While many parts of the country are winding down from summer, here in Arizona we still have a couple of months of sun, heat, and mosquitos.  And when I say mosquitos, I mean lots of mosquitos.

Oddly enough, until a few weeks ago, the mosquitos have been under control and not too bothersome.  But now? Holy moly.  I am a one person itching machine from bites on my arms and ankles.  That, plus the occasional heat rash have me longing for the cool ocean breezes of Washington State. Okay, kidding.

Anyway, to beat the “itch like crazy” sensation I am feeling, I use a DIY anti-itch spray using essential oils and witch hazel  Truly, this stuff really works and is a cinch to make.

Over the past seven or eight years, my skin has gone from less than ordinary to radiant.  I do not say this lightly because not only do I have mature skin, but it has been acne-prone and blotchy throughout my entire adult life.  I credit this transformation to essential oils rather than to the expensive, chemical-laden department store lotions, potions, and serums I used in the 80s, 90s and beyond.

These days, I shun OTC skin care products and make my own.  For years, the crowning jewel in my DIY arsenal has been my “Luminous Face Serum”.  That is still a fantastic concoction but to be honest, it uses 5 different essential oils plus a carrier oil and can be a somewhat of a chore to make.

So here is how this played out.

I was out of my face serum and short on time.  I needed something quick that would not require opening a number of bottles and counting out drops.  I pumped a dab of Rose Hip oil onto the palm of my hand and added a single drop each of Frankincense and Lavender essential oils.  I massaged it into my face, added makeup, and was out the door in no time.  The next morning, my skin was smoother and more vibrant.  I knew I was on to something.

Since that fateful morning, I have been reformulating many of my skin care products to include both Frankincense and Lavender the results have been nothing short of remarkable.  Of all of them, however, it is the face serum that gets most of the credit.  The best part is that it comes together quickly with only 4 ingredients.

Like an epidemic, it seems as though everyone I know has issues with sleep.  For some, it is insomnia from a too active mind, while for others, the problem comes from aches and pains or to nature calling multiple times in the middle of the night.  And for others with a seemingly normal life, the reason is elusive. Whatever the reason, sleeplessness has become an epidemic and something I have been dealing with for years.

For the past three months, I have been religious in using essential oil sleep aids in the form of salves, massage oils, and diffuser blends.  Take your pick, each method seems to work and for that I am grateful. 

Today I share the blend I use along with tips for using it in a salve, as a massage oil, and in your diffuser.  Oh, and just so you know, this is not just a girl thing.  This blend works on men, too!

No one likes a stinky, smelly home, least of all me.  So imagine my surprise when I walked in the door after being outdoors in the fresh air and went Ewwww.  What was that smell?  It was not that it was foul, per se, but more of a stuffed up closed-in smell.  That, plus the smell of cooked food.  How did I not notice that before?

My first response to open all of the windows and turn the fans up to high speed so I could get the air moving.  Next, I fired up my diffusers, using one of my favorite blends.  It is now five hours later and things are smelling a lot better.

Over the years I have done many things to get rid of odors in the home.  Many are common sense but that said, sometimes we all need to be reminded that the simplest of solutions are often the best.