Inspiration Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

There are many things in life that will tear you down and many that will try but fail. It is inevitable but there are always those go-to things that make you happy after that let-down or put a smile back on your face, even if it is only for a minute. Below are some of my favorite inspirational quotes. Be inspired. Inspire others.

Everything you want is on the other side of fear. –Jack Canfield

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. –Princess Diana

Practice the pause. When in doubt, pause. When angry, pause. When tired, pause. When stressed, pause. And when you pause, pray. –Toby Mac

When you focus on problems, you have more problems. When you focus on possibilities, you will have more opportunities. –unknown

Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. –George Sand

You either get bitter or you get better. It’s that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you. –John Shipp

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. –Seneca

Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance. –David Nicholls

There’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance…Its called humility. Confidence smiles. Arrogance smirks. –unknown

Anyone can show up when you’re happy. But the ones who stay by your side when your heart falls apart, they are your true friends. –Brigitte Nicole

Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet. –Maya Angelou

Freedom is being you without anyone’s permission. –unknown

On this road called life, you have to take the good with the bad, smile with the sad, love what you got, and remember what you had. Always forgive, but never forget. People change. Things go wrong. But just remember, the ride goes on. –unknown

Never judge someone by the opinion of others. –unknown

We don’t grow when things are easy; we grow when we face challenges. –Your Positive Oasis

The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively. –Bob Marley

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. –Dr. Seuss

Fitness Goals

The amazing feeling of working out will forever keep me young! Well, at least that’s what I pray for. I have been working out more and more lately and it brings so much life to my world. I feel better; happier, more energized, kinder and more passionate about life in general. I have a friend who is a workout fanatic. She is my idol! She inspires to me get in the gym even on my easier days. I love her admiration to working out and having a diet that is almost always on point. The diet part is a bit harder for me because I love cooking and experimenting but I have never lost the sight of what living a happy and healthy lifestyle is all about. #happyhealthyliving

What have I been up to lately? Well, I try to walk our dog every night. Even if it’s only a 10 minute walk, it’s great getting Reggie out of the yard and checking out the neighborhood. It doesn't always work out like that, but we try. He runs around outside almost the entire time we are home, but it’s still great to get out and about. 

Beyond that, shoulders, shoulders and shoulders! My fitness goal right now is to build my shoulders while maintaining my regular workout. I have been hitting the gym hard to build my strength, particularly shoulders. I don't need to be huge but I do need strength. As many of you know, I am an avid outdoorsman and enjoy bow hunting more many reasons; to put some delicious food in the freezer and enjoy the glory of nature and what it has to offer. I never want to run out of venison to make Jalapeno Cream Cheese Venison wrapped in Bacon year round too! And they are amazing! But on a serious note, shoulders are a weak point for me. I’ve struggled maintaining strong shoulders through sports injuries earlier in my life and lack of consistent workouts as I began bow hunting. It doesn’t make it easy hunting when you can’t comfortably pull back the bow at your desired draw weight. So, I’m making it a point to build those muscles. And, I love muscular shoulders. Although I have access to a crossbow, I don’t think I would enjoy the sportsmanship of bow hunting as much while using one. We shall see what the future holds. 

What are your fitness goals? Take a walk every night? Maybe every othe night. Do a few squats? The power is in your hands! #faith #love #happyhealthyliving

Nutrition Myths

Did you know?

I read an article a while back and wrote a post about it. It was deleted due to reconfiguring my blog but I did save it first. Here's an overview of that article called “20 Mainstream Nutrition Myths that Most People Believe (Even though they’ve been Proved Wrong)". The article can be found at eatlocalgrown.com, but I did a brief review here...

For any of my Facebook Happy-Healthy-Living followers, you see the many food related articles I post. I’m working on getting my blog more updated with those same articles, hang in there!

In today’s society it’s hard to know exactly where our food comes from let alone if where it says it comes from it true. According to the article, eating a low-fat, high-carb diet with a lot of grains is not as good for you as we were once advised. It used to be pushed as a weight loss food program as well as preventative care for cancer. This is a myth. Many studies have been done from reputable sources showing inconclusive evidence for the statement to be true.

Another common myth is “Salt should be restricted in order to lower blood pressure and reduce heart attacks and strokes”. Now I am a fan of seasoning and always thought this was true, so hesitated on my salt intake. According to the article, on average, lowering your salt intake can indeed reduce a persons’ blood pressure by 1-5 mm/Hg. That being said, this has no effect on heart attacks, strokes or death. There is one exception to this common myth, if you have a pre-existing medical condition such as salt-sensitive hypertension, you may have increased risks that involve salt.

“It is best to eat many, small meals throughout the day to ‘stoke the metabolic flame’”. This is another common myth that I have heard from many health professionals throughout my lifetime. I’ve been blessed my entire life, thus far, with a fairly “high” metabolism. I grew up eating 3 meals a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner. As I grew older and continued to stay active, I met several friends in the health field. They almost all advised me it is best to eat 5 small meals rather than 3 larger meals. According to this article, that’s a myth and eating 2-3 meals per day has the ‘exact same effect on total calories burned as eating 5-6 (or more) smaller meals.’ I never thought of it as how many calories I was eating. I’ve never been a calorie counter and frankly, don’t know if I ever will. I eat healthy and stay active, therefore; I try not to go crazy… Granted, calorie counting works wonders for many of my friends! Some people benefit from eating often because it prevents excessive hunger. According to the article, that is true, but it is untruthful that this has an effect on the amount of calories we burn. On the flip side, there have been multiple studies showing how eating ‘too’ often can have a negative effect on the body. In on recent article, frequent meals increased liver and abdominal fat on a high calorie diet intensely. That is contradicting to what many think is the ‘healthy’ choice today.

Have you heard that “Whole wheat is a health food and an essential part of a balanced diet”? I have and I love wheat. The only issue, in today’s society, wheat doesn’t carry the same nutritious value it used to. Studies have been down that show “older wheat” compared to “modern wheat” and the difference in our production today. Modern wheat can cause an increase in cholesterol levels as well as inflammatory markers. I’ve thought about this in depth since I grew up eating mainly wheat bread and continue to lean towards wheat choices, but beyond the other health concerns, modern wheat products can cause symptoms such as bloating, drowsiness, discomfort and reduced quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. A great alternative is Einkorn, an older variety of wheat that Young Living offers in an organic form! Contact me for more information on Einkorn and other Young Living products.

These are just a few of the myths the article talks about. Click here to view the full article!

Weekend Getaway

Friday afternoon I was torn on whether to be happy or sad. My husband was leaving for the weekend to hang out with his buddies; play a little poker, golf… I missed him already and he wasn’t even gone. He's always fun to be around and my best friend but on the other hand, it was just me and Reggie Friday. YAH! I got some me time without “What’s for dinner babe?” “Do you know where my softball uniforms are?” “Is my Brewers t-shirt clean?” (Oh, because I know which one you are talking about right?) I love him to death, but I was excited to relax and enjoy the presence of my own mind without distraction, minus Reggie. He is a bit of a distraction sometimes but it is great for the mind to have alone time every now and again. A bottle of wine, a few loads of laundry, semi-weeded landscaping and falling asleep on the couch with puppy cuddles made the night worth it!

It is never the same sleeping by yourself when you are so used to the comfort of your loved one. I tend to sleep like a rock, as in, I don’t move more than an inch. It’s weird, I know! Excited for the day, I woke up early, like always! Reggie never and I mean never sleeps in when it's just us two. If Nick were home, Reggie would have slept until 10... not the case for me... My sister was coming to town to spend the day with me and I was super excited. She's only been to my house 2x and it was just to shower after Country Jam USA. We hadn't talked about what we were going to do so I just left it up to whatever got thrown our way. Thought maybe a couple of walks with Reggie, wine (of course), crafting, cooking and who knows… I really hadn’t clue and didn't care as long as I was with someone I positive.

The one thing we planned was dinner. I grew up with expectations of helping my parents in the garden and let me tell you, we had a huge garden! We canned beans, beats, tomatoes, salsa, spaghetti sauce, chili sauce, apple sauce, pizza sauce, asparagus, jam… I’m probably forgetting some stuff but you get the point. Beyond canning we had the simple job of helping pick the vegetables, snap the beans, etc. It was not always fun but definitely a learning experience we all enjoy now. I have a garden of my own now, although not nearly as big. Using fresh Zucchini and canned spaghetti sauce we made Zucchini Lasagna roll ups. This was an experience on its own, but the outcome was awesome. It taste delicious. Check out how to make it under the "Recipes" tab. 

I am definitely a DIY type of gal. My sister is too, even though she doesn’t like to admit it. I have never etched glass, but she made some adorable wine glasses for my husband and I for our wedding along with gifting us some wine she bought on her trip to Germany! I want to learn to etch glass -I’ve seen videos and it seems fairly simple, we shall see. This weekend we stuck with some simpler crafting; toilet fizzes and bath soaks. Ahhhh I can’t wait to see how people like them and I’m hoping it is as much as I do. You have a chance to win a set of Bath Bombs from me. Read the “Be Kind- giveaway” article from last week on the home page of my blog to find out more. Limited time so hurry, it ends Wednesday! These are some of my favorite products though. Toilet fizzes are perfect for those of you who leave a box of matches in the bathroom. This was the first time I’ve ever made the toilet fizzes and it was definitely an experience. They work, but the recipe needs a little adjustments. The bath bombs though, now those are awesome! Thieves was the essential oil of choice and man am I excited to relax in a bath of Thieves infused greatness! These would be great to soak your feet in too, especially if you feel like you’re coming down with a bug or the nasty flu. I absolutely love these. 

A couple drinks and relaxing night of reality tv would have been the perfect ending to a girls day with my sister but the hubby crashed our party by coming home early. No complaints, he was a great addition and kept Reggie busy! We ended the night with more wine, a camp fire, delicious s’mores (Reese’s peanut butter cups instead of Hershey) and the Minion movie on Netflix. Yep, 3 grown adults decided on the Minion movie! 

I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Never take the little things in life for granted. Every chance I get, I strive to be with those I love and those who enjoy my presence because tomorrow is unknown. Live life to the fullest and experience the things that make you happy. Love your life. Choose happy!

10 Things to be Happy About

10 THINGS TO BE HAPPY ABOUT

Family: Whether it be your grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great aunt… Family is unique to each and every person. You cannot create your family and as you grow older, so do they. Be happy you have family, some do not!

Love: Love is an amazing thing. Many people use the word love freely and many cherish it. Never take love for granted. Be happy to love and be loved, because you are loved!

Food: The simplest things in life are sometimes the things we take for granted the most; food, water, family, friends, education, freedom… (Basically half my list). People all over the US do not have the pleasure of eating a hot meal at night. Be happy you can.

Freedom: To be an American citizen and live a life with freedom is an accomplishment in itself. Your elders have given you an amazing gift. Be happy you can use that freedom in many ways.

Education: You can come from a poor community with minimal access to high education or you can come from a well-off family that forces you to continue your education. In today’s society, we need that education to get many jobs paying minimum wage. Be happy we have so many options for assistance. It is possible. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible.

Water: One of the most basic things in life; water. As a society we often take for granted the water we have readily available. We waste water as if nobody is in need. Remember the homeless; mothers, children, fathers, veterans- wounded at heart on the street begging for food and water. Be happy to have fresh water available almost any time!

Electricity: This seems so silly, but I am extremely happy to have electricity. Every time our power goes out, it seems like we look at each other with a dumb-found look. It could be 8am or 8pm and we don’t know what to do. Why? We are extremely dependent on electricity; cooking, watching tv, charging your phone, lighting your house, grooming yourself, cleaning your carpet… Be happy you have access to electricity and remember those who don’t have it because they can’t.

Faith: Faith is a huge part of my life. I believe everyone has Faith of some sort, it is just a matter of what kind. In all reality, it shouldn’t matter what kind of faith you have to anyone but yourself. I have a tattoo saying “faith” to remind myself that everything will be okay and to have faith in myself, the Lord (if you wish), family, war… whatever you are struggling with. Be happy you have the choice to choose your faith, if any. Many don’t have a choice.

Friends: True friends are far and beyond these days. Our society has become so in tune with social media and wanting everyone to “like” them. What about a good ole’ barbecue with the best of friends? Do not ever take for granted your true friends and if you go through the heartbreak of being betrayed trust by one of those friends, have faith. It will get better. There are still great people that will make true friendship worth the wait. Be happy you have friends. It is a lonely world alone.

Pets: It may seem silly, but my dog, Reggie, is my fur baby. He means the world to my husband and I and we are so happy to have him a part of our life. We do not have children (yet) but in the moment we are enjoying Reggie and all the joys he brings us. I honestly never thought I could love an animal the way I love him. He is a bundle of joy. It is easy to take for granted having a pet. They basically have no choice where they live, what they eat or drink, what toys they get, what family they go to… Be happy you have all those choices and to have a pet that many dream of having.  

Perspective

Photo Credit: Karla Sullivan Photography (Nicole Bauman)

It has been a while since I've made a post, and I apologize. I have had some craziness happening in my life that has kept me busy but also given me visions I never expected I'd be having at this point, but they are! And it is a great experience to go through, as we are all always growing into bigger, better people (I hope). 

As a reflection of some things that have happened in my life recently and given me new insight, I want to share some inspiring moments that others have shared with me and that have made me look at myself, my life, my past experiences and how I want my future experiences to unfold. 

I have always let faith be a part of my life and always strived to have #faith in everything that happens or has happened in my life. What I didn't realize is how unconnected you can become because of the negativity others bring into your life. I've had friends come into my life and pass on by because of one simple thing, life. We grow and our values change. Our wants and needs sometimes become blurry.

Life is full of experiences; good, bad, fun, boring, adventurous... those experiences are what make our story worth sharing from generation to generation. In recent months, I have experienced heartbreak, majority caused by people I thought were so close to me. People I never thought would betray my trust when I told them something I expected to stay between us. I'm no perfect human. I have made mistakes also. I will own up. It is what is right. Going through these situations are what has made us stronger and re-opened our eyes to what really matters to us. Re-opened our eyes to what we value in life. What we value in friendships. What we value in marriage. My values are what form my closest friendships. We share many of the same values. Of course I have friends that don't share some of the same values, and that is okay too.

The lifelong friendships I have formed are created on a non-judgmental foundation. To be loved like a sister even though we are not sisters is one of the best feelings in the world. I have an older brother and a younger sister, so I never thought I would feel the love of a sibling from a friend. But, I have! And I am honored to be the same sibling figure to others. To feel un-judged even when you know they don't agree with some of your hobbies, habits, thoughts, etc. They still love you for you. They still want you to be so actively in their life; to be their sole-sister, to cry on each other’s shoulder, to share the best days of each other’s life, to share the worst days of each other’s life, to be a true friend for life. 

I have judged and have grown to know how terrible it feels to be judged. I will be judged and continue to be judged. I will not change who I am to satisfy other people's ideal "friend" but I will change who I let affect me. I know now more than ever that I cannot make everyone happy. I cannot be everyone's ideal friend because everyone has a different perspective on "ideal". Why is there judgement? Why can we not be friends with everyone without judging their clothing, their job, their car, their house, their hobbies, their habits, their lifestyle...? Why do we hate?

Believing in forgiveness is another one of those feelings; the best feelings. I say ‘best feelings’ a lot because those things feel so good. Knowing we all sin and can move on is a piece of the puzzle many cannot find a place for. No sin is greater than another. Believe in yourself. Forgive those who have left you in the dark, feeling terrible. You do not have to involve them in your everyday life. You do not need to be friends with them. Just simply forgive. You will feel the burden crumble off your shoulders as you learn to forgive those people you were hurt by in some way, shape or form. 

To all my friends, you are loved! Don't judge others, we are all struggling with something. Be yourself. Love yourself! Love your family. Love your friends. Respect your elders. Live life freely. Don't regret, but instead learn. Life is full of mistakes, heartache, laughter, love, friendships... make your story worth sharing for many generations to come. #peace

Are you low on Valor?

Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak

One of my favorite products; Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak! It is that time of year in Wisconsin...gardening season. I use the fruit and veggie soak weekly. Especially lately, as we have been purchasing fresh strawberries every chance we get. Have you tried it? 

It's so simple. Simple fill your sink with water and add the recommended amount of Thieves Fruit & Veggie Soak (1 Tablespoon per 1 gallon of water)!

I'd love to hear your favorite products, least favorite products and thoughts on this product!

#Everything

New Member

I'd love to welcome a new member to our team of Happy-Healthy-Living oilers. We love inspiring people to live the healthiest life they can, the best way they know. For Kayla, it's a chemical free one! See Member News for more details!

Freshen your garbage can

With summer kicking off and barbeques in full gear, your trash can is probably loaded with fruit and veggie clippings and more. Add a couple drops of Purification to your garbage cans and you will have no problem keeping your garbage smelling 'empty'.

Palo Santo

The seemingly odd combination of pine, mint and lemon make for an inspiring aroma. 

Memorial Day

I want to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day. Remember what this holiday is meant for. Be safe and hopefully you can enjoy the weather as well. 

#YLtip on Lemon Vitality

Yogurt is a staple in our house. Although I love Plain Greek Yogurt as a substitute for sour cream, I cannot say I am a fan of it by itself. That can now change! A couple drops of Young Living Vitality essential oil and wah-la I have flavored yogurt. Throw some fresh fruit on top and it's even better.

Spring? How about Summer!

It sure feels like summer here in Wisconsin. Mid 80's the week before everyone's big Memorial Day celebrations.

Enjoy your cookouts, beverages and time with family and friends but please, do not forget the real reason for this holiday.

NingXia Zyng

Goals

How about a little motivation this Monday? It's never hard to throw the work you've started on the back burner to finish some "quick" tasks... but those quick tasks multiply. Once they multiply, your burner begins to boil until you have overcooked what's been waiting so patiently for attention. 

"If you can't stop thinking about it. Don't stop working for it!" 

It can really be that simple if you put your mind to it. What works for me may not work for you but I've been wanting to share my ongoing struggle and recent success.

I'm a craft lover. I love the relaxing sensation it puts my body in but can honestly say I haven't "crafted" in almost 5 years. Not regularly anyways. And of course, I love Young Living. I've began using Young Living within my crafts; homemade products, recipes, and around-the-house. I call them crafts, others might call them simply DIY projects. To each their own! 

Slowly but surely I've been incorporating more and more of my actual crafting, painting, sewing, etc. into my life again. It has gotten easier and easier now that we own our home and can do what we please when we please. The puppy is growing up fast and becoming more and more independent, also freeing up some time for me to do "me stuff". But the real secret is even simpler. GOALS. I've been setting goals for myself (and my husband)! They are more for me than him because I like to encourage him to set his own, but some of mine need his assistance, so they become his too. 

Here are a few tips I use that help me keep on track. Make short term and long term goals. Short term can be anything from a daily goal to a monthly goal. Long term goals are similar and can overlap from monthly to yearly goals. Even 5, 10 or 15 year goals. Below are some of my goals that help keep my vision on track.

Short Term: 

Sunday: mow the lawn. prepare garden for transplanting, misc. laundry, grill burgers

Monday: finish the dishes, wash blankets, wash towels, change bedding, trim the lawn, grill ribs, walk Reggie

Tuesday: bean bag league 6:30, vacuum bedrooms, eat at league?

Wednesday: wash bedding, clean bathroom, crockpot chicken, walk Reggie

Thursday: errands, tacos

Friday: (mom coming to town), shopping, walk Reggie

Saturday: attend baby shower, in-laws in town ? 

Sunday: help move my sister out of her old house to new house (all day event)

Overflow: sort totes in basement (keep, rummage sale), make goats milk soap, make powder laundry detergent, make toilet fizzes, make bathroom tile cleaner, dig platform for shed, build platform for shed, build shed, touch-up bathroom paint

*I tend to make my short term goals on a daily basis. I like to know what I need to get done each night. I move things around as I need to but it makes it easy for me to get done what needs done. I always have an overflow list of things I need done also, just fill in whenever I have down time. These goals I want done within a few days and even a few weeks but not always immediately.

Long Term:

Purchase paint for entry way (have paint colors chosen)

Paint entry way

Purchase paint for kitchen (have paint colors chosen)

Paint kitchen 

Sand cabinet doors & drawers

Paint cabinet doors & drawers

Pick paint color(s) for desk (in basement) ideas- blue/gray or blue/black

Re-finish desk in basement

*My long terms goals help me keep a vision for what I want done but doesn't put the timing on me. I have paint colors picked out and now it is finding the time to paint. I'm kind of holding off until a great paint sale comes because I know I don't have the time to paint right at this moment. But then again, I can make time if I have the paint on hand! We are refinishing our kitchen cabinets so those are another one of those projects that we have the colors picked out but not the immediate time or materials to sand them down, refinish and get in place. That's why they are long term goals for me. 

All in all, "If you can't stop thinking about it, don't stop working for it." I think about the entry way every time I walk in the house. I'm not going to stop working towards finishing it! Same goes for the pile of dirty towels. They'll get done, I have them on my list and I will finish them. It's a matter of being organized. Grab a sticky note and make a small to-do list. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to get your prioritized tasks done!

Guacamole

Similar to my Avocado Salsa recipe, Guacamole is merely the same. The thing I like about guacamole is it is perfect for those who enjoy the taste of avocados but don't particularly enjoy biting into them. In guacamole, it's mashed with other ingredients. In salsa, it's chunked. You choose!

As you can see from the ingredients, they are almost the same as my Avocado Salsa. The difference; Young Living Citrus Fresh essential oil instead of Lemon, added pepper and the main ingredient, garlic! Visit my Recipes Tab for the full recipe. 

Avocado Salsa

Finally, it's here! I made Avocado Salsa this weekend while a friend and I relaxed, did some crafting, a little shopping and of course drank a few glasses of wine! I've became a huge fan of avocados lately and it's no wonder why, they're yummy and good for you.

I'm excited to share my recipe since I throw my own twist on everything! Above are the simple ingredients you need for it. Young Living Lemon essential oil, Lime essential oil, Roma tomato or 2, 2 avocado, onion and cilantro. To see the full recipe, go to my Recipes Tab!

I hope you can enjoy this delicious treat as much as I do.

Frankincense

Frankincense is another one of those oils that I consider a "must have". It has so many properties that help support the body and keep it staying healthy.

Frankincense is known to contain 40% sesquinterpene. "Sesquinterpenes delete bad information in cellular memory and are present in almost all essential oils. The chemistry of essential oils tells us that they are the largest group of terpenes known naturally in the plant and animal kingdom." So, in non-chemistry terms, this is a compound naturally found in plants and animals. Since Young Living follows their strict Seed-To-Seal process, these compounds follow the process into the essential oils. 

"Phenolics are stimulating to the nervous and immune systems. They clean receptor sites of cells so sesquiterpenes can delete faulty information from the cell. They have antioxidant properties and a high level of oxygenating molecules." So again, these are natural compounds that are within the plants that are used to extract these pure essential oils.

"Put 1 drop on the crown of your head before sleep helps stimulate the limbic system (center of memory & emotions) of the brain." 

Sources: 

Martin, Nan, LSH, CRTS. "The Chemistry of Essential Oil Reveals the Properties of the Oil." The Chemistry of Essential Oil Reveals the Properties of the Oil. Nan Martin. Web. 10 May 2016.

Plant-based Ingredients

After a weekend filled with crafting and yard work, I'll be needing these tonight. I barely finished laundry and the house went from clean to disaster in a matter of minutes it seems like.

What does that mean for me? This lady is going from work to the gym to home...where the journey continues to cooking dinner and cleaning! Yah... I've been diffusing Thieves and Orange essential oils while at work today, so my puppy is enjoying that while he prepares for the home to smell of Thieves in every room. #clean #fresh #plantbased What else do I need? Well, we won't get into that!

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to falling asleep to a Thieves infused home and probably pretty tired!

Customize Baked Goods with Vitality Essential Oils

It's true. I made Guacamole and Avocado Salsa this weekend using Citrus Fresh, Lemon and Lime essential oils. Recipe coming soon!

Most Affordable Oils

Are you looking to try some new oils but not sure what to try? What do you want to use the oils for? Let's dig in and figure out what oils would best suit your needs!

Pinterest Challenge Reminder

Don't forget about the Young Living Pinterest Challenge!

Find out more here!

Cooking Night

Tonight will be filled with cooking ingredients for me! I am excited to get my hands dirty. Any avocado fans? Well, that is the main ingredients in all my recipes tonight; Avocado Ice Cream, Guacamole and Fresh Avocado Salsa! Mmmmm Stay tuned for recipes and photos.

Pinterest Challenge

Where are all my Pinterest lovers? 

Young Living is holding a unique contest right now. It is called "Pin It to Win It!" and you don't want to miss out if you're a Pinterest fan.

Here is a run down...

As you may know, all essential oil businesses, including ourselves as members need to follow guidelines that are not misleading in any way, shape or form. It has been a work in progress for many Young Living members as well as educators because simple things such as testimonies are not necessarily compliant to those guidelines. Here is a great rule of thumb when trying to decide if something is compliant:

"Young Living essential oils and their products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Just as some antibiotics work for some people and not for others, essential oils work different for each individual." 

You may find, like myself, that many essential oils work to help everyday symptoms or injuries to the body. That's fantastic! Right now, it is not compliant to promote oils using any of those experiences. Yes, I know... it isn't exactly ideal and it doesn't make sense, but that is the law and myself along with Young Living believe our oils and products don't need to take that route to show everyone just how great these oils are. 

The list below shows a variety of diagnoses, symptoms and medications that are medically diagnosed or medically treatable in some form. All of those are regulated whereas essential oils are not fully regulated at this time. 

Here are 25 of the "hot words" that are considered non-compliant:

ADD/ADHD

Alzheimer's

Antibacterial

Antidepressant

Anti-inflammatory

Antimicrobial

Antiseptic

Antiviral

Arthritis

Autism

Burns

Cancer

Cysts

Diabetes

Ebola

Fibromyalgia

High Blood Pressure

Insomnia

Measles

MMR

MRSA

MS

OCD/PANDAS

Parkinson's Disease

PTSD

Comparison or substitution of any OTC or Rx Drugs

This list is not all-inclusive.

This doesn't mean Young Living products or essential oils won't assist with any of the above articles, but not ALL Young Living products are regulated by the FDA and therefore cannot be advertised as if it were regulated. This means you should not 'try to restate, describe, or imply the hot word without actually using it' also. 

So, what's the challenge right? Okay, here it is...

1. Clean up your Pinterest board. Make sure none of those Hot Words are located in your posts. If they are, remove those posts. We want everything involving Young Living to be compliant and accurate!

2. Pin one of the 7 Young Living Pinterest challenge photos. Check out my Young Living Pinterest Board to re-pin.

Each week Young Living will choose 3 winners for that week's 'featured prize bundle'. Woot Woot! Winners will also be given a shout-out during the International Grand Convention for helping support the integrity of Young Living.

Contest: May 1-June 18

Ready, Set, Go!

7 Pinterest Contest Photos Below

Visit my Young Living Pinterest Board to re-pin!

hard-working weekend = soothing diffuser blends

Are you looking for something to soothe you after working in the garden all weekend? I am! I finally had the opportunity to visit my parents after what seemed like 'forever' ago. They had an abundance of hasta and yellow day lilies that needed to be dug up and split so I was more than willing to come help. I mean, they are my parents and they do help me with anything and everything they can so I always try to come help them out when I can.  Plus, being the great parents they are... they gave me all the plants I wanted. Woot, woot! 

So for those who haven't followed me before, here's a little back story. I have been working on digging up my 'current' landscape since last fall. Yes, last fall. We love DIY projects but sometimes they take a while. It has been a massive work in progress. The plants we had were so woody in areas, out of shape, over-grown, flowery and mis-matched. You all know I like things symmetrical and matching! They were pretty, but just not the best plants for people who love to be outside in the summer either. And they all attract bumble bees like crazy! 

Starting last fall, we tore up all the landscaping fabric and mulch. Our puppy loved grabbing mulch and running around the yard chewing on it so that was the first "must go". I dug up a few of the easy plants and re-steaked landscaping fabric so our rebellious puppy that loves dirt doesn't get dirty.

The leads us to spring. My husband gave me a helping hand and dug out some of the really big bushes Friday night so we could till the dirt before re-planting. Kudos to him, those bushes were rock solid and had roots deeper than ever imaginable. I kept reminding him "just wait until it's done, it'll look so much better!" (Smirk) He knows how much I wanted it done and just put the work in. Man I love than guy! 

Well, Saturday after moving rock and assisting my parents in digging up the plants we managed to bring home about 30 plants. I can't say exactly how many, but it was a lot. I really only needed 14-15 plants but since I had enough, I combined them and made them the 'perfect' size. Yesterday the weather was a bit warmer, which made replanting fun. It didn't take all that long either. Although all I have done is planting, I will need to finish by putting landscaping fabric in place early this week. I am so excited to finally have them planted though. (Pictures to come) 

My next goal- bring in some rock. In the meantime, I'm going to relax to my soothing diffuser blends!

Clean Smarter

Happy Monday y'all. It was a bit of a drewry weekend in WI but not drewry enough to make time for some more spring cleaning. It seems like all I do is clean now! It did include outdoor cleaning too, in between the rain and brisk wind.

Fresh fruit and veggies are just around the corner, so that cleaning goes from counters to fresh produce in the snap of a fingers. Have you tried Thieves Fruit and Vegetable wash? Check it out! 

Citrusy Herb Blend

Are you looking for a new diffuser blend? Maybe something a little citrusy, a little flowery, maybe even a hint of herb? It's here! Clary Sage, Bergamot & Lavender mixed to make the perfect Citrusy Herb Blend. 

Sutter Roseville Medical Center- offering Young Living

You have to check this out! I recently saw a post on social media that has been shared over and over on social media about a medical center offering Young Living Essential Oils to help subside nausea rather than using pain medication. 

Please note: Young Living Essential Oils are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. Just as some antibiotics work for some people and not for others, essential oils work different on each individual.

That being said, I think it is great that this medical center is experimenting with these natural 'healing agents', as I like to personally call them.

All names were covered for privacy.

Are Citrus Oils Safe For You Teeth?

I recently read an article from Young Living about the effects Citrus Fruits can have on the teeth. Many people have raised concern that Citrus Oils may have the same effect so Young Living had a test done to show exactly how these oils effect your teeth.

(click image to view closer)

Pretty cool how they have little to no change in PH compared to the actual fruit itself. Wondering how that can be if these are "pure" oils right? Well, it all goes back to the Seed to Seal process. Lemon (as well as other citrus oils) are cold pressed from the rind of 'Citrus limon fruit'. This results in essential oil with a bright citrus aroma comparable to the flesh of the fresh fruit. The actual flesh of the fruit contains higher levels of PH compared to the essential oils derived from the rind.  

Peppermint Water = Performance Support

There she goes again about Peppermint... I know, I know! But I just love this oil so much and this meme is awesome!

I have occasionally put YL Peppermint oil in my water and coffee, but never thought about putting it in my water during a workout. Light bulb! I am excited to start this TONIGHT! Yahhhh 

My Water Drinking Rituals-

Morning: Lemon Water

Day: Water (lemon, citrus fresh, tangerine, grapefruit, lime or any combination of these)

Workout: Peppermint Water

#letsdoit #workout #getfit #lifting #noexcuses #gymlife #happyhealthyliving #water #peppermint #healthy

BETHIEVER

I absolutely love this. Love is probably an understatement. Followers, you know how much I love Thieves products!!!

It is hard to become a #bethiever without trying but it is possible. Where there is a will, there is a way, right? If you have not tried any of these Thieves products, what is holding you back? Did you try one you aren't a huge fan of? Maybe the smell, even though I think it's amazing! Don't let it ruin your experience with the rest of them. There are ways around all of that! 

Laundry Laundry Laundry

Laundry seems to be never-ending; at least in my home. I don't even have children yet (besides a furry one) and it still gets piled up. 

Now, I do change my sheets weekly and I have been catching up on spring laundry- you know, all those shorts, tank tops and summer-y clothes that I've had in totes all winter! 

What do you use to wash your laundry? Do you know what is in that detergent? Or so called detergent! It continues to amaze me how uneducated our society is when it comes to the ingredients in the simple products we use DAILY. 

The number 1 ingredient that is harmful is the number 1 thing most people do when deciding which laundry detergent to purchase at the store...Fragrance. What do we do? Grab a bottle, open the cap and take a sniff. Nah, don't like that one, lets try a different one... Many manufacturers combine a multitude of chemicals to produce that very fragrance. 

Another HUGE ingredient that people often disregard is the actual cleaning agents themselves. These are simply added to help the detergents clean your clothes better. In the meantime, they are releasing a well-known carcinogen; formaldehyde. This is among the several harmful cleaning agents within detergent. 

It makes me wonder WHY people continue to use these? Is it easier than purchasing natural? Is it cheaper? Do 'we' as a society just not care? 

Here are TWO solutions!

1- 

Add Young Living Thieves Laundry Soap into your life

*Less is More! This is a plant-based formula that is completely free from harsh additives like synthetic perfumes, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and brighteners. (Stay tuned for upcoming post on tips on naturally keeping clothes white)

2-

Make your own Laundry Soap 

*Laundry soap is VERY easy to make. Did I mention it is inexpensive also? Check out the DIY page for 2 easy recipes (Dry & Liquid)

Pure Protein Complete

Here is the BEST protein shake you can get your hands on; in my opinion of course! This is one of my all-time favorite Young Living products. I haven't tried Chocolate, but I use this every time I workout (with my YL shaker bottle). It taste great and does the job, perfectly! You can even add a couple drops of EO if you want to spruce up the vanilla flavor- but it definitely does not need it!