The way it all went down was like this. I was sitting in a friend's house eating essential oil infused food that was ridiculously good and hearing these other women talking about oils and which oil they use for what. I was clueless when it came to essential oils....really and truly clueless. 

"I wonder if this is just a bunch of hullabaloo." 

Y'all, it's what I was thinking. And the gal next to me munching hard on the cinnamon infused apple slices and orange infused dipping cream with the notebook....A NOTEBOOK...of things she needed to buy or try or borrow or Google. Ugh. It was almost too much for me. 

"Y'all have seriously lost it. I'm hoping to maybe win a prize by being here."

I was in the classic game of nod and smile because I didn't know anyone but the hostess and I was afraid I just threw myself to a "crunchy" lioness den. A crunchy mom, I am not. (Promise. I even let my kiddos have Burger King every now and then. It's ok...there are no walls up here.) 

After eating I drank my water and headed into the living room with the others to look at catalogs and talk even more about essential oils. I remember seeing pages of "Thieves" items and thinking, "What in the ever loving....Thieves? This is exciting? Why is this woman saying she needs all the Thieves for her cruise coming up?" I.was.lost. on this essential oil craze. 

The hostess acknowledged that I probably didn't really know much about oils and told me not to worry. She asked me a simple question: "If you could use oils for anything, what would you use them for?". Well, I told her about something I was worried about and she got up, grabbing bottles of oils off a shelf and took them into the kitchen. She brought me back a roller bottle blend of oils and said "Try this and see if it helps". Then she told me to just roll the oils all over the feet and put socks on at night. Hm. OK. I was going to try it. 

Y'all. After 2 nights of zero issue, I was in tears. I was messaging this girl and saying "What did you put in that blend you made? How do I get more when I run out? What in the world was the starter kit thingy-ma-bobber you were telling me about and how much is that?" Soooo many questions but I knew that even if I wasn't crunchy, I had just found a way to help my family...my sweet kiddos! I needed to know more.

Then.

I needed money. 

"Ugh...it costs that much? We don't have money like that. The hubs will never let me."

A series of conversations happened and I ended up with that starter kit in my home. (YAY!) But...now I understood how much these little bottles cost and I was not going to have anything to do with just using them straight out of the bottle. Nope. I didn't even want to run my diffuser because I thought that was the biggest waste. (Ha! lol. I'm so cheap!)

I found wonderful ways to stretch the oils I had and make them last as long as possible. I also learned how to save money on buying more! I HAD to figure this out. We honestly couldn't afford to just dive in to essential oils but I knew that I had seen the benefits of using them and wanted that in my home for myself and my family. 

So....how to stretch and save? I have a few simple steps for you!

{First, let me tell you that you can hear more about my journey and find details on how to get oils into your home by clicking on the Essential Oils button at the top of my page. This is the prerequisite to my frugal (crazy cheap woman) steps. You know...because you need to have oils in your home in order to need this info.}

1. DILUTE, dilute, dilute.      I don't care if your'e going to use one essential oil on its own or if you're going to make a blend like my friend had made for me. Dilute those essential oils and get the most life out of them as you can. I have little jello shot size cups all over my home of coconut oil and 1 or more essential oils just waiting for when I need them. I also have about a dozen glass roller bottles that I filled with grape seed oil and the 1 or more oils I needed in there for a cleaner application and an easy way to toss it in my purse and take on the go. In a cup, I only need to add about 9 drops of oil to the coconut oil I filled it with. In a roller bottle (10ml), I need anywhere from 12 to 20 drops of oils added to the grape seed oil I filled it with. This way, the oils last a long, long time before I need to replace them. It's far more efficient than diluting as you're applying. 
2. Use less in your diffuser than the handbook says. I only use about 2 or 3 drops of essential oil in my diffuser that's filled with water. I still get amazing benefits and I don't run out as quickly. 
1. Also...I sometimes turn off my diffuser after it's been running for 30 minutes. It takes a body 30 minutes to absorb the benefits of the essential oil(s) and after that, it just smells nice. Running it longer is not more beneficial but it's not harmful, either. Turn it off and then come back in a couple hours to turn it back on again. Of course, if it's in my kiddos' room for rest, I just leave it running. 
3. Bite the bullet, become a member, and enjoy your 24% off. I could have easily signed up to be a retail customer (and you can, too) but I hate paying retail price for anything. A discount always helps. 
4. After you've become a member, sign up for Essential Rewards. Here, I'm getting free oils with my order every month AND earning points to get MORE free oils on a quick order in the future. Please believe, I hoard my Essential Rewards points and use them to buy gifts for people or to save up for that really pricey item I want but can't squeeze into my budget.
5. Share, share, share. Why? Because when you share about your oils and YOUR story, people may be intrigued and want to get a kit, too! And do you know what happens when your friends want a kit, too? You can make cash money.  (YES, PLEASE!) I'm at a point where I get free oils all the time, totally able to support my own Essential Oil loving habits. 

Maybe you're like me and have never experienced essential oils. Please don't be shy. Comment or email or message me on facebook/instagram/twitter/wherev  and let me know how you're hoping to incorporate them in your own life and let's see if we can't get you a sample to help you! Maybe you've tried some here or there thanks to people sharing or finding something at an expo or something...but you don't have anything on hand and you're interested. Friend, we need to talk. (I promise, I'm not pushy or annoying). Let's talk about how you can get your starter kit and get on your way! OR. Maybe you're interested in getting a kit AND making money. I would love to add you to my team and I can explain how easy that is to do and get you equipped with knowledge and tools in a snap. (Ooh! What a fun New Year's Resolution these choices are!)

I'm here and so excited to chat with you! Let's be cheap-o, non-crunchy, I'm-just-trying-to-be-the-best-mom-I-can, sticking-to-the-budget friends. :)   {Seriously. Message me.}

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Essential Oil Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

Essential Oils For The Frugal Mom : 5 Tips To Help You Save Money

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I use my Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living for everything I possibly can in my home. I use it to clean my glass, floors, tile, toilets...

I even use it to dust.

It's made up of Young Living's Thieves oil blend {Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils} and smells heavenly while it works hard to be the only household cleaner you'll need. 

I hate to say this, mamas. Unfortunately, we all know it's true. That wonderful time of year has come when my kiddos are bringing home notes of the ick going around at school but I'd rather not grab chemical filled products to protect our immune systems. I have a fast and simple DIY for you! 

Thieves Household Wipes DIY

 What you'll need:

• 1 Tbsp Thieves Household Cleaner (One capful)
• 1 Cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 Cup distilled water
• 1 Roll paper towel 
• 1 Giant (butcher's) knife
• 1 Container to place your paper towel in. 

Starting with the paper towel roll, I simply cut it in half with the knife. I cut it straight through so I would have 2 equal halves when I was done.


You'll want to make sure that your paper towel roll will fit inside the container you want to use and that the top will go on. I found this container at The Dollar Tree and picked it up on a whim. I'm lucky it worked out to be the perfect size for me. 

Next, measure out 1 Cup of distilled white vinegar. Then in the same measuring cup, add 1 Cup of distilled water and one capful of Thieves Household Cleaner, mixing it all together. 

**We're using "distilled" because you'll be soaking paper towel in this and letting it sit in a closed container. I don't want you to find anything funky growing. Oh! And! If you boil tap water and let it come to room temperature on its own, that's essentially the same thing as distilled water you would purchase. **

**Also, as a side note, my hubster would prefer less of a vinegar smell the next time I make this. I may be using a bit less vinegar and a bit more water the next go-round...even though I don't think it smells that bad at all.**

Now it's time to prep your paper towel (half) roll. On the inside of the roll, remove the cardboard tube. Once this is gone, you'll see how you'll be able to pull your towels up from the middle. 

Place your paper towel roll into the container and pour the mixture over it. Then let it sit with the lid on so it can soak up all the liquid evenly.

And, voila! Your wipes are ready to use!! I'm thinking this is perfect for when my family goes camping...or really, any road trip. You never know when you'll need a wet wipe!

If you need your own Thieves Household Cleaner, I can help you! You can sign up to be a retail customer and order what you need when you need it. Or you can sign up to be a member {this option gives you a fancy discount to use always and as often as you like}. Hop over to my info page to find out more details or feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Essential Oil Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

DIY: Chemical Free Household Cleaning Wipes {Tutorial}

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I don't like to get eaten alive when I'm outside enjoying my yard or a bonfire. I also can do without the notices sent home from school that warn me to keep an eye on the heads of my kiddos for creepy crawlies. (To even type that out just makes my head itch like crazy.)

Maybe you're like me? 

And perhaps, you're also like me in hating when sprays get in your mouth (on accident before) or the smell of a hair treatment is bad enough to make you nearly faint. Chemicals...those are always the issue. Ugh & Blech. 

But now that I've gotten the unpleasantries out of the way, let's talk about pure & chemical free ways to help both outside and in our lovely locks. 

I have 2..yes TWO little DIY's for you today. Feel free to share. And if you don't have the things I'm going to recommend but would like to learn more about them (or make an order), please just reply below or email me and I'll get back to you as soon as I am able. 

Now. Let's dive in, shall we? (Bye, bye, buggies!) 

If you're looking for outside protection. I use this and have great success with it. The recipe is simple. 

Here's what you'll need:

• YL Thieves Essential oil blend
• YL Purification Essential oil blend
• YL Peppermint Essential oil
• Distilled water (I'm going to teach you a trick for this one)
• Witch hazel
• A Glass Spray Bottle

If you're unsure where to get the glass spray bottles, I bought a 4 pack of 4 oz. Blue Glass Bottle With Trigger Sprayer from Life Science Publishing for $4. Their current price is $4.95 or $3.95 if you're a preferred member. The trigger sprayer is much easier to use than a standard pump (even though I used an image of a pump spray bottle in the pic above. Whoopsie!) 

I fill my glass bottle up with half distilled water, half witch hazel. The witch hazel helps to keep the essential oils dispersed throughout the bottle. (We don't have to go over the "oil & water don't mix" talk, do we?) Here's a trick for distilled water. I don't want to spend money on it and I'm sure if you could save money, you would too. Check this out. Boil a pot of water, turn off the heat, and let it cool down to room temperature naturally. That will create a chemical reaction that is like distilled water. 

After I have my half & half, I add 10 drops each of the essential oils listed above. Close the bottle, shake it up, and go! Easy, peasy stuff.  

* Don't spray this by eyes. You need to be careful handling essential oils. I like to spray it in the palm of my hand, rub my 2 hands together, and then rub it on the face and neck if I feel like that kind of application is necessary for our surroundings. 

*Only use a glass bottle for this. The purification oil blend has citrus oils in it and citrus will attack plastic which will cause plastic properties to be floating around in your spray bottle and you probably don't want to spray that onto your skin. 

I'm going to try to avoid making myself all itchy again with this one. These 3 oils can be used in different ways to help keep the creepy crawlies away or show them the door should they make their way into your home.

If you're looking to protect your lovely locks, or those of your kiddos, add 2 drops of Young Living Lavender Essential Oil to regular shampoo when you're washing hair. It's that simple and it will definitely help. Bugs may like clean hair but they don't like Lavender. :)

If some little buggies make their way into your home, it's ok. You've got this! You're going to do a 2 step process that you can repeat if/as necessary.  Ready?
Here's what you'll need:

• YL Lavender Essential Oil
• YL Eucalyptus Radiata Oil
• YL Geranium Oil
• YL V6 (A carrier oil)
• A Shower cap
• Shampoo

Step 1:

Massage 4 Drops of Eucalyptus Radiata, 2 Drops of Lavender, 2 Drops of Geranium and 8 drops of V6 into the scalp, making sure the head is completely covered with the mixture. Then cover the head with a shower cap and leave on for one half hour (30 minutes). 

Step 2: 

Wash hair with shampoo, adding 2 drops of Lavender & rinse thoroughly. 

See? Easy stuff and it's all chemical free. I'll bet you're feeling a little more confident now. That's something that comes with the life of an essential oil user. You learn to simply take a breath and find out how to use what you have to solve the problems that arise every day. It's not adding in another thing, it's using oils INSTEAD of the other thing. 

I'll leave you to your DIY making now. Let me know if you have any questions. 

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Essential Oil Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

A DIY For Your "Shoo Fly" Needs

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**read the disclaimers at the bottom of this post**

OOOhhhh man. Y'all. I am beyond stoked to tell you about my little experiment and the results thereof. But first, I have to backtrack a bit and give you some details leading up to this.

I'm a mom of 3 kiddos which means my body has been through the changes pregnancy brings to a body 3 separate times. Can I tell you? It's hard to recover from that, physically speaking. 

I began to hear this sort of conversation happen amidst moms that sounded something like "Your body will never be the same" and "You can't go back to that young body after you've been pregnant". And since I was seeing how different my body looked, I just agreed and went along with that school of thought. 

But back in February of this year, I had started to think about making an attempt at taking control and taking my body back. Honestly, I wanted an easy way out. I started an essential oil regiment where I used Lemon, Peppermint, and Grapefruit Vitality oils in my water and saw absolutely no major changes....because I was doing literally nothing else different. I snacked like crazy on all kinds of sugary snacks and never ever limited my portions...and exercise? Pfft. No time for that! 

From there, I began to suffer from a sort of body dimorphic disorder where I only ever saw myself as fat, lumpy, and gross. This is a dangerous place for my mind to go because I went through an anorexic period in life while a abusive boyfriend would tell me multiple times a day how fat I was. I have fought every day to not return to that behavior because I have 3 beautiful kiddos who watch me very closely. 

That leads me to this experiment. I had watched this product being revealed at the Young Living Convention this year and thought, "Now. Don't wait any longer. Take the leap, take back your body, and set a healthy example for your little ones and friends." I ordered myself a box of Slique CitraSlim and waited for it to arrive at my doorstep. 

Once it arrived, I looked the box over to see exactly what the product would help me achieve along with directions on how I should be using it. It was very specific and I took it literally. I had to take the supplement while eating a sensible diet and doing regular exercise. "Ok" I thought to myself. "It's time to go all-in...and here I go."

Let's cover a few more details on Slique CitraSlim before I tell you what I did on my own and show you my progress so far (I can't wait to show you!!!). What exactly does this supplement claim to help with? Check this out. 

Y'all, these claims are huge! When I read that, I couldn't wait to get started. (I also encourage you to check out the Slique in 60 program & guarantee. It's good, good stuff! ) 

Since I started using this, I have felt more energetic and have seen a HUGE difference in my mood, my cravings, and my body. 

How did I use this? While following the dosage directions, I added in exercise nearly every day and started being more careful with my food choices. I also started drinking A LOT more water. By "a lot", I mean around 64 oz. per day.  For my size, I only need to drink 50, but a good work out automatically guarantees I'm going to drink a ton of water. 

Exercise:  Friends? I do this all at home when I'm able to get to it (morning or afternoon). I've been enjoying the workout playlists that Refit Revolution posts on YouTube and will be subscribing to their on demand work outs through their website soon. (And maybe buying some cute workout gear, too? Yah. Probably buying cute gear too. lol)

I have had THE BEST time working out with these gals via technology and am seeing serious changes in my muscle tone and even my self-confidence & self-esteem. 

Goals: Possibly become a Refit instructor to teach other people the ways of family friendly dance fitness. Also, find a used elliptical and use that in between big work outs. 

Eating: In my home, we always have healthy options on hand for meals and snacks...but we also have some junk food around too. Since I've had such a horrible relationship with food in the past, I wanted to be reasonable going into this experiment. I LET myself eat things like Peanut Butter M&M's or some other sweet snack from time to time. I think to deny myself all that kind of thing is going to put me in a bad mindset right now. The beautiful thing is that my cravings have totally changed which means I don't want to binge on any unhealthy thing. I WANT to make healthy choices and am totally fine with finding out what a "serving size" is on a snack food and sticking with that. Admittedly, when I ended up eating junk, it wasn't because I craved it, it was because I saw it and thought I would like to have it whether I was hungry for it or not. 

Goals: To continue to care for myself this way and make more protein shakes than I eat junky treats. (While still allowing myself to eat things like cheesecake...y'all...I couldn't ever give up cheesecake!)

RESULTS:  Friends, this is the difference 15 days using this supplement with exercise and healthy food choices makes. Ready? 

AHH!!!! I can't tell you how much I love this and how inspired I am. When I first put these photos together I couldn't help but cry happy tears. Yes, I'm getting results. But I'm also so proud of myself because I'm doing this in a healthy way that honors my mind, my body, and my soul. This has been the most positive change for me and I'm going to keep going.  I lost over 3 inches in my waist line, 1.5 inches around my hips, and 5 pounds...ALL IN 15 DAYS! That is only 1/4 of the way through the Slique in 60 program I mentioned earlier.  WOO HOO!

Goals: To strengthen my core, build muscle definition, and focus on healthy food choices while maintaining my current results. 

*My results may not be typical and can vary on an individual basis.*

Check out the Supplement Facts and Ingredients...This is a product made of things that have the same Seed to Seal guarantee as the bottles of essential oils I have on my shelf. I love that so much. I know that there were no shortcuts taken in the production of this supplement and I absolutely recommend this to anyone. Just be sure that it's cool between you and your doctor before you jump in, mmmkay? 

AANNND...if you're ready to jump in, y'all let me know! Let's do this together. I can get you all set up whether you want a starter kit or just the supplement itself. Comment here, email me, message me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter...whatev! ASK YOUR QUESTIONS. Let's chit chat and take back our bodies, our self esteem, our confidence, and our health. 

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

My Fitness Journey - Using NEW Slique CitraSlim From Young Living

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Most of us vacuum. I have on my chore chart to vacuum my home every Monday. Basically, I don't just run a vacuum around the floor. I also edge the room and get up in the top corners, etc. I love  the gratification of getting the rugs and carpets super clean but I want to use that as an opportunity to freshen up my home at the same time. 

What I don't use is the "carpet deodorizers" that you'd find on some store shelf somewhere. I think those just make an attempt to freshen up the space while never really doing anything but adding a scent to whatever other dingy scents are in the rug or carpet. Instead, I grab a few simple ingredients and make my own carpet powder. 

When I whipped this up the last time, I used Purification oil to completely get rid of any unpleasant smells and Peppermint to scare the bugs away. :)   Some people like to use something other than peppermint and that's great. It's completely up to you to customize it the way you like. 

I also used a small Ball jar and a petal top to act like a shaker so only a little comes out of the jar at a time. :) 

Have fun with this easy DIY! If you need any essential oils or have questions about them or why I chose Young Living, just click the Essential Oils link on the top index bar.

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Essential Oil Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

Chemical Free Carpet Powder ~ DIY

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Years ago, when Alex was very small and making all sorts of finger prints and mouthy-slobbery-drooling baby marks all over my door wall, I couldn't take it. I honestly couldn't take it and I had to go back to that glass door and clean it on the daily. But this is the part where I kick myself and say "I wish I would have known a better way."

At that time I was using store-bought glass cleaner. You know the stuff. It comes in a spray bottle and has a completely unnatural blue color. What I hate is that I was using something loaded in chemicals on a window where my son put his mouth.  And I don't want to sound like a preachy mom. No. That's not my intention. I just want to spotlight this single scenario as an example. {AKA, I'm the bad guy here.}

So fast forward with me to last year. A friend of mine was raving, raving, raving about this chemical free household cleaner that was infused with essential oils. I honestly wanted to laugh at first. "How cute. I'll bet it smells great. But does it actually clean anything?"  She swore to me it was good for a number of things and it came in a bottle of concentrate so I could just dilute one capful for one spray bottle of water and get to cleaning.

Huh.

Y'all, I was a complete skeptic.   And yet, here I am a full year later about to tell you about the same stuff. It's my answer to most things "Spring Cleaning".  

I use this bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner made by Young Living. I promise you it's a game changer because it works and has cut out the household cleaner chemicals since I've started using it. It's also super cost effective since it's purchased as a concentrate, making it less than $1 per spray bottle I make!

If you read my post on the cleaning calendar I use, you'll see that Tuesday is the day I clean all windows and mirrors.   I grab 3 things.

1. My bottle of water + Thieves Household Cleaner
2. My squeegee
3. My microfiber cloth {to wipe the squeegee with and catch any drips on the edge of the window/mirrow}

I'm left with no streaks, no smudges left behind, no chemicals, and super clean surfaces! {And since it's infused with essential oils, my home is left with a light, cinnamon-ish smell.}

Check out my before and after from my chore day over spring break. You'll notice my son's legs across my bed. :)  

 I changed the "After" angle just a tad so you could see I was still taking a picture of a mirror and not a straight shot into my bedroom. The smudges on the "Before" picture are all thanks to my 4 year old. She simply loves to mess up the full length mirror in our hallway. Ha!

I did say earlier in this post that I use this cleaner for a lot of things. I'll be happy to show you how I use it around my home as we head into Spring Cleaning season, one job at a time.

Should you have any questions about how you can get your hands on this cleaner, please email me, comment below {and I'll get back to you} or click on the "Essential Oils" tab at the top of my page.

Bring on Spring and bring on Clean!

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Essential Oil Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

Spring Cleaning - Let's Chat Chemical Free Glass Cleaner

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It was when all the questions starting coming, that I made the decision to call myself "Independent" and "Leader".  At that time, I figured that while I was using my essential oils and learning the beautiful ways they benefit my family and our wellness, I may as well help other people do the same as a job. So I took on the position and felt like I had just stepped into this tiny canoe shoving off shore into some big waves.

I'm confident.
I'm unsure.
I know the answer.
I have no idea what I'm doing.         And are they on to me?     Why would anyone want to work with me?

Up and down and up and down - the waves left my face green and my knuckles white, trying to cling to the oar someone tossed to me before I started this "Independent" business. I knew what I wanted to do but I suddenly felt dumb. "I have no idea how to do that. Hm. Let me Google it and see how others have done it."   And I'm not trying to say that pulling inspiration from someone else is bad. But I wasn't pulling inspiration. I was looking for ways to photoshop my face on someone else's success.

I felt frustrated and even a little annoyed at myself for thinking things like "Well, that's a really great idea, but I don't think I would do it that way {but what do I know?}" while sitting in business meetings and watching business videos on YouTube.  How dare I look at super successful people and say "I don't think I want to do that"!

Or. Is that not the right tone to take?

I'm sure if my mom were here in this conversation right now, she'd pipe in with something like "Yah, but you've always wanted to do things your own way. You've never liked being like everyone else." Because as far back as I can remember, that's who I've been. Yes, I like the trends, but I always have my own flair on whatever it is.

And I have my own story, and talents, and things that make me tick too. There are things I've been created to do that refuse to fall in line as a photocopy of someone else.

That's true for you too.

So, this morning I was watching Monique Mclean talk about catching a vision for my business. LIGHTBULB MOMENT! I had no vision for my business. I was grabbing for anything and everything I could get my hands on because "I don't know what this is supposed to look like but I must need all these ideas and these words and these graphics and...."   Y'all, that's exactly how you drown: Flailing around trying to grab onto anything so you can be called something {i.e. a status level}.

I know why I'm in this business and I know where I'd like to get in one year, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years. But knowing all of that and not having a vision for how you plan to get there is going to get.you.nowhere.

Today, I'm working on catching my vision and giving myself permission to be who I am. I want to honor those who have made it further than I have with the company as well as those who are getting their bearings in my downline. But as for ME, I have to begin with looking at my gifts and talents and set out on my own path.

Here is one thing I know for sure. I know that my main focus is YOU and sharing my heart, my experiences, and life in general with you. Another big part of this focus is in encouragement. There is just nothing like talking to someone else, hearing their heart, and speaking right to them in the moment. It makes my heart so full to speak life to others.

So, I guess this right here can be considered the cornerstone of my business from 2016 on: Psalm 119:105 (ESV) "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 

I can't do this by myself but I'm meant to be all of who I am on this journey to bring Him glory. Amen.

~Amy

You Have Permission To Be YOU (#smallbusiness talk)

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Hey friends! I have a fun little giveaway for those of you who'd like to add something to my YL order this month. No worries if you're not local to me. I can have items sent right to your door!
Watch this video and let me know you're ONE THING. :)

{I haven't really tried this out here before so I'm testing the waters. :) We'll see how this goes and perhaps I'll be doing this again. }

ALSO! If you want to become a new member and you're ready to order your starter kit, I have a thank you gift just for you to help get you started on the right foot.

Order this:

and I'll email you this:

If you have questions, just ask. I'd love to talk with you one-on-one about this via email or Facebook messaging. :) I'm excited to help you!

~Amy

Don't Miss My Young Living Order Giveaway!

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** As an independent distributor for Young Living Essential Oils, I make a commission on any sales connected to my member number. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Others may not agree or may have a different experience. See my marketing disclaimer at the bottom of this post.**

Yes! A Pumpkin Party!!
But what on earth is that?

It's a sale that ends tonight, Sept. 30th, at midnight {EST}. Fun idea, right?

Why am I doing this? Well, first, I'm over the moon excited that Peace & Calming is back in stock in the warehouse. We've been without it all summer because the last harvest of one of the oils in this blend was below the quality level that Young Living has set. I'm proud to work with a company that won't just push out product but cares about the quality living up to their high standards...even if that means we have to wait a bit for it to come back in stock.

Peace & Calming has been an answer to prayer for me! Every time my threenager taps into her "Hulk-itude", every time life piles up on my shoulders, and so on - I'm so thankful for this oil blend!!

So, let's party! Let's get you started in your oily journey by saving Half-Off by purchasing your kit, 24% off going forward on any of your purchases with no obligation to do anything else (ever!), and I'll throw in Peace & Calming for FREE!

Are you ready? Comment here or email me SOON! So I can help you through the process of signing up and make sure I get that free oil to you!! I'm SOO Excited for you!!!

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

I'm Having A Young Living Pumpkin Party!

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I whipped these up for an essential oil class I gave the other night and offered them as gifts. And, y'all? This sugar scrub is easy to make while it also smells like summer!  

Let me just pause right here and tell you that if you've never used a sugar scrub before, you're missing out. This is a wonderful and natural way to exfoliate skin and make it soft. {Again, the summer months are upon us making this the perfect time for this!}

What you'll need: {aka what I used for this}

• 4oz canning jar{s}
• Grape seed oil {Or olive oil if you prefer}
• Organic Cane Sugar
• Lime essential oil - or whatever scent you like
• I ONLY recommend using Young Living essential oils

How to Make Your Sugar Scrub:

• Fill your canning jar with cane sugar. I used the ribs on the top as a guide for a "stop here" line.  
• Drop in your essential oil. I did about 15 to 20 drops per jar to give it a light and enjoyable scent. Feel free to do more or less. 

• Add in one to two Tablespoons of grape seed oil. {This part is fully dependent on how dry or wet you want your scrub to be. I wanted mine to scoop out easily without making a mess.}
• Stir. {I used a butterknife and stirred slowly so I didn't spill sugar all over the place}  :)

• Wah-Lah! Your sugar scrub is ready to use or gift!  

** To add a cute touch, I used chalkboard stickers with a chalk marker. {Both can be found at a craft store near you!}

What essential oil would you use for your sugar scrub?

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

DIY Lime Sugar Scrub {using essential oils}

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I felt very strongly about taking steps into becoming an independent distributor for Young Living. Yes, I believe in this company and have full confidence in their products, but what pushed me into beginning this journey had very little to do with me and what I stand to gain.

See, when I would talk about my friend and her small business success with my husband, he would lovingly tell me "But Amy, we don't necessarily need the extra money". He didn't really want me to take a step into this business. But there was one Sunday morning that changed everything for me.

I sat down in my regular Sunday spot at church and saw 2 young boys take the stage. These boys were from an orphanage in Thailand that my church has worked to support in an effort to save children from the sex trade. I watched their body language. They began by looking right out at us in the congregation and then their spokesperson, the son of the orphanage's developers, began to tell us more about each of them. One was in 5th grade and one was in 6th.  I watched as their faces quickly fell and their eyes fixed on their feet as we heard their stories.

The mama in me wanted to interrupt this story telling to run up to the smaller of the 2 boys, who they call NoNo as a nickname, and just hold him. As we heard his story of his dad disappearing while serving in the Burmese Army and his mom left unable to care for him and his siblings - as we understood that his mom chose to drop him off at the orphanage to give him the best life possible - we could see his cherub face begin to cry and hear his little nose begin to sniffle. Even sharing that story with you now brings me tears.

Here is a short video that was shared with us before we met those beautiful boys. 

Life Impact - Thailand from Woodside Bible on Vimeo.

It's so easy to hear stories like this and think "What can I do to make a difference?".  Let me tell you what is resonating in my heart. I want kids off the streets and out of sex trafficking. AND. I want to come along side these moms or dads or mom and dad pairs, and support something that will keep them from putting their children, most times unknowingly, into the sex trade.  Think on this for a minute: Maybe you're a mom just like me. Can you imagine a living situation being so hard that you are looking for a way your child can be cared for away from you? Friends. I can't even begin to fathom that. But I do know that I would want to hand him/her over to someone I had confidence in and could trust with his/her upbringing.


That's why I'm going to be using my small business, in its entirety {as long as it lasts} to support this orphanage in Thailand. I want children in a safe place and out of the sex trade while being properly cared for, taught, and being prepared to be successful as adults while reaching out to those around them and saving even more children from the streets. Of every dollar I make, 10% is going to be sent to this orphanage. You have my word and I pray you can "hear" my conviction. My business is not just about me and mine, this is my way to create a community of people who will "go" to Thailand and support these children as often as any profit is gained on my end.

Friends, I am so excited about this idea. I'm excited to see you using essential oils to better your home and your family. I'm excited to share with you my stories and hear your stories. But I'm most excited that as we learn to care for ourselves and our families using these great gifts of the earth, that we are also reaching out to and caring for children in Thailand and supporting a hopeful environment for them. As you consider using YL essential oils for your family, would you also consider joining me in helping these orphans and the children who still need a safe place to live?

You can get started by heading here to read a bit more about my experience with essential oils and use the link there to sign up as a member with your first starter kit. This is where our journey together will begin and you and I will be able to support our family in Thailand.

PLEASE spread the word about this. Tell your friends and family about these beautiful children and about how they can "go" to Thailand with me. :) {You have to use my member number to officially partner with me}.

Are you in?

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

"Go" - Making Business About More Than Me

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I'm an introverted follower. By that, I mean I tend to observe things others are doing and try to apply it to my own life, my own way, to see if it will stick or help at all. {Just for the record, I SHOULD NOT have approached this topic that way. DO NOT go out and buy things without doing research.}

This is how I approached essential oils. I remember a time a year or so ago when I had a string of migraines and someone reached out to me telling me I should try essential oils. And then she hit me with the price of her oils. I thought she was nuts. I had no idea if oils would even help so why would I spend ALL THAT money on something....especially when I just found a whole bunch of "essential oils" online for far less. In fact, for the same price she gave me, I found a box of 6 different oils. "Score", right?

Nope. Not at all a "score".

These so-called "100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils" were thrown into my daily life. But I couldn't figure out why the lemon oil smelled only lemon-ish, and the peppermint oil smelled nothing like peppermint and exactly like citrus. I honestly shrugged it off and thought "What do I know about essential oils? Maybe this is what it's supposed to smell like."  And here's the scary part. I kept USING THESE OILS. I put them on my skin and, because the bottle said it was ok, I put the lemon oil IN MY WATER. Guys {and gals}, Knowing what I know not about essential oils, it scares me that I ever did that and I'm so thankful for whatever oily angel was protecting me. {ha, ha}  ;)

Obviously, what I was using in these watered down oils was not working for me...so I began to do research. I found 2 top brands of essential oils, one of which was what my Facebook friend recommended from the get-go. And then I was able to have a brief conversation with someone at my church who sold the other top brand. She told me "Whatever you decide to go with, make sure to do your research first".   Friends, her words were gold to me and that's what actually led me to go with Young Living Essential Oils.

I read about their Seed To Seal guarantee and watched the videos. Then another friend told me that I can call a customer service rep at any time and give them the number imprinted on the back of any bottle of oil and they will tell me every step of that oil's process...from seed to seal. They keep track of it all. I have no problem getting behind a brand that operates their own farms and distilleries while documenting the life and harvest of each plant then testing, testing, and more testing to be sure that the oils distilled meet the standard they've set for themselves above the status quo.

That decided it for me, I made some samples at her house and immediately began seeing results. My son went to bed easier and with less stress, my immune system is strong enough to knock a cold right out of the ballpark, that seasonal gook and stuffiness has found relief, I'm sleeping better, and anxiety and stress levels are now under control.

There are even more things I've seen from using Young Living Essential Oils, but you and I would need more time to chat.

These oils are simply amazing to me! I promise, I'm not one to talk something like this up if it isn't worth it. Had I been mad about my investing in essential oils, I would have told you that too. Be these work to support my system naturally and I'm beyond thrilled. Now I want to get all of that goodness into your hands!

This beautiful kit costs $150 {50% SAVINGS!!!!} and will be shipped right to your home after you order it. And by signing up to be a member, you'll receive 24% off your future purchases with no obligation to do anything more, ever. I chose to become a distributor after trying these out and seeing the difference they made in my own life and home. I have a strict, NO PRESSURE policy. I just want you to love these as much as I do. {honestly, my initial idea was to get that discount and call it a day. And you know what? I would have been able to do that if I wanted to.}

Get to it! And please let me know if any questions every arise, which they most likely will. You can comment here, message me on Facebook, or email me and I'll do my best to get back to you as quickly as I can.

~Amy

**Marketing disclaimer: The link I share may be an affiliate link. I may collect payment from purchases made.
**Disclaimer:  The info I shared is based on my own research and experience(s) with Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. The FDA has not evaluated my statements, the products I've mentioned, or even the technique I use. Therefore, these statements are not made with intent to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any kind of ailment or disease. Please have a conversation with your doctor before introducing these if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, and/or have any kind of medical condition. 
I'm simply sharing information and my personal story for readers to use as a reference in a "take it or leave it" fashion. My hope is to motivate you in learning more about essential oils as they may pertain to your own life and/or family. Please do your research as you see fit. 

My Essential Oil Story

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