A friend recently purchased a diffuser. She hemmed and hawed for days before buying it online from Amazon. She even turned down a Groupon offer (which was apparently very tempting!) before finalizing her decision.   So let's say you Google "essential oil diffuser".  Your search comes up with "about 525,000 results.  Of course the process is overwhelming.  Add to it, many people are novices and aren't sure the level of investment they want to make, let alone what style and size to pick.  Let me help you out by narrowing your search. Target  offers a small, but very affordable option.  This one retails for $19.99.  Travel friendly, it operates on batteries or with the included USB cord.  If you want something that will last 1-2 hours, then this is the product for you.  However, if you are looking for something with more oomph, I would recommend the next model. This diffuser by Now ranges in price from $35-$45, depending on the v...

Sure, there are four seasons to a calendar year, but are there ever really four whole seasons?  At best, there are 2.7, or 3.275 depending on where you live.  In the Midwest, we have all four, but Spring and Fall tend to be very short lived transition spaces between the vastness of Summer and Winter.  Citrus Bliss is the perfect blend to help with the transition from Winter to Summer (and cope with the lack of Spring). You'll need the following supplies: 1 roller bottle Carrier Oil (jojoba, almond, grapeseed, etc) Lavender Essential Oil Lime Essential Oil Grapefruit Essential Oil In a roller bottle (pictured is a 1/3 ounce roller), combine the following: 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil 3 drops Lime Essential Oil 3 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil Next, fill with your carrier oil.  Create your own label, or have some help from Avery's wonderful design shop.  Apply to pulse points, or rub into palms (then rub palms together to wa...

Making your own body polish can be as simple as collecting ingredients from around your house, or as complicated as ordering specialty items.  The level in which you take this craft is up to you.  In this post, you will learn how to make a body polish, and I will share with you my coveted Renew Body Polish blend.  The intention of body polish is to leave your skin both exfoliated and hydrated.  Once made, it can be stored next to any sink in the house.  Some prefer to make an extra jar to keep in the shower (perfect for smooth legs, to use during a pedicure, and much more- use a finer salt and this is also great as a facial scrub). Let's get started!  Gather the following supplies: 8 ounce- Clean and dry mason jar(s) or other storage vessel(s) 1 Cup Epsom Salt 1/4 Cup Grapeseed Oil (or other carrier oil) Essential Oils: 5 drops Lavender 5 drops Grapefruit 2 drops Ylang Ylang 1 drop Rosemary  Combine all ingredients, mixing wel...

Healthful Well-Being Essential oil combinations are virtually endless, and in this tutorial, you will discover ways in which oils can blend together to transform your mind, body, and soul.  The essential oil blends I use in the products I make come from the following sources:         doTerra       Aura Cacia       Mountain Rose Herbs       Pinterest Of course, there are plenty of other sites out there.  These happen to be favorites among the masses.   Not all essential oil companies are created equally.  Please do your research on which oils are safest for internal and external usage before you begin.  It's a critical first step.  As you can tell from the photos in this post, there are currently Aura Cacia, Now, and doTerra in my possession. When blending essential oils, following the recipe is critical to achieve the optimal effect expected.  Likewise, adding ...

Last week, I had an opportunity to experiment with various essential oil brands.  Knowing that no two brands are created equal, I have been on a quest to find the best of the best, while still keeping my price point affordable.  Until now,  Aura Cacia  has been my essential oil brand of choice.  I have also used  Now  Foods Essential Oils, but found their quality lacking when compared with Aura Cacia.  Back to last week.  I met with a representative from  doTerra .  Since I possess a vast knowledge of essential oils, including their properties, healing powers, and how/when to blend them, we were able to have fun, and not just make this about education. The most telling aspect of the session was when we performed a side by side comparison.  We chose to compare Lavender.  The brands compared were Aura Cacia and doTerra.  The first was in smell, which I can not convey to you in a blog other than through my own words. ...