Help with your DigestZen

This is another one of my FAVORITE go to oils on BOGO today only from doTERRA® ... amazing to help restore balance to the tummy after a heavy meal or in my case after a gluten exposure! Diffuse in the room for aromatherapy application or add a couple drops in some carrier oil rub onto the abdomen or if you are comfortable with internal use of oils a drop or two added to a veggie capsule in replace of 'tums' style support.

DigestZen is known as dōTERRA’s “tummy tamer” blend due to its ability to aid in digestion, soothe stomach upset, and maintain overall digestive health.* This unique blend contains Ginger, Fennel, and Coriander to help ease occasional stomach discomfort, including motion sickness and indigestion, while Peppermint, Tarragon, Anise, and Caraway aid with digestion and help maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract.* DigestZen is great to have on hand when stomach upset occurs and is safe and effective. DigestZen is a healthy, natural, and gentle way to soothe an upset stomach or maintain a healthy digestive system.* 

Read in PDF format here

Order yours directly online OR if you are local to the London area and would like to get FREE shipping and additional savings I have an order going in later tonight for myself and can add a BOGO to it for you!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Ease into Spring with todays BOGO!

TriEase Softgels were developed to protect against seasonal and environmental elements and to promote a healthy respiratory system when needed most.* Each softgel contains equal parts of Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint essential oils, known for their ability to maintain clear breathing and a healthy immune response when combined together.* Used by both veteran and novice essential oil users, this well-known blend is frequently mixed together for its respiratory health benefits.* Now, with TriEase Softgels, this combination can be consumed quickly and easily when traveling, attending outdoor events, or when seasonal or environmental elements are particularly high. TriEase Softgels can be consumed safely on a daily basis during times of seasonal discomfort to promote clear breathing and overall respiratory health!

Click here for full PDF

dōTERRA Breathe is a remarkable blend of essential oils including Laurel Leaf, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Lemon, Ravensara, and Cardamom. dōTERRA Breathe maintains feelings of clear airways and easy breathing while minimizing the effects of seasonal threats. dōTERRA Breathe can be applied topically to the chest, back, or bottom of feet, or diffused at nighttime to calm the senses and promote a restful sleep!

To find out more about the benefits of dōTERRA Breathe and its easy application options here is a quick little video ...

Click here for full PDF

Also please note that in Canada dōTERRA  Breathe is sold under the name 'Easy Air' it is the exact same proprietary blend its just that it was required to be labelled directly in Canada's label laws.

Have an amazing day!


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

*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.

Slim & Sassy Control Instant Mix Sticks

 

Overeating is one of the worst culprits in the fight for weight management. There are many reasons we overeat as well as different ways we overeat. Sometimes we emotionally eat and snack too much, or we eat larger portions than we should, or we just eat too much of the wrong kinds of foods and not enough fruits and vegetables. It all comes down to being able to control our appetite and eat what we should, when we should, and as much as we should.

Slim & Sassy® presents a way to take better control of your hunger and help you on your path to managing your weight and ultimately your overall well-being. Slim and Sassy Contrōl is intended to be used during the course of the day to help control your appetite. It contains a revolutionary ingredient extracted from spinach that has been clinically shown to significantly reduce appetite for up to six hours. Contrōl is also available in a snack bar, (which comes in three different flavors) and also a drink mix format.

PRIMARY BENEFITS

• Promotes feelings of satiety for up to 6 hrs* 
• Significantly reduces cravings for unhealthy food* 
• Functions as a prebiotic* 
• Contains 124 mg of Slim & Sassy® Metabolic Blend (stick pack only) 
• Green, both literally and from a whole foods standpoint

For more info on the line and to read about the benefits of Thylakoids here is the PDF from doTERRA® as an awesome resource.

I personally have not used the add on lines as they are not 'gluten free' enough for me having been made in a factory with other gluten containing line and therefore 'may contain' however the Slim & Sassy Metabolic Blend essential oil supplement in both the pure oil and the oral capsules have been amazing at supporting me in my weight loss journey and overcoming my carb / sugar addiction as I moved to grain free eating! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Blissful tips and Peppermint Pleasures

Today's doTERRA® bogo is the amazing Peppermint and get a free Citrus Bliss when you order!

 Peppermint

Mentha piperita

Peppermint continues to be one of the best-selling favorites among dōTERRA essential oils. Peppermint is a “cool” oil and can be applied topically when overheated.

I love to add a few drops to my Aloette Nutri-hydrating Mist and keep it in the fridge in the summer ... the benefits of the Aloe and the Peppermint for cooling and healing skin that's been out in the sun is amazing!  

Recently a big fan of Dr Axe and his wealth of information on essential oils and their benefits in health and wellness. He has the following to say about Peppermint. 

Peppermint Oil Benefits

Some of the most common peppermint oil uses include:

• Reduces stomach aches
• Soothe digestive issues
• Freshens bad breath
• Relieves headaches
• Antimicrobial properties
• Improves mental focus
• Clears respiratory tract
• Boosts energy
• Releases tight muscles
• Cost-effective natural solution to replace pharmaceutical drugs

I cannot honestly think of one reason why anyone on the planet would choose not to have peppermint oil in his or her medicine cabinet at home!


DoTerra provides the following product information guide and some usage tips below.

PDF version for easier reading

 Citrus Bliss
Invigorating Blend
Citrus Bliss combines the powerful essences of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tangerine, and Clementine with a hint of Vanilla Absolute to form this unique and harmonious blend. 


Citrus blend is one of my all time favorites for use as a 'natural perfume' option mixed with a little carrier and applied to behind my ears and wrists. Also love adding it to my homemade deodorant as well as use in laundry soap and on dryer balls ... it is just a MUST have blend. It is also amazing to improve mood in your diffuser ~ I personally have to be careful with the kitty in the room and when I want to enjoy this aromatically I make sure she is not on the same floor as I am diffusing it and do not allow her into the room for several hours after its finished just to be safe now! 

Here is the doTERRA® product guide and suggested ways to use it here 

click for PDF for easier reading

If you want to take advantage of today's BOGO and save on shipping I have an order going in tonight and have 1 spot left on the cap ~ message me asap to secure it! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Beat the Blues with a good BOGO!

February often tends to be that month where everyone is feeling a bit winter stir crazy and longing for spring ... help beat the blues with some awesome savings on doTERRA Essential oils! 

 These are two AWESOME additions to your essential collection! 

 Ylang Ylang Cananga odorata

Ylang Ylang essential oil is derived from the star-shaped flowers of the tropical Ylang Ylang tree and is used extensively in making perfumes and in aromatherapy. In aromatherapy, Ylang Ylang is used to promote a sense of well-being. 



According to Dr. Axe the benefits of Ylang Ylang could include the following:

Benefits of Ylang Ylang Oil

Ylang ylang is considered an effective antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic and sedative. It has a positive effect on immune health, blood flow and emotions, making it a natural remedy for the endocrine, cardiovascular, reproductive and digestive systems. In foods and beverages, ylang ylang oil is used as a flavoring and preservative. In product manufacturing, it’s used as a fragrance for cosmetics, household cleansers, hair products and soaps.

Ylang ylang essential oil benefits include helping to:

• Increase blood flow
• Relieve inflammation
• Fight  parasites
• Regulate heartbeat
• Lift  someone’s mood
• Promote healthy intestinal function

With a naturally rich, floral scent that’s considered “romantic” and uplifting, many people like to diffuse ylang ylang in their bedrooms or add some to household cleaning products. The scent also has the ability to positively impact emotions and can help create a calming, relaxing atmosphere in your home. It especially can be useful for soothing you through a rough day when you add ylang ylang oil to your bath, lotion or other beauty care products.

doTERRA® offers the following product guide and usage tips as well

PDF version here

Melaleuca 

Melaleuca alternifolia

Tea Tree essential oil has over 92 different compounds and limitless applications.

Tea Tree is best known for its cleansing properties. It can be used to cleanse the skin and nails to promote a clear complexion.

Dr Axe has the following to share about the Melaleuca benefits  which I found very helpful!
Tea Tree Oil Benefits

While records show that tea tree has been used for thousands of years by some indigenous people, thankfully today science is finally catching up and describing why tea tree oil is so effective. To date, over 327 scientific studies refer to tea tree oil’s antimicrobial prowess alone.

Some of the many traditional uses for tea tree include healing:

• Acne
• Bacterial infections
• Chickenpox
• Cold sores
• Congestion and respiratory tract infections
• Earaches
• Fungal infections (especially Candida, jock itch, athlete’s foot and toenail fungus)
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Head lice
• MRSA
• Psoriasis
• Dry cuticles
• Itchy insect bites, sores and sunburns
• Boils from staph infections

And this list doesn’t even include the many household uses of tea tree oil that can replace store-bought products in your cabinets:

• Anti-microbial laundry freshener
• Insect repellent
• Natural deodorant
• Acne face wash
• Removes foot order
• Removes mold
• Household cleaner

In many cases, doctors of functional medicine will prescribe essential oils like tea tree oil and oregano oil in replacement of conventional medications because they’re just as effective and without the adverse side effects. An article published in the Journal of Phytomedicine evaluated the relationship between various essential oils and found that none (including tea tree) caused adverse reactions when taken with several different antibiotics. In fact, they discovered that some essential oils even had a positive synergistic effect, meaning they could help prevent antibiotic resistance from developing!

doTERRA® offers the following product guide with tips for use of Melaleuca! 

PDF version here

Because these are both must havings in my regime I will have an order going in later today - if you want to get FREE shipping by piggy backing on my order and picking it up from me here in East end London when it arrives send me a message ASAP as I only have 3 spaces left on the cap of the order. 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

DIY Essential Oil Mobiles

Wow ~ this is a cute idea from over at the doTERRA Canada blog on Facebook!
DIY Felt Mobile: Get a wooden embroidery hoop from the craft store in the desired size. Cut your favorite animals out of felt and hang them from the embroidery hoop, as desired. Essential oils can then be added to the felt to create a gentle, calming environment for your baby.

So if your wee one is having challenges sleeping a little drop of lavender on these before bed time to help provide a soothing sleep setting! 

Please remember when using oils with wee ones that less is more and that while essential oils are an amazing gift from nature that even nature needs to be respected for its power over the human body! So fact is that some oils their little bodies are not yet ready to metabolize and that you can overdose on 'essential oils' just like you can on many other things from nature turning the gift into a nightmare! It is important to make sure to do your OWN research on which oils you are comfortable using with your little treasure because ther is often conflicting information out there on oil safety and so forth! 

 

This is the recommended ideal amounts from doTERRA and their blog gives background around why they feel THEIR oils are safe for internal use as internal use of oils is one of those areas where you will find conflicting information.

My advice with internal use is to keep in mind 'accumulative dosage' so if you are taking oils internally to support health and wellness but are than also using aromatic and dermal applications for aromatherapy in the day is your 'total ideal' amount than surpassing idea.

So for example a YOUNG toddler who is being given our OnGuard capsule orally to help with immunity support could quickly reach 3 DROPS in the course of a 24 hour day specially the more everyday items we replace with essential oils. So keep in mind if they are than washing their hands with the On Guard soap which has essential oils in it, playing in a play area where we are diffusing oils and than applying an essential oil 'treatment' to feet before bedtime and so forth! 

 

Oils are AMAZING gifts but they must be respected and used in moderation and there are definitely some that should NOT be used by young children at all!  Such as the advice from Robert Tisserand around the use of menthol's like peppermint and eucalyptus in small children!

 

Image source

Some tips for oil uses with children can be found on the doTERRA® science blog here and I personally love the resource from the Hippy Homemaker where they give tips such as SLOWLY introducing oils into ones lives because like anything we can have 'sensitivities' to natures gifts so introducing things like food and oils and so forth one at a time and 'waiting' to see how the body reacts is key. I also love how they  break down the oils by age based on their research ~ the article in its entirely can be found here. 

 

 Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

 

 

Photosensitive Oil Tips

Image source courtesy Andrea Chessell

Some essential oils, particularly citrus oils, are photosensitive meaning they are sensitive to light. When you apply these oils topically your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight and will more easily burn or develop a rash.

You should avoid sunlight for at least 12 hours after applying these oils topically.

Here is a list of oils you won't want to use before going out in the sun:

• Bergamot
• Cassia
• Citrus Bliss
• Elevation blend
• Ginger (mild)
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Lime
• Melissa (mild)
• Wild orange

Essential oils are a wonderful gift from nature that can do so much good in our lives but they also need to be used with a moderation and understanding of their potency! 

Be safe when oiling!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret
Live Well, 

Louisiana Hot & Spicy Eggs

Delicious breakfast idea - my friend Shannon recently got me craving pickles!

What You Need

• 2 hard boiled eggs
• 1 tablespoon pickle relish
• 1 tsp Epicure Louisiana Hot & Spicy Dip

What You Do

• Slice hard boiled eggs and scoop out hard yellow and mix with relish and spices and than scoop back into eggs. 
• Marinate for 10-20 minutes serve with veggie sticks! 

Perfect breakfast or post work out snack! 

Have an amazing day! 

Margaret

Live well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life 

DIY lip balm

I love the Slim and Sassy metabolic blend - it smells amazing in the diffuser and works great in a DIY lip balm for appetite control support on the go giving a nice chai type flavour to your lips!

What You Need

• 1 tbsp organic Shea butter
• 1 tbsp raw Beeswax ~ I get mine local from Clovermead
• 2 tbsp organic coconut oil 
• 12 drops slim and sassy essential oil - can buy here

What You DO

• Melt ingredients together in a double boiler so doesn't burn or if you use a microwave that will work too! 
• Mix ingredients well to combine them
• Pour into lip balm container that seals air tight and label. 
• Apply to lips for a nice refreshing taste and amazing benefits of the Shea butter and coconut oil

Have an amazing day!

Margaret 

Live well, Laugh Often, Love much

be Totallyawake4-life

Gluten Free TAX credit

Tax season is coming ~ for those who are a diagnosed Celiac just wanted to share, in case you are unaware, the Canada Revenue Agency allows for Celiac sufferers to write off their gluten free diet as a medical expense.

 

This is one of the reasons why I personally pushed for getting a PROPER diagnosis verses the initial advice of 'just go on the diet if it helps than you know' because the COST of a gluten free diet adds up and being able to claim a portion of that as a medical expense is helpful! 

 

Canada Revenue states the following about the process ...

Gluten-free products

Persons who suffer from celiac disease (gluten intolerance) are entitled to claim the incremental costs associated with the purchase of gluten-free (GF) products as a medical expense.

What is the "incremental cost"?

The incremental cost is the difference in the cost of GF products compared to the cost of similar non-GF products. It is calculated by subtracting the cost of a non-GF product from the cost of a GF product (see example below).

What items are eligible?

• Generally, the food items are limited to those produced and marketed specifically for GF diets. Such items include, but are not limited to, GF bread, bagels, muffins, and cereals.
• Intermediate items will also be allowed where the patient suffering from celiac disease uses the items to make GF products for their exclusive use. These include, but are not limited to, rice flour and GF spices.

What if there are several people consuming the GF products?

If several people consume the products, only the costs related to the part of the product consumed by the person with celiac disease are to be used in calculating the medical expense tax credit.

What documents do I need to support a claim for the medical expense tax credit?

If you are filing your income tax and benefit return electronically or on paper, do not send any sup
porting documents. However, keep the following documents in case we ask to see them at a later date:

• a letter from a medical practitioner confirming the person suffers from celiac disease and requires GF products as a result of that disease
• a receipt to support the cost of each GF product or intermediate product claimed
• a summary of each item purchased during the 12-month period for which the expenses are being claimed (see example below)

Example

1. Item: bread
2. Number of items purchased: 52
3. Average cost of non-GF product: $3.49
4. Average cost of GF product: $6.99
5. Incremental cost (line 4 minus line 3): $6.99 - $3.49 = $3.50
6. Amount to claim (line 5 multiplied by line 2): $3.50 x 52 = $182.00

You would repeat this for all the items you buy. Plus if you have 3 people eating the 'gluten free item' you can only write off the expense of the person who is DIAGNOSED with proven ... so in my family I only cook ONE meal so everyone eats gluten free with me so that would mean that the loaf of bread would be shared between 'two non celiacs' so I would have to add a 7th step and divide the amount by 3 to get 'my portion'. 

Hope that this tip can help someone out there who was unaware! 

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

 

 

There is Passion in the Air

It is February and that means that Valentines Day is fast upon us ... the various 'theories' behind why we celebrate Valentines Day has always fascinated me but whether you are Christian and believe that the day celebrates the wonderful acts of St Valentine or whether you are Pagan and believe that Valentines day originates from the Pagan celebration of  Luperci the god of fertility or if you come from a BLEND of the two as history re-writes itself or if you have never really thought about 'why' and just accept what we see today where it is all about the 'commercialism' of getting your loved one that 'perfect gift to say I love you' there is a lot of FUN that can come with the holiday regardless!

For me, despite the fact that I personally do not buy into reserving just ONE DAY to celebrate our love for on another with flowers, cards and acts of kind gestures I have always loved celebrating Valentines Day itself ~ even when I was single and had no 'romantic' Valentine to share the day with I would always enjoy the excuse for having fun pampering others with random acts of kindness on this day! 

Being crafty cardmaker I love sending 'Valentines' to others and sharing my love of paper crafting with the kiddies ~ so we will be doing lots of fun and exciting activities the next couple weeks that are heart theme related!  I also am excited to participate in a few handmade 'Valentine exchanges' with other like minded people cause it is AWESOME to get something in the mail that is not a BILL and I love being inspired by other peoples awesome hand made offerings! 

So needless to say I was a little excited when I opened up my doTERRA® newsletter this morning and say that they are kicking off the month of February encouraging others to get some Passion in the air with an offer of 10% off their amazing Passion blend!

The Passion Blend is an inspiring blend that balances spice and herbal essential oils. Combining Cinnamon Bark, Ginger, Cardamom, Clove, and Damiana this blend creates a chemical profile with high concentrations of phenols and ethers to provide warming and renewing benefits.

It is awesome diffused in the morning to start the day feeling energized and enthusiastic! 

You can create a roller ball recipe with it and apply to the pulse points and heart area throughout the day to help you feel inspired and passionate about what you are embarking on! 

Diffuse in the work place to spark creativity, clarity and wonder! 

This blend helps to promote feelings of excitement, passion and joy which is why I LOVE it as a massage blend too! 

  

It is just such an invigorating blend of aromas and the benefits of cinnamon for health and wellness are amazing! 

I do want to share that while WE love this as a massage blend that it is known that cinnamon can be an allergen to some as well as cause skin sensitivity in others and it is therefore not for all skin types ~ I myself have to avoid getting it on areas where my psoriasis has flared up cause it is just too intense in those areas. PLEASE do a skin test before using the blend on yourself or loved one and avoid placing it in an mucus membrane area of the body! 

 If you'd like to get yourself or a loved one in your life a little bottle of Passion this month you can order online here. If you are LOCAL and would like to order let me know I will have an order going in and can help save on some shipping cost as you can pick it up from me!

Have an amazing day!

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life