There are a lot of things that can disrupt a good night’s sleep. This is especially true during busy stressful times of the year. Tight schedules, rushing here and there to get things done, people are stressed out in general these days. After a busy day running around, you have tense muscles and to top it off, these stressful, busy days are the times when you may grab quick foods that aren’t the best option. All of this can interfere with a good night’s sleep.

We have all the felt the effects of sleep deprivation: that zombie-like feeling that consumes us the moment we roll out of bed. Our eyes are heavy, we can’t think straight, everything in a blur. Like mechanical robots, we go about our day not fully comprehending what is going on around us.

The negative effects of sleep deprivation are quickly becoming an alarming issue. According to a recent poll, 58 percent of adults in the US experience sleep problems several nights a week.

Sleep-deprived individuals find it hard to concentrate or feel productive during the day. Perhaps worst of all, more and more are driving drowsy. In fact, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 of reported crashes occur as a result of drowsiness.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important for mental health and normal functioning, but it’s pertinent for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some natural tips for a good night’s sleep during stressful times:

Keep your bedtime routine consistent.

Remove televisions, computers, phones, and unnecessary lighting.

Eliminate Caffeine and Sugar after 12 noon.

Add essential oils to your routine. Here are a few ideas:

Take a Lavender Bath – a few drops of Young Living St. Marie’s Lavender essential oil in your tub!

Put essential oils on your feet before you go to sleep. I keep RutaVaLa, Cedarwood and Lavender essential oils next to my bed so I can apply before I go to sleep.

Ruta is an oil that Gary discovered and distilled in Ecuador. VaLa stands for Valerian and Lavender. So RutaVala is a combination of Ruta, VALERIAN, and Lavender in a super awesome blend!
RutaVala 5ml, Order Code: 3419

I am so impressed with the oil blend RutaVala. If you haven’t tried it yet, I really encourage you to do so. RutaVaLa supports relaxation of the body and mind. It is wonderful for supporting a good night’s sleep. I keep a bottle of it next to my bed and use before bedtime or if I wake up in the night and can’t get back to sleep.

Gary recommended applying RutaVaLa on the brainstem is a good place to put the oil. This is the back of the neck, on the soft spot before base of skull (hits neurotransmitters) It is so calming and relaxing.

How to Use RutaVala:
-l5-20 drops in water or empty capsules. (although some people feel effect with just 2 to 3 drops in water)
-bottom of feet
-back of neck
-breathe
-put on temples
–Use with raindrop, massage, auricular application.

Layering the essential oils of Raindrop Technique on the bottom of your feet before bed time can be a nice support for restful sleep.

Since you end up going 6–8 hours without any liquid at all, drinking water throughout the day and before you hit the sack is essential to keeping yourself hydrated. Try adding Young Living Lavender Vitality essential oil to your water or herbal tea for a calming influence. Aim for an hour before bed, so you aren’t waking up in the middle of the night for a bathroom trip.

Young Living Sleep Essential Oils

Take Young Living SleepEssence 30-60 minutes before bed time. SleepEssence combines Lavender, Vetiver, Ruta and Valarian essential oils with melatonin to support a good night’s sleep.

Make a Relaxation Roll-On:

Mix 25 drops each of Valerian, Vetiver, Cedarwood, and Geranium essential oil in an empty 15-ml bottle, then fill it to the top with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or other carrier oil, then add the roller top. You can buy roller tops from Young Living. AromaGlide Roller Fitment (ITEM # 4578)

Diffuse Young Living Lavender, Stress Away, or your favorite blend of essential oils with comforting aromas as you prepare for bed. Rubbing a couple drops between your palms and brushing them over your pillow can also boost the relaxing aromas and can make jumping into a cloud of pillows and blankets feel extra luxurious.

Diffuse your favorite Valerian infused essential oil blend in the evening before retiring for bed.
Here is a diffuser blend I love:
4 drops Valerian
3 drops Lavender
3 drops Tangerine

Treat yourself to a soothing massage with Valerian essential oil after an exhausting workout or a long day at work. Valerian’s grounding aroma is also perfect for relaxing while you massage sore muscles, achy feet, or a tight neck.

Marjoram is an wonderful essential oil for relaxing muscles – and relaxing the brain. Apply 1-2 drops over the brainstem (the soft semi-circle at the base of the skull in the middle at the back) and on the temples and cup hands over nose, inhaling deeply 6-8 times.

Make a home made linen Spray by combining water and a few drops of your favorite calming essential oil in a glass spray bottle. Spray over sheets. Lavender, Peace & Calming, Tranquil are a few possibilities.

Add some relaxing oils to your nightly moisturizing routine. Combine Valerian with your favorite skin-care products for a natural yet bold scent.

Add one drop of Cedarwood and one drop of Valerian oil to a pump of body cream before applying to dry areas of the body.
Create a homemade dry-skin face serum with one drop each of Valerian, Rosemary, and Lavender, and a few drops of jojoba—or your favorite light carrier oil. Rub into your face at night to help alleviate dry skin.

Relaxing Whipped Body Butter

1 cup organic coconut oil
1 cup organic solid cocoa butter (do not use lotion)
15 drops of your favorite essential oil – Cedarwood, Lavender, Frankincense, Valarian, Tangerine, Peace & Calming, Tranquil are a few possibilities.

Warm a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, then add coconut oil and cocoa butter. Melt until completely liquefied, about 4–5 minutes.
Pour into a glass mixing bowl and place in refrigerator for 30–45 minutes to cool and just set but not harden.
Stir in essential oils.
Using an electric hand mixer, whip until firm peaks form, about 10 minutes.
Gently transfer to a seal-able jar or container. Store at room temperature to avoid melting or solidifying.

Lavender Cedarwood Essential Oils Sleep




Summer days are SO hot. What better way to cool down after a day of working or playing in the sun and heat than a delicious frozen popsicle?

Why not try some healthier popsicle recipes that your family will love.



NingXia Popsicles
1 cup Young Living NingXia Red
1/2 cup water
2 drops Young Living Vitality Orange Essential Oil
2 drops Young Living Vitality Lime Essential Oil


Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds, leaving 1/4 inch at the top for expansion. Freeze until firm.


Variations:
Tangerine Vitality, Lemon Vitality, Black Pepper Vitality, Peppermint Vitality, Cinnamon Vitality


Creamy NingXia Lemon Lime Popsicle


2 cups Young Living NingXia Red
Juice 1/2 Lemon
1 cup Coconut Milk
1/4 cup Heavy Cream
10 drops Liquid Stevia
3 drops Young Living Vitality Lemon Essential Oil
3 drops Young Living Vitality Lime Essential Oil


Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



Ginger Pineapple Popsicles with Essential Oils


12 oz. fresh pineapple, chopped
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup filtered water
1/4 cup raw honey
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
2 drops Ginger Vitality
4 drops Lemon Vitality


Directions:
Combine the pineapple, lemon juice, water, honey, and grated ginger in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Stir in Ginger Vitality oil and Lemon Vitality oil. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



Orange Cream Popsicles


1 can full fat coconut milk
1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
2 drops Young Living Vitality Orange Essential Oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 drops Liquid Stevia


Directions:
Place all ingredients in the blender and process on high speed about 60 seconds, until completely blended.
Taste, and adjust sweetening if needed. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



Creamy Lime Popsicles


1 can Coconut Milk
3/4 cup lime juice
2 drops Young Living Vitality Lime Essential Oil
10 drops Liquid Stevia


Directions:
Place all ingredients in the blender and process on high speed about 60 seconds, until completely blended.
Taste, and adjust sweetening if needed. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



NingXia Orange Popsicles


1 cup coconut water
2 cups NingXia Red
3 drops Orange essential oil


Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



Chocolate Mint Fudgesicles


1 can coconut milk
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup Erythritol (non GMO) or other healthy low-carb sweetener
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 or 2 drops Young Living Vitality Peppermint Essential Oil


Directions:
Place all ingredients in the blender and process on high speed about 60 seconds, until completely blended.
Taste, and adjust sweetening if needed. Transfer mixture to popsicle molds and freeze until firm.



Tips:
Don’t have any popsicle molds? You can use any kind of small cup to mold the popsicles. When the mixture is halfway frozen, insert a popsicle stick.
To unmold popsicles, dip the frozen molds in a warm bowl of water until the popsicles are easily removed.


Margarita Popsicles

3/4 cup sugar Or low carb sugar substitute like Swerve or Monk Fruit
3/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 drops Young Living Vitality Lime Essential Oil
1/2 cup water
2 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons tequila
2 tablespoons orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
1 lime wedge
Kosher salt, for garnish

Directions:
Special Equipment: 6 small cups, about 3 oz each, (recommended: Dixie), 6 popsicle sticks
Combine sugar, lime juice, water, lemon juice and orange juice in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool transfer to a blender with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime wedge and process until smooth. Pour into the cups and cover the top of each cup with foil. Make a slit and place the popsicle stick in center of cup (down through foil, which will hold it in place). Freeze until hard, preferably overnight.
Remove from freezer. Carefully tear the cups from around the popsicles. Garnish with kosher salt and serve immediately.

Note: Since the tequila makes these popsicles on the soft side, they must be eaten immediately. If you want to sit them out for several minutes, set them on ice sprinkled with a little coarse salt. And go ahead and sprinkle them with a little too. This will give the popsicles a few extra minutes of cold.

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These sugar free, low carb coconut cream filled candies are so tasty you would never know they were really healthy. They are made with a touch of Young Living Orange, Tangerine and Peppermint Vitality Essential Oils. My favorite are the ones flavored with Orange essential oil. Peppermint is a close second. So yummy and guilt free low carb, sugar free snacking.


4 ounces cream cheese
4 Tablespoons butter
1 cup natural sugar substitute (I used a half Monk Fruit and half Swerve)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
Several drops Young Living Vitality Essential Oils: Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime, Peppermint or other.


Chocolate Coating:
4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Ounces food grade cocoa butter
5 Tablespoons natural sugar substitute (I used powered Swerve)
1/4 tsp stevia powder (sometimes I use stevia drops)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, sweetener, and vanilla extract. Mix in the shredded coconut.
Using about one tablespoon of coconut mixture each, form into a log and set onto a parchment paper or silicon mat lined baking sheet.


Put bars into freezer while making chocolate coating.



Added a few drops of Orange Vitality Essential Oil. Couldn’t resist. 😉



In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients: cocoa powder, natural sweeteners,
In a double boiler, melt cocoa butter. Once the cocoa butter is melted, remove from heat and stir in cocoa powder mixture. Add vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth.


Remove the coconut bars from the freezer.
Place each coconut bar on a fork and dip bottom into melted chocolate. Then use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over top and sides until bar is completely covered in chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip off bottom of fork, then set on non-stick sheet to harden.
Repeat steps until each bar is covered in chocolate.
Place finished sheets of candy in refrigerator.
Let sit at least an hour then remove and place in covered container. Store in refrigerator.


Update: I decided to roll the filling into 2 logs and slice after letting them sit in the fridge. I wanted to make the disk shapes you see in the picture below.

orange-peppermint-vitality-essential-oils

Sliced into disks



Nutrition Facts:
Makes 20 low carb candy bars
Serving size: 1 bar
Calories: 255
Fat: 23 g
Net Carbs: 1
Net Total carbs: 7g
Protein: 4 g


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Ingredients

1 cup cacao nibs
1 cup Young Living’s Organic Dried Wolfberries
1 cup hemp seeds
3/4 cup coconut butter
2 tablespoons Young Living’s Blue Agave
Dash of sea salt
Dash of vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean
2 drops of a Young Living Vitality essential oil of your choice (See recommended Vitality essential oils below)

Recommended Vitality essential oils: Lemon Vitality, Cinnamon Bark Vitality, Clove Vitality , Orange Vitality, Tangerine Vitality

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a food processor except for the cacao nibs and hemp seeds. Process until completely broken down into small pieces. Add the cacao nibs and hemp seeds into the process. The cacao nibs should break down to about half their size. The hemp seeds should be visible. Form into bite-sized balls with a small ice cream scoop, place on a baking sheet, and refrigerate until firm.

This recipe was originally featured in the January 2014 issue of the Essential Edge News.

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frosted-cookies
Ingredients
Cookies

1 cup almond flour
1 cup Gary’s True Grit Einkorn Flour
1 cup natural sweetener – I used Swerve
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
3 drops Jade Lemon Vitality Essential Oil
(option: 2 cups almond flour instead of 1 cup each einkorn and almond flour)

Frosting

1/2 cup confectioners/powdered sweetener Swerve has both granular and powdered confectioners)
3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 drops Jade Lemon Vitality Essential Oil

Other oil options: lemon, orange, tangerine, lime, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, peppermint, ginger

Instructions

Cookies
Using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sweetener. Add eggs, vanilla extract and mix until combined. With the mixer running on low, slowly add baking powder, salt, einkorn and almond flour, beating well after each addition. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on baking sheet; flatten dough balls to form discs covering with plastic wrap and lightly pressing. Space cookies 2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire rack.

Frosting
Whisk together all frosting ingredients until smooth. Whisk in additional sweetener as necessary. When cookies are completely cool, spread frosting onto cookies using butter knife.

Serving size: 1 serving (Total recipe makes 16 servings)
Protein 3.65g, Fat 16.88g, Cals 170, Carbs 3.09g, Fiber 1.50g — NET CARBS: 1.59g

Gary’s True Grit Einkorn Flour

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