Day 2/3 of Essential Oils

So I have been using the essential oil blend, Allerg-ease, for a few days now.  I am not sure it is working.  And I'm not sure that I am doin it correctly.  

This is why I haven't gone full force with essential oils.  I don't feel like I know how to use them properly.  I did have another brand of essential oils' rep tell me to use one of their blends, for a totally different ailment, back to back to back...  As in put it on, wait a few minutes, put it on again, and repeat.  Now, I want to believe in them.  I want them to work.  I am not a person who likes taking medicines.  

But so far, I am disappointed.  They haven't helped my allergies yet.  In fact, I've had to add another medicine to make it through my day normally.  So I am taking my Allegra, Tylenol Sinus, and using these essential oils.

So weigh in...  Who uses them?  How do you use them?  What brand?  Do you diffuse, use them topically, or ingest them?

I'm jumping in...

So my essential oils from Jade Bloom arrived yesterday.  I completely forgot to try them last night, but I will be trying them tonight. And I will update you on my feelings, experiences, and everything.

I got an oil born for my allergies, and a camping blend for... Well, I have a very high strung 3 year old.  Lol

I am not 100% sold on ingesting these, but it does say on the website that they are safe for ingesting.  I will be applying them topically.  I also hear that infusing them is good, and maybe one day I will dive into infusing them.  But for now, I'm taking the easy route.

Have you used essential oils?  Tell me about your experience.

Let's talk essential oils

I don't know about you, but I am the type of person who HATES, (did I say that loudly enough?), to take medicines.  I can't tell you why, and I know sometimes they are necessary, but overall, I think that our society is quick to medicate.

So, I've been on a search for something more natural.  And walks in essential oils into my life.

It feels like there was this HUGE boom, overnight, of people using essential oils, and people joining companies that sell oils.  I am SO not against direct sales of any kind, trust you me.  I know I can outfit my home and even grocery shop through direct sales, and then clothe yourself.  You can buy EVERYTHING through direct sales and I love it!

I love it because it helps keep parents home, it offers a way for people to better themselves, to feel good about their lives, to own something when they might have felt they couldn't.  I know, I participate in them and support my fellow consultants/coaches/reps (whatever you may wish to be called).

But I digress...  Sorry, not sorry!

Anyway, I have tried out different essential oils, and want to learn more, especially for ones to keep me and my family healthy (including my allergies).  I am still super green when it comes to oils, and how to use them.  But I am forever reading, and learning.

In the meantime, I did find a company that I feel has quality oils.  Not that I feel that one company is better than the other.  I know I have thought that some of the prices were a bit high, but again, I am learning all about them.

Please check out this company (affiliate link) and tell me what you think!


So tell me, what is your favorite essential oil?  Do you use them?  Regularly?

We are settling in!

The one thing about moving, especially every few years, is that we settle in very quickly.  So we've been here for a week and are settling in nicely.  I have my new driver's license, got my car registered, and have all the appropriate items to get into and out of our gates at the neighborhood we live in (we live in a gated community).  I have even started to book makeovers, so if you are in the Ft Myers/Naples/SW FL area, send me an email and schedule your own Beauty Bar, or makeover, or pampering session!

Anyway, one of the promotions I am running right now, for my Beachbody business is a 12-day Shakeology Group!  Here's what it includes.




Shakeology is my FAVORITE meal of the day.  I do replace one of my 4-5 meals a day with Shakeology.  I have a TON more energy, feel better and it truly fills me up.  To learn more about Shakeology, click here.

I will be updating everyone.  One of my good friends has challenged me to run the Disney Princess 10K & half marathon.  This scares me.  I have never done a half.  But I promise I will keep you updated on my training progress.

I also have a new 21 Day Fix Challenge Group starting soon.  Click here to learn more about the 21 Day Challenge, or to purchase!

Hope everyone is having a great summer, so far!  And I am thinking about all my military friends who are PCS'ing right now.  I hope it goes smoothly and that everyone and everything arrives to their new duty stations safely.

Moving sucks!

So we are in day 2 of our pack up.  They should be done packing us all up today.  And tomorrow, they load up the trucks.  I hate this part...  It makes it even more real that we are leaving.  It is completely bitter sweet.  I know we are on for more adventures, and new places to live, but I also really like it here.

Anyway, so now for a bit of business...  I am currently inviting you to join my next challenge group!  June 9 we will be starting a 14 Day Clean Eating challenge group (click here to join this group).  It is totally free and will give you a GREAT idea of what I am trying to accomplish with my nutritional goals.

Looking for more with an accountability group?  Want a specific exercise program to go with it?  Check out my next 21 Day Fix Challenge group, which starts also June 9.  Click here to learn more about this program.  It involves a portion controlled eating plan, an intense, but short, daily workout and if you are a part of the challenge group, you will get daily accountability, tips, tricks, and recipes and so much more!  I'd love to have you join me!  Click here to join me and get healthy, strong and leaner!

On my other business, I am offering something I've never done before.  I am offering a "Pink Package".  This is a sneak peek box, similar to those other boxes you see people posting about all the time, that will have the latest Mary Kay products.  This is a quarterly box, so you will get one 4 times a year or every 3 months.  It does include FULL sized products!  Which are always backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee!  Plus, you will get special samples and offers.  All this for only $25!  Click here to sign up for this special deal.  Sign ups end June 5, and boxes will ship June 12.

Clean eating

Let's talk fitness and nutrition today.  For many years, I have been super interested in making my body as healthy as possible.  No, I haven't always been good about what I put into my body, and I've probably done some questionable things.  But since I found the 21-Day Fix program, from BeachBody* (click here to learn more about it), I am focused more on what is actually going into my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, I've always eaten pretty good, although I have indulged since living in New Orleans.  The food down here is like nothing I have ever encountered before.  But that's not what this post is about.

There is so much information out there, and science (having been a scientist in my former life) is ever changing.  Scientists are forever finding out that their "findings" aren't accurate.  This happens because the methods change, technology gets better and so do the instruments they use to analyze what they are trying to prove.

Okay, so I'm good at getting off topic.  Let's get back to the topic at hand.  I am forever striving to eat cleanly.  What does that mean?  It means, I really try to watch the foods that go into my mouth.  I strive to eat non-processed foods.  This isn't always easy and I am still learning how to eat cleanly, and effectively.  But I am definitely making progress.

Throughout the upcoming weeks, months, and possibly even years, I will update you all on my progress.  I am not ready to post my before pic yet, because, although I see progress, I'm not ready yet to put out there what I actually look like (full body).

So, today, I ask you....  This is my favorite healthy meal, what's yours?

*I am a BeachBody Consultant.  If you would like to sign up for a free BeachBody account to get access to a great community, with TONS of tips, click here.
**There is still time to join my 12 Day Challenge.  Click here to email me.

I know... I know...

You've heard it from me before...  Life exploded.  But I will be honest with you all that are reading, which I hope you are!  I got a full-time temporary job, but on my way to work (which is about a 45 minute to hour commute) I got told that the assignment was over.  Really?!?  You could have called me last night or even a little earlier.  I was more than half way to work this morning.  ARGH!  All because of one person, who really had no reason, telling some things that I said to my now former boss.  She was moving on to another job within in the company... Why would she care what I had said or responded to what she had said!  Seriously, who does that?!?  WEEEELLLLL, apparently that girl.

Anyway, today's post isn't about her.  I am washing my hands of her.  She really isn't worth my thoughts or time. 

So, I've been doing a lot of soul searching on what I want to focus on...  whether it be family/home life, business life, work life, and even exercise/health wise.  Today, I'm going to focus on health/exercise.  I am at a loss.  I know what to do, as far as eating healthily, and exercising, but I've had no motivation.  I haven't seen an progress, which makes it hard to continue.  I know I know... It takes time to see results, but I am just having a moment with my weight.  So... from today forward, I plan to make "me" time to exercise and I promise to eat healthily for the most part.  Heck, everyone deserves a little "cheat" every now and then.

Also, with this, I am hoping that my family will get healthy again.  My kids have been sick all winter, it seems.  My son, who is 10 months, got tubes a week ago, because of all the ear infections he's had.  And since then, he's been loosing his voice.  My daughter has had cold and cough, one after the other.  It is killing me.  I just want happy and healthy kids, as well as my hubby and I being happy and healthy.

So what are you doing to keep healthy and to loose this weight once and for all.

Well, that was SO not how I planned it

I spent last Friday in the ER....  WOW.  So not how I planned my Friday at all.  I called my primary care physician on Friday morning to get an appointment, because I thought I had a sinus infection.  My throat had been hurting all week, and at first I thought it was just a cold coming on.  But then it got to the point where I could barely swallow and drink.  Well, my quack of a PCP closes early on Fridays.  SERIOUSLY?!?  WTH!  I wish I could close early each and every Friday, just because it is Friday.  Anyway, I told them what was wrong, and all they could tell me was that he couldn't see me until Monday.  Yeah, that was not acceptable.  So I called Tricare...  which, although they have been good for my children, I don't always get the same answer twice.  Anyway, I wanted to see if I could go to urgent care without being charged.  I mean what's the point of having insurance, if they won't cover your medical procedures, right?

So, luckily, Tricare had instituted a policy that we have up to 4 times a year to visit an urgent care facility in our home towns.  PHEW!  So I literally hopped into my car, leaving the TV on, and my breakfast on the table, and drove on over.  I was seen pretty quickly by the doctor there, who then told me that he was sending me to the ER.  What I had was not a sinus infection, but in fact, he thought (from only looking and feeling my glands) I had an abscess on my tonsil.  My mouth and tonsil were so swollen, I think I surprised him that I was able to breathe.  So, again I hopped in my car and drove over to the ER.  I was seen pretty quickly there too.  And finally got SOME relief.  They gave me a steroid to help with the swelling... this was the first steroid I think I've ever gotten (at least that I remember).  They hooked me up to an IV for fluids, because I couldn't eat or drink.... gave me some antibiotic and the kicker, I got morphine.  WOW!  That was a ride.  I've never had morphine before Friday.  The nurse was laughing at me.... I was happy that I was lying down when I got it!  It made my head spin. 

So I slept off and on for a bit... finished the bag of IV fluids, felt a little better.  And then got to experience a CAT scan for the first time.  Friday was a day of firsts for me.  They wanted to make sure that the abscess was on my tonsil, and it wasn't just something that could have been fixed with antibiotics.  So...  had that procedure, and back to my room in the ER.  The doctor came in and confirmed that I did in fact have that abscess and it needed to be drained.  They called a local ENT, and got me in there.  What a fun day.... so I hopped again in my car, and drove over there... I probably could have walked, but I wanted to have my car out front of the building.

The ENT was very nice, but the procedure was VERY painful.  I first was sprayed with a numbing spray that was supposed to taste like bananas... yeah, that's no banana I've ever tasted.  It literally made me choke.  He was laughing at me, because of it.  And his nurse was funny... she asked if I wanted more.  Umm... no thank you!  Then she said, "That didn't taste like banana huh?"  She knew sure as $H*T that it didn't.  Anyway, got the local and got the procedure done.  Thank goodness, because even though the procedure hurt like a you know what.... I had relief!  PHEW!  I still hurt the next day, but they gave me pain killers and antibiotics, and I was on my way.  And today, I am happy to say that (knock on wood) I haven't had to take any pain killers!  WAHOO!!!! I'm still not 100%, but I'll take it... at least I can eat and drink somewhat normally. 

I am usually not a person who runs to the doctor for every little ailment, but this girl has learned her lesson.  Although we caught it early, I will take things a little more seriously, with my own health, from now on.  With my children's healths, I always take it SUPER seriously.

It's been an interesting and I guess you could say, exciting two weeks for us.  Little man had his ear drum burst, and we have a referral to an ENT for him to see about tubes.  Fun times.  But I would much rather get it fixed now... than wait and have serious complications later on.