Pinterest FAIL

I know on social networks we do a lot of bragging. Look at this awesome picture of me looking awesome with my friends with this amazing scenery in the background. Look at my awesome Pinterest success. Well I want to be honest. We don't always succeed at everything we try. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

I want to tell you about my Pinterest fail. It came so close to being awesome, but it didn't work. I don't know yet if I'll try again. But I think it's worth sharing that I tried to make my own cough drops. I think it's a worthwhile endeavor. The globs of goo all over my kitchen taste good. The ingredients probably have medicinal qualities that help your throat, cough, and health in some way. But everything is not as easy as it looks. And I found that to be the case with candy-making. 

I didn't have a candy thermometer- I only have a meat thermometer. Turns out it only goes to 200° and I was supposed to heat my mixture up to 300. In the meantime my mixture boiled over onto the stove. I tried to transfer it to another pot but in this pot the mixture was shallow and the tip of the thermometer was touching the bottom of the pot, which I know it's not supposed to do. The directions on one post that I found said that I was supposed to let the mixture cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Well when I let it sit five minutes, at which time I poured probably about $15 or so worth of essential oils (thieves, eucalyptus, and peppermint) into the mixture, it became so hard that I couldn't get it to pour into my little silicone mold that I had bought just for this purpose. 

I'm sure there will be some way for me to salvage this mess and break it up into little pieces. And Lord knows I don't waste anything. But I do feel a little dejected. The wind has left my sails a little. But it's all about the journey, the process, right?

I'm proud of myself for trying something new. And now I have that much more experience under my belt. So here's to new adventures and Pinterest fails. All things work together for the good for those that love the Lord (Romans 8:28.)

So if anyone else wants to try, I hope it works for you. Let me know how it goes!

I took the prey

 

Look what came in the mail today! My Lord of the Rings necklace? New age jewelry? No... It's the Trinity! Celtic style. 

It's also a diffuser necklace. It came with little felt squares on which you put a couple drops of essential oil and place inside the pendant. There are holes that allow the aroma to come through so that I'm inhaling Joy all day long. I've replaced the albatross around my neck with the oil of gladness. 

In addition to my super cool necklace, I also received in the mail today a Lenten book with daily meditations and excerpts from the writings of John of the Cross. 

In thinking about the metaphor of shooting the albatross, I remembered John's poem where he repeats the line "I took the prey," which is God.

The weight of my sin has been lifted. Now I place around my neck a reminder of the One who has taken it upon Himself, Who has allowed Himself to be captured and killed. How horrible it feels on Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion to cry out with the crowd "crucify Him!" But oh happy fault, that gained us such a Savior. I'll gladly wear this symbol around my neck every single day. Ave Crux, Spes Unica!

Ridin' Oily

I spend at least 10 hours per week in the car. Not because of my commute to work. My office is located on the campus of Ave Maria University- a whole mile away from home! I rack up the mileage driving back and forth to Naples, of which Ave Maria is a suburb of sorts. I go into Naples for medical appointments, church ministry, shopping, dining, and entertainment. And due to my recent popularity with visitors, I’m a regular at the local airports, which are at least an hour away. So how can I make the most of this travel time? By ridin’ oily.

I brought my mini USB Orb Diffuser home from work last weekend so I could try putting it in my car. It works great! It sits nicely in a cup holder and plugs into my USB car charger. The Orb Diffuser produces more of a “wet” mist compared to the Home Diffuser. And perhaps due to closer proximity to my face, I think it may cause some post-nasal drip. (TMI?) But overall, I like the setup and being able to diffuse while a drive. It’s a lot better aromatherapy than the alternative…

“Even though I hate to admit it, sometimes I smoke cigarettes. Christian folks say I should quit it…

But I would like to quit. I have a weird guilt complex about smoking, as evidenced by the fact that I rarely do it in public. I smoke from the privacy of my lanai (read: Floridian screened-in porch) or car.

Smoking is horrible for my health. As with all bad habits, it’s become an attachment from which it is difficult to break free. When you want to take something away from a baby or toddler, what do you do? The sneaky switcheroo: replace your slobbered-on phone or keys with something you don’t mind them sticking in their mouths. The thing that needs to be taken away from me is my habit of lighting up immediately upon crossing my self-determined anonymity threshold at approximately 1,000 feet from campus.

If I must have a driving ritual, why not have it be diffusing? I could turn on the diffuser right after starting the car while it’s still in park. This way I’m not adding ANOTHER distraction to my already very distracted driving. My roommate says I drive as if it’s the last thing I’m doing, instead of the first, or heaven forbid, the only thing I’m doing.

Take the cigarette out of one hand and the phone out of the other, and I could actually drive with two hands on the wheel like a normal person. I will miss the knee-driving, but it won’t be necessary if my hands aren't doing anything else. With the relaxation that aromatherapy induces, I'm calmer and experience less of an urge to engage in additional activities.

I’ll just listen to my brother’s banjo recordings while taking in the sweet scent of Joy. (My friend just brought me my brother's CD that I forgot at home, and I cannot wait to stick it in the car and have him serenade me while I drive. That's not a distraction, is it??)



While I've been diffusing Joy in the car the past few days, the first oil we tried at my friend’s request was Thieves. It smelled like Christmas, cigarettes, and frog-legs when we got back to the car after a day at the beach- although I can’t blame the oil for the stench of my leftovers or the stale smoke. Perfume, for example, doesn't cover up body odor- it mixes with it.

My friend also pointed out the irony in my simultaneous self-destructive and health-enhancing habits: smoking and diffusing. I'd like to work on consistency- wouldn't we all?

I've enjoyed riding oily so much that I’m ordering another mini orb diffuser so I can permanently have one in both my office and car. Perhaps I will become a healthier AND safer driver... miracles happen every day.

Full disclosure

Commission Check or Account Credits much lower than expected?

Mystery solved!

Heard of the awesome Fast Start Bonus?

I just learned that the flip-side of the Fast Start bonus (which only benefits the Enroller) is a decrease in commission for the Sponsor.

So if you did not personally enroll your downline member (if someone else signed them up and put them underneath you) then for that dowline member's first three months, you will only receive 2.4% instead of the normal 8% of their PV.

Commissions are generated between the 20th and the 23rd for the previous month’s orders. You must have had a PV of 100 in a given month to receive that month's commission. And if your commission is below $25, you will receive it in the form of Account Credits, which can be used towards future “Quick Orders.” You can check your commission by logging into your account and selecting "Classic Downline Viewer" under "My Organization" on the left-hand panel. The Classic Downline Viewer will open in a new page. Click on the Commisions link located to the right of the last tab. It will bring up your Commission Check Summary for the month selected.

Your Unilevel bonus total is your commission on your dowline members' orders.

As a Distributor, you normally earn 8% on those one level below you, and 5% on those two levels below you. However, the first three months are different, as we talked about- higher than normal if you're their Enroller, and lower if you're not.

Commissions are definitely not the motivating factor for my involvement in essential oils- they are merely an added perk. But perks can be confusing. So if anyone out there is wondering, I hope this helps.

***UPDATE 3/19/2015

My Sponsor/Enroller and I have just learned that unlike the unilevel commissions that require you to have a PV of 100 to receive, you only need to have a PV of 50 to receive the one-time Start Living bonus of $25:

and the Fast Start bonuses:

Good to know for people just getting started- that they need not be so aggressive in their personal sales in order to see some perks. 

My Winter Glow

During her recent visit, my friend said my skin is glowing with the Florida sun. While that may be partly true, remember that it's winter here too. My outfit today includes a scarf and wool socks.

No, really- there was FROST on my windshield this morning. This is a record for SW Florida- the coldest Feb. 20th in over 50 years.

We're hibernating, not sunbathing. So why does my face glow?

LITERALLY. Because each night before I go to bed, I apply the most amazing concoction of oils.

I'm far from flawless. My skin is:
a) oily
b) acne-prone
c) dry
d) sensitive
e) blotchy
f) uneven

Somehow, these oils manage to take care of it all.

I bought a couple of carrier oils and some glass bottles from Amazon.com.

My mixture contains:
1. Jojoba (pronounced ho-HO-bah)
2. Tamanu oil
3. Lavender essential oil

The directions also call for Frankincense, but honestly, I forgot that I had it until my brother reminded me that it came in our Starter Kit. So maybe I'll add it now. But up to this point, the results have been amazing with just the carrier oils and lavender.

In addition to applying after I wash my face at night, I also apply a few drops and rub it onto my face in the morning after I get out of the shower. It acts as a primer before I put on my make-up.

The Jojoba has a yellow tint, so I think that helps with the glowing look. But for me, the biggest benefit of this mixture is that it controls my acne and takes care of any dryness or flaking. I've run out of my prescription topical benzoyl peroxide. But as long as this potion keeps working, I won't be scheduling a follow-up with my Dermatologist.

The glow isn't merely cosmetic or biological; I believe that something (or Someone) else shines forth. I'm not physically pregnant like many women who are said to have a "glow." But I am becoming a happier and healthier person, and I think that makes all the difference.

Look to him, and be radiant;
    so your faces shall never be ashamed. - Psalm 34:5

It's Business Time

The reality is that I spend the majority of my waking hours at work. So if I really want oils in my life, they're going to have to come to the office. That's why I bought this mini orb diffuser.

I plug it into the usb port on my computer, fill the bottom with water, add a few drops of Joy and/or En-R-Gee, and it's business time! Does it make me a more joyful and energetic employee? I don't know- ask my boss, who incidentally said his wife uses oils too.

Meanwhile I've got my snowbird friend using the home diffuser while working remotely from my FL residence these past couple days. We secretly love that her flight back to the tundra keeps getting delayed. Now she's had the opportunity to experience the wonders of aromatherapy for herself.

Why not make your working environment, where ever it may be, a little more pleasant with the help of essential oils? On this first day of Lent, in the midst of your sacrifices, giving, and prayers, and even in your own office, you too can discover the oil of gladness.

My drinking habit

I purchased a glass bottle from Wal-Mart and brought my lemon essential oil to work so I could start my little daily routine of adding a couple drops to my water. Subsequently I’ve come across some concern within the blogosphere regarding the safety of ingesting essential oils. It seems that the danger is related to potency, volume, and direct contact with your insides. It also sounds like they’re worried about people taking pills filled with oils in place of seeking medical treatment and without the guidance of a healthcare professional. I don’t think they’re talking about a drop or two of lemon oil diluted in a huge bottle of water.

I’ve looked for studies, but I’m having trouble finding research on ingesting lemon oil. I have found a lot of studies on its inhalation. One such study documented high positive correlations between inhaling lemon oil and positive mood (in people, I spared you the depressed rat studies.)

"We found clear and consistent evidence that lemon oil inhalation enhances positive mood and also boosts norepinephrine release (in line with its activating properties), but no other obvious physiological or health-related benefits from either lemon or lavender..."[1] 

I don't need it to work physiological miracles. If people feel happier after smelling it- great! 

It was interesting to me, however, that the researchers alluded to the possibility that quick mood boosting could have negative effects on your physiology. I guess whether it's eustress or distress, getting revved up takes work, and you've got to come back down. Perhaps as with any stimulant, the high may come at the price of a crash. You can't win. 

But I'm still putting a couple drops of lemon in my water. Because I like it! And it's my water I can oil if I want to. You would oil too if it happened to you!

*Sniff responsibly ;)

---

[1] Kiecolt-Glaser et al. (2008). Olfactory influences on mood and autonomic, endocrine, and immune function. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33, 328-339. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The battle with sleep

My friend has been struggling with insomnia. She read somewhere that Lavender and Young Living's "Stress Away" blend are a good combination to diffuse as a sleep aid. So we tried it that night, and it worked! But we didn't repeat…

One morning she woke up telling me of her anxiety-ridden night. I immediately thought of our heavy conversation the night before and felt bad about its apparent effect on her.

That night we made sure to diffuse Stress Away and Lavender, but I couldn't restrain myself from engaging her in yet another deep discussion. In the morning Bexx's victim reported a successful night's sleep in spite of the potentially anxiety-provoking discourse AND the long late afternoon nap. We were both amazed. 

But we still hadn't made this a nightly routine, and at some point we realized that we were both waking up in the middle of the night. 

So for both my sake, and the good of my poor friend, I held her captive from going to bed last night last night until we inhaled the sweet aroma of our magic potion. I haven't had her report yet, but I slept through the night.

Even if there is some sort of placebo effect going on, thanks be to God for it! I think it does us good to feel empowered and proactive in our use of natural means to pursue health.

PS- Now for full disclosure, I diffused Joy this morning, because waking up is the worst part of my life, compounded by the 2nd worst part, having to come up with something to wear, and exacerbated by my perpetual vice of tardiness and hating what inevitably follows– being  rushed. So I need all the joy I can get in the morning.

My roommate tried communicating with me twice during the process of leaving the house and driving me to work this AM. When she realized how futile her efforts were, she remarked that I must be having a rough morning. Maybe the Joy hadn't kicked in yet...

Grace doesn't supplant nature, it builds upon it. Likewise, oils don’t fix everything about you or solve all your problems. I never expected that they would. I’m still a lazy, undisciplined jerk, with or without oils.

But since I know what this liquid is up against, I’m in awe of any occasion, no matter how rare, that it seems to help, and I’m given the opportunity to experience the oil of gladness. 

What a steal

After my hiatus up North for Christmas, I returned to Florida anxiously awaiting my Young Living Premium Starter Kit. It includes a selection of 10 different essential oil and essential oil blends called the Everyday Oils Collection.

I was so excited when it arrived- but where to start? Well, I had been pretty sick during the break, and airplanes seem to equal infection for me. I knew my aunt diffuses Thieves to fight against germs and prevent sickness.

Apparently this blend of essential oils was used by grave robbers- hence the name- during the back plague to keep them from catching it from their victims.

I already knew I liked the smell of this blend, which my friend says smells like Christmas. So this is the very first oil we diffused.

My Premium Starter Kit came with a Home Diffuser. The directions said to put in 12-13 drops. I didn't have distilled water but I didn't let that stop me (sh, don't tell my mom.) And I never developed the ear infection that I was expecting to match the one got after my flight to Illinois.

Pascal's Wager

Truth doesn't change, but we do. We are always in a process of seeking and discovering.

We are constantly being bombarded with information. New thoughts, ideas, research, and theories are continually being presented to us as the latest and greatest. Some of this information we accept, and some of it we reject. What causes us to decide one way or another? Some factors could include:

1. intuition- it instinctively seems right or wrong 

2. previously held beliefs- how the new information fits in with our existing knowledge

3. past experiences- how the information corresponds with our first-hand experience

4. impact- what implications come with the information

Other factors depend not on the message but the messenger. Our judgment can be influenced by:

1. the manner in which the material is presented

2. the presenter's level of expertise in this field

3. the witness of the speaker's life

4. the speaker's opinion on other matters

We may wonder about:

1. the speaker's level of conviction

2. the speaker's motives for presenting the information

And we may consider:

1. what other people think about this information
2. the application- how the information affects us

We may immediately be convinced one way or another. If we aren't sure, we will only continue to wrestle with a question if we find value in doing so.

I have heard about oils for years. But I was only recently introduced to Young Living's Essential Oils by my godmother. She is a messenger that I trust. She was in a desperate situation, gave it a go, and has had a profoundly positive experience.

I'll admit that my decision to try oils was motivated by her, and my desire to help her. However, I had something to gain. I'm not the epitome of health- I have a lot of different issues. What have I got to lose? The least this could do is teach me a little about plants and give me a sensory adventure. Best case scenario is they work, and they help me. What a fun way to pursue healthy living through the power of nature with a network of like minded people- especially my family!