Whittling My Life Down to the Essentials

Have you ever sat on a cold, rainy, day and wondered what your life would be like if you just picked up everything and traveled the globe? Of course you have! It's March in Missouri, which means it was 54 degrees yesterday and it snowed this morning. But really. That's what actually happened.  Let's get realistic, as glamorous as being part of the jet-set sounds, you couldn't just do it. Right? Well, maybe you could! My friend Rachael does! Among many other things, Rachael is my former roommate, current Travel Planner, and a member of my oily family.  I've been begging her to write a piece for me about how she manages a "normal" life while traveling for months, and she finally made time for me! 

So, for this #SuperOilSunday please allow me to turn you over to Rachael Rogers-Bohan my FIRST EVER contributing writer to On The Sunny Side! 

That's right, you read that correctly. I have been traveling non-stop with my husband Keith since November 9th, 2016. I have my own business as a Travel Planner and my husband is a Travel Writer. We both can work remotely from our computers, so we decided to travel the world for the coming years!

BUT, I first have to tell you how I know my oils guru Sydney!

After living in NYC for 2 years, I was lucky enough to land Sydney (dear friend and the ENTIRE reason I met my husband) as my roommate! 

She was the first person who introduced me to essential oils and how they can make a difference in your daily life. Sydney had an oil for everything! My double shift at the restaurant was easily solved with Peace and Calming. DiGize applied to my stomach supported my digestive system after an evening of eating too much ice cream. She even diffused Thieves in my room when my immune system needed a boost!

Sydney is one of the most thoughtful human beings I know and I'm extremely blessed to have her as my friend. 

NOW, ONTO OILS!

When we first started traveling we had THE biggest suitcase you could think of.  We went from having an apartment in Queens, to putting our entire lives into one shared suitcase. We definitely needed that biggie size right?!?...WRONG! 

We ended up arriving to Paris with so much stuff. For instance, I brought 3 purses and 8 pairs of shoes. I feel ashamed now even writing that I did that. This was the moment we realized we needed to "let go" of things that didn't effect our lives in a positive way.

When traveling today, we have 3 pairs of shoes each. 1 pair of the three is our tennis shoes. Not much room for style, but our lives and suitcase are much lighter & burden free. 

Now, I'm sure you are thinking, "Rachael, what does any of this have to do with oils!?! This is an entire blog about oils for goodness sake!"

I'm getting there, I promise, just be patient. :)

After our first month of traveling full time, we laid out our suitcase. Then, as my husband says, "put everything on trial for it's life". 

Don't love it? Get rid of it! Didn't use it AT ALL this month? Get rid of it! Essentially, we only keep things in our life that make a positive difference.

This is where oils come in! 

I didn't bring my diffuser with me, and my oils had run out months prior in NYC. I had been using cheap shampoos, conditioners, and  facial moisturizers full of chemicals. On top of that, I was wearing perfumes that smelled lovely but were full of things I couldn't begin to pronounce. I also missed having natural options for when I wasn't feeling well. I was lacking in an oils routine, and so I decided to reach out to Sydney. 

I had a  long video chat with Sydney, and we reviewed the best options for our lifestyle. This is my order below!

1. USB Diffuser - Allows me to work on my computer and diffuse oils no matter where I am at. It's so small I can carry it in my pocket!

This is great when traveling on trains! We rode from Barcelona, Spain to Avignon, France and the train ride is about 7 hours. People continually went in and out of the carriages to smoke. It really made a whole train car smell quite strong. I also get kinda sick from the smell. Having this USB Diffuser instantly solved that problem for me.

2. Purification - Takes away any weird or chemical cleaning smells in new spaces. We specifically had a very old apartment in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We set up our diffuser with Purification, and went exploring for a couple of hours. We came back to a beautiful smelling home! Magic!

3. Thieves - Whether our immune systems need a boost, or we're or exhausted from work, this oil is a game changer.  It's also perfect for a good nights sleep!

I specifically remember feeling really drained in Budapest and this oil was a lifesaver for me. 

4. Joy - Surprisingly, I wasn't initially super fond of this smell, but after a bit of time using it, I have now fallen in love with it. I started using it as a perfume in Barcelona when I ran out of my Chanel perfume. Haven't gone back to using regular perfume since.

5. Peace and Calming - I love to diffuse this oil, but I personally find it great for back rubs! 

In Rome, we did a really cool AirBnB experience where you learn massage techniques. I brought Peace and Calming to the class and used it with the carrier liquid provided! 

6. Peppermint - No gum? Tired jaw? Want something natural? Use a drop of peppermint and your breath smells UNREAL!!

Keith is grateful for this oil because I like shallots a ridiculous amount. 😂

7. DiGize - A few drops right on the stomach and I feel like a new human within 10-15 minutes. I am a major foodie and this specifically was a life saver while living in Italy for 3 months! Pasta, cannoli, pizza, DiGize, repeat!

8. Stress Away - I use this while working. It smells great and it makes me feel calm. All positive things for a work environment!

I use this in my USB Diffuser while doing all-nighters. I work on US time because the main bulk of my clients are based in North America. It keeps me going from dusk till dawn!

9. Lavender - We spent two months this past summer in the South of France and used this oil ALL THE TIME. I'm not even joking. It's also what French people recommend for literally anything that is wrong with you.

"Burns?  Lavender!

Stress?  Lavender!

Problems sleeping? Lavender!

Cooking?  You guessed it.....Lavender!"

10. Northern Lights Black Spruce - This smells like a forest of pine trees. I love diffusing it, but recently got in habit of putting into in my baths while in Scotland! Rustic baths in a rustic country, absolutely dreamy right?!

11. Christmas Spirit - Yes, this is a holiday oil, but it smells SO good! It conjures up memories of being a kid at Christmas! We spent the holidays in Galway, Ireland this year, and it was extra magical because of this oil. 

12. Diffuser Bracelet - I was given this as a gift by my oil guru for Christmas, and it's not left my wrist since. I adore being able to continually smell the oils while looking stylish. It's a great gift and the bracelet holds up really well.

13. Meadow Mist Deodorant - Last year I found a terrifying bump on my armpit. Thankfully,  it was a blocked hair follicle. I didn't realize this before going down a deep rabbit hole on WEB MD- where everything leads to death- though. So I decided to use natural deodorants from this point forward. 

Sydney was super up front that this was not an anti-perspirant, but I wanted to give it a try anyway. I began using this in peak Summer AKA sweaty season. But in the past, I had NEVER been a super sweaty person. I would honestly have to do something big like climbing a mountain to sweat. 

Once I stopped blocking my pours with Aluminum. I quickly realized my body ACTUALLY sweats a regular amount. Who woulda thought!? Despite this, I decided to just adjust my deodorant use.

I now carry my deodorant with me in my purse. It smells great, it's natural, filled to the brim with oils, and makes me feel good that I am treating my body well. Most importantly, it's one less harmful thing I'm putting onto my body and I've yet to have a blocked follicle. THANK GOODNESS!

This might not be for everyone, but I won't go back to anything else. One terrifying bump is enough for me.

14. Orange Blossom Botanical Face Wash - This is literally my favorite thing Young Living offers. My husband and I both use this face wash. He has more oily and sensitive skin. I am the complete opposite as my face is as dry as the Sahara Desert. It works beautifully for both of us.

Since using this, I no longer need eye makeup removers. Everything comes off in one go. It's gentle on the skin and doesn't dry it out. 

You don't need a big amount, and I can pronounce every ingredient in the bottle. I will never use another face wash again. I'm serious. 

15. Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner - This stuff hydrates your hair while making it smell amazing,. It also allows for a very calming shower, and doesn't have all these damaging and fake ingredients. My hair thanks me on a daily basis. 

16. USB Regular Size Diffuser - I use this diffuser all day and all night. It brings so much joy and calm to my life! 

Now that I've explained the oils I love and why they are so very important to me while traveling, the biggest question is how do I fit all these things into our 1 suitcase!?! Don't worry, it's easier than you think. 

1 - All the oils are under the "travel liquid regulations amount".  This allows me to put all my oils, deodorant, and my diffuser in my backpack.

2 - All the liquids are compact in size and easily fit in my shoes at the bottom of my luggage. 

Moral of the story? TRAVEL WITH YOUR OILS! DO IT!

If you have made it this far, 1. Thanks! 2. I hope my story helped you realize that traveling with your oils is SO doable! You can keep your oils regimen while traveling the world and it doesn't take up a ton of space. 3. I live a minimalist lifestyle and my essential oils made the cut. :)

From one oil junkie to another,

Rachael

WOAH guys! Talk about #goals! Traveling the world with your partner may not be everyone's goal, but Rachael is a testament to saying your goals out loud and taking daily steps toward making them your reality.

I also want to take a moment to make a plug for Rachael's business. For my whole life I have been terrified to travel to a foreign country, but when Rachael started For The Story Vacations I decided I'd give it a shot.  No joke you guys, my entire life changed. This was no ordinary vacation.  Every moment, every detail was catered to my precise needs (anxieties) and desires. I went on my dream solo vacation to London, at the end of which I was already planning my next adventure in my head.  Looking for a solo getaway? She's your gal.  Romantic destination wedding of your dreams? She did it herself! Girls trip around Europe? Get ready for the time of your LIFE!

So what's your dream? Traveling full time? Being an awesome Mom with a healthy family? IT by day, volunteer Fire Fighter by night? No matter what your dreams, living a cleaner, healthier lifestyle will make getting (and staying) there that much easier. So let me, and Young Living, go on the journey with you! - xo Sydney

PS. This week I became the first EVER Contributing Writer for JeffCityBlog! Check out my review for The Good Byline here. And stay tuned for more reviews to come!