Daybook 22

Outside my window- It was 90 degrees today... phew.

I am thinking about- It's my favorite (read: only) little brother's birthday on Friday, so I have see about buying him a present... :)

From the kitchen- Peaches. We haz them. :D

I am creating- I've been in a writing sort of mood the past few days.

I am reading- I actually haven't done any reading since last week. That's kinda sad.

I am hearing- It's pretty quiet around the house at the moment.

I am planning- Peach malts after supper... while Amanda and I watch "Smallville". :D

I am wearing- A green tank-top, and white capris.

My hair is- Braided, and pinned up.

Around the house- We spent the morning in the garden, and then shelled dried beans in the afternoon.

3 Strategies for Anxiety Relief!

Anxiety disorders are the most common of emotional disorders and affect more than 25 million people in this country.  Many members of my family struggle with anxiety so this is a very personal issue for me to write about.  Without going into all the various types of anxiety, today I'm simply going to offer some ideas and remedies that have helped others with their anxiety challenges and should be shared with family and friends.  

Remedy #1

Recently, I wrote about a very special blend of essential oils called, The Peaceful Child Blend.  I've mixed this blend for a couple of very important people in my life, my "80 something" Dad and my 5 yr old grand daughter.  

While this blend was originally designed with children in mind and is indeed very effective for our sweet kids with ADD and ADHD, it's also wonderfully grounding for adults.  Anxiety is the opposite of "grounded", wouldn't you agree?  Many adults have found that The Peaceful Child Blend is very helpful in calming their anxieties as they go about their day.

~ Application ~

Mornings: Apply to the bottoms of feet (a glass roll on bottle works great!) and over the heart.
Daytime:  Roll on wrists so you can breathe in the grounding scent of the oils when needed.
Night:  Apply to the bottoms of feet then layer with Lavender for a peaceful rest.

P.S.  If you want to try a smaller recipe first, you can find it {HERE}.

Remedy #2

This simple routine was suggested by a woman of a certain age :)  I love that term of endearment!  She uses three doTERRA essential oils to control her anxiety.  Elevation Blend:  A blend of Lavandin, Tangerine, Elemi, Lemon Mrytle, Melissa, Ylang Ylang, Osmanthus and Sandalwood.

Serenity Blend:  A blend of Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and Vanilla Bean Extract.

Lavender:  Has calming and sedative properties.  May help lift feelings of depression and anxiety.

The uplifting combination of all 3 essential oils creates an energetic aroma that can help stimulate the body's chemistry when a person is feeling lethargic and sad.

~ Application ~

Morning:  A drop of Elevation with a carrier oil rubbed over the heart.

Daytime:  Serenity on wrists, breathe in scent when feeling anxious.

Night:  Lavender on the bottoms of feet for a peaceful rest.

Remedy #3

Therapeutic Bath Salts

Add 1 to 2 drops each of Balance Blend and Lavender along with a 1/4 Cup of Epsom Salt, dissolve in warm bathwater for an anxiety-relieving bath.

While life is beautiful, there are a multitude of very real moments during everyone's day that create stress, doubt and worry leaving us feeling vulnerable and alone.  You are NOT alone!  25 million people are challenged by anxiety.  You deserve to find a way to keep yourself centered and calm, I hope an idea or two I've offered will help you find your balance.

August 24, 25, 26 & 27

August 24

This sign makes me 'lol' every time I see it. :D 

August 25

Evening sunlight shining across the lake...

August 26

Campfire.

August 27

This girly is gettin' so big! :)

Beauty Secrets of Grapefruit Essential Oil!

Truthfully, I've never paid much attention to grapefruit. I remember my Mom going on diets when I was younger, most of them including grapefruit with sweetener for breakfast but that's about it.  Oh, and I wouldn't touch the stuff!  

As it turns out, grapefruit really is a *star* in the battle of the bulge because it's a natural diuretic, works as an appetite suppressant and has a powerful antioxidant called d-limonene which is excellent for the skin.  Okay Mom, I guess you knew what you were doing afterall...but sweetener?  Oh no, no, nooooo!

Thirty something years later I have my own weight issues...go figure.  So, living by Mom's example (cuz she's gorgeous) I've incorporated a few ways to get Grapefruit essential oil in my belly, because of my belly.  Yeah, I'm talking high octane plant essence!






I now drink several bottles of Grapefruit water throughout the day in a glass.  I take it wherever I go (in a glass bottle)!  I'm excited about the health benefits and just as excited to finally break my bottled water habit!   I know, I know...just shameful!

If you're feeling really fancy, put your essential oil in a glass of sparkling Pellegrino...oh so delicious and refreshing, especially with a slice of lime!

Quick story about another way Grapefruit is helping me.  Last week I returned from a trip to CA, I was gone 4 days and drank enough Diet Coke to fill a kiddie pool.  Understand, I've had to break this nasty habit several times in my life...you'd think I would have learned that this hurt!  Long story short, when I returned home I went cold turkey and developed a MOTHER of a headache.  The dreaded withdrawal headache that lavender, peppermint nor basil wasn't even touching!  Last resort before reaching for Advil, I tried Grapefruit oil on my temples, behind my ears down to the base of my neck.  In a matter of minutes it worked, I was SO impressed!  

I also moisturize and tighten the tush after a shower with Grapefruit and Coconut Oil!  You can find my grapefruit moisturizer blog post {HERE}  It's a good way to fight cellulite, smell happy like a grapefruit and be baby soft, all at once.

Amen to that!

DIY Lavender Dryer Balls For Lovely Laundry!

Your list of provisions for lovelier laundry includes:  a pair of clean cotton crew socks and a bottle of doTERRA Lavender essential oil.  This is almost too easy blog about!

Drop 15 to 20 drops of Lavender essential oil onto the foot section of {one} sock.  Ahhhhhh...just imagine how your fresh, clean laundry's going to smell!

Now tuck scented sock up inside the tube section of the same sock.  Push  this balled up sock down into the toe of the second sock.  Twist the second sock to add a little bulk to the Dry Ball...then pull the opening of the sock down onto itself until you have a tight ball.  The tighter the better because in addition to scenting your laundry, the Dryer Ball will fluff the load of laundry too!

 * Two Dryer Balls would be absolutely brilliant for fluffing and freshening pillows in the dryer *

Suddenly it's exciting to do laundry again (was it ever?).  I couldn't wait for my sheets to be dry so I could breathe in their linen and lavender scent!

~ Romance Your Laundry & Brighten the Task ~

P.S.  A Dryer Ball with 15 to 20 drops of essential is good for approximately 10 to 15 loads!

August 18-23

August 18

Amanda and I went to visit some friends in Wisconsin for the weekend.

We went to a state park- with waterfalls! :)

August 19

The sun was in my eyes pretty much the whole drive home...

August 20

Yummy. :)

August 21

The leaves are starting to turn...

August 22

I've reached the aqua border on the afghan I'm making.

August 23

Onions laying out to dry.

Colic, Croup & Constipation ~ Gentle Remedies with Essential Oils

An uncomfortable baby is an unhappy baby...

...and if baby's unhappy, the entire household is unhappy.  Colic, croup and constipation are on every parents "dislike" list.  Oh how I wish I'd known about essential oils when my kids were babies, I could have saved myself a lot of worry, grief and long, long nights sitting on the commode in a steamy bathroom with a very unhappy baby on my lap.  Makes me shudder even reminiscing about it!

Colic & Croup:  Would you believe you only need one essential oil to rescue your sweet baby from the grips of colic OR croup? 

Hello Marjoram!

Colic is any extended period of crying and fussiness that occurs frequently in babies.  The exact cause is unknown but it's speculated that the cause is from indigestion, gas build-up lactose intolerance or a lactose intolerance or a lack of probiotic bacteria in the intestines

How to apply:

Dilute 1 to 2 drops of oil in 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil, I like fractionated coconut oil and massage a small amount gently on stomach and back.

Croup is a viral respiratory infection that causes inflammation of the area around the larynx and a barking cough.  Sometimes, taking baby outside to breath cool night air can help open the restricted airways, so can humidity (steamy bathroom).

How to apply:

Diffuse marjoram into the air, set a diffuser in the nursery.  Dilute 1 to 2 drops of oil in 2 tablespoons of a carrier oil and massage a small amount gently on stomach and back.

Constipation: This unfortunate condition calls for the lovely rosemary.  However, once upon a time we were without rosemary and wild orange works wonders too!

Hello Rosemary!

Constipation is occurs when waste becomes too hard and dry to expel from baby's little body.  

How to apply:

Dilute 1 to 2 drops of oil in 2 tablespoons carrier oil and massage on stomach and the bottoms of baby's feet.

Keep in mind that when using essential oils on babies and children, it's always best to dilute pure essential oils with a carrier oil.  For older children, dilute 1 to 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil.  For newborns and infants, dilute 1 to 2 drops in 2 tablespoons of carrier oil.

Keep essential oils out of children's reach.  If an oil is ever ingested, give a child an oil-soluble liquid like milk, cream or half & half.  Then seek emergency medical attention.  A few drops of essential oil shouldn't be life threatening but it's always best to take precautions.

It's comforting to know that natural remedies like essential oils are available and fast acting.  Over the counter drugs aren't always the best choice for infants or children nor the most effective, and modern research tells us that there WILL be side effects.  

Please choose responsibly!