I am so excited to share that dōTERRA has revamped their enrollment kits! There are a multitude of kits that range in price, making the products accessible for more people in my option. The top two that I would recommend would be the Healthy Start Kit & Healthy Home Kit. All of the kits are great, but I think you're getting the most "bang for your buck" with those two specific kits.

Healthy Start Kit - Brevi Stone Diffuser, 5ml of the following oils:
Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue, Breathe & OnGuard
www.doterra.com/US/en/create-cart/enrollment?OwnerID=5266575&salesOrg=USOTG&acctType=WC&60211452=1
​(overall savings of $25)

Healthy Home Kit - Brevi Stone Diffuser, Protecting Shampoo, Smoothing Conditioner, OnGuard Natural Whitening Toothpaste, OnGuard Foaming Hand Wash & Dispenser, OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate, OnGuard Sanitizing Mist, 15ml of the following oils:
Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Oregano, Frankincense, Deep Blue (5ml), Breathe & OnGuard
www.doterra.com/US/en/create-cart/enrollment?OwnerID=5266575&salesOrg=USOTG&acctType=WC&60209827=1
​(overall savings of $90)

Healthy Habits Kit - 5ml of the following oils: OnGuard, Balance, Frankincense, Lemon, Lavender & Deep Blue, Lifelong Vitality Pack, Deep Blue Rub, DigestZen TerraZyme & PB Assist
www.doterra.com/US/en/create-cart/enrollment?OwnerID=5266575&salesOrg=USOTG&acctType=WC&60209837=1
​(overall savings of $75)

Simple Solutions Kit - Deep Blue Rub & 15ml of the following oils: Lemon, OnGuard & Serenity
www.doterra.com/US/en/create-cart/enrollment?OwnerID=5266575&salesOrg=USOTG&acctType=WC&60211288=1

Natural Solutions Kit - PastTense, 15ml of the following oils: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, OnGuard, Frankincense, Tea Tree, Wild Orange, Balance, DigestZen, AromaTouch, Serenity & Breathe. OnGuard Collection: Beadlets, Toothpaste, Hand Wash with 2 Dispensers, Mouth Wash, Sanitizer Spray & Softgels. Lifelong Vitality Pack, DigestZen TerraZyme, Deep Blue Rub, Fractionated Coconut Oil, Protecting Shampoo, Smoothing Conditioner, Lumo Diffuser, Hand & Body Lotion, Wooden Box, Breathe Vapor Stick, Correct-X & PB Assist
www.doterra.com/US/en/create-cart/enrollment?OwnerID=5266575&salesOrg=USOTG&acctType=WC&60209826=1
​(overall savings of $250! this kit has the most savings, even though it is the most expensive, I would highly recommend this kit if you're looking to have a more holistic styled life and switching the products in your life to more natural options)

To view any other products that dōTERRA offers, feel free to check out my website www.doterra.com/US/en/site/tessapaquette for the full list of products. As always, reach out with any questions!

xoxo, Tessa

Does anyone else struggle when packing to go on a vacation? I know that I do - which is probably self inflicted because I wait until the last possible minute to pack. For my most recent trip I went on, I waited until 2 hours before I needed to get into the car to head to the airport to pack my luggage. Talk about procrastination!

Here are my TOP 5 dōTERRA products that are essential to have with me while on vacation:

1) Purify. Having Purify with me is a must as I've been in the hotel business my entire life and have experienced it from both sides and let me say, it's not always glamorous. I personally like to immediately diffuse Purify in the room for at least 2 hours. Also, upon check in to the room, I will fill the sink with hot water & a few drops of Purify and then wipe down surfaces with a washcloth. Yes, I know these surfaces have already been wiped down multiple times, but it's a sense of security to then wipe them down yourself.

2) A Diffuser! Personally, I enjoy bringing the Lumo Diffuser. I think it is a very versatile diffuser with the 2hr, 5hr & 10hr settings. Bringing a diffuser is a MUST!

3) Lavender or Serenity. An oil to help you sleep is going to be crucial. Most of the time I personally bring Lavender, Serenity & Cedarwood. These oils can also be diffused during other points in the day in addition to at night when you're trying to unwind & sleep. 

4) Unscented Hand & Body Lotion. This is one of my holy grail items. I LOVE this lotion and swear by it. It's easily the BEST all over lotion I have ever used - honestly. It's very important to keep your skin hydrated, I even use this lotion for my face moisturizer which eliminates an additional product to pack! It's also really nice because you can add whatever essential oil to the lotion you prefer to wear that day. Just remember if you are somewhere that you will have sun exposure to avoid putting those citrus oils on.

5) FLOOM Rollerball. Now a FLOOM Rollerball is something that you will have to make yourself. It consists of Frankincense, Lemon, Oregano, OnGuard & Melaleuca (Tea Tree). I have made mine a little difference and substituted the Melaleuca (Tea Tree) for Copaiba. Look forward to an upcoming post for a recipe of my FLOOM Rollerball & what it helps your body with!

​xoxo, Tessa

My dear, sweet, husband bought me an iRobot Roomba for Christmas (after I practically begged him for one). Since then, I have been getting a bajillion, yes, bajillion, questions from family and friends asking how she's doing and if it really works.

The begging started after a weekend at our good friend's house. I saw their Roomba, Rosie, in action and quizzed them all about it. They told me it runs every day while they are at work, sometimes moves around the rugs because she prefers them elsewhere, and works just fine with the dog hair. What. Your house is vacuumed for you EVERY DAY? I needed one.

The name Rosie came from the beloved Jetson cartoon. It is great, and perfect, and we didn't feel like being more creative...so our Roomba is Rosie the II. She's a rock star.

We have a split level home with wood floors upstairs, carpet downstairs, a short-haired dog, and a fluff for a dog. She has her work cut out for her. Now, I wish she had legs to transport herself from one level to the next, but maybe that's in the works for Rosie the III. For now, I move her around throughout the week. She's upstairs a majority of the time as the wood floors collect a lot of hair, but I move her downstairs at least twice a week. The dogs don't care about her at all except for when she runs into them when they're sleeping. During these encounters they leap up angrily and move over 5 feet, where she later follows them.

How she is monitored and scheduled is through an app that you download on your phone. So you can pick what time she goes each day or modify it to skip a day. She goes under pretty much everything; the bed, couch, tables, and certain dressers, which is awesome because we all know I never cleaned under there. Now, she sometimes gets a little stuck or lost. I received a notification that she was hanging off a cliff one day and I rushed home to save her only to find out the cliff was a bathroom rug-hey, just like humans, she's got obstacles to overcome. I once saw her just flat out quit because she couldn't find her home-base, even though she was right next to it. To help save Rosie from her struggles, I've modified her schedule to start around the time I normally leave work. She gets a good 20 minutes in before she normally finds herself in a dark hole of nothingness, trapped (the corner of my closet), but I'm right there to save her and send her on her merry way.

Some days we set-up barricades as we're learning where her struggles lie, but other days we just try to teach her a lesson. The greatest part of all of this, is my husband picks up his clothes for fear that Rosie will take them and hide them elsewhere. So my house is naturally cleaner without me having to do ANYTHING!!

I was most concern that the amount of dog hair in our home would be way too much for her little shell. What I've come to realize is that since she vacuums every day, there's naturally less hair for her to have to pick-up. If you say you already vacuum every day by hand, you're either lying or you're a psychopath. We do, of course, have to remember to empty her each day and clean out the brushes which takes maybe 5 minutes.

Overall, Rosie the Roomba the II has been totally worth the investment and has been a spectacular addition to the family.

xoxo, Katy

When I bought my house almost 3 year ago I knew it was going to be a project. I was 19 years old purchasing a house - I did not have a large budget. I bought a beautiful 3 bedroom 1 1/2 bath house in a great neighborhood, the catch was the house needs some work. My plan going forward is to take it room by room and hope that it will not overwhelm me! I hope to share all of the rooms with you guys once I have completed them. The living room is essentially done (with the exception of a new fireplace & ripping up the carpet and refinishing the wood floors). I plan on doing the floors this spring & the fireplace is not a necessity, so it will be coming along later.

The color scheme is brown & grey. My furniture is brown leather and I have used accent pieces in grey. I am in LOVE with how my living room has turned out. A lot of my stuff has been from TJMaxx, so I will try my hardest to link it all.

To start, my sectional is from Slumberland. I don't think they have the exact sectional available anymore but I have linked one very similar that was around the same price range!
www.slumberland.com/p/pinner-sectional/PinnerSectional.html?dwvar_PinnerSectional_PinnerColors=Chocolate&cgid=livingRoom-Sectionals#prefn1=variantColor&sz=12&start=1&prefv1=Brown%2FTan

My love seat & large comfy chair are from the hotel that I work at. They were going through a remodel and offering the furniture to the employees at an extremely discounted price.  I wasn't able to find the link for these, as they are over 12 years old, but holy crap have they kept up well. The large chair is my favorite place to sit & get work done!

I had the hardest time finally biting the bullet and switching up my window treatments. I used to have just simple, white blinds but they had been completely ruined by my dog. I decided that blinds were just not going to be an option for me, so I went for curtains which I have never had in my life! I love how they turned out, and I am so glad that I had someone to help me put up the curtain rods, because I would not have been able to do that by myself haha!

Curtain Rods: www.target.com/p/french-pipe-drapery-rod-threshold-153/-/A-51598145?preselect=50984029#lnk=sametab
​
​Curtains (not exact but very similar): tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/38x84-Set-Of-2-Linen-Look-Embroidered-Curtains/1000453263?colorId=NS1003495&pos=1:35&Ntt=curtains
​
​Throw Pillows: www.target.com/p/washed-cotton-linen-throw-pillow-threshold-153/-/A-53816517?preselect=53778262#lnk=sametab
I could not find the link for the Calvin Klein Pillows (the grey ones in front). I got them at Tj Maxx for about $15/each and the only ones I can find are different colors & over $100 per pillow!

Wicker Basket to hold Blankets: https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/Palm-Leaf-And-Tassels-Storage-Basket/1000333042?colorId=NS1003534&pos=1:76&Ntt=wicker%20basket

Storage Ottoman: www.target.com/p/chatsworth-storage-ottoman-christopher-knight-home/-/A-17295829?preselect=17090305#lnk=sametab

​Rug: I had purchased my rug from TJMaxx, but as we all know their inventory is constantly changing. So, I did find almost the exact same rug but from Target that I have linked! I have loved this rug so far, it keeps up well and you can never tell when it's dirty!
www.target.com/p/elaine-rug-safavieh/-/A-51958236?preselect=51929859#lnk=sametab

Most of the stuff in the picture above is actually not mine! The white cube organizer, everything on & in it are all my roommates. The picture frame is hers as well. All of these things can easily be found at Target!

I love having the built in bookshelf. I think having built ins adds so much character to a home. Typically, mine have books & pictures on them along with some knick knacks here and there. That's the beauty of the built in, you can constantly change them. Of course you can always find my Lumo Diffuser with some essential oils which you can purchase here: www.doterra.com/US/en/site/tessapaquette

Below, I have recently added this beautiful gray cabinet in between the chair & couch. This was a space that I wasn't quite sure what to do with, but this piece happened to fit perfectly. 
​www.target.com/p/windham-2-door-accent-cabinet-threshold-153/-/A-50860826?preselect=14372249#lnk=sametab
​I also have fallen in love with the smaller tables that have a base that slide under your couch in replacement of traditional "TV Trays". I think these look a lot more modern & chic and blend into the design of the room better!

Since the above picture has been taken, I have added artwork to the wall! I was fortunate enough to be gifted a piece by a local artist, Bailey Builds by my mom for my birthday. I have been wanting one of their pieces for a loooooooong time, and it fits perfectly in the space. Make sure you check them out on Instagram - @baileybuilds I highly recommend their work.

If anyone is interested on how I was able to purchase my own home at the age of 19 or any home buying tips let me know! I would be open to sharing the process and what I went through and how it all worked. There will ALWAYS be projects to be done, so I am excited to share my journey! I love reading up on interior design and seeing how others design & transform their homes. 

​xoxo Tessa

Nova likes the living room too :)

As many of you know, skincare is a huge aspect in your life - at least it is for me. It has taken me a long time to "perfect" my routine and I wouldn't even consider it to be perfected but it has been working great for me! I also try to switch up my routine every few months because your skin will get used to your current routine and the products you are using.

I have both a morning & night routine that I do EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
I think that is also a very important aspect, to keep up on your routine and actually do it!

Morning:
I start work at 5AM typically every day, so I need something quick and easy in the mornings. I start by awakening my face with a spritz of Rose Water. I then apply a small amount of the dōTERRA Unscented Hand & Body Lotion with a drop of YarrowPom. I finish with the Brightening Gel.

Overall, my skin type is normal to oily and I am prone to breakouts which is why I found that the HD Clear line is what has worked best for me. I'm relieved to have found products that actually work for my skin which is why I wanted to share them with all of you! Remember, consistency is key - that is why it's called a routine!

​xoxo Tessa

Fellas, you may argue...but you are TOUGH to purchase gifts for. That's why we've created a list of our favorite "men approved gifts". To help those struggling to find the perfect present. Whether it's a boyfriend, husband, dad, grandpa, friend, or that weird third cousin you drew for a white elephant gift, we've got you covered.

​​​Heated Vest - Ororo Wear

We live in Duluth, Minnesota. While you may reside in some spectacular sunshine-y paradise, the men in our life are all about warmth. That's why we love these heated vests. They're perfect for shoveling, hunting, tailgating or snowmobiling. The battery packs can last up to 8 hours!

Specialty boxes are huge right now and this site has a crate for ANY man in your life! There are so many options. From fishing lures, to whiskey, to belt-making, it has it all. Be sure to check out the Sale section as there are great options there too if you're looking for a good deal!

Men need underwear. Let's face it. Most men will keep the same underwear until there are holes where there should NOT be. Instead of getting them the weird cartoon stuff they got as a kid from mom...and still have....get them underwear for a MAN. This Duluth Trading Buck Naked underwear is perfect.

For the techie in your life, rechargeable wireless battery packs are lifesavers. They are spectacular for travel!

Frost River is a great local company crafting leather made goods. We love this convenience tool roll for handy storage of his most-used tools. It's a perfect size for on-the-go, it has lifetime warranty, and it is a good value. 

For that athlete in your life, the doTERRA Athlete's Kit is a must-have. It features essential oils to support their respiratory and immune systems, relax their muscles, and rejuvenate them on a cellular level. Essential oils are not just for the ladies!! The Deep Blue rub will make a true believer out of any man.

Gloves tend to be like socks in my household, and disappear very quickly. We are always in need of more gloves. Nowadays, it is a necessity to be able to to text while keeping those fingers warm!

Some men are SERIOUS about their beard care. We found this awesome company based out of Colorado that believes in eliminating the toxic crap and using all natural ingredients in their wide selection of care products.

According to my husband, there is no limit to how many pairs of grill tongs we can own. The more grill tools, the better. Don't forget the fire extinguisher.

When all else fails...get them beer. You will win Christmas. Hoops is a spectacular local Duluth brewery offering Gowler's of the Month. You can always get one for yourself too...

Sometimes, we're greasy. Hey, nobody is perfect. The business of life can sometimes cause my luscious locks to be put on the back-burner. But I made a do-it-yourself natural dry shampoo that WORKS, and doesn't turn my hair temporarily white like most of the aerosol sprays!

Ingredients
For light hair:
1/4 cup arrowroot powder
2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Ingredients
For dark hair:
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

1. Put arrowroot powder, cocoa powder (if using), and essential oils into your food processor
2. Pulse until well combined
3. Store in glass jar
4. Apply powder with an old make-up brush to roots and oily parts of hair

Boom. No more grease! Combine this with the Beautiful Body Mist and who needs to shower? ;)

xoxo Katy

Let's get back to the basics.

WE LOVE ESSENTIAL OILS.

It is through essential oils that our business began. We both use them in our daily life with our pets, family, and ourselves. We want to begin by providing an essential oil 101 overview. What the are they? How do they help us? How do we use them??

Let's start with the science. Essential oils are volatile organic compounds that are found in the seeds, stem, bark, roots, and flowers of plants. These oils work to protect the plant, assist in pollination, and provide the plant with its fragrance. Essential oils are then distilled from plants through a select type of extraction, depending on the plant itself. When used on our bodies, essential oils can help provide powerful benefits to our health and wellness. They help our body do what it already knows how to do, better. As opposed to modern pharmaceuticals, essential oils are naturally able to penetrate our cell membranes, to assist our body on a cellular level, with zero side effects when used properly. Ummm, yes please!

There are 3 ways to use essential oils; Aromatically, Topically, and Internally*.
​
Aromatically-Arguably the most popular way to use essential oils, aromatic usage can provide powerful mental and emotional responses. Essential oils are quickly absorbed by the smell receptors which are linked to the limbic system which support our emotions, behavior, and memory. Diffusion is an extremely popular way to use essential oils aromatically. You can also open the bottle and sniff, put a few drops in the bottom of your shower and breathe in the steam, apply to a piece of diffuser jewelry, or put a couple of drops into cupped hands and inhale deeply.

Topically-Using essential oils topically allow you to localize where you'd like to receive the benefits. For example, if you have a sore shoulder, apply the oil of your choice to your shoulder and massage it in. It is recommended to dilute oils, especially when using on individuals with sensitive skin. Popular ways to dilute them are with unscented lotion, fractionated coconut oil, or jojoba oil. My favorite places to apply topically are the soles of my feet, my temples, the back of my neck, down my spine, my chest, or on my abdomen.

Internally*-This is the most potent method of application but also one of the most beneficial. Using essential oils internally can support our cardiovascular system, immune system, metabolism, respiratory system, digestive system, and nervous system. They can also help obtain necessary antioxidants and assist in cleansing our gastrointestinal system. You can use essential oils internally by mixing them with water or tea, taking daily essential oil supplements, putting a drop under your tongue, or dropping essential oils in veggie capsules and taking them.

Everyone has their own preferred method of receiving the benefits that essential oils provide. We love a good combination of all three. Daily we are able to support ourselves internally as well as emotionally, which is an option that we never had before discovering these beautiful oils.

Hello Friends,

Welcome to the Essential Lifestyle Blog! We are so happy that you clicked in to join us on our wellness journey. Whether we've been longtime friends, or have not yet met, this space is for YOU. We want to hear where you're at in your wellness journey or life in general.

My name is Katy. I'm a Midwestern girl born and raised in Michigan, but chased a guy to Duluth, Minnesota in 2014. That guy became my husband over 2 years ago. We're proud parents of an emotional boxer/lab mix named Yogi and a goofy bernese mountain dog named Everest. They'll be sure to make an appearance throughout the site! When I'm not sniffing essential oils you can find me cooking, exploring the newest craft brewery, doing yoga, or laying in my hammock. And THAT is what this blog is about. True wellness is about living day to day to your fullest potential; mind, body, and spirit. 

Tessa and I have been through a lot together as co-workers, friends, and life-cheerleaders. Our journey has led us here with you. We welcome comments and questions, so leave us a message as we'd love to hear from you!

​xoxo Katy