Clean Your House

Once upon a time, I loved to unscrew every fabric softener lid, spray every fabric refresher, and sniff all the cleaners in store before purchasing. I clipped the coupons and made cleaning smell great + be affordable.

What I didn’t do, read the labels of what I was spraying around my home. (Trick question, does your household cleaner have an ingredient list?)

Then I had a baby. This wasn’t a normal baby without complications (HAHAHA, psych! all babies have their own complications). This sweet angel had the literal most difficult skin. I couldn’t even lay her next to me without her face breaking out. As if nursing wasn’t hard enough! And her clothes…. when they touched her skin, an instant rash. Her scalp was flaky and nasty and oozing. Yuck! I put bows on her to cover it up. But the truth was, she was miserable.

And so was I. No naps because her skin hurt. She couldn’t nurse comfortably, because her neck was raw. Nursery workers had to lay her blanket on them before holding her. I ditched the fragrance laundry detergent and fabric softener, opting to make my own. That helped some. We switched to bamboo liners in her cloth diapers and used cotton wash rags as wipes with just water. But still, the rashes persisted some.

With the second baby, I decided to go all in. We were ditching candles, fabric sprays (that one was HARD!), aerosol dusting spray, window cleaner, everything. I was mad at finding out that the chemicals I was using to scourge our home of germs was what made me cough and have headaches followed by sneezing for a day after cleaning. I attributed it to “stirring up dust”. It was also what was causing the last little bit of these rashes. Even without contact to her skin, my babies were breaking out from airborne toxins.

I’m still mad about it!

54% of stay at home Moms have an increased risk of dying from cancer… due to things like INDOOR POLLUTANTS. Get outta here, seriously? Solution- stop cleaning.

Or…. make you own home cleaners using the old fashioned way- vinegar and water and baking soda. While this does clean off grime and scrub away soap scum, it’s not cleaning beyond what the eye can see. Let’s just say, when my kids have a stomach bug and I am on hands and knees praying, I mean scrubbing, getting it out of the house, I don’t trust vinegar.

I needed something quick and easy. I was already a loyal customer to YL since the lavender essential oil and shae butter cream I made in my kitchen helped soothe the baby’s rash. I’m a sucker for anything with the YL brand on it, because I trust their toxic free standard. I decided after a year of using oils to give the cleaner a try. It smelled like Christmas and I didn’t love that. So, I added some more lemon and got to trying it out.

I fell in love with Thieves cleaner when I sprayed it on my microfiber kitchen chairs and with one swipe of a rag, the crusty spaghetti sauce from last week came right off.

What the what…. was this magic?

I soon learned that the “plant power” of this cleaner was behind breaking down the dirt using plant based enzymes and essential oils. Perfect!

Dusting: Left side drawers are untouched. Right side, cleaned with THC.
Siding: Left side moldy and dirty. Right side cleaned with THC (no scrubbing- just a waterhose pressure)
Car: Works for upholstery too!
Bathroom: White doesn’t have to look dirty with THC.

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Quick list of WHAT I use this cleaner on:
• Toilets
• Bathroom counters
• Windows
• Pet food bowls
• Bump up laundry detergent power
• Fabric refresher
• Wash dogs
• Clean jewelry
• Mirrors
• Interior of Car
• Carpet cleaner
• Soak the tub
• Shower door scum
• Mopping
• Dusting
• Kitchen granite counters
• Walls
• Shoes
….. I’m sure I’m missing something, but can you see how I use it for everything now?

Each bottle is 14 ish ounces. One oz of the cleaner + 30 oz of water makes you a full size cleaning bottle. Do the math and… it costs about $1.61 per 30 oz spray bottle. I was WINNING at life from the day I started using Thieves Cleaner.

Get yours for free from now until May 30th plus a glass spray bottle.

Curious about more uses or specifics? Leave a comment. Basically, I add water, baking soda when needed, and use cotton or microfiber rags to clean with the diluted Thieves Cleaner.

•When you make a purchase from Young Living, you can become a member and get access to me being your mentor + our online community. Local monthly workshops as well as online education keep you informed. I never want you to not know how to make better wellness choices for your family

Detox Baths

Let’s be specific with a self care practice that really helps your body heal, maintain, and protect as it was made to do.

*Skip to the bottom if you’re just here for the recipes! But I really just can’t tell you what to do without a little background info. Detox baths have been a great weekly practice for our entire household. What’s easier than dumping a cup of something into the bath and letting kids play by getting health benefits?!

BENEFITS OF A DETOX BATH
Detox baths are a great way to:

• Support the immune system
• Promote relaxation and sleep
• Flush toxins from the body
• Promote healthy circulation
• Increase concentration

What do you think of first when you hear “detox”? Most people will answer “weight loss”. But detox goes way beyond weight loss. If you are having a hard time losing weight have you considered it could be toxic overload in your body? Pesticides, fragrances in skin care products and in your environment that you breath in, and PCBs (industrial chemicals not allowed to be used today but are still present in our every day environment). Eliminating these toxins are good through clean eating and ditching toxic skin care products.
BUT… we can’t exactly undo what’s already been added to our environment by industrial use (breathed in) or pesticides used on or near our foods.

Detox simply means purifying the blood. Your blood is like a freeway of elimination between your organs. Most specifically your liver, but also your kidneys, intestines, lungs, skin, and lymphatic system. We can’t exactly cleanse our blood, but we can institute wellness practices that hurry along this elimination process.

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Before you fly to the store shelves to purchase a bath bomb to soak in, ask yourself if items containing artificial dyes, fragrances, or PEGs are what you want soaked into your skin? If you’ve done your research, your answer is NOPE! The goal with a detox bath is to HELP your body, not hinder it’s natural processes. Here’s a briefing:

•Artificial Dyes- Entering your bloodstream which can lead to allergy like symptoms and skin irritation or more.
• Fragrances- known link to endocrine aka hormone disruption and an umbrella term for 3,000+ ingredients that are not disclosed and most likely are not safe
• PEGs- petroleum based ingredient that is a known carcinogen/cancer causing

Bath bombs and bubble baths aren’t detoxing your body! But minerals found in their most natural state are.

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Your Choice of Addition:
1. Epsom Salts: make sure they’re labeled USP.
2. Seaweed: seems strange, but I prefer this.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar: local on tap at Earth Fare or online.
4. Baking Soda: great choice for kids.
5. Mineral Salts: most effective if we already aren’t feeling well.

Besides cost, consider how you feel in a bath with your choice from above.

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These baths aren’t to treat symptoms necessarily. Think of them as preventative. For kids, do a weekly detox bath. Working to support a certain body system, work your way up to nightly detox baths.

PRO TIPS:
• Skip the soap and shampoo on detox bath nights. Let the oils and minerals/salts do their work without adding on products to their skin.
• Sip on water throughout your soak.
• Since the bath will help relax, these are best done at night to promote sleep.

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Now, the fun part! Adding in essential oils to your bath for maximum benefit.

• Nighttime- Lavender and Cedarwood
• Calm- Tangerine or Lemon
• Winter Wellness- Peppermint, Thieves, or Rosemary
• After Workout- PanAway or Valor
• Chill, Momma- Stress Away
• Breathe- Eucalyptus or Peppermint
• Clear Head- Rosemary or Roman Chamomile

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Young Living is always my preferred choice of essential oils. I have used them for many years and help others walk into the ease of aromatherapy use in their daily life. If you’re wanting to purchase with me as your mentor, I would be happy for you to follow my link to order. Choose “wholesale” for 24% discount and your choice of oil kits with diffuser + option to order anything you want with your continued discount.

Magical, Happy Chemial

What if I told you that you had a magical, happiness chemical at your disposal. It’s free. Naturally occurring inside your body, and easily runs off of minimal pep. And the best news… no products required.

S E R O T O N I N

First is serotonin and what causes it to be low? Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (some say hormone) that controls your body’s function to sleep, regulate mood and agression.
…causes…
•Stress- prolonged periods of stress (especially a traumatic event) . Think about running out of the house with a hot cup of coffee (home being your body in a normal state, coffee being your happy hormones). I don’t want to stress you out by giving a stressful example… but really, most of our lives are not constructed well for rest and self care.

•Nutrition- Serotonin isn’t just produced in the brain, it’s also produced in our stomach (your second brain). If you’re not eating good foods and digesting well, your serotonin production is off track.

•Nerve Damage- “You’re getting on my last nerve!” said the Momma so stressed out. Nerve damage isn’t just caused by stress, but also by toxic substances you might come into contact with daily: fragrances in your home/car/skin care, drugs, pesticides on food and used in gardening. Think about what you’re putting on your body (largest organ) and breathing in, it could be damaging the nerve cells that make neurotransmitters like serotonin. You’ll hear this labeled as a carcinogen or endocrine disruptor (not on the product label, of course. that would be too easy!) Check out Environmental Working Group to see where your products stand.

•Depression- been a little or a lottle SAD this season? Even if you don’t suffer from depression symptoms seasonally or all the time, your serotonin could still be low. But do know that if you find your moods fluctuating beyond your control or have trouble getting out of bed during the day, you could have low serotonin.

….improve….
•Sleep- Insomnia or just trouble getting to sleep can be from lack of serotonin production throughout the day. Have a routine and goal every night to get in bed. Wash face. Brush teeth. Apply oils. Go potty. Turn off tv. Sleep by (10? 11? 8?) Whatever you need, depending on when you get up. Just like babies need a routine, you still need to baby your body and get good sleep.

•Negative Thoughts- say this over and over, “… whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9 The renewing of your mind is a consistent, constant process. Give yourself grace in negative times and make it a point to lay this scripture foundation on your heart.

•Exercise- I might be the last person to tell you how to work out. So, I won’t. Momercise is my workout of choice. Daily movement. What feels good. Set a goal, then mini goals to get there. Want to run? How many days? Mark it on the calendar. Set out your clothes and shoes the night before. Set your alarm. Do it.

•Sunshine- This past winter, I needed a heavy dose of sunshine, literally. For that reason, I will recommend only one product. Vitamin D. I take 10,000 IU a day in a capsule. Also, diffusing citrus oils or taking cod liver oil is helpful. Since it’s spring now, get outside! Wear a hat for that cool wind, get your hands in the dirt pulling weeds and planting. Take a gentle walk in the sunshine. You will see a difference! Even if you’re just sitting on your front porch steps letting the sun hit your face.

•Eat Well- Nutrition is key. I talked about the neurotransmitters of Serotonin being found in the stomach. If you’re eating a lot of what I call “heavy foods” (breads, fast food), and foods containing tryptophan (turkey meat and milk) will decrease serotonin production. Consider how many fruits and veggies you get into your diet daily. Add in one or two more per meal and see how you feel! And as always, drink at least 1/2 your body weight in oz of water per day.

•Breathing- Prayer. Meditation. Yoga. Taking 5 minutes, three times a day to sit without thoughts, emptying your mind, and taking in deep breaths is helpful! Delivering oxygen to your brain and cleaning your blood while detoxifying. One of serotonin’s functions is to help control breathing. You are teaching your body what it feels like to rest and allow it to work these many functions. Serotonin is purposefully produced and you will find yourself more peaceful after practicing just a few times a day.

I did find this article in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience about increasing serotonin without drugs. For our family, we treat the root cause, always, first before moving onto a drug. Mostly, medications aren’t needed as our bodies are miraculously made to heal and produce what’s needed under the right circumstances.

Do these tips seem helpful? What can you start today to help increase the magical, happy chemical?