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Grace Blossoms

Search Results for: stress

Handle Stress for Good

Learn a few simple, cost-effective ways to handle your stress naturally and how to equip yourself with your own just right tools.

Learn how to handle stress for good with these super simple additions to your wellness routine.

1. Safe Essential Oils

Because of pesticides, fragrance, and/or synthetics used in every other oil company, I can only in good conscience recommend Young Living.

You can learn more here.

*Note: Each 15mL bottle has around 300 drops; each 5mL, 100.

  1. Diffuse: Use your diffuser and choose from Lemon, Lavender, Stress Away or Peace & Calming. Diffuse 2-3 drops. My favorites are Lavender and Stress away.
  2. Breathe Deep: Put a drop of Trauma Life or Release in your hand. Rub your hands together. Cup over your nose, and breathe deeply.
  3. Roller Bottle: Repurpose an old 15mL oil bottle or get multiple new rollers here. Add 20-30 drops of your favorite stress relieving oil. Then fill the rest with carrier oil like our V-6 oil. Roll on the bottoms of your feet or on the back of your neck.

2. Nutritionals

  • SleepEssence: Combines lavender, vetiver, valerian, and Ruta graveolens essential oils with the melatonin (youngliving.com).

3. Sleep

Sleep is hugely important to your overall health as well as how you handle emotional and situational stresses.

Try for sleep around the same time each night. Turn off your WiFi and set your phone to airplane mode to get a better night’s sleep.

4. Massage Oils

Young Living has 7 different massage oils. I recommend the Relaxation Massage Oil or making a quick DIY with one of the stress-relieving blends mentioned above.

For a quick guide, dilute 1 drop essential oil to 4 drops carrier like the V-6 from Young Living.

Final Thoughts

I encourage you to dig into preventing stress rather than waiting until you’re overwhelmed to grab what you need.

This is why it’s so important to have Young Living essential oils wellness arsenal with Subscribe and Save.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, right?

Let’s be proactive to keep our minds sharp, emotions in balance, and stress levels low.

Learn a few simple, cost-effective ways to handle your stress naturally and how to equip yourself with your own just right tools.

Filed in: Emotions + Mental Health, EO Hacks, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oiling, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

32 Seriously Impressive Uses for Basil!

If Basil essential oil isn’t in your life yet, it’s invaluable! Get cha some!

For less than a penny a serving, it’s a staple in the Marshall home.

*Note: When figuring how much you’re getting for the price, divide the cost by 300 for 15mL and 100 for 5mL.*

Do you know how to get the most from your Basil essential oil? These 32 seriously impressive uses are practical and so helpful!

What Clinical Studies Have Shown

When distilling the Basil leaf, it has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Just to be clear, I’m not aiming to heal, treat, or cure a dang thing. I’m just sharing what the ole scientists have reported. K? K. 😉

They have also found that it demonstrated strong bactericidal action against microorganisms.

Basil strengthens circulatory, muscular, skeletal, immune, and respiratory systems. YAY for that goodness!

Who Can Use It?

  • Epileptics should not use Basil.
  • Those with high blood pressure should talk to their doc first before using it.
  • Don’t use if you’re pregnant.
  • No internal use for children under 6.

How to Dilute It

Dilute 1 drop Basil to 4 drops V-6 or other carrier before applying to skin or taking internally.

You can ingest the Young Living oil because it’s pesticide free, synthetic free, and fragrance free!

No harmful junk.

Can you find any other oil brand to say this?

I searched for 9 long months and could only find YL!

Do you know how to get the most from your Basil essential oil? These 32 seriously impressive uses are practical and so helpful!

Not a New Remedy

According to Life Science Publishing, Basil goes waaaay back.

“Used extensively in traditional Asian Indian medicine, Basil’s name is derived from “basileum,” the Greek name for king. In the 16th century, the powdered leaves were inhaled to treat migraines and chest infections. The Hindu people put basil sprigs on the chests of the dead to protect them from evil spirits. Italian women wore basil to attract possible suitors. It was listed in Hildegard’s Medicine, a compilation of early German medicines by highly regarded Benedictine herbalist Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179).“

Blends that have Basil In Them:

Want more Basil in your life?

Trying to avoid it because you’re one of those peeps listed above who shouldn’t use it?

It’s also in the following oil blends:

  • Aroma Siez
  • Clarity
  • M-Grain

PRACTICAL WAYS WE USE BASIL:

Let’s get down to it!

Pin this or dig out your special oily notebook and add these for future use!

1.) Growing pains! Dilute and apply right to the sore shins or knees (that’s where our boys hurt the most) or wherever it’s needed.

2.) Use as a part of the Raindrop Technique (included in Kitty and dog Raindrop as well!)

3.) Add to shampoo or conditioner for extra shine.

4.) Add a drop or two to the bath to help wind down at the end of a stressful day.

5) Three drops Basil + 1 dropper of CBD Base for sore muscles.

6.) Add a drop to marinades or pasta sauces for amazing flavor!

7.) Get more basil oil in your diet when enjoying one of our Slique Shakes.

8.) Dilute and apply to brainstem area when dealing with confusion.

9.) Put one drop neat into the palm of your hand, cup hands, bring to nose, and breathe in deeply when needing to refocus and concentrate.

10.) Dilute and apply to brainstem area and breathe in deeply when walking through emotional shock.

—————————————

11.) Enjoy the benefits of Basil when taking ICP (Intestinal Fiber Cleanse).

12.) Add a drop to your minestrone soup.

13.) Dilute and use daily either topically or internally for bone and joint support.

14.) Add alongside MindWise in your 2 oz of NingXia Red each day to support a healthy memory.

15.) I can dilute and either use with a cold compress on my joints affected by bursitis or take it internally to help. What a thing to be grateful for!

16.) Dilute and put on any ligament sprains or tears this house of athletes may suffer! I can take 15 drops of Aroma Siez (has Basil in it) and add it to 5 drops Lemongrass and apply 3-6 times per day.

17.) Add to veggie capsule for heartburn (it always strikes me right before bed–ugh!): 8 drops Sage, 3 drops Sacred Sandalwood, 2 drops Basil, 1 drop Palo Santo. You can use any single or mix of these oils you have.

18.) Dizziness! While I’ll need to figure out the root cause of any time I’m experiencing dizziness, I’ll grab the Basil and put a single drop under my nose to feel better first.

19.) This one has been put to the test a few times in our house: Place 2 drops Basil on a small piece of cotton and place it in our ear when we have an earache. I’ll also dilute it and rub it around (but not in!) our ear. This is one of the most amazing things we’ve experienced with Basil. It’s our go-to.

20.) Likewise, we’ll do the same when we have ear infections. Of course, I also tag team it with taking Thieves in honey to help in the way it always does in our house–fighting that ick!

—————————————

21.) Ever get ringing in your ear? So thankful we can take a drop of Basil and rub it along our ears, on temples, forehead, and the back of our neck whenever we need that annoying bit to stop it right now!

22.) Mental fatigue hits me around that middle-of-the-day slump! Breathing in a drop of Basil in my cupped hands perks me right up!

23.) Put a drop on corns and calluses 3 times a day. I can also use this mixture: 4 drops basil, 2 drops Myrrh, 2 drops Cypress, 1 drop Oregano, and 1 drop Hinoki. I’d apply this directly to the corn/calluses undiluted.

24.) I have used this multiple times for migraine, and it just flat out works! Massage Basil onto temples, base of the neck, center of the forehead, and at nostril openings. Massage on thumbs and big toes. Place warm compress with 1-2 drops of Basil on the back of my neck. I like M-Grain (has Basil in it) for this. I’ll also press a drop of Thieves to the roof of my mouth. If it’s sinus related, I’ll also rub Deep Relief along my sinuses.

25.) Okay, listen up new mamas (or older mamas like me, cause this never goes away!): Hemorrhoids. YASSS. Okay, here’s what you do: add 4 drops Basil, 1 drop Cistus, 1 drop Cypress, and 1 drop Helichrysum (or whatever mix of those oils you have on hand) and mix it into some Rose Ointment. You can dip a cotton round into this if you don’t have Rose Ointment, or just spread it on one if you do and place it where the sun don’t shine. If it stings a little, that’s okay. You’re not hurting yourself, promise. We both know those things are buggers. By the next application, you should be feeling some relief. I know I do!

26.) Menstrual cramps,anyone? Grab that Basil! Dilute and rub over your lower back and stomach. Kick it up a notch in the relief department when you add the Basil to a warm compress. Ahhhhh!

—————————————

27.) Bruise from a kid running into you really hard? No? Just me? 🙂 Add some Basil to carrier and rub over the bruise a couple times a day.

28.) Charley Horse, muscle spasm, or cramps (ugh! Pregnancy attacked me on this front!). Grab some Sulferzyme and add a drop of Basil and chug, girl! Or, if you don’t much love the taste of a pizzeria in your delicious Sulferzyme, you can have your Basil on the side in a veggie capsule. 🙂

29.) In this computer-driven life, Carpal Tunnel can run rampant. I love that I can dilute Basil and massage this into where it hurts most.

30.) Okay, I know this is super “ew,” but I’ve had to use this before. Parasites (which are way more common than I realized!). Take 3 drops in milk or in a capsule twice a day for 7 nights before bed. Rest 7 nights. Do this three times/cycles. I experienced a huge difference.

31.) Poison Ivy/Sumac/Oak. How do my boys always find this stuff? I have gotten rid of it more than once using just oils. Put 4-6 drops Basil and 4-6 drops Peppermint diluted on the affected areas twice a day. You can also add it to a cold compress to help any swelling.

32.) Dilute and use on spine for good spine support and health. I have a disc issue. I love that I can put Basil right on the area when it hurts. Especially when I just seem to have nagging lower back pain. Same for my neck and sciatica (hello, pregnancy!)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I BUY YOUNG LIVING OILS?

If you use this link, you’ll be connected to me personally.

My goals are all about taking care of you. I hope to achieve the following:

  1. Help you feel comfortable and confident in using Young Living in your home
  2. Consistently give you lots of ways to use the oils
  3. Make sure you understand how to get the most from Young Living
  4. Help to make Young Living a staple in your home saving you tons of $$!
  5. Be there for you whenever you need support

What your connection to me includes:

  • Weekly texts. These short texts come with a picture of a way to either improve your health or use your products. These save nicely in a photo album or can be printed off easily. This is my YL number, so you can also text back questions!
  • Monthly laminated recipe cards for ordering customers. Some members punch a hole in one side and make a little booklet as these come in. Some of my customers like to put them alphabetically into a photo album.
  • Monthly newsletters. Rather than telling you about sales or promos, I dig into research and write about ways to invest in your health each month. I also write down exact uses and dilution to each of our promotional items in case your order qualifies for these. If not, you still get great info. that you can add to your photo album/booklet.
  • Facebook groups. I can grant you access to 6. You may join one, six, or anything in between. One of these includes tens of thousands of testimonials for pretty much anything you can think of. The rest are educational/questions/updates.
  • Instagram. I teach Young Living and share my writing and some recipes on here. I’ll add you to my personal Instagram, so we can really get to know each other instead of just staying that weird girl in your life who’s all about oils. 🙂
  • My oily friends/connections. We’re such a team here! When you jump into those Facebook groups, everyone is so happy to help answer your questions. You’ll be a healthy home pro in no time!
Do you know how to get the most from your Basil essential oil? These 32 seriously impressive uses are practical and so helpful!

Filed in: Emotions + Mental Health, EO Hacks, Essential Oils, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oiling, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

SO Handy! Australian Ericifolia

Have you ever heard of Australian Ericifolia?

It’s like a Lavender Tea Tree!

A combo of the amazing benefits of Tea Tree and the soothing nature of Lavender.

How cool is that?!

Australian Ericifolia is one of the most handy tools you'll use in your natural remedies arsenal; these 10 simple ways put it to good use!

Let’s Use It!

It’s sweet, woodsy, a little floral, and a whole lotta handy!

Try any of these ten ways to use it and enjoy the benefits to your health!

  1. Fresh storage: Drop on a cotton ball and place in drawers.
  2. DIY After-Sun: Add 15 drops to a 2oz spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Spray on burns. Add 5 drops Peppermint if you’d also like a cooling effect.
  3. Foot Scrub: Put 1/4 C epsom salt (choose a safe one like this!) in a glass bowl. Add 15 drops Australian Ericifolia and drop your choice carrier oil until you get a texture you prefer. Massage on feet and any rough spots then rinse and dry well.
  4. Scalp Refresher: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon hair oil, 1 drop Australian Ericifolia, and 1 drop Rosemary. Massage onto your scalp then wash and dry like normal.
  5. Stress Relief: Put 15 drops into a 10mL rollerbottle and fill the rest with carrier of choice. Keep in your bag for stressful situations. Roll on wrists or chest for calm.
  6. Refreshing Spray: Add 4oz. water to 2oz. witch hazel , 15 drops Australian Ericifolia, 10 drops Cedarwood, and 10 drops of Purification in a 8oz. glass spray bottle. Use in shoes, bathrooms, and anywhere that needs a refresh!
  7. Bright Lotion: Make this simple lotion DIY and use Australian Ericifolia instead of the oils suggested. Take your lotion with you on the go with this handy travel jar.
  8. Skin Care: Add one drop to your favorite toxin-free skincare. Here’s my very favorite!
  9. Relax Before Bed: Add 2 drops Australian Ericifolia and 1 drop Roman Chamomile to carrier for a quick and easy wind-down tool. Massage on your feet, neck, or back to help you drift off naturally.
  10. Crisp Diffuser Blend: Add two drops of each: of Eucalyptus Globulus, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Australian Ericifolia and Lime.
Australian Ericifolia is one of the most handy tools you'll use in your natural remedies arsenal; these 10 simple ways put it to good use!

What Happens When I Buy from Young Living

If you use this link, you’ll be connected to me personally.

My goals are all about taking care of you. I hope to achieve the following:

  1. Help you feel comfortable and confident in using Young Living in your home
  2. Consistently give you lots of ways to use the oils
  3. Make sure you understand how to get the most from Young Living
  4. Help to make Young Living a staple in your home saving you tons of $$!
  5. Be there for you whenever you need support

What your connection to me includes:

  • Weekly texts. These short texts come with a picture of a way to either improve your health or use your products. These save nicely in a photo album or can be printed off easily. This is my YL number, so you can also text back questions!
  • Monthly laminated recipe cards for ordering customers. Some members punch a hole in one side and make a little booklet as these come in. Some of my customers like to put them alphabetically into a photo album.
  • Monthly newsletters. Rather than telling you about sales or promos, I dig into research and write about ways to invest in your health each month. I also write down exact uses and dilution to each of our promotional items in case your order qualifies for these. If not, you still1 get great info. that you can add to your photo album/booklet.
  • Facebook groups. I can grant you access to 6. You may join one, six, or anything in between. One of these includes tens of thousands of testimonials for pretty much anything you can think of. The rest are educational/question/updates.
  • Instagram. I teach Young Living and share my writing and some recipes on here. I’ll add you to my personal Instagram, so we can really get to know each other instead of just staying that weird girl in your life who’s all about oils. 
  • My oily friends/connections. We’re such a team here! When you jump into those Facebook groups, everyone is so happy to help answer your questions. You’ll be a healthy home pro in no time!
Australian Ericifolia is one of the most handy tools you'll use in your natural remedies arsenal; these 10 simple ways put it to good use!

Filed in: DIY Recipes, EO Hacks, Essential Oils, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oiling, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

7 Amazing Health Benefits of Angelica

Before I share these 7 amazing health benefits of Angelica, we must first make sure you’ve got the right oils.

Yeah, I know…but really.

Your health and safety is nothing to mess with.

We’re trying to be healthier here, right?

7 health benefits of Angelica, specific dilution instructions, and in what other blends you'll find this amazing plant.

7 Health Benefits of Angelica Oil

  • Digestive issues. 1 drop Angelica in 2-4 drops carrier oil. Rub on stomach.
  • Promote a healthy circulatory and nervous system. Why would you do this? Google how those two affect our health. Same dilution as above put on the bottoms of our feet.
  • Respiratory strength. Dilute and rub over lungs. I think 2020 taught us why we need a strong respiratory system!
  • When we just need to relax. Stressful day? Put a few drops in the diffuser and breathe in and out deeply.
  • When I’m feeling negative. You know how you can just get the grumps? Putting some of this diluted on my outer ear and over my brain stem is some real chill.
  • Hormone balancing. True, if I hadn’t switched to all Young Living toxin-free products, no amount of Angelica could stop the storm of hormonal crazy that the store bought stuff was doing to me. However, now that I’ve slowly ditched and switched over to less expensive Young Living, I can utilize Angelica’s full potential! I can put this diluted on my inner wrist.
  • Emotional release. Emotions can wreak havoc on our health. I wasn’t sure what I would think about The Emotion Code, but after seeing some huge improvements in my own health and my family’s, I can’t recommend it more! Pairing this technique with Angelica is powerful!

Can you believe all the health benefits of Angelica? It’s just one tiny plant!

7 health benefits of Angelica, specific dilution instructions, and in what other blends you'll find this amazing plant.

Angelica’s History

According to The Essential Oils Reference Guide, Angelica is “known as the “Holy Spirit Root” or the “Oil of Angels” by the Europeans. Its healing powers were so strong that it was believed to be of divine origin. From the time of Paracelsus, it was credited with the ability to protect from the plague. The stems were chewed during the plague of 1660 to prevent infection. When burned, the seeds and roots were thought to purify the air.”

Where Else Can You Find It?

The following oil blends contain Angelica.

If you like the benefits from this single oil and the uses from the other blends listed, these could be for you!

*Note: Each 5mL bottle has around 100 uses or “servings,” and each 15mL around 300. This can help keep pricing in the correct frame of mind. Also, don’t forget to “subscribe and save (24% discount)” or utilize the Loyalty Rewards program if you’re excited about going toxin-free.

  • Forgiveness
  • Grounding
  • Harmony
  • Surrender
  • T-Away (for pets)
  • Loyalty (not for sale; free with each year’s anniversary you’re in the Loyalty Rewards program! I use mine as perfume; it’s so lovely!)
  • Celebration

Extra Info.

*This is a single oil. Only one plant was distilled to create Angelica.

**It has high photosensitivity. If you’re heading into the sun, just wear it where the sun won’t touch (like the bottoms of your feet).

***Don’t use if you’re diabetic.

****Of course, if you’re pregnant, you’ll always speak to your healthcare provider before using anything new. This isn’t any different.

*****To dilute for babies 0-1, put one drop into 10 drops of carrier oil (any fatty oil like coconut, almond, or grapeseed).

******To dilute for ages 2-6, add 1 drop in 4 drops carrier.

*******For ages 7 and up use 1 drop Angelica in 1 drop carrier.

You can always add more carrier if you’d like.

What Happens When I Buy Young Living Oils?

If you use this link, you’ll be connected to me personally.

My goals are all about taking care of you. I hope to achieve the following:

  1. Help you feel comfortable and confident in using Young Living in your home
  2. Consistently give you lots of ways to use the oils
  3. Make sure you understand how to get the most from Young Living
  4. Help to make Young Living a staple in your home saving you tons of $$!
  5. Be there for you whenever you need support

What your connection to me includes:

  • Weekly texts. These short texts come with a picture of a way to either improve your health or use your products. These save nicely in a photo album or can be printed off easily. This is my YL number, so you can also text back questions!
  • Monthly laminated recipe cards for ordering customers. Some members punch a hole in one side and make a little booklet as these come in. Some of my customers like to put them alphabetically into a photo album.
  • Monthly newsletters. Rather than telling you about sales or promos, I dig into research and write about ways to invest in your health each month. I also write down exact uses and dilution to each of our promotional items in case your order qualifies for these. If not, you still1 get great info. that you can add to your photo album/booklet.
  • Facebook groups. I can grant you access to 6. You may join one, six, or anything in between. One of these includes tens of thousands of testimonials for pretty much anything you can think of. The rest are educational/question/updates.
  • Instagram. I teach Young Living and share my writing and some recipes on here. I’ll add you to my personal Instagram, so we can really get to know each other instead of just staying that weird girl in your life who’s all about oils. 🙂
  • My oily friends/connections. We’re such a team here! When you jump into those Facebook groups, everyone is so happy to help answer your questions. You’ll be a healthy home pro in no time!
7 health benefits of Angelica, specific dilution instructions, and in what other blends you'll find this amazing plant.

Filed in: EO Hacks, Essential Oils, Get Your Oils!, Oiling, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

Best Remedies for Sleep Issues

Oils for sleep is one of my favorite natural remedies.

Why are they so effective?

They address root causes instead of being bandaids.

In this article, I’ll share some of the common root causes of sleep issues.

I’ll also dig into what we can do to support healthy sleep and bodies for both adults and children.

*NOTE: Each 15mL bottle is 300 “doses” and each 5mL is 100. Try to find sleep support, especially one that won’t harm your body in the process for this kind of pricing!

Anxious and Depressed Feelings

Oils like Lavender, Frankincense, Lemon, and Valor support anxious feelings, a common root cause of sleep issues.

Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Valor, Citrus Fresh supports depressed feelings, as it’s another reason we find ourselves struggling to sleep.

If you’re thinking you’ll just run to the store and pick up some oils, here’s why that’s a super dangerous decision.

The best ways to tackle sleep issues at its root and some of the practices that can also improve your overall health.

Stress

I don’t know about you, but if I’m stressed, my mind is racing.

That leads to my eyes wide open for hours.

So, I like to add oils to my Subscribe and Save orders that can help with stress for many reasons, including sleep.

Some of my go-to essential oils for stress are Stress Away, Tranquil, Release, and RutaVaLa.

Hormones

Balancing hormones is so much more important than I realized.

Until I was in my 30s and feeling the insomnia that can come along with being an unbalanced mess.

Thank goodness for the ability to add in Progessence Plus, Dragon Time, a toxin-free life, and more (found here) that all have lead to my relief!

The best ways to tackle sleep issues at its root and some of the practices that can also improve your overall health.

What Oil for Which Person

I’m so thankful we have so many options. Each person’s body responds best to a different oil or combo, so take your time to find what works best for each of you.

For Children

Our kids have been so blessed with the best essential oils for sleep.

It’s become such a part of our routine, they know exactly where to grab what they need and how to apply it.

Here are some of our favorite sleep tips for children:

  1. A toxin-free home, good nutrition, and a routine bedtime are all key to good sleep. 
  2. SleepyIze from the KidScents Line is great to do a light nighttime massage. 
  3. A couple drops of Peace & Calming on a favorite stuffed animal they snuggle with at night, so they can breathe in the goodness as they unwind during storytime. 
  4. A drop or two of Lavender and Stress Away in a warm bath before bed is a great way to start calming down before bedtime.
  5. Massaging your oil of choice like Tranquil on the soles of their feet will help them fall asleep as well. 
  6. Dream Catcher Blend: Helps to open the mind, enhancing dreams. Helps children sleep more soundly.
  7. Unwind supplement: Created to help support a restful night’s sleep and focus the next day.

For Adults

  1. A toxin-free home: Have you noticed a pattern? Your food and product choices change everything. Don’t be fooled by Greenwashing! It’s all you’ll find in the stores, unfortunately.
  2. SleepEssence : contains melatonin and four powerful essential oils to help promote restful sleep and support the body’s natural sleep rhythm.
  3. Stress Away: Put in a diffuser next to your bed.
  4. RutaVala, Lavender: Rub on the bottoms of your feet right before bed, especially if you grind your teeth!

How to Get This Goodness in Your Life!

To avoid the “Bandaid Effect” where we throw an oil on just to get us down one time, I highly suggest reading this.

When you’re ready to see your options, you can walk through everything, step-by-step here.

If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!

Email me at andrea@graceblossoms.com and we’ll connect.

I have such fun meeting you all and helping you through this new lifestyle!

The best ways to tackle sleep issues at its root and some of the practices that can also improve your overall health.

Filed in: Babies + Kids + Pets, Dental + Body Care, DIY Recipes, Emotions + Mental Health, Fresh+Clean, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oily Education, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

The Bandaid Effect

The bandaid effect is the opposite of healthy living.

Your kid falls down, but there’s no scrape or bump or bruise in sight.

They insist they need a bandaid.

It’ll make them feel better. They just know it, Mama.

So you hand them their favorite character bandaid, kiss their boo boo, and magically they’re off running full speed.

We do this as adults, too.

Don’t believe me?

Take a look.

Everyday “Bandaids”

Ever find it frustrating that those cough drops and syrups don’t actually make your cough go away?

That your muscle cream doesn’t fix the strain?

When your sensitive toothpaste doesn’t stop the pain when you drink a cold glass of water?

That’s because the world around us is all marketing us toward the bandaid effect.

A fascade.

A temporary fix.

This post explains what the bandaid effect is, how it affects healthy living, and what you can do instead for your overall wellness.

Root Causes

Raise your hand if you’ve asked a doctor what caused your illness just to hear they don’t know or there’s no known root cause.

We’ve been taught for generations to treat symptoms.

We now white knuckle this idea to the point of not knowing what else to do.

Most every time someone reaches out to me about an essential oil, they’re really asking for the bandaid effect.

“Can you recommend an oil for sleep? For acne? For reflux?”

Why are you facing these issues?

Stress? Trauma? Gut issues?

I’m definitely not a doctor, so where do we go from there?

Responsible for Self

We’ve (unfairly) pushed the responsibility of our health onto our doctors, then we’re frustrated when all they can give us bandaids.

It’s time to step up our responsibility and do the hard work.

What does it take to advocate for your health?

You’ve got to get a few of your ducks in a row.

This post explains what the bandaid effect is, how it affects healthy living, and what you can do instead for your overall wellness.

1. Your Lifestyle Products

You can read more about it here, but everything on the shelves that’s made to look safe and healthy is greenwashed. This is a fancy word for “lie.”

They are hormone, immune, organ, and overall body-destroying. The cleaners, washes, makeup, lotions–you name it– are all a marketing scheme.

They sell you a lotion with chemicals that dry your skin. Guess what you need more of?

And those chemicals? It’s perfectly legal even though they’re harmful to your body.

So, we switched to Young Living.

Read here to find out why, after 9 months of research, our family can only land on YL and no one else.

2. Your Food

Pesticides are a bigger problem than we realize.

They’re taking the nutrition right out of the food we need to survive.

I agree that organic (or even better biodynamic) foods are more expensive, and that can make things difficult.

Esepcially on a tight budget.

But here’s the great news.

Young Living as a lifestyle is about $2,000 less expensive per year than traditional in-store shopping (read all about that here).

Looks like your organics budget just blew wide open, friend.

3. Digging Up Roots

You know how your body feels.

And you know its history best.

Find a doctor who’ll dig in alongside you and supplement instead of medicate you. You’ll be blown away by how much progress you’ll find.

It took far too long for me to find my doctor. Actually, my friend found him, and now I tell everyone about it!

Check out our doc’s mission statement:

Our mission is to restore optimum function to the body in order to help our patients experience life to its fullest. By removing stressors to the nervous system through chiropractic adjustments, nutrition supplementation, and neurofeedback, we aim to release the innate ability of the body to self-heal and thrive.

To put this into perspective, I fought cystic acne with meds and then finally with my own natural route (applying oils topically) for 17 years in total.

After changing up the type of doctor I saw, I’m almost completely clear-skinned only 8 months later.

And we did it all with zero drugs.

You Can Do This!

After hearing a woman in one of my oil classes say she’d have to ask her doctor if she could look into possible root problems, I knew I’d need to write this.

This is your body.

No one else’s.

You can live well because your body was fearfully and wonderfully made to be healthy!

Get Started with this New Healthy Lifestyle!

Your next step toward escaping the bandaid effect is right here.

It’ll walk you through each step and show you all of your options.

However, if you’re in need of some one-on-one conversation to help you through or to get some questions answered, email me any time!

andrea@graceblossoms.com.

I love to hear from my readers. to help your families live and feel like we do is a blessing.

I hope to talk with you soon!

This post explains what the bandaid effect is, how it affects healthy living, and what you can do instead for your overall wellness.

Filed in: Babies + Kids + Pets, CBD, Dental + Body Care, Essential Rewards, Hair + Makeup, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Safe Home, Skin Care, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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PetroChemical Cleanse to Cut Fat

PetroChemical Cleanse to Cut Fat

I’d never heard of a petrochemical cleanse before this year.

I’m super excited to share the journey I’m on with you!

Even better?

You’ll get exclusive group support, easy and clear directions, and see real results for this cleanse when you get your supplies here.

You'll love how easy and amazing this petrochemical cleanse is! You'll find directions, a help group attached, and more!

What is a PetroChemical Cleanse?

It wipes out the toxins stored in your fat cells from years of exposure and helps smooth the cellulite on your thighs, hips, and waistline.

It can even drop some inches, which I’m always down for!

What Do You Need?

Read here about why, after 9 months of research, and over four-and-a-half years using Young Living, we can’t bring ourselves to use any other oils (or lifestyle products) but YL.

Supplies you’ll need:

  1. Citrus Fresh oil blend
  2. Ledum (or JuvaCleanse) essential oil
  3. Grapefruit essential oil
  4. One bag of 00 vegetable capsules (I use Young Living’s Vegetable Capsules)
  5. Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil (you can read all about this here!)
  6. A glass jar with a lid like these which I like to keep handy for times just like this!

Your full ingredients list with amounts and directions are in our exclusive group for supporting our members when you shop here.

Important Notes

Don’t skip the Grapefruit capsule.

You’re breaking down toxins and you need the Grapefruit oil to escort that nastiness right out of your body.

Without the Grapefruit oil, you’ll feel rough because those toxins won’t be leaving your body but instead having a little party on your insides.

If you’d like, this would be a great time to supplement with other antioxidants like NingXia Red, or applying Thyme and Clove essential oils to the bottoms of your feet after you apply your cleansing oils.

Drink lots of water.

Flushing requires a “flusher,” and what better to tea, up with the Grapefruit oil than good, ole fashioned H2O?

You'll love how easy and amazing this petrochemical cleanse is! You'll find directions, a help group attached, and more!

Ten Ways to Seriously Beef Up Your Results

  1. Working out and eating clean
  2. Dry brushing to stimulate your lymphatic system and helping the cleanse a ton (directions here)
  3. Measure out your water. On a normal day, drinking about half your weight in water is good, so bumping it up a bit will be great!
  4. Add a Fascia Blaster like this one to your targeted zones during the cleanse after you apply your Citrus Fresh/Ledum (or JuvaCleanse)/Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil combo.
  5. Add products from the Young Living Slique line to your 6 week cleanse.
  6. Make this the time you choose to get to bed around the same time each day. Use oils like Peace & Calming, Stress Away, and Valor (all from the Premium Starter Kit) to diffuse and apply topically before bed for better rest.
  7. Add in Young Living’s Essentialzymes or Essentialzymes-4 right before your biggest meal of the day. I’ve been amazed at what adding enzymes to my diet can do!
  8. Ditch and Switch your products to Young Living’s cleaning and personal care during and after your cleanse to help reduce and seriously knock out sources of petrochemicals.
  9. Stop drinking from, storing, and eating off plastic. Never put essential oils into plastic!
  10. Find times of quiet for deep diaphragm breathing to reduce stress and allow your body to soak in the goodness and release the gunk!

Plateaus

If you plateau, take that as a sign your body has pulled as many toxins out of that area as it can.

This is a one-time protocol.

That means consistency matters.

Long Term Benefits

Once or twice a week for a lifetime can help your body purge the toxins that continue to find their way in.

You’ll not see those obvious changes like you did during your cleanse, but that’s okay.

We know from the cleanse that big things are happening.

Your energy levels and how you’ll feel overall will be all you need to keep this as a part of your weekly routine.

You'll love how easy and amazing this petrochemical cleanse is! You'll find directions, a help group attached, and more!

Before + After?

It’s always fun to see how far you’ve come, isn’t it?

Measure around your target areas.

For example, measure around the belly button and at the hips for your stomach.

Measure the widest spots everywhere else.

Keep track of your progress, and get excited for doing something so great for your health!

Getting Your Supplies + Support

Click here for a step-by-step walk through of how to get going.

Questions ?

Let’s talk!

You'll love how easy and amazing this petrochemical cleanse is! You'll find directions, a help group attached, and more!

Filed in: Essential Oils, Oily Education, Skin Care, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Best Dry Brushing for Optimal Health

Best Dry Brushing for Optimal Health

The best dry brushing for your health is right here!

It’s simple when you have the right tools and this printable that includes the instructions from this post!

Benefits of Dry Brushing

I learned this the hard way.

I’d gotten a dry brush but hadn’t used it regularly.

Until I found lumps in my breasts.

Praise God they were only cystic fibroids.

Though painful, I was able to dry brush, and they went down immediately. The pain was gone within a few days.

I’m forever grateful for the power of dry brushing!

This simple post has directions and best practices with a free printable on how to dry brush to boost your overall wellness.

Some other benefits include:

  1. Reducing cellulite
  2. Exfoliating
  3. Stress reduction
  4. Cleaner pores
  5. Improving circulation
  6. Stimulating the lymphatic system (what did a number on my fibroids!)
  7. Makes for a stronger immune system (especially when you use Young Living oils in conjunction!)

Directions

You’ll need some Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil, which you can read about here.

You will also need some Lemon essential oil. Read here about why it should only come from Young Living for the safest oils on the planet (zero pesticides, fragrance, synthetics, and more!).

Snag the printable and follow the arrows with gentle, even strokes.

Remember, consistency is key to results.

How to Get the Oils

Getting the oils is simple. This link will walk you through each step and explain your options for purchase.

If you have any questions at all, let’s chat! I’m just an email away andrea@graceblossoms.com.

I love hearing from my readers and helping you get set up. We can connect, and you’ll be really thankful when you start your oily journey all the support you’ll receive (that you choose how much or how little of!).

Happy brushing!

This simple post has directions and best practices with a free printable on how to dry brush to boost your overall wellness.

Filed in: Dental + Body Care, Emotions + Mental Health, Energy + Weight Management, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oily Education, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Our Journey with Essential Oils

Hey, friends!

I love it when you ask me about oils because there’s so much goodness to share.

And you’ll never believe what happened to make me a full-on oily mama!

My Rock Bottom Moment

There I was.

Passed out on the bathroom floor.

I was crazy sick.

My body was so weak I collapsed in a heap.

When I woke, I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out.

Nothing the doctor gave me was working.

Everything from the drug store failed me.

Steve said, “What about that box of oils? Didn’t you say they’re supposed to help with stuff like this?”

Oh yeah…those oils…

That day I learned how powerful Young Living oils are.

The DiGize and Thieves blends from my Premium Starter Kit was powerful.

It kicked my stomach flu fast.

I was hooked.

And I’ve never looked back.

What Are Essential Oils

Essential oils are volatile liquids, which sounds bad but is actually really good because… English.

They’re the smelly good parts of plants that are distilled or pressed out.

Essential oils work how the blood in our bodies works.

Sealing the cut, protecting the wound, providing nutrients and oxygen for cell regeneration, and guarding against harmful microorganisms.

We Love that Essential oils:

  • Boost immunity
  • Support our defenses
  • Strengthen immune, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, digestive, nervous, and other body systems.
  • Help maintain normal cellular regeneration
  • Elevate mood
  • We use them as antiseptics (topical use only)
  • Are chock full of antioxidants
  • Smell amazing
  • Pump oxygen goodness into our bloodstream
  • Boost stamina and energy
  • Help you relax
  • Manage stress and frustration
  • Do wonders for the aging process
  • Lift brain fog
  • Promote overall health, vitality, and longevity
  • Are great for focus and concentration
  • Encourage proper nasal function
  • Support the lungs and sinuses

The oils are just the beginning.

There are over 600 lifestyle toxin-free products that work better than anything we ever had in our cabinets before.

Even better?

Everything is concentrated, so it’s like buying bulk.

However, this is in smaller bottles and saves more than in store!

Our journey with essential oils wasn't always easy, but finally figuring out this one simple standard changed everything.

Choose Wisely

This will tell you all you need to know about why I very carefully chose Young Living for our journey with essential oils.

There’s no other brand that even comes close.

The Seed to Seal Promise is something Young Living stands upon.

They believe in purpose over profit.

And we see it in our home every single day.

When you read this graphic, I’d encourage you to really think about what each of these truths about Young Living really means for your family’s health.

Simply amazing!

Our journey with essential oils wasn't always easy, but finally figuring out this one simple standard changed everything.

How to Use Essential Oils

You guys, it’s super easy.

I promise.

Questions?

You’ll have a direct line to me and tens of thousands of people to weigh in on anything you’d like to ask.

Here are the basics:

Our journey with essential oils wasn't always easy, but finally figuring out this one simple standard changed everything.

Carrier Oils

Don’t let carrier oils freak you out.

They’re easy as pie.

Fatty oils like olive, coconut, jojoba, almond, grapeseed, etc. all work.

Use what you’ve got in your pantry for now.

You’ll figure out which carriers you like best as you learn more.

You’ve got this!

In our education communities we provide simple dilution ratios for babies, kids, and elderly to make life even easier.

All Parts of the Home with the Whole Family

My husband, the kids, and I have all learned together on this journey with essential oils.

For Grace Blossoms readers, you can read about the monthly special that’s the most economical way to get your oils right here

Our journey with essential oils wasn't always easy, but finally figuring out this one simple standard changed everything.

I don’t think I could ever fully express how important Young Living is to us.

We breathe easier, fight germs better, and are all around healthier than we ever knew we could be.

You can even follow us through a day in the life of an “oily family” right here!

Ready to jump right in? This is a “how to” .

I’d love to connect with you and help you along. Please reach out with any questions through email at andrea@graceblossoms.com.

Our journey with essential oils wasn't always easy, but finally figuring out this one simple standard changed everything.

Filed in: Essential Oils, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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A Day in the Life of an Oily Family

How I wish I’d been taught to be an oily family when I was making my home from the start!

Now that I’ve got it, I love to share it with others.

In this article, I’m going to share with you what it’s really like to live this lifestyle.

Come on in!

Welcome to our home!

Wake Up!

Good morning!

To flush our bodies of toxins we’ll encounter out in the world, we use Lemon oil.

Lemon essential oil from Young Living doesn’t have the acidic wear and tear on your teeth that the flesh of a lemon would.

I don’t know about you, but we just don’t drink enough water if we aren’t super intentional about it.

So, we fill up our water bottles first thing (we’ve been loving these bottles!) and put a drop or two of Lemon oil in there to help boost our immune system and help us drink more water.

In the Kitchen

We start our morning in the kitchen cleaning up after breakfast.

What I love about Thieves Dish Soap is how concentrated it is. We get lots of bottles from one!

It also knocks out grease like an old pro.

With two boys and a dog, killing germs and cleaning dirty hands is important.

Being able to split this one soap into four is even better.

I just grabbed these foaming hand soap bottles from Amazon, poured a fourth of the concentrate in, and filled the rest with water.

Want to guess how many cleaners we had in our house before Young Living?

After clearing out the old and replacing the new I later found 14 bottles in the basement, so…

No telling what we were doing with all those cleaners!

Thieves Household Cleaner one does it all.

*NOTE: This is highly concentrated. There are 29 bottles of cleaner in one.

You can read more about it in 50 Top Ways to Use Thieves Household Cleaner.

Ever wonder what using Young Living really looks like? What an oily family really does with all those oils? Here's your chance!

Diffusers

We need the house to smell nice, these homeschooled little nuggets need to focus, and mama needs some chill.

So, we diffuse…all day long!

We had lots to choose from, but Desert Mist is my fave because it’ll diffuse 12 hours.

I’ll put Purification blend in the boys rooms because boys stink and Purification fixes that.

I’ll add something cozy in my room like Orange and Idaho Grand Fir to boost immunity and purify the air, and then some GeneYus from the KidScents line in the homeschool room for the boys.

Isn’t the Desert Mist so pretty?!

Ever wonder what using Young Living really looks like? What an oily family really does with all those oils? Here's your chance!

Shower/Get Ready

Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve got going on in the bathrooms fully transferred over to Young Living.

Zero synthetics. No pesticides. Absolutely no filler or fragrance!

How’s that for hormonal strength?!

This is for Mama, Daddy, and boys:

  • Deodorant
  • Bath/Shower Gel
  • Oral Care
  • Makeup & Remover
  • Shaving Oil
  • Haircare
  • Beard oil
  • Perfume
  • Hormone support
  • Skincare
  • Anti-aging
  • Maximum Strength Acne Treatment

It’s crazy to think about all of these in the toxic form that looked so harmless before going into our bloodstream.

It’s such a relief to know everything we’re using is truly safe.

Supplements

The drug mindset is to use a specific medicine or whatever it is forever (i.e. if I take a vitamin C tablet today, I’m locked in for life).

We’ve adopted the supplement mindset with Young Living.

We take what we need when our bodies need it, and don’t stress when we don’t.

That’s why we use our Subscribe and Save orders to add to our arsenal of health; now it’s there when we need it.

How do I know when to take them?

It tells me on the side of the bottle.

As I’m writing this it’s during the pandemic and it’s winter.

So we’re using Super Vitamin D and other immune boosters from Young Living right now!

Laundry

I’ve long given up on being on top of laundry, but I do feel great about what I use on our clothes!

First of all, Thieves Laundry Detergent dilutes out like crazy, which you can read about here.

That saves us lots each month!

Then, we use this laundry freshener or these safe fabric softeners to make life easy.

It’s crazy how our air quality changed when we got rid of old detergents and softeners!

Ever wonder what using Young Living really looks like? What an oily family really does with all those oils? Here's your chance!

Heading Out with the Family

I’ll pack Young Living Einkhorn granola, water bottles, Young Living sunscreen, Young Living bug spray, and Young Living after sun to make sure we’re ready to go.

Of course we’ve always got those must-haves with kids, like this first aid spray, Owie blend, and lots of bandaids because…kids.

This is just a small sampling of the over-the-counters Young Living provides to make our life easier.

We also really rely on the Full Spectrum CBD!

Dinner, Unwinding, and Bedtime

We’ve got our lineup of Vitality oils (those we can ingest) for cooking.

To unwind, the boys’ rooms will get their diffusers refilled with their nighttime oils.

What’s really cool is that since their rooms were diffusing immune boosting and air purifying oils all day, they’re settling down into a an amazing space for optimal sleep.

Of course I keep my standbys in the hall for anything night time can bring:

  • PanAway for when we’ve got growing pains
  • SleepyIze when it’s tough to fall asleep
  • Seedlings Linen Spray to prep pillows for easy rest
  • Thieves Chest Rub in case I hear the start of a cough in the night
  • Peace & Calming for night time wind down in their diffusers and backs of their necks.
Ever wonder what using Young Living really looks like? What an oily family really does with all those oils? Here's your chance!

Easy as Pie

Remember getting your first place?

Running out to grab all of your basics?

This time you get to do it right and save tons of money in the process.

We took advantage of the Subscribe and Save option to save a ton and budget best, and boy does it work! You can read all about it here.

If you’re ready to get rolling and can see this lifestyle fitting right into your very own, this is your next step!

If you need a one-on-one conversation, I’d absolutely love to hear from you! Let’s connect by emailing me at andrea@graceblossoms.com.

Ever wonder what using Young Living really looks like? What an oily family really does with all those oils? Here's your chance!

Filed in: Babies + Kids + Pets, CBD, Dental + Body Care, DIY Recipes, Emotions + Mental Health, Energy + Weight Management, EO Hacks, Essential Oils, Essential Rewards, Fresh+Clean, Get Your Oils!, Hair + Makeup, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, NingXia, Oiling, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Safe Home, Skin Care, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Mom Gifts

Mom Gifts

Being a mama in her birthday month, I thought I’d toss together a quick list of mom gifts. You can save share it depending on your needs.

Moms work hard.

Get her some fun gifts that will fit her lifestyle.

Because Coffee Makes the World Go Round

  1. No more cold coffee with mom gifts like this! And it’s stainless, so you can add a drop of Peppermint for energy and focus or Thieves to boost her immune system!
https://amzn.to/3nVxK19

Tote all Day, Wine all Night

2. First of all, how cute is this tote? Second of all…is it just me, or would a bottle of wine inside the bag make this the perfect gift?!

https://amzn.to/3plOkHU

Fizz and Relax

3. Help your favorite mom unwind with an invitation to her bathtub! Pair this with Young Living toxin-free Stress Away bath bombs, and you’ll have put together a wonderful gift!

https://amzn.to/38ChWKl

The Mom that Runs Cold

4. We’re at home a lot right now, and in the winter being cozy is key. Try these Acorn slippers that are super warm yet durable and cute! Tuck some yummy tea inside with a cute mug to complete the gift!

https://amzn.to/37QEeJa

Mom on the Go!

5. Moms do it all. Run the errands, clean the house, educate the kids, and play taxi. Gifting her a great pair of comfy shoes would be amazing! Add this Calm CBD Roller to help her hold it all together!

https://amzn.to/2WOjs6J

Massage Her Cares Away

6. Hours bent over kids, running here and there, and keeping the house together leaves Mom’s muscles in need of some care. Try this unbelievably thoughtful gift to knock out the soreness, and be sure to pair it with Relaxation Massage Oil.

https://amzn.to/2WOjs6J

The Culinary Mom

7. Got a mama who loves all things food? This fruit-infused water bottle and a culinary kit will be something she’ll love getting any time of year!

A Beautiful Mama

8. For the mom that’s got it together, this manicure set and toxin-free makeup will go well together!

I would love it if someone got me these because they’re usually the last thing I’d buy in my busy list for the family!

The Cozy Homebody Mama

9. Okay…this is totally me. I’d love these gifts, so if you’re reading this and you’re my people…hint hint…wink wink. 🙂

First of all, fleece-lined leggings...whaaa? One in every color, please!

Throw in a bottle of Gratitude to put in my diffuser, and I’d be one happy girl!

The Fit Mama

10. Every fit mom could use a cooling towel like this one, some non-slip headbands, and the world’s best CBD Muscle Rub for recovery!

https://amzn.to/3rwE9Cm

Last But Certainly Not Least

Moms are the gatekeepers of their home.

One gift that you can be 100% sure she’d love is a Young Living membership. With no minimum purchases, you can get her a kit to start her off right.

Let her know your friend Andrea will take great care of her and each month she orders, she’ll get a laminated recipe card to make life easier.

Click here to get her started!

Mom gifts can be hard to figure out, so this list will make your time shopping much easier for a present you know she'll love!

Filed in: Emotions + Mental Health, Men's + Women's Care, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Acne’s Dirty Truth Doc’s Won’t Admit

It took me fifteen years to discover acne’s dirty truth.

That’s a heck of a long time to suffer with something unnecessarily.

Seven different doctors, and years of seriously cystic and painful acne.

It wasn’t until I was 37 and on my seventh and last desperate option I finally learned the truth.

If I Hear It’s My Hormones One. More. Time.

Within seconds of dermatologists looking at my skin, they were writing on their prescription pad.

Hormones.

Because the dirty little truth is: that’s as deep as their guess gets.

Why?

Because they’ve figured out ways to manipulate our hormones to make acne go away.

Most of the time.

Until they met me.

Root Cause

It wasn’t until I started to detox my home that I realized I may have a root cause under my “hormonal acne” that docs refused to discuss with me.

When I’d say things like, “What about my acne’s root cause? What’s making my hormones act this way?” they’d either change the subject or just flat out tell me they had no clue.

When I’d suggest we dig in and try to figure it out together, they’d laugh.

Yes, laugh.

One even rolled his eyes.

Seventh Time’s a Charm

What did this seventh doctor do that no one else would do?

He looked at my entire body including emotions, brain function, and spinal alignment.

I took a friend’s suggestion to try a chiropractor who also does functional medicine, and that’s when my world opened up.

Emotions + Overall Health

I’ll break this down more in later posts, but for now, I’ll share that muscle testing, emotional release, supplementation, and spinal adjustments were my path to leaving acne behind.

I’m seven months into my treatment after walking through 15 years of sickness, and I can’t believe how far I’ve come.

Now, I can use my toxin-free maximum strength acne treatment to knock out anything that creeps up before ovulation and my cycle.

I’ve never had my skin look this good.

It’s still not where we’re going to end up, but I cannot believe I’ve come so far!

How to Move Toward Cystic Acne Freedom

The biggest step I took toward health was going toxin free.

This post is a really important read for anyone looking to make things right with their skin.

There's a big problem with how we treat acne today, and it's wrapped up in acne's little secret your doctors won't admit.

Filed in: Skin Care, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Free Homeschool Resources

As a former public school teacher and now homeschool mom, I’d love to share some free family resources.

I believe these will be super helpful in breaking up your day as well as helping you all enjoy this time together.

1.Your Home Won’t Be a Mini-Public School

It can’t be.

So, when your kids are done with their work hours before the normal 7 hours they’d typically spend at school, don’t panic.

You’d be shocked at how much time is lost in a school day to transitions, waiting for other kids to finish, lecture, questions, bathroom breaks, lunch, recess, interruptions, packing up for classes/ end of the day, and more.

You don’t have to worry they’ll backslide as long as you’re reading, writing, and practicing math every day (like you’re used to in summer and on breaks in small bits).

However, those seven hours can feel long, especially with siblings who aren’t used to being together all day.

To break up the day and enhance their learning experience, here are some links you can use for free:

FREE Resources for Kids Home During COVID-19

2.A Quick Morning Meeting will Save Your Day

Our boys get ready for the day and make their beds then have breakfast as their morning routine.

It’s that first sense of accomplishment that prepares us for the day.

We then have a “morning meeting,” to do Bible study, pray, and have a quick briefing on how the day will go.

Here they can know when they can expect screen time.

They can also ask any questions they might have.

Please don’t make the same mistake I did when I began homeschool and do a hard and fast schedule.

It likely won’t stick, especially with littles.

Then you’ll be left feeling frustrated, they’ll be defeated, and it just doesn’t have to be that hard.

It’s okay if they learn without a strict structure because each kid’s work is different and requires different timing.

Roll with it. I promise. You’ll be glad you did.

Scholastic Teacher Store Online

3.Breaks will Keep You Sane

Remember, breaks are a normal thing for people to want.

Taking some time to play, take a walk, or even setting a timer to let them do whatever they want for 20-30 minutes every hour will keep everyone happier!

4.When it’s NOON and They’re Done

When school is over before noon, and you’re wondering how to keep the kids (and you) from losing it, here are some things that don’t exactly look like learning but are actually really working your kids’ brains a TON:

  • playing, especially outside (we LOVE this Flying Squirrel!)
  • baking
  • playing games (here are our favorites!)
  • listening to music new and old
  • drawing (SO many step-by-steps on YouTube)
  • snuggling up and watching one of the TONS of educational and amazing things on Netflix for learning
  • watch a musical
  • check out a nature documentary
  • coloring
  • climbing trees
  • jumping on the trampoline
  • making up a song
  • playing pretend with a sibling
  • just doing something they are passionate about
  • learning a new skill
  • FaceTiming friends
  • going for a hike at a local park
  • going for a scavenger hunt

5.Asking What THEY Want to Learn

They may not know what to do with this question since it’s not how regular school works, but you may be surprised at how this pans out.

Take paper (butcher works great) and tape it to the wall for each kid.

Have them write or draw something they’ve always wondered, wanted to know, or had an itch to learn.

THEN allow them, within the budget, of course, the ability to search, learn, try, and FAIL then try again.

The biggest way to make sure they succeed in this learning is to quite frankly…butt out.

Let them make royal mistakes, even if they’re obvious.

That’s learning, my friend! You and I do it every day!

See yourself as a mentor not a teacher who has all the answers.

The boys never cease to amaze me during personal project time. Enjoy!

Final Thoughts

I know this can be stressful in the beginning.

But there is light at the end of that tunnel.

And it’s full of laughter and memories. Welcome to homeschool!

LEGO Brand Retail, Inc.
These free family resources for a new homeschool break down how to get the most out of these super flexible days!

Filed in: Schooling • by Andrea •

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Healthy Home Makeover

A truly healthy home makeover is easy with Thieves Bundle .

Magic Cabin

Why Young Living?

Young Living never sprays pesticides on their plant material.

They never use synthetics in their over 600 lifestyle products.

No one else can make both of these claims.

A healthy home requires synthetic-free, pesticide-free, and fragrance-free!

Nook Sleep - Organic Crib Mattresses

What’s in the Thieves Bundle?

  • Thieves® 15-ml (Immune and respiratory BOOST!)

A dietary supplement, Thieves Vitality is a powerful essential oil blend.

It may help support healthy immune function and contribute to wellness.

Thieves® AromaBright™ Toothpaste (safest toothpaste)

Free from fluoride, synthetic dyes, and preservatives.

This essential oil toothpaste boasts a minty-fresh flavor for long-lasting fresh breath.

Thieves® Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash (safest mouthwash)

Formulated with naturally derived ingredients.

Thieves mouthwash is effective.

It doesn’t using alcohol, synthetic dyes, or artificial flavors.

A healthy home makeover ever in one simple way and one big lifestyle change that will make your life simpler and more cost effective!

2 Thieves® Household Cleaner (safest cleaner; read here to see 50 of my favorite uses)

Combines naturally derived, plant-based ingredients.

Thieves Cleaner provides exceptional home cleaning and purifying power.

2 Thieves® Foaming Hand Soaps (safest soap)

An effective alternative to soaps that have synthetic chemicals.

2 Thieves® Spray

Thieves Spray is a portable cleaning spray.

This is ideal for purifying small surfaces.

It can be used on doorknobs, handles, toilet seats, and more.

3 Thieves® Hand Sanitizer

Get clean hands anytime, anywhere with Thieves® Waterless Hand Sanitizer.

Thanks to its compact size, it’s great for work and travel.

It is the only hand sanitizer without harmful ingredients.

Sam's Club

Stress Awayâ„¢ 5-ml (proactively handle stress)

This essential oil blend is a distinct mix of vanilla and Lime.

It includes the following:

-Copaiba

-Lavender,

-Cedarwood

The blend creates a natural calm you’ll love.

AromaGlideâ„¢ Roller Fitment

Turn any oil bottle into a roller bottle for convenience and to stretch your oils!

These fit on top of both 5mL and 15mL bottles.

We love reusing our old essential oil bottles this way!

Thieves® Mints

No artificial sweeteners, dyes, or preservatives.

Thieves Mints are a choice you can feel good about.

Created with Young Living’s Thieves essential oil blend.

Thieves Mints come in a small container, so it’s great to take on the go!

Lawn & Gardening Tools by Life and Home

2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples

Infused with Lemon, Orange, Yuzu, and Tangerine essential oils.

NingXia Red is a delicious daily supplement.

It includes juices and extracts from superfruits.

These include aronia, plum, blueberry, pomegranate, and Ningxia wolfberries.

This delicious supplement packs a big punch.

It supports eye health, cellular function, and energy levels.

Only 2–4 ounces twice daily to support overall wellness.

Essential Oil Magazine

A magazine full of tips, recipes, and articles to help you get a jump start.

Tezenis

What You Get From Me

  • Weekly recipes
  • Private Facebook groups for ongoing support from thousands of other Young Living members
  • Personalized help and information any time

GET STARTED HERE

Get your Thieves Bundle here.

PRO TIP: First learn more about how we save over $2,000 each year!

Compared to shopping in-store, Subscribe and Save’s Loyalty Rewards is amazing!

Read about it here!

Rakuten Marketing Welcome Program
A healthy home makeover ever in one simple way and one big lifestyle change that will make your life simpler and more cost effective!

Filed in: Energy + Weight Management, Essential Oils, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Oiling, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Top 10 Most Powerful Immune Boosts

The most powerful immune boosts on the market might surprise you, and what you're using now could be lowering your immune system.

In this article, I will share the top 10 most powerful immune boosts.

These are keystone products for every home’s health and wellbeing.

*Note: any underlined item is linked directly to its website for easy viewing.

1.DITCH Disinfectant Cleaners SWITCH to Thieves Household Cleaner

  • Lysol and those like it are super dangerous and lower your immune function immensely
  • Lysol is a pesticide
  • Thieves Household Cleaner has zero pesticides
  • It kills 99.96% of germs
  • Thieves Household Cleaner dilutes to be around seventy five cents per bottle

*Note: Thieves Household Cleaner is a concentrate. You put one capful in a spray bottle then use around the house. This IS different from Thieves essential oil or any of the rest of the Thieves line of products from Young Living.

2. DITCH Store Sanitizers SWITCH to Thieves Hand Sanitizer

  • Store sanitizers harm genital growth and function
  • Store sanitizers are drying and harm your hormones/endocrine disruptors
  • Thieves Hand Sanitizer has zero pesticides or body-harming ingredients
  • It boosts immune and respiratory system
  • Thieves Hand Sanitizer kills 99.99% of germs

3. DITCH “Vitamin C” OTCs SWITCH to Thieves Essential Oil, Super C

  • The most popular Vitamin C OTC has 7g sugar (hugely immune lowering)
  • Vitamin C OTCs have coloring and “natural flavoring,” which is code for not real in the least
  • Vitamin C OTCs have synthetic flavoring. Your body isn’t synthetic, and it doesn’t respond well to it. It’s like kicking your immune system while it’s down.
  • Vitamin C OTCs have corn syrup solids (um…no thanks)
  • Thieves essential oil blend kills bad bacteria and leaves the good. Put it in a capsule or in your favorite tea for a real immune boost
  • Super C is a Young Living essential oil-infused supplement.

*Note: Each bottle of Thieves essential oil at 15mL is roughly 300 drops. A 5mL bottle is around 100 drops. This really lasts and is super economical! Think about how cheap those other pesticide-filled oils are…there’s a reason!! Young Living is hand-weeded, never sprayed with any pesticide, and there are zero fragrance or synthetics added ever!

4. Sleep Exercise, Organic Fruit + Veggies + Thieves F+V Soak!

The first two are easy to understand. What’s up with this Fruit and Veggie Soak, though?

  • Organic fruits and veggies are gassed with carcinogenic preservatives while they travel across the country or as they come from other countries
  • You can literally see these in the water after using Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak
  • The wash stretches super far and lasts a good, long time saving your health and money

*Note: Super concentrated, too. One small capful in a big bowl of water each time stretches nicely!

5. DITCH Store-Bought Hand Soaps SWITCH to Thieves Hand Soap

  • Store-bought hand soaps kill all germs, even the good ones you need to be well
  • They have synthetics, which lowers immune function
  • Store-bought hand soaps have fragrance, which lowers immune function
  • Thieves Hand Soap kills the bad and keeps the good.
  • Thieves Hand Soap has zero pesticides, fragrance, or synthetics

*Note: Like the Thieves Household Cleaner, the hand soap is also concentrated. I get four or five bottles out of one. Take about 2TBS of your concentrate and put it into a foam bottle like this one and fill the rest with water.

6. Minimize Stress

Stress affects the immune system.

Thankfully, there are a ton of Young Living options for reducing stress.

  • Stress Away, Peace & Calming, and Lavender work within your amygdala to literally reduce stress
  • Pray. Lay your cares at the feet of Jesus. I cannot stress this enough as a mama who has had to do this plenty of times!
  • Breathing and exercise

7. DITCH Store-Bought Elderberry SWITCH to Organic and Pesticide-Free

  • Remy’s Elderberry Syrup is organic. She will add Young Living’s Vitality oils, too.
  • We add it to NingXia Red and Thieves.
  • Remy’s has gummys for kids, too

8. DITCH ALL FRAGRANCE

I cannot stress this enough.

Fragrance is one of the scariest chemicals in our homes, and we don’t even know it.

  • Fragrance damages your endocrine system
  • You need a strong endocrine system to have a strong immune system

9. Bust those Unscented + Fragrance Free MYTHS

  • Unscented is a term for adding fragrance-masking chemicals.
  • Fragrance-Free is a term for using fragrance for something other than odor.
  • See #8 for why these don’t fit the bill for immune boosting lifestyle

10. Boost Water with Lemon Essential Oil + Vitality Drops

  • Lemon oil is flushing.
  • It’s immune boosting
  • Lemon oil is from the rind. It has a neutral pH and never damages tooth enamel.
  • Vitality Drops will help replace lost electrolytes and make your water taste amazing!
  • Young Living is the only company not spraying any of their plants with pesticides, which get into your bloodstream and wreak havoc. Thank You, God for Young Living!

Final Thoughts

The best way to make these switches is to utilize the Subscribe and Save option. This gets you 24% off and you’re able to keep a slow and steady approach to your wellness.

When you spend at least 50PV each month (not a requirement, just a Loyalty program you can choose like we do!), you get points back to spend like cash on your next order.

This will help you take a huge leap toward a strong immune system.

You’ll be able to ditch and switch the scary cleaners, personal care products, and fragrances!

I can’t wait to hear how these simple switches absolutely transform your home from good to great!

The most powerful immune boosts on the market might surprise you, and what you're using now could be lowering your immune system.

Filed in: Dental + Body Care, Emotions + Mental Health, Energy + Weight Management, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, NingXia, Oiling, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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10 Reasons Young Living Will be Your New BFF

Young Living Will be Your New BFF

Young Living is a 25 year company, who has over 600 toxin-free and pesticide-free products.

These products will change your life in ten major ways, leaving you feeling like you’ve just met your new best friend.

Here are ten reasons (though this only scratches the surface) of why Young Living Essential Oils company will be your new very best friend.

1. Stress

Stress comes in many shapes and sizes.

It can easily ruin a day, week, month, or year.

But it doesn’t have to.

Pop a roller fitment on top of your Stress Away bottle from the Premium Starter Kit, and you’ll find yourself melting into a calmer version of yourself.

Why?

It’s science, of course!

Simply put, smell goes to the spot where emotions are handled in your brain.

Certain smells (like the Lime, Vanilla, and Lavender in Stress Away), tell your brain, “chill out, friend…you got this.”

2. Cleaning

Okay…no one likes to clean, so why make it complicated with a bunch of cleaners all over your house that don’t even disinfect?

Hard pass!

Grab your ONE bottle that does it ALL: Thieves Household Cleaner!

Read here for FIFTY ways I use this bottle of magic.

3. Digestion

You’ve just had lunch with some friends and your stomach isn’t happy with your choices.

Or…

The meeting you’re in ran much later than you thought and your stomach is trying to attack you for ignoring it for so long…and getting louder by the minute!

Or…

“Mama, Daddy! My tummy hurts!”

Such an easy solution: DiGize from the Premium Starter Kit or the KidScents version, TummyGize.

To knock down the DiGize-y smell, carry a rollerbottle with 10 drops DiGize, 5 drops Peppermint (also in the starter kit), and fill the rest with carrier oil.

Make life much simpler when you pop a roller fitment on top of the TummyGize and keep it in the kids’ bathroom!

Your tummy will soothe faster than you’ve ever experienced, and you’ll feel much better!

4. Immunity

Our old life before Young Living was just a crapshoot.

My goodness. We just sat around waiting for when we might get sick again.

Such a silly way to live!

Now, we have preventative and active measures to get us through whatever illness might come along.

We have been successful in using oils like Thieves from the Premium Starter Kit, ImmuPower, and Inner Defense to kick the sick without gut-harming, liver-harming, brain-harming over-the-counters and prescriptions!

In fact, our family hasn’t had one of those in the house for years!

Even better: our over-the-counter medicine cabinet expired!

5. Energy

No, not the fake, from a can or pouch, synthetic, on-the-run type energy.

We’re talking real, from the inside, “I feel better because I am better” energy.

Adopting the Young Living lifestyle means you’re kicking out the fake fragrances and synthetic dyes and ingredients that bog you down.

Add in our NingXia Red antioxidant drink with a drop of brain, focus, and energy-boosting Peppermint (all in the Premium Starter Kit), and you’re on your way!

I’m a girl in love with her coffee (especially with a drop of immune-boosting Cinnamon Bark oil in it!), but we know coffee is only a temporary fix.

What we really need is ongoing energy, so we can snuggle up around that cup of joe but not become dependent upon him. That’s just not a healthy relationship, Joe. No offense. 🙂

6. Skin

Toxins, especially those floating around in every other product other than Young Living, are a huge reason for premature aging!

Drink water (especially with a drop of Lemon from the Premium Starter Kit!) to boost your skin’s cell turnover, and fill your Essential Rewards order with the ART line of premier skin care or the beloved Orange Blossom line that’s sure to be amazing for even the most sensitive skin.

And speaking of sensitive skin…I was told I had it.

Nope.

My body was simply rejecting the synthetics in all the products I was using before Young Living.

Post Young Living: not an irritation in sight.

One of the best things about sharing Young Living are the skin testimonials.

Especially my friends who have such powerful stories of ridding their kids’ eczema and other rashes and skin conditions. WOO!

7. Sleep

Guess what interrupts sleep?

You guessed it: toxins.

Synthetic fragrance (AKA fake hormones) mess with your body’s ability to regulate so many of the factors it takes to not only fall asleep and stay asleep but also to have good, quality rest!

Along with the toxin-free lifestyle and oils like Lavender, Cedarwood, and supplements like SleepEssence, Young Living also offers you the safest CBD isolate on the planet. No chemicals. No pesticides. Lots of good, quality, sleep!

BONUS: great sleep=more energy!!

You can learn more about CBD here.

8. Focus

Before Young Living I didn’t even realize how foggy my brain was!

Adding brain-health support like MindWise, NingXia Red, and ridding our family of the bioaccumulation from fluoride that harmed our brains with our Thieves oral care, I now feel more clear-minded that I ever have before!

Click here to learn how the Thieves Oral Care line saved my mouth!

9. Mental Health

We shout it from the rooftops to normalize mental health in mainstream media, but what no one seems to realize is that this is only half the problem.

We need real tools to save our mental and emotional health, and we need it now!

The toxin-free lifestyle is the biggest relief you can offer anyone with anxiety, depression, or any other mental and emotional health issues.

From there, you can tap back into that science I was talking about before and do things like the Memory Release technique (click here to read about it) and just simply breathing in certain oils that reroute your brain to literally think and feel better.

This is what we strive for in prescriptions, but our perfect, pesticide-free oils have zero side effects.

It’s been amazing to hear the testimonials of people who have used oil blends like Release, and our CBD oils to regain control of their mental and emotional health.

10. Whole Family Love

Last but certainly not least, Young Living’s 25 years of experience has something for every single person in your family.

From everything I mentioned above to our Seedlings line for babies, KidScents line for littles, AnimalScents for our fur babies, and even serious nutritional support for every age, Young Living offers you a lifestyle like no one else.

The best part is that with the Essential Rewards program, we find we’ve saved thousands every year we’ve taken advantage of this new lifestyle.

We are forever grateful to Young Living for Gary’s vision of Purpose over Profit.

Get Started in the Young Living Lifestyle

Click here to see how to get started.

Once you’ve followed the instructions here, I’ll send you your very own Essential Oils Reference Guide to make life as a new oiler simple.

You’ll also be added to our exclusive community called Life+Oils where you get private coaching, online teaching, and support from like-minded people with lots of testimonials to pull from every day!

Choosing the right person to walk you through this is important to your success. I’d love to be that for you!

Here are ten reasons (though this only scratches the surface) of why Young Living Essential Oils company will be your new very best friend.

Filed in: CBD, Dental + Body Care, Get Your Oils!, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

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Introducing the New Basic Starter Kit!

Nothing Basic About It!

For those setting out to begin their chemical-free lifestyle wanting to customize their first order, the Basic Kit is just what you need.

Young Living has revamped their Basic Starter Kit, lowered the price point by ten dollars, and reduced waste in its packaging!

Young Living's Basic Kit is the answer you have been looking for with its super low price point and access to the world's safest products.

Reward Yourself

The greatest option for shopping of this generation is Young Living’s Essential Rewards program.

This program makes sure you get the most bang for your buck.

With it, you’re able to invest in your health while saving more money than you ever could on the scary-ingredients in the store.

Young Living's Basic Kit is the answer you have been looking for with its super low price point and access to the world's safest products.

Customization Options

You might like to use my favorite Essential Rewards orders post to help, which you can read here.

I’ve also included some ways to make the most of your Kit month one below.

Option 1: Immune Strength

For Essential Rewards, you only have to hit the $50 mark each month.

However, always striving for $100PV (point value) is best because you get a free oil (monthly promos), still save more than you would’ve bought in store, and when you share, you’ll get a thank you check.

  • Basic Kit
  • Thieves Household Cleaner
  • Thieves Blend- 15mL
  • Lemon -15mL

Option 2: Ditch Synthetic Fragrance

  • Basic Kit
  • Thieves Laundry Detergent
  • Thieves Household Cleaner
  • Orb Diffuser
  • Lemon-15mL

Option 3: Personal Care

  • Basic Kit
  • Thieves Aromabright Toothpaste
  • Dental Floss (Thieves)
  • Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash
  • Bath & Shower Gel (you can add some Stress Away from your kit!)
  • Lavender-15mL

Option 4: Oily Arsenal

  • Basic Kit
  • Peppermint Vitality
  • Lemon Vitality
  • Lavender Vitality
  • DiGize Vitality
  • R.C.
  • Thieves Vitality

Option 5: Kids

  • BK
  • KidScents Bath Gel
  • Lotion (KidScents)
  • KidScents Shampoo
  • TummyGize

Perks!

During this month of October, you’ll get free shipping with your kit as long as the order hits 100PV!

Also, when you use my referral code 3929342 or go directly through my link here, you’ll also get an Essential Oils Reference Guide!

Finally, you’ll love our online community, resources, education, and freebies found in our private Facebook group.

This makes starting your chemical-free lifestyle much simpler!

Young Living's Basic Starter Kit is the answer you have been looking for with its super low price point and access to the world's safest products.

Filed in: EO Hacks, Essential Oils, Essential Rewards, Get Your Oils!, Oiling, Oily Education, Oily Tips, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home, Young Living Business • by Andrea •

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Safest Dog Shampoo

Safest Dog Shampoo

  • 2 tablespoons baking soda
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 1 teaspoon pure vegetable glycerin
  • 1 tablespoon pure liquid castile soap
  • 5 drops of BOTH Lavender and Lemon Young Living Essential Oils

Mix all ingredients. Wash dog.

It’s THAT simple!

Hattie’s Experience

Toxins, additives, and synthetics in dog food, treats, and care products like dog shampoo are lessening our pets’ lifespans.

When we’re striving to live a toxin-free life, it’s important to remember our K9 friends as well.

Thankfully this doesn’t have to break the bank in order to get great pet care.

Dog Shampoos

While we live by the Furminator with our Siberian Husky, Hattie, we also have to give her a good scrub every now and again.

Thankfully, Young Living gives us an amazing, concentrated option where we can get three safe bottles in one with the AnimalScents Shampoo!

Simply get a foam pump bottle like this one, put a third of the bottle of shampoo in, filling the rest with water.

You can even add a little T-Away in there from our AnimalScents line if you’d like.

This blend will help calm your pup, which is great for dogs like ours, who tend to get stressed during a bath.

Our Husky, Hattie (and I) loved this easy DIY because it was thick enough to lather up in her thick fur, yet there was enough of it to wash her really well twice!

Hattie is a big dog.

She also likes to play in the dirt and mud with our boys and prefers to live outside in most weather, so she was extra filthy.

If you have a smaller dog, mainly inside you could get four or five washes out of this. Maybe more!

Best Part

The best part is knowing there weren’t any synthetic fragrances in either of our dog shampoos that could really harm our sweet pup.

The oils are only from Young Living, so we know they’re 100% safe for her.

Why buy oils anywhere else when Young Living is the only one that meets all of the following criteria: never sprays their plants, never adds synthetic fragrance, only 100% oils.

Get Oils Here

Not getting a 24% discount yet?

Not utilizing the 25% back on top of that with Essential Rewards?

Click here for help. 

This link will also be extremely useful in starting the journey.

Need step-by-step directions? Click here.

Take the very best care of your dog with the only synthetic and pesticide free shampoo with the safest ingredients available.
Take the very best care of your dog with the only synthetic and pesticide free shampoo with the safest ingredients available.

Filed in: Babies + Kids + Pets, DIY Recipes, Safe Home, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

Mental Health Tool: Memory Resolution Technique

Mental Health Tool

What if we had a way to boost our mental health and work through painful memories and/or trauma within our home whenever we need it?

This was the idea presented to me one evening at the Young Living Convention’s Aroma Share event.

I have been forever changed.

Handle It

Before I learned about the Memory Resolution Technique, I only had one way to handle tough memories and situations.

I would talk about them with my husband, cry until I couldn’t find any more tears, then just keep going, focusing on the positive and pushing the bad away.

While this wasn’t an entirely terrible way to live, it did make my future tougher to navigate because my brain was never allowed to process the past.

Hope

One night, at the Aroma Share event, Dr. Minke was asking questions about my horribly painful cystic acne in an attempt to seek out a root cause after 15 years of failed medicines.

One question made my eyes unexpectedly fill with tears.

” Could it be possible that you may have any tough and emotional experiences or trauma your brain could be holding onto?”

Two miscarriages and a baby with childhood cancer…yeah, I’d say I had some “stuff.”

He suggested my friend (Laurie from One Mom and a Blog) and I head to the Aroma Freedom Technique presentation to see what we could learn.

I had no idea that what would come next would break so many chains and support my mental health the way it did.

Aroma Freedom

Freedom is a fantastic name for what happened to Laurie and me that day.

The women we spoke with decided it sounded like we both could use a memory resolution, and I’m going to be super real with you.

I wasn’t convinced.

It sounded like something outside of my belief system, so I approached it hesitantly and with a skeptical eye.

Oils + Our Brain

What I did know was that Young Living oils have a profound effect on our brain, especially the amygdala (storing and releasing emotional trauma) and therefore our limbic system (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance).

Reference Guide for Essential Oils 2005, Abundant Health
Reference Guide for Essential Oils 2005, Abundant Health

Because this is true, I knew whatever we were going to do that night would definitely affect my brain in a positive way, so though cautious, I was ready to let go of some serious pain I’d walked around with for the last decade.

However it came out; it was time.

The Process

It’s hard for me to remember exactly what happened because, as it turns out, releasing past trauma is intense.

Sorrow, grief, anger, guilt…oh, the guilt. Guilt I didn’t even know I had. It all came tumbling out of me, so please forgive me if I (untrained in this practice) miss a step or two.

Going Back

1.) Frankincense, Lavender, and Stress Away were put in my hand.

I rubbed them together, cupped my hands over my nose and mouth, and breathed deeply.

During this time, I was to recall and go back to the exact moment in time where my trauma began.

I chose the hospital room where my dear friend and pediatrician told me my two-month-old baby, Hudson had cancer.

I wept.

2.) I was asked to remember and imagine the small details.

Where I felt the emotion (in my chest like an elephant sitting on me), and to pray, asking God where He was during those moments.

I could feel that same feeling sitting on the chair in 2019 that I did in 2013 standing in the ultrasound room.

It had also never felt so clear that God was absolutely with me in that moment wrapping His arms around me, holding me upright.

I cried harder.

Lies

3.) I was asked to identify what lies I believed during that moment.

I was afraid of this question.

What lies? I didn’t believe any lies.

Then there it was: This was all your fault, Andrea.

See, the small problem that comes with realizing your kid’s toxin-caused cancer was very much caused by my body/DNA and my choices in products I used while pregnant with him and soon after birth came with good things like being able to turn it around to help other families, but it also came with this little lie I hid in the back of my brain.

Hudson got cancer because of me.

Unexpectedly, my mind shifted over to my miscarriages.

If my baby who lived got that sick, I must have been the reason my other three babies lost their lives.

I was a wreck. Right there next to my friend and two women I’d never met before that night.

I hadn’t cried that hard in a very long time.

Strangely, the woman running the session said during that time that if any other trauma decided to rise to the surface as we realized the lie, to let it come and bring it along for release as well.

It was so painful, friends.

I went back to the losses of my first, third, and fourth babies.

It felt like I was being wrung out.

Truth

We were then given the oil blend Release to breath in and told to re-establish truth telling ourselves what our brains should instead believe about our trauma.

Hudson got cancer, but I did NOT do this to him.

My miscarriages were out of my control and NOT my fault.

I am a GOOD mama who loves her children and am doing everything I can to create a safe environment for my boys now.

My trauma was NOT MY FAULT.

I cried even harder.

Resolving

4.) Inner Child oil blend was dropped into my hands to breathe in deeply as I recalled a positive childhood memory.

One where I felt safe, loved, and happy.

I chose to go back to my childhood backyard with my mama and sister picking mulberries in the summertime.

Then my mind shifted to snuggling my mama on the couch and hanging out with her.

Something I now enjoy so much with my own boys.

Connect

5.) Finally, the oil blend Believe was dropped in my hands, and I breathed in deeply.

I’d finally stopped crying from pain and was breathing normally again.

Then she asked us to envision the picture of true, unconditional love.

Tears poured out, but this time it was tears of joy as the clearest image of Jesus carrying His cross was front and center in my mind.

We were given time to work through that image and to finally open our eyes after this entire process when we were personally ready and not a moment sooner, giving our brains the time they needed to come to a good stopping point.

Brighter

I looked at my sweet friend, who had been walking through her own trauma alongside me (surprisingly not awkward at all), and the first thing she said was that despite my crying, my eyes looked so much brighter.

I felt a weight lifted off me. No more elephant.

The memory didn’t go away, but it did fade as I had come to know it.

It was like my brain wouldn’t let me go back to the place where I blamed myself, and even writing this I didn’t get emotional at that idea because I just don’t recognize it as truth.

I see it for what it is–a lie that doesn’t belong to me at all.

The biggest surprise during all this was how seriously powerful the mind is.

I’m blown away at what it can do to us both positively and negatively.

Progress

The next day I was standing in line at the Mona farm talking with a nurse about Hudson’s current adrenal issues and had to recall details of his diagnosis, treatment, etc. as she asked me questions.

This was the first time I had ever spoken about Hudson’s illness without a million different painful triggers (hating the word cancer, blaming myself aloud and inwardly, etc) going off in my head.

That time in our life was painful.

It was a part of our journey.

But it no longer owns me.

Praise God!

Mental Health Tool

Now, I keep those oils handy.

Not because I am dealing with any more big traumatic past memories, but because I now have the power to release lies about past memories.

Applying it to My Social Anxiousness

As an example, I’m working on how to start up conversations with brand new people when introduced. I know that’s a basic human skill, but it’s difficult for me.

Earlier in the month I was introduced to someone new, and my mind just went completely blank. I didn’t know what in the world to say to this person, and the words I did utter felt so weird and awkward at the time making everything that much harder.

That night, I kept wallowing in my failure.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how it felt like I’d take one step forward and three steps back in this, and I was having quite the pity party for myself.

Then it hit me: I could release this, identify the lie, reprogram my brain with the truth, and move on. So I did.

Applying it in My Motherhood

Another recent triumph happened just last week when my oldest, Cohen got his first sunburn because I didn’t reapply sunscreen at the lake when I should have.

We were having the best time, and I simply forgot.

The next day I was crying to Steve about how terrible I was for being so negligent and how could I do this to Cohen?

I am his MOTHER.

That was MY responsibility.

I wouldn’t hear one logical word from him about how he was the dad and might have had a hand in forgetting,too.

Then I could hear myself saying the lie: I’m a bad mom.

I looked at Steve and admitted maybe I was a little hard on myself.

He laughed, “Uh, ya think?”

I went into a quiet part of our cabin with my memory release oils, walked through the Memory Release Technique, and was able to handle the hourly sunburn care on the drive home that day.

This literally rewired my brain to understand the truth in the situation:

I made a mistake. I’m NOT a bad mom. I’m a HUMAN who made a mistake.

Better Mental Health

The ability to identify, work through, and release lies about our past is POWERFUL.

I get to be a better wife, friend, and mama because I actually have a way to deal with what would’ve kept acting like a revolving door of pain.

What freedom.

Need Oils?

Click here for help. 

This link will also be extremely helpful in starting the journey.

Need step-by-step directions? Click here.

Filed in: Emotions + Mental Health, Men's + Women's Care, Natural Remedies + Immune Function, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]

How to REALLY Survive this School Year

Want an easy school year?

Here’s a list of the MUST HAVES, especially during cold and flu season!

Need help getting these? Click here!

  1. All Things Thieves
  2. Mighty Pro
  3. MightyZymes
  4. MightyVites
  5. Thieves Hand Sanitizer (and a big bottle for the classroom, too)
  6. Raven
  7. Tranquil/SleepyIze/Cedarwood+Lavender + 10 hour diffuser
  8. GeneYus
  9. TummyGize
  10. Stress Away

Before I get into the details, I have to add a quick line about consistency. What your kids need most from these products is for you to use them consistently.

This goes against everything you’ve been taught in the “put-a-bandaid-on-it-antibiotic-over-the-counter-abused” world we live in, so I just need to make that my first and biggest encouragement to you.

It might feel weird at first, but once you see the huge difference toxin-free living makes, it’ll be second nature in no time!

THIEVES

It’s about so much more than just prevention.

When you get those infamous white dots in the back of your throat, your ears are hurting, snot is flowing, tummies are barfing, eyes are icky, fevers are raging…you name it, Thieves is your hero!

Thieves and living toxin-free through the YL Essential Rewards program will singlehandedly keep your home junk-free for years to come!

That means better gut health, which means stronger immune systems, which means less middle-of-the-night fevers, less makeup work from sick days, less stress…all that goodness starts with Thieves.

Did you know they have an entire Thieves line? 

Thieves Household Cleaner, for example, dilutes into 27 bottles and is scientifically proven to clean better than your endocrine-disrupting/throat-burning/immune-lowering store-bought junk! It literally replaces every cleaner in your home!

The rest of the Thieves line:

  • Hand sanitizer
  • Hand soap (dilutes into 3 bottles)
  • Dish soap (dilutes into 12 bottles)
  • Dishwasher powder (dilutes into 2 bags)
  • Bar soap
  • Roller bottle (hello convenience!)
  • Laundry Detergent (dilutes into 3 bottles)
  • Toothpaste, mouthwash, floss (can dilute the mouthwash BIG time)
  • Cough drops + losenges
  • Fruit + Veggie Soak + Spray
  • Surface disinfectant spray + wipes

You don’t make that many products from this oil blend if it’s “only okay,” friends. This stuff is straight magic.

MIGHTY Pro, Zymes, +Vites

To keep it simple, you need gut health for overall wellness and core nutrients we can’t get from our food these days.

MightyPro is a stick pack that has both pre AND probiotics (“pro” needs to eat “pre” in order to be effective), and MightyZymes are great to have on hand when your kids (or you) needs extra help with digestion. Think school party junk, and you’ll know why you need MightyZymes.

THIEVES HAND SANITIZER

Yeah, I just did an all Thieves section. This is just THAT important.

It’s THAT important you NEVER buy the store sanitizers.

I’m talking Threat Level Future Grandchildren here.

Other sanitizers seriously harm genital development and hormones. PLEASE get Thieves Hand Sanitizer, and make sure to grab some of the big bottles for your kids’ teachers!

Also, HELLO…did you see the promos this month? We get these little guys for free!

Screen Shot 2019-08-01 at 9.06.56 AM

RAVEN

My favorite tip: when you hear or see the first snot in your child’s face, RUN for the Raven.

Put one drop in your hand with four drops carrier (that’s just a fancy word for fatty oil like coconut, olive, grapeseed…you know) and rub it on their chest and back where their lungs are. For good measure go up their throat as well.

Do this often (or if you’d prefer pre-diluted, use SniffleEase) to keep coughs at bay!

You can diffuse this in their rooms at night, and pair it with Thieves on the bottoms of their feet (that Thieves roller would be AMAZING in the kids’ bedroom oil shelves!).

SLEEPY OILS+DIFFUSER

The two biggest mistakes I’ve made with my own kids during the school year is not getting enough sleep or water.

Both of these can lead to lower immune systems.

Check out this sleep chart from the National Sleep Foundation:

Screen Shot 2019-08-01 at 9.16.36 AM.png

Add water with a drop of YL lemon oil (no plastic bottles!) for during the school day.

Making sure they drink plenty of water in the morning and after school can help with a myriad of issues, especially with their tummy.

Keep in mind when you have your kids it’s likely their most (and sometimes only) opportunity for water.

Adding any of the oils for sleep (check your Essential Oils Reference Guide by Life Science Publishing) to your nighttime routine and diffusing with a ten hour diffuser (Desert Mist is my favorite!), will help everyone get the rest they need.

I also suggest turning the diffuser on before everyone leaves for the day on the 10 hour setting. If any germs are in there, you can kick them with the air purification properties of oils like Citrus Fresh or Lemon (both in the Premium Starter Kit)!

GENEYUS

This KidScents pre-diluted oil is great diffused or rolled on before school.

I like to apply it directly from the bottle to the boys’ brain stem area and diffuse it while we’re learning during the day.

It helps keep them focused and on task.

TUMMYGIZE

If there’s ever an oil that saves me the most it’s TummyGize.

I can always know for certain that when their stomach is bothering them, a drop of TummyGize will have them feeling better within 5-10 minutes. Every. Single. Time.

STRESS AWAY

Put a roller on top of this one or get the rollerbottle that’s premade like the Thieves one you see in the promo pictures. It just works.

The kids can take them to school and use it before a big test or presentation, you can use it before filling out the stacks of paperwork coming home, or when you’re trying to make it to all the places for every child within a half hour time period.

Stress leads to illness, and while we’re really never taught how to manage it, we have options when it comes to the therapeutic benefits of Young Living’s 100% toxin-free oils.

This is one great way to keep yourself and the kids together during this busy season of life.

HOW TO GET THESE NECESSITIES

The Young Living lifestyle isn’t a NICEity, it’s a NECESSITY.

Less expensive, safer, healthier…it’s a no-brainer!

Don’t have access to this true health and toxin-free lifestyle yet?

Don’t worry!

It’s really easy to start!

Your first step will be getting a Premium Starter Kit (this will let you immediately save $300 in the store and make shopping faster and easier!).

While you’re getting set up for your kit, Young Living gives you the opportunity to take part in something they call Essential Rewards.

It’s basically the best thing to come across this family financially in a long time.

Essential Rewards (or ER for short) gives you a percentage back (up to 25%) on each month’s purchases on things you’d buy for your family anyway, except every one of Young Living’s 600+ products are toxin-free, super concentrated (think Costo or Sams in small bottles), and work better than what you previously bought anywhere else.

You can take care of every facet of your home (cleaning, cooking, beauty, personal care, baby, kids, men, pets, nutrition, supplements, etc) through Young Living’s 25 years of  chemical-free living expertise.

Learn more here.

 

Ultimate School Survival List #graceblossomscom #essentialoils #youngliving #toxinfree.png

 

 

–

Filed in: Babies + Kids + Pets, Toxin-Free Home • by Andrea •

[jetpack-related-posts]
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