April showers brings...snow? Spring cleaning with essential oils.

Here in the midwest tundra of MN, one can never really tell if it's time to put the winter gear away and leap in to spring. Usually, a sure fire way to get another snow storm is to start adding spring clothes to my closet. Worked great this year! We're working on 12+ inches of snow - in April!

A spring snow day home from school is a great time to get some little things done around the house. I tend to let things 'to do' stack up on our counter tops, so we made it through the pile today. But then, it's cleaning time.

Our fave essential oils co has some great pre-made OnGuard products for cleaning if you're not in to mixing stuff up or inventing potions on your own. OnGuard is a protective blend that smells fabulous anywhere in the house. We use it in a salve on our feet to keep us healthy during cold and flu season and it's a great natural household (and sheshed and barn) cleaner.

If you like to mix and mingle your own inventions, here's one that I like to put in a 16 oz (or bigger) glass spray bottle to clean all over the house:

• 1/4 c white vinegar
• 1 3/4 c water (distilled if you have hard water)
• 20 drops OnGuard essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil

If you're thinking meh, no thanks, I like my toxic cleaners, you might also add OnGuard to your daily routine in other ways:

• Diffuse 3-4 drops of OnGuard to give yourself a boost 
• Add 2-3 drops in a veggie capsule for an immune boost
• Mix 10 drops with water in a spray bottle to clean toys 
• Add a drop to honey to soothe a sore throat
• Add to dishwater fluid to help remove water spots
• Put a few drops on your vacuum filter to freshen the air 

You Do You

Lately I've been getting questions like, you do essential oils? You make candles? You make vinyl sticky things? You - insert comment here - do that? Where do you find the time? How'd you figure that out?

Yup.

I've got a mean talent for rhinestoning costumes, too. E6000 is some wicked glue. But, that's not what this is about.

As we travel along this journey trying to figure out how to do this thing, live more simply, quite a bit has surprised me. There's a lot we can live without. There's a lot I was holding on to that I can live without. There are also so many things we love to do, that we don't get to do enough of. We forget these simple things that fill our souls, when we're dashing from one thing to another all of the time. While this started out being about more simple 'stuff', it's evolving in to choosing to spend our time in a different way and with different people.

Make the time to do the things you love. Honor that time. You'll never regret it.

We used to run all over the place every weekend. We were trying to make everyone else happy. You know, do it all, have it all. So...we all got in the same place and stopped running. Don't get me wrong, there's still stuff to do, so we do some of it, and then we spend the rest of our time doing what makes our hearts sing. Creating.

Crazy idea: this doing better stuff is not sold at Target. I know, I love Target. The magical land where everything you need is in the back of the store, so the mesmerizing music can hypnotize you into buying $98 worth of stuff when you went in thinking you'd spend $2. Welcome to my life! Target even has Magnolia Market items there now and ughhh --- it's wonderful, farm-y looking stuff that I think I need to have on those days that I'm missing the dirt. You know what? When I buy those things they look cute in my house. Yet, they never spark any joy and wonder like the old stuff does. Ever.

WHOA. 

That right there is what I'm talking about. Target doesn't even fuel my fire anymore. (To the Zon and sister Prime, we're still pals, don't worry, but your time may be coming, too).

I like old stuff. Stuff that already has a story, that brings renewed joy, that makes my mind wander and peaks my curiosity. Dishes, farm stuff, furniture, lamps - things that have filled the space for someone else and fits perfectly into our being, just as it has before.

I like simple stuff. Food and life hacks that come from my kitchen. Essential oils that smell good and make a body feel good. The flicker and scent of the soy candle I made, filling the room with yummy and no black soot. Curling up on my chair with a chai tea. Mermaid hair stuff that has rosemarytea, essential oils, and sea salt in it to calm the crazy frizz. Homemade spa days with the fam. Tossing snowballs at the Queen.

[I like internet that works. Yes. Simple. 21st century. I can live with that, even at the farm.]

I like a little online boutique that has clothes that fit me all the time, that make me look sexy, that I love to wear...and I now own one third of the clothes I did a year ago, because I don't need all of those clothes to choose from. I just wear what actually makes me happy. (I do need a clothes line and this tundra business isn't helping). Still, happy.

I like me. I don't mind the judgement from other people. I don't mind missing the things I used to do. I don't mind being enough and having enough. I don't even mind setting boundaries and saying nope.

I didn't expect to get here, though I also don't think I'll ever truly arrive. You might say I'm glad to be participating in 40 bags in 40 days, which is something I love about lent - finding your inner self just a little bit more. Each year, more stuff goes and more happiness fills its space. I'm starting to like it here in this happier, emptier, simpler space.

Don't take my word for it. You decide when it's time to let it go. You find yourself in there and let it all out (hold on tight!) You do you. We'll still love you.

The Thaw

Wondering where we've been? Digging out from snow after snow after snow!

It's beautiful here in the tundra and all of that snow makes for a sore body. Mixing essential oils with epsom salts for a muscle loving soak is one of the best ways to thaw and rejuvinate.

A few notes for the wise: epsom salts dissolve in warm bath water, essential oils don't. Using essential oils neat on your skin could cause a burn, so be cautious when adding those drops of blissful oil. Essential oils done right are a beautiful thing!

The best way to spread the essential oil love in your bath is to add the essential oils  to your epsom salts before you put the salts into your bath. To do this, put 2 cups of epsom salts in to a container with a lid. Add the drops of essential oil throughout the salts, cover, and shake 'em up well. This will help to mix the oils with the salts and disperse them more evenly throughout your bath.

Optional adds: If you have something like liquid castile soap or liquid goat milk soap, you can also add this to the bath. If this crazy cold weather caused your skin to chap, you can also add a tablespoon of carrier oil to the bath.

You can use other salts, such as dead sea salt, or himalayan salt. We like to keep it simple and are looking for some muscle relief, so we use epsom salts.


Salts Bath
-2 cups epsom salts
-10-15 drops essential oil
-liquid castile soap (optional)
-1 T carrier oil (jojoba, coconut, etc. - optional) if your skin needs moisturizing too

Which oils do I use? 
Many people love the smell of Lavender in the bath. Peppermint can be uplifting and give your muscles some relief.  Eucalyptus provides stuffy nose support. Roman chamomile is calming. Wild orange puts in a spring in your step.

Not all oils are skin friendly. Learn more about each oil here.

If you're using a citrus oil in your bath, you only need a few drops. Citrus oils (most of which contain furocoumarins) are also photosensitive, and some are phototoxic. This can make your skin much more sensitive to the sun's rays (including tanning beds), which can cause burns when you're exposed to sunlight or UV light. Fear not, if you're in the tundra like us you won't see that ball of light for a few more months! Still, guard your skin (trust me, I tend to only learn the hard way).

Enjoy!






More info about using peppermint and eucalyptus with kids.

People often ask about the best essential oils to get started with.

Essential oils support us in so many ways and we each have scent preferences. Two easy essential oils to get started with are peppermint and lavender. These oils are pretty flexible in their use. Still, they are concentrated, so diluting them with a carrier oil is needed for use topically. If you're using essential oils for kids, diffusing is a less intrusive way to introduce essential oils. It's best to consult with your physician before using essential oils with very young children. Our fave oils have a kids line, with guidelines for use to help you out!

Let's start with peppermint. We use it every day. It's wonderful on our diffuser bracelets, in lotion or in a body butter. I just love the smell.

The better half of us is not a spider fan. He uses peppermint throughout the inside of the house in the city and in all of the buildings at the farm to ward off spiders - works pretty well! A spray bottle with water and peppermint or rubbing alcohol/vodka and peppermint will do the trick.

Peppermint supports you in a number of ways: it's a pick me up, reduces nausea and headaches, supports focus and activates the thinker, provides some pain relief for muscles and sunburns (add it to organic aloe in a spray bottle and toss it in the fridge - ahhh!) Peppermint also smells great and can help to clear up stuffy noses. It turns death breath in to sparkles. Make a peppermint breath spray in a 10 ml glass spray bottle with 4-6 drops of peppermint essential oil (depending on the flavor intensity you're looking for) and filtered water.

Lavender is quite popular in the bedroom. For relaxation. You dirty minds!

Lavender doesn't usually get as much recognition for the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties as it does for aromatherapy, though it's often used to calm the skin. Lavender also supports relaxation, can calm and easy anxiety or restlessness, and it might just reduce your crankies. Many people love lavender in a diffuser at bed time to calm wiggly humans. We like lavender in a roller bottle with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil to calm nerves.

Wherever you start, do a little pre-research (pre-search?) and enjoy! There is no right or wrong, just what you're comfortable with in your home.

Love Day Blends

The day of love is underway at our house, with chocolates and heart shaped sour patch kids on the horizon. It's snowing outside and the sun is fading, setting the stage for - laundry!

Let's get real. When you have kids and pets at home, every day is laundry day. There's nothing a mama loves better than when the laundry is done. Leave it for the weekend folks, another couple inches added to the laundry pile won't hurt anyone. For now, spoil yourself a little bit. 

I've been thinking about diffuser blends to make the nose and heart happy today. Here are a few faves that you might like for this day of love:

Heart Day 

2 drops Ylang Ylang (a magic love oil!) 

1 drop Wild Orange

1 drop Sandalwood (trade this out for clove if you have it)

1 drop Cedarwood 

Delish

2 drops Wild Orange

1 drop Cardamom

1 drop Nutmeg (or clove) 

Hubba Hubba

1 drop Clary Sage

2 drops Bergamot

2 drops Ylang Ylang 

If you're in the mood for a massage, trying adding these essential oils to 2 T of miracle salve (this makes THE best massage lotion) or 2 T of lotion/massage oil:

2 drops Ylang Ylang

1 drop Ginger

1 drop Wild Orange

1 drop black pepper (substitute cinnamon or cassia essential oil)

Ylang Ylang is the theme today! Learn more about ylang ylang and our favorite essential oils here. 

Happy day of love!

XO

Unbottling Your Energy

Ever watched a toddler and thought to yourself, if I could only bottle than energy!? Me too. Me too.

One of the simple living thing strategies we've been working on is energy - put good things in, to get good things out, organizing, and everything in between.

A few weeks ago, I tried Reiki. Needless to say, I was pretty skeptical. Sleep issues are not a problem in our house, but letting go and truly relaxing are. All that running causes fatigue and crankiness. Enter Groupon and a path to Reiki was cleared.

Reiki is a Japanese technique, believed to channel energy to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and support your body's natural healing. (Hmmm...I thought quick nap, pretty music, essential oils, mom time - I'm in). I will say that I'd like to try this a few more times, but, my cranky is gone. There were some things I was holding on to that I've excused from my thoughts, which has been fab-u-lous! 

Given my limited Reiki knowledge and the brief information I was given by the Reiki therapist, I started digging in to the connection between essential oils and the chakras, to support energy post-Groupon. We've always used the essential oils that appeal to us through aromatherapy, but we've been ignoring the connection between particular oils and our bodies. There are some pretty great ways to use essential oils to support your health, and if nothing else, your thoughtful well-being just because they smell good.

Chakras are wheels, so imagine this wheel as the hub for the center of your energy in your body. I learned that I hold a lot of energy in my head, which didn't surprise me. My mind is always going, making connections, looking for meaning. Energy swirling around in there and getting stuck wreaks some havoc on my peace and joy. The two chakras at the top of your head and between your brows are referred to as the crown and the third eye, respectfully. Think of the third eye as a bit of intuition and the basis of your decision making. (Stick with me here, I too was thinking, uh - right...but it's true, energy is constant and it makes a body move).

If this chakra thing has you listening, you can gather a little more information here.

There are many ways to support your energy. You might find out there that running and meditation are ways to support the crown. Great ideas, except they involve running and meditation. Give me another ten years and I may be saying that meditation is the thing of the fifties, but for now, dark lights, pretty music, nice smells, zzzzzz - sleep.

This might all be a little much for you and that's okay. If you don't run unless you're being chased or meditate because it's weird or also makes you snooze, you might find a boost through aromatherapy from diffusing some essential oils. Our minds and bodies are impacted by scent in a significant way. If you've ever walked by someone wearing a perfume or cologne a loved one wears, or smell a great recipe cooking that a loved one has made for you, you know how smells can impact your memory.

Some essential oils have similar aromatherapy benefits. There are a few of these in the blends below with options to choose from depending on the scent you prefer or what you have on hand. If you're not sure where to start, try our favorite oils.

Grab your bottles and diffuse your way to balance!

Relaxed
3 drops Frankincense
2 drops Cedarwood (or Sandalwood)
2 drops Jasmine (or Neroli)
1 drop Lavender

Connect
3 drops Juniper Berry
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Lemon (or lemongrass)


In all of this I started to wonder, how many of us hit forty and have what kind of feels like a mid-life crisis, when maybe what's going on is our energy is out of whack? We've put so much time and effort in to one or a few things and have forgotten about balance for ourselves. Then, something clicks, we work toward alignment. Not everyone needs this or gets there, but we look at those who are doing this work and think huh, mid-life crisis.

What if we do this work before we get there and lead a balanced life every day?  

Are you ready for it? Chai Tea Latte Mix!

I love a good chai tea latte. I don't love the $6 price tag at the local coffee shop, the heavy syrup flavor in the ready-made mixes, or leaving the house when it's cold outside to go get one.

I invite you to add some heat to this recipe with a dash of cayenne pepper or a vietnamese cinnamon - delish! Throw on your favorite slippers, a winter diffuser blend, grab a book and sip your latte.

What you'll need: 

-food processor (very important or your chai tea will be chunky and funky, instead of smooth - I like small appliances that are multi-purpose, like this one)

-large airtight container 

-1 c powdered plain non-dairy coffee creamer

-1 c french vanilla flavored non-dairy coffee creamer

-1 c nonfat dry powdered milk 

-2 1/2 c white sugar 

-1 1/2 c unsweetened instant tea

-2 t ground ginger

-2 t ground cinnamon (my flavor fave is vietnamese cinnamon - it makes a difference!) 

-2 t ground cardamom (yummay)

-1 t ground cloves (yes! love my cloves!) 

Directions: 

Stir dry ingredients together in a large bowl until all ingredients are combined. Process half of the mixture in a food processor until the granules are fine and the mixture has a smooth texture. (Generally, this batch is a little too large to put through the food processor all at once, unless you have the mother of all food processors). Store your chai tea latte mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (you don't want all of that deliciousness sticking together!)

To enjoy: 

I have found this tastes best when you put 2 tablespoons of the mix into an 8 ounce cup first, then add piping hot water and stir well. Top with whipped cream. Add a dash of cinnamon and you're set!