D.I.Y. Spa Party (Cassie and Tracy)

Our at home Spa Party Set-up

So we have been busy again, and the blog fell to the back burner. But with school, hosting parties, and sharing doTerra with people, we have had our hands full as of late. We love it that way!

Speaking of parties, here are a few pictures from our first ever Spa Party our mother so graciously hosted. The recipes were simple, and it took about an hour to transform the living room into a wonderful and relaxing spa room. We placed Wild Orange and Peppermint in the diffusers. We had three going so when guest came in and they were immediately invigorated and felt welcomed.

The lucky ladies were treated to a glass of wine, and first went to the bathroom to be "wrapped" the doTerra way...with just Slim and Sassy added to water, and some Saran wrap, guest could detox without all the expensive wraps on the market today. I actually slept in my wrap that evening and noticed the difference the next morning! (I want to try it again and measure myself, but that is a different blog!)

Next we moved to the facial station, where guests could choose from three recipes Tracy concocted using essential oils, honey, avocado, and more! Each of the masks was selected to help with a certain skin issues, and guests loved the choices. They debated on which mask to use for quite some time before letting us rub it on. Tracy placed the different masks in cute margarita glasses for the full spa effect and placed the essential oil bottle next to each mask so guests knew exactly what was in each one.

Hair care was next on the evening's agenda. We gave lavender scalp massages before having guests choose between two hair treatments. One treatment was meant to stimulate hair growth, and the other to give hair a natural shine and conditioning. The scalp massages put everyone at ease and were a very big hit (or it may have been the wine)!

Lastly, we had our guests make their own bath salt to take home with them. It was simple... first they chose a base (sugar, brown sugar, or sea salt), added a carrier oil of their choice, and then some essential oils. I made a lovely lavender sugar scrub that I can use in the shower each day. Tracy swears it helps with back acne and I just love it for the scent! A few guest added peppermint and wild orange to their bath salt to wake up and feel invigorated in their morning showers. It takes very little essential oil, and they were amazed at the way the scent really stayed with the salts. 

What a fun and successful evening, and perfect for our first week of being back to school! Some of our guest did not know each other at the beginning, but by the end were chatting like old friends. That is why I love what we do... we bring people together to enjoy natural and simple recipes and essential oils, we laugh, and we share experiences. 

For very little cost in oils and supplies, you too can have your own spa retreat at home. Recipes are easy to find online or on some of the pages we have linked to at the bottom of our blog. We invite you to gather some friends, have some wine, and use your doTerra oils to make some of these at home treatments yourself! We are sure you will enjoy and feel wonderful afterwards (and that is not just the wine talking!) :)

Tuesday Tip-Off (Tracy)

Tuesday Tip-off!

On Guard is a unique, proprietary blend formulated to support healthy immune function and is safe to use on countertops as a non-toxic cleanser.  The oils in this blend are wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary.  It is proven to destroy bacteria, molds and viruses.

This is one of my favorite oils. If you hate being sick this is the oil that you want to use.  To help boost your immune system put it on the bottom of your feet day and night.  I use this in my daily coffee instead of creamer.  I love the taste of cinnamon and cloves in. Be sure to use only one drop because it is quite strong especially if you are new to using oils internally.   This is also a great oil to have for cleaning. Below is a simple recipe using On Guard.

All Purpose Spray:

1 1/2 cups white vinegar

2 cups of hydrogen peroxide

30 drops of On Guard

10 drops of Lavender

Add ingredients to 24-32 oz spray bottles and fill with water.  Shake and spray surfaces. Wipe clean

Keeping Kids Healthy in School (Cassie)

Yes, we have slacked! Already, and I am sorry... but I have a very good reason... school started again!
I am sure there are lots of other teachers and parents in the same boat; the days move much faster when the little ones are back to school... I look up from my cup of morning coffee only to realize I should have been in the shower 10 minutes ago!

Back to school not only back to seeing friends and meeting teachers, new book bags and new pencil cases, but a return to germs. 8 hours a day sharing pens, air, and boogers can make the immune system weak. I see it each year in my classes, one kids gets sick, and soon enough there are empty chairs all around the room as the cold or flu moves like a serpent through them all.

But this year, I have an advantage. I do not like to be sick, I am a terrible patient, and I absolutely hate to miss school... so I started the month of August out right...with doTerra's On Guard protective blend. It includes the essential oils of cinnamon, clove bud, rosemary, wild orange, and eucalyptus. It helps strengthen the immune system, and has been shown in independent tests to kill bacteria, mold, and viruses. I love that is can be diffused in the room, taken internally (like in my morning cup of java), or applied to the feet and throat. It can be mixed with water to clean classroom desks and shared surfaces.

But some of you may be doubting that one of two drops of On Guard could do all that. I was a doubter... until the dreaded thing called a summer cold. It started at the beginning of August with a tickle in the throat. My sister saw the signs, and began her nag. I began adding the 2 drops of this blend to my coffee and applied another couple of drops to my feet and throat. I mix the drops with coconut oil, as to me, the blend is "hot". Not burning, just strong, so the oil makes it pleasant to me.

The funny thing is, once I used it, my cold never got worse! I did have a little mucus (t.m.i. I know!), but it never fully developed... no cough, no sore throat and pain... the congestion and stuffed head feeling was gone in three days. No cough syrup, day/night cold pills, I got better. And could go out and enjoy the last month of summer like all teachers love to do!

So now I add On Guard to my coffee each morning. I rub it on the soles of my feet, and I go to school feeling protected. I am kinda looking forward to cold and flu season this year... put it to the test! :)

Want to know more? Visit doTerra's website, search the web, or if you are in the Lowville, NY area.... come to our FREE class tonight: Keeping Kids Healthy. It is at 7pm, across from the school in the Bostwick Massage Studio, run by the very sweet and terrific MaryBeth Anderson. We have tons of great ideas, recipes, and information to keep you and your kids healthy all school year long! Hope to see you there! Or, email or comment at any time, and we would love to talk with you!

Happy back to school! Oh, I am late for my shower....

Making Positive Changes

Now that Cassie has introduced herself, it is time for the younger and wiser Rooted Sister- Tracy!  I am married and have a very energetic 2 1/2 year old little girl named Zoe.  She is the driving force behind my desire to make a healthy change in my life style.

I first was introduced to doTerra from a friend of mine who gave me an oil to help with headaches (past tense!) and I had no real intentions of using the oil until one day when I had a headache and my over the counter migraine medicine was downstairs and I was upstairs. I tried the oil thinking it wouldn't really do anything.  To my surprise my headache went away quickly, so I continued to use the oil and eventually attended an oil class.  During the party I was surprised to see how empowered the individuals were that were presenting.  They were able to take hold of their families health care and well being. It really opened up my eyes to all of the toxins I was putting into my body as well as my families'.  I decided to take control!

It is not an easy thing to change your lifestyle but by taking small steps it begins to be a way of life. So every day I invite you to join me in my vow to change my life.  I will give you daily workouts that I challenge you to partake in.  A majority of these workouts are going to take you outside where you will not only increase your endorphins by working out by you will get the added benefits of the being outside.  So today start by going for a walk or run outside.  Breathe deeply and take 15/20 minutes for yourself and get ready because tomorrow will not be so easy!

Sunday Special (Cassie)

My Top 5 doTerra Oils

When we began this blog, we set up a schedule of days and topics for each day. We also decided to trade off days to give us breaks and to give readers different perspectives and opinions. Sunday was to be a day of rest; no post on Sundays! (We also agreed that I would limit my nerdy references, but who could resist a Harry Potter quote when you get the chance...Honestly!)

But I decided to write today anyway to introduce myself to you. I am Cassie, the oldest of the Rooted Sisters. I teach high school in upstate New York, in my hometown actually. My husband and I moved back to the area deciding that this would be a better place to raise children. Then most recently my sister moved back with her family, and we decided to build our doTerra business together. We have come back to our roots, both with oils and with being closer together as a family.

Why do I use essential oils? I have also been a lifelong migraine sufferer. They started when I was very young, and after a ton of tests, they found no reason. I have been to the emergency room multiple times, neurologists, and had many, many scans. No real answers, except for taking preventative drugs. The medicine made me sick, and sometimes gave me a headache, the very thing I was trying to prevent!

So my sister sent me a sample of PastTense, doTerra's blend of oils for headaches and stress. I had heard of essential oils in a hippie, mumbo jumbo kind of way, and I was not really buying into her new found love of doTerra. I refused to believe that a simple drop of oil would cure a headache. But one night I was desperate and I had no pills to take. I gave the oil a shot, and within 15 minutes the headache was better. Not just better, it was gone. I was floored and shocked, and still leery.

The turning point for me was with my ever cynical and to the point husband. He had a terrible headache one evening that kept him up pacing from room to room and taking pills every half hour it seemed. He finally relented and allowed me to place the oils on his temples. Within a half hour he emerged from the other room and said, "Honey, why are we not selling this already!?!"

The best part for me is to not only feel better and to be trying a safer approach by using oils, but to be working closely with my sister and friends. We have many classes and demonstrations planned and we cannot wait to share the results and photos with you. I am so glad I have given her "hippie medicine" a try! :)

That is just the first of the stories I have for you about these oils. Check the doTerra website to learn more about PastTense. You really only need a couple of drops, and it comes in a 10mL bottle with a nice roller on the top. It is usually my go to oil, not just for headaches, but for anxiety and stress. But, try it for yourself! Check our links, do the research, and try it out.... you will be so glad you did.

Cassie, knitter extraordinaire