you have sensitive skin. Carrier oils don’t evaporate like essential oils do. But they can go rancid, so be sure the carrier oil you use is fresh.
Apply essential oils to pulse points, such as your wrists. Place a few drops on your palms, rub together and then breathe deeply. And believe it or not, applying oils to your feet is not only popular, but also effective. Your big toe is an especially good spot because it links directly to your brain. You can also choose to apply essential oils on your temples, at the base of your neck or skull, and behind your ears. Apply a few drops of essential oils, inhale, and enjoy.
Begin with a single drop of any oil you’re trying for the first time. Make sure you don’t have a reaction before you increase to three to four drops. Take any known allergies into consideration before you use the oils.
You’ll soon discover that you enjoy some scents more than others, but remember it’s not just about the fragrance. It’s about the benefits.
Use an Electronic Diffuser
Okay, so THIS is addictive! Plug in your diffuser and a fine mist of essential oils and water sprays, filling the air with the aroma of whatever oil, or combination of oils you use. As the mist circulates, not only will the room smell luscious, but the oils’ benefits will also surround you.
There are several types of diffusers. Choose one or two and put one in every room if you like! They are great as gifts, too. I’ve listed the most popular ones later in the book.
Old-Fashioned Steam
Boil some water and pour into a glass bowl. A few cups will be fine. Add three to four drops of oil to the water and lean in. Cover your head and the bowl with a towel and inhale the steam. You won’t have to get too close. Hold your head about eight to twelve inches from the water and breathe in gently and slowly. If you notice any discomfort, stop immediately. You might be allergic.
Aromatherapy Bath
Adding essential oils to your bath is relaxing. Roman Chamomile and Lavender are good choices for a relaxing bath.
Again, don’t use them full-strength because they won’t dissolve as nicely as they would if you use Epsom salts as a base. Don’t use with chemical products!
Another safe, effective way to use essential oils in your bath is to mix them with a carrier oil or milk. The carrier oil will protect your skin from potential irritation and the essential oils bond with the fatty acids in whole milk. Try Rose or Jasmine and milk.
Lavender is calming and nice for a relaxing bath. Add a few drops to soak away stress and tension. If taken internally, Lavender can also reduce anxious feelings. After your bath, take Lavender internally for a peaceful sleep.
Is MORE Better?
You might really like the scent or flavor of a certain oil, or the benefit of another, but if you think more is better it is not. Essential oils are concentrated. A few drops are plenty and anything more will just be wasted. You might also be sensitive, and some oils cause skin irritation.
In Chapter Eleven, I share some of my favorite essential oil blends. I use them in my own home to keep my family healthy and toxin-free. I encourage you to try them for yourself and your family, to create a healthy, whole and balanced home. Keep reading!
I’m a momtrepreneur. I know, crazy word, right? What the heck is a momtrepreneur? It’s a funky made-up word that describes an entrepreneur doing the ultimate juggling act—balancing it with life as a mom.
Momtrepreneurs (and entrepreneurs) take risks by investing in their ideas and building businesses. You might be thinking, “Hey, that sounds like fun! I’ll quit my job and make money doing something I like for a change! Piece ‘a cake!”
It is fun, but believe me, life as an entrepreneur is anything but easy. There are no guarantees of success, and there can be a lot of obstacles. When the entrepreneur is a momtrepreneur—the road can be even rockier.
Most momtrepreneurs, myself included, agree that between their families and their businesses there isn’t much wiggle room. Our days are jam-packed to say the least. If it were not for my oils I don’t know how I’d do it.
This momtrepreneur has two beautiful daughters, and a husband I love spending time with. I lead a super busy life managing my home in Boulder, CO, a beach house in San Diego county, and a successful business with a seven-figure annual income—oftentimes from my phone. Yeah, my phone. It’s my office away from home.
I launched my business with the support of my online business plan, including social media strategies, and I created a system to help me balance my life. Ha! Or so I thought.
As it turned out, I did just the opposite. Oh, don’t get me wrong. For a while, it worked like magic. I got a lot done and my business swelled because of it. I had no complaints. To the contrary, I was jazzed, generating more income than I ever dreamed possible in a surprisingly short time. In less than a year and a half, my customers and business partners were in twenty countries. Today it’s over sixty!
Sounds like I created a perfect world for myself, doesn’t it? In many ways, yes, I did. But something else also happened.
The more my business grew, the heavier my workload got. Part of my “busyness” came out of the thrill of watching my initial investment snowball. It seemed everything I touched was turning to gold, and so I kept…touching.
I’ve already told you I live a healthy lifestyle. I eat well, a vegan diet, to be exact. I exercise, and I practice Yoga. Juicing is one of my passions. I have a ton of energy, but at one point not too long ago I realized I was wearing myself out. Did I stop running myself ragged? Not at first.
Instead of using my free time to rest or spend with my family, I worked longer hours. The more I got done, the more I added to my plate. About three years into my business, I hit upon a realization that pretty much shocked me. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but after a while there was no denying it.
I was addicted. Not to drugs or alcohol, and not directly to my work. I was addicted to the technology that was supposed to free me to live the lifestyle my income level should afford. The gadgets and devices, the apps and software, all imprisoned me. I felt powerless to break the patterns I had created myself.
I was a slave to email, social media messaging, and phone calls. Oh, and I’m not just talking on off-hours. My engagement continued around the clock and even on weekends.
Low-level anxiety became my way of life. It was the new normal for me. Anytime my cell phone beeped alerting me to a message, I couldn’t resist the impulse to engage. I couldn’t let messages go unanswered and I NEVER turned it off. This was partly because of my desire to please people and partly because answering my messages relieved my anxiety. My tech-addiction was flaring.
I used to blame others for messaging me at all hours of the day and night until
