Did you know you can use essential oils in your cooking? Not only does it add amazing flavor but it's easy and gives you added health benefits!
​
4 Reasons to Use Essential Oils in Cooking-
1- Powerful, fresh flavor
2- Long shelf life (even if you don't use it often, it will be fresh every time)
3- Easy and convenient- no chopping, peeling or mincing
4- Added health benefits of each unique oil

How to Cook with Essential Oils:
*1 teaspoon dried herbs = 1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 drop essential oil
*Zest of 1 lemon/lime = 8 drops
*For hot or spicy herbs use a toothpick swirl -dip a toothpick in the essential oil bottle and swirl it around in the recipe
*Error on the side of less oil. Taste your recipe and then add more if needed. 

My Tips and Favorites:
*Cilantro essential oil in fresh salsa and guacamole is amazing!
*Add 4-5 drops of On Guard or Wild Orange to a bowl of sliced apples covered in water. Let sit for 15 minutes, drain and enjoy a new twist on apples and keep them from turning brown.
*Place 1 drop of favorite essential oil in hot water for a soothing tea.
*Add 2-3 drops of Citrus oil to smoothies for increased flavor.
*Substitute Lemongrass & Ginger essential oils for ginger root and lemongrass to save time and a trip to a specialty grocery story
*Add 1 drop of Cinnamon, Clove or On Guard to oatmeal or hot breakfast cereal.

 I'd love to hear which recipes you make and what your favorite tips and uses are with essential oils! Check out doTERRA's Top Ten Essential Oil recipes for more inspiration! 


​
*Make sure all essential oils used in cooking are labeled for internal use

Do you ever have days where you feel so emotional overwhelmed you exist in a fog or cry at the drop of a hat and struggle to find reasons to smile or feel joy?

Life is hard. And emotions are real.  When we find ourselves in this place, sometimes we feel guilt. Guilt because we think we should be stronger and handle life's issues better. Guilt because we feel focused on ourselves and don't have the capacity to be there for other people. 

While it's tempting (and maybe even default) to push the emotions away, it is healthy to experience our emotions. And not to just feel them but to process them, work through the situation that triggered them and support our body in the emotions. 


A few tips to turn emotional overwhelm from an internal festering wound to a beautiful, healing experience:

1- Give your self permission to feel the emotion and to be ok with how you feel. You might need to tell yourself this out loud or to someone else. 

2- Journal how you feel. Write down your regrets and what you need to take ownership for in the situation. Write down all the things you want to let go of in the form of "I forgive...". Write down all the things you wished people would know. 

3- Use Console oil. Console soothes feelings of sorrow & grief and promotes feelings of hope and peace. Roll on the inside of wrist or over heart several times a day or when feeling overwhelmed. 

4- Nurture yourself by going for walks, spending time with friends, listening to music, making more space in your schedule to just be or whatever brings you joy.  

5- Ask Jesus to heal your emotions. Jesus understands what it feels like to be overwhelmed, sad, sorrowing and abandoned. He not only understands but is with us in every emotion we feel. Invite Him to join you in your emotions and to heal your hurts. 

6- Give yourself time. It takes time to process and work though hard emotions. Everyone process at a different pace so don't compare yourself to others. Be gentle with yourself and know that in time, healing will come. 

Recently I was with a friend and we were both feeling anxious. I reached into my purse and got out my Liquid Calm blend. A few minutes later exactly when I felt much calmer, she seemed visibly calmer too.

Later she told me she was having really bad cramps. Again, I reached into my purse and gave her some peppermint oil.  At the end of the evening, she commented, "I don't think it's going to be long and I will have my own keychain of oils with me!" 

You don't have to just "deal with" these discomforts and challenges in life! Be prepared for anything that comes with these simple tips!

*Around the House- Keep frequently used oils handy by your bedside, in the bathroom and kitchen. You'll use them more often and have better results if they are easily accessible. I like to keep my oils that I use daily on the bottom of my feet in my sock drawer to help me remember to use them. 

*Keychain- These small, cute keychains are a life saver! They hold eight small vials of oils so you can support your mood, digestion and any issue that arises. 

*Car- Apply oils to a car diffuser, your wrist or add to water to keep you awake, ease stomach discomfort and stress while driving. 

*Diaper Bag- This is great place to keep your keychain! Kids love to do the unexpected and you never know when a bumps, scrape or temper tantrum will arise. 

Pre-make your oils into rollers and fill your keychain (available at the Country Cupboard) today so you can always be ready for life's emergencies! 

Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint are three of the most common, yet powerful essential oils! Essential oils are lovely by themselves but when you combine them together you create a synergy that supersedes their effect individually! This is the case with Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint.

LaLePep as we like to call this blend is an amazing remedy to use for this time of the year as the flowering trees start to bud, the pollen content goes up and things are blooming! It soothes and calms seasonal discomforts and helps you enjoy this time of year. 

Lemon is a great cleanser for the body, sinuses and your home! In this blend, it helps to clear out congestion and irritants. 

Lavender is soothing and calming to your bodies reaction to irritants. I love to apply this to my throat, forehead and cheekbones when things feel tight and uncomfortable. 

Peppermint opens the airways, allows for more blood flow and promotes circulation to assist the body with clearing out irritants. 

This blend is best when used multiple times daily before you start to have discomfort. If discomfort arises, apply every 60 minutes until issue is resolved. 

To use: 
Blend equal parts of Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint in a bottle. Use 2-3 drops internally several times a day, diffuse 3-4 drops of the blend or dilute and apply topically to areas of discomfort. 

This trio is the perfect blend of oils to start with if you are new to oils and come prepackaged all ready to go in a kit! 

​

Cedarwood is maybe an essential oil you've heard of but you aren't sure how to use it.

• Its warm, woody, calming cedar scent soothes the body and mind.  Diffuse in your home or office to promote feelings of confidence, self-esteem, and evoke feelings of wellness.
•  Add an extra boost of vitality and wellness to your workout. Before beginning, massage one to two drops onto chest for motivation throughout any workout.
• Incorporate into your daily facial routine by adding one to two drops to your facial toner or moisturizer for added clarifying properties and to help improve the appearance of skin imperfections. 

​
Learn more about dōTERRA Cedarwood by checking out its uses and benefits below.
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-cedarwood-oil

Lemongrass is a unique oil with a fresh uplifting scent! My favorite uses for lemongrass are when my muscles are sore, when I need to relieve urinary discomfort and if my cholesterol levels need balancing.  

Use Lemongrass oil for lymph and cardiovascular support

• Place a drop in a Veggie Cap and swallow to keep fluids and bowels moving.
• Place a drop in a Veggie Cap and swallow to maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Use Lemongrass oil for the skin and muscles

• Combine Lemongrass oil with Tea Tree oil and apply the mixture to your fingernails and toenails to keep them looking clean.
• Soothe muscles and ligaments:  Add a few drops of Lemongrass oil to a lotion or a carrier oil and massage the legs and feet after a tough workout.

Use Lemongrass oil to uplift mood

• Diffuse to overpower feelings of nervousness or eliminate mental fatigue.
• Diffuse at your desk at work to help promote a positive outlook and heighten your awareness.

Use Lemongrass oil for cooking ​

• Culinary uses: Add a drop (or less) of Lemongrass oil to soups, teas, seafood, curries, beef dishes, or poultry dishes for an extra kick of flavor.

Use Lemongrass oil for urinary support

• Add a drop to a veggie cap or rub diluted over the abdomen to ease urinary discomfort.

People often ask, “How do I use my Eucalyptus oil?" You’ll love what this cleansing, relaxing, and soothing essential oil can do for you.

Reason 1: Promotes relaxation
Diffusing Eucalyptus oil can help create a tranquil atmosphere in your home, while also decreasing feelings of tension and promoting relaxation. 

Reason 2: Promotes feelings of clear breathing
Because it contains the chemical component eucalyptol, Eucalyptus oil is useful for creating a cooling vapor when applied to the skin or inhaled. When the seasons change, you can rub a few drops of Eucalyptus on your chest to promote feelings of open airways. 

Reason 3: A cleansing agent
Combine Eucalyptus with Lemon and Peppermint oil in a spray bottle, and then use the mixture to wipe down surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom, or other common areas of your home. Not only will the essential oil mixture give you peace of mind concerning the nontoxic cleanliness of your home, but you’ll love the wonderful aroma that lingers after you finish.

Reason 4: Use in a soothing massage
Blend with Fractionated Coconut Oil and gently rub on the problem area and enjoy the cooling, soothing effects. The aroma of Eucalyptus will also help to clear the mind and calm feelings of tension and stress.

Reason 5: Clean and revitalize the skin
If your skin feels oily, consider adding a few drops of Eucalyptus to your daily moisturizer or toner to experience the oil’s skin-revitalizing benefits. 

Reason 6:  Support during menstruation
Due to its soothing, calming nature, Eucalyptus is frequently used to provide support during menstruation. Simply massaging Eucalyptus oil into the lower abdomen daily during menstruation. 

If you don't have Eucalyptus oil, you can purchase it here.