Posted on January 19, 2016 by Melissa Auxier
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Happy New Year! The start of a new year always brings along the feeling that I need to make resolutions or at least make a fresh start on things that are important to me, likely you are the same. So how do you go about doing this? Many years ago, I followed a blog to help put order back into my home, the most important thing I learned through that following was that taking baby steps was the best way to accomplish things that needed to be done. So, as you reflect on things that are important, things that you want to change, create a list of "baby steps" to move you along that road to your end goal.
Here are some ideas for the most common New Starts!
1) Detox - Detox your skin naturally to renew that youthful glow. Why is it important to detox? Over the course of a year, your skin comes into contact with many chemicals, chemicals in your laundry detergent, your lotions, your sunscreens, all of these chemicals are absorbed by your skin. Take a few days to give your body a break from all of these toxins, a rest, so to speak. Nourish it with a light fast and detox with a few natural products great at renewing your mind, body and spirit.
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Charcoal soap - a naturally detoxing bar that aids in clearing the skin, this bar gets rave reviews, if you haven't tried it, now is the time. Also available in unscented for those with sensitive skin.
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Detox soap - a great detox bar with dead sea mud and a blend of essential oils known for their ability to detox the skin. You can also lather up with these soaps and leave it on for a few minutes to let the dead sea mud or charcoal work at adsorbing the toxins.
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Detox Bath Bomb - relax and soak for 20-30 minutes with my detox bath bomb. I like to break my bath bomb in half and use it for two baths.
2) Lose weight - Watch what you eat and try to exercise a few times a week, in addition, there are many essential oils that can aid you on your journey, grapefruit essential oil for instance is excellent in this respect.
Grapefruit Bath Bombs - bathe in grapefruit, the best way for it to absorb into your skin.
Grapefruit Scrub - Prefer to take a shower? A scrub is the perfect way to use grapefruit in the shower, it provides exfoliation and aromatherapy benefits of grapefruit.
3) Natural Beauty - Now is the time to take a fresh start with your beauty care routine. Minimize what you use and pay attention to the ingredient list. You can have amazing skin with natural ingredients. Make it a point to change 1 or 2 products to more natural products for your skin this month!
Natural Skin Care Products
4) Less Stress - It's not easy to have less stress, but you can change the way you handle stress. Take time for yourself, and make it a point to bring more essential oils into your routine. Pure therapeutic essential oils can provide a calming affect. Try lavender, peaceful or lavender dream, all of these oils and oil blends will relax the body and mind. Place a drop or two on the back of your neck or on the bottoms of your feet, you can also put a drop on your pulse points. Another good way to use essential oils is via wax melts or an essential oil diffuser, both allow the essential oils to be diffused into the air, thereby benefiting everyone in your home.
Peaceful Essential Oil
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Posted on November 22, 2015 by Melissa Auxier
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Breathe Deeply - It's amazing what a deep breath can do for you. It's healing for the mind and body. Seems like such a simple thing, but the outcome might surprise you. Sit down, feet on the floor and just deeply inhale and exhale 3-4 times. Your mind should feel clearer and your body more relaxed. It's really a good practice to get into because the benefits will amaze you.
Massage- Getting a massage might be a little harder than just breathing deeply, but it is very relaxing. Teach your kids or spouse to massage your neck and shoulders or even do a foot massage. This can be a great way to bond and provide stress relief at the same time. An added benefit could be an aromatherapy massage using your favorite aromatherapy massage oil or lotion.
Aromatherapy - Essential oils have been used for hundreds of years for many things. There are many essential oils and essential oil blends that help your body to relax. Try a room spray or essential oil diffuser to diffuse essential oils into the air. Some of my favorite calming blends are winter calm, lavender, lavender mint splash or rose.
Take time out for yourself - This can't be said enough, in the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, take time to take a relaxing bath, go out for coffee with a friend or just sneak a few moments of peace and solitude. Bath bombs are the perfect way to de-stress and take time out for yourself. Browse our bath bombs
Take a Walk - Might seem like a small thing, but sometimes just taking a walk can energize while at the same time calm your body. Make it a brisk walk while you're at it to get the benefit of exercise.
Make a Plan - One of the best ways to make things less stressful is to have a plan. Plan your Holiday meals before the rush hits, purchase things for the meal a little at a time each time you go grocery shopping, thereby making that last minute rush to the store in traffic galore non-existent.
Plan your Christmas, shop early, make lists of things you need for the home, things for the meal and gift ideas. Firm up your gift ideas and purchase by the first week in December at the latest. Last minute shopping causes stress, not only because you are last minute shopping, but also because you usually end up spending more money because of poor planning!
Ask for Help - Seem simple enough, but sometimes we feel we have to do it all ourselves. Don't be afraid to ask for help, have other people pitch in for the meal, assign your kids to each be in charge of making a dish, not only are you teaching them to cook, but you are working with them and getting things done together. Togetherness is what it's all about!
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Posted on February 05, 2015 by Melissa Auxier
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DIY Shower Steamers:
Shower steamers are very similar to bath bombs but usually a different shape and typically, you need to use more essential oils than you would need for a bath bomb.
You can make your shower steamers in any mold that you would like, I use a muffin tin for mine. Then store them in a glass jar in the bathroom so that they are handy when you need them.
- 1 cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 cup Epsom Salt
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/2 cup white clay or arrowroot powder or tapioca starch or corn starch, any of these will work.
- 2 and 3/4 tbsp carrier oil of your choice - almond oil, coconut oil, etc.
- 3/4 tbsp of water
- Essential oils: I recommend using 1 tablespoon of essential oils of your choice
- Combine baking soda, epsom salt, citric acid and clay, mix well until combined.
- Mix your water, carrier oil and essential oils
- Use a whisk and slowly pour the essential oil mix into the dry mix. Blend thoroughly. Mixture should hold together when squeezed without crumbling but should not be real wet feeling. If you get it too wet, it will begin to fizz.
- Push mix into your mold, don't pack tightly, but pack well. Depending on the mold used, I typically leave it in the mold for 15 minutes or so and then flip the mold carefully onto a cookie sheet to dry. Leave to dry 24 to 48 hours.
- When dry, remove and store in air tight container.
To use: Place one in the back of your shower out of the stream of water, so that it can dissolve slowly to maximize the aromatherapy benefit. I don't recommend using these in a bath unless you cut back on the essential oils used as it would be too strong. This batch makes 4-6 muffin tin shower steamers.
Shower steamers can be any combination of essential oils depending on the desired aromatherapy effect you are looking for.
Sinus blend might include peppermint, lavender, rosemary, camphor, menthol, eucalyptus.
Relaxing blend might include lavender, orange, tangerine, ylang ylang,
Energy blend might include any of the following - peppermint, ginger, spearmint, rosemary
Experiment with the oils you like or have on hand and let us know how it goes!
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Posted on February 10, 2014 by Melissa Auxier
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You may have heard from a friend or acquaintance that essential oils have helped them with this or that, but maybe you're not quite sure where to start. Well, I hope to help you along your journey into essential oils by covering some of their uses and cautions.
The essential oil I use most is peppermint. Peppermint - an uplifting fresh scent that can bring you back to life at times. Peppermint oil is analgesic, antiseptic, sedative and cooling. It can be used to treat fevers, colds, flu symptoms, nausea and respiratory disorders.
CAUTIONS - Please use only therapeutic grade essential oils, if you're not sure, please ask. Secondly, peppermint is very potent, use it very sparingly, then add more if you need to. Lastly, always, always wash your hands thoroughly after applying peppermint essential oil. Ask me why I would tell you this!
USES
INDIGESTION - I use peppermint a lot as I tend to have indigestion a lot. Here are a few ways it can be used - mix 2-4 drops with 1 tbsp of olive oil and apply to stomach area. Put 1 drop in a pitcher of water, more is not always better with peppermint oil, even if it seems like 1 drop wouldn't be enough, it is more than enough. You can drink peppermint water throughout the day if you like it is wonderful for internal inflammation and digestion.
HEADACHE - Peppermint works wonderful for headaches, but must be used with caution. Here is how I do it. I put only 1 drop of peppermint on my finger and lay down, then I massage the drop on my forehead and temples. Peppermint has a way of working its way down to your eyes, so be very careful. You can also apply to the back of your neck and behind your ears.
MIDDAY PICK ME UP - Who doesn't need that middle of the day pick me up? Keep a bottle of peppermint handy as it only takes a drop or two on the back of your neck to totally refresh you! Hard to believe, I know, but it really does work.
PAIN RELIEF - Lastly, I use if for those annoying little pains or sometimes big pains. It has a wonderful cooling feeling on the skin and works wonders on those aches and pains. Apply as above for the indigestion, blended with olive oil or whatever oil you have on hand.
How do you use peppermint?
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