essential oils Archives - We're Parents

DIY Essential Oil Hostess Gift Basket

November 14, 2016 by Larisha Campbell

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StimulateTheSenses #CollectiveBias

While we having been exploring our own semi-crunchy journey for a little over four years now, we know that many people in our family still think we are a bit on the hippie wagon. Yet and still, I’m always looking for ways to get our family and friends on a more natural journey of their own. One of the ways I love to do this is by introducing them to essential oils. They are so versatile and amazing that it’s no wonder that people typically fall in love with them after just a few uses.

With the holiday season officially here, we came up with this awesome DIY Essential Oil Hostess Gift Basket. This is a super simple idea for any parties that you are going too where you want to bring over a gift for the hostess or hosting family. You could even just do one of the projects if you have a smaller budget.

Inside our basket we included Nature’s Truth Essential Oils, a pair of fuzzy socks (who doesn’t love fuzzy socks!?), DIY Homemade Bath Bombs, DIY Homemade Room Spray, and DIY No-Sew Rice Heating Pack. Everyone always wants to make sure that their houses look and smell amazing for company, so we bust our butts cleaning every last detail and cooking food for 3x the amount of people we invited. While the get together goes off without a hitch and no one realized that you completely forgot to scrub an entire section of the baseboards in the kitchen, you melt into a puddle of exhaustion the second you close the door behind the last guest. This type of exhaustion needs pampering and that’s exactly why this is the perfect hostess gift.

Cinnamon Room Spray

40 drops Nature’s Truth Cinnamon Essential Oil
2 tbsp witch hazel (can use rubbing alcohol as an alternative)
water to fill bottle

**Directions: In a 4oz glass spray bottle, add the witch hazel and essential oils. Fill with water to top. Use as needed. Store in a cool area away from sunlight.

No Sew Heating Pack

10 drops Nature’s Truth Peppermint Essential Oil (optional)
1 lb white rice (uncooked)
1 sock (ensure sock has no holes)
2 pieces Thick yarn or thread, 10 inches each

**Directions: In a bowl, add the essential oil to the rice. Using a funnel, add the rice to the sock. On the open end of the sock, quadruple knot the thread to seal the hole. Then tie in a bow or snip the excess thread. Repeat on the close end of the sock. Heat in microwave 30 seconds at a time until desired temperature achieved.

**Optional: If not adding the essential oil to the rice, include a note with the gift that explains to recipient to add 2-3 drops on the outside of the sock with every use.

DIY Lemon Bath Bombs

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salts
1 tsp water
2 tsp Nature’s Truth Lemon Essential Oil
1 1/2 tbsp Nature’s Truth Almond Oil
6 drops yellow food coloring

**Directions: In one bowl, mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl with a whisk until very well combined. In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients. Slowly combine wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Note: if the mixture is foaming, you are adding too fast. Keep whisking together until very well combined. Using silicone baking molds, firmly pack mixture in each mold. Let air dry for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight. Pop out and keep in an airtight container.

Some other DIY projects you could think about making with Nature’s Truth Essential Oils to add to your hostess basket are: soaps, candles, dryer sheets, massage oil, and a mini diffuser.

You can find Nature’s Truth Essential Oils at Target.com

Or inside the vitamin aisle at the following stores (essential oils available vary by store): , CVS, Walgreens, HEB, Meijer, Albertsons, ShopRite, Rite Aid, and Stop & Shop.

Buzz Away Pests This Summer

June 27, 2016 by Larisha Campbell

Summertime means lots of fun for our kids. We will spend countless hours outdoors swimming, going to the playground, gardening, and more. As a parent, it’s the best time in the world watching your children explore the world around them at a much deeper level and watching them learn at such an amazingly fast rate some of the things that we enjoyed so much ourselves growing up.

Even though summer just started, we’ve already spent an abundant amount of hours in our garden planting tomatoes, cucumbers, and more, spent time planting new flower beds and finding as many worms as we could, learning to ride a bike and play frisbee at the playground, and this week we will finally be in the pool! We typically spend at least an hour or more outside each day and up until a few weeks ago, all was well. But then, the bug bites starts.

As a kid growing up, we didn’t think much about this, but now, as a parent, it’s constantly freaking us out. We worry if they got bit by something poisonous, the fact that you can’t really tell a child to stop scratching and them actually listen, and if the bugs are carrying more harmful diseases like Lymes or Zika.

Luckily, we found a safe alternative that is actually working for our family. We were recently asked to let our readers know about Buzz Away Extreme, an all-natural insect repellant, but we were never asked to give our opinions about the products. After receiving the samples though, and using them ourselves, I didn’t feel like I could write this post without sharing my opinions. Buzz Away Extreme worked almost instantly for us. Andrew and I used the spray and I used the wipes on the girls and we all stopped being so itchy and finding bites on us. Admittedly, I have extremely sensitive skin and most products break me out, but this didn’t!

Buzz Away Extreme is made with essential plant oils and delivers the same protection as many chemical DEET-based repellents, but it’s DEET free!

We now feel like we can spend even more time with our girls and be safe from mosquitos, ticks, and more. We’ve even planned a trip soon to a local hiking walk, a first for us, so we can’t wait to try it out then!

Right now you can share pictures on Facebook using #bugfreefun and you’ll be entered to win a Buzz Away Extreme Super Pack which includes an 8oz bottle of Buzz Away Extreme, container of child-friendly towelettes and a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

You can use the code 10OFFBUZZ to get 10% off any Buzz Away Extreme product at quantumhealth.com. The code is valid through September 30 and can be used once per customer.

Grab from Amazon right now!

10 Minute DIY Homemade Bath Salts Using Essential Oils

December 20, 2014 by Larisha Campbell

*Disclosure: Affiliate links may be contained in this post. We receive a small commission for purchases and thank you for helping us continue to run our site.

My goal every year is to make more homemade DIY gifts for the holidays. It never happens. This year I told myself that I have to at least make one thing for one person that is homemade. I know, personally, that I always love these gifts the most. The fact that they are made with thought and love is so much more meaningful to me than anything else. Okay, besides anything from my girl…and diamonds, I’d never turn down diamonds.

I went to the store and got cute little mason jars for the gifts and knew I had everything else at home. I was on a tight deadline because I needed the gifts to be done for a party the next day. I got home and started gathering ingredients to make an awesome sugar scrub I’ve made before and then it hit me…I barely had any coconut oil. I mean seriously, in a “crunchy” household, this is a travesty in and of itself. I had to quickly think of something else because traveling back to the store wasn’t an option. That’s when I thought of bath salts. (don’t think of media news stories right now…not those).

The best part about this gift is that it took me less than 10 minutes to make and get into the containers. Literally, it took me longer to cut and tie the ribbons than it did to make and seal the jars.

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups Epsom Salts
1/2 cup Sea Salt
1/2 cup Baking Soda
Grated rind of two clementines (or one orange)
10 drops of Citrus Bliss essential oil
Desired size Mason Jars (we used these)
Ribbon

Directions:
In a bowl, add the ingredients in the order above and mix until well combined. Fill each container with desired amount. *The above amount filled four 8oz containers and one pint size jar.

The smell of this is absolutely amazing. Citrus Bliss is one of my favorite essential oils. It’s a combination of Wild Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Bergamot, Tangerine, Clementine, and just a hint of Vanilla. It helps to lift your mood, while reducing stress. It’s the perfect combination after a long day and when a relaxing bath is what’s needed.

Enjoy for yourself or give as gifts!

Essential Oils Basics: Top 5 Accessories You Need to Get Started

February 26, 2014 by Larisha Campbell

*Statements contained within this post have not been approved by the FDA. All persons should consult a physician prior to using essential oils. I am not a physician and this post is my opinion.

**Affiliate links contained in this post. Clicking on these will get you the same great price, but I make a small commission that helps me run the blog.

When I first learned about essential oils, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into at that time. I just knew it was a natural alternative to many traditional medicines and I wanted to learn more on our journey to living a more natural lifestyle. Like most things, I dove head first into trying to figure out everything quickly to use the oils appropriately. I wish at the time of getting started someone would have shared with me an essential oils basics list like the one I’m sharing here today. I hope you can gain valuable information from it!

By no means, do you truly need all of the items, but they will greatly aid in your essential oil usage and your ability to maximize the benefits.

1. The Modern Essentials, 5th edition, Guide to Using Essential Oils.
You have the option to get the Modern Essentials Hardcover Book, which is 320 pages, or the Mini Modern Essential Book, which is 224 pages. Inside either of these books you will find basics about each oil, the science behind each oil, as well as a history of essential oil usage globally. There are references to hundreds of research studies, application suggestions, and solutions to a wide array of conditions from acne to cancer and everything in between.
*I personally have the mini version and use it almost everyday. It fits perfectly inside my purse or diaper bag to always have handy.

2. Storage Case.
There are many different essential oil storage options. From open displays to either wooden or soft carrying cases, there is something to meet everyone’s needs. I love a closed case because I can easily grab it to go with me and always have it accessible. The storage case shown above is able to hold THIRTY different bottles and it doesn’t matter if they are 5, 10, or 15mL bottles. If you do decide a case is a good option for you, I do recommend also getting Essential Oils Bottle Cap Stickers so they are easy to find and you aren’t searching through 30 bottles to find the one you want.

3. Carrier Oil
It’s highly recommended to dilute oils because of how strong they can be, especially when it comes to babies and children. To do this you simply need a carrier oil. Fractioned Coconut Oil is my first recommendation, but other carrier oil options are: olive, jojoba, almond, avocado, or grapeseed oil.

4. Amber or Cobalt Glass Bottles, Varying Sizes
Sunlight can actually cause oils to deteriorate, which is why you will see them sold in dark colored glass bottles. The dark glass helps to keep the sunlight out and eliminate damaging effects. As you begin to use oils and make your own blends, cleaning or beauty products, or just need a place to keep diluted oils, it is great to have Amber Glass Bottles or Cobalt Glass Bottles on hand at all times.

5. Diffuser
One of the top recommended diffusers is the doTERRA Lotus Essential Oil Aroma Diffuser. I realize that a diffuser like this one is not in everyone’s price range, and in the case I would suggest the Greenair Spa Vapor Diffuser.

Bonus: If you are trying to conceive or expecting, I highly recommend Stephanie Fritz’s book Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies Book. It is a wealth of great information during all three trimesters, postpartum period, as well as using oils on newborn babies.

Am I missing anything? What are your must have accessories for using essential oils?

**Please note: All links above are for purchasing these items directly from Amazon.

DIY Burn or Scar Ointment using Essential Oils

February 1, 2014 by Larisha Campbell

Disclaimer/Disclosure**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Links below may contain affiliate links, in which case, any monetary compensation goes to raising our family.

My mom works in the restaurant business, so I’ve heard of her getting burned quite a few times, but she recently called and said that she got burned really badly and that it almost immediately blistered. She sent me a picture and I was shocked at how bad it looked. I told her yes! She was coming to visit me a week after the burn happened and said that she would use the antibiotic burn cream she hand until then.

The week passed and visit day came. She showed me her arm and I couldn’t believe how bad it still looked. We quickly whipped up a blend of Peppermint, Melaleuca, and Lavender oils in a carrier oil (we used olive oil because that’s what I had on hand, but I would recommend fractionated coconut oil for added healing benefits). We applied this every 4-6 hours during the day. She was only visiting for two days, so we took another picture when she was leaving and you could noticeably tell a difference. She then sent another picture three days after she left and I was blown away by how amazing it looks.

I highly recommend this blend based on the results I’ve seen first-hand.

What you need:
3 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
3 drops of Melaleuca Essential Oil
3 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil (or other carrier oil)
Roll on Bottle

Combine in the roll on bottle and then you have 2 ways to use:

Using a cotton ball rub onto the problem area
Roll onto the problem area

Apply every 4-6 hours

* This blend is not recommended for children under 6 due to peppermint. Learn more about essential oils safe for kids.

Disclaimer: This information is meant only for educational and informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products, recipes, and/or information contained here are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. We strongly advise our readers to do their own research and partner with their holistic/health care provider on any decisions. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition or are taking any medication, please consult your physician before using essential oils.

Using Essential Oils to Make a “Flu Shot”

January 18, 2014 by Larisha Campbell

**Update — At the time of writing this post, we were informed that ingesting oils was safe. Since that time, we no longer believe, and fully discourage, the consumption of internally ingesting any oils for any reason unless you are under the direction are care of a certified aromatherapist/herbalist. Please do not internally consume this recipe.

Mercury, formaldehyde, egg protein, sugar….The list goes on. These are just a few of the ingredients listed on the CDC’s website that go into the flu shot that millions of people receive every year. I, personally, do not want to be putting things like this in my body, but more importantly, I don’t want to compromise Baby Skibbles developing immune system at such a young age. And I don’t even want to talk about flu shot side effects. So, I started looking for flu shot alternatives.

One of the reason’s we started using doTERRA certified therapeutic grade essential oils was because we wanted a natural way to combat illnesses in our home. Flu season is currently in full swing and my personal Facebook page is full of friends and family talking about illnesses their family is going through. But all of this can be solved by combining just a few different oils.

What you need:
10 drops of Oregano Essential Oil
14 drops of Melaleuca Essential Oil
14 drops of On Guard Essential Oil
18 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Roll on Bottle

Combine in the roll on bottle and then you have 3 ways to use:

Diffuse into the air using a diffuser
Roll onto the soles of feet

* This blend is not recommended for children under 10 due to the eucalyptus and rosemary in On Guard. To use on children two and above, replace the On Guard with more Oregano. Learn more about essential oils safe for kids.