Gift of the Earth

How is your December going? I LOVE the Christmas time, as I mentioned in the last post :) We have had an exciting week, what with my thesis being accepted by the library (after formatting and RE-formatting a bazillion times and then converting the whole dang thing-67 pages worth-to PDF) and Christmas get-togethers and business ventures and all. I am cleared for graduation, my skin is clear because of the amazing essential oils I have been using, and the sky is clear of rain. This makes me all very HAPPY!

A few of you asked about essential oils and the skincare line I use, so I thought I'd blog about the products we use INSTEAD of drugs, pills, prescriptions, drug-store facial cleansers and the like. 

My husband and I love health, fitness, and living well. We (like most) do not like being sick, ill, or out-of-sorts. I like having healthy, glowing skin and because my in-laws knew this, they and my in-law siblings, all gifted me the most amazing facial skincare line I have EVER used. And I have used every skincare line-- ALL (and by all I mean ALL of 'em out there). Not to mention that a New York runway model who has used every product available (yes, even more than me, ha!) said that this product line (the one I received) is THE best she has ever used. She felt and saw a difference immediately. WOW. 

The line also carries certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils (CPTG-the highest grade/quality oils can have), which we have used for fevers, sore throats, aches, ulcers, back pain, muscle soreness, laziness (not kidding! peppermint oil really can help you get your butt off the couch. Don't believe me? Ask us for a sample and you'll see.)      

These essential oils are available for EVERYone! You can heal your burns (this happened to me), your ulcers (my husband), or your ZITS (both my husband, me, and others we know) and much MUCH more with these oils--over 200 pages worth of illnesses/sicknesses/diseases the oils help alleviate, reduce, or even cure. This is in essence, God's GIFT to us. These oils come from the EARTH and are a huge gift to mankind. For that I am grateful.

I grew up in a home where my mom treated us with herbal teas, homemade soups, back-scratches, etc when we were under the weather, even though my dad, being a surgeon, could get any medicine we needed. My mom instilled in me a great love for all things natural-and essential oils are ESSENTIALLY the most natural you can get, as each bottle of oil is carefully harvested and extracted for use from the best plants all over the world. The name of this company that so carefully delivers each bottle of oil, supplement, and skincare product to match its highest grade? (see below)

the company's name is derived from a Latin derivative, meaning "Gift of the Earth" 

Best news of all? You can get these products too!! Let us know if you are interested in changing your health for the better-and keeping those deadly sicknesses OUT of your home this Winter.  OH and JUST for YOU, we will hold a FREE class in January at our home where you can try these oils and find out more! Leave a comment if you'd like to be invited (and leave a comment just to say hi too!) :) 

I am going to go drink my hot cocoa with the husband....infused with a drop of peppermint oil- a perfect holiday evening drink :)

Accomplishment

Happy holidays so far! Have you enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the holidays? How about how everyone is being nicer than usual? Or how a lot of people are talking about their faith more often than normal? I have said it before, I LOVE this time of the year!

This last week made the holidays THAT much sweeter...... 

I PASSED MY MASTER'S THESIS DEFENSE! 

I did it! On Wednesday I presented my Thesis to my panel and after 2 excruciating hours of presentation, drilling of questions (holy moly that was hard!), and waiting for them to decide if I passed or not (they made me wait in the hallway while they 'mulled it over').....I passed. I now have an M.S. after my name :) (p.s. I have a friend whose initials are MS, so that is extra fun, yah MEL??)

US right after I passed!!

I must say how grateful I am that my husband came with me and supported me through it all. He is a STUD! My parents are amazing for supporting me, cheering me on, and being excited for me- they too are rockin' :) I have great family and friends- so I too am grateful for all of your support! I am OVERjoyed that this happened. Now all to do is the final edits for the library copy and I am a graduate of a Master's degree. Lov-ELY!!

What else have we been up to, you ask?

-holiday shopping

-gym time

-out to dinner at PF Changs for a celebration for graduating--- thanks honey!

yummy PF Changs

-teaching BodyPump like it's going out of style. hehe (seriously, my husband calls it 'perma-sore' because of how often I am sore)

-daily using the BEST essential oils in the world. SERIOUSLY. I have the best facial products because it all comes from essential oils (natural, not synthetic) ***let me know if you want to know more because this has changed my skin. totally. completely. My mom is even buying some for my sister***

-finished teaching my LAST fitness class at BYU

-finally sat down with my husband for a meal and a movie

-ate caramel and Swiss chocolate --- you can go ahead and be jealous. kidding ;)

-WORKED

-burned my finger this week and rubbed Lavander and Melaleuca essential oils (used for healing) on it and there is NO scarring and IMMEDIATELY the pain went away. ROCKin'

-reading our scriptures, going to the temple, and praying (to learn more of why I do this daily, click the button on the left that says  "My Faith") 

-chatting on the phone with siblings, good friends, and my awesome parents

What we're doing soon, you wonder?

-Ward Christmas party tonight

-Stake Christmas fireside tomorrow

-FHE Monday- making pizzas and going to a holiday play

-making cookies for KATE because she won the cookie contest!

 -BodyPump, Zumba teaching

What has been your favorite part of the holiday season so far? We love hearing what you all have going on!

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

.....a WINNER! Congrats to Kate Moore for winning the Grateful/Cookie contest! I loved turning my thoughts to gratitude during the month of November. Kate, please leave a comment letting me know which kind of cookie you'd like (choc chip or choc chip/oatmeal). I'll bring them to you next week.

For those of you interested how the contest worked, 4 people left 3 comments, and of those 4, 2 became followers. My husband did a coin toss after I assigned heads/tails to those two ladies, and Kate won the toss. Congrats! All, keep checking back for more fun contests.....December and January are great months for giveaways :)

It is also beginning to look a lot like St. Nickolas Tag! Today is December 6th, which means St. Nick came  this morning! We had shoes set out and he filled em' with oranges, chocolate, and nuts, as is normal for every Swiss/German/Child to receive on the 6th of December. I remember growing up and LOVING this tradition with my family. One time I swore I even saw St. Nick coming up the drive.

what a cool puzzle!

ALL made of candy. wow!

Caroline and Jason's  house in Alaska...haha

look at all those gingerbread creations behind us!

BYU/Utah rivalry ON a tree

rock-n-roll tree

Snowman tree-SO cute!

My new favorite stockings for next year....
...who wants to buy these for me?

the advent tree

 How have you decorated your tree or house this year? What other giveaways do you think could be fun? Happy St. Nick to YOU, this day...it is not too late to set your shoes outside the front door. He might come by still....

p.s. I defend my Master's Thesis on Wednesday...then I can graduate and will have an M.S. after my name! Any extra prayers are welcome ;)