Christmas Season the Young Living Way

Alexis Peters has been learning about and using essential oils for about three years. When she’s not editing and writing for Tree of Life, she’s chasing one (or both) of her preschool sons.

At first glance, Christmas fueled by Young Living isn’t that different. There’re lights, trees, yummy food and presents. But as I slowly add more and more essential oils and Young Living products into my family’s traditions, I’m realizing that these little bottles make a big impact.

Since the season is all about sharing, here are a few small ways to take your time-honored traditions up a notch with a drop or two of your favorite essential oils.

1. Diffuse Christmas Spirit

This scent is nothing short of Christmas in scent form. Orange, cinnamon bark and black spruce team up to bring mood-boosting joy to any moment – from a holiday bash to a quiet morning at home. And, as we’ve shared before, you can (and should) diffuse this beauty year round! There’s no season that you couldn’t use a nice mood and immunity boost.

2. Party Perfection with Christmas Spirit

Make a pre-party air-freshener by combining 30 drops of oil and 2 cups water in a glass spray bottle. Shake and spray around your house as you party prep.

3. Clean with Thieves

Whether you’re hosting Christmas or cleaning before a big trip, Thieves Household cleaner is the answer for a holiday-worthy home. I love it especially at this time of year: Thieves’ spicy hints of nutmeg and cinnamon bark fit right in with the rest of the festivities.

4. Hustle-and-Bustle with Thieves 

Help keep your family’s immunity strong with Thieves Hand Purifier. These small but might bottles are powered by Thieves and peppermint to cleanse and purify your hands, even on-the-go.

5. Warm Up with Vitality Oils

The growing number of Vitality oils means you have a growing number of ways to ingest your favorite oils. Sure you can add some Citrus Fresh to your first glass of water each day, but when you really want to warm up, add a drop of Nutmeg Vitality to your hot tea, Thieves Vitality to your coffee or Peppermint Vitality to your hot cocoa for a special treat.

6. Festive Cooking with Vitality Oils 

You can cook with vitality oils, too! Try subbing a drop of Vitality oil for any herb or spice in your favorite holiday recipes.

Any essential oil-powered traditions to share? Tell us in the comments!

Young Living 2016 Christmas Catalog: Season for Sharing

We will return to our regularly scheduled Fall Favs series next week, but we just couldn’t help sharing a bit about the Young Living Christmas catalog today. Why? Well, we happen to have two great reasons:

1. We’re excited. There are some great kits, oils and products to give (and receive) from this year’s catalog.

2. If we wait any longer to share, you may not get your chance to shop!

Pro Tip: Holiday exclusives go fast!

So without further ado, we broke down the catalog by some major (fun) themes. Shop right from our post, or browse through the online version here. Either way, a warm beverage*,  festive tree scent and some jolly tunes may be in order.  

*speaking of warm beverages, get cozy with this Thermos + Peppermint set

Young Living 2016 Holiday Catalog: Season for Sharing

Sharing

The Holiday Season is all about sharing: laughs, moments, food. And, of course, if you’ve fallen in love with Essential Oils, your Young Living favorites. We love how Young Living makes sharing must-have oils easy with kits like these, complete with helpful booklets. Perfect for the oily beginner in your life!  

• Essential Oils Basics Set

• Essential Oils for Skin Care Set

Eating & Drinking

Vitality oils make spicing up seasonal favorites easier than ever before, and Young Living released 15 new dietary blends just in time for your Holiday feasts. The Ningxia Red holiday set, a must for keeping those wellness goals this time of year, includes 5 greeting cards and a $5 donation to the D. Gary Young, Young Living Foundation!

Pampering

The New ART Care System is designed to cleanse, tone and moisturize your face naturally. Order before December 31 to bring that spa-life to your home with a Young Living spa headband. And, it’s ok to pamper the men in your life too with Shutran Aftershave Lotion and Shutran Bar Soap. The woodsy scent meets a plant-based formula for a good-for-you clean.  

Stocking Stuffing

Skip candy in favor of Wolfberry Crisp Bars this year in their stocking for healthy snacking at it’s finest. And the 2016 Lipbalm set of 4 (including Holiday-Exclusive Vanillamint) is a little treat that always brings (and protects) big smiles.  

Nurturing

We love these two sets for the kids and grandkids in your life. Give the gift of natural cleansing and wellness support with Kidscents.

• KIdscents Bath Time Set

• Kidscents Oil Mini Set

Maintaining  

The holidays are much more enjoyable if you and your family are staying well and fit. Check out these sets for a little proactive (and priceless) peace of mind. 

• Winter Wellness Set

• Life 9 (new, even more powerful probiotic!)

• Fitness Set

Stay Tuned

We’ll be back next week to reveal another Young Living product we can’t live without this time of year. See you soon!

Young Living November Promotion: Bountiful Reasons to be Thankful

We are in the middle of a Fall Favorites series. Last week, we covered Christmas Spirit and this week we're excited to share ... (drumroll) ... that you can earn this diffuser-friendly oil for free with your qualifying November order!

And, of course, that's not all. Other seasonal (and year-round) favorites are available: Sacred Frankincense, Myrrh, Frankincense, 20 Essential Rewards Points and Peppermint Vitality. This promo is a wonderful way to prep for the coming Holiday season and New Year! 

Lots of reasons to be thankful for a wonderful November promo: 5-ml Sacred Frankincense, 5-ml Myrrh, 15-ml Frankincense, and 5-ml Christmas Spirit™; Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 20 Essential Rewards points and Peppermint Vitality to be exact. 

300 PV (Retail Value: $233.16)

• 5-ml Sacred Frankincense
• 5-ml Myrrh
• 15-ml Frankincense
• 5-ml Christmas Spirit™

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

• 20 Essential Rewards points
• Peppermint Vitality™ 

250 PV (Retail Value: $143.36)

• 15-ml Frankincense
• 5-ml Christmas Spirit

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

• 20 Essential Rewards points 
• Peppermint Vitality™ 

190 PV (Retail Value: $46.65)

• 5-ml Christmas Spirit

Bonus Essential Rewards Exclusive

• 20 Essential Rewards points 
• Peppermint Vitality™ 

NEW 100 PV (Retail Value: $13.16)

Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: Peppermint Vitality

Don't Miss Out!

I bet you noticed the phrase "Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive" quite a few times in this post. Don't miss out on the new reward tier or other exclusive offers. Learn more about Young Living's Essential Rewards autoship program. And as always, if you have questions, ask! We are ready to help! 

Oil of the Week: Peppermint

Last (but not least), we’ll talk particulars of Peppermint in our final Oil of the Week installment. 

Pass the Peppermint!

Peppermint is in the same family as Lavender. As a relative of the Swiss Army knife of Essential Oils, it’s not surprising that Peppermint is also a versatile, everyday oil. Most people have smelled or tasted Peppermint, but this mighty mint can do a lot more than spice up brownies (but really, these brownies are delicious).

Put some pep in your step by adding a drop of Peppermint to a glass of water or tea. We also love Peppermint for digestive support and post-workout massage. Tip: Only put Essential Oils in glass or stainless steel containers.

You can reach for Peppermint throughout your day! Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Digestive Support

Just like DiGize or Lemon, Peppermint helps support many facets of healthy intestinal function.

• Travel: If plane travel gets you down, try inhaling Peppermint to calm down after takeoff.
• Pregnancy: Oily mamas-to-be, give yourself a treat in those early days by inhaling or diffusing Peppermint.  
• Appetite: Take a bite out of overeating by inhaling Peppermint to satiate cravings before you cave.

All in Your Head

• Head Support: Refresh head or sinuses by inhaling and/or applying Peppermint directly to your temples and back of neck.

Pro Tip: Peppermint is a hot oil, so test out your tolerance with a carrier oil before you try it neat.

• Concentration: Try diffusing Peppermint and Lemon when tackling homework or projects that take focus.

De-Stress & Cool Down

• Post Workout Massage: Treat tired muscles to a soothing Peppermint massage. Just dilute a few drops in your favorite carrier oil and apply as needed.
• Cool Down: You can also use Peppermint as a way to cool down on a hot summer day. Try it on the back of your neck for a refreshing treat.

DIY Natural Solution

Clear your cobwebs and then mix up this DIY Spray to help keep your home pest free. Combine the following ingredients in an empty 16-oz glass spray bottle.

• 5-7 drops Peppermint essential oil
• 1 Squirt of eco-friendly dish soap
• 1 TB of white vinegar (optional)  
• Warm water  

Then spray on window frames, doorways and the dark corners where unwanted creatures often hang out. Bonus: This spray is kid and pet friendly and smells great!

Coming Soon

We’re in the process of planning new posts and series, so if you have ideas about what you’d like to learn about next, let us know. Comment here or email us at treeoflifeyl@gmail.com.

Graduation Inspiration: Leaving the Nest (with Oils!)

A year ago, my oldest son graduated from high school. For those of you who are parents, you both look forward to that day and dread it. You do everything in your power to help your child become the young adult he should be. You have laughed, cried, played, disciplined, and prayed with and for your child through the years.

Then, there comes a time to loosen the apron strings and let go.

Will He Be Ready to Leave the Nest?

Andrew is dyslexic. From his early elementary years when we were more or less told he was not college material to when he graduated in the top 8% of his high school class, you can imagine the blood, sweat, tears, and prayers that went on. We never told him in those struggling years that he wasn’t college material because we knew he was! We believed in him! 

There were years of struggling, years of tutoring, and years of hard work. His confidence grew. His abilities grew. Success was imminent! But with success comes leaving for college — leaving the nest. Most of you probably haven’t gone through the exact scenario we have, but you have your own scenario when you wonder “will my child be ready to leave the nest?”

Time to Let Him Fly

Fast forward to letting to our baby bird fly. It was time for him to go to college. As a parent, you worry about your child’s Christian faith, about the friends he will make, about his study habits, and of course his health when he is away from home. That brings me to the purpose of a post on an essential oils blog — you were beginning to wonder, right?

A Premium Start(er Kit) 

Well, it was time to loosen the apron strings. It was time to have the faith that he would be okay leaving home for college. My husband and I equipped him the best we could through the years. We have prayed for our son often (as well as for our other kids who are younger than Andrew), and we will continue through his college years and beyond. 

We equipped him spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. But, we also taught him how to use the oils to maintain and support his health. (We became an oily family just in the past few years — around the time Andrew went into high school.) A physical, tangible item that could give me peace of mind as a mom was making sure that Andrew went off to college with a Premium Starter Kit. All of us parents need peace of mind, right?

Well, going off to college would test that — think of public bathrooms/showers that the dorm shares, think of living with a dorm full of kids who don’t always take care of themselves in a healthy and/or hygienic way, think about staying up late, think about being around classrooms full of students, think about cafeteria food that you know your child will not always make healthy choices from, and on and on.

So what is a mom supposed to do in a situation like that when she lives miles away from her child and does not “control” her child’s health environment? Send oils and Thieves cleaner, of course!

A Few College Pre-Requisites 

The new dorm essential: Thieves Cleaner!!

Andrew knows to use Thieves Vitality for immune support.  He knows to use Lavender Vitality and Peppermint Vitality for respiratory support.  He knows Purification helps him enjoy a hike outdoors annoyance free. (There are several great hiking areas within an hour of his college.) Andrew knows that Lavender is great for skin. He knows PanAway is great for massaging into his skin after playing intramural sports. He knows DiGize is good for digestive support.  

My point is Andrew knows how to use the oils. Equip your kids, even when they are young, with oily knowledge. They will then use them when they are leaving home, and you — the parent — can have such peace of mind!

Andrew had the knowledge needed to use the oils to maintain and support his health. He had the tools to do it — the oils. And, more importantly, he used them! I am happy to say that my son got through his first year of college with only a minor bump in the road now and then! As a mom, the oils gave me such peace of mind letting my baby bird fly.

Did I Let Him Fly?

So tell me, did I loosen the apron strings or not? The answer is YES to both! I did loosen them! He received a lot of independence! He was equipped spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally for leaving the nest.

He was ready to fly. I needed to let him go. It is the natural progression after all, right? But I also didn’t loosen the apron strings in a sense because I knew he had the oils and the knowledge and desire to use them, which gave me a sense of some control of his health! We moms need that, right?

Apron strings or no apron strings — who cares when they have a Premium Starter Kit in their hands!

The Perfect Graduation Gift 

It is graduation time for high school and college. A Premium Starter Kit makes a great gift! Let your baby birds fly with confidence! Support both the grad AND the parents during this exciting transition. If you have questions about getting started, let us help! 

Love is in the Air: Our Top Young Living Picks

The Tree of Life team is head-over-heels for Young Living Essential Oils and products. We are devoted to daily wellness and the only thing we love more than our favorite oil is sharing our real-life tips with you. Thanks for visiting! We hope you enjoy the list, and, as always, if you have any questions, please contact us! We'd love that, too. 

What's Not to Love? The Tree of Life Team's Top Young Living Picks  

Lavender: Beloved Multitasker 

Relaxing, soothing, tasty: Lavender earns our love with flawless multitasking. 

"I never knew that one bottle of oil could do so much! It speeds skin recovery, supports a great night sleep, creates a relaxing environment and also tastes good in my tea. Lavender oil from Young Living is the oil I would choose if I could only choose one. I wouldn't want to be stranded without it." -- Jennifer Lopes

The one oil I never thought I'd love is LAVENDER❣
I've always preferred a woodsy/earthy scent. I came to love Lavender gradually after learning about the many therapeutic benefits and how they targeted most of my specific concerns. It's helped me with my skin, seasonal respiratory wellness and relaxation when my mind is going off in several directions. 
I use it to make room & linen sprays, bath salts, as deodorant, on the dog, on dryer balls & it's in my body butter. -- Shari Williamson

Joy: Worthy of Jumping for  

Joy makes life sweeter! 

Joy! I truly don't know how I made it so long without it. It is my go-to when life becomes a struggle, when I get a poor night's rest, when I have to do things I would rather not, when I get behind, I could go on and on. It makes life sweeter (literally).  Bonus, I can get some for free this month with the February promo!  -- Michelle McKool YL SILVER #1456692

Frankincense: Impossible to Live Without 

Frankincense: The Oil of our Life! 

I LOVE FRANKINCENSE! This is the "oil of life" that I do not think I could live without! This oil has brought the most comfort, relief and healing balance. I use this oil head to toe everyday: Adding a drop or two to my face cream morning and night (always taking time to inhale the goodness), and also several drops to my body lotion after showers. I apply it with hempseed oil to my abdomen and lungs several times/day, with other oils before Far Infrared Sauna, and throughout the day if I need extra relief for any number of things. I take and inhale, and thank God for this oil and it's amazing properties and how it has blessed my life! -- Christina Vossler

NingXia Red: Dreamy Antioxidant 

NingXia Red: There's no wrong way to spend time with this super food. 

This beautiful bottle of liquid antioxidant goodness transformed the way my family defines the term healthy! Some days it is an ounce or two in the morning to jumpstart the day. Other days it could be six to eight ounces throughout the day to nourish those unhealthy cells. On a hot summer afternoon, it could be a pouch of frozen nutrition as we float in the pool. There is no wrong way to enjoy NingXia Red! As I drink it, I picture my blood cells having a party as they absorb this incredible super food! -- CYNTHIA LENGEFELD, YL SILVER #1339187

Power Meal: Swoon-Worthy Protein 

Power Meal + Healthy Smoothie = match made in heaven! 

I love to 'drink' my breakfast and I've been doing it for 22 years now. Smoothies made with fruit, greens, flax ,and chia is ALWAYS made SO much better with Power Meal as my dairy-free protein! -- JOYCE SWANSON, YL SILVER #303178 

Thieves: One Word, Amazing  

If you don't have time for sick people, make time for Thieves. 

This oil is a must-have. It smells amazing. I have it running in my diffuser all the time. The kids get it on the bottom of their feet everyday. I love it on my toothbrush or use it as a mouth wash. It's benefits are amazing. We stay healthy, which is good because I don't have time for sick people. -- DENA JONES (PERFECT ALIGNMENT CHIROPRACTIC), YL SILVER #1410697

Valor & PanAway: Muscle-Supporting Power Couple 

Don't love muscle fatigue? Check out Valor & PanAway. 

Valor and PanAway have been my most important oils to help support muscle fatigue and minor pain. Don't know what I would do without them. -- Holly Barker 

Inner Defense: Hello Beautiful...Immune Support

Winter has met its match with Young Living's Inner Defense. 

Inner Defense is a staple in my house this time of year! I love how it promotes a healthy respiratory system and supports our immune systems. -- Michelle Thielemann Krischke 

Peppermint: Always Cool 

Cool addition to daily life! 

I must say that for my family we go through a lot of peppermint. With a soon to be 3 yr old and my Husband, we need to stock 8 bottles! We love the cooling effect when we are working outside in theTexas heat and the great muscle and ligament support it provides before working out or after doing heavy lifting. Additionally, my daughter asks for peppermint vitality in her tea and her chocolate brownies! I use it daily, one drop in my coffee! -- Sunday Taylor 

Find Your Favorite

Want to find your perfect oil match? Contact Tree of Life today to start your lifelong relationship with these amazing oils and products.