Welcome to our December Blog to help you Press Pause
Lots of love, Maggie & Jennifer
Lots of love, Maggie & Jennifer
Let us help you navigate this month to create moments of memorable calm in the chaos of traditions and gathering
Here’s a customised list to help you press pause during the busyness of this month
- Turn Your Shower Into a Spa
- Feng Shui Tips for December
- Choose Your Superpowers to Enjoy the Holiday Season
- What the Winter Solstice Means for You
- Recipe of the Month - Festive Spray
- A Massive Thank You
Turn your Shower Into A Spa
In the middle of the busyness of December, we bring you one of the best simple oiling tips! If you feel like us, we’d love a reset but don’t have the time or mindset for full self-care.
We want to share with you a gorgeous simple tip to benefit from your oils by attaching them to another daily habit – your shower.
Add a few drops of essential oils directly on the shower floor just before you get in – it’s a game changer.
Let the steam of your shower do all the work – turning your bathroom into a luxurious aromatherapy spa!
There is no wrong oil to choose so grab one and drop away.
Here are some of our favourites we reach for again and again.
Peppermint — This may not seem an obvious choice for a shower, but it’s surprising how pleasant it makes the experience. It boosts your energy and clears your head. I thought it would feel cool, but it doesn’t at all – it’s perfect for those early mornings when coffee hasn’t quite kicked in yet.
Stressaway – Such a beautiful aroma that temporarily transports you to a tropical island. It’s calming and uplifting and melts all stress and tension. This makes your shower an incredibly happy experience!
R.C. — Respiratory Care is a blend of three kinds of Eucalyptusm Myrtle, Pine, Peppermint and more. It's helpful if you’re stuffy. It targets upper respiratory so it’s perfect for deep breathing in the shower. We use this one lots in the fall and winter.
Eucalyptus Radiata — Instantly turns your shower into a mini spa session! It’s refreshing, cleansing and stimulating. This encourages taking deep, clear breaths.
Lavender — a perfect oil to choose if you’re in need of calming. This one is our favourite if you’re particularly stressed or shower in the evening. It offers a real sense of calm. Flowers like lavender are skin-loving and pampering all over.
How to do it:
Add 2-4 drops on the shower floor before you turn the water on. Try to aim for the corners so the scent lasts longer as the steam builds.
Add 2-4 drops on the shower floor before you turn the water on. Try to aim for the corners so the scent lasts longer as the steam builds.
It’s one of those small, effortless things that can completely shift your mood, and make your everyday routine feel a little more special. We’d love to know if you try it!
Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows
Our goal is to encourage positive energy from the outside into and around your home.
The approach to our homes, important at any time of year, become particularly important in December as we welcome the Winter Solstice - the gateway between the past year and the present year. We want to leave the path for positive Qi clear.
In Feng Shui, the front door is called the mouth of the home. It is where vital energy enters. Make your main door as generous as possible, always clean and well maintained.
If you add a Wreath or Christmas door decoration, add the colour red, which represents the fire element. It will bring warmth and balance the water element of Winter.
If you have a Christmas tree, bring intention when decorating the tree. Use decorations that truly bring joy and avoid any that are attached to negative feelings or energies.
On the night of the Winter Solstice (21st December), open your curtains when you sleep and meditate on all you wish for, for the coming year.
As this is the darkest time of year, make sure you encourage maximum light into your home. Keep windows clean and throw open the windows when you can to refresh any stagnant energy.
Use scent intentionally!
In Feng Shui, essential oils can be a powerful way to enhance the energetic atmosphere through scent and frequency. They have a powerful effect on mood and can move stagnant energy, elevate the vibrational atmosphere, balance the five elements, purify the space and amplify intention.
We’ll be reaching for Grapefruit, Orange and Lemon to cleanse and lift Qi. For serenity, we recommend Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata and Sandalwood.
Choose your Superpowers to Enjoy the Holiday Season
Behind every memorable holiday are private (or sometimes not so private) challenges. What challenges you most?
For some, it can be boundaries, sleep, digestion, feeling the absence of loved ones, expectations, depletion of energy, guilt, stress…to name a few.
It’s easy to focus on making sure everyone else is having a great holiday – and let your own needs take a back seat. People say they want the ‘magic’ of the holiday season, but what does that mean for you?
We have a suggestion to help bridge the dream of the holidays with the reality. Give yourself some superpowers to prioritise YOU – even if it’s only for a few minutes.
Using essential oils in our simple daily self-care rituals can create moments of calm amid the chaos. When you’re starting to feel exhausted or overwhelmed by the relentless ‘to-do’ list, this is how to press pause.
Our December Toolkit:
- Sacred Frankincense to protect our own energy so we don’t get depleted by giving away too much. Dab it on to wrists as a perfume
- White Angelica – made with oils used during ancient times to enhance the body’s aura which brings about a sense of strength and endurance. Many use this as protection against negative energy. Diffuse or wear as a perfume.
- Peppermint brings immediate relief from digestive discomfort, combats fatigue, soothes areas of tension and boosts focus. Apply topically over areas that need relief. For digestion, rub directly on the abdomen or drop into your tummy button. It’s a strong oil so dilute with a carrier oil if you are sensitive and keep away from eyes.
- Lemon is your best friend for detoxing and cleansing the body. It’s a happy, uplifting oil and profound on the body. Add 2 drops to your water and drink to cleanse your digestive track. Or add directly over the liver before morning and night to counteract the excesses of festive parties.
- Gathering to be truly present with the people around you and feel all wrapped in a cashmere blanket. Diffuse and wear as a perfume.
- Thieves (always) to boost your immunity and stay above the wellness line whether hosting at home or travelling. Lots of hugs and kisses can lead to unwanted germs. Diffuse and apply liberally to feet, spine and glands. Add a drop to your tea to feel warm and soothed.
The best thing…it only takes a few moments to take care of yourself. Grab your oils in your toolkit and take some deep breaths. You only need to sniff the bottle to change your frequency.
What The Winter Solstice Means for You
The word “yule” comes from the Norse Celebration known as “Jól” or “Jul” (pronounced “yoh-l” or “yule”), meaning “wheel.” It is thought to refer to either the “wheel” of the sun or the “wheel” of the calendar year. The holiday itself is a celebration of the winter solstice.
This year, we welcome the Winter Solstice on Sunday 21 December, at 3:03pm in the Northern Hemisphere. At this time, the Northern hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the sun (as the Earth leans at an angle of 23.5 degrees, we are sometimes tilted towards and sometimes away from the sun).
I love the poetic word Solstice, from the Latin Sol (sun) Sistere (to stand still). The sun stands still and in addition, the sun’s path across the sky appears to freeze for a few days before and after the Solstice.
The actual Solstice lasts only a moment, so, if you can, be somewhere you can reflect on this magical time. Pause…appreciate the beauty of this season of introspection, the maximum Yin within Yin.
Depending on your mood, our oils of choice for you would be:
Cinnamon, clove and spices to add warmth.
Evergreens to represent enduring life.
Citrus oils for hope and light.
and, for grounding...Frankincense and Sandalwood
Add the oils to your diffuser and sit with it, in quiet space and give gratitude for the year gone by. Focus on your plans for the year to come.
We are meeting to discuss the Winter Solstice and celebrate with our Moon Group on Thursday 11 December.
Recipe of the Month: Festive Spray
As the holiday swoops into full flight, there's nothing quite like filling your rooms with the fresh, earthy aroma of a real Christmas tree. Think of it as a shortcut to Forest Bathing.
Whether you’re at home or a hotel, we recommend you use the power of scent to elevate your mood and intentionally enhance your space with a simple DIY room spray. It's perfect for immediate magic and uplifting spirit.
This is a quick and easy recipe that only takes a few minutes to make but has a lasting effect. The pace of this month can be relentless, but this DIY not only freshens the air, but it promotes a sense of calm and grounding.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 1/2 cup witch hazel (for better oil dispersion and a clean base)
- 10-15 drops Young Living Idaho Grand Fir essential oil (for that authentic, prized Christmas tree scent to transport you to a calming evergreen forest.)
- 5-10 drops Young Living Pine essential oil (forest-fresh crispness)
- Optional: 5 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil (for an invigorating woodsy boost).
How to make and use:
In a clean 8-oz (240ml) spray bottle, add the essential oils: Start with the Idaho Grand Fir, followed by the Pine, and the Northern Lights Black Spruce if you're using it. Gently roll/twirl the bottle to blend the oils
Next add the witch hazel and gently mix with the oils.
Finally add the water and mix with the oils and witch hazel.
Give it a test spritz in the air—adjust the drops if you want a stronger scent.
Before family and friends arrive, spray a few pumps around your entryway, living room, or kitchen for an inviting, holiday-ready home.
This spray isn't just about the scent—it's about creating memorable moments with the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. Trees oil can be extremely grounding and calming.
A Massive Thank You
Reflecting on 2025: A Year of Growth and Connection
As we close the final chapter of 2025, we wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude for being part of a year filled with learning, connection, and new friendships. Your presence has made it truly meaningful.
This year, we've delighted in guiding you towards incorporating simple, joyful rituals and gentle practices into your daily routine.
Our mission has always been to encourage a plant-first approach, helping you use your oils and feel increasingly better every day.
This year, we’ve heard rewarding testimonials from you about....
- easing big emotions
- supporting hormone balance
- boosting post-op recovery
- finding calm during exams
- blending beautiful natural perfumes
- navigating summer insects and sun protection
- transforming homes into intentional sanctuaries where you can truly thrive
- easing big emotions
- supporting hormone balance
- boosting post-op recovery
- finding calm during exams
- blending beautiful natural perfumes
- navigating summer insects and sun protection
- transforming homes into intentional sanctuaries where you can truly thrive
We’re also deeply grateful to everyone who joined our gatherings — we love hosting you. Some of our favourite moments from the year included: Spring Equinox Oil Club, Spring Cleaning: A Natural Home Workshop, Summer Prep Oily Coffee Morning, Summer Solstice Oil Club, Summer Simplified, The Autumn Sanctuary Workshop, Autumn Equinox Oil Club, Balancing Chakras Workshop, our Oils & More Holiday Coffee Morning, our Full Moon gatherings, and our session on Lymphatic and Liver Health.
Looking ahead to 2026, we can't wait to host you again, usually with two events each month. These gatherings are designed to demystify plant-based changes in personal habits and home care, aligning with the natural rhythms of the seasons and lunar energy. Keep an eye out for new dates!
Our Wish for 2026 is that you Continue Taking Simple, Nourishing Steps to Support Yourself and your Health
Return to the plants. Trust their pure oils. Let’s do this together.
Return to the plants. Trust their pure oils. Let’s do this together.
Wishing you a joyful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year
Essential Oils - Simplified. We don't just teach oils, we teach you how to use them
We love hosting and our guests request their favourites every year. These three recipes get thumbs up by everyone who tastes them. They all use Young Living Essential Oils (if you want to use essential oils to turn up the flavours).
Only choose Young Living Vitality (Plus) Oils in these recipes IF you're going to use essential oils in your recipe. They are the only essential oils approved by the FDA as safe for consumption. It's such an authentic flavour burst - worth trying!
Orange Chocolate Pots
I was never a big fan of orange and chocolate together.....until this recipe! It's velvety smooth, dairy free, easy to make and loved by all who taste it.
It's rich so you only need small teacups or ramekins to serve it.
You'll need Orange Essential Oil for this one. You'll want this oil over the holidays to diffuse and bring on the happy moods.
We've been talking with you about replacing the Orange for Peppermint and am certain this would make a fantastic recipe if you wanted to swap the two oils.
Pumpkin BreadI know many of you think pumpkin season ends with Halloween, but being American, I love using pumpkin in my savoury and sweet dishes throughout the year.
Tinned pumpkin is an unsung hero!
This is the best recipe – I know because I’ve been told by friends and family. Don’t bother to Google it, trust me it’s a winner.
It can be made in advance and freezes beautifully.
Uncooked Cranberry Orange RelishWe are fond of traditional cranberry sauce, but this lighter and brighter recipe has become a family favourite.
It's an easy, old-fashioned recipe made with a few simple ingredients and comes together in seconds in your food processor.
With just the right sweet/tart combination, it compliments everything on your plate.
It needs to be made in advance for the flavours to develop – trust me, it changes overnight!
We make extra so we have leftovers (bonus!). Let us know what you do with yours!
Essential oils can be life-changing when you know how to use them
Welcome to our November Blog to help you fall in love with this month
There’s something wonderfully quiet about this underrated month - a gentle pause before the holiday rush, a crispness in the air that makes the simple comforts of home feel like a big hug.
Here's a hand-crafted list to help you make the most of this beautiful understated month
How and Why to set a meaningful Morning Ritual
A Feng Shui Tip for November – Create a cosy nook
Will you Frank with Us?
What November’s Full Moon means for you
This month is Lung Month (the perfect time to Re-Establish Your Boundaries)
Recipe of the Month
Create a November Morning Ritual
The darker mornings of November are perfect for easing into your day with intention. Here’s our favourite ways to do that…
Sit in stillness for a moment. Instead of rushing out of bed, try waking up a little earlier to enjoy the quiet before the day begins. It only takes a couple of minutes to luxuriate in your bed before the day begins.
Hydrate first. Place a large glass of water next to your bed the night before and drink it as soon as you get up.
Try a drop of Lemon or Grapefruit essential oil either in your water or directly on your tongue to alkalinise and cleanse your body. It makes your mouth feel so clean.
Before you put your socks on, take a moment to put a drop Vetiver on the bottom of your feet. This is a great way to use your oils to take care of your whole body. Vetiver is deeply grounding and calms your nervous system – yes please. Top Tip: it’s a very thick oil so pop a roller fitment on the bottle and roll it on or add a few drops of Vetiver to a roller bottle with carrier oil to dilute it.
A Feng Shui Tip for November - Create a Cosy Destination
As the days grow shorter and we naturally spend more time indoors, November is the perfect month to make small, intentional shifts in your home to support rest, immunity, and calm. This month’s focus? Creating a cosy nook—a personal space that invites you to slow down and breathe.Choose your winter nest. Do you have a favourite chair? Do you take it for granted? Is there a corner you pass by but never use? Take a moment to see it with fresh eyes. That overlooked space might be waiting to become your new sanctuary.
Maggie: I recently moved home and brought my favourite comfortable chair with me. It is now in place in our snug room, with the perfect cushion configuration, a new blanket (ready for this season) and even my footstool for when I want it! In the last few weeks, I have cherished a few hours in the evenings sitting in my chair with my new favourite blend Falling Leaves (3 drops each of Northern Lights Black Spruce, Bergamot and Tangerine plus 2 drops of Patchouli). My husband opted for a large new sofa...but…he has been eyeing up my chair and has now decided he needs his own chair…that big sofa is just not cosy enough.
Jen: We inherited an awkward chaise lounge (with dated fabric) that never quite fits anywhere in our home. I placed it all alone in a quiet corner of my back lounge looking out over the garden. By adding a soft blanket, a deliciously comfy pillow, and a warm standing lamp, the space transformed. Now, it’s my go-to spot to pause. Whether it’s while the kettle boils or between daily tasks, this little nook helps shift moments of “waiting” into intentional rest. My Aria Diffuser is in my kitchen and the gorgeous oils circulate around the ground floor. My favourite blend at the moment is Forest (4 drops each of Idaho Blue Spruce and Peppermint, plus 3 drops of Vetiver). It doesn’t take much. A chair. A lamp. A blanket. An intentional scent. What matters is how it feels—inviting, restful, and truly yours.
Will you Frank with Us? (A New Way to use Your Frankincense)
We're asking you to try something new with your Frankincense - put it on the roof of your mouth or under your tongue daily. Applying pure Frankincense oil to the roof of the mouth oxygenates the brain, directly reaches the pineal gland, nervous system and the sinuses. It crosses the blood brain barrier – something that pure essential oils can do (so cool!). This helps activate the rest/digest nervous system to calm the body and mind. Be SURE to use only pure Frankincense oil like the Young Living one to do this! Young Living essential oils are the only ones approved safe for consumption by the FDA. Many of you have this oil in your Premium Starter Kit. We’re going to try it every morning for the month of November and ask you to join us too. Can’t wait to hear what we notice.
How to do it? Put a drop of Frankincense on your palm, press your thumb into the drop and then on the roof of your mouth. Hold for 5 seconds. Rub the remaining Frankincense on your neck or shoulders to ease tension.
What November's Full Moon Means for You
We welcome the November Full Moon on Wednesday 5 November, rising at 15:55 (GMT). This Beaver Moon will be another SuperMoon, which is always an added joy. A supermoon happens when the Moon is at its closest point in its orbit to the Earth at the same time as a Full Moon, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual.November is Scorpio Season (the sun moves through Scorpio from October 23 to November 21) and can be a time for introspection.
Are you aware of patterns you want to transform or release? This full moon brings lots of planetary activity but mostly it is our inner self it shines a light on. Do you need to address something from the past to move forward differently? This internal retrospection is in partly because of the Mercury retrograde, starting on 9 November.
We will be using the Young Living blend Release at this time. This oil is a powerful protocol, so I use it sparingly when I need to let go of things. Our favourite way to use Release is to apply a couple of drops on our hands and take deep breaths. It's lovely to diffuse too - but we like the topical application best for this emotional oil blend.
This month is Lung Month (and the perfect time to Re-Establish Your Boundaries)
In Chinese Medicine, this is the Season of the Metal element and the associated organ system of the Lungs.As an Acupuncturist and Herbalist, I love the way Essential Oils work like herbs in their affinity for certain organ systems and Meridians,
In Autumn, the energy we discuss is the Wei QI. This is the outermost Qi, which circulates on our skin, our Defence Qi. The Lungs are the most external organ, both physically and emotionally exposed to the environment, so this season it’s important to protect your lungs and strengthen your Wei QI.
This Defence Qi protects us from pathogens, working on the exterior and also working internally, asking us what we want to let go of, helping us to form better boundaries.
The Lung energy dictates clear boundaries (the metal element), discerning what to let in and what to let out and by following the protocol below we can regain positive boundaries.
We utilise the energies of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Essential Oils.
A protocol I teach my patients is to use Eucalyptus on LU7 (to release) and Tea Tree Oil on LU9 to tonify the Lungs. Eucalyptus is a wonderful oil to diffuse at this time of the year.
Recipe of the Month: DIY Bath Salts
We’d like to suggest you give yourself a gift this month. Next month, you can give this to someone else you love. We don’t think it gets much better than Bath Salts – sensuous oils to pamper your skin and inspire your senses. It’s easy to do and you’ll thank us later for the complete reboot! Choose from the oils above or reach for your favourites. Maggie will be using Frankincense and Lavender. Jen goes for Spruce, Lavender and Bergamot.Ingredients:
8 ounce Mason Jar (200-250ml)
1 cup Epsom Salt
10-15 drops of oils of your choice
1 TBSP of Carrier Oil (V-6 Enhance is our favourite)
1 cup Epsom Salt
10-15 drops of oils of your choice
1 TBSP of Carrier Oil (V-6 Enhance is our favourite)
How to make and use:
Combine salt, oils and carrier oil in your jar, place lid on tightly and shake to disperse. If you have time to make it advance, it’s nice to let the ingredients combine for a day, but if not, pour the entire contents into a warm bath and enjoy!
We hope this helps you think differently about November and that you are able to find the quiet wonder of the month.
Essential oils can be life-changing when you know how to use them. We take the guesswork out — pairing the right oils with your daily habits so they become second nature.
Is your hair thinning?
Does your hair start to feel thinner at this time of year? Mine does. I asked my hairdresser about this last year and she said EVERYONE says that!
What the Studies Show
A study of 800 women over 6 years found they lost the most hair in September and October.
Some experts believe that hair loss in Autumn is related to moulting (common to all mammals), while others agree that it is due to the change between the way we treat our hair in the Summer (sun, chemicals etc.) and change in the temperature, which causes a stressful effect on our bodies and shows in our hair. We take this as a signal to look after our hair.
Rosemary has long been used for hair health and a 2015 blind study with 50 patients tested it against Rogaine side-by-side. The findings concluded that both Rosemary and Rogaine patients had significant increase in hair count.
Whenever possible, we encourage you to use a natural plant over a pharmaceutical and the Young Living Rosemary is exceptional. If you'd like to read the study, CLICK HERE.
In addition, as we gravitate towards more time indoors, one consequence is lower levels of Vitamin D. Young Living make a great Vitamin D Supplement, important for our hair health as it regulates the production of Keratin.
We LOVE a simple recipe to use our essential oils to solve everyday problems and here is one you're going to love.
Overnight Hair Mask
2. Fill half of the bottle with argan oil
3. Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil
(Recipe is for 15ml and 3% dilution - scale up as you'd like)
How to use it:
Apply a few drops on fingers and massage in hair from root to ends 8 hours before you wash it.
Apply more times within the 8 hours for extra coverage if you'd like.
Wash out like normal the next day. You can put your hair in a bun to sleep.
If you prefer a spritz instead of a mask, use the same 3 oils in another simple recipe. I love this recipe because it gives my fine hair volume and exceptional growth.
Added bonus - it smells fantastic so go ahead and use it as a room spray
Mermaid Hair Spritz
1. Mix 10 drops each of Rosemary, Lavender and Cedarwood essential oils to an empty glass spray bottle
2. Add a splash of witch hazel
3. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water
How to use it:
Shake vigorously before use; then lightly spray on wet hair.
Dry and style hair as normal.
YL tip: Substitute water with salt water! It’ll give you a natural, beachy look for any occasion!
Essential Oils - Simplified. We don't just teach oils, we teach you how to use them
Why meet with us in person?
Special things happen when we go LIVE and step away from our phones and computers. Our love of connection and continued learning makes hosting a no-brainer.
October brings us Two New Events
We host based on the intersection of what you are asking for and what is near and dear to us. In general, we host 2 events each month….one focused on demystifying how to make small plant-based changes in your personal habits and homes and another one wrapped around energy the moon.
This October, we’ve designed two new events full of inspiration to make the transition from the yang of summer to the yin of Winter. Both events are designed to boost your mind and body and there is a focus on helping you fall in love with your home, where you’ll be spending more time indoors as we shift towards winter.
One of the best things about attending in person is seeing how simple it is to use your oils and learning how to play with them. We also love how much we learn from each other in this informal setting. It’s so rewarding for us to receive your feedback after attending events…what oil blends are your favourites, what you plan to try next, how well you slept.
As the weather shifts, we spend more time indoors. Seasonal changes can place extra stress on the body.This Workshop is designed with practical, doable actions to help you purify and align yourself and your home with the change of season—creating a sanctuary for the colder months ahead.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll…
* Understand how to use essential oils to support physical, emotional, and environmental well-being during autumn and winter.
* Learn how to make intentional changes to your home to promote rest, immunity, and calm.
* Be able to make seasonal blends and recipes using essential oils.
* Gain practical Feng Shui tips to support serenity in your home during the cooler seasons.
* Leave feeling grounded, inspired, and prepared to embrace autumn mindfully.
🗓️ Tuesday, 7th October
⏰ 7:30-9:30 pm
📍 East Finchley N2
£20 payable on reserving your place. Spaces limited.
Discover balance and harmony in our in-person Chakra Balancing Class with Linda Lipinski. We'll explore the seven chakras through guided sessions using Young Living essential oils and crystals to support your energy alignment.
Over two hours, we'll cover each chakra's emotional and physical aspects, share practical tips for daily integration, and include a live demo to help you identify imbalances and experience personalized balancing techniques.
By the end, you'll feel more grounded, empowered, and connected, fostering wellness in your everyday life.
🗓️ Thursday, 16th October
⏰ 10am - 12 noon
📍 North London
£20 payable on reserving your place. Spaces limited.
Meet Linda Lipinski, Reiki healer, crystal healer, and Reiki drum healer. For the past 25 years, Linda has dedicated her life to both practicing and teaching Reiki and crystal healing, guiding people to connect with their own natural ability to heal and grow.
Why Work With Me
When you come to me for healing or teaching, you are welcomed into a space of compassion, support, and non-judgment. With over two decades of experience, I bring both deep knowledge and a gentle, intuitive approach that makes every session unique to you.
When you come to me for healing or teaching, you are welcomed into a space of compassion, support, and non-judgment. With over two decades of experience, I bring both deep knowledge and a gentle, intuitive approach that makes every session unique to you.
