Updates from Vicki Merrill

Supper is finally finished, homework or chores are done, sports practices are over, the kids are settled for the night. . . you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you . . .

 

Let your mind wander back to everything you didn’t get accomplished today…

Continue to stress over that argument or phone call that didn’t go your way…

Already find yourself being anxious about everything you have to do tomorrow…

 

Sound familiar??

 

What if your downtime went something like this . . . you sit down on the couch, let out a big sigh, and you . . .

 

Celebrate everything that you crossed off your to-do list…

Feel at peace with the way you handled every situation you faced because you were able to stay calm and relaxed…

Find yourself looking forward to tomorrow with anticipation of all the blessings coming your way…

 

Sound too good to be true? 

 

It doesn’t have to be!

Your body needs sleep to physically function, make decisions, focus on tasks, manage those emotions, and to handle all that each day can throw at you! Think about that toddler who has missed their nap. They are grumpy, overwhelmed by small things, and anything that isn't just right. Your adult brains feel the same way when you don’t get enough sleep…how’s that for a visual? 😉

 

I don’t know about you, but too much stress usually means too little sleep, which then leaves me more tired, more cranky, and more stressed. So how do we stop the  cycle?   

 

So much of getting a good night's rest is in establishing a routine, even for adults! Walking through the same steps each evening helps you create a habit as well as cues your brain that it's time to rest. 

 * Keep the lights low and warm after dinner. Think more ambient lighting and candles and avoid those overhead lights if possible.
 

*Turn off your phone. 

 

*Sip on some hot tea - add even more benefit with a drop of Lemon Vitality.

 

*Take a bath - add a cup of Epsom salt with 10 drops of Lavender or other sleep oil, then use Relaxation Massage Oil or Lavender Hand & Body Lotion all over. You can also add a drop or two of your favorite oil to the massage oil or lotion for an extra boost!
 

*Light stretches - nothing over the top, just some light stretches or Yoga poses to help release tension. Put some Frankincense and PanAway on your feet.

 *Turn on that diffuser. A great combination is Lavender, Tangerine and Northern Lights Black Spruce! Other favorite sleep oils are Frankincense, Valor, Peace & Calming, Vetiver, and Cedarwood. 

 *Grab your oils and apply them to the bottom of your big toes (the nerve endings that connect to the brain end here!), your wrists, neck, and chest. You can use the same oils we talked about or try my favorites - Tranquil, RutaVala, Dream Catcher, or Roman Chamomile. I am sure you have heard of or maybe even tried Chamomile tea, right?  What effect did it have on you? If it made you feel calm and relaxed, imagine that times 100?!!  It has the power to calm the crankiest babies, relax the most restless adults, minimize the biggest feelings of fear and worry, stabilize the most out of whack emotions, and foster the ability to release your most negative emotions.  This one is worth stocking up on!

 

You can even make your own roll-ons by simply adding a total of 40-60 drops of any of the oils listed above to a 10ml roller bottle, then top it off with your favorite carrier oil. Easy peasy!

 * Run a fan, or sound machine to help drown out any noise.
 
 * Keep your room cool (but not overly cold). Your body sleeps better when it has a cooler temperature.
 
 * Make your bed a comfy, cozy space. Think soft textures that are inviting and feel good against your skin.
 
 *Try Seedlings Linen Spray or a DIY pillow spray with your favorite sleep oils! Gently spray pillows, sheets, blankets.
  *And for those nights when sleep is super elusive, I keep Sleep Essence and ImmuPro on hand.

Sleep Essence combines Lavender, Vetiver, Valerian and Tangerine oils with melatonin, our natural sleep hormone.  It’s also a great tool when go below that wellness line. 

 ImmuPro is a blend of Ningxia wolfberry, reishi, maitake, and agaricus blazei mushroom powders along with melatonin to boost immunity and help you rest when you need it most.

 

 

Once you oil up, if you are still having a hard time relaxing and your thoughts are still racing, here are a couple of other things you can try:

 

Journaling - Getting your thoughts on paper helps to get them out of your head. Keep a journal on your nightstand and put the brakes on those racing thoughts by jotting them down.

 

Gratitude - Instead of laying there thinking of all the things that could go wrong, force yourself to focus on all the things that have gone right. Need some help? Apply your Gratitude to your wrists and breathe deep.

 

Get Up - I know, this sounds counterintuitive, right? Why would you ‘get up’ if you are trying to get to sleep?  If you are tossing and turning and getting more and more restless, getting up and finding a simple task to do, applying an oil, or even grabbing an adult coloring book can be just the thing to calm your mind enough to be ready for sleep.

 

 

What's your favorite trick to help you settle down and fall asleep? I'm always collecting ideas and solutions! Simply hit reply and share it with me! I'd love to hear from you!

 Summer is officially here! How crazy is that!? Seems like just last week we were celebrating New Year's!

Here are a few tips and tricks to make your camping adventures or beach get-aways a little better!  

                                          
CAMPING NECESSITIES 

Do you love getting outside and exploring?  Do you think to take your Citronella, Geranium, and a battery-powered diffuser along with you? When you are hanging out at your campsite, book in hand, this combo will quickly become your BFF!  Simply fill a battery-powered diffuser with 5-7 drops each Citronella and Geranium and enjoy the incredible smell...and pest-free zone!

                                               BEACH ESSENTIALS Maybe you are more of a beach person?? I've got you covered, too! 

Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time?? 

Losing time is kinda like losing money...but worse...

You can make more money, but you can't make more time...

But, guess what? We all have time, and enough of it. Hard truth is that we waste it on the wrong things and that makes us feel like we don't have enough time. We all have the same 24 hours but some people accomplish so much and others...well...not quite so much...LOL

Let’s take a look at some areas you may be losing time..

First way you lose time is dwelling in the past. You will always feel like you don’t have enough time because you aren’t actually being present for the time you have right now. You are literally giving your time and energy away to the past. Is this you? Do you tend to hold onto the past? Those hurts? Resentments? Mistakes?  Failures? Should haves? That anger?  Can you see where this is not helping you have time in the here and now? 

 

Number 2…you spend a lot of time in fear. Yes, we are living in some crazy times right now. Faith is the opposite of fear. Are you living in faith or are you living in fear? Fear is a thief…it will steal your life. It will steal your time. So, ask yourself, are you living in fear??

 

Next up, are you living in worry? It’s a lot like fear, but a little more ramped up…you spend all your energy and time worrying about what could happen. That worry will paralyze you from living. Think about that…you’re afraid of something that might happen in the future, so you don’t live in the present. You just make the future come true now. Worry brings the future to today. You are living as if it is going to happen. You are already living in it. You will not have time to accomplish what you want in life when you are living in worry.

 

How about judgment of others and comparison…Do you know how much time you spend judging other people and comparing yourself to them instead of doing what you could actually do in the world?? Sooo much!! Social media makes this so easy…you are looking at everyone else’s highlight reel and comparing it to your reality…

Where are my procrastinators?? Procrastination is such a big one! Ever been overwhelmed by that looming to do list and just not do any of it at all? Here’s a little secret about procrastination…most of the time you will eventually get that thing done, but in the process, you’ll be stressed and overwhelmed, but then you’ll actually do the thing and it won’t even take you that long to do it…but until then, you overthink it, can’t decide how to do it,  do the laundry, the dishes, wash the floor, and the dog, binge Netflix, eat all the cookies, and...think about the thing you really should be doing...How much time did you waste?? Learn to honor your word to yourself and do what you said you were going to do…it’s so empowering to trust yourself to put something on your list and know it will get done. Then when you finish, there are no “should haves” hanging over your head. There’s no shame and no guilt…

 

How much time do you spend in indecision?? Been there…done that…just spent last week there...LOL Most of the time there is no right or wrong decision, here is just the decision you make right by how you choose to think about it. You can spend so much time in the land of indecision… Just decide. Or just decide to decide if you need to. ;)

So…how do we create time?  What is the first way you can create an abundance of time in your life? It’s simple…it’s with your thoughts. You just decide. When you tell yourself I have time and space for all I need and want to do, you feel an openness, an abundance, freedom…you don’t feel pressure, stress…you can breathe easier and relax.

Second way is to plan. Spend a little bit of time planning instead of just diving into the things. Spend 10 minutes each night or each morning planning your day. This is so powerful!! Projects and tasks will take the amount of time you assign to them. If you haven’t assigned a space of time to them, guess how long they take?? Yup - all of that empty space. 

 

What is something you have been putting off doing? It won’t take you that long, but you know you need to do it… You will end up doing it, but in the meantime, you are stressing yourself, and others, out. I challenge you to put that thing on your calendar and get it done. Make a plan.

 

We make time by thinking. We make time by planning. We make time by taking  action. How often do you walk around the thing you need to do in your house? You move it out of your way continuously. You look at it daily. A pile of stuff. Something you need to order. Bills you need to pay. Make a plan. Keep your word to yourself, and do the thing. 

So, how are you wasting time and how are you creating time?

Look back at your last 24 hours. How did you spend them? Look back and see if you can figure it out. You can’t get that time back. 

How are you going to spend your time? Are you going to prioritize your marriage, your family, your home, your health, your faith? Plan it out. When you put more intention around your time, you will find so much of it to do what you need to do or better yet, what you want to do. You’re not wasting it in fear, worry, judgment, comparison, procrastination and indecision, but you are creating it in better ways. You will be living your best life.

 

Are you in?

That certainly was a pretty brief glimpse of summer we got, wasn't it!? 92 degrees one day, upper 40s the next...

I'm sure we will see more of those summery days, though, so take a peek at a couple diys and this month's free gifts you'll receive when you order products you are using in your home every day! 

 

Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Myrtle, Lavandin, Citronella work together in this blend to help neutralize odors, purify the air, support skin and hair, soothe and calm, cleansing, freshen laundry by putting it on those wool laundry balls, insect annoyances…

 

Uplifting and refreshing, purifies and cleanses negative emotions and vibrations. Spray or diffuse some in an emotionally charged room or work space, especially if there is anger, violence or chaotic energy. Use as you would Sage or Western Red cedar.

 

Fantastic if you need support to see your patterning related to abandonment, rejection, or the fear of being alone. It can calm anger, conflict and restore order.

 

Dilute 50:50, apply on feet, ears, temples, chakras. Inhale directly or diffuse.

 

 

Uplifting, centering, relaxing, Bergamot is part of what makes the blends of Joy and Gentle Baby two favorites.

 

It releases the need to be in complete control, allowing you to flow with life, releasing those fears of the unknown, and bringing the ability to relax and trust the universe to handle the details of your life situations. Simply place it on your heart to release this patterning and embrace those relationships with others…and yourself.

 

Use 50:50, apply on chakras, wrists, neck; diffuse.

 

Bergamot is also what gives Earl Grey Tea it’s unique flavor. The vitality version (same) has a great citrus flavor that can be used in baking, seafood, sauces and dressings. You can also add a few drops to a veggie cap with your favorite carrier oil and knock it back. Or add it to water, juice, Ningxia Red or other drink.

 

 

Two ingredients – MSM (an organic form of dietary sulfur) and Ningxia Wolfberry fruit (prebiotic).

 

Healthier hair, smoother skin, stronger nails, cells that regenerate themselves cleaner and stronger for better mobility, more stable immune and circulatory systems, liver support to help filter blood and detox system, detox whole body and give more energy? All this plus more with organic natural sulfur amino acids in your diet.

 

Sulfur responsible for vital amino acids in your body that support healthy cells, skin, hormones and enzymes. It is naturally found in all plant and animal cells and its amino acids help our body produce glutathione. Glutathione increases energy, improves mental clarity and focus, helps support proper immune function, improves quality of sleep, supports athletic recovery, slows down aging process, detoxifies the cells an d liver, increases keratin production in skin, hair nails and more.

Many people claim have sulfur allergy – but you cannot be allergic to sulfur as that would be like saying you are allergic to water since your body naturally produces sulfur. Sulfa is commonly mixed up with sulfur and also doctors may refer to “sulfur allergies”, but they mean specifically the pharmaceutical called sulfonamide.

 

 What are you most excited about?? 

I'd love to hear about a topic or two, or ten, that you are interested in learning about! Simply reply and let me know!

After a long, cold winter and the sometimes dreary penetrating cold of spring, you are absolutely ready to get outside when the sun starts shining warm and bright, right?? But, sadly, what else wakes up at about the same time??  Yup – the bugs…the black flies, the mosquitoes, the ticks...

 

And get this…according to the World Health Organization, the mosquito is the deadliest of all animals...

 

For centuries, plants or smoke from fires have been used to naturally repel insects. But, over the last 100 years or so, these were replaced with toxic chemicals. Is anyone surprised by that yet??

 

DDT was the first modern synthetic insecticide. Introduced in the 40’s,  there was a jingle to go along with it – DDT is good for me-e-e!!   Anything that has a jingle must be good for us, right? 😉 

 

But the EPA issued a cancellation order for DDT in 1972 because of its adverse environmental effects to wildlife and people. Go figure.

 

Then came DEET and other toxic chemicals and even chemical coated clothing.  Now think about your skin being porous… DEET has been associated with seizures, numbness and behavioral changes, nasal cancers, compromised immune systems, cardiovascular toxicity, respiratory distress, and severe allergic reactions. DEET brought on a change in the brain of after just a brief exposure to it…and mosquitoes and other insects can develop an insensitivity to it…

 

38 essential oils were studied in 2005 to look at their ability to repel mosquitos. Let’s take a look at a few.

Citronella with vanillin provided 3 hours of protection, is calming, and helps you think about those things that “bug you”…and you might just find that those “pesky annoyances” are just the things you need to be more accepting of in others...so you can accept them in yourself… 

Lemongrass along with citrus or tree oils with vanillin was superior to DEET and also releases resentment, regret from those “should haves”, and pessimism, turning those negative energies into positive ones, so optimism, courage and hope can return.

Cedarwood oil protects against a variety of insects including ants, fire ants, ticks and moths. It helps you feel safe and secure with yourself as well as in your environment, kind of an energetic feeling of a safe warm blanket…so it’s a double blessing for supporting annoyance free sleep for those overnight adventures in the great outdoors…it also has skin cleansing properties and is a natural deodorizer…all great benefits for that active, outside lifestyle.

 

You can blend it with citronella, rosemary, tea tree, myrtle, clove or lemongrass. Sounds like a win in any situation, right??

 

Other great oil options are Cinnamon Bark, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Peppermint, Sage, Spearmint, Tea Tree and Thyme.

 

If you aren’t a fan of DIY’s, I’ve got you! Have you tried YL’s insect repellant?? It repels mosquitoes, ticks and fleas with  no DEET, or any of the other toxic crap we talk about, is safe for children and for those with sensitive skin.

 

We tried this out on a walk one day…Delaney and I put it on. Dana did not. Normally the bugs don’t bother him, so he wasn’t worried. It was pretty hysterical when just a little bit into our walk, he is swatting at the bugs that had congregated around him, while Delaney and I are walking along, bug free…he tried to out run them, he swatted at them with his hat, he spun around…nothing worked. That was proof enough for me! LOL We put ours in a roller bottle or a spray bottle for easiest application and one bottle lasted us for a couple of years! Still effective!

 

There you go, my friends! A little help with that bug free late spring and summer. 

What's on your summer bucket list??