Debunking the "hippie" mystery around oils and educating myself about them has heightened my awareness to  know better and do better for the sake of my family's wellness. 

The science behind it is simple. Essential oils are extracted from plants by distillation, and have the essential aromatic & chemical properties of that plant, they are made up of tiny molecules that are very easily absorbed by our bodies. When you inhale or intake an essential oil, receptor cells of the olfactory organ receive the aroma, and send signals to the brain which is the center of our emotions & memory. This controls our blood pressure, breathing, hormone balance, heart rate & so much more.

Have a peek into 5 areas of my life where oils have quite literally become essential! 

1. Skincare regime

Little did I know you do not need every beauty product under the sun to have healthy, glowing skin. Insert Frankincense! Slowly I am switching out skin products that rate poorly on the Think Dirty app. It's been so eye-opening to see products claim their clean yet they contain hidden chemicals and hormone disrupters. I now use jojoba oil with a drop of Frankincense as my skin serum +  moisturizer.

2. Sweet, sweet sleep

Not only is Frank a blessing to my skin but also to my sleep! This oil does it all. Google it, you'll see what I mean. My other runner ups are blends with Northern Lights Blue Spruce, Peace and Calming, and White Angelica. When I diffuse oils before bed I wake up completely rested. I have no recollection of tossing around or waking up at night. Deep sleep is here for the win.

3. Supplement my health 

Yep, even my supplements contain oils and there is a good reason why. Supplements infused with essential oils help with absorption, plus all the added support from the oils themselves!! My go-tos are Life 9 for gut health and AgilEase for cartilage and inflammatory support. Last but not least the queen of all supplements, Ningxa Red. This whole food supplement contains the puree from Ningxia wolfberries. Check out these statistics-- one ounce of Ningxia Red has the antioxidant power of 4 pounds carrots, 8 oranges, 2 pounds beets, 3 cups raspberries, and 2 cups blueberries. I pair 2oz of the juice with a lime-flavored sparkling water for an afternoon pick-me-up.

4. Chemical-free household

I am not a fan of needing a different product for every surface or room to clean with. Not to mention the hazard it is for kids to have all these chemical-laden products under my sink. Thieves Cleaner is now my only cleaner--praise hands! It's 100% effective, pure plant juice derived, and safe for kids. The label even says if ingested dilute heavily with water. 

There are hundreds of ways to use oils themselves for cleaning. My personal fav is using lemon oil to remove sticky residue. Even my skeptic husband loves lemon oil to remove tough residues like super glue. It's power is incredible. 

5. Helpful DIYs 

Sugar scrubs, hand soaps, longer-lashes serum... there's an oil for that! It's been so fun finding oily solutions to every day products. 

We've been using Young Living essential oils and haven't looked back. I've learned the key to learning is community! You don't know unless you know (ya know? ;). There's so much out there so it's helpful to learn from other's experiences. 

You can join alongside my wellness journey by signing up here to choose your starter kit. Next you can choose to set up your Essential Rewards monthly order, this is optional but highly recommend it as you start to clean your home of toxins. Once you sign up as a wholesale member you have the option of joining the private wellness group I'm apart of, which is where you can learn everything you need to know about using your oils amongst an inspiring community. 

Every wellness journey looks different, but I hope this was helpful to anyone who isn't sure how to use their oils or is looking to get started! XO

 This year I am going to reframe the way I lay out my goals so that you can see how my monthly goals are little decisions that will grow to be my 2021 goals:

"Abide in Him/ Be discipled" 

"Love big + create fun"

"Make space for family's well-being"

January I gave myself permission to pause, think and reflect on where I want be headed, so instead of revisiting those goals we will skip right along. 

February Monthly Goals

-- Sign up for class at church

-- Plan a fun, themed date night 

-- Drive & mail V-day cards with Jack 

-- Read the "Two Lives of Lydia Bird"

-- Choose paint color for kid's bathroom vanity

February Weekly Goals

-- Sweat with TIU 3x/week

February Daily Goals

-- Read the Word

-- Bed by 11:30p (yep, I'm a night owl-- small steps!!)

Anyone else struggle with getting to bed before midnight? I'd love to hear: what does your bedtime routine look like? Any tips to help me unwind are so welcome!! 

Hey, February! I'm here for all the chocolate but will forever pass on those tiny conversation hearts people call candy. Anyone feel me? 

In light of the month of love, what better way to celebrate than to share a playlist created for my music lovers. Perfect for a galantine's soiree, a special dinner with the fam, or game night with the hubs!