Lavender is Life

Last weekend, Tim and I braved the 100℉ weather and ventured out to Oregon City for the Lavender Festival at the Oregon Lavender Farm. With views of Mount Hood and bright purple lavender all around us, it was so, so beautiful. Not to mention the scent! Imagine taking a luxurious lavender-soaked bath - that's what the fragrance was like walking through the fields.

A post shared by Bre 💕 thisdaintylife.com (@thisdaintylife) on Jun 26, 2017 at 12:22pm PDT

While wandering the farm listening to the awesome local bands, I sipped on lavender lemonade, which is probably the most refreshing drink I've ever had - yes, it was really that good. I mean, just look at the photo from my Instagram! The festival also hosted vendors - everything from handmade rugs, jewelry, and artwork to candles and natural beauty products. There was lavender wreath making and a distillation demonstration, which was so interesting! I've read about the process, but I've never seen it in person.

Tim and I also enjoyed lavender beer and lavender cider - serious yum. And on our way out we picked up a Killa Dilla, a quesadilla larger than our faces, to share 😋 It was absolutely delicious. We ordered the "basic dilla," which comes with mozzarella, cabbage, marinated red onions, and a "secret tangy dressing," and we added grilled veggies. Holy moly, you guys. I can't do its tastiness justice.

As the title of this blog post suggests, I use lavender constantly, so I thought I'd share how I work it into my daily and weekly routine.

My favorite ways to use lavender essential oil:

1. Combine your favorite non-scented, natural lotion with one drop of lavender to moisturize and treat yourself to a little at-home spa experience 💜
2. Put one drop into your mascara bottle to support strong, healthy lashes 💜
3. Diffuse 3-4 drops at night to aid sound sleeping or make a pillow spray with it for the same benefits 💜
4. Add 2-3 drops to your laundry detergent, especially when washing sheets or towels 💜
5. Add 3 drops to your wool dryer balls when drying laundry 💜
6. Use a roller bottle to experience lavender's calming properties on-the-go 💜

Do you love lavender essential oil? What are your favorite ways to use it?

Essential Oil Rollerball Blend for Energy

I don't know about you guys but I have been TIRED lately. I just cannot seem to wake up in the mornings. While there are definitely habits I should kick (like immediately looking at social media right when I wake up instead of just getting out of bed), I'll take any help I can get in the energy department. That's why I'm oh so excited to share this essential oil energy roller bottle blend I created over the weekend. 

And it's my first time diving into a how-to YouTube video! I'm so excited to launch my YouTube account at This Dainty Life. Check it out and subscribe if you want to stay updated on all things TDL, from DIY fun to essential oil goodness. I have a few upcoming videos I'm so excited to upload in the next couple of weeks.

How to Make an Essential Oil Rollerball Blend for Energy

1. Supplies needed: glass roller bottle (mine was gifted to me by my lovely friend Janelle! you can find it on Amazon), essential oils listed below, fractionated coconut oil
2. Pour 20 drops of peppermint and white fir into your roller bottle
3. Add 15 drops of grapefruit and wild orange
4. Continue with 10 drops of Motivate®
5. Once all of your oils are in the roller bottle, top off your blend with fractionated coconut oil
6. Attach the rollerball, screw on the lid, and shake it to mix together the oils a bit - you're done!

Benefits of These Energy-Blend Essential Oils

Peppermint

• Boasts a refreshing, pick-me-up aroma

• Promotes clear breathing and healthy respiratory function

• Helps combat occasional stomach upset

• Can be used in toothpaste for oral health

White Fir

• Energizes the body and the mind

• Elicits feelings of energy, stability, and empowerment

• Aids the body in relaxation

• Supports respiratory function and clear breathing

• Gives soothing support to sore joints and muscles

Grapefruit

• Helps reduce mental and physical fatigue

• Aids healthy metabolism

• Supports and soothes sore muscles and joints

• Helps combat oily skin issues

• Purifies and cleanses

Wild Orange

• Uplifting to the mind and body

• High in antioxidants

• Acts as a powerful cleanser and purifying agent, while protecting against seasonal and environmental threats

Motivate

• Promotes feelings of courage, confidence, and belief

• Counteracts negative emotions of cynicism, doubt, and pessimism

What rollerball blends have helped you increase your energy levels throughout the day? I'd love to hear about them; share in the comments below!

Holidays // A Very Merry Christmas

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend last weekend! We sure did. With our typically crazy schedules, it was nice getting to spend some quality time together. I had Friday through Monday off (much needed!), so it was great to be able to catch up on things and prep for Christmas Sunday.

Our weekend is captured in a nutshell with the above collage of photos, but they definitely don't tell the whole story. I kicked off my long weekend at (where else?) barre3, did some last-minute shopping, and then came home and watched a Christmas movie marathon until going to get my nails done. I asked for sparkly red polish, because it just truly makes the holiday season complete ;)

On Christmas Eve, Tim and I decided to attend the 4 p.m. family mass and, after seeing the most adorable live nativity scene with the cutest kids around, we've decided that it needs to be the one we go to every year from here on out. The angels did us in. Just picture little white dresses with fluffy, sparkly wings and halos. I didn't even know such cuteness could exist.

We usually try to get over to Peacock Lane for its Christmas light extravaganza after Christmas Eve mass, but this year we were both a little sleepy so we decided to stop by Starbucks for a warm drink and head home. We opened a bottle of wine, got in our Christmas PJs, had some cheese, crackers and leftover crockpot soup, and put on a movie. It was perfect.

Christmas morning came around and we woke up early, had a chocolate chip and blueberry pancake breakfast, and opened presents. We chatted with family and then got ready to pick up Tim's aunt from the airport and drive over to his cousin's house for Christmas dinner. This was the first Christmas in 4 years that we've been able to spend with family, so it was wonderful!

This past weekend Tim and I realized this was our 9th (yes, NINTH!) Christmas together. I don't even know how we're old enough for that to be a thing, but we are and it's pretty dang special <3 We'll have to plan something unique for our 10th Christmas together next year (that's a DECADE, people! wow!). I'm so grateful that I get to spend every holiday with this man of mine. He forever has my whole heart.

If you don't follow me on Instagram, I wanted to share my #12BlendsOfChristmas with you. These are a few of my favorite winter essential oil diffuser blends! The one in the bottom right corner is doTERRA's Holiday Joy blend.