or Lavender's origin is in the high mountains of Persia and southern France. It is a very hardy plant which can grow on rocky barren soil where few plants can survive and tolerates drastic temperature swings. In Haute Provence, there is a tradition of locals trekking up the mountains during late Summer to harvest the plant during the heat of the day, which is when the essential oil is at it's highest content. The lavender used in most essential oils today is cross of the wild French plant & a Spanish variety and is distilled through steam. This plant is described as having a light floral smell.

Lavender is considered one of the most versatile essential oils because of it's vast application and amazing qualities. We also have lavender in the house for it's ability to calm and stimulate & regenerate the nervous system. Part of anti-anxiety regiment is to diffuse lavender in the afternoon and rub the bottoms of my feet with a few drops at night. My son has sensory issues and we use diluted lavender on his back several times a day to help him calm....I literally don't leave the house without it! In addition to Lavender's calming & soothing qualities it is also a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, sedative and detoxifier. For the Mind & Spirit Lavender helps to cleanse, balance, streghten, stimulate, calm and refresh!

here are some of the ways my family has incorporated Lavender into our lives...

• 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil & 10 drops into a hot bath (adults only)
• place on cottonballs next to the pillow for restful sleep & to help keep any mosquitos away (great for camping)
• place on ribbon strips while enjoying a meal or evening outside to help keep the bugs away and infuse your outdoor living space
• add 1-2 drops to an 8oz glass of lemonade
• add a 1-2 drops to coconut chia pudding
• add 1-2 drops to a cup of white wine & juice of a lemon to stem artichokes
• add 1-2 drops to your dog's bandana to help with bugs
• add 1 drop to a q-tip and place around a tick to remove safely
• add to a salt bath to aide in detoxification...particularly helpful with bug & fire ant bites
• add 1-2 drops to palm and rub through your hair for a gorgeous sheen and aide with dandruff & cradle-cap
• rub on the bottom of the feet at night to calm
• add 1-2 drops to homemade caramel (at the end of the folding process)
• add 1-2 drops to homemade whip cream when it begins to form peaks
• add 1-2 drops to the palms, rub together, close the eyes & cup the face as you breathe in 10-20 slow deliberate breathes
• rub onto the shoulders and temples to relieve stress & muscle tension
• place on the bottom of the feet before meditation or restorative yoga
• apply neat (directly) to skin irritation, abrasion, sunburn or bruise to assist with healing
• add to coconut oil for a body rub & moisturizer
• place on clay diffuser in the car to calm during a long drive or traffic
• use 1-2 drops in lavender shortbread recipe instead of flowers
• place a few drops on wool dryer balls or a wash cloth to infuse your clothes
• use in cloth diaper pale
• place drops on clay diffuser in the bathroom
• add to 10-20 drops to a spray bottle of vinegar to use as eco-friendly and safe for animals & little ones cleaning spray
• 1-2 drops applied to the inside of my dog's ears during a thunderstorm to help calm

this information is from my personal experiences and my references The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood and the Complete Aromatherapy Handbook Essential Oils for Radiant Health by Suzanne Fischer-Rizzi.

to purchase therapeutic grade Lavender, click here.
if you are interested in essential oils, please reach out via the connect tab...or go directly to my essential oils site

This recipe was inspired by a little trail cookbook I found at the Denver Public Library annual sale...

Here is the basic recipe
Sesame Energy Bars

• 1 cup almond butter
  
• ½ cup tahini (sesame paste)
  
• 1-2 Tablespoons agave or maple syrup
  
• ½ cup hemp protein
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• ½ cup dried goji, cranberries, currants, or raisins
  
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup sliced or slivered almonds
• ¼ cup chopped pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup shredded coconut
  

1. Heat almond butter, tahini and agave over a low flame to completely incorporate
   
2. Mix the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and stir to evenly disburse
3. Add the heated almond butter mixture to the dry ingredients and stir to incorporate
4. Spread evenly into a large glassware or baking pan
5. Refrigerate until firm and cut into bars…I recommend cutting the bars into 2” x 1” which will yield approximately 12 bars
6. Continue to refrigerate bars.  Freeze bars if not eaten within 14 days
   

These bars are great energy snacks.  Freeze them if you will be taking them hiking and the weather is warm.
Options: 

• The key to the recipe is to keep the amount of nuts and seeds the same; so replace which ever ones you do not like with ones that you do
  
• Peanut butter can be substituted for almond butter and if you do not care for the tahini than you can replace it with peanut/almond butter
  
• Some types of almond butter have less oil than others...if your bars turn out crumbly then you can add more warmed almond butter or a little coconut oil
  
• If you prefer for the bar to be sweeter, increase the sugar/agave by ¼ cup…the original recipe had equal parts to the nut butter
  
• If you don’t care for coconut, keep it out of the recipe and more cranberries, currants, or raisins 
  
• I prefer hemp protein, but any nonfat protein powder can be used…..fyi: a different type of protein may make the bars more crumbly because it may absorb more of the oil from almond butter and tahini.
  
• I usually crumble a bar with coconut milk for breakfast