{DIY} Essential Oil Car Diffuser

I have been using essential oils for over a year now and love how very versatile they are.

I literally use essential oils for everything; health care for my family and my pets, pain management, cleaning, cooking, skin care, hair care, pest control, sleep, hormones, moods & emotional health.

 

They have pretty much changed my life.

 

If that all sounds a bit overwhelming,

then here's just a small example of how I use them in my daily life...in my car!

 

 

I stopped using those fake tree air fresheners in my car several years ago; they always gave me headaches and made me feel nauseous. Let's get real though...I need something to make my car smell nice. I have 3 children and we are always on the go, so my car is a mess of stinky soccer cleats, muddy shoes and banana peels.

 

For the last several months I have been putting oils on a cottonball & tucking it into the airvent.

It's been working pretty well, but well...it wasn't very pretty. (See what I did there? Ha!)

 

During Christmas baking I looked at the Christmas Tree cookie cutter and thought it would make a great template for a car diffuser. It totally does right?

 

I traced the cookie cutter on two pieces of green felt and cut them out, then I sewed them together using a zigzag stitch all the way around. I made some after this one where I straight stitched along the edge and it turned out equally cute and took considerably less time, so that's definitely another option.

 

Then I punched a hole in the top of the tiny tree and looped some hemp thread through.

 

Isn't it just adorable?

 

I put some grounding blend on it because, I mean, who couldn't use a little balance on their daily drive? No road rage for me, thank you very much. (Okay, so this won't prevent people from driving like idiots, but it helps keep me from wanting to drive them off the road)

 

Just a couple drops of essential oil and then hang it on your rearview mirror!

 

And there it is! My adorable and simple car diffuser:)

When the scent fades, just add a couple more drops of your favorite oil.

 

Other oils I love for in the car are Wild Orange and Peppermint, which together are very uplifting and energizing. I LOVE that blend for when I do the long drives for soccer tournaments and visiting family...keeps me alert and focused, which is always a good idea behind the wheel.

Oh and it smells divine. Win-Win!

 

Thanks for reading!

 

If you have been wanting to get more info on essential oils and would like to join my team, comment or email me! I would love to help you enrich your life with these amazing gifts of the earth:)

 

Increasingly Domestic's doTERRA Shop

(The prices on this site are retail, so ask me how to get them for 25% off!)

 

You may find me linking up with some of these blogs:
Fingerprints on the Fridge, Making The World Cuter, Dittle Dattle, Mad Skills Monday, Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac, Delicate Construction, Ask Anna, New Nostalgia, House of Grace, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Today's Creative Blog, My Craftie Life, Sew Much Ado, Seven Thirty-Three, Someday Crafts, A Diamond in the Stuff, My Girlish Whims, Somewhat Simple, Momnivores Dilemma, Paisley Passions, Fun to Craft, Make it, Wear it, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths, What Allie's Making Now, Finding Fabulous, A Little Knick Knack, Mommas Kinda Crafty, Its a Hodgepodge Life, Inspiring Creations, Be Different Act Normal, Wildflowers and Whimsy, Tatertots and Jello, The Idea Room, My Repurposed Life, Sew Many Ways, I Heart Naptime, Thirty Handmade Days, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Itch, Oops I Craft My Pants, Addicted 2 Decorating, CRAFT, DIY Home Sweet Home

One Little Word 2015

It's almost 3 weeks into the new year and I am finally getting around to sharing my One Little Word for 2015. I stopped doing resolutions several years ago and instead choose a word to focus on for the year. It doesn't stop me from making goals, but in my experience resolutions are usually abandoned by now.

{One Little Word 2014}
Last year I chose the word Homemaker (or did it chose me?).
It ended up being a very truthful depiction of the year.

We raised 2 pigs and butchered them at home. It's the best pork we have ever eaten and we know how they were raised and what they were (and were not) fed. Totally getting a couple more piglets this year.

I started using essential oils for my families' health and wellness and the results were so incredible that I couldn't keep it to myself...Now I teach other people how to do the same!
It's something I'm super passionate about and I will be blogging about the ways I use them.

There were some not so great things that happened last year as well, but focusing on my family and the things within my control got me through.


My One Little Word for 2015 is {Renew}...and {Increase}.

Yep....two words. I was given two words this year along with promises for each.

{Renew} verb.

• To make new or as if new again; restore.
• To take up again; resume
• To repeat so as to reaffirm
• To regain or restore the physical or mental vigor of; revive.
• To replenish
• To bring into being again; reestablish
• To become new again
• To start over

As I said before, 2014 held some extra challenges and this word was given to me as a promise that 2015 is going to be a year of renewal. I'm not sure what its going to look like, but I am leaning into this promise. I feel the need to grant permission for anyone else to claim this promise for the new year as well...I know 2014 was a challenging year for many people. If that's you and this word resonates in your soul, then grab hold of this and see where it takes you.

{Increase} verb.

• To become greater or larger
• To make greater or larger
• To multiply; reproduce

I had been really focusing on {Renew} and one day while I was praying about the word and all it's meanings, the Lord spoke {Increase} over me as well and I just wept. I felt that word so deeply and even writing about it now has me in tears. This word by itself can be good or bad, but paired with Renew, it takes on such hope and joy.

So those are my words for 2015. Do you choose a word each year or do you do resolutions?


One Little Word 2014
One Little Word 2013-no post, but it was JOY
One Little Word 2012
One Little Word 2011
One Little Word 2010
One Little Word 2009

I have Trichotillomania

I pull out my own hair.

This is how Wikipedia describes Trichotillomania.

All caught up on what this is? Okay.

I have suffered with this in varying levels of intensity for over 20 years.

I wasn't aware of it for several years, since it happens mostly when I'm zoned out, watching a movie or reading a book. A friend pointed it out to me one day and from then on, I learned to hide.

I thought I was a freak.

I thought I was the only one.

Then one day I saw a Tyra Banks show with other women who suffered from Trich. I bawled my eyes out because I knew I wasn't alone, and because now my affliction had a name. Trichotillomania.

Oprah also did a show, though I don't really remember which one I saw first.

For most of my life I have been able to hide it well while still wearing my hair down, but during my second and third pregnancies it got progressively worse and now I can only wear my hair half up half down with a barrette or all up in a ponytail.

This year I have been really working to grow in my relationship with the Lord, as well as the relationships with the people around me; my family, my friendships and my church family. It is not easy possible to build true healthy relationships without sharing yourself. Trich teaches you to hide and builds a wall.

Healing from Trich requires vulnerability.

Vulnerability is scary.

Sharing this with the world is scary!

I have decided that this is the year that I heal myself. This is the year that Trich no longer has a hold on me.

Part of my journey is to share this with others; to share my struggles and pain and ultimately, my victory.
Jesus wants to set me free and He has already given me the victory!!!

"But thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 15:57

Here are some things that are helping me along in my journey to freedom from Trichotillomania.

Stream of conscience Journaling.
Write what you are thinking, without censorship or judgement. Let it flow without thinking too much about what it is. Just write. Do at least 3 pages and when you are done, BURN IT! Yep! Burn it, shred it, put it down your garbage disposal...okay, so don't do that last one, but seriously, DESTROY IT. Oh, and don't read it once you have written it. This is meant to be a safe place to write out your true feelings. A place where you can be totally honest with yourself without fear of judgement (yes, even from yourself) or shame. It works! Even if you don't have Trich, give it a shot.

The e-book "What's wrong with pulling my hair out?" by Abby Leora Rohrer
I was so skeptical about what could possibly have been in this book that would cure me of Trichotillomania, but I decided to step out in faith and get it anyway. This book will only help you if you are willing to help yourself and do the work. It is not a magic pill or a trick to stop trich. It's a tool to heal yourself of the underlying problem that started your Trich in the first place. I learned that Trich is not a disease, but it starts as a coping mechanism and turns into an addiction. Yeah....let that sink in for a bit. If you have Trich and are ready to heal, I highly recommend this book. Here is the website to get it. (Just FYI, this is not an affiliate link and I get nothing for sharing it.)

Prayer and Bible Reading
Being completely vulnerable to God in my prayers and knowing that He loves me no matter what, that nothing I do can change how much He loves me. I cannot tell you how powerful it is to know that He loves me unconditionally. No conditions. He loves me for me. Spend time in prayer and get to know your maker by spending time in His word.

Essential Oils
Now this will not cure Trichotillomania, but it helps me to stay grounded and calm so that I can focus on my recovery. I really love InTune by doTERRA as well as Balance and Serenity. If you would like more info on oils please let me know. Those I do sell;) Mydoterra.com/increasinglydomestic

Not claiming Trich
I do not call it "my trich" or "my pulling", because I DO NOT CLAIM THIS! This is not who I am and though it is something that I struggle with, it is not mine. I do not identify myself as a "trichster" or a "trichie" and I hope that if YOU do, that you will stop. This is not who you are...you are beautiful and powerful, which are both things that Trich teaches you that you are not.
Trich does not speak the truth.

Not Hating Trich
I know I just got done saying I don't claim Trich and now I'm saying I don't hate it. What? Here's the deal. Trich was there for me when I was a young sensitive child who could not comprehend and process my feelings. Trich got me through those years. I cannot hate something that helped me cope. Was it ideal? No. Was is perfect? No. But it helped me. If I hate it, then I hate myself for allowing it to continue. That only perpetuates the cycle. I understand it now and I can let it go.

Okay, so that's it! I shared my deepest darkest secret with the world and I will keep you posted on my progress as I heal and as my hair grows back out. If you know someone who suffers from this, please just love them for who they are and send them my way. I would love to answer any questions you may have about this topic and would appreciate your support on my journey.

~Amy

How to turn a Chalkboard Mirror into a, uh, Chalkboard Mirror.

I bought 2 Chalkboard Mirrors from a friend and redid them so they would go better in my house.

 

For those of you who follow me on Instagram and saw this picture: 

 

 This is the resulting project:)

 

 

I have this hanging over my dresser and will be using it for {Memory Verses} and quotes. It makes me so happy to wake up to this every morning...I feel like it helps to start my day off right.

 

This is what they looked like before:

(There were two, but I only took pictures of one)

 

 

I loved the color and the metallic sheen in the paint(hard to tell here), but the chalkboard paint was flaking so I decided to redo them.

I flipped it over and saw that it was attached with screws, so I took it apart to really get it nice and clean. I sanded the frame of any rough areas and paint drips, and then tried to do the same on the chalkboard.

 

DUDE! Getting Chalkboard paint off of a mirror is no joke. I sanded, I scrubbed, I scraped and finally I used paint thinner and then scrapped some more. It was a total pain, and I blame my dad.

 

 Thank you Dad for teaching me that "If something is worth doing, it's worth doing RIGHT."
 

Boo.

I spent hours scraping Chalkboard paint so that I could have a smooth surface to
reapply CHALKBOARD PAINT.

 

Not gonna lie, it was worth it in the end. Boo again for Dad always being right;) Ha ha ha! Love you DAD!

 

 

I did a couple coats of spray paint with the leftover paint from my Garage Sale Owl on one of the frames (Rust-Oleum Satin Lagoon) and Rust-Oleum Sunburst Yellow on the other one.

 

 

The yellow one is for my daughters slow and steady room makeover.

I did a couple coats of Chalkboard Spray paint on the newly scraped mirrors and then let them dry for over 24 hours. Once they were dry it was time to "prime them",
which is just rubbing chalk all over to get the surface ready.

This was by far the worst part of the whole project.
Yes, even worse than the hours of scraping paint.
I HATE the sound of scraping chalk and I shuddered the whole time.

*Shudder*

Here is Brooklyn's finished Chalkboard.

I love the bright shiny color and how it contrasts with the Chalkboard paint.

 

And here's the one for me. I'll bet the color choice is not at all predictable to those of you who know me;) I'm kind of obsessed.

 

 I put this verse up for Valentines Day:)

 

What are some of your favorite short verses?

Garage Sale Owl Makeover

I scored this Owl Change Bank at a garage sale for $0.10

Can you believe it?!?!?

 

 

Of course you can;) Ha!

The lady looked at me like I was crazy when I picked it up, but I saw the potential in this nasty little owl. A diamond in the rough; he just needed a makeover.

 

When my husband saw it he looked at me like "How did I marry this insane woman?"

I get that look a little more often than I would care to admit;)

 

Enter my BFF: Spray paint!

 

This was left over paint from another project: Rust-Oleum Satin Lagoon.

 

I just scrubbed the owl really well with soap and water, and after it dried I set it on a canvas tarp and did a couple coats with the spray paint.

I LOVE easy projects like this one! Big bang for less than a buck!

 

I love the details now that they are no longer a putrid green and brown.

 

My cat even had to check out the transformation up close.

He approved.

So did the husband in case you were wondering.

 

So next time you see something laughably hideous at a garage sale, bring it home and give it a little spray paint love and you will have yourself a one-of-a-kind accessory.

You may find me linking up with some of these blogs:
Fingerprints on the Fridge, Making The World Cuter, Dittle Dattle, Mad Skills Monday, Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac, Delicate Construction, Ask Anna, New Nostalgia, House of Grace, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Today's Creative Blog, My Craftie Life, Sew Much Ado, Seven Thirty-Three, Someday Crafts, A Diamond in the Stuff, My Girlish Whims, Somewhat Simple, Momnivores Dilemma, Paisley Passions, Fun to Craft, Make it, Wear it, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths, What Allie's Making Now, Finding Fabulous, A Little Knick Knack, Mommas Kinda Crafty, Its a Hodgepodge Life, Inspiring Creations, Be Different Act Normal, Wildflowers and Whimsy, Tatertots and Jello, The Idea Room, My Repurposed Life, Sew Many Ways, I Heart Naptime, Thirty Handmade Days, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Itch, Oops I Craft My Pants, Addicted 2 Decorating,CRAFT
DIY Home Sweet Home