Classes coming up!!! It is time to get back into the classroom for essential oils!!! I will have classes this Sunday (November 15) at 1 for a make and take and at 3 for a 101 class focused on families. I'll do another set of classes November 29 at 1:30 for a make and take for Christmas gifts and at 5 for a 101 class focused on Christmas.  I will also be the host for a Norwex party.  Come and see what we have!  I will also have my Lilla Rose products displayed!

So I am excited!!! I have been a vendor at several events and I plan to be at several more in the next few weeks. I will be demonstrating flexi clips for the hair so that you can have an amazing and quick hairstyle. I will also be talking about how I can help families work towards a more natural lifestyle with some quick, easy, inexpensive DIY swaps for some of their commonly used household items. Drop by and see me!!! I also plan to post upcoming classes--lots of DIY's in the works!!!

I am horrible about procrastinating. I mean, look how long of a time there is between posts!!! One of the things I have been wanting to do for a long time is to use essential oils for my facial care. But I haven't done it yet..... Why? I have no good excuse. I researched what I wanted to use (this is an AWESOME blog--http://www.overthrowmartha.com/2015/02/diy-beauty-basics-101.html). I even ordered the essential oils I wanted to use--I'm thinking elemi, chamomile, geranium, lavender, and even a little carrot seed oil. That is the one great thing about Essential Rewards with Young Living. I know I will be making an order every month, so I can go ahead and thing about what DIY projects I want to do. I just never got the base ingredients! My sweet husband even bought me a gift card to amazon but I still haven't sat down and figured out which carrier oil supplier, etc--way too many choices! Anyway, back to the task on hand. I will order the supplies from amazon TODAY!!!! I want and need to get this started! I have never had good skin. I've always had breakouts and oily skin. I finally discovered Wexler products that I purchased at Bath and Body Works that made my not so young face look and feel so much better! But then they stopped working as well and I hated to pay the high price for them. Something else that I discovered during this process--my oily and breakout prone skin doesn't necessarily need the stuff for acne. It just seemed to dry out my skin. The universal cleanser seemed to work pretty well for me. But I ran out. And I don't like to shop. And you can use whatever excuse you want to for me. I haven't been using a regular cleanser or moisturizer for a long time. And you know what? My face is NOT as oily as it used to be. I guess by not stripping the natural oils, my body has adjusted well. And if I ever use a regular cleanser (especially those for acne), it is way too harsh for my skin. I still have black heads. I still have wrinkles. I still get occasional pimples, but nothing like I used to! But I do need something to protect my skin and hopefully make it look a little younger. So off to amazon to order a few supplies. I'll let you know how it turns out for me!

amazon search

So I love to shop at amazon.com.  I mean you can look at a gazillion things and with prime have it to your house in just 2 days at no extra charge.  So here is my search box in case you want to search and amazon will reward me with a small commission, which I will then use to purchase more oily DIY things :)

The CHEMISTRY reason I became interested in essential oils

A couple of years ago, I made my first attempt at lye soap.  It was fun.  It put me in touch with that pioneer woman side of me.  I got to combine it with a chemistry background, seeing how different oils will cause differences in the texture and even the size of bubbles.  The first time I got to play with this was at a workshop based on this book.  

Then I started making other things, such as lip balms.  Now most of those recipes will call for essential oils.  I thought essential oils were just there add a nice smell or maybe some flavorings.  I thought any fragrance oil could do the same thing.  I was wrong.

In another lab, I have the students make an ester by combining an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.  Depending on which alcohol and which carboxylic acid, a different ester is produced with it's own unique smell.  But the thing was, it never smelled exactly like it was supposed to.  I mean, it might kind of smell like the banana it was supposed to, but not really.  Turns out a banana is composed of a ton of different chemicals (this is a cool chemistry list for you of the ingredients of an all natural banana https://jameskennedymonash.wordpress.com/2013/12/12/ingredients-of-an-all-natural-banana/).  So the smell of a banana is not due to a single chemical, but a combination of different things.  

Turns out gasoline is similar.  It is not just one chemical compound, but a variety of different hydrocarbons with a similar boiling point (ok, there is more to it, but this is the simplistic view).

So I started thinking about how an essential oil is derived from a plant.  It is not a single compound, but a mixture of a ton of different things.  Each of those things can affect your body.  Maybe your body doesn't need the most concentrated compound, it needs one of the more obscure compounds, or maybe it needs two or more.  It started to make sense to me.  I started to use that reasoning for other areas of my life.  Prescription drugs are one compound.  That is often why your body has a hard time detoxing as many times it is overloaded with a compound.  At least, in my mind that is what is happening.

So for now, I am going to try to use essential oils to help support my body.  I know that in some cases there will be things I will use prescriptions for, but I am going to try to keep my body balanced so I don't have to use as many.  

The BABY reason I joined Young Living

So why did I become interested in essential oils?  It has been a slow process for me.  Over the years I have started trying to live a more natural life--cook food from ingredients rather than boxes, replacing store bought cleansers with home made ones, you get the idea.  When I was pregnant with my youngest, I started looking at more natural products for babies.  I cloth diapered and kept reading about using essential oils for when babies aren't feeling good and in products, especially diaper creams (since you can't use traditional ones with cloth diapers).  At first I just thought they were there for the smell, but after using some teething medicine made of EOs, it really dawned on me that there was more to it.  Here is an affiliate link in case you were curious what it looks like Punkin Butt Teething Oil 2 oz.  That stuff is amazing and it works so well!!!  And it lasts forever!  I am still on my first bottle and the little one is almost 2!  Then I also got this which smells divine!!!  
Earth Mama Angel Baby Angel Baby Bottom Balm, 2-Ounce Jar
           
All this stuff is awesome, but it is not the cheapest and there was so many more things I wanted to try!  So, I decided I wanted some essential oils.  Then it became which ones do I try.  If you know me, you will know that sometimes I go a bit overboard while contemplating which choice to make.  After looking at several companies I actually ordered 2 starter kits--Young Living and another company.  The first difference came even before my kit arrived (as it was delayed due to high demand for a few days).  My sponsor, Sherri Griffin, actually called to check on me to make sure everything was as expected.  It is great to actually get to talk to someone who is passionate about something that you are wanting to learn about and extremely knowledgeable!  I asked a ton of questions which she answered or went and found the answer to.  The other company, nothing (even to this day).  Then I compared the oils, in smell from the bottle, in the diffuser, in DIY products, and finally how they well they seemed to help relieve the itch of bug bites.  Let's just say Young Living won hands down.  And the amount of support and education I have gotten from my sponsor is amazing!

I love Young Living's Seed to Seal promise and the fact that they have been in business over 20 years!  True they may not be the cheapest, but they are very similar in price to the brands that I felt more comfortable in using.  So if you decide you would like to try Young Living, I'd be honored if you would let me be your sponsor.  Go here to get started

When it comes to essential oils, Young Living sets the standard for purity and authenticity. What I love is that Young Living carefully monitors every step of the production of the oils from beginning to end through a unique seed to seal process, ensuring the purity of each essential oil. This unsurpassed commitment to quality means that you can be confident that Young Living essential oils are both safe and effective.

You can purchase Young Living therapeutic-grade essential oils in one of two ways: as a Wholesale Member or Retail Customer via the Young Living website. I recommend buying Young Living essential oils by joining as a wholesale member because wholesale Members get an amazing 24% discount off every product that is offered. As a Young Living Wholesale Member you only have to agree to order a minimum of $50 per year. And don't worry-- there is no obligation to sell or any hidden agenda as a whole sale member. It sounds too good to be true, right? I thought the same thing before I signed up! But there is one thing which is very important to mention. When you sign up with a Young Living Membership, you are also signing up for a sponsor who will help you on your Oily Journey. This is a very important decision because who you choose to be your sponsor is the person who is responsible to educate, help and guide you within Young Living's product line. If you sign up with me, you will become part of the Oily Angels Team which will provide you with exclusive education and resources and I will personally support you. This isn't a one time thing, this is for the life of your membership!

How to Buy Therapeutic Essential Oils at 24% Off! 
Already ready to sign up? Go here to get started as Young Living Member. There are TWO kits which I recommend because of their tremendous value! Here’s what you need to know right from the start:

• This starter kits costs $150-160 and is about a $300 value. Yes, $150 is an investment, but it’s an amazing oily first aid kit and, in my opinion, totally worth the potential savings in OTC and prescription medicines.
• You aren’t required to sell oils to be a member and receive the 24% discount. Young Living will, however, ask for your social security number in case you do end up making enough through sharing the oils to require a tax form. In its 20 years, YL has never had a security breach on these numbers and will never share or sell your SSN with anyone else.
• If you need to know more right away, read on or join this Facebook Group. In that group, you can ask me or my sponsor direct questions and hear oily testimonies from others just like you learning to use essential oils!
• I use a lot of essential oils in my DIY beauty and cleaning recipes, in our holistic medicine kit, and to help boost my energy. You are here on this page because you are looking to buy an essential oil to make one of my recipes or to help your family get healthy. The oils I recommend come from Young Living.

Remember if you select to be a customer, then you will not enjoy the 24% off benefit, but you can switch to a membership at anytime.

What about Buying through Retailer like Amazon and E-Bay? 

I always caution against this for two reasons

1. There have been many complaints about essential oils being tampered with by private sellers. It is very easy to refill a bottle and replace the cap so it looks like it's brand new! The oils sold on these sites are not guaranteed by the Young Living's Promise. Only purchasing directly from Young Living assures you that you are getting the highest quality.
2. When using Amazon, you will miss out on having an Essential Oil Sponsor. Whomever you sign up with, becomes your educator and using a service like amazon means you will miss out on exclusive educational opportunities, member giveaways and promotions.

Why do I recommend Young Living?  
As part of my passion for being chemical free and eating healthy whole food, I support local farmers and I often visit them to ensure they are following sustainable practices. The same goes for essential oils. Young Living offers this promise – they own their farms and they run a very tight supply chain. You can even visit the farms to see how they are run! That's accountability! I trust their essential oils above all others because they are pure and unadulterated and are manufactured for therapeutic use not just for smell. I call the kit my oily first aid kit. I LOVE it. I may have even ordered more than one Premium Starter Kit since I've joined... 

The Premium Starter Kit

When you order your own premium starter kit, you are entitled to wholesale pricing on all Young Living products, this is a 24% discount. Share this with your friends and family by ordering for them, or have them enroll to get their own kit and discount. The ‘Premium Starter Kit’ is $300 value package of oils for over 50% off! It comes with:

• 10 oils including Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Frankincense, PanAway (a nice massage oil that relaxes the muscles!), Peace and Calming, Thieves, Purification, Valor and Joy oil blends.
• A home diffuser (retail value alone on this one is $96)
• Essential oils user’s guide
• Stress Away 5-ml
• AromaGlide Roller Fitment (to turn any oil into a roll on)
• two sample packets each of Lavender, Peppermint, Peace & Calming, Lemon, and Thieves (for you to share with your friends!)
• Two NingXia Red 2-oz. samples (this is a great supplement for energy)
• So how do I order the Essential Oils?

Here’s the deal, you can get the essential oils I recommend in one of two ways: Wholesale Member or Retail (signing up as a ‘customer’) but the Premium Starter Kit is only available to wholesale members. And remember, when you sign up with Young Living directly, you are also signing up for a sponsor who will help you on your Oily Journey. If you sign up with me, I will personally support you and help guide you through the Young Living product line. This isn't a one time thing, this is for the life of your membership! You can also watch this Essential 101 Class (video) for more information about Young Living and how to use the Premium Starter Kit 

{NEW} Premium Starter Kits

***Premium Starter Kit with NingXia!!!*** 

NingXia not only helps to increase energy, but also it has been used by a countless number of folks to help support chronic conditions. Just check out the search results for NingXia on the oil testimonial site and you will see people's personal stories about how the NingXia products helped with eyesight, prostrate problems, cholesterol, diabetes, fibromyalgia, liver problems, pet health, dementia, MS, and so much more! This Starter Kit includes the following products instead:

• NingXia Red 2-pack -- large bottles
• 30 NingXia Red Singles (2 fl. oz. ea.)
• NingXia Nitro Box
• Still has the Stress Away 5 ml, essential oil samples, education and roller fitment

This kit costs $160, but it would cost so much more to buy each item for retail value! I am super excited because existing members can even order it (item number 9752). What a steal!! Watch this video for more information about how NingXia Red is changing people's lives!

***Thieves Premium Starter Kit**

This is great for anyone who is more interested in the Thieves cleaning products then the essential oils. This is a GREAT value and I cannot get over the Thieves Cleaner! It's my fav! The Thieves Premium Starter Kit includes:

• 15-ml Thieves essential oil blend
• Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste
• Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash
• (2) 14.4 oz. bottles of Thieves Cleaner concentrate
• (2) Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
• (2) Thieves Spray
• (2) Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier
• Still has the Stress Away, Roller Fitment, Essential Oil Sample Packets, and Educational Material

***Military Premium Starter Kit *** 
This is a great product for our military who are overseas! It is exactly like the regular Premium Starter Kit with TWO important exceptions:

• Everyday Oils kit, featuring soothing AromaEase™ in place of Frankincense
• Shipping to APO address

This kit is designed to be EASILY shipped around the world to those serving both at home and abroad. This kit provides men and women in uniform full mind and body support through the stresses of service. 

Steps for a Young Living Member Sign-up: 

STEP 1: Click this link and then fill in your information completely. Your social security number is asked for in the event you sign up people under your distributor number, but don't worry! This is a very secure network!! This is needed in case you will receive a check! (but there is no obligation to sell)STEP 2: Agree to terms and conditions. STEP 3: Create a username and password. STEP 4: Choose the Premium Starter Kit which you want STEP 5: Choose your Essential Rewards Kit – or don't!! It is not required! You can sign up with ER at any time during your membership. It helps you to earn free points to redeem towards products and allows for discounted shipping. STEP 6: Enter your credit card information, click next. Be sure you confirm your order, and your oils will be shipped soon! YAY! 

THANK YOU!!! {hugs x infinity}Interested in Building a Business? If you decide that you do want to make a business from YL oils or just a little bit of profit (if you sell 3 premium kits in your first month you will have paid for your own premium kit), then please let me know! Many people build their business with friends and family with the goal of having their oils paid for every month. We have resources such as FREE classes and mentorships to help those who are interested in building. I would love for you to join my essential oils team!