How to pack for 3 nights in Key West in ONLY a backpack!

As I booked our flights to Key West, I found out that I was going to be charged $60 for a carry-on! That's nuts. A personal item is allowed, though, so I decided I'd simply bring a backpack since it would be free and challenge me to pack light.

Next weekend, we have another flight that charges for carry-ons and will each be taking only a back-pack, so this was good practice to confirm it can be done!

Here's my Key West packing list:

• 2 dresses
• 2 shorts
• 1 pair yoga pants
• 2 tanks
• 1 long-sleeved shirt
• 1 sweatshirt
• 1 bra/2 sports bras
  
• 2 socks
• 4 underwear
• 2 bikinis
• 1 hat
• 1 pair birkenstocks
• 1 pair tennis shoes
  
• sunglasses
• waterbottle
• kindle
• airpods
• 1 pair pjs/cozy socks
• minimal toiletries/jewelry
• a mixture of Peppermint and Digize essential oils
• a mixture of Valor, White Angelica and other calming essential oils

All this fit in my old LLBean high school backpack and saved me from paying for luggage or carry-on! It was the perfect amount of items for eating out, shopping, paddle-boarding, boating and hanging out.

What's the lightest you've ever packed for a trip? Please share in the comments below!

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 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!

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!

Daily Self-Care Routine

Solitude - Schedule some alone time each day. It can be as simple as a cup of tea before anyone else wakes, a long soak in the bath, a few moments with your journal, a quiet walk outdoors, deep breaths of Young Living essential oil blends like Awaken or Release or even some much needed spiritual refreshment with your Bible or favorite devotional.

Movement - Take some time to exercise each day. Whether you have 5 minutes or 2 hours, commit to some form of movement. I fluctuate between walks, yoga, HIIT, short jogs and strength training. The best exercise for you is the one that you'll do. So pick something you'll enjoy and get going.

Nutrition - Consume less sugar and cafeine and add in more water and plant-based whole-foods. Avoid eating out or grabbing take-out and, instead, cook your meals from scratch. Pay attention while eating and begin to eliminate foods that negatively effect your physical, mental and emotional health.

Monitor - Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Monitor what you watch, what you listen to and what you say. Choose to surround yourself with what and who lifts you up.

Rest - Learn to practice relaxation techniques, like meditation, and be sure to get around 8 hours of sleep a night. But remember that rest isn't just about sleep. If you can, take a day off every week, a weekend off  every month and a week off every quarter. Whether it's a get-away or a staycation, the purpose is to unplug and come back refreshed.

My favorite makup remover

Do you use a makeup remover?

My favorite cleanser for removing makeup and brightening my complexion is our Young Living Mirah Luminous Cleansing Oil!

If you’ve never tried a cleansing oil, here’s how you’d use it:

1. On dry skin, massage 2-4 pumps between hands and then over face

2. Give yourself a quick little face massage until you’re a little red and tingly

3. Steam and then wipe off face with hot washcloth to remove oil

4. Keep repeating steps 1-3 until you are satisfied

5. Finish with toner and moisturizer

When you're done, you're face will feel clean, but still hydrated and, over time, you'll notice your skin becoming softer and brighter!

***Order your Mirah Luminous Cleansing Oil from me HERE and use code SHAREYL for 10% off :)

Packing List for Road-Tripping with a Toddler

In 2021, we took our then 13-month-old on a 2.5 month road-trip full of camping, hotels, AirBnb, family, beaches, bike rides, hikes and so much more.

It was incredible.

But, as I've told people what we did, they would comment how daunting the packing and travel must have been with a toddler. I'm here to say, it was more work than when it was just Nick and me, but it honestly wasn't difficult.

So, I’ve put together a packing list for other parents who are ready to go on an adventure.

Here's Ivy’s Packing List:

Video, monitor and plugs

Sound machine and plug

Playpen and two sheets

Stroller

Travel chair

3 tank-top onesies

5 short-sleeved onesies

4 long-sleeved onesies

4 pants

3 Pjs

Sleep sack

Sleeping bag sack

Blanket

Fleece coat

Raincoat

3 socks

1 pair shoes

Sunhat 

Beanie

Gloves

Swimsuit

Cup

Bib

Spoon

Swim Diapers

Diapers

Wipes

Rash cream

Sunscreen

Motrin and Tylenol

TummyGize oil

SniffleEase oil

Valor oil roll-on

Calm oil

Diffuser and cord

Thermometer 

Shampoo/Body Wash

Brush

Lovey

1 small basket of Toys and Books

Camping towel

Bike seat (attaches to Nick's bike)

Bike helmet

***Get your Young Living oils from me HERE. Use code - SHAREYL for 10% off :) 

My TOP 5 Favorite Young Living Oils & Products:

I've been using Young Living essential oils and products for almost 10 years. Over these years, I've gone through seasons of favorites, so I wanted to share my current must-haves:

1. Rose Ointment - massage this in to all your extra dry spots
2. Cortistop - take this for your lingering tummy bulge

3. Golden Turmeric - sip this for inflammation that effects you

4. Mirah Cleansing Oil - wash off your makeup, without stripping your skin

5. Lavender Lip Balm - this one is always in my top 5 :)

***Email me (nickandemilystewart@me.com) to get my discount code to order your Young Living!

What's YOUR Frequency?

Did you know that every living thing has a frequency?

People and animals, plants, trees and herbs, including essential oils!

Each vibrates at its own rhythm and has an effect on each other.  For example, being around someone who’s cranky or you don’t trust can lower your frequency.  But positive thoughts, prayer and meditation can raise it!

Same goes for food.  Acidic foods, such as coffee, can cause our frequency to go down.  But fresh foods and herbs can help it get right back up!

When we are sick, our frequency is low.  The sicker we get, it continues to decrease.  At death, we no longer have a frequency.

So, as you can see, it’s important to keep our frequency up high by eating fresh fruits and vegetables, spending time with good people, doing things we enjoy and practicing prayer and meditation, along with positive thoughts.

On top of that, we can use essential oils to positively affect our frequency!

All essential oils have a high frequency, but Rose is at the top with 320 Mhz, compared with fresh foods that are only 20-27 Mhz.  Don’t stop eating your real foods, but also don’t forget to consistently incorporate your essential oils daily, like we do.  They are powerful and can help keep you well!

To keep your frequency high, you should be diffusing, applying and ingesting the right oils for you.  Whether you’re at home, in the office or riding around town, there are ways to stay consistent.

Email me nickandemilystewart@me.com and we'll come up with the best essential oils to meet your health goals, while we raise your frequency :)

***Order HERE and use code SHAREYL for 10% off

My Favorite Mocktail

1/2 can Ningxia Zyng
4 Oz Ningxia Red
1 tsp grated ginger

It’s an all-natural, energy boosting, antioxidant treat❤️

Non-alcoholic, but still feels fancy💃

Go throw drink together for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Don’t have the ingredients?

Grab my link below to get Ningxia Red!

***Order your Young Living essential oils and products HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off

Honey Lavender Green Tea Recipe

We recently spent Labor Day weekend at the lake and Carol, a friend, came up with this refreshing recipe. It was a hit with our group, so I wanted to share!

Honey Lavender Green Tea

Steep green tea for a few minutes in hot water (use a bag or loose-leaf)

Stir in a tsp-tbsp honey while hot

Pour over ice

Add a drop of Young Living Lavender Oil (buy HERE from me)

Add milk (I like oatmilk best) to your liking

Stir everything together

Enjoy!

***Email me nickandemilystewart@me.com when you buy your Lavender oil through me so I can set you up with my Young Living resources!

I have everything I NEVER wanted!

I never wanted to settle down in the USA.
I never wanted to marry an American.
I never wanted to be a business-owner.
I never wanted to live in a Fixer Upper.
I never wanted to raise an only child.
I never wanted to be a working mom.

I have everything I never wanted.

But it turns out, it’s what I needed.

It’s a good life for me💕

What’s something about your life you wouldn’t have chosen, but it’s actually been perfect for you?

Where To Apply Essential Oils

My favorite locations are:
✅my hair
✅behind my ears
✅chest
✅back of my neck
✅under my nose
✅wrists
✅tummy
✅bottoms of my feet
✅spine
✅elbow and knee creases

I also use my reference guides to apply to specific points on my ears, hands and feet.

There are no real rules (except keep away from eyes and don’t put inside ears or nose).

Just apply them where you can be consistent…for me, it’s my wrists!

Where is your favorite place to apply your essential oils?

***Order your Young Living essential oils and products HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off

Ivy's Birth Story

No epidural.

That’s the only thing that went “according to plan”.

9am(4 days late): Water broke while Nick and I were on a walk. No contractions. No pain. We continued our coffee date. 

1pm: Midwife said I had until 3am to go into labor naturally or be induced. I chugged an induction concoction and started bouncing on my birthing ball. 

3:15pm: I began timing my tightening (45 seconds long, every 2-3 minutes), but wasn’t sure if it was contractions since I wasn’t in pain.

4:30pm: I called the midwife. She said that if I was able to talk, it wasn’t time.

5:30pm: Nick called. Contractions were back to back and so painful, I couldn’t talk.

6pm: Headed to hospital. Got to triage measuring 4cm. By the time we got our room, Nick parked the car and returned with our bag, I was measuring 6cm. Nurse began filling up the tub for water birth.

8pm: The uncontrollable urge to push.

10pm-12am: Still in the tub, pushing. So, midwife had me move to the bed, checked me, pushed a tiny piece of cervix aside, then began all sorts of “tricks” to try to get things moving. The Rebozo. The Peanut. Trying to hook Ivy’s chin. On my back, legs up, pushing by command. Ivy was crowning for almost an hour (that “ring of fire” is a real thing). I began to say, “I’m so discouraged, I don’t think I can go on” and crying in between pushing. The out of control feeling was terrifying.

12:08am: The midwife suggested an episiotomy and I practically begged for it. Ivy immediately FLEW out on the next contraction.

Less than 8 hours of painful labor, but almost 4 hours of pushing. Short and intense. I was so utterly exhausted, I felt disconnected. And instead of feeling triumphant after a natural birth, I felt traumatized. Books, YouTube videos and friends’ birth stories hadn’t prepared me. Low lights, warm water, soft music and essential oils didn’t work like magic. 

It was simply survival, Nick beside me and me silently praying, “Please God help me” a million times over.

***Order your Young Living essential oils and products HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off

Nick’s Homemade Elderberry Syrup

This is perfect to prepare and get ready for the fall!

It tastes delicious and boosts your immune system.

1/2 cup dried elderberries
4 cups water
1/2 cup honey
3 drops Young Living Clove
3 drops Young Living Cinnamon Bark

***Bring water and elderberries to boil. Let boil 2 minutes. Let simmer for 1 hour. Pour through strainer to separate liquid from berries. Let cool for 10 minutes. Add honey and essential oils. Mix together. Store in fridge. Keeps for 1 month.

***Order your Young Living essential oils and products HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off

My Young Living Nighttime Routine

There's nothing better than winding down for a good night's sleep. Here's my favorite way to do it:

Golden Turmeric - take 1 teaspoon right before bed for better rest and to reduce inflammation

Coconut Lime Body Butter - I’m spoiled rotten because Nick gives me nightly foot rubs and this lotion is his favorite for my feet!

Lavender Lip Balm - I always apply this lip balm before bed so that I don’t wake up with dry lips

Peace&Calming with Lemon Essential Oils - This combo in the diffuser has been my favorite to sleep to since I began diffusing Young Living over 9 years ago! Put 4-6 drops of each and enjoy your own spa experience at home 🙂

Progessence Plus - I apply this serum to my forearms before bed.

Valor Essential Oil - This is the best oil blend to apply to the back of my neck to calm a racing heart and turn off tense thoughts.

Rose Ointment - I massage this into my cuticles to keep my nails healthy and my nail beds moisturized.

Mirah Cleansing Oil - Just got this in the mail today to start back to double cleansing before bed.

***Order your Young Living essential oils and products HERE and use my code SHAREYL for 10% off