<<<<<<<< I LOVE LEMONS >>>>>>>>


What a miracle fruit for your daily health!!

They contain a powerhouse of nutrients, they are refreshing, zesty and clearing.

As soon as I get up in the morning I have 2 cups of water with a whole lemon squeezed in both (zola and indie have it aswell, zola says “mummy can I have my lemon morning water please”)
Which always brings a smile to my face.

This morning water is extremely beneficial, everyone should get into the habit of 2 glasses as soon as they rise, as it helps dehydrate your body after a long night’s sleep. According to Irene Hess Oats a Medical Herbalist from Canberra, dehydration today is a killer in our society, it contributes to dis-eases such as depression, MS and Parkinson's. Adding the humble lemon to your water helps the liver to produce bile, which is a mild natural laxative. It also assists with weight loss, the pectin (fibre) in lemons forms a gel in the digestive tract, where it mops up fats, reducing their absorption therefore creating a feeling of fullness. Vitamin C in lemons can also aid weight loss, as it is required in order to produce amino acids that help the body burn fat. And it also increases your immune system.

Lemons actually originated in California and Italy. How many lemons does it take to produce essential oils........... It takes 3,000 lemons to produce one kilo of essential oil. Lemon essential oil is high in the chemical constituent limonene (along with all the other citrus oils grapefruit, orange and tangerine) Limonene is a compound with antiviral, antitumoral, anti inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Limonene increase white blood cells and inhibits various cancers. It improves memory, relaxation and circulation among soooo many other things.

Spiritually it sharpens the focus of consciousness, clarifying and uplifting the intellect. It calms, lightens and disperses confusion, easing stress and worry (must get my dad and mother in law a bottle! J) Like rose oil it can help to open the heart, by alleviating fears of emotional involvement and of losing oneself in another person.

Lemon essential oil has been known to help protect against and fight off cold sores (making sure not to go out into the sun within 24 hrs of applying as all citrus oils are photosensitive) Great for gingivitis and gum disease (same as myrrh essential oil) and for insomnia, try rubbing the soles of your feet, adding a few drops onto your pillow at night or diffusing it in your bedroom. It is also great for post exercise aches and pains, muscle stiffness and swollen ankles or feet.

I use my lemon oil in my cooking for extra flavour and neat in my water (with other citrus oils when im out and about, as its better than carrying around a knife and lemons in your bag!!!) I also put a few drops in my dishwashing water for extra sanitation along with the thieves cleaner, and clean my bench tops and chopping boards with it. A kitchen that is naturally fresh and clean. :)

A small glass spray bottle filled with water and about 10 drops of Lemon oil is a perfect addition to anyones carry bag. I find that spraying my fruit and veggies, (when I can't get organic), if I’m out and about is very handy to help rid pesicides, fungicides and any other nasties. It's also fabulous as a hand spray while your little ones are being toilet trained using public restrooms and smelly toilet blocks in parks, as it works as a great antiseptic if your kids touch yukky surfaces! Which they seem to be attracted too! 
And lastly, of course fantastic in your bathroom/toilet and car as a natural freshener. 


Yummy Vegan lemony Recipe: Buttery Lemon Oil Cookies
I baked these the other day for my first Monday Meditation Workshop and they were a hit!
This recipe is taken from Vegan with a Vengeance, Isa chandra Moskowitz (of course i added the Lemon essential oil and removed the vanilla essence)

You will need:

225g non-hydrogenated margerine, softened
75g icing sugar
175g plain flour
5 drops of lemon essential oil
2 tablesoons finely grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp salt

• In a bowl beat together margarine and icing sugar until fluffy. Add flour, beat well.
• Add remaining ingredients, mix
• Mould dough into ball, wrap in cling film and wack in fridge for about 2 hours
• Pre heat oven at about 160 degrees
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut with fun cookie cutters....
• place on tray with baking paper and into the oven for only 6 to 8 mins.
• Allow to cool and enjoy the oily goodness :) 

If you would like any other info about the wonderful lemony benefits feel free to write a comment or connect with me from the links below:

www.naturallyjoyous.com
www.facebook.com/naturallyjoyous

Wishing everybody a fabulous smiley day,

Joyous Health and Harmony,
Amy Marais**
Young Living Member 1090238

"Young Living essential oils - nature's living energy"


References: Essential Oil Desk Reference, 4th edition, 2009
                      Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Gabriel Mojay, 1997
                      The Miracle of Lemons; Dr Penny Stanway
                      Irene-Hess Oats; Medical Herbalist
                      And my own personal wonderful experiences

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any illness. For your own personal interest.
 

.......... Quality ............


Whether it's quality of life, quality goods, quality time with your kids or quality services, we would all like the highest quality, wouldn't we?

Being a relatively new mum, like most I like to make sure I have fun things to do with my girls on a daily basis. A great website by the way is www.alittlebird.com.au  for all of your kiddy needs.

Over the last few weeks it has been raining quite a bit up here in Brisbane, so I have spend a lot of time indoors! One of our favourite things to do is to get out the BIG shoe box full of crayons, pencils and stamps. (no textas yet for little flamboyant Indie). My girls have so much fun making a creative mess..... and doing some yoga moves........

Lately I have noticed that it is so important to buy quality stationary. Crayons and pencils from "the cheap shops" just don't work, snap really easily or hardly write at all.

Well, guess what... the same goes for Essential Oils!!
Cheap, dilluted or adulterated oils just don't work... (and can actually be harmful.)

Buy cheap products, get cheap results.

Most essential oils out there stating "100% pure" from supermarkets and pharmacies, are produced for the perfume industry. They are only interested in the oil's aromatic qualities, not it's therapeutic qualities. In the perfume industry, certain practices are common and acceptable, such as distilling the oil using high pressures and high temperatures in high-volume "pressure cookers" and adding chemical solvents, fillers and synthetics to produce greater quantities of oil at a faster rate. Unfortunately, all sorts of wrong practices happen in the oil industry.......

Young Living pride themselves on TRUE QUALITY starting right at the source. Every single bottle of essential oil goes through a strict process known as Seed to Seal.

In short: they know what species of seed to plant, own their own 5 farms, only ever use low-temperature, low-pressure steam distillation process. This ensures that all critical chemical constituents remain, therefore allowing it to be medicinal grade. They test every batch, before sealing and shipping it straight to us the members! No need for extra handling, marketing or advertising. No nasties added, safe, pure and perfect... 

It is so good to know where you're getting your products from, who to trust and how it is made.

My business, Naturally Joyous is full of integrity, quality and RESULTS!

So, you get the picture....... these are amazing oils. What other product can you use for your personal care, nutrition, first aid, cleaning, cooking, physical health, emotional wellbeing and as a preventative against dis-ease?


Interested in your own oils?

The Everyday oils collection is the best to kick start your healthy lifestyle.........

How I use my everyday oils:
Lemon: flavour my water and my kids water, they dont even realise that its good for their health :) Just used it last week to get a sticky tattoo off Zola's arm too!
Peppermint: make yummy choc peppermint goodies in the kitchen, and also on my girls feet if they have a bit of a high temp.
Lavender: to calm and sooth overactive sisters who rev eachother up before bed... and on Zola's burnt hand :( all heale nicely now though :)
Frankncense: is said to "deepen the breath" so, perfect for meditation or yoga and great to rub on your own or your kids chest (sinuses, bronchitis, asthma)
Peace and calming: if you're feeling a bit frustrated, anxious or stressed.... perfect.
Purification: Mozzi bites, cleansing the air and Zola and Indie's skinned knees!
Thieves: on tinny feet and in my lemony honey immune booster drink
Valor: on feet or shoulders whenever I feel 'unbalanced' or need some confidence/courage
Pan Away: after carrying my girls on my hip, on my sore shoulder and mum's arthritis.


Just a little snippet, if you would like to learn/read more...... there is a great book out called "An Aromatic Life" by ahem fabulous authors, I may be one of them :)

You can order off me... Just send me a msg via www.naturallyjoyous.com
or order at www.facebook.com/naturallyjoyous

Or request your FREE ebook: My Everyday Essential Oils by Zola aged 2!!!!

Anyway, until next time on your abundant oily adventure.......

Joyous health and harmony,
Amy**
xo

Please feel free to ask a question or leave a comment!
And thankyou for stopping by!

Changing around an old song!

Everyone has heard the song Rock a bye baby.......

Well, after you become a mother and start having fun ;) singing all of the old favs, (my personal favourites Twinkle Twinkle, Wheels on the bus & a little drawn to Row Row Row your boat) you really do get into it, especially as they get a little older and join in!

Rock a bye baby is really, not a nice song!
So I have changed the words to suit me and my gals. I had to sing it tonight over and over and over, thanx Indie, while rocking in my mums blue velvet antique rocking chair....... along with a dose of Peace and Calming on her feet and shoulders..... finally PEACE.... and time to watch Bridesmaides..... how funny is the bathroom scene by the way? We have all been there......  yes my friend I'm talking to you :)

Joyous Version of Rock a Bye Baby:::::::::::::

Rock a bye baby, on the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.

Cuddling close my baby and me,
I love you and you love me!


Young Living Essential Oils for Babies and wide awake crazy little toddlers.......

Peace and Calming essential oil blend on their little feet especially big toes.
Lavender essential oil on wrist, chest, neck or shoulders.

Megan from Bridesmaides you are just wrong...

On that note, I better try and get some needed sleep. My girls are early risers. They have actually shown me the beauty of the morning. There is a quote that I came across on my travels which i thought was enlightening to the soul.

""Waking up in the morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and look at all beings with eyes of compassion."
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Sweet Dreams,

Amy Joyous
Professional Raindrop Technique Practitioner
Young Living Member No. 1090238


While I work out how to get the full use out of Blogger.... setting up mailing list and contact form...........

Feel free to connect with me via my website - (Contact Me tab)

www.naturallyjoyous.com

If You would like more information on:

• Receiving a Raindrop Technique
• Essential oils and their uses
• Toxic free family living
• NingXia Red and natural health supplements
• How to order from Young Living

Thank you for stopping by xx

Be Inspired. Live Your Best Life.

After 2 years of talking about it, finally I have started a Blog.


My intention is to inspire, to live your best life, naturally of course. To reduce our environmental impact, be kind and care for our planet for future generations..... our little ones. To provide support, natural health education, fun recipes and awareness of toxic chemicals. This is for anyone who cares about themselves and others, for people with similar interests in a natural healthy lifestyle, my Young Living team, my family and friends (and those i have yet to meet). Please feel free to provide feedback, natural living tips and recipes for others, as id love this to be fun and interactive!

I suppose you could say that my two little girls are my inspiration (above photo, Indie infront, Zola behind)  for Naturally Joyous, my natural lifestyle business. Wanting only the best, highest quality, purest, healthiest and safest products (cleaning, personal & medicinal) for them has guided me towards the path of Young Living essential oils, natural supplements and toxic free products. Not only are they innovators in this field, they are the world leaders of essential oils. Their scientific testing and research is astounding. The way they distill oils = perfection. They own their own farms and plant their own seeds. It was an honour to attend Dr Gary Young's (Founder and President) seminars during the latest Australian convention. His knowledge, experience and wisdom of science, nutrition, natural health and the workings of the human body is mind blowing. He is that dedicated to researching the healing properties and health benefits of essential oils, that he travels to all corners of the world.... to share his love and passion. 

This year has given me a new found love of a plant based lifestyle and diet (with some exceptions, free range eggs, feta and halloumi) which just seemed to be a natural progression for me. I was mostly a vegetarian back in my uni days, much to my families disgust.... however four years later was influenced to try meat again travelling around Europe. The meat free health benefits are extroardinary, and once you start researching there is no end to what you can do with plant based ingredients. Stay tuned for some exciting yummy recipes!


2012 is also the start of living more consciously, being mindful of my thoughts (as they help create our day to day lives) and aware of my impact on planet earth. Unlike last year, after focusing souly on my daughters needs, then my husband and the state of the house, I am nourishing my own mind, body, spirit first. Cleansing, exercising, practicing yoga & meditation all on a daily bases. I now look at food in a nutritious and delicious kind of way, instead of just something to fill my tummy.

I am in no means saying that I am perfect (I do love a beer or wine occasionally) nor am I saying that this is the only way to live. There are so many beautiful personal care products out there and wonderfully creative souls, however do you really know what is in them? Have you read the ingredients? (not just the initial name) And do you know the values and background of the company?.... all really important questions to ask especially if you are smothering it all over your precious little ones. That's another reason why I have fallen in love with Young Living, they provide everything, educate you, inform you about the therapeutic benefits and provide support. A brilliant company with brilliant benefits, concerning your health, wellbeing and finances! Not just random products to buy off the supermarket shelves.....   

I love taking my health into my own hands and dont rely on marketing and advertising on TV, however tempting it is..... it really does astound me just how clever companies can be. I read labels, the ingredients on everything..... I think its the scientist in me coming out again. I love research and being inquisitive.  I have read numerous products with the words organic, chemical free, sensitive, nature, natural, pure, garden, nurture, fresh, soothing, safe, healthy choice, irritation free, dermatologically tested, and kind to your skn in big words, then I turn it over and read the ingredients, 98% of the time the second ingredient is something like sodium lauryl sulphate (petroleum derived foaming agent) or propylene glycol (chemical solvent) ... and i think to myself, here is yet another miss understood toxic product that is dressed up to look happy and safe for our little families.  


Ok so enough about that, something interesting.......


**Joyous Health


Dry Body Brushing


Who has tried this?
I have been consciously doing this every morning for three weeks, after i have my lemon juice and water, and it does feel invigorating.
Cellulite therapist and author Bronwyn Hewitt says she uses dry body brushing with her clients. "Dry body brushing helps remove cellulite, stimulate circulation, increase cell renewal, awaken the lymphatic system and remove dead skin layers" says Dr Hewitt. All of these wonderful health benefits allow the promotion of detoxification.


Sounds good doesnt it? And it is soo easy.

Of course I add some enhancing oil to my skin before I brush to get the full health benefits. My choice is Young Living lemon essential oil (when i know im not going out into the sun, as it is a photosensitive oil) or Young Living cypress essential oil. Both great for circulation.


Start with your feet and legs and work your way towards your heart in a circular motion. Then your arms, belly, back, shoulders and neck.


My daughters even have a little brush for themselves and do it with mummy,  before we all get into some yoga posers :)


Can you eat your shampoo or moisturiser?

Dr Sarah Lantz (PhD and Author of Chemical Free Kids) and Dr Gary Young (Naturopath, Author, Innovator and Founder of Young Living) both have been known to say "if you wouldn't put it in your mouth and eat it, then don't put it on your skin."


I totally agree. Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs just about everything. Its so important to know what you are putting on it. Go and have a look at your bottles and creams :) 


If you have kids like me, chances are they too have stuck moisturisers, bath gel and even household cleaners in their mouths. Both my girls have, however I didn't have to stress out or call the poisons help line as I know that ALL of Young Living's Products are safe and therapeutic. 




**Recycled Recipe!

MULTI PURPOSE SPRAY


You will need one small spray bottle (glass or stainless steel) almost filled to the top with water.
 Add - 12 drops of purification essential oil
        - a couple of shakes of bi carb soda
        - a splash of Thieves Household Cleaner
Give it a good shake and voila!


Absolutely no pesticides, fertilisers, fungisides or synthetic chemicals in my spray bottles.


USES: A deodoriser (cars, furniture, beds when toilet training)
            A body spritz (feel clean and fresh)
            Room freshener (great for the toilet)
            Mozzi Spray (at bbqs or backyards)
            Smelly pits (under arms :))

A handy spray you can use both on your body and in the toilet!!


What toilet spray do you use? Does it have a caution/poison info line)
I have seen some even say "do not inhale as it may be harmful or even fatal"???? Shouldn't they be made for inhalation? hmmm doesn't really sound safe for families. Once things are sprayed the particles spread so quickly, we all end up inhaling them.


My must have daily oil:


Frankincense   - I use this everyday for prevention.
                          - Well known oil for skin rejuvenation,
                          - I use around my eyes and over wrinkles......
                          - Also use it to be empowered and focused
                          - To increase the oxygen to my brain! 




Well that's about it for my first blog. I hope that it reached, created awareness or entertained someone :)


Stay tuned for more topics including whats in your juicer and health benefits of the lovely lemon....... 


Lets all evolve and enjoy this transformational year!


Joyous health and harmony,


Amy**
www.naturallyjoyous.com
www.facebook/naturallyjoyous

"Young Living Essential Oil's are life enhancing gifts from the plant kingdom - they are nature's living energy"




(All information in this blog is for educational purposes only. Not intended to treat, diagnose or cure a disease)