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Essential Pouch, for your Essential Oils – Giveaway 7/36

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I jumped on the Young Living bandwagon just a couple months ago.  I wanted to do something to promote wellness for our family, and essential oils seemed like a great place to start.  My friend Megan (I’ve written about her before here and here) invited me to an informational DIY oil party.  I’ll be honest, I went to the party with a healthy amount of skepticism.  I thought I would go, smell some oils, make something fun to take home, and maybe I’d buy a bottle or two from Megan in the future.

I went to the party and listened to everyone’s stories about oils.  People went on and on about how the oils had changed their lives.  The scents were uplifting and inspiring, causing people to go through their lives with better attitudes and get more done.  These people, with conditions and occasional aches and pains, were supporting their bodies in amazing ways!  I started to feel like there must be something to all this oily mumbo jumbo – either that or Megan hired a bunch of very convincing actors to come to the party just to fool me.

I looked through all the literature they had and decided that getting a Premium Starter Kit was the best idea.  The Kit is pretty amazing.  It is full of 11 of the best, most versatile essential oils that Young Living offers, along with samples of a few others.  Making it an even better idea (and deal) is that it also comes with an oil diffuser.  25517831594_f9753d650c_z

I started diffusing right away.  I instantly noticed a change in my house.  It smelled delicious and my mood was instantly enhanced.  I was invigorated and inspired.  I started making things like sugar scrubs, bath bombs, smoothies, and teas!  I also made salves, room sprays, shampoo, and cleaning supplies all from The Droppery (an amazing oily resource).

I am sold.  Now, when I go to the oil parties, I’m the person sitting there, talking about all the lovely and amazing things oils can do.

The only problem was that I didn’t have a way to carry my oils from home to work and everywhere else.  I decided to change that and designed the Essential Pouch!

I’m calling this the Essential Pouch because it’s prefect for carrying around your four favorite – or essential – bottles.

I have plans to make many more oily accessories, but this is a good place to start.  It is a quilted 4-pocket pouch that can hold 5ml bottles, 15ml bottles, or roller balls.  It is fully padded, and has a snap closure.

You can buy one today, at my Etsy shop, CaroMadeCo! I have it available in three different fabrics, and have more on the way. I’m also thinking of ways I can make things that will hold more than 4 bottles.  This, and any other things I make in the future, will be available on CaroMadeCo really soon.

Here’s the giveaway!  I will send one of these Essential Pouches to anyone who orders a Premium Starter Kit through me before June 30th, 2016.  To get started with your Kit, click here or send me an email (carolynfwilliams at gmail dot com).  It will take you to the signup page and you can get started.  I’m also happy to help you through the process if you’d like help!

Why do you want to choose Young Living for your essential oils?

  1. UNMATACHED SELECTION. We’re all different and with the most single and blend choices offered by an essential oil company, you’re sure to find lots of oils that you love.
  2. UNMATCHED EXPERIENCE. As the leaders of the essential oil industry, Young Living has over 20 years of experience.
  3. UNMATCHED QUALITY. Young Living sets the standard for essential oils. They go above and beyond with their SEED TO SEAL GUARANTEE.

I’m planning on having my own oil party pretty soon, so if you’re local and would like to come learn more and make something fun to take home, let me know and I’ll make sure to invite you!

Soothing Tea Drops with Thieves – Giveaway 6/36

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I sort of stumbled upon my new favorite way to drink tea with soothing tea drops with Thieves.  This has been the worst winter with everyone in our family being sick over and over again.  I started looking for recipes to make some natural cough drops when Alma had an especially bad cough.  I found this recipe and made a batch of drops.  I added in a few drops of Young Living’s Thieves Vitality oil to up the immune support that honey and coconut oil naturally provide.

Alma’s doctor suggested giving her a spoonful of honey to help her cough.  In fact, it’s the only cough treatment that’s approved for the little ones.  The honey coats and soothes their little throats, while coconut oil is shown to have antiviral and antibacterial properties.  Thieves is also great at supporting our own immune systems as they fight off any bugs that might be getting us down.

I made a batch of the drops and put them in the fridge.  A while later, I was thinking a cup of tea with honey sounded good.  I’ve been adding a little bit of coconut oil to my coffee and tea, along with a drop of Thieves for a while.  I remembered the little drops in the back of the fridge and realized that I could just drop one of them into my tea for an instant, ready made boost.

Here’s what I do:

Soothing Tea Drops with Thieves
(modified from The Coconut Mama’s homemade cough drop recipe)

  • 1/2 cup organic, unrefined, cold-pressed , virgin coconut oil.
  • 1/2 cup raw, organic, local honey.
  • 5-10 drops Thieves Vitality oil.

Mix all ingredients together in a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer.  Whip it all together until it’s smooth and well incorporated and fluffy.

Put a couple teaspoons into mini muffin tins. I’m sure there are molds that would make beautifully smooth drops, but I’m more about using what I have and what I have is a mini muffin tray.  You could even just scoop onto a cookie sheet.  Note:  Since there are essential oils in here, you should use metal, glass, or silicone since oils and plastic don’t play well together.

Stick it in a freezer for about a half hour, just long enough for everything to solidify again.  The drops should slide right out.  Pop them in a jar and keep in the fridge for a long time.

When you’re ready to make the tea, start by steeping your favorite tea as you normally would.  Add one soothing tea drop to your tea. Sometimes I add another drop of Thieves, just to enhance the flavor and immunity support.

Mix it all up.  My favorite way to mix is with a few pulses with my immersion blender.  It really gets it all blended together, and even makes it a little bit frothy.

For this giveaway, I’m going to give away this Mug Rug (or one like it).  I’ve been working on a quilt for a while, and have lots of scraps left over.  I’ve started making these fun, scrappy coasters and I’m planning on adding them to my Etsy shop later this month – along with some other oily accessories!

Head over to my Instagram account for a giveaway of a handmade, quilted mug rug!  This is part six of my 36 Things for 36 Years project.  I’m giving away 36 things this year, and this week will be a whole week of oily giveaways! Details on how to enter here!

Also, make sure you enter my other Essential Oil Giveaways this week!  Essential Oil Sugar Scrub can be found here! Bath Bombs can be found here!  Green Smoothie with a bottle of Citrus Fresh can be found here!

 

My Essential Green Smoothie – Giveaway 5/36

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This week I’m giving away lots of fun ‘oily’ goodies.  On Monday I posted a sugar scrub, on Tuesday, I posted bath bombs.  Today you can enter to win a bottle of Citrus Fresh Vitality essential oil.  Make sure you read the bottom of this post to find out how to enter (hint: entering is super easy!).

I love starting my day with an essential green smoothie.  I figure that I start my day with something full of the good stuff, even if the rest of my day goes off the rails, at least I got some veggies and fruits and water in.

I’ve been having a smoothie a day for a long, long time, but I’ve recently begun adding essential oils and it’s really upped the smoothie game.  Young Living has an incredible line of Vitality oils that are FDA approved for using in foods and drinks.  I love adding a drop or two of these oils to my smoothies for a flavor boost, along with the support they provide!

I will share my basic smoothie recipe here, but know that you can do whatever you want.  I have figured out what I like, and what works for me, but feel free to experiment or use another smoothie recipe you already love.

My Essential Green Smoothie

  • 1 or two big handfuls of organic baby spinach.  Spinach is incredible – high in niacin, zinc, protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese. I buy a pound each week, and it lasts for the whole week.
  • 1 organic banana.  This is important for a few reasons.  They are sweet, and adding sugar or another sweetener would negate all the good effects of having a smoothie for breakfast – add a banana to skip the added sugar.  Bananas also have antioxidants, lots of potassium, and other vitamins and nutrients.
  • A handful or two of organic frozen fruit.  If you want the beautiful green color in these photos, use frozen peaches or mangoes.  I also love, love, love frozen cherries (this almost tastes like dessert, it’s so sweet and lovely).  Frozen blueberries, strawberries, tropical fruit, whatever you love and have on hand.
  • 1 or 2 tablespoons of nut butter.  My favorite is almond butter, but peanut butter works.  This adds a bit more protein, and the oils in the butter help the essential oils distribute into the smoothie.  I feel like adding the nut butter helps this feel like a full breakfast; I don’t get hungry until lunchtime with this addition.
  • 1-3 drops of essential oil. See below for some suggestions.

Throw the spinach, banana, frozen fruit, and nut butter into your blender.  Add water to your preference.  I like my smoothies to be on the thin side, so I put enough water in to almost reach the top of my other ingredients.  I also use this as a way to make sure I’m drinking a full glass of water in the morning.  Blend away!

Put 1-3 drops of essential oil in the bottom of a glass mason jar, or glass – remember that oils and plastic don’t get along well.  Pour your smoothie into the glass and give it a good stir or shake (that’s why I love using a mason jar).

Enjoy!

Oils I love to add to my smoothies:

  • Peppermint is an uplifting oil that can support your mood and a healthy respiratory system.
  • Lemon tastes great and the scent is invigorating and energizing.  It can also help with detoxifying.
  • Thieves is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary oils that has a lovely, spicy scent.  It can be used to support your immune system and just tastes wonderful.
  • Citrus Fresh is one of my favorite oils to add to smoothies.  It is a blend of Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Lemon, and Mandarin oils with a hint of Spearmint.  It is refreshing and happy.

I’m giving away a bottle of Citrus Fresh Vitality to someone on Instagram.

Head over to my Instagram account for a giveaway of Citrus Fresh Vitality Essential Oil!  This is part four of my 36 Things for 36 Years project.  I’m giving away 36 things this year, and this week will be a whole week of oily giveaways! Details on how to enter here!

Also, make sure you enter my other Essential Oil Giveaways this week!  Essential Oil Sugar Scrub can be found here! Bath Bombs can be found here!

 

Essential Oil Bath Bombs – Giveaway 4/36

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I’m not a huge bath person.  Wait, I should take that back.  I love taking baths in a big, deep tub where I can just float around and relax.  Unfortunately we have a super tiny (well, probably normal sized) tub, and I don’t find that very relaxing.  I decided to try making some bath bombs to up the relaxation game in my bathroom.

These are so great.  The moment you drop them in the water, they just go berserk, fizzing all over the place.  My girls love them in their baths, and I love how they are both moisturizing because of the oils, and add a calming scent to the whole bathroom.

I found quite a few different recipes around the internets, and settled on a combination of a few.  Most recipes have the same basic ingredients, just different ratios or other things thrown in for fun.

Here’s what I came up with:

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup carrier oil (almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, olive oil)
  • 1/2 cup corn starch
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup citric acid
  • 10-12 drops of essential oil (I love to add relaxing oils to the bath, so I used about 10 drops of Release this time.  I think you could do pretty much anything and it would be great.)

Mix all ingredients together in a glass bowl.  You can use a spoon, but you might as well just use your hands and get the benefit of the oils while you mix it all up.  It should feel like wet sand, and hold together if you squeeze it in your hand.  You can add more baking soda if it’s too wet, or more oil if it’s too dry.

There are silicone molds you can use, but I don’t have one, and didn’t want to spend the money on one, so I just used my mini-muffin tin.  I just pressed the mixture into the cups.  The more firmly you press the mixture in, the better it will solidify.

Let it dry for at least 24 hours, pop them out, and store in an airtight container, glass is always best.

Please let me know if you have any questions!  I’d be happy to suggest some other oils, or help you get started with essential oils if you don’t know where to begin!

Head over to my Instagram account for a giveaway of some of this sugar scrub!  This part three of my 36 Things for 36 Years project.  I’m giving away 36 things this year, and this week will be a whole week of oily giveaways! Details on how to enter here!

Also, make sure you enter my other Essential Oil Giveaways this week!  Essential Oil Sugar Scrub can be found here!

 

Essential Oil Sugar Scrub – Giveaway 3/36

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Couldn’t we all use a luxurious, exfoliating, moisturizing addition to our shower routine?  This essential oil sugar scrub is seriously the best stuff ever.  I’ve made it before with just sugar and oil, but adding the essential oils this time really takes it from wow to WOWZERS THIS IS AMAZING.

This couldn’t be easier to make.  It is just a few ingredients, and comes together in less than five minutes, no joke.  And, get this, everything you need is probably in your kitchen right now.  Which makes it easy, cheap, and edible.  No harsh chemicals or things you can’t pronounce.  Just good, clean, delicious smelling fun!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (you could use white sugar if you wanted)
  • 1/2 cup carrier oil – I like a mix of 1/4 cup sweet almond oil and 1/4 cup coconut oil; this makes it smooth and creamy.
  • 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil (see below for some combinations and ideas!)

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  I find that using a mixer helps ensure that all the oils and sugar get fully incorporated – this is especially helpful if you’re using coconut oil that is solid.

Pour into an jar and screw on a lid.  Use a good scoop in the shower to exfoliate your skin and lock in moisture.  Tip:  do this near the beginning of the shower because the oils can make the shower floor slippery.  I find that if I do it in the beginning, by the end of the shower all the oils have rinsed away with my soap and shampoo, and the next person who gets in won’t slip and slide all around.

Essential oil ideas:

  • Energizing Citrus Fresh, Sacred Mountain, Frankincense.
  • Calming Lavender, Release, Gratitude, Stress Away.
  • Fresh Purification, Lemon, Grapefruit, Lemongrass.

Please let me know if you have any questions!  I’d be happy to suggest some other oils, or help you get started with essential oils if you don’t know where to begin!

Head over to my Instagram account for a giveaway of some of this sugar scrub!  This part three of my 36 Things for 36 Years project.  I’m giving away 36 things this year, and this week will be a whole week of oily giveaways! Details on how to enter here!

36 Things for 36 Years: 2/36

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For my second giveaway of my 36th year I’m doing something a little different.  I went to Schoola, requested a bag, filled it with old clothes, and set it back in (for free!).  Schoola will sell my things and 40% of the proceeds will benefit schools.

I wish I had more to donate, but I just Kon-Maried my clothes a year ago, so I didn’t have much I could get rid of.  I did go through the girls’ clothes and took out the clothes that were too small and threw them in the bag.

There are a few ways you can help, if you’re interested.  Request your own bag to donate, or go shop for some new-to-you clothes on their website.  I think you can even choose a school to get your money, but I’m not really sure how that works.

36 Things For 36 Years: 1/36

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My first giveaway is up on my Instagram account!

I took these three photographs while a Peace Corps volunteer in Azerbaijan.  The top two photos were taken in Sheki, a lovely old city with lots of interesting architecture.  The bottom photo is of a roadside mosque in the middle of the country.

If you win the giveaway, you’ll get to choose one of these photos to be printed as an 8×10 and mailed to you.  It will not be framed or matted, but it will be printed on high quality glossy paper.  This giveaway is only open to those who live in the United States.  More info on how to enter on Instagram.

36 Things for 36 Years

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36

It’s my birthday and I’ve been thinking about what I want to do to prepare for my 36th birthday next year.  Last year, I had my list of 35 things to do.  I liked that, but I’m ready for something different.

This year, I’m going to give away 36 of my favorite things.  This could be something I already own and want to pass on.  This could be something I make.  This could be something I buy.  This could be something I find on my walks.

The plan is to give three things away each month.  Sometimes I will tell you what I’m giving away… sometimes it will be a surprise for the winner.

I will be using my Instagram account to post all the giveaways.  I will explain the details more fully on each post, so be sure to follow along.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Banner Now on Etsy – Plus Giveaway Winners Announced!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS Banner Now on Etsy - Plus Giveaway Winners Announced!

andthenthey merry 3First off, I want to share my new listing on Caro Made Company!  It’s another felt banner – this time Christmas themed.  The example I have says ‘MERRY,’ but you can totally customize it.

andthenthey merry 2Wouldn’t this be a great way to display Christmas cards or other special mementos?  I love how it looks over the fireplace with the stockings.  Go check out the listing at Caro Made!

andthenthey merry 1Now, on to the winners from last week’s giveaways!  Thank you to all who answered my questions and took the time to enter the giveaways!  It was fun to spend a whole week sharing these fun items and working with Megan and Katrina.

The quilted table runner goes to – hmv
The gift bag goes to – Jacque Goss
The wood burned ornament goes to – Lauren Sharpton
The Christmas countdown chalkboard goes to – Nicole Trautman
The Goodness Gnomes go to – Becky

I will send each of you an email, but if you don’t hear from me, please contact me!

Goodness Gnomes, Inspiring Advent – GIVEAWAY!

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Goodness Gnomes, Inspiring Advent - GIVEAWAY!

This is an easy tutorial.  All you have to do is set up some traditions for your family.  When I started thinking about doing these Five Days of Christmas Giveaways, I knew I wanted to include something about Advent traditions.  I’ve written before about how I’d love to help make Christmas more about giving than getting for our family, and last year I tried out the whole Goodness Gnomes tradition.

The main idea (inspired by ImaginationTree and her Kindness Elves) is to have some little visitors during the Advent season who inspire the kids to do acts of kindness and generosity.  Advent is a season of preparation – we are preparing for Christmas, for Jesus’ birth, for promises.  Advent is special.

Our church always hands out a calendar that is titled, “Slow Down. Quiet.  It’s Advent.”  It has ideas of ways to think about the season, and to prepare for Christmas.  This always inspires me, as a busy mom, to take time to stop for a moment.

Here’s the thing – I will absolutely not be trying to do one of these activities every single day.  I’m not going to be one of those moms who makes Advent an adventure.  Advent will be quiet, slow, generous, and magical in our house.  If there’s one thing I try to do every single day during Advent it will be to take a deep breath, close my eyes, and think about what we are preparing for.  If we get to some of the fun things, that will be great.  But that’s not the point.  The point is to slow down, be quiet, act generously, and prepare.

I have come up with some lists that will help you do just this:  Slow down, be quiet, act generously.

andthenthey goodness gnomes giveaway 2First is a list for ways that kids can act generously during Advent (or really, at any time).  These things are ideas for young children.  I’ve seen a lot of lists out there that cater to older kids’ abilities, so I wanted to create something that would be helpful for families with young children, like mine.

  • Donate some old toys
  • Ask someone to tell you the Christmas story
  • Pick a child to sponsor for Christmas, and go shopping for them
  • Make cards for your teachers
  • Take coffee to the bell ringer outside the grocery story
  • Decorate your family’s Christmas cards or envelopes
  • Help your parents empty the dishwasher
  • Clean your room
  • Help the Earth by picking up trash
  • Help the Earth by having a Pioneer Night – use as little electricity as possible and talk about natural resources
  • Make presents for your grandparents
  • Write Thank You notes to St. Nicholas (he always brings us new Christmas books)
  • Surprise Daddy at work
  • Make a treat for your sister
  • Leave treats on a neighbor’s front porch
  • Make cards for the mailman, and other helpers
  • Ask someone to play with you
  • Give someone a compliment
  • Call your cousins
  • Make a bracelet or necklace for someone
  • Give food to someone who needs it
  • Pray for friends and family
  • Learn a new Christmas song and sing it for someoneandthenthey goodness gnomes giveaway 1

The next list are some ways that you can do to be more engaged with the Advent season.  Take a moment to slow down, think, be quiet.

  • Go on a Christmas light walk
  • Watch this video
  • Drink a cup of tea with no distractions
  • Have a dessert date night in with your spouse
  • Sit quietly for ten minutes
  • Do a sun salutation, or other yoga
  • Buy the coffee for the person or car behind you in line
  • Play a board game with your spouse
  • Dance with you kids
  • Dance with your spouse
  • Turn your phone off for a certain time each day
  • Read the Christmas stories in the Gospels
  • Write down your favorite Christmas memories from childhood
  • Send a handwritten card to someone
  • Take a bath
  • Light candles
  • Listen to this
  • Watch your favorite Christmas movie (I suggest White Christmas or It’s a Wonderful Life)
  • Say thank you
  • Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and just be for a moment

Anyone can use these lists, so where’s the giveaway?  I’m giving away the two little guys in the photos above (I cheated and bought them at Target, so if you like them, but don’t win, you might be able to find them in the store).

To enter to win the Goodness Gnomes, do the following:

  1. Answer this question in the comment section of my blog: Do you have any ideas to add to either list?  What is it?  I want to see what other people think!
  2. Follow me on Instagram (carolynfwilliams), then comment on this blog post telling me you’re following me on Instagram.
  3. Comment again telling me you’re following Megan’s shop on Instagram (alwayscreateco).
  4. Comment again telling me you’re following Katrina on Instagram (katrinalhenry).
  5. Subscribe to Megan’s channel on YouTube.

All giveaways will close on Sunday at 9pm Pacific Time.  Winners will be announced on Monday morning, the 23rd.

That’s five ways to enter this giveaway!  Good luck, and I can’t wait to hear your ideas for making Advent quiet, slow, and generous!

Here are the other giveaways-

Monday, Quilted Christmas Table Runner
Tuesday, Drawstring Gift Bag
Wednesday, Wood Burned Ornament by Katrina Henry
Thursday, Christmas Countdown Chalkboard by Megan Lenhardt