o/c: black wednesday. and thursday. and friday.

black friday is so good this year, that it needed a whole blog post to fully explain its awesomness.  i've been seeing the quote about supporting your local businesses this holiday season on facebook a lot, and though part of me thinks its somewhat cheesy, there's so much truth to it! 

"When you buy from a small business, you're not helping a CEO buy a third holiday home.  You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, and a mom and dad put food on the table.  Thanks for shopping local."

ok first, lets talk about oils.  if you've been on the fence about jumping in and getting a kit, now's probably the best time to do it.  and if you are in a place to spend a little more, you'll get more freebies than i've ever seen given away.  i'll try and explain it in a way that's not too confusing. 

for those of you who are new to young living, and want to get your kit, this section is for you.  as most of you know, the kit costs $160 and comes with the following:
-Dewdrop Diffuser
-Premium Essential Oils Collection (5ml bottles of the following: Lavender, Peppermint, Lemon, Copaiba, Frankincense, Thieves, Purification, RC, DiGize and PanAway)
-5ml bonus oil: Stress away
-AromaGlide Roller Fitment
-10 Sample Packets (Peppermint, Lavender, Lemon, Thieves, Peace & Calming)
-10 Love it? Share it! Business Cards
-10 Love it? Share it! Oil Bottles
-2 NingXia Red 2-oz. samples
-Product Guide and Product Price List

like i said, this kit costs $160.  now listen closely, even though the cost is $160, the PV VALUE IS 100!!  Just remember that, we will go over that more in a minute.

here's my black friday special: if you order a starter kit (new members only) through me between wednesday, november 25 and friday, november 27, i'll let you choose to either save $20 or get a free orb diffuser! your choice. 

ok, so lets say you get your kit, and you decide to get the free diffuser i'm offering.  you'll add that to your cart and you've now just spent 15.5 more PV, and i'll be sending you a check or paypal for the cost of the orb which is $26.  at this point your PV total is 115.5.  here's where spending a little more makes the most sense. stay with me....

from now until friday, the following items are discounted 20%, which is insane.  i highly suggest at least getting the ningxia red pack and the thieves combo.  between these discounted items and other oils like peace & calming, valor, cedarwood and oregano (which are MUSTS outside the kit), you'll wanna try and hit 300pv if possible...

...and here's why: once you get your PV total to 300, not only will you be getting your kit, a free orb diffuser, and discounted items from the 20% off list (if that's how you choose to fill your cart) you will ALSO get ALL of these freebies...
-15ml bottle of Frankincense ($97 retail value)
-5ml bottle of Sacred Frankincense ($56 retail value)
-15ml bottle of Orange ($14 retail value)
-5ml bottle of Nutmeg ($17 retail value)
-8oz bottle of OrthoSport Massage Oil ($47 retail value)

confused?  here's what it comes down to. you get a premium starter kit which is valued at 100pv, and spend an additional 200pv however you choose, and you get TONS of free stuff. 

if you're already a member this info is for you: 20% off discounted items are available through a quick order only.  if you are an ER member and have already gotten your freebies this month, you can get them again!  just order 300pv (discounted items count toward that!) and you'll get all your freebies again (with the exception of Christmas Spirit, which is an ER exclusive). 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!!

Here's a few pieces I've been having fun working on too for Xmas gifts.  I'm willing to make and sell any of these things to people who might be interested as well!

"Naturally Infused by Kristen" Products

In case anyone is interested :) 

o:/ let's talk essential rewards.

I find myself typing up the same info over and over to people who ask me about how Young Living's Essential Rewards program works, so I figured I would just type it all out here as a reference page.

Ok, so you've ordered your Premium Starter Kit.  When it arrived at your door, you got really excited and started opening all your boxes.  Excitement turned in to a slight feeling of being overwhelmed.  BUT, you pushed through those feelings, jumped right in started using your oils.  All the while, you're dropping in to the Apothecary Society FB page to browse posts and educate yourself more.  NOW, you're not only familiar and happy with your starter kit oils, but you want MORE.  The struggle is real my friends.

I usually tell people to send me a message when they are thinking about making their first "after-kit" order so i can go over the details of this awesome program.

I hate the word auto-ship because other companies have given it such a negative connotation.  YL's ER program is indeed an auto-ship, however there is no pressure or obligation/penalties if you need to stop it at any time.  You would just want to make sure you redeem any points you have before you cancel.

Let me back up. Ok, so your oil wishlist is growing and you wanna slowly start building your collection.  With Essential Rewards, you pick which day you want your order to process each month.  For me, its the 1st of the month.  Others choose to wait until mid or even the end of the month.  Your choice.  The nice thing too, is that you can process your order early if you need it before your scheduled date.

You have to spend a minimum of 50pv (roughly $50) monthly.  You can go into your account and edit your order as many times as you want throughout the month, up until about 10/11pm on the night your order is scheduled to process.  I edit mine about 879546273 times a month before i decide on what i for sure want. Other huge perk? Cheaper shipping.  This is the only way to get the cheapest shipping that YL offers.

Rewards.  For every ER order (one per month) you earn a % back in rewards.  It starts at 10% and increases to 20% after a year.  So if your order is 150pv, that's 15pv back to you.  I let my rewards add up so I can get multiple (or more expensive oils) at once.

Now let's say you want to place a large order one month.  OR....you get some friends to order a few singles from you with your wholesale discount to add to your order.  Once you hit 190pv, 250pv and 300pv you start earning promos on top of those reward points.  For example, at 190pv this month (September), you get a FREE 15ml bottle of Tangerine EO, a 5ml bottle of Lemon EO and a 5ml bottle of AromaEase.  That's a $55 value, for free. Say you really wanna go big and put in an order of 250pv.  Now you get a free bottle of Mineral Essence on TOP of all of the 190pv rewards.  And now let's talk about baller status.  A 300pv order.  This month you would get an EXTRA 10% back in rewards PLUS the 250pv rewards AND 190pv rewards.  That's a $142 value.  Yes please.  The promos change every month too!

One thing I love about this company is that they have the best customer service.  If any of this gets confusing, you can of course ask me, but you can also call up CS and they will help you with anything.

I think that pretty much covers it.  I'll touch again on some key points below.  
Let me know if you have any questions or want help getting your ER set up! There's still time to earn all the September promos!

To Recap Main Points:

1. It doesn't cost anything to join the rewards program, it's just a $50 min order each month.  That's a couple bottles of oil a month and remember you can change your date.  If you are ordering that already or think you will order that much you should be taking advantage of this program!

2. No hidden fees, commitments or hassle!  You can even ask for a reminder email from yours truly before your order date so you can make sure to edit your order (if you don't it will auto ship what you ordered previously).  And hey, customer service is so fantastic that if that happens let me know and they will take it back and swap out for what you meant to order! Done deal :)

3. Setting it up is as easy as logging into Virtual Office at https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/login
Click the Essential Rewards tab on the left hand side and follow the steps.

4. You'll earn 10% back in rewards for months 1-6, 15% back for months 7-12, and 20% once you hit 13 months!!

5. Promos! Aka FREE STUFF! If you're placing big orders, you will get tons of free stuff on TOP of the reward percentage! Rewards are given at 190, 250 and 300pv.  One things to remember, this has to be a ONE time order.  not a cumulative order over the whole month.  you only get one ER order a month.

6. Cheapest shipping! Simple as that.

o: back in stock!

The alerts in my Oily Tools App were going cray cray this morning!  Which is always a good thing, because it means that out of stock items are becoming available again.  Below I'll make a list of what back in stock and a short description of each thing.  Remember, tons of free stuff given away this month, and its already starting to be claimed.  Read this post to see all of this month's incentives :)

Spearmint Essential Oil 5ml-
Spearmint essential oil includes naturally occurring carvone and limonene. Blend with Peppermint oil for digestive system support*
*One of my favorite oils to use when making homemade chapstick!*

Yacon Syrup-8oz
Yacon Syrup is a natural alternative sweetener, similar to honey, maple syrup, molasses, or sugar cane syrup. Grown in the Andes Mountains and used since pre-Inca times, this delicious sweetener is the perfect choice for beverages, cooking, cereal, baking, and other recipes.

Thieves Fresh Essence Mouthwash-8oz
Thieves® Fresh Essence Plus Mouthwash contains a special formulation of essential oils that provides incredibly fresh breath. The unique liposome technology (using soy-derived lecithin) binds the essential oils to the mucous membrane inside the mouth for longer-lasting effects on teeth and gums.
*This mouthwash has become one of my new favorite items*

Purification Essential Oil-15ml
Purification® Essential Oil Blend helps freshen the air and eliminate odors with its unique combination of Citronella, Lemongrass, Lavandin, Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Myrtle essential oils, and includes naturally occurring compounds cineol, neral, and geranial. Add Purification oil to Animal Scents™ products to moisturize skin and improve the appearance for healthy looking skin or apply topically to enjoy the outdoors annoyance free.
 *Another favorite, I use it in my laundry, to freshen stinky diaper genies, to help remove stains and on and on. Even eases my sore throat pain when applied topically*

 NingXia Nitro-
NingXia Nitro™ combines 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils with naturally powerful ingredients to clear the mind and enhance mental fitness, while also providing a boost of energy and daily pick-me-up when needed.* Each box contains 14 single-serve tubes (20 ml each).
*I'm excited to try these next month, I've heard great things.  Bye bye nasty Red Bull!*

 Thieves Wipes-30 ct.
Thieves® wipes are infused with the renowned benefits of Thieves essential oil blend. Thieves wipes can be used to cleanse the skin or any surface that needs cleaning. ESSENTIAL OILS: Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata Note: Not for use on infants or sensitive areas of the body.

 



Lemongrass Essential Oil-15ml
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) essential oil supports overall well-being*, and may support the digestive system.* This oil contains the naturally occurring constituent geranial. Adding Lemongrass oil is a delightful way to enhance the flavor of meals.
*great for inflammation and i even like to use it in my diffuser at night to promote restful sleep. oh, and it tastes like lemon Pez :)*



Mindwise-16oz
MindWise™ combines exotic sacha inchi nut oil with a proprietary MindWise oil blend for a unique supplement that supports normal brain and heart function.* Harvested from the Peruvian Amazon, sacha inchi nuts are cold pressed to create a vegetarian oil with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and an unmatched percentage of desirable omega-3 fatty acids (α-Linolenic acid). Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and pure essential oils are added to complete the MindWise oil blend. The proprietary Memory blend features ALCAR, GPC, and bio-identical CoQ10, ingredients that have been studied for their beneficial health properties. Generous amounts of vitamin D3 and a unique delivery method create a premium supplement that supports normal memory function and overall cognitive and cardiovascular health.*

  
Lavender Mint Daily Shampoo-295 ml
Ingredients:Water, Decyl Glucoside, Coco Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbitan Sesquicaprylate, Glycerin, Levulinic Acid, p-Anisic Acid, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Lactic Acid, Inulin, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Lycium Barbarum fruit extract, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol, Silk Protein, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Leaf Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Yucca Schidigera (Root) Extract, Hydrolyzed algin, Chlorella Vulgaris, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Mentha Spicata (Spearmint) Leaf Oil

Ningxia Wolfberries, Dried. 16oz
The legendary Ningxia wolfberry has long been sought after for its rich nutritional content. With documented use dating back to the Ming Dynasty, it is one of the earliest known “superfruits” utilized in ancient Chinese health practices. Organically cultivated and dried in remote regions of China, the wolfberry’s revered and unparalleled nutritional profile includes polyphenols, polysaccharides, and a distinctive ratio of trace nutrients. Certified USDA organic wolfberries fortify and replenish, making them a perfect healthful snack.

LavaDerm Cooling Mist- 2 fl oz
Bring relief to stressed skin with a blend of gentle skin-soothing ingredients including lavender essential oil aloe vera. Spray directly onto the affected area and repeat every 10-15 minutes until desired relief is achieved.

DiGize Essential Oil-15 ml
DiGize™ is one of Young Living's exclusive and proprietary dietary supplements. This unique blend contains Ginger, Anise, Fennel, Peppermint, Tarragon, Lemongrass, Patchouli, and Juniper essential oils, and includes naturally occurring constituents like menthol, citrol, and zingiberen. Use DiGize with every meal, along with Essentialzymes-4™, to support a daily wellness regimen*. When traveling abroad, use DiGize as a dietary supplement in your water. DiGize is an ideal complement to the nutritional supplements ComforTone® and JuvaTone®.
*This one actually comes in the kit but has been out of stock to purchase outside of the kit.  Glad its back, I refuse to be without it*

 Harmony Essential Oil- 15ml
Harmony™ is an exquisite blend that promotes physical and emotional well-being by bringing harmonic balance to the energy centers of the body. The liberating, balancing, and calming essential oils in this blend open us to new possibilities while contributing to an overall feeling of well-being.

Essential Peel- Lavender- 10pk
The new Lavender Essential Peel™ is an individually packaged, single-use cotton swatch saturated with pre-diluted essential oil. Containing 0.5 ml of total oil, this product is exclusive to Young Living and includes patents-pending packaging technology. The Essential Peel is ideal for use in professional settings, on-the-go, or for sharing and sampling essential oils. These packets are a quick, clean way to apply oils without waste; simply peel open the packet and inhale or apply topically as desired.
The Essential Peel is also available with Peppermint essential oil (while supplies last).

Boswella Wrinkle Cream- 2oz
The new Lavender Essential Peel™ is an individually packaged, single-use cotton swatch saturated with pre-diluted essential oil. Containing 0.5 ml of total oil, this product is exclusive to Young Living and includes patents-pending packaging technology. The Essential Peel is ideal for use in professional settings, on-the-go, or for sharing and sampling essential oils. These packets are a quick, clean way to apply oils without waste; simply peel open the packet and inhale or apply topically as desired.
The Essential Peel is also available with Peppermint essential oil (while supplies last).

Essence of the Season Essential Oil Collection
Continue the Christmas holiday's most enduring tradition with precious, spiritually uplifting Frankincense and Myrrh, plus seasonal favorite Christmas Spirit. This collection includes 5-ml bottles of Frankincense and myrrh essential oils and Christmas Spirt essential oil blend, plus frankincense and myrrh resin, all in a festive gift box.
Essence of the Season contains myrrh, frankincense, and Christmas Spirit™ essential oils plus frankincense and myrrh resins. All bottles are 5 ml size.

En-R-Gee Essential Oil- 15ml
En-R-Gee™ revitalizes with a blend of stimulating oils that have been used traditionally to help restore mental alertness. Uplifting and strengthening as the name suggests, it boosts energy.
*This mixed with some orange on the bottom of my big toe gives me a definitely second wind when i need it!*

Animal Scents-Ointment-6.3 oz
Animal Scents™ Ointment is blended with Melaleuca alternifolia and myrrh, two of nature's most powerful essential oils. It is a protective and soothing salve formulated for external use on animals. Typically used for minor skin irritations, cuts, and abrasions, the rich blend of ingredients is effective yet gentle and safe, so you can soothe your pets without using harmful chemicals or synthetic products.

Awaken Essential Oil- 5ml
Awaken™ is an inspiring combination of several essential oil blends that helps bring about inner awareness and awakening. True understanding of one's self is the first step toward making successful changes and desirable transitions. This blend may help you progress toward your highest potential.

Idaho Balsam Fir Essential Oil- 5ml
Idaho Balsam Fir essential oil has a woodsy and refreshing aroma, and is grown and harvested at Young Living’s Highland Flats, Idaho farm. This oil can be diffused for a grounding, relaxing, and calming aroma, and to create a heightened spiritual environment during meditation. Idaho Balsam Fir includes the naturally occurring constituents beta-pinene and camphene, and is an important ingredient in many products including, Animal Scents™ Ointment, Deep Relief™ Roll-On, Believe™ and Gratitude™ essential oil blends, and BLM™.
*This is one of the 3 oils used to make an awesome pain reliever capsule*

 MultiGreens Capsules- 120ct
MultiGreens™ is a nutritious chlorophyll formula designed to boost vitality by working with the glandular, nervous, and circulatory systems.* MultiGreens is made with spirulina, alfalfa sprouts, barley grass, bee pollen, eleuthero, Pacific kelp, and therapeutic-grade essential oils.





There's actually even more products than this back in stock, but I don't have all day :) PM me for prices and details if you are interested!

oils: fall=free.

Happy September! Yay, my favorite time of year is beginning! Therefore, we will celebrate with free stuff.  And lots of it.  Below I'm going to share my September Essential Oils Monthly Newsletter.  Normally this is just an e-mail that gets sent to my personally enrolled YL members but since its packed with so much goodness I'm gonna share it publicly.  All promotions good until September 30.  PM me with questions :) Now go grab a pumpkin spiced latte and start reading...

21 day fix: 13 days in

before you say, "you don't need to lose weight!".....just listen.  i know i don't need to lose weight, and i decided to do this for many other reasons.  first, i wanted to somewhat detox my body of all the crappy food i eat.  i lovvvvvve food and my mindset was always, "life is too short to only eat super healthy foods".  plus, when i think of healthy, i always imagine plain chicken breast, brown rice and steamed veggies.  i wanted to do this program to force myself to think outside the "healthy" box and come up with delicious recipes that are good for you as well.  also, i've been terrible about exercise since i had kids.  i've kinda let myself go in the toning and working out department.  i was ready to work hard to see some more definition, and simply build up my endurance.  i always joke that i'm an obese person in a normal girl's body.

let me also say, i'm 13 days in and i still crave certain things like sugar and junk.  literally all i want right now is a big handful of gummi bears.  but i'm not the kind of person who would cheat and have some.  when i put my mind to something i stick with it.  and its only 21 days.....right?

i'll spare you the sports bra and short shorts "before" pictures for now.  if the results are impressive enough at the end, i'll do some strategic editing (to hide my awful mummy tummy) and post them.  having DR has made some of the exercises difficult, like pilates, but luckily i have learned enough through MuTu to know which ones i should avoid or alter a bit.

for those of you who don't know what the 21 day fix is, its a diet and exercise program that focuses a lot on portion sizes.  since i'm still nursing (not much, but hey, i get to use it as an excuse!) i got to be bumped up a category, meaning i get a little more food than someone else who is my weight.  so i get 4 proteins, 4 veggies, 3 carbs, 3 fruits, one dairy/fat, one dressing/seeds and 4 tsps (things like olive oil, peanut butter, etc).  i am also supposed to drink half of my body weight in ounces of water daily.
you get little containers that are color coded to signify which type of food is which.  reds=protein, green=veggies, etc.  the program also comes with a dvd that has 7 different workout routines, all only 30 minutes each.  they are awesome! hard enough to make you sweat a ton, but also not ridiculously challenging where you just feel like quitting.

for the first 2 days it was really tough.  i realize i eat SO much food.  but honestly after 3-4 days i learned how to spread my portions out throughout the day so i wasn't hungry afterwards.  i still get moments where i wanna just open the snack pantry and grab something.....but 30 years of eating that way won't change in 2 weeks.  I just decide what i can have to satisfy my hunger in that moment that is actually healthy.

all this to say, i've seen amazing results so far.  i'm feeling great and i'm sleeping soundly. i admit, i'll be happy when its over but i have learned SO much from this experience.  little ways to swap out fatty food for something healthy.  for example, plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream, ground turkey instead of ground beef, or humus and bell pepper as a snack instead of chips.  even something as small as buying whole wheat tortillas instead of white ones. 

this healthy food skeptic is here to say, with some creativity, eating healthy can be done and still be delicious!  i'm excited to do this fix a few times a year! but don't get me wrong, i am looking forward to a cold beer as a reward at the end haha!

here are some of the meals and snacks i've eaten over the last 13 days.