Here are some quick, refreshing options for enhancing water to quench thirst and refresh people on hot days.  The first are suggestions for additions to water alone.    The second is a healthy alternative for replenishing electrolytes lost to sweating during exercise or prolonged outdoor excursions.  Enjoy!

1.   Peppermint Water: To quart or 1/2 gallon of cold ice water, add a toothpick dipped in YL peppermint EO.  Adding a full drop can prove to be too strong--go slow to start, so a toothpick is perfect.  Use a fresh toothpick to dip into EO each time.
2. Lemon Water:  Lemon EO is less strong so you can add a whole drop to 2 cups of cold water if desired.  Enhance with fresh lemon slice if desired.
3. Orange Spearmint Water:  To quart or 1/2 gallon of water, add 1 drop of Orange EO (you can add up to 3 or 4 drops for larger quantities if desired--taste as you go).  As with peppermint above (1), use a toothpick to add a little bit of spearmint at a time.  All mints can overwhelm flavoring, so go slow! 
4. Cut fresh cucumber and put into a large jar with water.  Set in refrigerator a couple hours at least.  Before serving add a toothpick of peppermint (go slow with this--you are aiming for a hint of peppermint).  The cucumbers are AMAZING, and water is so refreshing!  One of my favorites!

Making a Healthy Sports Drink to Replenish Electrolytes:

• To any of the above, Per 2 cup glass: add 1-2 tablespoon of grade B (dark) maple syrup or raw honey, a 2 finger pinch of sea salt (not table salt!). If you are sweating a lot you may want to add an extra pinch of salt.  You should taste a hint of salt but it should not be like the ocean. :) Enjoy! 
• Note--unless you are sweating heavily from prolonged strenuous exercise or time in heat, electrolyte drinks are not generally needed, so salt is often not critical to include here.  In situations where you are sweating a lot (like being out on a boat in the sun all day) adding maple syrup and pinch of salt (unless you are eating foods that include these things) becomes more important.  No need for Gatorade.  Be healthy and enjoy EO enhanced refreshment!

• 7 lemons, juiced
• 2 lime, juiced
• ½ cup just melted raw honey (more or less as desired)
• 1 drops Young Living Lavender EO (see note below before adding)
• 11 cups cold water (plus ice)
• Fresh lavender for each cup if desired

Combine lemon juice, lime juice, melted honey and water into a large GLASS or CERAMIC jar or pitcher (don't use plastic).  NOTE:  For the Lavender EO, add one drop into a teaspoon of soft honey.  DO NOT ADD 2 DROPS--it is strong.  If you get 2 drops, start over with fresh honey and ONE drop.  One drop is delicious--2 can be overpowering. Then add honey/lavender mix to drink and mix well.
​Alternatively, you can use a toothpick to poke into the lavender bottle and then swish into the lemonade.  Use a fresh toothpick if you need more Lavender.  

Every wonder what to do with your empty bottles of essential oils?  They still smell wonderful.  There is precious EO residue left--but how to use it....
Here are 2 ideas:
1. Bath Salts

• Take off the top and orifice from empty EO bottle.  
• In a large glass jar or container put a shallow layer of Epson Salts.  
• Insert your bottles, orifices and bottle tops and be sure to fill with salts.  
• After each layer of bottles, add another thin layer of Epson Salts.
• Keep adding bottles and salt as you have more empties.  Cover with cap and store until needed.
• When using simply put a couple handfuls into your bath.  Be sure to add bottles, caps and orifices as well.  
• TIPS: Any gentle EO's like Peace and Calming, White Angelica, Lavender, Gently Baby, Ledum, Transformation, Joy, etc are great for this use.  If you have empties of Eucalyptus Blue, RC, Raven, other Eucalyptus, Dorado Azul, Peppermint, etc--make a separate blend of respiratory Bath Salts.  DO NOT use for empty Thieves, Oregano, Thyme, Clove, unless well mixed into other gentler blends.  

Here's another option for empty bottles!
2. Put carrier oil into empty bottles with orifices removed.  Replace cap and save until needed.  Use as a massage oil.  

• Carrier oils:  You can get YL unscented massage oil blend or can use any organic cooking oil.  Coconut needs to be melted and mixed with something else to keep it liquid.  Coconut is good for cooling: summertime works well.  Sesame is warming:  wintertime works well.  Olive oil is a good all around oil.  All have a smell so pick mild ones--coconut can be refined for high heat, which removes smell. 
  
• TIP:  These massage oils can be added together after a week or so and used as desired.  

The following information is a list of what I have in my family First Aid Kit.  It is our first line of physical support for bumps, bruises, headaches, etc.  I got an old travel bag for toiletries and made it into the kit we've used for over a decade.  I change out my EO's to fresh ones every year if they've been exposed summertime heat on outings and adventures.

Gary Young was a world leader in essential oil distillation and coined the phrase "Therapeutic Grade" as a way to distinguish the level of purity he insisted upon in Young Living Essential Oils.  He recognized that quality matters, and not finding what he needed for distillation, learned from French distillers using their EO's medicinally, and brought it back to the US where he crafted his own distilleries.  Check out these videos for more about distillation quality with Gary Young.  First video is very comprehensive and you will learn a LOT.  Second, also is informative...less time and 3rd video is more visual.  ENJOY!

Having and using diffusers is a great way to impact the home and work environments, energetically and physically.  Diffusers are easy to use and will last for a very long time with minimal care.  Cleaning once a week is REALLY important.  Here are simple steps to clean your diffuser.

In the bottom of any ultrasonic water and EO diffuser you will see a metal small plate.  This vibrates very fast and actually mixes the water and EO so it can be diffused into the air.  During cleaning this is the plate that needs to be cleaned with rubbing alcohol.  Clean the rest of inside diffuser bottom.  Dump rubbing alcohol.

(From Essential Oil Reference Guide, Alan and Connie Higley)
Extraction method:  Lemon EO (and all citrus) is obtained from the RIND of the fruit.   While most essential oils are obtained by distilling plant material through low pressure and temperature, citrus is pressed from the peel. It is cold pressed and requires 3,000 lemons to produce a kilo of oil!
Properties: Anticancer, antidepressant, antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, breaks down petrochemicals, is invigorating, refreshing and a tonic.  (For the research these statements are based on--refer to the guide.)
Daily use: DIFFUSING:  uplifting emotionally and helps clean the air of virus, fungus, bacteria, and any petrochemical residues in the air (for example--from painting, new carpet, flooring, air pollution, etc).  PUTTING A DROP IN WATER: helps break down any petrochemical residue in water--add to GLASS only, boost immune system through antioxidant properties.
CLEANING: Use for cleaning fruits and veggies--cleans residue from stickers as well as killing germs, virus, bacteria.  The NEXT post goes over a way to do this effectively.
PUMPING GAS!:  Keep Lemon EO in the car and use after pumping gas.  Gasoline is petrochemical based.  The handles of pumps are also full of germs.  Using Lemon EO straight (1-2 drops) on your hands after pumping gas helps break down any petrochemical and kill germs/virus/bacteria.  If you get gas on your hands--use a drop or 2 every minute until you have neutralized all of it.  
Safety Data:  DIRECT APPLICATION not best use of Lemon EO.  Can cause skin sensitivity for some people.  Also, sensitizes to sun--so if you do put it on your skin avoid direct sun contact for 12 hours.  

Cleaning fruits and veggies after shopping is easy with Lemon EO.  Here's a simple routine that impacts health and wellness, cleans fresh foods, and makes meal preps through the week easy.  Enjoy and feel GOOD.

I love food.  That simple.  The food we put in our minds, is our thoughts, and becomes our beliefs.  As we upgrade our thinking our beliefs and consequently our manifestations of life "circumstances" also evolve and elevate.  Similarly, the food we put IN our bodies, is reflected ON our bodies, in our health, immunological resilience, and overall wellness.  Here are some suggestions from our family to boost physical health:

• Young Living has 2 products for immune boosting that are particularly good.  My family uses both.  Inner Defense is a capsule filled with YL oils that boost immune function.  It is my husband, Tony's, go to for travel, and if he feels a scratchy throat or at all "under the weather."  It is not for everyone:  IF you have a sensitive stomach, avoid this one.  It doesn't work well for me or any of our girls--too strong.  If you use it, be sure to eat it with a little food.  ImmuPro is a chewable tablet with Melatonin in it.  My daughter, April, loves this one at night, before she goes to sleep, if she is feeling sick or vulnerable to sickness.  It is milder and still good for immune support.  Take it at night as it can make one a bit sleepy.
• If you are getting a bit of a cold, sick, or feel run down, have 1 T. apple cider vinegar with a drop of Thieves EO in it first thing in the morning.  My daughter, Aidan, loves this and swears by it!  She sometimes does this 2-3 times a day.
• Cooking dark leafy veggies and other rich colored veggies such as red peppers are very good for anti-oxidants and are full of vitamins and minerals, as are blueberries and raspberries (get them frozen and thaw some out on the stove with cinnamon and  serve with coconut cream, for example).  Grow your own sprouts--you can get sprouting seeds at the health food store, and 3 T. will make a 4 cup jar full of sprouts!  FULL of nutrients.  The definition of VITAL and nutritious!  Eat whole foods, purchase them the way they grew in nature as often as possible.  
• If you are experiencing cold/flu/virus symptoms, make a large pot of ginger tea, using 6-10 c. water and 2-3 inch piece of ginger cut into small pieces, brought to a boil, then simmered over low heat for at least 20 minutes--can be for a couple hours if you wish--just keep a lid on.  Served with raw honey and fresh squeezed lemon, it is very soothing for sore throats.
• Drink lots of water with fresh squeezed lemon juice.  Lemon juice, when FRESH, is alkaline in the body.  When it is canned, it becomes acidic, so always use fresh.  You can also drink water with Lemon EO in it.  Add 1-2 drops to a large glass of water.  Do not put any essential oils in plastic containers (even hard plastics like Nalgene bottles) as it will degrade the plastic (that's cool in your body since plastic does not belong there!  But not so cool in your bottle. Use glass.)

One of my favorite things about going to YL conventions was hearing about all of the new research that was being done on EO's, etc.  Gary Young was passionate about life, Spirit/God, and healing.  He had inspirations and followed them where they led.  The following videos perfectly describe the process of inspiration, research, development, and most importantly Spirit led exploration, that led to development of Ningxia Red.  There are 2 parts.  It is very educational and is a profound window into a genius and the superfood in a bottle, called Ningxia Red.  Enjoy these videos!!!

I've been helping people purchase a lot of Thieves EO recently.  As the novel coronavirus made its appearance on the world a lot of "professionals" have been advocating upping cleanliness.  The truth is that it is always healthy to remove what does not serve: grow beyond limiting ideas, live in love, upgrade thought and belief to reflect the amazing being you are, to wash hands, clean surfaces, use a balanced hand sanitizer, and support immune function.  Releasing old messages, history, thinking, reveals Light and Joy.  Using quality products made with therapeutic level essential oils, boosts immune function while neutralizing or washing away what does not serve us.  With the power of Thieves EO each of the products above are essential for health when viruses, flu, and colds abound.  You deserve health in your home--house, mind, body.

• Thieves spray.  We particularly like this one for travel, in bathrooms or other environments where MANY people have been.  Spray door knobs and other surfaces.  It's really good for the car, too.  Put some on a tissue and pump gas using the tissue. Use a drop of Waterless Hand Purifier when you are done.
• Thieves EO.  Diffuse 3-6 drops in water multiple times a day during active cold/virus season to clean the air of germs.  Put 1-2 drops of EO in your hand--rub together--and put on bottoms of feet for added immune support once or twice a day.  
• Thieves Waterless Hand Purifier.  Not like the anti-bacterial hand sanitizers that are made entirely in labs and disrupt the natural, healthy bacteria, this hand sanitizer harnesses the power of Thieves EO blend and Denatured ethanol (denatured with Peppermint EO).  Comes in a variety of sizes.  And a little goes a LONG ways with this!  Powerful!  Keep it in your car, purse or backpack for easy use when you are out.  
• Thieves Household Cleaner. This is a very concentrated household cleaner.  For cold/virus/flu season, put a few tablespoons in a spray bottle with water and use it to clean countertops, bathroom sinks, door handles, etc.  This is the only product, other than baking soda, and white vinegar, that we use in our home.
• Thieves Foaming Hand Soap. This is a FAVORITE in our home.  It's convenient, healthy, and kills germs!  Smells great, too.  You can order the pump soaps initially and then the large refills thereafter.