Calm, Peaceful & Less Crazy

As I sat down to write today, I noticed that my ideas were not flowing.  I did what every mom does, I asked my daughter, "hey what should I write about?"  Her response...."me and my favorite oils."  

She is 5 and unafraid to tell everyone that she loves her "Mommy's oils" and her "favorite oils are Lavender & Serenity."  I love that she never feels awkward about telling perfect strangers about her love of oils.  On occasion it has prompted questions and led to me giving a one on one.  She is a great little oil sharer.

Why are these her favorites?  "They make me feel calm, peaceful and less crazy." 

And yes, yes they do!  She along with her sister and brother can get wild and crazy which makes their momma crazy.  

Lavender is one of the most well known oils on the market.  Many call it the "swiss army knife" of oils.  It can calm bug bites, burns, headaches, and much much more.  It is lovely.

 

Serenity is one of the four oils of the Mood Management matrix.

These oils include Serenity, Elevation, Citrus Bliss and my own personal favorite Balance.  

They really do improve people's moods. It can occur in minutes.  The transformation around my house is truly amazing.  We will go from so wild you would think no one has an inside voice to chill, fun and relaxed.  

I know I rely on the oils' ability to keep the chaos in check.

So what can Serenity do for you in your house?  

Diffuse Serenity to fill the room with scents of Lavender, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Vanilla and a few more to help everyone feel less anxious and calm.  She requests it in her own diffuser nightly because she said it helps her sleep and have good dreams. 

It is also great to rub on your feet, apply to your wrists or down your spine to help you release those knots in your stomach from the anxiety.  I know I use it frequently on my little oil sharer when her "tummy hurts" but really it is just her nerves.  

For me, I use it on myself when the kids get so crazy and I need a mommy time out.  I will take 1-2 drops and rub my hands together then cup over my nose and mouth.  Take multiple deep breaths until you feel the calming effects.  

Yes, she needed a drop so I could keep typing. For the record, after her "modeling session" she decided she needed to go find a book to read so I could finish.  It is so awesome when it helps her break her cycle of asking the same question over and over.  

We are truly grateful to have the doTERRA essential oils in our home.  I would love to help you get them in your home.  Just let me know if I can help you!

Bugs bug me!

Spring and Summer in Georgia always means you are going to see critters.  Critters creep me out!  I know there are many people love the great outdoors but my definition of camping means the hotel doesn't have room service!  Only kidding....well only slightly kidding.

Well, it is May and I have started to see the spiders, ants and the gnats.  Yuck!  If only they all could be beautiful butterflies.  Before I had oils, I would grab all the standard bug sprays.  Man do they smell bad.  Worse, they are filled with really nasty chemicals.  The warning labels scare me too!  I really didn't think much of this until I had kids.  Now, we have the oils and I have really adopted these as my first line of defense against the multi-legged creatures.

So let's talk Spiders.....I admit, I am scared of all spiders even though some are really not that dangerous.

What I do when I see spiders.....diffuse Peppermint!  They hate peppermint!  Lucky me, because I love it.  

Peppermint is also a great use in the garden against aphids on your Crepe Myrtles and roses.  I mix about 6 drops with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and bathe my plants.  It cut the black residue down to almost none last year.  This year I will be better since I will be home more.

Want to keep the mosquitoes away?  TerraShield is your friend.  And you will smell great!

Also works great for fleas and ticks!  Never go camping for real without a bottle.  I sent a mixture of 5 drops with a half cup of water in spray bottle for my daughter who went to see Frozen in the park.  She didn't get a bite but smelled really good! 

Ants?  Ants hate Lemongrass!  Wipe down your counters and baseboards with a damp cloth with a few drops of Lemongrass to help drive away the army of ants trying to overthrow your kitchen.

For more ideas and oils to choose, check out the blog from doTERRA!

And if you get bit....turn to the swiss army knife of oils to soothe that itch....Lavender!

Try the natural alternatives to drive those bugs out.  Reduce your exposure to toxins and chemicals.  

I'm Diffused!

Typically, most people think of essential oils and immediately think of Aromatherapy.  They imagine gorgeous scents that help them to relax, sleep or conjure up visions of happiness and tranquility.  And, yes, it can do that!  It is just one of the many things I love about the oils.

The nose is an amazing organ where just a scent can activate the olfactory system.  It can trigger great memories and feelings.  

I spent many years buying the candles scented with Vanilla or Christmas cookies or spring flowers.  And they were nice, don't get me wrong.  My mother once burned this lovely candle in the house and the bird she had sitting near it fell over dead.  Why?  Birds are very sensitive when it comes to respiratory issues.  This candle was labelled all natural and was actually a bundle of chemicals manufactured to smell great.

But think about this.....if burning a candle is so toxic it can kill a bird, do you think that is great for you as the human as well?  

An article in How Stuff Works reports, "Indoor air pollution, the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials, can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution [source: Dunn]. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces do. "

Not just candles can increase this pollution, the Teflon cookware you use daily, the stuffing in your sofa, pesitcides you use in the garden all get trapped under your very energy efficiently sealed home.  

This type of pollution can lead to a toxic build up in your body leading to headaches, allergies, asthma and even worse.  It all depends on the toxins you are exposed to daily.

There are many simple ways to help improve the air quality of your home.   During nice weather, open the windows.  It can really blow out the junk including cold and flu viruses!  If you live in a high humidity area like I do, make sure to keep your levels inside 30-50% and use good air filters in your HVAC systems.

"But I want that great smell of fresh flowers I got for my candle, how do I get that?"

Diffusing essential oils!  That's how.

If you don't have a diffuser, I highly reccommend one.  Anywhere you are allowed to use air freshener or candles, you should be allowed to use a diffuser.  Chemical free fabulousness!

Citrus oils are a great economical option and used in many hosptials including Vanderbilt ER.  They are expanding the use throughout their healthcare network and patients are loving it.  Citrus oils are a great disinfectant and anti-depressant.  

Other great oils to improve air quality would be OnGuard, Breathe & Frankincense.

Some combos that smell great:

OnGuard & Lime

Cassia & Citrus Bliss

Frankincense & OnGuard

Breathe & Lime.

Your house will smell fantastic and you can get the health benefits for cleaner air as well as the health benefits from the oils themselves.

Since it is Spring, I am loving combining my floral oils together.  A little bit of heaven is the combination of Lavender, Geranium and Jasmine.  I earned Jasmine last year and hope to again this year.  It is truly a precious oil!  I really want to earn Rose too.  Fingers crossed!

Check out this video on how they harvest those precious Jasmine flowers.  About 30,000 flowers are needed to make 1 5mL bottle!  

Life 101 - Manage Stress or Suffer the Consequences

It has been a crazy couple of days around my house…..well I am sure it has but I wasn't here to witness.  I spent those days in the hospital.  This is truly not a post I really want to write but I am sure I am not alone in this little adventure we call life.

Last week it all started.  Well to be perfectly honest, this has all been building for some time now.  My stress level.  On top of my jobs as Mom and doTERRA Wellness Advocate, I also work full time.  Lately, that full time job has had an overwhelming schedule.  

I have missed so many of my kids events, dinners with my family, weekends, good sleep, convsersations with my husband, time with my friends etc etc.  This is nothing new for a typical working family but I have not been handling it well.  

Back to the events leading to the hospital…..I laid down to go to bed after telling my husband I was exhausted.  Major right side body cramp from ear to ankle.  It hurt but I was too tired and not really willing to deal with the issue.  I fell asleep.  Next night…..a slightly lighter repeat only this time I asked my husband for some help.

Then I worked over the weekend…yes on Easter I went to work.  Like I said, crazy schedule.  Finally, Tuesday night my sister came to visit and said I didn't look right and she thought I needed to go to the ER.  My right eye looked droopy or puffy in her opinion.

If you don't know the signs of a stroke…you should!  This is a big one!

So off I go to the ER….extremely scared, with a massive headache and arm weakness.  Not a good combo if you ask me.

The doctors were quite mad at me for waiting so long to get checked out.  If you suspect stroke, you need to be in the ER in less than 4 hours they told me.  Test after test showed I was normal which made the doctors very happy but complicated the diagnosis.  One of the doctors finally said, I think this is a complex migraine.  A term I have never heard.  After, looking into this term I remember the news reporter who everyone thought was having a stroke on live tv. Actually, she was having a complex migraine.  Dr. Oz references her here.  

Luckily, the neurologist thinks this is what I had but just a really intense migraine brought on by stress.  He is suggesting more Physical Therapy than drugs.  I like a doctor who thinks like that, especially if this type of Physical Therapy includes more a massage type thing.  

Now, here is the time where my loyal blog readers will tell me…..you did a blog on stress…don't you listen to your own advice.  To which I humbly say, apparently not very well.  

Although, I have faithfully used my oils to help keep all things in check, I obviously was not doing the other things to relieve stress….good exercise, good diet and good sleep.  My Fitbit does not lie!  Also, a balancing of my thyroid is very much in needed so hopefully my doctor will help me a bit more in this area.

Some things I have learned from this little thing….

1.  The drugs in the hospital helped relieve the pain but at a price of intense sweating and extreme drowsiness.  It is no way to live.  I prefer my oil recipes over their choices any day.

2.  My own bed and pillows are the best thing on the planet!

3.  I am not a superhero who can do it all.  I am human and I have to call "Uncle" before I break.  AND not feel guilty afterwards.  More Cassia for the courage to say no.  More Bergamot to keep guilt out of the picture.  And a whole lotta Balance!!! 

Keep in mind there are many options and everyone will react differently to the oils.  If you are in need of some Mood Management there are great blends….Elevation and Serenity will become more prominent in my life as well.

Here is to a happier, more balanced life!  

The Power of Touch

Recently, I had the priviledge to be trained in the Aromatouch Technique.   It was truly a wonderful day of learning and experiencing such a wonderful way to share my oils with people I care about. 

I am not a liscensed massage therapist so I will not be drumming up business using this technique but I will be using it on people I care about.  I know they will benefit from this simple process of touch.  

It was created by Dr. David Hill who is the Chief Medical Officer for doTERRA. I have had the pleasure of meeting him as well.  He is a very caring man who has a true passion to help others feel well.  His passion is rather infectious!

A few big points stood out as my instructor spoke.  One was simply a question, "Do you hear the same people complaining they are always sick?"  Most of us are exposed to the same bunch of germs and toxins so why are some people always sick where as some rarely get sick?  

The answer….Balance or more of a medical term….Homeostasis

Homeostasis is simply put, your body's balance of the autonomic nervous system.  The autonomic nervous system is kind of like autopilot in our bodies.  Think body temperature.  You don't have to do much to raise and lower your temperature, you body typically does a great job on it's own based on many factors.

When your are out of balance, your body can struggle with these processes leading to illness.  An overload of toxins or stress is usually the cause for lack of homeostasis.  

The Aromatouch Technique (AT) can help bring that back into balance.  But how does it actually do that?  

Our Autonomic Nervous System is a two part system.  It gives you the "Fight or Flight" response using the Sympathetic Nervous System.  It helps calm you back down using the Parasympathetic Nervous System.  

People who are constantly getting sick are off balance where their Sympathetic Nervous System is chronically stimulated. I would bet stress would be their biggest stimulant sending them over the edge.  

A constant Fight or Flight condition in the body is known to lead to weight gain, mental fatigue, and hormonal imbalances.  

The AT will help the body reduce the Cortisol levels and destress both the person recieving and the person giving.  It is a great benefit to both.


If you are finding people who have just given up on life, they are being driven more by their Parasympathetic System.  Calming your system down from a life threatening event is very important.  But remaining in a deep low is not good for the body.  Again, toxins such as pharmaceuticals can cause this to take over and keeping the person in a state of not wanting to get out of bed because they just don't care anymore.  That is not healthy either.

Using the AT to modulate the physical and emotional stressors, will help improve your overall well-being by helping to restore the autonomic tone or homeostasis.  The power of touch is very powerful!

The other statement my instructor made was how beneficial this technique is for the person giving.  She said "leave your junk on the table and focus on your connection to this person."  That too was actually remphasized when I was at church the following day.  

The phrase "Want more for others than you want FROM them" just solidified the whole thing for me.  I had just learned a technique to help the people I care about and helping them feel better is what I truly want FOR them.  Yes, I want to build my business with the oils but truly, I want everyone around me to feel better.  

I encourage any of you reading this blog, take that last quote to heart in all that you do.  Do what you can do to help those around you without expecting much from them.  You will keep your stress and anxiety more in check, build stronger relationships and truly feel better.

There are 10 oils needed for this technique along with Fractionated Coconut Oil.  The Aromatouch Technique Kit has everything you need.

Addicted!

I have admitted to all that in my past I was a huge Diet Coke addict.  I would joke to everyone that all I really needed to keep going was an IV of DC to start my day.  One day, long before I was ever introduced to doTERRA I made the decision to kick that habit.  It was tough and here is the blog about it.  One of the best choices I have ever made!

I was addicted!  Addictions come in many shapes and sizes.  The definition to addiction is:

A dependence on a substance or behavior that appears necessary to preserve what appears as normalcy in disregard to the adverse consequences.  

TV and Movies often focus addictions on drugs or alcohol but often they can be sugar, food, or other behavioral type things.  One of the most common in our society today caffeine.  

Symptoms or side effects of addictions is the feeling of a compelling need to continue the negative activity. This then can lead to feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety. As addictions are addressed withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, headaches, nausea, etc. can develop.

In my area, we finally got a Starbucks.  People were celebrating on social media with pictures, countdowns, etc.  It cracked me up but also made me think.  Don't get me wrong, I like a good cup of coffee in the morning.  I also love a great Latte but over the years, I have really cut back on my caffeine intake.  Pregnancy will cause you to cut back since it is reccommended to have no more than 2 cups of coffee per day.  My body adjusted and now I just can't seem to go back to more without feeling really jittery.

According to the Mayo Clinic an average adult will have no adverse affects with moderate caffeine intake.  What is moderate?  200-300 mg or about 2-4 cups of brewed coffee per day.  What does that look like if you aren't a coffee drinker?

http://www.caffeineinformer.com/caffeine-safe-limits

Heavy (500-600mg) use can result in a host of unpleasantness. 

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Stomach upset
• Fast heartbeat
• Muscle tremors

So how do you cut back and not feel awful…..well honestly, you probably will have some sluggish days but there are lots of tools to help you.  First, drink a ton of water!  Hydration solves many of life's ailments.  Flavor that water with Grapefruit oil or the Metabolic blend.  These options are also good for those who are sugar addicts as well.  Personally, I use Mito 2 Max as well.  You can take up to 4 per day but I only need 2.  Works great to help feel I have my stamina all day.

Grapefruit oil can help you conquer the cravings of those energy drinks on the market.  They are loaded with lots of junk and can be quite dangerous for you.  I love all the citrus oils in my water.  Just make sure you are using glass or metal containers to drink your citrus water.  

Now if you are dealing with another type addiction, there are oils that can help as well.  Laura Jacobs  has some general guidelines for recovery:

The Grounding Blend – restored sense of solidity/grounded in life

Bergamot – self love

Frankincense – restore connection to divine love and acceptance

Peppermint – sense of recovery

The Cleansing Blend – cleansing and detoxifying both physically and emotionally

The Calming Blend – calming and quieting

White Fir – if passed on generation to generation

Vetiver – get to the root of it

The Detoxing Blend – detoxifying

Specific addiction use:

Alcohol – Helichrysum

Alcohol, Sugar – Helichrysum

Appetite Suppressant – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend

Appetite Stimulant – Ginger, Myrrh, The Metabolic Blend

Cravings – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend

Drugs – Grapefruit, Roman Chamomile 

Entertainment – The Grounding Blend, Serenity, Vetiver

Pornography – Frankincense, Helichrysm

Sex – Geranium, Sandalwood

Smoking/Tobacco – Clove, The Protective Blend, Black Pepper

Withdrawal – Grapefruit, Lavender, Sandalwood

Work – Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Wild Orange, Ylang Ylang

Adopt the habits and make the choice of a healthy lifestyle!

Your body will thank you….maybe not days 1-3 but it will thank you.

Busy Busy Busy

This morning I was watching The Today Show when they asked the question, "Is saying you are 'so busy' a new buzzword of our society?" or something along those lines.  The discussion they had went on for a minute or so but it got me thinking…..how many times do I respond with "Oh been busy" to the question of "How have you been?"

Then I thought, it really is a bit of a silly answer.  Everyone is busy.  Somehow it seems that using the term, "Oh gosh, I have been so busy" has become more of a competition.  For me, I think that term has come to really mean, "I am stressed and please don't get mad at me if I have forgotten something."  For others, I think it might be a way to say no when they are just too afraid to use the two little letters with tons of power.  Maybe they don't want to hurt feelings because like I said, everyone in our society is busy.  

So today's blog is all about using that phrase "I am so busy" when you really are busy and just saying what you want to say the rest of the time.  Be authentic, be truthful, be confident that when you are asked "How have you been?" you can answer with your own personal truth.  The person asking more than likely cares about you and really wants to know.  

Now, the Oil of Truth is one of my all time faves…..Frank!  I have blogged a few times about the power of Frankincense.  From the book Emotions & Essential Oils it says, " This oil helps creat new perspective based on light and truth."  Light and truth…..doesn't that sound much more appealing than "busy".

Inhale directly from the bottle at regular intervals through the day or place 1-4 drops in a diffuser.

Topically, you can apply 1-3 drops on the crown of your head, forehead, behind the ears or on the bottoms of the feet.

If you are one that just can't say no, you need the Oil of Boundaries….Clove.  "It reignites the inner soul-fire and can assist anytime there has been damage to the Self,…"  Clove can help you say no and not fear rejection for being true to yourself.

This often comes up when I invite people to experience the oils.  They say yes but then give me reason after reason why they cannot attend a class, meet one on one or even try to use samples for 3-5 days.  Me, being a somewhat hopeful but rather direct person hears the "yes" then is confused by the behavior later.  Then a bit of frustration kicks in because I would rather hear, "no that isn't my thing."  Often, I hear, "I am really just so busy I can't meet you."  Then social media gives them away……damn that social media.  

That is where Thyme comes into play….the Oil of Releasing & Forgiving.  Funny how Thyme helps you heal over time.  Serenity is another great one for forgiving.

Now, if you are busy and really thriving because of it then keep that motivation going.  Empower yourself!  Ginger is the way to go.  Ginger has a purpose and will fulfill it!  Now that definetly sounds awesome to me.  This oil can help you be successful in life when you fully commit to it.

Again, inhale directly from the bottle at regular intervals through the day or place 1-4 drops in a diffuser.

Topcially, apply 1-3 drops over the stomach.  Dilute with a carrier oil is you desire.  Bonus…..no more tummy aches.












My goal in all of this is to actually say how I feel.  I remember my grandpa griping that "You kids say FINE when I ask you how your day went or how you are.  Don't you have anything else to say?"  I love that man!  He just wanted to talk to us.  He wanted to listen to us.  Isn't that really what we all want?!  Let your friends and family hear you so they feel connected to you.


Life is best when spent with people you love.  Be authentic and abundant!

Oh yes….there is an Oil of Abundance….Wild Orange!  Love it!