Coconut oil is one of the most versatile foods. From the kitchen to the bathroom, you can do just about anything with it.

Healthy little tip: In cool weather coconut oil hardens, in warm weather it is more of a liquid, this is normal. It does not need to be refrigerated. Buy raw, organic, and unrefined!

Kitchen

Coconut oil has a very high boiling point so the oils do not go rancid as easily as other oils when you cook with it. I use coconut oil for just about everything in the kitchen; sautéing,baking, a scoop in my green smoothie or added to hot soups or tea.

I keep a jar of organic & unrefined (but not raw) that I use when I am going to be heating the oil for a longer period of time (baking for instance). I’m not as picky about it being raw so that I can save a few dollars because after it’s cooked on high heat it is no longer raw. I do keep a raw oil for everything else, even hot soups & teas, I just add it after it’s cooled off a bit. The temperature needs to be above boiling to kill off the beneficial enzymes and no longer be considered raw, so as long as it’s not boiling, I will throw in the good (raw) stuff.

You can also use coconut oil to condition worn cutting boards!

Bathroom

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. Your skin is an organ and needs nourishing from organic raw foods just as much as your inside organs do. Rub coconut oil on your body after a shower, use for cracked or rough heals, or as a base for a scrub. It appears that it would be too oily but your body soaks it up very quickly. You can use the oil straight from the store or I like to use Annmarie Gianni’s Coconut Oil.

When coconut oil is absorbed into your skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep your connective tissues strong and supple, and aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother.

Coconut oil is a great tool to keep your hair healthy, shiny and strong. The oil increases circulation in the scalp, supplying nutrients to the hair follicles. Apply the oil starting from the scalp and working it out through to the ends. Massage the head for a few minutes to work the oil well into the follicles, leave it for 1 hour, then shampoo well and condition.

Use it as a makeup remover, a mascara brush cleaner, lip moisturizer or as a shaving cream.

Baby & Pets

Coconut oil helps to soothe and heal diaper rash and cradle cap. It can be used with nursing mothers to increase milk flow and to soothe the skin.

Massage into dogs skin for dandruff control, relieve joints for arthritis, and add a scoop to their food for digestion & weight control.

Immense Benefits

While coconut oil can be used for just about anything on the outside, what it does to our insides is pretty miraculous. Coconut oil aids in digestion, boosts energy and stimulates metabolism. It has been shown to reduce headaches and to release tension in sore muscles. Coconut oil is a perfect healthy fat. It’s a powerful virus-destroyer and antibiotic to add into your diet when you are feeling sick.

Fast fact:  Coconut oil can be used as a substitute for any oil in the kitchen, used in smoothies, teas and soups. It can be used for your hair, skin, lips, shaving cream, as a makeup remover or to clean makeup brushes. It can be used for dogs, babies and nursing mothers. It boosts energy and metabolism, aids in digestion, reduces headaches and sore muscles and is a tool to fight back against colds as a natural antibiotic and virus killer.

Action: Start using coconut oil! If you already use it, pick one new use and try it out! The more coconut oil in your life, the better. Let me know how it goes for you below!

Brenna Ortner is the creator of Healthy Little Bit, a blog that educates & inspires women to live healthy, energetic & fulfilling lives. She is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (AADP) and guides women to thrive in their bodies. Her coaching style is based on bio-individuality, pleasure eating, and that every little healthy bit counts. You can feel calm and confident, lower or eliminate sugar addictions and find the real energy you’ve been looking for. Together we’ll work to heal the root cause of your health challenges so you can start living a happy life with your body working for you, not against you. Brenna specializes in PMS, mood imbalances, infertility, low libido, low energy, inability to lose weight & menopause.

Website: http://healthylittlebit.com/
Twitter: @healthylilbit
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/HealthyLittleBit

Practical gifts are sometimes not the most fun to receive.  Tiny Print’s iPhone cases change all that.  Their phone cases protect your phone, and look adorable while doing it.  Many times, they elicit screams of joy when they are unwrapped.

I was given the chance to try out a phone case.  I picked my photo and the case came in the mail.  Even though I know what it was going to look like, when the package arrived and I opened it, I laughed with delight as to how adorable it is.

Their cases are made of shatter proof plastic and the printing on them is such that there is no peeling or fading over time.  This case will look great after being in your purse for months.  You can easily access your buttons and headset jack too.

They have cases for the iPhone 4, 4s and 5, so just make sure you know what model to order!  They do also have cases that you don’t have to upload a photo for and those are still adorable.

Every time someone sees my case they tell me how adorable it is.  I love being able to take my doggie with me anywhere I go.  And in a world full of iPhones I can always tell my phone apart.

These cases are a great gift for your mom, aunt or special someone who is celebrating a birthday this spring.  They are also awesome fro gads!  They even have special grad cases!

Take a look at all their offerings here: http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/1photo-2photo-3photo–iphone-cases.htm

Mother’s Day, Graduations, Wedding and more….they can make spring a gift giving season that leaves you stumped.  I’ve found a great present this for for everyone on your list.

It is a “Peace” necklace by Zebranine on Etsy.  This necklace is stunning to wear, and has amazing meaning. However it is said, its the same meaning – Peace! This sterling silver pendant says it in many different languages and on both sides. Accented with a green tourmaline and apatite at the clasp, this necklace would be great for layering or worn alone.

The silver chain is 18 inches.

Tourmaline is a strong heart chakra stone with a masculine or yang energy. It is a powerful aid for self healing and its vibration is compassionate especially towards yourself. This resonates strongly within the heart chakra. The energy of green tourmaline will harmonize with your own energy creating a deep calmness.

Apatite is most often seen in blue, but also can be found in brown, pink, yellow, green (from Spain called asparagus stone) and a rare variety of violet. Apatite is an inspirational stone. It helps develop spiritual attunement., communication and self-expression.

You can purchase the necklace and LOTS more at her Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Zebranine

Her items arrive ready for gift giving, in adorable boxes and ready to give!

Well the Cookie Girl is at it again!

Her new line of Motherhood cookies can help with morning sickness and lactation!

A Morning Sickness Remedy Cookie is a tasty treat that some mothers find helpful in curbing the nausea and icky morning (or all day!) sickness.

Available Flavors ($15 a dozen):

• Ginger
• Lemon Shortbread
• Lavender Shortbread

A lactation cookie has galactagogues, which are substances that improve milk supply.  The main “special” ingredients are brewer’s yeast,flaxseed, and oats.

Available Flavors ($15 a dozen):

• Lactified Chocolate Chip
• Lactified Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip
• Lactified Oatmeal Raisin
• Lactified Snickerdoodle
• Lactified Lemon
• Lactified Chocolate Chocolate Chunk

*Add a “Turbo Boost” of extra brewer’s yeast for an additional $2 per dozen!

To place an order, call  832-360-8101 or email  Orders@TheCookieGirlStore.com. Cookies will be individually wrapped and will last up to a week (if you can resist them for that long!). You can also toss them in the freezer for up to 3 months. To defrost them, leave them on the counter for a short while or pop them in the microwave for a few seconds.

Eating healthy means buying a lot of fresh food and produce.  Keeping all of that fresh for a long time can be a challenge.  It is important to focus on this so that you can maximize your food, minimize your budget and spend less time running to the store.

1.  Avoid washing berried until you’re ready to eat them.  The water promotes mold.

2.  Aluminum foil helps keep celery fresh.  Wrap it up and pop it in the fridge.

3.  Potatoes, onions and tomatoes should be stored in a cool place, but not the fridge.

4.  Salad greens should be stored in an airtight bag.  Leave a little air in there.

5.  Items that are not ripe yet like pears and bananas, should be stored on the counter.  When they are ripe, move them to the fridge.

6.  Citrus can be stored in a cool dry place out of the fridge.  However, if you want to prolong its life, move it to the fridge in a mesh bag.

7.  Veggies like broccoli, carrots and lettuce are already starting to go bad when you buy them.  Put them each in their own separate bag (DRY!) in the fridge.

8.  Buy what you need when you need it.  By meal planning and buying those ingredients, you are minimizing your excess.

9.  Shop more often.  It is time consuming but if you can purchase what you need when you need it.

10.  Investigate delivery services in your area.  Stop and Shop offers Pea Pod and even some farmer’s markets offer delivery and co-op services every week.

11.If you do cut and wash your fruits and veggies ahead of time, put them in clear glass containers.  Being able to see them will remind you to eat them and they will stay cool and dry.  Add a paper towel to the container to absorb moisture.

12.  Some fruits and vegetables should not be stored together.  For a great list visit: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/avoid-premature-spoiling-fruits-vegetables-10000000681591/

Eating healthy shouldn’t be difficult.  If something goes bad quickly, pay attention to how you stored it and where and when you bought it.  Ask your grocer when fruits and veggies arrive and shop on those days.  Make a list of what works for you and go from there!

Usually eco friendly products don’t work as well as their harsh chemical relatives.  And, even the eco friendly products rarely smell nice. Along comes Roux Maison, the only laundry detergent you’ll ever want to use again.

Roux Maison has a whole line of laundry detergents to care for everything you own.  The come in amazing scents like Ambrosia and Sweet Tea.

Roux Maison products allow you to care for yourself, the Earth and your clothing.  Your clothes stay looking great as their detergents are gentle and clean amazingly well.  I even tried it on my toughest running and yoga clothes and everything came out smelling fresh and clean.  No over powering scents.  My yoga towels have never felt as clean and smelled as fresh!

Their philosophy is simply that your clothes should last a long time, your detergent shouldn’t hurt your skin, body or the Earth.  It sounds simple, but until now, I haven’t found the combo anywhere.

Here are a few of the more mundane facts, but I feel they are important to share:

Their products can be used in any type of washing machine.

The bottles are BPA free.

The detergents are vegan.

The high concentration requires less water.

The sports detergent even has anti bacteria properties.

These are made with 100% essential oils.

16oz=40 loads.

Usually my husband can tell when I’ve switched to a eco friendly laundry detergent as things stop smelling as fresh and clean as they used to.  However, the comment I got with Roux Masion was that things smelled great!

Take a peek at their amazing line of products here: https://www.rouxmaison.com/

The Container Store is the perfect place to buy gifts and to register!

Okay we all know about the recent problems with yoga brands. Well I have found another one you are going to love.  The Onzie is an amazing line of fun, technical and fashionable yoga and workout clothing.

Onzie clothing has some really unique designs, like their sleeveless hoodie and some amazing patterns, like their Galaxy print.

Their fabrics are so soft and luxurious that you can’t believe these are functional workout clothes.

I tried out their Criss-Cross bra first.  I am not a large chested girl so finding a sports bra that is supportive and cute and doesn’t make me look completely flat is a hard thing to do.  Well this bra does it all.  And it was comfortable enough I wore it all day and didn’t have any bra marks or uncomfortableness.  These bras are much less than bras at some of the other high end workout stores AND they are made in the USA.  The back’s adorable “criss-cross” makes you not so worries about your straps peeking out too!

The Gypsy Pant is my new favorite article of clothing.  They are made of free flow jersey and are the most flattering and comfortable things you’ve ever slipped on.  The drawstrings on the bottom allow you to adjust the length.  The wide top waist band lets you wear them on your hips, up higher, whatever you choose.  You can wear these for just about anything.  Yoga, running, or even running errands.  Anything you want to look going doing while feeling great, these are your pants.

Onzie has an awesome line of unique and fun workout year.  You’ll be shocked you never tried their stuff before and you’ll be happy you did now!