Dec 12, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Last month I shared my new love for DoTerra Essential Oils. Since receiving my kit, I’ve been watching videos, taking online oil camp classes, and going to meetings to learn as much as I can. It sounds like a lot, but really it’s just another fun networking opportunity. Less than twenty minutes a day is all it takes to focus on one oil or blend, and learn the many ways it can be used.
In the past several years, I’ve learned to make bath scrubs, lip balm, soothing oil blends, and many other items. And who can forget SuperGirl’s recipe for lavender bath salts?
Just before I signed up last month, I went to a class on wellness. As we were leaving, our hostess gave each of us a small pine cone that looked more like flower, and asked which oils we’d like. She put a few drops of Elevation (a mood lifter) and Arborvitae (a purifying oil) on my cone and I left in my car for weeks. It was my own little air freshener without artificial fragrances.
See what I mean? Endless possibilities.
This past weekend I found these adorable jars shaped like beehives, so of course This Girl had to get them, right?! I think it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway here) that I also grabbed up a box of epsom salts and smiled all the way home.
Here’s how easy it is to make a soothing bath soak: One cup epsom salts. Ten drops oil. For. Realz.
And the beautiful part is that you can blend several oils together. I like to choose complimentary oils to boost the effects. I made two separate salts. I like to call them my Bee Good to Myself Bath Salts.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Soothing Bath Soaks with Essential Oils
The DoTerra blends of OnGuard and Serenity offer a relaxing aroma while purifying and sanitizing the local environment, offering protection against stress and illness.
AromaTouch and Breathe combine to open the airways and allow for peaceful breathing, giving relief to stressful holiday moments.
The oils can also be diffused, used topically (use a drop or two of fractionated coconut oil to enhance the absorption).
In the salts, just add the drops to the epsom salts, stir, and let sit. Add half a jar (or all of it) to warm running water for an aromatic and soothing bath.
Yup. It’s really all that simple. And really all that beneficial.
And because they’re so easy and inexpensive, they make great gifts.
How do you like to give the gift of relaxation through the holidays? [To others and yourself!]
With a peaceful heart and a happy house,
Happy Holidays!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Sep 21, 2017 |
SuperGirl is at it again! This month, she shares the beauty and benefits of that timeless classic, lemon. If you get a chance, follow her on Twitter for more tips on how EOs are da best.
by Cara Pearson @ThatBedfordGal
Summer is almost gone. If you find yourself sighing for lazy summer days, why not keep the memory alive with a little lemon in your life?
I’ve always loved the tangy-sweet taste of lemon. I can’t tell you a favorite use for it—there’s just too many. Lemonade. A perfectly seasoned salmon steak with lemon and rosemary. Lemon Meringue Pie. It conjures up visions of careless days spent by the water’s edge.
You probably have already been told that the acidic content of lemon pulp can break down the enamel of your teeth. An essential oil won’t have the same effect. Why not, you ask? Because lemon essential oil is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit—not the pulp. You can flavor your favorite foods and beverages with the delicious benefits and fragrance of lemon without the acidic content.
Keep Summer Going with Lemon Essential Oils
Lemon essential oil has a high content of limonene, giving it a powerful punch in antioxidants and cleansers. I add a drop or two of lemon essential oil to my water to keep me hydrated and help cleanse, as it aids digestion and provides immune support. Lemon can be a great polish for your wood furniture. I love that I can go natural and use it in my cleaning—add several drops to a glass spray bottle with vinegar. It also boosts mood and deodorizes.
With such diverse options for this essential oil, it is no surprise that lemon is one of the most popular. Try substituting a drop or two in your favorite recipe calling for lemon juice. Essential oils are incredibly potent—for instance, one drop of peppermint oil equals 28 cups of peppermint tea! So one drop is usually more than enough. And when using EO’s in your cooking, add the oil towards the end, as high heat can cause much of the oil to vaporize and lose their potent quality in your food.
One of my new favorite ways to use lemon essential oil is as a room deodorizer. Slice a citrus of your choice, and hollow out a half. Fill this with coarse sea salt, and a drop or two of lemon. This will be good for about a week; it’s a lovely centerpiece and smells amazing!
You don’t have to say goodbye to summer just yet. You can carry those sunny-day feels into the hum-drum of winter with this citrus oil.
*When ingesting essential oils, it is important to only use CPTG (certified pure therapeutic grade). Many EO’s contain synthetics (think perfume) which have been added to dilute and stretch so as to offer lower prices. You wouldn’t drink perfume, so please don’t ingest essential oils with added synthetics. Take care of yourself!
**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.
TWEET THIS: Keep Summer Going with Lemon Essential Oils @RealMojo68 @ThatBedfordGal #lemon #summer #essentialoils
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Enigmatic. Fragile. Tenacious. Reader. Writer. Musician. Grace. These are all words that describe Cara. A superhero/barista by day, she makes coffee and plots epic stories in the Deep South. Evenings, she can be found on the ranch, making her own natural skin and beauty products and helping others reach wellness goals through essential oils.
Sep 1, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
True story. I’m on the phone with SuperGirl ~ our weekly two-hour catch-up call ~ and she says . . . Wait for it. Get this.
She says, “I don’t know if I’m going to Blue Ridge next year.”
MoJoWriterGirlsays “Say, whhaaat?!”
Of course, Blue Ridge isn’t Blue Ridge without my posse. And I’m super happy because during the interview for my now-you-know-about-it new career, I told them straight up, I need a week in May. I’m already committed to being out of state. They nodded. They approved.
So. Girlfriend. If I’m going, you’re going. You got that?
However, I understand that sometimes, as you so patiently pointed out, conferences may be out of reach financially. What’s a writer to do? I’m so glad you asked . . .
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Instead of a Writers Conference
For you, and for so many others, here are five ways y’all can grow your writing skills if you can’t attend a conference.
- Online podcasts. Oh, please. Like y’all didn’t see this one coming. In particular, I’m fond of Aaron Gansky’s Firsts in Fiction (and I don’t even get paid to say so!). Another good choice is Novel Marketing with Thomas Umstattd and James L. Rubart. You can Google whatever keywords you’re looking for and “podcast” and a plethora of choices pop up. Try audio only so you can listen in your car, or video so you don’t miss our pretty faces. Just sayin.
Firsts in Fiction cohosts and their photobombing producer
- Local writers club. These are great places to meet like-minded people. Let’s face it: When you’re a writer, the only time you fit in is with other creatives. Why wouldn’t you want to join the club? You can trade tips and tricks, hire guest speakers, and reach into the community for sales and marketing. If there isn’t a local club where you’re at, or one that suits your style, create your own.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Make Your Own Meeting
- Critique groups are another great source of feedback. Members commit to share their writing in progress and give honest opinions. Think of it as your pre-edit edit. While you’re writing your novel, your team can tell you what works and what doesn’t, which characters need more development, and what scenes are spot on. They can help you hone your first draft into a fine, and sometimes final, draft.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Critique Groups draw out the best in your manuscript.
- Learn online. You can find answers to almost everything online. From blogs on how to write better (The Write Conversation) to writing seminars to college courses and everything in between. And, bonus, you can do it any time, and in your PJs. How’s that for sweet in your tea?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Learn Online.
- Magazines. For realz. What’s a writer without stacks of papers around her? [Note to self: Clear the sofa before next week’s dinner party.] Magazines can be everything from the craft of writing to a collection of stories in your genre to generic use as tear sheets to put in your story bible for reference. You can almost hear it, can’t you? Okay, I’m gonna say it. “There’s no wrong way to use a magazine.”
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Learn through magazines.
And there ya have it, all. So, I’m curious: How do you learn without breaking the bank?
TWEET THIS: When you can’t attend a #writers #conference, try these. @RealMojo68 #amwriting
With cozy sweats, a working pen, and a large coffee,
Happy Writing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 20, 2017 |
Eeee! Insert super hero girl scream here! Peeps, I’m so incredibly excited to welcome my Mississippi bestie to the blog, also known as SuperGirl. We met at Blue Ridge three years ago and became instantly inseparable. How could we not? She’s the Monica in my FRIENDS post, and identifies herself as That Bedford Gal. BEDFORD. I mean, you know. #wonderfullife #itsasign. Yeah, we have a lot in common and one is our passion for living great. So when I pressured her she agreed to blog once a month on essential oils I could hardly contain myself! Welcome to CEO: Cara’s Essential Oils. Enjoy!
Cara Pearson: An Intro to Essential Oils
by Cara Pearson @ThatBedfordGal
I just wanted something that smelled nice.
Because we all know how a lotion smells is the most important factor in whether or not we buy it. I absolutely love to splurge and treat myself to new body and bath products; who doesn’t? I mean, those do fall under “necessities” of personal hygiene and all that jazz. I would even stock up on gifts for my girl friends during those “buy two get one free” specials.
Then one year when DIY was just becoming all the rage, I thought I’d go the extra mile and make myself and my girl friends some bath products. The recipe I settled on called for essential oils. Knowing no better, I ordered a bottle through Amazon and that was that.
Several years and loads of education later, I’m still making my own bath and body products. One day (hopefully soon), I’ll have my own product line.
Cara Pearson – An Intro to Essential Oils
I’ve learned quite a lot, and I learn more every day. What to mix (and what not to mix); how to get desired results; how to package; why natural products are my passion; and the importance of quality in ingredients. Knowing what I know now, I shudder at my Amazon oil purchase. More important than how a product smells is what it does to my skin and body after application. Many essential oils on the market today are diluted with synthetics in order to give buyers cheap prices. But purchasing a compromised oil cancels out many health benefits offered. That’s why I chose a more natural ingredient path with my products using only quality materials—beauty truly is more than skin deep. Often the outward signs (acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc.) are just an indicator that something isn’t quite right on the inside. Layering on chemicals, toxins, and expensive prescriptions wasn’t the answer I was looking for.
In the process of my “journey to my best self” (pretty sure I stole that from an inspirational guru), I cleaned up my diet by eliminating most processed and preservative-filled foods. I found an exercise routine that works for me. And, upon learning they were responsible for introducing countless chemicals into my body, I cleaned out my cosmetics and skincare products.
Most of the products I use now I make myself. The few items I don’t, I spend a little extra cash on and get high quality from companies I trust.
This lifestyle doesn’t have to break the bank. There are memberships and personal accounts you can hold that will save you dollars (mine save me 10-55%). You can look around and compare for yourself, but here are a few of my favorites:
From Nature with Love. Not only do they have an impressive offering of natural ingredients, they also have a nice online library of recipes, tips, and tricks for creating your own handmade products. I also earn back 10% of my purchase in rewards points to redeem for free product.
DoTERRA essential oils. This was the real game changer for me. I spent over a year comparing different brands, researching the scientific findings, and talking to my oil-using friends. I did the rounds of buying oils from companies big and small. I wanted to be able to say truthfully that the oils in my products were the best available. I no longer wanted just a nice smell, but the therapeutic benefits as well.
There are a million reasons why I absolutely love this company, but for this post, I’ll stick with the economical side. Through my membership, I save 25% with every purchase. On top of that, I earn an additional 30% of my purchase back in rewards points to redeem for free product. Oh, and any shipping I pay? I earn that amount back in rewards points, too. I could stop with that. But there’s more. In addition, when you enroll with a membership in doTERRA, you do so under another member. This gave me personalized education on oils and doTERRA. Since I enrolled under my sister, she gets to earn a percentage of everything I purchase. And when I share with my friends and family, I get to earn $$ off of their purchases. So I’m getting the products I want, with impressive savings, all while supporting my friends and family. This was such a win for me.
OilLife. While there aren’t memberships available here, they have most of the packaging/containers that I need to hold my DIY products. They also have educational resources available.
Willow and Sage. I subscribe to this beautiful magazine. Again, this doesn’t have a huge savings attached to it, but it is chock-full of recipes, beautiful photos, inspiration, education, and insight on your natural journey through skincare. It is worth every penny.
When making your own products, start off simple. Master the beginner recipes, then move on when you’re ready.
The simplest DIY you can find is a relaxing foot/bath soak. Epsom salts are great for detoxifying your body. The Himalayan Salt, in addition to making the mixture look pretty, can help blood circulation–which may help reduce cellulite!
For the full recipe, click here: Cara’s Essential Oils: Soothing Bath Salts.
CEO: Salt Soak
Most people love lavender for its light, soothing floral scent. Its calming properties can help you relax after a long day and help you sleep better. But it’s also great for your skin.
Like Lavender, White Fir is a relaxing oil, and is helpful for muscle fatigue and inflammation.
Marjoram is an amazing oil. It works with your body to relieve tension and all sorts of muscular issues. Which makes it the perfect addition to our bath soak (use with caution during pregnancy).
I love to add dried lavender flowers to mine–it looks so pretty. But if the thought of little petals floating about in your bath water disturbs you, they can easily be left out.
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : Cara Pearson: An Intro to Essential Oils. @RealMojo68 @ThatBedfordGal #essentialoils
TWEET THIS: Tweet: Frankly, My Dear . . .: Essential Oil Salt Soak Recipe. @RealMojo68 @ThatBedfordGal #essentialoil #eo #recipe
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Cara Pearson
Enigmatic. Fragile. Tenacious. Reader. Writer. Musician. Grace. These are all words to describe Cara.
A superhero/barista by day, she makes coffee and plots epic stories in the Deep South. Evenings, she can be found on the ranch, making her own natural skin and beauty products and helping others reach wellness goals through essential oils.
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