Maybe it's because the dog days of summer are truly upon us and it's just too darn hot to even look at the kitchen, let alone actually go and cook in it. 

No thank you.

So lately, I've been eating SO. MANY. SALADS. And I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of my favorite dressing and marinade recipes.

Basic Vinaigrette

• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup champagne or wine vinegar
• 2-3 teaspoons sugar or 1-2 drops stevia, to taste
• 1 teaspoon shallots or white onion, finely grated
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1-2 drops wild orange, grapefruit, or invigorating blend essential oils. 

Shake ingredients to mix well, and enjoy.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 package dry ranch buttermilk, dressing mix
• 2 drops cilantro essential oil
• 6 stalks green onions, sliced
• 4 golden pepperoncini peppers
• 1 drop lime essential oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Combine all ingredients in blender and refrigerate. Serve on...

Okay, I'm doing my best not to blush while writing this, but let's just say I'm glad you can't see my face! 

But in all seriousness, let's talk oils and intimacy.

Today I'm going to include some of my favorite blends. Blends for massage, blends for diffusing, and even blends for bubble baths. 

Aphrodisiac Massage Blend

• 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil or unscented lotion
• 2 drops rose or geranium essential oil
• 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• 3 drops clary sage essential oil

Mix oils together and massage on skin to increase connection and arousal. 

Aprhrodisiac Blend for Diffusing

• 1 drop white fir essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon essential oil
• 1 drop patchouli essential oil
• 1 drop rosemary essential oil
• 1 drop sandalwood essential oil
• 1 drop ylang ylang essential oil

Drop these essential oils into a diffuser and fill the air with excitement! 

Ecstasy Bubble Bath

• 1 1/2 cups liquid castile soap
• 2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
• 1/2...

Okay guys, this one is for you. I didn't want you to think I was leaving you out! 

Today I will be discussing some of my favorite essential oils for men. From shaving cream to a shoe deodorizer, this one's for you.

Shaving Cream

• 2/3 cup shea butter
• 2/3 cup cocoa butter
• 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
• 5 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drop melaleuca essential oil

Place butter and oil in double boiler to melt. Mix in essential oils. Let shaving cream cool. Whip with hand mixer.

Earthy Aftershave

• 3/4 cup witch hazel
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 10 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops melaleuca essential oil

Place all ingredients into a bottle. Shake well and pat onto skin after shaving for a natural, great-smelling antiseptic and anti-inflammatory aftershave.

Spice Cologne

• 40 drops bergamot essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil
• 20 drops white fir essential oil
• 5 drops...

Okay, so hear me out on this one. I LOVE a clean kitchen. It brings me so much joy when the sink is empty, the counters are wiped down, and there is absolutely no indication that anyone actually lives in this house. 

I know you know what I'm talking about. 

Today I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite oils to use in the kitchen. Not to cook with, but to clean with.

Drain Cleaner

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 3 drops wild orange essential oil

Pour essential oil directly down drain, followed by baking soda, and then the vinegar. Allow to sit for fifteen minutes or so and then pour hot water down the drain, followed by cold water to unclog drains.

Garbage Can Odor Tablets

• 2 cups baking soda
• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• ice cube tray

Combine dry ingredients. Slowly add water, then oils, and stir. Using a spoon, transfer mixture into the ice cube tray without overfilling the tray....

Okay, so I know that I've been homeschooling for awhile now, but I know that for many of you you just became brand new homeschool teachers! 

Add this to the thousand other things I'm sure do and it can seem overwhelming. So I wanted to share my top 7 tips for homeschooling newbies- because if I can do it, YOU can do it! 

1. Don't stress....I promise you can do this!

2. Have a designated area to learn. Doesn't have to be perfect! 

3. Learn everywhere you go. School doesn't just happen in a classroom!

4. Get involved in homeschool groups and with their families. Community is everything, y'all! 

5. If something isn't working, give it one more try and then move on to something that does work for you. Learning can come in many different forms

6. Keep everyone on a schedule. You will accomplish a lot more this way.

7. Making school also about helping others and the community. Math lesson while baking cookies for the neighbor, anyone? 

Did I leave something off?...

I could go on and on about essential oils and pregnancy. There is so much more out there and I encourage you to look even more into essential oils and pregnancy. Or email me to discuss further.

Today I want to finish my series with some oil recommendations for common labor and post-delivery symptoms.

Afterbirth/placenta delivery- clary sage, geranium, jasmine, lavender.

Bleeding- geranium, helichrysum, myrrh.

Calm nerves, relax mind- basil, frankincense, lavender, calming blend, encouraging blend, grounding blend.

Contractions, slow/weak/stalled labor- cinnamon, clary sage, fennel, jasmine, lavender, myrrh, detoxification blend, encouraging blend, grounding blend, joyful blend

Pain- cypress, lavender, marjoram, soothing blend, tension blend.

Clogged Milk Ducts- fennel, lavender, patchouli, cleansing blend

Depression/postpartum- bergamot, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, myrrh, roman chamomile, sandalwood, vetiver, wild orage, ylang ylang, calming...

Not only does pregnancy and labor bring some pretty amazing experiences, they also bring some pretty annoying symptoms. 

Today I wanted to share with you a few of my not-so-favorite- symptoms and my favorite remedies. 

Pregnancy Swelling Relief

• 3 drops ginger
• 2 drops cypress
• 2 drops lavender

Combine oils with 2 teaspoons carrier oil; massage into legs and feet.

No More Stretch Marks Blend

• 10 drops cypress
• 10 drops lavender
• 10 drops wild orange
• 10 drops invigorating blend
• 5 drops geranium

Place oils in a 10ml roller bottle; fill remainder with carrier oil. Use twice daily.

Stretch Mark Relief

• 2 drops each of helichrysum, lavender, myrrh oil mixed with 1/2-1 teaspoon fractionated coconut oil (depending on surface area intended to cover) and apply to abdomen.

Healing Hemorrhoids

• 20 drops heilchrysum
• 20 drops geranium
• 20 drops aborvitae or cypress
• 10 drop peppermint

Make blend in 2-ounce glass bottle with an orifice-reduction seal; mix oils; fill remainder with carrier...

Ah, pregnancy. One of the most beautiful events of life. Well, except for the constant throwing up, the swelling, the false contractions, the indigestion, and the constant cravings.

But still, beautiful nonetheless. 

Today, I wanted to share with you some of the best oils for pregnancy. Of course, you should always consult with your doctor or physician before using oils. 

Pregnancy

Single oils

• Wild Orange- energizes and lifts mood.
• Ginger- relieves nausea and morning sickness. 
• Peppermint- relieves digestive upsets and supports memory.

Blends

• Soothing blend- soothes aches and pains.
• Tension blend- relieves tension.
• Metabolic blend- balances glucose levels and metabolism.
• Digestion blend- supports digestion and relieves morning sickness. 
• Women's blend- balances hormones. 

Labor

Single Oils

• Clary Sage- broad spectrum support to labor process.
• Jasmine- assists with labor and afterbirth.
• Geranium- supports perineum, labor performance, mood and healing.
• ...

Okay ladies, you too guys! Let's talk anti-aging. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love growing older. I love learning and experiencing new things. And truth be told, getting older has only gotten better every year. 

With that said, however, what I do not like is looking old. I certainly don't feel old, well, not after I actually get out of the bed in the morning, kidding, sort of. So if I don't feel old why should I look old? 

The answer is: you don't. 

Our anti-aging blend is amazing, y'all. It's main ingredients are Frankincense, Hawaiian sandalwood, Lavender, Myrrh, Helichrysum and Rose.

You will want to use this oil to address wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage, scars, stretch marks, blemishes, tension and mood balance, skin cancer, and meditation.

This is a beautiful blend with time-honored essential oils for radiant skin. And they aren't lyin'! 

Have you tried this blend? Do you have other anti-aging secrets? Do tell! I'm dying to know all the things! 

...

It's okay, I promise, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. 

I did say calm.

And I know what you're thinking and I can pretty much see all the eye rolls, but hear me out.

Ah, yes, the Calming blend. Think sweet, warm, and calming. Main ingredients are Lavender, Sweet marjoram, Roman chamomile, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood and Vanilla.

You can seriously create a moment of peace and calm anywhere, anytime. The Calming blend soothes the soul and calms the mind. 

Do I need to say anything else? 

Well, I'm going to anyways because I want you to know the top uses of the Calming blend because it's that good. 

• Insomnia & Sleep? CHECK.
• Stress & Anxiety? CHECK.
• ADD/ADHD & Hyperactivity? CHECK.
• Tension & Mood Swings? CHECK.
• Skincare? CHECK.
• Muscle tension? CHECK.
• Anger? CHECK.

And last, did you know you can wear this blend as a perfume? Because you totally can. It smells amazing and it will help you feel amazing!

What are your favorite tricks to staying...