Some of my Young Living Favorites

1. Thieves Essential Oil 2. Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste 3. Thieves Household Cleaner 4. Thieves Essential Oil Infused Cough Drops or Thieves Hard Lozenges 5. NingXia NITRO 6. NingXia Red 7. Dew Drop Diffuser 8. Life 9 or Life 5 9. ClaraDerm Spray 10. Peppermint and Tea Tree Essential Oils 11. Lavender Essential Oil 12. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Flour 13. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Pancake and Waffle Mix 14. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Granola 15. Einkorn Rotini Pasta and Einkorn Spaghetti 16. Lavender and Stress Away Essential Oil 17. Orange Blossom Facial Wash 18. Satin Facial Scrub Mint **all prices listed above are wholesale member pricing**

I've had the privilege of using essential oils for a little over two and half years now, and I've gotten to really start trying out Young Living products over the last year.  I thought it would be fun to do a little roundup of some of the products I've tried an loved! This is obviously not comprehensive, and these are only products that I have tried... I've heard some great recommendations about other stuff that is on my list to try out!  

1. Thieves Essential Oil

This oil!  Can't say enough of good stuff about it!  If you've ever been curious you should definitely give it a try.  Whenever I have a tickle in my throat I put a drop of thieves in a glass of water and it clears it up overnight!  Last fall and winter I whipped up a big batch of thieves diluted in coconut oil for the kids and we put it on their feet every night before bed.  We got through most of the winter without any sickness!  Actually the only time they got sick is when we got lazy and forgot to apply it for a couple of days! It also smells wonderful.  Like fall :)  I love having this in the diffuser this time of year because it smells so festive!

2. Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste

We loved thieves so much we thought why not try out the toothpaste!  The tube seriously lasted forever.  I kept thinking there is no way there is still more in there but it kept coming!  Its a bit different than traditional toothpaste, it actually is much closer to the earthpaste brand if you've ever used that.

3. Thieves Household Cleaner

Just today I saw a video on facebook about two girls who did a science fair project testing Thieves against Lysol and Bleach, and it came out the winner by far!  This cleaner is great, I love using it on my counters and not having to worry about what chemicals I'm spreading around.  It also worked well when Toby had the stomach bug a month or two ago cleaning up the carpet and other areas that got a little dirty :)  

4. Thieves Essential Oil Infused Cough Drops or Thieves Hard Lozenges

So I realized after I posted this picture that I have not actually tried out the cough drops yet, they were a new item released this year, but I have the hard lozenges and LOVE them!  Same as with the thieves oil, if I feel like I'm coming down with something but I'm on the go or just don't feel like doing the thieves in water, I grab a hard lozenge and it works the same!  Pop one in my mouth and it nips it in the bud. They taste great too! 

5. NingXia NITRO

I just ordered this for the first time two months ago since 3rd trimester pregnancy is getting the best of me!  These are so great for a nice pick me up that isn't laced with chemicals!  So nice to have on hand, or when your on the run.  I'm pretty sure I'm packing these for labor and delivery as well!

6. NingXia Red
I've heard so many good things about this drink that I decided to give it a try.  A local doula has had pregnant women drinking this throughout their pregnancies and has seen some of the healthiest, largest placenta's she's ever seen!  I haven't been drinking it consistently every day, because some days I forget, but I'm excited to see if this holds true for me :)  I can also tell when I haven't had my shot for the day, I can see a difference in my energy levels. The kids also love it!

7. Dew Drop Diffuser
If you are going to use essential oils, a diffuser is just a must have!  Lately I've been diffusing a lot of Thieves and Lemon, that combination is probably my go to!  Lavender and Cedarwood are my go to in the evenings.  Peppermint and Orange or Grapefruit, just smells amazing!  I could probably go on forever, but I also like tyring to mix new things together and see what I like!

8. Life 9 or Life 5
My gut health is not the best so I've been looking for a good probiotic.  I've been using Life 5 for a while and really like it.  Just this month I ordered their newly realeased Life 9 probiotic with 9 different probiotic strains!  I'm excited to give it a try!

9. ClaraDerm Spray
I got this product on recommendation from the same doula I mentioned above.  She has seen great success with applying this spray before delivery and having momma's give birth without tearing!  I'll keep you posted once this baby comes!  This has also worked well for me with poison ivy and mosquito bites.  I randomly got poison ivy this year for the first time in years and years, and this was my go to to help reduce iritation.  I'll also point out I made a bug bite relief roller ball this year for the summer that included Purification Essential Oil Blend and Lavender and that also works like a charm!  (if you want the recipe let me know) I get bit so often in the summer and the bites just hang around forever, this has by far been the best treatment I've used!

10. Peppermint and Tea Tree Essential Oils
We live on a farm and we have bugs in our house all the time!  Especially in the winter and spring they come out in full force!  Peppermint and Tea Tree oils have been my lifesavers! Putting a couple drops of one or both on a cotton ball and wiping down windows, doors, baseboards, you name it, has helped so much with bug control!

11. Lavender Essential Oil
I really love this oil! I already mentioned using this in my bug bite relief blend, but it has so many great uses!  I love using this at night to help wind down, or if I'm feeling stressed.  Love this with bath salts, it is so relaxing! Its also great with any type of skin irritation.  The kids know to ask for lavender whenever they get a boo boo :)

12. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Flour
If you haven't heard much about Einkorn flour you should do some research, this video is very interesting. I've baked with this and its amazing how different I feel after eating baked goods with Einkorn flour that traditional flour.  I will probably always have this stocked in my pantry!

13. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Pancake and Waffle Mix
We loved the Einkorn flour so naturally we had to try the waffle and pancake mix! This is also great although the pancakes turned out a bit thin.  I found if I mix it and let it sit for a while or mix it the night before the results are better!

14. Gary's True Grit Einkorn Granola
SO GOOD!  This has been out of stock for a while, understandably!  Its really good!  Just try it!

15. Einkorn Rotini Pasta and Einkorn Spaghetti
We don't eat a ton of pasta anymore, but when we do I either do a rice pasta or einkorn!  Einkorn actually tastes more like traditional pasta than the rice, it has a nice texture, and also doesn't leave you feeling horrible or bloated afterward like traditional pasta!  If I ever need some extra items to fill out my order this is my go to!

16. Lavender and Stress Away Essential Oil
So this is the third time I've mentioned lavender... must love it or something?! :) It just works so well, and alongside stress away... even better! I love the smell of Stress Away, sometimes I put it on as a perfume.  A couple weeks ago I was really stressed out, we had a lot going on, my schedule was full and there wasn't going to be a break for a little bit.  I was sitting on the couch after putting the kids to bed and I just couldn't calm down.  My heart rate felt high and my breath a little short.  I thought laying down would help but it didn't, I grabbed some stress away and within a half hour things were back to normal!  Such a relief.

17. Orange Blossom Facial Wash
Did you know Young Living has a whole essential oil infused skin care line?!  These products are on my list of things to try out, but I started out with the facial wash!  Its a little pricey for the amount of product you are getting but this little bottle has seriously lasted me forever!  I keep this in my shower and use it to wash my face so I don't use it every day but it's not empty yet and I got it February!  Its a nice a light face wash, it takes off my makeup well, and I love that it has oils in it that are conditioning my skin as well!

18. Satin Facial Scrub Mint
This scrub is awesome!  It leaves your face feeling so minty fresh!  You just have to try it, it's such a nice "wake up" for my skin in the morning!


There are a lot of oils and products that I did not talk about on this roundup that I use a love, but I had to cut it off at some point!  There is also a lot of good information out there about some of these products specifically the Thieves and Ningxia Red products that I didn't go into depth about, but if you do your own research you can find out a lot!

I love talking about oils so if you have a question about something let me know!

Until next time...
<3
Monica

My Natural Journey

This has been a post in the making for a little while, but I finally decided it was time to sit down and write it!  Today I'm sharing with you parts of my journey to living a healthier and chemical free life. I would love to hear your thoughts, so don't forget to comment below after you read, and I'm always looking for new products to try out, if you've found one you love, please share! 


The maturing process that happens once you leave home for the first time is a fascinating thing. When I look back over the last 12 years since I first journeyed out on my own, I very distinctly remember making certain choices that have directed my course to where I am today.  Wait... 12 years, how did that happen?! This makes me feel so old :(  I honestly calculated that a couple times just to be sure! Anyways...

College was definitely one of those times of choosing for me.  In college I was just so excited that I didn't have someone telling me what I should or shouldn't do or eat, can someone say FREEDOM! :) I'd like to say I made a lot of good choices in college, I did make some good choices, but I kinda binged on a couple things, at least at first. I watched a lot of TV and movies, because that was something we didn't do much of at home, and I ate my fair share of junk food, just because I could. We rarely drank soda at home, so standing in the cafe holding my tray full of food, getting to pick something other than water was pretty awesome. (I'm sure the same happened with food choices but for some reason soda just stands out to me!)  I came up with new drink concoctions mixing and matching different drinks, I thought I was pretty cool. Obviously, I was cool!  I remember though, standing in front of the soda fountain one day, and making the conscious decision that I don't really need to drink soda. Even though I had the option, soda made me feel crappy, and I just decided I wasn't going to drink it anymore. I'd like to go back and give my college self a high five!  Good choice Monica! I do still drink soda from time to time but its pretty rare, and when I do I'm reminded of why I made that choice to stop.  Instant headache, bloating, and just overall crappy feeling.  I'd love to say I've reached that point with sweets and chocolate, but sadly that is not true.  They are just so good!  (still working on it!)

Sitting in the OB office for my first prenatal visit was another moment that I remember very clearly. The nurse pulled out a packet of information and was going over the recommendations and medical suggestions they give to all new moms.  After looking at the very short list of over-the-counter medication they suggested taking when pregnant, I remember asking the question, so what do I do if I get sick? The nurse said something like, well if you get a cold try and let your body heal naturally, but if you are really feeling bad and can't seem to kick it come in and we will see if there is something appropriate to prescribe for you.  I left thinking, if they don't recommend you taking anything during pregnancy because it has potential harm to your baby, why are we taking all of these drugs?

I did get a cold or two during my pregnancy and that pushed me to look for natural, drug free remedies to common colds and sicknesses.  Along the way I found some things that have really worked well... garlic, vitamin C, and silver was what I started out with.  I jumped from there to finding chemical free products to put on my skin; deodorant, toothpaste, lotions, etc. These kinds of products are all being absorbed into your body and could effect the baby as well, yikes!  Then once Piper was born, I took one step further and started looking for natural cleaning products that didn't have all the harsh chemicals. One thing that every mother of small children knows is that everything goes in their mouths especially when they are young, and I didn't want to risk them accidentally figuring out the lock to the cleaning cabinet and then ingesting those chemicals. I am still surprised at how smart those little stinkers are! The one thing I loved about switching to all natural cleaning products is getting away from those nasty smells.  Some of the really strong cleaning products used to make me light headed and I would feel like I couldn't breathe, not cool! I also don't have to wear gloves, if it comes in contact with my skin it doesn't really matter!  I also don't hesitate to clean if the kids are around, which I would've in the past.

The last two years have really seen the most change around my house and a lot of that has to do with essential oils.  I had been reading about them online for a while and was very skeptical. The essential oil craze just seemed like another fad to me, and I'm not someone that just jumps in with fads very quickly, nevertheless my interest was peaked. I did a lot of reading, and the more I read about them the more interested I became.  I love the idea of using things God created in nature as remedies in everyday life. What I didn't love was the price, and I had no idea what to start with. At one point I decided I would give it a try and I went to the health food store and bought a bottle or two to try in cleaning products.  I remember attempting to use them but then realizing the recipes I was looking at were calling for a few oils I didn't have. I don't remember if I actually ever made cleaning products with them, but they smelled nice! Finally my birthday rolled around, and I had some extra money burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to bite the bullet and buy a Young Living starter kit.  I figured with the kit I would have the most popular oils on hand so I could actually make things, and also be able to try out some of the more expensive oils I wouldn't have necessarily bought outright. I had heard really good things about the company and the quality of their oils, and they were recommended by people I trusted, so I did it!  I definitely wasn't that person who fell in love with oils right away, slow adopter here!  The first year, I just dabbled here and there, my kit came with a diffuser so I did diffuse oils some, but didn't really apply them on myself much, mostly because I didn't know what I was doing.  Looking back now I want to kick myself because they really could've been much more helpful in our rough transition after Toby was born. As I've slowly been learning more and more about what they can do, and I've seen results myself, I've come to the point where I use them daily and absolutely love them! They are definitely a game changer.  I have almost completely replaced my medicine cabinet with essential oils, and that to me, is really exciting.

Most of what I've learned and made changes to in my life have come from talking to close friends and family, and from reading natural living blogs. I'm a slow adopter in general so these things have taken a long time to come to pass and I'm still not where I would like to be. By slowly changing one thing at a time I've definitely made progress and looking back its really neat to see how far I've come. This was really brought to my attention when a friend had a cold a while ago and was talking about what they were taking to help manage the symptoms.  I had honestly totally forgotten about most of the common over-the-counter drugs for colds, my first thought was get out the essential oils, pop some vitamin C and hit the garlic shots!

My current philosophy on healthy living and eating is this, get as close to nature as possible. Basically if God made it, then I'm going to eat it or use it in as close to the original form as possible. There are a lot of great things about science, but when it starts messing with how and what we eat, that's not cool. I think its kinda cocky to think that by genetically modifying our food we can come up with a better outcome than what God originally designed for us. The list of modern diseases speaks for itself.  Ok rant over.

So I thought I would share with you what I've done so far.  My goal in all of this is to create something that's sustainable for me and my family.  I don't want to just make changes that stick for a couple weeks or months, but something that we adopt and end up changing our habits for good. Food is still a huge area that I'm working on.  This has been the slowest area of change for me and the most frustrating.  Changing food habits is no joke! The changes I've made so far are primarily in how I shop.  I read a lot of labels, I try to stick with ingredients that I know, and shop the perimeter of the grocery store eating and buying as little processed food as possible, getting as much whole and fresh food as possible. One of my goals for this year is to start eating more fermented foods, really start focusing on gut health, and trying to increase the amount of greens we eat on a regular basis. I won't have an infant this summer or be extremely pregnant, so I'm excited about adding more to my garden and doing more freezing and canning as well! This is an area that I am definitely still learning a lot about, if you have any pointers I'd love your help!

Here are some of the products we've been using and enjoying.

For deodorant, Matt loves using a salt stick, you can get these at any health food store or I've seen them at Giant before as well. I currently use primal pit paste which has worked really well for me, I've been using it for about a year but I'm thinking I might try out some other brands just to see if they are better!

Honest Company
I use a lot of their products and really love them. Toothpaste, cleaning products, vitamins, all of the kids lotions, shampoo, baby powder, etc. I really love their diapers too, they are super cute, but they are kinda pricey :(

I use Norwex enviroclothes and products for cleaning.

Essential Oils: Air purification, wound care, sickness remedy and prevention, cleaning, pest control... this list could honestly be endless, i'll keep it to a minimum!

Some of the blogs I subscribe to: Wellness Mama, Mama Natural, Food Babe



I love essential oils so much that I just recently decided to start a business sharing and selling them! My goal really is to help people in their journey to wellness whatever that looks like! I will be teaching a class each month on different topics, followed by a make and take drop in party where you can use my oils to make things and try them out on your own!  If you are local and are interested in knowing what topics we will be teaching on or would like to attend one of the classes leave your email in the comments below and I'll get back to you or you can contact me through facebook.

And I couldn't leave you without telling you about an awesome promotion Young Living is doing  this month where they are giving a 10% discount off their premium starter kits. (the kit that I started with!) I haven't seen them do this before! These kits are already giving you a great discount on products (value of $300+) so with the February sale they are $144 instead of $160.  This includes the 11 most popular oils and a diffuser plus some samples of their other products!  I'm hopping on the bandwagon myself and adding an additional $10 off just on February 29th. If you've been thinking about buying one or trying out essential oils, this is a great time!  Leave your email below or facebook me!

This was a long post, if you stayed with me the whole time, props to you! :) I wish you all the best in your journey's to wellness.  I love this topic so please feel free to talk or ask questions, I'm an open book!

<3
Monica