Day 4: Using Lemon Essential Oil

Uses :

Supports a Healthy Urinary Tract –

- Take 2 to 3 drops in a capsule

Soothes the throat -

Add a drop to a spoonful of raw honey

Supports Healthy Skin - 

- Use a couple drops in coconut oil to help with cellulite (Lemon essential oil is photosensitive, so be mindful of that when rubbing on the skin)

Removes Stains –

- Add a drop to tough stains before washing

Great at Cleansing –

- Use a few drops on a wash cloth to wipe down your counter tops

- Add a few drops to sweet almond oil and use it to polish wood furniture 

- Put 2 drops on a cotton ball and place in your refrigerator to manage smells

- Use a couple drops to clean your cutting boards

- Add a drop to your liquid soap for a degreaser

- Add a drop or two to tea or water to help detox the body (only drink in a glass cup)

- Add a drop to your tooth brush once a week (it will cleanse your toothbrush AND your mouth)

Great for Gardeners-

- Mix with water in a glass spray bottle and spray plants to keep aphids away

Removes sticky substances –

- If you have a sticker that has left behind a sticky residue, add a drop of lemon and rub until it’s gone

- Helps remove fake tattoos

Naturally highlights hair -

Add a few drops to your hair when going out in the sun (A little goes a long way!)

Recipes:

- Make "instant lemonade" by adding 2 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 Tablespoon of raw honey. Next, mix the lemon honey into a tall glass of water. Add ice and stir!

- Add a drop of lemon and a tablespoon of baking soda to a sink full of water for a nice fruit and veggie soak

Lemon Pairs Well With:

Any of the Citrus oils – lime, tangerine, grapefruit or citrus fresh – for a nice natural fresh flavor in your water

Thieves – It smells great being diffused together, and it also packs a punch for immune support. 

How do you use Lemon essential oil in your home? Let me know in the comments!

Day 3: Using Thieves Essential Oil

Thieves got its name from a European group of 15^th century thieves who went around robbing bodies that were infected by the black plague. They were robbing bodies, but weren’t being infected themselves. When they were finally caught, they traded their recipe for a lighter sentence.

Uses:

Supports the Immune System –

- Great to diffuse during fall and winter months

- Apply to the bottoms of the feet and down the spine for extra immune support (Use a carrier!)
- Take 3 to 4 drops in a capsule

Soothes the throat –

- Drink it in tea

- Drop a drop down the throat

Supports Oral Health –

- Add to your toothpaste

- Add a drop to coconut oil for oil pulling

Cleanses and Purifies –

- Add to the diffuser

- Stain Remover
- Put 2 to 3 drops on wool dryer balls to freshen laundry
- Add a drop to your dishwasher detergent or dishsoap

Recipes - 

Thieves Household Cleaner – A pinch of sea salt, 20 drops of Thieves distilled water.

“Get Well Tea” – Herbal tea, a tablespoon of Braggs Apple Cidar Vinegar with the mother, A Tablespoon of Raw Honey and a drop of Thieves. Drink as needed.

Thieves Pairs Well With - 

Oregano and Frankincense – for an immune boosting roll on. We add them to a 10ml roll on bottle – 10 drops each and then fill the rest with olive oil.

Purification - Diffusing these two together is a purifying powerhouse!

Orange – Smells AMAZING when diffused together! A great scent for fall!

Have other ways of using Thieves essential oil? Tell me in the comments!

Day 2: Using Peppermint Essential Oil

Promotes Energy –

- Add a drop to your water for a pick-me-up

Helps Support Healthy Digestion –

- Rub on the tummy

- Take it in a capsule

- Drink in your water

Supports the Respiratory System –

- Diffuse it for sinus support

- Make Your Own Nasal Spray

Minor Headaches –

- Rub on the temples (be careful not to get it close to the eyes!)

- Try the Peppermint trick (drop a drop of Peppermint on the tip of your tongue and hold to the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds)

Helps Regulate body temperature –

- Rub on the bottoms of the feet frequently

Cooking –

- Brownies

- Tea

Concentration –

- Apply to the temples

- Diffuse

Tummy Troubles –

- Apply to the stomach

- Take in a capsule

Recipes -

Spider Spray – Fill a large spray bottle with white vinegar, add 10 drops of Peppermint and spray the outside of your house to keep the bugs away.

Breath Spray – Add a pinch of sea salt to a small glass spray bottle, add 5 drops of Peppermint and fill the rest with distilled water.

Sugar Scrub – Take one cup of organic sugar, one tablespoon of melted coconut oil and 5 drops of Peppermint, mix together and store in a container.

Muscle Rub – Take 2 ounces of coconut oil and 5 drops of Peppermint, mix together for a post workout rub.

Oils that Pair Well with Peppermint - 

Copaiba – A great combo to use on sore places

Lemon and Grapefruit – Paired with Peppermint have been known to help with weight management. You can take these 3 oils in a capsule together.

DiGize – In a capsule or applied to the tummy, for an extra boost in supporting the digestive system.

Lavender and Lemon – Supports respiratory health and seasonal sniffles. You can make a nasal spray using these three oils, or take them together in a capsule.

Stress Away - Diffuse together for some stress free focus. This is a great recipe to diffuse during the winter months. Together they smell like candy canes!

How do you use Peppermint in your home? Let me know in the comments!

Day 1: Using Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is known as the Swiss Army Knife of essential oils, because it's incredibly versatile.

Uses:

Calming –

- Diffuse

- Apply to the back of the neck and temples for relaxation

- Add to bath water

Soothing to the skin –

- Apply neat or with a carrier oil. (Lavender is very gentle!)

- It’s great for minor burns

- It’s also great for accident prone children ;)

- Add a drop to your mascara to support healthy eyelashes

Helps with seasonal sniffles –

- Apply to the bridge of the nose

Helps with occasional nosebleeds –

- Apply to the bridge of the nose

Recipes:

Diaper Cream – 2 ounces of coconut oil & 5 drops of Lavender

Nasal Spray – A pinch of sea salt (to absorb the oil), 5 drops of Lavender (you can also add 5 drops of Peppermint if you’d like) and distilled water.

Sleep Spray – A pinch of sea salt, 5 drops of Lavender and distilled water

After sun spray – (There are a few different ways to make this) 5 drops of Lavender and your choice of distilled water, fractionated coconut oil or witch hazel. (If you use distilled water, make sure to add a pinch of sea salt to help disperse the oils)

Bath Salts – 8 ounce mason jar (fill with Epsom salts) add 10 drops of Lavender

Oils to Pair with Lavender:

Cedarwood – 

- Great to diffuse with Lavender at bedtime

- Add it to the homemade sleep spray for added benefits

Frankincense – 

- Great for stretched skin. You can add 5 drops of Frankincense and 5 drops of Lavender to coconut oil for a homemade cream.

- Makes a great boo boo roll on for kiddos. You can add 5 drops each of Frankincense and Lavender to a 10ml roll on bottle, fill the rest with olive oil.

This is how I use Lavender essential oil in my home. If you have any uses for Lavender that weren't mentioned here, please leave them in the comment section! 

Using Your Premium Starter Kit - An 11 Day Showcase

If you've heard of Young Living Essential Oils, then the chances are pretty high that you have also heard of the Premium Starter Kit. (And if you haven't heard of any of this, stay tuned, because these are some amazing products!) The Premium Starter Kit (PSK) is a kit that Young Living offers that has 11 of our most popular oils. 

For the next 11 days, I will be teaching you how to use the PSK. I will be highlighting one oil each day. This class will be here on my blog in written form, but it will also be taught live on Periscope. Find me on Periscope @Living_Wholly or you can also find the replays at katch.me/living_wholly. This awesome showcase starts tomorrow! (March 28th)

There are 3 people who will benefit from this showcase:

1) People who have bought the kit and want to become more confident in their essential oil usage

2) People who have heard of essential oils, but aren't sure if they want to buy them

3) People who have no idea what essential oils are

Chances are pretty high that you fall into one of the above categories. Join me on Periscope, or follow along here if you'd like. I promise you will learn some really great info. ;)

The Power of Praying for Your Spouse

I have been with my husband for nearly 10 years. Our story is a little unique, because I was so young when we met. I fell in love with him at the age of 16. We were inseparable from the moment we met. Many people hear our story and say "I wish I could have that." I laugh every time I hear that, because my truthful response is "No, you don't." Yes, Randy and I have a strong love...but it's only strong, because it has been put through the ringer. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have failed that man. The ONLY thing that separates us from any other divorced couple is that we kept going. We refused to quit. Believe me when I say, there were plenty of times when we both wanted to.

Here's what I've learned just recently - talking to God about your problems is so much more effective than talking to people about them. You can trash your spouse all you want to your mom, sister, friend, ect...but the only thing that will do is drive you further from loving him. Trash talking your spouse creates resentment. We must be careful of the words we speak, because the more we say them...the more true they become. If you continually speak negatively of your husband, your feelings toward him will turn into negative feelings. I know this from experience.

I can't stress enough how important it is to shut off those negative voices and PRAY for your spouse. When he has deeply hurt you, when you feel neglected, when you feel like he doesn't care...PRAY. Even if all you can do is weep before the Lord, just do it.

I used to rely on Randy to meet my every need. I was extremely codependent, and truthfully, it's very easy for me to become that way even still. I have had to learn to take some of the pressure off of Randy and give it over to God. I have had to allow GOD to meet my needs where Randy couldn't. I'm still learning to do that.

If there's anything I've learned in my journey of fighting for my marriage, it's the power of prayer. Taking the time to pray for Randy every day has literally changed my life. It doesn't take long to start working. After a couple of days of praying, I began to notice a change in the whole flow of our household. I noticed a change in ME. I was suddenly feeling much more positive and uplifted, which came through in my actions. I woke up feeling happy after my prayer time. There was a sense of satisfaction that I hadn't had in a long time. As I started to change, I saw my husband change. All of the things that I was praying for started to show.

I started loving Randy in a way that I never had before. I ask God to give me eyes to see Randy the way that HE saw Randy. And He did.

I want to make it very clear that I am not an expert at how to have a happy marriage. I have made just about every wrong decision you can make in a marriage. I'm blessed to have a husband who loves me enough to stick around while I learn how to be a good wife. Getting married at 19 years old, I have literally had to learn as I go, and he has been extremely patient with me. I just wanted to share this with you today, because if you've walked where I've walked...if you feel like there's zero chance of having a great and healthy marriage...there is hope. And it starts with prayer. :)

Must Have Monday: Super B

Being a mom of two toddlers (one and three), I found myself hitting a point in the day where I had zero energy. In fact, getting out of bed most days was becoming a challenge for me. I felt drained. I decided to look into supplements that help with energy. Young Living offers a large variety of supplements and vitamins, but this one stood out to me.

First and foremost, Super B is very affordable. For a wholesale member, 90 days worth of tablets are $22.75. (You take one, once a day) That's a great price for 3 months worth of quality vitamins!

The benefits that Super B offers are great as well! Here's the description taken from the Young Living website:

 Super B™ is a comprehensive vitamin complex containing eight essential and energy-boosting B vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. The complete B-vitamin profile in Super B not only assists in maintaining healthy energy levels, but it also supports the nervous system, aids in maintaining normal cardiovascular function, and helps with internal enzyme reactions.* With the new addition of B5, Super B now also assists with mood support.

I take my tablet every morning with breakfast. I have noticed that I feel more energized and over all my mood is more positive. I really love this supplement!

Clean Eating for Beginners

Eating clean can be tricky. I'm still learning the ropes myself. Looking at the big long list of what you can't eat can be overwhelming. So here are some tips to help simplify this journey.

1. Start slow - If eating clean is a massive change for you, start slow. Pick a few items to incorporate into your diet, and slowly cycle the unhealthy stuff out. You don't have to make this a huge drastic change. Lifestyle changes take time. 

2. Shop around the perimeters of the grocery store - An easy rule of thumb is to stay on the outside of the aisles. Start in the fresh produce section and work your way around the store, avoiding the inside aisles. There are some exceptions, but for the most part, aisles are home to lots of processed junk food. Try to make the majority of your cart fruits, vegetables, lean meats and organic products.

3. Prep your food - This has been my biggest lesson in clean eating. I am a sucker for a convenient meal. Unfortunately, clean eating is not always convenient. That's why it's very important to plan ahead. "Failure to plan is a plan to fail." Having a meal plan can save you a lot of trouble. Making it easier on yourself makes it much more likely that you will succeed in your health goals.

These little tricks have helped me stay on my journey to clean eating. I hope they help you as well. :)

The Power of Praying Daily

Today I want to be right up front about my faith. My faith in God is what drives my passion for health and wellness. If you're not familiar with my back story, I grew up as the daughter to a pastor of a Christian church. I have been involved in ministries my entire life. I spent more time at church most weeks than I did at my own home. BUT it wasn't until my adult life that I really learned the power of prayer, and it's still something I'm becoming more familiar with. 

You would think that growing up in church and attending a Christian school, both where I had to frequently pray out loud, that I would be super comfortable with prayer, right? Wrong. I have been terrified of praying out loud for years. In fact, it scared me to my core just to pray out loud with my husband. I have been with the man for nearly a decade. He has witnessed me birthing two children, not to mention seeing my biggest insecurities when we are intimate. And yet...it was a huge struggle for me. I gave into my fear, and I ran from prayer. I avoided it like the plague. When I felt the need to pray for someone, I would ignore it. It terrified me. 

So how does one grow in the Lord when they are scared to pray? They don't. I found myself in a very dark place. Though I read my Bible, I didn't have a prayer life. Do you see how Satan used fear to completely cripple me and keep me from not just my own spiritual growth, but he also kept me from blessing others? He filled my head with silly thoughts like "I don't sound "spiritual enough" when I pray" or "What if I sound silly?". 

My husband and I went to see the movie War Room and it was a HUGE eye opener for me. I began to realize that this was a big block for me, and I HAD to get over it. You want to know the best way to get over fear? It's to look it straight in the face, and DO IT AFRAID. So I did. And it changed everything.

I want to share my secret with you, because it has literally changed my life. After seeing the power of prayer displayed in the movie War Room, I wanted to make my own war room. We live in a tiny apartment that barely has enough space for the 4 of us to live comfortably, so an open closet just wasn't an option for me. I was shown by a friend how to create a prayer binder. It's a portable prayer room. :) My prayer binder has blank paper separated by categorized flaps. 

My five categories are:

1. Husband

2. Children

3. Friends

4. Business

5. Me

Now, this is just my personal journal, so if you're creating your own, you can alter the categories to your life. Most people don't own their own business, so obviously that's a category that may not apply to you. I have my own business with Young Living and my blog here, and it's important to me that I pray over those businesses, and over YOU, my readers.

When it comes to praying for my husband, I have discovered a BIG difference in our marriage when I pray for him. I have a book called Decree by Patricia King and a book by Joyce Meyer called The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word. These two books are awesome! They each have declarations and scripture references (that apply to ALL areas of life!) in them that you can speak over your spouse or whoever needs a word. I write a lot of these down for my husband and my family. I highly encourage you to check them out if you want to boost your relationship with God. They are powerful books! 

Taking the time to sit down and pray each morning has been life changing. It's helped me move past my fear of praying out loud. When you are sitting down each day and praying, regardless of it's it is verbal or not, it gets you comfortable with talking to God. It creates a radical change in life, because you're no longer carrying your issues, but you're laying them down at God's feet every day. Friends, that is a game changer. :) If you're seeking an encounter with God, a prayer journal is a great starting point. Make your categories, write down your declarations, tell Jesus your concerns...and watch your life transform. I know I have.

Fight Feminine Odor with Tea Tree Oil

Ok girlfriends...I'm getting up close and oh so very personal with you all today! Being an advocate for good health sometimes comes with some awkward moments. Like today. I'm addressing a problem that is very common, but not talked about. I'm talking about feminine odor. It's an issue that we sometimes struggle with. So before you go running to the Vagisil, you might want to check the ingredients. Popular feminine shampoos and soaps are loaded with synthetic fragrances and other harmful toxins. So what's a girl to do about her funk? Three words: Tea Tree oil.

Tea Tree oil is great at fighting fungus and bacteria. Using Tea Tree oil every single day has seriously changed my life for the better. I use it every single morning as part of my routine. (I strongly suggest using Young Living's Tea Tree oil. The dangers of using Tea Tree oil from health food stores is that they often times add synthetic ingredients that can actually be harmful and irritating to the skin. I absolutely do NOT suggest using any other brand but Young Living!!)

I apply Tea Tree oil directly to the "targeted area". Now, I'll be honest with you, there is a warming sensation. It doesn't burn or sting, but you can feel it when it's applied. :) I'm pretty liberal with my oils usage. I personally do not use a carrier oil when I'm doing this, but I would strongly suggest using a carrier oil (coconut oil is a great option) if you have never done this before. The last thing you want is to have a skin sensitivity in your lady business...so when you're first starting out, use a carrier oil. ;)

If you're not comfortable with this method, you can also soak a tampon in Tea Tree oil and Coconut oil and insert it for 10 minutes. I have not tried this method, but I'm sure it works just as well as direct application.

Remember friends, I am not a doctor. Nothing that I say should be taken as medicinal advice. If you're still experiencing strong feminine odor after trying this, then I would strongly advise seeing a medical professional. It's important to remember that while essential oils are great for a variety of health benefits, sometimes our bodies have symptoms of a deeper issue. Keep that in mind while you're oiling. If essential oils seem ineffective, there may be more to the story than what meets the eye. ;)