HOW TO SPEND A DAY IN CHARLESTON

Not everyone has the time or money to take a vacation, but I bet you could find room to squeeze in a little day trip!  The more I research South Carolina, the more I realize there is a lifetime's worth of stuff to do around here.  Of course, I want to do it all.  So, two of my friends and I decided to check out Charleston yesterday and I want to share 6 fun things that you can do in just 1 day...

POE'S TAVERN  This unique little place was named after Edgar Allen Poe.  The front porch gave it an at home feeling that I really loved.  We got great outdoor seats, had a friendly waiter, ate some amazing burgers and didn't feel rushed out like at many restaurants.  Everyone around us was just hanging out, having drinks and catching up with their friends, making the atmosphere really calm and relaxing.  The weather was perfect and it was on a sweet little street with many other little shops and restaurants.  Gotta say...the women's bathroom has the smallest stalls I ever remember using in my entire life.  But I still recommend this place to everyone!

FORT MOULTRIE  Just down the street was this old fort.  We were able to walk through all the old tunnels and see the ammunition storage rooms and more!  There was a great ocean view and all the old cannons were left in place so you can get a feel for how massive they were.  Admission is free!

THE BATTERY  After we finally found a parking space, we took a walk on the battery.  It was super windy, but it was so good to get outside and walk around with this view.  There were walkers and runners everywhere, couples taking a stroll, people walking their dogs, families who must be on vacation and men working on many of the older buildings and homes.  The park next to the battery had so many beautiful trees and open benches.  One time in college, I was lucky enough to stay in one of these enormous and amazing homes on the battery with my friend Erin!  

BELGIAN GELATO  We hopped back in the car and made our way downtown in search of gelato because we heard that the Affogato was to die for...basically, you choose your gelato, get a shop of espresso on top and then cover it in whipped cream.  Yes, it was as good as it sounds.

KING STREET  If you like eating and shopping, you'd love King Street.  It's like paradise, but not for your pocket book.  There are so many great stores and good places to eat.  If you plan to go there and just window shop, stay strong.  But, if you enjoy the outdoors and want to save a little money, I suggest picking up some food and heading down to the end of King Street to enjoy a picnic in the park.  There are always people there playing sports, instruments or even doing magic shows...you'll find something, trust me.

ANGEL OAK  Even though we knew that this was location on Johns Island, we had no idea how far away it really was...but, it was worth the drive.  This oak tree is over 400 years old and is something so beautiful, but also something sort of nightmarish.  All the limbs were all over the place.  To walk around, we were stepping over or walking under.  Some were so heavy, they had fallen to the ground and were slowly getting buried deeper and deeper under the earth.  This would be a gorgeous place to get professional photos taken, but I need to warn you, the mosquitos were absolutely terrible.  So, be sure to come prepared to defend your skin!

Our time in Charleston was over before we knew it and it was already time to head back home.  There is still so much to do and see...which means we will definitely have to come back!  

Have you been to Charleston?  Is there something that you recommend we do or see on our next trip there?

THE HOMETOWN HUNT

I love to see new places and do new things all the time and could travel non-stop.  However, since Ironman and I have to be home sometimes, I end up whining that "there's nothing to do in Florence".  So, instead of going out of town this past weekend (which is what we normally do), we decided to have a mini-staycation and play tourist in our own town.  I found that there is actually a lot to do around here...so much, in fact, that we barely scratched the surface.  So, in case you live around here and suffer from the same "there's nothing to do here" problem as me, I want to share some fun things we did the last few days!

LULA'S COFFEE CO.  Lula's has such a relaxing atmosphere, great music, baked goods and snacks and, of course, great coffee and other drinks if coffee isn't your thing.  I love that they are a non-profit and do a lot to support the community and important causes around the world.  Every Thursday night is Open Mic Night, so I went there with a few friends to start off my weekend staycation.  My favorite time to come is when Jeff is working...I always ask him to simply "surprise me" with a drink and I am always happy with what he whips up!  In light of fall and all things pumpkin...you need to go there and ask for an Ichabod Crane.  You can thank me next time you see me.

TOP HAT SPECIAL-TEAS  I have wanted to get Afternoon Tea at Top Hat since I was in college, but I never made it happen.  Wow, have I been missing out!  As soon as Ironman got off work on Friday afternoon, we headed over.  Prepare for photo overload right here...

You start out by choosing whether you want hot or cold tea and what flavor.  They bring out an entire pot for each person and cover it in the cutest little knit warmer.

There are 6 courses...yes 6!  The 1st was a little sandwich plate with chicken salad sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches and cucumber sandwiches.  It was delicious!

The 2nd course was a fresh out-of-the-oven scone with lemon curd and some type of whipped cream to use as the topping.  Normally I don't like scones because I think that they are too dry, but this one was the perfect combination of crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside!

The 3rd course was a fruit, nut and cheese plate.  The fruit was so fresh and crispy...not like what I end up buying at the store each week!

The 4th course was pumpkin bread.  They left the lemon curd and whipped cream on the table for us to finish off on top of this bread.  Wow!

The 5th course was a quiche plate.  Again, these were fresh out-of-the-oven and full of flavor.

By the 6th course, Ironman and I were so stuffed, we didn't know if we would be able to finish!  But, the hot s'more brownies told us we'd be ok and go ahead and dig in. 

We finished every single last bite and sip of the entire 6 course afternoon tea and will most definitely be back again soon!

PALMETTO PEDDLERS  With full bellies, we headed over to Palmetto Peddlers to look around.  Our porch swing is so nice, but we would love to find some older black iron chairs and table to also go on the front porch so that we can eat out there as the weather is cooling off.  A lot of times, these type places will have something like it since the little booths are full of old items.  I especially love all the old, colorful pyrex and the pink and green dish sets. This is a great place to go if you want to just walk around and slowly browse, but not have to spend any money.

LONG GRAIN CAFE  By the time we had filled up on afternoon tea and walked around Palmetto Peddlers, it was time to go home.  We aren't night owls and love to go to bed early, even on the weekends!  So, Saturday morning, we woke up and headed over to Long Grain Cafe for breakfast.  You know Ironman must come here a lot when he has to let the waitress know that he does not want his usual AND when the waitress asks him "where's the other one?", she is referring to my dad.  In case you didn't know, Ironman and my dad work together and have breakfast and lunch together nearly everyday.  Lucky ducks :)

MCLEOD FARMS  After breakfast, we decided to head over to McLeod Farms.  I heard that they were doing a corn maze and wanted to go since I've never done one!  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that not only did they have the corn maize, but they have wagon rides with horses, you could pick your own pumpkin to take home, games and face-painting, fall foods, a grocery store with fresh meats and produce, a BBQ joint and even an antique museum that's free!  If you are in the area, you should definitely go while they have all the fall festivities still going on.

FARMERS MARKET  I always thought that the farmers market was only opened on Saturdays and since we are usually out of town, I've maybe been 2 times in my life.  But, as I was planning this weekend staycation, I noticed that it is open every day except for Sunday!  So, we stopped by to check it out.  I don't know if it's the time that we arrived or the day or the time of year, but it was pretty dead...not gonna lie.  We didn't even buy anything.  But, it is a nice place to come if you want some fresh produce!

WHOLLY SMOKIN'  Ironman and I aren't big meat eaters and I usually don't like BBQ, but I love this place.  They have lots of choices and the food is great. Plus, it's in downtown Florence which is convenient if you want to walk around and window shop after your meal!

FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM  Right across the street from Wholly Smokin' is the Museum.  I never visited when it was in the old building, but decided that I wanted to visit the new one that they just built and moved into downtown.  I was happy to find that it was free!  I love free stuff.  They have one side dedicated to art and one side dedicated to history.  There was a lot more on the history side and it was fun to go through and learn more about where I was born!  Also, every 3 months, they have some sort of focus and right now is Cale Yarborough.  So, if you are interested in NASCAR you should go check out this section of the museum!

FIREPIT.  So this was at home, but it was something new!  Ironman used his birthday money to buy a fire pit and we had some friends over.  I love how simple it was.  We just got a fire started, sipped on some hot drinks, talked for hours and had a great time.  Again, this was free (well, if you already own a fire pit) and it was a great thing to do to get outdoors and spend time with friends and family!

Because the weekend is short and there is actually a lot more to do in town than I thought, we ran out of time and didn't get to do everything that I thought would be fun to do while playing tourist in our own town.  Lesson learned, there is a lot to do in Florence, SC.  I won't ever whine about that again.  So, in the past, here are some things that I have already enjoyed in town...

FLORENCE COUNTY LIBRARY  When Ironman and I were first married and living on love, we didn't have money for cable and books and really any form of entertainment.  So, we would go to the library and check out DVD's and books and use the free wifi!  Our library has things going on all the time, it is clean, enormous and all you need is a library card.

RAIL TRAIL  I love to go walking on the rail trail.  It is great because it is just a straight shot, no turns and no cars to worry about.  It's the perfect place to go with friends and catch up while you exercise!  Plus, being outdoors is so good for us.

THIEVES MARKET  This place is similar to Palmetto Peddlers.  Lots of old treasures in every corner.  You could spend hours.  We have found several quality items for our house and it helped us save so much money!

LYNCHES RIVER COUNTY PARK  Last month Ironman and I went there and were pleasantly surprised.  We took a picnic, wandered around the park, walked across the canopy bridge and the river walk.  It was just about a 20 minute drive out of town and was free!

THE CLAY POT  Just like Lulas Coffee Co., The Clay Pot is another great coffee shop in town.  The nice thing about this place is that it is downtown (right next to Wholly Smokin') and you can go there each day for a homemade, healthy lunch special.  They also make their own beautiful clay pottery, use it in their shop, sell it and even offer classes to learn how to make your own!

See what I mean?  Lots to do in town and I haven't even scratched the surface.  Most times I find out about things going on through word of mouth, sometimes the events pop up in my FaceBook newsfeed, but recently I discovered that you can even look up events and plan events in your area through Eventbrite's event planning software!  I have purchased tickets for events through Eventbrite in the past, but didn't know that you could browse events around town...check it out and see if there is something that catches your eye!

Ironman and I are always looking for new things to do and want to do more to enjoy where we live.  If you live in Florence and have suggestions, please share them in the comments below!  Or if you live out of town, give us some good ideas and maybe we will put your town on our Bucket List!

19 REASONS WHY EVERY MINIMALIST NEEDS AN IPHONE

It took me years to get on the iPhone train, but once I got my first one in 2011, I was hooked.  For a minimalist (and especially a traveler), this makes life so much easier.  I know, I know....some people probably think iPhones are evil and Apple is trying to take over the world.  Sure, I get why there is concern.  But, it's not the spoon that makes people fat, right?  Anyway, moving on...so, here are 19 reasons why every minimalist needs an iPhone.

1.  PHONE.  Ok, so this is pretty obvious since it's a phone, but I don't want to take for granted how amazing it is to be able to carry a cell phone around with me all the time.  I remember being in high school and not having such an easy way to get in touch with friends, make plans and call when someone doesn't show up on time to make sure they are still coming.  In college I finally got a cell, but it was for emergencies only while I drove on the interstate to and from school.  I didn't really get use a cell phone for calling (anyone at anytime just because I wanted to) until 2005.  I have been through 1 iPhone now and the 2nd is about to turn in her resignation, so I am on the hunt for a deal but really want the iPhone 7 in Rose Gold...is that too much to ask?

2.  MESSAGES.  And on that note, I didn't get text messaging until around 2010.  Taking time to call someone is so much more personal, but sometimes it is so much easier to just send that quick text.  For years, I didn't want it and I still don't really like to text, but I have to admit it is so convenient to have it as an option when I need it!

Ironman and I don't text often, but when we do...

3.  CALENDAR.  I have always loved to be organized, so during Junior High and High School, I would carry around the little planner that our school provided so that I could stay on top of my daily classes and assignments.  Then, once I got to college, I upgraded to a slightly bigger planner and organizer to keep up with my expanding schedule.  I loved the fact that it made it so easy to see everything at once, but it weighed down my purse.  Over the years, I have gone back and forth between a planner/calendar book and my iPhone, since the iPhone is harder to see everything at a glance.  However, I don't carry my planner in my purse anymore because of the size and weight, so when people ask me to schedule something or wonder if I'm free, I always have to check when I get home.  That's why in the end I love the iPhone Calendar.  It doesn't take up any more space or weigh down my purse, it syncs to Ironman's Calendar and our computer to keep everything up to date and I can set things up to repeat (like birthdays) and even set alerts so that I don't forget an appointment.  If you want something not on your iPhone, there are still great options for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.  And they can be as detailed or as simple as you want!  This is the one that I have been using some this year!

4.  CAMERA.  In addition to a Calendar, I was also toting around my Camera most of the time.  So, this added to the weight in my purse and took up space.  When my old camera broke and it was time to get it replaced, my old cell phone also broke.  So, that's when I decided to replace the two things with one iPhone!  It saved me some money in the long run and it's the only camera I've been using for 5 years.  All of the photos that I take while traveling are done with my iPhone!  This is great because it means I don't have to pack as much stuff and it makes it easier to upload the photos to Instagram, Facebook and my blog while on the go!  Downside?  The iPhone doesn't take good photos when it's dark...so if that bothers you, you can still find a cheaper, but good quality camera.  I had one similar to this one and loved it for years until the photo quality went downhill to much to use it any longer.

Taken with my iPhone in Klaksvik, Faroe Islands

5.  CLOCK.  I don't wear a watch and I don't have any clocks in my house, except for the oven and it's always wrong because I don't fix it each time the power goes out or is turned off.  Also, I don't have a timer in my kitchen, so I use my iPhone when cooking and baking.  There is also the stopwatch, which is great for workouts.  Plus a world clock, which is amazing since I am time zone challenged!  My grandma had the best clock ever.  It was a chicken with a guitar and when the "alarm" would go off, it would sing, "Hey baby, wake up....come and dance with me...woooooowwwwwwww, yyeeeaaaaaaaaaaaa" over and over.  Want something a little more sophisticated?  Ironman and I loved our iHome because it doubled as a noise machine, played music and was our alarm clock, while charging our iPhones.

6.  GPS.  I still get lost, even with the GPS because I am directionally challenged.  But, It's way better than it used to be!  I still remember the days when I would look up directions online and write it all down by hand, but if you miss just one turn, you're in trouble.  Or, I would ask others for directions, but if they told you wrong, then you had no idea where you were going.  So, I love having a GPS at my fingertips!  Do you remember back in 2012 when Ironman and I went on a month-long USA cross-country road trip?  Well, we used the iPhone GPS to navigate the entire trip!  Doesn't sound fun to you...you can still get a GPS (and worry about it being stolen out of your car) if you want!

Somewhere near Buena Vista, Colorado.

7.  NOTES AND REMINDERS.  I use Notes for quotes I want to remember, lists I need to keep, groceries I'm going to pick up, etc.  I don't use the Reminders right now, but I did so in the past to keep lists of things that needed alerts.  These both are a great place to keep things that don't belong on the calendar, but still need to be remembered!  Don't want to use your phone for this?  There are still great options for writing stuff down with pen and paper!

8.  CALCULATOR.  Just like a clock and gps, this is another thing that I don't have in my home.  Anytime my math skills are lacking, I just use my iPhone calculator!  PS, in high school were you given the largest, most expensive calculator on the planet, like me?

9.  CONTACTS.  Before my iPhone, I had an address book.  Seriously.  It was navy and pink and had kittens on the front.  I had used it just about my entire life.  Everything was arranged alphabetically and I had names, phone numbers, addresses and other random details.   The problem was each time someone changed their phone number or address, I would have to scratch out or white out and re-write with the new information.  After a while, the contact info was such a mess, it was hard to make out the numbers and words.  So, the iPhone is great, once again.  I got to get rid of that old address book, make more room in my purse and I can edit contact information anytime it changes!  Plus, it's with me all the time.  If you're old fashioned and like your address book, at least get a cute one like this one!

After 11 moves since 2007, Ironman and I bought our first home and
hope we aren't moving again for a while!

10.  KINDLE.  Another thing that I used to carry in my purse were books.  While growing up overseas, I used public transportation a good bit and the rides could sometimes be long and boring.  So, I tried to make sure I always had a book with me.  The problem there was that books are heavy and if I finished one and didn't have another to start right away, I was stuck without something to read.  That's why I LOVE that I can use the kindle app on my phone.  I have 1,000 books at my fingertips at all times!  It's great while traveling.  When I would go on a trip in high school for 2 weeks, I would have to take 14 books (yes, I read a book a day)...that was like half of my luggage.  Now, when I go on trips, I don't have to take any but I have plenty on my iPhone.  Plus, you can check Amazon daily for FREE books!  Don't want to read from your iPhone, but interested in unlimited books at your finger tips?  Get a kindle!  I have one and love having the option to use it when I am home and don't have to read on my small iPhone screen.

11.  MAIL.  Before my iPhone, I would have to turn on my old computer and wait for everything to get started before I could check my emails and respond.  And when I was in college, I would have to go to the library or computer center to log on and check my emails.  Now, I hear an alert as soon as I get an email and can keep up with important things that need immediate responses.  Don't like email? Why don't you go the snail mail route...I bet you'd make someones day!

12.  MUSIC.  In addition to the books, I also carried a walk man (and then upgraded to a cd player) in my purse so that I always had music while sitting on the city bus.  Yet again, this was more weight to carry around and once you finish a tape or cd, you had to replay it unless you were carrying others with you (more weight and stuff to lug around).  Now it's so easy to buy music and listen to it directly on the iPhone!  On November 1st, I officially start listening to Christmas music and guess what is my favorite?  Click here to find out!

13.  SAFARI.  No more booting up that old computer, listening to that crazy connecting sound and hearing "You've Got Mail" (I still remember those days).  Now, I just click Safari on my iPhone, open that browser and search for ANYTHING in the world.  So.  Easy.

14.  WEATHER.  In high school, I would check the weather each morning by opening up my window and judging by the sky and air to see what I should wear that day to school.  Then, once we moved back to the USA, I would listen to the weather channel.  Now, I just open up my weather app and have the info in 1 second.  Are you ready for winter?  Sometimes I wish I lived in colder places so that I could wear cute coats like this one with the fur around the hat.

Klaksvik, Faroe Islands summer weather was our version of winter!

15.  APPS.  FaceBook, Instagram, Blogger, Pinterest, Reference Guide for Essential Oils, Messenger and Frametastic are some of my favorite and most used Apps on my iPhone.  It makes it so easy to be able to get to these things without having to open my laptop!  Are there any apps that you love and use daily that I should know about?  I'm always up for suggestions :)

16.  WORK.  This is probably the top reason why I love my iPhone.  Ironman and I are Gold Distributors and Team Leaders with Young Living Essential Oils and we can do absolutely ALL our work on our iPhones.  Seriously.  When we travel, we don't take our laptop...we only take my iPhone.  So, while we are on our adventures, we are still able to work!  This gives us so much freedom since we don't have an office to show up at, we don't have a boss telling us what to do, we don't have hours we have to work...we work from where ever in the world we are, when we want to and for how long we want to each day...and we do it all on our iPhones.  Remember last year when we went to Bolivia for three months?  We worked while there, which meant we got to travel longer!  Same goes for all our trips as we cross things off of our Bucket List!  So simple it's insane and we love it.

At the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona, Utah.

17.  MINIMALISTS BFF.  If you are trying to live more simply or go all out minimalist, the iPhone is such a great thing to have around.  It replaces so many things.  Think about it...in the past, I carried around an old cell phone, a calendar, a camera, wore my watch, had written out or printed out directions when traveling, a calculator, my notebook, my address book, a novel for reading, my cd player and more!  Even then, I did't always have everything that I needed.  My purse and backpack were enormous and my back and shoulders suffered for it.  Now, all these things are easily replaced with my iPhone.  It makes life so much simpler.  It's like a computer and personal assistant in your pocket.

18.  SYNC.  Another reason I love my iPhone is that I have our MacBook Air and both our iPhones synced.  We used to also have an iPod Touch and iPad that were synced.  This makes it SO EASY for everyone to be able to keep up with everything.  For instance, when I add something to our calendar and put an alert on it, Ironman will see the alert and be reminded that we have a dentist appointment or we are going to a friend's home for dinner.  It's a great tool to make sure that everyone is on the same page each day!

19.  FACETIME.  I don't know why but I always thought Skype was more difficult than it had to be.  You had to create an account, sign in (remember your log in info), find your friends and then call them and they barely ever picked up.  FaceTime is just so much easier.  You can call anyone in the world and talk face to face with them for free by just clicking the FaceTime button on their contact info!  And since it's on their iPhone, they hardly ever miss the call.  I hardly ever used Skype, but have really enjoyed FaceTime while traveling and trying to keep up with out of town and overseas friends and family!

Am I missing something?  Do you enjoy using your iPhone for another reason?  Tell me in the comments below so that I can make sure I'm not missing out!

9 REASONS LAKE HARTWELL SHOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

Two things that I put on our Fall Bucket List were camping and hiking, so this past weekend we packed up and headed over to Lake Hartwell State Park.  It was a much needed getaway and we had such a great time together and with our family and friends.  We are already planning on going back!  Here are 9 reasons why I highly recommend you make the trip too! 

1.  CHEAPER VACATION.  By the time you've stayed in a hotel 2 nights, you've spent hundreds of dollars not including your food and entertainment.  But, at $14 a night for this campsite, you can spend your money on good food, more adventures or a longer getaway!  Sure, it's not luxury, but it's a great way to get out of town and have some downtime.

Lake Front Property for only $14 a night!

2.  PRIVATE CAMPSITES.  Not only did choosing a tent site by the water give us an amazing view of Lake Hartwell, but it also meant a little additional privacy since we didn't have people on all sides.  We left our volvo in the parking area and had a short walk to our site, but this meant that we wouldn't have cars passing at all times of the day and shining the headlights into our tent at night.

Best loaded baked potato soup ever!

3.  LAVONIA, GA.  The first night we arrived, we headed over to Lavonia to get a bite to eat at 211 Main Street Restaurant.  The food was absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was friendly.  I've never even heard of this place but instantly fell in love because it was like my own version of Stars Hallow or Mayberry...Ironman said we are moving here.  Plus, it didn't suck that dessert was an enormous piece of homemade peanut butter chocolate pie!

4.  GOOD NEIGHBORS.  After dinner we headed back to get everything settled at our camp site and start a fire before dark.  I had just started a good book and was reading by flashlight as we enjoyed the warmth.  I love the crackling of the fire and the sounds of the crickets.  It's so peaceful.  We said hello to our tent neighbor and found out that he actually went to our same university and so it was fun to get to know him and share his firewood (since he came more prepared than us).  Turns out, after our friends joined us on Saturday, that they actually knew the neighbor from school!  Small world.

Ironman told me he didn't need to bring his pillow on the trip...
See how he is conveniently sharing mine?

5.  GREAT COFFEE.  As soon as we woke up, we decided to head back to Lavonia and try another place to eat since we were already in love with the small town feel of the place.    Gloria's Daily Grind had great coffee and welcoming baristas!

Best coffee ever!

6.  FUN FOR ALL AGES.  By the time we finished our coffee, it was time to meet up with everyone for a day filled of adventure!  Ironman's sister, her husband and their two kids were already there waiting for us.  And some friends from home drove up to meet us here to camp with us one night.  It's convenient that the adults and kids could all have fun being outside together!

The short walk up to the tunnel.

7.  STUMPHOUSE TUNNEL.  Since I had invited everyone to come along for the fun, I felt responsible to make sure I planned something that everyone would enjoy.  So, off I went to Google and found the Stumphouse Tunnel and Isaqueena Falls.  I had no idea if they would be fun or not, but it sounded good so we went with it!

Ironman and Toby about to disappear into the dark!

8.  PERFECT HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE.  I had no clue that I had chosen just about the freakiest adventure ever.  I really don't like dark or damp places that may have creepy crawling things.  Plus, I get claustrophobic.  As we were walking in, I realized that maybe this had been a bad idea.

Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps...

It was completely pitch black, so we were only able to see where the flashlights were pointed.  In a few areas, we had to walk through water and in some places, pieces of rock from the walls and ceiling had fallen in.  Apparently I have seen way too much Hunger Games because I kept imagining those zombie things calling out "Katniss" and running for us, with no place for us to escape.  

Different levels

At the very end of the tunnel, there was a sort of stair way up...we guessed that it must have been left that way from how they dug the tunnel.  I loved how this photo shows everyone at the different levels of their climb up to the top!  Ironman and Stephen were at the top and are the oldest of our group.  Lindsay and Adam were around the middle.  Toby is the youngest and you can see him there in the bottom left.  What a reminder about life and aging, right?

Freedom!

9.  ISAQUEENA FALLS.  And finally, fresh air and bright skies.  I was glad that I went into the tunnel, but I was really glad to be coming back out.  Just a short walk and we arrived at the Isaqueena Falls.  I was so happy that it was an easy hike to get to the bottom and catch this view.

Two nights goes by really fast and we were already home before we knew it.   But, within 2 hours we had already booked our next weekend getaway!  I am SO excited because it has been on my Bucket List for years.  Can you guess what it is?

Do you love camping and have a place that you would recommend?  Please let us know in the comments below!

11 ESSENTIAL OILS YOU NEED TODAY

Essential oils are EVERYWHERE and it seems that EVERYONE is jumping on the oil train.  I have used essential oils my entire life, but about three years ago switched over to Young Living because of their Seed to Seal promise.  If Ironman and I are going to use essential oils to live a healthier life, we want to make sure that we are using the best quality out there.  Are you curious about essential oils?  Let us cover some basics and share with you the 11 essential oils you need today!

What are essential oils?  They are oils that come from the flowers, leaves, roots, bark, wood, seeds or peel of a plant.  Essential oils are straight from nature.

What do essential oils do?  They administer therapy at the cellular level.  One drop of an essential oil contains approximately 40 million-trillion molecules...which means that one drop of oil covers each of our cells with 40, 000 molecules!  Essential oils are powerful.

Ironman and I were able to help plant at the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona, Utah.
I love how the farms are always open to the public!

What can essential oils help with?  They may help boost energy and stamina, help with relaxation, help to manage stress, help reduce the appearance of aging, help improve mental clarity, help boost immunity and so much more.  Essential oils support the whole person.

How can essential oils be used?  Depending on the oil, they can be used topically, aromatically and internally.  Essential oils are versatile and easy to use.

Where is the best place to get started?  There are over 100 essential oils and millions of uses, so I understand how overwhelming this can be.  Essential oils don't have to be intimidating.  Google and Pinterest can be your best friend.  There are also plenty of resources through literature and APPS.  Plus, if you choose to get your essential oils through us (Nick and Emily), we will happily answer your millions of questions and add you to our support/chat group where we focus on education!  Click here to read more about our essential oil journey!

With that being said, here are the 11 essential oils that we think every person needs:

1.  PURIFICATION:  I love this one for the little critters that munch on me when I go outdoors.  It helps with the itching, plus any other weird skin rashes that we have come across.  Although I am in my 30s, I still struggle with break outs.  This one is amazing for clearing up the skin.  Also, if you love to cook, but don't love the smells it leaves behind (think fish and burnt cheese), this oil is great to add to your diffuser and get rid of the weird odors.  I've even used this in the bathroom to keep it smelling fresh when our house has been full of guests!

2.  RC:  This one is great when the weather is cooling off and you feel the crud creeping up on you.  Rub on your chest to open up airways, diffuse in the house when you're stuffy and massage into your neck when you've got that annoying tickle in your throat.  Basically if you like to breathe well, you need this oil.  It's even great before an intense work out, when you know you're going to be breathing super hard.

3.  FRANKINCENSE:  Liquid gold.  Need I say more?  Ok, THE WISE MEN gave this to baby Jesus.  You need more?  Ok ok.  This is my go to for staying balanced.  I don't know about you, but my emotions tend to be all over the place.  So, Frank is my BFF.  It helps me relax so that I can turn off my crazy thoughts and get some shut eye.  Plus, it promotes healthy, beautiful skin.  Not joking.  Scars.  Stretch marks.  Break outs.  Sunspots.  Wrinkles.  You name it.  It's like the fountain bottle of youth.

I use Frankincense so much that I went ahead and put a
roller top fitment on it for easy application!

4.  PEPPERMINT:  I'd say this one is probably Ironman's favorite.  He puts a drop in his water bottle every morning to help him stay cool (as in not sweaty, but he is cool too) and energized.  South Carolina summer heat is no joke.  This is also great when you come down with some seasonal sniffles.  I love this stuff for airplanes or other crowded spaces that make me feel nauseated.  Also, it is great when you are constipated...sorry, I couldn't figure out another way to say that.  Oh yea, and don't forget it's amazing added to a batch of brownies!

5.  LEMON:  I love this one to diffuse because my house smells so fresh and clean, even when its not!  Also, it's super calming and I have found I love to diffuse it at night when it's time to wind down.  It is great for cleaning sticky stuff, like if your kids went sticker crazy in the house or got bubble gum stuck in their hair.  Also, it's brightening, so I love to use this to make a quick face scrub with coconut oil and baking soda!

6.  COPAIBA:  We mainly use this one when we have done something to hurt ourselves.  It's great for anything swollen and achy.  Plus, many people love it because it doesn't have a strong smell.  Because of my skin problems, its another that I love since it helps with blemishes and skin that needs to be tightening back up!

This is me without makeup and without a filter...when I am consistent with
using the essential oils in my skin care routine, my skin is clearer, brighter
and more even toned!

7.  DIGIZE:  All things digestion in one bottle.  Seriously.  Anything that has to do with digestion.  Can't go?  DiGize.  Going too much?  DiGize.  Ate too much?  DiGize.  Gas?  DiGize.  Feeling queasy?  DiGize.  Comprende?  Moving on...

8.  THIEVES:  This one was a game changer for me.  I used to get sick several times a year and need to visit the doctor.  Not saying the doctor is unnecessary...but, for three years now, I have been able to get better on my own, at home (this is great for anyone who doesn't love visiting the doctor, but does love saving money).  Thieves is amazing for all things icky.  Clean with it to avoid store bought harmful chemical filled products.  Diffuse it in your house during Fall and Winter to stay well.  We love it so much, we are hosting a class on it at our home tonight!  You in the area and want to come?

9.  LAVENDER:  Most people have heard of lavender.  Great for creating a relaxing atmosphere in your home.  I love it before bed.  Perfect for calming down skin issues.  Add it to some epsom salt and throw it in your bath.  It's amazing.  My mom always says that if she could only have two oils, she would choose peppermint and lavender.

10.  STRESS AWAY:  Does this one need an explanation?  It smells like a lime, coconut, tropical-island paradise in a bottle.  At least to me, anyway.  If you feel tense and uptight, you need this oil ASAP.

11.  PANAWAY:  This one is really similar to Copaiba in what it does, but it has a wintergreen smell. We use it when something it hurting.  Head pounding, stomach cramping, muscles unhappy with the weekend hiking you did...basically, if it doesn't feel good, slap some PanAway on it!

PanAway was my BFF during Betty Rocker's 30 Day Bodyweight Challenge!

So, you need these oils, am I right?  Ironman and I are totally hooked and would love to hook you up too!  We will never pressure you to purchase any oil or product and definitely never pressure you to join the business side of Young Living.  But, what we will do is help you get started, teach you how to incorporate them into your everyday life and answer your millions of questions!

Don't miss out on this AmAzInG deal!

Are you unsure and want to talk more?  Email us or comment below with your email and we will reach out to you ASAP!

Or are you excited and ready to get your essential oils right this very minute?  YAY!  We've got great news for you...these 11 oils ALL come in the Young Living Premium Starter Kit.  Back in 2013, Ironman and I got our own Premium Starter Kit and were really happy that we went that route.  Not only did it save us over 50% that day, but since we were then wholesale members, we've saved money on every purchase since then!  Remember, there is never any pressure if you decide the oils aren't for you, but we have a feeling you are going to love them as much as we do.  Also, if you purchase your Premium Starter Kit through October 19th, there is an amazing deal for you!  Not only will you get 10% off of the Premium Starter Kit and all the goodies that it already includes, but you'll also receive a FREE Oregano oil (making it a total of 12 oils)!!!  PS, Oregano is amazing for cooking and staying well during the months ahead...we can give you more info on how we use it!

So, you ready to do this thing?

1.  Click HERE to sign up through us.

2.  Choose Wholesale Member...remember no pressure or commitment, just money saved!

3.  Leave our enroller ID (#1570543) and sponsor ID (#1570543) in the boxes.

4.  Go through the steps to fill out your information and set up your account.

5.  Choose your Premium Starter Kit (I love the Dewdrop option).

6.  Check out.

7.  Scream and do your happy dance.

8.  Email us and tell us the good news so that we can send you a goodie bag to help you get started!

Can't wait to hear from you!