Sews2Reap

There are so many ways to use essential oils in our daily life! I love to make my own rooms sprays, rollers, pillow sprays, and perfumes. Click through to watch on Youtube for timestamps. Step by step room spray directions  Want your own Young Living Essential Oils?   

Right now I am using Basil Vitality in many of my dishes and I thought I would share a few with you! Appetizer: This is my take on the classic tomato salad. I used fresh mozzarella and Roma tomatoes sliced and layered.  Put about 2 tsp Himalayan sea salt in a glass dish and drop one drop basil into it. Mix it well and sprinkle over the top of the prepared tomato and mozzarella. I didn't use all my salt and you may not either.  Then add cracked pepper and a bit of dried parsley. To finish, a good balsamic vinegar drizzle is nice.   Main Dish: This is a bruschetta pizza! I had a small French bread that I halved lengthwise. In a glass or metal bowl mix 1 Tbsp olive oil with a dash of salt, pepper and a drop of basil vitality  Lightly brush the cut side of the french bread with olive oil mixture Dice 3 to 4 Roma tomatoes and 1 green onion finely and add to the bowl that had the olive oil ...

This fresh light spring roll helps me stay on track and in my daily points. The recipe is super easy! I make a bunch and pack them with parchment paper between so I can snack for days or take them for lunch.  Spring Roll Recipe (1-2 points each) Spring Roll Wrappers (1 point each) Broccoli Slaw (0 points) Cole Slaw salad mix (0 points) Grilled or boiled chicken (0 points) R ice vermicelli (optional, 1 point for about .5 oz) Cilantro (this can be left out for those who don't like it) Here you can see my set up at my parent's house. I always roll on a wooden cutting board. If you look closely, you can see I bought pre-cooked chicken strips, and bagged salad. Saved loads of time chopping and cooking. I keep a skillet with hot water to soften the wrappers and set up my ingredients to make it convenient. Working quickly, first precooked vermicelli noodles, then the slaw mixes, and a strip of chicken and one or two cilantro leaves. Try to keep...

I am loving the new FreeStyle options at Weight Watchers!  Poached eggs (0 points) are my new best friend. Especially when they sit on top of a low point English muffin (2 points), avocado (2 points), and tomato (0 points)! For 4 points this is my favorite breakfast when I need something hearty. Vegan Taco Soup (fast method) ZERO points 48 oz Vegetable Broth 1 medium onion diced 1-2 tablespoons minced garlic  1 can black beans (rinse until water runs clear 1 can pinto beans 1 can petite diced tomatoes 1 can Rotel tomatoes 1 can corn 1 Tbsp chili powder 1 tsp cumin salt and pepper to taste Warm the onion on medium-low heat in the bottom of your soup pot with a few tablespoons of broth. Mix in the garlic. Then add all other ingredients until warmed through. That's it! SO EASY! Jiffy Cornbread (no egg or oil) 4 points for 1/9th of a pan 1 box Jiffy mix 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce Mix together and bake according to the directi...

Hair is sort of a big deal to me. I have always had thick hair for a blonde. But I started losing hair in my mid-forties and it freaked me out!  I immediately started researching reasons for my sudden shedding.  The main reason women around my age start losing hair is hormones. I know... Finding supplements to help me balance my body was my new mission. Well, it was super easy.  The first thing I tried was right on target, Progessence Plus. I added Endoflex a few months later to support my endocrine system and I have been a happy camper ever since in the hormone department.  After I that I began looking for good hair products that were natural, safe and nourished my dry straw-like mane. The first thing I added to my routine was Cedarwood essential oil. A few drops on my scalp after I wash my hair and a quick scalp massage and that's it! It smells amazing! Look up all the benefits for hair. I add one drop to my mascara tube along with one dro...

Are you still using synthetic fragrances, burning candles, using perfumed lotion? We have been doing a major cleanse at our house. That picture is the last thing that was hiding in a cabinet from our toxic past. Did you know that nearly every personal product, air freshener, candle, wax melt, and cleaning product contains synthetic fragrance? It is surprising that the thing that draws us in, the smell, is so dangerous to our health! We have alternatives. We diffuse true plant essential oils for fresh air and a good smelling home. Many products claim natural scent or EO infused but are actually made in a lab - same toxin, phthalates. So what is the big deal? They actually interrupt the brain/body connection. "In the past few years, researchers have linked phthalates to asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity and type II diabetes, low IQ, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered repr...

Many essential oils are plants we eat already. So it isn't surprising to use them in our cooking. There are a few things to take into consideration first. Is it a pure oil with no additives of any kind? Does the company source its oils in a way that can guarantee there were no pesticides or other toxins introduced during the process of making the oil? Essential oils are extremely concentrated. One drop of oil can compare to gallons of the plant in taste and impact. True essential oils break down in heat. The easiest way to introduce oils into your diet is water. All the citrus oils, as well as peppermint, taste great in water. I know many add a drop of peppermint to their coffee or tea as well. Experiment!  The tried and true trick is the toothpick swirl for introducing oils into dishes like dips, salad dressings and so on. Just dip a toothpick tip in the oil and swirl in the food item you are creating. Like lemon into cream cheese for a cheesecake....

Spring is time for some fresh clean light scents for the diffuser! Anything you put in your diffuser and you love could just as easily become a room spray. So think of your diffuser experiments as future room spray favorites.  My # 1 favorite blend:  I discovered this one by accident when making a recipe for a spray for my kids before they went hiking. It was to keep the creepy, crawly, bitey creatures away. It smelled so amazing! We use this on the dog too.  This next one is my preferred night time blend. It can be sprayed on pillows for a restful sleep and dropped into a bath to aid relaxation. Diffuse for relaxation or sleep.  Sage has a wonderful fresh smell!  Another orange option. I like orange! My newest diffuser. I really like it! I wanted something like my aria for my sewing room/office.