Transition to Fall

 

My son started school and now suddenly I have more time… Well, not really as I still have the 8 month old at home. Transition into Fall has been much on my mind long before Fall started. So, wanted to share some thoughts on easing into Fall. Many a times, writing it down is often a reminder for me as much as sharing info with you all..

  1. Stillness / Meditation / Prayers – If you have not tried sitting in stillness and connecting with mediateBlog yourself/ Divine / Universe  ( what ever resonates) do it. There is so much power when you sit in that space. If you are new to meditation – Head Space app is a good one to use. This often helps to be an anchor when there is chaos.
  2. Food – I am a big advocate of eating everything fresh, grass fed or free range if you are a meat eater, from local farms if you can. Fall time is really crucial in eating seasonal produce + herbs and spices. Also, eating mindfully can be very helpful in general as it helps connect you to your body
  3. Journaling – I think journaling can declutter your brain. I also love just putting 3-5 things in my to-do list for the next day before I go to bed to help with not adding too many things to my plate. Also, it sets me up for success.
  4. Essential Oils – Using essential oils like Grounding, Frankincense, Pine, Cedarwood can be very useful in this time of transition.What are you go to’s for helping with this transition to Fall…

Can’t believe Summer is Coming To An End

Summer always goes by so fast, doesn’t it. Sorry, I have been MIA for sometime. I started getting very IMG_1836 active on Instagram and FB and the blog posts kind of fell through. Plus I really did not think my blogs were popular till someone asked me about it.  :-)

I am writing this from my NY waiting with my dad at the Cardiologist’s office waiting to get clearance for his upcoming surgery in a couple of weeks. It got me thinking about how chronic illnesses are an endemic these days. Prevention is so much better than cure. So, start now – focus on your health and wellness NOW.

On a more lighter note – summer has been great. I am finally getting a handle on having two in tow.

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The baby is a delight. I am enjoying her so much more than I did when I had Anish, not because of anything other than the fact that I am so much more a relaxed parent the second time around than the first time. All these pictures were taken when we were playing tourists in our own city of Boston. Here is wishing you all happy end of summer from our fam to you

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chemicalFreeHome

Educational Series 1


I am doing an educational series on living ‘green’ and swapping chemicals out of your home. This will include using Essential Oils and Essential Oils Infused products that you can make or get from Young Living.

I am very passionate about living a chemical free life mainly because of my husband’s cancer history and my own autoimmune disorder which had made me highly sensitive to non natural stuff..

Did you know that 26 sec after exposure, chemicals are found in measurable amounts in the human body? The average woman applies 300 chemicals to her body in a day – 80 before breakfast  mostly from personal / skin care products like shampoo’s, lotion etc. The top 10 most dangerous chemicals on our home: air fresheners like plug in’s, candles, chemical cleaning supplies, drain and oven cleaners, dishwashing soaps, beauty supplies and personal care products like shampoos, deodorant. One of the tops pollutants in the family home is laundry soap and fabric softener. It sits on your skin and outgases in your closet all night long.

So, what happens when your body is chemically overloaded? You may see it in something as catastrophic as cancer. But most of us feel it on other ways : lethargy, inability to focus, tiredness, sleep trouble, chronic inflammation, pain, skin issues, stress, fear, hot flashes. If you feel any of these, it is time to kick the chemicals to the curb. It is time to take this seriously and clean out the pollutants.

The point of all of this is not to monger fear. It is education and taking baby steps. No one is watching your home but you. You are the gatekeeper.

All right, where do we start. Start slow, start small, start reading labels. Ditch candles, plug-ins, airfresheners, dryer sheets etc. Take it one month at a time and swap out the things in your home. Simple tip with food for instance- read labels and ingredients. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.

Join me and learn alongside so many of us committed to this way of living – the age old saying “Health is Wealth” and remember that “For every oil that you use, that is a chemical you are not using”


Cleaning

Let’s start with the basics that we use every single day to clean our homes – Cleaning Supplies. We are going to focus on oils and products that we can use to clean in this series

Did you know that we can use essential oils effectively to clean ANYTHING.

Take this simple Tile and Grout cleaning recipe. Lemon is  a versatile oil which has so many uses.
Lemon EO has highly cleansing properties.

Thieves Household Cleaner :

This one item has replaced all the cleaning supplies in my home. I really can’t live without it. This is the main reason I don’t worry about my kids picking things off the floor or making sure the cabinet under the sink is locked.Try these simple recipes. #theywork


In addition, you can also add 5 drops of Pine EO to the mixture.

Or these other simple recipes

The amazing thing is that it is super cost effective in comparison. You just need a capful of Thieves Household Cleaner for a 32 oz spray bottle, costing about $1.50 a bottle. Not even the cleaners at the organic section in your grocery store can beat that along with quality. No more separate cleaners for the window, the floors, the toilet, kitchen. Just ONE item. If you would like to try a sample, contact me.

Laundry Detergent

Like mentioned above, it is one of the tops pollutants. I would highly recommend getting the Thieves Laundry Soap. It is so highly concentrated that a little goes a long way. I only use 1/4 to 1/2 a capful per load thereby stretching the usage.


If you are using dryer sheets, it is time to throw them out. They tend to be hormone / endocrine disruptors and it is better to use dryer balls instead. Add a drop of Purification or Lavender to your dryer ball and see how wonderfully smelling your clothes come out.

Hand Soaps

Did you know that the FDA has now banned Triclosan, an ingredient often found in antibaterial soaps etc. We use soaps all the time and our skin absorbs all that is in the soap. This is why I highly recommend Thieves Hand Foaming Soap which is devoid of nasty chemicals.

Dish Soap

Dish soaps often leave residue on the dishes which we then put food on. Again, Thieves has come to the rescue. I love the Thieves Dishwashing soap. It is so concentrated that a tiny bit mixed with warm water goes a long way.

Hand Sprays

Want a versatile spray that you can use anywhere specially while traveling – from cleaning hands to spraying toilet covers, try this recipe

OR

Get the Thieves Hand Spray or the Waterless Purifier for convenience. As a mama whose 3.5 year old is touching everything, I never leave home without this

Other oils that have cleansing properties are Purification, Pine, Orange, Tea Tree in addition to Thieves and Lemon EO.

I could not help share this funny graphic. I experienced it first hand when I found my preschooler with his head inside the toilet, doing what, I don’t know. I thought this graphic was funny when I first saw it, but experiencing it first hand = not so funny


How Do You Choose?

I used to buy my Lavender for $4 a bottle online or at bulk food stores. But they never had any significant impact on my body. In the US, there is no rating system for EO’s. The closest we get is an FDA requirement that ” In order for a bottle to be labeled as “pure or therapuetic grade”, it must contain at least 5% Essential Oil.

All oils fall into 4 categories
Grade A – Therapuetic, organically grown plants, distilled at low temperatures.
Grade B– Food grade, may contain pesticides, synthetic, fertilizers, carrier oils.
Grade C– Perfume oils often containing adulaterating chemicals like Hexane to gain higher yield per harvest.
Grade D – Floral Water, aromatic only and is ually a by product of Grade A distillation. After all the oil is pulled out, leftover trash water is sold to companies which will fill 5 % of the bottle with this, add carrier oil and label it pure.

Grade A is the only true pure oil, Grade D is like walking to your fridge, taking a cup of Orange juice, diluting it 95% and then drinking it.

That is why you only want Grade A – check to see if the company grows their own plants, owns their own fields, and controls their entire process from farm to sealed bottles. Pesticides, pollution, previously farmed land all affect the quality of the oil.

Young Living’s oils are Grade A. Why would you go an extra mile of using an oil to get away from a chemical – and then use an oil laden with chemicals? It makes no sense. Their Seed to Seal process makes Young Living stand out. It means each plant is hand weeded, no pesticides, no chemicals, plants are harvested at the peak, go through vigorous testing process and then go from the farm to your home. No other company I know does that.

I have done extensive research on different EO companies out there. Because I am using it on my precious children, I will not compromise on the quality. This is the main reason I chose Young Living to build my wellness arsenal.

Want to learn more? Come to one of my classes

If you are ready to get started and experience all that Young Living has to offer in terms of “wellness, purpose and abundance” in your life, then Congratulations and here is the link to get started with Young Living. Looking forward to you being a part of my team so you can access many resources including education and support.

As always, I am here in service. If there is anything I can do for any of you, please do let me know. 

With love, blessings and gratitude
Padma

MakeupLine-YL

Savvy Minerals FAQ’s

So, many folks have asked me what is different about Savvy Minerals (SM) in comparison to other mineral based make up out in the market. Here are some basic questions answered…Credit goes to Carol Gardener – A Young Living Diamond.

1. Where is SM made?
US Vendors
2. Where are the SM brushes made?
Italy
3. Is SM organic?
Because minerals are inorganic, organic labeling on mineral makeup is misleading.
4. Is there lead in the makeup?
SM goes through the same testing our Young Living oils do. The ICP test can detect any metals in the product. If there were any heavy metals, it would not pass our testing process. Lead makes its way into cosmetics vis synthetic dyes and lake dyes. SM has neither in their lip products as we use only micas to color the lips.
5. Is SM vegan?
This product is comprised of mineral-based ingredients and, therefore, is considered both vegetarian and vegan friendly. However, the lipsticks and the lip glosses have beeswax so they are not considered vegan. When the mascara is released, it will have beeswax in it too.
6. What about Mica?
Micas are how you get color from earth elements without using synthetic dyes. It limits us on colors, but it eliminates coal tar, petrochemicals and synthetics.
7. What about Titanium Dioxide?
The titanium dioxide used in SM is cosmetic grade.
8. What about Potassium Sorbate in the Misting Spray?
Potassium sorbate is a salt of sorbic acid which is naturally found in some fruits (like the berries of mountain ash). The commercial ingredient is synthetically produced creating what is termed a “nature identical” chemical (chemically equivalent to the molecule found in nature).
What it does: Two words: Fights bacteria. Most personal care products are made with a lot of water and a variety of nutrients (consider all of the natural oils and botanicals in Honest products!) which makes an incredibly hospitable breeding ground for microorganisms. What’s worse — the product might smell and look just fine, but be swarming with bacteria or fungi that are dangerous to your health.
Effective preservatives are vital for ensuring safety! Why we use it: Potassium sorbate is a food-grade preservative that has been effectively used for decades and is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) to preserve food products. Studies using dilutions similar to what’s used in body care products found it’s practically non-irritating and non-sensitizing. In fact, the toxicity of potassium sorbate is pretty close to that of table salt! What’s more, it’s included in the Handbook of Green Chemicals , it’s approved by the Natural Products Association , and is also Whole Foods Premium Body Care approved. And their standards, developed by a team of scientists over the course of years, are some of the strictest available.
9. How long does it last?
As a rule of thumb, once opened and you begin to use it, different factors contribute to the shelf life and deterioration of the pigment: humidity, light, brush cleanliness etc. Once opened, use it within 12 months. Rule of thumb for mascara once opened and used: 3 months Lips once opened and used: 6 months
11. What does “foiling” mean?
Spray the brush with the Mist, dip the brush into the eyeshadow and apply like paint. Keep applying and layering. It helps the pigment bind together so it gives a really deep dimension of the color.
12. Why does the “other” mineral makeup makes me break out in pimples?
Bismuth is a metal mineral that when worked into the pores, aggravates the pores and causes irritation and breakouts. Savvy Minerals by Young Living uses Arrowroot Powder and Kaolin Clay. Both are calming to the skin, help to absorb excess oil and moisture on the skin and make the skin feel silky smooth.
13. I’ve got a tight budget. What do you recommend if I only have $150 to spend?
Foundation 3 eye shadows misting spray 1 lipstick 1 gloss Be sure to get on Essential Rewards so you can add more makeup products each month and earn free stuff along the way.
14. How do you match foundation?
HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SAVVY MINERALS FOUNDATION FOR YOUR SKIN TONE
Mineral foundation is very forgiving. You can lighten or darken by layering the product on. And it doesn’t get “cakey” or heavy. A lot of people have three different foundation shades and use them year round. Lighter in the winter months and darker in the spring and summer months. Here are some tips for selecting the right foundation color for YOU:
  • Check Your Veins Push your sleeves up and look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. Are they blue or green? If they look more blue, you likely have cool undertones. If the veins look greenish, you’re warm.
  • The Jewelry Trick Think about whether you look better in silver or gold jewelry Typically, girls with cool undertones look better in silver and platinum metals, and warm-toned women look better in gold.
  • The Neutral Test Think about what neutral shades flatter you best. Does your skin, eyes, and face look better in bright white and black hues, or ivory, off-whites, and brown/tan shades? The former means you’re probably cool-toned, and the latter, warm.
  • Eye and Hair Color Your natural eye and hair colors can help figure out your coloring. Customarily, cool people have eyes that are blue, gray, or green and have blond, brown, or black hair with blue, silver, violet and ash undertones. Conversely, warm-toned women usually have brown, amber, or hazel eyes with strawberry blond, red, brown, or black hair. Their hair tends to have gold, red, orange, or yellow undertones.
  • The Sun’s Effects When you’re out in the sun, does your skin turn a golden-brown, or does it burn and turn pink first? If you fit into the former category, you’re warm-toned, while cool tones tend to burn. More colors will be released in the future.

SavvyFoundationColors

15. What about concealer?
If you prime your whole face with ART Renewal Serum and then ART Light Moisturizer, you will get really good flawless coverage you won’t need concealer. Use an extra dab of foundation on those areas you need a little extra coverage.
16. What about eyelid primer?
Use Best Kept Secret as your eyelid primer. Spray the eye shadow brush with misting spray, then pick up Best Kept Secret eye shadow and apply.
17. I prefer liquid foundation. What do you recommend?
Take 1-2 pumps of ART Light Moisturizer, or a little scoop of SheerLume, ART Intensive Moisturizer or Wolfberry Eye Cream and mix foundation powder to make a liquid/cream foundation.
18. What about price in comparison to other cosmetics?

Young Living Savvy Minerals (Wholesale Price):
Eyeliner-15.75
Foundation-44.00
Eyeshadow (one color)-15.25
Lip Gloss-27.50
Lipstick-22.75
Blush-27.75
Total=$153
(w/out Lipstick-$130.25; w/out Lip Gloss-$125.50)

BeautyCounter Makeup (non-consultant price):
Eyeliner-$23
Foundation (powder)-$41
Eyeshadow-$34
Lip Gloss-$29
Lipstick-$30
Blush-$40
Total=$197
(w/out Lipstick-$167; w/out Lip Gloss-$168)

Bare Minerals Makeup (Retail-only option):
Eyeliner-$17
Foundation-$28.50
Eyeshadow (Palette)-$45
Lip Gloss-$18
Lipstick-$20
Blush-$24
Total=$152.50
(w/out Lipstick-$132.50; w/out Lip Gloss-$134.50)

So, as you can see: 1.) Young Living’s makeup is NOT expensive; 2.) Hello, INGREDIENTS???  Maybe you get a tad more (like multiple eyeshadows or a duo blush pack) but I am happy to get quality over quantity.
AND BEST POINT OF ALL: Neither of these other 2 give me POINTS BACK when I order!!!! With my YL order I can add these to my Essential Rewards order, get 25% back (if you’re just starting you will get 10% and work your way up) which is $38.25 back on an order of $153!!!!! So, what does that? Does Target? Ulta? Amazon?
Just something to chew on.

Non Toxic SunScreen, Bug Spray, Baby Care

OMG! My quest to get rid of toxins in our home still hit the challenge of finding chemical free make up line, MakeupLine-YL sunscreen, bug spray and baby care products that were not full of yuck and chemicals. This is what led me to my essential oils journey as I was determined to provide a chemical free home for our family and share that with others around.
 
Guys, Young Living just fulfilled that need.
An amazing oil infused chemical free make up line that will not cause hormone disruption or tax your liver, Sunscreen, Bug Spray and, Baby care products including wipes, diaper rash cream was just released. Did I mention chemical free Sun Screen :)
Every oil that you are using is a chemical that you are not using.
See this short video on ” The Story of Cosmetics” . It is eye opening.
Oil infused products = chemical free products
 
I am so delighted.
This makes me one happy mama.
 
#noyuck #nochemicals #chemicalfreehome #happybody