Young Living Essential Oils

So, we got our essential oil starter kit from Young Living about a week and ½ ago and I’m in love.   Jack and I discussed it and given the cost we decided to just try it – if it worked, we would invest more, if not it was a trial run.   We also said if we are going to try it – then we are going to really try it, learn how and really use them.  So I jumped in with both feet - learning, trying, bugging Lauren with questions, researching some more and of course using them!

It’s only been a week and ½ and I’m already sold and have been getting my next order ready.  I absolutely love them and the impact they are having on my life.   Below are some ways we’ve used them:

1. Diffuse in the house.  We have diffused numerous combos of the oils since getting them.  I want more diffusers in the house, right now I’m moving mine from room to room.   We tried to get cheaper diffusers from Amazon but sent them back given how noticeable the quality difference was between them and Young Living’s Desert Mist.   I’ve already ordered a 2^nd starter kit so we can get a replenishment of our oils and another diffuser.  Plus, I’m hoping they go on sale Black Friday.   I want one in every room and Mama’s!     We’ve diffused combos to help us wake up, to improve our mood, to improve our immune systems and to help us sleep … right now I’ve got Christmas Spirit diffusing which brings joy, helps protect from airborne viruses and bacteria and is healing to the respiratory system.
2. Roller Balls to apply topically.  I’ve made several that we can apply to our skin – The rollers consist of oils and a carrier oils, which helps the essential oil interact with us better + it makes it go further, so win!   We’ve made:
1. Be Well Roller – Using it 2 a day for immunity support.
2. 2 Different Sinus Rollers – I’ve made 2 different ones to see which combo of oils works best for me and my sinuses.  I used to take a Claritin every day – I’ve only taken 1 since starting the oils and that was before I had the roller set up, so I was making do with drops.  This alone is worth it!  Jack is still using a nasal spray, but I’m doing some more research to see if there is a stronger combo of oils that will help him more.
3. Headache Roller – OMG!  I normally take Advil at least 3 times a week for headaches, I haven’t had an Advil for a headache since Lauren gave me the sample roller 3 weeks ago!  I did take Tylenol the other day when my whole body hurt after being sick, but that was before I knew about essential oil capsules, next time I’ll do that instead.
4. Tummy Roller – I was sick as a dog last week with what I believe was food poisoning.  I used this and never touched the pink stuff!  In Love I tell ya– Healthy healing vs. Chemicals.
5. Rest Leg Roller for Jack and Mama – we are trying this combo, it helps but not a substitute for their meds.  There are some other recipes I don’t have the oils for yet that I want to try.
6. Pain Relief Roller for Mama – this has helped her.  Its not complete and doesn’t last but a few hours, but it’s better than popping a pill.  There is a stronger pain combo that requires oils I don’t yet have that I want to try for her.   If this helps take away her arthritis pain… OH MY! 
3. I’ve taken an Epson Salt and Essential Oil bath for muscle aches today after working on the Christmas Village all day.  I’m not in pain and the smell was so relaxing – awesome sauce.
4. Drinking – I’ve made Citrus Water, Peppermint Tea with Oil to Supplement – both are good.  I’m still trying to find the perfect drink combo for Jack, but he likes the hot Peppermint Tea so at least I have one win.  The Citrus water was ok, but I didn’t love it – just being real.  I’ll keep trying though.
5. Spray for Pillow – we have a spray for our pillows that helps us to relax as we start to sleep.
6. Kitty Repellent - We made a spray for the tree to keep the kitties away; so far so good!  I'm yelling at them alot less.   We shall see if it holds true - I'm spraying it once a day ATM
7. Cleaners –
1. I’ve replaced my Windex with the Thieves Cleaner and I’ll never go back!  Streak Free Shine and it’s healthy!
2. I’ve replaced the 409 with Thieves cleaner and am loving it in my kitchen so far.  I need to make the stronger degreaser recipe to have on hand, but so far so good.
3. I’ve made a spray to wash the shower after we shower/bath – healthy way to keep it clean.  Hoping to replace Scrubbing Bubbles with this – too soon to tell though.

And that is what I’ve used in only a week and ½!  I have spent a good bit of time looking at ways to use them and ways we can get healthier in general.  Not to mention bugging Lauren, my friend and oil guru with questions.  I’m looking forward to trying to slowly rid our home of unhealthy, unnatural chemicals and instead surrounding ourselves with healthy alternatives that are making us stronger vs. poisoning us slowly.  

Given how much I love the oils I have decided to pursue the Young Living Business side as well.  I’m not sure I’ll ever make a ton of money with it as I have no intention of pushing it, but I do believe in the product.  I do believe our oils are better than the competition and while they have some cost to them, I do believe they are worth it – It’s true most of the time, but especially with oils – You get what you pay for!  

So, if you are interested in trying them out, learning more, or swapping from your existing oil company to Young Living please let me know.   I’m loving our journey to a healthier better us and hope you join me.

Kitchen Tips

I had trouble sleeping last night ... as I lay there my mind was circling with things, depression (reasons/solutions), better living, general thoughts and I started to get up several times to share them.   I may still share them in the days to come; maybe my journey can help someone else?  Maybe it will help me to type it out?  Who knows ... However, today I wanted to share with you something completely different and no where near as deep - kitchen tips and/or hacks!

I'm not a cook!  My first meal was not cooked until after I was married - I didn't grow up at my mother's hip cooking in the kitchen.  I've never loved it.   Actually, when I was getting married my mother and I realized I had never really cooked, well anything.   So we sat down and made me a cookbook.  It consisted of her talking and me typing - I treasure it dearly.   One recipe for fried chicken literally says "now watch it so you don't burn the house down".   Even with that tidbit of advice, I still almost burned the house down.  That lead to a hilarious story for another day - remind me to tell you one day.   Anyway, let's get back to the topic - kitchen tools and hacks.   As I said, I am not a cook, but I am organized and I am a firm believer in having the right tool for the right job.   My husband has his power tools and I have my kitchen gadgets.

Over the past 7 years or so we have embarked on a journey, in phases to get healthier, in that I've started cooking more and more.  Along the way I've found some tools and organization tricks that make it easier for me - some were my idea, most were gleaned from Facebook post and random internet searches.     Some you my already do - some you may find helpful - some will work for you in your space - some won't.  Use what you can, ignore the rest :)

But first the financial piece, because kitchen hacks often cost money.  I hate it when you watch a TV show and they say their budget is $50,000 to remodel a bathroom, they act like that's their loose change and then they proceed to make this amazing space that they are only having to pay the materials for.  So they walk away with a $150,000 remodel - they paid $50,000 for it and they act like it's a bargain anyone can afford.  It's annoying!   So, here is my financial disclaimer.  I grew up fairly poor.  I was extremely fortunate compared to MANY, but we didn't have money to throw around.  So I understand some of the tools shown may be outside of your budget right now.  Make a wish list, and put a tiny bit of money aside each month till you get the tools you want/need.   Don't get frustrated if you can't afford tool A, just skip that hack and go to the next one.  I'm very grateful to be in a better position today financially than I was, but we have to budget and have to be careful just like most families.  So with several of the tools shown/listed I had to set aside money for and plan accordingly.

Also, with the exception of 1 link (which is noted) I don't receive any commission off of recommending various tools. I  just thought you may benefit from having the links :)

And with that here my list of tips and tricks:

Wait and Get the Right Tool

You get what you pay for.   Just because a tool cost $20 vs. $60 dollars doesn't mean it's a good deal.  Do the research, read the reviews and get the tool that will last and meets your needs!   You may have to save up a little longer for it, but in the long room it's worth it.

• You spend less money because you don't have to throw it away and buy another one in the future.
• Nothing is more frustrating that using a tool that half works and trying to work around it's deficiencies.
• Ok, maybe when you are in the middle of a recipe and the tool doesn't work at all when you need it - that may be more frustrating!

Cheap doesn't mean deal!

Instant Pot 

I can't rave about this tool enough!   It is absolutely amazing!   I understand that they can be pricey, but if you watch for sales you can get a pretty good deal.  Kohl's is known for having a really good pricing on them at various times (Black Friday will be a big one) and can often be cheaper than even Amazon.  I would recommend getting the 8QT at a minimum, so you can cook a whole chicken without issue.   There are so many recipes for this device that are SUPER easy and healthy.   It makes cooking at home actually fun!   If you get one send me a message and I can connect you with some amazing Facebook groups to help answer questions and some amazing recipe sites.

I personally have the Instant Pot DUO80 8 Qt 7-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer and I LOVE IT!



Measuring Tool Organization

There is nothing more frustrating to me than being in the middle of a recipe and having to find the right size measuring spoon or cup.   I used to have them all in one drawer and had to hunt - GRRR.  I also have tried keeping them on the little circle thing they come on and dealing with that, but when cooking multiple things it gets annoying.   Hanging them up, while a good idea, doesn't work for my space and I really like having multiples of the same measurement so I can use it, put it in sink and have another one to use later in my recipes without having to stop and wash that one. So I use cheap $1 Store Containers to separate them in my drawer.  I wrote (using a sharpie) on the side and bottom of the container what size it holds.   So I can grab and go!  It takes a couple of extra seconds when I'm putting the dishes up, but it's so worth it! 

I do understand I'm blessed with ample drawer space in my kitchen, so this may not work for you, but if there is a way it can I promise it has been a game changer for me!

Counter Trash Bag

The designers of my kitchen needed some lessons on what a kitchen workflow should look like.  It's a little cramped in walking space, thus my trash can is not positioned to be where I normally chop and work on prepping food!   If you find yourself in a similar situation, save some effort.  Take a plastic bag and keep it open on your counter as you cook.  As you have scraps and trash throw them in the bag; then at the and of your cooking, throw bag in the trash can.  You've saved yourself a ton of steps and cleaned up as you went!

If you wanted to be more environmentally friendly you could have a paper bag or a plastic container that you throw in the dishwasher after, but I'm not there yet.  We all take our baby steps into a better, healthier, greener life.   I figure at least the bag is serving a purpose before being trashed.

You could also save the veggie scraps to make veggie broth, but I haven't tried that yet.

Cooking Utensil Oranization

Similar to the measuring tool tip above, I have my kitchen tools separated - serving spoons, separate from spatulas, separate from straight stirring spoons, etc....   I used the below drawer separators to make this happen and LOVE them.

OrganizingTool:  https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9H6TK4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shred Chicken

I used to shred chicken with a fork and knife - I wasted SOOO Much time.  I saw this hack on FB one day and it changed my life!  Use a Hand Mixer, check out the video below (not mine).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utn4rqfogIE

Hand Mixer

Hand Mixer!  Get one and not a new fancy one.  This a tool you want solid, simple and sturdy.  I use this one and love it!

Link: http://a.co/d/8Luep1T

Meal Planning

This isn't my favorite thing to do - I'll be honest.  I think the reason I struggle with it is because right now we are phasing into new eating habits and I don't have a huge back list of recipes to fall back on so I spend alot of time researching.  HOWEVER, it is important!  If you plan your meals it makes things better on a number of levels:

• You can eat in a more intentional manner - making sure your meals and snacks are healthy through out the week!
• You can be more intentional with your buying habits - having precise grocery list that you can use to shop.  Allowing you to price compare and use coupons effectively. See my Coupon Post for some tips on saving money while grocery shopping.
• It lowers the daily stress of figuring out what to eat.

A friend of mine made a very valid observation the other day - this will get easier! If I keep track of our daily menus (which Plan to Eat makes easy, see below) - the ones we like - I'll eventually have a go to repository of menus.   Once I  have 6 months or so of recipes under my belt with this new eating plan, then I can just plug and play.   I can always introduce new menus of course, but the stress and time consuming process of of starting from scratch every time will be OVER!

Plan to Eat

This site allows you to save your recipes in a digital format, plan out your menu's and then it populates a shopping list for you!   They have a mobile app that enables you to check items off as you purchase them (or as you confirm they are in your pantry).  It's about $35 a year, but Black Friday they typically offer a sale so put it on your list :)      You can also share recipes with friends + they have an amazing browser add on that lets you clip recipes easily from various websites!

For the really Tech Savy -  I also have a tool I use with it called snagit that let's me take a picture of a recipe from a book.  It then, converts it to text and I can copy and past it into the app.  That's a little technical for some so if I just went over your head ignore me and focus on the app itself - it's AMAZING without this trick!  If you want some more workflow details on this send me a message :)



https://www.plantoeat.com/ref/mylerna

Disclaimer: If you buy from link shown I do get a little bit of commission.  I'd recommend it anyway, but just to be upfront and honest!

Immersion Blender - Multi Tool

I bought this gadget, because I was beginning to make my own mayonnaise at home and this was required.   I use it for the immersion blender of course, but more often than that I use the food processor function.  I have a full size Hamilton Beach food processor that I love, but it takes time to put together, has multiple pieces and can be a pain.   This little gadget is amazing for doing a quick chop of an onion or something similar!   And it's not the priciest model by far.  I did a ton of research before buying it and after using it I can say without reservation - 5 Stars!    Warning though, it's blade is REALLY sharp -sharper than other food processors.  I have the scar to prove it.




Dreaded Spice Cabinet

I got so tired of looking in the spice cabinet and having spices fall on my head.  Hunting behind bottles for the one I was looking for.  And then finding the bottle, only to find my tablespoon doesn't fit in the opening and that pouring it out of the container is a disaster in the making.   Enter the 4 OZ mason jar!   I took all of my spices, put them in individual mason jars, wrote on the top with a sharpie (which can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol if you need to reuse lid) and put them in my drawers in ABC Order.  I put empty jars at the change in letters to allow new spices without having to redo the drawers every single time!   It takes up 3 drawers, but it's a game changer for me.   I get not everyone has this many drawer's but there are a number of gadgets at home depot that could be used to turn a cabinet into mini-drawers and it is so helpful!

I keep the extra spice in a Tupperware container in the laundry room so I can refill as necessary.

Drawer Lighting

When I did the spice organization I found myself needing a flashlight to read them.  Jack found these cheap lights for me and they are amazing and fairly cheap!  You have to charge them every few weeks, but they auto cut on when I open the drawer.

http://a.co/d/2gnjPHx

Lettuce Salvation

Want your lettuce to last longer?  Put a paper towel in the bowl (bowl does need a lid) with it - the towel absorbs the moisture and the lettuce last longer! 

Tupperware Organization

Picture of how my Tupperware is organized.  I didn't have the room to do this until we redid the laundry room with cabinets so I get it if you can't but I do love it.

Under the Sink Skillet Fun

I use a divider to stand my skillets up!  I love being able to get to the one I want without having to deal with stacks of pans.  I still have my pots and pans stacked (I hate it) but haven't figured out how to fix it yet.

Product Here:  http://a.co/d/24JotA8

Baking Pan Organization

I use a different divider for baking pans, because they vary in size so much, but same principal as skillets above.

Product Link: http://a.co/d/gcSuKhd

Knives

Sharp knives are a must!   I use CUTCO - they are expensive and an item you need to save for, but you'll be thankful you did.  They have a lifetime warranty, free sharpening for life and are just amazing!  If you are interested I have a representative I can recommend.   I also love they fact that college kids are typically the ones selling them, so you are directly helping someone become their future selves!

Oh and their scissors!  I use them daily!

Note: you can purchase the knives individually and build your collection over time.  That is what we did.  I LOVE my knives.



If you made it this far, congratulations on sticking with me.  I hope this helps you in your journey to be a healthier you!   God Bless.

Grocery Shopping Savings

So the other night I stayed up until the wee-hours of the morning researching how to save money on groceries. The next day I put into practice what I had researched and I wanted to share my findings as I had promised a couple of people I would. Warning LONG - Detailed Post!

Broad Strokes:
1) Get a grocery list and stick to it - don't spur of the moment shop without research.
2) You can price compare items from various stores online now or via phone apps.
3) There are several rebate apps that give you money back after the fact.
4) Check your store's app and the manufacturer websites for coupons.
5) Use other people's research. The Krazy Coupon lady for example does a ton of work for you. -> https://thekrazycouponlady.com/

Detailed Breakdown:
1) I prepared my menu on PlantoEat. This site allows you to save your recipes, plan menus and then it auto-populates your shopping list! It cost roughly $35 a year, but it's so worth it to me. If you are interested sign up via this link and I'll get a little bit of a kickback. https://www.plantoeat.com/ref/mylerna

2) I checked Krazy Coupon lady site (see above for link) and Kroger's website for any special deals they had going on. If it looked like a really good deal I added the item to my shopping list. There is a person who has a site dedicated to Kroger - I haven't really used it yet, but plan to next time. https://www.krogerkrazy.com/ 

3) I checked Ibotta and Check51 (2 of the rebate sites I use - will provide more info in a moment) to see any amazing deals they had or if they had something to add to one of the retailers coupons. If so I added those items to my shopping list.

4) I checked several of my common manufacturer websites and a general coupon site for coupons. Most will have some, but these are the main ones I checked. If I found something amazing that I would use then I added it to my shopping list. I'm sure I'll add to this as I go deeper.

- General Coupons: https://www.coupons.com/
- Proctor & Gamble: https://www.pgeveryday.com/
- Arm & Hammer: https://www.armandhammer.com/coupons-and-tips
- Kroger Coupons: www.kroger.com
- Flipp App -> Allows you to view online circular ads that normally come out in the paper. This way you can see sales in your area.

5) I printed all of my coupons (except Kroger)

6) I took my shopping list into my kitchen and marked "bought" anything I had. Taking into account sales/coupons - if it is something that won't go bad before I can use it and it's on sale I may use this as an opportunity to stock up and not mark it as "bought" .

7) I pulled up Amazon, Costco Kroger, Sprouts and Walmart's websites on one screen and my shopping list on another and proceeded to price check my items (taking coupons into account). As I figured out which store was cheaper I moved that item to a specific shopping list for that store inside PlanToEat and made notes about the price.

Note: these are my stores and I'm going to at all of them anyway so I'm not wasting gas just driving around. Costco because of their meat, Kroger because well it's Kroger, Walmart because it's cheaper on a lot of things(I refuse to buy meat or produce there) and Sprouts because they the only ones to carry some of my items. Also Kroger and Walmart are within 1/2 mile of each other here... Your chosen stores may be different but you could still apply same principals.

8) I organized my coupons by what store I would use them at and put them in a small envelope (1 for each store). If I had printed some that would not be used yet I filed them away in an folder I have by expiration month.

9) I went shopping buying only what I had intended to buy at the store (or online) I intended to buy it at. With PlanToEat's app I can pull up the shopping list on my phone by store, which makes it super easy! Some items that I couldn't price check I left in the main shopping list and price checked as I went.

For Example: I buy meat at Costco often but can't price check it online... so I had recorded the price from Sprouts and Kroger when I did my online research. (Because I refuse to buy meat at Walmart). Then I checked the price at Costco before determining where to purchase it at. I went to Costco first given they were the only store I couldn't price check online....

10) I submitted my receipts to the rebate app for items that qualified. Here are the rebate apps I use:

- Ibotta App - I and several others have had great luck with this one. If you sign up use this link or the referral code below so I can get a little cash back :) Referral code: lnodplo Link -> https://ibotta.com/r/lnodplo

-Checkout51 App -> I've had some success with this, not quite as much as Ibotta, but I still spend a few seconds taking a look. If I bout something they have - YAY - Free Money :)

- Fetch Rewards -> Just started using this so can't speak to it's usefulness yet. But I'm giving it a try. If you sign up please use my referral code so I get some credit  :) FRWEB

Additional Tip: If shopping Online you can go through https://www.topcashback.com/ home to get cash back on items you purchased at many retailers, including Amazon. I'm just testing it out and can't say if it's great or not, but worth a shot. If you sign up please use my link so I get some credit: https://www.topcashback.com/ref/lgdale

Also on Amazon you can load a tool called "honey" that will price compare for you. https://www.joinhoney.com/features/amazon

It took a little work, but I was always price checking on my phone at the store anyway so this really just moves the work from there to home where I can do it in my PJs  :)

If you've made it this far - WOW! Congratz for sticking it out.
I'm sorry for the long post, but I wanted others interested to really benefit from my research vs. staring out like I did with nada.

I'm sure I'll learn more as I go, but this is a good start as I look to trim down some of the grocery bill in our household.

Do you have any additional tips? I'd love to hear them!