Simple DIY Summer Perfume Recipes

18
May
2018
by Leave a Comment

DIY Summer Perfum Recipes
Did you know perfume can be detrimental to your health?

The term “fragrance” on labels can be a combination of over 300 harmful chemicals that the company doesn’t have to disclose. This is often why people get headaches when they smell synthetic perfume.  I ditched my perfume years ago for safe, all-natural essential oil perfume that I know will only benefit my body and not harm it.

It is better to play it safe and create your own perfume with natural and effective essential oils that you KNOW are safe.   Not only are these perfumes safe, but their aroma therapy can take you from feeling down and out to happy and confident in a matter of seconds.

I began my essential oil journey because I was looking for oils to help support my emotional well being – little did I know how much I would learn in the process about the toxic chemicals I had been exposing my body to.  I am so grateful for the knowledge to do better and also to smell amazing with all-natural, plant-based fragrance on my skin.

Check out these BEAUTIFUL bottles provided by Silver Orange Boutique on Etsy. You can order these beautiful bottles through her shop, fill them with your favorite essential oils combo, and gift this perfume to anyone whose day you want to turn around.  I love surprising friends with sweet little gifts!

I have all types of bottles on hand to quickly whip up my DIY perfume blend.  I grabbed these simple bottles on amazon, they are colorful and so adorable, as well as these rose colored bottles.  They are perfect for blending and gifting.

Here are some of my favorite recipes.

Fill with alcohol when using a spray bottle. Fill with V6 carrier oil if using a roll-on bottle. Adjust amount of individual oils based on preferred scent.

DIY essential oil perfume blends

❤ Bon Vivant – “Somebody who loves life.”

In a 10 ml bottle – 5 drops Joy, 5 Geranium, 10 Tangerine
In a 10 ml bottle – 5 drops Joy, 15 drops Lemon
In a 10 ml bottle – 5 Northern Lights Black Spruce, 5 Orange, 2 Rose
In a 10 ml bottle – 10 drops Oola Fun, 10 drops White Angelica

🌺 Rilassante – “Relaxing”

In a 10 ml bottle – 10 drops Stress Away, 10 drops Orange
In a 10 ml bottle – 10 Drops Lavender, 5 drops Frankincense, 5 drops Orange
In a 10 ml bottle – 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Stress Away, 10 drops Valor

DIY Perfumes with Essential Oils

❤ Amor – “Love”

In a 10 ml bottle – 12 drops Ylang Ylang & 8 drops Orange.
In a 10 ml bottle – 6 drops Grapefruit, 6 drops Sandalwood, 6 drops Jasmine
In a 10 ml bottle – 10 drops Ylang ylang, 10 drops Idaho Blue Spruce.

What is your favorite scent? Floral? Citrus? Spicy?  If you have not tried Ylang Ylang – just do it.  Such an amazing flower that is grown on the Young Living farm in Ecuador. I had the privilege of hadn’t picking flower buds a few years ago.  The field smelled amazing!

Who is next on your list to brighten their day?  Maybe it’s you!!

Please tell me you already have essential oils!!!

If not, please give yourself a gift and make today the day you start.  NOW is a great time to get a starter set of essential oils and a diffuser for 50% off! I’ll also gift you $20 cash back and a goodie bag full of resources worth $25! You’ll also get access to my members-only online community to learn how to use your oils and get lots of education and support.

Filed Under: Essential Oils, Self Care

Five Back to School Tips & Tricks

11
Sep
2017
by Leave a Comment

5 back to school tips and tricks

We just started back to school on Tuesday – much later than many of you.  Our family ended summer with a nice beach fire and it was delightful!

The transition to the school year can be hard, but I have found several tips and tricks that help our family get back into the groove with less stress, anxiety and losing our patience!  

I cover many awesome tips in my Back 2 School Survival Guide – a wonderful resource with topics every parent wants to be in the know about, as well as editable PDF printables to help things run smoothly!  It has been a life saver for many of you who have grabbed it over the years.

Let’s cover some of my top tips to help with the beginning of the school year!

Rhythm and Routine

Just like a rhythm and routine is critical to our success as a mother and manager of our home, our kids need a very similar routine to succeed.   I shared specific steps to create a morning routine for your child in a previous post and know it will help you.  We all want to send our kids off to school with a feeling of success, instead of failure.  

When expectations are not clearly outlined for our children, they lose focus, control and feel lost.  It is up to use to help them have an outline.  The same goes for after school expectations.  Creating a printable list for tasks for your child to complete after school helps develop independence as well as a pride in their work.

Promote Healthy Focus

Oh mama – this is an area we deal with daily!!  We have a little guy who struggles with focusing and staying on task. I have had to come up with some effective ways to keep us both sane!

This is where we open my mom toolbox of beloved essential oils.  I am able to easily mix up a blend of Cedarwood, Vetiver, and Lavender essential oils in a roller ball bottle, add a bit of carrier oil – like Young Living’s V-6 or some coconut oil and we are armed!

I’ve been using this blend on my seven year old since he was three – because it works!  It helps him stay focused, calms his little mind down from racing and helps him have a successful day by completing tasks and schoolwork successfully.  Don’t we want that for our kids?

And, if you happen to struggle with focus, I mean… some of us amazing moms do….this blend is for you too!  All ages and stages – one of the reasons I love having essential oils in my mom toolbox!

the focus roller - cedar wood, vetiver, lavender essential oils

Prep for Healthy Lunches

We all know a healthy breakfast will help your child have a great morning, but do you really take into consideration the lunch you pack and how it will either help your child with great energy during their afternoon, or perhaps impact their body in a negative way? 

Last year I bought a small compartment bento lunch box and it was the best investment I have made in helping me with packing a fun and healthy lunch.  Not only did the lunchbox last the entire school year, we are using it this year too!  

I love the compartments and that I can easily find healthy items to put into each section, like lunchmeat rolled up with some cheese, some diced kiwi (my sons favorite!) dry roasted almonds, carrots, celery and even olives.  I also grabbed these small containers and they fit right inside the container slots and I can add things like the olives without the juice flowing to other items and the main lid just fits right on.

Sending sugary items, foods filled with lots of additives can really affect your child in a negative way.  Some food can even make them irritable and groggy, so take some time to send good for them items!

Good Sleep

You might think this is just for your child, but we all need a restful nights sleep.  Allowing our body to regenerate and rest. 

Does your child struggle to wind down at the end of the day?

Do they toss and turn until late in the evening before they settle in to sleep?

Do they wake in the morning finding it hard to get up and get going?

Perhaps you fall into one of those situations?

Here again, our essential oil collection provides an easy and totally natural way to promote a really restful nights sleep.

Back-to-School-Restful-Sleep

Our favorite blend to apply topically or use in our diffuser, is Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils.  However, we love having other oils to interchange in order to clam us down in the evening.  I will often put some Stress Away in the diffuser while we are settling down after dinner and the magic begins!  Bedtime routines are much easier, as everyone is ready to brush teeth, read and snuggle down into bed.

Space to Exhale

Our lives are busy and with the beginning to the school year often comes many after school activities.  However, I have found it very beneficial to have some down time immediately after school, instead of just rushing off to the next thing.

When your child comes home, spend a few minutes with them to ask about their day.  Finding time to just exhale from all the activity of the day is a great transition for kids.  Depending on your schedule and your day, I suggest allotting at least 15-20 minutes for your child to just relax.  Just like you and I need some downtime, your child really benefit form it too.

Here’s to a great school year for you and your family!

Interested in essential oils? Now is the BEST time to get started.

You can get a starter set of essential oils called the premium starter kit (with 11 oils and a diffuser) as well as $20 cash back, reference material and MORE from me! You’ll also get access to my members-only online community to learn how to use your oils and get lots of education and support.

Filed Under: Essential Oils, Family Manager, Household Management

DIY Hydrating Lotion Bars – Travel Friendly

15
May
2017
by Leave a Comment

Young Living Lotion Bars

These homemade hydrating essential oil lotion bars will make  your summer so easy – especially if you are traveling.

I just returned from a 13 day trip to Australia – it was A-MA-ZING!!  Saw many wonderful places and met some beautiful people too.

But, do you know what happened to me?  My lotion bottle blew up in my checked bag – thank goodness I pack in plastic bags!!  So as soon as I got home I made these homemade lotion bars for my next travel adventure so I can be sure to not have that mis-hap again.

These are easy to make.

Simple to pack and not worry they will explode when under pressure.

Super moisturizing for your body – the warmth of your body helps to melt the natural emollients and the added essential oils smells wonderful and help sooth, smooth, moisturize and hydrate hands, feet, elbows and more!

This homemade lotion bar recipe with essential oils is the bomb – be sure to get some made before your next trip or excursion to the beach or desert area.  You will thank me!

I went through my oily stash and decided to use Stress Away, Joy and Cedarwood (known for it’s calming effects) and I wasn’t disappointed.

Recipe:

 Directions
  1. Combine coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a 16-ounce glass measuring cup.
  2. Place in a pot with water that rises to halfway up the measuring cup
  3. Bring water to a boil, stirring frequently until ingredients are completely melted.
  4. Remove measuring cup from the pot.
  5. Add essential oils and vitamin E oil and stir until completely combined.
  6. Immediately pour into molds.
  7. Let sit for several hours until they are firm
  8. Once cooled, carefully remove the lotion bars from the molds.
  9. Store in a cool, dry place.  I place in small plastic bags for easy on the go use (I use these)

Great to have on hand in your purse or overnight bag.   These are so portable and convenient – helping to keep skin smooth and soft – even while out and about this summer.

How to use these lotion bars::

Simply rub them along your skin to apply the lotion easily.  You can rub on feet, heels, elbows, hands, arms and legs.  No more dripping lotion or pouring too much in your hands.  These are great for kids too!

Grab yourself some oils and the goodies you need to make these and spend an afternoon doing just that – I did with my daughter and it was an enjoyable time together!

Filed Under: Essential Oils

Creating a Chemical Free Home Made Easy

24
Apr
2017
by Leave a Comment

Creating a Chemical Free Home Made Easy

Who wouldn’t want to create a Chemical Free Home to help live the best life we can?

Potentially dangerous chemicals can be found in every room in your home – and many are being used which are causing great problems for our family.  

Synthetic fragrances, found in household cleaning products, perfumes, nail polish, and plastic food containers contain Phthalates.  These have been found to interfere with testosterone and estradiol, a hormone that affects breast development. Studies have found that women who develop breast cancer have higher levels of certain types of phthalates than women who are cancer free. (SOURCE)

And it gets worse when you consider the toxic chemicals in our personal care products!

From antiperspirants to perfumes, from toothpastes to skin care products, Americans have been unknowingly poisoning themselves and their families with hundreds of chemical compounds that the body is unequipped to deal with.  Chemical free should be our goal for our family.

Just one example are Parabens. Parabens possess estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with increased risk of breast cancer.  They are found in all types of personal care products – and they are harming you every time you put them on – sometimes multiple times a day.

Our indoor air quality is very toxic when you include burning candles, using plug in wall scents and all the product we use thinking we are “cleaning our home” but in fact, we are poisoning ourselves.

Most experts agree that anyone serious about experiencing improved health today and in the long-run must begin to replace products made with toxic chemicals, and use personal care and household products that are safe for the body.   I began making chemical free changes about four years ago, even ditching my all-item favorite perfume and my life has been dramatically altered for the better.

If you could use products that are simpler, less-expensive, and more effective than the toxic products you are currently using wouldn’t you at last want to give them a try?

Now is the time to make a change and I want to help you get the best deal – because I am all about being frugal as well as putting our health at the top of the list.

Step One

Grab a Young Living Premium Starter Kit – my favorite it the Premium Starter Kit with the Home Diffuser #5462.

Premium Starter Kit

This kit comes with 11 bottles of pure essential oils that have endless uses, from emotional support, cleansing the skin, immune support, freshening the air, and promoting wellness. 

It also comes with a fabulous diffuser that will rock your world  – my house is never overcome with nasty chemical odors anymore, but instead – we breathe in essential oils that actually help our emotional state and aren’t poisoning us.

You also get some sample bottles, cards and two samples of my favorite anti-oxidant drink, NingXia Red.

Here’s what you get:

  • Home Diffuser
  • Premium Essential Oils Collection;
    • Lavender 5-ml
    • Peppermint Vitality™ 5-ml
    • Lemon Vitality™ 5-ml
    • Copaiba Vitality™ 5-ml
    • Frankincense 5-ml
    • Thieves® Vitality™ 5-ml
    • Purification® 5-ml
    • R.C.™ 5-ml
    • DiGize™ Vitality™ 5-ml
    • PanAway® 5-ml
  • Stress Away™ 5-ml
  • AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment
  • 10 Sample Packets
  • 10 Love It? Share It! Sample Business Cards
  • 10 Love It? Share It! Sample Oil Bottles
  • 2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples
  • Product Guide and Product Price List
  • Essential Oil Magazine
  • Essential Edge
  • Member Resources

Step Two

Grab the Brand New Thieves Home Cleaning Kit (#20421) – it’s the perfect introduction to natural cleaning and provides you with a foundation of cleaning tools and supplies to utilize Young Living’s 100% pure essential oils. It includes the tools you’ll need to clean and protect your home without using harsh, chemicals.  

Thieves Home Cleaning Kit

It contains:

  • Citrus Fresh™ Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Lemon Essential Oil 5 ml
  • Pine Essential Oil 5 ml
  • Purification® Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Thieves® Essential Oil Blend 5 ml
  • Thieves® Household Cleaner 14.4 oz.
  • Carrying Case
  • Stainless Steel Bucket
  • Amber Glass Spray Bottle 16 oz.
  • Cleaning Cloth
  • Cleaning Recipe Booklet

Step Three

Add Thieves Foaming Hand Soap 3 pk – so you can replace the chemical filled version you are using now with an all-natural, plant based formula!  It’s one of my favorite products.

Step Four

Start your journey on replacing items in your home with plant-based options by joining Young Living’s monthly box subscription program, called Essential Rewards.  You will earn a percentage back on your order each month and you can use toward free products – plus you will also get FREE products in your order from Young Living, depending on your order level.

Essential Rewards Program FREE products

Step Five

With this bundle I’ve put together, you will be grabbing over $390 worth of amazing items for your and your family for only $275.25 – saving $115 – plus you’ll be earning 10% back on your very first purchase, when you join Essential Rewards!  That’s 27 points towards free product.

Here are the FREE bonuses for May – if you want you can even add a few more things to your order and snag the 300 PV level – getting over $200 worth of product for free.

May 2017 Young Living Promos

And here’s the best part – I am offering $20 CASH BACK when you purchase your starter kit and join my community – where I offer support, guidance and a bucket full of great reference material to empower you as you start this new journey!!

Now is the time to create a chemical free home – you will NOT regret it, I guarantee it.  I offer a 30 day money back guarantee on the starter kit – so there’s no risk.  I want you to be happy and get the same wonderful benefits I have received over the past four years.

Ready to hop on the oily train?  You can check out more info here, where I have some great information and options on other starter kits.

Or if you are ready to get this box of goodness on it’s way to you PRONTO – go here and get started!  

I am excited for you to get started- it will change your life!

Filed Under: Essential Oils, Family Manager, Healthy Living

8 Amazing Facts About Essential Oils

23
Jan
2017
by Leave a Comment

8 Amazing Facts About Essential Oils

The other day I celebrated a FOUR year anniversary – not a wedding or engagement anniversary, but the anniversary date of purchasing my Premium Starter Kit with Young Living.  

At that time I was looking for natural ways to support my emotions and was desperate to get a routine in place so I could be the best mom, wife, and friend I could be. I had already tried oils I purchased from Amazon and was so disappointed. I was not seeing the results others were sharing. So after doing more research I soon realized that Young Living was my next and last step.

Within three months I had a plan that supported my desired lifestyle and I began sharing right here on my blog. There were other moms who needed to hear what I shared. They wanted hope too.

So for the last four years I have sprinkled in my journey incorporating essential oils in our home, using them for so many different things, as well as ditching the chemicals we had in cleaners by using plant-based alternatives. I can’t imagine my life and what it could be today if I had not taken this step. I want to share a few facts with you about essential oils and Young Living.

#1: Essential Oils Are NOT New

Some of the oldest cultures on earth used essential oils. The Egyptians used essential oils for beauty and embalming and they were used in communal bath houses in Pakistan and Rome. There are 188 references to the use of essential oils in the Bible. Today, essential oils are considered by many to be the leading edge of natural products. Old things do come back in style!

#2: Essential Oils Are POWERFUL!

Essential oils are the most powerful part of the plant. They are distilled from shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes, fruit, rinds, resins, and herbs. Oils consist of over 100 different natural, organic compounds.

#3: Essential Oils Support Every System in the Body

In humans, essential oils provide support for every system in the body – from the endocrine system, to the circulatory system, to the muscular system. They support brain health, a healthy weight, are wonderful for supporting your emotional health, and are even great for sprucing up your libido! The uses are endless.

#4: Essential Oils Can Be Used in Different Methods

Oils can be applied to skin (topically), diffused in the air (aromatically), added to your bath, and Young Living’s Vitality line can be added to food and drink. I love some Lemon Vitality oil in my water bottle. It helps me get more water in during the day!

#5: They Are Absorbed Easily by Skin

When they are applied to skin, they are absorbed easily and carried by the bloodstream to every cell in the body within minutes. They can increase oxygen uptake, enhance absorption of nutrients, enhance longevity, and help our bodies detoxify. By simply inhaling therapeutic grade oils, we can uplift our mood and increase our feeling of peacefulness and well-being.

Tests have shown that essential oils reach the heart, liver, and thyroid in three seconds when inhaled. They were also found in the bloodstream in 26 seconds when applied topically. A normal and healthy body metabolizes essential oils in about 3-5 hours.

#6: Essential Oils Are Very Concentrated 

60,000 rose blossoms provide only 1 ounce of rose oil, making it one of the most precious and expensive oils on the market. However, Lavender is abundant – 220 pounds will provide 7 pounds of oil. The amount of plant material required for distilling explains why some oils are more expensive than others. And yet, since we only use a small amount of essential oils at a time, even oils that are expensive are often considered to be very economical.

#7: Purity Is Important

In the United States, there is no rating system for essential oils. The closest we get is an FDA requirement that in order to label a bottle of essential oils “pure” or “therapeutic grade,” the contents of that bottle must contain at least 5% of essential oils. When using essential oils as a natural alternative to support health and wellness, purity is absolutely critical. 95% of the world’s essential oils were created for industrial use. Many of the oils found on the market, even in health food stores, are of low quality. You will want to know the source of your oils.

Young Living offers a Seed to Seal Guarantee – and this spoke volumes to me. Young Living grows their own plants, owns their own fields, works closely with partner farms who abide by the same policies, and controls the entire process from planting all the way through until bottling. If I am going to go the extra step of using essential oils in my home, I want the best. The Seed to Seal Promise means each plant is hand-weeded, there are no pesticides used, no chemicals, and no weed killers. The plants are harvested at their peak and vigorously tested. They go directly from the farm to my home! You can read more on Seed to Seal here.

#8: Essential Oils Offer Incredible Health Support

Using therapeutic grade essential oils and oil-enhanced products every day can help us lead happier and healthier lives. My life is proof. I have been using Young Living oils for four years, and over that time have learned a lot about my body and what it truly needs to run most effectively. God did not create us to “just get by” – He created us to live FULL lives. My life is dramatically different today than it was four years ago and I can say this about my husband and my seven year old too.

How have you incorporated essential oils into your life? If you haven’t yet, perhaps you are intrigued? If you are interested, you can view an easy Introduction to Essential Oils magazine or  watch a previously recorded Facebook class HERE.

Filed Under: Essential Oils, Healthy Living
Next Page »