Strange Daze Indeed

Sunset. Cloudy with a touch of rain. Nature’s canvas is glorious!

Aromatherapy can get a bad rap:  there are those who think it’s some kind of quackery, and others who dismiss it as a pleasant, but ineffective gift basket filler during the holidays. In reality, aromatherapy is an effective, yet subtle way to enhance moods and cure minor ailments (and yes, they smell nice, too).

While the power of fragrances might seem like voodoo to some, the science is simple:  you’re breathing in trace amounts of oils and other ingredients that modify your body chemistry. You can, of course, use candles or store-bought sprays, but here are some elementary, homemade ways to feel better and create a more pleasant environment:

Image Courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt/Wikimedia Commons

 Calming

This is probably the most complicated concoction on the list and it’s still not quite rocket science. Starting with a base of 8 ounces water, add 20 drops of lavender essential oil and another 20 drops of either tangerine or lemon balm oil. You can let it diffuse into the room, but it’s more effective when used as a spray.

If you’re using a previously used spray bottle for any of these, be sure to flush it out thoroughly.

Energy

Give your day a little boost by combining ten drops of each of the following oils into two ounces of water: black pepper, cinnamon and orange; then spray.

Bonus tip: to make sprays that last longer, use one ounce of water and one ounce unflavored vodka, then store in a cool place.

Focus

For times when you need to be alert and concentrated, some scents are a boost.  While there is no precise recipe, experiment with different ratios of these oils:

    •    Grapefruit
    •    Lemon/lime
    •    Bergamot

Aromatherapy can be augmented with holistic approaches, so stocking up your system with omega-3 or gingko biloba supplements is a great idea.

Image Courtesy of Andr Karwath/Wikimedia Commons

Headache

For tension in the neck and head, you’ll want to mix 2 drops of both lavender and peppermint essential oils with a teaspoon of almond oil into a small receptacle. Moisten each index finger with the mixture and massage your temples, the ridges above your eyebrows and the bony area behind your ears.

Insomnia

For true serenity, you can use one of either two levels of sleepy scents. You can simply dab a few drops of lavender on the edge of your pillow, or mix the following together and do the same:

    •    5 drops clary sage
    •    5 drops bergamot
    •    2 drops lavender
    •    10 drops roman chamomile

Cuts and Scrapes

Aromatherapy can do more than just make you feel better; it can even speed up the healing process of minor wounds. In ½ cup of water, diffuse 5 drops of both lavender and tea tree essential oils.  Add just a touch to the bandage before you secure it, and if you haven’t already cleaned the wound, the antiseptic nature of tea tree oil makes this mixture a great topical cleanser as well.

Colds

There’s no cure for the cold, but placing the following into a vaporizer or diffuser will take away some of your congestion:

    •    5 drops eucalyptus
    •    5 drops ravensara

In general, make sure that you don’t go overboard with the doses and avoid direct contact with undiluted oils. With sprays, a good method is to pump a few bursts into the air and then walk through the suspended particles (in the same way you might with perfume). While you should be conservative with the oil-to-water ratios, try experimenting to find aromatherapeutic blends perfectly tailored to you.

– Guest post by Marcela De Vivo

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from California whose writing covers everything on health, including fitness, cooking, meditation and holistic medicine. She loves aromatherapy and often uses various essential oils to improve her mood and overall performance.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can still remember his tiny hand in mine and him falling asleep on my shoulder, but, in the blink of an eye, 12 years go by, and these days getting my teen to spend time with me is harder than getting him up in the morning. Though I am happy he has so many friends, I miss the closer times. But, I have a secret weapon. Walmart has advanced tickets to an exclusive Premiere Night Screening of Man of Steel.

You can purchase tickets at any Walmart in the Electronics Department and they include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, the writer of Man of Steel, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download of Blu-Ray copy of the film. This is extremely convenient as we have two Walmarts fairly close to home.

I’ve got tickets for the premiere showing for this Thursday, June 13th, at 7 PM, and it promises to be an unforgettable adventure. My teen is super-excited for the early chance to see one of his childhood superheroes. Yes, we had the shirts, the red cape, the wishing he could fly, and even though the cape is packed away, the excitement and wonder remain. He loves the idea of a digital comic book and the chance to see the movie before it premieres nationwide.
 

I have read some great reviews of this film as it explores Superman’s finding his place in the world along with some amazing action scenes. What teen can’t relate to that? The timing is also perfect for Father’s Day so why not bring dear old Dad along and have a family night? What a great way to kick off Summer!

Check out this trailer!

For a great Summer kickoff:

Purchase tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of Man of Steel [PG-13] on June 13th, 2013 at 7 PM at your local Walmart! Tickets can be purchased in the Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, author of “Man of Steel”, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

• Go to your local Walmart
• Visit the electronics department
• Purchase your EXCLUSIVE Man of Steel prescreening tickets (available in 2D or 3D)
• Take your family to the theater location noted on your ticket and watch the EXCLUSIVE 7 p.m. premiere of Man of Steel on June 13th!

Learn more here!

They may grow up fast; they may argue about staying out late with friends; they may not be able to leap across tall buildings in a single bound and get home on time, but they’ll always be my Superheroes. I can’t wait to share this experience together.

Are you excited about Man of Steel? Who are you going to share the experience with?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Are you having a bad hair day? Does your hair need special care?
There will be three winners of the Profolla Silk kit!

When I was a kid, I loved words and making up poetry. I would take out as many books from the library as was humanly possible and sometimes fall asleep surrounded by them.

However, Math was never a favorite of mine. I liked some of it just fine (I was even on the Math Team – nerd!), but other parts I really didn’t and this showed up in later years in Geometry class. I really wish I had an app like GazziliMath pre-school so that I would have had something that caught my interest.

I strongly believe that when something is fun, you want to learn! That’s the beauty of GazziliWorld.

GazziliWorld specializes in apps dedicated to enhancing early childhood development. Founder Adam Glittlin’s vision of transforming text into an interactive iPad activity that would easily fit into children’s everyday lives has been a great success. Through hands-on technology, the learning experience is elevated and made more enjoyable.

GazziliWorld launched its latest educational learning app, GazziliMath on May 23rd of this year and it’s quickly becoming a popular and fun tool.

In the Jungle Area, your children can easily learn Addition.

GazziliMath takes place in an animal park where your preschooler can unlock different games such as Numerals, Counting, Adding One, Subtracting and A Half among others. The interface is brightly colored with pleasant music and is extremely user-friendly. It will gently guide your child through and encourage them when they pick a wrong answer. Completing each section introduces you to new characters and animals and new math skills that are a great educational foundation.

Children learn Subraction skills with brightly colored balloons.

 
GazilliMath is friendly and welcoming. It truly makes Math something fun and something your child can enjoy with you or by themselves. It’s great while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office and easy to take with you on your iPhone or iPad.

GazziliMath is completely age-appropriate and engaging. I would highly recommend it for your preschoolers so that they can develop an interest in Math early on as these skills will serve them well in the future. When your children complete the different adventures, each one will unlock a different animal for their orchestra. At the end, as your child taps the screen, they all play together. Now, that’s definitely Edutainment. 

Through sharing lunch, children learn what a half means.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/gazzilimath/id647320433?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2.

This giveaway is sponsored by Northwest Pharmacy. Please enter below for the chance to win a $200 Visa card. I’m sure with summer on the way that could be put to extremely good use! a Rafflecopter giveaway

The iPad Mini is the newest addition to Apple’s iPad family having all of the features of the iPad but in a smaller and more convenient size. With a 7.9-inch display, fast and fluid performance, FaceTime and iSight cameras, thousands of available apps, and a 10-hour battery life, the iPad Mini has quickly become one of the most popular tablets on the market.
The smaller version of Apple’s tablet is great for students, commuters, travelers, busy parents and anyone who is on the go. With its lightweight design, the iPad Mini can easily be slipped into your laptop bag, backpack, or purse, so you’re connected wherever you are.

BuyVia is excited to sponsor this giveaway and partner with our friends at GoPromoCodes. The BuyVia app and website store your shopping searches and preferences in the Cloud and deliver the best online/local buys to all your devices. With BuyVia’s app you can hand select a mix of products you would like to see deals on, and select where you regularly shop. BuyVia keeps these preferences securely in the cloud and delivers the most relevant and personalized deals available to ensure you’re always getting the high quality products you want, at the best price, both online and in store.

All of your shopping preferences and history will be automatically populated across all of your devices (tablet, smartphone, or computer) so the information is available to you wherever you are.

BuyVia is awarding a free iPad Mini to one lucky reader! Just enter the contest below.

Best of luck!

This giveaway is available to all residents of the US and Canada, age 18 and over. It will begin at 1:00 am PST on May 27, 2013 and will end on June 18, 2013 at 11:59 PST. The winner will be picked at random from all of the entries using the Giveaway Tools application below.