Natural Sunscreen & bug repellent in one

 It’s that time of year again! 

Homemade Natural Sunscreen Ingredients

1 cup almond oil (natural SPF 5)

1/2 cup coconut oil (natural SPF 4)

1/2 cup cocoa butter chips

1/2 cup beeswax chips

4 Tablespoons Non-nano Zinc Oxide (natural SPF 2-20)

2 teaspoon Red Raspberry Seed Oil (natural SPF varies 28-50)

2 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil (natural SPF varies 38 - 40)

2 tablespoons Shea Butter (natural SPF 4-5)

2 tablespoon Mango Butter

1 bottle doTERRA Terrashield bug repellent 

Using a double boiler method add all ingredients except essential oil into the pot and melt together until smooth. Suggest wearing a face mask when adding the zinc powder or being VERY careful not to inhale when in powder form. Once bees wax is well melted and blended into the mixture let simmer on low for about 20 minutes to ensure that your lotion does not get 'gritty' when it cools. Take off burner and allow to cool a bit before adding essential oil as heating oils can reduce effectiveness.  

Pour into a glass mason jar or air tight container and allow to cool.

Apply 20-30 minutes before sun exposure.

Be sun safe!

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Protect your skin!

Ohhh I am excited to try this new line from doTERRA!

I have been making my own sunscreen for the past few years because so many on the market are full of crap and aggravate my sensitive skin and the natural brand ones were always hard to find in stock locally! The challenge with homemade is making sure you combine the right ingredients in the right ratios to get the proper SPF. 

The new doTERRA SUN COLLECTION is launching July 1st just in time for summer vacations.

Review a convention attendee who got to try it early:

 “You are going to love this line ☀️

There is nothing like this on the market!

• Super clean ingredients + botanicals such as raspberry seed oil, avocado oil, shea butter, Vit E, turmeric extract, carrot seed, jojoba esters and non nano zinc oxide

• SPF 30 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB

• Protective, lightweight, water resistant, moisturizing, and nourishing for your skin

• Vegan friendly, reef safe, cruelty free

• Infused with the protective + nurturing properties of our pure essentials oils such as helichrysum, frankincense, copaiba, lavender + peppermint. 

It’s a must have in your summer skincare collection.”

D E T A I L S:

• July 1st: Launching out of US warehouse. 

Note: the After Sun Mist is a little delayed and will launch mid July 

• Limit of 2 of each product per account

Note about Canada: these product will launch later in the year ... health canada is taking longer and longer to approve products in the natural health category. 

Be sun safe!

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love  

Be Totallyawake4-life 

dōTERRA Mālama Blend

Celebrate Mother’s Day this year with our new dōTERRA Mālama Blend. 🤍

Like the breathtaking beauty and vibrant culture of the Hawaiian Islands, Mālama Nurturing blend is a sparkling combination of bright citrus, enchanting floral, and centering wood aromas. 🌿

Mālama means to care for, tend, preserve, and protect. Much like mother figures tend to us, we are committed to preserving Hawaii’s native trees. dōTERRA has partnered with the Kealakekua Mountain Reserve, home to the largest reforestation effort in Hawaii’s history and 238,000 native trees have been planted to date. 🤎

Join us in celebrating mother figures everywhere this month with the Mālama Nurturing Blend.

✨Shop for this new blend at the link below!

www.mydoterra.com/totallyawake4life 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love 

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Chicken Caprese Casserole

 Drop me a 💗 if you’re a menu planner too? 

Now that the home childcare is closed I am not nearly as anal about it like Monday we are having this but I do sit down each Sunday to plan the 7 family dinners we will be having than I cook whatever I feel like from that list on any given day. 

Menu planning is especially important for me right now because Paul is still doing all the in person shopping since I can’t keep the mask in long enough to do a full shop so I need to make sure I have added everything I am gonna need cause he doesn’t have the same intuition to have his memory jogged in the aisle that we need something I forgot to put on the list - so if it’s not on the list he’s likely not to get it. Heck thanks to supply issues these days  sometimes even if it’s on the list he’s not likely to get it all …. like apparently slim pickings in the frozen veggie aisle poor Alex is getting so sick of salad as a side cause Paul can’t find some frozen veggies to toss his way 🙁 

If the pandemic had reinforced any skills it’s definitely the ability to learn to accept the things you can’t control and pivot as required to adapt! 

It was a slow lesson for me but I am getting there! 

 

Thankfully he just got home and found everything I needed to try this chicken caprese casserole recipe this week except the fresh Basil but I can add a drop of basil essential oil to compensate and add some spinach chopped for colour! With the no frozen veggies to be found I’ll figure out a side dish! I think air-fried asparagus might go nice!  

Bon Appetite 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Back sore from putting up the Holiday decor?

The “Oil your Joints blend” for all your holiday aches and pains ... I love deep blue and frankincense for supporting pain and inflammation reduction! 

IMO this is a STRONG dilution  suggestion likely meant for supporting serious pain and inflammation so I personally would suggestion using a quarter suggested drops to start to see if it helps and than only increase if/as needed to get relief as everyone’s body is different and sometimes less is more with essential oils! 

Yours in health

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

*post contains affiliate links 

DoTerra inspired Hangover Survival Kit

 Who has plans to send 2020 out with the BANG it deserves? I am so ready to close the door on this past year and am hopeful that 2021 will bring growth and prosperity back to the forefront as we round the curve on the pandemic now that vaccines are rolling out and treatment options for Covid are increasing!

This DoTerra Hangover kit is a great little gift to yourself or pin it for next year when we can hopefully have guests as it makes a cute little gift idea for party guests who stay the night to avoid drinking and driving!

Hangover Survival bag:

Water bottle

On Guard® (protective blend)Toothpaste (sample size)!

Breathe® (respiratory blend) Drops

Peppermint beadlets

Small sample size honeys (honey sticks work great) and some herbal tea

Samples size oils (ideas support digestion/nausea such as peppermint, lemon, ginger or the DigestZen blend!)

Stay safe this New Year!

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

 

 

On the Go Diffuser - Yes Please!

So excited about this new rechargeable Pilot diffuser! 

Be lovely to be able to use out on the deck or for a picnic to help create a bug free bubble!

Have a zen field day!

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

Calling all Wine Lovers

A huge thank you to the lovely Kay for sourcing me this amazing stash of wine corks to add to my loose parts collection ... corks are great for sensory play in water for sink or float discoveries, making impressions in play dough, for imaginative play as children use them as pretend food, money, make up daubers and more  in their role play. They build with them in block centre and pattern with them with other loose parts! In the art centre they make great paint medium for dabbing!

 But first they have a soak in Purify essential oil to help remove the wine aroma from them!

If you’re a wine lover remember to save your corks too for your community early learning program and support the reduce, reuse, recycle by up cycling these beauties into endless hours of play ♻️

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

*this post contains affiliate links 

Top 13 Oils for Sleep and Diffuser Recipe Must Tries

Well if you are anything like me last night's time change is going to affect your sleep for a few days until your internal clock catches up to the new time on the real world clock! 

So figured today would be a great day to share some of my favorite sleep supporting diffuser blends - the Serenity Blend from doTERRA is one of my all time favorite ready to go blends. However like anything in life the body can come 'use' to supports we give it so changing up your blends can help to ensure that you do not become resistant to support.

If you are an experimenter like me and want to try making up your own favorite blends. Here are some oils that can help support sleep - please note the asterisk regarding internal use of oils. 

I would also add that 'internal use' can be a very heated debate among those who are passionate about oil safety with a seemingly divided camp on the pros and cons of this type of use. As a result it is something that should not be engaged in lightly and without a complete understanding of safe dosage, risk factors and like anything 'health related' with the support of your treating physicians advice. 

Sleep Well

Margaret 

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

Beat the Heat with this Hygiene tip!

Wee bit of a TMI blog post but it happens to all of us so finding the courage to share! 

Not sure about where you live but it has been a HOT one here these past few weeks. So hot and dry where have water bans and backyard fire pit bans do to the dry conditions! 

As a result I have spent a lot of time in my bathing suit at local splash pads keeping cool with the kiddies and well that combination of extreme heat and sweat and wearing bathing suit material all day has resulted in me not feeling so 'fresh'!

So just wanted to share a little 'DIY Spray' that I have been enjoying to help combat the summer phenomena! 


DIY Feminine Hygiene Spray!

What You Need

• 8 oz amber glass or stainless steel bottle ideally with a 'spritz' style top.
• 4 oz witch hazel
• 4 oz distilled water
• 2 drops Rose Oil (or Geranium if cannot source Rose)
• 2 drops Lavender oil
• 2 drops Melaluca / Tea Tree Oil

What You Do

• Add all ingredients in to the bottle and shake well to mix.
• Spritz bikini area after bathing or as needed to refresh and reduce unwanted odors. If you cannot source a spray bottle using cotton balls to apply mixture to your bikini area to help freshen works well too!
• Shake well before each use to ensure well mixed.
• Helps control unwanted orders and reduce ingrown hair.

Now you can enjoy the heat AND feel fresh as a flower!

Have an amazing day!

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

Allergy Season Support

I use to suffer severely from seasonal allergies - I went years getting regular allergy shots trying to get them under control and had about two decades where they were 'mild symptoms' on occassion to the point I almost forgot how I use to suffer. 

However last couple years allergies decided to make a vicious come back ... just being outside in the yard had my eyes watering and me skin itching and I could not go anywhere NEAR my garden without breaking out in hives ... it caught me off guard and unprepared for what was available for supporting me and I suffered back with the trail and error of what would help but not THIS year! This year I got a jump start with the help of doTERRA and essential oil blends! 

Love the BREATHE line from doTERRA  ... the vapor stick, mints and oil blend rub helped get me through a nasty cold this past winter and its been a godsend this spring with the start of allergy season ... I have even been able to spend some time helping with the gardening with the help of the TriEase gels although admittedly kinda enjoying delegating that to my spouse cause while I love the look of a pretty garden I do not find weeding and tending the garden soothing relaxation at ALL would totally rather be on the deck sipping a lemon aid admiring his handiwork! 

 If you are a lover of the Breathe line or would like to try it JUNE is an awesome month ... you can earn several pieces from the line for FREE with a $200 PV US order! If you'd like more info about placing an order or how to get a wholesale discount so you can get even MORE of your favorite products at a savings please give me a shout!

Have an amazing day

Margaret

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much

Be Totallyawake4-life

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