Essential Oil of the Month

December's essential oil of the month is disguised under the name "Cassia" but you many as well call it Cinnamon.  It is widely used as cinnamon, at least in the U.S.  It comes from a plant and has a stronger flavor than true cinnamon (Ceylon Cinnamon), which is the bark of a tree.  Cassia contains more coumarin than cinnamon, which can be taxing on your liver.  Otherwise, it carries the same properties, some in higher concentrations than cinnamon, hence it's widespread use as a "cinnamon oil".  It is known to be anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.*  It has become a very popular natural supplement for diabetes treatment and is being used to reduce cholesterol as well, based on some very compelling evidence from ongoing studies.  It is also being studied for use in cancer treatment and prevention.  

Cassia has a strong, spicy aroma that can be used in small quantities to transform any essential oil blend. Cassia has been used for thousands of years to maintain physical health and promote well-being.*  Due to its caustic nature, Cassia should be diluted with dōTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil when applied to the skin. It is a great oil to diffuse during cold months for its warming properties and uplifting scent. 

Uses: 
• Add one drop to citrus blends or diffuse with Clove and Ginger during fall and winter. 
•  Can be used in cooking either as a replacement for Cinnamon in pies and breads or by itself in a myriad of entrees and desserts. 
• Combine one to two drops along with Lemon in a glass of water to aid digestion or ward o­ff hunger cravings.*

You can get it for 10% off in December;  that's just $23.  Contact me via the email link to get the deal.  You can also make ordering your essential oils easy by becoming a preferred member. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

The battle of the bulge is real my friends.  I'm not a life coach or a beach body coach but I have been working hard to lose weight and get healthier this year and I don't want to lose progress going into the ski season.  All those extra calories are soooo good and soooo bad at the same time.  "I will have to do extra to stay in shape," I think to myself as I unbuckle my pants to fit another stuffin' muffin down the hatch.  

Now imagine this:  At 5am on on Cyber Monday I was sitting on my ass in front of this screen thinking about how I could be doing yoga while my family is still asleep or go for a pre-dawn walk. No motivation at all... then I found a great interactive advent calendar with little workout challenges;   Here's my sign!    I clicked open day 7 and found a 2 minute plank challenge ahead of me.  I did it!  It wasn't that hard, although it reinforced how much I need to do the extras; 24 days of extra snacks and desserts means I have to do extra workouts too.  

Follow this link to add a little extra to your holiday too.

Advent Workout Challenge

Do you get blue during the holidays?  

Do you have fears? Anxiety? Feel Stuck?  

It's okay, it's normal, and you are not alone. 

It's not about if, but when we feel this way that it is most important to reach out.  Yet, even when we have a strong support system, and especially during the holidays, we feel more isolated than ever.  Mental health issues are something EVERYONE deals with, but collectively we deny that in society.   So, we hide our shortcomings.  Ignoring our problems makes them worse.  We go deeper into the abyss, and it becomes harder to reach for help, on and on and on like this.  The shame starts in and eats a hole in our spirit. 

I hope you can find the will to reach out for help. 

 Friends are the best life coaches.  I am a huge advocate for seeing a professional counselor though.  I can tell the counselor what I feel I can't tell anyone else.  I think everyone should see a counselor.  Now there is an online outlet to see a licensed counselor.  The first 7 days are FREE too, so you can give it a try and see if it is for you.  I think this is genius.  I'd love to hear from you about what you think.

Better Help Online Counseling

Here's a testimonial from the founder of BetterHelp.com:

"Three years ago something happened in my life. I was facing significant challenges and I needed help. While searching for the right type of help for myself, I spoke with other people in similar situations. I noticed that many of them would greatly benefit from professional guidance, but they faced obstacles in getting the help they need. They felt that the current counseling solutions are too expensive, time-consuming, inconvenient, and inaccessible. Many people were also concerned by the lack of privacy and the stigma around it."  -Alon Matas