Grace Blossoms

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

 

 

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Lymphatic Draining Technique

Lymphatic Wellness Routine for Kids #graceblossomsblog #kids #youngliving #wellness #kidsroutine #lymphaticdrainage.png

Lymphatic Draining Technique

This lymphatic draining technique began right at the beginning of our toxin-free journey, when the lymph nodes in my neck were scary-big.

I was a frequent sinus infection sufferer and had worked my way up to being miserable at least once a month, but this time was different.

Advocating

As I researched what the source of the issue was, I came across the idea of lymphatic draining.

After looking at lymph nodes, their location, and comparing that to where my swelling was, I decided to give homeopathic lymphatic draining a try for a couple of days before inevitably heading back to the doctor’s office.

Gaining Ground

For a few days, I took to doing a version of lymphatic draining, drank lots of water, and tried to sleep as much as possible.

I was working full time with two little ones, so rest was tough to come by, but I made it my priority.

Within about three days I noticed a significant change, and within a week, I was starting to feel much better.

Since adding this technique and our toxin-free, oily lifestyle, I have not suffered any more.

Adding in Pesticide-Free Lifestyle

Our life looks much different now that we’ve tapped into the the serious power of toxin-free and Young Living’s nonGMO oils and products. Get yours here: Young Living Starter Kit

First, our immune systems are so much better.

The elimination of toxins from our home plus the addition of supplements like a great pre and pro-biotic and this lymphatic draining technique has been a complete turn around in our health.

The oils are used as a part of our new normal and preventative, and we use them to support our body when germs do break through to allow our bodies to do what they were designed to do: be well.

When Germs Hit Kids

Our boys are young and are of school age, so when germs try to break through, which happens from time-to-time, we have a plan.

In addition to our typical routine, lymphatic draining can be extra helpful.

Here’s the rundown as I learned from a Naturopathic physician.

*I am not saying this is the only way, just what works for us.

*This lymphatic draining technique is not intended to heal, treat, or cure. It has played a big part in our wellness routine, and is what I have learned from a Naturopathic physician, worked for this momma, and I’m now sharing with you.

*Obviously go to a doctor and use your best judgement to keep your child safe if you suspect something serious is wrong.

Oils

For safety reasons, we only use Young Living oils. I could not, in good conscience, support any other after the research we’ve done.

Gather the following oils:

1.) Lemongrass (a “hot” oil, so we’ll use plenty of carrier but wonderful for supporting the lymphatic system)

2.) Lavender

3.) Lemon

4.) Peppermint, Eucalyptus, or Cypress.(All are great for respiratory support)

Step 1

Mix

1 drop of Lemongrass

2 drop of Lavender

4 drops of carrier

Take two fingers and gently sweep from the top of the neck (under the chin) down to the clavicle (collar bone) area, and massage gently in small, downward strokes.

Pick your fingers up between each downward stroke toward the collarbone.

Then continue around to the back of the neck moving from the top of the neck down, toward the spine area.

You may only use one finger if the neck is smaller.

*Be gentle. You’re doing big work with soft strokes, and you want this to be a positive experience for your little one.

*Do each of these steps for 30 seconds or so.

*I usually have my boys sitting in my lap, facing away from me to do this.

Goumi Kids

Step 2

Gently massage circles at the base of the back of the neck where the neck meets the torso.

The doctor noted it is an alternate drain point for a child’s sinuses.

SAFE (2).png

Step 3

Brush down from where the hairline starts up by their ears. and sweep down gently to the point at the bottom of their neck.

The doctor noted that this clears and opens the ear tubes and minimizes the fluid that can be retained in the upper ear canals.

SAFE (3).png

Step 4

Add 1 drop of Eucalyptus (or alternate oil listed above) and 4 drops carrier oil to your hand.

Take two fingers with the blend on them and pull from the base of the chin, up toward the ear, back, then straight down on the backside of the ears, down the neck.

Your fingers will make a 7, and (the doctor notes) this will drain the sinus cavities.

SAFE (4)

Step 5

Add a drop of Lavender to your hands (diluted more if you’d like).

Gently rub with two fingers, in small circles (30 seconds) on their face right next to the middle of their ear to (as the doctor shares) help clear pressure and fluid build up.

SAFE (5).png

When I did this on my seven-year-old, he said his ear “popped,” which is why (the doctor states) you can also do this during a flight or any time your child seems to have pressure built up in their ears.

*Pull their ear lobes down gently to help with this as well.

The Naturopathic doctor noted that she really likes to do this when children are “presenting with sinus fluid” to promote wellness.

Step 6

Take one finger on each side of the nose at the corner, and sweep from the nose to ears.

SAFE (6).png

 

Step 7

Rub  small circles on the forehead, between the eyes.

The doctor shares that it’s a big sinus cavity where kids get a lot of pressure.

Then sweep from that center point out on each side toward the temples. 

SAFE (8).png

Final Thoughts

You can do this lymphatic draining technique any time of day, and the doctor mentioned it as a part of her bedtime routine with her own child.

When we did this at bedtime, they fell asleep quickly, however doing this in the daytime didn’t make them sleepy.

I noticed a big difference in both of our boys’ lymph nodes when doing this (they had runny noses when we first tried it). At the start they were visibly swollen. At the end they felt normal.

We did keep tissues handy as well as water (in a glass or stainless steel cup only for safety with citrus oils) with a drop of Lemon essential oil in it to promote healthy flushing.

This is a great addition to the tips I gave in the post about supporting your child when you’re working toward their wellness.

Be well, friends!

SEGA Shop
This lymphatic draining technique is one that can be practiced quickly and simply with Young Living oils to help boost immunity and wellnesss.
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SniffleEase

SniffleEase #graceblossomsblog #SniffleEase #youngliving #essentialoils #kids #respiratory

The Problem

The reason we love SniffleEase is for a situation just like this:

Your kid starts what you know will lead to weeks of hacking, running to the drug store, getting to the doctor, shoving {harmful and pointless} colored liquids down his/her throat all for little to no improvement until two to three weeks, when it passes.

“The Sniffle.”

I don’t know about you, but I cringe every time I hear that first sniffle because so much can come with such a little sound.

The Solution

The best action we can take as parents is quick action.

Not to grab the nearest synthetic OTC off the shelf, but to instead support your child’s body as fast as possible, so it can go into defense mode and start waging its own war on whatever has invaded your little one’s body.

Get your nonGMO first line of defense here: Young Living Starter Kit

We love to use SniffleEase at the first sign of a sniffle, especially the way kids are with sniffing instead of blowing their noses.

We have to get in there and help defend that precious respiratory system STAT!

SniffleEase is a rejuvenating and refreshing blend formulated just for kids that will get them headed in the right direction–wellness–in no time!

Convenient

The best part about having the KidScents line added to your Essential Rewards wellness box is that you’ll have a wonderful and convenient addition to your wellness arsenal at all times.

What makes it so easy to use is the fact that it is pre-diluted, which means that it is ready to go as soon as you crack open the bottle.

We like to keep the KidScents oils in the boys’ bedrooms on special oil shelves (our boys are 5 and 7 as I write this), so they are on hand any time (especially during the night).

How to Use

Take a couple of drops and rub it clockwise on their little chest/airways. I like to also add some to their back where their lungs are.

Cup your hands and show them how to breathe deeply, so they can have this unique blend going through their nasal passages as well for added support.

For littler ones, they can breathe it in off your cupped hands, but for someone like my seven-year-old, I would add a drop to his own hands and let him rub his hands back and forth then breathe deeply.

He’ll even rub it on his pillowcase before bed, so he can keep breathing it in throughout the night.

What About Infants

I get this question all the time: What if I have a baby? How do I know what to do? 

Please remember that you’ll need to find a Young Living specific resource since our oils are the safest on the planet and can’t be compared apples-to-apples with any others.

Please also watch out for people who sound more fear-mongering than helpful.

Staying on sites like Young Living’s blog with help keep you grounded and confident in your oil usage.

This is what the Young Living blog gives us about using oils in the nursery:

Diluting Oils in the Nursery Young Living #youngliving #graceblossoms #babies #essentialoils

Guidelines to Oils in the Nursery Young Living #graceblossoms #youngliving #essentialoils #babies

Oils with Caution in Nursery Young Living #essentialoils #youngliving #graceblossoms #babies

Final Thoughts

Getting your Premium Starter Kit is the biggest health decision of your life. Getting on Essential Rewards is the second. (Click either of those two links to read more about each!)

This means you’re choosing a life of nonGMO wellness for your family.

You’re choosing to always have an answer.

A support for your body to do what it was designed to do: be well.

Adding SniffleEase and the entire KidScents line is setting your child’s cells up for success.

We work so hard as parents and grandparents to train their brains for success, but rarely are we looking to our products and solutions for wellness as a part of that equation.

Young Living changes that mindset to one of staying above the line of wellness.

A life of proactive living instead of reactive.

I hope this has blessed you like it has our family!

~Andrea

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Backpack Essentials


Toxin Free School Year

When looking for backpack essentials, we print the supplies list.

Grab the book bag and lunch box.

We even stock our pantry with snacks.

However, we often neglect preventative health when preparing for the school year.

This post will help you take back your year! 

Read more

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Backpack Essentials 2+3

We often think of supplements as something only adults take, but you’ll find that the more you give your kids as a part of their backpack essentials, the simpler their school years become!

Read more

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Backpack Essentials 4

TOOL: Diffusing

In this part of the series, Backpack Essentials 4 we will learn all about the power of oils in the air  !

(If you haven’t gotten your kit with diffuser yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit)

We have seen some amazing things happen when our air is clean, free of toxins, and helping support our family’s bodies!

I’ve added some of my favorite diffuser recipes in this post to help you get through this school year much easier.

Read more

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Backpack Essentials 5

TOOL: A Well-Stocked Backpack

Back to School Toxin-Free Bookbag Essentials1

Lets continue with Backpack Essentials 5!

Below are the some great ideas to help kids take charge of their own wellness and to know they are having a toxin-free experience at school.

Read more

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Backpack Essentials 6


How to Get Through the School Year

Backpack Essentials 6 is all about the oils Young Living made just for our children!

Our family loves the pre-diluted KidScents oils!

Here’s a quick rundown of each of the oils for you!

Read more

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Backpack Essentials: Teacher Gifts

As a former teacher, I can speak for all educators when I say that teachers work hard for your children, so one of the biggest backpack essentials is teacher gifts!

I can also say that when teachers feel appreciated and cared for after pouring their hearts out to your children, it is refreshing.

This post is full of toxin-free gifts any teacher would be thankful to receive!

(If you haven’t gotten your 24% discount on all oils and oil-infused products, click here: Young Living Starter Kit)

Read more

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Safest Baby Powder


If you use the safest baby powder, it can be one of the most useful tools, and this two-ingredient synthetics-free DIY is the safest option.

Safest Baby Powder

Had I known how easy and cheap making my own safest baby powder was, I would’ve started this a long time ago!

Currently our choices are doom and gloom or pay through the nose for a few ounces of the stuff.

I call shenanigans!

At first I didn’t though. I wondered, if it’s so cheap to make, then why is all the “good stuff” at the store so expensive? 

There’s no better way than trying it myself. I found no good reason other than greed to mark organic baby powder as high as it is.

It’s so easy, cheap, and good to DIY that it’s one of my new favorites!

(First and foremost, if you want to superpower the following DIY, you’ll need your toxin-free kit. Do you have yours? It comes with a 24% discount on all toxin-free non GMO products! If not, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )

Why use baby powder with no babies in the house?

1.) Big boy stinky shoes (of which range in age from our youngest at 4 to my husband at 34!)

2.) Moisture absorber with my DIY deodorant

3.) Soft skin after shaving

4.) Dry shampoo

5.) Removes sand at the beach

6.) Keeps ants away

7.) Eyelash plumper

8.) Pet shampoo

9.) Removes grease stains

10.) Untangles necklaces

11.) Makes rubber gloves easier to get on/off

12.) Makes pumpkin carving easier (see the punched holes better!)

13.) Knocking hair off the boys’ shoulders after Momma cuts their hair

14.) Keeps sheets cool on hot nights

15.) Keeps playing cards from sticking together

16.) Takes squeaks out of hardwoods

17.) Sets makeup

18.) Keeps rabbits out of the garden

19.) Keeps pests out of garbage (they don’t like the feel of it on their paws)

20.) Protects hands from blisters and gets a better grip on gardening sheers

Option 1: Buy cheap.

*lung damage

*shortness of breath

*wheezing

*obstruction of airways

*Pneumonia

*Asthma

*cancer

*death

SERIOUSLY? If we’re on a budget these are our options!?

Option 2: Pay up, Buttercup

The powder scoring a “2” is $17.28 for 2.5 ounces. TWO and a HALF OUNCES!? WHAAA?!

Option 3: Mix together the following recipe

*Non-toxic, real ingredients for a fraction of the cost? SOLD!

10 drops Young Living Lavender Essential Oil (or your favorite scent/benefit!)
Mix together and store in a glass jar and enjoy!

Benefits from using Option 3:

*Non-toxic

*Cost effective

*Simple to make

*Softer than other baby powders I have used

*Benefits of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils

With so many benefits and uses, it looks like our DIY baby powder is a keeper!

My hope is that it will serve you as well as it does our family!

Enjoy!

Andrea 🙂

Want to know how to go non-toxic using essential oils? Click here!

If you use the safest baby powder, it can be one of the most useful tools, and this two-ingredient synthetics-free DIY is the safest option.
 
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Top 10 Immune Boosts

Top 10 Immune Boosts

What if simple immune boosts could be the ticket to making life easier in your home?

Before watching helplessly from the sidelines as the next virus runs through each kid and adult in your home, you may want to take a look at these natural supports first.

Support is Key

We can’t forget that it’s always better to preemptively strike when  it comes to our family’s health.

(If you don’t have your wellness box for 24% discount that will make all of this a million times easier, click here: Young Living Starter Kit (AKA Health in a Box!) )

1.) THIEVES ROLLER

What a defense system when you have this in your rack of immune boosts!

This blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary pack a powerful punch against germs, so why not head out the door each day with it as our first line of defense?

The Recipe

Roll on neck, behind ears, down spine, and on the bottoms of feet each morning before leaving for the day and each night before heading to bed. 

2.) COUGH DROPS

In my past life of store-bought, dye (that’s banned in other countries!) and sugar-filled cough drops, I would never have used a cough drop for immune boosting!

Now, thankfully I have a great threat against germs as well as a soothing, sore throat buster!

The Recipe

  • 1 cup local, organic honey heated to 300 degrees using a candy thermometer, stirring often (approximately 20 minutes)
  • Take off heat and continue to stir until honey thickens but isn’t sticky or hardened too much.
  • Add 11 drops Thieves and 7 drops Lemon and stir
  • Pour into fun silicone molds by whatever means necessary (I just use a spoon and carefully pour then smooth it with the back of the spoon, but for you patient types, you might find a nice pipette that works for you. Mine always gets too filled with hardened honey, and I end up using a spoon anyway).

*NOTE: The honey MUST get to 300 degrees so it will harden once it cools. Mine always jumps higher than 300 and it’s okay, but I try to pull it off the heat as soon as it gets there!

Take before school and pack one in with a vitamin at lunch for prevention. 

 

Not a DIY kind of momma/daddy? Try these trusted cough drops instead for one of your immune boosts!

Thieves Cough Drops.png
3. THIEVES HAND SANITIZER

I probably don’t have to tell you that kids aren’t washing their hands well or that often at school.

Fortunately we can arm them with hand sanitizer, as long as we are working on immune boosting in the process.

It shouldn’t have come as such a shock to see this, except for the fact that it’s so heavily marketed for children and schools. It shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but it will always upset me. These are our children!

Thankfully we have a safe option that fights germs in an amazingly powerful way.

DITCH

Store bought, gene damaging and hormone harming sanitizers.

SWITCH!

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

Put one in the kids’ lunch boxes, book bags, and pencil pouches! 

4. QUALITY VITAMINS

There’s no better prevention than filling our bodies with the nutrients that we need.

Along with a balanced breakfast and healthy lunch, MightyVites have an impressive lineup to help build immunity and fight germs!

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

Take one before school, toss into their lunch box to eat mid day, and finish the night with a third at dinner for a full day of immune support!

5.) GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

If your kids are anything like mine, sleep affects their behavior, mood, and focus.

More than that, a good night’s sleep is a great way for immune boosting!

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

For my six-year-old, 7-12 hours is recommended, but only 7 hours of sleep would never work for him!

Our four-year-old can waver between 12 and 14 hours depending on if we squeeze in a nap that day.

Over the years we have learned these numbers. They shift with growth spurts and age, but no matter how old they get, sleep plays such an important role in their immunity.

Something we do to promote good sleep is having a semi-strict routine in play.

We head up for shower around the same time every night, read a book, and we put some Peace and Calming or SleepyIze on their backs as his final way to wind down.

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!
These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

Our youngest (4) loves Peace & Calming on his Brown Bear to breathe in and calm down. Our oldest (6) would rather have three or four drops of Sleepyize massaged on his back while he tells us little bits of his day. We also pray during this time together. 

When Germs Strike

Unfortunately, sometimes we let our guard down, or those pesky illnesses are just nasty enough to push their way through, so immune boosting needs to be our focus.

If and when that does happen, we need ways to fight back.

Though I am not a doctor and do not claim to be, I will share what personally works for our family time and time again.

1. THIEVES TEA

I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am for this tea in my arsenal of immune boosts.

The second I notice a runny nose, scratchy throat, or mention of a tummy ache, I am heating up water for some chamomile tea and putting a batch of Thieves Tea together.

For us, most times, we are able to completely avoid whatever illness is trying to creep into our lives.

On that off chance it does make its way through, I give Thieves tea twice a day to our boys and up to three times per day (morning, noon, and night) for myself and my husband.

THE RECIPE

One cup of tea, two great benefits!

While the tea is hot, take some time to waft it toward you and breathe deeply. We notice ourselves breathing better almost immediately!

Once you’re ready to drink, take small sips and savor it.

Now, a tip for those saying your kid would “never” drink this…

What would you do if he/she doesn’t want to take medicine?

We hold our nose and chug!

For us, our boys love Thieves tea when they are stuffy, but try to get out of it if I’m trying to beat an illness before it takes over with immune boosts.

So, I give them the ole pinch and chug trick (and sometimes bribe with a mini-marshmallow in full disclosure). 

I have seen sick eyes and sad faces ask to run downstairs and play within an hour of giving Thieves tea, and I’ve felt it myself, too.

This is our first line of defense against any nasty gunk that tries to get in our home!

2. THIEVES COUGH DROPS

I don’t know about you, but my kids are really great at hiding a runny nose now that they’re a little older.

If we’ve had a busy day or they spend most of the daylight hours outside, I can miss a sniffle and by the middle of the night I’ll hear a cough coming from the next room.

The cough drop recipe above is amazingly soothing while giving the fighting power of Thieves and Lemon along with it.

Because I make it, I know exactly what goes into it.

I love that about it, and they love the animal shape surprise they get each time they open one!

Not a cough drop making kind of momma/daddo?

No worries!

Young Living now has cough drops you can buy that actually work! These have stopped a cough in its tracks and kept me going through full days of teaching before!

3.) OIL ‘EM UP!

Again, I don’t claim to have any prescriptions here as I am no doctor, but these work for us.

Every.

Single.

Time.

The key to immune boosts? Consistency. 

  • Thieves roller (see recipe and uses above)
  • Copaiba on spine
  • RC on chest (see recipe in next section)
  • Breathe Again on neck and chest for stuffy nose support
  • Peace & Calming and RC on neck for sore throat/cough support
  • Tummygize for tummy support

We find applying every hour on bad days and less depending on their needs on regular cold days works best for us. We will follow the directions for dilution and drop amount that is on the bottle (but mostly-we use this Reference Guide for Essential Oils.

A good rule of thumb for dilution: 

Infants: 1-2 drops essential oil per 1 TBSP of carrier oil (fatty vegetable oil)
Children & Adults: 2-3 drops essential oil per 1 TSP carrier oil

4.) R.C.

This is our favorite for supporting a cough. There are two main ways we use this:

  • 2 drops RC with 3 drops Thieves in the diffuser in their rooms at night
  • Diluted (we use 1 tsp. coconut oil, but you can check dilution charts to decide that  for your individual child) with 1 drop  RC as chest, neck, and back rub. This replaces store-bought vapor rubs that aren’t as child-friendly as their marketing makes them out to be.

5.) DIFFUSE PURIFICATION

While we use Purification for about a million different things in this house (think family car stink, smelly shoes, and garbage can among many others), we are most grateful for how it cleanses our air when illness is floating around.

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

You know the strip-the-beds-sanitize-the-doorhandle Mom/Dad move we do?

Here’s what ours looks like now:

  • Pull all sheets and wash in hot water with non-toxic laundry detergent (air quality to someone with upper respiratory illness is important, and most store-bought detergents are super toxic!)
  • Sanitize handles of doors, sinks, toilets, and kitchen with Thieves Household Cleaner (1 cap full poured into a spray bottle full of hot water)
  • Diffuse 3 drops of Purification in all bedrooms and in our common living area throughout the day

I hope this list serves you as well as it does our family.

I can never be more thankful for our Premium Starter Kit than I am every time we fight off an illness or shorten the duration of one from simple immune boosting.

The majority of everything I wrote about in here is in the kit, so not only do we save a ton with the it, but we also have all the tools we need to stay well.

The diffuser from this kit has been invaluable, as you can see from the tips and tricks in this post.

Because I am equipped with these supports, I can get a jump on the new school year and cold & flu season.

My advice to you?

Grab your oils, diffuser, and household cleaner and be the first one to make a move.

Go on, Momma, Daddo. Get the upper hand against school germs with these immune boosts.

You have totally got this.

~Andrea 

These top 10 immune boosts are simple, easy to implement, and will help guide your wellness for years to come!

 
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Safest Sunscreens

Safest Sunscreens

The sun is not my friend, so I’m always armed with the safest sunscreens.

What I look for in sunscreen:

(If you haven’t gotten your toxin-free kit that makes DIYs like this one super easy at 24% discount, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )

1.) Non-Toxic

This means it must be either DIY (from all natural ingredients) or from Young Living.

Why?

They’re the only company I can find who doesn’t spray their plants with pesticides or add anything synthetic into their formulas.

If I’m going for the safest sunscreens, why waste money on overpriced harmful things pretending to be safe?

It’s Young Living or DIY for this family all the way.

2.) Good Consistency

There’s nothing worse than trying to put a tough-to-apply sunscreen on a two-year-old at the beach. I’m looking for something smooth, not runny, but also something that isn’t going to flake. My favorite is a creamy texture.

3.) Convenient

I need to be able to carry this in my bag or even purse for anytime we find ourselves in the sun.

For there to be enough in the bottle so I won’t have to make a trip to the store right as my boys are geared up for a fun day.

I also need the container to be helpful when I’m applying sunscreen on our two eager-to-play boys.

4.) Cost Efficient

Three seasons of the year we live outside, and applying sunscreen to two adults and two children–plus reapplying–can get expensive quickly. We went through so many bottles of sunscreen it was crazy, but felt stuck spending the money because we couldn’t stop using sunscreen.  Then to make matters worse, we switched to the more expensive non-toxic versions. It’s tough to find something truly safe that costs less than $10/bottle and comes with enough to last the family for a while.

After Years of Experimenting, Trying, and Failing: We Found our Answer.

We love  Young Living Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, for the sun , or this DIY recipe. The two batches in one jar has lasted us all summer–even through a 10 day vacation in Florida!

Ingredients:

1/2 C Coconut Oil

1/4 C Beeswax

2TBS Shea Butter

30 drops lemongrass essential oil

15 drops lavender oil

1 tsp Vitamin E oil (this one is soy and wheat FREE)

2 TBS Zinc Oxide Powder

Melt coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter. Add vitamin E, zinc oxide and essential oils. Mix together and let it sit in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Whip for approximately 8 minutes. Transfer to a sealable container and use in place of 35-40 SPF sunscreen. Water resistant.

These are the safest sunscreens for your overall health and wellness and for the simplicity and extra benefits, you'll love them!

Because I doubled this recipe, I found I needed not only something bigger but something more durable to carry it in.

We are on-the-go, and I have to use something that can fall and take a hit, be carried by little hands, and can hold all we need for the entire summer.

We use a container like this and have had great luck!

I am so thankful I found this recipe.

It lasts, I can see the water bead up on the boys when they spray each other with the hose (daily occurrence around here!), and  it’s made with ingredients I can trust.

We can never be too careful with our skin, and we always need to do everything we can to protect our childrens’.

This has been a wonderful take-along for our summer adventures, and I hope it can be that for you, too.

These are the two very safest sunscreens out there!

Want to know more about how to go non-toxic using essential oils? Click here!

These are the safest sunscreens for your overall health and wellness and for the simplicity and extra benefits, you'll love them!

 
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Toxin-Free Deodorant


Toxin-Free Deodorant

OLD NEWS: Our deodorant is killing us.

But there actually are options that don’t harm you or leave you stinky!

Option 1: Premade

No matter how safe other companies say they are, if they are spraying the plant material used with pesticides of any kind or adding fragrance, you’re not any healthier than you were before.

Thankfully, Young Living offers multiple deodorant bars for you to use.

I particularly like using my Essential Rewards/Loyalty points to get it for free!

Option 2: DIY

INGREDIENTS:

From onemomandablog.com:

2 4oz Canning Jars

1/4 C Baking Soda

1/4 C Organic Arrowroot Powder or Non-gmo Cornstarch

4 TBS Organic Coconut Oil

1 TBS Organic Shea Butter

12 drops Thieves Blend Essential Oil (OR Peppermint)

12 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

DIRECTIONS:

1.) Mix baking soda and arrowroot powder

2.) Melt coconut oil and shea butter. Add in to the baking soda and arrowroot powder mixture

3.) Add in essential oils and stir until incorporated

It will be runny. It will solidify eventually, but to speed up the process, feel free to put it in the refrigerator for about a half an hour.

Apply with fingers after showering.

Answers

No toxins. Works amazingly well. Keeps sweating to a minimum.

(If you haven’t gotten your toxin-free toolkit and 24% discount that makes DIYs like this possible yet, click here: Young Living Starter Kit )

The best part? You know every ingredient!

Before I can give you the good news, you know I have to break your heart just a little bit.

If it’s from anywhere other than Young Living, you’re dealing with pesticides, synthetics, and fragrance–all recipes for hormonal disaster

What deodorant are you wearing?

What are you letting your teens wear?

How are we setting up their (and our) future health?

Do you see yours on this list? I did!

AXE–I taught middle school and have basically tasted this in the air it hangs so heavily there by the lockers between classes.

I’m not surprised to see it listed as something we need to beware of putting on our growing children.

Now that we see where greed has gotten the consumer, let’s decide instead of anger, we will fight back with taking our business elsewhere.

Note:

If you made the Dishwasher Detergent, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Lip Balm or Makeup Remover, you already have most of your ingredients!

Want to know how to go toxin-free using essential oils? Click here!
Enjoy!

Want to know how to live toxin free? Click here!

This toxin-free deodorant DIY and the amazing options from Young Living will make natural deodorant shopping a cinch!

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Banana Maple Muffins

Banana Maple Muffins

Banana maple muffins are quick and easy to throw together. My favorite kind of recipe!

Amazing Recipe

Thankfully, about a half hour before our first snack time today, I ran across a recipe on cookieandkate.com.

It looked not only easy, but also like a recipe that I could swing on grocery day when my fridge was looking fairly sparse.

The original post gives other options, but this is the one we used and enjoyed.

They are so sweet yet call for no refined sugar!

This banana maple muffin recipe is quick, simple, and filling all while using ingredients we always have on hand making this a go-to!

They are moist, delicious, and we topped them with strawberry jam (which we are also dangerously low on now that I think about it).

Muffin Recipe

INGREDIENTS

â…“ cup melted coconut oil
½ cup maple syrup
2 eggs
2 bananas
¼ cup milk of choice (I used raw milk from our local farmer)
1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1¾ cups whole wheat flour
â…“ cup old-fashioned oats

DIRECTIONS

1.) Preheat oven to 325.

2.) Mix ingredients in from the first ingredient to the last one (in that order). Nothing fancy, just pour and stir!

This banana maple muffin recipe is quick, simple, and filling all while using ingredients we always have on hand making this a go-to!

3.) The batter is thicker, so I scooped it into greased muffin tins (actually, we used paper cups on the first batch then the dye bled onto our muffins…sigh).

This banana maple muffin recipe is quick, simple, and filling all while using ingredients we always have on hand making this a go-to!

4.) Bake for 22 minutes.

5.) Enjoy!

Tasty Treat

We ate these straight out of the oven, broken up on a plate while the steam poured from the inside.

A little strawberry jam (we use organic strawberry jam from Costco…yum!), blow on your piece for a few seconds, and just like that, you’ve got yourself an easy, healthy snack!

I love recipes where I don’t have to go backwards in the list of items. I really get annoyed as a non-baker, when I have to use two bowls.

See? I mean e-a-s-y. Easy.

I know. It sounds ridiculous, but in my simplistic baking mind, everything should just go in one bowl when little hands are helping to prepare it.

Stir, no mess ups, pour, and go, right?

A Bit of a Difference

You’ll notice a considerable difference between my pictures and the original post. Hers are pretty. Mine had to be taken as quickly as possible before two little squirrels (and one hungry project-doing daddy!) gobbled them down.

I loved how they were like eating a sweet treat between the maple syrup and the banana, but I knew I was giving the boys a good, filling, snack. It held them for two solid hours!

Two hours, people!

I will admit after the second muffin they wanted a third because they were so delicious, but I told them no because that felt like plenty. I’m glad to report it most definitely was!

They had all the energy they needed to wrestle all the way down the hall jumping on each other and to make a fort from every piece of bed clothing and pillow in the house before lunch.

I’d say it was a win.

These banana maple muffins are quick, simple, and filling all while using ingredients we always have on hand making this a go-to!
This banana maple muffin recipe is quick, simple, and filling all while using ingredients we always have on hand making this a go-to!
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EASY DIY Non-Toxic Baby Wipes

Easy, DIY Non-Toxic Baby Wipes

Easy, DIY non-toxic baby wipes make life easy.

Store-bought wipes are highly toxic to your baby’s developing body, and far too expensive.

What’s in the wipes you’re using on your babies?

I cannot believe what’s in some of these, and I’m so thankful I can pass this information to you!

Toxins in Our Baby Wipes

Click here for a discount on the safest oils and lifestyle products like baby wipes: Young Living Starter Kit.

What do we know about most grocery store wipes? 

1.) Have known irritants in them for our babies’ skin, eyes, and lungs.

2.) Organ system toxicity risk.

3.) A cancer risk.

Safest baby wipe options. You'll love them!

One-Click Safe Option:

Young Living’s Seedlings is my overall top pick.

These wipes smell amazing.

Seedlings wipes get the job done, and are always safe and toxin-free.

We don’t have to worry about them changing their formula in a way that would put our children in danger, and for that we can put our minds at ease.

To learn how to get 24% discount on these and other safe baby items from the Seedlings Line, click here.

My Favorite Wipes DIY Option

If you’d rather try a little DIY, here’s a quick and easy recipe for you to put together.

2   round Tupperware containers with lids

1 roll of paper towel cut in half

2 TBS carrier oil like this one

1 healthy squirt of Castile Soap

5 drops Young Living Seedlings Calm Oil Blend for Babies 

3 cups of purified water

  • Cut paper towel roll in half with a sharp knife. We’ll push out the inner roll later.
  • Place half rolls in containers (they will be too tall at first!).
  • Fill measuring cup with water and add oil, castile soap, and essential oil.
  • Pour mixture equally over each roll pouring around the center of the rolls and moving slowly out from there.
  • Place lid on top of roll and press down until lid is secure.
  • Turn upside down and wait 5 minutes for the liquid to absorb.
  • Open containers and pull the cardboard out of the center.
  • Pull 1 piece of paper towel out of the center to begin using! Keep container closed while not in use. 

That’s it!

We are so thankful for this recipe.

It’s really nice to have on-the-go, too.

How to Get Seedlings and the Safest Essential Oils in Your Life

Essential oils are an amazing tool to create a toxin-free home.

Learn more about how to get the best deal (up to 49% off) on the world’s best essential oils (and the only ones I trust on our family) by clicking here.

Final Thoughts

Whatever you choose-DIY, safe in-store options, or a mixture of both, at least you can rest assured you’re giving your children something that won’t irritate their skin or damage their little bodies.

Goumi Kids
Safest baby wipe options.
DIY Baby Wipes
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