Christmas Party!

Finally were able to celebrate Christmas with our crew!  What a great year we have had!  It's so exciting to think of all the great things 2016 may bring for us!

Young Living Essential Oil Weekly Spotlight: AROMAEASE

Aromaease has a cool, minty aroma and contains powerful essential oil constituents that provide feelings of calmness when used aromatically. 

How to Use: Diffuse, directly inhale, or dilute with V-6Vegetable Oil Complex or olive oil and apply to desired area as needed.

Essential Oils: Peppermint, Spearmint, Ginger, Cardamom, Fennel

Simple and Easy Tips for In-Flight BeautyCare

Traveling can give you plenty of heartburn, especially regarding your looks. There are not very many people who step out of long-distance flights looking their radiant best. Long hours in dry, stuffy cabin air can rob even the most moisturized and well-tended skin of its glow.

With hectic job schedules which rush us all across the globe, it becomes increasingly necessary to chalk out an effective in-flight beauty plan. Continuously exposing yourself to the rigors of flying can harm you in more ways than one. Let us have a look at some of the popular beauty tips that can ensure you land in style.

Before You Board the Flight

It’s best if you have a freshly cleansed and moisturized skin. This applies for face as well as your body. It is less taxing on our skin if you avoid makeup. But if it is unavoidable, you can use a skin perfector and apply 24-hour makeup. Use a thick, soothing and heavy-duty moisturizer that will last long, and is preferably not scented or perfumed.

Try to avoid using harsh soaps or astringents before you fly. It robs skin of essential moisture. Hair tends to flatten on long flights. So try to work up more volume while blow drying than you usually do. You can do this by rubbing in a bit of dry shampoo into the roots.

On Board the Flight

Let’s have a look at the ideal beauty regimen you can follow while flying.

1. Care for your skin. Drying of the skin is one of the most common skin problems. Since your face is of foremost concern, apply moisturizer liberally. Also use a moisturizer spray to combat the drying effects of cabin air.

Sheet facial masks can be relieving for dry skin, but in cabin air it tends to dry out quickly. Facial water spray also provides instant relief from dry skin but as they evaporate, tends to suck out moisture, and may in the end leave your skin more dehydrated.

2. Care for your lips. Lips have delicate and soft skin which dries easiest, and in no time you are left with chapped and rough kissers. Lipstick tends to increase the dryness, so go for a good, medicated lip-balm. Use it as often as possible for supple and soft lips.

3. Care for your hands and feet. Don’t forget to moisturize your hands and feet, as they can get increasingly dry and itchy on flights. If uncared for, they end up looking scaly as well. Slip on cotton gloves over moisturized hands, and socks on feet. This can help you retain moisture on long flights.

4. Care for your eyes. Your eyes tell the tale of your long and tiring flight. In order to soothe and relax your eyes, you can use pre-moistened cucumber eye pads. It’s best if you have brought them with you refrigerated and cold. Another option is to ask for ice-cubes and put them in a napkin and hold over your eyes. This too helps to relieve puffiness.

If you are applying eye cream, look for products which have ingredients like retinol, amino acids or anti-oxidants in them. Retinol help to smoothen your skin, amino acids produce more collagen in the skin and anti-oxidants have significant repairing and preventive action on skin.

5. Care for your hair. Hair tends to flatten after long hours flying. To prevent hair from deflating at the back of your head use an inflatable neck pillow. Also go for a loose, low ponytail or a messy bun. These hairstyles prevent hair from becoming limp and sticky.

6. The more the moisture, the better. While flying, keep in mind to dab on a little moisture with a damp cloth on your skin before applying moisturizer. This helps the lotion to lock in moisture, and will retain better on your skin as well.

What Best to Eat in-Flight

What you eat while travelling does have a bearing on how well you cope with the long hours in-flight. Munch on fruits, veggies and salads as they help hydrate your body, and prevent puffiness and bloating. Nuts help keep you feeling full, and are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for the skin as well.

Avoid processed and salty food as they are dehydrating. Also, make sure to stretch your limbs and walk around while on long flights. This improves blood circulation, combats the bloated feeling and helps you feel ‘awake’.

When You Get off the Plane

It’s best not to pile on makeup just before you step off the flight. If you have not washed and cleansed you face properly before applying makeup, your pores may get clogged, leading to breakouts. So try to cleanse your face using pre-moistened makeup remover cloths and continue with your touch ups.

Long flights definitely make you look tired and drained. In order to get the glow back on your skin, you can give the time-tested formula of using highlighters on your face a try. Apply the highlighter to the highest point of your cheekbones, beneath your eyes, and the inner corners of your eyes.

Your eyes are the mirror to your thoughts, so you would definitely like to get off the plane with your peepers wide and beautiful. If your eyes are red and tired, put in some soothing eye drops, rest a while and then line the inner rim of your eyes with a light eyeliner pencil. If the shade is lighter than your skin tone, it will instantly brighten your face.

If you are applying mascara do so only on the upper lashes, focusing on the center and moving outward. Dab on some lipstick, wrap a scarf around your neck to glam up your tousled hair and you are ready to go!

Once you reach your hotel or home, have a nice, deep body scrub and a warm shower. Use a mild moisturizer and crash into bed (hopefully), and catch up on some deserving sleep.

Conclusion

In today’s world constant travelling has become unavoidable. But with proper care and attention, you can prevent it from taking a toll on your beauty and health. Improvise on the tips above and create your own fool-proof beauty plan!

Young Living Spotlight - Abundance (oil blend)

This blend was specifically designed to enhance magnetic energy and to create the law of attraction through the magnetic field around us, to enhance one's thoughts by electrical stimulation of the somatides and the cells, and to put out a frequency charge of prosperity and abundance. It mat attract riches to oneself.  It also contains tremendous antiviral and anti fungal properties, which may make it a very powerful support to the immune system, possibly giving one an abundance of health as well.

How to Use: Diffuse, directly inhale, or dilute with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex and apple topically to the desired area as needed. 

Single Oils Contained in This Blend: Orange, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Frankincense, Ginger, Spruce, Patchouli, Myrrh

14 Amazing Avocado Recipes

From guacamole to avocado toast -- and beyond -- we found the most mouthwatering (and unexpected) ways to use everybody's favorite fruit

As far as we're concerned, the avocado is the Beatles of produce. The buttery fruit is a larger-than-life superstar, timeless and an inevitable crowd pleaser. (And, yes, rumors of a looming avocado shortage were throwing us into a panic -- until we realized we can freeze avocados.)

Avocados are packed with skin-enhancing healthy fats, plus nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, including and vitamins A and C. Plus, eating half an avocado with lunch may help control hunger throughout the day, according to one 2014 study.

But if you're bored with guacamole (nearly impossible, we know), there are a number of other ways to put this green wonder fruit to good use. Here, 14 easy and healthy avocado recipes to try at home. 

1. Avocado Deviled Eggs

It's a shame that we only really get to enjoy deviled eggs once a year. But this twist on the classic recipe -- which adds avocado to the yolk filling -- deserves to be a year-round staple in your kitchen. 

Ingredients:

6 peeled hard-boiled eggs

1 ripe avocado peeled and pitted

1-1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

2 to 3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley

1/8 teaspoon ground mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Cut eggs lengthwise and remove yolks. Set aside. In a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, avocado, lime juice, mayonnaise, parsley and ground mustard, and mash using a potato masher or two forks until nice and creamy. Alternatively, you can add all the ingredients in a food processer and blend. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add mixture into egg whites with a spoon or pastry bag. Garnish with chopped parsley. 

2. Homemade Five-Ingredient Guacamole

Sure, there are probably thousands of guacamole recipes to choose from, but we liked this one because of its simplicity. Why mess with a good thing? 

Ingredients:

3 avocados, diced 

2 tomatoes, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced 

1 lime

Salt to taste

Directions

Pit and scrape out the middle of the avocados into a mixing bowl. Add the juice of one lime and mash them all up to the consistency you want. Mix in the tomatoes, garlic and salt. 

3. Heirloom Tomato and Avocado Toast With Balsamic Drizzle

This avocado toast recipe combines the best parts of summer (namely, avocado and ripe, heirloom tomatoes) on a slice of bread. Not only is it tasty, tomatoes are full of collagen-boosting vitamin C. 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 to 3 slices hearty, seeded bread

2 small heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced

1/2 ripe avocado

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Sea salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Olive oil

Directions:

Make the balsamic reduction by heating the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the balsamic to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the balsamic vinegar has reduced by half and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Slather each slice of bread with a drizzle of olive oil and toast. 

Evenly divide the avocado between the pieces of toast and use the back of a fork to smash the avocado. Layer the sliced tomatoes on top, sprinkle with fresh basil and drizzle with the balsamic reduction. Garnish with sea salt and black pepper. Serve immediately. 

4. Creamy Jalapeño Avocado Dip

Step aside, guacamole -- there's a new avocado dip in town. This recipe balances the spiciness of jalapeño with cool, buttery avocado and cream cheese. 

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese

1 avocado

1/2 cup jalapeño, sliced (you can use jarred)

1/2 cup cilantro

1 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in a blender. Add more salt, garlic or jalapeños to taste. Use the milk or jalapeño juice to help blend. Chill before eating. Serve with chips or crackers. 

5. Avocado Goat Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Avocado is perfect for topping a turkey sandwich or a burger, but it can also be the main event. Exhibit A: This mouthwatering avocado sandwich. 

Ingredients:

4 slices wheat bread

1/4 cup pesto

4 slices mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup spinach

1/2 avocado, sliced

1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled

2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:

Spread pesto over bread and layer with mozzarella, spinach, avocado and goat cheese. Top with the second bread slice. Transfer to skillet, and brown each side in olive oil over medium heat. Slice and serve. 

6. Avocado Ice Cream

Savory avocado may seem like an odd ice cream flavor, but trust us, the velvety result is divine. (Of course, you'll need an ice cream maker to pull off this recipe.) 

Ingredients:

3 avocados

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt, 2% or higher

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (choose something with 60% or higher cacao solids) 

Directions:

Slice avocados in half and remove pits. With a spoon, scoop the insides into a food processor in chunks. Add sugar, Greek yogurt, heavy cream, lime juice and salt. Puree until smooth and the sugar is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. 

Freeze according to your ice cream maker's instructions. About 10 minutes before the freezing time is complete, add the chopped chocolate and continue to mix. Serve immediately (the mixture will have the consistency of soft serve), or freeze in an airtight container for up to 4 hours for a firmer consistency. 

7. Avocado Chicken Salad

Tired of traditional, mayo-drenched chicken salad? That's where this chicken avocado recipe comes in. The avocado adds creaminess and extra flavor, while loading your sandwich up with healthy fats. 

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped

1 large avocado

3 tablespoons mayo (or more as needed) 

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a large bowl, add the chicken, mayo, lime juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Cut the avocado in half, pit and dice into small pieces. Scoop the avocado out into the bowl and stir all of the ingredients together until it has reached your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference. 

8. Lemon Avocado Salad Dressing

You can top your salad with diced avocado, or you can whip up this easy avocado dressing recipe. 

Ingredients:

1/3 cup mashed avocado 

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon honey

2 to 3 tablespoons water 

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir vigorously until combined. 

9. Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Good news, chocoholics: You can throw together this avocado dessert in minutes. In addition to quelling your sweet tooth with this creamy, chocolaty pudding, you're saving yourself some calories by replacing some of the whole milk or heavy cream. 

Ingredients:

2 ripe medium avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup honey or raw agave nectar (or other sweetener of choice) 

1/2 cup milk 

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a blender, food processor or using a handheld mixer until smooth. Serve immediately, or chill first. 

10. Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad

See ya later, lettuce. Avocado, antioxidant-rich tomatoes and hydrating cucumbers are the stars of this salad. 

Ingredients

For the salad:

1-1/2 cups of chopped tomatoes

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 avocado, diced

4 ounces feta cheese, cubed

For the dressing: 

2 tablespoons minced red onion

2 tablespoons minced parsley

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

8 twists of black pepper from a pepper mill

Directions:Combine chopped tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced avocado, minced red onion, minced parsley and feta cubes to a bowl. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar and black pepper in a separate bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. 

11. Glowing Skin Smoothie

The blogger behind this avocado smoothie recipe swears it's the key to healthy-looking skin. And she could be onto something. After all, mango and pineapple are full of skin-enhancing vitamin C, and kale and spinach are nutrient powerhouses. 

Ingredients

1/2 cup plain coconut water

2 frozen ripe bananas, peeled and sliced

1 cup chopped pineapple (frozen or fresh) 

1 cup chopped mango (frozen or fresh) 

2 cups spinach or kale

1/2 avocado, sliced

Optional: 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil

Directions:

Put all of the ingredients in a strong, powerful blender in the order listed. Blend on high for at least 3 minutes, or until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Add more coconut water if it's too thick. 

12. Bacon-Wrapped Avocado

This appetizer recipe features the union of perhaps the internet's two favorite foods. In other words, there's no way it can be bad, right? 

Ingredients:

4 to 6 strips of bacon

1 large avocado

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili powder

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and chili powder and set aside. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut open the avocado and remove the pit. Slice about 3/4-inch slices lengthwise, and then cut through the middle to cut all of the slices in half so that you have short, thick chunks of avocado. 

Cut each slice of bacon in 3 to 5 pieces, and wrap each piece around the avocado. Roll in the brown sugar mixture and place on the baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to a platter and stick a toothpick in each for serving. 

13. Baked Avocado Fries

Meet your new favorite side dish or appetizer. 

Ingredients:

3 ripe avocados

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs 

1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking spray

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on the sheet. Set aside. Slice avocados lengthwise. Set up three bowls. In the first bowl, place the flour, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Crack the eggs into the middle bowl and beat lightly. In the last bowl, combine the panko and melted butter and mix with your fingers to coat. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to combine. 

Dredge each avocado slice through the flour and then the beaten egg. Coat thoroughly with the panko, and place on the wire rack. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until panko is lightly browned. Cool for about 10 minutes and serve with the dipping sauce of choice. 

14. Eggs Baked in Avocado Boats

This recipe's presentation alone is sure to impress even the most discerning brunch guest. 

Ingredients:

1 avocado

2 eggs

Ground black pepper to taste

Fine-grain sea salt to taste

Chopped parsley to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Halve the avocado and scoop out enough meat to fit the raw egg, but leave as much as possible. Using two bowls, separate the egg yolk from the whites. 

Place the avocado halves on two ramekins. Fill the avocado halves with the yolk first, then add the egg whites. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how runny you like your yolks. Garnish with chopped parsley. 

Young Living Weekly spotlight: Stress Away

     Stress Away is a blend of unique essential oils. Ingredients such as Lime essential oil, included for its energizing properties, are coupled with Lavender essential oil with its unique attributes. Copaiba is a powerful Amazonian essential oil, while Vanilla absolute gives this dietary blend a distinct aroma and pleasant flavor.

• Add Stress Away to water following exercise.
• Incorporate Stress Away into your daily routine.
• Add 1-2 drops of Stress Away to natural fruit or vegetable juice throughout the day when life is demanding.

15 Biggest Sunscreen Mistakes

By now, you probably know that you should use sunscreen every day both to help reduce your risk of skin cancer and to prevent pesky wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of premature aging. Yet even people who do slather it on religiously make potentially dangerous mistakes. Here are the most common ways you're messing up with sunscreen—and how to truly protect yourself from UV rays.

You wait until you're outside to apply sunscreen

How many people have you seen get to the beach, spread out their blankets, strip down to their swimsuits, and then start slathering away? "You actually want to apply your sunscreen 30 minutes prior to exposure," says Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. That way, it has time to get absorbed and start working—and so you don't get UV exposure for those first few minutes when your skin is vulnerable.

You apply sunscreen around your clothes

Skin cancer can strike anywhere, so it's best to apply sunscreen when you're buck naked. Otherwise, "if you already have a swimsuit or clothing on, you're likely to apply it gingerly so you don't get it on your clothes, which makes you likely to miss a spot or not apply liberally enough," says Noelle Sherber, MD, a consulting dermatologist for the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center. Strip down in front of a full-length mirror, she says, which "helps ensure you entirely cover tricky spots like the mid-back and backs of the legs." (And you should apply before going outside anyway, right?)

You don't protect your lips

Just like the rest of your skin, lips are vulnerable to UV rays, so it's extremely important to use sunscreen on your mouth. But don't use the same stuff you use on the rest of your body—it tastes weird and won't last that long on your lips anyway. So try a lip balm with SPF which is thicker so it stays on longer. "Then reapply even more frequently than you do body sunscreen, since talking, eating, and drinking removes the sunscreen on your lips faster," she says.

You miss other key spots

Think you can smear sunscreen on your nose like a 1950s lifeguard and be covered? Unfortunately, there are lot of less-obvious areas people tend to forget—and they're just as important to protect, Dr. Graf says. "The most commonly missed areas are toes and feet, including the bottoms of your feet; underarms; back of the neck under the hairline; ears, especially the tops and back of your ears; eyelids; and inner upper arms." Put that stuff everywhere.

You sweat (or rinse) it all off

The small print on your sunscreen label matters, so make sure you're choosing the right sunscreen for your activity, especially if that activity involves sweat, a pool, or the ocean. "Make sure you get a water-resistant formulation for swimming or activities where you'll perspire, because non-water-resistant formulas can slide right off," says Dr. Sherber. "Plus, they tend to mention migrate into eyes and sting, whereas water-resistant ones won't.”

You use a body formula on your face

It's not just a marketing gimmick: There is a difference between face- and body-specific sunscreens. "Facial skin is generally more sensitive to irritation than body skin, so face formulations have been tested to cause less irritation and not trigger acne," says Dr. Sherber. "If you're acne-prone or sensitive, avoid the body versions for your face, especially the dry-touch sprays—they're absolutely full of alcohol, which is very drying and irritating for facial skin.”

You only use it when it's nice out

Danger! It may seem counterintuitive to slather on sunscreen on a gray or drizzly day, but you can get UV exposure without ever seeing the sun in the sky, says Dr. Graf. Eighty percent of UV rays still come through on cloudy days, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, so don't let the weather affect your sunscreen use.

You don't use enough

The old rule about using a shot glass worth of sunscreen every time you apply still holds up, says Dr. Graf. (That's about 1.5 ounces.) But now that more of us are opting for continuous spray formulas, it can be hard to tell if we're really getting enough coverage . To make sure you're using sprays correctly, she suggests holding the can six inches from skin and spraying nonstop, so you can see the moisture covering the entire area. "Then rub it in—yes, even if the bottle says you don't have to—so you don't miss spots," Dr. Graf says. "And repeat the spray a second time.”

You think you're safe indoors or in cars

Unless you choose to spend your time in a windowless bunker, you're not protected from UV rays when you're inside. "Driving can be a major source of incidental exposure," says Dr. Sherber. "The windows and windshield block UVB rays so you don't see a sunburn, but UVA seeps right in, and that's the spectrum that causes most skin aging and skin cancer." Your best bet: apply sunscreen every morning, then feel free to sit by a window or take a drive! At the very least, try a moisturizer with SPF so you're not adding a step to your daily routine.

You don't use a broad-spectrum formula

It used to be that many sunscreens only blocked UVB rays, the high-energy kind responsible for sunburns. But shielding against UVA rays is just as important, says Dr. Graf, because they "penetrate the skin more deeply, are constant throughout the year, and cause premature aging." Umm, no thanks! To be fully covered, look for sunscreens labeled “broad spectrum," which means they thwart both types of rays. And good news: these formulas are increasingly becoming the norm.

You chose an SPF that's too low

Yes, tanning oil with SPF 8 technically is sunscreen, but it's just not enough protection. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. But should you go higher? Some say the often-pricier high-SPF sunscreens are a waste of money, since they don't provide much more protection—SPF 30 blocks 97% of rays, while SPF 50 blocks just 1% more. However, they do have some benefit.  "They absorb more free radical-producing energy, so I recommend them for the summer," Dr. Graf says. One caveat before you reach for the SPF 100: "The super-high SPFs can provide a false sense of security, like you're protected for longer, but you need to reapply just as often as you would an SPF 30.”

You don't reapply often enough

It may feel like you did your due diligence by applying sunscreen once, but it's not a day-long cloak of immunity. Reapplying it just as important as putting it on in the first place. How often? "Every 80 minutes, even if it's water-resistant," says Dr. Graf.

You use an old bottle

If you're using enough sunscreen when applying—remember that shot glass-worth, or those two coats of spray?—then having bottles leftover from years past shouldn't be much of an issue. But if you happen to have sunscreen that's been lingering for two years or more, Dr. Graf says to chuck it, since it can ;so its effectiveness over time.

You skip it if you're going to be in the shade

Seeking solace under a beach umbrella or an awning near the pool doesn't mean you're getting adequate protection from the sun. Why? Sand and water both reflect damaging rays, and 34% of UV radiation gets through when you're under a beach umbrella "so you still have to apply sunscreen if you're sitting under cover," says Dr. Graf. Even if you don't get a sunburn, you're still getting UV exposure.

You don't protect your eyes

Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement—they're critical to keeping your eyes safe from UV rays. Make sure your sunglasses offer UV protection, because some inexpensive styles don't have the protective coating. "Without it, the dark lenses actually allow your pupils to dilate, allowing even more UV rays in, which can play a big role in cataract development," says Dr. Sherber. Finally, a health reason to buy a pair of nice shades!