Summer is FINALLY here, (if you're in Oregon like me, winter lasted 10 months too long) - but sunny weather means all the fun posts and summertime activities. We love essential oils and all the fun DIY's and festive things that come with them, so I thought I'd share a few things I've put together recently in case you're a new member of our team or interested in what all essential oils can do.

First things first, because in the valley.. we have lots of bugs.

1.  Outdoor Spray: In a 2oz glass bottle, add 1 tablespoon witch hazel then add 10 drops Lemongrass + 10 drops Citronella (you can also use Purification) + 8 drops Lavender, top with distilled water. Shake before each use and avoid spraying on face, I prefer to spray lightly on back of the head/shirt, arms & around ankles/shoes. You can also bring that diffuser outside for to enjoy dinner on the back patio or fun in the yard.

But on the flipside for those super busy moms, (because mommin' ain't easy) Young Living just launched (literally last week!) a deet-free insect repellent that when tested by a third party was 30% MORE EFFECTIVE - and is so, so much better for you and your children than the chemical-based sprays. So there you go.. a not-DIY thing on a DIY post. ;)



2.  After Sun Spray: This one is perfect after an afternoon at the park or playing in the water. In a 4oz bottle: 1 tablespoon witch hazel + 1 oz pure aloe vera gel + 10 drops lavender + 10 drops Copaiba + 10 drops Peppermint. Mist on sunkissed skin as needed.  One of the new product launches was a spray called Lavaderm After-Sun Spray - so that makes that easy too!

3.  Sugar Scrub:  These are so fun because the possibilities are endless! The ratios that I use are 1 cup of sugar (white or brown) + 1/4 cup of oil (coconut, almond or jojoba)+ 10-12 drops of essential oil. This makes one small mason jar which should last a few weeks! Using these ratios, you can pretty much make any kind of sugar scrub using things you have on hand. A few of my favorite oil combos are Orange + Stress Away or Grapefruit + Peppermint or any of these individually. These make for super amazing gifts - triple the recipe and make a few smaller jars to give to teachers, moms, etc.

Please note to avoid peppermint if nursing and to avoid citrus oils on skin before spending time in the sun.

4.  Homemade Play-Dough: 

You will need:
1 cup of flour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup of hot water
1/2 cup of salt
1 tbsp. cream of tartar
3-5 drops of essential oil - we love using Lavender, Stress Away or Peace & Calming
+ food coloring of your choice.

Whisk together all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the hot water and oil and stir until mixture becomes thick & clumpy, once it sticks together, pull out of the bowl place on wax paper to cool. Once the playdough has cooled, add your essential oils and mix well with your hands. This is such a fun activity to do with your kids, and using calming/relaxing essential oils will provide an aromatic environment that is soothing and entertaining at the same time

4.  Beach Day Room Spray:  In a 12 oz. spray bottle, add 12 drops Grapefruit + 8 drops Bergamot + 5 drops Stress Away and top with distilled water. Mist around your home or on linens to freshen the room (from 12+ inches to make sure oil does not stain) for a summery, beachy vibe!

6.  Long Hair- Don't Care Leave-in Conditioner:  In a 2oz. glass spray bottle, add 1 tablespoon coconut milk (yes, milk ;)) + 10 drops essential oil (lavender + rosemary) and top with distilled water. Shake before each use & store in the refrigerator. 

PS. Add a few drops of Lavender to your shampoo during every hair wash to promote healthy hair growth

7.  Mermaid Hair Salt Spray: In a 4oz spray bottle combine 1 tablespoon epsom salt + 2 teaspoons organic coconut oil + 2 teaspoons aloe vera gel (the real stuff) + 5-10 drops essential oils of choice (rosemary & grapefruit* or lavender & lemon* both smell amazing!). Top with warm distilled water and shake before use. Spritz on dry hair fora "I just had a relaxing swim in the ocean" look ;)  

>>A couple notes for this recipe - you can definitely use real sea salt, however that can result in a crunchier feel and can be somewhat drying for the hair shaft. Epsom salt results in a softer, more natural wave and is gentler on hair.

>> And the * is because citrus oils are photosensitive and will lighten your hair, so omit if you'd like.



We absolutely love oils & believe that every household should have them. If you don’t already use oils & want to get learn more, you can read more over here! In this post, I talk about all the ways we use essential oils everyday and to find any of the spray bottles mentioned above, head over to My Favorite Oil Swag (scroll down the page a bit). Also, follow along on our Happy Mama Essentials instagram.

xoxo