dōTERRA Essential Oils – Earthy Girl Living

I Interrupt the regularly scheduled program

Posted on February 7, 2016February 8, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Are you ready for spring? Well it’s official, the ground hog says winter will be with us for only 4 more weeks!! Is that exciting or what? It’s so nice to be able to get outside and get a little fresh air and exercise!

The warmer air we had this past weekend has me thinking ahead to springtime and one of my favorite things….CAMPING!! About 8 years ago, after I read Bill Bryson’s, A Walk in the Woods, I got all fired up to walk the Appalachian Trail. (about 2,500 people every year start off on the trail in early spring) There’s no telling how many dreamers like me there are out there!

If you haven’t read the book you should check it out. It’s a funny read and offers interesting facts about the trail. I highly recommend it, even if you have no intention of ever walking the trail!

The movie was just released this past year too. I enjoyed it, even though the book was better! It is a great movie to rent at Red Box. Throw a dollar at it because it’s well worth it!

So, I am still dreaming of walking the trail even though when I first learned about it, I had never been camping a day in my life. Everyone thought…”It’s a phase….it will go away….She won’t like it…..It will be too cold”…. you name it, they thought it. Well the phase hasn’t gone away!! So in the meantime, I figured I needed to get some gear, since I owned NOTHING for camping!

… I showed up at REI one random day and it happened to be a “garage sale” day!! They usually have these sales on used equipment 2-4 times a year! I rounded up 2 must haves: a tent and a sleeping bag. I ended up with a 2 person Big Agnes tent. It had been returned since it had a one inch rip in the front screen and get this, I got it for 70% off!! What a steal!! I put a little piece of duct tape on it and it’s as good as new! I highly recommend checking out the garage sale at REI when they have them! Major deals can be had!

The Big Agnes tent has been the right fit for me. My husband (6’2″) and I squeeze into it with zero room to spare, but it will be the perfect size for me alone when I go hike the trail. I’ll have a little wiggle room, it weighs just over 2 pounds, and its is super easy to put together!! Check it out at the link here. I couldn’t be happier with it and we’ve camped through many a storm with no leaks!

I also ended up with the Big Agnes Mummy sleeping bag. I have to say I like the bag but I feel a little claustrophobic in it. I like to sleep on my side and it’s rather hard to do. You basically have to sleep on your back and lay still. Not the best nights sleep for me. My husband has the primo bag. It’s a Western Mountaineering Ponderosa bag. It’s the bomb! He has plenty of room to move around and it is super warm. If I buy another bag, that is what I’ll buy. I will watch for end of year close outs!

Living in North Georgia is really a perfect location for outdoor adventures. There is so much available to us within a few hours drive. I drove 2 1/2 hours north last weekend and it was spectacular. I went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it was actually closed since they just had the 7th largest snowfall on record, 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, they expect the parkway to be closed until spring, but the view is still worth heading up there!

We parked at the barricades where they blocked the road and just got out and hiked up the parkway. It was the coolest experience. There were no cars and it was so quiet up there. There were only a handful of other people hiking. Next time we would like to hike to Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower. Have you ever been there before? Please comment if so. I’d love to hear about it! Also if you have any other favorite places to hike, please comment so I can add them to my list!

It was so nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the work week stress and just sit and look out at how beautiful it was. It was so quiet and the air was so fresh and clean. It would be a great place to sit and meditate.

If you like meditating, I’ve included a great blend to put in your diffuser.

Meditation blend:

3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Patchouli
3 drops Lavender

Also if you read my past blog on how to make your own homemade laundry detergent and are interested in making your own dryer balls, check out this blog. It is super easy. I hope you try it!

I hope you all have a fantastic week! I will be back with you soon!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @earthygirlliving

Naturally, Lisa

It was a Tough Breakup!!

Posted on February 1, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Can you believe the month of January is already over?! This month I have accomplished a few of my many goals for the new year, and it makes me feel really good! Were you able to make any changes this month? Start small, baby steps are all it takes! Remember it’s a new year, so you can be a New YOU!

Last week, I touched on one way to make a change for a healthier YOU by using homemade laundry detergent. I am so happy to hear that many of you are trying it out! Did your triceps hurt after making it?! I have another idea for you this week that will be beneficial to your health and wellness. This one is really easy and does not involve getting physical! All it requires is the push of a button!

I’m sure, if you’re like me, you have your go to aromas and fragrances that you just absolutely love! Smells are very powerful and can trigger memories from your past and make you think of special occasions. For me, and I’m sure many of you, there’s nothing like walking into the aroma of fresh baked bread or cookies. A realtor once told me to bake cookies right before showing our house to create a more inviting, homey space! It actually worked!

I have always used the popular wall plug-in air fresheners, as well as candles to spice up my life. After being on this wellness journey, I have learned that most of these products are toxic and harmful to our bodies. They are no longer welcome in my house! It was like a tough break up with all those nasty products; but it had to be done!!

(Read here how you can de-pollute the funk in your house. A helpful tip: If your product does not have the latin name of the fragrance on it, then it is synthetic. Which basically means that it is man-made in a laboratory and it is dangerous for you. Talk about polluting the air in your home and your body!)

I’m not going cold turkey though! OH NO NO! Even though I banned those other products from my house, I love aromas too much! I have replaced all those toxic, smelly, items with several diffusers!! You may think “Oh I use to put one of those on the end of my hair dryer to diffuse the air and it made me look like that girl from the movie Flashdance.” Does that bring back memories or what?! If your behind that generation then all you young whipper snappers should check it out. It was one of my faves!! But this is no hair diffuser, this is a type of diffuser that you put essential oil into.

The cool thing is my family and I actually benefit from diffusing oils. Now let me say one quick word about essential oils. All essential oils are not the same. You have to be very careful about what and where you are purchasing oils. You want to buy an oil that is pure therapeutic grade! My favorite oil company has pure therapeutic grade oils. Their oils are 100% pure with nothing added and nothing taken away! My favorite oil company tests their oils 7 different ways! They are by far the best oils on the market!

Let me know if you’d like more info and how you can get started with a 25% discount and over the course of a year, up to a 55% discount on my favorite oil products!! Now that’s what I’m talking about!

So back to diffusers!

Diffusers are so easy to use. You add a small amount of water (read your manufacturers instructions) and then add 4-5 drops of Essential Oil. Turn it on and voila! It works its magic!

Basically, a diffuser transmits the essential oils therapeutic qualities into the air. The oils not only smell nice, but they are cleaning the air and benefiting your body too, without any toxic side effects! There are many varieties of diffusers available, but I prefer to use a cold air diffuser since warming the oil will change the chemistry and effect its benefits.

I typically run mine daily, refilling it every time it runs out. I have several throughout the house and one in my first grade classroom too! I just can’t get enough of them!!!

Depending on the style, diffusers run anywhere from 4-16 hours and usually will turn off by themselves. They work great in kids rooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and in the kitchen too! I like to use one that runs longer in my bedroom. At night, I love to use respiration blend, as well as calming blend. These two oils help me get a more restful night’s sleep and keep my airways open! If you have someone keeping you awake at night because of closed airways and loud noises beside you in bed, you should give the respiration blend a try!! Let me know if I can help you!

During the day, I love to diffuse Wild Orange and a very popular blend known as the Protective Blend. It is a great, uplifting, energizing, combo that gives me that extra boost throughout the day! This blend supports immune system function and protects against seasonal threats, so its especially great in the classroom.

You can diffuse so many different combinations of oils that it is almost endless. You will first need a diffuser and then some oils.

Here are a few of my favorites to try:

For seasonal support:

2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Lemon Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

For respiratory support:

1 drop Lemon Essential Oil
1 drop Eucalyptus Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 drop Rosemary Essential Oil

How about a more manly smell you say? :

2 drops Wintergreen
2 drops White Fir
2 drops Cypress

The list is endless. You just need to play! I will continue to add ideas for you.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like a sample! I can hook you up! I also have a few diffusers, so if you are in the market for one, let me know!

This simple addition to my house has changed my families lives for the better!!! I am positive that you will fall in love as well! Let me know what your favorite blends are!

Naturally, Lisa

Who has time for that?!?!

Posted on January 25, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

It’s true, people always look at me like I’m crazy and think I’m off my rocker when I tell them I make my own laundry detergent! I know they laugh and mumble under their breath, “Who has time for that?” Well I can tell you, you do!! YES YOU! It only takes about 20-30 minutes to make a batch, just like a batch of cookies. But let me tell you, this detergent will last you way longer than those cookies. I’m talking at least 4 ENTIRE MONTHS!!! It is well worth the investment! It is cheaper and so much safer for you!!

The holistic approach encompasses not only thinking about what your are putting on the inside of your body, but also what you are putting on the outside too! Just recently I’ve switched many things in my home from the traditional, store bought products and cleaners, and I have started making my own concoctions!!

About 2 years ago, I started making my own homemade laundry detergent. Store bought laundry detergents actually have quite a few chemicals that pollute not only the air in your house but also have chemicals that are being absorbed into your skin. Yes, even the ones that say “fragrance free!” Remember biology class taught us that our skin is the largest organ in the body? So, let’s start protecting it!

I encourage you to visit: www.ewg.org and check out the laundry detergent you currently use. If you have not checked out this website yet, you really need too! It will give you the low down on almost any product you use in your house. It rates the items on how toxic they are. So use it to check out any cleaning items you use or even things like your make-ups and shampoos! I looked up Tide with Febreeze and it was rated “F.” It was at the highest category for toxins. It showed high risk for asthma, skin irritation, and even a slight risk for cancer! Check it out!

I hope I’ve gotten those gears to start turning and have helped you to consider making a change! So if you’re ready, you’ll need to round up the following items to get started! You can buy your supplies at your local grocery store and even on Amazon! It just takes a little pre-planning!

Earthy Girl Laundry Detergent

1 (4 lb 12 oz) box of Borax- found in the detergent aisle (got mine on Amazon)
1 (3 lb 7 oz) box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda– found in the detergent aisle. (I got mine on Amazon.)
1 (3 lb) container of Oxi Clean- can find on the detergent aisle.
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap– I used lavender, but there are several scents to pick from. (I ordered on-line at Amazon and got 6 bars at one time.) Have seen them at Target too.
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- found on the cooking aisle. I found a big bag at Sam’s and Costco. It was a 13.5 lb bag. I’ve been able to use it for several batches. It was about $7.00.

Supplies:

A cheese grater/shredder. I bought an extra one to use only for the soap.
A large bucket with a lid. I recycled one of my wheat buckets (6 gallon) The ingredients only fill it up about 1/2 way.

Well, get your elbow grease ready. You actually are going to shred 2 bars of soap!! When you shred the soap, it’s a little bit of a work out. You might actually feel your triceps working, that’s basically going to the gym right?! Be safe when you’re shredding the soap to make sure you don’t cut your fingers! Ouch!

Instructions

Grate soap with a cheese grater or food processor. I do both. I grate first, then, put it in my food processor; so it’s super fine. I found it works best, especially if you use cold water in your laundry loads.
Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load. I put it right on my clothes or in the soap dispenser. Sometimes both!
Add a few drops of cleansing blend (from my favorite Essential Oil company) if you have smelly clothes, towels, or shoes. While the laundry is filling up, just add a few drops right in the water. It eliminates odors!! Sometimes I have kitchen towels that just have a weird odor. After I use this blend of essential oil, the smell is gone! You can also add your choice of essential oil to your laundry for additional fragrance. A couple of my favorites are lemon oil and wild orange oil.

If you’re going all natural you might as well get rid of your dryer sheets too! Switch over to using wool dryer balls! I bought a pack of six and I typically use 4 in each load. I place a few drops of whichever essential oils that I would like that day on each dryer ball! I usually like to add the Wild Orange or lavender oil. Start your dryer and let the balls do their magic. It may sound like you put tennis shoes in your dryer, but your clothes will be softer than ever, and even better, there will be no chemical residue. It’s a great change! That means no synthetic chemicals on your skin or pollutants in your house!

I made my last batch of laundry detergent on September 10, 2015 and I just made a new batch on January 20, 2016. It lasted a little longer than 4 months! I have a family of 4 and do on average 6-8 loads a week! Talk about bang for you buck! Just think, if you have a smaller family it will last you longer!

These minor changes have been a positive change in my life!!!

I hope I have inspired you and maybe you’ll try it too!

Next week I’ll talk about de-polluting the funk in your house by using a simple product called a diffuser.

Naturally, Lisa