Daybook 40

Outside my window- Snow! On Monday we got like, 10 inches.

I am thinking about- I got my Jill and Tirian picture hung up on my wall! :D

From the kitchen- I made soup for lunch. So Dad took Mum out for lunch- 'cause he's not a huge fan of soup. It was yummy soup though- they missed out. ;P

I am creating- I have a project I'm planning to start working on soon... but it's a secret.

I am reading- I finally finished re-reading The Hobbit this afternoon. I was part way through before we went to see the movie, and then I kinda forgot about it... :)

I am hearing- Kiddos playing downstairs, mingled with the music I've got playing.

I am planning- No plans tonight, which is nice, because I've been gone in the evening the past two days.

I am wearing- A purple sweater, and a grey skirt. I'm actually wearing socks and shoes today, which I only do if I'm going somewhere, or freezing. I was freezing. :D

My hair is- Hooray! It's long enough for two braids!

Around the house- We babysat my nieces and nephew for awhile this afternoon. They wanted to go play outside, so I hunted up some outdoor clothes for them. They looked pretty funny waddling around in their too-big snow pants. :D

Daily Anxiety Protocol: Manage Anxious Moments!

While life is beautiful, there are moments during everyone's day that create stress, doubt and worry leaving us feeling vulnerable... 

Because so many people I love and know struggle with anxiety everyday I thought it important to share one person's success.  There is hope!  And, it can be simple, safe and naturally good for you! 

Last week, I heard from a CW Facebook friend and with her permission, I'd like to share her experience with you...

"Good morning Rebecca! I messaged you a couple months ago with anxiety issues. I want to express my gratitude about your recommendations!! I bought the long life vitality pack And I absolutely Love my results on how better I feel!!! I can not Thank you enough for all your Helpful info."

Daily Anxiety Protocol:

Life Long Vitality Pack by doTERRA - nutritional supplements with essential oils, please {Click Here} for a breakdown of ingredients 

Lots of water with doTERRA Lemon essential oil ~ for a gentle detox all day long.

Balance Blend (blue tansy, frankincense, rosewood, spruce) by doTERRA massaged into the soles of your feet each morning, a beautifully fragrant way to start the day!  I also like to dab my wrists as well so I can inhale it throughout the day!

doTERRA Frankincense under the tongue ~ 2 to 3 drops 2x daily

Modern research confirms that Frankincense has relaxing effects on the human body including uplifting mood and heightening awareness.

For additional remedies and helpful ideas to manage anxiety, see my previous blog post called, "3 Strategies for Anxiety Relief".

Many thanks to my contributors for sharing your success with us!

Rebecca

Knotted Updo

It's a hairstyle tutorial! Yay. 

This is a hairdo I was planning to make a tutorial for before I cut my hair in October, but that didn't happen. Obviously.

Conveniently however, I have long-haired sisters who I can force are willing to model. ;P

I'm calling this one The Knotted Updo. 

Because it's an updo... made out of knots. :D 

*cough*

1. Start out with your hair in a ponytail.

2. Take a small/medium section from the top of the ponytail.

3. Wrap around your fingers to make a loop...

4. ...and pull the tail through the loop.

5. Voila! A knot.

6. Pin the knot securely in place over the hairband.

7. Repeat with 2-3 more sections over the top of the ponytail.

8. Next you're going to take a section from the bottom, and add it to one of the loose top sections. 

Continue tying knots, pinning, and adding sections together, until you're left with just one section.

9. Tie a couple knots in it...

10. ...and hide the ends under the bun- and pin in place.

Finished! 

Depending on the size of sections you take, and how tight or loose you make the knots, this can be a really compact and  intricate looking bun, or, a really loose, almost-looks-like-curls sort of updo. 

Usually, I'd do it kinda loose, so I'd have this massive updo... It was awesome.

And now I kinda miss my long hair. Waa.

Oh well. It'll grow back. :D

FLU ~ Shots TO GO!

I've been giving this Flu Season way to much attention lately!

Everyday it seems that a family member, a friend or a friend of a friend is battling the flu ARG!  This virus needs to be wiped from the face of the earth as far as I'm concerned.  Just last night, we had a flu related "situation" in the family worthy of sharing, here's what happened...

Number one son Cameron...our BBQ celebrity was on the road...had the flu...AND an important competition coming up this weekend.

He loves essential oils, is an avid user but he was on the road and the EOs were at home.  He thought he was outta luck!  Oh contraire!  

When I learned of his predicament, I reached out to Camp Wander friends on Facebook, certain someone in the area would help.  Sure enough, Good Samaritan Kendyall volunteered to meet Cameron, delivering a 4 day supply of Flu Bomb EOs and gel capsules with some extra Lemon and Breathe blend!  The doTERRA community is growing leaps and bounds, and we're pretty darn grateful for that especially today :))  Thanks again Kendyall and the AZ doTERRA community!

While all this was unfolding last night, I came up with a plan to help road warriors like Cam be better prepared to handle this kind of situation.  You'll need a few tools and an Altoid Tin...and of course, doTERRA essential oils which are pure enough to take internally.

For those of us familiar with the Cold & Flu Bomb, we usually fill a gel capsule when needed (about every 3 hrs).  However, when you're on the road, stopping to fill a capsule every 3 hours isn't very convenient and filling them ahead of time is dicey as they can leak and our oils are too precious to let that happen!

This is my big save!  Fill {5} 5/8 dram glass bottles {available here} with single servings of your favorite Cold & Flu Bomb recipe, this is mine:

3 drops Oregano

3 drops Melaleuca

3 drops On Guard Immunity Blend

Of course, this TO ~ GO method involves taking with water.  It's not that bad!  I recommend emptying a vial in an ounce or two of water and downing quickly!  Five vials would constitute about 1 day's worth of bombs, feel free to make more of course!

I also added a few On Guard Throat Drops as part of the protocol.  They're amazing little blobs of immunity boosting essential oils:  Clove, Wild Orange, Myrrh, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon and Rosemary!  

The little wonders compliment the bombs very nicely.

Be Prepared!  

Help your friends and loved ones take precautions, send your Road Warriors out into the wild, wild world with a few essential oils in a really cool Altoid Tin ;)  

Stay Well!

Rebecca

Daybook 39

Outside my window- Lately, it's been really cold. Like, waaay below zero.

I am thinking about- Lookin' forward to doing some shopping/having a movie night with my besties later this week... :D

From the kitchen- I spent part of the afternoon making tortillas, so we could have enchiladas for supper.

I am creating- I helped Lilia make a bracelet like mine last week. After I showed her how to get started & stuff, she was able to do it pretty much on her own. :)

I am reading- "Heinrich To Henry" -which is a true World War II story- written by a guy my grandpa has actually met.

I am hearing- I've had Lovin' Ice Cream stuck in my head pretty much all day. :D 

I am planning- Practice, practice, practice. Amanda and I figured out what we want to play for our friend's wedding in February, so yeah, now we need to practice. :)

I am wearing- A grey wool skirt and a pink tank top with a blue/grey shirt over that.

My hair is- Pulled back into a barrette.

Around the house- So far... It's been a pretty normal week.

January Update

It feels a bit weird not to be taking Project 365 photos anymore- in fact, the first couple days of January, as it was getting closer to evening, I'd suddenly get this sinking feeling like Oh, the light's almost gone, and I haven't taken a picture yet today! and then I'd remember that I don't have to anymore. :)

So here's a bit of an update of what I've been doing since the new year.

-Every year after my birthday and Christmas, the cleaning bug bites me. Since I've just received a plethora of New Stuff that I need to find a place for, I always end up going through my cupboards, and giving away things I haven't used in awhile.
Says Mollie after receiving some hand-me-down Stuff: "I like it when you clean your room!!"

-I also re-arranged my bookshelves, because I had a lot of books sitting sideways because they wouldn't fit until re-arranged.

-We went skiing. Morgan got a concussion, and many of the runs were shut down and/or icy. The rest of the weekend we spent mostly playing video games and watching movies at my aunt & uncle's house. :)

-I knit a bracelet! It was surprisingly easy, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.

-This is the part where I brag about my awesome sister. She made me a TARDIS journal as a belated Christmas present. I'm trying to hurry up and finish my current journal, so I can start writing in it! :)

-Also, she drew me an AMAZING fan art of Jill and Tirian from "The Last Battle".
Because I ship them. Like crazy. And forever.
I'm sorry if you (like a few of my brothers and besties) ship Jill and Eustace, but you'll never convince me. They've tried, believe me.
...and don't use that argument about Tirian liking Lucy, because she obviously likes that Emeth dude.

*cough*

K, end of fangirling. :D

...and a question:
Since I'm not doing Project 365 this year, I have a feeling there's going to be a sudden drought of posts after posting every four or five days last year.
What sorts of posts are you hoping to see this year? Ideas? 

Daybook 38

Outside my window- We still don't have very much snow. Which is kinda weird, since this is Minnesota after all...

I am thinking about- Amanda and I have been asked to play for a friend's wedding in February. We have to figure out what we're going to play, and then start practicing...

From the kitchen- Baked potatoes and salmon for supper.

I am creating- Yesterday I finished making a knitted/beaded bracelet. I like how it turned out.

I am reading- I read the Leviathan Trilogy over Christmas vacation. It was fun. 

I am hearing- "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.

I am planning- After supper, we're having a birthday party for Dad. :)

I am wearing- A black sweater and floral skirt that I made when I was... 12. :D

My hair is- Headband + Ponytail.

Around the house- We went skiing last weekend... and my younger brother hit his head going off a jump, and got a concussion. He also temporarily lost his memory- & couldn't remember Christmas! Thankfully, it's all come back now except for about an hour after he hit his head.

Winter Cheer Blend ~ A Cheery Spritz with Witch Hazel!

A Cheery Blend to Brighten the Winter Blues!

{and SO much more!}

One of the many benefits of essential oils is their ability to heal mind, body and spirit.  In the face of January, we need our oils on all levels ~ to strengthen our immunity, brighten our spirits and soothe our wintery dry skin!

I created this blend to be used to freshen and revive the air space around you on bleak and dreary days.  

I added witch hazel for the option treating yourself to a skin restorative during the day!  One quick spritz to your face or neck to wake up and brighten your mood and skin or...

-Improve scars or stretch marks.

-An effective diaper rash spray.

-A natural deoderant in a pinch!

-Soothe and heal bug bites faster.

-Sanitize hands too!

I consider adding Witch Hazel a little stroke of genius, I love it's all purpose properties.  It's right up there with essential oils on my list of must haves!

How to blend your "All Purpose" Winter Cheer...

In a 2oz glass bottle, add essential oils and top the bottle off with Witch Hazel.  By the way, this makes a lovely blend for the diffuser too!  

3 drops Geranium  

balance ~ tissue regenerative ~ anti-bacterial ~ anti-depressant  

6 drops Lavender

tissue restorative ~ calming ~ lessens anxiety ~ anti-microbial

2 drops Wild Orange

anti-depressant ~ digestive ~ emotional balance ~ anti-septic

In Summary...

Witch hazel is one of those simple, natural products that most of us have on hand but we don’t use very often. Well, now that you know how very useful it is, especially in tandem with essential oils, it’s time to bring that bottle out of the cupboard and put it to work!
  

Rebecca

Chronic Headache Relief with L.L.P. & Giveaway!

The Natural Anti-Histamine Protocol:  Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint

I've shared the power of LLP with you before {Click Here}.  When used together...these simple essential oils can battle inflammation, allergies and all manner "chronic" issues.  

We've learned that most chronic symptoms are the result of allergies and the natural antihistamine properties of LLP when used consistently are a force to be reckoned with!
  



Today, I want to quickly remind those with chronic issues such as headaches, a common malady in our society, to try this protocol.  I believe you'll see great results if you use these three oils consistently.

Start with 3 drops each of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint in a gel capsule take 1x daily.  If you have a hard time swallowing caps, you can put the combination in a roller bottle and roll your feet 2x daily, morning and night.

That's it!  It might just be this simple :))

Rebecca

P.S.  Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint Giveaway on Camp Wander Facebook!  www.campwander.com/CampWander

December 27 - 31

December 27

I got lots of pretty things for Christmas.

My family knows me well. :D

December 28

Pearls.

December 29

Getting packages in the mail makes me happy.

December 30

...and stuff in the packages makes me even happier! :)

December 31

So long, 2012! You've been fun.

Happy New Year!