Hey, hey, my friend!
Can you believe it? We're already approaching the end of 2023. And as we enter this new year, I have a question for you...Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Me? Nope. It always felt like I was setting myself up for disappointment year after year.
But recently, I came across a thought-provoking Facebook post by Kevin Scott. In celebration of his 46th birthday, he shared 46 valuable life lessons he's learned so far. It really got me thinking...
What if instead of traditional resolutions, we chose one or two of these lessons to focus on throughout the year? We could even break it down by quarters, working on different lessons throughout the upcoming year. Just imagine where we could be this time next year...
What do you think?
1- Keep your word.
2- Don’t let anybody, (including yourself) talk you out of your passions.
3- Tomorrow is already too late.
4- Never take for granted those who love you.
5- Be incredibly grateful for everything you have NOW.
6- Never stop learning.
7- Find the beauty in everything.
8- There is a lesson and a gratitude in every situation.
9- Listen to peoples’ emotions more than their words.
10- Plans change- get over it quick.
11- Conviction is one of your greatest assets!
12- Driving is a full time job. (Learned that one from my dad.)
13- Getting upset over trivial things is a waste of life energy.
14- Don’t let money rule or ruin your life.
15- Find someone with the same values as you.
16- When you find your person, put a ring on it, fast!
17- You don’t need to be right.
18- Make sure to prioritize yourself too.
19- What you say cannot be taken back; be conscious of your words.
20- You’re far more capable than you think.
21- Never give up.
22- Be intentional with your caring.
23- The more you understand yourself the more you can understand others.
24- Being able to cook is a valuable life skill.
25- Surround yourself with people who challenge you mentally and emotionally.
26- It’s really easy to have low standards when you don’t set a high bar for yourself.
27- There’s always someone ahead of you. Learn from them.
28- The things that help you forget your pain in a moment, often turn that pain into suffering.
29- Be proud of your achievements, no matter how small.
30- Small gestures of kindness often have the largest impact.
31- Have good posture, dress up once in a while, and learn to tie your own tie.
32- Tell the people in your life you love them: your dad, your brother, your father-in-law, your son, your nephew…all of them.
33- Don’t watch the mainstream news, it never tells the full story.
34- Taking responsibility isn’t just saying you’re sorry.
35- Your gifts are valuable, and you can charge for them!
36- Live a “relationship first” life.
37- Chivalry isn’t FOR women, it’s FROM men.
38- Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Be grateful for it, and say thank you often.
39- Apologize for who you were being, not just for what you did.
40- Yoga gets more essential with age.
41 - You’re never too old to start again.
42- Freedom is escaping routines only to find out how important they are.
43- Get over your fear of feeling.
44- Fight FOR something instead of against others.
45- Always double check.
46- You can never tell your partner how beautiful and amazing they are too much.
Special thanks go to the most beautiful and amazing woman in my life, Melanie. I love you, thank you for being the best thing that ever happened to me!
What thoughts got your attention??
Step by step, thought by thought, you can create an incredible 2024. Are you ready??
See you on the other side of 2023!!
Fill your diffuser with Vanilla & Christmas Spirit and grab a mug of Peppermint cocoa because it's time to get festive! No matter what holiday (if any!) you celebrate this time of year, these fun and festive recipes, DIYs and diffuser blends are certain to create a cozy, welcoming winter home.
A great diffuser blend can set the stage for whatever you have going on this season. Create a cozy home, bring in some bakery vibes, reminisce with the feelings of a frosted forest, or set the stage for a long winter's nap! ;)
Popular Winter Candle Dupes
It's not just visible decorations that bring those warm, welcoming winter feelings, it's the scents as well - cinnamon, spruce, orange, and spice. We ditched the toxic candles for oils years ago, so here are our top 10 candle-inspired favorites!
- Mulled Cider: 4 Christmas Spirit + 2 Grapefruit + 2 Clove + 3 Bergamot
- Fresh Balsam: 4 Idaho Balsam Fir + 3 Cedarwood + 2 Eucalyptus
- Frosted Cranberry: 4 Cinnamon Bark + 4 Stress Away + 3 Ylang Ylang
- Twisted Peppermint: 4 Peppermint + 3 Idaho Balsam Fir + 3 Vanilla
- Marshmallow Fireside: 4 Stress Away + 2 Clove + 2 Nutmeg + 2 Lemon + 2 Peppermint
- Tree Farm: 3 Northern Lights Black Spruce + 4 Idaho Blue Spruce + 2 Pine + 3 Bergamot
- Tis the Season: 4 Frankincense + 3 Cinnamon Bark + 3 Orange
- Fireside: 4 Patchouli + 2 Tangerine + 3 Vetiver + 2 Orange
- Candy Apple Fruitcake: 4 Christmas Spirit + 3 Orange + 2 Peppermint + 3 Vanilla
Diffuser Blends for Gatherings
It's the season of gatherings and get togethers, so fill your diffusers with any of these blends to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests!
- Warm Welcome: 2 drops each Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Orange, Clove, Cinnamon Bark
- Powder Room: 5 drops Bergamot + 2 drops Orange + 2 drops Nutmeg + 1 drop Clove
- Fireside Chats: 4 drops Ylang Ylang + 4 drops Vetiver + 2 drops Cinnamon Bark
- Around the Table: 4 drops Joy + 4 drops Orange + 2 drops Cinnamon Bark
- Grandma's Kitchen: 4 drops Christmas Spirit + 4 drops Lemon + 2 drops Stress Away
- Goodbye Hug: 4 drops Lavender + 4 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce + 2 drops Orange
Holiday Movie Diffuser Blends
Colder weather and cozy homes are the perfect combination for curling up by the fire with your favorite movie. Try one of these holiday movie inspired blends!
- Elf: 4 drops each Vanilla, Orange, Peppermint
- It's a Wonderful Life: 4 drops Frankincense, 6 drops Joy
- Miracle on 34th Street: 4 drops Idaho Blue Spruce, 3 drops Cinnamon Bark, 2 drops Orange, 3 drops Vanilla
- The Polar Express: 4 drops each Peppermint, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon
- Charlie Brown Christmas: 2 drops Wintergreen, 4 drops Cinnamon Bark, 3 drops Vanilla, 3 drops Orange
- Christmas Vacation: 4 drops each Stress Away, Peppermint, Vanilla
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas: 4 drops Peppermint, 3 drops Spearmint, 5 drops Vanilla
- Home Alone: 3 drops each Clove, Vanilla, Cardamom, Orange
- Love Actually: 4 drops each Joy, Bergamot, Orange
- The Holiday: 6 drops Christmas Spirit, 4 drops Vanilla
- The Family Stone: 4 drops each Frankincense, Peppermint, Vanilla
ROLLER BLENDS FOR A WONDERFUL WINTER
How about a few holiday rollerball recipes?! Make some for yourself and make a few for friends. It takes just a minute to make up some rollerballs and then you have them on hand when you need them! All recipes are for a 10mL roller bottle. Add essential oils and top with a carrier oil! It's always an option to increase the drops of oil for a stronger scent.
- Gather Roller (A great choice for gatherings + sharing with friends.): 10 drops Lavender, 8 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce, 7 drops Frankincense, 3 drops Cinnamon Bark
- All is Calm Roller (For that peaceful night of sleep! Roll onto temples & wrists.): 10 drops each Lavender, Vanilla, Valor
- Joy to the World Roller (Wear this on your neck or wrists to combat the hustle & bustle of the season.): 10 drops each Joy, Tangerine, White Angelica, 5 drops Vanilla
- Do You Believe Roller (A lovely, festive blend that supports all the emotions this time of year can bring.): 15 drops Believe, 10 drops each Idaho Grand Fir, Lavender, Tangerine.
- Winter Wellness Roller (Stay well this holiday season, roll this on spines and bottoms of feet daily.): 15 drops each Thieves, Lemon, Frankincense, 10 drops Oregano or ImmuPower
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles Roller (This roller is your best friend if the motion of travel makes your belly dance!): 15 drops each Peppermint, Spearmint, Eucalyptus Radiata.
- Easy on the Eggnog Roller (Upset tummies from too much sugar around the holidays? Roll this one right on around the belly button!): 15 drops each DiGize, Peppermint, Lemon
- Son of a Nutcracker Roller (Too much wine at the holiday party last night? Roll this on your temples and back of neck!): 15 drops M-Grain, 10 drops each Peppermint, Panaway, 1 dropperful CBD Drops.
Most of all, enjoy the moments. That's where the true magic lives.
How crazy is it that we are actually in December...the last few days of 2023???
Not sure what it looks like outside your window right now, but we have several inches of that white fluffy stuff on the ground and more is falling...definitely sets the stage for the magic winter brings.
Now, let's switch things up a bit. Instead of offering the usual information on this month's free gifts with purchase, I want to empower you with some self-help tools. Below, you'll find links each oil that you can get for free when you shop from your own online store. Whether you're stocking up on essentials or finding the perfect gifts for family and friends, these freebies will be an incredible bonus. Simply click on the oil name to learn more.
These links come from Life Steps, my favorite app packed with valuable education, resources, and fun DIY ideas. Take a moment to explore and discover the countless benefits it has to offer.
Wishing you a wonderful week filled with joy, warmth, and the enchantment of winter.
Looking for some fantastic holiday gift and DIY ideas? Look no further! I have gift cards available for the amazing modalities I offer, as well as wellness scans. Exciting news: a brand new healing sound table will be arriving this week! Are you curious about the healing power of sound and frequencies? Take some time to research it - you'll be amazed at what you find!
Winter Wonderland Thieves Cleaner
Are you ready for the easiest DIY that will fill your whole home with the scents of the season?! ! All you need is Thieves Household Cleaner and either a bottle of Christmas Spirit or Winter Nights. This also makes a cute gift. Simply put a festive glass spray bottle, a bottle of Thieves Cleaner, and a bottle of Christmas Spirit in a cute basket for an instant gift!
- To a 16oz glass spray bottle add:
- 1-2 capfuls of Thieves Household Cleaner
- 10 drops of Christmas Spirit or Winter Nights essential oil blend
- Fill with filtered water
- Option to add 10 drops of Vanilla as well for an extra cozy boost.
DIY Room Sprays
This simple DIY will make your home feel cozy and makes a beautiful gift paired with a fresh rosemary plant, festive dish towel, Winter Nights Foaming Hand Soap or a fresh fir wreath!
- Winter Solstice: 10 drops each Thieves + Idaho Blue Spruce + Vanilla
- Holly Jolly: 10 drops each Tangerine + Christmas Spirit or Winter Nights
- Silent Night: 10 drops each Lavender + Frankincense + Valor
- Baking Cookies: 10 drops each Thieves + Vanilla
- Frosted Forest: 10 drops Idaho Blue Spruce + 5 drops each Pine + Cedarwood + Peppermint
- Twisted Peppermint: 10 drops each Peppermint + Vanilla + Ylang Ylang
- Add essential oils to a 2oz glass spray bottle, add a splash of witch hazel & top with water! Spritz on all the things!
Winter Wonderland Tree Spray
Here is a spray that you can spritz on your trees, garlands (fresh or artificial!) and stockings to make things smell festive and cozy.
- To 2oz spray bottle, add:
- 20 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce
- 10 drops of Cedarwood
- 7 drops of Orange
- 5 drops of Cinnamon
- Fill the bottle with witch hazel, vodka or water and shake before each spray. Spritz everywhere for a festive tree scent.
DIY Chai Spice & Candy Cane Forest Hand Soaps
If you love to DIY, these are a fun way to cozy up your home, make great host gifts and are simple to whip up to accompany the changing of the seasons.
- Foaming hand soap bottle or recycle a YL one!
- 2 Tbsp Liquid Castile Soap
- 20 drops essential oils*
- 1 tsp Vitamin E oil
- Add essential oils, Vitamin E oil and Castile Soap to the bottle, then top with water leaving 1" at the top
- Chai Spice: 6 drops Cardamom + 4 drops Cinnamon Bark + 4 drops Clove + 4 drops Ginger + 2 Vanilla
- Candy Cane Forest: 10 drops Peppermint + 5 drops Vanilla + 5 drops Ylang Ylang
Holiday Spice Wool Dryer Balls
There's something about the smell of warm clean laundry fresh from the dryer - especially when combining Thieves Laundry Soap and essential oil infused wool dryer balls!
- Organic wool dryer balls
- Essential oils of choice: Christmas Spirit, Peppermint + Vanilla, Cinnamon Bark + Orange, Stress Away + Peppermint, Cardamom & Orange
- Add 4-5 drops of essential oils to each dryer ball.
- Let the dryer balls air dry for about an hour or to speed up the process you can dry them alone. This will allow the oil to absorb into the wool and not transfer to your clothes.
- When it's time to dry your clothes - toss the dryer balls into the dryer with your clothing. Refresh the oils every 4-5 loads or more often if you prefer a stronger scent.
Scented Holiday Cards
This simple holiday hack will give your family and friends (and your post carrier!) an instant jolt of goodness retrieving your cards from the mail!
- Printed Holiday Cards
- Envelopes
- A gallon zip lock bag
- Cotton balls or pads
- Your favorite essential oils! Try Christmas Spirit, Joy, Peppermint, Cinnamon Bark, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Orange or any combination!
- Place a few drops of oil on a cotton ball or pad, oil side down in a zip lock bag. Add your cards to the bag and zip closed overnight.
DIY Oil Infused Bottle Brush Trees
Give your bottle brush trees a little something extra this year - infuse them with festive essential oils!
- Large pitcher or jar (big enough for your trees)
- Distilled water
- Witch hazel
- Oils of your choice. Try Believe, Christmas Spirit, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Winter Nights, Orange or Pine
- Bottle brush trees
- Fill the jar or pitcher almost full of water and add a splash of witch hazel. Add about 20-30 drops of oil and stir with a silicone or metal spoon. Hold your tree upside down for about a minute in the water, then take it out and let it air dry!
Spiced Orange & Cranberry Garland
How about a new tradition!?. It is beautiful, smells amazing, adds a festive touch to any room and is so easy to make!
- About 5 oranges or a mix of oranges, clementines, and grapefruit for varied sizes and colors
- Essential oils: Christmas Spirit, Cinnamon Bark, Vanilla, Clove, Believe, Thieves
- Fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks
- Slice your oranges in circles to ¼ to ½ inch in thickness and arrange them on a non-stick surface or parchment paper. Pour 2-3 drops of essential oils on each slice, then set them in a cool oven and turn the temperature onto the lowest setting your oven will allow. (If your oven does not go below 300, set it there and use a wooden spoon to prop the oven open slightly and allow some heat to dissipate.)
- Leave the slices in the oven for about 5 hours, then shut the oven off and leave the oranges in there overnight or until completely cool. They will be fairly dry, but will continue to dry out over time. You don't want to over dry them in the oven because they can start to burn!
- Once they are dry, string them with some twine, alternating with a few varying sized slices and a cranberry or two, a tied cinnamon stick, whatever you like! Hang them in your home for some delicious smelling holiday cheer!
Here's to an incredible week filled with magic and love, my friend.
Happy, happy Thanksgiving, my friend! Thought you might find some of these recipes helpful whether you are hosting family and friends this week, having a night at home with your family, or just want a little something fun and festive in your day...I know those peppermint brownies are screaming my name...LOL
Peppermint Brownies
This might be the simplest essential oil recipe ever... Just add 4-5 drops of Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil to your mix (or from scratch recipe!) after you add the wet ingredients and bake as directed. Once cooled - use your favorite holiday cookie cutters to create fun shapes. You could even top them with a layer of chocolate frosting (with or without a few drops of Peppermint Vitality...) or powdered sugar. Always fun to make for parties, neighbors or just because!
Peppermint Mocha
- 2 cups strongly brewed coffee or espresso
- 2 cups milk of your choice
- ¼ cup cacao powder (you can also use 2T cocoa powder + 3 oz dark chocolate chopped)
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
- 3-4 drops Peppermint Vitality
- Pour milk into a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk in the cacao powder (or whatever chocolate you're using) and the maple syrup. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes, whisking as needed until smooth.
- Remove from the heat and when slightly cooled add 2 drops of Peppermint Vitality (the flavor is bold, so start with 2 drops and add more if you want!). Place the peppermint cocoa mixture and the coffee in a Vitamix or other high-powered blender (or use a handheld frother), and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds until frothy. Divide into 4 mugs, top with whipped cream, marshmallows...or both!
Eggnog Chai
- Chai Tea Bag & water to prepare it
- ½ cup eggnog
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- Ground Cinnamon
- Prepare Chai Tea according to directions. Heat eggnog on the stove or in the microwave until it's hot to your liking. Once the tea is prepared the eggnog is heated, combine in a mug and let cool slightly, then add a drop of Nutmeg Vitality. Use a hand-held frother, blender or electric milk frother to combine.
- This serves one, so you can double or triple if you need to, top with a sprinkle of Ground Cinnamon and enjoy! You could easily make this with coffee and can add sweetener to taste like honey or maple syrup if you want.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
Wind down and warm up with your favorite mug brimming with homemade hot chocolate. You can add any Vitality oil to your recipe, but these three are favorites - Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa, Lavender Hot Cocoa, and Peppermint Hot Cocoa! Or whip up some Mexican Hot Cocoa for a festive twist!
- Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality essential oil
- 1 drop Clove Vitality essential oil
Lavender Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of choice
- 8 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp honey, or more to taste
- 4 drops Lavender Vitality essential oil
Peppermint Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- 8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tsp honey, or more to taste
- 2 drops Peppermint Vitality essential oil
Champurrado Mexican Hot Cocoa
- 4 cups milk of your choice
- ½ cup honey or agave
- 2 Mexican chocolate tablets
- ¾ cups masa harina (corn flour)
- 2 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- 2 drops Orange Vitality essential oil
For all recipes: Heat all ingredients, except the oils, in a pot over the stove, until just hot. Don't boil. Remove from heat, add the essential oils and stir to combine. Serve in your most festive mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, a candy cane, or all of the above!!
Holiday Mocktails
If you're having a party this season, these mocktail recipes are sure to be a hit! Family and friends will be so smitten with their look and taste that they won't even miss the alcohol!
NingXia Red Rosemary Mule
- 2 ounces NingXia Red
- 6 ounces ginger beer
- 1 drop Rosemary Vitality
- Rosemary sprig
- Pour all ingredients into a copper mug full of crushed ice. Stir well to mix and garnish with a sprig of rosemary.
Holiday Mary
- Lemon wedges
- Sea salt
- 6 ounces tomato juice
- 1 drop Black Pepper Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Lime Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Celery Seed Vitality
- Toothpick swirl of Lemon Vitality
- 1 drop hot sauce
- Celery stick (optional)
- The toothpick method allows you to get a more subtle flavor with the Vitality oils. Simply dip a toothpick in the oil and swirl through your ingredients. Salt the rim of a highball or old-fashioned glass. Fill with ice and set aside. Squeeze a lemon wedge into a shaker and drop it in. Add tomato juice, Vitality oils, a dash of hot sauce to taste, and ice to the shaker. Shake gently to mix. Strain into prepared glass and garnish with celery or your favorite Bloody Mary toppings.
Cranberry Mojito
- Mint leaves
- 1 teaspoon honey or sweetener of choice
- 1 drop Peppermint Vitality
- 1 drop Lime Vitality
- Splash of cranberry juice
- 1 can NingXia Zyng
- Fresh cranberries
- Lime wedges
- In a tall, sturdy glass, place a few mint leaves, the sweetener, a squeeze of lime, Peppermint Vitality, and Lime Vitality. Use a muddler to crush the leaves & combine the flavors. Add ice to the glass. Pour a splash of cranberry juice and stir.
- Fill glass to the top with NingXia Zyng. Garnish with cranberries, more mint leaves, and a lime wedge.
NingXia Red Punch
- 1 bottle NingXia Red
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cups pomegranate juice
- ¼ cup honey or simple syrup
- Sliced apples
- Pomegranate seeds
- Cinnamon sticks
- In a punch bowl, pour NingXia Red, apple cider, pomegranate juice, and honey. Add fruit and cinnamon sticks. Mix well. Cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve. The longer the fruit soaks in the liquid, the more the flavors will combine.
- Serve in short glasses garnished with more apple slices, pomegranate seeds, and cinnamon stick stirrers.
Spiced Cinnamon Cider
A steaming mug of cider is the perfect remedy to cold, wintry days to warm up from the inside out.
- 8 cups apple juice or cider
- 4 cups orange juice
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 9 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- 6 drops Cardamom Vitality
- 4 drops Clove Vitality
- 4 drops Nutmeg Vitality
- 3 drops Citrus Fresh Vitality
- Sliced oranges
- Cinnamon sticks
- Add all ingredients to a large pot and stir to combine. Heat until simmering. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve warm in a mug. Garnish with sliced oranges and cinnamon sticks.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy every moment. Be present. Be good to you.
