Health & fitness is something I really aspire to, but sometimes I really want that cheeseburger... or a nap. A group of friends I have begun to get involved with encouraged me to get a membership at the local YMCA. They all love the classes and the childcare that comes as a membership benefit. Almost reluctantly, I joined. I only took advantage of the cardio rooms for a couple of weeks until some of those moms urged me to join them in the classes. Talk about being outside of my comfort zone! Despite how nice and wonderful the instructor was, and how much I tried not to compare myself to the ladies in the class, I felt like a fish on land. Keeping up was brutal and I struggled to breathe. Despite my desire to walk out and never go back, I have actually made it a couple of other times. (YEAH me!!) I have even started to attend an Aqua Bootcamp once a week. It kicks my booty, but I really like the class.
My husband and I are both making serious strides to improve our health. We have been making (slow) progress for about a year now, but we know we have to really make our health a priority. We have tried to eat much healthier (and cleaner) foods, and have eliminated a lot of gluten from our diets. We have also made huge efforts to rid our home of many dangerous chemicals and toxins. While we are loving the results, we aren't just doing this for the sake of doing it. Nutrition (and over all health) plays a large role in reproduction and we are trying to give ourselves the best chances possible of conceiving. We know, we have been told we can't do it 'naturally' but, I'm not one to give up.
Here are some of the ways we are helping ourselves that you might want to also implement.
1. BOUNTIFUL BASKETS
I LOVE this co-op! You can order up to three of the conventional baskets at a time, and there are always fantastic add-ons, like sourdough bread, cases of blueberries, kits for making pie, etc. There is the option for purchasing a 100% organic basket, and instead of the $15 charge for the base basket, you pay I think an extra $10. All the products are significantly cheaper than purchasing the same product at the grocery store. Right now they are working to Bring Bountiful Local. Optimizing their routes and using local produce vendors, so they have temporarily halted the program while they improve it. I can't wait to get my next basket.
2. MY LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET
After I get my Bountiful Baskets on Saturday, I love to go to the local farmer's market for anything else I might need. Not only do I get a chance to fill my fridge with yummy, locally grown food, but I get to support local farmers and artisans. Even if I don't end up purchasing much, a trip to the market is always a fun experience. There are local crafters and artisans and the live music is usually pretty good.
I did try growing a container garden a few years ago, but after nursing 175 plants from seeds, I ended up harvesting a couple handfuls of veg and decided it wasn't worth my time. Some day I will live where I can have a nice, big garden.
3. MY FITBIT
It seems silly, but that little tracker really keeps me on my toes (literally.) I am usually in a competition with at least my mom and sister, and it keeps me accountable for my activity level. A couple of times I have been challenged by some dedicated runners who are in training, and I am proud to simply be in the top 3 or 4 of that group - winning isn't even an option. I usually average 13k steps a day when not in a challenge, but I set my goal at 9k. I know this is reverse psychology, but it works. I get a little encouragement and reward from my tracker as it buzzes on my arm, saying, "You can do it, you are almost there!" I am just a *little* competitive and I have gone on more walks / runs simply to get steps than I ever did before using the tracker.
Also, I had used a separate program for tracking my calories, weight, etc. but have recently switched to only using my FitBit app. I have a 16GB phone, and I never have enough storage on it - too many pictures of the kiddo - so it was nice to streamline my health apps.
4. WATER
Another feature I love about my FitBit tracker is that I can track my water intake. I try to get about 70oz. per day. Sometimes I do it, some days I don't. I should probably get more than that, according to the link above. (And I'm a nursing mama.) When I am drinking all the water I need, I don't have the cravings I would have without the water. My muscles feel better and I actually have more energy.
5.OUTSIDE
Despite the HOT HOT HOT summer we have had, my son and I have spent a lot of time outside. We are usually at the park, a friend's pool, or the local public pool. My son is a water baby and begs to go swimming. Not only is this good for my muscles and skin (I love that I am tan for the first time in years!) But we are getting our vitamin D in the most natural way possible. My mom's Dr. told her that getting outside for only 20 minutes per day without sun block (which we don't use as a rule) is fantastic for your health.
6. SUPPLEMENTS
We are currently taking a magnesium supplement morning and night, as well as our Young Living supplements. We have found that we love the supplements listed below. We sometimes switch them out for other options, and admittedly, sometimes we forget to take them, but when we are diligent to take our supplements on the schedule we have created for ourselves, we feel much better. Several of these are specifically for the gut. In all my research, I have found that the gut is incredibly important factor in our over all health. Life 5 Probiotic Essentialzyme Essentialzymes-4 Digest + Cleanse Balance Complete NingXia Red & NingXia Nitro
What have you found helps you in your health goals? Feel free to share below!
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
Top Tip
When I first began to incorporate essential oils into our lives I stuck with the basics. I didn't try to make my own blends or find fun ways I could use my oils in my life. Young Living has a great range of products and I found I could purchase something for most of my needs. When I would create a blend for a specific use I would only make enough to last a couple of applications. It wasn't long though before I ordered my first shipment of empty amber bottles, spray lids and glass droppers. It was SO fun making these blends my family could use.
I might have gone a bit over board. I had little bottles EVERYWHERE. There were bottles in the diaper bag, my purse, the stroller bin, etc. every cabinet in the house likely held one of my amber bottles - and they all looked alike.
In my eagerness and excitement to create these wonderful little bottles I got carried away and skipped a very important step: labeling. Yeah, SO simple, yet SO important. I was arrogant enough that I thought, oh, I can just smell it and know what it is. No problem! Until it was. My stain remover roller looked just like the baby calming roller. The detangler spray looked just like the wrinkle releaser spray.
What confusion. Most of the time it wasn't a big deal. Because I used all Young Living essential oils and natural products, there was really no danger, just a lot of guessing. When you accidentally spray yourself with Thieves spray instead of your perfume, it's not the end of the world, but you smell like Christmas instead Spring flowers.
So, word to the wise, LABEL your creations.
I have started simply writing on the bottle with a sharpie. I like this option because all it takes is a little lemon oil and some elbow grease to change the label and I can recycle my bottles. Some have gotten REALLY creative and decorated their bottles. I would like to think I will do that some day, but at this point I don't have the energy to spare on decorating a tiny bottle.
For those who want the labels without having to put as much work into it, I've found this awesome site that not only sells labels but has a TON of great DIY recipes as well. Check it out. (No affiliation, just a concept I think is neat)
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
Since having my son, 16 months ago, I have not been able to lose weight. It is incredibly frustrating, and I often ignore it. I'm definitely in denial about my physical body. Most days it's not a big deal (mom yoga pants and sweaters cover up a multitude of issues) but it has really been bothering me lately.
Last weekend my husband got some new suits (and oh, he looks GOOD in them.) Since Easter is coming up, I thought I would get myself a new dress and our little family would look so cute at church. That was a good thought, but I wasn't prepared for shopping. After visiting several stores and choking back some tears I finally found a dress I didn't hate and a jacket that I thought would look good with it. I got the ensemble home and tried it on and the dress was ok, but the jacket didn't fit right. I won't wear the dress without the jacket, and nothing I owned looked right with it. Discouraged, I choked back more tears. Do you think anyone would notice if I wore yoga pants to Easter Sunday service?
Last night we had a little family dinner and I guess I was talking with my hands a lot, so my dear husband took several pictures of me. Those yoga pants I thought were covering up issues actually were NOT helping at all. When I looked at the picture, I almost didn't recognize myself. It was shocking. While I've known for over a year that I needed to get my weight under control, it took seeing myself in such an unflattering way to make me really grasp the situation.
When we came home I made a meal plan and I have decided to do something about my weight. Starting Monday I am going into top gear and I'm determined to stay on course and to lose some of this weight. I may need some help though. Accountability is going to play a big role in this for me. I'm sure there are others out there that can also use some encouragement in this area.
Enter the GRAMMY'S HEALTHY 30 challenge.
Starting Monday (March 28, 2016) I will be posting updates and encouragements for those of us participating.
See the posts on my Facebook page, Drops of Love and under the hashtag #GrammysHealthy30. If you make any posts, feel free to also use that tag so others participating in the challenge can be encouraged by you.
Everyone's goals are different, but here are some resources I will be using to help me along the way:
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
If you have been looking for the perfect time to begin your oily journey THIS is it.
February 2016 brings with it opportunity and lots of savings. With The fantastic offering from Young Living of 10% off of Premium Starter Kits you get an automatic $16 savings. As a special Valentine's gift to you, we are sweetening the deal. When you purchase your discounted PSK, we will send you a $25 VISA gift card.
This is a savings of $41 off the price of the Premium Starter Kit. You are getting essentially $300 in product for only $119!
If that's not enough, we will send you some great literature on getting started with your kit AND add you to our private Facebook groups for support and encouragement as you begin your oily life.
To take advantage of this offer, go to the Join Our Team tab and follow the instructions. Choose either Jessica, Cindy or Katie to enroll under. As soon as we receive notification of your enrollment we will send you the literature and your gift card.
With the risk of sounding like a bad infomercial... "BUT WAIT, There's MORE!!
You have the opportunity to get your kit completely FREE. Yes, free. Check out this post on how you can get your kit free and begin your new toxin-free life with no cost to you.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
This post is a little long. I tried to edit it down but I thought that every paragraph brought out something valid. Enjoy!
I have been thinking about yoga for a while. I have several friends who regularly do it and they seem to love it. Around the fist of the month I asked my very best friend's opinion of it, and she kinda surprised me by her response. She had been doing it for over a year and loved it. She encouraged me to consider doing it and even challenged me to do a 30 day series with her. I thought, "Sure! It will be fun." I didn't do it. I procrastinated, got busy, etc. I really do not like doing new things, and this was as new as it got. I wasn't sure how I felt about it either. I mean, I'm a christian. Are we even supposed to do yoga? I didn't know. I was pretty sure it would be fine, but I decided to explore it and come to a solid conclusion on the topic.
If you were raised in Christian circles, you probably have some preconceived notion of what yoga is. You probably picture a hindu god (little 'g') with an indian man in a pretzel ball at it's feet. Maybe you picture a flower child living free worshiping everything as god and yoga and meditation as her religion. I can't think of a specific teaching encounter or even a conversation really in my childhood that made me feel either good or bad about this practice. I just know that I have been wary about it based on what I thought I knew.
Before I was married I was pretty fit. I was a runner, and I would get up before the sun and go to the gym. Meals were carefully eaten and weighed. I had more turkey lunchmeat and dry fresh spinach lunches and dinners than I can count. I was 5'10" tall and 170 lbs. I wore a size 8-10 jean and size small shirts. I inherited my grandmother's DNA and I wore a 34D bra. (look up those measurements - I could have been a model)
I tell you this because I need you to know that I spent a LOT of time focusing on my body. Some of the motivation came from pure vanity, but a lot of it came because of a series of heart wrenching breakups. I was still forced to see my exes regularly and it killed me. My revenge was to be the best version of myself I could be. It worked. Once I began to look great, I chose outfits that flattered my new body. People began to notice me, and I liked it. (Now, I was not dressing inappropriately, I have always been a modest person, but one can dress very attractively, leaving something to the imagination and still look fantastic.)I felt great, but I was not 'healthy.'
When your motivation is anger, pride and vanity, you associate those things with your actions. I DO NOT like heavy metal type music, but I filled my MP3 player with songs that were anything but calming. They had a great beat and the angry screaming and the confusion of the music helped me to focus in on my motivation and to push past my physical boundaries. I am a person who does not sweat easily, and I would leave the gym able to wring sweat out of my clothing. It was pain leaving the body and anger and pride taking its place. I was addicted to this lifestyle. Even today, as I have had on-and-off gym memberships I have to be careful because it is easy for me to slip into that mindset. It is almost all or nothing for me, perfection (which is exhausting and almost impossible to achieve) or pudgy.
Most people, christians even, would agree that exercising is not a sin. Actually, I could ask any person on the street if exercise is good for you, and they would probably say yes. The preconceived notion of what exercise is in every person's mind is most likely a positive one. It should be viewed as positive. It is good for you. it gets the blood pumping, it gets oxygen to all your muscles, it gives endorphins, which can help to make us feel great, and the list goes on. Exercise is not bad, but what people choose to do with it can be bad. Many people have 'worshiped' being fit. Many have abused drugs to reach their goals and have actually harmed their bodies in the process by not following healthy guidelines and rules for their routines. I worked at a gym for a short time, and I witnessed some people who's religion was fitness. The gym was their church and their bodies their god.
So, what about yoga? Isn't it just a form of exercise? I've found many differing points of view on the subject, and I find the discussion fascinating. Do a quick google search to see articles like this one, saying that doing yoga is like drinking bleach. Really, they say that is poisons your mind and opens it up for demons.
Then, there is this article from CBN.com that quotes Laurette Willis. She was active in the New Age movement for two decades before becoming a Christian. She embraced yoga and that entire lifestyle completely.
...Yoga was fun. In addition, the exercises really relaxed her mother.
But Laurette warns that yoga’s ability to bring a sense of calm is one of its deceptive charms: “That’s one thing people look at, too,” said Laurette. “They say, ‘My doctor, my chiropractor, my physical therapist says to do it. It helps me. I feel less stressful.’ Well, it wouldn’t be a hook if it didn’t have something good in it.”
Yoga also fulfilled a spiritual need in Laurette’s life. Though her family went to church, Laurette says she never heard the message of salvation preached there.
“We didn’t know about living the victorious Christian life,” she explained. “We were not aware of the deception that is inherent within yoga and its connections to Hinduism. It seemed so spiritual, so it was fulfilling a void that was in our lives. I have found that any part of our lives that is not submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ is an open door for the enemy. … As I look back, that was the open door to the New Age for us. We began getting into Edgar Cayce, Ouija boards, crystals, and all kinds of things.”
I would maybe agree with Willis that when we open our minds and hearts blindly and let things in, it can have negative consequences. I am sure that her experience is a valid one. However, I would question it. Today there are many options for yoga, encouraged by those in the health fields that really have nothing to do with religious practice of any kind. You can do floor exercises and practice breathing deeply, relaxing and clearing your mind without chanting and meditating with the purpose of letting something in. I think your experience with yoga all depends on your motivation. As with me, and exercising, anything can be unhealthy if you allow it to be. The music I was hearing as I was pounding the pavement or toning my arms was full of expletives and without thinking about it, I started to use them in my conversation. I still struggle with them coming out today. I was addicted to the endorphin rush I had after my routine, and I was consumed with getting that feeling. 6am workouts were joined by afternoon runs and soon bed time crunches, jumping jacks and floor exercises became a part of my daily life. My time in the gym, thinking about the gym, preparing for the gym, etc. soon dominated my life. It took the place of devotions and prayer, etc. There simply was not time for God because of my need for this perfection.
I would challenge Willis on her statement though. She says, “We didn’t know about living the victorious Christian life." and that she "never heard the message of salvation preached at her church." First, I would question the church that never preached salvation. Secondly, the article she is quoted in talks about Christians doing yoga. Her experience before her salvation is a real one, and again, I will not question it, but her experience before Christ and her deep involvement in this entire culture should not have anything to do with why Christians should or should not do yoga. Third, she assumes (maybe implies?) that if you do yoga you can not submit it to God, and God can have no part of it: "I have found that any part of our lives that is not submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ is an open door for the enemy." This seems to simply limit God. in Job 41:11 we read, "Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me."
I am a new mom my little one is 14 months old. I struggle with mild depression and some postpartum anxiety. Even before becoming a mom I tended to be an anxious person. I have an overactive imagination that rarely lets me fully relax. I am a bit OCD. If I get a chance to sit quietly, I count. before I even realize I am doing it I have quietly counted to 100. I find myself counting the corners in the room I am in. Within just a few minutes of being in a room I have counted all the doors and windows several times each, always in a clockwise motion. Often, when I sit, I have to put my body in a position that all my limbs, or toes, etc, are pointing at a window or door. I have no idea why I do this, but I really can not remember a time when I didn't have this compulsion. With a mind that is constantly busy, I have always struggled with just being. One thing you may notice about me if you spend any time with me is that I am constantly moving. I shake, pace, tap my fingers and toes, etc. Even as I type this I am swaying back and forth. While it sometimes drives others mad, I don't even notice that I do it most of the time.
It is easy for me to obsess over things, and as a result I tend to research EVERYTHING. There is a deluge of information running through my mind on countless subjects at all times. Most of the time, it is just how things are and I'm fine with it. However, it can be exhausting. For me, quieting my mind to focus on scripture, or to even just relax can be more of a struggle than a calming experience. Personally, I would love the opportunity to just let go of everything for a moment. I have high blood pressure, and I am sure slowing my brain would help to lower it. Clearing your mind and being present in the moment does not mean you are somehow forgoing the principles and building blocks of who you are. You are not a bad Christian because you let everything go for a moment.
Just as I am an emotional hoarder, I am a bit of a hoarder of things too. I find that the best way to clean my closet is by removing everything in there and seeing that beautiful place for what it is. Only then can I begin putting back the things that need to be there. Those size 8 jeans that I could never dream of fitting back into have no place in my clean, pretty closet or in my life. To me, that is what meditation part of yoga is. It is getting rid of all the clutter in your head so that you can focus on what is important. I find it truly hard to worship when my grocery list is running through my mind like a news bulletin. Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." I find it hard to believe that the God I worship would frown on this practice. Again, I think it all has to do with your motivation.
Here are some resources I found that do not specifically endorse yoga for Christians, but they make a positive argument for emptying ourselves and meditating fully so that God can come into our lives and work in and through us. This seems to contradict the arguments from above that state that if you empty your mind it will be filled with demons and other evil, scary things.
Not all christians are against yoga. There are a lot of them that can see the benefits it can add to your health and even your spiritual life. Christianity Today published a great article on the subject of christians doing yoga. The author, Agnieszka Tennant is all for it.
To dispel the stereotype at hand, let me witness that yoga has never had any negative influence on me, and it doesn't trigger any harmful religious impulses. Just the opposite is true. The three hours a week I spend doing yoga not only make me more flexible, tone my muscles, and relax me. They also draw me closer to Christ. They are my bodily-kinetic prayer.
Another article, found on RELEVANT.com by Doireann Fristoe discusses the topic very well. This may be the best article I have found on the subject. You should read it.
By practicing the physical aspects of the discipline, we develop an acute awareness of the natural state of our bodies, increased focus and heightened self-control (Galatians 5:22). If we are more aware of the natural state of our bodies, how much more can we be aware of when the Holy Spirit is moving within us?
Why do we pray? Why do we read Scripture? To be more fully connected to God, of course. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us, an inward practice is not selfish or demonic—it's necessary. For someone with the spiritual gift of discernment, this practice can be extremely valuable in cultivating your ability to recognize truth.
This was a comment on Fristoe's article which I found very powerful:
Meditation, Chanting, Worshiping with our whole body, and various postures of prayer are found throughout the entire Bible, old and new testament. Acts 17:28 declares, "In Him, we live, we move, we breathe and we have our being." Our temples should honor and glorify Christ if folks say they are indeed a Christ-follower. All of the above techniques are biblical, not [just] yogic. If you are a Christian you can redeem and reclaim these techniques for God's glory. There is no reason that any one person should point a finger at how others use yoga, or to whom and how people choose to worship. If you are a Christian and are looking for a "safe" place to practice, locate a nearby YogaFaith class. Jesus is first and yoga is second-these classes are truly Christ centered, where the intention, heart, mind, and spirit is set on God. Prayer, scripture, praise and worship music throughout the entire class. They are not just "safe" but profoundly sacred.
Julie Middleton is a friend of mine and maybe one of the healthiest people I know. Her business is even making people healthy (check out her website, Nourishing to Thrive) She is a dedicated christian and she does yoga daily. Here is what she has to say about it.
...yoga has been a huge part of my spiritual/physical/emotional healing journey. It's one of my favorite ways to connect with Jesus.
For me personally, I have found I do not view doing yoga any differently than I would pilates or a Richard Simmons workout video. It is convenient, as I can do it during nap times. It is quiet, and I often need some quiet in my life. Yoga is relaxing and does not make me feel like I need to get worked up in order to do it. It focuses on concentration, helps with posture (which I really need) and helps to stretch and lengthen bound up muscles. The deep breathing is great for slowing down, but it is also fantastic for your lungs I feel like yoga has just replaced the dancing debate among the Christian community. Some are for it, and some against it. I am even seeing a lot of the same arguments being used for these two debates.
I just did my fist yoga video. I loved it. My muscles burned way more than I expected them to but I didn't end my session feeling like I needed a massage either. It was a very grounding experience that i needed. This video had a mantra and I thought it was inspiring:
"I accept where my body is today and I show up for myself."
For me, this was exactly what I needed to hear as I began this new thing. In the past, the reason I have done any weight loss, exercise, etc, is simply because I don't like my body and I want to change it. I don't accept what I am and I end up pushing beyond what I can do and yes, I am one of those who end up hurting myself. Several times during the video she would say, "it's ok if you can't do it perfectly, accept where your body is and just show up."
Here is the 30 day challenge I am doing with my friend. I encourage you to try it for yourself. You can approach it as simply physical exercise, or you can go into it as a way to connect the spiritual and physical (which I believe is very important.) If you can get away from it all and do it alone, that is best, but just DO IT. The other day my friend was doing yoga and trying to relax and her toddler was throwing logos at her head. Not ideal, but she finished her routine (that's dedication.)
In case any of you have been following this story as it has been unfolding, here is my take on it.
If anyone you know has questions please, put their minds at ease by assuring them Young Living products are truly safe. We, as well as members of our upline are always available to answer your questions or to help you answer any questions directed toward you.
Fellow YL distributor, Justin Arnold wrote this in response to the events of yesterday. This is a great post, full of wonderful information and some very valid points being brought out about the situation.
#SMEAR #CAMPAIGN #WARNING
PLEASE READ! This is a post going around and you NEED to be able to answer questions. I have a feeling this is going viral so you need the facts.
• Just because they have a YL diffuser in the article photo does NOT mean they were using YL oils. They could have opted for cinnamon from Walmart, and their oils have been tested highly toxic. Even oils sold at Whole Foods contain toxic additives and have been tested to cause harm.
• She could have very well purchased YL oils from Amazon which have been known to be tampered with and adulterated.
(This is why you ONLY buy YL Oils directly from YL or a distributor you trust.)
- If your doctor prescribed you a serious medication would you buy it off of Amazon or direct from the pharmacy?
• The woman speaking doesn't sound very experienced with eo's and could have purchased an inferior and toxic product from another store.
• Young Living is the only company that produces 100% pure, and beyond organic essential oils. Our oils are used in medical practices all over the world because of their authenticity, sterile distillation/packaging facility, and quality standards.
• I want you to ask yourself when was the last time your pupils dilated from using YL cinnamon or any essential oil? I take capsules (25 drops) of cinnamon oil daily, internally, and have never heard of nor experienced any of these symptoms.
• Dilated pupils and hyperactivity are not listed in ANY medical books to be caused by ANY essential oil!
HOWEVER; If a company diluted their eo's with acetone, paint thinner, and some common fragrance lengtheners these symptoms would make more sense if diffused. And it's unfortunate these companies prey on Young Living folk by slashing their prices with an inferior product.
• I have a team of teachers and child care professionals that have used eo's with their students for years and have never ever experienced these issues.
In my opinion this is a bold smear campaign attack designed by media shareholders to scare people away from using eo's. The FDA will stop at nothing until they've taken every drop from our hands and put them through a pharmacy.
This is #Media #Manipulation at it's finest. Notice how no one is planning on testing the oil in question but advising against the use of them period.
I agree with every point Arnold makes in this post. I too have used Cinnamon oil and have never experienced any of these symptoms. I use Thieves products (I assume this is the blend they are saying they were using - it contains cinnamon) on my son all the time (he is 14 months old) and have had NO reactions. During the Christmas season I diffused actual cinnamon and orange all day so my house would smell great. Never once did my son or myself have a reaction. I am questioning this article based on this experience. Any reaction is rare, but for all the kids and then the adults to have the same reaction seems suspect to me. As stated in Arnold's post, the brand of oils used was never mentioned. I too would be curious to know what brand was used and where it was purchased.
I fully believe that if accusations are to be made, they should be backed by testing with written documentation from an unbiased investigation process before simply claiming harm has been done and blaming our company for it. While the name Young Living was never mentioned directly in the article, they featured our diffuser with the Young Living logo on it. For many all it takes is one sensationalized news story to sway their thinking. News articles like this one are dangerous because many people today believe anything on the news (or the internet in general) is truth.
As discering, educated people, we have to get in the mindset to question everything. PLEASE, do not believe anything in this article. There is no expert advice or relevant information presented. This is a story that didn't even warrant news coverage. In my journalism classes, I was taught to read between the lines. Where did the story happen? What is the motive of the news station and its sponsors? Who was involved? When you begin to answer some of these questions the whole story takes on a far different meaning.
The other thing that gets me about this article is that they are claiming that things inhaled can cause harm (which, is actually true) and then saying, or implying to stay away from essential oils. But what about all the other airborne toxins that are typically used in a setting such as a daycare? Synthetic chemicals such as chlorine bleach, wall plugins that give off a synthetic smell, etc. "Pretty" smelling synthetic chemicals are making us sick. Synthetic fragrance has been linked to lower IQ, cancer, Migraines, allergies, autism, seizures and early puberty. Again, what else was used in the setting where EOs were alleged to have caused harm? What other products and factors were involved? WHERE DID THEY GET THEIR OILS? This cements in my mind that using synthetic chemicals just to smell like something else is NOT worth the risk.
Here are some comments that were made on this article:
Look where this station is located. Do your homework as a Young Living distributor. KTVB7 is Boise!! The DT birthing hole of YL slander
The article is so full of holes it's ridiculous. Sensationalism.
Why is only a diffuser there? Where are her mentioned oils?
I cannot stress enough the importance of using high quality 100% therapeutic grade essential oils. Young Living oils, purchased directly from Young Living or a trusted distributor are the ONLY oils I will use for my family. For more reading on the quality of Young Living oils, please see this list of articles and websites.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
What’s the NingXia Red 30-day challenge? This is where you commit to consume 1-4 ounces of NingXia Red each day, for 30 days.
Join us in a 30-day NingXia Red Challenge and prepare to feel better, look better, sleep better, have more energy and much more.
February is a perfect month to show your body some love. For 30 days starting February 1, we challenge you to drink 1-4 oz of NingXia Red EACH DAY.
Look at all the great stuff NingXia Red it has in it:
more beta carotene than carrots
more vitamin C than oranges
18 amino acids
21 trace minerals
6 essential fatty acids
Vitamin B1, B2, B6
Vitamin E
Are you ready to take the CHALLENGE? When:
February 1 – March 1, 2016
What do I do:
Drink 2-4 ounces of Ningxia Red daily AND download the calendar to log each day’s Ningxia Red
Post on Your Social Media
Post on your own social media channels regularly with photos and comments about your 30 Day NingXia Red Challenge experiences. Tag your posts with the hashtag, #grammysningxia30 so others participating in the challenge can be encouraged by you.
Track Changes You Notice:
Throughout February, please be mindful of changes that are going on in your energy levels, your body systems, your overall health.
This page (downloadable here with a free issuu subscription) is a great way to track your NingXia daily intake and also provides a space where you can write how you feel each day. You could also use the space to keep track of your blood glucose levels, weight, and/or blood pressure.
Feel The NingXia Red Difference!
We know from personal experience, you will feel more energized, your body will be fortified, and your entire system revitalized! It will make you feel better in so many ways... more than you ever thought you could!
What to expect:
Sustained energy
Minimized sugar cravings
Improved vision
Balanced blood sugar
Detox
Weight loss (add a few drops of grapefruit oil to water and each shot of Ningxia for best results)
An immune boost
Supplies you will need:
[at least] 60 ounces of Ningxia Red (roughly two bottles. You may have to have a third [or some packets] to finish off the month strong).
Ningxia Red can be purchased as an Essential Rewards Kit with 4-bottles and 30 packets for $1.07/ounce. Consider splitting an ER pack with 2 friends or family members and all of you can share the kit and compete!
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
While making the transition to a toxin free home I have gone room-by-room making changes. Recently I threw away all the candles and plug-in room scents. I have not used them in almost a year, so WHY was I holding on to them again? (Hello, my name is Jessica and I'm a hoarder.) All these "good smelling" products have no place in a healthy home. They are pollutants that can cause lung damage and can aggravate conditions like asthma and COPD, etc.
About 6 months ago I ordered wool dryer balls from Amazon. I had spent a day making my own laundry soap and had cleaned and organized my laundry room. The whole room was calming to me. I surveyed it with pride- until I saw that bright green box of dryer sheets. WHY had I gone to the effort to get rid of the toxins in my laundry and not even had a thought about replacing these guys? Not only are they full of toxins and artificial scents, but they cause buildup on clothing that can shorten the life of your wardrobe. (Not to mention your dryer) I was not going to continue to add to my family's toxin load from such a simple source I could control.
How Do Wool Dryer Balls Work?
Dryer balls are felted wool and their gentle friction against your clothing as they tumble in the dryer softens it. In addition, the dryer balls lift and separate clothes, getting heat below and between the clothing, resulting in faster drying. Dryer balls are also reusable, so they save you money!
We are only a family of 3, but I am one of the crazy ones who chooses to cloth diaper. I end up doing at least one load of laundry per day and I usually use six dryer balls per load (unless my son runs off with one of the "BALLS!") My typical routine is to dry my clothes until they are damp and then I pull out a couple of dryer balls and put 3-4 drops of essential oil on them. I toss them back in and finish the drying process. My clothes come out smelling SO good. My favorites to use are Purification, Lemongrass, Thieves (depending on the time of year) or any citrus oil.
TIP:
Dryer balls are great at combating static cling, but if you are experiencing any static, try using white vinegar in your wash where you would normally put fabric softener (we don't use anything but vinegar.) Not only does this help to get your clothes clean, it also helps to significantly reduce static cling.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
Check out the Young Living blog for some ideas on how you can use the November promotions. This month, the rewards Young Living are offering are IN-SANE! Seriously, I have been on ER and paying attention to the promotions for 13 months now, and I have never seen anything like this. I have talked to many people who have used YL products for a decade and longer and they are in the same boat as me.
Here is the breakdown of the November promotion:
As a special bonus, three of this month’s rewards feature full 15-ml sized bottles of Orange, Christmas Spirit, and Frankincense! (Normally, you only get 5ml bottles, NOT 15ml bottles)
You have to earn your PV in a single order to qualify for these promotions. You can't place multiple orders to add up to the required PV. You DO NOT have to be on Essential Rewards to qualify for these promotions, except for the one ER bonus, Christmas Spirit. You can technically get the promotion twice. If you are inclined to do so, you can place a qualifying ER order and a qualifying quick order. If you are wanting to get these great promotions, but don't think you can justify spending the $$, think CHRISTMAS. Seriously, I qualified this month and last month for the 300PV promotion by doing all my Christmas Shopping through Young Living. They have a fantastic Holiday Catalog out, which you should look at. If you need more gift inspiration, check out our post about the subject.
Reach any of the following PV minimums with your November order and earn these great free products:
300 PV Reward
Retail Value: $257.56 (WOW! You spend about $300 and get almost that BACK for FREE? It's like they are paying you to use their products!)
5-ml Nutmeg: Nutmeg has a sweet, warm, spicy scent similar to the spice commonly used in cooking. Comforting and soothing, Nutmeg helps boost energy.
15-ml Orange: Orange essential oil offers a distinctly citrusy, pleasant flavor and aroma for foods, drinks, marinades, and desserts. Orange essential oil features the naturally occurring constituent limonene.
8-oz. Ortho Sport: Ortho Sport massage oil has a rich, cooling aroma and is designed for both professional and amateur athletes, as well as for anyone who works or plays hard
15-ml Frankincense: Frankincense includes the naturally occurring constituent boswellic acid and has a woodsy, warm, balsamic aroma. Diffusing Frankincense during meditation supports grounding and purpose, while applying it topically may help smooth the appearance of healthy-looking skin (this is about $74 WHOLESALE if you bought it)
5-ml Sacred Frankincense: Sacred Frankincense has a rich, earthy aroma that helps to deepen spiritual connection. Regarded the world over as one of the rarest, most sought-after aromatics available, Sacred Frankincense is grown and distilled in Oman. (You would pay about $55 wholesale for this one. Wow!)
Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 15-ml Christmas Spirit: Christmas Spirit is a sweet, spicy blend of Orange, Cinnamon, and Spruce essential oils that recalls the happiness, joy, and security associated with the holiday season. Keep Christmas Spirit on hand and diffuse it to infuse your home with the joy of the season. (It seriously is Christmas in a bottle. *SIGH* You DO have to be enrolled in Essential Rewards to get this bonus.)
190 PV Reward
Retail Value: $59.54
5-ml Nutmeg essential oil
15-ml Orange essential oil
(WOW! Normally you only get one reward oil at 190PV. This really is a GREAT month!)
Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 15-ml Christmas Spirit essential oil blend
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
With so many people on everyone's gift list, I am amazed that people can actually afford all these gifts. I must admit, I have been a Grinch MANY times and not given to anyone not in my close circle of family and friends. A couple of years I did make home made salsa or cookies or candies to give as gifts, but "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
As I was pondering gift options this year, I decided that pretty much everyone on my list would be getting Young Living products. Both October and November's rewards were (are) fantastic, and I didn't want to miss out on them, but I didn't feel I could spend the $300 just on myself. (I totally could, I just don't think my hubby would like it)
Here is one of the ways I thought I could give nice gifts to everyone on my list and still save money in the long run. (I get all the great FREE stuff from Young Living and get my essential rewards points back to spend on even more FREE stuff)
Why not buy a Premium starter kit and break it up as a bunch of small gifts?
Here are some options I came up with. The possibilities almost endless. I would make up little product cards and put what the gift is and how it can be used. You wouldn't want to give someone an awesome gift and them have not clue what it is.
1. Let's start with the diffuser. This is a really nice gift that needs to be reserved for someone you would spend a little more money on. This would make a great gift for a family member. (You will have to put a bottle of oil with it unless they are already using Young Living essential oils)
2. The NingXia Red samples. You can give them together or separate. put in in a Chsritmas card. include information about NingXia and why you gave it to them. It is an immune system booster, it is a energy booster, it helps with weight management, etc. If you are making a food basket, or you have had time to make those home made goodies, this would make a great addition to those gifts.
3. The oil sample sachets. These are wonderful for putting in a card to a Sunday School teacher, piano teacher, etc. Write a note from you and include a couple of ways the oil you gave them can be used. The PSK comes with Peppermint, Lemon, Thieves, Lavender and Stress Away samples. One idea is to put a recipe for mint chocolate brownies and include a sample of peppermint.
4. The ADORABLE love it, share it! bottles. This is a bit trickier if you are trying to make your kit go as far as possible. You can fill these bottles with oils from your kit, or use some oils you already have on hand. You could take advantage of the November rewards and give someone some seasonal oils to make their house or car smell wonderful. An idea I loved was to put a couple drops of Orange and Nutmeg or some Christmas Spirit in the little bottle, seal it, and put a cute little bow on it. THEN, package it in a little cellophane bag with a wooden clothes pin. Make a card that tells what you are giving them and how they can use it. These can be clipped anywhere to diffuse the oils you gave them. They work great in a car, clipped to the vents. You can also clip them to the branches of an artificial christmas tree and put pine oil (not in the PSK) on them for a great 'real' christmas tree smell hack.
5. The oils themselves. These make fantastic gifts. Pretty much anyone on your list will love it. Essential Oils are a 'thing' now, and most people have at least heard of them. Give these to your pastor, to your kids teacher, to your friends, etc. Include a card, telling them what they have, and put several ways they can use it. Go ahead and include one of those clothes pins with the oil, so they can diffuse it anywhere they go. If you give lavender, tell them it is for helping them to get a good night's rest, and be sure to tell them how good it is for their skin. (check out this blog for lots of posts about lavender) You could even do a pillow with a bottle of lavender for a gift exchange.
6. The Kit. One of the best gifts you can give someone would be to enroll them as a wholesale member. It's the gift that keeps on giving. Enrolling a friend or family member as a wholesale member and helping them begin their oily journey is easy to do. As a bonus, you will receive a FREE gift from us to give them, in addition to the kit. For more information about how to gift an entire kit and enroll your loved one as a wholesale member, read this post.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
One thing I am a stickler about is having clean hands. I can’t stand to have icky, sticky, dirty, grimy, germy stuff on my hands. It just grosses me out. I am not OCD about it or anything, but having clean hands is important, not just for me but for those around me. I mean after all, you really don’t want me sneezing in my hand and then fixing your sandwich, right?
So, because I wash my hands several times a day, they can get dried out and irritated from all the harsh chemicals in your standard run-of-the mill soaps. I loved the foaming soaps from Bath and Body Works, but when I found out how many chemicals they use in them just to make them smell good I decided to break out and try making my own.
Here is the recipe I landed with. It is fairly simple and if you, like me, kept some of those foaming hand soap bottles instead of throwing them away, they will work perfectly for this soap.
1 foam soap pump (I reused one from Bath and Body Works)
1 c distilled or filtered water
2 TBSP Castile Soap
1/4 tsp carrier oil. I used Jojoba, but you can use almond, grapeseed, olive, or any carrier oil that stays liquid at room temperature.
10 drops Thieves Essential Oil
Add the ingredients to the foaming soap bottle being careful to add the water BEFORE you add the other ingredients. Shake it a bit and wa-la! You're all done.
You're ready to have clean hands at a fraction of the price of traditional foaming soaps, none of the harsh chemicals, and still have an amazing smell. If you see the oil separating, which is perfectly normal, you may need to lightly shake it. I hope you love this as much as I do!
Ok, so that takes care of my hands when I am at home, but I am not going to carry around a bottle of foaming hand soap in my purse. Again, I used to love those little bottles of hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works, but the chemicals in them are just not what I want on my hands. Not only that, but my grandson loved the smell so much he couldn’t resist eating it! I had to hide it from him constantly and safe to consume, it is not! So, I decided to make my own hand sanitizer. I keep a little bottle in my purse, one in my Yukon, one in my computer bag and anywhere else I think I might need it. I absolutely love this stuff and when I do spray it in public, people comment on how yummy it smells!
Here is my recipe for hand sanitizer:
1, 2oz. amber or dark colored glass or BPA free plastic spray bottle
Distilled water
Witch Hazel (optional)
8-10 drops Thieves or Purification essential oil
Pinch of Epsom salt Add oil to salt to be absorbed, and then fill bottle half way with distilled water. Shake to mix. Then finish filling the bottle with Witch Hazel or the distilled water. Shake well before using.
If you are one that prefers the gel sanitizers, try this recipe:
3 Tablespoons Organic Aloe Vera Gel
1/4 teaspoon All Natural Vitamin E Oil
8-10 drops of Young Living Thieves Essential Oil
Mix it together and store it in a squeezable container. You can buy them at Target or WalMart in the travel section. That’s it. It costs a buck and some change for these bottles of sanitizer instead of $5.99 and if my grandson decides to eat it, I don’t have to worry about calling poison control.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
I seem to have more DESSERTS than usual lately probably because my life has been a little STRESSED and turned around backwards. That causes so many more issues with my weight and guilt and the vicious cycle just seems to be on Energizer batteries because it just keeps going and going and never stops! Sometimes I want to just scream or take a long Calgon bath...in Hawaii. Unfortunately, screaming will not change where I am in my life right now and Hawaii, well, that’s not going to happen so what are my options?
My first option is prayer and getting into the Word. (read this post from Jess) I stated earlier that screaming will not change where I am in my life right now, however, venting to the One who is in charge can make me a lot less stressed about it. Knowing that I can just get some things off my chest to Him, to cry, to be honest with how I feel without judgement or fear is an amazing release. Knowing that He is still in control of everything and being reminded through His word that He loves me unconditionally is calming and reassuring.
I feel better already, just talking about Him but there are still times when I need that physical touch or release to help me relax and let go of some of the stressors. What about those times when I need that Calgon experience? Well, that is where my oils come in. One of my favorites is called Stress Away and it is named that for good reason. I can put it in my diffuser and the atmosphere in my house will change but what I love is to have a nice hot bath with a Stress Away salt scrub. It is super easy to make and would even make a great gift for those friends who need a little relaxation get-away.
Here is my recipe:
glass jar- wide mouth half pint canning jars work great
1 cup Epsom salt
1/2 cup carrier oil of your choice (Jojoba, Olive, Grapeseed, V-6, Fractionated Coconut)
10-20 drops Stress Away Essential oil
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in jar. Cap tightly and store in a cool dry place. Add more salt or oil to get the consistency you wish. This scrub should last about 6 months. Now that was easy and stress free! Just add a few tablespoons to your hot bath, lay back, breathe deep, and relax. You can also use it as a scrub when you need a little extra exfoliating.
Next time you are stressed and the desserts are calling your name, try it. I can’t tell you all your stressors will disappear and your problems probably won’t go down the drain, but it sure feels great.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
I never really thought about Frankincense as anything more than a gift the Wise Men brought to baby Jesus. It just wasn’t something I gave much thought to at all except at Christmas time. Then, I discovered essential oils and I began to understand the significance of that ancient gift.
In the Middle East, Frankincense is known as the ͞holy anointing oil͟ and has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years. It has been valued as more precious than gold in ancient times with only the very wealthy having it in their possession. Frankincense is one of the earliest mentioned resins used for its medicinal purposes and is referenced in the Bible over 52 times.
When I opened my first bottle of Frankincense, I have to admit, baby Jesus and Christmas were not what the scent made me think about. It was more like an old museum filled with dusty books which was not my favorite aroma so I pretty much just left it in the box not knowing what to do with it.
Wow, has that changed. I started researching some health issues I was experiencing and how I could use my essential oils to promote better wellness, and Frankincense kept coming up. Need something to support healthy skin? Frankincense. Need something to support mental health? Frankincense. Need something to support the immune system? Frankincense. The list goes on. I was amazed at how powerful and versatile this little bottle was and understood now why it was once considered more valuable than gold.
Frankincense is now one of those oils I use every day. It is in my DIY wrinkle cream and after 20+ years as a Mary Kay consultant, I have ditched that entire product and am using solely my own recipes with Frankincense as a key ingredient and honestly, my skin never felt or looked better!
Here is the recipe I use the most. You can always tweak it to your own liking. This amount will last me almost 6 months.
4 oz jar (short wide-mouth canning jar works great) ($1)
Dye/fragrance free moisturizing base (Cetaphil or Burt’s Bees are my favorites) ($2-$20 depending on what you buy)
16 drops Frankincense or Sacred Frankincense ($4.48)
12 drops Sandalwood ($12.72)
14 drops Geranium ($2.24)
12 drops Lavender ($1.08)
10 drops Helichrysum ($9.60)
This is my daily routine. I wash my face with my Norwex facial cloth and then apply this cream. I don’t even wear make-up much anymore because my skin looks so great. That is saying something for a Grammy over 50. I have a couple of others recipes I use as well, including one for a night cream, but that is a whole other blog post.
Yes, Frankincense (and some of the other oils) might seem a little expensive at first, but when you sit down and put a pencil to it, I am spending $33.12 on a jar of wrinkle cream that will last me six months. Compared to the MK I had been using and paying over $50 for a half ounce that lasted me one month, what I am using is a bargain! I can make multiple jars of moisturizer out of one bottle of Frankincense if I ONLY used it for that purpose. Frankincense was a gift worthy of a King, but I am so thankful that I discovered it and it is available to this humble servant.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
Cleaning with Essential Oils Keeping your home clean doesn’t mean you have to soak it in toxic chemicals and have it smelling like bleach. I have found that my essential oils are safe, smell much better, and offer a natural and effective alternative to traditional cleaning products. Here are a few of my favorites.
I love, love, love my Thieves® Household Cleaner. It is powerful, safe, natural AND, it smells like Christmas! No harsh chemical smells in this Grammy’s house. When people walk in my home, instead of smelling bleach and fake pine, they will think I am making ͞dog biscuits͟ aka, Peppernuts when in fact, I have been scrubbing my floors.
According to the Young Living Website, the dilution ratios are:
light degreasing 60:1
medium degreasing 30:1
heavy degreasing 15:1
floors 100:1
walls 30:1
upholstery, fabrics, carpet spotting 40:1
carpet 100:1
glass 320:1
pots and pans 100:1
hand cleaner 1:1
In addition, when I diffuse the oil itself, I am purifying the air so my house is clean from top to bottom. Notice: Before cleaning upholstery, fabric, or carpet, perform a spot test in an inconspicuous location. Discontinue use in the unlikely event of staining or skin irritation.
Lemon is another favorite. It will remove icky sticky stuff from just about any surface, including gum from hair. No more squishing the messy peanut butter through the grandkids hair when a piece of rogue gum plants itself on their head. Lemon is also a great degreaser, furniture polish, stain remover and, of course, it also smells like...well, lemon. No harsh chemical smells.
Finally, I want to mention Tea Tree Oil, or Melaleuca Alterfonia. This oil is great as a laundry softener, bathroom cleaner, toilet cleaner, and even as a mold and mildew spray. I use it in my bathroom a lot. I sprinkle a few drops on my countertops, wipe down my door knobs, and even put a couple of drops in my toilet tank. It just makes me feel confident that my bathroom is clean, fresh, and ready for company.
I could go on about the cleaning properties of about a dozen more oils, like Purification, Pine, Clove, Cinnamon and others, but none of us have time for that. This Grammy has much more important things to do like make Peppernuts with her grandsons. For more ideas on how to clean with essential oils, check out this document from a fellow Young Living distributor. It is worth the read. http://tinyurl.com/nwqclup(This automatically downloads a .pdf file.)
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
If you know me, you know that I am anything but typical. I tend to do things a little different than everyone else. It seems fitting that my skin would even follow that trend. As a child / teenager I got the occasional blemish, but I never struggled with skin issues. Fast forward to my early 20's and out of nowhere, I began to get the face of a teenage boy. Everything that could go wrong with my skin began to happen. I tried many products and all kinds of DIY's to help my skin, but nothing seemed to get past the surface of my skin. It would moisturize or clean, but it also left me greasy or really dry.
I recently did an experiment where I used Grapefruit, Frankensense and Elimi for about a week on my face. Several times a day I would apply one of the three, rotating them out. Every time I would put Frankincense on my under eye bags. Here is the before post, and here is the after post. No, It did not turn me into Cindy Crawford, but you can see an over all improvement in the quality of my skin.
As part of my continuing skin care routine, I am using the moisturiser seen in the after post. It is simply Cetaphill fragrance free moisturiser cream with about 25 drops each of Lavender, Elimi, Frankinsese and Grapefruit. (makes a 4oz jar that lasts a long time. - a little goes a LONG ways) I also continue to use the Peppermint Satin Facial Scrub seen in the after post, but only in the shower. The other times I wash my face, I need something a bit gentler. There are a lot of good options you can get right from Young Living, but I love making my own products. There is something really empowering about using products you have made.
I found this DIY face wash and I'm going to share the recipe with you.
2/3 cup distilled water
1/3 cup Castile Soap
1 tsp Tamanu or Jojoba carrier oil (you can use the carrier oil of your choice. but Jojoba oil is FANTASTIC for your skin)
1/4 tsp Vegetable Glycerin
4-5 drops of Vitamin E
10 drops of Lavender essential oil
10 drops of Chamomile or Melrose essential oil
5 drops of Frankincense essential oil or Elemi essential oil.
Mix all of these in a glass pump bottle (I actually reuse the thieves foaming hand soap bottles) and give it a gentle shake before use as it can separate a bit. I follow it with some toner (see this post) and my DIY Moisturizer (see above) for a complete skin care routine.
As with any new skin care product, it may take several applications to see any results. Keep using the cleanser for about a week before deciding if you like it or not.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
My husband started using a safety razor about a year ago. It is a bit old fashioned (aka, cool) and in the end costs less than the disposable plastic razors he has used in the past. One morning he asked me to go online and order him some replacement blades. I didn't stop there. I saw all the awesome accessories I could buy him and admittedly, I went a bit overboard. He ended up with a badger hair brush, sandalwood shaving soap (which we put essential oils into) a razor holder and an awesome wooden soap dish. Luckily, it was his birthday month, so I was able to get a great gift for the hardest man on earth to buy for (maybe for the first time since we have been together).
Not only do these things look fantastic sitting on our counter, but they serve a greater purpose in our lifestyle. We have been slowly trying to find ways to replace the toxic / harmful chemicals in our home with more natural solutions. (for more on that, read this post) The shaving cream was on my list of products to get rid of. This was a no brainer move. The only thing left to replace in his shaving kit was his after shave / cologne. This, I made in about 3 minutes, and it is FANTASTIC. We both love it. (Yes, I use his after shave as my toner.)
Fill bottle about 3/4 full with Witch Hazel.
Add about 10 drops each Lavender and Elimi.
Add about 15 drops Frankincense
Add about 15 to 20 drops Cedarwood
Optional:
For a great manly scent, add 1-2 drops each Pine and Evergreen Essence. When mixed with the Cedarwood, it is wonderful.
I do not use it as my toner when I add these oils. I love the smell on him, but I do not want to smell like a walk in the woods. I prefer a crisper, lighter sent. Many times I use purification as my perfume. I just dab a bit on the pulse points and go. I get a lot of compliments on my 'perfume'. Grapefruit is another favorite of mine.
Play with the amounts until the recipe is right for you. You don't have to stick to these oils. If you have a favorite, or you are trying to accomplish something specific with an oil, add it to your toner. That is the beauty of making these products yourself, you are in control.
Want to read more about essential oils? Check out our website to help you or contact us here.
The information contained in this blog is for educational purposes only and as a guideline for your personal use. It should not be used as a substitution for medical counseling with a health professional. The contributors and authors do not accept responsibility for such use.
