DIY Essential Oils for Back to School

We’ve reached our final course...errr post...in this series: Back to School DIY. As you’re settling into your new routine, you may just be inspired to do some DIY projects, and we are here to help with some of our fav recipes. Much like our diffuser post, these recipes will take you from Good morning to Goodnight.

So, class, are you ready? Let’s get started!

Smooth(ie) Sailing: Rise N Shine Smoothie

Make mornings easy with this quick and tasty breakfast treat. 

Need Breakfast at the push of button? Enter the Rise n Shine Smoothie. We award this one bonus points for being delicious and nutritious. Switch up ingredients to customize to your family’s tastes. Vitality oils, milks and fruits can all be swapped for your favs.

Everyday Wellness: Germy Hand Kid Soap

Feeling DIY-inspired? Try this wellness-boosting, Thieves-powered foaming hand soap. 

While we love Thieves Foaming Hand Soap, this recipe is a great DIY alternative if you’re feeling creative. Either way, you’ll be supporting your family’s wellness with the power of Thieves.

After School Anti-Smell: Stinky Kid Spray

Keep this spray with you anywhere stink can happen: aka EVERYWHERE.

Purification (obvious alert) purifies the air. That means that it can even refresh things like middle school boy bedroom, volleyball bag or mysterious minivan odors. Don’t leave home without it.

After School Snack: Dreamsicle Fruit Dip

Ease into homework time with a yummy snack: Dreamsicle Dip + Fruit. 

Treat your students to a sweet treat after school that’s not packed with sugar or strange ingredients. Fruit + this yummy Dreamsicle dip will please even picky eaters. Want to make it even healthier? Replace the cream cheese with Greek yogurt and the powder sugar with agave, honey or stevia.

Night Night: Sweet Dreams Cream

Relax...Sweet Dreams Cream to the bedtime rescue! 

We will share anything that helps kids have a good night sleep. Just apply this cream after evening bath to help your kids relax. It’s an easy way to use oils with your family and with Lavender and Peace & Calming II, it’s bound to invite (you guessed it) Sweet Dreams fast.

Class Dismissed 

Thanks for attending our Back to School crash course! Do you have any Essential Oil DIY inspiration to share? We’d love to hear from you!

Stay tuned, we'll share September Promo details soon!

Oil of the Week: Lavender

Lavender...where to begin? So many uses, so little time! I don't know if I could think of one person who could not benefit from Lavender! We love having it in our family; all 4 of us have at least one way to use it on a regular basis.  

Lavender: An Oil for Every Member of the Family

Lavender is versatile. We love it as a part of our nighttime routines, skin soothing support and, of course, its fresh scent. So many uses make it a great starter oil. 

#1 Baby Benefits

This is my favorite way to use Lavender currently! I have a 10 month old who is not quite old enough to communicate why she may be fussing. Mamas, you know the drill:

• Does she have a tooth pushing through?
• Does she feel warm?
• Is it a season change that’s causing the sniffles?
• Is she restless?

You never quite know the answer! But I can tell you this, I always have the same answer...rub some lavender on! It is so versatile and supports so many systems that chances are, it will give her relief in one way or another!

I just apply it on her feet, and then on her chest for respiratory support and to help her relax.

Fun fact: Did you know our feet are our most porous part of our body? Apply an oil to the feet and it will absorb and know just the right spot to travel to!

#2 Toddler Triumphs   

In addition to our sweet little girl, we have a sweet (but tough!) 31/2 yr old boy. I must say Lavender is great to have around for soothing the many bumps and bruises of toddlerhood! I apply straight on at times, or dilute with some coconut oil when he's a little more sensitive.

#3 Happy Hubby Habits

My husband has a lot of stress from day to day and needs a little extra assistance calming his mind at night. To help, we start it in the diffuser a little before bedtime. We both love how it promotes a relaxing atmosphere as we get ready for bed.

DIY Tip: I've heard of others making a linen spray and spraying it on their sheets and pillows as well!

#4 Mama Merits

As far as I'm concerned I have two favorite uses for lavender. Sorry I tried to narrow it down to just one, but I couldn't!

Game-Changer at Season Changes

The first is during the change of seasons. This was actually how I was introduced to essential oils! I used to battle sinus irritation whenever the temperature changed (which happens pretty frequently in Arkansas!). One weekend, I was staying with a dear friend who used essential oils. She recommended a few and after that I was hooked! Now when I sense a change in the weather I apply a drop or two directly over my cheekbones and along my neck. Sometimes, I put a drop under my tongue as well for quicker relief!

After-Sun Soother

I also have another dilemma: You see, I'm a girl who loves the sun! Like I really feel like I can never get enough of it! Unfortunately, my German descent doesn't agree with this. Yup, I have the blonde hair blue eyes and very very fair skin, so I usually have to suffer the consequences after a long day in the sunshine. This is where lavender becomes my best friend! When I get home or even throughout the day while I'm out, I take a few drops of lavender, mix it with coconut oil and rub it wherever needed! I love the smell of the coconut/lavender combo and it's very soothing to the skin!

Lavender Vitality: A Refreshing Recipe Addition

Another great way to use Lavender? In recipes! Yes, Young Living makes a Lavender Vitality oil that can be ingested!

Honey Lavender Lemonade

Check out this summertime favorite on the Young Living blog. It’s so cool and refreshing!!

Lavender Blackberry Scones

Take a good scone recipe and mix in a handful of blackberries. Then, make a frosting of powdered sugar, lemon juice and a drop of Lavender Vitality. Drizzle on top of your freshly baked scones....mmmm.

Here are a few other creative ways to use Lavender...

• Add a drop of Lavender to your tube of mascara to support healthy lashes.
• Add a few drops to wool dryer balls to refresh your laundry (I especially love to do this for our sheets and my little ones "blankies").
• Get some raw Shea butter and mix with coconut oil, add a few drops of Lavender for a luxurious whipped body butter!
• Apply a drop under the tongue or along the neck before mowing the lawn for preventative respiratory support.
• Diffuse with other oils for a lovely smelling home. Some of my favorites to mix with are lemon, orange or eucalyptus blue.

What's your favorite way to use Lavender? We'd love to hear about it! Any questions? Contact me at inspirationsbyrae@gmail.com

Thanksgiving How-To: Incorporating Essential Oils into your Holiday

Feeling a little overwhelmed about getting through these next few days? There's the house to clean, food to cook (including a giant turkey!), and family to see. So take a deep breath, apply some Stress Away or Peace & Calming (now that it's back in stock!) and read the following tips and tricks on how to incorporate your oils into your Thanksgiving festivities! You will be happier and healthier because of it!

Setting The Mood

Set the Thanksgiving mood with this festive trio: Cinnamon Bark, Orange & Clove. 

To get into the Holiday Spirit, get your diffuser(s) and add a few drops of Orange, Cinnamon Bark and Clove. It will lift your spirits, increase immune support and, of course, make your house smell wonderful!  

Make Your House Sparkle

It's easy to achieve that a fresh, holiday-ready sparkle with the power of Thieves Household Cleaner + Lemon. 

Spruce up your house with the oh-so-popular and versatile Thieves Cleaner. Just pick it up and spray everything down at once; floors, mirrors, counters, whatever you can think of! Add a few drops of Lemon to your spray bottle for an extra fresh scent and a little boost of cleaning power! And it may just help you focus on what to clean next!

Spice Up Some Treats

Spice up your favorite dishes the Young Living way! I love cooking with Cinnamon Bark, Lemon & Nutmeg essential oils. 

Essential oils make a great addition to many recipes. I've added Oregano to spaghetti sauce, Lemon to ice cream and Rosemary to chicken. For this holiday my recommendation would be to substitute your typical Thanksgiving spices such as Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg with your essential oils instead. Just remember essential oils are pretty potent so just try a drop or maybe 2 to start with.

Favorite Side Dish: Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

2-4 Sweet Potatoes

Olive Oil (to toss)

1 drop each of Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg and Ginger

Pinch of salt and brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Set oven to 350.

2. Peel sweet potatoes and chop into cubes.

3. Toss in olive oil and essential oils.

4. Spread out on a cookie sheet.

5. Bake for about 45 minutes.  

So delicious! I could eat the whole pan! Really...I think I did one time. But they're so good for you, it's ok! The sweet potatoes provide nutritional value and Vitamin A, and the essential oils contribute immune support from the Cinnamon Bark, digestive support from the Ginger and a boost of energy from the Nutmeg!

Favorite Festive Drink: Cider

Another great treat that’s even better when infused with essential oils is a good cup of Cider! Young Living shared a great recipe around Halloween for Witch's Brew, but it would be even better for this holiday. It's infused with Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Clove and Nutmeg. It has the same benefits as the Sweet Potato recipe (due to the similar oils used) except you have the added benefits of Lemon Essential Oil to help give you a more positive outlook and ability to focus on what else you need to do before the guests arrive!

Rapid Recovery

Spend time with your family...not the bathroom with the help of DiGize and Peppermint essential oils. 

After you have consumed all your Turkey, Gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad and any other annual side dishes, you may need a little help to get through the rest of your evening and decrease your trips to the bathroom. After all, you will probably be sharing your typical 2-bathroom household with 10 times the amount of people as normal!

Apply some DiGize and you will be able to finish watching that football game with minimal interruptions, while your uncle misses out on the whole 3rd quarter. Complement the benefit of DiGize and tackle some of that post-Thanksgiving drowsiness by adding some Peppermint to your water or applying topically.

Festive ideas? Time to share!

From cleaning to side dishes, there are so many ways to incorporate Young Living Essential Oils into your holiday. We'd love to hear some of your ideas! Comment below with your favorite tips and tricks!