52 Acts of Compassion Campaign ~Week Four

Even though I am four weeks in to our “52 Acts of Compassion Campaign” doesn’t mean you can’t start this week.  If you are interested in joining this campaign please comment below.  My goal is to make this huge.  Random kindness can be such a great thing, it can make someone’s bad day a good one and it can bring a smile to someone’s face that might not otherwise smile today.  When I think about it, I am not deserving of a lot of the blessings that God has given me, yet he still blesses me, day after day.  I want to be a blessing to someone else, whether they deserve it or not.  My job isn’t to judge, my job is to share Gods love, to take my blessings and pay it forward.  I don’t have to do this, I WANT to do this, and the best part of it, I am also teaching my boys the right way to live.

This week, we are going to create a “dinner for 2, in a basket” and deliver it to parents of young children. As a mom, I know how stressful it can be with young children.  Our goal with this act of compassion is to make it easy for a couple to prepare dinner after their child(ren) have gone to bed for the night, so they can spend some one on one quality time together and have a dinner just the two of them.  You can make this basket as inexpensive or expensive as you would like.  Chances are you may have a few items already in your pantry that you can include.

Here are some ideas of what to include:

·         Biscuit mix or muffin mix

·         A loaf of French bread

·         Bagged salad mix

·         Boxed rice or noodle side dish

·         $10 gift card to the local supermarket for them to purchase a couple of steaks (or meat of their choice)

·         2 large potatoes for baking or several small red potatoes for boiling

·         A boxed dessert (lemon bars, coffee cake etc)

·         An already prepared dessert

·         A handful of asparagus

·         A bagged or packaged soup mix

·         A cheap DVD (turn the dinner for 2 into a dinner and a movie)

Tip:

To save a few dollars you could put all the ingredients into a gift bag rather than a basket.

I am going to include a little note that says:

Being parents of young children takes a lot of time and patience.  Please take the items from this basket and make yourselves a relatively easy dinner.  Then take time to enjoy each other’s company (because you deserve it) and should you find yourselves remembering this gesture in the future, please pass it on!

~Fellow Parents of Young Children

You may wish to include your name on the card, or you may want this to me anonymous, either way I am sure you will brighten some couples night.

What would you include in a “Dinner for Two Basket”?

Uses for Essential Oils~Lemon

I just love Lemon oil because of its versatile uses.  Not only is it an antiseptic, antifungal, and antiviral like most all essential oils, but Lemon oil is also an antidepressant and antioxidant.  Some uses of Lemon oil are to lower anxiety, regulate blood pressure, fight depression (including postpartum depression), heal throat infections, fight heartburn, curb appetite, and purify your drinking water.  Lemon oil can also be used as a furniture polish, gum/grease removal or air freshener.    

In your medicine cabinet, Lemon oil can replace:

·         Tylenol or other pain relievers

·         Tums or other heartburn remedies

·         Imodium AD or other anti-diarrheal medications

·         Pepto Bismal or other anti-nausea medications

·         Cepacol or other types of throat lozenges

dōTERRA® Lemon Essential Oil~ $13.33 15ml
To Order dōTERRA® Products Please Click Here

 

Application Methods for Lemon Oil

·         Applied neat (with no dilution) However, when using topically avoid direct sunlight or UV light for about 12 hours after using.

·         Diffuse or inhale aroma directly

·         Place 1-2 drops under the tongue or in a veggie capsule and take internally

·         Use as a flavoring for food and beverages

What’s even better? When using Lemon oil there are no side effects, no drug interactions, it is all natural and proven to be effective.

Watch for future posts on “recipes” that use Lemon oil, including an all natural air freshener, a sore throat gargle and how to make a lemon flavored olive oil for cooking. Need a recipe sooner?  Leave a comment and I will post one right away!  

What do you use Lemon Oil for?    

 

52 Acts of Compassion Campaign ~Week Three

Wow! Three weeks in and my oldest son is already asking what are we going to do this week.  He is thoroughly enjoying this campaign and looking forward to what’s next.  This is exactly what I wanted to happen…I want him to enjoy bringing happiness to others!

This week I am putting a twist on things.  Friday is my splurge day.  After school I always take my boys to a local coffee shop to get a treat.  My treat is an “expensive, fancy coffee” and theirs is a smoothie.  This week are going to pay for the person behind us. We aren’t going to make anything, or deliver anything, but I hope to put a smile on the face of someone.  You never know what a simple act like buying someone’s coffee can do for them.  I plan on including a little note for the barista to give the person:

We hope you enjoy your drink and hope it has blessed you. Someday should you remember this, would you please pass this Act of Compassion on?  Thanks!

~The Council Family

 

What will your act of compassion be this week?

 

 

 

 

Uses for Essential Oils~Melaleuca (More commonly known as Tea Tree Oil)

Melaleuca has been used for centuries to help heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections.  With its analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.  Melaleuca has a wide range of uses from treating acne to helping heal canker sores (also known as fever blisters or cold sores).  Melaleuca is also great for helping to heal fungal infections such as athletes foot and thrush and viral infections such as the common cold or flu.  According to the book “Modern Essentials”, Melaleuca has twelve times the antiseptic power of phenol. (p.83) 

In your medicine cabinet, Melaleuca can replace:

·         Cepacol or other types of throat lozenges

·         Dayquil/Nyquil or other cold and flu products

·         Neosporin or other antibiotic ointments

·         Head and Shoulders Shampoo/Conditioner or other anti-dandruff hair care products

·         Abreva or other cold sore/fever blister products

·         Tinactin or other athletes foot products

dōTERRA® Melaleuca Essential Oil~ $25.33 15ml
To Order dōTERRA® Products Please Click Here

Application Methods for Melaleuca

·         Applied neat (with no dilution)  However, when using with children under six or sensitive skin, I do recommend diluting Melaleuca because it is a strong oil and may be uncomfortable on the sensitive skin of younger children. 

·         Diffuse or inhale aroma directly

·         Take in veggie capsules (do not put Melaleuca directly in the mouth)

What’s even better? When using Melaleuca oil there are no side effects, no drug interactions, it is all natural and proven to be effective.

Watch for future posts on “recipes” that use Melaleuca, including an all natural acne remedy, a way to prevent or reverse gingivitis and a way to alleviate an ear infection or earache. Need a recipe sooner?  Leave a comment and I will post one right away!  

What do you use Melaleuca for?    

 

               

52 Acts of Compassion Campaign ~Week Two

This week we are going to take a quick little “gift” to our neighbors.  I am going to wrap some ribbon around a package of microwave popcorn and include this little saying with it:

“Just popping by to say thanks for being great neighbors!”

~Love, The Council Family

I already have plenty of packages of microwave popcorn (and even if I didn’t they don’t cost much) and the curling ribbon.  All I needed to do was print up a few of these sayings on paper and bundle up the kiddos to head out and hand them out.  We plan on handing out about 10 of them! 

What is your week two Act of Compassion going to be?    

Uses for Essential Oils~Lavender

I have been using lavender oil for about 8 ½ years now.  Since the day my oldest son was born I have used it in his bath water, on his pillow, and sometimes even on his clothing. Now 8 years later I am still learning the many uses for this well known scent.  My youngest son (now 2) has also had the fortune of growing up with me using Lavender essential oils on him.    

Lavender has long been known for its relaxing qualities.  Researchers are currently testing lavender oils additional benefits; like pain relief.  It has been found to diminish the throbbing pain of headaches/migraines, help ease the pain and stiffness of joints and even decrease the achiness associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Lavender contains a compound called “linalool” which produces alpha waves.  “Alpha waves” is a scientific term for brain signals that control sensory information. Lavender has been used for decades to help people relax, lower heart rate, ease stress hormones and now shows that it has anti-inflammatory properties, can relax inflamed blood vessels and numb pain receptors.  Does it really work??   According to an article written by Shannon Hunt, in the Jan, 27, 2014 issue of “Woman’s World”, select patients undergoing surgery at NYU Medical Center who are exposed to the scent of lavender oil during the procedure required less morphine (or pain medication) after the surgical procedure. (p.21)

In your medicine cabinet, Lavender can replace:

·         Neosporin or other antibiotic ointments

·         Tylenol or acetaminophen products

·         Aleve or naproxen products

·         Motrin or ibuprofen products

·         Unisom or other sleeping aids

dōTERRA® Lavender Essential Oil~ $28.00 15ml
To Order dōTERRA® Products Please Click Here

Application Methods for Lavender:

• Applied neat (with no dillution)
• Diffuse or inhale aroma directly
• Place 1-2 drops under tongue or in a veggie capsule and take internally
• Use to flavor food or beverages

What’s even better? When using lavender oil there are no side effects, no drug interactions, it is all natural and proven to be effective.

Watch for future posts on “recipes” that use Lavender, including an all natural headache remedy, a way to heal eczema, fever reducer and relaxing bath oil.   

What do you use lavender for?     

 

52 Acts of Compassion Campaign~Week One

This week we are going to make homemade Valentine’s for the residents at a local nursing home.  This is an easy and fun way to bring tons of a joy to some folks that may not otherwise have a lot of delight in their life. This project is costing us nothing because I have all the supplies we need in my scrapbooking stuff.

Some of the items we are going to use are:

·         Construction Paper

·         Heart Shaped Doilies

·         Crayons, Markers and Colored Pencils

·         Stickers

·         Finger Paints

·         Glitter Glue

What is your Act of Compassion going to be this week?