A Little Note * Pure Essential Oils

Just a little note to let everyone to know I decided to start selling doTerra pure essential oils again. I use them so much for so many things from cooking & baking & candy making to making my own kitchen cleaner to helping my major migraines so I thought it might be a good idea to get them at whole sale pricing.

If anyone has ever wanted to try pure essential oils for cooking, baking or candy making they make great favor oils. I am getting the Cinnamon oil, Orange Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Wintergreen Oil for making candies for the holidays this year. I make my Lemon & Lime cupcakes with the lemon & lime pure essential oils for the flavoring. The Orange oil would be great for cupcakes and frosting too!

- I love to use the Peppermint oil in my water when I exercise. It gives me a little pick up to keep going.

- I use the Lavender on my kids pillows to help them get to sleep. Lavender helps with relaxing.

- I also love to use Melaleuca for any kind of fungal, bacteria or viral topical problems. One time my son got a staph infection from a public pool slide and the first thing I did was have him take a bath with the Melaleuca in it. It nipped the infection in the bud before we were even able to get to the Dr. the next day. It is one of my first aid must haves.

- One oil blend I always keep on hand includes the Breathe Respiratory Blend which is like vicksvapo rub but without the petrochemicals in it. I mix my Breathe oil with some coconut oil and rub on chest and the bottom of feet. It's great for colds and allergies.

- For migraines the perfect combo is mixing a couple of drops of peppermint oil with a couple of drops of lavender oil and rub on forehead temples and back of neck. I then use a heating pad/rice bag and put it on the back of my neck. Add some caffeine and a dark quite room and I feel much better.

If you want to order some pure essential oils let me know and I will place an order for you sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com subject oils


xo

P.S. If you already get oils from the health food or natural food store doTerra pure essential oils are most likely the same price or less and most likely a much better quality too. 




note-all opinions are my own.

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.

Last Days of Summer & Labor Day Weekend * Sweet Family Life

The last days of Summer are here. Most pools close after Labor Day weekend so we are getting in as much swimming as we can. We have a family pass to a local water park and my brother has a pool so we are going to spend every day this week swimming. Labor day weekend is my 40th birthday on the 4th! {More on that to come soon} I'm not sure what we are doing for my birthday yet but I'm sure I will want to go swimming one last time before all the pools close for the season.

Saturday we are planning to make some of these delicious guacamole burgers, cucumber salad, baked potato salad and some fresh salsa from our garden veggies.

What do you plan to do Labor Day weekend?

*Thanks to Neutrogena from sponsoring this post. Neutrogena is currently offering $2 off Wet Skin Sunblock  Be sure to sign up to get your coupon. 

We will be using their water proof Wet Skin sunblock spray so we can spend as much time at the pool as possible. They have a great Helioplex® formula that allows you to apply the sunblock on both dry & wet skin. It's also a broad spectrum sunblock. A few cool things about it. Neutrogena Wet Skin sunblock Applies to wet or dry skin, Sweatproof, Waterproof, Oil-free, PABA-free, has Continuous spray and is Hypoallergenic. 

I compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own.

Sweet Spa * Azalea Day Spa & Salon

Utah Valley is full of salons & spas. We are happy to bring you a selection of these spas and salons here on Sweet Life in The Valley in our new Sweet Spas in The Valley page. We will bring you mani's, pedi's, facials, cuts, colors, massages and more.

This week I visited Azalea Day Spa & Salon in American Fork. First, Azalea is an Aveda Salon. I LOVE Aveda products. Most of my makeup is Aveda. When you have a treatment at an Aveda salon you go through a nurturing aromas and ritual with pure essential oils depending on your mood and energy levels. I had the pleasure of having Holly the owner of Azalea give me one of the best facials I have ever had. Her technique was amazing! A facial is more than just a scrub and a mask. It includes warm towels wrapped around your feet, a hand and arm massage, facial massage, head massage, shoulder massage, and the  décolleté. I loved how my skin was plumped, tight, refreshed and hydrated. Just how my skin should feel after a facial.

Next, I got a much needed pedicure. It's sandal time and pedicures are a must! The pedicures are very nice. In Utah's dry weather my feet get very dry. So dry sometimes my heels will crack. The Azalea foot relief pedicure included an Aveda hydrating mask painted on my feet. It also includes a foot and leg massage. Another love is the Aveda foot relief lotion. It's free from mineral oils and natural. Yeah! I choose a pretty honeysuckle pink from OPI perfect for the beginning of Summer. Have you started your Summer pedicure schedule yet?
BONUS: First time visitors receive a gift bag full of coupons, samples & goodies.

Azalea Day Spa and Salon
741 West 100 North
American Fork, Utah
801.756.9619

Thanks to Holly & Azalea for providing these services for review. Do you own a salon or spa and would like to be included in our Sweet Spas in The Valley feature? Contact me at sweetlifeinthevalley at gmail dot com

Lifestyle * How to Make All Natural Foot Balm

After weeks of wearing sandals feet start to get dry. Here is an all natural foot balm you can make at home. It's very simple. Since school is starting why not make some for all of your kids teachers as a back to school gift. The peppermint will refresh and the lavender will relax after a long day of teaching. It also makes a great hostess gift.

You will need:

• organic coconut oil
• pure essential peppermint oil and lavender oil
• jars
• card stock paper
• glue
• ribbon
• printable labels
• decorative paper punch 

In a glass measuring cup add 1 cup of organic coconut oil. I used Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin coconut oil. Melt in microwave checking and stirring every 10 seconds. It will take no more than 25 seconds to melt completely. Add 10-15 drops of both peppermint and lavender pure essential oils. Stir in oils. Pour into glass container. Cool in refrigerator. Your all natural peppermint and lavender foot balm is now ready. 

For labels print our Sweet Life Labels like the ones pictured. 

Click here for printable labels- Foot Balm Labels. 

Cut out your labels. I use a paper cutter to get nice straight cuts. 

Using a decorative paper edge punch cut side edges of bottom label. I used my wonderful Martha Stewart Loops Edge Punch I received from Martha and her staff at the Martha Stewart Bloggers Party while I was in New York City. I really love these punches because you can line up your edge pattern and get it perfect edge every time.

Glue your labels to the glass jar as shown. 

Tie a coordinating ribbon around the top of the jar. You are now ready to give some of these as gift or keep one for your self. 

Bonus: The coconut oil in your refreshing foot balm is a natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antimicrobial which will keep your feet healthy as well as moisturized and soothed. Enjoy!

coconut oil provided by Tropical Traditions. I only write about products I love. Do you have something you think I would love email me at sweetlifeinthevalley @ gmail

Find of the Week * Natural Sunblocks

We only use natural sunblock. Since sun screen is a necessity in the Utah summer months I decided to try  some different brands and share the ones we like to use. I was looking for sun screen that uses natural ingredients rather than chemicals to protect you from the sun. Here are few of our favorites.

Badger's SPF 30 Sunscreen uses zinc oxide 

Kiss My Face Sunspray Lotion great natural spray to replace those other sprays that are full of chemicals.

Alba Hawaiian Sun has tropical botanicals added for skin care benefits and great smell.

Do you have a favorite natural sun screen, block or sun care product?

Find of The Week * 100% Pure Makeup and Skincare

You all know how I love pure natural skin care and make-up. I found 100% Pure products a while back and loved their lip glosses. I recently tried their eye shadow, body lotion and eye cream. Love love love the all natural scents that are used in the organic body lotions. My favorite thing about the eye shadows is that they are all natural and they use fruit pigment to color them. 100% Natural products are a great addition to our Sweet Home Spas.



Given a sample by vendor/agency/brand to review

Our Sweet Home Spa * Coconut Oil & Essential Oils

This...

pure essential oils
Plus This...

coconut oil
Plus this...
Plus this..Stuck Labels

= This

Body Balm!

Simply mix a few drops of the purest all natural essential oils such as doTerra oils to extra virgin coconut oil. Put it in a pretty jar then add a lovely label. You will get some very nice body balm for feet or other dry places. Add peppermint oil for a great foot rub balm. Add lavender oil for a calming message balm to help you and your children relax before bedtime. Add lemon oil for an uplifting refreshing hand and elbow balm. Hint: they make a very nice gift too. Enjoy!

Find of the Week * KT Naturals Mineral Makeup

My skin has always been very sensitive to petrochemicals and other gunky things that are often found in makeup. I look out for products that are all natural and feel light on my skin. Let's just say since I started wearing makeup 25 years ago I have tried most of the makeup out there. I like that KT Naturals Mineral Makeup is a true all natural mineral makeup. Plus here is a huge beauty secret of mine. Use an eye shadow brush {not sponge} to apply a little extra powder to conceal blemishes. Be sure to use a good quality brush. KT naturals is a good powder mineral makeup to use.

Find of The Week * Yes to Carrots * Pretty Lips

I love these new C Me Blush lip tints & C Me Shine lip glosses from Yes To Carrots. Since I hit my 30's I have said to good bye to my favorite red lipstick (feathering is not a good thing) and started wearing lip gloss for my lip color. I always look for natural products with a nice tint of color. I was excited to see that Yes To Carrots just came out with a great line of both lip tints and glosses with just the right amount of color. They are minty fresh, 95% organic, and contain all sorts of things that are good for your lips including vitamin E. Click here to find out where to get some for yourself: Yes To Carrots

P.S. I tried their Eye can C Cleary NowEye Contour Cream loved it too. Just like a lip balm for your eyes.

Visit Yes To Carrots Fan Page on Facebook

Find of The Week * Xen-Tan Bronzer

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Since I do not want to tan (I'm trying to stay wrinkle free) but like to have a sun kissed look I use a bronzer. I love this new Bronzer at Nordstroms Xen-Tan. It goes on smooth and transparent and looks natural. I have even dusted a little bit on my arms and legs just for a touch of sun highlight on them. Xen-Tan also has some self tanning products but I haven't tried them yet.

Sweet Home Spa * Pedi by Mail

It so exciting to get packages in the mail like a little bit of Christmas to brighten your day. Cultures Day Spa & Salon has a Pedicure of the Month Club that arrives in the mail. Every month they send you a pedi kit with a soak, a scrub, a balm as well as everything you need to have a spa pedicure experience at home. Each month is a different flavor such as Pear Berry, Honeysuckle Grapefruit and Fried Ice Cream. They even include a little treat to eat. I love this idea for your Sweet Home Spa. Visit the Cultures Day Spa & Salon site for details.

Fun Free Fridays Giveaway * Dr. Mom Kit * dōTERRA Essential Oils

After being asked about where to get essential oils for our All Natural Spray Cleaning Recipe we posted a little while back I decided to do a little research. I came across dō TERRA oils. I have been sitting at my desk all week inhaling my small set of essential oils from dō TERRA. I have a bottle of the lavender, lemon and peppermint right next to my laptop. Depending on how I am feeling I put a few drops into a tiny clay pot son made. I use the peppermint if I am starting to get a headache and the lemon if I need a little boost plus I love lemon. I have been rubbing a couple of drops of the lavender on my kids' necks to calm them down at bed time. I was really surprised about at all the uses for these three basic essential oils. I like dō TERRA's oils because you can use the lemon & peppermint in your cooking so when I am making my lemon cupcakes I can use this strong pure lemon essential oil to flavor it. You can use them to make your own bath sugar or salt scrubs. There are so many ways you can use these pure oils.

This we are giving away the new Dr. Mom Kit -worth $146.67- from dō TERRA. It includes a 5 ml bottle of Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Melaleuca, Oregano, Deep Blue(TM), Breathe, DigestZen(TM), and On Guard(TM).

{To Enter to Win a Dr. Mom Kit}
you must sign-up & follow all the steps to be entered to win

-Subscribe to Sweet Life in the Valley Utah Valley Provo Orem by Email

-Send me an email with doTerra as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

-Answer the question of the week: Which do Terra essential oils would you use? Click here to look at them all: doTerra

- Include your name & address

-Open to anyone is the U.S

-You have until midnight Thursday April 2nd 2009 to enter this giveaway

-Don't forget to get extra entries (not required to win but a great way to win)!

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry 1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry 2 They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters
2} Post this Giveaway on your Blog
3} Twitter about it include @sweetlifeinthe in your tweet
4} Post on Facebook


{The winners of the Dash & Diesel Onsie & Hat Sets are Ashley P & Melanie K-thanks to random.org for helping us choose our winner! note: all winners will be notified via email}

Sweet House Keeping * Spring Cleaning Fresh Scents

I have been feeling the bug to do some spring cleaning. I love to burn scented candles while I am cleaning the house, while working and getting ready in the morning. I look for clean burning candles. One of my favorite is the Sweet Grass Farms 100% cotton wicks soy candles that are fragranced with essential oils. Some of my favorite scents are the Ripe Melon, Lemon Verbena, Tangerine Bergamot and Blueberry. Don't they just sound like fresh warm weather.

Fun Free Fridays Giveaways * Baby Quasar & Baby Blue

Since January is Taking Time for Yourself in the New Year month. We are giving away another great product for Taking Care of Your Skin. The Baby Quasar is a home spa photorejuvenation tool that uses light to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, minimize pores and even out skin tone. The Baby Blue kills the bacteria that causes pimples and breakouts. To see more about how they work click here: Baby Quasar This week we are giving away a set of both a Baby Quasar & Baby Blue for one of you!

{To Enter to the Baby Quasar & Baby Blue}

-Send me an email with Baby Quasar as the subject to sweetlifeinthevalley@gmail.com

-Answer the question of the week: What color light does the Baby Quasar use click here to find the answer- Baby Quasar

- Include your name & address

-Open to anyone is the U.S

-You have until midnight Thursday Jan 29th 2009 to enter this giveaway

-Don't forget to get extra entries !

1} Refer someone & get an extra entry! We want to spread the word about Sweet Life in the Valley so if you refer someone to our giveaway & they enter you get an extra entry. 1. Send the names of the people you referred with your entry 2 They enter you get an extra entry for each person who enters
2} Write about our giveaway on your blog facebook twitter about it or other place online send me a link to your post and get an extra entry
3} Add a link on your blogroll myspace facebook or twitter about it etc and get an extra entry (if you are linked to us you get an extra entry in every giveaway -be sure to let me know you added it

{The winner of the M2 Skin Care giveaway is Carli W.-thanks to random.org for helping us choose our winner!}

Sweet Life in The Valley - Studio 5 * Taking Time for Yourself in The New Year

With children & so much more demanding our time which we give of freely and happily we need to be sure to take a little time for ourselves in this New Year. Here is a little sneak peak at what I will be presenting on the Sweet Life in The Valley Studio 5 segment on KSL 5 in Salt Lake City.

{Take a Fun Class- Taking Time to be Active}

I get bored with exercise quickly so why not take a fun class such as a yoga or dance class. Doesn't a tap dancing or ballet class sound so much more fun than walking on a treadmill? I had a chance to go over to The Academy of Ballet in Utah County to talk to the adult ballet teacher and take a few pictures of the adult class. They have classes for beginners all the way up to advanced. A good rejuvenating yoga class is also nice. It's Yoga at the Riverwoods Mall in Provo has a beautiful relaxing studio with views of Mount Timpanogos. It's Yoga practices Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga . Click on the links for details & schedules.

{Taking Time to Take Care of Your Skin}

{Baby Quasar & Baby Blue }

These two treatments have become some of my favorites for skin care. The Baby Quasar & Baby Blue are light therapy for your skin. The blue light of the Baby Blue kills acne bacteria. What more could you want. The Baby Quasar's red and infared light is used as a photorejuvenation tool for skin. It helps rebuild collagen and stimulate circulation in your skin which helps with wrinkles, fine lines, reduce pore size and hyperpigmentation.

{M2 Skin Care}

Remember this other truly amazing product I just started using is the M2 Skin Refinish.This stuff is like magic. You will see a big improvement in your skin the very first time you use it. Combined with the whole system and you have a great way to keep your skin looking great. Bonus the bottles are a generous size too.

{Taking Time to Read a Book}

Join our NEW for 2009 Facebook Sweet Life in The Valley Book Club page. This month Janurary we are reading Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore. You are welcome to join in anytime. Tell your friends and family about us too. Click here--> to join. Sweet Life in The Valley Book Club on Facebook

{Taking Time for Friends}

If you don't already take time out for your friends start today. It can be a Girls Night Out to the movies or a Lunch Group that meets every week or even a Bunco group. I am sure your friends would be happy to receive a fun invitation for a Girls Night Out. Rotate who is in charge like you do in a Bunco group so everyone has a chance to plan and host. The sweet girl's night out Bunco box, invite and prize package we are showing on Studio 5 is from Pebbles in My Pocket. They have the best ideas for much more than just scrap booking. The papers are from the new America Crafts teen collection. I love the crowns. Perfect for our Sweet Life.

Take some time out this year to " Stop & Smell the Roses". It's that what life is all about anyway! Tell us how you are taking some time out for yourself this year. Post a comment below.

Our Sweet Home Spa * M2 HP Skin Refinish

When I was asked to be a contributor on Studio 5 I thought to myself ok it is time to start thinking seriously about some skin maintenance. I have done a little here and a little there but now I need to get serious! Studio 5 was the little kick in the behind I needed. I was looking around for something that would even out my skin tone something to help shrink my pores something to smooth out my fine lines and something to firm up my skin which is inevitably starting to loose a bit of it's bounce. As I was researching I found out that I should have started this in my mid 20's so if you are reading this and think you don't need to read on think again I wish I had known. I have been using a couple of amazing skin care products one of the products I am most impressed with is the M2 HP Skin Refinishing Serum I got from SkinCareRX. The directions on the bottle were a little unclear on how to use it but this is what I did. I applied a thin layer to my entire face and left in on for about 15-20 minutes then rinsed and applied moisturizer every other day. It is sticky but believe me worth every sticky minute. From the very first application my pores were smaller and my skin was very noticeably firmer. Oh and I have less break outs too -bonus. I was wondering what would make such a big difference so quickly-it is the Mandelic Acid which is naturally antibacterial also a natural humectant that draws the moister from the air and into your skin and Malic Acid which helps exfoliate. It also contains great things like Aloe most likely the source of the stickiness and Algae. It is now forever in my Sweet Home Spa must have list. Try it you will love it!

P.S. More great products to come...

Our Sweet Home Spa * MyChelle

{MyChelle Skin Care}

I decided I want to do a new feature called Our Sweet Home Spa because there are some great body care products out there and I wanted to share some of them with you. I for the past 25 years have dealt with horribly sensitive skin. If it is not pure and natural my skin will breakout! Because of this I have tried most everything out there that has to do with skin. My very first pick is the MyChelle product line. I found this wonderful skin care line a couple of years ago at a local day spa. The products are natural free from petro-chemicals smell great & work! I have these three products in my bathroom at all times. The Fruit Enzyme Cleanser is wonderful. It cleans without feeling harsh and stripping. The Pumpkin Renewal Cream is a moisturizer that is creamy and smooth and won't plug up & smother your pores with any petr0-chemicals like mineral oil or dimethicone. For everyone with dry skin, wrinkled and crinkled and getting old skin (like me) or pimple prone skin the Incredible Pumpkin Peel is the thing you want to add to your weekly routine. It will gently take off the dead skin cells that plug pores that make more pimples and make your wrinkles look deeper. One of the best things about MyChelle is that all their products are highly concentrated and last a long time, a true sign of a quality product. Bonus you can order these products online. If you are a skeptic like me you can get a trial bag that has a bunch of small sizes to try.

{Buy MyChelle Here}

In the Valley at:

The Good Earth

online:

www.www.mychelleusa.com