Lavender Farm Recipes!

Everyone raved about the cool refreshments provided by Wedding Ice during their visit to the lavender farm on Farm Day. Norma was happy to share her recipes with all of us! Not only are these drinks refreshing and delicious, but they're oh so healthy, with LOTS of fresh fruit, Young Living products, and absolutely NO sugar added!


Strawberry NingXia Red Shaved Ice

1 bottle NingXia Red
2 cups fresh strawberries (whole)
¼ - ½ cup Blue Agave

Mix ingredients together and pour over shaved ice in a 12-ounce cup. Poke holes through shaved ice with straw or spoon for juices to settle.

Party Lavender Lemonade

4 ½ gallons water
1 quart juiced lemons
1-1 1/2 quarts Blue Agave
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
4-8 Tablespoons concentrated lemon juice

Mix ingredients together. Pour over pebbled or crushed ice. Garnish with lavender sprig if desired. Makes 5 gallons.

Party Orange Citrus Shaved Ice

1 ½ cases of oranges (juiced)
5 cups Blue Agave
15 teaspoons vanilla
20 drops orange essential oil

Mix ingredients together in a 5-gallon container. Fill with water to a few inches below the top. Pour over shaved ice in a 12-ounce cup.

Party Orange Citrus Shaved Ice

Tart Grapefruit Citrus Drink

1 case of oranges (peel rind, then blend whole oranges)
8 grapefruit (peel rind, then blend whole grapefruit)
1 ½ quarts Blue Agave
10-15 drops grapefruit essential oil

Mix ingredients together. Pour over pebbled or crushed ice.

Lavender Farm Day was Filled with Fun!

We had close to 3,000 guests at the Lavender Farm on Friday for Convention, and it was absolutely fabulous! We loved having you here, and we want to thank you for your enthusiasm and kindness. We hope you'll visit us often!

Farm Day began early (the buses arrived an hour and a half earlier than expected, which caught us a bit off guard!), but the cool morning breeze was a lovely way to introduce guests to our exclusive farm oil blend Garden Breeze. This floral blend was created to remind visitors of the fragrances enjoyed while walking through our herb gardens.

We also offered wagon tours, distillery tours, presentations by Gary Young at our new exhibit of early distillation in France, Animal Oils Training (Raindrop) presentation by Gary Young, Bath Salt and Lavender Foot Scrub booth, delicious shaved ice and sorbets with Young Living products, fabulous food and entertainment, activities for the kids such as the Lavender Fairy Tea Party and Knights Tale Party, rock climbing, pony rides, paddleboat rides, and so much more!

My favorite moments were spent watching ladies sitting back and relaxing as they received a soothing foot scrub with our new lavender products, seeing Mary Young's mother perform on the stage playing and singing her heart out, listening to Gary Young as he shared fascinating facts about the early distillation methods in France and the development of his lavender farms, hearing the sounds of children laughing and playing at the parties, reconnecting with so many friends, and hearing comments from our guests such as, "We've had such a wonderful time here. This farm is absolutely beautiful. Gary must be so proud!"

I hope you'll share your thoughts and favorite moments from Farm Day with us. You may even win a bottle of Lavender Peppermint essential oil if you post your comment before June 21st! I'll be posting photos soon, so be sure to check back often on our blog. And for those of you who had the chance to enjoy the cool NingXia Red shaved ice and essential oil sorbets, I will also be posting those recipes soon!

5K Run Through the Lavender

The weather has finally warmed up in the mountains, so I've been hiking in the mornings near my home. The views are breathtaking! I'm trying to work up to a slow jog, then perhaps actually running (I've never been a runner, but I REALLY want to participate in our 5K race at Lavender Days).

We had over 400 participants in last year's 5K at Lavender Days, and this year's run promises to be bigger and better! We've been busy collecting prizes and donations, and to be honest, it's the prizes that are motivating me to run this year! (More news on prizes soon.)

If you've never participated in a 5K before, the Lavender Days 5K Run Through the Lavender will be a sweet treat for you. Not only are the views breathtaking as you run, jog, or walk through the vibrant lavender fields in full bloom, but you will also enjoy the aroma of fragrant lavender, and if you're competitive, win some great prizes!

There are still six weeks left to train, so call your friends and family and have everyone join you in the best 5K in Utah. If you're interested in sharing tips with our readers on how you train for 5Ks or other running events, send us a comment and you may be one of three randomly chosen winners. Each winner will receive a bottle of Young Living's NingXia Red--the juice of champions.

Gifts That Make Scents

Need a little inspiration to help you finish (or start, in my case) your holiday shopping? Here are five creative gifts that just make scents! These gift ideas are also a great way to build traditions with your own family, inviting you to embrace nature this holiday season.

SMELL- Holiday fragrances evoke memories of happy times together. If you want to bring the smells of the season into your home or if you have someone on your shopping list who is fond of fragrances, give them a Young Living diffuser with Christmas Spirit essential oil blend. The sweet, spicy blend of orange, cinnamon, and spruce essential oils tap into the joy of the holiday season. Or if you're buying for a true nature lover, give him or her a bottle of Balsam Fir (Idaho), Douglas Fir, or Evergreen Essence essential oils wrapped in a basket of pinecones. By adding a few drops of essential oils on the pinecones, the room will be filled with the crisp, invigorating aroma of winter in the woods.

TASTE- For the aspiring chef, print out your favorite peppermint dessert recipe (think peppermint brownies, peppermint frosting, you get the picture!) on a holiday card and tie with raffia to a bottle of Young Living peppermint essential oil. Myrecipes.com lets you browse lots of popular peppermint recipes. Peppermint essential oil is a natural flavoring that is excellent in holiday recipes. (Note: Young Living essential oils are pure and stronger than artificial extracts, so it takes less oil than an extract when flavoring foods. Start with a tiny amount, as you can always add more. Use a toothpick or the end of a butter knife to swirl in the flavoring.)

SEE- The Wise Men's gifts included gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Share these treasured gifts with a loved one by giving them an Essence of the Season collection. This gift box includes frankincense and myrrh resins, as well as the essential oils. These aromatics were used throughout the ancient world for religious and state services, as well as for medicinal purposes. Place the resins in a fire to produce a sweet smelling smoke that has been described as a "heavenly aroma", and see the glow on children's faces as you read them stories of the Nativity by the fire.

TOUCH- The winter weather is known for its harsh effects on the skin, often drying it and causing it to crack. Essential oils are extremely beneficial for the skin, nourishing and protecting it. Domino Magazine features a great recipe for a calming scrub with Young Living geranium essential oil. Add a jar of sea salt (make your own with 1/2 c. Dead Sea salts and 1/2 c. Epsom salts) and Young Living V-6 Enhanced Oil, and you've got the perfect skin-care gift!

HEAR- Ring in the New Year with a bottle of NingXia Red! This naturally delicious, nutrient-infused wolfberry drink will have everyone cheering for health and prosperity in 2008. Add some party favors, and your host or hostess will be set for celebrating!