I QUIT SOCIAL MEDIA

Yes, it's true. I quit social media.

If you followed me online, you may have been shocked (or wondering where I've been), but it was actually something I considered for years before I indefinitely signed out.

Since I didn't have a smart-phone until 27-years-old, I rarely used social media other than loading photos after trips. And by loading, I mean from my digital camera to my laptop to FaceBook...my, how times have changed!

But in 2013, I began selling Young Living Essential Oils and found social media to be the best way to do it! 99% of my business was done online, which, for a minimalist and traveler like myself, was a dream!

Even better once I became a mom in 2020 and wanted to stay home with my daughter, while still earning money.

However, years of being online and coming up with daily content began to wear on me and I found myself constantly googling things like "How to quit social media and still grow a business" as I tried to find a way out.

And it wasn't just that I was tired of posting, but I was becoming more and more aware of my new daughters little eyes on me, wanting to copy everything I did.

I want her to read books, play with friends, help with chores, go on walks, spend quality time with us, learn about self-care and all the little things that are building her character, moment by moment. I don't want her to think screens and social media are the goal.

But, she wants to be just like me.

So, I have to be who I want her to be.

Eventually, I woke up one morning last November with this unrelenting conviction to get off of FaceBook and Instagram and, though I fought it for a few hours, I didn't feel at peace until I followed through.

Since that day, I've increased how many books I get through a week, taken more afternoon naps, hung out more often with friends, kept up with my chores with a better attitude, tried new recipes, enjoyed vacations so much more without feeling like I need to be posting about them, spent more quality time with Nick, spent more time in Bible studies and in quiet thought, slept better at night, stopped procrastinating as much as I have done in the past and even enjoyed my time with my daughter, Ivy, so much more.

Even without social media, my business is still thriving, and I feel so much more at peace since I'm finally honoring my convictions.  I won't say I'll never get back on, but for now, you can find me here, sharing my thoughts on my blog.

Have you ever considered quitting social media? Please share in the comments below.

My Favorite Holiday Diffuser Blends

Did you know that scent is the strongest tie to memories?!

Maybe that’s why the smell of bonfires, Christmas trees, coffee and cookies transports me right back to the holidays!

Do you want to keep those holiday scents around? Here are some of my favorite combinations to throw in my diffuser lately:

Sugar Cookies:
4 drops Stress Away
4 drops Joy

Candy Canes:
4 drops Joy
4 drops Peppermint

Home Sweet Home:
4 drops Orange
4 drops Clove

Christmas Tree Lot:
2 drops Pine
2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
2 drops Idaho Grand Fir
2 drops Cypress
2 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce

Want to keep it super extra simple?

Simply diffuse a few drops Christmas Spirit oil on its own! It smells amazing.

Holiday scents hold some of our most treasured memories!🎄

What are your favorite scents during Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Comment below👇🏻

Use my Code SHAREYL for 10% off when you order through my link HERE!

The Rules of Minimalism

I've tried many different minimalism approaches over the years. There's lots of ways to get started, so here are some of my favorites:

90/90 Rule - Donate items you haven't used in 90 days and don't plan to use it in the next 90 days.

Unsubscribe, Unfriend and Unfollow - Stop getting updates that leave you with negative feelings.

The Rule of 1 - Only keep 1 of an item, like one pair of yoga pants, one purse, one vase, etc.

Let empty space stay empty - Don't fill a space just because it's empty.

Live within your means - Create a budget, stick to it and only buy if you can literally pay cash.

1 in / 1 out - Buy a new winter coat? Donate the old one. Buy a new set of towels? Donate the old ones.

Your house is for living, not storing - If you need storage bins to organize you stuff, you have too much.

1 calendar item per day - One you have one event scheduled, consider that day full.

Get rid of unused furniture - Create empty space by keeping only useful furniture.

Don't buy decor - Use hand-me-downs and gifts for an eclectic (and free) look.

Use your cell as a phone - Turn off all notifications so the only thing you hear is a phone call.

What's another minimalism rule you've heard and enjoy sticking to? Please share!

How To Have A Minimalist Christmas This Year

Do you have a minimalist in your life and still need to find them a Christmas gift?? Here are some ideas of things that they might love, but won't add to the amount of things in their home:

1. ENTERTAINMENT: give your minimalist tickets to the movies, theatre, or a concert, vouchers for dance or cooking lessons, tickets to a baseball game or something like it.

2. GETAWAY: take your minimalist to a spa resort, camping, on a short road trip, a day at the beach, play tourist in a new city or help them cross an item off their Bucket List.

3. PAMPER: gift your minimalist a manicure, pedicure, facial, hair cut or hair treatment, massage or something that would help them relax and feel refreshed.

4. DATE: take your minimalist out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, or anything that's one-on-one and involves good food.

5. CARDS: give your minimalist a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant, iTunes, kindle books, etc.

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS: subscribe your minimalist to something like Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, Netflix or a gym membership.

7. TREATS: treat your minimalist to homemade baked goods, their favorite toiletries, supplements, essential oils or make-up, flowers, fancy dark chocolates, local honey or anything that is edible or consumable.

8. SPOIL: pay for your minimalist's season tickets to a local theatre or favorite sports team, house cleaning, landscaping, home renovations.

9. UPGRADE: maybe your minimalist has everything that they need, but wouldn't mind making improvements.

10. SUPPORT: donate to your minimalist's favorite ministry or organization.

11. NEEDS: ask your minimalist what they need or want and gift them exactly that item!

If you have a minimalist in your life, it doesn't mean you can't give them gifts. Just remember that minimalists truly enjoy living simply and having less💕

Our New Prayer Schedule

Although we don't always stick to it, this Spring Nick and I came up with a certain prayer focus for each day to keep us on track and help us not forget anything we wanted to pray for consistently.

Here's our Prayer Plan we put together earlier this year:

Sunday - God's Blessings

Monday - Our Family 

Tuesday - Our Marriage

Wednesday - Our Friends

Thursday - Our Church Community

Friday - Missionaries We Support

Saturday - Our Neighborhood

Have you ever tried a prayer schedule? If so, did you enjoy it and stick to it and what am I missing that should be on my list?

PUMPKIN SPICE CINNAMON ROLLS

Preheat to 350

4 1/2 teaspoons rapid rise yeast

1 cup warm water

1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk together and let sit for 5-10 minutes

Then, add in 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

Mix until you've got a huge ball of dough

Roll the dough out into a big rectangle. Cover top with two handfuls of brown sugar (about 1/2 cup) and then sprinkle on Pumpkin Pie Spice and Cinnamon until brown sugar is covered. At least do 1 Tablespoon of PPS and Cinnamon, but add more if you want!

Roll up, slice into about 10-12 rolls and place on baking sheet. No need to let rise, throw them in the oven now and bake for about 20-25 minutes. You might have to check the center of one to make sure it's cooked to your liking.

Now it's time to frost!

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2-3 Tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon Vanilla (optional)

Now add in that Pumpkin Pie Spice until you're happy...I added and mixed until I got a nice mocha color. Be warned, I used so much PPS that the rolls had a kick to them (I think from all the clove). Also, don't be afraid to double or triple the frosting recipe if you like extra!

I promise these are super easy. I can whip them up in 20 minutes and by the time they've baked and are on our plates, it's only been an hour!

Try them this Saturday morning!

PS - if you're not into PPS, just use cinnamon in the rolls filling and leave it out of the frosting!

Let’s Stop Treating Men Like Children

I’ll always remember my Grandma Jackson refused to watch shows where men (specifically husbands) were portrayed as dumb.

Once she pointed that out to me, I realize how many shows do that!

It’s so disrespectful.

But it’s not just TV and movies, I’ve seen it happen, right in front of me, over and over again.

It’s so sad.

But this is what I’m sure of: Men can succeed at work, take care of their home, spend time with their family, be involved in church and cultivate meaningful relationships.

I see Nick do it well!

So, what if instead of treating men like they’re dumb, we show them we believe in them and watch them excel because of our support?

I always find that people turn out exactly how we expect them to, so let’s choose our thoughts and language wisely.

Why don’t we stop telling men how to do their jobs, rolling our eyes like they can’t care for things at home, quit calling it “babysitting” when they’re simply being a daddy, dragging them to events, setting them up on “play dates” with other men and not taking their advice?

I know, I know, it goes both ways and no one’s perfect.

But it’s got to start somewhere and treating men like men is a good place to begin.

How To Go Vegan TODAY

Going vegan wasn’t all that hard for me, but every now and then I’ll be reminded of something I used to enjoy. I know that I could eat that item again if I wanted to, but feeling good just feels so much better.

Have you been interested in going vegan but aren’t sure where to start?

Here are my tips:

1. Focus on what you can eat and don’t dwell on the few things you’re avoiding. You’re really only cutting out three things: meat, dairy and eggs. But, you can eat EVERYTHING else: all fruits, all vegetables, all nuts, all seeds, etc, leaving you with tens of thousands of options.

2. Fill up on what you enjoy. I love juiced oranges, sliced pineapple, dates and avocados covered in lemon juice and salt.

3. Be willing to experiment. I used to hate salads, but now I’ve figured out my favorite recipes and actually crave them.

4. Educate yourself. The more time I invest in learning about how food is related to health, the more I’m motivated to eat well.

5. Read labels and say no. Dairy (and other crap) is in everything and not everyone understands diet restrictions, so don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself.

I know it’s tempting to eat whatever is easy, whatever’s put in front of you and whatever you crave. I know. But, I promise that putting some boundaries on food will leave you feeling better in the long run.

Balance Is A LIE

As a mom, I often feel like I’m doing everything.

And nothing.

My days are consumed with putting together meals and snacks, loading and unloading the dishwasher, washing, folding and putting away laundry, running errands, vacuuming and mopping, meal planning and grocery shopping, scrubbing toilets and showers and on and on.

At the same time, my days are also consumed with trying to spend time with friends, volunteering with our church and participating in studies, working out, and spending lots of time with Ivy, reading books to her, allowing her to help me around the house, talking to her and playing with her and spending roughly 3 hours awake with her nightly because she's not a good sleeper.

It feels busy, all day, everyday.

But, I often look around, at the end of the day, and wonder what I did with all those hours.

I feel that I'm doing everything I can, and at the same time, I feel like I should be better.

Better about staying in touch with friends, better about eating healthier meals, better about deep cleaning, better about working on our small business, better about working out and losing the last bit of baby weight, better about reading my Bible, better about doing educational play with Ivy, and better about getting out to do stuff with other people.

I feel that I should do better, but to be honest, I'm mostly consumed with being a mom, wondering if this is good enough to be considered "my best".

I want there to be a balance, but I can only do so many things well at once and this is it. So, for this season, my minimalist house might be untidy and somewhat dirty, my vegan meals might be a ton of rice and beans, my reading list might be mostly kids books, my friendships might be lots playdates and my date nights might be take out and a movie we’ve seen a million times.

This is my new normal and this is a 24/7 job.

There’s no way to balance it all, so I’m focusing on what’s most important right now - Ivy - and I’ll figure the rest out along the way💕

The Cheap, Lazy Girl's Guide to Essential Oils

With all the tips, tricks and recipes all over Pinterest, using essential oils can seem overwhelming.

Let me just go ahead and confess here…I’m slightly cheap and lazy. So, if my friends want to get together and DIY, I can get onboard. Who doesn’t love girl-time? But, when left to myself, I’ll just order the products that are already made. Easy peasy.

If you’re like me, you want a healthy lifestyle, but you don’t want it to be rocket science. Am I right? So, I put together a list of suggestions to save your money and keep things simple.

Aka, “The cheap, lazy girl’s guide to essential oils”:

🌱snag Young Living bottle labels and throw them on your caps so that you can stop wasting time and quickly find the essential oil you’re searching for
🌱soak your empty bottles in epsom salt and add 1/4 cup to 1 cup salt to your baths (the epsom salt draws out the last drops of essential oils out of the bottles)
🌱clean up those same bottles, grab Young Living AromaGlide Roller Fitments and DIY your favorite roll on recipes
🌱pick up spray caps (from gotoilsupplies.com) and turn your clean, empty bottles into DIY sprays like makeup setting spray, mouth spray, stinky puppy spray, etc…
🌱remove the cap from your favorite oil, place a few toothpicks down into the bottle, put it on any surface and enjoy the scent without having to turn on your diffuser
🌱keep a pitcher of water next to your diffuser to skip walking back and forth to the sink
🌱buy multiples of your favorite oils and keep one in each room you spend time in…don’t forget your purse (again, skip the walking back and forth a million times)
🌱replace all your cleaning supplies with one product: Thieves Household Cleaner
🌱stock up on oils for cooking and baking, like Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Lemon, etc., and use them instead of the fresh stuff that often goes bad too quickly

I know living a healthier, toxin-free lifestyle can seem expensive, but just think of it as an investment in your health! It’s worth it and over time, you can find your own ways to save money and keep things simple.

Already do so? Share your tips below!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off!

Do you feel "off" when you travel?

Although traveling is my absolute favorite, it doesn’t always leave me feeling my best.  When I get home, it usually takes me a few days to a week to feel back to normal.

Do you struggle with the same issue?  Wanting to get out of town, but finding you come back more tired than when you left?

Here are some of my favorite travel hacks...try them out on your next trip and see if they help you as much as they help me.

-Drink tons of water, so much that you might need to stop at every rest area.  I’m failing here currently. Yes, it’s annoying, but it will help keep your skin clear, your digestion working normally and give you energy.

-When it’s time to eat, choose the best option available to you.  If it’s a smoothie, perfect!  If it’s a veggie pizza, that’s good too!  And make sure you bring lots of snacks for the times when you can’t find a decent place to eat or the munchies hit you when you can’t make a food stop.

-Use your essential oils, everywhere, all the time.  Diffuse En-R-Gee to stay awake while driving, swipe on StressAway when nerves are high, take a whiff of AromaEase when the motion gets to you and massage Valor into the soles of your feet when winding down for the night.

-Download a ton of your favorite Podcasts.  When you’ve been on the road for a while, you’re tired and you’ve run out of conversation, you’ll be glad to fall back on these.

-Wear comfortable clothes, bring a sweater in case you get chilly and wear slip on shoes (if you like to relax without shoes in the car) so that you’re not taking your shoes off and putting them on at every rest stop.  Double points if you bring a pillow and blanket for naps 😉

 Comment below with your favorite travel hacks!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off :)

My Go-To Packing List

With all the traveling we've done, I've found it helpful to simply keep a packing list handy all the time so that when an adventure strikes, I can throw everything together without too much thought.

Save this list for your next trip to make things easier on you!

Packing List

Toiletries:

toothbrush

toothpaste

shampoo

dry shampoo

deodorant

comb

soap

body lotion

sunscreen

spf makeup

blush

mascara

lipbalm

ibuprofen

DiGize essential oil (for stomach upset)

Thieves essential oil (for staying well)

White Angelica essential oil (for keeping calm)

Peace&Calming essential oil (for good sleep)

Valor essential oil (for good sleep)

Misc:

waterbottle

sunglasses

iPhone/charger

AirPods

Kindle/charger

Diffuser/charger

***Pack these items for only up to 1 week and do laundry if your trip lasts longer than that:

1-7 pairs underwear

1-3 bras

1-7 socks

1-7 tops

1-3 bottoms

1-3 dresses

1-2 pjs and warm sleep socks

1-3 exercise outfits

Outerwear and Accesories:

birks (warm weather)

boots (cold weather)

tennis shoes

bathing suits, coverup and sunhat (warm weather)

jacket, scarf and beanie (cold weather)

Am I missing anything that's on your packing list? If so, please share!

***Order your essential oils HERE and use code SHAREYL for 10% off!

Do you feel different when you spend time outside?

I remember when my sister and I watched “My Octopus Teacher” on Netflix.

If you haven’t watched it, Craig was a burned out film-maker who began free-diving daily. He comes across an octopus and decides to return to her everyday.

Though the documentary was surprisingly touching, what struck me the most was Craig’s commitment and determination even through discomfort. The water was cold, there was danger around him, he was usually alone, sometimes he even went diving at night.

He never missed a day.

I can’t think of anything that I’m willing to commit to every single day, especially if it’s uncomfortable. And it caused me to realize that my attitude keeps me from the real world around me.

Most of my days are spent indoors. I’ve got heating and air. The TV is often playing or, if not, music on my iPhone. Everything is cushy and clean and safe.

But what if I committed to doing outside activities daily? No matter the temperature. The noises of nature. Dirt, bugs, sun, rain, wind. 

Craig talked about how the cold water was hard at first, but then he began to crave it. His time in the ocean calmed and centered him and even went as far as to improve his human relationships. I believe that it was because he became more focused on what’s real.

If I’m not careful, I stay inside all the time. It’s too hot outside. It’s too cold outside. It’s raining. I hate the bugs. It’s boring. I don’t have a plug and my phone is dying. Etc. But, what if I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and committed to daily outside activities?

And the ironic thing is…Ivy is much happier when we are outside🥰

Lazy Girl's Guide to Getting in Shape

I'm lazy, but want to stay healthy of course, so here are my tips for doing so:

✅wear cute clothes for motivation

✅drink half your weight in water

✅eat when your hungry

✅don’t eat when you’re not hungry

✅avoid food that doesn’t sit well

✅sleep 7-9 hrs every night

✅do exercise you enjoy

✅think positive thoughts

✅sweat in the sauna

✅get outside daily

It's not one magic solution but a lifestyle of good choices.

What do you do to help you stay motivated?

The Death of a Collection

Have you ever had a collection?

My sister, Mary Ashley was always collecting something.  Gel pens.  Nail polish.  Makeup.  Barbies.  You name it.

At one point, all her makeup and nail polish was kept in this huge caboodle.  One night, I borrowed it (without asking 😳) to get ready for a youth group Christmas dinner.  When I got to the hotel, I didn’t want to lug the stuff around during the party, so I left it all in the car.

Bad move.

In Cochabamba, Bolivia, locks on doors are basically just there for decoration.  If you have anything in your car, it will be gone as soon as you walk away and take your eyes off it.

I knew that and for some reason, still thought I could hide the caboodle well enough.

Not so much.

By the time we got back in the car, the makeup and nail polish Mary Ashley collected for years was gone.  She was devastated.

It’s a funny family story now, but that took a few years, haha.  I felt terrible then and I still hate to think about it!  That was so thoughtless of me.

What’s something you did that you felt terrible about, but years later it’s turned into a funny family story that’s often shared around the dinner table?

(PS Yahyee-I’m still really sorry😭)

Did you know October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month

I'll never forget October 15th, 2018.

Instead of laboring for hours and racking up thousands of dollars in medical bills to happily bring our baby home in our arms, we carried ours home in a plastic bag and buried it in my parents backyard.

I remember wondering if I’d ever feel happy again. With our baby gone, I felt as though I had no purpose and hated the awkwardness of being a mother without her child.

Little did I know, that was just the beginning of a handful of tough years.

But I’ve come out of it more confident in who I am and who I want to be, more confident in who will show up for me when things suck, more confident that I don’t have any answers…but mostly, more confident that God has all of them and this is His will for our life.

Because October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, I want to share some suggestions on how to treat parents who have lost a child:

-Remember that a dearly loved child died and don’t treat it as though it was “just a miscarriage”.

-Be aware that the mom still had to labor and deliver her child, even if it wasn’t yet full-term.

-Messages, phone calls and cards are wonderfully thoughtful, but consider being there in person to offer support.

-Don’t avoid the topic (or the mom!), even if you just offer hugs and say “I don’t know what to say”.

-Use the baby’s name and remember it’s part of the family, even though it’s gone.

-Ask questions to give grieving parents permission to share what they’re going through.

-Know that the parents will always miss their child, so let them grieve without a time limit.

-Offer to help with cleaning, meals, etc., especially until the mom has recovered physically.

-Remember the mom and dad are now parents, even though their baby died.

-Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, their baby’s Birthday, etc., are all days where the parents should be included and their baby should be remembered.

Losing a child is indescribable. Let’s figure out how to encourage and support those who are suffering through it.

How to save THOUSANDS using low-tox products

Do you do subscription boxes?

I’ve had clothes and smoothies delivered to my door and it’s such a treat!

Did you know that Young Living also has a monthly subscription box?  I call it my wellness box and, every month, it arrives with tons of stuff I used to buy at the grocery store, like toothpaste and mouthwash, makeup and skincare, supplements and cleaning supplies, essential oils and so much more.

I love it!

But the best part?  Each month I get my wellness box, I'm also earning rewards points.  Since subscribing in November 2013, I’ve earned 6,335.13 points.  And the points are treated as cash, so I’ve earned $6,335.13!

Young Living let’s me choose exactly when I want in my box each month.  I can even choose different products every time.  It’s all non-toxic, natural and safe.  AND I’m earning rewards points.  It’s the best.

$6,335.13
is enough savings to book a trip to Europe, or go on an Alaskan cruise, or take a road trip…believe me, we’ve done all three with the money we’ve saved and have much more travel ahead of us in the next year😉

Don’t assume that investing in your health has to break the bank.  We have tons of tips and tricks for saving you money while becoming the best version of you.

And if you’d also like to earn money, like Nick and I do, we can teach you how we do that too!

Click HERE to order through me and use code SHAREYL for 10% off!

11 to do, see, stay and eat in Outer Banks

The outer banks is one of the most magical places I've ever been in the USA and I can't wait to go back one day to stay for a longer, better planned trip.

Here are some of our favorites from that trip:

1. Heart of Manteo Motor Lodge

2. Roanoke Island Festival Park 

3. Wright Brothers National Memorial

4. Jockey Ridge State Park sand dunes

5. Front Porch Cafe

6. Dawdy Park Playground

7. Inn at Rodanthe (from Nicholas Sparks movie)

8. Fatty’s Eatery

9. Hatteras Lighthouse

10. Whalehead Mansion

11. Search for wild ponies

We didn’t get to go to Ocracoke at this point in the road-trip because of weather, so I’ll be back soon with a post about our favorites in Ocracoke!