Are Essential Oils with Cats Safe?

Have you heard all the hoopla about essential oils and cats? Some people make it sound like your furry friend will drop dead if they so much as look at a bottle of essential oil.

I don't know about you, but whenever I see something that seems extreme-- I research it. Often I find it has some roots in truth, but there is a whole lot of gray involved too. 

So let's talk! 

Can you really use essential oils around cats? 

DIY Sweet Lips Exfoliator with Honey

I don't know about you, but when the weather starts to warm up I want to feel sexy. And part of feeling sexy is peeling away all that dead skin that has accumulated while I hibernated all winter.

That's why this DIY Smooth Lip Exfoliator is so nice! It's gentle, yet strong enough to help give you the most kissable lips on the planet all without a single chemical or toxin. WIN!

And it's super easy to make! Let me show you how...

10 DIYs with Lavender Essential Oil

So you have that bottle of lavender essential oil and now you don't know what to do with it? Or maybe you're just looking for some new ideas to spice up your routine?

No matter what the reason-- I got your back! I've included 10 of my favorite SIMPLE homemade recipes that you can make with lavender essential oil. And I hate to toot my own horn, but I think these DIYs can benefit your entire family.

But first, we have to know a little bit more about Lavender Essential Oil.

3 Ideas About Ingesting Essential Oils

This is the blog post I've been dreading to write. I've put it off for years because I know what happens when you write things like this.

It feels like I'm broadcasting my views on abortion or why Star Wars is better than Star Trek-- you just know people have strong opinions and you're going to hear about them.

In the essential oil world, you will find people who will venomously scream (seriously-- scream) that you will die if you ingest one drop of essential oil. Another group of people will proclaim that if you ingest 50 drops of essential oils each morning it will help cure your scurvy or whatever disease they are pretending to be knowledgeable doctors about.

So what's up with the major difference of opinions?

DIY Spicy Cinnamon Lip Balm

I don't know about you but every time the weather start to cool-- I start needed some mega moisture and warmth. Especially on my lips!

What's really fun is cinnamon lip balm! Not only does it warm your smoocher but it can make your lips appear fuller naturally. I call that a win-win.

Homemade Holiday Air Fresheners

Tis the season!!! The smells of apple pie, gingerbread cookies, and pumpkin spice latte fill the room and give us a big ole holiday hug.

A holiday hug full of carcinogens like benzene and toluene!!!

Nobody wants that. Not you. Not Grandma. Not sweet little Aunt Suzy. Not even your naughty nephew. But I can tell you what they do want...

A holiday smell that won't give them a headache.

4 Winter Weather Recipes For Warmth and Health

Can I be real with you? Don't judge me.

We just moved to North Carolina and its cold in October. This Florida-born girl loves the cool days, but the nights are, well, COLD. And we all know that when it gets cold, we are more likely to get sick because our immune systems start to take a dip.

That's why it's so important to keep your immune system strong before it gets too cold! Give it the support it needs to keep you healthy and happy all winter long.

But, I'm taking it one step further this year. I am looking for DIYs that can keep me healthy AND warm.

Interior Car Cleaning Spray DIY

I don't know about you but I have a man who regularly gets sweaty and then gets into the car. Or he likes to mow the lawn and move the cars without washing up first {this is my not amused face}

Needless to say, I appreciate him but he drives me crazy sometimes too.

That's why I created this DIY interior car cleaning spray which is easy enough for even a man to use without complaining.

Stinky Armpits Detox Solution

Have you ever tried to use a natural deodorant and it just didn't work? You were still stinky! Well, I hate to break it to you, but there is a reason for that. And, thankfully, a solution too.

Have you noticed that when you switched to a natural beauty products that sometimes our skin doesn't behave the best? We call this a "skin purge" as the chemicals and other junk that's inside our pores takes it's cue to exit the body. It may appear to be acne, but it's detoxing! Often people give up switching to natural products because they see these things as a failure. It's the furthest from the truth!

When we detox our pits, we are bringing it back into natural balance. And, in fact, often readers have told me that don't even need deodorant anymore except in extreme heat. I love my DIY deodorant recipe, but if I'm being honest-- I rarely use it anymore because I just don't need it.

Homemade Mighty Manuka Moisturizer

I don't know about you, but when the weather starts to cool off my skin gets ANGRY (aka: dry, flakey, red, and generally pissy). It's frustrating, but I know that it's just the best way my skin has to communicate with me and tell me something isn't working.

Some people may decide to plow through this time of the year using their beloved beauty products, but I just decided to give my skin what it wants: extra moisture. After all, that drop in humidity may feel great to me, but my skin misses that extra lovin'.

Most of the year I use my Wrinkle Blasting Serum which I LOVE, but there comes a point in your life that you need to super charge your DIY beauty routine. And that's where my Mighty Manuka Moisturizer comes in....

Angry Uterus Roll-on for PMS

I don't know about you, but I can become a little crazy and just "slightly" emotional when my baby maker tries to kill me. I was using Dragon Time which is AMAZING! I would start to use it a few days before my period and zero to teeny tiny PMS symptoms. It's so great!

However, I can't find it. It's packed away in a box somewhere in this huge new house we just moved to. WAAAHHH!! My PMS-ing mind got desperate and I asked myself, "What does my angry baby box need?" Of course it needs JOY!

Healthy Weight Naturally with Slique

I don't know about you, but I desperately want to lose five pounds. Like NOW. As in yesterday would be ideal. But sadly, those five pounds are still sitting on my hips. Unacceptable!!! 

If you're like me, then you may have tried diets which may or may not have worked. And if they did work, it only lasted until you gave into the temptation of chocolate. LOTS of chocolate. Or bread. Sweet, sweet bread.

Or maybe you joined a gym and that lasted all of 3 weeks. Hey! Working out is hard!! 

Or maybe you are NOT like me and you're completely badass and you do everything right, but you still have some weight to lose. Whatever your story, it's okay because I'm here to tell you there is a better way. 

5 Essential Oils for Coping with Mass Tragedy

My heart is broken.

This weekend my hometown has been host to multiple shootings which have killed or injured so many people. We lost a great talent, Christina Grimmie, on Friday and countless others when a night club was attacked on Saturday. The worst shooting in US history. My heart is breaking for the victims, their families and my city.

Although I know that there are more good people and more love in this world than hate, violence and psychopaths-- it can be a scary place. There are no clear answer on how to stop this trend of violence, but one things is clear: we have a duty to be persevere. We have a duty to honor those lost.

Thankfully there are some natural ways to help strengthen ourselves and our resolve while allowing us to grieve the great loss and honor the victims of these horrible attacks.

DIY Cooling Summer Spray

I don't know about where you live, but Florida is hot in the summer. HOT. Today I went outside to get my mail and I was sweating bullets before I even got back inside. Ridiculous!

This "Cooling Summer Spray" is a great way to stay cool in the heat. You can take anywhere when are going to spend more than 5 minutes outside (or get the mail). It would be awesome to take on vacations, camping, to the beach or lake, outdoor weddings, theme parks, hiking, dog parks or anywhere else that you may be outside for longer than 5 minutes.

This DIY Spray is a fantastic way to make the outdoors more inviting, smell amazing, and you won't be a big pile of sweat at the end of the night. Sounds pretty great, huh?

DIY Shoulder and Neck Roll-On

Have you ever thought "Oh. I'm normal!" before? You're wrong. Trust me, you're never normal.

A few weeks ago my acupuncturist told me that she was worried about how tight my shoulders and neck were. This was news to me! I never knew the muscles in my shoulder and neck were anything other than perfect. I asked her why that could happen and I got a laundry list of answers.

• Stress
• Bad posture
• Sensitive to other's energy
• Recent physical labor
• Working out
• Sleeping on the wrong pillow
• Sitting at a desk for too long

And the list goes on!

5 Favorite Aromatherapy Diffusers

Have you ever wanted to make your house smell great for guests? Or maybe you were just looking to remove some unwanted odor (there is a reason there are no wet dog candles, you know). If so, join the club! That's why there are so many air fresheners in the world!

But did you know that air fresheners are so toxic? They currently undergo little or no testing and can say anything on their bottles! Many which say "all natural" are even full of artificial chemicals (read more here). That's why it's so important that we take matters into our hands!

And what better way to keep our families healthy while also sticking it to those shady air freshener manufacturers, then to use a diffuser!

Now only if we knew which ones were good to use.... hmm....

Easy Garbage Disposal Cleaning Cubes

Do you have a love-hate relationships with your garbage disposal? Wanna join my club? Seriously, what is more annoying than a garbage disposal that tries to attack you with stinky water every time you turn it on?

I'm a big believer in offense when it comes to most kitchen situations, don't you? I mean isn't it better to prevent stinky water attack than trying to fix it after the sudden onset of the deadly kitchen geyser? I think we can agree on that.

How To Use The Feelings Kit

So let's get this out in the open right now. Do you think essential oil can help with your emotions? Do you think the idea that a scent can change how you think is nuts or do you think it's so cool?! Or maybe you just don't know yet.

So let's cut to the chase-- they work. It's in research. It's a fact. It may sound crazy, but it's awesome. Don't trust me? Check out PubMed or How Emotions Are Released Using Essential Oils if you want to learn more.

I've been using essential oils to help with my emotional "issues" for years! I've used them for grief, nervousness, stress, sadness, negativity, confidence, anger, and pretty much any other emotion you can think about! What's crazy is that they also help with the physical manifestation of negative emotions!

You probably already know that emotions and the body are connected. After all, have you ever been so sad that your body hurt? Or maybe you have been so nervous that your stomach was upset? Emotions are so powerful that they can impact how we physically feel! Many times when we have no answer as to why our body is behaving a certain way-- it may be due to emotional blockages or negativity stuffed away. Once we release those patterns we can help regain control over our lives!

If you still think I'm crazy then just listen to Gary Young talk about what the feelings kit can do for your mind and body by clicking here.

4 Ways to Clear Negativity Naturally

You are awesome. The fact that you are here reading about how to release negativity means you are taking actions to create a more authentic, happier version of YOU. How cool is that?! If I could give you a hug or a high five, I would!

Negativity is like dust-- it can just keep collecting and piling up. Eventually our piles of dust can be so thick that it's hard to see or even remember what's underneath them. But as soon as we start brushing that dust away, then we start to see the glimmer of the awesomeness that is there. It may be a negative space or a negative part of ourselves, but with a little TLC we can make it radiate with all the things that make it (or us) so amazing.

Let me share with you four very simple way that you can start taking that step forward out of negativity, but first let's have a little chat....

Homemade Tinted Lip Gloss Recipe

Do you ever just want to make something beautiful? And how would you feel if that something beautiful helped your gorgeous self to look even more smoochable?  I know. I know. You are stunning already and you don't need anything else for your fine self, but DIY tinted lip balm (or gloss) can be a fun way to show off those amazing lips.

And if you are afraid that it just wouldn't be fair to the other ladies in your life if you looked THAT good, then you can always make a large batch and give them out spread the love!

This recipe is fun, easy and anyone can easily customize the recipe to suit any personality and style! My favorite part is that the color is just a soft tint and the lip balm is ultra-moisturizing which I need this winter!