I'm all excited! Vacation #1 of the 4 I have planned is upon me! These are not expensive, extended vacations, of course. I can't afford all that, but I am getting away and having some fun with friends!
​ This first jaunt is on down to Orlando to see Dead and Company. This show was rescheduled from the fall when John Mayer had an emergency appendectomy. Lucky me! (John's fine...he wouldn't mind me joking about his temporary pain) If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to go to Florida. A kind sister gifted me a ticket to the show, got a cheap flight booked a couple of months back, and good friends(whom I am staying with) are transporting me around once I get there. I'm blessed! 
​ I'll only be gone 3 1/2 days, but it will be wonderful. I will totally be exercising too. Lol. Walking and dancing, baby! 
​ I'm packing light because I'm not paying for a checked bag. I need to decide which oils I'm going to pack! Definitely my current roller bottles. 
​ A "roller bottle" explained: I purchase 10 ml glass bottles that have a metal roller ball and cap. I mix my own blends of essential oils and easy peasy..roll it on! I usually use 15 to 20 drops of essential oil, and fill the rest of the way with a "carrier oil" (I use grapeseed oil for some, and sweet almond oil for others). Currently I'm experimenting with vision support (massaging a blend around the edge of the orbital bone 2-3 times a day-never put oils in your eyes or on eyelids), I use my "boobie blend" daily (breast health), and I'm using a face blend (because, well, I don't like these wrinkles and spots and stuff on my face!) 
​ I will also take my emotional support blends that have helped me lately on that front, and Palo Santo. It is a very woodsy, earthy scent and repels negative energy. 
​ Food intake-wise, I didn't track calories last week. I did however, step up the water intake and make decent choices. One of my besties got me a cool glass water bottle (motivational one!). When using citrus oils in water, glass is a must. Citrus will break down plastic, and you don't want to drink that!
​ Time to go fill up that bottle! Peace!

 First of all, my apologies for dropping the ball on Toxin Tuesday entries! Did the initial one, and have since been caught up in my personal crisis. Time for me to get on with my plan and get out of this funk!
​ So, Dawn dishwashing liquid. I started using it way back in the day. It was marketed as "Takes grease out of your way". That phrase got me to buy it, and it seemed to me that it was correct. Then they pulled on all of our heart strings, and showed us how Dawn has cleaned up all the ducks and birds that have been victims of oil spills. They still broadcast those commercials! I was disappointed when I researched the products!
​ My initial search honestly made my mouth drop open in surprise. I found 55 different dishwashing liquids made by Dawn. 55! So many scents and different additives, like Oxi Clean, or Olay. The "grades" given to all of the products are as follows: 9 of the dish liquids got a "C", 4 of them got an "F", and the remainder of the 55 got a "D". I chose to look at the one I always bought; plain old original Dawn, which is now called, "Dawn Simply Clean Dishwashing Liquid, Original". It got a "D".
 The health concerns listed as "some concern" are: damage to vision, digestive system effects, and skin irritation. Listed as "moderate concern are: nervous system effects and respiratory effects. Then, the environmental effects listed: of high concern is acute aquatic toxicity, and of moderate concern is chronic aquatic toxicity. So as we wash our dishes with this and flush it down the drain, it is toxifying ground water and our bodies. Sweet!
​ The main toxic ingredient listed is Methylisothiazolinone. This is the one that causes acute aquatic toxicity and skin irritation. These claims are documented by the Environmental Protection Agency. We see the sweet duckies being washed off with this stuff, but it actually poisons aquatic life. 
​ The Wikipedia entry regarding the M word above is even more frightening! Read it here.
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 The product I now use for my dishes is Thieves Dish Soap. The product info for it is here. I noticed that the Thieves info mentions that nasty M word also! (As in, our product doesn't contain it!)
​ When you are ready to try the Thieves Dish Soap, hit me up or order from my personal Young Living site on my home page!

 I still didn't buy a battery for the scale. I'm not feeling so great about that. I haven't been doing the things that I know are vital to my weight loss goals. I have been so doggone bummed out about things.
​ I have moments of tearfulness about the relationship...or lack of. After putting 3 1/2 years into this thing, with physical labor included which brought more monetary value to his properties, I feel I deserve SOME SORT OF REACTION. There has been nothing. No conversation, no explanations, no indication that he ever cared at all. I think that this may be worse that if we were arguing about things. At least there is emotion involved in arguments. My situation is void of any emotion from him. 
​ The job depresses me. I didn't want to return to mainstream nursing, and it has proven to be exactly as I knew it would be for me. I harbor feelings of angst toward him for forcing me to do this job, when for the past 3 1/2 years I planned on a business and life partnership with him, a partnership that I thought was supposed to last until death do us part. But, he didn't even get close to that commitment. 
​ So, yes, I'm so bummed out this week. Thankfully, phone conversations with my besties keep me somewhat sane, and my church family cares for me and prays for me. Plus, in less than 3 weeks, I'm off to Florida. It's a short trip, but will most certainly be jam packed with love and joy. 
​ Today, I am going to work for a friend, which will be good. Tomorrow, I am getting someone signed up as a Young Living member with a Premium Starter Kit. The kit contains 11 essential oil singles and blends, a diffuser, and samples. It is an excellent value, and membership with this company has big time rewards! I am within a few months of getting 25% back with every order I place! (I am currently at 20% which has been awesome in itself). 
​ Going to apply some "Joy" EO blend right now and get this day going!

 I tried to weigh yesterday, but the battery is dead in my bathroom scale. No really, it is! I actually was looking forward to getting on it, because I FEEL like I lost a little last week. I'm wearing a scrub top tonight that was slightly tighter a week ago. I feel good about that!
 Relationship-wise, no news is good news...haha. Basic avoidance. That works for now while I am getting back in the swing of work. Night shifts mess me up, but the pay is better. I have no idea how long it will take me to save up and find a house, but I'm not going to stress about it. I'm taking my time. I deserve to be allowed to stay put until I'm good and ready!
 The new oils I spoke of in my last post seem to be helping the emotions. The "White Angelica" blend is especially heavenly. Of course, any of the blends that contain rose oil smell amazing. One day I will have a bottle of rose oil. It is so valuable! And the price tag is heavy! But I want one...oh yes!
 Have a wonderful first day of February! I'm counting down 24 days til the Dead and Company show in Orlando!! (A ticket was "miracled" to me.)