Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

What. A. Whirlwind!! These past few months have been crazy and I took some time off...but, I'm back!  I finished Real Estate school, started a new career with that, and then dove head first into my oil business at the same time! I really like chaos...

Speaking of chaos...this last Monday, my husband was in his first accident (thankful that everyone is safe...now to await the insurance fun) and I decided to make some comforting cookies for when he got home.

He was pretty upset most of the day, especially since he was not at fault, but was treated that way at the scene...so emotions were pretty high...bring on the Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: About 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free)
• 2 drops of Cinnamon Bark Vitality Oil (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup pure cane sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1 2/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 drops of Nutmeg Vitality Oil (optional) 
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients and set aside.
• In a separate bowl (or an electric mixer) whip together butter, sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Slowly mix in egg and vanilla extract. 
• Slowy mix in dry ingredients (if using electric mixer, use the lowest option)  and stir in oats, walnuts and chocolate chips.
• Use a cookie dropper, or large spoon to place into rounded onto a baking sheet with Silipat or parchment paper. Leave about 1 1/2-2 inches between each cookie.
• Bake for 11 - 14 minutes until edges are lightly golden. 
• Cool on baking sheet 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 
• Store in an airtight container.

Why get a Premium Starter Kit?

Here she goes...time to start selling stuff! Wait!! Hold on for one second...let me explain how this will benefit YOU! There are various types of starter kits, too, so you truly get to customize to your specific needs.

Only during October 2016, order your starter kit and get a FREE Oregano Essential Oil!! Is a key ingredient in Young Living's Inner Defense, ImmuPower, and Raindrop Technique. It supports a healthy lifestyle regimen, and contains the naturally occurring constituent carvacrol. During the colder months, this is an oil I always have on hand for wellness from head to toe and to flavor my favorite dishes!

The most commonly referred to kit includes your choice of diffuser (prices range based on the diffuser selected).  This kit comes with 11 key essential oils to get you started on your path to overall wellness, and product samples to help you share your new obsession. :) 

 

There are also other varieties of starter kits. I was not as lucky as some and had barely heard about essential oils before finally allowing a friend to share her knowledge with me, so I had zero oils in my house. I needed the Premium Starter Kit to get me started. Now, some of you already have oils, or even a diffuser...lucky you! But, if you're still wanting to get started on your own personal journey, you can order one of these kits instead: 

Basic Starter Kit

Premium Starter Kit with NingXia

 Premium Starter Kit with Thieves

Now...how can buying any of this benefit you? One way is to know that you are getting some of the best quality essential oils for your family at wholesale pricing. As a member, you do not need to fulfill any sales quota each month. You can simply reap the benefits of wholesale pricing! Also, our "Seed to Seal" promise comes on every product we sell! For me, that's the greatest benefit. I am trying my best to keep our home as chemical free as possible and check labels like crazy...so I love knowing where my oils come from.

I don't regret bringing oils into our home and slowly but surely my husband is starting to come around and he's calling me a hippie a lot less...so that's a plus! :)  But seriously, if something has been used for so long that it's in the Bible...it must be working, right??  Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck with your new oily lifestyle!

Instant Pot Cabbage un-roll soup!

If you were one of the lucky ones, you also bought the Instant Pot during Amazon Prime day!! #bestdayever!! My mom and I have been talking about getting one for weeks...and then it was on such a great deal, we couldn't pass it up! It arrived two days later and then stayed in the box until last weekend when my mom was here to start working on recipes with me. It's fun to cook...and it's way more fun when you have a kitchen partner!

My dad loves cabbage and eats it every year on January 1st. It's a tradition and I have tried to find other cabbage recipes that I can eat throughout the year. I love cabbage rolls, but I am too lazy to roll them...so I updated my recipe to be an un-roll. Hooray for being lazy!

We worked together to chop, dice, and mince, and had a blast. Make it fun, because it is! My mom went in for her very first mani/pedi last week, look at those pretty nails! I love that garlic press, it's been a game changer for sure.

I gathered up all the ingredients and then realized I forgot the Bragg's. I love this stuff!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of ground beef (or any ground meat)-browned (I like to brown mine first)
• 1 small cabbage, shredded
• 2 cans of tomatoes (mine are home canned in Italian Seasoning)
• ¾ cup of rice – not cooked
• 1 cup of cauliflower rice – not cooked
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup of chicken broth
• 2 cups of water
• 2-3 twists of salt from the grinder
• 1 tblsp Bragg’s Aminos
• 3 drops of Black Pepper Vitality Essential Oil
  

 Directions

1.     Brown meat on the stove. While doing this, shred up your cabbage, dice the onion and mince the garlic.

2.     To make it easier, I bought the cauliflower rice already prepared from Trader Joe’s! Work smarter, not harder, right??

3.     Dump all your ingredients into your Instant Pot.

4.     Make sure your vent on top is set to steam. When you’re putting your lid on, it will sing to you if it’s done properly. (Good job!!)

5.     Push the soup button- it should now say ‘On.’ It took mine about 15 minutes to get fully pressurized and then it switched to say ’30.’ So, the soup takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to finish, with the bulk of that being the Instant Pot doing its work!

6.     When it said it was done, we needed to push it to the venting option.

Summer fun- make and take!

I love, love, LOVE throwing parties...and usually they go off without a problem...well...cue summer 2016 and all the craziness that it has held! Normally, my party is planned, food is prepped, house is somewhat clean and guests are arriving...not this time! This time, I inched by and barely made the party happen. So, here are some tips, what I would suggest NOT doing, and a few pictures (that I remembered to take).

Make and Takes are an amazing way to show your friends and family just how easy it is to live a toxic free life with essential oils. I think that as we get older, people often assume that adults don't like arts and crafts (I also think that the recent mania surrounding adult coloring books shut those critics up!) and we gather around and talk about boring adult stuff...or sometimes no talking...just awkward stares. Well, let me tell you that even with the craziness of this one, my make and takes are always successful and the guests seem pleased with their new items.

Down to business:
1. Have a theme. This one was 'Summer Fun,' so it was itchy cream, camping perfume and Thieves cleaner.
2. Create an event on Facebook- it's just the easiest way to keep track and to target all your guests at once. (Try to provide at least 3 weeks, but not more than 5...that seems to be too long and people forget).
3. Order supplies- abundant health is a great site- or Amazon. (Order a few extra from what your event RSVP list says...just in case!)
4. Order your oils, purchase any carrier oil you will need as well. (I forgot to order the proper amount of oils...luckily I am surrounded by oily peeps and was able to get what I needed on the day of the party!! PHEW!) Once you have your supplies and oils figured out, you can see what you will need to charge your guests to offset the costs. (I strive for $10 or under per party).
5. Food prep! This is fun, and I usually center the food around the use of essential oils in baking, too. Plan your menu in advance and print up some cuter labels than these ones! LOL! Another last minute reminder...

6. Print up recipe cards for your guests to take, and I buy clear frames at Walmart or the Dollar Store for an easy and clean look. I set them up at each station. Also, at the Dollar Store there are clear plastic bags that are perfect for guests to take their items home.

7. It's party day!!  Get your supplies and oils set up in their own area Example: itchy cream on the counter, camping perfume on the table, Thieves cleaner on the other counter. This helps it flow a bit better and allows you to break up into smaller groups rather than try to teach all at once.

8. Normally, when guests arrive, money is gathered and then a quick overview of each item is done...well...I was having a bit of trouble trying to figure out why the cream base for the itchy cream wasn't getting solid (then I remembered it was 88 degrees in my house...) and guests were allowed to mingle and shop! FYI- it was a joint party with my friend Tiffany's LuLaRoe clothes!! Thank goodness!! This was a great way for us to reach a multitude of guests as well. I suggest pairing up if you're able :)
9. Ok...good luck! I promise to do a better job of picture taking, recipe printing and overall remembering next time...until then, let me know how your party goes!!

Granola with dried wolfberries

I love granola. Like...a whole bunch!  I was very happy to find gluten free oats...not eating gluten is hard enough, but take away my oats?? Not cool.

Granola will always hold a special place in my heart and will forever remind me of my maternal grandparents. Man were they cool! When we visited them we would get to go check out their apple orchard in Washington, we'd pick cherries from their giant tree in the backyard, run through sprinklers, play the piano with grandma and there would always, ALWAYS, be grandpa with his pipe, the news on the television...and his granola. Grandma made huge batches of it and kept it in this big green Tupperware.  Recently, my mom sent me home with a similar bowl...it shall now be my granola bowl!! Cool, huh??

My mom and I have tried to recreate grandma's recipe...but it's one of those things that is never quite the same.  This recipe is pretty darn close, and it has such amazing ingredients!! I first learned about the benefits of wolfberries when I became a Young Living Distributor and tried Ninjxia red. So good! So, when I saw that I could order a bag of the dried berries and that I could use them in so many recipes....I. Was. Sold!

Ok....on with it. Let's get to this recipe!  So....gather those supplies!!
**Disclaimer...I am aware that the coconut oil is upside down in the picture. I decided not to change it so that it could drive my OCD friend crazy...this is for you, tiny human.

Ingredients:

o   3 cups of oats

o   ½ cup dried Wolfberries

o   ½ cup dried cherries (or any dried fruit...I like dried fruit!)

o   ½ cup raisins

o   ½ cup flax seeds

o   ¼ cup sunflower seeds

o   ½ tsp coconut sugar

o   ½ tsp cinnamon (or 1 tsp if not using the below)

o   ½ tsp vanilla cinnamon shake (Red Ape Cinnamon....ah-maze-ing!)

o   dash of salt (2-3 twists if you have a grinder)

o   ½ tsp vanilla extract

o   ¼ cup coconut oil

o   ½ cup honey

o   3 drops of Cinnamon Vitality Essential Oil

o   3 drops of Nutmeg Vitality Essential Oil

Directions

1.     Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with either a silpat or parchment paper.

2.     Mix the dry ingredients, fruit and seeds together in a large bowl.

3.     Melt the coconut oil and honey together on medium-low heat in a small saucepan.  

4.     Once the oil and honey mixture is melted, turn off the heat, remove the saucepan and add in the vanilla extract. Stir it up!

5.     Pour the oil and honey mixture over your dry ingredients and stir well, making sure to coat it all.

6.     Pour onto your baking sheet and distribute evenly.

7.     Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. (Your granola will still look wet even when it’s done, the coconut oil will harden and become delicious!! Trust me!)

8.     I usually let it sit on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to cool down.  During this time, prepare the container that it will be stored in with the drops of essential oils.

9.     Once it’s a bit cool, add to the container and stir it up, your house is going to smell amazing!!

10.  Enjoy!  Top yogurt with your granola, eat with almond milk, regular milk…the list goes on and on! I have found that it lasts (if I don’t eat it all…) up to 2 weeks in an air tight container on the counter.  Sometimes I’ll put in the freezer and then it’s ready to go when I want!! Let me know how it tastes!

 Why Wolfberries?? Here is some information from my Young Living website:

"Young Living’s Organic Dried Wolfberries are a sweet, organic snack from nature that’s easy to make
part of your daily diet. Our gentle drying process makes these USDA-certified organic wolfberries
versatile and easy to incorporate into lots of recipes, letting you add wolfberry benefits to anything from
stir-fry to baked goods!
With polyphenols and polysaccharides, this exotic berry is touted around the world for its taste and
nutrients. Documented use of wolfberries dates back to the Ming Dynasty, where they were part of
ancient Chinese culture."

Thieves toilet bombs! (updated 7/11/16)

Toilet bombs?? Why would I want to bomb my toilet??  Well....I'm so glad you asked!  My cleaning routine has become so much more fun and easy since I was introduced to these toilet bombs. They are so simple to make, too. It's raining pretty hard outside (yes, in July...but we needed it!), so this is the perfect day for making these.

Now, gather your supplies and let's get going! I like to use silicon molds and I like to find deals, so I have found quite a few at second hand stores for around $1! I find that it's easier to use my big Pyrex measuring bowl, but any bowl will do.

Ingredients:

o   1 1/4 cups baking soda

o   ½ cup citric acid (canning aisle or can be purchased online)

o   10 drops of lemon essential oil

o   1 ½ teaspoons of Thieves Household Cleaner (edited to add more liquid- they are staying in the molds better)

o   Silicone molds

Directions:
1. Put your baking soda and citric acid in your mixing bowl and stir them up.
2. Add your lemon essential oil to the dry ingredients and stir it up. (Smells so good already!!)
3. SLOWLY add the Thieves Household Cleaner, while mixing quickly...so, pour slow with one hand and mix quick with the other. (This is where having a helper can come in handy!! ****see what I did there?? Handy....haha).
4. Your mixture will look like the picture below (more directions below picture):

5. Once you have mixed it all up, put your molds near your bowl and use your spoon to add to the shapes. Usually, I try to be all neat and tidy, but for this, I'm okay with some getting on the counter...I will just add water and clean away!!
6. You want to add to each shape and press down.  These need to be firmly packed in there. Once you have filled them all (this recipe made 12, but can be easily doubled), let them sit for at least 6 hours, overnight, or place in the fridge to quickly harden for a few hours.

7. I leave my molds on the counter so I can occasionally walk by and pack them in (they will start to expand out if there is moisture in the air...and it's raining...and I have the screen door open...).

8. Once they are hardened, pop them out and place in a container (I found this one second hand, isn't it adorable??).  I keep mine on the counter in the bathroom so it acts like a cute little air freshener.

9. When your toilet needs a good cleaning, toss one of your Thieves toilet bombs in and watch it fizz away!  You can use your scrub brush to clean soon after, or, leave in overnight and scrub in the morning.  Leave a comment and let me know how yours work out!

Why Thieves? Here is a portion of the description from Young Living: "This all-purpose cleaner can be used on any surface in your home for dusting, spot cleaning, scrubbing, or any other cleaning need. Wherever you use it, you’ll feel good knowing it’s safe to use around everyone in your family, including pets. Spot test in an inconspicuous area before applying this product to woods, plastics, fabrics, and granite. If staining or damage occurs, discontinue use on the material."
Click here for more information on Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living.

Thieves toilet bombs! (updated 7/11/16)

Toilet bombs?? Why would I want to bomb my toilet??  Well....I'm so glad you asked!  My cleaning routine has become so much more fun and easy since I was introduced to these toilet bombs. They are so simple to make, too. It's raining pretty hard outside (yes, in July...but we needed it!), so this is the perfect day for making these.

Now, gather your supplies and let's get going! I like to use silicon molds and I like to find deals, so I have found quite a few at second hand stores for around $1! I find that it's easier to use my big Pyrex measuring bowl, but any bowl will do.

Ingredients:

o   1 1/4 cups baking soda

o   ½ cup citric acid (canning aisle or can be purchased online)

o   10 drops of lemon essential oil

o   1 ½ teaspoons of Thieves Household Cleaner (edited to add more liquid- they are staying in the molds better)

o   Silicone molds

Directions:
1. Put your baking soda and citric acid in your mixing bowl and stir them up.
2. Add your lemon essential oil to the dry ingredients and stir it up. (Smells so good already!!)
3. SLOWLY add the Thieves Household Cleaner, while mixing quickly...so, pour slow with one hand and mix quick with the other. (This is where having a helper can come in handy!! ****see what I did there?? Handy....haha).
4. Your mixture will look like the picture below (more directions below picture):

5. Once you have mixed it all up, put your molds near your bowl and use your spoon to add to the shapes. Usually, I try to be all neat and tidy, but for this, I'm okay with some getting on the counter...I will just add water and clean away!!
6. You want to add to each shape and press down.  These need to be firmly packed in there. Once you have filled them all (this recipe made 12, but can be easily doubled), let them sit for at least 6 hours, overnight, or place in the fridge to quickly harden for a few hours.

7. I leave my molds on the counter so I can occasionally walk by and pack them in (they will start to expand out if there is moisture in the air...and it's raining...and I have the screen door open...).

8. Once they are hardened, pop them out and place in a container (I found this one second hand, isn't it adorable??).  I keep mine on the counter in the bathroom so it acts like a cute little air freshener.

9. When your toilet needs a good cleaning, toss one of your Thieves toilet bombs in and watch it fizz away!  You can use your scrub brush to clean soon after, or, leave in overnight and scrub in the morning.  Leave a comment and let me know how yours work out!

Why Thieves? Here is a portion of the description from Young Living: "This all-purpose cleaner can be used on any surface in your home for dusting, spot cleaning, scrubbing, or any other cleaning need. Wherever you use it, you’ll feel good knowing it’s safe to use around everyone in your family, including pets. Spot test in an inconspicuous area before applying this product to woods, plastics, fabrics, and granite. If staining or damage occurs, discontinue use on the material."
Click here for more information on Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living.