Pests and bugs

​I love when my garden is green and lush. However the "leaf-eating" bugs also love my green and lush garden...How can you stop the bugs from attacking your plants?

Well, number one is to keep the garden area clean and free from debris and hiding places for pests.
Number two is to use chemical-free products in your garden which repel the bugs naturally. 

 Peppermint, Clove, Cedarwood, Geranium, Lemongrass, Rosemary, or Arborvitae essential oils repel bugs naturally.
I put 10 drops of any of these oils in a spray bottle with water (preferably when the weather is not very hot) and spray the areas of concern. Simple, safe and it works!

But when it comes to specifics, here’s how to get rid of three main pests:

Aphids. Use a neem oil based spray. This natural method is easy on plants, but gets rid of the aphids. Aphids can also be controlled to a certain extent by planting some “trap crops” like alyssum, dill, and yarrow around the garden that attracts the aphids instead.
Squash bugs. Squash bugs can survive cold winters and hide almost anywhere. Check for eggs on the underside of the leaves of the plants (they are usually orange in colour) and squish them before they hatch. 
Spider mites. They love dry areas and dust. Try to control by misting the plants–water bothers them. 

​

​Gluten and Sugar-Free Protein Chocolate Muffins
​
What I like about this recipe is that I can use cocoa powder.
I am a huge chocolate lover, but I don't buy commercial chocolate any more, I make my own healthy treats.

I try to incorporate many healthy chocolate treats in my day-to-day diet; without adding artificial sweeteners or sugar.
I use honey and doTERRA Cinnamon, Grapefruit and other (sweet) essential oils.

Ingredients:

2 whole eggs
1 banana
1 scoop of whey protein powder
1/2 scoop of coconut/almond/rice flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
A bit of salt
2 drops of doTERRA Cinnamon Essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly. Then put them in the oven at 175 degrees for around 15-20 minutes.

Once the mass becomes just a little sticky, take it out of the oven and let it cool in the fridge.

With zest from the citrus and delectable sweetness from blueberries and honey, these muffins are like a sunrise in your mouth.
Ingredients
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup honey
3 large eggs
1 cup orange juice
2–6 drops Wild Orange oil
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup blueberries
1 ½ cups coconut​
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F
2. Cream together butter and honey in mixer. 
3. Add eggs, orange juice, and Wild Orange oil and mix.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. 
5. Fold in blueberries, one cup coconut, and lemon juice. 
6. Place in 9x13 cake pan. 
7. Top with the remaining ½ cup coconut. 
8. Bake 30–40 minutes.  

​Classic French toast is made even better with the use of Wild Orange oil.

Ingredients
1 24-inch soft baguette or bread of choice
1 cup cracked eggs
1 cup heavy cream or 1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 drops Wild Orange oil

Buttermilk Syrup
¾ cup buttermilk
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups organic sugar or honey
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Slice baguette on diagonal.
2. Combine all other ingredients.
3. Dip bread in mix and brown on both sides in medium hot skillet. Serve warm.

Buttermilk Syrup

1. In saucepan stir together sugar, buttermilk and baking soda.
2. Bring to boil; cook for seven minutes.
3. Remove from heat stir in vanilla. Drizzle over the French toast or pancakes.

This recipe will make 20 lip balm tubes. You can always reduce the batch size by cutting the recipe in half.

Instructions

1. Line up empty containers. If using a lip balm stick, make sure it has been twisted down.
2. Measure butters and essential oils and place in glass jar.
3. Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil.
4. Once boiling, add glass jar to center of saucepan.
5. Stir every few minutes until ingredients are melted and combined. 
6. Once wax is melted, remove from heat and let sit 3 minutes then add essential oils.
7. Pour mixture into lip balm containers and let cool. 

Tip: If you want a harder lip balm, add an additional 15 grams of beeswax. For an even softer lip balm, add an additional 15 grams of coconut oil.
 
This lip balm makes a great gift and can easily be customised. Change the colour or the scent by using a variety of mineral makeup and essential oils.

This Honey Hair Mask is extremely nourishing and will leave your hair feeling soft and silky!
I use this nourishing mask every week. 

What you need:
1/2 cup Coconut Oil 
1/2 cup Raw Honey
15 drops Ylang Ylang and Cedarwood  Essential Oils

Directions:
1. In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all ingredients except essential oils.
2. Bring to medium heat and stir constantly until all ingredients are melted.
3. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4. Let the mixture cool until it starts to harden but still somewhat soft.
5. Use a hand mixer to combine all ingredients. Add essential oils.
6. Apply the hair mask, keep it on your hair for 30min-1hour.

My favourite essential oils to use are Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang, Rosemary and Geranium.

This Whipped Cocoa Body Butter is extremely nourishing and will leave your skin feeling soft! I love this nourishing cocoa body butter and use it every time after I have my bath. 
This Body Butter is great for babies or anyone with sensitive skin. You can add various essential oils to suit your taste and purpose. 

What you need:
1/3 cup Coconut Oil 
1/3 cup Shea Butter 
1/3 cup Cocoa Butter
⅓ cup Rose Hip or Almond Oil
30 drops Essential Oils

Directions:
1. In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all ingredients except essential oils.
2. Bring to medium heat and stir constantly until all ingredients are melted.
3. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
4. Let the mixture cool until it starts to harden but still somewhat soft.
5. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy. Add essential oils and whip for another minute.
6. Store in a glass jar with a lid.

My favourite essential oils to use are Lavender, Grapefruit, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood, Geranium, Frankincense, Wild Orange and Cinnamon Bark.

Famous for its distinct flavour and aroma, the lime fruit has seemingly endless applications for cooking, cleaning, personal care, and more. Much like the fruit, there are also many uses for Lime essential oil. Whether you want to add some zest to your smoothie or fill the room with an energising aroma, once you use Lime oil, it will soon become a major staple in your daily essential oil use. 

Why to use LIME essential oil? 

1. Known for its purifying properties, Lime essential oil is often used as an internal cleanser.* Lime oil may also support healthy immune function.* When you want to reap these internal benefits, consider adding a drop or two of Lime oil to your water glass or water bottle to enhance the flavor and provide antioxidant support.* If you want a flavorful drink that isn’t soda or full of sugar, you can also place a drop of Lemon and a drop of Lime oil in your water for a refreshing, sweet flavor. 
2. Looking for a flavorful side dish to take to your next party? You can always add a drop of Lime essential oil to homemade salsa to give it an extra punch of flavor.
3. Not only does Lime essential oil taste sweet, it also has a tart, citrus scent as well. This aroma is perfect for when you want to brighten a room or make your home feel clean or fresh. To utilize the smell of Lime oil around your house, try our Spring Fling Room Spray DIY. Simply combine Lemon, Grapefruit, and Lime oil with distilled water into a glass spray bottle and spray the concoction around your home or any area that could use a more cheerful scent.
4. If you are a fan of fruity or sweet drinks, Lime oil is your new best friend. Lime essential oil will add a tart, naturally sweet flavor to your favorite smoothies, or drinks. For cooling relief on a hot summer’s day, try our Non-Alcoholic Cranberry & Lime Spritzer, which uses four simple ingredients to create a one-of-a-kind taste. For another simple Lime beverage, mix up a batch of this Raspberry Limeade. This delicious summer favorite gives you all the flavor without all of the processed sugars and preservatives that are added to store-bought lemonades.
5. While the cleansing properties of Lime essential oil can be helpful for internal cleansing* or cleaning the house, you can also use Lime oil to help purify the skin and hair. Consider adding one or two drops of Lime essential oil to your face wash or shampoo to yield the benefits of added cleansing properties. To use Lime oil for hair, just combine with a few drops of Melaleuca and give yourself a scalp massage in the shower. 
6. Possibly one of the most common uses for the lime fruit is to add a tart, sweet flavor to dishes like chicken. This is also true for Lime essential oil—it can dress up any boring dinner when you are looking to add a little flavor. 

Let's summarise how to use Lime essential oil:

• Take three to four drops in a veggie capsule or in your water to support a healthy immune system
• Add a few drops to your water to use as an internal cleanser, and for enhanced flavor and antioxidant support 
• Put five to six drops on a cotton pad to help remove grease spots
• Add one drop to your facial cleanser or shampoo for added cleansing properties
• Combine one to two drops with equal amounts Melaleuca for a soothing scalp massage
• Add one drop to add a refreshing kick your homemade salsa
• Diffuse while studying and then apply to wrists again while testing on the same subjects

Check this recipe RAW LIME CHEESECAKE

3 easy ways to make your home more inviting.

1) Bring the outside inside-plenty of natural light, plants and flowers 
2) Add soft furnishings to your sitting areas-cushions, rugs, cozy throws 
3) Make sure your home smells great. There are many ways to create a deliciously scented home, depending on your preferences-use candles or essential oils

You will love this beautiful diffuser blend at your home.
If you need any of these essential oils, please visit my doTERRA website to order 
www.mydoterra.com/essentiallyinspiredanddesigned/#/

Correct-X® Essential Ointment
Essential oils have long been used to soothe, calm, nourish, and hydrate the skin. Because they are natural and pure, essential oils are good for the skin and can help soothe skin irritations, provide moisture, nourish the skin, and more. Knowing the power of essential oils for skin, doTERRA created Correct-X essential ointment to help soothe distressed skin. Filled with essential oils that have significant cleansing, purifying, and soothing properties, the Correct-X formula was designed to provide the skin with soothing relief when irritations occur. 

doTERRA Correct-X is a multi-purpose, natural ointment that helps soothe skin and enhance the natural process of skin returning to a healthy state after being distressed.

Correct-X Benefits and Uses

1. The essential oils in doTERRA Correct-X are known for their soothing properties, particularly for skin. When your skin needs soothing relief from occasional skin irritations, the Correct-X formula will provide calming for the skin, without removing any moisture. In addition to soothing the skin, Correct-X creates a moisture barrier for the skin, helping to hydrate while it soothes. If you are tired of using ointments or products that dry out your skin, give Correct-X a try, and experience the soothing, calming power of essential oils for skin. 
   
   
2. For those with sensitive skin, it can be difficult to find a product that will get rid of skin irritations, without causing other problems. Many ointments are too strong or intense for sensitive skin, so they can cause additional irritation, rather than taking irritation away. Correct-X absorbs quickly into the skin, with a gentle, non-irritating formula that is perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin. 
   
   
3. One of the greatest benefits of using essential oils for skin is that they can help give the complexion a clean, healthy-looking glow. After using Correct-X, your skin will be left with a clean, moisturized look and feeling. Because Correct-X uses safe, natural ingredients including essential oils, your pores won’t be clogged with extra toxins or fillers. As Correct-X works to reduce skin irritations and imperfections, you’ll enjoy a clean, hydrated complexion. 
   
   
4. You never know when skin irritations are going to occur, and you might not always have a bottle of essential oils on hand. Correct-X was created as a convenient, travel-friendly product that will allow you to soothe your own skin irritations as well as those of your family, no matter where you are. Keep a tube of Correct-X in your car, purse, first aid kit, or favorite travel bag to ensure that you always have the skin-correcting benefits of essential oils on hand when you need them. Correct-X can be extremely helpful during outdoor recreation, whether you are on the playground, campground, or pitching mound. 
   
   
5. The use of clean, natural ingredients in Correct-X leads to clean, smooth skin. Not only is the Correct-X formula full of skin-soothing essential oils, but it is also free of preservatives and petroleum that can be a hindrance to clear, clean skin. With only the best ingredients and pure, powerful essential oils at work, you know you can count on the doTERRA Correct-X formula to give you clean, healthy-looking skin.

Key Ingredients

Frankincense: Among its countless benefits, Frankincense oil has long been revered for its ability to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections.  

Melaleuca: Also known as Tea Tree oil, Melaleuca essential oil holds powerful cleansing properties that make it rejuvenating for the skin.  

Bisabolol: Recognized for its calming effects on the skin, Bisabolol is an important component of the doTERRA Correct-X formula. 

Helichrysum: Frequently used to reduce the signs of aging, Helichrysum oil has rejuvenating properties that help promote a healthy-looking complexion. 

Lavender: Known for its soothing properties, Lavender oil can be helpful for soothing occasional skin irritations. 

Jojoba: Because it is similar to the natural oils found in our skin, Jojoba can help provide hydration, which significantly improves the skin’s texture. 

Cedarwood: Cedarwood oil provides clarifying properties when applied topically, and can be a beneficial part of any skincare routine. 

Where can you purchase CORRECT-X® ESSENTIAL OINTMENT?

Please follow the instructions on purchasing this product, available worldwide
 www.mydoterra.com/essentiallyinspiredanddesigned/#/
​