WRINKLES!

Today we are going to talk about.......... WRINKLES!

NOBODY wants them, am I right?  The other day I heard someone share this saying and I certainly heard my mom say it!

“Don’t make that face, or it’s gonna stick like that!”

As a kid you think she is crazy but in real life there is a little truth to the saying!  WHAT?  Yup......over time we can get wrinkles from different expressions like smiling, frowning, squinting.  That doesn't mean that you should quit smiling but there are lots of things we can do to give our faces a hand.

Let's talk about the FREE way.  Yup, there is a free way to help wrinkles around your eyes.  Have you guessed what it is yet?  Sunglasses.  Yup, just wearing some sunglasses will keep you from squinting as much when we are outside.  Less squinting, less wrinkles around your eyes!

Another way is supporting our skin with a great moisturizer and massage!

One product that is a super moisturizer is Boswellia Wrinkle Cream!! 

Young Living’s Boswellia Wrinkle Cream contains:

• Pure essential oils (imagine that!)   Frankincense, Sandalwood and Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood all are absolutely amazing when it comes to supporting your skin by keeping it moisturized while minimizing shine and reducing the appearance of fine lines.
• MethylSulfonylMethane (MSM) which supports collagen and improves the look of the skin to appear more youthful. 
• Sodium hyaluronate is the salt of hyaluronic acid bit it has a much lower molecular size. This gives it the ability to penetrate skin when applied topically. It isn't harsh or skin-stripping.  One key feature of sodium hyaluronate is its ability to hold more than 1000 times its weight in water!  Can you say plump skin!  Plump skin means less wrinkles.

Men and women both can add this to their morning and/or nightly skin care routine. Now, let's talk about incorporating this amazing product with massage! In the evening, take some extra time and give your face a nice massage to improve elasticity!  Use a little dab of the Boswellia Wrinkle Cream and apply to the desired areas of the face…then massage upwards starting at your neck gently!

If you are interested in the Boswellia Wrinkle Cream, click on the Young Living tab above for three different ways you can get it for yourself!

Mmmmmm....Pumpkin Bread

While we were on our annual Apple Run we attended the Harvest Festival in Hood River.  One of the displays was a pumpkin carver.  He had pumpkins he was working on that I swear must have been hundreds of pounds heavy as well as some regular sized ones with funny faces.  See the guy photo bombing my picture?  Pumpkins are so beautiful for decorating this time of year (see our Moldy pumpkin post from earlier this week) AND they are awesome for making pies and breads too.  Just a quick google search and you'll find that pumpkins are a bounty of good nutrition! 

I want you to be super healthy so it just seems fair to give you a Pumpkin Bread recipe!  You can be all Susie Homemaker and use a real pumpkin for your puree or you can be like me and just buy the stuff in a can. I try to locate the organic canned pumpkin......real pumpkin, not squash!!

Pumpkin Spice Bread

• Blend together 3 tbsp ground flaxseed and ½ cup water and let sit.
• In large bowl, stir together 1 cup coconut palm sugar, 1 ½ cups applesauce, 1 14oz can Pumpkin Puree, and flaxseed mixture. 
• In a medium bowl, stir together 3 cups unbleached flour (or your gluten free flour), 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, 1tsp baking soda and 1/2tsp baking powder. 
• NOW.....here is the essential oil magic!  Combine wet and dry gently, and add 2 drops Young Living Nutmeg Vitality and 2 drops Young Living Clove Vitality.  If you love nuts, stir in 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts. 
• Spoon batter into 2 standard or 4 mini prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon and nuts. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes (30 for mini). Use a toothpick to see if your bread is cooked through. Let cool for at least 20 mins before removing from pans.

If you happen to have lots of pumpkin spice bread and you can't eat it all.....I'll help you, just send it my way (especially if you made the gluten-free variety!)

Want to order the oils listed above.....click here to find out how. 

Are you a Limey?

Most people when they talk about Limeys are referring to a sailor.  Sailors were called Limey's because they often ate Limes to avoid getting Scurvy.  Scurvy is pretty much a thing of the past and so are Limeys. Some of you could be called Limeys when you use Lime in your beer but you might call me a Limey because I LOVE Lime Essential Oil.  After I get done sharing, you just might want to be a Limey too!

Lime Essential Oil and Lime Vitality Essential Oil have a fresh, lively fragrance that is stimulating and refreshing.  Young Living's citrus oils are pressed from the rinds of the fruit and do not contain any of the flesh at all.   You can use the oil in many diffusing blends, freshening sprays or cooking recipes.  AND it also has many health benefits!

Let's talk about just a few of the ways Lime Essential Oil can improve your wellness.  (Click on the link at the bottom for info on how to get your own Lime Essential Oil!)

Support your emotions when you are stressed.

In rat studies D-limonene has been shown to help with stress!  Guess which essential oil has lots of D-limonene?  Lime!  Orange essential oil has the highest level but Lime has a lot too!  Stress can come in many different ways.  It has been shown that citrus oils (Lime, etc) can help you at cellular levels!  This is truly awesome.  So, how are you affected by stress? 

• Sometimes it comes in the way of EMF exposure.  Often from using electronics too close to your bed time as well.
• Sometimes it comes when you are concerned with the health of your children or yourself or just the normal problems you have encountered during the day.
• Stress can make you feel fatigued or generally drained or down.  Even children can feel these affects (especially in our technology filled days).                                            

Energize yourself and improve your moods!

You can boost your mood and increase your concentration with a simple room spray!  Use equal amounts of Peppermint Essential Oil and Lime Essential oil in a 2 oz spray bottle.  Add 10 drops of each just in water with a tablespoon or so of witch hazel.  The witch hazel helps to stabilize the oils. Spritz it around the room to give yourself a quick pick-me-up!  This room spray is great for improving the moods of everyone in the room too.  Kids moping around?  Teenagers sad?  Let the Lime act as a mood booster.  You can also use 1 drop of Lime Vitality in your water or sparkling water.  Much better than pounding down a Monster drink!  When putting essential oils in your water, just a super small pinch of pink Himalayan salt helps to disperse it throughout the water and you won't taste the salt at all. 

Support your dental health

Lime is excellent at supporting your dental health.  You can use it in your own DIY mouthwash.  There are lots of mouthwash recipes on the internet.  Pick one you like and add several drops of Lime Essential oil to it! 

Support your immune system

There are a ton of essential oils that support your immune system.  I talk all the time about Thieves Blend essential oil but don't forget about Lime!  Whenever everyone in your house is getting sick, add Lime to your cleaners.    Lime is also good to support the skin!   

Support when you are losing weight

Have you ever seen recommendations to drink lemon water to help you with your weight?  Well Lime Essential oil can benefit you as well.  Use in your water or take Lime Vitality in a capsule several times a day for support.

Cellular support

When you are sick or have chronic conditions, your body responds with inflammation.  It is actually a necessary part of healing.  Inflammation prepares your body for new cells to get you back to normal.  Citrus essential oils including Lime help support your body at a cellular level!  Diffuse it safely!

Lime Essential Oil Safety and Facts

• Unlike Limes, Lime essential oil does not have any Vitamin C.  
• Citrus oils are considered photosensitive. That means that if you use them on your skin, avoid the sun for at least 12 hours  as you will be very susceptible to sunburn.
• Highly dilute any essential oil when using with children.  Avoid using with infants.
•  Some kitties can be sensitive to Lime so use caution around them. 
• All Citrus essential oils are volatile.  Keep your bottle out of the direct sunlight and tightly capped to avoid evaporation.
• Lime is GRAS (generally regarded as safe) for consumption.  I would only recommend Young Living Vitality oils for consumption.

Lime Recipe for guacamole!

Lime is awesome for cooking.  One of my favorite uses is in homemade guacamole.  Super fast and easy and tastes amazing!

2-3 ripe avocados

1/4 c diced red onion

1/4 c chopped cilantro

1/4 c chopped tomato

garlic powder to taste

sea salt to taste

Young Living Lime Oil (4-6 drops)

Young Living Orange Oil (3-4 drops)

Mix it all together.  Enjoy!!

Want to know where to get these awesome oils?  Click Here!

It's Apple Run time!

Every year at this time, our car club takes a fun cruise up the gorge to Hood River to participate in our Apple Run.  It is so fun to visit the apple orchards and stock up on different apple varieties and try out a few new ones.  Really.....there are like over 100 varieties at one place.  It is amazing.

So, what to do with all this apple goodness?  Let’s bob for some facts about these yummy apples!

Did you know that specific apple varieties are used for specific reasons?!

Here is a website that talks about 11 different ones where you can read  how the different tart and sweet varieties make good sauce!  Cortland, Crispin (Mutsu), Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gravenstein, Jonamac, McIntosh, Braeburn. Rome and of course Honey Crisp....it makes a real sweet sauce.

Apples store very well and can be kept for months!  Keeping them cool is best, remember that the cooler the better.  Keep the skin on the apple when you are baking or cooking for more nutrients and flavor.  Any you know me!........Choose organic apples!.  The the skins absorbs everything they are exposed to so choose organic to keep those nasty pesticides away from your system.   Be sure to thoroughly wash the all your yummy apples with Thieves fruit and Veggie wash!  Even with organic, you'll be amazed of the dirt that comes off your produce.

Now......with all that apple info, my mouth is sooooo ready for some sauce?  You too?
I hope that you own an Instant Pot.......it is so fast to get foods cooked to perfection and applesauce is no different!






Instant Pot applesauce with essential oils

Ingredients
3 pounds your favorite apples  - peeled or not peeled
1/4 cup water
Added later:
1 - 2 drops Young Living lemon essential oil
1 - 2 drops Young Living cinnamon bark essential oil

Instructions
If peeling the apples, do this first. Core then chop your apples into large chunks.

Place the apples and water, the Instant Pot. Close the lid and cook on manual high pressure for 5 minutes.  Use Natural release.  Mash your sauce to the consistency you desire by using a potatoe masher or an immersion blender.  Ass your essential oils when the sauce is warm but not hot.

WORD TO THE WISE: Add one drop of essential oil at a time, stir and taste.  Essential oils are super potent, especially the Cinnamon bark Essential Oil.  You can always add more but you don't want to over do it and make your batch too spicy.  Serve warm, room temperate or cold. The flavors will change slightly as it cools, so adjust to taste as needed.

Don't have an IP?  Well, you can do the same in a slow cooker or in a pot on your stovetop.  You'll have to add a little more water but the instructions are pretty much the same.

Why essential oils?  What are their benefits?  


Young Living Cinnamon Bark essential oil promotes a healthy immune response, and helps maintain a healthy lifestyle regimen. Cinnamon has been used traditionally for thousands of years as a spice, and provides a spicy and delicious addition when cooking or baking. This oil includes the naturally occurring constituent cinnamaldehyde, and is an important ingredient in many Young Living products including Thieves®, Abundance™, and Inner Defense™.
Young Living Lemon essential oil (Citrus limon) includes the naturally occurring constituent limonene. Lemon may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods.  It takes 65 lemons to fill the 15ml bottle.  The essential oil is cold pressed from the rind and NOT the fruit.

Click here to find out how you can get your essential oils!

Why do you add your essential oils after the cooking process?  Essential oils are very volatile.  That means they can evaporate or cook off in the process.  You definitely 'could' use them in the cooking process but you have to add so much more that it is better flavor and more economical to add after the cooking is done!

Say No to Moldy Pumpkins!

Here is a great way to keep your pumpkin perfect!

You know the drill..........You search for the perfect pumpkin (and spend two hours doing it if you have kids), you carve it to perfection and display it on the porch only to find that it is full of fuzzy mold or black mold within a week.

Well, there is a way you can avoid the mold and save your creation from becoming trash!!

1.  Pick your pumpkin and carve it just like normal.  Sorry, I can't do anything about the two hours it takes you kids to find the perfect one.

2.  Make a spray with Thieves Essential oil or Thieves Household cleaner and spray the inside of your pumpkin making sure you get all cut surfaces.

That's it!  Your pumpkin will stay beautiful and it was such an easy fix!!

Search the blog and you'll find all kinds of great things Thieves can do!

Get them fast!

Are you like me?  Do you feel the fall air and start to think about gift giving and what gifts you can think of to bless your family?  I do!  So, when I see something great while I'm out shopping I get it because I know that it might not be there later.  I like to get oily gifts when I can and this year my options just expanded!  The Young Living holiday gift catalog was released today and there are so many wonderful gift ideas here. 

Some of my favorites include the car diffuser set (2 diffusers and a 15ml oil) and that Kitchen Vitality Culinary set.  Maybe they would be good gifts.....for ME!! 

So.....take a stroll through the catalog (the pictures are gorgeous).  If you see something you want, let us know.  The items are only available until Dec 31 and they are limited and often sell out early!  Don't wait!

You can see the catalog here!

Let us know if you would like to order anything. 

Oily Cooking.

The time of season to start baking has arrived!  Some of you cook up a storm for the holidays and I'm going to give you a few ideas to make your recipes extra special this year!

All the oils I'll talk about are Young Living Vitality essential oils.  These oils are specifically for ingestion and FDA considered GRAS so you can consume with confidence.  I'm always confident in Young Living's oils because their Seed to Seal Guarantee of purity is above all the rest!

Okay.....now on to the oils!

Lemon Vitality Essential Oil

This versatile oil is awesome to add to pies (fruit) and tarts.  It adds a bright, sunshine flavor!  If you are making a lemon glaze for cakes or quick breads, mix a little Lemon Vitality into the powdered sugar. 

Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil 

I add about 10 - 15 drops to my brownies for a flavor explosion!  You could add to chocolate muffins too.   When you are making your homemade candy or fudge, use essential oils instead of extracts! 

Cinnamon Bark Vitality Essential Oil

Adding Vitality oils to chocolate cake like the peppermint above is awesome but adding a few drops of Cinnamon Bark Vitality makes a delightfully warm chocolate cake. Cinnamon brings out the deliciousness of chocolate!!  Adding to apple dishes or sweet potato pie is awesome!  This oil is best added when you only use a toothpick dip.  Taste then add more if necessary.   Did you see our post several days about about cider with Cinnamon Bark?

Clove Vitality Essential Oil

Tis the season for pecan pie.  Well.....in my book, it is pecan pie season all year long!  Use just a toothpick swirl in your pecan pie to give an interesting new flavor.  This Vitality oil is also great for
spice cake or pumpkin bread.

Ginger Vitality Essential Oil

Now, just so you know.....ginger is kind of a stinky oil but boy does it add some yum to your apple pie!  AND.......what could be more delicious than using in your ginger cookies recipe.

Nutmeg Vitality Essential Oil

Want some amazing flavor in your french toast or waffle recipe?  Just add one drop!!  Or, you can add to your bran muffin recipe.

Orange Vitality Essential Oil

Tired of Peppermint in your brownies?  Try Orange Vitality instead.  Add to your muffin recipe or create a icing drizzle with Orange Vitality added.........AMAZING!




I only recommend Young Living Vitality oils when used for consumption because of their Seed to Seal commitment to purity.  If you are ready to try some, let us know.  We also offer local and online class on essential oils!

Foaming....but not at the mouth!

I used to use Ivory pump soap.  It had no fragrance and was pretty low on ingredients.....THEN Ivory in their infinite wisdom decided to add fragrance.  I was very unhappy and complained.  So what did they do?  They asked me if I would be on a team of regular people to review their 'new-improved' pump soap.  I tried.....really I did.  But they didn't remove the fragrance, just changed it and it was still awful.  So I used Ivory bar soap in its place for a long time.

When I decided that I would go chemical free, I just wasn't finding a hand soap that I was happy with.  THEN in came the essential oils and I'm happy now!  I've been making my own pump soap and really like it.  I improved pump soap though and made it FOAMING pump soap!

Here is a combination that I really like and I hope you try it and like it as well.

Use an empty foaming soap container.  You can get them off Amazon.  This is a super easy way to save money too.  The cost to make your own foaming hand soap is just pennies!!  Foaming hand soap is basically watered down soap.

Do you have kids? Liquid soap is truly misunderstood by kids......they pump that baby until there is a pile of soap in their hands and your money is just washing down the drain.  With the foaming soap it looks like they are getting a ton and actually using a little!   Hello savings!

So here is your handmade foaming hand soap recipe to save your money and help you live naturally.  The essential oils in the soap help to not only keep your hands clean but to leave a beautiful light scent once they are dry.

Thieves Foaming Hand Soap  (there are other options below too)

Ingredients
1 cup distilled water
8 drops Thieves Essential Oil
1-2 tablespoon unscented Castile soap (I've even used up to 4 tablespoons!)
Refillable foaming soap dispenser
Directions
In the foaming soap dispenser, add the water and essential oil.
Then add the soap.
Put on the pump and screw to attach.
Swirl to combine.

Use like you would any foaming soap!

Now.....Thieves is an amazing essential oil blend but there are times when you just want something different.  Here are some favorites that I've heard about.

Frankincense and Orange: Some think it smells like heaven!
Elemi and Lemon:  Very sunny and bright.
Lavender and ANYTHING: Really....Lavender goes good with almost any other essential oil!

If you would like to learn more about Essential Oils, comment below for times we give local and online classes.  Interested in Thieves Essential Oil?  We can get that for you too!

Mmmmm.....Spiced Cider!

October is here!!  Time for raking the leaves, picking apples, or going on an Apple Run like I will be doing soon to Hood River, OR.  Their apples are awesome and with the hoards of apples and cider I'll be bringing home, this recipe should hit the spot.  If you need Orange, Cinnamon Bark or Clove Essential Oils, let me know!!

Disclaimer:  I only recommend Young Living Vitality Oils since they have a Seed to Seal guarantee for purity.

Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients

• 4 cups apple cider
• 8 drops Orange Vitality essential oil
• 2 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
• 2 drops Clove Vitality essential oil
• tea cups or coffee mugs
• cinnamon sticks, optional garnish

Directions

• Place the apple cider in a stainless steel cooking pan on your stovetop.
• Heat until very warm. Do not boil.
• Stir in the essential oils.
• Serve while warm. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if you’re feeling extra fancy.