5. Oil Everyday & Bloom Wellness! #Swapped4YL

Essential Oils have arrived at your home!

Oil Everyday & BLOOM into Wellness!

First a quick confession! - When my oils arrived, I was ready to open every single one and fall in love. However, I actually only loved the smell of about half the bottles. Before you put the oils on a shelf - you need to know that most oils do not smell like the chemical perfumes or air fresheners that we have become accustomed. I now realize it was like I'd been eating Fruity Pebbles and then tried to eat an orange and expected the same flavor. Oils are natural, they don't smell just like chemical fragrances, and it takes a little time for your nose to adjust and appreciate. Just like an orange, which tastes sweet by nature, you will learn to love the organic scents over the chemical ones. So give your nose a chance to detox and acclimate. Like trying a new food or exercise, you will find it different at first, but then you will enjoy and eventually crave it - Especially when the benefits are undeniable! 

Time to rip open your premium starter kit! And crack the lid on each oil! You will find that oils smell slightly different straight from the bottle than on your skin or in a diffuser (Google "essential oil top notes" to understand this). First, pull all the bottles from the container and smell each one from the bottle. If one oil stands out as your favorite today, set it to the side. Next take the dropper lid off the bottle of Stress Away and add the roller ball lid and roll it across your wrists, neck, and/or spine as you explore your starter kit box. (Here's how to remove the bottle lids:  https://youtu.be/Vs4Gig4WVuk)



Next, open your diffuser! Plug it in, fill with water, and add two drops of the oil you noted as your favorite today. (I recommend you find a YouTube video about your particular diffuser as there are lots of options and the lights can be controlled too, but each model varies slightly) 

Make a commitment to diffuse every day and get to know your oils! Start with the ones that smell best to you. Then begin diffusing for a purpose, to support the system that needs it most. Maybe RC for respiratory support, or Digize for tummy support. We use lavender at night to unwind and Purification is great to cover crazy pet or kitchen smells. After diffusing each oil individually, begin mixing the single oils to make your own blends. I love a drop of lemon and peppermint in the morning or right after work for a pick me up. My husband likes a drop of Thieves with a drop of lemon. There are endless combinations! 

Next, open the small amber colored sample bottles that came in your kit (yeah- they seem tiny, but you'll love em!).  This is the best way to get oils in multiple locations so they are ready to use. Pull out those recipes you want to try and make a few tiny trial bottles. This is where you feel a little strange - like your one unicorn hair away from being a potion mixer - its okay! You'll get more comfortable dropping oils soon!  Start by adding a few (3-6) drops of lavender to a bottle and fill the remainder with a carrier oil and place it next to your bed. At bedtime drop a few drops on your wrists, feet or pillow. Then put a couple drops each of peppermint, frankincense, and lavender into a bottle and fill with a carrier oil. I keep this mixture in my purse and add to my temples, neck and behind my ears when my head gets foggy or needs support. Also, mix a couple drops of lemon with a couple drops of peppermint or purification and fill with a carrier oil. This one is great for a pick-me-up to smell as I drive home and it really freshens the car too!

Time to start making changes – baby steps. Young Living will be for your household wellness what Dave Ramsey was for your bank account. Decide where to start and make a few changes each month.  There may be products that you feel particularly convicted of ridding from your home and thus decide to swap for something better right away. (For me- it was dryer sheets!)
So when a product runs out

1. before getting rid of the empty bottle, look at the ingredient list
2. scan it with the "Healthy Living" or "Think Dirty" App and see how it rates
3. decide if it is a product that you will let back into your home, or if it needs to be swapped for something better

Next, start a swap box. I put an empty Amazon box in my laundry room and wrote "Swapped" on the side. I began filling the box with products I didn't want to purchase again. First was bug spray. Then chemical filled deodorant. Then shower cleaner. Then spray fabric refresher. Then countertop cleaner. Then Vicks. Then Tums. Then car air fresheners. Then hand sanitizers. And the list continued as the box began to overflow. Some items were easier for me to part with than others...and eventually, my 'smell good' body lotion/sprays, plug-ins and finally fancy candles were tossed into the box too. There was a part of me that didn't want to truly trash anything because 'what-if I need it again' or 'what if the natural products just don't work the same', or 'what if I can't afford the natural ones'. So putting items in this box, instead of the trash, gave me a backup plan if I decided to abort the oily mission.  But guess how many items I pulled back out of the box...NONE!  Now, the box serves as a visual of the products I've swapped and thus a reminder of the steps we've made towards a chemical free home.

Here's a quick rundown of some of my swaps and DIYs:

*Trashed plastic shower curtains and purchased cloth shower curtains

*Trashed dryer sheets and now put essential oils on these wool dryer balls (affiliate link)

*"Monster bedtime spray" for the kiddo's rooms

*'Summer outdoor spray"
*"Fruit and Veggie wash"

* 'face moisturizer'

* 'Body Butter' lotion (used throughout my second pregnancy and still use because I love it!)

* Lavender roller for bedtime
*Add couple drops of lavender to mascara for lash boost
*Homemade hand soap
*Purchased Thieves household cleaner from youngliving.com, then made into several spray bottles to keep strategically around the house

*Made peppermint sugar hand scrubs for Christmas gifts (in cute mason jars!)

*Added a few drops of lavender and peppermint to a mason jar of Epsom salt for a bath soak

*Purchased a diffuser necklace & bracelet to keep me oily at work
*Put vinegar in a spray bottle and added a couple drops of lemon for a window cleaner the kids can use
*Put drop of Purification in vacuum filter before use to freshen the room

The list goes on and on as I continue to find new recipes by reading oily blogs, searching Pinterest boards, and listening to oily podcasts.

Use your oils every day! 

If you want a quick and easy read about using your starter kit and why to ditch chemicals- pick up the book "Fearless" on Amazon (or order a Premium Starter Kit and use my sponsor # and I'll send you this book for free!) It's a great guide to playing with your starter kit!

You can also find more info at Young Living University which covers all you'll want to know about oils!

CONGRATULATIONS on making baby steps towards a chemical free life of wellness for your family! 

If you haven't ordered your starter kit, follow the info below, or read my full article on "How to Purchase Young Living Oils and Products"    Ready to start your oily journey? 

To become a Young Living member you must have a current member to Enroll/Sponsor you. Oils come with a learning curve, so your sponsor is there to share their experience and offer ideas to effectively use the oils.

I would love to be your Young Living sponsor/enroller!

Enter my sponsor number # 10089755 or
just use this link to Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!

Find more by Google searching #Swapped4YL
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