I was working overnights in a quiet social service setting so I had time to use the bowflex and stairmaster-type thing in the staffroom. I had a big office with windows I could see myself stretch in on my comfy chair, and … the internet.

This was before I got big into yoga, but I was doing a lot of self physio with that bowflex. That bowflex was my best friend before they emptied the staff room and I no longer had those wonderful things in my life.

I was still trying to quit smoking, and I was trying to find ways to relax through the withdrawals. I discovered Lemon and lavender. I already had eucalyptus for colds and one day I combined those 3 oils in a spray bottle and in a carrier oil… probably olive oil, to test them in a kayak around the islands of Kenora. (Trying to get poison out of my life, right)

The mosquitos were landing on me and flying away!

Little mosquito kisses!

Hundreds of millions of them!

THAT is the most wonderful feeling ever… Never mind butterfly kisses!

The oil worked better than the spray because of surface area.

I had to reapply often (20-30min), and I sprayed my clothes with the spray to minimize getting oil on them, but I put the oil on almost all my body under my clothes. I’d rather get a little oil on my clothes than deal with 500 million mosquitoes any day!

Mosquito kisses gave me so much trust in essential oils, I decided I would spend my time learning about it. I couldn’t remember anything I read I had to reread so much to memorize it. I took notes, I bought a new oil with every paycheck so I could get used to what they smelled like.

Then one day, time passed, and I was making these incredible scented moisturizing balms and getting comments EVERYWHERE I went about how amazing I smelled! That’s how we are supposed to change our own lives… very slowly over time little by little every day 🙂 Show up for yourself because nobody else will.