Modern Essentials App Review

 

App Description

Learn how aromatherapy can benefit health and well-being - naturally! Get current, scientific guidance on the therapeutic use of essential oils at your fingertips. Streamline your access to information with a unique, color-coded recommendation system that quickly points you to the right oils and blends for over 200 health conditions.

You can take your app anywhere for ready reference or in-depth study. Use the search function to find quick details about a particular ailment, essential oil or blend, or application method. Or read through the applications section to discover old and new approaches for oil use. Take time to browse our new living section for cooking, craft, and care ideas. Then link directly to our online store to shop the best products and prices for your aromatherapy lifestyle. You'll want this app at home, on the road, or in meetings with clients.

The Modern Essentials App derives from the authoritative work on aromatherapy for over 20 years: "Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils." See this book for documentation of the research studies behind the app's recommendations, plus much more on why and how to use essential oils.

Get your oils game on with the ME App from ITunes for Canadia users find it here for our US friends you can find it here. 

App Review

Love this app ~ it is very user friendly. 

You can search the app by 'conditions' you'd like help supporting and it will give you suggestion oils and methods for using them to help you find relief. 

You can search by oils for lists of quick facts and primary uses for each oil. 

You can search by popular 'blends' such as massage, grounding, respiratory, uplifting, invigorating. Women's Monthly Blend and so forth and it will give you a break down of the oils used in this blend and their benefits! 

You can also search based on topical, aromatic and Internal uses of oils for types and tools on how different oils can be used. 

You can search for recipes for cooking, body care. cleaning, crafts, crafts for kids, diffuser blends using essential oils!

It is full of useful information on health and wellness and how the body works and so forth.

As we are spatially challenged here in our small home I love that it is compact digital app that contains a lot of amazing information right at your finger tips where ever you might be! 

Over all I give the app TWO thumbs up and it is currently ON SALE! 

The flyer is for the US  price ~ Canadian price is $5.79

Do you have a favorite app for making everyday life easier? Leave us a comment and let us know so we can check it out too!




Have an amazing day!


Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life

Grain Free Chipolte Mac-n-Cheese

Spaghetti Squash is another versatile veggie that I had no clue how AWESOME it could be as an alternative to 'pasta' in most recipes! 

Cooking Spaghetti Squash Tips

Baked Spaghetti Squash Rings

 When I first was introduced to spaghetti squash I had no clue how to cut it open the rind seemed so tough so I was poking it with a fork and 'microwaving' it for 10-12 minutes and than cutting it in half was much easier but removing the seeds was tricky cause it was now HOT and forking to make it into strands of spaghetti like substance trickier to get all the strands off without burning fingers so after more than one burnt figure and several occasions of the thing EXPLODING in my microwave cause I had not poked enough holes in it and the pressure built up I decided to research if there was a better way!

So now BAKED is by far my favorite way to prepare it takes a little more time but the results are worth it. You need to invest in a large sharp butcher knife so you can slice your squash into 2-3 inch wide rings without breaking your back! . Remove all the seeds ~ much easier when the thing is raw and cold to scrap them out. Place squash rings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper ~ add some ground black pepper if desired or other spices like garlic or cayenne and bake on 400 F for 30 minutes .... use a fork to gently pull away the strands of squash. This method results in a much more spaghetti like texture and nice LONG strands of it and I find it is not as 'watery' as the microwave method!

Use spaghetti squash in place of all your pasta needs as a nice low carb and high fiber alternative ... below I will share a quick and easy 'mac -n- cheese' with a little kick!

Grain Free Chipolte Mac-n-Cheese

Serves 2 as a 'side' or 1 as a meal


What You Need

• Small spaghetti squash
• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 small sweet onion - finely diced
• 2 gloves garlic - minced
• 1 cup of Riccotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon Epicure Chipolte spice blend 
• 1-2 slices bacon crumbled
• 5 cherry tomatoes - chopped fine
• 2 green onions - chopped fine
• Fresh ground pepper
• Milk/Cream optional
  

Grain Free Chipolte Mac-n-Cheese

What You Do

• Bake your spaghetti squash and 'shred' into long strands and set aside
• In a skillet melt the coconut oil over medium heat.
• Saute the sweet onions and garlic and fresh ground pepper until onions are translucent. 
• Add the spaghetti squash and toss to mix together
• In a small bowl mix the Riccotta cheese and the Chipolte seasoning and crumbled bacon and than add to the skillet ~ tossing as the cheese mixture melts. Add some milk/cream if it seems too thick for your preference. I like thick sauce so just do the Ricotta as is.
•  Add in the tomato and green onion toss and serve as a side with your favorite comfort food like BBQ chicken or baked ham or eat on its own as a meal.

 Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life

 

Top 10 Essential Body Wash Blends

Image Source from the doTERRA® Blog

 

 

With my sensitive skin finding body care products that actually help to sooth has been a challenge. 

When wanting 'ready made no fuss no muss' options I am totally addicted to the Aloette Orange Vanilla Bean Spa line ~ the body wash has an amazing aroma of the orange citrus and the vanilla bean to help wake one up in the morning shower. I love that it is chalked full of their certified organic aloe vera which is just awesome support for my psoriasis and they have a farm to jar practice for sourcing their aloe vera products. 

When I am in the mood for a little more control over my scent and ingredients I love this DIY recipe for body was from over at doTERRA . It is quick and easy and allows me to rotate my 'aromas' for my wash so that my body does not build up a sensitivity to it!

DIY Body Soap

What You Need

•  Glass pump bottle at least 8 oz in size
• 1/2 cup unscented Castile Soap
• 4 tablespoons Vegetable glycerin (helps your product to be creamier and lather better)
• 3 tablespoons doTERRA® Fractionated Coconut oil  
• 10 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend

What You Do 

• Combine all ingredients in the glass jar
• Shake well to combine and label your jar Body Wash
• Product WILL separate that is normal ~ shake well before each use

 

DIY Body Wash Blends

 Margaret's Favorite 'for her' blends

• 7 drops of Wild Orange and 3 drops of Vanilla oil
• 5 Drops of Lavender and 5 drops of Peppermint
• 5 drops Wild Orange, 3 drop peppermint, 2 drop Spearmint
• 3 drops Rosemary, 2 drops Bergamot, 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Eucalyptus 
• 3 drops Tea tree, 2 drops Eucalyptus,  2 drop Lavender, 1 drop Sandalwood, 1 drop Oregano, 1 drop Cinnamon .

Margaret's Favorite 'for him' Blends

• 8 drops Spearmint and 2 drops Patchouli ~ amazing minty with a hint of musk 
• 5 drops of Bergamot, 3 drops of Cedarwood, 2 drops of Patchouli ~ for the man cave
• 3 drops Wintergreen, 3 drops Peppermint, 2 drop Frankincense, 2 drop Cedarwood
• 3 drops Lime, 3 drops Lemon, 2 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Wild orange
•  5 drops Bergamot, 3 drops Wintergreen, 1 drops Cinnamon, 1 drop Frankincense.

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Totallyawake4-life

Dryer Balls ROCK!

doTERRA dryer balls - SOLD OUT first day of catty!

 

Advertizers would have us believe that 'fabric softeners' are a necessity to our laundry routine but the more studies that come out about the harmful effects of their respiratory toxicity the more savvy shoppers with a commitment to alternative options for 'nice smelling and feeling clothes' search for solutions.

Why Use Wool Dryer Balls?

• Cut your drying time in half which will also save you money on your hydro bill ~ if you live in Ontario you will appreciate that!
• Reduce static ~ you are electric enough!
• Unlike dryer sheets ~ natural and non toxic
• Great for environment ~ they can be re-used over-and-over again
• Increase the softness of your clothes
• Unlike commercial dryer sheets are safe to use with cloth diapers

So with all these reasons in mind I was so excited when I saw that doTERRA® would have dyer balls in their Holiday Catalog ~ but apparently so was most of North America as the new doTERRA® dryer balls were so popular in the Holiday Catalog that they sold out the first couple hours and are now out of stock.  Heck the whole catty was so popular that wellness advocates crashed the system trying to place their orders yesterday! Hopefully they will be able to 'restock' and carry these regularly!

However never fear for those who were not able to get in on the ready made options there are lots of DIY options to make your own dryer balls that are just as amazing if you have a little time! 

In fact the doTEERA blog had an amazing visual tutorial for them here.

Other Laundry Tips:

Crumple up aluminum foil into a ball and and toss it in the dryer with the wet laundry to get rid of static cling.

For an even extra burst of essential oils in your clothing, place a wash cloth with a few drops of essential oil into your dryer. It was come out smelling beautiful! No fake lavender smell here!

Add a few drops of Lemon essential oil to your wash cycle to help remove grease and oil from fabrics.

For extra soft clothing, add 1/2 cup vinegar (a natural fabric softener) to your washer with each load. Don’t worry, your clothes will not smell like vinegar once dry. Give it a try!

- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/laundry-essentials-diy-natural-alternative-to-fabric-softener-and-dryer-sheets/#sthash.QEUWxvkA.dpuf

What You Need

• 100% wool
• Panty Hose - great way to use up a pair with a run in them
• Crochet Needle
•  Dental Floss

What You Do

• Begin by wrapped several strands of yarn around your fingers 10-20 times.
•  Pull the yarn off your fingers and pinch together in the center.   
• Tightly wrap yarn around the middle.
• Start wrapping until the yarn takes on the shape of a ball.
• Continue wrapping the yarn around the small wool ball.  
• Keep wrapping until your wool ball is about the size of a tennis ball. Cut the yarn leaving a short yarn tail and thread it through a crochet needle.
• Push the blunt end of the needle into the center of the wool ball and pull through to other side. If long enough tail thread back through a second time using a different path and out the other side.  Clip the yarn tail so the end is now 'hidden' inside the ball. This will help ensure it felts nicely together later
• Repeat the above steps until you have 4 yarn balls. Note: One 223 yard ball of yarn should make about 4 tennis size balls
• Now, you are ready to begin the felting process.
• Push the first wool ball down into the toe of the panty hose leg.  
• Tie a square knot using a piece of dental floss.  Note:  Do not use any of your left over wool yarn or it will felt during the washing process. 
• Repeat this process for all 4 balls until you have a long 'snake' of balls.
• To felt your dryer balls, wash your snake balls on your machine’s hottest setting.  If you have a front loader, add in some towels to help muffle the noise of the balls flinging around
•  Once the wash cycle is complete, dry on the hottest dryer setting.
•  Now your dryer balls are 'felted' and you can remove them from the panty hose and prepare them for use.
• To prepare for use add 2-3 drops of your favorite doTERRA® essential oils to each ball and toss into the laundry. 2-3 drops should last two - three loads of laundry for the day but you can always add more if you prefer a stronger scent. 
   

Favorite Oil Blends for Dryer Balls

Dryer Ball Essential Oil Blend - Fresh Floral Scent

Dryer Ball Essential Oil Blend - Gym Buster

 

Dryer Ball Essential Oil Blend ~ Seasonal Spice

• Wild Orange and Ylang Ylang ~ lovely spring fresh for everyday wear
• doTERRA® Purity Blend ~ lovely fresh scent
• Lavender ~ all on its own is lovely

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life

Totally A-Myrrh-zing

Shop online at www.mydoterra.com/margaretwake

I love a good sale ~ Mrryh is an amazing essential oil and if you Google it you can find lots of amazing resources from professionals who use it in their lives and with their customers/clients to aid in all sorts of health and wellness.

About Myrrh
Commiphora myrrha

Historically, myrrh has been used in many ways, from meditation to embalming in ancient Egypt. Modern herbalists frequently recommend myrrh for its cleansing properties, especially for the mouth and throat. Myrrh is also excellent for calming the skin. For aromatic or topical use. 

Benefits of Myrrh Oil (source)

Myrrh oil's benefits can be attributed to its powerful antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, expectorant, and antispasmodic properties. This essential oil can help with many health conditions, such as:

• Respiratory problems - Myrrh oil works well against coughs, colds, and sore throat. It also helps relieve congestion and expel phlegm.
• Digestive ailments – It promotes digestive health and helps cure problems like stomach upset, diarrhea, dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence and hemorrhoids
• Gum and mouth diseases – It helps relieve toothache, gingivitis, and mouth ulcers, and also freshens your breath. Myrrh oil is even used as a natural ingredient in mouthwashes and toothpaste.
• Immune system health - It strengthens and activates your immune system to keep your body protected from infections.

A study conducted by Chinese researchers, published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, also found that extracts made from myrrh resin may be effective against human gynecologic cancer cells. 

DIY Recipes for using Myrrh

Image Source unknown ~ its on multiple sites on Goggle

Side Effects of Myrrh Oil

Like anything everything in moderation ~ a little Myrrh goes a LONG way and if too much is used can cause the following side effects.

According to a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research if myrrh oil is consumed in excessive amounts, it may affect your heart rate and lead to severe heart irregularities. Other possible side effects of myrrh oil include:

• Lowered blood pressure
• Uterine bleeding
• Making a fever worse
• Diarrhea

 Some people with sensitivities to myrrh oil may also experience allergic contact dermatitis when using this oil. This oil may also interfere with anticoagulants, so I advise that you avoid using it orally if you are taking these medications.


Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Totallyawake4-life

 

Sandalwood and Healthy Cell Renewal?

Repost from the doTERRA® Science Blog

The human body is composed of over 37 trillion cells. Each of these cells has a certain lifespan and will eventually die and be replaced by a new cell. This is a normal, natural process that facilitates the renewal of the body. The rate at which cells divide and die (apoptosis) is an important factor in the health of the body. 

A review article written by researchers at South Dakota State University and published in June 2015 explores the ability of Sandalwood oil to help maintain normal cell division and apoptosis in the body.* 

Sandalwood

Santalum album

Sandalwood has a sweet, woody aroma that can enhance sense of well-being and is frequently used in meditation for its grounding effects. Sandalwood is very beneficial to the skin; it can help reduce the appearance of skin imperfections and it promotes a healthy-looking, smooth complexion.

Sandalwood oil is truly a remarkable oil! You can learn a bit more about doTerra® Sandalwood and how it is distilled and created in this video

If you love to read like I do I used the handy Goggle I found the actual articles being cited by doTERRA® about the research study showing the benefits of Sandalwood to cell regeneration  here  and more about 'cell regeneration process' in general' here. 

In addition to the believed benefits to the skin and cells by some IME it just smells AWESOME I love it in the following blend in the diffuser when we are snuggling on the couch to watch a movie on a Friday night! 

Romantic Night Essential Oil Diffuser Blend Recipe

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Totallyawake4-life

 *Please note this study and these statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

doTERRA Holiday Gift Guide

The doTERRA® Holiday Gift Guide goes LIVE on Monday and it is chalked full of amazing items to help bring balance to you and yours this Holiday season! Many items are 'while supplies last' so if something interests you order soon! I have an order going in November 2nd and again later in November if you are wanting to add on to mine to get FREE SHIPPING please let me know ASAP! You can also order online for direct to you shipping here 

see the full doTerra®Holiday Gift Giving Guide 2015 here

Highlight images ... I think I want to try it ALL this holiday season!

doTerra® Dryer Balls

doTerra® Essentials Trio

doTerra® Glamour Set

doTerra® Healing Hands

doTerra® Holiday Joy EO blend

doTerra® Spa Body Set

doTerra® Multi Tray Storage Box

doTerra® Yoga Mat and carry bag

doTerra® DIY Scent packages

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Life Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Totallyawake4-life.com