The seasonal changes have begun! The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp, and pumpkin flavored drinks are back. A sweet and spicy essential oil that pairs well with the fall season is dōTERRA’s Cinnamon Bark oil.
An unknown fact about Cinnamon Bark essential oil is that it is extracted from the bark of a tropical tree. This essential oil has many beneficial components, it can maintain a healthy immune function, it is naturally cleansing, when diffused it can protect against outdoor threats, and is a perfect ingredient in any recipe to enhance flavor. dōTERRA’s Cinnamon Bark oil is frequently diffused in my home to bring a natural warmth to air in the cooler months.
Learn about all of the uses for dōTERRA Cinnamon Bark oil here.

​Did you know that Lemon is dōTERRA’s top-selling essential oil? That’s right! The cleansing, purifying, and invigorating properties of Lemon make it one of the most versatile oils. Lemon is one of dōTERRA’s most practical oils and that is why it’s our best seller!

Do you need a little something to pick you up throughout your day? Due to the chemical makeup of dōTERRA Lemon, it has been shown to help improve mood with an energizing and invigorating aroma. If you want to diffuse Lemon oil, use three to four drops in the essential oil diffuser of your choice. You can use dōTERRA Lemon essential oil every day at work in your diffuser or in your dōTERRA Aroma Clip Diffuser in your car. ​

To learn more about dōTERRA Lemon, visit out spotlight blog here. 

I have so many tips and uses for essential oils, but in this post I wanted to share a list of Hints and Tips that I have been collecting throughout the years.

Yes, many of our everyday cleaning, spa and health needs can include essential oils. They are always my first go to. But some of these are just great ideas that I've always wanted to share. Let me know if you have some to add.

• Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little 'stringy things' off of it.
• Separate your bananas apart when you get home from the store.    If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
• Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.   It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
• Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.   Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
• To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
• Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
• Add a tsp of water when frying ground beef. It will pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
• Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
• For Deviled Eggs, put yolk mixture in a zip lock bag, cut the tip off a corner, squeeze mixture into egg Just throw bag away when done for easy clean up.
• When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You not only get to frost more cake/cupcakes, but you also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
• To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
• Wet newspapers and put layers around plants overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic. They will not get through wet newspapers.
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper around plants to keep squirrels away.
• To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge, add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to end of your vacuum hose. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
• Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and static is gone.
• Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the water, but don't dry cup. Add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
• Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth.
• If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
• Use inexpensive hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth.
• To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. The flies are drawn to the cup.
• To get rid of ants naturally and quickly, spray a little Cinnamon Oil around doors and windows or where you think ants are coming in.
• For icy door steps in freezing temperatures, get warm water and put Dawn dishwashing liquid in it.   Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.
• To remove old wax from a glass candle holder, put it in the freezer for a few hours.   Then take the candle holder out and turn it upside down. The wax will fall out.
• Crayon marks on walls? Dip a damp rag in baking soda. Comes off with little elbow grease.
• Remove permanent marker from appliances/counter tops with rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
• Remove blood from clothing with hydrogen peroxide.
• Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks. Don't wash windows on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
•  Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.      
• To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously. The salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new.
• Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces and there won't be any stains.
• Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
• When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
• Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for  future use in casseroles and sauces. 
• For splinters, put scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Or pour a drop of Elmer's Glue over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. 
• Bananas gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy, are high in iron, help with depression, high in potassium, boost brain power, high in fiber, are a natural antacid, good for morning sickness, high in vitamin B that can calm nerves, helps the body recover from nicotine withdrawal, and a soft food that is good for intestinal disorders.
• Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it.  Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing.
• To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
• Forget those expensive rust removers.  Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain.  The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

 
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1. Take one capful and hold in your mouth for 3 minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter. Same technique works for lessening toothaches.
2. Soak toothbrushes to keep them free of germs.
3. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Do not swallow.)
4. Kill germs on counters & table tops.
5. Kill bacteria on wooden cutting boards.
6. Spray 50/50 solution of peroxide and water…

• on feet to fight fungus.
• disinfect bathroom without harming septic.
• spray on wet hair and comb it through. You will not have burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights.  It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change.

7. Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 cup water. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils whenever you have plugged sinuses. It will bubble and kill bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue.
8. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.
9. Add a cup instead of bleach to whiten whites. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.
10. Mix 1 tsp. with some cream of tartar or a toothpaste that doesn't contain gel. Apply to stains. Use clean cloth to rub in, then rinse.
11. Remove pesticides from fruits and veggies. Pour ¼ cup into a sink of cold water. Place fruits and veggies in the solution and wash them off well. Rinse each piece off with tap water and dry.
12. Generously dab straight hydrogen peroxide onto skin acne two or three time a day.
13. Tilt your head and use an eye dropper to put three or four drops into an ear that has the waxy build up. Let it set for several minutes. Then let hot shower water run into ear for 1 minute.
14. Mix up 1 ounce into a cup of water and spray your houseplants. It will help your houseplants grow greener and lusher.
15. Use in Foot Bath for athlete’s foot.
16. Use as spray-on Deodorant.
17. Use on insect bites.
18. Routine hand-washing.
19. Spoon at least 2 oz. into the detergent compartment of your dishwasher along with your regular detergent. Run your dishwasher as usual to clean and disinfect your dishes.
20. Soak cuts for 5-10 minutes several times a day. Discontinue when healing begins.
21. Clean mirrors & windows.
22. Dampen cotton ball & run along keyboard of your computer to disinfect and clean keys.
23. Put two capfuls into a douche to prevent yeast infections. Some people use vinegar for this, but vinegar is toxic for Blood Type O people.
24. Keep pets healthy by adding 1 ounce per quart of non-chlorinated water.

Are you wondering how you can use Rosemary oil? While some think Rosemary is only useful for cooking, this herbal, energizing oil has uses that extend far beyond the kitchen. Keep reading to learn five easy ways to use Rosemary essential oil.

1. Use Rosemary oil for hair.
2. Cooking with Rosemary oil.
3. Diffuse Rosemary oil for an energizing midday pick-me-up.
4. Use Rosemary oil to refresh and rejuvenate.
5. Take Rosemary oil for internal benefits.*

1. Use Rosemary oil for hair. If your hair is feeling lackluster, give it some shine with a little help from Rosemary oil. Known to promote a healthy-looking scalp and an abundant-looking head of hair, Rosemary oil might be what’s missing from your current hair care routine.
So, how do you use Rosemary oil for hair? Consider adding a drop of Rosemary oil to your favorite everyday hair products to promote hair that looks full and shiny. Need more ideas? Try making this Scalp Buildup Cleanser with Rosemary essential oil to refresh the scalp without stripping your hair of its natural oils.
Scalp Buildup Cleanser
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 tablespoons water
8 drops Rosemary oil
6 drops Lemon oil
4 drops Grapefruit oil
Combine all ingredients in a small glass bowl and stir. Comb the mix through dry hair. The acids in the mix help to remove oil, dirt, or sulfate buildup naturally. Allow the mix to sit on your hair for about 20 minutes, then rinse the hair in the shower and continue with your normal shampoo and conditioner routine.