MY CONVENTION EXPERIENCE 2017
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Ranna Seah.
This year, I was prompted by Kai and KerYew to go for Convention at Utah – Salt Lake City. The prompt is pretty powerful and I felt sort of anointed as I get my lazy ass moving in booking my convention tickets, hotel, air tickets, ESTAs AND I was even brave enough as to book for Heidi (my 7 years old daughter) to join me! But I will chuck her into kid’s camp though. Kids camps tickets are even more expensive than my convention ticket…but I wanted to do this because:
- The convention happened in June and it’s school holiday!
- Heidi has a very chirpy personality and I just know she will definitely enjoy the culture of the kids’ camp.
Very brave indeed…haha but Heidi and me were also very lucky to share a hotel room with Faith & Jonathan, and as they had been to convention before, I felt safe being around them.
So I hope the following tips I am going to share will be useful to you should you be attending convention next year onwards. 🙂
#1 Prepare Your Luggage Space
For this trip I was very grateful for Kai’s constant reminder to bring bigger luggage. Convention always means new product launch…so it’s a BUY BUY BUY trip!
As Heidi and me were allowed 23kg x 2 each. And in US, the airline check-ins don’t weight all your luggage together and balance the weights. Nooo…they want you to keep to strictly 23kg per luggage! Like say you have one at 20kg and another one at 26kg. You have to shift that 3 kg from the 26kg to the 23kg luggage. Get it?
They are nice enough to let you repack your luggage and adjust the weight though…hehe…so do make sure your luggage is a good hefty size. The cloth type that Faith & Jonathan brought are better than my hard case type and can pack in more stuffs. Faith mentioned you can get those luggage at Giant for a really good price.
#2 Ningxia Nitro and Ningxia Red
Again I have to be very grateful to Faith & Jon here again…because of our time difference, we will definitely experience jetlag while in US. So Faith kept pampering me with Ningxia Nitro and Ningxia Red…wow…combining these 2 really kick the jetlag to one corner sia! No joke!
I also took out Brain Power to roll on my head stem and behind my ears during those convention sharing sessions.
#3 US Hotels Do No Come With Electric Kettle (most of them, we think)
So do bring your own small, handy and portable one if you need to make your Slique tea or…in Heidi’s case…milo…
#4 Utah Weather
Utah is a weird place…in my opinion that is…the first 2 days when we were there, the weather was rainy and chilly. Somewhere around 14 to 16 Degrees Celsius. So it was rather wet and cold during the first 2 days. But on the 3rd day, the weather took a sunny turn and it was bright and sunny but with rather piercing rays you can feel on your skin. I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s not really hot, rather cool even…but the sun rays’ are rather piercing and painful if you stay under it too long. However, the weather will take a dip in the evening so be prepared to have your sweater/cardigan/jacket on when that happens at around 6pm. So make sure you are prepared for all the various weather changes.
#5 Collecting Orders at Convention
I am not sure if things will change next year, but for this year, we can lock in our orders online, submit and then wait for email notification before we can go over to pick up our orders. So I placed my order on day 01 night after the announcement of the new products and by day 02, I was able to collect all my orders. The orders fitted nicely in my luggage and since my hotel was rather near convention, I just make a quick dash back and then return to attend my next class. So it also does benefit to stay near the conference.
#6 Lunch
There are some really nice and traditional cafes around Salt Lake City and I really wished I have had done more research!!! I don’t really take my lunch inside the Convention Center. The best lunch I enjoyed was my packed lunch (my coffee and croissant sandwich from Eva’s Bakery) with Diane. It’s very filling and took me 2 meals to finish it. The pizza at the City Creek food court is really good too. I really enjoyed it.Oh and that time when I was early at the training hall cos I packed my lunch, I made 4 new friends there~ Young Living Members are really so nice and sweet…hehehe…
#7 Clothing/Shopping
Last but not least, cos June is summertime sale in Utah, I feel that I shouldn’t have packed so much clothes! I should leave the space for new purchase at GAP or H&M. The sundresses are so cute!!! I bought 2 for Heidi~
Most of the shops in Salt Lake City are close on Sundays. So please do your research to avoid disappointment.
In summary, Heidi and I had really enjoyed our experience at the convention even though I wished I had planned better and visit the lovely cafes. There is one really nice classic cafe at Lion House which I chanced upon when I was walking around and taking photos with Heidi. I wished I had just sit down and order a cake or something. I thought I could go back again on Sunday but alas…it’s closed on Sunday. So be sure to plan and enjoy Salt Lake City as well as the convention~
Oh and I managed to squeeze into the Children’s Discovery Museum with Heidi before they close for the day. That was one of her highlight for the trip! 🙂
Hope you’ve enjoyed my article and tips for a good convention experience!
If you like my articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils or have further clarifications, please drop me a message here or email me at fabulana@gmail.com. If you are ready to sign up as member to purchase, you can click here. I would love to support you in using the oils for yourself and your loved ones.
KITTEN CLEANING 101
This post is contributed by One Drop member –Dyllis Teo
I love the smell of kittens! There, I said it. But they get icky so very easily, now that they can’t control their bowel movements very well.
I woke up to pee-soaked and poo-smudged kittens this morning. Sigh. The joys of being a cat mom.
This definitely calls for a bath. So here’s what I did. I diluted 1 part of the Animal Scent Shampoo in 4 parts of water in a foam pump bottle from Daiso. I like to use a foam pump because the foam makes lathering up a kitten so much easier especially they are super squirmy.
The dilution ratio is just nice to get rid of the ickiness and also quick to wash out. This makes for super duper quick baths for kittens that are screeching for dear life.
Plus, diluting the shampoo means you use less each time! Yay for saving shampoo.
When the kittens aren’t dirty enough to warrant a bath, but I would still like to clean them up, I will give a quick wipe down or do a spot clean. I’m not a fan of commercial wet wipes with all the dubious ingredients and fragrances, definitely not using them on my precious ones! So I make my own non-toxic wet wipes!
#1 USE FLORAL WATERS
I love floral waters! I saturate a cotton pad with it and use that to wipe milk-stained faces, grubby eyes, wet paws and other not-very-dirty stuff. I mainly use Helichrysum and Lavender waters, they are so very gentle and very supportive of good skin health! Win-win!
#2 DILUTE THE ANIMAL SCENTS SHAMPOO MORE
For slightly dirtier cases, I spot clean with diluted shampoo. I have a bottle with 1 part Animal Scents Shampoo to about 8 parts of water. I do go over with a floral water afterwards, just to get rid of any shampoo residue and this helps to stretch the time between showers.
There you go, that’s what I’ve been using to clean my kitties because nobody wants to kiss a grubby meow.
Dyllis is a member of OneDrop. She and her team supports oil users via their facebook group – Two Many Legs. If you like Dyllis’s articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils, please feel free to get in touch with Dyllis or sign up directly here.
COMBAT CELLULITE
This post is contributed by One Drop member –Angel Lim
This is my personal testimony of reducing cellulite that was obviously visible to anyone standing behind me at any angle to invisible to naked eye unless I pinch my thighs for you to witness.
It all began very accidentally when I started drinking a super food supplement drink in order to improve my eyesight. I took 180ml on a daily basis. Then I started adding some essential oils in because I read in Kaye’s post that it made it taste different and more “citrusy”. So I added a couple of drops of essential oils in.
I went to Canada for Winter Harvest and I didn’t fall ill which is odd considering I always fall sick when I go to a foreign land… I don’t think it’s the food or water… I suspect it’s the bacteria from the badly circulated air that I was breathing with hundreds of other passengers in a contained aircraft. And it is true as I found out that 20% of passengers usually fall ill after a flight if someone on board is having a cough or flu. So after 2 weeks of sheer bliss and happiness of winter harvest and spending time with wonderful Young Living members, I flew home to go back to reality. I miss the cold BUT I was also surprised with good news. I was told by my family that they can’t see my cellulite anymore and asked me what happened. Guess what? I had no clue.
So I started doing some investigation and this is what I found out:-
The superfood supplement drink, Ningxia Red contains all the berries and citrus fruits. (You can check out “What’s inside the Ningxia Red and How Does it Help” in our Live Alive book. You can purchase it here) All of which nourishes, supports and strengthens our body system. I have listed one of the main functions of each ingredient that helped in combating cellulite:-
- Aronia Juice – Aids digestion
- Wolfberry Puree – Improves digestive tract health
- Plum Juice – Anti-obesity
- Pomegranate Juice – Superfood for skin and hair
- Blueberry Juice – Protects cell DNA
- Sweet Cherry Juice – Anti-oxidant support
- Tangerine Oil – Supports secretion of toxin and unwanted substances, supports digestive system and metabolic function
- Yuzu Oil – Supports digestive system and activates cell and fat burning effect
- Orange Oil – Supports circulation, inhibit accumulation of toxins and restore correct information to DNA
- Lemon Oil – Supports microcirculation, maintains normal cellular regeneration, support digestive system
And when I nourish my body with the right nutrients, I realized I stop snacking and I stop craving for junk food.
The essential oils I used were Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit.
- Orange Oil – Supports circulation, inhibit accumulation of toxins and restore correct information to DNA
- Lemon Oil – Supports micro-circulation, maintains normal cellular regeneration, support digestive system
- Grapefruit – Stimulates an enzyme called lipase to help us dissolve fat. Yes, DISSOLVE FAT! And toxins that our bodies accumulated are stored away in fat cells so by dissolving the fats, we also remove the toxins from our body! And grapefruit also aids in thinning the lymph so that it will clear through the system better.
And don’t forget to drink plenty of water cos water assists the lymph system. You need water to push out all the garbage out of your body!
Of course, watching what you put into your body is important but that will make this post a tad too long!
Angel is a member of OneDrop. If you like Angel’s articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils, please feel free to get in touch with Angel or sign up directly here.
RESTFUL SLEEP FOR BABIES & MUMMIES
This post is contributed by One Drop member – Charlene Tan
As a first-time mum, sleep is a topic that has recently become especially close to my heart. The focus is for babies to sleep as much as possible so that mummies can rest well!
For reference, check out this baby, children and adult sleep chart:
| Years \ Per day | Total Sleep (hrs) | Night Time (hrs) | Naps (hrs) |
| Newborn ~ 4 months | 16 – 18 | 8 – 9 | 7 – 9 (3-5 naps) |
| 4 ~ 12 months | 12 – 16 | 9 – 10 | 4 – 5 (2-3 naps) |
| 1 ~ 2 years | 11 – 14 | 10 – 11 | 2 – 3 (1-2 naps) |
| 3 ~ 5 years | 10 – 13 | 10 – 11 | 0 – 1 |
| 6 ~ 12 years | 9 – 12 | 10 – 11 | 0 – 1 |
| Adults | 7 – 9 | 7 – 9 | 0 |
For newborns and babies, it is important to have them sleep as much as they can both in the day and at night. Many first-time parents are excited to introduce the world to the newborn and may over-engage the senses in the day. For some parents who would prefer the baby to sleep longer through the night may try to restrict naps in the day. These activities actually result in overtired babies and compromise on the quality of their sleep.
Both babies and adults thrive on having a routine and having a fixed sleep schedule allows you to have a well-deserved rest too. For me, this worked well for Baby Aven for 6 months! Having a schedule for him allowed me to find pockets of time to rest and sleep amidst the demands of being the primary caregiver.
At around 7 months however, Baby Aven decided that he was all grown up and naps are not for him. It was extremely difficult to get him to nap in the day. The maximum number of nap hours he would take in the day was 2 hours! The sudden change in his once predictable sleeping pattern threw me off guard. I was frustrated and upset with Baby Aven and would try ways and means to get him to stick to his old schedule. We can’t win a baby, can we? After one week with many failed attempts, it struck me – if he’s not following his schedule, then maybe the schedule needed to change to suit his new needs! After all, we are all unique individuals and will have different needs at different stages of growth.
Take time out to learn about your child’s needs and adapt your schedule accordingly. I focused on his total sleep hours instead of the number of naps in the day. So, I would have Baby Aven begin his sleep routine earlier at 5.30 – 6pm and if he wakes up earlier than 7am the next day, I would leave him in his cot and not engage him until his supposed wake time.
I’ve found the following routine and actions extremely useful in promoting a baby’s sleep:
1) Implement a fixed routine before bedtime
Performing the same set of actions daily from birth will help your baby recognise the cues for bedtime. Come up with your bedtime routine and do it every day. This is Aven’s bedtime routine for your reference:
- Wash his bum bum with Kidscents shower gel
- Sing a song and wipe him down with clean warm water
- Change into a new set of diaper
- Quick massage (see next point)
- Change into his long sleeves pyjamas
- Feed him his milk
- Pat to sleep
2) Gentle massage with Sensation Massage Oil
- Pump Sensation Massage Oil on hand and rub your palms together
- This action is to promote rest and bonding between mummy and baby. Therefore, technique is not important over here. Focus on your touch and build that connection with your child
3) Diffuse your child’s favourite essential oil
Some of my favourite oils for Baby Aven’s night time diffuser are:
Single Oils: Cedarwood, Idaho Balsam Fir, Northern Light Black Spruce, Pine, Cypress, Hinoki
Blends: Gentle Baby, Peace and Calming, Sacred Mountain, Stress Away
Blends: Gentle Baby, Peace and Calming, Sacred Mountain, Stress Away
You may notice that my choice of single oils consists of oils from big, tall trees. If you have ever been to the woods, you would have experienced a very special sense of serenity and calm. These oils from the big, tall trees help to promote a sense of security and stability. The blends, as evident in their names, promote the emotions that will support the baby in sleep and rest.
4) Sing or hum a lullaby
Honestly, the tune, pitch and lyrics do not matter to the baby. What your baby wants to hear is your voice, and to feel your calming presence. Apply some oils on your chest and neck, and allow yourself to unwind for the day too. Rockstarpapasan’s favourite tune is Edelweiss. Seems to work 90% of the time with Baby Aven.
These suggestions may help to promote rest for your baby and you too! Ultimately, you will want to pay attention to your baby’s growth and adapt your schedule accordingly. I pray that as mums, we get to rest as much as possible so that we may have the energy to give as much of ourselves to our families!
Charlene is a trained ontological coach who partners women in discovering and embracing their innate giftings and strengths. She has incorporated Young Living into her profession, and home. Today, she travels extensively to empower women in achieving balance and help other mothers embrace the Young Living lifestyle. Follow her adventures at www.mygiftroom.me or @minimomma on Instagram. If you like Charlene’s articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils, please feel free to get in touch with Charlene or sign up directly here.
MEOW CHOW
This post is contributed by One Drop member –Dyllis Teo
I have always believed that food is the cornerstone to health. You quite literally are what you eat!
I advocate raw food, namely because enzymes and nutrients are still intact, protein structures are not altered by heat and it typically has little to no plant matter.
Weaning my kittens on raw was a no-brainer for me. I chose to start them on freeze-dried raw as it is really the most convenient, already nutritionally balanced and it’s just a lot easier to talk to adopters about keeping them on it, vs me telling people to be handle raw meats and measure out squishy organ meat etc
SO HERE’S WHAT MY KITTENS ARE EATING EACH MEAL!
The Primal nuggets are rehydrated with KMR (kitten milk replacement) for added calories because Primal does not have kitten specific formulas.
Since the Primal nuggets are turkey-based, I wanted to add some protein variety and that comes in the form of fresh, raw meats. So far, I’ve offered them beef, pork and lamb, both in minced form and also in tiny scissors-cut pieces.
And.. NINGXIA RED! It’s never too early to start them on Ningxia Red! I love how it’s an all-rounder supplement and it’s so easy to give! 3 of them share 1 capful per meal, so with 3 meals a day, they are drinking approx 1 cap each per day.
Did you know that our animals and us are exposed to free radicals all the time? Free radicals negatively affect our cells and contribute to premature aging, inflammation and various disorders.Antioxidants is the one thing that can tackle free radicals and Ningxia Red is chockfull of it! In fact, it is the product with the highest ORAC score! Ningxia Red also boosts natural immune function, brain health, good vision and basically all the systems.
If you could only give one supplement to your animals or yourself, it has got to be this.
💩 Let’s talk about poop for a moment. Poop can tell us so many things! They have been giving very firm and nice poop, everyday! There is no straining to poop, no mushy poop or even diarrhea.
And the best part? THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO SMELL. I have weaned other kittens on canned food in the past, and I can’t describe how stinky their poop was. It’s amazing how such a small piece of poop can stink up half the house. We never missed a poop. But now? I have to go dig through the litter box to find poop because there is no smell at all! YAY FOR RAW!
End of poop talk. Another observation I have made is that, my kittens eat less than other kittens on canned/kibble. It is pretty normal for 5 weeks old kittens to eat 4-5 times a day, but I’ve noted that mine don’t want to eat any more than 3 times a day.
Sometimes they will even eat only twice a day.
Perhaps their little bodies know that they are eating very nutrient-dense food? I’ve also learnt to not be a kiasu mama, and just trust that they can self regulate the amount of food they need, since the likelihood of eating more to compensate for not-as-nutrient-dense-food is pretty unlikely.
What are your animals eating? How do they do on their diets?
Dyllis is a member of OneDrop. She and her team supports oil users via their facebook group – Two Many Legs. If you like Dyllis’s articles and would like to purchase the Young Living oils, please feel free to get in touch with Dyllis or sign up directly here.
