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Spring Allergy Relief Diffuser Blends – Free Cheat Sheet

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Naturally tackle spring allergy symptoms with these Spring Allergy Relief Diffuser Blends that will help you ease your seasonal allergy and sinus issues.

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I recently stopped burning candles and have been using my essential oil diffuser almost daily to keep our home smelling fresh and clean.  But diffusers aren’t just for home fragrance use.  They’re great for diffusing essential oil blends that have some health benefits.  Diffusing essential oils can help boost your mood, calm anxiety, and even help you find some relief when you’re feeling under the weather.

With spring officially here – and allergies starting to flare up – I thought I’d share some of my favorite Spring Allergy Relief Diffuser Blends.  These diffuser blends pretty much use a combination of the same six essential oils.  If you’re just getting into essential oils, the oils that I use in these diffuser blends are a good place to start!

How to Use an Essential Oil Diffuser

 
Before I share my favorite blends, let’s talk about diffusers.  They’re really easy to use and come in a variety of different shapes with a variety of different lighting options.  Some even include different timer settings so you can choose how long you want your diffuser to run.  

First, fill the water reservoir to the fill line (it’s usually labeled inside of the diffuser).  Then, add drops of essential oil to the water.  It’s recommended that you use about 3-5 drops.  But the amount of essential oil you use depends on how strong you want your scent.  I tend to use a bit more.

Spring Allergy Relief Diffuser Blends

 
These 5 essential oil blends are ones I use often to relieve allergy and sinus symptoms like a stuffy nose, sore throat, and headache.  Plus, these are great oils to keep on hand for everyday use!  Depending on the severity of my allergies, these oils can give me a dose of natural relief!  Use these oil blends at the first sign of allergy flare ups.

Bye Allergies
Congestion
Sinus Headache
  • Eucalyptus
  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Peppermint
Calm and Clear
  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Lemon
  • Peppermint
Breathe Easy
  • Eucalyptus
  • Rosemary
  • Lemon
  • Peppermint

I also like to keep a bottle of Thieves on hand.  It’s an oil blend that’s great for boosting immunity, fighting off germs, and it’s great for headaches (and it smells great, too)!  Two drops on the roof of my mouth usual nips my headache in the bud before it gets too bad!

DOWNLOAD THIS FREE CHEAT SHEET HERE!

 
Keep this cheat sheet on hand this spring when you need to tackle your allergies!  You could even use some of these oils to make a handy roller bottle to sniff or roll on your forehead for headache relief! 

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How to Practice Self-Care During Quarantine

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It’s so important to take care of yourself during stressful times. Practice self-care during quarantine and feel your best mentally and physically with these ideas!

This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


It’s such a weird time and stressful time.  Every single one of us has had to adjust to new schedules, daily routines, and being quarantined in our homes.  Parents have become teachers and employees have had to find their work-from-home groove.  It hasn’t been easy for anyone.

As someone who works from home and isn’t much of a social butterfly anyway, not much has changed for me.  My husband, however, has a new work schedule which keeps him home a lot more often.  It was an adjustment to get used to (he’s my favorite distraction, but still a distraction which keeps me from my own work), but I’ve become used to having him around.

How to Practice Self-Care During Quarantine

 
Give yourself a break from the news

The first thing my husband and I decided to do was limit the amount of time we spent watching the news.  I used to watch the news every morning and then again at night.  Instead, we now watch the news from 5-6PM, then change the channel.  

Too much news coverage can be upsetting and overwhelming.  Limit how much you watch the news and scroll through social media.  It’s super important to keep your mental health in check right now.

Practice calming breathing

After my first trip back to the grocery store about a week ago, I ended up with anxiety the rest of the day.  So I sat outside in the sun and took calming breaths. 

Take a good, deep breath in through your nose.  Feel it fill your lungs and hold it for 3 seconds.  Slowly exhale through your mouth as you feel your shoulders relax.    

Read a book

Do you have a book that you put down and never finished?  Now’s the time to pick it back up again!  I’m right smack in the middle of an easy-to-read murder series by Leslie Meier.  I try to read at least a chapter or two before I go to bed.  It’s become part of my nighttime routine and helps me relax. 

Give your immune system a boost

Do you take a multi-vitamin?  Add some elderberry to your vitamin and supplement intake.  Drink green tea and keep yourself hydrated with lots of water.  There are lots of ways you can give your immune system a good boost! 

Nourish your body + mind

It’s really easy to get into a junk food rut right now.  When you head to the store (or shop through a delivery service), make sure you’re adding plenty of healthy options to keep your body nourished.  I’m thankful we have our Hungryroot deliveries to keep us stocked up on healthy foods and vegetables.

It’s also important to nourish your mind.  Diffuse some essential oils and try to quiet your mind through meditation.  Give yourself a break, get up and stretch, and go outside!  

Keep a journal

My blog is basically my journal right now, documenting our journey in the best way I can.  But if you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed right now, keeping a paper journal is a great way to release that tension and emotion. 

You might even want to start a gratitude journal.  It’s easy to focus on the negatives, but a gratitude journal will allow you to jot down all the positive things you’ve experienced throughout the day.

Take up a new hobby

One thing I really wanted to do while we’re stuck at home is try a new hobby. I’ve been watching a ton of paint pouring videos on Facebook. They’re relaxing to watch and the results always look so pretty!

The first time I tried paint pouring, I used DIY mixes I found online.  The result was pretty, but not exactly what I was looking for.  So I bought a paint pouring kit off of Amazon and I can’t wait to try it again! 

Try a new recipe

We might be limited on the ingredients we have in the house right now, but I’m convinced that you could make a meal out of almost anything!  Do a search for recipes using ingredients you have on hand and try something new! 

Or, if you’re lucky enough to get a grocery delivery slot, add some new ingredients to your list and try one of those recipes that you’ve saved on Pinterest! 

Remember to stay active

This is something I’ve been struggling with.  The weather hasn’t been all that cooperative lately and the last time we went to the park, there were too many people there for my liking.  We did our social distancing and all of that, but I’d rather stick to our quiet, neighborhood walks.

Hopefully with the sunny, spring weather returning, I’ll find the motivation to get outside and get moving again!

Skincare routine

All of that hand sanitizer and stress can really do a job on your skin!  If you’re like me and have a bathroom full of skincare products you’ve been neglecting to use, you might want to reinstate your skincare routine.  

Choose a day to pamper yourself.  Take a nice, relaxing shower or bath.  Then, put on a face mask, slather on a good moisturizer, tidy up your brows, and give yourself a manicure!  

Call/text a friend or family

Even though I’ve been trying to limit my time on social media, it’s still important to stay connected.  I’ve been trying to call and text my parents as much as possible and have been able to FaceTime with my entire family on multiple occasions.  Normally, I hate texting, but I’m thankful to have that option available right now to stay in touch with so many people! 

Get dressed

I know.  Yoga pants are life.  But trust me!  As someone who works from home on the regular, I still make it a point to get dressed every single day.  It not only makes me feel better about myself, but I feel ready to tackle the day!  I get way more done when I’m dressed than when I’m sitting around in my lounge wear! 

PS: making the bed helps, too! 

Try a new hair color or makeup look

I’m not a big fan of wearing makeup, but I do like to have fun with my hair color every now and then!  I’ve always wanted to dye my hair purple, so I figured now was the time to give it a try!  I ordered a violet hair color that’s just subtle enough to give my dark hair a plum hue!

If you’re not ready to go the permanent route, try a wash out hair color!

Allow yourself to get emotional

If you’re feeling a range of emotions right now, it’s okay!  Be gentle to yourself and allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling!  Cry, scream, yell, get mad, and get it all out of your system!  Bottling it up is not good for yourself or anyone around you! 

Be kind

Most important of all, be kind.  Again, it’s a stressful time for everyone.  When you’re at the store grabbing essentials, remember to thank the cashier and other grocery store employees.  Be nice to delivery people.  And if you can, give your favorite neighborhood restaurant support by ordering takeout from them.  

Right now, we all have to come together and do what we can.  Stay home, wash your hands, take safety precautions, and be kind.

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What are you doing to practice self-care right now?

Homemade Natural Bug Repellent

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Sick of swatting away mosquitoes while you’re hanging outside during the summer? Naturally keep pests away with this Homemade Natural Bug Repellent made with essential oils!


My husband is off this week, so that means we’ll probably be spending most of our time outdoors.  Honestly, we’ve already been spending all of our free time outdoors!  Last weekend, he had a four day weekend and we were outside doing some yard and garden work.  We pulled two dead azalea bushes from the backyard and replaced them with rock mulch and a couple dwarf butterfly bushes.

With all of our extra rocks, I cleaned up the front landscaping a bit.  I was carrying buckets of rocks back-and-forth from the backyard to the front yard.  During my travels, I ended up with my first mosquito bite of the season.  Right on my lower ankle!  

Despite having pots of lemongrass and lavender – known mosquito repelling plants – around the yard, bugs still happen.  It’s summer.  They’re outside and so are we! But the last I want to do when I head outdoors is douse myself with bug spray!  I recently found an article on Facebook stating that lemon eucalyptus oil is just as effective as using DEET.  After sharing the article, one of my friends asked me to create a blog post on the topic, so here we are!  


I was a little confused about lemon eucalyptus oil at first because I thought it was just a blended oil.  But it’s not!  This essential oil is actually derived from a type of eucalyptus tree.  However, there are a number of essential oils that can be used as bug – and especially mosquito – repellents. 

Mosquito Repelling Essential Oils
  • Lemongrass
  • Citronella
  • Lemon Eucalyptus
  • Eucalyptus
  • Lavender
  • Geranium
  • Peppermint
  • Patchouli
  • Clove
  • Tea Tree Oil

I decided to make a natural mosquito repellent roll-on bottle to swipe on when we head outside.  I used a combination of lemon eucalyptus oil and a couple drops of peppermint.  Lemon eucalyptus oil has a scent that reminds me of citronella.

I’ve only ever used citronella oil in homemade candles because it has such a potent smell to it.  Not only does it repel mosquitoes, but my husband really hates it, too!  So I wanted to balance out that lemon eucalyptus scent with a little peppermint oil. 

I also used jojoba as my carrier oil (dilutes essential oils to make them safe for topical application) since it’s odorless and moisturizes the skin.

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. If necessary, remove the cap and roller top from the roll-on bottle.
  2. Add 10 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil.  If using another oil to blend, like peppermint, add about 5 more drops of that oil to the bottle.
  3. Fill the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil.
  4. Then, replace the roller top and cap.
  5. Give the bottle a good shake!  Add a label, if desired, and apply to wrists and ankles before heading outside.


After I popped the top back on my new bug repellent roll-on, I made a label for it using my Cricut machine.  I’m keeping this little bottle in the kitchen, by the back door, so I can roll it on and go!  

How do you naturally repel bugs during the summer?

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Easy Frosted Glass Snowman Reed Diffuser + Free Printable

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Fill your home with holiday fragrance with this Easy Frosted Glass Snowman Reed Diffuser! Download the free printable to make this a great, handmade holiday gift!

 

The height of my “I can totally make that” inspiration usually comes during Christmastime.  I was flipping through a Hallmark catalog a few weeks ago and spotted adorable holiday reed diffusers.  There was a snowman reed diffuser that I absolutely loved!  Since I’ve made homemade reed diffusers plenty of times before, I decided to make my own version of the snowman diffuser I saw in the catalog.

If you caught my live story on Instagram a couple weeks ago, I showed you how easy it was to make this project.  Unfortunately, I forgot to save the video (I’m still kicking myself over that!), so I can’t post it here.  But trust me, this is a super simple holiday project that will fill your home with seasonal scent or make a great holiday gift!


I had a small, round bottle that I’ve used before to make homemade diffusers. I didn’t want to paint it completely white to turn it into a snowman.  Instead, I opted for a frosted glass spray paint.  Two coats gave the bottle a perfect, wintry look!  Then, I just used markers to draw on a snowman face.  I added some plaid ribbon on top and finished it off with some Christmas bells!  I’ll be keeping this diffuser out all winter!

You can fill this bottle with your favorite essential oil blend.  For the holidays, I always like oil combos that are warm, a little spicy, and have a hint of orange.  Cinnamon, clove, and orange is a definite favorite around here!  I’ve even added a touch of a Christmas wreath blend for the ultimate holiday scent combo!   

If you’re like me and love giving homemade gifts during the holidays, this project is super easy!  Obviously, if you’re going to gift it, don’t fill the bottle.  Instead, head below for a free printable!  It’ll tell recipients how to fill their snowman reed diffuser! 

SUPPLIES

To make the diffuser bottle:

To make the diffuser scent:

STEPS

To make the diffuser bottle:

  1. In a well ventilated area or outside, spray the bottle with frosted glass spray paint.  You might need to use two coats of spray paint to achieve a nice, frosted look.
  2. Using a black paint marker, draw eyes and a mouth on the bottle.  Draw the snowman’s nose with a gold marker. Allow the marker to dry, then heat a hot glue gun.  
  3. Measure the ribbon around the top of the bottle.  Then, glue it securely into place.
  4. Glue a couple of craft bells onto the ribbon. 
  5. Once the glue is dried, gift the diffuser bottle with essential oil and printable (below), or continue to make your reed diffuser scent.

To make the diffuser scent:

  1. Use a small funnel to pour water halfway into the diffuser bottle.
  2. Next, pour in rubbing alcohol or vodka just until it reaches near the top of the bottle.
  3. Then, add your favorite essential oil blend and give it a stir.
  4. Pop in some reed diffuser sticks and enjoy the holiday fragrance! 


Download the free printable to turn this diffuser into a gift!  Wrap up this diffuser with a set of reed diffuser sticks and some holiday essential oils!  It’s safer than a candle, but still throws some great scent around the house!

>> DOWNLOAD HERE <<

 

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