My Secret for Staying Healthy During Flu Season....

A couple of years ago, I caught the flu. Influenza Type B to be exact. My daughter caught it first and she was pitiful. I had never had the flu in my life, but because I'd heard about it going around and knew what the symptoms were, I had a sneaky suspicion that's what she had. So, off to the doctor we went and sure enough...flu. I knew it was a matter of days before the next one of us was knocked off our feet with the flu and wouldn't ya know it, I was the lucky recipient. A friend found out and within just an hour, she came knocking on my door with a Starbucks coffee in one hand and unbeknownst to me, a real life saver in the other. She gave me a roller bottle with something in it that she called the 'Flu Bomb' and a spray bottle of something, as well. I knew she was really into essential oils, but had never tried them myself. However, rolling those oils on my wrists and bottoms of my feet daily (as well as, repeating that on my family members) lessened the impact the flu had on me. It was just a few days until I had gotten over the flu. And no one else in the family caught it after that. Thus began my interest and belief in the effectiveness of essential oils. Have you ever tried them?

I began learning about essential oils and started using different ones that I'd heard about. Luckily, I had a friend that sold them and told me several oils to try that had worked for her. Recently, I became a consultant for doTerra so that I could buy my own oils for a discount since I no longer live near my friend. I want to encourage you to try the oils for yourself, and if you'd like more info on how to enroll with doTerra to get yourself a discount on products you love and use, contact me through my website www.mydoterra.com/AmyMcCombie or through this blog and I will respond quickly to you.

One of my favorite oil blends I use right now is On Guard. It is formulated to support healthy immune function. It's made of wild orange oil, cinnamon, clove and rosemary and blended perfectly to help fight off viruses and bacteria. You can dilute it in a roller bottle with fractionated coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil (or any vegetable oil) to apply topically. Another GREAT way to use this is to dilute it in a spray bottle and clean your countertops of germs and bacteria. It's so effective!

I've gotten my family on board with these oils, too! I made them roller bottles of On Guard (mixed with others) for the Flu Bomb. And some others that I'll post about another time.

Because oils are absorbed into the skin rather quickly and effectively, only therapeutic-grade essential oils should be used. doTerra oils are natural and very effective and pure, but essential oils should allows be used safely and carefully. Read about that here.

Getting started using oils is pretty simple and you will be amazed at the results. If you don't know where to start, On Guard is the perfect one to start with this time of year. (Found under Oil Blends)

Another place to start is to try out the Introductory Kit (under Product Packages). It includes the three most commonly used oils Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint. You can get that kit for just $26.67  It comes with suggested uses for each oil.

• Lavender - I use for sleeping, calming, and for minor burns. I put this on my husband at night and he rubs it around his sinuses and nose. He swears it opens up his sinuses and helps him breath better at night. It also smells wonderful!
• Lemon - I put one drop of lemon in my water first thing in the morning. It has many benefits. Read this article about that. Lemon can also be used for making homemade cleaners, among many other uses.
• Peppermint - GREAT for headaches. Mix all three of these together in a roller bottle with a carrier oil and rub it on the temples/forehead for headache relief. You can also buy peppermint in beadlet form which I highly recommend. Great for the breath, for a burst of energy, for upset stomach. My favorite blend is mixing peppermint with lavender, lemon, rosemary for immediate relief of upset stomach and stomach cramps. Tried and True. Just trust me on this. I carry it in my purse and it has never let me down.

Are you ready to try it yet? www.mydoterra.com/AmyMcCombie

Here's to a healthier New Year!

Holly Jolly Happenings...(+ free printable!)

(Get this free printable here!)

The most wonderful time of year is upon us and while I'd love to be back in the blogging saddle more consistently right now, I've been busy with many other things and intentionally spending more time with my family. As you can tell from this and this, my world has been turned upside down since August. Blogging is still a passion of mine, and my plan is to get back to it more often starting in January.

To catch you up, here's what's been going on lately:

1. We are finishing up our first semester ever of homeschooling. My girls are in 6th, 3rd and 1st grade and these last few months have taught me a few things.

• I'm stronger than I thought I was. Doesn't the song say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger?" While I hate the song, I think it might have a little truth to it. The jury's still out. I'll keep you posted, but if you don't hear from me again, forget everything I just said.
• Never say "NEVER". After 38 years of life, I should know better. I have said for years I would never homeschool. The fact is while I do not love everything about it, I like a whole lot about it. However, there are days when I have to remind myself exactly what it is that I like and hope that the next day will be better.

2. Our days in this apartment are numbered and for that I am so thankful! We are building a house and hope to move in next Spring. So, in the meantime, we are learning to share our personal space and looking forward to having a little more of our own space in the near future. It will be worth it! We decorated very simply this year with one of our small trees adorned with the girls' keepsake ornaments, new stockings (because we can't find our old ones - 3/4ths of our belongings are still in boxes), and a lighted wreath above the mantel. On the bright side, it will be easy taking it all down.

3. With my husband's new job (hence the reason we moved to Kentucky), we have more time together as a family. It's been such a blessing! We have explored so many fun places in just this short time of living here. Some of our favorites have been the Cincinnati Art Museum, The Cincinnati History Museum, and the Creation Museum. (Do you detect a theme?) Stay tuned for my review of all of our favorite places in case you plan to visit Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati anytime in the future.

4. I have begun a new adventure in the world of essential oils! I started using essential oils several months ago and have been amazed at how they help me and my family to stay healthy or heal from different things. I plan to post periodically about the oils I love and use most, but if you'd like more info in the meantime, check out my website! www.mydoterra.com/amymccombie  I'm a believer in the power of these natural oils and benefit greatly from using them. Do you use them? If so, what are your favorites and what do you use them for? I'd love to know!

That's about all for now! I'll be back soon, but until next time.... Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Check out my Pinterest boards for lots of Christmas inspiration!