Go-To Essential Oils for Healthy Happy Homes

Today I am going to share a bit about one of my favorite ways to use plant power my home! I love being able to cut out the big box solutions to all of my families needs. Reason being, those "easy fixes" that you grab off the shelf often come with a load of other problems that you may not even be aware of. Can you say, side effects anyone?! And if you are a wellness mama and your wish is for a healthy, happy, non-toxic home....then beware of the extra stuff added into many products on the shelves these days.

There are so many ways to simplify and get back to your roots. Essential oils are amazing and can get you moving in the right direction if that is your goal. If you aren't familiar, these tiny bottles are packed with plant power. The smell comes from the plants themselves because that is where essential oils are derived from. Have you ever caught wind of a magnolia tree as it begins to bloom? Imagine that smell bottled up in it's purest form. Those are essential oils. Nothing but the goodness from the plant itself.

I was pleasantly surprised recently when Amy Innes, a natural health advocate who works to empower women and support non-toxic households across the globe, reached out to me. She is such an inspiration! I was honored to find that she too finds inspiration from the imagery and messages shared on collect.make.explore. So...we began talking and she sent along a few essential oils for me to try out. Since I already put oils to use on a regular basis, I was happy to have some new bottles to restock our supply. : )

Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint are oils that I often reach for in our house. But with anything, these oils come in both synthetic and organic versions and not all our 100% pure. So, when purchasing oils first figure out where they are being sourced from and that you are getting the real thing. With that said, I have used both Eden's Garden brand and doTerra and both work great. What I love about doTerra though is that they support the Healing Hands Foundation and are huge wellness advocates! A definite win in my book.

Without further ado...here are some of the ways that my family uses essential oils in our house.

PEPPERMINT OIL

SHOWER STEAM for CONGESTION RELIEF

Peppermint oil packs a powerful punch. It is very strong and not recommended for children. With that said, I avoid all topical application with my kids.

For any Congested adults in your household give this one a try...it works wonders, especially right before bed!

* Run a Hot Shower

* As the water is running, place a few drops of peppermint oil in the shower

* Wait for the bathroom to fill up with steam

* Sit, Relax, and Breathe Deep as the peppermint oil works to relief your congestion

OIL BLEND

BEST BUG SPRAY EVER!

I have seen first hand what happens when we don't use bug spray out on a hike. Yikes! I don't seem to be affected much by mosquitos but the rest of my family are covered in bites by the time we arrive home. But...I'm not much into DEET, which is found in most bug sprays. What is a healthy mama to do?

Make your own of course!

Here is the recipe I used adapted from the " 5 Minute Bug Spray" over at Wellness Mama. Hers is awesome I'm sure, I just didn't have all the ingredients and mine works great too. ; )

** This can be used for the whole family. Just watch with babies under 6 months. There are lot of safety issues when it comes to using essential oils with kids. Here is a wonderful list of which oils are safe to use with children and which ones you should not expose kids to unless they are of a certain age.

Mix Together the Following in a Spray Bottle:

1/2 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Witch Hazel

1 Tbs Rubbing Alchohol

30 Drops Geranium Essential Oil

20 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

20 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

LEMON and LAVENDER

AROMATIC POWER-HOUSE CLEANER

This spray is awesome. It cleans without the chemicals and smells amazing! I use on my kitchen counters all the time.

In a 16 oz. Spray Bottle, Mix Together:

1/4 Cup White Vinegar

1 3/4 Cup Water

10 drops Clementine Essential Oil

10 drops Lemon Essential Oil

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil

I'd love to hear how YOU use essential oils in your home and with your family. If you have any tips and tricks please share in the comments! : )

Oh and if you are interested in getting started and need a little more info before feeling totally comfortable...here is a wonderful FREE resource to check out too! A free Introduction to Essential Oils e-book by Amy Innes. Packed with useful information, especially for new moms or moms new to essential oils.