11/30/22 Begin Again, Again
I seriously have no idea what I’m doing… I started writing on this page, because it felt like the best place to sort of blog about things, but I’m not sure it’s what is right for me… I still use my oils, in fact I’m sitting in my favorite chair, breathing in the beautiful and calming scents coming from my favorite diffuser… but this isn’t the direction I want this page to go in… so, name change! I do believe that Essential Oils are actually essential to my life, but as of right now, 11/30/22, I am renaming this page of my site to AlwaysBeOpen (formerly AlwaysBeOily) … If you’re reading this, thank you for being here. And for being open! And feel free to read what came before (now below?)… yes there is a lot about how I use oils, but there’s so much more.
It’s true what you’ve heard… I love essential oils! Those little bottles of plant magic are more tools in my tool belt. Sadly, not all of life’s puzzles can be solved with glitter and a glue gun, so I am thrilled that I have options that are not only safe, but also tested, and proven to work. See my favorites and get your own!
11/1/2021 – Begin Again
A year and a half has gone by since the last time I wrote here… We are STILL living in the time of a global pandemic… There is STILL civil unrest… And we are STILL incredibly grateful to be safe. I have been busy teaching, learning new skills, making crafts (to date I have made and donated over 300 masks), starting an Etsy Store, and of course, loving my family… So why have I been so quiet?
Back in January, as we crossed into a new year, hopeful that a new president might help undo some of the wrong the last one created, I was also hopeful that I could undo some of the wrong the virus created in my own life. If you scroll down a few posts, you’ll see me reference being diagnosed with the flu when the virus was first found in my town… what I didn’t mention in the later posts was that I was still sick because, and I didn’t get this confirmed until July of 2020, I had had the corona virus. I spent months on steroids and breathing treatments. I was lucky that I never had to be hospitalized, but I still lost so much. I lost my ability to think clearly, my ability to breathe easily, and my ability to retain muscle.
I wasn’t writing, because all of my energy for the rest of 2020 was spent trying to overcome these obstacles! Teaching outside in a mask, battling heat, and decreased lung function, was beyond difficult. But beyond that, I was battling and losing my belief in myself. I’m not sure which was worse, the inability to breathe, or the inability to think. I’m a singer, so BREATHING is something I need to really have dominion over, but THINKING is critical to art, science, and the pursuit of happiness! So, I slowed down. I took up Zentangle, and diffused a lot of Breathe Again, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and of course, Thieves.
So, back to January… This is when I joined a weekly zoom group focused on empowerment. Each week we listened to podcasts, read books, discussed writing prompts, and explored our fears and desires. In February I took on the daily practice of using the Young Living Feelings Kit and created mantras that were meaningful to me, that also tapped into the frequency shift I was getting from the oils. In March I spoke to my doctor about the trouble I was having sleeping since being sick, and that I thought I had developed sleep apnea. She referred me to the sleep clinic, and in April, after testing, I was set up with a cpap type machine to help me breathe and sleep more soundly. In May, I reread my previous post, and can honestly say that I was in a much better place with how I was able to celebrate and honor my mom’s life. By June, fully vaccinated, I was able to add back seven more of my preschool classes, taking my teaching schedule back to pre-pandemic numbers! I stayed busy all summer, and when I went for my yearly bloodwork in July, we only found one thing really troubling… my insulin levels… I have been producing too much insulin for well over a decade, but my numbers doubled! Which explains the muscle loss I have been experiencing… don’t worry, I am seeing an endocrinologist at the end of November, and all of my other tests have been great! Where was I? Right! August was birthday month, and in addition to finally committing to being an adult and taking supplements, it was filled with really delightful celebrations… September both boys went back to school full time, and they are both doing great! October just ended, and other than me being tired, I really have no complaints!
I am very grateful that I was able to add my life back, one piece at a time, over the last year. I was challenged, A LOT, but I have had the incredible support of my husband, family, and friends. I can not recommend highly enough the importance of water, clean food, and oil infused supplements. I am thinking clearly again, and so, it was time to Begin Again!
5/4/2020 – Sorrow and Seeds
Yesterday was the 11th anniversary of my mother’s passing. The time between April 21st and May 3rd are always the hardest for me. My mom’s birthday was the 21st, and 11 years ago, it was also the day she had a small stroke, and learned that she had cancer. 12 days later, she was gone. My youngest son at the time was 11 months old, and I wasn’t sure I could find joy in his first birthday in June.
When I look back, I see heartbreak, and sadness, but I also see that that was the beginning of the “new normal”… The “normal” that my son has grown up with, is not the “normal” that I ever thought I would allow. For years, I was in a constant state of mourning. First, for my mom… then for a much wanted third pregnancy… then I felt crazy on fertility drugs and missed the very first signs that my son was sick… his diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, and another mourning period for all he was going to miss… then my older son started experiencing seizures, and again I was mourning for all of his challenges… then then then then… It felt like my husband and I, and our little family were just unraveling.
When my father passed in October of 2016, my younger son started having trouble at school. By this time I think I was numb. For years, I had been proving to the world that we were fine, or better than fine, because we were overcoming our heartbreaks. But between October and December of 2016, we utterly collapsed. My younger son, who was already exhausted from managing life with T1D, was now diagnosed with OCD. We described it as “Death by a 1,000 Paper Cuts”.
My little family had hit rock bottom. None of us knew what to do with ourselves. Thank goodness for the caring mental health professionals that showed up. Thank goodness for the real friends that had been on the ride with us for years, helping us fix all of those little wounds to the best of their ability. Thank goodness for the family that refused to give up, and refused to judge.
But now I get to say thank goodness that we hit rock bottom as a family. Because we were able to solidify our team, and plant the seeds for our Chosen New New Normal. I can say that the life we are living now, is because of our choices, not because of our reactions. We choose each day to clean our home with products that are non-toxic. We choose each day to wash our bodies with our Hippie Magic (as my son calls it). We choose each day to adopt an attitude of gratitude that we are able to breathe in fresh air, empowered by the plant magic that helps us.
Now, we had to plant those seeds pretty deep, and we have had to nourish their soil and be patient and consistent in our care… but now, in 2020, while the rest of the world is facing their biggest challenge, my family is like “it’s not so bad being home together… we got this!”
4/12/2020 – It’s Spring? Time to clean!
Thieves Household Cleaner is the reason that I joined Young Living. No joke! I had read so many testimonials about how this one bottle of non-toxic cleaner could be adapted to clean your entire house, well, I knew that I had to give it a try. I am a believer. Not only does it smell good, but it works in tandem with other non-toxic products, like Baking Soda, White Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide, Witch Hazel, Olive Oil, and Rubbing Alcohol! Here are a few ways I’m using Thieves Household Cleaner (THC) in my home:
Wooden Floor Cleaner: 1 capful THC, 10 drops Pine EO (optional), and 1 cup of Olive Oil. Apply with damp, not wet, mop.
Glass and Mirror Cleaner: 1 capful THC, 5 drops Lemon EO, 1 teaspoon White Vinegar, and 3 cups of water. Mix, spray, and wipe clean!
Deep Cleaning Scrub: equal parts THC and Baking Soda. Mix, scrub, wait 15 minutes, rinse!
All Purpose Cleaner: 1 capful THC and 2-3 cups of water. Mix, spray, wipe.
Heavy Duty Degreaser: 1 capful THC and 1 cup of water. Mix, spray, wipe.
Carpet Spot Cleaner: 1 capful THC and 6 cups of water. Mix, spray, blot.
3/21/2020 – House Arrest?
As we’ve all heard, COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus), has come to the United States. Here in CT, we have all been practicing social distancing for well over a week, and I’m happy to say, it’s going pretty well for us. Sadly, I was diagnosed with Flu A, on the same day that the first known case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in my hometown. It’s been a tough recovery, as my lungs have really taken a hit.
That’s why I am so glad that I have non-toxic, non-irritating, cleaning options for my family. We use Thieves Household Cleaner, along with good old fashioned options, such as Alcohol, White Vinegar, Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Witch Hazel. These products have allowed me to keep my home CLEAN, and safe for myself, my husband, my children, and my dogs.
And yes, rolling peppermint for head tension has been a life saver (coughing hurts my head), as I’ve been encouraged to go easy on over the counter painkillers while on the current medications. I’m feeling better, getting my craft on (check out my blog: tashgetscrafty), and digging in to some Spring Cleaning. I wish you all well!
2/19/2020 – Recovery Time
Here is my testimony for the day: Those little bottles of plant juice really help. This last weekend I got hit with a really bad virus. Now, since I work with children, I regularly apply an ample amount of anti-all-bad-things oil concoction. I really think that this has helped, because since I started doing this, I have seen a dramatic drop in the number of times a year that I get sick. But, lack of sleep last week left me susceptible to all those oogy boogy germs that those kids are covered in, and I got a virus. I suffer from a terribly tiny sinus cavity, which means, for the last forty years of my life, every time I would catch a little cold, it would quickly turn into a sinus infection. I would use over the counter remedies, and would still end up needing an antibiotic and weeks of recovery for the tissue burns from the nasal sprays! But not anymore! Rubbing Melrose around my ears supported my ear health. Rolling Raven on my neck supported my respiratory system. And diffusing Thieves, Oregano, and Lemon kept my nose clear and the air refreshing. I made sure to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and when I felt like I needed the extra help, I would add a decongestant. I rinsed daily with a saline wash, and Eucalyptus and Peppermint did a lot, but modern medicine has it’s place too! The moral is: oils have been around for centuries! Of course modern medicine is awesome, but it isn’t our only option. Listen to your body, and find the balance that works for you.
Always Be Crafting... 