We're in the thick of rainy season in Central Wisconsin.  The temperature is 70 degrees on a Monday, and by Wednesday it has plummeted to a high of 35.  As if this isn't hard enough on a person's body, a week and a half ago we travelled out of state.  Whenever we're exposed to new people and places, our immune system kicks in to ward off any intruders.  Well, most immune systems to that.  Mine leaves the door unlocked and the key on top of the doormat in plain sight.  Once I am sick my body can fight off the infection, but that it allows me to be so ill in the first place... So I think I had the flu last week.  If it wasn't the flu, then it was without a doubt the worst cold of my life.  I'm not exaggerating.  I had a low grade temp all week, my throat felt like it had daggers in it, congestion was in my chest early in the week and then filled my sinuses by the end.  Not only was this respiratory, but the virus seemed to burrow itse...

A long-time customer of Caught Red Threaded recently shared the most beautiful words about the products carried, stating "you infuse each thing you make with magic al powers".  I was flattered but also questioned how such a thing is possible.  After three days of pondering this notion, that I could possibly make something better than it already is simply by having been the one to produce it, I extended this notion beyond Caught Red Threaded. I've been a parent for more than a decade.  The same hands that produce essential oil blends and lavender eye masks once rocked babies to sleep.  I feed my family healthy, home-made foods each day.  I carefully select the ingredients from the grocery store, farmers market, or our garden when the weather is warmer.  While I type, there's challah dough proofing in the oven, made from scratch with these same hands.  If I can take a couple ingredients, give them time to marry and grow, and bake them into an enti...

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...

Let's get one thing straight. Whether you are the type of person who attracts mosquitos or not, when you do experience a mosquito bite, your body's natural histamine response causes itching at the site. By itching, I don't just mean a simple itch relieved by a momentary scratching. I'm talking about wooden back-scratcher level of itchiness. And I hate to break it to you if you didn't already know, but scratching only makes it worse. Plus, from a hygienic perspective, it can be very unsanitary to scratch. Bacteria live on our skin. Think of yourself as the "host with the most". Bacteria are also opportunistic. If there's an open wound, say a freshly scratched to high hell mosquito bite, bacteria will set up a breeding program on the spot.  Now, I know you're a smart person. You don't want a skin infection. You didn't even ask for the mosquito bite in the first place; you were just mowing the lawn, enjoying your kid's baseball gam...

Prior to the move last summer to Wisconsin, friends shared the unofficial state bird of Wisconsin is the mosquito. It's "rainy season" here and the mosquito population is mounting. It also happens to be the start of tick season, which lasts until snow covers the ground once more. No one wants to find a tick biting them, in the same manner as no one really hopes to be the next mosquito bite victim. And as if having cellulite wasn't offensive enough, the site of a tick lodged into the back of your thigh is likely to send you into a Google search frenzy. Obviously I'm speaking from experience. Our home is too far north to be concerned about the Zika virus doing harm via mosquitos. Now a deer tick carrying Lyme Disease?  This is a real threat. As a way to limit my chances of playing host to thirsty parasites, I blended together essential oils. You can also save yourself a lot of time, angst, and itching by mixing up a batch of this all natural repellan...

It's rainy season in Wisconsin, and our house is starting to smell more like our long-haired chihuahua than anything else.  He's so close to the ground, a simple walk around the block leaves him muddy and soaked.  I've been playing around with essential oils to find (both the safest for the dog and most pleasant smelling for the people) just the right combination.  In the process, I discovered a few blends that work wonders on our little barking ball of fur. Many products for our pets, available at pet stores and big box retailers, contain harmful/toxic chemicals.  The same is true for the cleaning products we buy for our homes.  We purchase these items as unsuspecting consumers, thinking we are doing our home environment a favor.  In reality, we are creating a chemical storm.  It brews and does harm to our skin, lungs, eyes, etc.  Our fur babies are no exception when it comes to exposure to these harmful ingredients. Why choose essential ...