Rubber Duckie, You're The One!

Contrary to some {cough} negativity we've been hearing around the house, the kids and I were excited to go to Pittsburgh and see the world-renowned Rubber Duck.  We know that in the "grand scheme" of things, it's not a big deal; however, we thought it was pretty cool that this was the duck's first stop in the US.

News of the duck's first visit to the US was everywhere -- on the news, in the papers.  Most of the souvenirs were sold out with only a few days left before the duck left town.  We met up with Aunt Pat and walked down the busy city streets to Point State Park to see what the buzz was all about.

It was HUGE!  Forty feet tall and thirty feet wide to be exact.  And what about something so big, yellow and cute wouldn't put a smile on your face?  Bud was the most excited to see the rubber duck, and his anticipation grew when he could see the duck through the trees as we got closer.

For a Tuesday afternoon, there was quite a crowd hovering around the duck -- even people from other countries were there snapping photos.

 

Bud wanted to bring his rubber ducky, so he could get a picture of him, his rubber duck and the BIG duck.  (Thank you, duck, for bringing the fact that I threw out a couple bath duckies to my son's attention. {sigh}  Just when you think they'll never notice. Although in my defense, they were gross from being used as bath toys for years.)

A few, short steps away is the Point State Park fountain.  The kids enjoyed looking at the fountain which sprays water 150 feet in the air.  The wind was blowing enough to mist everyone with water.  We didn't hang around long as the weather wasn't very conducive to running around wet.

 

Thanks for joining us, Aunt Pat!  We had a great time!

Just Because He's So Stinkin' Cute!

I know I'm behind on posting, but I just had to add these pictures from the other day of Bud.  He is a real joy and can always bring a smile to my face.  Thankful for my boy.

 

This is an art project he had in school.  Wasn't sure how well it would go over with it being a messy project and all.  He had a great time.  Sound effects and all . . . "Vroom, vroom!"

 

He has such a great time that he had to make another one -- one for daddy and one for mommy.

I couldn't help but share these pictures of him and his buddy "Wee-vi".  A few Sunday nights ago they played together during choir practice before church.  About 10 minutes into the service at handshaking time, they realized . . . WE MATCH!  I finally talked them into getting their picture taken together.

 

Of course, you have to have a crazy picture too!

More About Essential Oils

* Be sure to read My Story: doTERRA Essential Oils first! *

 

I'd like to take a couple minutes to share few important facts about essential oils (EOs).

 

NOT ALL OILS ARE CREATED EQUAL

 

There is a difference in the EOs sold in today's market.  Being the highest therapeutic grade of essential oil is something that sets doTERRA above it's competitors.  The plants that doTERRA's oils are carefully extracted from are grown in their natural environments -- lemon is grown in Italy, lavender in France, frankincense in Oman.  (For a complete list, click here.)  This guarantees the purity of the oil.  Oils can be harmful if grown out of their natural habitat and will not be as effective if they are not harvested properly.  When I smelled doTERRA's peppermint oil for the first time, I was taken back at how much purer it smelled than the cheaper oil I had purchased at the store.  It has also proven to work much more effectively than the store bought brand.

 

EO's ARE MULTIFACETED

 

When you look at your stash of over-the-counter medicines, you'll see a countless number of products that only serve one purpose.  One aspect of EOs that I particularly like and appreciate is that each oil has multiple properties.  As you can see in the graphic below, one oil can replace many OTC medicines which in turn means they are effective on many ailments.  This reduces the amount of product you need to have on hand and to amount of product you need to buy.  EOs are perfectly safe to use on children; however, certain oils require dilution.

 

EOs WERE CREATED IN OUR LIKENESS

Modern day medicines are fashioned after the medicinal qualities found in plant life.  Scientists study plants and create synthetic versions which in turn give us side effects.  Essential oils' cell structures and human cell structures are very similar which is why the essential oils works so well for us. Just as the oils protect and heal the plants, they protect and heal us.

EOs HAVE SUPER POWERS

Well, maybe they don't have super powers, but they can do things that medicine can't do for us.  Ever notice when you go to the doctor with a cold or the flu and the doctor says there's nothing they can do for you?  They can only suggest rest and fluids because there is no medicine that can help get rid of a virus.  Viruses live within your cells.  Medicine cannot penetrate the cell walls, so they are not helpful.  EOs seep through the cell walls and attack the virus.  EOs are also very potent, so a little goes a long way.  To get the effects of one drop of peppermint oil, you'd have to drink 28 cups of peppermint tea.  As with all things, moderation is the key.

THEY ARE CHEAPER THAN YOU THINK

You may have heard that EOs are costly.  Initially they are a little pricey; however, you have to consider more than just the initial cost.  When you go to the doctor's office, you spend your time, your money for copays and prescriptions, not to mention exposing yourself (and your family) to other illnesses.  When you consider the price per drop, the fact that you don't have to be inconvenienced, and the fact that you aren't putting helpful but harmful products into your body, it only makes sense to use EOs.

If you have any questions about doTERRA or about essential oils in general, you can contact me via my website or via email: lottewl@juno.com.

TO GET STARTED

This intro kit is available for $26.67 on the website.  It includes three 5ml bottles (lavender, lemon and peppermint) and an introductory audio CD with suggested uses for the enclosed oils, so you can begin to experience the benefits of EOs right away. Just to show you an example of how useful these three oils can be, here's a brief list of what they can do:

Lavender - anxiety, arrhythmia, bruises, burns, calming, cuts/scrapes, diaper rash, ear infection, eczema, heat stroke, insect bites, insomnia, itching, measles, poison ivy, rash, skin allergies, stress, and sun burn.

Lemon - cleaning dishes/laundry, cough, disinfecting, gallbladder stones, gout, gum removal, kidney stones, sore throat, stains on clothes, and permanent marker removal

Peppermint - allergies, asthma, bell's palsy, chronic fatigue, congestion, diarrhea, fever, fainting, hay fever, heartburn, hypothyroidism, indigestion, joint pain, lower back pain, morning sickness, multiple sclerosis, neuralgia, poor concentration, and tension headaches.

Or . . .  for a limited time, I have free samples available on a first-come, first-served basis.  EOs have already helped others that I have shared them with.  Why not try EOs, what have you got to lose?

My Story: doTERRA Essential Oils

About a year ago, our chiropractor told us that peppermint oil was a natural product that would help our congestion and colds.  So I went to the nearest GNC store and bought some peppermint oil.  We liked how it seemed to open up our sinuses and clear our head congestion.  But I didn't have much time to research essential oils at the time.

Before I get too into my story, let me give you a brief description of essential oils.  Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants.  They have been used throughout history in many cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic benefits.  We even read of references to plants being used for medicinal purposes in the Bible.

Back to my story.  I've had stress ulcers off and on since I was 17 years old.  From November 2012 through summer 2013, I had almost constant issues with my stomach.  I had been to the doctor multiple times, had tried multiple medications, and became weary of the side effects of medicine.  I began talking with a friend of mine who was of the same mindset regarding medicine.  We both have small children and do not like pumping our kids full of over-the-counter medicine.  She was researching essential oils and began to share with me what she had learned.

Not long after that, the kids and I were in a small car accident.  I had a lot of stiffness in my neck and shoulders, but I refused to go to the doctor because I knew they would just throw a prescription for pain meds at me.  My friend shared some of her oils with me.  I used them and almost instantaneously felt relief not only from the pain but also the stiffness.  I was hooked!  If a natural remedy could work that well, I would be one happy camper.

We have since purchased a kit of the basic oils and have become wholesale members of doTERRA to take advantage of the 25% discount they offer on their products.  So as to not overwhelm everyone, I plan to periodically post our personal stories of how we have used essential oils and how they have helped us.  We've used essential oils (EOs) for everything from bug bites to infections to cleaning!

Periodically I plan to share information about doTERRA and stories of how we have benefited from using EOs in our family.  I will be adding a link to all the posts associated with EOs.  That way, they will all be in one place.

Stop back soon to hear more!  By the way, in a few short weeks I was able to stop taking both prescription medications for my stomach issues because of the relief I found in doTERRA's products.  Can't wait to tell you how . . .