Sunday, November 1, 2015

Understanding How to Choose Food For All Seasons


Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to healthy living. The colors, aromas, and tastes spice up any meal and enliven the senses. They are also one of the best sources for the vitamins and minerals that the body needs every day.

However, nobody likes mushy apples or bitter broccoli. Eating enough of these food pyramid staples isn’t easy, and when they are far from perfectly ready, the task of getting your daily allowance is not very appealing. So how do you know what time of the year you will be able to find fruits and veggies at their peak?

We’ve made the graphic below to help you get more color in your diet. Print it and take it with you every time you visit the grocery store. And when you have made your selections, don’t forget to wash your produce with Thieves™ Fruit & Veggie Soak for cooking at home and Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray for eating fresh produce on the go! These two unique products gently wash produce and offer a boost of Thieves® essential oil blend, so you can enjoy your fruits and vegetables no matter where you are ~ just as nature intended.







Get your produce ready to eat by visiting www.NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com and ordering Thieves™ Fruit & Veggie Soak and Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray!  Click on 'Catalog', then search Product Catagories for 'Cleaning' solutions.

What seasonal produce do you look forward to all year round? Let us know in the comments!


Saturday, October 31, 2015

November Exclusive Rewards from Young Living



Ring in the holiday season with one of the biggest promotions in Young Living history! We’re celebrating the cooler temperatures and embracing our favorite time of year with generous rewards for everyone in your family. With your qualifying order, you can earn up to six free must-haves and member favorites: Nutmeg, Orange, Christmas Spirit™, Frankincense, and Sacred Frankincense essential oils, plus Ortho Sport® massage oil!




As a special bonus, three of this month’s rewards feature full 15-ml sized bottles of Orange, Christmas Spirit, and Frankincense! Reach any of the following PV minimums with your November order and earn these great free products:
 
190 PV REWARD ~ Retail Value: $59.54
• 5-ml Nutmeg essential oil
• 15-ml Orange essential oil
• Bonus Essential Reward exclusive: 15-ml Christmas
Spirit essential oil blend
 
250 PV REWARD ~ Retail Value: $105.26
• 5-ml Nutmeg essential oil
• 15-ml Orange essential oil
• 8-oz Ortho Sport massage oil
• Bonus Essential Reward exclusive: 15-ml Christmas Spirit essential oil blend
 
300 PV REWARD ~ Retail Value: $257.56
• 5-ml Nutmeg: Nutmeg has a sweet, warm, spicy scent similar to the
spice commonly used in cooking. Comforting and soothing, Nutmeg
helps boost energy.*
• 15-ml Orange: Orange essential oil offers a distinctly citrusy, pleasant
flavor and aroma for foods, drinks, marinades, and desserts. Orange
essential oil features the naturally occurring constituent limonene.
• 8-oz. Ortho Sport: Ortho Sport massage oil has a rich, cooling aroma
and is designed for both professional and amateur athletes, as well as
for anyone who works or plays hard.
• 15-ml Frankincense: Frankincense includes the naturally occurring
constituent boswellic acid and has a woodsy, warm, balsamic aroma that
supports grounding and purpose during meditation.
• 5-ml Sacred Frankincense: Sacred Frankincense has a rich, earthy
aroma that helps to deepen spiritual connection. Sacred Frankincense
is regarded the world over as one of the rarest, most sought-after
aromatics available.
• Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 15-ml Christmas Spirit: Christmas
Spirit is a sweet, spicy blend of Orange, Cinnamon, and Spruce essential
oils that recalls the happiness, joy, and security associated with the
holiday season. 

Learn More and Shop Here: 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Lemon Peas Recipe






Add some zing to your sauteed vegetables with Young Living Essential Oils! Here's how:

What You Need:

• 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cups frozen peas, thawed and drained
• 2-3 drops Lemon essential oil (or other essential oil of your choosing)
• Salt to taste



What You Do:

Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the peas. Cook until softened, 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add salt and Lemon essential oil to the pan. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve warm. Enjoy! smile emoticon
(Also works great with Asparagus or Green Beans!)



How Do You Earn Free Young Living Essential Oils And Products? Easy! Join Our Essential Rewards Program!!







When I learned that I could get FREE Young Living Essential Oils and products, I knew I had to learn more! The program is optional and is truly amazing.  Everything you purchase on ER (Essential Rewards) earns you points, which you can redeem for FREE products! ER is similar to a monthly autoship program.  The minimum you must spend is 50PV per month, however, that is really easy to do. Just choose a few of your favorite oils, nutritional supplements, or personal care products and set the shipping date for any day between the 1st and 25th of the month. You can change your ER order anytime up until the night before your order processes and ships.

To get started with Young Living Essential Oilsyou simply choose your Starter Kit. The Premium Starter Kits are the best deal, as you will receive our Everyday Essential Oils kit with 10 oils, a bonus Stress Away essential oil, 2 packets of NingXia Red, essential oil sample sachets to share, and a Diffuser for 50% off retail.

When you sign up with me, not only do you get the most amazing oils on the planet . . . you become an important member of our amazing essential oils family!  We offer ongoing support, lots essential oil information and resources, an interactive Facebook group, monthly giveaways . . . and, we’re a great group of people, too! It’s a fun and rewarding experience to dive into the world of essential oils AND have the tools to use them in a safe and effective way.  Join YL today!  Many of us work from home full-time, so we are available to assist you with whatever you might need!


ESSENTIAL REWARDS . . . is an "optional" monthly autoship program for wholesale members. When enrolled in ER, you get reduced shipping, priority on essential oils, plus you earn points back to use on future purchases. The minimum to spend is 50PV a month (for most oils $1=1PV), you can cancel at any time and you can even skip one month out of 12 in a calendar year. When enrolling in ER, you pick the autoship date as well as the essential oils or products you would like to receive that month.


FAQs

1. Is it free to sign up for this program?  Yes

2. What are the requirements?  You must spend 50 PV per month. PV = Point Value. For almost all of the YLEOs $1=1PV. For other YL product the PV may be a bit less.


3. Can I change my order every month, or do I have to order the same thing?  You can change the products in your ER shopping cart each month and you can even adjust the shipping day as needed.


4. What are the benefits of the ER program?  Points: For every month you are enrolled in ER you earn PV or points to redeem for free YLEOs. Months 1-6 earns you 10%, months 7-12 earns you 15% and month 13+ earns you 20%. For example, if you are new to ER and spend 100PV you will get 10PV points added to your "ER bank".


Shipping: Flat-rate shipping up to 5lbs, the reduced rate shipping for each lb thereafter.


Priority: Essential Rewards members receive priority on low stock products.


5. How do I know how many points I have accumulated?  You can call Young Living, or when you log into your Virtual Office your ER points are highlighted in a colorful box marked 'Essential Rewards Points Balance'.

6. How can I redeem my ER points?  To redeem your points, call Young Living, use the Live Chat feature (current VO), or redeem them online with the new Virtual Office.


7. Is there a max as to how many points I can redeem?  Yes, you may use up to 350 points at one time and no more than 350 points per month.


8. What if I want to cancel at any point?  You can cancel at any time, but we encourage you to redeem your points first. If you cancel before you redeem your points, you will lose what you have accumulated. 


9. Is this program required in order to be a Young Living Wholesale Member? No! It is just a fantastic option for those that want to earn free essential oils and other YL products.


If you have any questions about Essential Rewards, or anything else Young Living, you can log on to www.NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com, or send an email to:

Raven@Gifted-Guidance.com



Thursday, September 17, 2015

6 Simple Ways to "Green" Your Lifestyle







You might be under the impression that going green means taking difficult and expensive measures like installing solar panels all over your roof or giving up the family car for a smart car. If you have ever tried taking three kids and a dog to the park in a smart car, you will likely prefer to forget going green altogether; however, there are lots of ways to make greener choices, and these good decisions add up to a green lifestyle for you and your family. 

Here are 6 simple changes to help you green your lifestyle and save yourself some money in the process:

1. Think About Alternative Replacements

As your light bulbs blow out, install more efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. These use far less energy than incandescent. When it’s time to replace the refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, or water heater, look for Energy Star certified appliances. For your next roof, think green materials like tile, single-ply thermoset, or metal.

2. Find New Ways to Reduce

If possible, bike to work or at least to the corner store. Do you live in an area without sidewalks? Put some pressure on local officials to provide bike paths for safe cycling. Is your destination simply too far to bike? Consider carpooling. When these options are simply unworkable, plan to combine your weekly trips into one and reduce your vehicle’s environmental impact.

3. Rethink How Your Family Heats and Cools

Heating and cooling bills account for 40 percent of your home’s energy costs, so it’s the perfect place to target green initiatives for huge improvements. Start setting your thermostat at least two degrees cooler in the winter and two degrees warmer in summer for a savings of about 10 percent.

4. Examine Your Laundry and Dishwashing

About 85 percent of the energy to wash clothes goes into heating the water. Wash laundry in cold water and, when possible, use a clothes line or drying rack instead of the dryer. Use the most water efficient setting on your dishwasher (usually the lowest setting) and forgo the heat dry cycle.

5. Construct a Greener Landscape

Planting drought-resistant greenery means you can have a beautiful landscape around your home without having to water. Is landscaping too expensive? Water plants with gray water collected in containers from rain or recycle your bath water. The soap is actually a natural pesticide, so you’ll also cut the need to buy and add harmful chemicals.

6. Learn to Shop Local and Buy Used

Every time you buy a new item, it contributes to more manufacturing. Manufacturing uses tons of power and often dumps countless waste products into the environment. Book and magazine publishing also costs trees. Instead, depend on the local library for your reading needs and cancel magazine subscriptions for greener online mags.

Support local growers at farmers’ markets and produce stands, which in turn eliminates transportation of goods to supermarkets. Additionally, when you can, buy used products. It’s usually cheaper and always has less impact on the environment.

Also, recycling whatever you can, or donating what you no longer need will keep those items from ending up in a landfill. Daily, small changes add up to make big changes in the environment.


Monday, July 27, 2015

Crispy Spicy Garbanzo Beans





For a tasty and healthy snack, these crunchy, spicy chickpeas hit the spot! Just toss them with a little olive oil and spices, then roast in the oven until crispy.  They’ll stay fresh for a few days stored in a resealable food storage bag at room temperature.


What You Need:

2 - 15 oz cans no salt garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil


What You Do:

Heat the oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle.

Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Spread the chickpeas in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crisp, about 30 to 40 minutes.




Sunday, July 12, 2015

Chickpea Avocado Salad with Fresh Spinach Leaves






A quick and easy summertime meal that doesn't require the stove!


What You Need:

4 cups cooked chickpeas, or 2 (15-ounce) cans, drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Zest of 1 lime and juice of 4 limes
1 jalapeño pepper, minced (for less heat, remove the seeds)
1⁄2 cup chopped cilantro
Sea salt to taste
1 avocado, coarsely chopped
5 cups fresh spinach leaves


What You Do:

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the avocado just before serving.

Serve on a bed of fresh spinach leaves, or other choice of greens.  Enjoy!  Makes 3-5 servings.

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Infuse Your Hair with These Simple Essential Oil DIYs



Do you feel like you have to choose between enjoying the sun and taking care of your hair? Why can’t we do both? 
Unfortunately, many of our favorite vacation activities often involve sun, wind, chlorine, or salt water and can leave hair looking flat; but don’t let that keep you from summer fun. Keep your locks as beautiful as ever with these DIY hair recipes! 

DIY Dry Hair Spritz
If your hair is dull or naturally dry, spritz this recipe over your hair throughout the day to keep it from looking dry, particularly Ylang Ylang - Young Living Essential Oilsif you are planning a day in the sun. 
Add all ingredients in a 12-oz. spray bottle. Shake well before spritzing over hair, avoiding the roots.

DIY Detangler
From extreme rollercoasters to an afternoon on water skis, summer activities can tangle up your hair. Smooth outRoyal Hawaiian SaRoyal Hawaiian Sandalwood - Young Livingndalwood knots with this hair detangler! 
Put conditioner into a 12-oz. spray bottle. Add distilled water and shake. Add essential oils and shake again. To use, spray on dry or damp hair, focusing on the ends.

DIY Highlights
Lighten any hair color with this recipe for sun-kissed highlights. Be conservative with darker hair to avoid brassy Citrus Fresh - Young Livinghues. 
Add all ingredients into a 12-oz. spray bottle and shake to combine. To use, shake well and spritz throughout hair when spending time in the sun. Start with a small amount to avoid over-drying hair.

These essential oil DIYs will have your hair feelings soft and looking fabulous after any activity!
Get started on your amazing essential oils journey at:





Thursday, June 4, 2015

Shutran ~ A Young Living Essential Oil For Men




Shutran is an empowering essential oil blend that is specially designed for men to boost feelings of masculinity and confidence. It's inspiring aroma appeals to both men and women, and although used like a cologne, Shutran does not contain any synthetic ingredients. Instead, it is formulated with pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils, including the exclusive-to-Young-Living Idaho Blue Spruce, a refreshing, invigorating essential oil to both body and mind.


Primary Benefits of Shutran Essential Oil

• Promotes feelings of vitality and energy
• Enhances feelings of vigor and masculinity
• Boosts confidence
• Proprietary essential oil blend
• Formulated especially for men



Who Should Use Shutran?

• Men looking to boost feelings of masculinity and confidence


Suggested Use

• Topical: Apply 2–4 drops twice daily or as needed. It is recommended to use 4 drops daily on each forearm.


Cautions

• Keep out of reach of children.
• If you are taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a health professional prior to use.
• Avoid direct sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying product.
• Keep in a cool, dark place.


Did You Know?

• Men now spend a larger portion of their income on personal-care products, including colognes. 2013 ended with approximately $1.1 billion in manufacturers’ sales. (GCI)
• In 2013, for the first time, men spent more cash (approximately $17.5 billion) on male-specific toiletries than on shaving products. (GCI)
• Over the past five years, the share of new personal-care merchandise geared toward men rose to 5.6 percent from 4.6 percent. (Euromonitor)


Ingredients

Picea pungens† (Idaho blue spruce) branch/leaf/wood oil, Ocotea quixos†(Ocotea) leaf oil, Chamaecyparis obtusa† (Hinoki) oil, Cananga odorata† (Ylang ylang) flower oil, Coriandrum sativum† (Coriander) seed oil, Artemisia pallens† (Davana) flower oil, Cedrus atlantica† (Cedarwood) wood oil, Citrus limon† (Lemon) peel oil, Lavandula angustifolia†(Lavender) oil †100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oil



Order Shutran Essential Oil at www.NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com





Sunday, May 31, 2015

Welcome Summer with June Promos from Young Living!





Don’t let the summer heat drain you. Elevate the moment with the uplifting essence of Geranium and the delicious lemon-lime taste of Jade Lemon™! You can earn these free rewards, including 20 Essential Rewards points and our high-potency probiotic Life 5™, with your qualifying June order! Reach any of the following PV minimums with your June order and earn these great free products: 




190 PV
Retail Value: $38.81

• 5-ml Geranium essential oil

• Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive:  5-ml Jade Lemon



250 PV
Retail Value: Over $58.81

• 5-ml Geranium essential oil

• 20 Essential Rewards points

• Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive:  5-ml Jade Lemon



300 PV
Retail Value: $94.01

• 5-ml Geranium: Distilled from the petals and leaves of sweet-smelling geranium flowers, Geranium essential oil will inspire you when diffused or applied topically.

• 20 Essential Rewards points: Roll your reward over to next month with 20 free points that you can use toward your favorite Young Living products.

• Life 5: Keep your gut happy with Life 5. Young Living’s probiotic supplement supports core intestinal health and normal immune function.*

• Bonus Essential Rewards exclusive: 5-ml Jade Lemon:  Get a fresh taste of summer with the lemon-lime zest of Jade Lemon. Enjoy these benefits for free with your June Essential Rewards order of 190 PV or greater!


Get started on your amazing essential oils journey by logging on here:






*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



Monday, May 25, 2015

Stuffed Peppers w/Squash & Black Beans






Summer is an ideal time for grilling outdoors and for spending quality time with family and friends. If any of your gatherings include a potluck, try to focus on the many in-season fruits and vegetables to make your dish(es) a hit. Some ideal candidates for grilling include bell peppers, asparagus, zucchini, and mushrooms. But spring and summer fun does not have to end with grilling. Try this stuffed pepper with squash and black beans recipe for your next get-together.

If you have leftover rice and cooked black beans on hand, this recipe can be made in just a few minutes. Or you can slice up the red peppers, add some shredded lettuce, and make a salad out of it.

What You Need:

1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup cooked black beans
2 Mexican gray squash, or zucchini, diced
6 green onions, sliced
2 teaspoons pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 red bell peppers, tops cut off, cored, and seeded.
Optional: Salsa


What You Do:

Combine the rice, beans, squash, green onions, pepitas, garlic, oregano, vinegar, lime, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Fill the peppers with the squash, rice, and bean mixture. Top with salsa, if using, and serve.

Serves 2 as a Main Dish or 4 as a Side Dish


Per serving: 187 calories, 16 g protein, 54 g carbohydrate, 13 g sugar, 3 g total fat, 14% calories from fat, 16 g fiber, 317 mg sodium.

Source: Power Foods for the Brain by Neal Barnard, M.D.


Saturday, May 23, 2015

Grilled Black Bean Burger







You can still eat plant-strong during outdoor grilling season, at gatherings with family & friends, or whenever you want an easy to make, healthy burger!  This zesty black bean burger is sure to fire up any celebration!!



What You Need:

·         1 16-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed
·         2 carrots, finely diced
·         1 onion, chopped
·         3 cloves garlic, minced
·         1 Tbsp chili powder
·         1 Tbsp cumin
·         1 tsp hot sauce
·         1 tsp cinnamon
·         2 Tbsp olive oil
·         1 c bread crumbs

Toasted whole grain burger buns (4)

Optional:  Sea Salt & Black Pepper


What You Do:

Pre-heat grill, or fire up charcoal, or heat a grill pan over medium-low heat.

In a food processor, pulse onion and garlic until finely chopped. Add black beans, carrots, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, hot sauce, cinnamon, olive oil and pulse to combine.

Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl, add the bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and mix until well combined.

Divide mixture into 4 portions and form into patties. Place on hot oiled grill over medium-low heat and cook about 7 minutes a side or until heated through. Toast hamburger buns on a grill. Place a burger on the bottom of each bun. Top with lettuce, tomato, and your choice of condiments.  Cover the burgers with the top of the bun and serve.    


Makes 4 Patties  


Optional Toppings:  

Sliced Tomato
Romaine lettuce leaves, or any other type you have on hand
Sliced Onion
Sauteed Mushrooms
Avocado
Ketchup
Brown Mustard
Vegan Mayo




*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Raven is a Holistic Wellness Consultant and Life / Spiritual Coach specializing in spiritual & energy healing, whole food plant-based nutrition, as well as healthy, wholesome, natural lifestyle information, products, resources, recipes, organic & Earth-friendly advice, and lots of "how to" fun stuff to make natural living a worthwhile journey for you and your pets! 


Friday, May 15, 2015

Young Living Seed-To-Seal Update


From acres of sweet lavender in Utah to rows of fragrant eucalyptus trees in Ecuador, our global farms are emblematic of the purity and quality of everything we do.


Visit the brand-new SeedtoSeal.com for a brand-new, immersive Seed to Seal experience where you can learn about our farms, our production process, why quality matters, and much more. Discover Seed to Seal for yourself.


Following is an update on some of Young Living's Farms around the world:


Mona Lavender Farm Utah, U.S.





The largest herb farm and distillery in the world, our lavender farm in Mona, Utah, features nearly 1,400 acres of fragrant herbs and is open to visitors year round.

The farm continues distilling Juniper. Also, employees at the Mona farm have been busy preparing and planting for Spring.  As part of the greenhouse operations, Lavender seedlings are being transplanted to prepare the Lavender fields.



St. Maries Farm Idaho, U.S.





Previous to Young Living’s 1992 purchase of the land for the St. Maries farm, this area had never been exposed to chemicals, pesticides, and man-made fertilizers. This pristine condition makes the 200 acres of soil perfect for the cultivation of botanicals such as Melissa, Lavender, and Tansy.

During the Winter, the farm staff stayed busy supporting the Winter Harvest event at Highland Flats.

The fields at the St. Maries farm continue to be dormant and inaccessible due to mud and saturated ground conditions caused by rain. Work in the fields should resume within the next weeks, weather permitting.



Highland Flats Tree Farm Idaho, U.S.



The Highland Flats tree farm is located near the small Idaho town of Naples, less than 50 miles from the U.S. ~ Canada border. Since 2000, the 250-acre farm has hosted the annual Winter Harvest, where distributors join in harvesting blue spruce, balsam fir, red cedar, and pine trees. Each Spring, distributors also participate in the Spring Planting, an important reforestation project that replaces the harvested trees.

Highland Flats also played host for Winter Harvest through the end of February. Even while facing winter road restrictions, a record-breaking 2,800 liters of oils have been produced since November 2014.

Workers at the Highland Flats farm have started distilling blue spruce again, and the floral water recirculation system is also up and running. Workers from the St. Maries farm are in Highland Flats helping to plant balsam fir saplings, as well as shipping trees that will be planted on other farms.


Young Living Farm Guayaquil, Ecuador




Boasting nearly 2,000 lush acres of farmland, our Ecuador farm’s fertile ground and year-round growing season support an abundance of Palo Santo trees, several new high-oil-content plants, along with ample cultivation of Lemongrass, Ruta Graveolens, and many more local plants and herbs. This farm is also proving to be the perfect place to harvest oils that are in short supply throughout the world, such as Helichrysum, which is renowned for its restorative properties.

Employees at the Ecuador farm have been harvesting and distilling Ylang Ylang and Mastrante, planting Dorado Azul and Oregano, and distilling Ocotea and Palo Santo.




Northern Lights Aromatic Farm, British Columbia, Canada




As one of our newer farms, we are excited to announce that the distillery is ready to fire! An all-natural water conditioner that was engineered to accommodate the organic farm and distillery has also been installed. This farm was created in an effort to prevent future out-of-stock issues by distilling black spruce, which is a key ingredient in many of our oil blends.

UPDATE:  The boiler and distillery are up and running, already producing 650 liters of black spruce! Because of this farm, we will not have to worry about our future Valor quantities ever again. In addition to black spruce, the farm will also soon grow einkorn grain and blue yarrow.







By cultivating, harvesting, and distilling many of our essential oils on our very own farms, we have the unique ability to verify perfection at every step of our process. Combine this with our extensive laboratory testing and independent audits, and it’s no wonder that we routinely exceed our own industry-leading quality standards. Our commitment to quality doesn’t stop there, however. Inspired by the fields, forests, and jungles that surround our pristine farms, Gary Young is constantly discovering new botanicals and essential oils, helping us bring more of nature’s greatest gifts to people everywhere.

Get started on your own amazing essential oils journey here:

NaturalLivingEssentialOils.com