Essential Oil Starter Kit

I started using essential oils right around the time that I had my first baby. I had jumped on the all-natural bandwagon about a year prior and knew that using essential oils was a necessity for completing this lifestyle of ours. I needed support, because life happens and traditional medicine wasn't my first choice anymore. Essential oils are truly a gift from God! 

FAQ

What are essential oils? They're the life blood of the plants. They're distilled, cold-pressed or resin tapped to create the oils that we use on a daily basis.

What do we use essential oils for? For everything. Really! Whether you're looking to support sleep, boost your immune system, DIY products to replace chemicals, clean, increase energy, support healthy skin & hair, replace candles & chemically filled wall plug-ins, calm emotions, give courage, support healthy hormone levels, chill-out fussy kids...if you've never heard this saying before, let me be the first to tell you that "there is an oil for that!!" 

Why should I choose Young Living essential oils? I am honest and open and I look for the same with the companies that I purchase from. Young Living is just that and more. They have been around for decades, and are the world leaders in essential oils for a good reason. They have a Seed to Seal process that is unmatched. There isn't a single company out there that can vouch that they follow the same standards that YL has created for their creation and production of essential oils. They own their own farms and can therefore control the entire process from selecting the seed, planting, cultivating, harvesting, distilling, testing for purity and production. They go as far as testing the oils to discover the best time of year & time of the day to plant and harvest the plants to create the optimal chemical constituents of the essential oil. If an oil in the production line doesn't match their standards, they don't produce it. They don't use glucophosphates (chemicals) to treat their plants, rather they hand weed or use their own essential oils to reduce weed growth. You and I can go and tour any of their farms and see how it's done. They are a transparent company and produce truly top quality oils. When you get a bottle of let's say lemon oil, you know that what you're getting is 100% pure, unadulterated therapeutic lemon oil. 

How do I use them? There are 3 ways to use essential oils: ingestion (ie. a drop of lemon oil in a glass cup of water), aromatically (ie. using a diffuser, letting a couple drops hit the palm of your hand and cupping over your nose & mouth, or simply just inhaling an open bottle), and topically (rubbing on your skin using a carrier oil-[an organic, unrefined oil used to dilute the essential oil to slow and aid in proper absorption])

I'm so clueless & overwhelmed by all of the oils. How will I learn? I make it a point to walk this oily journey with you from the start. When I first started using EO, no one taught me how to use them so they sat in my cabinet for years (they never expire by the way :) and so it is my mission to make sure that you don't make the same mistake I did. Upon purchasing your own starter kit of YL essential oils, I will provide you with a welcome package full of goodies to put your new oils to good use! I will add you to exclusive groups on Facebook that are full of information and guidance and allow you to have access to oil support 24/7 through an awesome community of people. 

What should I start with? The Premium Starter Kit is just as it sounds. You will get 10 of the most commonly used EO, a bonus top-selling oil called Stress Away and your choice of a diffuser (plus many other goodies and information). You'll be getting over $300 worth of product for only $160. YL has discounted the starter kits so drastically, I believe, in hopes to make it affordable for us to get a start on living a chemical free lifestyle. Oils are the perfect gateway to starting this natural journey!

You can go here to learn more and purchase your own essential oils. Upon receiving your kit, you receive membership which gains you 24% off retail price and you'll join a super supportive and oily community that will greatly bless you on this journey. There is no monthly shipment (unless you select to receive oils and products on that basis). If you are interested in learning more about the oils and the company as far as the business side of things goes, I would be happy to share that blessing with you as well.

Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to Young Living essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about Young Living Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician. If you are currently on medication, please do not stop.

Cleaning House, Naturally

As I sit here taking the time to share about how I clean my home without the use of synthetic & harsh chemicals, I am also ironically letting the bathtub fill up to soak and clean because a certain sick little baby (not going to mention any names here) decided to puke AND poop in the bath tonight. Super fun cleanup.

I am a type-A personality, total neat freak, and on any given day would likely choose to clean my house over hanging out with my kids. It's nothing to brag about, I know I have a serious problem! I am learning to find a healthy balance.

What I really want to share was how we use essential oils to clean our home from top to bottom. I have replaced every single cleaner with just these three things! Best part of all is, there is no need for me to lock the cabinet under the kitchen sink.

Deodorizing

Because we are in the thick of living the toddler life with two young kiddos, our house at any given time throughout the day pretty much looks like a tiny-tot version of a fraternity on a Sunday morning. There are greasy handprints on everything, half-drank sippy cups all over the floor, undressed baby dolls tucked in random spots on the couch, smeared food on every surface below knee level, random wet spots that you keep stepping in, and bits of leftover food found in any corner of every room. Add two large dogs to this hot mess, and it is a recipe for an aroma that just can't be duplicated if you tried. I have a nose that is comparable to that of a bloodhound and find myself complaining over smells all day long. The essential oil blend that has without a doubt saved my sanity, is Purification. It's a blend of citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, tea tree, lavandin, & myrtle oils.

We put this in our diffuser with a couple drops of lemon essential oil and not only does it completely eliminate the odors, but it smells amazing! It is my all-time favorite diffuser recipe and receive so many compliments when people come over. Other ways we use this beauty is:

• Several drops in a glass spray bottle and mist the dogs (bug, flea & tick repellant), dog beds, sheets, rugs, & pillows to eliminate odors
• Just about every morning I put a drop or two of Purification in the kitchen sink and disposal to ditch the stench
• Mix in a glass spray bottle & use this as an all-natural bug spray for ourselves
• Place a couple drops on a wooden clothespin and clip to the vents in my car
• One drop in a vase with flowers to extend their longevity

Scrubbing

Cleaning the sinks, toilets, stovetop, oven door and extra grimy countertops requires a little grit. I so appreciate this scrub for the fact that it smells amazing, gets the junk off and kills the germs! I use a recipe of baking soda, Thieves Household Cleaner, Lemon oil & distilled vinegar. I just mix these together and store in a large glass mason jar. This is something that is also kid friendly. This fact alone is another reason why I will only use natural cleaning options. I want my kids to learn to do household chores, but wouldn't ever let them touch or breathe those chemicals of traditionally used cleaners. Now there is no excuse kids, put your back into it ;) 

Wiping, De-germing, All Purpose Cleaning...because kids

We use the Thieves Household Cleaner on EVERYTHING else that the above doesn't cover. Stained carpet? No problem. Stainless Steel? No problem there. Glass, mirrors, windows, hardwood floors, leather couch, stained clothes, cabinets, toys, countertops, tile, laminate...doesn't matter what it is...this stuff is incredible and can handle it. I didn't discover this cleaner until last fall and am honestly pretty upset no one told me about it sooner. If you knew about this cleaner and didn't share it with me, shame on you for keeping it a secret. As a recovering cleanaholic, I can't shout from the rooftops enough about this schtuff!!! :) I feel almost guilty to mention that it's ridiculously cheap too because it sounds too good to be true. I use this stuff probably 100 million times a day and am still on my first bottle of this stuff. It's a concentrate, so all you need is a capful in a spray bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Pretty awesome, right?

I hope that you find this info helpful if you are looking to make the jump to cleaning naturally, but may be hesitant...let this be the push you need. I promise you, you won't look back!! You can learn more details on getting these gems here or can follow along on my IG account to see more ideas of how we use them in more ways than just cleaning!