Category: Skin & Wellness

Usually when I think of using essential oils, it’s always about the benefits, the properties… what they’ll do for your skin, your hair… And to be honest – it was starting to feel like always focusing on these future benefits, is missing the point of self-care.

Recently – I have been loving, loving, seriously loving using essential oils just for the pure joy of it. Because they smell good, because they make me feel good…

On a bit of a whim, I picked up the Fall Blend Essential oil set from Plant Therapy (call it intuition) and it has filled my days with much needed coziness all around. Just feel-good, slow, chill, simple, comfort…

And it’s made me realize that this whole time, I’ve been needing to slow down my busy state of mind. I’m more inspired than ever to share natural recipes – but it’s like my ambitions were starting to make me feel restless.

One of my favorite mindsets is this: we can change the way we feel.

So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve been using essential oils to change my environment and to change my state of mind. And it’s really working!

If you’re feeling slow… get fresh, bright essential oils into your life. 

But if you’re like me – and feeling like you’re trying to keep up with it all, overwhelmed, frazzled, like your mind is running a mile a minute –  then it’s all about the warm, cozy, comforting, soothing oils… ahhhh, that’s better…

Want to know what I’m making? I’m excited to share this with you 🙂

Here are the three cozy recipes that I’ve been making with warm, cozy, Fall scented essential oils.
It’s been awesome exploring these oils – and I hope they bring coziness into your life too.

---

Warming Body Butter

Essential oil of choice: Spiced Orange

This body butter is a pair of fuzzy slippers, it’s eating ice-cream from the tub, it’s a warm bath, it’s mashed potato with melted butter on top. it’s all the comforts in life.

The clove and cinnamon in this blend, gently warms your skin like being wrapped in the softest blanket you can imagine. Ultra coziness in a jar!

Remember my essential oil measurement guide? This is important – you want to follow the 1% rule. Go easy with these oils. Cinnamon and cloves are very potent! You feel it right away – it’s beautiful – the gentle warming effect restoring a tired, overworked body and mind.

How to make it: 

Are you sitting down for this part? Yes… okay good. This body butter is a no-bake recipe!! DIYers rejoice! No heat, no melting! Scroll down for the full recipe.

“Baking” Air Freshener

Essential oil of choice: Pumpkin Pie

You know how good it feels when the air smells of something delicous baking in the oven…  like deep inside your core good… it’s the feeling of coziness. I feel it when butter is melting, when I walk into a bakery, when my mom makes a batch of her muffins. Like, everything is beautiful and okay and good.

This recipe, is that feeling – captured in a bottle. Spritz, spritz, spritz – and you’re there….

That’s the power of essential oils! Scent alone can alter your state of mind, your mood… it can make you feel sweet and warm and comforted – no baking required!

How to make it: 

All you need is a bottle with a spray nozzle. Fill it up with water and depending on the amount of water –  follow the measurement guide to measure out the right mount of essential oils.

I did 50ml of water + 20 drops of essential oil

Instant Coziness

Essential oil of choice: Autumn Breeze

Diffusing essential oils is less of a recipe – and more of a reminder about something you already know, but might not be doing….

I know I wasn’t until recently – because.. well,  I didn’t have a diffuser. I didn’t know which brand to buy… how much I had to spend… And then honestly, on a “get in my shopping cart” kind of day – I ordered one online…

Two days later, I’m diffusing Autumn Breeze in my bedroom – and it’s like – how have I lasted this long in life without this magical machine?

Diffusing oils in your home creates instant coziness. The scent fills the air, the oils work their magic – and put you right where you need to be.

How to make it: 

Just remember this: Get yourself a cold-air diffuser, which disperse the oils into the air, without damaging heat. Amazon has a ton, at $20 – $40. I ended up buying the Aura Cacia diffuser from Amazon (affiliate link) and it’s working great!!

Follow the user instructions for yours, I simply fill up the tank with water, add in 2 drops of essential oil and set for 1 hour. I’ve read that you don’t want to overdue it with diffusing – an hour a day really is enough to have a great effect.

---

Three simple ideas. But they can make world of difference when you need it.
Here’s the full recipe I promised for that cozy body butter… Seriously, make this!

I’m eager to share with you my interview with John Gallagher.

He’s an herbalist, with an incredible talent: he can make you feel excited about a weed – and inspired to try making something with it.

Which is what makes him a really good teacher.

---

Get to see John in action: he’s doing an free herbal webinar on Thursday, October 12th
sign up here, you’ll learn a lot!

---

The best way for me to introduce him – is to share my personal experience… how learning from him changed things for me.

I first discovered John Gallagher’s videos on Youtube… and this is what I saw:

It’s 2010 and I’m in my kitchen at home, watching this person in his kitchen – and he’s making herbal remedies with such a happy, laid back attitude.

Like he’s saying – nothing complicated here…

His kitchen isn’t huge. He’s not using off-the-grid, home-built tools. Nothing I haven’t seen before. It all seemed really normal… and at the same time, totally fascinating! 

I watched every. single. video.

Anytime he posted a recipe for a lotion or a body balm – I’d watch it over and over and seriously… over again.

I couldn’t get enough. I was all hands-in, making remedies like it was my job!

If you walked into my apartment you’d see jars of herbs infusing in my living room bookshelf, batches of lotion in the fridge. Our house looked like a farmer’s market! Ha!

It just made me so happy being hands-on with plants, making things. People around me noticed this passion and confidence growing within me.

In those early days, learning from John Gallagher, he taught me the best lesson of all:

Learn the ingredients. Play with them often – and you’ll find your own way.

That’s exactly what I did. And fast forward seven years later… I’m teaching my own natural skin care classes in countries all over the world.

I think there are people out there who give us that spark, that confidence to create. And John is one of those people with that spark.

So when I tell you that last week I was lucky enough to interview John Gallagher, you know it’s a pretty big deal for me.

In our chat, I asked him about his experiences in learning herbs and starting something new.

Everything below is in his own words – who better to learn from! Here’s what he had to say…

---

John Gallagher on growing up

I grew up in a typical, 1970s middle class suburban home, eating processed foods, with parents who grew up in the city, who never took us camping, we never went to parks. But I had a yard full of trees, so I had this nature connection in a way, because back then, before video games were any good, kids used to run around outside.

When I was in high school there was this guy who started a wilderness club – I wasn’t involved in it because back then, I thought those people were weird. But I had some of my friends that were in that club.

Years later, at a Summer job with one of my friends –  we were spraying herbicide on weeds because that’s what were were told to do. My friend says, “You know you can eat those, they’re really good for you. This one is good for your liver…”

I thought it was really funny that my friend knew this. And that stuck with me.

Near the end of college I was re-introduced to that same high school guy who had started the wilderness club! His name was John Young and he had this cool way about teaching about the earth, and I got involved.

I helped him take the school nationwide, we moved it to Seattle where it’s still thriving today, my kids later went to that school.

Back then, we taught a little bit about the plants – I was interested in edibles, wild foods, very basic herbal stuff. But it still wasn’t something that was taught as a practical skill – the school was more about wilderness, tracking, navigation, building shelter.

---

John Gallagher on getting started with herbs

I met my wife in 1997, we had our son and suddenly I was thinking “How do you take care of a baby?!”

My worlds of how to take care of a baby and my interest in plants started to bubble up and needed satiating.

So I went to this local herbal fair, started taking workshops and I found a mentor. She started teaching me how to take herbs practically. Like, “Oh, I can take lemon balm and make this tea. Or I can take this dandelion roots and make a stir fry. I can take this chickweed and make a salad…”

The actual hands-on stuff.

That began a multi-year study, my wife and I. It was a long slog, an awakening to realizing about the natural world.

---

John Gallagher on the first WOW! recipe

I remember when we first started making ginger honey tea! You grate a bunch of ginger, it doesn’t matter how much, you can’t overdo it, boil up some water. Put it in a thermos, with a couple dollops of honey. Let that sit for a few minutes or so.

We were just so amazed at how that held a cold off and helped the chill go away in the body. Ginger is a very warming herb and works if you have a chill.

---

John Gallagher on learning something new

When Kimberly and I were in that early learning phase, we were in an 8 week series. I was soaking it in, it was so amazing, I couldn’t believe everything I was learning every week.

After that was over, I wanted to keep learning…

We were very lucky.These two wonderful woman who ran a place called Raven Craft Garden in the next town were starting an apprenticeship. I didn’t have any money – but they did a work study with me –  I worked in the barnyard and I learned by watching them, what they did in their house.

---

John Gallagher on the cost of ingredients

It’s challenging. When we teach recipes, we have to make it so that everyone can do it. You just have to get the herbs.

In the early days for me, I followed the advice: it’s better to learn forty things about one herbs that one thing about forty herbs.

What I did was to focus on learning as much as I can, about as few plants as possible.

Learn by the seasons, what’s around you and what you can pick, whether it’s Hawthorn Berries, Elderberries, Yarrow, Dandelion or Chickweed. Simple things that you can grow in the garden like Calendula. Free herbs that you can experiment with.

For the nourishing herbal infusions that I use daily, like my daily multi-vitamin, Nettle and Oatstraw – those herbs I order them online, because my wife and I use so much of it.

I still do them every day, 20 years later.

---

John Gallagher on his daily nourishing herbal infusions

Nourishing herbal infusions were made popular and spread by Susun Weed, my early book mentor and hero. One of the things that she talks about is that a great way to learn about herbs and stay healthy is through nourishment.

And nourishing herbal infusions are taking an ounce of plant material, say an ounce of dry nettle, putting it in a jar and filling it with hot water and let it sit for at least four hours, straining and drinking it.

That’s really fun because you get to investigate some of the nourishing herbs and the different properties and ways they can help you.

You know what it tastes like, what it does for your body, what it feels like.

---

John Gallagher on knowing if an herb is working

Most of what we advocate in using herbs internally is looking at it, not about curing a disease, but maintaining health. Being part of a health regimen like diet and exercise.

Like when you drink a bowl of warm soup you can feel it, it feels good. But if you eat a couple fast food burritos, you might not feel as well or get some stomach issues.

For me, when I drink an infusion of nettle, it feels nourishing, I feel healthy.

Imagine if in your health, you do more things that are nourishing than not.

What’s interesting is that if you look at even health food stores and you look at the cold drink section – you’ll find more drinks that are stimulating, than nourishing.

You have to be mindful of what you put in your body. Herbs are a way of life, keeping you healthy.

---

John Gallagher on herbs as a lifestyle

It’s just been part of our life for so long… from college. Now I’m 47 my wife is 50. We’ve been at it for a while.

My daughter who is now thirteen, she was amazed when she was younger at her friends house and they didn’t know they could do a chamomile steam to help a stuffy nose. She said – I just thought everyone knew this!

A key is to start with just one area in your life at a time.

You can make choices. If you’re going to reach for a soda, why not try a nourishing infusion. If you’re going to make coffee, maybe make a cup of chai. Or if you’re going to sit and watch tv for an hour, you can also go for a walk instead.

Or you can try and make a little garden. What if you grew a pot of calendula flowers. It doesn’t have to be big, it can be on a balcony. Try that and maybe you could use those flowers to make a nice oil or sale out of. You can start there in those really simple ways.

The littlest things can make a big difference.

---

John Gallagher on getting started

Don’t be overwhelmed by it. Look at it as one experience at a time. As some cool little adventure that you’re on.

The ginger lemon tea is a good one.

Another really good one is a basic immune building herbal chai. This is another common drink, that many people know about already. But now you’re making it from chai herbs yourself. My wife every morning in the Winter will make a big thermos of chai and leave it on the counter. When we walk by it, we just fill our mug. It’s nourishing, it’s warming and great for digestion.

It’s something you can do right now with herbs that you probably have in the kitchen, or can get really easily.

One of our books, Alchemy of Herbs, introduces people to herbs through recipes. Just as a way to get started, to learn how fascinating the healing properties of herbs are.

As you drink, say, the chai, and you use cinnamon… what a wonderful time to look up cinnamon and learn about it!

You can learn about herbs as you’re using them slowly, not memorising from a book.

Once you make that leap of looking at ingredients in the kitchen as healing herbs, nothing will ever be the same again.

---

If you’re inspired to learn more – check out his free webinar on herbs this October 12th!! You know I’m already signed up! 🙂 

Click to sign up for: The Bitter Truth about Herbs

Militza Xx

photo credit: learningherbs.com

If you’ve read Little Green Dot for a while, you’ll know that I like to publicly state my intentions for the coming year here on the blog.

In previous years, I’ve sought the beauty in imperfection, invested in myself, and created opportunity wherever I can.

This year is a little different though, and my intentions are not the usual New Year’s resolutions to do more – exercise more, learn a musical instrument or a foreign language, read more books, eat right…

There’s a quote from the designer, Dieter Rams, that I return to often and it always makes me pause.

A photo posted by Little Green Dot (@littlegreendot) on Jan 9, 2017 at 4:19am PST

What does it mean to want “less, but better”?

To me, “less” doesn’t mean sacrificing. It means being mindful about the things that I let into my life. It’s abut removing the excess and eliminating the things that don’t serve me. It’s about creating space for the things that really matter.

So this year, I’m choosing “less, but better”. Are you with me?

A fresh perspective on skincare

I’m really excited about the different ways I can apply the principle of “less, but better”. So much so that I’ve gone and created something entirely new for you – to help you make this a truly beautiful year.

Everyday we walk into the bathroom, look in the mirror and start the process of getting ready. We drag out the face wash, the serums, the pimple zappers, the daytime moisturisers, the under-eye creams, over-eye creams…

You can feel the overwhelm, right?

It’s not designed to be an empowering experience for you.

The beauty industry has really done a number on us. Convinced us of the extraordinary power of their latest lotions and potions with their breathtaking claims. Made us think that if we just have this one new product, our imperfections and blemishes will be wiped away clean forever.

Here’s the thing, though.

When you eliminate the excess, the perfumes, the chemicals, and instead nourish your skin with whole foods, it will absolutely thrive.

You skin doesn’t want “one more thing”. It wants less, but better.

How different would you feel to have a skincare routine that’s simple and uncluttered, that speaks about self-love and leaves you feeling totally refreshed? You might just charge into the day feeling completely different… like you can do anything!

The things that we surround ourselves with every day have the power to affect how we feel.

And so I thought why not take an established daily routine – and turn it into something special.

It’s time to start fresh with your skincare

Introducing…

The Fresh Start challenge is a brand new (free) 5 day skincare plan, designed to eliminate regular, conventional skincare products from your daily routine.

Instead, we’re going to replace them with a simpler, more gentle 3-step skincare routine that is 100% all-natural, totally effective and self-made.

Because you should be able to use simple, safe, effective natural skincare AND enjoy a routine that makes you look and feel your absolute best. Every day.

What’s in store

Here’s what’s in store for you when you join the Fresh Start Challenge.

For 5 straight days, you’ll swap your conventional skincare products for my specially designed natural skincare routine. Check it out!

Plus you’ll receive:

• Shopping list of simple whole food ingredients
• Fresh Start guide, packed with tips and inspiration
• Fun daily challenges with fresh new recipes to try!

So if you want to feel better in your skin, if you want to simplify and use amazing skincare products that are safe, effective and affordable – the Fresh Start challenge is a fun, different and  better way to get it.

The Fresh Start challenge begins this Sunday. You won’t want to miss it, so sign up today!

Has it hit you yet? That “I can’t believe it’s the end of the year” stress?

2016 is winding down and the countdown is on.

There’s a lot of pressure of time running out and yet so much still left to do… So much going on, so much to prepare and think about – it gets intense.

I feel it too, but I want you to know that we are going to end this year with our well-being and sanity intact! Let me tell you why…

Morning People finish strong

Earlier this year, we passed a milestone when the 50,000th student joined the How to Become a Morning Person course.

Wow — that’s huge.

I’ve been reading the hundreds of emails and comments that I’ve received from Morning Person students, and I can tell you that there is a clear trend:

You want CHANGE.

You want to work on your health, you want to be more focussed and productive, you want to feel more fulfilled and happy.

What are the levers for change?

There are basically two levers we can pull if we want to get more done in our day.

The first is the lever marked “Time”.

This is the core of the Morning Person course – how to find more time for the things that matter.

And you guys really get it – read some of the comments I’ve received from students:

“I think I’ve really learnt the value of taking more time in the morning – and the no consuming/electronics idea was great. I had time to do yoga, meditate and read a chapter of a book every morning and I never had to rush out of the door to catch my train.”

“It completely changed my life. I wake up much earlier than before, I do pilates 6 times a week, I changed my bedtime a little earlier so I can get my 8-9 hours of sleep and started drinking smoothies more often.” — Ioana

“It allowed me to relieve some of the stress of the day by taking time for myself, do exercises, meditation and inserting drawing time in the morning.” — Marion

“I learned to make time for the things that make me feel happy to be ALIVE.” — Bianca

But there’s another lever available to us.

And from speaking to my students, I’ve learned that this is the number one roadblock preventing people from experiencing the change they desire.

This is what’s holding you back from the change you desire

What’s holding people back from having more productive mornings, soaring into the day with ease, checking off todo’s and spending time on the things that make life feel meaningful?

It’s the lever marked “Energy”.

Because you can switch off the lights, set your alarm early, and wake up with the best intentions. But if you don’t have the energy in your body, getting through the day is going to be a struggle.

Does this sound like you?

“One roadblock for me is waking up with no energy. Feeling like a zombie.” — David

“I’ve always known that rising early is good. But I always fall back asleep after a couple of hours. Not to mention, when I do try to start the day early, the effort wouldn’t last more than a few days.” — Lyn

“I really need a nap after lunch!! On weekends I don’t have problems, but then, especially on Mondays… my energy goes down after 2pm…” — Alejandra

If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. So don’t lose heart. You have the ability to wake up each morning and create the energy you need to get things done with ease.

And I’m here to help.

Before the next few weeks zoom past, here are some ideas for restoring and creating more energy, so that you can do the things that matter to you — and actually enjoy it!

How to have more energy

A couple of years back, I was in hospital with a compromised immune system. At that time, my nutritionist put me onto a diet of nutrient dense-soups and stews to restore my health and energy.

She didn’t restrict my diet – the goal was to give my body more. More calories, more nutrition, more nourishment. And these soups were like a natural supplement.

But I remember doing a double-take when she said to me “And I want you to rethink your breakfast – and eat these soups in the mornings too!”

Soup for breakfast? Minestrone at 8am?

But I listened – and it made me feel so much stronger and full of energy – that now, years later and fully recovered, eating soup for breakfast is a habit that I still keep up!

I’ll wake up, heat up some goji berry chicken soup or last nights veggie-loaded taco soup with extra shredded cheese on top – and I’m smiling before the day’s even gotten started.

Rethink breakfast

What you eat in the mornings is the fuel that will carry you through the day. Without the right food, it can feel like you’re running on fumes – underperforming when actually you’re capable of so much more.

Eating a better breakfast – one that gives your body more nourishment and more nutrition – can give you the missing energy you need.

So, in true Morning Person style, I have a little challenge for you.

I want you to think about one, simple thing that you can do tomorrow morning to give your body more.

• If breakfast for you is usually just toast and coffee, why not try upgrading to one of my Super Toast ideas.
• If you feel like you could use some fruit and vegetables to kickstart your day, try one of Lin’s amazing smoothie recipes.
• Or if you need more inspiration, check out the Little Green Dot archives for all of my posts on breakfast (it turns out, this is a regular theme for me 🙂 )

Whatever you choose, keep it simple! We’re going to take one small step and then see how it impacts our day.

Ok, ready?

If you’re up for this breakfast challenge with me, jump into the comments and complete this sentence:

I’m going to add MORE to my breakfast tomorrow by ________.

State your intention here.

I’ll check in with you tomorrow to see how your day went.

I’ve been thinking about what makes a good week over a “bad” week – and the difference comes down to what I put off.

There are things that I know I want to do – not because I think I should – but because I know they make me feel good. And yet there are those weeks where it just doesn’t seem to happen. And the longer that goes, the harder it is to get back into gear.

I think routines are a really good way to remind yourself of what matters, to keep momentum and stay connected. I’ve learned that here in Bali, it’s a place that seems carefree and even a little disorganised – yet routines and rituals are ingrained into the everyday. I also see a lot more smiles around here – so there’s something to it.

Sundays have become my check-in point to do the things that set the course for a better week. And while these 3 little routines aren’t in themselves very exciting – the way they make me feel is.

---

Three Sunday Routines

---

Prep your Fridge.

I got this idea from a cafe here in Bali. It’s called The Nest Home Cafe and its designed to look and feel like you’re having coffee in someone’s home…

My husband and I were seated pretty much in the kitchen of this cafe – and I got an up-close view of their kitchen flow and how they set it up to be efficient.

We order a mushroom soup and hamburger. She walks over to the fridge and I can see that they have it completely organised shelf-to-shelf with stacks of see-through containers. She grabs three containers, each one filled with the makings of a burger: pre-sliced tomatoes, prepped salad leaves and beef patties formed and ready for the pan…

She grabs another two containers. One’s filled with pre-made soup another with sliced mushrooms. She sautees the mushrooms, pours the soup over it and serves it up.

In an instant and with ease, she cooks and assembles this entire meal and I’m thinking – we should all have a fridge like that!

Meal planning can be tricky because you might not know today – what you want to eat next Wednesday. You don’t know if you’ll be in the mood for a light salad or a hearty soup…

Try prepping your fridge with ready-to-go staples – it gives you more flexibility, but also more ease in putting together a meal throughout the week:

• cooked brown rice
• pre-chopped veggies
• shredded chicken
• cooked black beans
• roasted pumpkin 
• ready to eat salad greens…

---

Plan Something Good.

Once the week starts, it’s hard to find time to do the things that you want for yourself – like coffee with a friend, a yoga class or date night with your partner.

A calm Sunday is a great time to think about the week ahead and decide what you want to spend your time doing. Pick one thing that you know will make you feel good and then schedule it. Write it down on the calendar, book the date, set a reminder – and when the time comes, all you need to do is show up!

---

Freshen Up.

I used to think that people who seem to have everything togehter, are naturally that way. But I’ve realized that the real difference is that they work at it more consistently.

Which is smart! It’s harder to start, to build up momentum again. But lot of us travel through these extremes of  highs and lows – being super productive and then super discouraged, then starting back up again.. it’s exhaustive.

Consistency is a much easier path to follow because it takes less time and energy to do the work of staying on top of things.

Here’s a few things that, if done each week, won’t build up to become a drain on your week… if I do even just one thing, it always makes a big difference:

• Clear out the mail
• Clean out and organize your work/school/baby bag
• Sort through your closet, pick up anything on the floor, refold anything that came undone
• Tidy up the house, look for things that got put out of place

Done consistently – it’ll take minutes compared to hours!

---

I’d love to know – what are your favorite things to do on a Sunday? Let me know in the comments below.

Have a great week!
Militza Xx