One Family's Essential Oils Journey

Animal Scents!! Essential Oils Ointment for Pets!

2011-10-23T16:35:00.002-05:00

If you have pets you NEED this ointment! We use it on all of our pets! Horses, Cats, Dogs ect... even the kids ;)

It works amazing and goes a long way for the cost! It only takes a dab to do the job!

When our barn cat had a cat scratch abscess, it was very infected by the time we noticed. We cleaned the area off and applied this every day for a few days and it healed right up!

Here is what Young Living has to say about their Amazing product: "Animal Scents™ Ointment is blended with Melaleuca alternifolia and myrrh, two of nature's most powerful essential oils. It is a protective and soothing salve formulated for external use on animals. Typically used for minor skin irritations, cuts, and abrasions, the rich blend of ingredients is effective yet gentle and safe, so you can soothe your pets without using harmful chemicals or synthetic products."

So try it out!! You (and your pets!!! ) will be glad you did!!

Happy Oiling!
Michelle

Autism and Essential Oils

2011-10-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

It has been a bit since I spoke of how the oils help and effect Ethan. Our son with Autism.

He has grown so much. And he amazes me everyday!

Today I saw him walk by my office door with an oil bottle in his hand. I do not let him use them alone as I worry about him or any of the kids getting them accidentally in their eyes. So I tagged along after him.

He stopped at the dinning room chair, plopped down and smiled and held up the Lavender for me.

I asked "whatcha got"? He said, "Lavender" , and grinned a very pleased with himself grin. :) (mind you he fetched this correctly from a huge basket full of all kinds of oils!!!)

I asked, "and what are you using the lavender for?" He held out his arm and said, "it itches" (and showed me the beginnings of a rash he must have picked up from the yard).

I was very impressed and my heart overflowed. ♥ Ethan not only loves the oils like I do, but he has been paying attention when I teach him what they are used for. And as anyone knows, that's sometimes an amazing feat in any child!!

We oiled up his itchy spot and he proclaimed it "ALL BETTER" and off he went. He content that he took care of his own problem, and I, feeling like I always do when essential oils (and Ethan) are involved, blessed as always!!!

Happy Oiling!!
Michelle

Tips on how to use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils on your pets!

2011-09-23T23:49:00.007-05:00

Often times we will see an article that says "use Lavender on your dog for calming effects", but they never really tell us "how" to use it on our dog!

So I want to impart on you some tips that I know about using EO's (essential oils, therapeutic grade ONLY) on your pets!

Our current pets consist of Dogs, Cats, Horses and soon we hope to add a Diary Cow or two and some Chickens to the mix. In having my oils on hand I am always confident that I can handle most any situation that comes along for basic first aide or minor illness! We even have a specific first aide kit made up with their own oils and the Young Living Animal Scents Ointment just for our pets!

Tips for applying oils:

For animals not having hooves you can apply oils straight to the paws for faster absorption!

If there is a wound or affected area you may apply the proper oil directly. But just as in humans, do not put in the eyes or ear canal!

For hoofed animals, you may apply to the frog and cornet bands of the hooves or sprinkle a few drops on the spine or flanks and massage them in. You can apply also in the mouth such as inside the lip or on the tongue or gums. Oils can also be applied to the auricular points on the ears.

Always remember this caution about cats! Cats metabolize things differently than other animals. Never use Citrus oils of any kind with your Cats! They can be potentially toxic to them!

If you have any questions about what oil to use for a certain condition with your pet, post it in comments and I will help you out!

Here's to happy, healthy, essentially oiled pets ;)

Michelle

Essential Oil help for Heartburn!

2011-09-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

If heartburn is slowing you down. Try one of these Therapeutic Grade Essential oils.

Spearmint

Ginger

Lemon

To help alleviate the heartburn you can place one of these oils in a 0 sized Capsule and take 2 times a day for internal use. (1 or 2 drops)

And for Topical use you may dilute 50/50 and apply 6 to 10 drops over stomach area twice daily. And if you would like to drive these oils in faster you may apply a warm compress over area.

We also have premixed supplements for you that are amazing for heartburn and many other ailments! Ask me if you would like to learn more about our supplements!

One word of caution. DO NOT use peppermint for heartburn.

You can find these oils, in their safe Therapeutic Grade form on my website https://www.youngliving.org/montanaserenity.

Contact me with any questions!
Happy Oiling!

Michelle

Water Flavorings! For more than just great taste!!!

2011-09-01T23:03:00.003-05:00

Hello Oil loving fans!!

When we first started using oils to flavor our water is was simply a ploy to trick our Autistic son into enjoying water. He disliked water very much. And would often put up a fuss!

Someone mentioned Tangerine Oil as a way to flavor his water since he likes juice so well, so we purchased a bottle and tried! What we found was, not only does he drink, and like the oiled up water, but we all LOVE it as well!!!

https://www.youngliving.org/montanaserenity

This led to some exciting experiments with Oils to flavor our water!! And as I mentioned in the title, what we discovered was that not only do they taste TERRIFIC, but if you are using YOUNG LIVING'S THERAPEUTIC GRADE ESSENTIAL OILS you are also getting some awesome health benefits as A BONUS!!

It takes no more than 1 to 2 drops per 12 oz of water or more!

Here are our favorites and why:

Tangerine Oil-Uses: Obesity, anxiety, insomnia ect... !!! And the fragrant Influence promotes happiness, calming and helps with nervousness!!! Taste delicious!!

Grapefruit Oil- Anti-tumoral, METABOLIC STIMULANT (my favorite reason for sipping it in my water ;) diuretic, FAT DISSOLVING (my other favorite reason!!!), cleansing the kidneys and helps with anxiety, depression and obesity!!! And so so much more!!!

Lemon Oil- Improves memory, relaxation, anti-tumoral, antiseptic. Uses: parasites, urinary tract infections ect... (This oils helped our daughter to stop drinking soda pop almost 2 years ago!!! In most restaurants there are very little choices for drinks. With the oils she could at least have a healthier flavored water (and we won't get into healthy water here, that is a much to complex issue!!! )

Citrus Fresh Oil-a combo of Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Grapefruit and Spearmint, best of all the citrus with a minty kick! All the best of the citrus benefits with the Spearmint's blessings of supporting the respiratory, glandular and nervous system. Spearmint brings about a feeling of balance and helps to open emotional blocks!!

Peppermint Oil- Oh peppermint!! Wonderful for cooling you down when you are to hot! And for perking you up when you are low!! It is a great Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and anti fungal. Also, one reason why many people like it, it curbs appetite!!!

Orange Oil- Uplifting, antidepressant, anti-tumoral, relaxant ect.... I love the sweet taste of the orange and it boost my mood every time I use it!

Many other Therapeutic Grade oils are "drinkable" but these are our current favorites!!

There was no way with out maybe putting a few of you to sleep that I could list ALL of the benefits of these oils, so I only highlighted a few that are most important to me!!!!

If you would like to try any of these Essential Oils for your family they may be purchased here: https://www.youngliving.org/montanaserenity

Many blessings to you all as you search for ways to be healthy and happy!!

Much Love and Peace,

Michelle
and P.S. Cheers to you all as I sip my Delicious Grapefruit Water!!! YUM!! I wish you could smell how wonderful it is!!! Like cutting into the most perfectly Ripe Ruby Red Grapefruit...Mmmm Mm! :) CHEERS!
P.S.S Much oil information shared here is from the Essential Oils Desk Reference!!!! MY guide to the oils!
SEE YOU SOON!

To My Frugal Pals!

2011-07-23T21:58:00.000-05:00

To my frugal pals!!! :) PLEASE read this !!

Thieves vs Clorox Green Works

Diluted 32:1 thieves makes 475.2 ounces of toxic free cleaning solution. Clorox Green Works is $3.89 for 32 ounces. To get the same amount of cleaning from Clorox you will need 14.84 BOTTLES costing $57.73!

so $28.29 Retail Thieves Cleaner = $57.73 Clorox Clean up!!

Thieves Household Cleaner vs. Lysol Kitchen Anti-Bacterial Cleaner

At the same mix ratio compare "Lysol Kitchen Anti-Bacterial Cleaner"
The 22 ounce bottle cost $2.74.
It would take bottles at cost of $59.14 to get the same amount of cleaning solution (475.2 oz) as in one $28.29 NON-TOXIC bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner.

$28.29 (retail) Thieves Cleaner= $59.14 Lysol Kitchen Cleaner

Thieves Household cleaner vs. Windex!

Concentrated Thieves cleaner can be diluted 320:1 to make 4,622.4 ounces of glass cleaner!!! That's over 36 GALLONS!!!!!!!!

One 26 ounce bottle of Windex cost $3.54; it would take 177.78 bottles or $629.34

$28.29 retail Thieves Cleaner = $627 Windex!

And Thieves is Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial and smells great of Cinnamon and Cloves!!!!
I love it for musty summer towels and even for shampooing the carpet (try out of the way area first for carpet incase of color changes.) We have also used it to clean up mold and mopping floors! WE LOVE THIS STUFF!!

To order go to: http://www.youngliving.com/thieves/natural-household-cleaners and when prompted for a Sponsor number please use mine 1111413

If you would like to purchase this cleaner at Wholesale price, send me a message at honeybee3@att.net and I will tell you how! There is also a way to receive monthly shipments, which are lower on shipping cost and you earn points toward free product!!!

Happy Cleaning!!
Michelle

Stretch Marks From Growning to Fast , Be You a Tall Teenager or Mama !

2011-06-18T20:45:00.000-05:00

Stretch Marks can come from all sorts of reasons! And show up in all sorts of places!!!

Most often we associate them with Mama's to be as their belly outgrows it's natural shape ♥. But I also have a Nephew who grew so tall so fast in early High School that he has stretch marks in lines across his back!!! And as his Aunt, and only 5' 3", I am always looking up to this boy ;) in more ways then one!!!

I started wondering, what in my beloved oils kit would lessen stretch marks. And not only that, but nourish the skin as well!

Here are the Three Choices I like best! They can be used together or separate. I prefer to use them together to let them work with one another to each offer the best of what they bring to the mix!

Lavender

Myrrh

Frankincense

These may be used Neat, (straight on, no diluting) apply them on affected areas 2 times a day.

Happy Oiling!
Michelle

P.S. Please remember!!! My blog post are about Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils from Young Living ONLY! . Some Lavenders are stretched with hybrid lavender or synthetic linalol and linalyl accetate. In some ways that Lavender is applied, if you use a "false" lavender you may have an opposite affect. Please be sure that your oils are Therapeutic Grade before using them as I describe in this blog. Sincerely, Michelle

Lets Give a Grand Welcome to the New Blogger on the Block!!!

2011-04-18T00:12:00.000-05:00

Please, Please join me in welcoming the newest blogger on the block in my oils group!! This gal has amazing writing talent and what she has to share is WORTH reading!!!

http://mysimplemedicinebag.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-quit-smoking-with-help-of-these-3-oil.html?spref=fb

This latest blog post that she has written is about she quit smoking with the help of 3 essential oils!! Please read it and then click to follow her blog publicly! When blogging, the more the merrier!! No one likes to be lonely ;)

Hope to see your smiling faces :) and Avatars on her blog next, you'll be glad your not missing out!! Lots and Lots to learn!!

Happy Oiling!!
Michelle

A New Hello!

2011-04-17T00:58:00.001-05:00

I have been out of the blogging world quite a bit lately and I miss it immensely! As a caregiver, responsibility to family must always come first and my father's ailing health has dominated much of my time this last year as I try to make him comfortable. (I will be posting some of the oils I am using to help him to feel the best he can in future post!)

I have also been working with my new group of Young Living Oils Independent Distributors who have signed up to start their bushiness and become part of my personal team.

What an amazing group of ladies I have been blessed to work with!! I can't keep up with these gals!!! They are so full of wonderful ideas! And so eager to learn all about the oils and all of their amazing healing properties. I think the fun is just beginning and I feel so blessed to have front row seats as we all start our journey together one step at a time!! WELCOME ABOARD LADIES!!

Loving Young Living Oils

2010-11-12T23:54:00.000-06:00

"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense". Song of Solomon 4:6
I work for an amazing company that prays over it's harvest, quotes the bible in it's brochures, and heals my loved ones...I feel blessed for that!
I hope that your life has been touched by oils as well. Please drop me a comment and let me know in what way. And if it has not yet been, then let me know and I will send you a sample that you may respect and enjoy them as much as I do!
Counting my blessings today~
Michelle

Helping chase away Ringworm!

2010-09-10T01:33:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite Nephews stopped by the other day to visit...Ok, they are all my favorite, what can I say :)
Anyway, he had these horrible looking large round spots on his leg and face! I knew immediately that he had Ringworm!
He said that he had a cream from the Doctor's office, but it wasn't helping and it was spreading and he was worried it would get into his eyes!
So, as I always do, I pulled out my EDR (Essential Oils Desk Reference,) and looked up Ring Worm!
Now as I do with all my oils concoctions that I make, I read and research, then I pull out the oils I have, then I pray about it, and mix what I feel will best work for this situation. And so far, I have never been mislead!

Whenever my family needs an ointment I use Dessert Essence Tea Tree ointment. I find that it works really well for us as a base. (if I want a skin conditioning base I use organic coco butter alone or mixed with jojoba ), but for this since I wanted Tea Tree oil, and did not have any on hand from my Young Living Oils, I used this base.
Then in the base I mixed lavender oil, to help promote healing of the skin tissue. And peppermint and Thieves to help stop the fungus.
My nephew commented just a few days later that the Ringworm fungus was healing and fading away! No one, even me, could believe how quickly and thoroughly it was stopped!
I am amazed everyday at the power that the pure oils have in assisting our bodies in healing.
Sincerely,
Aunt Michelle~

Dear Seasoned Essential Oil Users..... And Newbies :)

2010-08-22T10:44:00.000-05:00

*Hello to all my seasoned oil users!!!
I am somewhat of a newbie to the facinating world of Essential Oils myself and so are many of my readers.
I was wondering if some of our more knowledgeable and better praticed oil users would sound off on my pages as to ways they use Essential Oils.
Please, comment any where on my blog, your knowledge helps to educate us all! And please, add blunders as well as testimonials. That should liven the place up a bit :) lol
You could add Oils Stories here after this post. Or dig back into some of my older post on specific oils and add your stories there. That way if someone is interested in say "Joy Oil Blend" , they would find your story/testimonial right there with my post.
And feel free to share this blog site with other newbies and seasoned users so that we may create a small community of shared oil information.

*And to my Newbie oil users or learners.

Even if you have never used an oil before!!! ( we all start somewhere!) :) I am an in-betweenier right now. I have been studying and using oils for a couple of years now, but as a busy mom, I certainly don't have all the answers, and still have many questions. But I do make it a point to learn something new everyday about an oil!!!

I beseech you to add your questions to this blog. Do you have any questions?
Like,
"what oil is best for headaches or upset stomach?"
"what oil is best to calm a child?"
Or even "what oils is best to calm my horse or dog?"
"what oils are safe for my cat"? (some oils are toxic to cats, mainly citrus oils, the same way some plants are toxic to felines. )

And on these questions, I would LOVE it if my seasoned users would help to answer.
I am a caregiver to two people with special needs. I am not always on here as much as I like, (and currently in the process of selling my home and moving cross country, so I will be visiting via mobil lap top soon) so I would feel honored if some of you users would help me with answers and education.

I would ask this of both side though, please help me to keep this blog informal. No bashing, no grumping or griping :) Only gentle guided learning and fun!!! I am just a simple down home girl. My college time was spent learning marketing, but I would rather be elbow deep in garden dirt or making home made pasta ;) So, lets keep this light hearted and fun and enjoy making new friends. That's it!!! That's what I want.....I want a blog that is an amazingly large group of friends all connected by the desire to better our health and mental state with the use of pure Essential Oils :)

Can't wait to hear from all of you!!! Take care and Bless you for Sharing.
Sincerely, your oily blogger,
Michelle

Busy Summer

2010-07-24T00:21:00.000-05:00

I hope all of you are enjoying summer. I have to tell you....I don't ever really enjoy summer! I like lots of things about it..picking fresh peaches, cool mornings when the birds are singing, the rare cool breezy evening, and southern breezes.....but I HATE Midwest Heat and Humidity!!! Autumn....I only tolerate Summer because I know Autumn comes next :) Pumpkins, warm spicy apple cider, scarecrows, amazing leaves, and just the harvest in general! My heart sings from the first chilly breeze to the first snow flake...then it really gets giddy! But enough about me and the seasons!! :)
I had hoped to post more consistently, but with Bailey learning to drive and renovating the house and packing in hopes of moving soon, I just have not had the time.
I do hope that all of you will stay with me, catch up on my old post if you haven't read them all....I put my heart in them :) And I will be back as the weather cools down and the work slows down a bit.

I have also had a real go of it with my dad these last few months. Most all of you know that I am his caregiver. Dad was in the ER 3 times in May then he had a bad fall in the end of May...due to low sodium, we had a 10 hour ER stay and then admitted for 30 days. And then he came home in June to go back just the other night for an 8 hour ER stay and admitted for 4 days. He is wearing me out :) And it isn't doing him much good either. They changed his meds again...and well, between you and me, we'll be back to the Doc shortly, I can see it coming....Blood pressure is a hard thing to hammer out!
I was so so glad to have my oils bag with me every time we get stuck in ER! Dad and I used to get sick easy, always hanging around the hospitals. But now, since we take our Vitamin D and use our oils, we don't get sick any more.
I always put Thieves on our feet and around the glands under our chins, when we have an ER or hospital stay. This last time I forgot, and by morning I was getting gunk build up in my throat and sinuses...don't know if I was catching something or what. So I did the Thieves routine and then took some to dad at the hospital and oiled him up as well. We are still fighting the high blood pressure, but neither of us have had a cold/flu for a very long time!!!
And I have to tell you, of course I still use my Joy oil every day, but when I know I have a really stressful event ahead....like sitting 6 to 8 hours in a ER, the Joy oil goes on my throath around my Thyroid and over my heart!
And then Peace and Calm....what would I do with out it....and Stress Away, I wear them on my wrist's like perfume.
Now, one might think you would be able to smell me coming with all these amazing oils on me....and maybe people do, but since they are all calming smells they must relax everyone around me the same as they do me as people flock to me to visit and no one shy's away :)
Any way :) thanks for stopping back in to check on my blog, and I have many tips to get on here....I have been getting some real good testimonials lately that I want to share with you all!!!
And please, leave me some comments!!! And questions! You don't ask, I don't learn anything new!!
To all my oily followers! Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Michelle

Know anyone you would like to give a little Common Sense too?

2010-06-20T14:20:00.000-05:00

Come on, you know you do :) Just reading that title made your mind whir!!! Admit it!

Well, now you can!
No joke! Young Living just came out with a product called "Common Sense"......wow, I am already thinking of the people in my life I would like to share it with. I won't name names though!! ha ha (big grin)

Let's see, first off, I have a teenager taking Drivers Ed.....need I say more :) ha ha ha (she is so going to grumble at me when she sees this :) But I know when she starts driving on her own, I am going to want to douse her in it. All kidding aside, she does great, but what mom doesn't worry when their chicks leave the nest? Especially either behind the wheel or with a friend who is behind a wheel!!!!

Do you have a spouse or a sibling that you would like to give a little common sense? ;) wink wink
Or what about your self! There are many situations where having a little more common sense would be a great benefit!!
All kidding aside, it is going to be a great product, just like they all are!!!
Here is some information just released about this new and wonderful oil blend. And I will drop a link at the bottom of this post so that you can get a sneak peak at all of the new products, just released this week at convention!!

Common Sense™ Essential Oil Blend

Common Sense essential oil is a proprietary blend of Young Living essential oils specially formulated by Gary Young.
It features a combination of frankincense, ylang ylang, ocotea, RutaVaLa™, Dorado Azul, and lime essential oils.
Helps users make healthier, more balanced decisions.
The oils contained in this blend have calming, stress-relieving, and energy-balancing properties to relax the body and more clearly focus the mind.

Learn more about Common Sense essential oil blend starting Monday, June 21.

And here is the link for the sneak peak at the new products, not even available yet to purchase.

http://youngliving.com/en_US/products/promotions/newProducts.html#sense

Heat getting to you??

2010-06-14T08:12:00.000-05:00

Heat and Humidity getting to you? Is working outside overheating you? Try putting one drop of Peppermint oil in a whole pitcher of water and drink all day long. Peppermint is very cooling and uplifting! ♥

Clinical test even show that students test scores raise up to 28% when inhaling peppermint daily!

For when you are out and about....or night sweats as well, purchase a small inexpensive spritzer bottle (our local Walmart carries them in the sample aisle with the travel soaps and such) add a few drops of peppermint to a spritzer bottle of water (shake before each use) and you have a cooling travel buddy! Spray it on areas where the skin is the thinnest like behind the knees and on elbows. I like to spray it on my chest as well (watch your eyes!!!) it helps to cool me and the smell is so uplifting and relaxing!

Peppermint oil is amazing, I love it in my herbal tea as a flavoring also! Try some ☺ it is such a blessing!!

****Only Therapeutic grade oils can be ingested internally*.*** All Young
Living oils are therapeutic grade!

White Angelica

2010-06-10T02:14:00.000-05:00

WOW! 10% off of White Angelica for the month of June 2010!
I am so glad that they chose this oils for this month!

White Angelica™ is a calming and soothing blend that encourages feelings of protection and security. It combines oils used during ancient times to enhance the body's aura, which brings about a sense of strength and endurance. Many people use it as protection against negative energy. White Angelica works great applied to shoulders.
Click below to order this amazing oil with the 10% discount ♥ Tell them I sent ya! My number is 1111413

http://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/promotions/10-percent-WhiteAngelica-june.html

Remember this...

2010-06-10T01:36:00.000-05:00

Remember, never ingest essential oils unless they are Therapeutic Grade oils!

They should be steam distilled, not chemically expressed!

And they should be 100% pure, not adulterated with synthetic oils to stretch quantity! Some oils that are made simply for aroma or for making home made candles are toxic if swallowed and say such on the label!

Be safe!

Look for Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils!!

Grapefruit Oil in Coffee???

2010-06-10T01:18:00.000-05:00

I found this story Edited by my good friend Kathryn and was so taken by it I wanted to share!
I am a coffee lover, and I will have to try this one!!!!

Grapefruit Oil in Coffee

My partner and I use a variety of the YL oils in our purified water on a daily basis. While out of town recently, we used our bottled water to make a pot of coffee in the hotel room. We both loved the light citrus taste of the coffee and tried to find the brand name of what we were drinking. Then we realized that it was OUR added grapefruit oil in our water that made it taste like gourmet coffee!
We now use oils in our coffee and feel that it helps reduce the acidity. -- Lisa Rhoades, reflexologists from Indianapolis, Indiana (www.QuantumEnergyWerks.com) in a November 3, 2008 post found on www.oil-testimonials.com. Edited by Kathryn Caywood, LLC

If you try this or any other flavors let me know in comments!!!
I use Tangerine Oil in my herbal tea, and white tea, it give it such a nice taste!!! But I never even imagined putting it in my coffee :)
Here's to the coffee drinkers in my group, what do you think??
Michelle

Hello!!

2010-06-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Readers :)
I will be back tomorrow!!! Thank you for staying with me and I apologize for the lack of posting this last couple of weeks!!!!

I have so much to share with you and will get back into the swing of things tomorrow.

I had hoped to get a post up tonight after I helped my teen with her school work, but we are in the middle of a pretty good storm and I fear I had better shut off my modem instead ;) Already fried one with lightning! Ones enough!

I do plan to blog at least 3 to 4 days a week. So look for more post. I assume that all of you will be busier as well with summer here. I know all of us who love the out doors are hardly in during this season!!

Tommorrow then! I'll be here!
Take care!
Michelle

Dry Shampoo (for our autistic children, our elderly parents, anyone who can't get to a shower and even for our canines!

2010-05-31T03:05:00.004-05:00

Dry Shampoo

(For us or our Canine friends)

Dry Shampoo is great to have on hand for a number of reasons. A friend just recently asked that I find out how to make dry shampoo for her for two reasons.
One, she has a new canine friend, Buddy, who loves to romp in the woods and often times isn't the best smelling rose in the bunch when he makes his way home!
And secondly, she is getting ready for some back surgery that will have her down for a bit and she is worried about her own hair as well.

I really, truly wish I would have thought of this when Ethan was little. Shampooing his hair was a nightmare! And it took me years to find out that it was the sound of the water, because his hearing is so acute, that made him panic! When I poured water over his head to rinse off his hair the sound was defining to him! And he hates to have his ears touched at all! I guess I was just to much in the middle of things to think out side the box on this one!

~Ethan and Timmy~

So this blog post today, that I want to share with you, is my findings! Better late than never :) May they help you and your family in some small way!

There are many many suggestions online for Dry Shampoo. Mostly what I found is that it is common to use only one ingredient, plus an oil, herb or flower petals for fragrance! Sometimes a recipe would call for mixing 2 base ingredients, but this always seemed to be at the discretion of the user, not a necessity.

Many of the recipes call for such items as:

Finely Ground Oatmeal

Corn Starch

Baking Soda

Corn Meal (said to make your hair shiner)

Talc Free Baby Powder

And my favorite suggestion was Sandalwood Powder, and it is said to be great for an oily scalp!

(found on Amazon, and FYI, Red Sandalwood lacks the common Sandalwood fragrance, and the yellow or gold Sandalwood has the scent we are most taken with!) Sandalwood makes a great mens dry shampoo as it smells earthy! Of course, it is my favorite too, but then I am a backwoods kind of farm gal! Vetiver is great for this same reason and so is Sacred Mountain Essential Oil.

For oils, anything goes, I also like lavender, vetiver or Valor! Rose is amazing! And Peace and Calming is....well......peaceful and calming....and who couldn't use a piece of that!!! I would use caution here with citrus oils if you are going to be out in the sun or if you are camping! They are not friendly to the skin in sunny situations! Keep that in mind!

To make the Dry Shampoo, itself, you first pick your base ingredient. Then find a nice air tight container to store it in. Add your fragrance item, stir and put a lid on it and wait for the scent to infuse.
That's it! Crazy easy isn't it??!!

To use, all you do is apply about a Tablespoon at a time to your head, work into hair at scalp, scrub around a bit with your finger tips and brush out.....you or someone will either need to vacuum after you make this mess ♥ or lay a towel down first if you can not stand over a sink! Or if you are camping, then it is safe to do outside, because these products are chemical free and safe for the environment!

You mix your above choice or choices into a container with a lid. (if you have dark hair and are worried about white residue, add cocoa powder to darken mixture or use the Sandalwood :)

Add your oils. Just a bit, you can always add more, but can't take them out. If you get them to strong add more of your base ingredient!

When using herbs, crush them just a bit with a rolling pin or mortar and pestle so that the fragrant oils come out (Same for flower petals) and stir them into the mixture and leave for up to 24 hours then remove.

Stir, store closed, and you are ready with your dry shampoo.

Please leave me comments on your adventures with Dry Shampoo ☺

And here's hoping you have a blessed and clean head!

Michelle

Home-made cleaning solutions with essential oils.

2010-05-31T01:43:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share with you all about how I make some of my home cleaning solutions.

Some of the benefits that I enjoy from them are:

They are safer for the environment.

They are safe for our family. (no chemical residues left lurking around or being sprayed in the air)

They are safer for the kids in the house. I don't let the kids play with my home made solutions :) but I don't panic like I would if they were toting around a bottle of Draino either!

They are much more cost effective!

And the acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold.

So here are some recipes for our home cleaning solutions. If you find them interesting, might I suggest that you search the internet, or your local library for more safe, homemade cleaning recipes. There are hundreds of great ideas out there for the fraction of store bought cleaning cost and most often you use what you already have in your home! Let's get to cleanin':

All Purpose General Household cleaner:

Need 1 large spray bottle.

1 cup of vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 tsp of Borax)

(and if you need to cut grease in the kitchen or want a bit more kick, I add 1 tsp of Dr. Bronner's Castille soap or most any grease cutting dish soap will do.)

I left out the baking soda and added the Dr. Bronner's soap when I do my windows! They smell great and sparkle! I had rose scented soap and added lavender oil....ahhhh!
5 or so drops of your favorite oil.
And then top the spray bottle off with water and shake like crazy :) I generally shake before each use as well if it has been sitting for a bit.

There are literally hundreds of other all purpose concoctions on the web, so dig around for others if you like :) and then just add your oils!!!

Tip: do not use vinegar on Marble.

Drain Cleaner;

Dump baking soda down the drain. About a 1/2 a cup. ( :) I never measure I just dump in the Baking soda and think..."that will do" :)
Let it sit for just a few minutes, then pour in white vinegar behind it. About a cup mixed with about 5 to 10 drops of my favorite oils(some smell stronger than others).
Pour in slowly to give it time to react with the baking soda and do it's job. I pour in about half of it, wait a bit more and then pour in the rest.
After all of the foaming has stopped completely, I rinse with water.
Clean, great smelling drain!

Carpet Cleaner for Shampooers.

In my carpet shampooer it has a spot for "fill here with cleaner" and fill to here with warm water" ☺
In the cleaner section I put white distilled vinegar.
And 2 tablespoons of Thieves House Hold Cleaner.
Then I fill the rest of the way with warm water.

The Thieves Household Cleaner is so abosoluetly amazing you can't imagaine ♥ You have to try this stuff!!!

*Honestly, you can use the Thieves House Hold concentrated cleaner for most all of your cleaning needs! I can't afford it for everything right now, so I stick to the more frugal basic products and use it to enhance my common items! But I do keep it on hand at all times and it is my Lysol replacement!!! If someone in our home is sick, or if it is flu season, I replace the Castille soap in my all purpose cleaner with the Thieves Cleaner! And the cloves smell is very nice in the fall and winter especially! It makes the home feel cozy and clean!

Well I am glad you stopped by and I have many more cleaning tips with oils that I will be sharing soon!
I am off to clean something!
Many successes with making your home a more healthy place to be!
Michelle

My fabric softner.

2010-05-29T02:15:00.000-05:00

Hello Hello!

It is that time of year again when I enjoy hanging clothes out on the line! If you live in an area where you are allowed to have a clothes line, I encourage you to do so. It is a very peaceful activity....except when pop up spring rain showers occur here in Illinois, then it is more panic then peaceful ☺ I have gotten to where now I just think to myself..."they were wet when I hung them out there, so what if they are getting wet again". And I no longer make that mad dash for the line if it starts raining.

One of the things that our Doctor, who helps us with Ethan's Autism treatments, said in the beginning is "get rid of any chemical products in your home, and learn to clean with natural products". I am very glad he challenged us with that, as I know we are all better off for it!

On of my biggest assets in my home cleaning group is Distilled White Vinegar! I buy it by the gallon, sometimes 2 gallons at a time!

I noticed early on that Fabric Softners bothered Ethan. And I have to admit, I was a fabric softner junky! I loved the smells! But when I started researching the dangers of fabric softner products, I was amazed and it did not take long for me to get over my constant need to heavly perfume something!! I recommend that you research the dangers of fabric softeners and of dryer sheets if you have the desire to keep your family healthy.

I discovered that by adding Distilled White Vinegar to my laundry as the softener that my clothes still came out soft and static cling free. They also did not smell like vinegar as the smell dissipated during drying. But clinging to my old ways a bit, I did start to miss smelling....something, anything! So I was back on the research trail again to search out a healthy way to help my clothes smell good!

One way I found was oils!
Go figure, huh ☺

By taking some vinegar and dropping a few drops of whatever scent oil I was in the mood for, (and how ever many drops it took to be able to smell it slightly over the vinegar smell, remember that the vinegar smell disappears) I was able to have scented laundry again.

So here is what I do. I take a bottle and I pour it full of vinegar and then I add my oil/oils and shake it up good before I use it every time (lavender is one of my favorites) and then I put it into my laundry during the rinse cycle. Organic Fabric softeners are nice, and they smell good, and are healthier than commercial brands, but vinegar is less expensive, and I have the oils on hand anyway, so it just makes more sense to make my own.
Also, when I hang my clothes on the line I spray them with the vinegar and oils mixture as well in a spray bottle from the cleaning section of Walmart.....nice big spray bottle for 98 cents!!!

I will be honest with you and admit that this alternative does not smell like the old Lavender and Vanilla sicking sweet fabric softener that used to be my favorite.. but.........it is healthier for my family and me and for the environment as well and often times it is a more frugal buy as well! I'll take that any day over a perfumed, short lived, fabric softener smell that is expensive to buy!

I will tell you that if you dehydrate flowers, or have a place to buy them in bulk, you can also scent your vinegar with dried flower petals as well! Lavender~Rose anyone? Mmmm!
All you do is place your vinegar in a bottle, and then add your dried flowers or herbs (fresh or dried) and let sit in a window sill for about 2 weeks. Drain and then enjoy your scented vinegar....me I like the oils, just for the less amount of steps it takes!

Try this link for tips on home made fabric softener, and you will find many more if you do a quick search!
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/how-to/how-to-make-scented-vinegar-rinses-home-hacks-109446

See you out at the clothes line!
Michelle

Sharing this blog~

2010-05-28T00:26:00.000-05:00

Good day gentle readers!
I am so glad that you have come back to visit my page.

I have placed at the bottom of this page a link to share my blog on Twitter or Facebook. And I would be very grateful if you would share my writings with others.

Please leave me comments as well! Your comments allow me to grow and become a better writer and allow me the opportunity to serve you with my oils products, if you like!

Again, thanks for stopping by and drop me a note so I know you were here!

Your Blogger,
Michelle ♥

Improving your attitude and uplifting your spirits with frankincense.

2010-05-26T18:56:00.010-05:00

Frankincense oil was gifted to me last year by a dear friend who knows that I am interested in how essential oils and the Bible tie in so effortlessly together.

I was very excited to receive this gift. For, honestly no reason other than the fact that it was one of the gifts given to the Christ Child.

Just having it feels sacred.

According to my EDR, "at one time in history Frankincense was used to treat every conceivable ill know to man and was valued more than gold during ancient times, only those with great wealth and abundance possessed it. It is mentioned in one of the oldest known medical records, Ebers Papyrus (dating from sixteenth century B.C.) an ancient Egyptian list of 877 prescriptions and recipes".

And yet, lowly humble me has my very own pure oil straight from the tree. How amazing is that?

Did you know that it is also dangerous to obtain frankincense straight from it's source? Carpet Vipers, which are very poisonous and there is no known antidote for their bite, inhabit the area in and around where the Frankincense shrub like trees grow.

The first time that I really "used" frankincense was when my Ethan was really sick with a bad chest cold last winter. The story of the oil that I used for his recovery is a story all on it's own...and honestly when I tell it in it's entirety and truth, people look at me like I am a wee bit on the loony side, but I will tell you some day☺ anyway.

But as I was putting this other oil on Ethan, I felt "led" to pull out the frankincense. I put away my other oils and pulled it out, opened it and put it to my nose. My first thought was "Ethan is going to think this stinks", ♥ as it is a strong, earthy odor. But as I breathed in it's ancient, timeless scent I knew that I was to put it on his forehead. Without giving it much thought I put a drop upon my finger and drew a cross upon my sweet trusting little guys forehead. He rested well that night, and I rested easy as I felt like I had left the Lord a calling card to check in on him for me while I rested a bit.

Ethan recovered from his terrible chest cold, with nothing more than lots of prayers, these amazing oils and a few herbs. I felt amazed, blessed and forever grateful that I did not have to put a synthetic medicine in him that time, as I would have in the past.

Frankincense has many benefits listed in my big book of oils, but for me, a mom, it is peace of mind. And a direct link to something much bigger than myself.

Now whenever anyone in my little quiver is ill, sadden or feeling lost, I place that cross of frankincense oil upon their forehead and my heart feels the connection to the giver of these pure oils. And peace feels like a blanket upon us.

Spiritually yours!
Michelle
P.S. for those of you whom enjoy meditation, frankincense is amazing for promoting meditation as well!

Taking care of our aging parents .....

2010-05-26T02:06:00.006-05:00

How many of you find yourselves in a role where you are providing care for your parents?

Whether it be overseeing their health issues from far away, right down the street or right in your own home, they need our care and watchful eye, just as we needed theirs when we were children! "Turn about is fair play" I always say! ♥

My dad has lived in our home since he suffered his stroke in 2003. He very much enjoys getting to watch the grand kids grow up and staying in a home environment. And we are lucky that we have been able to provide that for him.

My father has many health concerns, so I turned to Young Living products to help in his daily care.

Ningxia Red is, of course, one of my first suggestions for an aging parent! Just one ounce a day (one travel packet) aides in many areas that all of us need. Especially for aging or health compromised family members!

Ningxia Red has so many positive health benefits, that are to long to list here, but leave me a comment if you would like a sample and a brochure!!! And check out my recent post on this amazing drink!

With just one packet a day I know that I am doing what I can to help dad be proactive in his heath care, a little healthier and a little stronger!

And one oil that I use with my dad a lot is Peppermint! Quaint ol' peppermint. What an amazing tool in my arsenal to keep dad in better shape! This oil helps dad to block pain, relieve headaches, combat indigestion and we use it a lot to to boost mental alertness! Sometimes I will rub a drop on his chest so that he can smell it for a bit and he always says that it makes him feel more awake and able to concentrate more. (honestly, that doesn't sound like a bad idea right now, I'll be right back, I am going to go grab me some peppermint oil!) ☺

Thieves oil is one I keep on hand for dad at all times. I use it whenever he has a doctors appointment or has to be hospitalized for any reason. And if someone stops by and has the sniffles, I pull out this truly tremendous oil and put a drop or two on the bottoms of dads feet and rub it in. Thieves blend is highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-infectious essential oil. I hope that my family is always blessed to have at least one bottle of Thieves in our medicine cabinet at all times! Currently, ☺ we have 1 bottle in our first aid kit, one in our medicine cabinet, and one in my purse and one in my daughters purse! Can you see how much we love this oil and how important we feel it is in keeping our family healthy!

We discussed in length in a previous blog entry about how wonderful Valor is, it is another oil that I use for my dad quite a bit. Who couldn't use a bit more balance in their life, especially someone who's balance has been compromised by age, stroke or numerous other health reasons!

I also use PanAway oil blend with my dad ALOT! We use it to reduce pain and inflammation, increase circulation, relieve swelling and discomfort from muscle spasms, which he has daily on the affected side from the stroke!!!

These are not all of the oils and such that I use with dad, but these are the ones that I seem to use the most. And I must say that he has been feeling considerably better since we have started incorporating them into his daily health care. Dad used to be hospitalized constantly for chest congestion, now it isn't near so often! That is a blessing that I owe all to Young Livings Products!

So, if you have someone in your family that could benefit from some of the things that are making my dad's life better ever day, let me know and I will get some samples to you, you'll be glad you did~

To your health, and that of your parents!

Yours sincerely,

Caregiver Michelle

Where our Balsam Fir oil comes from ♥

2010-05-23T21:54:00.000-05:00

This video is amazing!! I loved seeing where one of my very favorite oils comes from! Winter and Autumn are my favorite seasons of the year. So of course Balsam Fir would be at the top of my scent list!

Balsam Fir is wonderful for Throat/lung/sinus infections and fatigue. Also wonderful to use if you are suffering from Arthritis! And when my sciatica flares up, I always reach for this one!

My favorite part was watching the distillers work. For a video that is only around 2 minutes long, you will sure learn a lot about where these oils truly come from and how honestly and carefully they are harvested!

Take note that even our Founder of Young Living Oils, Gary Young, is out working his tail off with the rest of the crew!!! Go Gary!

Now that's a company that I am proud to say that I work with!

Your Balsam Fir loving writer~
Michelle

Young Living NinXia Red vs. Other Juices

2010-05-22T20:04:00.002-05:00

Followers ♥

2010-05-21T23:53:00.001-05:00

Hello dear followers!

I have been having troubles with my followers section of this blog.

Many of you have let me know that you are following, but your picture/name, is not showing up in my designated follower section.

After much work back and forth today with a dear friend Nancy (thanks Nancy!) we figured out that it was because some are listed as private instead of public.

So, if you want me to know you are here (so I know who all I am writing for ☺) please change your sign in from private to public so that we can see you in our group!!

Thanks so much!
Sincerely your humble author,
Michelle

Got courage?

2010-05-21T00:57:00.000-05:00

Valor~ The oil of Courage!

You know what? I am a mom. I chase my kids around the house all day, and well, sometimes they chase me around the house too. ☺

I am a wife, of a great husband, so I don't need much courage there, he spoils me!

I take care of our budget.....sometimes I need a little courage for that.

And I am a caregiver. I hand out dads medicine and make sure he has all that he needs. Sometimes I need courage when he has hospital stays or rough days.

And recently I took my first plane ride! I wore Valor on my Terra Cotta necklace that day! I did feel like I needed some courage then! It was all good! And I loved it!

On bad days too, like funerals or tragedies I have to have Valor near!
It makes me feel a little more stable when my insides are mush and my heart is broken.... it seems to help keep my feet firmly under me at those times.

But generally as me, I don't really feel much like I need a lot of courage! I don't do anything courageous!

When I think of needing courage or being courageous I think of our military personal! Courageously going to dangerous places! Courageously defending our country while missing their families! And our local Fire Departments! And our Police Forces! They need courage!

But just me?

Now, please don't get me wrong! Being a mom or just about anyone else, does sometimes call upon us to be courageous. Just not continually.

I currently have a friend, Gina, who is in Yellowstone National Park for the summer hanging out with Grizzly Bears. Mama Grizzlies protecting their cubs no less! Now that takes some courage and an amazing love of nature! And probably some bear spray...just in case ☺

So, when I saw this bottle of oil. This Valor. I thought to myself......do I really need that one? And I have noticed that when I offer it to someone I tend to say, "it gives you more courage" they ALWAYS smile at me like, "who me"? "why do I need courage"?

But maybe in this old world it isn't really so much as courage that we need as confidence!
That I could use! And self esteem and more balance!

I remember being a teenager.....I had all the confidence in the world! I was a handful!
But then as I got older and started really making my own decisions, and my own mistakes, my confidence slipped a bit!

Then I had kids! And sometimes I think things like, "should I let them play out...it's only slightly raining, but what if they get sick"?....
Or, "should I listen to this doctor, or that heath food store owner"? Or "should I vaccinate"? "What if this happens, or that happens"? "What if"??

And the next thing I noticed, my confidence was tiny! I was more a worrier than a warrior! Every decision brought about more choices and more consideration, and more chances for failure (and successes, but a worrier doesn't often see those as clearly!)

So, one day I decided to pull out that tiny bottle of Valor. I was curious of the smell more than anything! And Ethan had a doctors' appointment which is sometimes a challenge and I felt like I needed some courage to make it through the day!

WOW! Am I glad I did!!!! Valor always goes where I go now!

I love it's earthy woodsy smell! And it truly does make me feel more confident! More able to think before I act or speak (that's a blessing right there :) It gives me more stability and more balance, physically and mentally. And it perks up my self esteem like you wouldn't believe!

I use it now almost daily, whenever I think confidence or wise careful thought is needed. And well to be honest, sometimes I just wear it because the smell is amazing!

So if you or someone you know could use a pick me up. A shot of confidence! A little backbone in a bottle. (and no, I am not talking about hard alcoholic drink here, stay with me! ☺ Contact me for a sample of Valor.

I am "confident" that you'll love it too!

Bravely yours,
Michelle

P.S. And for Valor on the go, it comes in a roll on as well! Makes an awesome graduation gift!

Remember if you need to order a whole bottle quickly or the Roll on :) call 1-800-371-2928 and tell them I sent you :) My member number is 1111413. (michelle harper) And if you want a sample, leave me a comment.

NingXia Red ~ Nutrient Infusion

2010-05-20T03:16:00.000-05:00

I hope that you watched the Video for yesterday's Blog. That was very informative! I have to tell you though, I didn't start out with that video in mind! On You-tube there are 3 videos "advertising" NingXia Red infusion and I find them all very amusing, uplifting and informational!

I actually watch them every once in awhile just for a giggle. I will eventually put them on here to share. I just don't want to over load you with videos. But honestly, those clips can probable tell you more in just a couple of minutes than I can in 10.....so you may see them fairly quickly! If I can remember how I actually got that video on here last night :)

Yes, I am still a blogger newbie, but I am learning pretty fast and loving every minute of it!
But tonight, I wanted to tell you a bit about the NingXia Red drink.
I love it! I really really do! At first taste it is kind of TANGY. But then you wait a second, and after you realize that the Tang is because there is no junk sugar in it! Then you are amazed at how good it taste!
Then you all of a sudden are wanting one every day.
It only takes 1 oz a day to help keep you a bit more healthy! It ingredients list looks a little like this:

NingXia Wolf Berries

Blueberries

Pomegranate

Apricot

Raspberry

Grape

Blue Agave

Lemon and Orange Rind

Wow, what a line up huh! I stared using this because honestly, what better drink, at only 1 oz a day, can I offer my Ethan whom has the Autism and who has the lousiest diet. I just mix this in his juice and feel so confident that I am helping him to become a little more healthier every day!

Just that these fruits and berries are known immune builders is enough for me to give it to Ethan. Most autistic children I have come across have terrible immune systems!! And the weak immune system of our autistic children is one of your greatest worries!

And another amazing thing! It has a low glycemic index of 11 that does not spike blood sugar levels! Now that is fabulous in a Healthy Juice!!!
I am going to sign off now, I am exhausted, we cleaned the garage today! :) I am going to go put the Deep Relief Roll On, on my lower back and on my neck as those muscles are very stiff already from moving boxes all day and I do not want to be stiff and sore in the morning. So, Deep Relief Roll On ~ here I come!

Good Night All!!

OH, and if you would like to try a sample packet, please let me know in comments and I will send you one!
Here's to our health...and a healthier drink!
Take care!
Michelle

Wow, I learn something new every day! Introducing my favorite drink NingXia Red infusion.

2010-05-19T01:45:00.000-05:00

How I put our Oils in the bathtub for the little ones.... and the big ones!

2010-05-18T02:37:00.000-05:00

Taking a bath with Essential oils just seems to make good sense, doesn't it? What a better way to relax than with Lavender in your bath water!

In our family we take 1 cup of Epsom Salts and add a few drops of our chosen oil and then let the Epsom Salts disolve into the water, dispersing the oils. (click the Epsom Salt link above to find out all of the benefits of Epsom Salts in your bath....there are far to many to mention here. I will say though, that they are great for tired muscles and great for relaxing kids after a hard day of playing!)

Many children with Autism are low in Magnesium ( I myself also am low), so in trying to find a way to boost Ethan's Magnesium levels, we discovered Epsom Salt baths! They not only boost his Magnesium Levels, they sooth his muscles, and the Oils help him to relax and focus.

Here are some of the oils that we mix with our Epsom Salts here in our home:

Lavender for relaxation and conditions of the skin, like acne, psoriasis, scaring and burns.

Peppermint for Fever (careful, to much can actually make you chill we have found from experience) and great for relieving muscle pain. (goes great in tea for sipping after wards as well :) Also wonderful for soothing a nauseous tummy!

Tea Tree for infections. Tea Tree for numerous reasons is our favorite "medicine cabinet" oil. It has even helped an animal or two, but that's for another entry !
If someone has a splinter that is getting infected, or if my little guy has a bit of diaper rash, or if anyone has a rash that is getting infected, like poison Ivy, we put Tea Tree in the bath water. We always mix it with another oil, like Lavender since Tea Tree has a strong, not quite as inviting aroma as most oils.

Thieves! Wow, so much to say about Thieves! If anyone has a cold or virus or even thinks they have came in contact with someone who has one, gets a bath with Thieves. And then Thieves on their feet. And if they have sore glands we put a bit under their jaw line as well. I can't express enough how important it is to have Thieves Oil in the home. Especially if you have children whom go to day care or are in public school. It has saved us so much money on doctor bills. As soon as one of us gets that flu, cold feeling, you know the one...kind of ache, and tired, they get thieves. And within a day or two, back on track, no real symptoms left!

Eucalyptus Globulus we use in the bath when someone has a head cold or chest cold really starting to take hold. (we also use it in a bowl of steaming water and sit over the bowl with a towel over our head and breath in the steam) This oil is a great expectorant, and helps us a lot with respiratory or sinus infections, and we use it as a decongestant.

These are just a few uses for these oils, there are many more, and there are many more oils that are wonderful in a bath!

Leave me a comment if you have a special essential oil that you like in your bath.

And here is to enjoying Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.........they are just good, clean fun :)

Michelle

Why I turned to Joy Oil.....

2010-05-16T18:29:00.003-05:00

When my Father in Law passed away, I, like the rest of the family was completely heart broken!
Do you have someone in your life like that, someone who is just so kind and good? Someone who always makes you laugh and who you always makes you want to see them again soon? I sure hope you do! They make this old life worth it~
When Jerry passed away, it was such a shock. Such a shock in fact that we are all still not so sure it's real. And it happened last November. It is just one of those things that you don't want to accept. I feel like once I accept it then I am saying I am ok with it....and I am so not ok with it!

Anyway, on the day of the visitation the lines of people were amazing! We family members stood, in this small town, for 4 straight hours as a constant line came through to morn this exceptional man!

My father in law was a well driller. And a good one! A fair and honest man. He knew many many people and they all seemed to enjoy his company and gravitate towards him.
I never went anywhere with the man, even to other towns, that we didn't have to stop over and over again as people he knew wanted to stop and say "hi" :) And he always stopped and visited a minute!

I knew that by the end of visitation that day, that the funeral the next day was going to be close to unbearable. So, I turned to my oils! I had read that placing a drop of Joy oil over your heart was good for grief and I needed to try something.
In my EDR (Essential Oils Desk Reference) it says this of Joy oil.

Joy - Produces a magnetic energy to bring joy to the heart, mind and soul. It inspires romance and helps overcome deep seated grief and depression.

It sounded just like what I needed for the day. So I opened my bottle as I had never tried it before that day. I always thought...."joy"? I 'll try that later, I am a pretty happy sort, don't need it :)

My first impression was that it smelled really strong. The rose oil used in it is what I smell the most.
So I placed a couple drops over my heart for that very long day and although it did not hide or mask the grief, it certainly made it more tolerable. I even placed a drop on my wrists so that I could bring the smell up close to my nose when I needed the extra calming! That amazing smell of the combination of these oils made me feel a bit more steady and not so completely overwhelmed by the day.

For weeks after, I still wore it everyday over my heart.
Then in researching what I could do to help my Hypothyroidism I read that Geranium Oil was wonderful to put over the Thyroid at the base of the neck. And I remembered that Joy oil had geranium in it!

Now everyday, I so look forward to the smell, I place Joy oil over my throat and a drop over my heart first thing and enjoy its soothing, romantic, tension reliving smell all day.
And honestly, I don't know when or if I will ever stop placing it over my heart, as every day brings another day that we all miss dad so very much.

In honor of my beloved Father in Law a man who's kind spirit shall live on in all of us who remember him!
Jerry William. Harper Sr.

June 29, 1942 - November 21, 2009
Sadly missed daily!

P.S. Readers, if you have someone whom you miss, add a memorial in my comments section and I will send you a sample of Joy oil if you like~

Michelle

How to order Young Living Products

2010-05-16T16:55:00.001-05:00

I have been getting lots of questions about how to order the oils that you are reading about here on my blog.

If you would, please when you order, use my specific number so that I may get credit for the order. My family and I would greatly appreciate it!
My number is 1111413 (four 1's and a 413) pretty easy to remember isn't it :)

Now, the easiest way to order is by calling our Customer Care Department at 1-800-371-2928. Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. MST (mountain standard time), and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. MST.

You can also order online 24 hours a day at, www.youngliving.com
Again, please use my number whenever it ask for a Sponsor or Enroller number. 1111413

And for those of you looking for a business opportunity don't forget the added benefits of becoming a Young Living Independent Distributor!
A few of the benefits are:

24 percent off of retail pricing.

Reduced Shipping and free product when you enroll in the monthly Essential Rewards program.

The ability to earn commissions and bonuses through Young Living's lucrative compensation plan.

And the knowledge that you are sharing amazing products that will enhance peoples lives in so many ways!

And as always, contact me if you have any question and I will do whatever I can to find the answers for you!
Have an wonderful day and I hope to hear from you soon!
Michelle

Daughter's Oils

2010-05-15T02:13:00.003-05:00

Hi bloggers!

Boy am I tired this evening! I have hardly sat down this entire day!
My daughter is going on vacation tomorrow with her dad and his family and we have ran our selves silly the last few days looking for all the things she wanted to take with her.
:) Being 16 this summer, we had to have the "perfect" swimsuit.
As far as I was concerned the only perfect thing was when we had found it and could finally quit looking :) Then there was the dinner theater dress that was needed. That took some time as well! I think that my stress away roll on is almost empty now...I should order a new one soon!!

The one thing, well besides her cell phone, that Bailey wanted to make sure she had with her for the trip was her oils bag! She has the Essential 7 oils kit and uses it daily!

The Essential 7 oils kit comes with:

Lavender

Peppermint

Lemon

PanAway

Peace and Calming

and last but certainly not least

Purification

These oils are a perfect collection and an amazing gift for a loved one!

Bailey loves lavender, she uses it for relaxing, and to help with headaches. She puts it on bug bites. And she sometimes put a drop on her pillow to help her sleep. My husband and I use it as deodorant as well. Just apply the Lavender under the arm pits after a shower and you are well protected with out any harmful chemicals!

The Peppermint oil is another oil that Bailey uses a lot of as well. She puts it on her Terra Cotta necklace to breathe in as sometimes, with allergies, she feels sick to her stomach and the peppermint soothes this! She also sometimes puts a drop in her tea and if her tummy is upset she will rub it on the bottom of her feet too.

Now the Peace and Calming. It is another story altogether! We can hardly keep it in the house! We ALL love this oil! We use it on our feet for calming, we use it on our wrist like fragrance, and we use it on our necklaces so that we can enjoy it's scent all day.
My little Ethan will come to me and say "can we put on oils mama", and it is the peace and calming that he likes the best! It used to be the stress away, but he has kind of migrated to this scent now. He loves me to rub Peace and Calming on his feet just before bed, and I have to say, he does rest better when we use it! I have a great friend who swears that her daughter sleeps her best if she has her Peace and Calming oil on her feet! They don't go to bed without it! :)

Bailey also goes through the Lemon oil quite frequently as well, but that one she likes in her water! And it is great in hot or cold tea as well! I personally like to use my 20 oz stainless steel water bottle and I add 1 drop of Tangerine and 1 drop of Lemon oil. I could drink nothing but this all day long! It is by far the most refreshing thing I have ever found to drink! I also love the Tangerine oil in my hot tea as well. I steep my tea and when it is just cool enough to drink I add my honey and my Tangerine oil! How soothing and uplifting all in one.

And with these oils being all natural and steam distilled in Stainless Steele by the Young Living Company I do not hesitate using these oils with my kids. They have come to request "oil time" quite often, even my 3 year old will drag the oils bag into me if he wants oils on. They are truly a family affair!

I will close now as I am getting up in just a few short hours to get Bailey off to the plane, and I am still feeling a little under the weather.
I must say, 2 days ago I felt like I was really coming down with a Virus. I started taking my NingXia Red drink and using my Thieves oil and now just days later, the most symptoms I have felt have been sleepiness, and a little sore throat and felt a little achy. Now, I feel like I am on the recovering side already! I LOVE THESE OILS!
Take care everyone, and keep those questions coming! The more you ask, the more we both learn!
May you have a blessed Weekend!
Talk to you later!
Michelle
P.S. Please pass this blog information on to your friends and family and have them sign up as followers, I love new faces!

2010-05-14T03:56:00.001-05:00

Thieves Oil is pictured in its' bottle with the brown label here on the blog. It is one of my number one requested oils. And in our home, since Ethan can not have synthetic medicines it is always on hand to help his body fight off colds and viruses!

I want to tell you just a bit of it's story, then I am off to go put on some Thieves and gets some sleep as I am feeling under the weather tonight.

Some of Thieves' main ingredients of Clove, Cinnamon Bark and Lemon make it's smell amazing! And I have never found anything like it for cutting down the duration of a cold or virus.

Here is some of the background history of this great oil from my EDR. (Essential Oils Desk Reference)

"A blend of highly antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-infectious essential oils. Thieves was created from research of a group of 15th century thieves who rubbed oils on themselves to avoid contacting the plague while they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. When apprehended, these thieves disclosed the formula of herbs, spices and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for more lenient punishment!"

And I for one am so glad they did!

Just a bit about me....your blog host~

2010-05-13T00:22:00.000-05:00

Greetings followers and new comers! It is so nice to "see" you here!

A few of you have told me you are following, but you are not showing up in the "followers" list on the left....so if you don't see your name/picture, please let me know and I will see if I can hammer it out! Now, where's that hammer......

I got to thinking this evening that I was taking for granted that all my followers know who I am. But I am meeting lots of new faces lately! I love it!

As with most people I have many hats that I wear: wife, mom, teacher, caregiver, daughter, sister, business lady, friend and so on and so forth. So tonight I will share a bit of these with you :)

I am married to a wonderful guy named Christian who makes this crazy ride we are on actually doable! He is truly my other half. We even finish most each other sentences, to the comic relief of our teenager! Honest truth is, we are both just so overwhelmed some days with everything, that we can't finish our own thoughts so the other one jumps in for a rescue !!! Gotta love that!

I am a mom of 3. A teenage daughter just 16!(where did the time go?) Our Ethan 6 ...almost 7 in June, and little ornery Eli, 3! No one, but no one can keep up with Eli.

We have home schooled for the last 4 years! One of the best decisions that we have made for our family!

I also am a caregiver. Just 2 short weeks before our Ethan was born my father had a stroke. (my mother passed in 93)
Dad has lived with us for the last 7 years and we are his sole caregivers. His stroke gave way to partial paralysis of the left side and left neglect as well. He was very fortunate, it could have been much worse than it was with his health history. ( I will tell you how I use oils in my caregiver roll some day! Just a hint, Deep Relief is so great for Dad's muscles and for mine after I have been on my feet all day!)

So in the Spring of 2003 I brought my dad home to care for and our son was born. And in just 18 short months later Ethan was diagnosed with Autism. I have to tell you, some days I am just short of crazy!

One thing that has made life a little easier on me is our oils! No joke! They bring income into the home. And in sharing them I am helping others to lead healthier lives. ( I like that part!) And I now have a way to help Ethan with some health problems that I could not before as he can not use synthetic medicine! I have found an all natural way to help improve his life! What a gift!

I have to say.....that one of my favorite oils is the Stress Away roll on! Hard to believe, yes I know :) I sure wish they sold it by the truck loads! But honestly, the roll on fits better in my purse! grin
I wear it everyday! It truly soothes me and I enjoy it's amazing smell of Vanilla and Lime. There are many other gift giving oils in this special blend, but those are the two notes that I pick up on the most. I would have never thought in a million years to put Vanilla with Lime, and yet it makes the most amazing smell! And it truly soothes my nervous tension and helps me to relax!

If you would like a small sample email me (honeybee3@att.net) with your physical address and I will send you a tiny vial! You'll be glad you did!

And just for future reference, if you know anyone in your life who has stress......not hard to think of people is it :).. mom's, dad's, coworkers, teachers, bus drivers, best friends, family..this list could go on all night .... this roll on makes the most perfect gift!!!! Great for men or women! I rub some on my wrist and then on the back of my neck! And I carry it with me where ever I go and reapply as I need a pick me up! And as always, applying it to the bottom of your feet helps to circulate it into your system the very best way. :) I just have trouble smelling it from there and I really really love the smell of this one!

Well I will leave you with a picture of my Stress Away oil and as "Robert Frost " said "I have miles to go before I sleep" ...actually I am not leaving my office, but I do have a stack of sample oils that I want to mail out tomorrow to some blog fans!
Here's to our health, may it be better tomorrow than it was today!

Michelle
P.S. I can't wait for you to try this oil! Email me!

2010-05-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

Joy oil is pictured in the pink label. Not only is it's smell uplifting with a blend of Geranium, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and other wonderful oils, but in using it daily my thyroid numbers are lowering and I dropped a jean size :) Now THAT makes me Joyful~

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils vs Essential Oils

2010-05-10T23:40:00.003-05:00

Late one night in my researching a way to help bring Ethan out of his Autism shell, I stumbled upon some information about Essential Oils. Now early on one of our Doctors had told us to take all of the chemical based products out of our house for Ethan's safety, (and honestly it has benefit us all!) and our teen daughter and I had turned to Oils for fragrance and threw out all of our perfume. This was my extent of knowledge where Oils were concerned! Most other chemicals were replaced with Distilled Vinegar, baking soda, salt, ect... Not much in the uplifting fragrance department. Clean, Yes! Truly enjoyable, not so much.
In searching, I found where a school for Autistic Children was using Essential Oils as aromotherapy to help the children feel calmer and to focus more on task.......Well, all moms will tell you that's a bonus, autistic or not!
So I started looking for info to back up these claims. And trying to find just what oils I needed for these task. What I found was a lot of confusing information! I found websites that said, "you can ingest Essential Oils safely", "you can cook with Essential Oils" "you can put them on your skin for amazing health benefits". Then I found pages that said "never put Essential Oils directly on your skin!" "Never ever ingest Essential Oils as they can be toxic" and so on and so forth! I even found books from the library just as confusing! What's a mom to do?
So again I turned to my computer and that is were I found the "Essential Oils Lady" http://www.essentialoilslady.com/ aka Kathryn Caywood. Who turned out to be my mentor and friend these last few years! She explained to me that both sets of facts that I had been uncovering were in fact true! The difference was what kind of oil you were using! Why hadn't I thought of that! :)
So Kathryn taught me that you want to make sure that your oils are Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. This means that they are pure, no additives, and from a reputable company. And Young Living Oils takes this a step further by steam distilling their oils in Stainless Steel distillers, instead of using harmful chemicals to extract the oils. Making for a wonderfully pure beneficial oil, straight from nature! These oils are the life blood of the plants they are extracted from. And just as God promised, we can use the plants as medicine.
Did you know that David Steward Ph. D. states that "36 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and 10 of the 27 books of the New Testament mention essential oils or the plants that produce them"? His book, "Healing Oils of the Bible" is a wonderful reference!
There are so many more complex facts to Therapeutic Grade Oils, that I will save them for a later time. But, I think as we have a pretty good lightening storm moving into our area now I will wrap up my blog and tuck it in for the night. And I will see you all tomorrow! Happy Learning! To Our Health, Michelle

2010-05-10T17:21:00.000-05:00

Hello to everyone stopping by my new blog! It's so nice to see you here!!
Take a minute to look around and check out what I have written and leave me feed back!
Please, if you would like to be a follower, please click the follow button on the left so I may see how many people are checking in on me from time to time :)
I will write daily and tonight's post will be about the difference between essential oils and Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and how I found Young Living Oils to be the safest for our Ethan!
Hope to see you here!
And Thanks for stopping by! What awesome people I know!
To Our Health!
Michelle

2010-05-10T02:12:00.000-05:00

I constantly learn new information from this book: Essential Oils Desk Reference. Which you will lovingly see me refer to in my blog writings as the EDR. Check it out on Amazon!

How the journey began....

2010-05-10T01:10:00.000-05:00

Upon the devastating confirmation that our son had autism, like most families we wondered "what next"?

Our doctor offered little hope! We were offered sleeping pills and Ritalin for our son and sleeping pills for me...the mom.

This didn't feel like much of a healing path, mostly just a "keep him out of our way" kind of path. That's not what we were hoping for. Then the news from the doctor came of what we could expect. Little affection from him, ever. (No goodnight hugs, no goodbye kisses) Little to no language most likely (he was one to use gibberish a lot, but with lots of inflection, like he was really saying something but in a language we had not yet mastered). And reading and writing...well...not much likely ever.

So heartbroken we headed home. I remember that ride home that day, my fears confirmed, my hopes dashed. And I remember saying "I just wish he could talk"....then I laughed...he "talked" all the time, loudly! It wasn't his fault that I couldn't understand a word he said.

There he sat in the back, in his car seat at 18 months, with his perfect smile, just jabbering away at me, waiting for me to catch up! And in that, a glimmer of hope arose, and I was determined to search out all that I could to help him to be understood and to live a better life.

*Now, we have taken many paths with Ethan. And have made many many strides! (the gluten free and casein free diet helped to completely turn him around! And the amino acid DMG is amazing!)

And there will be another blog following his recovery, if I feel there is enough interest. But, I will tell you this: He now, not only speaks well, he is learning to read like a champ (almost 7 years old) and he gives the best hugs and kisses around...ask anyone who has stopped by...even the mail lady :) ha ha

~But in this Blog, I want to share how and why we chose Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to use in place of conventional medicine in our home whenever possible. And how they not only have benefited Ethan (which is their original purpose) but how they benefited all of us an even some of our closest family and friends. (My teenage daughter and I even use them for Perfume and to flavor our water!)

So, grab a cup of something good and take a break with me daily to learn how and why to use these amazing gifts from God!

Leave a comment for me and let me know if there is anything you would like to know about an essential oil or any questions that you may have about how to use them.

You will soon learn that I am addicted to research and I have the best tool in the world at my finger tips, The Essential Oils Desk Reference! If I don't know the answer to your question, we will learn together!

To our health!