My friend, Becca Sutton, had this amazing idea - turn ball caps into personal diffusers! Great for kids and adults alike!
Do your kids play sports? Check out this ball cap combo!
Here are some other oily ideas:
- Stress Away - for obvious reasons!
- Clarity - keep your head in the game!
- Lemon / Peppermint / Lavender - because being in the great outdoors can require some seasonal upper respiratory support (Combine in a roller and roll the blend onto the band. Because peppermint is a hot oil, add in a non-greasy carrier oil, such as YL's V-6 carrier oil.)
- Breathe Again - for easy breathing during exercise.
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
This post is shared by a dear friend, Candy Raymond. When I read it, I knew I had to ask if she'd be willing to be a guest blogger and was delighted when she agreed!
Have I ever talked to you about the limbic system? You may remember hearing something about it when you first learned about essential oils. (Of course, we covered a LOT of information then so, if you don’t remember, don’t feel bad.)
The limbic system is a relatively small part of the brain but it is HUGE with regards to governing our emotions, memories and behaviors. I won’t bother with all of the technical stuff; that’s what Google is for, right? But here are a few specifics of what the limbic system is involved with:
- Controlling emotions
- Regulating eating, hunger, and thirst
- Responding to pain and pleasure
- Controlling functioning of the autonomic nervous system, including things like pulse, blood pressure, breathing and arousal
- Controlling aggressive or violent behavior
- Responding to sensory information, especially the sense of smell
Ever wonder why certain smells conjure up memories and even physical feelings so vividly? Our sense of smell is unique compared to our other senses because it bypasses parts of the brain that other types of sensory information often can't. This is the reason smells can often cause immediate and strong emotional reactions based on memories; bringing us back to past events within milliseconds, making us feel a certain way based on past events, whether we realize why we’re suddenly feeling that way or not.
Essential oils can have dramatic effects on limbic function and how you feel. The fragrances they hold, make their way into your bloodstream then travel directly through the blood/brain barrier very quickly.
Research shows that the olfactory bulb sends information to the hippocampus, and the hippocampus then passes it along to the main olfactory bulb. This is how memories and smells become tied together. Once engaged, sensors emit strong emotional signals based on smells starting from your limbic system and spreading throughout the rest of your body to places like your heart and digestive tract.
Because essential oils can impact memory, balance hormone levels and support healthy limbic system functions; scientific evidence shows that inhaling essential oils may be one of the fastest ways to create physiological or psychological benefits. These include decreasing anxiety, anger or even fatigue.
Because essential oils are absorbed into the bloodstream when they are inhaled, using a diffuser can help you experience the benefits of essential oils, or you can directly inhale them from the bottle or a cotton swab. For example, diffuse lavender to reduce stress, orange to improve your mood, frankincense for spiritual connection, and peppermint to improve focus and energy.
(Much of the above information comes from Dr. Axe, ”What Is the Limbic System? (Plus How to Keep It Healthy & the Role of Essential Oils)”).
There is so much more to the limbic system and how it effects our physical and emotional well being but I’ll stop with the science there. While I’m not a doctor or even a scientist, and therefore am limited in what I’m allowed to say, I encourage you to do your own research anytime you want to dig deeper into what essential oils may be able to do.
For today, I can tell you some of my favorite oils that support the limbic system function of balancing emotions. Again, these are just a few of the amazing oil blends that D. Gary Young studied and formulated for emotional support. There are others that may turn out to be your favorites.
Brain Power
This is one I keep in my purse (along with Stress Away, Lavender and Peppermint). Brain Power is a blend of essential oils high in sesquiterpenes—like Sacred Sandalwood, Blue Cypress, and Frankincense—to promote a sense of clarity and focus when used aromatically. I don’t know about you, but I often find myself in a brain fog; usually when I feel overwhelmed or over-tired. I apply Brain Power to the bottoms of my big toes and/or on my brain stem and crown of my head. It’s like getting a “second wind” to carry on. This one is a good choice for kids too, as is the next one.
Clarity
When you need a boost of support for focus and sorting through information, I’d recommend Clarity. I usually diffuse it, but you can apply it to the same areas as you would Brain Power. Clarity blends Basil, Rosemary, Peppermint, and other essential oils for an aroma that invites a sense of clarity and alertness.
Motivation
The powerful scent of Motivation may promote feelings of action and accomplishment when diffused. Don’t feel like getting after a project? Is your “To Do” list longer than your arm? Diffuse this for about 30 minutes and see what happens! (That’s what I’ll be doing later today when I need to declutter my art supply closet.)
Transformation
Maybe like me, you have some mindsets that need adjusting. The oils in Transformation include Idaho Blue Spruce, Palo Santo, and Ocotea and this combination can empower you to replace negative beliefs with uplifting ones when diffused. When my mind tells me “I can't,” I use this to move past limiting beliefs or destructive patterns toward a new and healthy mindset.
Joy
We all need a little mood lifting sometimes. Some days, I don’t always know why, I just feel “off”. Joy is great for uplifting my mood and balancing emotional ups and downs. I usually apply it over my heart and on the back of my neck, but it’s also great in the diffuser so everyone can benefit from this sweet, citrusy, floral combination.
Every oil that comes in the Premium Starter Kit can have a benefit on your limbic system function. (Yes, even DiGize! ). So, as you can guess, there could be an entire series just on essential oils for emotional support.
For now, “Don’t Worry. Be Happy!” (That song reference may be lost on some of you. You know how to find it. ) ;)
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Our family has done a lot of volunteer work with our local animal shelter and loved sharing that experience together. Did you know that July 5th is one of the busiest days of the year for animal shelters all over the country because the most number of pets get lost on the 4th?
The reason is because pet owners sometimes underestimate how their pets will react to the loud fireworks going off around them and for those pets that are afraid, their instinct is to run and try to get away from the loud noises. If they are not restrained or on a leash, they could end up lost and may even get hurt while on the run.
Regardless of whether or not your pet has shown any sign of fear toward fireworks before, you just never know how they will react. Not only that, there are other hazards that can harm pets during the festivities.
Here are a few practical tips from PetFinder to help you keep your furbabies safe on the 4th:
From an oily standpoint, there are a few different ways that we help keep our furkids happy and calm during 4th of July week. First, we make sure that we have our diffusers going in the evening to help keep our dogs relaxed and calm during the festivities that happen on multiple nights. We also put a drop or two of our chosen oil (usually Peace & Calming or Lavender) onto our palms, rub them together, then stroke their fur. We may instead rub a bit on their paws or the outsides of their ears. We also do this during thunderstorms to help calm our furbabies during a time that could otherwise be stressful to them.
Here are a few other essential oils that your furry friends may enjoy:
Stress Away
Acceptance
Valor
Try some different combos and see what works for you and your pets. If applying topically, do your research on dilution ratios, especially for smaller dogs. And if your furbabies don’t have to be outside on the 4th, please let them stay inside!
Acceptance
Valor
Try some different combos and see what works for you and your pets. If applying topically, do your research on dilution ratios, especially for smaller dogs. And if your furbabies don’t have to be outside on the 4th, please let them stay inside!
Happy 4th of July, one and ALL!!!
(Thank you to Danyelle Ho for sharing some of this information in The Mix, FB group.)
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
HAPPY July, friends!
Temps are soaring, the air conditioning is on full blast, the kids are running around, and vacations are in full swing. Must be summer...
Like clockwork, Young Living has another set of awesome promos that will help us thrive during these hot, busy months! Here are a few ways you can put these incredible freebies to good use!
Lavender is always my go-to at betime. I rub a drop or two between my palms, then rub my hands over my pillowcase for an aromatic experience that helps quiet my thoughts. This July, for a fresh, delicious twist on lemonade, try adding a few drops of Lavender Vitality. Here's the recipe used at Young Living's Mona, UT farm:
Lavender is always my go-to at betime. I rub a drop or two between my palms, then rub my hands over my pillowcase for an aromatic experience that helps quiet my thoughts. This July, for a fresh, delicious twist on lemonade, try adding a few drops of Lavender Vitality. Here's the recipe used at Young Living's Mona, UT farm:
Honey-Lavender Lemonade Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: About 10 cups
Ingredients
6 lemons, juiced
1 lime, juiced
½ cup honey
2 drops Lavender Vitality essential oil
Ice water, about 10 cups
Lavender sprigs, optional
Instructions
Combine lemon juice, lime juice, honey, and Lavender Vitalityin a large glass pitcher.
Add water to taste.
Stir until well mixed.
Garnish with sprigs of lavender.
LavaDerm Cooling Mist? The best. Whether you forgot your YL mineral sunscreen and were out in the sun too long, or the heat is just getting to you, LavaDerm helps cool your skin down and gives a feeling like a nice breeze of relief. So. Good. We keep it in the cooler at the beach or in the frig at home. It's great to use during those occasional cooking mishaps when you get too close to the heat!
Valor, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Confidence, soothing a tired back or neck, and all around relaxation comes in that tiny bottle of goodness, and to have it at the 190 PV level is a dream come true! Valor was our gateway oil and is what I affectionately call my "desert island oil" because if I was stranded and could only have ONE oil, Valor would be it!
As you hit all of your scheduled events this summer, Geranium is a must for that flawless looking skin. It's pretty awesome for setting the mood for summer lovin', too! Add a drop or two to your favorite, romantic diffuser blend. Worn as a perfume, it can be quite alluring...
If you're not familiar with Aroma Life, it's not just a great aroma to help energize your spirit and encourage connection, it's also a good one for skin care and helps to support a healthy circulatory system. Aroma Life is a blend of Cypress, Marjoram, Ylang Ylang, Helichrysum (all the yes), and sesame seed oil. Add it to your nighttime skin care routine or treat yourself to a shoulder and back massage with it after summer has drained your energy and you need to be recharged. You can also put a drop or two over your heart, diffuse or inhale it or add 2-4 drops to your bath.
Here's the full breakdown of the US July PV promos:
100 PV:Lavender Vitality 5-ml*
190 PV:
Valor 5-ml
LavaDerm Cooling Mist*
Lavender Vitality 5-ml*
250 PV:
Geranium 15-ml
Valor 5-ml
LavaDerm Cooling Mist*
Lavender Vitality 5-ml*
300 PV:
Aroma Life 15-ml
Geranium 15-ml
Valor 5-ml
LavaDerm Cooling Mist*
Lavender Vitality 5-ml*
*Remember, in order to get the Essential Rewards Exclusive Lavender Vitality 5-ml and the Essential Rewards Exclusive LavaDerm Cooling Mist, you have to be enrolled in Essential Rewards (ER) and have an order that meets the PV requirements for those items. The extra bonus of meeting these PV amounts with your ER order is that you get even more ER points to spend later!
These are such awesome promos! If you've never tried any one of these, or even if you use them every day, you're in for a treat!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Ever wondered what it might look like to build a Young Living business? Wonder no more!
In this video, a few of us share what it's been like for us to each build our own business, along with why we jumped in and how we've fit it into our daily lives. We answer some commonly asked questions, dispel some concerns and share our passion for what we do.
Click on the play button below, take a listen and check out both the income disclosure and compensation plan. Then, let us know what questions you have. We'd love to help you determine if this business is for you and, if it is, help you build, grow and succeed.
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
