essential oils · natural lifestyle

Wellness Mindset

I woke up around 2 a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep.

I went to the bathroom to grab some lavender essential oil to apply to my wrists.

While I was up I noticed I had drainage in my throat from the tobacco barns fired up here in Tennessee so I applied a drop of Purification to my throat. Not to stop drainage (sickness mindset) but to clear my throat (wellness mindset).

I slicked on some Young Living grapefruit lip balm in gratitude that I can pronounce all the ingredients on the label, and applied some Young Living Lavender Lotion, thankful that it has no toxic artificial fragrance. Just scented with real 100% lavender.

I applied a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water to a wart that has almost disappeared, and Sacred Frankincense to a mole that is slowly shrinking as healthy skin is taking its place.

While I was at it I applied Valor to my jawline and the back of my neck to soothe tension, relax my jaw and help with sleep. I love the versatility of my oils. 🙌🏻

I headed back to bed with so much gratitude for the knowledge I have to use these oils and natural products, and that I know after using them that within SECONDS my body is in a better place.

My oils are fast. They keep me well. My lotion and lip balm don’t have to be reapplied every few hours like cheaper chemical laden ones. I probably won’t need any lip balm or lotion in the morning. I know sleep is on the way and feel tension leave my body.

I wish everyone knew about this lifestyle and that more people were more open to it. I’m sure more thoughts followed but I don’t recall them because I drifted off to sleep.

essential oils · natural lifestyle

Kidscents Products

I don’t rave about Young Living’s kids’ line of products nearly enough!

I wanted products to use on my girls’ skin that were free of harmful chemicals and had ingredients I could actually pronounce. Young Living delivered. 🙌🏻

Contains:

Natural Ingredients

Therapeutic-grade essential oils

No mineral oils

No synthetic perfumes

No artificial colorings

No toxic ingredients

KidScents Shampoo contains no synthetic perfumes, colors, or toxic ingredients. The natural components in this shampoo—aloe, MSM, Chamomile, and Tangerine and Lemon essential oils—effectively and gently cleanse without causing irritation.

KidScents Bath Gel is a safe, gentle soap that cleanses and protects sensitive skin. Formulated with MSM, aloe vera, antioxidants, and pure Lemon, Cedarwood, and other essential oils, this liquid soap is pH balanced for children’s skin.

KidScents Lotion. I would challenge you to download the Think Dirty app for your phone and type in the lotion you use for your kiddos. We used what we considered to be “high-end” brands and they were some of the top offenders! Young Living kids’ line is all natural, infused with essential oils, and I love knowing what I’m putting on the girls’ skin. Things I can pronounce! And it’s so moisturizing that a little goes a long way. It lasts forever!

**Confession, I may or may not steal this one for myself sometimes too!

essential oils · natural lifestyle

Our Wellness Story: Why Chemical Free Matters

Here I am with my baby girl, stopping by to get her shot record for kindergarten.

I was a little uneasy coming here because I didn’t know which entrance to use. I’ve only been here once since pediatrics moved to this location, and that was for her well-checkup.

Let me repeat that in appreciation: I’VE ONLY BEEN HERE ONCE AND IT WAS FOR A WELL-CHECKUP.

I truly believe there are two reasons for this.

One: a wellness MENTALITY. We see our children as well, we don’t speak of sickness, we visualize them as thriving and healthy.

Two: we support their bodies naturally. We view health through the lens of prevention vs treat.

Did you know that many meds like antibiotics that are used to “treat” actually weaken the immune system and increase the likelihood of children getting the very illness they are being treated for? That the more often a child takes antibiotics the less effective they are? Read more here and here.

I have no judgment for anyone using medications, including antibiotics, because we do too, when we have something bacterial like strep, and that is the best course of action to take.

Anything I’m sharing here, I’ve only learned myself in the last few years. But too often, I see it so much, kids are given antibiotics for ear infections and other illnesses where their bodies could be supported naturally and safely.

Then lo and behold, these children are right back at the doctor’s office weeks later. The sickness momentum keeps on going.

I am sharing this because I want to help the maximum number of families possible get out of this circle of sickness.

With my first child, we were in that loop! Ear infections, and just about every illness that came along. We were in and out of the doctor’s office like a revolving door. I didn’t know any better.

But we were sick and tired of being sick and tired. Then one day, it was as if someone flipped a switch.

I became determined to find the best for my family: foods, essential oils, household products. I researched. I read a ton. We started paying attention to what we were putting in and using on our bodies. We eliminated items that contributed to sickness (yes, many popular products marketed to humans are legally advertised as safe and sold to us 😡 -but that’s another post for another day. Read my “Ditch and Switch” series to learn more.) We went chemical free.

We diffused immune boosting essential oils and applied them to our bodies daily and consistently, especially during cold and flu season.

We became the discriminating guardians of our home and scrutinized what products we would allow in it. We ditched products containing harmful chemicals and replaced them with natural. These included cleaning, beauty, bath, and fragrance products.

We supported our bodies with oils for emotions, sinuses, soothing the skin and muscles. We used them for focus, healthy hair, and so much more.

And here we are. No longer stuck in that revolving door, and not a regular at the pharmacy drive through. It took time to replace everything, but this lifestyle doesn’t cost more or require more effort, contrary to some of the push back I’ve read and heard. It’s freeing. We are healthy and whole and we are not looking back, and hoping more and more will join us on the wagon.

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Ditch and Switch: Bubble Bath

Bubble bath! I’m a girlie girl and love a bubble bath. My girls love bubbles. But after learning how harmful Mr. Bubble and many of the most popular bubble baths are for skin, and not finding any good replacement, I became a t-totaler and cut bubbles out completely for a couple of years!

Why would I deprive myself and my children of one of life’s pleasures?

The number one reason is that the skin is our largest organ and anything applied to the skin is quickly absorbed by it. We really should be as concerned about what we apply to our skin as what we consume or what we breathe in!

The second concern for me is most of these popular bath products, including Bath and Body Works (which I at one time adored) contain FRAGRANCE. Synthetic scents or “fragrance” represent an unidentified mixture of ingredients including carcinogens, allergens, respiratory irritants, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxic chemicals and environmental toxicants. Check out Dr. Axe’s complete explanation of why you should beware of synthetic fragrance here.

Phenoxyethanol (found in Mr. Bubble) can cause skin and lung irritation, is toxic to the kidneys, nervous system and liver, and long-term exposure can cause organ damage. Yet this product is marketed to children. Pass.

In the past few months I have found myself daydreaming about bubble baths and longing for the days when I didn’t know so much about the harmful chemicals in our skincare products. Then one day, recently, on Pinterest I stumbled upon this most wonderful product: Honest Company Bubble Bath!

Honest Company makes a CLEAN bubble bath to be proud of. Safe to use on my precious girls and free from harmful chemicals. And the quantity of bubbles is very satisfying!

If you don’t already have the Think Dirty app, it is one worth having. It rates topical products on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most harmful. Please check out the Think Dirty images below on the products mentioned in this post. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and these are very telling.

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Oils for Emotional Support

https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/2183425

Oils for Emotional Support (per Gary Young, Young Living Essential Oils founder) ❤️

Are you ready? This is straight from the notes I took from our live session with Gary Young during convention in 2016.

YOU might want a pen and paper to jot down specific oils that pertain to you for your own needs. I can tell you my wish list definitely grew after this session! HERE WE GO! (Oils are in ALL CAPS)

———————————————————–

Emotions are the most powerful tool you have in your arsenal. Powerful in creativity and construction and equally powerful in destruction. You can use them to drive you into greatness or into the grave. But the will drive you one way of the other. If you do nothing you will stagnate, which is the same as death.

What can help you navigate your senses in a constructive way? COMMON SENSE. Where else can you buy it? Use it.

Every substance that God created has a frequency. Every man-made thing does too. God-made frequency (oils) leads to construction and man-made (not oils) leads to destruction.

There are many ways to travel through life be sure to choose one.

When you are presented with something, never say “no I don’t want to do that.” When you say that you build up a wall of negative energy that says “I don’t want to do that.” Self sabotage. You’re letting someone decide what you will or wont do. You end up spending more energy building walls than accepting life.

We’re not all cut out to do the same things. But don’t short-change yourself from experiencing life. Instead maybe say “let me think about it.” Don’t shut the door or build walls. Never close life out. Say words that leave the door open. Don’t put a wall around you that may block what you need.

Life is based on structure, belief and behavior patterns. How are you creating the pattern of success if you’re saying “I don’t want to,” “I can’t,” or “I’ll try?”

You either did it or you didn’t do it. There is no try. Two words to eliminate: CAN’T and TRY. You will never reach success using those two words.

We have the power to change, to adapt to any situation. No other living creature can do this. We can change our behavior pattern. How?

CLARITY. If you have a behavior pattern you don’t like, use while your sleeping, diffuse it. You’ll start noticing a shift.

FORGIVENESS. The behavior pattern could have been instilled in you from a parent or grandparent. You may feel like you are betraying them by doing things differently. No one was meant to be a cookie cutter. You are very special to God.

Our behavior patterns are those of our parents and ancestors and are encoded in my DNA. The function of DNA is to store genetic info.

ABUNDANCE. Put it on your checks and in your PO Box/ Mailbox. Put abundance on your checks when you pay your bills. Where as perfume. This is to attract prosperity and also to attract others to you.

We can change how we see ourselves. We can change our beliefs which will change our attitudes which will change our behaviors.

Don’t be a victim of yourself instead of a successor.

You always want your children and your grandchildren to be better than you.

Rear sight (present emotion) and your front sight (distant emotion). Use your past emotion to lead you to your future destiny. It’s as simple as CHOICE.

Every blend is created specifically for a need. Absolutely no oil blends were created for profit.

COMFORTONE. For bowels support. “smooth move”

Everything that goes on in your life is determined by emotion. It’s always there before the physical manifest. Runny nose, sore backside all began with an emotion.

Talk to God about your day what you feel good about or not, do a self- evaluation. Be more gentle, attentive, caring. Your greatest power is in self-evaluation and it only has power if you’re honest with yourself.

Take responsibility for your choices.

You can be whatever you want to be. You have to first choose it.

MOTIVATION. Put drop on pillow before you go to bed or use in bath. Keep on nightstand. Snort it. Will help you get out of bed.

En-R-Gee. Up the spine.

Put Motivation and En-R-Gee on at the same time. En-R –Gee up the spine and Motivation on your feet.

Pay attention to how you talk. There’s always pressure from some place in the world and you feel burdened. Here is the key to getting out of that space. The new behavior is using essential oils, becoming greater than you were.

PRESENT TIME should be on your person at all times. Helps keep you feeling burdens of life. You are secure with who you are and in control. This is when God resides with you – present time. When God resides with you, you are the most powerful force on the face of the earth and nothing can stop you.

When the sun sets at the end of the day, are you satisfied with what you accomplished? If you’re satisfied you will keep trying so always keep your expectations a little higher than where you are.

HARMONY. When you wrestle with yourself in your self-talk. When you’re playing mind games it comes from insecurity.

Gary was first to bring EOs to America.

Use when playing mind games. >HARMONY, CLARITY and BRAIN POWER plus VALOR.

Writing is the most powerful tool that you have to release. Write down things you like, don’t like. What you want and don’t want. Write constantly.

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This is just the first half of my notes from Gary’s 2016 session! Stay tuned for the second half in an upcoming post.

If you are interested in grabbing any of these amazing oils, you can find them here.

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Essential Oils Companies that let you visit their farms…

I thought this was very interesting! #repost

Sarah Goff called 15 essential oil companies and asked if she could tour their farms to see how the essential oils are made. I have toured Young Living’s farms several times. You can check them out too.

Here is a list of the company, phone number, and answer to what Sarah learned.

1. NOW essential oils: 888-669-3663, they do not grow their own plants. This either means that their “oils” are made in a lab or they buy plants from random farms.

2. Piping Rock Essential Oils: 1-800-544-1925, the representative told me no. She did not give me any explanation.

3. Aura Cacia essential oils: 1-844-550-7200, the rep said that they do not grow their own essential oils. She would not give me the names or numbers of the farms where they buy the plants.

4. AnimalEO: 320-286-3277, the mailbox was full. 😂

5. Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils: 800-879-3337. The rep said I cannot see the farms because their plants are sourced. She would not give me the name or numbers of the farms so I could ask them.

6. Edens Garden essential oils: 949-388-1999, the website said to not take the oils internally (Young Living Vitality oils are FDA regulated to take internally). The rep said that she had never received a question like that before and asked to place me on hold. She returned to tell me that they do not own any of their own farms and that I cannot calls those farms.

7. OnePure essential oils: only available by email. They did not respond to my message.

8. Healing Solutions essential oils: 1-800-819-4098, the rep had to place me on hold. He returned to say that I cannot see the farms. He said that the company is not equipped for face-to-face consultations.

9. Gurunanda essential oils: 866-421-0309, the rep told me that they source their oils and that I cannot see the farms.

10. Plant Therapy essential oils: 800-917-6577, the rep told me that they do not own their own farms and I would not be able to take a tour to see the plants or oils be made.

11. Rocky Mountain essential oils: 1-866-493-8159, the rep said that they do not own their own farms. I quoted, “We do not have any direct correlation with the farms, so it would be impossible for us to set anything up.”

12. doTERRA essential oils: 1-800-411-8151, the rep had to place me on hold. He said that I can only come on tours that are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30. I told him that did not work with my schedule, and he was not sure how to respond.

(Edited to add: DoTerra does not allow tours of their farms. I got clarification that the times listed about are for tours of their headquarters, not farms. According to DoTerra’s website, they do not own any farms.)

13. Jade Bloom essential oils: 1-844-787-3645, after listening to a long message, they do not take phone calls. I emailed and asked to see the farms. They have not returned my email.

14. Melaleuca essential oils: 208-522-0700, Mindy Buda actually made this phone call 🖤 she said that the rep told her that there are no farms for Mindy to tour. The rep then said she doesn’t know where the farms are and cannot give any other information.

15. Young Living Essential Oils: 1-800-371-3515, I called and pretended to be someone who is interested in the oils but not yet a member. I was directed to the Visitor’s Center (1-800-371-0819). I was told that I do not need a tour guide or anyone with me while I tour the farms. The farms are open M-F 8am-6pm, Saturday 9-5, and closed on Sunday. She said I can also tour the distilleries where the plants are made into oils.

I feel like these results speak for themselves. I was very emotional after making all of these phone calls and getting answers.

Why do some companies not know where their farms are?

Why wouldn’t they give me a phone number?

Why do some companies not have anything to do with how their plants are grown?

Why was I given an answer of “no?”

Why can’t I ingest something that I made from plants?

Why do some oil companies make their oils in labs and not from plants?

Why can I only visit a farm WITH a tour guide? Why can’t I go by myself?

Why did every company claims to “set the standard” and have the “highest quality oils available,” but they had no part in farming the plants?

Why don’t the employees know where or how the product is made?

How can you sell something to someone knowing they are going to put it on themselves/their kids and not know anything about it? ”

Feel free to call these numbers and see what they say.

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The photos included in this blog post were taken on my visit to one of the many Young Living owned farms. All research described above was done by Sarah Goff, shared with permission.

You can get started with Young Living Essential oils here.

– Angie

natural lifestyle

Ditch and Switch: Household Cleaners

DITCH HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, full of harmful toxins!

These chemicals enter your bloodstream within 26 seconds. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to clean my counter with chemicals that disrupt hormone levels and have been linked to cancer and mental illness, and then prepare and eat my food off that same counter.

We can’t assume that just because something is heavily marketed or popular that it is safe. We have to be the guardian of our own home and control what enters the threshhold of our doorways.

The biggest pollutants in our home come from household cleaners. You are literally poisoning your family every day with the things you can’t pronounce in your home, like the bright blue dish soap, the cleaner you use for your kitchen counters, fabric softener, air fresheners, and more. (Good rule of thumb, if you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t be using it.)

Essential oils are a better choice for cleaning!

Replace all of this
DITCH HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS, full of harmful toxins.

SWITCH TO THIEVES CLEANER!

If you are really looking to make the switch to a more natural lifestyle, no switch will be quite as satisfying to you as switching to Thieves Cleaner.

It is COMPLETELY plant based. I can hand a spray bottle to either of my girls and let them spray without fear of them being exposed to harmful chemicals.

It is such a money saver. For just over a dollar, you can make a spray bottle of Thieves Cleaner for your home (it is a concentrate and is super-diluted! one bottle lasts FOREVER!) You cannot find a cleaner this inexpensive in the store.

You can replace so many products in your home with this one switch! Here are some of them!

Thieves 50 usesMany uses of Thieves Cleaner

If you are interested in learning about more products you can “ditch and switch,” check out some of my other posts in this series:

If you want to purchase the Thieves starter kit or any of the other Thieves line products, you can find them here. My referral number is 2183425 if you are asked for it.