Before we start, it's important to know your essential oils. All essential oils are not created equal. You can find out more on our About Oils page. Please only use essential oils labelled as "for culinary use" or food grade essential oils in your recipes. 
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Also, few things about the video below. It was created for American audiences, so please see the metric conversion recipes following the clip. The essential oils in this video recipe are from the "Vitality" range from Young Living, which are equivalent to our culinary oils collection here in Australia. You can find all our culinary oils in our "essential oils for cooking" collection.

The last post I did spoke of some of the powerful benefits of Frankincense, and how in eastern cultures they drink Frankincense water. So, I decided to give this a try for myself. I have no idea how they make it overseas, probably straight from the resin with a steeping or distilling process involved, but with my little bottle of pure Frankincense Essential Oil 
I was pretty sure I could give it a red-hot go. Let me know in the comments below if you have seen how this is made!
​I would love to know. Deciding to put this on my bucket list: "Buy Frankincense resin from a local market." Happy days.

FRANKINCENSE WATER RECIPE
1 drop Frankincense Essential Oil
1- 2 litres pure water
1-2 litre sealable water bottle.

Put one SINGLE drop of Frankincense into a sealable bottle. Top with 1-2 litres pure water. Seal, and allow to sit overnight in fridge. Gently shake or invert before serving. 

Switching to a more natural way of life does not have to be hard. It is a daily decision to take one more step away from past choices, and one more day towards making new ones that, over time, become life changing. Here are the ways I have “converted” my life, and the ways I am planning to change for a more natural existence.

1. LESS IS MORE. I choose to think twice before purchases, being less material-focused. Will I still buy the newest, latest, gadget? Yes, possibly, if I believe I will use it every day and it will help me on my way to being a better version of myself. Not if I think I will use it for three months and then be “over” the novelty. This also applies to my food, I am buying in bulk the items we regularly use, and skipping the ones that sit in the pantry for months on end. The benefit of living with less is that the house is staying a lot neater, and it is full of the things I love. Less materialistic, more minimalist.
2. CULL NEGATIVITY. I am choosing to speak positively. Think positively. Be positive. Surrounding myself with positivity! I am asking myself, "What makes you laugh? What makes you happy? What are you passionate about, that only you can bring to the world?" I am putting up positive quotes around my house, quotes that build me up and encourage my family.
3.  OPT OUT. I am “opting out” of the things in society that “bring me down,” or make me hurried, and therefore stressed. I don’t watch much TV, I avoid the news. I have stopped attending “everything, everywhere” and have chosen a more quiet existence. “Just say No” became my motto for a while. Now I can say “Yes” to the things I WANT in my life.
4.  EMBRACE THE MORNING. My next step to natural is to embrace the morning light. This was something I’ve done in the past, but I happen to live with a night owl. Trying to keep up with someone else’s time clock has sent me spinning. I have felt like I’m starting every day on the back foot. So I will begin with the morning light, and return to what works best for my body, with a boost of serotonin to boot! If you just can't face the morning, the afternoon setting sunlight is also good.
5. SWITCH THE FOOD. I love coffee, chocolate, and cake. These are my treats, and I keep them as such. Everything else has been up for discussion, negotiation, and replacement. We have switched our salt to a more natural pink salt full of minerals. I incorporate more natural ingredients into everything. Turmeric is my friend, and herbs and spices go into every meal. I boost cereals and smoothies with seeds- flaxseeds, chia seeds and healthy oils. Switching to healthier choices doesn’t have to be hard. 
6. WATCH THE WATER. After doing some research on what is in water from our taps, we bought a strong filter! Now we are trying to drink more than eight glasses of water, per person, per day. My next step will be a shower filter.
7.  NATURAL CLEANING. We have switched our chemical cleaning products for natural, plant-based ingredients. I feel happier knowing my family (pet included) are safe from chemical-based harsh cleaners. Bonus for me, they smell divine, so cleaning becomes happy, and my home smells sweet too.
8.  ESSENTIAL OILS. I use essential oils, natural supplements, and oil-based products a lot. They add support to my natural first aid kit. This is helping my family stay calm and relaxed. Natural supplements keep us in tip-top condition. Changing to whole food supplements that are bio-available is important for getting nutrients in your body.
9. NATURAL COOKWARE. I am ready to switch out my saucepans and chose a healthier alternative to "tradtional" non-stick pans. After doing some research, I'm convinced there are healthier alternatives, especially as I'm notorious at scratching the pan!
10. ESCAPE TO NATURE. When I get really overwhelmed, there's only one thing for it. Going barefoot on the grass, getting in the sun, walking amongst the trees, or swimming at the beach. Pack the bag and go! Get alone and explore.

Writing this, I realise there are plenty more ways we are switching to a healthier, more natural kind of life, but I guess that will have to wait for another post! Making the switch to a healthier life didn't happen overnight, but my motto of  "JUST ONE THING" has made it an easy transition. I chose to change just one thing about my life I didn't like, one step at a time, one day at a time, or one week at a time. Be kind to yourself, and then, one day, you will wake up and find your life has become something different, something magical.

What natural goals have you set for yourself? How are you choosing a more natural life?

If you're anything like me, sometimes you just want to be pointed in the right direction. On occasion, there are just too many overwhelming choices, and I just want a peek in everyone elses shopping cart to see what other people are buying so I can know that what I'm getting is going to be good. Well, we've done the hard yards for you, and here it is, the best seller oil blends list. I've put them in order of my personal favourites.

1. Stress Away. Yes, it is as good as it sounds. A sweet tropical blend with lime and vanilla. Words cannot do it justice. 
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A deliciously warm foot soak as you sit in the massage chair. All that dead skin from your heels removed. Foot scrub. Bubbles. Foot massage. Perfectly painted toenails. What's not to love about a pedicure?!
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I have a confession to make... besides my love of pedi's.... I have size eleven feet. It makes it terribly hard to find shoes, and then when I do, theyre all half price and I have to buy the lot. (Sad, I know!) Ah, shoes.... but Im getting side-tracked. I wanted to talk about caring for your feet with essential oils. Here are some tips that I use to keep happy feet.

1. Oil your feet regularly to ease dry skin. Any carrier oil with a few drops of your favourite essential oil added. Best before bed, with socks to cover...unless you happen to live in the tropics...

2. Use diluted essential oils for stinky feet (and shoes!) Add a few drops of oil to a cotton ball and let sit in shoes to reduce the odor.

3. Peppermint is a particular favourite for feet- with the added benefits it brings...
4. Use a few drops of essential oils in your at home foot soak, encouraging relaxation, lavender is most peoples favourite, but I think that comes from not trying anything new! Give a new essential oil a try.

5. Make your own foot scrubs using salt or sugar, carrier oil (coconut) and drops of essential oils of choice. Thieves would also be a good choice due to its diminishing-stinky-smell capabilities (hehe, yes, thats a technical term!)

6. Have you ever tried reflexology? Its not for those with sensitive, tickilish feet, those with the whole “I dont like feet”, or the “I just dont like people touching my feet,” thing going on (!) but for the rest of us... think deep tissue massage for feet. Amazing. Your reflexology therapist will apply oil to your feet, then work out all those “knots”. It is said that there is a map of the body organs on the feet, which I guess means you could be supporting your body systems as well. Bonus! I encourage you to look into it. It's fascinating.

7. Oregano. Rubbing this essential oil into the bottom of feet is something I do just before bedtime so it can "do it's thing" while I sleep.

  Dont forget-Your feet lovingly hold you up all day. Treat them well!

How have you treated your feet lately? Is it time to book a pedicure, paint your nails, or maybe some reflexology? What's your favourite treat for feet?

I have found many uses for my oils everyday. I started by creating my own DIY blends and DIY products for use at home. Linen sprays, bath bombs, body scrubs, bath salts, cleaning sprays, carpet deoderiser... crafter at heart meant a new project every week. I found I was less inclined to reach for what was on the store shelf, and make things myself. My home smelt better than ever!  I was also saving money. Win, win.
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A high quality essential oil should be expensive, due to its pure potency. It should not contain any additives or fillers. Essential oils are highly concentrated, so you only need "drops" at a time. This can make these tiny bottles rather economical in the long run.

So here’s how I use essential oils in my life every day-

1. Natural cleaners I make myself. Thieves essential oil blend is perfect for this.

2. Essential Oils as perfume in a mini atomiser for my purse.

3. Body and bath products that I know are safe for my skin, and I feel good about putting on- for both myself, and my kids.

4. Diffuser mist to create a spa-like atmosphere when I get home from a long day- my favourite at the moment is Thieves blend, with Cinnamon, Cloves and Rosemary, but I change blends regularly to suit my mood!

5. Skincare with a variety of oils for improving my skin tone, combating dry skin, moisturising, adding hydration, etc... 

6. Lavender or Chamomile for calming at bedtime.

7. My energy levels enjoy a boost with uplifting oil blends like En-R-Gee.

8. Hot oil hair treatment. Rosemary is my favourite. Diluted with coconut oil.

9. Massage oils for anything from a foot rub to a hot date night!

10. Drops of oils onto heat wheat or cold compress to invite an atmosphere of calm.

 How do you use essential oils in your life? Do you use them every day?

1. Take stock and journal.
I am a list writer, so, I wrote. I wrote what I loved, hated, could change, couldn't change. I wrote what made me happy. What gave me peace. I soon realised the core issues that bothered me, and the things that I was stressing about. I realised I had stopped doing things for me, just because I was a full-time mum. I saw that I could change the things that were most stressful.

2. Rest. Sleep. Give yourself permission.
I made more time to rest and recouperate. It is a tough gig parenting 24hrs. I started having afternoon power naps. Stop with the guilt and shaming. You are a human, not a robot.

3. Find Quiet. Embrace the beautiful things in nature.
Sometimes it took staying up late to spend time getting my thoughts straight. Sometimes I would wake with the birds for that solace. Sit out in nature. Listen to a waterfall. Allow yourself permission to just breathe. Observe the natural world. Feel the grass beneath your feet. Get some sunshine in! Especially at sunrise and sunset which can assist in boosting serotonin levels- the "happy" helper.

4. Nutrition. 
I realised I was forcing my body to run on coffee and chocolate. Best combination for instant happiness, but not so great long term! Get vitamins and minerals into your system. Add a fruit smoothie to your routine. Add herbs, nuts and seeds.
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5. Explore your creative side. 
I tried those adult colouring pages, craft, cooking, sewing. All helped to distract me from how stressed I was, and helped me feel like I achieved success in my life- however tiny!

6. Music, singing & dancing.
Putting on music and singing away is such a stress release! As they say "Dance like no one is watching." Find some tunes that are healing to you.

​7. Essential oils... (you knew that one was coming, didnt you?!)

Stress Away is one of my favourite blends, and a favourite of most who try this oil. It has a beautiful floral scent, and can bring a calming atomosphere when diffused. 
Stress Away was created to combat the stresses that creep into everyday life. It contains a stress-relieving combination of Lime & Vanilla pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils. This vanilla does NOT contain water unlike alot of other Vanilla oils on the market today. It also includes copaiba and lavender to restore equilibrium. Featuring powerful plant constituents, such as the cedrol found in cedarwood, and the eugenol that occurs naturally in vanilla, Stress Away can help encourage relaxation.  
I have put my Stress Away blend into an empty perfume spray bottle, I got from the chemist. I dilute it with distilled water, witch hazel, or carrier oil to have as an everyday natural perfume for my handbag. Balancing and calming all-natural perfume on the go. I love it. If you're not a DIY-er, there is a ready-made roll on Stress Away just for you.
​This oil can elevate your state of mind. Shake well and apply generously on wrists or back of neck as desired.  Take time to send your own stress away today. What do you like to do to relax? What makes you feel most alive?