Essential Oils for Work

After three blissful years, I'm returning to work...at least temporarily. I have a lot of mixed emotions about this change. Overall, though I am excited for the opportunities and new experiences to come.

This got me thinking about what types of things I will want to take with me to work. My new job has the potential to be high stress at times, requiring a lot of focus. Plus, I could be working long hours. I will be in a big office environment so I will want to be considerate of my coworkers who may not appreciate my plethora of scents and potions. 

Inhalers will be a main staple in my essential oil arsenal for work. {Need info on inhalers? Check out my post HERE.}

Lip balm, of course. I'm trying out a new recipe or two to nourish in a dry air environment (stay tuned for that recipe). 

Hand salve can act as something to hydrate my skin plus help it will help fight germs.

Essential oils that are great in a work environment, based on information in Chapter 4 of The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood:

• Oils to combat stale air: lemon, lavender, rosemary, grapefruit, cypress
• Oils to help concentration: basil, bergamot, grapefruit
• Oils to clear bacteria and viruses: lavender, rosemary, cypress, bergamot
• Writer's cramp essential oils: rosemary, germanium, cypress

Source: Worwood, Valarie Ann. (1991). The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy. San Rafael, CA: New World Library.

Stickers in top photo from The Reset Girl Shop www.theresetgirlshop.com

Linked up: Inspire Me Monday, Whimsy Wednesday, Friendship Friday, No Rules Weekend Blog Party

Recipe Round Up Vol 5

We are officially in spring! Here in California we skipped winter but I know many other parts of the country are ready for some warm sunshine. I spent the weekend at a wedding and doing yard work. Two perfect spring activities. 

Here's a link round up of great spring-like posts:

• EOS Lip Balm Spring Printable Gift Idea from Tatertots & Jello
• Universal Skin Healing Lotion from Frugally Sustainable
• Aromatherapy Recipes for Gardeners from Sedona Aromatherapie
• DIY Painted Tea Towel - Colorful Citrus Stamped from Making Home Base
• 27 Highly Medicinal Plants You Can Grow At Home from Healthy Holistic Living
• How to Clean a Baseball Hat from Sports Mom Survival Guide
• Cross Stitch Patterns (including a Ball jar one!) from Country Living
• Outdoor Easel Tutorial from Tried & True
• Natural Homemade Lip Balms for Kids from Herbal Academy of New England 
• Passion Tea Lemonade Popsicles from The First Year
• Beat the Heat! Aromatherapy for Hot Summer Days from Sedona Aromatherapie
• DIY Mother's Day Frames from U-Create

April is National Letter Writing Month, here's some inspiration for getting those letters in the mail:

• Write_On Campaign
• April is Letter Writing Month
• 19 Reasons We Should All Start Writing Letters Again

Linked up with: Wake Up Wednesday, No Rules Weekend Blog Party, That Friday Blog Hop, Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Fridays Five Features

My {Essential Oil} Travel Essentials

A few weeks ago, I posted about an essential oil travel kit that is fun to make for someone who travels a lot. After posting about the kit, I was thinking about the various things that I take with me when I travel. Over the years, I've definitely gotten some great tips, tricks and ideas from other people. With spring on the horizon and summer not far away, the travel bug seems to be in the air. So to prepare, I wanted to share these ideas with you, with the hope that they will help you pack on your next travel adventure.

What I Take When I Travel:

• Small diffuser - I have a specific diffuser (this one) that I have in a bag ready to go, it's a good size and fits easily into my luggage.
• Essential oil travel bag - this includes 5ml bottles of essential oils, small bottles of carrier oil to properly dilute whichever essential oil I need; it's already put together and in the bag with my diffuser.
• Immunity blend inhaler - you can find that recipe HERE
• Lotion bars - you can find recipes HERE and HERE, these are great for travel, no liquid and easy to store
• Extra lip balm (of course!) - find my recipe HERE
• Lavender + vodka linen spray - to help me sleep and hopefully keep the bed bugs away (recipe HERE)
• Protective blend spray - for hotel room bathrooms, yuck! (Confession: I hate hotels, am totally grossed out by them and sleep in a sleep sack, much to my husband's amusement.)

Not everything needs to be essential oil related. Here's Krysta talking about things she likes to keep in stock and use regularly, taking them with her when she travels:

1) Tom's Lavender Deodorant: I personally haven't used haven't used the "regular kind" of deodorant in a year and a half. I love this stuff.
2) Kiss My Face Cool Mint Moisture Shave: A bottle of this shaving cream will last you a long time. I just purchased my second bottle and the first one I had lasted over 5 months. It doesn't foam up like regular shaving cream but lathers nicely and creates smooth/soft legs. This stuff rocks! I'm never going back to regular shaving cream.
3) Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream: This one is kinda spendy, but a little goes a long ways and it is super light weight and doesn't add extra oil to my face. I use it in rotation with my Clinique moisturizer.
4) TN Dickensen's Witch Hazel: I used to spike this with clary sage and loved it. Lately, I've been using it plain but have thought about adding lavender.
5) Lush Bath Bombs (for the extra special splurge) ... for a vacation with an awesome bath tub or just to treat yourself to an at home vacation evening. I LOVE these. Love them. Sigh.

What are your favorite things to take when you travel? 

Linked up with: Inspire Me Monday, NO Rules Weekend Blog Party, Friendship Friday Blog Party

Book Review: The Fragrant Mind

Book Title: The Fragrant Mind: Aromatherapy for Personality, Mind, Mood and Emotion
Author: Valerie Ann Worwood

Published: 1996, New World Library

Essential Oils Travel Kit

Recently a family member asked me about creating a travel kit to give as a gift for someone who is always on the go - flying and staying in hotels for work. Because I'm always up for a challenge and loving to create kits, I quickly agreed to help with the project. To start, I pulled out my essential oil recipe journals to see what I could find. As I went through, I found recipes that where gender neutral in scent and application. Once I had a handful of fun recipes, I began assembling the kit. See below for a fun addition to your next travel adventure.

Changes...They Happen

After two years of blogging, having a post ready for you every Monday, I'm going to change things up. I'll be honest, it's HARD to find great content to share with people, to create things that are "clickable" and get views. It's even hard to come up with things that don't end up getting a lot of views. It's become a chore and not something I look forward to - repeatedly I'm working on a post in the wee hours of Monday morning out of obligation to have a post there when you expect it. I want to get back to being excited to share things with you, to find and create great ideas, recipes, tips and crafts that we will all enjoy.

So after a few months of going back and forth, talking about it over and over, feeling guilty, worrying about my faithful followers, I have decided to go ahead and try something new.

Recipe Round Up Vol 4 {Valentine's Edition}

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. I gathered together some easy to make ideas for you...in case you're running a little behind (says the girl typing this up at 1:30 am Monday morning, how's that for procrastination?!).  

Here are a few A Drop of This recipes to check out: