Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Why I Walked Away from Overthrow Martha (and What Comes Next)

If you’ve been here for a while, you probably remember the good old days — the DIY recipes, the essential oils, the endless mason jars of homemade everything. Overthrow Martha was built on the idea that a cleaner home could mean a healthier life.

And it worked — sort of.

We learned how to ditch toxins, clean our houses with thieves, and make lotion bars that melted like magic. But somewhere along the way, the internet got louder, the “non-toxic” world got complicated, and the behind the scenes drama was overwhelming. 


Why I Left Overthrow Martha...

Lately I’ve been remembering why I started Overthrow Martha in the first place.

Back then, I had a mystery illness. After months of tests the doctors called it “autoimmune,” but when I overhauled my diet and went chemical-free, the symptoms vanished.

Looking back now, I don’t think it was autoimmune at all. I think it was Mast Cell Activation (MCAS) slipping quietly into remission because of the lifestyle changes I made.

For years I poured my heart into helping others do the same — cleaning up their homes, their habits, and learning to listen to their own bodies. It was deeply rewarding. I loved hearing your success stories, watching puzzle pieces click into place, and celebrating how you reclaimed your health. It fed my soul.

Then the drama happened.

Betrayals I didn’t see coming. 

People I trusted threatened me, told me to stay silent, even said they’d try to take my Young Living business if I didn’t comply. Suddenly, the thing I had built with love felt dangerous. Why keep working when people were “watching” and waiting for me to mess up?

It echoed an old wound. After my assault, I lived with the feeling of being watched. That same fear returned — and I froze. I stopped writing, stopped sharing, and focused on surviving. Therapy became my lifeline as I tried to untangle past from present.

Fast-forward to now: MCAS has re-triggered under stress. The last few years have been brutal — my dad’s cancer and death, my husband's injury, his suicidal ideation, losing five pets, my grandmother’s dementia, an uncle and a cousin’s strokes, another uncle’s dementia too… one blow after another until it felt like bricks crushing my lungs.

And yet, in the middle of all this, something inside me is stirring. I think this is a second chance to do it differently. I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet, but I can’t shake the sense that the universe is cracking a door open, just enough for me to see a sliver of light.

Even small moments remind me. A few months ago, a dermatologist called my rash “rosacea” and handed me creams that only made it worse. “Just use more!” she said. It sounded insane. I pulled out an old Overthrow Martha DIY I used during my “autoimmune days” instead — and the redness faded again. My body remembered what it needed.

Maybe that’s why I’m writing this now. Maybe it’s time to start talking again. Maybe this time I’ll tell the story on my own terms.


So… We're Moving?

Yep. Overthrow Martha is becoming Perpetually Overstimulated on Substack.

Why? Because life changed — and so did I.
Somewhere between burnout, health challenges, and an overactive nervous system, I realized that “healthy living” isn’t just about what’s in your cleaning spray or your snack drawer. It’s about what’s happening inside your mind and body.

The new space — Perpetually Overstimulated — is where that conversation continues. It’s still about clean living and conscious choices, but now we’re talking about:

  • How to protect your sensitive system (not just your skin).

  • How to simplify wellness so it feels like living, not performing.

  • How to laugh about the chaos while still making healthier choices that actually stick.


What you can expect there::

  • A nerdy, accessible look at nervous system science and stress.

  • DIYs or product hack that makes life gentler (without 17 ingredients).

  • Clean eating reviews and recipes for overstimulated bodies.

  • “Inner DIY” posts about mindfulness, emotional regulation, and being human.

You’ll still find the same voice (equal parts practical and sarcastic) just a little more grounded, a little more real, and a lot less performative.


How to follow along:

Find me at Perpetually Overstimulated on Substack— it’s free to subscribe, and you’ll get every new post (plus bonus tips) straight to your inbox.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by trying to be “healthy enough,” come hang out. We’re doing things differently this time — slower, smarter, and with a lot more grace for being human.

Because health shouldn’t feel like another full-time job.


Monday, September 25, 2017

Easy DIY Mini Lotion Sticks

Sometimes creative ideas come to me and I think, "Gosh, Sherri. You're brilliant." This is not one of those moments.

I've spent two years with my original lotion bar (which I love) and I kept thinking FOR TWO YEARS that there has to be a better way and that I was missing something to make them uber portable. And then it hit me... put it in an absolutely adorable mini container.

DUH.

That was the result of two years of contemplation. Not my best moment, but nonetheless I am in love with the results of these Mini Lotion Sticks! I hope you will be too.

DIY mini lotion bars make a great gift or to carry in your purse

Friday, September 15, 2017

DIY All-Natural Chicken Coop Cleaner

I've become completely obsessed with chicken. Omgeee, you guys. These little critters are the most fun animals! They have such personalities and they give me breakfast, too.

It's kind of a win-win situation.

Until I have to clean their chicken coop. OMG. No. BLAH!

DIY Chicken Coop Cleaner with Neem Oil, Garlic Juice and Essential Oils

Monday, September 4, 2017

Non-Toxic Window and Glass Cleaner with Thieves Household Cleaner

Soooo.... let's chat about windows. Sure, sure, I know that it may seem like a boring conversation, but, trust me-- it's not.

I bet you didn't know that most retail glass cleaners are super duper toxic, did you?

Glass cleaners can be packed full of chemicals to give us that streak free shine and crystal clear appearance, but those same chemicals may also decrease fertility, negatively impact growing children, cause respiratory symptoms, decrease the functionality of the nervous system plus a lot more.

How can this happen? Well, it's a long story, but the gist is that our cleaning products are largely self-regulated by the industry and there are very few rules about what is banned in home care products. But considering the consequences of some of these chemicals and that air pollution can be up to six times greater in our homes compared to outside-- this is definitely something we need to take seriously.

For a full list of how toxic your window cleaner may be, check out What's In Your Glass Cleaner or visit the EWG Cleaning Database for more info.

DIY Window Cleaner featuring Thieves Household Cleaner

Copyright

©overthrowmartha.com by Sherri Griffin, 2012-present. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sherri Griffin and Overthrow Martha with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Boring Disclaimer

The contents found on Overthrow Martha are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure. If you have concerns, please contact a doctor before altering your health care routine. If you feel as if you are having any adverse side effects please stop using the product immediately and consults a physician.

Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

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You rock for reading all of that. {pats you on back}