DoTERRA essential oils and Ministry

As I mentioned yesterday, I attended a wonderfully enlightening session on essential oils hosted by Grace Meyer. Before I get a little into the information on essential oils I wanted to touch on what a wonderfully Godly women I was blessed to meet. Mrs. Meyer feels that God has given her this passion and information and it was so wonderful to hear her speak about something natural, eco-friendly and holistic in a faith based perspective. She even had verses of scripture that speak of the use of oils...it is amazing to see that God truly did give us everything we need; even for sickness and injury. As an added bonus, whatever profits she makes from selling these oils is used to go toward funding a "tent-making" ministry that she and her family will soon embark on. She also offers aromatouch massage for back and foot therapy for donations of $15 or more that go toward funding the ministry as well.

As a little background on my holistic approaches I typically have a tea for the issue (i.e. Throat Coat, etc.) and we use Boiron products (Chestal, Roxilia, Cold Calm, etc.). I knew a little about essential oils going to this session but mainly had heard of them being used as pillow sprays and to curb appetite. It was amazing to learn some of the science behind the oils as well.

DoTERRA essential oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and come from extracts of plants; they are 50 to 70 times more concentrated and powerful than herbs or teas and offer similar properties to commercial drugs without the chemical side effects. Basically the oils have varied properties that get into cells and "clean them up". And you can use the oils in a variety of manners (some of them are not to be used in all three manners but they let you know if you can't use a particular method): Aromatically to affect mood, clean the air and open airways; Topically by massage and localized application to offer immune support and comfort; and Internally for "direct contact" to the ailment.

Here's a few types of oils and some of there benefits: lemon-cleans, soothes, disinfects, and detoxifies; melaleuca (tea tree)- skin rashes, blemishes, etc. "skin aid"; frankincense (which was brought to Jesus...super neat!)- supports overall immune function..."when in doubt, use frankincense"; and they have a host of others including lots of great blends.

So I spoke with her about a digestive issue my youngest has been having and I received such a blessing by her actually being able to get me the oils I should try with him that night. We are using frankincense and DigestZen on his feet (did you know the best place to put oils is the big toe? Who knew that the largest number and size pores are there?!) and on his tummy mixed with a little coconut oil. Well...I am not getting my hopes up just yet but I feel like God may have sent her to me because we have only used the oils one whole day and my sprout only spit up about a tablespoon worth...which is way less than normal!

I know that I am definitely "jumping" on the essential oils train and bringing my family along with me (and hopefully some of my readers too!)...it's hard not to when you are already seeing results! I will surely keep my teas and such in my "feel better" arsenal but essential oils will be there too...if I can keep my body purer and rely more on the things God has provided in nature I believe the gap between Creation care and health care may being to shrink.

If you would like to read more about DoTERRA oils and purchase some for your holistic medicine cabinet please visit Grace Meyer at www.mydoterra.com/gracemeyer. Please consider doing your part to support a ministry and the planet all at once!

photo from DoTERRA website, link within photo.

Foodie Friday

This evening I attended the most amazing essential oils session at one of my good friends home (lots more on that tomorrow!) And her husband made the most delicious foccacia bread...I could have eaten it all! So, that bread is the inspiration for tonight's foodie Friday (and the reason my house will be smelling yummy tomorrow!) I am not sure his exact recipe but this is similar based off the taste.

Rosemary Olive Foccacia Bread (yield 2 loaves)

3 cups flour (I like to do half bread flour)
1 package active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dry rosemary, crushed, divided
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 cup hot water
4 Tbsp olive oil, divided
1/3 cup sliced, ripe black olives
2 Tbsp yellow cornmeal
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
additional fresh coarse ground pepper & sea salt to top

In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, sugar, 1/2 tsp rosemary, salt & pepper. Stir in hot water & 2 Tbsp Olive oil. Turn onto lightly floured surface and knead about 3 minutes. Add olives and remaining rosemary. Knead about 1 minute. Put in a greased bowl, flipping once. Cover and rise about 45 minutes. Punch down then divide in half and cover to rise about 5 more minutes. Sprinkle cornmeal on greased baking sheets. Roll each into a round then cover and let rise until doubled, around 30 minutes. Use a clean finger to press 1/4 inch indentions all over the top of the loaves. Brush with remaining olive oil, sprinkle with cheese, pepper and rosemary. Bake at 375 for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown, sprinkle with a little sea salt and serve warm.

And as always use local and organic ingredients whenever possible.

A wonderful treat for sprouts with dairy and soy allergies!

Allergies can make giving your little sprouts the sweet treat of ice cream difficult to say the least. But tonight I made a wonderful, easy recipe I just had to share! Luck for me my sprouts are allergy free but for friends of mine this isn't the case and I can only imagine trying to shop for a special occasion sweet treat...but now all you need is about an hour and only 10 of that is actually doing something!

All you need is:

1 quart rice dream cream (available at publix for only $3.99) ...it's organic too!
1 can frozen organic orange juice concentrate (cascadian farms is what I used)
Popsicle molds (go green! my Popsicle molds are from my childhood...but your local thrift shop may have just what you need)

Let each melt about 20 minutes. Then put the cream and 1/2 cup of juice in a bowl and mix. (This can be made with any juice flavor). Fill your Popsicle molds and freeze.

That's all! Super fast and easy allergy friendly orange cream pops! I can just see all the sticky fingers now!

Have you tried this recipe? Let me know what you think! And get creative...you can try lots of combinations; like chocolate rice dream with cherry juice concentrate...yummy!

Interesting Information for Wine lovers

I came across an article on Organic Authority today that talks about how boxed wines are more eco-friendly than glass bottles. Here's a few of the stats and then some eco-ideas for all those beautiful bottles:
-box wine is 95% wine and only 5% packaging
-if 97% of wines sales switched to boxes we could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2 million tons per year
-boxes preserve wine longer than glass

Upcycling craft ideas:
-use in a planter as an automatic watering bottle
-make glasses
-a unique chandler
- a lantern

-olive oil bottle

What are your thoughts? Do you like boxed wines?

Cutaway of a box of wine.

Delicious Wordless Wednesday

Natural Play and eco-friendly playgrounds

Children don't need self explanatory toys...give them a toilet paper roll or a stick and watch as their imaginations go wild! A horn, a wand, etc. the sky is the limit! And thankfully many city and state parks are realizing this. Natural play spaces are popping up all over the US featuring tree stumps, tee pees of twigs, sandy areas, etc. It's wonderful! Inspiring a child to imagine and create is one of natures best abilities. So check your local parks or forests and see if they have a natural play area, if so, great! Go check it out! If not gather with a group of like-minded parents and see if you can get one...and it's not expensive because there are not mass produced plastics, metals, or wood to purchase; you just work with nature!

However, I know the swing sets and slides are also a ton of fun! But be sure that you are making environmentally friendly choices when purchasing a play set (or better yet get involved in your communities choices for there public play areas). Here are a few ideas for making better choices: purchase reused play areas on Craigslist or EBay or your local kids thrift shop, be sure that any wooden sets are not formaldehyde treated, and check out CedarWorks play sets...they have lots of choices and are super cute and environmentally friendly.

Don't hinder your child's imagination with tons of one use toys...instead, give them the tools of nature and watch as they create and learn!

Sunday's Eco Inspiration

"I brought you into this land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination." Jeremiah 2:7

God blessed us with Creation yet daily we pollute it's streams, cut down it's trees, and fill it with waste. This is not what God desires for us; He wants us to enjoy the beautiful and healthfulness of Creation and not "defile His land".

This week try and make a change...enjoy the blessing of Creation but tread lighter. Recycle more, plant a tree, grow a vegetable, etc. Every little bit brings beauty back and Glory to God.