Pure Essential Oils for your Headache * PastTense

Let me introduce you to my life saver. It's the doTerra PastTense- a blend of pure essential oils I use for my headaches. For me it works fast and better than pain killers. I carry it in my purse AT. ALL. TIMES. I am writing this post because I just used it on my head and the back of my neck because I had a headache coming on and wanted to stop is right way! If you get headaches give it a try.

Is there something you like to use for your headaches?

This is what doTerra has to say about it.

"PastTense dōTERRA's proprietary blend for tension and the discomforts associated with headaches, provides calming comfort with the strength of CPTG essential oils of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, roman chamomile, basil, and rosemary. Packaged for convenient application in a roll-on bottle. For aromatic and topical use."


p.s. I am an independent doTerra distributor but as always unless I believe in something and really love it I write about it other wise it wouldn't be on my blog. All opinions are my own :) 
I decided to sell doTerra pure essential oils because first, I tried them and love them and got hooked on using them for everything from making my own cleaners to adding them to my recipes to helping my headaches.  I needed to support my addiction. Second, I needed something to keep Sweet Life in The Valley thriving as in an income since I am a single mom doing it all on my own.

The NOT so Sweet Life * Severe Vitamin D Deficiancy * Very Grateful Today

1/2/3/4

Looks like I will be taking a sunny beach vacation very very soon... Dr's orders Hooray!

Today I am very very grateful for a doctor who suggested I add a vitamin D level blood test to my panel of more blood tests.

15 years of suffering is way too long. Why didn't one of the many doctors from the family practitioners (mind you more than the 3 I've seen) to the endocrinologist, to the neurologist do this test!?!!! It is such a simple blood test. It is so much cheaper than the MRI, CT Scan, Blood panels, emergency room visits, prescriptions and several visits to offices I have been to over that past 15 years. I have suffered from...

• Weight gain to the tune of 110 pounds !!! not from over eating or lack of exercise
• Migraine Headaches causing risk of stroke plus the need for strong pain meds
• Vision Problems making it hard to work and just plain see!!
• Depression & Anxiety
• Achy Joints, Muscles and Bones so bad I couldn't do anything for days at a time
• Chronic Fatigue a**holes telling me I'm just lazy
• Hypothyroid
• Memory and Foggy Brain Problems
• Loss of my period for 6 months thinking I'm going into early menopause 
• Daily Asthma Attacks requiring use of my inhaler every time I laugh
• And down right feeling like I'm going crazy!!

PLUS, this also puts me at high risk of cancer, prematurely aging bones, dementia, macular degeneration of my eyes and cardiovascular health issues such as a heart attack. 

What is this crazy thing that my OB/GYN decided to test for after all these years- Severe Vitamin D Deficiency. Guess what? I was low, very very low!

WHY DIDN'T ONE OF THE MANY DOCTORS I SAW OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS DO THIS TEST!?!? One thing I have learned over the 20 years of adulthood. Our health is in our own hands.

Guess what else!?! It's super easy to fix. I have been put on a high dose of Vitamin D via prescription from my doctor.

What do I have to do to finally feel better?

• I take 500,000 IU of Vitamin D once a week for 6 weeks then reduce the dose to maintain my levels. 
• Spend 1/2 hour a day in sun without sun block. I will be exposing my legs I prefer to keep the wrinkles away from my face as long as possible.

My level was at 16. August is the month that your vitamin D levels are suppose to be at their highest this time of the year. I can only imagine what mine are at come January. 

I took my first does of Vitamin D yesterday and I am already feeling so much better today. I will keep you all updated in 6 weeks after my therapeutic level doses are done. 

I am hoping for some weight loss (fingers crossed), no more head aches, more energy and clearer thinking and just plain feeling good again. 

If you feel like crap for any reason go get tested. It's worth it. You never know and the research has shown 1-6 people have severe Vitamin D deficiency. That is just too high not to be a regular test when someone is feeling horrible all the time.

I wrote this post because I hope no one ever has to suffer like I did for as long as I did.

 xo

April~ Living the Sweet Life

I took this photo when I was sitting on the beach along the Emerald Cost Florida

CAUTION: This is what my experience is under Doctor supervision.. Vitamin D is a oil soluble vitamin and you can OVER DOSE if you don't use it right. This is in no way a medical advise post. 

The Flora and Fauna of Vermont * Green Mountains

One of my favorite things about Vermont is that daily I am inspired and in awe of the beauty that surrounds me. I decide that one day rather than just taking a walk I would choose one thing to find on my walk. One day it was to see how many different wild flowers I could see (more that 20 in less than a mile) and another how many different ferns I could find along the trail. The photos above are a few of the different mushrooms I saw along the trail on my walk. My next goal is to take a field guide along with me so I can learn the identity of all these beautiful bits of nature.
One more thing I have observed about Vermont is that the soil is different here. Much much different than the hard dusty soil of The Valley in Utah. The soil in Vermont is loamy. It feels like a soft sponge under foot. It's so pleasant to walk on bare foot.  I'm sure it a combination of the mosses, decaying vegetation and the deep dark richness that contributes to this earthy cushion in Vermont.


xo
April-Living the Sweet Life

The Sweet Life * A Gift for You

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to attend a meeting at the LDS church headquarters for influential members of the social media. I got the chance to watch this video and could hardly wait to share it.  It is about how we treat each other. It is brilliant. It is simple. It is sweet and it is a gift to you.
xo

National Food Bloggers Bake Sale * Utah

Tomorrow is the National Food Bloggers Bake sale to help end childhood hunger. We will be raising money for Share Our Strength. Becky of Utah Loves Cupcakes will be hosting the Utah County Bake Sale at Shirley J in Orem and Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod will be hosting the Salt Lake City Bake Sale at Dan's Market. Come by and sample some of your favorite food bloggers treats. I will be making my Lemon Lime Bars and Caramel Corn.
Bonus:
The first 100 people to purchase a baked good at our sale will get a FREE cake bite from The Sweet Tooth Fairy. The first 50 people to purchase a baked good will get a FREE CUPCAKE CERTIFICATES and FREE COOKIE CERTIFICATES to the SWEET TOOTH FAIRY, Cupcake Chic, Cutsie Cakes and Dippidee!


Saturday, April 17th 
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.


Shirley J
15 East 400 South
Orem Utah



Utah County Bloggers:
Becky Utah Loves Cupcakes and Project Domestication
Traci - www.healthydealsnsteals.com and www.burntapple.com
April - Sweet Life in the Valley / Crazi Beautiful
Catherine - Farenheit 350*
Jen - Delightful Delicacies
Deborah - Taste and Tell
Sarah - Red Head Recipes
Becca - Baking Becca

Dan’s Market
1360 S Foothill Blvd
Salt Lake City Utah

Salt Lake City Bloggers:
Maria - Two Peas and Their Pod
Tiffany from Food Finery
Barbara from Barbara Bakes
Dara from Cookin Canuck'
Becky from Vintage Mixer
Krista from The Double Dipped Life
Frieda from Lovin' From the Oven
Cristie from The Table Runner
Vanessa from She Craves
Gabi from The Feast Within
Alicia from the Kitchenista
Laura from Rather Be Baking
Connie from Connie's Cookies
Ginny-she doesn't have a blog, but is baking amazing cakes for the sale:)

If you don't live in Utah or can't make it to our bake sales and would like to help us raise money, you can donate money here. Thank you so much for your support! 

Sweet Life Special Request

I would like to ask a great big favor to all of our wonderful Sweet Life in The Valley readers. It may be a week or maybe a year before I get sweetlifeinthevalley.com back. My hopes are a week.
The Favor:
If you have a blog, a facebook account, and/or twitter account could you please let everyone know they can find us at www.sweetlifeinthevalley.blogspot.com
I would be forever grateful to you all if you posted a quick post on your blogs with the link to our blogspot www.sweetlifeinthevalley.blogspot.com
When I do get sweetlifeinthevalley.com back the great thing is all the blogspot.com links will automatically re-direct to the .com
If you have ever linked to Sweet Life in The Valley in a post would you please change the link in that post.
Thanks a ton! And thanks so much for your support! I have the best readers in the whole wide world!
Back to our regular posts tomorrow.
xoxo

Here is the new button for Sweet Life in The Valley :

Get your button here

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Sweet Living * A Bit of Inspiration for Your Day

This week so far I have some across both of these amazing messages. Both lifting us up with their messages. I know you may have seen both of them already but in case you didn't, Enjoy!

Living The Sweet Life * Pioneer Woman

{photo via Pioneer Woman}

I am sure you have all heard Pioneer Woman Ree has a new cookbook out. This past week she stopped by Salt Lake City for a book signing. We were able to meet her and chat for a second and give her a basket of Utah products including Real Salt and my ever most favorite M2SkinCare. She is as sweet and down home as her blog post. The photo above is of a group of Utah bloggers with Ree in the center.
Back left to right:
Vanessa Becky Me {April} Joanie Carol Emily and Janet upfront.



Have you seen her book yet? The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl. It is filled with great recipes for the whole family. The book includes sections like Sunday Dinner, and even a Keeping it Real section- perfect for your recipe collection. Enjoy!

Shops * In The Valley * Alice Lane Home Collection

{click on each of the images to view larger- photography by me}

Recently I was able to visit Alice Lane to chat with the talented designer behind the store, Jessica. It is so refreshing to see such a wonderful transitional style shop right here in The Valley.
A little more about Alice Lane Home Collection and Jessica:

Who or what is your biggest design inspiration?
That is always changing. I still consider myself to be a student. I like to study the Style Makers -Thomas O'Brien, Vincent Wolf, Barbara Barry, Ralph Lauren... They are all originators of design. not imitators. If you're going to be a designer, I think you should offer the world some thing new, a fresh vantage point. I love hearing where they draw their inspiration from. It forces me to look at EVERYTHING differently.

Why did you decide to become an interior designer?
I was born one. It wasn't even a conscious decision I made. I studied Design in School, emphasizing in Graphics and Advertising. When I built my first home, everything I studied 10-15 years earlier came to life. 3-Dimensional design. Not trapped in my computer or on
paper it was real. It didn't stop with my home. I jumped into commercial spaces
and was starving to know everything I could about the design of Interior Spaces.

Tell us your wildest dream {now dream big} something you would love to do have or be etc :

I feel like I'm living it! I have a retail shop full of all my favorite things. I can finally offered my clients and customers everything I believe in and love. Taking it one step further, we are putting it on-line with the ability to purchase right from the web. We talk about opening multiple store fronts too. Our Customers in Vegas and California are begging us to take it further west.



Alice Lane Home can order a custom sofa. Don't you just love this white leather piece!


Custom accessories are also available. Look at all those fabrics to choose from for pillows.


I bought some of these glass nobs for my daughters closet doors to match her vanity. I may be going back to get some for door pulls on my new kitchen cabinets too.

This lamp matches my living room. I love the shade style. It is just the exact style I have had in mind for a while now.

Along with a great assortment of home accessories Alice Lane has some lovely accent chairs. Zebra print is The animal print right now.


I bought this beehive to place on my bookshelves to add to my collection of beehives. We are the Beehive State after all! Plus I love the motto of industry that goes with the beehive.

Not only is Alice Lane full of great furniture and home accessories they offer full interior design services. You go from design board to the fully finished room. The design board below is a design board they had ready for one of their clients.


Stop by to see for yourself!

Alice Lane Home Collection
1350 S. State St.
Orem, Utah
{kiddy corner from the University Mall}
801.802.6266
Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm

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Living The Sweet Life * New Posts

Have you visited my other blog Living The Sweet Life? I am posting on vintage kitchen scales today.

Living The Sweet Life * Simplehuman Trash Can

All Modern contemporary furniture -I knew I wanted to have in my new kitchen is a brushed steel trash can with a step open lid. I love the Simplehuman trash can I ordered from All Modern. Read more on Living The Sweet Life ...my other blog.

Good Neighbors * Lavender, Banana Bread and Helping Hands

Have you visited my newer blog Living The Sweet Life? Today's post is for a little bit of thanks & inspiration.

Moms Who Make It

Do you know an amazing mom who should be recognized for creating a wonderful life for herself and her family in spite of trial or situation? The Moms Who Make It conference is honoring 10 women who are Moms Who are Making It. You can nominate a wonderful mom in your life here: Moms Who are Making It. See you there.

Living The Sweet Life * Welcome Our New Sister

I would like to introduce you to our new sister-sister site that is: Living The Sweet Life. Living The Sweet Life is our Home & Garden Design Blog. My background is in interior design and photography. I have a love for design inside the home and in the garden. I enjoy both traditional as well as modern design. My dream would be to have a loft in San Fransisco with clean lines with shopping just out my front door and a beautiful country home with a wrap around porch complete with chickens and a pond. Living The Sweet Life is the place I share my finds and ideas on design. See you there!