Life Down a Back Road with Anna

Five Health Benefits of Drinking Water

Five Health Benefits of Drinking Water
Why Water?  Here are 5 health benefits of drinking water.  

Did you know your body is made up of 60% water?  It is so important for all the systems in our bodies.  
Here are 5 health benefits of drinking water and what it can do for you.

  1. It lubricates your joints which can help with joint pain.
  2. It helps deliver oxygen throughout your body, which in turn helps with energy!
  3. It’s great for skin health.  Water flushes out toxins which in turn improves your complexion.
  4. It can reduce headaches that are due to dehydration.  Have you ever noticed if you don’t get enough water it gives you a headache?  
  5. Your digestive system depends on it.  Increase your water intake to help you to stay regular.
How much do you need?   There is debate over how much water we need and it depends on other factors such as exercise, the climate, if you are sick.   But the general recommendation is eight 8 ounce glasses per day.  To get a better idea of how much your body needs you can go here and calculate it according to your weight.  

I love water but I know people who don’t care for it so they struggle to get enough.  So how do you make sure you are drinking enough.  Here are some suggestions.

  1.  Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go.   This also helps you to keep track of exactly how much you are drinking.  
  2. Add some flair to your water by adding your favorite fruits such as strawberries, lemons, or blueberries.  
  3. Eat foods high in water content.  These include watermelon, spinach, cucumbers, green peppers, berries, cauliflower, radishes, and celery.  
Young Living just recently came out with Vitality drops.  There are two flavor options.  Grapefruit Bergamot and Lavender Lemon.  They are formulated with naturally occurring electrolytes from the Great Salt Lake and all-natural flavors.  No sugar or artificial colors.  They are an excellent choice if you are not a water lover.    My favorite is the Grapefruit Bergamot.  The Lavender Lemon tastes similar to Lemon aide.  

In this weeks member page on face book we are focusing on water.  Why?  I believe it is a great base to begin any wellness journey.  Would you like to join us?  Click here to join our community.  

Disclaimer:  I am not a doctor and anything I say is not meant to treat cure or diagnose any illness.  

Fun things for kids!

Fun things for kids!
There are some really fun things for kids using essential oils.  I wanted to share some recipes I found that can help you're kids have fun and relax at the same time!

Some great oils to choose when you are making these recipes are 
Lavender for it's calming properties.
Frankincense because it helps with focus
Lemon for it's uplifting scent
Keep in mind I only use Young Living Essential oils and cannot guarantee the purity of any other oils.


A fun activity for kids is sensory rice.

Take about 3 cups of rice and add to a freezer bag together with a few drops of food coloring if you'd like, a few drops of vinegar (the vinegar helps to bring out the color of the dye) and a drop or two of lavender essential oil.  Shake until it's all mixed up and pour into a baking dish or something similar that is easy for your child to play in.  


Cloud Dough
8 cups flour
1 cup vegetable oil
5-7 drops essential oil of choice
Optional:  powdered tempura paint to color
Mix all ingredients in a container.  If you don’t have tempura paint you can crush sidewalk chalk and color with that.   Store in an airtight container.


Here is one recipe for play dough, you can also find many recipes on pinterest and just add your favorite oils!


Essential oils scented Bubbles
1/2 cup dish soap( thieves works)
5 cups water
2 TBSP glycerin
10 drops essential oil of choice



Hope you and your children enjoy these recipes.

Happy Oiling,
Anna

Spring Time Cleaning!

Spring Time Cleaning!
I love Spring, it is one of my favorite seasons! 
 
Spring is a time for renewal.  When everything starts turning green, the flowers bloom, you can hear the birds outside your window!  

It also is a time when I start feeling the need to open all the windows and clean my entire house from top to bottom!  I love letting the outside world come in!

What is your favorite thing about Spring?  

I also love to clean with products that make me feel good and that are not making my body have to fight to stay healthy when I use them.  That is why I use the cleaners I use.  Here are some of my favorite recipes for cleaning in my home.  


Heavy duty Scrubbing!

3 cups Baking Soda

¾ cup of Thieves Household Cleaner

1 Tbs of Distilled White Vinegar

30 drops of Young Living Lemon essential oil

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. It will be the texture of a paste. Store in an air-tight container or jar. Best if used within three months.

DIY All Natural Whitener

When life gives you lemons, you make an all-natural whitener. =) Skip the harsh chemicals and make this safe and effective whitener. Use it in your laundry, the bathtub, and any other surface that needs a little brightening.

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup lemon juice

10-15 drops Young Living Lemon essential oil 

3/4 cup baking soda

7 cups water

 

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a container capable of holding 1/2 gallon or more. 

Shake well before use.

Use one cup per load and wash with hot water for best results.


Furniture Polish

Glass Spray Bottle
3 parts Olive Oil
15 drops Lemon Essential Oil
1 Part White Vinegar
Shake before using and store in a cool dark place.

Most things I just use the Thieves Household cleaner, 1 capful in a Spray bottle.  If its heavy grease I will mix it much stronger.  For my shower I always go in and spray it down and leave it while I do something else.  Then I go back in and spray again and scrub with a scrubber or wipe down depending on how long since my last cleaning!

Happy Oiling,
Anna



DIY Laundry Soap


Making  a new batch of laundry soap today.  I make it in a 5 gallon bucket so it goes a long way, then I pour some in this jar I found at Goodwill.  I love making my own products and knowing that what I am using is not harmful for us.  All  the products I use are gentle and safe for everyone in the family!  If you'd like the recipe let me know and I'll send it to you!  

Blessings,
Anna

The Morning Sets the Mood

The Morning Sets the Mood
Essential Oils, especially good quality essential oils can make a huge impact on your life!  From emotions to everyday bumps and bruises they have so many uses.  Want to start your day off right?

How you start your mornings has a huge impact on the remainder of your day. It can even be a very good indication of how you will end your day. If you wake up with your mind already racing, frantically rushing around trying to get things done for yourself and everyone else with your nerves on edge, you are setting yourself up for a day that will be much the same.  

Gary Young developed something he called the Great Day Protocol.  It uses four specific oils to support our emotions, promote feelings of harmony and joy, and guard against negative energies that disturb our thoughts and send our emotions into a tailspin. You can also use these oils to combat occasional sadness. Let’s take a closer look at what each of these oils can do. 

***************

Valor - Promotes a feeling of courage and self-esteem and helps to balance the body’s energies. Use this oil each morning on your wrists and cupped over your nose and inhaled as you set your intentions for the day, visualizing what you want to accomplish and seeing yourself completing it.

Harmony - Helps to create a positive attitude, reduce stress, and repel feelings of discord and chaos. Apply this oil over your solar plexus, the area just below your sternum and above your belly button while setting specific intentions to harmonize with those around you.

Joy - A calming, uplifting aroma that is used to bring joy to the heart and mind. Place a couple of drops in your hand, inhale through your nose, then rub over your chest (heart).

White Angelica - Creates deeper feelings of security and protection by offsetting the negative energies that work to bring you down and invade your personal space. This oil will be your ‘shield’ as you navigate your day striving to stay stress-free, balanced and relaxed. Place a drop in your hands, rub your palms together, breath in deep, then rub your hands over the crown of your head, down your neck, shoulders, and midsection, all the way to your toes as if you are putting up an imaginary shield.

You are now ready to tackle anything the day throws at you!


Happy Oiling,
Anna

 
Read Older Posts Read Newer Posts

Meet Anna McElligott

 

🌿 My Story: From Frustrated Mom to Natural Solutions

There was a time when life felt a lot harder than it needed to be.
I was doing my best to care for my growing family—but when it came to the everyday bumps, bruises, sniffles, and sleepless nights, I felt stuck. Everything I was told to keep “on hand” didn’t sit right with me. I hated relying on over-the-counter medications that only masked symptoms, especially for my little ones.
Then came the allergies.
One of my daughters struggled every spring, and my mama heart knew—there had to be a better way.
During one of those heart-to-hearts with my niece, she told me about a natural product that changed everything for her. I was intrigued, but I waited... for almost a year. I guess I was skeptical, or maybe just overwhelmed.
But that next spring? Her allergies hit hard. I was tired of the cycle.
So I took the leap—and I’m so glad I did.
What started as a simple step turned into a lifestyle shift. The products worked. No more allergy meds. Fewer sick days. More energy. And as I kept learning, I found even more ways to support my family naturally—from seasonal sniffles to emotional stress, and even hormone balance for me as I navigated perimenopause.
Now, instead of feeling helpless, I feel empowered.
And our family is stronger—and healthier—because of it.
If you’re longing for that kind of peace too, I’d love to walk this path with you.
Come learn with me—one simple, natural step at a time.






Anna McElligott 

Contact