1. Shockingly many products can be classed as an 'essential oil' whilst containing only 3% of that actual oil (hence the need for researching what you buy)! 
2. Using essential oils (EO's) in a burner isn't as effective for aromatherapy as a diffuser, because a burner does exactly as it says, burning off the oil and its helpful properties in the process
3. Good quality oils can be used for a lot more than aromatherapy, such as making beauty, skincare and cleaning products, warding off insects, being used topically and they can even be used in food & drink (depending on the oil quality of course, please don't ingest oils unless they are 100% pure and you know the correct dosage!) 
4. If you want to mix an EO to use topically then coconut oil is one of the best things to use as a carrier oil and it's also great for oil pulling; you can even add a drop of your favourite essential oil into your pulling routine 
5. 100% naturally sourced oils absorb much more quickly into the blood stream and have a highly detoxing effect 
6. However, because of this you mustn't put a natural oil into plastic containers of any kind as the oil will mimic this detoxing effect and draw all the chemicals out of the plastic! 
7. If you use a chemical based laundry detergent and dry your clothes on a radiator, this exposes you to a dose of chemical aromatherapy - there are alternate laundry solutions available where essential oils with disinfectant properties (such as tea tree or lemon) can be used with an EcoEgg or Soapnuts
8. Scarily, not all EO's are rigorously tested and a common issue includes Cassia oil being passed off as Cinnamon oil due to the fact that their chemical structure is identical unless analysed further 
9. Putting EO's onto your pulse points is a great way to get the most benefit out of your oil as it absorbs into your bloodstream for quicker effectiveness and it gives you aromatherapy on the go! 
10. It's easy to get creative with EO's and they can be used for most things, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to heavily research the best oil for what you want and also the brand/company you're purchasing them from, especially if you plan on ingesting any of the oils!

100% naturally sourced oils - DoTerra

Other great oils - Eco Aroma // Natural by Nature // Miaroma

Diffusers - Muji // Made By Zen // Amora Scent Hubs

For workshops and creative wellness - The Wonder Inn

Essential oil workshops by Gill - Facebook and Instagram: @essentialoilsliverpool

Is aromatherapy part of your life already or is it on your to-do list? Let me know in the comments!

Stay curious

Leesa were kind enough to send along this infographic with their own tips and tricks for good quality sleep, you can check them out here

Sleep Tips When Dealing With Pain

• I try to take any evening medication at least an hour before bed as I don't want my body processing it whilst I'm trying to sleep and keeping me up in the meantime; with painkillers this also gives them time to kick in so that falling asleep is a tad bit easier
• I make sure not to eat too much close to bedtime as my stomach can get upset very easily. Lying horizontal with a full stomach isn't the key to relaxation, but then neither is going to bed hungry!
• When I'm not feeling my best I do the simple thing and listen to my body, if I'm tired I sleep, if I need to rest then I will. I also find it really important not to oversleep when I'm feeling fatigued as this can cause me to wake up feeling even more sluggish and 'headachey'
• Speaking of headaches/migraines, if I'm trying to sleep with one or the other and painkillers are doing nothing for me, I do a number of things: I take Feverfew tablets (a herbal remedy is much kinder than painkillers), I love listening to rain or nature sounds at a very low volume to soothe me, and my 4head stick becomes my best friend especially when applied to my neck
• A new product I'm a fan of is an eye pillow which, when rested across your eyes eases headache pressure, gives you total darkness and is also filled with lavender & linseed which works in an aromatherapeutic way to relax you

• Thank the person who tagged you
• Write your goals for next year
• Write how you’re going to achieve your goals
• Tag at least 5 of your blogger friends to share their goals
• Then, if you wish, in 365 days write a post for everyone to see if you have been successful or not

Hey cats!

You may have seen lately that there's been a bit of a boom on the alternate therapy side of things; a big part of the hype has been around Himalayan salt lamps and all the benefits of having one so naturally I wanted to test this out, especially since I've been eyeing up one of these bad boys for a while! At first I thought they were just decorative pieces but when I found out there's more to them than meets the eye I was very surprised and intrigued...

So, what's the big deal?

• Reducing allergies 
• Reduction in blood diseases 
• Eases rheumatism 
• Alleviates respiratory issues 
• Colour (or chromo) therapy 
• Soothes neuroticism/insomnia 
• Increases energy levels 
• Increases serotonin levels 
• Improves quality of sleep 
• Minimises spread of germs from one person to another within the home

Where's it from?

Where have I put mine?

My current standpoint?

Trying it out!

One Month On - Final Thoughts!

Overall I'm really happy with my purchase, whether you believe in the 'science' behind it or not and the potential for health benefits doesn't float your boat, this still makes an incredible decorative piece! I have mine on every evening emitting it's gorgeous orange glow and I feel better in myself, I cough rarely nowadays, I have more restful sleep and I just adore everything about it. If you're strapped for cash - beyond the cheaper alternate of the tea light holders - an easy way to eradicate a few positive ions is to open a window and air out your house. Obviously this isn't ideal in the Winter months but hey, free fresh air negative ions! 

Let me know if you're considering a salt lamp or if you've already got one and how you like yours!

Stay curious

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The Facts

• I downloaded the app just over a week ago 
• I'm currently Level 10 
• I have 35 Pokémon from the Pokédex, 60 Pokémon in total and 9 eggs 
• I've walked 12.4km so far and visited 99 Pokéstops 
• I picked Team Mystic because it had the word 'mystic' in it & I still don't know what the importance is of being on a team 
• I haven't been to a Gym and battled anyone yet

Pokémon in my world

I downloaded the app in a moment of absolute boredom one evening and to start with I was underwhelmed. Naturally a lot of this was down to not really understanding the point of the app despite it being all over my Facebook feed 24/7. I sat at my computer with it open to the side of me wondering where all the Pokémon were, since so many people had put up pictures of the little monsters hiding all around their home. I closed it, disappointed and frustrated. This is usually my attitude towards any kind of newness or change. 

The weekend came around so my parents and I ventured to Cheshire Oaks as you do. I decided that this was the best time to give Pokémon GO a real shot and this time I wasn't as unenthused. I walked around, excited every time a Drowzee or Rattata would pop up and frustrated that the lurking Zubat wouldn't show itself. It was also my first experience of Pokéstops; I tried to figure out where each one would be on our walk round. As we settled down for breakfast naturally I'd peaked my parents' interest. My Dad asked what the aim was, I replied "to catch them all, and be the very best"...he just grinned at me for the rest of the day. My Mum got me to explain all I knew to her so far about the app, showing her what to do. She contemplated downloading it for all the times she's waiting around at the hospital with my Grandpa. She still hasn't got it but I keep trying to get her to come on Pokéwalks...no success yet but I don't plan on giving up! 

Long story short, I had a great day. All the times I would usually be waiting around bored whilst my parents were in shops I didn't like, I spent entertained. All the shops I would tend to go in and buy from for the sake of it I avoided, eager to stay outside and enjoy the weather (and catch Pokémon of course). I also noticed that I was much less anxious when I was out because the app gave me something to focus on, goals to achieve, places to get to. I'm thankful to have a tool to curb both my spending and my anxiety to some extent.

Typically that Saturday was the day the servers went down in the afternoon for around 4-5 hours. Naturally I was fuming, I'd only just started the game and as soon as I join, the app nosedives. I was beyond frustrated, especially since I'd planned to have a walk around my estate once we got home. I'd been looking forward to getting outside and actually experiencing the weather more, rather than sitting inside and resuming my usual hermit status. If the servers went down now, I don't think I'd be too bothered even if I'd planned to walk. I would still go out.

Fast-forward to the next week, I'm being teased by my boyfriend for finally giving in to the trend and bugging him to go for a walk. I was only joking (sort of). Then after stuffing myself with a full portion of veggie chow mein he exclaims "Come on then! Lets go for that walk". Cue lots of whingeing from me about my stomach/not wanting to be bothered/it's 7pm lets just watch Netflix; 10 minutes later I'd been shuffled out of the house on a Pokéwalk. The weather was roasting and we didn't think we'd be out long.

At 9.30pm we got home. Naturally of course there was that element of low-level fear during our walk about being mugged & I was cautious not to keep my phone out at all times. We'd been up and down the town, seen places we'd never been to despite living in the area our whole lives, smiling at others also on the game, we saw parents & children running around laughing together and by the time we were heading back I felt so free that I didn't want to go home. In truth I spent more time enjoying the walk than the app, but if it hadn't been for the app existing in the first place then neither of us would have left the house, as bad as it may sound we'd have had no reason to. We also spent half an hour round at a friend's house when we passed by on our walk, again another sociable activity that wouldn't have normally happened. 

I've been pushing myself to be more sociable lately anyway but I do think this app has aided me and others in my life in doing so. Just the other day I went out with a close friend on the pretense of not only spending time together but also getting ourselves to Pokéstops (she was in dire need of Pokéballs and I needed to hatch eggs), enjoying the last bit of warm weather that we'd been blessed with. I had a wonderful time seeing her, spending time together and guess what? I got another damn Pidgey! 

Naturally an app like this appeals to my hoarding tendencies in collecting everything I can like items, Pokémon & eggs without me doing real damage to myself. I have no interest in spending money on an app, I never have and never will. I'm not so much interested in the battling aspect and I'm put off from hearing people's bad experiences. I'd rather not have my memories of Gameboy battles tarnished by a poor battle system. Maybe when I finally do get round to battling then all the glitches will have been ironed out.

Pokémon in the real world

Time for the more opinionated bit I guess. I'll start with the bad and end on a high. The game itself is far from perfect, and that does ruin the enjoyment somewhat. The developers have a long way to go in making this app reach it's full potential. I also worry about the lack of awareness/warnings around making sure people use it safely. Not everyone is your friend, people have been mugged for their phones, people have gotten hurt from not paying attention. Many may be getting themselves into a pickle money-wise by spending on the game rather than walking to get more items. Parents need to keep vigilant that if their children are using it, they're using it supervised.

I've seen many people being rude to others, saying it's sad that they're playing it, telling people it's a children's game. I feel it's for everyone, especially when rarer Pokémon can be found at night and I don't think the developers really had it in mind that 8 years olds would be wandering the streets at 12am. At the end of the day if you don't like it, it's not your cup of tea and you don't have anything nice or constructive to contribute, I think you're better off not using your energy to slag off and try to bring people down for enjoying something. To those who are unnecessarily impolite to Pokémon GO players, maybe find something you enjoy to focus on rather than pushing your negative vibes onto a creation that may just have gotten someone out of bed that morning, may have helped someone lonely make a connection, may have helped someone to overcome their anxiety that tiny bit more or may have just become the starting point in someone's new exercise routine.

Yes there's complaint that places such as museums & art galleries should have enough lure (puntastic) without the need for an app. At the end of the day the people that will go off their own back will go regardless, and those playing Pokémon GO who wouldn't usually go may end up there for the first time and experience something great. Who really cares if it's actually getting people active and exploring? I've heard of many great things be bourn out of this app. I've seen countless events go up on Facebook for Pokémon GO parties & meet-ups; I'm all for something that bring people together and promotes positivity. From an eco-friendly standpoint this app may encourage more people to walk to work or to the shops rather than using their cars; in my personal opinion there needs to be more focus on making & using things like this to help save our planet and our earthlings! Plus the fact, play is an important human urge no matter what age and Pokémon has brought that in the form of an imaginary getaway merged with the real world, after all don't we all need an escape sometimes? 

The takeaway point:

Where I'm At

• Jobless & living with my parents 
• Stuck in limbo with all my belongings, trying to sort through and get rid of as much as possible 
• Passed my theory test but my anxiety is too bad for me to be able to take my driving test 
• Out of shape with zero stamina & in very poor health (albeit a lot of this is out of my control) 
• However, I don't completely hate the way my body looks considering everything 
• On the road to replacing my products with cruelty-free/organic/vegan alternatives but not wanting to be wasteful with the products I already own 
• Mentally exhausted & emotionally drained almost constantly 
• On a college course that I used to enjoy but currently have no passion for & therefore I'm very demotivated/behind on work 
• Hormones all over the place due to a bad experience with the contraceptive implant 
• In a strong, happy and consistent relationship 
• Taking steps to point my life in a different direction whilst keeping my options open

Where I Want To Be

• Living with my boyfriend & secure in a part-time job 
• Having a more minimal amount of 'stuff and things' clogging up my life 
• Passing my driving test so that it's done and I don't have to retake anything 
• Maybe joining a gym or keeing up a fitness regime of some kind, eating well and doing what is in my control to improve/maintain my health 
• Loving the way my body looks 
• Living a mainly cruelty-free, organic, sustainable & eco-friendly lifestyle that works for me 
• In a better mental state, either by helping myself out or finding counselling again 
• Seeking help at college to assist in gaining my passion again & get back on track with work 
• Getting the implant out and being on contraception that works for me 
• Still in a strong, happy and consistent relationship that continues to grow as we live together and build our own family/life together 
• Living each day in the moment, finding balance, being happy and helping others