In December of last year I was diagnosed on the low end of prediabetes. It was a wake up call for me that it was now or never on losing weight and getting control of my health. At 40 years old and 80 pounds overweight, I was eating your typical American diet of high carbohydrates and low fat, thinking that was a “healthy” diet. I knew that I should eat less sugar and had heard that eating less carbs was better for diabetes, but I wanted to know why. Why was it so “hard” for me to lose weight and why did I struggle with intense food cravings? So I started to research and dig deeper into the world of insulin and how it affects the body. Google soon gave me this information…
Insulin is secreted in response to a type of carbohydrate called glucose … Insulin tells muscle, organs and even fat cells to take up the glucose and use it for fuel. It also tells fat cells to store fat for later use. As long as insulin levels remain high, fat cells retain fat, and the other cells preferentially burn glucose (and not fat) for energy
Basically when you eat carbohydrates, they spike blood sugar (glucose). A high level of blood glucose, often due to excessive carbohydrate intake, causes insulin secretion. The insulin in turn then delivers the glucose in your body to cells which it uses for energy. This process is what becomes broken in diabetes as the insulin in your body either isn’t used properly or you are not producing enough. My prediabetic state meant my body wasn’t using this energy source well. I was constantly bloated, my feet hurt and I had nerve pain. And the weight? I just kept gaining.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
To lose excess body fat, according to this view, carbohydrates must be restricted and replaced, ideally with fat, which does not stimulate insulin secretion.
This research lead me to try the Keto Diet, which has helped me shed almost 30 pounds so far. I truly believe that fat does not make you fat. Carbohydrates (and processed food and inflammatory fats and lack of sleep and exercise) makes you fat. If your goal is to shed body fat and you struggle with carbs like I did, the recipe is quite simple – limit carbohydrate intake and make healthy fats your preferred source of energy.
Want to learn more? I highly recommend Mark Sisson’s book, The Keto Reset Diet. I also love listening to the podcast The Natural State, by Anthony Gustin. The more you know the more empowered you will be to improve your own health!
Young Living was founded in 1993 and is based in Lehi, Utah. They sell organic high quality essential oils and chemical free home products and supplements. I started using YL oils in 2015. I honestly didn’t even know oils could benefit your body – I bought the kit because I was trying to eliminate chemicals in our house and for the aromatherapy benefits. But they have helped my immune system, my sleep and most importantly my family. I cannot imagine not having the oils in my life now! Read on to learn more about the most popular oils and blends people use in their home.
Most Popular Essential Oils and Blends
Lavender: Support healthy and glowing skin. I use it in my homemade facial serum as it is moisturizing. Also great for burns and cuts. Just apply a drop straight on it! A lot of hospitals use it to help with occasional anxiety with their patients before and after procedures.
Peppermint: Support and maintain a healthy digestive system and energy levels! Great to apply on your temples when you have a headache and this is my favorite to diffuse to help stay alert.
Thieves: Promote a healthy immune system. Diffuse often to purify the air.
Citrus Fresh: Remove stinky odors and great refreshing smell! A blend of citrus oils along with spearmint.
Lemon: A powerful detoxifier. Great for alertness & mental clarity. A good cleanser for body and home, smells fresh, can help with occasional nausea, immune system support, appetite suppressant…also add to water!
PanAway: Add it to coconut oil to create a DIY post workout salve to help sore muscles.
Stress Away: I love this one to wear as a perfume which plays double duty to help reduce daily stress.
Frankincense: It promotes a sense of calm and security, Replace your expensive wrinkle serum. This is all you need! I rub a drop straight on my skin at night before moisturizer.
DiGize: It supports normal, healthy digestion! Also helps heartburn and stomach upset. Rub on your tummy or take via veggie capsule.
Raven: One of the best essential oils for help in decongesting the airways, total respiratory support. Diffuse or apply to your chest.
Valor: This blend was formulated to balance energies and instill courage, confidence and self-esteem. It helps the body self-correct it’s balance and alignment.
Peace & Calming: This blend promotes relaxation and a deep sense of peace and emotional well-being, helping to dampen tensions and uplift spirits.
Why should you try Essential oils?
Using essential oils are great for helping to reducing the amount of toxins in your home and for the aromatherapy benefits. But they will also help your immune system, sleep, and family. I love the idea of reducing the chemical load being put into our bodies and having a natural way to boost immunity. All those oils listed above come in Young Livings starter kit which is the best way to get started. There are also other kits you can choose from as well. See below picture for options.
Bonus – You will get a FREE foaming lemon hand soap when you purchase a starter kit from me the rest of May. Remember zero monthly commitment – just a community of like minded people and education waiting for you! From sleep support, stress, overwhelm, big feelings, tantrums, and so so much more. Add some calm vibes to your home!
Hi friends! It’s October, which means it’s quite possibly the most beautiful month of the year, in every area, colors, smells, temperature, etc. It doesn’t get much better than October. It does also mean the start of cold and flu season. This past month friends around me have already dealt with hand, foot and mouth disease and possibly strep. So… this post we are going to focus on THIEVES! Most of you probably know how amazing Thieves is but in case you don’t, or in case you’ve forgotten…, I’m going to remind you!
So what kinda name is Thieves for an essential oil? Well, let’s start with a bit of a history lesson.
While there are a few versions of the story they all center around one event, the Bubonic Plague. It is said that, during that time, four thieves went from house to house to rob those who had succumbed to the illness. After the thieves were captured and tried for their acts of robbery, a judge offered leniency if they would share how they were able to be around those afflicted long and often enough to rob them but not be affected by the illness. It’s interesting to note here that, during this time of the plague striking Europe, physicians were seen wearing long black robes, wide brimmed hats, and masks that appeared to have a beak. The reason for doing this is that the masks were said to have contained a combination of herbs, spices, and essential oils that the physicians would breathe in order to keep themselves safe from those afflicted with the illness. Their long black robes were also said to be doused in a similar fragrant concoction and current research continues to build upon this theory. Pretty cool, right?
Thieves essential oil
Thieves is a powerful combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils for an aromatic blend that fills any space with a rich, spicy aroma. Thieves is one of Young Living’s most popular products. There is a whole product line using this oil blend. Everything from Laundry Detergent to Hand Soap. It is a great way to go chemical free in your home while still protecting your family from the “icky’s.”
Thieves put to the test
So Weber State University conducted a study in 1997. The results showed Thieves Oil to have a 99.96% success rate against airborne bacteria. The bacteria cultures were exposed in an enclosed area and the Thieves Essential Oils blend was infused into the space. Within 10 minutes of exposure there was a reduction of:
82% in Micrococcus luteus (bacteria found in water, soil, dust & air)
96% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (sepsis)
44% in Staphylococcus aureus (staph)
Amazing, right?!? Diffuse this blend in your home everyday to keep your air “fresh.”
How to Purchase
The Thieves oil blend is included in Young Living’s Essential Oil Starter Kit! This kit gives you a diffuser and 11 oils to play with to get your chemical free journey started. To purchase click below and follow the prompts. By choosing the Membership option it will give you the best pricing and you will get to stock up on the most popular oils and a diffuser for a discounted price!
And for the month of October you will get a free bottle of Oregano oil with your starter kit purchase!!
My husband was in Utah last week for business and decided to make a visit to the Mona, Utah Young Living farm! I didn’t believe him till he video called me at the farm! I was so jealous as I have not been there yet. But he did bring me back some wonderful gifts, including fresh dried Lavender, so I can’t be too mad at him….lol
Fresh Dried Lavender…mmm
The farm is open to visitors year round. You don’t need an appointment (except for the distillery tour – it pays to call ahead), and there is a gift shop on property. Brian even got to try Lavender infused ice cream!
Since he didn’t plan ahead, he was unsure if he could get a distillery tour. But he came across a woman who was so nice and offered to give him a tour right then! Being a chemist, he was fascinated with their distillation methods, equipment and filtration room. She even showed him the lab room! He was impressed how impeccably clean everything was and how good condition the grounds were in. And everyone was so nice he said. It is definitely worth visiting and seeing first hand the seed to seal process in action.
Some fun facts about the Mona Farm:
-The farm includes nearly 1,600 acres and is home to the largest privately owned essential oil distillery in the world.
– It has been serving the local and Young Living communities since 1995.
– Many different plants are harvested here, both to be distilled into pure essential oils for our members and for botanical research.
– Lavender, Hyssop, Clary Sage, Peppermint, Goldenrod and Einkorn are the main crops grown here.
-All Young Living farms practice organic farming. No chemical fertilizers, no pesticides, even weeding is done by hand!
Pictures:
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I have been a Young Living Member for a year now and love my oils more everyday. They really have enhanced our families health, wellness and mood. And this month if you purchase a Premium Starter Kit, Young Living will give you a FREE bottle of Cedarwood Essential Oil with your order! So that is 12 oils, plus a home diffuser for only $160! The quality of these oils is amazing and their blends like Thieves, R.C. and Digize will become favorites in your household. Invest in yourself and your family. Become a Young Living Member and join the essential oil wellness movement today!
Purchase here and get your essential oil journey started!
After a year of using and loving essential oils I finally got around to hosting my first make and take party at my house Saturday night. SO much fun and I will definitely be making this a regular thing. We made Thieves Wipes, Room Freshener and Roller Balls.
A make and take is basically using your essential oils to make DIY home and body products that are natural and chemical free. They are easier than you think to make and work even better than the store bought equivalents for usually a fraction of the price.
I had bought supplies for 10 and ended up having 6 people show. So it worked out great. This time I didn’t charge to generate interest, but next time I will charge around $10-15 a person to cover costs depending on the recipes. Below is a picture of the supply table. It is always a good idea to have multiple measuring cups, spoons, etc. on hand to allow multiple people to make recipes at the same time.
My husband is an amazing chef and made some wonderful desserts for us. I only managed to get a picture of the cookies, but don’t they look divine? I also made a Limoncello Sangria that was out of this world good.
The first recipe we made was Thieves Cleaning Wipes. I used Ziplock Containers and labeled the containers with Chalkboard Labels. Here is the recipe to try yourself. It came out amazing and I have already used them to clean my kitchen sink and bathroom.
Thieves Cleaning Wipes
Ingredients:
2 Cups Vinegar
2 Cups Distilled Water
4 TB Thieves Cleaning from Young Living
1 Roll of Durable Paper Towels
Directions:
Combine vinegar, water and Thieves Cleaner in a bowl and mix.
Cut the paper towels in 1/2 (or use select a size paper towels). Pour one half of the liquid mixture over each half. Put the lid on and shake to combine.
Use to clean small messes.
Next we made a Room Spray. These came out awesome and I already have made another one as there are so many uses for these! You can use them for the bathroom, or as a linen spray, mood booster, stink eraser, etc. Versatile is the name here. I bought bottles from an online aromatherapy supply store and they worked great. Amazon would be another great place to source them from. I allowed my guests to use oils of their choice and most did 1-2 oils for a nice blend. Citrus oils are great ones to use for this and they are economical as well.
Room Spray using Essential Oils
4 oz. Glass Spray Bottle
3.5 oz. Distilled Water
Add 20 drops Essential Oils
3 tsp. Grain Alcohol, Witch Hazel, or Vodka
Combine in a spray bottle, shake and spray!
The last recipe was a make your own rollerball station. I did’t get pictures of that but it worked great. Just give guests a rollerball, 2-3 recipes to choose from, and the essential oils and carrier oil to fill the rollerball with. I bought laminated labels from an online shop, but you can easily use a label maker, chalk labels, or even a marker in a pinch to label the bottle.
Now don’t forgot to allow your guests to experience other oils and products while they are there! I had a sniff station set up for people to look at, and I had other favorite Young Living Products of mine out with literature available for people to take home.
Overall it was an awesome time and I think my next one will be a holiday themed open house concept where people can come over and make recipes up for holiday gifts, etc. Please consider holding a party yourself and just remember to have fun! It is great to get friends together to catch up and talk about a shared interest.
I don’t know about y’all, but for years I had a hard time finding facial products that actually had a good effect on my skin. Yes, I’d found some that seemed okay for a few days, but then would come that horrible day when I would wake up to discover that my skin had broken out, and I’d realize that the product I had been using had done more to clog and dry out my skin than to nourish or moisturize it.
I have tried everything from Nuetrogena to expensive brands like Boscia, Murad and Glamglow. The expensive brands worked better than the cheaper ones, but they still weren’t what I’d hoped for. My skin still broke out, and I still felt too dry or too oily. Not to mention the “wrinkles” that are beginning to crop up around my eyes, etc. I needed to find a better way!
The last few months I have been experimenting with using essential oils on my skin. First I used Frankincense with a carrier oil on my skin at night. It did help keep my skin clear and brightened my complexion. It even took away a blue beauty mark I had on my forehead! See picture below.
Blue Spot gone after applying Frankincense Oil Twice a Day on it!
Then two months ago I bought Young Living’s Essential Beauty Serum. I LOVE this product! It has great essential oils in it like Cedarwood and Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood that nourish and hydrate the skin. A bottle is only $20 too which is a steal! Since I have been using this (1-2 times a day) my skin is softer and smoother.
And now this past month I have purchased The ART Skincare System by Young Living.
Young Living recognizes the incredible power of essential oils, and uses them in all their skin care products. In the ART line they have added frankincense and sandalwood to reinforce DNA renewal and replenish the skin. They also use the legendary wolfberry seed oil, which is known for its superior moisturizing and skin conditioning properties. Add it all together and you have an amazing formula for a truly unique and effective skin care system!
The ART system comes with a cleanser, a toner and a moisturizer. You can use these products alone, or in combination with other Young Living skincare products. I am still using my Essential Beauty Serum at night and layer the moisturizer on top of that. My skin is really starting to glow and smooth out!
Your skin is your largest organ. Treat it with quality products, and natural if you can.
From a former Sephora o’holic that has tried about every skincare brand out there, trust me when I say that the ART skincare line works. I challenge anyone to try it and not like it. It stands up to the best of them – but without ALL those nasty chemicals!
If you are ready to order click the link below. It will take you to the Young Living website. Choose retail or member (best pricing) and follow the prompts.
My husband has been gluten free for over 8 years now. In the beginning we were lucky to find one gluten free flour mix at the grocery store. Now there’s pancake mixes, flour mixes, cookies and cakes… and they’re all made with gluten-free ingredients that have been deemed safe. But what if it didn’t have to so complicated?
What if eating gluten-free was as simple as choosing a better wheat flour?
Scientifically speaking of course, that can’t be true. By definition, all wheat flours – all-purpose, bread, whole wheat (hard red and soft white), spelt, kamut,, etc. – contain gluten. It’s how they were created and that’s that.
But the wheat on stores shelves today is NOT the same wheat that we once consumed long ago.
Like many other foods, wheat has been optimized for the benefit of the farmers, creating bigger yields and disease resistant crops. However, the changes that benefit the farmers could also be to blame for the recent rise of gluten-free sensitivities, intolerance and celiac disease. (source)
This is bad news across the board, whether you have food allergies or not.
A few months ago we discovered Einkorn Wheat Flour and every time we have cooked with it my husband has NOT gotten sick. This is amazing as he gets sick from food just fried in the same oil as products containing wheat! It has been life changing for us.
What Is Einkorn Wheat?
Early on in the history of wheat, Einkorn grew wild in the Far East. Soon thereafter, the first farmers began to plant and harvest Einkorn, making it one of the earliest crops. As an unmodified, ancient grain, Einkorn contains 14 chromosomes.
A little while later, Emmer spontaneously appeared. Emmer is the first hybridization of wheat, being part wild wheat and part goat grass, and contains 28 chromosomes.
Then, Spelt emerged. Spelt is a hybrid of Emmer and goat grass, intentionally bred by migrant farmers in order to keep the desirable traits of goat grass and diminish the undesirable traits of Emmer. Spelt is the second hybridization and has 42 chromosomes.
Over time, farmers bred Spelt and Emmer to create today’s Durum Wheat, Spelt and Soft Wheat. These too have 42 chromosomes and along with Hard Red Spring, are the most common varieties of wheat used in the market today.
So Einkorn grain is the oldest form of cultivated wheat. But most of the wheat that is used today is a hybrid. Hybridization can happen naturally when plants are near each other and the wind blows and cross pollinates. But that is not what we are talking about with the modern hybrid wheat. Modern wheat was engineered to have shorter stalks to create less waste and fuller heads of grain to produce more product. The problem with this hybrid wheat is that it has been engineered to contain 3 genomes and 42 chromosomes while the old Einkorn wheat only has 14 chromosomes! Those extra chromosomes create new proteins that man was never intended to consume. They are foreign to the body and can cause confusion in the digestive system.
The Effect of Einkorn Gluten Versus Modern Wheat Gluten
This gluten chart shows the low-gluten content of Einkorn Flour in comparison with other grains.
All wheat contains gluten, and gluten consists of two proteins:
gliadin (which causes the rise)
glutenin (which causes elasticity)
Most individuals with gluten issues react negatively to the gliadin.
Einkorn has a higher ratio of gliadin to glutenin, so naturally we would think that it would be far worse for individuals with gluten sensitivities than modern wheat. However, because Einkorn is not hybridized, the original DNA structure remains intact and actually helps the body to digest these gluten proteins properly.
From the way the starches in Einkorn are structured together, to the naturally high level of protein, to the ratio of soluble to insoluble proteins found in Einkorn wheat – it all remains unchanged as it was many years ago, equipping the body with the tools needed in order to break down and properly digest the grain.
So what does all this mean for you and me?
It means that people who are gluten sensitive or gluten intolerant are often able to consume Einkorn.
This does NOT mean that people with celiac disease are able to consume wheat. That is an entirely different issue.
So while einkorn flour isn’t gluten-free, it has been found to lack some of the proteins that people with gluten intolerances can’t manage to digest. So if you have a gluten sensitivity — but one not as severe as celiac disease — einkorn flour may prove a good alternative to modern flours for you.
Where to Find Einkorn
Einkorn Wheat was lost in the hubub of modern wheat for a long time, so despite being a very old grain, it’s relatively new to the current market of wheat. A few health brands carry it currently. Young Living is one of them.
They currently carry five items with Einkorn:
Einkorn Flour
Einkorn Pancake and Waffle Mix
Einkorn Spaghetti
Einkorn Rotini – NEW
Einkorn Granola – NEW
If you are interested in ordering please click here to do so. Finding this flour has been HUGE for us and I am excited to see what other products Young Living will come out with using Einkorn Flour!
Two days ago I got acupuncture again. I had gone 3 years ago to see if it would help my infertility and crazy hormone issues. After 8 weeks of treatment I stopped going but got pregnant soon after. Coincidence? Maybe. But I had never felt so “balanced” emotionally and physically and I am sure that helped get me pregnant. And after 5 years of never getting that magic pregnancy line I sure wasn’t going to complain!
So when I developed Carpal Tunnel type pain during pregnancy and it still didn’t go away after birth and after trying wrist braces, exercises, rest, etc. I went to my acupuncture lady. One treatment and the pain went away and never came back. I so wish I would have seen her sooner instead of wasting so many months dealing with the pain.
Lately I feel like my hormones are all over the place again. My cycles are spacing apart. My skin is crazy. Ever since I gave birth I feel like I am one hormone away from losing it. That or it is the lack of sleep and the fact that the bottom of my purse is now a garbage dump of half eaten goldfish crackers. Either way I feel unsettled. Unbalanced.
So this week as I laid on a table with needles poking from every limb while trying to not think about that fact, I tried to meditate on why I am feeling so crazy lately. I remember feeling free and unstoppable. Youth does that to you. When you are 20 the responsibilities of adulthood feel so far away. I didn’t think past that weekend. That summer. And what summers they were….. But now? At 37 with all the responsibilities of job and home and never ending bills…..it is enough to just give in and say “this is it.”
And as a mom to a young toddler I feel like there are a lot of expectations that you are now supposed to be just a mom. Your dreams and ambitions go on the backburner. Your life is their life. Maybe it is my mom guilt that makes me perceive this but I am just trying to balance everything the best I can. Being a mom is harder than I thought it would be. You constantly feel like you are not doing enough yet feel pulled in every direction. And as much as part of me would love to stay home all day with him the reality is I also like having a “life” outside of being a mom. Of interacting with adults and knowing TV shows other than Bubble Guppies. I didn’t get a college degree just for the hell of it. But since I graduated – 15 years ago! – I have yet to find my way, my calling. These are the thoughts bouncing around my mind while I laid there.
I love this quote as it pretty much sums up what I need to do right now.
“Be Addicted to the Feeling of Having your Shit Together.”
Now if I could only figure out how. Maybe next week’s session will uncover that…..
I heart baths. Love, love, love them. But I hate paying a ton for luxurious soaks. This DIY Milk Bath recipe is both economical and luxurious so grab a book, put on some relaxing music and get ready to soak away your troubles–all while using things you likely have in your pantry!
And hint hint….this is a GREAT gift idea to give the moms in your life for Mother’s Day!
You could do any of the following combinations – have fun with this part!
6 drops Ylang Ylang & 6 drops Lavender
6 drops Stress Away & 6 drops Orange
6 drops Peppermint & 6 drops Lime
Citrus Fresh, Peace & Calming, and Joy Essential Oil blends are other great ones to try!
DIY Milk Bath Directions:
Mix all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Add to a glass jar and cap tightly. Mason Jars are a beautiful and economical way to package this recipe. Wait 24 hours before use. The recipe can be used for 4 baths using a little less than 1/2 cup each time and can be stored for roughly 3 months.
Good morning! I thought it would be fun to invite you into my home and show you my typical oil routine. First up -Coffee!! And as I wait for my cup to brew I roll on my wrists some highest potential.
It is a blend of oils that sets my intention for the day. It combines the uplifting and inspirational qualities of Australian Blue with the power of Gathering to help bring greater unity of purpose. Jasmine is added to enhance self-confidence, while ylang ylang calms, soothes, and harmonizes.
Throughout the day it is my reminder to reach higher and think positive. I put a roller filament on the bottle so I just roll on my wrists and neck. I swear I have an extra spring in my step when I use this oil.
Who else out there has a love/hate relationship with the diaper pail? Lol. To cut down on the smell (and kill germs) when changing out liners I always spray down with the thieves spray. Awesome smell and I love that is all natural and don’t have to worry if Bryces hands go all over this diaper pail later in the day when he decides he wants to throw out his own diaper. This spray is also great for shopping carts, toilet seats, airplane trays, TV remotes….anywhere there are germs!
Hands down my favorite diffuser combo. Peppermint and Lime. Reminds me of mojitos and summer. Try it next time and see for yourself! I love diffusing my essential oils to make the whole house smell yummy while also benefiting from the aromatherapy.
Coming in from outside and washing our hands. I LOVE the thieves foaming hand soap. All natural, smells great and isn’t Bryce adorable? Lol. I am lucky that he likes to wash his hands. Even if it means him playing with the faucet for the next 5 minutes. The best part of this hand soap is it is all plant based ingredients and you can purchase a large refill jug that makes it cost effective and is environmentally friendly.
Bryce fell when he was outside so I used this great rollerball combo on him cleanse and protect the scrap he got on his knee. This rollerball is so easy to make. Take a glass roller bottle and put 10 drops each lavender and purification or tea tree. Then Just put a little carrier oil in like grape seed to help oils spread when applied. Voila! Diy boo boo stick great for kids but I use all the time too. So convenient!
I have been trying to keep my New Years Resolution to move more and eat less. I bought the Active and Fit Kit Young Living sells and LOVE both these products. The Cool Azul Sports Gel has 10% essential oils in it and the first ingredient in it is Aloe, making this product moisturizing as well as super cooling to your aching muscles and joints. And the Deep Relief oil works great as an “Icy Hot” type product. One of my good friends just ran a half marathon and the next day she had no soreness! She swears these products helped her immensely recover from the run.
Need I say more? A great combo. Also try adding a few drops of Lime Essential Oil into your fajita’s or Key Lime Pie recipes next time you make them.
My new anti-aging combo. Frankincense essential oil has helped keep my complexion clear, reducing my age spots and overall giving me a natural “glow.” I mix it with Maracuja Oil, which I love for its lightweight moisturizing properties. Living in Florida my skin doesn’t handle well heavy moisturizers. I find this combo to be working great for me currently.
Ahhh….Bedtime. I love to put two drops of Valor on my feet before bed. It really helps my mind “shut” down and go to sleep. Thank you for following along with my day and I would love to hear what essential oils you must have in your “oily” day.
If you have not purchased essential oils and are interested in doing so, I recommend the starter kit. It comes with 11 essential oils PLUS a diffuser of your choice. Click here to learn more and purchase!
Kathy Thomas 