Mermaid Hair Spray

Guys, my hair is the happiest it has been in a long time! I have always had very little hair, and it is super thin...my curls give the illusion that I have more hair than I do. And, lets face it, anyone with Hashimotos can attest that it does no favors for our hair. 
When I ran out of my mermaid hair spray, I got lazy and was all, “oh I don’t need it right now.” Then I realized I did...so I doubled the amount of oils I usually put in because Mama isn’t messing around!

This is the regular recipe: 
In a 2-oz spray bottle, add...
10 drops Young Living Lavender oil
10 drops YL Cedarwood oil
10 drops YL Rosemary oil
10 drops YL Cypress oil
Add a pinch of salt and fill with distilled water. 

I spray on my scalp after a shower, and every night before bed I spray on my part and lift up sections of hair and spray. I'm saying the word spray a lot... I have recently started spraying it on my hair (instead of scalp) mid-day just to revive my unruly curls (I don’t use any product) and also because it smells good. 

Also? Now I have this song in my head... “I love her eyes and her wild, wild hair. Dance to the beat that we like best. Heading for the nineties, living in the Wild, Wild West...”

Adorable label by @astrobarndesign.

Supporting our Immune and Respiratory Systems Naturally

After my FB post went viral about the side effects my son experienced from a med he was prescribed last year, people are wondering what our Fall/Winter routine is to prevent catching the crud going around and how to support our immune systems if we do catch it. So I'm sharing our family's top 4 things for wellness!

Elderberry Syrup

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Research the amazing benefits of Elderberry syrup and you will know why this is one of our main go-tos! We have used elderberry syrup as a line of defense for around 8 years now. I have always bought it from the store, but it's expensive & contains additives...and I never realized how EASY it is to make your own! My friend Lynsey from Yonderway Farms shared her recipe with me and I whipped up a batch. 

You will need:

  • 1 cup of organic dried elderberries
  • 5 cups of filtered water
  • 1 cup of raw honey
  • Young Living Thieves vitality oil - which contains Cinnamon, Clove, Lemon, Rosemary & Eucalyptus oils for supporting your immune & respiratory systems! I love this added wellness punch for our bodies! (You can also substitute individual oils like Lynsey does = 3 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality, 3 drops Ginger Vitality, 3 drops Nutmeg Vitality, etc. Whatever your heart desires!)
  • A strainer
  • A mason jar or other glass container to store your sealed syrup in the fridge (Makes 4 cups or fills a a 32-oz mason jar)
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Add elderberries and water to a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer low and slow for a good 40 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool a bit. When able to handle, pour through a metal sieve and smash the berries down with a spoon & collect all that goodness in a bowl below. Allow the elderberry juice to cool until just warm enough for the honey to melt. Add your essential oils (I used 10 drops of Thieves Vitality oil) to the honey first. Then add your honey to your juice and stir until melted/fully  combined. Pour into your glass container of choice and, easy peasy lemon squeezy, you are good to go!

Take a teaspoon daily by spoon, or add to your Ningxia Red shot or tea!

Thieves Wellness Tea

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You will find my husband Roby making Thieves tea often. Since he is always making it for me and he has me saved in his phone contacts as "Wifey," I figured I just HAD to get this mug for him to make my tea for me right? 

  • You can make this simple "tea" with just hot water, or you can actually make decaf or regular black tea and add everything to it...whatever floats your boat! To your desired warm base, add 1 teaspoon of Manuka honey (look up the benefits of this amazing honey that bees make from the manuka trees of New Zealand...so good for you!) My favorite brand is Wedderspoon (KFactor 16) & I recently found out that they now make single serve packets to take your honey on the go. How rad is that?! If you don't have Manuka yet...use raw, local honey.
  • Next add 1 TBLS of apple cider vinegar (optional, but also so beneficial).
  • Lastly, add 1-5 drops of immune & respiratory system supporting Thieves Vitality oil & several drops of yummy Lemon Vitality. Thieves is a spicy oil because of the cinnamon and clove it contains... so use the amount right for you! WE LOVE OUR THIEVES! 

Ningxia Red

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We consider the Young Living Ningxia Red antioxidant juice magical around here! The kids love to call it Ninja juice...my cousin calls it Ninjago juice...whatever you call it, it has amazing benefits and has the highest ORAC value of any juice on the market! Nothing like antioxidants fighting free radicals to save the day! It is a "super fruit" juice supplement we take daily because of the way it supports ALL of our body systems, including our immune systems! You only need 1-2 ounces a day. You can also add your elderberry syrup to your daily NR shot!

Ningxia Red benefits*:

  • Balanced ingredients provide a whole-body nutrient infusion 
  • Provides energy throughout the day
  • Supports normal cellular function
  • Antioxidants galore!
  • Supports normal eye health
  • It delivers citrus oils containing D-limonene, a powerful component in citrus oils
  • The Wolfberry is full of benefits
  • Helps prevent oxidative stress
  • Your kids might actually love it! 

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

Good Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup

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I have talked about my love for the Instant Pot on my Facebook page...and this is one of my favorite recipes that I make often with it! I use Raising Generation Nourished's recipe for cooking a whole chicken in the IP, and made a few changes to make it a soup. 

  • Instead of water, I use organic chicken bone broth and add extra than what is called for (a whole carton).
  • I use the onion, carrots, celery and garlic she suggests, but also throw in some ginger root too...and add a bit of turmeric powder (and a crack of black pepper to help absorption of turmeric) too.
  • Instead of rubbing herbs under the chicken skin, I add 2 drops each of whatever Young Living Vitality oils I want to use- usually Oregano, Basil, Thyme & Rosemary or any combo of them- to the salt and then rub under the skin.
  • I make gluten-free egg noodles on the stove while the chicken is cooking because what kids don't like noodles in their soup?! (They do know I require them to eat all their broth since that is where the goodness is ;).
  • When done, I debone the chicken and add back to the soup. I usually fill a mason jar with soup first so I can freeze it and have on hand if friends or family get sick. It can be easily heated up when you are desperate!
  • Before serving, I take a toothpick and dip in Oregano Vitality oil and swirl into our individual bowls. Young Living Oregano Vitality oil (not to be confused with oil of Oregano) is STRONG/a super hot oil, so be sure to use just a toothpick swirl. The benefits of Oregano Vitality oil are so, so good for you!

There you have it! 4 ways to help support our bodies during these crazy winter months with germs a flying! Enjoy!

Choosing Joy

Today I spent hours driving back and forth between banks because of incorrect paperwork (by no fault of my own). I found myself frustrated feeling my day was wasted, but realized this was yet another opportunity to remain positive despite setbacks. I thought to myself, if this is the worst thing that happened to me today, how amazing is that? #perspective

I sat in the parking lot for a minute, applied Joy oil over my heart and breathed it in deeply from my hands. I did the same with Patchouli & then ran some Jasmine (my other happy oil) through my hair. Then, out loud, I named 3 things I am thankful for pertaining to my current situation. (I am thankful for my van that makes it possible for me to drive all over town, etc.) While waiting in the bank, I noticed I was standing there expressionless...so I threw a smile on my face. Forcing yourself to smile helps set a tiny happiness spark. I feel like I’ve been tested over and over again this week...so I’m continuing to work on choosing joy & cultivating an attitude of gratitude. We will attract what we put out there...so let’s work on getting that positivity overflowing! #choosejoy#attitudeofgratitude

Babo + Jasmine = Oh my heart!

Meet Babo. Aven chose to bring him as his lovey to the children's hospital for dental surgery on Friday. While we were waiting, I had Ave go through my oil bag and choose an oil he wanted to smell during his stay. He requested Lemon, his fave, which I sadly had forgotten...but then he chose Jasmine because it smelled like me. 😭 After we gave him kisses & hugs (& said a little prayer), they wheeled him out of the room...and before they rounded the corner, I saw him bring Babo up to his face and breathe in deeply. I can't explain how soothed my Mama heart felt that he found comfort in his Jasmine-scented Uglydoll!

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Patchouli

I received a free Patchouli in my YL subscription box this month AND ordered a bottle too...oops! Patchouli for days! Thankfully, it has so many uses so I don't mind having extra. Today I diffused it in our van when the kids started bickering. I find it calming so over my heart it goes daily. Patchouli is great for adding to your natural skincare products/deodorants too...skin loves it! Wins all around!

Patchouli is found in our Rose ointment, Animal Scents ointment (humans can use this too...we do all the time!) and Peace & Calming, Magnify Your Purpose, Digize, Live With Passion and Abundance oil blends.

Planting Lavender in Utah

I'm always starry-eyed over the fact I can visit the farms where Young Living grows the plants & trees used to distill our essential oils. What other company does that?! (Hint: none.) I was honored to get down in the Utah dirt and plant Lavender...Lavender that might end up in YOUR bottle of Lavender essential oil.  Young Living prides itself on their Seed to Seal promise...rest assured, beyond organic farming practices are used for all of their plants/trees & no pesticides touch their soil. Only essential oils that don't make their high standard of testing/quality are sprayed on the fields for pest control. Weeds? Hand picked, guys! This company takes purity, quality and potency seriously!

 Food for thought...Anything you put ON your body, goes IN your body...so it better be pure!

Epsom Salts + Oils = Yes, please!

There is something so relaxing about an Epsom salt & oils bath! Even my kiddos look forward to them! Olive & Aven take a Lavender bath to relax before bed, & my oldest takes Panaway/Copaiba baths after soccer games & basketball practice! 
Epsom salts act as a dispersant so the essential oils won't float on top &, ahem, burn your bits. You don't want that! Not only are Epsom salts great for helping the oils dissolve in your bath, they also provide your body with magnesium...adding an extra calming element! You can also add sea salts or baking soda to your baths if you'd like.

I had been saving my empties for awhile, and my little guy had fun helping me put 80 (!) bottles into this gigantic glass jar from Target with a whole lot of Epsom salts. He stopped to sniff every Lemon bottle, telling me it was his favorite scent. Soooo many different oils went into this mix! I did leave out ones I deemed not worthy of a spa-like experience, aka Digize & Immupower! Ha!

What is YOUR favorite Epsom salt bath combo?

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Magical Unicorn Oil (aka Valor)

Valor. It's one of the most-loved Young Living oil blends. Black Spruce. Blue Tansy (see that lovely blue hue in my Amethyst roller bottle?). Frankincense. Ah-mazing! Valor is a go-to oil in our household, but it has been out of stock for nearly two years. 😩 I hoarded the bottles I had, not knowing when it would come back. The rare unicorn of oils. 

Why was it out of stock? Because the demand for Black Spruce oil was greater than our supply. Gary Young had the chance to buy enough Black Spruce to make Valor, but it didn't meet YL's standards. Our oils go through SO many levels of in-house & third-party testing. And you know what? If it doesn't meet those standards, he won't use them. Period. Could he have been raking in the money because of all of us who love & depend on this oil who would have bought it? YES! But, YL values quality over quantity & profit. Instead of buying a lesser quality oil, they bought a farm = YL's Northern Lights farm in British Columbia! THIS is why I'm proud to be a part of this company and why I know I can trust the quality/purity of our oils! So while beloved oils may go out of stock, know that it's because they can't be created in a lab! We are at the whim of nature/plants/crop harvests, my friends! And I'm ok with that! 
Valor is available one bottle per person per month. 

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Orthosport + Panaway

When you are off to Nashville but can barely lift your arms from your Orange Theory workout...you grab your Orthosport & Panaway for the drive. Panaway, with wintergreen, peppermint and clove oils, is my go-to after exercise...the Orthosport massage oil adds a bit more oomph since it also contains wintergreen and peppermint, along with thyme & oregano oils. See that word on the bottle? Relief.

Dream Catcher

Zzzzzzz. I just got my Dream Catcher in the mail & look forward to diffusing it tonight! It has some of my favorite oils in it 👉🏻Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Jasmine & Rose, along with several citrus oils, Ylang Ylang, Juniper, Blue Cypress, etc.
A friend of mine loves diffusing Dream Catcher with White Angelica at bedtime...another diffuses it with Lavender & Cedarwood. I'm thinking of making a Dream Catcher pillow spray!😍
How do you use this gem?

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My Current Favorite Diffuser Blend... Obsessed!

Ah, yes, the wonderful Anthro scent everyone is raving about! I've been diffusing this loveliness for days. There's just something about Citrus + Northern Lights Black Spruce! Another anthro blend I love, but it's a bit more spendy (if you earned your Silver in 6 Aroma Complete kit, you'll be all set) is: Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood + Tangerine + Rosemary + Lime + Lemon Myrtle...I mean!