Do you ever feel like there’s less and less time to get everything done on your to-do list? Between work, hobbies, appointments, and family time, it’s easy to skip dining at home and stop by a drive-thru instead. However, family meals at home, especially dinner, can be beneficial for your wallet, well-being, waistline, and relationships, no matter if you’re single, married, or have a family that includes children.

Here are four important reasons why you should eat at home more often:

Reason 1: To Save Money

On average, meals purchased out of the home cost two to four times more than meals prepared at home. According to Health.com, “In 2007, the average household spent $3,465 on meals at home, and $2,668 on meals away from home, according to the national Consumer Expenditure Survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you take into consideration that the $2,668 spent on meals away from home only accounts for about 30 percent of meals (according to historical data), that’s about $8 per meal outside of the home, and only about $4.50 per each meal made in your own kitchen.”

Reason 2: To Nourish Your Body

It’s no surprise that cooking at home, by and large, is healthier than dining out. According to an article on SparkPeople.com, “Meals prepared and eaten at home are usually more nutritious and healthy. They contain more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products along with additional nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and folate. Home cooked meals are usually not fried or highly salted, plus soda and sweetened beverage consumption is usually lower at the dinner table.”

Reason 3: For Your Well-being

Preparing and eating meals at home gives you the opportunity to be present and forget about work, school, and other duties. Whether you’re with family or friends, conversing and connecting around a meal is an opportunity to grow together. Even if you’re alone, time to focus on cooking and eating can be a respite from your busy lifestyle.

According to the same article on SparkPeople.com, “Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all.”

Reason 4: To Relieve Stress

If you’re cooking for yourself or for a slew of loved ones, sitting down for dinner can help relieve stress. The same article on Health.com reveals that, “. . . if you have a demanding job, finding time to eat with your family may actually leave you feeling less stressed. In 2008, researchers at Brigham Young University conducted a study of IBM workers and found that sitting down to a family meal helped working moms reduce the tension and strain from long hours at the office.”

What tips do you have for getting your family and friends together for a great meal? Share with us in the comments!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/4-reasons-not-to-skip-family-dinner-tonight/

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/all-about-eucalyptus/

No International Grand Convention experience is complete without a trip to Club Red, our NingXia Red bar where attendees can blend our superfruit supplement with their choice of pure essential oils! Feeling adventurous? Power your day with one of these five custom essential oil blends created by our Club Red “bartenders.”

Do you add essential oils to your daily shot of NingXia Red? What’s your favorite blend? Let us know in the comments!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/mix-it-up-five-club-red-ningxia-shots-to-power-your-day/

Kick up your feet and relax with the pleasant scents of Ravintsara and Aroma Siez^™!

Earn a free 5-ml Ravintsara essential oil, plus Morning Start^® Bath Shower Gel and 10 percent in Essential Rewards points with your qualifying July order. With a qualifying Essential Rewards order of 190 PV or above, you’ll also earn a bonus 5-ml Aroma Siez essential oil blend! Click here for more information or shop now!

Make the most of these valuable rewards with these easy and fun DIYs:

Ravintsara

Commonly used in meditation, Ravintsara has a pleasant, clean scent. Beloved as a single oil, it is also an important ingredient in Young Living’s Raven^™ and ImmuPower^™ blends.

• Enhance your shower with essential oils. Put 5–10 drops of Ravintsara on a warm, damp washcloth and place the washcloth in the shower (out of direct contact with the water) immediately before showering.
• Ravintsara combines well with our Eucalyptus essential oils. Craft a custom blend with Ravintsara and your favorite variety of Eucalyptus to diffuse in bedrooms.
• Add a few drops of Ravintsara to a bowl of steaming hot water. Lean your face over the bowl and drape a towel over your head and the bowl like a small tent. Breathe deeply and slowly to enjoy the aromatic steam.

Aroma Siez

A key Young Living blend, Aroma Siez features the soothing and relaxing aroma of Lavender essential oil. It is also an important part of our proprietary Raindrop Technique^®.

• After exercising, dilute Aroma Siez in V-6^™ Vegetable Oil Complex for use in massage.
• Enjoy the soothing, relaxing scent of Aroma Siez by diluting and massaging it into the back of the neck.
• Dilute Aroma Siez and massage it into feet after a long day.

How will you use the free Ravintsara and Aroma Siez essential oils in your qualifying July order? Let us know in the comments!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/refresh-and-relax-with-julys-exclusive-rewards/

On March 9, 2015, Young Living Founder and CEO D. Gary Young distilled Black Spruce essential oil for the first time at our Northern Lights farm. Join Gary at the first distillation in this up-close look at the Seed to Seal^® process in action. Be sure to join our giveaway by answering the question below!

What does Seed to Seal mean to you? Tell us in the comments and you could win the Northern Lights Black Spruce Special Edition Kit No. 11 valued at $197.37! The winner will be selected randomly and announced on Monday, June 29. Click here for official rules.

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/northern-lights-black-spruce-seed-to-seal-in-action/

Melissa Poepping is a Young Living Crown Diamond who lives on a busy little hobby farm in central Minnesota with her husband and three children. They have been using essential oils since 1998 and began using oils in their everyday lives in 2005 after welcoming their first child to the family. Essential oils have found the way into every aspect of their daily lives and into every corner of their home.

Melissa recently hosted her annual Spirit of Wellness Event in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where more than 600 members were in attendance and raised $31,000 for the D. Gary Young Foundation. After witnessing the enormous impact Melissa has on those around her, we wanted to spend a few minutes with her to learn more about her journey with Young Living.

“I believe our circumstances in life do not determine our success. Anyone can live their life by design.”

How did essential oils make an impact on you and your career?

I was working 70–75 hours a week as a mortgage broker for 10 years in an intense, high-stress environment. I took the work and the stress home with me every day, and it started taking a toll on me physically and emotionally. A friend introduced me to essential oils, and I began to implement them into my daily life. After the birth of my first child in 2005, I realized I couldn’t leave her and go back to work. I became acutely aware of everything in our home and sought out ways to create the best possible environment for her. As I began to use more Young Living oils and products in my home, I felt an emotional connection. I realized I could provide income for my family while doing something I loved and believed in.

What was the greatest challenge you faced as you started your business?

My own fears were my greatest obstacle. For the first few years after my daughter’s birth, I tried a variety of work-at-home jobs. In the summer of 2010, I took a leap of faith and decided to give Young Living 100 percent of my time and eliminated everything else. I had to step out in faith and face my fears. As soon as I let go and trusted, my whole way of thinking changed. When my focus was solely on making money, I struggled and found myself stuck. So I began imagining myself having financial freedom and asking myself, “How would a Diamond do this?” That’s when everything began to change.

Where many would find defeat in challenge, I found opportunity. It’s nothing short of breathtaking what happens when you begin to realize and achieve new visions, new goals, and new dreams by believing in your highest potential. In November 2014, four short years after I focused completely on Young Living, I reached Crown Diamond. I found that I have the ability to create my own future, and circumstances do not define me. I eagerly share my story with others and take great joy in seeing them achieve their goals.

What has being part of Young Living done for your family?

Being part of Young Living allows my husband, Wayne, and I to raise our three children, be present in every moment, and live life as a family free of many common worries. I have the opportunity to educate others and share my journey with them, with the flexibility to do it without missing out on my children’s lives. This is an opportunity I never would have had in my prior career, and I am grateful every day to be there for my family. I can also empower other moms to do the same for their families, which motivates and recharges me. I thrive on motivating women to step out of their comfort zone to achieve their goals and still be able to play a vital role in their families.

With all that you have already accomplished, what keeps you motivated to achieve more?

What I believe in is simple: I believe that at the core of each and every one of us is the desire to accomplish great things, the dream to achieve more than we thought possible, and the determination to leave this world better than the day we found it. I believe that we have a responsibility to impact generations to come and an obligation to show others how to duplicate our foundation. I believe that this is how you leave a legacy.

Thank you for your time and inspiration, Melissa!

What part of Melissa’s story inspired you the most? Let us know in the comments!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/living-by-design-an-interview-with-melissa-poepping/

If you love breaking out the grill, then summer is definitely your season! Whether you’re making tasty chicken-veggie kabobs or juicy chicken sandwiches, these fresh summer marinades will give your next barbecue an essential oil zing that you—and your guests—will love!

Each marinade recipe is sufficient for 1–2 lbs. of meat or your protein of choice.

Citrusy Marinade

¾ cup olive or other oil

1/3 cup soy sauce

tablespoon grated onion

Juice of 1 lemon

2 drops Orange essential oil

2 drops Lemon essential oil

1 drop Ginger essential oil

 Mediterranean Marinade

¾ cup olive oil

½ cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 drop Oregano essential oil

2 drops Lemon essential oil

1 drop Black Pepper essential oil

 Honey Lime Marinade

3/4 cup olive or other oil

½ cup soy sauce

½ teaspoon ground mustard

1 tablespoon honey

3 drops Lime essential oil

½ teaspoon freshly ground black   pepper

Combine all ingredients and pour over chicken in a shallow glass bowl or baking pan. Cover and refrigerate for 1–4 hours before grilling. Discard marinade after use.

Do you use essential oils when you marinade? Share your secret recipes with us in the comments!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/light-up-your-summer-with-essential-oil-infused-marinades/

Give your favorite recipes a healthy boost by including our newly launched Gary’s True Grit Einkorn Flour in place of your regular flour. Einkorn Flour can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio with all-purpose or whole-wheat flours, but it is much easier to digest, allowing for better absorption of nutrients. Try out our best-ever banana bread recipe for a snack that’s both highly nutritious and super delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup organic evaporated cane juice crystals
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups Einkorn Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the melted butter and cane juice crystals.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla; mix well.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the Einkorn Flour, baking soda, and sea salt. Stir into the butter mixture until smooth.
5. Fold in the sour cream and bananas (and walnuts, if using). Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Slice and enjoy!

How do you use Einkorn Flour in your kitchen? Share your favorite recipes in the comments below!

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/best-ever-einkorn-banana-bread/

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/essential-oils-101/

Can’t seem to get outside as much as you’d like? Invite the richness of summer indoors by diffusing one of these sunny DIY blends!

Floral Rush

Try this delightful and uplifting floral aroma.

• 20 drops Jasmine
• 15 drops Royal Hawaiian^™ Sandalwood
• 6 drops Frankincense
• 3 drops Idaho Balsam Fir

Solstice Radiance

Optimize your long summer days with these uplifting, woodsy aromatic tones.

• 8 drops Blue Cypress
• 5 drops Bergamot
• 5 drops Cedarwood
• 1 drop Clary Sage

Citrus Summer

Invigorate and refresh your soul with this sunny scent.

• 10 drops Hinoki
• 8 drops Myrrh
• 5 drops Citrus Fresh^™
• 2 drops Palo Santo
• 1 drop Juniper
• 1 drop Vetiver

Sunny Bouquet

Freshen any space with this cornucopia of aromas.

• 20 drops Ylang Ylang
• 10 drops Hong Kuai
• 1 drop Ravintsara
• 1 drop Eucalyptus Globulus

Have you tried your hand at creating a personal blend? Tell us about it in the comments!

—Heidi Jeanfreau, Young Living International and Portfolio Brand Manager

Article source: https://www.youngliving.com/blog/diy-summer-blends/