Jumping into Essential Oils

I recently took the dive into essential oils.  I have friends and family members who use them, and was always hearing about their many uses.  I loved that they provided natural alternatives to modern day medicines and cleaners, and really wanted to try them out for myself.  I did a bit of research (and honestly, by a "bit" I really do mean only a "bit"), but mostly asked around.  Most everyone I knew used Young Living, so I went ahead and decided on that brand.

When my husband received a Christmas bonus, I used a small chunk of it to purchase our starter kit as a "wholesale member."  This is key...you get BIG savings as a wholesale member, and you DO NOT have to sell anything.  This option allows you to sell if you want to, but you can also just use it for yourself, which is what I'm doing.  You get a 25% discount on anything you buy as a wholesale member.

The starter kit I purchased is pictured above.  It is called the "Premium Starter Kit with Bamboo Diffuser" and cost me $160 (I think $180 after shipping and sales tax).  It included the Everyday Oil collection, which has: Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil), Peppermint, Joy, Purification, Pan Away, Thieves, and Stress Away.  It also came with Citrus Fresh, one roller fitment, a handful of sample packets, and the bamboo diffuser.  They do have smaller and less expensive starter kits, too.

The Everyday oils kit when purchased alone (without a wholesale account) is $163.  The diffuser alone is regularly $117.  So, as you can see, if you are at all interested in purchasing some oils, you might as well sign up as a wholesale member and basically get your diffuser for free and then a 25% discount on anything else you might want!  Totally worth it.

In case you're like me and are a bit concerned that there may be pressure to sell, I have been shocked that I have not had ONE EMAIL about needing to sell or that I should sell or whatever.  Nothing.  I have been so pleased!  But, if I ever choose to sell, I have access to all the info I may need online.  

So far, we've been diffusing Thieves blend in the morning and at night.  Aside from it smelling amazing, it is supposed to be very cleansing for the air and ward of sick germs!  I've also used thieves to clean my counters, lavender to rub on sores and cuts, and Stress Away on my kids wrists when they were in stressful situations (like doctor's offices!).  I also started using Frankincense on my husband's neck as he has a big lump (he's been to several doctors trying to figure out what it is).  Frankincense is supposed to be excellent for things like cysts or other skin issues.  I'm also going to try the tea tree oil on some face issues that I've been having.

In the near future, I'm going to be sharing some of the ways my sister in law uses her oils...she's incredibly creative!  I can't wait to share some of her recipes (hand sanitizer, toy sanitizer, etc.) with you!  And I think you'll feel inspired to try a more natural approach to everyday health and cleaning.

If you do decide to join me in this essential oil journey, I'd love if you'd put my member number as your "referrer."  And if not me, please use the number of a friend or someone else you know so that SOMEONE can get a little bonus to purchase more oils for their family, too!  My personal number is: "2368276", and you can sign up HERE. 

I can't wait to share with you all the many ideas my sister in law has to share, as well as all the uses I find for implementing essential oils into my daily life.

Homemade Deodorant for Under $.25 a Batch

One of my favorite money saving techniques is to make things at home.  It often takes very little work and yields a hefty savings.  Not only does it save money, but the health benefits are often a big deal, too.  Parabens and aluminum, found in deodorants, have been thought to cause many health issues, including a possible link to cancer.  No thank you.  So, my husband and I decided to try out a homemade recipe.  After both talking to and reading from people who have tried DIY deodorants, I felt confident that it would be strong enough for both of us to at least try.



The Recipe
In a bowl, mix together:

1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 corn starch

Then, 1 TBS at a time, mix in coconut oil until you achieve a desired consistency.  I used about 3 TBS in mine.

Store in a container, and use your fingers to apply a small amount each morning ;)

The Verdict
After about a week of us both using this deodorant, I am happy to say we are homemade deodorant converts!  My husband is able to work out at lunch and return to work without needing more deodorant, and I make it the whole day smelling fresh, too!

For the price (depending on where you buy your ingredients, it works out to around $.18-$.25 per batch!), I will happily scoop my deodorant out of a little jar!  I have seen people wash out old deodorant tubes and fill it with their homemade stuff.  The only problem I see with this method is that coconut oil turns to a liquid when it's warm.  If you needed to travel with it and you had it in a tube, I would imagine hat you may end up with a big mess!  Ours stays relatively solid in our bathroom.  

Free Gardening eBook

Amazon is currently offering "How to Grow Container Gardens: Vegetable, Flower, and Herb Gardening the Easy Way!" eBook for FREE!

Don't have a Kindle?  No worries...neither do I!  You can download a free app for your MAC HERE, OR for a FREE Windows app, click HERE.  Then "purchase" the book here (it's free!).  It will go straight to your Kindle app on your computer.  There are also apps for iPhones, Blackberries, and more.  To find an app for your other devices, check HERE.

My computer is a bit older and can't download the kindle app, but I've done it on Ben's computer.  So as soon as he's home, I'm "buying" this book!  So excited!  I just planted a bunch of plants this week, but I need A LOT of help in the gardening area ;)



(Some of the links in this post are my referral/affiliate links.  Read my disclosure policy HERE)