essential oils – Earthy Girl Living

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

Let’s Get Uncomfortable

Posted on January 11, 2016May 16, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

What do I mean “Let’s get uncomfortable?” Why would anyone want to be uncomfortable? And on purpose? Am I loosing it? I have been so blessed in my life; beyond words to express. I am so dog-gone lucky, so why in the world would I be saying “Let’s get uncomfortable?!” I just want you to ponder this…… If you are warm and comfortable, in your own little cocoon, there is no growth happening. Growth is hard. It is cold. It is scary! But you know what?, “life begins at the end of your comfort zone!”

Because it is a new year, I’ve decided that I am using the mantra “New Year, New You” to motivate me to make those changes. I was going to have to get uncomfortable to take new steps in the right direction. I wrote down a few things that I knew needed some work My house for one, is on the top of my list. As my children have grown up, and moved out, their empty rooms have been left behind and needed a little TLC. Yes it is bittersweet to clean out all the yearbooks and memories of their childhood, but I have to get uncomfortable. Right? Maybe a few tears too!

I decided I want to use one room as a work-out/ “Aromatouch Technique” room. I have been certified in this technique which is an amazing process of applying oils to the back and feet. It creates an overall felling of wellness. It is very powerful, yet simple. I invested in a massage table and I needed the space to set it up. So the number one goal was to clean out the ol’ bedroom. I worked on it a little each day, and it created the biggest disaster! There were things everywhere and I couldn’t hardly walk through the hallway. Was I uncomfortable? Yes! I couldn’t stand it!

We started by heading to Home Depot and we picked out some wall colors that would be fun and up-lifting. My artsy daughter chose moroccan sky, which is an orange shade; a purple shade called heather sachet, and a light gray. I was thinking…”What the heck?…this is going to be awful, but I went with it. We got home and cleaned everything out of the room. Talk about time consuming and slow. That’s when things started piling up everywhere. OH!!, one thing I forgot to tell you, “I think I’m part hoarder.” No really!! I hate to get rid of things because one day I could possibly need it. So this task was difficult to say the least. I’m still having separation anxiety as it all sits in the garage to go to Goodwill. We painted the walls and it looks amazingly fresh and fabulous! I touched up the baseboards and doors with white gloss so the colors on the walls would pop! We got some new wall decorations from Target (50% off, gotta love it) and Etsy. We included a Himalayan salt lamp which I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond. It has many healing properties to help with allergies. (Read 10 Reasons to Have a Himalayan Salt Lamp). You know me, trying to go for the natural approach.

So now, I challenge you to start taking steps toward your goals. Do you have anything you want to get started on in this new year? You can make it happen. One small step at a time. Pick one thing! It’s so motivating to see the results. Like “I did this!!” Yes!!

We got a lot done this weekend and decided to celebrate by making some granola. This is something that is super easy to do (minus breaking open the coconut). It is so much better for you than store bought brands. You know exactly what you’re adding. I love to eat my granola on yogurt, ice cream, or as a cereal with almond milk. It’s great on smoothie bowls if you’ve hopped on that train!! Here is my new granola recipe if you are looking for new, deliciously healthy options for this year.

Earthy Girl Granola

4 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup chopped cashews
3/4 cups sunflower seeds
3/4 cups Pepita seeds (pumpkin seeds)
3/4 cup shredded coconut (if doing from scratch here’s how and don’t forget to freeze it first, because it will save your life, or your hardwood floors 🙁 at least!)
1/4 cup Sucanat (dark brown sugar replacement. Found( here)
1/4 cup maple syrup or to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
salt to taste (if the nuts you are adding are salted, you will want to decrease the amount used)

Preheat oven to 250. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, stir thoroughly, place on jelly roll pan or baking dish with sides. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes or 1 hour and 30 minutes if you like it crunchier. Stir every 15 minutes for an even, golden color. Let cool, eat and enjoy!! Store in Ziploc or Tupperware.

Sneek Peek: Next week I will be diving into all things composting and delicious smoothie bowls. I will be posting my blogs on Sunday nights around 7:00. I hope you all will join me each week as I embark on this new journey!

Naturally,
Lisa

New Year, New You!

Posted on January 3, 2016January 10, 2016 by lisawilkins15@yahoo.com

Hello friends,

I have been pondering this in my mind for a while now and being that the new year just kicked off, I thought…. “JUST DO IT.” I have never considered myself a writer but have always tossed around the idea of writing a book, possibly for children or a novel of some sort. I mean, who would want to listen to what I had to say? I teach first grade and have a captive audience already and they love me! They have to listen to what I say. They are supposed to listen to what I have to say (…well I hope they listen to me).

About seven years ago, I got on this kick where I wanted to live a more healthy and natural lifestyle. This included eating cleaner and exercising more consistently. I of course, in the process, changed my family’s lifestyle and their eating habits too.

It all started out by going to a “getting started class” on how to grind your own wheat and make your own breads. I started making my own whole wheat bread, muffins, pancakes, etc. We haven’t bought a loaf of bread from the store since then. I even started making my own peanut butter! My husband actually lost about 40 pounds by simply making better choices and eating differently.

Last year, I was invited to an oil class (get your mind out of the gutter haha) and was excited to learn how essential oils could help with this transition to a healthier lifestyle. I was skeptical, but I thought why not? I was very intrigued by the oils and found the information on par with what I wanted for my life. I actually got started that night as a wellness advocate for dōTERRA, which I will post about later (or for a quick tid bit check out “About dōTERRA” on my menu bar).

My passions have changed as I have grown into the person I am today. I am very excited to share with you my journey on living a healthier lifestyle. This blog will be filled with DIY tips, recipes, information about essential oils, my travels, and updates on my life. I have a lot planned for the future! I hope to inspire you and show you how you too can make these types of simple changes in your lifestyle. Happy New Year!

Naturally, Lisa