Today's "For the Love of Oils" post is bringing you the good news about Thieves spray!
I am fitness instructor of a hand full of Les Mills programs. As I mentioned on Monday, this is our Launch week. Lots of learning, lots of practicing, and lots of memorizing new choreography and it can be a tiny bit over whelming at times when juggling the rest of life. I love it so much, (even the overwhelming part!) so that's not my reason for this post!
The reason is for the LOVE OF OILS.
Let's start with the Thieves spray...
I keep one of these awesome Thieves sprays in my gym bag AT ALL TIMES. Sometimes as instructors, we share the microphones, so my way to ward off germs, I spray down my microphone wind screen with a couple sprays. Not only does it feel and smell cleaner, the scent of Thieves just freshens the whole room and I swear, makes my brain work better.
Second, let's talk the oils that I use frequently before I teach class.
Almost always, I use Peppermint on my wrists and behind my ears, and sometimes just a touch on the tip of my nose. Peppermint helps my brain to wake up so that all that choreography I have learned, comes alive. When I use it, I feel more confident that I will not forget chorey and also have the words to really engage with my participants.
Today, I team taught during our Body Flow launch. When I teach Body Flow, I love using Valor or Valor II, and Stress Away. Both seem to calm my nervousness (yes, I still get nervous -ahhh!), and make me feel more calm and centered so that I can really embrace where my body is on my journey in Tai chi, Yoga, and Pilates. I seem to balance better (that was my track today!), and just feel more aware of my body so that I can engage and also connect.
I wanted to share these here today because honestly, these oils have been my saving grace some days when it comes to getting up on a stage and teaching. I feel the difference when I use them. If you are a fitness instructor, there's an oil for that!
On this particular day back in November, Ellis went with me downtown to take Aunt Rach and Uncle Lee's Christmas photos. She did a great job being patient and letting me snap some photos. Being that she has had a camera in her face from day one, in the past, she has not been the easiest child to photograph. She likes to move and move fast. But on this particular afternoon, she was more than happy to take some photos in front of the Christmas decor because in her words, "Mama, I have my Christmas shirt and sockies on!"
Not sure what the difference was - maybe it's because she is closer to five than three now. Older, more patient. Maybe because she felt like entertaining Rach and Lee. Or maybe it was just that she had on her Christmas cat shirt and Christmas Mickey Mouse socks.
Either way, I am so happy that she was engaging and entertaining and allowed me to snap some photos of her on this day. No particular reason why, I just suddenly feel like time is so fleeting. Looking back on these photos from this afternoon in November, my heart breaks a little to know that her fifth birthday is just around the corner.
And so the list that I mentioned.
I came across this list on Pinterest the other day and it really made me think. I always ask her how her day was when I pick her up from school. And I really try to ask her at bedtime what her favorite part of the day was, but I just loved how this list was full of great questions to also ask her about her day.
Some of the questions seem super simple like I should know how to come up with them by myself, but on a fast paced afternoon of pick up and head for the next activity I am the first to admit I am not the best at engagement with talk. Getting in the habit of these super simple questions is something I would like to be more mindful of. Especially as she gets older lines of communication become even more important.
If you don't know what a launch is, it is basically a special event where the instructors for that program (tonight: Body Combat) introduce new motivating music and engaging choreography in the new tracks. It's a great time for people who are new to the programs to come try them out.
Brownwood Fitness group fit tries our best to make the event fun and exciting, and also give away some great door prizes for the members who come.
Cue in today's "Make it Monday."
I decided to put together some "work out survival kits" to give away as a door prize.
Inside these new blender bottles (I mean, cause we can all use an new blender bottle, right?!), is :
an absorbent sweat towel (I always forget mine)
hair ties (cause I hate forgetting a hair tie...all that sweat and hair - such a mess)
a single bottle of Advocare Slam (because pre-workout!)
and a few Young Living Thieves Hard Lozenges (in case you think a sore throat is a reason to not workout - kidding, sort of!)
I quickly made the little graphic insert in Photoshop, printed, cut them out, and placed them in the cup.
The best part? These cups were less than $10 bucks to put together, but I think are worth even more than that...I know you feel me if you have ever arrived to the gym without a hair tie or pre-work-out!
Because I was on a roll, I decided to also make these easy-peasy labels to slap on a 24 case of water bottles.
Water bottle labels:
Tear off store labels off bottles
Make graphic in Photoshop or similar program (measures 1.5X8.5)
Print out on regular printer paper (7 per page)
Cut with a paper cutter
Wrap around bottle and tape with a small piece of clear tape on the back
Definitely not necessary for a launch, but does up the mood and feel of a Launch Party! And, I truly want the members to feel like we are there to make them happy and put on a great hour of working out while they have fun to new music and new moves.
If you are reading this (live in the Brownwood area) and maybe have always wanted to try Body Combat, but have been unsure - this is your sign to come tonight! 5:30PM New music, new moves at a wonderful gym full of warm and inviting people who all share one goal in mind - health/fitness. Come try for free - tell the front desk that Becky invited you.
And if you are not in my area, look for a gym in your area that has Les Mills (click the yellow "Find a Class" button at the top right) and I encourage you to go give a class (or 4!) a try. You are never too old/too young/too big or small to to begin your fitness journey. Today is a great day to start.
I know what you are thinking, "isn't that a diaper bag accessory pouch?!" Technically, yes. It was created to compliment the new FP Diaper bag. BUT, y'all. I decided a while back that I have no desire to carry a large (or even medium) purse. The bigger my purse is, the more stuff I seem to pack in it. One day I looked up and had two water bottles, several granola bars, and about fifty different lipsticks/glosses in my big purse. I decided that day that I was going to only carry what I needed: Car Key, phone, license, cash, checkbook, debit card, maybe a pen, and 1 shade of lipstick + gloss. Believe it or not, I could fit all those things in a 5X7 Ipsy cosmetic bag that was sent to me for free. I carried that bad boy around for several months. And then a couple weeks before Christmas, FP came out with this sweet clutch. Perfection.
It literally holds all my necessities (and more if I need to), but is smaller than a purse, and like FP says, "plus it’s pretty enough to carry on its own as a date night clutch. Win-win!" Also, it comes in three different colors - butterscotch, ebony, and stone.
And though, I love Freshly Picked and have for a while now, I am not a sponsor. I just wanted to share a personal favorite.
3. This new TV series: The Resident
I am generally drawn to medical-based shows. ER, Grey's, The Good Doctor...and now this one. The first five minutes of the pilot episode grabbed my attention and now at the end of the second episode, I am still wanting to see more. Also, LOGAN, y'all. If you aren't a Gilmore Girls girl, you won't get that reference. His character on this show is a little (a lot) edgier and darker than his role on Gilmore Girls. Still, despite the edge and darkness, he definitely brings that same charm to this character that makes you want to like him, despite how he initially come's off (arrogant).
Upon first glance of her IG feed you will immediately see that she is a gorgeous girl who does yoga, right? But if you read her posts, her sweet personality is so evident. I am not sure how I came across her, but what drew me into her feed were her Yoga Tips. Look for the photos that have the "Before/After" written on them and then read the posts. Her tips on how to do different yoga poses was so inspirational to me and helped me to understand how to work at getting better in my own poses. I think the first one I came across was this one with tips on how to properly execute the "Upward Facing Dog." If you are into yoga, or like me, Les Mills Body Flow, I think you will find her feed insightful and interesting.
5. This quote by Vincent Van Gogh:
When I first saw this quote, it made me think about my "job" at the time. This past week when I saw it again, I immediately equated my profession to motherhood.
6. This guy from the Internet makes me laugh: Kalen Allen.
A friend of mine shared him on Facebook and so I got lost down the rabbit hole watching and laughing at all of his video food reviews. He caught Ellen's attention enough for her to give him a job!
What I love is that I know I talk to myself when I am web surfing and shopping, but I would die if anyone ever heard me. Not this guy! He decided to record his comments and it's just too funny!
7. This new diffuser combo:
We've done a lot of playing indoors on non-school days this season - mostly because I don't want to brave the cold. This blend is perfect for those days spent inside. Relaxing and calming with thieves because germs, yo.
time: 10:59 AM location: Home, with a Buster B keeping my lap warm while I sit at the computer, and Henry keeping us company close by (on the table. He's on the table, y'all.).
Side note: I think if your sweater doesn't wrap around your lap dog like a baby carrier, you aren't doing snuggles right. Buster agrees.
watching: Nothing right now. Ellis is gone to breakfast with my dad, so I am enjoying the quiet...something I rarely do. It is sometimes a little uncomfortable for me to have silence. I usually like to have music/tv on in the background, but I am trying out this whole "quiet thing."
drinking: my morning protein shake.
Eating: a sugar cookie that Ellis decorated while I decorated these to go to a great group of girls for the weekend.
Her cookie didn't quite make the cut (aesthetically speaking), but it definitely still tastes delicious and goes perfect with protein and coffee. Cause, balance.
reading: My Bible. Matthew 26, today. I am following along with the She Reads Truth Study of Matthew. I have enjoyed reading some of this book again, and some of it for the first time. And I always love how the writers at SRT interprets and sheds more light on the Scripture for me.
loving: the story behind this 22 gun.
When Adam was nine years old, his dad gave him this gun. The two of them went out to their shop; Adam to walk around and maybe find a squirrel or rabbit to shoot at, his dad to load up a trailer with work material. Eventually nine year old Adam got tired of looking for things to use as target practice, and set his new gun down behind the trailer. Unaware that the gun was behind the trailer, his dad accidentally backed up over it when it was time to go. At the time, it broke the gun, and Adam's dad told him he would have to have it fixed.
Last weekend, Adam's folks came to visit and Adam's dad said he had a surprise for him. It was his 22 gun from when he was nine years old. His dad had it fixed for him. Adam was so surprised and excited. We all headed out to our shop so he could try out his new/old gun.
I have talked about Young Living essential oils on here several times now.
Maybe you have tried a few EOs here and there, but never actually dove into the entire kit. I get it...$160 is a good chunk of money to me, too.
But let's say, you have used some oils and have found yourself re-ordering some again and again...
I believe the Premium Starter Kit is for you.
Why you ask?!
1. I will start with the bottom dollar. IT'S THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!
"Why would I spend $160 for the whole kit, when all I really use right now is peppermint, lavender, and lemon?!"
The kit is valued at almost $300 for $160. I mean, I know I am not the only woman/mom/wife who loves a good deal, right?!
Because oils work differently for different people it’s best to have a variety of oils to try.
Included in the Premium Starter Kit are 11 5ML bottles.
Lavender 5-ml
Peppermint Vitality™ 5-ml
Lemon Vitality™ 5-ml
Copaiba Vitality™ 5-ml
Frankincense 5-ml
Thieves® Vitality™ 5-ml
Purification® 5-ml
R.C.™ 5-ml
DiGize™ Vitality™ 5-ml
PanAway® 5-ml
Stress Away™ 5-ml
There are 300 oils on the Earth, but you only need 10-20 of them to build a good kit and so that’s why this starter kit is so amazing! The oils you get in the kit are called the Everyday Essentials, and they are super versatile and are pictured above. These oils help support your respiratory and immune systems, support healthy skin and emotions and are a safe way to make your home smell fresh and amazing. Starting out with the kit will give you the opportunity to try different variations of oils and they all support your body systems so much.
2. "So what else comes in my kit, Beck?!" YOU GET AN AWESOME DIFFUSER
Diffusing is an easy but incredible way for you and your family to reap the benefits from the oils without applying them topically or ingesting them . It’s a great way for the whole family to experience the benefits of the essential oils. And the added bonus?! – your home will smell SO good and you won’t have to burn candles or have to use chemical air fresheners. In all honesty, I was an avid candle burner...you know those 3-wicks that are so potent?! I was so skeptical that a diffuser could put out the same amount of aroma and that the scent would actually linger in the room after it was turned off. IT DOES. I am a skeptic no more. Even better, you can try so many different combinations of the oils to change up your scent each time you refill your diffuser. Right now you actually get to choose which diffuser you’d like in your Premium Starter Kit!
3. I call this one, "WAIT! There's more!"
Your Premium starter kit will also come with some cool extras.
AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment - this will be your best friend if you are like me, and want/need to quickly swipe oil on the bottoms of your kid's feet before putting socks on her! At our house, we like to call it the "Thieves tootsie two swipe!" I know, we are dorks. But seriously, it's fast and effective for a kid who is always on the move.
10 Sample Packets - these are cool to keep in your purse in case you are out and about and need some oil ASAP, or want to share some with a friend to try.
10 Love It? Share It! Sample Oil Bottles - great to make blends for friends, or just put a few drops in for a friend.
2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples - a great antioxidant drink. You can take a swig and decide if you like the flavor...I think you will.
And lastly, your kit will come with some great literature about the oils including the product guide and price list, and member resources.
4. 24% OFF ANY FUTURE OIL PURCHASES
Remember how we like a good deal? Well, here’s another one! Once you use up a few of those precious oil bottles – you’ll want to reorder them (and you’ll probably want to try the Thieves Household Cleaner and Ningxia Nitro and some Cedarwood and some Orange …) just you wait and see and so your wish list is going to grow! Well guess what? You don’t have to pay retail, you get a wholesale discount of 24% off retail prices. So yep – those good deals just keep on coming! So even if you just end up re-ordering your Peppermint, Lemon, and Lavender trio oils, you will get %24 percent off each of those...so instead of paying $74.01 (+tax & shipping) for those three oils, you will only pay $56.25 (+tax & shipping). I mean, good deals at every turn, am I right?!
5. OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF YOUNG LIVING’S LOYALTY PROGRAM CALLED ESSENTIAL REWARDS
One more reason to be a wholesale member and get a starter kit, friends. Essential Rewards is a wellness box that is delivered to your door every month that YOU can schedule and YOU can customize with whatever products you’d like. Not only that, but you earn back a percentage of your order (that amount depends on how long you’ve been with the program) and you get lots of free products, too! Why not use Essential Rewards to replace those “not so great for you and your family” products with products that will benefit your entire household’s health + wellness – all the while earning back freebies?!
Essential Rewards IS an option, but not a necessity right off the bat. You can opt out if you want when you start, but the option is always there if you want to start earning those point for free product and freebies along the way. I will talk more about this soon!
Once you buy your starter kit, you are NOT required to order a certain amount each month. You do not have to tell a soul about Young Living, essential oils, etc...meaning that you can just USE the oils without being a spokesperson/salesperson. You WILL simply be able to purchase oils and YL products at a discounted price. Kind of like a Sams membership. You pay a small charge to become a member to get cheaper prices. But unlike Sams, you aren't just paying for a plastic membership card with your bad photo on it (my Sams card photo is awful!), you will get the Premium Starter kit of oils, a diffuser, samples, and literature.
When you get your kit, you won't be left just holding a kit and not knowing what to do with it. I can and will add you to a few of my favorite oil communities online where great information is located. If you have a question about what oil to use for what, I can find you an answer. It's totally not a "one and done" type kit. That's the thing about folks who use essential oils...we love to share information on how to use them, how to diffuse them, and and what has worked for us, personally. I say it all the time about fitness, and it's kind of the same...we don't train for an event and then quit when it's over. We train for a lifetime of wellness and longevity.
I am more than happy to help you sign up and get started. Here is a quick link, if you are tech savvy and ready to get started. But, if you want some one on one time with yours truly, feel free to reach out to me via email and I will personally help you start your journey.
The story of my baptism. My testimony. Because as a human, I know I need Jesus all the time...but as a mom, I need Jesus more than ever!
Last year, a few months before my 36th birthday, I was baptized. This is my testimony of how I came to know God, and how years and years later I decided it was time to be obedient to God (despite my worry and fears) and take a bath in that holy water.
I grew up at church. My mom always made sure that we knew Sunday’s were for church and family time.
Around ten years old, I remember attending a revival at my church at the time and knowing that I truly understood that Jesus died on the cross for me and I asked him into my heart. I spoke with a deacon of the church and he counseled me as to what it meant to be a Christian. At the time, I remember wanting to be baptized but thinking to myself, “I can wait a few years…no need to rush…I will be more mature then.”
Fast forward through all the teenage years and even twenties, here and there going to church, but not really being a part of a church community or home anywhere. My life was good. I felt like I was a good person with a good heart, a Christian, but a lot of the things in my lifestyle did not reflect Christianity. I kept telling myself, when I became this or that - a wife, a mom, have a career, etc. that then it would be a good time to be baptized.
Four years ago I became a mom. When my daughter, Ellis, was nine months old, we dedicated her to the church. Shortly after, my husband Adam and I made the decision that we wanted to become members of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. And so we did. I remember proudly walking up to the front with him next to me holding Ellis, and feeling truly at home making Coggin our church. A few weeks, then months, passed by and I wondered why I still had a heaviness in my heart and so I prayed. And what kept repeating in my head and my heart was, “Becky, you still have not be Baptized. You are thirty-five years old now. It is time.”
Every Sunday in church after that realization when the time came for the invitation, I would really want to walk down the aisle, but I could not force myself to do it.
Anxiety of being in front of a crowd, of ultimately facing the humility and embarrassment that here I am, thirty-five, and have never been baptized….the list went on and on of reasons why I could not make myself walk down to the front during the invitation. I would play silly games with myself during the invitation “oh, not this Sunday because I didn’t fix my hair very well.” “If they play this or that song, it will be my sign from God to go.” Silly reasons that I now realize were the devil talking me out of being brave and obedient.
And then a few Sunday’s ago, Cindy Marshal was Baptized and although her story is different from mine, it truly reached deep into my heart. Her bravery and awesome journey of obedience to God, helped me to see that it was okay. I did not have to be 10, 20 or even 30. Being 35 and getting Baptized because the Lord is calling me to do so is not just okay, but the exact right thing I needed to do.
On Sunday, the 27th of May, both Billy and Tim spoke during praise and worship and the sermon, about choosing to open your heart. Deciding to take the next step and open towards God, instead of walking away one more time, one more service, one more Sunday - each time allowing my heart to be hardened. From the very beginning of the service that morning, I felt like every word, every song, every passage we read from the Bible, every illustration was being spoken directly to me. When the time for invitation came, something inside said, “take a deep breath and go.” I truly believe that the Holy Spirit washed over me and led me down to the front to confess my sin of disobedience and soften my heart. And so I did.
Thank you to my dear friend, Teresa, for this video that I will cherish always.
I wanted to share my testimony because I am a Christian. I know that I am forgiven and I am good just as I am. Each day I can rest in the peace that I am truly loved by my Creator and all my worries and fears, when given to Him, lessens the load that I have to carry. I share because the love is too good to not share about. And I share because it is my hope that in sharing I may reach someone else who may have had the same worries/fears/anxieties as I did, and decide that you are never too young or too old to be Baptized. Today is a wonderful day to make the decision.
And on that Sunday morning in July of 2017, I made my way to the church office before the service began. I expected my pastor, Tim, to be there, and he was but he was not alone. Two of Adam and I's best friend's beautiful fifteen year old daughter, Maddy, was also there. She was going to be baptized that morning, as well. My heart and body experienced a rush of "man, our God is SO good." It literally made me do a double take and question if I was in the right place. I still do not have the right words to describe it, but it was as if God put her here to put me at ease or something. Like a "me, too!" shared experience of the very best kind. Neither of us knew the other was going to be there, but to say it was a pleasant surprise is a complete understatement. In so many ways, it was so beautiful and I love that we both will always share that day of our baptisms.
"Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we should walk in the newness of life." Romans 6:4
I talked about this free digital lettering class by Holly Pixels a little over a week ago. Although I have not completed the class just yet, I decided to just start practicing a few of Procreate tricks I have learned from her.
Because of this class and her Instagram feed, I also became part of this Facebook group. It's a great place to dive in a little further with tips and questions asked by other members that have helped me learn more. You can also get great feedback on your work that is constructive and kind. Like a classroom setting. Each month, Holly creates a list of "Lettering Challenge" prompts to use as a starting point to just practice. You can practice on your own time, and even share your work with the group.
As an art teacher, when my students would ask me how to get better at drawing/painting/etc., my response was always - "the more to you do it, the better you will get." As a student, I forget this over and over. The irony, right?! But it's true, right?! So, I decided if I want to get better, I just need to practice once every day if and when I can. #practicepracticepractice
I started on Saturday.
And then again on Sunday.
My challenge/prompt for today is still in progress.
What I like about these challenges/prompts, is that you don't have to letter them digitally. Maybe you just want to improve your handwriting. Or maybe you have wanted to try a new technique you saw on Instagram like this one, using just a couple of regular Crayola markers. You can use these prompts as your starting point. Take the guess work out of where to start, and just start with what you have on hand right now.
Had a busy but really great day today. Not much computer time, but a new manicure, a really great lunch date Ellis and a sweet friend of ours, and then a second lunch date with my in-laws and nephew who drove into the town for the weekend.
Busy, but really great day.
My Friday faves, therefore, will be on the fly. AND I am not going to lie, a couple of them, I am actually wearing at this very moment.
This sweater I found at Target yesterday. This sweater is super super soft on the inside and out. Long enough to cover my rear so I can wear it with leggings. Might have been a boring old sweater but has a front knot at the bottom which makes for a flattering fit and a not-so-basic look. Also, at $19.99, I just might have to order another one in a different color. It comes in four colors: olive, gray, white, and lavender. This season I feel like I am drawn mostly to comfy sweaters and leggings...which leads me to my next fave.
These black and white stripe Reebok leggings. First of all, as a Les Mills instructor, I get a great discount on all reebok.com purchases - so that's a bonus. Second, I am a big fan of their leggings lately. They are a great fabric blend of recycled polyester and Elastane which means that they feel super soft, but will not peel or fade like cotton. I will probably at some point, wear these to work-out in, but today (and yesterday), I wore these as everyday pants. I had to do a special load of laundry last night just so these babies would be clean for today. Maybe I should just go ahead and order another pair. I digress.
The Desert Mist Diffuser from Young Living I actually have mine in the kitchen since it's the room we are in the most, but I love that when I fill it in the morning, it usually stays on and going until I leave for the gym around 4:30 in the afternoon. I personally love the candle-like flicker mode, but Ellis loves to push the button and put it on a different color.
This blend of essential oils smells like pixie sticks and gummy bears to me.
I have this blend going right now and it smells yummy, and for about forty-five minutes Ellis and my nephew played very peacefully together. Now, they are running around like crazy people, but they are also four and five.
a head shot I took with my big camera, tripod, and remote a day after my 36th birthday. Taken for this website that my super talented and kind team leader, Kristina, created for our oil biz. Side note: I just had to look up how old I am...I honestly couldn’t remember if I turned 36 or 37. Some days I feel 25 and others I feel 65. I know I can’t be alone in that.
time: 3:04 PM location: Austin Center for Endodontics. Ellis and I brought my sister here to have her tooth worked on...hoping for a bonus Target run after...if the patient is up to it, of course. watching: thinking about starting 9-1-1 after a friend recommended it. eating: Nothing right now, but made a delicious cucumber and tomato salad last night with extra lemon juice and salt. That sounds good right now. drinking: water with lime...I’m sensing a trend here, but I am always up for salt and sour. wanting: the weather to warm up a bit...I am not quite ready for summer, but 50s/60s would be nice. needing: to start planning Ellis’ fifth birthday party...gah, how is my baby already almost five?! loving: finding her drawings on my iPad Pro. And also hearing the stories or descriptions that come along with anything she draws.
She is also very into writing names. Nearly every paper that comes home from school now has “Ellis Becky Adam” written on the top of it with hearts.
This one, from the IPad, also has her cousin, Orren’s name...she is very excited to see him this weekend.
