Let's Up the Crunch Factor {An Essential Oils Giveaway}

I feel like I don't mention it on the blog a ton, but we're pretty darned crunchy at our house... Like, bake my own bread, cloth diaper, haven't bought a roll of paper towels in 5+ years, even make my own granola-type crunchy. So it kind of seemed inevitable to me that eventually I'd hop on the essential oils bandwagon - I mean, all my crunchy friends are doing it which basically means I'm going to avoid it for as long as possible.

Don't ask me why. I just like adding a little extra counter-cultural to my counter-cultural lifestyle.

I *did* make our own bug spray out of an essential oils blend + witch hazel this past summer, but I've kind of just let it go at that because there are so many types of oils, and I was kind of overwhelmed.

So when Haley asked me if I'd like to try some out, I was a little skeptical... But also kind of excited to try something out, particularly since she was just as skeptical as I was! Cold & flu season is starting out here, and it seems like we've had a constant stream of runny noses since we moved, so I jumped at the chance to try out some Thieves Oil, which I've heard is great for preventing illness (Fun fact: the name comes from the legend that a group of robbers used this particular blend of oils to protect themselves while robbing the dying in 15th century France).

It smells like fall! Part of me doesn't even care if it keeps us from getting sick, because it just smells so good! We've only been using it for a couple of weeks, so I'm not entirely sure it's doing anything for us, but I'm going to keep using it throughout the fall and winter in the hopes that it helps out - here are some ways we're using it:

Mix a couple drops with a carrier oil (coconut oil is great!) and rub on bottoms of feet if there's an illness going around (which is, um, always?)

Make your own cleaning fluid with a few drops of Thieves + water (or vinegar - we infuse ours with orange peels so it smells great!) in a spray bottle

Add a drop or two to apple cider to make a delicious spiced drink (my lips were tingling a little bit but the flavor was kind of amazing and it was so easy!)

I'm still figuring out other ways to use it - this + bone broth + elderberry syrup is basically our crunchy preventative healthcare, since "never leaving the house" is no longer an effective strategy!

Oh, and as for effectiveness? Well, John Paul has been opening the bottle and smelling it once in a while and is the only child in the family who didn't come down with the latest bug that has swept through. Only one anecdote, but I think it's worth trying this out some more!

I know a lot of my readers are essential oils masters - what else do you use and how? I'd love to hear about it! 

What do you think? Are you later to the essential oils party than I am? Interested in trying some out? You can order here to buy through Haley's link or sign up as a member - if you enroll as a member you'll get $20 off your starter kit purchase!

And one of you will get your OWN bottle of Thieves Oil (US only, please!) by entering below!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway