Thankful

This morning I was thinking about my blog posts coming up, then my kids were at my feet, and realized all I have to be thankful for.  

I am starting a new tradition in light of Thanksgiving this week, and decided to unplug until Monday.  To actually use my phone just as a phone.  Get out my nice camera and be present in each moment.

I encourage you to join me and unplug for the holiday weekend.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'll see you next Monday with an awesome announcement and giveaway!!

Melaleuca Poem

A Melaleuca Poem

{throat clears}

M-others must have oil

E-specially for kiddos bumps and scrapes

L-Ice will take one sniff and look the other way.

A-dd me to your shampoo and 

L-et me nourish your skin and scalp

E-nvironmental threats do not like me.

U-se me in your diffuser or a 

C-apsule to support immunity

A-pply me to your nail beds to purify and strengthen

Melaleuca uses do not end there, but my poetry skills are painful.  Pardon the poor writing skills and use your Melaleuca!

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison

How To Tuesday ~ Basil

Basil.  Isn't that a spice?  Yes my friends it is.  It is a wonderful little plant with its own essential oils on it, and when those little oils are distilled off those cute little leaves it provides us with one more tool for this mama's toolbelt.

The good news is you can use it in your favorite dishes when fresh basil is unavailable.***

Basil also has other uses.  I love that about oils.  They are multi-purpose

Here is how our family uses Basil:

• Topically: 
•  Applied to lower abdomen during times of feminine discomfort.  
• During workouts to help cool me down and perk me up.  1-2 drops on the back of my neck.  Occasionally I will do one drop Basil with one drop Peppermint.
• Bottoms of feet. 1-2 drops when seasonal threats are high.
• Used on bug bites, and as an insect repellent.
• Diffuser:  Used along with a few other oils like, Lime, and Bergamot to promote a sense of focus, to help promote mental alertness and lessen anxious feelings in our homeschool room. 
• Internally: When cooking to add some flava flave.  1 drop goes a looonngg way. 

Diffuser Recipe:

2 drops Basil

2 Drops Lime

2 Drops Bergamot

I new to learning the benefits of Basil.  The more I learn, the more I use it, and the more I love it.  I will keep adding to this as I learn more. 

Have A Happy Day,

~Allison

***My family uses a brand of oils we trust.  Please follow the instructions of your brand of essential oils on the safety of taking internally.  Contact me to learn what brand of essential oils we use in our home.***

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to prevent, treat or cure disease.*

Winner!

Congratulations Sue H.  You are the winner of the Rosemary!

Email me allison@theoilcorner.com to claim your prize.

New giveaway to be announced NEXT Monday 😊!

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison 

How To Tuesday ~ Lavender

Lavender is one of the most well known oils when people first hear about essential oils.  

It is a universal oil. 

 My number one oil for kids.

Here is how my family uses Lavender:

• Topically:
• Skin irrtations
• Burns
• Bug Bites, itching
• Scrapes, bumps, etc 
• Skin imperfections
• Seasonal Issues
• In a 5 mL roller bottle combine:
• 10 drops Lavender
• 10 Drops Lemon
• 10 Drops Peppermint
• Top off with a carrier oil
• Roll above recipe over sinuses (sides of nose, cheeks, above eyebrows, be careful to avoid your eyes), and bottoms of feet as needed.
• Sleep
• Applied to bottom of feet to help promote a restful nights sleep.
• For feelings of tension
• Apply to area of need.  I like it with peppermint on the back of my neck, and temples.
• Teething:
• Combine 1 drop in a 5 mL roller bottle . and top off with a carrier oil.
• Optional: Also add a drop of White Fir and/or Frankincense
• Apply as needed along jaw line.
• Diffuse
• Use 4-6 drops in diffuser for its calming and relaxing properties.  
• 2 drops of each Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint for seasonal support.  
• 3 drops of Lavender with 3 drops of Cedarwood at night.
• Internally:
• My husband used it internally with equal parts, (2 drops of each) Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint for seasonal support along with the roller bottle recipe above.  You can either add it to a shot glass or use in a veggie capsule (more on that later).*** 
• Other:
• Added to bath water or bath salts to relax.  
• Inhale from hands release tension.
• Add a drop or two to linens or pillow for restful sleep.

Lavender uses are endless.  It is a wonderful addition and compliment to other oils in the diffuser too.  

How do you use Lavender?  

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison

***My family uses a brand of oils we trust.  Please follow the instructions of your brand of essential oils on the safety of taking internally.  Contact me to learn what brand of essential oils we use in our home.***

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to prevent, treat or cure disease.*

Weekly Giveaway featuring Rosemary

I have a confession.  I have hair envy.  There I said it.  I have always wanted long healthy hair.  Time and time again I have tried to grow my hair out, but ALWAYS end up chopping it off.  I have hair that tries to be wavy, leading me to think I can add product to it and look curly, but really it just looks  like a poodle on a very very bad day.   

About a year ago I decided to give it one last go. Give it one last attempt in my lifetime to grow my hair out past the shoulder region.   To help this process along I started adding 1-2 drops of Rosemary to my shampoo.  I am one of those people that gets their hair done every 6-8 weeks no matter what.  After a month of using my Rosemary regimen I had an appointment with Lindsey, who has been doing my hair for the past decade.  

Lindsey at this point did not know I was an essential oil user.  It had just never come up.  How is that possible?  Probably because my flock, aka kiddos are with me, and I am usually pitching some sort of snack across the salon, while threatening  encouraging the older two to play with the little guy, and have a relaxing conversation while "in the chair."  

She made the comment that my hair had grown so much.  I perked up at this, I thought it had, but also thought maybe it was just my imagination.  I was still sitting on the fence of skepticism that these little oils actually worked.  

I said,"I have been putting Rosemary oil in it."

Lindsey, "Rosemary oil?"

Me, "Rosemary, I am using essential oils, read somewhere Rosemary helps with hair growth and have been adding it to my shampoo."  

Lindsey, "Tell me more."

The rest is history. From that point forward I started sharing essential oils with others, and have dove into the business side.  It is simple really.  Combining my nursing knowledge and teaching people about natural forms of healthcare, two things I love.  Easy and fun :)

Rosemary helps reduce nervous tension, helps with memory, and with concentration.  Also used in roller bottles and applied topically to help kids while they are doing their homework.  

Diffuser Recipe

2 drops Rosemary

2 drops Lavender

2 drops Lemon

So if you are wanting to try out Rosemary click the GIVEAWAY banner and enter to win.  You don't have to tell me if it is because you have hair envy too ;) 

 

Want to learn more about essential oils, or try some samples?  Email me at allison@theoilcorner.com

Have A Happy Day,

~Allison

  

Weekly Winner

Congratulations Alana C.! You are the winner of the bottle of Vetiver!  Whoop Whoop!

Please email allison@theoilcorner.com with the address you would like this little gem mailed to.

This weeks giveaway will be announced tonight on The Oil Corner's Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest pages.  To enter click the Giveaway banner over there -------------->>>>>>> 

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison

Mama's Tool Belt

     Essential oils are tools. What I like to call Mama's Tool Belt.  My first line of defense when we have something that needs attention. But I don't always only use my oils.  For instance back in May I had one of those great mom moments.

      A friend of mine and I along with 6 of our 7 kiddos met at the local zoo.  We go to the zoo a lot, it is relatively small, the kids know the drill and route we take each and every time.  This friend and I are catching up as best we can as our kids weave in and out of our legs, point at the lions, feed the fish, and then we cross the street to have a picnic lunch and play at the park.  We were meeting up at the park with another friend who had just had her first baby 6 weeks ago.   When we walked up pushing our strollers up hill like the champions we are, our friend was standing there looking like we all did when our first baby was six weeks old.  The reality and fatigue of new motherhood is at its peak.  The newness and novelty of snuggling and feeding your little baby is still there but man are you tired!   I know I was.  We love these tiny little humans, but the struggle is real.  

      Anyway, when we walked up our new mama friends opening line is, "why do you guys keep having them?"  Not hello, nothing.  Her eyes were scanning our kids and then looked at us like we had lost our minds.

      Me? I fumbled.  She is one of the happiest and positive people I know.  Mama of four and I exchanged looks, and she says something like, "it gets better and you just love them." I was hit with the reality that this friend needed to pore her heart over how her life had changed by entering motherhood.  

      So while she is doing just that we manage to get the other kids fed, and then some of them run off to play.  I am attempting to clean up our lunch mess, listen, and only occasionally push down my 18 month old who keeps standing up in the stroller.  I know there are buckles but that is not the point.  He was ready to move.  In the meantime Mama of four has visual on the kids who are playing, while she is nursing her baby, and listening to the all too familiar memories of a new babyhood. 

Just a normal trip to the park right?  

      New mama is sharing her heart and her little cherub is sound asleep in his stroller.  We are offering the tips and tricks we have learned with our babies, and the next thing I know my 4 year old has her hand in my face,  bleeding, and she is hysterical.  Hysterical!  I wipe off her finger with my last wet wipe, and realize this is pretty bad.  

      My first thought is "She needs more than oils. She needs stitches."  I look at my friends (both nurses) and we all agree this is an ER visit. With the help of the other mamas we get packed up and head to the emergency room. While en route I reach into my bag and apply some essential oils to help calm my nerves and my little girls nerves.    

      Fortunately, when we got to the ER a friend of mine was working and got my little girls finger stitched up nice.  Even during the shot of lidocaine before the stitches, with the foot-long (not really) needle, she remained completely chill. There was not a hint of hysteria involved. None. My child needed stitches, and the tip of her little pinky was broken. And the whole time she was a gem.

      My tool belt of essential oils is just that. My tools.  Wonderful tools with a multitude of uses.  I mean Lavender can help with itching, calm nerves, be applied to burns, etc.  That is one oil I always have in my tool belt.  Who wouldn't? 

      My point to all of this is there is a time and a place for essential oils.  En route to the hospital we applied essential oils to help calm our nerves.  During the healing process of her pinky we applied oils to promote healing.  I made an owie spray which she benefited from therapeutically and it also prevented the stitches from getting too dry, making it easier when they had to be removed.  Once the stitches were removed I used another oil to help with scarring and itching.  

      Traditional and western medicine can compliment one another.  If we are fighting something in my home am I going to use my oils? Absolutely.  If it progresses to something more intense will I call her pediatrician? Yes. If my child breaks a leg or needs stitches am I going to the ER? Yes.  It is about using common sense.  

       We have very few items in our medicine cabinet that you would find at a drugstore.  Mostly things like cotton balls, witch hazel, hydrogen peroxide, gauze etc. Mama's tool belt is what we turn to.  When my kids get hurt or are in a funk, they either ask for the oils, or I say "Hey come here for a sec."  and I get the response, "Are you going to put some oils on me? Which one?" They just know.  

      Educating yourself and others on the use and benefits of essential oils is key.   The uses of them are immense, and they will continue to be my first line of defense in my home.  The decision is yours.  Do you have a tool belt?

~Allison

How To Tuesday ~ Vetiver

      Sleep.  I am awful without sleep.  For 8 years I worked the night shift at the hospital.  Working nights is not for the faint of heart.  Our bodies need to rest.  To recharge.  Sleep is a vital part to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  I really started to understand the value of these little bottles of oils when it helped me and my baby sleep.  I was working as a night nurse, and breastfeeding a baby, so sleep was an issue. A big issue.   After getting my little guy set up with Calming Blend in his diffuser every night and him starting to sleep through the night.  It was time to look into ways to help me.  I love diffusing but had not quite found the right combination that helped me sleep.  {Insert Vetiver.}

      Vetiver is a root oil.  I wish I had known that before I took my first whiff of this guy.  Friends it

initially smells like earth.  Dirt really.  I do not know what I was expecting but that was not it.  I thought no way am I diffusing this by itself.  Let alone putting it on me.  So I started by putting 2-3 drops in my diffuser with 3-4 drops of Calming Blend every night.  It was amazing.  Is still amazing.  The Vetiver adds a warm woodsy aroma with the sweetness of Calming Blend.  Making it one of my favorite combinations.  Since my sleep issues were so bad after working the night shift for eight years, I also applied 1-2 drops of Vetiver on my feet with 1-2 drops of Calming Blend and catch my Zzzz's without an issue.

      Vetiver is wonderful to use to calm emotions, promote sleep, use in massage, and added to a bath.  One thing I do want to point out is Vetiver is THICK.  I purchased a medicine dropper to use as the cap instead of the orifice it comes with.  Dispensing it this way is simple and time efficient.

     I no longer work nights, and mostly just diffuse at night.  But if my mind is going, and I know I need to get to bed, applying Vetiver to my feet, or behind my ears is what I do.  I know I will sleep well.  And now I LOVE the smell.  Love it.

     Thanks to all of the Halloween festivities my 4 year old was having nightmares.  Guess what that means?  Poor sleep for all of us.  Essential oils to the rescue.  What would I have done before I had these little guys?  Been a complete bear to be around to say the least.  I used 1 drop of Calming Blend with 1 drop of Vetiver with a teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil to dilute and rubbed in on the bottoms of her feet and back of neck.  Guess who slept all night?  Yup she did.  So we did this for a few nights, she slept, and I thought all was right in our little world again.  I stopped applying it for two nights and guess who was back to waking up?  You guessed it.  If anyone is familiar with what a 4 year old little girl is without enough sleep then I have your sympathy.  If you have not had the pleasure let me tell you... It. Is. Rough.  We all need adequate sleep.  And she is no exception.  I am so happy to have something to help her.  To help her get a good nights rest and keep the nightmares at bay.  Vetiver I love you.  

How We Use Vetiver

• Diffuser for sleep.   See my combination below.          

• Topically:  Applied to bottoms of feet.  For myself 1-2 drops applied to bottom of big toes, behind ears, and inhaled from hands.  Also used when I am feeling particularly frustrated, or when stress is high.  It is calming, and helps ground me.  

• Internally:  I have never taken it internally.  I like the smell too much so we use it aromatically and topically :)

• Kids:  Apply a drop topically to back of neck and feet, focus on big toes, diluted with fractionated coconut oil (or whatever carrier oil you have).  Perfect if your child had a particularly hard day to help promote feelings of calmness.  

 My Diffuser Recipe:

• 3-4 drops Calming Blend
• 1-2 drops Vetiver
• Optional: 1-2 drops Cedarwood

This is how our family uses Vetiver.  Did anyone count how many times I used the word "love" in this Vetiver post?  

If you are interested in winning a bottle click the GIVEAWAY banner to the right.  Want to learn more about essential oils and get started with the oils we use email me at allison@theoilcorner.com

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison

Winner

Congratulations Wendy H.! You are the winner of the Digestive Blend!  Whoop Whoop!

Please email allison@theoilcorner.com with the address you would like this little gem mailed to.

This weeks giveaway will be announced tonight on The Oil Corner's Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest pages.  To enter click the Giveaway banner over there -------------->>>>>>> 

Have A Happy Day!

~Allison