tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48165693064756233722024-03-13T15:35:53.254-07:00Diary of A Dream ChaserPriyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-54254420098053769122018-03-12T12:33:00.000-07:002018-03-12T12:33:10.330-07:00He Will Not Let Go<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-3255f797-1b71-6c4c-3510-bcd5b5763aa5"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past week has been the most life-altering week of my life thus far. And I don’t mean that in a good way. My mom, who was also my business partner, friend, mentor, and so much more- is no longer living on this Earth. It’s one of those things that happens to others and that you never really think is going to happen to YOU...until it does. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have never experienced such grief in my life before, so this will be a new and interesting process to walk through. One minute I’ll be absolutely fine and then the next thing I know, something triggers a memory or a thought comes to my head and I’m ugly crying all over the place (and If you know me, you know it takes a lot to make my eyes even remotely tear up). I recently heard someone say that losing someone too soon (whether that be a child, sibling, or parent) makes you feel as if you’ve been robbed, and I couldn’t agree more- </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">robbed of memories, pictures, and experiences that you’ll never get.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few that come to my mind:</span></div>
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<li>Running home after every first-date to tell her all the details (okay, well most of them 😉)….and getting her advice, even though I roll my eyes and don’t want to hear it.</li>
<li>Every.Single.Mother’s Day.</li>
<li>Giving me a long hug after I’ve had a hard day and comforting me like no one else can.</li>
<li>That mother-daughter wedding day picture.</li>
<li>Family photo shoots that will always have an empty space.</li>
<li>Throwing me a baby shower.</li>
<li>Helping me pick out a wedding dress and continuing to try to convince me that I should wear hers and that it really could be made "in style."</li>
<li>Being there when I have my first baby.</li>
<li>All the grandma nicknames and babysitting.</li>
<li>Spoiling my kids.</li>
<li>Helping me reach new goals in my business...</li>
<li>...And being there...getting recognized together when we reach those goals....</li>
<li>Hearing her voice clearly say the words again of, “I’m so proud of you baby, and I love you”</li>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3255f797-1b75-c4f0-0b96-4b5f6c5bf05a"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All of those dreams, expected memories….It’s all gone. It has been taken and can never be given back. The worst part is, there is nothing- absolutely nothing- I can do to change that. That’s what hurts the most. I’ve never hated the effect of sin and brokenness of the world more than I do right now.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Someone recently told me that eventually, the memories will become sweet. They won’t carry the sharp pain, and I’ll be able to smile & be thankful when I think back on them. I hope that’s true. But I’m scared that over time I’ll lose the clarity of the sound of her voice, the touch of her skin, the life in her eyes, and the joy of her laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somehow, I know God is going to carry me through this and I’ve got to believe that there is hope and restoration ahead. However, if I’m being completely honest, in this moment it does not feel that way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday at church we sang the song “King of My Heart,” and one of the lines is “You are good, good….You’re never gonna let me down.” I couldn’t get through the song without breaking down. </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3255f797-1b74-a1e0-fcfd-59e839616362"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If I’m being honest with myself, God doesn’t feel good right now….I feel let down….but I’ve learned that I can’t base my faith on my feelings. Faith is about acting and moving forward even when you DON’T see the end in sight. It’s trusting that God will carry you, even when your senses tell you otherwise. In times like this, it’s the hardest thing. If you’re going through a similar situation, I get it.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3255f797-1b74-d0f1-54fe-86484238d5d0"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But even amidst the pain and seemingly unending clouds, I have been encouraged with these truths that God has been gently whispering to my heart. I hope that if you’re going through something like this OR if you do in the future, you will remember and find comfort in these truths as I have:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1. </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is acquainted with our grief.</b></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3255f797-1b6d-4246-b080-6e8898074a97"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus knew grief. Isaiah 53 says “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief….He has borne our griefs and He has carried our sorrows and pain..” (v.3a; 4a). Jesus knew the anguish and sting of grief. This is encouraging because it helps us relate better to the Father. God is crying with us. He hears us, sees us, and knows the pain we are experiencing because He too has experienced it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2. We are comforted by God so we can comfort others.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently heard a quote that said, “God builds your character to match your calling.” Going through hard situations builds character through the teacher of experience, and it is one of the most transformative processes. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 talks about how God is the “God of comfort” who comforts us, so that we can then comfort others when they go through hard times. It’s about preparing us for a greater calling of ministering to others through our own experience. God will never waste your pain, He will only use it.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">He has not forsaken us.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 14:8 says “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you” Some versions replace “orphans” with “comfortless.” We are not without comfort, God has not left, even if it feels that way. I love the Amplified version of Hebrews 13:5b, “For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” We can be comforted with the truth that God will never leave or forsake us. Often when He feels distant, it is because we stop seeking Him- but He never stops seeking us.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We serve a God of redemption and restoration.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have to remember that we serve a God who loves to take broken things and make them beautiful, and that goes for situations in our lives too. We see this all throughout Scripture. Take Job, for example, who had everything taken from him, his estate, family, health- EVERYTHING- yet God restored Him in abundance. “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored His fortunes….also the Lord gave Job twice as much as He had before” (Job 42:10). While no Earthly possessions can replace a person, there is still always restoration that God can bring- often in ways we don’t expect. Often it is through people- new friends and family- that He brings blessings into our lives. Isaiah 59:1 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear.” Nothing is too far gone for the Lord to restore and heal. I am beginning to actively look for, expect, and ask God to bring restoration and healing to my life and restore to me in abundance what has been stolen by the Enemy. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have hope. Keep Perspective.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, live with eternity in mind. We are eternal beings! In the grand scheme of eternity, our time on this Earth is like a microscopic dot on the timeline! As believers, we have hope that we will see our loved ones again. While it still is hard here on Earth without them, we can know that we will be united again one day. It truly is not goodbye, but “see you later.” “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep...Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:13;17). Losing a loved one means every day is a day closer to being with them forever in heaven. It’s a strange thing. When you lose someone so close to you, heaven becomes a real, tangible place in your mind where they are and that you anticipate going to- it’s a weird balance between living here on Earth and also anticipating a future in heaven. Until we get there, we must live out each day for the purpose that He has for us here. That’s what we are called to do, and that’s what our loved ones would desire for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">But still, at the end of the day, it’s hard you guys. It’s really, really hard. I don’t want to sugar coat anything and tell you that any of this is easy, because it’s the most painful thing I’ve ever been through. I can’t honestly tell you I’m “well” when you ask me how I’m doing. But you know what else? I’m OK with not fully being OK right now. Healing takes time. Remembering these truths hasn’t necessarily made things easier, but it does make for a small shimmering of light at the end of the tunnel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So until that day when we meet again, mommy….I’ll remember these things: That God is good even when I don’t feel Him, that He is preparing me for an incredible calling that is beyond imaginable, that I can trust Him to never forsake me, that He is restoring what the Enemy has stolen, and that all will be made right again in the end.</span></div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-15829256142993911712018-02-12T13:01:00.000-08:002018-02-12T13:05:42.535-08:00Oh the Seasons!<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The idea of “seasons” has been on my mind a lot recently. In Michigan, metro Detroit had its big #snowmageddon this weekend, and I'm pretty sure all of life stopped on Friday as we had snow non-stop for 16 hours? Maybe more. The Detroit metro airport shut down and all incoming flights couldn't land. It was bad.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, as I sit here now and look out at the beautiful snow, I can’t help but think about how gorgeous it is but also how destructive it can be. From inside a warm home, looking at the snow is beautiful, serene, and calm, but to those who have to get up and drive in it or don’t have heat- it is stressful, dangerous, and even life threatening. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seasons can be a double edged sword. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The great thing about seasons is, they are just that, seasons- meaning temporary. And there’s a specific purpose & point in each one- sometimes bringing both beauty & pain. Seasons can be really exciting, but they also bring change, which is scary to many of us. Sometimes we never want our season to end (hello college), and other times we can’t wait for them to be over. I remember partially dreading graduation from college, because I thought the best part of my life was coming to an end and I would never see my friends again. Was college an amazing & life changing experience? Yes, but it was just a season and the beginning of an incredible life full of opportunities! In the words of High School Musical (slightly edited), "[College] wasn't made to last forever." The same goes for any season you might be walking through right now - it wasn't made to last forever.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SO whether you’re in a really wonderful season right now, OR things are really stressful & hard- remember life isn’t necessarily ALWAYS going to be this way. Seasons change. Literally and figuratively. The thing that keeps us grounded no matter what season or transition we are in is to keep our eyes on God, who never, ever changes, and who has promised to protect & guide us in <i>any</i> upcoming snow storm or hurricane that may be lurking in the next season.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven." Ecc. 3:1</span></span>Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-3528905931604465102017-10-09T15:22:00.004-07:002017-10-09T19:27:48.114-07:00Paradoxical Love<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">“Then I will heal you of your faithLESSness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever." -Hosea <span dir="ltr" style="unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">14</span>:<span dir="ltr" style="unicode-bidi: bidi-override;">4</span> (emphasis added)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love the book of Hosea because it's about God's relentless pursuit of an unfaithful people...it's a beautifully humbling picture of Him and us. //</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><b>Have you fully grasped that? Do you really know what that means?</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Think about this: It's easy to pursue a friendship or relationship with someone who's nice to you- someone who talks to you, respects you, and WANTS to mutually get to know you, right? But can you imagine pursuing a relationship (friendship or otherwise) where the other person constantly ignores you, blatantly disrespects you, and turns away completely away from you? Most of us wouldn't put up with that for very long- and rightfully so. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Moreover, the picture portrayed in Hosea takes that idea to a whole new level. Listen to this, Hosea was a prophet who was a godly, upright, and righteous man whom God instructed to.... intentionally pursue and marry a prostitute. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">She continued to be unfaithful....yet Hosea was <i>always</i> faithful. In our mind that sounds crazy- like who would do that? I can only imagine if this was a chick flick, we would be frantically yelling at the screen "HOSEA WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? YOU DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER! REALLY!?" </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We may even be dissatisfied with the ending (kind of like La La Land), thinking that He should of ended up with the girl who was truly better for Him.....anyone but the prostitute.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>But you guys. That's the point. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are the prostitute.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's a beautiful story because it helps us wrap our mind around Gods love for us. We don't deserve it one bit. We are rebels. We are <b><i>constantly</i> </b>unfaithful. YET amidst all that, God <i><b>chooses</b></i> to chase us down while we are in that place of rebellion, because of His deep, deep love for us. <b><i>He wants us.</i></b> While we are hating Him and wanting nothing to do with Him, His love is constant. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It doesn't make sense. Yet it's true- for all of us. So today, know that no matter what you've done in your past, no matter how stained you feel you are, you are fiercely loved by the King of Universe who deeply treasures your heart and wants to know you intimately. There is nothing you could ever DO that would change His love for you. It is constant, and it is relentless, and He is constantly calling you to come to Him. As you go about your day and this week, may you walk in that truth! 💕</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>p.s. If you want to read a REALLY great fiction story based on the book of Hosea, check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Love-Francine-Rivers/dp/1590525132">"Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers</a>- it's a super great read and helps to better understand this story in a whole new way. </i></span></div>
Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-49096394545972431472017-09-19T12:18:00.001-07:002017-09-19T12:31:36.427-07:00Do It ScaredI recently heard a young mom talking about how when her toddler-aged daughter tells her, "Mom, I'm scared!" She replies, "That's okay, do it scared!"<br />
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Fear is paralyzing, and even when we acknowledge it, it can STILL be paralyzing. But I love this response because it completely eliminates all excuses and teaches that yes, it's OKAY to be afraid, but it's NOT okay to let that fear stop you from doing it anyway.<br />
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If you think the bravest and most courageous people throughout history (George Washington, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, etc.) were never afraid, I think you are mistaken, as I'm willing to bet that they were JUST as afraid as anyone else would have been in their situations. The difference is that they chose to "do it scared."<br />
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I give so much credit to this young mom and love how she was teaching her daughter this from such a young age. I'm not a parent, but this is definitely one of those words of wisdom cards that I want to keep tucked away for the future.<br />
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So friends, from now on, I encourage you that whenever you're in a situation and you think to yourself "I'm scared," to give yourself the best three word pep-talk ever and say "do it scared."<br />
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Then do it.<br />
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It's worth it. :)Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-25127402119061890232017-08-29T14:06:00.001-07:002017-08-29T14:06:06.052-07:00A Glimmer in Grief<div>
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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where there are no words? You hear news that completely stops you in your tracks, and there is absolutely nothing you could say that would make it better. Nothing that would encourage. Nothing that would change a thing, because the pain is too deep.<div>
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I had a situation like this last week when I found out that a family whom I have learned so much from and admire greatly lost their young child very suddenly and unexpectedly. I'm not here to write something that is intended to attempt to make you feel happy right now, because honestly, I don't think even the nicest, sweetest, most heartfelt words could make anyone feel better in this situation. Nor do I feel particularly "qualified" to encourage someone in this situation, as I myself have never experienced the sort of pain that comes with the loss of a child. My stomach is in knots thinking about her parents and sweet siblings whose lives will forever be changed. <div>
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Still, I found myself pondering the situation and asking the question that we all seem to ask: </div>
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<i><b>"Why? Why someone so innocent, so young, with such a passion for life? Why were they taken so quickly? Why were her years cut short?"</b></i></div>
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As I was asking these questions, the Holy Spirit immediately comforted me with this thought:</div>
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<b><i>"The pain this family is experiencing right now is giving them a tiny tiny glimpse of the pain I experienced when I, too, lost a child...."</i></b><div>
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Thankfully, many people don't experience the intense pain of losing a child in this life. I can only imagine that is is one of the hardest losses a person could go through. While I certainly never wish it upon anyone and I pray I never have to experience it myself, I believe there is something incredibly comforting to those who experience this when they realize that God the Father experienced the same thing. It gives them another way which they can relate to the Lord, and connect with Him on a deeper level. </div>
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When God the Father sent Jesus, His ONLY Son, to be crucified and killed- sacrificed for a people that rejected Him- God felt the loss of a child. Jesus was innocent, completely guilt-free, and did not deserve death. Even though God knew that He would see Jesus again, He still experienced that pain of separation, that deep, deep, darkness and grief.</div>
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So, dear family who is experiencing grief beyond my own comprehension, </div>
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I do want to encourage you in this, not based on my words, but rather in pointing you to the one who experienced the ultimate grief. I do not at all want to undermine the grief you are experiencing and the sheer darkness you feel right now. But know this: The Father knows the pain you are feeling, because He's experienced it too. I pray that you will cling to Him and Him alone in this time, as that is where your hope lies. He will carry you, and He will <i>never</i> let you down. Ever.</div>
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To the rest of us, </div>
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Let us pray. Hard. Because sometimes that is the only thing we can do.</div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-52256476843189852202017-07-27T10:50:00.000-07:002017-07-27T10:51:52.771-07:00The Vulnerability Paradox<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The paradox of being “perfect” to be “liked” is quickly changing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyone “likes” the girl that seems to “have it all together,” but does anyone really </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>connect</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to her? And what matters more?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-caa61fe4-8504-38e6-4ae4-2cbd62c8737a" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me ask you something, what is one thing that draws human beings together in no other way- something that cultivates the deepest of relationships?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vulnerability. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can I propose a thought to you? That vulnerability, though scary at the thought, is one of the keys to deep relationships and drawing people together. The problem is, we live in a society that runs from it. We want our lives to look “perfect” on social media so people “like” us, and think great things about us, but ultimately deep down, we know that’s not reality. May I propose to you that some of the most engaged social media posts are those that are real. The posts that make you tear up. That make you FEEL something on a deeper level. Some of my friends are really good this, and I so admire their courage to be so vulnerable. Because the reality is, when we’re vulnerable, it opens us up to potential hurt too- that’s why it’s scary. <a href="http://dictionary.com/">Dictionary.com</a> gives 3 main definitions for Vulnerability: 1). capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon, 2). Open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc., and 3). (of a place) open to assault, difficult to defend.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ouch. There's a reason we think it's scary, right? And we'd be crazy to think it isn't, but at the same time, i</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">t’s kind of like love in some ways (I’m laughing at myself for typing the previous sentence, and bringing ‘love’ into this, as I know it sounds so cliche, but reader, it’s TRUE). Vulnerability is risky, and with it you have the potential for great hurt…..but you also have the potential for great, great gain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wouldn’t be honest if I told you that every day was perfect, because it’s not, and you know that just as much as I do. Our imperfections make us vulnerable, yes, but they also make us human. There is something extremely comforting when another soul looks at you and says: <i><span style="color: purple;">“I get that. I’ve been there too, I’m just like you. You are not alone in this.” </span></i>Sometimes we don’t want to share our burdens because we think we will be a burden, but is it not commanded in Scripture to do so with those we trust and love (See Galatians 6:2)? Or maybe we keep things in because we don’t want the attention and sympathy. We think we can handle it ourselves, or worse, we don’t want to become “attention seeking” so we’d rather just not tell anyone completely- OR we don’t want to appear “weak” so we pretend everything is fine. Maybe it’s just me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But here’s the thing, if we don’t share our weaknesses and vulnerability, we become unrelatable and fake. As a leader of a team, I need to be vulnerable and share my struggles, because otherwise my team will think that what I’ve done is unattainable (which it’s not), and they’ll think they’ll never be “good enough” to lead a team of their own- and I never, ever, want anyone to think that about themselves based on my public projection of myself. I am fully human, and I make mistakes. I doubt myself, and I have insecurities too. I am just like you. We are all more alike than we are different (it is literally true, as science has show that all humans are genetically 99.9% identical to each other. Sorry, that was my inner nerd ;) ).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does this all make sense? Moreover, if we don’t share, we’re like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode. <span style="color: purple;">We NEED each other, yes, NEED.</span> We were not created to be solitary creatures and we need community, with deep, connecting relationships where we can feel safe to share burdens without judgement. It’s how we were created, and it’s how we will thrive. If we fight against it, we are only hurting ourselves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, dear sweet reader (by the way, thanks for reading this far and<span style="color: purple;"> </span>sticking through this post, you’ve nearly made it to the end), I propose a challenge to you (and to me): </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let’s be more vulnerable and share our burdens with one another. Life is not easy, and we will all experience hard things in our lives, but burdens are not meant to be carried alone. They are meant to be upheld and supported by the community and body of Christ. You matter, and your situation matters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the flip side, If someone shares a burden with you, support them, and love them through it. Don’t judge others based<span style="color: purple;"> </span>on a situation they’re going through. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and none of us are above the line of perfection.</span></span><br />
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-6004840019286876732017-01-09T10:30:00.000-08:002017-01-11T08:46:32.358-08:00Easy DIY Natural Make-Up Remover Pads<span style="font-size: large;">Hello friends!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So I'm all about convenience, even when it comes to the little things like taking your make-up off at the end of the day....scratch that, ESPECIALLY when it comes to taking off your make-up at the end of the day. After a long day, the last thing I want to do is scrub by eyes to try to remove every bit of mascara in an effort to do what's "healthy" for my skin. Can anyone else relate? To prevent this, I used to buy the make-up remover pads from the store. They just stayed in their little container and I could just pull one out, swoop, and bam! Make-up gone. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">However, when I got involved with Young Living, I quickly learned that these conventional make-up removers are NOT so good to be putting on your skin....take a look at the ingredient list. Go ahead and check in your bathroom right now, I'll wait for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, it's FULL of chemicals and words I can't even pronounce. Eeek! Am I really putting that on my eyes?! Thus started the search for a natural make-up remover. Instead of paying $6-8 for a small pack in the store, I learned I can make my own at a fraction of the cost, AND it's actually GOOD for your skin! Win-win!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can watch the video of me making it <a href="https://youtu.be/en2bWAnDsTU">here</a> if you're more of an audio/visual person. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Easy DIY Make-Up Remover Pads</span></div>
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<u>Ingredients:</u></div>
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- 1/4 to 1/2 c distilled water</div>
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- 1 tsp. unscented castille soap (I like to use Dr. Bronner's brand)</div>
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- 1 tsp. witch hazel</div>
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- 1 tsp. fractionated coconut oil</div>
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- 5-6 drops each Young Living Frankincense and Young Living Lavender Essential Oil (click <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-your.html">here</a> to learn why the quality of your oil matters)</div>
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- Premium quality cotton rounds</div>
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<u>Directions:</u></div>
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Add all ingredients except the cotton rounds to a 4oz mason jar. Put the lid on and gently shake the jar. Then, add a stack of cotton rounds. There is no set "number" of cotton rounds that you need- add them until all of the fluid is absorbed. If you find that there are still rounds that are dry, you can add additional coconut oil and water and shake things up a bit. It does take a bit of playing around with to get the right balance!</div>
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Get some of the oils that I use (the BEST oils on the planet) <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/new-start?sponsorid=1485460&enrollerid=1485460&isocountrycode=US&culture=en-US&type=member">here</a> (you'll want to do the member option- quickly explained <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-can-i-get-these-young-living-oils.html">here</a>- so you can get in on the discounts and freebies)!</div>
<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-27492414397644751752016-12-26T13:25:00.000-08:002016-12-26T13:31:37.749-08:00When God Seems Silent<i><span style="font-size: large;">Hi friend!</span></i><br />
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I was reminded of this verse today after spending some time with a new coloring book I had received as a gift for Christmas. I was really excited about this book in particular because it is full of Scripture coloring pages, which means you're really able to mediate on the verse as your coloring it, and then you can even tear out the pages and give them to people or hang them up (found <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Word-Color-Hardcover-Biblical-Inspiration/dp/1432115634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482787788&sr=8-1&keywords=word+in+color">here</a> on Amazon, if you want to check it out).<br />
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Anyway, I love this verse in particular in the NKJV version, which says, <b><span style="font-size: large;">"To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)."</span></b><br />
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Sometimes God may seem silent, and it may seem like He's not working, but He is. <b>Always</b>. I think of the 400 years of silence between Malachi and Matthew. During this time, there were no new prophets or words from the Lord. Can you imagine what some of the people were thinking during this time? <i>"Where is God? He has not sent any prophets in ages! Has He left us?!?"</i> God appeared silent, REALLY silent. But friends, the silence of God does not indicate a lack of His working. In fact, God was working during this time. He was preparing the way for the Savior to come! Better yet, when the time did come for the Savior to be born, He was better than anything the people could have planned or imagined for themselves.<br />
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So if you're in a season of what may seem like "silence" from God, let me encourage you with this short note: God is <i>always</i> working for the <b>good</b> of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). And because He knows us better than we know ourselves, His plan is always far greater for us than anything we could come up with on our own. Your level of <i>feeling</i> towards God is not an indicator of His level of working in your life. :)<br />
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May this be an encouragement and reminder to you as you enter this new year!Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-68217545981846257902016-11-08T15:31:00.001-08:002016-11-08T15:31:28.761-08:00A Summer to RememberWow, this post is coming LATE! Sorry about that, friends! I originally wrote it back in August, but never actually posted it until now...oops. :/ Anyway, I'd still like to share it for documenting's (is that a word?) sake.<br />
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Looking back on the summer before my senior year of college, all I can say is WOW, this was a summer to remember. Not only did I reach some <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2016/08/on-goals-and-journey-to-silver.html">incredible business goals</a>, but I got to travel world, build amazing relationships, and impact lives for the gospel.<br />
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Our family recently bought a cottage on Burt Lake, so much of this summer was spent up at the lake: exploring the surrounding areas, sitting by the campfire, watching movies, swimming (of course), kayaking, and playing games.<br />
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In May I also turned 21, which doesn't really mean anything for me because I've pledged to my school that I won't drink while a student there, but still just turning 21 kind of feels like a big deal (mainly because I now have a horizontal license, and am considered a full blown "adult" by society). Haha.<br />
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Later that month, I got to go with my church to AFRICA to share the gospel for about 10 days. It was LIFE CHANGING and just incredible. We spent 2 days in Johannesburg, after which we flew to Rwanda to begin our ministry in an Orphanage as well as speak and do dramas at a local youth conference! To see some more pics of our trip, you can watch <a href="https://youtu.be/Xi7v6uvZx6E">this video.</a> If you want to read my recap letter with stories and more info about our trip, you can check that out <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v1KpN9LGgfkgVCfAOsxNtLUgAwSQqampWn9Ez0jpE5o/edit?usp=sharing">here </a>too. :)<br />
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THEN in June, shortly after arriving home from Africa, I was headed out west! Our final destination was to the annual Young Living Grand Convention in Salt Lake City! This was my 3rd time going, and as always, it was an amazing time of learning and fellowship with our team. To see some of the SUPER FUN time we had there, you can watch this <a href="https://youtu.be/STJRt6ErMb0">crazy video</a> I made. haha.<br />
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BUT before we went to Salt Lake, we spent a little bit of time at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks! My parents are national park junkies, so this was actually our second time visiting these parks. If you haven't been out west, it is a trip worth making. SO much beauty!<br />
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The end of June was crazy for my business. You see, I don't have a summer job like most college students my age. I own my own business with Young Living Essential oils, and I work that year round, which makes it really nice in the summer because I'm not tied down. Anyway, on the last day of June I reached a goal in my business that I had been working toward for 6 months (read about that <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2016/08/on-goals-and-journey-to-silver.html">here</a>) and because of it, earned a kit of products from the company that retails at about $3,000. So so thankful and blessed!<br />
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I FINALLY had some time back home in July, even though it was intermittent as we took many weekend trips up to the cottage (as I mentioned before). My sister also came out from California to visit for about 2 weeks, so that was fun having her home for a bit!<br />
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And that, my friends, pretty much wraps up my summer! I am headed back to Ohio tomorrow to begin my senior year of college. CRAZINESS. Anyway, while I have bittersweet feelings about this year, I know that there are GREAT things ahead!<br />
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Thanks for taking the time to read! I'd love to hear about what you did this summer in the comments below!Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-16914431714124858672016-08-14T15:07:00.002-07:002016-11-08T15:37:38.008-08:00On Goals and the Journey to Silver!So let me be the first to say that I am writing this WAY later than I anticipated. When I went Silver in 6 with Young Living at the end of June, I expected myself to have written about it much sooner, but here we are in mid-August already!<br />
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Anyway, better late than never, right? :) Hitting Silver (in 6) was a HUGE milestone for my team. It was something that could NOT have been accomplished without the help and support of my amazing team. I am so thankful for them and have loved that the Lord has brought us all together on this journey. While this is a milestone, I know it is ONE milestone, and is not the END milestone. In other words, this is just the beginning of many great things (working on toward GOLD people!).<br />
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Side note: If any of you are wondering about the <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/premier-aroma-collection">Premier Aroma Collection</a> (it retails at almost $3k, and is the company's gift to me for reaching silver in 6, can I just say I love Young Living?) that I earned. Below is a pic of me with the kit when it arrived. It was so fun opening up and I literally could smell the oils right when I opened the box!<br />
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If you would like to see the full version of me telling my story of how this began and some of my tips for building to silver, you can watch a video of me talking about it <a href="https://youtu.be/iP_lshr81pU">here</a> where I was sharing for our team's weekly conference call.<br />
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However, I wanted to share some tid-bit's here too. First of all, let me just say that when I first began this journey, silver seemed SO far away. I say that to encourage you, in that everyone starts at the same level, and has the same initial thought when they look at the compensation plan. Goodness, I remember thinking that Executive seemed like such a long way away. Each of the ranks looks SO intimidating (at least they did for me) at first, but I am here to tell you that with consistent work and effort, you CAN reach those ranks and before you know it, you will be achieving numbers in your business that will BLOW your mind. Just for fun, here are some pictures of me at my first Young Living convention, 2 years ago (2014). I was a Star at the time:<br />
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One of the biggest things that has impacted me on this journey is the power of writing your goals and keeping them in front of you...<br />
In December 2015, when I reached the rank of Executive, I had no idea if I was going to even be able to maintain it for the next month (which would have automatically dropped me out of qualification for Silver in 6). However, I knew my goal and what I wanted, and I kept pressing toward it. And I prayed, a lot. Don't ever underestimate the hand of God in your businesses. One of the biggest things that I knew above all else, was that this was in HIS hands and it was HIS businesses. Giving your business to the Lord is the BEST decision you can make for your success.<br />
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You see, even though I didn't know all the details of HOW I was going to make Silver in 6 happen at the time, I believed it would happen and I continued to do whatever it took to work towards my goal- even if it meant driving 1hr and 20min in rush hour to my group in Cinci for almost every weekend in March, getting up at 5am on my school break to help with a mom-to-mom sale, or stepping out of my comfort zone by calling people I didn't know. When you have a set goal, you will do CRAZY things to reach it, as long as you don't leave room for excuses.<br />
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You HAVE to KEEP your goal in front of you. Honestly, it was scary writing my goal of silver by June when I wrote it for the first time, as it seemed so far away. In fact, I wrote that before I had even gone Executive (so it was REALLY scary). Below is a picture of my where I write my goals. You'll notice I had a different goal written initially for Silver, and I crossed that out and re-wrote my goal. Sometimes that happens, and that's OK!<br />
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Also, SHARE your goals with your upline mentor and downline leaders...this is a TEAM effort...help THEM succeed first and then you will too. Just never ever give up and I cannot emphasize this enough: <b>keep your goals and dreams in front of you at ALL times.</b> I had Si6 on my dream board, as well as a pin that said "silver by convention" that I carried with me to ALL my classes I did, as it was my reminder to me and my team of the bigger goal. Lastly, I put me as a silver as my screen background (It's now been changed to me as a Gold) on my phone. This is HUGE. Everyday I would see myself as a silver before I was even there.<b> Let me ask you, do YOU see yourself where you want to be or where you are currently? </b>It makes a difference in your mind, guys! I have many people ask me, "What does your phone background mean?" Which also gives me an opportunity for me to share with them what I'm doing!<br />
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Anyway, I want to encourage you all with this...you CAN do this if you put your complete mind and focus on it. Be dedicated to your business. If you treat it like a real business (and not a hobby), it will reap the benefits of a real business.<br />
This is JUST the beginning...the future is bright! With all the chaos in the world today, I am proud to be a part of something that gives people HOPE! Be encouraged today!<br />
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If you accidentally stumbled upon this page and want to find out more about Young Living and joining my team, just go ahead and click <a href="http://www.naturallypureoils4u.com/">here.</a><br />
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Love you all! :)<br />
<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-54801415590330050222016-08-05T08:50:00.000-07:002016-08-05T08:50:06.603-07:00DIY Easy Peasy [Chocolate Orange Peppermint] Dry Shampoo!When I first discovered dry shampoo, it changed my life. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but it was definitely a big deal. I had no idea that you could just spray some stuff on your hair and VOILA, the grease was gone! After playing around with it a bit, I found out that most dry shampoos leave a nice white film on your hair, which gave me a nice salt-and-pepper/grey streaky look, which I really wasn't going for...I have since then found out that they have dry shampoo for dark hair (YAY), but since I've been into Young Living, I don't really like the idea of spraying toxic chemicals all over my scalp. SO when Young Living posted this recipe on their <a href="https://www.youngliving.com/blog/diy-essential-oil-infused-dry-shampoo/">blog</a>, I was ALL about it. It's SO easy, can be made for dark OR light hair, and literally took me 5 minutes to make (also it smells amazing!).<br />
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As with many of my DIY recipes, you have some leeway to modify it based on what oils you like and what you're going for. The recipe from the YL blog called for 2 drops each of Cedarwood and Rosemary, and 1 drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil. However, because I have dark hair and thus added the Cocoa, I went for oils that not only would be good for your hair/scalp, but also would complement the cocoa smell, hence Peppermint and Orange! Other oils you could try would be Cinnamon, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, or Lavender.<br />
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I have to say though, the Peppermint-Orange-Cocoa combination smells SO GOOD I could eat it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes things get a little messy ;) </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there you have it! Using a make-up brush to apply it to your roots works really well.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">DIY Dry Shampoo (modified from the Young Living blog)</span><br />
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
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-1/4 c. Cornstarch<br />
-1 tbsp. Baking Soda<br />
- Young Living Essential Oils of Choice (see paragraph #2 above, listed below is what I used)<br />
- 2 drops each of Peppermint, Cedarwood, & Orange<br />
-2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, for dark hair <b>only</b><br />
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<b><u>Directions:</u></b><br />
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and store in your container of choice. I find using a make-up brush the best way to apply the shampoo, as it gives the most control and lets you reach the roots really well, though you can also store your shampoo in an empty salt and pepper shaker or baby powder bottle and use it that way. Be sure to let it sit in your hair for a minute so it can absorb the grease, then brush through with a comb or brush.<br />
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Happy Dry-Shampooing!<br />
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-52201860242441327322016-05-24T11:59:00.000-07:002016-05-24T11:59:13.954-07:00an unexpected {yet perfect} answer<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">"<i>The </i></span><i><span class="small-caps" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 24px;">Lord</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> would speak to Moses face to face,</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2485A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2485A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><i> as one speaks to a friend.</i> <i>Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua</i></span><i><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2485B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2485B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> son of Nun did not leave the tent.</span></i></b></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="text Exod-33-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Moses said to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, "You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and you have found favor<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> with me.’</span> <span class="text Exod-33-13" id="en-NIV-2487" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2487F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2487F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people".<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2487G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2487G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span></b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span class="text Exod-33-14" id="en-NIV-2488" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> replied, '</span>My Presence<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2488H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2488H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Exodus 33:11-14</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Often times I (wrongfully) catch myself thinking that I will learn the most from Scripture by reading the NT. You know, the gospels, epistles, etc. After all, those books were written specifically to the church, right? I often find myself skimming over the OT (esp. Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, Deut...you know the books I'm talking about), or deeming (in my mind) it as less important than the NT, but that is so NOT true. We can learn a lot from these books...if we just take some time to see what they're saying. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Okay so before I even make my point about how this passage relates to the title of this post, check this out:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing I noticed when I read this passage was the relationship between Moses and the Lord. It says in verse 11 that God spoke to Moses as one speaks to a friend. How COOL is that!? Imagine that kind of relationship with the Lord! Crazy right? Even crazier is the fact that we now can have that kind of relationship with God too. In the OT, God spoke to priests and prophets on behalf of the people. But now, because of Jesus, we are able to play that role of a priest and have that kind of relationship with God. 1 Peter 2:9 says we are a royal priesthood, and Hebrews 4:16 tells us to come boldly before the throne of grace, s</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">omething that in the OT, only the priests could do. So basically, we can have that relationship that Moses had we God...we can speak to Him as we would speak to a friend, and He wants to spea</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">k to us that way. God wants to hear our thoughts, emotions, hurts, desires, pains, dreams.....that sounds alot like a RELATIONSHIP, my friend- not a religion! :) Anyway...!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">THEN it gets even better (this is the main point I want to make), Moses shows his humanness and QUESTIONS the Lord. Sound familiar? </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="text Exod-33-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><i style="line-height: 24px;"><u>Y</u></i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><i><u>ou have been telling me</u></i></span><i style="line-height: 24px;">, ‘Lead these people,’<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> <u>but you have not let me know whom you will send with me</u>. <u>You have said</u>, ‘I know you by name<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and you have found favor<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-2486E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-2486E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> with me. (v.12). </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">What is Moses doing? He's questioning God on what He said He would do, instead of believing and knowing that God would come through on His Word. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="text Exod-33-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">How often do we do this? I know I'm definitely guilty of it! Have you ever said, "Lord, you said you were going to provide for this, but I don't know how that's going to happen because you have not provided a job in 3 months," or something similar? We often wonder, is God REALLY my provider, my healer, my satisfaction? He SAID He is, <i>but how often is that not enough for us when we don't immediately see the fruit of it?</i></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The BEST thing about this is the Lord's response: <b>"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What? I can </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">totally image Moses being like "Ummmmm okay Lord, that's great, but you totally didn't answer my question. You still didn't tell me who you were going to send with me and how we were going to get this done. You want me to lead</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> all of these thousands of people but unless you give me some sort of blueprint to work with this is not going to happen."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...(wait for it)...</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But that's the point. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God DID answer His question, just in a way Moses didn't expect.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>God didn't give Moses all the details of how things were going to play out. He didn't tell Moses exactly HOW He was going to come through on His promises, BUT God did give Him a peace and the promise of His presence, which would be ENOUGH to get Moses through whatever the future held. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">God did come through on His promises, and He answered Moses's question, just maybe in a way Moses didn't expect.</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Can you see where I'm headed with this application?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a planner. I like to plan things in advance, and know the details and schedule. So, this is something that's really hard for me. Sometimes I ask God for answers to questions about my future and you know what? He doesn't always give them. But, I've realized that the promise of God's presence and rest is SO much greater than knowing all of the minute details of life or how things are going to work out. It's about learning to walk by faith, which is how we grow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, if you're in a time of transition or growth (like me), trust in the Lord. Continue to pursue Him and His promises, knowing that He may not give you all the answers right when you want them, but He WILL be there for you. <b>You may feel like you need to know everything, but you know what? You don't, because you serve a God that DOES and has your very best interest at heart.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you remember anything at all from this post, let it be this: Even down uncertain paths, <u>If you have God's presence, you have all you need.</u></span></div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-67299135813366137312016-03-12T09:12:00.000-08:002016-03-12T14:37:13.420-08:00DIY Antiperspirant Deodorant (Aluminum Free!)So I'm the kind of person that sweats, a lot. Or, excuse me, should I say, that I "glisten" (girls don't sweat, right?). ;) Anyway, sweat or glisten, I need a good antiperspirant deodorant (Sorry if this is TMI for some of you, just being real here). Over the past few years, my mom has thoroughly educated me on the dangers of aluminum and how I shouldn't use an antiperspirant with aluminum. My response? I'm sorry but I NEED antiperspirant or I, nor the people around me, will be happy campers. Thus began the journey of checking every brand of deodorant in the store for the ones with the lowest aluminum percentage, and the endless search of a natural antiperspirant deodorant without aluminum. They are SO hard to find! SO when my mom found THIS recipe, which includes a natural ANTIPERSPIRANT, you can bet I was pretty intrigued. <br />
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This recipe is from Melissa Poepping's book- The Chemical Free Home- I LOVE IT!!! If you don't have one, you need to go get yourself one! You can get this book and the other volumes she has <a href="http://www.thechemicalfreehome.com/">here. </a>We made a few slight modifications on the oils we used and we used arrowroot instead of cornstarch, but other than that it's the same. :)</div>
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Yes, that is Thieves Dentarome Plus toothpaste...and it IS in the recipe. Sounds weird, right?</div>
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Gathering ingredients!</div>
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We used 20 drops each of Tea Tree and Dream Catcher, but you can substitute other oils such as Lavender, Joy, Petitgrain, Geranium, or Shutran (for the men in your life). I'd recommend always using some Tea Tree though because it is very good in deodorants! Also, be sure to use enough essential oil! Don't skimp on it...20 drops each of 2 oils is good, and it will make 4 deodorants. </div>
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This recipe was much easier than I thought it was going to be. It probably took me 10 minutes tops.</div>
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Ta-da! And now to the fridge to chill. :)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deodorant + Antiperspirant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Makes 4 Deodorants</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3/4 c baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/2 c organic arrowroot (available <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starwest-Botanicals-Organic-Arrowroot-Powder/dp/B00ZDO82VM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1457801712&sr=8-1&keywords=arrowroot+powder+organic">here</a> on Amazon)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 Tbsp Thieves Dentarome PLUS Toothpaste (you can get this and the other YL products for this recipe through my website, <a href="http://www.naturallypureoils4u.com/">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 Tbsp Young Living V-6 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1/2 c Coconut Oil (Solid)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3 tsp Vitamin E Oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">20 drops Young Living Tea Tree Essential Oil </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">20 drops Young Living Dream Catcher Essential Oil (also available <a href="http://www.naturallypureoils4u.com/">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Put the baking soda, cornstarch, and coconut oil in a pot and melt over low heat until dissolved completely. Add the Thieves Dentarome PLUS toothpaste and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly (remember high heat breaks down the EO's), and add V-6, Vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Allow to cool (but not harden) to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour into an empty deodorant container using a funnel (if you need it). Be careful at this step, because the mixture may still be very hot!!! Allow to harden in the fridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There you have it! Super easy, one pot, deodorant. Not only is it natural, but it smells AMAZING. I know I am super excited to try it!! Finally, a deodorant that I can feel good about using.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hope your weekend is awesome!</span></div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-16642868617904661132016-02-15T06:17:00.003-08:002016-02-15T06:17:43.299-08:00What Does A Man After God's Own Heart Look Like?<span style="font-family: inherit;">Goodmorning and Happy Monday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I shared this on my Facebook page yesterday morning so some of you may have already seen it, but my roommate, Lynne, encouraged me to share it on here too. :) I hope this encourages you this week. Remember, you are not defined by your sin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;">When we think of David being a "man after God's own heart," it's easy for us to think that He must have been so perfect, so focused on striving after the Lord, so dedicated to Him. And he was, for a time, but we often forget that David also strayed and made some pretty big mistakes. His life was a series of successes and failures. The same young shepherd boy who killed Goliath and became a King also committed adultery and murder in His life.</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;"> Yet despite his sins, God never removed the title "man after My own heart" from David, or stopped using Him. It's easy to think that being a man or woman after God's heart means that we're "perfect," but it doesn't. In fact, we might make some pretty big mistakes. But it was David's deeply repentant heart during those sins and focus back on the Lord that gave Him the title that He is famous for today. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;">David wasn't defined by his sins, and we shouldn't be either. It's human nature for us to focus on the negatives and on the sin, but we must realize that God doesn't see things that way- He sees us as His sons and daughters, redeemed by the blood of Christ if we have accepted Him as our Savior. In addition, God took David's mistakes and used them for His glory, in the writing of many powerful Psalms that we use today to express our repentance to God. Being a "man after God's own heart" isn't some unattainable, perfectionistic, or legalistic title. It simply means you're seeking God first in ALL things, and you're willing to surrender and redirect your life back to His path when you do (inevitably) mess things up, and realize that God will use your mistakes to grow you for your good and for His glory.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;"><br /></span></span>Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-49150912691001378492016-01-28T18:03:00.000-08:002016-01-28T18:03:00.533-08:00Lessons From The People Whom I Can't Thank Enough<br />
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I guess you could say I kind of stand out amongst other people my age. On my weekends, I go to leadership meetings and teach people about health and wellness. In the evening, I'm on conference calls/webinars to learn more about business and leadership skills, and I currently have a stack of John Maxwell books sitting on my shelf that I am working through. I mean, here I am, about to graduate college while on my way to financial freedom through residual income that I have generated through <a href="http://www.naturallypureoils4u.com/">my "side" Essential Oil Business</a> (which I plan to make full time in the very near future). While all my friends are going to career fairs and planning when they are going to take the GRE for graduate school, here I am urgently looking forward to the day when I graduate so I can finally have time to work my business full time. Clearly I'm not your "average" college student. Haha. The question I often get is, WHY? Why am I doing this? Why am I like this? While personality can come into play a little bit, I know the majority of the reason is due to the influence of my parents growing up. Please hear me out, I am NOT saying this to brag in ANY way...I just want to share with you some of the principles of personal growth, independence, and financial freedom that my parents have instilled into me that have made me successful in who I am today, and to show you how these same simple principles can totally rock your world as they have mine.</div>
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When I was little, my parents would play CD's of motivational speakers in the car ALL THE TIME. Sounds like a 4 year old girl's dream, right?...Or not. I cannot tell you how many times I begged them to play the Pocahontas or The Little Mermaid soundtrack. I mean, personal development could NOT have been more boring to me at the time. However, whether I realized it or not...the principles I was hearing became drilled into my being, and they have left an enormous mark on my life. This is just ONE aspect of how my parents have played such a key role in my life, and are people whom I really look up to.</div>
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The principles I'm about to share with you are principles for SUCCESS that have inspired me on my journey to where I am today. They will inspire you too, and if you practice them, watch out world, because you will be UNSTOPPABLE! YOU were made to THRIVE, NOT merely survive! Never forget that!</div>
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1. <i style="font-weight: bold;">You are UNLIMI</i><i style="font-weight: bold;">TED. </i><i style="font-weight: bold;">Don't limit yourself. Don't let others limit you. </i>My dad used to tell me all the time, "Priya, you can do ANYTHING at all, if you are willing to put in the work. Don't be afraid to dream big." I cannot tell you the effect this has on a child. If you are a parent, don't ever limit your children or tell them they're not good enough. I am telling you guys, if you truly grasp this concept, the world will not be able to stop you. There will be NO limits to what you can accomplish. I have often heard Adam Green, a network marketing professional who I look up to, say that the most expensive thing you can own is a closed mind. Think about that for a minute.</div>
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2. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Think out of the box. </i>You don't have to follow everyone else, make your own path. For example, our society says to do well in high school, go to college for 4 years, graduate, and then get a good job so you can work for 40 years and then retire to the "golden years," where you can<i> really </i>enjoy life. I don't know about you guys, but I just can't seem to come to terms with the fact that most people work 40 years of their life in a job they don't like...just to enjoy 10-15 years afterwards. Something seems out of balance there. I want my whole life to be golden years, no?! If time is the only commodity we invest that we never get back, why are so many people investing it in something they don't enjoy? My point is this: Don't feel like you always have to go with the "status quo." Remember it is the people who "go against the grain" in life that truly make an impact in the world. Be creative, be unique, be you.</div>
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3. <b><i>Invest in Yourself.</i> </b>The human mind is an extremely powerful tool, and YOU are worth the investment. I cannot stress this enough. All of those motivational speakers my parents made me listen to as a 4 year old? That had a HUGE impact on my life, even though at the time I did NOT enjoy it. Personal development equips you and gives you the tools you need to meet your goals in this world. Life can be ugly, guys. It can bring you down, but if you are equipped to know how to handle yourself in response to whatever comes your way by using your failures to leverage you into greater growth....my oh my...nothing can stop you.</div>
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4.<b> <i>ALWAYS have a heart of generosity and gratefulness. </i></b><i> </i>When things in your life go wrong, remember that there are always those who have it worse than you. Count your blessings, and readily use what you have been given to bless others. We are blessed to bless. Also, remember that the most important things in this life cannot be bought. </div>
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5. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Be good stewards of your money! </i>This goes hand-in-hand with #4. Make wise financial decisions. In other words, don't buy things you can't afford and drive yourself into debt. My dad has ALWAYS taught me that if there is any way possible, AVOID loans and debt. You will sleep so much more soundly at night with that stress off your shoulders. Use your money as a tool to work for you. You should own your money, it should not own you. If you're thinking about making a big purchase this year such as buying a house or car, it is always smart to get some financial advising. Personal Capital has some great free finance tools <a href="https://www.personalcapital.com/financial-software">here</a> that can help you in this way.</div>
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In conclusion, an open letter to the people whom I can't thank enough:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dear Mom and Dad,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank you for the incredible impact you have had on my life. Thank you for the principles of independence and strength that you have taught me from a very young age. Thank you for teaching me how to make wise financial decisions, in being generous and giving back, as well as teaching me self-discipline in that area. Thank you for ALWAYS being my number one fan, and encouraging me to fight for my dreams no matter what others thought of me. I love you guys so much. </span></div>
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And to everyone reading this, you ARE a world changer. You CAN make a difference, and you CAN choose to act today and start living the life you want to live. </div>
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Love you guys!! Be sure to hit the "follow" button on the right so you can be back to continue our series on personal values!!</div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-53999315422734362302016-01-25T20:51:00.000-08:002016-01-25T20:51:33.238-08:00Defining Your Values: A Series (3/6)Hello friends :)<br />
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I hope you all have had a wonderful start to your week...you know, I was talking to someone today and I was asking them how their day was going, and they replied with a mellow, "well, you know, Monday." I was tempted to agree and then was like WAIT...NO!!! If the days of the week had feelings, I think Monday would be the most hurt because people always seem to be complaining about the dreaded...Monday! You know it's true! We really need to change our view of Mondays here, guys. Monday is NOT just a boring, dreaded, start to the week. Monday is the opportunity for a new, fresh, beginning! A week full of opportunities, decisions, and moving forward. Why don't we stop looking at Mondays as something to dread but instead as something new we can LEARN this week! Whether you absolutely LOVE Mondays because you love what you do, or you hate your job and the fact that you have to sit at your cramped desk all week listening to your annoying coworkers complain about how the coffeemaker in the lounge stopped working, make a decision to CHOOSE to LOVE Mondays because of the OPPORTUNITIES the week will bring. Happiness is a CHOICE...Anyway, okay, rant over. Let's shift back to what you really came here for...<br />
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The real reason I am writing this post is to discuss my 3rd value for our series on values! I am so excited about this, guys!! We are half-way done!<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Value #3: Intentional Relationships</b></span></div>
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Okay, so this is HUGE. Now, I know It sounds like some really fancy thing that seems really complicated and hard, but I am telling you, it's not. It just requires a little...mmm..intentionality (sorry to my 6th grade vocabulary teacher who told me never to define a word using the word). Intentionality means choosing to make time for people...DESPITE the craziness of life. Newsflash, we are ALL BUSY. Yup. All of us, in our own way. So, you are no longer allowed to use that as an excuse because we are all on the same playing field here. :) Intentionality means choosing to act DESPITE your busyness. It means choosing to write a 3 sentence card to your friend on their birthday or anniversary...sending them a quick text letting them know that you prayed for them today (make sure you actually did)...or sending them some flowers when you know they're feeling down...I am telling you guys, people LOVE this. YOU love this! Think about the last time someone took the time to write and send you a personal note. It made your day, right? And you probably kept it for a long time too! Sadly, even though writing a quick note can literally take 5 minutes and is SO easy, this is an area that I am working to be better at as well, so trust me, I am talking to myself here too! Haha.<br />
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Anyway, I KNOW this makes a HUGE impact on people in our world. This REALLY lets people know that you CARE, and THAT makes a difference. PEOPLE MATTER. Your RELATIONSHIPS with them matter. In the business world, this tells people that you appreciate them and really do care for them as a person...it lets them know that they're not just a number to you, but a living, breathing person, whom you care about. If you are in the kind of business I am in..it is about SOOO much more than you or I..or even...essential oils (gasp! Yes, I said it!)...it's about PEOPLE and the PEOPLE God has put in our lives to SERVE and LEAD. So...my challenge to you (and to myself), is to take a moment RIGHT NOW and write a quick encouraging note to a friend. Go ahead, do it right now. I'm doing it with you.<br />
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Now, tomorrow, put a stamp on it and put in in your mailbox. Okay? Okay. Let's be intentional in our relationships.<br />
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Love you guys!! Thanks for taking the time to read this! I'll see you back here for value #4 coming soon!Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-63723463637569719352016-01-03T13:50:00.000-08:002016-01-25T20:51:02.712-08:00Defining Your Values: A Series (2/6)<b>"Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."- Isaiah 43:18-19</b><br />
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Goodbye 2015, hello 2016! It's a new year, a new start. I just started a 21 days of prayer for my business to start off the new year (you can find out more about that <a href="http://www.youinfuse.com/">here</a> if you're interested), and ALREADY God has been moving in my heart. This verse really speaks to me and I am declaring it as my theme verse for 2016. I am SO excited to start off the year in the right way by setting my focus on the Lord and I am thrilled to see how He works this year.<br />
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In the second post of this series, I am going to talk about a value to me that is absolutely <i>critical</i> to growth in <i>any</i> area of life, and in being a successful leader. While these posts are not in any order regarding ranking of values (except the for the last one...which is really my #1 value), this one definitely ranks up somewhere near the top. Also, with the new year just ringing in, there is no better time to write about this:<br />
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Vision. Proverbs 29:18 states "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Vision is what drives people, it motivates them. It gets them through the hard times because they are able to see the greater vision, the dream. It is the job of the leader to cast a vision for the team, to give them direction and pave the way. It is crucial to the success of any large feat. VISION inspires people to ACTION which leads to GOAL SETTING which in turn makes DREAMS come true. Vision gives one a concrete picture of what they are trying to create as a result of their actions. So this new year, in whatever area you may be working in, if you are in a position of influence and leadership, cast a direction for the people you are working with. It creates unity, drive, and success. </div>
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What is your vision for 2016? Where do you see yourself going? What do you see yourself doing? Who do you want to impact? </div>
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Keep in mind that VISION does not mean GOALS, though it can include your goals. GOALS are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. Whereas a VISION is a more broad and general direction that you see yourself going. However, your GOALS should lead you to accomplishing your VISION, which will inspire further action to make your DREAMS come true! :) </div>
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Without a vision, the people perish. What is <i>your</i> vision for 2016?<br />
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-45151659023942955132015-11-17T10:32:00.000-08:002016-01-25T20:51:16.000-08:00Defining Your Values: A Series (1/6)Values. We all have them, whether we have taken the time to seek them out and define them or not. They are principles that define us- our businesses, our work, our free time, our interactions with others...they are a core part of who are are, and they are different for everybody. They define who we are and explain why we do the things we do. Every successful company has core values that defines what they are about. Think about it- Disney, Apple, Walmart...even the University I attend has 4 core values that drive it. Our businesses are driven by values too, and it is important for us to recognize and define them so that people who see us know what we are about and what we are striving for.<br />
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Last February when I attended the Thrive Conference in Nashville hosted by Monique McLean, we had a session on this very topic. I went home, did some soul searching, and developed my values- I have 6 of them. I am going to do a series for the next 6 posts of going through those values and why they matter- I am not ashamed of them as they really encompass what drives me to keep working on growing my business (they are different than my "why," though they make up parts of it)....also I hope it will encourage YOU to seek out your personal values - they will be different than mine and represent a picture of your business and your life. At the end of this series, I will make a post with a step-by-step guide for how you can come up with your values! It's going to be great!<br />
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SO, with that being said...<br />
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(Also these are in no particular order, except for the last one, which is really my top one- best for last, ya know? ;))<br />
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I got a text today from a good family friend that I helped introduce the oils to and become a part of this journey. She explained how her family was incorporating the oils into all parts of their lives and how even her kids loved learning about them and using them. She said it was a lifestyle change and expressed thanks for how much she loved her oils.<br />
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I got another phone call recently from a downline member who told me a heart-warming story about how she was so thankful for Ningxia Red and how it has completely changed her dad's life- for the better. Calls and messages like this are not out of the ordinary in this oily journey, and it is so fun and exciting to hear each time! My automatic response in my mind: <i> I was a part of that? Of telling you about this? Wow, that is humbling. </i>I give all the glory for everything in my business to the Lord, for it is He that brings people into our lives and causes our business to grow, but the fact that He is choosing to use me in such an impacting position is so incredibly humbling!<br />
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BUT the greater fact is that <i>lives are being changed!! </i>I'm not just talking about physical wellness here, either, guys!! I'm talking about empowering people to live in <i>wellness, purpose, and abundance in ALL areas of life -</i>spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial. It gives me the opportunity to serve people and lead people- to show them the love of Christ in all of my work. I am thrilled to be a part of a company that is so life changing....truly! THIS is part of my "why" I do what I do....I share the oils with everyone I possibly can because I know how it will positively make an impact in their life, and I want to be a part of that. To me, not telling someone is incredibly selfish. When we help to change people's lives we are changing the world, one little bit at a time.<br />
I am a world changer, and you know what!? I believe you can be too! :)<br />
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-84677475839590892332015-10-24T09:56:00.003-07:002015-10-24T09:56:57.106-07:00Citrus Ningxia Wolfberry TeaHi friends!<br />
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I saw this recipe posted online by one of my Facebook friends who is also involved in Young Living, and it looked so good that I just had to try it and post about it for others to try! This is a perfect tea for a cool fall or winter day to curl up with a blanket and good book. I think the best part about it is getting to eat the hydrated wolfberries at the end- it's quite a treat! :D<br />
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<b><u>Citrus Ningxia Wolfberry Tea</u></b></div>
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<b><u>Ingredients</u></b></div>
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2-3 tbsp. Dried Ningxia Wolfberries (or enough to thoroughly coat the bottom of your mug)</div>
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1-2 drops Young Living Citrus Fresh Essential Oil</div>
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Honey or Agave Syrup (optional)</div>
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<b><u>Directions</u></b></div>
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Put the wolfberries in your mug. You can add more to adjust the tea to your liking. I like my tea to be flavorful, so I tend to be more generous with the wolfberries. You can't really overdo it, so just try it to see what you like! Add boiling water to the mug, and let the tea steep for 2-3 minutes. Add the Citrus Fresh, or any other dietary Young Living Essential Oil. Stir in the honey or agave to your liking, and enjoy! I like to leave the wolfberries in the tea while I am drinking it, so I can slowly eat them. :-) </div>
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New to Young Living? Click <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-can-i-get-these-young-living-oils.html">Here </a>to find out how you can get some of these oils and yummy wolfberries for yourself at a reduced price!</div>
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-16765514175651375832015-10-15T12:34:00.000-07:002015-10-15T12:49:39.075-07:00Gluten-Free Chocolatey Pumpkin Walnut Bread Deliciousness (w/essential oils!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
MMMM I loveeee the tastes and smells of fall. Carmel apples, pumpkin pies, spiced coffees...I could go on! Today I decided to make a <i>gluten-free chocolate pumpkin walnut bread with essential oils</i>!! Now that's a mouthful- literally! This bread is SOOO good and very moist- it certainly does not taste "gluten-free." It is my new favorite go-to fall bread, and your house will smell amazing when you bake it. Enjoy!</div>
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Ohh fuzzy socks...! Those are also on my list for fall/winter favorites. :-)</div>
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These oils would be wonderful diffused together, they are all so wonderful in this bread!<br />
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The nice thing about this recipe is that it is a "one-bowl bread," meaning that you only use one bowl! I am a big fan of less clean-up and dishes so this made things super easy!</div>
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Note: The dough will be quite thick before you add the pumpkin and water (above picture). Don't worry though, it will become easier to work with. Also, you can remove the walnuts and/or chocolate if you don't like them, it shouldn't alter the recipe much.</div>
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Adding the oils, my favorite part!! Make sure you mix them in well (but don't overmix) so that they are evenly distributed!</div>
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This is my "I-wish-you-could-be-here-to-smell-how-amazing-this-is" look. Sigh. It is times like this that I wish scents could go through the computer!</div>
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Andddd after 67 minutes....viola! </div>
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I like it the best when it is warm so that all of the chocolate is melted! Yum!</div>
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<b><u>Gluten-Free Chocolate Walnut Pumpkin Bread w/ Essential Oils </u></b></div>
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<u>Ingredients:</u></div>
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3 c. sugar (can use xylitol for a lower carb option)</div>
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1 c. grapeseed, avacado, or olive oil</div>
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4 eggs</div>
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2 c. gluten-free flour</div>
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1 1/2 c. almond flour/meal</div>
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2 tsp. baking soda</div>
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1 1/2 tsp. salt</div>
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2/3 c. water</div>
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1-15 oz. can Pumpkin Pie (not pie filling)</div>
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1 c. coarsely chopped walnuts</div>
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1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips</div>
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7 drops of Young Living Nutmeg Essential Oil*</div>
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3 drops of Young Living Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil*</div>
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2 drops of Young Living Orange Essential Oil*</div>
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1 drop of Young Living Clove Essential Oil*</div>
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*I only recommend ingesting Young Living brand essential oils. <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-your.html">Here's why</a>.</div>
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<u>Instructions:</u></div>
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1. Grease 2 large loaf pans and preheat oven to 350 degrees.</div>
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2. Beat sugar, oil, and eggs together.</div>
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3. Beat in flour and almond meal (1 cup at a time), baking soda and salt.</div>
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4. Stir in pumpkin and water (if using an electric mixer, don't use it for this step, as everything will splatter all over the place).</div>
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5. Add chocolate, walnuts, and all essential oils. Mix thoroughly, but do not over-mix.</div>
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6. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Remember, if you added chocolate, it will always come out on the toothpick, but you are looking for no <i>batter </i>on the toothpick).</div>
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7. Let stand in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then remove to a rack and cool.</div>
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8. Wrap when completely cool. These freeze very well!</div>
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Enjoy!!! Let me know how you like it!</div>
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-34209721845660052222015-06-30T13:57:00.000-07:002015-06-30T14:09:14.556-07:00An Unusual Twist on GratitudeToday I was looking back over some of my past twitter/facebook posts, and the more I did that, the more I was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I remembered the good times, the times I was laughing so hard I was crying, the memories made with my friends, and the longing to be remake those memories again. However, I really was drawn to reflecting on the difficult times, and more importantly, how much I had grown through those difficult times.<br />
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It's weird.<br />
You see, I enjoyed thinking about and reminiscing on the hard times almost more so than I did on the fun times. It seems almost backward.<br />
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I'm not saying that I necessarily enjoyed the thoughts and feelings that rushed back along with those hard memories, but it made me realize where I am today, and how I would not be where I am today had I NOT had those hard times, and had I not chosen to grow <i>through</i> them. Hence, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for them.<br />
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God is so good. He grace is....indescribable. In my own life, I've always found that I grow the most through tough times, and I'm pretty sure that applies to most people. I LOVE Genesis 50:20 that states <b>"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result." (NASB) </b>What Satan intends for evil, God can turn it around for good and for His glory, because He works ALL things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). We see this all throughout the Bible, but the story of Joseph is especially brought to my mind.<br />
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So, what can we learn from this?<br />
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<u><b><i>1. You can choose to accept and be at peace about the past:</i></b></u> Nothing that you've done is out of the reach of God's forgiveness and grace. Don't beat yourself up! Forgiveness of <b>yourself</b> and others is a key catalyst to the healing process. God can and will work everything for your good! I'm not saying you may not have to deal with the consequences of your actions, but your future can be bright! We all make mistakes, so don't dwell on the past, but rather, <b>choose</b> to learn and grow from it. :)<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">2. Live in the present!</i> I sometimes catch myself playing the "what if" game...don't do that! You are where you are for a reason. The past is gone. Whatever you are doing and wherever you are, be all in and do it for HIS glory.<br />
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<b style="font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">3. Get excited about the future- and stop worrying!</b> God has you in His hand, and He will guide your path and direct you, if you let Him! Yes, we make mistakes, but He is always there to guide us back and lead us to Him. I was once told to think of it like a GPS. We're supposed to let God direct us (let Him be our GPS), but sometimes we take a wrong turn. When this happens, the GPS recalculates to get us back on the right track- so God does with our life!<br />
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Here are 2 songs that I absolutely LOVE that completely resonate with this entry:<br />
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<i>Sovereign Over Us</i>- Aaron Keyes: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkMbhydU9I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkMbhydU9I</a><br />
<i>Through All of It</i>- Colton Dixon: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91KliTa1ksY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91KliTa1ksY</a><br />
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Anyway, just a few thoughts for the day. Time to go back and study for my Gen Chem II final exam that is tomorrow..ha.. :p THANK YOU for taking the time to read. :)Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-83623930913018617812015-06-24T15:03:00.001-07:002016-03-12T09:07:45.647-08:00Beautifying Foaming Facial Cleanser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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A few people have asked me what I use to make my own facial cleanser, so, here it is! I absolutely LOVE to lather my face with this recipe....it's so luxurious and refreshing- better yet, it's extremely economical AND completely natural. Can't get much better than that!</div>
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I made a video about how I do this on Youtube. This is EASY EASY EASY but some people prefer to actually watch it happen. You can check out the video by clicking <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO1DQQezsOE">here.</a> </div>
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The biggest thing that I emphasize when I do this recipe is that you can MAKE IT YOUR OWN!! Play around with the ratio of the oils you use, or try different oils! It's really really hard to mess this up, I promise. Sometimes I substitute different oils based on what I have on hand, and that's okay! Make this how YOU like it. Or in the words of Burger King, "Have it Your Way." </div>
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I always like to gather all my ingredients first. </div>
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With this recipe, all you do is mix all the ingredients in one foaming *glass container and you're all set! It's really that simple.</div>
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Ta da! Foaming facial cleanser, it about 3 minutes. </div>
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*A note on the container. I am reusing a Young Living facial cleaner container. I know they use a special grade of plastic that is safe to use with the oils at this level of dilution- do not just go out any buy any old plastic container! Amazon has some good glass ones, and you can also get some at <a href="http://www.lifesciencepublishers.com/">www.lifesciencepublishers.com </a>that are okay to use with diluted EO's.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Natural Beautifying Foaming Facial Cleanser</span></u></b></div>
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Makes about 1 cup</div>
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<u><b>Ingredients:</b></u></div>
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1). Young Living Essential Oils! Use this as a guide, but you can also substitute other oils. For example, my mom uses Frankincense, Geranium, Myrrh, and Sandalwood instead of the oils I'm using.</div>
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-8 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil</div>
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-4 drops Lemon Essential Oil</div>
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-7 drops Frankincense Essential Oil</div>
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-6 drops Purification Essential Oil</div>
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-7 drops Lavender Essential Oil</div>
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-5 drops Elemi Essential Oil</div>
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2). About 1/4 c. Organic unscented Castille Soap- this is available at Target or on Amazon.</div>
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3). Distilled water</div>
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<b><u>Directions:</u></b></div>
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1). Pour the castille soup into your empty container. </div>
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2). Add the oils as you desire.</div>
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3). Fill the container the remainder of the way with distilled water! </div>
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Shake it up and you're good to go!</div>
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*Note: This supports ALL skin types, but, if you do have more mature skin, you can make it extra special by adding a little jojoba oil, vitamin e oil, and rosewater. </div>
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If you're curious about how to get some Young Living oils, I can hook you up. Just <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-can-i-get-these-young-living-oils.html">click here</a> to read my post about it!</div>
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-27502375092675154852015-06-15T15:29:00.001-07:002016-01-27T19:53:28.725-08:00How Can I get these Young Living Oils? So you've read some of my posts or maybe some other things online about the awesomeness of Young Living Essential oils, but are you ready to try them for yourself? I'm here to help walk you through that process- seriously, it couldn't be easier! There are a few different starter kits to choose from, but the premium kit gives you the BEST deal around.<br />
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The Young Living Premium Starter kit comes with 11 of the most commonly used essential oils, your choice of diffuser, a FREE wholesale membership, and other various samples and product information.<br />
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As a side note, know that you do NOT have to promote or sell Young Living- EVER. There are NO monthly minimums. There are NO strings attached to this...really! :) You WILL be getting a box full of goodies and tools that have the power to change your life!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>ᗯᕼᗩT ᑕOᗰEᔕ Iᑎ TᕼE ᑭᖇEᗰIᑌᗰ ᔕTᗩᖇTEᖇ KIT?</u></span><br />
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The Everyday Oils Collection, which includes 10 oils that come in 5ml bottles. The bottles contain about 85 drops, and since essential oils are very concentrated, you usually only use 1-2 drops per use. With this in mind, you can see how economical this kit is when you consider the price per drop. The oils included in the U.S. Kit are:<br />
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1. Thieves: Supports a healthy immune system!<br />
2. Digize: Promotes healthy digestive functioning.<br />
3. Frankincense: The famous gift! Valued higher than gold in ancient times due to it's many uses, from promoting beautiful skin to being emotionally grounding.<br />
4. Lemon: Uplift and clean with this oil!<br />
5. Copaiba: A wonderful oil that is effective in supporting healthy digestion when taken internally.<br />
6. Peppermint: Promotes healthy digestion and mental clarity, among it's many other uses.<br />
7. Panaway: The "after stretching, after climbing, after working, after bending" kind of oil. Supports a healthy musculo-skeletal system.<br />
8. Lavender: One of the most versatile oils! Creates a peaceful and relaxing environment when diffused.<br />
9. RC: Promotes a healthy respiratory system.<br />
10. Purification- Purifies the air when diffused as opposed to just masking smells; apply topically to enjoy the outdoors "annoyance-free."<br />
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PLUS you get a 5mL bottle of Stress Away- one of my favorites, the name says it all!<br />
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Roller Filament- for easily using your favorite oils on the go!<br />
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Two Samples of Ningxia Red- a powerhouse of nutrients in a DELICIOUS low sugar juice containing the Ningxia Wolfberry and essential oils.<br />
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10 Sample packs of essential oils for sharing with friends or to take on the go!<br />
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AND a diffuser! The diffuser acts as a humidifier, air purifier, and aromatherapy diffuser in one easy to use product that safely releases essential oils into the air to eliminate odors and create a peaceful atmosphere in any home! This is one of the MOST effective ways to use your oils! The oils are broken into micro-particles that you passively breathe, which goes into your lungs and entire body.<br />
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You also get a FREE wholesale membership that allows you to save 24% on future orders!<br />
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<b>The Premium Starter Kit is an INCREDIBLE deal for $160 + tax and shipping. <i>If you were to buy all these things at retail, it would cost nearly $300, </i>so why not save some money now and take advantage of this AWESOME deal!? This is how I was introduced to Young Living, and I LOVED playing with all my oils when I got them! There are hundreds of ways to use the oils in this kit! When you order with me, you'll also get one-on-one personal support from me and group support from our Lavender Legacy Team community. We offer a New Member Bootcamp on Facebook as well for our new members, as a gathering place where you can learn about the oils in a safe environment and get started using them!</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>GᖇEᗩT! ᕼOᗯ ᗪO I OᖇᗪEᖇ?</u></span></div>
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Ordering your Premium Kit is SUPER easy! Just follow these simple 5 steps:</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Step I</span></u></div>
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-<a href="http://yl.pe/9kr" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to go to my online referral link.</div>
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-Choose your membership- "Wholesale member" will already be selected. If you want the Premium Starter Kits or another Starter kit, you can move on. If you'd like a retail account, select "retail customer."</div>
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-Young Living is a referral based business, so they will ask who introduced you to Young Living. My member number (1485460) will already be populated in both the "sponsor" and "enroller" fields, so you can move along.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Step II</span></u></div>
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-Fill out your membership information and sign-in information. Create a username, password, and pin. The password will need 1 capital letter and 1 number. I'd recommend writing this down for future log in's.</div>
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-Tax Info- select Individual or Business. Wondering why they need this? A SSN is required for wholesale members (like how you had to give it to get a Costco or Sam's membership) as a federal regulation for tax purposes. However, If no one purchases anything using your Young Living member number, your SSN will not be used. </div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Step III</span></u></div>
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-Select Starter Kit- The Premium Kit should automatically be selected, but you get to choose your diffuser! The dew drop diffuser comes with the $160 price, but you can upgrade to other diffusers if you'd like.</div>
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-Essential Rewards is Young Living's monthly auto-ship program. It's COMPLETELY optional, so you don't have to worry about it right now. In the future, if you find yourself making repeat orders, then it's definitely something you'd want to do as it's free and allows you to start earning points back for free product and gives you reduced shipping rates. But for now, don't worry about that section.</div>
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-Now you can add more products or proceed to check out.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Step IV</span></u></div>
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-Select your shipping method and enter payment info.</div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Step V</span></u></div>
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-Review your cart, then select "Activate and Place order"</div>
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You're all set!! Congratulations on making a decision that will promote the wellness of you and your family! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using the link at the top of the page! Your order should be arriving in 5-8 days. You can always log into your Young Living account to track your order. I'll be sending you a personal welcome email shortly that will give you some more information and resources for you to use while you wait for your lovely box of oils!</div>
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<b>Also, check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn1jpxZ7QL8" target="_blank">this video</a>, it really shares the heart of Young Living as a company!</b></div>
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I'm so excited for you to try these oils, AHHH I can't wait for you to get them!!!! Hah. I'm just as excited as you are for you to get them, because I know how AWESOME they are and how much they are going to rock your world!!</div>
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-42192897573433250982015-06-15T14:00:00.000-07:002015-06-24T15:14:08.087-07:00Gluten-Free Lemon Cupcakes with Luscious Lavender IcingAbout a month ago it was my birthday, so I decided that I wanted to make a dessert to celebrate! (Yes I am posting this super late, but better late than never!) Now, usually, if you know me at all, you know that I would TOTALLY go for something chocolate, because well, that's just me. BUT I'd been wanting to experiment more with using essential oils in cooking, so I decided to try something that would be (hopefully) pretty good and that would allow me to try something new with the oils. Turns out, it WAS really good!!! I ended up taking the cupcakes to a team meeting (with other oilers) and they LOVED them- yay!<br />
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Side note: I ONLY recommend cooking with and ingesting Young Living brand essential oils. You can look at my <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-to-know-if-you-can-trust-your.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> to find out why it's the only company I trust, but even if you don't take it from me, Young Living oils are the only ones that are GRAS (generally recognized as safe for ingestion) by the FDA and are food-grade quality. Anything else you use migghhhttt a). cause the taste to be different and/or b). contain chemicals that might not be the smartest to ingest.<br />
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Anyway, I found the original cake recipe <a href="http://sweetapolita.com/2012/05/la-la-lavender-lemon-cloud-cupcakes/" target="_blank">here</a>, and the icing recipe <a href="https://corkandspoon.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/lemon-cupcakes-with-lavender-frosting/" target="_blank">here</a>! However, I did make some modifications from the original recipes, since the recipes didn't use essential oils like I did. :-)<br />
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Got all the supplies ready to go!</div>
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I LOVEEE lemon zest!! Mmm! The recipe above originally called for the zest of 2 lemons, but I only used the zest of 1 lemon + 12 drops of Lemon EO. YUM. It was the PERFECT balance of fresh and tangy!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8V4Orte46Y/VX7jJpUZmPI/AAAAAAAAAVU/Vpi0tNB_R_Q/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8V4Orte46Y/VX7jJpUZmPI/AAAAAAAAAVU/Vpi0tNB_R_Q/s640/finished.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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YAY! Finally out! The batter was thick, so the cake turned out to be more of a moist lemon pound-cake consistency, which was actually really delicious with the lavender icing. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smoCo0mtuKA/VX7jvlSaRQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-XoEb3fF-Tg/s1600/frosting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smoCo0mtuKA/VX7jvlSaRQI/AAAAAAAAAVg/-XoEb3fF-Tg/s1600/frosting.jpg" /></a></div>
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Finally, after waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting....they were cool enough to ice. :-) The original icing recipe used dried lavender instead of Lavender EO. I just used the essential oil and it worked wonderfully! BUT you ONLY need 1 or maybe 2 drops oil. Start with less, trust me. The lavender is VERY potent and if you put too much, your icing will taste like a bar of soap. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_KhpZfGA8Q/VX7lHHjOdJI/AAAAAAAAAVs/eNIuemsgBn0/s1600/final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_KhpZfGA8Q/VX7lHHjOdJI/AAAAAAAAAVs/eNIuemsgBn0/s640/final1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Final touches. :)</div>
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Ta-da!! Lemon Cupcakes with Luscious Lavender Icing. Perfect for your next summer event, or the next time you want to try cooking with your YL essential oils. :-)</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gluten- Free Lemon Cake Recipe- </span>modified from <a href="http://sweetapolita.com/2012/05/la-la-lavender-lemon-cloud-cupcakes/" target="_blank">Sweetapolita's original recipe</a></div>
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Yields 18 Cupcakes</div>
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<u>Ingredients</u></div>
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1 cup buttermilk, at room temp.</div>
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2 eggs + 1 yolk, at room temp.</div>
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1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract</div>
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2 cups gluten free flower, sifted</div>
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1 1/4 cups granulated sugar</div>
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1 1/2 tsp. baking powder</div>
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1/2 tsp. baking soda</div>
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1/4 tsp. salt</div>
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1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temp.</div>
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Zest of 1 med-large lemon</div>
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12 drops Young Living Lemon Essential Oil</div>
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<u>Directions:</u></div>
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1). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 2 standard sized muffin pans with baking liners.</div>
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2). In a medium bowl, combine and stir the eggs, 1/4 cup of buttermilk, and vanilla. Set aside. </div>
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3). The the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients, including the sugar, together on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the butter and blend on low speed for 30 more seconds, then add remaining buttermilk and mix on low speed until just moistened. Increase to medium speed and blend for 1 1/2 minutes.</div>
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4). Scrape the sides of the bowl and begin to add egg/milk mixture in 3 separate batches. Beat on medium speed for 20 seconds in between additions. Stir in the lemon zest and essential oil.</div>
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5). Divide the batter between the liners, do not fill liners more than 2/3 full!</div>
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6). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (about 15-20 minutes). Be really careful not to over-bake. When done, place the hot pans on wire racks and carefully (they're really hot!!) remove the cupcakes to let cool. Allow to cool completely before icing. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luscious Lavender Icing- </span>modified from <a href="https://corkandspoon.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/lemon-cupcakes-with-lavender-frosting/" target="_blank">Corkandspoon's original recipe</a></div>
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<u>Ingredients:</u></div>
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1 cup milk (give or take, play around with it until you get the consistency you want)</div>
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1/2 cup butter, softened (NOT melted)</div>
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about 5c. powdered sugar</div>
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salt</div>
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1-2 drops Young Living Lavender Essential Oil (I'd stick with one, personally) </div>
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2 tsp. fresh lemon juice (I don't recommend the pre-bottled stuff)</div>
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2 tsp. fresh lemon zest</div>
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<u>Directions:</u></div>
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1). Beat butter and 2 tbsp of milk together in an electric mixer, add a nice pinch of salt</div>
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2). Add 2.5 cups of powdered sugar and beat until incorporated.</div>
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3). Add lemon zest and juice, and Lavender Oil</div>
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4). Begin alternating between additions of more sugar (about 1/2 c. at a time) and milk (no more than a few teaspoon's at a time). Taste test frequently to determine if you need to add more sugar or milk, based on the flavor of the lavender. Keep an eye on how thick it is becoming. Play around with it a bit, and make it how you like it. If the lavender is too strong, add more powdered sugar. If the icing is too thick, add more milk. </div>
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5). If you'd like, use gel food coloring to tint the frosting. Liquid food coloring has the potential to make the frosting runny, so stick with gel if you can.</div>
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6). For best results, chill the icing 30-45 minutes before piping on cupcakes (I totally forgot this step when I made it, hence why my icing looks more runny) :) </div>
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Enjoy and happy baking!! </div>
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If you're curious about how to get some Young Living oils, I can hook you up. Just <a href="http://youngandthriving.blogspot.com/2015/06/how-can-i-get-these-young-living-oils.html">click here</a> to read my post about it!</div>
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<br />Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4816569306475623372.post-12804573006397887772015-06-07T13:20:00.002-07:002016-01-27T19:54:37.783-08:00Can You Trust Your Essential Oil Company?Okay, so this is a topic that I feel NEEDS to be addressed. If you're totally confused about the whole essential oil thing and don't even know where to start, THIS is the article for you.<br />
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There are ALOT of essential oil companies out there. Literally, just walk into the nearest health food's store and take a walk down the entire isle they have dedicated to the stuff. If you've never noticed it before, you will now. Now, if I was new to this field, I know I would feel very overwhelmed trying to decide which oil is a good one! I was at a conference this last weekend on Essential Oils, and the speaker said that <i>the essential oil industry is one of the most corrupted industries out there. </i>WOW, that blew my mind! BUT it does make sense when you start to do some research! I found out that 98% of oils on the market have been adulterated or diluted to some extent. I mean, it would be ironic, even dangerous, to try to do something "natural," but then unknowingly be using "natural" products that still contained synthetics.<br />
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SO what's the deal? How can you really know if what you're using for your family is safe?<br />
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Personally, I only use Young Living Oils. Yes, I'll admit that I am a bit biased. However, here's a good comparison of different companies. You can make the decision for yourself. These are GREAT questions to ask when determining what oils you want to use- the company you use should be willing to provide you with this type of information. If they don't know or won't tell you...RED FLAG.<br />
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Other reasons I only use Young Living....<br />
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1. <b>Not only do they own their own farms, but they go BEYOND organic in their farming.</b> They clear all their own land, so they never buy farms that have previously been farmed on, due to potential residual pesticides that could be in the soil. Pest control is done using their essential oils, and weed control is done by hand!<br />
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<b>2. They are the largest distiller of essential oils in the world and are a 20 year old company. </b><br />
Lots of experience here!<br />
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<b>3. When a particular plant is out of season and a product runs out of stock...we sometimes have to wait until the harvest until we are able to get that product again! </b>While this can be a pain sometimes, it truly is evidence that they will NOT sacrifice purity for sales. It would be SO easy for them to add synthetics to the oil so that it smells almost exactly the same, but they're not about that life. They're about purity and giving their customers only the best, even if it means we have to wait for it sometimes. However, they are currently expanding their farms so that this doesn't happen. :)<br />
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<b>4. Many Young Living Oils are GRAS (generally recognized as safe for ingestion) by the FDA.</b><br />
HINT: If an oil you ever buy from somewhere else says "not for internal use," in small print,...red flags should be going up EVERYWHERE!! After all, everything you put on your skin goes internally anyway.<br />
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<b>5. The Seed to Seal Promise ensures quality throughout every part of the distillation and growing process. </b>Distillation and testing facilities are on site. Check out <a href="http://www.seedtoseal.com/">www.seedtoseal.com</a> for more info.<br />
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<b>6. YL oils are first distillation only- which means they are the most potent and concentrated.</b><br />
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After looking at all of the facts, it was easy for me to determine that I was with a company that was providing the highest quality EO's on the market, and that YES, I could trust Young Living oils to be held to the highest standard of excellence.<br />
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Anyway, I hope this helps someone out there that's working through all this! Essential Oils are a wonderful thing. :) I'd love to chat with you about it and can help you get the best deal with the best EO's around! Just shoot me an email under the "contact me" tab or visit <a href="http://www.naturallypureoils4u.com/">www.naturallypureoils4u.com</a>!<br />
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Love you guys!!<br />
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Priyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14794071566085398408noreply@blogger.com0