Friday, September 21, 2012

Earn DOUBLE Points Through December!


Earn DOUBLE POINTS for FREE essential oils! 

Any Essential Rewards order of 100 PV or more that includes a “New NingXia Red” item number and is placed by October 31 will earn DOUBLE ESSENTIAL REWARDS POINTS for that order! AND will also be eligible to earn double points on their orders in November and December!!!! (If you haven’t placed your ER order yet for September, you may also earn double points for September!)  

Look for the link under promotions in your Virtual Home Office!!  If you are not a member of the Essential Rewards program yet and have questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact me!  It's free to join and a great and fun way to earn points for free oils!  

Exclusive Essential Rewards Promotion: Experience Red Reinvented



What's red and now has seven times more essential oils? Our new, innovative NingXia Red®! We took NingXia Red and improved the flavor, used an all-natural, noncaloric sweetener (Stevia), and increased its antioxidant levels. Love the original? Just wait until you try our new formula.

Add one of the new item numbers below to your Essential Rewards order before September 30, and you can be one of the very first to experience this groundbreaking reformulation!

Any Essential Rewards order of 100 PV or more with a new NingXia Red item number that is placed by October 31 will also earn double Essential Rewards points. This offer is valid through December. The sooner you order the new NingXia Red, the more points you earn!

Already an Essential Rewards member? Modify your order here.

Product
Item Number
NingXia Red (2 pack)
3042
NingXia Red (4 pack)
3044
NingXia Red (6 pack)
3045
NingXia Red (8 pack)
3046
NingXia Red Singles (30 ct.)
3525
NingXia Red Singles (60 ct.)
3526
NingXia Red Singles (90 ct.)
3523
NingXia Red Combo Pack (2 pack and 30 ct.)
4710

Again, if you have any questions about your oils, Ningxia Red, this current promotion or the Essential Rewards program, please don't hesitate to contact me!  

Monday, January 30, 2012

And the winner is...

Lauren!  

We received a very sweet comment from Wendi at Rora Valley:

We've had so much fun with the poem and getting everyone to vote the first time! We concede to #1, she has a great poem! Thank you so much for doing the giveaway! We enjoyed participating! Congratulations to poem #1!
Wendi, from Rora Valley

Thanks soooo much to all of you who wrote poems and to all who helped make this contest so much fun by voting!  It was a terrific week...and we look forward to hosting more giveaways and hearing from Lauren as she experiences God's great gift of essential oils!

If you are interested in learning more about Young Living's wonderful products, please feel free to contact me...either through commenting on our website or by emailing me at 
simplescentsoils at gmail dot com

Congratulations, Lauren!


Saturday, January 28, 2012

EGATS!!!!! WE HAVE A TIE!!!!

Okay, not a silk tie, nor a bow-tie (even those are very cool...), no seersucker, cotton......

No, my dear readers...we have a tie between TWO POEMS!!!

Please take a moment to read the poems below...and choose your favorite.  If you have voted before, please vote again! 

The contest will be over and the polls closed at 6:00 PM MONDAY EVENING!  
THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT 7:00 PM.








**PLEASE NOTE**
If you are going to leave an anonymous comment, you MUST leave a name with your comment!  Any comments submitted without a name will 
NOT be counted.
Thank you!

Monday, January 23, 2012

The Poems are IN so where are the VOTES?!?!?


Calling one and all to view the following poems and cast a vote for their favorite rhyme!

We have 12 entries today and hope that you take the time to read them all, analyze them, and vote!

A quick note to our contestants: PLEASE feel free to BEG your family and friends to vote for YOU!  The more votes, the better!!!  

The winner will receive a winter oils kit and a set of roll-on fitments.  For more information, click here!




So, read these wonderful (and sometimes funny) Valentine's Day Poems and VOTE!!!




A quick note on #6...It doesn't star with "Roses are red", but it wasn't written by Sara ...here was her note: This was left for me this morning by my beloved husband of 12.5 years...  Ben thought that it was soooo sweet, and he said, "We have to include that one!






**PLEASE NOTE**If you are going to leave an anonymous comment, you MUST leave a name with your comment!  Any comments submitted without a name will NOT be published.Thank you!






Monday, January 16, 2012

A Valentine's Day Giveaway!!!



Welcome, welcome to Simple Scents Oils!!!  We are soooo excited to be hosting a Valentine's Day giveaway!  The winner of our contest will win a three-pack of Young Living's essential oils:


We use these three blends all winter long!  Purification to cleanse the air from sick germs, R.C. to clear congestion, and Thieves almost daily to ward off sick-bugs!  Wherever we go, these oils go, too!  A must have set for the winter season...especially in large families!  Keep the sick-bugs at bay with what we like to call our "Stay Sick-Free" set!

Also included with the oils in this giveaway is a set of 10 roller fitments!  You can use these to transform any bottle of Young Living oils into a roll-on applicator!  Exciting, isn't it?!
All you have to do is write a Valentine's Day poem and submit it in the comment section below! The deadline to enter is FRIDAY the 20th.  The poems will be numbered and posted on our website next MONDAY the 23rd and you will have until FRIDAY the 27th to get your loved ones and friends to vote passionately for YOU to win!  The winner will be announced on SATURDAY the 28th!  

Please leave your contact information in your comment so that we can get in touch with you if you win!  All comments will be saved and remain unpublished until the contest is over.  We promise not to share your information!

If you share this contest with a friend and they enter (they have to leave your name in their comment) you will get an bonus point! 
Poems MUST begin with:
Roses are red....

SO!  What are you waiting for?!?!  Get your creative juices flowing and get rhyming!  We can't wait to see your poems!

If you are interested in signing up to order Young Living oils, please feel free to contact me.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

The Essential Birth Stash!

 
My Sweet Baby
 Many people have been asking me for my essential oils list for pregnancy and labor.  My mom put my list on her blog soon after Lilyana was born, but I thought that I should post it here as well.   It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health or medical needs you may have with your physician. Please seek professional help when needed.

Tiffany’s Essential Oil Birth Stash
Geranium
Lavender
Peppermint
Lemon
Clary Sage
Rosewood
Cypress
Frankincense
Bergamot
Spikenard
Thieves Blend
Valor Blend
Gentle Baby Blend
Peace and Calming Blend
Deep Relief (roll on)
Harmony Blend
Sensation Blend
Clara Derm Spray
Home Diffuser
Crock Pot
Ninxia Red
Morning Sickness
Ningxia Red, Orange Oil, Lemon Oil, Peppermint Oil, Ginger Oil, and Di-Gize blend

Perineum Care:
Apply to perineum three weeks prior to labor:
8 drops Geranium
5 drops Lavender
1 oz. almond oil
Massage into perineum during labor:
5 drops Clary Sage
2 drops Rosewood
1 oz. almond oil
Stretch and Massage vaginal opening (to avoid tearing) using:
4 drops Frankincense or Gentle Baby
1 T. olive or almond oil
The Frankincense also helped to alleviate the “burning” feeling that sometimes comes when baby is crowning.
Cleansing Perineum After Birth:
6 oz. warm water
5-10 drops Lavender oil
Cleanse perineum area with entire contents of the bottle of warm lavender water after each trip to the bathroom. This is very soothing and healing.

Swelling or Soreness after Birth:
Soak clean wash cloth in water with five drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of geranium oil. Wring out cloth, place in a Ziploc, and refrigerate until well chilled. Apply to sore area for relief.
For Hemorrhoids:
1 oz. almond oil
5 drops geranium oil
5 drops lavender oil
2 drops cypress oil
Gently cleanse area, and apply directly to hemorrhoids twice per day, or after each bowel movement.
Clara Derm Spray:
“Helps relieve a variety of skin irritations, burning and itching, particularly in sensitive female areas. Its gentle spray helps control rashes, candida, etc. Especially suited for the vaginal areas before and after childbirth.” – Essential Oil Desk Reference
Contains: Coconut oil, Myrrh, Tea Tree, Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, Helichrysum.

Moving Things Along:

Clary Sage (Warning: May induce labor. Not for use during pregnancy):
Increase and Strengthen Contractions:
To increase and strengthen contractions, I applied Clary Sage around the inside of her ankles. Others have applied the essential oil, along with a carrier oil, directly to the abdomen. Some have found that taking one drop of Clary Sage internally in a glass of milk or almond milk every hour or so during labor is very affective for thinning and dilating the cervix. Still others prefer taking a few drops of Clary Sage in a capsule.  WARNING: I only use Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils. Lower quality oils may be toxic. Know your product.
Align Mom’s Hips
Apply Valor on spine & hips to align hips during each stage of labor.
Breech or Posterior Position:
  • Breech: Apply therapeutic grade peppermint oil to top of stomach in the shape of a rainbow
  • Posterior: Apply therapeutic grade peppermint oil to lower back. (The midwife could feel the baby turning!)

Pain Management
Uterine Pain:
My personal favorite form of pain relief during my labors was this:

Keep by the bed, a heated crockpot filled with purified water and a dozen wash cloths. Make sure the water is hot (but not too hot to handle). Place 15-20 drops of lavender in water. Have someone assigned to keeping a steady flow of warm, wrung out, wash cloths to place across your belly during contractions. As soon as it cools, replace with a new cloth.
Lavender is very helpful for dulling and easing uterine pain; but, it is also good for relieving back and leg pains too.  In addition, it is a balancing and calming oil that can help to relax the body and ease nervousness.  It restores emotional balance, and has been said to strengthen contractions.
Frankincense
During transition, apply Frankincense to abdomen in a carrier oil or on warm washcloth as described above.
Back Pain:
Frankincense, Valor, Pan Away, or Deep Relief. Apply to sore areas of back, legs, or hips.
Headache: Deep Relief is good for stress/tension headaches. Apply to back of neck or temples, but be careful not to get in eyes. Peppermint or lavender may also be good headache relievers.

Emotional Stress/Tension
Bergamot:
Apply to forehead and temples, or on location for relaxation.
Gentle Baby:
Diffuse in room (Tiffany and Ben diffused this during her entire labor and she said it was so soothing and relaxing.)
Valor:
Rub into shoulders to stay relaxed. Apply to inside and bottom of feet to balance energy flow and calm anxiety.
Rosewood, Spikenard, Peace & Calming, Sensation, Sacred Mountain:
Diffuse directly into air for a calming atmosphere. Dilute with carrier oil and massage to relieve nervous tension, or use in bath to relieve stress or panic.

To Alleviate Nausea during labor:
Peppermint:
Put one drop on tongue to alleviate nausea.
Rosewood:
Inhale in a compress to alleviate nausea.

Miscellaneous Aches and Pains of Childbirth and Postpartum:
Dizziness
If feeling light-headed, dizzy, or like you’re going to pass-out:
Peppermint:
Apply to chest and behind the ears.  Hold bottle close to your nose and inhale slowly.
Stalled Bladder:
If having a hard time urinating after labor:
Peppermint:
Put a few drops in the toilet.
Chills:
Thieves:
Diffuse into air. This also cleanses the air.
After Pains
After labor, apply a warm, wet washcloth with a few drops of Frankincense and lavender on it to the abdomen.
Stretch Marks – Gentle Baby mixed with V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex (or coconut oil)
Difficulty Sleeping - Peace and Calming, Harmony, Sensation, or Lavender diffused into the air. Also a drop or two of lavender on the blankets or sheets make for a peaceful sleep for mommy and baby (test fabric first).
 

Friday, December 23, 2011

Great news!!! The old site is back online!

Welcome back to It's the Simple Things!  Our new blog is still up and we try to keep it updated with current family events, but I was saddened to let this blog go...so after talking it over with Ben, I've decided to keep it going with essential oils!  Same address, a different look, and a twist on the old name...Simple Scents.  

As I continue to use more and more essential oils in my own home, I am quickly realizing how wonderful these products are!  Having used them through pregnancy, labor, as a wife and now a mother, I honestly can't imagine living without these oils!  


Since the Christmas season is upon us, and since I'm "officially" on vacation (my husband, daughter and I are spending Christmas back East with my family), I won't be on here too much until after Christmas.  But, I wanted to share this conversation on getting started with Young Living.  It really helped to have my mom nearby to answer some questions that even I have had!  

So, welcome back, and please check back frequently for reviews, specials, giveaways, recipes and SO MUCH MORE!

Getting Started: A Conversation on Essential Oils from James McDonald on Vimeo.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Introducing our new blog...A Simple Renaissance

After five years of rambling about the simple things in my life, I've now reached a big moment...I'm moving on. Instead of blogging alone, my wonderful husband, Ben, and I have decided to create a new blog. On our magical wedding day, we became a new family. Though many things have changed, some things are still the same. My life is still simple and beautiful.

My musings will continue, but they will continue here, on our new family blog. A Simple Renaissance...a name that combines my blog title, and Ben's...a blend of his personality and thoughts with mine...another way that we're becoming one. So, with this last post, I've uploaded some pictures from the wedding that a friend took with my camera. I haven't seen the professional ones from my photographer yet, but these will do.

To keep up with Ben and me, please click here...the Honeymoon pictures will be over there! :)


"Daddy walk me down the aisle. Daddy don't cry...."

Wonderful friends, and my brother Caleb singing "A Clare Benediction"

The service seemed so short, and almost three weeks later, I still remember most of it!

Exchanging rings.

My wonderful friends, Mr. and Mrs. Sanford sang with the wedding party.
You are all such sweet friends and y'all sounded just lovely!

"Sealing our love with a kiss, waited my whole life for this.....

....Watching all my dreams come true...lost in this moment with you."

My wonderful parents. I love y'all so much!

I wouldn't have made it through the day without my wonderful wedding party! Thanks for the laughs, y'all! Love y'all and miss all y'all!

The family...only we're missing Ben! How did that happen?!

The brothers.

Me and my gang!

Goofing off...

Nice shades, eh? ;)

Finally! A moment to sit down!

I'd say that Ben is tired.

Oh, I love these girls!
And the wedding party is off to the reception in the RV.

A good start to "Happily ever after."

Be sure to follow us as we continue living our Simple Renaissance!

Saturday, May 15, 2010


At 3:30....click here! :D


Thursday, May 13, 2010

So many details....so much to do! Not much time to update now....maybe later. :)


Fabric.

Soon and very soon!

Days go by!

One more post before the big day?

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Here is the video:

From Video


Busy days, lots of planning, and loads of mixed emotions. It all makes for interesting days in our household. I'm still trying to figure out how one can look forward to an event with so much excitement, wonder, love, and at the same time, so much sadness. Last week began the time of "the lasts."

Even as I write this, I'm living the last day that we'll all be together...together and alone. It's just us...we've been 10 for so long, and pretty soon, "they" will be 9 and "we" will be two, and yet one. These days are precious, difficult, and yes, I do admit, often teary. I am so blessed to be surrounded by a loving family, and beyond that, a loving church family. I found myself suddenly overcome by sobs this last Sunday, and before I knew it, I was surrounded and embraced by four amazing, wonderful and close friends...sisters, and yet the best of friends.

A time for lasts...that will lead to so many firsts. I stand in the doorway of a room with a new view, and while I am sad to leave so many wonders behind, I'm also ecstatic to be the one who gets to stand beside my best friend and live this great adventure with him.

But until that day, we keep busy with many different events, and this post features a surprise birthday party for an amazing friend, and then a talent show at church.


Cruisin' down the interstate.

How sneaky of them!! Who could they be trying to scare?

Why Grace, of course!!! Happy Birthday, m'dear!

When one eats at the Bandy household, one will never lack for food!

My wonderful father showing off his plate.

Mmmmmm...I love fresh flowers.

The birthday girl, a true servant, helpingthe little people get food for .

My plate!

A Bandy-McDonald tradition....LOVE Y'ALL!

Dad playing with the kiddos.

17 candles for somebody special!

Two different cakes and homemade ice cream! Life doesn't get much better!

Moving along to the Arts Alive! show...
Here we have Josiah singing...a song. Can't quite remember the name...something about a star, but it was lovely!

Little Miss Evans reciting a poem.

The Sanford girls in a play the centered around the importance of guarding your heart.

Peter played the dashing Prince Charming.

"And they lived happily ever after!"

Hurrah! Wonderful job!

"Blessed Be Your Name" in sign language.

Marie Michelle singing in Italian. Not sure what the name of her song was, either, but it was amazing!
This one and the rest in this post were taken by: Caleb

We normally call ourselves the "R&B Sisters". This time we were "Four from the International Club."

Phew!! We're done! It was fun, and so special since it was our last performance...good memories!

The Providence String Quartet.

Close friends...now and forever.

Check back for the video!