I don't know what it is right now, but I could use all the relaxation tips and tricks i can get. 

I have learned that you can't give from an empty well, but sometimes taking time out for ourselves can be hard. Maybe we feel guilty? Or maybe there's just no time? Whatever the reason, it is okay. 

Try diffusing my favorite blends for relaxation. I keep my diffusers going all day long. Not only does it make the house smell amazing, but it calms my nerves and everyone else who's under the roof. 

It's a win-win for everyone.

Do you have a favorite relaxation blend? Tell me about it! 

Until next time y'all, woo-sah.

XXOO!

I don't know about you, but I could seriously use all the extra energy I can get. 

I do my best to take care of myself, eat well, drink a lot of water, get enough rest (hahahahaha- Mom's will know why I'm laughing), etc. But sometimes I just need a little extra oomph. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my coffee. Like, love my coffee, but I feel like I've been drinking it for so long that somehow my body has become immune to it. And really it doesn't do anything to give me extra energy these days. 

So what's a girl to do? Life, as you probably know it, does not slow down for anyone, especially for a mom of seven. 

Well, lucky for all of us, there's an oil(s) for that. 

Single Oils

• Basil: stimulating and reviving
• Peppermint: invigorating and energizing
• Wild orange: uplifting and rejuvenating
• Lemon: cleansing and refreshing
• Lime: energizing and enlivening

Blends

• Invigorating blend: rejuvenating and energizing
• Respiration blend: invigorating and reviving
• ...

Ah, stress, It's something I do my best to avoid, but let's be real, with this many kids (love y'all!), a husband (love you too!), way too many pets according to 'some people' and you just live in the world today, stress is sometimes inevitable.

Today, I wanted to share with you my favorite ways to destress. From single oils to bath remedies. Add a few of these to your weekly self care, you won't regret it. 

Single Blends

• Lavender- calms and relieves stress
• Roman chamomile- calms reduces stress
• Wild orange- energizes while reducing anxiety and depression
• Frankincense- reduces depression, trauma, and tension
• Vetiver- improves focus and sedates

Blends

• Invigorating blend- energizes while reducing anxiety and depression
• Grounding blend- balances mood while reducing stress and trauma
• Calming blend- reduces anxiety and stress
• Tension blend- relieves tension and stress
• Women's blend- balances hormones and calms anxiety

Roller Bottle Remedies

Combine oils into a roller bottle and...

"That's it! I've had enough!" You might think I'm yelling at one of my kids, separating a fight, or just yelling out of pure mom frustration. 

Nope, wrong.

It's bugs y'all. I am so over the bugs. I've already shared a DIY bug spray, but today I wanted to go a little further in my pest repellents. 

Whether they are in your garden destroying your beautiful homegrown tomatoes or they are just keeping you from spending the time outside that you've been waiting for, it's time to get serious.

Below is a list of pests and the essential oils you can use to repel those unwanted visitors. 

• Ants:  peppermint, spearmint
• Aphids: cedarwood, peppermint, spearmint
• Beetles: peppermint, thyme
• Caterpillars: spearmint, peppermint
• Chiggers: lavender, lemongrass, sage, thyme
• Fleas: peppermint, lemongrass, spearmint, lavender
• Flies: lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage
• Gnats: patchouli, spearmint
• Lice: cedarwood, peppermint, spearmint
• Mosquitos: lavender,...

I don't know about y'all, but when I started making the switch to safer, healthier products for me and those I loved most, I couldn't help but be completely overwhelmed with all the choices.

Where in the world was I supposed to start?

This is probably one of the questions I get asked the most. Where to begin? 

Now, I love all my oils and y'all know that. And I already came up with my Top Three Favorite Oils, but I wanted to share my top three oils for beginners. 

I always suggest that new people start with these oils. They have some great benefits. They smell amazing. And they are easy to understand. 

First up is Lavender. This oil is great for stress relief and calming effects. I love diffusing Lavender at the end of a long day or right before bedtime. It just soothes and calms the world around you. And it smells soooooo good. 

Next, is Lemon. This is probably one of my most used oils. I put it in my water. I use it to clean and disinfect. I diffuse it to...

I think it's a given that we, especially as women and mothers, are always trying to do our best to take care of those we love. 

We try to make better choices on the foods we eat. We try to make sure that everyone is drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. So it can be super frustrating to find out that some of our well thought out choices are actually no better than the junk we're trying to avoid. 

So how do we even begin to make the switch to safer if we aren't even sure what safer actually is??

I totally get your frustration and I'm hoping I can help just a little! 

My number one suggestion is to ditch the "fragrance". No, I'm not just talking about the perfume and body spray, but rather anything with the word "fragrance" listed as an ingredient. 

Did you know that the word "fragrance" is considered a trade secret meaning companies don't actually have to disclose the ingredients they are using to create said fragrance. 

Cool, huh? 

So what...

Okay y'all obviously know how much I love my oils. And it really is hard for me to choose any kind of favorite because they each truly do something that I either love or need.

But if I had to choose my top three favorite oils right now I would definitely have to start with a classic favorite of mine, Frankincense. 

Y'all, I just love the way Frankincense smells. Not only that, but I love the benefits of younger looking skin (I mean, who doesn't?!). That means less wrinkles and goodbye brown spots.

Frankincense also helps with healing properties of any issue. It's a known de-stressor. Oh, and it also has DNA repairing properties, no big deal or anything. 

Okay, next is more of a category because it is just SO hard to choose. Citrus, y'all. And I mean, anything citrus, y'all. Huge fan of our Green Mandarin right now. I love adding it to my water to help with stress. It supports healthy lung function.

This is my go-to for muscle spasms too!

I also really love...

I hope you guys had an amazing long Memorial Day weekend. We spent most of our holiday outside enjoying the gorgeous weather (when we could) and hanging out on the lake. 

Now that it's officially Summer, I have to share with you some of my DIY Summer Favorites. Including my personal favorite, bug repellent. 

Y'all, I love the Lord's creatures, but I cannot stand bugs or bug bites. Over my 40 years of living I have tried SO. MANY. THINGS. to get rid of bugs so I can enjoy my time outside, but if I'm being honest, and you know I am because that's just how I roll, nothing worked good enough. 

And if they did work they were full of nasty harmful toxic ingredients that I just didn't feel comfortable about putting on myself, let alone my children. 

I know I talk a lot about oils, but y'all, it has been the ONLY thing that has worked. And I feel at ease using it on those I care most about. 

DIY Bug Repellant

You'll Need: 

• 4 oz spray bottle (stainless, glass,...

Even though it’s been a few weeks, wait no, months, heck, I honestly don’t even know anymore, but my point is this: it’s been awhile since we’ve had any sense of ‘normal’ but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in a little at home self care. In fact, I totally recommend it. 

I mean, nothing at home is EVER going to compare to the nail salon or your favorite hairstylist. Those things will always hold a very special place in our hearts, but in the meantime, this momma can’t live without self care.

No, I mean it, y’all. I would not survive. 

Self care is absolutely essential in my home. And what I love about self care is that there is no right or wrong way to self care. Whether it’s eating a little healthier and drinking more water everyday or it’s that long, hot bubble bath we escape to once a week. Whatever it is, whatever it looks like for you and your family, just do it.

Carve out the time and...

First, let me welcome you to my new blog. I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally have this up and running. It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but once you get to know me you might understand why it’s taken a little longer than expected.

For those of you who are new around here, my name is Alisha. I have been married for 18 years (yes, I had to double check with the husband to make sure I got it right-ha) and we have seven kids one of which is special needs: 14, 12, 9, 7, 6, 3 and 2. 

Life can be pretty crazy around our house. I mean, it kind of has to be with seven kids, right?

We call Browns Summit, NC home. And not only do we have a whole bunch of kids, but we also have a whole bunch of animals too. Told you I was crazy, I mean IT was crazy. (Haha)

But truthfully, I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is my tribe and I love our crazy life.

I never set out to become a doTERRA advocate, but after our son Joel was born...