Natural Dryer Sheet Alternative

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.

All About November REWARDS!

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.)

250 PV Reward
Retail Value: $105.26
5-ml Nutmeg essential oil
15-ml Orange essential oil
8-oz. Ortho Sport massage oil
Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 15-ml Christmas Spirit essential oil blend

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.

Gifting A Premium Starter Kit

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.

Thieves and Personal Hygiene

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.

Stress, Go AWAY!

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.

Frankincense

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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

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.

~Grammy's Essentials Team
www.grammysessentials.com

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.