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! 

...

I don't know if there's something I love more than a nice homemade, DIY, body scrub. 

Y'all, I'm obsessed with the way they smell and the way they leave my skin. Plus, they make adorable gifts to give for all occasions. 

Festive Sugar Scrub

• 3/4 cup white sugar, brown sugar, or sea salt
• 1/2 cup fractionated coconut or other oil
• 4 drops cassia essential oil
• 4 drops clove essential oil
• 4 drops ginger essential oil

Combine sugar and fractionated coconut oil in a bowl. Add essential oils. Stir until the mixture is the consistency of a slushy. Add more sugar or fractionated coconut oil to achieve desired consistency. Pour into airtight container. 

Sweet Orange Scrub

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 7-8 drops wild orange essential oil

Combine thoroughly in a glass jar, add a label and ribbon, and enjoy or share. 

Vanilla Lavender Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Combine thoroughly in a...

I know that sometimes choosing what oils you want or need or should have can be overwhelming. And when you ask someone to help you choose, it's hard because they truly all have a place in our lives and, well, I just hate choosing. 

So I thought I would just highlight some oils as we go along together. Maybe seeing what each oil can do and how many uses you can get out of just one bottle will help you choose as you build your oil collection. 

Let's start with one of my favorite oils, and yes, I'll probably say that a lot, but seriously, this is one of my favorites. 

Arborvitae. Think woody, majestic and strong. It actually means "Tree of Life" because the Arborvitae tree can live for over 800 years. 

It's main constituents are Methyl thujate, Hinokitiol, and Thujic Acid. It's great for antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and stimulant uses. 

This oil blends well with Cedarwood, Frankincense and Birch.

And just as a safety precaution, dilution is...

Okay momma's this one is for you.

Let's talk First Aid. I don't know about you, but with all these kids running around I am constantly needing something from the first aid kit. 

I am especially grateful for these tips and tricks in the times we are in. Being able to have safe first aid products available at home without having to run to the store is a lifesaver, no pun intended. 

(Kidding, I totally intended a pun.)

Flu Shot in a Bottle

• 40 drops lemon
• 30 drops protective blend
• 20 drops oregano
• Fractionated coconut oil

Mix essential oils in roller bottle and fill with fractionated coconut oil. This is a great remedy for the onset of an illness. When you feel a scratchy throat or aches coming on, you will want to apply mixture to throat, bottoms of feet, and behind the ears. Because this mix contains oregano essential oil, it should be used for only five to seven days. Oregano essential oil can be hard on the liver when used for long periods of time. Protective blend...

I cannot tell you how many times people ask me "Why doTERRA?" 

What is it about this brand? This company? Why have I chosen to not only align myself with this company as a business, but why I have chosen to use these oils on those that I care most about? 

Easy, purity. 

I mean, don't get me wrong, I can sit here and come up with a 1,000 reasons why you should choose doTERRA, but for me, it all comes back to purity. 

Not all oils are created equally, unfortunately. And it can be tricky trying to navigate a virtually unregulated industry. 

I have personally bought oils from other companies and had them sent off for testing only to learn that THEY ARE NOT PURE! Sure, it cost me a lot of money, but it proved exactly what I have been shouting for years: that doTERRA is the ONLY brand on the market that proves their purity time and time again. 

And this is extremely important for consumers like you! You do not want to be ingesting these oils if they are not...

Okay, so today I wanted to tell you guys about my favorite oils to cook with. And I thought I would even share my favorite recipes with you too! 

First up, Lemon. I love our Lemon oil. You can add it to your water. You can add it to chicken recipes, but my favorite way to cook with Lemon oil is by making Lemon Fruit Dip. 

Try it, you'll see what I mean. 

Next, I love our Black Pepper/Pink Pepper oil. I make a mean peppered burger that the whole family loves. Even the pickiest ones. 

And finally, are you really cooking if you don't use Rosemary oil? One of my favorite comfort foods is mashed potatoes. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. And just when I thought mashed potatoes couldn't get any better, I found out they could...with Rosemary. 

Do you have a favorite oil to cook with? Or a recipe you're known for? You have to tell us! 

• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2...

Hey y'all. 

So this post is a little different. 

I've had a lot going on in my personal life lately and I thought about sharing it with you guys, but I wasn't sure I should until this past weekend. 

This is my space for you to join me. This is a place for us to come together. And so I knew I had to share what was going on.

So where do I start? 

My father-in-law recently had a heart catherization and stint placement after learning that he had had a heart attack one Sunday morning. After lots of testing it was obvious that he was on course to have another heart attack if action wasn't taken. 

There was damage done to the heart, but he is on medications to help strengthen his heart and keep the stint open. He is at home and resting. Taking some much needed time off to let his body heal. And I'm happy to report that he is feeling much better. 

Then there's my mom, Tammie. 

I won't go into all the details here because you can actually follow her story...