Whether you’re on the go or staying home!
Mood
Our family spends a big part of our time outside. Being a family of 5, plus two big dogs – all living in a 400 sq ft RV, we need the space! We plan adventures, pack a cooler, and go.
We found while traveling the country that there are certain things we just can’t leave home without. My first must-have is oils for crappy moods because at some point there WILL be a meltdown. It could be a child, it could be me.
We use essential oils (EOs) to calm, relax, and keep emotions in check is necessary. With all that’s going on in the world lately, emotions are high. So many people out of work, businesses closing, and that uncertainty of what the future holds. People are stressed, hyper-vigilant, anxious, and depressed. When our emotions are not stable it can affect our sleeping and eating habits as well as steal our joy.
Our family focuses daily on what we can do to remain calm, keep our stress under control, and our emotions in check. We’ve found that using these EOs: Balance, Adaptiv and Copaiba is extremely helpful. They ground us and keep us calm – even when it’s very stressful or a big low. I ‘ve also used Balance oil on the boys since they were babies to improve sleep and for toddler tantrums. I don’t use all three at the same time. But adding one to their ear lobes or along their spine gets the best results for the boys. And when I use them for me, I apply a drop back to the back of my neck or even in my hands. Then I rub my hands together and inhale. Pretty much instant calming.
We also love to diffuse these oils. It’s the best diffusing in our car for those meltdowns and at night when settling down to sleep. Not only are they beneficial for mood but Copaiba has been shown to support a healthy immune system so we take the copaiba softgels every day, it’s a win-win!
Outdoor activities call for the Outdoor Blend
Lately, we’ve been going every week to the Uinta National Forest in Utah. And of course, on a recent trip, we all left with at least one mosquito bite. I brought my DIY outdoor blend, I didn’t think to use it. Sigh! We went back again this week and though there were critters everywhere none of us got bit! It works so well when we apply it. I love both of these recipes and avoid toxic Deet products. Have you ever looked into the negative side effects of Deet?
Here are my two favorite recipes, both work great! Grab the oils you have at home and make whichever you prefer. If you don’t have the oils, here is a link to purchase them. You can make dozens of batches with these bottles plus they all have hundreds of other uses too.
Owies are always happening
It really doesn’t matter if we’re home or out in nature. Someone always gets an owie. And I always want to be prepared.
As a mom of 3️⃣ active boys, I tend to more owies than I can count! I am thrilled my boys love to be outside daily. They run, ride bikes and scooters, play with sticks and rocks and build forts; all while seeming to be a tad too rough and their precious skin pays the price.
That’s why I can’t live without my homemade Owie Spray and have it on hand at all times. We use this daily for all of our family members, including our dogs Addie & Elsie. Just as I would spray it on the kids’ skin, I also spray it on the dogs when their skin could use some extra care.
Owie Spray is easy to make and will last a few months or longer (depending on how many owies your kiddos get!). This recipe is also great for other times when your skin needs some immediate attention. It can be used to support the skin after a long day in the sun, for sensitive lips, itchy feet, or on a dry, flaky scalp that can affect both children and adults. When used on the scalp, apply before shampooing and keep out of eyes. Check out the recipe below! I also love adding 8 drops of Helichrysum oil.
Keeping safe from the sun
Of course, I would be remiss without talking about sun safety. Our family uses an amazing DIY sunscreen that protects us from harmful UV rays and sunburns. This DIY recipe is super easy to make and non-toxic:
It’s also important to note, that while I am a loving and caring mom, I’m also human. Sometimes sunburns happen. And when they do, here are a couple of tried and true recipes to care for our families’ skin:
