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!

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!

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😭)

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!

How To Get Hard Things Done

“The belief that you can do it comes from doing it.”

-Darlene Weir

I think back over my life and all the times I said “I can’t do that” or “I’d never be able to do that”. Times I believed that something was just too hard and I didn’t have what it takes.

Sometimes I let those beliefs hold me back from accomplishing what I wished or wanted. But every now and then, I’d somehow find the courage to stop making excuses and simply do it.

“I’ll never be able to run my own business”, “I can’t run well enough to sign up for a race”, “I’ll never be good at social media”, “I can’t be a vegan because I can’t live without cheese”, “I won’t survive a medication free, natural birth”, “I’ll never travel once I have kids” and even something as silly as “I’ll never learn how to wand my hair”...these were all things that I truly believed at one point.

Each one of these beliefs, though, we’re just that...beliefs. At some point, for every one of these (and more), I decided to take control and simply make it happen.

I learned how to be a business owner, run, use social media, live without cheese, naturally birth babies, travel with a toddler and wand my hair. The belief that I could do each one of these came from just doing them.

So, let’s stop making excuses by using words like “can’t” and “could never” and be honest with ourselves. We CAN do it. It’s a choice. And if we choose NOT to do it, let’s begin using phrases like, “that’s not my priority right now” instead. I don’t want to be a victim. I doubt you want to either.

The belief that we can do it comes from doing it. Let’s do it.

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 :)

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

38 pieces of advice

I just turned 38 in August and wanted to put together my words of wisdom!

Here’s my 38 pieces of wisdom to mark my 38th birthday

1. Never say never.

2. Kill them with kindness.

3. Just ask.

4. Spend time with people you love.

5. Travel often.

6. Be generous.

7. Learn something new (all the time).

8. Go on walks.

9. Choose the best option in front of you.

10. Read daily.

11. Plan girls nights.

12. Stretch.

13. Don’t spend what you don’t have.

14. Make goals.

15. Find a hobby (or three).

16. Go outside as much as possible.

17. Set boundaries with your smartphone.

18. Eat real food.

19. Get a dog.

20. Do work you love.

21. Wear comfy shoes.

22. Cook homemade meals.

23. Get monthly facials.

24. Live toxin-free.

25. Practice solitude.

26. Dress in beautiful colors.

27. Tidy your home each morning.

28. Enjoy quiet nights at home.

29. Become friends with your neighbors.

30. Take lots of vacations.

31. Drink more water.

32. Get enough sleep.

33. Use lamps for lighting.

34. Practice minimalism.

35. Kiss your baby too much.

36. Pray constantly.

37. Go on trips with friends and no kids.

38. Talk to a counselor.

Got any good advice? Please share!

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!

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

How To Do A Home Spa Treatment

Years ago I read how we should vacation as if we are guests at a luxury spa. Just because we can’t afford to actually spend time at one doesn’t mean we can’t treat ourselves to a week of pampering. So, I took that advice and every time I travel, I take all my goodies.

It’s true that I do all these things at home, but not daily, and often I rush through the steps. Simply slowing down and taking the time to use the right products the right way makes a huge difference, especially for my skin.

You should take time to pamper yourself, whether you have a week, a day or only 30 minutes. Here are my go-to steps for feeling healthy and fresh:

1. Grate 1 tsp - 1 tbsp fresh ginger into a glass, add in 1 cup Ningxia Red, then fill to top with seltzer water.

2. Start a bath and pour in one cup of epsom salt with 8 drops of StressAway Essential Oil.

3. While bath is filling, dry brush entire body for roughly 5 minutes.

4. Hop in bath and read a good book or rest while soaking for about 20 minutes. The water should be hot enough to get sweaty.

5. Massage a dime sized amount of Mirah Lustrous Hair Oil into hair and give yourself a good scalp massage for 2-3 minutes. Leave in hair for 20 minutes or more - I often leave mine in overnight and wash my hair in the morning.

6. Massage a dime sized amount of Mirah Luminous Cleansing Oil into face, neck and chest for 2-3 minutes. In the past, I’ve simply bought 1 of the Mirah Oil products and used it for hair, skin, shaving, moisturizer, everything…

7. Take a quarter sized amount of Acure Brightening Face Scrub and massage/scrub face, neck and chest for about 1-2 minutes. Then, wash off all traces of cleansing oil and scrub with warm water.

8. Make a bentonite clay (got mine at Whole Foods) paste, apply to face, neck and chest and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with steaming washcloth.

9. Get out and dry off. Apply Young Living Creme Masque to face and Young Living Lavender Lotion (of one of the Mirah Oil products) to entire body.

You should now feel like a million bucks! I’ve done this daily and, just since Saturday, my skin is softer and clearer. Good products and practices can compete with pricey spas!

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

When You Don't Want To Use Essential Oils

Not into essential oils?

Still want to make better choices?

Let me share my 13 top, (non-essential oil), must-have Young Living products!

💕Thieves Household Cleaner-This plant-based cleaner is super concentrated, which means I only need a bottle or two a year to keep my home clean and germ free!
💕Sulfurzyme-Years back, I came across a magazine article where a super model said she couldn’t live without Sulfurzyme for her hair, skin and nails…been taking it ever since!
💕Lavender Baby Wipes-Great for everything from removing makeup, to cleaning up messes in the car, washing hands without water and staying clean while camping when there is no shower.
💕Rose Ointment-All things skin…itchy places, dry patches, blemishes, cuticles…
💕Ningxia Red-Boosts immunity and loads us up on antioxidants so that we can stay young and healthy!
💕Sheerlume-Moisturizes, evens skin tone and brightens skin. When using this, I often get compliments on my glow! 💕ART Creme Masque-An amazing treat for healthy, radiant skin! Wear it for 10 minutes or even sleep with it on overnight.
💕Lavender Lip Balm-Hydrates and soothes lips. A few friends have asked what pretty, pale color I wear on my lips and I’m always happy to tell them it’s just Lavender Lip Balm!
💕Thieves Whitening Toothpaste-It’s a natural toothpaste that doesn’t taste like natural toothpaste or lack lather like natural toothpaste. Plus, it’s whitening!
💕Super B-Great for boosting mood and energy! Also, needed for vegans like us.
💕Lavender Hand and Body Lotion-Soaks in and moisturizes without leaving an oily or sticky residue.
💕Cel-Lite Magic Massage Oil-Want something more heavy duty? This massage oil can be used as a moisturizer. It gives skin a healthy, glowing tint and works on toning and smoothing at the same time!
💕Thieves Hand Sanitizer-I always keep this in my purse to stay germ free on the go without all the harmful chemicals found in most hand sanitizers!

Please share your favorite non-essential oil Young Living products!

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

7 Areas You Need To Simplify

Life can be overwhelming and leave us feeling like we are just going through the motions, trying to survive. Today, for example, I have a growing list of things to get done, but also a baby who wants all my attention. That’s why I believe minimalism is so valuable, especially for mamas. Stop overthinking and over-planning and choose simplicity in these 7 areas.

EXERCISE - Find an activity you enjoy and get moving daily, whether it's a walk, a yoga class or lifting weights with your husband.

STUFF - Just because there's space doesn't mean you need to fill it. And just because you can buy something, doesn't mean you should.

PEOPLE - Look at your relationships and decide on a few that mean the world to you, then pour your energy into those people.

WORK - Try lots of jobs until you find what the one you love…then stick with it.

TIME - Say no to everything, then say yes to only what you truly want or need to do.

FOOD - Choose 1 ingredient foods, like an apple, a head of broccoli or a bag of almonds to create your snacks and meals.

MONEY - Cut up your credit cards and begin to live within your means.

The less I have, the more I feel clear headed and calm. Minimalism can be such a healthy hobby and helps to take a lot off our plates!

What area do you most need to simplify?