Washing your hair after a hectic day is extremely satisfying and can even be part of your self-care practice. However washing too often can leave it prone to dryness and breakage. Have you ever experienced this?
Greasy or dirty hair never feels nice, so a great alternative in between washes is dry shampoo.
DID YOU KNOW?
Most conventional dry shampoo brands contain toxic ingredients that can cause allergic reactions, fertility problems and even cancer. This is another product on the shelves that needs to be avoided but thankfully you can make your own!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:
¼ cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 drops Cedarwood essential oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
1 drop Tea Tree essential oil
2 tablespoons unsweetened cacao powder (for dark hair only)
METHOD:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, adding the cacao powder one tablespoon at a time until desired colour is reached.
Put in a container of your choice and apply with a makeup brush.
Leave for 2–3 minutes to absorb hair’s natural oils.
Brush through hair and style as desired.
Dry shampoo adds texture and keeps your hair feeling fresh for longer. It can even be used to help style your hair and give it some lift when it’s feeling a little flat.
And be sure to check out my free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
And be sure to check out my free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
Spearmint has traditionally been used to improve digestion and increase the appetite.
BOTANICAL NAME
Mentha spicata
AROMA + BLENDING
Spearmint essential oil has a fresh, minty, sweet scent and blends well with Anise, Basil, Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tangerine and Vanilla.
KEY QUALITIES
The Sweet Sister
Refreshing, carminative, restorative, stimulant (nervous and mental).
BODY SYSTEMS
Spearmint essential oil helps to support the following body systems:
Spearmint essential oil has been used to uplift the mood and help to sharpen the senses. Spearmint helps to allay feelings of resentment and selfishness.
SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS
Spearmint essential oil enhances feelings of calmness and compassion. Use it to bring more clarity of thought, focus and direction in your life.
PRECAUTIONS
Could antidote homeopathic remedies.
RECIPES USING SPEARMINT ESSENTIAL OIL
REST AND DIGEST MASSAGE BLEND
4 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Bergamot essential oil
2 drops Spearmint essential oil
2 drops Basil essential oil
1 drops Roman Chamomile essential oil
1 tbl vegetable carrier oil
Combine the essential oils in a small glass amber bottle.
Add the carrier oil and apply to the stomach area 1/2 hour before or after meals.
FRESH BREATH MOUTHWASH
1 cup of distilled water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 drops Peppermint essential oil
2 drops Spearmint essential oil
1 drop Lemon essential oil
Add the salt and baking soda to a small amount of warm distilled water.
Mix to dissolve.
Add the essential oils and the rest of distilled water.
Bottle and label.
Shake well before each use and for best results, make weekly.
OUTDOOR BBQ DIFFUSER BLEND
2 drops Citronella
2 drops Eucalyptus
2 drops Spearmint
Add essential oils to your favourite ultrasonic diffuser and sit back and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of this beautiful blend. Use to uplift the atmosphere at your next BBQ and keep the bugs at bay.
ARE YOU BRAND NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?
I have a free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
I also have a discount code for you if you’d like to try the same superior quality essential oils that I use.
Rosemary has traditionally been used to break up congestion and ease breathing.
BOTANICAL NAME
Rosmarinus officinalis
AROMA + BLENDING
Rosemary essential oil has a strong, minty-herbaceous, woody-balsamic scent and blends well with Frankincense, Lavender, Citronella, Basil, Thyme, Pine, Peppermint, Elemi, Cedarwood, Petitgrain and spice oils.
KEY QUALITIES
The Memory Helper
Stimulant (nervous and mental), analgesic, tonic (to the nervous system), strengthening, restorative, purifying, protective, reviving, refreshing.
BODY SYSTEMS
Rosemary essential oil helps to support the following body systems:
Rosemary essential oil has been used to help with memory recall and to switch on the brain cells. Rosemary helps to allay feelings of confusion, indecision and nervous exhaustion.
SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS
Rosemary essential oil enhances feelings of self-empowerment and creative inspiration. Use it to bring more clarity of thought, emotional strength and warmth to your life.
PRECAUTIONS
Avoid with high blood pressure or epilepsy.
RECIPES USING ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL
SCALP TREATMENT FOR HAIR LOSS
1 tbl Jojoba oil
1 tbl Calendula infusion oil
1/2 tsp Carrot Seed oil
10 drops Lavender essential oil
6 drops Clary Sage essential oil
4 drops Cedarwood essential oil
4 drops Rosemary essential oil
Add the jojoba, calendula and carrot seed oil to a small glass amber bottle.
Add the essential oils and gently mix.
Label your bottle.
Warm the oil before application by placing the bottle in a bowl of warm water.
Massage a few drops into the scalp area and leave in to be absorbed.
Apply several times weekly.
UNDER THE WEATHER STEAM INHALATION
4 cups of hot water
4 drops Hyssop essential oil
3 drops Rosemary essential oil
3 drops Peppermint essential oil
3 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
3 drops Lemon essential oil
Add the essential oils to an amber glass dropper bottle.
Pour the hot water into a ceramic or glass bowl and add 3-4 drops of prepared essential oil mix.
Form a tent over your head with a towel and place your head approximately 20 cm from the water or whatever distance is comfortable for you.
Inhale slowly and deeply while you breathe in the vapors for 10 minutes, keeping your eyes closed.
Repeat 2-3 times per day or as necessary.
TERRA AUSTRALIS DIFFUSER BLEND
2 drops Lavender
2 drops Rosemary
2 drops Kunzea
Add essential oils to your favourite ultrasonic diffuser and sit back and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of this beautiful blend. Use to bring the feeling and aroma of the Aussie bush into your home.
ARE YOU BRAND NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?
I have a free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
I also have a discount code for you if you’d like to try the same superior quality essential oils that I use.
Lemon has traditionally been used to help cool and purify the body.
BOTANICAL NAME
Citrus limon
AROMA + BLENDING
Lemon essential oil has a light, fresh, citrus scent and blends well with Lavender, Neroli, Ylang Ylang, Rose, Sandalwood, Sacred Frankincense, Chamomile, Onycha, Fennel, Geranium, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Elemi and other citrus oils.
Lemon essential oil has been used to bring clarity of thought and relief from mental exhaustion. Lemon helps to allay feelings of bitterness, apathy, fear, apprehension and negativity.
SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS
Lemon essential oil enhances feelings of happiness, vitality, positivity and motivation. Use it to bring more awareness, stability, focus and laughter into your life.
PRECAUTIONS
Photosensitive. Do not use on skin before exposing to direct sunlight or sun beds.
RECIPES USING LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL
SHRINKING FOOT BATH
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Epsom Salt
3 tsp Sea Salt
2 drops Lemon essential oil
1 drop Cypress essential oil
1 drop Juniper essential oil
Mix the essential oils into the bath salts.
Add the aromatic salts to a basin or tub of cold to tepid water and stir with your hands.
Sit comfortably in a chair, allowing your feet to soak for at least 15 minutes.
Dry your feet and lie down for a further 15 minutes with feet elevated above heart level.
MASSAGE OIL FOR CIRCULATION
2 tbl vegetable carrier oil
12 drops Cypress essential oil
6 drops Rosemary essential oil
4 drops Lemon essential oil
3 drops Nutmeg essential oil
Add the essential oils to an amber glass dropper bottle.
Pour in the carrier oil and shake gently to mix.
Label your bottle.
Apply to the legs and back area with firm upward stroke movements, always towards the heart.
GET UP AND DANCE DIFFUSER BLEND
2 drops Grapefruit
2 drops Lemon
2 drops Geranium
Add essential oils to your favourite ultrasonic diffuser and sit back and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of this beautiful blend. Use to increase positivity and remember how to be playful.
ARE YOU BRAND NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?
I have a free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
I also have a discount code for you if you’d like to try the same superior quality essential oils that I use.
Pine has traditionally been used to lessen join pain, assist with breathing and to purify the spirit.
BOTANICAL NAME
Pinus sylvestris
AROMA + BLENDING
Pine essential oil has a fresh, foresty, antiseptic smell and blends well with Cedarwood, Rosemary, Melaleuca alternifoia (Tea Tree), Melaleuca ericifolia (Lavender Tea Tree), Melaleuca quinquenervia (Niaouli), Sage, Lavender, Juniper, Lemon, Eucalyptus and Marjoram.
Pine essential oil has been used to uplift the mood and relieve mental fatigue. It improves mental clarity, alertness and memory and refreshes the spirit. Pine helps to allay feelings of self-doubt, apathy, impatience, confusion, guilt and resentment.
SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS
Pine essential oil enhances self-empowerment and positive energy and has a protective quality that is helpful to highly intuitive or sensitive people . Use it to bring more love, joy, wisdom and trust into your life.
PRECAUTIONS
Possible irritant to sensitive skin (dilute well)
RECIPES USING PINE ESSENTIAL OIL
ENERGIZING FOOT SOAK
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Epsom Salt
3 tsp Sea Salt
2 drops Pine essential oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
1 drop Clary Sage essential oil
1 drop Peppermint essential oil
Mix the essential oils into the bath salts.
Add the aromatic salts to a basin or tub of cold water and stir with your hands.
Sit comfortably in a chair, allowing your feet to soak for 20 minutes.
STEAM INHALATION FOR SINUS RELIEF
4 cups hot water
1 drop Eucalyptus essential oil
1 drop Tea Tree oil
1 drop Pine essential oil
Pour the hot water into a ceramic or glass bowl and add the essential oils.
Form a tent over your head with a towel and place your head approximately 20 cm from the water or whatever distance is comfortable for you.
Inhale slowly and deeply while you breathe in the vapors for 10 minutes, keeping your eyes closed.
Repeat 2-3 times per day or as necessary.
ACTS OF KINDNESS DIFFUSER BLEND
2 drops Grapefruit
2 drops Cardamom
2 drops Pine
Add essential oils to your favourite ultrasonic diffuser and sit back and enjoy the therapeutic qualities of this beautiful blend. Use to increase vitality, warmth and openness.
ARE YOU BRAND NEW TO ESSENTIAL OILS?
I have a free Essential Oils Course that goes through the basics of essential oils, how to use them safely, how to save money and everyday uses for your home, beauty, health and more!
I also have a discount code for you if you’d like to try the same superior quality essential oils that I use.
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s a necessity! Don’t you agree?
As mummas we often put the needs of others before our selves and wait until we get a break before we do something, “just for us”. But what if we do the thing, when we need to?
Too often we wait until our body is screaming out for a rest or we literally flip out and yell at our kids because our emotional needs haven’t been met. It’s ok to need to stop. It’s ok to take 5, 10 or 20, whatever it is you need to do so you can keep on being the awesome mumma you are.
FRESH WHOLE FOODS
One of the simplest ways that you can nourish your body is with a hit of fresh whole foods. And my favourite way to do this is to whip up a superfood smoothie.
THE BENEFITS OF THE GOJI BERRY
Goji berries (wolfberries) protect the eyes and provide immune system support. They protect against cancer and promote healthy skin. Goji berries contain a high amount of antioxidants which fight harmful free radicals and inflammation in the body.
CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds are rich in Omega 3 fats and provide a good source of fiber. They contain quercetin which is a bit of a buzz word at the moment, but basically quercetin is also another antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body and keeps your immune and cardiovascular system working well.
STRAWBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES
Berries in general keep your mind and eyes sharp and help to promote lovely skin. They protect against heart disease and are considered a low GI fruit. This makes them a great addition to your smoothies. Berries are also a great source of antioxidants which helps keep those nasty free radicals at bay.
HEMP SEEDS
Hemp seeds are a great source of protein and pack a punch in your smoothie. They assist with healthy weight management by stabilising blood sugar levels and are a good source of essential fatty acids.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED..
1 cup frozen blueberries 1 cup frozen strawberries 1 tbl chia seeds 1 tbl hemp seeds 3 medjool dates (pitted) 1/4 cup organic goji berries juice of 1 lime 3 drops of YL Lemon essential oil (optional) 2 drops YL Grapefruit essential oil (optional) 3 tsp organic coconut oil 1 cup filtered water 5-7 cubes ice
METHOD
Blend frozen fruit, seeds, dates, goji berries and ice.
Add water, juice of lime, essential oils and coconut oil and continue to blend until smooth.
Decorate the top with shredded coconut, chia seeds and blueberries!
Spring time for many people can be overwhelming and frustrating.
It’s usually when pollen and other allergens are at an all time high, exacerbating asthma and hayfever conditions. I struggled with this for many years and still do some times when I haven’t been sleeping well.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
My go to for this time of the year is to reach for my oils and apply topically to the throat, chest and feet. I also take a little extra Sulfurzyme, which is an organic form of sulfur (MSM). That helps to settle things down really quickly.
THE SEASONAL TRIO
Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint essential oils smell amazing together. 4 drops each in a roller bottle, topped up with carrier oil and you are good to go. This blend has worked for me and countless others as well.
As soon as I feel any discomfort coming on or I know I’ve been exposed and haven’t been sleeping well, I roll it on the bottoms of the feet, chest and throat. You can also pop the oils in a diffuser instead if you prefer to stick to inhalation methods. Two drops each in a nasal inhaler may help as well.
HAVE YOU TRIED ESSENTIAL OILS BEFORE?
Let me know if you try this blend and if it gives you some relief.
I have a free Essential Oils Course if you are brand new and a discount code for superior essential oils here.
Be sure to get in touch with me if you decide to use my referral code 1706951. That way I can send you out a lovely thankyou gift and connect you to our team’s educational resources.
Have you tasted Vegemite before? If you’re not from around these parts there’s a high chance that you haven’t and if you have, you most likely don’t like it!
I’m a born and bred Aussie so of course I have tried Vegemite and all of its commercial alternatives. I grew up to the catchy tune that echoed throughout every Australian home in the 80s. Those were fun times!
I’m not sure it gave me those rosy cheeks though??
Being an all natural mumma now, I’ve chosen not to feed this iconic spread to my children. Ingredients like yeast grown on barley and wheat, and other ingredients like Potassium Chloride (Mineral Salt 508) and Ammonia caramel (Colour 150C), are additives that are best avoided. Here’s why!..
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID AND WHY
YEAST GROWN ON BARLEY AND WHEAT:
High possibility this product is GMO and also contains gluten.
MINERAL SALT 508:
Prohibited in foods for infants. Can cause gastrointestinal and liver issues.
AMMONIA CARAMEL (150C):
Also prohibited in food for infants and is known to cause allergic and hypersensitive reactions and hyperactivity.
FLAVOURS:
This quite literally could be anything! The chemical composition of flavourings can be complex and because of this reason, Food Standards Australia New Zealand exempts companies from fully disclosing, and therefore not labelling, exactly what their “flavour” consists of. There could be 50 or more substances (or ingredients) that make up just one flavour. For a savvy mum making wise choices about the food they are feeding their kids, this presents a real problem. Best to avoid!
WHAT ABOUT THE VITAMINS!!?
It is true that Vegemite is renowned as having added vitamins such as Niacin, Thiamine, Riboflavin and Folate, however unfortunately, these vitamins are synthetic! The body does not absorb and therefore utitilise them, in the same way as it would if they were naturally found in wholefoods.
NOT A HEALTH FOOD PRODUCT
Although we may have fond memories of our childhood and Vegemite playing a starring role, let’s not forget that it was a pantry item created from a waste product. Breweries at the time had a surplus of leftover yeast and so with the help of a chemist, Vegemite was born and marketed to the people as the latest and greatest thing. It was heavily promoted (hence the catchy tune) to appeal to busy mums and fussy kids.
It was never intended to be a health food product.
A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE
When something is super simple to make and it uses all natural ingredients, I want to know about it. A friend recently shared this recipe with me and it is so good, I had to share it with you!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED
3 1/2 cups organic black sesame seeds
2 tbl organic sesame oil
1/8 tsp rock/sea salt
150g organic Tamari (Soy Sauce)
3 tbl Bragg Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
3 tsp organic Apple Cider Vinegar
STEP 1 – MAKE THE BLACK TAHINI PASTE
In a high speed blender, grind up the sesame seeds.
Add the sesame oil and salt and blitz again.
This makes your Black Tahini Paste. You will only need 210g for this recipe.
Store the rest in a glass jar in the fridge for up to one month.
STEP 2 – COMBINE INGREDIENTS
Take 210g of your Black Tahini Paste and add it back to your high speed blender.
Add the tamari, nutritional yeast and apple cider vinegar and blend well.
Transfer to a glass jar and store in the fridge.
THE END RESULT
A delicious savoury, salty spread to put on sourdough and crackers..
You could even add a tablespoon to a hearty stew!
Are you a Vegemite lover?
Even if you’re not, you might like to still try this yummy recipe.
