Life Down a Back Road with Anna

Vitaliy Oils Summer refreshers

Adding essential oils to your favorite summer drinks is a great way to incorporate them into your life.  Here are a few great ideas for summer time refreshing drinks.


If you love Lavender this will be one of your all time favorites!  


Is Strawberry your favorite flavor?


Cranberry is always a great option!


Feel free to substitute a different sweetener if the Agave is not something you keep on hand.


Smoothies are a favorite in our house, what about yours?


One of my favorite smoothies is just Frozen Strawberries in the blender with either water or milk, a packet of slique shake, 2oz of Ningxia Red and a couple drops lime vitality.  The Shake and the Ningxia give it the sweetness I crave without the added sugar.

Happy Oiling,

Anna

Which is more harmful? The sun or my sunscreen.

Which is more harmful?  The sun or my sunscreen.
I have always been skeptical about putting sunscreen on my kids because I hated using a product that I wondered whether it was more harmful than the sun itself and I just recently came across this article on the harmful chemicals found in sunscreen and the need for more studies on the safety of them. It really saddens me that products are placed on the market and we use them on ourselves and our families thinking that companies have our best interest in mind. Unfortunately that is so far from the truth and it is so important that we do our research and know what is in the products we put on and in our bodies. 

There are so many chemicals in our skincare products that are known to be carcinogenic yet they are still on the market. These same chemicals are found in products marketed for kids and babies!  What the heck is that about?  Shouldn’t we be able to trust these big companies to make things that are not harmful?  I don’t think it’s too much to ask but unfortunately they must. 

That is why I am so extremely thankful that I found Young Living. I trust that the products that I am using from this company are safe and effective. And when they came out with the sunscreen I was so excited, knowing I could use a product that would protect us from the sun and not harm us in the process was such a great blessing. Personally I hate having to decide on the lesser of two evils and that’s how it always felt when I chose to use sunscreen on my kids. 


Young Living has a great blog post on their sunscreen, you can read it Here. Now I can feel good about using sunscreen and I no longer have to choose between the harmful rays of the sun or the harmful chemicals in my sunscreen. 

Happy Oiling,

Anna 

Summer on The Go!

Summer on The Go!

Are you heading out on vacation?  Do you have any must haves that you have to take on a vacation with you?
Here are some of my must haves and favorites from Young Living!


I love this little Bon Voyage travel kit!  I just refill it when I run out!  

I also carry a little "first aid" travel kit of oils.  In there I have Geranium and Helichrysm, we have used these to stop cuts from bleeding.  Digize, because tummy issues!  Idaho Balsam Fir, great for head tension!  Purification, great for those lingering odors in hotel rooms.  Panaway, copaiba, and peppermint to layer together.  We've used this combo for sprained ankles and more!  Valor because I use this for my youngest who has sleep apnea.  Lavender, because "swiss army knife of essential oils"!  Sacred Frankincense and Frankincense,  for so many things, just google it!  Thieves for all the yuckies!  Palo Santo, we've also used this one for pain.  Melrose we've used for cuts and scrapes.  Lemon for detoxing the body.  And Peace and Calming for relaxing!  

If you'd like to know where I got the kit I use with an awesome companion book, you can find it here, oils not included!




I also don't leave home without my Lemon and Cypress because one of my kids has frequent nose bleeds when it's hot out.  I get a very cold washcloth with these two oils on it and it works great!

Here are some great don't be without summer essentials!

I love that this is not filled with all the yuck!

Most important fact, deet free!

And if you forget your sunscreen here are two amazing products to use after being in the sun too long!
This stuff is amazing for cuts and burns too!

Those are my must haves besides my daily oils and supplements and of course my Allerzyme that is always in my purse.  If you eat out and have tummy issues this supplement is Amazing and I go nowhere without it!

Hope your summer is Amazing and you get to go do something fun!

Happy Oiling,

Anna



Lemon Vitality

Lemon Vitality

Here are some great uses for Lemon Vitality!

Substitute for Zest:  1 drop for 1 tsp, 7-1 drops for zest of 1 whole lemon.

Tea:  1-2 drops to your favorite tea in a glass container for a flavor boost.

Water Flavor:  Add 1-2 drops to your water in a glass, no plastic, for a flavor boost.

Dressing:  Use 1-5 drops per 4 ounces of dressing.  

Flavor Spray:  In a 2 ounce glass food grade bottle, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 10 drops essential oil, and fill the rest with water.  Shake well before each use.  Spray on food at the end of cooking.  Add to salads, meats, or pasta.


Happy Oiling,

Anna

Gardening Fun Day 4

Gardening Fun Day 4




Basic Companion Solution

6 to 8 drops essential oils selected from the attached chart here
2 gallons water

Combine and apply to plants.

What better way to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects to your garden than through the use of Essential oils!

Bees- they like Orange, Coriander, Lemongrass, Lavender, Hyssop, Marjoram, Helichrysm,
Basil, Sage, Roman Chamomile, Rosemary, and Dill

Butterflies-like Lavender, mint, Fennel, Sage, and Helichrysm

Other beneficial insects such as ladybugs like Coriander, Dill, Fennel, and Roman Chamomile



Pollinators favorite blend

12 drops Lavender
8 drops Rosemary
5 drops Orange
Combine oils and add to cotton balls, string or cloth strips and scatter in and around your garden!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these blog posts on gardening with Essential oils!  You can also use the plants that the oils come from in your garden!  Plant some thyme, or Rosemary, or Lemongrass. Herbs are great companions for your garden. Have fun and use Essential oils combined with different herb plants to make your garden both pretty and pleasing!

Happy Oiling,

Anna

Reference:  Essentially Grown.  By Jackie Tarlton
This book has such great info and can be found on GrowingHealthyHomes.com


 
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