my FAVORITE way to use OILS

One of my goals for the month is to cook dinner at least four times a week.  For those of you who cook dinner every night, this goal may seem super simple.  But, for me, it's a challenge.

I absolutely love Indian food, specially chicken tikka masala.  I would love to make it from scratch, but I rarely have all of the ingredients at home.

I managed to find a decent sauce in a jar.  Blasphemy, I know.  Ina would be so disappointed in me.  Regardless, it's a family favorite and easy to prepare.

The only thing I don't like about Indian food is that it leaves a lasting smell in my house.  As great as it tastes, I don't want to smell it for the rest of the evening.

{I may have a slight obsession with how my house smells.}

Insert:  essential oils.  

I realize everyone knows someone who uses essential oils.  Please don't mistake this post for some ringing endorsement for doTERRA or essential oils in general.  I like oils, and I use them daily.  But, to be honest, I use them mostly to help my house smell awesome.

My go-to blend is Purify, Lemon, Lime and Wild Orange.  I could diffuse those oils together all day long.  And, I usually do, especially after eating a dinner like chicken tikka masala.

I also use Lemon and Wild Orange to wipe down my countertops.

And, I make my own air fresheners by blending Wild Orange and Peppermint. 

Let me tell you, my house smells AHH-MAA-ZING.

And, as a side note, someone once asked me why my house doesn't smell like I have dogs.  I honestly don't know why my house doesn't smell like dogs because we have two little fluffys who are usually always inside.  It could be the breed.  Or, it could be that the main living area of our house is pretty open.  Like I said, I don't know.  But, it's possible the oils help eliminate the smell.

So, if you're in the market for make-my-house-smell-good products, give oils a try!  Everyone will have an opinion about what brand of oils to use, and I'm not here to convince you of one brand over the other.  But, I am a satisfied doTERRA user.

If you use oils, please pass along your favorites.  I also enjoy trying out new blends.

my NEW YEAR giveaway: BALANCE

Happy New Year!

A new year means a renewed sense of excitement and dedication to my blog, but since I'm done making promises about blogging more {not to suggest anyone is heartbroken by my lack of posts} I'm just going to say that I hope I can arrange time to this hobby of mine and blog regularly.

I decided to start 2015 off with a bang and have another giveaway!  This giveaway features probably my favorite oil:  BALANCE.  Referred to as a Grounding Blend, this oil promotes tranquility and a sense of balance.  

Balance has a woody, yet fresh and sweet scent that can be used aromatically or topically.  My favorite way to apply Balance into my life is by diffusing it during the day.  I add a few drops of LIME to enhance the effects and the smell is AMAZING.  I also enjoy rubbing it on my feet at the beginning of the day or applying it to my wrists throughout the day as a way to keep myself centered and in control of my emotions.

Balance retails for over $26.00, but you can enter to win a free 15 mL bottle.  Here's how you enter:

Leave a comment telling me why you deserve a bottle of Balance and how you'd use it.  To receive one additional entry, head over to my Facebook page and share my post about this giveaway.

I will also be randomly selecting two lucky people to receive a free sample of Balance, so please enter for your chance to win at least one of two great options!  And, remember, I don't have a huge following on this blog, so your chances of winning are great!

I will announce the winners of Wednesday, January 7th.

Good luck, Everyone!

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A few people had issues entering my last giveaway.  I think this is because Blogger is weird on mobile devices.  If you have a Google ID, sign in BEFORE you leave your comment.  If you don't have a Google ID, leave an Anonymous comment and just leave your name at the end of the comment.  Please let me know on Facebook or Instagram if you have any issues entering this giveaway!

when I was in A RUT...

Every once in awhile, I find myself in a rut.  Nothing in my life is necessarily wrong, but something feels like it's missing.  I experienced such rut a few months ago.  Isabelle had just started school, and our family had began a new schedule that was very much the same each and every day.  

Don't get me wrong - I love schedules and routines!  But there were days that I would think that there was more to me than just waking up, getting ready, dropping kids off at school, picking kids up from school, cleaning, running errands, cooking, going to work, etc.  I felt as though I needed to invest more in myself by way of developing new talents or learning about new things.

I decided to spend some more time in an area that had piqued my interest for years:  essential oils.  I was specifically interested in them in terms of cleaning.  I had always been curious about making my own cleaning products and knew essential oils were often used in homemade recipes.  I reached out to a friend of mine who had a lot of experience with the oils, and she helped me find a starter kit that complimented my needs.  

Not long after, I found myself using the oils every single day.  I used them to clean my kitchen and bathrooms.  I used them to help my family, specifically my kids, calm down in the evening and to get better sleep.  I used them to keep the spiders away in my basement.  I used them to wipe down all the door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces in my house to help eliminate germs.  I used them to help clear up my skin when I broke out into hives.  I used them as a "pick me up" when I felt a bit groggy in the morning and mid-afternoon.  And I used them to help my house smell like a million bucks!

Now, only three months later, I have found myself with a new appreciation and love for these oils.  Not only have they given me a plethora of options in how I care for myself and family, they helped me get out of my rut.  It has been so nice to learn about something new and find new ways to spend my time!

As I've shared them with my family and friends, I've forced myself out of my comfort zone and have seen new ways in which I am capable.  And, as a VERY surprising twist, they have helped me earn some extra cash.  An outcome I was not planning or expecting at all.  But, I'm certainly not complaining!

Do you use essential oils?  If so, how?  I'd love to learn new ways to use them!

Do you have an interest in essential oils?  If so, let's talk!  They really have changed my life.

my BACK TO BLOGGING GIVEAWAY

Nothing says "I'm Back to Blogging!" like a giveaway.

Which is exactly why I am offering all of my readers a chance to win a new favorite product of mine:

On Guard Essential Oil by dōTERRA

On Guard is dōTERRA's unique, proprietary blend designed to help support a healthy immune system. One lucky winner will receive a free 15 mL bottle of On Guard, a nearly $43.00 value.

To enter this giveaway, all you have to do is visit this WEBSITE and read about all the many wonderful benefits of using On Guard in your home.  Then, leave a comment on this blog and tell me one of the PRIMARY BENEFITS of On Guard, one of the way On Guard can be USED and one way YOU WOULD USE it in your own home.  Pretty simple, right?

On Guard is an oil I have started to use regularly, now that my oldest is in kindergarten.  While I don't consider myself paranoid when it comes to germs, I do consider myself a bit extreme when it comes to her school attendance.  I don't want her to miss school if at all possible, which means I need to make sure she stays healthy!  Here are a few, very simple ways, in which I use On Guard every single day:

I put a drop of oil on the bottom of my kids' feet in the morning

I put a few drops of oil on a damp cloth and wipe frequently touched surfaces like door knobs and countertops

I diffuse the oil in my car, so when I pick my daughter up from school, leave work or a grocery store, any airborne germs can be eliminated

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This giveaway begins NOW and ends at 11:59p on Sunday, September 28.

{P.S. If you do not have a Google ID, before you leave a comment, select Anonymous from the drop down box.  Then, leave your comment. Be sure to include your name as part of your comment.}

Good luck!