What is all the hype about Essential Oils?

Unless you have been hiding under a rock somewhere, you have heard of the new Essential Oil craze. WHAT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL? Used for centuries in our medicines, cleaners, and beauty products, an essential oil is a highly concentrated natural product made by distillation with either water or steam of flowers, rinds, leaves, bark and other natural products. Essential oils combine the benefits of aromatherapy with the therapeutic benefits of plant oils.
When applied to the skin (the largest organ of the human body) the tiny molecules of the oil penetrate quickly while the fatty carrier oil stays on top of the skin but allow the essential oil to penetrate slowly. Some inexpensive brands of "essential oils" are actually fatty oils with essential oils added which may not be clearly added to the label. A pure essential oil will smell like the plant, not like a candy or a cleaning product and will not be greasy.
Source: The Chemistry of Essential Oils by David Stewart

Many claims have been made about the health benefits of essential oils.  I myself have jumped on the bandwagon and use them like there is no tomorrow.  As you are doing your own research, I have a couple of things to share with you.  

#1 Be careful of your source.  Not all essential oils are equal.  Some essential oils, even the ones labeled as 100% pure, are not. Truly pure essential oils will not only cost more but when stored properly will never expire. Consider the cost basis from the fact that it takes much more of the plant constitutes to make up an oil with pure chemical qualities.  For example, it takes 75 lemons to make a 15mL pure bottle of lemon oil, or 1 pound of raw peppermint material to make one 15mL bottle of peppermint oil. Here's a link to my personal favorite oils My recommended pure essential oils

#2 Watch for drug interactions.  Essential oils will never replace a good physician.  I use a balance approach with the oils.  If my irritated throat does not go away after a few days of essential oil use, obviously I go to the doctor.

#3 Learn the lingo.  As you are reading up on oils, here's a few vocab words you should know.

Essential oils are a wonderful way to stay healthy and when used correctly, are a valuable addition to a well family.  To learn more about essential oils there are tons of resources at www.lifesciencepublishers.com . To get started using essential oils, check out my favorite, trusted oils here: my favorite oils Happy Oiling! 

ThreadUP launching new Women's Chic resale online

ThreadUp, one of my new favs written about here, is launching a new Women's re-sell online and are collecting your like new women's clothing along with children's clothing.Very simply, I requested a thead UP bag that came by mail, I double checked all the clothes I wished to sell for cleanliness and quality, I loaded up the bag, dropped it off by UPS (free postage!) and I waited for my email on how much cash I had earned. Now you can stuff it all in one bag, clothing from my kids and from my own closet.  How easy is that!
To be on the email interest list and watch the program launch, or get your gently used items in on the sale....use this link:http://lnc.hr/j0juS

Promo Code for FREE 10 Pairs of re-usable nursing pads

Here's a great deal submitted by Emily B.
Thanksgiving PROMO CODE FOR FREE 5 4-PACK (10 PAIRS) BREAST PADS!

Go to www.uddercovers.com.
Click on "Shop Now" and select the 5-pack breast pads
Once you have made your selection, you'll automatically be directed to the shopping bag.  Enter the promo code "THANKPADS" and they will deduct 100% off the cost of the breast pads - all you pay is the shipping fees!

Easy Children's Clothing Resale from your home

With the way my kids grow these days, children's re-sale shops are a great way to save my family money. Gone are the old, stinky thrift stores from our parents days that may not only cast a stench but a social stigma. Today's mom finds the newer children's clothing re-sale stores to be a great way to save money and even make a little money if you play your cards right.

Children's resale stores have quality clothing items that have been hand picked by a discerning mom who displays your child's outgrown, quality used items and merchandises them in a beautiful store setting. Not only can it be cost conscious but eco-conscience as well.

For me the issue has not been having enough good condition clothing items to sell, it's been having the time to go from one store to another...  In walks the online company threadUP.com into my life. thredUP pays you to recycle the clothing your child has outgrown and helps you shop for quality items from your own home.

Very simply, I requested a thead UP bag that came by mail, I double checked all the clothes I wished to sell for cleanliness and quality, I loaded up the bag, dropped it off by UPS (free postage!) and I waited for my email.  I was thrilled when the email came that I had $34 credit that could be cashed out or used as credit.  While I find their buying policy to be similar in pricing and standards from the stores in our area, I was thrilled to save my gas and time by not having to run around town dropping off my resale items.  It could not have been more convenient.

My lot of clean used clothing

Now I have an empty threadUP bag in my laundry room.  When I see a clothing item that is ready for re-sale, I drop it in the bag.  When my bag is filled up, I'll take it to UPS and hope for a decent payout.
If you want to give it a try,  use this link: threadup and join today for a $10 discount on your first clothing purchase. I think you're gonna love 'em!