Sometimes people are mainly seeking something to ease physical ailments from colds or respiratory troubles. Then there are those in search of help with issues I consider emotional and physical, such as challenges from menopausal symptoms. Lastly, there are scent-maniacs (like me), who love having an essential oil blend recipe tailor-made for their current mood!

I LOVE making essential oil custom blends because it is always fun and very challenging. As each of us has different scent preferences, the number of potential scent permutations is seemingly endless!

So to get your year started off on the right foot (at least for today!), I’ve listed a few of my favorite essential oil blend recipes below. But of course, the beauty of working with essential oils is they can be tweaked according to your likes, preferences and needs!

Uplift: Begamot, Clary Sage and Grapefruit
Relax: Lavender, Chamomile, Germanium, Clary Sage, Valerian
Happy: Mandarin, Blood Orange & Neroli
Sleep: Tangerine, Lavender, Sandalwood

Remember to NEVER use essential oils without diluting! These blends can be added to room diffusers, unscented lotions, soaps, etc. A little goes a LOOOOOONG way, so you don’t need to use more than 3-4 drops per 4 oz. Enjoy in health!

barbara-ann

In a 4 oz bottle, combine the following:

1/2 oz of grain alcohol (avoid the temptation to drink it;-)
3 drops blood orange essential oil (EO)
3 drops black pepper EO
3 drops cedarwood EO
3 drops bergamot EO
4 drops ylang ylang EO
4 drops rose absolute EO

Shake bottle vigorously to emulsify the EO’s and then add a 1/2 oz. of vegetable glycerine, shaking again.

Lastly, top off with your choice of rosewater, lavender water or plain ole distilled water.  And one more time: “Shake, shake, shake señora!”

The oils I chose for this mix contain sedative and / or anti-depressant properties, so every time stress approaches, just bust out the bottle, shake and and spray!  As your heart rate slows down,  close your eyes and count backwards from 10.  Life will be all good again! Since I live in Florida, where November highs are still between the mid 80’s & low 90’s, I keep my bottle in the fridge, but that’s not necessary.

BTW, this spray has many uses. Besides being used as a body spray, it can be also be used as a room and / or car freshener, a doggie odor blaster or a linen spray; and the EO anti-bacterial / anti-viral properties give it enough chutzpah to work as a hand sanitizer too – how’s that for all-purpose?!

Enjoy in health,
barbara-ann

And while I LOVE vintage, I’m not an all or nothin’ gal, so I try to create a look that works with my current wardrobe and my premium denim vice!  After all, fashion should be fun, creative and uniquely yours. 

In health,
barbara-ann

A synthesis of different cultures and styles, the enchanting Zombukis have a beauty and fashion sense that fuses futuristic and “mid 20th century modern” elements.  Her one-of-a-kind dolls  have been featured in magazines, including Dolls and Haute Doll.  Most are in private collections or featured in exhibits.  I’m going to be a Zombuki doll this Halloween, so I don’t expect to run into anyone else in the same costume!

Each month, Brigette offers a super cute giveaway on her blog.  To celebrate her 13th giveaway this month, she’s offering a beautiful autumnal orange resin Blythe Doll Necklace .  So be sure to check it out – you could be this month’s lucky winner!  And speaking of “luck”, please send me some on my costume:-)

In Health,
barbara-ann

My latest addiction (or afflication, as my husband might say) is collecting aprons circa 1930 – 1950.  Not being much of a June Cleaver-esque housemaker, I team ‘em up with jeans & boots, or skirts & flip flops.  It’s fun when people stop me to ask about them – and most have no idea I’m wearing an apron!

If you’re ever in the Tampa Bay area, be sure to stop into Buffalo Gal Vintage (BGV) for the most unique collection of finds from late 1800’s to 1970’s.  Stock includes “old new”, “new old” and everything in between.  Located in a fab vintage home, it’s filled with treasures galore for the girliest of girls (and slickest of daddy-O’s).

What makes this boutique incredibly unique is the painstaking attention to detail that Desiree (aka, Buffalo Gal) takes to ensure every piece is like new.  Unlike vintage shops that reek of musty incense, everything in BGV smells divine, like fresh linen waters from decades ago.  That’s because every vintage piece is laundered and pressed before making it into the shop.

With Halloween just around the corner, BGV is a great place to shop for a cool getup that you’ll be able to wear long beyond Halloween.  Now that’s the way to “eco-shop”!  Whether you’re into Rockabilly stylin’, Audrey Hepburn chic or Bettie Page pinup, BGV has it ALL.

And speaking of pinup, it is THE place to go for a professional pinup photography session.  There are even rumblings about burlesque dance classes, for those of you looking to cut a few moves.  The BGV website is not fully functioning just yet, but you can check out some fun photos here.

As much as I love many of the hottest eco-friendly fabrics, gorgeous clothing and talented designers, the prices are astronomical.   In the current economic climate, it just doesn’t make sense (or cents).  I believe being kind to our environment includes being socially conscious by purchasing locally and supporting small business, so have fun and do your part to repurpose, reuse and / or recycle!

In health,
barbara-ann

Its consistency is thick, with a dark brown color; the aroma is warm, earthy, musty and masculine. It is considered safe, non-irritating and non-sensitizing and is often used as a base note in perfumes and aromatics.

Vetiver is belived to have antiseptic, aphrodisiac and sedative properties, to name a few.  Considered a “grounding oil”, it is thought to decrease feelings of irritability, anger and hysteria; it has been referred to as the ‘oil of tranquility’.  Physically, it is said to balance hormones, revitalize the body, relieve physical exhaustion and ease arthritis and muscular pain.

Below is a recipe that can be used as a cologne, aftershave, room spray, linen spray, etc.  Because the scent is masculine, it is likely to be preferred by males.  But there are no rules!  So if you’re a girl and you like it, there’s no reason you can’t share it with your boyfriend, husband or daddy!

1)  In a 2-oz spray bottle, combine 1/2 oz. of grain alcohol (or vodka) with the following essential oils:

1 drop Vetiver (a little goes a loooooong way!)
1 drop black pepper
2 drops sandalwood
3 drops tangerine

2)  Shake vigorously to emulsify the essential oils

3)  Add 1/2 oz of vegetable glycerin (optional) and top off with lavender water.  Shake well and let sit for 24 hours to blend.

PLEASE NOTE:  Since this recipe contains tangerine, which is a citrus oil, I recommend wearing sunscreen after spraying this on your face and body if you intend to be outdoors.  Citrus oils are photosensitive, and although the amount used in this recipe is miniscule AND safely diluted, I still advise sunscreen.

Enjoy in health!
barbara-ann

Cinnamon Bark EO is typically extracted from the inner bark of the evergreen tree from Sri Lanka. It may help with digestive troubles and is believed to contain antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral and antifungal properties. In a previous post, I provided a recipe for an anti-viral spray, just in time for flu season, with cinnamon bark EO. Although some reports indicate cinnamon bark EO may help control blood sugar levels in diabetics, I have not personally experienced such benefits (NOTE: if you’re new to my blog, I’ve had juvenile diabetes since childhood).  It has, however, been reported to be a potential aphrodisiac because it increases blood flow in the body.  In fact, several years ago, a study found that males who woke up to the smell of hot cinnamon buns baking in the oven were more likely to wake up…ahem…aroused (sorry guys, I don’t like providing TMI in my family-oriented forum!)

As for orange EO’s, there are numerous ones available, but blood orange EO is a happy scent! It comes from Italy and is cold pressed directly from the orange peel. In my opinion, it is a warm, uplifting, fruity citrus scent that provides anti-depressive benefits; and I recommend it for males who are dealing with grief. Blood Orange EO is also believed to contain antiseptic, aphrodisiac and digestive properties. Because it is in the citrus family, there are issues with photosensitivity, so don’t apply products with blood orange EO (or any citrus EO, for that matter) to your skin and then go out into the sun. It is recommended you wait at least 12 hours before sun exposure.

I’d like to share one of my favorite room scent recipes you can make yourself…

barbara-ann’s Fall Room Scent Spray:

1) In a 2-oz spay bottle, pour 1/2-oz of grain alcohol (or vodka)

2) Add 28 drops of cinammon bark EO and 28 drops of blood orange EO.  Shake vigorously to emulsify the EO’s.

3) Top off the bottle with distilled water and shake well.  I recommend waiting 24 hours for the EO’s to meld before you start using it.

4) Shake well before each use and spritz all over the house for a some happy fall flair!

Feel free to edit the recipe to customize the recipe with your own favorite EO’s, but don’t exceed 56 drops of EO’s per 2-oz bottle. I also recommend using no more than 4 EO’s per room spray. My aromatics instructor offers a great analogy: “When drawing with color crayons, a few colors look divine together, but the combination of 100’s of colors generates conflict and detracts from the art form…”

Enjoy in health:-)

barbara-ann

Dead sea minerals are absorbed during soaking, which in turn, helps heal by stimulating blood circulation. Bathing in dead sea salt solutions may help improve the skin barrier by improving skin hydration, while reducing inflammation and coarseness. While I am not familiar with any human / clinical trials using dead sea salts, I have seen studies that have demonstrated relief for conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis, allergies and dehydrated skin.

As I find myself time crunched, I don’t get to enjoy soaking in a bath often. However, I try to do a foot soak weekly because I can just bring a pan of water, add dead sea salts and some essential oils (…all while working at my desk!) Here is a customizable recipe for a foot soak. By using specific essential oils, you can target a variety of maladies:

1) Mix 1/4 cup of dead sea salts with 5 drops of essential oil (**listed below)
2) Using a standard foot bath or dish pan, mix the salts into warm water and soak feet for 15-20 minutes.

**Use one or more of these essential oils, but do not exceed 5 drops per 1/4 cup of salts:

- For cold feet & menstrual problems, try Fragonia, Rosemary and/or Cedarwood
- For a fever, Eucalyptus and Lemon
- Got Sweaty feet? Try Juniper and Bergamot
- Hormonal Imbalances? Basil and /or Fragonia
- Pain can be eased by a mixture of Eucalyptus and Rosemary

In Health and Happiness,
barbara-ann

Three Custom Color’s (TCC) core business idea was to create a solution for the never-ending dilemma caused when your favorite lip color suddenly becomes extinct.  Just send TCC a smear of your beloved pinky-brownish-mauve on a piece of scrap paper and they will re-create the exact match for you, send you a couple of tubes and your formula stays on file for future reference.  Now that’s what I’m talking about!!!

You can pretty much send them anything – a crayon, piece of candy or inside of matchbook with a sharpie marker scribble.  If it’s a color, they can make it for you.

Men probably cannot relate to such a concept, but this is a service-oriented business that provides serious value to women everywhere.  Of course, this service garners a premium price, but for many women, it’s a small price to pay compared to the alternative!

A service that offers customized products has to offer the right mix of uniqueness, quality, convenience and value.  Intrisically, though, the biggest factor is trust.  “If you build it, they will come” won’t fly in this arena…

Customization used to be more of a “once in a lifetime” concept.  Maybe your husband might have a custom piece of jewelry crafted for your 10th wedding anniversary.

In the first half of the 20th century, it’s true that houses were much more customized.  But once you had your “dream home” built, you pretty much stayed there for the rest of your life.  Clearly, lifestyles are very different now and few people are able to, or want to, remain in once spot.  So while new homes built today are not customized as they were in the 1940’s, our transitory lifestyles may allow us to try a wider variety of home styles.  So it could be said that this is somewhat of a more customized living experience, comparitively.

Customization was also something that was generally reserved for those with deep pockets who could afford to have couture.  But you no longer need Oprah’s budget to have your very own high stylin’ stuff with your stamp all over it.  In theory, it really is a cool concept!  Narcisstic?  Perhaps.  Egotistical?  Maybe.

Having been a runner for a long time, I used to run with a clunky portable CD player that chewed through batteries faster than the speed of light.  I had to stop every half hour or so to change out batteries.  What a total pain!

These days, life is good.  I create my own playlists when it’s convenient for me and when it’s time to run, I just clip on my matchbook-size ipod and I’m good to go.  No dead batteries to change and I’m armed with enough music to last me through a marathon!

Not only that, but I also have my own customized Nike running shoes.  For days when I’m feeling high maintainence, I slip on my girly-girl pink pair.  For more typical days, my blue and green pair serves me just fine.  Either way, they’re stylized in my favorite colors with metallics and stripes where I want, whoosh-symboled my way and full of mantras and initials meaningful to ME.

The customized music provides me with a meaningful personal experience that makes my life more positive because I’m listening to something that makes me feel happy, inspired or motivated.  The resulting experience I get back from the customized music selections has a subjectively measurable benefit to me.  Most likely, the other runners I see daily probably receive similar benefits from their playlists.

But what about those customized shoes?  Despite all that personalization, we me-centrics are still wearing the same stuff.  I don’t know how it gets executed on the production line at Nike, but I do know we each chose from a set of parameters Nike provided us, meaning it still remains somewhat ”homogenized”.  In the end, we me-centrics are still just wearing Nike running shoes.  Sure, we each have our own favorite colors and markings, but running shoes are still running shoes.  The initial experience was fun, but I’m not so convinced the customization part does much for our minds, bodies or souls…