How to move forward with EO use...

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This post will be a little different from most. I'm not going to share a recipe or remedy I've discovered. It is more practical. How to put this knowledge into action.

In the beginning I spent some time with all of this essential oil and healthy living knowledge in my head and good intentions to apply it to life. However, good intentions and knowledge are just thoughts. Thoughts weren't changing how I did things, or my health. I needed action.

There were several reasons that action wasn't happening often enough.

• Missing some of the ingredients
• Missing some of the tools
• Fear I would do it "wrong" and waste the oils
• Too busy with the current pattern of doing things 
• Simply forgetting to use them when I intended

I want to address some of these common roadblocks toward regular EO use in this post.

Darn! I'm Missing Ingredients:

Don't let this stop you! If you see a recipe you want to try on Mom's EOs or any other site, determine to make it. Each EO has several qualities to it. Depending on what you're making, it is possible the recipe will work even missing one of the EOs. Do some of your own research and see if your missing oil would be a make or break ingredient. If it is... Many EOs  have similar qualities. Substitute an oils with similar qualities. You could pick just about any quality in an EO and find that same or similar quality in another oil.  Be brave. Try a substitute. There is an untold amount of information out on the web. You can use the Spark Naturals oil descriptions to learn qualities. This is a good, reliable research site as well. It also helps to have a few reference books such as this one. You can even message me and I'll be happy to give some suggestions to try. Some common substitutes I've used...

• Birch and Wintergreen  and Peppermint all have cooling and pain relieving properties. 
• Roman Chamomile and Lavender are both calming and relaxing
• Basil and Thyme both have germ killing properties
• Most citrus are uplifting and help with mood. 

Oops! I'm Missing Some of the Tools:

There is always more than one way to accomplish a goal. No diffuser yet? You can passively diffuse by using a tissue, piece of felt, rub some on your hands and

breathe in, or cotton balls in a jar. No roller? Try a spray bottle, or just dabbing the oils on. No fancy jar? Recycle a cleaned out kitchen jar. Don't know how (or have the ingredients) to make salve yet? Add the oils to your current lotion. Don't let the idea of somethings being "just so" stop you from experiencing your oils.

I'm Afraid I Will Do It Wrong and Waste Precious Oils:

Just start. Honestly, one of the things I have discovered about EOs is that it is pretty hard to "do it wrong". I mean, you have to be careful. Don't ever put oils in your ear canal or your eyes. Read your bottles and don't ingest any EO unless the bottle says FOR DIETARY USE. If you ever have question about the strength, dilute it. But when making blends or diffusing - try not to stress if you get 3 drops instead of 2. It's all good if you need to use a substitute. Experiment. If one thing doesn't work, don't toss it ~ add to it and try again. Trust your instincts.  If you can't stand a smell ~ pass it on for someone else to try (many people experience oils differently. It has a lot to do with body chemistry). Just make sure you start somewhere or you'll never know. You might be a blending genius!

I'm Too Busy and Stuck With My Current Patterns:

It can be hard to break a habit. What are your habits? Headache? Grab a Tylonol? Heartburn? Tums? If you are busy, set aside a time one day to make up a few few remedies before you need them. You can specialize to your frequent issues. Then, when the time comes you are ready to try something new.  Some of the first ones I had on hand...

• LLP in a roller for allergies
• Stress blend
• Headache roller

I Keep Forgetting To Use EOs When I Intended: 

I worked on this several ways. First, I put my roller blend oils in my purse so they were handy no matter where I was, and I took the Tylenol out of my purse. Next I "attached" certain oils with behaviors that were already natural. For example, I put some Jeddy's in a small spray and set it next to my face lotion. When I put my lotion on daily in the morning my Jeddy's was there and I used that as well. I also got my family involved in using the oils. Then, when something would come up, like a headache or cut, my kids would remind me I had oils I could use. If all else fails, you could place a reminder post-it note on your Tylenol bottle "try oils first"! Switch out one thing at a time. Don't try to do it all at once. I started with LLP for allergies. This was all I did for quite a few months. Then, when  saw how well it worked, I was compelled to try the next thing.

I'm here to help. If you have questions, feel free to message me on Facebook or comment on this post!

Are there other reasons you haven't started using your Essential Oils yet? Share your reasons and any solutions you've found!

Above all... Let's just get started!

~Wendy


There are affiliate links in this post. If you choose to buy something from Spark Naturals, you will not pay any more, but Mom's EOs will get a small portion. If you'd like to save money you can use coupon code benderboymom at checkout and save 10%. 

Great Deal I Don't want you to miss....

This deal is expired  - but the post still has some great ideas of starter kits around $55

This isn't really my normal kind of blog post ~ I admit. I just didn't want my blog readers to miss what is going on at Spark Naturals and my Facebook. It is a giveaway, but everyone can win! I LOVE a good deal!

When I started with EOs I kept reading recipes that included an oil I didn't have. That was tough. I always wanted more. When I saw the new deal of a FREE 5 ml lime with a $50 purchase, I had to extend my flash deal of a free 15 ml Melaleuca with a $55 purchase.

So, until 8/15/15 if you order $55 of oils, books, e-spa, accessories, Kits, OOTM club ~ anything from Spark Naturals, you will get these 2 OILS FREE and FREE SHIPPING! You could build your collection over night. $55 can get you a lot of 5ml bottles of oils at Spark Naturals! No membership required, No commitment, No MLM, but you still get my 10% discount if you use coupon code BENDERBOYMOM. 

**If you've been waiting to start into essential oils until you can afford it ~ that time is now.

Here are some examples of what you could get for around $55 if you use coupon code benderboymom at checkout.

These oils will support your health during cold/germ season : $56.16 w/code

5ml ea of
Clove
Eucalyptus
Lemon
White Fir
Peppermint
Marjoram
Cold and Flu Bomb Kit (oregano, Shield, melaleuca,roller)


Free
5 ml Lime
15 ml Melaleuca

Or you could get these oils that all help manage stress/anxiety: $57.88 w/code

5ml ea
Bliss
Zen
Lavender
Wild Orange
Grapefruit
Lemon
Ylang Ylang
10ml roller

Free
5 ml Lime
15 ml Melaleuca

Or you could start with all of these oils that have pain relieving properties for:$56.53 w/code

5ml ea of
Birch
Clove
Eucalyptus
Black Pepper
Wintergreen
White Fir

Free
5 ml Lime
15 ml Melaleuca

Or you could start with this Aromatic kit: $56.25 with code

Free
5 ml Lime
15 ml Melaleuca

I talk about how you can use the oils in this kit ~ here

With all of the Spark Natural's oils available in both 5ml and 15ml sizes you can put together an unlimited variety of oils to make your own "starter kit" perfect for your needs!

Please feel free to comment or message me with any questions. You can search the blog and my Facebook page for recipes on how to use different oils as well. I would love to help you get started on your journey to natural health and wellness!

Oh and don't forget to enter their contest for a $150 gift card ~ I hope you win!

~Wendy

Oils on a budget

How to build your oil collection on a budget

FYI – sort of a long winding post…..

So you've tried a few essential oils and decided you like “this”, this thing called essential oils. But, they aren't cheap. I mean, that’s a lot of money for a little tiny bottle. I get it, I do. But once you start to realize the unbelievable versatility and natural power that bottle holds – you are drawn to them. Then, the next step happens; you realize that you haven't taken ___________ (insert over the counter medication you used to live on here) in over a month. Now you know they are worth every penny, especially since you are saving money on OTC medications. That’s it, now you're hooked! Every time you read an EO ‘recipe’ on-line, you try to figure a way to get the oils to make it. When there is an “Item of the Week” special, you want it. When you smell a new oil at your friend’s house, you know you need it. You also know (I hope) that high quality, pure essential oils are critical if you are going to begin using them for your health. It's a safety issue.  A plan is needed….

 O.K maybe that was just me. I'll admit, once I decide to do something, I jump all in. Just my nature. But I will say that this time, it was different. Unlike jewelry making, scrapbooking, sewing, or even crochet, this was more than a hobby. More than a pastime or something to keep my brain moving. This was deeply affecting the quality of my life, my health. Essential oils changed the way I was thinking about health, illness, and how to treat it. I wasn't just collecting oils like beads or scrapbook paper. I was wanting to build my “medicine” cabinet for my family. How was I going to do that on a budget?

First, let me explain what I mean by a budget. My husband (Bob) and I run a pretty tight ship on our spending. It needs to be that way in order to feed/house/feed/insure/feed/support 4 teenage boys. That means, I have free reign to buy the necessities, but I don’t just buy that really cute purse at Target because it is on sale and a great deal.  I have a certain amount I spend on certain categories weekly. Outside of that, it needs to come from my “allowance”, or I have to ask (he’s sweet, he says yes if we can – but I try not to ask for non-necessities often).

The essential oil collection I've built has happened over the past 10 months. It moved very slowly in the beginning... I used my allowance to buy a bottle here and there. Usually ingredients to a “recipe” for one of my ailments.  At this point in my addiction journey, I knew Bob didn't see the medicinal side of essential oils. He still saw it as a new hobby. Sure, they smelled nice but…

I started my collection with almost all 5ml bottles (this killed me because I knew the 15ml bottle was a better deal), but it enabled me to get started. That is one of the distinct advantages of Spark Naturals. They want oils to be affordable, especially to those new to oils, so each oils is offered in both a 5 ml and 15ml bottle. 

Last Christmas and birthday (December 23rd and 25th) I asked for oils. My mom ordered me $50 of oils and sweet hubby got me the OOTM club for Christmas – score!.

By March I had signed up as a SN affiliate so that I got the 10% discount on what I bought, AND I earned commission on the same purchase. Legitimate double dipping? Why yes, yes I will, thank you very much! Once a month a check would come and I would spend the whole thing (minus tithe)and plus my allowance, on oils.

By May, Bob and I were both using the LLP allergy capsules daily. He was a believer in those at least. I figured out the monthly cost of them, and asked him if he could please pay that amount out of our joint money because it was a medical expense and my allowance wasn't covering it. Good news was we had cut the medical expense of RX and OTC allergy meds and Tylenol.  

Then in the end of May I had to resign my job and my essential oil buying slowed because my allowance substantially diminished. Now I only had commission check to spend so the wait to purchase sometimes killed me! But patience is good. (Plus I still get the OOTM from Bob, it was my Christmas present after all).

Bob now believes in essential oils as he has seen them work for many things (the pain salve and cold and flu bomb were the other ones that won him over). Since we have been able to cut several medical expenses due to the oils, when I NEED an oil I can ask for family budget money to cover it. However, I've built a good collection so usually, they are wants.

When I want an oil here are some ways I can make them fit my budget….

1. Ask for them as a gift for Christmas/birthday/holiday
2. Split the cost of a better value 15ml bottle with a friend then split the bottle (if you live close and need an empty bottle to use – I'm happy to give you one)
3. Buy the smaller 5ml bottle for the time being - some oils I use infrequently and this is plenty
4. Share the cost of other accessories or carrier oils with a friend. Another person starting out with you will often be trying to cut costs too. 
5. Pool an order with some friends to get free shipping (shipping on orders over $55 is free)
6. Take advantage of OOTM club and weekly specials.
7. Spend my commission check (here is how you sign up as an affiliate)
8. Substitute a lesser expensive oil with similar properties (great list here)
9. Keep track of money I used to spend on other medical expenses and reallocate it to the EO budget
10. Make your own blends. Camp Wander did some great recipes here  in this post. or DIY Dream, or mix equal parts Zen and Bliss to make LXR. 
11. Sell old craft supplies I no longer use and put that money towards building my oil collection
12. For that matter, have a garage sale to build funds for oils
13. I share about oils all the time with people and sometimes they use my code and I earn a commission
14. Honestly, I really look at what I spend money on. I think, “do I want this more than an essential oil I was wanting” for me, the answer is often no. So then I go spend it on the oil instead of the purse/shoes/lunch out etc. 

If you have ways you have built up your oil collection on a budget, please share in the comments. I would love to hear additional ways!

Wendy 

Oil of the Month Club

Why participate in Oil of the Month Club (OOTM)?

First, let's go over what is OOTM with Spark Naturals? Per the web site

"The Oil of the Month Club is the best value out there - all oils are 15ml bottles - shipped out to you once a month (on the same date you ordered the product). The price is $US 15.99 a month and includes shipping and tax. This is a great way to collect oils at a discounted price."


I've been getting OOTM for almost a year now. So cool, it is like a monthly gift! Even if I didn't have the funds to otherwise expand my collection that month, I knew I would get at least one new oil.  Once I knew I was an essential oil 'believer' I wanted to start building my collection. This is a  great value way to do it. This past year each of the oils was retail priced more than the $15.99 price I paid, and shipping was included (so it's like free shipping). Awesome deal! 

They post a list of the oil for each month for the year, so you know what is coming and you can plan accordingly. For example, I use LLP monthly, but I knew it was coming in April and I didn't have to place an extra order that month (did I mention it was discounted too!). Also, there are no contracts, so you can cancel at any time. 

This was the awesome 2014 list :)

January - Peppermint 

February - Marjoram 

March - Lavender 

April - LLP 

May - Geranium 

June - Respire 

July - Oregano 

August - Melaleuca 

September - Bergamot 

October - Coriander 

November - Basil 

December - White Fir

I've gotten to learn about oils I may not have researched otherwise. I've found how versatile some oils can be. I've also learned alternative oils for certain properties. For example, I learned I can use Basil as an anti-inflammatory as well as Frankincense. I didn't even know what Bergamot was but I like it diffused to lift moods. I didn't know that Coriander is the seeds of Cilantro and they have different properties. 

FYI - Since the oils are already discounted AND they include shipping you cannot use any coupon code for them.

In order to qualify for the current Oil of the Month, you’ll need to sign up on or before the 25th of that month! So right now 10/31/14 - your first oil would be Basil.
No risk - You can cancel at any time. 
$15.99/mo. no surprise costs. 

If you are looking to build your collection at a discounted rate - this is a great place to start. Just follow this link OOTM

Updated: The 2015 list is below!!
All oils are 15ml bottles 

January - 5ml bottles of Lemon, Peppermint, Lavender and Melaleuca 
February - Cedarwood 
March - Peppermint 
April - LLP 
May - Rosemary 
June - Lavender
July - Birch 
August - Shield 
September - Oregano 
October - Melaleuca 
November - Respire 
December - Clove

Wendy