Present Time & Lemon Chicken Marinade

I made a nice, healthy dinner for our family tonight and was really looking forward to sitting down to enjoy it together.  But when I called them in to eat, I was having trouble focusing on what we were doing... being present.  I was thinking about cleaning up the dishes and everything else I had to do tonight.  Determined to relax and be in the moment with them, I put a drop of this in my hand, rubbed my hands together and cupped them over my mouth and nose to breathe deeply.  I took a minute to pray that I would value them over my to-do list.  And it worked!  I felt so peaceful and was able to let go and make the most of the little bit of time the four of us have together on a Monday night.

Also... I made a marinade for the chicken and ended up using it as a dressing on the salad, too.  OH MY WORD. So good.  Enjoy!

LEMON CHICKEN MARINADE

1/3 cup Olive Oil
1/3 cup White Wine Vinegar
4 drops YL Lemon Vitality Oil
1 teaspoon Coconut Sugar
1 teaspoon Thyme
1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
1/2 teaspoon Ground Tumeric
1/2 teaspoon Salt (more to season chicken)
1/4 teaspoon Pepper (more to season chicken)
Dash Smoked Paprika

I poured all but a few tablespoons of the marinade into an oven safe pan and let the chicken thighs and breasts cook in that on the stove so the chicken would brown a bit,  Then, I threw it in the oven to finish.  I tossed the rest of the marinade in a simple salad and served both with a scoop of herbed whole-wheat couscous with toasted almonds.  It was a huge hit!  Easy, affordable, wholesome and super yummy!

Oils - Options for Your Littles

So a little while ago, I was in the kitchen and heard a loud BOOM.  Lizzy started screaming and Joshua started running down the hallway in a panic yelling for me.  I ran back into Lizzy's room and she was sitting in her bed with blood everywhere... she had busted her lip on one of her bed rails.

I scooped her up and brought her into the kitchen where I went through FOUR paper towels before I could even see what we were dealing with.  I just wouldn't stop bleeding to I threw some Geranium and Lavender  (who knows how many drops) in my hands, rubbed them together and rubbed them all over her lip, chin, cheeks... basically the whole bottom of her face.  Then, I held my hand over her lip for about 30 seconds to make sure the oil got into her gigantic cut and prayed for her out loud with Joshua.

The bleeding stopped almost immediately and the painful screams subsided to sad sobs.  I gave her a cold herb pack to hold against her lip and we laid down on the couch together for awhile.  Joshua was totally traumatized.  So I got up and put some Valor on him to help him be brave and now we are all laying on the couch together calmly and happily watching Netflix.

SIGH.

Now excuse me while I go huff some Frankincense, wash some sheets and clothes and praise God for His amazing creation!  I love my babies but He loves them even more and He has given me tools to care for them well.  I am so thankful for His provision!

New Adventure - RELEASE

This sharing Young Living oils thing has quickly become full time for me. After a few months of talking it over, Anthony has finally convinced me to have someone watch our babes a few days each month. We are hoping these large chunks of time to focus on my business will help me be less distracted during evenings as a family. 

This will be the first time I have ever left Joshua and Lizzy with a babysitter. I have tons of errands and a few meetings scheduled so being busy will help but I knew I would need some extra support. I am hopeful that rolling this Release blend over my heart (where sadness is stored in the body) and lower abdomen (where guilt is stored in the body) all day will keep those knots out of my stomach and the tears out of my eyes. If you need to "let go" of some things, this blend could be your new BFF.

Stopping Afternoon Over-Eating

These have become my favorite helpers to keep me from eating too much the last week or so!

I am enjoying Slique Essence in ice water, a cup of hot Slique Tea and some Thieves Mints here and there. I recently got even more motivated to partner with God and tackle project "look-as-good-outside-as-I-feel-inside" and these products are really helping! I also love that they give me more energy and just make me feel better overall. 

Anyone else have any favorites to keep them from over-eating?

Feelings Kit Protocol

Happy Sunday! smile emoticon Let's talk about the Feelings Kit this morning. heart emoticon

It's a collection of oils that contains six 5 mL bottles of...

Valor
Forgiveness
Inner Child
Harmony
Present Time
Release

Gary Young designed this collection to be used to bring you the ultimate level of emotional clearance, balance and self renewal. I ordered this early last year when our lives were extremely stressful with our house being on the market.

I was in this hole and just couldn't seem to crawl out of it. I knew all the healing I needed was in Jesus, but I had no idea how to manifest it. So... I needed help. I was having regular panic attacks and was about five minutes away from calling my doctor for a prescription for anxiety or depression medication. My dad spent years addicted to those things and I was scared to death of them. So those of you who know me and my history know how desperate I must have felt to even consider that. Then, I called a Christian counseling center to see if I could see someone and the first appointment was going to cost $175 with every hour long appointment after that being $125. I had no idea how many sessions I would need and could feel the stress rising as I added up all those costs.

I had not even considered using essential oils for emotional issues until I had reached this point of desperation and literally CRIED out to God for help. I had reached the end of myself, which really, is a beautiful place to be. heart emoticon God didn't give us what we needed to run our own lives (Jeremiah 10:23). We need Him. So while I was praying I really felt Him say to my heart, "Use what is in your hands." I immediately though - OILS. They have helped us in so many other ways. Why not see if they could help me emotionally.

So I had this kit overnight-ed before I could change my mind. I decided I was going to use these oils in conjunction with Scripture, prayer and declarations of Truth that would speak to my circumstances and emotions. It took a week or two and then I started noticing some changes. IT WAS WORKING. I was praying for hurts and fears in my heart and mind that I had not prayed for in YEARS due to bitterness, resentment and un-forgiveness towards other people and God. I wasn't talking about my problems. I was speaking the solution and anointing myself with powerful God-given gifts. (OILS) Shew - it's an incredibly effective partnership!

FREEDOM, you guys. There is nothing like it. HEALING. It's an incredible gift and one I desire for everyone.

So if you are struggling at all with any kind of emotional issues, I highly suggest the Feelings Kit. I have written out a protocol that you can download from my site to use along with the oils.  There is one included in the kit that doesn't include Scriptures but it does tell you where to apply the oils which is really helpful! It's easy to do. Just put the oils where it tells you to and say the Scriptures and prayers out loud. Even if you don't feel like it. DO IT. There were many days I did this through gritted teeth because I just didn't want to. But, trust that the oils and God's Word are doing what they are created to do. Go through the protocol at least twice a day and then go on with your life. And... wait for freedom and healing. Expect your marriage to improve. Expect your overall health and wellness to improve. Expect your finances to improve. Expect your thoughts to improve. Expect to be more confident and less offensive. Expect to be able to better manage stress. Expect restoration. EXPECT it ALL in HOPE AND FAITH. No matter what.

And know that I am agreeing with you in prayer as you start this wonderful journey!

Progessence Plus

WOMEN - I need to talk to you about this little bottle of oil. (Yes - This post is kind of long, but bear with me. You'll be glad you did!) I am sure I am going to flirt with the FDA Compliance line with this post... but sometimes you just have to put yourself out there because you SO BADLY want others to receive healing - spirit, soul and body. So, let me try to hold back the tears and tell you some things. (Men - This post may make you feel weird, but read/suffer through it. The women in your life will thank you.)

I have had endometriosis and ovarian cysts since I was 13. I will be 30 this year so that's 17 years. That's roughly 200 periods. I have had surgeries, injections, pills, sonograms, blood tests, biopsies, diet changes, supplements (SO MANY SUPPLEMENTS)... you name it. Every single month for years I would have cramps, clots and pressure that was so bad, I would be in bed for two or three days. Overnight pads? I'd be changing them every two hours. Not even kidding. Tampons? Never bought them. They were useless. Motrin? Would barely take the edge off the intense pain. Mood swings? Yes. Difficult pregnancies? Yes. Miscarriages? Yes. Difficult labors and deliveries? Yes. Low sex drive? Yes. Headaches? Back pain? Hot flashes? Nausea? Adrenal fatigue? Trouble with weight loss? Yes. All the yeses. Seriously. Name a bad symptom when it comes to anything with my uterus and ovaries, and I probably experienced it. Add to that the fact that I have tried EVERYTHING possible to get well. And all of it just make me more sick, more tired and more irritable. Plus, it cost a fortune and took tons of time.

To say the least - it was awful and all so very frustrating and discouraging. Plus, I was so bitter about it all that I had just stopped praying about it and believing for healing. It just felt... hopeless.

Enter - Progessence Plus. At the end of 2014, I realized that I was having a BAD period every 14 days since having had our daughter. I was really sick. Like - actually sick. And more exhausted than I have ever been in my life. My body was in a really bad place and surgery to just remove it all seemed inevitable. This was kind of my last ditch effort. So I started using it daily. Within 6 weeks, I was regular and within three months, I was having periods with no cramps, pressure or clotting and I wasn't exhausted anymore. Within six months, my emotions were better and weight started coming off. Fast forward to yesterday, when I had my yearly OB/GYN appointment and was drilled by my doctor on everything that I usually complained about.

Still irregular? No. Still having cramps and migraines? No. Well - I see you've lost like 35 pounds since last year so I guess you aren't having trouble losing weight anymore? Correct. Sex drive still low? No. Still exhausted and emotional? No. So... any issues you want to discuss? No. Do we need to run any tests or look into hormone therapy again? No.

For the first time in 17 years, I was able to see my OB/GYM for a regular pap test and breast exam. NOTHING ELSE. Like a normal human being.

Cue the happy tears. Seriously. GOD HAS HEALED ME. There - I said it. (Sorry, FDA.) Could He have done it without the oil? Heck yes. God is amazing and more powerful than anything on this earth. But I needed the dang oil. Because understanding and receiving His gifts of Grace and Love are VITAL for us to receive the other things He has for us. And that is what these oils are - an extension of His Love and Grace. For me, they are a bridge to HEALING AND FREEDOM. And let me tell you - being healed from all that nonsense? FREEDOM. No other word for it.

So, PLEASE. If you are a women, order Progessence Plus. Put a drop on your forearms and a drop on your inner ankles every morning. It's not difficult. Seriously. JUST DO IT. It's PERFECTLY safe for you. I would shout this from the mountaintops if Delaware had them. grin emoticon Even if you aren't having all the problems I was having, use it anyway. Your life will get better. AMEN.

Romance Sheet Spray & Sensual Massage Oil

Are you looking for something that will make Valentine's Day extra special this year?  This is your answer!  And, lucky for you (and your spouse), Ylang Ylang is FREE this month at the 300 PV order level.  So ditch the flowers and fancy dinner and get some oils and something lacy instead.  Your husband will thank you later.

ROMANCE SHEET SPRAY

2 tablespoons Witch Hazel
6 drops YL Ylang Ylang EO
4 drops YL Lavender EO
3 drops YL Orange EO

Add all of the above to a 2 oz. spray bottle and fill with water.  Shake well and spray on sheets as desired!

SENSUAL MASSAGE OIL

1/4 cup Whipped Coconut Oil
4 pumps YL Sensation Massage Oil
6 drops YL Black Pepper EO
6 drops YL Peppermint EO

Combine all ingredients well in a bowl and use a spatula to put it into a 2 oz. jar.  Apply generously to your inner thighs as desired!

Get Better Quick Regimen

Both kids woke up this morning not feeling well. One got sick a few times and the other has been coughing and dry heaving. Both are cold and cuddly with pale, sleepy faces. So I thought I would share what I do in these rare circumstances when something actually gets them down.

1 - Make special beds for them on the couch. To do this, I put a drop of Peace & Calming on their lovies and favorite blankets and pillows. I let them know what is going on and pray for them. It's amazing how much more relaxed and at ease they seem after this. (This is the point when they start asking for oils...) wink emoticon

2 - I put Thieves and Lemon in the diffuser to help keep the air in our home clean.

3 - I make iced Lemon water. Our Lemon oil is made from the rind so it isn't acidic and can aid in neutralizing pH in their bellies. We call it special lemonade and they take a sip every so often.

4 - I rub a drop of diluted Peppermint on their bellies. I'll do this as needed every few hours.
5 - I rub a drop each of diluted Oregano and Thieves on their spines and feet. I'll do this every few hours for a day or two (if needed).
6 - As they are able to keep things down, we'll double up on NingXia Red to give them high doses of antioxidants and immune system supporting essential oils.
7 - I also have Peppermint and Citrus Fresh going in the diffuser in the kitchen so I get an energizing boost every time I go in there. I also rolled Joy on my heart and some En-R-Gee on the back of my neck. Yup. Mama needs support for times like these, too!

For us, this is really effective and easier and far cheaper (and less time consuming!) than a trip to the doctor and pharmacy. Now, for extra snuggles and lots of PBS. I am confident they will be back to normal in no time!

Bergamot, Lemon and Peppermint Bath Soak

I wanted to share this DIY Bath Soak recipe with you. I gave these as homemade gits to some of my family members for Christmas along with a roll-on blend.  You can swap out the oils for all kinds of blends depending on what you like and what your body needs. 

Bergamot, Lemon and Peppermint Bath Soak

2 cups Epsom Salt
1/4 cup Fractionated Coconut Oil or Olive Oil
15 drops Bergamot
10 drops Lemon
5 drops Peppermint

Mix all the ingredients with a wooden spoon in a large glass bowl and store in a sealed glass container. Add 1/2 to 1 cup to a hot bath and enjoy!

Calm Down Roll-On Blend

I love this Calm Down blend. We roll it on the kids' feet and wrists if they are having a difficult day. Hey - we're all human and need help navigating those emotions, right? smile emoticon If they are in a snuggly mood and want extra hugs, I roll it on my chest and neck so they are inhaling it while we "give loves" and watch a movie or read a book together. It's easy, inexpensive and really effective!

CALM DOWN BLEND

In a 10 mL Roller Bottle add...

15 drops Grounding
10 drops Lavender
5 drops Cedarwood

Add oils to a 10 mL roller bottle and fill to the top with V-6.  Put a roller top and cap on the top of the bottle.  Screw the cap tightly on to set the roller top in place.  Roll on as needed in desired locations.

(Grounding is a combination of White Fir, Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Pine, Cedarwood, Angelica and Juniper.)

Pick-Me-Up Regimen

Do you ever just feel... yucky? Like... on the verge of something with your tummy or a headache or achy or tired... or all of it? I started feeling that way tonight around 7:30 right before we got the kids to bed. This is my go to "remedy" for that feeling.

I put a pump of V-6 in my hand and add two drops each of Lavender and Peppermint. Then, I rub my hands together and rub it all over my chest, shoulders, neck and stomach. Finally, I drink a big glass of water. It helps in a matter of minutes!

It is super simple and always works really well!

Motivating Diffuser Blend

Mondays are always busy days for me as far as housework goes. Laundry, sheets, towels, cleaning bathrooms, meal planning, fridge cleaning... the list goes on. wink emoticon So I have four drops of Motivation and four drops of Citrus Fresh in our diffuser this morning. This is a great combo to diffuse for days like these!

Motivation is a blend of Roman Chamomile, Spruce, Ylang Ylang and Lavender. It can help you overcome procrastination. I especially love the Spruce in that blend. The conifer tree oils help me feel so grounded and focused. Citrus Fresh is a blend of Orange, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Tangerine, Lemon and Spearmint. It adds an energizing and clean aroma to the Motivation. I love the two together!

Essential Oils for Emotional Support

When I first heard of people using essential oils for emotional support, I thought it was a total placebo effect.  I didn't think it was possible for them to truly help heal and support healthy emotions.  Once I started using the oils for other things and experienced their powerful benefits, I figured I would give them a chance to help to help me emotionally and I am so glad that I did.

Young Living offers a lot of different oils and blends that specifically target emotions and I received quite a few of them through my Essential Rewards order for May.  I am not sure how everyone else uses the oils, but as I have said before, I use them as promptings to pray.  So when I apply Hope, I am praying for hope and speaking Scriptures about hope to help renew my mind and change my attitude about things going on in my life.  I do the same for all the other oils I have been using for emotional support and have been experiencing some wonderful results.  On the days that I use them, I notice a huge difference in how I am thinking, feeling and the choices that I am making.  I feel more balanced and more "in control" of how I respond to circumstances that I can't control.  I feel more kind and gracious towards people as I release them from having to treat me a certain way for me to be happy.  I find myself effortlessly eating better and having more energy because I feel motivated and hopeful that I may finally lose this extra weight I have carried for years and become a healthier woman for my family.

Would this change be possible without the oils?  Absolutely!  Prayer alone and Scripture meditation are powerful and life changing.  But... I wasn't praying for these things before I started using the oils.  So they have motivated me to pray and I am definitely seeing good change happening.

I wanted to share what I have been doing on a daily basis to help my emotional health in case you need some inspiration.  I've been struggling with many things for a long, long time and was almost at a breaking point with my perfectionism caused depression.  I felt I was never good enough and was rapidly losing hope in every area of my life - marriage, children, home making, weight, health, etc.  God has been doing a great healing work in me over the last month and I am starting to taste freedom.  The powerful and passionate part of me that God created is starting to flourish again and I am realizing now more than ever that my family needs me to feed and cultivate that.  And to do that, I need hope and a consistent level of emotional stability.  

I have been using the following oils daily.  I also listed their prices so you could prioritize what you could order based on your budget.  (Note - These are WHOLESALE prices that only members have access to.  If you have not purchased a Premium Starter Kit to become a member, the retail prices you would pay are 24% higher.)

Bergamot ($27.00) - I diffuse this daily along with a grounding oil like Balsam Fir and a fresh and energizing oil like Lemon.  

Forgiveness ($52.50) - I apply a drop around my belly button whenever I start remembering past hurts or when I find myself focusing on not being perfect.  Basically, when I need to forgive myself or others. 

Hope ($57.25) - I apply a drop to my wrists every morning before my quiet time where I go over my Power Sheets and study and throughout the day when I start losing hope for certain situations.

Joy ($41.75) - I roll this over my heart throughout the day if I start having negative thoughts about myself, others or my circumstances.

Motivation ($51.00) - I apply a drop of this on my wrists if I start feeling like I can't do something like eat properly, get up from the afternoon quiet time, exercise, etc.  I pray for strength and focus and I pray against the spirit of laziness that is keeping me from achieving my goals.  

Present Time ($86.50) - I have been applying a drop of this underneath my nose several times a day lately.  We are in a waiting period of life right now as we are in a transitional living situation.  I have found it difficult not to regret the past or worry about the future but to just relax and be thankful and content with where we are now.  I focus on that when I apply this blend.

Release ($38.25) - I roll this over my liver every morning and also behind my ears and on my wrists throughout the day.  I focus on releasing myself and others from being perfect in order for me to have peace.  I receive that peace from The Spirit.  

Stress Away ($29.75) - I apply a drop of this over my chest before going to bed at night to help unwind.

Surrender ($26.00) - Joshua and I both use this when our emotions get way out of control.  I dilute it and massage it onto our shoulders and focus on God's love for us and His perfect timing in all things.  Surrendering doesn't come naturally to either of us and this has really helped us realize on our need for that.

I don't use all of these everyday but when I find myself struggling, I usually realize that I haven't used my oils that day.  I am ones like Present Time, Forgiveness and Motivation less and less which I believe speaks volumes to how God is healing me in those areas.  Victory that lasts is what I truly desire and for the first time in years, I feel like there is hope.

If you are struggling in any way emotionally and need some support and recommendations on what could help, please let me know!

RELEASE Essential Oil Blend

Many of you probably saw my Mom post on my Facebook page about the Release oil blend a few days ago. I actually got one for myself, too. I have never had it show up on a scan but when I read the benefits of the oils, I knew I had to get a bottle.

"This is a powerful blend for enhancing the release of memory trauma from the cells of the liver, where anger and hate emotions are stored. The frequency of the oils in Release may aid in the letting go of negative emotions so one can progress in a more effective and efficient way. It helps to release frustration." (Large Reference Guide)

Those of you who know my personal testimony know that my family and I have been through some tough stuff. (Who hasn't, right?) I often wonder if I have really healed, forgiven, released and moved past it all. So when my mom tested for this, I decided to try it just to make sure some things in my past aren't still affecting me in ways I can't really see. Turns out, I needed it. But not for the reason I thought.

When I apply oils to my body, I use that time as a prompting to pray. That might sound crazy... but it is Biblical.  For the last couple weeks, I have been applying a drop of this oil to my wrists and behind my ears several times a day. It smells heavenly and relaxes me immediately. But I haven't really been sure what to pray for so I have just been asking God to reveal things to me that I need to know to move on victoriously. I kept trying to think of who or what I needed to forgive and release but nothing was coming to me. I haven't really been hearing anything from God either until this morning. He revealed some surprising Truth about who and what I needed to release. The WHO was me. And the WHAT was not being perfect. In other words, I need to forgive myself for not being perfect and release myself from the pressure to keep trying to be perfect.

This is so exciting for me because now I have a track to run on. I can start reading and meditating on verses that talk about rest, no condemnation and how my right standing with God is a gift bought by Jesus. That is what will produce the real and lasting healing that every area of my life so desperately needs. There is hope.

I know this might seem like a heavy or silly thing to share on an essential oils page, but this is like a ministry to me. I want you all to experience the freedom from the spiritual, physical, emotional and relational bondages you have been in for years. Can you do it without oils? Absolutely. God is limitless, amazing and works in supernatural ways. But for me, these God-given oils are an extension of His Grace and Love. They HELP and they WORK. Since I started using them, I have been praying for things on a daily basis that I haven't prayed for in years... whether because I didn't want to, didn't think to or was too busy or distracted to. And I am finally seeing results and victory. I continue to be amazed and thankful.

I encourage all of you to share your personal testimonies from using the oils! Don't worry... you don't have to get this deep or personal.  Sharing about how oils have helped you in any way really could change someone's life. That is why I am so passionate about sharing them with others.