Pamper Yourself This Holiday Season

The holiday season can easily become the busiest (and most stressful) time of the year, with presents to buy, school performances to attend, and goodies to bake for the neighbors. Stop the stress and start enjoying the season with this easy, simple solution: pamper yourself for a few minutes each day! You will feel renewed and have more energy to accomplish all the things you want to do for others during this busy time of year if you remember to take time for yourself.

Tip: Enjoy a relaxing bath at the end of the day, and your stress will melt away! Fill your bathtub with warm water and add several drops of lavender essential oil. Turn on some soft holiday music, soak in the tub, and inhale the soothing fragrance of lavender. With a good night's rest, you'll wake ready to start a new day's To Do list!

Pilgrims, Pumpkins, and a Little "Peace" of Land

Much like the Pilgrims, I too am thankful for pumpkins that are so plentiful during the fall. This year, our homegrown pumpkins are taking center stage on our front porch, where they have welcomed the fall holidays and guests to our home.
These pumpkins represent more to me than just a symbol of the first Thanksgiving--they remind me of the "peace" that comes from planting. My daughters and I planted a garden this past summer in a little corner of our backyard. With the help of our neighbors, we learned how to till the soil, plant the seeds, protect the growing leaves from the deer, and lovingly care for our plants until the fruits and vegetables were ready to be harvested, cleaned, and cooked.

Planting and harvesting has brought a lot of joy into our lives, and I must agree with those who say that gardening is therapeutic. There's just something about being connected with nature that is extremely healing.

At the Young Living Lavender Farm, we are thankful for the good land that we have to grow plants that bring joy and healing benefits to thousands around the world. The Native Americans taught the Pilgrims about plants that would provide sustenance for them, and also taught them about the healing properties of plants. Much of this earlier wisdom is now being rediscovered as more and more people are turning to natural ways to improve their health and well-being.

The plants grown at the Young Living Lavender Farms are carefully distilled to produce therapeutic-grade essential oils. Some of my favorites to use during the Thanksgiving holidays are cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg (these spices are excellent additions to your holiday recipes!)

What are your favorite oils to use during the holidays? I'd love to hear about your holiday traditions and use of essential oils, so please send me a comment!

Sweetest Massage at the Spa Bellagio

When in Las Vegas, you absolutely must visit the Spa Bellagio at the world-class Bellagio Hotel for one of the most relaxing and therapeutic massages you will ever receive on planet earth--the Raindrop Therapy. This massage is one of the spa's World Therapies and was inspired by Gary Young's Raindrop Technique. True to their claim of using the purest essential oils in their spa treatments, Spa Bellagio uses Young Living's essential oils.
The Raindrop Technique consists of nine Young Living essential oils applied to the body (Valor, oregano, thyme, wintergreen, peppermint, basil, cypress, marjoram, and Aroma Siez). Several of the oils are dispensed like little drops of rain along the back and very lightly massaged along the vertebrae and back muscles. The oils work synergistically, and accompanied with massage from a trained therapist, will help your mind and body enjoy amazing therapeutic benefits.
Seventy minutes of pure bliss await you at the Spa Bellagio. This unique experience is a must when in Las Vegas!

For more information about the Raindrop Technique, how to get certified, or Young Living's essential oils, please contact Young Living's Distributor Network Services at 1-800-371-2928.

Early to Bed and Early to Rise...

For most of the United States, it's time to fall back for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, November 4th. Benjamin Franklin, who first conceived of this idea, also shared his wisdom with us in his famous quote, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

If you're looking for ways to help you follow Ben's advice on getting the right amount of sleep, here are 2 terrific tips to help you get to bed earlier and wake up earlier using Young Living essential oils:

Lavender essential oil is perfect for sleep therapy. Pour a few drops in a spray bottle, add distilled water, and shake. Lightly mist your pillow and bed sheets at night with this lavender-infused water, and you will soon be enjoying supreme slumber!

Orange essential oil is an excellent flavoring agent for your favorite recipes. Share this breakfast recipe with the chef in your home, and you'll be eager to rise out of bed plenty early for breakfast!



Orange French Toast
1/2 c. butter, melted
4 Tbsp. honey or Young Living Blue Agave
1 tsp. cinnamon or 1 drop Young Living cinnamon oil
6 eggs
12-16 drops Young Living Orange Essential Oil
1/4 tsp. salt
8 bread slices (challah bread or any favorite bread)

Combine melted butter, honey or Blue Agave, and cinnamon oil in a bowl. (If using cinnamon powder, combine other ingredients without the cinnamon.) Spread mixture to cover the bottom of a cookie sheet. (If using cinnamon powder, sprinkle on top of mixture after it is spread on a cookie sheet.) Combine eggs, orange essential oil, and salt in a separate bowl. Mix well, then dip bread slices in mixture. Place bread slices on cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, invert each slice on a plate, and serve with syrup.

Makes 8 slices.

Enjoy!