Weight Loss Trio

If you missed the last oils class, we went over some fat busters. Of course, using these oils and doing nothing else is not going to be your miracle. HOWEVER... combining these with healthy diet and regular exercise can surely help. I have not been the best in this area lately, but I'm regaining some motivation to start!

Here are some recipes I came across via my new oily friend, Tiffany. Hopefully she won't mind me sharing with you!

There are 2 different ways you can use these:

A) Make a capsule
B) Drop your synergy blend into your water

A) WEIGHT LOSS CAPSULE
- 3 drops Lemon
-3 drops Peppermint
-3 drops Grapefruit
- Empty 00 capsule. top with carrier oil
-Take no more than two per day (one in the morning and one in the evening for up to 2 weeks at a time. Give your body a break for 1-2 weeks in between.
(Essential Oils One Drop at a Time by Brandy Jones Arnold)

B) WEIGHT SUPPORT WATER
Drink at least 100 0z of water a day. Create a synergy of your favorite 3-5 oils and infuse your 20 oz water with 1-2 drops of your synergy in a glass or stainless steel water bottle. ( I would the trio of grapefruit, lemon, and peppermint for this)
( by Jen O'Sullivan)


*Grapefruit boost metabolism, Lemon detoxes cells of fat, Peppermint curbs appetite and sugar cravings.

I've added Grapefruit to my next order so I will be making my synergy as soon as it comes in!

Sleepy Time Roller Ball

My new thing is making roller balls. There are a million and one recipes out there. I made up my own for this one but I'm sure something similar is floating around on the internet. Here's how it works:

1) Take a used up bottle of oil, rinse it out and peel the label off. Lemon oil is great for getting the sticky residue off the outside of the bottle.

2) Drip your oils of choice into the bottle. I used what I had on hand which consisted of:

12 drops Lavender
10 drops Cedarwood
3 drops Patchouli
2 drops Orange

3) Swish the oils around for a few seconds to allow them to meld. Have the oils sit for 24 hours to form a synergy.

4) The next day, add a carrier oil (olive oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil.....any fatty kitchen oil) to your bottle. You can use a 50/50 ratio of essential oils to carrier oil, or add a bit more carrier oil to make your synergy to last longer. Snap a roller ball filament on top of your bottle, and voila!

Roller Ball Filaments

You can use this as you are getting ready for bed.  Roll on the bottom of your feet, on your wrists, behind your ears, the back of your neck...anywhere you desire..... and LIGHTS OUT!

One really great app for essential oil education and recipes is called TheEOBar. It's not free, but it's super informative and worth each penny of the $6.99 it costs.

Infused Hot Tea

With this winter being such a bone-chilling one, no matter how many layers I put on, I'm still cold. The only way I can warm myself up is from the inside out. Taking the hottest bearable bath is my favorite way to solve this dilemma, but at school hot tea is the next best thing. Not only is this tea warm, spicy, and cozy- but it is also great for your immune system. 

Try it and let me know what you think! Here's now: 

1. Squeeze your preferred amount of honey in the bottom of a mug. Try 1 Tbsp if you're unsure. I always use more than I should on the honey front.

2. Add

1 drop Thieves

1 drop Copiaba

1 drop Lemon

3. Pour in your hot water to fill the mug. 

4. Sip and breathe in the smell of Christmas.

Mascara Hack

The curse is upon me. I've started with a scratchy throat and a cough that I can feel going STRAIGHT to my lungs. Since I know RC (Respiratory Control) supports the Respiratory system, hence the name, I'm diffusing it like a mad woman and also rubbing it on my chest. I also just came across a throat spray recipe that I wish I could make right now but I'm currently out of peppermint AND lemon.... dying!!!

But here's the recipe if you are lucky enough to have all the oils currently in your stash:

10 drops Thieves Vitality essential oil
2-3 drops Peppermint Vitality essential oil
2-3 drops Lemon Vitality essential oil
3-4 drops Copaiba Vitality essential oil
1 1/2 ounces distilled water
2 ounce Amber Glass Spray bottle

Add all drops of oil to the bottle. Fill to almost full with distilled water. *Shake before each use.* Spray the back of throat as often as every 30 minutes.

Optional addition: honey to taste, 1/4 tsp salt.

On to the mascara hack: 

I recently read that putting lavender in your mascara can help grow your eyelashes thicker and longer as well as deterring eyelash mites (ew....but most of us have them. Just a fact!) 

-For 1/2 a tube of mascara, add one drop of lavender

-For a full tube, add 2 drops

You only need to do this one time for the entire tube! I recently did this with my mascara and I feel like it conditions my eyelashes and it also smells really nice. To have them grow long and lush would be a plus! I'll keep you posted.

Fox and Fig #2 + Oil Class

I'm on a Fox and Fig bender! I've been twice this month and I'm ready to go back with anyone who will go eat there with me! This time I took my Grama. (or ...rather....she took me.) This time I had the Bahn Mi which is: "Maple-Ginger- Tamari Glazed Seitan, Sriracha Mayo, Key Lime Ginger Pickled Carrots, on a Ciabatta bun served with Agave-Dijon Slaw." The owner recommended it so I took him up on his suggestion! Delish. 

I always bring a pouch of essential oils around with me to use while I'm out. I put a drop of Spearmint in our waters to jazz things up a bit and Grama's reaction was the best. She sipped it....her eyes got big....then she matter of factly stated, "Now, THIS is an experience." It is such a cool rush and a little less potent than my beloved Peppermint. 

Another trick I've been up to lately is making a flu "bomb" with my empty gelatin capsules. I pop one open, add a couple drops of Thieves, couple drops of Lemon, fill the rest with olive oil and ...voila! Natural flu deterrent. Some of the Flu Bomb recipes floating around online call for up to 10 drops of Thieves along with other oils that I do not currently have. I'm just doing the best I can do with what I have. A couple drops of Lemon and Thieves is better than nothing, right? 

Also, remember - I'm having and oil class at my house, this Sunday, 2:00. Let me know if you want in! I'm happy to have anyone who loves or wants to love essential oils! You're also welcomed to bring a friend. 

I plan on trying to host one once a month or so. If you can't make this one- there will be more! 

Hygge

Ever heard of it? Yeah, me either. Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is apparently Danish lifestyle that emphasizes embracing the little luxuries in our everyday life and finding deeper meaning in the ordinary. I didn't make this up. It came from the greatest article in the Young Living Essential Oils magazine that arrived in the box with my starter kit. With the Internet being so accessible and providing me with every service and idea under the sun, I rarely put time into the magazines I used to read through, in depth! I used to cut out workout routines and recipes from Self magazine back in the day. I would tear out home decor ideas from countless catalogs. Now, everything comes from Pinterest or Instagram (or insert site of your choice.) That being said, this magazine has been one that I've enjoyed holding on to and flipping through the pages in my cozy bed with no bright screens in my face. I have no idea if the magazines come out monthly or quarterly....no clue where I could get my hands on another one- but I feel it will take me a good year to try out all the oil uses life hacks it has to offer. 

Back to hygge. Every part of the article hit home for me because THIS is how I love to live my life. Also, there are a few pointers on places where I could probably find more "hygge". Here are the highlights from the article.

1) Keep food simple.
2) Share meals with your family and friends.
3) Make your space a sanctuary.
4) Live by candlelight.
5) Surround yourself with happy memories
6) Take a hot bath.
7) Read a real book.
8) Enjoy a good cup of cocoa (or coffee, or tea.)
9) Enjoy comfy lounge wear.
10) Enjoy a good fire.
11) Explore nature.

YES to ALL of these!! My hands down favorite is #6. Take a hot bath. Ask anyone who knows me....I do this everyday, if not twice a day. Essential oils help me to enjoy all these things even better! Somehow, the oils bring about a deeper sense of appreciation for each point listed.

Side note: I celebrated my 34th birthday this week and went to Fox & Fig for dinner. If you're into plant based food...or even if you're not...its so delicious! Worth it!

Try this... (straight from the magazine)
Aromatic Bath
"Add 5-10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil to 2 cups Epsom salt and 1 cup of baking soda, and slowly pour the mixture under running water to disperse as you fill the tub. Soak for 20 min to relax muscles and open pores to release toxins, then tuck yourself in for a good night's sleep."

Finally- I wanted to invite anyone who is interested to my house on Sunday, Jan 21st at 2:00pm. I'll be hosting a class on essential oils! Whether you know all about Young Living oils and use them daily or whether this is the first you have heard- ALL are welcome! If you'd like to join, send me a message on FB and I'll give you my address!

I'll have some drinks and apps and we will do a "make-and-take." Maybe a room spray....maybe some bath salts....haven't gotten that far yet. It's casual ;)

Grounding?

"Grounding" is a word that is thrown around a lot in the essential oil community. What exactly does it mean when a smell is described as "grounding?" I've been contemplating this for awhile and the feels that come to mind for me are: warm, earthy, comforting. I'd be very curious to know what it means for you. I understand it, but its hard to put into words. For example.... I feel that Frankincense is a grounding oil. I'm refraining from Googling about grounding it until I post this and read some of your ideas.

On the topic of Frankincense- it may be one of the most essential of essential oils for me.

I am currently diffusing it in my car and its hard to describe the way it makes me feel! Peace? Grounded, I guess!? Until I find something better, this is the only one I want to use in my car from now on.

My mom's favorite diffuser combo is an equal parts mix of Frankincense and Peppermint.