Tuesday, July 22, 2014

15 Month Update

The babies haven’t reach 16 months yet, so I am still 100% on-time for their quick 15 month update. Right? Right! Their doctor’s appointment isn’t until next week, so I don’t have height or weight measurements, but I’m looking forward to seeing just how much they’ve grown since their 12 month birthday.

Can I get an Amen that we have not been to the doctor a single time between then and now? What an awesome change from the Fall/Winter when we were there several times a month.

The babies are toddlers, which is hard for me to wrap my head around. Until they do something very ‘toddler-ish’ and I am reminded that they are reaaaaally learning how to test their boundaries right now.

Like when Keegan tries to go into our room, which is off limits. He will touch the door with one finger. Then turn and look at me. When I say no, he will reach his finger back out reaaaaaaally slowly to try to do it again, and then look back and smirk. And I usually smirk right back. He’s a ham.

Noelle is a sponge, soaking up everything we say and do. And she is still very much a mama’s girl. She loves when she accomplishes something; and will do it over and over again.

We’ve had a busy month so far! Samantha and Travis’s wedding in Austin, a work trip to Houston for me, a work trip to San Antonio for Justin, a visit from Netta, BBQs with friends,  a new classroom, and therefore a new nap schedule for the babies, and lots of go, go, go in between.

We have a slow week and then a fun weekend! It’s the second Dallas TwINSTAGRAM meet-up on Saturday. If you don’t know, I met my very bestest group of twin mama friends on Instagram last year. We can’t wait to meet more local twin mamas and let the littles play.

Ok, here’s what's new. Or what I can brain dump in my 20 minutes of silence this morning:

Keegan

Words; Mama, Dada, Ball, Bird, More, Deer, Book, Milk

Some fun actions; Where’s the bird? Points outside. Where’s the deer? Points to the wall (where our deer head and antlers hang…). Signs ‘more,’ When I say bath time, he BOLTS down the hallway to the bathroom. When I say ‘get in your seat,’ he goes right to his dinner chair. When I say bring me something (book, cow, brush, etc) he follows direction. Waves hi and bye, brushes his hair with a brush, brushes his teeth with his toothbrush, tries to put his shoes on. Can put large pieces of puzzles into matching spots, throws the ball FAR! Stacks blocks and knocks them down.

New animals noises; Recognizes and will bring me several different types of animals. Does moo for cow and woof for puppy.

Favorite things; Food, playing outside, Balls, bath time, laughing, playing chase

Least favorite things; Teething

Noelle

Words; Mama, Dada, Ball, Bird, Deer, Car, Bebe, Book, Milk

Some fun actions; Where’s the bird? Points outside. Where’s the deer? Points to the wall (where our deer head and antlers hang…), waves hi and bye, follows direction to get in her seat, go to the bath, points out everything she sees and tries to explain to you what it is J, brings me her hat/sunglasses/bows/shoes to put on and gets really upset if any of the above fall off, waves hi and bye (she has to say hi to the fish at school every day), puts puzzle pieces in their matching spots, likes to move things back and forth; like puts her baby in the car, then a bowl, then the car, then the bowl. Brushes her teeth and hair, acts shy to be silly and make you laugh, a bit dramatic at times… but what girl isn’t?

New animal noises; Recognizes and will bring me several types of animals. Does moo for cow, Cak Cak for duck, woof for puppy, roar for dino. I know, we're starting with a random assortment of animals haha.

Favorite things; Her bebes, her fisher price volkswagon, playing outside, books, wearing accessories, giving kisses

Least favorite things; Diaper changes
 

 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Essential Oils & Emotions: Concentration

Well, my week-long series was disrupted by a quick work trip and a horrible cold. But, I've been wearing Thieves in my diffuser necklace, drinking a TON of water with grapefruit oil, taking extra vitamin c, and I am on the mend. Perfect timing too, because in just two days I will be standing next to my Sam as she gets married! Yippee!

So, I'm back to cover a third common emotion that can be improved with essential oils. (If you didn't catch the last two, I blogged about anxiety and jealousy earlier this week).

Today's emotion is concentration. I have heard the most beautiful success stories about using YL essential oils to improve ADD/ADHD symptoms, but today I am focusing on something I have personally experienced an uplift in; just plain distraction, lack of concentration.

I am busy. Like, really busy. I am imperfectly balancing a full-time job, raising toddler twins, keeping a somewhat neat home, growing amazing friendships with new friends, spending enough one-on-one time with my husband, and educating myself on how to incorporate oils into our family. Some days I am a rock star in two or three areas. And some days I don't quite meet the high expectations I set for myself in any areas at all. But, each of the things I mentioned above are super important to me; I don't think being busy for the sake of being busy is a good thing at all.

Whether I'm trying to meet a work deadline, focus on a book I'm reading, finish up laundry so I can start dinner, or am about to tackle a solo grocery trip with the babies, its nice to get extra boosts of concentration support. Sometimes it's helpful to get that 'kick' so I can re-focus my attention on something I'm trying to accomplish. I like that I can rub an essential oil on the back of my neck, stick a drop in my diffuser necklace, or even put a drop under my tongue for a natural way to direct my energy and concentrate. I wish I would have known about these oils in college!! It would have brought my caffeine intake down a ton. :)
 
Emotion: Concentration
The Essential Oils Desk Reference v5 highlights specific oils that can encourage concentration. It's important to remember that just because there are several oils listed, it doesn't mean you have to use each one. Use what you have on-hand from the starter kit, or if you see the same essential oil recommended for different emotions you're juggling, maybe make the investment to order that oil this month.

As you experiment with frequent diffusing, inhaling or topical application, you'll begin to see which one ignites the best response in your body. Everyone is different!

Singles: Cedarwood, Peppermint, Frankincense, Lemon, Cardamom
Blends: Clarity, Brain Power

The oils bolded/hyperlinked are all included in the Premium Starter Kit. This kit is what I truly recommend for anyone looking to begin their journey with essential oils. It includes 11 oils and the home diffuser, so you are fully equipped to jump right in.

I am linking up to The Pretty Oil, where they have an in-depth look at these essential oils and their uses.

Any questions on YL essential oils:
email lee.erikad@gmail.com

Monday, July 7, 2014

Essential Oils and Emotions: Jealousy

Continuing my series on essential oils and emotions. If you missed yesterday, click back a page. I covered how the oils can effect your emotions and specifically, anxiety.

Scroll, scroll, scroll: Oh my gosh, her kitchen is ideal. I wish I had her kitchen!
Scroll, scroll, scroll: How does she always have every new Baby Gap outfit? Ugh, I wish I had all of those clothes.
Scroll, scroll, scroll: Man, she has it together. Her faith, family and friends are so perfect. My prayer journal does not look anything like her custom designed notebook.
Scroll, scroll, scroll: Her house is so perfectly put together, how does she do that? Mine is a wreck 90% of the time… 

Ok, so you get it. Social media can be so wonderful. I have met some of the most amazing women from Instagram (yep!) and they are a huge part of my life and we lift each other up! But social media can bring out a horrible side in me, too. Jealousy. It’s hard to not feel those twinges when everyone displays their worlds so ‘picture perfectly’ online. I do know that what you see in pictures is not always authentic, so that helps bring things back into perspective most of the time. But jealousy is an emotion I think many of us struggle with. 

This morning I took some time to reflect and experience a unique way to deal with this emotion through essential oils and prayer. As I diffused Joy, I meditated on these two scriptures:

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

James 3:14-15 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Emotion: Anxiety
The Essential Oils Desk Reference v5 highlights specific oils that can encourage a release of the emotion; jealousy. It's important to remember that just because there are several oils listed, it doesn't mean you have to use each one. Use what you have on-hand from the starter kit, or if you see the same essential oil recommended for different emotions you're juggling, maybe make the investment to order that oil this month.
As you experiment with frequent diffusing, inhaling or topical application, you'll begin to see which one ignites the best response in your body. Everyone is different!
 
Singles: Idaho Balsam Fir, Frankincense, Lemon, Orange
Blends:Valor, The Gift, Joy, Humility, Release

The oils bolded/hyperlinked are all included in the Premium Starter Kit. This kit is what I truly recommend for anyone looking to begin their journey with essential oils. It includes 11 oils and the home diffuser, so you are fully equipped to jump right in. I am linking up to The Pretty Oil, where they have an in-depth look at these essential oils and their uses.

Any questions on YL essential oils:
email lee.erikad@gmail.com

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Essential Oils and Emotions: Anxiety

Scent can have a powerful effect on our emotions. Out of all five senses, our sense of smell is the only one directly linked to the limbic system in the brain, our emotional control center. What this means is that scent can impact not just emotion, but our body's physical response to it.

When we inhale the fragrance of an essential oil, the odor molecules travel up the nose where they’re registered by the nerves of the olfactory membranes in the nose lining. The odor molecules stimulate this lining of nerve cells and trigger electrical impulses to the olfactory bulb in the brain. The olfactory bulb then transmits the impulses to the amygdala - where emotional memories are stored - and to other parts of the limbic system of the brain.

Because the limbic system is directly connected to those parts of the brain that control heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, memory, stress levels, and hormone balance, therapeutic grade essential oils can have profound physiological and psychological effect on our physical and emotional well-being. Olfactory responses to odors induce the brain to stimulate the release of hormones and neurochemicals that in turn alter the body’s physiology and behavior.
 
Essential Oil Desk Reference, 4th Edition

Emotion: Anxiety
The Essential Oils Desk Reference v5 highlights specific oils that can encourage a release of the emotion; anxiety. It's important to remember that just because there are several oils listed, it doesn't mean you have to use each one. Use what you have on-hand from the starter kit, or if you see the same essential oil recommended for different emotions you're juggling, maybe make the investment to order that oil this month.
As you experiment with frequent diffusing, inhaling or topical application, you'll begin to see which one ignites the best response in your body. Everyone is different!
Singles: Orange, Roman Chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Frankincense
Blends: Valor, Hope, Peace & Calming, Joy, Present Time, The Gift, Surrender, Believe

The oils bolded/hyperlinked are all included in the Premium Starter Kit. This kit is what I truly recommend for anyone looking to begin their journey with essential oils. It includes 11 oils and the home diffuser, so you are fully equipped to jump right in.

I am linking up to The Pretty Oil, where they have an in-depth look at these essential oils and their uses.

Any questions on YL essential oils or my unique anxiety journey:
email lee.erikad@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Update: Our Oil Journey

I catch myself getting SUPER excited when I see a new, pretty graphic showcasing how to use essential oils. And, I am quick to pop it up on Instagram and Facebook. (The one above is mine, by the way. And super pretty, yea?) But I realized it’s been awhile since I wrote a very personal recap on how my family uses essential oils every day. In just a few short months, we have incorporated oils into nearly every facet of life. I love educating myself about the oils, and still have SO much to learn. I also love when friends and family approach me with questions on certain oils or conditions. It allows me to do research and build my arsenal of oil information. In the past, if I had a headache, I reached for Tylenol. No second thought. Because it’s all I knew to use. Now, I reach for Peppermint Oil. I like that I have a choice! Yippee!

On the babies:
Thieves Essential Oil is still our go-to for Keegan & Noelle. I rub a drop ‘neat’ (non diluted) on the bottoms of their feet before and after school. We also diffuse this more often than most oils. This blend has been shown to not only kill bacteria and prevent infections, but it has also been used to sanitize homes and kill mold. Diffusing it within your home can kill airborne pathogens; so you can bet this will be our favorite oil for a long, long time. The history of Thieves dates back to the Bubonic Plague. Thieves stealing from the deceased would wear this mixture of oils which prevented them from contracting the disease. Tale says, when the thieves were captured, their sentence was lessened because they shared their oil secrets with the government. You can read the whole story here.
Peace & Calming Essential Oil is another favorite. We do baths every other night, and the babies LOVE bath time. Our baths are post dinner, and right before bed. So I usually put 1-2 drops of P&C in their bath water. The aroma is pleasantly strong, and I love how it can absorb in their skin topically and aromatically at the same time. Peace & Calming is soothing, and promotes restful sleep.

On Justin:
Justin loves to play basketball, but has always struggled with knee problems. With a few surgeries under his belt, his knees act up quite often. We’ve started using Panaway Essential Oil on the tops and backs of his knees. He likes how quickly it works and how you get that ‘tingly, cold’ feeling similar to Icy Hot.

My husband also is very health-conscious, which I love about him. He drinks tons of water every day, and keeps hydrated. He’s started using Lemon and Lime Essential Oils in his water bottle. Lemon is a natural detox, and lime is so energizing! Remember, when drinking EOs in water, you should use a glass bottle or cup. The oils can break down plastics, releasing toxic material into your water. Yuck!
Oh, and a drop of lime in his Bacardi and coke… he loves that. J
On me:
I am the Oily Mama in our household. Here are a few very personal ways I use essential oils.
I have an autoimmune disease, ulcerative colitis. Although I treat my condition with a pretty potent injectable medication, my hope is to continue to supplement with oils until I can wean off that medicine. I am a firm believer that our God is the ultimate healer, and He has put essential oils into my life as a healing tool. All good and great things come from Him!
I did a zyto scan about a month ago, and discovered that a big chunk of my markers that were out of whack could be brought into normal range with Mineral Essence. If you have a mineral deficiency, your body does not absorb the vitamins it needs to thrive. And, without vitamins, your body is not performing at its prime. With UC, my gut does not absorb vitamins and minerals effectively, so by using Mineral Essence, I am giving it an extra dose to promote a healthy level in my body.
Peppermint is my go-to for stomach pains and irritability. To relieve symptoms of UC, I put a drop under my tongue, or rub a drop directly onto my stomach so it’s absorbed topically. In the past, I’d take supplements that took a long time to work, Peppermint works much quicker than anything I’ve tried.
Joy! Goodness, I love Joy Essential Oil. During pregnancy and post-partum, I really struggled with anxiety. Wearing Joy in a diffusing necklace helps bring me a sense of calmness and peace. I have been able to completely stop using a prescription medication for anxiety, which is huge for me. I diffuse this in my office, too!
Purification. First, have you ever had a jellyfish sting? They hurt. Really bad. Luckily, I had Purification with me in Costa Rica and I immediately put Purification on my leg. By the evening, the (bad!) sting was completely gone and all I had were a few light pink marks. I also dab purification on mosquito bites. UGH, can we just all agree on how much we hate mosquitos?!
I love helping friends get started with essential oils. Every oil opens up a world of opportunity for my family. It gives me a choice, and that’s the very best feeling. 
By joining Young Living as a wholesale member through the purchase of a starter kit, you join an amazing team: The Pretty Oil. We are a group of women who love educating others on oils, wellness and lifestyle through essential oils. Your investment in the premium starter kit gives you a YL membership, 11 essential oils, the home diffuser, and access to our Pretty Oil resources. YL oils are amazing enough, but joining this team is simply wonderful.
Don't let the term wholesale member throw you off. Think of it as purchasing a membership to Sam's Club. Once you are a member, you can purchase oils whenever your family needs them. There is no requirement to purchase monthly OR sell oils.
Any questions? Email me at lee.erikad@gmail.com
Make sure you are following @theprettyoil and @lee_erika on Instragram!
 
 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Keegan & Noelle: 14 months

Keegan

Nicknames: Bug, Squish
Teeth: 5 with 1 more coming in
Favorite things: Laughing. Dancing. Playing chase/peek-a-boo around the couch. Giving kisses. Bubble baths. His daddy. Running.

What's new in his world?

When you ask where's the bird? He says 'BER' and points outside.
When you say give me a kiss, he opens his mouth HUGE to give a kiss.
Claps super fast as soon as he hears someone say "Yay!" Right on cue.
Waves hi and bye when asked.
When you ask him what a cow says, he goes mmmmmm, and ocassionally you get the 'oo' at the end.
Tries and does pretty well with 2-3 piece puzzles.
If he sees me or Justin eating, anything, he will walk right over and say more. more. He can also sign more.
He knows, and doesn't choose to listen well to, 'On your bottom!' during bath time.

Words: Ball, Mama, Dada, Bird, More (as in food), Book, Milk (more like Meh)
Sleeping: 7 pm - 7 am, a morning nap around 10:30 AM, and short/intermittent late afternoon naps
Favorite foods: Mandarin oranges, chicken nuggets, popsicles, sweet peas, turkey hot dogs, cheese, watermelon
Drinks: Milk and water out of a sippy cup and does great with a straw

Noelle

Nicknames: Noelley, Princess Pie
Teeth: 6 with 2 more coming in
Favorite things: Me... :) ... Her baby dolls. Any small toy she can grasp in one hand. Walking, yay! Bubble baths. Giving hugs and kisses. Laila. Reading books. When she gets applause after doing something.

What's new in her world?

When you ask her where's your baby? She goes and gets a specific baby doll. And if she can't find it she gets her 'Noelley face' on. Then will find another baby-type toy.
When you ask her where's the bird, she looks outside and sometimes tries to say bird.
Claps as soon as you say YAY!
Waves hi and bye. Everday day now she sees a big fish tank at school and immediately waves at the fish. She also waves at dogs.
She is walking. Steadily and cautiously, but walking longer distances now.
Is very animated; will point things out if you ask her where's daddy, keegan, milk
She loves to try to stand during baths, but is very good at sitting right away when told 'on your bottom.'

Words: Ma, Dada, Book, Ball, Bebe, Milk (meh)
Sleeping: 7 pm - 7 am with a morning nap around 10:30 and an afternoon nap around 3 pm.
Favorite foods: Watermelon, chicken nuggets, beans, any type of fruit, cheese, turkey hot dogs, crackers, craisins
Drinks: Milk and water out of a sippy cup and does well with a straw.

This age is fun. Like, really fun. I can see their minds just going and going as they are really exploring and learning. I'm constantly amazed when I see them pick up a new skill or master a milestone. I love them  and their daddy to the moon and back!


 


Sunday, June 1, 2014

Choice.

Bringing your new baby home from the hospital, whether you were blessed with one or two, is a unique, personal experience. Suddenly, you find that your well-being is entirely dependent on the well-being of another little person. No matter how many ‘hands on deck’ you have offering assistance and advice, every decision comes back to you. How to feed, clothe, change, soothe and nurture – all comes back to what you feel is best for your child. And that can be a very emotional. You find yourself racking your brain to remember the countless bits of information you absorbed over the past 9 months. And although you can remember specifically what not to do, it’s the what ‘to do’ that has you stumped. I get it, I’ve been there.

But here is something that has been engraved on my heart:

“If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.”
The first congested little chest, cough, runny nose, bump on the head, fever, and scraped knee will all cross your path as a mommy. And when it happens, you may find yourself jumping back to the books, blogs, and friends who have provided such strong support throughout your journey. Your best friend might swear by OTC Gripe Water. And another by peppermint essential oil. Your pediatrician may offer you a decongestant prescription, when you just know you read something about steamed showers and eucalyptus offering relief. You may vaccinate your children, while a mom in your Mom’s group is constantly sharing articles of why she does not.
Let me tell you, because you have read and researched, questioned friends and family, spoken to pediatricians and prayed, you will be equipped with everything you need to know. Because you know what your options are, you can make a choice.
That’s really the most important thing - the knowledge, courage and ability to choose what's best for your family.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

May Madness!

Many of you chose May as the month to introduce Young Living essential oils into your homes. Yippee!! I am so excited to have you as a part of The Pretty Oil! Not only did you empower yourself to take a healthy step for your families, you gained access to an amazing support system, and received the Essential Oil Pocket Reference Guide. (Through May 31st! So yes, May is an awesome month to start!)

So, you ordered your premium starter kit… but now what? I want to share a few tips on great things to know as you begin your oil journey. 

1.       The first month you order your premium starter kit, you have 100 PV. Whether or not you plan to grow YL as a business, you have a huge opportunity this first month to make a bit of $$$ by sharing oils. For every new wholesale member you sign up with a premium starter kit, you receive $50. 

2.       In May, The Pretty Oil Team will give all new sign ups the Essential Oils Pocket Reference Guide as a welcome gift! A $25 value. 

3.       When someone signs up with a wholesale membership under you, they also become part of The Pretty Oil Team. If they want to use and learn more about oils for their families, great! If they want to pursue a business opportunity through YL, awesome! They will find the support they need in three different ways: The Pretty Oil Facebook Group, The Pretty Oil Website (www.theprettyoil.com),  & The Oily Info Facebook Group. 

4.       The Pretty Oil Team created an amazing e-book that walks through the Everyday Oils Collection that comes in the premium starter kit. If you have anyone who is just curious for a quick way to see what oils are all about, I encourage you to share this link with them.  


5.       Your starter kit comes with samples and reference materials, but if you are looking for something else, The Pretty Oil Team creates awesome branded marketing pieces. All you have to do is ask, and they will help you find what you need to best share oils with your friends and family.

6.       Using your member number, I will create a link for you that opens a unique registration page on the YL website. You can share this on your social media pages, through email, as the caption in your pins on Pinterest… whatever works best for you! 

7.       The most amazing part of using oils is first and foremost, the changes I am seeing in my family. My kids are less snotty, my home is less-toxic, and my mood is elevated naturally. I don’t have to pretend I know all the answers, and neither do you! We have an amazing team to teach, share, and grow with through The Pretty Oil. 

8.       If you choose to join Young Living as a wholesale member, and you are ready to launch an amazing, fast-paced career, you’re on the right team. My journey with YL has been short, yet successful. I am here to help you grow as a part of  The Pretty Oil Team. We are in this together! 

9.       Social media is a great place to learn. Make sure you are following @lee_erika and @theprettyoil on Instagram.
 
 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Weekend in Fredericksburg

Ahhhh, sitting down to write this morning after such a crazy weekend feels nice. I'm taking just a few minutes to recap before jumping into another busy work week!

Justin hunts on a deer lease every year in Llano, TX. Last year he shot a nice buck and had it shoulder mounted (Ok, typing that sentence is still bizarre, even though I have come to terms with this 'hunting stuff' over the past couple of years). It was finally ready for pick-up, so Justin was planning to drive down and back on Saturday. Super long trip, and he wasn't looking forward to it. SO, we decided to make it a family trip and head to Fredericksburg from Llano - only about 40 minutes away! And, I love Fredericksburg. I was in.

We left McKinney at 5:30 AM on Saturday morning. Justin and I had loaded the car the night before, so we just woke up at 5, got ready, then woke the babies up right before we left. Changed their diapers and stuck them straight in the car. The first couple hours were great - the babies just chilled, dozed on and off, and played in their car seats with little squeaky bath toys. Yep, those are their absolute favorite things right now - soft plastic toys that fit perfectly in their little hands.

At 7:30, we gave them sippy cups of milk; we had packed a small cooler in the car, and just trucked along. When we got to this tiny itty bitty (not even a McDonalds) town called Harrisburg, the babies were ready - very ready - for breakfast. We stopped at the cutest cafe, grabbed a table on the porch, and ate a delicious home cooked breakfast. Another diaper change and we were back at it. We got to Llano around 11 am to pick up Justin's deer in town. Then, we kept driving out into the country to his deer lease. Justin had to do a few 'chores' at camp, and has been wanting to show me the new place they hunt for awhile. We saw deer, cows and a turkey. PS I would have never know the animal was a turkey - it looked like a giant buzzard creature. Then, back in the car to head to Fredericksburg. At this point, K & N were just about over it. I sat in the back between their car seats feeding them snacks. I was so happy that I brought my Joy essential oil with me too. It was a critical component to keeping my sanity during this leg of the trip! haha!



Finally, we got to Fredericksburg. Found a cute cafe, ordered some Sam Adams, food for us and the babes, and sat on our second patio with 13 months twins for the day. K&N were, literally, the talk of the town. I wish we had counted the number of times people stopped everything they were doing to come talk to us, ask if they were twins, talk to K&N, and tell us we have our hands full. Even though this happens a lot, there was an extreme anount of twin questioning going on this weekend.


After lunch it was nap time for the entire family. This was our first hotel stay with the babies! We set up pack n plays for a siesta. (We took turns dozing, except Noelle, who was not having it, at all). After naps, we loaded back up and walked the town, shopped, let the babies run around. Which is SO fun you guys. Keegan is walking everywhere. More like running. He has got.it.down. Noelle isn't too interested in walking, yet. She creeps along everything, stands on her own a bit, and walks great behind push toys. One day she'll decide to take-off, and for now I will enjoy only having to chase one toddler.

Fast forward a bit to our third patio meal for the day. This time there was a live band. And the babies loved it. They danced and clapped to the songs. And, Keegan made sure all of the tables around us were watching him. He would literally clap. Stop abruptly to look all around him. Then we he got the  recognition he was waiting for, he would start clapping again. Ham.

Everything about this picture is not right, but its all we got. Why do they each only have one shoe on? What happened to my shorts?

We kept the babies up a bit past their 7 pm bedtime, then eventually headed back to the hotel to put them down. We had a balcony off our room, so once they were sleeping Justin and I had a place to hang out without disturbing them. Literally, the whirlwind trip couldn't have gone any better.

The drive home on Sunday was pretty uneventful as well. Babies took two naps. We stopped in a few little towns on our way, grabbed lunch, and got back to McKinney around 4. Unfortunately, something must have been in the air that didn't agree with me. I usually don't struggle with allergies but last night was a bit rough. I rubbed a couple drops of peppermint on the back of my neck, and diffused the allergy bomb. Seriously, the relief was almost immediate. I am sitting here  this morning with the same combo diffusing, and ready to tackle my work day.

I am placing my monthly order of essential oils tonight at 8 pm. If you are interested in trying one or two oils, I can order for you at wholesale price and ship to you. Just email me, comment below, or send me a message on instagram (@lee_erika).

Or, if you are ready to really jump in with incorporating essential oils into your lifestyle and family, I suggest the premium starter kit. This kit comes with 10 popular oils and a home diffuser. It's the best value! You can order yours via the 'Order Oils' link above. Oh, and everyone who gets a starter kit in May will also receive a copy of the Essential Oils Pocket Reference Guide.

What I love about sharing my LOVE of oils with friends, is that I don't have to pretend to know everything... Because I surely do not. I use resources such as the reference guide, and my amazing team (The Pretty Oil) to find answers to each question I get. It's a win/win.

Have a wonderful week!

I am not a doctor, I just love using essential oils. Any information or advice given on this site is meant to help educate and inform, not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements made on this website about Young Living oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. You should always check with your health care professional before starting something new.
 

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Medicine Cabinet Makeover

When I first joined The Pretty Oil Team, I read about the 'medicine cabinet makeover' challenge. I admit, I was a bit skeptical when I first started hearing about essential oils. Growing up, we took benadryl for allergies, tylenol for headaches, and pepto for tummy aches. And, they helped minimize symptoms. So, I am not standing on a podium preaching the hault of western medicine. There is a time and place, and I completely understand this. I currently take Humira (an injected medication) for an autoimmune disease with no plans to stop, because it is critical to my health and wellness. But, I was curious, and desperate for a lifestyle minimizing the use of OTC drugs. I want to start getting to the root of the problem instead of masking the symptoms of the problem.

Over the past few days, weeks and months, I have slowly started integrating essential oils into our home. I do it slowly, cautiously, and after a litte (ok a ton) of research to decide what is best for our family.

Here are a few very honest, personal ways we have started the Medicine Cabinet Makeover:
  • Replaced Mederma with Frankincense on c-section scar
  • Replaced Icy Hot with Panaway for sore muscles after gym time
  • Replaced prescription cortisone with Peppermint for eczema
  • Replaced OFF insect spray with homemade Purification insect repellent 
  • Replaced soft drinks and energy drinks with Nixia Red or Lemon Oil
  • Replaced Z Quil with Lavender and Valor
  • Replaced (expensive) Bobbi Brown night cream with coconut oil and frankincense
 
 
I am not a doctor, I just love using essential oils. Any information or advice given on this site is meant to help educate and inform, not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements made on this website about Young Living oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. You should always check with your health care professional before starting something new.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Spring Cleaning Time!


Last night, Justin and I sat down and decided to conquer our spring cleaning strategically this year. I fully understand it’s the middle of May and might possibly be too late to do ‘spring cleaning,’ but we are. And it’s fine. We work full time, are raising twins, entertain out of town guests often… and therefore spot clean our house regularly. But it’s hard to do deep-cleaning in areas that aren’t staring us in the face. Our kitchen and bathrooms stay pretty dang clean, and most of the time I am OK with that.

So,we’ve decided to deep clean one room in our house a night. Starting tonight. Insert groan.  The babies go down at 7, so that’s when our fun spring cleaning adventure will begin. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t kiiiiiinda excited for this deep clean, because I am using my oils. Shocker, right?
Here’s a few ways we are eliminating toxic cleaners and replacing them with all-natural cleaning methods using  essential oils:
1.       Purification Oil
a.       Add 3 drops of purification oil to washing machine before a load of laundry.
b.      Diffuse purification in each room as we go.
c.       Drop purification oil on a cotton ball and place in game room and guest room to cleanse the air in rooms where air can get stale from infrequent use.

2.       Lemon Oil
a.       Use lemon oil and water mixture to clean hard water stains on stainless steel appliances. I never, ever remember to buy the fancy ‘wipes’ at the store and this works JUST as well.
b.      Mix white vinegar with 10 drops lemon oil as a floor cleaner OR window cleaner!
c.       Overnight, place sponges or dish clothes in a glass bowl of hot water with lemon oil to kill germs.

3.       Thieves Oil
a.       Mix 5 drops thieves with baking soda to clean tubs, showers and sinks.
b.      Mix thieves in a water bottle and spray on outside plants to deter bugs and spiders.
c.       Put 2 drops in a cup of hot tea for flavor and to maintain health. (Not a cleaning tip, but tea will be critical post-cleaning….)
 
These three oils (and 8 others!) are all available in the premium starter kit. This kit has catapulted my family into leading a healthier lifestyle, and I’m not turning back.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Spring Into Summer with Essential Oils

 
 
 
Problem: Sunburn
Solution: Mix lavender oil with coconut oil and rub on.
Problem: Bugs
Solution: Purification oil is a natural insect repellent!
Problem: Allergies
Solution: The allergy-bomb. Diffuse equal drops peppermint, lemon and lavender oils.
Problem: Summer Cold
Solution: Thieves oil – a drop in a glass of water, rub on bottom of your feet, and disinfect those countertops!
Problem: Your kids are 2 days into summer vacation and are already BORED….
Solution: Peace & Calming Oil – diffused, dropped in a bath, Inhaled… lets be honest, i suggest you stock up on this one.
To get your YOUNG Living premium starter kit with the everyday oils collection, a home diffuser and much more, click the order tab above.
***with your premium starter kit purchase in may, the pretty oil team will send you the essential oils reference guide as a welcome gift!