Essential Oils

I think we can all agree that essential oils are undeniably the biggest fad right now, everyone knows at least one person who sells them. But what are they? What is the big deal? And why does everyone think they are an expert on essential oils (spoiler: I am not an expert! I simply am in the long process of researching, learning and educating myself on safe and proper use of oils)

A Brief History

To understand essential oils, I think it's important to know the brief history of these oils. Ancient Egyptians have been using oils as early as 2000 BC for medicinal benefits, beauty care, and spiritual enhancement in addition to clay and salts. The Greeks also used essential oils. Hippocrates, who is still an influence to the medical community today, studied the medicinal properties of over 300 plants. In India, essential oils were used as part of their Ayurvedic health care system, Ayurvedic records dating as far back as 2000 BC tell of doctors using oils of cinnamon, ginger, myrrh, coriander, spikenard and sandalwood. Herbs and plant medicine were an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. The oldest surviving medical text that we know of, dated around 2700 BC contains information on the use of 365 different plants. The bible even mentions at least 12 different types of oils.


What's the Hype?
Essential oils are not new, so what's the sudden hype? MLM (Multi Level Marketing) companies in particular can be partially held responsible for the boom in popularity. Their representatives are trained to sell, market their products and get their friends and family involved. This can be done without any formal education on essential oils or aromatherapy. This makes it easy to become a rep, sell a product and make some money.

In addition, the modern medical community has proven that they don't always have our best interest and health in mind. A lot of doctors push medicines with synthetic ingredients that have dangerous side effects. They spend very little time discussing their patients health when it comes to nutrition, exercise and lifestyle but quickly prescribes these dangerous pharmaceuticals. There is for sure a handful of great doctors out there who do take the time to learn and understand their patients health, but in general, modern medical practices are more profit driven than health driven. This makes people seek out more natural or holistic alternatives.

The Downside of Oil's
The downside of oil's is that misinformation is spread like wildfire about their uses and safety. Even among some of the most well-meaning people, bad and unsafe advice is given. For example, oils should never be used neat (without dilution) because they are extremely potent, can cause major irritation to the skin and irreversible sensitization. Their potency is so strong that one drop of oil is equivalent to 25-75 cups of the herbal tea of the same plant and as another example, 22lbs of rose petals are used to make just 5ml of rose oil. Always use caution and avoid use of certain oils around children and pets. Essential oils should also never be ingested, the only exception for this is if you are under the guidance of a certified aromatherapist who knows your medical history and is educated on the internal use of oils. The International Federation of Aromatherapists Code of Ethics states

"No aromatherapist shall use essential oils for internal ingestion or internal application nor shall any aromatherapist advocate or promote such use of essential oils unless the practicing aromatherapist has medical, naturopathic, herbalist, or similar qualifications and holds an insurance policy which specifically covers the internal application of essential oils. (IFA code of ethics. Simply Essential, No. 11 December 1993)."

Buzz words like "therapeutic grade" are also used by companies to market and sell their oils. There is no independent body or quality standards for the authentication or performance of essential oils that designates this name. It's important to research the brands of essential oil's that you are considering and decide which brand(s) work best for you.

Some people have even gone as far as completely boycotting or refusing to buy from the companies that promote these unsafe uses. This video, created by a certified aromatherapist is a good example of why a lot of people are moving away from using these companies and seeking companies that promote the safe use of oils.

The Upside of Oils & How I Use Them
When used safely, essential oils can benefit your life in many ways. They can be used to improve health and overall well-being. They can help with stress relief, boost your mood and energy levels, promote focus and relaxation, or make your house or office space smell great!

I typically diffuse oils in my office to help create a comfortable environment that will help me with what I need that day. If I am exhausted and struggling to stay awake at my desk, I'll diffuse oils that increase my energy levels and improve my mood. If I feel distracted I'll use oils that promote focus and productivity. I also make home-made roller bottles for things like headaches and menstrual pain. They are so easy to make all you need is a roller bottle, the essential oils, a carrier oil for dilution and the roller top (I use THIS chart in addition to the diluting guidelines given by the company as my guide for diluting oils). There are oils for almost everything, the key is to do your own research and use a company you trust.

Oil Brands I Use & Trust
I debated if I wanted to include this information in this post, as I wanted to remain as unbiased as possible. However I figured I'd include some brands for those of you who can't afford or don't trust the MLM brands.

Plant Therapy- This company is definitely my favorite. They have full transparency in their oils. They third party test and all of their GC/MS reports are available right on their website so you know exactly what you are getting. They also have an awesome rewards program, they do giveaways and spotlights weekly and you get a free oil on your birthday! Plant Therapy also has certified aromatherapists on staff who write blogs, make great DIY and informational videos and live streams and they are available at any time if you have a question or concern. They also have a kidsafe line for those looking to use oils with their children. PlT is not an MLM company, so they are able to offer their oils at an affordable price and they have awesome blends!

Eden's Garden- I primarily use Plant Therapy, but I do have a few of Eden's Garden oils as well. They also provide their GC/MS reports as well as great recipes and ways to safely use their oils. They have a rewards program and are also not MLM, allowing them to price their oils at an affordable price.

Oil Brands I Haven't Used Personally, But Have A Good Reputation
Poofy Organics
Rocky Mountain Oils
Aura Cacia
Mountain Rose Herbs

September Update

I think we can all agree my August month of celebration didn't quite pan out the way I had hoped and planned it to. August was a very tough month for me and although that's not an excuse, I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and hoping to start blogging more regularly.

I don't have a specific theme or message I wanted to share in the post, just an update. So here are a few things I've been working on the last few weeks

• Getting my LCCE credentials, which would make me a certified Lamaze childbirth educator 
• Studying for my Lamaze Exam (Y'all it's a lot harder than it sounds because I am a terrible test taker so I need to be crazy over prepared for this exam!)
• Networking and growing my group of friends and fellow professional women in the birth world
• Getting my curriculum and teaching plans ready so I can start teaching classes this fall
• Re-branding, updating my website, logo, blog and social media pages (keep an eye out for updates soon
• Youth started back up for the school year, we kicked off the year with 34 amazing, loving, talented, fantastic students and I am so excited to see what God has for them this year.
• I've also been really working on my relationship with Christ as well. I still don't pick up my bible as often as I would like, but I've been really working on trusting God, trusting what He has planned for my future and trusting that His plans are better than mine

August 17th

Well it's August 17th and I only made it to day 2 of posting everyday in August. The last few weeks have been among some of the toughest weeks of my life. Our basement flooded at the end of July and that brought in fleas, so we have been vigorously cleaning, vacuuming everyday, throwing away things that got destroyed, etc. on top of our usual schedule of work, school, and other commitments. So to say it's been crazy is definitely an understatement.

It's been interesting though, I've learned that I can be very calm during times of high stress, but in my calm I hold it all in, only to explode later. Which is something I really need to work through because those exploding moments are just terrible, I feel terrible, I treat the people around me terribly, I shut down, I feel like a toddler having a temper tantrum, I feel out of control, it is just no fun. But Josh has been amazing through it all, he deserves a metal, or a trophy.

I want to dedicate the rest of this post to my amazing husband. Our three year wedding anniversary was on Wednesday, and I am so thankful for a husband who wants to see me grow, who is honest with me, who supports me and who works hard. Being married to me is not easy (hello explosions I mentioned in the paragraph above) but he has stuck by me and been there for me throughout all of my craziness, and for that I am so thankful. I love you Josh, to infinity and beyond.

How has it been THREE years since this amazing, beautiful, wonderful day? 

Day Two of Celebration

Today (August 2nd) it felt more difficult to celebrate. I wasn't in a good mood most of the day at work, then I came home to clean/vacuum/mop the house. Our basement had flooded about a week and a half ago, so all of the furniture from the finished part of our basement is piled up anywhere it can fit in our upstairs, making it more difficult to move around and clean. It really made me appreciate the times our house was clean and I honestly considered how great it would be to get rid of a lot of things and live a more minimalist lifestyle!

But today I chose to celebrate with praise and worship music. I had Gungor on repeat during my workday, specifically the song Vapor. There was even a moment during the build of "whoa's" where all of a sudden it started down pouring outside and I felt a rush of calmness over me. I felt that even though I don't feel great today, even though I didn't feel happy or excited about my day, even though I felt empty, that God was there and I could feel His creation praising Him.

"Trees clap their hands for You. Oceans, they dance for You. You are holy, infinite and holy. A billion suns rise for You, clouds paint the sky for You, mountains stand tall for You, valleys bow down to You. Kings become fools for You, kingdoms to ruins for You. Vapor finds ground in You. Music finds sound in You."

August 1 (My Birthday Month)

Y'all, I struggle. But I am not here to complain about my struggles. Rather, this is my birth month and I am so tired of feeling so blah and meh all the time, so I am making the conscious decision to CELEBRATE this month! Every day this month I am going to celebrate something that makes me happy or brings me joy. 

Yesterday (August 1) I celebrated the fact that it is now my birth month and that this month will mark my 27th year on Earth by going to Chocolate World after work with my youngest sister in law. We got AMAZING chocolate milk shakes (I got chocolate peanut butter and my sister in law got smores), we rode the free ride (obviously for the free chocolate at the end) and sat outside and chatted while drinking our milkshakes! I don't get a lot of one-on-one time with my youngest sister in law, so it was nice to spend some time with her! 

I look forward to posting daily this month about what I am celebrating and how it makes me happy and brings me joy. Life can get so bogged down and so busy that we often forget to look at the things that make life happy and joyful! 

2017 In Review

It's been a while since I've posted on my personal blog. It seems that every New Year I make a resolution to blog more, and it never happens. So this year I am not setting a resolution to blog more, and just maybe it will happen! 2017 was a great year. It sure had it's ups and downs, but overall I grew and learned a lot in 2017. So here is my year in review, my highlight reel of 2017.

2017 started out fairly normal but in February my family went to Disney. It was so awesome sharing the magical awesomeness of Disney World with my family (even if they spent half the day napping at the hotel while Josh and I ran around the parks from open to close doing as much as we could). There aren't many places in the world as happy and as magical as Disney.

After Disney Josh and I came home and adopted a kitten! I have always grown up with cats and after the stray who lived under our shed died in 2016 I felt like we needed a new kitty companion. So we adopted Evy. Adopting her has been one of the best decisions I think Josh and I could have ever made. Seriously, she is the cutest and I love her. 

Although my little brother got his private pilot's license in 2016, my first flight with him was in 2017. So proud of his hard work and I can't wait to see what else this kid accomplishes in 2018! 

We celebrated Easter at Josh's grandparents house this year. (How cute are we though?)

In Spring of 2017 I got to check something big off of my bucket list! I got to see Joan Jett in concert! It was awesome and weird being in the same room as someone who has had such an influence over the music industry, especially women in music. 

I spent mothers day weekend in Avalon with my grandmother, my mom and Dana. We couldn't go without going to Ocean City to get Brown's delicious donuts!

I was also able to go back to Avalon for a weekend in June as well. One of my biggest annoyances with adult responsibility is that I can't spend 2-3 weeks in Avalon with my family anymore. I have so many memories of summers spent playing in the sand, swimming in the ocean and the bay, spending evenings eating out on the deck, walking to get ice cream, and playing games around the table at night. But at least in 2017 I got to spend a weekend there with my family! 

In June I also became a certified birth and postpartum doula. Shortly after, I attended my first birth. This is where I truly felt like I had found my calling. I cherish that first experience and am so thankful to my first clients. I hope 2018 brings me many more clients and baby snuggles.

Even though I couldn't make it out the whole week, I did get to go to Creation again this year. If I did my math right this was my 17th year attending. Creation definitely has a place in my heart and I am glad I was able to go again in 2017, even if it was for just one night!

In July I was able to get a week away to go to Bethany Beach with my in-laws and friends of their family! As I am sure you know by now I LOVE the beach, so being able to spend more time there this summer made me so happy. But for real, why can't I spend an entire summer at the beach? While we were there we spent a lot of time relaxing on the beach, at the pool, we went out to eat, and shopping and I demolished Josh at Skee Ball!

2017 was the year I also introduced my parents to my favorite brunch spot in Lancaster, Aussie and the Fox!

In August, Josh and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary! I love being married to this man, and am so blessed to have him as my husband. This year for our anniversary we went to Chocolate World to get our favorite milkshakes (nothing will ever beat their chocolate peanut butter milkshakes) and then we went to the Disney store to roam around and reminisce on our honeymoon at Disney World (I know, we're lame but we love Disney). Then that following weekend we went to the Renaissance Faire. 

We also had a senior photoshoot for my sister-in-law.. She will be attending Lancaster Bible College in the fall, so we drove over to LBC and did a fun photo session in their Library! The photo I got of both my sister's is my favorite! 

Josh was given box seat tickets to a Lancaster Barnstormers game! I am not much of a baseball fan (or any sports really) but I enjoyed the free food and a night out. It was actually a lot of fun! 

My favorite trip we did with the youth students this year was rappelling. It was so much fun and definitely something I want to do again! 

This fall we also took a bunch of students on a retreat, which was so much fun. Josh and I showed them up on the ropes course trust exercise! 

We also had these super cute trick-or-treaters this year! 

In November I got to witness a handful of our students get baptized. It's moments like this that I love being in ministry. Seeing the impact Josh and I are making on these students is priceless. 

After Thanksgiving we cut down our own tree. I love roaming through the tree farm with a hot chocolate (this year I went all fancy and made a chai latte). Even though I despise cold weather, I LOVE Christmas time, and the smell of pine and the delicious food and time to spend with family and friends. 

2017 came to an end with amazing friends. Will and Marissa have been so great to us in 2017, being able to end the year in the comfort of their home surrounded by friends only seemed right. 

So there is my photo recap of 2017. I am excited to see what 2018 has in store for me. I wasn't going to make any resolutions this year, but I do have a few goals I want to accomplish and work towards in 2018.

• Become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
• Be overall more healthy. Eat better, exercise more, continue to use and find more chemical-free alternatives to products I use everyday
• Reach out and serve people more often

Thank you to everyone who has read this far! I hope you have an amazing year a head of you!