Live Essentially Well at Home

Last night was a busy night. I put 4 small sweet potatoes in to bake with 5 huge baking russet potatoes. We can just say that the sweet potatoes were over cooked.
Instead of getting burned or dried out, the opposite happened...they turned to mush. I saved them anyway.
Just a little while ago, I was getting hungry and needed a snack. They were the only thing easy and healthy to eat.
I peeled the skin off and then mashed up the insides. Then I just took a small spoonful of raw local honey and stirred it in. No vanilla, no sugar, no cinnamon, no salt.
I ate it like that. cold and all. It was so good I don't have any left to take a picture of. It was a treat, almost a dessert.
The best part is how healthy they are. If you don't eat sweet potatoes often, give them a try.

The first two things that attracted me to doTERRA go hand in hand. Their commitment to research and science regarding essential oils, and the independent quality testing that the oils undergo. Not only that but they are committed to transparency. If you think about it, this transparency requires that they keep the standards they are committed to. To me this opened my mind to essential oils being a viable option. There is so much corruption among retailers that offer herb based products. Time and time again you hear that Brand X herbs/oils/supplement doesn't have what it claims to have. It really decreases the faith in herbal medicine. When I looked into doTERRA, all of that changed for me. 

During the last 3 hours we have had a steady snow fall. It looks like a winter wonderland outside!

• 3 drops On Guard (it smells like Christmas!)
• 3 drops Wild Orange

There are 3 basic ways to use oils. They include inhaling, rubbing on the skin and taking them internally.

Here is a link to a great article that gives some basic information on how to use essential oils safely.

How do I use essential oils safely?

As you use essential oils, be aware of your body's response to them. If you feel you need to stop them, don't try to rinse them off. Water tends to intensify their action. Instead dilute them by applying a carrier oil, like coconut oil, olive oil, or another similar oil.

Experiment, have fun with them, but remember more is not necessarily better.




Any questions?
Email: jeannecall00@gmail.com
Cell: 801-717-7064

As I was out driving around yesterday, I was brainstorming about this blog. The only problem with driving and brainstorming is it is a bit hard to record the results of the brainstorm session! Anyway, it was really exciting because I had so many ideas! There is so much to talk about and so much to share that it is somewhat overwhelming. Since essential oils are a big part of this blog, it is probably pretty important to share some basic information so that we are all on the same page.
If you are new to essential oils and you have any questions, feel free to email me or comment and I can go more in depth and/or help you figure out where to find what you are looking for.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. As I scroll through Facebook, I observe a diversity of posts. I see numerous posts of from friends listing what they are thankful for. There are a couple posts from people who don't support Thanksgiving due to perceived wrongs done in centuries past. It gets me thinking...
What a wonderful thing to have a day to remind us to be thankful. I googled "The Science of Gratitude" just because I was curious if there was such a thing.
I do crazy things like that.
I love Google.
Guess what...there is actually such a thing. There were several articles which delved into the science of gratitude.
I loved the following article from the Huffington Post. It discusses just this. There are physical benefits to having a grateful heart. It gives an idea for a gratitude meditation. Here is the link:

 The Transformative Power of Gratitude

The other day my daughter and I were driving around town running errands. We tend to play word games. One of our most common games we play is the word association game. One person starts with just a random word. The next person says the first word that comes to mind. The next person says the word that comes to mind at the second person's word. I hope that makes sense. Well, we played that game only we focused on things we were grateful for. I loved it. It helped me think of random things that don't come as easily to my mind when I think of things I am thankful for. It also brought a feeling of deep joy.
Why do we need a day, or a month to remember our blessings, our gifts, the things that are special and wonderful to us. I think we don't. I am thankful to have a day to spend with loved ones remembering the good in life. I certainly won't turn it down. But I think I am also going to work on making gratitude, thanksgiving, a greater part of my everyday life.

 

So if I am going to talk about essential oils, I want to discuss what they are. I know I never gave them a second serious thought until I started looking into what they really are.
Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds that plants produce. Oils can be extracted from the leaves, twigs, seeds, bark, flowers and fruit of plants. The bitter orange tree has 3 totally different oils. One oil is Wild Orange which comes from the rind of the fruit. Neroli comes from the blossoms. The other oil is Petigrain which comes from the leaves and twigs. Each oil is unique and has a different set of chemical properties.
Essential oils are very concentrated. 1 drop of peppermint in hot water is equivalent to the strength of 28 cups of peppermint tea. For this reason, it is important to realize that in the case of essential oils, less is definitely more. As you start using them, pay attention to how your body reacts. Diluting essential oils helps you use them effectively and safely.

I have contemplated starting this blog for quite some time now. It is a vulnerable thing to put myself out there. However, that is what I want to do in case the things I have learned can help someone else.
My body has taken me on a journey of questioning and exploration. As I learn and find new knowledge, my desire grows to share and empower others the way I am empowered. As it says in the Bible, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
I am a Mental Health nurse. I worked for 10 years at a treatment center for at risk youth, many of whom had mental health issues. I had an amazing opportunity to work closely with my patients, their parents and the therapists. I learned so much from my patients and their supportive people. I currently work at an inpatient eating disorder facility. The experiences I have had at these places have taught me a lot. I also have had my own emotional challenges.
One thing I have learned is the more we focus on finding the root of whatever problem we have the more likely we are to find solutions. I have found as my focus has shifted from symptom management to increasing health and wellness, healing occurs.
Essential oils are something I have found so helpful in my journey. I discovered them nearly 5 years ago. While I will share other things in this blog, one of my main goals is to educate and share the power of these oils in a holistic, safe manner.
So, welcome to my blog. I am excited to share, and hopefully have a chance to get to know and learn from my readers.