SweetSassyDiva: December 2014

December 31, 2014

Happy New Year

Perhaps, it is the end of year reflection or that I see so many posts for prayer requests in my Facebook timeline for the health of themselves, loved ones or the heartbreaking loss of so many they love or the loss of a fellow mom that I got to know about 6 years ago who tragically took her life, I have been thinking seriously about my friendships, the health of my family and myself and so many things that I am grateful for as well as what can be improved upon. Be grateful for the good things or you'll never be grateful for anything. Make changes now so, you do not have regrets when perhaps it is too late. Sometimes when you think it is too late, it's not so, reach up and get up to fix things! You CAN do it!

The ultimate life was a great movie with little gems. In the movie, they called it a golden list but, it's making a gratitude list daily. Writing them down in a journal or a post it on your fridge, computer or wherever you see it! 10 things you're grateful for everyday.

I've been reading a book that this just seems to resonate with me and really went with this man's quest. There are 7 key areas that must be balanced and grow to live the life of your dreams. They are fitness, family, finance, faith, field, friends and fun. If you are not in balance, it may propel you in one area at a much greater cost of so much more!

I will be taking some time to sit down and not only make a note of my gratitudes but, to reflect on the 7 key areas and find my balance & grow points. Many of my gratitudes for 2014 have been because of the improvements made with and around young living essential oils. It has helped me to find #oola.

2015 Goals for a Happy Year & Improved You!

Did you know that smells shape our moods, behavior and decisions through our olfactory system? They can even control your behavior without conscious effort.

These are the top 10 things that we will commit to in the new year and the essential oils that can help you achieve your goals through the power of scent. We've all broken a New Year's resolution in the past but, not this year. This year, we're kicking the bad habits and living a longer, happier and more significant life. 2015 is our year!

Lose weight, volunteer, quit smoking, go to school, get a new job, save money, reduce stress, eat healthy / get fit, reduce debt, take a vacation. If you have other goals, let's talk personally about those!

What are your #gratitudes and what are your goals for the new year?

#happynewyear #sweetsassydiva

Note: do not use the website link on any of these pictures. My affiliate link is http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x

We also have a private group on Facebook that has recipes and discusses the Young Living Essential Oils. If you do not already have someone that you purchase the oils through nor a Young Living account currently, pleaseClick here to email me and ask to be added to the group!

We are doing a healthy resolutions challenge in our private group. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

December 31st is the last day to get this incredible deal with me.

Let's make 2015 our best year!

December 29, 2014

Anniversary

I bought my kit a year ago and to celebrate, I have one $20 off voucher code for someone that buys a premium starter kit from my referral link. Click here to email me before you order!

This kit is something that I use daily for a variety of my family's needs. From headache, sore throat, stomach issues, boosting a healthy immune system, fighting crud, skin rashes, losing weight, allergies, sinus and so much more. Thieves smells amazing diffused and I've replaced all those chemical plug ins.

Here's what is included in the kit:

We are also doing a healthy resolutions challenge in our private group. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Here's the referral link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup. To get the $20 off on the premium starter kit, email me before signing up for an account with me.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off and that way you get wholesale prices. Many oils are available in a 5 ml or 15 ml bottle depending on the oil.

December 20, 2014

12 Days of Oils Frankincense

Today, I'm talking about a cream that I first tried and the reason I looked at young living essential oils. My four year old had a skin flare up and was diagnoised at the doctor. He prescribed a cortisone steroid cream and it just made it spread worse. So, I tried the essential oils and her skin went back to normal.

I used 1 cup of coconut oil and whipped it for about 5 minutes. It gets fluffy like a cream and mixed in 10 drops of each frankincense, melrose and lavender essential oils. I apply this as a skin cream and it helps to maintain a healthy glowng skin.

I used a cute container I found at hobby lobby. I embellished it with Graphic 45 using the Twelve Days of Christmas line. The center comes from the banners package and the flower from the flowers package.

The banner I stamped using the stampin up alphabet rotary stamp item 133769 and classic stampin pad in blackberry bliss 133642.

The cream ribbon is from Anna griffin holiday card making kit that I believe was on qvc or hsn. The red checkered ruffled ribbon item #505685 by ribbonFx is from my ribbon stash.

I layered the elements on top of the kid using dimensional type product in my stash.

We also have a private group on Facebook that has more recipes and discusses the Young Living Essential Oils. If you do not already have someone that you purchase the oils through nor a Young Living account currently, pleaseClick here to email me and ask to be added to the group!

Be sure to check back this month at www.sweetsassydiva.com for more creative ways and Holiday gift ideas to use the Premium Starter Kit.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Sacred Frankinscence is available in a 5 ml bottle and melrose and lavender essential oil is available in an individual 15 ml bottle outside of the PSK. Melrose is not in the kit.

December 19, 2014

12 Days of Oils Lemon

Lemon sugar scrub

DIY Lemon sugar scrub recipe:

2 1/2 cups of sugar

1/2 cup of Grapeseed oil

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

10 drops of Young Living lemon essential oil

Mix into a glass bowl. Combine liquids with the sugars and incorporate until a paste consistency is achieved. Add more grapeseed oil, if the mixture seems too dry or sugar, if it is too wet. Even my little girl helped make this one!

I found the cute sugar scrub jars at Hobby Lobby item number 710798.

Spoon the mixed scrub into cute jars.

We embellished it with a yellow stampin up ribbon and a tag from Graphic 45. It was in the twelve days of Christmas collection g45 chipboard 1 4500740. It was adhered with dimensionals to the ribbon.

This is a great gift to keep next to the sink after gardening, doing dishes or next to the bath. Be careful with applying this in the bath esp to soothe your feet as it can be slippery with the oils.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Lemon essential oil is available in an individual 15 ml bottle outside of the PSK.

December 18, 2014

12 Days of Oils Citrus Fresh

Himalayan Pink Salt with Citrus Fresh, Honey and Mango Shea Butter Soap.

DIY recipe supplies:

Himalayan Pink Salt

Citrus Fresh Young Living Essential Oil

Honey and Mango Shea Butter

Silicon mold

Soap dye (optional)

Melt the soap then, add dye and citrus fresh 8-10 drops to the honey soap.

Pour the melted mango and shae butter into the mold and sprinkle the salt on.

While it's still warm, layer the honey mixture

then, cover with remaining mango shea butter.

Allow the mold to rest until the soap hardens in approximately 30 minutes. Remove from mold and package into a cellophane bag. Dress up with some embellishments or add them inside the stampin up 135853

Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits Dies

These can also be made into bars instead of these cute guest soap sized individual soaps.

Citrus Fresh Ingredients

Orange (Citrus aurantium), tangerine (Citrus nobilis), mandarin (Citrus reticulata), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lemon (Citrus limon), and spearmint (Mentha spicata).

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Citrus Fresh essential oil is available in an individual 15 ml bottle outside of the PSK.

December 16, 2014

12 Days of Oils Panaway

So, I couldn't skip over sharing this in my gift basket. This is a huge go to for me! Especially this time of hear with the hustle and bustle preparing for the holidays!

Today, we talk about Panaway! A powerhouse blend.

Ingredients:

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).

It's great after exercise or those sprints getting those Christmas sales or not! Maybe even that must have you for our little angel! :)

There are so many reasons that I reach for the PanAway!

I like to whip up this bad boy! Here are the goodies that we need for this:

I picked up a cute jar at the craft store. You also need coconut oil, panAway, peppermint and valor from Young Living. Valor used to be in the starter kit but, now you can add it to your PSK order. I do like it with lemongrass for inflammation too but, again that is outside of the PSK.

I grab a glass bowl and put 1 cup of coconut oil into it. I whip it with a hand mixer for about 5 min until it's light and fluffy. I then, whip in 10 drops each of panaway, peppermint and valor. :whip it good song by devo playing in my head:

Once it is fluffy and the oils are well incorporated, put it into the glass container.

The fun part now! I called it "Ache be Gone". I embellished it with Graphic 45 using the Twelve Days of Christmas line. The center comes from the banners package and the flower from the flowers package.

The center I stamped using the stampin up alphabet rotary stamp item 133769 and classic stampin pad in blackberry bliss 133642.

The green ribbon is from Anna griffin holiday card making kit that I believe was on qvc or hsn.

I layered the elements on top of the kid using dimensional type product in my stash.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Panaway essential oil is available in an individual 5 ml bottle as is valor. Peppermint is available single as a 15 ml bottle outside of the PSK.

December 15, 2014

12 Days of Oils Thieves

If you have been following along, I am doing homemade gift ideas using the Young Living Essential Oils Premium Starter Kit. As you can tell from the graphic, today is day 3 THIEVES!

If you have looked on the back of a bottle of hand sanitizer, you will notice a huge long list of chemicals which most you cannot pronounce! Most are alcohol based and even the thieves brand from young living has denatured ethanol SD-38B (denatured with peppermint essential oil).

I decided to make a version of my own Thieves hand sanitizer.

DIY Recipe:

3 TBS aloe vera gel

2 TBS witch hazel

1/2 tsp vitamin E oil

4 TBS distilled water

8-10 drops thieves young living essential oil

I bought a glass pump container to put the thieves mixture in.

Step 1:

In a pourable container, mix together aloe vera gel & vitamin E oil and witch hazel. Stir as best you can. Vitamin E oil is very thick.

Step 2:

Stir in water & thieves, mix well.

Step 3:

Pour mix into container. This container is 6 ounces.

We have a video that gives ideas on avoiding the sickies this season with essential oils and what to do, if the sickies strike! I can add you to the group to view it.

I used a tag from graphic 45 twelve days of Christmas in chipboard 1. The baker's twine is from the twinery.

There is a complete line of thieves products from essential oils, cleaning products, hygiene such as dental care etc.

The hand sanitizer, thieves mints and spray make excellent stocking stuffers and stash great in your purse or suit coat for on the go!

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Thieves essential oil is available in an individual 15 ml bottle.

December 14, 2014

12 Days of Oils Lavender

A French Kiss Bubble Bar by LUSH was the inspiration for today's project.

Here's a video from LUSH showing how they make it.

http://www.how-to-diy.org/oyBylFiXJMl2QX/Lush-Manufacturing-Presents:-A-French-Kiss-Bubble-Bar.html

According to the LUSH website, The list of ingredients:

What goes into my DIY recipe:

Here is our video showing the process:

Http://youtu.be/fkDcv7ate6c

You can replace both the Cream of Tartar and Sodium Bicarbonate with one ingredient...Baking Powder. The Cream of Tartar mixed with the Baking soda is essentially double action baking powder. You need 1 cup powder. So, either do baking soda and add some cream of tartar, or grab the baking powder.

I've read some not so positive articles on Sodium Laureth Sulfate and I wanted to avoid this foaming agent. So, I opted for Dr. Bronner's unscented pure-Castile Soap. It won't foam up like SLS but, will still be a luxurious bath. My daughter has eczema so, I wanted to avoid the SLS. Rather counter productive to have the essential oils that help, if I'm adding harsh chemicals. Lol

3 Tbsp. Castille Soap (like Dr. Bronner's which you can buy unscented)

3 Tbsp. each of Glycerin and Coconut Oil (both lather well and are skin softeners)

4 drops each of Young Living Essential Oils Lavender, Rosemary, and Thyme. Note: you could do this entirely with lavender only. For those purchasing the premium starter kit to complete the 12 days of oils, either use lavender only for this recipe or add on the rosemary and thyme to your order.

Take half of the mixture and dye with soap colorant. I chose lavender.

1 tsp. Herbes de Provence sprinkled between or mixed into half of the mixture that you color with bath bomb dye. Additionally, a sprig of lavender for the finishing touch.

Roll the two colors onto a piece of wax paper creating a log roll.

Cut log into pieces and twist into a piece of burlap to create a Hershey kiss shape.

You will want to store these in a cellophane bag to keep it from crumbling.

TO USE THE SOLID A FRENCH KISS IN THE BATH: Crumble under running bath water. If you’re not using it quickly, package the rest up in cellophane bags, wax or parchment paper. These work best, when they’re slightly moist so, they crumble easily under running water. If you just toss them into a bath, the result is less than astounding. Definitely, crumble these under warm running water.

Lavender is the Swiss Army knife of essential oils and has helped our family immensely.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can also order the bottles separately through me too, although the kit is the best deal at approximately 50% off. Lavender is available in an individual 15 ml bottle.

December 12, 2014

American Girl mini dolls

Amazon has a code for 25% off books so, that means it can be applied to the American girl mini dolls! I scored the 2015 GOTY!

Coupon BOOKDEAL25 is 1 use per account.

The rumor is the 2015 GOTY is.... Grace Thomas!

Picture source unknown.

I pre-ordered the 2015 goty and it gives a shipping date of January 27th...hope it's sooner than that!

I'm thinking a nice birthday present, Valentine's Day or if you can hold out until Easter! :)

December 11, 2014

DIY Laundry Spot Remover

DIY Laundry Spot Remover
• 1 Tbsp. Thieves Household Cleaner
• 1 Tbsp. lukewarm water
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• 2 Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide
Combine Thieves Household Cleaner, water, and baking soda in a small bowl and mix until baking soda is dissolved. Add hydrogen peroxide. Pretreat stain (test on an inconspicuous area first!) by spraying the mixture directly onto stain with a spray bottle or by pouring directly onto stain. Let sit a few minutes, then rinse and wash normally. Discard excess stain remover after finished with laundry for the day—mixture doesn’t keep overnight.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

The Thieves or ningxia Red premium starter kit is an additional option available.

12 Days of Oils Peppermint

Peppermint is a powerhouse and an oil I not only use for Christmas baking but, daily. I am going to have crafty gift ideas on my blog using young living essential oils. It's a great way to see how to use these versatile oils and some gift giving ideas.

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

3 egg whites, room temperature

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup sugar

1-2 drops Young Living peppermint oil

Preheat oven to 200F.

Place the egg whites and lemon juice in the bottom of a medium mixing bowl or stand mixer. (Make sure there is no grease residue on either the bowl or the mixer… or things will not be "good.”) Beat on high speed for 3-5 minutes or until the egg whites are thick and foamy. and will hold their shape if you were to whip it to make a stiff peak. Reduce mixing speed to low and slowly pour in the sugar. Mix for an additional minute on medium speed and then add your young living peppermint oil. I try to add only one drop, but it sometimes ends up being two. Mix again for 30 seconds.

Put one of those big Wilton 2D star tips inside a pastry bag or a ziplock bag with the corner cut off. Using a pastry brush or a toothpick, paint the sides of the bag with red food coloring. Stand the bag up inside a glass and fill it with your peppermint meringue mixture.

Place some parchment paper on a cooking sheet or use a siplat and pipe 2″ circles all over the place. I like to start in the middle and then go around until the tray is filled. Try to leave about an inch between each meringue circle. Bake for 2 hours. Eat as many as you possible can stand and then, make more for everyone else.

After they cool, place them into a cellophane bag with a decorative tie. You could also include a bottle of peppermint oil and the recipe for an easy gift idea.

Or place the bag into the young living hot chocolate mug with chocolate bars and recipe.

Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/krd7j6x If you need help, I can help you with any questions and signup.

You can get an additional 20% off on four amazing gifts bundles, while supplies last. The holiday season is in full swing, and we’re making sure it’s full of cheer! Throughout the rest of December, enjoy 20 percent off these items in the 2014 Holiday Catalog:

NingXia Red^® Chrome Collection (Item No. 5409)
NingXia Stocking Stuffers (Item No. 5406)
Holiday Soap Pack (Item No. 5407)
Morning Mix Kit (Item No. 5414)

Just in time for your seasonal shopping, these special items are great as heartfelt gifts for family and friends, as stocking stuffers, or to brighten the holiday mood in your home!

American Girl Daily Deals

There's a number of deals and here's just a peek.

http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/thumbnail/id/2251/uid/1022

Use code 179780 for $10 off $100 purchase.

Each day the deals change so, shop early.

December 7, 2014

Ornaments and Gift Tags!

This recipe is perfect because these ornaments normally smell weird! Adding oils to them is brilliant and you're going to love this craft for the family.

PLUS, USE THEM AS GIFT TAGS.

DIY Essential Oil-Infused Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Supplies needed:
• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• ½ cup water
• Approximately 5 drops of essential oil—combination of Orange and Cinnamon Bark recommended

Kit oil: THIEVES
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Baking sheet
• Paint, optional
• Ribbon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Mix together flour and salt in a bowl, then stir in water and essential oils until smooth. Lightly flour countertop. Roll out dough until it’s approximately ¼ inch thick. Cut out ornaments in desired shapes, and don’t forget to include a small hole to string ribbon through. (A plastic straw or wooden skewer works great for this.) Transfer shapes to ungreased baking sheet and cook for 2-3 hours, until completely dry. Remove from oven and allow to cool. At this stage, ornaments may be painted or decorated. String with ribbon, and your ornaments are done!