Infused with the scent of fresh lemon trees growing amid a cluster of verbena plants, our Lemon Verbena soap is an herbaceous getaway. Take a deep breath and let your self be transported to a sun dappled grove. Don’t forget the picnic!
South of France® Natural Body Care
Where will we take YOU today?
Nothing epitomizes the relaxing spa day quite like a face mask. The moment we apply whatever concoction we’ve purchased onto our face, the moment is complete. Face masks come in all shapes and sizes and whether you’re into store bought formulas or homemade, there are a plethora of choices available to you.
One of our favorite face masks is actually one you can whip up yourself. All you need is a little bentonite clay and water. This velvety clay is derived from volcanic ash and is known for its ability to absorb and cleanse, making it a great mask. It helps remove blackheads and clogged pores.
Simple clay mask:
2 tablespoons bentonite clay
2 tablespoons water
Make a paste and apply to skin. Let sit for 20 minutes or until dry and then rinse off with warm water and a wash cloth.
For our third DIY basket idea, we decided to focus on rest and relaxation. Every mom needs a moment to herself, a chance to take a deep breath and let the worries of the world melt away. For our basket, we focused on natural and organic elements. We started with a fluffy organic cotton towel and all natural soy votive candles. A natural bristle body brush is perfect for sloughing off rough skin and revealing a fresh complexion. To add a special touch, we included two homemade spa gifts, a homemade bubble bath and lavender bath salts. Finally, we topped it off with the heady floral scent of our Gardenia bath bar. Don’t be afraid to change up the contents, though. For example, you could skip the bubble bath and try these homemade bath fizzies instead.
If you’d like to try the bubble bath, we tried this recipe using out Orange Honey Blossom liquid soap. Skip the essential oils and the dried flowers. The recipe for calming bath salts can be found here along with two other ideas for homemade gifts.
If your mother loves to garden, try creating a “basket” just for her. For our Mother’s Day gardening gift, we filled a pretty pot with tons of great tools. We included hand tools for digging and planting, some gloves to protect her hands and a handkerchief in case she gets a little sweaty! We topped that off with some vegetable and ground cover plants. If your mom is into flowers, fill the pot with her favorite annuals.
And just to keep the garden theme going, we added our favorite herbaceous South of France® scents, like Lemon Verbena and Lavender. The result is a perfectly packaged gift for the mom who’s not afraid to get her hands a little dirty!
South of France® Natural Body Care
Where will we take YOU today?
Mother’s Day is fast approaching and if you haven’t picked the perfect gift out for your mother, have no fears. We’re showing you our favorite gift ideas for Moms with different hobbies, passions and interests.
The cooking basket is perfect for the mom who loves to cook. Try tailoring the content to the type of cooking your mother enjoys. Is she an avid baker? Use a mixing bowl as your basket. Fill that bowl with a rolling pin, whisk and seasonings like nutmeg, cinnamon or homemade vanilla extract. What if she enjoys Asian cuisine? Grab a bamboo steamer and fill it with unique seasonings or sauces she may not be able to find at her regular grocery store and a cookbook to help her learn to make her favorite dishes.
Finally, we topped our gift off with some utilitarian items like a well-made dish cloth and a bottle of fresh South of France® Green Tea liquid soap. The light, fresh scent is perfect for the kitchen.
What would you add to your cooking basket?
With the arrival of May, it’s not long before pool parties, beach trips and the intensity of summer sun is upon us and our hair. Don’t worry! We’ve tried some natural remedies to keep your strands silky smooth all season long.
Hot Almond Oil Treatment
Ingredients
Almond Oil
Essential Oil based on your hair type
Very dry hair – Burdock root, comfrey, parsley or sage
Mildly oily hair – Calendula, lemon juice, lavender, mint or rosemary
Dry Scalp – Chamomile, catmint, rosemary, parsley, thyme
Measure out two tablespoons of almond oil into a bowl and add 6 drops of your essential oil. Stir the mixture well while gently heating the oil on low. Once the mixture is warm, pour a small amount onto your hand and work into your hair. If you tend to have oily hair avoid your roots. Instead, start an inch down and work out to the tips. Next, place a shower cap over your hair and wrap it in a heated towel. Let the oil stay on for 20-30 minutes then shampoo as usual. For very thick hair try shampooing twice to get all of the oil out.
*Heat the towel by running it under hot water and wringing it out.
Rosewater Pick-me-up
Ingredients
4 inch gauze squares
Rose Water or Orange Flower Water
Hair Brush
Over-washing and heat styling can cause hair to look dry and frizzy, but skipping washes can leave you with a case of the greasies. To give your hair a break and keep oil at bay, try a cleanse. This removes dirt and oil while giving your hair a nice clean scent. Take several 4” gauze pieces and soak them in rose or orange flower water. Wring them out and place one into the bristles of your brush. Try to work it down into the brush so that it can still comb the hair and allow the gauze to lightly rub the surface. Work in sections to brush thorough all of your hair. Periodically change the Gauze and repeat until there is no visible dirt on the white gauze square.
One sniff of our Almond soap and you’ll be instantly transported to the picturesque streets of the south of France, where small cafés serve steaming pots of café au lait and buttery almond topped croissants.
South of France® Natural Body Care
Where will we take YOU today?
This simple dish may have only a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, but the result is a flavorful meal that feels like it took hours. We used the Pinot Gris Mustard we made as part of the marinade for a nice bold base. Serve with mixed greens and a piece of crusty bread. 
Ingredients
2 tablespoons Pinot Gris Mustard or any whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons of honey
1/2 cup Pinto Gris
2 teaspoons herbes de provence
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon of salt
fresh ground black pepper
2 boneless, butterflied pork chops
1/4 cup olive oil
In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Place pork chops in marinade and allow them to marinate for 20 minutes. Once meat has marinated, heat a cast iron skillet to medium. Once pan is hot, add pork chops. Allow the chops to cook for three to five minutes on each side.
Once pork chops are done, set them to the side and allow them to rest for five minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the leftover marinade to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and reduce for five minutes.
Plate pork chops with fresh greens and drizzle reduced marinade over chops and salad. Enjoy!
Mother’s Day is around the corner and what better to give Mom than a spa day? To help you along, we’re going to share some of our favorite recipes for homemade beauty treatments. From head to toe, we’ll make sure Mom is pampered on her special day!
In case you missed it, don’t forget to try out our recipe for homemade lip balm.
http://littlestonehouse.com/index.php/pamper-your-pout-with-this-shea-butter-balm/
Invigorating Peppermint Scrub
1 cup Kosher Salt
Sweet Almond Oil
Peppermint essential oil
Add salt to bowl. Add almond oil slowly until you have a wet but still grainy mixture. Add 3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil.
Moisturizing Brown Sugar and Honey Scrub
1 cup of brown sugar
Olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
Add brown sugar to mixing bowl. Add honey. Add olive oil until your mixture is wet but still grainy.
Cleansing Tea Tree Oil Scrub
1 cup Epsom salt
Grapeseed Oil
Tea tree oil
Add salt to bowl. Mix in grapeseed oil until mixture is wet but still thick. Add three drops of tea tree oil.
The key to soft and supple lips is to keep them moisturized. Balms act as a protective barrier against chapping and helps to seal moisture into the skin. Our favorite recipe for a luxurious balm contains rich almond oil, vitamin E, cocoa butter and Shea butter. Scent it with your favorite essential oil like vanilla or rose for a perfectly pampered pout.
One note when picking your fragrance: some essential oils can increase sensitivity to UV light. Bitter orange, lime and lemon are among those that increase photosensitivity. Use caution and do some research when selecting your essential oils.
What you’ll need:
5 tablespoons carrier oil (olive oil, grape seed oil, almond oil)
2-3 drops of essential oil
1 teaspoon pure vitamin E oil
¼ cup grated beeswax or beeswax pearls
2 tablespoons of cocoa butter
¼ cup shea butter
Add the beeswax and whisk until the wax begins to melt. Add the shea and cocoa butters next. As they begin to melt, add your carrier oil and your essential oil. We used a small metal ladle to move our mixture into our containers. You can use disposable pipettes, a glass measuring cup with a spout or whatever means you feel most comfortable.
Move your mixture into your containers and let them sit for a few hours until completely cool. Try to resist the temptation to poke at your lip balm or else you will have fingerprints in your gift! If you need a source for tins, try a craft store or an online wholesaler. There are some very affordable options available.