Hello Friends!
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February flew by and March is knocking at the door ... are you ready for spring? I know I am! And here on the Ridge we have B - E - A - U - TI - FUL springs.
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One of the things I look forward to the most in the spring is the scent of grass being mowed for the first time of the year. There's something about that scent that takes me back to my childhood, lying on the ground looking up at a beautiful blue sky with white, puffy clouds rolling by. I can still hear a mower in the distance and remember the intoxicating smell of the grass being cut, a sure sign spring was in the air and summer was not far behind.
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Let's talk sense of smell, shall we? How's yours?* Do you know that the sense of smell comes from the olfactory system (organ/nerves for smelling)? Many things can affect olfaction, things like smoke, hormones, sickness (think Covid), medication and many more.
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Sense of smell is so very important for our emotional health and wellbeing. Think about those times a smell has triggered a happy childhood memory. Every time I smell the exhaust from a motor boat or jet ski, it takes me back to learning how to waterski with my Dad as a very young girl. My sister and I even used to double at times! Those are some of my best memories from growing up. If I didn't have the sense of smell, the exhaust from motor boats or jet skis wouldn't bring those happy memories to mind.
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Sense of smell also lets us know when there is a bad odor, or when food is spoiled, or perhaps even when danger is lurking. It's so important for all of us, especially for recalling childhood memories. There's a doctor in Colorado, Dr. Kenny Channett of Children's Hospital Colorado, looking for children who may have lost their sense of smell from Covid. He will be testing their current senses of smell to establish a base line, then will be using four essential oils (orange, eucalyptus, lavender & peppermint) to retrain their olfactory systems. How wonderful for Dr. Channett to understand the importance of kiddos having their senses of smell restored - and with essential oils - even more wonderful!
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There are ways to improve your sense of smell over time. Most nerve cells are typically very difficult to regenerate, but olfactory nerves are being regenerated every 30 days. Retraining your sense of smell is a slow process, but it can be done - it just takes consistency, patience and some essential oils!
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Have you had Covid? Has it affected your sense of smell? If it has, the good news is you can restore it over time with essential oils. If you're not a part of my team yet but you're ready to dive in and give essential oils a try, I do have two 10% off codes available! Just reach out and let me know if you'd like one of them. I'll share on a first-come, first-served basis.
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What childhood memories do you have that are triggered by smell? Send me a note back and share your story - I'd love to hear it!
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Happy soon to be spring, everyone!
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*If your sense of smell is not what it used to be, it's always a good idea to see your doctor to rule out any disease, disorder or possible growths.
Views from the Ridge
September 29, 2020
Can you believe it’s almost October! I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around October, it’s been such a strange and wonderful year.
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Many of us had hoped for more time at home …
we’ve had more time at home.
Many of us had hoped for more family meals together …
we’ve had more family meals together.
Many of us had wanted to try working from home …
we’ve had the opportunity to work from home.
and Many of us had hoped for a chance to try homeschooling …
we’ve had to homeschool our kiddos.
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Do we count the opportunities that have been afforded us during this pandemic a blessing? Or are we still hoping for other things? Let’s not lose site of waking up each day with a grateful heart for the opportunities we’ve been able to experience these past several months.
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Let’s move on to oil of the week – Lavender!
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Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)has a scent that’s sweet, floral, fresh and calm. It’s great as a beginner oil because it is highly versatile and has so many used for you and your home! Did you know that it’s part of the mint family? It is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant, and it takes 27 square feet of lavender plants to make one 15 ml bottle – that’s a lot of lavender! Lavender is often referred to as the “Swiss army knife of oils.” Why you ask? Let me tell you, along with lots of other great uses:
- It promotes relaxation and calm and helps fight nervous tension
- It has balancing properties to calm the mind and promote sleep
- It helps take the “sting” out of a burn and promotes healing
- It helps with seasonal allergies, either by itself or in a blend with peppermint and lemon, equal parts
- It soothes dry skin and lips while supporting healthy skin
- It supports aging skin
- It makes a pleasant addition to wool dryer balls
- It takes lemonade to the next level when added to the pitcher!
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And it’s a must to diffuse – here are some diffuser recipes for you to try!
Seasonal Support Calming/Sleep Support Happy & Healthy
3 Drops Lavender 3 Drops Lavender 3 Drops Lavender
3 Drops Lemon 3 Drops Cedarwood 3 Drops Thieves
3 Drops Peppermint 3 Drops Frankincense 3 Drops Citrus Fresh
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Have a wonderful week – and until next week, be sure to make it a good one!
Views from the Ridge
September 22, 2020
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Since Fall is in the air, I thought I would focus on all things warm and cozy. When I think of an essential oil that feels like Fall, Thieves Essential Oil is the one that comes to mind. And Thieves is, hands down, the most-utilized oil here at The Mountain Retreat (aka the home of Paul & Penni Aschenbrener). Here’s a little background about Thieves Essential Oil:
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“Thieves is a most amazing blend of highly antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-infectious essential oils.
It was created from research based upon legends about a group of 15th-century thieves who rubbed botanicals on themselves to avoid contracting the plague while they robbed the bodies of the dead and dying. When apprehended, the thieves were forced to tell what their secret was and disclosed the formula of the herbs, spices and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for more lenient punishment.”*
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How interesting is that! The essential oils in the Thieves blend are Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata and Rosemary.
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But even more convincing is a study conducted at Weber State University in 1997, which demonstrated the killing power of these amazing oils against airborne microorganisms. The analysis showed that after only 10 minutes of diffusing Thieves into the air, harmful bacteria was reduced significantly! The Thieves blend is unique in that it kills harmful bacteria while not killing beneficial bacteria, according to Kurt Schnaubelt, PH.D., an essential oil expert. That’s great news in light of what we’re all dealing with in today’s times!*
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So, friends, if you’re not incorporating Thieves Essential Oil Blend into your daily routine, please start now! Here are a couple of recipes for you to incorporate Thieves into your everyday routine.
“Germ-Blaster Spray” 2 oz spray bottle
6 Drops Thieves
2 Drops Purification
5 Drops Vitamin E Oil
1 tsp. Witch Hazel
Top off with Distilled Water
Thieves Immunity Booster Diffuser Recipe
3 Drops Thieves
3 Drops Lemon
3 Drops Frankincense
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Remember, Young Living’s essential oils are safe to be used aromatically, topically, and the Vitality line are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA for internal use.
*Information regarding Thieves Essential Oil referenced from the Essential Oils Pocket Reference, Eighth Edition, published by Life Science.
Happy 2022, Friends and Family!
It's a new year, obviously, but also a new opportunity to start fresh. A reset, so to speak.
But something to keep in mind .... it doesn't have to be a brand new year for a reset. You can reset every quarter, every month, or even every week! That's why I intentionally waited until mid January to send my newsletter. According to the quick research I've done, nearly half the people that have made New Year's Resolutions have already broken them by mid to late January.
Don't get discouraged - you can start your resolutions again! And again, and keep starting as many times as it takes to keep going with your goals and resolutions! You don't have to wait until the first of the quarter, the first of the month, nor the first of the week ... just start!
What Paul and I have found to work best for us is to look at "resolutions" or "a new year's goals" as opportunities for refreshing our lifestyles. What do I mean by lifestyles? Simply a way of living that reflects one's values and attitudes.
For example, we work really hard at mostly eating whole-food, plant based meals. It's not always easy, but that doesn't mean we don't continue to strive to do better. I'm happy to share recipes, tips and resources for eating WFPB, just ask!
And sleep - we try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night. Does it take effort and discipline, yes! We also use some things to help us have a much better night's sleep as well. Improving the quality of one's sleep is just as important as getting enough sleep. I can point you to those things we do to make sure we are getting the best sleep possible.
The next few weeks I'm going to focus on self care, including eating more nutrient-dense foods and having better sleep, on my social media accounts.
Keep Young Living's Gifts with Purchase in mind. A couple of this month's free oils are included with the diffuser recipe below that can help with focus!
Goal Getter Diffuser Blend for you to try. Let me know how you like it!
6 Drops Lemon
2 Drops Basil
2 Drops Grapefruit
2 Drops Rosemary
You can also transform it into a roller blend, just triple the number of drops and add a carrier oil of choice.
It's October - winter is right around the corner!
How is your immune system doing? Are you feeling really well, strong and rested?
If not, what will you do so you can feel really well, strong and rested?
Here are some excellent tips from the Cleveland Clinic. Did you know that Cleveland Clinic uses essential oils and aromatherapy in their wellness practices? It's true!
And many of us are deficient in Vitamin D. Have your physician check your Vitamin D levels next time you're there for a visit. And if you're deficient, then start taking the recommended IUs each day to boost your levels.
And a diet rich in plants, like garlic, asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, green bananas or plantains, as well as oranges, kiwi and broccoli can do wonders for your immune system!
Paul and I also drink 2 ounces of NingXia Red each day to support our immune systems because of the extremely high ORAC scale value of the NingXia Wolfberry, which is a HUGE source of antioxidants. NingXia Red also keeps energy levels even throughout the day, supports brain and joint health; is a must for healthy hormones and helps curb sugar cravings.
Are you ready to take control of your health naturally? I can help! Just let me know what questions you may have. Young Living has so many options for you to take control of your health, from non-toxic cleaning to all the health benefits gained from using premium therapeutic essential oils and supplements.
The calendar days just keep flying away - be ready when winter hits!
