#1 WHAT are Essential Oils? It starts with a seed! #swapped4yl

A SEED – The Starting Point - WHAT are Essential Oils?

Essential Oils start with a seed. When a friend offered an outdoor spray made from Young Living Essential Oils my eyes were opened to a chemical free lifestyle that I did not know existed. I thought we were taking care of our wellness and honoring God by caring for our bodies, but now I know about chemicals and I know better. I've spent hours reading and researching and experimenting - here's what I've learned, essentially growing from Seed - to Sprout - to Bloom - to Sharing oils. 

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?

 Essential Oils are the natural organic oils of the plant (pulled from roots, petals, rind, leaf, or bark). – some call oils the ‘lifeblood’ of the plant or the 'essence' of the plant- thus the name essential oils. 

Since Biblical times, oils have been used to support every system in the body including muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, endocrine and hormones, respiratory system and immune system. An oil in a diffuser can promote restful sleep and support respiratory function. An oil massaged on the abdomen can support digestion. Oils on the chest and feet can improve respiratory function.  Oils can be added to beauty products, household cleaners, and air fresheners to replace synthetic chemicals and fragrances. Oils can add natural flavoring in food and drinks.

I primarily use essential oils instead of store bought chemical toxins in our home. I use Thieves cleaner (a plant based cleaner) throughout our home. I diffuse an oil blend named "Raven" when our noses get stuffy from Kentucky weather changes.  I rub lavender oil and cedar wood oial on our feet at night to support sleep. I roll peppermint and lemon oil on my wrists and behind my ears when I need a boost of energy to make it through the day. 

Essential oils work by penetrating cell membranes to travel quickly in the body (something man-made medicine can't achieve). Oils are introduced into our bodies the same way as other products:

*Topically- the English primarily add to a bath, rub or massage on the skin which is our largest organ and readily absorbs what we put on it (which is why the Nicoderm and other medication patches work). Oils applied topically reach the bloodstream in 26 seconds.    

*Ingest – the French cook with oils and apply to foods/drinks (some oils are ingestible- check the label first! Young Living marks ingestible oils with a white label - like a chef's apron!)

*Inhale – the Germans diffuse oils into the air. This is a very easy way to enjoy the smell and benefits of oils (diffused in the air, sprayed like perfume or sniffed straight from the bottle). If you order a starter kit, they give you a free diffuser!!!  I have a diffuser in every room of our house and one in my office. I also have a necklace with a locket that contains a felt pad that diffuses oils throughout the day. And I have a bracelet of lava beads that also diffuse oils. Inhaled oils reach the heart, liver, and thyroid in three seconds.

There are over 300 oils, and Young Living is one of the oldest oil producers and offers the widest variety of oils, but an average family only needs 10-20 oils to build a great kit. 

So WHERE do you purchase oils?

As oils are becoming increasingly popular, they are becoming available at local drug stores, big box stores, and online retailers. As you compare products, you’ll begin to find the ones at the stores aren’t just a ‘generic’ version – but in some cases a watered down version. There’s no rating system for Essential Oils in the United States. The closest we get is an FDA requirement that in order to label a bottle of essential “pure” or “therapeutic grade”, the contents of the bottle must contain at least five percent essential oils. 

    ONLY 5%! Which means 95% can be filler. 

You can think of oils ranked as follows:

-Grade A = Therapeutic Grade oil, made from organically grown plants and distilled at low temperatures. Young Living ensures no pesticides or herbicides are used during the growing process. They have also refined the distilling process to ensure the oils don't come into contact with plastics (that would leach chemicals into the oils) or solvents. Distilling at the right temperature for the right amount of time give a quality product with the highest level of therapeutic value. Young Living leads the way in this line of research and has set the bar for other oil companies. 

-Grade B = Natural Grade Oils are food grade but may contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical extenders or carrier oils (like almond, olive or other vegetable oil).

-Grade C = Perfume Grade Oils are perfume grade, often containing other chemicals or solvents left over from the harvesting/distilling process and may be diluted 80-95% with alcohol.

-Grade D = Synthetic Grade is also called ‘floral water’ and is aromatic like an oil but usually a byproduct of a higher grade distillation (the water that is leftover after the oil is pulled out) and is sold to companies that fill bottles with 5% of this water and fill the rest with carrier products and synthetic products, but often labeled as ‘pure’.                      
         A fraction of the oil = fraction of the price! 

Another way some companies cut corners is using pesticides (to have more crop to distill), using a chemical solvent to extract oil (so there’s more oil pulled out of the plant) and then diluting with a carrier oil (to stretch the oil they distilled). If you are using oils to support healthy functions, then using a low-grade oil would be as helpful as eating a salad that is 5% greens and 95% croutons. The value is in the oil, not the filler.

WHY Young Living?

Young Living has a “Seed to Seal” guarantee which means they control the process from farmland to the sealed bottle. Founder, Gary Young, said he never makes an oil for profit- but for a purpose. Young Living’s oils are Grade A. They control the seeds used, soil/farms chosen, plants are hand-weeded, oils are used to repel bugs (not chemical/pesticides), harvested at their peak and put through vigorous testing. Learn more about the process at seedtoseal.com.  

HOW to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products:

Young Living has compiled a starter kit of the most commonly used oils and samples of their popular products, and offer this bundle at a discounted rate to get you started. Below is a picture of the bundle I started with, and it includes a diffuser of your choice, 12 oils, a sample of Thieves Household Cleaner, small bottles to mix your own blends, 2 NingXia Red antioxidant drink samples and lots of informational booklets/magazine/info cards. This is how I got started. 

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 sponsor! Enter my sponsor number # 10089755 

         Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!

Visit GraceFull Day on Twitter our Facebook Page to see how I use the oils. 
                                          #Swapped4YL 
                         Wishing you a Grace Full Day Oiling!!

3. HOW to purchase Young Living Essential Oils #Swapped4YL

Today I wanted to answer some questions about enrollment and explain the process.

*How do I purchase from YoungLiving or set up a login on the website?

At the top right of your computer screen (or the bottom of your mobile screen), there is a "Become a member" link. This will take you to a page where you choose to be a retail or wholesale member (more on these options below). Then it will take you to a page to choose a starter kit. There are various starter kits with different overall costs, so choose what makes sense for your family's WHY. Maybe it is an oil starter with the 11 oils and diffuser, or the Thieves cleaning kit, Antioxidant drink/supplement kit, or the Savy Minerals Make up kit. Here’s an easy to follow click-by-click video from Young Living that shows exactly how to sign-up on the website: https://vimeo.com/147354370

*What are the Pros and Cons? 

*What is a wholesale account?

By signing up for a wholesale account you are getting 24% off Young Living products. This is definitely the cheapest way to purchase Young Living. By being a wholesale member, you are classified as a “distributor” for Young Living. This does NOT mean you are obligated to sell – ever (seriously!! I had a wholesale account for a year before I decided to sponsor/enroll others). It DOES mean that you are agreeing to a non-compete clause; basically, you can’t sell oils or work for another wellness company while you are a distributor or for six months after terminating your agreement.

*What if I’m not sure yet, but I want to buy a couple things to test first?

If you want to just try one or two oils or products, you can sign up for a retail customer account on the website. This means paying full price, but you are free from the distributor contract.

*Why a starter kit instead of just a few oils?
 I originally planned to just sign up for a retail account and purchase the five oils that I wanted to try; however, I started adding up the costs and realized that didn’t make good financial sense. The costs of those five oils at retail would be almost the same amount as the starter kit, but I was only getting 5 oils instead of 11, and the kit has a diffuser (which was a must for me!). So this helped me choose the wholesale account.

*How much do I have to purchase? Is there a monthly/yearly minimum?

Another reason why I love Young Living- there’s NO minimum purchase and no monthly purchase requirement! To stay active as a wholesale member, just place at least one order of 50 PM (PV = Point Value, which is about $50) per YEAR. If you happen to miss the minimum yearly order, you can call customer care and reactivate your account by placing a 100PV order. The first year after getting my starter kit I purchased sporadically as I was financially able to swap chemicals out of my home and replace with Young Living products and oils. I recently realized that since I’m now placing an order every month, I’m crazy for not joining Essential Rewards Program (more below about these rewards).

*I'm sure what's holding you back from your starter kit is exactly what I wrestled with - the cost

First – I would never tell you to spend money that you don’t have. We have a family budget, and like I said before, sometimes oils were in our budget and some months they weren’t. I still make a “wish list” of oils I want and share that with my hubby and family for Birthday and Christmas gift inspiration. My main goal was to swap out chemicals from our home (read my post on why I ditched chemicals). As we ran out of an old cleaning product, I would write the product on a separate list (not my grocery list) with the amount that I would normally pay for that product next to it. I was amazed at how quickly that list reached $160, the cost of the Premium Starter Kit. So this justified that I was going to spend this money on cleaning supplies anyway -but instead of chemicals, the starter kit was able to replace all the cleaning products on my list.

Second – You can share your oily journey with friends, coworkers, family, community and social media. When others use you as an enroller/sponsor, you get a check ($50)for referring them (in Kentucky we call that a ‘bird-dog fee’). A great video to explain this compensation process is: https://youtu.be/T9Mw-e5w9DE So snap pictures to share how you use the oils or host a party to let others try the oils so they can learn more about the wellness products offered by Young Living, and you can get more money for your oily purchases. 

*Tell me more about the Essential Rewards program

This is an optional program that gives enrollees free oils, reduced shipping, and other promotions as a Thank You for purchasing monthly (which is how I’m able to build an oil stockpile on a budget!). Some products, like vitamins, come in about a 30 day supply so you can place these items on monthly auto purchase through Essential Rewards. But the order is also fully customizable so you can change the products you order each month, change the amount you spend, and even change the date that the order is placed. You can also cancel this program at any time. Again - you are not required to purchase particular products, but of course the more you spend the more promotional items you earn. After being on the rewards program for 3 months you'll find an extra oil as a "thank you" in your order. They give free oils at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. This is like doing your grocery list – but delivered to your door!  For more about Essential Rewards visit the Young Living Essential Rewards FAQ Page

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 the link below to sign up.

Use this link to Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!

Share your oily journey with me! #Swapped4YL
Or PM me on our Facebook page
Visit my Pinterest boards for oily recipes and YouTube videos of recipes!

2. WHY Essential Oils? Well, here's my story- #Swapped4YL

WHY I ditched chemicals and choose Essential Oils from Young Living

After reading my last post about "WHAT are Essential Oils", I want you to know WHY I choose Young Living.

The WHY is what makes a seed grow to a sprout!

My WHY came in several layers – here are the highlights:

*Because I don’t like to see toddlers with skin irritation and rashes! In 2013 we were blessed with a spirited little girl and this was the first time I thought about the chemicals in our home. We washed her clothes in Dreft and bathed her in Johnson & Johnson – I was uneducated about chemicals at that time and thought I was protecting her by buying name brand bottles with a picture of a cute baby on the front – but this was ultimately a failure (more about this later!)  Fast forward to summer with a two-year-old. She’s a mermaid at heart so I stocked up on sunscreen to protect her baby skin in and out of the water. Then this --

She developed a rash that covered her arms, chest, and legs. (A fine prickly rash that turns red with any scratching and in the heat) This meant a trip to our pediatrician who told me this rash was more prevalent each year, with several cases of this same rash already this summer. She said, “I bet you use Coppertone Water Babies sunscreen”. I was shocked – “yes…” (but how did she know that?!?!). She went on to explain that sunscreen companies have been increasing the amount of a known allergen ingredient called “Oxybenzone”. The chemicals cause such irritation and rashes. I was a little skeptical of her quick diagnoses, but the rash was localized on the places we applied sunscreen all weekend. Hum… On the ride home I kept thinking, “this doesn’t make any sense, I’m buying the name brand, and higher cost, sunscreen – how can this be?”  A few quick Google searches later and I was astonished. Apparently, the product I was rubbing into my child’s skin was hazardous – I had NO idea. But I was determined to learn more.

* Because I can not trust a product to be safe just because a store sells it!

 Next, I downloaded the Healthy Living App by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Think Dirty App. I love these apps because they allow you to scan the barcode of products in your home and see an overall score of the safety of the product. The apps also lists out the individual ingredients and rates each ingredient. So, I scanned our sunscreen bottle and found this:

This sunscreen, marketed for babies and children, contains chemicals I wouldn't want on my own skin! That led to me scanning lotions, shampoos, bubble bath, hand soaps, body wash, laundry detergent, shower cleaner, dishwasher detergent, all-purpose spray cleaner, face wash, hand sanitizer, air freshener, candles and eventually every product in our cabinets, on the sink, and in the shower. I began to realize that a label of ‘gentle’ or ‘natural’ or even ‘dermatologist tested’ means NOTHING about the safety of the product or ingredients. I sat feeling tricked and frustrated by these high priced household products- but I emerged feeling determined to find better and safer options for our family.

* Because if other countries have banned the chemicals, then I’m banning them from our home! 

I began reading more articles and studies shared by the EWG (their website and Facebook Page keep me informed) and the more I learned, the angrier I became. Other countries have banned over 1,000 chemicals from everyday products - the US has only banned 11 -yes eleven!!!! AND the US allows companies to 'hide' chemicals in our products because they consider "fragrance" to be a proprietary blend that doesn't have to be disclosed. Remember that Johnson & Johnson soap that I was using on our child? That exact bottle of soap was banned in other countries because of the harsh ingredients! AND the companies know this and in order to distribute their product overseas they make a safer version – but continued producing the cheaper and hazardous version to sell here in the USA. WHAT?!?  [now recently some companies began changing the formulas for the USA. Read about Johnson & Johnson making changes here]

Want to know more about products and ingredients that are banned overseas but sold in the US?  Here's an article from SafeCosmetics.org and another from Beauty Counter   And - if that's not frustrating enough - you'll hate to know that sometimes looking at a label isn’t enough. For an eye opener about candles www.worldwatch.org where they report an independent lab studied 14 common air fresheners including “sprays, gels and plug-in air fresheners” and found big problems. “Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of phthalates or hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a particular health risk to babies and young children, in 12 of the 14 products- including those marked as ‘all natural’.” Furthermore, “none of the products had these chemicals listed on their labels.”  Ugh!! So without a hesitation, I’ll swap those air fresheners for my oils to freshen and purify the air.  

*Because there’s a better way

While at a friend’s house for a cookout, the bugs began showing up around dusk as they do in Kentucky. As the children ran in the grass playing, I began dreading the complaints of itchy spots that would happen tomorrow. I didn’t bring any spray with me, but even if I did, I wasn’t sure if was better to expose them to bug bites or chemicals. Then a friend called her children over and pulled out a brown glass spray bottle and began spraying their legs. She caught me staring and said – “Oh, if it’s okay I’ll spray the other kiddos too”. I must have looked confused because she quickly began explaining that her spray is a mixture of water, witch hazel, and essential oils. She began telling me about oils, some of the benefits, some of the products she makes with oils, and then about Young Living’s Seed to Seal promise. The smell was nice, and the best part was the lack of itching the next day! Hum…These oils definitely warranted more research.    

* Because chemicals don’t just affect our child, but me too

I was just starting to immerse and sort out all the information about household chemicals and essential oils when we began trying to expand our family. After over six months and no positive pregnancy test, I met with my doctor and tests showed there were cysts on my ovaries. Hum…ovarian cysts were something I knew very little about, and I never experienced in the past. So my research began! I learned that these household chemicals not only cause skin irritation but disrupt the endocrine system. Then I began a lot of research on the endocrine system and found that endocrine disorders include diabetes, thyroid issues, reproductive issues, sleep disorders, mood disorders, weight issues, and a host of other hormone-related problems. Further research led me to read “The Ultimate PCOS Detox Guide for Enhanced Fertility” (it was a great Amazon Kindle deal). The book states “Learn how to reduce PCOS symptoms and Increase Fertility by Detoxing your Diet and Environment”.

This book names and explains all kinds of common chemicals that should be avoided. Honestly – when I read this I was totally overwhelmed. The names of the chemicals seemed to be 10 syllable, unpronounceable words, and there were pages of them. How can I possibly remember these names and recognize them in an ingredient list with all the other unpronounceable chemicals in my products? I remembered my EWG and Think Dirty app and began scanning the couple products I use every day and compared the list of ingredients to the list in the book. I was relieved to find the EWG app was already locating these risky ingredients and marking them as such – so I didn’t have any additional memorization work to do! And because of the explanations in the book, I better understood the possible effects these chemicals were having on my body -but I still wasn't ready to part with my favorite bleach cleaner and clinical strength deodorant.       

Before my follow-up appointment to check the cysts again, I finally got that positive pregnancy test. I continued life as normal, but unfortunately ten weeks later I miscarried. This was my FINAL wake-up call! My WHY was apparent! I HAD to take control and make some changes to support my family’s wellness. 

* Because we are in charge of our own wellness

Throughout this process, I learned ALOT about the chemicals in my home, and I was appalled and angry. One startling statistic says only 5% of cancers are hereditary, while the rest are results of exposure to cell-damaging factors such as chemicals. I know I can't protect my family from EVERYTHING, but I am the grocery shopper, I paid our hard earned money and brought all these products into our home. I wanted to grab a trash bag and throw it ALL away (and I did immediately throw away a few items that I found particularly appalling). But I needed to start slowly swapping out chemicals and bringing in safer products. I decided that when a bottle was empty, I would NOT put it on the grocery list, but instead swap it for a Young Living product or something I make with clean products and essential oils.

This was the start of my oily journey! I logged onto YoungLiving.com and signed up for a wholesale membership and purchased a premium starter kit. I received eleven oils and a diffuser (with lots of extra samples and info cards included) that allowed me to begin making my own products and allowed me to swap several things right away (and the diffuser is better than any candle or melt!) I quickly bought Thieves cleaner and fell in love. Then Savvy Minerals makeup and more.

So now, when I hear a friend talk about her child’s sensitive skin, husbands sleep issues, or continued illness, I wonder ‘what if they knew what I know about chemicals – would their wellness improve?” Or when a friend describes her own struggle with thyroid issues and weight, reproductive issues, or the worst diagnoses of cancer,  I wonder ‘what if she knew what I know about chemicals – would her wellness improve?”   

*Now it’s time to inventory yourself and find your WHY. What areas need improvement in your life?
Are the products you are paying for, in your cabinets, honoring your WHY? (Get the app and start scanning!)

We can no longer believe that everything sold in our local store (or online store) is safe. We must flip over boxes of snacks, drinks, food products, cosmetics, baby products, cleaning supplies and medications to read ingredients. Young Living is aware of the risks and does not produce products based on old procedures or cost saving gimmicks. They are a total wellness company helping your family stay above the line of wellness. You can buy safer and organic products, but if they don't contain essential oils, then you aren't getting the benefits to your body systems. See below about how to signup for Young Living and begin swapping chemicals out of your home.  #Swapped4YL

     Young Living also produces cleaners, detergent, soap, tooth paste, sunscreen, deodorant, baby wipes, etc. in case you don’t desire the adventure of making it yourself. (See my other posts and videos to see the products I make for our home)

Don’t just take my word, for more WHY stories and outcomes, visit:

www.oil-testimonials.com     YLSearch.com      PubMed.gov

Ready to start your oily journey?  Here's how to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products:

Young Living has compiled several starter kits, all costing $160. There's a cleaning kit, makeup kit, antioxidant drink kit, and an oil kit. I started with the Premium Starter Kit which includes a diffuser, 11 oils, a sample of household cleaner, sample packaged oils, small bottles to mix your own blends or share the oils, 2 NingXia Red drink samples and lots of informational booklets/magazine/info cards. 
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 sponsor! When you make your purchase, just enter my sponsor number # 10089755

Watch this video to show you step by step how to sign up and use this link to Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!  I'll shoot you a welcome email after you sign up and we'll get going!

Visit GraceFull Day on Twitter @Gracefu11_ or Facebook Page
Share your WHY story!   #Swapped4YL

Dryer Sheets swapped for wool dryer balls #Swapped4YL

This week we are talking about one of the first things I ditched to rid our home of unnecessary chemicals - 

Dryer Sheets

Did you know that dryer sheets aren't required to list ingredients? Yup! Several studies have determined dryer sheets contain chemicals that are known ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS (endocrine system includes: hormones, blood sugar, thyroid, weight management, fertility and more). The chemicals also inflame asthma issues, headaches and irritate skin.

There's a cheaper and better way!! 

I switched our family to wool dryer balls. (There's an affiliate link to the ones like we got on Amazon on the right of this page) Our clothes come out dry and fluffy, just like before, but without the chemicals. I add Young Living lavender essential oil when washing PJ's and towels, purification blend for a smelly load, gentle baby for the kiddos, and I can change the scents to match the mood or season. I've not missed the dryer sheets at all- nor the cost! 

Please - DO YOUR RESEARCH, check the brand you are using on EWG.org site and see how it ranks. I did my research and determined they aren't worth the cost or risk to my family. You can read more details about our health issues and WHY we decided to ditch household chemicals in my "WHY" post.

Here's a few articles to answer your questions about dyer sheets and how they affect you, the kiddos and even pets: from Dr. Axe, from Healthy Living, & The Spruce.

Ditch the Chemicals and swap for Young Living Essential Oils! 

Young Living sells chemical free cleaners, laundry detergent, soap, tooth paste, sunscreen, deodorant, baby wipes, etc. in case you don’t desire the adventure of making it yourself. (See my other posts and videos to see the products I make for our home)

Want to know what others are saying about oils? These websites provide more info and outcomes: www.oil-testimonials.com     YLSearch.com      PubMed.gov

Ready to start your oily journey?  
Here's how to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products: 
I started with the Young Living starter kit. This kit contains the most commonly used oils, a diffuser, and samples of their popular products. The Premium Starter Kit includes: a diffuser of your choice, 11 oils, sample packaged oils, small bottles to mix your own blends or share the oils, 2 NingXia Red drink samples and lots of informational booklets/magazine/info cards. 

To become a Young Living member you must have a current member to Enroll/Sponsor you. Your sponsor is there to answer your questions, 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  
Watch this video on Vimeo to show you click-by-click process to sign up, then use this link to actually Purchase your starter kit and get oiling!   #Swapped4YL

2nd - WHY I Ditched Chemicals and Choose Essential Oils - SPROUT

WHY I ditched chemicals and choose Essential Oils

After learning what Essential Oils are, I'll share my WHY.
This is WHY I choose to swap out chemicals for oils in our home.

The WHY is what makes a seed grow to a sprout!

My WHY came in several layers – here are the highlights:

*Because I don’t like to see toddlers with skin irritation and rashes! In 2013 we were blessed with a spirited little girl and this was the first time I thought about the chemicals in our home. We washed her clothes in Dreft and bathed her in Johnson & Johnson – I was uneducated about chemicals at that time and thought I was protecting her by buying name brand bottles with a picture of a cute baby on the front – but this was ultimately a failure (more about this later!)  Fast forward to summer with a two-year-old. She’s a mermaid at heart so I stocked up on sunscreen to protect her baby skin in and out of the water. Then this --

She developed a rash that covered her arms, chest, and legs. (Kinda hard to see in this picture but it's a fine prickly rash that turns red with any scratching and in the heat) This meant a trip to our pediatrician who told me this rash was more prevalent each year, with several cases of this same rash already this summer. She said, “I bet you use Coppertone Water Babies sunscreen”. I was shocked – “yes…” (but how did she know that?!?!). She went on to explain that sunscreen companies have been increasing the amount of a known allergen ingredient called “Oxybenzone”. The chemicals cause such irritation and rashes. I was a little skeptical of her quick diagnoses, but the rash was localized on the places we applied sunscreen all weekend. Hum… On the ride home I kept thinking, “this doesn’t make any sense, I’m buying the name brand, and higher cost, sunscreen – how can this be?”  A few quick Google searches later and I was astonished. Apparently, the product I was rubbing into my child’s skin was hazardous – I had no idea.  And- when we stopped using the sunscreen the rash went away. 

* Because I can not trust a product to be safe just because a store sells it!

 Next, I downloaded the Healthy Living App by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I love this app because it allows you to scan the barcode of products in your home and see an overall score of the safety of the product. The app also lists out the individual ingredients and rates each ingredient. So, I scanned our sunscreen bottle and found this:

This sunscreen, marketed for babies and children, contains chemicals I wouldn't want on my own skin! That led to me scanning lotions, shampoos, bubble bath, hand soaps, body wash, laundry detergent, shower cleaner, dishwasher detergent, all-purpose spray cleaner, face wash, hand sanitizer, air freshener, candles and eventually every product in our cabinets, on the sink, and in the shower. I began to realize that a label of ‘gentle’ or ‘natural’ or even ‘dermatologist tested’ means NOTHING about the safety of the product or ingredients. I sat feeling tricked and frustrated by these high priced household products- but I emerged feeling determined to find better and safer options for our family.

* Because if other states or countries have banned the chemicals, then I’m banning them from our home! 

I began reading more articles and studies shared by the EWG (their website and Facebook Page keep me informed) and the more I learned, the angrier I got. Other countries have banned over 1,000 chemicals from everyday products - the US has only banned 11!!!! AND the US allows companies to 'hide' chemicals in our products because they consider "fragrance" to be a proprietary blend that doesn't have to be disclosed.  Remember that Johnson & Johnson soap that I was using on our child? That exact bottle of soap was banned in other countries because of the harsh ingredients! AND the companies know this and in order to distribute their product overseas they make a safer version – but continued producing the cheaper and hazardous version to sell here in the USA. WHAT?!?  [now recently some companies began changing the formulas for the USA. Read about Johnson & Johnson making changes here]

Want to know more about products and ingredients that are banned overseas but sold in the US?  Here's an article from SafeCosmetics.org and another from Beauty Counter   And - if that's not frustrating enough - you'll hate to know that sometimes looking at a label isn’t enough. For an eye opener about candles www.worldwatch.org where they report an independent lab studied 14 common air fresheners including “sprays, gels and plug-in air fresheners” and found big problems. “Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of phthalates or hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a particular health risk to babies and young children, in 12 of the 14 products- including those marked as ‘all natural’.” Furthermore, “none of the products had these chemicals listed on their labels.”  Ugh!! So without a hesitation, I’ll swap those air fresheners for my oils to freshen and purify the air.  

*Because there’s a better way

While at a friend’s house for a cookout, the bugs began showing up around dusk. As the children ran in the grass playing, I began dreading the complaints of itchy spots that would happen tomorrow. I didn’t bring any spray with me, but even if I did, I wasn’t sure if was better to expose them to bug bites or chemicals. Then a friend called her children over and pulled out a brown glass spray bottle and began spraying their legs. She caught me staring and said – “Oh, if it’s okay I’ll spray the other kiddos too”. I must have looked confused because she quickly began explaining that her spray is a mixture of water, witch hazel, and essential oils. She began telling me about oils, some of the benefits, some of the products she makes with oils, and then about Young Living’s Seed to Seal guarantee. The smell was nice, and the best part was the lack of itching the next day. Hum…The oils definitely warranted more research.    

* Because chemicals don’t just affect our child, but me too

I was just starting to immerse and sort out all this information about household chemicals and essential oils when we began trying to have another child. After over six months and no positive pregnancy test, I met with my doctor and tests showed there were cysts on my ovaries. Hum…ovarian cysts were something I knew very little about. So my research began! I learned that these household chemicals not only cause skin irritation but disrupt the endocrine system. Then I began a lot of research on the endocrine system and found that endocrine disorders include diabetes, thyroid issues, reproductive issues, sleep disorders, mood disorders, weight issues, and a host of other hormone related problems. Basically, while my daughter was having inflammation on the outside of her body, I was having inflammation on the inside, where it was unseen. Further research led me to read “The Ultimate PCOS Detox Guide for Enhanced Fertility”.  The book states “Learn how to reduce PCOS symptoms and Increase Fertility by Detoxing your Diet and Environment”.

This book names and explains all kinds of common chemicals that should be avoided. Honestly – when I read this part, I was totally overwhelmed. The names of the chemicals seemed to be 10 syllable unpronounceable words, and there were pages of them. How can I possibly remember these names and recognize them in an ingredient list with all the other unpronounceable chemicals in my products? I remembered my EWG app and began scanning the couple products I use every day and compared the list of ingredients to the list in the book. I was relieved to find the EWG app was already locating these risky ingredients and marking them as such – so I didn’t have any additional work to do! And because of the explanations in the book, I better understood the possible effects these chemicals were having on my body and began trashing the products I needed to avoid.       

Before my follow-up appointment to check the cysts again and talk about a game plan, I finally got that positive test. But unfortunately ten weeks later I miscarried. We were devastated and will always wonder 'what if'. This loss was my final wake-up call! My WHY was clear. I want to spare others from the experiences we had! I have the knowledge of the changes we need to make, now I HAD to take control and make the changes to support my family’s wellness. 

* Because we are in charge of our own wellness

Throughout this process, I learned about the chemicals in my home, and I was appalled and angry. I am the grocery shopper, I paid our hard earned money and brought all these products into our home. I wanted to grab a trash bag and throw it ALL away (and I did immediately throw away a few items that I found particularly appalling). But I needed to start slowly swapping out chemicals and bringing in safer products. Baby steps, baby steps, one month at a time. I decided that when a bottle/box was empty, I WOULD NOT put it on the grocery list, but instead swap it for something approved by EWG or something homemade.   #Swapped4YL

This was the start of my oily journey. I logged onto Young Living and signed up for a wholesale membership and purchased a starter kit. I received eleven oils and a diffuser (with lots of extra samples and info cards included) that allowed me to begin making my own products and allowed me to swap several things right away (and the diffuser is better than any candle or melt!)

So now when I hear a friend talk about her child’s sensitive skin, sleep issues, or continued illness, I wonder ‘what if they knew what I know about chemicals – would their wellness improve?” Or when a friend describes her own struggle with thyroid issues and weight, experiences a miscarriage, or  hears the word cancer,  I wonder ‘what if she knew what I know about chemicals – would her wellness improve?” 

In the book Gameplan, author and YL leader Sarah Harnisch shares: "The number 2 cause of death in the United States is cancer. 1,620 people a day die of cancer. 1 in 3 cases in the US are directly linked to poor diet, physical inactivity, weight, or chemical exposure. The American Cancer Society says only 5 to 10 percent of all cancer cases are from gene defects. 5 percent. That means 95 percent of cancer cases are under our control. It's what we allow into our homes." She goes on to explain that "There are 100-thousand chemicals on the market today. The Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 grandfathered them in. What does that mean to you? Simply put: these chemicals have not had any safety testing, and we know very little information about their side effects. Dr. Samuel Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, says "it is unthinkable that women would knowingly inflict such exposures on their infants and children and themselves if products were routinely labeled with explicit warnings of cancer risk. But they are not labeled." 
  

*Now it’s time to inventory yourself and find your WHY. What areas need improvement in your life?
Are the products you are paying for, in your cabinets, honoring your WHY?

We can no longer believe that everything sold in our local store (or online store) is safe. We must flip over boxes of snacks, drinks, food products, cosmetics, baby products, cleaning supplies and medications to read ingredients. Young Living is aware of the risks and does not produce products based on old procedures or cost saving gimmicks. They are a total wellness company helping your family stay above the line of disease. Two months after getting my starter kit,  I found out I was pregnant. This baby will never have to experience the harsh soaps or chemicals we unknowingly exposed to our first child.

     Young Living also sells their own cleaners, detergent, soap, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, baby wipes, etc. in case you don’t desire the adventure of making it yourself. (See my other posts and videos to see the products I make for our home)

Don’t just take my word, for more WHY stories and outcomes, visit:

www.oil-testimonials.com     YLSearch.com      PubMed.gov

Ready to start your oily journey?  Here's how to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products:

Young Living has compiled a starter kit of the most commonly used oils with samples of their popular products and offer this bundle at a discounted rate to get you started. The Premium Starter Kit includes a diffuser, 11 oils, sample packaged oils, small bottles to mix your own blends or share the oils, 2 NingXia Red drink samples and lots of informational booklets/magazine/info cards. 
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  
Be sure to include your correct email so I can send you a promotional $20 Amazon Gift Card! You can use this card right away to order spray bottles, roller bottles, and carrier oils so you'll be ready to oil when your kit arrives! 

Watch this video on Vimeo to show you click-by-click process to sign up, then use this link to actually Purchase your starter kit and get oiling! See my other posts for more info!

                                    Share your WHY story with #Swapped4YL

1st - WHAT Are Essential Oils? - It all starts with a SEED!

A SEED – The Starting Point - WHAT are Essential Oils?

Essential Oils start with a seed. I remember when I first heard of Essential Oils (I was in the seed stage) and I had no idea what oils are or how to use them. 

I always felt we were living a healthy lifestyle with an attempt to honor God by caring for the gifts He graced us with. But when a friend offered use of her bug spray made from Young Living Essential Oils my eyes were opened to a chemical free lifestyle that I did not know existed. I've spent hours reading and researching and experimenting -
here's what I've learned, essentially growing from Seed - to Sprout - to Bloom - to Sharing oils. 

WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL OILS?

 Essential Oils are the natural organic oils of the plant (pulled from roots, petals, rind, leaf, or bark). – some call oils the ‘lifeblood’ of the plant or the 'essence' of the plant- thus the name essential oils. 

Since Biblical times, oils have been used to support every system in the body including muscular system, skeletal system, circulatory system, endocrine and hormones, respiratory system and immune system. An oil in a diffuser can promote restful sleep and support respiratory function. An oil massaged on the abdomen can support digestion. Oils can be substituted in beauty products, household cleaners, and as a flavoring in food/drinks to replace synthetics and chemicals. 

You can use oil to swap out chemical toxins in your home and live a cleaner/purer lifestyle. This is why I'm hooked on oils!  (Check out my post on MY ‘WHY' Oils story)

Essential oils penetrate cell membranes to travel quickly in the body. Oils are introduced into our bodies the same way as other products:

*Topically- the English primarily add to a bath, rub or massage on the skin which is our largest organ and readily absorbs what we put on it (which is why the Nicoderm and other medication patches work). Oils applied topically reach the bloodstream in 26 seconds.    

*Ingest – the French cook with oils and apply to foods/drinks (some oils are ingestible- check the label first!)

*Inhale – the Germans diffuse oils into the air. This is a very easy way to enjoy the smell and benefits of oils (diffused in the air, sprayed like perfume or sniffed straight from the bottle). I have a locket necklace containing a felt pad that diffuses applied oils throughout the day. Inhaled oils reach the heart, liver, and thyroid in three seconds.

There are over 300 oils, but an average family only needs 10-20 to build a great kit. 

So WHERE do you purchase oils?

As oils are becoming increasingly popular, they are becoming available at local drug stores, big box stores, and online retailers. As you compare products, you’ll begin to find the ones at the stores aren’t just a ‘generic’ version – but in some cases a watered down version. There’s no rating system for Essential Oils in the United States. The closest we get is an FDA requirement that in order to label a bottle of essential “pure” or “therapeutic grade”, the contents of the bottle must contain at least five percent essential oils. 

    ONLY 5%! Which means 95% can be filler. 

Globally, oils are ranked as follows:

-Grade A = Therapeutic oil, made from organically grown plants and distilled at low temperatures.

-Grade B = Oils are food grade but may contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers, chemical extenders or carrier oils (like almond, olive or other vegetable oil).

-Grade C = Oils are perfume grade, often containing other chemicals or solvents left over from the harvesting/distilling process and may be diluted 80-95% with alcohol.

-Grade D = This is called ‘floral water’ and is aromatic like an oil but usually a byproduct of a higher grade distillation (the water that is leftover after the oil is pulled out) and is sold to companies that fill bottles with 5% of this water and fill the rest with carrier, and label it as ‘pure’.                                            A fraction of the oil = fraction of the price! 

Another way some companies cut corners is using pesticides (to have more crop to distill), using a chemical solvent to extract oil (so there’s more oil pulled out of the plant) and then diluting with a carrier oil (to stretch the oil they distilled). If you are using oils to support healthy functions, then using a low-grade oil would be as helpful as eating a salad that is 5% greens and 95% croutons. The value is in the oil, not the filler.

WHY Young Living?

Young Living has a “Seed to Seal” guarantee which means they control the process from farm land to the sealed bottle. Founder, Gary Young, said he never makes an oil for profit- but for a purpose. Young Living’s oils are Grade A. They control the seeds used, soil/farms chosen, plants are hand-weeded (no chemical/pesticides), harvested at their peak and put through vigorous testing. Learn more about the process at seedtoseal.com.  

HOW to purchase Young Living Essential Oils and Oil products:

Young Living has compiled a starter kit of the most commonly used oils and samples of their popular products, and offer this bundle at a discounted rate to get you started. Below is a picture of the bundle I started with, and it includes the Home diffuser, 11 oils, sample packaged oils, small bottles to mix your own blends or share the oils, 2 NingXia Red drink samples and lots of informational booklets/magazine/info cards. 

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 the link below to sign up.  
Be sure to include your correct email so I can send you a promotional $20 Amazon Gift Card (this is a limited time offer as a promotional to kicking off my Facebook page)! You can use this card right away to order spray bottles, roller bottles, and carrier oils so you'll be ready to oil when your kit arrives!

Watch this video to show you step by step how to sign up and use this link to Purchase your starter kit and get oiling! For more info about how to enroll - see my detailed post of the Pros and Cons of Enrolling with Young Living. 

Visit GraceFull Day on Twitter @Gracefu11_ or Facebook Page @Gracefullday  and my videos on Vimeo to see how I use the oils. 
  Wishing you a Grace Full Day Oiling!!