVER happens and once again it’s freezing outside. The best part about spring cleaning is that I never have to feel like I’m inhaling tons of chemicals to get the job done thanks to Thieves Household Cleaner. Young Living has a ton of great products that are not essential oils, but I have to say their cleaner is by far my favorite. Because of it’s all natural benefits I never have to worry about my child coming in contact with it. This ONE bottle replaced everything under my sink and it’s SO nice to not have a bunch of different bottles cluttering up precious under the sink space! Plus because it’s so concentrated that bottle last a long time. You only have to use one capful of cleaner per spray bottle filled with water. Oh and it smells awesome!

Here is a list of possible uses but really the list is endless. I keep my “daily cleaning” bottle next to my sink and I pretty much use it for EVERYTHING below unless I need a more heavy-duty approach and then I will make the other mixtures.

Daily Cleaning: 1 capful of Thieves to 2-3 cups of water (I just fill my spray bottle up!) (USE: granite countertops, sinks, doorknobs, light switches, children toys, exercise equipments, garbage cans, fireplace, microwave, oven, stove top, stainless steel appliances, cleaning my car, cupboards, fridge & freezer, walls, floors, glass/mirrors, vents, mattress, blind, dog kennels, light bathroom cleaning, ummm EVERYTHING)

Heavy Duty Bathroom Cleaner: ½ cup of Thieves, 2 ½-3 Cups of Baking Soda (USE: Bathroom sinks, vanity, grout, bathtubs, showers, toilets)

Wood Cleaner: 10 drops Pine essential oil, 1 cap of Thieves, 1 cup olive oil (USE: Wood floors, wood table tops)

Glass & Mirror Cleaner: 5 drops Lemon (or Orange) essential oil, 1 cap of Thieves, 3 cups of water & 1 tsp white vinegar (STREAK FREE!!)

Heavy Degreasing: 1 cap of Thieves to 1 cup of water (USE: Grills, oven racks)

Carpet Cleaner: 1 cap of Thieves to 6 cups of water

Fruit & Veggie Spray: 1 capful Thieves to 3 cups of water

Dishwasher: 1 capful of Thieves

Deep Cleaning Pots & Pans: 1 capful of Thieves to 3 cups of water

Fabric Stain Remover: 1 capful of Thieves to 2 cups of water (USE: Clothing, couches, cushions, pillows, mattress topper)

Laundry: 1-2 capfuls of Thieves per wash

You can also DIY your own foaming hand soap, liquid dish soap or laundry detergent with Thieves Household Cleaner. I will have to post these recipes soon!

Seriously though, who doesn’t love a product that is all natural, non-toxic, economical and highly effective?? It will be the LAST cleaning product that I ever buy. I am dead serious when I say that too. I am a beTHIEVER. Yes, that’s a made up name for those who believe in Thieves and I am proud of it.

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Now back to cleaning and dreaming of warmer weather. What’s your springtime routine?

-Jenna

Natural Baby Bum Cream

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Babies!! I LOVE babies! There is another hatching going on among my friends and Facebook community and no this does NOT mean I have something to tell you! Frankly, I would like to wait until this fall to start trying for Totten baby number two. I am so excited for everyone though and so far everyone I know that is pregnant (that is 20 weeks or more) is having a girl and I am just pumped! Girl stuff is so fun and way easier to shop for than boy stuff. I swear every baby store has about 10x the amount of cute baby girl stuff than boy stuff. It is really irritating. HELLOOOOO! Don’t they know I like to shop for my cute baby (I guess I should say toddler) boy too!?!? Anyways, rant over. My husband just better hope we have another boy and not a girl because I will be in pink heaven. Oh and I also cannot wait to buy pink stuff for all my friends who I am living vicarious through, so thank you.

Since I have so many new mommy-to-be friends I thought I would share this recipe for DIY diaper rash cream. I made it a WHOLE year without Jase getting diaper rash. Half of the reason is probably because he screamed bloody murder until I changed his pants until he was 8 months old or so. He was not a fan of wet pants but I can’t blame him. He also didn’t really start to get adventurous with his food until he was one and he was a breastfed baby (which I am a believer that mama’s milk digests a lot easier and helps keep things more regular). So it wasn’t until about a month ago he got his first rash and let me tell you, I love this stuff! It worked so fast and I could tell it felt so soothing on his little bum.

Natural Bum Cream

1 cup organic coconut oil

7 drops of Lavender

3 drops Melrose

2 drops Frankincense

2 drops Roman Chamomile

2 drops Gentle Baby

In a mixer whip coconut oil until is looks fluffy, mix in Young Living essentials oils and store in a glass container. Use when your baby’s bum needs some extra TLC!

 

If anyone is looking for more resources on using essential oils with babies I highly recommend the book, “Gentle Babies,” by Debra Raybern. It is a must have is you have small children and want to incorporate essential oils into their daily routines. Mine sits on my nightstand!

To all my nesting mothers, I hope this recipe finds you. I’m so excited for all of these little babies to enter into the world. Congrats mommies!!!! (Oh and if you are not a DIYer, Young Living has an amazing product made just for baby bums, Tender Tush. This stuff also works wonders when it comes to diaper rashes and I have even heard of mothers putting it on their bellies to help fade their baby marks. I am not sure why I haven’t tried this but I’m going to start! Tender Tush is a little spendy and is always running out of stock so that is why I prefer to make my own.)

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Smelling Freely

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“The faculty or power of perceiving odors or scents by means of the organs in the nose,” is one of the many definitions of the word smell. Can you imagine life without being able to smell fresh flowers, your favorite meal, the ocean or even the smell of rain? So then why are we so mean to our sense of smell?

Last week I walked into a store and was immediately taken back on how strong smelling the store was. It smelt like it was filled with one million different types of candles and this was not a candle store. It gave me an instant headache! It was so strong and overpowering that I instantly thought, “what chemicals am I inhaling?” I know we have all been there. Whether it was a candle, perfume, bleach or cleaning supply smell, we all have been taken back from a smell at sometime in our lives.

Before I started using essential oils, I burned candles in my house almost daily, had chemical filled “plug ins” in every room, and sprayed on my perfume like I was a goddess going out on the town. Because I enjoyed these smells, I almost thought they were good for me. Did you know that synthetic air fresheners & candles are known to cause cancer or cause reproductive harm? They contain nasty hormone disrupting phthalates that can do some serious damage to our bodies and especially to young, developing children. All because we buy them because we think they smell good. Most people don’t put odor in a healthy or non-health category but there is definitely a non-healthy category. Did anyone else see the news clip last month of the new mother on maternity leave and her obsession with candles? After a week of burning candles, she started to notice that when she blew her nose, everything coming out was black. After doing some investigation, she realized that the inside of her baby’s nose was black too. She later figured out that it was from the candle’s soot. All I kept thinking about was how many toxins and chemicals this new mom and baby filled their bodies with and I felt horrible for them. I get it, I use to be guilty of doing things like this too but I just got to a point in my life that enough was enough. I don’t want to be a story in the news. I don’t want to die of cancer at a young age. I don’t want my child to develop allergies from breathing in chemicals every day. I want our home to be healthy place and mostly, I want our family to be healthy. I know I can’t control the outside world or air pollution for that matter but what I do know is that I can control my home.

Cancer is lurking everywhere these days and at some point we all might run into it head on but the main questions is, do you want to do everything is your power to protect yourself inside your home? After I did my research, the first thing I did was to detoxify my home of any synthetic smell. Candles, wax cubes & burners, wall plug-ins, all of it is gone or thrown away. I also got rid of my harsh chemical cleaning products and switch to a great alternative Thieves Household cleaner (plus in time it’s cheaper than any nasty chemical filled bottle you buy at the store and it lasts forever!!). I dried my clothes with drier balls (scented with essential oils of course) instead of drier sheets. I stopped wearing perfume and used my favorite essential oil of the week or mixed my own pure scent. You wouldn’t believe how freeing it is and how much better I can smell now. I started to be able to smell the difference between synthetic smells and real smells and it was amazing. Did anyone else have this effect? I smell everything!!! I challenge you to detoxify your home, you’ll be so glad you did. I know sometimes it can seem overwhelming, but start small. Make one change a week if you need too (It can be as simple as switching to a natural deodorant or even throwing your drier sheets away).

If you have any questions on my home detox journey, please comment below and I will answer your questions!

 

Here’s a fresh scent diffuser recipe for you to enjoy!

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Spring Discomforts

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Easter weekend was filled with a lot of fun in the Totten household. Friday night we had way too much fun! Anyone else seem to get into trouble with their husbands? Aaron and I ended up staying up until 6am talking and indulging in too many adult beverages!!! SIX A.M! I don’t remember the last time I stayed up until the sun started to come up but it was much needed bonding time with my husband. Saturday we spent the evening with my dad’s side of the family & Sunday we had a lunch date with my parents & siblings.

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Holidays keep getting better and better now that we have a little one. He loved playing with those colorful plastic eggs!

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With spring approaching, we have had some strange weather here in Minnesota. About a month ago we had really warm week, followed by two weeks of cold and snow and today the sun is finally shining again. Talk about spring fever! Since the weather has been funky, my seasonal allergies have been flaring up. One nice day and I’m sneezing and itching my watery eyes out and then it will freeze over night and I am better again. It’s so inconsistent. Today is a bad day so now with April approaching fast, I am going to start taking precautionary steps to ease my seasonal discomforts.

The first thing I did this morning was start diffusing because I am pretty sure little Jase also suffers from the seasonal itchy, runny and sneezes. I added three drops of each Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint oil to my diffuser and am letting it run all day.

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Next I pulled out my vegetable cables and made myself a little LLP Bomb! I am going to start taking these daily until summer. If I need a little extra bang, I add Copaiba.

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Tip for easy use: Since you can use these oils topically, you can also make a relief roller with these oils. Add 20 drops of each oil to a roller bottle (Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint & Copaiba) and top off with carrier oil. I prefer YL’s V6 oil because it’s non-scented. You can then roll this mixture on the bottle of your feet and the back of your neck for relief.

Happy Monday!

Thanks for reading,

Jenna

((Feel free to Pin these recipes to your Pinterest page!))