Current Loves

1.  Peace & Calming essential oil - Everyone I know loves Young and Living's Peace & Calming essential oil.  I have liked it, but up until recently it hasn't been one of my favorites. It's crazy how your oil loves are always changing.  My RE does not want me doing much with essential oils while going through IVF, but she isn't opposed to me diffusing here and there. It really helps with my stress and anxiety.  Also, zzzzz's.  Not like I have an issue there.  For those who have never had the opportunity to give it a sniff, it's a blend of tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli and blue tansy. Hands down our pup's favorite oil too!

2.  Sling TV - is awesome. It's new, it has it's kinks. It freezes and you have to restart here and there, but it really doesn't bother me.  We literally get every channel we cared about on cable for $20 a month!  A downside, you can only watch on one device.  This isn't really an issue in our household, but I can see it being an issue. I am sure an option for more than one screen will be available soon. 

3.  Nick's Sticks - These are our go-to when needing a quick snack.  Specifically the 100% grass fed beef sticks.  120 calories for two sticks!  Dye free, nitrate free, hormone free, sugar free, gluten free and antibiotic free. Love, love love these.

4. Emmaus "Touch of Love" skin towels - Emmaus Beauty was founded by Aminah Sagoe for her skin issues including Keratosis Pilaris. I personally do not suffer from KP, but I do have extremely sensitive skin. In the winter, my skin issues exacerbate. 

These towelettes are awesome. They indeed eliminated a dry patch of skin on my side and left it feeling smooth and moisturized. It was pretty much a miracle. I had tried almost everything before finding these and will be a must have for the winter months. Also, all natural ingredients are used. Win!  I also have been using the body wash and lotion which are fabulous, but the towels are by far my favorite. 

What are you currently loving? 

An Oily Summer

It has been a year since I got serious about essential oils and signed up with Young Living.  

I must say I am pleased, very pleased.  I cannot imagine facing any season without essential oils, but wanted to chat a bit about how we are using essential oils in our lives this summer. 

I have already blogged about my DIY after sun spray using lavender, peppermint and elemi or frankincense.

The mosquitoes are thriving in Chicago with all of the record rain we have received.  We are loving my DIY bug spray made with witch hazel, distilled water, lemongrass, citronella, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender. 

When we do get an unexpected mosquito bite, because seriously I get one if I just open the patio door once and put my arm out to check the temperature - we use Melaleuca or Lavender to calm the itch. 

I diffuse in the summer just as much as the winter.  Here are a few of my favorite summer diffusing blends:

• Lemon and Ylang Ylang
• Lavender and Joy 
• Stress Away, Peace and Calming and Grapefruit
• Lemon and Spearmint 

How do you use essential oils in the summer? 

After Sun Spray

You would think after 33 years I would have avoiding a sunburn down pat.  Welp, not the case. It happens. This past Saturday in Chicago was gorgeous and it just so happens I spent the entire day outside which turned me into a lobster.  You can call me "lobster lady".

Luckily for me I had my DIY after sun spray on hand.  This stuff is amazing.  It provides instant relief and is also ultra moisturizing which is exactly what sun parched skin needs MOISTURE.  So in addition to dousing youself in your DIY after sun spray get yourself some electrolytes!

I had a smaller bottle (pictured) on hand, but the next batch I make will be in a larger spray bottle (I really love this stuff!) and here is the forumulation

16oz glass spray bottle
1/2 cup pure aloe vera (not the easiest thing to find) or 1 cup aloe vera juice
1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
8 drops Young Living Lavender
6 drops Young Living Peppermint
8 drops Young Living Frankincense or Elemi (I use Frank)

Combine ingredients and shake - easy peasy!

Make sure to give the bottle a shake before each application.  This stuff is great to cool off skin even if its not sun burned.  Its a natural skin loving quencher.  Think gatorade for your skin.

If you are interested in ordering Young Living Essential Oils click here for more information!

Current Loves

Happy Tuesday, loves! Today is the last day of my staycation, but I am not complaining.  It was a great few days relaxing, spring cleaning and unwinding from a couple of busy, busy months.  I figured it was time for a fluffy blog post and what better than a blog sharing my current loves.

1.  All things coconut.  I have never been a big fan of coconut water, but I would use it as a mixer for my wheat grass juice or as a liquid for my smoothies.  My sister-in-law introduced me to Amazonia Coconut Water and White Tea and at first I was hesitant because of my dislike of coconut water, but this is the perfect mix of coconut water and white tea. Amazing and refreshing. She also introduced me to Coconut Rolls made by Tropical Fields which are also cripsy and delicious. I ran out to Costco to pick these both up because you all know how unpredictable Costco is with stocking your favorites!

2.  Young Living Elemi Essential Oil often called "Poor Man's Frankincense".  I cant remember if I have blogged about Elemi before, but I love it. I am attempting to become better at maintaining a skincare regimen, and Elemi has been used in many of Europe's high-end age defying skin care products and by Egyptians for skincare concerns. It's also a grounding oil, and with my main goal of becoming more mindful its one of my favorite oils of the moment.

3.  Headspace proves there is an app for everything.  Headspace is an app providing guided meditation.  I love the user friendliness of the app. I have just started, but so far so good.  I may even sign up after the free 10 day trial.

4.  When Things Fall Apart:  Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron is a book you will read and re-read whether you are or are not going through a difficult/trying time.  I am savoring the pages of this book because the lessons are so simple, but often difficult to grasp.  Go buy yourself a copy. You will not regret it.

5.  Lilly for Target what more can I add? My husband and I woke up early Saturday morning to grab a spot in line at Target.  We may or may not have went to an additional couple of Targets to see if there were any returns I could scoop up.  Lilly is cheerful and Lilly from Target is inexpensive.  These two things are a necessity for me right now - cheer and cheap!

6.  Did quite a bit of spring cleaning the last couple of days and Thieves Household Cleaner did the dirty work.  Soap scum, toilets, oven top, counters - you name it!  Thieves can handle it.  This stuff is magic and toxin free.  Absolutely love this stuff. I will never, ever go without.

What are you currently loving?

A Year of Oils

 

Since introducing Young Living essential oils into your lives, we have...

Not suffered a cold/flu in a year - not kidding. In the past, we have had about two cold/flu/viruses a year. I would suffer through a couple of sinus colds that would almost always escalate into full blown sinus infections. Every other year my husband's colds would often escalate into pneumonia/bronchitis.  It has been a year and nothing. No sniffles. No sneezes. No coughs. Nada. Zilch. 

Eliminated the purchase of costly and harmful household products such as hand sanitizer, bug spray, hand soap, dish soap and household cleaner.  I make the majority of our household products using vinegar and essential oils or use the concentrated Thieves Household Cleaner.  

Eliminated many of our costly natural personal care items with items I make homemade using essential oils. This began with my sister-in-law introducing me to her homemade deodorant.  Have you used a natural deodorant? Expect to pay $5+  for a stick that works 50% of the time and leaves an icky sticky residue.

Did you know you can poison yourself 30 ways before even sitting down for breakfast??

Are essential oils magic? Absolutely not, but can be when used the correct way; in conjuction with a healthy lifestyle! I cringe when I see ridiculous claims all over instagram, facebook and other social media forums.  Educate yourself!

It's also important to remember, essential oils work when one uses them. They are not a "one size fits all".  What works for one person may not work for others just like any drug or herb.  If you claim that a single oil will work for everyone for the same condition, you are using essential oils like you would an over the counter or prescription drug - a "band-aid" to the real problem.  Essential oils should be used in conjunction with a holistic, healthy lifestyle including clean/whole eating, stress relief and exercise. 

Young Living Essential Oils can do amazing things in the body, with your body and its natural ability to heal iteself.   

What have you experienced since introducing Young Living into your life?

An Ode to Joy

Joy has always been my least favorite Young Living Premium Starter Kit oil until now.  I now love Joy. 

 

Joy is a Young Living blend of Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Lemon, Coriander, Tangerine, Jasmine, Roman Chamomile, Palmarosa and Rose.

 

Just because I wasn’t a fan of Joy, doesn’t mean you will not instantly fall in love with Joy. It’s a good friends favorite oil in the kit.  Proof everyone’s likes/dislikes when it comes to scents are different.  What I find interesting is I have grown to really enjoy Joy over the last few months. In my opinion, proof that oils you often dislike are oils you actually need in your life.  

 

My favorite use for Joy thus far has been overcoming heaps of emotions specifically "the sads", and it really helps. I have enjoyed adding Joy to my lukewarm baths and daily over my heart.  I also have found myself applying it when I am very irritable and it turns my “frown upside down” as cheesy as that sounds. 

 

How do you use Joy?

 

Recipe - Rosemary Cranberry Spread

Need a simple, but delicious cheese spread to add to your appetizer selection? I have you covered.  This is such an easy recipe that I found online and then added ingredients to make it my own!  I think it tastes great with a water cracker, but the options are endless.

Ingredients

8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon garlic powder to taste
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup almonds crushed 
2-3 toothpick pokes of Young Living Rosemary Oil
Himalayan Pink Salt & crushed black pepper to taste

Fold in cranberries and garlic powder to cream cheese, and add salt and pepper to taste

Ninja (or food processor whatever you may have on hand) the chia seeds and almonds together until fine

Add to cranberry/cream cheese mixture

Dip a toothpick into Rosemary Oil (2-3 pokes!) and dip/swirl saturated end into dip mixture- This will be enough! You are more than welcome to taste.

Serve with water crackers or a crunchy baguette!

Focusing on 2015

Happy New Year!! Holy Moly, how is it 2015? 2014 was a fabulous year of personal development, striving for a more natural lifestyle and settling into married life. I decided to make a running list of things that I would like to focus on this year - 2015.

Food 

• More vegetables and less carbs.  I have quickly learned carbs/sugar are not my friends. They make me feel sluggish and out of sorts. 
• Meal planning! I would like to focus on planning weeknight dinners with the hopes that it would cut back my tri-weekly need to stop at the grocery store for something.  I want to focus on simple and whole rather than the newest Pinterest recipe. 
• Growing our own food. We had a bountiful garden for our G's first year and I really want to make sure we make it a priority this year. It really helped me step out of my comfort zone when it came to vegetables. We were more appreciative of what we were consuming and I found would eat vegetables that I would not normally eat. Everyone was happy.  Family, neighbors, coworkers and bunnies. 
• Buy a deep freezer.
• Green smoothies.

Time Management

• Waking up earlier. The amount of time I have to get ready in the morning is embarrassing. I would like to enjoy my mornings and start them on a slower more relaxing start. 
• Less screen time on the weekends. I haven't honed in on exactly how I would like to accomplish this, but I am thinking that one weekend day will be spent sans Facebook and Instagram.  
• Develop a weekly cleaning routine with some small routine tasks done in the morning (as I hope to start waking up a bit earlier).
• Less procrastination at work.
• Using the numerous planners, to-do list, menu planners I have compiled in preparation for time management in 2015.  Finding what works and sticking with it.  

Health & Natural Wellness

• Continue exploring natural medicine and utilizing my Young Living Essential Oils daily.  I have seen a dramatic difference in my health and well being since using them, and I know keeping up and learning will be nothing but beneficial.
• Adios to coffee.  It's an addiction of mine, and I really think I am better without. Hello Rooibos and Green Tea!  I have been coffee free for a few weeks, but its been difficult. I really need to keep it on my radar.
• At least 64oz of water a day. It wont be difficult with my new Hydroflask.  I am not joking when I say the Hydroflask is one of both mine and G's favorite gifts.  
• Purging any unnatural products we may still use and replacing them with something preferably homemade. 
• Replacing all of our cookware with ceramic, cast iron or stainless steel. Its in the works, and isn't easy. This is an entire post in itself. I received this set of Lodge Cast Iron from G for Christmas which I absolutely love and I also ordered this set from Amazon. I am anxiously waiting for its arrival. I hope to also obtain more mason jars and pyrex for storing leftovers, fruits and vegetables. 
• Move more. Whether its taking the stairs, more walks for Baci or trading a lunch date with a friend for a walking date. Look into taking Zumba or Yoga classes.

Personal & Relationships

• More real telephone calls/skype calls with friends and family. I am extremely anxious when it comes to talking on the phone, and I would really like to change this in 2015.  I think a good goal would be to call at least one person a month out of the blue to chat. It's crazy how old school a telephone call has become!
• Managing anxiety through meditation, mindfulness and prayer.
• Being cognizant of my tone when it comes to talking to people.

I think that's it /sarcasm. I truly hope 2015 will be another year of great personal development and as always any improvement is better than no improvement!

A Male Skintervention

Over the last 5-6 years I have slowly adopted a more clean (sans as many bad chemicals as possible) personal care routine. I have slowly traded these products with more natural or even homemade alternatives. My husband on the other hand has taken a bit longer to come around, but he has made major strides in the last year or so. Believe it or not he is extremely brand loyal when it comes to personal care products and persuading him to make the switch has not always been that easy. I always give the personal advice of "time and space" for women hoping to revamp their male companions personal care regimen into something a bit more natural.

Here are a few of my husband's natural must haves.  As I said he is quite particular so I have faith that the new products exceeded his expectations and most importantly have much less chemicals and fragrances.

• My husband once swore by Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub, and now uses Burt's Bees Peach and Willowbark Scrub. The switch was gradual until the day the Burt's Bees ran out and I told him he should still have some Biore in the closet.  This is when he confessed he prefers to use the Burt's Bees.
• Right Guard Deodorant Clear Fresh Scent has been replaced by homemade coconut oil based deodorant scented with one of his favorite essential oil scents Frankincense. He would bathe in Frankincense if given the chance.  So when my sister-in-law forwarded to me her favorite coconut oil deodorant recipe I decided to add something to entice him which was the Frankincense essential oil.  It worked! I will definitely share the recipe in a future post.
• Body Wash (the more chemically fragrance laden the better) has been replaced by Valor scented bar soap and Every Man Jack Body Wash.  In the near future, I hope to make a homemade Valor body wash with hopes of a more affordable alternative.
• Cologne has been replaced by his all time favorite essential oil Valor. I really thought I would miss Issey Miyake, but there came a point when him wearing the fragrance actually made me itch!  I love the smell of Valor and the extra benefits it offers makes it an even better choice.
• His Aveeno Shaving Cream has been replaced by Shea Moisture Three Butter Utility Soap and the Valor scented bar soap I mentioned above.  
• His Got2B hair gel has been replaced by Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Gel. Is it the absolute best alternative? No, as it does contain Benzyl Alcohol but it's definitely an improvement.   

My advice let your male counterparts observe the differences in you and then slowly introduce them to their own more natural alternatives.

A great resource for researching skincare products is EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic's Database.