My Daily Ritual

Thieves foaming handsoap, Mermaid spray, YL ART facial wash and toner [back row] Glass jars: virgin cold pressed coconut oil, face scrub, Eye cream, deodorant and toe fungus cream.  

About a year ago, I began using essential oils to replace products in my home that were full of toxic chemicals. Little did I know that I could and would, use them to support a healthy body as well. As I have learned more about the benefits of essential oils this year and began using them with great success, a daily ritual has naturally evolved.  For someone who didn't know much about oils last year, I admit, I would have laughed hysterically if you told me this would be my morning oily routine:

After showering, brushing my teeth and washing my face, all with products made with essential oils, I use my homemade natural deodorant with lemongrass. I then spritz my hair with Mermaid spray made with Lavender, Cedarwood, Rosemary and witch hazel which has been the best hair product I've ever used. AMAZING!

Spreading Frankincense, Copaiba & Lavender mixed with coconut oil on face and neck has been even more so. When people started asking me what I've been doing to my face or saying I looked ten years younger, I knew I wasn't imagining what I saw in the mirror.

Next I rub Endo-flex blend over my adrenal glands, thyroid and on the base of my toes to support my energy and emotional levels. I could write an entire blog post or maybe even book chapter on how much this has helped me and the 18 year old.  Let's just say, I will never be without this oil again!

Then Tea Tree, Lemon, Peppermint, Thieves and Cypress cream all over my toes to support healthy feet. My nails are half way grown out now and the difference is pretty radical.  Looking forward to seeing pretty toes in a few more months.

Finally, I put a drop or two of Stress-away blend with Lime, Vanilla, Copaiba, Ocotea, Cedarwood and Lavender on my wrists and temples to support a positive and calming start to my day. I also put this one on my bracelet with lava and wood beads to carry this heavenly smell with me throughout my day.

Additionally, other oils I use for special circumstances like these:

Cold & Flu season
Thieves on the bottom of my feet 2-3X daily to support my immune systems.
Eucalyptus,  Lemon, Frankincense and Peppermint mixed with coconut oil over my chest to support healthy lungs.

When in pain
Panaway, Frankincense, Copaiba and Orange cream on sore areas to support flexibility and circulation. Think BenGay without the nasty chemicals and orange to make it smell even better.

When Tired
Peppermint and Orange to support brain function and alertness level.  Palo Santo when I need to really concentrate like when I'm doing my monthly order or paying bills.

Feeling overwhelmed
My favorite rollerball blend made this year which helps my fight or flight feelings has Lavender, Cedarwood and Vetiver with Grapeseed oil.  The kid carries this one everywhere.

Feeling under the weather
Oregano oil in a capsule was my original remedy but as I've learned more, I've added Frankincense,  Thieves and now Palo Santo to my morning and evening capsules. **Warning - SEE BELOW!

But honestly, feeling under the weather doesn't happen as often as it used to happen. I've only had one bad cold in a year. I feel so good when I do this daily routine that just thinking and writing about it, raises my endorphins! I'm enjoying the cost savings of making these all natural products and collecting a lot of great recipes. If you'd like any of them, just let me know via personal message.

And please comment below if you have any other questions or recommendations.

** Do not try this at home unless you're using the very best 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils. I personally can only recommend Young Living, the world leader of essential oils. Their Vitality Line has FDA approval for ingestion.  But honestly, diffusing and topical is just as potent so please be careful if you're buying your oils elsewhere. And realize that they only have to put 10% essential oil with 90% carrier oil to be able to label it 100% pure.  Yep! But not Young Living! They always give you the best quality and never cut their product to create perceived value.  They are transparent and forth coming in all their ingredients so if it says 100%, it really is 100% essential oil.

If you're interested in getting started with essential oils and would like to be a part of my team, the Happy Oilers, contact me at otown.oilers@gmail.com or you can order your starter kit directly here:  https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?site=US&sponsorid=3703800&enrollerid=3703800

With over 20,000 Happy Oilers in our groups, it is so easy to find out which oils may be best for your needs, recipes for so many household products and great contests if you like free oils.  And who doesn't like free oils!!

This blog post written by Deidra

DIY Deodorant w Essential oils

As I continue my journey of getting all the toxic chemicals out of my home, I am especially concerned with finding alternative products that I use on my body. Recent research suggests that aluminum in deodorants could be a cause for breast cancer. (CBSNews) Others also suggest it may be a cause for several other illnesses like Alzheimer’s, birth defects, allergies, and hormonal imbalances. So why would I want to rub crazy chemicals that I can't even pronounce under my arms?
But then again... I work outside and without deodorant, well, let's just say, you don't want to stand down wind of me on a hot August day in Orlando. So in search of answers I went, looking for recipes for DIY deodorant. I tried a few, made some adjustments, and came up with the perfect consistency and aroma for my tastes. My favorite shower gel is Lemongrass and Rosemary so I decided to use those oils in my deodorant but you can use which ever aroma pleases you or goes best with your body wash/soap. Some good ones to use for this are: lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, and/or Frankincense.
What I learned was that deodorants basically kill the odor-causing bacterial in my armpits, but they often kill the good bacteria too (like antibiotics do in my gut). In addition to killing off the good bacteria, many deodorants leach nasty chemicals into my body through the skin and lymphatic system. So why not replace the bad chemicals with quality healthy ingredients and essential oils that increase my wellness levels? Since I know that one drop of essential oil applied to my skin may be in every cell of my body within 20 minutes, it is especially important that I use 100% pure therapeutic-grade essential oils like the ones I get from Young Living. If you need more information about Young Living oils, click here: https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?site=US&sponsorid=3703800&enrollerid=3703800

This recipe for a natural deodorant harnesses the natural anti-bacterial properties of the essential oils I used, the healing powers of coconut oil, and the odor-eliminating properties of baking soda.
DIY Natural Deodorant Essential Oils Recipe
2 TBL baking soda
4-5 TBL Arrowroot (or Cornstarch)
4 - 6 TBL Coconut Oil
15 drops of Essential Oil - Your choice. Some good ones to use are: lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemongrass, and Frankincense.

Instructions
Mix baking soda and arrowroot or together in a bowl.
Mash 1/2 coconut oil into dry mixture with a fork
Add desired essential oils
Continue adding remaining coconut oil, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency, thick and creamy.
Store in a glass jar (no plastic or metal).

Chill in refrigerator for an hour or more to finish setting up.
This blog post written by Deidra

Essential oils for scared dogs!

First things first, it is very important to calm yourself down before attempting to do the same with your dog. You can start by adjusting your environment. Lowering light levels, listening to some chill music, enjoying a nice beverage and nestling into a cozy comfortable spot will help set the mood. Then try diffusing or rubbing a few drops of lavender, Stress Away or other favorite essential oils into your palms and breathing deeply to help it enter your bloodstream through your lungs and skin simultaneously. I like to rub a drop of Lavender on my temples and the back of my neck too. For sensitive skin and for later use on your dog, make sure you mix the essential oils with a carrier oil like coconut or grapeseed oil.

Now that you are in a calm state and a comfortable place, invite your dog to come and snuggle with you. Begin by petting and slowly introducing some of the diluted lavender oil or a specific blend like T-Away* on the tail and top of the spine. Eventually, cup your hands and let the dog sniff and inhale repeatedly. As the animal breathes in, it will become calmer and more relaxed.

You can also rub the oil on the neckline of your dog, behind the ears and on the bottom of their paws. NEVER rub oil inside the ears or directly on the muzzle, nose, mouth or genital areas.

This is a good time to softly brush and pet your dog, giving it lots of praise. Finish off with a treat and your dog will happily come back for further aromatherapy chills-out sessions. Suggested recipes using essential oils are below.

When a storm is approaching, like Hurricane Mathew is currently doing here in Florida, we often get so caught up in the rash and scurried activities of storm preparation that we unintentionally stress out our four legged friends. But there are other times that essential oils can be used effectively to uplift their spirits, like during festivities, fireworks, moving to a new home and while traveling. So once you've settled in from your storm or event, hunker down, do some nice self-care and then put some oily lovin' on your pooch.

WARNING Please be mindful when purchasing essential oils, especially for your pets since they can not tell you if there is a problem. Never use an oil you have not tested on yourself and always purchase 100% therapeutic grade essential oils like those from Young Living which offers the seed to seal guarantee.
ALSO, these oil recommendations should not be used for cats who are very sensitive to citrus and other essential oils. Please research this as I am not a cat owner and I make no recommendations on their care.