Fall is perfect for baking...and for all those smells in your home, especially now that the windows are closed more often as summer temps have slipped away...
Ingredients:
- 3 C Sugar
- 1 C Coconut Oil
- 4 Eggs
- 3 1/3 C Flour
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2/3 C Water
- 1 15oz Can of Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 6 drops of Nutmeg Essential Oil
- 2 drops of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
- 1-2 drops of Orange Essential Oil
- 1 drop of Clove Essential Oil (clove is optional)
How-to: 1. Mix sugar, oil, and eggs 2. Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. 3. Stir in water and pumpkin by hand 4. Add essential oils and mix well 5. Pour batter evenly into 3 greased loaf pans and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or until toothpick/fork comes out clean. 6. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before removing and letting fully cool on wire racks
- Let cool completely before wrapping up to store or freeze
Apple Pumpkin Butter
- 15oz can of Pumpkin
- 1 3/4C applesauce
- 2/3C agave
- 1 in grated ginger
- 1t pure vanilla
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- 2 drops Clove Vitality
- 2 drops Nutmeg Vitality
In a pot simmer all ingredients for 45 minutes. Then add the vanilla and essential oils. Place in a jar and enjoy or share!
FAVORITE FALL BEVERAGES:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 2 cups strongly brewed coffee or espresso
- 1.5 cups milk (I like to use 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 full-fat coconut milk!)
- 3T pumpkin puree
- 3T maple syrup or honey
- 1/2tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 drops Thieves Vitality
Combine all of the ingredients except the Thieves Vitality in a saucepan over medium-high heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally until it is slightly frothy on top. Let cool for a few minutes and then add 1-2 drops of Thieves Vitality or spices. Use an immersion blender to stir or put it in a blender on high for 30 seconds. Divide into 4 mugs and serve!
Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
- 2 cups cooled strong coffee or espresso
- 3/4 cup milk of choice
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2T maple syrup or honey
- 1 drop Thieves Vitality (Cinnamon Bark, Nutmeg, Ginger, or Clove Vitality would all work!) - add oil to sweetener before blending
- Large handful of ice
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend well to desired consistency. Top with homemade whip or coconut whipped cream, caramel drizzle, a sprinkle of cinnamon, whatever makes you happy!
Maple Cinnamon Latte
- 12 ounces brewed, strong organic coffee
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 1T organic maple syrup (add more to taste)
- Organic ground cinnamon for dusting
- 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil
- Optional: Electric milk frother
Grab your favorite coffee mug and line the bottom with maple syrup, about 1T. Pour the brewed coffee on top and stir gently to mix. Add the milk and essential oil (if using) to the frother, hit the button once, and wait while it warms. When ready, pour the milk into your coffee, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a small drizzle of maple syrup or a small sprinkle of raw sugar if desired!
Homemade Wassail:
- Organic apple juice, about 3/4 of a bottle
- Organic pineapple juice, about 2 cups
- 10 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality essential oil
- 5 drops Lemon Vitality Essential oil
- 5 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality Essential oil
- 3 drops Clove Vitality Essential oil
- 2 drop Nutmeg Vitality Essential oil
- Cinnamon sticks, dried cloves to taste
- Orange slices, lemon slices, fresh cranberries, apple slices to garnish
Fill a slow cooker, about 3/4 full with organic apple juice, then top with organic pineapple juice. Add in essential oils and dried species and let simmer. Just before serving add plus orange slices, apples, cranberries, etc. to garnish!
Wassail Champagne Punch:
- ½ Gallon Apple Cider
- 2 cups organic orange juice
- 2 cups organic pineapple juice
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 10 drops Lemon Vitality
- 5 drops Orange or Tangerine Vitality
- 5 drops Cinnamon Bark Vitality
- 3 drops Clove Vitality
- 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality
- Optional: whole cloves, orange peel, lemon peel
- Optional: Champagne
In a large sauce pan or dutch oven, combine apple cider, pineapple juice, orange juice, essential oils, cinnamon sticks and citrus peel and cloves (if using). Let simmer for about one hour, stirring occasionally.
Allow to cool, then remove the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate.
When serving, pour the wassail mixture into a glass and fill about half full. Top with champagne or for a non-alcoholic version try adding Cran-Orange LaCroix or Trader Joe's Winter Sangria sparkling water! Garnish with orange slices or cranberries if you're feeling fancy!
You could make it and serve it hot too, just stop before after the second step or use a slow cooker for the entire process. You can easily prep this at home and take to a gathering as well!
Be sure to tell me what your favorite is, or share your favorite fall recipe! I am a wee bit of a collector of recipes... ;)
Watch next week for fall diffuser blends and diy home cleaning essentials!
It's the season of cinnamon spice, pumpkins, and your favorite hoodie! The air has a chill, the leaves start falling, and the summer season winds down. My favorite time of year...
Do you love to DIY?? This is for you. But, if you are like me, and diy isn't your favorite thing on a fall day, stick with me anyway...there are some fun things in here others may enjoy - feel free to share or let your kiddos make some of these! There is even a special activity for those favorite littles in your life...
Halloween Diffuser Cauldron or Autumn Pumpkin
Here is a simple and fun seasonal decor using your diffuser + favorite fall oils!
You will need:
- Your diffuser
- A plastic decorative cauldron or galvanized pumpkin
- Orange & Clove essential oils
Poke a hole on the side/ bottom of the cauldron/pumpkin, if plastic, for the diffuser's cord. If using metal, simply set the diffuser in and lift the cord out the back. Fill with water, add oils, turn on. Add spider web or tissue paper on top of the cauldron as desired! - Pumpkin Succulent Diffuser
Create a cute, fun and festive centerpiece with a pumpkin, some succulents and essential oils!- Plastic pumpkins - real work as well but don't last as long
- Potting soil
- Small succulents
- Natural materials - wood slices, Spanish moss, small pine cones, wood rings, etc. (find them at the craft store)
- Essential oils of choice
Simply cut the top off your pumpkin and scoop out the insides if you're using a real one. Fill about 3/4 with soil, then plant 2-3 small succulents into the top. Add moss, wood slices and rings, small pinecones, anything fall and festive that will soak in essential oils. Add 3-4 drops of oil to the porous materials for a 'diffuser' or spritz with a DIY room spray (witch hazel + water + EOs) every few days! *NOTE: If you use a real pumpkin, this will only last about a month at most. Using a plastic or ceramic pumpkin will extend the life of the diffuser/succulents indefinitely.
- Festive Wreath Diffuser
Create your own festive wreath (and switch it out each season!) with some florals and essential oils.- Large grapevine wreath
- Dried florals of choice - eucalyptus, pampas grass, chrysanthemums, wheat stalks, etc.
- Large craft pine cones
- Craft/floral wire
- Essential oils of choice
Lay your grapevine wreath on a table and gather all dried florals or other items you wish to add to the wreath. Arrange the florals around the wreath as desired, securing them with floral wire. Once finished, drop essential oils onto pine cones or grapevine for a passive diffuser!
- DIY Scented Pine Cones
This is a fun one because you get yourself outside and collect pinecones in various shapes and sizes. If you have kids they will love doing this with you!- Preheat oven to 200°
- Line an old baking sheet with aluminum foil
- Place pinecones on baking sheet
- Bake pinecones for 30 minutes
- Remove from oven and let cool completely
- In a ceramic, glass or stainless bowl add pinecones, then add essential oils of your choice about 30 total drops. Seal the bowl & shake so that the oils soak into the pinecones. Leave the bowl in a cool dark place for at least one week. The longer you can leave the bowl covered the better your pinecones will be scented.
- Now they are ready to be displayed on your favorite tray!
- Cinnamon Pinecone Fire Starters
This craft is a very simple one that kids LOVE! It starts with gathering pine cones, which is always a fun fall task.- Pine cones in various sizes
- Yarn of desired color (or even dryer lint!)
- Essential oils
- Gather your pine cones and spray with diluted Thieves Cleaner, then let sit overnight to dry. Once dry, wrap the yarn around the pine cones as desired. You can wrap all of it in the center or cover the whole thing - it's up to you! Just weave the yarn through the individual ‘leaves' of the pine cone. Drop a few drops of Cinnamon Bark essential oil onto the yarn and let it sit overnight. Store then next to the fireplace, and add 2-3 to the wood when starting a fire!
Pumpkin Preserving Spray
Do your pumpkins get eaten by squirrels or rot super quickly after you put them on your porch? Save them with this super easy DIY!
To a 16 oz glass spray bottle add:
Do your pumpkins get eaten by squirrels or rot super quickly after you put them on your porch? Save them with this super easy DIY!
To a 16 oz glass spray bottle add:
- One capful of Thieves Household Cleaner
- 10 drops of Tea Tree.
- Fill the rest of the way with water!
Use this to clean your pumpkins once before putting them all out (and try to keep them out of direct sunlight so they last even longer!), then spray as needed to preserve them as long as possible. Spritz your pumpkins every other day to keep the squirrels away!!
- Pumpkin Pie Play DoughAn activity for the kids with the option of being free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and their little hands smelling AMAZING plus it has immune boosting properties! You can make this together, super easy, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup Kidscents lotion
- 4 drops Cardamom
- 2 drops Orange
- 1 drop Cinnamon bark
- 1 drop Clove
- Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!
Next week we'll get you in the kitchen and bringing in all those smells of fall!!
STAYING FOCUSED...
Whether you're helping your little ones with homework, helping older kids stay focused in class, or needing some help yourself, these are some of our favorite oils for staying focused and alert!
- Vetiver
- Cedarwood
- Brain Power
- KidScent GeneYus
- Inspiration
- Envision
Why these? A study on essential oils and focus by Dr. Terry Friedmann found a 32% improvement in mental focus in children inhaling Vetiver, with similar results in the group inhaling Cedarwood Cedarwood.
They realized that this is because of a specific constituent (a component of the oils). Vetiver and Cedarwood are extremely high in sesquiterpenes - molecules that deliver oxygen molecules to cells, just like hemoglobin does to the blood! More oxygen to the brain = better focus. These oils also help our brain waves calm from an overactive state to a focused one.
- Cedarwood 98% sesquiterpenes
- Vetiver 97% sesquiterpenes
- Spikenard 93% sesquiterpenes
- Sandalwood 90% sesquiterpenes
- CLEANING...AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL...
Thieves Household Cleaner is our absolute favorite for green, plant-based cleaning. You know we use this in our homes, but did you know that a lot of teachers will use it in their classrooms as well?! So many people have gifted it along with a glass spray bottle to their kids' teachers to use daily in their classrooms. Spice it up with one of these recipes!
A good night of sleep always makes you feel amazing, but did you know that sleep has even more effects than just having energy? It is a huge part of Your ability to focus, your immune system, and your ability to retain information! Sleep is crucial...Great oil choices are Peace & Calming, Cedarwood, Valor, Lavender, SleepyIze, Seedlings Calm, Tranquil. Immupro or Sleep Essence are my go to supplements. Have you tried Unwind or KidScents MightyPro? More and more research shows that a healthy gut is crucial for all things...including sleep!
Spray this onto sheets, blankets, pjs and stuffed animals before bed.
- Glass spray bottle
- 30 drops Peace & Calming
- 15 drops Lavender
- Splash of witch hazel
- Water
AFTER SCHOOL OR WEEKEND FUN!!
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough Fun for the kids with the option of being free of harmful dyes and ingredients and leaves the house and hands smelling AMAZING plus it has immune boosting properties! Super easy to make together, then let them play the crisp, fall day away!!
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup Kidscents Lotion
- 4 drops Cardamom
- 2 drops Orange
- 1 drop Cinnamon bark
- 1 drop Clove
- Mix all the ingredients together and let their imaginations run wild!
DIY Clay Leaf Tray This DIY tray is a fun craft for the little ones to make and gift! Before the clay hardens, you can drop essential oils onto it. Choose stronger scents like Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Thieves or Peppermint to ensure more scent.
- Air dry clay
- Craft paper
- Rolling pin
- Craft paint (we like the metallic colors!)
- Paint brushes
- Modge Podge gloss or other sealer
- Various leaves from your yard
First, explore around your yard and gather your leaves! Cut out a piece of air dry clay, then roll it out about 1/2 inch thick, making sure your leaf will fit fully onto the clay. Then, press your leaf (vein side down) onto the clay. Make sure all parts of the leaf press in so that you get all the pretty nuances of the leaf!
Remove the leaf from the clay, and cut around the outline with a knife (have adults do this part), then remove the excess air dry clay from around your imprint. Go around the perimeter of the leaf and gently press the sides up and in to create a small edge If adding oils, do so now.
Allow the clay to air dry and harden. We set ours on a baking rack so that both sides were exposed to air. After 24 hours they had hardened and were ready to paint!
Paint! Once the paint is dry, cover with a coat of Modge Podge gloss, then let that dry for 24 hours. After the coating is dry, have your children sign the back and write the year.
I'd love to see pics of your playdough fun and leaf creations! Post them in Intentional Wellness on Facebook!
Let’s talk Light and air as we continue our trek through part of Dr. David Stewart’s book, The Chemistry of Essential Oils Made Simple.
Essential oils should always be kept in opaque or dark colored transparent bottles. In ancient Egypt and Biblical times, oils were kept in alabaster boxes or jars of limestone, marble or fired ceramics, and usually sealed with a translucent or opaque layer of wax.
Today most properly packaged oils are in dark amber (brown) or dark blue glass bottles. If you should see an oil for sale, claiming to be “essential” and it is in a clear white bottle, it is either not a true essential oil, or the packager simply didn’t know any better. Sadly, whatever essential oil may have been there has been long since destroyed by light.
The tiny size of the molecules are responsible for the aroma and therapeutic value of an oil. These tiny molecules are aromatic because they are light enough to evaporate, get into the air, and enter our noses so we can smell them. Small molecules are therapeutic because they can penetrate the skin and muscle tissue, pass through the blood-brain barrier, and even through cell membranes, working right at the cellular levels and right down to your DNA.
If your oils are exposed to light for a long time, the small molecules join together to make larger molecules. These large molecules don’t easily evaporate and they have no aroma at room temp, nor can they penetrate body tissues or enter into your cells. They have no therapeutic value like those small molecules do.
Basically, light will eventually destroy an essential oil, chemically altering it into a substance that is no longer of any value aromatically or therapeutically.
But don’t worry if your bottle tops are off while if you blend one oil with another, or if you get into doing Raindrop or Neuroauricular techniques. A few minutes, or even a few hours exposure won’t substantially change the composition of your oils….we are talking about exposure to light over days, weeks and months. That will destroy an essential oil.
Now let’s talk about air and what it will do to your oils. Dr. Stewart tells us that extended exposure to air will cause an oil to oxidize – the molecules of the oil will take on extra oxygen atoms, which will change their chemistry and therapeutic actions, maybe even destroying it all together. For example, the main ingredient in all citrus oils is d-limonene – it has a very faint fragrance of “citrus”, like orange or lime…it is not strong. But when limonene is exposed to air for a long period of time, what doesn’t evaporate can oxidize into another compound called limonene oxide which smells like turpentine… D-limonene is thought to be a cancer fighter (I have hinted before that you are given hints to research when you read the descriptions of the oils!!) but the benefits of limonene oxide are dubious and unknown and certainly not the same as d-limonene.
Most essential oil bottles have airtight caps along with non-reactive plastic or Teflon dropper caps that make it extremely difficult for any air to circulate into and out of the bottle even when the caps are off – even for an extended period of time like overnight.
That “under the weather season” is fast approaching, too. What are you doing to stay above that wellness line?? Ready for something different?? Ever tried elderberry syrup? How about a foot detox?? Or a Raindrop session? All incredible body support at the cellular level for so many things beyond immune support…Booking here at my house, at a local salon and I can even come to you. You will be amazed at your energy level, how much better you sleep, that brain fog might dissipate, hormones may balance out…overall body support is always the answer, my friend. What’s holding you back from feeling your best?? Message me and let’s get your session booked.
Be well,
by: Vicki Lyn Merrill©, CRTS, LSH
Holistic Practitioner
Certified Vitality Lifestyle Coach
207 480 0356
All Rights Reserved
Without Prejudice
