golden retriever mom

Autumn is Coming!

Autumn is Coming!
Some days it feels like Autumn, other days the summer heat returns. Here in South Dakota, and at this time of year, I like to dress in layers in preparation for temperature swings and the wind that is almost always a factor. I do enjoy these slightly cooler temperature shifts after a hot, dry summer.
Besides weather shifts, people also seem to dig out the fall scented candles and we see signs for pumpkin spice at all the coffee house’s. While I love the scents of fall, we ditched candles a long time ago. I didn’t want to risk forgetting to extinguish them when not around and they actually lower our air quality. They're loaded with artificial fragrance and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, as well as cause breathing issues and nausea. They can even damage the central nervous system and other organs. Yikes! (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5093181/ ) 
 
So what did we use to replace ALL those? A diffuser, high-quality essential oils, and a spray bottle!
 
Diffusing vaporizes essential oils and gets them into the air so that we can breathe them in. We use cool mist ultrasonic diffusers so that the oils are protected from heat and retain their incredible properties!
 Diffusing also purifies the air, makes your home smell good without harsh chemicals, and helps get those awesome oils into your lungs and to your brains. (yes, that's a good thing) Simply add your essential oil drops to your diffuser, add water to the fill line, and start diffusing.  It’s so easy and I can change up the scent throughout the day. In rooms where I don’t have a diffuser I will mix up a room spritzer and just lightly mist the air… this is mostly done in the laundry room where our 2 Golden Retrievers hang out.
Here are some of my favorite fall diffuser blends.
Mulled Cider
3 drops Ginger
4 drops Orange
2 drops Cinnamon Bark
2 drops Clove
 
Snickerdoodle
3 drops Stress Away ®
2 drops Thieves ®
 
Falling For You
4 drops Orange
3 drops Ginger
3 drops Patchouli
 
Fall Frost
3 drops Cinnamon Bark
3 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce
3 drops Orange
 
One other super easy option is the Young Living Simplified Fall Collection by Jacob & Kait. This collection includes 3 blends with all the cozy fall feels with warm scents of Cozy Cabin (woodsy), Gingersnaps (spicy & sweet) and Orange Spiced Cider (rich citrus & cinnamon)
 
Whether you want to mix up your own, or you like the easy button, I hope this has helped you! 
 
Not all essential oils are created equal. We only use Young Living essential oils. I love their Seed to Seal promise and I have visited their farm in Mona, Utah. I have tried other oils in the past and they did not even come close to the Young Living standard. Are you ready to ditch the candles and shift to pure essential oils? Get started today!

Spring Survival!

Spring Survival!
It’s our first week of Spring!  
We’re gaining daylight, my horses are starting to shed their winter coats and so are the dogs.  Some days are warm, others, not so much.  Here in South Dakota, morning can feel like a beautiful Spring day and we can get a full blizzard by 4pm. But still, birds are chirping and on some days it does mostly feel like Spring! 
I have a few tips for you for thriving through pollen season….if it isn’t 100% here yet, it will be soon! One of my favorite parts of Spring is when the Lilacs bloom, how about you?
Spring Pollen Roller for adults
10 drops each of Lemon, Lavender & Peppermint
 
Spring Pollen Roller for kids
7 drops each of Lemon & Lavender, 3 drops Peppermint
                                        
You can also add Copaiba to these rollers to make them even better!
Add these oils to a 10ml roller bottle and top with your favorite carrier oil. I love Young Living’s V-6 oil.  Roll behind ears and down the side of your neck or on the spine and also on your feet.  If you are going to be in the sun, be sure to roll these oils out of sight of the sun as Lemon can cause skin sensitivity in the sun.
 
Spring Diffuser Blends!
Add any combination of Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint & R.C., Eucalyptus and Thieves
Do you need a new super cute diffuser?  Try this one!   I've included the shopping link and BONUS, it’s on sale with the oils of Lime, Peace & Calming, Peppermint, Stress Away and Lemon Myrtle until March 23 at 11:59pm MT.
 
Spring Capsules
3 drops each of Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint and Copaiba vitality oils in an empty veggie capsules and top it with olive oil.
 
If you don’t have the empty veggie capsules, grab some local honey (super important that it is local) and add a drop of Lemon, Lavender & Peppermint Vitality in a spoonful of honey.
 
Other tips...
Support your digestive system with Life 9 probiotics or MightyPro for kids.  
You can also use digestive enzymes as well, try Allerzyme! Supporting your digestive system is super important!

Quick note... not all essential oils are created equal.  We only use the best and most pure. Not sure where to start?  I would love for you to join my AWAKEN'd tribe and when you do I will send you a gift, plus guide you along the way. 
Thank you for checking in today!  I appreciate you. 
Traci

Meet Traci Stensaas, a horse loving, homeschooling, boy mom.

 
Our family used to face constant bouts of illness. My son suffered from reactive airway disease as a toddler. Every passing bug knocked him down. We became well-acquainted with doctor visits and nebulizer treatments, trying anything to ease his breathing troubles. I believed that cleaning our home using store-bought cleaners was a good thing and that I was helping him get better.

Then I discovered the truth. Those chemicals were causing more harm than good. I found there were options that not only cleaned effectively but also boosted our health. I started with simple swaps. We all started a healing journey. The transformation was incredible. He is an athlete and has enjoyed all kinds of sports like football, basketball, cross country, track, and Taekwondo. We're all healthy, happy, and thankful for these positive changes.

I now support other moms and families in replacing toxic products with safe, clean options, one step at a time. If that's you, get in touch—I’d love to help.

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